My try for making a fanfiction for Glee. The idea of a new member to the Glee club and her being family of an already existing character is perhaps not original, but I had this idea in mind, so I went for it. I'll try and make it interesting. This story will be following season 4 and every chapter will be an episode. I'm of course not sure of what is going to happen in the next episodes, so it can happen that there are some little mistakes in the storyline. Well... Enough said - enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee, and the quotes above the chapters belong to the show. I do not own the songs. I do own the main character, though.
Song(s) used: 'Hurricane' - 30 seconds to Mars
The New Rachel
"High school is a caste system. Kids fall into certain slots. Your jocks and your popular kids up in the penthouse. The invisibles and the kids playing live-action out in the forest, bottom floor."
"And… where do the Glee kids lie?"
"Subbasement."
He wasn't wearing a bow tie.
She frowned, once again letting her glance fall over his body, but he was indeed not wearing his trademark. A small smirk appeared on her face while she turned away from the black haired boy in the hall and walked towards her first class. Blaine wasn't much like the other boys there had been. Though she could see he was quite handsome, she had definitely seen better candidates. But if he changed his hair, she might move him to a higher place on the list. She was quite sure he had curls - what would look good on him.
Marie-Claire had to admit she had been looking out for the ex-Warbler. He would have caught her attention anyway - being interviewed by already the most annoying guy she had ever met - but her brother had talked about him so often, she just had to find out who this crush was. She walked slowly through the halls, making her way over to science class. Passing by the board where lists of clubs hung, she saw a mass of people trying to sign up for something. She wanted to know what the something was. A glance at the clock learned her that she had time to wait. The fifteen year old girl wasn't going to join the crazy crowd - considering herself smart, she had the patience to let the rush pass and then walked to look at the paper.
New Directions.
She raised her eyebrow. In the caste system of William McKinley High School, Glee was ... well, before not even included. It looked like this had changed though. She had seen Nationals - of course. Her fucked up brother had one passion that didn't involve drinking, gay bars or sex and that was singing. It was also the only passion they shared. Marie-Claire was perhaps not the most outstanding singer, but she'd the emotion - if she set it free - and could play quite some instruments. She had a feeling for music. But she wasn't sure if she wanted to share it with the world as he did. Even now winning Nationals had upgraded the New Directions, the risk was high. The price was high. It wouldn't be that simple. She knew that it would only take a small breeze of wind and the Glee members would be falling down the cruel pyramid.
As a freshman, she didn't want too much trouble, yet she was confident - stupid - enough to not follow the system blindly. She'd decided not to audition for the cheerleader squad, though she was athletic. She also ignored the flirting of the brainless jocks, but had declined to sign up for any nerd clubs. She officially belonged to nothing, which meant she was invisible. The position might be satisfying and even quite safe, but she knew she wouldn't be able to keep it that way for long. Marie-Claire wasn't a shy, laid-back girl. She could be a bitch and had the power to hurt someone both mentally and psychically with ease. She wasn't a person to feel scared, let alone ashamed. She also didn't feel alone. She had one person in her life who could back her up, and one was enough.
"Are you going to sign up?"
The kind voice had appeared out of nowhere. She was startled, but didn't show it, turning around slowly while noticing the halls were almost empty. She realized she had been stopping for longer than she had intended to, lost in her thoughts. In front of her stood the guy she had been staring at. Blaine. Right now, there were no other people surrounding him. No Tina, no Artie, no Brittany. She wondered why she remembered all those names. It didn't matter. Marie-Claire stared at Blaine, her green eyes showing nothing.
"I'm Blaine. Blaine Anderson," he said, not taken back by her glance. "I'm a member of the New Directions." He offered his hand.
She waited a second before taking it, shaking it shortly but firm. "Marie-Claire," she said, pronouncing the name with a slight French touch. In America, everyone but her brother voiced her name horribly. Her father didn't talk to her, and when he did, he didn't call her by name.
"Nice to meet you." Blaine smiled widely, nodding at the paper. "So... Are you going to sign up?"
She shook her head. "No, I'm not. I was just thinking." Decision made. She hadn't even showed hesitation. The girl didn't like to show any doubt - she was always calm and collected, always in control. She eyed the reaction of Blaine.
He was disappointed and quite confused, too. "Oh, too bad. Why?"
She shrugged. "I don't feel like it." A typical Marie-Claire answer. She didn't like lying, she didn't like turning around the subject. She was clear and harsh if it was needed. Blaine raised his eyebrows, his hazel colored eyes showing confusion again, but also ... recognition? It bothered her. She didn't want to be 'just a sister'. She wanted to be herself, even though she resembled her brother.
"Have we met before?" Blaine asked, though. "You seem familiar." He spoke kindly, she noticed. He was so unlike all the other guys her brother had been into. What was it that made this dark haired boy so special? He wore bow ties and liked Katy Perry - it was definitely not his taste. Not his looks, too. Even though her older sibling said he was hot, he usually fell for other types. Marie-Claire couldn't see why it should be different this time.
"We haven't," she spoke, pulling her short, brown hair behind her ears. "I know you, though. Still not sure if you're living up to the tales. 'Sex on a stick and sings like a dream', huh?" Now there was definitely recognition in his eyes. He was still confused, though she had quoted her brother perfectly. She realized she listened too well to his messed up stories.
"You're..."
She looked at the clock. Time to go. With a wink at Blaine, she passed him, whispering in his ear.
"Sebastian says hi."
Perhaps Sebastian Smythe didn't seem like the ideal brother, but he actually was doing a quite good job at it.
He and Marie-Claire hadn't been really close - just as close as siblings were when they were a boy and a girl, three years apart. But when their mother died, the twelve year old Sebastian made it his job to take care of his nine year old sister. They grew closer, taking care of each other, both immediately after their mothers death supposing that their father would lose it. Howard Smythe had never been the most reliable person and liked to out his feelings in physical things. Sebastian and Marie-Claire avoided him as much as possible, but two months after the funeral, they moved.
Their father took them to France, Paris, were they lived for a few years. Howard remained quite calm and even told his children that he had found a good job. He was away the whole day, only came back to eat dinner and then left again. The siblings first were relieved their father could handle the situation, but eventually, Sebastian realized his father didn't work. He was in a bar almost 24/7. The angered boy had an huge fight with the man at the age of fourteen. After that, everything changed.
Their father still went to the bar, but didn't hide it anymore. He came home drunk, smelling like smoke and eventually even drugs. Sebastian came out of the closet and began flirting with every guy he saw. The boy started to drink, too, though he still was a strong rock for his sister to lean against. He never came home drunk. Sometimes, he was a bit tipsy, but Marie-Claire's brother had made a promise to take care of her until she could do it herself and he kept the promise.
But the long awaited and feared financial problems became too much. The young Sebastian couldn't work enough, Marie-Claire wasn't allowed to. Their father did nothing. They lost almost everything - even the furniture that had so many memories of their mother. The broken family moved back to America, where they lived with their fathers mother. Sebastian and Marie-Claire turned into themselves. They created new personalities, hid their past. They pretended to be someone they weren't and eventually couldn't see the difference, only if they were together.
But fate was harsh.
Their grandmother died and their father broke. He had finally found work and managed to keep his job, but at home, he became a nightmare. Sebastian had had the opportunity to get into Dalton at that time. Marie-Claire had convinced him to go. The boy was intelligent enough and she told him she could take care of herself. He had kept his promise. Her older brother indeed went to the private school - winning a scholarship, his father at first didn't have to bother to spare money. And their father seemed to be good at his job. Mr Smythe became quite well-known and rich. But he had been broken too many times. After his son left the house, he and his daughter only had each other.
Marie-Claire feared him. She knew they couldn't lean on each other and finally, the thing she had been scared of most happened. Her father, stressed by work and overall his life, started beating her. First he just grabbed her harshly, pushed her against something, shoved her around. But it became as an addition. He kicked her, punched her. She knew it could have been worse. He didn't do it every day. He even sometimes tried to hold back. She had become his punching bag, though, and it wasn't going to change. The atmosphere at home was horrible, every single day. She didn't know what to expect. What to fear. So eventually, the fear went away. She just took it.
And at school, she was the confident girl, the slightly aggressive, powerful, self-assured freshman some feared, others hated, but most simply ignored.
Tina was a bitch.
Marie-Claire decided this on her first day. The Asian girl had gotten some dull other freshmen to do everything for her, had sung with the most arrogant face ever a summer hit and now was being right out horrible to some sweet sophomore girl. The Smythe turned around slightly, taking in one of the original Glee club members. Marie-Claire was a bitch herself. She knew other bitches. Most cheerleaders were bitches - but they were trained to be. Tina wasn't. She had no reason whats however - she only thought she was good. That was how Marie-Claire saw it. And she hated that kind of persons. She liked to consider herself higher than those people.
The freshmen slave was already too much. Singing 'Call me maybe' as a competition song sucked - but Marie-Claire thought the song sucked anyway, it was too cheerful - and she hadn't liked the performance of the four New Directioners. Even Blaine hadn't been able to 'sing like a dream'. The Smythe had rolled her eyes, texted Sebastian and then moved out of the auditorium, leaving the five teenagers alone. She had heard the music accidentally and had went in, but that decision had only strengthened her other decision to not join the Glee club. It didn't look like much, now many other members had left.
Marie-Claire looked at the sophomore girl. She sat down at her table, smiling at the Smythe.
"Hi, I'm Marley," she introduced herself softly.
Marie-Claire looked at her with some interest. She didn't seem taken back by Tina's words at all. Or perhaps she had just missed the underlying meaning. "I'm Marie-Claire," she told the girl.
"Beautiful name, Marie-Claire. Not very common," Marley said. It was perhaps just meant to be polite, but Marie-Claire couldn't help herself. She smiled - quite wide, since the compliment had not only been nice, but Marley had also pronounced her name in the good way. Not the harsh American way. But the Smythe now turned towards her food, not bothering to thank the sophomore. She didn't do thanking.
Behind her, she could her the New Directioners talking. It seemed like they were quite bitchy. All of them. The freshmen smirked. The teenagers started insulting a fat lunch lady. Marie-Claire glanced quickly at her. She was fat, indeed. But when Artie said something too, the brown haired girl couldn't feel but a bit disappointed. Those singers were apparently easily corrupted by fame. She shook her head, then saw Marley staring, too. She turned towards the Glee club members herself. Not all of them looking comfortable. Actually, only Brittany and Sugar. Sam, Joe and Blaine eyed Artie uncertainly, Tina looked at her plate. They didn't speak about the lunch lady again. The two jocks insulted some more people, Kitty just laughed, Brittany agreed sometimes, but the other New Directioners remained quiet.
As did Marley. She looked disappointed.
Marie-Claire shared her feelings, though she didn't show it. And somehow, she wasn't surprised that when the bell rang, Marley disappeared. The girl looked around her and saw the sophomore sneaking into the kitchen. Of course. She smirked, then stood, grabbed her back and walked slowly to the doors, wandering through them to the wall at the opposite side, leaning against it. Waiting.
She came out, looking relieved, smiling a bit, but with an uncertain look.
"Happy family moment?" Marie-Claire asked.
Marley looked startled. "I ... uhm ... that ..." She breathed in. "That was my mother. Problem with it?"
Perhaps this shy, sweet girl had more to show than Marie-Claire intentionally had thought. "Nope. But they will." She gestured at everything surrounding her. She meant everything. The green eyed girl was sure that the sophomore would have problems with it. And the girl seemed to realize this, too. The Smythe supposed she already had had trouble with it.
"Yes, I know," Marley nodded. "Are you ... going to tell?"
"No. But they're going to give you crap. Good luck with the audition." She turned around, suddenly not knowing why she had been waiting.
"Oh, wait! Hey, thank you. Are you going to audition too?"
"No. I'll see you around!" She only stuck her hand in the air, then walked away from the girl.
She looked particularly nice in the color red. Especially with the wide smile on her face.
Marie-Claire glanced at Marley when she got her books out of her locker. The list of New Direction members hadn't changed much. Only Marley Rose had been added. Now, the boy named Jake walked to the board. The brown haired girl wasn't sure she wanted to see his reaction, yet studied him from the corners of her eyes. She wasn't a Smythe for nothing. Even in the few days of school there had been, she had gathered quite some blackmail material, though not intentionally. Also, she had realized the classes where easy, the teachers were horrible and the people were typical short minded pricks.
McKinley High was nothing, absolutely nothing compared to Dalton. She wished she could go to the all-boys school, but the name already revealed the problem - all-boys. And her father told her explicitly she could choose her own school, as long as it wasn't private. A public school. Since every public school in Ohio sucked, she had chosen a school she at least knew. And - she had thought - if two ex-Warblers had went there, it couldn't be too bad. Okay, so she wasn't bullied. Yet. But she was quite sure she was going to have detention soon for punching someone.
Jake handled himself quite well. He didn't break anything. Marie-Claire had noticed something, though. The long look Marley had cast the tanned boy, she couldn't have missed.
Oh damn.
Trouble.
Not her trouble, though. She saw some sappy destined to end badly love story coming up, but she wasn't going to stop it.
There was another love story going on. She was having lunch in the sun, sitting on the stairs outside, watching all the activity surrounding her. Trent had told her about the performance the Warblers had once done at the spot she was sitting. A cover of 'Somewhere only we know' for Kurt, who had went back to McKinley High because of some unexplainable reason. Blaine had followed him not soon after. Now, the lead singer began to sing again, raising from his place while serenading Kurt Hummel. The boy - 'Gay Face' really fit him as nickname -, despite being graduated, had still stuck around at school. Another unexplainable thing. Now, his boyfriend showed him what singing was, and Marie-Claire found herself enjoying the show.
She even started to clap and dance along. The girl felt the urge to sing, but she didn't. She knew - better than Sebastian - something about privacy and this would bother Blaine, Kurt and the enjoyable performance. So she laughed for the first time since weeks and swung on the stairs. Blaine once looked at her, recognizing her. He flashed her a short smile.
Apparently, Blaine Anderson was a forgiving person. He didn't hold a grudge against her because of the actions of her stupid, not thinking, lovable brother. He treated her as someone who he liked. Almost as a friend. She slowly realized this might have been the thing Sebastian liked about him. He was sweet, nice, caring. He had this hidden rough side in his personality which she could easily spot - being a Smythe and always showing that side. The cafeteria had been full, but both Blaine and Marley had invited her to sit over with them, at the New Directions table. Where Kitty and the jocks were also sitting.
"Congrats on getting in," she first said to Marley, trying to get some extra time to think. Though actually, she didn't need to think. She glanced at the jocks and then shook her head. "I'm not going to share a table with them," she then said, looking straight in the eyes of Kitty, who smiled meanly. The blonde had a very, very mean attitude. Marie-Claire almost liked her.
"No one asked you too," she said, sounding arrogant, as always.
"I did," Blaine muttered, but he didn't sound very convincing. Marie-Claire was surprised how easily he backed away. Marley said nothing, but she looked pleadingly at the brown girl, who had glanced at Kitty once again.
"Nice try, Anderson," Marie-Claire smirked. "See you later, Directioners." She ignored the popular trio, who now had already focused her attention on the lunch lady. "Good luck Marley..." the green eyed girl muttered. She wasn't far away when she suddenly heard Marley snap.
"Because she's my mum."
Silence.
Marie-Claire walked on, put her plate back and only picked up a piece of bread. She turned around, walking towards the hall. Marley was leaving the table and somehow, the Smythe felt to urge to help the sophomore. So when the sweet girl took the expected direction and practically ran into the hallway, Marie-Claire went after her, much slower. She saw the other girl sliding down the hall, bursting into tears. And she walked towards her. Marley noticed her, smiled through her tears.
"There goes my chance for friends," she managed to croak.
"You don't need such friends," Marie-Claire shrugged. She leaned against a locker, avoiding eye contact with Marley. She didn't touch her, didn't hug her, didn't make a move to comfort her. She hoped her presence was enough to show Marley she supporting her, since she wasn't good in showing other signs. She never really needed support nowadays, not even from Sebastian.
It seemed to help.
"Thanks," Marley said softly.
Marie-Claire left.
The famous stripper Sam Evans was the first guy in McKinley High who got her appreciation.
For one minute.
But, usually she didn't appreciate someone much longer, so he did a good job apologizing to Marley. Marie-Claire had been afraid she had to be forced friends with the sophomore, but the Glee club members saved her that burden. She had to admit that she was pleasantly surprised by the sudden rejection of popularity from the New Directioners. They hadn't had their fame long, but it had already asked a price too high. The green eyed girl was happy the singers turned their back on reputation. Though it would cause them to slide down the pyramid. She now wondered if she had made the right decision not to join them.
"Well, I guess, we're not in your crew anymore," Blaine told Kitty.
Marie-Claire smirked. Those were the words she wanted to hear. Even though she could already tell what was going to happen next. She put her last books in her locker and closed it slowly, watching the scene next to her from the corners of her eyes. Indeed, the slushies came soon. Marley and Wade - or Unique, as the annoying diva wanted to be called - were the targets, obviously as the new ones of the club. The Smythe shook her head, then slowly walked away, hearing Blaine reacting calm behind her.
Just go for it. - Sebastian
She looked with a frown at the screen of her iPhone. Sebastian knew that she could sing - he also knew that she didn't join the New Directions. And apparently, he didn't agree with her choice. She looked over her shoulder, smirking.
They're a pain in the ass. - MC
Well, so am I. You still put up with me. - Sebastian
Do I need to answer that? - MC
Are they still arrogant bitches? - Sebastian
She thought about this. She had described them as such, but only because of their former actions - which they had now apologized for.
Just a pain in the ass now. - MC
Then go for it. - Sebastian
You're awesome, Claire. And Blaine is amazing. Join them! - Trent
So Trent had joined the discussion. She already saw it coming that Nick and Jeff - probably her favorite pair of Warblers, ever - would say something too. And then David and Thad couldn't stay behind. Though she never called the Dalton boys her friends, they did mean something to her. Like they meant something to Sebastian. They both just didn't admit it.
No more pressing. I'll see what I can do. - MC
She sent the text to all the Warblers, scrolled through their reactions - many 'yay's and 'you will rock's - and then put her iPhone in the pockets of her blue jeans. Claire grabbed her back and walked towards the auditorium. There the New Directioners were performing a new song - 'Chasing Pavements'. She slowly went inside. Jake was already standing there. She smirked. He was turning around, about to leave, when he saw her. A dark look appeared his eyes, while Marley was singing on the background. Marie-Claire stared right in the eyes of the boy, who tried to rush past her.
"Bye, Puckerman," she said to him.
He turned around, a shocked look on his face, before moving forward, grabbing her arm painfully harsh. But she was used to pain. She looked at him without winching.
"How did you know? Don't dare and tell anyone."
"Calm down, baby face," she grinned wickedly. "I'm not telling anyone. You're not interesting enough, anyway."
He was just too easily angry. With a grunt, he let her go, moving backwards and then running away. She looked at him, puzzled. The girl didn't get why his family was such a big deal for him. Even for her, with her fucked up brother and her violent father, she still was easy-going with her name. Actually, she was quite proud of it. She shrugged, focusing her attention on the performing singers. They were almost done. Marley hit the last note, the group gathered, cheered briefly, but Blaine noticed her.
"Marie?"
No way back.
"It's Marie-Claire," she told him. "Or Claire."
He just nodded.
"I want to audition," she then said, looking at William Schuester now. He looked at her, confused, but there appeared a smile on his face and he gestured towards the podium, even though it now seemed he was bossed around by a pupil. The other members of the Glee club moved of the stage - Marley and Blaine smiling at her. She still didn't get why the latter was being friendly, while he only knew some bad things about her. She just nodded as a greeting and made her way on the stage - then realizing she hadn't practiced on a song.
She looked at the people sitting in front of her. Waiting.
They had changed. Not only in the past few years, but in the past few days. Marley had found friends, Wade found an accepting group. Blaine was now a leader. And the others - she hoped they had learned from their mistakes. Though she wasn't sure about Tina. She just plainly disliked the girl. And Brittany probably would never change. But still - the New Directions had changed, a lot. Maybe she needed a change herself. Later, she would be just going home. Her father could beat her up. She wouldn't do a thing about it.
It could change.
She told the musicians her song. Not whispering, but talking loud and clear. "Hurricane, 30 seconds to Mars." Mr Schuester raised his eyebrows, as did some of the others. She knew the song by heart, though, and would be able to put quite some emotion in it. She walked to a microphone, slowly put her hand around it.
"What's your name?" William asked.
"Marie-Claire. Smythe."
Death glare number one was from Artie.
Death glare number two was from Tina.
Death glare number three was from Sam.
Brittany didn't remember the name, probably. She just looked plainly confused to the others, who stiffened and looked at her with puzzled and slightly angered glances - only Blaine, Marley and Wade kept calm. And the last two didn't have any history with the Warblers. She smirked and gestured the music to start. Maybe the song choice didn't have to do with a change originally. But for her, it did. A chance was a decision. The decision to do something.
No matter how many times that you told me you wanted leave
No matter how many breaths that you took you still couldn't breathe
No matter how many nights that you'd lie wide awake to the sound of the poison rain
Where did you go
Where did you go
Where did you go
Tell me would you kill to save a life
Tell me would you kill to prove you're right
Crash crash ... burn let it all burn
This hurricane's chasing us all underground
No matter how many deaths that I die I will never forget
No matter how many lives that I live I will never regret
There is a fire inside of this heart and a riot about to explode into flames
Where is your God
Where is your God
Where is your God
How long until she wouldn't be able to take the beating? How long before she wouldn't be able to hide behind a mask? She was awake, listening to the rain, doing nothing. She should move, confront the constant rain, and walk through it. She could face her father, face her fears. She was young, strong. No one would be able to hold her back. Dying. Living. She had seen it all before.
Do you really want
Do you really want me
Do you really want me dead or alive
To torture for my sins
Do you really want
Do you really want me
Do you really want me dead or alive
To live a lie
Tell me would you kill to save a life
Tell me would you kill to prove you're right
Crash crash Burn let it all burn
This hurricane's chasing us all underground
The promises we made were not enough
The prayers that we had prayed were like a drug
The secrets that we sold were never known
The love we had the love we had
We had to let it go
Let it go. Don't live the lie.
She needed to leave her father, built her own life. She wouldn't be able to take it much longer, yet she didn't want to be the one to break. The act they had - the happy family. It wouldn't work much long. Her brother didn't know how bad it was. She needed it to stop before he realized. She needed to run away from home, in order to make something for her own. She couldn't stay in the house of her father. Her mother wasn't there. Her grandmother had died. Sebastian was at Dalton. Nothing bound her to the house she didn't even call home.
She closed her eyes, grabbed the microphone tightly. She hardly moved, but put everything in her voice. The New Directioners were looked at her with awe, shock and even sadness - some of them. Mr Schuester loved it. Most of the others could help but admire the emotion and strength in her voice. But Blaine and Marley seemed to get the message. They looked concerned. Marley's eyes were wet. Blaine's mouth was hanging slightly open, his eyes shone.
Tell me would you kill to save a life
Tell me would you kill to prove you're right
Crash crash ... burn let it all burn
This hurricane's chasing us all underground
This hurricane
This hurricane
This hurricane
She had had enough. She couldn't take it, she wouldn't take it.
Tonight, she would run away from the house. Perhaps she wouldn't have a roof above her head, but she couldn't take the beatings, the constant atmosphere of tension. The waiting was even worse than the beating itself. Her eyes were teary, but she didn't cry.
She wouldn't let herself cry.
She would be strong.
Do you really want
Do you really want me
Do you really want me dead or alive
To torture for my sins
Do you really want
Do you really want me
Do you really want me dead or alive
To live a lie