Chapter 5

The talk with Santana seemed to give me my backbone back. I could almost physically feel my walls going back up. Feel the power that surrounded me. I would have been happy for the added cover if it didn't come with the striking anger, and backlash.

Santana wasn't at my locker the next day thankfully. I did catch a glimpse of her nodding in approval when I walked in and everyone cowered away from me. I guess they knew Quinn Fabray was back. Even if I was an ex-Cheerio now.

None of the Glee kids approached me as I walked down the hall. Even though I did see Artie and Mercedes looking at me from her locker. I wondered where Brittany was. Normally she stayed relatively close to Artie, and he walked her to class.

I walked into Glee club before everyone else. I grabbed the seat as far in the back as possible, and by happy accident there was no chairs that were anywhere near me unless you actually moved them. I was reading when the other's started to arrive. They knew not to interrupt me when I was reading.

Their voices didn't even register with me. I was too busy seething over how Umbridge was an absolute toad. I imagined what I would do if I was in a situation like that. I hoped I'd have a friend like Hermione.

"Everyone here," Mr. Schue called. His voice carried through the room and I lowered my book slightly to at least appear as if I was paying attention. "I know normally I just give you an assignment for a song you should pick and sing but before that I have an idea. I think that we should do a team building activity and I want your ideas on what we should."

Everyone turned expectantly to Rachel. She was normally the one to come up with ideas when it was left to us to decide. Sometimes I wondered if anyone else realized how dependent we were on her putting forth what she thought of. Without her we wouldn't know what to do more than half the time. I supposed that we needn't worry, she stepped up on this occasion just like all the rest.

"Well," Rachel's face screwed up a little in concentration. "There's obviously not a whole lot we can do acting as a group in Lima, but I'm sure we can think of something... We could, perhaps, attempt to schedule a meet up at breadstix? Or a lock in, and if it really comes down to it we could just hold a small shindig for just Glee club at one of our homes."

There was a murmur as the choices were talked over. Mercedes piped up then, "What exactly would we be doing at a lock in?"

"Well for the most part you just watch movies, play games, and eat food. It's also a kind of battle for who can stay up the latest. Of course we don't have to do that last part because it might create some unhealthy competition but the other things can be quite pleasant. Since it takes place at the school we'd have to get permission."

Rachel was visibly getting excited now. I imagined it was because she was thinking of this like it was some kind of huge slumber party. It kind of was, but she was probably only excited because she never had a slumber party before. Something inside of me twinged. An image of a much smaller Rachel entered my mind. All alone, even though she sent out so many invitations, and prepared so many things.

"That sounds good," I spoke over everyone else. Rachel's beaming smile turned on me. It made me want to look away, but I forced my lips to turn up a little through the sadness that wanted me to frown. It should be impossible to be so happy for something so small.

Other's began voting for it as well after I spoke up. Santana was smiling rather maliciously when she said she liked the idea, and I was rightfully frightened since it was directed my way. Brittany was giggling next to her so I figured it wasn't going to hurt me. Unless, of course, Brittany got abnormally sadistic since I last spoke to her. It didn't seem likely but I was still worried.

_-(*)-(*)-(*)-_

Whatever Santana was planning would obviously happen during the lock-in. With all of us locked inside the school all night I wouldn't be able to get away from her. I wasn't able to focus in any of my classes Thursday or Friday, because the images of all the things Santana could do were haunting me. How far can a 4.0 GPA drop in two day's anyway?

It was decided that we would be having the lock in on Saturday starting at eleven in the morning. That way we could all try to sleep as long as possible Friday night so we could stay up later on Saturday.

I caught Rachel tailing me to a few of my classes. It felt like she was watching over me for any trouble even though it was never I who was slushied or pushed into lockers. It crossed my mind that she may be watching to see if I would have another breakdown. In some way it reassured me that in some way she cared. Or at least cared more than the other Glee members seeing how they haven't asked me how I was, or shown any other signs of caring since I joined Glee again. Santana was correct about that, if you didn't include Rachel.

Even Finn seemed to have lost interest in pursuing me. I had a feeling it didn't have as much to do with me being in Glee again, and more to do with him finding someone new to go after. I felt sorry for whoever had his 'affections' at this moment.

_-(*)-(*)-(*)-_

Saturday morning delivered a text message from Santana.

Santana: U better be up and ready to go. Me and Britts be there in fifteen.

The bad feeling that hadn't left returned ten fold now that I knew I would be forced to ride with Santana. Brittany being there was only a small safety that would probably only save me from death. So started a lovely Saturday that I knew was about to go wrong.