3
Almost a week after recieving her first note, Rachel heard nothing from the note giver. She tried to not let her spirits be too dampened by the fact, but they most definitely were. She had just been so excited, and gotten her hopes up so high...and now it was blowing up right back in her face, just like it always did when she expected too much out of people.
So to say she was surprised when she finally got a reply would be an understatement. At this point, she was honestly not expecting anything at all out of the person who had written the note ever again, and she was beginning to become quite okay with the fact. But a week later a reply came - this time on purple notebook paper.
It read,
Dear Rachel,
I'm sorry it took me so long to reply. I just couldn't think of the right things to say,
because there's just so much I want to say to you.
And I was more than a little setback when the rumor-mill
got back round to me about the note. I'm not angry or
anything, I was just a little surprised that word got out
so fast.
I'm happy that you're going to stay strong.
Don't ever let those stupid, ignorant bullies get you down, okay?
Remember to smile!
~
And smile she did as she walked to her first period class. On her way there, she noticed Kurt Hummel putting book's in his locker, and she decided to wait for her new friend seeing as though they had first period together, anyway. She reminded herself to not seem too happy, because she just wanted everyone else to forget about the secret admirer thing.
"Hi, Kurt! Have you been enjoying your days back at McKinley?" The brunette smiled and leaned against the locker next to Kurt's.
"Yeah," the counter tenor smiled warmly, "I am. It's great to be back here, with my real friends, and the bullying seems to have died down quite a bit since I've been away in the land of Dalton Academy. Though I'm trying to not get my hopes up, it could easily just be calm before the storm."
Rachel frowned, saddened at the thought of her friend being bullied. "Let us hope not, Kurt. And even if it does start up again, you've got me, the glee club, and Blaine to put the bullies in their place. Most importantly me, of course."
Kurt laughed genuinely. "I even missed you and your big ego while I was at Dalton. How could that have possibly happened?"
"I am kind of extremely easy to miss..." The diva replied jokingly as she smiled at the soprano.
"That you are, Miss Rachel Berry, that you are," the boy countered as he clicked his locker shut. "Shall we voyage off to our first period, then?" Kurt held out his elbow for the singer to loop her arm with.
Rachel gladly looped her arm with his. "I believe we shall, Mister Hummel."
And with that, the two strutted off to their first period class, unaware of the former Cheerios captain and blonde jock that watched them as they went.
Quinn Fabray eventually made her way to her first period class, but she can't say she paid as much attention as she should've. Her mind was too focused on two certain brunettes that she had been watching that morning, and also her ex-boyfriend who too seemed to be watching the pair.
There was no mistaking that her reply had once again made the pint-sized diva incredibly happy. And, try as she might to deny it, she enjoyed seeing the girl happy. When Rachel Berry was truly happy, she projected that energy to everyone around her, and lately Rachel had been truly happy - all because of Quinn's notes that she had started to write to the other girl on a whim.
And then there was Sam... Sam Evans, whom Quinn used to date. Sam Evans, who used to date Santana Lopez before the two had broken up not long after the return of a certain soprano. Sam Evans, who behind the jock facade was a huge dork. Sam, who to had been watching Rachel and Kurt's conversation that morning. He hadn't been so much as watching both of them as he was staring at Kurt. He had been staring at the other boy with a look of wanting that he hadn't looked at any of his other girlfriends, Quinn included, with. And there was also the way he looked so absolutely heartbroken whenever Blaine was around...she decided she would confront her ex about it when she had the chance. But right now, she needed to get her mind out of the gutter and pay attention in class.
As Quinn was walking out of first period, she was confronted by none other than the school's residential creep, Jacob Ben Israel.
The blonde did one of her infamous eyebrow raises, confused and impatient. She had already been late to her first period class, she was not about to be late to her second period class, too. "Yes?"
The creep smirked. "I heard from the rumor mill that McKinley High's star has a secret admirer." He stated with so much pride that Quinn couldn't help but roll her eyes in reply.
"And why should I care if Man-Hands has a secret admirer, creep?" Quinn replied, her HBIC tone in tack as her heart began to race.
This question seemed to excite Jacob and also seemed to be an open invitation to whatever he was wanting to discuss with her. He pushed his glasses up high on his nose and began to walk side-by-side with the ex-Cheerio to second period - which they unfortunately shared together. "Oh, no reason, none at all... The rumor mills also spinning out that Finn Hudson is number one suspect... Any comment?"
Despite herself, Quinn rolled her eyes again. "Please, if Finn really wanted Rachel back - which he doesn't - he wouldn't have to put that much effort into it. The dwarf's so desperate for love that she would take Finn back in a heart beat."
"I see you and Rachel are still not on good terms after the whole babygate drama of last year," the boy observed. "Is it true that after Rachel spilled the beans about you giving yourself to Puck that you punched her right in the nose, and now she might need surgery on her nose because of it?"
"No, but I sure as hell wanted to at first. And she wouldn't do too bad with a nose job."
That was all Quinn got to say on the matter before the teacher entered the room. The teacher began to babble about their latest homework assignment, but Quinn would be lying is she said her brain had took in any of it. Quinn had a sinking feeling that somehow, Rachel had heard what Quinn had said about her. The fact that Rachel had heard Quinn insult her used to fill her with a cruel sense of pride in herself, but now it offered the opposite effect. Now she was down right disgusted with herself.
Sure enough, Rachel Berry stood in the nearest girls' bathroom, crying in front of the mirror.
"Why - do - they - all - hate - me - s-s-so - m-m-much?" Rachel sobbed to herself, "Why?"
She knew that it was ridiculous that Quinn's bitter words had had such a hard effect on her, but lately she had been over-sensitive to about everything and anything. But this was different. With Quinn it had always been different.
Maybe it was the fact that, a few days ago, the two girls had actually held a...sort-of civil conversation in the library. For a fleeting moment, Rachel had thought that maybe this year would be the year that the two of them would finally get over their grudges for each other and start building a friendship. But she had been wrong.
"No," Rachel said, whipping her head up to face her reflection in the mirror. "I'm not going to cry over stupid, fake Quinn Fabray. My note giver wanted me to smile today and to keep on smiling, so I will. I can't let them get to me."
The diva wished she knew who her note giver was, wish they would reveal themselves. She could really use a friend right now.
Just as she thought that, a small piece of paper was suddenly slid underneath the bathroom door. Rachel walked over to it, struck by dying curiosity. No, it can't be from...
But it was. She hurriedly pushed her ear against the door to listen for footsteps but she heard nothing. Her note giver had come and gone quickly. Rachel nearly tore the note open.
R,
Please, don't cry, bb. :(
I know you're wondering why I didn't just come in there myself and tell you this.
I know you must think I'm some sort of coward.
But Rachel, you just wouldn't understand, not now.
Someday, I'll reveal myself to you.
But for now...
Anyway, can you do something for me?
I want you to go back out there,
and smile.
Then, in glee club, I want you to sing something.
Anything at all.
For the whole club. I don't care if Mr. Schue tries to stop you, do it anyway.
Shine like the star you are.
~
More tears ran down the singer's face. "Okay, I'll do it. For you, if you can hear me."
By the time Glee rolled around, Rachel already had her song picked out. Mr. Schue was, as usual, late. She sat down in her normal seat by herself in the front row, where the only other person down there with her was Artie, and even Artie sat as far away from her as possible. But she couldn't let them get her down.
Finally, Mr. Schue scrambled in the room. "Sorry I'm late guys, there was some last minute stuff I had to take care of and I just couldn't avoid it. Anyway, I thought for this week we would - "
"Actually, Mr. Schue?" Rachel interrupted softly.
Mr. Schue squeezed his eyes shut, obviously annoyed by the interruption. "Yes, Rachel?"
"Before we begin, I had something I wanted to perform for all of you." And before Mr. Schue could begin to object, she quickly made her way up to the front of the room. She gave a small nod to Brad to show that she was ready and began her song.
You´re better then the best
I´m lucky just to linger in your light
Cooler than the flip side of my pillow that´s right
Completely unaware
Nothing can compare to where you send me
Lets me know that it´s ok
Yeah it´s ok
And the moments when my good times start to fade
You make me smile like the sun
Fall outta bed
Sing like a bird
Dizzy in my head
Spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold
Buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Oh, you make me smile
Even when you´re gone
Somehow you come along
Just like a flower poking through the sidewalk crack and just like that
You steal away the rain and just like that
You make me smile like the sun
Fall outta bed
Sing like a bird
Dizzy in my head
Spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold
buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Oh, you make me smile
Don´t know how I lived without you
'Cuz every time that I get around you
I see the best of me inside your eyes
You make me smile
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold
Buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
You make me smile like the sun
Fall outta bed
Sing like bird
Dizzy in my head
Spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold
Buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Oh, you make me smile
Oh, you make me smile
Oh, you make me smile
As her song ended, Quinn sat in an awed silence. She could feel a wide, silly grin taking up her face as it always did whenever the other girl performed. When Rachel stopped singing, Quinn was the first one to applaud her and the last one who stopped.
Rachel eyed Quinn with surprise as she applauded but then her surprised expression melted into one of gratitude. Knowing Quinn, her number one tormentor, liked her performance that much made her smile.
She hoped her note giver liked her performance as much as Quinn did.