The bell tolled, waking Will from his thoughts.

He looked up to find his Sophomore History class getting up from their seats and nosily filing out the classroom door. How long had he been zoned out?

"Don't forget your assignment for tomorrow!" he called after them.

The door slammed shut.

Will held his head in his hands, trying to sooth his pumping headache. He hadn't slept a wink last night, ever since Santana had run off. His shirt collar was constraining against his neck again, tightening the noose once more. He had to find her, to save both his and her necks.

Will crossed the school towards the student cafeteria, hoping to find either Brittany or one of Santana's other friends from Glee club. Just as he pushed open the double doors, however, a plastic lunch tray barged straight into his chest, knocking the air from his lungs.

"Jesus, I'm sorry Mr Shue! I didn't –"

Will, doubled over in pain, waved his attacker on, until he caught sight of that familiar blond hair.

"Sam, just the type of person I was looking for! You haven't seen Santana in school this morning, have you?"

Sam shook his head. "Nope. We usually queue for lunch together, but she wasn't there today."

Will tilted his head slightly. "I didn't realize you two were good friends."

"We're both on the free lunch programme. Santana doesn't like going up to the till with her own friends because she's embarrassed about it, I think."

"She hasn't ever talked to you about her family, has she?" Will prodded, silent praying that Sam would hold some answers to the mystery of Santana Lopez.

"Not much, but more than most people."

"Let's go to the Choir Room. This is important."

oOoOo

Outside on the corridors, students could be heard bustling back and forth, jostling and shoving past one another.

Inside however, the silence hung thick and heavily.

"Well," started Sam, leaning back into his chair, "The first time I got talking to Santana in the cafeteria, I was ahead of her in the line. I was a little wary, because, you know, Santana has got a bit of a rep for teasing people. So, when I got to the lady at the till, I mumbled 'free lunch' really quietly and sort of shrank down. Santana clued into this though, and she cornered me…"

"You don't get free lunch, do you?"
Sam shook his head, almost violently. "No way."

"Oh. Whatever." She shoved past him, making her way towards the reserved Cheerio's table.

Something about her tone was off. It was almost disappointed.

Sam stopped her in her tracks. "Why? Do you?"

"Do I look like the kind of person who gets free lunch?" she scoffed.

"I guess not."

"Exactly. Now get out of my way."

"Where's your change?"

Santana threw her eyes to heaven, becoming increasingly agitated. "What do you mean my change?"

"You know, your change from your lunch money."

"I don't know! I don't see yours!"

Sam blushed. "I asked you first."

"Actually, if you weren't so busy swatting the flies away from your ginormous mouth, maybe you'd recall that I was the one to corner you."

They stood in silence for a few moments.

"Fine," she eventually sighed, "I do."

Sam looked down at his own tray, a small smile creeping onto his face. Santana gave him a shove. "What do you think you're laughing at, Billy Bass?"

He shook his head softly. "I do too."

"From then on," Sam continued, "We've always got our lunch together."

Will stretched out his legs, thoughtfully. "Has she ever mentioned her mom to you?"

Sam nodded. "A couple of times. That's where Santana gets her wild streak."

"What do you mean?"

"Her mom's an addict. Neglected her kids and smoked crack all through pregnancy – that's why Santana was tiny when she was growing up. The social services took her away when she was six or seven, and I think she's been in foster care since."

Will leaned back, his hands behind his head. He had a feeling Santana wouldn't be one to agree with foster care.

"You've been really helpful, Sam. You can go back to your lunch."

"No problem, Mr Shue. I know people have a lot to say about Santana, but she's a good kid. She just needs someone to guide her."

Will smiled. Maybe he could be that person.

oOoOo

It was 2:00am when the knocking sounded.

Rubbing sleep-filled eyes, Will shuffled out of the bedroom in his t-shirt and boxers. He opened the front door, only to find nothing but a dark street. Just as he turned to head back inside, he caught sight of the tiny glowing ember of a lit joint. Santana.

She was sitting up against the side of the house, an empty bottle of vodka by her side and her smoke held loosely between her fingers. She grinned wildly when she saw him.

"Mr Shue! Long time no see, buddy!"

"Santana get up right now."

She tilted her head back, looking up at the stars. "Nah, I'm alright. I think I'll sleep out here tonight."

Left with no other options, Mr Shue grabbed her by the arms and led her inside onto the couch.

"How long have you been out there, Santana?"

"How am I supposed to know? You're the history teacher."

"Funny." He lifted her legs up so that she was lying across the couch. Santana's face was bruised and swelling on one side, and her clothes looked like they had seen better days.

Mr Shue ran a clenched hand through his hair. "You thirsty?"

She just nodded, folding into herself.

Grabbing a spare blanket from the wardrobe and a glass of water from the kitchen, he returned to find her curled up in the fetal position, arms wrapped around her legs. She was trembling.

Will tucked her in gently, and propped her up until she was supported by the cushions.

"I don't want to be like her, Mr Shue," she whispered softly.

He placed a gentle hand on her head. "You're nothing like your mother, do you understand that? You're Santana Lopez."

She nodded, closing her eyes.

"Good night, Mr Shue."

"Good night, Santana."