Disclaimer: Glee belongs to Ryan Murphy. I can only wish that it belonged to me...

"Alright, class, get with a partner and really keep the purpose of the assignment in mind as you select a song. Get to work!" Mr. Schue instructed the group of thirteen teenagers. They immediately began breaking off into pairs, anxiously discussing songs that would reflect friendship, the topic Mr. Schue had scribbled onto the white board.

Ari glanced around, feeling slightly disappointed to see that Mercedes and Tina had already paired off with each other. However, the let-down didn't last as she turned to Kurt, who was making eye contact with her expectantly. Ari got up and sat next to him, in the seat Santana had previously occupied before she had moved to sit closer to Brittany.

Ari and Kurt immediately launched into song selections, and eventually decided on "Friends" by Elton John. She was glad to be Kurt's partner for this assignment. It felt to Ari that they needed a reminder of the friendship they had last year. Their friendship had recently tilted downward, with the both of them seemingly powerless to stop it. It wasn't that they were fighting. Kurt and Ari hardly hung out anymore, nor did they speak as often. They were both busy- Kurt with his father recovering from a horrifying heart-attack, and Ari with her boyfriend, who insisted they spent copious amounts of time in each others presence. But to Ari, their recent disconnection seemed deeper than just the hectic events and people in their lives.

It all started when Kurt learned his father was in the hospital, on the fine line between life and death. The Glee Club had attempted to raise his spirits, letting him know that they, along with God, would always be there for him. Kurt appreciated their loyalty; however, he had let them know that God's loyalty meant little to him. Ari had tried, along with Quinn and Mercedes, to convince him otherwise. Ari was never an extremely religious person, although she knew that believing in God meant that her parents were up there, watching over her. Kurt had been obviously annoyed at their pressing, especially when Ari, Rachel, Mercedes and Quinn had traveled to the hospital to pray for Burt Hummel. Ever since then, Ari felt that she and Kurt's friendship was…off. And she hated it. She knew he needed her, just as she needed him. They had always been there for each other—if Ari was slushied for being a quiet, awkward Glee loser, Kurt was always there to dry her off. Whenever the low-life Dave Karofsky shoved Kurt roughly into a locker, Ari had always been there, with a hand reaching out to help him up.

But now things were complicated. Ari had a feeling that there was a lot that she didn't know about the extent of Kurt's bullying. After all, Kurt hardly spoke to anyone about it. If Ari hadn't been so…tied down…by her boyfriend, she would gladly offer a listening ear, or a shoulder to cry on. But Ari was shutting herself off in front of Kurt, too. There was a lot he didn't know about the extent of her relationship issues. Like the fact that she was wearing an insane amount of foundation to hide the dark bruise on her left cheek. Kurt didn't need to know that. He had his own issues. For now, it seemed best to Ari to keep them separated. Thus, every day she found herself growing more and more separated from her former best friend.

Ari felt herself becoming more certain that the week's assignment was going to fix a lot of things for her and Kurt towards the end of practice. They were now talking, for one; something they hadn't done a lot of recently. She realized how much she missed Kurt and his expert fashion advice, his upscale and often shocking style of clothing that was so uniquely Kurt. Ari decided that she absolutely hated the distance between them. Paul, her boyfriend, had specifically requested that they spend the majority of their time together. But would he really get pissed off if she gave a little of her attention to her old friend?

Ari loved Paul, she truly did. But his over protectiveness lately was starting to bother her. And hurt her. She knew that most guys didn't hit their girlfriends. But Paul was her first boyfriend, the first guy to pay any amount of attention to her. He wanted them to be together forever, and that meant a lot to her. She knew high school relationships typically didn't last. The fact that Paul was desperate for theirs to work out made her understand why he got upset if she waved to a Glee guy in the hallway. Of course, she would never, ever cheat on Paul. Not if her life depended on it. But Paul didn't necessarily know that, and he got nervous about it sometimes. And people did stupid things when they were nervous. Even though Ari knew it was wrong, it was a sacrifice she had always been willing to make, from early on in their relationship. But now, considering that so much time had gone by since they started dating, Ari was wondering when he would start trusting her. He was really starting to, and Ari hated to admit it, even in her mind, scare her. She often felt as if her control was limited, as if even if she did desire to end things with Paul, it would be more complicated than an average break up. Paul did have a tendency to make things complicated.

Ari hated thinking about Paul when he was angry. It was easier to just pretend that he didn't do it. And that's what Ari did, every day. After all, it was difficult to admit something to someone when she could hardly admit it to herself. The worst part was that she had to hide it from everyone, including Kurt. She wanted to be able to be friends with him, even if she had to keep up a façade of sorts.

Surely, it wouldn't hurt to take advantage of the control that she did have, and invite Kurt to the Lima Bean with her on Saturday morning? Their friendship needed a serious pick-me-up, and coffee was the best answer.

Mr. Schue dismissed them all, and Ari and Kurt discussed their plans for the duet they would perform together.

"The song is absolutely perfect for both of our voices," Kurt chattered as they made their way down the hallway towards McKinley's front entrance, slipping their coats on.

"It is," Ari agreed, thinking of how well their soprano voices would harmonize together. "It's been a while since we've sang together," She remarked, trying to sound casual. She and Kurt used to love getting together for sleepovers, belting out the sweet lyrics written of Celine Dion or Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth at extremely late hours of the night. Ari couldn't recall the last time she's spent the night at the Hummel's.

Kurt frowned. "You're right, it has been. Honestly, Ari, I feel like I've hardly seen you at all lately."

She made eye contact with him as they walked. "…Are you doing okay? I mean…I know I've been missing a lot recently, and I've heard that Karofsky's been giving you a pretty hard time lately."

Kurt smiled sadly, shrugging. "It's not the end of the world."

"Kurt," Ari pressed, taking the chance to get him to open up to me. "This is serious. You're my best friend, and no matter what's been going on with us, I don't want you ever getting hurt. I really think you should tell Figgins about this."

Kurt frowned again. "He wouldn't be able to do much. It's my word against Karofsky's. The hamhock picks great times to shove me around, mostly right before class when there's hardly anyone in the halls.

Ari sighed. "Kurt, you deserve so much more than this. I think you're settling."

Now he laughed. "Me, settling? Ari, the very second I graduate I'm out of this cow town. And speaking of settling," he began, and Ari felt her heart sink as she realized this was his subtle way of changing the subject. "Are you and Paul still going out? How long has it been now, like, a year?"

She nodded. "Eleven months, to be exact. And what do you mean, settling?" Ari had a feeling she knew where this was going. Kurt had never approved of her dating Paul, mainly because Paul didn't have…the best reputation prior to asking her out. He used to like to hook up with girls and never speak to them again. A bit like Noah Puckerman, really.

As a helpless little freshman, Ari had sat next to Paul in their English class, blushing as he shamelessly flirted with her. She knew that he had a sketchy history with girls, but when he asked her to see a movie with him, she could hardly say no to his perfect green eyes and charming, crooked smile. She was nervous as hell, of course, having only muttered two words to him in her life, but he made her feel—surprisingly—comfortable on their first date. It was like every girl in the world dreamed their first date to be—he and his dad picked her up (Paul couldn't drive yet) and Paul held the door open for her. He bought her ticket and popcorn. Casually draped his arm around her towards the middle of the movie…the whole nine yards. Think of every first date cliché, and it took place in Ari's. And Paul treated her differently than he treated the other girls he had…well, "dated". She became his girlfriend, because he asked her out after their second date. It was great to feel important…popular, almost. After all, she, the little Glee nerd, was dating one of the most popular, beautiful jocks at McKinley. Ari had been drowning in infatuation. Paul Adamson had hooked her, and she was his.

"Just…I don't know. He doesn't seem…right for you," Kurt said, with an apologetic tone to his voice. "You're just so fun and silly when you're with us," he continued, referring to the Glee club. And that was true, she was. "But with him…you don't have that same look in your eyes. I don't know…maybe I'm reading too much into it."

Ari tried to keep her tone friendly, but instinctively got defensive. "You are. Paul and I are…" she struggled to find the best word. "So happy together. He loves me and I love him."

Kurt still looked uneasy. "If you're sure…If you ever want to talk, though, you know I'm always there for you, right?"

Ari smiled, wrapping both of her arms around Kurt's shoulders as they walked. "I know." She paused. She really did love Kurt. He was one of the greatest friends she would ever have. She hated to think she was losing him. "Kurt?"

"Yeah, honey?" He wrapped his arm around her, too.

Ari felt herself growing shy. "I…I miss you."

Kurt stopped walking, turning to face her with an unexplainable look on his face. It was a combination of love, warmth and sadness. He pulled her against his chest into a tight hug. "I miss you, too. Can you come over? I haven't had my Arianna Meyer fill in quite some time, and I'm about to go into withdrawal."

Ari laughed at his exaggeration, but then regretfully shook her head. "I can't. I'm going over to Paul's. He's actually waiting for me now…" She trailed off, suddenly aware of the fact that Paul wouldn't be pleased that she was running late. She pulled out of Kurt's embrace with a sad smile. "But we need to hang, as soon as humanely possible. Lima Bean at 9:00 on Saturday?"

Kurt nodded eagerly. "Done."

They continued walking until we reached the school's main entrance. Ari could see Paul's black Dodge Stratus in the parking lot, with Paul's silhouette visible in the front seat. She turned to face Kurt before she ventured out into the cold, windy outside.

"I'll see you tomorrow," Ari promised him, giving him a warm smile. She was glad that things were now cleared up between the two of them. "I can't wait to start practicing our song!"

"Same here," Kurt remarked enthusiastically. "Tell Paul I said, er, hi," he then said, his heart not really in the greeting he wanted Ari to pass along.

"I will. Bye, Kurt."

"See you later, Ari!"

Ari stepped outside of the building, pulling her scarf tighter around her neck as she quickly ran up to Paul's car, sliding into the passenger seat. She looked at his perfect face for a few minutes, noticing that his handsome features were set into an angry scowl.

"…Hi," Ari said weakly. "Sorry."

Paul turned to face her, an annoyed fire in his eyes. "I was about to go in there to look for you," he growled, making Ari shiver. "Did you expect me to just sit like an idiot in here all freakin' night?"

She shook her head. "No. I'm sorry, Paul. I…lost track of time."

"Who were you with?"

"Paul…"

"Who were you with?" He spat again, angrily.

"J-just Kurt," She stammered.

"Are you sure?"

Ari resisted the urge to role her eyes. It was something she had to resist often in front of Paul, for fear that she would be smacked in the eye for daring to role it. "I'm sure," She insisted as sincerely as she could.

Paul didn't look satisfied, but then again he never did when he accused her of disloyalty. Ari felt her anger boil, feeling a sense of déjà-vu wash over her. "Paul, who else would I be with? You already make sure I don't text Finn, Mike, or any of them, I hardly talk to any of the other guys in Glee because you don't like me to…how else can I prove to you that I'm not cheating on you?"

"Shit, I dunno, Ari. Maybe if you got your ass into the car at the time I tell you to come, I wouldn't have a reason to think that!" He bellowed.

"I was late, I'm sorry, okay?" She argued back. The happiness she had felt in gaining Kurt's friendship back was quickly disappearing. She hadn't done anything wrong! "Just because you think I'm some floozy…"

Paul gripped Ari's shoulder much too tightly. It hurt her, even with the padding of her peacoat. She winced, trying to shrug out of his grip. He only tightened it. "You wanna say that again?"

Ari shook her head, feeling tears spring into her eyes because of the pain. "N-no."

Paul smiled, but did not let go. "I didn't think so. I love you, got that? And you love me. Next time, when I ask you to do something really, really easy….you better do it."

He loosened his grip, leaned down and kissed her shoulder softly. She was certain there were bruises beginning to form in the very place he had just kissed.

He then started the car and pulled out of the parking space. "So how was Glee?" He asked casually, as if nothing had happened.

Ari took a deep breath, gathering herself before she answered. "Fine," I stated. This was the customary answer she always gave him. She had learned early on that if she started to ramble about the chaos that happened in glee, Paul got bored almost instantly. However, she admired him for trying to make it look like he was interested. Non-glee members typically didn't give a crap.

"Good."

Paul then started to talk about the upcoming football game that was the next day, Friday. He didn't ask Ari if she was coming—he simply expected her to. Ari herself was one of the least athletic people she had ever met in her life. But she had gone to every game Paul had ever played in—no matter how much homework she had—because, simply, she loved him.

Ari allowed herself to zone out for the rest of the car ride, knowing Paul would be satisfied with her seemingly interested smiles and nods throughout the one-sided conversation. He eventually pulled up the driveway of the small orphanage where Ari lived.

Coach Sylvester, whom Ari often passed in the hallways of McKinley, not-so-affectionately called her 'Annie' when she greeted her with her special way of greeting students, which was shouting at them horrifyingly to get out of her way. Ari couldn't decide if this was because the names Ari and Annie sounded similar, or if it was because Coach Sylvester was referring to the orphan, Annie. Ari was blessed with a spectacular singing voice, and often joked around with Kurt that the next time Coach Sylvester called her that, she would just burst into "Tomorrow" or "It's a Hard-Knock Life" just to make the nickname even more ironic. But honestly, Ari didn't love living at the orphanage. Sure, the adults, or caretakers, as they called themselves, were nice enough. But it wasn't a family in any sense of the word. Ari had never experienced what a true family was like. She lost her parents in a car accident when she was one, and had been in and out of foster homes ever since. She had never settled with a foster family for various circumstances, whether it was financial reasons, not getting along with the other siblings…the list went on. The main part for Ari was that she hated being expected to love a group of people and consider them family when she was really just felt like a guest in their home. She preferred living at the orphanage, even if it was a small, slightly depressing one in Lima, Ohio.

Paul leaned closer to her for the expected kiss they shared every time Ari exited the car. She smiled, loving this part of our relationship. Sometimes, it made all of his violent anger seem like it didn't exist.

Ari pressed her lips against Paul's, and he kissed her back eagerly, tangling his hand in her brown curls. After a few minutes, they pulled apart, Paul with an impish grin on his face.

"See you tomorrow, baby," he murmured, almost too quiet for Ari to hear. She wordlessly got out of the car, a small smile still on her face.

As she began walking towards the front door, she couldn't help but wonder if this was how her life was supposed to be. She loved Paul. More than she loved herself. Wouldn't that mean they would last?

Or was she degrading herself? She knew that if she were to tell Quinn or Mercedes about the details of her relationship, like the blue and purple bruise she was secretly hiding on her cheek, they would insist she break up with Paul instantly. But it seemed…so impossible. Leaving Paul seemed even scarier than dating him. And she loved Paul. She did….didn't she?

Ari frowned as she realized how many times she had to remind herself that she did, in fact, love her own boyfriend. Was that normal? No, no it wasn't. She almost wished that somebody would just know about her situation without her having to tell them. But she hid her secrets—the visible and invisible ones—far too well. Puck had inquired about a black eye once, which Ari had immediately brushed off, saying one of the kids at the orphanage accidentally hit her with a ball while playing. Tina noticed bruises polka dotting her rib cage while they were changing once during gym, and Ari had insisted she had fallen down the stairs.

Why did she keep lying? Why couldn't she trust her best friends in the entire world, the members of New Directions? Sure, trusting had never come easy to her, considering her rough past with finding a place to belong. But this seemed obvious. She should tell somebody—Kurt, Mercedes, Mr. Schuester, even—that Paul hit her. A lot.

But Paul had given a lot up for her. His reputation undoubtedly had taken a toll because of her social status…a member of the 'homo-explosion' as Karofsky and Azimio had so lovingly nicknamed the Glee club. He was willing to spend all of his time with her…and only asked for one thing in return. Loyalty. Complete, undying loyalty. Paul had trust issues, and as his girlfriend, Ari had to accept that about him.

Ari decided, as she walked into the front door of the orphanage, that keeping the burden to herself was ideal. The less trouble she could cause, the better. The less pain she could cause for Paul, the better.

The secrets weighing down her heart where there to stay. Because in the end…she truly did love Paul. Or so she thought.

A/N: Hi! I'm Brooke Marie. This is my first Klaine fanfic...even thought the main character is an OC. Don't fret! There WILL be plenty of Klaine in this. I love them just as much as the next fangirl. But keep in mind that this story will mainly revolve around Ari. This is also pretty angsty towards the beginning, but I promise you it does get happier! Give Ari some time to get her act together. Please review! :)