Obviously I dont need to be posting any new stories, but then again this is a one-shot. Besides i needed to get this out. I worked kind of hard. Heehe, read it, please!
Rachel's POV
It's Tuesday, again, and so far your day is going like any other day: horribly. So far you've had three slushies thrown in your face, been pushed into five different lockers, and have had Quinn and Santana insult you all day. You suppose you should be used to all of this, it's not like this doesn't happen every day. And it's not like you expect a teacher or a concerned student to stop this, no one has ever tried to help you before. So you put up with this, every day you put on a smile and get through the day.
But it's getting bad, really bad. The insults are meaner, the slushies are thrown harder, the shoves and pushes hurt like hell, and no one says a damn thing. You want to be strong, you have to be strong, and you are Rachel freaking Berry, future star. No one gets to be famous without going through a little pain.
But today is different. You just had coffee thrown in your face, real coffee. Azimo and Karofsky think it's hilarious, but what they don't know is how much the drink stings. You wipe your eyes, but your vision is blurred, and you don't know if it's from the coffee or from the tears that are spilling from your eyes. You run to the bathroom and immediately all of the girls in the bathroom laugh at you, like hyenas. They strut out of the bathroom, and you look at yourself in the mirror.
Your attempt at putting make-up on is ruined, your eyeliner is running down your cheeks, and your lip is quivering. You wipe yourself off using a crap load of paper towels, and reach under the sink. There is a cabinet there where you keep an extra pair of clothes.
You pull out the plastic bag and sift through the clothes. Your green dress, the one you wore when you sang Firework, is in there. So is an extra bra, and underwear, not like you need them. You pull out the dress and quickly change. It's getting annoying, having to change constantly. You dress and run your hand through your hair. Maybe if you didn't talk so much, or dress so differently, people wouldn't hate you so much. That has got to be the reason why, you can't remember doing anything personal to Karofsky or Azimo.
You go through the day, testing to see if you could talk less and less. In English, when Noah sits next to you, you don't rant or lecture him on his improper use of the English language, you simply say hi, and focus your attention towards the lesson. He looks worried, but doesn't say anything, you don't expect him to. In History, when Sam and you work on your project, you try to say as little as possible. He asks if something is wrong, but you shake your head. He doesn't press on, and you're actually a little let down that he didn't.
The bell rings and you walk to your locker through the sea of kids. You try and lose yourself in the waves of students, but somehow, Quinn and Santana find you. They signal you out.
"Hey Treasure Trail, heard you cried today. What happened, did someone get slushied." Santana mocked her.
"Seriously Man hands, I don't know why you just don't transfer, it's not like anyone wants you here." She flicks her pony tail.
"Leave me alone." You say quietly. You try and push pass them, but they block your way.
"Excuse me." Quinn says as she puts her hand out.
"You heard me." You say coolly. "Back off."
Santana smirks. The hallway is quiet, waiting for the show to begin. "Wow, it seems like midget here just got a burst of courage. Too bad I'm gonna have to bust it out of ya'."
You look around the crowd of students. You spot Finn, and you give him a pleading look. You're surprised when he turns away, coward.
Quinn follows your gaze. She snickers. "You thought Finn would help you? Wow you're even more hopeless than I thought." She walks up closer. "He's mine, and the little fling you had with him, its gone. He doesn't love you. He never did, you were just the rebound girl."
You refuse to cry, you won't give her the satisfaction. Santana took this opportunity to taunt you more. "Aww looks like the little elf lost her confidence. Good thing too, she was talking way too much. God your voice is so annoying; I wish you would just forever shut up." You know you're about to cry. You are on the verge of tears. No, no crying.
"Hey! Leave her alone." Quinn and Santana looked out into the crowd. Puck and Sam were making their way towards them.
Puck came up first. "What the hell is wrong with you Quinn?" Sam backed him up. "Yeah, what's going on?"
Quinn was speechless; no one had ever had the audacity to question her. She didn't have an answer. She looks at you. You blank out, and you faintly hear Puck and Sam scold and yell at Santana and Quinn. When you hear the bell ring, you run to Glee. You have had a crazy day, and you want it over with.
When you arrive, the insults begin again. Mercedes is giving you an eye-roll. Tina and Kurt are whispering about your dress. Mr. Shue gives you a sarcastic remark. You sit. You see Sam and Puck walk in, and they sit next to you. Santana and Quinn walk in, their faces scrunched up in distaste and hatred. They take their seats.
Mr. Shue begins to speak, but you can't hear him.
"La la la la la la." You start off softly, and then get louder. "La la la la la la."
"Every day I fight for, all my future something." Mr. Shue gives you a bewildered look. You don't care, you have to do this.
"A thousand little wars, I have to choose between" You stand up and move to the center of the room. The band begins to play the familiar beat.
"I could spend a lifetimeearning things that I don't need" You start with your head down, you are still unsure about yourself.
"But that's like chasing rainbow and coming home empty. And if you strip me, strip it all away, if you strip me, what would you find.
You look out into the crowd. Everyone looks bored. Well except for Puck and Sam, they're cheering you on with their eyes. You need confidence
If you strip me, strip it all awayI'll be alright!" You look up and you raise your voice for the next part
Take what you want
Steal my pride
You look at Mercedes and Kurt.
Build me up
Now at Finn.
Or cut me down to size
You turn to face Mr. Shue.
Shut me out
The whole club
But I'll just scream
You smile at that line
I'm only one voice in a million
but you ain't taking that from me
You shout
Oh oh no you ain't taking that from me
Oh oh no you ain't taking that from me
Oh oh no you ain't taking that from me
Oh oh no you ain't taking that from me
I don't need a microphone, yeah, to say what I been thinking. My heart is like a loudspeaker
You move around the room, laughing and smiling. Brittney and Lauren are singing with you, they know the words.
That's always on eleven , and if you strip me,
Strip it all away
If you strip me,
What would you find
You sing that last line like a question.
If you strip me,
Strip it all away
I'm still the same
You get quiet and sit down in the empty chair.
'Cause when it all boils down
At the end of the day
It's what you do and say
That makes you who you are
Makes you think about it,
Think about it
Doesn't it
Sometimes all it takes is one voice
You stand up and sing the loudest you have sung.
Take what you want
Steal my pride
Build me up
You go up to Santana and sing in her face.
Or cut me down to size
Shut me out
But I'll just scream
You sit next to Quinn and scream in her ear.
Im only one voice in a million
but you aint taking that from me
Oh oh no you aint taking that from me
You sit on Finn's lap, before standing up and beckoning Puck and Sam to join you. You see Lauren and Brittney coming towards you. Mike wheeling Artie, who was clapping along.
Oh oh no you aint taking that from me
You point at Santana and Quinn
Oh oh no you aint taking that from me
You point at Finn and Mr. Shue
Oh oh no you aint taking that from me
To Kurt, Mercedes, and Tina. They glare at you.
Oh oh no you aint taking that from me
You finish with a smile. The kids dancing and singing with you, are clapping, heck even the band members are clapping. Brand winks at you, and Lilly, the trumpet player wolf-whistles. Mr. Shue looks like he's about to yell the hell out of you, but you don't care. He needed to be told. Finn looks embarrassed and Quinn looks like she wants to scream. Santana is picking at her nails, she would never admit defeat.
You know you're in trouble. You know you're life is going to be living hell from now on, probably worse than before. But you don't care. You have friends. Brittney and Lauren are your friends, they dared to sing along with you and to not par-take in making fun of you. Mike and Artie are your guys, they dared to laugh and have a good time with you, to not care about what people thought. And Puck and Sam, they had the audacity to be your protectors, your very best friends, your sources of comfort. The one's who cared about you. They had the courage to tell the rest of the world to go fuck themselves.
You may be the biggest loser in the whole school, but you've w o n. You've shown everyone that you could have friends, and that those friends could care about you.