a/n: This chapter really sucks because I pretty much wrote it in thirty minutes. I was going to add some more but the end seemed like a good time to cut this chapter off, despite its length. Most future chapters will hopefully be a little longer than these first two since they're only setting up the scene. I really don't have anything more to say… yeah. I like zebras. I also haven't slept in 37 hours. CURSE YOU, INSOMNIA! *snore*

warnings: I don't think there's any for this chapter! I was going to angst a little bit but then I ended up getting Alex Day's "Good Morning Sunshine" stuck in my head and that kind of bashed that idea to pieces, yeah? *more snoring*

disclaimer: I DON'T OWN GLEE, OKAY? STOP YELLING AT ME! *too much snoring*

Bold = Santana's texts

Italic = Quinn's texts

My family has always been a bit… odd.

Mother and father are what most people would call old-fashioned. If someone ever did want to have a sleepover with me or I was invited to a party, I doubt they'd let me go. I honestly don't care much since that's never going to happen, though the thought of it does aggravate me a little. They're ridiculously overprotective and I've never done anything to prove that they should be. If I really did want to go out with some friends, who were they to stop me?

Shaking my head, I lifted a spoonful of mashed potatoes to my mouth, "The food is really good, mom. Thank you."

She nodded politely in response, looking a tad bit lost in her own thoughts. I wasn't surprised. She and dad had been fighting a lot lately and she always got worked up over their little spats. Sometimes I wished that they'd just either work it out or get divorced but I've never voiced my concerns. It's their marriage and that's really not any of my business. Part of me knows that neither is ever going to happen but that doesn't make seeing my mother like this any less painful.

"How was your day, Lucy?"

I wasn't a big fan of my father, though I'd admit in a second that I did hold love for him somewhere in my heart. He's a very angry man, angry and incredibly closed-minded. Before you start getting ahead of yourself, he's never done anything to me. I couldn't ever imagine him hitting his own daughter or his wife, for that matter, but that doesn't mean he's any less horrifying. It just says that he's scary enough on his own without having to bring his fists into the matter.

"I got an A on that big geometry test, so that's good." I smiled.

"Anything else?" He asked, not exactly beaming with approval. It'd be nice to get a pat on the back every once in a while, but I guess that reward wouldn't be coming tonight. I sighed, suddenly not very hungry.

"Um… I don't think so, no."

"No trouble at all?" He asked, narrowing his eyes as if he was searching my brain for any lies that I'd told, "That one girl isn't bothering you anymore, right? The cheerleader?"

I grimaced. I didn't want to talk about what had gone on with Santana. It was better to just play dumb. "You're going to have to be more specific, dad. There are a lot of cheerleaders at my school."

"You know who I'm talking about, the Latina one."

I raised my eyebrows, trying to seem cool and collected, "Oh, you mean Santana? Her and I are getting a long just great, actually. We worked out our differences and now things are just going… swimmingly."

He looked skeptic. It's not my fault that I can't act. "Swimmingly, eh? Then how come that Spanish teacher of yours gave me a call at work today?"

I nearly groaned. Mr. Schuester was killing me here. I knew that he wanted to help but that didn't mean that him interfering was ruining my life any less. "Hmm? I wonder why. Nothing bad happened today."

"And you're sure about that?"

"Positive." I grinned, jumping when my phone vibrated inside my pocket. Someone was actually texting me? That hardly ever happened. "I bet that's Santana right now." Yeah, right. "I'm finished with my dinner. May I be excused?"

I could tell that he still wanted to discuss my school bullies but he didn't have a good enough reason to keep questioning me. Nodding reluctantly, he mumbled something along the lines of "I guess." and I hopped up from the table and raced to my room.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket, interested to see who of all people would want to converse with a loser like me. The number wasn't in my contacts and my brows furrowed. I opened up the text.

I've got a proposition for you, Fabray.

The little voice inside my head that read the text didn't sound friendly at all. Whoever this was, I had a feeling that I wouldn't like with this little 'proposition' of theirs had in store.

Although I was almost positive that I knew whose number this was, I texted back:

Who is this?

The response came only a few minutes later.

Your worst nightmare.

I almost snorted. Did Santana honestly think that something as stupid as that would strike fear through my veins? She'd have to try a little harder than that.

What do you want, Lopez?

I'm failing almost all my classes.

I wasn't surprised at all, though I found myself bewildered as to why she'd be telling me of all people that. We weren't friends. I didn't care if she failed. In fact, I'd relish in it. At least I wouldn't have to suffer through anymore classes with her.

Why's that my problem?

I was interested. I couldn't deny it.

Do you like being a loser?

I smiled bitterly. I should have suspected as much. She'd probably just asked her boyfriend for my number so she could harass me outside of school. I considered taking her bait and fighting back but I resisted. That would only make her happier.

It's not my favorite thing in the world.

The next text was what really surprised me.

I can fix that.

My lips parted and my eyes went wide. What? Was the Santana Lopez, the girl that hated me more than anyone else, really offering to help me be less of a loser? It didn't make sense. Maybe it was some kind of trap. I couldn't see how it would be, but I wouldn't put it past her. I was rightfully hesitant but nonetheless intrigued. This could go a lot of ways…

Explain.

I'm failing. You're a giant nerd. I'm the Queen Bee. You're… not.

I felt like the pieces probably should have been fitting together but I stared blankly at the screen of my phone.

And?

Maybe you are an idiot. What I'm saying is that we can work together, alright? You can help me not fail and I can help you not be so much of an outcast.

It still didn't make much sense, in my opinion. The cheerleaders weren't the smartest girls around but couldn't she get one of them to at least help her a little bit? Or maybe she could just sleep with the teachers to boost her grade? I wouldn't doubt that it'd be her first time scheming something like that. It seemed right up her ally, in fact. So it came down to the question of why she'd ask me to do it, of all people.

I must have taken a long time to think because she sent me another text. The tone of it was almost… desperate.

Come on. I need you and your brain. All you've got to do is tutor me and I'll make the rest of your high school career not totally blow. Friends, parties, boyfriends… It'll be worth it.

It did sound nice. Even someone with intelligence could be seduced by the prospect of popularity. I'd love to actually experience one of those famous high school parties or kiss a boy and if anyone could get me that, it'd be Santana. I was stupid to trust her but I wasn't sure if I had the power to resist.

Give me more details. I'm not saying that I've agreed; I'm just wondering.

I was lying. I'd pretty much agreed from the very first text. I'd do anything to get into Santana's good graces, as much as I hated to admit it. She had the power to change my life. I couldn't even bare to imagine it but if she really did want to, she could make my life even harder.

You'd tutor me in Spanish, Algebra, and Biology. I'd take you to some parties, tell the cheerleading team to stop insulting you so much, give you a little makeover… It'd be fun. You could even pretend that you and I are actually friends. That'd make you happy, right?

I worried with my bottom lip, knowing that I couldn't turn such an offer down. My whole high school career was about to be changed. I couldn't' believe that being popular was so easy but Santana was practically giving me the chance and all I had to do was teach her some equations. It wouldn't be too hard. Swallowing up my pride and excitement, I texted her back.

Deal.

a/n: Yep, not a very good one, I know. I'm not very proud of it and it'll probably be taken down after a few more chapters to be fixed up a bit. Still, feel free to leave your input if you like/love/hated anything. It's nice to know what you guys think of this. Also, thanks to the wonderful emilylima55, GleekPJOFreak, and Okayimobsessed for reviewing last chapter. That's about it, I think. So... tired...

BYE GUYS! STAY SPECTACULAR!