She'd swapped lab partners with Puck so she was now paired with him. He wasn't the smartest tool in the box but he made her laugh and actually tried to do work.

"What happened to your sisters eye. It's a shiner" Puck asked as they left chemistry and headed for lunch.

"Walked into a door she said"

"Oldest excuse in the book. Did she get into a bar fight? Or mud wrestling with another girl?" puck grinned, his eyes going a little distant making Rachel punch his arm.

"Not ok!"

"I'm sorry but your family must have the pretty gene"

Rachel just chuckled, shaking her head at the boy as the entered the canteen. She stood with Puck in the lunch line but she wasn't getting anything, her dad made her lunch.

"Not getting anything, Berry?"

"My dad makes my lunch"

"Aw, little daddies girl"

"Tease if you wanna but I have PB and J and you have gruel. In the words of Charlie Sheen" Rachel pointed her thumbs at herself "Winning"

Puck howled out a laugh as they both sat at the table, the group looking at them curiously.

"What's so funny?" Brittany asked, smiling over at them.

"This kid" Puck said, putting his arm around the back of her chair "She's the only freshman I like"

Rachel smiled, looking over at Quinn who was already looking at her. She didn't like the way Quinn had being looking at her ever since she'd blurted out about her mom, she hasn't meant to, it just slipped out. Quinn just looked worried about her, as if after someone teased her she was just going to crack and throw a table. Little did she know Rachel had pills for that. To the doctors, pills answered everything.

"Hey" Marley said, waving her hand in Rachel's face.

"Sorry, what?"

"Last night. How was your first trip"

"Uh" Rachel breathed, sitting up in her chair "It was fun. Little scary though, I didn't know what was happening"

"We probably should have told you what was in those brownie" Marley agreed but Santana shook her head, slinging her arm around the back of Brittany's seat.

"But what would be the fun in that?"

Rachel just nodded. She could remember every last detail about last night it was just weird. Like it was all a dream. Fuzzy around the edges.

Santana sucked in a breath, making a kind of hissing noise when she noticed someone walk into the canteen "Damn, Berry, what happened to your sister?"

Rachel turned, her face turning into a growl when she saw Ellie walk in, Pete's arm draped over her shoulder. Ellie looked incredible uncomfortable.

"Don't know" Rachel murmured with a shrug as she turned around.

Everyone seemed to take that a an answer and go about their business apart from Quinn who stared over Rachel's shoulder then looking at Rachel then back to her sister.

Rachel wondered if she could see it to, the bad in people, but she couldn't because she was dating Brad or whatever and he seemed like a bit of a tool.

for the rest of the lunch Rachel sat quietly, listening to everyone else and only really talking when she was asked something. Once lunch was over Rachel got to her feet and headed towards the door opposite from where the rest of the group where going.

"Hey, nerd" before Rachel could even lift her eyes her books were slapped from her hand and scattered across the emptying lunch room.

"Original" Rachel murmured to herself, as she crouched down to pick up her books, frowning when someone crouched down next to her. She lifted her eyes to be met by bright green ones. She was sure Quinn's eyes changed colors, sometimes a browny color, other times green.

"Four more years. That's it" Quinn said, smiling as she stood up and held her hand out to help Rachel stand up straight. When she was standing fully she was almost nose to nose with Quinn.

Rachel blinked, her eyes flickering away from Quinn's and stepped back.

"It gets easier"

"Don't lie to me" Rachel whispered before she could stop herself.

"I'm not. I wouldn't"

"Is it better for you? You're a senior after all"

"The bullying, yea"

Rachel narrowed her eyes slightly "What you said last night. It goes both ways. You can talk to me whenever you want"

Quinn smiled "Maybe you should just look after your sister"

Rachel looked down at her feet, kicking them nervously off the floor. She knew Quinn had noticed it to "I can look after two people" Rachel murmured. She could look after two people but she couldn't even look after herself properly.

"You're a real nice kid, Labrat. Even thought you're going through something, though I don't know what, you're still trying to help out other people. But concentrate on yourself, alright? You can't make other people happy if you aren't happy"

"I am happy"

"Don't kid a kidder. I've got class so I've gotta get going"

"See you around"

"We're all going for shakes tonight. Best burgers in town, you up for it?"

"Yea, where?"

"I'll pick you up. Be ready around seven"

"Sure. Ok"

"See you, Labrat" Quinn smiled before turning heading towards her class.

Rachel smiled to herself an looked at the books in her hand. She was two down "Oh, hey, Quinn. You have my books"

Quinn stopped and chuckled, turning and handing the books to Rachel "Bye. Again"

Rachel grinned shyly and nodded "Bye"

She was sitting at the dinner table, with her dad and sister, eyes Ellie across the wood as she pushed the food around on her plate.

She know Ellie was lying, for one a door wouldn't leave that kind of gnarly bruise and she could just tell when her sister lied, they spent fifteen years together.

"So, how did you say that happened?" Their dad asked, resting his elbows on the table and looking at Ellie.

"Walked into the door" Ellie answered and Rachel could see her bite the inside of her cheek. Nervous habit she did when she was lying or scared about something. Maybe both in this case.

"Really?"

"Yea, dad, I saw it. At first it was kinda funny but then I realized it was serious" Rachel butted in.

Her dad narrowed his eyes. He knew both of them were lying but it was two against one so he just grabbed his plate and headed to the kitchen "You better not be fighting in school, E" the man said, pushing his lips against her head before disappearing into the kitchen.

"Thank you"

"Now tell me the truth, what happened?"

"It's nothing I can't handle, Rach"

"I'm not sticking up for you if you're going to lie to me"

"I'm not lying!"

"Then look me in the eyes and tell me again!" Rachel said, slapping her hands lightly down on the table.

"Rachel, someone's here for you" her dad said, appearing in the doorway with Quinn by his side.

Rachel nodded, quickly smiling at Quinn before turning back to her sister "We're talking later"

"There's nothing to talk about" Ellie growled, standing up and throwing her plate in to the sink before heading upstairs.

"What was that about?"

"Nothing dad. She's just saying she didn't borrow one of my sweaters but I know she did"

Her dad just nodded, turning and leaving.

Rachel grabbed her own plate and headed into the kitchen, Quinn trailing behind her "So what was that really about?" The blonde asked, leaning against the counter next to the sink.

"You know it to don't you? That she's lying about what happened to her eye" Rachel asked, drying her hands and turning to look at Quinn "She didn't walk into a door"

"And what do you think really happened?"

Rachel shrugged. She didn't want to say what she thought because if it was untrue it was a nasty accusation to make.

"Talk to me, Labrat" Quinn said, standing up straight and walking a little closer to Rachel.

"I don't wanna say it because if its not true then it's not a nice thing to say"

"It won't leave this room. I promise"

"Pete. I think Pete done it"

Quinn nodded, like that was what she had expected Rachel to say "Me too"

"What am I supposed to do about it?"

"What do you want to do about it?"

"Kick his self loving ass"

Quinn smiled "Maybe not. It might not have been Pete but if it does happens again tell you dad"

Rachel nodded and Quinn slung her arm around Rachel's shoulder as they walked out the house "And I could kick his ass if I really wanted to" the brunette murmured and Quinn laughed.

"I don't doubt that" Quinn agreed, opening the door for Rachel before hopping into the drivers side "But lets not do that. At least not until I'm there to help you out"

Rachel smiled "Deal"

Rachel leant against the car door, turning her eyes up to look at the sky. It was relatively dark and you could see a few of the stars twinkling.

"You're a quiet one, huh?"

"Sorry, do you want to talk about something?"

"No, I don't mind. It's just today you were real quiet, at lunch I mean, have you always been like that?"

Rachel shrugged "I've never really had a group of friends, or any friends, so I don't really know how to act or what to say around people who aren't my family"

"You've never had any friends?"

"Never"

"Not even a best friend?"

Rachel nodded slightly "I considered my mom my best friend"

Quinn glanced over at Rachel before turning back to the road "You remember telling me about your mom? At the party?"

"Yea. Sorry about that"

"No, don't apologize. I don't mind you tell me about it"

"You looked mortified"

"I wasn't. I was caught of guard"

"Still, I'm sorry" Rachel said as they parked outside the diner.

Quinn turned in her seat to look at Rachel "Do you want to talk about it? About your mom?"

Rachel thought about it and before she could stop it she was back to when she was thirteen. She knew something was wrong as soon as she'd walked into the house but as soon as she'd seen the gun lying in a limp hand. Blood sprayed all over the walls like some sort of sick, twisted painting-

"Hey, Rachel, it's ok" Quinn murmured but when her hand rested on Rachel's cheek the brunette was brought fully back to reality "Are you ok? You were breathing a little hard there"

"I don't... Please don't make me talk about it"

"Don't worry, sweetie. You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to" Quinn whispered softly, lightly running her thumb across Rachel's cheek bone.

"I don't want to"

"Ok. Well let's go get some shakes"

Rachel nodded and Quinn smiled, stroking her thumb one more time across Rachel's cheek from pulling back and heading towards the diner.

"Rachel!" Puck cheered, wrapping his arms around the brunettes waist and lifting her off of her feet before spinning her in a circle.

"Hi, Noah"

"Are you ok? You look a little flushed?" The boy asked, settling Rachel on her feet and touching the back of his knuckles against her red cheeks "What did you do to her in the car, Quinn" he teased, wiggling his eyebrows at Quinn.

"Just leave it, Puck" Quinn said before heading over to the booth where everyone else was.

"Is everything ok?" Puck asked, his face becoming more serious than before.

"Fine" Rachel smiled the best smile she could muster, she knew it wasn't enough but the boy nodded anyway and signaled for them to head over to the table.

"What's up, Mini Berry"

"You still feeling a little rough after last night?"

Rachel nodded, sitting down in between Puck and Quinn "My tongue doesn't feel like sand paper anymore though. So I guess that is a plus"

"You were incredible last night" Sam chuckled, holding his hand up for Rachel to hit, which she did.

"Are you high again?"

"I think the more appropriate question here is 'am I ever not high' and the answer to that is no. I am always high"

Rachel chuckled, looking down at the menu Quinn was holding in between them "You have to get a burger. They're amazing"

Rachel nodded "A burger"

"And what kind of shake?"

"Peanut butter"

Quinn grinned, looking up from the menu "I like your taste, Labrat"

She felt uneasy. She didnt know if it was because of the conversation and flash back she'd had in this car the last time or if it was because she'd had a flash back at all. Normally the meds blocked them out.

"You like the stars" Quinn said, more of a statement than a question but Rachel nodded anyways as they walked up towards her door, Rachel's head tilted back to look up at the stars "Why?"

"Just thinking about how vast our solar system is, never mind the entire universe, just makes my problems seem so small" Rachel mumbled before flushing slightly, she'd never told anyone that before "It's totally dumb"

"No, I like it. You think differently from most people don't you?"

"I guess. I don't know" Rachel replied, sitting on the swing seat followed by Quinn.

"You seem to think about things differently"

"And that's, what? A bad thing"

"Not at all" Quinn assured, using the tip of her toes to lightly swing the seat.

"Have you every had a problem talking about stuff? Like you have it all inside you but you just can't seem to find the words to explain it?"

"Yea. It's difficult when other people don't understand"

"It makes you feel like you're not normal. Different from all those other people who're just naturally happy and you just can't seem to get rid of this feeling that just keeps dragging you down"

"You know it's always gonna be there. Even when you're at your happiest you know it's just a matter of time before you're pulled back into that black hole and have to fight your way back out again"

Rachel blinked, looking up at Quinn. She never thought that anyone would understand, her dad and sister never did, and it scared her but hearing it coming from someone else's mouth soothed her. Knowing that she wasn't alone "That's exactly it"

"You aren't alone, Labrat. Not anymore"

"What's the matter with you?" Quinn dragged her tongue across her lips, Rachel knew she didn't want to talk about it "You don't have to tell me"

"Soon Rachel. I'm just not ready"

"I respect that" Rachel said, watching a car pull up into her drive. Pete, of course it was.

"I don't know if I like you being in there with him" Quinn murmured, her eyes following the boy as she headed round back.

"I'll be ok"

"Sure?"

"I'll just go upstairs and read"

Quinn nodded, getting to her feet and turning to Rachel "You call me if anything happens"

"I will"

"Good" Quinn stepped froward, wrapping her arms around Rachel's neck.

Rachel had never had a huge from anyone outside her family so it took her a while to realize what was happening and slowly lifted her hands up to rest on the smalls of Quinn's back.

"I've gotta go. I'm seeing Brent"

Rachel pulled back, her hands still on Quinn's back "Brent?"

"Yea"

"You're both still dating?"

"Yes" Quinn mumbled, bringing her eyes up to meet Rachel's.

"Oh, right" the brunette said, stepping fully away from Quinn.

"Rachel..."

"You'd better go" the brunette interjected, heading towards her door.

"G'night, Latrat"

"Night Quinn" Rachel gave a half hearted smiled before disappearing into the house. She didn't know why she felt like she'd just been punched in the stomach but she didn't like it.

Sighed, the brunette headed upstairs into her room, picking up her book and trying to loose herself in it.

There was a lot she didn't understand. Why jocks are top of the social ladder when all the done was throw a ball around the field. Why the head cheerleader, and every other cheerleader, played dumb when she'd saw for herself that the cheerleader across from her should be doing a much higher level of math than she was. But most of all she didn't understand why people pretended to be happy with people they didn't have to be with.

She could hear her sister and Pete yelled downstairs. She was the only other person in the house and she didn't know exactly what they were arguing about but they were getting louder and louder.

She got to get feet and snuck downstairs, peering through the crack in the door to watch.

"You're such a jerk!"

"Me? This is your fault!"

"How is this my fault. You're the one who slept with that girl. Like father like son, huh?"

Everything went slow motion from there as Pete's hand swung back and connected with Ellie's cheek so hard that even Rachel jumped. It took her a few seconds to come out of her daze and without thinking she stormed into the room. Hell, she wouldn't do much damage, this kid was twice her size and a senior but no one laid a hand on her sister.

"Rachel, hey stop" Ellie mumbled, pressing on Rachel's shoulders as the girl tried to storm by, her eyes fixed on the boy "I can handle this. Please just go back upstairs"

Rachel let out a breath, her eyes moving from Pete to Ellie. The older girls face was full of concern but Rachel know it wasn't because of what Pete did it was because she was scared that Rachel would loose it again. Black out.

"But El.."

"Please, kid. Just go back upstairs, Pete's just leaving"

Rachel drew in a ragged breath before turning and heading out of the room. She stopped outside for a second, waiting incase something else happened but all she heard was a muffled sorry coming from Pete.

She couldn't help but wonder why he would do it in the first place. What did hitting someone do for you?

She sat up on her widow seat, watching Ellie walk Pete out to her car, expecting her to at least yell a little but her stomach twisted when she reached up and kissed him.

Once Pete drove off Rachel grabbed her hoodie and pulled it on.

"Where are you going?" Ellie asked when she headed towards the door.

"Out" Rachel replied shortly, slamming her front door closed and headed down the street. Her head automatically tilted upwards.

It didn't seem to work, normally a wave of relaxation would wash over her but that didn't happened. The fact that someone had just hit her big sister had her wired pretty high.

She hopped up the stairs of the house she'd been heading for a lightly knocked on the door.

"Rachel, hi" the Mohawked boy smiled, standing in the doorway with nothing but pajama bottoms on.

"I know it's late. I was gonna go to Quinn's but she's with brad or whatever"

"Don't worry about it. Come on in" Rachel walked into the house and followed Puck to his room "What's wrong?"

Rachel shook her head, sitting on his bed and running her hands over her face. Puck just stood against his chest of drawers and waited.

"Why do people feel the need to be with someone who hurts them?"

"Quinn?" Puck asked, narrowing his eyes "Who's hurting Quinn?"

"No one. This isn't about Quinn, it's about everyone. Everybody does it. But if they're hurting you so bad why be with them when you'd be happier on your own?"

"Sometimes things happen that make someone feel so small and worthless that they feel like they wouldn't get anyone better than the person they have now. Even if they do hurt them"

"Like what?"

"All kinds of things. Who's this about?"

"My sister. I couldn't killed him. Would have if I'd been given half the chance"

"Pete?"

"Yea. Who does he think he is? No one does that to some I love!"

"What, Rachel? What did he do?"

"Hit her!" Rachel half yelled, standing up "She don't jack shit to deserve it and he just hit her. Like she was some sort of animal. I'm not ok with that!"

"That's where she got that black eye from"

"And then some" Rachel murmured, chewing on her shaking knuckles.

"Hey, calm down buddy. We'll get him. How do you feel about going and putting a hole in every tire on his car"

"Now?"

"Why not? I have a full range if penknives" Puck grinned, putting his hands on Rachel's shoulders. The brunette nodded "Choose your wepon" the boy said, opening up the top drawer.

"Do you have a yellow one?"

"Seriously?" The boy arched an eyebrow and Rachel nodded "Here. It's gold but close enough I guess"

"Ok, let's go" Rachel said and both teens headed down stairs "how do you work it?"

"Just push that button"

Rachel did as she was told and jumped when the blade spring out of the holder "It's like something outta grease"

Puck chuckled, wrapping his arm around Rachel's shoulder as they headed towards Pete's house.

"What if he comes out?"

"Runs as fast as your tiny legs can carry you. Go back to my house"

Rachel nodded, drawing in a nervous breath.

"He won't come out. He'll be in bed, it's after nine and he has a bedtime"

Rachel laughed, letting her head fall against Pucks shoulder.

"Ok, I'll take one side you take the other"

"Ok" Rachel agreed, pulling her hood up over head he's and crouched down behind the car.

"As hard as you can just push it into the rubber"

Rachel nodded, shuffling towards the front tier and shoved the knife into the rubber making it hiss as the air rushed from the tier.

She shuffled to the back as there was a screeching nose coming from Pucks side. Just as she's shoved the knife into the back tier the door of the house swung open.

"Hey, what do you think you're doing?" Pete yelled and Rachel's eyes widened as she stayed crouched behind the car.

"Time to move, Berry" Puck said, running around to her side and grabbing her arm when she made not attempt to move "Now!"

The duo ran down the street and continued running when the foot steps behind them stopped.

"Well that was close" Puck huffed as he slouched against the door.

"So close"

"You wanna stay the night? I'll sleep on the floor"

Rachel nodded. She didn't feel like seeing her sister tonight "I'll just text me sister" Rachel quickly texted her sister and sat down on the sofa. Puck appeared at the door holding a pair of black sweats and a Canucks shirt.

"You can sleep in these"

Rachel nodded, grabbing the clothes and pointing down the hallway "Where's the bathroom?"

"The door just before the kitchen"

Rachel smiled and headed down to get changed. She felt weird. She expected to be terified after almost being caught vandalizing someone's car but it was actually a rush. Exciting.

"You like cartoons?" Puck asked as she walked back into the front room and sat down on the sofa.

"Tom and Jerry's my favorite"

"Yes, you're most definitely my favorite person"

Rachel grinned, letting her head fall back onto the sofa as they both watched the tv.

She must have fallen asleep on the sofa because she couldn't remember walking upstairs to bed.

They were both back on the sofa the next morning, the cartoons playing on the tv.

Rachel laughed at the tv just as there was a loud knock on the door "Come in" the boy hollered and the door was pushed open revealing a slightly pissed looking Quinn.

"Was in my way to McDonalds" Quinn said grabbing the remote and turning off the TV "and I just so happened to walk past Pete's house just as his car was being towed. Apparently his tiers were slashed and the word 'dick' engraved into the side of his car"

"Huh, no way" Puck said nonchalantly and Rachel just nodded, her eyes focused on her hands. She was never one for lying because basically she sucked at it and it felt bad.

"Way. You both would know anything about that would you?"

"I'm offended!" Puck gasped but Quinn ignored him and looked at Rachel.

"How about you, Labrat? Do you know anything about it?"

Rachel shook her head, her eyes still focused on her hands that were not nervously picking at her nails.

"Don't lie to me Rachel. I understand Puck lying to me but not you"

"We did it" Rachel said in an almost shameful voice, her eyes coming up to meet Quinn's "But he deserved it"

Quinn's eyes moved from Rachel to Puck "What were you thinking? You could have gotten caught and she would have gotten into so much trouble"

"I'm not some lamb who follows the crowed. I wanted to do it"

"I bet it was his idea, right?"

"Yea, it was but you don't know what he did!"

"Who? Puck or Pete?"

"Doesn't matter"

"No it does. Tell me" Rachel just shook her head, her hands coming up to cover her face "So you trust him but not me?"

That wasn't it at all. She just figured, because Brent was hurting Quinn and she didn't seem to care, she wouldn't understand her anger towards Pete.

"Look, Quinn it wasn't like that. She came here for some help and I suggested we go slash his tiers"

"Why? What did he do? Did he hurt you?" Quinn knelt down in front of Rachel and ran her eyes over her faces "I'll kill him if he hurt you"

"Not me"

A sense of realization washed over Quinn's face "Ellie?"

Rachel nodded "He deserved it Quinn. He did"

"I know" Quinn agreed, nodded her head lightly "And he did see you. Either of you?"

"No, we took off when he came out"

"Ok. Just try not to do something this stupid again"

"Of course" Rachel agreed. She couldn't help it, not when Quinn was looking at her like that.

"Can we watch our cartoons now?" Puck asked, picking up the remote and turning the TV back on.

Quinn's eyes ran down Rachel's body before frowning "You spend the night?"

"I didn't want to go home"

Quinn's eyes turned to look at Puck before coming back to Rachel and she nodded "fair enough"

"Tom and Jerry!" Puck cheered and Rachel smiled, sitting crossed legged on the sofa as Quinn took a seat next to her