Chapter 15- What It Feels Like For A Kurt
Summary: Kurt questions why Will made him sing about respecting women
"Come on, guys! You all need to learn that the girls aren't any different to you! You need to show some respect around them and stop objectifying them!"
"All of us?" Kurt raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow. Will frowned at him.
"Are you not a male, Kurt?"
Kurt stared, confused as to how Will could be so oblivious. "I am a male, Mr Schuester, of course I am. I am simply questioning why you insist that I learn lessons of respect towards women. Out of every person in this, I am the one who is most respectful to women. Speaking of, I have no idea why Mike and Matt are present, either. This is really just a lesson for Finn, Puck and Artie. But to make it seem like it's not just directed at them, you made us all do it."
Will tilted his head. "We all have something to learn from this."
It was Mike that interjected. "Mr Schue? Like ninety percent of Kurt's friends are girls. Every single girl in Glee Club adores him, even Santana and she hates everything that isn't Brittany."
Kurt smiled and retrieved the reins. "Whilst that is the most Michael has ever spoken in this room, his undoubtedly correct. If you asked Mercedes, Quinn, Tina, Rachel, Brittany or Santana about my treatment of them, all of them would so rightly tell you that I have nothing but utmost respect for them. The unbalanced treatment of women in society makes them work harder to achieve the same thing as we men do. It is absolutely preposterous yet they don't want to be treated different. You need to stop objectifying them, yes, but you also need to stop underestimating them.
"They aren't fragile. Rachel, Quinn, Santana and Mercedes are four of the boldest and strongest human beings I know. My mother was the same. I know what it feels like for them, Mr Schuester. I, too, am underestimated for something that I was born with. I too am objectified because of the way that I am. I'm not a girl but I'm probably the closest thing to understanding them that we can get in this room."
Will shook his head. "What's your point, Kurt?"
Kurt snorted. "My point, Mr Schuester, is that I have no business being in this little campfire-life lesson shit."
"Language," Mr Schuester warned.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Should I be using my vocabulary to lecture others on how to treat members of the opposite sex when I have no idea how to do it myself? Because that is what you are doing, Mr Schuester, and it is extremely hypocritical."
"Kurt, this is—."
"No, this is my turn to voice my opinions and I will not have you interrupting. I am quite close with Miss Pillsbury, Mr Schuester. We talk a lot. We are friends. She has told me a lot about how you treat her. You treat her like she has to want you and that because you left your wife and Coach Tanaka left her, it leaves her obligated to be with you! Women have choices, Mr Schuester. Women can be single. Mercedes, Brittany and Santana are doing it. Women don't need controlling men you like to empower them. The whole point of this lesson, if you had one, should be to encourage individual empowerment of the girls. Their Express Yourself number, while I was distraught to not perform it with them, should have been a sign that they want to be viewed as people, not accessories to men!"
Mr Schuester saw red. "Kurt, my personal life is no concern of yours."
"It is when you're questioning how I spend mine. Men feel uncomfortable around me, Mr Schue, and you're no exception to this. You pat everyone on the shoulders, every other boy in this room. But you've never once even thought of touching me like that. Is that in case I get the wrong impression and try to convert you? Is it because you think you'll catch the gay like the hockey team does? Whatever it is, I don't care for it. But you need to stop preaching about how you're the epicentre of equality and that we should all follow suit. That is not how I want to be spending my time in Glee. In fact, I have a Madonna number of my own that I would like to perform right now. And you're going to listen to every single word of it."
Kurt stepped away from the piano and whispered his selection to the band. They started up the music and Kurt began to sing. Mike and Matt quickly hurried to back him up, recognising the song.
Take a bow, the night is over
This masquerade is getting older
Lights are low, the curtains down
There's no one here
(There's no one here, there's no one in the crowd)
Say your lines but do you feel them
Do you mean what you say
When there's no one around
(No one around)
Watching you, watching me, one lonely star
(One lonely star you don't know who you are)
I've always been in love with you
(Always with you)
I guess you've always known it's true
(You know it's true)
You took my love for granted, why? Oh, why?
The show is over, say goodbye
Say goodbye
(Bye, bye)
Say goodbye
Make them laugh, it comes so easy
When you get to the part
Where you're breaking my heart
(Breaking my heart)
Hide behind your smile, all the world loves a clown
(Just make 'em smile, the whole world loves a clown)
Wish you well, I cannot stay
You deserve an award for the role that you played
(Role that you played)
No more masquerade, you're one lonely star
(One lonely star and you don't know who you are)
I've always been in love with you
(Always with you)
I guess you've always known it's true
(You know it's true)
You took my love for granted, why? Oh, why?
The show is over, say goodbye
I've always been in love with you
(Always with you)
I guess you've always known it's true
(You know it's true)
You took my love for granted, why? Oh, why?
The show is over, say goodbye
Say goodbye
(Bye, bye)
Say goodbye
All the world is a stage
(World is a stage)
And everyone has their part
(Has their part)
But how was I to know which way the story'd go
How was I to know you'd break
(You'd break, you'd break, you'd break)
You'd break my heart
I've always been in love with you
(I've always been in love with you)
Guess you've always known
You took my love for granted, why? Oh, why?
The show is over, say goodbye
I've always been in love with you
(Always with you)
I guess you've always known it's true
(You know it's true)
You took my love for granted, why? Oh, why?
The show is over, say goodbye
Say goodbye
(Bye, bye)
Say goodbye
Say goodbye
Kurt didn't wait for any applause, he knew that such a thing would be fruitless. "Do you see, Mr. Schuester? How hypocritical you've been with your lessons? Sometimes I wonder whether you're teaching us about acceptance and tolerance and equality or teaching yourself? You walked past the dumpsters every day when Puck threw me in there! Puck has apologised for his actions. Have you? Not even a little bit.
"I don't know about you, but I'm tired of this. I came here to sing, not to be constantly overlooked and then lectured about things that do not concern me because you want to fix your own issues. I'm done with this. I'll be back next week, Mr. Schuester. I love Madonna, but she would have been absolutely appalled at what you're trying to do. At least I have the Cheerios for when I want to perform."
Kurt was out of the door in seconds, surprised when heard two other voices. But they were not Mr. Schuester's trying to protest.
"I'm out, too, Mr. Schuester. What you're doing is wrong," Mike said to the teacher, following Kurt.
"Same for me. I have nothing but respect for women," Matt added, following the other boys out of the door.
"Why did you guys defend me?" Kurt asked, confused.
Mike smiled. "My grandmother is big on gender equality. I've always treated women equally. I'm a huge feminist and Mr. Schue was not cool. Hey, I'm sorry that I didn't do more to stop the bullies. I didn't join in, but I didn't stop them either."
"Mike, that's fine. I don't hold it against you. You're naturally introverted. They wouldn't have listened to you, anyway."
Mike's hand suddenly slipped into Kurt's. "Still, I want to make it up to you."
"I think that can be arranged," Kurt smirked, walking down the hallway with Mike's hand in his and Matt's arm slung around his shoulders.
Author's Note: Yes, there is implied Kurt/Mike/Matt and I LOVE IT.
Let me know what you thought!
The song is 'Take A Bow' by Madonna :) xoxo
