Civil War

(Rachel)

I hate my sister.

Well, I really love her, but in that moment, I hated her with all my will. Brittany broke her heart and I've never seen someone so miserable as Santana. I tried to help her, I swear, instead my sister made my life a living hell.

In the beginning of our junior year, Santana started a rumor that she put silicone breast and showed up at school with a padded bra. It was enough to create mass psychological effect. But she didn't know Quinn was playing dirty and use the information to recover her place as captain of the cheerios. They fought in the hallway and I can't understand how they weren't suspended. Some students recorded everything on the phones and posted it on YouTube. You can view the fight in three different angles.

Glee Club remained my sister's greatest social vulnerability. Santana wasn't kidding when she said the choir was the best part of her day. I felt that her personal involvement was increasing. She was more involved, sang more. The other day, I caught her in the library searching Tina Turner's discography, which results in an explosive duet with Mercedes. I was truly impressed by my sister for the first time. She was good. Really good singer.

But that was the day when everything changed. Till there, my life was so normal if my boyfriend and my glee fellows.

Quinn? I think she tolerated me more. Not that we had become best friends, although I wouldn't mind. It was something I wanted, inclusive. I believe Quinn is a good company and she did have a good heart, but it is difficult to understand anything about the eternal captain of the cheerios. After Quinn gave birth, she was quieter in school, more discreet and even more isolated. Maybe she was sad. You couldn't guess what was going on in her head or even reading her body language. Quinn was always thinking twice before saying anything, even in her offenses: they were more subtle and elaborate. She didn't get better when she began dating the new boy Sam Evans and become the half of the most diabetic couple of school – words of Santana. I just think it made sense.

The other Glee Clubbers weren't like Quinn. I knew exactly what to expect from Mercedes, Tina, Artie, Noah, Kurt, Mike. Even Sam. He had predictable personality, demystified in a few weeks. He was a well-meaning guy, but constantly in search of popularity, like my boyfriend.

Sometimes it bothered me that Finn was so concerned on being a leader. Papa said Finn's IQ was inversely proportional of the volume of his body. So he didn't have many chances in the academic life post-High School. Not even as a football player because papa said he was pathetically mediocre, unable coordinates the arms with the legs. These times I realized where Santana's insults motivation come from. Anyway, Finn made sense in McKinley High and he was perfect for me. Moreover: he was a great drummer and could be a musician if he opened his mind to other possibilities. I know he isn't a great singer. He isn't a good football player, for sure, but Finn could go with me to New York as a musician if he could keep his mind opened.

One day, Brittany started dating Artie for real. When I heard, I saw the heavy clouds on the horizion. I remember that Santana gave me the car keys so I went home alone (that was never a good sign). She only appeared the other day at school and with a tremendous hangover. Apparently she tried to heal her pain with Noah, and she lied to my dads saying she was at Tina's doing some school project. Come on! Tina? Despite not having changed the relationship of friendship with Brittany and continued to act much the same way in school, Santana tried to deal her frustration on me. The offenses got worse and we could barely live in the same indoors.

"What the fuck, Rachel? You only invite the girls with boyfriends to help Kurt on school?" Santana shouted in my face as we got in our car. "what about Mercedes? His best friend? She can't be part of this ridiculous justice league because she doesn't have a boyfriend? Do you know how ridiculous and idiotic you are?"

"I refuse to talk to you while you're screaming. Loca!"

"¿Loca? Cuando llegamos a casa y me pongo mis manos sobre su cuello, entonces usted sabrá que eres loca." Somehow, Santana was even more frightening when screaming in Spanish.

"¿Sabes qué? Buena suerte con eso." I crossed my arms and looked at the window beside me.

I went home shaking with fear. I even considered jumping with the car in motion when Santana slowed down in the crosswalk. When we got home, I practically ran to Prudence and Clara, our laborers. They clean our house twice a week since I was five. More important: they always defended me from Santana. I was counted on that, because my sister seemed she would fulfill her promise and possible kill me. Instead, she stole ice cream from the fridge, puffing up the stairs, and locked herself in her room.

"Rachel, Santana! I'm home." Daddy liked to advertise. I hugged him and he kissed the top of my head. "How was school today, sweet pie?"

"It was another day I thought Santana would kill me."

"What happened to your sister these days? Yesterday, she refused dinner at Breadstixs."

"She's hurt because of Brittany." I simplified the case.

"Still?"

"I think it will take a while and we all will pay the price."

…

(Quinn)

The words my mom said few months ago echoed every day in my head.

"Your father won't pay for your college, Quinnie. I am so sorry we don't have enough money anymore. I really am sorry but I think you should start considering the Community College."

I couldn't be one more Lima loser. I didn't want my mother's fate, who always complied with the mediocre life in this city. The only minimum chance I had to get out of here with some security would be through a scholarship, and the shortest path was Sue Sylvester. The coach's influence could ensure some university in Midwest, especially in Louisville. It could be anyone that I would take it.

That's why I dropped Santana from the cheerios. I just had to use against her the same gossip she herself spread in the Facebook: silicone breast. Obviously that was a lie. I knew her dads wouldn't consent for surgery of this nature, especially her doctor dad. But the gossip was enough to convince Sue Sylvester that Santana has a huge image problem thus, she couldn't be the captain anymore. In the same day, my main adversary was in the base of the pyramid. Santana did a great job as captain. Too bad she was on my way.

Then, I needed to regain my popularity. The best way to speed up the process was to get a cute boyfriend. The new boy, Sam Evans, was perfect. Ironically, I had the push and support of Rachel Berry-Lopez and Finn Hudson. I didn't know the reasons for them to do that. I think they just wanted keep Sam in the choir. Not that Rachel would care about my "happiness". I didn't want to feed my hopes. The fact was: Rachel was still with Finn.

At least Sam was a good guy. Somewhat naive and sometimes full of himself. He kissed reasonably well, established a reasonable dialogue and was a quarterback who really knew how to play. Those were everything that Finn Hudson had ever able to be. It wasn't a sacrifice to be with Sam, but he wasn't what I wanted. My boyfriend had my attention, but not my love.

"Hi Quinn." Rachel approached with a grin.

"What do you want this time?"

"Who said I want something?"

"Lopez 2, cut the crap. Every time you come around me these days, was or to ask me for favors or try to manipulate me."

"I never try to manipulate you." She pretended the shock.

"Because you can't." I approached her like a predator. She was so… helpless… so tempting. I could try to kiss her, but I held myself. "Don't you understand that I am the one who chooses to assign or not your calls?" Her eyes widened. I felt o bit of fear from her. It was good. She needed to understand that I am the HBIC of this school. That was my role and my opponent was Santana Berry-Lopez. Not her. "What do you need?" I took a step back.

"Santana."

"What about her? Is she hitting on your man? Finn has always had a thing for her." I teased.

"She's getting out of hand at home and at school. I need someone to break her a little bit and the only person strong enough on this school is you! Isn't she your great rival? Do something!"

I started laughing. How ironic, I suddenly was the solution for the Berry-Lopez sisters' problems.

"What's so funny?" Rachel frowned.

"I won't do it."

"How so?"

"Santana can be down right now. Moreover, she is still one of the main cheerios and I need her more or less motivated. And I am not willing to earn a slap in the face so soon. Sorry, Lopez 2, but you have to find another way to deal with your sister."

"Please Quinn. I'm desperate."

"It's easier you break Brittany and Artie up. Then your problems will be solved."

"I..." Her eyes widened. "How do you know?"

"The question is: who doesn't know?" I raised my face. "That's not my problem."

Thanks to the good Jesus, that problem wasn't mine. I found Sam in the school hallway and kissed him. Good to have a man like him at my feet. He was strong and I needed some arms to help on the moving. My mom sold our house and bought another near Lima Heights Adjacent. See the sweet irony: I always rolled my eyes because of Santana's strange pride for that awful neighborhood, even if she lives on the other side of town. Now I was moving near there, to live in a small one-story house.

My mother started working as a seamstress and I did small jobs. I've been working as nanny, school tutoring, and a neighbor once paid me $50 to photograph his barbecue birthday party. I tried to work as a waitress, but it last one week to nevermore.

"You'll even help you move?" I asked my new boyfriend.

"Of course! I promised, I fulfill."

"Great." I kissed him. "I need you at three." And left him behind.

…

(Rachel)

Santana took Finn's virginity! Finn had sex with Santana in a dirty hotel room a week after he broke up with me. Santana and Finn. As much as he might see logical arguments like: I was with Jesse when it happened, the fact of my own sister having sex with my boyfriend always came to mind. It was revolting! It was disgusting!

The bomb erupted in the worst way. First Kurt abandoned us because of Karofsky's bully. Then, Mr. Schue announced Barbie and Ken as the duo for the ballad of the Sectional. Blasphemy! Quinn has a sweet and beautiful voice, but she is far from being good enough to be soloist in a competition. And Sam? Gorgeous to look at, but he was only the fourth among the best male voices of the choir behind Finn, Artie and Noah. I took the competition very seriously and had little patience with the amateur vision of Mr. Schue.

Of course I fought with the teacher in front of the choir. He wasn't make sense, especially since it was a vital step to National's. Finn was with me. Even a slow guy like him understood perfectly when it was time to use the best weapons the group. I had to accept Santana as a soloist because my sister can deal with competitions and she has a strong voice. But Quinn? And Sam? Never.

When Santana called Finn a hypocrite, it was the last straw for all the heavy verbal attacks. So I called her stupid, which she isn't, but I had perfect idea of how much she was particularly sensitive to this offense. All because of Brittany. My sister spent almost entire school life defending her friend, so Santana didn't think twice when she shot the "secret". But when she did, her voice was so calm, that I trembled at the base of the spine.

"So hobbit." Santana used the retro display to fix her lipstick. "Excited about my first solo?"

"You could have the dignity of not talking to me?" I fought back my tears. It was so humiliating to be with her.

"As you wish." she gave the ignition and we went home in silence.

My relationship with Finn was in crisis. What sickened me most was watching Finn smiled to Santana's every little hint. I wondered what I had done to deserve the demon sleeping in the next room? My life was a mess. Even Noah rejected the chance to take my virginity. Is this real life?

The Sectional happened in the Lima's Public Hall, near the City Hall. It was a prominent place where we can seen the greatest spectacles in our small town. I wasn't thrilled with a competition for the first time in my life: I hated being just a coadjutant for my traitor sister. The best thing that happened that day was meeting Kurt, talked with him and had realized that yes, I had a friend.

The friendship with Kurt was almost the opposite of my relationship with the coral. The fact that everyone knew what had happened between Finn and Santana was like receiving stab in the back. You know the story of the betrayed woman is the last to know? Perfect example here. Finn just said the obvious. Of course I was giving a fuck for his virginity. My problem was the fact that he slept with my sister. Did Finn, for all his slowness, not understand that the worst thing he could do to me was get involved with her? My sister?

I still got that stage. Not because of Mr. Schue's demagogue speech. I was being a professional. I would encounter more intense fights on Broadway five minutes before going on stage and sing like there's no tomorrow. I was supporting Quinn Fabray and Sam Evans who couldn't even shade my duet with Finn. I smiled behind so many people and made the choreography perfectly, even being a mediocre number that caused hyperglycemia in half the auditorium.

I helped Santana wear that stupid hat. I did my part. "Valerie" saved us. Without my sister's vigorous performance and the choreography by Brittany and Mike, we would have lost. And even with the joy of victory, I didn't celebrate with the choir. I was still mad. So I ran to Kurt and practically begged him to take me out. I knew that my parents were in the audience, as always, but I didn't want to see them. I just wanted to get away from there.

"Could we go somewhere else?" I begged to Kurt.

"Pizza?" He forced a smile. He had the sensitivity to see how much I was badly in need of a friend.

"I know a great place that serves vegan and regular pizza." I thanked him with a look.

Unlike Breadstixs, the Azzurri was a smaller hidden restaurant. Its access was a hatch where we go down the stairs to the basement of the building. Azzurri was in downtown, across the bohemian street frequented by college students and young adults. High school students, like me and Kurt, were strange presences. But the food worth the crossed eyes.

"How did you know this restaurant? It's Amazing!" Kurt was admired for the daring decoration, inspired by the Italian football teams.

"My cousin Julio brought Santana and I here once."

"Is he cute?"

"Yes, and totally straight."

"Do you have another cute cousin? A gay one?"

"I have no idea! August is 10 and Simon is only 2. Daddy is the only son. So, no cousins in the Berry side."

We didn't talk about problems. We laughed about Blaine's starched hair, how Dayton Academy looked like a gay Hogwarts (and we'd be definitely Gryffindor), the Broadway musicals and the best divas. I talked about the trips I made abroad. Kurt, who never left the United States, said he would like to know Milan because Italians are more attractive than the French. I wanted to talk about Laura, but I was afraid of what he would think about me betraying his brother.

Kurt dropped me home ten past eleven and I found my dads waiting for me in the living room with unfriendly faces.

"Where were you, miss?" It was clear that papa was trying hard not to burst out.

"With Kurt Hummel. We ate some pizza in downtown… to celebrate."

"Rachel... is not that we don't trust you." Daddy tried to be more moderate. "But we can't reach you by phone, you left us worried by leaving the theater without a warning."

I quickly checked my backpack. My phone was on silence and would be a waste of time to check the amount of missed calls.

"Sorry." I showed the phone. "I didn't listend the calls."

"Go to your room and have a rest." Papa spoke calmly paused. "And I will have a serious talk with you and your sister. This unbearable situation in this house ends here and now."

I just noted and went to my room worried about tomorrow. The last time we had a serious conversation with Dr. Juan Lopez, Santana and I stayed two weeks without internet and yours phones were confiscated. We still had to do all the housework under the supervision of Clara and Prudence. But what really worried me wasn't the punishment: it was the psychological damage. Papa was good at making others feel guilty even being right.