A/N: So, I'm starting this new story which is basically full to the brim with angst because angst will forever be the best thing. Ever. Let me know what you think with a review so I know where to improve, etc. I've already got the second chapter written but I want to see if you all actually like this one first. The angst won't really start until the next chapter, this is just to get the story settled in. Also, I'm keeping these chapters rather short (around 1,500 words-ish) because then I'll be more motivated to update more. Anyway, enjoy.
I don't own any of the characters or places, it all belongs to Fox and Ryan Murphy, blady blah.
"Do you think we should go talk to him?" a curious Blaine asked, looking over at the poor boy sitting alone on the table next to him. "He looks kinda lonely" he added as he looked back over to Kurt and Rachel.
"No" Rachel snapped, turning attention to her - where in her eyes it rightfully belonged. "We need to redesign these posters since you two didn't take a liking to my original, brilliant idea." she huffed, drawing a circle on the page and labelling it.
Kurt let out an over-dramatic sigh, "Rachel. As much as I admire your talent, a poster with a picture of you saying; 'Come sing back up for me in Glee' isn't exactly a relishing thought." Kurt droned as he zoned out, staring at one of the cafeteria walls, bored out of his mind.
Blaine's mind however was still strangely adverted to the boy sitting alone. "I bet he's new" he said, completely unaware that Rachel and Kurt probably had no clue that he was still talking about the boy. He looked over to his friends and watched as their eyes squinted a little in confusion. "You know what?" Blaine said, standing up and not asking for an answer. "I'll be right back".
And with that, Blaine swiftly picked up his lunch tray and left within a heartbeat. Rachel and Kurt both raised their eyebrows giving each other curious looks. Just why was Blaine was so interested in this boy?
"Hey" Blaine said, catching the boy's attention. "Is this seat free?" Blaine gestured to the unoccupied seat opposite him. The boy didn't speak, he simply gave Blaine a nod and a small forced smile. Blaine followed suit and sat opposite him.
Upon closer inspection, the boy was wearing a fading green shirt and had fluffy hair swept a little messily to the side. The boy's head was low but you could just make out his eyes, they were red. Had he been crying?
They sat there for a minute, not really sure where this was going. The boy slowly started absent mindlessly playing with his food, circling his fork around a bowl of the school's plasticky looking pasta. Blaine hesitantly made conversation, "You're new here, aren't you?"
The boy chose not to answer out loud again, just giving Blaine another nod, not looking up from the bowl.
"I'm Blaine" he held out his hand across the table for him to shake. "Looks like you could use someone to talk to?" he smiled.
The boy hesitated before answering, "Rory Flanagan" he stated quietly, shaking Blaine's hand in return. "I'm surprised you want to talk to me" Rory whispered, looking down at his food again feeling uncomfortable when he saw Blaine's facial expression change.
Blaine cocked his head to the side. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"Not many people want to speak to th'a new lad." He interrupted himself, "Unless it's shouting abuse."
"I'm sure that's not true. I mean, I'm talking to you now, right?" Blaine interjected, giving Rory a warm, comforting smile. "And wow. I love your accent, it's Irish isn't it?" Blaine added, not noticing the boy's thick Northern Irish accent when they first started talking.
Rory found a goofy smile appear on his face, "Most of the lads here take th'a mick out of me for it".
"I don't see why!" Blaine chuckled, holding out his pack of cookies, gesturing for Rory to take one. This kid seemed like a nice guy. Blaine knew how tough it was trying to get people to see the person behind the steriotypes, he'd been faced with the problem himself.
"Thanks" Rory said as he let his hand find it's way into the packet. No one had been this nice to him since he'd been here in America.
Blaine and Rory found themselves smiling lightly until Blaine changed the subject, noticing the Irish boy's bloodshot eyes again as they crinkled with Rory's weak grin. "Um, sorry to ask but have you been crying?"
Rory froze.
"Um" he mustered before the sound of the end of lunch bell rang out. Literally saved by the bell. "Err, it was grand meeting ya. I have t'a be off now" he said as he frantically got up from his chair, giving Blaine a quick wave before he sprinted out of the cafeteria, leaving what left of a not so desirable looking lunch.
Blaine furrowed his brow before he noticed a book with Rory's name and classroom number on it left next to his lunch tray. "Hey!" Blaine called, not realising Rory was already several hallways away.
Blaine looked back over to Kurt and Rachel to see them quickly look away, because they definitely weren't spying on their conversation. Nope. Definitely not. Not at all.
Blaine had planned on studying for his geometry test during his free period but that was cut short when he planned to help out his new - "friend?" Were they at the stage yet? He shook his slightly to himself. He had decided to go to the classroom that was written on Rory's book in hopes of returning it to him.
When he finally got to room 143 he glanced in the window trying to see if Rory was actually in there and Blaine wasn't following a wild goose chase. His eyes dotted around some familiar faces until he spotted Rory sitting alone at the back of the classroom. Blaine watched with sad eyes as he witnessed a few jocks throw screwed up balls of paper at the boy's face. Blaine stood the other side of the door to see Ms. Levine sitting and doing nothing about it, simply hovering her dull eyes over her book for a few moments. What kind of teacher reads 50 Shades of Grey in a school anyway?
Blaine's eyes quickly shot back to Rory, realising he didn't want to think about Miss Levine's sex life. He watched Rory's wide eyes as he opened up the screwed balls of paper and read a message that seemed to really make the boy look like a sad puppy. Rory sank into his chair, looking so small and fragile.
Blaine wanted to charge in there, stand up for Rory and knock those bullies back a peg or two. But he knew he wouldn't be able to do anything constructive in a situation like that. He simply took a step back and waited for the end of lesson bell.
After what felt like forever, the bell sounded from above and Blaine quickly stood up at the sound, briskly moving towards the classroom door to see everyone standing up from their seats. Blaine quickly moved back and out of the way as the students bustled out.
Rory was one of the last to leave and as he did he was rammed into the nearest locker by one of the jocks behind him.
"Go back to Mexico, Leprechaun!" grunted the towering jock, known around school as Rick "The Stick" as he passed with a group of his equally large team, grunting and laughing at Rory's pain.
Rory fell to floor, his head hitting the doorway harshly. He let out a quiet shout of pain so as the jocks wouldn't hear him before a figure ran over to him holding out a hand to help.
"Ignore the jocks. They'll lay off eventually." Blaine said as he lifted Rory to his feet.
"Err, cheers!" Rory made out whilst his brain instantly rattled at his skull.
Blaine gave him a supportive smile but his eyes lit up at a thought. He swung his backpack off his shoulder and picked out a book from inside, "I believe this belongs to you?" he said holding out the book.
Rory plastered a smile before nodding as if to say 'thank you', putting the book in his bag.
"I guess I'll you around?" Blaine asked.
Rory looked up from his bag, "Yeah, I'd like that" Rory said before glancing at his watch. "Ah, I have to go, I'm already late."
"I've got my car, I can go past your way when I go home if you-"
"No, no. It's fine, really. Thanks though" Rory interrupted. And with that, Rory bolted around the corner out of sight. Was that kid always running off places?
His thoughts were suddenly interrupted as he was shoved into the locker that Rory had hit only a moment ago. Two jocks grunted of the success of the other jock's violence. "Fucking queer!" one of them shouted as they walked off. This is going to be a long year.