A/N: First thing's first- much love to MK300, LiveLoveLaughLife, Yum, LittleMissCheese and sparklylulz for their reviews. I love to know people are reading, it gives me a confidence boost to keep posting!
Once again, I welcome any ideas/suggestions/predictions you might have. In fact, I relish them. Makeovers may be like crack to Kurt, but reviews are like crack to me!
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing. Sadly.
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"Are we feeling excited this morning?" Mr Schue asked the group assembled before him, excitement riddling his voice. "Cos I know I am!"
"Let me get back to you in a few hours," Mike grumbled. "When I can, you know, open my eyes."
"Why do we have to leave so early, Mr Schue?" asked Kurt. "I have a strict dermatological regime which involves eight solid hours of beauty sleep. My pores are going to be huge, so this trip better be worth it."
"Amen," Santana mumbled. Mr Schue smirked and glanced around at the ragtag group, all of whom were in various states of exhaustion. Matt, Puck, Finn and Mike carried sports bags. Artie had a large rucksack perched on his lap. Tina, in full gothic garb even at five thirty in the morning, had a large black overnight bag. Santana and Quinn both had small, expensive-looking suitcases, while Brittany had a My Little Pony case. Rachel held a bright pink bag covered in gold stars. Kurt and Mercedes were both hauling luggage that resembled small trailers rather than suitcases. Every student also held a sleeping bag, and it was strange to see Brittany and Santana in clothes other than their regulation Cheerios uniforms. Will thought it almost looked like there was a part of them missing.
"Mr Schuester?" Rachel piped up. She had already taken various mineral supplements, so Will had been waiting for her to perk up. As usual, she was right on cue. "What are we waiting for?"
"Miss Pillsbury is coming with us," Will explained. A chorus of groans broke out; the kids knew Emma meant well, but none of them particularly wanted a lecture on cleanliness during the two hour trip to Lake Witkeel. Even Rachel, who considered good personal hygiene an admirable trait in any person, didn't have the stomach for an in-depth analysis of spring cleaning before breakfast. Will frowned at his students. "Guys, Miss Pillsbury is doing us a favour here. Play nice."
This last seemed particularly directed at Puck, but the football player didn't have the energy to protest his innocence or even affect a mischievous smirk. He raised his hand in lazy acknowledgement, then went back to leaning his head against the school wall. Santana and Brittany flopped down on the front steps as one and the blonde cheerleader rested her head on the shoulder of her Latina companion. Mercedes thrust an iPod earbud at Kurt and the pair of them began to listen carefully, no doubt plotting a bedazzling performance to topple Rachel from her throne, while Artie and Tina gave in to a PDA which Will pointedly ignored.
Finally, after what felt like hours, Emma's small car whizzed into the car park. The pretty redhead emerged from the vehicle with a stricken expression on her face, hands fluttering anxiously.
"Oh Will, I'm so sorry I'm late!" she exclaimed in a high-pitched voice. "There was an emergency. I had to find a new sitter for Mr Cuddles when Mrs O'Donnell said she thought my request to sterilise his milk was unreasonable and then-"
"Emma, breathe," Will reminded her gently. "Don't sweat it, it's no problem, is it guys?"
He shot the glee kids his best badass look and they chorused their agreement in glum unison. Emma sighed with relief.
"Oh… oh well that- that's good," she said, with an attempt at a smile. "I mean, thanks."
"Well, now that we're all here," Will grinned. "Let's get going. Lake Witkeel won't wait forever! Figgins sanctioned the use of the wheelchair-accessible bus, so load in your belongings and grab a seat."
He threw his own small bag into the luggage compartment and then hoisted Emma' in. He held onto his ukulele in its neat case. Slowly, lethargically, the kids followed suit. Like Will, Puck opted to keep his instrument with him. Will found it endearing that this consummate tough-guy cared so much about his guitar.
One by one, they clambered on board. Finn and Mike stayed back to help Artie manoeuvre his chair into the lift. Up front, a sullen driver chewed gum and wore a bored expression beneath his peaked cap. Will and Emma sat together a couple of rows ahead of the kids. Santana, Mike, Brittany and Matt occupied the back row of seats. Kurt and Mercedes, popular by association due to their recent stints as Cheerios, sat in front of them. Brittany was tugging playfully on Kurt's mint-green chenille hat as the camp fashionista squirmed. In front of McKinley's answer to Trinny and Susannah were Tina and Artie. Across the aisle, Puck and Quinn sat together in awkward silence. A tentative relationship had formed between the two since they had given Beth up for adoption, neither willing to have things move too fast. But Puck had given up sexting other girls, so it was clear that he was finally taking this seriously. Rachel was alone behind them, knees drawn up onto the seat and reading The New Amsterdam: The Biography of a Broadway Theatre.
"Is this seat taken?"
Rachel looked up to see the tall form of Finn Hudson hovering beside her, a lopsided smile on his face. She felt a blush begin to heat her face.
"I- no, no of course not! Sit down!"
Finn's smile grew wider and he folded himself into the seat next to Rachel. A moment later, the bus sputtered to life with an almighty jolt. Kurt and Rachel both bounced about a foot in the air, much to Puck's amusement. Rachel blushed again, but the male soprano merely shot him a withering glance and fixed his hair with supreme indifference. Finn smirked appreciatively. Typical Kurt.
"What you reading?" he asked Rachel as the bus puttered along lethargically. The diminutive diva held up the heavy hardback book so that he could see the title. "I've never read it."
"Finn, have you ever read anything?" Rachel smiled knowingly. The tall quarterback shrugged sheepishly.
"I read magazines sometimes… at least, I look at the pictures."
A light sigh fluttered from Rachel's cherubic lips. "Finn Hudson, we need to get you cultured."
The long yellow coach chugged along the road as dawn began to break. Green hedges zipped past on either side as they began to pick up speed, occasionally broken by the shabby paintwork of an old farmhouse or the giant white form of a motor home. Rachel concentrated furiously on her thick book as her fellow students chattered in hushed voices. In front of her, Puck's shaven head lolled against the window and he snored softly. Quinn's small porcelain hand lay intertwined with his. Behind her, she could hear Mike tapping out a beat with his feet and hands as Santana and Matt sang.
"Uh, Rachel?" Mercedes called across the aisle. Unwillingly, Rachel looked up. "Is our boy OK?"
Rachel glanced at Finn and immediately realised what Mercedes was talking about. He was sitting bolt upright with his eyes clenched tightly shut. His knuckles were white as he made fists and an unhealthy green tinge washed over his features.
"Finn," she said gently, prodding his broad forearm. "Finn, what's wrong?"
"Carsick," he grunted and a pitiful moan slipped through his pursed lips.
"Did you take something before we left?" asked Mercedes. He shook his head no. "Alright, I'll go see if Mr Schue has some tablets or somethin'."
As she made her way up the narrow bus aisle, Rachel picked up her handbag and began to rummage in it noisily. She withdrew a pair of ballet pumps, a bottle of perfume, a couple of carob bars, a photo of Barbra Streisand in a gold gilt frame and finally a bottle of golden liquid which she presented to Finn with a flourish.
"Ginger ale," she proclaimed proudly. "I always carry a bottle with me, one of my two gay dads has a weak stomach. Drink small sips, alright?"
Finn nodded shakily and did as he was told.
"Do you want to sit next to the window?" Rachel asked him. "I can open it and you can get some air."
Finn nodded again and Rachel stood up to let him swap seats with her. She bit her lip and watched him anxiously as he breathed heavily through his nose. After a couple of moments, she asked cautiously, "Any better?"
"A bit," said Finn in a weak voice. He opened his eyes and smiled at her. "Thanks Rach."
"You should try to get some sleep," she suggested. "I think I have a neck pillow in here somewhere…"
"Rach," Finn interrupted her monologue gently. "I don't need a pillow. I'm fine, really."
"I- oh, well OK then," said Rachel. She felt stupid, not to mention hyper-aware of the fact that her hand had crept out of its own accord to stroke Finn's comfortingly. She immediately made to pull it away, but Finn held firm.
"Do you mind?" he asked in a quiet, shaky voice. Rachel felt her breath catch in her chest.
"Uh… no! No, of course not!" she exclaimed. Her cheeks flamed spectacularly and she got a sudden feeling that this trip was going to be really terrific.
Just then Mercedes, who had been deep in conversation with Will and Emma, let out a startled shout. Every head on the bus turned towards her.
"Turn the radio up!" she called to the bus driver, her tone frantic. He complied with a disgruntled snort and Mercedes motioned to the others to be quiet.
"The close-knit community of Carmel High School is reeling today after a horrific double blow," the female news reporter was saying. "News broke yesterday of the death of senior Candace Wallis in a freak accident. Candace, the female lead in the school's multi- award winning showchoir Vocal Adrenaline, was decapitated by a length of wire after entering a photo booth to take photos for a modelling agency."
"I remember her," said Tina in a hushed voice. "The pretty black girl." She lapsed into silence again as the news reader continued her report.
"In a new twist to the story, former Carmel High student Jesse St James was discovered in his home this morning. Jesse, who was home for spring break from UCLA, where he is on a full academic scholarship to study musical theatre, was found tied to the wall of his bedroom. He was badly beaten and had the words 'Looks like you really are on the highway to hell' carved into his skin. Toxicology reports have revealed that Jesse was heavily sedated prior to the attack. He has lost a lot of blood, and is currently in a comatose condition in St Saviour's Hospital. Doctors are refusing to comment on the likelihood of his survival. This brutal attack has sparked rumours that the death of Candace Wallis was in fact premeditated, and that a serial killer is at work. While police are denying these rumours completely, they are urging anyone with information about either incident to come forward immediately. In other news, Lima resident Kathleen Lewinski has placed fourth in the National Vegetable Society's National Championship with her prize-winning radishes…"
The driver turned the radio off and a deathly silence fell over the group. Rachel could feel every eye on the bus locked on her, but she wasn't really concerned about that. All she could think of was Jesse, lying in a hospital bed somewhere close to death, and Candace, the girl who had thrown eggs and taunted her, lying on a slab in the morgue. A cold shiver rippled through her.
"Rach, are you alright?" Finn asked anxiously, squeezing her hand.
"I-I'm fine," she replied, her voice trembling with suppressed emotion.
"Rachel," Will said as he strode down the aisle towards her. "Do you want to go home? Or call your dads? Or Shelby?"
"No thank you," whispered Rachel.
"Are you sure?" the Spanish teacher pressed. "This is pretty big. You and Jesse-"
"Went out for a while, but ended it," Rachel finished firmly. "Mr Schue, I want to go on the trip. I want to stay with my team."
"If you're sure…" Will trailed off uncertainly.
"I am. Honestly," Rachel told him, her tone carefully matter-of-fact. "Why wouldn't I be? It's not like I still care for Jesse."
"OK then," sighed Will. He locked eyes with Finn. "Take good care of her," he told the teenager. Finn nodded and squeezed Rachel's hand again as Will made his way back up to Emma.
"You sure you're OK Rach?" Finn asked her in a gently probing voice.
"Yes Finn, I'm sure. I'm fine. I'm fine," she repeated, as though saying this would convince him. Or convince herself. She shrank into Finn's strong, patient arms and continued to repeat the words in her head. Perhaps if she just didn't think about Jesse and what had happened to him and that Candace girl, she could pretend it had never happened at all. Perhaps she could make it alright. After all, she was telling the truth; she didn't care about Jesse, not at all. Try as she did, she couldn't shake the feeling of nausea in the pit of her stomach which had nothing to do with travel sickness.
When the bus pulled to a stop after a steep upward climb into the mountains on a rocky, unsteady trail, Rachel bolted from her seat with lightning speed. She breathed in the cold mountain air gratefully as the rest of the group clambered out of the bus. Another shiver ran through her, and she had the curious feeling of being watched. She brushed it off, attributing it to the range of conflicting emotions running through her veins, and hurried to follow the others down the winding dirt track leading to the lodge they would be staying in.
Unbeknownst to Rachel, the first steps of a devious plan had just fallen into place. Candace Wallis was dead. Jesse St James was on the threshold.
It had begun.
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And so it begins. I'd love to hear some early predictions about what's going to happen and who's the killer, so please drop me a line in a review! Thanks for reading, and the creepy factor will be taken up a notch soon, I promise!