Respect

Chapter 7

I OWN Nothing!


Will didn't know how to react when all six girls swirled into glee that afternoon. They all took seats together, leaving a gap between them and the boys. When Kurt came to try and sit with them, he got glared at. Will was pretty certain Tina even hissed at him, sending the boy to sit beside Finn.

"Rachel, it's good to see you're feeling better." He told her, trying to figure out why they were all gathered around the girl none of them could stand this time last week.

"Whoever informed you I was feeling ill was quite mistaken." Rachel informed him primly. "I was the victim of a slushy attack followed directly after by an egging by the same group of footballers. The attack was instigated by a Cheerio looking to dethrone Santana from her position as Head Cheerio, not that any of you," she looked with distain at the males in the room, "would care. Quinn was kind enough to take me home."

"So, what, you're all friends now or something?" Finn asked. "They hate you Rachel!"

"That coming from the boy who lied to her about sleeping with Santana." Mercedes replied. "That's a big no-no."

"That coming from the boy who thought it would be a good idea to proposition her in the school hallway." Brittany added on, proud that she had remembered the word.

"That coming from the boy who led her on while he was dating Quinn." Tina continued.

"That coming from the boy who has double standards for everything, including cheating." Quinn sneered at him. She wasn't stupid, she'd known he'd kissed Rachel and taken her on a date while he was with her. Rachel had admitted it and apologized for her part in it.

"That coming from the boy," Santana was enjoying this, "that doesn't know how to stand up for anyone aside from himself." She leaned down to talk to Rachel. "That carries over to the bedroom, by the way."

The boys were in shock. Will couldn't find the words he needed to reprimand the girls for attacking Finn. Puck turned to look at Finn in disgust.

"You did what to Berry? Man, even I'm not that low." He shook his head and moved as far away as he could from Finn. "I might not be very good at it, but at least I know how to respect the girl in my life at the moment."

Puck wasn't an idiot. He knew he failed at a lot of things. Respecting women was one of them. He didn't hit them, but he didn't always treat them like he knew he should. Rachel had read him that lecture during their three day relationship. Quinn had told him something similar while the girls had moved her out of his house that weekend.

"Thank you Noah," Rachel stood. "Now, Mr. Schuester, we have songs to perform. So, if you would join the boys in disgrace, we can begin. Brad, if you would please?" Rachel sat down beside Quinn, motioning for Mercedes to take the stage.

The girl did so, belting out her audition song Respect by Aretha Franklin. The rest of the girls adding in backup vocals as needed. Tina took the stage, glaring at Artie (who had tried throughout the day to get her to go out with him to 'make up for the weekend alone') as she sang U+Ur Hand by Pink. Santana and Brittany took the stage and did Miss Independent by Kelly Clarkson before retaking their seats. Quinn and Rachel took it right after them, belting out Me Against the World by Superchick before letting Mr. Schuester or any of the other boys have a say.

"That was…" Will started, unsure how to react.

"Girls, front and center, now!" Sue barked from the doorway. As per the plan, Santana and Brittany stood up first and began making their way to their coach. "All of you!" Sue barked again.

"Sue, what is this? You can't just come in here and take half my club." Will did know how to react to Sue Sylvester.

"Ah, but I can." Sue told him with a smirk. "I've just been re-instated as the co-director of New Directions."

"No way," Will shook his head. "I am not going to let you do anything to these kids."

"Ah, but you see William," Sue was smirking and she could tell the girls were trying to remain looking afraid of her, three of them anyway. "Since you can't seem to connect on any level to the female side of the species," she looked at the boys, "and it seems like you're trying to lead other males into your pit of over-gelled hair lameness towards females, I've decided to stage an intervention." Her smirk firmly in place, she turned to the girls. "March, gym, now!"

"Girls, stay," Will told them in a calmer voice, "I'll go talk to Mr. Figgins and get this straightened out."

"On the contrary William," Sue told him, "the girls belong to me." She smirked.

"This isn't over Sue!" Will told her.

Rachel exchanged a look with Quinn and another with Santana. This was one of the parts of the plan they couldn't be completely certain of.

"I think it is William," Sue replied. She loved seeing the man fail as an educator. "After last week's treatment of your star performer, Figgins hardly hesitated to agree to have me back as co-director. Someone needs to stick up for their investments in this place, even the ones who live in the sub-basement."

"They won't agree to this." Will looked at the girls. "We can work out any problems you girls are having."

Rachel fumed. Now he cared? Not when she was curled up in the bathroom freezing, covered in egg and willing to disappear just to end the humiliation, but now, when his oh-so-important group dynamic was threatened? She was also near tears. When it was just her, he'd hardly lifted a finger to get her back, replacing her and letting Finn lead her on with false hope. Now, all the girls were ready to walk out and he protested? He wouldn't care if it was just her, just the other five. That hurt. She'd thought he'd cared just a little. But then, she realized, she should have figured he didn't. He never stopped the others from belittling her in glee club. The only reason he hadn't stopped them when they went after Finn was because all of the girls had gone after him one right after the other. They hadn't given him the chance to, not even afterwards because Rachel had taken control and started up with performances. Rachel couldn't believe she'd shamed herself by crushing on him briefly during the fall semester.

Quinn looked at the tiny girl beside her. Rachel looked like she couldn't decide if she wanted to perform one of her diva tantrums or hide behind the other girls in an attempt to disappear. The blonde looked at Santana. The other girl glanced at her and gave her the slightest of nods.

"Actually Mr. Schuester," Quinn broke in on the teachers' conversation, "none of us have any problem with having Coach Sylvester as our director. She knows what it takes to win, what it takes to be the best. We," she gestured to the girls, "don't mind in the least that she chooses to concentrate on us first."

"Rachel, you can't agree with this." Will turned to the brunette. "What about the group dynamic? How are we going to turn out a winning Regionals performance if you all aren't here to rehearse together with the boys?"

"Mr. Schuester," Rachel looked at him, "no matter what I think or say, none of you will listen to me anyway. So, I request that you refrain from using me in your argument with Coach Sylvester." She turned, speaking over her shoulder. "We'll be in the gym as requested Ma'am." In reality, they would be in the 'locked' auditorium. It was all part of the plan.

Part 1 was now more or less complete.

Part 2 was set to begin.