A/N: This is a very Glee club heavy chapter. TW: self-harm start of the chapter. Old school punk. I don't own glee. Bad Reputation by Joan Jett
Chapter 8: Bad Reputation
Monday morning and Santana was terrified to return to school. While her aggressors were gone, she was worried about their friends. Not to mention Brittany was bound to be running a short fuse if anyone said so much as hello to her. She sighed as she slipped into her black jeans, black long sleeve shirt and jean jacket. She headed downstairs where Diego and Ali were waiting.
"Whats up Tia?" Santana asked as the two parted revealing Brittany holding ice to her knuckles.
"Mi amor what happened?" Santana looked at the split knuckles in fear.
"They're letting all those damn Cheerios including Fabray come back to school today. I punched my mirror."
"Britt…" Santana glances down at Brittany's legs and notices how she's holding one oddly.
"Theyre bullies! They shouldn't be allowed back." Brittany was furious.
"We're going to be okay." Santana promises, softly kissing Brittany's lips "Coach Sue will protect us and risking their future isn't worth making me suffer."
"I hope you're right." Brittany readjust the beanie atop her head. She's wearing the jacket Santana made her over a white t-shirt with loose black sweats. She escorts Santana out to the car, and before they pull out Santana looks at Brittany seriously.
"You cut." It's two words but Brittany immediately freezes. She closes her eye, still feeling the sting of the fresh cuts made with the broken glass.
"How did you know?" the blondes hair covers her face and the Latina gently tilts her chin up.
"You were standing funny." Santana tells sad blue eyes "I know that all too well."
"I'm sorry Santana." Brittany lets a single tear fall "The glass was just so alluring and after I saw my knuckles bleeding and I felt so stupid for breaking the mirror-" Santana cuts her off with a kiss.
"I don't need an explanation or an apology. We're going to get through this together." the raven haired girl makes Brittany switch with her and drives them to school (thank goodness she learned to drive young). The school is already bustling by the time they arrive and she spots some of the Glee club- a refuge. She leads Brittany over there as the club gossips about what they think the lesson this week will be. Santana hopes doesn't try to rap again- she may be into emo music but she knows that was bad. Brittany is distant, and Santana doesn't push her. Rather, she take Brittnay to their lockers, and she spots Sue watching from a distance before she relaxes. She helps the girl with her supplies and they head to class early. Its when they get to English class that Santana begins to really worry. Brittany is staring at the book intently, but its clear she's not processing anything. She sees a tear stain the paper and gently places her hand on Brittanys arm.
"Are you okay?" she gently strokes the girls wrist with her thumb. When Brittany shakes her head softly she carefully whispers "Do you want me to read it aloud?"
"Yes. My dyslexia it's just" Brittany just hangs her head and Santana hushes her, quietly reading the chapter, thankful their teacher supports them to read aloud in their partnerships. The rest of the day goes without incident, save for the occasional glare from Fabray, who looks pissed to be out of uniform. They take their seats in glee and scrawls "Reputation" on the board.
"Can someone tell me what reputation is?" and Rachel's hand shoots into the air while Brittany mumbles "bullshit". "Yes Rachel?"
"It's what others think of you based on your past." she spouts and nods.
"Exactly! So the goal of this week's lesson is to defy that reality or embrace it- maybe your reputation is fitting. Santana, I know you prepared something to showcase your skills on piano?" he looks to the Latina who nods and walks carefully to the grand.
"I think this fits the lesson. I have a reputation for being shut off and no one thinks the quiet emo girl plays piano." she mumbles "This is for you B." She looks at the blonde as she goes into a beautiful acoustic rendition of All Time Low's Missing You. The club seems to approve, and reminds them they have until the end of the week to perform.
Wednesday morning, Brittany is back to her cheery self after two days of slumping. Santana smiles brightly when the girl greets her at her locker.
"Hey smiley, you look happier." She boops Brittnay in the nose with a pencil, her glasses perched on her nose.
"Where are your contacts?" the blonde pushes the glasses up for the Latina.
"Why, do you not like me nerdy?" She giggles. She's sporting black and white suspenders over a long sleeve Panic! Shirt holding up simple skinny blue jeans.
"No its totally hot." Brittnay purrs, snapping a suspender. She's opted for her leather jacket, a red Falling In Reverse shirt, a snapback and skinny acid washed jeans. "You excited for my performance today?"
"Yeah. I bet it'll be awesome." Santana kisses Brittany's nose and they walk hand in hand to class, right past a sneering Quinn Fabray, who is practically on a leash with the school police officer lurking a few feet from her locker.
When they get to Glee club later that day, Brittany glares at Finn Hudson, recently acquired quarterback of the football team who Rachel was hot for. He wasn't so bad, but he dated Quinn before breaking up with her after the incident. Barf.
"Alright Brittany, I hear you've got a song for us?" Mr. Schuester says and Brittanys hops up.
"Hit it!" She points to the band, launching into a great dance with Mike Chang while she sings Joan Jett's "Bad Reputation."
An' I don't really care if you think I'm strange.
The song, surprisingly, resonates with a lot of the glee club. They all are their own deviation from the norm though. Brittany sits down tiredly as everyone claps.
"Well I think Brittany killed the assignment. Who's next?" said and Rachel's hand shot up in the air.
"Go for it." he said.
Rachel performs "Don't Blame Me" by Taylor Swift.
I once was poison ivy but now I'm your daisy.
Santana arches an eyebrow at Brittany, this doesn't seem like Rachel.
"She dated Quinn before Finn did, and now she wants Finn." Brittany rolls her eyes.
"So this is her hidden reputation?" Santana questions.
"Hardly. She hides it, you just don't know cause you're new."
Rachel finishes the song getting a hesitant round of applause when Quinn walks in the door. Brittany immediately shoots up but when she sees Sue standing behind Quinn she sits down.
"Sue?" knows the situation and isn't feeling welcoming to the blonde.
"I know that this isn't ideal, but she has a song." Sue sighs "And an apology."
"Santana" Quinn finds broken brown eyes "I am so sorry for what I did to you. It was wrong and I hate that I did it. Puck convinced me it was the right thing to do but that's not an excuse. I felt insecure seeing you and Brittany get so close. Britt, we used to be so close and I wish we'd never fallen apart. I'm sorry that I hurt you by hurting her. I never intended for her to get as injured as she did or be violated. I shouldn't have instigated the violence but I want you to know I will testify if this goes to court that it was premeditated even if I go to jail. I hope you can forgive me. Rachel, the song is for you, but I hope it gives insight into me for everyone else as well."
She has chosen Delicate by Taylor Swift. Cause I like you.
"Shit, she wants Rach back?" Brittany whispers to Mercedes while Santana is thinking about the apology.
"Yeah girl, she never got over her. Finn was a status symbol." Mercedes nods to Finn who doesn't seem as bothered as they thought he would.
"Shouldn't he be mad?" Santana pipes up.
"I mean, Quinn is a cheater so no. Besides, he probably thinks he's got Rachel hooked." Brittany mumbles. The club claps quietly when Quinn finishes. Rachel gets up, squeezing Finn's hand and steps outside with Sue to have a conversation.
"Do you forgive her?" Kurt asks slipping into the seat on the other side of Santana.
"Huh? Oh...well, I'm less angry I guess, but no. I don't think I ever will. Is that wrong?" Santana looks cautiously between Brittany and Kurt.
"Honestly, I don't forgive her and I'm not the victim, or even the one hit by the shrapnel." Kurt nods "You have every right not to forgive her yet."
"I can't believe I was ever her friend. San, what she did isn't fixed as easily as saying sorry." Brittany surmises. As they finish their whispered conversation Rachel returns to the room, quickly speaking to .
"As many of you know" Rachel turns to address the class "I have a past with Quinn. Despite that, her actions were despicable. Yes, perhaps I called her Harley Quinn but" Rachel looks to Santana "What she did to Santana is not only insensible considering her own identity, but unforgivable. I have no qualms about not returning her affection despite her flawless rendition of a beautiful song. I want to assure this to all of you, because you all deserve to know that as President of the Glee Club I stand by all of our members, despite my own personal life." Rachel stops by Santana and Brittany, gently laying a hand on the Latina's shoulder before returning to her seat next to Finn.
"Well that's all the time we have. Those of you who've yet to perform, you know the expectation." says and Brittany grabs Santana's hand. As they make their way towards the door they're stopped by Tina.
"H..hi..hello." Tina stutters.
"Um hi?" Brittany says "We've met before Tina."
"But we haven't." Santana softly reminds shaking the Asian girls hand "I'm Santana."
"T..t..tina" Tina shakes back and Santana cocks an eyebrow.
"I stutter sometimes too. Think about what you're saying but not how to say it." Santana smiles.
"Th...thanks." Tina shrugs "I'll t..try."
"So what's up?" Britrany cuts in.
"S..s..sor...sorr...sorry. I..I. you..you're...l...like the on..only oth..other" Tina stops to breathe.
"You don't need to be nervous around Britt. You're happy to meet another kid with similar interests?" Santana smirks at the goth aesthetic Tina is pulling off to a tee.
"Yeah! I am." Tina says stutter free.
"Tina?" Artie, the boy in the wheelchair, rolls back into the room. "Don't touch her!" he growls getting between her and Brittany.
"Art-" Tina starts.
"Santana get out while you can. Brittany is bad news." Artie doesn't take his eyes off the crestfallen blondes.
"Artie stop." Tina demands.
"What do you mean STOP? Who punches a kid in a wheelchair?" he points to Brittany.
"What?" Santana finds tears falling from blue eyes.
"Artie. How many times do I have to apologize? You called me a stupid whore! You think you didn't deserve it?" she fires back "A slut! You were cruel. You said things I dare not repeat, just because you saw a few cuts, bruises and a limp. You think I liked being used?"
"Brittany stop." Santana pulled the blonde to her.
"The day after!" she cried into the Latina's shoulder.
"What the fuck are you talking about?" he glared.
"San.." Brittany begs for the Latina to explain.
"Brittany is a rape survivor." she simplified, smoothing blonde hair and glaring at Artie. Tina looks away, clearly already aware.
"You knew?" Artie looks up to a guilt ridden Tina.
"My dad was Brittany's doctor. I happened to be visiting him at work. He thought we might know each other and that no one had visited her." Tina's stutter had seemingly vanished.
"Tina you didn't stutter at all just now." Artie eyed her.
"Y..yes..i ...d...did." she insisted.
"It's a good thing not to." Santana assured "I could tell it was a nervous tick or defense mechanism. I didnt realize you said it wasn't."
"Tina?" Artie looked sad.
"Yeah Art." she sighed. Artie shook his head and rolled away.
"I'm so sor-" Santana began
"It's okay. He'll get over it. I didn't think I'd ever overcome it, it had become engrained." Tina smiled before leaving.
"Britt?" Santana shifted the crying girl off of her shoulder "Lets go. I'll make you hot cocoa and you can tell me."
" 'kay" she mumbled.
After talking for a few hours, Santana got the picture.
"So you have a Bad Reputation?" Santana teased.
"Yes San." Brittany shrugged "But I'm cleaning up my act. I promise."
"Good. And how are your thighs?" she raised a concerned eyebrow.
"Better. I promise." Brittany kissed Santana gently "Also, I was wondering if you had plans Friday after school?" Brittany played with Santana's fingers.
"No...why?"
"I want you to meet my parents." Brittany smiled brightly.