Welcome to the Jungle
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, or Glee. All recognisable characters, content, or locations belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Part Two: Sixteen
Chapter Fourteen: I'm So Tired
With a relieved sigh, Harry submits the last of his IGCSE worksheets for September, closes his laptop, and slumps over it, drained. He's in the choir room again, it's his Study Hall in place of gym class, and there's supposed to be a Glee Club meeting after school lets out. With Mr Schuester's resignation imminent, Harry has no idea if it's actually taking place, but Kate insists they show up - just in case - and since the alternatives are working on even more homework, or working on the chores awaiting him at home, Harry can't bring himself to refuse.
He tunes out then - not quite dozing, but almost - and startles into alertness when the last bell rings. He rubs at his face, bleary-eyed, and packs away his laptop with a yawn. He produces his New Directions binder - courtesy of Kate, and already full of sheet music for the various songs they've covered - as well as his guitar, and busies himself with tuning it while he awaits the arrival of everyone else.
"Why are you always here early?" Kurt Hummel greets him, "Do you skip your last class every day, or something?"
"Study Hall," Harry replies, "Mrs Burgman doesn't really care where we spend it so long as we sign in at some point. I work better when I'm alone, and since no one's ever here…"
"Convenient."
"I can't complain," Harry concurs with a shrug.
Kurt wanders off to get comfortable, slumped on the lowest riser, and leant against the wall beside him. Harry plays an idle tune, and the minutes drift by. Artie and Tina arrive, Mercedes and Rachel soon thereafter. Kate floats in, a stupid smile on her face, and Harry needles her about it.
"What are you smiling about?"
Kate laughs. "Nothing."
"Doesn't look like nothing."
Kate ignores him though. She climbs to the top of the risers, crosses her legs beneath her, and occupies herself with her phone. She's still smiling, and presumably, Colin's done something to make her day.
Harry briefly contemplates following her, pestering and the like, but he opts not to - quite frankly, the energy for a fight is beyond him - and instead, he returns his attention to his guitar, and to the most recent song he's been learning. 'This Town' by Joe Purdy isn't ever going to be a mainstream hit, but learning the guitar accompaniment has been a pleasant, entertaining respite from his homework. He's not yet convinced posting covers online is a worthwhile venture - though Kate and Leo both seem to think it is - but he's built up a repertoire if he ever does decide to, and if nothing else, the internet will always be there.
"I don't think Finn's going to show up," Artie breaks the companionable silence.
"Neither do I," Kate concurs, "We should get started."
"With what?" Kurt asks sardonically.
Rachel clears her throat importantly. "I've taken the liberty of preparing selection of songs we could work on."
"Let me guess," Kurt opines dully, "They all feature you as the lead."
"On the contrary," Rachel counters, "I've compiled a collection of pieces that would suit everyone."
"We'll have to compare notes," Kate says to Rachel, "I've done that too. I'll be interested in seeing what you've come up with."
"We can certainly do that," Rachel acquiesces brightly, "But perhaps when we leave this afternoon?"
"Of course," Kate agrees, "But we still need something to do now. Any suggestions, anyone?"
"Are there any group pieces in those binders of yours?" Harry asks Kate and Rachel, "We could probably work on one of those?"
Without protests from anyone else, Kate and Rachel produce their respective lists, and take turns going through them. A number are vetoed by the rest of them, and there's a surprising amount of overlap, but 10 minutes later, they've all agreed on a song to work on, and Harry's been sent off to photocopy the sheet music for Paramore's 'Born For This'. As he goes, Kate and Artie are already in discussion regarding how to strip back the instrumentals, the others discussing the vocal arrangements, and Harry leaves them to it, grateful that, comparatively, he's been given the easy job.
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Harry doesn't realise Kate's made plans with Rachel until his outspoken classmate is inside his house, introducing herself to he and Kate's bemused parents, curiously taking in his family's home.
Harry, dressed in sweats and an old T-shirt and wearing his glasses, greets her awkwardly, and retreats into the kitchen in order to clean up the mess from dinner. He'd cooked - it's his night to - but he's also grounded, which means he has to clean up, as well. Frodo and Sam loiter underfoot, in search of scraps, Loki watches him haughtily from the dining table, and Harry plays the Red Hot Chilli Peppers through his iPod headphones in order to tune out everyone - and everything - else.
When he eventually makes his way downstairs, he's startled, then, to find Kate and Rachel in the entertainment area outside his bedroom, listening to music, working on homework, and chatting amicably between themselves.
"Hey," he greets them both, nonplused. He eyes the dividing wall that separates the entertainment area from his bedroom door, considers the offered escape, and then thinks better of it. His mother would have his head if he was rude to their guests. "What's up?"
"Nothing," Kate replies, "I invited Rachel over to talk about our ideas for Glee Club, and we've just been hanging out. Your phone's been going off, by the way."
Harry shuffles into his bedroom to retrieve his phone, and meanders back to the girls as he takes in the messages. Santana, asking him if he'll purchase her a corsage for Homecoming, Puck, bitching out their Pre-Calculus homework, Ron, regretting his life choices. Mike's had a fight with Hermione about his mom, Hermione's pissed off about the overbearing mother in question, Katie's just broken up with Oliver, and has invited him to a small gathering that weekend in order to commemorate the occasion with good food, good drinks, and good company.
Harry regretfully declines the latter, commiserates with Puck, individually asks Mike and Hermione if they're okay. He reminds Ron he's an idiot for considering rebounding with Padma Patil, and then informs Santana - with no small degree of satisfaction - that it's already been pre-ordered.
"Everything okay?" Kate queries.
"Fine," Harry replies. Hermione can tell Kate about her issues with Mrs Chang herself - if she hasn't already - and everything else is minor, or doesn't concern people Kate knows well enough to care about.
"Rachel and I are meeting up tomorrow morning to figure out some choreography for 'Born For This'. Want to join us?"
"Not particularly," Harry denies, and they both deflate, and Harry tries not to feel bad about disappointing them. As is, he has enough on his plate without adding the responsibility of Glee Club choreography to his priorities, and Kate knows it. He's complained to her often enough about his workload, after all. "I was actually planning on heading to the library. Get some work done…"
Kate sighs, but she doesn't try to persuade him to change his mind. She invites him to join their study session instead, Harry acquiesces, and he works through his Pre-Calculus homework to the accompaniment of the girls' chatter, and Nora Jones filtering quietly from the surround sound speakers.
It's not entirely awful, but Harry is nonetheless relieved when Rachel starts to gather up her things in order to leave. It's not that he hasn't enjoyed her company - actually, she's quite pleasant when she's not trying to prove herself to everyone in the room - but he's tired - when is he ever not, these days? - and rather drained from socialising all day. All e wants to do is sleep - or at the very least, spend some time alone - and he can't do that while there are guests in his home.
Guests that are peers of his, in any case.
"Thank you for inviting me over," Rachel says to Kate, "And thank you for your company as well, Henry."
He offers her a tired smile, as Kate insists Rachel is welcome anytime. She leaves, and once the headlights of her car have disappeared around the bend, Harry retreats inside, back downstairs, and into his bedroom. He closes his door, strips out of his clothes, and collapses into bed.
The next thing he knows, it's morning.
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Author's Note: I'm supposed to be writing an essay re: Lord Byron, but it's boring me to tears, so here, have an update. Sorry for the wait. The muse, you know how it goes… Until next time, -t.