Starcrossed Lovers
Chapter 1 : Under Pressure
William McKinley High's hallway was buzzed that afternoon when two glee members passing through, deeply consumed in their conversation.
"I don't know Blainey Days...", frown was deeply carved upon her forehead.
"Oh, come on Tina. It would be fun. I, for once knows it so well that Veterinary Medicine IS NOT your passion. Where is your sense of adventure? Your dream ? Your spirit to embrace your inner Diva?"
"Drowned by self-pity on my failed-attempt of romance...multiple times". Sadness quickly overcame any hint of doubt Tina had before.
"Oh,come on Tee! You only dated twice,If I may say. Artie , and those on-and-off-and-on-and-totally-off with Mike. Things with Mike might've been ugly, and turns you into a complete..er-"
"Bitch ?" offered Tina with a weak smile.
"Goodness no!", this time it was Blaine's dramatic explosion went full-mode on. "You were less sophisticated, yes. But it never makes the less of you. You are one great woman,Asian number one. You will make a man a very happy one someday. But for now, you need to look for him harder"
Blaine embraced her in a warm hug, which made her previous frowning feature slipping into a small smile. Stroking her back while conveying a much needed support to his newly founded bestie.
"Like I've promised, I'll find you a boyfriend. And you know, New York City is a big one. Who knows, maybe you'll find the one there. While figuring out how to let the McKinley High Glee Club Diva, Miss Tina Cohen-Chang to shine for a lifetime."
"Aww, Blainey Days...I really wish that you're not gay right now."
"Oh,come on Tee. You won't settle for me. You will be with Mr. Right on your own".
"You think so?"
"Nope, I believe so !". Tina reached and hug him one more time before they reached her locker.
"Okay then"
"Great! This is your ticket. I've booked a flight for us –you, me, Sam, and Artie to New York on Friday. I hope we'll make it by 8 to the Callbacks" grinned Blaine almost boyish-happy.
"What is...the Callbacks?"
"Well, it's a place where NYADA students usually hangout at. And Kurt –bless his heart, had insisted us to BE there exactly at 8". Tina couldn't help but giggle at her friend's antics.
"Listen up Pamela Lansburys, ladies...and gentleman. Tonight must be perfect !" insisted Kurt, trying his best to grab anyone's attention by this point.
And having Santana and Dani made out heavily definitely wasn't helping. In fact, Rachel and Elliott were still watching them with jaw hung. This had irritating Kurt beyond believe. How can he? It was three hours left before the arrival of their beloved friends and their band haven't had any steady song list. What kind of performers who got on stage without song list? It's like soldier without weapon. A martyr, indeed.
"Tana, please stop the face-sucking session. I'm desperate now..."
"Okay Kurt," heaved Santana heavily with eyes kept focusing on her girlfriend's . "What's up?"
"What's up?! Oh my, we're down to three hours,Tana. Or maybe 2 and a half,if only you didn't too engrossed in one of R-rated session of yours" rambling Kurt on and off.
"Okay. First of all Kurt...this is my girlfriend. And we can do whatever the hell we wants. It's not like you're a child or something. So all you can do, is either enjoy the show or scram. Secondly, what's with the fuss? They are our friends. I'd rather enjoy the evening by drinking beer with old pals and actually talks to them"
Rachel by then had already in her right mind and finally joined the conversation. "Yeah, I mean, Blaine and Sam have visited us pretty often too,though. And we knew beforehand that Artie will be attending Brooklyn Film Academy this year. So I guess, we should take it mellow tonight."
"No. You guys don't understand. The thing is, Blaine called beforehand. He told me that after weeks of pleading and convincing, he actually did make Tina agreed to come with them."
"Oh yay! Tina! The more,the merrier" cheered Rachel while clapping like some circus seal.
"So Tina had finally left her little bubble of misery?" asked Santana.
"Not quite yet,according to Blaine. But she might've , if during her stay here she's somehow got an enlightenment to be back on her acting dream. Rather than that medical veterenarian college she got accepted to"
"Wait, who's ...Tina?" asked Dani trying her best on catching up with the conversation.
"Tina Cohen-Chang. She's in one of the my high school photos I've shown you,hun. Asian. Lots of neon highlight. Weird fashion sense" answered Santana.
"Well, If I may informed you Miss Lopez, Tina had a quite different changes in fashion nowadays. I'd say, she's like our generation's Versace. Anyhow, she's also the Prom Queen of this year in McKinley high" retort Rachel.
"Hey,how come I'm the only one who'd never seen any of your High School photos?" protested Elliott.
"Seriously, Elli?" cut Kurt. Which received a shrug from the man himself.
"Okay, moveover... I need a great performance people. While keeping our guests entertained"
"Well, I can't Kurt," said Dani. "I've got shift"
"Aww, damn babe..."
"Sorry Tana"
"Okay, now we are officially screwed. No Dani, no Pamela Lansbury" cursed Kurt quietly. It was utter silence for a moment there. They understood how this must've bummed Kurt out. Kurt is the Kiki-maker. It took only one simple thing such as confetti or napkins to burn his passion over party. Not to mention, the entertainment plan.
"Or not. How about, I'm offering an assistance" smirked the striking young man named Elliot.
"Okay, we're all ears Elli". Oh,there's hope !
"Well, how about Starchild makes his appearance on stage? I mean, you guys only need a performance to knock a girl off her socks,right? I can do that. While you guys enjoys your evening, I'll put up some sickening edgy numbers"
"and they are..?"
"Hmm, I'm thinking of...David Bowie"
"Ohh,you're so in, Elliott !," squaled Rachel. "But what the catch,though?"
Elliott easily shrugged it off. "Nah, I just need my starchild time. Beside, if it works out, I might hold it on you guys as a favor".
"Okay,kid. You've got yourself a deal", Kurt patted him on his shoulder. "Please impress us"
The flight from Lima,Ohio to New York was quite good. Actually, Tina has enjoyed it a little too much. This was her first time going outside the state beside of the choir competition or those trips she did in order to mend her previous relationship with Mike Chang.
Michael Robert Chang Jr.
Oh, how his name keeps giving her butterfly on her stomach. After the Grease musical, he had come to her and actually says that they were too hasty on ending their relationship. After much, much, much further talking, both of them agreed to be in a long-distance relationship. He would ocassionally showed up at Lima, and she would drive to Chicago every so often. But,things got strained again. Mike went home less and less, giving her excuses such as dance practice, recitals, projects,and stuff. And then the phone call got lessened too. To be honest, at that point Tina was totally freaked out. She would snapped at school and venting it by doing some un-cool things toward her also drove to Chicago a lot often,but got turned down more than one-two occassion. Because Mike was busy with college, and she, well...just a high school sweetheart at home. She tried to endure, but weeks before New Year Mike had decided to drop off the bomb. They were done. For good now. And the reason was most likely because she wasn't Asian enough.
'Asian my ass!' cursed Tina in her inner thought.
'I bet he got some on the side,by then. I mean, these are professional dancer girls ! He had to be gay to not being tempted. See Tee? This is what you've got if you keep hanging onto that guy. Brave up,girl! You had to move on...and Blaine was right. This is New York city. The city of hope. You'll be doing just fine'
She tried to look on her right,where Blaine had dozed off by her shoulder. And by the far left, there were Sam and Artie. 'Yep,you are among friends. You have nothing to be scared of'.
Travelling around busy New York City had been suprisingly undifficult at all. Well, with Artie in tow, they couldn't actually use their usual route which includes stairs of New York subway station. But the buses were decent, and they only need 1,5 hours to reach The Callbacks.
"Here we are guys, New York City", said amused Artie.
"Yeah, New York...". Tina went to NY once, for the National Choir Competition with their infamous glee club. But there was something in a way that makes her trip this time is...different. She didn't know how, but she knew. She knew she'd be thankful to Blaine. Tina took three deep breaths into the evening sky of New York. Yes, it was January and it was probably freezing to be outdoor. But somehow,the four Ohio teenagers didn't care.
"How about we're going in? The others must've been anxious to meet us", Sam patted on her shoulder with his warm bare hand.
"Yeah,sure"
"Ladies, first..."
By the second she entered the little bar, she knew she owe more than just a thank to Blaine. Here they are, her old friends from the very beginning of their little glee club stood in the middle of room with a few unknown faces yelling "Welcome to New York !" at the top of their lungs. Tina didn't know whether it was the confetti caught in her eyes accidently or she was being emotionally touched that her eyes started to glisten.
"Aw,aw..there little Asian, I thought you're done bawling", Santana went over and hug Tina warmly. Such a gesture brought a small smile in between her attempt to hug Santana back while erasing any evidence of those sudden tears.
"Shut up,Tana."
"Yeah,yeah..I miss you too" smirked the dark haired beaux.
Everybody were greeting, cheering , and hugging warmly. It took another will power for Tina to avoid any indication of possible-sudden burst when Rachel went over and hug her in a very Berry mode.
"Oh Tina, I've missed you. I've missed talking to you about...reality",said her while still in embrace. Deep inside, Tina knew what this is about.
"Rach, I'm very sorry...about Finn. I thought you need to know"
"Yeah, you don't need to. I know". Rachel lifted her head to look at Tina's face. "I've stopped sorrying, Tina. I am moving on, now. I guess...that's what he would want for us to do right?"
Such positivism brought back Tina's smile.
"Yeah, I believe so, Rach. By the way though, who manage all of ... these?"
"Looking for the maestro of a Kiki ?", suddenly out of nowhere Kurt appeared. Apparently while holding hand with his amazing fiancee.
" Oh Kurt!" squealed Tina while hugging him. "This is so awesome !"
"Awesome miss Cohen-Chang? Oh,you see nothing yet"
"What do yo-"
All of the sudden, the bar engulfed into a total blackout. A few gasp was heard here and there. Including from Sam. Yeah, he's such a baby...but really? Blackout in NYC? Ten seconds later, the smoke machine went on and rhythmic bass sounded out of nowhere in steady tempo. By then, a few cheers were heard echoing in the bar.
"Starchild ! Starchild! Starchild!" cheered them.
As if it were cued, spotlight went on toward the stage and shining its way toward one handsome young man in the most peculiar suit Tina ever witnessed in her entire life. Yeah, only if Johnny Depp's movies doesn't get included into the equation. He stood there, holding the microphone as if his life depends on it while the bass keeps strumming it. Tina knew this song. Hell, anybody epic should've known the song. It was legend. And when the said boy opened his eyes along him singing the first verse, Tina was pretty much dazed...
"Pressure ! Pushing down on me, pressing down on you, no man ask for.."
Wow
Pair of the most dazzling deep chocolate eyes he'd ever seen in his life, that's what Elliott Gilbert've stared at right when he opened his eyes. Like a fate, his eyes caught hers in the middle of the crowds. She, the black haired maiden with the smile that could literally brightened the room. Hell, that smile had set him on fire. Oh how he wants it so badly to come over and talk to her, but Starchild is on stage ! Like what Freddie would say : The show must go on.
'Damn, I'd better be good' scorned Elliott to himself.
"Under pressure! That burns a building down, splits a family in two. Puts people on streets.."
He witnessed Kurt flung his flamboyant arm around her shoulder. And she seemed to don't mind it. So there could be two explanation, either he's dating him or he had known her. Well, since Kurt's gay, so it means she befriended him. Elliott's mind did his own jumping jack at the thought itself.
"It's the terror of knowing what this world is about,
Watching some good friends screaming...'Let me out!'
Pray for tomorrow –gets me higher
Pressure on people-people..on streets"
Remember that chandelier swung he did for the Pamela Lansbury's audition. Yep, it wasn't necessary to do such act for this song. But in order to woo the lady's heart, he did it anyway. Which caused a huge uproar from the bar's regulars.
"How the hell there's a chandelier hung on a bar's ceiling?" retort Santana .
But the gig went on anyway. Now multi-colored lights basked every move that The Starchild busts out there on the stage. And the young Asian girl from Ohio couldn't be more amazed.
"Insanity laughs under pressure we're cracking.
Can't we give ourselves one more chance?
Why can't we give love give love give love give love
Give love give love give love give love give love"
"umm, Kurt...is he some kind of...umm,celebrity ?" asked Tina timidly in the middle of crowds.
" Who? oh..OH! You mean starchild ?", Tina answered by nods. "Oh yeah, well kind of. He's in Pamela Lansbury, though. My band. We have gigs every now and then. And I'd say we're pretty famous around here. So yeah..he's a celebrity. Local celebrity at it"
"Oh...", her heart sunk. Damn it. So he IS popular. Just her luck. Why should a wallflower like her always get interested to- " ". What,wait? Interested?
"And loves dares you to change our way, of caring about ourselves.
This is our last dance, this is our last dance
This is ourselves...Under pressure !"
Huge cheers roared from the core of The Callbacks. Elliott did his bow to the curtain calls while basking in it. He was throughly satisfied. . . He believed the lady would be so awestruck to leave the bar right away. So,he'd have plenty of time to...well,court her.
"Ladies and gentlemen, OUR STARCHILD !" yelled Kurt on top of his lungs, which followed by thuderous claps all around. Getting off the stage, Elliott made his way toward Kurt's. Or to be exact, Kurt's lady friend of whom stood in between Kurt and Blaine.
'Okay Tina. Stop hyperventilating. God, you're such a groupie!' scolded Tina's inner-self .
Yes' she's giddy. But she thought she's done being the old Tina. She needed to be the confident Tina.
But her will got crumbled away the moment he stood right in front of her. Staring intently from those grayish blue into her chocolate ones.
She found it VERY hard to breath right now.
'Oh, don't let him smile. Please God, please'
He smiled anyway. Damn.
" Hi !"
p.s: Glee isn't mine,though...teehee