Author's Note: I apologize so much for the long wait! Trust me, I have a lot in store for this story, especially since I get a lot of inspiration as I write it. I had no idea I was going to enjoy writing a crossover story like this. It's kind of weird. Nevertheless, here is the fourth chapter of the story. I hope you all enjoy! Please review if you can! I'd love to hear your thoughts!
The class began rather slowly, in Rachel's opinion. The teacher sure took his sweet time to arrive, coughing grossly as he sipped obnoxiously with his coffee cup. He didn't even greet the class like Rachel's instructor did on her computer. Instead, he sat down snugly at his desk, lifting his coffee in his hand to take several chugs. This must be a regular occurrence, though, because nobody questioned it. In fact, everyone was still conversing amongst themselves rather than getting out their textbooks and spirals in preparation for notes. Rachel couldn't believe the irresponsibility.
Peter and Ned were hissing quietly to each other about some subject on the latest issue of a comic the both of them were reading. Rachel, too easily, zoned out as she straightened her textbook over her desk and opened her spiral to the first blank page. Even if her fellow students weren't as eager to learn as she was, that didn't mean she had to copy their lazy ministrations. It was weird; she thought this was a STEM school, which meant most of the students should be all for the subjects. Perhaps that was just what she had been hoping for, interacting with like-minded individuals who find knowledge to be power, like her father, or Bruce.
Finally, finally, the professor finally took a stand with a clipboard, looking over it before he made way to the front of the class and took charge, the class slowly quieting down. Rachel smiled as best she could, folding her hands neatly over the desk as she waited to hear his first instructions and lesson he'd planned for the day. She was ecstatic to finally be learning in a real classroom for once instead of at her desk back at the tower. This was much better, she thought. For once, she wasn't alone.
"Alright, let's start off with attendance. Just say here when I call your name, please," the teacher drawled, rubbing his temples. Rachel's smile faltered. Well, attendance was probably a must with classrooms. After all, you'd want to make sure everyone was present to have the pleasure of learning something new. And so the teacher began calling everyone, the lot of the students mumbling their responses as if they were tired already, despite it being the first class. They only really looked up when they heard the teacher go, "Rachel Stark."
"Present!" Rachel raised her hand fondly, before slowly taking it down as eyes landed on her, including the pretty cheerleader from before. Her green eyes didn't leave Rachel's figure as she shrunk a bit in her seat. She looked at Peter and Ned for help, but they didn't provide much advice except for nervous smiles as they fidgeted in their own desks.
"Rachel Stark? Like Tony Stark?" the female deemed Santana stated. Her tone of voice was rather aggressive. "How in the hell did you wander your ass up in here without notice? Might be the nose...would've figured your dad could've afford a surgeon."
"Santana," the teacher suddenly snapped, "Let's try to make her feel welcome! It's her first day here and we should treat her as we do everyone else! Alright, let's get started..." Turning away, he returned to his desk to retrieve something while the rest of the class continued to gawk at Rachel as if she were some kind of animal in a zoo. It was getting rather annoying, but she didn't know how to get it to stop. She should've known this was going to happen; her father was a multi-billionaire, as well as one of earth's mightiest heroes. Of course his last name was going to start problems for her. She should've just went by Berry like she had planned.
"Wait, so your dad's really Tony Stark, though? Like, no joke?" one of the guys asked; he was slender and muscly with sandy blond hair that seemed obviously bleached. "Dude, I'm so totally into the Avengers! Like, no shit, my favorite's Iron Man."
"Get off her dick, Evans," Santana snapped angrily. "S'not like she needs anymore reason to pretend like she's better than the rest of us. Bet you figured yourself someone real special when you walked through those doors this morning, huh? Even snagged yourself two of the biggest dorks in this school just to look better by comparison. I've gotta hand it to you, though, that was a smart option."
"Santana," the green eyed cheerleader suddenly spoke. Rachel understood she was Quinn Fabray from Peter's description. "If you were worried about her getting attention before, you're sure as hell doing a lot of it." Santana opened her mouth as if to say something, but she must've thought better of it since she closed it again and swiveled around in her seat after shooting Rachel one final glare.
"Iron Man's still my favorite superhero," 'Evans' mumbled as he turned as well.
Rachel turned to Quinn at that point, wanting to thank her for stepping in, but the words failed her and by the time whatever courage she had was diminished since Quinn only gave her one last look before turning completely in her seat to face the front where the teacher finally began reading off his notes to teach the class, everyone finally relaxing enough to listen. Unfortunately, Rachel wasn't. Despite being irritated the entire class for everyone being so unprepared, she didn't realize she'd be the sole person so unfocused because of someone else that she didn't write down a single thing the teacher supposedly taught them.
The bell startled her, Rachel finally returning to reality and seeing everyone stand, packing their things to leave. Shaking her head briefly, she stood and grabbed her things, clumsily stuffing them into her bag before following after Ned and Peter outside the classroom, the small male turning to Rachel quickly, gripping his bag tightly, "Sorry about what happened in there...Santana's not really the nicest person in this school..."
"Did you hear her in there?" Ned asked, breathless, "She mentioned us, Pete! We're the 'two biggest dorks'! She knows I exist..."
Peter playfully rolled his eyes before turning to face Rachel, momentarily stopping her. "Well, we have to head to second period. Since you...well, you have gym next, so we won't be able to stick with you, but I'll see you in third! You'll be able to meet Artie then. See you, Rach!" With that, he disappeared with Ned tailing closely behind him, leaving Rachel standing awkwardly in the middle of the hallway, clutching her bag.
This school really wasn't what she thought it was going to be. Well, she didn't really think she'd be bowed to or whatever for her father, but she didn't expect to be deemed spoiled rotten like Santana insinuated. Not to mention she brought the fact Rachel had a rather large nose into light. The female Stark huffed quietly as she covered it and began walking, trying to find the gymnasium as quickly as she could. She wondered if it was too late to call her father to pull her out and return her to homeschooling.
No...no, she wanted this. She couldn't back down now just because things weren't going her way. She still had her Glee audition, and it wasn't as if she were completely alone. She, at least, had Peter and Ned to call friends...and sort of Kurt. Plus, not all of the more popular students hated her. Quinn sort of jumped to her defense by stopping Santana from anymore of her vicious words.
"Hey, new kid," yet another voice startled her, making her jump and twirl on the spot. Standing before her was a girl, obviously, her height much more superior to Rachel's as she stood tall. She was black with curly hair that she had pulled into a small ponytail. Her clothes consisted of some weird show Rachel had never heard of while her black jeans pooled out into black boots. She had a similar messenger bag that Rachel had. This girl had her arms crossed and she seemed to be smacking her gum obnoxiously as she stared down at Rachel. "I know you...Rachel Stark, right?"
"Yes, I am," Rachel nodded, deciding it was best for her to move this along in case this girl tried to make fun of her, too.
"Alright, then, call me MJ. C'mon, you have gym, right?" 'MJ' suddenly grabbed her arm and Rachel was practically being dragged away towards a pair of double doors that were coated in chipped blue paint. "Heard you talking to Parker, so that's how I know you. Don't try to make this weird by asking why I do know you."
"W-Wait, so...you're in Glee club?" Rachel asked as she continued to follow her, her arm still in MJ's grasp.
"Keep your voice down," MJ suddenly hissed angrily, giving Rachel a glare. "If these guys know, this shirt's gonna be blue in less than seconds. Hope Parker warned you about the slushies and all? Tried to throw it out as some kind of harassment issue, not even a chance. Principal says they're not technically excessive and they're not considered bullying, so don't try to complain after it happens to you for the first time."
"I...okay," Rachel agreed as MJ finally pushed open the door and they were walking down a path toward what looked to be the football field. It was absolutely huge. The grass was fake, making it more of a turf field than dirt. At the center was their blue and gold mascot. There didn't seem to be anyone on said field, though, so Rachel didn't understand why MJ was taking her here if she knew her next period was meant to be gym. "Um...where are we going? Are the girls practicing here?"
"Nah, we're supposed to practice in the gym. Today's conditioning, so I thought I'd save your ass by taking you out here. C'mon, they leave the gates unlocked," MJ finally released Rachel in order to peel back the silver gate door, letting the brunette awkwardly stumble after her. "The bleachers are always covered in gum, so be careful where you sit, but it's nice and quiet." She began walking up the steel steps.
"Won't we get in trouble for skipping?" Rachel asked.
"Not if they don't catch us. Are you coming or what?" MJ asked. "Peter said it'd be best for us to 'bond' by what his texts said...apparently you had a bad run in with Santana Lopez?" That finally got Rachel to move, following after her. "Trust me, she's like that with everyone that's not Quinn Fabray or Brittany Pierce."
"Why is that?" Rachel asked, continuing after her until they stopped at the very top, making sure their seats weren't covered by gum before they took their seats.
"The social pyramid. As far as she's concerned, she thinks she had to work for where she's at, whereas all you have to use is your name. It was obvious that was gonna piss her off a little," MJ shrugged, reaching into her bag and protruding a book from inside, flipping it open to a marked page as she began to read. "Then again, you're not really trying to make yourself a big picture if you're trying out for Glee of all things. I might be a hypocrite since I'm in the club, but why would you join it of all things when you're a shoe in for shit like Cheerios?"
"I like to sing," Rachel answered easily. "Plus, I didn't understand there was a popularity concept you were meant to follow if you wanted to be in the radar."
"Trust me, being in the radar is stupid," MJ rolled her eyes. "Besides, I know for a fact that the Cheerios and football players aren't all that perfect. You got your kids like Noah Puckerman who's in and out of juvie every other week and yet the coach still keeps him on as receiver. Don't know why he even tries since the football team sucks as it is."
"You seem to know a lot."
"Call me observant," MJ shrugged. "So...you've met Peter, Ned, and Kurt...now me. Wanna run off to the Unholy Trinity yet?"
"The what?"
"Unholy Trinity...Quinn, Santana, and Brittany. Seriously, new kid, you need to keep up." MJ rolled her eyes.
"Oh," Rachel replied dumbly, looking away and averting her eye contact toward the grass below. Did she want to use her name to her advantage? After all, being a Stark could mean fantastic futures for her. She could possibly interact with that Quinn Fabray far more and even earn Santana's favor. She turned back to MJ with a smile after a few moments of those thoughts running through her head, "Well, I already like you guys so much...I think I like being below the radar, too."
For the first time since she met her, Rachel saw a hint of a smile on MJ's lips.
