Chapter 3 - Watcher

The next day at school was awkward. Beth came over again and walked with Sugar to school, this time very quietly. During classes and breaks, it felt as if the day was going by in one giant blur. The day was going by so slowly and Sugar was tired. She approached her last class of the day, History, and sat herself next to Ruby, was it? That she met the day prior.

"Hey, mind if I sit with ya?" Sugar wanted to come off as friendly as possible, but once the words escaped her mouth she realized immediately how obnoxious it sounded.

"Umm… no, go ahead." Ruby was dressed in dark clothing with lots of large jewelry pieces donning skulls of small animals and gemstones. Not really Sugar's thing, but it was way more interesting compared to Beth's sweaters, tights and loafers.

Once she was seated, Sugar couldn't stop thinking about the other day when Ruby stormed out of the room so suddenly. It couldn't be because she smelled bad right? I mean, this girl was wearing animal skulls. Maybe it had something to do with the whole vampire encounter? But how would she even know she knew? As the class neared its end, Sugar reached out, grabbing Ruby's arm causing her to jump.

"Sugar? Can I help you?" Ruby raised an eyebrow as Sugar relaxed her grip.

"Sorry, I just really want to ask you something."

"Yeah?"

"Why did you run off the other day so suddenly?"

"I-I…" Ruby's head hung down, eyes looking for the right words to say. "I had a stomach ache! Yes. A bad one. You know, cafeteria food?" Ruby's smile was disingenuous and Sugar wasn't buying a single ounce of it. "Okay, well, I just felt something was off, and I had to leave. I just felt the energy, like a bad energy. I understand if you think that sounds crazy, most people think I'm crazy anyways…" Ruby trailed off, softly laughing to herself.

"I don't think that's crazy." Sugar stated. "Hey, you want to come to the library with me after this class to study with me? If you don't think there are any bad energies around?"

This made Ruby smile. "Sure."

/

Sugar and Ruby walked to the library and Sugar made sure to call her mami to let her know exactly where she was. She wasn't going to take any chances this time. When they got to the library, the place was absolutely deserted, but absolutely breathtaking for a school's library. The library reminded her of a miniature, toned down version of the New York Public Library. The library was a circular shaped room, branded with wooden banisters and stained glass windows. Sugar was surprised people weren't spending time in this beautiful library, it was odd considering back in New York there were always clubs or book nerds hanging around the library. There didn't seem to be a librarian at all.

"I'm going to go to the washroom, I'll be back in a second." Ruby dropped her bag and walked out of the library leaving Sugar in absolute solitude.

"Hello?" No reply.

On the table sat a newspaper along with some old… really old looking books. There was something circled in the newspaper.

"Lima boys still missing"

Sugar raised a single eyebrow, trying to read more into what the article said. Just as she was getting into the article a hand had been placed on her middle back.

"Excuse me?"

Sugar jumped."You are?" Sugar looked at him alertly, ready to go all Lima Heights on him.

"Schuester, William Schuester. I'm the school's librarian. Did you need help finding something?" He extended his hand, which was wrinkled and shaky. He didn't strike Sugar as a typical librarian. He looked smart and handsome for such an old guy, but seemed aloof and distracted. Most librarians she knew were strict and ugly.

"N-Nice to meet you Mr. Schuester." Sugar didn't shake his hand but instead looked at him trivically. "I'm just looking for a book on Roman history..."

"Please, call me Mr. Schue. Are you Ms. Pierce-Lopez?" Schue looked at Sugar excitedly.

"How did you—?" Sugar watched as he scurried off, hunting for something within the other side of the clerk desk.

"I believe you'd be looking for this." Schue pulled out a book from under the clerk table and firmly put the book on the table, and in large gothic letters read "VAMPYR".

Sugar looked nervous and her breathing sped up. Why did Mr. Schue show her this book? Why did he know her name? Did he know about the vampires from the other day? How would he?

"That's not what I'm looking for…" Sugar was extremely hesitant and could understand what Ruby was talking about when it came to bad energies. Nothing seemed right here.

"Oh… my mistake?" Mr. Schue took the book off the table and looked away, puzzled.

Ruby returned to the library and Sugar picked up her bag and quickly handed it to her. "We have to get out of here now." Ruby was confused but after seeing the look in Sugar's eyes she knew to trust her.

/

Sugar and Ruby left the school entirely and started walking towards home. Sugar found out Ruby didn't live far from her house and like her parents, hers were also McKinley High alumni.

"So, at the library... what was that all about?" Ruby finally asked.

"I just figured studying at the library was a bad idea." Sugar wasn't sure if she should tell Ruby the whole truth or not.

"The library is one of my favourite places at this school." Ruby had such a pleasant energy to her voice. "The book selection is fantastic and the new librarian is really cool, I'm surprised you didn't want to stick around there."

"Wait." Sugar stopped walking. "The librarian is new?"

Ruby turned to face Sugar who looked confused. "Yeah, I heard he used to be a director at a big film company or something, so who knows why he'd want to come to McKinley of all places."

This new information left Sugar more confused than she originally was. Why would someone of that stature want to come to Lima of all places? And as a librarian?

Ruby's house was before Sugar's. It looked similar to Sugar's house in the sense of small and suburban, but felt on brand with Ruby's gothic style. Ruby's house was black with a bright red door. The front of the property was lined with rose bushes and stone animals were scattered throughout the lawn. It was quirky and different, and Sugar liked things that stood out.

"Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow." Ruby smiled at Sugar before turning towards the dark house. Her gothic style was such a stark contrast to her warmth. Sugar found this version much different than the first time they met, and was happy to have made a friend who was more her speed.

/

Sugar walked into her house to find her parents cuddled up on the couch watching TV.

"Hey Sugarbear" Brittany turned her head to look at her daughter. She had her arm over Santana, who had her head resting on her shoulder. "How was school? There's dinner on the stove."

Sugar grabbed a plate and sat down on the other end of the couch with her parents.

"Are you still hanging out with dwarf's kid?" Santana still had her eyes glued to the TV.

Sugar choked on her food. "You mean Beth?" She held her hand over her mouth. "She's alright, she seems really busy though. You know, another popular girl."

Santana perked up. "You gotta make your way back to the top, Sugarita. You know me and your momma were the most popular girls at that school."

"I know…"

"Did you meet anyone else?"

"Yeah one girl, Ruby... her mom was an alumni, you know the last name Cohen-Chang?"

"Tina." Both Santana and Brittany said in unison.

"I'll take that as a yes…" Sugar said in the most sarcastic tone.

"Oh Tina," Brittany started. "She never won anything. Great voice and talented dancer. She was in glee with us. We finished school in the same year."

Sugar knit her eyebrows together before releasing them in realization, forgetting about how her mom was held back a year.

"We should go over there and visit Tina! It's been like, forever!" Brittany was far more excited than Santana was. "How about it, Sugarbear?"

"I think that'd be fun!" Sugar was pretty happy. She then thought of something brilliant. "We could have a party!"

Brittany was over the moon, breaking away from Santana on the couch. "Oh my god I love parties! Yes! We finally have the house to have one!"

Santana, at first half listening to the conversation, suddenly perked up, wide eyes and waving her arms in front of her. "No no no, wait, what? No! Britt, we can't have a bunch of stupid teenagers at our house, don't you remember anything from our high school days?" She turned to look at Sugar directly. "Look, I know I just talked about you becoming popular but like, couldn't you do that at someone else's house?"

Brittany gave a pouty face and hung her head down leaving Santana speechless, trying to grasp at words to fix her wife's disappointment. Sugar tried to reason.

"Okay, Mami, how about this. I have the party, and I convince Beth and Ruby to help me clean up after. I promise on Abuelo's grave everything will be cleaner than how you left it. If it's not so, I will never have a party ever again. Deal?"

Brittany was also putting up her hands clasped in prayer, begging Santana to agree to the terms.

Santana glanced over at Brittany and sighed heavily. "Fine, but we're not staying long Britt, we can't cramp her style. How about we go out for a night at Bronzestix and you enjoy your night here. But when we come home, everyone is out. Comprendes?"

Sugar jumped up and clapped her hands excitedly. "Deal mami! Ooh, thank you, I love you so much!" She ran over to give her mom a kiss on the cheek. Sugar proceeded to run upstairs in excitement with her phone in her hand. She was on the road to becoming popular.

/

Santana sunk back into Brittany's arms. "Britt?"

"Yeah Santana?"

"Do we know what we're doing?"

"Umm… not really." Brittany stated as a matter of fact.

"I kind of figured. I just want her to have a fun life, I mean we had so much fun as teenagers, right? Partying, boys, I don't want her to be deprived of that life. Our parents were so uninvolved in our lives which was sometimes awesome when it came to freedoms but we really missed them in our lives. I want to try to get the perfect balance for Sugar, especially since now I'm still trying to find a job and I'm home a lot and you're busy with your new job…"

Brittany leaned over to Santana, kissing her softly on the lips. "Honey…" Brittany looked deep into her wife's beautiful brown eyes. "Everything is going to be fine, Sugar is an amazing kid. It's like she has superpowers or something. I have a lot of faith in her! And plus, we just scored ourselves a date night!"

Santana chuckled. "Yeah, you're right. It's been a while, hey?" Never had she felt more comfortable than in her lover's arms.

/

The next day at glee club Sugar had an announcement.

"Everyone! There will be a little get together at my place, my moms are out for the night so the Sugar Shack is one hundred percent a-go! This Friday, be there or be square! Oh, and tell everyone!" Sugar was so proud of herself. This was going to be her in at McKinley.

The other glee kids gasped in excitement, some even clapping.

Beth went running towards her mom. "Please say I can go!"

Rachel smiled sweetly. "Why of course Beth baby! Opportunities like these are perfect for songwriting."

Sugar turned to Ruby "You'll be there, right? I can't do this without you Rub!"

Ruby perked up,"Why, it's no problem!"

"Yay! Okay, we set everything up at my place and we'll become super popular" Sugar's eyes were wide with ambition.

"That sounds terrifying, but fun." Ruby was reluctant, as this was her first party, but Sugar seemed experienced and came from New York, so she's super cool. And besides, she was her only friend.

/

Walking past the library to leave the school, Sugar couldn't help but to notice Mr. Schue staring through the library door's windows, pensive with his brows furrowed. Sugar tried to walk faster past the doors to avoid him but him seeing her broke him out of his thoughts.

"Ms. Pierce-Lopez!" He burst through the doors trying to get Sugar's attention.

"I'm busy!"

"Wait, this is important, Ms. Pierce-Lopez! Please!"

Sugar stopped in her tracks and turned around furiously. She shot her pointer finger towards Mr. Schue and slowly stepped towards him. "First, my name is Sugar. Second, what the hell do you want from me? And third, who the hell are you anyways?" Her finger was about an inch away from Mr. Schue's face. Mr. Schue looked at a loss for words and it took a second to compose himself.

"Well, Sugar. You see…" He looked around the hallway, checking to see if anyone was around. "You are the slayer. And I am your watcher."

"My what? I'm what?" Sugar was beyond confused. What was this guy talking about?

"Come into the library, I'll show you." Mr. Schue's face was honest.

Sugar reluctantly followed him into the library. She had a dark feeling knowing her life wasn't going to be the same.