Chapter 2
Rachel and Santana had been sat in silence in Santanas bedroom for several minutes, neither girl knew what to say to the other and that made things extremely awkward. Sure Santana wanted Rachel to open up to her and maybe even start to trust her but she knew that was unrealistic given they had only really started talking properly an hour and half ago. So they sat and stared at the floor each thinking about something different, Santana was thinking about how she could get rachel to talk and rachel was thinking about how she could even start this conversation. Eventually Rachel just started rambling.
"My dads have been gone for a month, they have left me alone for long periods of time before but only 1-2 weeks at a time, they never tell me where they are going just that they're going on a business trip or some kind of romantic get away, they've never been gone this long and I'm starting to wonder if they're even coming back this time" Rachel was still staring at the floor of Santanas bedroom, Santana however was staring at the tiny brunette sat next to her, she could see how hurt and broken Rachel was and that made Santana slightly angry at the Berry men, How could they leave their 16 year old daughter home alone for a month? Sure Santanas parents had gone away before but Santana always knew where her parents were, how she could reach them if she needed to and when they would be back and it was only ever a night or 2 at the most.
Santana continued to stare at the dark haired beauty and began rubbing circles on the girls back "Rach, how to do you get food, clothes, you know the essentials?" Rachel looked up at the taller girl and shrugged "They leave me money along with the note saying they're going away, most of the time its $200-$300 but this time they left over $600 in cash and transferred over $1000 in to my savings account" Santana didn't know what to say to that so she just nodded and continued to rub circles on Rachels back.
After several more minutes Rachel began to talk again but this time she was slightly angrier and Santana was surprised by the topic of this conversation, "I thought everything was going to be okay, She made me think that it was all going to be okay, that for once in my life I might actually be wanted by somebody but yet again I'm left in the dark with nobody there to help me out, Why did she even bother with that tape if she wasn't going to stay or save me? what was the point? none of it made any sense to me, all I've ever wanted in my life is someone to love me, hold me when I'm scared, tell me how proud they are of me. I only ever really wanted Shelby, I want a mother" Santana noticed how the girl said want instead of wanted, this made the girl think that maybe there was a way for her to help Rachel but she didn't voice what she was thinking because she didn't want Rachel to get hopes up or get angry at Santana for suggesting such a thing.
It wasn't long before Rachel fell asleep on Santanas bed, she had worked herself up talking about Shelby, she had become so angry and hurt that again the girl began hysterically crying and Santana had rocked her until she fell asleep. A plan was forming in Santanas devious mind, it was Friday tomorrow and that meant her plan would have to be put in to action straight away this could not wait until Monday, she needed to help Rachel sooner rather than later.
The next morning Rachel woke up with Santanas arm around her waist, she enjoy the comfort of another person for the first time in a long while before finally removing Santanas arm and getting ready to leave, she had to go home and get ready for school. She went over to Santanas desk and found a note pad and a pen, she wrote Santana a note and left it on the desk before getting her stuff and leaving.
Santana woke up to an empty bed an hour later, she looked around and panicked when she didn't see Rachel. She jumped out of bed and was about to go look in the living room and kitchen when she noticed a piece of paper sitting on her desk that she was sure wasn't there when she fell asleep, Santana picked up the paper and noticed instantly that it was Rachels handwriting on the page "Dear Santana, Thank you for all that you did for me last night, I really appreciate it as I haven't had anyone to talk to in a while, I had to leave early as, obviously, I don't have any clothing here and I needed to get ready for school, I will totally understand if you don't talk to me whilst we're at school, I won't hold it against you, again thank you San, Love Rachel." Santana smiled at the nickname Rachel had used in the note, maybe they really had turned a corner now and they were finally friends.
Santana understood why Rachel would think that she wouldn't talk to her at school but what Rachel didn't know was that Santana wasn't going to school today and Rachel leaving her house early only made her plan a simpler.
As Rachel walked down the halls of McKinley High School she couldn't help but wonder where Santana was, did she feel so embarrassed about having Rachel in her house last night that she couldn't even show her face? Rachel put it to the back of her mind, she was foolish to think that they'd be friends anyway.
What Rachel wasn't aware of was the fact that Santana was currently in her car driving to Carmel High School on a mission to find one Shelby Corcoran and have a very serious conversation with the woman.
Santana pulled up in the parking lot of Carmel High around lunch time, she had timed it perfectly, Shelby would be on break and wouldn't have any excuses as to why wouldn't talk to the brunette girl. Santana got out of her car and walked towards the entrance of the school, as she walked through the double doors the receptionist looked at her with a skeptical eyebrow risen. "May I help you Miss?" Santana put on her best show smile, she had learnt from Rachel, and replied in the sweetest of voices "Can I please talk to one of your teaching staff please? A Miss Corcoran?". Again the receptionist looked skeptical, no-one ever came to visit Miss Corcoran, "And what exactly is this visit regarding? So I can let Miss Corcoran know when I ask if you may see her" Santana was starting to get a little pissed off now, "I believe that my conversation with Miss C is none of your business, now please point me towards her office or I will find it on my own" the receptionist had given up following protocol, it was obvious that this girl was not going to tell her why she wanted to see Shelby so she gave the brunette directions to Miss Corcorans office and let her go on her way.
Shelby was enjoying her lunch alone in her office, no distractions, no Vocal Adrenalin and no screaming teenagers. She really needed to do some grading but her heart wasn't in it today and she could feel a headache forming. Shelby heard a knock on her office door and sighed "Why cant these students leave me alone" she mumbled to herself before getting out of her office chair and walking towards the closed door.
What Shelby did not expect was a tall, brunette, hispanic girl with a look of determination on her face to be standing there with her arms folded across her chest "May I help you?" Shelby asked in a tone that was not particularly welcoming, "Sure you can, You're Shelby Corcoran right" Santana said with a rather condescending tone to her voice "Yes I am, and you are?" Santana smirked up at the woman that was the spitting image of Rachel Berry "My name is Santana Lopez, I got to McKinley High with your daughter, remember her? her names Rachel Berry" Santana knew she was being a bitch but its what she is best at "Well I've come to have a little conversation about that daughter of yours, theres something I think you need to be aware of and I would hope that you wasn't already aware because you are you're an even shittier person than I first thought"
Shelby was so confused, why is this girl here to talk about Rachel? and what do I need to be aware of?. She moved out of the way of the door so that Santana could enter her office and they'd have some privacy. Santana took at seat at Shelbys desk and Shelby sat in her previous seat in front of Santana. "Okay, so let me get one thing clear Miss Lopez do not talk to me in that tone or I will make you regret your actions" Santana had to admit, Miss Corcoran was a pretty intimidating person so she just shrugged and let the teacher carry on with her speech "So you know Rachel, I assume that means you know what happened a few months ago, now tell me Miss Lopez what do I need to be aware of?" her voice was low and Santana could tell that she seemed pretty concerned when she spoke about Rachel, to Santana this was a good sign.
After taking a deep breath Santana began to explain the situation to Shelby, "You see Miss C Rachel and me haven't always seen eye to eye, in fact I was never really very nice to her before yesterday when I looked out my window and noticed a small brunette in the park across the street staring at my house like a lost dog, An hour later I looked outside again and noticed that she was still sitting there so I decided to investigate. After some persuasion I managed to convince Berry that I didn't have a hidden slushy and I wasn't there to ridicule her. She came back to my house and she began to tell me why she was sat in the park for so long, it turns out Miss C that Rachels fathers haven't been home in a month and Rachel believes that they aren't coming back. Apparently they leave her for weeks at a time leaving just a note and some money, Rachel doesn't know where they are and to be honest with you I think she's terrified"
Shelby looked at the brunette in front of her with tears in her eyes and shock written all over her face, it was clear to santana now that she knew nothing about any of this. Shelby suddenly felt angry and betrayed, she thought her daughter was with loving, caring parents that would always dote on her beautiful little girl. She left all those months ago because she didn't want to break up, what she thought, was a wonderful family, she realises now that she had made the worst mistake of her life. "Miss Lopez, Where is Rachel now?" santana smiled at the older brunette and felt like her plan was going to work "She should still be at school, we have Glee practice at 3:30 until 5 so Rachel will be at school until then" Shelby nodded and ran a hand through her hair.
"Santana, do not tell Rachel about our little meeting, I will be at the school at 4:45pm to pick Rachel up, I will explain everything to her and hopefully she will be willing to listen, and Santana thank you for bringing this to my attention" the teenager was amazed at how composed the Glee coach was, but Santana also noticed that Shelbys eyes were watering and she was fighting with herself to stay that composed. Santana nodded at the older woman "You're welcome Coach C and I wont say anything to Rachel, but please make sure she's safe and make sure she knows that I only did this because I wanted to help her" Shelby smiled at the hispanic girl, she could tell how much Santana wanted to protect Rachel "I will Santana, I'll try my best". Santana stood up out of the chair and went to walk out of the door before she turned around and looked Miss Corcoran in the eye "Dont hurt her again, she deserves to be happy" with that Santana left and Shelby was alone once again.
She would never intentionally hurt Rachel, she only left because she thought Rachel was happy and she didn't want to complicate things or confuse Rachel. Now everything was different, her baby girl was scared and lonely and without a parental figure in her life. Shelby was going to do whatever she could to build a relationship with Rachel and help her through everything. She was going to get baby girl back.
