Chapter 3
{time jump to present}
McKinley High ~ Feb 2012
18 years and 2 months of age Rachel Berry stood at her locker replacing books she wouldn't need until Monday as she thought to herself, "I have lived 18 years and 2 months. I have known for 14 of those years that I was special. That there is a plan in place for me to be a savior to my fellow humans when the world begins to crumble around us all. Why can't we just stop whatever is supposed to happen before it happens? Of course I know why...because what is to happen has been in the works far longer than even the idea of needing a savior has been. That and it's been tried. So many attempts to stop "doomsday" and all resulting in failure. So here I am, ready and waiting. How am I supposed to save anyone when pretty much everyone hates me?" Shaking her head at her own musings Rachel shuts her locker, hitches her bag on her shoulder and moves toward the choir room where she'll spend the next hour feigning her diva status while internally stewing over future prospects of saving her peers and all of humanity from maiming, pain, death, extinction.
Trailing behind Rachel, with Santana at her side Brittany having observed the smaller girl at her locker while waiting on Santana to finish intimidating a freshman, recognized the look in Rachel's eyes. Her own eyes had held much the same look she was sure while she contemplated everything that was expected of her, of them in the near future. She knew it was a lot. A lot of pressure knowing what they were trained to do yet not knowing the when or if they could really do any good. Oh, she knew they were trained well, Rachel most of all. She would be their leader and she would be a great leader if only the masses of those they were to save would let her be. Shaking the thoughts away as they neared the choir room, Brittany wished things could be different but since they weren't she'd continue on, playing the dumb act and waiting, waiting until the time came for them to do what they'd trained all their lives for. At least they had one adult close at hand who would back them up when the time came. Sometimes she wished it was almost anyone but whom they had but she knew they had the best of what options there were.
Sitting in her normal seat in front of the rest while listening to Mr. Schuester going on and on about this week's topic, Rachel shook her head wishing he would prioritize better. If they were to win at Nationals this year they would need to practice, a lot, and yet he still didn't have a set list for them to practice because for some reason he felt it better to have weekly themed meetings. Shaking her head again Rachel jumps slightly at hearing, "What's up Berry? Got something to add to Shue's teaching?" from the snarky latina in the back row. Rolling her eyes internally at being caught unaware Rachel shakes her head in the negative saying, "No Santana, I was simply thinking about something else." Turning to face the girl, Rachel asks, "Why? Was there something you wanted to add?" Not expecting the diva to counter her Santana just scoffs and turns back to Mr. Schuester with a raised eyebrow for him to continue. Shaking his own head at this Will tells them "We'll pick this up on Monday. Remember everyone, we have our bake sale on Wednesday so I'll need to know what you're each bringing by Tuesday at the latest."
Gathering their belongings the group leaves the room to go their separate ways.
Before she can get very far down the hallway Rachel sighs as she hears, "Rachel! Hey Rach wait up!" from the lumbering form of one Finn Hudson. Slowing a bit, she cringes as he reaches her and puts an arm over her shoulders acting like he just ran a mile. Shaking off his arm Rachel asks, "What can I do for you Finn?" while hoping he doesn't ask her out, again. He had only ever served as her beard but of course he never realized that and when the opportunity arose to end their relationship she took it with both hands and ran from the incredibly idiotic man child. None of that seemed to stick in his small brain as he continued to pursue her despite her repeatedly telling him that she had moved on and was not interested. Slumping slightly as she shook off his arm, Finn tells her, "I'm free tonight and thought I'd take you out." not once does he think she'll decline as he knows she is just playing hard to get. Not answering him Rachel continues out the front doors of the school to head toward her car but he runs ahead of her and stops in front of her with a constipated look on his face, which he believes looks like a charming smile. Stopping short she tells him, "Finn I have told you repeatedly that I am not interested in going out with you. Now if you don't mind I have to get home." and she goes to move around him. Grabbing her arm the dumb boy pulls her back saying, "Wait, wait just wait a minute. You don't have to rush home. Just come out with me tonight Rach. You know you want to. We're meant to be." Taking a deep breath, as she contemplates showing him just what he meant to her Rachel rips her arm away from him telling him, "Finn you will not manhandle me into dating you! I do not even like you at this point. So no, we are NOT meant to be!" her voice having risen at his gall. Not noticing that they had garnered some attention Rachel goes to walk away again but this time stops short when she hears the unmistakable sound of flesh hitting flesh and whips around in surprise. Standing over the now fallen footballer Santana Lopez yells down at him, "She said no Finnessa! What about that makes you think you can put hands on her?" Brittany holds one of her arms to keep from hitting the downed boy while Rachel gapes at this unforeseen act of chivalry on the latina's part. Brittany pulls lightly telling her, "Come on San, I'm sure he gets it now." turning to look down at Finn she asks, "Right Finn?" Standing up as he rubs his sore jaw the ridiculous boy shakes his head saying "No I don't get it! What business is it of yours Satan if I want to ask her out?" Rachel steps into his face before Santana can respond and pushing him with some of her hidden strength says, "It wasn't that you were asking me out you foolish child! It was that you thought it acceptable to grab my arm to force me into continuing a conversation that was already over." Before she can say anything else Santana tells her, "He was about to grab you again when you walked away the second time too." and Rachel turns surprised eyes to the latina before continuing, "You, Finn will stop all attempts to pursue me. You will not talk to me. If you see me in the halls you walk the other way and if you ever think to touch me again I suggest you don't." With that she pokes him in the chest just right causing him an enormous amount of pain with one finger on a pressure point truly making her point. Doubling over as he covers the spot on his chest that Rachel poked Finn gargles out indistinguishable words as Rachel moves toward her car the other girls follow her quietly after watching her put Finn down with a simple poke of her finger. Once at her car she turns to the other two saying, "I want to thank you Santana for trying to help. I wasn't paying attention as I should have been." and she catches Brittany's eye knowing the tall girl probably wondered what could have Rachel's attention so split that she didn't pay proper attention to what the boy was doing. Santana just shrugs telling her, "Eh, was nothing Berry. Just thought he could use a little knock upside the head but I doubt it helped at all." Brittany was indeed wondering what had Rachel's attention so clouded she didn't realize what Finn was about to do but she simply asked, "Rachie are you ok now?" knowing the other girl knew she was asking about more than just Finn. Nodding her head as she gets into her car the supposed diva says, "Yeah, I'm fine now. Thank you ladies for the help. I've got to get home now. See you Monday." Letting her close the door the two step back as she starts the car and wave as she leaves. Turning to Santana the tall blonde says, "And you have some explaining to do Sanni." as she takes her best friend's hand and drags her toward the latina's car to go home. Eyes widening as she realizes that she may have overplayed her hand in regard to the attention she showed Berry Santana groans under her breath and opens the door for Brittany to get in all the while trying to think of what to tell her best friend about her feelings concerning one Rachel Berry.
TBC
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