*I hope those of you reading are staying with me. I'm sorry about the whole rape scene, but its a part of my development for Santana. I promise I'll make it up to you in upcoming chapters! Addie rocks, your dreams are about to come true ;)*

Chapter 8

I remember waking up later that day. Britt was cuddled up close to me, and was watching me as I slept. She smiled as she noticed my eyes were open. I groaned as pain echoed through my body as I shifted position. Her smile dropped, and concern was obvious on her face. "San, are you going to tell me what happened?"

I studied her face, asking myself the same question. I knew if I told her, she'd want me to get Kyle in trouble. I knew she'd want to take it to the police, or the school or something. If I knew one thing, it was that I never wanted to face him again. And that included taking him to court. If I did that, he'd come back at me even stronger. Or, my terrified mind told me; he'd attack Brittany.

The last thing I could ever want is Brittany being hurt like I had been. I wanted to keep her mind innocent of the hurts of the world. However, I struggled with not telling her because I needed someone to support me through this process. I needed her to hold me, and back me up if I saw him. I needed her so much. So I told her.

She sat, legs crossed, facing me on the bed. As I told the story, her face grew more and more worried, and she reached out to hold my hand. It took all of my strength not to burrow myself close to her and cry and cry. Her touch made something come undone in me, and threatened any strength that I was feeling.

When I was done, I let the tears flow, and she held me once again. I could feel her warm wet tears hitting my head, and sliding down to mix with my own tears. She felt the pain, as I felt it. I knew it would be the same if this is something that had happened to Britt. I would have killed the son of a bitch who touched Britt. My heart would have broken at the loss of safety she must have felt. Just as her heart was now breaking for me.

She kissed my eyes as I cried, gentle, fluttering kisses. Then, one by one, she kissed away the tears as they fell down my face. Then, ever so gently, she kissed my mouth. There was no lust, and no pressure in her kiss. It was simply her way of communicating with me that she loved me, and that she was here for me.

We held each other all day long, talking about Kyle, and what we should do. Britt wanted me to report him, just like I knew she would, but she listened when I told her that wasn't going to happen. She promised me to stay right at my side at school so if he ever did approach me, that she'd be right there.

We spent the weekend planning for any situation and scenario. She slept in my bed every night, and stayed firmly by my side during the day. I had nightmares of him, and they haunted me, but she held me through them, and brought me back to her. She saved me that weekend. I don't know if I could have survived that place on my own.

Monday morning, we woke up early, and covered my black eye with globs and globs of makeup. We then did the same with the bruises on my neck. I still had a slight limp, but nothing like the night it happened. We dressed for school, my skimpy Cheerios uniform barely covering all of my bruises and scrapes. I took a deep breath as we left, one full of unease, shuddering and terrified. Britt stopped me, and held me close. "You are fine baby. I've got you. He isn't going to hurt you like that ever again. I promise. I'll protect you."

We got to school a little later than normal, and made our way down the familiar halls to our lockers. We had long since bullied the kid next to me into switching lockers with Britt, so ours could be side by side.

I relaxed when I didn't spot him, and fell into a conversation with Britt and the new girl Quinn. I finally felt comfortable and safe, and I linked pinkies with Britt, letting her know I still needed her close.

I made it through the whole day without seeing him. I was so relieved. Britt was beside me all day long, and I was beginning to think he couldn't touch me. She offered to give me a ride home, and I excepted, standing beside her car as she went to grab her stuff. Suddenly, someone grabbed my arm and pulled me close to them. My heart ceased up and I felt real fear.

Kyle was standing there, smiling down at me. He had pulled me close to him, and I could smell him, and it made me gag. I tried to push away, but he held on tighter. "I'm glad to finally catch you alone. That dumbass blonde has been attached to your side all day. That was a great time last night Lopez. You were the best lay I've ever had, and that's saying something." He winked at me, oblivious to my distress. "What'd you say you come with me and we can have a good time again?"

I started to really fight then, terrified of the idea of being raped again. I bit and kicked and scratched, but all it seemed to do was make him more angry. His grip on my arm tightened, and I wanted to scream in pain. I gulped down the fear and bile rising in my throat and gathered up my courage. " You will never again see my body, you mamón bastardo (cocky bastard)! You raped me! I never said you could touch me! Leave me alone now, and never talk to me again, or I'll report you!"

Kyle's grip only tightened and he smirked down at me. "I like my girls feisty." I continued to struggle and his grip never slackened. Then he bent down, so his face was even with mine. "I never raped you Lopez. Got that? I simply had sex with the school's slut. No one will believe you."

Suddenly, his head went reeling back, and a look of shock crossed his face. His grip loosened and I pulled free, my arm sore and bruised. A hand touched my shoulder briefly, and I knew it was Brittany. Her fist was cocked back still, from the vicious punch she delivered to his face. "You listen good now asshole. This is my best friend. If you ever even look at her the wrong way ever again, I will report you. I will tell every girl in this school to never talk to you or date you, and tell them that you are a rapist. If you ever touch her again, I will kick your nuts so hard that you won't be able to retrieve them. Got that?" Her tone of voice and force were so shockingly un-Brittany, and I could see the subtle shake of her hands, so I could tell she was scared. But hell, Kyle sure looked scared too.

He shrugged, looking her over, as if weighing what she had said. He then spat on the ground near my feet, looking scornfully at me. "I'll leave you alone Lopez, but only because you are a lousy lay" With that, Kyle walked away and never came near me again.