After picking up ice cream with Heather they drove home. It was a quiet drive but not awkward. Soft music was playing in the background. Rachel sighed in slight content happy to feel at ease with Heather. Heather didn't judge her, or ask too many questions, or press her when she was trying to talk. And she didn't push her when she needed her space which is something far too many people did when Rachel wanted be okay. When Rachel got home she grabbed her ice cream and went downstairs to the basement where some old instruments and a bed where. She would go there as an escape to sing and be alone when she needed her space. There were here notebooks, an old guitar, a semi out of tune piano, a few amps, a drum set, and a few electric basses and guitars. Turns out Brittany's dad used to play a lot of instruments in his day. Now Rachel would use this space as her own. She could sing, blast music, scream, and do whatever she wanted down there because no one would be able to hear her. So as soon as she got through the door she locked it behind her knowing that if she was needed they would text her or call her. She dropped all her things and sat on the bed grabbing the acoustic guitar. She practiced a song she wanted to sing for glee club tomorrow. So she stayed down there for a few hours just enjoying her time alone and strumming the guitar as she thinks about her life and all the changes she has had. She was happy that when she returned upstairs for food they didn't push her to talk about her therapy session. They understood that that was her time to say whatever she needed even if it wasn't with them.
When it was time for all of the girls to go to bed, Quinn and Santana of coarse stayed over, they changed and cuddled in Brittany's oversized bed with Rachel and Santana as the little spoons in the middle and Brittany and Quinn being the big spoons on the outside of the bed.
"Guys?" Rachel whispered.
She got a collective but quiet "hmmm" as a response.
"Thanks for helping me today after the slushie bath…." Rachel whispered quietly. She felt Quinn pull her in impossibly closer to her body and hold her tighter. She also felt Santana and Brittany put their arms around her.
"Rachie you're stuck with us okay?" Brittany said. "We're sorry that we weren't there to protect you today and trust me this will never happen again." She said her voice not at all as bubbly and friendly as it always was which shocked Rachel slightly.
"You guys can't watch me every second of everyday…. It was bound to happen sometime." Rachel said.
"Ray that's the point it shouldn't happen. And I feel so bad that I am the reason it does happen and when we finish with the football team no one will ever consider looking at you the wrong way." Quinn said.
"I couldn't have said it better myself Q!" Santana said.
"Just don't get in trouble. No violence." Rachel said yawning. They never agreed to no violence but feel asleep all cuddled into each other.
The next day Rachel woke up to an empty bed. She yawned and checked the time realizing it was 7:30 and she had overslept. She rushed into the shower deciding to just throw on a pair of cargo skinny jeans, a jean button down and her Dr. Martens. Twenty minutes later Rachel threw her hair in a messy ponytail and went downstairs to see none of the girls but Heather in sight.
"Hey Ducky they said to meet them at school so I'll drop you to school okay?" Rachel just nodded grabbing some fruit salad from the fridge and following Heather outside.
Walking to her locker Rachel stopped short and her jaw dropped. She saw everyone of the football team members standing at her locker with black eye's, broken noses, and various bruises and she knew exactly who was behind this. She starred at them wide eyed just waiting to see what was going to happen.
"Rachel, we are very sorry that we went against Santana, Quinn, and Brittany's rules and gave you a slushie bath. We should have never done that and we want to say that it will never happen again." They all said in unison as they stared straight ahead with fear in their eyes looking at the three girls behind Rachel. Rachel couldn't believe what she was hearing. She blinked a few times and pinched herself to make sure she wasn't actually dreaming. After a minute or so when she realized she was indeed awake she nodded her head and open and closed her mouth. When she finally found her voice she told the boys that they could go and thanked them for apologizing. She then spun around and gave the three girls a disapproving look and shook her head.
"I told you guys no violence. You know I hate it and what if you got in trouble?"
Brittany pouted and opened her arms for Rachel to step into so she could give Rachel a hug. Quinn and Santana covered their mouths so Rachel wouldn't see them laugh because there was no way Rachel would resist the look on Brittany's face. Rachel sighed and smiled stepping into Brittany's arms for a hug.
"How exactly did you manage to beat up all those guys?" Rachel asked peeking up from Brittany's arms.
"Coach S helped us with that one. We got three paintball guns and an ass load of paintballs. We stole all of their clothes and got Coach to distract Coach Beiste. Then we shut off all the lights and had a little fun. When they were down we coated them in slushie and made sure they knew not to mess with you." Santana said.
"As much as I hate violence…. That is pretty cool." Rachel said. Brittany released her hold on Rachel and gave her piggy back ride to their first class. The rest of the day went smoothly.
-CUT TO GLEE-
"Mr. Schue I… I have a song." Rachel said after she raised her hand. Everyone was surprised because Rachel hadn't sung in a long time. She got up, grabbed the acoustic guitar and hopped on the stool in the middle of the room and motions for Tina to join her. When they were both situated she begins to play.
She sits him down in a stiff chair
Rubs his back and strokes his hair
Telling him it's okay to cry
But he just sits and stare
The merciless moon outside
Has nothing now he's come to realize
Only the desolation he feels
The cold distance inside
But you and I now
We can be alright
Just hold on to what we know is true
You and I now
Though it's cold inside
Feel the tide turning
While the priest just sits and weeps
Lamenting the fact that he can see
Darkness and light in so much detail
He has given himself over
Refusing what he knows to be real
He turns away from every meal
Starving himself of goodness
He doesn't think he can heal
But you and I now
We can be alright
Just hold on to what we know is true
You and I now
Though it's cold inside
Feel the tide turning
"What if I've lost all I had?"
Says the stranger to his dad
And the witness is confused
He can't tell what is bad
Instead he runs up to the nearest girl
And he comments on her glorious curls
Says, "Darling come with me
I'll show you a whole new world"
But you and I now
We can be alright
Just hold on to what we know is true
You and I now
Though it's cold inside
Feel the tide turning
You and I now
We can be alright
Just hold on to what we know is true
You and I now
Though it's cold inside
Feel the tide turning
Everybody clapped and after that performance.
"Rachel, Tina, that was wonderful." Mr. Schue said as they went back to their seats.