Skyler was going through her locker when the shadow of all shadows loomed over her.
Skyler shut her eyes in irritation. "What do you want, Finn?"
"Why haven't you returned any of my texts?"
"I don't know, Finn. Maybe because I don't want to." Skyler replied with a edge to her tone.
"Why?"
"I just answered you." Skyler replied with more bite.
"Is this about the other nigh-"
Skyler slammed her locker shut with force than whipped around on him with fire in her eyes.
Her voice came out low and threatening. It shocked Finn to silence.
"I told you not to bring that up!"
"But-"
"No 'Buts' Finn! I don't want to talk about it!"
"Hey, you were into it and you can't de-"
"For fucks sake, Finn! When a girl tells you she doesn't want to talk about it! Than get it a clue and shut. the. hell. up!" Skyler growled before storming off.
Just down the hall Rachel's eyes were burning holes into Finn Hudson's head. Whatever was wrong with her sister, it was bad.
Not that she cared or anything it's just an observation or at least that's what she decides to tell herself.
They may not be close anymore but she could still read her sister like a book and that bad thing had to do with the giant idiot that clearly didn't have a brain.
Rachel narrowed her eyes in suspicion before she pushed off the lockers and followed after Finn Hudson.
Shelby sighed tiredly as she put her phone down. She ran her fingers through her hair in frustration.
That was the gazillionth time she's tried to call Judy in almost two weeks but didn't get an answer.
Something was wrong, she could feel it in her bones and she wanted to know what.
She was tired of waiting for the truth. She needed answers and she needed them now.
She stood abruptly from her desk and grabbed her car keys.
Mercedes was laughing and talking to Tina at their lockers.
She had to deal with a week of radio silence from Sam and Mercedes would be lying if she said she hadn't worried, at the time.
The last she heard from him was when he was on his way home from the Columbus trip with his family, that was it.
Than he came back to school the following week but something was off about him.
He looked... Haunted in a way. Like he was still in shock of something.
She wants to talk to him and has texted and called his phone leaving a few voicemails but she got nothing.
He even walks right pass her in the hallways now without so much as a glance.
He never smiles any more and is like a zombie half the time.
Mercedes doesn't know what else to do about it. So she hasn't done anything else.
But it's the moment that Tina's facial expression changes that she's gets a bad feeling in her stomach.
Mercedes turns around and there standing before her with blank eyes is Sam.
"Sam, Hey h-" Before Mercedes can say anything else. A hand slips into Sam's elbow.
"Hey, you're Mercedes, Right?" Rebecca McIntosh says with a wicked smirk planted on her face.
"Yeah, can I help you?" Mercedes replied with wariness but also a slight edge to her tone.
"As a matter of fact, Mercedes, you can. Do yourself a favor and stay low were you belong."
"Excuse me, what did you jus-"
Before Mercedes could say more Rebecca snapped her fingers and a cheerio with a slushie came up beside her handing her the cup.
"Here you go, Babe." Rebecca said to Sam as she handed him the slushie.
Mercedes' heart bottomed out as her eyes cast to Sam's.
She thought for a moment that everything had been a joke.
All his text messages. Their phone calls. His sweet charming smile and swoon worthy words, all of it.
She thought that it was a big prank played on her by the popular crowd.
It was there for two seconds. Her hurt and disappointment in him had taken hold of her but looking into Sam'a eyes she could see it.
His blank indifferent mask slipped and there it was clear as day.
The regret. The hurt. Severe anguish swirling. The anger burning as his eyes glassed pink with unshed tears until he blinked them away as his facial expression went blank once more.
"Do it." Rebecca demanded and Mercedes stood taller as she spoke.
"Yeah Sam, do it. It's okay.. I understand." Mercedes said softly.
Mercedes' eyes exuding her understanding and Sam swallowed thickly as he lifted the cup and doused her with the slushie in front of the entire hallway.
Mercedes gasped when it actually hit her. Laughter rung out as did cheers and whistles.
Rebecca stepped forward into Mercedes personal space with her own cup of slushie.
"One more thing, loser. Stay away. From my man." With that Rebecca dumped her cup onto Mercedes as well.
Rebecca then turned to Sam with a smile. She leaned up and kissed his cheek. "Good boy, now.. walk me to class?"
"Of course, dear." Sam replied robotically.
He refused to say the word babe, love, sweetheart or any other pet name he had always wanted to call Mercedes.
What he just did crushed him internally and as his peers laughed at the only girl he ever truly liked in a romantic way.
Sam wanted nothing more than to beat his father to an inch of his life.
Down the hall Biff and Puck laughed at the display at separate areas of the hallway. Standing on their arms were their respective girlfriends.
Quinn felt disgusted with her boyfriend and sorry for her brother but she had to laugh or Biff would question what her problem was. Thus causing an argument than she'd have to deal with the after math that is her father.
Charlie was filled with anger and hatred but laughed anyway because she was suppose to as well.
After what recently happened there was no way in hell she was going to express her actual feelings.
And Skyler?...
Skyler watched with confusion and anger as Sam walked down the hall with Rebecca on his arm and as he passed Biff and Quinn.
Biff raised his hand to high five him and Sam lifted his hand to do so as his smile shined.
One after one jocks high fived Sam and called him awesome.
Her eyes cast to Quinn and Charlie and she couldn't believe they were laughing too.
Her blood boiled and she stormed down the hall not wanting to see anymore of it.
Shelby walked the halls of Mckinely with determination.
Her heels clicked against the marble floors with assured confident steps.
All eyes fell on her and the students began to part like the red sea as they do for the Fabray triplets.
The teenage boys were fawning over her and the girls were filling with jealous but Shelby didn't pay mind to any of them.
She was going to get her answers from one of those damn kids and if she had to do it the hard way than so be it.
All bets were now off.
Rachel followed Finn in curiosity.
He was tall. Dumb. A little uncoordinated and swore everyone wanted him.
She knew why her sister was dating him but she couldn't understand why out of all the people in this school she chose Finn freaking Hudson?!
It very amusing for her to watch him interact with other people. It was like watching a walrus try to walk upright.
Like right now for example it was hilarious until, well, until it wasn't and what she just heard Finn Hudson say made her stomach churned.
"Dude, are you serious?" The jock asked Finn with excitement in his eyes.
"Yeah man, totally. I swiped her vcard like two days ago." Finn boosted.
"Oh shit, my boy Finn is now a man?!" The jock cheered and Finn chuckled.
The jock turned with more excitement as he spotted another one of their teammates. "Yo Braiden, Braiden! Guess what?"
The blonde jock came over. "What?"
"Our boy Finn is now a man."
"You're lying, with who?" Braiden asked in disbelief and a smile.
"Skyler Corcoran."
The jocks eyes bulged. "No shit?" He asked Finn in shock.
"Seriously, Dude." Finn replied with a nod.
"Damn! She is hella fine! Yo I gotta shake your hand, bro."
"Hey! Hey, Perry! Perry, come here!" Braiden called to another jock.
Finn's eyes widened before they filled with panic. "Dude, chill-" Finn tried.
"Aw hell naw, you smashed Skyler Corcoran I gotta-"
"What did you just say?" A voice came out of no where causing all the jocks to freeze as their eyes turned to Charlotte Fabray standing with a sneer on her face and fire in her eyes.
Rachel smirked than leaned against the locker casually as if she were minding her own business but really knew what a shit storm this was.
It had been clear to Rachel for quite sometime that Charlie was a jealous girl and when she felt like something was hers, she obviously got possessive.
Like right now for example.
"Uh.. Um-Um" Braiden fumbled.
"What. did. you. say?" Charlie spoke with authority as she annouciated each word while getting in Braiden's face.
"Finn said he swiped Skyler Corcoran's vcard." Braiden said quickly.
Charlie's eyes cast to Finn and they looked feral and eerily sharp.
The other jocks took that as their cue to leave and Finn was pinned where he stood with just her stare.
"Is it true?" Charlie fumed impatiently.
"I.."
Just before Charlie could speak again Sue's voice called from her bullhorn down the hall.
"Thing 2! Get your ass in my office now and bring your wonder twin with you!"
Charlie's stare was deadly and she growled low. "This isn't over, Hudson."
She kept her eyes on him as she turned away than strutted down the hall.
Finn fell in to the lockers softly as relief washed over him but fear was still suffocating him. What did he just get himself into?
"Did she say what this was about?" Quinn asked in confusion.
"It's Sue, Quinn, when does she ever say anything about anything? Half the time when she does, it doesn't even make sense." Charlie replied in annoyed disinterest.
"You're right." Quinn replied. "Hey, are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Charlie snipped.
"Obviously you're not-"
"Look Quinn, I appreciate your concern but I don't want to talk about it. Let's just get this over with."
Quinn sighed as she shook her head. "Fine."
The two made it to Coach Sylvester's office. They knocked than entered. "You needed to speak with us, Coach Sylvester?" Quinn asked softly.
Sue's eyes looked to the twins silently. Than her eyes cast to her left.
"I didn't. She did." Sue said with a nod to their right.
Both girls eyes widened in surprise at seeing Shelby in a seat in the corner.
"Shelby? What ar-" Charlie began but Sue cut her off.
"I don't know what you two did but I'm not sticking around for this." Sue tossed her office keys to Shelby. "Lock up when your done and give them to Q. She'll get them back to me." Sue said before standing.
"Will do, Coach." Shelby replied with a smile.
Quinn and Charlie were confused as to how Shelby knew Sue Sylvester.
"Oh and Shelby?"
"Yes?"
"Don't get any blood on on my trophy's or I'll definitely squeal like a pig when they come with a warrant for you."
"Got it, Coach." Shelby replied with a chuckle.
Sue looked at her two top cheerios and shook her head before leaving. Being sure to shut the door behind her.
"Shelby is everything okay? Is it Rachel?" Quinn asked in worry as panic began to seep in but Shelby didn't answer.
Though the sentiment warmed her heart that Quinn's first thought was of her daughter. Shelby kept her face neutral.
Shelby walked to the blinds and shut them than rounded the desk.
Quinn and Charlie became more nervous when they saw the look on Shelby's face.
"Sit, please." Shelby spoke with authority.
Shelby would have laughed any other day at how quick and comically it was that they sat simultaneously in the exact same way, with their hands in their laps and feet tucked in a lady like manner beneath their respected seats but not today.
Today was strictly business. Business of getting her answers so no smiles were to be on display. She also took her seat.
Shelby knew a lot of things when it came to people and she knew that most people were confused by silence.
She also knew that a scared rabbit would run but a scared dog would bite.
So right now she had to figure out which one of these girls were the rabbit and which one was the dog or were they both the rabbit and dog.
She also wondered how exactly could she get the answers she needed with out messing up the only opportunity she might have.
She stared them down in silence and she could tell it was working.
They were becoming even more nervous and to the untrained eye you wouldn't be able to see it.
They were good but for Shelby's eyes they weren't that good.
However; they maintained eye contact and it would be impressive if it didn't make Shelby worry.
Because it wasn't any normal eye contact of only respect. It was eye contact of controlled obedience.
Skyler was at her locker when she heard low whispers to her left.
Her eyes lifted and she looked in the direction of the sound.
The girls huddled at a locker diverted their eyes quickly.
Skyler furrowed her brows in confusion. She turned back to her locker.
Mere seconds later she heard it again and again she looked in their direction but once again the girls turned away.
Skyler shook her head than turned to her locker once more. Than a jock passed her with a smirk.
"I don't get it, Corcoran."
Skyler's head snapped up in confusion again. "What?"
The jock stopped than turned to her smirking. "Of all the guys in this school you chose Hudson?"
"What do you mean?" Skyler asked with annoyance in her tone because she could clearly hear the same girls giggling, only louder this time behind her and she had a nasty feeling brewing in her stomach.
Just as the jock was going to speak the bell rung.
Skyler rolled her eyes and shut her locker. She turned to leave when the same three girls passed her.
"Hey, cherri-o" One of the girls snickered lowly causing the other girls to laugh.
"What did you just call me?" Skyler asked in irritation but that just caused the girls to laugh harder as they kept walking.
Skyler shook her head deciding to leave it alone. You can't have civil conversations with idiots.
Charlie felt extremely uncomfortable. Shelby was looking at them like she knew something. It caused Charlie to revert back to her manners.
"Ms. Corcoran, I don't mean to be rude but Quinn and I have class an-"
"I understand that which is why Coach Sylvester was kind enough to excuse you both from class."
Charlie swallowed thickly. There goes their escape.
"Shelby, I don't know what this is about bu-"
"Quinn would you say we're acquainted?" Shelby asked abruptly cutting her off.
"Yes." Quinn replied confused.
"Would you say you both consider Skyler a friend."
Charlie's head snapped up at the mention of Skyler. "Did something happen to Sky?"
There was panic in her tone and Quinn's eyes took on worry as well.
"Well, that depends Charlie. Do you care if something is wrong?"
Quinn and Charlie's features took on confusion and slight offense.
"Of course I do. She's my best friend." Charlie defended.
Shelby nodded slowly. "Friend." Shelby said as if she were tasting the word on her tongue.
"Yes, Shelby, what exactly is this about?" Quinn asked gently.
"Honestly?" Shelby asked.
The twins nodded.
"I don't think you two want to know."
Again the two teens were thrown for a loop.
Shelby could see the cogs in their heads turning and it was obvious that Charlie's worry was beginning to hit critical mass and she was close to exploding.
'Almost got them..' Shelby thought.
"Shelby with all do respect, you're speaking in riddles and we have no idea as to why we're even here, let alone why you're here. Can you plea-" Quinn tried but once again Shelby cut her off knowing it was one of Quinn's pet peeves courtesy of Judy.
"It's Skyler." Shelby said simply and Charlie's eyes bulged.
Shelby watched as all of Charlie's sanity and restraint flew out the window.
"Sky?! Wh-What happened?! Is she okay?! Is she hurt?!" Charlie rushed out as she got to her feet and headed for the door in search of the brunette.
"I don't think that's any of you're concern, Charlie." Shelby said halting the blonde in her steps.
Quinn's worried eyes widened in disbelief as they stared at Shelby's blank expression in confusion.
Charlie turned around slowly. "I'm sorry? What do you mean, Ms. Corcoran? Wh-"
"Shelby-" Quinn began at the same time and got the shock of her life as well.
"And Rachel is none of you're concern any more either, Quinn."
Quinn's eyes bulged at that as she felt her lungs collapse in on themselves.
"What?" Quinn asked breathlessly.
"You heard me." Shelby replied calmly.
"B-But Ms. Corcoran-"
"Shelby but Rachel's just starting to trust me-"
Quinn and Charlie began pleading their separate cases as if they were being told they were no longer allowed to live.
"My decision is final. Please, stay away from my daughters." Shelby said with finality.
Charlie and Quinn looked like they had been sucker punched than gutted like fish and completely helpless as they slowly lost the ability to breathe.
Shelby stood up and began to walk casually to the door.
Unsure if what she had just pulled would work but she was counting on one thing to prevent her from leaving and finally getting her answers.
"Can we even know why?" Quinn's emotional, angry/heartbroken voice rung out behind her.
If Shelby weren't fighting with herself to remain in character. She would have slumped against the wall in relief.
That's what she was waiting for. What she had been relying on. What she staked her whole bluff on. Quinn's stubborn, dominate will and her refusal to let go of Rachel.
Shelby smiled in relief but immediately wiped the smile from her face switching back into character.
Shelby turned around to face the two girls who now had tears running down their cheeks and in that moment she could see it.
It was seeping from their pores and dripping rapidly from their eyes.
Love.
They were in love with her girls and that realization made Shelby root for them but her face was showing the fact that she didn't think they deserved it and she decided to tell them as much.
"And why should I do that? You don't deserve to know."
Charlie's face contorted in anger and Quinn's face looked down right evil.
"Excuse me?" Quinn flared as her HBIC rose to the surface unknowingly showing exactly the fighter she truly is.
"You heard me."
"I don't deserve to know?! After everything I've done to help Rachel? You have the audacity to tell me I don't?!" Quinn's eyes flamed more and though Charlie was also upset she could see exactly what was about to happen and she backed away from her sister but than turned her gaze onto Shelby.
The only reason Charlie wasn't as angry as Quinn was because she knew Shelby's words were true.
She didn't deserve it. She's hurt Skyler enough times to count but she didn't understand why the same rules applied to Quinn.
"I don't have to give you an explanation." Shelby said purposely to piss Quinn off.
She was very impressed with the girl and knew that if Rachel and Quinn ever became an item they'd be perfect together and her daughter would be in safe hands.
"Like hell you don't!"
"Quinn!" Charlie chastised but she went ignored.
"Just stay away from my daughters." With that Shelby turned to leave again but Quinn blocked her path.
Quinn stared Shelby down and her tears were relentless.
It hurt Quinn more physically than any blow her father had ever laid on her.
The thought of never getting to even sit next to Rachel again was so painfully crippling that Quinn's vocal cords shook with thick uncontrollable emotions.
"Why?" Quinn's voice cracked as her lips trembled but the furious anger in her eyes shined with signs of war Quinn was ready to rage for her friendship with Rachel.
Shelby stared at her and they held eye contact. Shelby felt her heart break for the two girls.
She saw the guilt hit Charlie hard and Quinn lost every ounce of composure she had over the idea of losing Rachel.
Shelby sighed before speaking softly. "You don't get it, Quinn."
"Then tell me! What?! What don't I get?!"
"You expect me to be honest with you and tell you the truth when you and the entirety of your family won't do me the same courtesy and it's affecting my daughter."
At those words Quinn's eyes widened as realization took hold of her.
Charlie fell to her seat as those words knocked her on her ass. Skyler immediately came to mind and so did her much similar words that day.
How Skyler had said that Charlie and Sam were using her for safety but wouldn't confide in her. Charlie couldn't breathe.
"Now please, stay away from my daughters." Shelby said again as she went to walk out and once again she counted on her words to save her from her bluff.
'5,4,3,2,1..' Shelby counted back in her head taking small purposeful measure steps to buy her time than her hand was on the doorknob.
"Wait.." Charlie whispered.
Shelby took an unnoticeable breath of relief and than she turned slowly. She watched as Quinn and Charlie made eye contact. The nodded to each other.
The twins grabbed hands than turned to face Shelby. Their hands trembled before contact.
"I.." Charlie swallowed thickly. "Obviously you're a smart woman Ms. Corcoran."
Shelby didn't respond. She waited by the door with her hand on the doorknob in silent reminder that this was their chance to be honest.
"You're smart and I know you know more tha-than what you're saying.." Charlie trailed off.
Shelby nodded slightly but still said nothing.
Quinn looked to her sister sadly as she realized what Charlie was about to do.
She knew how bad this was but she also knew how much Skyler meant to her sister.
Not to mention how much Rachel meant to her.
Losing them was not an option.
Than Quinn's eyes landed on Shelby and as she gazed at the woman she knew. She knew in that moment she could trust her.
She also know that just speaking about the abuse that goes on caused Charlie to shut down.
So she rubbed Charlie's hand in her own and nodded to the seat. Charlie swallowed thickly and did as she was silently told and sat.
Quinn cleared her throat as she also took her own advice, delicately tucking her cheerios skirt as she sat in the chair next to her sister.
With their eyes trained forward Quinn spoke the words that rocked her to her core and her voice proved that when the words trembled from her lips.
"What do you know?" Quinn asked.
Shelby shut her eyes briefly in relief unbeknownst to the blonde's.
Shelby walked back to Sue's desk and leaned on it with her arms crossed over her chest as she stared at the girls momentarily.
Skyler is getting pissed off by the minute. Every class she had went to, people stared.
People whispered and people laughed and they also kept calling her cherri-o.
She's also upset because she hasn't seen Charlie at all in the last week other than cheerios practice and the hall but Rebecca is always monopolizing her time.
The only time she saw Charlie today was that morning when she laughed at the incident with Mercedes.
She's pissed at Sam because he walked right passed her tried to speak to him but he blatantly ignored her and kept walking with Rebecca.
Finn's annoying the hell out of her because he keeps following her around and starts talking really loud when one of the cheerios comes to ask her a question but she never gets to hear what they want to ask because he kisses her spontaneously and than they leave.
Like what the fuck?
She saw Rachel in the hall and caught up to her.
She gently but quietly said hello to her because she knows Quinn's been making progress with her.
So she hoped that progress meant Rachel might be more willing to just say hello back but Rachel also ignored her.
Skyler was done with today. So much so she decided that she didn't want to be there any longer.
So she went to her locker and packed her things than headed for the door.
Not even realizing that Rachel had been watching her from afar the entire day.
Just waiting for someone to mess with her little sister severely so she could secretly beat the shit out of them without Skyler knowing.
Rachel smirked darkly as her sister obviously just cut school.
The brunette chuckled than decided what the hell.
If Skyler was cutting than she would too and since she hasn't seen Quinn yet today who else would care?
Sam was sat next to Rebecca at the lunch table. He hadn't seen his sisters and was becoming irrational worried. Paranoid that their father had come for them.
He was also annoyed with Rebecca and pissed at his dad.
He's hurt and angry with himself because he humiliated Mercedes in front of everyone and she had to call her parents to pick her up from school because she didn't have any other clothing.
He felt like an asshole for ignoring Skyler. He felt like he was going to explode with all the built up anger he felt.
He just wanted to run. He wanted to run and never look back. He wanted his dad to disappear.
He stood up abruptly and all eyes fell on him.
"I um.. I have to go to the rest room." Rebecca rolled her eyes than waved him off like he was some child.
Sam rushed to the bathroom and walked to the back handicap stall and locked himself in.
He paced back and forth and gripped his hair as his tears spilled over and he choked on a sob that he fought to keep in.
His heart was beating rapidly and he felt his anger fighting to be released on something or the one person he wanted to release it on the most. His father.
Sam dropped against the wall and slid to the floor. His hair still in his grip and he cried silently to himself as he thought of his mother and what had happened.
Everything was so fucked up. He felt hopeless.
Judy moaned as pain shot through her once more. Her one eye that was slightly opened stared at the dark ceiling of the box that Quinn is usually locked in, in basement.
Her swollen lips ached and her head throbbed. Her body stiff in agony.
She has been in there for days only being let out to drink some water and eat crackers.
She could barely move. She was in so much pain and she was scared that he was going to let her die in there.
She thought of her children and how she didn't regret her actions because her actions almost got them out of that house and to safety.
Almost.
If she had been a little faster. If she hadn't stopped swinging. If she hadn't taking her eyes off him she could have gotten herself and her children to Shelby's house like she tried to.
She could have gotten them help but now Russell knew.
He knew Shelby was here now and he knew about Columbus.
Now they were trapped even worst than before and there was no way for Judy to try to escape with her children again.
Rachel knew Skyler was at home and thought better than to go.
She didn't want to deal with her questions or attempts so she headed to the river court.
As Rachel walked she thought about the odd things she's been noticing about the Fabray triplet's lately.
It was clear something was wrong again but a little more worst than before and though Rachel didn't realize it.
Her thoughts of running away and that monster that usually dominates her thoughts has been silenced by her ever growing curiosity of the Fabray's.
She wonders about Quinn's dad and what kind of asshole he is?
As those thoughts swirl in her mind she finds herself standing in front of the Fabray manor.
Rachel stares up at the house and she remembers just how oppressive it felt to be inside of it.
She noticed there were no cars in the driveway.
Now Rachel isn't stupid by any means but she does like to think her sixth sense is the main cause of her survival and she always listens to it.
Which is why she doesn't fight the pinging of her sixth sense going off like alarm bells right now.
She can feel it urging her forward and just like every other time it pings her foot takes the first step and before she knows it she's rounding Quinn's house.
She reaches the tree Quinn usually climbs and begins to do so herself.
She grunts as she realizes it isn't as easy as it use to be now that thing is getting bigger she's getting heavier.
Before she knows it she's at Quinn's window a little out of breath no thanks to the weight of the monster in her belly but she made it nonetheless.
To Rachel's surprise and delight Quinn's window is open.
The brunette climbs in on quiet feet. Rachel begins to wander around Quinn's room with a more critical eye than last time.
"What I have taken notice of, is the fact that Skyler is extremely happy one minute than she's worried, than she's sad, than she cries, than she's angry and than she's worried again and the cycle repeats itself but that cycle has only ever happen when you're around Charlie or in other cases when you're not around and you're all she can't think about." Shelby said and once again Charlie fills with guilt.
"I'm so sorry." Charlie whispers.
"Charlie, you can be sorry all you want but until you tell me exactly why my daughter is acting that way, you're sorry is not valid in my book." Shelby said with no remorse.
Charlie nodded sadly. Quinn felt sad for her sister. Than Shelby spoke again and Quinn felt her worry rise.
"I also noticed you're mothers' weird habit of literally turning in to a robot before my eyes and so do the three of you and it always has to do with the time."
Charlie swallowed thickly remembering exactly when that happened.
"Now, I want to be honest and I want to speak with you both truthfully and would appreciate the same courtesy but I also don't want to scare you off or make you feel like you can't trust me."
At those words Charlie and Quinn finally made eye contact with her. Gone was Quinn's fierce glare, replaced by the eyes of a scared vulnerable little girl.
Charlie looking equally so. Shelby felt her heart ache. The truth was there now all she needed to do was get the girls to admit it.
Skyler was in her room. She was taking down all the pictures of she, Charlie, and Sam.
She knew she wasn't going to throw them away but she also didn't want to look at them. Seeing their faces just reminded her of what was happening to their friendship.
She didn't know whether to be angry or sad but she knew seeing their faces only made her feel worse.
Rachel wandered through the Fabray manor silently.
It was clear that no one was home but something still was nagging at her but she couldn't figure out what.
She was now on the ground level. She had already went through the kitchen, the den and what she assumes is Quinn's dads' office.
She was now walking through the hall and she passed the only door in the entire hall beneath the stairs.
She made it three steps before that nagging feeling hit with a vengeance.
Rachel turned on her heel and walked back to the door.
She grab the knob to twist it but it was locked.
The brunette furrowed brown and that nagging feeling heightened.
Something was down there she could feel it.
This was the only locked door she has come across through the entire house so far.
Rachel went back to Quinn's dads' office and gently searched the draws for something useful to pick lock it.
It seemed luck was on her side because she found a key. An old skeleton looking key.
She smirked than walked back to the door and slid it into the slot and turned it.
She gasped in surprise than chuckled in disbelief that it worked.
Rachel pulled the key from the slot than stepped in.
She slid the key into the slot on the other side and twisted back and forth to be sure she wouldn't get locked in and again it worked.
She locked the door behind her just in case Quinn's dad did come home. She walked down the stairs quietly. The only light there was, was coming from the small windows.
Rachel reach the middle of the steps when a box with a bolt lock came into view.
The sight of it halted her steps and she felt it. That nagging sixth sense feeling hit home.
This was what was calling to her.
"Shelby.. How do we know we can trust you? How do we know you will listen to us and not go beserk and do whatever it is you feel is right to do instead of what is right for us?" Quinn asked.
"Honestly Quinn, I can't say that I won't freak out or lose my shit because if it is what I think it is. You bet your ass I'm going to lose my shit but.. If it is what I think it is than I already have my own personal experiences that afford me and allow me the conscious of mind not to do anything that would put any of you in jeopardy." Shelby said with purpose.
It clicked for Quinn instantly. "Oh my god.. You do know.." Quinn whispered.
Charlie's eyes widened than filled with worry. "Know what?"
"She knows, Char. She's known this whole time." Quinn still spoke in her awed tone eyes never leaving Shelby's.
"You know don't you?" Quinn said to Shelby this time but not in accusation.
"I think I have an idea because all the signs are pointing to it." Shelby replied.
Charlie's eyes widened in shock and she began to shake in fear.
Shelby noticed this and immediately kneeled before her and grabbed one of her hands.
"Hey, Hey, Charlie sweetie, look at me." Charlie's lips began to tremble as her tears began to fall rapidly in fear.
Her heart hammered in her chest. Some one knew and not just anyone. An adult knew and her father was going to kill them for telling.
"Charlie, honey, please listen to me. I won't say anything or do anything without your consent." Shelby tried.
Quinn was staring at the spot Shelby was just standing at and fear was slowly swallowing her as well.
Shelby knows and her father knows Shelby's here. He knows they were with her.
If finds out that she knows and they basically told her he'll kill them. He'll kill their mother.
Quinn's eyes filled with tears silently as all the ways he'd tortured them when he finds out before he kills them began running rampant in her mind. She was frozen in place by fear.
Charlie was beginning to have a panic attack and Shelby was doing her best to calm her down.
Just when Shelby thought Charlie was going to pass out Sue walked in the door.
"What the hell is going on here?!"
"Sue, please help me. She's having a panic attack!"
Sam was becoming worried. Neither of his sister had been any of their shared classes and he hadn't seen Skyler either.
He didn't know what the hell was going and just when he was going to ask for a pass to the bathroom to try and find them the speaker overhead crackled to life.
"Will Samuel Fabray please report to Ms. Sylvester's office, now you blonde bitch of sexy white chocolate ." Becky Jackson's voice was heard.
The entire room turned to Sam in confusion as laughter spread through out the room but Sam wasn't filled with confusion. He was filled with worry and fear.
It could be about anything. His sisters or his mother.
He gathered his books and packed his bags than left and headed straight for Sue's office.
Rachel approached the box on the floor with caution.
As she got closer she heard something through the drilled holes. It sounded like a wheeze.
Rachel furrowed her brow in confusion. She knelt close to box and listened intently.
There is was again another sound only it sounded like a whimper that time.
Rachel licked her lips and whispered. "..Hello?.."
Than Rachel jerked back when a terrified muffled cry/whimper was heard and Rachel's eyes widened in shock as her heart began to pound.
"Hello? Is someone in there?" She said more clearly.
There was another unmistakable cry of pain.
"Hold on, I'm going to get you out." Rachel said with worry. She had only seen Charlie today not Quinn.
What if that was Quinn in there?!
Rachel got to her feet and looked around the basement with frantic eyes.
She spotted a work bench and rushed over searching for something anything that could break the lock.
She grabbed a hammer and rushed back over and dropped to her knees.
"I have a hammer. I'm going to break the lock, okay? Don't be scared." Rachel spoke loud enough to be heard.
The brunette began hammering away at the lock as hard as she could.
Sam walked into coach Sylvester's office.
"Sam, please come in. Have a seat." Sue said calmly.
The fact that Sue called him Sam and not trouty mouth had him instantly on alert.
The further Sam entered his eyes widened at the sight of a Shelby.
She had tears silently streaming down her face but it wasn't until he saw Quinn and Charlie crying as well did his heart bottom out.
"What's going on?" He asked as he sat.
Sue looked to Shelby. Shelby licked her lips than composed herself.
"Sam, for over a month now I have been watching you three. I've watched you with my daughters. I've watched you when you think Skyler isn't looking. I've watched you and your sister Charlie run to my house at eleven pm or later in tears and injured." Sam swallowed thickly as what was happening began to wash over him and his eyes welled with tears as he clenched his jaw.
"I've watched you sleep in her bed. I've watched you're mother as well and I could only come to one conclusion. Now I'm going to say it because I know from my own personal experience how hard it is to admit the truth. I wanted all three of you here because I don't want any of you to feel like I'm separating you in a divide and conquer type of way. So I'm going to say what I believe is going on. Your sisters already agreed to Ms. Sylvester being present for this. So do we have your permission as well?" Shelby asked gently.
Sam nodded his agreement his tears already falling. Shelby took in their appearances.
Charlie was terrified. Sam was angry and Quinn..
Shelby could definitely tell that Quinn was a box of all kinds of crazy shit ready to explode with how she sat perfectly still.
Her expression blank but stoic. The only indication that Quinn was feeling anything were the silent tears running down her cheeks but other than that her eyes were trained on the wall behind Sue's shoulder.
Shelby sighed than licked her lips. "I believe that you are being abused at home..."
It was Charlie who cracked as a whimper escaped her as if the truth falling from some else's lips hit her like a ton of bricks.
"I believe the abuse is happening to the three of you as well as your mother."
It was Sam that time only it wasn't a whimper more like a choked breath.
"I believe the abuser is your father."
Sam and Charlie were trembling and Shelby watched as a calm Quinn sat between her siblings, silently she took one of both of their hands in her own and whispered. 'It's okay.. You're okay.. I'm here..'
It sounded like a mantra that she's recited her entire life.
Sue and Shelby made eye contact both worried but also felt anger for the truth that was happening right before their eyes.
Shelby continued. "I believe this has been happening for a long time and Charlie had confided in Skyler but asked her to keep her secret."
Charlie shook as she bit her lip to hold in her sob at the truth.
"I only believe this because I over heard a conversation between the two of them when Charlie was over at our house."
Sue was doing her best to hold in her tears. She couldn't believe she hadn't noticed.
She hadn't noticed that her two top cheerios were going through this and she didn't know. She felt like she failed them.
"I also saw a scar on your mother when we went to Columbus that looked pretty new. It couldn't be by anything other than infliction."
Rachel grunted and put all the force she could behind the hit and finally the lock busted.
She fought to get the scrap piece of metal off than fumbled with the latch.
As soon as she lifted the wood lid open she gasped at the sight below her.
It wasn't Quinn it was Mrs. Fabray and she looked bad.
Really, really bad. Like already dead bad.
Her hands and her ankles were bound and her mouth was gagged.
Rachel felt anger surge through her and the need to protect kick in.
The brunette immediately pulled the tight cloth from the woman's mouth and Judy took a deep breath.
It was hard for her to breathe because of the splint she had on her nose.
Russell had made sure to call the doctor to fix her up before locking her away without any pain killers.
It was hard for her to breathe and she falling in and out of consciousness. She had no idea how long she had been in there.
She could barely make out the person in front of her. One eye was completely swollen shut and the other could barely open.
Rachel began untying her ankles and noticed one of them were wrapped in a ace bandage and was swollen as well.
As Rachel untied her she noticed Judy had a lot of injuries. She was terrified to touch her but knew she needed to get the woman out of there.
So even though she didn't want to her hurt she began to help her up silently.
Judy groaned weakly as she tried to stand and swayed on the spot.
Her body odor after not showering for however long was so strong and it was clear she used the bathroom on herself.
Rachel had to turn side ways to puke because she could practically taste it no thanks to her pregnancy.
"Alright, I've got you." Rachel said as she helped a practically blind Judy out of the large crate box on shaky legs.
Judy winced as her ankle throbbed in protest.
The two began ascending the stairs with Judy tripping here and there.
Rachel unlocked the basement with Judy and Rachel had a thought as they exited.
Going through the front door was not smart at all. Who knows where Mr. Fabray was and if he or anyone spotted them it could be bad for both of them.
So she guided Judy to the back door that led to their open spaced yard that she had passed earlier and the two began walking with Judy leaning heavily on Rachel.
Judy's head was slightly swimming and she could barely see in front of her. She knew she was outside and thought it was one of her children guiding her.
Rachel knew it was too bright for them to make it to her house without being seen so she stopped and helped Judy lean against a tree.
Rachel took off her hoodie. Thankfully her triple xxx T shirt hid her belly well otherwise she'd feel completely exposed.
She helped Judy into her hoodie than zipped it up. She pulled the hood over Judy's head than slipped Judy's arm over her shoulder.
Rachel than began to guide her to her house through the back yards and side houses of all of the Fabray's neighbors keeping her eyes peeled for anyone who my spot them.
As they walked Rachel's mind raced. Now that she not only trespassed on private property, broke and entered a home and freed Judy and is now helping her escape. Rachel had no idea what to do next.
Shelby had waited to give them time to digest what she herself believe was going on and now it was time for them to answer though it was clear that she was right.
She still wanted them to feel like and understand that they still had control here.
"So, how accurate am I?" Shelby asked quietly.
Charlie was crying so quietly and well practiced that the only real indication was her sniffling and the light racking of her body.
Sam was also crying as he felt so exposed, ashamed, and raw from hearing his life laid out in front of him. He was terrified of what was going to happen.
Than there was Quinn... Quiet, composed, poised Quinn whose tears had stopped somewhere in the middle of Shelby's assumptions.
The girl transformed before their eyes and became a rock for her siblings and there wasn't an once of any emotion on her face. Her eyes cast to Shelby at the question that her siblings weren't able to answer.
"So, you tell us Shelby. What does this mean for us?" Quinn answered with a question instead.
"I'm not going to answer that. Though the logical thing to do right this moment is call the police but I'm aware that you three could easily back out of answering any and all questions should that happen. So I'm going to leave that up to you for right now but.. that doesn't mean I will stay quiet after we leave this room because I care too damn much about what happens to you four at the end of this day." Shelby said with protective fire in her eyes.
Quinn and Shelby held eye contact. Quinn searched her eyes from where she sat. S
Shelby isn't sure what Quinn was searching nor does she know if she found it but thankfully Quinn answered.
"Yes." Quinn replied simply.
"Yes?" Shelby asked and gave Quinn an expectant look.
Quinn held her stare and replied. "Yes, everything you just described is accurate. Our father does abuse us and our mother. In fact, the reason you haven't heard from our mother, Shelby, is because when we got home from Columbus he was already home and had been for two days because he wrapped everything he needed to on his business trip earlier than expected."
Shelby felt her stomach knot at what she was about to hear. Quinn continued without blinking once.
"He attacked me first because my boyfriend found a video of me on snap chat dancing at a party in Columbus that Rachel and I crashed. My brother tried to stop him but he's bigger than Sammy so my brother ended up getting hurt and so did my sister. They all attacked him at once because he was close to choking me to death. My mother took the fire place poker and started to beat him with it and got a good shot at his head and when he went down and stood down she rushed to us to help us get up. She said we were leaving, that we were going to go to your house, Shelby, that you'd help us get away. My siblings and I were pretty hurt so we were a bit slow to get to our feet." Quinn spoke as if she were discussing the weather.
Sam and Charlie's cries were getting harder to in hold the more Quinn spoke. "We didn't see him get to his feet and we weren't ready. He caught us by surprise and hit Sam in the back of the head with the poker the mother dropped on the floor when she thought she knocked him out and then whacked Charlie with it too. He swung on whichever one of us was closest. He took us down easily because when he hits it's like being hit with a sledge hammer. The last thing I remember was seeing him grab my mother by the hair and beating her with the poker. I could still hear her screams even though I was losing consciousness."
Shelby was full on crying and trying her best not to charge out of the room and look for Russell Fabray.
Sue had tears also streaming down her face and staring at her head cheerio.
"My father made a special box for us that he keeps in the basement. He locks us in there when he feels we've been really bad and right at this moment that's where our mother is.."
Several things happened in that moment.
Shelby choked on her breath as her heart seized in her chest.
Sue's eyes bulged as her mouth hung open.
Sam grunted and stood abruptly storming out of the office in anger with tears coursing down his face.
Charlie sobbed as anger filled her as well and she also stood abruptly as she too stormed out of the room. She ran the empty halls to the exit just as the bell rung signaling the end of class and kept running.
All the while Quinn still sat calmly as her vacant eyes bore into Shelby's rocking the woman's core as she felt like she was staring into her own eyes.
"But what good would it do to admit all of that, Shelby, when there is nothing and no one in this town that can stop him?" Quinn said softly.
The blonde rose to her feet calmly. "Now if you'll excuse me. I have to get to class now. I think I missed enough of my day and I don't want to upset daddy by my boyfriends need to tell my father every little thing I do that he doesn't like."
With that Quinn turned on her heel and walked toward the door.
"Quinn, we have to get your moth-" Shelby began.
"Q, you can't leave! Your mot-" Sue spoke simultaneously rises to her in shock that her head cheerio was walking away from this as if it were nothing.
Rachel eased the back door open to the Corcoran home and poked her head in. It was empty.
The brunette slipped in to the door and half helped, half carried Judy in.
Rachel listened for any sound but didn't hear any. She than headed for the stairs with Judy in tow.
Rachel ascended the with a still uncoordinated Judy. They were close to Rachel's room just a few more steps than two doors down.
Rachel moved quietly with Judy. The closer they approached the second floor Rachel still didn't hear anything.
The brunette reached the top of the stairs with the blonde and the two walked to Rachel's room.
Rachel opened her bedroom door helping Judy in than shut it.
Rachel breathed a sigh of relief. She walked Judy to her bed and gently helped her to lay down.
Judy groaned as she was laid on the bed.
Just as Shelby and Sue spoke simultaneously Quinn's phone rang.
It wasn't because of Shelby's or Sue's words that stopped her though. It was because it was that specific ring tone that did it.
Quinn turned to Shelby with eyes filling with something it was the only real ounce of her humanity that Quinn has shown in the last 20 minutes. Quinn reached for her phone in her pocket and pulled it out.
It read: Rachel...
Rachel didn't have a cell phone and when Shelby gave Quinn the home number.
Quinn didn't know what to put for the name considering she has Skyler in her phone as Corcoran and Shelby as Shelby.
Looking at that number now could mean only one thing to Quinn.
She immediately pressed send and Shelby as well as Sue were worried at the look on her face.
"Hello?.."
"...Quinn?"
Rachel. It was Rachel and she sounded funny.
Quinn's entire being coiled tightly as her chest constricted at the foreign tone in who she considers to be the toughest girl she knows, voice.
"Rachel?" Quinn asked to be sure and Shelby's breathing became even more harsh than it already was because of her worry over Judy and now Rachel.
"Quinn-You have to come over to Shelby's house quick!" Rachel said in a rush.
"What's wrong?"
"Quinn please, just come." With that Rachel hung up.
Quinn pulled the phone to her ear and stared down at it in confliction.
"What happened?!" Shelby asked in worry.
"I-I don't know. She said for me to go to your house-like right now."
"That's it?"
"Yes."
"Did she sound hurt?"
"No she sounded.. Worried." Quinn said in confusion.
"Go ahead but we're not finished here, Quinn." Shelby said with a look that sent a chill down Quinn's spine.
"I-I can't leave! If I cut school they'll contact my dad-"
"Go. You're excused for the day." Sue said.
Quinn nodded without hesitation. Rachel sounded weird. Bad weird. "Thanks coach."
"And Quinn?" Sue called.
Quinn turned to her. "Like Shelby said, this conversation isn't over."
Quinn nodded her head in resignation but just as she was about to reply a loud bang resounded in the halls and shouts were heard.
Skyler was running. She had been tired of staying home and being in her thoughts.
She was running with controlled breaths. She was so zoned out she didn't see the car coming. Than she jumped out of her skin when a horn honked.
The car stopped four inches from her legs. Skyler froze in fear before relief washed over her.
The car door opened and man with worry on his face climbed out.
"Oh my goodness, are you alright?!"
"Y-Yeah.. I.."
"Young lady, you have to be more careful I could've seriously hurt you." The man said with gentle chatising like the sweetest most devoted father would.
"I'm so sorry." Skyler replied.
"Is everything alright here?" Another man joined the conversation.
"Um yeah." Skyler said licking her lips as she tried to get her racing heart to stop pounding.
"FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!" was shouted out in the halls.
Sue, Quinn, and Shelby ran out but Quinn went in the opposite direction of the crowd of students.
Sue yelled and shoved her way through with Shelby and there in the center was Sam beating the hell out of Puck.
"YOU PIECE OF SHIT!" Sam shouted in his face with his own beet red, after landing another blow.
Puck flipped them over and began pounding into Sam but before Sue could do anything a body barreled into Puck.
It was Mike Chang and before anyone knew what was happening an all out brawl began as more people jumped in. Some of Pucks friends. Some of Sam's friends. All defending each boy for their own respected reasons.
"Shelby!" Sue called over the ruckus.
"Yeah?!"
"Go find Charlie and call me when you do. I have this here!"
"Okay! Be careful!"
With that Shelby left and Sue's eyes took on one of anger as she shoved students one by one out of her way to get to Sam.
Quinn rang the doorbell for what felt like a thousand times in her haste.
"Rachel! Rachel are you still home?!" Quinn called out as she continued her assault on the button.
Just than the door opened and she was grasped by the hand and jerked inside the house the slamming behind her.
The blonde tripped and stumbled slightly as Rachel pulled her in her own haste toward the stairs.
"Rachel? Rachel what's wrong?" Quinn asked but went unanswered.
"Rachel you're worrying me what's wro-" Before Quinn could say anything else Rachel opened the door to her room and lightly pushed Quinn in and Quinn's breath was stolen instantly as she gasped.
"M-Mom?.." Quinn whispered in shock.
"I'm fine I promise." Skyler said again just wanting to leave.
"If you're sure?" The man asked again.
"I am, sir. Scouts honor." Sky said with a smile.
"Alright." The man chuckled. "Don't go running into anymore streets."
"I won't." Skyler promised.
"Alright. Have a good day." the man nodded sweetly with a smile.
"You too." Skyler said and the two parted ways. Just as Skyler took four steps she froze.
"Russell Fabray, fancy meeting you here." A woman's voice rung out crystal clear.
Skyler's eyes widened and she turned around in time to see the man that almost just hit her with his car take the woman's hand softly and shook it with a charming smile on his face.
"Deacon Wilde, it's a pleasure to see you." Russell said sweetly.
Skyler was rooted to her spot.
"H-How? How is she here?" Quinn asked as her heart began to pound and her ears filled with a swooshing sound.
Rachel didn't reply. Quinn turned her eyes on her in panic.
"Rachel? How is she here?! Sh-She's not suppose to be here!"
It was clear Rachel was confused by her reaction but it was also evident that guilt was lingering beneath the surface.
"Rachel?.." Quinn said in a pleading fearful tone.
"I.. Brought her here." Rachel replied lowly.
