Kurt had planned to go to Between the Sheets with Mercedes after Glee today. Guess that's off now. Will have to walk down to the shop and make up some stupid excuse to my dad. Ugh. I hate everything.
Kurt was in the principal's office, sitting on the bench across from a secretary who kept eyeing him and watching her purse like he was some kind of delinquent. He had mouthed off to Mr. Schuster in Glee because Mr. Schue had been being impossible, refusing to even discuss doing Britney Spears numbers. Get with this century. The last lesson was about Michael Bolton. Why can't we do songs teenagers would actually want to see performed?
"Mr. Kurt Hummel." Mr. Figgins announced. Kurt slumped, feeling sorry for himself. He sighed, grabbing his bag and skulking into Figgins' office.
"Donna tells me Mr. Shuster sent you. Care to tell me what misbehavior warranted this visit?"
Kurt grunted, not having a really good answer but figuring he didn't have a lot to lose. He dropped into the chair across from Figgins' desk, unwilling to make eye contact. Maybe if he just gave him the silent treatment he'd give up and leave him alone?
Figgins studied Kurt. He was used to this behavior from his frequent fliers, but the mystique of being in the principal's office intimidated most kids who rarely got in trouble. He could not recall a time when Kurt had been sent to his office before, and had assumed he would be shaking in his boots.
"Is it perhaps your attitude that caused a problem, young man?" Mr. Figgins probed, donning his sternest voice.
Kurt squirmed at the tone. He really had no bluster to speak of when it came down to it. "Mr. Schuster won't let us do Britney Spears songs," he muttered, grudgingly.
Figgins raised an eyebrow. "What does that have to do with anything?"
Kurt scowled. "He says she's not a good 'role model," he said, rolling his eyes. "He sent me here because I kept arguing for us to do them and I sort of… said he should stop being so f-friggin uptight all the time." He studied his hands, feeling nervous now.
Mr. Figgins nodded. This was about what he expected. As a devout Christian he was impressed to hear that Schue was taking a hard line against Britney Spears' music. He had heard that Ms. Spears had had a marriage that only lasted 55 hours. He wasn't actually sure he knew which songs from the radio were hers—he usually just listened to the local Christian Rock station anyway. But he figured since she was clearly a heathen they wouldn't be any that promoted good moral values. She probably has a sex and love addiction and doesn't have a pastor to fix it. Sad world. Music was seductive, he supposed. Personally, he found some of the Cheerios routines a bit risqué for his taste at times but there was no telling Sue Sylvester how to do her job. Maybe this meant the Glee Club would be exploring more wholesome performances. William could be an idiot sometimes, but this was promising.
"Mr. Schuster is right. Ms. Britney Spears is not a role model. Your adoption of bad-boy ways demonstrates you are already succumbing to her influence." Figgins said.
"What?" Kurt asked, confused.
Mr. Figgins ignored him. "You can't talk to a teacher like that, Mr. Hummel. Disrespect is serious. There will have to be consequences."
"Is this going to go on my permanent record?" Kurt asked.
"Of course it will," Mr. Figgins dismissed. He pulled a paper from a drawer in his desk and began to fill it out. "You will attend detention tomorrow, after school. Have your mother sign this paper and bring it with you to the detention classroom promptly at 3:30PM."
"My mother's dead."
"No excuses, Mr. Hummrl."
"It's not an—"
"If the detention slip is left unsigned, you'll have a second detention. It's school policy."
Kurt suddenly felt butterflies in his stomach. He hadn't counted on having to have his dad know. I guess he'll probably not be so happy about this…
There was a knock behind him.
"William!" Mr. Figgins greeted.
"Hey Figgins." Mr. Shuster greeted, taking the chair next to Kurt. "Kurt."
Kurt stared at Mr. Schue a moment and then looked away.
"Mr. Hummel admits that he was disrespectful to you and will serve detention tomorrow."
Mr. Schuster nodded. "Sounds fair."
Kurt examined his nails. He couldn't believe Mr. Schuster was making such a big deal of this. He wouldn't be in this mess if Mr. Schue just listened to music that was made after 1990 every now and then.
Mr. Figgins cleared his throat. "Mr. Hummel? Do you have anything to say to Mr. Schuster?"
Ugh.
"Like what?" Kurt asked, stubborn.
"Well an apology would be nice." Mr. Schuster pressed.
Kurt groaned. "Fine. I'm sorry."
Mr. Figgins looked like he was going to say something more, but Mr. Schuster shook his head and raised a hand.
"Thank you, Kurt. I care about you and your feelings. Teachers have feelings too and I hope this is a lesson for you about being hurtful."
What the actual fuck. Hurtful? You're thirty-some-odd years old. Maybe you should be examining why your self-esteem is too fragile for criticism from a sixteen year old.
Kurt reached over and took the detention slip and put it in his bag. "Is that it? Can I go now?" he asked, directing his attention to Mr. Figgins.
Mr. Figgins studied him a moment and then sighed, nodding.
Kurt stood up, making an effort to take up as little space as possible as he brushed past Mr. Schuster and out of the office, happy to be done with all that awkwardness. Being a teenager sucks sometimes.