Joining Glee Club

Brittany

I walk into Glee club with Santana's pinkie linked with mine. I had asked her to come, because I wanted her to meet some people who would be nice to her. I know that the rest of the school would not give up the opportunity to slushie 'the deaf girl'. I wonder, quickly, if Santana got bullied at her old school.

We sit down on the second row up next to Mercedes. Santana smiles and says hello to Mercedes, and soon they're having a conversation about Pretty Little Liars and how gorgeous Tatum Channing is.

"Personally, I like my men coca brown though. But, Tatum does have great abs," Mercedes says, and Mr. Shue walks in right on queue. He claps his hands together and pivots to face us.

"Hey guys. Today I want to talk about- oh, it seems we have a new member! Why don't you introduce yourself," Mr. Shue says, but Santana wasn't paying attention. I tap her shoulder and she looks around, and then she sees Mr. Shue looking at her. Santana gets up and walks over to where Mr. Shue is standing, before she turns to speak to the Glee club.

"Hi, I'm Santanuh Lopehz. I moved here frum New York. My daud got a promotion, so we came heure. I caunt really sing, because well, I'm deauf," Santana jokes, and Mr. Shue, along with the rest of the Glee club, laughs. Santana smiles, and looks at Mr. Shue.

"Well Santana, can you do anything else?" he asks, and Santana nods.

"I caun daunce."

Everyone goes silent, and Mr. Shue just stands there with his mouth open. No one believes that Santana can dance, and they don't want to hurt her feelings.

They don't know what to say.

I look over and see Santana close to tears. Should I go over? Comfort her? Before I can answer my questions, Santana is already out the choir room doors. I can hear her footfalls echoing down the halls.

"Santana! Santana wait!" I shout, running out of Glee club as well. I can't find her, and too soon too late I realize that calling for her isn't going to work.

Where's the one place she would go, to be alone?

Santana

You may think that I'm very different than a hearing person. You're wrong. Just because I can't hear, doesn't mean I can't narrate a story.

I think in words and colors, not sounds. Everything has a color to me. Brittany is yellow, because if I could hear, she would probably sound yellow. I know that doesn't make any sense, but it's what makes sense to me. I told this to my mom once, and she said that people don't sound like colors.

I think they do.

I also know what music feels like. Not what sounds the music makes, but the vibrations. I can't hear myself, which is why I can't sing. But I can feel the music, and I can dance.

I've never actually danced in front of anyone before. I thought that I would open up to the Glee club kids, and show them what I can do. But they all just stood there, mouths gaping open like fish. They were all so stupid.

Stevie Wonder is blind, and yet he can play the piano. Helen Keller was deaf and blind, and yet she was an inspirational speaker and she wrote books. Why can't people see past my handicap? I just want to be normal.

I can feel footsteps, and in no time Brittany is standing in front of where I'm sitting, as yellow as ever. I smile a fake smile for her, because she's my friend. I don't want her to become tangled in my complex life.

The blonde taps me on the shoulder, and I look at her.

Are you okay? What happened back there?

I'm fine. I just needed a break. They were all judging me, and I didn't like it. I say, signing as well. Maybe, sooner or later, Brittany would pick up on sign language. Back in New York, none of my friends cared to learn signs. They all took advantage of the fact that I could read lips.

I'm sorry about that. It was kind of dumb of me to bring you to Glee club, where you're expected to sing, she says, and I see her laugh. I just smile, but when she pokes me in the rib, I can contain my laughter no longer. We stay in the hallway until Brittany's mom comes to pick her up from school. She doesn't have a car yet, but she said that she's saving up for one. A blue pickup she said.

I don't have a driver's license, but not for the reasons you may think. I am legally allowed to drive, but my parents refuse to let me take the test.

My parents are insane.

They are so terrified of the fact that I'm deaf. Ever since I was a child, I have been constantly sheltered. I honestly don't think I've ever been out by myself, alone anywhere besides school. Even when going out with friends, my mom or dad would sit on a bench where they were 'out of sight', but they could still see me.

My friends would make fun of me.

I love my parents, but I can't wait until college. Then, I can finally do my own thing. It'll be great.

I'm in my mom's SUV, playing with the air vents. Up, down, up, down, up, down, up, down.

I feel my mom tapping me on the shoulder.

Santana, how many times have I told you not to touch the air vent! Leave it alone! This is a very expensive car, she says, and I nod. She continues on about the car, but I just look out the window. She never notices. That's one of the perks of being deaf; you don't have to listen if you don't want to.

I usually choose not to.

A/N: I looked it up, and yes, deaf people are allowed to drive. I didn't make it up. Also, if you didn't realize, in Santana's POV I will have all the dialogue in italics, since she can't actually hear anyone talking. I thought it would be cool. Also, I may not make this a Brittana story. I'm not sure. What do you think?