Something - Quinn Fabray

Chapter 80

"I didn't do it."

"Santana, we all saw what happened," Will said sternly. "You slapped Finn in the face, unprovoked."

Shelby held back a sigh, folding her arms. After yesterday's slapping incident, Will had taken it upon himself to call a meeting with Principal Figgins. That was why everyone's Thursday morning was now being spent in the principal's office, listening as sides were explained. For now, she was content to listen to Santana explain herself, but was ready to step in if needed.

"No, you don't get it," Santana argued. "When I get really pissed off, Santana gets taken over by my other evil personality. I call her Snixx. She's kind of like the Incredible Hulk, you can't blame me for anything Snixx does."

"I'm suspending you, and this Snixx, from all extracurricular activities for the foreseeable future," Figgins said. "That includes Cheerios and the glee club."

"What? If you do that I won't be able to compete at Sectionals and I won't be able to beat Grimmus and Mr. Schue's butts! Miss Corcoran, I highly recommend you do something about this." Santana shot Shelby an almost imploring look. Shelby knew how important glee was to Santana, even if she rarely showed it.

Will folded his arms. "Santana, Sectionals is important, but you need to be punished for what you did."

Shelby stared at him incredulously. Where had this almost sanctimonious conviction been when Finn had all but jumped Quinn onstage in New York? Oh, right, it had been directed at Ryan... "All right, time out. While it is true that Santana slapped Finn - which I do think warrants some consequences - I think that's a little harsh, especially considering that she was provoked."

"Provoked? Finn was just sitting there," Will argued.

"Are you seriously going to gloss over the fact that Finn outed her to practically all of Ohio?"

"Actually, Miss Corcoran, there is no concrete evidence that Mr. Hudson was... was the one who... leaked that information..." Principal Figgins' voice trailed off meekly at the glare Shelby shot him.

"Exactly," Will jumped in. "And besides, it's already out there. Violence isn't the answer, we all know that. And the sentence is reasonable, you're the one who suggested it for Dave Karofsky and Azimio Adams last year."

"Okay, first, everyone knows it was Finn," Shelby said curtly. "Let's not pretend otherwise. Second, a slap is complete different from a two-on-one physical assault. And third, you aren't allowed to dole out punishments this severe without calling in the parents of the students involved. Since I highly doubt Mr. and Mrs. Lopez are hiding under the seat cushions, you can't go that far." Not yet anyways.

Will sighed. "Then we'll call them in."

"No!" All eyes turned to Santana at the outburst. "You can't call them." She looked pleadingly at Shelby. "I haven't told them yet."

Shelby softened at the almost panicked look in the teenager's eyes. "Santana -"

"She didn't slap me."

This time, everyone in the room turned to Finn in surprise. Even Santana was staring at him in confusion. Will cleared his throat. "Finn, we all saw it."

"I know it looked and sounded like she did, but she didn't. It was - what's it called when you pretend to hit someone but don't?" Finn asked.

"A stage slap?" Shelby asked slowly.

"Exactly," Finn agreed, smiling. "It was a stage slap."

Will almost growled. "What is your angle here, Finn?"