The next morning at school, Sam saw Rory at his locker on the phone with someone, most likely Sebastian. Sam turned away, trying to keep from tearing up when he heard something slam; he spun around to see Rory on the floor and two hockey players laughing as they walked away.
"Hey, Rory, are you okay?" Sam asked as he ran over to help Rory.
"I'm fine. Don't touch me, please," Rory said quietly as he picked himself up off the floor. "You don't have to be nice to me, especially after what I did. It's about time I start standing up for myself. I gotta go."
"Rory, wait," Sam pleaded, but Rory ignored him and kept walking. Sam leaned against a locker and slid down to the floor.
"Hey there, are you okay?" a voice asked. Sam looked up to see a tall black-haired boy standing there, books in hand and a weak smile on his face.
"Yeah, I'm fine, thanks," Sam mumbled.
"You look a little down, something happen?" the boy asked gently.
"My boyfriend doesn't love me anymore, so he's with someone else now," Sam mumbled.
"Oh, dude, that sucks. Yeah, my boyfriend dumped me about three months ago and I'm still stuck on him. He's a douchebag, but I love him," the boy admitted, sitting down on the floor next to Sam. "I'm Joel, Joel Richardson, just transferred in." The boy extended his hand.
"Sam Evans, nice to meet you," Sam smiled, shaking the boy's hand.
"My first class is Spanish with Mr. Schuester. I gotta go find it," Joel said, getting up and dusting himself off. "These floors are nasty. I don't know what I was thinking sitting on them."
"I'm going there too, come on." Sam started down the hallway, Joel caught up quickly.
"Hey, guys," Sam greeted the Glee club after school; everyone looked up to see Sam and a boy they didn't recognize. "This is the McKinley High Glee club, the New Directions. Finn and Rachel, our captains," Sam nodded to them, they looked up and smiled. "Mercedes, Artie, Kurt and Blaine, Mike and Tina, Brittany and Santana, Quinn and Puck, Sugar, and Mr. Schuester, our director; everyone, this is Joel, he's new." Joel waved and grinned.
"Can I audition?" Joel asked hopefully.
"It would be nice to get some more members," Rachel said. "That way, we have more talent to win Regionals; I mean, not that we need much more."
"Yentl, will you please shut up and let the boy audition?" Santana said.
"This is one of my personal favorites and it has always suited me for auditions. By the way, I know I'm not very good," Joel said before whispering a song into the pianist's ear.
"Our love is an old love baby
It's older than all our years
I have seen in strange young eyes
Familiar tears
We're old souls in a new life baby
They gave us a new life to live and learn
Some time to touch old friends
And still return
Our paths have crossed and parted
This love affair was started long, long ago
This love survives the ages
In its story lives are pages
Fill them up
May ours turn slow
Our love is a strong love baby
We give it all and still receive
And so with empty arms we must still believe
All souls last forever
So we need never fear goodbye
A kiss when I must go...
No tears...
In time...
We kiss hello,"
Joel sang before bowing. Light applause followed this. "I told you I'm not very good," he said sheepishly.
"Well, at least he's frank," Kurt muttered and Blaine nodded.
"Mr. Schue, what do you say?" Finn asked.
"I say we have a new member, and don't worry, Joel, we'll help you," Mr. Schue said.
A/N: Joel is me in a nutshell. I'm well aware I can't sing, but I sure as hell try.