Title: In Bed with Your Enemies [5/?]

Rachel has a secret. Too bad Coach Sue Sylvester knows all about it. Brittberry, Faberry, Pezberry.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. The only thing I do own is my imagination of things that will probably never ever happen. Still, a girl can dream.

Meanwhile the Glee Club members – minus those affiliated with cheerleading or football – had decided to huddle together inside the barely seen and scarcely used library of McKinley High, one of the few places they knew they wouldn't be interrupted. Or slushied, a major plus in their minds considering the sub-subpar levels they represented on the known high school totem pole.

"M-m-maybe Rachel d-does have other interests besides s-singing," Tina offered as calmly as she could. Her posture was slightly hunched and her arms already crossed, almost as if shielding herself from the possible repercussions of her answer.

"Please," Mercedes stated with a wave of her hand, already rejecting Tina's idea. "The only other interests Rachel has are hogging all the solos and flaunting that inexcusable fashion sense of hers."

From the right of the proud girl, Kurt sat on a chair with crossed legs as he busied himself by filing his nails. Even so the effeminate boy managed to keep up on the discussion at hand and, without missing a beat, voiced his own opinion. "I still don't understand how she has the ability to dress like a grandma and a toddler all at once," he commented on Rachel's deemed unfathomable – and definitely one of a kind – style.

"You've gotta admit it's pretty amazing how she manages it," Artie added from his spot next to Tina.

Meanwhile, the gothically-dressed girl had visibly deflated at the immediate dismissal and effective torching of her deemed highly improbable notion. Unfortunately, as usual, everyone else was too engrossed with their own thoughts to notice.

"I don't understand how she got on the Cheerios though," Mercedes voiced, puzzled by that startling fact.

Pausing in his movements with the nail filer, Kurt took a moment to ponder on the idea of Rachel's bizarre acceptance into the Cheerios. "Maybe she drugged the woman somehow," he suddenly theorized. And almost immediately the boy's mind began to envision the discussed diva spiking one of those protein shakes of Sue's. His eyes widen slightly in response to the wild imagery.

"My money's on blackmail. I wouldn't put it past Rachel if it got her what she wanted," Artie inputted as he crossed his arms.

"Maybe Miss S-S-Sylvester wanted Rachel t-to j-j-join?" Tina timidly suggested.

There was a momentary pause as the others stared at the Asian girl before cracking smiles all around. "Good one Tina," Mercedes comments as she gave the girl a friendly nudge on the arm.

Any further commentaries were placed on hold when the school bell rang, signaling the five minutes they had to attend to their scheduled classes.

Mercedes was the first to move and could be heard mumbling about 'never understanding high school'. The others promptly followed after and exited the library as well before shuffling off towards their own respective classes.

None of them knew but this wouldn't be the last time that the four would meet up again to discuss the radical changes occurring at McKinley High.

With a slight spring in her steps, Rachel approached her school locker and promptly dialed in her combination. Exchanging the binders and books on hand, the brunette hummed a little ditty as she occupied herself with preparations for her next class. Unfortunately, the small moment to herself was hindered by the sudden emitting ping from her sixth sense.

Rachel's actions slowed as she immediately listened for any disturbances. The usual chatter filled the hallways and she couldn't discern any incoming footsteps headed specifically her way – there were a lot of students currently walking through this very same hallway. Grabbing one last book, Rachel tried to subtly look around for whatever was causing her sixth sense to flare up.

"Hi Rachel!" a voice greeted enthusiastically as a familiar smiling blonde appeared immediately in her sights – or, more accurately, a few inches away from her face.

The reaction was instantaneous.

"Brittany!" Rachel exclaimed, jerking back from the close proximity. Arms and hands moving wildly, the girl hastily struggled with the books and binders she momentarily lost a grip on from her temporary shock. Sadly, one book manages to slip up and over her arms causing Rachel to let out a small gasp. Shutting her eyes in reaction, the brunette waited for the imminent 'thud' that was sure to follow.

And waited.

And waited.

After a noticeable distinctive lack of the expected sound, Rachel furrowed her eyebrows slightly in confusion. A second passed before she first opened her right eye followed by her left.

Brittany unabashedly stared back at Rachel with the caught book held firmly in her hands and a smile ever present. When she noticed the brunette blink a couple of times in slight amazement, the tall blonde felt her own smile widen all the more.

"Need help?" she suggested, breaking the diva out of her small daze.

Clearing her throat slightly, Rachel shook her head once to jumpstart her mind. "No. That's," the brunette paused as she righted some books as a distraction from the blonde's resumed closeness before continuing, "That's not necessary."

The two stood where they were before Rachel decided to move – anything really to get her mind off the fact of how Brittany was just staring at her again. Ensuring she had all that she needed, the petite diva turned to close her school locker before deciding to face Brittany once more. "You just surprised me," she adds with a couple of steps back from the blonde. Her face had become slightly flushed, still not quite used to the miniscule distance that Brittany seemed content with having between them.

Nervously (and lightly) scratching at the side of neck – another bad habit₁ she was trying to get rid of – Rachel struggled to remember her next course of action. When her gaze lowered to avoid those soulful eyes – a lovely shade of baby blues – the diva's focus fell on the blonde dancer's hands. Or, more specifically, what the dancer was currently holding in said hands. Rachel almost felt like slapping her forehead for having such a 'duh!' moment.

Presenting her hand as an offer to take her book back, the brunette fully expected Brittany to return the rescued textbook. Of course, the blonde decided to surprise her all over again.

"Brittany," Rachel began as her recent companion boldly continued with her actions. "What are you doing?" the brunette finally inquires. She didn't struggle, but she didn't exactly protest either. No matter, Brittany easily took each item out of Rachel's arms. "I'm helping," the other girl answered before flashing a rather endearing smile.

The diva's heart rapidly beats twice – maybe even thrice – in quick successions.

And suddenly Rachel was glad that her arms were empty, as she was certain she would have dropped everything; the brunette was rather unprepared really for such an expression aimed at her.

"Come on. We have history together," Brittany commented before starting off down the hallway. Even with arms full of textbooks and binders, her smile doesn't ever fade.

And when a certain brunette finally makes her way next to her, Brittany's smile gets that much brighter.

The room was awkwardly silent. Well, Emma felt that the silence was awkward but that could have been just her. It's not every day that her secret crush just waltzes right into her office and begins pacing around in front of her.

The (unexpected) situation probably would have fared better if she wasn't sitting ramrod straight with her breath still caught in her throat as a million thoughts – all of them absolutely useless – raced through her mind. Her hands were frozen mid-step, hovering slightly above her desk since moments earlier she had been disinfecting the table. And then a particular male, Spanish teacher came in and she became distracted with his hunky self.

Her grip on the disinfecting wipes tightened slightly as she tried not to have a panic attack, at least not while her secret crush was still pacing around within the vicinity.

Why is he pacing around? Emma finally thought, some semblance of her intelligence beginning to seep back in. Will must have had a good reason for appearing as disheveled as he did; Emma personally thought that made him look sexier. The redhead's eyes glazed over slightly as other (inappropriate) thoughts began to mingle around her mind before she managed to snap herself out of it.

Letting out a small cough, Emma awkwardly cleared her throat in preparation to do or say something, anything. Unfortunately, nothing particularly happens and her voice dies just before it could carry out past her lips. And so the redhead awkwardly sat with her mouth partially open and desperately hoping she doesn't embarrass herself when she actually gains some courage.

It took a few more minutes, but the mysophobic₂ woman finally manages to break out of her self-induced, petrified state.

"So," Emma began as her eyes looked nervously around the office for a moment, "What –"

"I don't understand it Emma," Will unexpectedly jumps in, effectively cutting off what the redhead was attempting to say.

A bit startled, Emma blinked owlishly a couple of times before realizing what had occurred."Oh. Okay then," she mumbled to herself before decidedly moving her disinfectant kit off the desk. She didn't want Will to think she wasn't listening if she felt the sudden urge to clean during this exchange; it was best to move the temptation away or, at least, off to side momentarily.

"Sue actually has Rachel on the Cheerios," Will begins before finally stopping in his repetitive movements and opting to take a seat in one of the two chairs usually offered for the students.

"You act like it's the end of the world Will," Emma comments as the mentioned man slumps back in his seat.

"I don't understand," the Spanish teacher reiterates as he shook his head. "Why would Rachel join the very people who torment her? She might as well be walking into a den filled with laughing hyenas!"

Sensing Will's serious nature towards the subject, Emma unknowingly reverts to her counseling persona. She takes off her latex gloves before sealing them inside a handy Ziploc bag from one of her drawers. Placing the items away, the redhead then clasped her hands together before pursing her lips in thought for a moment.

"High school can be a difficult time for teenagers and, unfortunately, it seems the only way to get through it unscathed is by being popular."

"Popularity can't be the only reason Rachel joined," Will immediately interjects.

Emma only tilts her head slightly before answering as politely as she could. "Let's face the facts, Will. There's one thing being on the Cheerios will offer that Glee Club never will: popularity." The redhead then shifts in her seat, easily grabbing a brochure from the bookshelf behind her and hands it to the man who apparently is a little too naive about the inner workings of high school.

Glancing at the title, Popularity: A Short Guide to Surviving High School, Will is stunned that such a brochure existed. Fortunately, Emma manages to continue before he could voice his concerns.

"Kids can be very cruel at this stage of their life, Will. Maybe Rachel's had enough of being the focus of everyone's jokes. And if Sue can offer Rachel some semblance of escape or relief, then it wouldn't be surprising why the girl accepted a position on the Cheerios."

The room lapses into another round of silence as Will considered Emma's reasoning. Popularity did seem to mean everything to these kids, but that was why Glee Club existed – to allow the students to form solidarity, camaraderie even, no matter what differences may exist between their lives. Everyone was welcomed in Glee Club. Unfortunately, it seemed that some things – like the high school caste system – just refused to change.

Forming his own assessments, Will straightened his posture as he made up his mind.

"That may be why Rachel joined but it still doesn't explain Sue's involvement," he concludes before promptly standing up. "And I will find out what that woman's getting out of this." With that final announcement, Will exited the room as newfound determination surged through him.

All the while, Emma wonders if Will and Sue would ever stop fighting. But, most importantly, she really hoped Rachel wasn't going to get destroyed between the two rivaling teachers.

"Having the other Cheerios mess with Rachel during practice this morning wasn't funny," Brittany firmly stated. With her arms crossed and tall stature, the girl looked quite serious with her announcement.

Quinn and Santana only shared a look with one another before facing the other third of the Unholy Trinity. Brittany had, with particular ease, blocked the other two from accessing their school lockers; the three Cheerios opting for side-by-side lockers with one another really helped.

"We're only testing her abilities, Brittany," Quinn answered first.

The tall blonde only gave a stern look in response causing Santana to become frustrated at this bizarre situation.

"Why the hells should it matter? It's freakin' Man Hands, Britts!" Santana questioned, obviously baffled by Brittany's misplaced affections for the hobbit.

"Don't call her that. I like Rachel's hands," Brittany retorts automatically.

Quinn simply gives an 'Are you crazy?' look before adding in her own opinions. "She may be dressed as a Cheerio, but she is definitely not one of us. So it's best to stay away from her, Brittany."

The taller blonde only remains undaunted and huffed slightly. "I'll hang out with Rachel as much as I want, and there's nothing anyone can do about it." After that declaration Brittany stomped off as the other two Cheerios hastily followed with whispered shouts for the girl to stop.

Evidentially, trying to get Brittany to stop having such a friendly rapport with the Gleek Queen was proving a more difficult task than previously thought. In fact, Brittany refused to talk – much less acknowledged Quinn and Santana – until they referred to the midget as 'Rachel'.

Dubbing the situation as currently hopeless, Quinn and Santana decided to return back to their school lockers. The warning bell had already rung and the two girls had yet to grab the materials they needed for their next classes.

Opening her locker first, Quinn simply stared blankly inside for a few seconds before furrowing her eyebrows. "Where's my stuff?" the blonde plainly asks. Unfortunately, her inquiry is simply tossed aside the moment Santana opened her own locker.

"Oh, what the F?!" the Latina shouts before slamming her locker shut in frustration. However, due to the force used, the locker door harshly swings back open as the rest of the compartment shook slightly. Quinn merely raises an eyebrow when a small rubber duck₃ fell out.

When Santana stomps off in obvious irritation, all the while muttering in Spanish, Quinn looks back at the only object inside her own locker.

It was a rubber ducky₃ as well.

For the second time in the day Rachel felt her sixth sense pinged. She had momentarily forgotten about the first time it went off; Brittany obviously distracted her.

Discreetly looking around once again, Rachel manages to catch Jacob Ben Israel hovering not so discreetly some locker rows away. The bespectacled boy immediately turns around when caught and attempts to act nonchalantly. Rachel sympathetically winced when Jacob was suddenly slammed by some passing jocks.

He hadn't actually pestered her today – a huge relief – but she did catch glimpses, every now and then, of his afro at the edge of her sights; the brunette was uncertain of her feelings at this sudden twist of actions. As long as he kept his distance, Rachel supposes she could deal with his creepy stalker-like tendencies. The brunette tried to keep in the resulting shiver induced from an image of Jacob watching her sleep at night right outside her window.

Rachel made a mental note to keep her curtains closed from now on.

Continuing on her way through the school halls, the brunette passed by Jacob without another glance. It was unfortunate she didn't notice the other set of eyes that watched her leave.

School had ended for the day but the unfortunate group of girls known as the Cheerios was out on the field dreading the arrival of their coach. They didn't linger long before the woman in all her track-suited galore appeared with what was unmistakably a smile.

"Now then, who's up for some fun?"

Collectively, the Cheerios repressed the urge to groan; a smiling Sue Sylvester never meant good tidings for the McKinley population.

-End Chapter Five-

A/N: In case anyone's wondering, Brittany had decidedly 'relocated' the belongings of Quinn and Santana; the two are now left with nothing but empty school lockers. Lesson learned: You don't anger Brittany, not even a little.

myxe: You're totally right. I should have added a quick recap at the beginning Chapter 4. I'm really sorry about that. Hopefully I remember the next time I go on a hiatus.

₁ Beside scratching her neck, Rachel's other bad habit was wringing her hands as seen in chapter 1.

₂ Emma suffers from mysophobia, an abnormal fear of dirt or contamination.

₃ Rubber ducks are the calling card of a certain someone.