Characters: Tina Cohen-Chang, Rachel Berry, Kurt Hummel, Mercedes Jones, Brittany Pierce, Jake Puckerman, Finn Hudson

Mentioned Characters: Artie Abrams, Mike Chang

Broadway: Tinchel
Chapter Four

Kurt...

is that why he had been ignoring my calls the past seven days? Because he was fired? I wanted to pick up my phone to leave him a message, saying I understood. But I don't, and I really have no idea what to say. I never have any idea what to say in this situation.

Damn, I'm such a useless friend. Then, I started crying. I have no idea why. I just did.

I had to talk to him, one way or another. But one way isn't going to work, and that way is crying. I should really stop. Dammit. STOP!

And I just sat there crying. For Kurt. For myself. For absolutely no reason.

Tinchel

I waited at the corner of Naya Bean. Waiting for Kurt. I looked at my phone. 7:58. He should be here soon.

There! 8:00, right on time, as usual. He always is.

"Kurt Hummel!" I screamed at the top of my voice, not rudely though, I really have no idea how I felt. Maybe, excited? But that loud scream had caused several heads to turn to face my direction

Kurt's face was a mix of confusion, fear and excitement. Well, I'm not sure about excitement, I can't really... you know... never mind.

"Tina, hey!"

"Don't 'hey' me." Okay, that was rude. And really uncalled for. Bravo, Tina.

"Look, I know I haven't spoken to you for ages, but in my defense, I was incredibly busy."

In my head somewhere I wanted to say 'busy doing what? getting fired?', but that was cruel. Very cruel, and I would never say that to a friend. Kurt looked at me like he knew I would never understand unless he explained further.

"I was accepted. Into Vogue! Vogue dot com!"

"WHAT?!" And again, so loud everyone stared at me again. This is not the type of attention I wanted.

But I was really confused with my feelings. I mean, I feel happy for Kurt because he always wanted that job but he could have at least told me, right? But that was when I realised Kurt had many friends. I wasn't the only one like how he was the only friend to me. He doesn't see me as a best friend even though I see him as one. To be extremely honest, I was heartbroken.

"Look, Tina, I'll find some time for us, okay? But for now, I have tons of work to do." With that, he grabbed his pastry from the counter and sped off.

Caught in a whirlpool of different reactions and feelings, I really had no idea what to do. My devastation over Kurt was really pointless. It was all for the better right? RIGHT? But then again... he just left. Just like that.

I've never felt so lonely before.

Maybe this was the lonely fate of Tina Cohen-Chang.

Tinchel

I walked down the corridor of Leagueway. Alone. No one to talk to, no one to look for. Maybe it was meant to be this way. I mean, it was so silly coming to New York. I haven't accomplished anything. And I seem to have not any real friends at all. Except maybe Finn... but that whole situation is just so awkward. I really have no idea what to think anymore.

As soon as I arrived, Ms Jones went on ahead to introduce our new choreographer, who was really just standing there eating a packet of gummy bears, her name was Brittany Pierce or something. She's supposedly Director Abram's girlfriend.

A hand shot up into the air and Rachel's mouth began yapping again. "Ms Jones, I would like to perform 'Still Believe' again. I believe my voice has improved more from the amazingness it had the last time around. Which means more spectacular and amazing than usual."

Would she ever shut up?

"Actually, Rachel, I would like to use this time to train the understudies today. You cast have already trained enough and I believe you're ready. Well, close to ready. Please follow Ms Pierce to rehearse your choreography."

Rachel opened her mouth to protest, but once again, Ms Jones had made up her mind. This seemed to happen a lot.

Rachel walked away and stared me in the eye. For some reason the hate that was usually there wasn't there anymore. And for another weird reason, probably the same reason though, she refused to go to choreography and insisted she stay and watch us understudies perform. This day is getting weirder and weirder. And really less bearable.

Ms Jones turned to face me. "How about it, understudy, want to give a go at Still Believe."

I really didn't because I don't believe at all. I don't believe anything anymore. I'll never be as good as Rachel, I was never going to get a good part, and I was never going to have any real friends.

I shook my head and I started feeling my eyes swell up with tears. With what sounded like a high-pitched squeal, I dashed out of the hall and went straight to the ladies' room. I lost it again. I was, once again, vulnerably crying.

Someone walked through the door. At first I thought it was Ms Jones, about to give me a lecture of how rude I was. But it wasn't her.

She stuffed a tissue into my clenched hands. Her hand rubbed softly against my back, and for some reason, it made me feel slightly better. It made me feel like there really was someone there for me. I stared up at her.

And stared right into the eyes of Rachel Berry.

You can imagine my confusion.

"Why are you helping me? You've never been nice to me."

I wanted to throw the piece of tissue onto the ground. smash it real hard and twist my leg like how people do it with cigarettes. But that would be awfully rude to Rachel and would be ruining the only kind act she had ever done to me.

"I heard about Mr Hummel. And I know how you must feel. When I first came from Ohio, I had no friends. Not one. Until I met Finn. And he was the first friend I had ever trusted in this place."

I know she was trying to make me feel better, but it made me feel guiltier. I had been plotting to snatch her only friend from her.

"I know how it's like to be lonely."

I stared up straight at her face and I could see that she was being genuine. But why? Why was she? It's making it really hard to hate her. I could not have anything to say, so I kept silent. And I guess Rachel already said her piece. So, there we were. Two lonely girls sitting in what seems like the cleanest ladies' room I had ever seen. Really, my mind confuses me sometimes. But a distraction is really what I need right now.

Rachel began walking out of the room before she suddenly turned around.

"You do realise," her tone was unrecognisable, "this doesn't make us friends."

I don't know why but for some reason, I laughed. Out loud. She did too, I think. I really couldn't tell. When I turned to look at the door though, she was gone.

Ohio. She was from Ohio too.

I used the piece of tissue Rachel had passed to me and dab the tears around my eyes. I really was pretty weak. I guess there was no helping that. Because even though I thought things would change, no matter how many times I tried, it all goes back to square one. Old Tina is here to stay. Maybe Old Tina was even better. I mean, I did have a boyfriend then. Mike Chang. But then again, it did end badly. How was it compared to this though? I had only one real friend then, now it seems like I have none. Do I? I don't know anymore. I really can't tell. Too much drama recently, Old Tina's life was definitely more simple and less tragic.

Not having any friends at all was better than losing them.

When I finally picked myself up and went back into the hall where the rest were. Jake was doing the duet he was suppose to do with me. But instead, Ms Jones had taken my place. I wouldn't dwell much into it, my mind was preoccupied, so I shall just say that they sounded great together. Amazing. Magical. Anything nice terms that comes to mind.

I felt numb. Very numb. It's like my mind was telling me that nothing else matters. And now I'm acting like a stress depressed rat. The last thing I need is the word 'suicide' in my cause of death.

I guess I really just wasn't thinking at all because when I started paying attention to things again, I was right in front of the main door. Did I plan on going home that early? I mean, I still had things to do today. My mind is really not working well today. If this were a story, people would blame the writer for making me so out of character. But that's how it is. No one's ever consistent. Not even me, I'm a bloody mess. I fumbled for my phone in my bag and stared at the one message I had received. Usually, Kurt would have called by now. It's lunch time. But, sadly, that's not the case anymore...

"From: Artie Abrams"
"Thank you for your audition of the role of Sandy in Leagueway's production of Grease, Ms Cohen-Chang. We are pleased to inform you that you have earned the role of"

I couldn't bear to read the whole thing. I didn't want to scroll down to find out another devastating sight. Imagine if it read "understudy to Sandy".

No, I shouldn't be like this. Being sulky isn't me! Well, it isn't the me I want me to be. I still had friends. I do! Kurt is just busy. Finn is my friend. Jake and I talk... sometimes... once. Point is, I do have friends, and I'm getting upset over nothing! I'm sure I'll be able to find some time with Kurt, I mean, he has been busy, but he thinks of me as a friend, right? If not, he wouldn't have spent so much time with me last time! Okay, I should call Kurt.

"Hi Tina." That wasn't Kurt, that was Rachel Berry. I was wondering how the hell I called Rachel Berry until I realised the voice didn't come from my phone but from behind me instead.

"Kurt would like me to relay a message to you."

"What? Kurt?!" My bewilderment is really no surprise.

"Yes, Mr Hummel, that is." She took a glance at her phone. "He wants us to meet him at this address, and wear party clothes. I do not know what that means, but I'm guessing something nice."

She handed me a slip of paper with a written address on it before she took off. I knew she stopped because her voice rang into my ears.

"Oh, Tina."

"Yes?"

"I look forward to the day we have to battle in a call-back."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing, does Rachel see me as an equal?

"You know I'll beat you like how I always do." She smiled and left.

I stood there just thinking to myself what kind of comment that was. And wondering if I should hate her for that. But I wasn't sure. I mean, she did say it as if I would have nailed an audition and actually have a call-back with her.

I flipped the slip of paper around and saw the details of Rachel Berry. Her phone number, her full name... wait. This is a name card. Rachel Berry made name cards? Seriously, Rachel? Seriously?

And really, this day is just moving WAY too fast.

Tinchel

Not only was I confused, I was quite pissed. Since when did Rachel and Kurt get so close to each other? I mean, Kurt never liked Rachel. Why would he tell her and not me? This is getting frustrating. Kurt seems like he's been avoiding me. On purpose. Did I do something wrong? Was it that message I left him? Was it because I kept disturbing him? Really! I'm the kind of person that can't take someone disliking me if I don't dislike them. I'm weird I know.

Just then, I got a message.

"From: Kurt Hummel"
"Kiki's on tonight, girl! I'm so excited! Wear
something incredible k? :) Btw come over
I'll send you the address soon I'm tidying things up!"

Maybe I really was being paranoid. I mean, never mind.

Party (or Kiki. What's a Kiki anyway?) was on at about eight. So I had about three hours to spare. I guess Kurt should be ready to have me over at about an hour's time... which means I really have to grab something nice. Probably something he had picked out for me. But what would I do when I walk into his apartment? I had a lot to tell him, I had a lot of things to say. I also had a lot of things to shout at him for. Like ignoring me for a whole week. That would be rude though. Honestly, I'm just happy to see my friend again.

I put on the blue dress I had before I moved to New York. It was old, but still looked quite new and even Kurt complimented it. He said it looked good on me. I did my hair like I usually do and when I looked into the mirror... wow. I looked like me when I was in high school. Dressed exactly like how I was during the Sadie Hawkins dance we had during my senior year. Epic fail, that was.

I drove my car to the address and realised instantly that it was the apartment Kurt had shown me before. It was a really nice place. A place I could really never afford. I went up to the door, made sure I looked neat and tidy. Don't want Kurt pestering me about tardiness, now do I? Well, at least I am not dressing like how I used to during freshman year. Goth Tina, the ostracised freak. With a deep breath, I knocked on the door.

The door opened and I found myself staring into the face of Finn Hudson.

Oh, crap.

Author's Comments: Short chapter. Hope you enjoy.