Chapter Two

Kurt

Looking around the choir room at the faces of the Glee club, his friends, Kurt almost refused to believe that Rachel would do something like this. She had always been the one to encourage everyone, to push them, to make them great. This wasn't like the time she quit the club to do the play, they all knew she'd come back. This was her, never coming back and calling April Rhodes wouldn't solve anything this time.

Quinn was the first to speak. "What do we do now? Sure, we all have good voices, but Rachel was the best."

Kurt realized Quinn might have been taking it the hardest, next to Finn, because she had recently warmed up to the brunette and they had become something of friends over the summer. Nothing on Kurt and Mercedes, of course, but they were rather close.

"Come on guys," Mr. Schue said, taking a stab at encouraging them. "We've done fine without her before, we can do it again!"

Everyone heard in his voice that he didn't really believe what he was saying. Kurt had never really liked Rachel that much, but he was still shocked by her decision to leave and not tell anyone.

"Mr. Schue's right," Santana put in, sounding more confident than anyone else. "Auditions are coming up. We might be able to find another Berry."

Beside her, Brittany nodded. Kurt didn't think she actually knew what was going on, but the smile on the blond Cheerio's face was reassuring. She was always positive and it was hard to be the opposite around her.

"Thank you Santana," Mr. Schue said. He, like Kurt, had heard how sure she had sounded and believed maybe it could be right. "Auditions are this Wednesday. We're all going to be there, we're all going to discuss everyone who tries out. We'll be fine! Sure, we might not find another Rachel, but we can find someone close! If we can get this much talent in one room, from you guys, then there's more out there. We might not have a spectacular soloist, but our group will be so strong that we'll be just as good! Think of this as some new beginning for New Directions, guys. It doesn't have to be bad all the time."

By now, the whole club was looking a little better. Except Finn, of course; he was clutching the paper with a tragic look on his face. This was his girlfriend, who had just up and left without telling anyone. She didn't even tell him she loved him or that she'd call, or anything. Kurt wondered if their whole relationship was just a fantasy from Rachel's mind to fill the obvious void left by Jesse St. James. She was constantly comparing Finn to Jesse, and even though Finn never really noticed, Kurt did. It was the main reason he didn't like the diva very much. Even though Kurt had gotten over his crush on the jock, he was still his almost-step brother and he cared about Finn a lot.

"Finn?" Kurt asked nervously. "Are you okay?"

"You know," Mercedes said thoughtfully. "If Rachel didn't tell you anything about leaving and didn't write you a separate letter... I don't think she really loved you."

"That's what I thought too," Quinn said sheepishly.

They waited for Finn to reply with bated breath. Surely, Kurt thought, he must have seen that. He was always talking about how Rachel wouldn't let him in her pants even though she totally went that far with Jesse.

"You're right," Finn said hollowly. "She couldn't have. I'll see you guys at the auditions tomorrow."

With that, he got up and left, walking with jerky movements and slumped shoulders.

"Dude's got it bad," Mercedes commented, vocalizing everyone's thoughts.

When Kurt got home after Glee, where they had pretended Finn hadn't left and went on discussing the auditions for the sake of the club, he was a little nervous to see Finn.

"Finn?" he called through the house.

Burt and Carole were both still at work so he knew that it was just him and Finn. Months ago, this would have thrilled Kurt because any opportunity to flirt with Finn without their parents finding out was golden. Now, however, he just wanted to be there for his friend.

"Finn you better not have started crying and fallen asleep," Kurt yelled warningly, stepping closer to the basement where he and Finn still shared a room. "Tear stains are the worst and your face will get itchy."

"Nothing a moist towelette won't fix." Finn's miserable reply came from the living room. Kurt was relieved he wasn't making tear tracks on his pillow. If it was one thing Kurt hated, it was tear tracks on silk.

"That's better," Kurt said, smiling and turning on the TV. "Now, we need to reinvent you to make Rachel feel sorry she ever left Lima. You don't need her. You have us, Finn..."

"I'm fine, Kurt," Finn said, although he didn't sound remotely fine. Kurt took that as a dismissal, and he left the living room.

Poor, poor Finn. The letter was just what he didn't need. Kurt would have to help him, somehow.

"Alright guys, we have ten people auditioning today... you all know the rules, don't be rude out loud, don't shoot people down, discussions are held at the end. Got it?"

A murmur of agreement rippled through the eleven teens as they sat in the auditorium to watch the auditions. Kurt and Mercedes sat beside eachother, arms linked. Both of them were anxious to see who would actually show up to audition and actually be serious about it.

"Alright everyone, let's start things off," Mr. Schue said into the microphone. "First on the list... Hailey James!"

Hailey James, a freshman, was probably the worst singer Kurt had ever heard. She sang some pop song with a screechy voice and bad dance moves. Kurt looked over at Noah who was mouthing "kill me now" over and over. When Hailey was done, Mr. Schue thanked her but told her New Directions wasn't going in... that direction. She stormed off the stage, obviously thinking that she was talented when she really wasn't.

The next five auditions were just as bad, if not worse. One boy, who reminded Kurt strongly of Jacob Ben Israel, had to dash off the stage to avoid wetting his pants.

"Only four left," Mr. Schue said dejectedly. "Let's hope we find out new star."

As if on cue, a girl with short brown hair, wearing a Kurt approved Versace yellow dress walked out on stage, looking confident and excited.

"Hi, my name is Josey Harris," she said with a smile. "And I will be singing Castle on a Cloud from the Broadway masterpiece, Les Mis."

Brad, their piano player, started to play a tune and Josey started to sing.

There is a castle on a cloud,
I like to go there in my sleep,
Aren't any floors for me to sweep,
Not in my castle on a cloud.

There is a room that's full of toys,
There are a hundred boys and girls,
Nobody shouts or talks too loud,
Not in my castle on a cloud.

There is a lady all in white,
Holds me and sings a lullaby,
She's nice to see and she's soft to touch,
She says "Cosette, I love you very much."

I know a place where no one's lost,
I know a place where no one cries,
Crying at all is not allowed,
Not in my castle on a cloud.

Oh help! I think I hear them now,
and I'm nowhere near finished sweeping and
scrubbing and polishing the floor.
Oh, it's her! It's Madame!

The music stops and Josey stands, looking very pleased with herself. The Glee club was sitting in their seats, each and every one of their mouths hanging open. Kurt wiped a tear form his eye.

"Thank you, Josey," Mr. Schue said with a spark in his eye. "I think it goes without saying, you're in!"

Josey whooped once and punched the air. "Thank you so much, Mr. Schuester. I look forward to meeting each and every one of you personally!"

"White girl's got talent," Mercedes whispered to Kurt.

"Tell me about it," Kurt replied. "That... that was so beautiful."

As Josey skipped off the stage to sit in a seat near the stage, a boy walked out into the spotlight. Kurt gasped. He was the most beautiful creature he'd ever seen! His wavy blonde hair sparkled in the light from the stage and his cheekbones were just gorgeous. Kurt also approved of his choice in clothes, something he never did to other high school boys. Obviously this boy wasn't the average Neanderthal.

"Isn't he that White kid from football?" Kurt heard Mike whisper to Noah, who nodded.

So he played football and he was joining Glee. Kurt had to hand it to him, he was definitely going to have some luck with the ladies this year.

"Um. Hi," the God on the stage said nervously. "I'm Sam White and uh. I'm singing a part of Johnny Cash's Hurt. I didn't want my audition to take too long so I cut the song down a little."

I hurt myself today
to see if I still feel
I focus on the pain
the only thing that's real
the needle tears a hole
the old familiar sting
try to kill it all away
but I remember everything
what have I become?
my sweetest friend
everyone I know
goes away in the end
and you could have it all
my empire of dirt

I will let you down
I will make you hurt.

From the front, Josey started clapping.

"Bravo!" she called. She then turned around to face the club. "I don't know about you, and I probably shouldn't be voting, since I've just joined, but I think he's good!"

"Me too Josey," Mr. Schue said. "Sam? You're in."

Sam smiled, looking relieved. "Do I have to sit with the chick in the front or can I sit by Finn?"

Finn turned red and sank down in his seat as Sam climbed over the row of chairs to sit by him. At Sam's hello, Finn merely grunted. Sam noticed this, folded his hands and fell silent to watch the next teenager walk out.

The next two auditions were superb. Alice Holley sang Lady Gaga's Dance in the Dark, which Kurt appreciated very much, and Gavin Brown, who Kurt knew Mercedes liked, sang Free Fallin' by Tom Petty. They both were applauded and joined the Glee club.

After the auditions, Alice caught up with Kurt and Mercedes.

"I just wanted to thank you," she said smiling. "For the standing ovation. I knew Lady Gaga would be kinda hard to tackle... But thanks."

"Anytime," Kurt replied as he linked arms with his diva best friend and the three of them strutted down the hall. "Anyone who has the confidence to do Gaga is alright in my books."

Alice looked pleased. "Well, I gotta go catch my bus. Tomorrow's Thursday, I'll see you in practice!"

She waved goodbye, then left. Mercedes clucked her tongue.

"Now we can talk about what we really wanna get down to," she said. "You totally had drool coming outta your mouth when that White kid was singin'. At least now I got reason to call him White boy."

Kurt chuckled. "You were totally feeling that Gavin guy."

"How couldn't I? He's just so... so..."

"Precious?" Kurt finished. "I don't mean that in reference to the character Precious of course."

"Nah boy it's cool, I know what you mean. I'mma show him some of my chocolate thunder!"

The two friends beamed at eachother before Kurt caught sight of Finn.

"I better go talk to him... See you tomorrow, 'Cedes."

Mercedes pecked him on the cheek and she left. Kurt squared his shoulders and marched over to Finn as best as his gorgeous new Atacoma boots would let him.

"Hello Finn Hudson," Kurt said as he always used to. "Come on. Let's go get a burger or something."

"I thought you didn't eat burgers," Finn replied, sounding confused.

"It's a one off. Just don't expect it to happen every day." Kurt tapped his friend on the nose in a friendly way and they set off toward Kurt's Navigator.

"So, um, Finn?" Kurt asked. "You know Sam White?"

"Yeah I do," Finn said, his brow furrowing as they got into the vehicle. "He's in the running for QB this year and I kinda think he's going to beat me. But he said something about being my projector after class... I don't know what that means though..."

Kurt snorted. "Your protege? That's a good thing, Finn. And since he looks like a God... you could use it to your advantage."

"Dude I'm not gay," Finn said immediately, which made Kurt chuckle.

"I didn't mean that. I mean, he'll probably be too busy batting off girls to be involved in football as much as you. Then, the new coach will see that you're still right for quarterback!"

"That would be totally cool... if White hadn't said he didn't like girls today," Finn said as if it were obvious.

"Come again?"

"Yeah, Azimo and Karofsky were trying to spell faggot to write it on his head and he totally told them it's better not to write the truth on people's heads because lies make them seem better. I didn't really get it but I got what he was trying to say."

Kurt felt like Christmas had come early. And really, it kind of had.

A/N: Chapter one and two in the same day! Who'd have thought? My one review inspired me, what can I say! Anyway, I still don't own Glee (even though I really wish I did...) I just own the four characters I made up. I know Sam's last name is actually Evans, but a lot of stories had it as White and I find I like that a lot better. And, Josey's name in the show is supposed to be Sunshine, but that's not a name. So I kind of twisted them a little, sue me. Except not. But I digress. In the next chapter, I promise the whole thing with Rachel will be explained, because I'll be doing it from her POV. I'll be getting around to all of them eventually. So thank you for reading! I'll update ASAP :)

Oh, and I decided to have Josey sing Castle on a Cloud because I saw a Youtube video of a 9 year old Lea Michele singing it and aside from being incredibly adorable, it gave me inspiration for my Berry-wannabe character. For those who haven't seen it, you definitely should. Or I will find you.

Another thing. Singing, obviously, is in italics. If there's a duet, I'll let you know but for now it's just italics. I didn't feel like picking four songs so I took the lazy way out and only chose two :) Songs are Castle on a Cloud from Les Mis, and Hurt by Johnny Cash. I strongly advise everyone to check out the latter, it's an amazing song.