Chapter 1:
Two years. Two years since I left, and for what, this? It's not exactly what a girl wishes for. You would think someones parents would say "oh by the way, you're leaving for two years, you have no say in the matter, now pack a bag". But no, that's too much to ask isn't it. Just a note saying 'get your crap and get out' with an address in New York and an airplane ticket. Apparently that's what parenting is these days.
The suns beginning to set as I drive my bike toward my old house. 'At least its just me this time', I think to myself, glad of the solitude. Don't get me wrong I don't have a problem talking to people or anything like that, sometimes a girl just wants her own space. The garden lawn has become overgrown by weeds, some of the windows smashed and roof tiles fallen away. Strange how much work can be undone on a house in that short period of time just from no one living in it. I kill the engine,grab my torch and shoulder my bag. I don't bother checking for my keys because I can tell from here someones been in the house already. The door is wide open and the paneling surrounding it cracked from where it was forced open.
As I walk across the entrance, the smell of vomit and urine become almost unbearable. 'Great, squatters were here, just what I need. A load of doped up idiots and needles. This is not my day'. I flash my torch going slowly from room to room assessing the damage. It's actually not too bad all things considered. I can just replace most of the furniture and the photos don't mean squat to me now. The whole while I'm looking downstairs for signs of life or movement I keep dreading what my room will look like. Making my way into the kitchen something small runs across my foot.
"Fuck this shit!" I shout in disgust as now I had rats as well.
"This is just great, fucking perfect!"I mumble kicking away some papers and empty cans of beer, I'm really getting pissed by this point.
Sighing, I make my way upstairs, only the light at the top of the stairs seem to be working so I leave it on in the hopes that people will make themselves known if they're here. Deciding to check my room last I continue on throught the upper rooms. Both my parents and sisters old rooms are completely destroyed, but their on suites surprisingly not so. My dads old study and my room were the old ones with a major lock on the doors and both doors seem to be standing so I doubt there's any damage in either room. Taking my key out I place it in my door and open it. "Oh thank god" I whisper to no one. My room is immaculate. I really didn't want to have to sleep on a bed that was covered in god knows what. I go inside and lock from within to tired to finish looking around, It's not like they can hurt me anyway, and lay down for sleep to come.
As morning comes I wake to the sound of footsteps downstairs and a whispered voice. Grabbing my knife, I make my way onto the landing and listen out to place where the woman's voice is coming from.
"This is not what I was expecting Jules, you asked me to check on the house, not push my way through debris and rats shit. There fucking needles all over the place for gods sake!...How the hell would I know how this happened? If you hadn't noticed I was laying low too just like you and that thing you were married to. Someone had to keep an eye out here...yes I know, he's different, blah de blah de blah...OK fine! I'll let her know as soon as I find her. She's probably buried under all these, hell I don't even want to know what half this shit is...". I know that voice.
"And for the record, he is a jackass. You can do so much better Judy...OK alright, Jesus no need for that! I'll call you when I've made first contact" She whispered harshly before ending the call. Deciding to make my move, I walk up behind her and hold my knife to her throat from behind.
"Hello Santana, looks like you found me...now the question is, what are we going to do about it?" Santana's hand raised slowly, I can she her body stiffen until she's rigid with what I hope is fear. "I'm going to lower the knife" I tell her. " when I do that, you're going to turn around slowly". Her response is mumbled and I already know that as soon as she turns around I'm going to get one hell of a bitch slap. 'Awesome' I think, 'I get to start my senior year with a shiner'. After a few seconds she nods her head slightly so I move away and stand by the staircase.
"What the hell Q! Since when did you have a knife?! And what the hell happened here!" I smirk slightly missing when she would go off like this, even though we were best friend and nemesis at the same time we always had each others back. Apparently that's the wrong move to do because as soon as she turns around and see me her face drops.
"Q...wh...what happened to your face?" papers, cans and other bits of debris goes flying out of the way as she lunges towards me cradling my face between her hands, letting her thumbs travel down each scar. I close my eyes and lean my head in her hands sighing at the first bit of comfort I've had in years, that and it helps to fight back my tears. I bring her hands to my lips and kiss the tips of her fingers gently, it's something she always did to calm me when my Dad would blow up. When we were kids and I would panic because of the things I could do, and he would find a way to punish me because of it. My eyes close even tighter fighting back vision of my childhood, locking them away in a box hidden deep in my mind.
"Later, I promise. But right now we need to get to school, it's my first day back after all". I say with a wink running up stairs and grabbing my bag, some money, and the helmet for my bike. When I make come back down she shakes her head and follows me out the door.
"OK fine, but the minute Schools breaks out you and I are having a talk a'fores I go's all Lima Heights on your fat ass". She threats.
"Fine, I'll see you there".
"You're not coming with me? What the hell Q, you just up and leave with no goodbyes or phone calls. Hell no, you're coming with me and not on that Greaser wanna be bike you have".
"Santana, I just want to walk into School on my own. If I'm seen with you people will put two and two together. This way I get a small bit of nobody knowing who I am straight away".
Afters a few minutes of Santana huffing and going off in a huge tangent I decide to just leave her and make my way back to Mckinley When I pull into the parking lot I see alot of Students hanging around the bins. Shouting and pushing each other to get a better look. You know when you get a gut feeling that somethings bad, yeah imagine that times ten when you see a small brunette being thrown into a bin and the lid slammed down. "Fuck this!" I shout as I speed up my bike and head towards the crowd. I brake and make it drift sideways stopping mere centimeters by the crowds feet. I open up the visor and send out the biggest death glare I can making people look away and move aside. I kill the engine, dismount and make my way towards the bin, just when I'm about to lift the lid a hand grabs my shoulder and turns me around.
"You ruined our fun new kid, you need to learn your place here". This is met with mutual agreement from the other jocks. Mckinley's elite and worst football team in history look back at me. "We run this school. If we don't like you, you'll know about it, and I don't think we like you very much. Do we boys?" Laughter and varied voices, each of them egging him on to make a move. "Now unless you want to take off that helmet and aren't too bad looking, I'll let you have the pleasure of pleasuring me for my forgiveness, hows that sound?" I stare straight back at him even though he towers over me a good foot and growl out my reply. "How about you take your hand of me, and I won't hurt you too much". At this he burst out laughing in my face along with the other jocks. I see Santana's car swerve into the lot and her and Britt's jumping out to come to my aid. I shake my head slightly to let them know I'm OK.
"You hurt me? ha! You're tiny!"
"Last chance" I reply checking my fingernails, man I really need a manicure.
Just when he starts to laugh again I force his head to the ground then straddle his waist. I thrust his hand flat on his back pushing it up between his shoulder blades lifting his elbow up just before the point of dislocating his shoulder. He starts thrashing his legs and flailing his other arm to try and dislodge me. Apart from his screams you could hear a pin drop. 'Cowards' I think. I force my foot down onto his hand trapping it from further movement and can see his tears forming. Not one of his friends coming to help him.
"I warned you, you didn't listen. I don't make empty threats Karofsky. Make one more move or comment and you football season will be over before it started. Is that clear?" He nods his head in submission. " Santana, Britt, would you mind opening up the bin?" Santana smiles and grabs B's hand running over and lifting the crates off the lid. As soon as that's off the lids flies open and a teary eyed Rachel appears. Ours eyes meet and my blood boils at this. I see Finn shuffling his feet hiding behind Azimo, his eyes finding something very interesting on the ground all of a sudden. When Rachel's eyes meet his with a longing look, it breaks my heart to see her like that.
"Leave!" I shout as i push myself of Karofskys back and eyeing the crowd. Within seconds they disappear including Finn after sending Rachel a small shake of his head. I turn around and look her over for injuries, she has a bruise forming on her cheek and a cut above her eyebrow. Britt just grabs Rachel and holds her stroking her back to calm her down.
"Ssh Rachel, it's OK", at this Rachel lifts her head and shakes it sadly. "But it's not, I can't handle this anymore. Finn was supposed to protect me but all he cares about is his reputation. He tells me he loves me b..but..." she loses her ability to speak and buries her head further into Brittany's chest. Santana motions to my helmet and then to Rachel, I give a small nod in response and she walks over to Britt whispering into her ears.
"But San, I can't leave Rachel like this"
"B, we're just getting her Slushy kit for her, I doubt she'll want to walk into school smelling like crap".
Brittany's face lights up and she says a quick bye to Rachel telling her she'll be right back. I reach for my helmet and undo the buckle when I see S and B move into the building. Before I even turn around a hear Rachel slump to the ground and let her tears fall. Completely unaware of my presence. I kneel in front of her and bring my hand to her face slowly wiping away a stray tear. She jumps slightly and eye me questioningly.
"It's OK Rachel,it's just me" she studies me further then her mouth opens in shock.
"Q...Quinn? B...but...I". I cut her off by taking off my helmet, bringing new tears to her eyes as she see's my scars lining my no longer perfect face. "oh Quinn", she cries. I move closer and wrap my arms around her and lift her into my lap. Even though the stench of the bin lingers to her I bury my face into her hair and inhale her scent. She still smells like jasmine.
"I'm here Rachel, I won't leave you again I promise".