Notes: Thank you so much for the reviews! I was worried that everyone was going to hate it, but you seemed to like it. Woo hoo!

Chapter 10

Safe and Secure

Brittany looked up from her bed as her door opened and Santana came in, holding two glasses of water. She handed one of them to her and sat beside her on the bed. Neither said anything for a moment as they sipped at their drinks, idly watching the ice cubes. Santana took another sip, then rested her head on the other's shoulder, her hair falling down behind her.

Brittany rested her own head on Santana's, frowning slightly. She still couldn't get Anthony out of her head. She didn't want to tell anyone, though. He had told her that she didn't know anything, and Brittany thought that maybe she didn't. She could have just made it all up. That was possible, right?

"What's wrong?" Santana had seen her expressions changing quickly, and was worried. Brittany had been very quiet ever since she arrived, hardly saying anything. She had just nodded along as Santana spoke, laughing when necessary and absentmindedly saying, "Yes," and "No," whenever she was supposed to.

Brittany looked over, deciding what she could tell her and what she couldn't tell her. She didn't want to say too much and sound dumb, but she needed to get this off of her chest. If there was anyone she would trust with this, it was Santana. She looked down briefly, then met her eyes, feeling dejected.

"Am I really stupid?" She asked, much to Santana's surprise. As she started to shake her head and answer, Brittany continued, interrupting her. "I mean, I know I'm stupid. But am I really stupid?"

Santana felt like crying. Brittany looked like a helpless, sad little girl as she stared at her, wide-eyed. She reached a hand forward and placed it on her shoulder, trying to reassure her. "Brittany, you're not stupid." Santana looked her straight in the eyes, looking as sincere as one could.

Brittany's eyes fell to her lap and she thought deeply. Santana did look genuine, and she trusted her with her life. But Anthony had seemed so serious, it was hard to not believe him.

"You're just saying that." Of course she had to say that. She couldn't come out and just say that she was a complete idiot. Brittany looked over at Santana, who was shaking her head.

"No, I'm not. You're not stupid, and whoever says you are is the stupid one." She leaned in and hugged Brittany tightly, burying her face in the blond hair. She rubbed her back, trying to be as comforting as possible. She loved Brittany, and it was truly hard to see her so upset. She might not be crying or whining, but behind her calm exterior Santana could see the hurt. She could see the pain that this was causing.

"But he isn't stupid. Everyone likes him." Brittany murmured into Santana's hair, closing her eyes and leaning into the embrace happily. She felt comfortable, and less bothered, now that Santana has reassured her.

"Who?" Santana pulled away, looking serious suddenly. In her head, she instantly went through every guy she knew in her head, thinking of things she could do to punish them. How dare they call her stupid and put her through this? She could feel herself getting extremely defensive.

She didn't want to answer at first, thinking that Santana might hurt him. But she was friends with him, right? She wouldn't do anything. Brittany bit her lip and looked at her hands in her lap, muttering the name. "Anthony."

Santana exploded, figuratively and slightly physically. She jumped from the bed, throwing her hands into the air, gesticulating angrily.

"Tony?" How dare he! She paced around the room for a minute or two, completely silent. She was fuming, though, Brittany could tell. She stayed on the bed, watching carefully. Perhaps she shouldn't have told her. Despite the rude comments he had made, she almost felt sorry for him. Brittany might as well have sent a pack of vicious, man-eating dogs on him. Actually, he probably would have been better off with the dogs.

"Well I don't think he meant it," Brittany defended, actually worried that Anthony might be killed.

"I don't care if he meant to say that you were the damn Queen of England; that's a shitty way to put it!" Santana marched around a little longer, seeming to become more aggravated by the minute. She scoffed and shook her head, thinking of how idiotic she had been. He had tricked her, everyone, into thinking he was a great guy, but really he was a jerk.

"Thank you." Santana had been so busy being angry she hadn't noticed Brittany stand up. Now the blond had her arms wrapped around her in a hug. She stayed tense for a moment longer before surrendering to the embrace, putting her own arms around Brittany.

"I love you." Santana whispered, knowing she would do anything for Brittany. And if that meant getting a mean Texan out of the way, so be it.

"I love you, too." Brittany replied quietly, laying her head on her shoulder.

"Ok, he's not answering." Kurt said, opening his car door and hopping out. He tossed his phone into his seat and slammed the door, slightly aggravated. Anthony had invited him all the way down here, trying to be nice, and it had all just been a trick. He didn't even show!

Turning around, Kurt was startled to find that he was alone. He turned in a circle, raising an eyebrow. "Blaine?" He took a few, hesitant steps away from his car, his heart pounding. He was sure that if anyone was around, they'd be able to hear it. "Blaine, this isn't funny." He said slowly, hoping that his boyfriend had just decided to pull a terrible prank.

When there was, again, no reply, Kurt was really starting to freak out. He was alone in unfamiliar territory, and his boyfriend was missing. He had an irrational moment, thinking that he was actually taking part in a creepy slasher film.

"Help," he whispered, turning in another circle. He tried to call out Blaine's name again, but his voice cracked and nothing came out. He could feel tears welling up, but he pushed them back angrily. This wasn't a time to cry like a baby!

Suddenly a bloodcurdling, painful scream filled the air, then was cut short by something unknown. But Kurt had heard enough of it to know who the scream had come from.

"Blaine!" He screamed, running in the direction that he hoped it had come from. He honestly didn't know what he was going to see when he got there, all he knew was that he needed to get there as quickly as possible.

Another scream met his ears, but it wasn't Blaine's this time. He couldn't quite pinpoint who it had come from. He somehow pushed his legs to go faster, either avoiding things in his way or just barreling through them, not caring about the consequences. He just needed to get to Blaine.

Blaine didn't know when he had stopped being dragged along, nor did he remember when he was released and he could breath again. All he knew was he was on the ground, his face buried in a pile of leaves and dirt. He coughed and sat up, rubbing his face.

A twig snapping behind him made him shoot up, turn, and hold his hands up defensively. He tried to stay composed as Karofsky walked forward, looking calm and collected. But really, on the inside, Blaine was scared as hell. He had no idea what was going on.

From behind Karofsky, Blaine was shocked to see Anthony walk out. He grinned at the guy, lowering his fists.

"Tony," he started, walking towards him and feeling much better. The feeling left suddenly as the Texan, without warning, punched him in the face. "Ow!" He screamed, stepping back and holding his nose. Blood pooled into his palm as he looked, taken aback, at who he thought was his friend. Anthony just glared back, wiping off his bloody fist.

"Blaine." Anthony said, his voice hostile and cold. He walked up to stand right next to Karofsky, and the two of them smiled at Blaine, not looking friendly in any way. He backed away against a tree, his heart pounding. Kurt had told him the terrible things that Karofsky had done, and he wasn't looking forward to what the bully had in store for him.

"What are you doing?" Blaine asked, mostly to Anthony. He had been so nice, so polite, to him. What was he doing with Karofsky? Anthony seemed to find Blaine's question funny, because he chuckled for a moment.

"Giving you what you deserve." He said matter-of-factly, slowly making his way closer to the small boy. He towered over him, looking deeply into the wide, brown eyes. They were so child-like and innocent, he had to smile. This was great.

Blaine called out for help, but his voice was cut short as an arm collided painfully with his throat, causing him to fall into a coughing fit. He tried to run, but one of the larger boys crushed their hand around his arm, surely making a bruise. Before he could react, Blaine was tossed onto the ground, his arm bending in a way it shouldn't have bent. He gaped but no sound came out. A searing pain shot through his limbs, making him moan quietly.

"Get his legs!" Karofsky ordered, laughing. The laughter only made Blaine become angry. As two hands wrapped themselves around his ankles and lifted them up, he kicked as hard as he could. He didn't know what he hit, but he hit something. When the hands didn't release his ankles, he kicked again, harder this time.

"Ow!" Anthony shouted loudly, letting go. Karofsky did the same as they heard a voice, realizing it was getting closer. Blaine looked up at Anthony, who was glaring back at him.

"Come on." Karofsky said, running away. The other boy looked back down once more, scowling. He pursed his lips, and before Blaine could say anything, spit onto the boy's chest.

"Fag!" He sprinted off to join his friend, leaving Blaine beaten and powerless. He stayed lying down, hurting everywhere. Faintly he heard Kurt's voice, then remembered seeing his boyfriend standing over him with a hand over his mouth, gasping.

"Oh my God, Blaine…"

Notes: I hate my own character! Haha I really don't like that word, but I think Anthony is a big enough jerk to use it, so… Tell me what you think!