Rachel Berry walked down the hallway of William McKinley High School on the fifth day of sophomore year. She saw the sign up sheets for all of the clubs on a bulletin board outside of the front office. One of them especially caught her attention. It was a sign up sheet for New Directions, which appeared to be the new name for the William McKinley High School Glee Club. She knew that Mr. Ryerson had been fired the day before; she had been the one to report him, after all, and Mr. Schuester had taken over it. She instantly pulled out her favorite pen and wrote her name on the sign up sheet. As she turned around to walk away, she was met with a cold liquid bullet to the face, also known as a slushie facial.

Across the hallway, Santana Lopez watched as Rachel Berry signed up for a club. She couldn't tell which one it had been, but Santana had a pretty good idea of which one Rachel had signed up for. Suddenly, Rachel was covered in slushie. Santana felt her eyes widen. She glared down the hall at the perpetrator, Noah Puckerman. She would have to remember to slushie him back later on, but right now she had more important things to tend to. She bit her lip in guilt as she watched Rachel run past her to the nearest bathroom. Santana turned around and followed her.

Rachel was cleaning up in the bathroom when she heard the door open. She wished she had remembered to lock the door, so no one could see her covered in slushie and make fun of her. She turned away so she would not have to make eye contact with the person who was the intruder of her solitude of depression.

Santana walked into the restroom and saw Rachel turn away from her when she entered. She grabbed some paper towels from the dispenser and put them under the faucet Rachel had turned on.

"Do you want some help?" she softly asked. Rachel turned around when she heard the familiar voice.

"Did you see it?" she asked. Rachel refused to make eye contact with Santana, who nodded.

"Yea I did." Santana admitted. She began helping Rachel clean off her clothes.

"Then why are you here?" Rachel asked. Santana paused her actions.

"I'm sorry?" Santana stared at the girl in front of her.

"You saw the attack. Why are you here and not running away?" Rachel said. Rachel turned away from Santana again.

"I'm not sure that I understand, Rachel." Santana said. She continued to stare at Rachel.

"You saw how everyone treats me. We aren't in the bubble we've been living in all summer, Santana. We're back in school now." Rachel said. Rachel willingly allowed Santana to turn her to face her.

"It sounds as if you're trying to push me away." Santana said. Rachel quickly shook her head.

"No, that's not it. You know I don't want to push you away. But I would completely understand if you wanted to protect your reputation." Santana shook her head.

"I am Santana Lopez. What makes you think I care about my reputation?" Rachel looked at her.

"Because you're Santana Lopez." Santana put down the towels. She turned Rachel so that they were facing each other.

"Rach, I care about you way more than I care about my reputation." Rachel smiled softly at the girl she had somehow managed to get as her girlfriend at the back at the beginning of the summer. Santana smiled at her and went back to helping Rachel clean herself off.

"That is so sweet. But maybe we should keep us a secret for a while." Santana stopped her actions once again.

"What?" Santana asked. She stood there staring at Rachel.

"Our entire relationship has been outside of school. But I think we should do this." Rachel said Rachel looked into Santana's eyes.

"Why?" Santana asked. Santana could not help but wonder if she did something to insult her girlfriend.

"Outside of school, we're great at not being 'Rachel' or 'Santana' as individuals, and becoming 'Rachel and Santana.' But inside this building we only know how to be 'Rachel' or 'Santana.' We don't know how to be 'Rachel and Santana.'" Rachel explained. Rachel quickly picked up on Santana's worries and knew she had to assure her that that was not her intention.

"So by pretending to hate each other, you think we will learn how to function as a couple in here?" Santana asked. She was clearly confused.

"I didn't say we have to hate each other." Rachel said. Rachel looked at Santana.

"That's the only way I'm going to be able to keep from trying to make out with you every time I see you." Santana said. Santana raised an eyebrow at Rachel.

"Fine. We'll pretend to hate one another. But whatever mean things you say, you better make up to me." Rachel said. Rachel took another step closer to Santana.

"I promise." Santana said. She was grinning as Rachel kissed her.

"I think that this is the right thing to do for now." Rachel said. Santana nodded at Rachel.

"Okay… but you say the word and we can go public. And just know that the moment we are out, I will kill anyone that messes with you." Santana said. Rachel and Santana smiled at each other. Each girl was thinking about how lucky they were to have the other girl.

"I don't doubt that for a second, Santana." Rachel said. Rachel leaned up and kissed Santana.

"Rachel, if this is what you want, then this is what I'm going to do. You know I would do anything for you." Santana said. She pulled Rachel into her for a hug. Rachel smiled into Santana.

"I would do anything for you as well, Santana." Rachel said. Santana smiled down at her girlfriend.