-Chapter 19- Pool and gone-
-Rachel pov-
It's the first weekend after joining dalton Academy. Schools been a better atmosphere to be in. Right now I'm just lazing on the couch with the girls. It's actually pretty fun.
"Alright get up!" Maribel throws bathing suits at us "You've been on this couch all day!"
"Buuuuttt it's sooooooo commmmmffffyyyy!" Santana slouches down more and Quinn cuddles into her more "I enjoy it too much!"
"Too much is right" we are soon on the ground with the couch levitating above us "Magic"
"What just happened?!" We all scramble up and look to see my mom, Judy, and Daniel with car jacks under the couch "You all are crazier then me!"
"That must take a lot" I glare at my mom who just smiles "You know we love you sweetie"
"Yeah really feeling it" I grab one of the bathing suits "I'll be changing"
I walk to the bathroom and close the door. I get to only taking my shirt off when the door opens. I turn around and see Santana behind me.
"I'm not babysitting" I raise a eyebrow and she puts her hands up in surrender "I'm here incase you need help releasing how great you look"
"Step 2?" Santana nods "no I mean what is step 2"
"Oh" Santana chuckles "You reflect on the scars and realize they don't make you ugly"
"I'm not so sure that's true" I take my bra off and show a fresh cut I forgot about "Shit"
"We can't do step 2 till step 1 is done" Santana holds her hand out "Any on you?"
"No they are all at home" She looks at me with her hand still out "I'm telling the truth"
"Alright" She grabs my shoulders and moves me in front of the mirror "You see that girl? What do you see?"
"Big nose, fat cheeks, Bug eyes, and cuts all over where I hate myself" I look at Santana unimpressed "That was lovely"
"Turn back to the mirror" I sigh and look at myself as Santana hugs me "I see a nose that Barb S would've had, I see eyes that convey so much emotion that they are as big as your heart, I see cheeks that show you've started eating again, and I see cuts from a girl who's scared to stop what makes her feel good when she's stressed even if it killed her"
"I just wanna be beautiful like you guys" I turn into Santana and start crying "I just wanna be worthy!"
"You are more than worthy Rachel" Santana pulls me into a comforting hug "You are so beautiful and I'm sorry we ruined you from seeing that"
"I'm serious about getting fixed" I step back and wipe my tears "I wanna be myself again"
"That's what I wanna hear" Santana smiles and hands me the swim top "Now how about we go swim?"
-Brittany pov-
It's taking them forever! I backpedal around the pool waiting for the brunette duo. I see Quinn talking to Fran and looking worried. I slowly swim over to them.
"I-I know I should throw the razors out or make sure it's just for shaving but" Quinn lets out a frustrated sigh "I just want her to feel free"
"She is fine Quinn" Fran looks at me "Isn't that right?"
"Yeah of course" Quinn looks at me "She's got San helping her"
"Hello girls" I turn and immediately notice the new cut on Rachel's left breast "I thought you said it wasn't noticeable!"
"You're in a safe place chica!" Santana grabs Rachel's hand and leads her to the pool steps "Now just take small steps"
"Ok" Rachel slowly makes her way into the pool and to me "H-Hey"
"Hey beautiful" I give her a quick kiss and smile "Hows the water feel?"
"Better than I thought it would" She smiles back at me "I promise I'll get better with that cuts"
"In your own time Rae" I give her another kiss "I just want you to be ok in the end"
"I will" Rachel gives me a big smile before swimming over to Quinn "Let's gets swimming!"
-Shelby pov-
"So Rachel knows huh?" I look over at Judy who's sunbathing beside me and nod "Hows she handling the news?"
"She's been cautious as you've probably noticed in the house" Judy nods "I think I set her back in the healing process"
"Daniels not here anymore!" I look up and my eyes bust open wide as Maribel comes over undoing her top "Sunbathing time!"
"Mar!" Judy laughs and I just keep looking at Maribel "You broke Shelby!"
"Oops" She laughs and lays on the chair beside me "Why don't you two join? I've got extra sunscreen"
"Mom!" We all look at Santana who looks shocked "You're still married!"
"For now" I look at Maribel confused when she mumbled that "It's fine San!"
"Whatever!" Santana looks at me "I'm sorry about her"
"It's fine" Santana swims away and I look at Maribel "What did you mean for now?"
"Daniel and I have just separated apart some" I look at Judy who just shrugs "He also is wanting to move to Arizona or California"
"Does Santana know?" Maribel frowns and shakes her head no "You really should tell her soon"
"I know" Maribel flips onto her back and sits up "I just don't wanna hurt her or make her think she has to choose...she's finally acting herself again"
"The girls will pick her up and she'll be good as new like Rachel" Maribel smiles at Judy and Judy looks at me "I'm joining Maribel"
"I can't" I look at the brace that covers my swimsuit "I'll be fine"
"Let me help you" Judy sits me up and undoes the braces "Lets flip you then I'll cover you"
I let her flip my onto my stomach and cover me with sunscreen. She removes my top and covers my upper back fully. I must say this feels amazing!
"Now you're one of the girls!" I chuckle at Maribels words and she slides over a martini "Can't have a nice day without one"
I smile and accept the drink. It's nice having lady friends. It doesn't happen very often anymore. I'm just always so focused on Beth and teaching. This is a nice change.
-Time skip-
It's been about a hour or two before we head inside to eat. Maribel says Daniel isn't there so, at Judys pressuring, go in without my top. The girls crack jokes but I know it's just to make me feel better about the braces.
"So where did dad go?" I look at Maribel and see her pale some "Mom? What's going on?"
"San..your dad and I are going to get a divorce" i look at Santana and see her face go blank "He wants to move to Arizona or California and I wanna stay here"
"What about me?" Santana looks at Maribel confused "What am I gonna do?"
"I-he-we" Maribel sighs and looks at the table "He wants you to stay here with me and the girls"
"So he doesn't want me to go?" Maribel nods and Santana grabs her food "Alright"
"A-alright?" Maribel looks at Santana shocked "You should be mad! Upset! You're ok with this?"
"Mom I know you two aren't happy" Santana sends a small smile to Maribel "Now you get to be happy with your top off"
"Thank you Mija!" Maribel runs over and hugs Santana "Thank you!"
"It's no big deal Mami" Santana wraps her hands around Maribel "Thank you for wanting me though"
"Of course baby girl" Maribel gives a kiss to Santana's forehead before going and sitting back in her own chair "Alright let's eat!"
Lunch goes by quickly and we are back outside. I'm laying on my back tanning when Maribel quickly heads inside on the phone. I look at Judy and she helps hold me up as we go to the house.
"Dan you were supposed to inform me when you were fucking leaving!" Maribel is pacing and visibly shaking "So what am I supposed to tell our daughter huh?!...oh go fuck yourself Daniel!"
The phone is hung up and she falls to the ground crying. Judy helps me over to her and we go on each side of her. We wrap our arms around her as she cries. She sounds so broken.
"Hes gone" Maribel sniffles "He left for Cali"
"I'm sorry" I rub my hand up and down her back "You didn't deserve that...neither of you did"
"Now I have to tell Santana" I look up and see said girl standing at the door "How am I going to tell her that her dad just left us"
"I think you just did" I lift Maribels head up toward Santana "Should Judy and I go outside?"
"No" Santana shakes her head "My mom needs you two right now"
"What about you Mija?" Maribels sniffs again "You shouldn't be alone"
"I'm not" Santana looks outside and smiles "I have girls that will help me out"
"Ok sweetie" Santana quickly gives Maribel a hug before running back outside "I love that girl so much"
"Our girls are special" The other moms nod and I look at my legs "So anyone wanna help me back outside?"
After they both get me back out to the chair it's back to sunbathing. It's a relaxing thing I'm gonna try getting Judy to do every few days. I just really hope Maribel and Santana are going to be fine. Daniel has really fucked them over.
-Time skip-Rachel pov-
We are finally back home and Santana came over song with Maribel. The moms are all talking downstairs and that leaves us girls upstairs. Fran is at the door with Quinn, Brittany is near it, and Santana is beside me.
"Step one" I nod and look at the drawer full of my razors "Quinn can help with the shaving ones"
"I can do this" I grab the razors and throw them into the trash can "Now timer"
Santana pushes the timer and we wait. I look at the trash can and the urge starts. I wanna cut. I need to cut...NO! I'm stronger than this! I will outlast the timer!
"Alright" The timer goes off and I'm wrapped into a bunch of arms "You did it!"
"I'm strong" The girls pull back and I look at Santana "Step one down"
"Step two another day" I nod and we go back into the bedroom "I'm exhausted now"
"Agreed" Santana jumps onto the air mattress "It's bed time"
We all take a nap before dinner. After dinner we watch a movie and then head back upstairs. I feel like a accomplished building a Rocket today! I beat the cutting!
I'm one step closer to being better. I'm one step closer to being whole again. I can feel it coming.
I can feel Rachel Barbara Berry coming back.
