So sorry that the update took a little bit longer than usual. Hope you like it though!
Enjoy!
There once was a young boy
The puzzle was his favorite toy
He worked on that puzzle all day and night
He never turned off his bedroom light
He worked on it for over a year
A word from his parents he did not want to hear
The puzzle was so large it took up every day
For anyone to stop him, there was no way
Finishing the puzzle capture his mind
There were no activities of another kind
Slowly, painfully it took over his life
The parents were afraid, the poor husband and wife
When the pieces came together as one
The puzzle was no longer fun
It scared the boy more than any monster could
Be the same, well he never would
This is just a warning, puzzles may go too far
Some may even leave a scar
This puzzle may be one of those few
So it is up to you to decide what to do
This puzzle seems to be almost done
So maybe it is time for you to run
Keep on reading and nothing will ever be the same
For this puzzle is not a game
Don't worry because there is still more to it
And we will get there bit by gruesome bit
Tina was at her locker packing up her books when she heard a sound. She smiled to herself as she heard the sound of footsteps, which she assumed must have been her boyfriends. Her awesome boyfriend Mike was sweetly on his way over and things really couldn't get much better. Yet when she heard a distinct voice say "Hello" she realized that this person was far from her boyfriend.
As she turned around to face her visitor she found that she was indeed correct about who the voice belonged to. Her stutter almost came back as she decided to continue the start of whatever conversation might be about to occur. "Hello"
"How are you today?"
The girl looked around making sure no one was there to prank her or anything of that sort. "I am okay…how are you?"
The other smiled and offered a polite reply "I am okay thank you for asking."
"Ummm not to be rude or anything but why exactly are you here…you know talking to me?" As soon as the words left her mouth the girl regretted her choice of words. It was probably not put in the best way possible.
"People always seem to ask me that question. Is it really that odd that I want to have a pleasant chat with a fellow glee member?" Was the indignant comment made.
The girl looked uneasy. Wondering what the consequences of certain words might be." Well not to offend you again or anything but "Pleasant little chats" aren't usually your thing". The girl stepped back and clamped her eyes shut in preparation for the inevitable reaction. When eyelids slowly rose Tina was shocked that the only thing she could see was a look of guilt and truth on her investigators face.
"You're right…of course. And don't be afraid to tell me the truth, I respect it. And that's also true in this case. I'm not here to have a pleasant chat with you-although at this point I really wish I was."
At this point an abstract wondering expression was given "Go on"
"Well I'm here to ask you a question, maybe a few questions actually. If all that is alright with you of course." The last part was not said as confidently and there seemed to be a bit of pleading within the statement.
"Well it seems pretty important, so I would be happy to help you out if I can."
There was a sharp intake of breath and a large amount of flailing arms. This was accompanied by a look of panic. "No, no, no. Don't get the wrong idea there. This…um this is not that big of a deal or anything. I was just sort of curious." The reply was rushed and weird…but not entirely unbelievable.
"Okay then. What is your question?"
"What do you think of Rachel Berry?" was the unexpected answer that sounded like it wasn't the first time it had left those lips.
"Oh, sure. And you were just "CURIOUS" about this. Yeah, that isn't odd at all."
The air quotes around the word curious were not unnoticed or appreciated. "Thank you Sergeant Sarcasm and yes I was just curious."
There was a hint of a smile on the Asian girls' face at the utter oddness the direction of the conversation was taking. "Haven't you been told that curiosity killed the cat?"
The phrase was meant to be light, meant to be a joke. But it wasn't. Not then, not there, not in this case. It meant so much more.
A smirk was issued to cover the deeper meaning the makeshift investigator had found in those words. "Yes, but I have also been told that satisfaction brought it back." A sense of dreadful hope accompanied the phrase because it had to be true, knowing the answers, satisfying the ever strong curiosity, had to be able to help somehow.
The tone used did not go unnoticed by Tina, not by far. Soon the air was filled with an awkward tension "Touché."
"Touché is kind of spelled like douche. Could you imagine saying douche like you say touché? It would be like douche´…" The comment was totally irrational to put it EXTREMELY lightly, but it was also needed. It helped to expel all of that tension and the sound of both of the people's laughter filled the room like a sweet melody. Relaxed and utterly calm in the moment.
"Anyway, back to your question."
"Yeah, that's right. So what do you think of Rachel Berry?"
There was a light thoughtful look on the girl's face a hint of a smile still left over from all the previous laughter. "She really means well, she's definitely not as bad as everyone thinks. She may be kind of selfish, she really likes solos...But sometimes she deserves them."
The comment was sweet, and reflected thought and care, and usually with Rachel Berry those sorts of things weren't there. "That's actually really nice."
"Well I just think that some people should at least attempt to give her a chance."
It is sad. It is truly sad that many did not give Rachel those chances: that care. But right now someone is trying and that is a step in the right direction. And to continue on that path the next question had to be asked. "Have you noticed anything odd about Rachel lately?"
The girl's eyes were narrowed in a mixture of suspicion and confusion. "Well, what do you mean?"
"Just anything she may have done that doesn't seem like the good old Rachel we all know."
The phrase good old Rachel seemed weird, especially coming from the person who had just said it. But that thought had to be left on the shelf as another one started to slowly creep in. The memory became clear and ultimately an odd factor made itself known.
"Actually yeah, there was something really weird that happened, just really surprising."
The reply was low and hesitant yet the need for a yes was apparent in the tone used. "Do you think, maybe you could tell me about it?"
The risk factor was thought about, but soon Tina realized that there wasn't much to think about at all. It was just a feeling. A feeling that told her that she needed to do this. That this would help. And the members of the glee club had learned to trust their heart and their feelings over time. "Of course."
"Thank you." Those were some of the softest words the Asian girl had ever heard. And in those two words more meaning was held than all the conversations the two had, had in the past. There was no doubt that those words were some of the truest ever spoken.
"No problem. Well, let's see… it was a bit of time ago…."
I had just finished having a seminar on hair with Mercedes. I had counted that she said hell to the no approximately fifty seven times during our little session. As much as I love spending time with my girlfriends and all that, I was in serious need of some time with my boyfriend. I figured that I would be able to find him in the gym. You know how those football players love to work out. I hurried over, making sure to avoid Kurt. I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have been happy with my outfit choice and I didn't need one of his what not to wear speeches.
When I finally made my way into the gym I couldn't really see Mike anywhere. But I could hear what sounded like weights being picked up or put down so I decided to go a little farther into the gym, into the weight room.
Well when I found where the noise was coming from I was puzzled to say the least. I walk in and I see Rachel Berry. She was lying down on the bench thing trying to bench press a pretty large amount of weight.
At the disbelieving look the girl received she stopped her story to give a nod confirming that it was indeed true.
I don't necessarily know her well, but I'm pretty sure that she doesn't usually go to lift weights after school. I was going to go and leave her alone, even though I was very confused, when I saw it. Her arms started to give out and the weight was coming closer and closer to her body. She let out a strangled scream under all the pressure. I did the one thing I could to help. I rushed over to her and took the weight in my hands while resting the bar in its place, letting the stand hold the full weight. I let out a sigh of relief at the disaster that had just been avoided.
"Thank you so much Tina." It wasn't loud or too confident, but I heard it all the same. And then I looked at where the voice was coming from. Rachel was sitting on the bench perfectly still just staring straight ahead. I decided that maybe it was time to actually talk with Rachel, so I took a seat across from her.
"It's no problem at all, I'm just glad I was here and able to help you out. Rachel you really need to be more careful about those sorts of things." I know how dangerous the weights can be if not used correctly, Mike told me once. Usually Rachel always knows and is prepared for anything she does, so really she should have known too.
"Yes, I know it was extremely unsafe. I should have had someone here to spot me, but I was just in such a rush…" her voice wavered at the end and her eyes focused on the ground. It was a unnerving thing watching Rachel lower her head like that.
"Why such a rush?
She looked up at me in what I assume was shock. She seemed to be surprised that I would even bother to ask, surprised that I was still there. "Oh well…I just really wanted to work out."
I've heard that Rachel is supposed to be a good actress, but honestly that was pretty much the worst lie I had ever heard. "Rachel do you honestly expect me to believe that?"
She let out a short humorless laugh and shook her head. Her eyes met mine, smoldering, before locking onto the floor once more. "I was hoping you would." Was her curt and quite honest reply.
"So why did you actually come here to work out in such a rush? Or why did you even come here to work out at all? I mean I didn't know you did that."
"I don't usually come here to work out."
I let out a slight groan as she once again pretty much avoided the whole first question I asked "Oh, so why now and why in such a rush?"
I did not expect her to answer. But then her big brown eyes slowly traveled up until they were piercing into mine. They were cold and lifeless. At that moment I knew she was going to honestly answer. But as I took a long glance into those hollow brown eyes I also knew that I didn't want to hear that answer.
Her voice wasn't too strong or too soft. It was basically monotonous. There was absolutely no emotion at all. It was as if she was reading a science report and not telling her own tale. "I was walking down the hallway when one of the cheerios slammed into me. I hit a row of lockers. The girl just laughed at first. But then she said something. She called me weak and fat- saying it was no wonder why I was such a loser" her voice had dropped to a whisper and I could see that she was choosing her words carefully. "I didn't want to be some overweight, weak loser, so I came down here."
That amazed me because it wasn't what I was expecting, not by a long shot. That is never something that I would expect from Rachel Berry. "Why would you ever take anything they say seriously?"
"Because, maybe they are right. Maybe I should just do what they say- maybe I am what they say." I couldn't believe, no I didn't want to believe what I was hearing at that moment.
"Rachel"
Her voice was calm and steady, her body perfectly still. "They call me manhands. I'm sure you have heard them say it before."
"Maybe, but Rachel that doesn't mean anything."
She held her hands out and took a moment to feel them and look them over. Then her eyes were right back on mine. "I started to put some lotion on my hands every morning and every night. It's supposed to make them softer, smoother, less manly- but I guess it just isn't working." With that she dropped her hands into her lap. It was creepy to say the least. Her voice had taken on an unearthly tone and at that point I was sort of afraid, sort of concerned, and sort of nervous.
"Don't listen to them Rachel." It wasn't much, I know. But I needed to try. I needed to try to make her understand that she was so much better than all that.
But as she slowly stood up, her tiny frame reaching its full potential, and she said her next words, I could tell that she didn't get my message…or maybe she did and just didn't have the strength to listen. "Once again thank you Tina for all of your help. I am sorry to have taken your time…I will be going to work on the treadmill now. I believe I will be seeing you in glee tomorrow, so good bye."
And with that she was off. And as I watched her take those steps I couldn't help but think they meant more than just walking to some treadmill. They represented a change. For better or worse, I wasn't sure.
"Oh My God." There was fear and shock sewn into the phrase. There also seemed to be a bit of something that felt like guilt.
"I know it was odd. But she did seem okay in glee the next day so I figured that it must have been one of those one day sorts of things." The girl finished with an unsure shrug of the shoulders.
"Yeah it probably was one of those things" was the whispered and extremely unconvincing reply.
At the odd look the investigator covered up all traces of dismay and asked the final question that was being asked far too much these days.
"So what exactly did you find so different about Rachel in that moment? In that story you just told me."
The Asian girl took a second to collect her thoughts before saying "Rachel just didn't have that Iron will of hers. She let someone else's actions and comments affect her own. And when she was acting based on those peoples comments she just wasn't really thinking at all. The "good old Rachel" just wouldn't do that."
Yes, that day Rachel Berry let someone else take control; she let someone else decided for her. Her actions were based off random cheerleaders' rude remarks and actions. The old Rachel Berry, the real Rachel Berry, The Rachel Berry that we all know and love would never let something like that influence her. We know that she has changed; we can pretty much say that it is not for the better, so there are only two big questions left to answer. What has caused this drastic change in character and what if anything can be done to change her back?
I hoped you liked the chapter and felt it was worth the wait. Please, please review…I wasn't too sure about this one so it would be nice to have some feedback. Also, the more reviews the faster I update. Even if you don't review, thanks for just taking the time to read my story. :D
