When Geometry was over I met the two girls in the hall to make our way to lunch. Brittany ran out, gave me a quick hug and said she would call me tonight, she had to meet up with Santana. I tried to remember back to roll call and recall the names of the girls I was walking with. I think Tina was the Asian, which would make the other girl Mercedes. I tried to think about their last names when it hit me, "Tina, is your mom a doctor?"
She looked at me a little oddly, but answered me, "Um, she's a nutritionist, but yea, she's a doctor. Why?"
"She's my nutritionist." I answered quietly. I didn't want to start off a friendship lying to the girls, and while I still had some trust issues, I figured I had to start somewhere.
Mercedes laid a gentle hand on my shoulder, "Well Kurt, you seem to be looking well, so I guess she's doing her job." She smiled at me, her dark eyes sparkling in a way I've never seen before – not many people look me straight in the eyes to the point I can actually SEE their eyes. Maybe – just maybe – I had found people I could be friends with.
We spent the rest of lunch talking about fashion and music, the two things I know better than anyone I've ever met, male or female. Tina was shocked by how much I knew about Lady Gaga's life before she became a pop sensation and how I was able to find the deeper meaning in her songs, while Mercedes couldn't stop gushing over my impeccable taste in clothing, hair, and makeup and was trying to find a way to convince me to give her a total makeover.
The bell rang, signaling that we had to go our separate ways, but we exchanged numbers and promised to call or text tonight.
The rest of the day went well, considering I was still stuck in a school full of bullies, but knowing that when I got out of the shop tonight I had people to talk to made my day go by easier.
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"Hey kiddo, you seem to have a little spring in your step. I take it your first day went ok?" Dad asked after barely glancing at me as I walked in to the shop.
I started gushing about Tina and Mercedes and our plans to talk tonight, as well as how great Brittany had been the last few days and her promise to call me. Dad made a gruff noise, one which I assumed meant "glad you're making friends, but what about guys to hang out with and watch football with?". It was a question I had been asking myself all day – why did guys not approach me? I mean, yea, I dress in designer clothes, sometimes my accessories can be a little over the top, but they're all mens clothing, it's not like I'm in drag. And, yes, my voice is a little higher than it should be, but does it really matter? I just haven't hit that stage of puberty yet.
I continued musing about the reasons guys wouldn't talk to me while putting new brakes on a corvette. I was coveting the car more than working on it – yes it was pretty, but what I was really thinking about was how great it would be to have my own car – not necessarily a corvette, just a car.
When I finally got done with it, it was time for me to leave the shop and start on my homework. I started on the mile trek home, texting Mercedes as I went.
K: Hey, it's Kurt. I just got off work and was going to start on our homework – have you started it yet?
M: Oh hey Kurt. Not yet. I took Artie shopping for some back to school clothes.
Please don't tell me she has a boyfriend… Not that I want to be Mercedes boyfriend, but I didn't want to have to compete for her attention before we were even close friends.
K: Who's Artie? You're brother?
M: Haha. No, he's one of my best friends. He's in a wheelchair, so can't drive himself, and his dad was really busy at the law firm so didn't have time and asked me to take him.
Oh, just a best friend? That I can deal with… maybe I could be friends with him too.
K: Oh, well that's nice of you. I'd like to meet Artie sometime, you seem to really like him so I don't doubt that I would too.
M: That's a great idea! We were both going to try out for the new glee club at school. Now that Mr. Ryerson is gone I think it will be ok for us to join.
Glee club? As in singing with other people? If there was a big group of people at school that would sing with each other, and even in front of an audience, than maybe they would be accepting of me… it's worth a try.
K: Oh, there's a new glee club?
M: Yea, it'll be great. I'm pretty sure Tina and Artie are going to audition too.
K: Ok cool. So where are auditions being held? And do you know if I need to come with something specific prepared?
Now I was freaking out. I didn't want to get pushed to the side because I didn't have something ready. I hadn't really been keeping up on my practicing, what with homeschooling, the shop, having to go see Dr. Cohen-Chang…
M: I think Mr. Shuester just wants us to sing something – I don't think it has to be anything specific, just a song. And auditions will be in the auditorium, it's near the art and music rooms.
K: Ok, that won't be too bad. When are auditions?
M: Tomorrow after school. The sign up sheet went up this afternoon, but we have until auditions are over to put our name down and go in when Mr. Shuester calls us.
K: Ok cool. I guess I need to go then. Homework then practice.
M: Good luck! Call me if you need help with anything.
K: Will do. See you tomorrow.
I made a promise to myself right then and there. I would stop at nothing to be part of that glee club. Dad had told me I needed to be part of something at school, plus it was singing – something I liked to do. It would be an easy way to make friends – and if I was part of something, maybe the bullying would stop.
I quickly worked my way through the geometry problems, then turned on my iPod and started looking through my songs to find something. I knew I struck gold when I had hit my show-stoppers playlist, the first song – Mr. Cellophane.