Chapter 1

The First Day of School

Marissa von Bleicken was driving towards William McKinley High School. It was the first day of school, and for her, the first day of school meant new faces, new friends, and possibly new experiences.

Just after New Year's Day, her family had moved from New York to Ohio due to her dad's job. When he told her six months before the actual move, she couldn't believe it. Who would ever want to leave the bright lights and fast life of NYC and transfer to a town that's named after a specific variety of beans? Then came packing stuff, planning of what school to transfer, and saying goodbye to her closest friends. She felt that she had no control in her life anymore. But she wanted to be in control.

She referred to those six months as the darkest period in her life. It seemed as if everything around her was falling apart. Yet, her family supported her and helped her cope with her problems. It was then that they promised to stay with each other through thick and thin. And now, she's here, somewhat enjoying school at Lima, Ohio.

She smirked. She never thought that she would be enjoying anything in this town.

She arrived at the parking lot and found the only empty spot next to the school dumpster. She got her black sling bag and stepped out of her ca—

thud!

She looked to her right and saw about 5 guys wearing identical red and black jackets. Two of them brush off their hands and walk away from the dumpster. One seems to notice Marissa and lets out a wolf-whistle. She rolls her eyes as she forcefully closes her car door. As soon as all of the guys enter the school, she slowly approached the dumpster.

"Anyone there? Can you please help?"

She immediately stepped back a bit. She definitely heard about the jocks throwing students in the dumpster, but she never would've thought that she would witness it firsthand. Though, she was not sure if she should answer. Answering meant that she had to be the one to help him get out of that dumpster.

"Is anyone there? I totally can't get up from here." The voice, which was a guy's, continued, slightly panicky.

"Yeah!" Marissa shouted. Great, my mind cannot just stop being so kind and righteous.

"I don't really know how to get you out of there…"

The dumpster was unusually high. She can't even see the person she was talking to. She scanned the place for anything hard or sturdy, anything that could provide somewhat of a step. Then, just at the school entrance near the parking lot, she saw the stepladder the janitor uses to clean the windows.

"I found a stepladder! I'm gonna try and go get it, okay?"

The guy's voice became calm. "Thanks!"

She hurried to the school entrance and looks at the stepladder, figuring how she's going to carry it on her own. She didn't know anyone other than Emily. And everyone is too preoccupied with their own life that she can't even bother them to help her carry a stepladder.

Wait a minute, why am I even helping this guy? Yes, of course. She was the witness, and she is automatically obligated to help the poor guy. It was the right thing to do. She can't just leave him there. The guilt will torment her forever. If her father was in her position, he most certainly would've helped the guy too.

Who knows, this guy might be worth helping.

Emily Vasquez was standing beside her locker, fixing her make-up while looking at the guys who checked her out. She stared in the mirror for one last look and saw a lot more staring, from guys of different directions. It doesn't help that she was wearing tight jeans and a pink sleeveless top. She slammed her locker and walked to her next class. Numerous murmurs left the students' lips as she strode down the hallway. Yet still, she walked on.

Her family moved to Lima just before entering high school. Like her best friend Marissa, she hails from New York. She loved New York and didn't want the thought of leaving it. Her first day of school made her miss it even more, as every guy (and an occasional girl) was checking her out. There were girls way skankier than her in her previous school and no one bothered to look at her. And yet here, she was the one everyone wants to look at. Now that she thinks about it that way, she likes the attention.

The only downside to the transfer was that she didn't have anyone who she could relate to. Any girl she would try to talk to would either leave immediately, or give her a 'green-eyed monster' glare, probably because she was always stealing a look from their boyfriends.

When Marissa transferred here on January, it was like Santa had given her an extra Christmas present. They instantly bonded, mainly because they were native New Yorkers, and because they both love to sing. They were planning of joining the Glee Club, but because of the dumpster throws and the slushies, they agreed that it was social suicide and they should keep their singing to themselves.

Where is that girl anyway?

She stops on her tracks and looks around for her redheaded comrade. Losing patience, she texts her to hurry for their first class. She didn't want to be seated with anyone other than her best friend.

Lindsay Pearce was in front of the bulletin board. She was looking at the piece of paper placed neatly, with four pushpins on its edges.

*NEW DIRECTIONS GLEE CLUB! SIGN UP BELOW!*

It was her dream to sing on a stage and be applauded by an audience, finally being admired for something she is good at. She joined theater during freshmen year but was appalled by the lack of enthusiasm the club was showing. She decided to leave since it did nothing positive to her. Why waste time on something that won't contribute to your life, right?

Now, she finds herself wanting to write her name on the piece of paper. Although it is what she wants, to sing and dance, she seems to be hesitating. Writing her name meant signing a contract where you're getting thrown in the dumpster, or getting slushied in the face, daily.

You want the spotlight. What's holding you back?

She gets a pen from her shoulder bag. She holds it, her hands trembling, and the tip of the pen now centimeters away from that list.

"Sorry, excuse me."

"Hey, watch it!"

A guy shows up, immediately writing his name on the sheet. Lindsay's mouth was about to open, then she saw him wearing earphones. He was a little taller than her, and he actually looked cute. However, after writing his name, he left immediately, probably going to his first class. She looked at the list and read the name.

"New guy," she sighed. "No wonder he didn't know what he signed up for."

She looked at the list again. She took a deep breath, and left for her first class.

First day of school and I already want to quit.

Matheus Fernandes slightly shivers as he feels the cold liquid trickle from his face to his neck. He was a freshman and he knew that he would get teased or mocked for his appearance. He was, after all, 3 inches short of being 5 feet. But he certainly did not expect a grape-flavored slushie to be thrown at his face. Who would make the effort to bend down and throw a slushie at his face?

"Hey Frodo, have you destroyed the ring?"

Bursts of laughter emerged around him. But he didn't bother to look at their faces as he hurries to find a bathroom. He shoves person after person, as the corn syrup is starting irritate his eyes. After a few seconds he finally finds the door he was looking for.

He went to the sink and splashed water all over his face. He repeated this a few more times until it was not sticky anymore. He went to wipe off himself, and to his misfortune, the paper towel dispenser was more than a half inches higher than his arm span. He sighed again.

The door suddenly opened and a plump female redhead enters the bathroom.

"Woah! What are you doing here? This is the girls' bathroom!"

Matheus puts his arms up in front, signaling her not to panic. "It's alright! I was just cleaning up!"

She looked at him, dripping wet like a puppy out in the rain. His jacket was stained by a purple liquid which now gave her an idea of what just happened.

"Hmm, I was wondering why there were some tracks of a grape-flavored slushie entering here."

She took a few paper towels and gave it to him.

"Thanks," he said as he wiped himself. "Do they really do this or is it just initiation for the freshmen?"

"Oh they do it all the time!" She said, nodding. "Especially to those who they think are different."

The girl hesitated on that last word. She didn't mean to upset the little guy.

He sighed and crumpled the paper towels, forcefully throwing them in the garbage can. "Great, just great. That's just what I am. Different."

"Hey now? Let's make you're day a little brighter!

She threw her hands up in the air and mimicked jazz hands. "I officially welcome you to McKinley High! I'm Hannah!"

"Matheus," he said flatly.

Hannah smiles. "Well nice to meet you Matheus! Great shot back there!"

He looks at her and smiles back. "Even if I'm short, I'm quite the athlete."

"Yeah, I bet you are great at basketball," she giggles.

He was still smiling. "Anyway, I guess I'd better be going. I wouldn't want to get caught hanging in here."

"Nice meeting you! If you want, I could join you for lunch and give you the lowdown on the school!" Hannah just loved making new friends. She prides in her abilty of accepting people for who they are.

"I would love that, thanks!"

She waved at him as he waves back and closes the door. First day of school and she already makes a new friend. She knew this was going to be a great school year.

Rachel Berry was staring at the bulletin board. After their performance at Nationals and having garnered 12th place, she thought that they would at least get 10 people who would want to sign up for the club. She feels her heart sinking, looking that only one dared to join the ranks. Meanwhile, Kurt Hummel approached her, smiling.

"Have you become speechless at the vast number of auditionees we have for—

Kurt's jaw dropped as he looked the list. 'H-how could this be? I mean, we were at Nationals! Nationals!"

"It's our last year," she breathed.

Kurt looked at Rachel and saw pain, hurt, and loss of hope in her eyes. It was in Glee Club that she found her first friends and her first romance. She knew that there were other students who feel out of place, and she wanted to show them that in the Glee Club, they could experience being in a family. Although outside the choir room, they were considered losers; inside they bonded and created unforgettable memories.

"As much as I want to win," Kurt said, pausing for a deep breath, "I won't flunk just because I want to."

"I know what you mean." She looked at Kurt. His face showed no emotion, but she knew that deep inside, they felt the same way. Last year was supposed to be their year. They were the only ones who wrote their own songs, well at least until Vocal Adrenaline came up with one of their own. They all knew they should've been in the Top 10, with or without her kiss with Finn.

"Looking back, it seems as if we always get ourselves together at the last second. Like some kind of miracle."

What Kurt said was true. Things always became calm just before they were going to perform. Yet this was their last shot. A miracle must only be a last resort.

"But…" she replied. "We can't keep on relying on that. We need something else."

Kurt looked at her, frowning. "And what do you suppose that might be?"

She let out a heavy sigh.

"We need new blood. And I'm making sure we're getting some!"

Author's Note:

Okay, first chapter done! For a little intro, inspiration came in for this fanfic after watching Pairability, and I must say the episode sparked the writer in me. Also, I had the urge to read some fanfics since it's like 6 days until the next episode and I know I can't wait that long. I've definitely been inspired by the fanfics written by inkbender and TheLovelyGirl. Impeccable writing, I must say, and like all other readers, I'm excited to see what'll happen next in these fanfics.

Also, there are two unnamed guys in the chapter: the guy in the dumpster and the guy who wrote his name on the dreaded list! Both are from The Glee Project Cast of course. Now you can all guess right away, but I'm pretty sure that a lot of you will get it. (A lot of people root for these two and actually ship them with two of the Glee project girls I introduced earlier)

I'm putting all 12 contestants in here, but I'm not yet sure if all of them are going to be in New Directions. I find it difficult to put a lot of people in one scene, so I will probably put the others in other groups. I might figure something out.

Reviews? Comments? Anything you want to say? Feel free to vent out your opinions! This is after all my first fic, so feedback is very much appreciated! I will be writing Chapter 2 right away, so stay tuned!