Chapter Four: Britain v Sylvester!
It had been three weeks since Taylor's interesting confrontation with Coach Sylvester had occurred, in which Sue had been literally screeching at the poor girl. However Taylor had amazed everyone present by her calmness and how she stood up for herself refusing to be intimidated by the screeching fifty –something woman throwing a tantrum and threatening her. Even Sue herself, when she'd finally finished yelling at everything that dared to get in her way of course, was surprised at the girl's cool collectiveness and ballsy determination.
It had all occurred on the Monday following Taylor's first Cheerio's practice which had taken place on the previous Friday. That Friday after practice, Coach Sylvester had her plan all ready and set in her mind. She knew Taylor was a determined one, and actually someone who Sue would benefit from having her on her side rather than against her, as the girl seemed to process a fierceness that wasn't quite like Santana's. Quite different in fact, but there all the same. She knew how to get what she wanted when she wanted it and she just knew how to talk to people and get the response she wanted. She was rare, as she had all these qualities and yet didn't use them for bad reasons, like getting her own way or manipulating people and that's just what Sue needed her for, which was what made her perfect for Sue's scheme. People were realising that Taylor was a genuine girl, who was gentle and kind and not at all a raging bitch like Santana and Quinn or self-obsessed like Rachel, but what people realised was that if Taylor cared about something, then she had a fiery side to her as well which wasn't so easy to control yet damn sexy to watch. She was that girl everyone couldn't help but be in awe of and feel a tiny bit intimidated by.
She'd stood in Sue's office waiting patiently for her to swivel round on her chair and actually face her. She could just see Sue's ruffled blonde hair over her chair and knew that the woman was thinking, or atleast pretending to so that she could add her "dramatic" turn on her chair into their confrontation some-how. Taylor rolled her eyes, she'd never met anyone like Sue but she knew how to play Sue's game and wasn't about to keep her from finally meeting her match. Taylor knew the game inside out and wanted to be the one to finally take Sue down and she'd do it. She wouldn't be her if she didn't. Finally Sue had swivelled round slowly, dramatically and surprisingly creepily, Taylor thought to herself. "I have a minor proposal for you." Sue dramatically said, narrowing her eyes and arching her eyebrows. Taylor mirrored her actions but only raised one eyebrow as Sue tapped on her desk with a frightenly sharp pencil. "Which if you have any sense at all you will accept without further questioning and live to see the sunlight on the other side of those thick McKinley walls. If you fail I will not be responsible for what may result in your seriously bodily harm or perhaps even death." Sue looked pitiful as she shook her head in fake remorse. Taylor rolled her eyes again.
"And what is this so called proposal?" she enquired, keeping a straight face and matching Sue's intense stare.
"Destroy Quinn Fabray and whilst you're at it, bring down that little Glee Club" Sue spat as if the word "glee" was poisonous . Taylor wanted to laugh at the surrealness of it all. Surely Sue wasn't actually allowed to be a teacher? Or be among humans? She arched her perfect eyebrow again and paced a couple of steps before encouraging Sue further.
"And just how would I do that?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
"Find a way! Leak about that girl's morning sickness, videotape her in the shower and YouTube it or sling her out of a giant catapult until you hear every one of those weak, brittle, little bones crack. I don't care, just destroy her!" Sue growled. Then she picked up her voice recorder and pressed the red button. "Remember to look on eBay for a giant catapult." She spoke clearly before looking up to Taylor's cool face, a grim expression across her own. "Now run along little Miss Britain" Sue sneered, gesturing her hand towards the door. Taylor got up and walked towards the door, not offering another word. There was loads she wanted to say but she bit her tongue, especially at Sue's last sarcastic comment. She firmly closed the door, and jogged off towards her car not wanting to face anyone else as she thought about what Sue had just asked her to do. Could she do that? Can I do that? Why is she so obsessed with destroying Glee Club? Is what she said about Quinn true? Everything was rushing through her head at once and she felt slightly unsure as to what her next move should be. Taylor had actually attended a Glee rehearsal, and although she wasn't officially a member of Glee yet, she hoped that after Regionals they'd be willing to let her be more involved. She'd been sceptical at first but once she'd sung with Brittany, she realised she was comfortable to just let go when she was there and it had become her place to just have fun. Everyone had practically forced her to sing and let them hear her singing voice. Her practicing had only ever been in the shower or driving along in her car so she didn't even know if she could sing an honest note, but as soon as she'd opened her mouth, no one dared move. Her voice was very Mariah Carey mixed with a more gentle underlying tone. It was something you couldn't not listen to. It was addictive, like her, like her, Quinn thought to herself. Goose bumps had appeared on Santana and Quinn's skin, Brittany had stood up and clapped and Rachel just sat there staring with her mouth hanging open like Finn, Artie and Mercedes. Everyone else had just stared then stood and clapped not knowing what to say or how to describe how truly amazing Taylor's voice was. Her voice when she spoke was deeper, sexier than most other girls and it drove both the boys and the girls crazy for different reasons, but when she sung it was like a weight had just lifted and the whole world had stopped just to listen to the harmonious tunes cascading out of her full lips into the rehearsal room and Taylor had to admit it, she loved it. It wasn't because of the attention, the attention made her feel quite self-conscious, but she loved having something that made her feel so free. She didn't want to destroy Glee club, not because of herself but because she knew how much someone like Rachel Berry hung onto Glee because it was one of the only things she loved that she could feel appreciated for, although Rachel had made it clear that she felt this wasn't always the case. It was a sense of relief from reality for all of them, and when they were there they were all happy for once and connected through music. It was their place to be them and Taylor wasn't going to be responsible for ruining that. Operation play- hardball- with- Coach- Sylvester was defiantly on!
The following Monday was when it had all kicked off. Taylor knew Sue was unaware that she was part of the Glee club, kinda, and didn't particularly want her to find out and chuck her of the Cheerio's. She hated to admit it, but she'd kind off enjoyed being part of both teams. Glee and Cheerio's and she wanted it to belong that way. She thought Cheerio's would be fake and turn her into a plastic doll but in truth she'd actually enjoyed both rehearsals so far, it was something she thought she'd hate through lack of concentration but she'd found out that she was easily able to concentrate. Even her relationship with Brittany and Santanna had gotten stronger and she was taking them for a coffee after rehearsals. Things with Quinn however were still abit shaky, Taylor had politely invited Quinn to come with them after school but she'd declined. Quinn was still as nervous as fuck around Taylor. The butterflies were growing stronger every time she heard that incredibly sexy voice or the deep, slightly husky laugh. She wanted to just jump on the toned, tanned girl every time she'd bite her full bottom lip in concentration, or stare out the windows in class with her twinkling green eyes, mystery clouding them and the way she'd suggestively arch one eyebrow drove Quinn crazy and now she also had to worry about every time the girl sang. It was overwhelming hearing the girl sing, she could be so powerful and then so soft but every note was perfection. What Quinn loved the most was when Taylor would quiver slightly on a particular word or note and the effect it had was mesmerizing. It just worked. If it was anyone else, Rachel would be up there in a shot telling them to start again and hold the note but with Taylor it was different. It weren't that she couldn't hold the note; it was that she was so soft they sounded like she was quivering by accident through the rawness of emotion but in fact the little quivers where sometimes there on purpose because she'd notice Quinn smile every time her voice went soft like that.
Quinn just couldn't handle being around the girl any more than she needed to be, because she felt like she might explode from catching a scent of her DKNY perfume or their eyes meeting across the table. Taylor had simply replied "ohh well, maybe another time." And walked back down to where Brittany and Santana were perched on a bench. She noticed Coach Sylvester striding over, more confidence oozing out of her than Rachel normally had on stage.
"Britain!" Sue yelled through her bullhorn referring to Taylor and her British accent. Taylor strode over to her, if they kept their voices quiet then they were just out of earshot but Taylor was very aware of the girl's watching them speak.
"You thought about my deal?" Sue questioned, staring at Taylor right in the eyes.
"Yeah I have." Taylor replied confidently.
"Good. I'll expect to see Quinn drowning in her sorrows by tomorrow and gone by Wednesday." Sue was wearing her signature expression of triumph, thinking Taylor had agreed to her request. She turned and started to stalk off grinning.
"Oh no, you wait! We aren't done here." Taylor's husky voice was determined and sounded slightly angry. The heads of the Cheerio's all shot up, including Quinn's, Santana's and Brittany's. Never had anyone spoke to Coach Sylvester like that and not regretted it. "God- a Taylor Knowles v Coach Sylvester smack down could be in order" Santanna whispered, not daring to move and break the tension that had suddenly filled the air.
"Is that so?" Sue's sharp voice questioned and she walked back towards Taylor, as if in slow motion.
"Yeah it is. You're a manipulative bitch Sylvester and you know it." Taylor breathed, but it was loud enough for everyone to hear. They all gasped quietly. Quinn's stomach turned, she had a small feeling that what was about to happen wasn't entirely just between them. "I will not be involved in your schemes and I certainly will not destroy anything or be involved in leaking any details about Quinn's personal life." She hissed violently. She had whispered the last part and everyone was straining to try and hear. Quinn's stomach flipped uncomfortably again. Sue locked eyes with Taylor; both of their eyes were burning with intensity. Taylor's eyes were bright and challenging, but there was an angry fire beneath them which the entire group of girls could sense.
"Bad choice Britain… Bad choice" Sue shook her head and the girls all held there breathe but Taylor was surprisingly not intimidated at all.
"Back down Sue." Taylor moved slightly back.
"You will do as I say Britain! " Sue finally screeched losing her patience.
"No I won't" Taylor calmly stated which only infuriated Sue more.
"Then you're of the team!"
"Okay." Taylor grinned, folding her arms, seeing the annoyance in Sue's eyes. Sue had clearly expected the cheerleader to beg for her place but Taylor knew the game to well and completely through Sue right of hers. "I know your little game inside out Sue." She hissed again and the group of cheerleaders watched gaping.
"Rubbish!"
"Out do me and I'll happily bow at your feet" she smirked. Sue's eyes grew darker, anger steeping out of her.
"I'll get you Britain! Sleep with your eyes OPEN!" she screeched, stalking off. A wide grin appeared across Taylors face as she waved a little wave at Sue, who immediately brought her bullhorn to her lips and yelled…
"Acid will steep through your skin tonight Britain! I'm as sure as the pope is Christian!" Taylor just laughed and Sue through down her bullhorn onto the grass and charged at a bin, kicking it over with her foot before slamming open the doors to the school. Taylor grinned at the Coach's retreating figure and then turned towards the girl's.
"Sorry you guys!" she grinned. "Just had to be done" she added with a shrug and Santanna burst out laughing.
"Incredible! Truly incredible." Santana smirked. Now she knew Taylor was her sort of girl as they both exchanged a devious look.
"Coffee?" Taylor asked, grinning.
"Race you?" Brittany beamed before turning and sprinting off. Santanna rolled her eyes and Taylor laughed as both girls scooped up their bags and took of sprinting after the blonde.