A New Direction (Glee and Finchel/Samchel fan fiction)

Chapter 9- The Santana Situation

On Monday morning, I was a wreck. I arrived at school with my hair in an untamed braid, I was wearing the same dress that had fallen asleep in last night (with an oversized cardigan) and my face was a mess. You'd think I would be this way because I cheated on Sam, but I wasn't. It was because I was sick. As I approached my locker, I felt around in the pocket of my dress to ensure that I had stocked up on tissues and medication before I left my house. My head felt heavy and I didn't want to come to school, but I knew that I would be needed at glee rehearsals and I didn't want to miss it, even though I knew I would be avoiding Finn all day.

"Rachel, are you okay?" I heard a voice. It took me a few seconds to process that it was Mercedes was standing beside me, arms on hips, "I think we need to go to the bathroom."

I just nodded my head and slowly made my way towards the girl's bathroom. Merecedes led the way, pushng the door open and gathering a handful of paper towel once we entered. She began patting my face.

"You need to get cleaned up. We have a long rehearsal this afternoon for glee club. You get to perform your solo for everyone." Mercedes smiled as she rubbed away the two-day old mascara from my eyes.

"Well, I don't know if I will be able to. My head is spinning and I have lost all senses." I replied, looking at myself in the mirror through wet eyes.

"Now, that's not the Rachel Berry I know. I guess you are pretty sick. How did you catch it?"

"I have no idea. My dads are both fine, so is Sam, and I'm pretty sure everyone in the glee club is okay."

"Except for Finn, I saw him moping around the parking lot this morning, but I know you couldn't have caught a cold from him. It could just be seasonal. It is getting closer to winter now. I've gotta head to class now, but take care of yourself, okay?" Mercedes rubbed my shoulder as she left the bathroom. I sighed. Of course, Finn had made me sick. I knew that I needed to speak to him, immediately. I walked as fast as I could to the entrance near the parking lot, where I assumed Finn would be. I spotted him blowing his nose as he leaned against the door frame.

"Finn, I think we..." I began, but failed to finish. Even talking was making me exhausted.

"Yeah," he replied, "we need to talk." He glanced at a spare classroom, and I followed his eyes until we were sitting on desks facing each other.

"Here," I handed Finn another tissue, seeing he had ran out. My voice was slurring and dry, similar to Finn's, who could barely push words out of his mouth.

"I'm sorry for what happened on Saturday. I shouldn't have kissed you. I'm also sorry for getting you sick, I got it from my mom."

"It was my fault. I was confused and I gave in. I made a stupid mistake." I briefly closed my eyes and took a clean breath, "we can't tell Sam about what happened. It's bad enough that it will look suspicious when we are the only two sick ones at glee this afternoon."

"Sam doesn't know that we saw each other on Saturday. It was just a coincidence that we both got a cold, okay?"

I nodded and Finn gave me a half-hearted smile and passed me a box of dry throat lozengers, "These help." I thanked Finn before leaving the classroom and slowly slumping down the hall. Little did I know that Santana had seen Finn and I leave the classroom together from her locker across the hall.

"Berry, something is fishy here." I was stopped in the line at the cafeteria two hours later.

"I wouldn't know, I can't smell anything." I replied, not even noting who was speaking to me.

"Not the food, hobbit. I think we need to have a little chat." It was then that I realised that it was Santana who was speaking to me, "why don't you come and have a seat with me." I followed behind Santana to a table towards the back of the cafeteria, behind the trash cans.

"Why are we sitting so far away from everyone?" I asked as I played with my food. My sickness had only become worse as the day went on.

"I would rather poke myself in the eye with a fork than be seen alive with you. Enough of the small chat, let's get to business."

"Business?" I was confused. I had never had a proper discussion with Santana before and suddenly she had found that talking to me urgent.

"Yes, business. Don't you think it's odd that you and Finn are both sick, with the exact same symptoms? Considering your history, I would say that there is something going on here. Whatever it is, it needs to stop, or I will end you. Your trouty mouth boyfriend is a good guy, he doesn't deserve this."

"What are you even saying? Finn and I have nothing going on, plus how do you know about 'our history'?" I knew that Santana could sense that I was lying, but I was still curious to how she knew so much.

"Right, so you and Finn are the only two sick Sophomores and that is just by chance? I don't think so. Sam and I are pretty close, and I have been watchig you and Frankenteen like a hawk ever since he told me about your summer fling. Cut the crap and tell me the truth." Santana was now leaning across the table and piercing me with her eyes.

"It happened once, okay! It was just a kiss, it meant nothing. I still want to be with Sam." I gave in. Santana was smarter than she portrayed, and also more manipulative than I had thought.

"Well, I won't tell Sam about this if you never speak to Finn again. As soon as I see anything between you two, my mouth will open. Got it?"

I just nodded and sat in silence while Santana moved away to the table with the cheerios. I sat by myself as I swallowed a dose of medication before Sam payed me a visit, without even questioning my condition. In times like this, I was lucky that he's naiive.

I walked into glee club ten minutes late. By the time I had arrived, everyone was already learning choreography from Mr Shuester. I could barely walk in a straight line.

"I'm sorry I'm late, I was-" I began.

"Rachel, you don't look too great. I think you need to have a rest." As soon as Mr Shue had finished talking, Sam rushed to the door and whisked me down the hallway

"What-where are we going?" I asked in a haze.

"You are as pale as a ghost and you are sweating like crazy. Everyone could see how sick you are as soon as you walked into the choir room. I haven't seen you all day. Have you been like this since this morning?" Sam asked as we approached the nurse's office.

"SInce last night. I don't know how I became so ill, but I feel awful." We reached the door and Sam pulled me into a close hug,

"You still look beautiful."

I smiled weakly, "Sam, earlier today Santana mentioned that you are her are pretty close. I didn't know you were friends."

"Well, to be honest, we have only been friends since we broke up in May." Sam said in a quiet voice and he opened the door for me to make our way into the Nurse's office.

"Why didn't you tell me? Are you in love with her?"

"She's not important anymore- you are. I did love her, but now, you are the one I love and I am incredibly lucky to have you. I'm also here to take care of you, so let me know if you need something, okay?" I say down in the waiting room as Sam looked down at me and held my hands, his blonde hair falling into his eyes. I couldn't entirely process what was happening due to my headache and the world constantly spinning around me, but I did know one thing- if Sam could move on after a previous relationship and love me, I could do the same.

"I love you too, Sam Evan." I stood up and whispered the words into Sam's ear, before embracing him and heading in to see the nurse as she emerged from her room. As the words left my mouth, I felt a sense of relief, however, I was still concerned. Had I really meant what I had just said?

Author's note: Hey everyone! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please like and comment, I love hearing your suggestions and opinions on my fanfic.

~Alex~