Chapter 5

You ever love somebody so much you can barely breathe
When you're with 'em
You meet and neither one of you even know what hit 'em
Got that warm fuzzy feeling
Yeah, them chills you used to get 'em
Now you're getting fucking sick of looking at 'em

Once the cops left they started to plan the video in earnest, shooting locations, sequences, how they could get everything set up without everyone in town knowing what they were doing. Rachel wanted to film part of it at the school, some at the store, and she wanted the bruises to be seen periodically, so people would know, would see throughout the video that this wasn't just a tempestuous love affair, that it was real, painful, dangerous and that it could happen to anyone.

Artie nodded and began to lay out a plan, a schedule of sorts, as Rachel's bruises faded they'd be able to film the earlier scenes, so they'd be working backwards in some ways but she was adamant that the bruises be real.

"I want this to be truth," She said quietly. "I know it isn't all true, Noah won't be the one who hit me and if anyone says he did I'll," Rachel had cast a quick look at Puck and frowned fiercely. "I will set them straight with a hockey stick if I have to. But Noah would never hit me. Would never hit a girl. He couldn't even hit Kurt."

Puck had shifted uncomfortably but changed the subject, "So we could use my house for some of the scenes I think." He suggested, "It's a little more run down, especially in the basement, it's not finished up real nice like Rachel's so it could work as a seedy apartment, got an old bed down there, I stay on it when my nana comes to visit."

"So we've got the hallways at school, the grocery store, Rachel's porch, your house," Artie listed the locations. "How about that park near here?" He suggested, "It's got swings and stuff, could get you two on them, passing a bottle back and forth..." He frowned, "I really don't want us in trouble for underage drinking though."

Rachel shrugged, "I'm pretty sure after martinis tonight that the bottle of Stoli will be empty. I'll ask my dads if I can have it as a prop."

"Rachel, do they know?" Puck asked worriedly, "I mean they aren't gonna see me and think I-"

"No!" She shook her head violently and winced, "No, I told them...I told them when I went to the hospital. I had to call from the emergency room. Daddy nearly..." Rachel took a deep breath and Artie watched her eyes cloud over with tears she refused to let fall, "I thought Daddy would have a heart attack. They went with me to the police station. The only reason they're not home today is so they can have Monday off when we go to court."

"That's something I'd like to have filmed, if possible," Artie wondered if they could get any shots. "I don't know if we'd be able to use it but even a shot of you outside the courthouse, or talking to the police..."

"Flashes you mean?" Rachel asked thoughtfully, "Like memories?"

"Yeah, sort of...we've seen the marks on your face, we'll see the passion of the relationship, and we'll see bits and pieces of the aftermath even if it's never really a full on story," Artie nodded. "I wish I'd had the camera with me today."

"Well I can always ask Detective Espinosa if she'll come by the house and mock up taking my statement," The tiny diva supposed. "She was really supportive about pressing charges."

"See if she will, tell her I can blur her face, keep her in profile and vague if she doesn't want to really appear in the video," Artie nodded. "I'll make up a schedule, we can scout locations tomorrow, see what sort of angles we'll need, and I'll pick up the equipment on Monday."

Rachel nodded her agreement, "Just text or email us and let us know," She suggested. "I don't have to tell the two of you about the song. But if you want to both sing...I'll leave it to you to work out how to divide up the lyrics."

"Could do 'em in unison," Artie suggested. "Two voices, layering over each other, it would reinforce the message." He looked at Puck thoughtfully, "Could be a good sound."

Author's Note: Sorry this is so short. I've got the next one being edited and it should be up pretty quick. Forgive me and I'll try to be as quick as I can.