Little over two weeks after her 'coming out' and nothing appeared to be improving. Rachel had survived a torrent of slushies, a barrage of insults and the occasional threat. The tiny diva had taken to wearing a poncho to school and practiced turning a deaf ear to conversations outside the classroom. The blogosphere was still swirling gossip about her and the head cheerio, despite Rachel's extremely successful efforts to never be in the same vicinity as the blonde outside of glee. It was all beginning to weigh very heavily on the tiny brunette.
Rachel sighed as she approached her final stop for the day, Glee rehearsal, normally her favorite time of day was now her most dreaded. The tension between her and the head cheerio was palpable. The brunette knew that Karofsky was adding fuel to the 'Faberry' fire, every time he approached her and she avoided him, it seemed to increase the mayhem and general level of hatred toward her from the entire student body.
Rachel quietly slipped into the choir room, avoiding everyone's gaze she headed straight for a seat in the back and removed her poncho. Mercedes and Tina exchanged looks before both girls got up and took a seat on either side of the tiny brunette. Rachel smiled in gratitude but said nothing, her usual energy and enthusiasm for life was extremely taxed these days.
"Okay everyone on your feet." Mr. Schuester entered the room with his usual gusto looking expectantly at his students. His smile never waivered as he took in his students blank expressions, "Don't question it just do it. We've been in a rut lately and I found the perfect way to 'shake' us out of it, so let's go I've got a surprise for everyone in the auditorium."
The teacher ignored the grumbles and groans as he lead the small group down the hall, his students were in a funk and he needed to snap them out of it. Ever since Rachel's announcement and subsequent silence his group dynamic felt like a ticking time bomb ready to explode. Regional's was coming soon and he needed to mend the rift that was keeping them from performing at their peek. His solution, speed dancing, not unlike speed dating all the students would be paired up to dance and after a couple minutes they would all switch.
Mr. Schue ran onto the stage ahead of his students smiling with excitement, the teenagers slowly trudged in behind him looking curiously at Ms Pillsbury and Coach Beiste, sitting at Mr. Schue's observation table.
"I've decided to try something a little different to pick our dance routine for regionals; today we are having a dance competition!" He clapped and smiled widely, his enthusiasm a distinct contrast to the lack of interest from the Glee club. Everyone grumbled that they should leave the choreography decisions to Mike and Brittany.
Rachel listened to her teacher explain that there would be two rotations, everyone would dance with everyone, it was not a boy girl competition, there would be three judges, anything vulgar or anyone not dancing would be given zero points. The two students with the most points at the end would create the dance routine for sectionals. As Mr. Schue paired them up she was relieved to not be with Quinn but it was a small victory as she found herself standing awkwardly across from Finn.
Mr. Shue wished everyone good luck before turning to join his judges, he was excited, this would be good for everyone. As he took his seat Coach Beiste leaned over and spoke under her breath, "Hey Will, this singing and dancing crap isn't really my thing, but it looks like your torturing these kids? Are you sure this is a good idea?"
Mr. Shue looked over at the coach with disbelief, "Yes I'm sure, teenagers love to dance and express themselves and right now I need a way to break the tension in my classroom. If I can get them to loosen up and have some fun together then they'll be able to put their differences behind them." He looked to Emma for support but she put her hands up in mock surrender making it clear she was not weighing in on the issue.
He wasn't open to discussion, he was moving on with his plan, hitting play on the audio system the first song blared to life and as expected the first group of pairs hesitated only a moment before getting in sync with their partners. Will smiled, he had worked hard on his song selection, picking a variety of pop songs that he thought his students would know, mixed music that would challenge his students to salsa, swing and even jitter bug. He bobbed his head to the music as he watched his students cut loose.
Quinn smiled seductively over her shoulder at Sam as she rolled her hips into his; he swallowed and thought of a cold shower over and over again as the blonde moved against him. He moved to circle around her and came face to face with Puck, both guys swallowed as they realized they were dance partners next. The music changed indicating the rotation and they continued to stand and eye each other awkwardly as salsa music began to play.
Rachel moved to her right and found herself paired up with Artie. She wasn't sure how to salsa to begin with, but finding rhythm with a boy in a wheelchair was going to be a real challenge. The dark haired boy smiled at her apologetically and she smiled back before she started to dance around him, she did her best to focus but couldn't help but wonder what Quinn was going to do when it was their time to dance together. Rachel looked down the row of dancers and saw the blonde dancing with Mike. She was matching the Asian boy step for step, the tiny brunette couldn't help but be impressed.
Lauren found herself face to face with Santana, she rolled her eyes and opened a chocolate bar, her dancing with the hot headed Latin was laughable. When Santana folded her arms across her chest and attempted to look intimidating, Lauren bit into her candy and smirked as she imagined ripping out the skinny girls weave.
Emma saw the edgy exchange and leaned over to William, "This doesn't appear to be working?"
"Shhh, it's only the second round, give them a chance, the next song is funk, everyone will have fun with that one, they learned to like funk." Mr. Shue missed the look of doubt that passed between the two women on either side of him. He smiled oblivious to the tension mounting on the stage in front of him.
Quinn laughed at Mercedes display of smooth moves in front of her when the music changed again. The two girls strutted their stuff and danced around, the cheerio was actually enjoying herself, that is until she saw Rachel dancing beside her with Tina. The blonde clenched her jaw and immediately felt her shoulders go rigid; she could not believe that she was once again relegated to front page trash all because of the diva.
Mercedes saw Quinn's reaction and followed her gaze to the tiny brunette, in an attempt to distract the girl she grabbed the blonde's hand and twirled her around a few times. She had learned a lot about the head cheerleader while the pregnant teen had lived with her and she knew the blonde was almost at her breaking point with these rumors.
Rachel felt sick with nerves when the music changed and she moved to stand in front of the head cheerio. Of course it was swing, to do it appropriately would require them to come into physical contact, this was karma's way of saying it hated her. Rachel looked to Mercedes for help but the other girl was laughing with Puck as he tried to pick her up.
As Mr. Shue perused the line of dancers he smiled as they all seemed to be enjoying themselves; that is until he saw Rachel and Quinn who were locked in a staring match. He sighed in frustration knowing that the strain between the two of them was the biggest barrier in his group dynamic the past few weeks, "Come on girls you've done really well so far, a zero on this song will lower your chances of winning." Mr. Schue tried to appeal to both girls sense of competition to break the tension.
Quinn turned her attention to the teacher, she could not afford another day of damage to her reputation, it was time for her to take matters into her own hands. "Mr. Schue, I have no issue with Kurt or her fathers and any of the sins they want to commit in their own homes, but I can not, and will not have it forced upon me. Based on her feelings for the same gender, I do not feel comfortable in her presence anymore. I told Rachel this and she refused to quit Glee club but now I think you'll have to make the choice for her."
Rachel's mouth dropped open, after what the blonde had done to her; she was going to act like Rachel had the problem. She turned to appeal to the teacher, "I will not quit Glee club because she's uncomfortable with my sexuality, that's discrimination Mr. Shue!"
"Quinn..." Mr. Schue started to speak but the blonde cut him off.
"No, I didn't want to have to bring this up because its embarrassing and painful for me," Quinn took a dramatic breathe and wiped at a fake tear, "...a few days ago Rachel tried to kiss me in the girls bathroom." the blonde wrapped her arms around herself and everyone gasped as they turned to stare at the stunned diva, "I told her that she could not force her feelings or beliefs on me and because she obviously can't control her deviant nature she should quit Glee Club."
Rachel was furious, she unconsciously took an angry step toward the blonde but stopped when Santana swooped in like the dark knight to defend the cheerio's leader. Rachel looked around the Latina and pointed a harsh finger at the blonde, "The only one with a problem is you! And the fact that your a pathological liar with no soul!" Santana wrapped Quinn in a protective embrace and shot daggers at the diva.
The fired up diva turned to her teacher again, "Unbelievable. Mr. Schue, this is harassment!" She turned to face the group, addressing everyone with conviction, "If you're willing to hear the truth I'll give it to you. That day in the bathroom Quinn was throwing around her usual insults, but when I tried to walk away she grabbed me, pinned me to the wall and threatened to ruin my dating prospects if I didn't do something to stop the rumors about us!"
Quinn flew out of Santana's grasp and got up in the diva's face screaming at her, "I did tell you to stop the rumors but I didn't ask you to get all hot and bothered and come on to me in the process!"
Mr. Schue looked on in horror as the Glee Club clearly divided on the stage standing behind who they chose to believe. He needed to do something quick before he had a brawl on his hands, "Okay that's it Quinn, Rachel, you stay, everyone else out!"
Rachel saw self righteous hatred in Quinn's expression and it angered her that this girl who clearly despised her very existence had triggered something in her akin to attraction. She could not, would not continue to be bullied and manipulated by this girl who was clearly incapable of feeling. Without thinking the diva pulled open her sweater enough to slip her shoulder out and expose her upper arm. She heard the collective gasp of the group as she turned to face them. When she spoke it was barely a whisper, "Quinn did this to me."
You could have heard a pin drop in the pause that followed. Rachel was slightly embarrassed by the risqué move, she clutched her sweater to ensure it still covered her modesty and waited for someone to respond.
Time seemed to stand still as Mr. Schue stared down in disbelief at the scene in front of him. When Emma got up from her seat and started for the stage he followed in a fog. The school counselor approached the diminutive brunette and was shocked to see the faint remnants of bruising fingerprints along Rachel's arm, looking up sharply at Quinn her voice was disbelieving, "Quinn? Did you do this?"
Quinn could hardly breathe as she stared at the barely visible marks. Did she really do that? No she couldn't have. She hadn't meant too. She just needed the brunette to listen to her, she'd only meant to get her attention, make her understand the seriousness of the situation. The blonde shook her head no, but couldn't stop herself from moving forward and staring at the marks on the diva's skin; she fisted her hands at her sides to keep them from shaking.
Rachel turned to watch the blonde cautiously over her bare shoulder, Quinn was hovering so close she was concerned the blonde might reach out and touch her. The shorter girl raised her gaze to watch a storm of emotion roll through hazel depths. The brunette was enthralled, it was clear that Quinn was not without remorse, but there was so much more. Rachel could feel an energy about the girl that she didn't know existed, she was lost, she couldn't look away.
Quinn pushed down her panic, self disgust and the overwhelming urge to touch the marks in an effort to soothe them away. She forced herself to look up to Rachel's face and was almost floored by the fascinated searching depths of dark eyes boring into her own. Quinn flexed her jaw realizing that the entire group was holding their breath, focused on the crackling energy between her and the diva. The HBIC slid her icy facade back into place, when she spoke her voice was devoid of any emotion, "If you're not safe at home you should go to a shelter."
Rachel blinked not sure she was even looking at the same girl from mere seconds ago. It was too much, she had seen something so raw and so powerful in the blonde and just like that it was gone, all she felt now was nothing from the heartless being in front of her. The diva turned and ran from the auditorium, she ran from everyone's questing looks, she ran from Quinn's now empty expression and more importantly she ran from her desire to experience the depth of Quinn's emotion again.
My last chapter apparently went over like a lead balloon, so let me know if I redeemed myself with this one!
