Chapter Text
Slushy dripped from Lucy’s face as she entered the bathroom. Her eyes were red from the sting of the ice meeting them, and tears trailed down her cheek. She’d never been as embarrassed as she was at this moment. She’d also never experienced a frozen drink being thrown in her face. However, she’d learned this was a tradition in her new school. She’d seen a few kids get assaulted with the cold drink since the school year started a few weeks ago. She’d been lucky. Passing by right before or right after an attack. She was not sure how they pick targets; what heinous crimes against the popular kids occur to warrant such an attack? Trying to think of anything out of the ordinary that happened today to make her a target, she comes up empty-handed. Perhaps the only thing she and most of the student body have done was not be popular.
Lucy mostly kept to herself at McKinley. Being a newly transferred junior saw her missing out on the new friendships that form that first two years of school. Lucy was an interloper in an already established society, and few people seemed welcoming. Maybe she hasn’t tried hard enough, like her father thinks, but she was okay getting through the next 2 years alone.
The red sugary concoction dripped from her short pink locks, clashing against her white band tee. Pulling paper towels from the dispenser, Lucy wipes her face dry. Her shirt was a goner. It clung to her body, dripping red. It wasn’t much of a loss as it was a hand-me-down from her older sister. It had the band's name across the front; Nickelback. Perhaps that’s what made her a target today. Her jeans were safe. The tightly woven fabric of the denim made them too thick for the red liquid to penetrate. The liquid slid off like oil and water. Too focused on cleaning herself, she missed the door opening and the arrival of another student until a hand landed on her shoulder.
“Hey, I saw what happened. I got a clean shirt you can wear.”
Looking to her left, Lucy noticed a smaller brunette girl holding a shirt in her hand. She had noticed her around the school before. A frequent target for this particular form of bullying.
“Thanks.” Lucy takes the shirt and places it on the ledge of the mirror.
“You’re welcome. I’ve never seen them bless you with a slushy before. One's first time is always rough, and most aren’t prepared, so I thought I’d lend a hand, or shirt in this case.” The girl gives Lucy a small smile before continuing, “I’m Rachel, by the way.”
There’s something about Rachel that immediately puts Lucy at ease. It might be her smile or the blue plaid skirt that barely reaches the middle of her thighs and the matching argyle sweater she was wearing. Maybe it’s the fact Lucy has seen Rachel run crying several times, leaving a trail of slush in her wake. Rachel must be their favorite target, as she was slushied at least once a week since the start of school. At least Lucy knows this isn’t another cruel joke.
“I’m Lucy.”
“I know.” Lucy’s brow raises at this. “You have a class with my friend Kurt. He admires your sense of fashion and thinks the rocker chic thing you have going on is pretty cool. You have so many band tees, you must go to a lot of concerts.”
Lucy shrugs, “Sometimes. Before my sister left for college. Most of these were hers.”
“Must be nice having a sister to share with.”
“I guess.” Lucy looks towards the stalls before saying, “I’m gonna go change. Thanks again for the shirt.”
Secured in her stall, she changes into the shirt Rachel gave her. It fit Lucy a bit too tight, barely reaching her belt buckle. Sighing, Lucy wishes she had a jacket to cover the gray shirt, and its orange tulip. Not exactly her style, but she doesn’t think it’s Rachael's style either. Lucy has only seen Rachel in patterned sweaters and blouses. Perhaps this was something Rachel kept in case someone needed it, like Lucy does now. Whatever the reason, Lucy is grateful. She wouldn’t be able to continue classes without a fresh shirt. The shirt clinging to her body all day would drive her crazy, and the dried sugar would irritate her skin for sure, she thought.
Now composed, Lucy opens the stall door and freezes upon seeing Rachel still standing there. Was she waiting for something?
“Um.”
“I wanted to give you my locker number and phone number. You can return the shirt tomorrow. I shall be at my locker before school starts.” Rachel hands Lucy a piece of paper before leaving the restroom.
Lucy pockets the paper without reading it. She knows the bell should ring soon to mark the start of her next class, and she has wasted too much time already. Leaving the washroom, ruined shirt in hand, Lucy makes her way to her own locker. She discards her shirt there and picks up the books for the next class. The rest of the day goes by without incident, but each pass in the hall between classes now brings a sense of anxiety for Lucy. Next time she’ll be prepared, she promises herself.
Arriving home, Lucy immediately heads to her room to change. She doesn’t want her parents questioning her change in clothes. Rolling her eyes, Lucy thinks of the reaction her parents would have to her day. Her mother would be ready to call the school and go full on Karen, and her father would be ready to call his lawyers to sue. They’ve always come running to her defense, no matter what, but she thinks she can handle a little high school bullying.
Emptying her pockets, she pulls out the note Rachel gave her. Rachel Barbara Berry. Locker 108. #4192651669. It’s written in such elegant cursive. Much better than her own handwriting. Lucy saves the contact in her phone and texts Rachel.
Lucy: Hey, it’s Lucy. Thanks again for the shirt. Wanted to wash it. Are there any special settings I should use?
RBB: You are most welcome, Lucy! You can use the standard settings. Nothing special. It’s just a shirt I have to help those in need.
At the response, Lucy smiles.
Lucy: I definitely was in need. So, what’s the deal with the slushies? How can those kids just get away with it?
RBB: It’s just something that’s been around forever. Cheerleading and Sports bring in the most money for the school so those kids can get away with murder. They slushy anyone they don’t like, and the faculty turns a blind eye.
Lucy: That blows, especially because I’m not sure I did anything to make them not like me… yet.
RBB: Yet? What does that mean?
There’s a gleam of mischief in Lucy’s eye as she reads Rachel’s response.
Lucy: Wait and find out.
Lucy placed her phone on her desk and went to wash the borrowed shirt. She returned to see missed messages from Rachel. She ignored them to start her homework. As soon as she finished that night's work, she began planning. She wasn’t sure yet how she would get the students back, but she was determined.
The following morning Lucy found locker 108 to return Rachel’s shirt. Rachel was standing in another skirt and matching argyle sweater, talking to a shorter brown-haired boy. Lucy watched the two talk for a while before the boy left, leaving Rachel to rummage through her locker for her things. Lucy walked up to her shirt in hand, “Hey.”
Rachel jumps before turning towards the direction of Lucy’s voice. “Oh my gosh, Lucy, you scared me.”
“Sorry. I wanted to return your shirt.” Lucy saw Rachel’s eyes move to the folded shirt in her hand.
“Thanks.” Rachel returned the shirt to its place in her locker before closing the door. She glanced sideways at Lucy before she walked away.
Lucy spent the rest of the school week avoiding slushies and observing the hallways. She realized the perpetrators were usually wearing a jersey for one of the schools teams, and there were always more than one cup thrown, which explains how badly soaked her shirt got. She also noticed the cheerleaders. They never threw a cup, but were always standing off to the side, ready to laugh at the poor unsuspecting teenager. There was a tall brunette who seemed to be the leader of the pack. She always stood in the center of the group with a sneer on her face. The jocks looked to her, waiting on a single nod, before flinging their drinks like liquid weapons. There was still much to discover, she thought.
Lucy: Do you know a tall Latina cheerleader? She has brown hair. Always surrounded by a group of athletes.
RBB : Lucy, whatever you’re thinking, don’t.
Lucy: So you know her…?
RBB: She will kill you.
RBB: I mean that literally.
RBB: It’s not worth it. I promise.
Lucy only laughed at the influx of text from Rachel. Whoever this chick was, she is definitely the leader, and everyone knows you have to target the leader to defeat the pack.
Over the weekend Lucy is sure she came up with a brilliant idea to get back at the bullying students. It took her a few days to get everything in order before she could implement her plan. Finding a place with a reasonably priced chicken was easier than she thought. The Hummel family farm only wanted $10 because this particular chicken no longer laid eggs.
As Lucy drove into the parking lot, she noticed it was vacant except for a few cars that belonged to staff and some athletes that had morning practice. She arrived earlier than normal today to make sure she could go through with her plans without interruption. She knew Santana and the rest of the cheerleaders would still be in practice and that they always went straight to the cafeteria before the morning bell to grab something to eat. She parked near the side entrance so she wouldn’t garner a lot of attention as she carried her hole filled box into the building. They left the door open for athletes to easily get to their practice locations in the morning.
There was a faint squawk coming from the box as she walked to locker 140. All the lockers had a school issued combination lock on them. Locks that have a small key slot on the back in case the school faculty needs to get into the locker. The same key slot that Lucy just so happened to have a key for, molded from her own lock’s key slot.
Lucy removed the lock with no problem. The inside of Santana’s locker was pretty bare. Normally teenagers at least had pictures in their locker, but Santana only had her textbooks. An odd realization, but not one Lucy dwelled on. She used the lack of personal items to her advantage. She quickly tapped two pieces of paper to the door. She looked around to make sure there was no one lingering in the halls before setting her box down and pulling out a small burlap sack. She placed it inside the locker and dumped the contents before she quickly closed the door and locked it back. She heard the clucking inside the locker, but hoped when the halls were filled and noisy Santana wouldn’t notice. Job now done, Lucy headed to the cafeteria on the other end of the school to wait for the start of classes.
Lucy’s lips pressed together as the first thing she saw upon entering the cafeteria were some junior cheerleaders and jocks. They sat at the very front, taking up a few tables with their large numbers. She knew they would be in the cafeteria after their early morning practice ended, but seeing them so early annoyed Lucy. She immediately walked past them and looked around for a spot to wait.
The rest of the cafeteria was pretty empty. Lucy’s steps stop when she spots Rachel sitting at a table in a far back corner with a few other students. They were as far away from the athletes as possible. Shaking her head, Lucy sat at a vacant table on the side. Checking her watch, she sees she has about 15 minutes before the first bell rings. Pulling a book out of her bag, she reads, hoping no one bothers her.
At 7:25am the warning bell rang, signaling school will soon start. Hundreds of feet began making their way out of the cafeteria to their awaiting locker to pick up books for their first class. Lucy hurried to make her way to her own locker. Oddly enough, it is the perfect view for what’s coming. She leans against her locker and waits with her phone in hand.
Lucy’s eyes shined as she watched the tall cheerleader she had learned is Santana, made her way to her locker. 140. Santana opened the locker door to come face to face with a chicken. Large white wings flapped up and down as the chicken squawked loudly, before it jumped off the ledge right towards Santana’s face. She barely dodged the chicken’s claws as she gave a great shout that was heard throughout the hall. The chicken landed on the ground and ran up and down the hall; students moved out of its way as it flapped its wings and clucked at anyone it got close to. During the commotion Santana’s locker door was flung wide open, exposing the bright colored paper with boldly printed words tapped to it for everyone to read. BULLY. COWARD.
Silence filled the halls for just a second before laughter erupted. Santana stood red faced in front of her locker as she ripped down the sign and slammed the door shut. “Agh!” She huffed as she balled the papers up and threw them to the ground with a loud before storming off.
Lucy’s eyes gleamed as she witnessed the chaos she caused. She grabbed her books out of her locker and walked off with her head raised high. Nothing could wipe the smile from her face. She was proud of her work and officially vindicated. Too focused on her own thoughts, Lucy did not notice the eyes from locker 108 that followed her as she went.
That morning's event was all the school talked about. Some students were aghast at what unfolded, while others relished the fact someone had knocked Santana down a peg or two. There wasn’t a single slushy attack that day. As far as Lucy cared, her plan worked. She had saved the school from bullying, or so she thought.