He didn't think it would be this bad, McKinley High. He didn't make it through the first week without almost everyone discovering his retched secret.

Robert walked through the hallway on his way to the busing area, kids still gathered around, socializing before heading home. He was on edge. The hard, metal force of the crash into the lockers was easy—he was oddly use to his body cushioning the blow, sometimes leaving bruises afterwards—it was the surprise that kept him nervous. Eventually, as he learned soon enough, the assault happened. From behind, Robert was pushed into the corner locker, tumbling into the side wall that flanked it. That was a twist, how tactical of them.

"Faggot!" a red-jacketed, hulking boy bellowed, "why do you all keep coming here? Go away." Around the corner and they were gone, he and his following minions.

"I got the memo to come here and convert you all," Robert grumbled in their direction, indifferent to start anything more.

His bag, a simple canvas tote with the word "love" printed over it, a peace symbol replacing the "o," spilled its contents across the tile besides him.

"Got makeup in there too?" A girl, one of those Cheerios. He didn't see her face, but with her snide remark she was gone around the corner too. It's funny how bullies can make out likes phantoms. Robert tenderly rubbed his arm and shoulder that collided with the wall and collected his things before standing up.

"Hey uh, are you—"

"I've been bullied enough today, screw off!" Robert shouted, spinning around to see a boy standing before him.

"No wait," he retorted nervously, his hands in the air, "I was asking if you're okay?" His accent was the first thing Robert noticed; it was thick, Irish, and…strangely comforting.

Confused, Robert stalled in replying. He was stunned by the sudden courtesy, but more so by him standing there. The boy was lean, a little taller than him, and startlingly handsome. Trying to register what to say, Robert couldn't help but stare into his eyes, grey and beautiful.

Finally the words came to his mind. "I'm…fine," Robert assured, smiling. It was all he mustered up in that moment.

After a couple seconds of silence the boy too smiled and looked at Robert with an eyebrow cocked; Robert's heart clenched inside his chest. What was he doing to him.

"I'm Robert by the way," he sputtered, slinging his bag over his shoulder, extending a hand towards the boy.

He smiled even more, his eyes becoming slits, their grey iris' still glinting through them. "I'm Rory, Rory Flanagan," he said. The two continued to shake hands as the silence again grew out.

Realizing how awkward he was being, Robert broke the greeting with a chuckle. "Yeah thank you for asking how I was. I never thought I would be used to being harassed like that."

"You're new like me right?" Rory asked, strangely eager. "I'm in my third week here," he said as he adjusted his backpack.

"Yeah I'm new. This is my fourth day?" Robert mused.

"I know how it is, the bullying. I'm an exchange student from Ireland and it's been pretty hard for me too," Rory looking empathetic as he spoke.

"Yeah I hear the accent," Robert chuckled, his blushing betraying his efforts to hide his growing crush for the boy. "And I'm sorry. It sounds like new kids should stick together."

"Would you want to be friends then, Robert?" Rory asked quickly with overt glee, only to mumble an apology seconds later. "Sorry, guys don't ask other guys to be friends…except on Facebook?" he said, unsure. "but that takes years," he said, unsure of the words he spoke, considering them.

Robert giggled as he continued to look at Rory's bemused countenance. "Who told you that? I'll be your friend, Rory. I could use some here."

Rory mentally shook off his train of thought when he heard him accept his request. "Thank ya, Robert!" he said with a relieved sigh. His speech distorted the sound of Robert's name. How adorable Robert thought that was was something he tried to repress in his chest powerfully.

Before the silence extended further, Robert spoke. "So are you headed to the buses too or—oh crap!" He flipped open his phone to check the time, subsequently closing it moments later with a groan. "If you were it's useless; the buses are gone."

"No, I wasn't headed to the buses," Rory said concerned, "I was on my way to Glee club. It's something my other friend, Finn Hudson, got me to do." Excitement colored his face only for a moment before worry for Robert's predicament reappeared. "You can't make it home?"

His distress for Robert's situation oddly warmed him; it was endearing. "I can make it home," he assured Rory indifferently. "I'm gonna need to walk now though. It's sort of far I guess, but the walk will be good for me," he said, convincing himself it was a good thing.

Rory wasn't swayed. He was about to speak before hesitating, signs of an epiphany flashing across his face. He suddenly became coy. "So…you don't have to be home anytime soon?" His optimism for the answer was dizzying.

"Not really," Robert said, reciprocating Rory's charming inquiry with a grin.

"Would you like to come to the Glee club meeting by any chance, with me?" He was more confident this time with his request.

"Glee is singing, right?" Robert asked happily, feigning cluelessness. "You guys are going to sing and stuff?"

"Yeah, it's really fun!" He was giddy. It was infectious. "You don't really need to be a great singer, you know. It's all about fun and stuff."

"I would love to join you at the meeting," Robert perked.

"Well come on then," Rory said, holding his arm out, nodding in the direction around the corner. Glancing at his arm and back to Rory's glee, Robert silently smiled as he walked around the corner in front of him, Rory holding his shoulder as they walked.