Disclaimer: I don't own Glee.
A/N: Thank you for the reviews and support
Chapter 7: The couple in the picture
The next day, Glesswood was more alive than Rachel had seen it all week. The town was especially decorated for the fair with lanterns and banners. There were some food stands and different activities people could do all day until the ball in the evening.
The diva couldn't wait for the day to be over. She hadn't slept much after her fight with Santana and she wasn't in the mood to talk to all these strangers and participate in the day's activities. She wanted to go home, to 2011 and just thinking about it made her want to cry.
The brunette took advantage of the general euphoria to look around and find information on Mary Quinn and Cole's friend who, she knew now, was called John but it was harder than she had thought. These two didn't seem to interact much and she might not be an expert in relationships but it didn't look like the doctor had any interest in the boy. Maybe it was a one sided love but she needed to learn more about them before drawing any conclusions.
Soon the evening came and it was time for the ball. Abigail had crafted a special dress for her to wear and although her sense of fashion might not be one of the best, it was a beautiful piece of clothing. It was like she had already seen the dress somewhere… It was light blue with a black fabric belt around the mid section and lace on the chest and the upper part of the gown. Her hair was loose and slightly curled. The girl sighed as she looked at her reflection. "You can do this, Rachel…"
Once Rachel reached the square where the ball was taking place, she sat at a table in the corner. It was easier to watch everyone from this spot and it would lessen the risk of people trying to talk to her.
15 minutes later, Santana showed up with a girl on her arms. It was clear by the frown on the Latina's face that she wasn't happy to be there either. The diva stared at them for a while, waiting for the perfect opportunity to accost her friend without Rosa. She knew the girl didn't want to talk to her but she hoped that with an apology, Santana would understand she wasn't trying to hurt her.
Rachel was about to stand up to talk to Santana who was finally alone when Cole approached her, a drink in hand.
The man smiled. "I brought you some lemonade." He sat next to her.
"Thank you, Cole." The brunette smiled politely, silently growling at the boy's bad timing.
"Do you want to dance now or wait?" Cole asked hopeful.
"I arrived not a long time ago; maybe we could wait for a bit…" The petite girl trailed off
The tall boy nodded. "Are you hungry? Do you want something?"
The diva sighed internally, she had a feeling the boy wouldn't leave her alone for the rest of the night. Sending him to get food might keep him away for a while. "Yes, I would love something to eat."
Cole grinned happily before leaving the table. As soon as he left, Rachel searched around for Santana, the girl wasn't alone anymore. "Great…"
Santana had never been so bored in someone's company before. For the past 2 hours Rosa had stayed mostly silent, only talking when asked a question and since she wasn't feeling really social today, or any day for the matter, the Latina didn't bother asking much. She had danced with the girl a couple times, desperately trying to kill time but she couldn't take it anymore.
The Latina had caught Rachel staring at her a few times but hadn't approached her yet. She had a feeling it had something to do with the giant always coming to her table. Even though she was still pissed at the brunette for butting into her business, spending time with her would still be better than what she was doing now. She waited for Cole to leave Rachel alone before approaching her. She stood beside the table and cleared her throat. "Michelle."
"Santiago." Rachel smiled. "Are you having fun?"
The tan girl scoffed. "As if…" She glanced around them. "Did you lose your watchdog?"
"Cole is talking to his friends right now." The diva stated. "What about your date?" She nodded in Rosa's direction.
The raven-haired girl rolled her eyes. "That chick is so boring, I really want to leave."
"I share the feeling." The brunette assured. "But it's still early; I don't think we should leave yet…"
Santana sighed. "So what…" She stopped talking when she saw Cole glare at her and come their way. She smirked at him, knowing it would annoy him even more. "Let's dance!" She grabbed Rachel's hand and forced her to stand, marching toward the dancing area.
"What? Santana, what are you doing?" The petite girl questioned confused as she hastily followed the girl. "People will talk…"
"I don't care right now." The Latina exclaimed, turning around and offering her hand as she waited for the girl to come closer. "I prefer that than dancing with this dumb chick. Besides, Sasquatch was coming toward us."
"Sasquatch?" Rachel asked as she stepped closer to Santana. The Latina gently grabbed her hands and put them on her shoulders before resting hers on her waist. Soon, they begun swaying with the music.
"Big and hairy Cole Flint!" The tan girl explained.
The diva giggled despite herself. "Santana, that's mean. People from the old west don't have the same hygiene and fashion standards as us."
Santana didn't know why but she found herself thinking of the word 'cute' when the brunette giggled. It didn't sit right and she decided to forget the feeling and continue. "Oh I know. But if you'd prefer to dance with him, be my guest." She raised her eyebrow and pulled away slightly.
"No, it's okay, I think I'll pass." Rachel answered, instinctively pulling the girl closer. "I've been avoiding this all evening." They fell into a comfortable silence, trying to ignore the people staring at them. "I can hear people whispering…"
"I know. Cole and Rosa are shooting daggers at us too." The raven-haired girl chuckled, having noticed the two of them glaring at them for a while now.
The diva smiled. She knew even though they were enjoying their time right now, there was still some tension from between them from the night before. It was best to bring up the subject and root out the evil. She cleared her throat. "Listen Santana, I'm sorry if I was out of line, yesterday. I really didn't mean to upset you and…"
"I'm still pissed at you." The former cheerleader quickly cut her off before she could start a rant. "And I wanted to throw things at you all evening but whether I like it or not, we need each other right now so I'll just keep cursing you in my head." She squeezed the diva's hand to let her know she wasn't done talking before taking a deep breath. "Besides, I know you figured it out when I sang Landslide and all but I'm just not comfortable about it yet…"
The brunette nodded. "I understand but like I said, once all of this is over, if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here…"
The taller girl sighed. "Whatever, let's just dance."
As Rachel danced silently against Santana, she couldn't help but wonder why it felt awkward. Was it because they had a fight, or because they had never been this close before or as 'friendly'? She couldn't deny it was nice to dance with the Latina and she was surprised by how the girl managed to always smell good despite working all day at the ranch.
The petite girl was about to ask Santana if she wanted to keep dancing after when a man shouted "Smile for the picture." She barely got the time to register what was happening when a flash blinded them both. She blinked a few times, trying to get her sight back. She looked at Santana who seemed as confused as her in the moment before stepping away. She glanced around her, people still staring at them, before looking at her clothes and Santana's. "Oh my god…"
"What?" The Latina frowned. "What's wrong?"
"I think…" The brunette looked at Santana. "I think I just realised who the couple is."
Santana's frown deepened. "What?"
Rachel looked around at the curious townsfolk and did her best show smile before grabbing Santana's hand again and speaking through gritted teeth. "Just keep dancing. I need to think."
The latina placed her hand on her waist again and glanced nervously at her. "What the fuck is going on, Berry? You're really starting to freak me out. More than usual, I mean."
"Not now!" Rachel hissed back, her mind whirling. The fair, the lights, the outfits, the tiny stage behind her, it was suddenly all so familiar. She had only glanced at the picture and the quote beneath it briefly but all her years spent memorising scripts had paid off. She closed her eyes before quoting. 'This is the only picture of the tragic couple known to have existed and was taken at the town fair only weeks before their deaths. It is not known how the young ranch hand and the shop girl began their affair but what is certainly known is the events that lead to it's dramatic conclusion.'
"Okay, Berry, what did you just work out?" Santana whispered in her ear, leaning closer so people couldn't hear her.
"Us, Santana." The petite girl whispered back, her voice shaking as she pulled away slightly, fearful eyes scanning the watchful crowd around them. "Santiago and Michelle. They were the couple in the photo by the piano."
"What?" The diva felt Santana stiffen in her arms. "You saw a photo of us and what, just forgot?"
"It wasn't a photo of 'us', Santana." The brunette glared at her, affronted by the implication. "And in case you've forgotten we can't see what 'we' look like."
"But surely you know what 'you' look like?" The tan girl spat, turning her a little too roughly. "Aren't there mirrors in your place?"
"Not many, and they are not very helpful." The Jewish girl huffed. "For your information, Michelle's hair and face are quite different from mine!"
The raven-haired girl pulled back slightly and looked at her, her piercing gaze taking in every aspect of her face. "Then how do you look so good? I can't do anything with my hair…" Then she swirled the girl before pulling her back against her body.
Rachel was a little taken aback by the move. Their faces were inch apart now and dark eyes were looking right at her. "I…"
"Alright, that's enough, hombre." A rough voice said loudly as Santana was yanked away from the diva.
"Get your damn hands off me, cabrón." Santana spat, her voice a low growl as she turned to square up to Cole.
"Sure, when you get your filthy hands off my woman." Cole snarled back as he pushed the Latina.
Rachel quickly stepped in front her. "He's not doing anything. Please, Cole, go back to your table."
The tall man grabbed her forcefully. "Don't talk to me like that. I saw the way he was looking at you and how you were looking at him." He pulled her toward her. "You are already embarrassing yourself by talking to someone like him and now you are embarrassing me by dancing with him too. What do you think you're doing? You are mine." He tightened his grip her arm.
"You're hurting me." The brunette whimpered.
"Okay, let her go before I lose my patience." Santana pushed him away from the girl.
Cole moved forward to punch her but Santana swiftly avoided his fist before kicking him in the groin. The Latina smirked proudly but the man straightened his posture quicker than she expected and punched her hard in the face, sending her to the ground.
"Santana!" The diva kneeled down next to the girl, not realizing her slip up.
"Santana? Is this what you are calling him now? And you're telling me there is nothing going on?" The man shouted. "You should be with me!"
The Latina removed the blood from her lip before smirking. "Maybe she's with me because I'm better than you are in some specific area?" She winked and smirked proudly as the crowd gasped. She knew it was out of character and could get them both in trouble but she couldn't help it, she has always needed to have the last word.
Rachel gasped too as she glared at her. "He's joking, we are just friends." She rushed to say before things could get worse.
Cole's face turned red and rushed forward, kicking the Latina in the stomach.
The petite girl stood up and pushed him backward. "Stop it!"
The tall man moved forward again but John stepped in front of him at the same time.
"We have to go, the sheriff is here." John stated. Cole shot daggers at Santiago and Michelle before nodding and running away with his friend.
Rachel sighed in relief before wordlessly helping Santana stand up and leading her away from the judging eyes.
Rachel and Santana had rushed into the Mrs Bercoran's shop. The diva didn't know if Abigail was home or had seen what happened, it was safer there than at her 'home.' She asked the Latina to sit on the counter and looked around for something to clean the girl's cut. "Did you have to make that last comment? In case you forgot, we are in 1880 and we were attending a fair, this is not Mckinley with you trying to rule the hallways."
Santana chuckled. "Oh my god, his face was hilarious!"
"He kicked you!" The diva cried
"So worth it." The Latina stated proudly.
"You…" The brunette growled. "You are infuriating and reckless, has anyone ever told you that?" She grabbed a clean rag and some antiseptic before coming back to the Latina.
The raven-haired girl rolled her eyes. "Whatever, that dick started it." She opened her legs to allow Rachel to come closer.
The petite girl looked at the Latina's legs before looking at her. When Santana simply shrugged, she nodded to herself and stepped inside the Latina's personal space. She cleared her throat. "You know I don't condone violence." She poured some alcohol on the rag before lightly tapping the girl's lip.
The tan girl hissed in pain. "He was hurting you, I was just trying to help."
"Thank you for defending me, it was really sweet of you." The Jewish girl said honestly. "Though I'm surprised you admit it at loud…"
The former cheerleader scoffed. "I might be a bitch but we are teammates, it means something. I wasn't about to let him manhandle you." She saw Rachel grin and lifted her hand to prevent the girl from talking. "Don't even try to say anything…" Suddenly uncomfortable, she decided to change the subject. "So what's all this shit about Michelle and Santiago being the couple in the tale? And why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"I have a photographic memory so I guess my mind stored the memory of this picture somewhere and when we found ourselves in the same situation as the couple, it struck me." Rachel explained, cleaning the blood on the rest of the girl's face.
Santana frowned. "That doesn't make any sense."
"Really? Because after what happened tonight, I'm pretty sure I'm right." The smaller girl insisted. "After checking the dates more carefully, I figured the most recent journal is missing but from what I read in the others, Santiago and Michelle didn't like each other. At least at beginning and then it slowly changed. I didn't think much of it at first, but now, it makes sense. Cole is the perfect jealous ex boyfriend and practically everyone in town disapproved and whispered when we danced together."
"Let's say you're right. Why us? Why send us back in 1880, living their lives?" The raven-haired girl inquired. "Don't say to help them get together because one, it would be easier to do it if we were ourselves or someone else in town and two, we hate each other. So the cosmic director of this shit kinda recruited the wrong people to play this Romeo and Juliet drama."
"I don't know yet but…" The brunette smiled shyly before looking at the Latina through her eyelashes. "I don't hate you."
Suddenly Mr Cruz burst into the shop. "Santiago!"
Both girls jumped in surprise. Santana quickly jumped off the counter and stepped in front of the brunette in a protective instinct she didn't know she had for the girl. "How did you find me?" She tried to stay calm and composed but her heart was racing against her ribcage. After witnessing a few outbursts the man had toward his employees, she had a bad feeling about what could happen…
"I saw you leave with this silly girl, I knew there was a big chance you might be here." Ricardo explained coldly. "Come with me."
The Latina shook her head. "No"
"Ven conmigo, ahora." Mr Cruz shouted before taking a deep breath.
The diva, feeling the tension, decided to jump in. "Mr Cruz, please."
The man looked at her with fury in his eyes. "For your own good, you should stay out of this. You are lucky your father isn't here anymore to see what you have become, he would be ashamed of you." He grabbed Santana by the arm and led her outside
The petite girl stepped forward as if she wanted to follow but Santana shook her head, a clear sign it wasn't a good idea.
Once in the alley, Mr Cruz didn't waste a minute to lecture his son. "What happened tonight is unacceptable. I expected my son to behave and enjoy the evening with a nice girl and instead I found you dancing with this… this Bercoran girl and fighting with Cole Flint."
"He started it!" Santana defended herself.
Ricardo raised his hand to stop her words. "Do you have any idea how precarious our situation is here? How all these people look down on us? I keep telling you to be careful, to know your place but you never listen, Santiago."
The Latina looked at Santiago's father in disbelief. "Know my place? We are just as good as they are, fuck these people! You have a fortune, you don't have to take shit from these backwards hicks, just be a man!"
Out of nowhere, Mr Cruz punched her in the guts. Santana fell to her knees as the hit took the air out of her lungs. The man gripped her jaw tightly. "Don't you ever disrespect me again or so help me God, I will..." He stopped when they heard a group of laughing people approach. "You will learn your place, Santiago and you will respect me. Do not dare step a foot in my house until you can behave like a decent man. You have brought shame on your family tonight." He looked one last time at his son before leaving.
Santana whimpered in pain, exhaling slowly as she held her stomach. She stood up with a bit of a struggle and dusted off her clothes before breathing out. "Son of a bitch…"
Rachel was cleaning the shop, trying to hide any trace of their passage when she heard someone open then close the door. She lifted her head and her eyes widened when she saw Santana. "Santana, what are you doing here? I thought you went back to the ranch with Mr Cruz."
Santana opened her mouth but nothing came out. The girl stood there in the middle of the shop. She was past the level of exhaustion and all she wanted was to crawl in bed, her bed, in her house in Lima and not leave it for days.
"What's wrong? Are you okay? What happened?" The diva questioned, clearly worried by the pale look on the girl's face.
"I…" The Latina started again, trying not to cry. But as soon as Rachel touched her shoulder and looked at her with worried eyes, she burst in tears.
"Oh no, Santana…" The brunette stepped forward and hugged the girl tightly. "What happened?"
The tan girl couldn't find the strength to push Rachel away after all that happened and let the girl hold her. "He…" She took a deep breath between sobs. "He hit me and told me to not come back to the ranch." When she felt the diva tense in her arms, she pulled away slightly to look at her.
"How could he?" The petite girl growled in anger. She broke the embrace but kept a hold of the girl's hand. "Tomorrow I will go to the ranch and give him an earful about how to treat people."
Despite the pain in her ribs, the raven-haired girl laughed. "As if you could fight him, short sack."
"I'm serious, this is not okay." The Jewish girl insisted
"I know…" The Latina wiped her tears away with the back of her hand.
Rachel sighed wearily. "Well you can stay with me until we figure something else."
"Are you serious?" Santana shook her head. "Abigail would lose it, it's not a simple sleepover."
"Then where will you go?"
"Maybe I can help." A voice said behind them. They were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't hear Dr Quinn enter the shop. They moved away from each other and stared at the girl.
"Sorry, I didn't want to interrupt." Mary smiled at them kindly. "I was going back to my office when I saw some light coming from the shop. I… I heard what happened so I wanted to check on you."
The petite girl smiled. "That's really nice of you, Mary. Thank you."
"Are you sure I can stay with you? I don't want to get you in trouble." The former cheerleader knew Santiago and the girl were friends but she didn't know the girl and didn't want to bring her into their crazy story.
Dr Quinn shrugged. "They already talk about me all the time anyway. Might as well give them something to talk about."
Santana looked at Rachel, silently asking if it was a good idea. The brunette shrugged. "It's not like we have a choice..."
After a moment, Santana left the shop and followed Mary to her house. Since the girl was coming from a wealthy family, she had bought a house right at the town limit.
What the girls didn't know what that they were being watched from the shadows. Cole patted John on the shoulder as the man growled at the view. "Don't worry, Johnny boy. We'll get that mudsill…"