This is a shift day [see above]. There was another upload this morning: Fresh Start.

"Flying Solo"

2. New Girl

Ewan had made it to class without incident, and he had spent the better part of that period pulling back from the concern that took him over in the hall. He'd thought the looks and the pity would be the worst thing that'd happen to him, but he was wrong. He did his best not to retain any of those words, the mean spirited jabs, but they couldn't exit his mind without first entering it, and while they were in there they ravaged his quiet strength. He missed his mother and father as much as the first day, and as much as he tried to rebuild his life, to go on as best he could, he'd get knocked down again, remembering he'd never see them again.

Coming out of class, he made his way back to his locker, not paying much attention to his surroundings until…

"Excuse me, out of the way!" a loud and sweetly excited voice came out of nowhere, and so did its speaker. Ewan froze, looking around just as the girl cut in front of him and put a box down in front of a locker two doors down from his, and opened the door. She started looking into the empty space, almost like she was inspecting it… smelling it? She must have sensed that he was watching her. She turned on him with an annoyed sigh. "What?" she asked. Cornered, he spoke up.

"What are you doing?"

"I requested a new locker. My old one was next to a smelly guy's locker, and I wasn't going to let my things start to smell. So he kicked someone out and here I am," she tapped the locker, looked in again. "It's okay, just a scratch," she shook her head, pointing at the chipped paint. Apparently satisfied, she started unpacking, decorating. After a moment, Ewan moved up to his locker and opened it, leaving the girl to her own things, but then… "You're new," she declared, almost like she was deciding for herself. He looked over.

"I am," he nodded, and after one more beat of observing him, her eyes grew wide, her whole face turning almost shy and curious at once.

"You're that guy, the orphan guy," her voice kept its tone, though hushed. Ewan's eyes flicked back inside his locker, unsure where she would go next… She patted his shoulder, and in a way the fact that she didn't apologize or give sympathies, it struck him. Instead, she gave her opinion in two words. "That sucks…" It caught him off guard and he looked over at her, getting a small smile and nod before she carried on with her locker. He didn't know how to respond, but he felt like he had to. Again, she preceded him, no shortage of conversation. "I'd show you around, but I only really know what I have to…"

"I have been here a few weeks," he clarified. "And Tina gave me the tour, do you know her?" The mention of the name did something to the girl he couldn't explain, but he'd find out soon enough.

"That's one of those from the Glee Club," she declared. He did remember Tina and Mike both mentioning that from time to time. Before he could confirm, she went on. "Those guys think they're so good, that they're better," her voice had turned spiteful. "I auditioned for them, you know, as a formality. They turned me down. They clearly wouldn't know talent if it walked in and slapped them in the face… which it should." Ewan didn't know what to say. "That's your friend, that's your choice though," she shrugged, normal again. "By the way, you smell much better than that other guy. See you around!" she shut the locker door, picked up her box and walked off. Ewan needed a moment to blink, come back to his senses, and it was when he did that he realized he'd never learned the girl's name. Tina would know, maybe, if she'd auditioned for Glee Club. Maybe he'd ask her.

He met her and Mike on their way out of school that afternoon, heading to hang out at Mike's. The two of them looked kind of strange, like Tina was working to say something and Mike was encouraging her toward it. "Hey!" Tina finally stepped up, in between the two boys. "I want to talk to you about something," she spoke, her voice rising and falling like an attempt at a question.

"Alright?" he nodded.

"So you know how we're in Glee Club, Mike and I," she indicated him.

"I do," Ewan reacted, the image of the nameless girl flashing in his mind.

"Well, now that you've been here for a while, we were wondering if maybe you'd be interested in joining us there," she smiled.

"Join Glee Club?" he asked, to be sure.

"Yeah," she nodded. "There's about a dozen of us, so it's not too crowded; I know that's a problem sometimes," she went on. "We sing, we dance, and… it's fun," she shrugged. "I know they'll all be happy to know you," she encouraged.

"I… I don't know…" he hesitated.

"Do you dance?" she asked.

"Not if I don't want to hurt anyone," he bowed his head.

"Hit by accident?"

"No, it's just painful to watch," he admitted, and she gave a half-smirk.

"What about singing?" she asked, and he felt his voice deny him, his mind flying back to Ireland, to his kitchen and his parents… He inhaled deep to bring himself back.

"It's been a while," was all he'd say.

"Well we can help, if you want, I mean it's all up to you," she promised.

"I'd have to audition?" he asked. "In front of everyone?" his walking slowed.

"It's not that bad," Mike shook his head.

"I spoke to a girl before, she said she'd auditioned and you turned her down."

"A girl…" Tina thought, looked to Mike, and they thought of it at the same time. "Sugar," she spoke to him, though Ewan missed it, mistakenly assigning the word as some sort of boyfriend pet name Tina might have for Mike.

"It didn't go well, that's all," Mike explained. "But that was her… We can help you before, if you want."

"I'll think about it," he responded, and they'd left the topic alone for the rest of the afternoon.

Ewan wasn't sure why, but the girl, still nameless to him, had made herself memorable in a sea of new faces, faces that ignored him – uncomfortable around his situation – or tore him down – too comfortable around his situation. The way she had it, Glee Club was one thing, but Mike and Tina had it as another. He wasn't one to trust blindly, and even if he would probably end up going with his friends, this small piece of doubt had to be looked into.

His aunt… he'd ask his aunt… She had to know, about the Glee Club, and she had to know… to remember… her sister's voice, his mother… It filled his head now, warm and soothing, and he didn't want it to become a cold chill in her absence.

TO BE CONTINUED (TOMORROW)