Writer's Note- I just want to be very clear about something, because people said some things and it's been bothering me a lot. There is a note about this in my profile, but I guess people don't look at it. The character 'Jade' is NOT ME. Yes, the character is based on a real person, but it's not me. It's just a very very very very good friend of mine, that I love with all my heart. She changed my life, and the reason why my writing skills are what they are is because of her. So I put her in my stories. I put up that link to her Tumblr because she's a great person to talk to, and I just thought people might want to talk to her, she's a sweetheart, that is all. Also, 'Jade' is an added character, obviously people have no idea what she looks like, by putting her Tumblr link, I thought it might make it easier for some people to picture her in the story. Sorry if that confuses anybody. I'm really not trying to be a bitch to anyone, I know it's hard to know a person's tone on here at times, but this isn't me being a jerk, I'm just explaining. I do put myself in some stories, but it says it right in my profile, when I put myself in stories, the name is 'Alyson'. Again, not trying to be bitchy, I just wanted to clear that up. 'Jade' is not me, but she is based on a real person named EmZee, and that's it. And, sorry for the wait, my life is chaos right now. Promise I'll do my best to make up for it.
When Rachel opened her bedroom door, her and Quinn both let out small screams, causing the shorter sobbing girl, sitting on the bed, to jump.
"Sunshine?"
"Oh my God...what are you doing here", said Rachel in surprise.
"I...I'm sorry, I just...", but she didn't finish, she just whimpered. It was then Rachel noticed she was soaked, and had a bruise forming around her left eye. She was holding what looked like bloody tissues in her hands, and her body was shaking as if she had been sitting there for a while.
"Oh shit...", she mumbled, rushing to her, and kneeling down in front of her.
"I'm sorry. I don't m-mean to bother you...I...just...he..he...", she stuttered.
"No, no no trust me you don't have to explain, let's just get you cleaned up okay?"
Sunshine nodded. Rachel stood up, and hurried across the hallway to the bathroom. Quinn followed close behind.
"Okay, see this is exactly why I told you to stay away from her."
"Not now Quinn, you have no idea what that girl just went through", snapped Rachel, as she grabbed a couple towels, and other things.
"Really", said Quinn. She was a little annoyed with the tone Rachel had just taken with her, not that she should have been surprised.
"Yes, really. He must have a show tonight. He used to fill up the bathtub with ice cold water, and as if that wasn't enough, he'd add ice cubes to it. He made me sit on the edge, and listen to him rehearse, and if I took my eyes away from him just once, while he was singing, he'd force my head under the water until right before I couldn't hold it anymore."
"You can't be serious."
"I am."
"But, that doesn't even make any sense."
"No, it doesn't but to him I suppose it made a difference. Are you saying that I'm lying?"
"No..no no, not at all. I see that she's soaked, and why you know he did that to her. But, that doesn't explain how she knew where to find you, or how she got into the apartment."
"I don't care right now, Quinn. I'm just glad she found me", said Rachel, as she pushed passed Quinn and went back into her bedroom. Sunshine hadn't moved, nor had she stopped sobbing. As soon as Quinn was in the room again, Rachel handed her the towels.
"Can you help her dry off, please?"
Quinn nodded, and took the towels. She slowly sat down on the bed, and softly started drying Sunshine's hair, and the rest of her body. The girl seemed to be okay with the action, but she didn't really seem to be paying much attention. Rachel went to her dresser, and pulled out some pajamas. Once Sunshine was dry enough, Quinn helped her to stand.
"Okay, let's get you into some dry clothing", said Rachel. She reached forward, and pulled Sunshine's shirt up.
"Ow...", she whined.
"Oh my God...", said Quinn, as her hands flew up to cover her mouth. Rachel looked at the giant bruise that was on Sunshine's side. She shook her head, and looked down at the one person she knew that was shorter than she was.
"When?"
"This morning...he..he k-kicked me...".
"Take picture of her injuries."
They all turned to see Jade, standing in the doorway.
"Okay, where the Hell have you been", said Rachel, in such a motherly tone, it freaked Sunshine out.
"Don't worry about that right now", answered Jade, calmly."Just make sure you take pictures of that bruise, and her eye."
And with that, Jade turned away, and closed the door behind her. Rachel was confused, but, Sunshine was her main focus for the time being. She grabbed her digital camera from her desk, and turned it on.
"Don't...", said Sunshine, quietly.
"We have to, otherwise there won't be any proof when you talk to police about this", said Quinn.
"I don't want to talk to any police. I just want to talk to you, Rachel. Please...don't take any pictures of me...". Rachel hesitated for just a few seconds, before turning the camera off, and tossing it onto her bed.
Fifteen minutes later, Sunshine was changed, and sitting in the living room with Quinn, and Rachel. She was drinking a cup of tea that Rachel had made for her, and had managed to stop crying.
"So, he has a show tonight", asked Rachel. Sunshine just nodded, and sipped from her tea mug. Quinn was watching Rachel closely. She understood why she was taking her time with the girl,and why she wasn't asking certain questions. However, she couldn't keep herself from asking what she wanted to know so badly.
"Sunshine...how did you know where Rachel lived", she asked.
"I looked through Jesse's address book. He keeps it hidden, but I saw where he put it once."
"Wait, what the Hell, he knows where I live", asked Rachel in shock.
"Yes. And, when I got here, I knocked. Nobody answered, but your neighbor, she came from her apartment and let me in to wait for you. She asked me a lot of questions first, but then she unlocked the door."
"That nosey woman from next door? Why does she have a key", asked Quinn.
"In case of emergencies", said Rachel.
Suddenly the door flew open, and in walked Jonah. He didn't look happy.
"I can't find her anywhere."
"Um...", said Rachel.
"Oh come on...she's in her room, isn't she", he asked, and Rachel and Quinn both nodded. Without any hesitation, he flew down the hall and into his sister's room.
"Who was that", asked Sunshine.
"One of my roommates, Jonah", answered Rachel, and Sunshine just nodded.
"I'm not trying to be mean, Sunshine, but if you don't want Rachel to help, if you won't let us to report Saint Ass Hole to the police, what exactly is it that you want?"
"I wanted to see Rachel, because I know that she's had to deal with this. I'm sorry, I didn't realize it would make you or anybody else angry at me."
"No, we're not angry. It's just, you are the last person I expected to see sitting in my bedroom when I got home. It was the bathtub, right?"
"Yes. And, I tried to pay attention I really did. It's just I had to work all day, and then come home to make him dinner. He would have been so angry if he couldn't eat before his show...I was so tired...".
"I know, honey you don't have to explain. He doesn't make sense...he pushes you until there isn't anything left." Sunshine nodded slowly.
"You can't let him get away with this. He got away with it with Rachel, but it doesn't have to be that way with you", said Quinn.
"She's right. You can stay here tonight if you want to", said Rachel.
"Rach...can I talk to you for a minute, please", asked Quinn, as she stood up and rounded the corner. Rachel gave Sunshine a reassuring smile, before standing and following Quinn. As she rounded the corner, Quinn was already letting her words out.
"Don't you think it's bad enough he knows where you live? If he finds her here, it won't just be her that gets beaten up for it...", Quinn whispered.
"I know that, Quinn. Honestly, I don't really give a damn."
"Well, I do...I don't want him to hurt you again...".
"But, it's okay if he hurts her?"
"That is so not what I meant, don't even...", whispered Quinn, in disbelief."I'm looking out for you, and that's it. For you to stand here and accuse me of anything else...well that's just bullshit."
Rachel was about to say something back, but they heard noises coming from around the corner. They both stepped back into the room just as Sunshine had picked up the plastic bag with her wet clothes inside. She hurried towards the door. She already had it open by the time Rachel had gotten to her and grabbed her by the arm. She just looked up at Rachel, who was looking down at her with such a desperate look, it almost hurt. She very quickly hugged Rachel, ran out the door, down the hall and down the stairwell.
"Damn it...", said Rachel, and she slammed the door.
"Okay, that was very weird...I don't understand why she came over here", said Quinn. Rachel just shot her a dirty look.
"What?"
The shorter girl just shook her head, and stormed off into her bedroom. Seconds later, Quinn walked into her room, and shut the door behind her.
"So, you're really gonna' try and tell me that wasn't weird?"
"Yes, Quinn! It was weird, but don't worry I didn't really expect you to understand", snapped Rachel.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means, that you were seriously rude to her, and there was really no reason for you to be. Yes, she kinda' broke in, and yes she refused our help. But, that doesn't mean she deserves what's happening to her, and that is exactly how you were acting towards her!"
"I know she doesn't deserve it, I know that! I never said she did, and I wasn't trying to be rude I just don't understand why she bothered to come here if she wasn't planning on staying here, or at least letting us call the police!"
"For comfort! did you not hear her? She needed to be around a person that knew exactly how she felt! That person is me, so she did what she had to do to find me! Why are you so disturbed by that?"
Quinn just shook her head, and sat down on Rachel's bed.
"See, you can't even give me a valid reason, you just wanted to act like a bitch!"
"No I didn't want-...".
"Don't deny it...you were asking her questions as if she was no trial for murder! You think she deserves it, and I have to admit, that hurts me, Quinn! Because if you think she deserves it, that means you think I did too! I don't understand you at all, right now! You have no right to be so rude to her, you have no fucking idea what it's like to be in that position!"
"Yes I fucking do", yelled Quinn, standing from the bed. She had tears streaming down her face, and Rachel suddenly felt guilty. She hadn't been looking at Quinn during her little rant, and hadn't noticed she had started to cry.
"I know you used to think having two Dads was the best thing ever. But, you know what Rachel, I only have one, and he is the biggest piece of shit that ever lived! I wasn't a bitch all through high school for no reason! I was pissed off at the world because I had the world's most abusive father!"
Rachel's facial expression softened, and she moved towards Quinn, slowly.
"You know...I had to catch him on video...I had to get him to hit me and my mother just so I could get out of there...", Quinn cried. Rachel tried to grab her girlfriend's hand, but she just pulled away."He was the biggest reason...he was the main thing that was keeping me from getting the Hell away from that town, I had to do something...I had to fix it! It was the only way", she cried.
Rachel was so confused. She understood that Quinn was confessing that her father was abusive, but she was unsure as to what it was that she had done.
"Quinn...", she said softly.
"I...asked her, I begged her...", cried Quinn, covering her face with her hands. Her thoughts were being over run by memories of being back at her parents home, in Lima.
"Mom...how could you? After everything he put us through...you're just letting him move back in", Quinn was crying. She had walked into the house after school, to find her mother cooking dinner. The table was set for three, and next to one plate, at the head of the table, stood a tall glass with the initials RF engraved. Only one person ever used that glass, and Quinn hadn't seen it sitting on the table in months.
"I have to give him another chance Quinny...he's sorry for what he's done", Judy argued.
"Sorry? For what exactly? Cheating on you, or beating the living Hell out of us for God knows how long? Kicking me out of the house when I really needed both of you the most? Even after all his bullshit, I told him I needed him to hug me!"
"Watch your mouth Quinn...and that tone."
Quinn was so upset, and not just because her monster of a father was coming to dinner, and bringing his things with him. But, because her mother had clearly fallen back into a mind set, that only shown when Russel Fabray was around. There she was, cooking a four cores meal, as fast as she could, glass of alcohol on the counter near by, her husbands favorite musical artist playing from the stereo. It was an environment that had disappeared since Quinn moved back home, and she never thought she would have to enter that environment again.
She was wrong.
"Mom...", said Quinn, stepping in front of her. She grabbed her wrist lightly, just so she would stop stirring the sauce that was on the stove. Judy refused to look up, she couldn't being herself to look at her own daughter. She could hear the fear in her voice, and it was breaking her heart.
"Mom, please...think about this. He will hurt you...he will hurt me. Don't do that to us, we've been so happy...", Quinn said, desperately.
"It's his house. We're his family, and regardless of his mistakes, I love him Quinny. He is your father, and you will respect him."
"You have got to be fucking kidding me", snapped Quinn, letting go of her mother's wrist, and taking a few steps back."That man...terrorized us. Mom, he's broken your arms and ribs how many times? He's beaten the shit out of me, forced me to leave the house, driven the only sister I've ever had away, and all for what? Nothing. He's a monster, he's manipulated you and the rest of us for so long, and you want me to respect him?"
"Don't you dare talk about your father that way! If it wasn't for him you wouldn't even be alive! You wouldn't have all that you have, and you would still be that ugly, red headed little nightmare that you were before he paid for you to get your nose fixed", snapped Judy. Quinn just stared at her mother in disbelief. "The only reason he kicked you out of this house was because you acted like a little whore and got yourself pregnant! You did that to yourself!"
"That's not you Mom, that's him talking, that's something he would say! If you really believed that you never would have let me back into the house after he left with that woman, and you know it!"
"Just shut up, please! Stop it! Your father is moving back in, he's sorry! He won't hurt us anymore, he won't...", cried Judy.
"Oh my God! Who are you trying to convince, me or yourself? It will be just like before! You'll do something to piss him off, he'll hit you, then make you drink, and everything will be all better!"
"Stop it! Just, go upstairs, and get cleaned up, he's going to be here any minute", said Judy, as she wiped her tears away. As if she had never been crying, or fighting with her daughter, she took a sip of her drink, smoothed out her dress, and went right back to stirring her sauce. Quinn just shook her head, and walked out of the kitchen. As predicted, life picked up exactly where it had left off once Russel moved back in.
By the time Quinn had finished telling Rachel about the conversation, she was sitting on the bed again. Rachel's arms wrapped around her from behind.
"How did you catch him", Rachel asked softly.
"This one weekend, my parents went on one of their wine tasting trips. I had Artie help me hook up some cameras in the kitchen, living room, and den. Luckily, he didn't even ask me what they were for, I think he was just happy to be helping. I ended up catching my Dad hitting my mother, and me on several different occasions. I gave him one chance after that. I asked him if I could move here for school, and he said no. Once I showed him the videos, and reassured him I had copies, he changed his mind real quick. Offered to pay for everything, including my apartment." Quinn was much calmer, and it surprised Rachel considering how touchy the subject was. But, she silently came to the conclusion that she was just happy to finally get it off of her chest.
"What...about your mother?"
"She was so mad at me, like I had ruined her life. I feel bad, I always will...I didn't wanna' leave her alone, but...she'll never leave him. She'll always forgive him, and that's how it will always be with her."
Rachel moved, so that she was sitting in front of Quinn.
"Is that what you think will happen to Sunshine?"
"Yeah. And, I think it's what would of happen to you, if Puck and Jade hadn't of gotten you away from it."
Rachel leaned in, and hugged Quinn tight, rubbing her back, and kissing her softly on the lips. She wiped a few tears from Quinn's cheeks, and kissed her again."I'm sorry your father did that to you", she said, softly."I wish...I would have known." Quinn just nodded, and they stayed cuddled together for a while before there was a knock on the door.
"Come in", said Rachel, and in walked Santana.
"Hey", she said.
"Hey you, where did you go", asked Quinn.
"Just...needed some time", said Santana, as she sat down on the bed.
"Are you okay", asked Rachel.
"I dunno'...I just, needed to think. Only thing is, I couldn't fucking stop thinking about her."
"Her, meaning...", said Quinn, furrowing her eyebrows.
"Jade. I'm...scared."
Quinn and Rachel exchanged looks of guilt.
"What...", asked Santana suspiciously.
"Okay, don't get mad, yes we should have called or texted but...she's been home for a little while now", said Rachel.
"What the Hell", snapped Santana, standing up.
"We were a little occupied...", defended Quinn, but Santana didn't care. She left the room and crossed the hall to Jade's door. She knocked, and waited. Soon enough, the door opened and Jonah was standing there. Without a word, he pushed Santana back into the hallway, and closed the door behind him.
"She's not gonna' tell you this because she feels bad, so I'm gonna' tell you", he said, calmly.
"Okay...".
"When people yell at her, it hurts her feelings, and it makes her feel worse, on every level. So...whatever you said to her outside the bar earlier, kind of effected her."
"Jesus...", breathed Santana, feeling a Hell of a lot worse than she had."I didn't mean to make her feel bad about being there, I just...-"
"I know, you just care. It's okay, she isn't mad at you, and neither am I."
"Why does she feel bad about that, it was my fault", said Santana.
"Look my sister blames the world's problems on herself, she feels guilty about everything. That's just her, though. It sucks, but it's how she's always been. So, I'm not gonna' do this protective big brother thing to you, because I know you mean well. I know you aren't trying to hurt her, just...try to hold your patience with her, alright? It's not always easy, but she doesn't realize how much her personality frustrates people sometimes." Santana just nodded her head."Alright...Imma' go to sleep. Goodnight Santana."
"Night Jonah."
When Santana walked into Jade's bedroom, she was laying in her bed, facing the other direction. She already had her pajamas on, and music was playing from her computer. Santana kicked her shoes off, and walked over to the bed. After carefully getting on the bed, she grabbed Jade, and pulled her into her arms. As if she already knew who it was, Jade rolled over, and nestled herself into Santana's body.
"I didn't think you'd ever show up...", she whispered.
"I shouldn't have said what I said at the bar, and...I'm-"
"Don't apologize, okay? You were right."
"But, I didn't have to be such a bitch about it", defended Santana.
"Yes you did, because you are a bitch", said Jade, laughing a little.
"Well, you got me there."
Jade looked up into Santana's eyes, and smiled. It was obvious to Santana that she had been crying. She rested her forehead on Jade's, and lightly rubbed her nose on hers.
"Hey, if you were a super hero...what would your power be?"
"What?"
Santana was caught off guard. Not just because she was about to kiss her, but it sounded like a question that Brittany would ask.
"If you were a super hero, what would your special power be to help people with?"
"Ummm...I guess, super strength."
"I knew you'd say that. I like that though. Some people would say it's not a good power, like it's so typical. But, they never realize just how much you could do with that one power."
"How do you mean", asked Santana, even though she was extremely confused by the conversation.
"Well, you could lift heavy things, like buildings, or buses. You could punch a bad guy so hard they go flying hundreds of feet into the air. You could even squeeze poison from a person's veins. But, strength isn't just physical...it's mental too. So, not only could you protect a person with punches and heavy lifting...you could really understand what they feel...and what they think", Jade explained, tiredly. Santana smiled.
"I never thought about it like that before."
"Nobody ever does, and it kills me."
"You are so damn cute...", laughed Santana, and Jade giggled."What about you, what would your power be?"
"'I'd be able to stream music from anywhere on my body", answered Jade, quickly.
"Oh, I see somebody as thought about this before."
"Totally...".
"Why that power?"
"Music heals, and it makes people feel better all the time. Even if it's just temporary...".
"I see, well than I guess that would be my second choice", said Santana.
Jade felt so warm, she loved the conversation she was having with Santana, and she loved how close she could get to her. She felt safe. She wanted to kiss her, but there was knock on the door. Before she even said anything, the door opened and Rachel poked her head in.
"You guys okay?"
"Mhm", said Jade.
"Me and Quinn are headed up to the roof...wanna' join?"
"Are the stars out", asked Jade.
"Oh, they're out", laughed Quinn, who was standing behind Rachel.
"Okay."
"Bring you computer, Jade", said Rachel.
A few minutes later, the four of them were sitting rooftop, enjoying the city lights, and nighttime sky. Rachel cuddled happily into Quinn's arms, and Jade resting comfortably in Santana's. Quinn noticed the music playing from Jade's computer had no words, it was just music.
"What is this music. Jade", she asked.
"It's called "Ice Dance"...it's from the movie Edward Scissor Hands", answered Jade.
"It's beautiful", said Quinn.
"I remember...this is the part where he's making that ice sculpture, and the girl comes outside and it looks like it's snowing", said Rachel.
"Yeah, that's the part. My favorite part in the movie", said Jade.
"Do they dance in that part? I mean...you said the song is called Ice Dance...", said Quinn.
"No, but they probably should have", said Rachel, in a rather disappointed tone.
"They dance...he just doesn't know they're dancing. She starts to move around under all the ice shavings that are falling...he doesn't see her at first. But she's...moving...dancing...but you can see it if you really look. She's dancing with him...at least, she wants to be", said Jade.
Santana couldn't help but lean down, and kiss Jade on the cheek after she had said that.
"God, I will never get over your ability to see things in a different and much more exciting light, Jade", said Rachel.
"Well, there's no ice around...but that doesn't mean we can't dance to this music", said Quinn, as she stood up. She extended her hand down towards Rachel, who smiled, took her hand and let her pull her up. Santana did the same, and in no time at all, the four of them were slow dancing to the music. The music moving through the air, the scent of the smoke streaming across the rooftop from Jade's incense, and the stars shining above. It was all so perfect, and each of them knew that. The song soon ended, but they didn't stop their dancing. Lucky for Quinn, she immidietly recongnized the song that came from Jade's computer next.
"Wow, I have to say, Jade. Never took you for a fan of Ashley Tisdale", she laughed.
"Oh, I don't hate on very much music, but in this case it wasn't just her...it's the song she's singing", said Jade, without looking away from Santana.
"She did choose a pretty damn good song to cover...", said Santana.
Quinn smiled down at Rachel, and started singing over the words to the song.
Quinn-
Lying in my bed I hear the clock tick and think of you
Caught up in circles, confusion is nothing new
Flash back warm nights, almost left behind
Suitcase of memories
Time after...
Jade-
sometimes you pictured me
I'm walking too far ahead
You're callin' to me
I can't hear what you've said
You said: Go slow, I fall behind
The second hand unwinds.
All-
If you're lost you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you, I'll be waiting
Time after time
If you're lost you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you, I will be waiting
Time after time.
Rachel-
After my picture fades
And darkness has turned to gray
Watching through windows
You're wondering if I'm OK
Secrets stolen from deep inside
The drum beats out of time...
All-
If you're lost you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you, I'll be waiting
Time after time
If you're lost you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you, I will be waiting
Time after time
Santana-
You said: Go slow, I fall behind
The second hand unwinds...
All-
If you're lost you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you, I'll be waiting
Time after time
If you're lost you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you, I will be waiting
Time after time
Time after time
Time after time
Time after time
Time after time...
After a couple of hours dancing, and bonding on the roof, the girls retreated downstairs, and to bed. They were all sleeping by the time Puck had gotten home from the bar. When he walked in, half drunk, and frustrated as all Hell about the night's events, he had one question on his mind. He didn't care if Jonah was sleeping or not, he stumbled over to his door, and knocked until he opened it.
"Dude...I'm so tired, what's up? You okay", asked Jonah.
"Nope. You have some explaining to do", slurred Puck, as she pushed his way into Jonah's room. The taller black man just turned on his light, and shut the door. Puck plopped down into his roommate's bed.
"What's up", asked Jonah, rubbing his eyes.
"Why the Hell did you get so crazy about Jade being around your older brother?"
Song they sang was "Time After Time"...which I believe was originally done by: Cyndi Lauper. However, in this chapter they are singing the version covered by: Ashley Tisdale.