𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 | s. lopez

Michael

It was late at night. The New Directions were meeting up with the Warblers for a Michael Jackson sing-off in the parking garage of the Lima Mall.

"I have a really bad feeling about this, Santana," said Juniper. "Why does the whole Glee Club have to be involved in the rivalry with the Warblers?"

"Just stay in the back and look cute, okay? And don't pick any fights unless I say so," said Santana. "You remembered to bring the pepper spray, right?"

"Yeah. I still don't get what I'd need it for."

"You never know," shrugged Santana. "Wait here with Britt and wait for the signal. Britt, make sure none of these idiots touch her."

"Got it," Brittany nodded and wrapped an arm around the younger girl.

"Time to make some stuck-up preppies cry," smirked Santana as she pulled the hood of her jacket over her head.

****

"I have never known a slushie to do that kind of damage," said Mr. Schue after the Glee Club found out that Blaine has to have surgery.

"That's cause it wasn't a normal slushie, Mr. Schue," said Finn. "There was stuff in it. Rocks or something. He wanted to do that damage."

"Well, unless you have proof that he tampered with the slushie, the police aren't interested in getting involved," said Mr. Schue.

"Sebastian is evil," said Kurt. "He needs to be expelled."

"Look, Figgins and I spoke to Dalton's headmaster. They're opening up an investigation. So, guys, I'm telling you, please let the system handle this one."

"No," said Artie. "Dalton's old school, Mr. Schue. They're not gonna turn their backs on one of their own. We need payback."

"An eye for an eye," agreed Juniper.

"No, Juni," said Santana, gently patting the younger girl's thigh. "Don't get involved in this. I don't want you getting hurt too."

"I have a zero-tolerance policy for violence of any kind," said Mr. Schue. "That's not how we do things."

"No, we sing, and that's all we ever do," said Artie.

"Do you wanna get disqualified from regionals?" asked Mr. Schue.

"I don't give a damn about regionals!" shouted Artie. "What do you expect from us? We're people. I know the rest of the world may not see us like that, but when they tease us and throw stuff at us and toss us in dumpsters and tell us that we're nothing but losers with stupid dreams, it freaking hurts, and we're supposed to turn the other cheek and be the bigger man by telling ourselves that those dreams and how hard we work makes us better than them? But it gets pretty damn hard to feel that way when they always get to win."

"I get how upsetting this is for you-"

"No you don't!" snapped Artie, wheeling up to Mr. Schue. "And don't give me any of that 'it gets better' crap, because I'm not interested in it getting any better. I want it to be better, like right now. I wanna hurt them the way they hurt us. No, worse. I want them to feel my pain, because, frankly, that's all I have left to give."

Santana and Juniper exchanged a shocked look.

"Artie, take a break," said Mr. Schue. "We'll be here when you get back."

Artie stared blankly at Mr. Schue. Juniper furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

"Artie, are you okay?" asked the brunette.

"I think I better roll away," said Artie and he left the choir room.

****

Santana and Juniper sat in Ms. Pillsbury's office. After sectionals the other week, they both decided to confide in the guidance counselor about their problems. They knew that she was the only person it would be safe to talk to about these kinds of things and they knew she wouldn't judge them. The only thing she'd do is hand them a pamphlet.

"So, Juniper, let's start with you," said Ms. Pillsbury, smiling warmly at the brunette. "Have you been journaling your feelings like we talked about?"

"Yeah, I have," the younger girl nodded. "It's weird how it actually helps."

"And how long have you been sober?"

"I haven't had a drink in 45 minute," joked Juniper, but when she saw the unamused look on Ms. Pillsbury's face and got elbowed by Santana, she got serious. "I haven't had alcohol in almost two weeks."

"That's great," said Ms. Pillsbury, smiling at the girl. "Juniper, I'm really proud of you. And how do you feel?"

"I really want to go over to Puck's and get wasted." 

"Juni," said Santana in a serious voice.

"Sorry, just being honest," shrugged Juniper. "But I'm not going to. Burt and Carole are already planning on sending me to rehab this summer unless I get my act together."

"What about you, Santana?" asked the guidance counselor, turning to the raven haired girl. "Have you been following the meal plan we made together?"

Santana nodded.

"And what about your notebook? Are you still tracking your calorie intake?"

"I am, but not as much," said the Latina. "Juniper and I made a deal that we'd get better together. She's making sure that I eat and I'm making sure she doesn't drink. Unless it's water, cause we kind of need to drink water."

"I'm very proud of you both," said Ms. Pillsbury. "These things are hard and it's hard to get better from them. And just know that relapses are normal. What I want you both to do is come in and see me when and if you do relapse. Okay?"

"Okay," said Santana and Juniper at the same time.

****

"How nice of you to show," said Artie as the Warblers came into the auditorium.

"Is whatever this is gonna take long?" asked Sebastian. "I can't stand the stench of public schools."

"It won't take long and all you have to do is sit and listen," said Quinn.

"We're not doing Michael for regionals," said Artie.

"I didn't think you'd surrender that easily," smirked Sebastian.

"We're tired of the fighting and the backstabbing," said Kurt. "We're show choirs. We're supposed to be supportive of each other."

"This is what we call 'taking the high road,'" added Puck. "Which I was shocked to find out had nothing to do with marijuana."

Juniper laughed and Santana elbowed her.

"Sorry," mumbled the brunette, still laughing a little.

"Just because you're doing Michael doesn't mean you understand Michael," said Artie.

"And you do?" asked Sebastian.

"Yes. And we're about to show you," said Mercedes.