The next day Robert was still riding high on his good feelings from last night. A week ago he definitely treaded the halls of McKinley and regarded its students more cautiously considering he had a target on his back—for why, he didn't' know—but lately he had better thoughts on his mind. It had been over a week since he met Rory and joined the Glee club and things had already been looking up. He became more optimistic, confident, and even more prideful in his new school—granted the little pride he had gained arose from nonexistent positive feelings for the school.

As he turned the corner on his way to his last class of the day he met eyes with Rachel Berry, one of the more abrasive members of the Glee club. Instantly she perked up at seeing him, a sweet grin flashing across her face as she turned from her locker to greet him.

"Hello Robert!" Rachel said as she leaned over to give him a light hug. Skeptical yet willing, he returned the gesture as he listened. "May I say that in already a week I believe your considerable talent is a great addition to our Glee club here at McKinley and that you will only bring out the best in myself and everyone else."

"Oh uh thank you, Rachel." He liked her, but as sweet as she often was to him she still acted like a diva during Glee club meetings frequently—she was controlling and pretentious. Robert didn't like such an attitude at all; he didn't plan on become great friends with her.

"Today after school New Directions is going to be playing a game of dodge ball with new our school rivals—the Trouble Tones. Earlier today Finn and Rory were confronted by Santana," she said casually, but with a hint of contempt for the girl Robert himself had issues with, "and it was decided. Since you're definitely a member of New Directions I hope you'll be there."

He loathed dodge ball. Even though it was between the school's two glee clubs he still didn't want to be a part of it at all; he would rather read and study for Statistics.

"I can't really make it, sorry Rachel," he apologized half-heartedly. On his long list of things he would rather do than go home, playing dodge ball was far from it. "I really have to do…Statistics is kicking my butt," he uttered disjointedly, wanting to be far from her now. The truth behind his dismay was that he didn't want to abandon the club that was giving him a lot to look forward to. Maybe it was a combination of several arbitrary things that simply didn't give him a good feeling about the game of dodge ball.

"Well that's okay, we still outnumber the Trouble Tones so it's not like we need you really," she said as she turned to fumble inside her locker. Robert shifted his weight uncomfortably as he processed what she said, looking around and considering any place being better than where he was.

"Yeah, right," he mumbled, adjusting his bag. He thought of something humorous to say before departing for his class early. "Funny enough, I'll be able to catch the bus for the first time since joining the Glee club last week, granted I don't get deterred on my way."

Rachel's interest spiked as she heard him speak. Quickly she spoke before Robert could excuse himself. "Oh that's right you've been spending a good deal with Rory haven't you, after school and such?" She searched for any possible answer in his expression as he considered the question.

"Yeah we have been, so?" he replied with a curt undertone. He didn't like the way she was nosing in on his business, but observing how she seeks Kurt's friendship and fails—in his presence at least—he supposes he's inadvertently filling some sort of roll. He doesn't know Kurt well at all—or Rachel if he thinks about it—so he doesn't know much of their past. Either way Robert is generally indifferent.

"It's really nice how you two are becoming good friends. I heard about some ape that violently thrust you to the ground earlier today and how Rory stood up for you. I think it's great, sticking together."

Robert casually walked through the halls earlier that day towards his third period, his head in the proverbial clouds, when out of nowhere he was knocked to the ground. It nearly gave him whiplash the way the random bully punched both his palms between Robert's shoulder blades, immediately causing him to tumble to the tile.

"Jesus—man what the hell!" Robert shouted as he lifted himself cautiously from the ground, grabbing his bag too.

"Shut up you little fruit," the guy taunted. His red letterman jacket and his thick stature were both reasonable for the situation; the football team always had a problem with him, even though he was under two weeks new. "Take your love bag and your fag self back to—"

"Oi, you don't push him!" Rory's voice was saturated with anger as he clenched his fists at his sides, his accent almost growling as his yell echoed through the hall. He appeared behind the bully further down the hall.

The bully turned to face him and spoke. "How are you going to make me keep from knocking around dweeby little faggots—?"

"Oi, watch it!" Rory roared as he boldly approached the bully, himself reciprocating volatilely.

"Hey dickless," Robert said, commanding the situation immediately, keeping the heat off his friend, "you're calling me a little dweeb? How pathetic you must be, needing to pick on little dweebs to up your self-esteem."

A few more seconds without a teacher turning the corner and he probably would have ended up in a fight, but thankfully the football coach—a very masculine, bold woman—arrived and dissolved the situation instantly.

"Yeah I think it's great too—hey I need to get going, class and all," Robert informed as he looked beyond Rachel.

"Oh you're right, class. It was nice talking to you, Robert." Closing her locker, Rachel walked pass him and around the corner.

"Yeah," he mumbled after barely glimpsing to see her leave.

—

The gust was gentle and cooling later that afternoon. Robert didn't take the bus home like he implied he would to Rachel; he wasn't late for anything, but chose to stay at school. He sat at a table on the outskirts of the school, doing Statistics homework and occasionally glancing at the nature around him. About this time he and Rory usually spent time together just hanging out and talking, but at this moment he was inside playing dodgeball. Guilt still irked at him when he considered how everyone was together and competing—for what he hadn't a clue—and he was so nearby, choosing to stay away. Such was not the way to keep friends. As bad as he felt he still mindlessly skimmed his textbook open before him randomly, humming and frequently shifting his weight on the seat.

Eventually he heard a couple pairs of people nearby. He sat near the nearly vacant end of the school parking lot, but two figures still approached. It happened to be Brittany and Rory walking together; her car must have been parked on this side. They were still dressed to kill—and what short shorts Rory was wearing!

They weren't talking to each other, Rory slumping behind Brittany as she walked directly to her vehicle. Robert kept his head down, peaking up sometimes to see what they were doing; he was slightly ashamed he didn't participate with the rest of them and if they didn't see him it was for the better.

Before he knew it Robert saw Rory mutter something to Brittany before jogging over towards him. Of all the people he had to explain to, it had to be the boy that didn't give up easily, the boy that only feigned naïve. Brittany watched Rory make his way over to Robert only briefly before continuing on to her car. Robert focused on the book before him until he heard Rory's footsteps approaching; he looked up to see he was eager as usual, but mussed up.

"Funny seeing you here, Robert," Rory said happily, a wide smile spreading across his face.

Gauging his genuine speech, Robert instantly relaxed, but still remained apprehensive. "Yeah it is I suppose…how was the dodge ball?" he asked, scrutinizing his countenance for any negative signs. "Oh and sit down," he interjected, miffed that the boy was still standing away from him.

"It was rough," Rory sighed as he motioned to sit across from Robert, grinning when he sat down, looking up at him before speaking again. "What a mad sport, American dodge ball. It wasn't pleasant."

"You understand why I decided to skip it," Robert affirmed, closing his book. In the distance he heard Brittany's car as she drove away; he tilted his head in confusion as Rory spoke.

"And that Santana girl, what a dragon she is." Rory tilted his head, blocking any eye contact he had with Robert.

"Rory, why is Brittany leaving you—wait what did she do, Santana? Did she take it too far?"

"I don't really know dodge ball, but I'm not going to complain if hurting someone while they're down is okay. I think I'll just…not play." He sounded hurt as he spoke.

"That's not okay of her!" Robert explained, shock coloring his voice. "That's terrible—she's terrible!" he uttered, scatter-brained.

"I know. I mean I guess I know. It just felt wicked how—oh wait never mind her!" Rory shouted excitedly, his mood quickly turning around. "I was going to tell you, but things happened and I couldn't, you know. I asked Brittany's parents if I could cook for them and they said I could. And I asked them if you, my friend, could join us and they said you could!" Rory was rambling with glee and Robert, affected by how adorable it was to him, didn't curtail him at all. "They told me I could do it whenever and they told me when I wanted, so tomorrow night is when I'm going to make that Shepherd's Pie. You're free Friday night, right?"

It was a question he was very accustomed to saying yes to. "I'll be there," Robert answered tenderly.

After half an hour of them sitting at the table, talking and laughing as usual, Robert recalled a question he asked he didn't receive an answer to. He knew the answer, but still he asked it. "Why didn't Brittany wait for you, why did she drive off?" he asked, failing to suppress a grin.

Rory hesitated briefly before speaking, considering his words. "I told her she didn't need to wait. I hadn't seen you all day—that time before third period was nasty and I had to skip lunch to makeup a test—I wanted to talk to you, tell you the good news." Since first meeting last week the two boys would spend lunch together as well as intermittent parts of the day between classes; he missed Rory that day, but he didn't want to let himself miss him too much.

"Wait did you eat at all?" Robert inquired, worry replacing his charming demeanor.

"Kurt bought me a bag of chips," Rory replied simply.

"Let's get something to eat; let's get a sandwich," Robert offered as he quickly slid his book into his bag, shooting Rory a wink.