Chapter 24

Born this Way Project

I had fun with this one, and some of it was challenging. I changed a few things of dialogue (you know who are, and what I'm talking about when you read it.) Anyhow on to the story…


(Nat)

From the moment Mr. Shue announced what we were doing, I instantly knew. It was an automatic response. As I grabbed my school supplies, it was another usual day. My parents arguing, about something. Niall, was ready for school, and I had enough.

"When are you two going to wake up, and become real parents? Since the car accident, and losing my leg, and Niall getting his disability, and going to that school, in which, we can barely afford, you two haven't done the parent duty!" I protest almost all at once. I didn't even think it would sound that bad, but then again, I had never really yelled at my parents before either. Before they could think of anything to say back, I had to the car with my brother, so I could get him to school, before he was late.

"You didn't have to yell at them, you know?" he exclaims.

"I had to do something. I'm your sister, I'm not supposed to be your mother, that's their job, I'm in school still, and I have glee rehearsals, and homework," I tell him, secretly regretting spilling all of this on to him.

"They still care about us, they don't know how to handle it, after the car accident," he tells me, before he gets out. I sometimes wondered who had it luckier, him or me. When I see him enter his school, I head towards McKinley, thinking in my head the solo that I would be doing today. As I pull into the schools parking lot, I pull the shirt out, and place it in my Ceshire Cat messenger bag, along with the sharpie marker. I would write Peg Leg on it later. No matter what, I was going to do what Violet was going to do, and wear it around school today. Today, I would show pride in it.


(Corey)

Do I have to spell it out for you

or scream it in your face?

Oh, the chemistry between us could destroy this place

Do I have to spell it out for you

or whisper in your ear?

Oh, just stop right there

I think that we've got something here

"So Lover Boy, I take it, you finally confessed, or are you working on that?" Violet asks, as she catches me in the auditorium, where I texted her and told her to meet me. "Because, I'm ninety nine point ninety nine ninety nine percent positive that's a love song, or it could just be a stalker song. You never can tell these days," she announces, as I see her wear her shirt she made for the project.

"Well…umm…about that," I begin to pick my confession wisely. I knew I was about to get lectured, but I wasn't sure how it was going to go down. "I kissed her, while we were hanging out watching The Walking Dead," I confessed.

"You did what? Does anyone else know? Corey, you idiot, you realize that she's with Darry? If he finds out about this, you're screwed," she lectures me.

"I know, but no one else knows, well besides you now, and I know you won't tell," I tell her, as our eyes meet.

"You just better hope that Kitty or Ryder didn't see you," she tells me. Then it dawned on me, she didn't seem at all surprised when I told her this.

"They weren't home," I protest.

"That's not the point," she answers me. Then she notices, that I'm looking at her t-shirt of the Breakfast Club.

"Maybe, I should put liar on my t-shirt. I'm not like you, who can place a nineteen eighties movie t-shirt on, and wear it as a glee club assignment," I tell her.

"Dinger, you go to the shrink, and tell her your problems, for this assignment, I expect you to do the same," she tells me, as she picks up her backpack, and heads towards the doors.

"She gets paid to pretend to listen, I'm not Anthony Michael Hall's character in the Breakfast Club, but I know one thing, I could use for this, I'm a former gymnast, and I suggest, at lunch time, you and I have a Lady Gaga date," I tell her as we leave the auditorium and head to our lockers.

"Oh good morning Ugly Fish," I hear Kitty sarcastically greet. That wasn't what I wanted to hear.

"Kitty what the hell do you want?" I ask back coldly.

"Oh just wondering if this was real or not?" she asks, as she pulls out her cell phone, and reveals to me what I had suspected. She knew but how? I was about to find out. "That's what I thought, since I didn't hear a denial," she answers.

"How the hell did you get that?" I ask.

"Well lets say that there is a lot you can from a little step brother, now isn't there?" she asks sarcastically, and then walks away.


(Jace)

Today was the first day that I was in Ms. Hayes's class, which was great. I was great with science, and I heard she had the best class amongst all of them. Not only did she teach science, she also taught astronomy, which, was another thing I liked. I was also hoping that Mr. Shue didn't want the shirts due today, because, well I still had nothing. I wondered what I could place on it. He mentioned that it could be something we didn't like about ourselves, or it could be preferably something we did like.

"You like you're having trouble," I asked the girl beside me. I didn't even know her name. "Do you need any help?" I add asking.

No answer, but I went on, and told her the answer anyways. "When two stars that orbit each other are as far away from each other as they can get. That's Apastron," I tell her.

"Thanks. You're that kid from that New Direction club, right?" she asks with a quick smile.

"Yeah, I'm Jace. I'm also known as other things," I tell her, and then try to turn back to my own astronomy work.

"I'm Ashlee, by the way. In case you were wondering," she introduces herself. Finally the bell announces the end of class, and I enter into the hallway. Then when I was by my locker, Mel came up to me.

"You seem really excited about something," she remarks, hinting around to find out what I was excited about.

"I have an astronomy project due, and I'm actually excited about it," I confess to her, as I place my astronomy books into my locker.

"I didn't expect you to like science so much," she announces sounding shocked.

"Why is it everyone assumes just because I'm Asian, I'll only have on fascination? When I graduate I'm attending college for Science, and from there, I want to work for NASA," I confess to her, even though, now she was officially the first person I had told.

"I believe in you Jace Park. Sure, I lost being class President, but I still have NYADA, in which, I'm applying for, so promise me, you won't give up on your goals," she tells me. I smile because, I knew the wavy ginger, green - grayed, Mel was right.

"So do you have any idea as to what you're planning to place on your shirt?" I ask her, as bunch of Cheerio's walk by and giggle about something.

"I'm not sure, as of yet, but by lunch time, I'll have it made," she tells me, as the beginning bell warns us to get to class.

"I'll see you in class, and thanks," I tell her, as I slip in to English class. Then I got the text message to show up in the auditorium at lunch time, before I opened my English textbook, and started to take notes, for the test we would have tomorrow.


(Hero)

"We need to talk about last night," he tells me, as he approaches me outside the gymnasium for gym class.

"Corey, I can't," I tell him, still feeling guilty about kissing him back.

"Really? Then you're going to pretend that nothing happened?" he asks coldly, but making a point.

"I'm with Daz," I answer him back, him and I both questioning that. Both of us going to keep it a secret.

"Are you really? Because you didn't turn away that kiss. If you really loved him, you would have pushed me away," he tells me, both of us knowing it was true. "C'mon come to auditorium with me. We're both skipping," he tells me, as he takes my hand, I want to let go, but I don't.

"I told you, I can't," I tell him again, as we walk headed towards the auditorium.

"Then why are you?" he asks, as he opens the auditorium doors, and we head to the stage, where the piano is. I had no answer for him.

"That's what I thought," he tells me, as he sits down on the piano bench. Then he began to sing.

It doesn't matter if you love him or capital H-I-M

Just put your paws up

'Cause you were born this way, baby

I knew he hadn't seen me, but I rolled my eyes and smiled. I watched as his dyed purple hair reflected in the light. Then I realized he had worn his white shirt, with the word Gymnast on it. I look down at my shirt, which has Hero written on it. I had always secretly hated my name, because it was a boys name, and who names their kid Hero anyways? Besides when you're four, and your father dies on the streets on New York City on September Eleventh two thousand one, wouldn't your hate the name as well? That's what I thought. I also hated the fact that I had often been told back in Maine, that I looked like him. I often doubted it. Then I joined in.

My mama told me when I was young

We are all born superstars

She rolled my hair and put my lipstick on

In the glass of her boudoir


(Violet)

"Dinger, I told you, if Greaser Swayze found out, you'll be screwed," I mention, as I walk in and see the two love birds together. "But I'm not surprised. Aside that, don't we have a lunch date with a Lady Gaga, in which, totally is a Madonna wannabe, by the way," I protest as I take off my Sherman High School hoodie, Then I reveal the Girls Team est. 1996.

"What? I'm proud of it," I remark. "Unlike Lady Goo Goo Gaga, who totally ripped off Madonna's Express Yourself," I remark.

"That was only a rumor, I song facts it," Corey announces.

"Of course you'd defend her," I remarked, and then the doors opened. We all stopped to look to see who it could be. It was Jace. He walked down to the stage where we were, and placed his bag down in the chair.

"I got your text Corey. I see you have your shirts ready, and I have nothing," he tells us. "Well unless you want to count, my encounter with Sue Sylvester, who called me Asian Frankenteen," he tells us.

"Be lucky that's all she called you. Trust me, I should know," I tell him. "You calling me Rockin' Grohl yesterday, is better than what she could call you," I tell him, as I grab the music sheet from Corey, and studied it.

"Do you know if anyone else is showing up, or are they waiting for rehearsals today?" he asks.

"Well Corey texted everyone else," I tell him. Then as he got impatient, I noticed he was going something, I would have never guessed. Then I enter to Corey, and whispered in his ear.

"Are you seeing what I'm seeing? The Cajun Asian is doing Gangnum Style, and he can sing, I totally vote him for National's!" I saw the look in Corey's face, and I knew he had agreed.


(Abbie)

Dyslexic. The word I had written on my shirt. I told Andy, so why not let everyone else know? Sure, Kitty would make fun of me for it, and Sue would say something worse about. I was sure I could handle it. Then Natalie caught up with me, as I walked from the Foreign language department.

"What's up Co-Captain" she asks me with a quick smile.

"Not much, really. Nice shirt," she answers me, as she sees my shirt.

"Thanks, yours as well," I tell her. "I can't wait to see what else everyone else has on their shirts, and do this," I add with a smile.

"Well if it isn't the retard crew!" we hear the cold voice of Kitty. That caused me to snap.

"If Sue wants to offend us, why don't she do it herself, and why is it always you? Yeah, I know you dated both of my brothers, which totally gross by the way, but can't she do her dirty work for herself?" I asked her all at one, holding Natalie back. "I would love to see what your answer is, but I have rehearsals to get to," I add before she could say anything, and head into the auditorium.

"I can't believe you just did that. No one does that to Kitty Wilde," Natalie tells me, sounding shocked. "You realize you just made yourself a target for her now?" she asks, then smiles when she sees Corey.

"Why don't you just tell him? What could it hurt?" I ask, already guessing the answer.

"We're just friends, kind of like, you and Andy," she tells me, before we walk up on stage with Jace, Corey, Hero, and Violet.

"Well we have Nat, and 90210 come in," I heard Violet announce, as she notices.

"That's not my name," I tell her in a warning tone.

"Trust me, she has a name for everyone. I've had Dinger, since she told me I looked like Corey Haim. You'll get used to it," Corey tells me.

"Maybe," I tell him a little less edgier than I had with her.

"So have we done any of this song yet?" asks Natalie breaking the short silence between all of us.

"Well before anyone showed up, Corey, and I, did the first two lines, but that was all. We were kind of hoping that everyone else would show up," Hero announces proudly.

"Do you think we could start? I have Latin after lunch, and I think a few have second lunch," wonders Natalie.

"I don't think that would be a problem," Corey tells her, as he hands her the music sheet. Then he sat down at the piano, and started to play.

It doesn't matter if you love him or capital H-I-M

Just put your paws up

'Cause you were born this way, baby

Then Hero, took her turn at the vocal. I watched as Violet rolled her eyes about, well, whatever it was that Violet rolled her eyes about.

My mama told me when I was young

We are all born superstars

She rolled my hair and put my lipstick on

In the glass of her boudoir

And then Violet took her vocal. She didn't look as though she was excited about it, but naturally that was Violet. Then she started to dance a little, which was cute. The former cheerleader was doing dances Sue would coach.

There's nothin' wrong with lovin' who you are

She said, 'cause He made you perfect, babe

So hold your head up, girl and you you'll go far

Listen to me when I say

Then Jace, and Nat took the music sheet, and took their part. The more he sang, the more, Jace sounded better. Then her revealed his white shirt that said Biologist. I took it as though he had been into science. I finally got the idea of the subject. I looked at noticed Nat had a shirt that said Peg Leg on it. Suddenly, I didn't mind having Dyslexia written on my shirt.

(Jace : ) I'm beautiful in my way

'Cause God makes no mistakes

(Nat) I'm on the right track, baby

I was born this way

The lunch bell went off announcing that the end of first lunch was done, but everyone stayed behind, and waited to see who else would show up. Then we just stood around.

"You sounded great Jace," I told him, as I played quickly with my hair.

"Thanks, Abbie," he told me with a quick smile, and then as we paused, he went back to studying the music sheet.


(Katie)

"DJ, I'm going to be late, because of you," I protest, as we stand in the hallway.

"It's lunch time, what could you possibly be late for? I'm sure that I heard Joss Whedon wasn't filming today, that's tomorrow," he teases me.

"No I'm going to be late for rehearsals," I tell him.

"Rehearsals for what?" he asks curiously.

"The thing I have my t-shirt for, which, is glee club, and now because you're late, I'm making you come to the lunch time rehearsal with me," I tell him, as he holds his DC Comic books, in his arms, as though someone would steal them.

"Who says I want to?" he protests.

"I did, and you want to see me sing. I'm not wearing Loki Fangirl for nothing, and besides, you might rather enjoy it," I tell him, as he gives up, and follows me towards the auditorium. When we got there, Jace, and Corey are the only two boys there, not including DJ now.

"This is DJ," I introduce, as he sits down in the auditorium seat, in the first row. "He wants to pretend he's not here, so with that being said, I'm pretending that's happening," I add, as I join the group up on stage.

"I like it, the name fits you, which now brings to mind a nickname for you, Girl Loki" Violet chimed in when she saw the shirt.

"Thanks. I wanted something different, something that fit my personality," I tell her, and then admire her Girls Team t-shirt.

"We're almost all here," Corey points out, as he spiked his once again dyed hair.

"Just six more to show up," I added, as though it weren't already obvious.

"Do you suppose Mr. Shue will show up for this?" Abbie asks. Then I noticed Jace was in back of the stage, going something I wouldn't have suspected, and then I had to show off that I could do it as well.

"I'm totally getting this on my cell," I hear Violet announce proudly as we do our Gangnum dance off. I was totally winning.


(Andy)

Ginger. The word I had written on my shirt seemed so old now. I remember I had changed it blond so much because of being teased when I was younger. It was one of the many words and ideas I had, but that one won out. I walk into the auditorium with my next classes books, and bag, and plop them down on the auditorium seats.

"Did I miss anything?" I ask curiously as I walk up on to the stage.

"Well your girlfriend yelled at Kitty. Nat is skipping class, Katie and Jace had a Gangnum off, in which, Katie almost won, and Katie brought her nerd friend, otherwise no you didn't miss anything Pony Boy," Violet speaks up.

"We were rehearsing Born this Way before you showed up," Abbie announced with a smile, and was blushing.

"Where did you leave off?" I ask. "I wouldn't mind working on it until the others showed up," I added. "Oh and Violet, for the record, Abbie isn't my girlfriend," I tell her.

"Whatever you say Pony Boy," she said as she pointed to where they left off, and Corey keyed the piano.

Don't hide yourself in regret

Just love yourself and you're set

I'm on the right track, baby

I was born this way, born this way

"For the record, Pony Boy was a ginger. See I told you, you'd relate to him," Violet told me after I sang a part of the song. "So don't be afraid, and if people don't like it, well, screw them," she adds.

"Thanks for that advice, I guess," I tell her.

"Not a problem Pony Boy," she answers me again, and then Abbie begins to sing the part after mine.

Ooh, there ain't no other way, baby, I was born this way

Baby, I was born this way

Ooh, there ain't no other way, baby, I was born this way

I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way


(Daz)

Puppy dog eyes. I always hated hearing that. Unfortunately, it was a part of my past, and something I didn't like, so I placed it down. Reason being as to why I always hated it was because, people always told me, I looked cute with them. Then I walked into the auditorium, wearing my shirt with pride.

"Well look who's here, Greaser Swayze himself," I hear Vi.

"Happy to see you as well Vi. I mean it's been what? Three hours?" I ask.

"You haven't come to steal Hero, because, if you have, well I'm sorry to say, you can't have her for another four hours, because we still have rehearsals tonight," Corey announces.

"No I came to sing with the rest of you guys," I announce excitedly.

"We just need Bran, Levy, and Mel," Abbie announces, as I scan around and see everyone else's shirt. Everyone had been so creative, it seemed crazy, but I wouldn't have traded it for anything. We had fifteen minutes left until all of us had to return to classes, and then we'd have to do this all over again for Mr. Shue. Then the doors opened.


(Brant)

Boy Joy. Everyone knew I was who I was, so why hide it? From the Ke$ha and Avril fascinations, to me being on the swim team. Again, why hide it?

"You did it!" shrieked Violet, as she ran up and hugged me.

"Why wouldn't I? That was the point to the project, now wasn't it?" she asks.

"Even Girl Loki understood that," she adds. "Now get up here, and do this with us. Yes, before you ask, everyone else has already had their turn," she instructs. I roll my eyes and get up there with them.

Don't be a drag, just be a queen

Don't be a drag, just be a queen

Don't be a drag, just be a queen

Give yourself prudence and love your friends

Subway kid, rejoice of truth

In the religion of the insecure

I must be myself, respect my youth

"Hey Captain Butterscotch, get up here. We need another person for this," Violet instructs the boy who was sitting in the seat, as I came in. I recognized the ginger headed boy, though I didn't have any classes with him. He must have had classes with her, because he walked up on stage with us, and started to sing.

A different lover is not a sin

Believe capital H-I-M

I love my life, I love this record and

Mi amore vole fe yah

"Girl Loki, Captain Butterscotch needs in ASAP, you better bring him for this performance this afternoon," she instructs.


(Levy)

Dreamer. I was always dreaming. Someday I was going to get away from Lima first. I walked into the auditorium with pride, because I was ready to do this, though, I would have to do it again when we revealed to Mr. Shue what we had done.

"Come on, we've been waiting for you and Mel to show up," I hear Abbie, as I walked on stage.

"I almost forgot about it," I tell them, as I reveal my word. Then I realized I really wasn't all that creative after all, but it was me. Chuck Taylor's, occasional red glasses, Disney music and all.

"We left off here," Hero announces, as she points to where they were, and signals Corey to key the piano again.

I'm beautiful in my way,

'Cause God makes no mistakes

I'm on the right track, baby

I was born this way

Don't hide yourself in regret,

Just love yourself and you're set

I'm on the right track, baby

I was born this way

"Mr. Shue, is going to love this," Abbie remarks, as I finish singing my part.

"I totally agree," I tell her with a smile and a little giggle. For this, I wouldn't miss it for anything, and then I saw something that I was sure Daz, hadn't, but I didn't say anything. Hero and Corey were totally eyeing each other. If she was doing what I thought she was doing, I couldn't believe she would do a thing like that to Daz.


(Mel)

I was the last one to show up, but it seemed they forgave me for that. I walked in with Helper not a Loaner on my shirt. I figured with everyone I was helping, it would totally fit. Then I noticed Jace had something on his shirt, and I smiled when I noticed it was what we were talking about earlier. I smile quickly so he couldn't see me do it. Then I walked on stage, did my waves, and joined in with them.

Ooh, there ain't no other way, baby, I was born this way

Baby, I was born this way

Ooh, there ain't no other way, baby, I was born this way

I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way

Don't be drag, just be a queen

Whether you're broke or evergreen

You're black, white, beige, chola descent

You're Lebanese, you're orient

"So is everyone ready to show Mr. Shue what we have today?" asked Violet excitedly.

"I think, that may have been the first time, I ever heard you excited about anything," I answered her back, knowing everyone had the same thing on their minds, as we exited the auditorium with cheers of excitement before we headed to our classes.


(Violet, music room)

"Greaser Swayze what the hell was that yesterday?" I asked him coldly.

"What do you mean?" he asks sounding confused.

"The Coldplay thing with Girl Loki, did you even ask her about it?"

"What does it matter to you, she's my girlfriend, not yours,"

"Maybe not, but she's one of my best friends, you break her heart, I break your face," I tell him, but stop myself before I can say anything else, though, I should, I couldn't find my place to do so.

"You won't have to worry about that," he tells me, it was too bad, he didn't know what I did. Then everyone else walked in. It looked like, it would be another lesson without the mentors, which, to be honest, was good, because I wanted to know one way or another what Quinn had in for me. Then Blaine, and Joe came in, and asked Mr. Shue if they could be a part of this, since they hadn't done it the first time. Blaine even had a shirt that said Likes Boys, in which, I assumed was Kurt's, and Joe had Teen Jesus on his.

When it came time, Bran and I did our part, we had planned out.

No matter gay, straight or bi

Lesbian, transgendered life

I'm on the right track, baby

I was born to survive

(Brant) No matter black, white or beige

Chola or orient made

I'm on the right track, baby

I was born to be brave

Then Abbie stepped forward, and did her solo again. I loved how we planned all of this out, so we could make this as good as we could for our performance.

I'm beautiful in my way

'Cause God makes no mistakes

I'm on the right track, baby

I was born this way

Jace, had his next solo, and he sang with pride. I was totally have a say in him doing National's, especially since he did Gangnum, and beat out Katie, just barely though.

Don't hide yourself in regret,

Just love yourself and you're set

I'm on the right track, baby

I was born this way, yeah

Then he broke out into the Gangnum dance again, which made a couple of us giggle. He was good at that I give him that. Then all did solo's on finishing the song.

I was born this way, hey

I was born this way, hey

I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way, hey

"That was great you guys. You guys made it better than the first time we did this, especially with Jace doing his Gangnum," Mr. Shue told us, with a smile on his face.

"Glad you liked it Mr. Shue," Abbie announced happily.

Then Kitty walked in.

"What are you doing here?" I ask coldly.

"Oh just returning this phone to Corey, by the looks, he may want to watch who finds it next time," she tells him with a wink, and instead of leaving, she takes a seat beside him.