When Marley walked into the teacher's lounge and poured herself a cup of coffee, Finn knew something was different about her; she seemed happier. "What's got you in a good mood?" Finn asked Marley and she glanced over at Finn, but didn't say anything at first.
"I don't know what you are talking about." Marley protested.
"Come on, Marley. I've known you for years, I know when something—or someone is on your mind." Finn said in defense as Marley sat down at the table Finn was sitting at. "So, who is the lucky man?"
"What makes you think there is a man in my life? Maybe I just happen to be in a good mood today."
"And you just happened to be at Breadstix yesterday, having dinner with someone." Finn said and Marley didn't drop any signs that she was dating. "So who is it?"
"Nobody. I was with a friend." Marley said as principal, Tristian walked into the lounge.
"Good morning, Mr. Hudson. Ms. Rose." He greeted, walking over to the coffee maker and Marley grinned at Tristian, but dropped the smile quickly; but she wasn't quick enough for Finn not to see it.
"Oh—you and Tristian?" Finn whispered, while glancing to him and then back to Marley; he couldn't believe it.
"I have no idea what you mean." Marley lied, unconvincingly that time. She tried taking a sip of her coffee to hide her now obvious smile as Tristian then walked out of the longue. "Okay, fine. Tristian and I are going out, happy now?"
"When did this start?" Finn asked, he couldn't believe Marley was going out with their boss; the principal of the school.
"Not too long ago, and I am not getting into details just yet. I don't think we're even a thing yet." Marley said and with that got up and left the lounge, choosing not to hear any more of Finn's questions.
Finn and Marley walked into Glee Club and right off, noticed that someone was missing. "Where's Connor?" Finn asked and everyone started to look around, doesn't look like anyone had seen him. He sighed, he might have to start without him.
"Have you seen him?" Ethan whispered to Jeremiah and he shook his head.
"No, have you?" Jeremiah replied.
"I thought I saw him earlier, but I don't know." Ethan said. "He probably just went to the nurse—" He started to say, but then cut himself off, realizing what he was saying.
"Why would he go to the nurse?" Ethan had to think quick of a good answer that Jeremiah would believe.
"Uh, headaches." Ethan lied, it was the best he could think of in little time. "He told me he's been getting them." Jeremiah arched his eyebrow, but chose to let it go because it was obvious that Ethan wasn't going to tell him anything.
Then Connor ran into the choir and everyone turned their heads in shock to see him; he was soaked and his clothing were dripping with something; it didn't look like water. "Sorry, I'm late." Finn went over to him, followed by Ethan and Jeremiah.
"What happened to you?" Ethan asked, as he looked onto the floor to see that stuff dripping from Connor was blue. "What is this?"
"Slushy." Finn and Marley both said in unison, they had dealt with this first hand when they were in high school. "Connor, who did this to you?" Connor looked at his two friends and then back to Finn and Marley and shrugged.
"I don't know. I didn't see who it was." Connor said. Finn sighed, he didn't believe that for one second, but he decided to let it go.
"Mr. Hudson, can we help Connor clean up?" Ethan asked. "Jeremiah has clothes in his locker." Finn nodded and the three of them left the choir room. They stopped at Jeremiah's locker and got the clothes and then went into the boy's bathroom where Connor changed.
"Sorry, if they don't fit." Jeremiah apologized right before Connor came out of one of the stalls.
"It's fine. Better than my sticky and wet clothes." Connor said as he run some water through his hair to get what slushy, he could out.
"So who did this to you?" Ethan asked, once Connor finished. "And what happened exactly?"
"You can't tell anyone." Connor said and the other boys nodded in agreement. If they didn't agree, they knew Connor wouldn't tell them. "I was coming out of—my last class and I was on my way to the choir room, when he cornered me and just threw the blue drink in my face."
"Did he say anything to you? Like why did he do it?" Ethan asked him.
"Yeah, but it didn't make any sense." Connor said. "He said It has begun." Connor was right about it not making any sense, it didn't. What did he mean? What had started by throwing a slushy at Connor?
"We better get back." Jeremiah said and the other two boys agreed and they went back to the choir room and they noticed that Fighting For was written on the board, something else that didn't exactly make sense.
Ethan tapped Fiona, who was sitting right next to him on the shoulder. "Hey, what is the lesson about?" Ethan asked her.
"Basically we are singing songs about taking stands, being stronger, and stuff like that." Fiona told him and he smiled at her. "Thanks." Ethan replied and she grinned, before turning back to Finn, as he and Marley continued talking about the lesson. Then soon after they were finished, Jude and Rose went up to the front of the choir room; Jude had his guitar and started playing it.
[Jude]
When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we see
No, I won't be afraid
No, I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
[Jude & Rose]
And darling, darling, stand by me
Oh, now, now, stand by me
Stand by me, stand by me
[Rose]
If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
And the mountain should crumble to the sea
I won't cry, I won't cry
No, I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
[Jude & Rose]
And darling, darling stand by me
Oh, stand by me, stand by me
Stand by me, stand by me, yeah
[Rose]
Whenever you're in trouble
Won't you stand by me?
[Jude]
Oh, now, now, stand by me
Oh, stand by me, stand by me, stand by me
[Jude & Rose]
Darling, darling, stand by me
Stand by me, oh, stand by me
Stand by me, stand by me
Rose and Jude smiled at each other once they finished the song and everyone applauded. They then took their seats in the back of the room again. Once Glee Club was over for the day, Jude and Rose left together.
"So, how did you think it went?" Jude asked Rose, referring to the duet.
"I think it was good." Rose said.
"So… do you have practice today? I mean, not that I have a problem with it or anything, but—"
"But you want a little more time that doesn't involve me being lifted and touched by other guys?" Rose questioned and they both laughed, even though they both knew that was true. Jude honestly just wanted a little more time with her. "I's fine, I get it. Luckily, I am free today."
"Cool, so do you maybe want to—go get some food and I don't know, go to the park or something?" Jude asked. "Trust me, it's actually more fun than it sounds." Rose smiled at that, but then suddenly both Jude and Rose were covered in red liquid.
Jude wiped the slushy from his eyes and saw Aidan and his friends go the other way, laughing as they both stood their soaked and dripping in cold, red slushy. "Actually. I think I am going to go home and uh, get this stuff off of me." Rose said, starting to walk away.
"Wait." Jude said and Rose stopped and turned back to Jude. "Would you mind if I got cleaned up at yours? My parents will freak out if I come home like this." Rose thought for a moment, but then nodded.
Jude followed Rose home and they both went straight to the bathroom. Luckily Jude brought a change of clothes. Rose quickly showered to get any of the red colored slushy out of her hair as Jude changed and then tried getting as much slushy he could out of his clothes before he went home; but it was difficult since he only had soap and water in that bathroom.
Rose changed quickly after her shower and met Jude outside in the hallway. "Sorry, about this." Jude apologized, even when it wasn't even his fault.
"Hey, why are you apologizing?" Rose asked.
"Because it seems you always get hit when you are with me."
"He would have gotten use separately if not together. Remember how he got Connor earlier. He is probably targeting the Glee Club members because he has nothing better to do." She smiled at him and he smiled back. "Trust me, it's not your fault."
Just as they walked to the end of Rose's hallway, they were met by a woman coming through the door. "Oh, you're home so soon?" She asked and Jude looked at Rose, wondering who it was; even though it was probably her mother.
"Yeah, we kind of got a little dirty so, we needed to change." Rose said.
"Are you going to introduce me to your friend?" She asked and Rose rolled her eyes.
"This is Jude. Jude, this is my aunt." Rose said and Jude grinned at her aunt.
"Nice to meet you. I was about to make dinner, would you like to stay?" She then asked Jude and he glanced at Rose and decided against it even though he wanted to.
"I need to get home, my parents are probably already worrying about where I am." Jude said and Rose nodded as Rose led Jude out the door.
"Sorry about her, I don't really bring people home."
"She didn't seem bad at all." Jude said. "So why do you live with your aunt? What happened to your parents?"
"They died in a car crash when I was 11. And ever since I have lived with my aunt ever since." Rose told him and then she looked over and saw that he now had wide eyes; it was odd. "Are you okay?"
"Sorry, I have to go." Jude said and then ran off.
Colton bumped into Maya on his way out of his last class. "Hey, it's Maya, right?" Colton asked and Maya nodded. "I was wondering if you maybe want to do something?"
"Why? I mean, why would you want to hang out with me when you have other friends?" Maya said, nervously.
"Well, Aidan has kind of declared a war on me and he is sort of a dick. And Skylar is my only other friend and it's complicated." Colton said and Maya nodded.
"I was going home, if you want you could come over." Maya said and Colton nodded. Maya couldn't believe that Colton Lucas actually wanted to hang out with her; and agreed to go home with her.
Maya and Colton went straight from there to Maya's house, which wasn't that far from the school. When they went inside, Maya shouted to see if anyone was home, but there was no answer. "I guess we're alone." Maya said, she didn't seem surprised.
"Do your parents work?" Colton asked.
"It's just me and my dad and yeah he works a lot, but it's okay. I mean, it gives us time alone." Maya said, dropping her bag on the couch. Colton looked around, it was pretty obvious that her dad worked a good job. He then saw the piano and looked at Maya.
"You play piano?" Colton asked.
"Yeah, but anyway, so what do you want to do?" Maya asked.
"I kind of want to hear you play? Maybe work the on the Glee Club assignment." Colton suggested and Maya sighed. She loved to play and sing, but hated it when certain people watched her and Colton was one of them; she liked him and wasn't exactly 100% confident in her abilities to do in front of him.
"I guess I do have a song in mind I was thinking of doing." Maya said, and turned away instant. She knew what was coming next, but she didn't know if she should.
"Play for me." Colton said and Maya sighed.
"Okay, but I am warning you, I may mess up." Maya said, but Colton doubted that she would. Maya sat down at the piano with Colton close behind her and she began to play.
What you got if you ain't got love?
The kind that you just wanna give away
It's okay to open up
Go ahead and let the light shine through
I know it's hard on a rainy day
You wanna shut the world out
And just be left alone
But don't run out on your faith
'Cause sometimes that mountain you've been climbing
Is just a grain of sand
And what you've been out there searching for forever
Is in your hands
And when you figure out
Love is all that matters after all
It sure makes everything else
Seem so small
It's so easy to get lost inside
A problem that seems so big at the time
It's like a river that's so wide
It swallows you whole
While you're sitting around thinking 'bout what you can't change
And worrying about all the wrong things
Time's flying by, moving so fast
You better make it count 'cause you can't get it back
And when you figure out
Love is all that matters after all
It sure makes everything else
Seem so small
She finished and then smiled once she heard him applaud her. She turned around and he had a smile on his face. "That was amazing." Colton praised and Maya started to blush.
"It wasn't that good."
"It was beautiful." Colton said, taking her hands. "Like you." He whispered, looking her in the eyes and Maya didn't know what to say next, but luckily the front door then opened, with her dad coming inside; he was home from work.
"Dad!" Maya exclaimed in surprise that he was home earlier than usual.
"Hi honey." He said, but then frowned when he noticed Colton right in front of his daughter. "Who is this?"
"I'm Colton." He introduced himself.
"Do you two know each other from school?"
"Yeah. We are in Glee Club together and I was showing Colton what I did for this week's assignment." Maya explained and her dad seemed to believe her. Colton could tell that he was one of those protect his daughter at all costs type dads, so Colton thought that it would probably be best if he left.
"Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow Maya." Colton said and then left Maya alone with her father and she sighed. She didn't know if her dad coming home was good or bad because she didn't want him to leave, but also had no idea what to say to him next after what he did before her dad came in. She couldn't believe that Colton thought she was beautiful.
The next day, in the choir room, Ethan, Jeremiah, and Connor were performing a song together.
[Ethan]
When the day is long and the night
The night is yours alone
[Ethan & Connor]
When you're sure you've had enough
Of this life, well hang on
[Jeremiah]
Don't let yourself go, 'cause everybody cries
And everybody hurts sometimes
[Ethan, Jeremiah, & (Connor)]
Sometimes everything is wrong
Now it's time to sing along
When your day is night alone
(Hold on, hold on)
[(Ethan) & Jeremiah]
If you feel like letting go
(Hold on)
When you think you've had too much
Of this life, well hang on
[Ethan]
Don't throw your hand oh, no don't throw your hand
If you feel like you're alone, no, no, no, you are not alone
[Jeremiah]
Well, everybody hurts sometimes, everybody cries
[Connor]
And everybody hurts sometimes
[Ethan, Jeremiah, & Connor]
And everybody hurts sometimes so, hold on, hold on
After Glee Club was over, Connor let Jeremiah and Ethan go ahead without him while he stopped at the nurse like he usually did. He looked and he didn't see the nurse, but did see Chandler in there laying down; he wondered what happened to him because he wasn't in Glee Club.
Chandler sat up once Connor walked into the office. "Hey, what are you doing here?" Connor asked once Chandler sat up completely.
"Twisted my ankle, waiting for my mom to pick me up." Chandler answered. "You?"
"Nothing, how did you do it?"
"I told the nurse I tripped and fell down the stairs, but I can tell you that I was pushed and then fell." Chandler said and Connor had a feeling about who it was, but then wondered why he was telling him this.
"Okay, but why are you telling me?"
"Because I know you won't tell anyone." Chandler answered, looking at what Connor was now holding in his hand. "You have diabetes? That is what that is for?" Connor realized that he saw what was in his hand and nodded.
"I guess these things won't leave this room." Connor said and Chandler nodded in agreement.
"So why do you keep that a secret, what's the big deal, if you mind me asking?"
"I just don't want to be looked at differently. Anyway, with what is going on now with that guy Aidan and the glee club members, I don't really need people worrying about me or knowing about this." Connor explained. Chandler didn't really understand, but knew he wasn't Connor, so he wasn't going to question it.
Colton saw Maya in the hallway and was about to go up to her, when he noticed Skylar at his locker and realized he probably should say something to him; hopefully this would fix whatever window of opportunity there was left for the possibility of their friendship. "Hey." Colton said and Skylar turned around and his expression didn't change when he saw him. "Look, I'm sorry about the other… week."
"I just don't understand what happened. What did I do?" Skylar questioned.
"Nothing, honestly it was me being a dick." Colton said and Skylar grinned, but it soon faded. "Anyway, Aidan just made one of those gay jokes which doesn't mean anything to me. But I just have always had this need to be popular and I would do anything to get there. And when Aidan insulted… our friendship, it just got me angry and I took it out on you."
"And what do you think now?"
"Well, I kind of started the war against the glee club last week, so I don't think I am with his crowd anymore." Colton said.
"Right, Jude told me about that."
"Anyway, I realized that being popular could mean I would have to be like Aidan and I don't want to be like him." Colton said.
"So I am guessing this is a sort of friendship proposal." Skylar suggested and both boys laughed, right as Aidan and some of his friends came their way.
"Hey faggots! How's the engagement going?" Aidan said and Colton rolled his eyes as Skylar looked at Colton, he didn't know what to say to that.
"Can you just give it a rest!?" Colton shouted back. "Just because we're friends doesn't mean, we are dating."
"The only reason you are friends with this loser is because he is your only option." Aidan replied.
"At least, he is a decent person who doesn't try and beat up and tease others because you have homophobia and other problems in your life." Colton said and looked at Skylar. He knew he was doing right by this; he was doing this for his friend.
"Better watch it, Lucas or you, and Capone are going to regret this." Aidan threatened.
"What will you do?" Skylar questioned, trying to back Colton up. Aidan turned to his two friends that were behind him and gave a nod. Aidan stepped back and then two purple drinks were thrown onto both Skylar and Colton's face. They wiped their eyes so they could see, minus the small sting from the slushy going into the eyes.
"You think this will do anything close to stopping us?" Colton questioned. "I won't back down from this. You have nothing over me, Skylar, or anyone!"
[Colton (with Skylar)]
Well I won't back down, no I won't back down
You can stand me up at the gates of Hell
But I won't back down
No I'll stand my ground, won't be turned around
And I'll keep this world from draggin' me down
Gonna stand my ground and I won't back down
(I won't back)
Hey baby, there ain't no easy way out
(I won't back down)
Hey I will stand my ground
And I won't back down
Well I know what's right, I got just one life
In a world that keeps on pushin' me around
But I'll stand my ground and I won't back down
(I won't back down)
Hey baby there ain't no easy way out
(I won't back down)
Hey I will stand my ground
(I won't back down)
And I won't back down
(I won't back down)
Hey baby there ain't no easy way out
(I wont back down)
Hey I won't back down
So it looks like Jude and Rose are getting somewhere and Colton seems to be interested in Maya. And looks like Colton and Skylar made up. Doesn't look like Aidan's war on the Glee Members will end anytime soon.
Songs: Stand By Me (John Lennon), So Small (Carrie Underwood), Everybody Hurts (R.E.M.), & I Won't Back Down (Tom Petty).
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