Author: J.R. Boone (Tumblr: JRAbraxas)
Chapter Ten
Rating: It wouldn't be me if it wasn't M.
Disclaimer: Yada, yada, yada, I don't own Glee or any of its characters. Just borrowing them.
Author's Note: Oh my god it's been a year since I update this. I am so so so sorry! I've been dealing with some shitty writer's block. Anyways hope those of you still reading this enjoy!
Santana cheered loudly as the ball was run down the field by Mike Chang. All around her the other non-football non-Cheerio Gleeks cheered just as loud. This was good. This was actually great.
The bonding that had gone on before had strengthened until now with the exception of Quinn and Finn they moved as a single unit. They were supporting each other and growing into a impenetrable wall of a club.
Next to her bundled up in about four coats Rachel was cheering just as loudly as she was, if not more. She looked excited but you had to really really know the girl to see the trouble behind her eyes.
Things with her and Quinn were at a stale mate. They weren't broken up but they were barely together. Santana knew that they had been texting and Quinn was still making time at least once a week to go to Rachel's but that was it. And she knew with a certain amount of selfish happiness on her side that they weren't intimate with each other any more. But she also knew that Rachel still loved Quinn.
She had said as much and Santana believed her. When she had pushed a little further Rachel had told her that the two of them were on a sort of break until school ended. It sounded extremely confusing but after some gentle prodding Rachel had explained it to her.
They were still together, and they were still in love, but they couldn't go on the way they had been. Meaning that it was all hanging on by a very thin thread. Santana just worried what would happen when that thread eventually snapped, and a smaller yet louder part of her wondered what would happen if it didn't.
What would happen if things turned out like Quinn was obviously promising Rachel that they would. If she got that scholarship she was gunning for then in five short months she would inevitably be following Rachel to New York and then what? Could they make it work out after all of this?
Mixed feelings was not even close enough to describe Santana's mind frame.
On one hand she wanted Rachel to be happy and at one point Quinn had obviously made her happy. And she was mature enough to accept that maybe away from Lima, even if she didn't deserve the chance, Quinn could make Rachel happy again.
And it infuriated Santana that the blonde had that chance.
But on the other hand…she wanted Rachel to be happy…even if it wasn't with her.
A feeling of a tiny hand suddenly gripping hers tightly brought Santana out of her inner thoughts and the Latina looked around in a daze at the Gleeks surrounding her yelling angrily. Whipping her head to the field she watched in shock as medics swarmed the field.
"What happened?" She asked shaking her head and turning to Rachel as she was pulled out of her seat by Blaine and pushed into the group of Gleeks thundering down the bleachers.
"Finn didn't block Sam. He got hit hard," Rachel explained in a panicked voice as they hit the soft turf. A flash of red caught her eye and she saw Quinn run past them heading for Sam with tears falling down her cheeks.
For some reason, call it a second sight of sorts, Santana felt her stomach drop out and a sense of foreboding wash over her as she watched Quinn yelling at the paramedics. This was bad and Santana knew something bad as going to come of it.
But she had little time to spare that thought as she made her way hurriedly out of the stands with the rest of Gleeks in tow.
An hour later they all found themselves sitting nervously in the waiting room with the exception of the football players, Quinn, and Brittany.
Twenty minutes later they received the news that Sam had a dislocated shoulder and would be out the rest of the season.
Ten minutes later they found out that Finn had managed to pull off a victory and would be taking over the spot as quarterback again.
Thirty minutes later Santana watched on as Quinn fluffed Sam's pillow looking all the dedicated girlfriend she was meant to be. But Santana saw through it to the look in the blonde's eyes. Already she was scheming and the foreboding feeling in her stomach returned once again.
Something big was coming. Something big and bad. Three weeks later she found out just how big and bad it was.
It started like most other Wednesdays. Santana arrived at school and quickly made a beeline to Rachel who was busily putting her sheet music in her locker whilst talking or more like ranting to Mike about choreography for Regionals which was that weekend. Smiling and rolling her eyes at Mike who looked to be near reaching overload the Latina quickly slid next to Rachel and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Shorty I think you're about to make Boy Chang's head explode," Santana chuckled shaking her head and squeezing the shorter girl's shoulder.
"Oh goodness I'm sorry," Rachel said taking a deep breath and smiling bashfully at Mike who chuckled good naturedly.
"It's okay Rach," the boy said smiling at the two brunettes. "I'm just as excited about Regionals as you are."
"Yes I know," Rachel nodded. "I just want to make sure that everything goes off correctly."
"And it will," Santana said rolling her eyes. "We's takin that trophy to the bank."
"Okay," Rachel said taking a calming breath and smiling as Mike said his goodbye leaving the two brunettes alone.
"So what's up Slave Driver?" Santana asked leaning up against the lockers and poking Rachel in the side, eliciting a giggle.
"Leave me alone," Rachel laughed stepping away from the girl and shaking her head.
"Hey you know we're going to be great," Santana said, her tone serious. "With your solo and Ken and Barbie's number added to our group number we're going to kick ass."
"I know, I know. I'm just so nervous, this is our last chance to get to Nationals." Rachel sighed leaning back against the locker.
"And we're going to get there just fine," Santana said squeezing the girl's hand. "So are you free to hang out tonight?"
"Yep," Rachel said smiling as the bell rang around them. "Quinn said she had plans tonight with Sam."
"Ah fun," Santana said sarcastically as they made they way through the halls to their class.
After that the rest of the day passed much like any other day. They laughed and talked and discussed Regionals. Lunch was spent with the majority of the Gleeks. Things were as set as they always were in Lima. But the gut feeling Santana had experienced three weeks ago came back with a vengeance and it only got worse when Glee started.
It was a little thing she caught at the beginning of the practice, one she was sure no one else caught onto. Everyone was sitting happily in the choir room discussing random things, Santana herself was giggling with Brittany as they watched a video on her phone when movement out of the corner of her eye distracted her.
Quinn and Finn had slunk into the room quietly. That in itself was not that unusual. The two of them often spent the majority of Glee sitting next to each other and glaring off into the distance. But it was the looks on their faces that struck Santana. Finn only wore that gassy infant look when he was guilty about something and Quinn's pursed lips could only mean that she was scheming and getting away with it.
Before Santana could spend too much time really going over it though Schue bounced into the room and the rest of the practice was spent working on the routine for Regionals. But it stayed with her in the back of her mind none the less. Something was up.
That feeling. That horrible feeling in the bottom of her stomach stayed with her the rest of the day. It stayed with her as Rachel and her worked on their experiment. It stayed with her as they practiced the waltz and then high kicks. And it carried her to Breadsticks that night when she went to go pick up a to go order for the both of them.
As soon as she walked through the doors to the restaurant and saw Sam waiting at the counter alone the feeling was confirmed. Still she had to be sure.
"Hey Trouty, what's up?" She asked sliding up next to the blonde boy and looking around curiously for Quinn.
"Oh hey Satan," Sam said smiling widely at the Latina. "Just picking up some food for the family. You getting Rachel and you dinner?"
"I am indeed," Santana said biting the inside of her cheek and narrowing her eyes. "I thought you and Barbie had a date tonight."
"Oh we did," Sam said rolling his eyes and signing his receipt as the cashier handed him his order. After a quick thanks to the lady he turned back to Santana. "Anyways, yeah we did but she had to cancel. Said Brittany needed help with some of her homework."
Santana's eyes flashed with anger as the blonde boy walked away from her and she took a deep breath before pulling out her cell and quickly punching in Brittany's speed dial. On the second ring Brittany's bubbly voice filled her head. "Hey San what's up?"
"Hey B, not much, just waiting for an order at Breadsticks. What are you up to?" Santana asked moving away from the counter and running a hand through her hair.
"Oh Artie is here helping me with my math homework," Brittany replied happily.
Santana took a deep breath and shook her head. "Really? I thought Q was helping you tonight."
"Oh she was supposed too but Sam asked her to go the movies with him."
"I see," Santana murmured, her stomach now aching with nerves.
"But it's okay because Artie was supposed to be helping Finn with his math homework but he canceled on him to go hang out with Puck," Brittany explained chirpily.
That was it. If Santana was suspicious before now she was downright positive of exactly what was going on. But still she wanted to make absolutely sure. After a quick goodbye to Brittany she canceled her to go order and headed out to her car even as she was dialing Puck.
"What's up Lesbro?" Puck asked over the sound of his video games.
"I told you to stop calling me that," Santana muttered as she started up her car. "Hey is Finnocsence with you right now?"
"Naw we were supposed to hang but he bailed on me to get some tutoring from Artie," Puck explained. "Why what's up?"
"Nothing. I'll talk to you tomorrow," Santana muttered darkly before disconnecting the call. She sat there for a few minutes taking deep calm breaths looking for any other explanation. Movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention and she turned to see Judy Fabray getting out of a car with several other ladies. Her book club no doubt.
Santana completely ignored traffic laws as she drove over to Quinn's house, her mind working in over time as she put the pieces all together. Sure enough she saw what she expected to see when she arrived. Finn's truck was parked in Quinn's driveway.
Santana sat in front of Rachel's house for close to five minutes before she actually got out of the car.
She was conflicted to say the least. If this had happened last year she knew exactly what she would have done. She would have used this information to get even with Quinn for bouncing her out of her Cheerios spot. She would have set up something that would have humiliated the pair of them and exposed their secret. Maybe give them both mono.
But this wasn't last year. This was now and she had changed. The anger that she had once felt running through her veins was completely different. She didn't give two shits that Quinn had booted her from her spot atop the pyramid, honestly she could care less. No, this anger was born out of love. Love for her best friend who was sitting inside her house right now thinking her girlfriend was on a fake date with her boyfriend, not sneaking around with Finn Hudson.
For a second Santana expected to feel a little joy at these turn of events. This was what she had been waiting for; Quinn finally screwing up. This was her chance. But she wasn't in the least bit happy. Not when she knew how much this was going to affect Rachel. If anything a small part of her wished she hadn't found this out. That she didn't have to be the one to go in there and help Quinn break Rachel's heart. But she did.
Taking a deep breath the Latina slowly got out of her car and walked up to Rachel's front door, her hands tucked in the pockets of her jacket and her heart pounding. Rachel must have noticed her sitting out front because the door opened before she could lay a hand on it. "Hey you I was beginning to wonder if you had passed out in there," Rachel chirped pulling Santana into the house. "Where's the food?"
"I didn't get any," Santana murmured evenly as she stared down at the floor.
"Why not?" Rachel asked, her voice drowned in confusion. "Something must be terribly wrong for you to refuse the sticks."
"Something is wrong," Santana said as she finally looked up and leveled Rachel with a serious gaze.
Instantly the color drained from Rachel's face and her eyes began to inspect Santana's body nervously. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"
"I'm…it's not me," Santana said shaking her head slowly.
"Then what's wrong? You're scaring me?" Rachel asked wrapping her arms around her petite frame.
Santana was silent for a few minutes as she contemplated her next words carefully. Finally she nodded more to herself then Rachel and reached out to take her hands. "Rach…you know how I feel about you right? Like more than just friends."
Rachel's face instantly turned a bright shade of red that confirmed that yes, she as aware that Santana was romantically interested in her. Still the girl nodded to say yes.
"Okay," Santana murmured closing her eyes tightly for a second and swallowing the lump in her throat. "But more importantly…you know you're my best friend…and I would never do anything to intentionally hurt you. And more importantly…I wouldn't do anything…anything…having to do with my feelings for you."
Rachel didn't even hesitate for a second before answering. "Of course I know that. You're my best friend too."
Pushing back the sudden urge to either vomit or just say forget I said anything Santana squeezed Rachel's hand slightly and dipped her head. "I…I have to show you something Rachel."
"Is it bad?" Rachel asked, her voice trembling as she looked into Santana's eyes.
Santana swallowed and nodded. "Yeah…it's bad."
The ride back to Quinn's neighborhood was completely silent, but as they got closer and closer to the blonde's house Rachel started to sniffle just barely. Sighing as she pulled onto Quinn's street Santana gently took her friend's hand in her free one and squeezed. "I'm sorry Rachel," she murmured as she stopped the car a house away from Quinn's and motioned with her head towards the house.
"Oh god," Rachel choked out, her eyes wide with betrayal and comprehension.
"I'm so sorry…I just…I had to," Santana mumbled closing her eyes and sinking back into her seat.
"No," Rachel stammered out shaking her head. "Don't…please don't be sorry."
Santana was trying to think of something, anything to say when movement caught their eyes and they turned to see Finn and Quinn walking out her front door, their arms looped around each other's waist and Finn wearing a cocky grin. "How…why," Rachel stuttered as they watched the blonde girl give him a kiss at his truck and then hurry back inside out of the cold weather.
"I'm sorry," Santana whispered again. And she meant it. No matter how badly she wanted Rachel this wasn't the way she wanted it. She didn't want to hurt her, to have to be the one to do this. "I…I ran into Sam when I was picking up dinner and he…I…I just had a feeling."
"Please take me home," Rachel whimpered, her voice gravely from holding back tears.
"Rach," Santana whispered resting her hand on the singer's shoulder.
"Please, just take me home Santana," Rachel said forcefully as she wrapped her arms around her body and leant up against the door.
"Okay," Santana said nodding as a few tears rolled down her cheeks for her friend. "Okay."
It was a fight to get out of bed the next morning to say the very least. Last night had been a very long one for both Santana and Rachel understandably. Rachel had cried until almost two a.m. and Santana had been there the entire time holding the shorter girl in her arms just being there for her. There wasn't much else she could do. Nowhere else she would have wanted to be honestly.
Rachel had been heartbroken yes; but the crying and the anger? That was more than just a product of Quinn's betrayal. Honestly it had been a product of her life up until this point. All of the dreams she had made, all of the plans, some with Quinn, some about her fathers; it had all come to a head and the brunette had seemingly collapsed under it all. And Santana had stayed the entire time just holding her.
Even after the singer had exhausted herself to the point of passing out Santana stayed awake. She lied in that bed awake the entire night watching Rachel and thinking about life, about what she could do for her.
When the alarm went off at seven to rouse them for school she had considered turning it off but before she could Rachel was awake. In a way it seemed the cry was just what she needed because despite being exhausted the shorter brunette was scarily determined to go to school and confront Quinn.
The entire morning the two brunettes had stuck by each other at school, Rachel quiet as she no doubt considered…well everything. And Santana keeping a watchful eye on her and anyone who got within a foot of her.
Quinn had come had walked by Rachel's locker in between first and second period and Santana had had to force herself not to throw down with the blond in the middle of the hallway. Rachel had simply put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed slightly while never taking her eyes off of Quinn who was studying her girlfriend closely with confused eyes.
Glancing around the rapidly emptying hallways Quinn had slowed down until she was in front of them, her Cheerios binder held over her chest like a shield. "Hey…what's up?" She asked nervously glancing up and down the now empty hall way.
"I need to speak to you during lunch in the choir room," Rachel said, her body shaking slightly from anger.
"I can't today," Quinn said shaking her head quickly. "I have Cheerios stuff."
Santana watched with rapt attention as Rachel took a deep breath and held up a hand. "Quinn I do not care if you are meeting the President during lunch. We need to talk," the brunette said firmly.
Quinn looked like she was going to protest but she obviously saw something in her girlfriend's eyes that made her think twice. Slowly the blonde swallowed and nodded her head slightly. "O-okay Rach…do you want me to stop by the cafeteria…and get you one of those brownies you love?" Quinn asked, her voice uncharacteristically meek.
"No," Rachel said linking her arm through Santana's and leading them away from the lockers. "I just need you to be there."
"Okay," Quinn called after them. "I'll see you at lunch." Santana looked over her shoulder as they were about to enter their class to see Quinn still standing in the same place, her face deep in concentration. For once she didn't feel at all sorry for her.
Santana and Rachel were silent as they sat in the choir room waiting for Quinn. Santana had offered to wait outside but Rachel had very softly asked that she please stay. All of the anger had gone out of the tiny brunette in the last couple of hours and now all that was left was an obvious sadness tinged with defeat. This was even worse for Santana to see then the anger or even the crying had been. Rachel looked in that moment as if she didn't have a friend in the world.
Carefully Santana set her hand on the shorter girl's shoulder hoping to comfort her only to feel Rachel tense up slightly. "Please don't," Rachel whispered shaking her head. "I don't want to start crying again."
"Okay," Santana said gently patting the girl's shoulder before removing her hand. "Do you…do you want me to talk to her for you."
Rachel chuckled humorously at this and shook her head. "I can't do that to her. She…I need to do this…say the words myself. She deserves that."
"Bullshit," Santana said scowling and shaking her head. "Rachel you don't owe her anything."
"I do though," Rachel said sighing and looking up at Santana through her lashes. "No matter what has happened…no matter how we end. Quinn is always going to be my first love…my first friend for that matter. If I don't owe it to her I owe it to that sweet girl I met freshmen year who I fell in love with."
Santana had to response for this. No words of wisdom to share or even a barbed insult for the blonde in question. All she could do was nod her head and lean back in her chair.
A minute later the door to the choir room cracked open and Quinn slipped into the room looking over she shoulder out the door. When she turned to look at them Santana could see so many emotions on her face and realized with a shock that the indifferent mask Quinn wore day in and day out really did disappear in front of Rachel. Quinn wore her emotions loud in front of her girlfriend. And write now they were a mix of confusion, anger (most likely at Santana's presence), and what Santana recognized as fear. Santana found herself spitefully smiling inwardly at the fear. Rachel might be the better person here but she had no reason to be.
"Hey Rach…Santana," Quinn said nodding jerkily at the girl before focusing on her girlfriend. "What's up?"
Rachel was silent, her eyes screwed tight and her hands balled tightly in her lap. "Rachel…Rach…are you okay?" Quinn asked walking towards the brunette as if each step she took might trigger a landmine.
For a second Santana was fearful that the Diva was going to freeze up, or worse let the entire situation go, but then Rachel's eyes opened and she fixed Quinn with a heartbreaking stare. "I know," she said simply shaking her head.
Quinn froze in place at this and slowly raised an eyebrow at the brunette. "I'm sorry what?"
"I know Quinn," Rachel said rubbing her eyes and shaking her head. Santana watched as the shorter brunette swallowed an obvious lump in her throat before she stood up and looked at Quinn who was hovering in midstep a few feet away. "I know about the lying, and the covering up. I saw it last night. I saw you with Finn."
Quinn reeled back as if she had been slapped and for a second looked as if she would fall over before she was shaking her head. "No Rachel baby it's not what it looks like I promise."
Rachel sighed and looked down at the floor for a second, obviously fighting back tears, before looking back up. "Quinn…please don't lie anymore to me."
The blonde choked back a pitiful sob as the first tear made it's way down her cheek. "Rachel please I had to…Sam…he got hurt and…"
"And what Quinn?" Rachel said crossing her arms in front of herself protectively. "And you just had to be with the quarterback to keep your image going?"
"Rachel it's only until school is over I swear," Quinn begged quickly moving towards the girl only for Rachel to back up shaking her head.
"No Quinn. No more. I…this…no more. I don't want to do this anymore. I can't do this anymore," Rachel stammered out as she backed away from Quinn and kept shaking her head.
"Baby please I'm sorry. Don't say that," Quinn said, her face turning bright red and her slender frame shaking as she tried to reach out to Rachel again.
"We're done," Rachel said moving away from her once more.
"No it will be okay," Quinn snapped, frustration and anger starting to take over her desperation so fast Santana could see the physical change from where she sat tensely on the edge of her seat. "We'll just finish out this year, and then we can go to New York and everything will be okay."
Rachel was silent for a moment, her eyes downcast as Quinn spoke. Then for just a second watery brown eyes looked to Santana before looking back at Quinn. "I don't want that…not anymore…not with you," she said shaking her head.
Santana had remained silent during the entire encounter, on the edge of seat, but silent. And then something seemed to flip within Quinn's mind and the blonde turned to the Latina with loathsome glare. "This is your fault!" Quinn yelled pointing at her and advancing suddenly only to be cut off by Rachel.
"No it is not her fault," the petite brunette said through her tears, holding up her hands in front of her like a shield.
"Yes it is Rachel!" Quinn half-sobbed half-screamed in a desperate voice. "Don't be an idiot! She has been planning this from the second she found out we were together!"
Unable to stay silent any more Santana popped out of her seat and was behind Rachel in just a few long strides, one of her hands immediately going to rest on the girl's back, and her eyes boring into Quinn's. "I don't have a damn thing to do with you cheating on your girlfriend Quinn. That's your own fucking problem."
"But I bet you were just oh so happy to find it out huh?" Quinn roared jabbing her finger at her. "Have you just been following me waiting for me to screw up? Is that it?"
"It's not that fucking hard to catch you in a lie when you involve everyone in the damn club Quinn," Santana barked, pulling Rachel back and out from between the two of them. She could see it in the blonde's eyes that she wanted nothing more than to slap the hell out of her, and was preparing for it, but suddenly the bell rung and with it some of the fury left Quinn's eyes and was replaced with an altogether more deadly look.
"Fine," Quinn said stepping back away from them and shaking her head. "You know what Rachel," she said looking at her crying ex-girlfriend. "If you want to throw away everything about us just fine. I'm better off without you in my life anyways."
"Quinn," Rachel said stepping forwards and holding out a hand at the girl only for Quinn to retreat like it was a knife.
"No, I don't date losers anyways," Quinn spat heading for the door only to turn around and smirk at Santana. "Hey San enjoy cleaning my sloppy seconds, just so you know she's a screamer and you should be able to get three fingers in her at least." And with that she was gone into the rapidly filling hallways.
"Okay that's fucking it," Santana yelled lunging forwards only to be held back when to petite arms wrapped around her body.
"No San don't," Rachel said, shaking her tear stained face. "She's just hurt."
"And you're not?" Santana said, struggling to go after the blonde.
"Please," Rachel whimpered, her voice pained enough to draw Santana's attention away from her killing mission. "I need you," the petite singer said burying herself in Santana's arms and letting out a small sob.
All the fight left Santana's body for the moment and she quickly wrapped her arms around her friend. "Hey shh it's gonna be okay," she said holding the girl close to her and running her hands up and down her back. She was just about to suggest they skip out of school when a very loud boom echoed out from the hallway followed by angry voices. "Oh Jesus what now?" Santana asked tucking Rachel into her side and then moving towards the door. "Quinn doesn't know how to make pipe bombs does she?" Santana joked lamely, pleased when Rachel gave her the smallest of smiles.
As the two girls exited the choir room the source of the noise because immediately obvious when they spotted Sam and Finn beating the ever loving shit out of each other. Sam was winning for sure. Across from them Quinn was watching the entire scene in shock whilst the rest of the student body had pulled out their cell phones to record it.
Suddenly a few blurs passed them and then Puck and Mike were grabbing a hold of Sam and dragging him back away from a bloody nosed Finn. "What the hell man?" Finn yelled whipping his nose and wincing.
"You cheated on me with him!" Sam yelled, ignoring Finn and looking at Quinn with a look part rage part desperation.
"You told Sam!" Quinn yelled rounding on Santana and Rachel, her eyes livid.
Rachel's head turned to Santana and the Latina was quickly shaking her head no. Before she could speak though Sam was yelling again. "Nobody told me anything Quinn! I figured it out on my own last night when Artie and Brittany called asking if you and I wanted to go get Breadsticks after our movie!"
Across the hall Quinn's eyes almost bugged out of her head as she realized suddenly the very obvious flaws in her plan. Finn though was having none of the explanation and rounded on Santana since that is where Quinn had gone first. "Bullshit you told him didn't you! You just can't stand to see other people happy Santana!"
By now it seemed almost every student in the school was crowded in that narrow part of hall including all of the Geeks and Santana could feel their eyes on her. "I didn't tell him jack shit Finnept! It's not my fault you and Tubbers were dumb enough to involve EVERYONE in your lies."
They say life slows down when the hard stuff happens. And it did for Santana in that moment at least. One second she was glaring hard at Finn and the next second it felt the wind had been knocked out of her. She saw his lips move almost in slow motion but couldn't have stopped what he said next even if she tried. "Bullshit," the boy yelled back, blood dripping down his face. "Santana why don't you stop trying to make everyone as unhappy as you are and just come out of the closet already!"
A second ago the crowd had been talking amongst themselves but as soon as the words left Finn's mouth it was silent. The only sounds Santana could hear were Sam and Finn's labored breathing and a small pained gasp from Kurt.
The one thing that she had tried her hardest to protect was suddenly out and it was clear from the looks on everyone's faces that they understand exactly what Finn had meant. For the smallest of seconds Santana wanted to disappear, but then Rachel was moving suddenly and everything was back at normal speed.
In five long strides the singer was in front of Finn and slapping him hard enough to knock the boy into the crowd. Finn looked at her with wide hurt eyes and Rachel's response was to jab a finger in his chest hard enough to make several people flinch. "How dare you Finn Hudson!" Rachel yelled, barely able to control her obvious rage. "You are the most pathetic human being I've ever seen and if you're going to go around outing people you might as well out me too!"
The words registered in Santana's head a split second before everyone else's and almost a minute before they managed to make their way through Finn's thick skull. Even as the boy started to argue back Santana's eyes turned instinctually to Quinn who was watching the argument like a snake poised to strike, almost deadly in her self preservation. "You're not gay!" Finn yelled shaking his head.
"I most certainly am," Rachel yelled back throwing her hands up in the air. "And what's more so is your brother. How could you do that Finn!"
"No!" Finn yelled stepping back and pointing at Santana. "This is her doing! You are not gay Rachel! We were together! You love me!"
It seemed that this was one too many times Santana had gotten blamed because Rachel let out an angry roar and slapped him again. What happened next probably said something to how well Santana and Quinn both knew Rachel. Santana could see the words that were about to come out and so could Quinn because in a flash she struck cutting off Rachel in mid sentence. The only thing was they were seeing different words. Quinn obviously thought Rachel was about to out her, which pissed Santana off to no ends.
"Finn I never loved you! I was only with you because-" was as far as the Diva got before Quinn's voice was yelling across the hall at, to everyone's surprise but Santana's, Artie.
"Hey Artie! If Santana is so big on sharing secrets why hasn't she told you that she's been sleeping with Brittany while the two of you are together!" The blonde yelled, catching everyone's attention.
The result was instantaneous. Pain and then realization swept over Artie's face and he looked up at the blonde in betrayal. "No," Brittany said shaking her head. "It's not like that."
"I swear to god it's not what you think Artie," Santana said trying to get to the two of them.
"How…how could you?" Artie asked backing his chair away from Brittany.
"It…it's Santana…she needed help," Brittany said, tears already starting to stream down her face.
Artie let out an angry sob and shook his head before talking, his words shocking the whole hallway for the smallest of seconds. "God Brittany she was just using you! How could you be so stupid!"
Suddenly everything was happening at one and the scene quickly descended into complete chaos. Brittany's face scrunched up and she let out a heart-broken sob. Artie seemed to realize what he has said but showed no remorse…or he showed no remorse until suddenly Puck was bearing down on him yelling.
Rachel turned back on Finn and the two of them started yelling with Kurt now joining them, screaming almost at his brother.
And Santana watched for just a second as Brittany, her best friend in the world cried in Blaine's arms before she turned to look at Quinn. The two of them locked eyes and were the only still silent people in a scene of chaos. Each one daring the other to move first. And move they did. In a flash the two were running at each other, teeth bared, and hands raised intent on killing the other in that moment.
One of Santana's hands reached out and one of her nails raked a bloody trench down Quinn's. And then suddenly strong arms were encircling her and Santana felt herself being picked up and pulled back by Mercedes and Sugar even as Mike and Tina were grabbing Quinn and a terrified Rory was moving in between them.
"Santana you're gonna kill her!" Mercedes yelled struggling to keep Santana in her arms.
"Good! Let me fucking at her!" Santana roared.
All around them the Gleeks were in various stages of fury, everyone screaming in the general direction of either Quinn, Finn, or Artie. Beyond that the larger student body was watching the scene like they were at the damn circus and the lions were trying to eat the clowns. And beyond them, finally, there were the oncoming teachers.
Schue, Pillsbury, Beiste, and Sue were all pushing their way through the crowd, even Sue's eyes wide at the hectic scene the Gleeks were making.
Santana could see Schue's lips moving but couldn't hear him over the yelling to save her life and then Beiste cleared the mass of students. "Everybody freeze!" The coach yelled clapping her hands over her head loud enough to make half the people in the 'audience' flinch and the Gleeks all become silent at once.
"What is going on!" Schue as he, Pillsbury, and Sue finally cleared the students as well.
Instantly several angry voices replied and Beiste had to silence them again all at once. "Alright! Gleeks call your parents and go to Figgins. The rest of you get to class unless you all want to be expelled!" The tall woman ordered.
As quickly as it had started it was over and the student body was disappearing into classrooms and other hallways. Rachel was at Santana's side in a second looking up at her, her brown eyes red-rimmed and panicky. "Santana my dads."
"It's okay," Santana said quickly pulling the diva into her side and pulling out her cell phone, praying to every god there was that her father would pick up. Luck was on her side because after two rings he answered. "Papa I need you to come to the school now," Santana said, her voice shaky as she looked around the hall and saw Quinn looking at them. The panic was obvious in her eyes as well and Santana gave her a nod to let her know that she was handling the situation. Before he could reply Santana continued. "And I need you to call the Berry's and get one of them to call the school and say that you're Rachel's acting guardian while they're away on vacation."
"Santana what's going on?" Santos asked quickly, it being obvious in his hurried voice that he was already moving.
"We just got into a big fight. All the Gleeks. I need you down here now," Santana said running her free hand up and down Rachel's back to comfort the both of them.
"Okay," Santos said, "I'll be there in a few and I'll call Hiram."
"Thank you Papi," Santana said letting out a deep breath before hanging up the phone and hugging Rachel to her. "It's gonna be okay."
"No it's not," Rachel said shaking her head, her voice exhausted. "I have a feeling this is not over with yet."
And Rachel was right. Thirty minutes later Figgins office was standing room only as it was filled with all fifteen Gleeks, their parents, Schue, Pillsbury, Beiste, Sue, and Figgins himself. And the volume level was almost deafening after Figgins had asked for an explanation.
Throwing up his arms in frustration the principal grabbed a very offended looking Sue's bullhorn and yelled into it. "Silence!" When the noise level cut off he took a deep breath. "Okay…will someone…just one of you please explain what happened here?"
"I will Principal Figgins," Rachel said stepping forwards before anyone else could.
"Okay Ms. Berry, please explain," Figgins said rubbing his face.
"It started because Sam realized that Quinn was cheating on him with Finn," Rachel started only to be cut off by Finn.
"That's a lie! Santana told him!"
"I didn't tell him jack-shit Finnocsence! A two year old could have seen through that lie," Santana yelled back angrily.
"Please! No more shouting students," Figgins said reaching into his desk and pulling out a bottle of aspirin before motioning for Rachel to continue.
"Well that leads to the next part," Rachel explained in a tired voice. "Sam confronted Finn and Finn accused Santana of telling him, which was not true. When Santana told him as much Finn outed her sexuality to everyone in the hallway."
"You did what?" Burt said suddenly standing up and bearing down on Finn.
"Finn how could you?" Carol asked covering her face with her hands.
Behind her Santana felt Santos shaking with barely controlled rage and sighed when her father protectively wrapped his arms around her.
"Mr. Hudson that is a serious matter," Figgins said shaking his head before turning to Rachel. "What happened next."
"In my anger I outed myself in defense of Santana," Rachel said reaching behind her and grabbing Santana's hand. "And then Quinn told Artie, extremely out of context, that Santana and Brittany had a physical relationship while they were dating."
"There is no in context for that," Artie muttered shaking his head.
"So Artie very loudly called Brittany stupid which Puck took offence to."
"Which he had every right to," Sue butted it glaring daggers at Artie along with Brittany's parents and Puck.
"And then the whole scene kind of descended into chaos." Rachel finished backing into Santana and turning to rest her head on the Latina's collar bone. Behind them Santo's was still glaring furiously at Finn but the older man's arms left Santana's body and instead encircled both girls now.
"Yeah except you left out the part where Sam sucker punched me, you slapped me, and Santana cut Quinn's cheek open," Finn snarked only to shut up when he received a glare from Burt.
Schue though was not that smart and quickly stepped forwards. "Rachel, Santana, Sam is that true. Because if it is I'm going to have to expel the three of you from the team and suspend you. Fighting is not allowed."
"You can't do that!" Several people yelled angrily at once.
"Figgins he can't do that!" Puck said looking at the principal and shaking his head. "When Finn tackled me in the middle of Glee and started punching me Schue just pulled him off and told him to calm down!"
"Is that true William?" Figgins asked rubbing his head in exasperation.
"Well yes but you see the circumstances-"
"No Schue. You set a precedent when you allowed that boy to get off scot free after hitting Mr. Puckerman," Santos said shaking his head before turning to Figgins. "And if my daughter or Rachel are expelled from Glee or suspended from school for this I will sue the living daylights out of you all."
"And I'll join that suit," Sam's father piped in putting a hand on his son's shoulder.
"They're right William," Figgins said holding up a hand. "You set a precedent when you showed favoritism to Mr. Hudson. Because of that you can not expel any other members for violence nor can you suspend them. They all however will receive detentions for this."
"I think that's fair," Santos said nodding his head curtly.
"Now are there any other matters to clear up?" Figgins asked sitting down at his desk.
"Yes," Santana said glaring at Finn hatefully. "I want him out of Glee. He outed me in the damn hallway." All around them the other Gleeks were suddenly nodding their support and Finn looked like he was about to cry.
"They can't do that! Right Mr. Schue they can't do that!" Finn said shaking his head furiously.
"No they can not," Schue said glaring at the rest of the Gleeks in turn.
"Actually yes they can," Sue said suddenly, smiling amusedly at Schue. "Glee Club is a student organization and the members can legally choose to expel Mr. Hudson here from their midst if they feel they Club is in danger."
"Sue is right William, the kids can vote on it," Figgins said in a monotone voice.
"All in favor?" Santana asked throwing her hand up in the air and being copied by everyone except for Finn, Quinn, and Artie.
"That is settled, Finn Hudson you are expelled from the Glee Club indefinitely," Figgins said.
"That's bullshit," Finn cried out.
"No that is more than fair," Carol said suddenly standing and looking down up at her son in disappointment. "Finn how could you do that to that girl."
"I…it's…"
"We'll talk about this at home," Carol said grabbing Finn by the arm and dragging him out of the room with a steaming mad Burt following behind them.
Suddenly Quinn stood up and started to leave as well with her mother in tow. "Ms. Fabray where are you going?" Figgins asked startled.
"I'm quitting Glee," Quinn said plainly, her voice low and sad. "If they don't want…my boyfriend then they don't get me either."
"Good riddance," Santana bit out squeezing a softly crying Rachel to her chest.
"I'm out too," Artie said turning his chair around and pushing his way towards the door. "I can't be in a club with Santana."
"Do you see what you've done!" Schue yelled turning and pointing at Santana. "Regionals are in one week and you just lost us half of our act!"
Schue was right. Quinn was supposed to duet, Artie was supposed to duet with Puck, and Finn had a long solo in the group number, but right now Santana couldn't care less. Not when her teacher, a man who was supposed to guide her was glaring at her with barely controlled hatred. "I suggest you soften your voice when you're talking to my daughter Schue unless you want to get your ass whipped," Santo's said, his voice deadly.
"Actually William this brings me to the next part," Figgins said, looking at Schue with disappointment written all over his face. "It is obvious to me that you have lost the ability to fairly manage this club so I have no other choice but to suspend you as Glee Club director until you attitude towards certain members has been reviewed by the School Board."
"Way to go guys!" Schue blew up now glaring at the entirety of the remaining club. "You do realize with out a faculty sponsor you can't go to Regionals!"
"I'll sponsor them," Beiste said suddenly stepping forwards and crossing her arms. "The kids shouldn't have to pay because of a couple rotten eggs and the hen who laid them."
"Very well Coach Beiste, you will take charge of the Glee Club. William you are dismissed," Figgins said, rubbing his temples.
Schue shot them all one last seething glare before heading for the door, stopping only to wait for Emma. It was a tense moment when the guidance councilor gave Schue a very disappointed look and shook her head before stepping forwards. "Principal Figgins I would like to volunteer to help the club at Regionals as well."
"Very well," Figgins said waving his hand in a approval.
The look Schue shot them all before throwing open the door and slamming it behind him could have curdled milk. "Very well you are all dismissed for the rest of the day. Ms. Lopez, Ms. Berry, Mr. Evans, your detentions shall be served during your lunch periods for the next three weeks after you Regional competition."
"That seems more than fair," Santos said nodding before leading the large group out into the hall where they all stood still for a moment.
It was Beiste who spoke up. "Alright team can I get a huddle real quick, you too Emma." Slowly on the brink of exhaustion the 12 remaining Gleeks left their parents sides and indeed get into a huddle formation with Beiste. "Alright kids, here's the deal. I meant what I said when I said you guys deserve to go to that competition. But I don't know the first thing about show choir, so you guys are gonna have to come up with a solution and a set list for this on your own."
The group was silent for a few moments and then one by one heads began to turn in Rachel's direction. Rachel looked to be the very picture of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion. Her body shook with fatigue, being held up only by Santana and Kurt who were on either side of her. Her eyes were blood shot and droopy and her shoulders sagged pitifully. But still they could all see the cogs turning in her head. "Okay," Rachel said nodding once. "I have a plan."