Twice the Trouble
Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Glee or any of it characters.
Chapter 9
Royal gave a last look making eye contact with Rachel and winked as he headed to class. 'Well' he thought, 'looks like things just got more interesting.'
Down the hall Santana, Rachel and the girls came to a stop by her locker. The rest of the Volleyball team broke ranks and headed off to their own lockers needing to get ready for the day and back in the gym quickly.
Once they are alone they talk for a few than say their goodbyes to Britt and move on to the gym to wait for the others and Coach.
Santana leans back on the bleacher and sighs. "I'll be glad when this meeting is done. I get tired of all this crap sometimes. If I didn't love playing ball so much I wouldn't bother."
Rachel sat next to her and smiled. "What about Cheerios? It seems to be a bigger production than this."
Shrugging she sits forward. "It is but I love it too and I need it for college. I probably won't get a full ride with either but if I get a scholarship from both it should pay pretty much all of my schooling."
"I happy to hear you are looking toward your future. Have you decided where you want to apply to yet or what you want to study?"
"I want to be a lawyer and that takes a lot of time and money but I'm going to try. The main place I am looking at is NYU because they have an awesome cheer and volleyball program as well as their academic programs. It has everything I want. Between my sports and academics I should get enough scholarships to get it done. They have a wonderful Law program. I mean I have back up schools that I'll apply to as well but NYU is my number one."
Rachel just smiled. "That sounds like a wonderful plan. Have you thought about any music scholarships? I have some information from NYU about some of their music programs and possible scholarships. They have one that they give to a student in glee or choir that sends in an essay about their love of music. They also have some others. I'll bring them tomorrow."
Santana just looked at her stunned. "Um, don't you need those? I thought you wanted to go to Tisch?"
Rachel shrugged. "I already have a full ride scholarship. I went this past summer and auditioned for the head of their performing arts division and scholarship committee. With that audition and my academics thus far they gave me a full run scholarship and early acceptance into the programs I wanted. I no longer need any of the others that I found out they had."
Santana sat shaking her head and smiled. "I knew you would get out of here. Sure I'd appreciate the information on any scholarships they have. That school just has everything that I want."
Rachel beamed, "Yes I know they have it all."
About that time Coach came in and they turned to see that the rest of the team had gotten there and were on the stands across from them. They got up and Quinn joined the team as Rachel and Santana stood with coach. "Ok Sloppy babies this is going to be short and sweet."
She looked them all over and continued. "These are your captains. They are in charge and if I see any problems with you listening to either of them you will be off the squad quicker then Berry can spike a ball. I will have not infighting within my team and that goes for you Cheerios too. If I find out that any of my Cheerios go against either of them it will be an immediate removal from the squad."
Gasps were heard from half the team and Santana smirked as Coach continues. "Moving on, practice is last hour starting today get your schedules fixed and be on time or be off the team. As you all saw your lockers have everything you need already in them. I expect you all to be properly dressed at all times that it is required. Upperclassman it is your job to teach the newbies. If they screw up everyone pays."
She looked to Santana and Rachel speaking softly then leaves the room. Santana pulls their attention back. "Ok losers; be back here in practice gear last hour."
One of the freshmen holds up her hand and Santana motions her to speak. "Do we dress this way every day?"
Rachel shook her head. "No this is our game day gear. We are only wearing it today to let the school know who we are. After this we only wear this on game days. You do have team t-shirts in your lockers that you can wear anytime you want and your letterman as well."
The girl nodded and Santana glared at Johnson, because that was her freshmen and she should have already told the girl that, than continued. "Ok that's all. Head out and get ready for class. We'll see you last hour."
The girls all acknowledged her then left while Quinn walked back to them. After talking for a few minutes Rachel headed out to her locker and Quinn held Santana back. "I don't think I have ever heard you talk about what your plans for the future are."
Santana shrugged. "Nobody's ever asked."
Quinn sighs. "Sorry."
"It's not a big deal, I don't think I've ever asked you either. You and B just tell me things. I'm not that big on sharing. You know that."
"I know that's why I was shocked that you shared all that with Berry."
Santana sighed. "Look, she asked and I gave an answer. It's not a big deal let's drop it." With that she headed out the door. Quinn just followed her out letting it go for now.
The rest of the day was uneventful up until lunch time. Rachel and Royal were the first to arrive and sat at the glee table. Royal had talked her into coming today and leaving the auditorium. He was sure that the student population would leave her alone because of her new status. What he didn't take into account was the other gleeks.
Santana, Quinn and Brittany were the first to join them followed by Puck, Sam and Mike. They were all just talking when Mercedes and Kurt walked up with Tina and Artie following behind. "Aren't you sitting at the wrong table miss thang?" Kurt asked while setting his tray down but not sitting.
They all looked up confused and Rachel replied. "No, this is still the glee table isn't it?"
Mercedes scoffed. "It is but we figured you'd be sitting with your new friends and your puppy there." She said pointing to Royal.
Rachel stood angrily. "Don't talk about my brother that way. He did nothing to you. I'm sitting with my friends' right here. Or, I thought I was."
Kurt just waved her off. "Whatever diva, we all know that you are just trying to use this new image of yours to worm your way to the top. This isn't you, you're not the motorcycle ridin, volleyball playin, leather wearin butch bitch you are trying to portray."
The entire table just looked at them stunned and Rachel was seething. "You have no idea who I am and you have no right to come at me like this. I'm not sure I understand what I did to upset you but this is not ok."
Mercedes shook her head. "We know who you are. You're just a drama queen playing a part. All of this is just some scheme to climb the social ladder."
Royal couldn't stay quiet sny longer and stood by his sister. "What gives you the right to talk to her like this?"
Kurt waved him off. "Pipe down boy clone, we are just trying to figure out what her angle is."
Rachel pulled on Royals arm to keep him from lunging at the boy. "The only angle I have is finally showing my true self to this school and frankly I could care less if any of you like it or not. You have done nothing more than tolerated me for the last three years and pretended to be my friend when it benefited you. I'm tired of not being myself. Singing and glee are only a small part of who I am. The rest is this."
She stepped back and opened her arms. "I am a motorcycle ridin, volleyball playin, leather wearin butch bitch that also happens to be a singing diva so back off me."
Mercedes opened her mouth to speak looking pissed but Santana stood and slammed her hands down on the table. "Shut it Wheezy. You guys are only pissed that she is no longer at the bottom of the heap and now you fear that it will come back on you. Leave her alone."
Rachel turned to Royal and grabbed her lunch bag. "I told you this was a mistake." With that she turned and left the room.
Royal moved to follow but Santana put a hand on his arm. "Can I go? I think I know where she went."
Royal eyed her for a moment then nodded and watched as she ran after her. When he turned back Mercedes and Kurt were sitting down but Quinn was up. "You better be glad that Santana started the bully whips or I'd have you slushied so fast your head would spin. She didn't do anything to you. Why would you come at her like that?"
Mercedes scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Whatever Quinn, you don't even like Rachel, why do you care. She's just trying to be something she is not. How did she even make the team?"
Quinn just looked at her and shook her head. "You heard she made the team but you didn't hear the rest did you?"
She just shrugged taking a bite of her food. "What else is there?"
Quinn smirked and crossed her arms looking down on them. "She not just on the team, she so good coach made her Captain right alongside of San."
Mercedes spit out her food and started to choke as Kurt beat her on the back and looked to her stunned and a little scared. "Oh shit."
They both looked around and saw every member of the volleyball team that was present standing and glaring at them. Quinn just chuckled. "I'd watch my back if I were you." She turned to leave then turned back. "Oh, and Rachel and I settled our crap last year and have been friends ever since. That's why I care."
She grabbed Royal and pulled him after her. "I think I know where they went."
As they left Mercedes and Kurt looked around at all the angry faces of the volleyball team and some of the Cheerios and stood abruptly hurrying out of the cafeteria.
Rachel left the cafeteria and turned right. She stormed off and quickly came to the door she was looking for and looked around before she entered. She climbed the stairs and went through another door and out on to the roof. Walking to the back side of the building that faced an open field and a wooded area she stood leaning against the ledge and sighed.
She had no delusions that there wouldn't be some adjustment when she decided to finally be herself. She anticipated things like what happened with one of the volleyball girls this morning. What she didn't take into account was that Kurt of all people would act the way he did. Last year they had formed a friendship and she thought that it was solid. She hoped that he would understand and let her explain what was going on with her without blowing the he did today. Mercedes she knew was a 50/50.
It was only the second day of school and she was exhausted. She sighed again and shook her head. "You sure you should stand that close to the edge. You could trip and fall."
Rachel jumped and spun to the see Santana leaning against the door. "Santana you scared me to death, how did you find me? I only found that door right before school ended last year."
Chuckling she moved forward toward her. "I saw you come up here last year after Nationals. You had just told Finn you were over and you came here. Sorry I scared you. I just came up to check on you."
Rachel scoffed and turned back to look out over the field again. "Why, you've never liked me anymore then they have. I mean I know we are co-captains together now but you didn't have to follow me. I'm used to dealing with stuff alone."
Santana winced and sighed. "I know I've been a bitch to you Rachel but I've honestly never disliked you. I was always just a bitch to everyone. I guess like you I didn't want to show people who I really was. I don't know, story for another time maybe but my point is that I do consider you my friend. That's why I came to check on you."
Rachel gave her a side glance and smiled slightly. "Ok, thank you for your concern but I'm ok. I was just a little shocked that's all. I mean I wasn't delusional or anything. I knew that people would question my choice of dress and the way I was acting but I didn't think that Kurt would totally turn on me that way."
Santana bumped shoulders with her. "Yea porcelain kinda shocked me too but really Rae, it doesn't totally surprise me. You are a totally different person this year." She held up a hand as Rachel turned to her before she could speak. "I didn't say that was a bad thing or that you deserved for them to come at you like that. I'll I'm saying is that it's an adjustment."
Rachel hummed her agreement and looked back out over the field and they fell into a comfortable silence. After a few Santana looked back to her. "I do have a question if you don't mind."
Rachel looked to her and nodded for her to continue. "Why not be yourself from the get go? Why let people create this preconceived notion of who you were?"
Rachel sighed and turned back. "People already had that notion when they found out that I had two fathers. The second day of school I auditioned for Mr. Ryerson's glee club and everyone just assumed that I was nothing more than a Broadway deva when I sang a song from Funny girl. I honestly was going to try-out for the volleyball team that year but I was slushed that morning and wore my gym clothes the rest of the day until I was slushied again right outside the locker room doors by some of the older Volleyball players. I just went home after that and called Royal to help me break out and come home."
Santana just stayed quiet knowing she just needed a moment. Rachel looked back to her and shrugged. "After that I just let them believe what they wanted. I got tired really quick of my nice expensive clothes getting ruined that I went to goodwill and created the Rachel Berry you all know. I buried the rest of me down and just existed."
Santana leaned into her resting their shoulders together. "I'm sorry I was ever part of that."
Rachel smiled. "You never slushied me and mostly didn't talk to me at all. It wasn't until sophomore year that you called me names when Quinn had you join glee with her because she thought I was after Finn, which I wasn't by the way. I didn't start chasing after Finn until I heard you talking about how he wasn't good enough for her and didn't treat her right. It seemed to upset you so I tried to help and keep them apart."
Santana looked at her stunned. "Why would you do that? Why would you date someone you didn't like?"
Rachel looked down ashamed. "Honestly he was the first person that was ever nice to me in this school and I was hoping his popularity would take some of the heat off me if we were friends. Than you were concerned for Quinn and I just took it a step further and dated him."
Santana shook her head still confused. "But why? Why not try to date someone else when he turned into a douche?"
Rachel sighed. "I always knew he was a douche as a boyfriend. I only used him for his status. I knew that I was never going to be able to seriously date while going to this school so I use what I could to make things easier on me. It really didn't matter thought because dating him didn't change anything. It was before we really got together that things lightened up with the slushies and stuff. You called them off after sectionals so I tried my hardest to keep him away from Quinn to make you happy. That and to keep part of myself to myself."
"How did you know that I called off the slushies and why couldn't you date like you wanted? I mean there are guys like Ryk the drummer kid that likes you and would date you in an instant. Why not go for it?"
She just shook her head. "I over heard you and Brittany talking about the slushy ban and I used Finn the same way you used Dave last year. If I dated him no one had a chance of finding out my secret and using that against me too."
Santana looked up like she'd been slapped. "Are you serious?"
"Yes and I hope I can count on you for your discretion since you know what I'm going through where that's concerned."
"Of course, I would never out anyone. I'm just shocked. I had no clue."
Rachel just smiled sadly. "That was the idea. I never saw a point in dealing with all of the fall out of coming out since I was never going to find a girlfriend while going here anyway. Why put up with more crap."
Santana just nodded understanding completely. Before either could say more the warning bell rang and Santana sighed. "Well what to you say we head back in? I'm sure your brother is worried about you."
Rachel nodded and followed as Santana led the way back into the school. At the bottom of the stairs before she opened the door Rachel grabbed Santana's hand and pulled her back. "Thank you for coming to find me."
Santana just squeezed her hand lightly. "Anytime Rae. I meant what I said about being your friend. Anytime."
Rachel pulled her into a hug. "Thank you."
Santana hugged her for a moment then pulled back. "Come on, let's get to class."
Rachel nods and they head back out into the hall. When they round the corner they find Quinn and Royal waiting for them at the door to their next class. Santana and Quinn share this class with them as well.
Royal scooped her up in a hug when she came up to him. "Are you ok Tink?"
She smiled and hugged him tight. "I'm fine Tigger. Let's just get in there before we're late. We can talk about it later."
He looked her over than smiled and let her pull him into the classroom, Quinn and Santana following behind.
A/N: Up next glee and the girls get closer as friends.
