I feel EXTREMELY bad that I haven't been updating on a usual basis, but I just have so much homework and finals coming up and I have practices and not a lot of time to sit around and write more chapters. But, I'll try and update more on a weekly basis, probably every weekend if I can! I'll try to make them longer too, but like I don't understand how some authors can put like 12,000 words per chapter! Thank you so much for everyone who reviewed and alerted and favorited this story! loveyouall3
Rachel, Brittany, and Santana make their way to Santana's car once the end bell rings.
Brittany doesn't understand things the majority of the time; she's called stupid for it. But today, it's different. When Rachel told her story, Brittany understood everything Rachel had said. She knew Rachel needed someone there for her the moment she entered the bathroom and saw the pure fear in her eyes; Brittany decided she was going to be that person. That's why she went to get Santana. Brittany needed Santana with her at that moment. She was in a panic and didn't know how to help Rachel.
When she told Santana, Santana's' eyes widened in shock before she darted towards the bathroom. She and Brittany had entered the bathroom shortly after. Brittany watched silently as Santana tried to get Rachel to tell them what was wrong, and Rachel panicked. But then, something amazing happened; something that made unicorns look as pathetic as a worm. Santana and her apologized to Rachel and they both could see Rachel's emotionless mask start to break down, before Rachel accepted them and proceeded to tell her story.
Brittany's heart seemed to crack in pieces while Rachel told her story. Knowing Rachel had to go through it all alone, made Brittany even sadder. She cried for hours for the girl who never got treated as she should've been.
When Brittany came to get her, Santana was confused. Like why would Santana Lopez care about Manhands? Honestly, Santana didn't hate Rachel; she hated Rachel's confidence that allowed her to keep her head held high when insult after insult was thrown at her. Santana absolutely loathed that she couldn't have that self-confidence. When Quinn decided to target Rachel, Santana was all for it. It gave her a chance to break down that envious confidence Rachel had. But after a while, Santana didn't find it that amusing. She started to regret her actions. Rachel had done nothing to them, but they were still bitchy to her. And then Santana had to go along with the Ice Bitch if she wanted to keep her status at this school, but each terrible act was causing her more and more trouble.
But something in the way that Brittany was speaking made her even more concerned. She rushed to the bathroom and nothing could prepare her for what she saw. There was Rachel, covered in cuts and bruises. She gasped at the sight. Santana tried to convince her to tell her what happened, but Rachel blew up. Santana was shocked; she knew she deserved what Rachel said, but it still shocked the hell out of her. Santana had to convince Rachel that she had changed. Santana had to tell her she wanted to apologize and why she had done everything she'd done. She ended up apologizing and Rachel told them. Santana had to listen to every awful, malicious thing that had been done to that poor girl. The guilt was eating her alive. After she finished her story, Santana's self-loathing for herself grew, knowing she had been such a bitch to Rachel when she was at her breaking point. Santana never cries, but she cried for hours for the girl who lost her only freedom at a young age and feared the place she was supposed to feel safe.
They all pile into Santana's car and silently drive to her house, all caught in their own dream-like state.
When they arrive, Rachel notices she's still in clothes that are wet with slushy. She turns to Santana and asks, "Can I go take a shower please?"
Santana nods, "It's the first door on the left upstairs. I'll leave some towels and clothes in there for you."
"Thank you," Rachel replies as she makes her way up the stairs. She waits for Santana to bring the towels and clothes before she profusely thanks her and makes her way into the bathroom. She drops her backpack to the floor and digs into it. She grabs the cool metal object between her fingers. She looks at it for a few minutes before she slides it across her stomach with ease into a thin line that starts to prickle with blood. She sighs with satisfaction and bandages the wound. She gets into the shower.
When she gets out of the shower and changes, she heads back downstairs, but not before she sticks the razor in a safe place in her backpack. At the bottom of the stairs, Santana and Brittany are waiting for her.
"Are you hungry?" Santana asks with concern.
"No," Rachel replies.
"Okay then. Get in the car; we're taking you to the hospital." Santana says with a tone that meant there would be no arguing.
Rachel blanches. Panic overtakes her mind. She can't go to the doctors. Nobody else can know; Santana and Brittany were already too many. She'd break down if she'd have to answer questions about everything. But, Santana has this determined look on her face that told her she was going, even if they had to drag her there. Rachel still tries to resist.
"No! I won't go; no one else needs to know! It's bad enough that you both know and nobody else can!" She screams.
Santana won't take that. "Rachel, you have to go. You need a cast for your hand and we have to report them! They're fucking monsters that deserve to be locked up for the hell they put you through."
Rachel knew she wouldn't win so she let Brittany lead her to the car.
When they arrive at the hospital, they bring Rachel to a room immediately and the nurse refuses to let Santana or Brittany in. Santana did not take this too well.
"If you know what's best for you, you'll let us in," Santana threatens in a low voice.
But the nurse stood her ground, "I'm sorry, but neither of you are getting in there until the doctors are finished."
Santana begrudgingly sits down in one of the chairs, but her face is tinted red with rage. She did not take it well when she was told what to do. And at that moment, she wants nothing more than to rip that nurses head off with her bare hands. If it wasn't for Brittany and Rachel, she probably would've done it too.
Back in the room, Rachel was having her wrist examined. They already decided it was broken so now they just have to put a cast on it. And then they'd ask her questions about the bruises, and she was not ready for that; not at all. The doctor decides to examine her whole body. They reach her pelvic region and the doctor can tell what has happened to her. She performs a rape kit on Rachel. She has to poke and prod along down there and the pain is excruciating. Rachel hopes for it to be over soon.
Once they finish, a woman in her mid-30s comes into the room.
"Hello Rachel, my name is Christina Levit. I'm a social worker and I just came to ask you some questions, if it's alright?" Christina asks. Rachel just nods silently so Christina continues.
"Now, how did you get that broken wrist?"
"We were practicing at jazz class and someone was off cue and the girl ended up hitting me and I fell on my wrist." She spoke in a low voice. She's ashamed because of what had actually happened to her. She perfects her lie and hopes her acting was convincing enough. Fortunately, for her it seems that Christina didn't think she was lying. Then, they get into the rape questions.
"Have you ever been assaulted before this incident?" Christine asked.
"No, never before." Rachel lied through her teeth.
"Okay. Now I know this may be difficult for you, but I need you to tell me what happened the day of your sexual assault.
Rachel went as pale as a sheet, but decided to try and tell Christina. "Well, I was heading home and I thought I had heard something. I looked around but I couldn't find anything. Then someone grabbed me and brought me into the woods. He punched me over and over again. I kept screaming 'no, no,' but he wouldn't listen. Then he started to t-t-take my pants off. I tried to fight him off, I really did, but he was t-too strong…." Rachel burst into tears and couldn't go any further. Rachel couldn't stop sobbing. She felt like she was reliving it and she couldn't get him off of her. It felt like she had all of his weight on top of her again. She started to scratch at her arms incessantly and they started to bleed.
Four nurses rush into the room to restrain her. Rachel continues to sob and scream and struggle against the nurses. She just wants to be anywhere but here.
In the waiting room, Santana and Brittany had just heard Rachel screaming. They rush past the nurse with no hesitation, ignoring her yells of protest. They need to get to Rachel. She needs them and they were going to be there for her.
When they reach the room, Rachel is being held down by four nurses. She's sobbing and screaming. It was a terrifying sight. They rush over to her and Santana forces the nurses to get off of Rachel. The nurses ignore her and continue to restrain her.
Brittany was freaking out seeing Rachel like this, and was currently hyperventilating and Santana was becoming angrier and angrier by the second. Santana then screams, "What the fuck are you doing to her! You're scaring her. Let her go or I'll go all Lima Heights on your asses!"
A plump, blonde nurse glares at them and answers, "If you do not calm down, we will be forced to remove you from this hospital."
"Like hell I'm gonna leave! We aren't going anywhere! Don't you see you're causing her to panic!? Get the fuck off of her! Didn't you know she was recently raped!?" Santana continues to scream at the nurses.
"Okay, we're going to have to ask you both to leave before we call security."
Santana replies in an eerily calm voice, "I already told you, we are not going anywhere. So get the hell out so we can help her."
Another snooty nurse remarks, "We know what we're doing. Both of you are only slowing our efforts to help the patient. Now get out, SECURITY!"
Two muscular men came into the room and immediately grabbed the struggling Santana and Brittany and dragged them outside.
"My father is a lawyer! I will sue your ass!" Santana yells after them, but it's a hopeless attempt. They are already forced out of Rachel's room. She probably thinks they abandoned her and that thought made Brittany and Santana extremely nervous. They have to see Rachel again, and soon. They enter Santana's car and just silently sit there; they know they'd be there until Rachel was released, but they just hope that'd be soon.
In Rachel's hospital room, she's currently still being held down by two nurses while another has a shot in her hand. Rachel went into a panic seeing this and the nurses sense this as they tighten their hold on Rachel's arms. The other nurse's bringing the needle closer to Rachel's arm; right where the vein was. Without a second thought, the nurse injects Rachel with the substance. Everything goes black after that.
When Rachel wakes, the whole room seems to be black. She notices she's still in the hospital room, but she wonders where Brittany and Santana are. That's when all of the panic sets in. All of the thoughts swirl throughout her mind. What if they planned to dump me as a friend all along? What if everything was just a lie? What if they told people about my secret? The last thought made her blood run cold. She didn't think she could handle anymore betrayal; especially after she believed them completely and told them her darkest secrets. Rachel couldn't believe she fell for their lies. She wanted to crawl into a hole and die. Life was becoming too much for her at the moment. She needed to cut; it's the only thing that can help her.
Rachel slowly tries to walk to her backpack without making a sound. She swiftly takes the razor and heads towards the bathroom. Once there, Rachel examines herself in the mirror. Her hair hangs limp in her face, her eyes have bags under them, and she looks like hell. She still has the black eye, while the other one has mostly faded. She picks up the razor and brings it lower, to her hip, and slides it across. She watches in fascination as the blood begins to form and drip down her hip and onto her thigh. She stands there for minutes just watching the blood travel. Then she grabs towels and starts to wipe it off and bandage it.
Rachel hadn't realized how tired she was and decided to try and sleep. Once her head hit the pillow, she was out.
Santana and Brittany end up sleeping in Santana's car. Santana wakes up around eight and decides to wake Britt up. They're both still worried for Rachel. They haven't seen her all night and hope she's doing all right on her own. After that bitch of a nurse had them kicked out, Brittany and Santana had no choice but to wait until morning, for Rachel's sake. Santana and Brittany got out of the car and started to head to the entrance of the hospital.
First thing Brittany notices is that there's a different nurse at the desk. This makes her very optimistic. She doesn't want Rachel to have to deal with that grumpy nurse all day. She's brought out of her thoughts when Santana grabs her arm and they start walking towards Rachel's room. When they get there, they see Rachel still sleeping. Brittany told the nice nurse that they'll wait until Rachel wakes up. The nurse lets them and then leaves. Brittany notices how small Rachel really looks on that hospital bed. It scares her. She can still see all of the bruises visible on Rachel's arms and face. The sight makes Brittany tear up. She hates seeing her friend like this.
No one deserves to be treated like this, especially not Rachel. Brittany remembers Rachel as always being so kind and selfless. Someone like that should never have to be in this position. It's heartbreaking for Brittany to think about. She's not stupid; she knows what's happening right now. Even though people treat her like a five-year-old, Brittany is very observant. She can usually read people fairly well. It was hard to read Rachel though. Sure, Brittany saw that she was smart and caring, but she couldn't sense that Rachel was hiding anything. Brittany only saw what Rachel wanted her to. Brittany berates herself for being so blind. She could've helped Rachel if she had paid more attention to the quiet brunette.
Santana wants nothing more than to beat the asshole who raped Rachel. He took her last bit of security and Santana wants to make him pay. No one deserves this; especially not Rachel. Rachel has been nothing but considerate to everyone she meets. Nobody appreciated that about Rachel though. To be honest, there wasn't a person who did appreciate Rachel. It made Santana's guilt even worse.
She will do anything in her power to help Rachel and always be there for her. She wasn't there for her before, but she will be now. Everyone needs somebody. Rachel deserves that. She has no one to lean on or trust, but now she'll have Santana and Brittany. Santana vows to always be there to support Rachel. Everyone needs somebody to lean on in times of pain.
At that moment, Rachel wakes up. It takes her eyes a couple of seconds to adjust to the light, but then she sees whose there. Santana and Brittany. Rachel's walls build up yet again and her mask sets in place. She sits there and observes her hands. The two girls in front of her are clearly baffled.
"Rachel, are you okay?" Santana asks, concerned.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Rachel asks in an impartial tone.
Brittany persists, "Rachel, what's wrong?"
Rachel can't stand seeing Brittany's confused and hurt expression. She turns away before she addresses Brittany. "Nothing's wrong. I'm fine."
Santana doesn't understand what's wrong with Rachel. They stayed all night in the parking lot just her. Rachel seemed to be a new person. It scares Santana; to see Rachel like this. To see her closed off and barely responsive. Rachel's barely communicating with either of them. Santana just doesn't know what they did.
Santana turns to Brittany, "Can you go get me some coffee Britt?" Brittany nods her head and leaves the room.
After she leaves, Santana sighs. "Okay Rachel, what's really the problem?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about Santana. Now if you don't mind lea-"
Santana interrupts, "You can't tell me when to leave! You're staying at my house. Why are you mad? I expect an answer."
Rachel sighs. "This morning, when I woke up, you weren't here."
"Yeah, because the fucking nurses had us kicked out!" Santana's voice softens, "Rach, you know we would've stayed with you if we could've. Britt and I would never leave you."
Rachel starts to tear up, "I don't know why I was so stupid! I should've known this wasn't all a trick. San, thank you so much for being there for me. I don't know how I could every repay you."
Santana grabs Rachel's hand and gives it a comforting squeeze. Brittany comes back with two cups of coffee. "Thanks Britt," Santana smiles at her.
Then, the doctor came in to check on Rachel and make sure her cast is intact. She declares that Rachel is well enough to go home. The doctor says, "Girls, I just need to talk to Rachel privately for a moment, so could you both please step outside." Santana and Brittany begrudgingly get up and walk out after promising to be back after.
Then Dr. Sara closes the door, "Rachel, don't you want to contact your fathers about your assault?"
Rachel starts to slightly panic. "Oh! No! I've already told them what has happened and they are currently on vacation for their 20th wedding anniversary! So no, it would not be necessary to contact them. They said that they're booking a plane home as soon as possible to help me through this time."
The doctor looks a bit skeptical, but nods her head anyways and tells Rachel to come back within a month.
Santana and Brittany are waiting for Rachel when she finishes getting dressed and gathers her belongings. "Hey, what'd the doctor want?" Santana asks.
"Oh, it was nothing! She just told me to come back next month so she can check on the progress of my wrist." Rachel feels bad for lying, but it wasn't like she was really lying. After all, she did have to come back the next month. She just didn't tell them the specific details.
Santana looks suspicious and is about to say something when Brittany interjects. "Oh, okay. Now let's get you to the mall so we can buy you new clothes!"
"No! I can't let you buy clothes for me after you've already done so much to help me."
Santana shakes her head, "No, you are not going back to that house and it looks like you haven't gotten new clothes in years. You need new clothes so I am going to buy them for you. It's what friends do for each other."
Rachel reluctantly agrees to go shopping. They head to Santana's car and make their way to the mall.
Brittany says, "Now Rachel, this is going to be just a relaxing day for us three girls. So that means don't stress about anything!"
Rachel agrees not to stress and the girls head to the first store, Victoria's Secret. But, Rachel hesitates.
"Rach, aren't you coming in?" Santana asks. Rachel shakes her head.
Santana whines, "Why not!? You need new panties and bras so let's shop for them! Face it Rach, you are clearly in need of them."
Rachel reluctantly agrees and they enter the store. Rachel feels slightly uncomfortable talking to the sales associate about size and color and style, so the lady offers to help size her. Rachel starts to panic; she doesn't want anyone to see the ugly bruises covering her body. She declines the offer and just has Brittany and Santana help her find the right size. They end up buying Rachel about 5 bras and 12 pairs of underwear.
Brittany squeals, "Okay now we get to go get manis and pedis!"
Rachel couldn't have been less thrilled. She never cared about her nails before, so why now? Especially, now that she has that cast on her wrist. On their way to the nail salon, they happen to see some of the other students from school. Rachel looks closely and could tell it was Quinn, Kurt, Mercedes, and Tina. Rachel freezes after seeing them. She doesn't want to be seen by them, but that's too late because they're already heading in her direction. She looks for Santana and Brittany, but they seem to be nowhere in sight. Now Rachel's really panicking. As if time stopped, Quinn makes her way up to Rachel.
"Oh, hey Rupaul! I like your clothes today, what did you steal those too? I mean, we all know you have a tendency to steal things that don't belong to you." Quinn sneers at her.
Rachel replies in a low voice, "Q-Quinn, how many times do I have to tell you that Finn hit on me and I don't like him like that!"
"Ha! Don't make me laugh man hands; I don't believe that for a second! We all know you're a boyfriend stealing bitch that won't stop until she gets what she wants. But the question is, why would Finn ever go for someone like you? You're an annoying know-it-all who thinks she's better than everyone else. No one even knows if you're really a girl, just look at you. You have the body of an eleven-year-old boy. Finn wants a woman, not a child." Quinn smirks and they all laugh at Rachel.
Rachel feels the tears coming on, but she tries to hold them back.
Brittany and Santana have just finished looking at the jewelry boutique when Brittany spots Rachel. Brittany stops and furrows her eyebrows, confused. "San, what is Quinn doing to Rachel?" Brittany asks.
That's when Santana sees that Rachel is near tears and she storms over there with Britt right behind her. "Quinn, what the hell are you doing?" Santana snarls.
"Just pointing out to Rupaul what's mine." Quinn triumphantly smirks.
"Blondie, I will rip that smirk off of your face if you and your wannabe bitches don't turn around and leave right fucking now. Leave Rachel the hell alone."
"Oh, so it's Rachel now. Well if I remember San, you were one of those 'bitches' that called her man hands and came up with Rupaul!" Quinn says, spitting out Rachel's name like it's poison.
Santana balls her fists and in a deathly calm voice says, "Quinn, you may think you know what you're doing, but you don't and you do not want to mess with me."
Mercedes smirks, "Quinn could take you. All she has to do is hit those sandbags you call tits."
Santana's temper is reaching its edge, but then she looks over and sees Rachel with a fearful expression on her face and she knows she's caused it. "You know Quinn, you really aren't worth it. Neither are your side gays. Have a splendid day." Santana says in an overly sweet voice, batting her eyelashes.
Quinn's face turns slightly red and then her and her posse turn and leave. Rachel goes over to Santana. "No one has ever stood up for me before San. Thank you so much for stopping her." Rachel says gratefully with tears in her eyes.
Santana's heart breaks a little bit more after hearing that confession. Britt comforts Rachel while she's still slightly crying. Once Rachel calms down, Britt decides she needs to take Rachel to Abercrombie and Fitch, Forever 21, and American Eagle. They try on the new clothes that have just come in. Rachel ends up buying about 10 jeans and shorts and 15 tops. Also, she gets 5 dresses and tons of pairs of shoes. She even gets some cute, fuzzy sweaters. Brittany and Santana also pick some things out that they like.
After shopping, they head down to the food court. Brittany wants Burger King for the little toy inside, so they all go to Burger King and order. Once they get their food, they sit down.
"Thank you so much for all of this today!" Rachel profusely thanks San and Brittany.
"I told you, it's fine Rach. Besides, you needed new clothes. And Britt and I had fun." Santana smiles.
Brittany buts in, "Except when Quinnie showed up. She just hurts people." Brittany frowns.
"Don't you worry about her Britt, she'll never be mean to you. I won't let her. I will kick her ass if she fucks with either of you," Santana viciously says.
Rachel and Brittany smile at her.
"Rachel, I thought you were friends with Teen Gay, Wheezy, and Girl Chang?" Santana asks curiously.
"We used to be friends, but then all they could see me as was an attention whore with no friends that everybody hated" Rachel says sadly, eating a French fry.
"Don't listen to them Rach. You're one of the nicest, most caring people I've ever met," Brittany says.
"Yeah, seriously don't listen to them. They just want the attention and that's why they're 'friends' with Quinn. They just want popularity, which will never happen for them." Santana smirks.
Rachel sighs, "I guess you guys are right, but they take every opportunity to tear me down. I know I should just stop listening to what they sa-"
Rachel's interrupted by Brittany throwing a French fry at her face. Britt and San are laughing hysterically and Rachel can't help but join in. Soon enough, they're having a full blown food fight that turns into a war. They're forced to leave the mall, but they laugh the whole way out.
So this is what having friends feels like, Rachel thinks. With that thought, she smiles to herself.
I guess that's where I'll stop it for tonight! But did you see the finale of season threeee!?It was so sad but I loved it. SO seriously, I need to know which friendships you want to happen? Please try to be patient with me I'm not that great with sticking with one thing, as you all know.