Author's Note: Apparently my first attempt at this new upload system failed horribly and it led to the format being ALL jacked up. Not to self, don't use the "copy and paste" option. Just upload the file and edit it, hopefully this works.

Anyway, this is the first story I've uploaded on here since 2014. This entire story is available over on my Tumblr as it was originally posted there. I just wanted to share it over here so that I could have actual reviews to read. I like going back through old stories and reading reviews.

Beautiful
Chapter 1

"Do you have any idea who I am?"

"Sure we do." Karofsky stepped closer to the Cheerio in front of him, "you're nothing but a dyke." He reached behind him to accept a cup that some other student handed to him. "And this is what people like you get." He dumped the cold, frozen liquid on the top of her head.

Santana stood frozen, literally, by the ice chunks that slowly slid down her hair and onto her clothing. The chill of the slushy was instant. She found herself taking slow, deep breaths to stop herself from cutting off his fingers with one of the razor blades she kept hidden in her hair.

"Aw, what's the matter, Satan? Nothing to say?"

"Actually Karofsky, I prefer interactions with people on my own intelligence level." She cupped her fingers over her eyes to scoop away the ice and syrup before forcing her eyes open – ignoring the stinging pain she instantly felt.

He snatched her wrist tight enough for her to hiss in pain as he leaned down to yell into her face, "the fuck did you just say to me?"

Her teeth clenched together as she stared right at him, "I believe I just called you an idiot. Or could you not understand me? Should I speak slower?"

With a quick push, Santana found her back, and the back of her head connecting with the nearest locker. "Let's go guys, this bitch isn't worth it."

Slowly, she sank down to the floor. 'Don't break, Santana. You're at school, they can't see you break.' She gave herself an internal pep talk as she swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. There was a slow throb that started in her head and continued down to her shoulder blades from the impact with the unforgiving metal. It wasn't the first time she'd been shoved into the lockers. And, with her still having almost two years left at the school before she graduated, she doubted it would be the last.

"Let me help you."

Santana looked up at the hand that was being offered to her. She threw the girl a soft smile before taking it and allowing herself to be helped back to her feet. Without another word, she followed the girl into the nearest bathroom to get cleaned up. "I'm so sick and tired of this."

"Haven't you said anything to Coach Sylvester?"

"Are you really that dense to think that woman cares about anybody but herself, Rachel?"

The shorter brunette dug into her own backpack for some soap and shampoo to help the Latina clean up. "I was just trying to be helpful, Santana. You don't need to bite my head off."

Santana's hands clutched the edge of the sink for a moment as she stared at herself in the mirror. Blue definitely wasn't her color. "I'm sorry… they just have me so fucking pissed!"

"Language Santana." Rachel scolded before reaching in front of the Cheerio to turn on the sink. "There has to be something you can do."

Santana spun around to face her friend, "don't you think I've tried? I just have to put up with it. This school is fucking ridiculous."

"Santana, language."

"You really think I care right now, Berry?" She hated snapping at the girl, but those two meatheads had gotten her so irritated over the past few weeks. She closed her eyes to calm her anger some. She'd gotten better with not snapping as much at the people who she learned were her real friends. "I don't have anything else to wear…" she made no attempt to hide the disappointment in her tone as she looked down at her soaked Cheerios uniform. Rachel mentioned talking to Sylvester about it, but it was obvious that the Cheerios coach already knew about it. It was an almost daily basis that Santana was forced to change out of her uniform.

"No emergency clothing left?" Rachel frowned as she went back to her backpack. "I have some you may borrow. I know you'll take good care of them."

Santana's perfectly shaped eyebrows shot straight up as she looked at her fellow brunette. "No."

"You can't wear that for the rest of the school day. I've had to do it before, Santana, and trust me, the syrup starts to harden and it gets gummy. Then it begins to stick to everything. Before you know it you have rashes in places you don't want them. Not to men-"

"I get it!" Santana grumbled as she ran her fingers through her hair to get the rest of the ice chunks out before they melted. "The only thing I look forward to every day is glee."

Rachel laughed softly, "I never thought I'd hear you say that."

Santana just shrugged as she turned off the water in the sink. "It's the only place in this hell hole that people treat me like I'm human." She glanced at the clothing in Rachel's hands before sighing and taking it. "I'm going to go use the Cheerios' shower," she accepted the Ziploc bag that had some of Rachel's shampoo and body wash in it with a small smile, "thanks."

"I'll see you in glee?"

Rachel watched as Santana nodded. She kept her eyes on her as she left the bathroom. Rachel felt sorry for the Latina. Ever since a few seniors caught her at Breadstix with another girl, Santana's school life became hell. Rachel turned her attention to the mirror to adjust some of her own make-up. She didn't have time to focus on Santana too long as she noticed one of the far stalls opening. She watched a blond girl, about her height walk up to one of the sinks near her to wash her hands.

"I… kind of overheard everything." The girl spoke softly to Rachel.

Rachel placed her hand on her hip before turning to face the girl. "You must be new here, because I've never seen you before. I may only be a junior, but I know everybody in this school. That girl has been through enough already, she doesn't need any more problems from a new girl."

The blond laughed as she held up her hands in defense. "I was just gonna ask about this glee thing you were talking about."

"Oh, my apologies." The diva extended her hand, "Rachel Berry, and you are?"

"Dani." She glanced at Rachel's hand before taking it gently in her own.

"Can you sing Danielle?"

The blond cringed, it wasn't the first time that had happened to her, and doubted it would be the last, "no, it's just Dani."

Rachel eyed her for a moment. "Alright, Dani… can you sing?"

XXXXXX

For the fifth time since she put the long sleeved shirt on, she forced the sleeves up her arms. She hated wearing someone else's clothing, it never seemed to fit her right. Rachel's sweat pants were just a little too short on her, while, for some reason, the sleeves on her sweater were too long. It didn't make sense. Rachel had legs that went on forever, but was shorter than she was. Santana had expected it to be the other way around with how the clothing fit her.

With a sigh, she entered the choir room, books hugged to her chest as she went. At once she got cleaned up from the incident after lunch, nobody bothered her anymore. It always seemed to be a once a day thing. Just as a reminder to her and to everybody else that she was a lesbian.

"What… on Earth… are you wearing?"

Santana's eyes narrowed as she looked at Puck. "Why don't you ask your little football friends what happened earlier?" She plopped down in her normal seat along the back wall. Just as she had, she spotted Quinn walking toward her.

"Another slushy?" Quinn tossed her bag to the floor before sitting beside her best friend.

"What do you think?"

The blond smirked, "I think you pull off Rachel's animal sweaters very well."

"Can it, Fabray. Nobody asked you."

"Actually, you did, Santana." She gave her friend a once over before lowering her voice, "are you okay?"

Santana ran her fingers through her hair before pulling it over her shoulder and looking straight ahead. Without a second thought, she lied, "yea. I'm fine." She could feel Quinn's eyes on her. She wanted to tell her so badly, she wanted to tell all of her friends so badly, but she couldn't find the words. Quinn asked her every day if she was alright. She also never pushed it once Santana told her she was fine.

"Well, you know I'll listen to you. No matter how much you irritate me."

"Gee, thanks, Quinn." Santana spoke sarcastically before turning to her friend. There was a hint of a smile on her face though. Her and Quinn had always been like that with one another, ever since they had first met.

Brittany claimed the seat on the other side of Santana and kept her eyes on the door as she spoke, "Rachel finally found someone her size to play with."

The Latina's head spun to look at the other blond, "what are you talking about, B?"

"Look, they were like cloned or something. Except that other girl has different color hair… and her face is shaped different… and I think she has bigger boobs."

Santana tilted her head to the side as she looked at Brittany, on her other side, she could practically feel Quinn leaning forward in her chair to look at her fellow blond. "Britt, what are you talking about?"

"Look." Brittany told her again, this time putting her hand on Santana's cheek to force her to turn to the front of the room.

Santana's breath hitched in her throat as her eyes landed on the girl that stood beside Rachel. They appeared to be talking to Mr. Shuester about something. The girl had a gorgeous smile. One that almost rivaled Rachel's in size. She couldn't tear her eyes away from the girl who's name she didn't even know. Santana felt a chill roll over her spine that she hadn't felt before. She didn't even know the girl's name yet. There was something absolutely adorable about the way she tilted her head to the side as she looked up at their teacher. Then she laughed and Santana was done.

"Lopez!" Quinn's hand connected with the back of her friend's head. "Keep it in your pants already."

Santana instantly smacked her friend's hand away from her. "Get off of me."

"She's right though, San. You were drooling." Brittany reached out and made a show of wiping the brunette's chin with her finger.

"Ugh, I hate you two." Santana's arms folded over her chest as she leaned back in her chair with a pout.

Mr. Shuester smiled at the girl beside Rachel, "welcome to the glee club, Dani."

The blonde's eyes grew wide for a moment before she shook her head, "no, no. I'm not joining… I don't think at least. Rachel just convinced me to come and… spectate I guess."

The teacher continued smiling at her anyway. "Well, hopefully you will decide to join us. The more the merrier in here."

Rachel rolled her eyes at her teacher before leading Dani to two of the empty chairs in the front row. "He's always really over the top excited over everything."

Dani laughed softly at her before sitting down. She already felt at home in the room. She felt like she could completely relax and let her walls down. Not right away, but perhaps over time. Dani took a moment to look around the room. She spotted an overly flamboyant boy talking to another guy with his hair practically glued to his head. When she saw them lean in to kiss one another, she couldn't stop herself from smiling. She then saw a guy with some weird Mohawk flexing in some overly dramatic fashion, drawing laughter from a guy in a wheelchair. Along the back of the room, she spotted three girls sitting together. They were all beautiful, but, the one in the middle caught her attention. She could have sworn she heard the name 'Santana' being said to her. 'Was that the girl from the bathroom?' Dani wondered to herself. She didn't have much time to think though as the other girl's eyes met her own for a brief moment. When the brunette smirked softly at her and made no attempt to look away, she could feel the blush covering her own cheeks. Dani forced herself to look to the front of the classroom. 'That has to be her.' Dani dared to glance back again, this time a small smile of her own when her eyes met the brunette's.

Maybe she would like it in the New Directions. She'd always heard good things about the group, and was already starting to see why. The room consisted of what appeared to be the biggest span of social groups possible. From the cheerleaders in the back, to the football players with their letterman jackets, to a guy in a wheelchair with glasses and two gay guys.

"Thanks for bringing me here." Dani spoke softly as she smiled at the girl beside her.