Not As Dumb As You Think
Chapter 1: Different
A/N: Here's my first story. Sorry if it's bad, it is my first time, so review and let me know if I should continue: D
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee in any way, shape or form.
Warning: Abuse, and smut for later chapters
Summary: Brittany may be smarter than what everyone gives her credit for. When she spots a problem with Rachel, can she help her out? Will this newfound friendship turn into a romance? M for abuse and smut in later chapters, you have been warned! BrittBerry.
Brittany may not be smart at school, but she was smart with people. She knew Santana was completely shattered after she rejected her in the hallway, she knew Quinn was a huge pressed lemon, she knew Puck was a man whore, she knew Finn was dumber than she was, she knew Artie was only using her to get back with Tina, and Tina was using Mike to get back with Artie, she knew Mr. Schue was desperately trying to get over his feelings for Ms. Pillsbury, even though it's blatantly obvious she loves him back, but most of all she knew that Rachel never, under any circumstances, EVER wore anything but short skirts, argyle, and a huge smile. Which is exactly why she was thrown into a deep sea of confusion when Rachel walked through the choir room doors in jeans, a hoodie, and a forced smile, shortly followed by an angry looking Finn. The diva sat in her normal front row seat, as Finn plopped into the chair next to her. Finn sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, and turned to Rachel apologetically. He gently placed a hand on her arm, and she immediately flinched away from his touch, her smile faltering. The tall boy's features softened even more and he bowed his head. He leaned over and softly whispered into Rachel's ear, but no matter how much she strained, Brittany couldn't make out what he was saying. After Finn pulled away, Rachel's forced smile immediately returned and she turned to face him.
"I forgive you," she whispered softly, placing a soft hand on his shoulders. Finn smiled broadly and turned back to the front of the room in excitement. What he didn't see was Rachel's smile immediately drop, before sighing deeply and facing forwards again. Brittany furrowed her brow in confusion and stared intently at Rachel. She could've sworn she saw deep purple littering her wrists, after the brunette accidentally let her sleeve dip for a moment. She turned her gaze to Finn who was talking animatedly with Sam and Puck, and then back to Rachel who was sitting in her seat, scribbling in her notebook. The blonde almost jumped to the ceiling when she felt a soft pair of hands on her back.
"Britt, why are you staring at Stubbles like that? It's kinda creepy," Santana questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"I'm not," Brittany mumbled, shifting her gaze to the Latina, "but have you noticed anything… different, with Rachel?"
"Psht, and go blind staring at her hideous face? I don't think so, but her fashion has improved tremendously, since when do you start caring about RuPaul anyways?"
"I don't," she quickly reassured her, "just something I noticed."
"Well start noticing something else, will you? Just talking about the dwarf is making me sick." Brittany nodded and redirected her attention to the front of the room just as Mr. Schue walked in.
"Okay everybody, so this week's assignment's on… pain. But this week, I want everybody to do a solo, so no partners, and… yes Rachel?" Mr. Schue was cut off mid sentence as Rachel's hand shot into the air.
"Mr. Schue. I understand the importance of weekly assignments, but I believe that since nationals is right around the corner, we should broaden our song selection, and maybe do something a little more…" Brittany tuned out the rest of Rachel's rambling as Santana tapped her on the shoulder.
"See? Manhands is perfectly fine, so stop worrying about nothing." Santana crossed her arms and rolled her eyes before inspecting her nails. Brittany turned back to Rachel and eyed her curiously. Something was still off about the diva. Her words didn't seem as big, and she didn't seem as… enthusiastic, as usual. She sighed, and looked down at her lap, but her head snapped back up as Mr. Schue smacked his hand down on the table.
"Enough, Rachel! I'm tired of you constantly trying to take control of Glee. I'm the teacher and what I say goes, just do the assignment without questioning it for once!" Rachel bowed her head and looked down at her hands, while Mr. Schue moved on, to explain the aspects of 'pain', and other boring teacher stuff. Thirty more minutes dragged by of hearing Mr. Schue's boring rant about nationals, and pain, and anything else you can think of, and by the time the bell rang, Brittany was ready to go. She bounded out the door, and was just in time to witness one of the infamous slushy facials. Just as she stepped out the door, she watched Karofsky strut up to Rachel and nonchalantly throwing a blueberry slushy in her face. Rachel stood in shock for a moment, before hastily pulling the hood over her face and dashing to the nearest bathroom, trying to escape the cheering and laughing crowd that followed her. Brittany frowned, Rachel seemed to be really off lately and she wanted to know what was up. She took a step towards the direction Rachel went, but she stopped as a hand on her shoulder restrained her.
"Britt, where are you going? The doors this way," Santana asked, motioning to the school's exit.
"I just need to use the bathroom really fast, I'll see you tomorrow," Brittany replied quickly before breaking from Santana's grip and walking quickly to where Rachel had disappeared to. She walked down the halls before coming to the bathrooms. She paused a moment before slowly pushing the doors open and walking in. Rachel was bent over the sinking, washing her face. The blue slushy was washing down the drain, but there was something else coming off her face too, and it was the same color as her skin… "Rachel?" Brittany asked quietly, taking a step closer to the brunette. Rachel froze; she turned the water off, and turned to Brittany, her hair acting like a curtain, shielding her face.
"Hello Brittany, I didn't expect anyone else to be here, you startled me," Rachel bent down to pick her bag up and Brittany could faintly make out a dark ring circling her left eye. "It was great talking to you but I really must go, it's a long walk to my house." Rachel began walking briskly to the door, but Brittany caught her around the shoulders and turned to face the brunette. She gently brushed the hair out of Rachel's face, and gasped at the huge purple ring she found around her eye. Rachel tried to turn her head away, desperate to hide her bruise from Brittany, but the blonde turned her head back towards her and ghosted her fingers over her eyes.
"What happened?" she asked, gently touching the huge bruise, but pulling away as Rachel flinched.
"I fell and hit my eye against a doorknob," she mumbled quickly, "I really am very clumsy, listen, I really need to get home before I get in trouble for being late." She tried to remove herself from the tall blondes grasped, but Brittany just pulled her back into place.
"I'll give you a ride, it's getting dark." Brittany offered, she noticed that the brunette was beginning to get nervous and panicky.
"No, its fine, I can just walk." Rachel replied, her eyes flickering to the door.
"No it'll be fun, come on." Brittany grabbed Rachel's hand and dragged her out the door, and out of the school.
"Brittany, this is totally unnecessary, I'm perfectly capable of walking home."
"Pretty please? Your house is on the way to mine anyways, it'll be nice to have someone to talk to on the drive home." Brittany may have told a little lie there, her house may be on the complete opposite side of Lima, but that part didn't really matter. She wanted to know what was bothering the diva. Rachel sighed and reluctantly got into the passenger's seat.
"Fine, but only because it's getting dark," Brittany nodded enthusiastically and slipped into the drivers seat, before starting the car and pulling out of the parking lot.
"Can I ask you a question?" Brittany asked, after a few minutes of silence.
"Well, considering you just did, another wouldn't hurt," Rachel replied, staring out the window.
"Why are you dressing different?" Brittany asked, glancing at Rachel out of the side of her eyes. Rachel looked down at her lap and began playing with the bottom of her hoodie.
"Well… you see… I…" Rachel stuttered, she was desperately trying to think of something to say, she obviously couldn't tell Brittany the truth. She couldn't use the excuse that it was getting colder, it was in the high seventy's today, she couldn't say she ran out of skirts and sweaters, she had enough of those to dress a small island. "I, uhm, I just felt like it." She swallowed thickly and eyed Brittany, hoping she would buy her lame excuse. Brittany nodded slowly before pulling up to Rachel's driveway. Rachel got out of the car and grabbed her backpack. "Well, thanks for the ride, I'll see you tomorrow." Rachel shut the car door and walked slowly up to her front door as Brittany pulled away. The blonde knew that there was definitely something wrong with Rachel, and she was going to find out what it was.
There you go. Sorry if it's kind of short, review and tell me if I should continue, or if it's a piece of shit and I should just stop there. Thanks :)