A/N: So, I got a promotion at my job that has me working 5 to 6 days a week, 9 hours a day. Add that to me going to school and trying to keep up a bit of a social life, and I just have almost no time to write...or sleep, for that matter. In any case, I'm sorry that I've had to put writing on the back burner, but I'm not stopping, because I really enjoy it. As far as this story goes, there'll probably only be one more chapter after this one, so we're almost at the end. I hope you enjoy :)

Prom.

Junior fucking prom.

Sure, it wasn't really as important as senior prom, but it still meant something. Besides, everyone knew that if you won junior prom queen, you were basically a shoe-in for senior prom queen the next year.

I'd been anticipating my junior prom since the moment I stepped into the doors of McKinley high school, and so far, things were going pretty close to plan. I had a nice piece of arm candy that was decent at following orders, my competition for prom court was looking pretty weak, and I had the most amazing dress (red, of course), so really, I should've felt on top of the world.

Of course, there was the whole thing of my boyfriend being gay, and the fact that I was in love with Rachel Berry, who was going with Finn Hudson, who I hated...yeah, that really wasn't part of the plan.

Whatever, I wasn't going to let that get in the way. All I needed to do was win. That's all that mattered.

"That doesn't even matter," Brittany said to me as we were getting ready together. "Prom is supposed to be about dancing and fun, not winning stupid crowns that you could get at party store for fifty cents."

"It's not about the crown itself, Britt. It's about what it represents."

"Which is what?" she asked.

"It's...it's about being the best...and stuff."

"Yeah, I guess, but it's about being the best of a bunch of Lima Losers. Really, who cares?"

"I do," I said.

"No you don't," she replied. "Not really."

I shrugged. "Whatever. It'll be nice to see the look on Quinn's face when Figgins calls my name."

Brittany sighed. "Wouldn't it be nicer if you danced with Rachel and had a good time instead of stressing about stupid prom court? I know I'd rather be dancing with Artie than dating a gay guy."

"Artie can't even dance," I spat out, and she glared at me. "And how'd you know he's gay?"

"Uh, I have eyes, Santana. He's practically spewing rainbows."

I shook my head. "Look, I'm glad that you're gonna have a great time with Stubbles McCripplepants, and I get what you're trying to do, but just stop. I'm going to prom with Karofsky, and as unsatisfying as it'll be, I'll be leaving with him, too. Even if I am...you know...I'm not ready to deal with it."

She shrugged. "I just think you'd be happier. That's all."

"I know that, okay?" I snapped. "I know I'm gay. I know that I love Rachel. I know that if I just let myself feel all of that, that I might feel better about myself, but it's not that simple. What about school? Kurt got run off of campus because he was being bullied so bad. What about my family? They're barely around as it is. What'll they do if they find out their only daughter is a dyke?"

"Don't call yourself that," she said, trying to wrap me in a hug, but I just held up my had to stop her.

"Brittany, we're best friends, and we're getting ready for one of the best nights of our lives. Can we just not talk about Rachel Berry for the rest of the night?"

Brittany just looked at me for a few seconds. I knew she was only pushing because she cared, but I couldn't deal with it. Especially since I was trying to prep myself for seeing Finn following Rachel around all night. I just needed my best friend.

"Santana?" she finally said, and I looked at her. "Can you do my hair? I can never get it right."

I just smiled and told her to sit down.

"Well, this is super fucking awkward."

"Shut up, Karofsky. Someone might hear you."

"Yeah, well, everyone can see us standing weirdly off to the side doing nothing. I'd be more concerned with that."

"Seriously, keep your mouth closed or I swear to God I'll make sure no man will ever get to experience Little David because I'll cut it to pieces."

Karofsky looked around in a panic. "Keep your voice down! What if someone hears you?"

"You weren't so concerned with anyone hearing anything a minute ago."

He shook his head. "I seriously can't wait until I don't have to deal with you anymore."

"That makes two of us."

He rolled his eyes. "This was your bright idea, remember?"

"That's beside the point," I said as the song changed to a slow one. "Alright, let's dance."

He groaned. "Do we have to?"

"You were the one bitching about standing on the side, so yeah." I grabbed his hand and dragged him onto the dance floor. He was such a bad dancer. I didn't think guys actually stepped on their date's toes until Karofsky did it to me...three times. I just about slapped him the third time.

Of course, it didn't help that I couldn't stop staring at Finn and Rachel on the other side of the gym. I could tell Finn was trying desperately to dance as close to Rachel as he possibly could, but Rachel didn't seem so into it. She was still laughing whenever he'd whisper something in his ear, like she was having the best time in the world. I hated it. I hated that she was having fun without me, I hated that he got to dance with her at all, and I hated that it was my fault.

"Why'd they have to come?" Karofsky said, bringing my attention back to him. At first, I thought he was talking about Finn and Rachel, but then I saw him looking over my shoulder. I turned my head and saw Kurt and his boyfriend dancing together. "He doesn't even go here. And seriously, look at his eyebrows."

"How did I not notice you were gay before?" I asked, and he just glared at me for a second before looking back at Kurt and Blaine. "It's really bothering you isn't it?"

"He's just such a tool. What does he have that I don't?"

"Well, he's out, and he didn't threaten to kill Kurt, so I'm pretty sure that gives him a leg up."

"Could you just for, like, the next ten seconds not be a raging bitch? I just..." He looked over my shoulder again, and I couldn't help but feel sorry for him. We weren't very different. I mean, yeah, he took it way too far, but I got where he was coming from.

"Look, Dave. I know it's not easy...being like this, and I know that it sucks seeing Kurt with somebody else, but you'll get over it, and you'll get over him. I mean, Kurt's not even that great."

"Yeah, whatever."

"No, seriously. He dresses like a clown, and when he sings, you can't see his teeth. It's weird."

David laughed a little bit. "I've never noticed that before."

"Trust me. You could do a lot better. You'll get into the real world and find someone that you really love, and then you'll laugh about your little high school crush on Kurt Hummel."

He smiled. "Thanks, Santana. You know, if you were like this more often, I might not hate you so much."

"Yeah, but what's the fun in that?" I smiled, and we kept on dancing.

The dance actually got a little bit better after that. Dave and I spent a lot of the night bitching about Finn and Blaine, and we actually had a few fun dances together. I'd even go as far as saying that I didn't totally hate him anymore. He even managed to make me forget about how miserable I was for a few seconds. Then I'd look across the room and see Finn and Rachel, and I'd remember again.

"Alright, students," Figgins said over the microphone. "Prom king and queen will be announced in ten minutes. Get excited!"

"I'm going to the bathroom to touch up my makeup," I said to Karofsky.

"Alright," he said. Before I got away, he grabbed my arm. I looked back at him, confused, before he started talking. "I just wanted to say good luck."

"Thanks," I said with a smile. "You, too."

I went into the bathroom. Of course, I looked flawless. No amount of stuffy air or uncomfortable closeness with people I barely know could ruin how hot I looked tonight. Still, I wanted to make totally sure that there wasn't a hair out of place. The last thing I needed was smeared mascara when I went to receive my crown. When I was sure that I was totally put together, I went to leave.

Of course, Rachel was standing by the door.

"Hey," she said.

"Hi," I said back. We just looked at each other for what felt like forever. It was definitely too long for me. "So, I'm leaving now."

"I just wanted to wish you good luck," she said before I could leave. "I voted for you, just so you know. I'm pretty sure half the club voted for you. I even overheard Puck telling some of his jock friends that he voted for you over Lauren."

"I'm sure Lauren doesn't know about that," I said with a slight smile.

"Are you kidding? She'd kill him," she said with a little laugh. "I just...I just wanted you to know that there are people that care about you. People that will love you no matter what happens tonight, or any other night, for that matter."

"Yeah...thanks," I said, feeling the awkwardness settle in again. "Was there anything else? I sort of need to get on stage."

"I saw you looking at me, Santana," she said, and I sighed. "I just can't help but wish that we got to dance together tonight. I know you want to, and I know I want to-."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, well, you seem to be having a great time with the Jolly Green Giant, so I don't know why you need me."

She shook her head. "You don't get to do that, Santana. You don't get to be mad at me for pushing for something to happen between us, then turn around and act like I'm the one holing us up. You hold all the cards here. I'm just sitting here, waiting, and feeling stupider by the second."

"I'm not the one that's parading around with an ex," I snapped and tried to push past her, but she just shoved me back.

"Stop it!" she said. "I get that you're confused and hurting, but I refuse to take any more of your abuse! I didn't do anything wrong, here. All I've done is try to help you accept yourself and have my heart stomped on repeatedly. You don't have a right to be mad at me."

"I-" I wanted to tell her off again, but she was right. I really shouldn't be mad at her. I really was only mad at myself, and I kept taking it out on her. "I'm sorry."

"Really?" she said. "You've out me on the emotional roller coaster from hell and basically painted me as a stalker to anyone that asks, making me even more of a social outcast in the process, and all you have to say is that you're sorry?"

I shook my head. "Look, I don't do this...feelings or whatever, and I don't ever apologize, so really, I'm giving you a lot here."

Rachel shut her eyes. "You have to be the most infuriating person on the entire planet. I just came in here to wish you luck, okay? I didn't want this to turn into another fight." She went to leave, but I called her name before she got to the door.

"I know I'm a bitch," I said. "In fact, a lot of the time, I'm pretty damn proud of it. It's sort of my default setting because it's comfortable, and it's what everyone expects. So yeah, I probably am really annoying. Just...just know that when I say I'm sorry, I'm not expecting you to forgive me. I just...I just want you to know that I really am sorry."

Rachel just looked at me for a few seconds before she sighed. "You may be infuriating, but you make it very hard to stay mad at you, Santana Lopez."

"It's why I still have friends," I said with a smirk. I heard Figgins call for the nominees to come to the stage. "I have to go."

Rachel nodded, then leaned up and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

"Quinn doesn't stand a chance," she said before she left, and I couldn't help my grin. I made my way back into the gym and onto the stage. Karofsky gave me a thumbs up, and I gave him a wink.

"Alright, students," he said. "It's the moment you've all been waiting for. In a few short moments, one young lady and one gentleman will be crowned your prom queen and king, respectively."

I looked across the stage at the other nominees. There were two nobodies that didn't stand a chance in hell of winning. You know, the type that freak out just for getting nominated, but never really expect the crown. Then, there was Lauren, who also didn't stand a chance in hell of winning. Sure, she locked down a little of the freak vote, and Puck got her some pull, but it wouldn't be enough.

Then there was Quinn. Quinn, with her stupid blonde hair and hazel eyes. Quinn, who'd always gotten everything I wanted. All the boys, head Cheerio, she even got considered for solos before me a few times in glee club and let's not kid ourselves: I can sing circles around her. It was going to feel so good to win this thing.

"Your 2011 prom queen is...Santana Lopez!" Figgins called over the speakers. I'd won. I'd actually fucking won. I could feel Quinn glaring at me, and I could hear Figgins saying something while they put the crown on my head, but I didn't really register anything. Everyone was clapping and celebrating, and I didn't feel anything I thought I would. I thought I'd feel accomplished. I thought Quinn's obvious envy would give me a sense of satisfaction, but the only thing that was making me remotely happy was the fact that Rachel was right next to the stage screaming her head off and clapping so hard her hands had to hurt.

Now that I had this, I realized Brittany was right: it was just a stupid crown I could get at a party store for fifty cents. It didn't mean anything now, and it wouldn't mean anything ten years from now. Hell, by then, I might forget this night all together.

This was stupid. Why couldn't I see that before?

"Alright, settle down," Figgins said again, and everyone slowly died down. "It's time to reveal your king. And he is..." Figgins opened the envelope, then paused like he had for prom queen. This one was different, though. The smile dropped off of his face, and he looked out to the crowd a few times before finally saying the name.

"Rachel Berry."

The gym went silent. I felt sick. Rachel looked back and forth a few times, confused. Why the hell was this happening? I didn't know what to do. Eventually, Rachel came up to the stage. Figgins put the crown on her head, and that's when people started making noise.

"Nice job, RuPaul!" someone (possibly Azimio) yelled from the back of the gym, and a few people started laughing.

"Make sure you wear a rubber when you nail Lopez tonight!" someone else yelled, and I thought that I might actually throw up on stage. It clicked. Really it should've come together a lot faster in my head, but I'd been in shock when Rachel's name had been called.

This was a prank. A really cruel prank against Rachel...and possibly me. This was all of my worst fears coming true. A good chunk of the crowd was in hysterics at this point. I was so panicked that it took me a few seconds to realize that Rachel wasn't on the stage anymore.

"Where'd she go?" I asked Dave over the sound of my classmates and Principal Figgins, who was trying to calm everyone down.

"She just ran off," he said, pointing at one of the doors. I stared at the door, not knowing what to do, until Dave said, "Go find her."

I just nodded and walked off of the stage.

"Oh, looks like Lezpez is chasing after her girlfriend." Yeah, that was definitely Azimio. "Damn, Karofsky. Hope you at least got to tap that." More laughing.

"Shut the fuck up, man!" I heard Dave yell as I left the gym and went after Rachel. I didn't have to look very hard. There was one place that Rachel always went when she was upset.

"I knew you were here," I said, walking into the choir room. She was sitting at the piano bench, and I saw her shoulders shaking. "Are you okay."

She shook her head. "No, not really."

"I guess I should've known that," I said, sitting down next to her.

She wiped at her eyes. "Are you okay? I know this must be hard on you, too."

"Don't," I said. "This isn't about me right now. I'm sorry those assholes did that to you."

"I really should be used to it by now. It's not like I haven't thought about something awful like this happening at prom. Of course, I was expecting more of a Carrie experience."

"At least you don't have to try to get pigs blood out of your dress," I said, and she laughed. "You look really good, by the way."

"Thanks," she said, and I put my arm around her. "Honestly, I was so focused on everything going on with you and Finn that I didn't even think about the fact that the school would try to pull a prank on me."

"To be fair, I'm pretty sure it was just the dickhead jocks."

"But everyone was laughing, Santana. Just because the football guys are the ones that came after me, that doesn't mean that the rest of the school doesn't hate me, too. Everyone hates me. They always have, and they always will."

"Who gives a fuck about those people?" I said. "They're jealous pricks-"

"I don't believe that anymore," she said. "I used to think that this was all just because they envied my talent and drive, but now I'm just starting to see that there's something wrong with me."

"You don't really believe that," I said, sternly. "You're just saying that because this really sucks, and you're upset about it. Trust me, once this all blows over, and the dust settles, you'll remember that you're so much better than McKinley high school. Hell, Rachel, you're better than the entire state of Ohio. Everyone knows it."

"I just...I just wish people would like me. I don't feel like a horrible person. Selfish at times, yes, but does that really warrant the level of hostility that I have to face on a daily basis? Does it really mean that everyone has to hate me."

"I don't hate you. In fact..." I drifted off. I wanted to say it, but I was still so terrified. Seeing Rachel like this, though, and thinking about this entire stupid night, I couldn't hold it in anymore. "I'm in love with you, Rachel."

She looked at me, disbelief all over her face.

"Please don't say stuff like that just to stop me from crying."

I laughed. "I didn't. I didn't say it because of that, and I didn't say it because I thought it would magically make everything better because it's a great gift or anything, but I just felt like it needed to be said."

She smiled, and new tears started falling out of her eyes.

"I've been waiting for a long time to hear you say that," she said with a smile, and I smiled back. "So...what happens now? With us?"

"I think we have other things to worry about," I said. "Like what we're going to do about this whole mess."

Rachel sighed. "Well, I can't leave."

"Why not?" I asked. "It's not like we can go back in there."

"I have to," she said, and my eyes about bugged out of my head.

"Are you serious? Rachel, that's a room full of people that want to see you miserable."

"Then I won't give them that," she said, standing up. "I'm going to go in with a smile on my face, and thank them for giving me this honor."

I shook my head. "Fuck that. Go in there and start smashing heads with the mic stand."

"Santana, that's what they want. They want to see anger and sadness and a broken girl. I'll give them poise and eloquence instead. It's all I have left."

I sighed. "That is the weirdest form of revenge I've ever heard of," I said, standing up. "Well, I guess I can't let you do this alone."

"I'm not expecting you to do this with me," she said. "I know you aren't ready. You can just sneak out or something. You've already done so much for me tonight."

"Yeah, and you've done a hell of a lot more for me," I said. "I'm going. Besides, Santana Lopez isn't a coward." I grabbed her hand. "At least not anymore."

We walked into the gym together. It had mostly calmed down, but there were a few snickers when Rachel and I walked in. We walked back onto the stage, and Rachel went to the microphone.

"I'd just like to say thank you to everyone that voted for me. It speaks volumes that you gave me this position even though I wasn't nominated or the usual gender to receive such an honor. I'd also like to remind you all that as your elected prom king, you've given me the right to have a hand in the decision-making process of next year's senior prom theme. I'm thinking it will highlight all of Barbra Streisand's greatest works, as well as feature some other influential voices in musical theatre, just to keep things interesting. Again, I thank you."

I couldn't help but laugh as I saw the look of realization settle across everyone's faces. It also helped that most of the glee club was clapping wildly after Rachel's speech, and a good chunk of people were glaring at Azimio and his friends.

Principal Figgins walked up to the pair of us after Rachel was done.

"Considering the circumstances, I think we'll wave the tradition of a king and queen dance," he whispered.

I looked at Rachel, then shook my head. "No, it's fine. I wouldn't mind a dance with my king."

"Santana, are you sure?" Rachel asked me. "It'll be hard denying everything if you do this."

"I think the cat's out of the bag," I said. "Besides, like you said, I've wanted to dance with you all night."

Rachel smiled and grabbed my hand. I led her onto the dance floor, and Figgins said something about our dance. I could feel everyone looking at us...staring at us...as the song started. More than a few people were glaring. Finn looked like he wanted to punch me out. Brittany was bouncing up and down in Artie's lap, and he was just smiling at the two of us. Puck had a sleazy grin on his face, but I knew he meant well, so I decided not to flip him off. The rest of the club just seemed happy for us.

"This is nice," Rachel said, leaning her head on my shoulder as we danced.

"Yeah, this prom doesn't suck so hard," I said, and she laughed.

"I'm glad I got to be your king," she said with a little giggle.

"I am, too," I said, pulling her close. "I am, too."