Playing With Fire Chapter 3: Love The Way You Lie, a glee fanfic

Disclaimer: I don't own Glee or any songs that may be used in this chapter.

Note: Thanks for all the great reviews! Keep 'em coming!

Note2: Also, shout-out to Sarah! She suggested I use this song for this story.

"Does anyone have any songs they've been working on? I want to get a feel of where you all are at before Sectionals," Mr. Schuester said, addressing the group.

Kurt raised his hand. "I have something," he said. "But I'll need Artie's help on this one." Artie looked at Kurt. "Why me?"

"You're the best rapper in Glee," Kurt said simply. "No offense, guys." He whispered what song he wanted to do to Artie, and Artie nodded.

"Well, whenever you two are ready, then," Mr. Schue said. The others applauded in support, curious to see what song these two could possibly be performing.

Kurt stood up and began to sing from his spot, making his way to the front of the room as he sang each line.

Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
But that's alright because I like the way it hurts
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry
But that's alright because I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie

No one but Kurt knew why he'd selected this song. Mr. Schuester frowned, knowing how controversial the song had been when it hit the airwaves last year. Finn frowned as well, not sure where his stepbrother was going with this one. Kurt had made his way to Artie by now, who began the rap bit of the song.

I can't tell you what it really is
I can only tell you what it feels like
And right now it's a steel knife in my windpipe
I can't breathe but I still fight while I can fight
As long as the wrong feels right it's like I'm in flight

Rachel exchanged a glance with Finn. She was known to not get along with Kurt, but she couldn't help but to think why he'd chosen this song, and why he'd chosen Artie to sing it with. Maybe Kurt was…nah, she decided. Kurt wasn't in love with Artie.

High off of love, drunk from my hate,
It's like I'm huffing paint and I love it the more I suffer, I suffocate
And right before I'm about to drown, she resuscitates me
She freaking hates me and I love it.
Wait! Where you going?
"I'm leaving you"
No you ain't. Come back we're running right back.

Mr. Schue frowned again. He was proud of Artie for censoring the obscenities, but he still couldn't figure out why Kurt had chosen this song, of all songs, to sing in Glee that day. He hoped Kurt wasn't being abused by someone he cared about.

Here we go again
It's so insane cause when it's going good, it's going great
I'm Superman with the wind at his back, she's Lois Lane
But when it's bad it's awful, I feel so ashamed I snapped
Who's that dude? I don't even know his name
I laid hands on her, I'll never stoop so low again
I guess I don't know my own strength

Artie looked at Kurt, questioning how he was doing so far. Kurt gave a slight nod of approval, and turned back towards the group. He took a breath and sang the next verse.

If only they knew, he thought. If only they knew why I chose this song. If only they knew about my love for the flames, for the burning. If only they could see what was really inside me, torment and despair, longing and loss. He looked at Artie, who started again.

You ever love somebody so much you can barely breathe
When you're with 'em
You meet and neither one of you even know what hit 'em
Got that warm fuzzy feeling
Yeah, them chills you used to get 'em

Some of the kids nodded; they knew this feeling. Rachel knew it for Puck, and Santana for Brittany. Tina and Mike knew it for each other, and they took each other's hands, as Tina looked at her ex-boyfriend with appreciation.

Now you're getting freaking sick of looking at 'em
You swore you'd never hit 'em; never do nothing to hurt 'em
Now you're in each other's face spewing venom in your words when you spit them
You push, pull each other's hair, scratch, claw, hit 'em
Throw 'em down, pin 'em
So lost in the moments when you're in them

Rachel nodded again. That felt somewhat like her relationship with Jesse, she couldn't help but to think, and later, for Finn. Will Schuester couldn't help but to think of his ex-wife, Terri, and how those lyrics pertained to the end of their marriage.

It's the rage that took over it controls you both
So they say you're best to go your separate ways
Guess if they don't know you 'cause today that was yesterday
Yesterday is over, it's a different day
Sound like broken records playing over but you promised her

Will looked off into the distance. How had he never really listened to these lyrics before? Maybe it was that he hadn't really heard the song since his divorce. He sighed, running his hand over his face. This was all a little too real to him.

Next time you show restraint
You don't get another chance
Life is no Nintendo game
But you lied again
Now you get to watch her leave out the window
Guess that's why they call it window pane

Mercedes stole a glance at Kurt, noticing how stoic he was being. She found this odd, considering how emotional Kurt tended to be while performing. She hoped nothing was wrong with him, and if something was, why he wasn't telling her.

Mr. Schuester took the opportunity to look at Kurt now. He heard the sudden burst of emotion behind Kurt's voice, especially during the line "but that's alright because I like the way it hurts". He hoped Kurt wasn't turning to self-injury to vent his feelings. Artie exploded into the final bit of the song.

Now I know we said things, did things that we didn't mean
And we fall back into the same patterns, same routine
But your temper's just as bad as mine is
You're the same as me
But when it comes to love you're just as blinded

Quinn looked at Finn; was he, too, thinking about their relationship from the past? Was he still angry with her for cheating on him with Puck? Did he want her back, now that Rachel was out of the picture, and Sam was with Santana?

Baby, please come back
It wasn't you, baby it was me
Maybe our relationship isn't as crazy as it seems
Maybe that's what happens when a tornado meets a volcano
All I know is I love you too much to walk away though

Rachel looked at Finn, too. She was missing him more than ever these days. Every word that Artie was rapping, she felt in her heart. She felt every single word in her soul, in every fiber of her body, and she began to tear up.

Come inside, pick up your bags off the sidewalk
Don't you hear sincerity in my voice when I talk
I told you this is my fault
Look me in the eyeball
Next time I'm pissed, I'll aim my fist at the drywall

Finn didn't know where to look. His two ex-girlfriends were staring at him, and his stepbrother was in front of him breaking down slowly. He settled his problem by looking down at the floor, picking at a loose thread on his shirt.

Next time. There won't be no next time
I apologize even though I know it's lies
I'm tired of the games I just want her back
I know I'm a liar
If she ever tries to freaking leave again
Im'a tie her to the bed and set this house on fire
I'm just gonna…

Kurt summoned up all of his courage to sing this last verse. If only they knew how much he could relate to this song, how much he'd been playing it on his iPod within the last few weeks. He tried not to cry as he tore into the last verse of the song.

There was silence in the choir room for several moments, before the club burst into applause. Several members exchanged glances, ranging from worried to apologetic.

"Well, boys, that was…that was great," Mr. Schuester said. "But Kurt, do you mind if I ask why you chose that song to sing today?"

Kurt shook his head. "It's just been playing on my iPod a lot lately. Besides, it's domestic violence awareness month, and this song is a good example of how rap music glorifies things such as domestic abuse."

"That's an interesting point," Mr. Schue said. "How many of you guys know someone who has been in an abusive relationship before?" Nearly all of the kids raised their hands, Kurt included. Mr. Schue raised his own hand, too. "Do you want to make this a domestic violence awareness themed week?" He asked.

The kids nodded wordlessly. They'd had success with their alcohol awareness week, so maybe this week would drive home another important message.

After Glee, Artie stayed behind to talk to Kurt. "Kurt…can I ask you something?"

"Sure," he said, not quite looking at Artie.

"Who have you known who's been in an abusive relationship?"

Kurt froze. "Oh, just a friend," he said quickly. "Excuse me." He ran out of the room.

Artie frowned. He didn't know Kurt to be a liar. What had gotten into him, anyway?

The flames.