Just Like You
Season 1 AU. Santana is Kurt's worst bully, but when Kurt discovers the reasons for the extensive torture, will he forget the past and help her during her time of need?
Okay, so with the phone call (and any in the future), to save time Blaine is in bold and Kurt is in bold/italics. Puck is in bold and underline font Okay? Good.
Chapter 1- Some Nights
Some nights I stay up cashing in my bad luck
Some night I call it a draw
Some night I wish that my lips could build a castle
Some nights I wish they'd just fall off
But I still wake up, I still see your ghost
Oh Lord I'm still not sure what I stand for, oh
What do I stand for?
What do I stand for?
Most nights I don't know anymore—
SLAM.
I take my earphones out of my ears and reflect.
Sigh. Another locker shove. I think it's becoming a regular occurrence. They've become bored of throwing me into the dumpster, so they've decided to throw me against the lockers as a new, creative form of 'punishment'.
Punishment for being myself.
A witty retort bubbles on my tongue when it happens.
Another slushy to the face.
This time grape.
Grape's not too bad, I guess. The cherry ones are a bitch to clean.
Whatever. It just means another trip to the drycleaners. I'll just have to persuade Dotty, the owner, that I'm really clumsy with my food. I know she never believes me. She's too wise for that. She knows I'm careful with my food and that I would never let myself spill anything on my fabulous attire.
I wipe the grape out of my eyes and stare at my attacker. Blinking, I almost roll my eyes but then wince at the harsh sting that accompanies the gesture. Of course it's her. It's always her.
Santana fucking Lopez.
She's only the second-in-command in the McKinley hierarchy, after Quinn Fabray, but she's the most vicious. She's relentless, has no motive and is always the timeliest with her attacks. Just as I'm heading to Glee Club. She knows that because she's headed there too.
I have no idea what made the Penis Princess actually join Glee club in the first place, but it's irritating because she's actually good. She's damn talented but she's my worst enemy. If only I know why she insisted on bullying me. I suppose it could be homophobia, but it's a well-known fact that her best friend Brittany Pierce is bisexual. She announced it once during a school assembly and backed it up by kissing Quinn on the lips. 99% of the guys and a large portion of the girls became aroused and everybody moved on with their lives.
Maybe she just doesn't like me. Many people don't. Even if they're not homophobic, I'm not a very likeable person. Artie isn't a homophobe at all, but he's not my biggest fan for some reason. Maybe I'm too enthusiastic or full-on. Maybe I actually am the male equivalent of Rachel Berry. Oh no. Scary thought. Better move along.
After a clean-up and a change of clothes in the bathroom, I head to Glee. It's the best thing about school at the moment…and I'm late. Again.
I walk in as Mr Schuester is announcing the lesson plan. My eyes flicker to the whiteboard. Trios. I try not to roll my eyes. Fan-fucking-tastic. Another boring lesson plan. Seriously, is he ever going to learn that he needs to keep us interested and challenged? Will he every try a songwriting challenge? I have one already drafted with a skeleton score attached. I would win, hands down.
"Why are you late again, Kurt?" Will questions…again.
My eyes instinctively dart to Santana, who shakes her head shortly.
"I was catching up with Madame Belle about the latest French assignment as I needed her to check my draft." I lie impressively. It's become habit to lie to Will about my lateness. Just an ordinary day.
Or so I think.
I sit down in my usual spot on the outside of the front row. Everybody crowds around the middle of the front row, so I can sit without being disturbed by any New Directions drama. Well, that is until I hear a low whisper in my ear.
"Dude, she slushied you again, didn't she?" I turn around at the voice, seeing Noah Puckerman leaning over my, mouth close to my ear.
I frown falsely.
"I don't know what you're talking about." I lie for the second time today.
"Mr Schue believes your awful lying because he wants to, but I know better, dude."
"Don't call me dude." I interrupt.
"Anyway, Santana slushied me the other day for not having a good enough credit score. Now I know what it feels like. So I'm done delivering slushies to losers. It hurts too much." Puck continues. My eyes widen. Noah Puckerman, the Noah Puckerman got slushied? Wow, that's rich.
"I suppose you want some sympathy." I scowl.
"All I'm saying is that I'm on your side. That bitch needs to be put in her place." Puck says.
"Are you suggesting an alliance, Puck?" I raise an eyebrow, sort of curious about what he wants to do.
"Sure. Just don't call me Puck. I'm not Puck anymore. It's Noah." I almost smile.
"Okay. Noah. You've got yourself an ally." I extend my hand which he shakes.
Folding my arms, I try to pay attention to the lesson when I see Santana snarling at me. Apparently, she understands what was going on and she's not pleased. Bitch, get off your fucking pedestal already. Her lip curls into a half-smirk and she faces the front, sass pouring out of her ears.
I roll my eyes at her reaction, but that's when Mr Schue looks at me.
"Kurt? Is there something you're not happy with?" He challenges me.
Maybe it's the confrontations with Santana. Maybe it's the way that I'm being treated in general. Maybe it's just the way I am. I don't know, but whatever it is, it doesn't gain me any points with Mr Schuester.
"You're damn right there is. First of all, trios. That doesn't challenge anybody. We all know that whoever teams up with Rachel or Mercedes will be stuck swaying and singing backup. I used to find solace here. But now it's a place filled with rivalry," I add in a little glance at Santana here, "hate and competition. I'm sick and tired of being undermined by everybody in here because of who I am. Yes, I'm not a baritone, I'm a countertenor. Do you even realise how many show choirs crave a countertenor in their midst. If I was at Dalton right now, I'd be getting every single solo they had. But I'm here, in the company of Rachel, Finn and co. Where only the favourites thrive. I love performing, Mr Schuester, but nobody wants to be a living, breathing prop."
I have no idea where that even came from, but by the snort coming from Noah behind me and Rachel's shocked look, I can ascertain that I did some good.
Mr Schuester just frowns at me.
"Kurt, you're dismissed from this session. Come back tomorrow when you've got a clear head and we can talk about your attitude. Now will you please leave?"
I raise my eyebrow. Whoa. Wasn't expecting that.
"Fine. It looks like this would be another chance for my contributions to be overlooked anyway, so count me out for the week."
"But Kurt then we'll have an odd number." Rachel whines to me.
"Whoops." I say, pushing the door open and exiting in more of a fashionable way that Rachel Berry could only dream of mimicking.
The door slams behind me and I storm away, too angry at everything to think clearly. I'll probably regret everything I said in there, but it had to be done. Every word was true. Truth is, I know the lead soloist from Dalton. He's only a freshman, but he's so damn talented. His name is Blaine Anderson and I met him at the Lima Bean when Santana poured her latte all over me. He helped me clean up in the bathroom. We got to talking and he said that Dalton clamoured for a countertenor. After he heard me sing, he assured me that if I ever went to Dalton, he would definitely have some competition for the soloist position. I don't think a move to Dalton is on the cards, but it's nice to know I'm valued somewhere.
I don't stick around after my exit. I drive straight home. My dad's at work, so I head downstairs to my basement bedroom and load up my laptop.
After browsing Facebook for a while, I get a message from Blaine.
Blaine- Hey, how are things? x
Kurt- They've been better, I guess. x
Blaine- Want to talk about it? x
Kurt- Can I call you? x
Blaine- Sure, of course. Whatever you need x
I shut my laptop off, smiling at Blaine's words. I sometimes think he could be the endgame I've longed for, and it could happen, I guess, but nothing has come up about it, so I leave it. Every time I think about just asking him out, I chicken out.
I dial his number (well actually, he's my first speed dial number) and put the phone to my ear.
"Hey." His voice greets me.
"Hey, Blaine."
"You needed to talk? I'm all ears. Sebastian's gone out for the night. One of his conquests, you know?"
"Oh god. I hope it goes well for him. Anyway, yeah I kind of needed to talk to you. It's just been a rough day."
"Santana again?"
"Just a slushy and a locker shove, nothing new really."
"Where's the poop, Kurt?" *
"Seriously, how do you actually do that oh my god? You're so freaky. Well, I almost quit Glee Club. Well I voluntarily suspended myself for the week. I got tired with the favouritism and just Santana in general, so I quit for the week."
"I didn't realise it was getting this bad, Kurt. You have any good news?" I can hear Blaine's laugh ringing out through the call.
"Well, on a new development, I do. Guess who reached out to me, today? You'll never guess, Blaine."
"Uh, Artie?"
"No, he still dislikes me. It was Puck! Well, he's going by Noah now. Isn't that weird? He wants to form some kind of alliance."
"Sounds like someone's hot for Hummel…"
"Please, Blaine, this is Noah Puckerman. He's the biggest French whore of the all. Well, besides Santana, I guess. Her Lima Heights residence is the most visited place in all of Ohio."
"Wait, Lima Heights?"
"Yes, why?"
"You won't believe this."
"Wait, what Blaine?"
"Take a wild guess at where Sebastian is tonight…"
"NO. Sebastian and Santana? He's reached a new low. I thought he couldn't get any worse than the girl who had braided her pubic hair.
"Ugh, she was tragic. But let's see how this plays out. This could be interesting."
"I hope he uses protection."
"Sebastian's always careful, Kurt."
"I meant from Santana's rage. If he doesn't have shin protectors, then he'll be sorry tomorrow."
"Oh god. I'd better call him. I'll text you later, babe?"
Babe? What?
"Sure, sounds good to me. I'll pray for Seb."
"Bye Kurt."
"See you, Blaine."
I hang up and chuckle. Sebastian is screwing Santana. That's an image I don't want lingering in my mind. The rain falls rhythmically outside my window, pattering on the ledge that juts out from the outside. I curl up on my bed and close my eyes, for just a second.
Hours later, I shoot awake, my phone buzzing wildly beside me. Crap, what time is it? 8:30? Oh, shit. Blaine's calling.
"Hey you."
"Have you been asleep?"
"Maybe. Anyway, is Sebastian back?"
"Oh sure. No 'how are you, Blaine?' or 'What have you been doing for the past four hours, Blaine?' Just Sebastian this and Sebastian that."
"Blaine. Rambling."
"Apologies. Well that's what I wanted to talk to you about actually."
"Sebastian?"
"Yeah. He and Santana didn't get busy."
"He failed? That's certainly not like him!"
"It wasn't a problem with HIM."
"It was her? I knew it. Were there crabs involved?"
"Kurt, she's a lesbian."
"What? Oh my god."
Suddenly, it makes so much sense. Santana Lopez is a lesbian. She was closeted and she hates me because I'm out and proud and she's too afraid to be. This is…not what I expected, actually. A thought strikes me.
I whip out the Glee directory and punch in Noah's phone number.
"Noah, I have some info you'll be delighted to find out."
"What's up, princess?"
I laugh at the time.
"Well, little miss Lopez has more to hide than we thought. I happen to know her biggest secret."
"Hit me."
"She's gay."
"What? Shit, are you serious? Wow, Lopez is a lesbian. Figures she hates you, though. But doesn't this make you mad?"
"Why so?"
"Because you can't get revenge? You can't do anything bad to her without outing her or going against your beliefs."
"Shit, you're right. Noah, when on Earth did you start actually thinking about things?"
"This took no thought to figure out. I'm surprised you didn't get there faster and without my assistance."
"It'll be fun conspiring with you, Puckerman."
"Same to you, Prissy Pants."
"Well there's one I've never heard before."
"You love it, Princess."
"Goodbye, Noah."
I think back on Noah's words.
I can't do anything to hurt Santana without outing her or bullying her because I know her secret, something not unlike her behaviour to me. Hmm, this would require some major thinking.
On one hand, my heart goes out to her because I know how she feels. The other hand…well the other hand is busy sticking my middle finger up at her.
I know what I need to do.
I need to befriend her. She needs a friend, and I'm definitely one for bygones. I forgave Mercedes for busting my car window because she thought I was straight. I forgave Noah for bullying me in middle school. I can somehow forgive Santana for being scared and taking it out on me, right?
Right. I can do this.
I will do this. I'm a good person.
I make up my mind and fall back asleep again, feeling mentally drained, but ready for the next step.
Author's Note: Just a new thing I thought of before. Hope you like it.
The song is Some Nights by fun.
*This is a reference to the ongoing joke in How I Met Your Mother. It is used when somebody knows there's more to the story that somebody else is not telling.
Review, my darlings! Mwah xx
