She sat in Ms Pilsburys room waiting for the answer to who would be recieving the part of Maria. She had wanted it so badly and worked so hard but she had felt it slipping away when Mercedes had started to sing. It was horrible.
She looked up as she heard Ms Pilsbury clear her throat.
"Now we have come to a decision based on your performances and ..." She paused for dramatic effect "Congratulations. Everyone Wins. You two will share the part of Maria." Ms Pilsbury smiled looking at the two of them.
Rachel nodded, happy to receive the opportunity to play Maria. She turned to Mercedes to congratulate her but was thrown off guard by the sudden out burst.
"Why does Rachel always get what ever she wants?" Mercedes snapped at them all. Mercedes turned to Rachel and glared. "Say you were better than me." She said, daring Rachel to say it. She stayed quiet though, she knew Mercedes was better than her. "You can have it. I don't want it." She turned around and walked out the door leaving a stunned Coach, Artie and Ms Pilsbury.
Rachel got up and ran after Mercedes hoping to make it some what better. She had enjoyed having a friend for once. "Mercedes! Wait!" She almost screamed through the busy halls. She almost ran into Mercedes as the girl turned and glared.
"It has always been the Rachel Berry show. When is it my time to shine?" She yelled into Rachels face. Rachel had to step back as she realised running after her soon to be ex-friend wasn't the best of ideas.
"Please Mercedes, let's talk-" She was cut off as the diva started to yell again.
"You always get the solos Rachel, you always get what ever you want while I have to sit in the Shadows. Not this time though."
"I'm sorry I didn't-" She was cut short as the diva started yelling again.
"Tell me. I was better than you." She looked at the ground as Mercedes smirked. Everyone was watching and she knew it was a matter of time before she started to cry. She looked around at the group that had surrounded the two divas and caught sight of Finn who was staring blankly at the scene in front of him, Puck who looked worried and Quinn. Quinn looked livid. Rachel had never seen her look so angry before.
"Look at me." Mercedes growled as she was about to prove her point and humiliating her in the process. She braced for the worst and got what she was expecting.
"You always get what you want. Everyone gives you everything because you are a skinny, Geronimo-wearing ass kisser."
Rachel looked into Mercedes eyes and broke. She couldn't stop the flow of tears and turned to go when something stopped her and pulled her into a hug.
"Qui- QUINN? What are you doing?" Mercedes gasped. Rachel felt the grip around her tighten as she tried to move away. She closed her eyes and moved into the hug hoping the flow of tears and sobs would eventually stop.
"It's okay." Quinn shushed as Rachel sobbed into her neck. Quinn glared at Mercedes and soothed the broken girl.
"What are you doing comforting her?" Mercedes said, trying to hide the surprise in her voice.
"I'm doing what I should have done when you started screaming at her when she was trying to make amends." She said calmly but with a hint of malice.
"She got the part. She is a selfish brat. Why does no one want to hurt her?" Mercedes asked not expecting the answer she got.
"MERCEDES? Are you an idiot? You think all the times everyone has hurt her aren't flashing in front of her eyes right now? Because they are. Everyone in this room has hurt her including me and you."
"Oh you are so hypocritical." Mercedes growled.
"You're just jealous because Rachel is a somebody while you are a nobody. The fact is, you are one of the most comfortable in glee because you are a nobody while everyone hates on Rachel because she means something. Without her, we wouldn't make it past sectionals."
"Quinn. Are you being serious? Stop defending the girl. She can get over it." The diva laughed as the shorter brunette started to sob even harder.
"When was the last time someone told you were annoying Mercedes?" Quinn asked angrily.
"Well I really-" Quinn cut her off.
"When was the last time you were slushied for having dreams?" Quinn cut Mercedes off yet again. "Or the last time your friends casually threw around the fact that oh, they can't stand you, but hey whatever, it's okay right? Rachel may be selfish but maybe it's because she's had to be. Maybe she had to learn how only care about herself because if she didn't then who would?" Mercedes was staring wide eyed at Quinn who was ready with the final blow. "Mercedes. You are selfish, rude and extremely egotistical. So congratulations. You win."
The hall was silent as Mercedes pushed her way through the crowd. Rachel was still sobbing into Quinns chest as Mr Schue told everyone to get to class. She stood stroking the divas back and hoping to god it would end soon. The girl had her hands infront of her chest and was crumbling before the blondes eyes. She had never seen Rachel react like this. Yes the tears but the actual breaking down, never.
"Shh, it's okay. It's okay. Listen, I'm going to take you to the girls bathroom. Is that okay?" Quinn said quietly into the girls ear pushing away the fly aways. She nodded and they both made their way to the bathroom.
It was extremely slow as the diva was trying not to crumble completely. Quinn eventually grew impatient and picked her up and was surprised at how light she was.
When they reached the bathrooms Quinn put her down against the wall and got some paper towels. Moistning the tip of one, she moved her way to the broken girl sitting in a heap on the bathroom floor. It broke her heart to see the once confident and resilient diva so fragile and vulnerable.
She took the tip of Rachels chin and tilted upwards so she could see her face. It was red and puffy and emotionless. Something the blonde had never seen on her before. She swallowed down the lump in her throat and wiped away the tears and running mascara from the girls face. She looked into those chocolate brown eyes and had trouble to swallow. They were so dead and dark that Quinn had to look away.
She continued the slow process of removing all Rachels make up as the girl seemed incapable of moving.
"Why are you being so nice to me?" Rachel choked out. She sounded so pained.
"Remember that time when this girl came to me under the bleachers and asked me to come back to Glee?" Quinn smirked at the memory. She looked up and noticed a small smile had made their way onto the brunettes face.
"Yes."
"Well. It made me think someone actually cared." She wiped away another tear from Rachels cheek and let her hand linger, stroking the area gently as the diva leant into the touch.
"Thank you." The girl whispered closing her eyes.
