Chapter 4: Returning to Hell

A/N: Hey guys! Thank you all so much for following and favouriting my story. I'm sorry that I haven't updated much. I was preparing myself for the Nano WriMo novel contest. I've got to work out some minor kinks in that plot. Anyways, again, thank you guys a lot. I know it's going really slow, but it'll pick up momentum. This chapter will be longer in order to make it up for my missed due dates.

Rachel's POV: After Santana drove off, I glanced around at the room. Everything was in place except the alcohol. Thank God that my dads' weren't coming home until next week. I doubt that they'd be angry, just disappointed. However, in my opinion, that's worse. They'd be glad that I did it safely in my own home, but I'm still under-aged. My eyes scanned all of the rooms and I smiled that Santana and I didn't make as big as a mess as we had originally thought. I slouched in a comfy brown leather recliner and felt the corners of my mouth perk up.

I shouldn't be that surprised that hanging with a friend would cheer me up. I gasped audibly and touched my hand to my lips. Is she my friend? I pondered. We've certainly bonded over the weekend. I suppose I'll see tomorrow. I think it's pretty likely that I'll get slushied. For being a glee club member. Maybe it's just me? I know I'm not as pretty as the other girls. I've got too big of a nose. The only thing about me that's flawless is my voice, but it's been trained to be like that. I just want to feel pretty for once. Finn made me feel like a few times, but it was rare.

I walked up to my bedroom door. It was white and was bare, save for a star with my name on it. My eyes swept the room, jumping from Broadway posters to my mirror. I stood in front of it with a shaky breath.

My lips are too small. My arms look pale. My eyes are too dull. No wonder why Quinn wouldn't find me as a suitable partner. My cheeks are too chubby. I sighed quietly and sat down on my pink comforter, staring at the mirror. I wonder why I can't find myself beautiful, yet I am bursting with talent. Am I too cocky? Do I mistake myself for just average? No. I am Rachel Barbra Berry and I will be on Broadway. Nothing will stop me. I set my alarm for six, keeping on track of my morning routine. I fall asleep, my mind determined.

XXX

Quinn's POV:

I woke up to the sound of my alarm, effectively causing my irritation towards whoever made the damn thing. I shot out of bed and raced to the shower. I had forgotten about Coach's extra early morning run for Cheerios. I rushed to put on my Cheerios uniform when a loud ringing stopped me from putting my other arm through the hole. "What do you want?" I demanded. I hadn't even check the caller ID.

"God, Q. Who shat in your wheaties?" Santana barked back with a light undertone of teasing.

I huffed. "Tell Sue that I'm going to be late."

"Oh, I didn't send you that text?" I could hear the smirk in her voice. "Sylvester canceled practice for today."

I squared my jaw. "I rushed for nothing, you-you, ugh!" I glared at my innocent dog Pepper. I breathed deeply. "What's the reason you called?"

"Oh nothing. Me and Britt-Britt wanted to know if you wanted something from the Lima Bean." She chimed, as if I wasn't in a sour mood.

"Do you even need to ask that? Get me the usual. Meet you at school." And with those words, I ended the call. I took my time getting dressed and made sure that I looked like the hottest thing alive. I had been working for months to get the baby weight off me and I finally got my trademark abs back. I swear that someone could cut diamonds on my flawless jawline. Almost everything about me was perfect. Almost. I descended the stairs and glanced at my mother who was passed out on the couch. Huh. Another late night of doing taxes? I thought to myself and quirked an eyebrow. I walked outside, locked the door behind me, and then climbed into my car. I stopped at a red light and took a glimpse at my surroundings. I could see Santana's car parked at the Lima Bean. Puck's truck was in the parking lot right beside the hardware store. For the most part, I didn't see anyone else I knew. The light turned green and I continued down the road, pulling into McKinley. I could see Rachel getting out of her father's car and walked into the school with a huge grin on her face. "Odd." I muttered to myself.

When I walked into the school, I felt two presences on my left and right; then, a venti-sized Cappuccino with extra cream was shoved into my hand. I put on my HBIC smirk. "Thanks, S."

"No problem, Q." She replied.

"Hey Quinnie!" Brittany exclaimed.

"Hey B." I smiled at her child-like excitement. We walked in a pleasant quietness all the way to our lockers. However, Berry had to ruin it.

"H-hey. I was wondering if I could speak to Santana for a moment." She asked Brittany who just smiled and nodded. How dare Rachel not notice me?

"Sorry, RuPaul. We're kind of busy. So take your hairy ass down the hall and climb under your bridge, Troll." I sneered. I instantly felt a wave of guilt whenever her face became crest-fallen. I just stood there and stared at her, but she couldn't seem to lift her head.

"Quinn, back off. She didn't do anything to you. Cool it." Santana spoke up finally, after a painfully long moment of silence. By its own nature, my eyebrow shot up in question. Santana faced me and stared at me. I understood that she didn't want to talk right now, but I stood my ground.

"Whatever...Rachel," I spoke slowly, as if I was a child learning how to speak, "has to say, she can say it in front of me."

"Actually, I really can't. It's of a personal nature." Rachel said simply. She was no longer embarrassed. She stared at me in a defiant sort of way. It honestly terrified me. Brittany ends up tugging me away from Santana and Rachel. They disappeared around the corner and I pulled my arm back from Brittney's grasp.

"Why'd you do that?" I growled.

"Rachie wanted to talk to Sanny about something secret. Secrets are important. Lord Tubbington keeps a secret of mine. I keep his secret." She leaned into my ear. "He's still a smoker."

I stared at the bubbly blonde, confused for the umpteenth time about how she was able to get into high school.

"Okay...Well, we should get going to class." I mumbled and as we walk, I look over my shoulder and see Rachel come around the corner with Santana, the Latina's eye makeup smeared. I felt a strange curiosity and anger overtake me, but not about Santana. About Rachel. I continued to class, but the fluttering in my stomach didn't do anything to calm the storm in my mind.

XXX

Rachel's POV:

"So you haven't told her my secret?" I ask in disbelief. I would've thought that Santana would have spread the news that "Stubbles has a thing for Quinnie". I couldn't let the possible idea of her not telling anyone catch me off guard, but here I am.

"Of course not. I'm not as cold-hearted as I seem." Santana scoffed, her arms folded in a defensive posture. She actually seemed offended.

"Look, I didn't mean it that way. I just figured that you would have since our past has not always been, well, pleasant." I mentioned quietly.

Santana's lips faltered as she tried to find words. A great sadness grew in her eyes. "Rachel, I can't tell you how sorry I am. I regret everything I have ever done and you will now be on 'The List' so you can be protected, but I don't know what else to do. I feel like I keep failing you." She rushed out. She wasn't finished either. "If it wasn't for that slushy I threw at you Freshman year, then you wouldn't have to go through this torture. Hell, maybe even Quinn wouldn't notice you. You'd be happier." She kept her eyes trained on my shoes.

I frowned at her rant. "I'm glad Quinn notices me. Even though I'm no where near worthy enough for her, she still notices me. That's better than blending into the background. As for everything else, it's not okay, and I will always remember it, but you are forgiven."

Santana's head shoots up and she looks at me with her jaw dropped to the floor. "What do you mean 'I forgive you'? I have fucking tortured you! I was the one who Tranny in chalk on your windshield!"

"And I forgive you for that." I reply, but Santana kept growing more and more upset.

"You can't just forgive that!" She exclaimed as hot tears raced down her face. I boldly moved to encase my arms around her. "You can't...Rae. You just can't. It's not right." She sniffled.

"Yes I can. It's my choice. You made mistakes." At that notion, Santana's legs gave way to the floor and I used all my strength to keep her up. "It's okay, Santi. It is." It momentarily shocked me how much can happen in under five minutes. I walked her out of the girls' bathroom as the bell for first period rang. I saw Quinn's eyes gaze at us briefly before walking away with Brittany. I washed Santana's face with some water from the water fountain, cursing myself for not doing it in the bathroom.

"Do you want me to walk you to class?" Santana spoke after I threw the wet napkin away.

"No, it's quite all right. You don't need to be tardy because of me, okay?" I smiled kindly. Santana shook her head.

"Please, Rae. Let me do this. I wanna start making it up to you. For everything I've done wrong." She begged in a tone of voice that I've rarely heard when she wanted something from Brittany.

I glanced at my watch and sighed. "Fine, but you're going to be late."

She took on her cocky grin. "Worth it. What class you've got?"

"AP Calculus." I spoke.

"So you're stuck with Quinn, huh?" Her smirk grew.

My face heated and I spoke softly. "Shush it."

"But it seems like Berry wants to pick some of Quinn's berries, eh?" I could practically feel my face melting. Maybe I can fake a fever so I don't have to sit by Quinn again, I thought to myself, but I pushed that away.

"Must you be so crude?" I sighed.

"I'm just teasing." She grinned and we stopped outside the opened door as students were still spilling into the classroom. "Here you are, Tiny."

I pouted. "I'm not that small!" Santana stuck her tongue out at me, ruffled my hair, and sprinted off before I had time to yell obscenities at her. "Damn you, Lopez!" I cursed lowly since there were teachers nearby.

I walked into the classroom holding my books in front of my stomach, a habit of mine that I recently discovered. There she was. She wore her Cheerios outfit, her golden, angelic locks in a ponytail, and her toned legs poke out from under the table. I bit my lip and took my seat next to her even though we never took each other as partners. Flashes of a daydream where Quinn and I were married took a hold of me and a lucid smile appeared on my face. Quinn was at the Gazebo and my fathers Hiriam and Leroy were walking me down the aisle. As soon as I stepped in front of Quinn, her mouth contorted into a frown. "Treasure Trail! What's wrong with you?"

I shook my head and discovered that I had fallen asleep. Drool was soaked into my sleeve and Quinn hadn't yet noticed. I didn't know what to do. I put my arm over my other and looked at Quinn. "I-I'm fine." The bell had rung and we had went over a lot of notes. This class was the only one that I was close to going down a letter grade.

She quirked that goddamned sexy eyebrow. "Really? It seems to me that you drooled all over your notes from yesterday, but you don't need them, right?"

I gasped and almost let out a cry. Almost. "Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!" I rapidly spoke as I gathered all of my school supplies.

I glanced at her and she had a smirk firmly on her face. Uh oh.

"I'll be happy to give you my notes." Quinn smiled crookedly, almost like she was enjoying my struggle.

"Oh thank you!" I smiled, but then it fell as Quinn held up her hand and her eyes challenged me.

"If you tell me your secret."