This was originally Chapter 2 of "Particular Brand of Sunshine," but that's my random drabble series and these decided to categorize themselves. I'll still be working on "Of Sunshine and Friendships," but this is a way to break away from that and explore Sunshine's character another way. If anyone wants me to expand any of the prompts, or suggest any, let me know!
Chapter 1 ~ Audition
There's a song behind every story. ~ punnylove
1. Empire State of Mind
Sunshine enjoys the glee performance, but it's the performers who make her consider joining glee club. She's noticed them in the hallways—always slightly set apart—and is kind of surprised to see some of them singing. The boy in the wheelchair, (Artie), raps with enough attitude to sort of cover the too-nice follow-up of the boy (Finn) after him. Puck's brief close is lethal and rolls like danger off his lean body, and the African American girl's voice sends goose-bumps rolling down Sunshine's arms.
She notices the three cheerleaders, the brunette from her chemistry class, and Tina and Mike down there with the rest—Tina looking more free than Sunshine's ever seen and Mike dancing like there's no tomorrow. Rachel Berry catches her watching and assumes the admiration in her eyes is meant solely for her, but Sunshine Corazon watches and sees each club member, sees their imperfections and strengths, and feels their love for glee rolling off them.
2. Telephone
Sunshine usually doesn't bust out singing in the middle of the bathroom, but ever since lunch she's been dying for a chance to release the pent up energy in her chest. (She hasn't sung, really sung, for a while.) It helps that Rachel Berry's the only one in the room and Sunshine thinks she, of all people, will understand. (And maybe she wants to impress the other girl—just a bit.)
3. Getting to Know You
She's doing homework at Tina's place when the ipod shuffler starts playing "Getting to Know You," and Tina's face turns the color of tomatoes. She abruptly switches the song off, but doesn't say anything, so Sunshine ignores the color in her friend's cheeks and continues conjugating Spanish words. She wonder what reaction Mike would have to the song.
4. Billionaire
It's not eavesdropping, its research, Sunshine thinks firmly to herself as she listens to the glee guys sing. Artie's rapping again, and she can see glimpses of Mike dancing, the other boys blending their voices in effortlessly as the new boy—Sunshine assumes he's be auditioned, sings lead. The audition process seems easy enough—no membership fees, no requirements besides the ability and willingness to sing—but even after she knows she's gathered all the information possible, she still lingers, listening to the last chords fade away.
5. Listen
She chooses "Listen" because it's one of her favorite song, not to spite Rachel Berry. Okay, so maybe she's hoping that the brunette will get the hint and not pull anymore stunts like the crackhouse thing, but as the music builds inside her and explodes out of her mouth, Sunshine feels thoughts of her audience sliding away and all she can think of is the music.
6. What I Did for Love
It's purely by accident that she overhears Rachel's confession to Finn and her lonely solo afterwards, but as Sunshine watches Rachel sing, she feels like she might understand why the girl did what she did. When Tina explains a little more about Rachel Berry and the way she's outside, (and in) glee, Sunshine remembers the look of sadness on the brunette's face and decides to forgive her. After all, it wasn't an active crackhouse.