Warning: I don't own Riverdale or Glee, all rights to it's rightful owners.
Chapter 2. A Touch Of Evil.
This story is about a town, once wholesome and innocent, now forever changed by the mysterious death of Sam Fabray on July Fourth.
I think many of us, maybe the entire town, had been hoping against hope that somehow Sam Fabray hadn't drown July 4th.
That we'd come to school Monday morning, and there, Sam Fabray would be.
Or that we'd see him and Quinn, in a booth at Pop's.
But that was before the undeniable, irrecoverable fact of his bloated, waterlogged body, a corpse, with a bullet in its forehead, and terrible secrets that could only be revealed by the cold, steel, blade of a coroner's autopsy scalpel or the telltale beating of a guilty heart.
Finn woke up, sweating from his dream that involved him and Ms. Holiday kissing and a gunshot being fired. He reached for his phone and texted Britt, asking if she was up and willing to talk to him. He stood by his window hoping she would say yes.
All he got was two simple no's, and Britt turning off her bedroom's lamp as she shook her head, stared at him from the window. Finn sighed and put on his basketball shorts and put on his shoes and sneaked out his house and began to run.
He wasn't sure where he was headed, all he knew is that he needed a run. It didn't come clear to him where he was running to, when he noticed a familiar home, he ran up and banged on the door loudly.
He waited until, Ms. Holiday opened her door.
"Finn, what are you doing here?" Holiday asked.
"It wasn't fireworks, Ms. Holiday." was all Finn told her, walking inside her house.
"You can't be here Finn." she told him, hoping he'd leave her house.
"On July 4th, it was a gunshot we heard." Was all Finn told her, ignoring what she was telling him.
"You can't come to my house." Ms. Holiday argued back.
"Probably the shot that killed Sam Fabray." Finn told her, now facing her.
"We know exactly what the police know, that a gun was fired. That a boy was shot, we don't know by whom." Ms. Holiday said.
"We know when it was fired. That's something the police still don't know." Finn told her.
Ms. Holiday sighed and looked at him. "They're performing an autopsy."
"We could call them anonymously" Finn argued.
"This is not a negotiation, Finn. This is our lives. If anybody knows that we were there? I could lose my job! You could get expelled. We could go to jail!" Ms. Holiday argued back.
Finn stood there just staring at her. With so many thoughts running in his head.
The next morning, Finn woke up, got ready and headed downstairs.
"All right. Here you go Vegas." Chris said feeding the dog "Good boy. Wow"
Finn entered the kitchen and nodded at his dad. "Morning dad."
"Hey bud." Chris greeted. He turned to his son and looked at him. "Where'd you sneak off to last night?"
Finn panicked a bit and looked at his dad. "You uh heard that?"
"Son, I've been hearing you sneak out since you were eight years old going to Artie's tree house." Chris told him.
"I couldn't sleep. Went for a jog to tire my self out." Finn somewhat lied to his dad.
Chris nodded. "Yeah? You got something on your mind?" he asked.
Finn sighed "Just all this stuff with Sam." he admitted.
Chris nodded and leaned against the counter. "Hmm, no more midnight runs. Until the police catch whoever it was that shot that poor kid. I swear to God, this town." Chris said as he turned his back to him.
Finn just looked down and sighed, something he's been doing a whole lot lately.
Brittany was laying on her bed, just thinking, when the knocking on her door, interrupted her.
"Hey honey." Pierce Pierce, Brittany's dad said as he opened her door, Whitney right behind him. "We just wanted you to know, it's going to be a bit of a late night for us." he warned her.
Whitney just strolled around in her room. "It's going to be a lot of late night's for us. I mean an accidental drowning? Who cares. But the sociopathic son of the wealthiest family in town, murdered? That's a national obsession waiting to happen." she finished off.
Brittany just sat there looking at her parents with a little evil glint, hoping they'd just stop.
"He's barely in his grave, Whitney." Pierce told his wife.
"Can you warm up the car, Pierce. I'll be right down." Whitney told her husband. Pierce just sighed and walked out the room. She continued and walked to Brittany's bed, making her sit up as her mom sat down.
Brittany put her perfect smile to her and sat there listening to her.
"Brittany, you know what I love most about you? Is that you always want to see the good in people." Whitney began. Brittany just sat there faking her smile. "Even people like Quinn Fabray, Rachel Berry, and Finn Hudson. But when they betrayed you this weekend, you saw their true colors didn't you?"
"I did. I definitely did." Britt responded just to satisfy her mother.
"So no more backsliding." Whitney almost sneered. "No Quinn, no Rachel, and-"
"No Finn" Britt finished of for her mom.
Whitney just nodded.
The doorbell rang at the Hudson's place and Finn went to open the door. He stood there in shock when he saw Brittany there standing and turning to him.
"Walk me to school?" Britt asked Finn. He nodded and grabbed his stuff and they made their way out. They walked to school and Britt started to speak. "I needed time to process. To separate what my mom from what I want. I think I want."
"Which is?" Finn asked her.
"My mom says I should never speak to you again. But I... even though you don't like me that way I still want us to be friends. Best friends." Britt explained to him.
"You do?" Finn asked smiling hugely.
"Yeah." Britt replied to him, smiling.
"I mean that's great Britt, me too." Finn replied still smiling.
"I'd be lying if I said that it didn't hurt." Britt began to say, now looking away.
"And I'm sorry Britt, I didn't do it to be a..." Finn began to explain himself. "I don't know I just... I thought it would be better in the long run." he finished off.
Britt turned to him quickly, cutting him off. "And it will be." she told him. "Oh, and told tell my mom we're friends again." she warned him. She walked a little ahead and he just paused and stared at her confused.
Finn was leaning against the lockers, staring at Sam's memorial that was put. He just stood there staring, thinking about that gunshot he heard on July fourth. What if it was that gunshot, that killed him.
Artie noticed him and walked up to him. "Hi." Finn shot up and turned around and saw it was only Artie. "Do you think I can use Sam Fabray's death as an excuse to get out of PE?" Artie asked Finn. "Sorry coach, I'm just too depressed and freaked out right now to do pull ups." he finished.
"Don't joke about Sam Fabray." Finn said to Artie very seriously.
"What?" Artie asked. Finn just gave him this look and Artie sighed. "Sardonic humor is my way of relating to the world." He told him. Finn just nodded and Artie scoffed when he looked past Finn. He scoffed again, when he saw Puck walking in the hall with Mike and Azimio behind him. "Look, it's the rich kids from The Goonies." Finn looked behind him and noticed them as well.
"All right, I'm out." Artie told him as he took off.
Finn watched as Artie left and saw when Puck deliberately shoulder bumped into Artie causing him to move sideways. "Watch it, Wednesday Adams." Puck said amused. Artie just glared and rolled his eyes and left.
"Now that romance is off the table, I'll just say it." Kurt said, as him and Brittany were walking in the hallways. "Are we a 100 percent sure that Finn's straight? Because no straight man has that body." Kurt teased.
Brittany smiled and turned to him "Speaking of bodies. Have you recovered from finding Sam's?" she asked him.
Kurt just turned to her. "It was more traumatizing having to explain to my dad what I was doing with Mike at the river." he told her. "Yet another perk of being the sheriff's son." he said as he walked into the office.
He walked in, saw a bouquet, and gasped "Oh my God those are gorgeous. Are those for Britt, Mrs. Sylvester?" Kurt asked.
"That's why I called her." Mrs. Sylvester said.
Brittany just walked in and smiled softly at Mrs. Sylvester. While Kurt looked around and got the card out.
"Dear Britt, please forgive me. Xoxo, R." Kurt read out loud. He gave her a confused looked. "Who the hell is R?"
"Rachel" Britt responded at the same time as Rachel who walked in the door with a box.
"Rachel." She said as she shyly walked in. "The yellow is for friendship. I also had magnolia cupcake flown in from New York." She explained as held up the box. "Because my mom likes to say There's no wrong the right cupcake can fix. Also I... I've booked us for hers and hers mani-pedis at Chez salon. Blowouts too." Rachel told her. She sighed. "I'm so, so sorry Britt. I don't know what happened to me that night, it was such a basic bitch move. It was like, I was like I was possessed."
"Madame Satan?" Kurt retorted back.
Rachel shook her head. "Like the old Rachel." She told them. "And I will never, ever do anything like that to you again. I swear on my mother's pearls." She sighed out. "Just, can you please give me one more chance?"
Britt just sucked in her breathe and smile tightly. "Okay."
"What?" Kurt asked a little confused.
"What?" Rachel asked happily. "Really? Awesome I'll take it. And you won't regret it." Rachel said smiling.
"Okay." Britt told her smiling a little tightly, and then staring at Kurt.
"And I'll bring these to lunch, so we can celebrate." Rachel said smiling. She turned around and walked away, still smiling big when she gave one final goodbye, but her smile faltered when she noticed her mood, she sighed.
Kurt turned to her giving her a questioning look and Britt sighed. "It's the path of least resistance, Kurt. A week ago, Rachel and I weren't friends. Next week we'll just nod to each other as pass the hall, but that's it. You know in two weeks, she won't even remember my name. And in three, she'll have latched her to some other girl to destroy." She sneered.
Kurt just stared at her now noticing her mood. He was torn in believing in Britt's words and pointing out to her that Rachel was honestly trying, so he said nothing and kept staring at her.
Britt just gave an evil glance to the door when Kurt glanced away for bit.
Principal Schuester was in his office, with Quinn Fabray along side Sheriff Hummel as he said the following announcement.
"Good morning, students. This is your principal speaking. There have been many inquires of about the upcoming pep rally. So let me state clearly, it's happening, as scheduled." Principal Schuester said. Quinn smiled brightly, and Schuester continued. "Now, on a less felicitous note, if you could give your attention to Sheriff Hummel."
Sheriff Burt Hummel just gave a tight smile to Principal Schuester and took over "Most of you already know the details, but your classmate, Sam Fabray's body has been found, late on Saturday night." Everyone was now staring up at the intercom, hearing the words that Sheriff Hummel was saying "So as of the weekend, Sam's death is now treated as a homicide. It's on open and ongoing investigation." he finished.
Quinn now leaned forward and took over. "And may I interject, neither I or my parents will rest until Sam's death is avenged. And his cold-hearted killer is walking the green mile to sit in Old Sparky and fry. I, for one, have my suspicions. #LimaStrong." she said, almost as a sneer.
"If you know anything, that can help us find and apprehend Sam's killer or anything about what happened on July Fourth." Sheriff Hummel began to say. Finn Hudson stood before Sam Fabray's memorial on the display, and he looked conflicted as he heard the next words of Sheriff Hummel, he gave Sam's display one last look and left before stopping by the principal's office door.
"I strongly urge you to come forward immediately." Sheriff Hummel continued. Finn stood there peeking and Principal Schuester took a notice of him. "You can speak to me or Principal Schuester. A death like this wounds us all." Finn quickly glanced away and left. "Let's not let Sam down." Sheriff Hummel finished.
Artie looked confused, he step forward and looked at Finn as he left, and then he looked at Sam's memorial display and left to follow him.
Artie found Finn by the water fountains and approached him.
"Finn." Artie called. Finn turned to him and looked up, and stood up straight facing him now. "Weirdest thing. This summer, we were supposed to go on a road trip, over the July Fourth weekend." he told Finn. Finn was now looking a bit nervous and started to sweat a little, but still Artie continued. "Which you bailed on, at the last minute. Is there something you want to tell me, pal?"
Finn just looked at Artie, and swallowed deeply, and just stared at him, while Artie stared back at him with narrowed eyes as if daring him to lie, so it can confirm his suspicions he has now to why Finn was acting so nervous.
Finn walked into his science class, with everyone already in there as the students walked to sit in there seats, Finn passed Artie and they just stared at each other.
Sugar and Kitty were sitting on the table turned to Quinn talking to her, asking her questions.
"We were wondering, Quinn. Back in July, you told the po-po that Sam had drowned." Sugar began.
"Yet, we come to find out that Sam didn't drown. He was shot. That highly suspicious, no?" Kitty finished off.
Quinn just stared at them and then gave them a fake smile. "Are you living mannequins, suggesting that I had to do something with my brother's death?" she asked, as she slapped on her latex gloves.
"We're just curious. What do police think happened?" Sugar asked.
"I'll tell you what I told them." Quinn sneered, smiling falsely. "Which that, Sam did fall into the water. We both did. I made it to the shore. He didn't. Maybe he made it to the other side of the river and someone shot him there Who knows!" She yelled out.
Finally Mr. Tanaka made it in and told his students to get ready. "Seats, everyone. Pair off. Gloves on. Scalpels up."
"Can I be with Quinn?" Finn asked, walking away.
"And I want to be with Britt." Rachel spoke up, turning to Britt and Kurt. Britt and Kurt just had their mouths wide open.
"Oh uh. I was thinking I'd partner up with Kurt." Britt said.
Mike just walked by and stopped in front of them "Actually, uh, Hummel's with me. We, like, talked." he told Britt.
"Oh God." Kurt told Britt and took off to Mike.
Britt just looked up and moved over for Rachel. Rachel just made her way to Britt. "Once again, fate throws us together." she told Britt.
"Hmm." Britt said, smiling at her a little.
"So." Mike began to say. "Saturday night."
"Listen Mike, you're hot? Yes. My type? Definitely. But you've got more demons than The Exorcist. We're all on the spectrum, but my gay-o-meter says you should stick with what you know best... Girls." Kurt told Mike. Mike just looked a little glum and looked forwards.
"Quinn, we haven't talked since the summer. I just wanted to say I'm really sorry about your brother." Finn told her.
"Sam was the best." Quinn told him, looking down.
"If I can do anything to help." Finn told her.
"That's sweet, Finn, but unless you were at Ottawa River and know who shot Sam." Quinn told him, giving him tight smile.
Finn just glanced down and thought back of him being there with Ms. Holiday, and looked back up at her again. "Do, uh, do you know if the police have any leads?" He asked.
"What? No you ghoul. But it's only matter of time. And my twin-tuition is telling me, it's someone we all know." Quinn told him.
"Right. Well I'm not great at science, but I can take point on this, if it's too weird for you." Finn told her looking down and then back at her, motioning,at the frog they are about to dissect.
Quinn frowned a little. "Weird? Why?" then it hit her. "Oh, you mean because my brother is being dissected with a blade, just like this one, possibility at this very moment?" Quinn asked getting the scalpel out, with Sugar and Kitty staring at her. "Don't worry, I'm fine." she said now opening the scalpel. She turned to Sugar and Kitty.
"In fact, I'm amazing." Quinn said now stabbing the frog, with both girls gasping, and Artie turning to stare at what got the girls scared, and saw Quinn cutting the frog open, as she stared at them. Finn just looking at the frog in disgust now.
"Every corpse has a tale to tell. Step closer to the body." the man told Whitney. "There are several morbid details you should find relevant to your article."
Whitney stepped into his lab, and started to walk towards him. "What details, Dr. Carl? What sticks out to you?" She asked.
"The marbling of the veins. Signs of scavenger activity." Dr. Carl told her. Whitney just kept making her way towards him as he explained. "Ligature marks on both wrists. And a hint of cryo-necrotic preservation." he told her, now facing her as Whitney gave him an envelope.
"Small bills right?" Whitney asked, as she leaned forward and looked at Sam up close, and Dr. Carl opening up the envelope to check the amount of cash he was given. Whitney just smiled as she got something big and juicy, ready to be revealed on her and Pierce's newsletter business.
Rachel, Britt, and Kurt were all walking towards their lunch table.
"So, what did Mike want?" Rachel asked Kurt.
"Oh my God, I don't think he even knows.." Kurt exclaimed out. As he turned to both Rachel and Britt, they both laughed. "I mean, I am devastatingly handsome in that classic, pre-accident Montgomery Clift kind of way, and sexuality is fluid, but can someone named Mike actually be that fluid?" he asked them.
Rachel and Brittany just laughed and Kurt smiled.
"Okay well, I ship it." Rachel told Kurt.
"Well of course you are. You're a big city girl with lose morals." Kurt told her. Rachel smile slowly vanished, as Britt gave Kurt a knowing look. "I just meant that Mike has an official girlfriend. Marley. Anyway, it's terrible to say, but part of me wishes he would just stay in the darn closet." Kurt spat out. Finn looked up and gave him a questioning look.
"Obviously, I didn't mean literal closet." Kurt said.
"Finn." Rachel said, now trying to change the subject. "Any new material you wanna try out on a very forgiving audience?" she asked.
Finn just sighed. "I..."
"Please." Rachel said almost begging, giving him the look.
"Would you?" Britt asked softly. "I'd love to hear it."
"I'm still working on the lyrics so." Finn said, putting his guitar strap on.
Britt just smiled and nodded. "Okay."
Finn began to play his guitar and started to sing. Kurt turned to Rachel and they smiled at each other, and Britt just sat there, listening to him sing. Her eyes began to water, as she thought of them together at the dance, him smiling down at her. Britt just looked down and her eyes threatened to spill her tears. She remembered the feeling she got when Finn told her about him not being perfect enough and that she was perfect.
Britt was having a hard time to control her feelings, but as Finn continued to sing, it started to get harder. She looked down, now trying to keep her tears from falling. Finn looked up as he finished playing.
"Britt?" he asked. Now getting Kurt and Rachel's attention to her. "You okay?" Finn asked concerned as he noticed her crying.
Britt just gave a slight chuckle and sniffed. "I'm supposed to say yes. That's what the nice girl always says, but..." she said, now looking at Finn as her voice cracked standing up. "No, I'm not. I want to be. I thought I could be. But it's too much, too fast, Finn." she said now cracking.
"Britt." Finn said. Britt turned around and started to walk away. "Britt, wait." Finn quickly set his guitar down, grabbed his letterman and rushed to follow her while Kurt and Rachel stared at them. "Britt, wait. Come on listen to me."
"No." Britt said turning to Finn. "No, when... When I think, Finn, of where I feel safest and most myself, I think of us, in a booth, at Pop's..." she told him.
"Me too." Finn said, almost desperately.
"But that's not true." Britt said cutting him off. "I thought I could pretend this weekend didn't happen, but... "I can't give you the answer you want." That's what you said to me. And that's how I feel right now, I'm sorry." she told him as she turned to walk away from him.
"Britt." Finn said as he went to follow her.
"Mr. Hudson." Principal Schuester now showing up. Finn turned to see Britt walking away from him, wanting to desperately run after her. "If we can have a word in private?" he asked Finn.
Finn nodded and followed him. Principal Schuester took him away from the rest of the crowd, to somewhere less deserted. "You're in a very good place right now, Mr. Hudson. Varsity football. AP Music tutorials. This morning, in the hallway, you couldn't meet my eyes, why?" he asked Finn.
"I was distracted I wasn't feeling well." Finn told Principal Schuester.
"Finn. If there's something you want to get off your chest, perhaps about Sam, now would be the time." Principal Schuester said. Finn just stared at him.
Finn barged into Holiday's music room, as she looked up startled, from her cello.
"Schuester just asked me if I knew about Sam." Finn told her.
"And?" Ms. Holiday asked him. "What did you say."
"Nothing." Finn told her, shaking his head. "That I didn't. But he said that if I did, I shouldn't be scared, and he'd make sure I was okay." he finished.
Ms. Holiday just sighed and went to get up. "Of course he would, you're his student." she whispered out now standing in front of him.
"Is this." Finn began "How you feel about me, is it real? " he asked Ms. Holiday. Holiday just looked down for a bit and then stared at him again. "Because if it's not, then I don't know what I'm protecting."
"It is." Ms. Holiday said, as she took her glasses off. "It is real." she told him, as she went to hold his hand. "Maybe it's not right, but it's real. Which is why... we... you... Can't go to Schuester. If you do that, we will never see each other again. Finn, I'm putting myself in your hands." She leaned in forward to him.
Artie was walking down the hall, minding his own business, hearing his music, when he passed by the music room. He walked past the door when he noticed two figures, he paid it no mind. He stopped, and he frowned and then he walked back to peek at the door.
He saw Finn and Ms. Holiday, looking very close, as they were ready to kiss each other, he started at them through the door window, glaring. It finally clicked to him. Why Finn suddenly bailed out, why he just became a songwriter, and a musician. Everything just clicked together as Artie discovered the truth.
The Lima Cheerios were currently practicing their cheer dance for the pep rally. Rachel was the middle, main girl, that's if you don't include Quinn Fabray.
"Stand down, Cheerios." Quinn said, cutting the music, everyone was there in their practice outfits, which was short cotton shorts, red and white, mid long sleeves shirt, red and white tube socks, and their cheer shoes. Only Quinn had the HBIC in the back of her shirt.
"And listen up, the weather's predicting a downpour the night of the rally. But already you're raining on my parade. With Sam so present in our collective consciousness, all eyes will be on me. Will this beautiful, exotic, hothouse, flower drown under the town's scrutiny? Or be swamped by her emotions?" Quinn said talking to her squad, pacing. "The answer ladies, is, no and no. That said, I need star power. I need the Pussycats. Stay loose, and limber ladies, I need to make a call." Quinn informed before walking away.
All the Cheerios went to go sit down. Britt just held her pom poms as she sat down with Rachel right behind her. "After this practice, I'll totally need pedicure." Rachel began to tell Britt. "You?" She asked Britt.
"I'll have homework." Britt told her.
Rachel just nodded a bit and stared at her, sensing Britt shutting her out. "I know everyone grieves differently, but Quinn hosting a pep rally to cope with her loss. That's either brilliant, or psychotic, or both." She said.
Britt just glared a bit. "Yeah, well at least Quinn's not putting up an act. Pretending she's a butterfly, when really she's a wasp." She sneered.
Rachel just stared at her in shock. "For the record, I went into that closet with Finn, so that Quinn wouldn't." She retorted back.
"Oh. So you did it to protect me?" Britt asked, like she didn't believe her.
"Damn straight." Rachel told her back a little angry.
Brittany now stood up, getting angry at Rachel. "Okay, so nothing happened between you and Finn, in the closet then?" She asked. Rachel just stayed quiet. "Yeah, that's what I thought. You know Finn and I were fine, before you got here."
"If by fine, you mean he was oblivious, and you were pinning after him in quiet desperation." Rachel retorted back.
"We were friends at least." Britt yelled at Rachel.
Rachel scoffed. "You were walking on emotional eggshells, scared to tell him the truth." She retorted.
Brittany rolled her eyes, scoffing. "Okay you don't know me, Rachel."
"It's not my fault he doesn't like you." Rachel said no standing up, she sighed, "If that's what you're thinking. It's not anyone's fault, it's not even stupid Finn's. It's just how it is. Most of the time the people we like, don't like us back. Romeo and Juliet are the exception, not the rule. Look, never speak to me again, if that's what you want, I'll accept that, but what exactly did Finn do wrong?" Rachel asked. Desperately wanting to get the two best friends talking again and being okay.
"Are you seriously taking his side?' Britt asked getting angry again. Quinn walked back in the gym and noticed them arguing. Smiling she made her way towards them.
"No, I'm not taking any-" Rachel began to say while Britt continued angrily.
"And this is your way of trying to be friends with me again?" Britt asked.
Quinn made her way up to them smiling. "The Pussycats are in. Oh sorry ladies, am I interrupting?" she asked very innocently.
Rachel glared at her. "As a matter of fact…" she began before Britt cut her off.
"No, you're not." Britt said. "Actually I was about to come and find you, Quinn." She said, Rachel now stared at her in disbelief. "I have a certificate for hers and hers manis and pedis and blowouts at Chez Salon, do you want to come with me?"
"Don't do this." Rachel told her.
Quinn snapped at her. "Butt out, closet monster. You have forfeited your right to take the high and mighty road. As pour moir , Britt of course. I never say no to a pedi, and I was just about to suggest the same thing. Can I steal her for a second?" Quinn said, taking Britt's hand, and dragging her away from Rachel.
Britt just smiled at Rachel and shrugged, following Quinn. Rachel just sighed and looked away.
Rachel was sitting on the stools at Pop's watching her mother work as a waitress in Pop Tate's shop. Shelby handed the person their order and smile, walking away sighing as she stared at her daughter.
"You're doing great, mom. Better than me than me, this week." Rachel told her mom.
Shelby smiled and got back to work, behind the counter. "Yeah, we're surviving Rae, by our wits, because that what we Berry woman do." Shelby told her. Rachel stood up and walked towards her mother. "If dad can see us now." Shelby said.
"He'd say you look stunning in that new uniform." Rachel told her mom.
Shelby flushed a little. "I'm going for this Joan Crawford, Mildred Pierce thing. Is it working?"
Rachel just chuckled and nodded. "Definietly"
The door chimed and Finn walked in. Rachel turned to him, and her smile fell.
"Hi." Finn said.
"Hi." Rachel said back.
"And who might this heart breaker be?" Shelby asked now turning to her daughter. Rachel just gave her mom a pointed look.
"I'm picking up an order for Hudson." Finn told Shelby.
"Ah you're Chris' son." Shelby said smiling. "You're as handsome as your father was" she told him. Finn smiled at her and Rachel just grabbed her things.
"I'll see you at home mom." Rachel said.
"Uh wait, I'm sure Finn would happily, escort you." Shelby said handing Finn his order.
Rachel just gave a smile to the floor, like if her mother was putting her more in trouble.
"Is uh, Britt still mad at you?" Rachel asked as they walked down the neighborhood.
"We're back to no texting." Finn said. "What about you?"
Rachel sighed. "I'm back to being the shallow, toxic, rich bitch who ruins everything in her path." she told him. "Which is unfortunate, because even though I just met Britt, it really felt like we were meant to be best friends. Like... like it was our destiny, and now." she sighed again. "It's like there was this train, that was heading to the rest of my life and I just missed it." She chuckled.
"Britt and I have been next door neighbors, since we were four. We've always gone to the same school, been in the same class. I remember in second grade I was having trouble reading, and my teacher, Mrs. Gribrock, told my mom and dad that I should stay back a year." Finn told her, smiling at the memory.
Rachel just smiled, and Finn continued. "Britt was so against us being in the same grade, that she took it upon herself, to tutor me, every single day." he told her.
Rachel smiled. "In the second grade?" she asked him.
Finn just grinned and laughed a little. "Yeah, anyway, when I passed, thanks to Britt, I kissed her and I asked her to marry me." he said smiling fondly. Rachel just let out an aww, and Finn continued "She was like, "Oh little Finn, we're too young, ask me again when we're 18 and I'll say yes."
Rachel just smiled and looked forward. "Wow." was all she managed to say.
"I hate that I hurt her." Finn admitted, smiled faded and looking pained.
"Give her time, Finn. That's all you can do." Rachel advised him. "And don't despair. I don't think your story with Britt is over." she told him.
Finn just looked at her and nodded and they continued to walk home.
Music played, and Quinn walked up to Britt's mirror and fixed her lipstick, she smiled as she looked around.
"Your room's so sweet." Quinn told her. Now facing her, and walking to her to do her makeup.
"It's too pink, it doesn't feel right anymore." Britt said, laughing a little.
"No, I like how girly it is, mine is too." Quinn said, putting on blush, she tilted her head up a little harsh, and the small evil glint appeared in Britt's eyes. "You should come over and see it sometime. But just you, not Rachel." she added, Britt just looked away from her.
"I mean, she must be evil incarnate if even you won't have her as a friend." Quinn said. "And on the subject of being friends, Britt, I'm sorry I've been such a witchy-witch to you. After Polly and Sam's epic demise I was angry... At everyone." she told her, Britt just stared at her. "But I took it out on you which was super unfair. Especially since, in a way, it's kinda like we both lost siblings. How, uh, how is Polly? Is she still in that group home?" she asked. Britt just nodded, and Quinn continued to question her. "Do you think she knows what happened to Sam, that he was murdered?"
Britt just looked at her and frowned at the question. "I... I'm not sure." she told her, wondering if her parents even told Polly about Sam.
"What do you think went down between them?" Quinn asked, very innocent like.
"I don't know." Britt said, now getting worked up.
"What do you parents say? Quinn asked.
"About Polly and Sam?" Britt asked her. Quinn nodded and continued on Britt's make up. "Not a lot." she told Quinn.
"Same." Quinn said. "I keep thinking that maybe Sam said something to her. Or she said something to him. I mean, didn't they have a big fight this summer, or...?" she said trailing off.
"Why are you asking me so many questions about Polly?" Britt asked, now getting a little mad. Quinn just stared at her. "Quinn?"
Quinn finally dropped her nice act and talked. "Because, you dumb cow. Someone shot my brother, and I think it was crazy, tweaked out sister." she told her. Britt just looked at her glaring at her a bit now.
Brittany just sat on her bed, looking at Quinn, now as she turned around walked to the mirror now. Britt sat there, trying to get a hold of her turmoil of emotions, desperately holding back of unleashing her dark side. She stood up as Quinn checked her self in the mirror.
"Get out of my house." Britt said.
Quinn rolled her eyes and turned to face her. "Not until you tell me..."
But Britt just cut her off. "Quinn, get the hell out of my house, before I kill you." she said in a menacing dark voice, now standing right in front of Quinn.
Quinn stood there, afraid. She stood there watching Britt, as he once innocent face, was gone, and now it was dark, angry look that she was staring at. Quinn just stared at her, trying not to cry.
Finn was finally making his way back home in the dark, with the order in his hand, from walking Rachel home.
Finn turned and saw Artie, sitting the steps, waiting for him. "Art, what's up?" he asked, glancing at the Pierce's home.
"What's up, is that I saw you Finn." Artie said, as he stood up now walking towards Finn. "In the music room, with Ms. Holiday." he told him.
Finn panicked a little. "Keep your voice down, my dad's inside." he told him.
"I'm trying to help you... Dude. I'm trying to be your friend here, even though we're not anymore." Artie snapped at him. Finn just stood there, quiet. "How long? You and Holiday?" he asked Finn.
Finn just sighed. "Since the summer." he said, now looking at him. Artie just stood there staring at him. "I like her." he pointed out.
Artie just scoffed and turned to look away from him now, as he started to pace. "So I'm guessing she's the reason, you've been acting weird since summer." he asked.
"One of them." Finn admitted.
"One of them?" Artie asked repeating his question. "There's more?"
Finn just glanced at the floor and then back to him, debating if he should just tell him the truth. "We were at Ottawa River, in July Fourth." he admitted to Artie. Artie just stared at him in shock. "We heard a gunshot. The gunshot."
Artie just shook his head at him. "Dude you have to tell somebody." he told him in all seriousness in his voice.
"I can't." Finn told him, walking up to him. "And neither can you, if people find out about Holiday."
"A kid is dead, Finn!" Artie told him, almost yelling at him. "And you're worried about some... some cougar?" he asked in disbelief.
Finn just shut his eyes when Artie said that to him and he go defensive. "Don't call her that, she's not like that. She cares about me."
"Stab in the dark. I'm guessing, she cares more about herself. She's the one who's telling you not to say anything, right?" Artie asked. Finn just glanced down, not saying anything. That's the answer that Artie needed, he scoffed. "Look I saw you guys, she's messing with you man. She's messing with your head."
Finn just got mad. "What the hell do you know about it, Artie? Or about me?" Finn said to him, as if he were blaming him for not knowing a thing about him, as if it weren't Finn's fault that they stopped talking in the first place.
"Nothing." Artie said, shrugging his shoulders. Finn looked at him, a little hurt about his response. "But I used to this guy once. Finn Hudson, he wasn't perfect, but he always tried to do the right thing, at least." said as he started to walk away.
"Art." Finn said, grabbing his arm to stop him, he sighed. "If you tell anyone about this..." he threatened.
Artie frowned, as he stared at him. "What?" he asked angrily. "What are you going to do?" he challenged. Finn just stood there watching him.
The door opened and Chris Hudson came walking out the house. "Hey, Art. Coming in? Take out from Pop's." he told him.
Artie and Finn just stood there watching each other, Finn threateningly and Artie challenging him.
"He was just leaving." Finn said.
Artie just scoffed and walked away from him, muttering to himself how much of an idiot his ex best friend was being. Finn just watching him walk away. Finn watched his crown beanie, ex best friend walk away, again.
The next day, Britt was sitting in her chair staring directly ahead, thinking about what had went down yesterday between her and Quinn. She was in deep thought, she got frighten when her mom barged in.
"A little sage, to banish the evil spirits." Whitney said.
"Mom." Britt said, as she shook her head.
"I'm not joking Britt. That family is pure evil." She told her as she wafting the sage around her room. "I'm wondering if the Fabray's didn't kill Sam themselves. Sacrifice him to some dark pagan god that they worship in that insane mansion of theirs."
Brittany turned sideways of her chair and looked at her mom. "Mom, does Polly know? About Sam?" she asked her.
Whitney looked at her and set the sage on top of the drawers. "I told her. But half the time, your sister doesn't even know what day it is."
"Mom, why were you so against them being together?" Britt asked.
"Many reasons." Whitney responded to her. "That family everything they touch, it rots."
Britt just sat there staring at her mom. She turned back around and then stood up "Mom, I was thinking. Maybe it's time I go visit Polly."
"I'm so proud of how you stood up to that dragoness, but honestly, Britt, why was Quinn over here in the first place?" Whitney asked. "And who else is gonna come waltzing in? Rachel? Finn? How many times are you gonna let them hurt you?"
Britt sighed. "Until I learn my lesson mom." she told her.
Britt was getting her backpack from her locker, glancing at Rachel who was across from her, she sighed. "You were right." She said, as she closed her locker. Rachel jumped a little and turned to face Brittany.
"And about what you said about Finn. Sometimes it's hard to admit things to yourself." Brittany told her. "My mother is crazy. I'm afraid I'll never see my sister again. The boy I like doesn't like me back." she said, she took a step forward to Rachel, and Rachel did the same.
"He may not be crushing on you, but he does love you. And he's legit miserable without you, if it's any consolation." Rachel told her stepping closer., Britt just smiled a little. "My mom says sometimes that a friend is better than a boyfriend. Maybe this is one of those times." she told her.
Britt just smiled a little, and Rachel relaxed.
"And Sheriff Hummel's grilling me, Puck the Magnificent." Puck said as he tossed a football up telling Mike.
Everyone was currently in the student lounge. Rachel was sitting on the arm of the chair, talking to Azimio Adams. Puck was sitting on the couch, with Jesse standing right behind him, Mike was sitting across from them. Kurt and Britt were sitting on the couch doing work, while Artie stood, leaning on the counter, while finally Finn walked in the lounge.
"Cause I'd want Fabray dead. When he was, like, the only good quarterback we had. And speaking of offensive tight-ends, I should've sent the cops to you, Mike." Puck said. "Because here's another unsolved mystery. What exactly were you and Kurt doing at the river, huh? Or does being with the sheriff's son give you a free pass? Hummel?" Puck asked now turning back to where Kurt and Britt were sitting at.
"Puck's being a blowhard, Kurt." Britt told him.
Kurt just glared at Puck. "I don't care what he says." he told her.
Puck just turned back around. "I mean, let's think about it. If a kid in Lima killed Sam, it's not going to be a jock, right?" he asked. Tossing the football to some other player from the team. Rachel and Azimio now started to pay attention to him. "Now let's be honest. Isn't it always some spooky, scrawny, pathetic Internet troll, too busy writing his manifestos to get laid?" he said.
Finn was struggling to put the dollar in the vending machine, Artie just turned to face Finn, rolling his eyes at Puck's stupid theories. Finn turned to him, annoyed.
"Some smug, moody, serial killer fanboy freak, like Artie?" Puck said, he laughed and everyone turned to Artie. "What was it like, Suicide Squad? When you shot Sam?" Puck said. Artie just rolled his eyes. "You didn't do stuff to the body, did you? Like after?" he asked.
"It's called necrophilia, Puck. Can you spell it?" Artie taunted him.
Puck got angry, and he stood up, jumping over the couch and making his way towards Artie. "Come here, you little..." he said.
Finn quickly went to push Puck back from fighting Artie. "Shut the hell up, Puck." he said to him
"Boys." Rachel warned, standing up.
Puck just scoffed and stared at Finn. "What do you care, Hudson?" he asked.
"Nothing, just leave him alone." Finn told him.
Puck started to smirk. "Holy crap, did you and Donnie Darko, kill him together? Was it some sort of pervy, blood brother thing?" he said. Britt sat up, and watched the scene in front of her.
Finn angrily pushed him back, and Artie just stared at Finn like he was crazy. Puck got angry, and he pushed him back to the vending machine, breaking it, while Artie tried to separate them. Puck shrugged him off and he grabbed Finn and shoved him to the floor. Everyone stood up, and Mike jumped over the couch to help Artie pull him off of Finn.
Azimio stood up, while Rachel stood behind him, holding onto his arm, just in case he'd start to fight. Brittany and Kurt stood up, while Brittany looked distressed about the scene in front of her. Puck shrugged the guys off of him, he turned back and punched Finn out cold.
Finn was leaning over the counter, holding a pack over his bruised eye. Christopher walked in and sighed. "Ooh, I hate to ask this, but did you get that, in a fight with Artie?" he asked his son.
"Nah. No, it was with Puck." Finn told his dad. He sighed. "It's a long story. Artie and I, we were disagreeing about a girl."
"Hmm." was all Chris responded to Finn, like he didn't believe him.
Finn sighed, and he stood up "Because there's this girl." he began.
"There usually is." Chris interrupted his son.
"But it's not about me and Artie, it's about me and this girl." Finn told his dad, he paused for a bit and continued. "I think we should do something. And it's the right thing, Dad. But the girl says that if we do, or if I do this thing, it'll ruin what we have." Finn frowned, he put the ice pack back to his eye. "That doesn't make any sense, does it?" He asked.
Chris just smiled at him. "You know, this is the most honest talk we've had in a while." he told Finn as he step around the chair to get closer. "And I'm glad that you want to do the right thing. I can see that. Even under the shiner." he joked, Finn just looked at his dad. "Finn, if you know it's the right thing to do, even though it's tough, even though it might... It might cost you. You gotta do it." He advised.
Finn just slightly nodded and glanced down.
Thunder rumbled, and the skies turned very dark grey, before the night fell, the band was marching and played their school's song, and the crowd cheered loudly, some even held pictures of Sam Fabray. The cheerleaders cheered, Principal Schuester and Sheriff Hummel stood there talking, making sure that tonight was to go great.
Pierce and Whitney Pierce arrived at the game and looked for their daughter, Kurt, was walking in the tracks making sure everything was going great. Finn ran down the field and went up to Ms. Holiday where she was standing by the table of refreshments. Artie starting at them both.
"I'm gonna come clean with Schuester and Hummel." Finn started to explain, Ms. Holiday snapped her head at him. "I was there. I heard the gunshot and I have to own that."
"Finn, slow down." Ms. Holiday told him.
"I'm gonna do it tomorrow. If you wanna come with me, then we can figure it out. If not, I respect that, and I'll do everything I can to keep you out of it." Finn explained. Ms. Holiday just shook her head. "I'm sorry Ms. Holiday, but I have to."
Finn turned and spotted Artie, Artie just sighed and looked away, Finn looked back at Ms. Holiday and then he left, walking towards Artie.
"Girl trouble? You?" Artie taunted at him.
"Holiday and me. We're telling Schuester." Finn told him. Artie just nodded and Finn continued "At least I am. And also I didn't mean that crap I said to you. I'm sorry." he apologized.
"It's cool." Artie told him, Finn just stared at him, and Artie stared at him back, smiling. "We're not gonna hug in front of this whole town." he told him laughing "So why don't we both just do that bro thing, where we nod like douches and mutually suppress our emotions." he said.
Finn smiled. "Yeah, but as friends? Right?" he asked.
"To be discussed, over many burgers, and many days." Artie told him, smiling a bit.
Finn just smiled and nodded as he walked back and left to go join the rest of the football team, Artie just shook his head and smiled. Finn walked back and he accidentally bumped into Britt.
"Oh my god Finn, you're eye." Britt told him softly and she reached out for his eye.
Finn just stared at her, and flinched when her soft fingers made contact with his eyes. He just took a step back and he was swept away by the football team now running towards the field. Britt sighed and went to go join the rest of the Cheerios.
"Now to kickoff this pep rally, I'd like to hand it over to our very own Mayor Jones." Principal Schuester introduced as, Mayor Jones waved and Coach Adams stood there as well.
"Thank you Principal Schuester." Mayor Jones began. "It is heartening to see so many of you here, even in weather like this. But a lack of heart and school spirit has never been the Lima way. Tonight's pep rally isn't like any other we've had in the past." Everyone cheered and she continued. "And we shouldn't pretend that it is. Which is why I would like to dedicate this evening to the memory of one of our brightest. Sam Fabray. We're with him tonight" Quinn stood there and she looked down, shivering a bit. "Now please, join me in welcoming to the field our very own Lima Cheerios, and their special guest stars, my daughter, Mercedes and her Pussycats!" she announced.
The Pussycats walked up the stage to set up and the Cheerios stood there waiting for the cue to begin to preform, everyone cheered. Mercedes began to sing and the Cheerios began to perform, what they have been practicing.
Towards the end, Quinn left to go join the girls up on stage as Mercedes finished. Quinn smiled as Mercedes pulled her in for a hug. Everyone cheered and Coach Adams ran up the stage to welcome his team.
"All right, you all ready? Let's make some noise!" Coach Adams yelled out. "Put your hands together for the, Lima Titans!" he hollered and everyone began to cheer even louder. Quinn let go of Mercedes and she joined the clapping.
Finn ripped the Titans entrance, and the rest of the football team followed. Quinn smiled as they came out, but when she saw Finn's football number, her smile faded and when Finn smiled her way, she swore she saw her twin brother Sam. She remembered the morning of July Fourth, she remembered where she was sitting on the rocks after the boat tipped. She remembered seeing Sam's dead body, with a bullet between his eyes. Her eyes began to water and she turned and ran away.
Rachel and Britt shared a concerned look when they saw her leave, Principal Schuester and Sheriff Hummel noticed as well. Judy and Russel Fabray stood up when they noticed their daughter ran away, and the Pussycats all turned to call her.
Quinn just ignored them all and ran, Rachel then told another girl to hold the sign and began to run after her, Britt noticed and she quickly got another girl to get a hold of the sign and followed them.
Quinn was in the locker room, sobbing, that was how Rachel had found her.
"Quinn?" Rachel called her out softly.
Quinn just sniffed and wiped her eyes.
"Quinn, what is it? What happened?" Rachel asked concerned as she walked towards her, and sat down next to her.
"Sam. He's gone." Quinn said, now crying into her hands.
"I know he is." Rachel told her soothingly.
"No you don't. You don't understand, he was supposed to come back." Quinn told her sobbing. Rachel frowned in confusion, mouthing the words she just told her. Britt ran in and noticed a sobbing Quinn and a confused Rachel.
"I'm alone, I'm alone." Quinn cried out.
Rachel sighed out, and she went to comfort Quinn. "You're not alone. It's okay." she told her softly.
Quinn turned around quickly and hugged Rachel and Rachel hugged her back comforting her. Brittany just sighed out, and left.
Brittany walked up to Rachel, and cleared her throat. "Hey." she called out.
"Hey." Rachel said, as she stood up and gathered her things.
"I saw you and Quinn. Not many girls, would've done with what you did." Britt told her.
Rachel chuckled a bit. "Full disclosure. I've had my share of emotional breakdowns " she said.
"If you're not doing anything, do you wanna go get a milkshake at Pop's?" Britt asked smiling.
Rachel turned to her smiling as well. "Are you sure?" she asked, beaming.
"Yeah." Brittany told her, giggling.
"Britt, I'd love that." Rachel answered her smiling.
Brittany beamed at her, and they both walked away.
It was more dark out, and the girls sat in a booth at Pop's
"Here you go. One double chocolate and one old-fashioned vanilla." The male waiter, said giving them their milkshakes.
"Thank you." Brittany said, smiling at him. The male waiter smiled back and headed off.
Rachel took a sip of her milkshake and looked at Britt. "Britt. Can we make a vow?" she asked.
Brittany turned to Rachel and smiled. "Sure."
"That no matter what, no boy will ever come between us again. Deal?" Rachel said. Brittany smiled sheepishly.
"Deal." Brittany told her, picking up her milkshake. Rachel smiled and they clinked their drink.
The bell chimed and Rachel noticed and she stared, Brittany noticed and when she turned around and saw Artie and Finn, looking their way. Brittany saw them smile at them and she turned back to Rachel and they spoke with their eyes.
Brittany turned back. "Do you want to join us?" she asked smiling a bit.
Artie smiled fondly, and it disappeared as quick as it came, he answered in a straight face. "Yes." Finn turned to him as he started to walk towards them. "But only if you're treating." he said.
Rachel laughed and Brittany smiled, sliding over.
"Rachel Berry." Rachel introduced herself to Artie.
"Arthur" Artie replied, as he made his way to the other booth only to use it to cross over. Rachel smiled at him amused, and Finn smiled at Britt. "Arthur Abrams the Third." he finished.
"Arthur Abrams, the Third." Rachel repeated, smiling. All four started to talk, smiling and laughing.
To someone on the outside, peering in, it would've looked like there were four people in that booth.
But I was there, and I can tell you.
Really, there were only three.
A ginger girl, a raven haired girl, and the luckiest blond hair boy in the universe.
For one shining moment, we were just kids.
Those bright neon lights of Pop's keeping darkness at bay.
Giving way, as all nights must, to a morning of reckoning.
Finn walked the down the hallway, making his way to the principal. He took a deep breathe in and made his way to the door. He hesitated a bit and then he went to open the door, but he was cut off when Principal Schuester and Sheriff Hummel walked out the office.
Finn just stared at them as they walked away, and he was confused to why they were leaving.
Mr. Tanaka walked up to his board explaining the assignment, when he turned and noticed Schuester and Hummel. Artie turned and looked confused. Kurt now looked up and he turned and his smile fell when he noticed his dad, Brittany noticed and then she turned as well.
Quinn smile fell and she glanced down, and Rachel just looked at them confused. Quinn stood up and walked out to the side of the table.
"You're here for me, aren't you?" Quinn asked. "Because of the autopsy?" she asked again. That got everyone's attention.
"We don't need to do this in front of your classmates, Quinn." Principal Schuester said.
"It's alright Principal Schuester." Quinn said, holding out hands. "They'll find out soon enough." she said.
"Now that won't be necessary." Sheriff Hummel told her.
"Wait, Quinn, find out what?" Rachel asked her.
Quinn turned back to her and faced back to Principal Schuester and Sheriff Hummel. "That I'm guilty." she said.
Everyone just stared at her shock, and confused.
Sheriff Hummel didn't handcuffed her, but they each took her arm. Finn was walking back to his class when he noticed Quinn getting taken away. Quinn looked pained and Finn, he was very confused to why they took her away.
Everyone was.
As shocking as those three words were, they were nothing compared to the secrets that Sam's body had given up during it's autopsy.
That Sam didn't die, on July 4th as we believed.
But over a week later.
Oh dear lawd! Honestly, I'm waiting till this Thurs, for the finale, and get some answers from Ep 12. Like yo it was crazy lol.
Anyways Review away :)