Flip, flip, flip, flip.
Rachel spun in the air, counting the seconds before she would have to stop to be caught. 3, 2, 1. She righted herself, and thought light thoughts as she fell into the basket Quinn and Brit had made for her.
"Nice Berry!" Coach Sue called through the megaphone.
Rachel felt herself smiling, and pulled Brittany and Quinn in for an awkward hug that wasn't as awkward as it could have been.
"Go shower! You all stink like the dingos I used to house in my basement for fighting!"
Rachel laughed, and ran towards the showers. They had been at practice for two hours now, and she couldn't wait to see how everybody reacted to seeing her in a Cheerios uniform. She finished up quickly, and put her uniform on, tying her drying hair up into a tight ponytail at the top of her head. Santana joined her not long after, curling her hair once it had dried so that it looked like hers, Brits, and Quinns.
"So I hear we're all having a sleepover at Q's tonight." Santana tried to start conversation. "Yeah. I've got my pajamas and everything." Rachel said, excited.
Santana laughed deviously. "You won't be needing those." She said vaguely, and refused to say any more on the subject. "Your hair is done."
Rachel spun and looked in the mirror. She looked like she belonged in a Cheerio uniform. Her hair was perfect, her uniform fit perfectly. It was astounding.
"Thank you, Santana. While I realize-" She started, then was cut off by the other girl.
"Not one of your rants, Berry. I don't think I can handle it." She waved her hands in the air over-dramatically, showing that she was kidding.
"Rachel." She corrected her. "It's only fair; I've called you Santana since I met you."
"I'll call you whatever I want to call you, Rachel." Santana smirked before heading over to Brittany.
Quinn swayed over to Rachel. "It's your first walk as Cheerio." She said with a flourish in her step. "That means you have to do it alone. Watch the crowds. If you do it right, they part for you."
Rachel nodded, intent on her task. She'd seen other cheerleaders take this walk; it happened as if in slow motion. She checked her hair and uniform in the mirror one last time before heading out, chin held hight. The halls were packed by now, school was about to start. Quinn was right. Everybody parted around her, starting at her. Jacob Ben Israel had a glazed look on his face and drool leaking out of his mouth. Then Rachel Berry did something that she had never done before. She smirked at the people in the hall, some of whom had been her most dedicated tormenters. Then somebody snatched her arm and pulled her into a much emptier hallway.
Rachel took in a breath to scream, then looked up. She exhaled slowly.
"What do you want, Puckerman?" She asked, hostility clear in her voice.
He ignored her question. "What are you doing? Have you finally gone off the deep end?" He asked in an accusitory tone. "I mean, we all knew it would happen sometime, but we had bets. I said early 30's, Artie said high school. Artie won! Damn it!"
"Noah, what are you talking about?" She had been slightly irritated before, now she was downright angry.
"Stealing a Cheerio's uniform? That's grounds for execution, on Sue's authority!" He grimaced. "I'm sorry. I can't save you from this."
Now she was angry, and slightly hurt. "I didn't steal the uniform! I tried out and made the team!"
"Rachel!" Quinn jogged over, slightly frustrated herself. "Why aren't you doing your walk? It's tradition! You have to do the walk!"
"I was trying! This moron dragged me over here and accused me of going off the deep end and stealing a uniform!" Rachel pointed to Puck, who was standing with a shocked look on his face.
"Puck!" Quinn scolded. "You interupted her walk! And insulted a Cheerio! You're a target now, Puckerman. For all of us."
He scoffed, momentary surprise forgotten. "I think you've forgotten; I've slept with the majority of the Cheerios. Not all of them will turn against me."
"If the times you slept with them was like the time you slept with me, it'll be easier than I thought to get them to casterate you." Quinn smiled innocently at Puck, then turned to Rachel. "Come on. You have to finish your walk. Unfortunately, we'll have to do it together-we're going to the same class."
Quinn turned, and Rachel felt herself being dragged by the wrist by the admittedly stronger girl.
She turned back to look at Puck one more time, and saw him walking in the other direction, shoulders up and head down.