Rachel Berry made her way through the halls of William McKinley High School only to be stopped in her tracks by two football players walking towards her with full cups of slushies. Before she could object, she felt the icy, cold liquid seeping its way down her face and setting into her outfit.
"Know your place loser!" one of them yelled back as they walked away high-fiving and laughing towards one another. Rachel looked around the crowded hallways.
Just because I'm losing
Doesn't mean I'm lost
Doesn't mean I'll stop
Doesn't mean I would cross
Everyone was laughing and whispering about her. This was normal though. After two and a half years of going through this, she was used to it. The thing that got her was when she met the eyes of Kurt, Mercedes, Tina and Artie. They too were laughing at Rachel as Kurt stage whispered a disapproving comment about her outfit towards Mercedes. She knew that no one in Glee liked her but she didn't think that they would just stand there and laugh. They knew how she felt, they've went through it before. She walked over to her defaced locker with the word 'FREAK' written on it with black sharpie and grabbed a clean set of clothes before rushing into the girl's restroom. It was there that she decided to break down and release the tears that she was trying so hard to hold in. She changed into the dark denim skinny jeans and a flattering black top that her dads had persuaded her to buy. Even they knew she was a freak.
"Oh please Manhands, stop being so dramatic. You should be used to this now," Santana said when she walked into a crying Rachel.
"How could you be so mean to me Santana? What have I ever done to you?" Rachel said softly. Santana rolled her eyes.
"Just being around you is enough cause for this," Santana said with each word filled with more hate, "I can't even be in the same room as you. Don't you understand Berry? No one likes you. Not me, not Quinn, not the glee kids, and most certainly not Finn. So do us a favor and just leave." Santana rolled her eyes at Rachel and then left the room. Rachel stood there for a moment looking in the mirror and a new wave of tears took over.
Just because I'm hurting
Doesn't mean I'm hurt
Doesn't mean I didn't get
What I deserved
No better and no worse
"God!" she yelled as she smashed her fist through the mirror. She hadn't meant to break the mirror; she just didn't want to see her reflection any longer. She slid towards the cold tile and pulled her knees closer to her head. She didn't care if her hand was bleeding. She heard the bell ring and waited a moment seeing if the coast was clear. When she peaked through the door and saw anyone, she took a deep breath and made her way out of the room. Just as she turned the corner, she bumped into the last person that she wanted to see, Noah.
"Whoa Berry, if you wanted to cop a feel all you had to do was ask," Puck said putting on his infamous smirk. He looked at Rachel worriedly when he noticed that she just kept staring at the ground and not responding. He studied her presence for a moment and spotted her bleeding hand.
"Shit Berry! What happened!" He asked inspecting her hand close up.
"It's nothing." She pulled her hand away from him and winced in pain as she felt the movement.
"That is not nothing; that is something. Come here!" He grabbed Rachel's free hand and dragged her to the bed of his truck where he kept a first aid kit. He was a badass who got in a lot of fights and he sure couldn't go to the nurse's office to treat his cuts and bruises now could he? He inspected her hand to see how deep the cuts were and if there were any remnants of glass stuck on her hand. Thankfully for her, there was none.
"What the hell did you do?" Rachel just rolled her eyes.
"Like you care. Leave me the fuck alone Puck and pretend like I don't exist like you always do," she spat out. Puck grimaced at her harsh words; it was the first time she ever called him Puck and not Noah and the first time he's ever heard her cuss. There was something definitely wrong. The day went by quickly as he watched Rachel every now and then. Rachel was one of the last ones to enter into the choir room for rehearsal. Puck didn't mean to be early; it just wasn't badass but that encounter with Rachel earlier spooked him.
"What a step up from your usual hideous outfits," Kurt said as she walked into the room. Rachel didn't know whether to take it as an insult or a compliment. She soon realized it was an insult when he continued on. "Just because you want to look the part now doesn't mean that you will ever fit in. You put a target on your back, not our fault."
"Wow RuPaul, can you be any more obvious?" Quinn snorted, "Wipe those alligator tears. Finn's not here to save you and even if he were, he's allegiance is to me." Puck rolled his eyes. His baby mama was really bitchy when she wanted to be. Rachel's eyes became watery again but she was trying to hold in it this time. Just then, Mr. Schue came in followed by the rest of the team.
You might be a big fish
In a little pond
Doesn't mean you've won
Cause a long may come
A bigger one
"Alright guys, I think I've got a new number for sectionals." Everyone looked up at him curiously as he held a stack of sheet music in his hand. "Rachel, can you handle it?" Before Rachel could say anything, Kurt and Mercedes immediately interrupted.
"Mr. Schue, it's not fair for you to give every single solo to Rachel. There are 11 other people in this group, not just Rachel freaking Berry," Mercedes said letting her attitude shine out.
"Mercedes, I haven't given Rachel any solos for a while. Apart from Don't Stop Believing, Rachel has no other leads in any of the songs. I think this song is good for her."
"And what about the rest of us, Mr. Schue? I for one love this song. Wicked was one of my favorite Broadway musicals. I would do more justice in this song than she ever can." Damn, since when did everyone start treating Berry like shit? Sure she was annoying and all that jazz, but this was a whole other level. Mr. Schue just sighs and nods his head.
"You're right. Kurt, let's give you a shot at this." Mr. Schue said.
"But Mr. Schue-"
"Rachel! Just stop," Mr. Schue said a little too loudly. He pinches the bridge of his nose and tapes a deep breath. "Sorry Rachel, I shouldn't have yelled like that." She just gives him a small smile and Puck is literally floored. Since when was she the type of person to just move on without a fight? Her usual self would've spoken out about this. He watched as Mercedes and Kurt gave each other a high five. Everyone just smirked. Puck kept getting distracted every few minutes because of Rachel. He noticed that she wasn't singing along, she was just mouthing the words. She didn't have that usual sparkle in her eyes. Not that he noticed that kind of thing. Once rehearsal ended, Rachel got up and bolted out there door as if the building was on fire.
"Pathetic," he heard Santana say to Quinn and Brittany. They laughed.
And you'll be lost
Every river that you tried to cross
Every gun you ever held went off
Ohhh and I'm...
Just waiting until the firing stopped
Ohhh and I'm...
Just waiting 'til the shine wears off
Review please :) This was intended to be a one-shot but I changed my mind. It's going to be one of the shorter ones though. Song choice: Lost - Coldplay
