Then the boy kissed her, and it was amazing. Sparks flew between their lips and she could taste them. But then she came back to reality and pulled back. The boy had a dreamy look in his eyes. "What's your name?" He asked. She contemplated with herself for a moment before she leaned in close.
"Rachel." She whispered in his ear.
Rachel Berry, 20, walked slowly back to her apartment. Her mind was racing and reeling. That night had been a nightmare. What was she doing going around and kissing men who were supposed to be marrying the woman they loved? She was a stripper and all but that was just low. But he was really cute, and she had to admit she felt something when they had kissed. No, no, She thought. He was just another guy, and she was just another stripper. There was nothing between them, and that was that.
Then she had to go and meet with her boss, which was by far the worst part of the evening. She shuddered thinking about it. The way he looked at her, talked to her. It was sickening.
Rachel opened the door to her apartment and tossed her bag onto the kitchen counter. She looked at the clock. 3:07. Another late night, or morning, or night, or whatever.
A light flicked on in the living room. Caught. "Where have you been? We got home hours ago." The three girls from the strip club where sitting on the couch.
"Santana I just had a late night. It's no big-" The girl called Santana cut her off.
"No big deal? Rachel this is the third time this week the boss has kept you after. How many times have you been called to stay after Brittany?" The blonde girl next to her shook her head. "How about you Sugar?" The other girl also shook her head. "This is a huge deal Rachel."
Rachel moved through the kitchen and opened the fridge. "It seriously isn't a big deal. Nothing happens."
"Nothing happens my ass. Rachel we have all seen the bruises." Rachel froze. She subconsciously tugged her sleeves a little farther down her arm, gently covering her wrist. All of a sudden her abdomen and sides began to ache. She straightened up, holding a carton of milk, she calmly poured herself a glass.
"I don't know what you're talking about." This made Santana angry. She dragged Rachel away, her glass of milk flying and shattered on the floor. Rachel was put before a mirror in the hallway. Santana ripped off Rachel's jacket. Santana gasped but then composed herself. Up and down her arms were deep blue and black bruises. They looked like the shape of hands and large fingers.
"It's really nothing." Rachel tried to grab her jacket back but Santana held it away. Brittany came up behind Santana and stared at Rachel, appalled.
"Rachel, this is worse than the other times. It looks like you've been raped," Brittany said in a small voice. Rachel snatched her jacket away from Santana and put it back on. Then she made her way out the door again.
"Wouldn't be the first time." she said before slamming the door shut behind her.
Finn and Puck got back to Finn's apartment around 3 in the morning. After a few hours in the strip club they decided to go out for late night drinks. They were slightly hammered, Puck more than Finn. They both collapsed onto the sofa. Puck pushed Finn to the floor. Finn was too tired to pick himself up so he just lay there and stared at the ceiling.
After sighing Puck rolled to his side on the couch and looked down at Finn. "So how did you like that stripper..."
"Rachel." Finn said her name dreamily. All he could think about was her and those beautiful eyes though. But that is what confused him. How could her eyes be so beautiful yet so empty? They looked as if they had seen death first hand. They looked broken.
"So how was she?"
Finn was a little shocked. "What?"
"How far did you get?"
"Oh well she danced on me. And we kissed..."
"You guys kissed? Cute. What are you? 6th graders?"
"Shut up man. She seemed nice." Finn rolled over on his side, "I felt this type of thing between us. You know like in Harry Potter how Voldemort and Harry's wands have that connection. It felt like that. Like fireworks and rain at the same time." Finn rolled back over and looked back up at Puck. He was lying on his side, drool dripping from his mouth. Large, thunderous snores escaped from Pucks lips. Finn rolled his eyes, turned over and went to sleep.
Santana thought she heard the front door open. She gently got out of her bed and tiptoed to the kitchen. The clock glowed 5:47. She saw Rachel's jacket slung across the back of a counter stool. The glass shards were still a mess on the floor.
Santana walked slowly down the hall. She stopped and pushed open the door. On the bed was a collapsed Rachel Berry. She looked positively drunk. Santana crept across the floor and turned Rachel over. Even in sleep she looked hammered.
Santana lifted and placed Rachel comfortably on her side and tucked her blankets in all around her. Then Santana crawled onto Rachels bed too. She put herself so they would sleep back to back. She reached over and took Rachel's hand.
Rachel inhaled deeply and grasped Santana's hand tighter. Santana whispered "I will always be here for you,"
"There is so much you need to know,"
"You can tell me everything,"
Rachel sighed, and before she fell into a drunken sleep she managed out a slurred "Thank you."