I am soooo sorry this chapter did that weird thingy that I am not smart enough to describe. I swear this laptop will be the death of me.

Side note: There is a reason Brittany's nickname is Ti, I am not just like changing it or anything . . .

- 1 Year Later -

Loud crappy music blares through the thin wall, jolting me awake. I jump to my feet with the handy switch blade clenched in my fist. In a panic i search for my bed and desk and everything else in my room. I remember as quickly as i forgot that i no longer have that room. It is a shame too, i really miss my Bob Marley poster.

After glaring at everything in the barren living room of my crappy apartment, i drop my hand to my side and rub my face with the other. With that stupid excuse of a beat pounding like a bad hangover, i stumble over to the chipped and dented door. Some idiot is about to get his motherfucking ass kicked by a grumpy teenage girl.

"Jesus Fucking Christ you-" As i swing the door open my words halt. Standing in the door way of my shit hole of an apartment are my own terrible two. Mason and Madison look expectantly at me; smirks plastered on their faces and interest laced in their expressions. I scowl at them before slumping over to my bedroom. Madison quietly follows me into the room. It isn't that they don't talk or anything, usually the two never shut up. Just not in the morning. Morning is good for absolutely nothing and pissing me off in the morning really screws us all over.

The McCarthy twins had been part 2 of my initiation. (Finding someone to pass the 'legacy' on to). I originally thought i would just skip over that part. I mean, why the fuck should I?

But then when I saw some cheerleader scum cornering a scrawny freshman Mason, i couldn't help but scare them off. He and his sister - Madison - began to follow me around and because they dared to do so, no one touched them. After weeks of rudely glaring at the two, i didn't have the heart to send them back into the hell called McKinley High School. So instead, i took them under my wing.

I quickly discard the sweatshirt that had been my sleepwear and tug on jean shorts and a gray long sleeve shirt. Just as i do, Mason walks back through the door with a plastic water bottle. Holding it out to me, my scowl lightens. With that we leave my apartment only stopping to lock it on the way out. The drive is just as quiet on my end while they argue quietly about a class or some shit.

This is the day. I think as we pull into the school. The final part of my initiation - to take them on their first.

A shiver of anticipation rolls through me at the thought. I shouldn't have anything to be worried about though. Everything is set. Shaking off the nerves, i smirk smugly at the twins. "Come on mini freaks."

Technically, walking through the halls of McKinley hasn't really changed much. Last year i had kept up the whole 'cheerleader-bitch' thing for the last couple of weeks for the sake of my parents. Then i was going to ease them up to coming out over break. Unfortunately, it slipped one week into summer. With a smack to my cheek and a warning to stay away from Danny, i was kicked out.

After that i didn't see the appeal of being who i am not. Sure, everyone was shocked on day one, but really the looks never changed. Fear of potential conflict, hate for the image, envy of the rep. None of that changed. It was just that suddenly, the rules don't matter to me. So now when i walk through the halls, all of the stares and whispers that had at one point fueled me just irritate me.

Shooting a glare or two at the loudest of the whisperers or the most obvious of watchers, i make it to class before everybody else. I should probably be at the graduation rehearsal in the gym, but who the fuck wants to go sit through speeches you hate with people you hate when you have to the next day? Not me. So instead I find my seat in the back of some classroom and kick my feet up onto the desk next to me. When the other kids filter into the class i am too concentrated on trying to fall asleep to really notice.

It had seemed that sleep only lasted a few minutes, but sure enough i jump awake to the great slam near me. A whole new set of kids stares discreetly as i glare at a smug looking teacher in front of me. Between us is only the books he dropped on my desk and the hazy irritation emanating from my body.

"What?" I bite with venom dripping from each letter. Interrupting my morning nap is a very deadly thing to attempt. He pulls an office pass out and holds it out to me and drops it on the books.

"Your mom called you to the front." My eyes narrow as he twists and walks down the aisle. Biting my lip i pluck the pass up between my thumb and index finger as if it would spew poison. Why the fuck you she just show up at my school? Actually, why the fuck would she show up?

Without a second thought i stand and stride out of the room. Every step i take only fuels my anger towards her. It isn't until i am pulling to door open that i stop. My mother - the short latina woman with dark hair and winkles - is nowhere in sight. Instead there is a woman with long tan legs ending with torn up running shoes. In front of her face is a magazine. A grin cracks over my face as her piercingly bright blue eyes flicker to me standing in the doorway. The same rush of heat rolls through me as she lowers the magazine to grin mischievously back. By now i am more than used to the heat that courses through me when she is around.

"Come on dear, your father is waiting." What? I furrow my eyebrows and glance toward the secretary who is typing busily on her computer. Not that she'd notice, but obviously she'd know Ti isn't my mom.

"Erm. What are you-" She cuts me off with a shush. I arch my eyebrows at her scolding 'motherly' look.

"Let's go Santana." She huffs, turning on her heels and marching me out the front. I follow curiously as she leads me down the side of the building and to the bleachers. Finally she falls on the couch and smiles once again at me.

"It's ok, we are in the clear." She assures me as if i were worried someone would figure us out. I decide against arguing and choose to instead slump onto the couch next to her. I have no idea how this woman is Brittany Pierce: High school Kickass Extreme or Ti: Worldly Ultimate Adventurer. Seriously, she comes off all intimidating and shit, but then is like too sweet to ever own up to it.

"Are you high?" She bursts into giggles at the question and shakes her head furiously.

"Maybe." She sings, winking at me. I cross my arms in mock disappointment and she rolls her eyes. Holding her hands up she groans. "I took like one hit this morning mom. I swear."

"If San is a mom, you are a grandmother." My eyes snap up to the new voice in front of us. A shaggy headed Evans and a grinning Boy-Chang are standing there - teasing smirks in tact. I jump up and they throws their arms around my shoulders in some kind of a strange hug. I haven't really seen either of them since October when they thought it would be a good idea to take me to Montana for some good old fashion hiking. Suddenly mountain lions seemed a lot more threatening. Either way, all three of us got closer.

"Evans. I thought you were trying to get to Spain or something?" Ti mumbles happily stretched over the couch. Evans chuckles and runs his fingers through his hair.

"I was, but Cedes had never seen the Auroras before." He sounds so enthusiastic about it, i don't even have to know what those are or who Cedes is to smile happily at him. He dives into their end-of-winter trek to some place in Canada where they saw the sky light up in colors. Though i nod along with his words all i can seem to think about is the far away glimmer in Ti's eyes. It's the kind of glimmer that comes with a good memory. I almost want to interrupt him and ask her about it, but someone else interrupts for me.

"Wow Lopez. Who know you could wear anything other than that god-awful skirt?" My eyes snap to the speaker and widen considerably. A tanned gold-edition Quinn is grinning wildly at me. There is no hesitation as i jump up and wrap my arms tightly around her shoulders. I haven't seen her since the day she graduated, but she sent about a hundred letters to me telling me all about everything.

"You're blonde?" Smart first words right? Somewhere behind me Ti snorts, but i just pull away to inspect Quinn closer. She looks pretty much the same as she did a year ago, differing physically only in skin tone and dye-free hair. Though she looks like she always did, something is definitely different. Her shoulders are straighter and her stance is less tense. Really she looks like she has been relieved of heavy weights or something. Even in her smirk there is a certain lightness to her.

"What did you think my hair was naturally pink?" Her good natured tease keeps me from either blushing or shoving her. We sit happily on the couch with Ti on my right and Quinn on my left. The boys stretched out on the grass before us. For the most part, i ignore all of the students in gym class. Nobody attempts to venture too close to here because of the reputation Ti possessed when she was still here. Not that anyone knew she was here. It isn't until voices get louder that i realize they are getting really close.

"She is really pretty and smart though." Mason McCarthy argued. I jerk up into sitting straight.

"A week ago you were still head over heels for Santana." Madison deadpanned, they are getting so close every second. I jump to my feet and sprint from behind the bleachers to the front, hopefully hiding my friends. Originally i had planned on kidnapping them after school, but as soon as they see me with my friends it is pointless to kidnap.

"Santana?" I am not sure who says my name, but they both stare in surprise.

"Yes." I scowl expectantly. I scowl normally right? Is this too much? Shaking my head, i roll my eyes at this nervous behavior. "What do you two want?"

They look at each other weirdly before looking back to me. "To skip gym on the couch?"

"Yeah. ." I shift on my feet and scratch at my arm trying to think of a way to send them away. Before i can think of one though, i hear a quiet snort from behind me. Fine, if they wanted to laugh at me than we can just move on with this whole kidnapping thing.

Twisting around, i strut back to the bleachers. Rounding the side, i see the boys pressed up against the side. In front of me Quinn and Ti stand snickering smugly. I roll my eyes and shove them lightly. I almost retort to their obvious amusement of my discomfort, but the moment is ruined before i can open my mouth.

"Santana?" I twist around at Madison's voice. They stand there staring at me and the other two flanking both of my sides.

"Where are the skirts?" Ti asks, silliness laced though her words. I smirk, but keep my eyes on the twins. Both look scared shitless, like the first time i scared the cheerleaders away from Mason.

"No more Cheerio's for you to flirt shamelessly with." My surprised gaze snaps to Quinn at the statement she said with such confidence.

"Shove off Fabray." Ti's terse tone doesn't display any of the embarrassment that is coloring her face. Her attention snaps back to the twins and nods. The boys lurch forward and wrestle the freshmen heads into pillow cases. Though i hear the scene unfold, I can't tear my eyes away from Ti to look. The blush in her cheeks hasn't faded, but she grins mischievously as the first stage of kidnapping.