Chapter 2: Birds of A Feather Stick Together
Three weeks passed me by so quickly. Glee became what my life revolved around, and I couldn't complain. I fit in here, no longer feeling alone or misplaced in this huge high school, and Glee was where I was going to stay. Music was like food to my soul, and I had to keep getting enough of it.
Well, there is one reason why my weeks have gone by so quickly and smoothly, and that reason was Kurt. He instantly became the girlfriend I never had, and being friends with him became as easy as breathing. We did everything together; we walked to class together, we sat next to each other in fashion marketing, we went over to each others' houses and helped each other out with homework or deciding what we should wear the next day at school. He was there for me when I got my first slushy in the face, and spent half an hour crying in the bathroom as he helped clean up my soggy mess, and I was there for him when he couldn't find his favorite Marc Jacob's jacket, which I ended up finding in the laundry basket after an hour and a half of searching frantically around his room for.
Kurt's father approved of me hanging out with him. He said that Kurt should be spending time with me, because maybe I'd finally knock some sense into him about not being gay. I knew his father loved him for who he was, but he still wanted to be that stereotypical father that every guy dreams of being when they have a son. All he had left was Kurt, and vice versa. That was the reason that Kurt told me he had joined the football team in the first place. Well, other than to be around the guys, but that was a no brainer.
My mom, not so much of a happy agreement on her part. Yes, she was glad that I finally had made a friend, but she expected it to be someone- no, anyone- other than Kurt. Still, my response to her every time she asked me why I decided to become such close friends with Kurt was that those who are lonely couldn't be picky, and Kurt was a million times better than any other kid in McKinely High. Still, I ended up making friends with a girl named Serenity, this creative and fun chick, who had the same lunch as me and also had social studies with me. She ended up joining Glee Club, too, so bonding with her became easier. That eased things up between me and mom.
Since I joined Glee Club, I really had to work on my dancing. It's not that the choreography was really tough, it's just that I was a huge klutz. I stumbled on my steps a few times during rehersals, only to get a laugh out of the Cheerios, and sometimes Mr. Shue, who would watch me just for the fun of it. Sometimes, when I felt like giving up, Rachel and Kurt would cheer me on, and I keep on going and get the routine right.
Then one day, Mr. Shuester brought in some lady who he thought would help cheer on. Her name was April, and she had been the star in Glee when she had been in high school with him. She almost looked old enough to be my mom, and she gave me this really creepy vibe that told me that she was going to be bringing some huge problems to our. It wasn't the fact that she was really pretty and she seemed to have Mr. Shuester's every attention, she just seemed like someone who would destroy the whole aura of our little club. I told this to Kurt while we were walking to our cars that afternoon, and he just said that I was over thinking things, and that we should give April a chance before we judged her. I reluctantly agreed, though I knew I wasn't going to to let it go that easily.
April stayed for about two weeks in our club, when I started to notice how she was trying to act sweeter than a sugarplum. Something was up, and I knew I had to confront Kurt about it. When I talked to him, I noticed a change in his attitude towards her, and I told him to spill the beans. After a short argument, he sheepishly pulled out a stack of Muscle magazines, and of course he name slipped out when I asked where he had got them from. It was ridiculous! Did she really think nobody would notice that she was just trying to coax them over to be on her side? I had to do something, but telling Mr, Shue wouldn't work, seeing the way he watched her as if she were a goddess. There was only one choice left; little, quiet me had to step up and take the plate and confront the phony April.
So one afternoon that week, I lied to Kurt and Serenity as we were going to our cars that I had to appologize to April for being so rude to her. They were happy to see my change in heart, and patted me on the shoulder for forgiving her, because it was the right thing to do. I forced a smile, and scurried back into the music room, only to find April standing by the piano, fluffing her hair like the ditz she truly was. My ballet flats clicked loudly on the floor, making her turn around, but I'm sure I was the last person she expected to see.
"Hey! You're name is Amy, right?" She asked giving a huge smile.
"My name is Emi, not Amy." I said through gritted teeth.
"It's practically the same thing." She innocently said. I swear, if I didn't punch her by the time I was finished talking, I would be mighty proud of myself. "So, were you looking for Mr. Shuester? He had to go make a phone call, but he should be back real soon."
"Actually, April, I was looking for you."
"Why?" She said, her voice clearly showing that she could care less.
"I know what you're trying to do." I said, watching her tense up. "I saw you trying to win everyone in the club over, and it's time you stopped. Don't try to lie, because I found the magazines you buttered Kurt up with already. I know you just want to be liked bye everyone in the club, but just give it up. You've had your chance to be in high school and act like a teenager, so stop pretending you can turn back time and get your old life back. It's time for you to live with it, and leave our club and Mr. Shuester alone."
For me, that was the boldest speech I had ever made to anyone other than my mother. I was really proud of myself, until April began to laugh. Did she think I came here to entertain her? I was being completely serious.
"I always thought you were the quiet, cutesy girl in the group, but I'm definitely wrong. Don't think this little talk of yours is going to change me around. I don't take directions from anybody, especially not kids." She said, her voice sharp with growing anger.
"You're such a bitch." I snarled, clenching my fists together. "I can't believe a nice man like Mr. Shuester could ever have pity on a two-faced hog like you."
With that, I turned on my heels and headed for the door. I was finished talking to her for a while. But before I could take another step, April spoke up.
"You remind me of myself when I was younger." She said, which was the last thing I ever wanted to hear from a woman like her. How dare she insult me!
"Really?" I said, as I walked out of the room. "Coming from a horrible person like yourself, I'll consider that a huge insult on my part."
As I drove home that afternoon, I had a feeling deep in my gut that something bad was going to happen to me for confronting April. Little did I know at the time that my instincts had been right. At the next Glee rehearsal, the day before our performance in front of the school, Mr. Shue pulled me aside after we were done and sat me down.
"Is something wrong, Mr. Shuester?" I asked, looking at him as he sat down on the piano bench,
"April told me about you coming to talk to her." He said, shaking me to the core.
"Oh really? What exactly did she say?" I asked through gritted teeth. Two faced woman was going to have hell to deal with if I got in any trouble.
"She told me that you came back after practice a few days ago and told her how afraid you were to perform in front of the school tomorrow. I know she tried to talk you out of it, but you opened up to her and told her how timid and shy you got in front of an audience, and how you were going to skip tomorrow so that the club could do a better job without you weighing them down. Let me just tell you now, Emi, that you'll never weigh us down, because a team has to work through their troubles so they can shine brighter. After talking to April about it, we agreed that it would be best that you don't participate in the show tomorrow night."
I swear my mouth hung open for about a minute. "Why? You can't do this! I'm fine! I want to perform and I always have! Don't do this to me, Mr. Shue!"
"It's already been decided, Emi." He said, getting up. "You still have to come and watch, because it's only fair. I asked Ms. Pilsbury to keep you company, and she gladly agreed. There's nothing to be ashamed of, Emi. You just need some time to get over your timidness."
That was all I needed to hear. I grabbed my bags, and stomped out of the music room, not even bothering to say goodbye to Mr. Shuester. I felt the tears stinging my eyes, as I tried to keep calm. Darn that lying, mischievous April! She'll have hell to pay for one day, if I didn't get my hands on her first! How could she do this to me?! I wanted to sing so badly, it felt like I would explode if I didn't get up on stage with the rest of the Glee kids tomorrow!
As I stomped across the parking lot, I almost collided into Kurt, who was standing beside his car, waiting for me. As soon as he saw the distressed look on my face, He grabbed my arm, but I wouldn't have any of it today. I didn't want anyone to coax me at the moment.
"You're not going to tell me what's wrong, are you?" He asked, letting go of my arm.
"No, not now." I said, through gritted teeth. "I'm sorry Kurt, but I just need some time to myself."
"Okay, Emi." He said, pulling out his keys. "I'll come over later and we'll talk. Don't do anything rash, okay?"
"I'll try." I said, knowing that was probably not going to be the case.
I drove home, and as soon as I walked into my house, I ran up to my room and slammed the door shut with a loud bang. I screamed at the top of my lungs, and started to cry like a stupid baby. I was so upset, not only because April had ruined my first performance, but that there was nothing that I could do about it. Finally, I grabbed my mp3 player and jammed the buds into my ears, and drifted off into an uneasy nap.
I woke up in a hour and a half, and the first thing I did was call Kurt. He came over, armed with chocolate ice cream and snicker doodle cookies, which were two of my favorite sweets. After helping ourselves to some, we sat down on the couch and I told Kurt about confronting April, and how she got me back by not letting me sing with them tomorrow night. He looked appalled at first, then angry, then just plain old sad. He opened up his arms, and I just sat there and cried my eyes out, yet again, all over his favorite jacket. It was so much better letting it all out, especially to Kurt, because he was my best friend and I knew he would be honest with me.
"I can't believe she'd do something like that to you." Kurt said, shaking his head as I wiped off the tears and snuff that were on my face. "Is there anything I can do? I'll get her back, because you're my main girl, Emi."
"Thanks, Kurt, but it's fine." I said, shaking my head. "Just let her have her way, because I have a feeling that Karma is going to come and nip her in the butt."
So, when Friday night rolled around, I went to the show and sat down in the audience with Ms. Pilsbury, the really nice counselor that Mr. Shuester was friends with. I could plainly see that she adored Glee Club as much as he did, and it was nice to sit there and chat with her about how the club was going. The program started, and they opened with the song that April was, of course, singing the lead of. It made me angry, watching her up on stage in the limelight, which was rightfully someone else's, not hers. I watched and smiled at Kurt and Serenity, who looked at me from time to time during the songs. Finally the show was over, and I sent the rest of the evening with my two closest friends, who evened out the evening with a hilarious late night dinner and movie.
Much to my surprise, when we returned to school next week, Mr. Shuester explained that April had left, and she wasn't going to be bothering Glee club anymore. I could have cheered out loud, but I just sat there, beside Kurt, just letting it all sink in. It really didn't sink in until Mr. Shuester came and gave me a lengthy apology of pulling me out of the program on Friday, and how he shouldn't have listened to April and how in the future he wouldn't make any other stupid decisions without consulting me first.
April wasn't here anymore. There was no one to stop me from singing and performing with the Glee kids, and it made my heart swell like I could have never imagined. As I walked out of the room, I began to sing the chorus to one on my favorite songs:
"You're not not not gonna get any better
You won't won't won't you won't get rid of me never
Like it or not, even though she's a lot like me
We're not the same.
And yeah, yeah, yeah I'm a lot to handle
You don't know trouble, I'm a hell of a scandal
Me, I'm a scene, I'm a drama queen
I'm the best damn thing that your eyes have ever seen!"
AN: Wow, long chapter! Thank you all who reviewed, and I hope you review again! I own no rights to GLEE or Avril Lavigne's lyrics for "The Best Damn Thing." ~ E.F.