Chapter 1

Lonely.

Rachel was wandering around her neighbourhood, she had been for several hours now, She wasn't sure where she could go she didn't have any friends really and she didn't talk to any family other than her parents, She decided to go to the local park and sit on the swings for a little while before going back to the place she calls home, it didn't feel much like home anymore though. Rachel was so deep in thought that she didn't realise someone was approaching her in the park and only realised when the person sat on the swing next to her. When Rachel looked up she rolled her eyes and went to walk away but the person grabbed her arm and gently pulled her back down on the swing. "What? You wanna make fun of me outside of school too now?" the short brunette said as she glared at the person still holding on to her arm, "I actually was just going to ask if you were okay, You don't seem too happy sitting here on your own." The taller brunette looked in to Rachels eyes and noticed how much sadness and loneliness was in them, she couldn't help but feel slightly guilty for making fun of the girl everyday since school started.

"You know what Santana, I'm not in the mood for your games, If you have a slushy or something hiding behind one of the bushes just hurry up and throw it so I can leave" Santana could see the hurt and fury in Rachels eyes as she spoke "I'm not going to slushy you, Rachel I just want to know that you're okay", for some reason Rachel believed her, "I am perfectly fine, thank you Santana" "Really Berry? because you look like you've been crying for days and you've been sat in this park for over an hour just staring in front of you" Rachel looked at Santana with skeptical expression on her face "Are you following me now?" Santana laughed and then smirked before replying "No Berry, I live in the house you've been staring at for over an hour" Rachel looked up at the tall brunette with panic in her eyes. She hadn't realised she'd been staring at a particular house for so long, "I apologise Santana, I really should be getting home now though I have been out for several hours now and my parents will be wondering where I am" Rachel knew that was a lie, Her parents never wondered where she was anymore and couldn't care less whether she returned home or not.

Santana looked at Rachels face as she was talking and noticed how her eyes were darting around as she spoke about going home "You're lying aren't you? You're parents may not know where you are but they also couldn't care less" Rachels head shot up and she stared at Santana in shock, How did she know that? Is she going to tell everyone at school?. "Dont worry Berry, I wont say anything, Maybe you could tell me whats going on though? I might be able to help" Rachel doubted it, she looked at Santana and seen the sincerity in her eyes and her own eyes started to cloud over, eventually a tear fell down Rachels cheek and then another and another. Rachel felt Santanas thumb wipe away the tears, she had never been in a situation where Santana was actually being pleasant and nice towards her, Rachel liked it.

"Come on Rach, Come back to mine and we can talk, I know I've never really been nice or friendly to you but I really wanna help and you cant sit outside all night staring at my front door, My mom and dad are out at friends tonight so it'll just be me and you. You can tell me whatever you want or you can just sit in silence its entirely up to you" Santana was looking at the tiny brunette and she somehow appeared so much smaller now, her hair was in a messy bun, her clothes were wrinkled and a little dirty and her eyes were puffy and red from all the crying she had just been doing. Santana stood up from the swing and help out her hand for Rachel to take, the brunette looked at the hand and then at Santana before placing her own tiny hand in the bigger, softer hand. "Why are you doing this? You've hated me for so long" Rachel said as she walked with Santana to her house "I don't hate you Berry, and I'm doing it because you look broken and defeated and I cant have people loitering outside my house all night, People will call the police on you" Rachel smirked and continued to walk up to Santanas front door, before walking inside Rachel turned around and hugged Santana before saying "Thank You, You don't even understand how much i need someone tonight" she then walked in to the house leaving an emotional Santana staring inside her house, it was rare for someone to thank Santana and it actually felt kinda nice, even if it was Berry.