'Um, why is Ms. Pillsbury here?' Finn asked, gazing at Mr Shue writing 'Acceptance' on the board.
'She's helping us out with this week's assignment. Now, this is the only club at school that is represented by just about every race, religion, sexual orientation and clique, but many of you are still having a hard time with acceptance'
'That's crazy, Mr Shue. We love each other' Mercedes beamed, smiling.
'No, I won't deny that you accept each other, but you don't accept yourselves. This week's assignment has two parts. I want all of you to sing songs about accepting yourself for who you are— The best and the worst parts'
'What's the second part?' Rachel pondered, crossing her legs then sorting out her skirt.
'Well, we're going to do a group number by the queen of self-love -Gaga. We're going to perform her anthem to acceptance – Born This Way' We all cheered, we'd been waiting ages to do this song, we just had to find the right moment.
'Wait, wait. I still don't know why Ms. Pillsbury is here' Finn stopped us.
' I'm here to help you with your costumes for the big number. Each of you will be issued a beautifully fitted white T-shirt. We will then use this letter press…to write a word or a phrase that best describes the thing about you that you're the most ashamed of or you'd like to change but you can't because you were born that way, which is super terrific' she clapped to herself.
'I want you to love those parts of you, you know, embrace them, wear them on your chest with pride' Will continued for her
' Can you give an example?'
'Yeah' He looks at Emma. 'It's the big moment.' he whispered. She stood up and unpopped her yellow sunshine jacket, revealling the words 'GINGER' in big letters. Mr Shue looked at her in confusion.
'Wow, Emma, I thought the whole purpose of you doing this was to write…' she interupted him.
'Being a ginger has plagued me my entire life. People say that I smell like copper, I can get a sunburn indoors at night, and according to recent legend, I have no soul, but I'm here to say that this very curse is what makes me unique. Children, I claim my ginger hood before you today. I was born this way. Hooray. Hooray! Hooray!' Sam moved me closer to him.
'You know, this assignment will help. We can conquer everything together'
'Ellie, you're next' I smiled and sat down on the stool that had been placed in the middle of the choir room.
'This is a song that I learnt when I was a kid, back in England. It was kind of a theme when I was growing up. When I moved here, I forgot about it and how much it meant to me. People here were a lot skinner and I wanted to be like them but now, thanks to Sam. I'm slowly recovering from anorexia and bulemia' I'd never told anyone that other than Sam, he grinned at me, feeling proud.
'Wow, Ellie. Um' Mr Shue stuttered.
'It's fine, this is Ugly and it's by the Sugababes'
When I was 7
They said I was strange
I noticed that my eyes and hair weren't the same
I asked my parents if I was OK
They said you're more beautiful
And that's the way they show that they wish
That they had your smile
So my confidence was up for a while
I got real comfortable with my own style
I knew that they were only jealous cos
People are all the same
And we only get judged by what we do
Personality reflects name
And if I'm ugly then
So are you
So are you
There was a time when I felt like I cared
That I was shorter than everyone there
People made me feel like life was unfair
And I did things that made me ashamed
Cos I didn't know my body would change
I grew taller than them in more ways
But there will always be the one who will say
Something bad to make them feel great
People are all the same
And we only get judged by what we do
Personality reflects name
And if I'm ugly then
So are you
So are you
People are all the same
And we only get judged by what we do
Personality reflects name
And if I'm ugly then
So are you
So are you
Everybody talks bad about somebody
And never realises how it affects somebody
And you bet it won't be forgotten
Envy is the only thing it could be
Cos people are all the same
(The same, the same)
And we only get judged by what we do
(What we do, yeah, yeah)
Personality reflects name
And if I'm ugly then
(Yeah, you)
So are you
So are you
People are all the same
(Oh, oh, oh)
And we only get judged by what we do
(What we do, yeah)
Personality reflects name
And if I'm ugly then
(Yeah, so are you)
So are you
So are you
'That was beautiful Ellie, well done' I took a deep breath and returned to sit next to Sam. He kissed me on the cheek and hugged me warmly.
'I'm so unbelievably proud of you. How about we go to Breadstix later? My treat?' I nodded, snuggling into his chest, getting comfortable. Next was Rachel and Quinn, they took their place on the chairs and sung a medley of I Feel Pretty from West Side Story and Unpretty by TLC. We clapped and cheered just as they did for me. I believe we were doing well on this assignment.
'How is your dad's job hunting going?' I asked, munching on a breadstick.
'Er, it's fine. He's doing well' he gave a smile which I could tell from a mile of was fake.
'Ok, what are you wearing for prom?' I decided to change the subject.
'I'm not sure yet, I got to talk to my date about what she's wearing first' he winked, making me feel a bit hurt as he hadn't asked me to go with him yet. Even though we were dating.
'Oh, ok' Disapointed with myself, I picked up my phone, scrolling through my contacts.
'What you doing?' he leant over the table, looking at my mobile.
'Trying to find someone I could go to prom with' I spoke sturnly. He retailated back to his side of the booth.
'Why?'
'Cos you already have someone to go with, why don't you just text her now asking what colour so I don't wear the same one' I spat at him, not meaning to sound angry at him.
'Fine, I will' he laughed. I was confused, he was laughing at the fact that he had asked another girl to the dance. He copied me and got his phone out, taping away with the keys. A minute or so later, he placed it down on the table.
My phone vibrated and I opened the new text.
'From Sam3. What colour are you wearing at prom?;)xxxx'
'Smooth but you haven't even asked me yet' I gave him a smug look then returned to my phone. He huffed.
'Ellie, will you go to the prom with me?' he asked. I put my hand to my ear.
'Sorry, I didn't quite hear that'
'Ellie, will you go to the prom with me? Please?' he got louder but not enough.
'Nope, you're going to have to repeat it again' I smirked, teasing him.
'Fine' he said. Before I could say anything else, he climbed up onto the chair, throwing his arms out.
'ELLIE WATSON! PLEASE WILL YOU GO TO THE PROM WITH ME?!' He shouted, alerting the whole restaurant. I beckoned him down, laughing.
'You just had to ask and of course I will' I stood up, pulled him out and kissed him passionately, earning a round of appulase from the other customers.
'Thank you' he sounded relieved.