AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey there! It's your author speaking!
Welcome to the world of my Glee OCs. It's something I've had planned for a long, long time but didn't really have the confidence to write down until now.
The first chapter might be a bit shaky, but I promise that I'll get into the swing of things by the second chapter.
I hope you enjoy it!
Failure is not a bad thing. It's the ending of one thing and the beginning of another.
Alyk's mother would tell him that before every audition he went to, every time he tried something new and it didn't work out well, every time he was going to tackle something big. Sadly, she wasn't there as his now ex-girlfriend threw all their photos and little presents, all those little memories of their head-wrecking but sweet relationship on the floor (and some of them at him).
Alyk and Daisy's relationship began with Daisy joining drama club because of him - she had always had a crush on him, so she figured by becoming interested in what he was interested in, he'd eventually become interested in her. As far as Daisy was concerned, being sixteen and not having a boyfriend was... well, she hadn't many friends. And Alyk wasn't a big popular guy who'd laugh at her. Alyk was a theatre kid - and he was sweet and he knew big words and he wrote poetry. Who didn't want a boyfriend like that?
She took all his classes and joined all his after school classes (even Latin and Ballet, which she later decided were not-so-good ideas) and began her quest of making Alyk the boy she'd drag shopping with her and go to prom with.
And Alyk wasn't the type of boy to say no to a girl like Daisy - he'd honestly thought she was stalking him and found her a tad intimidating.
So after a month or so of chasing, Daisy had finally gotten Alyk to go out with her. And they were happy, in a weird way, because they did everything together - auditions and school dinners and picnics on sunny weekends. She wasn't really as good at drama and theatre as Alyk was, so he showed her the ropes and handled her tantrums when she didn't get them right at first.
But that was before he had met Rupert Prince. Rupert Prince and his bewitching beauty, Rupert Prince and his amazing voice and goddamn it, Rupert Prince and his ability to send anyone to their knees with one look.
Alyk had never really been very sure of what way he swung, but once Rupert showed up he was pretty damn sure he was Rupertsexual, and nothing on the planet could change that.
But Alyk was very good at keeping things quiet when he wanted to - in fact, Alyk believed he could do anything as long as he put his mind to it - so his crush on Rupert was just something else he could keep to himself and Daisy would never ever EVER have to know (ever).
Rupert had the amazing ability of being top-dog in Everwood High without being a jock - in fact, Rupert was a theatre kid like Alyk, except Rupert had attitude and, of course, he was incredibly attractive.
So all Alyk could ever do was admire from afar, because really, Rupert had many other better things to do (in more ways than one) than pay attention to Alyk. Really, it wouldn't even be that bad if Daisy found out, right?
If only that had been the case. It wasn't his fault that Daisy had found him... well, relieving himself to a very nice picture of Rupert that had been published in the school paper the previous week (those jeans were honestly very tight).
In fact, that had been about twenty minutes ago. Most of the time after that had been Daisy screaming at him and Alyk awkwardly pulling up his pants and trying to explain something that would actually make the situation worse if he did explain it.
And that was when Daisy had started throwing things, and screaming some more.
"Why didn't you just tell me I was your hag, Alyk? You could've told me you were gay instead of leading me around like a dumbass! You never liked me, did you?"
Alyk wanted to say a lot of things. As good as he was with words, he wasn't good with coming up with them on the spot.
No, he hadn't really wanted to go out with Daisy, but he didn't hate her either. He honestly didn't know if he was gay.
"I... it's- I don't..!"
Alyk mentally cursed at himself.
"Just get out! We are done!" Daisy screamed, throwing a teddy bear after Alyk as he dashed out of the room and eventually out the front door of her house.
It was a cold November evening, and frost and snow had begun to show in some places. Alyk shivered a little and sighed - his parents weren't expecting him home until eight, and it was only six. Where on earth was he supposed to go until then?
He thought about it as he plodded down the street, hands buried in his pockets, not really sure whether to be upset about breaking up with Daisy or not. He could go to the school. He was pretty sure one of the sports teams were practising late, as well as the school's cheerleading team.
Alyk shrugged and made his mind up. It was better than staying out in the cold.
Everwood High looked like a different place when it was dark, what with all the hall lights being on and the classrooms silent and empty. It was slightly creepy, but Alyk could hear the chanting of the cheer team as they practised a most likely ruthless routine and catcalls from the football team.
And then he heard something else - something a lot different - someone singing. Alyk cocked his head as he followed the voice. Why would someone be singing? The school didn't have a musical going on, and they didn't have a choir (as far as he knew).
He found himself coming closer to the school's auditorium, which hadn't been used in a long time thanks to funding getting the cheerleading team their own gym to practise in. It smelt kind of damp and it was very cold, but the lights were most assuredly on.
He stood at the doors, which were open, and looked inside to see who was on the stage, bathing in the spotlight's glow.
Alyk swallowed hard. It was Rupert. How he couldn't tell by the voice surprised him, because Rupert had a voice that made him feel weak. But why was he here?
And why was he singing?
Gravity is working against me
And gravity wants to bring me down
Oh I'll never know what makes this man
With all the love that his heart can stand
Dream of ways to throw it all away...
Alyk found himself walking into the auditorium without telling himself to, eyes fixed on the performer on stage. It was like Rupert didn't even know he was there - he was lost in the song, and he held the microphone stand close to him in a way that almost looked like an embrace.
Oh man, Rupert's voice did things to Alyk that he couldn't really explain or understand. His voice was low and husky, the kind he'd want whispering dirty things to him at night, but also the kind of voice that could sing him to sleep. It was a dreamy voice and it belonged to, in Alyk's opinion, an angel.
Oh Gravity is working against me
And gravity wants to bring me down
Oh twice as much ain't twice as good
And can't sustain like a one half could
It's wanting more
That's gonna send me to my knees...
Rupert's eyes found Alyk then - they were an amazing shade of sea green and they looked him up and down, as if he were something that Rupert wasn't quite used to. He could see the way that Alyk was staring at him and a smirk spread across his lips.
Alyk went red and he looked away for a moment, not used to having Rupert's full attention. After a bassist behind him finished a short solo, Rupert sang again.
Oh gravity, stay the hell away from me
And gravity has taken better men than me
Now how can that be?
Just keep me where the light is
Just keep me where the light is
Just keep me where the light is
C'mon keep me where the light is
C'mon keep me where the light is
Oh... where the light is!
Alyk was about to applaud Rupert when someone he didn't see beat him to it. He looked up and saw a man sitting in some of the higher seats. A teacher, though he couldn't quite make him out. This teacher made some notes after he finished clapping.
"Good job, kid. You the only one here today?"
Rupert pondered the question for a moment, a smiling a little before replying to the teacher.
"No. My friend here wants to audition. Isn't that right... Alyk?"
Alyk pushed the thoughts of 'Oh my God he knows my name!' out of his head for a moment (he could focus on that later) and wondered what the hell he was going to do.
What on earth was even going on here?
Why did he always end up in these crappy situations?
"Hey, earth to sweater-vest! You auditioning for the show choir or what?" the teacher barked at him, knocking Alyk from his thoughts.
Show choir? Since when did Everwood have a show choir?
Alyk looked up at the teacher and nodded slowly. Heck, he could do this.
"Yes. Yes I am." he replied coolly, trying to look calm.
Rupert gave him an odd look, but shrugged and walked off the stage, giving Alyk a gentle nudge towards it. Alyk took in a deep breath and made his way up the steps and on to the stage, muttering to the pianist his last minute song choice.
The first notes played and Alyk took one last chance to let the thought of 'What the hell are you doing?' go through his head before he sang.
When the rain
Is blowing in your face
And the whole world
Is on your case
I could offer you
A warm embrace
To make you feel my love
When the evening shadows
And the stars appear
And there is no - one there
To dry your tears
I could hold you
For a million years
To make you feel my love
Rupert watched curiously from beside Mr. Summers, the music teacher who had just come back from some sort of leave. Honestly, he'd just wanted to screw Alyk over, but who knew he could actually sing?
"You know this kid?" Mr. Summers asked Rupert, raising an eyebrow, "He's pretty good."
The ruddy haired boy could only reply while his eyes were fixed on Alyk.
"No. I don't know him at all."
I know you haven't made
Your mind up yet
But I would never
Do you wrong
I've known it
From the moment
That we met
No doubt in my mind
Where you belong
I'd go hungry
I'd go black and blue
I'd go crawling
Down the avenue
No, there's nothing
That I wouldn't do
To make you feel my love
Alyk let all his feelings sink into the song, putting in a hell of a lot more effort than he had ever planned on putting in. He hadn't really had the best of days, after all, and he was too damn shy to tell Rupert how he felt. So why couldn't he sing it?
Why was Rupert looking at him like that? Alyk couldn't tell if he was impressed or… angry. Either way, he had Rupert's full attention.
Wait. If he nailed this rather unplanned audition and got into the show choir… then he would finally have something to share with Rupert. Just like Daisy had always wanted with him.
Oh. Now he felt guilty again.
The storms are raging
On the rolling sea
And on the highway of regret
Though winds of change
Are blowing wild and free
You ain't seen nothing
Like me yet
I could make you happy
Make your dreams come true
Nothing that I wouldn't do
Go to the ends
Of the Earth for you
To make you feel my love
To make you feel my love
It was quiet for a moment after the song ended, and that made Alyk incredibly nervous. What if they didn't like it? What if they laughed at him?
But Rupert smiled and started clapping, and Mr. Summers followed suit.
"That was damn good, kid. What was your name again?"
"Alyk. Alyk Van De Kamp." Alyk replied, beaming, "And thank you."
Mr. Summers nodded and scribbled down something on the notepad in front of him, "Is that everyone?"
Rupert nodded, still a little out of sorts after Alyk's performance.
"Unless anyone else feels like wandering into the auditorium, yes."
"Good!" Mr. Summers said, gathering his things and standing up, "Because honestly, I could've been home two hours ago. I suppose I'll see you two tomorrow."
He gave them each a nod before leaving, muttering something about needing a cigarette. Alyk cleared his throat awkwardly.
"I should… probably get home."
"Where did you learn to sing?" Rupert asked, walking towards the stage, one eyebrow raised. Alyk swallowed hard, trying to get over the fact that Rupert was talking to him.
"Uhm, I like a lot of the performing arts. I mean, I've been in musicals and stuff. It's in my family."
Alyk's parents worked in theatre and opera, and they were pleased that their son had taken to them so well. He'd grown up around lovers of the arts and couldn't really help becoming one himself.
Rupert made an interested noise as he climbed up the steps to the stage, approaching Alyk.
"You know I didn't mean for this to happen, right? I thought you were going to suck. I hoped you were going to suck. And you don't." he explained as if it were an inconvenience, "Now I'm stuck with you. I don't know if I should be happy or not, to be honest."
Alyk didn't really know how to reply to what Rupert had just said (or whether to feel insulted), so he just shrugged, looking down at his feet.
"… I think the show choir will be great if we work on it." he said quietly, "I mean, don't they go to competitions and stuff?"
Rupert nodded, "It's always nice to win a trophy, I guess. I just wonder if we're even going to gather enough members to go to any competition…"
He slung his bag over his shoulder and began to walk away.
"You'd better show up tomorrow. I'm not going to waste your talent, even if you are a threat in reality."
He got to the doors of the auditorium before stopping for a moment.
"Your name was Alyk, right?"
"Yeah."
"I'm sure it'll be interesting working with you."
And with those words, he left.