Shattering Secrets

Chapter 7

Rachel and Puck arrived at McKinley twenty minutes before the bell rang. Rachel kept staring at the school's front doors and began to shake.

Puck immediately noticed the change in her demeanor, and he turned her in his arm to offer comfort.

Shhh, Rachel, it's going to be okay; I promise. I'll be right there with you, okay?"

She nodded, but reached over and tightly gripped his hand. Then they exited Puck's truck and headed into McKinley. They went to the administrator's office to see if they could have their schedules rearranged so that they were in all the same classes. Puck was serious about never leaving her side. Rachel was grateful. She didn't think she'd be able to get through the day alone.

As they walked to the front desk, they ran into Mr. Schuester.

Puck saw him before Rachel did. Hey, Mr. Schue.

"Oh, hey, Puck; Rachel. How was your summer?"

"It was good, Mr. Schue.

"Rachel, I've been meaning to talk to you about glee this year. Can you come see me after you're done here?"

Rachel's eyes went wide and she went as white as a sheet, tightening her grip on Puck's hand.

Puck understood her reaction and answered for her. Sure, Mr. Schue. Rachel and I need to speak to you about something important anyway."

Mr. Schue looked at Rachel. Rachel, is everything okay?"

Rachel looked at him and shook her head, her eyes filling with tears.

Puck decided to step in again. Mr. Schue, I promise we'll tell you in a more private place, okay?"

Mr. Schue was confused and worried about his student. He viewed everyone in glee as more than just his "school kids;" they were like family. "Noah, Rachel, understand that whatever is going on, I'll help you any way I can."

"We know, Mr. Schue. We will see you in a few minutes in the choir room, okay?"

"Sure, guys."

With that, they parted ways. Puck held Rachel's hand a little tighter to give her the reassurance that everything would be fine. Then they quickly explained the situation to the registration sectary with as little detail as possible so that Rachel could still have privacy without all the school staff knowing what happened. After getting their schedules fixed so Noah was with her all times, they left the office to talk to Mr. Schue.

As they walked to the choir room, Puck could feel how nervous Rachel was. This was the first time since the incident that she was really telling anyone of authority. Puck spun her so that she was facing him. "Rachel, you have to believe me when I say I'm never going to leave you, and that I'm going to help you heal. I'll even help you raise this child if that's what you decide you want to do. If not, I'll still be here for you."

Rachel just stood there, letting what Puck said sink in. Without warning, she threw her arms around his waist and just stared at him. For the first time, she realized that she truly had someone that cared about her; not just about her talent.

Puck let her cry for a while longer before leading her rest of the way to the choir room. They knocked, even though the choir room door was open, alerting Mr. Schue to their presence.

He looked up as they entered. "Hey, guys; so what's going on?"

Puck looked to Rachel for the okay to tell him. She gave him a small smile, and he took it as a yes. He knew, though, that Rachel didn't want all the details told, but they could trust Mr. Schuester.

"Mr. Schue, what I'm about to say can never leave this room without Rachel's permission. I know she is a minor, but she deserves some privacy."

"Ummm, sure, Puck. I'll keep this as quiet as I can if there's no legal reason for me to do otherwise."

"We understand, but know that the police in New York City are already working on this."

"Noah, what happened? Why isn't Rachel telling me herself?"

"Because she can't."

"What do you mean, 'she can't?' Is she sick?" He turned to Rachel and saw the distressed look on her face.

"Mr. Schue, please let me explain. She'd do it if she could."
"Okay, Noah; I'm listening. Go ahead."

"Rachel was attacked at knife point her first week in New York. She was raped and her vocal cords was cut. She was in the hospital for three weeks before she came home she found out she was pregnant."

"Oh, God... So Rachel can't talk all..."

"No, so we need to protect her from all the bullying. She's been through enough."

"I understand. Do her fathers know?"

Rachel shook her head no.

"Why not?"

"Because they're on a Doctors Without Borders mission and couldn't be reached. Puck said. They'll be gone for the next fifteen months, so really, Mr. Schue, you're the only adult that can help us right now. We don't know how to contact them."

Mr. Schue looked at Rachel and saw the sadness in her face. "Do you want me to try and contact them for you, Rachel?"

Rachel looked at Mr. Schue with an uneasy expression. She pointed to a piece of paper sitting on the piano top. Mr. Schue handed her the paper and a pen.

Rachel wrote, "Mr. Schue, I doubt they'll care. We had a huge fight before they left, and they haven't even tried to contact me in the time they've been gone. Truth is they haven't cared about me for years. All they care about anymore is themselves. I've basically been on my own since I was twelve."

Mr. Schue read what Rachel had written with shock. His heart broke for the girl standing in front of him. She truly didn't have anyone that really cared about her? He knew how McKinley High treated Rachel, and he promised himself that he would make sure that someone truly did care about her.

"Rachel, don't worry. I'll try and get in touch with them, okay?"

Rachel nodded with a sad smile. She knew how this was going to end, but she would let Mr. Schue try anyway.

Puck watched the emotions play on Rachel's face. He couldn't understand she could think that her fathers didn't care about her. He hadn't mean to read the message she had written to Mr. Schue, but he was glad he did. He was going to prove to Rachel that she did have people that cared about her.