*Notes*
-I don't own any of these characters except for my one original
-This is also up on AO3, I will update new chapters at the same time
-This takes place near the beginning-ish of season 2 of Glee. Everything up until then is canon for my story, going forward I will use what happened in S2 as a sort of outline but will deviate from the canon.
-Main character is an original character but a LOT of interaction with Santana, and eventually with Brittany and the other glee club members.
- I'm not a writer usually, just had this story in my head and wanted to get it out. I probably make a lot of grammatical errors, and I know I have an issue with switching between past and present tense by accident. My apologies on anything, but I hope you enjoy the story in general.

** NEW NOTE ** I have a friend helping me outline from chapter 7 and on, and it gets a little tighter and better. stick with it if you enjoy the general concept! thank you

Chapter 1

**5PM Wednesday**

Juliet thought maybe she was hallucinating. Up until that morning, the idea that the hottest cheerleader in all of Mckinley would be in her bedroom and on top of her, was only a fever dream. However there they were; it was as much of a reality as was how much Chemistry homework she was currently avoiding. Juliet groaned and sent a silent thank you to whoever invented the cheerleading uniform, but all of a sudden the body heat on top of her was gone.

"Hell no Romeo, don't get all hot and bothered. This is strictly business." Santana's icy cold stare made Juliet feel small.

"Okay, I know you're having some existential gay crisis but why does that mean I can't enjoy any of this?" Juliet shifted herself so she sat with her back against the headboard of the bed. "As someone who is not even fully out of the closet, this kind of experience is few and far between for me here in good old Ohio."

Santana rolled her eyes and laid on her back facing the ceiling. "Like I told you already, I'm not gay." She paused and sighed before she continued. "My bestie Britt was the best make out partner I've ever had, but now she's all into that four eyed wheelbarrow and I don't see her as much anymore."

Juliet laid back next to Santana. "And you just thought the logical thing to do was to seek out me because of a rumor you heard that I might play on the same team as you...if you get what I mean." Juliet reached down to poke Santana jokingly in the side.

Santana huffed and sat up. "Don't touch me, dyke." Juliet's breath hitched, she wasn't expecting that response. "It's obvious by your lesbo haircut and lumberjack fashion choices, you aren't hiding anything. But I'm nothing like you. I am tired of all the guys in our school so I thought we could have some fun. But I guess NOT." Santana shouted as she swung off the bed and grabbed her bag.

"If you tell anyone this happened, I will end you." Santana spewed, not looking at Juliet for a minute more as she busted out the door.

Juliet sat up in shock. She could ignore the derogatory terms whispered at her in the hallway, but in her own house it felt a lot worse. Thinking back to earlier in the day, she almost had a heart attack when Santana came up to her right before lunch.

**11:30AM Wednesday**

"Hey, you." A hand forcefully shut Juliet's locker just as she was pulling her algebra notebook out.

"Um, ow!" Juliet huffed as she slid her book out of the closing doors, scraping her hand along the way. She looked over at the culprit and almost choked on air. The most sought after cheerleader, the highest on Mckinley's social ladder (maybe behind Quinn) but most importantly, the girl she's been fantasizing about ever since attending her first football game last year, was standing at her locker staring her down.

"Uh..." Juliet looked around at the almost deserted hallway. Santana rolled her eyes.
"Yes hi, me the hottest bitch at this school is talking to you, a relatively average lady lovin tennis player - is tennis even a sport? Anywho, I need to make a deal with you." Santana crossed her arms and leaned against the row of lockers.

Juliet was taken aback but finally formed words. "Excuse me, but I am the captain of the girls varsity ten - wait." Her voice got quieter and her eyes darted around to see if anyone was listening. "I ... I'm not a...um, gay." Juliet stuttered and clutched her textbook closer to her chest as the curls on top of her head fell into her eyes.

Santana rolled her eyes. "Well, me either. But everyone likes to get drunk at parties and make out with their besties. But I heard you enjoy it a little more than most do." Santana winked at her.

Juliet scratched the side of her freshly shaven head. She knew ever since she got this "boys" haircut that people would think she liked girls. Deep down she also knew that was the reason she did it. It was a weird paradox to want to pretend so hard that you are "normal" but also at the same time want to stand out and be different - be true. Getting lost in her thoughts, Juliet realized she was holding her breath. She let out a sigh of defeat.

"What do you want from me?" Juliet was pensive but curious.
Santana lowered her voice and leaned in. "I need you to help me out with something, and in return I can guarantee no more slushies for at least... a month."

Juliet stood there silent, waiting for further explanation. Did Santana think she would just blindly do whatever she said (she would).
"Meet me at my car after glee practice is over and I will explain." Santana twirled away and left Juliet alone in the hallway.

Juliet stood at her locker dumbfounded. What was that? She went outside to get some fresh air and sat down against a tree in the courtyard.
It wasn't that she was afraid of Santana but it was that ... she was intimidated by her. Juliet was the captain of the girls tennis team so it wasn't like they never ran into each other from time to time. Juliet was invited to most of the same parties that the cheerios were invited too, but they always felt like they were on a different level; they felt untouchable. She had never spoken to a single one of them, especially not to the three who coined themselves the "Unholy Trinity." Santana, Brittany, and Quinn didn't even stop being cool once they joined the glee club. They still got invited to all the parties. Thinking about it now, Juliet realized that she hadn't been invited to as many parties this year as she was last year. It probably had something to do with the fact that girls in the locker room would cower away from her as they were changing. Or how Ms. Pillsbury, the guidance counselor, silently slid a pamphlet to her one day that read "So you're struggling with your sexuality." Juliet rolled her eyes at the memories.

It all started with that rumor about her and Lena, a girl that went to Mckinley's rival school, Carmel high. The rumor that was...really not a rumor. But no one else needed to know that. The summer between freshman and sophomore year had been one of exploring for Juliet. She lived on the city line and one of her neighbors was a brilliant girl named Lena. They never really knew each other but ending up chatting when they both took a beginners kickboxing class at the local rec center. Things spiraled and soon they ended up spending every waking moment together. It went from a close friendship into something... a lot more. Juliet loved being with Lena, she didn't realize that being with someone like that could feel so right. Lena however, always held her at arms length, as if she was teetering on a fault line. Right before sophomore year, Juliet's parents caught them cuddling and kissing and the next day Lena blew up at her. Called her a lot of horrible names and said she was going to hell for wanting to be with her in the "gay way." Juliet knew that Lena was just scared, she also was scared. Juliet's parents threatened to send her to conversion therapy, and in the end Juliet decided staying in the closet was the safest place for her. She told Lena they could pretend nothing happened, but Lena ended up telling everyone at Carmel that "some lesbo named Juliet from Mckinley was hitting on her all summer" and from there the story spread.

Reliving that summer in her memories left Juliet in a bad mood. She stood up and went over to the tennis courts. Who cared that it was the middle of the school day, she needed to let off some steam. She hit ball after ball against the backboard, hitting every shot perfectly. If there was one thing she had control over, it was a tennis ball. Her thoughts went back to Santana. What could she want? Why would she hint about knowing Juliet was gay? She thought about how Brittany and Santana are always attached at the hip and wondered if it had anything to do with that. She had heard they hooked up at parties sometimes, but also had heard they both slept with most of the football team. She didn't know what to believe.

At 4:30pm, after tennis practice and after she knew glee was over, Juliet waited by the dumpsters. She knew which car was Santana's but she wanted to wait until the cheerleader was in view. A few minutes later, she saw her walking through the rows of cars, with Brittany and that kid in the wheelchair, Alex ... or was it Artie? She stopped at her car as the other two kept going and Juliet could see the sadness in her eyes from miles away. She watched as Santana looked around the parking lot, seemingly nervous and annoyed at the same time.

"Hey..." Juliet said tentatively as she walked over. Santana's face showed a glimpse of insecurity, but in a flash it was gone.

"Hey so listen. Puck is in juvvie and most of the guys at this school I've already hooked up with and they're all boring and disgusting. I am meant for bigger and better things than this hickville place but I need to keep myself in top form. You know, sexually." Juliet just raised an eyebrow and kept listening.
"I've heard the stories about you, and I'm presenting you with an opportunity of a lifetime, so you should be grateful to me. Let me come over to your house, and we can fool around, and in exchange I will make sure you don't get slushie facials for a little while. It's not a gay thing, don't get me wrong." Santana paused as Juliet's facial expression turned into bewilderment.

"It's not a gay thing." Santana repeated. "I am just so over these boys, and I have needs." She ended there and waited expectantly for Juliet's reply.

Juliet stood there for what had to be a full minute in silence. A million things ran through her mind. She had a lot of different ideas of what Santana could want from her but this was not one of them.
"I -" Juliet started to say.

"Oh and this is a secret. You wouldn't want even more confirmation about YOU going around this school... do you?" Santana spoke forcefully. Juliet almost laughed out loud, Santana was trying to gaslight her into thinking she's doing this FOR her. Interesting technique, but Juliet knew that what really was happening - gay panic. Santana was totally into girls. Santana Lopez was asking to hook up with her.

"This offer expires in 30 seconds so either get in my car or regret missing this for the rest of your life." Santana turned and climbed into the drivers seat of the car. Juliet shook herself out of her haze and hopped over to the passenger side.
They sat in silence save for the occasional direction Juliet had to give. Santana tried to act natural and stoic but inside she was trembling. All she wanted to do is be with Britt, but she screwed that up and so Britt went running to Artie. As she listened to the cars whistling by them, she started to freak herself out more. "What's my problem?" Santana thought to herself. She had been with almost every reputable guy at Mckinley like it was no big deal - which it wasn't. Guys are generally dumb and really easy to figure out. No harm no foul. What is occurring to her now, it that girls might be different. Girls might be different because maybe deep down she wanted more from them. More than she was willing to admit.

Juliet was just as equally freaking out inside. She felt like she was in some alternate reality. Her wildest fantasy was literally coming true. The girl she'd been seceretly pining over for the better half of a year is driving to her house right now. At that moment she didn't care what the true reasoning is. If she needed to become that girl that other girls experimented with in high school - then so be it! Juliet smiled at that thought and chuckled a little to herself.
Santana looked over at Juliet and her stomach rolled. Should she feel bad about using this girl? She most likely is loving this. Actually she had no idea what the other girl is feeling, she hardly knows her. Santana felt like an asshole.
"Hey so, Juliet. This is okay with you right?" Santana asked pensively.

Juliet peered over and saw her gripping the steering wheel with white knuckles. "Yeah. This is okay with me." She didn't say anything else because she didn't know what she is supposed to say. Santana nodded and they returned back to silence until Juliet told her to turn right into a driveway. "Are your parents home?" Santana questioned. She was hoping not, but either way this house was better than her own.
"No, they won't be home till after 6." Juliet nervously chuckled. "There is some church meeting after work or something..."

Santana nodded. She didn't care for her to go into more details, but felt a twinge of sadness for her. If her family was anything like Quinn's...she didn't finish the thought. They both got out of the car, Juliet let her inside, and they went up to her room. They awkwardly stood there for a moment, Santana looked at her, like really looked at her, for the first time. She was cute, Santana thought. That short haircut gives her an edge but her smile... she has dimples.
"Stop it Santana." She said to herself under her breath. This is just a means to an end.

"Are you okay?" Juliet asked her.
Santana felt a shift in her body, she needed to be control. She put on that emotionless front. "Yeah, let's just do this." She looked at Juliet for one more second and then crashed their lips together as she pushed them both back onto the bed.

**5PM Wednesday**

Juliet sat on her bed for a few minutes processing what just happened. When the shock wore off, she got pissed. "What the fuck." She said out loud to no one in particular. She knew Santana thought she could do whatever she wanted but Juliet was no pushover.

The next day at school, Juliet saw Santana by her locker talking to Mercedes, a girl from glee club, they were discussing something about singing a duet. When Mercedes walked away Juliet stormed up to her.

"Hey, what the fuck?" Was all Juliet could think to say. She thought it summed up her thoughts real nicely. Santana looked taken aback that Juliet dare come up to her so publicly. "What the hell are you doing." She yell-whispered back as she looked around to see who was watching this.

"What the hell are you doing? If you want me to keep this secret for you than you can't call me derogatory names use me like I am some puppet." Juliet usually doesn't get that angry but this struck a nerve.
Santana ducked them around a corner and forcefully pushed Juliet's shoulder against a wall. "Listen, you have as much secret invested in this as I do, hell even more because like I told you I'm not gay." She whispered the last word as if she would catch a disease.

"Oh please Santana, AS IF anything about me is a secret. Sure I pretend it is but, everyone knows. You aren't doing me any favors." Juliet hissed back. Just then two cheerios and a football player rounded the corner. Santana looked at them, pushed Juliet's shoulder back against the wall again, and says loudly. "You better finish your part of our chemistry project or I will make your life a living nightmare." With that, Santana turned around to join the crew, and as she does Juliet gets hit in the face with a bone shivering purple slushie that makes her cough and spit.

"Fag." the football player leers at her. Santana laughs - hard. Maybe a little too forcefully like she's trying to prove something. The four of them walk away as if nothing happened and Juliet is left standing against the wall trying to hold back the tears forming in her eyes.

Suddenly she felt arms wrapping around her and leading her outside the building. Once outside the mystery savior gives her a towel to wipe her face off with and she glances up to get a look at who is there. It's Kurt Hummel. She knew him as the only openly gay kid at this school.

"I always have a spare towel with me for times just like this." He tells her.
"I hate that fucking word." He says softly. She does too. She hates all of the words that get whispered to her in the halls, or the anonymous instant messages she gets late at night. All she can do right now is nod at Kurt and try not to cry. It's not like she's never been slushied before - the student body barely considers tennis to be a real sport. But it's the reasoning behind the slushie that hurts more this time. Especially the way Santana reacted. She's the one that dragged her into this in the first place.

"I think a friend of mine might have an extra sweatshirt in her locker if you wanted to change into that." Kurt offers. Juliet dries herself off as best she can and gives him a half hearted smile.

"Thank you. I have one in my locker too though." She pauses, and extends her hand. "I'm Juliet."

Kurt smiles at her and returns the handshake. "Kurt. And I know who you are."

Juliet lets out a low chuckle. "I know who you are too." Kurt tilts his head to the side. "I'm no expert at how to navigate this here, but if you ever need backup let me know. It's nice to know I'm not the only one." He gives her a reassuring smile. She almost puts up a defense. He was assuming a lot and he didn't even know her. But who is she kidding. She was just plain tired of this. She nods in agreement.
"Yeah. I think I am done trying to deny it. Not really ready to shout it off the rooftops but..." She trails off. He gives her a knowing look.

"and about Santana..." He pauses when Juliet's body gets rigid. "I know shes a bitch, I won't make excuses for her, we aren't even friends. But I see her a lot because of glee and past all those layers of tough I think she's just as broken. She's gonna tear down anyone in her path first before she lets herself be happy though so I'd steer clear if I were you." Juliet looks inquisitively at Kurt as he's analyzing Santana. How does he know? She wonders. But of course he knows. If you know the signs - you know. She also knows he would never say anything to out her, and neither will she. Juliet may feel a lot of distain for Santana right now but she would never do that.
"I...think I recently learned this lesson." Juliet gives him a nod, as if she is convincing herself that she's graduated past what happened.

Kurt walks with her back into the school and to her locker where her extra clothes are. "Hey, can you sing? Or dance?" He asks. Juliet raises her eyebrow.
"I've known to bust out my best Kelly Clarkson impression every now and then." Juliet smiles what she feels is her first real smile of the day.

"You should consider joining glee club. It's the only semi-non judgement free zone this school has." He smiles reassuringly at her and then glances at the clock. "I've got to run to class but, it was nice to officially meet you Juliet." He skips away and Juliet just stares at her locker. Glee club would definitely be something her mother would love for her to do, but in all honesty it sounded kind of lame to Juliet. She couldn't believe Santana was actually a part of it. But maybe she could join it as a way to torture her. She closed her locker and ran to her next class, trying to push out thoughts of all the events that happened this morning.