A/N: As like any other Gleek, I am so so so depressed about Cory Monteith's death. My prayers go to all the other Gleek's affected, Cory's family and friends and, of course, Lea Michele, who he was supposed to marry in two weeks. And I'm also extremely worried about what's going to come of the show. Hopefully nothing bad. Anyway, enough of that. I'll get on with the story. Btw each chapter is an episode.
Chapter One
I had to transfer. I could not stand my home any longer.
Mom was a drunk. It has been three years since the accident and now, she's been drinking her life away. I'm fifteen. I don't need this pressure. That's why I decided to go to Lima, Ohio and live with my cousin, Finn, and my aunt Carol. I had to transfer to McKinley High School-where I knew NO ONE besides Finn. So yeah. I was extremely terrified.
Finn and I have been inseparable since we were the two youngest cousins and closest in age. Finn as blessed with natural good looks-tall, dark, and handsome. He had dark brown hair and brown eyes and was so much taller than me. I stood at a whopping four foot eleven inches, had blonde hair and blue eyes. To the family, I was an old soul. I loved everything 80's. Most girls would be crushing over Zac Efron or Justin Timberlake. Me? My crushes are set back in the 80's. I crush on Corey Haim, Corey Feldman, Kiefer Sutherland, and Michael J. Fox just to name a few. But Michael's the hottest. He's my favorite actor. I have all of the available seasons of Family Ties, I have all of the Back to the Future movies, The Secret of my Success, Teen Wolf, Spin City, Midnight Madness (that was his first movie), Doc Hollywood, The Hard Way, Casualties of War and Light of Day. My dream was to become an actor. I took theatre classes to hone my skills. I also wrote a lot and I've been writing scripts for a while. Scripts along with short stories. I also play guitar and was close to starting my own band in Texas before I had to move up here.
Carol was busy all day at work and couldn't get off, and Finn was at school, so I had to hail a taxi to get here. I got out and walked up to the door. I knocked on it, and then first thing that happened was I got the biggest bear hug I had ever received.
"Terra! It's so great you're finally here! I missed you!" Finn pulled away from the hug, grinning. I laughed and looked at him.
"I missed you too."
"Come in. I'll show you to your room. Mom's still at work, and she won't get off until late."
"Oh okay. That's fine." I nodded my head. Finn directed me to a room that was not too far from the living room.
"This," he said, turning on the light. "Is your room."
I walked inside and immediately got on the bed. "So soft." I bounced. "Remember when we were little and we'd jump on the bed?"
"Yeah." Finn smiled. "That was fun."
"Then I got a trampoline. Everyone thought it was the only solution to make us stop jumping on the bed." We laughed. "Wrong." The both of us said in unison. Finn picked my suitcase up and set it on my bed and I started to unpack.
"Need any help?"
"You can help if you want."
"Okay." Finn shrugged. He took out my movies, and looked at them all. "Jesus."
"What?"
He looked at me. "How much Michael J. Fox stuff do you need?"
"A lot." I picked up the Back to the Future movies. "These kick ass."
"How do you go back to the future? I thought you'd go back to the past." Finn looked confused.
"Just watch them and you'll understand completely."
"Okay." He still looked confused. I grabbed my Lost Boys poster and some pins and pinned it on the wall next to me. Then I took my Back to the Future poster and pinned that on the wall right above my pillow. "Don't you have anything normal? Like Rocky Horror?"
"Oh yeah." I laughed dryly. "That's totally normal. Doesn't have transvestites or aliens in it at all."
He laughed.
The Next Day
Finn and I walked up to a group of kids. "Hey guys." He said. The boys greeted him with a chorus of "Hey man, what's up?" or "Sup, bro?" Things like that. One of the boys looked at me. He was muscular, looked half black and had a Mohawk.
"Who's the babe?" he asked.
"This is my cousin Terra. She just moved here from Texas."
"Country girl." One of the boys laughed. I shot him a glare. He looked away. Another one looked in a different direction and snickered.
"Hey. There's Hummel. Let's go get him." He went in the direction, the rest of us following. They started to advance towards him and the boy (Hummel) took off but got cornered at the dumpster. I wanted to step in and make them stop, but I was too shy to. The boy looked at me, and his eyes pleaded for help. I felt bad because I couldn't do anything. A man walked towards us.
"Making some new friends, Kurt?" he asked.
"He sure is, Mr. Schue." Said the boy with the Mohawk.
"Hey, Finn. You still owe me that report on—" and then Mr. Schue spoke some Spanish. I have a vendetta against that language. You have to take two years where I'm from. It was practically shoved down my throat.
"What?" Finn asked.
"What you did last summer."
"Almost halfway done with almost all of it, Mr. Schue." Finn replied. This meant he hadn't done any of it. Mr. Schue then left. The boy with the Mohawk turned.
"It's "Hammer time"." He said. Two boys began to pick Kurt up.
"Please." Kurt begged. "This is from Marc Jacob's new collection."
"Wait." Finn walked up. Oh good, I thought, he's going to stop them. Kurt was let down and he shoved his book bag into the arms of the kid with the Mohawk, took off his jacket, and handed it to Finn. Finn shrugged. "Okay." He said. And then Kurt got thrown into the dumpster. The boys left, laughing. The one with the Mohawk threw down the book bag. Finn looked at me. "Coming?"
"In a minute."
"Here." He handed me the jacket. "I have to go."
"Alright."
Finn left. I picked up the book bag right as Kurt got himself out. He looked at me and took his things. "Thanks." He started to leave.
"Wait." I said, stopping him. He looked at me. "I'm sorry I didn't help."
"Don't be."
I looked down and then held out my hand. "Terra Hudson. Finn's cousin."
Kurt nodded and then took my hand. "Kurt Hummel. Football player punching bag."
"Well that has to change."
"It never will." Kurt shrugged. The bell rang. "It was nice to meet you." He said
"Yeah, you too." I nodded and we went our separate ways.
The Next Day
I saw Kurt signing up for something. I stood next to him. "Hey." I smiled. He looked at me.
"Hey." He said. "Terra right?"
"Yeah. What's that?"
"Auditions for Glee club."
"Really?" I took out my pen and signed up.
"Are you sure you're related to Finn?"
"Yeah."
Kurt raised his eyebrows. "Alright." He noticed a book in my hands. "What's that?"
I stopped writing and held up the book. "This?"
"Yeah."
"Lucky Man. It's one of Michael J. Fox's books."
"Michael who?"
I thought for a second. "Scott Howard?" Kurt had a clueless look on his face. "Ben Stone?" another clueless look. "Alex P. Keaton?" same look. "Nick Lang?" same look. "Marty McFly?"
Kurt just shook his head no. "He looks familiar though. I think I saw him on some show. He was in Washington or something like that and he ran the city."
"Spin City. Set in New York actually."
"He moves around in his seat a lot."
"He has Parkinson's. He can't help it."
"Oh..."
"But he's so hot. Maybe we can hang out sometime and I can show you those movies."
Kurt rolled his eyes, smiling. "Sure. Why not." We walked into the audition room. "Now, copy me. I know what I'm doing." He whispered and then walked onstage. "Hello. I'm Kurt Hummel, and I'll be singing Mr. Cellophane." He said and the guy at the piano began playing.
"Cellophane
Mr. Cellophane
Should've been my name
Mr. Cellophane
'Cause you can look right through me
Walk right by me
And never know I'm there
Never even know
I'm there."
He held the 'know´ part pretty long. My mouth dropped. I went next after he went off.
"Hi. My name is Terra Hudson. I'm going to be singing Sister Christian."
"Classic." Mr. Schue smiled. "Let's hear it."
"Sister Christian, oh the time has come
And you know that you're the only one
To say, okay
Where you going, what you looking for
You know those boys
Don't want to play no more with you
It's true
You're motoring
What's your price for flight
In finding Mister Right
You'll be alright tonight
Babe you know
You're growing up so fast
And Momma's worrying
That you won't last
To say, let's play
Sister Christian
There's so much in life
Don't you give it up
Before your time is due
It's true
It's true, yeah
Motoring
What's your price for flight
You've got him in your sight
And driving through the night
Motoring
What's your price for flight
In finding Mister Right
You'll be alright tonight
Motoring
What's your price for flight
In finding Mister Right
You'll be alright tonight
Motoring
What's your price for flight
In finding Mister Right
You'll be alright tonight
Sister Christian
Oh the time has come
And you know that you're the only one
To say, okay
But you're motoring
Yeah, motoring."
The music stopped and the song ended. Mr. Schue leaned into the microphone.
"That was beautiful Terra. Well done." He said. I blushed and walked off. A black girl had gone before us, and then there was an Asian girl, a boy in a wheelchair, and some girl with brown hair.
The Next Day
Kurt dragged me up to the bulletin board.
"Okay you tell me because I'm too scared to look." I covered my eyes and turned around.
"Terra!" he said. "Terra you're in! You made it!"
"Don't mess with me like that Kurt. That's not funny."
"I'm not messing with you! Look!" he turned me around and pried my hands off of my eyes. We saw our names, squealed, and hugged each other.
Rehearsal
"And I said to myself, sit down," sang the boy in the wheelchair.
"Said to myself, sit down," the rest of us sang.
"Sit down
You're rockin' the boat."
"Bigger hands. Big hands." Mr. Schue said.
"Said to myself sit down," the boy sang.
"Sit down,"
"The devil will drag you under
By the sharp lapel of your checkered coat." We now sang in unison.
"Sit down, sit down, sit down, sit down
Sit down
You're rockin' the boat." The rest of us sang and danced around him.
"Sit down, you're rockin'
Sit down, sit down, sit down,
You're rockin' the boat
Sit down, you're rockin'
Sit down, sit down, sit down,
You're rockin' the boat
Sit down
You're rockin' the boat."
The boy rammed into the wall and the girl with brown hair grimaced.
"We suck." She said.
"Uh—It— It'll get there. We—We just need to keep rehearsing."
The girl looked bored. "Mr. Schuester, do you have any idea how ridiculous it is to give the lead solo in "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat" to a boy in a wheelchair?"
"I think Mr. Schue's using irony to enhance the performance." The boy said. Mr. Schue nodded.
"There's nothing ironic about showchior!" the girl stomped out of the room.
"Rachel. Rachel!" Mr. Schue called after her. He looked at us. "Sorry guys. I'll be right back." He left.
"What a d-d-drama q-q-q-queen." The Asian girl said.
"You're telling me." The boy said.
"She's Rachel Berry. She's been like this." Kurt rolled his eyes. I looked at the boy in the wheelchair.
"What's your name again."
"Artie." He said. I nodded.
"Artie." I nodded my head. I looked at the Asian girl.
"T-T-Tina." She stuttered. I looked at the black girl.
"Mercedes Jones." She smiled.
Alright. Gotta keep that in mind.
Later
When I got home from Glee practice, I saw Finn sitting on the couch and staring into space.
"Finn?" I approached him. Finn looked at me.
"Hey."
"Something wrong?"
"I get to join Glee Club. Yay." Finn rolled his eyes.
"Really? Why?"
"Mr. Schue found marijuana in my locker. And this is the only way I can make it up to him."
"Finn!"
"I didn't mean to! I mean, I don't even know who the Chronic Lady is! Do you?"
"Who?"
"Never mind. I'll just..." he sighed. "This is freaking perfect."
The Next Day-Rehearsal
You're The One That I Want from Grease began to play.
"I got chills
They're multiplyin'," Finn sang. Hm, I thought to myself, not bad.
"And I'm losin' control
'Cause the power
You're supplyin'
It's electrifyin'!"
"You better shape up," Rachel sang. She threw down her music and made her way to my cousin as the rest of us stood there.
"'Cause I need a man
And my heart is set on you
You better shape up
You better understand
To my heart I must be true,"
"Nothin' left
Nothin' left for me to do,"
The two sang together. "You're the one that I want,"
"You are the one I want," the rest of us sang.
"The one that I want—" Finn and Rachel sang, but Mercedes broke in.
"Oh, hell to the no!" she snapped. "Look, I'm not down with this background singing nonsense! I'm Beyoncé! I ain't no Kelly Rowland."
"Okay, look, Mercedes, it's just one song." Mr. Schue said.
"And it's the first time we've been kind of good." Kurt added.
"Okay." Mercedes looked at Finn. "You're good, white boy. I'll give you that. But you better bring it." She looked at Mr. Schue. "Let's run it again."
"Alright." Mr. Schue grinned. "Let's do it. From the top." He clapped his hands.
Saturday
Mr. Schue decided to take us to see Carmel High's Vocal Adrenaline. I heard they're supposed to be really good, but I wasn't sure. As of this moment, we were in the snack line. I looked over and saw Rachel and Finn talking. Finn had had trouble trying to go on this trip, but he was able to come anyway. I found out that he was dating Quinn Fabray, the cheerleading captain. I also heard she was a total bitch. But I've never met her, so who am I to make assumptions? I was just waiting to go in to see how Vocal Adrenaline really was. A bell dinged.
"Yes."
"Hey..." Finn walked up to me. "You know that Rachel girl?" he asked.
"Yeah. What about her?" I asked.
"I think she was hitting on me."
We took our seats. Mr. Schue looked at us.
"Hey, guys. So this is supposed to be our "competition"." He said. "But I honestly don't think they've got the talent that we've got. But let's be a good audience. Give them some of that old McKinley High respect."
We heard the announcer over the intercom. "Please give a warm Buckeye State welcome to last year's regional champion, Vocal Adrenaline!"
The crowd went absolutely nuts.
"Holy cow." I muttered. Mercedes nodded her head.
"I have never seen so many people go crazy like this." She said.
"Neither have I."
The curtains rose.
"Ohio
Ohio
Ohio
They tried to make me go to rehab
But I said no, no, no
Yes, I've been black but when I come back
You'll know, know, know
I ain't got the time
And if my Daddy thinks I'm fine
He'll try to make me go to rehab
But I won't go, go, go," I heard the crowd go nuts. They had such elaborate dance moves it was insane.
"I'd rather be at home
With Ray (With Ray)
I ain't got
70 days
'Cause there is nothin' (Nothin')
Nothin' you can teach me
That I can't learn (I can't learn)
From Mr. Hathaway
I didn't get a lot in class
But I know it don't come (Don't come)
In a shot glass
They tried to make me go to rehab
But I said no, no, no," one dude did backflips across the stage.
"Yes, I been black,
But when I come back
You'll know, know, know
I ain't got the time (No time)
And if my Daddy thinks I'm fine
He'll try to make me go to rehab
But I won't go, go, go." They finished their song. The audience erupted in applause. All of our mouths were hanging open.
"We're d-d-doomed." Tina stuttered.
Home
Finn was covered in lime green paint. I walked up to him as I was talking to Carol.
"What happened?" Carol looked at her son.
"It's... It's nothing Mom." Finn went to his room. I looked at him curiously and then shook my head.
Monday
We had just received some of the most shocking news ever.
"You're leaving us? When?" Artie asked.
"I've given my two weeks notice." Mr. Schue explained. "But I promise I'm gonna find you guys a great replacement before I go.'
"Is this 'cause those Carmel kids were so good?" Mercedes asked. "Because we can work harder."
"This isn't fair, Mr. Schuester. We can't do this without you." Rachel said.
"...So does that mean I don't have to be in the club anymore, or—?" Finn started, but everyone looked at him and he shut up.
"Look, this isn't about you guys." Mr. Schue said. "Being an adult is about having to make difficult choices. It's not like high school. Sometimes you have to give up on the things that you love. One day, you guys are going to grow up and understand that. I have... loved being your teacher." He left us then. I looked down.
"This. School. Sucks."
"Terra..." Finn started.
"No." I shook my head and left.
Few Days Later
Finn never showed up to practice after that. At this point, Rachel was directing us and it was hell. The only person missing was Artie. I had no idea where he was.
"Look, you guys. These steps aren't hard." Rachel snapped. "I've been doing them since preschool."
"I'm sorry. Did I miss the election for queen? Because I didn't vote for you." Kurt snapped at her. I laughed and high fived him.
"I know what I'm talking about. I won my first dance competition when I was three months old!"
I saw Finn wheeling Artie into the room. Kurt must have too because he looked at him.
"This is a closed rehearsal." He snapped at Finn.
"Look," Finn started. "I owe you guys an apology. I never should've quit."
"Then why did you?" I asked.
"Peer pressure. I don't want to be the guy that just drives around throwing eggs at people."
"That was you?" Rachel looked at him in disbelief.
"You and your friends threw pee balloons at me."
"I know..."
"You nailed all my lawn furniture to my roof."
"I wasn't actually there for that, but I'm really sorry. Look. That isn't who I am, and I'm tired of it. This is what I want to be doing, with you guys. I used to think that this was, like, the lamest thing on earth, and maybe it is." He shrugged. "But we're all here for the same reason— 'cause we want to be good at something. Artie, you play guitar, right?" Artie nodded. "Think you could recruit the jazz band?"
"I do have pull there..." Artie said. Finn smiled.
"Alright. Mercedes, we need new costumes and they have got to be cool. Can you do that?"
"Damn! Don't you see what I've got on?" Mercedes smiled.
"Rachel, you can do choreography." Rachel smiled. Finn looked at Tina. "Tina, what are you good at?" Tina began stuttering. "We'll figure something out for you. Terra, you still do hair, right?"
"Yeah." I smiled.
"Could you be our hair and make-up?"
"I would love to be that!" I smiled.
"And, uh, what are you bringing to the table, Justin Timberlake?" Mercedes asked.
"I've got the music."
Later
Finn started it off with us vocalizing in the background.
"Just a small town girl
Living in a lonely world
She took the midnight train
Goin' anywhere,"
Rachel was next. "Just a city boy
Born and raised in south Detroit
He took the midnight train
Goin' anywhere,"
"A singer in a smoky room,"
"A smell of wine and cheap perfume,"
They sang together. "For a smile they can share the night
It goes on, and on
And on
And on
Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows
Searching in the night
Streetlight people
Living just to find emotion
Hiding somewhere in the night,"
Rachel now sang by herself. "Workin' hard to get my fill
Everybody wants a thrill,
Then she and Finn sang together "Payin' anything to roll the dice
Just one more time
Some will win, some will lose,
Some are born to sing the blues
And, no, the movie never ends
It goes on and on
And on
And on,"
All of us now joined in. "Don't stop believing
Hold on to that feeling
Streetlight people
Oh-oh-oh
Don't stop believing
Hold on to that feeling
Streetlight people
Oh-oh-oh
Oh, oh
Don't stop." The music ended and we bowed our heads. We suddenly heard clapping and looked up. Mr. Schue stood there, a grin etched onto his face.
"Good, guys." He said. "It's a nine. We need a ten. Rachel, you need to hit the ones and the fives. Finn, I think if we worked on it, you could hit a high "B"."
"So, does this mean you're staying?" Finn asked.
"It would kill me to see you win Nationals without me. From the top."