Part 7
The next day Victor could be seen walking around with a frown on his face, with blonde hair and everyone knew that he was angry. Wrong word would set him off and God knows what would happen then. Karofsky had been hiding from him, knowing that if Victor caught him would be dead or at least very beaten up. Victor's face was a storm cloud as he walked down the hallways, but when he passed the choir room something caught his attention.
"Enough already", Mr. Schue yelled and Victor froze and backed back towards the door. He watched Mr. Schue tell the kids off, mainly Rachel it seemed and then calling Mike and Brittany out on the floor to choreograph something. With a shake of his head Victor left the choir room. He was not in the mood of meeting the Gleeks right now. His nice little plan got crushed though when he heard a voice calling his name.
"Hey Vic", it called and he turned around.
"What", he snapped.
"Whoa down blonde boy", Mercedes said and put her hand on his arm. "Are you okay?"
"Oh yeah I'm just fine, my only friend had to leave the school because the fucking school board doesn't take threats seriously and no one at this fucking school seems to care about the bullying that is taking place here! What the fuck is wrong with this shithole?"
Mercedes stared at him in shock. She didn't know Victor knew how to curse, but then she remembered what he had said before starting to curse.
"Kurt wasn't your only friend Victor", she said gently as he turned away. She sighed and took his hand and he turned around and looked at her. She was smiling gently.
"You have me, Puck, Mike, Sam, Artie, Tina, Santana, Brittany, Quinn… and Finn", she said.
"Oh yeah I sure have", he said dryly.
"What… what do you mean?"
"You guys only talks to me if you need something from me or if Kurt is around me. Now with Kurt gone I'll only talk to you when you need something from me. Tell me Mercedes, why did you come after me? Huh? Was it because you want me to join glee because you are now eleven people out of the twelve required?"
Mercedes let go of his hand but then grabbed it again as he was about to walk away.
"Do you know what happened today", she asked.
"What", he spat.
"I was sitting in glee club thinking of how terrible I felt about losing one of my friends and there was something I could have done about it before it got to this. Then outside the door a very sad and lonely blonde guy walks by. He hasn't been here for long... but he's done more for my friend than I have and he hasn't known him for half as long..."
"Sad", Victor comments with a snort.
"Yeah, no one can see it because his face is only showing anger. But I saw it in his eyes, how his hair is in a normal color and how he slowly turned away after looking into the room of performers… which his heart belongs to."
Victor finally looked at her, gone was his storm cloud face and now he really did look sad.
"We all miss Kurt", she went on putting a hand on his cheek. "But for you it's worse because you're right. Kurt is your only true friend at this school… but it can change Victor. If you just let us… we can be your friends."
He pulled his hand away from hers and turned away… and walked off. Mercedes sighed but returned to glee club.
Victor stayed clear from the glee club and Mr. Schue, except for Spanish class. He actually stayed clear from everyone and was right now sitting on his own in an abandoned classroom. He was sad and hadn't smiled since Kurt left. Because Kurt leaving… for Dalton… had awoken all the feelings Victor had about leaving Dalton and that he had tried to suppress. He had cried himself to sleep every night and James had sat with him a few times trying to give the broken boy some comfort. Victor sighed again when someone suddenly sat beside him.
"Mike if you are yet again trying to convince me to join glee I will throw you out so fast your shadow will be left behind", he growled.
"I know I can dance but I'm not that good", a higher pitched and familiar voice said and Victor's head snapped around.
"Kurt!" he exclaimed and Kurt Hummel grinned at him. He was dressed in a Dalton uniform. Victor looked him over and then pulled him into a hug, a hug which Kurt returned eagerly. They sat there for a little bit just hugging and then Victor smiled for the first time since Kurt transferred.
"What are you doing here", Victor asked.
"I asked Rachel to help me pick out a song to sing for the Warbler council as I audition for a solo."
"Really? That's awesome Kurt! What song did the two of you pick?"
"Don't cry for me Argentina." Kurt said grinning and Victor's smiled disappeared.
"Uh Kurt… you know that the Warblers is an a cappella choir right?" he asked.
"Yeah, so?"
"Kurt the song you audition with would be the one you performed at Sectionals. I have nothing against Sir Lloyd Webber, he is the man after all, but Don't cry for me Argentina doesn't suit an a cappella choir."
Kurt looked at him.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Trust me Kurt. If you sing that they will not allow you to go on to the next round. You should pick something from Disney… from Lion King for example."
Kurt snorted. "Of course they will let me go on to next round after I sing Argentina."
"Suit yourself but don't say I didn't warn you."
They sat in silence again and then Kurt sighed
"What is this I hear from Mercedes that you are as sunny as a storm cloud nowadays", Kurt asked.
"It's nothing Kurt… Just a ditch in the road… When you left I just… everything came crashing down on me. The sorrow I felt for leaving my friends behind me when I was relocated."
"I see… and has the un-pink hair anything to do with it as well?"
"Yeah… part of my sorrow of you leaving… and thinking of the friends I left behind… they'd laughed so much if they saw my pink hair so I had to get rid of it."
"I understand the feeling. But Mercedes also tells me you are avoiding Glee."
"I am… It doesn't feel right without you."
"You want to join?"
"Yes. God I do." Victor got up. "But Sectionals are in two days… I can't just-"
"Of course you can." Kurt rose. "I gotta go now Vic but please… follow your heart and do what it tells you."
"I'll try ma boy… Say hi to Blaine for me 'kay", Victor asked and hugged him.
"Of course. Take care Victor."
"You too Kurt… you too."
When Kurt had left Victor ran to Mr. Schue's office and saw him going over a set list.
"Mr. Schue", Victor said and the teacher looked up.
"Victor… and with normal hair as well… what can I do for you?"
Victor bit on his lower lip and then sighed.
"I just wanted to know if you have found someone to fill Kurt's spot yet…"
"Puck is working on it… why?"
"I… if you can't find anyone… I… I'd be happy to join Glee."
"Really", Mr. Schue looked at him with a smile.
"Yeah… It's ridiculous that Rachel, a female hobbit, is the only reason that I don't join. She could use the competition, as could the guys if they want to get better."
Mr. Schue smiled widely and held out his hand and they shook on it.
"If Puck can't find anyone", he said. "I will take you up on that… but if Puck finds someone-"
"I can join after Sectionals?" Victor asked hesitant.
"Of course."
"Thanks Mr. Schue", Victor said and ran out, to get a ticket to Sectionals. Mr. Schue watched him and sat down.
"No thank you", he said and added a name on the list of students to send in to the heads of the competitions.
Victor walked into the theater where the Sectionals would take part. Puck had found someone to take Kurt's place so he wasn't needed. He'd talked to Kurt and the boy hadn't gotten the solo, just like he'd predicted. Victor had dodged any Warbler he could, even Kurt and Blaine. He was also updated by Mercedes of all the drama in Glee. Apparently Finn and Santana had had sex last year and Finn had told Rachel that he was still a virgin. Santana had told Rachel at the beginning of the week and all hell broke loose. Tina and Artie thought that Mike and Brittany were cheating on them with each other. The only ones to seem to be okay right now were Lauren, Mercedes, Puck, Sam and Quinn. He saw Mr. Schue in the foyer and walked up to him grinning.
"Hi there Mr. Schue good luck today", he said.
"Thank you Vic", Mr. Schue said and put his arm around Victor's shoulders. "Come let's get good seats."
Victor took a seat beside Mr. Schue and grinned at the New Directions as they got inside. He gave Tina and Mercedes hugs and shook Mike and Puck's hands. Then they all sat down and watched as the Hipsters sang and Victor had to fight the laughter because seeing the elder choir members lead his thoughts to the choir he was sitting close to. It was almost like looking at the New Direction 70 years into the future… or more. When the Hipsters were done the curtain closed again and now Victor's foot was bopping up and down because he was nervous. He was nervous to see what his Warblers had turned into after he left them.
"And now from the all boys private school in Westerville the Warblers", the announcer said and New Directions waited in anticipation to see Kurt's new Glee-Club. Victor closed his eyes as his boys started to sing and smiled happily. They had done a remarkable job, Thad had finished arranging the song the two of them started to work on and Victor smiled thinking of it. He opened his eyes after a bit and watched the Warblers sing and "dance". He grinned at Kurt and made thumbs up and winked at Blaine when the boy noticed him.
As the Warblers finished Victor was the first on his feet cheering for them, closely followed by Rachel and Mercedes. He grinned at the two girls, but only Mercedes grinned back. Soon the entire theater got to their feet cheering. The New Directions left the room to get backstage for a last pep-talk and Victor followed them. Because he had something… to give to Kurt and he was writing on it at top speed, he registered Schue asking if he could have a word with him backstage and promised to be there.
Kurt was so happy he nearly started skipping on his way towards the Warblers' greenroom. He was last in the line because he'd seen Victor leave his spot in the audience and guessed the older boy was coming backstage. Suddenly a hand grabbed his wrist and he was pulled around a corner and into a hug.
"That was great Kurt", Victor, of course, said happily. "You did really great!"
"Thanks Vic", Kurt said and laughed hugging the older boy. "What are you doing here?"
"Do I really have to answer that question?" Victor asked letting go of Kurt and they backed away just slightly. "I came to see you perform of course!"
"Don't you mean the Warblers", he asked. "You did tell me you are their biggest fan."
"Busted", Victor said and grinned.
Kurt grinned too and then noticed something in Victor's hand.
"Hey what's that?" he asked and Victor looked down at his hand.
"Oh!" he exclaimed. "Thank you for reminding me Kurt!"
"Uh… okay…"
"Some Asian guy in the audience gave it to me and said to give it to a Warbler if I saw any… well I see one so here!" He pressed the note into Kurt's hand. Then he looked at the clock. "Oh I gotta go talk to Mr. Schue about something. I'll see you later okay?"
"Okay Vic", Kurt said and the older boy gave him one last hug before running off. Kurt hurriedly walked towards the greenroom and saw all the Warblers laugh and talk.
"Kurt!" David said with a grin when he entered. "There you are!"
"Yeah Blaine was getting worried", Jeff piped up.
"I was not", Blaine said blushing slightly. Then he turned to Kurt. "What happened to you?"
"Oh I just met a friend", Kurt said and shrugged. Nick walked up to him and snatched the note from him.
"Hey!" Kurt exclaimed.
"What's this", Nick teased. "A love letter?"
"No", Kurt snorted. "My friend Victor gave it to me… he said some Asian guy in the audience gave-"
He didn't finish because Nick hurriedly hushed him, flicked the note open and grinned.
"It's from Wes!" he yelled and the boys, except for Kurt, flocked around him. Kurt had been told about Wes, the Warblers' chairman who had to transfer schools since the company his dad worked for had moved Wes' dad to another town, so he knew who it was. Nick was grinning and read:
"Guys you did fantastic! I wish I could've been there with you, onstage. But you know that it's not possible. I would tell you all this in person if I could. But I didn't get the time because my bus back home leaves in five minutes. I just know you will win this. Keep up the good work or so help me God I will come to Dalton and hit you all, except new guy, in the head with the gavel your new chairman owns."
"Who is our chairman", Kurt cut in and Rock turned to him.
"We don't have one because we are still hoping for Wes' father to send him back to Dalton to be a boarder instead."
"Uh hum", Nick said. "Shut up! Now Wes says: Blaine keep up the good work but let someone else shine a little okay? No David/Thad I have not lost my mind like I tell you every time we talk about this. And the dancing needs some more improvement but I know you, David, can handle it. Ask Jeff to help you if you have to, oh yes Jeff I've seen you 'bust some moves'. Thad I think we can make a song arranger out of you yet, awesome work. Fred keep doing what you're doing beat-box-master and new kid, welcome to the Warblers. I know these guys seem crazy but they are all good guys. Take care and I'll watch you at regionals.' Signed by Oliver Queen."
"I thought you said it was from Wes", Kurt said.
"Oliver Queen is our nickname for him", Thad said happily. "Wes was kinda our superhero and was archer champion at Dalton (A/N: totally a lie). But… He was here guys!" Thad was smiling so wide he looked like the Cheshire cat.
"See I told you", Fred said grinning patting Thad's back and Kurt was amazed to see how all the Warblers' faces lit up. But he didn't get that much time to think about it, because they had to go out and get good places to watch ND perform.
Victor had met Mr. Schue, as the teacher had asked, behind the stage. When Mr. Schue saw him he smiled and held out a bag.
"Get changed", he said.
"Mr. Schue", Victor asked confused as he took the bag.
"Both Finn and Puck told me that they have sore throats… they can't use all their power and after watching the Warblers I know we need all the power we can get…"
"And that's where I come in", Victor stated and looked inside the bag and then up at Schue. "How do you know my size?"
"I might have talked to your father", Mr. Schue said sheepishly. "You've been so depressed and I got worried so I called your father up and he agreed that getting you into glee… onstage would be the best thing to get you a little bit happy again."
Victor broke out in a wide grin and threw his arms around Mr. Schue and hugged him. Mr. Schue laughed softly and hugged him back.
"I'll go get changed!" Victor said and hurried into a storage room the change his clothes and he was done rather quickly. He left the closet now dressed in the red shirt he knew all boys in New Direction were wearing, the same kind of pants and shoes as well. Mr. Schue put his arm around Victor's shoulder and led him over to the green room. Mr. Schue told him to wait outside and he walked inside, but Victor could hear the fighting going on. He listened to Mr. Schue telling them to get their act together and perform together… but Rachel had to say something.
"I'm still not going on stage", she said and everyone started to yell at her then and Victor just rolled his eyes. Mr. Schue tried to change Rachel's mind but she refused so he smirked.
"Fine", he said. "Don't then, we don't need you anyway Rachel."
"What", she shrieked.
"We don't need you because we have twelve members with or without you", Mr. Schue said calmly. "Now Puck, Finn you both told me your throats are a bit sore. How are you feeling?"
"Okay unless I use all my voice", Finn said.
"Same here Mr. Schue", Puck said.
"See we're doomed", Rachel said and sat down with a huff. "Our strongest male singers can't deliver."
"I see", Mr. Schue said ignoring Rachel. "But lucky for us, I brought backup." He waved at Victor and the blonde stepped inside.
"Hi", he said grinning. "Voice for hire, any available jobs?"
"Victor!" Mercedes said happily and hugged him close. He hugged her back and then got hugs by the other girls (save Rachel and Lauren), Sam and Mike. He fist bumped Artie, Puck and Finn. The lamps started to blink then, signaling that it was their time.
"Showtime", Mr. Schue said. "Victor you think you can follow the dance?"
"No problem Mr. Schue", Victor said with a smirk. "You know you really should try to make sure sneaking into your rehearsals isn't so easy."
Mr. Schue left and they hurried to take their places. Mike patted Victor on the back and Finn grinned at him.
"Glad you're here man", he said and held out his hand to Victor. Victor shook it happily.
"Glad to be here Finn", he said and they took their places.
Kurt and the Warblers waited anxiously to see what the New Directions would do. Kurt was also trying to find Victor in the audience but hadn't spotted the blonde Asian anywhere. The Warblers were also on the lookout but for a different reason. They knew that Wes said he had to leave… but that didn't necessarily mean that he had left… right? The music suddenly started and Kurt recognized Sam's voice. (Sam, Quinn, All, New Directions without leads, both leads)
Now I've had the time of my life
No I never felt like this before
Kurt turned around and watched Sam walk down the aisle.
"Seriously", he muttered to the boys around him. "Just like in regionals last year… don't they have any imagination?" The Warblers sniggered.
Yes I swear it's the truth
and I owe it all to you
'Cause I've had the time of my life
and I owe it all to you
"Her voice isn't that great", Thad whispered to Kurt and he nodded. At least he was thankful that this might actually give the Warblers a chance of winning.
I've been waiting for so long
Now I've finally found someone
To stand by me
We saw the writing on the wall
As we felt this magical fantasy
Now with passion in our eyes
There's no way we could disguise it secretly
So we take each other's hand
'Cause we seem to understand the urgency
Just remember
You're the one thing
I can't get enough of (I can't get enough of)
So I'll tell you something
This could be love (This could be love)
because
I've had the time of my life
Kurt's face lit up by a huge grin when all of his friends came onstage, but it was seeing Victor among them that brought out the big grin.
"Hey isn't that Victor", Blaine asked and pointed at the blonde Asian.
"Sure is", Kurt said with a gentle smile. "Finally."
No I never felt this way before
Yes I swear it's the truth
And I owe it all to you
ba..ba..ba..ba..ba..ba..ba..ba
ba..ba..ba..ba..ba..ba..ba..ba..ba..ooh
Now I've had the time of my life
No I never felt this way before (never felt this way)
Yes I swear it's the truth
And I owe it all to you.
I've had the time of my life (of my life)
No I never felt this way before (never felt this way)
Yes I swear it's the truth (it's the truth)
And I owe it all to you.
The Warblers smiled and applauded, they did feel a bit threatened right now, but not so much. Sam's voice was great but Quinn's… not so much. Kurt grinned as they started the next number but he cocked an eyebrow when Brittany patted Santana on the butt. He just rolled his eyes.
"Those two…"
Then Santana started to sing.
Well sometimes I go out by myself and I look across the water
And I think of all the things, what you're doing
and in my head I paint a picture
'Cos since I've come on home, well my body's been a mess
And I've missed your ginger hair and the way you like to dress
Won't you come on over, stop making a fool out of me
Why won't you come on over Valerie?
Valerie
Why don't you come on over
Valerie
Valerie, Valerie
Valerie
Why don't you come on over
Well sometimes I go out by myself and I look across the water
And I think of all the things,
what you're doing and in my head I paint a picture
Cos since I've come on home, well my body's been a mess
And I've missed your ginger hair and the way you like to dress
Won't you come on over, stop making a fool out of me
Why won't you come on over Valerie?
Valerie
Why don't you come on over
Valerie, Valerie
Why don't you come on over
Valerie
Why don't you come on over
Valerie
"We're doomed", someone said after watching Mike and Brittany dance like that. Kurt had noticed that Victor was moving in time with the others… he was just a little bit off. He wondered why but then remembered that he hadn't seen Victor in stage clothes last time he saw him. He also realized that Victor's voice had been heard where usually Finn and Puck's strong voices would be heard.
"They must have problems with their voices", he mumbled and Blaine looked at him.
"Huh", he asked.
"Later…"
In the greenroom everyone hugged and laughed. They had done an awesome job, especially Mike and Brittany.
"I don't understand how you don't get dizzy", Sam said to Mike. "And I don't understand how you could use Brittany's knees to catapult yourself half across the stage like that!"
"Practice", Mike mumbled. He was red in the face, blushing because of all the praise. But one person had been left out in the celebrating hugging… Victor stood to the side watching the others hug and laugh. He looked at his feet and sighed. This was all too familiar. Victor… well Wes had never really been included in group hugs… not even at Dalton. The Warblers were too afraid to pull him into hugs at celebrations. The only ones that actually dare to do it were Thad and Blaine not even his best friend David could do it. Wes gave Warblers hugs now and then but they never included him in group hugs. He didn't know why… maybe it was just the air of authority and no nonsense he had around him that scared them off. It hurt him a little to be left on the sidelines like that…
"Hey Victor what are you doing all by yourself", Puck said waking him from his musings. He looked up and noticed everyone, except Rachel, grin at him and he smiled a bit.
"I", he began. "Why do you ask?"
"We're celebrating a job well done", Quinn said. "And you're standing off to the side."
"Well uhm… why would you… want me to join?"
The girls, save Lauren and Rachel, gaped at him.
"What", they shrieked.
"Well… I'm not part of the team am I?"
"Okay", Puck said. "That does it." He walked over and bent down, grabbing Victor around the middle.
"Whoa! Hey! Noah!" Victor objected as the broader boy carried him, flung over his shoulder, towards the center of the room. "Put me down!" Puck shrugged but obeyed.
"Group hug!" Brittany yelled as Victor was put down and everyone hugged him, even Lauren and Rachel joined in.
"It was so great of you joining us", Artie said. "Yo man we really need ya."
"Thanks Artie", Victor said and high fived him when the hug ended. "But I feel a bit bad."
"Why", Tina asked smiling at him.
"You guys work so hard and I just waltz in and 'take over' from Finn and Puck… I feel like… like I'm pushing you aside guys."
"Bullshit", Finn said.
"And bullcrap", Puck grinned. "A pipsqueak like you could hardly stand a chance against me, hardly push me."
Victor crossed his arms and cocked an eyebrow.
"Come again", he said and Mike leaned close to Puck and whispered:
"State champion in karate and Tae Kwando."
"Oh", Puck said sheepishly and Victor smirked. "Right…"
"Still think I can't push you", Victor said with a grin.
"Guys", Mr. Schue interrupted. "They're giving us the result."
The choirs lined up, the Warblers in the middle, the Hipsters to the far left and New Directions on the right. Victor stood so he stood hidden from the Warblers. Just because Blaine was an oblivious, but adorable, idiot didn't mean the others were. He knew that Thad or/and David would recognize him if they looked at him long enough. Kurt did manage to see him and they winked at each other.
"And now, this year's head judge", the emcee said. "Associate Director of the Ohio Department of Motor Vehicles, Mr. Pete Sosnowski!"
The audience gave the man polite applauds as he stepped forward.
"Thank you", he said. "And thank you to all the groups performed here today. We all had a serious good time. You know what else is a serious good time? Taking two minutes to save a life by filling out an organ donor card, because it's never too late to donate." He got polite applauds again. "Drumroll, please. In third place…"
Victor closed his eyes and prayed to the gods that it wasn't them or the Warblers.
"The Hipsters!" Sosnowski said and Victor sighed in relief. "Thank you, drive carefully. And now the winner of this year's West-Central Sectionals is…" Victor prayed again. "It's a tie!"
"What", Victor whispered shocked and everyone looked confused.
"Congratulations you are all going to the regionals!"
Both groups started to cheer and Victor hid his face when he saw Thad, Blaine and David move towards them to congratulate. He and the others congratulated the Warblers closest to them… in Victor's case it was Fred, the beat boxing Warbler.
"Nice work man", Fred said.
"You too", mumbled Victor and looked away but could still feel Fred's eyes on him.
"W-"
"You know what it was nice to meet you", he said grinning. "Gotta go now bye!" He hurried off the stage and looked back over his shoulder and saw Fred, Rock and Trent watch him.
"Shit", he swore and ran, the three Warblers following. Victor hid inside a janitor's closet and ran his hands through his hair. This was a disaster! He heard running feet outside… but they stopped.
"Shit shit shit", he mumbled and looked around the closet. Then he saw a grey janitor's overall and a cap. He quickly put those clothes on, took the cart with tools and other stuff and walked out into the hallway. Rock, Fred and Trent were there.
"Pardon me", Victor said in a voice a few pitches lower than his normal voice. "Excuse me… let me through."
The boys moved and he walked past them. When he was about to round the corner he tilted his head back a little so that he could peak at them from underneath the cap he'd pulled down really far on his head. He saw them walk back towards the stage and then he hurried onwards. He met up with Mr. Schue and the others in the foyer.
"Where did you go", Santana asked.
"I got caught up with a little birdie", Victor grinned.
"Yeah", Mercedes said smiling gently. "It was great to see Kurt again." They were all changed into their normal clothes and Victor pulled the hood on his sweater up so that no one would recognize him.
"It was so odd", Fred told the Warblers later that day. They had gathered in the choir room to celebrate the victory. "I could swear I've seen the guy around here."
"Please", Kurt said. "Sam would never come here to spy, he's not clever enough…"
"You spied on us", Nick pointed out.
"Yeah but Kurt secretly wanted to get noticed", Thad said with a grin.
"So this blonde dude looked familiar", David said shrugging. "It's no big deal. We'll see him again at regionals and we can ask him then."
Fred nodded and Rock just shook his head while he chuckled. Trent on the other hand looked thoughtful.
"But Kurt", he said and they all looked at him. "Didn't you say that Sam was the blonde that sang solo?"
"Yeah", Kurt said.
Rock, Fred and Trent looked at each other.
"That's… not the kid we were talking about", Rock said.
"Oh you mean the other blonde!" Jeff said. "The hobbit one!"
Kurt started to laugh then, because he remembered the hobbit discussion at McKinley and they looked at him as if he'd grown another head, even Blaine was confused.
"What", Blaine asked Kurt. "What's so funny?"
"V… Victor", Kurt giggled. "That was Victor you saw."
"So", Fred asked.
"V-Victor was a Warbler."
"WHAT?" All the boys yelled at him and Kurt held up his hands.
"W-wait…" he cleared his throat. "He was a Warbler for five weeks. He was staying at Dalton but then his dad, his sister and he had to move and his dad didn't want the kids to board."
"I don't know any Warbler named Victor", David said.
"He's a senior guys", Kurt explained. "None of you were here when he was. The only one I know would know anything about him is this Wes guy you've been telling me about."
The Warblers agreed that it made sense, but Trent was still not convinced but he kept it to himself. He was sure of his thing, he was sure he recognized his work. This Victor had the type of skin one would get after Trent's treatments… But he knew he couldn't tell anyone… but he smiled inside. He knew where Wes was and he knew they'd see him again and that he wasn't gone from their lives… not completely.
Victor stood by the piano talking to Mercedes, Brittany and Artie, today his hair was… orange.
"Dude ya look like a walking traffic cone", Artie said.
"Pft I am not shaped as one so I resent that comment. Orange is a cheery color… Besides Kurt isn't here to kill me for being orange… and the color orange makes me happy."
"Kinda creepy if you ask me", Puck piped up.
"Which I didn't do Noah", Victor said smirking and then turned back to Artie.
"Seriously Artie", he said smiling. "How you could think that Brittany cheated on you is beyond me."
"I know", Artie said with a sigh. "I'm happy we worked that out y'all."
"Yeah everything's been worked out", Mercedes said and smiled, but noticed Victor look sideways at Finn that was sitting by himself. "Or not…" The last she whispered to Victor and he nodded. Victor then smiled when he saw Mike and Tina kiss. Mercedes noticed also and walked around the piano to stand with Tina.
"Congratulations guys", Mr. Schue said as he walked in with the trophy. Everyone cheered and Victor winked at Mike, the poor guy had been really worried about losing Tina but everything seemed okay now.
"It wasn't pretty but we're moving on", Mr. Schue went on. "And I, for one, am gonna be happy to have regionals and nationals to focus on."
"Mr. Schue, we heard the news about Miss Pillsbury marrying the finest dentist alive", Santana said.
'Ah so that's why he seems so down even though we *won*', Victor mused.
"It's alright", Mr. Schue said. "We don't need to talk about it. Now… I know we've had our, um… our dramas this week… but our family is back in a happy place and I think we should celebrate the best way we know how. Rachel, so how would you like to solo?"
"Thanks, but, um I don't really feel like a solo right now. I-I'd like to defer to this week's two unsung heroes… Mercedes and Tina."
"Well, don't have to ask me twice", Mercedes said grinning. Victor grinned and watched the clock on the wall and paled.
"Holy fucking shit!" He swore and ran over to the chairs and gathered his stuff. He lifted the bag upside down and everything fell out.
"Victor you okay", Mr. Schue asked. Victor noticed them all staring at him as he tried to get everything back into his bag.
"Yes! I'm just really fucking late! Oh shit sorry I cursed… shit I did it again! No! Fuck! Aw no… Gah just forget it!" He ran out and nearly tripped because he held his umbrella in a way so it ended up between his shins. They all watched him in amusement and curiosity.
"How much do you wanna bet he's late for a date", Puck asked Sam. Sam snorted and Mercedes felt her heart sink a little.
TBC
