McKinley High School Chapter 2: I Am Unicorn, a glee fanfic

Disclaimer: I do not own Glee

Chapter 2: I Am Unicorn

Mia turned away from her discussion with Tina and Mercedes as Mr. Schue entered the room.

"Alright, New Directions." The teacher said, addressing them. "Big news. As you all know, Vocal Adrenaline came in second last year at nationals."

Mia leaned over to Tina. "Who's Vocal Adrenaline?"

"Vocal Adrenaline is our biggest rivals." Tina explained. "We have a long history with them."

"The only good thing to come out of that lost weekend." Finn interjected as Rachel lightly hit him. "Besides us getting back together." He amended.

"Well, the boosters at Carmel don't donate tens of thousands of dollars every year to come in second, so they fired Dustin Goolsby." Mr. Schue continued.

"So handsome." Artie commented.

Mia rolled her eyes. If she didn't know any better, she would have questioned his sexuality.

"And they're having trouble finding a new coach." Mr. Schue informed them. "It seems that no-one wants to take on that pressure cooker."

"That means they're vulnerable." Tina concluded.

"Yes, and if we work hard enough, we can beat them." Mr. Schue agreed. "Which is why I realize that, umm, I can't direct the musical this year."

Rachel started panicking. "No, Mr. Schue, you can't cancel the musical. My New York dreams depend on it."

Mia rolled her eyes. He just said he wasn't directing it, not that it was canceled.

"I'm not canceling it. I'm just not directing it." Mr. Schue assured her. "My sole focus has to be in here. Nationals, Nationals, Nationals! And it's not just me that's gonna have to focus harder this year. I've been too easy on you, so everyday after choir practice I am instituting a mandatory Booty Camp so that we can work on our dancing. Now, it's not for all of you. Just the people that I think need help. Like—"

Finn shook his head. "Finn."

"How did you know?" Mr. Schue questioned. "And Puckerman, Hummel."

Kurt spoke up. "I must protest."

"You kinda have one move, Kurt." Mike interjected. "It's like this sashay and it's super distracting."

Mr. Schue continued. "Jones.

"What? Hell to the nizzy— no." Mercedes protested.

"You told me once that you were Beyonce. You don't think she spends extra time in the dance studio?" Mr. Schue pointed out. "Mike Chang has offered to be my assistant and we start tomorrow and yes, Puckerman, it is mandatory."

"Mr. Schuester, would you mind if I dropped by for a little bit?" Blaine asked. "I really need to catch up with you guys.

"Can I drop by as well?" Mia asked. "I've danced for years but I don't know what kind of dancing you guys do that much."

"Okay, Mr. Schue, I'm glad that you're so concerned with our special-needs members, but what about me." Rachel protested. "Okay, who's gonna direct the musical?"

"Ladies and gentleman, your co-musical directors. Ms. Pillsbury and Coach Beiste." Mr. Schue stepped aside to reveal the two aforementioned teachers. "Now, Ms. Pillsbury did such a good job helping me out with Rocky Horror last year that I knew she could handle the job."

"And I'm here to keep the football guys in line and I've also talked them into playing the Jets." Coach Beiste commented.

Rachel continued to protest. "Mr. Schue, with all due respect to Ms. Pillsbury and Coach Beiste, this is crazy— they have absolutely zero experience in directing a musical."

For once, Mia agreed with Rachel. Why have directors who don't know how to direct?

"Not true." Coach Beiste corrected the girl. "In college I was in 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum'. I played the forum."

"The teachers at this school are already overworked and unfortunately a lot of them agree with Sue that the arts are a waste of time. Besides, they are gonna have some help. I have decided to include a student director this year." Mr. Schue informed the group.

Rachel interjected. "Mr. Schue, I'm honored, but Barbra was forty when she directed herself in Yentl so it's just, it's too soon."

Brittany turned to Rachel. "I hate you."

Mia rolled her eyes and turned to Tina and Mercedes. "I can't believe you put up with her for two years."

"I would say you get used to it." Mercedes said. "But you don't."

"I was actually hoping that Artie would take the job." Mr. Schue corrected her.

Artie looked shocked. "Me? I've developed my whole persona around conflict avoidance."

"Come on, Artie." Tina assured him. "You've made short films. Directing is your dream. You can do it."

"I'm in." Artie concluded.

Mr. Schue smiled at him. "Alright. That's what I like to hear, buddy."

A girl that Mia recognized from around the school appeared at the doorway. "I watched you perform. You guys sucked ass."

"I'm sorry, and you are?" Rachel asked, offended and for once, Mia agreed with her.

"I'm Sugar Motta, and I have self-diagnosed Aspergers so i can pretty much say whatever I want. I'm like a diplomat's daughter." She said, walking into the room.

"That's not how that works." Mia pointed out, but Sugar ignored her.

Mr. Schue turned to face her. "How can we help you, Sugar?"

"Here's the deal. I'm awesome, and I want to be a big, big star. And when I saw you guys singing and dancing in the cafeteria, I thought, 'I am so much better than you.' Sorry, Aspergers."

Mia wanted to point out that you can't say you have a mental illness, just so you can be mean, but she knew Sugar wouldn't listen to her so she didn't say anything.

"Well, great!" Will exclaimed, happy to have an audition. "You see guys, you have inspired another audition. Good job! Sugar, why don't you show us what you can do. Take your time, whenever you're ready."

"Get ready to taste some sweet ear candy." Sugar told them, before turning around. She faced Brad. "Hit it, hottie."

The minute you walked in the joint

The moment Sugar, opened her mouth, Mia cringed. She was absolutely terrible. Mia looked around the choir room and noticed that the rest of the New Directions had similar looks on their faces, except for Brittany, who was enjoying it.

I could see you were a man of distinction
A real big spender
Good-looking, so refined
Wouldn't you like to know what's going on in my mind?

"Her ears should get to park in my handicapped spot." Mia heard Artie mutter, and she internally giggled at his comment.

Hey, big spender
Spend... oh
A little time
With me
Yeah.

"Holy…shhhh-ugar!" Mr. Schue exclaimed, stopping for swearing at the last sentence. Mia rolled her eyes. They were high school students, as if they didn't swear.

Sugar looked confident that she had gotten in. "Text me, RE: the rehearsal sched."

"Of course." Mr. Schue looked completely confused.

Rachel hit him on the shoulder, and took over the conversation. For once, Mia was glad about her insistence to be in charge. "Mr. Schue, stop speaking. Okay, uh Sugar - we'll be in touch. Thank you. Bye." As soon as Sugar left the room, Rachel dropped her overly polite act. "Okay - I think I speak for everyone when I say 'never gonna happen.'"

Mercedes shook her head and Mia nodded along. Sugar was absolutely horrible and wouldn't do them any good.

"Guys, I know she was…a little rough, but we have always had the policy that everyone who tries out gets in." Mr. Schue said, trying to gain control of the situation.

"You're not doing her any good sheltering Sugar from the truth, okay? High school is where you learn it's survival of the fittest. She's gonna drag the New Directions down, and that's not fair for those of us who don't want to spend our lives rotting in this insignificant town. You said the other day that you would do anything to get us to Nationals, okay? And she is gonna keep us from winning that elusive crown. If anything, she is gonna kill all of our chances."

Mia leaned over to Tina and Mercedes. "For once I have to agree with Rachel."

"That doesn't happen often." Tina commented.

"Okay." Mr. Schue said, as they all filed out of the room. "Be back here tomorrow, dressed and ready for Booty Camp."

The next day, as they all stretched and got ready for Booty Camp, Mercedes spoke up. "Listen, Mr. Schue. I am all for participating, but Shane says I'm more of a 'park and bark,' and I tend to agree."

"A what and what?" Finn asked, confused, and for the first time, Mia agreed with him.

"Park and Bark. I stand center-stage singing the notes no-one else can while all of you guys dance around me."

"Booty Camp is about all of you dancing, Mercedes. In unison." Mr. Schue pulled her up and addressed the group. "I mean, look at Vocal Adrenaline. When they're in sync - one big, terrifying machine - they're unstoppable. Mike, do you're thing. Let's go." Mr. Schue told them, and everyone got up and made it to the center of the room.

Mike looked around at everyone. "The jazz square, the grapevine, the step-touch, the kick-ball-change, and pivot. We perfect these basics, we'll win Nationals. Grapevine to the right: 5, 6, 7, 8."

Mr. Schue started the music and everyone began to dance. Mia had no problem with it, after years of dancing, and did the familiar movies perfectly, but not everyone was having the same luck.

"Keep it going." Mr. Schue instructed them.

Puck started chanting in time to the beat. "I. Am. In. Hell."

"At least he's in beat." Mia whispered to Mercedes, who giggled.

"Finn, you look like you're stepping on bees." Mike told Finn. "Come on, Mercedes, blend!" He instructed the other girl.

"Kurt, jazz hands!" Mr. Schue yelled at him.

Kurt dropped his hands in annoyance. "Fine!"

After Booty Camp was over, Mike and Mr. Schue pulled Mia aside. "Did I do something wrong?" Mia asked, not wanting to get in trouble her second week.

"No." Mike told her. "The opposite actually. You're a really good dancer. We were going to tell you that you don't have to come to Booty Camp anymore, but Mr. Schue and I decided that we want everyone to come, so we can learn more complex moves. I just wanted to tell you good job, keep up the good work."

"Thanks." Mia said, grabbing her stuff and walking out of the choir room.

Mercedes was waiting for her outside the door. "What did Mr. Schue and Mike want?" Mercedes asked as they headed towards their cars.

"They came to tell me I did a good job." Mia explained. "Originally, they were going to tell me that I don't have to come to Booty Camp anymore, but now they are having everyone come to Booty Camp, so we can learn more complex moves." She turned to her friend. "I want to say thank you actually."

"For what?" Mercedes looked confused.

"For being nice to me that first day." Mia explained. "If it wasn't for you, Tina, and Artie, I probably would have never joined New Directions. Bye!" She called, heading to her car.

The next morning, Mia met Tina and Mercedes in the hallway. She turned to them, staring oddly at the posters of Kurt on the wall.

"What are those?" She asked, gesturing to the posters.

"They're Kurt's presidential campaign posters." Tina explained. "Brittany was helping him, so that explains the unicorns."

"I don't think Kurt likes them very much." Mercedes said, gesturing down the hallway to where Kurt was talking to Santana and Brittany. The three of them could overhear part of the conversation.

"This is not the poster we agreed on." Kurt said, turning to the two girls and holding up one of the posters.

"The poster that you wanted gave me crippling depression." Brittany deadpanned.

"I wanted something toned down!" Kurt insisted.

Santana turned to him. "This is toned down. In the original, the unicorn was riding you."

Brittany looked frustrated. "I don't know why you're so upset. You're special. You need to embrace it. This is who you are."

"I'm not gonna win." Kurt said, sounding upset.

"Well." Mia said, heading with her friends towards math. "I hope everything works out for him. I think he would be a great president."

Tina and Mercedes nodded. "Agreed."

Tina turned to Mia. "Are you auditioning for the musical?"

Mia nodded. "Yeah, but I'm just going out for chorus."

Mercedes stared at her. "Why? You should try out for a part. You're just as good as Rachel, you should challenge her."

Mia shrugged. "I'm new. All of you guys have been here for a while, I don't want to take something from the seniors either."

Tina shook her head. "None of us would hate you for getting the part. Besides, I hear Blaine's auditioning for Tony and he's a junior and new too."

Mia nodded. "You're right. Maybe I should audition for something."

"What are you auditioning for?" Tina asked, as they slid into their seats.

Mia thought for a second. "I think Maria."

Mercedes smiled at her. "You would make a great Maria, even if it means we will be competition."

Mia giggled. "I won't go easy on you."

"I won't either." Mercedes smiled at her.

Class started and Mia began pouring over ideas for her audition song. By the end of class, she had decided.

"Okay Mia. We're ready for you." Artie called out.

Mia walked onto the stage, nodding to Brad, before singing.

Primadonna girl, yeah
All I ever wanted was the world
I can't help that I need it all
The primadonna life, the rise and fall
You say that I'm kinda difficult
But it's always someone else's fault
Got you wrapped around my finger, babe
You can count on me to misbehave
Primadonna girl

Would you do anything for me?
Buy a big diamond ring for me?
Would you get down on your knees for me?
Pop that pretty question, right now baby
Beauty queen on a silver screen
Living life like I'm in a dream
I know I've got a big ego
I really don't know why it's such a big deal though

And I'm sad to the core, core, core
(Yeah) Every day is a chore, chore, chore
(Wow) When you give, I want more, more, more
I wanna be adored

'Cause I'm a Primadonna girl, yeah
All I ever wanted was the world
I can't help that I need it all
The primadonna life, the rise and fall
You say that I'm kinda difficult
But it's always someone else's fault
Got you wrapped around my finger, babe
You can count on me to misbehave
Primadonna girl

Fill the void up with celluloid
Take a picture, I'm with the boys
Get what I want 'cause I ask for it
Not because I'm really that deserving of it
Living life like I'm in a play
In the limelight, I want to stay
I know I've got a big ego
I really don't know why it's such a big deal, though

Going up, going down, down, down
(Yeah) Anything for the crown, crown, crown
(Wow) When the lights dimming down, down, down
I spin around

The three directors broke out into applause.

"That was wonderful Mia." Ms. Pillsbury told the girl. "Cast list will be up Friday. Thank you for auditioning."

Mia nodded before exciting the auditorium, feeling happier about herself than she had in a long time.

"You're up next Santana." Artie called out, and Santana came out onto stage.

Beiste nodded. "When you're ready."

Santana nodded to Brad and the music started.

I don't wanna see the wires in the circus anymore
I wanna dream and make believe people can fly
I don't need to be reminded what it takes to kill the fun
I've got a head full of sharp knives

Yeah, it's easy to get colder
And it's easy to forget
So meet me where the light's dim

We can wake up every mornin'
We can set ourselves on fire
And we can do it all again

The world don't speak for us
They lack the confidence
Yeah, we're only hearts and bones and blood
Oh, but we are giants
Giants

The walls are closing in
We climb and they descend
With nothing but the clouds against our skin
Oh, we are giants
Giants

I wanna roll around the darkness
'Til the darkness goes away
'Til the television finally tells the truth
You know everybody's scared of things they don't understand
And all the living they don't do

Yeah, it's easy to get colder
And it's easy to forget
So meet me where the lights dim

We can wake up every mornin'
We can set ourselves on fire
And we can do it all again

The world don't speak for us
They lack the confidence
Yeah, we're only hearts and bones and blood
Oh, but we are giants
Giants

The walls are closing in
We climb and they descend
With nothing but the clouds against our skin
Oh, we are giants
Giants

I'm done tryin' to fit in
And be half forgiven for things that I never did
We're more than what scares us
We're final and fearless
We'll dance where the ice gets thin
Gets thin

The world don't speak for us
They lack the confidence
Yeah, we're only hearts and bones and blood
Oh, but we are giants
Giants

The walls are closing in
We climb and they descend
With nothing but the clouds against our skin
Oh, we are giants
Giants

The three directors broke in applause. Emma nodded to Santana. "Cast list will be up Friday."

Santana nodded and moved off the stage.

"You're up next Quinn." Artie called out, and Quinn came out onto stage.

Beiste nodded. "When you're ready."

Quinn nodded to Brad and the music started.

I would be complex, I would be cool
They'd say I played the field before I found someone to commit to
And that would be okay for me to do
Every conquest I had made would make me more of a boss to you

I'd be a fearless leader
I'd be an alpha type
When everyone believes ya
What's that like?

I'm so sick of running as fast as I can
Wondering if I'd get there quicker if I was a man
And I'm so sick of them coming at me again
'Cause if I was a man, then I'd be the man
I'd be the man
I'd be the man

They'd say I hustled, put in the work
They wouldn't shake their heads and question how much of this I deserve
What I was wearing, if I was rude
Could all be separated from my good ideas and power moves

And they would toast to me, oh, let the players play
I'd be just like Leo in Saint-Tropez

What's it like to brag about raking in dollars
And getting bitches and models?
And it's all good if you're bad
And it's okay if you're mad
If I was out flashing my dollars
I'd be a bitch, not a baller
They'd paint me out to be bad
So, it's okay that I'm mad

I'm so sick of running as fast as I can
Wondering if I'd get there quicker if I was a man (You know that)
And I'm so sick of them coming at me again (Coming at me again)
'Cause if I was a man (If I was a man)
Then I'd be the man (Then I'd be the man)
I'm so sick of running as fast as I can (As fast as I can)
Wondering if I'd get there quicker if I was a man (Hey)
And I'm so sick of them coming at me again (Coming at me again)
'Cause if I was a man (If I was a man), then I'd be the man
I'd be the man
I'd be the man (Oh)
I'd be the man (Yeah)
I'd be the man (I'd be the man)

The three directors broke in applause. Emma nodded to Quinn. "Cast list will be up Friday."

Quinn nodded and moved off the stage.

"You're up next Puck." Artie called out, and Puck came out onto stage.

Beiste nodded. "When you're ready."

Puck nodded to Brad and the music started.

Twenty miles from anyone
Set my sights on the setting sun
Heaven talks, but not to me
Cause Heaven knows that nothing good comes free

Desolation tragedy
Is there nothing good in me, is there nothing good in me?
Is there nothing good in me, is there nothing good in me?

I've let me down, down, down, down
I've let me down, down, down, down

Petty lies to everyone
In the hopes that I could be someone
Heaven talks, but not to me
And now I wonder if it's meant to be

Desolation tragedy
Is there nothing good in me, is there nothing good in me?
Is there nothing good in me, is there nothing good in me?
I've let me down, down, down, down
I've let me down, down, down, down
I've let me down, down, down, down
I've let me down, down, down, down

I'll take your word, cause after all
You've never lied, oh not at all
But look at me, oh what a mess
I get caught up in the things that matter the least
Oh let me have release

I've let me down, down, down, down
I've let me down, down, down, down
I've let me down, down, down, down
I've let me down, down, down, down

The three directors broke in applause. Emma nodded to Puck. "Cast list will be up Friday."

Puck nodded and moved off the stage.

"You're up next Tina." Artie called out, and Tina came out onto stage.

Beiste nodded. "When you're ready."

Tina nodded to Brad and the music started.

You seem to replace your brain with your heart
You take things so hard and then you fall apart
You try to explain, but before you can start
Those cry baby tears come out of the dark

Someone's turning the handle to that faucet in your eyes
You pour it out where everyone can see
Your heart's too big for your body, it's why it won't fit inside
You pour it out where everyone can see

They call you cry baby, cry baby
But you don't fucking care
Cry baby, cry baby
So you laugh through your tears
Cry baby, cry baby
Cause you don't fucking care
Tears fall to the ground
You'll just let them drown
You'll just let them drown
Cry baby, cry baby

You're all on your own and you lost all your friends
You told yourself that it's not you, it's them
You're one of a kind and no one understands
But those cry baby tears keep coming back again

They call you cry baby, cry baby
But you don't fucking care
Cry baby, cry baby
So you laugh through your tears
Cry baby, cry baby
Cause you don't fucking care
Tears fall to the ground
You'll just let them drown
Cry baby, cry baby
You'll just let them drown
Cry baby, cry baby
You'll just let them drown

I look at you and I see myself
I know you better than anyone else
I have the same faucet in my eyes
So your tears are mine

They call me cry baby, cry baby
But I don't fucking care
Cry baby, cry baby
I laugh through my tears
Cry baby, cry baby
Cause I don't fucking care
Tears fall to the ground
I just let them drown
Cry baby, cry baby
I just let them drown
Cry baby, cry baby
You'll just let them drown
They call you cry baby, cry baby
I just let them drown
Cry baby, cry baby
You'll just let them drown

The three directors broke in applause. Emma nodded to Tina. "Cast list will be up Friday."

Tina nodded and moved off the stage.

"You're up next Brittany." Artie called out, and Brittany came out onto stage.

Beiste nodded. "When you're ready."

Brittany nodded to Brad and the music started.

Make it stop
Sounds so good, I just can't take no more
Turn it down, turn it up, I don't know
I don't know (know)
But don't stop, don't move
Just keep it there (right there)
Keep it right there (mmh)
Keep it right there

I wanna put you on repeat
Play you everywhere I go, e-e-everywhere I go
Play you everywhere I go
Put you on repeat
Play you everywhere I go, e-e-everywhere I go
Play you everywhere I go

Yeah, wanna put this song on replay
I can listen to it all day
I can listen to you all day, yeah, you all day
Yeah, wanna put this song on replay
We can start all over again, and again
Yeah, wanna put this song on replay

Don't stop (stop)
Turn it on, turn it up, make it louder
I don't wanna miss a single thing
I wanna hear every melody (yeah)
B-b-b-beating (beating, beating)
Beating so loud you can feel it (see it, see it)
B-b-b-beating (beating, beating)
Beating for you

Feel it all, feel it all crashing down (down, down)
I'm so lost, I'm so lost in your sound

Yeah, wanna put this song on replay (yeah, on replay)
Put this song on replay
List-listen to you all day, to you all day

Yeah, wanna put this song on replay (song on replay)
I can listen to it all day
I can listen to you all day, yeah, you all day
Yeah, wanna put this song on replay
We can start all over again, and again
Yeah, wanna put this song on replay, yeah, yeah!

The three directors broke in applause. Emma nodded to Brittany. "Cast list will be up Friday."

Brittany nodded and moved off the stage.

Artie turned to the other two directors. "We've got some hard decisions to make." Emma and Beiste just nodded.

The next day at Booty Camp was very similar to the previous day, except Mr. Schue had moved them into the auditorium. Mia was high on adrenaline from her audition the previous day, so when Mr. Schue and Mike gave them a break, she slumped up against the bar into between Kurt and Mercedes, but wasn't tired at all.

Mr. Schue pulled Finn up, who had been taking a break. "Alright, Finn. You got this, buddy. Come on. Ha, ha, ruhaha."

Finn tried to keep up with Mr. Schue and Mike, but he ended up falling flat on the floor.

"What's up with Finn?" Mia asked Kurt and Mercedes.

"Finn may be a good singer." Kurt explained. "But he's a terrible dancer. Even Finn knows that. Last year, he broke Rachel's nose dancing."

Mia nodded. A lot of things made sense now.

Mr. Schue leaned down. "You okay?"

"I can't do this." Finn admitted.

"You can." Mr. Schue coached.

"I can't!" Finn insisted.

"Hey, who knows more about dancing? You or me?" Mr. Schue asked him.

Finn sighed. "You."

Mr. Schue looked him straight in the eye. "That's right. Look, I know you can do this, and I believe in you."

"One more time." Finn decided.

Mr. Schue pulled him up. "That's right. Here we go."

This time, Finn was able to successfully do the dance step, which resulted in cheers and applause from the whole group. Suddenly, a girl appeared in the doorway, who Mia remembered was Quinn Fabray. She had lost her pink hair and was dressed fashionably. Mia realized that when she wasn't trying to hide who she was, Quinn was a very pretty girl.

Mr. Schue turned to her. "Can I help you, Quinn?"

"I heard this was for people who need a little help with their dance moves and want to win Nationals."

"That's right."

"So I'm a little rusty." Quinn admitted. And uh, would it be cool if I joined in?"

"Absolutely. Welcome back." Mr. Schue smiled at her.

Mercedes broke into a grin. "Get in here, girl. You've been missed." Quinn hugged her smiling, and then took turns giving everyone a hug.

Mia smiled at her. "Welcome back. I'm Mia Caldwell. I'm new this year."

"I know. I've seen you around." Quinn told her. "I'm glad you joined New Directions."

"Alright, lets line it up." Mr. Schue said, pulling everyone back. :Enough, enough. Alright, let's get in line. Booty Camp, here we go. Line it up."

Songs Used:
Big Spender: Sweet Charity
Primadonna: Marina and the Diamonds
Giants: Matt Nathanson
The Man: Taylor Swift
Release: Imagine Dragons
Cry Baby: Melanie Martinez
Replay: Zendaya

Please review. I love reviews.