Hey everyone! Thanks for voting on the poll, and sorry for the late update! MY internet's been acting up.

For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, I set up a poll on my profile regarding the ending of Season One. I can reveal that 4/7 people voted for the 'Don't do a time skip and have Season Two take place straight after Season One.' option. Therefore, Season Two will begin where Season One left off, but there will be a cliffhanger! So don't you Suspence-Druggies worry;)

I hope you enjoy the chapter!

Wednesday 24th December, Christmas Eve:

Tayla Mallory's POV:

Tayla slammed her fists down on the desk and growled at the police officer.

"My best-friend's missing and you're telling me you won't send a search party?!" Tayla bellowed.

The portly man sank back into his chair, 'I-In order to send a search party, th-the missing p-person has to be missing for o-over 48 hours...'

"This is bull-shit!" Tayla screeched as she turned to face everyone, 'She could be in trouble!'

Tayla wasn't surprised at how many people had turned up to look for Avalon. All of the members of the Troubletones and the New Directions had turned up along with Mr. Schuester, Shelby Corcoran, Jonas O'Grady and Quinn Fabray.

Austen took a step toward Tayla, 'Tay... relax.'

Austen held out a hand and Tayla swatted it away.

"Are you all just going to stand there and do nothing?!" Tayla screamed.

No-one responded and several people stared down at the floor.

"She might have just wanted a break from it all..." Charlotte piped up.

"Whatever," Tayla threw her hands in the air and headed for the exit, 'I'm going to like for my Avalon. If anyone wants to join me, feel free.'

Aaron, Austen, Zachary, Joshua, Blake, Roman and McKenna all followed Tayla outside. The teens gathered in a circle around Tayla.

"Okay... Austen and Blake, you go check the school. I don't care what you have to do, but you have to get inside and look around." Tayla ordered.

Austen and Blake nodded and ran off towards the school.

"Joshua and McKenna, you two check the park and the areas surrounding it. Zachary and Roman, check all of the neighborhoods surrounding Avalon's house."

Everyone nodded and headed in their respective directions.

"What are the two of us going to do?" Aaron asked.

"We're going to check the warehouse." Tayla explained.

Aaron nodded and the two sprinted towards the edge of town.

Valery Crane's POV:

Valery unlocked the door to Santana's apartment and threw the keys on the desk to her left. She ripped off her jacket and threw it onto the floor.

"San?" Valery called, 'We couldn't find Avalon... and the police are refusing to send a search party. Where were you? You said you'd follow me down there.'

No reply.

"San?" Valery called as she entered the living room.

Valery noticed a note taped to the TV. Valery stepped towards it and yanked the note off the TV.

Dear Valery,

I'm so sorry. I'm a coward for not having the courage to say this to your face.

I know you hate sappy crap like this... and I do too, but it has to be said.

You've changed me. I'm more open now. More caring.

But... I don't think we're right for each-other.

Brittany and I are currently on our way to New York, where we' plan on living for the next few years.

This isn't your fault, Val. Remember that.

Love,

Santana.

It took fifteen re-reads of the note for the message to sink in. Santana had left Valery for Brittany. Santana was on route to New York, where she'd be living with Brittany. Santana was gone.

Valery crumpled up the note in her hand and threw it onto the floor. She sprinted from the apartment and out of the building.

After a half an hour of blindly running around Lima, Valery ended up at the park. She ran over to the biggest tree in the park and climbed it. When Valery was a kid, she used to climb to the very top of this tree and cry. She couldn't stand when people saw her cry.

Valery arrived at the top of the tree and began to sob. Valery heard a shuffling noise to her right and looked in that direction. Valery nearly fell off the tree when she noticed the hunched-over figure.

"Avalon?!"

Avalon stared down at the ground. Her chocolate-brown hair was a tangled mass and her face had several small scrapes.

"Hey." Avalon sighed.

Valery stared at her for a moment before drying her own eyes, 'What are you doing here? Everyone's worried sick...'

Avalon shrugged, 'I just... I needed a break.'

Valery scooted closer to her, 'How long have you been up here?'

"Since last night..."

"What?" Valery's jaw dropped.

Valery removed her leather jacket and wrapped it around Avalon.

"You're only wearing a dress! You must be freezing... and starving."

Avalon pulled the jacket around her and her teeth began to chatter.

"Come on... I'll bring you back to your family." Valery said.

"No."

"Why not? They'll be-"

"I said no!" Avalon screeched.

Valery stared at the brunette beauty, 'Fine. Then come back to Santana's apartment with me. You can get something to eat and rest.'

"Santana doesn't like me."

"Santana's... away. It's not far from here." Valery cajoled Avalon.

Avalon sighed and begrudgingly agreed. The pair climbed down the tree and made their way back to Santana's apartment. Luckily, they didn't run into anyone.

Valery cursed when she realized she left the door unlocked. Her heart began to pound in her chest when she noticed the front door was slightly ajar. She distinctly remembered slamming it shut on her way out.

Valery and Avalon crept inside. Valery heard two voices coming from the living room. Valery peeked inside and blew a sigh of relief when she saw it was Quinn and Mr. Schuester.

Valery and Avalon entered the living room and Mr. Schuester opened his mouth to say something but Valery interrupted.

"She wants to be alone."

Mr. Schuester nodded reluctantly and started for the door.

"Don't tell anyone you saw her here." Valery said over her shoulder.

Mr. Schuester nodded and left. Valery turned to Quinn.

"Did you not hear me?" Valery asked.

"Can I have a few minutes alone with her?" Quinn asked.

Valery turned to Avalon. She shook her head and Valery stared at Quinn.

"Out."

Quinn nodded graciously, 'Come to me when you're ready to talk. You know where to find me.'

Quinn left the apartment and Valery locked the door behind her. When Valery re-entered the living room, Avalon was on the couch, half-asleep.

"Aar..." Avalon mumbled sleepily.

"Excuse me?" Valery asked, kneeling down beside her.

"Aaron..." Avalon whispered before falling asleep.

Valery understood what she meant and grabbed her phone.

Avalon Brickstone's POV:

Avalon awoke in a large bed in a bedroom she didn't recognize. Valery must have moved her in here. Avalon looked up and saw that Aaron was standing in the doorway. He rushed towards her and bent down to kiss her, but she put a hand up and patted the spot beside her.

Aaron sat down with a confused expression and Avalon pushed herself into a sitting position.

"I'm just going to come right out and say it, okay?" Avalon said, 'Don't freak out and please here me out.'

"Okay..."

Avalon took a deep breath, 'We can't run to New York-'

"I have the money, Av! Don't-"

"I said here me out." Avalon said through gritted teeth.

Aaron sighed and shut his mouth. Avalon continued.

"We can't run to New York because you need to stand up to your father. You need to tell him that it's your life and you want to stay where you are. You can't run from your problems. You have to face them head on." Avalon said.

Aaron remained silent for a moment.

"No..." Aaron croaked, 'I can't... I-I won't. You don't know him! He-'

"Well... then we're over... until you stand up to him." Avalon said, her eyes watering.

Aaron's jaw dropped, 'Wha... No... Av, don't-'

"It's for your own good, Aaron." Avalon explained, 'I need you to stand up to him. I need you to stay here. I've noticed that you don't have a problem doing things you don't like unless you have motivation... so here it is. We're on a break... and when you confront your father, then we can get back together.'

"That's not fair!" Aaron wailed.

Avalon didn't reply. She knew it wasn't fair, but she needed him to do this.

"No... If you're willing to throw our relationship away for... for that... it makes me wonder if you ever loved me at all."

"What?..." Avalon whispered, 'I do love you. You know that! I-'

Aaron got up and moved towards the door, 'I need time to think.'

"Aaron, wait! I'm sorry! It wasn't fair. Never-mind what I said, we can face your Dad together! We-"

Aaron walked out of the room and Avalon heard the front door shut. Avalon sank into the bed and realized what a stupid mistake she'd made.

"What have I done..."

Charlotte Hudson's POV:

Charlotte sat down on the swing-seat in the empty playground and began swinging. She usually came here when she needed to think. She removed her phone from her pocket and typed a text to Lyssa.

Playground. Now. -Charlotte

"Hey."

Charlotte jumped and nearly fell off the swing. She turned around and blushed when she noticed Jonas was approaching her. She quickly fixed her hair as he sat down on the swing next to her.

"How're you doing?" Jonas asked.

"I'm great, thanks. How-"

Jonas gave Charlotte an 'i-know-you're-not-okay-so-just-tell-me-what's-wrong-' look. Charlotte sighed and started twiddling her thumbs.

"Did something happen?" Jonas asked.

Charlotte shrugged her shoulders and wiped a tear from her cheek.

"It's nothing." Charlotte mumbled.

"It's obviously something if you're crying over it." Jonas said.

Charlotte laughed, 'Shut up.'

Jonas got up and held out his hand. Charlotte took it reluctantly and he lead her to the bench on the other side of the playground. They both sat in silence for a few moments.

"So what's up?" Jonas asked.

Charlotte looked at Jonas. His wonderful, hazel eyes had a worried look in them and his mouth was tugged down at the corners.

"It doesn't matter." Charlotte muttered.

"Please?" Jonas pleaded, giving Charlotte the most effective puppy-dog eyes she'd ever seen.

Charlotte sighed, 'Can I trust you?'

"Of course." Jonas scooted closer to her.

Charlotte took a deep breath and explained the entire situation with her parents. She told him how they never returned from their 'vacation' six months ago and that she's been taking care of her little brothers the entire time. When she finished, she looked at Jonas. There was a genuine look of concern and sadness on his face.

Tears began to roll down Charlotte's cheeks and she went to wipe them, but Jonas took her hand. She looked at him confusedly and their eyes locked. Jonas leaned forward and pressed his lips against Charlotte's. Charlotte was stiff for a moment, but she relaxed and began kissing him back. Eventually, tongue was introduced and the kiss got deeper.

Charlotte pulled away after a while. Both Jonas and Charlotte were grinning from ear-to-ear. Charlotte frowned when she noticed a girl standing about two meters away from them. Charlotte's eyes widened when she realized it was Lyssa.

Lyssa's eyes were watering and she turned to walk away. Jonas noticed her too, and he got up to go after her, but Charlotte told him to sit down and she went after Lyssa herself.

"Lyssa! Lyssa!" Charlotte shouted at the retreating figure.

Charlotte ran to catch up with Lyssa. When she'd caught up with her, Lyssa turned around so abruptly that Charlotte crashed into her. Lyssa pushed her back and dried her eyes with the back of her scarf.

"Lyssa... I'm-"

"You knew I liked him!" Lyssa screamed, 'You knew that he's the only guy I've liked in years!'

"Lyssa, it's-"

Lyssa smacked Charlotte across the face with all of her might before kicking her in the shins. Charlotte fell to the floor and Lyssa raised her foot to kick her again, but Jonas rushed over.

"Hey, hey! Stop!" Jonas shouted as he bent down to help Charlotte.

"You're both going to regret this." Lyssa said through gritted teeth, before turning and running away.

"I'm so sorry, Charlotte. I should have known better. I-"

"It's not your fault, Jonas..." Charlotte re-assured him.

Charlotte stared at Lyssa's car as it sped down the street at full speed. Jonas helped her to her feet and they both headed towards Jonas' house.

Thank you all for reading! Please review if you have the time:)

The next chapter is going to be the final chapter of Season One! So make sure to check it out:)