hey kids,

sorry for the suspenseful, 4 month, wait...
I know you solid 5 readers were disappointed. but keep reading and maybe attempt a review and i might have more than 5 readers to disappoint!

your the best.

Haley didn't know what kind of reaction she would get when Mr. Schue broke the news to the other members of the glee club, but she figured at bare minimum someone might even clap. She would have settled for a wave. Or even a smile.

But, unless you considered a jolly clap and smile from a dumbfounded Finn only to be silenced by a deathly glare from both Rachel and Kurt, an acceptable welcome, then Haley remained out of luck.

Not even Mr. Schuster seemed to be able to hide his worry at the lack of response. Clapping his hands together awkwardly, he turned to Haley and tried his best to mask his anxiety.

"Well, how about you show 'em what you can do, Haley?" He said with fake excitement. He turned slightly to his class with his hands open, as if trying to sell them a great deal. No one even flinched.

Haley couldn't help notice that Puck hadn't even looked up from his hands since zoning out when Mr. Schue welcomed Haley. Her heart sped up for a moment when she thought he was asleep, but then fell when she realized that that would be a better alternative. She didn't seem to be the only one who noticed Mercedes and Tina with their cell phones expertly hidden, probably texting one another, as Mr. Schuester looked nausea at this point.

Giving up the hope that he would get a response from them, he looked Haley directly in the eye, apparently trying to send her strength and tightly said, "Would you rather tell everyone else a bit about you first?"

"I'll sing first," Haley said, a strained whisper, still managing to crack half way through. She could feel the heat flooding her cheeks as she did so and she was unfortunate enough to lock eyes with Santana at that moment. The notorious cheerleading bitch kept eye contact with her until Haley pulled away, an amused expression playing on her features.

"Well, uhm, go for it then," Mr. Schuester said to Haley, a happy voice covering up his weary fear. Patting her on the back, he went to sit down at his desk.

Standing alone in front of the whole club, a million things passed through her mind. Whether she should say something, give the song title, skip a verse, clear her throat, smile at them. Her thoughts were so rushed she didn't have time to even think about them before her feet carried her to the piano and her long fingers began to play, the same song that Mr. Schuester had enjoyed so much the night before.

And then, she was lost in the music again. In the back of her mind, the worries tried breaking down her musical bubble but, as always, had no luck. Occasionally she tuned back into the moment and would dully hear her own soft voice echoing throughout the choir room. Particularly when her voice would rasp just enough or would be so strong that it was a clear bell, Haley would look up. She put much focus into only looking at Mr. Schuester and felt a weight of a thousand piano's fall from her shoulders when she saw he was smiling in a satisfied way. She couldn't resist the small smile that tugged at her lips as the tight ball of stress loosened the more she sang.

Mr. Schuester's stress melted like butter, his shoulders easing the further Haley got into her song. He kept a strong eye on the other students, hoping to anticipate their thoughts. However, despite their reaction, he smiled proudly at his newly found diamond in the rough.

Rachel's annoyed expression perked up when Haley began to sing. It quickly evolved into tight fear and shocking disbelief. Her eyes were wide with analyzation, her mouth a strict line of critique. Her thoughts were frantic and she fought hard to keep her heart from beating so fast. You're much better than her, Rachel, you're too smart not to know that, she thought. Her worry eased just a fraction, trying to go through her accomplishments. But if Rachel Berry knew one thing about herself, it was that she did not spare the details of the truth and she soon gave in to the fearful thought that this young freshman was better than the brilliant Rachel Berry. She never took singing lessons, you can tell, it's so obvious in her rasp.. Rasp can be charismatic though, can't it? Norah Jones has a raspy blues sound..Glee is not about blues though. This is a show choir, she thought with strict finality.You've seen every Broadway Musical. You've taken musical theatre classes since you were two, Rachel. You're better than her, I promise, she assured herself.

Mr. Schue's stress resurfaced for just a moment as he confusingly noticed Santana examining her arms as Haley sang. Were they really this bored?

Santana looked frustratingly from Haley to herself, her brown eyes squinting in annoyance. She awkwardly strained to see her stomach. I'd say she has a four pack, nothing special. No, it's impossible, she can't be athletic, she's just one of those weird stickly bitches...she thought, trying hard to mask her own envy from herself...Look at her damn arms, are they that much skinnier than mine?

Puck looked up finally as Haley started singing, an interested expression on his face. She must be at least fifteen, maybe fourteen. That's only...2, years younger than me. I could probably get her to fall for me, it'd be easy. It'd be too easy... But no Puck, you like a challenge. You da man who knocked up Quinn Fabray, your better than the easy prey. Your the king of the jungle.Witha quick look towards Quinn, then one more glance towards the freshman at the piano, Puck smiled smugly, content with his resolution to the moral debate in his mind.

I bet she's a size four.. Ugh, stop lying to yourself, she's probably a two. There's no denying it, Tina thought enviously, eyeing Haley with greedy suspicion. Oh my gosh, she's that girl on the billboard for Forever 21! She's a model, that would explain it. There 's no way people naturally have that clear of skin..

Unlike most of the other members sitting in the choir room watching Haley sing, who sat with critical and territorial expressions, Quinn laid back easily in her plastic chair, a thoughtful and somewhat apologetic expression across her perfect face. She's certainly pretty enough, to be considered hot, Quinn thought in a purely factual manner. Definitely got the body, not so much the boldness to get a name amongst the older guys, but with a little buzz some jerk will find her, no doubt. Her mouth became a regretful frown, but there was no denying the bit of satisfaction the thought gave her. She'll be pressured into sex soon enough. So young and naive, at least I was at the top when it happened...

Oh hell, the last thing we need in this already fashionably pathetic club is some H&M addicted freshman to add to the ranks of the Cheerios outfits and the Berry Fashion Bandit..Kurt thought, his eyes squinted, examining Haley's outfit with great scrutiny. He paused for a moment, cocking his head, looking at her with slight potential as another uplifting thought crossed his mind. If she could take Berry's spot though, I'm sure I could do something with her wardrobe. Actually, I think I saw that top at Urban Outfitter's... She's not a complete lost cause, he thought with new optimism. But whether that was because he actually was looking at Haley or simply relishing the thought of rachel as backup, one would never know.

Mercedes Jones couldn't find anything wrong with the girl's face, or body, or age or even voice, but she remained unimpressed in her seat. Another white girl, with a tiny waist and pretty face. She had nothing against those girls, I mean, with the exception of Rachel, she generally liked them. This club has no flavour, she thought frustratingly. Just another white girl to bump R&B and soul to the back of the bus. The most spice we got is the asian invasion, and that just makes us a group of white rice.

Artie sat with his hands folded solemnly in his lap and did not seem to notice his bottom lip puckering at the bottom like a whining child. He scorned hatefully looking at the lengthy, toned legs that bounced slightlyto the beat below the piano. 5'8 at least. No way she's shorter than that. Tina is 5'6 and she's got to be at least a foot taller than her, Artie contemplated jealously. Everyone says God is all giving and loves equally. How can I believe that when my only talent is singing, meanwhile this random can sing just as good, and is tall and slim and beautiful? Life ain't fair.

Will Schuester looked towards his students again, recognizing the final notes of Haley's song. He was pleased at their expressions of mild interest and thought. They must be as star stricken as I was yesterday, he foolishly believed with a content smile as the ending piano notes drew to an end.