Rachel was having a morning from hell. She put a hand over her hip and sucked in a sharp breath, still feeling the phantom pain of claws tearing through her skin. They were stuck in school traffic, and Rachel should've taken Bella up on her offer of driving them instead. A warm hand replaced hers, and Rachel smiled gratefully at her sister. She moved her hand back to the wheel so she could turn into the parking lot. That's when it hit her. Outside of Mike and Emma, and probably Coach Sylvester, no one else knew she was in Lima.
"I'm not sure why I was imagining a prison," Bella said.
"Everywhere is a prison when Forks High looks like a college campus."
"Fair enough."
Rachel watched the students as she drove, grateful for the tint on her windows, and took in the familiar and new faces. Her gaze landed on a couple of red and white uniforms disappearing into the gym before she remembered that Santana nor Quinn were on the team anymore.
"Hey, there's Mike," Bella said, pointing to the right.
Rachel pulled in next to her best friend, who'd been waving his arms at the empty spot next to his bike.
Wait –
"Ha! Your so-called, straight-laced friend rides a motorcycle!"
Bella cackled as Rachel grumbled and shut off the engine, and they exited the truck. Bella hurried around to see the bike up close, and Rachel put her hands on her hips, glaring at Mike. He smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck.
"So, yeah. I did a thing."
"Are you serious?" she huffed. "Why did you not tell me you were getting a death trap on two wheels?"
"One, that was dramatic, even for you. Two, the plan was to surprise you in Washington before school started, but then you said you were coming back, so I just decided to wait until the first day," he said. "So. Surprise?"
"Dude, you know Rachel hates motorcycles," Bella said. "Or she's afraid of them. I haven't figured it out yet."
"I think they are unsafe."
"Says the girl who went cliff diving in a thunderstorm."
"Wait, what?" Mike asked.
"It was a long time ago," Rachel said dismissively.
"Yeah, like a whole eight months," Bella deadpanned.
"That is not the point." Rachel folded her arms and added, "Mike, Bella, I want you to know that you two are going to send me to an early grave because of these things."
"No shit. You ride?" Mike asked Bella.
"I have a Lowrider in storage."
"That's so cool." Rachel threw her hands in the air, and Mike shook his head. "You're being ridiculous," he said. "I promise I will stay safe when I ride."
"You better," she muttered.
Mike kissed the top of her head and threw his arm around her shoulder. He then gestured to the school.
"Good. On a semi-lighter note, let me be the first to welcome you," he nodded at Bella, "and welcome you back, Rachel, to Hell," he said.
"You don't know what Hell is," Bella snorted. "I promise you, this place ain't it. Slushies and insane cheerleaders are child's play compared to Forks."
"No way your school was worse."
Rachel's eyes glazed over, and Bella grimaced, days of running from vampires and wolves flashed through both of their minds, but Bella broke free first. She cleared her throat and gently nudged Rachel in the side, who blinked and returned to the present. Mike stared at them, confused, and Bella gave him a slight smile.
"Forks High wasn't all that bad at first," she said. "But then one day, teachers started leaving, and the administration lost control. It became a shit show."
"Understatement of the century," Rachel sighed. "Some freshmen baseball players decided to throw balloons filled with vinegar at students, and it caused this year-long prank war between the varsity players and the freshmen. We were caught in the middle of it, and I have too many memories of coming home with paint in my hair or glitter all over my clothes."
"And then our math teacher got caught doing heroin during her lunch break, which resulted in a manhunt through the property until the police found her. But the worst part of that specific year was that our Principal got outed as a sex offender when he decided to fuck his fourteen-year-old stepdaughter in his office."
"Don't forget the assistant basketball coach," Rachel added.
"Oh, yeah! Our coach put a camera in the girls' locker room and charged people to look at the footage. I was the third most watched student." Mike stared at Bella with a mixture of disbelief and disgust, and she patted him on the arm. "So comparing a forty-year-old man who charged people to jack off to you changing clothes to a few slushies and some name-calling, you lose."
Mike's eyes widened, and he looked at Rachel.
"You went there for two years?" he exclaimed. "Why didn't you tell me any of this?"
"Because it was hardly important. I hated that math teacher, so I was glad she was gone, and I rarely saw the principal. Plus, that prank fight between the baseball players was trivial. A minor annoyance at best. As for the locker room thing, I mean, it was definitely gross and a little traumatizing. That was something I wanted to forget."
"She's only being diplomatic because she was the second most watched student out of the entire school," Bella said pointedly.
"Wait, who was the first?" he asked.
"Her ex," Bella said. "They were quite the couple around that time."
"You make it sound like we were screwing in the showers," Rachel grumbled.
"No, but I saw the same footage as you did. You were one degree away from turning Coach Allen into a very rich man."
Rachel flushed and looked off to the side, and when she noticed Mike zoning out, she smacked him on the back of his, barely remembering to pull her strength by the end.
"Stop that!"
"Hey, you brought it up! I don't even know who you are anymore."
"Okay, you are the one driving a motorcycle and wearing leather pants. If anything, you are the actual stranger, not me."
Mike tugged on her hair, and Rachel smacked his hand.
"You cannot keep using my hair as an excuse to say that I have changed," she said.
Mike made an offhand gesture, and then led them toward the school. "How can you say you haven't changed? I know you hit some kind of growth spurt while you were gone. You ate six pancakes and two orders of vegan sausage at the diner, and I know you ate the rest of those noodles last night even after you had two ramen bowls!"
"I am a growing girl," she teased.
"Bullshit. Did you forget you nearly broke my hand when I reached for your vegan strawberry ice cream? Or how about the fact that you made me watch all the Jeepers Creepers while you quoted each film!"
"What is the point here?"
"My point, smartass, is that I know you have secrets. But this weekend sealed it for me."
Rachel folded her arms and looked at Mike. They were right outside of the school, and she could already feel eyes on her from the people slipping past them to go inside. And the comments. Rachel hated her new sensitive hearing more than before.
"Is that Rachel?"
"Dressing Room Berry? No way. I thought she moved to a convent or something."
"I swear that's her. Look, same ass and everything."
Rachel twitched in irritation, and she felt Bella nudging her forward into the school. She reluctantly followed them through the doors where Mike hip-checked her and smirked.
"Come on, little Star," he said. "Let's show this school how Rachel Berry gets her groove back."
As soon as he said her name, several heads turned their way, and Rachel clicked her teeth. Bella gave him a long, searching look.
"You never saw that movie, did you?" she asked.
"No, why?"
Bella shook her head in response, and Rachel pushed him.
"Go away," she said.
"Don't be mad. It was going to come out sooner rather than later."
"I would have preferred later. Now, go."
"Fine, fine. See you later Swan-Berry."
"That makes us sound like some kind of European house band," Bella complained.
"Good, then I'm keeping it."
Mike saluted and walked off, and Rachel sarcastically waved at the people staring at her before she made a left turn, heading towards the front office.
"I already hate this place," Bella said.
"That feeling never goes away," Rachel muttered, wincing and touching her forehead.
"You okay?"
"Fine."
"Rachel -
"Look, not only is this school emotionally draining, I can hear everyone," she hissed.
"Oh. Oh! Shit, right. We can stop for a second while you adjust, of course." Bella rubbed her back and nodded, then she added, "Uh, who is the blonde lady storming our way?"
Rachel looked up and sighed when she saw Coach Sylvester.
"That would be Coach Sylvester."
"Isn't she the one who saved you from expulsion?"
"Yes."
"So why is -
"You two, with me," Coach Sylvester interrupted, not stopping her stride as she passed them.
Rachel blew out a breath and tugged Bella after Coach Sylvester as she led them down a side hallway toward her office. The woman left her door open, and Bella leaned over to whisper in Rachel's ear-
"She looks so familiar. But she's also giving off like a soft, suburban dominatrix vibe. I'm kind of into it," she said.
Rachel's laugh came out short and loud, and she clamped a hand over her mouth. Bella gave her a goofy grin, and Rachel felt a wave of affection for her sister.
"Dork," she muttered.
"Close my door," Coach Sylvester ordered.
Rachel rolled her eyes, but she did begin to close the door. As it was closing, her eyes strayed to the end of the hall, and she paused. Her breath left her in one sharp exhale, and Rachel whimpered under her breath. She felt her world narrow down to two sets of eyes, and Rachel's knees buckled.
Shit.
"Rae?" Bella said. "You okay?"
"I - yes. I thought I saw someone I knew," she said, clearing her throat.
"Didn't you used to go here? Everyone should be someone you knew," Bella scoffed.
Rachel shot her an unamused look and closed the door.
Santana and Quinn shared a cup of coffee under the bleachers with their legs tangled together.
"You're still thinking about it, aren't you?"
"Aren't you?"
"Little bit." Santana leaned away and took out her phone, pulling up Rachel's picture. "I mean, look at her. She looks -
"Different."
"In a very good way. And - shit! Damnit."
Quinn laughed, and Santana moved her coffee cup to the side and frowned.
"Man, I would get coffee on my pants the day I'm brave enough to wear khakis," she said.
"Sam has extra sweats in his bag, and if not, we can see if Coach Beiste has any spares." Quinn kissed her cheek and let go. "Speaking of coaches, we should head inside anyway. We have that meeting with Sue," she said.
"I can't believe she still makes us do this."
"Even when we're not on the team, we're on the team. I am a little blindsided, though. New students in Lima?"
"It's probably some poor souls who got tricked into joining the cheerleading program."
"Or blackmailed."
Santana nodded in agreement and helped Quinn off the grass. They brushed off their clothes and held hands as they walked back to the school. They went in through the gym, eager to avoid the crowds a little longer, and Santana waved at Mike as he walked toward them. He winced when he saw them, but then he relaxed and smiled, gesturing at Santana's pants.
"Fun morning?"
"Not as fun as yours, Hot Rod."
"Touché."
"Are you okay?" Quinn asked.
"Yep," he said, a little too quickly.
"Why are you so jumpy?"
"I'm not. Just caffeinated. Long weekend."
"Oh, what'd you do?"
Mike was slow to answer as he said, "Hung out with some friends."
"Who? We're your only friends," Santana scoffed.
"And Sam," Quinn said.
"I have other friends," he argued.
"Name them."
Mike stuttered, and then he huffed and said, "Whatever. I have to go and see Coach about a summer assignment that I did not finish."
Mike hurried away, and Santana glanced at Quinn once he was gone.
"So, that was weird, even for him, right?"
"Yeah, whatever he's hiding, here's hoping it doesn't have any backlash."
"It's Lima, Quinn," Santana said. "There's always backlash."
Quinn squeezed her hand, and the duo exited the gym and made their way down the hall. It was a new normal for McKinley, seeing Quinn and Santana as a duo instead of a trio. A familiar laugh echoed from Sue's office as they turned the corner. They both stopped, staring directly into the office as the door was closing. Brown eyes so familiar stared back at them, pupils dilated, and then the door closed. Both Quinn and Santana touched their chests, and Santana exhaled softly.
"Shit," she whispered.
"You're back."
"I am," Rachel said.
"Why?"
Though she expected the question, Rachel was still unable to form a response. She wanted to lie, but Coach Sylvester would see through it. She wanted to be vague, but that wouldn't work either. So, Rachel told the truth.
"As much as I loved Washington, Lima is my home. I felt like I was running if I stayed away."
"I see. Well, I applaud you for knowing when a break was needed," Coach Sylvester said. "Though the way you went about it could've been a little better."
"My Dad?" she guessed.
"He needed a friend."
"Because you cared, or because you were nosy?"
"A little of both. But I've known where you were for the last eighteen months, give or take. Forks is an old stomping ground of mine."
Bella snapped her fingers and said, "That's why I know you! You used to teach at the school when Charlie was a rookie. He talked about you all of the time and said you helped the force catch a cheerleader that was poisoning teachers."
"What? Why did I not know about this?" Rachel asked.
"I was like twelve and going through Charlie's old cases when I was visiting."
"Yes, Chief Swan, well, former Chief Swan, and I go way back," Coach Sylvester said.
"Small world," Bella murmured.
"Indeed. And when I heard Rachel was in Forks, I reached out to him to see if you were okay. You left so suddenly, and the transfer papers came in almost a week after you were gone."
"I am sorry. But even after you - I had no reason to stay."
"No, I suppose you didn't. But you have a reason to come back?"
"Several," she answered, rubbing her thigh.
The trio sat in silence for all of thirty seconds before Coach Sylvester gestured to the folders on her desk.
"As I do with every new student, I do research on them, and I have to say I'm surprised. Especially you, Rachel, but Isabella - "
"Bella," she corrected.
"Noted. With Chief Swan as your father, some of these infractions on your record are quite surprising, Bella." Coach Sylvester picked up the closest folder and read, "Isabella Marie Swan is an immensely talented student with the potential to do great things. Intelligent, creative, and talented in her electives, she showed great promise in those subjects. Highest marks came in English and History, but fighting? Skipping school? Destruction of school property? Where did that come from?"
"I - the school property thing wasn't my fault. Wrong place, wrong time," Bella said. "But the fight was self-defense. I told them that, and they said they would clear it off my record."
"They did. I have the original."
"How did you -
"Do not ask," Rachel interrupted.
Coach Sylvester grinned and said, "Other than that, your file is pretty boring. Minus the two years you were off the map."
"Those are none of your business."
"I wasn't going to press." Coach Sylvester picked up the second folder and shook her head. "This file, however, I must say, caught me off-guard. Should I ask around this school, I would get very different answers about one, Rachel Barbra Berry. See, according to your teachers, you were an average student with the potential to be more. Purposely did enough to pass the class but clearly showed a complete understanding of the subject. But fighting as well? Vandalism?"
"I drew a smiley face on the cafeteria table. I hardly call that vandalism," she argued.
"Be that as it may, the most surprising part was that you were considered un-ambitious and complacent with no true goals for your life after high school. I found that part hilarious."
"I'm not sure why that's funny," Bella said.
"She is laughing at the idea that I had no goals after high school. Coach Sylvester is right. If she were to ask anyone here about me, then that file would read completely different. I was the most annoying student. I was loud, obnoxious, and irritating, and I joined every club because I wanted to be in every picture in the yearbook. I did extra credit, tutoring, and AP classes, and was always the first one in the classroom. I never got in trouble, never got suspended, or sent to the principal's office…" Rachel said, trailing off. "I was the perfect student."
"You had AP classes? The person who does her homework at the very last minute? The person who reads the front and back page of a book and bullshits her way through a research paper?"
Rachel groaned and said, "The point is, I was different here."
"And some people aren't going to let you forget. When William discovered you were coming back, an unfortunate consequence of him being your elective teacher, he emailed Figgins about the Glee club receiving funding again."
"I am not going back to Glee," Rachel said.
"Naturally, but they won't accept it."
"I do not care what they will and will not accept."
Coach Sylvester stood and walked around her desk. She sat down on the ledge in front of them and said quietly, "I will be candid with you, Rachel. The moment you walk out of that door and go back into that hallway, you will not be able to have the life that you were used to in Forks. I know about the demons in that town, and no matter how much you try to hide it, I can tell you got caught up in it. Both of you. I'm observant, and there were too many coincidences around you two missing the same days or hanging out so much at La Push. I told you. I did my research."
Bella and Rachel gave nothing away, but Coach Sylvester wasn't fazed.
"All I'm saying to you is that those students out there don't care that you're different. They will treat you as they did before and your response will determine whether you have changed or if you are the same person. I am happy you're back, I am, but I'll be the first to tell you this will be the hardest year of your life. You will not be the same Lima reject that you were when you left. You will be the Lima idiot who came back, and because some of them can't fathom why you returned, they will want to make you wish that you hadn't. Be careful, and despite what you think, I do want you to succeed here. I also promised your fathers I would look after you both. So my door is always open."
"Why are you being nice to me? To us?" Rachel asked.
Coach Sylvester stood and walked over to the door. "My partner taught me that there's no fun in being a bitch all of the time. Plus, I heard many things from your father, things I'm sure he would never tell me if he were sober, and I know more about your home life than you think. You're both stronger than you should be, and I respect strength."
At the mention of their home lives, Rachel and Bella tensed, and Coach Sylvester held up her hand.
"I won't bring it up again. All I'm saying is that you're safe with me." Coach Sylvester grinned and added, "But I'm always going to have a bit of fun. So I managed to score you and your sibling tour guides for the day."
Rachel's heart dropped into her stomach. Coach Sylvester opened the door to reveal Santana and Quinn hovering outside.
"Lopez, Fabray, front and center."
The two jumped up and came into the office. Bella burst out laughing and quickly clamped a hand over her mouth, but the damage was done. Rachel glared at Bella, and the girl mimed zipping her lips.
"Nice to see you haven't lost your sense of punctuality. Santana, Quinn, the blonde one is Bella Swan." She then pointed at Rachel and added, "I'm sure you remember the other one."
"What's up?" Bella greeted, still snickering.
Santana and Quinn nodded in greeting, and Rachel gave a small smile.
"Good morning," she greeted.
Rachel got the same response, but that time, she saw the hesitation. Coach Sylvester cleared her throat and ushered them out of her office. Rachel stretched out the tension in her back, missing the way Santana and Quinn's eyes roamed over her body. Coach Sylvester paused at the threshold and stopped Rachel briefly.
"I was serious about what I said. At any time, okay? That goes for both of you."
"Thank you," Rachel said.
Coach Sylvester nodded and closed the door. The four stood awkwardly in the hallway before Quinn gestured for them to follow her.
"We're not entirely sure how we're going to guide you, seeing as you've already been here, Rachel," she said. "But nothing too much is different school wise."
"And otherwise?" Rachel asked.
"That's going to take more time than we have available."
"But all you have to do is ask," Santana said.
"Oh, is that all?" she asked, her tone mocking.
Santana's jaw ticked, and Rachel didn't know what possessed her to do it, but she grabbed the two of them and pulled them into the conference room. It was empty, and Rachel ran a hand over her face. Bella leaned against the wall, arms folded, but she seemed happy to let Rachel take the charge.
"I will not do this. Yes, I am back, but you cannot expect me to pretend like we are all best friends. Neither of you had my back. Neither of you stood up for me. And both of you let the school turn me into a pariah. Yes, I have forgiven you, but do not think for one second that it changes anything."
Rachel held up her hand to stop Santana's response, and she exhaled sharply.
"But I - I would be lying if I said I would not be willing to start over. If you want to be friends, actual friends, then I need you to mean it. But if you cannot do that, if you know you cannot do it, then you can tell Coach that the tour went fine. You can leave me and my sister alone, and that will be the end of it."
A half beat of silence passed before -
"Sister?" Quinn repeated.
"Her very protective big sister," Bella corrected.
"When I sent that request, it was a genuine olive branch. For us both, actually. We kind of share the page. But that's not the point. The point is, we do want to start over. We feel like shit for what happened, for not being there for you, and we want a second chance to prove we care about you."
"Third chance for you," Rachel said.
Santana flinched but nodded in understanding.
"Look, we promise, Rachel. No ulterior motives," Quinn said.
"Then prove it."
With that, Rachel walked out of the room. Bella pushed off the wall and stepped forward, giving them both a cold smile.
"If either of you hurt her again, I will break every bone in your body," she whispered.
Bella patted them both on the cheek and left the room, jogging to catch up with Rachel. She threw her arm around her, and Rachel gave her a wry smile.
"Did you threaten them?"
"Haven't you learned by now, dear sister?" Bella kissed her temple and added in a whisper, "I don't make threats. I make promises."
"Oh, yes, of course. My apologies."
Rachel giggled as she led Bella toward the secretary. A flash of blonde passed her peripheral vision, and she turned. Her smile fell when she saw Brittany, and the cheerleader stopped in the middle of the hallway. Finn had his back to them, talking to another football player, but Brittany only had eyes for Rachel.
But the moment was done when Brittany turned away and grabbed Finn's hand. Rachel caught a glimpse of her reflection, and the orange flecks in her eyes were brighter than they'd ever been. She clenched her fists and glared at the floor.
Over her shoulder, Bella watched her with a sad smile, and her own eyes flashed a bright blue before it was gone.