As always Thank You for your reviews. Some of your comments make me laugh, and smile. They give me motivation to bust out another chapter for you all. I hope you like it, and I hope you like where I am taking this.
Rachel was waiting outside the gym. The game was over, and McKinley had a surprising lost.
Rachel arrived a few minutes before the game started. She didn't know where to sit, and then saw a middle aged pump woman wave at her. She was standing next to a man the same age wearing a baseball cap. She decided to join the older couple.
"Rachel it's so good to see you. What brings you here?" the woman asked pulling Rachel into a hug.
"Good to see you too Mrs. Hud- I mean Mrs. Hummel," Rachel corrected herself.
"How many times do I have to tell you? Call my Carol."
"Sorry. I'm here to cheer on my friends," Rachel finally answered. "Hello Mr. Hummel."
"Hey ah," Burt was silent thinking of the girls name.
"Rachel," Carol finally answered.
"Rachel, I knew that. Finn's ex-girlfriend, and Kurt's friend from glee," Burt said trying to cover up forgetting the girl's name.
"Speaking of Kurt, where is he?" Rachel asked the couple. It felt a little awkward to be sitting with Finn's parents. She was still friends with him, but she was still his ex.
"I think he's off doing something with Blaine, or the Warblers. That seems to be all the boy does in his spare time. How have you been?"
"Good, just busy with glee," Rachel said turning her attention to the field.
"Kurt told me what happened," Carol said in a hushed voice. "How are you holding up?"
Rachel smiled at the woman's concern. "I'm doing ok. With friends like Kurt, Finn, and Quinn, I feel like I can handle anything."
Carol placed her arm around Rachel's shoulders. "That's good to hear. I'm glad you and Finn are still friends."
The music of the marching band started, and the Titan's made their way to the field. Rachel saw Finn run onto the field with the 5 on his uniform. She smiled at the boy who was secretly helping her with her love life. "Yea, me too," Rachel whispered.
Quinn exited the gym wearing a blue wig. Rachel gave the cheerleader a confused look.
"Is there a Smurfette look-alike contest I don't know about?" Rachel said when the cheerleader reached her.
"Ha ha," Quinn laughed sarcastically. "Coach Sylvester wants to go over the routine for Regionals. Get out all the kinks. We're using a Katy Perry song, hence the blue wig."
"Let me guess, California Gurls?"
"I cannot confirm or deny that. Coach Sylvester is paranoid about spies. It's probably because she sends spies to our competitors. I wish I could invite you to watch, but I can't. As soon as we're done I'll be heading to you. I'm sorry I didn't give you a heads up. We didn't know until the game ended," Quinn explained.
"It's ok, I understand. I just expect the same dedication and hard work for our Regionals," Rachel countered.
"Nothing less," Quinn agreed. She quickly hugged her secret love, and ran back into the gym.
Rachel didn't leave right away. She continued to wait by the gym for one of her other athletic friends. The football players began filing out. Near the end she saw Sam, Mike and Artie.
"Hey Rachel," they said in unison.
"Hey guys. Sorry about the lost," Rachel replied.
"It's ok, we're still in the Conference Championship next week," Artie clarified.
"And I'll be there cheering you on."
The boys went on their way leaving Rachel. She continued to wait. Then Puck came out of the gym.
"Hey my sweet Jewish Princess," Puckerman said walking up to Rachel.
"Noah I told you not to call me that."
"I know. I just like the way it rolls off my tongue. So what are you doing here? Are you throwing in an extra rehearsal or something?" Puck said trying to not sound annoyed.
"No. I wanted to see how my football friends were holding up."
"We're pissed, but we'll be ok. As long as we win next week, then what happened today won't even matter."
"Glad to hear it. And you know I'll be there."
"Thanks Rachel," Puck said wrapping his arms around the small girl. "See ya Monday."
The badass made his way to the parking lot. Rachel continued to wait. Finally Finn exited the building. His head was down looking at the ground.
"Hey Finn," Rachel said softly.
The tall boy slowly turned his head towards the voice. He gave his friend a small smile. "Hey Rachel," he replied.
"You ok?"
He took a deep breath. "I don't know, maybe. It sucks we lost, but it wasn't my fault."
"What do you mean?"
"It was Jones. He replaced Karofsky on the team. He's taking it too literally. Azimio has gotten in his head. I was simply thanking the team, and congratulating everyone. Then Jones made a comment about being gay and in glee club. I made a comment back, then he siked me out by saying it would suck if the linebacker got through to me. That's why I fumbled. God I shouldn't have let him get in my head."
Rachel placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's not your fault. How were you to know if he was serious or not? You're still in the championship. There is still time for redemption. You'll be amazing next Saturday."
"Thanks Rachel. What are you still doing here anyways? You waiting for Quinn?"
"I was, but she got delayed. So I was waiting for my other friend. I knew you'd take this lost hard."
Finn gave the small girl a hug. He liked having this relationship with the small girl. They knew each other pretty well, but there was no pressure of a relationship. The two walked to their vehicles and left for their homes.
"Knock, knock," Quinn said standing in Rachel's doorway.
Rachel was lying on the bed facing away from the door, just like the day she was grounded from going to the football game. She turned her head, seeing Quinn. She rolled off the bed, while Quinn stepped into the bedroom closing the door. Rachel wrapped her arms around Quinn's waist, while the cheerleader grasped both sides of Rachel's face, and pulled each other into a searing kiss.
"Hey," Rachel whispered when they finally pulled away.
"Hey," Quinn replied.
The cheerleader released Rachel's face, and wrapped her arms around Rachel's shoulders, holding her. Rachel placed her head in the crook of Quinn's neck, letting her body be consumed by the other girl.
"Do you have any idea how hard it was to not do that when I saw you outside the gym?" Quinn asked.
Rachel let out a small laugh. "No I have no idea what you are talking about," she said sarcastically.
"So you're saying I'm not kissable?" Quinn teased.
"I'm not saying anything," Rachel replied trying to pull away.
Quinn moved her hands down to Rachel's waist holding her in place. "Are you sure? Because I see your lips moving and words are coming out. So you must be saying something."
Rachel leant up connecting their lips. Quinn deepened the kiss. She guided Rachel to the bed, lying her down.
"Words don't always have to come out of my mouth for me to say something," Rachel clarified.
Quinn pressed her entire body, lips included against Rachel. "I agree. And I like it when you use your mouth in different ways."
The club was sitting in the choir room, waiting for Mr. Shue. He told them to meet him there. Then Artie rolled in, covered head to toe in red slushy. The other boys got up in anger and started to make their way to the door. They didn't get far before the rest of the football team made their way into the room.
Words were thrown around until Coach Beiste and Mr. Shuster finally made their way in. They made the announcement the football players were the new members of New Directions. The room went into an uproar again. Coach Beiste yelled getting everyone quiet.
"Wait a minute…" Azimio stood from his seat. "What am I doing here? I'm not exactly on the team anymore."
"You're here because I said so. Don't think I haven't notice you still wearing the letterman jacket, and acting like you are still on the team. You're here because you want back on this team," Coach Beiste explained to the ex-player. "Now sit down."
"I am not sharing a room with the best friend of a known homophobe. And the man who allowed the said homophobe to try and rape me," Rachel said pointing to the boy.
The room went completely silent at the words. Tears started to form in Rachel's eye. She never actually said the word rape. She didn't even have to explain to anyone what happened. From Jacob taping the whole thing she was spared that torment. The one thing both sides felt was sympathy for Rachel. They all agreed what Karofsky did was bad, even Jones and Azimio.
Quinn reached across Sam's lap and placed a reassuring hand on Rachel's shoulder. Rachel turned and looked at Quinn, placing her hand on the cheerleader's. She wiped her eyes with her free hand.
"Fine if I have to be here, I'm not singing no show tunes. That is the music of my oppressors," Azimio said breaking the silence.
Every glee club member rolled their eyes. The comment hit a nerve with Mercedes.
"Do you have any idea what we do in here?" Finn asked his teammate.
"No, none of them do. We have to show them. Rachel, Puck haven't you been working on something? Why don't you give it a whirl?" the teacher suggested. He did it to not only show the football team, but to help Rachel. He knew she couldn't turn down a performance, and it was always the happiest he ever saw her.
Rachel took a deep breath, eyes clear of tears. "Fine. As offended as I am by their presence here, I won't let anything get in the way of a performance." Rachel stood and gave Azimio a warning glare, as she made her way to the front.
Puck took off his letterman jacket, and made his way to the front. He stared down the team. The educators smiled, and occupied two empty seats. Mr. Shuster was looking forward to Rachel's performance. It'd be the first time since the incident that the club would see the diva perform by herself, even if it was a duet.
The music started for Lady Antebellum's Need You Now. Rachel looked down until it was her cue to sing. She lifted her head and made eye contact with Quinn, singing the first few lines of the song. She moved around the piano, looking around the room. So people wouldn't get too suspicious of the two girls. Rachel didn't care, but she cared too much about Quinn to let anyone who wasn't Finn know.
Puck joined Rachel in the chorus, both pretending to want the other, as they moved past each other. When Rachel sang 'I need you now' she was looking Quinn in the eyes again. The cheerleader tried to hide a smile behind her clasped hands. She loved listening to Rachel sing. Quinn also knew why Rachel was singing this song. She was singing not only to her, because she is the one she calls and texts if she needs someone. But also to make her jealous again, and she found the attempt endearing.
Puck sang the next verse. He was staring down the football players. He even lunged his head towards them, trying to scare them. Rachel walked over to him, joining in at the chorus. Quinn had to give them credit. They looked happy and into each other, but knew it was all for show. They finished singing, and the original glee members cheered and clapped.
"The girl with the Mohawk had a really nice voice," Azimio teased.
Puck smiled as he took off his guitar. He then made to hit the boy with the instrument. The educators got in between, as the rest of the students tried attacking the others. Rachel wasn't one for violence, but she didn't care. She was tired of being the target of their cruelty. She was going for Azimio, when hands wrapped around her waist pulling her off the floor. She continued to kick, and yell at the boy. She was also trying to get out of the other boy's embrace.
After many minutes, the educators managed to separate the teams, and ordered them to leave. The football players left first. Rachel was finally placed back on the floor, but the large hands were still on her hips. She didn't know who was holding her, and it was starting to freak her out. She finally looked behind her seeing, the blonde boy who was dating Quinn in public. Rachel then began to panic, what if he knew something was up, and wanted to get even. She closed her eyes as she reached for the hands still touching her. She abruptly removed them and left the choir room. She went to the only other place in the school she felt safe.
"Hey," Quinn said as she walked on stage.
Rachel was sitting at the piano playing random keys. She needed to calm down before attempting to go to class. The anger that surged through her body scared her. Then to be lifted in the air like a ragdoll by the very boy who Quinn was seeing to make face. It scared her how easily the boys can just toss her around.
"Hey," Rachel said softly.
"You ok?"
Rachel shrugged.
Quinn sat next to Rachel, with her back against the piano. "You want to talk about it?"
Rachel reached over and took hold of Quinn's hand. She took a deep breath. "I just…" Rachel trailed off. "I'm just so tired."
Quinn remained silent. There was more than just being tired. She gave Rachel's hand a squeeze, encouraging her to continue.
"I'm tired of being scared all the time. There are few places I feel safe. And today the football team took away one of the two places in the school. I was angry. The rage that was going through me was uncontrollable. The only thing keeping me from getting my hands on Azimio was Sam. He picked me up with so much ease. When he put me down, he didn't let me go. I…I started to panic," Rachel explained. "I hate feeling so weak."
"You're not weak. You stood up to Karofsky and Azimio. You continue to come into school with your head held high. And you told me about the first day Azimio was back. You stood up to him then too. I admire you."
Rachel leaned over giving Quinn a chaste kiss. She rested her head on Quinn's forehead. "When did you become so amazing?"
"Remember the last time we were on this stage together?"
Rachel pulled away to look into Quinn's eyes, "How could I forget?"
"That's when," Quinn answered. "You ready to go?"
"No," Rachel replied.
"No?"
"I don't want to leave yet."
Quinn smiled. "Ok, we'll stay for as long as you want."
"Mr. Shue I need to talk to you," Quinn said when she entered the Spanish classroom.
"Quinn is everything ok," the teacher replied standing and gesturing for the cheerleader to take a seat.
"No," she said sitting down.
Mr. Shuster walked around his desk. "What's wrong?" he asked crossing his arms, and leaning against his desk.
"It's Coach Sylvester," Quinn started.
"Ok…"
Quinn thought of yesterday's practice. Coach Sylvester had a surprise for them, specifically Brittany. Quinn could not get the look of pure horror on Brittany's face. She would not let their coach risk her friend's life.
"She has a human cannon, and wants to shoot Brittany out of it for Regional's."
"What?" Mr. Shuster yelled. "You're sure?"
"Yes Mr. Shue. She has the cannon on the football field right now. She shot a dummy out of it yesterday, and it blew it to pieces."
The Spanish teacher left without another word.
Mr. Shuster and Coach Beiste had just informed the students that the cheerleaders would not be at Saturday's game. They decided to have glee club perform at the halftime show. This included the football players. The team was mad because they were afraid of what people were going to say and having to add on top of playing the game.
Coach Beiste clarified the reason they were in there. "This isn't a problem. It's an opportunity. The whole point of this week was to bring you guys together; to bring the school together."
Azimio was the most vocal about this information. Saying comments about them wearing sequence dresses, playing and performing. He was not on the team, so he had nothing to lose, but he couldn't stop himself. He acted like he was on the team, and sometimes forgot that he wasn't.
Finn finally spoke up, "What about the Cheerios in glee club?"
"They have a choice," Mr. Shuster started, "Us or the Cheerios competition."
Rachel was angry. Listening to Azimio continue to tear apart her safe zone. Being told she was going to have to perform with him. The last bit was knowing she'd have to perform without her girl, Rachel snapped. She knew what Quinn was going to choose, and attacked her for it. "Well, obviously, Quinn is gonna choose the Cheerios."
The words stung. Quinn turned and looked at Rachel behind her, her eyes showing hurt and confusion. Rachel didn't even look at her. The cheerleader was trying to figure out what warranted this outburst. Quinn was finally pulled out of her head when she heard coach Beiste's whistle. She saw everyone getting up to leave. Quinn stood and turned around, crossing her arms, waiting for Rachel. Rachel stood up, and then made eye contact with Quinn. She saw the look on her face and sat back down.
Everyone had finally left before Quinn opened her mouth. "Is there something you want to say?"
"What?" Rachel replied.
"Don't play me Rachel. Why did you attack me? There are two other girls in here that are Cheerios. You pointed out that I would choose the Cheerios over glee club, not all of us."
Rachel stood up. "Come on Quinn, you think you'd really choose glee club over being a cheerleader. You continue to date Sam over me. I know you. You're so focused on what people think of you and-and labels."
Quinn opened her mouth to retaliate, but no noise came out.
"Tell me Quinn, have you even thought about coming out at all?" Rachel asked. She decided to touch on the other issue she brought up in her argument.
Quinn didn't move.
"How about Sam, have you thought about breaking up with him?"
Again silence. Quinn didn't even move her head.
Rachel stepped down and walked right up to Quinn, inches from her face. "That's what I thought." She turned and headed for the door.
"Where is this coming from?" Quinn finally asked to the brunette's back. "You seemed ok with everything yesterday."
Rachel stopped and walked back over to the cheerleader. "I'm not ok with everything Quinn. I just kept my mouth shut about it, and buried it deep. With the football players here, it's bringing everything that I've been pushing down to the surface."
"Maybe you should find another source of releasing your anger. I'm not a punching bag Rachel. I care about you, and I can see there are some lingering effects from what happened to you. I'm willing to work through it, and help you through it, but not this way Rachel. I'm sorry, when you've calm down; you know where to find me."
Quinn turned and made her way out of the choir room. Rachel went out the other door, and went back to the auditorium to calm down.
"Rachel, what are you doing here?" Judy said when she opened her front door.
"I came to see Quinn," Rachel replied.
Judy opened the door wider, "Did you two have a fight? She came home and went straight to her room. I haven't heard a peep from her all evening."
"We had a disagreement, that's why I'm here."
"Well I hope you two work this out."
"Thanks Mrs. Fabray," Rachel said making her way to the staircase.
Rachel made her way upstairs and stood outside Quinn's room. She took a deep breath before reaching for the doorknob. It turned with ease, and Rachel knocked on the door as she opened the door. She saw the blonde sitting at her desk. She didn't turn or acknowledge her visitor. Rachel closed the door and made her way over to Quinn. She looked over Quinn's shoulder, looking at the computer screen. The words 'coming out' caught her eyes.
"Hey," Quinn said feeling Rachel's presence behind her.
"Hey. How did you know it was me?"
"You're the only person who would freely walk into my room," Quinn answered.
Quinn finally closed the window and turned in her chair, facing Rachel. Rachel reached for Quinn's hands and pulled her up to stand. She wrapped her arms around Quinn's waist. The cheerleader reciprocated.
"I'm sorry," Rachel mumbled.
"Me too," Quinn replied. She let go of Rachel, "I have something for you."
The brunette was confused, watching Quinn turn to her desk. She handed Rachel a small stack of papers.
"What's this?" Rachel asked flipping through the pages.
"An outlet," Quinn answered. "They're ways for you to handle your anger. I told you I would help you through this. Maybe you can talk to your dads or Dr. Coyan about the best option for you."
"And the website you just looking at…"
"Suggestions, what not to do, peoples' stories," Quinn replied. "I'm still not ready to tell anyone, but at least I'm taking a step in the right direction."
Rachel nodded. "How did you tell your parents you were pregnant?"
"I didn't, Finn sang 'You're having my baby,' at dinner. And you know the rest."
The small girl placed her hand on Quinn's cheek. Quinn responded by closing her eyes and turning her head into the touch. "Thank you."
Quinn kissed Rachel's hand, before leaning forward and lightly kissing Rachel's lips. Quinn pulled Rachel into her embrace. The small girl wrapped her arms around the tall girl, and rested her head in the crook of Quinn's neck. They two stayed like that until Judy knocked on Quinn's door.