Walking down the halls of Mckinley High is like walking into a different universe with every step. Almost literally. It's like the students took it upon themselves to assign a section of every hallway, every classroom, the quad, and the cafeteria. To a new student, it would seem foreign and confusing. If you were a freshman that was lucky enough to have a sibling who just so happened to have climbed the social ladder, even a step or two, then maybe, just maybe, you wouldn't get slushied. Often, at least.

Walking down the halls of Mckinley High as a Jock, or a Cheerio was a different story. There was no inch of the school that was off limits to you- if you decided that maybe the tree by the Geek's corner in the quad was a little more pleasing to look at, then that corner was no longer the Geek's. It was a new addition to the Jock's and Cheerios. There was hardly anyone on campus that would dare to speak against the J's and C's. Only The Black Jacks would.

How clever, right? Who do they think they are anyway, parading around in their black leather jackets, pants that are too tight, skirts that are too high to be considered 'innocent', and talking back to the J's and C's like their opinions were actually relevant? God.

They stay out of the way most of the time - but they did take over under the bleachers. That caused a riot. We settled it though: they get under the bleachers, but we get what ever else we want. It wasn't that hard to bargain. They can have it - it's dirty under there anyway.

"Quinn, are you listening to me?" My friend asked. I rolled my eyes, then glanced at her. She was either talking about her cat, unicorns, or dolphins. I'll just take a guess.

"Of course, Brittany. You were telling me that dolphins were just gay sharks, and I was going to tell you that they are completely different species," I glanced at her, and saw that I was right. Her lips were pursed together as she tried to think of an argument, but I already knew what she would say. I was fully prepared to give in, because honestly, I don't care.

"Okay, but that's not true, because-"

"You know what? You're right," I smiled. It was a fast, fake little gesture, but it made her eyes light up. She loved being right.

"Told you so," she said. I nodded. "Okay, well, at lunch we're having a meeting in the-"

"I know, Britt. I told you that this morning. I'll come to your class so you don't forget," I stopped walking when we were in front of our class. When Sam opened the door for us, we gave him small smiles, then entered the room. Brittany took her normal seat, but mine was occupied.

"What do you think you're doing?" I asked the girl. She looked up at me with her cocky smile and disgustingly innocent dimples, and just shrugged.

"Sitting," she said nonchalantly.

"In my seat," I scoffed. She tapped her nails against the wood. They were painted black.

"Your name's not written on it. I didn't see 'Princess' carved into the desk," she sat up and straightened her leather jacket. "So, obviously, it's not your seat."

"Can you just get up?" I asked. The bell rang. When I get irritated, my ears tend to turn a little pink. So do my cheeks. I willed them not to, but the way Santana's smile grew told me that they did.

"What's the magic word?" She asked teasingly. I rolled my eyes, and she clicked her tongue. "I'd say I could sit here all day, but I couldn't lie to a princess. I'll just sit here until the class is over."

"Miss. Fabray, please take a seat," our teacher, Miss. Veron, said from the front of the classroom.

"I can't, she took it," I muttered.

"Let's not make a scene, blondie," Santana warned. But it was clear that she was enjoying this- she did it almost every time that she beat me to class. "Just say the word, and I'll be up and out of your throne."

"Please," I said, as calmly as I could.

"Oh, what kind of please? Is it my favorite?" The brunette leaned forward on the desk and rested her chin on her knuckles.

"Pretty please," I hissed. Santana picked up her pen and her few lined pieces of paper, which seemed to be all she brought to school today, and slowly stood up until she was leveled with me. I could basically taste the cigarettes she'd puffed before coming to class. It was disgusting.

"Anything for you," she purred. I huffed and sat down. She stood there for a moment, then went to her seat.

I don't get why she does that. She only talks to me while we're in this room- is there something about United States History that makes her want to get under my skin? How did she manage to get into an honors class anyway?

When lunch time came, Brittany, Finn, Rachel (for some unknown reason), Kurt (also, unknown reason), and Sam all gathered in the auditorium. I'd be leading the meeting, so they were all waiting for me to talk.

"First off, two questions. Why are thing one and two here?" I asked.

"Well, Principal Figgins said-"

"Did he tell you to come here?"

"Well, no, but-"

"Then leave," I deadpanned.

"Please, just give us two minutes of your time," Rachel pleaded. She didn't come across as the type to plead, so after glancing at my people, I nodded.

"You have one minute."

"Thank you, I really-"

"You have fifty six seconds," I cut my eyes at her.

"Wow, okay," she breathed.

"I'll explain," her sidekick started, "Mr. Shue and Figgins talked about the Winter Formal, and they decided that it would be best to have the Glee Club perform. The school doesn't have enough money to-"

"I do. We can get professionals. Is there anything else?" I asked. Their presence was boring me. And honestly, looking at Berry kind of makes me want to punch her in the face.

"No. Nothing else," Rachel told me. "Just...our offer is on the table. I have several songs prepared-"

"That's enough," I said. I gave her a plastic smile, and tilted my head to the side a little. "Thanks." She took that as her cue to leave, Kurt following briskly behind her. When they were gone, Sam snorted. I arched an eyebrow, and that just made him laugh harder. Pretty soon, we were all laughing at this unspoken, hilarious joke. Glee kids perform at my Winter Formal? That has to be the funniest thing I've ever heard.

Brittany stood beside me as we lead our squad in stretches. The Cheerios was precious, our prized possession. In front of us stood the most fit and beautiful girls of Mckinley, excluding Brittany and myself, and they bow to our commands. But, they would kill us in an instant if it meant they could have a shot at being captain.

"Laps," Brittany shouted. She was always more vocal when it came to practice- she took fitness seriously. We all started to run around the field, and I almost didn't notice the Black Jackets come out from under the bleachers.

I ignored it when Santana and Noah stayed and watched from the seats. Even when I wasn't facing her anymore, I could feel her eyes burning holes in my back. I almost dared her to talk to me, to break her system of only teasing me and willingly smiling in US History, but then I remembered that I hate her. Why would I will her to talk to me?

"Killin' it in that skirt, Fabray!" Noah called out as we passed the bleachers. I rolled my eyes. Being the good, Catholic girl I am, I didn't flick him off. Instead, I exhaled grudgingly and pressed forward, making my legs run even faster. I'm pretty sure I heard Santana whistle.

Later, I sat on Brittany's bed and watched as she mindlessly wrote the answers on both of our math homework sheets. I learned a long time ago not to even bother checking- they were always right. When we were finished, she turned on the Tv and started to play with my hair.

"Q?" She said. I hummed in response. "Why don't the J's and C's, and the Black Jacks get along?"

I shrugged. "Black Jacks don't really matter."

"But they're still people."

I turned to look at her. "Why do you care?"

"I don't. It's just, we're really awesome. They're pretty awesome- you have to admit, there jackets are pretty cool. If we all got together, wouldn't it be, like, an awesome explosion?"

"No," I shook my head. "It would cause riots. People wouldn't know who held the power, they'd be confused. We are in charge, not the Black Jacks." She pursed her lips, then nodded. "Britt, it's just the way things work."

"I know," she said quietly.

My house was too big for just three people. It was just my mom, my younger brother Rhys, and I. My father passed away just after Rhys was born, about eight years ago. Alcohol poisoning. I drummed my fingers against the steering wheel of my car as I waited for the light to turn green. When it did, I had to pull over and out of the way for a fire truck that was speeding behind me. I watched it go my path, and could feel my heart beating out of my chest.

Pulling up in front of the my house- which was now a burning catastrophe- was like a nightmare. Neighbors watched from a distance. Police warned me to stay back, but backed off only slightly when I screamed, "That's my home!" Tears streamed down my cheeks. The officer seemed to read my mind, because he guided me towards my mother and Rhys, who were huddled together. I put my arms around Rhys, and kissed his blonde hair.

"I- Lucy, it was-"

"Sh," I whispered. "Mom, what happened?"

She sniffled a little bit, then looked at me. Her almost white eyes sent chills down my back. In the dark, you could hardly see the blue. Just like Rhys. "He found the match set."

"I thought you put them up high," I hissed, more upset with her than with my younger brother.

"Don't be mad, Quinnie," Rhys cried. "I climbed up to get them."

"You shouldn't have done than, Rhys," I told him. He nodded. He knew what he did was wrong. He knew an apology wouldn't get our house back. We watched as the firefighters tried to save what they could. We watched the walls that held our best- and worst- memories burned.

I sat on the curb with Rhys, watching as our mom talked to one of our neighbors. I couldn't recognise who ever it was, it was too dark. I took off my Cheerios jacket and helped Rhys work his arms through the sleeves. Then mom started to walk towards us, a solemn expression on her face.

"Maribel is allowing us to stay at her home, but only temporarily," she said.

"Nonsense, as long as you'd like, you are welcome in our home," the woman she called Maribel told me. I couldn't bring myself to talk. I knew I should thank her, I knew I was being incredibly rude. But I couldn't trust my voice right now.

"We are all very grateful," mom said to her.

"Let's get you into some warm clothes," Maribel smiled gently. "I'm sure my daughter will have something decent for you." I nodded. When my mom held out her hand for me to take, I took it. I picked Rhys up, then followed Maribel as she lead us to her home.

There house was even bigger than ours. If my vision wasn't blurred by a thin layer of tears, I'm sure the inside would have been even more extravagant.

"My daughter is about your age," Maribel said. She shifted her attention to Rhys, and touched his nose gently. "And my son is only a little older than you."

After refusing to share a room with mom (which Rhys and I both did), Maribel showed us to our rooms. "Santana will bring you a pair of pajamas," she yawned. I nodded. Wait, Santana? If there is a God up there, please don't let me be in the guestroom of Santana Lopez's house. When she closed the door, I let myself collapse on the bed.

"Oh God," I said out into the empty room. My voice cracked. I choked out a few more words that I'm not even sure of, probably curses to the universe. I squeezed the blanket and watched as I whimpered, watched my pale knuckles go white. Someone knocked on the door, just two simple knocks. Before I could ask for a minute, it was opened.

There in the doorway stood Santana Lopez. I almost didn't recognize her. She wore red plaid shorts and a simple grey muscle tank. Her hair was pulled up into a lazy pony tail. Without her jacket and dark makeup, she didn't look as menacing.

"Fabray?" She asked. I didn't reply. I just stood up and took the clothes from her, my hands shaking as I did. I turned my back to her and placed the folded clothes on the bed. "Do you, um," she cleared her throat. "Do you need anything else?" I shook my head. There was no doubt that if I said something, my voice would fail me. "Okay," she said. She clicked her tongue. "Alright. Good night," she turned around and walked out. Just before closing the door behind herself, she poked her head through the door. "See you in the morning."

I woke up in the middle of the night surprised that I'd been able to sleep. Then I saw that someone was getting into bed with me. I panicked until I heard Rhys whimper, then I settled, pulling him closer as my little spoon. I let myself fall asleep.

Author's Note- So, I have a general idea on where I want this to go. But, if you guys don't think it's something you'd be interested in, I'll let it sit in Google Docs for a while longer. Let me know (: