It totally wasn't ignoring someone to not talk to them for a week, right? Tina had known that she had been busy lately with the Chinese New Year and all the family traditions that went along with it, but as she walked into school alone on a cold, wet Monday morning, she realized that she hadn't talked to Mercedes or Kurt in over a week. Even for all of them to be busy at once, not speaking for a week was beyond ridiculous. She tried to track them down before first period, but neither of them we're at their lockers.

Not like they were avoiding her or anything, it had only been a week, right? Right. And she left it at that until lunch period, when she found Finn Hudson messing with her book bag.

"Are you trying to steal my homework or something?" She asked finally, trying to make her voice light and joking. She was scared that maybe he would be angry she caught him. The guy was twice her size, but she didn't need to be afraid. He quickly jumped away from her bag, looking embarrassed.

"Uh, no. Actually, I was just trying to slip something in your bag. So much for staying innocuous," He said, handing her a DVD as his face turned bright red. She took it without a thought, unable to resist the urge to smile at the goofy jock. He might be one of the popular kids, but Finn couldn't hurt a fly unless he stepped on it. Hey, the boy was pretty clumsy off the field.

"You mean inconspicuous? Hey, what is this anyway?" She asked, turning it over in her hand. It was definitely a DVD, but what reason did Finn have to give it to her? He looked so embarrassed it was almost painful to ask.

"Just…just watch it. You wont regret it. And don't…just please don't tell anyone I gave it to you, 'kay? I think Quinn would kill me." He said, honestly looking nervous. It sobered Tina quickly, if Finn was afraid of what was on this video, she was petrified.

"Finn, why are you doing this for me?"

"Because…..because no one deserves what they are going to do to you guys. Just…just watch the video, ok? And Tina, I'm really sorry." He said, smiling shyly once more before walking away. Tina didn't waste time as she went to the storage room to get a laptop. She sat down at a old wooden bench, and once she was sure she would be alone, she slipped the DVD into the computer. The image that came up made Tina hold her breath.

"No, no you're lying. Tina wouldn't do anything like that. She's our friend." Kurt said stubbornly, answering an unheard question. Mercedes was standing at his side, looking upset and more than a little pissed off.

"If you actually believe that, your beyond naïve. Tina is only out for herself. If she was ever friend with you, it was only because she needed you, not because she wanted to. Problem is, now she needs us. We can protect her, you can't." Quinn said, her face a mask of false concern. Mercedes grabbed for Kurt's hand, providing comfort from the horrible lie. Quinn looked down at their intertwined hands and smiled slightly. If you weren't looking for it, you would think she was slightly amused. But Tina saw the malice there, the joy she was getting from hurting her friends this way. And it seriously ticked her off.

"Why should we believe you anyway? It's not like you've ever been anything but horrible to us." Mercedes said, less anger in her voice than denial. Quinn scoffed at her.

"Well lets see, what exactly did she say? That you were conceited and only thought about yourself? Or that you had "brought her down for way too long,"? I mean, what did you expect? Who really wants to hang around the queer kid and his big boned best friend?" She asked, placing her hands on her hips daintily.

"She….she said that? But why would she…." Kurt tried to say, before Quinn cut him off, sounding irritated.

"Um, maybe she's just wising up? Hanging around the people that will go places, instead of the schools resident minority group? Maybe she decided that she doesn't want to hang around that side of town, or that she would be a Christian and actually listen to the bible. You know what the Bible says about people like you, right?"

"Shut the hell up Quinn Fabray! What is your problem anyway?" Mercedes yelled at her, tears finally appearing in her eyes. Those last insults had really hit them both hard, and their faith in her was wavering. Tina felt sick to her stomach.

"I'm just repeating what she said. Don't shoot the massager, right?" She said, beginning to walk away, but then looking over her shoulder. "Just remember, she left you once without a second thought. What makes you think she wouldn't do it again?"

And with a toss of her hair, she walked away, leaving her broken best friends shocked into silence. But whoever was holding the camera kept filming.

"Damn it." Mercedes said quietly, running her hand through her hair and trying to hold back the tears that now threatened to overflow. Then, as if she had remembered something, she looked up.

"Kurt, are you ok baby?" She asked, taking his other hand and staring at him until he looked her in the eye. His face was turning red like it always did when he was about to cry.

"I…I guess I should of expected it. But I guess...I just thought…maybe she had changed. That maybe she wouldn't leave this time. And now she hates us?" He said, the tears finally falling. Mercedes' face crumpled, and she pulled him in for a tight hug.

"Do you think she really said those things about us?" Mercedes asked, her voice sounding small for once.

"I…I don't know. I always wondered what I had done wrong before, I guess now I know." He said, lowering his head into her neck. Tina could hardly hear what he said, but it sounded a lot like "I'm a freak." Mercedes eyes snapped open, and she pulled back to look at her friend. Tears were falling steadily down his face now.

"What did you say?" She asked, seeming to be unable to understand how he could think that. He took a shaky breath and tried to speak clearly, but the waver in his voice just wouldn't stay away.

"Quinn's right. Tina's right. Who would ever want to be around me? I'm a freak, I'm a sin by just existing. Why would I ever think anyone would want to be friends with me?" He asked, his voice becoming so small that she could hardly hear him. Mercedes' tears fell faster as she pulled her friend to sit down. He wasn't even annoyed that his pants were getting dirty.

"Hey, don't you ever believe that anything either one of them said was true. Anyone who thinks that you're a sin has obviously never met you. You are one of the most caring, compassionate people I've ever met, and you have awesome fashion sense too. And you forgot that I will always want to be around you. I will always be your friend, and I wouldn't leave you even if you tried to make me. Face it, your stuck with me boo." She said, nudging his shoulder. He laughed weakly, returning the jab.

"You think I couldn't take you on?"

"Oh, I think you could, but you wouldn't win. Plus, you wouldn't. I'm too fabulous to order way."

"You right about that." He said, pulling her into an awkward looking, but warm hug.

"Thanks 'Cedes, your amazing."

"And don't you forget it. Look, let's just settle that we are too fabulous for anyone else to handle and get through the day with our heads held high. Then we can go home and watch crappy chick flicks with a tub of cookie dough ice cream and a bowl full of chips. Sound good?" She asked, leaning in so that she could see her friends face. He looked up and smiled at her, looking genuinely happy even though his face was still red from being so upset and embarrassed.

"Sounds good, but I get to pick the movie this time." He said, making Mercedes laugh. They climbed to their feet, only to be hit with a slushy and pushed back down.

"Get used to it losers, this is high school for ya!"

"Better get a weight loss video, or you're going to fill your own continent!"

"Rainbow is really your color!" They remarked, each throwing another of the cold, sticky drink on her friends. They all moved on, laughing and high fiving each other liked they owned the school. Except for one Joey Halls.

"So I hear you couldn't keep the quietest girl in school around for more than a month. Man, you two must really be losers. Though, maybe she just felt a little crowded by Big, Blonde, and Beautiful." He said, leaning down to get on their level. Not the best idea, as he ended up hurtling backwards when Kurt's foot hit his stomach. He coughed, trying to hid the pain in his eyes as they stood up.

"Screw you Joey, your ego is enough to fill the whole damn room, and you have about as much personality as either one of us has in our pinky." Mercedes said, somehow looking extremely angry and hurt at the same time. Kurt was trying to wipe slush out of his eyes, so he didn't see Joey coming before he shoved him into the locker. Even Tina could see the locker shake with the force, and even though it broke her heart, she wasn't surprised to hear his pained whimper.

"No one is going to make a fool out of me, especially not the resident fairy!" He said, looking angrier than she had ever seen him. Fear went through her as Mercedes grabbed at his arm.

"Get the hell off of him! Just leave us alone!" She yelled, tears falling again. He let go of Kurt, only to shove Mercedes to the ground.

"Why don't you make me? I'm sick of you two acting like you can do whatever you want around here! Someone should teach the two of you a lesson." He said, stalking toward Mercedes and slamming her into the lockers. Her breathing quickened, anticipating the worst.

"No! Leave her alone!" Kurt screamed at him, pulling at his arm to no avail. Finally, when he raised his hand to hit her, Kurt did what he knew would get his attention. He punched him right in the nose. He yelled, bringing a hand to his nose to stop the blood. Then the rage came back into his eyes and he grabbed Kurt by the throat. He didn't say anything, but the cold fury in his eyes was enough. He was past reasoning with now.

"No, stop it! You're going to kill him! Stop it, please!" Mercedes said, full on sobs racking her body as she pulled at the massive jock. But he wasn't moving. Kurt was flailing under him, gasping for air. Oh god, was he really going to kill him? Tina covered her mouth with her hand, realizing her own face was wet with tears.

"Hey, what the hell…Joey, what are you doing?" Finn asked, sounding incredibly shocked as he rounded the corner into the deserted back hallway. Mercedes looked up, looking at Finn like he was a Godsend.

"Finn, help! Please!" She yelled at him, making him move almost automatically into motion. He shoved Joey out of the way, yelling something at him. But Tina wasn't paying attention to him. Her eyes were watching her two best friends. Kurt fell to the floor again, and Mercedes fell with him, holding him tightly as they both cried. She hardly noticed Joey leave, and didn't see Finn standing there awkwardly until the camera started to move.

"Smile dorks! You're on Camera-Camera! And say high to Tina while your at it." Jenna said mockingly from behind the camera. All three were shocked into silence, but when she pushed the camera toward Mercedes, she snapped.

"Get that thing away from me! And if your watching this Tina, I hope your finally happy!" She yelled, tears clotting her voice as she swatted at the camera. But Jenna just laughed and kept it trained on them. Kurt tried to put his mask on again, to act like he didn't care as he pulled himself and Mercedes to their feet. And you would have believed it, if he hadn't have been shaking.

"You people are horrible." He said quietly, more sadness in his voice than anger. They ran down the hall, not looking back as they busted through the front door of the school. Jenna's tinkling laughter filled the screan along with Finn's confused look for a few seconds until the camera turned off. Tina shut the computer, trying to process all that she had seen. She tried to take the DVD out of the drive, but her hands were shaking so much that she dropped it. As she bent to pick it up, she was filled with anger, and she threw the offending object at the wall. With that gone, she felt oddly hollow. She sank to the ground, a sob coming from her throat as she realized what had been done.

"Ah, hell." She said to herself, covering her face with her hands and full out crying. She knew that someone might see her, but she doubted they would and frankly, she didn't really cared. Her two best friends thought she was some kind of horrible monster, and she had just gone on with her life without trying to convince them otherwise. She knew that she had to do something, anything to make this better. But for right now, all she could do was cry about how unfair it was for this to happen to them.

A/N Well, ill admit, this actually was not supposed to be here. I had planned to just skip ahead to the high school after the last chapter, but then I got this amazing review with suggestions and BAM! This came out. No idea where it came from, but here it is. And, it will be continued! So…did you like it? Hate it? Either way, drop me a review! I love them things :P.