A/N - This my first glee-fic, I couldn't resist writing some Pezberry. I should include a warning that this chapter includes some swearing and deals with racism. This is also the first thing i have written in ages and all mistakes are my own. I have written the first five chapters or so but with no plan just seeing where my brain takes me. As always reviews are very much welcomed/encourage! : )

Chapter One

It was Thursday night, and exhausted from hours of rehearsals all Santana wanted to do was crawl up the stairs to her room and take a long hot shower. Well, that would be the case if she didn't have to share it with the most annoying girl on the planet. How she had gotten stuck sharing a small enclosed space with Rachel Berry was beyond her, and as soon as she decided to start speaking to Britney again she was going to find out exactly how the room arrangements had gotten so tremendously fucked up. Running a hand through her hair the Latina let out a loud yawn, she hadn't been this tired since Coach Sylvester had made them pull double practices in the lead up to Nationals and at least then she had been able to sleep in her own bed. Santana couldn't help but wonder for the hundredth time that day exactly what she had let herself into, sure she loved being a part of Glee but giving up her weekend to perform at some random-ass competition in the middle of butt-fuck nowhere was looking like a step to far.

Finally reaching the elevator Santana noticed some of the members of a rival school milling around, casting a quick glance at the stairs she decided she was way to tired to heave her aching body up the flight of concrete and besides she was Santana Lopez, even if she was out numbered she had more than enough retorts saved up to put these jerks away if they tried to give her shit.

Leaning against a wall she waited for the elevator to arrive, already envisioning the hot shower that awaited her and blocking out the images of Rachel, the brunette almost missed the laughs coming from the group in front of her. Laughs that seemed to be aimed in her direction, though she quickly dismissed this thought as paranoia. No-one laughed at her, not anymore anyway.

The welcome sound of the elevator doors opening pulled Santana away from her thoughts and she quickly hurried inside, followed by a handful of others. Pushing the button for her floor and cursing that she had ended up one of the top levels she turned her back to the strangers in the lift and tried to block out their mindless chatter. If there was anything she hated more than being tired it was pointless yapping from mindless idiots.

Except that it wasn't mindless chatter, Santana frowned as she realised for the first time exactly what they were saying.

'Okay, okay…I got one. Why don't Mexican's cross the border in threes?' an overly loud voice boomed out.

A chill ran down Santana's spine as she swallowed the lump forming in her throat. She already knew the punch-line to this joke; she had most of them engraved on her brain from various small minded assholes she had met in her life. She willed the lift to move faster.

'Because the sign says…no tres-passing!'

The group behind her broke out into loud obnoxious laughter, and she could feel their stares drilling into her back, begging her to react.

'Wait, I got a better one' another voice popped up, malice laced in with her laughter 'Did you hear about the winner of the Mexican beauty contest...No...Me neither!'

Again, laughter broke out but this time Santana felt a distinct shove making her stumble forward, only her quick reactions stopping her from falling against the door in front of her.

'Hey, watch it' she growled, casting her patented glare behind her.

'Dude watch out, you'll make the loser mad…then who's gonna clean your room in the morning?'

Santana heard the sound of a high-five but couldn't bring herself to turn around, she wanted to yell and scream at the small-minded bigots but every clever retort she had seemed to leave her. Holding her fists by her side in anger she could feel herself shaking, but it wasn't just the usual anger that simmered beneath the surface. This was something she hadn't felt in a long time it was humiliation, hurt and shame that she couldn't think of a single thing to say. She had worked long and hard to earn her reputation at McKinley as someone not to be messed with, but here in this elevator it didn't mean squat if she couldn't channel her inner bitch when she needed it most.

'What's the matter, lost for words?' came another jibe 'Or don't you speak English?'

Santana whirled round at this, rage barely contained, to face the group. Two guys and three girls were staring back at her, smirks emblazed on their faces as they looked her up and down in disgust. Standing tall against their hateful eyes the Latina snarled 'I speak English just fine, asshole'

'Whoa she's got a temper' one of guys said as he squared up to her.

'Don't get to close you'll catch something' one of the girls sneered, pulling him away.

The sound of the lift doors opening suddenly drew Santana's attention as she realised they had finally reached her floor; if she had been religious she would have been sending prayers out at that moment. As it was she was too distracted by a voice behind her to think of much else.

'Santana!' came Rachel's shrill voice, even this annoyance was a welcome relief.

The brunette turned to face to diva, who had most of the other glee members traipsing behind her, and was surprised to feel a wave of relief at the familiar faces. All she could think about was getting away from these jerks and pretending this whole thing had never happened. She was good at denial; she'd had a lot of practise over the years.

Unfortunately for Santana she was so wrapped up in her own escapism that she didn't hear the nasty chuckle from one of guys, just before he shoved her violently from the elevator. Stumbling forward she winced as she fell to the floor, her knees landing painfully on the old carpet and scrapping against the worn fabric, she managed to get her hands out in time to stop herself splaying completely onto the floor.

The sound of laughter behind her as the doors slammed shut again cut through her like a knife, turning around she saw them disappear but not before one of the girls yelled 'Better clean up while your down there, dirty fucking Mexican bitch'

The silence that followed was deafening as shock reverberated around the room causing almost a stand-off between Santana and the rest of the glee club, all of whom were at a loss for words. She couldn't bring herself to look up. She had spent so long building her reputation as a badass and she couldn't stand to see the way they were looking at her now but worst of all she couldn't think of a way to redeem herself, especially as she felt the tears begin to build up.

'S?' It was Quinn who spoke first, taking a tentative step towards her.

It was then Santana realised she was still on the floor, pulling herself quickly to her feet she ignored the pain and blood stain on the carpet where she had been and took a deep breath. It didn't help much, and did nothing to stop the tears that were now falling down her cheeks. Muttering something incomprehensible Santana pushed her way through the group, shrugging off Quinn's comforting touch the Latina headed for her room.

'Santana'

It was Mercedes this time who tried to get her attention but the Latina refused to face her friends, her cheeks burning with humiliation.

'Leave me alone' Santana shouted, she hadn't meant it to sound so broken but as she finally made her way to her room and slammed the door behind her, that was exactly how she felt. With her back against the door she slid to the ground, hands covering her face and allowed the sobs to come.