A/N: Wow, I didn't realize it's been a year and a half since I updated this. I am so sorry, but here's an update and I'll try to keep this going without another huge hiatus.


"Can I ask you a personal question, Jeff?" Louis asked; the two were sitting next to each other in the cafeteria.

"Mm-hmm," Jeff mumbled through his sandwich.

"Do you have friends here?" Jeff swallowed and looked at the table. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have—"

"No, it's okay," the blond whispered, not looking up. "It's just…I don't have any friends at Dalton."

"I'm your friend," Louis said, putting a hand over Jeff's and smiling. Jeff glanced at Louis and smiled weakly in return. "Don't worry, Jeff. I was an outcast too before I founded the Warblers."

"So, Sterling, you kissing Herlihy's ass so you can be a soloist?" Shapiro sneered, walking by, flanked by two other guys.

"Fuck off," Jeff shot back before Louis could open his mouth. Shapiro smirked, grabbing Jeff by his shirt and pulling him out of his seat. The entire cafeteria was silent and watching Jeff and Shapiro.

"Craig, let him go," Louis hissed. "You're making us look bad."

"Goddamn, Louis, do you ever shut the fuck up?" Shapiro asked. "Just because you started the Warblers doesn't mean you can be all Hitler about—what the fuck?!" Jeff was released and Shapiro was slammed into another table.

"Trouble here?" Nick asked, looking around. Louis didn't look at the short boy and Jeff watched him in awe. "Jeff, you okay?"

"I'm fine, thanks, Nick," Jeff said softly, smiling shyly. Nick nodded and grabbed Shapiro by the collar.

"Listen here, jack-off, no one, and I mean no one, touches Sterling from here on out, understood?"

"Duval, what the hell happened to you?" Shapiro looked at the brunet incredulously. "Where did the badass Nick Duval go?"

"He changed," Nick answered coolly. "By the way, Craig, next time you decide to pick on some loser, why don't you look in a mirror?" Jeff and Louis laughed and Shapiro turned red before stalking off. Nick gave Jeff a small smile before leaving.


Jeff was walking around after school when he heard something from the auditorium. He poked his head in and saw Nick standing onstage, a guitar in hand. He was playing softly and singing.

"Why do I find myself falling for you?

I've done nothing but abuse you

But all I see in my dreams are your eyes

Flashing blue while you hold me as I cry

Sometimes I wonder if life would be different

If I never…"

Nick stopped singing and wiped his eyes. Jeff bit his lip and felt something inside him. Was it sympathy or pity? He started to back out of the room when he heard a clatter; he spun to see a fallen music stand and then found himself up against the wall.

"What did you hear?" Nick whispered.

"N-n-nothing," Jeff stammered.

"Don't tell anyone, Sterling, or it's your ass," Nick said quickly before letting go and hurrying away. Jeff stared after Nick, eyes wide. This was a different Nick than earlier. Who was Nick singing about? The blond watched after Nick, who shoved a freshman out of his way, heading for the cafeteria. He pulled out his phone and texted Chandler, who said that he would be right over to pick him up.


"So Nick was singing about falling for someone with blue eyes whom he bullies?" Chandler asked as the car pulled into the McKinley Academy parking lot.

"Yeah," Jeff murmured. "You know what I think?"

"Hmm?" Chandler turned off the ignition and looked at him.

"Not to sound narcissistic or anything, but I think he may have been talking about me." Jeff looked at his sneakers as he said this. He turned and leaned on Chandler's shoulder. Chandler stroked his hair before hearing a door slam. He looked up to see Artie, Sam, Kurt, Rory, and Blaine hanging out outside.

"You want to go inside?" Chandler whispered. Jeff sniffled and nodded. "Alright, come on." The two walked up the staircase towards the three boys. "What's going on, guys?"

"Oh, hey, Jeff," Blaine smiled.

"Hey," Jeff whispered.

"Sugar's driven us insane," Artie explained. "We tried to find a song that she and Rory could sing, but Little Miss Rich Pretty Princess had her own ideas. And, trust me, try to reason with Sugar, you won't win. All you get in the end is one short girl storming out on you, yelling insults. Very much like a Rachel Berry tantrum, except when Rachel storms out, she doesn't yell at us."

"So many stubborn women around here," Blaine mused. "It's a wonder how we get anything done."

"Whoa, a little sexist there, Anderson," Kyle Travis said, walking past them.

"Least I'm not a stalker," Blaine shot back.

"Ha, funny," Kyle scoffed. "You wish I stalked you. You're so full of yourself, Blaine."

"Okay, stop." Chandler intervened just as Blaine stepped towards Kyle. "Kyle, go away."

"Fine. I'll see you guys around." The brunet smirked as he walked away.

"Who's he?" Jeff asked, looking between the New Directions members.

Blaine sighed and rubbed his eyes. "Kyle Travis. He's been stalking the New Directions for the past year and a half. At first we thought he was harmless, but it turns out he's a full-blown psycho."

"It seemed like he just wanted to fit in somewhere," Kurt put in. "I mean, he admitted that he can't sing, so we let him consult for us."

"And then he started inciting problems within the group, like igniting rumors and gossip," Chandler added. "When we confronted him about it, his bag tore open and there were all these bizarre plans he'd made to destroy Glee club."

"You'd think someone would have him put away, but, as per usual, no one did a damn thing," Blaine sighed. "So he roams McKinley, picking fights with people."

"Hey, everybody," Joel called, walking right past the group. "Talking about Kyle?" Blaine nodded. "He's a fucking tool. Can't believe I slept with him."

"Who haven't you slept with?" Sam looked at Joel in wonder.

"Well, let's see, there's you, Evans, because you're with Quinn, and, believe it or not, I do stop when it comes to guys in relationships. There's Kurt and Blaine here, who... I'm not even going to get into that. I just met Jeff and—no offense, Jeff—but I don't consider him as a desirable lay because I feel for him. Don't look at me like that, Sam. I know it doesn't seem like it, but I do have morals."

"You didn't sleep with me or Rory," Artie quipped.

"Shows how much you know, Artie," Joel smirked. "Rory's my buddy, right, Ror?" The boys looked at the Irish boy, who was blushing a deep red. "As for you, Artie, you're clearly in denial. We—as in you and me—we happened. I don't remember the last time I wasn't on top."

"You're so vulgar, Joel," Rachel scoffed, walking past them.

"I could be worse, you know," he shrugged. "Besides, I do do stuff for people in trouble, Babs. Like Jeff here. Why don't you tell them that fun story of last night?"

"What? You slept with him like you slept with half the school?" Doug Sheridan asked, coming up behind Joel.

"Bite me, Sheridan. Like you didn't enjoy it." Joel elbowed the taller boy.

"Joel, he... uh... remember Sebastian?" Rachel, Kurt, and Blaine nodded.

Jeff finished his story and everyone was looking at Joel in astonishment, who, in contrast looked very proud of himself.

"I knew you were crazy, Richardson, but goddamn." Doug clapped Joel on the shoulder.

"You did all that for a guy you barely know," Artie said. "That's a side of you that should show more often."

"But if I do, then people will think I'm vulnerable," Joel said, looking a little nervous.

"We know you can take care of yourself, but maybe show a little more compassion sometimes and then you won't have so many enemies," Blaine reasoned.


"I try every way I know to tell you

I run down all my clever ways

Every smart forever phase

How'm I going get a heck of another love letter?

But you deserve better, babe

The hardest thing for me

Is true simplicity

But it's the only thing that's good enough for you,"

Joel and Chandler sang together. Jeff sat next to Blaine and was not only mesmerized by Chandler's singing, but by Joel's voice, which Chandler had said wasn't very good and the reason why Joel was rejected by the New Directions. It was slightly off-key, but still pretty good. Jeff thought that with some practice, Joel could be really good.

"Hey, Joel?" Jeff caught the brunet after practice.

"Oh, hi, Jeff." Joel smiled. "What's up?"

"For one, I never properly thanked you for what you did for me..."

"Don't worry about it." Joel waved it off.

"You were really good up there."

"Thanks." Joel blushed. "I know I'm not that good of a singer, but I still try."

"I was wondering if maybe I could help you out with that. Sort of a kindness to saving me from Sebastian."

"Y-you'd do that?" Jeff nodded. "Sure!"


Songs featured:

-Why Do I Find Myself Falling for You? (Original composition) - Nick

-Simplicity (Tim Curry) - Joel and Chandler