a/n: I should be updating other stories, but alas, here you are. Inspired by the headcanons by teadalek on tumblr.

Rachel swallowed, willing the tears not to come as ice and corn syrup dribbled down her face. No matter how many times she got the same liquid in the face, no matter how many times she had to wash out her hair and change her clothes, no matter how many times she had to endure the laughter, she never grew used to it. She never got used to the fact she was slushied and taunted daily. It wasn't something someone was supposed to get used to.

She never got used to Quinn Fabray mocking her every single day.

Pushing past the blonde girl and her gang of followers, Rachel made her way in to the bathroom, hearing a few sniggers from the two other girls inside there, and walked over to the furthest sink. She had conveniently forgotten her change of clothes today, and would now have to put up with smelling like sour grapes for the rest of the day.

She heard the door behind her, and Rachel turned to notice the other girls had left. She sniffed, feeling the first tears begin to start. She shook her head, and began to splash water on her face, in hopes to wash away the slushies and tears. It took her a few minutes, but soon her face was clean once more, if not for the slight redness. Her hair, however, was another problem.

Opening the bathroom door and glancing around outside to make sure no Cheerios or football players were in the hallway, Rachel made her way over to her locker, quickly and quietly. She opened, and securing her back with brush, comb and conditioner, went to close the door, when she noticed a small, gold keychain with a star on it.

Rachel blinked. She had been receiving similar trinkets since last year, when they daily slushing had started. She still hadn't managed to figure out who was leaving these items in her locker, despite her best efforts. There had never been a note or anything similar that would alert Rachel to who was doing it, just something small, usually with a star on it. She hadn't told anyone her locker combination either, so Rachel suspected that it had to be someone who could break in to lockers. She had at first suspected Noah Puckerman, before she caught him looking at Quinn Fabray across the hallways one day with pure admiration. She'd had many guesses after that-she wanted to believe that Finn Hudson was doing it, but then again, she only ever spotted him at Quinn or Puck's side-and her worse thought was that the janitor was doing it. But the possibilities were endless-everybody at the school knew that Rachel Berry liked gold stars.

Frowning, Rachel placed the keychain in to her bag. Regardless of whether she knew who was doing it or not, she still enjoyed receiving the trinkets. It was almost as if not everybody was jealous of her at this school, and not everybody wanted to humiliate her. She hurried back to the bathroom, a smile now on her face, even though the slushie in her hair was beginning to soak her clothes even more.

It was because of the fact she was going so fast and not being aware of what was going on around her, that she didn't notice Quinn Fabray, who was standing a few lockers down from Rachel's own, looking at her with a smile on her face.

...

Rachel Berry bowed one last time to the crowd, before making her way backstage, chest heaving, but a smile still clear on her face. Giving quick 'thank yous' to her fellow cast mates complimenting her on her performance, Rachel made her way to her dressing room, where her manager was waiting.

Closing the door behind her, Rachel turned to face her manager, Zoe, who was beaming at her with a smile on her face.

"Excellent, Rachel!" she trilled, and Rachel silently agreed. She was still the same star from her high school days, only now, she had finally reached her dream of being on Broadway. She was currently starring in Wicked, and had the showbiz world at her feet. She couldn't help but feel proud of herself, and Zoe was happy to stoke her ego.

"I must say" her manger continued, breaking Rachel from her thoughts "Tonight was one of your best performances. But don't forget, you have lunch with Barbra tomorrow." Rachel barely had time to smile over the fact her idol had become her mentor, and the pair now had regular lunch and dinner dates, when Emma picked up a punch of flowers and handed them to her.

"These arrived to. Same admirer as usual, I assume" Zoe frowned as Rachel took the flowers, and Rachel couldn't help but smile.

"You still haven't found out who's been sending them?" she asked, taking a seat at her dressing table. Emma shook her head, placing her hands on the back of Rachel's chair.

"I'm afraid not. If you want to stop receiving them, I can always talk to-"

"No!" interrupted Rachel, louder than she would have liked. Zoe looked startled, and Rachel gave her a smile "I mean, I deserve these flowers and my admirer clearly agrees. I enjoy receiving them."

Zoe nodded slowly, and began to talk about the performance again, but Rachel was in another world. She pulled the small card from inside the flowers; looking at the writing she had become familiar too. She had seen it before the flowers started being sent, but just like the mystery of the trinkets in high school, she had never figured out who was behind them. At first, she had assumed either Finn or Jesse-but she met again not long ago, and he had said the same words to her in person. Besides, the handwriting was too feminine to be from him or Finn. Rachel swallowed, looking at the small card in her hand.

I'm sorry.