A/N: Thank you all for your reviews, faves, and follows! The feedback is well noted and appreciated. Thanks for your patience as well, with this being my first time publishing a story and I'm still figuring out this site, and how to edit . Although it's a bit short, I hope you all enjoy this next chapter.

As Rachel walked to her 2nd period English class that morning, she was extremely apprehensive. All she kept thinking was, "Why me?" How did she always manage to find herself in these crazy situations? She wasn't popular, but she was talented, so maybe it's jealousy, she thinks. Even so, it still didn't explain why people were always singling her out. It was like she had a magnet tied to her back that had an inexplicable pull towards trouble, and she was so very tired of it. Her "trouble magnet" did nothing but weigh her down, and cause her grief.

Because she was one of the last people to enter her class, there were only two seats left, so she was forced to sit in the far right corner of the back row. The only other seat happened to be right in between Quinn Fabray and Brittany Pierce, which there was just no way Rachel could handle sitting next to them right now.

She sat with her head down, avoiding eye contact with everyone, but she could hear someone whispering her name. She thought maybe it was Brittany trying to get her attention. But, she was saved from having to answer as their teacher, Mr. Wendell entered and stood at the front of the class.

Throughout the period, Rachel found herself having a hard time concentrating. She needed most of this class to gather up the courage to talk to Brittany about Santana, and she was still on the fence as to wether she would tell her the truth.

About halfway through class, Rachel had a note slide onto her desk from the girl siting next to her. She glanced at the note without bothering to look up, and recognized the large loopy handwriting as that of Brittany's. She read over the note, which simply said, "Did San say sorry Rach?"

Rachel couldn't help the long sigh that escaped her as she continued to look down at the note. It was now or never for her. If she lies to Brittany, Santana gets away this time with treating her horribly like she did that night at the party, and then again this morning at school. But, she thinks, maybe Santana has truly learned her lesson?

On the other hand, if Rachel tells Brittany the truth, Santana will surely make good on her threat to torment her. This was an impossible decision. In the end, Rachel decided to write her answer down on the paper and send it back to Brittany.

Rachel chances a look at Brittany just as she opens up the folded piece of paper. After reading the response, Brittany looks at Rachel and gives her a little smile. With that, she neatly folds up the paper, and focuses back on doodling in her notebook for the rest of the class.

Before Rachel turns back forward in her seat, she notices Quinn looking curiously across the room at her. Rachel meets her eyes for the first time since she got the mysterious text message and immediately starts to blush as she recalls that message. She quickly straightens her posture and turns around in her seat, further avoiding eye contact with the Head Cheerio.

Once the bell rings, Rachel gathers her things and is preparing to leave out the door, when she hears someone call her name. She immediately stops. She doesn't even have to turn around to know its Quinn because Rachel would recognize that voice anywhere. The fact that Quinn's natural speaking voice is normally so smoky and sultry, has never been lost on Rachel. Because of that, hers has always been one of the few singing voices in glee that Rachel secretly adored, even if it was not as powerful as her own.

When Quinn finally approaches her, she looks Rachel directly in the eyes, which were quite wide at this point. Though she doesn't fully know why, Rachel is slightly terrified of what this conversation may bring.

Rachel steamers out, "H-How may I assist you Quinn?"

"Rachel we need to talk, but someplace more private." Quinn states quietly, as she looks around the classroom at other students coming and going.

The shorter girl looks up and meets Quinn's eyes again before replying, "What is this about Quinn?" "Is-Is it about that text message you sent me, telling me I look pretty, because if it is, I just want to say that..."

"Shut up Manhands!" Quinn shouts.

"I never sent you any text message and I told you we'd talk someplace private!" She hisses. And Rachel can tell she's angry now.

Rachel's face drops as she is now suddenly angry too. "You know what Quinn, I don't want to talk with you in private! I don't think I want to talk to you at all!"

Rachel raises her voice as she continues, "I have had enough of you and all your-your barbarians harassing me, calling me names, and telling me what to do!"

And with those last words, she storms out of the classroom, leaving Quinn standing there staring at the back of her head.

Rachel is running down the hall now, trying to put as much distance between herself and Quinn as possible. She's upset, with tears blurring her eyes, and because she can barely see where she's going, she bumps into Karofski.

"Hey! Watch it you freak!" He yells at her, as she tries to back away. But unfortunately for Rachel, Karovski was walking with Azimio Adams, who happened to have a large blue slushie in his hands.

Rachel never even had time to blink before she was doused with the slushie. She had the bright blue, freezing cold liquid pouring down both the front and back of her brand new black and white zebra sweater. Now, not only was she cold, hurt and upset, but she was furious! She was well beyond her last straw! They had finally broken her!

As both boys, who are well over 6ft tall, towered over her 5ft frame laughing, she was boiling with a rage that Rachel Barbara Berry has never felt in all her 17 years on earth.

After she wipes blue slushie out of her eyes, Rachel suddenly, and without thinking, grabs Azimio Adams by the arms and kicks him as hard as she can in the balls! His face scrunches up, and he falls to his knees, keeled over in pain. Karofski, in shock, stops laughing and just stares at Rachel, mouth agape.

Everyone in the hallway who was standing around, pointing, and laughing at her after the slushie attack were stunned into silence upon witnessing what she did. Rachel had been standing there quite shocked herself, but she quickly regains her senses and takes off to the girls locker room. She was thanking her lucky stars for the self defense class she took over the summer. She was also thankful that both jocks were too shocked to react.

When she reaches the false safety of the girls locker room, she slowly peels off her already sticky clothes and grabs a towel from her locker. And with this currently being her study period, Rachel is able to take a shower. She slowly washes out all the blue food coloring from her hair and skin as best she can. She gets out of the shower, wraps herself in the towel, and gathers her Emergency Slushie Kit from her locker.

Her mind was racing, and she was scared because she'd never done anything like that before. She abhors violence and can't believe she stooped to their level. Her fathers will probably be furious with her when they find out, not to mention, what would Principal Figgins say?

But even more than being afraid, she was sad. It saddened her that daily slushies and harassment had become such a recurring theme throughout her high school career. She, like all the other "unpopular" students, should not have a need for an E.S.K. Something has got to be done about that stupid slushie machine! Ever the optimist, she thinks maybe a petition would help.

While Rachel finishes getting dressed, and pondering these thoughts, she doesn't hear the locker room door open and close. She doesn't hear the footsteps leading over to where she was. She doesn't notice the taller girl standing just behind her.

She had just finished dressing by pulling her argyle sweater vest over her white button down shirt. She had them paired with a dark blue skirt and MaryJanes. She suddenly looked up startled, and her face fell as she saw who was hovering over her with arms crossed. Upon seeing that smirk on the taller girl's face, Rachel sighed and muttered to herself, "Why won't this day from hell just end already?!"