A/N: This chapter is a two part continuation with chapter 11, so it's slightly shorter. Which means chapter 11 will be up sooner than normal updates (maybe within the next 48 hours...maybe). Enjoy!

Oh and thanks for all the constructive criticism, I've definitely taken it on board to make this story better for you guys.

Rachel leaned against her locker as a freshman hoisted the banner higher. They tied it in place across the main entry way and slowly got down from the stepladder and wandered off as she continued to stare. The bright red and white poster was mocking her with its promise of a fairytale ending, of all the hopes of that clichéd life. But that dream seemed like a distant memory to Rachel now, because she had to go and screw everything up four weeks before Prom.

Her throat started to constrict with unshed tears, tears she promised herself she wouldn't cry at school or at least in a crowded hallway. With a heavy sigh she started to make her way to fifth period Biology, trying to put on a brave face as she did. She knew what she would find there or rather wouldn't find. Santana hadn't been in school for the past three days, missing countless Glee Club meetings and musical rehearsals.

The naïve and slightly foolish part of Rachel expected to walk into Drama on Monday and it be like every other fight they'd had. They would bicker about something unimportant and the next day, go back to being best friends as if nothing happened. She was kidding herself. But she still hoped to see her smiling face every time she walked into a rehearsal or class they shared. Each time that hope was crushed along with her heart at seeing the empty chair the brunette would usually occupy.

Sometimes, just to torture herself, she would stare out the window that looked out over the parking lot waiting for her to just be leaning up against her hatch beckoning her over or just simply watching her from the outside. Rachel would sometimes ask her why she did this, considering she could do the same thing if she actually attended class with her, but she just simply shrugged and continued to watch her carefully.

Her confused mind didn't know what hurt worse, not being able to see Santana or Finn not even acknowledging her existence. They'd had four classes together since Monday, each one more torturous than the next. She didn't know where they stood as a couple anymore; she knew that the chances of them reconciling were slim but you don't just break up with someone you've been with for over a year and not have the decency to do it to their face. All she got was a shake of the head and the cold shoulder.

All of her friends suspected something was up when they no longer sat next to each other or left school together. She was thankful he hadn't spread vicious rumors about what happened on Saturday night. She could tell he was hurting but she knew his pride would keep him in check.

She moved into her Biology class and slumped down at her empty lab bench toward the back of the room. Like clockwork she turned her head toward the row of windows only to find a still car park and no Santana. She opened up her book to her notes and continued to work on their lab in silence.

Rachel was looking through a microscope twenty minutes later, trying to decide what exactly she was supposed to be looking for on her slide. She looked to her notebook and flipped through it to the lesson notes she took a few weeks ago.

Her heart leapt into her throat when she came across a random page filled with nonsensical sketches and words. She removed her hand from the cold metal of the microscope and began to regard what she had drawn in a moment of boredom.

There was the usual hearts and fluid shapes decorating the boarder but what caught her attention was the repetitive cursive covering the page.

Santana, Santana, Santana, Santana.

It went on down the entire page in all different sizes and angles but all etched deep into the notebook as if she had pressed her pen too hard on the white paper. After a few moments of looking at the artwork she noticed a small patch of writing in the bottom right-hand corner that didn't match the rest of the page.

I told you to call me Betty.

A laugh rose in her throat that quickly turned into a sob as the tears she promised herself she wouldn't cry began to run down her cheeks.

x

Rachel watched from her spot in the middle of the library as Finn sat studying at his own table a few shelves away. It was seventh period study hall, a class Santana thought was pointless. She could see he was having trouble with his work by the confusion etched on his features. She would usually be the one helping him but he wouldn't let her anywhere near him since Saturday night.

A few cheerios were whispering amongst themselves to his left, looking over to his table every now and again with a giggle. Rachel knew that word had gotten out about their break up, it's hardly surprising when you're the 'It' couple. They were shoe-ins for Prom King and Queen, something that now was no longer a reality. They'd been planning it since the start of term; the tux he would wear, the corsage he would buy. But he was apparently fair game now since every cheerleader on the squad was staking him out as a possible escort. The strange thing was the tightness in Rachel's chest at this realisation felt more like emptiness than jealousy.

She heaved a sigh and looked back at her Music theory work. She continued to note out the first bar to Für Elise, just waiting for the bell to go so she could get out of this place and to the safety of her own room.

x

Rachel flopped down on her bed exhausted from the days events; she wasn't sure how much more of this isolation she could take. It wasn't like all her other friends were treating her any differently and she didn't expect them to. Her social status was higher than the quarterback's, a break up wasn't going to change that. But she still felt alone inside. She didn't realise how cold it would be without Finn. It was a routine she had gotten used to; he would pick her up before school, walk her to each class and drop her home at the end of each day. Now she felt like she was just floating around the halls, not really having a purpose or direction. And with Santana gone as well she didn't have that safety and comfort from anyone.

Kurt seemed understanding to the situation but she could tell he didn't know the full story and was still unsure of how to approach her.

She was just getting settled in for the night when there was a soft knock at the door as Hiram came into view, closing it behind him. He walked over and sat on the edge of the bed as Rachel sat up to look at him fully.

"Sweetie, your Dad and I have discussed and I think it's time you talked to us about this," he told her with a concern voice. "We're very worried about you. You're not eating dinner with us anymore. You come up to your room and don't come out till morning. What happened on your date with your friends?"

Rachel sat in silence while he presented his case. She knew it was a matter of time before her parents spoke to her about it; she'd been avoiding them for the past few days not wanting to get into the details. But it was time to face the music or at least the intro.

"Finn and I broke up," she said in a small voice, a single tear escape down her cheek.

"Oh, sweetie." Hiram didn't hesitate to wrap his daughter in his arms and let her cry on his shoulder. "Tell me everything."

Hiram had always been the 'mother' out of her two Dads. The one she could always go to with boy problems or gossip. He was the one she felt more comfortable sharing her feelings with. She still longed for a female figure in her life but she knew that was something she was never going to have with her biological mother.

She moved out of his embrace, and looked him in the eye with a sad smile.

"I guess you could say I lied to him," Rachel began vaguely. "About something important."

She really didn't want to bring Santana into this until she had no other choice. She knew her parents of all people would accept her when she was ready but she wanted to keep things less complicated for now.

"That doesn't seem like something you should break up with each other over," Hiram said slightly confused. "I'm sure if you give it a few days things will be back to normal."

"Not this time Daddy," she assured him, shaking her head. Tears were flowing freely now prompting the short man to take her in his arms once more. He rubbed soothing circles up and down her back, trying to tame the tears.

"Well, I can see that boy loves you," Hiram mused. "And he's a fool if he lets someone as beautiful as you go that easy."

x

"I can't go on stage with her."

Rachel had just walked in to the after school Grease rehearsal to hear Finn arguing with Ms. Holiday and Mr. Schue. He had his jaw set and his hands on his hips, an angry flush on his neck.

"Look, you've got to put aside your personal feelings," Holly reasoned. "We open in less than two weeks, you can't quit now."

Rachel couldn't believe her ears; she knew he was hurting, but to go as far as to cause the cancellation of the school's musical was just selfish.

"You're quitting?" she asked in disbelief, as she walked further into the choir room. He didn't answer her or even look in her direction causing Rachel's temper to rise.

"Hate me, that's fine," she stated, her heart aching slightly at her own words. "But don't take it out on them." She gestured to her friends sitting down watching the whole exchange. Finn completely ignored her rebuttal and faced Mr. Schue before speaking.

"Kurt can take the lead and I'll play Vince," Finn offered, his tone still hostile.

"No," Rachel interrupted moving closer to the piano where the two teachers were sitting. "Kurt's the costume designer, he can't take on a lead. Besides he hasn't understudied you."

"I know he can do it Mr. Shue," Finn continued as if he hadn't heard Rachel at all. She threw up her arms in exasperation and took her seat next to Kurt.

"Don't you have a say in this?" she said in a hushed tone to her best friend.

"Holly and Mr. Shue will never allow it," he replied while he was patching up Finn's T-Bird jacket he ripped during yesterday's Grease Lightning rehearsal. "And he knows it, just let him blow off steam."

Rachel slumped back in her chair as she continued to watch Finn berate the two directors. He had got through the past two rehearsals just fine without any tantrums. Rachel figured it was because they were T-Bird scenes with just the guys, but today they'd be rehearsing a group diner scene, which made things a little complicated.

"Take a breath, okay," Will tried to calm him. "All of this won't matter if Santana misses one more rehearsal. With all the lead changes we'd have to do, we'd have to cancel the musical."

A collective angry sigh went round the room as all eyes trained on Rachel.

"Nice one Berry," Puck retorted from the row behind her, only loud enough for her to hear. "You just cost us the show."

"Hold up," Holly exclaimed before the blame game could start. "Lets not get ahead of ourselves here."

Everyone quieted down and sat back in their chairs, but there was still a level of hostility in the air.

"Rachel, have you heard from her?" Holly asked. "She tell you why she hasn't been at school?"

Yeah, because of me.

"No," she replied in a small voice.

"Well you two are usually attached at the hip," she stated unhelpfully causing another bout of tears Rachel did her best to blink back. "You think you could go see her, convince her to come back?"

This was the last thing Rachel wanted to do. If the ignored calls and text were any indication she was the last person Santana wanted to see.

"I don't think that such a good idea, Ms. Holiday."

"Well think about it okay," she said softly. "As for everyone else, lets call it a day. Nothing productive is going to get done tonight."

Everyone grabbed their bags and shuffled out of the room into the hall, empty except for the odd student leaving detention. Finn stormed out after everyone else, B lining for the student car park. Rachel rushed out after him, getting sick and tired of him pretending she didn't exist or what they had wasn't real.

"You're going to have to talk to me sooner or later," she yelled down the hall causing Mercedes and a few others to look back. Finn stopped in his tracks, letting the rest of their friends exit out the double doors in front of him. He stayed routed to the spot giving Rachel time to catch up. He stood there in silence until she walked up beside him.

"How could you do this to me?" Finn voice was so sad and defeated. "To us?"

"I'm sorry."

She knew it sounded pathetic and didn't even begin to make up for the damage she caused but it was all she was capable of offering.

"I knew something was up, but you denied it the whole time." He turned to face her, expecting some elaborate explanation of her betrayal that he wouldn't receive.

"I know." She nodded softly to herself no longer able to look him in the eye.

"We always said we'd never lie to each other," Finn told her. "What happened to that?"

All she could do was shrug her shoulders in defeat. She didn't know what she expected to accomplish from this, she guessed she'd be more eloquent when she finally got his attention. She had created endless scenarios in her head of all the things she wanted to say to him once she got the opportunity, but now she was here all she could do was just stand there.

"For someone who wanted to talk you're not doing much of it," he mused.

"I screwed up okay," she exclaimed. "I guess there really isn't much I can say other than I'm sorry I ever hurt you. You didn't deserve it, you deserved the truth and I denied you that too."

"You still haven't answered my question," Finn said defiantly, a little of his hostility from rehearsal seeping into his tone. "But I guess I'll never get answers from you or the closure I want."

"What does this mean for us?" Rachel was nervous of his answer. A part of her just wanted her old life back, she wanted Finn and all that entailed. He heaved a sigh and looked down at the polished linoleum and began to walk toward the exit.

"You should go see your girlfriend," he shot angrily over his shoulder before forcefully pushing the doors open and leaving Rachel alone in the empty hallway.

x

Rachel sat in her Toyota on her long driveway wrestling with the choice of going to see Santana or not. On one hand she really did want to see her but on the other she wasn't sure if she could handle the heartbroken expression she was sure to find. She unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out of her car.

One thing was for sure, she would have to talk to her parents. She had no idea where Santana lived and she guessed her Dad would know since it seemed he was fairly close to Mrs. Lopez when she was alive.

Rachel put down her keys on the table in the foyer, calling out into her house for her Dads.

"In here sweetie," came Leroy's voice from the kitchen.

She wandered in and took a seat at the breakfast bar while the tall man prepared what looked to be a vegetable stir-fry for dinner.

"How was your day?" he asked over his shoulder.

"The same," Rachel replied slightly dejected. "Finn actually talked to me today but he mightn't have bothered, it didn't change a thing. Doesn't seem to be going back to the way things were anytime soon."

"Give him time sweetie," he comforted, slinging a dishtowel over his shoulder while he worked.

Rachel knew her Daddy would have told his other half about what they spoke about the night before. She came down to breakfast that morning to an understanding smile and hug from her Dad. She knew instantly that Hiram had spilled the beans to his husband.

"I'm not sure I want them to go back to normal," Rachel confessed. "I guess I'm just really confused at the moment."

He murmured in a positive tone still distracted with stirring the vegetables. She sat in silence weighing the pros and cons of seeing Santana but in the end she knew she would eventually have to go see her.

"How long till dinner?" she enquired innocently.

"Bout half hour," he said turning around. "Why do you ask?"

"Well the musical directors want me to go see Santana," she replied warily. "She hasn't been at school and if she keeps missing rehearsals they're going to have to replace her."

"And this is where I come in, right?" Leroy guessed with a sad smile. He looked at his daughter with concern, seeming to decide whether or not this was a good idea.

"Your Father and I warned you about this."

"I don't know what you're talking about," she replied defiantly, not meeting his gaze.

"Yes you do," he replied gently, leaning his arms on the bench in front of him. "It seems to me you've gotten in way too deep, and that is what we asked you to be careful of."

"It's not like I'm completely to blame for-" Rachel caught herself before she said something that may expose the veil she thought she was holding over her parents these past few days. She took a deep breath before continuing. "I admit I should have listened to you, but this doesn't change the fact that I need her address."

He nodded softly to himself and reached into the draw for a notepad. He started scribbling out directions, tearing off the small piece of paper and handing it to Rachel. She grabbed the slip of paper but Leroy held onto the other end with a stern look on his face.

"You might be able to fool your Father, but you can't fool me. I see the way you look at her," he said with a glint in his eyes.

"I care about her Dad," she admitted, trying again to tug it from his grasp with more success. She moved around the counter and gave him a light peck on the cheek.

"Thank you," she said sincerely. "I'll be back soon."

x

The drive over to Santana's place was short but Rachel felt like it was an eternity. Her heart hammered in her chest as she tried to concentrate on the road ahead. All the time she spent thinking of the things she would say was mostly consumed by thoughts of Finn. Every time she tried to form words she would come up blank with Santana, she guessed she never was good with words when it came to the brunette.

After about ten minutes, she pulled up in front of a quaint one-story house on a quiet street. It was white with blue gutters and large front windows next to a matching blue door, which looked into what appeared to be the living room. Rachel sat in her car for a few minutes just admiring the small house; it really wasn't what she expected. From the talk around school she anticipated she'd be parked outside a crack house in the projects, but those rumors haven't been right so far, why start now.

With one last look at the directions her Dad gave her, she got out of her car and half jogged up to the front porch, hugging herself tighter against the cold wind. Rachel rang the doorbell hesitantly, her palms sweating despite the icy air. She breathed in shallow breaths as she waited for a response. A few moments passed without any sign of movement through the dark bay windows. She rapped on the door instead, peering inside the house. A light snapped on in one of the back rooms and the sound of angry Spanish could be heard through the door.

Rachel heard the lock click before she was face to face with a rather disheveled brunette in a pair of black-rimmed glasses. Santana went ridged, shock written all over her face.

"Hi," Rachel greeted.

"What do you want?" Santana asked in a clipped tone.

"What, no hello?" she tried for humor but it fell flat as the Latina continued to stare solemnly at her.

"You've missed rehearsals, why else would I be here," she replied in small voice. "Ms. Holiday is worried about you."

"Is that it?" Santana asked dismissively. Rachel could see she was trying to close the door again, one hand on the frame ready to shut her out. She breathed deeply remembering what Finn said about honesty.

"No, that's not it," she told her, taking a step forward. Santana retreated slightly back inside her entryway. "Why haven't you answered any of my calls? You can't just shut me out like you do everyone else."

"You told me you saw no future for us," Santana said sadly. "I'm not pathetic enough to stick around."

"You're taking me out of context, I never-"

"You said by letting go of him you wouldn't have a future." She was shaking her head, trying to hold back tears. "That to me says you didn't see this," she gestured between them. "Going anywhere. So would you please, for me, make up your mind and stop head fucking me."

Her tone had turned heated, her jaw clenching slightly. Rachel was starting to see a lot of the old Santana, the Santana she saw before they became friends. She told herself she was going to go into this with a clear mind, no judgment but she couldn't hold back all the things she wished she could just scream at the girl standing in front of her.

"You think you're the only one allowed to be angry," she all but yelled. "My life was perfect before you came along. I was just fine living my sheltered life."

"I'm sorry I ruined your perfect existence," Santana taunted. "All you care about is status just like all of those other robots, I was stupid to think you'd be different."

Rachel opened her mouth to argue back when a gruff voice came from down the small hallway behind Santana.

"Who is it, mi hija?"

Rachel completely forgot the fact that they weren't alone as Santana snapped her head back inside her house at the interruption. The low male voice could only be one person, the one person Santana wouldn't open up about.

"Is that your Dad?" All anger completely gone from her tone.

Santana turned her attention back to Rachel, a single tear streaked down her cheek.

"No, it's the door."

And with that Rachel was left out in the cold night air, the sound of wood hitting wood and the click of the deadlock reverberating around her.

The next chapter is called It's The Falling In Love

...you see what I did there, gosh I'm such a dork. Saw the two song names and just had to name a double chapter after them :)