The next part…hope you enjoy it. Reviews would be appreciated. After my last story, someone asked me to write more Pezberry friendship…this story will have lots of it, although the friendship part only comes later :)

Count To Ten

Chapter 1

One week earlier…

If one was to compile a list of things that irritated Santana Lopez, a great amount of time would be needed. As it was, on Monday mornings at McKinley High during Spanish (and why was it that she had to attend that class?) Santana Lopez herself had that kind of time. So once a week she worked on that list and let it grow, grow, grow to an infinite length. She didn't think she'd ever use her Spanish class for something else. There were countless things that annoyed her, angered her, made her want to bang her head on a hard surface. Or bang other people's heads on a hard surface. Repeatedly. She liked the list. It was tangible evidence of how much patience and restraint she actually executed each and every day.

Artie making eyes at Brittany, Mr. Schuester being completely oblivious to anything he didn't deem important enough, Finn yet again proving his Finneptitude, Coach Sylvester mocking her, Quinn not getting her head out of her ass. And Rachel Berry. While most other people were featured several times on Santana's list, Rachel's name only came up once. Because other people irritated Santana by what they did and said, but Rachel Berry…that girl was the definition of annoyance, in everything she did and said. She actually deserved her own list, but Santana wouldn't put that much time and effort into something that concerned the diva, not even during her completely useless Spanish class.

But in the hallway after class, after having observed – eavesdropped on – another pointless, forced, completely gone-wrong conversation between the midget and Quinn (if one could even call what the two of them did having a conversation) she considered adding another Rachel bullet to her list. Because while the girl herself was a nuisance, Rachel Berry talking took things to a whole new level.

Before she could think about why on earth she didn't just walk away, her feet had taken her to stand in front of Rachel, who immediatly opened her mouth to say something. Santana held up a hand to stop her, partly because she just didn't care what the smurfette would have to say, and partly because she already had a headache. „Listen, midget, why don't you try something new for a change? Like keeping your mouth shut?"

Rachel raised an eyebrow at the Latina. „Are you referring to my conversation with Quinn?"

„I'm referring to your inability to stay quiet in general." But the thing with Quinn she was curious about, too. Why did they try so much? Hadn't they learned anything from the past years, except new insults and new ways to hurt each other? Granted, it was mostly Rachel trying, but Quinn didn't stop her. Yes, it was their Senior year, and Santana got that no one wanted to part on bad terms. But couldn't they see they were a disaster waiting to happen?

„First of all, that's not new. I keep silent plenty of times when I actually want to say something. I understand that it's not always necessary or even helpful to speak my mind. Second, why are you giving me advice? I thought it was a source of pleasure for you to see me fail at human interaction."

„It is. But it's also a little tiring. Has anyone ever told you it's like groundhog's day with you?"

Rachel's mind flashed back to the band room, Quinn, the Piano, and a conversation she really didn't want to remember. „Yes."

„So why don't you turn a new leaf?"

„I realize my penchant for having faith and hope and saying what I think is considered a character flaw by many people, but as I said, I already refrain from speaking up a lot of times. It's not something I like to do, but I do understand it sometimes makes things easier, if only for others and not for myself."

Ugh…there she went with the chapter-long answers again. „Well, then find some middle ground. Like, I don't know, wait before you say something. Think it over."

„You mean cencor myself?"

Santana rolled her eyes. „No, I guess that would be too much to ask."

„I'd rather say nothing at all than something I don't mean. People already do that too much. I don't want to be a person who says things just to please others. I don't want to pretend."

Really, now? „You don't regret some of the things that come out of your mouth?"

„Why would I? If it was right at the time I said it, if I meant it the moment I said it, why would I regret it later?" Having said her piece, Rachel turned to her locker, expecting Santana to drop the subject and go on with whatever it was that she usually did inbetween classes. Making freshmen cry, catching up on the newest rumours, planning to ruin someone's life, making out with Brittany. All things she'd rather stay away from. But Santana stayed where she was, silently fuming at the diva turning her back, but adamant at getting her point across.

„Maybe later it's not the truth anymore. Mayber later your opinion or facts have changed, and what you said before is not true anymore."

Rachel thought about that. She took pride in the fact that she always spoke from the heart, but Santana had a point – she had said some things in the past that were not true anymore. She had no problem voicing her altered opinion. She didn't mind admitting when something changed and her prior stance did not fit the current circumstances. But maybe none of that was necessary if she didn't comment everything all the time.

„Think before you speak", she muttered to herself.

„Exactly."

„Still, I don't feel comfortable…"

„We can call it Project Count To Ten if you'd feel better about it. Work on your restraint, your patience. See how it works out." Restraint and patience…for Santana, that was her list. For Rachel, it would be ten seconds per statement less speaking. Less headache for everyone around her. She was a genius. If Rachel agreed, Santana would be a hero – getting Rachel to cut down on her rants? Maybe she should try her hand on curing cancer next. Sure, the midget probably wouldn't be able to keep it up for long, but the girl was the epitome of determination. They'd all get at least a couple of days of peace and quiet before she gave up.

For Rachel, Project Count To Ten was a signed deal the moment Santana titelt it as such. Now it wasn't an adjustment of her character anymore, it was a project, and that played right into Rachel's passion. It was something she could plan, organize, have control over.

She wanted to do this.

„Okay?", Santana asked.

A nod.

„You agree?"

Another nod.

„Rachel?" A beat, then „Are you counting to ten in your head?"

A few seconds passed. „Yes, Santana, that is exactly what I was doing."

„Great." The sarcasm was evident, but not biting.

„I'll update you on how it's working."

„If you must."

„Thank you Santana."

„Don't mention it."

„Expressing gratitude for someone's aid is only polite."

„No, I mean it. Don't mention it. To anyone. I have a reputation." With that, she walked away, leaving a contemplative Rachel behind. When she rounded the corner, Brittany was there waiting for her. „What's up?"

„This is going to be so much fun."