Chapter four: The Sound of Rumours

Word Count: 3, 239

Rachel glanced away from the board at the front of the class. She couldn't shake away the feeling that someone was watching her. And when she glanced to her left side she saw Artie looking at her for a split of a second and then he looked away. When she looked to her left one of the football players was eying her but unlike Artie he wasn't too bothered with being caught in action.

Rachel felt a blush covering her cheeks and she returned her attention to the Spanish words on the board. People had been watching her all day and she couldn't for her life figure out why. She wasn't wearing her colorful clothing anymore and sure she expected people to notice that. Just not four weeks later.

She hadn't taken an active choice not to wear her usual outfits. She hadn't pushed them in the back of her closet and opted for the clothes that had always been there. She just didn't feel like standing out. She didn't want people to be able to spot her out in the crowds quite as easily as before and with that in mind she opted for tight long-sleeved shirts in black or grey, skirts either in denim or flowy material in the same colors and most often black leggings. She thought about putting her hair back but chose to let it flow around her head like a curtain protecting her against the world. But the change of clothes had been four weeks earlier. It couldn't be that.

And since the clothes couldn't be the cause of this attention Rachel thought there was something on her face and attempted to look for something by looking at herself through the reflection of her cell-phone. She couldn't see anything. But then again it wasn't the best way to go about finding something either. She would just have to find Quinn and ask before her next class.

The irony that Rachel now considered Quinn her best friend didn't go unnoticed. She sometimes found herself thinking about the fact that the world must have turned upside down for Quinn Fabray to be her best friend. In a sense one could almost claim that it had. No one expected Quinn to get pregnant when she was just a teenager. She was beautiful, talented, athletic and intelligent. She would do great things before settling down at the appropriate age with the perfect man and then have a perfect child. She wasn't supposed to get pregnant now with some Lima-loser as they all believed Puck was. But then again, no one believed Rachel would ever drop out of Glee-club either. Maybe the world really had turned upside down at some point during the summer without them noticing.

Rachel was one of the first people out of class when it ended. She ignored the looks people gave her, took her books and then glanced over to see if Quinn was there. When she saw the blonde, she hurried over to her locker and tapped her on the shoulder.

"Good morning, Rachel Berry." Quinn spoke after offering her a smile. "How are you today?"

Rachel rolled her eyes. They had seen each other that very morning before the first class. Since then Quinn had received multiple texts about the fact that Rachel believed people were watching her. At some point, Quinn had gotten quite annoyed and merely written god, give me strength.

"People are watching me." Rachel said and went straight to the issue at hand. "And not watching as in oh my god you have such weird outfits or you are about to get a slushy in your face. They're watching me as if they think something's up and they're trying to figure out what."

"That's oddly specific, Rach." Quinn said while she looked through her locker with a frown on her face. "You're probably just imagining. I mean people don't even notice you anymore."

Rachel nodded. So many words were left unspoken. People didn't even notice her anymore because she wanted it to be that way and people didn't notice her anymore and that was to a certain extent a shame. But Rachel waved her hand in front of her as if removing those sentences and moved on.

"Yeah, I thought so too. This morning I was sure that you were right." Rachel looked at all the students that passed them by in the hallway. They weren't even trying to hide it anymore. "Do I have something on my face? Did I get a piercing in my sleep last night? Or maybe a tattoo? I have a very high threshold for pain and I'm a very heavy sleepwalker. It could happen."

Quinn's locker was slammed shut and the blonde raised her eyebrow at Rachel. "That's just silly. No one does that in their sleep."

"While I can admit that was silly I won't back down from the fact that people are staring at me. Look!"

Rachel tilted her head to the floor and the moment that happened everyone else looked up. Even Kurt and Mercedes who had vowed never to speak nor look at the brunette again since she left them. They had, as everyone else, realized that Rachel leaving wasn't the best thing for the club. They had yet to try and get her back. They weren't desperate enough yet.

"I can see what you mean." Quinn admitted as they entered the classroom. "I'll deal with it after class."

GLEE

Quinn Fabray was on the warpath. These days she only used her ice-queen stare when it was needed and today was definitely one of those moments. The man whom the glare was reserved for seemed to feel her approaching from across the hallway and even from that distance he looked nervous to say the least. People walked out of her way as Quinn marched down the hallway and she made her glare stronger by thinking about what this imbecile, this stupid boy had been saying about her best friend.

It wasn't hard finding out what had been said and who had started the rumor. Thought people were supposedly trying to hide that they were spreading the rumor or discussing it Quinn had noticed what they were doing quite easily.

So, the first thing she did after class ended was find the four people who would know exactly what was up. Brittany, Santana, Mercedes and Kurt were caught up in a discussion that had Santana threatening to go Lima Heights on someone's ass. They spotted her from quite the distance and looked at her as if she was something stuck underneath their shoes the entire time.

"So, what rumor have you four been spreading across school now?"

Brittany was the first to open her mouth but Kurt and Santana put their hands over it before she could say something.

"We weren't supposed to tell her, remember?" Santana asked and removed her hand once Brittany nodded. She then turned her attention to Quinn. "Feels bad, doesn't it? Being out of the loop? Oh, how the mighty have fallen."

Quinn rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. "Fuck you, Santana."

"You've grown quite the mouth, Quinn." Santana said with a mocking smile on her face. The kind Quinn had seen more than she could count but only on a few times had she been on the receiving end. She almost understood why people were afraid of Santana when she looked like that. "Almost makes me believe that you've spent a lot of time with Puckerman. But you couldn't have, because I have."

"Whatever Satan," Quinn turned her attention to Mercedes and Kurt as she realized trying to get the truth out of Santana and Brittany was useless. "If you two don't tell me what kind of rumor you've been spreading about Rachel I will make your life miserable and those two" – she pointed at Brittany and Santana – "won't lift a finger to help you. So, what's it going to be?"

It took a few seconds of Quinn doubting that her threat was going to work and then Mercedes answered her question and told her the rumor and who had started it. That earned her a glare and a punch from Santana who once more muttered something about going Lima Heights on her ass for not knowing when to shut up.

Quinn's breathing came shorter as she felt anger take over. "Thank you." She spoke sweetly and began walking down the hallway with an ever so present ice-queen glare that grew stronger when she saw him. Quinn walked faster and felt thankful that Rachel wasn't by her locker and stopped when she reached Noah Puckerman.

"What the fuck did you do that for?" she hissed and tried to ignore the looks people were giving them.

"Do what?" Puck leaned against his locker.

Whenever he was confronted he rarely felt truly threatened or afraid – especially not afraid - because there was always a major difference in height and weight. To his advantage. But that didn't matter when Quinn was the one doing the confronting. She was scary regardless of any height and weight difference.

"Don't play stupid with me, Puck. I am not in the mood." Quinn poked his chest. "Why did you start a rumor saying that Rachel is pregnant?"

Puck's eyes widened. Quinn could see the wheels turning around behind his eyes as he frantically thought about what he was going to say. If she was one of his normal girls – the ones that didn't know him – then she would have bought his dramatic act. But she did know him. And Quinn knew that when he exaggerated his reactions he was only trying to gain time and it was not going to work. Not on her.

"I would never say such a thing."

"Give it up, Puck." Quinn said and glared at him with a disgusted expression on your face. "I talked to the gossip club and they told me that you started the rumor. I wish I could say I was surprised and disappointed but I'm not because this is just like you. I just need to know why you did it?"

Puck sighed after a few seconds. There was only one facial expression worse than the angry ice-queen one that was special for Quinn and that was the disappointed one. The one that said I thought you were better. It never failed regardless of how many times Puck had received one of those looks.

"We wanted to know why Berry quit Glee."

Quinn let out a frustrated groan. "Is this what this is all about? She wouldn't tell you why she quit Glee and now you're spreading rumors. What did you think would happen? That she would hold a fucking press conference to make sure that the entire school knew the truth?"

"Not exactly like that…" Puck admitted.

"And what did you mean when you said we?" Quinn added. "I thought it was only you. Who else has been spreading this rumor?"

"Mike."

"Fucking Mike." Quinn hissed. "When I get my hands on that son of a…"

She stopped talking when Puck put his hands on her shoulders and she glared at them as if they were something poisonous or out of this world until he removed them.

"Wouldn't things just get easier if you convinced her to tell people?" Puck held his hand up to stop her from talking. "Look, people have been targeting you like crazy and they have started realizing that without Rachel we are fucking doomed. They thought we were a team and we were in this together. Rachel should tell us why she quit if not because of that very reason but so that people stop fucking going after you."

"People are going after you, Quinn?"

The blonde's eyes widened. She knew exactly who that voice belonged to. It was the person she on purpose had kept in the dark about what she was going through at Glee practice. Because she knew that this person would go against her own decision if Quinn needed her to. She wouldn't need to ask.

"Yeah," Puck answered when Quinn just stood there staring at Rachel.

"Do you think they would lay off if I told them why I decided to quit?"

Quinn shook her head. Puck answered yes.

"Well then," Rachel said nodding. "I guess I'll see you after school then."

She returned her eyes to the floor and began walking down the hallway. Quinn let out a deep sigh that made Puck put his hand on her shoulder.

"Don't touch me, Puckerman." Quinn pulled away and glared at him with as much anger as she could muster. "I hope you're happy now. Congratulations, you fucking did it."

She gave him one last glare before running down the hallway. The last thing Puck heard was Quinn calling Rachel's name. He watched for a moment as the blonde pulled the brunette in her arms. Then he turned around and walked the other direction. The plan had worked. He was supposed to feel really good about this. They had succeeded. And for some reason he felt like shit.

GLEE

Rachel absentmindedly walked down the hallway towards the auditorium where she was meeting the Glee-club. She thought about quitting the entire summer before making a decision the night before school was starting again after summer. It wasn't just one thing that made her come to that decision. Several events over the course of her entire academic life and life outside of school had eventually led her to this moment and this decision.

Rachel knew exactly which day the thought manifested inside of her head in the shape of words but couldn't for her life say when the feeling that she maybe wanted to quit appeared within her.

Was it when she couldn't sleep because her heart wouldn't stop beating and that giant ball of anxiety inside her stomach wouldn't resolve itself? Was it when her grades stared slipping because she kept falling asleep when she was supposed to study? Was it when she suddenly lost her appetite and could no longer work out as much as she wanted because she had no energy what so ever?

Rachel couldn't say. It could have been any of those moments. Or maybe it was when her birthmother chose to adopt baby Beth. And by doing that joined the long line of people who decided not to choose Rachel. Or maybe the last straw was drawn when Rachel saw the people, she believed was her friends after they won the competition, having fun and spending time together without her?

Maybe it was all those things in its entirety. Rachel believed it was.

"Hey," Quinn said falling into the rhythm of Rachel's steps. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Rachel replied with a shrug. She could tell by the look Quinn gave her that she didn't believe her. "It's not optimal I'll admit that. I didn't want to tell them why I chose to quit but if it's going to get them to stop harassing you then I'll tell them."

"But you do realize that you don't have to? I'll be fine you know. I can handle those weaklings."

Rachel laughed. "I know you can. But you shouldn't have to. Just let me do this for you, okay?"

Quinn sighed deeply. "Okay." She gave the brunette a smile. "But remember that you're doing this on your terms. You don't have to tell them everything. And whenever you feel like you're ready just tell me and we'll leave."

"Okay." Rachel's smile faltered as they reached the auditorium.

"Don't forget to breathe." Quinn whispered just before they entered the auditorium.

Their entrance caused everyone to become completely quiet. Rachel had to fight the urge to look down on the floor under their hard, cold glares. They were all spread on various chairs. Only Finn looked completely surprised by her presence and the rest of them looked as if they were trying to burn her using only the collective power of their minds. Puck and Mike sat furthest back in the room. Rachel avoided looking at Mike the most. She couldn't even think about the practice they had without feeling a blush take over her face. Quinn sat down on a chair at the first row and gave Rachel a smile.

"Rachel," Mr. Schue seemed to have completely forgotten why she was there for a minute and then realization dawned on him and he faced the rest of the club. "Rachel came to see me and said that she needed to say something before we started. Rachel, the floor is yours."

They all looked at her as if nothing had changed. She was back after exploding in a fit of anger. She had merely taken a break and were now back to singing again. The idea itself caused a shiver to go down her spine. Rachel didn't want to sing anymore. Not right now anyway.

"I wanted to come here and- "

"Tell us you were coming back?" Santana said while looking at Kurt who made a gagging noise.

"No, I was- "

"Here to gloat about your success as a competitive dancer?" Mercedes added and laughed. "No wait, you're not experiencing any success because you don't have a partner and you're a complete pain to dance with."

Rachel looked at Mr. Schue who was quiet and only reacted in the shape of sighs and a various amount of facial expression that told her he didn't like what he was hearing. But he did nothing to stop them.

"I've come to told you why I quit." Rachel said before anyone else spoke. She breathed deeply and without thinking she spoke the words that had been on her mind for such a long time. "I've decided to quit Glee because quite frankly I hate it. I get anxious and I feel like I'm going to throw up every time I think about coming here. Being a part of this club has made me hate singing and I don't want that."

Kurt laughed sounding unsure of himself. "You're joking, right?"

"No?"

"Oh, my god, well that's just typical Rachel Berry."

Quinn turned around and glared at Kurt. "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"

"Come on Quinn, even you have to admit that this is typical Rachel. She makes a big deal out of quitting and refuses to tell anyone why which is the only reason why we've been asking you by the way. And when she's put in a corner she comes with this horrible, selfish excuse."

Rachel watched as the people inside the room yet again turned against her. She felt her throat tighten and it became harder to get oxygen into her lungs. She wasn't going to cry in front of them. Never she thought and gave the auditorium one last glance before walking out the solid doors that separated them from the rest of the school. The sound of the door closing made Quinn turn around. Her fists shook with anger and she took the spot where Rachel had previously been standing.

The blonde was known for being beautiful, intelligent and cold when put in front of a problem. She never lost her temper in a confrontation – at least according to most people – and they believed those things because she wanted them to. But they didn't know that there were people Quinn would protect with the fierceness of a lion. Rachel Berry had somehow become one of those people.

"You've just heard Rachel Berry tell the you why she chose to quit Glee. But that was not the entire truth. That was the nice version of the truth but since that didn't go all the way into your thick sculls I'm going to tell you the truth my way; in a lot, blunter and less soft and cuddly way. Are you ready?" Quinn glared at each and every one of them. "You are the reason, Rachel quit Glee. She didn't want to come here every day and face the abuse that you – I'm sorry we – put her through. Now you may think that's not dramatic enough but the shit you've put her through caused more damage than you will ever know. I didn't realize before how bad bullying is or how much the victim is affected. But based on what I have seen I can tell you that her reason to stop is so valid and I will fight anyone who tells me otherwise. You got that? Good!" she became quiet and then turned to Mr. Schue. "And I quit. But unlike Rachel I chose to quit because all of you are cruel fuckers and I don't want any part of this messed up club. That's my reason for you. Mike and Puck didn't even have to start a rumor to get it out of me."

Quinn ignored the expressions on the boys faces. No one objected when she walked out of the auditorium. The smile on her face grew with every step she took away from the auditorium and a weight was lifted from her shoulders. Then Quinn reached for her phone and dialed a number she knew by heart.

"Hey Rachel, where are you?"