BlairPOV-
My mom always says that change is part of life. It's something that we don't escape, and we aren't always prepared for it. It's not the change that matters- it's how well we handle the change. So now we see how well I handle the change that is transferring to a new school.
Again.
"Excuse me, ma'am, I'm Sarah Blair Anderson," I smile at the secretary, "I'm a transfer student. They told me to come here and get my schedule."
If there's one thing that I pride myself on, it's my ability to wrap someone around my finger. Within minutes, I've got the secretary laughing, telling her a random story about my time at Crawford and how nervous I am to be at a new school. One thing I haven't learned to hide well is how nervous I can be.
Even if that's not always a good thing, it does come in handy. If you can manipulate people, and gain sympathy, then they can't manipulate you. And you won't get hurt.
"You're a sophomore and you're already in Algebra II?"
Principal Figgins asked a girl named Tina to show me around. Turns out we have more classes together, which is a good thing. Without Sabrina here, I need at least one person.
"Crawford Country Day took classes very serious," I shrug, because it's no big deal. I'm not that smart. I'm not even sure how I managed to get those good grades.
"Well, this is Algebra. My friend Kate is in this class. She sits all the way in the back. I'm sure she won't mind you sitting with her. I'll see you in English. Then we can go get lunch together."
Despite the dark clothing, Tina is all smiles and positivity. I shouldn't judge a book by its cover,
Though. I know I hate it when people judge me because of the way I dress and act, even if they don't know the real me. It doesn't matter, though. There is some truth to what they think after all.
So why fight it?
''Oh, Kate!,'' Tina stops a tall, slender girl with dark brown hair and bright blue eyes.
''Yes,'' she smiles at Tina, glancing at me momentarily before focusing her attention on Kate again.
''This is Sarah Blair.''
''Hi,'' I hold out my hand ,''It's just Blair, by the way.''
''Nice to meet you,'' Kate shakes my hand, soft, warm skin grazing mine.
''She's going to be in your Algebra class. Can she sit with you,'' Tina questions, to which Kate nods enthusiastically.
''Of course. It'll be nice to have someone to work with during the partner problems.,'' she laughs a bit, ''I'll see you at lunch, Tina.''
''Okay. Bye guys,'' Tina gives one more thumbs up before she walks away.
''So, Blair, you… you look familiar. I hope that doesn't sound weird,'' she quickly amends, tucking pin straight hair behind her ear.
''Well, I would hope so. We met at sectionals.''
''Right, right,'' she nods, staring at the wooden tabletop before giving a breathy laugh, ''Your girlfriend harassed me, yeah?''
''Sabrina? Oh, I'm sorry about that. She's sweet, really,'' I lean back in my chair as I explain,''She was just nervous, I think. And she's not my girlfriend. She's my best friend.''
My best friend that I occasionally hook up with, but that doesn't matter right now.
Before I have the chance to start a conversation with Kate, the teacher comes, calling me up to the front. After everything is sorted out and I'm introduced to the class, I take my spot next to Kate.
I have no interest in what the teacher's saying- I already covered this at Crawford. So while the rest of the class is focusing on the board, I'm focusing on the gorgeous girl next to me.
Just because I don't want a relationship doesn't mean I can't appreciate beauty when I see it. Just being physically attracted to someone doesn't mean you have to date them. So stolen glances and sneak peeks at her throughout the period.
She's very pretty, really. And her grey sweater dress clings to her perfectly…
What am I doing? I don't want a girlfriend, and I don't want to hookup with someone I just met. There's nothing wrong with looking though, right?
It's not like someone as pretty… I mean as focused as her is paying attention to me anyway.
KatePOV-
You know that feeling you get when you first develop a crush on someone? Those butterflies that flood your stomach, that blush that heats your cheeks?
Well, I've experienced all of that before, with Quinn Fabray. She's beautiful, and I'm not blind. Her inside may not always be as pretty as the outside, but I don't think that there are too many people who would deny that she's insanely gorgeous.
Then there's me. Even if she did ''play for my team'', I wouldn't have a shot with her. Because Quinn Fabray could be a runway model, and I'm horribly plain.
I know, I know. The insecure high school girl. How original. It's the truth, though. I'm very good at faking confidence, but I don't actually have much. I'm fine with the way I look to an extent. I mean, I'm no beauty queen, but I don't think I'm ugly. Would I love to have a bigger chest and a fuller figure? Yes, sometimes.
Would I like to have a girlfriend? Definitely. But that's not going to happen. Not here. By this time in two years, I'll be living in New York. I'll have an amazing apartment, I'll be a student at a performing arts school, and I'll have a beautiful girlfriend. I'll show all of those bullies just how great I can be.
I just have to survive the rest of high school first.
''Is this your girlfriend, Hummel,'' Azalea Adam's boyfriend, Ryan, smirks the moment we have some free time, one of his friends laughing at her sad attempt to make me uncomfortable.
''You're a lesbian,'' Blair raises an eyebrow, chin resting in her hand.
I feel my stomach drop, my eyes landing on my hands that are resting in my lap.
''Yes, I am,'' I mentally brace myself for any homophobic slurs that Blair's going to throw my way.
''And you two are making fun of her for that?,'' Blair turns her attention back to the couple in front of us.
''It's disgusting, and it's unnatural,'' Ryan shrugs, his friend nodding in agreement.
''Okay. Well, first of all, I think you two are just jealous that she can probably get laid anywhere, anytime she wants, and you two bad-ass wannabees can't. Second of all, she's gorgeous. It'd be an honor to be her girlfriend. Lastly, you are going to leave her the hell alone,'' Blair eyes them, keeping her voice evenly ,''Are we clear?''
''Whatever,'' Ryan shakes his head, turning back to the front, speechless for the first time in the three years that I have known him.
''You… you didn't have to do that,'' I look at Blair, who raises an eyebrow in question ,''I mean, I'm glad you defended me. But I can take care of myself. Now they're going to assume you're a lesbian, too.''
And make your life a living hell because of it.
''That's fine,'' she laughs a bit.
''Oh.''
Silence settles around us as we continue to do the math problems assigned to us, me silently kicking myself for not saying anything more intelligent.
''Kate, are you okay,'' Blair doesn't look up from her textbook, ''Is this weird for you? I'm sorry I stepped in where it wasn't my business, but-''
''No, it's not that. It's just… most girls who aren't in the glee club wouldn't have been so okay with someone thinking they're a lesbian,'' I explain.
''Trust me: It doesn't matter,'' she grins gently as the bell rings, ''I'm going to attempt to find my locker in this maze of a school. I'll see you at lunch, Kate.''
''Kate!,'' Tina rushes up to me, looping her arm through mine as we walk towards the cafeteria, ''How'd class go? Where's Blair?'''
''At her locker, I guess. I told her how to get to the cafeteria,'' I explain, ''She'll meet us there.''
''I'm so glad you were in that class. It must suck coming to a new school and not knowing anyone,'' Tina sighs running her hand through her black and blue hair, ''You're a good person for talking to her.''
Blair's the good person here. How many people would defend the social pariah of McKInley High School on their first day? For the idiots at this school, being in glee club is reason enough to torment me. The fact that I'm a lesbian was just icing on the cake. It took a while for some of the members of the glee club to accept me, and here this girl is, accepting me within one class period.
It's strange and it's a bit unsettling. I'm not used to girls outside of the glee club treating me with kindness. It's not unwelcome, though, I can say that much.
''She's nice,'' I speak as Tina and I join Artie and Mercedes at the lunch table.
''Who's nice,'' Mercedes questions.
''The new girl.''
''New girl,'' Finn plops down next to me, his tray overflowing with food, ''Who? In our grade?''
''No, she's a sophomore,'' Tina explains as Mike takes his spot next to her, kissing her cheek.
As happy as I am for Tina, I really want that. I know I can have it someday, but not now. Not when I'm the only openly gay student at this school.
It'll be worth the wait, I suppose. At least, I hope it will be.
''Where's Puck,'' I question, notching that everyone else is there but him.
Santana, Quinn, and Brittany opt to sit with the other cheerios at lunch, not that I blame them. I did the same thing last year. It gives you a sense of protection. No one messes with the cheerios. Rachel always takes lunch time to practice in the choir room, choosing to eat in there.
That leaves the members of New Directions who are not on the Cheerios to their own table at lunch. Mike, Tina, Mercedes, Artie, Sam, Finn, me...
yup. Everyone but are resident badass. His words. Not mine.
''Lunch time detention,'' Sam snorts a laugh, popping a grape into his mouth, ''He was late to class. Again. he'll be eating lunch with Coach Bieste.''
Perfect. For purely selfish reasons, too. That means that there's an open chair, and Blair can sit next to me. She needs a friend, after all. And Puck isn't here to make her uncomfortable by flirting with her.
Although I'm sure that a girl like that has many suitors after her.
''Sorry I'm late,'' she slides in next to me, ''I had a hard time finding my locker again.''
''Don't worry about it,'' I turn to my friends, ''Guys, this is Blair Anderson.''
''Nice to meet you,'' Mercedes grins, the others nodding in agreement.
''Thanks, same here,'' Blair brushes dark hair out of her eyes, pulling her leather jacket tighter around her.
''So, introductions,'' i begin, starting with the person on my left, ''This is Finn Hudson.''
''Hi,'' he greets around a mouthful of hamburger.
''Finn, please. Don't chew with your mouth open,'' I chastise gently, and he at least looks a bit ashamed.
''Sorry.''
''It's fine. Anyways, this is Sam Evans,'' I nod towards the blond.
''Hi. My name is Sam. Sam I am. And I don't like green eggs and ham,'' he smirks, smilie widening when Blair releases a breathy giggle.
''Moving on. This is Artie Abrams, Mercedes Jones, you already know Tina, and Mike Chang.''
''It's nice to meet all of you,'' Blair smiles shyly, ''It sucks being the New Kid.''
''Well, you came at a great moment,'' Mercedes pipes up, ''Show choir sectionals was two weeks ago, in the first week of October, and now we're all 're going homecoming dress shopping if you'd like to join us.''
''That... that sounds great. I'll just have to check with my parents first,'' Blair looks grateful for the invitation.
It isn't long before everyone is split into their own conversations, leaving Blair and I to talk.
''You okay?''
''Yeah,'' she nods, running her hand through her hair, ''Just a lot to take in.''
''Don't worry. You're going to fit right in,'' I reassure her.
How could she not? She's gorgeous with a tough girl attitude: just like Santana and Quinn, who no one really messes with. She'll be fine. She'll make new friends, move into the popular crowd, and enjoy the rest of her high school experience.
While I enviously wish that I could do the same.
BlairPOV-
The nice thing about having gym at the end of the day is that I can shower in the locker room instead of having to wait until I get home. It's also nice that the locker room is empty. Just about everyone sings in the shower, right? To be honest, it's the only place I can sing without fear of judgment. So I might as well make the most of this alone time before the Cheerios come in from practice.
As soon as I enter the locker room, I hear someone sobbing. Violently, too. I follow the sound of the cries, only to find Kate.
''Kate,'' I crouch down next to her ,''Hey, you okay?''
''No!,'' she grits out between sobs ,''I hate this school.''
My stomach drops, and I instantly feel sympathy for her. Because she's a mirror, an exact image of what I was this time last year. Broken and probably full of self-hate for her current situation. Bullying can do that to you.
Especially when you have trying to be strong for so long.
''I need to go.I need- I need to go see Coach Sue,'' she hiccups, wiping her tears away, ''I have to-''
''You're a mess, Kate. Look, I don't want to pry. Just let me walk with you, okay?''
She hesitates a moment before nodding, allowing me to follow her out of the locker room, clutching her bag to her chest as we walk.
She looks completely out of it. I don't know what happened, but it's obviously serious enough for her to go to an adult. At least she has that luxury, I guess. I couldn't go to anyone after what happened at my first school. According to them, all that I went through never would have happened if I decided to stay in the closet. Hopefully, Kate will have a different experience than me.
''Porcelain,'' a blonde woman in a red and black tracksuit begins, taking her glasses off as soon as we enter her office, ''What happened?''
''I can't-,'' Kate's words are cut off by a heartbreaking sob as she wipes her eyes, ''I can't do this anymore.''
''Will you give us a minute,'' the coach speaks, a command more than a request.
''Of course,'' I look to Kate ,''I'll see you later.''
That was about half an hour ago. I've spent the next fifteen minutes in the shower, attempting to drown out the memories of her crying. I've only known her for a day, but she seems nice enough. I don't want her to hurt the same way that I did. She doesn't deserve that.
A text from Sabrina pulls me from my thoughts, reminding me that at least one thing hasn't changed in the midst of all of this. She's asking me to come over, and of course I'll do what she says. Tina, Kate, and their friends seem nice, but Sabrina has been there for me through so much. She's my best friend.
She's pretty damn good at kissing, too.
While I'm dressing, a stunning, dark haired girl dressed in the Cheerios uniform enters the locker room. The outfit fits her perfectly, the top highlighting her curves as the skirt swishes with each step that she takes. Her long legs seem to go on for days, and-
''See something you like,'' she turns towards me, arms folded across her chest
''Yes. Do you,'' I reply, instantly on the defense as I slide my jacket back on.
''Maybe I do, maybe I don't. You must be new. I've made out with just about every guy and girl in this school. Twice.''
''I am new. Of course, if you want to add me to that list, I wouldn't be complaining,'' I notice her confidence falter before she regains her composure.
''We'll just see if that happens,'' she smirks, turning on her heel and exiting the locker room after giving me the once over.
It's not a promise, but it'll do. Flirting isn't cheating, and Sabrina and I aren't together. So it's totally okay that I have plans with a girl tomorrow during lunch who introduced herself to me as ''The Mack''.
''You should meet me under the bleachers at lunch tomorrow,'' she bites her lip, ''I didn't get that nickname for no good reason, you know.''
''Well, if you're as good at kissing as you at flirting, how could I say no,'' I raise an eyebrow, grinning flirtatiously.
''I like you. You'd fit right in with me and my friends. We call ourselves the Skanks,'' she leans back in her chair, resting her boot covered feet on the table.
The Mack definitely has a tough personality, and I need that right now. As nice as Kate and Tina are, the slushies that the took to the face today tell me that they're not exactly popularity. I don't care if people like me, but I refused to be bullied again.
So I'll do whatever it takes to make sure that doesn't happen.
''Well that was nice,'' Sabrina sits up in her bed, pulling her thick, brunette hair into a ponytail.''
''Isn't it always,'' I reach for my clothes.
''Maybe. I mean, you know you're not the only one I'm sleeping with, right? This is just casual, and-''
''And no strings attached. I know,'' I slide my jeans back on, turning to face her, ''Can I stay awhile, though? I don't really want to go home.''
''Yeah,'' she doesn't question it, lying on her bed as I slide in next to her ,''Stay as long as you can.''
That's the best thing about this friendship. I mean, sleeping with her is insanely hot, but this is the greatest part. She accepts me, and I accept her. The hooking up is just a bonus.
This is easy, and not messy. You can't get hurt if you both agree that you aren't looking for a relationship. Hooking up with no strings attach is the easiest way to protect your heart. I don't even have to be romantically interested in The Mack or that gorgeous, dark-haired girl. I get to make out with someone, maybe do a bit more, and not get hurt.
Because no girl is worth that kind of pain.
Disclaimer- glee belongs to Fox, and Ryan Murphy, Ian Brennan and Brad Falchuk.