A/N: I'm not really sure how I feel about this chapter, but I hope y'all enjoy it regardless!
DeanCastielSam: Haha, thanks! I'm glad you liked it :)
LauraFlowi: Thank you! Yes, Rachel has found some competition. I wonder how she'll take it, hmm. And I couldn't resist some good ol' Quinn/Santana conflict, haha.
And thank you to everyone who is adding this story to their favorites/alerts. You guys are awesome!
~Chapter 8~
Previously: "Um, thanks, Santana and Quinn. I don't know what's caused you guys to become so vocal about what's best for the glee club, but I like it," Will spoke up encouragingly.
"Yeah, thanks for the support, you two," Hermione informed them with a dazzling smile, causing both cheerleaders to sit up slightly straighter and return her smile before glaring at each other when the brown-eyed girl turned to talk to Kurt.
"Alright, who can tell me who Christopher Cross is?" The choir director asked the group.
"He discovered America!" Brittany declared smartly, causing Hermione to smile and put her hand on the blonde dancer's shoulder.
"Close," Will replied reassuringly. "He did write an iconic chart topper called 'Sailing'."
"I have a bad feeling about this lesson," Kurt murmured to Hermione who nodded and sighed at her uncle's song choice for the week. She had been a member of glee for about three weeks and was loving every bit of it, except for Rachel's arrogance and condescending nature towards everyone around her.
"Some people think of the term 'easy listening' as a bad thing, but I'm gonna let this music speak for itself. You guys love Lady Gaga and The Rolling Stones and you guys are really good at putting it all out there, but really good music can be controlled and restrained. It doesn't have to attack an audience. It can let them come to you," he informed the students as he passed out the sheet music.
"Mr. Schue, if I may, I think I speak for all of us when I say that it's not that we don't love the idea of spending a week on this silky smooth adult contemporary. It's just that, as teens, this isn't the easiest music for us to relate to. However, there is a burgeoning Facebook campaign that has swelled to over five members. The art in demand, that this week at the fall homecoming assembly, the McKinley High School Glee Club perform a number by, wait for it, Ms. Britney Spears." Hermione winced as Kurt finished, knowing her uncle wasn't going to budge.
"Yo, Spears is fierce, yo," Artie called out as the rest of the group murmured excitedly.
"Sorry, no, no, no, I don't think she's a very good role model," Mr. Schue muttered with a roll of his eyes.
"But Mr. Schue, we kinda grew up with her," Rachel pointed out reasonably.
"She's literally why I decided to become a performer," gasped Tina.
"C'mon, Will, even I admire Britney for her contribution to pop music. She's an icon," the British girl told him straightforwardly.
"I don't want to do Britney," called out a quiet voice.
"Why no Britney, Brittany?" Kurt gasped, shocked that the Cheerio would say such a thing.
"Because my name is also Britney Spears."
"What?" The group collectively gasped.
"My middle name is Susan, my last name is Pierce that makes me Brittany S. Pierce. I've lived my entire life in Britney Spears' shadow. I will never be as talented or famous. I hope you'll all respect that I want glee club to remain a place where I, Brittany S. Pierce can escape the torment of Britney Spears."
"Well, there you have it, guys. It's been decided. No Britney, sorry."
"Thanks, Brit. Thanks a lot," growled the blue-eyed boy.
"Leave Brittany alone," Santana snapped as she and Hermione rubbed the blonde's back.
"Thanks for understanding, guys. It's been a hard road." As Will moved on to discuss Michael Bolton, Hermione joined the rest of her peers by zoning out.
The next afternoon at glee, Ms. Pillsbury's boyfriend, Carl Howell, was giving a lesson on proper dental hygiene.
"Can I just say that you are the hottest dentist I have ever seen?" Santana stated bluntly causing the British teen to roll her eyes.
"Yeah, I get that all the time," the dark-haired man replied with a bashful grin.
"No, like seriously, you can drill me whenever—"
"Santana!" The guidance counselor shrieked loudly, cutting her off.
"Before we chew, I would just like to alert Mr. Schue that there has been a new addition to the Britney Spears facebook campaign," he spoke matter-of-factly, shooting a glance at a guilty looking Hermione.
"Sorry, the answer's still no." The students groaned. "Capsules, guys!"
"Yes, chew away. Chew, chew!" Emma cheered on enthusiastically. Hermione popped the capsule in her mouth and began chewing along with the rest of the singers. After a few moments, everyone began showing off their lovely plaque-free smiles until a fearful yelp was made by Finn. The entire group turned around and gasped in horror at Rachel's incredibly blue teeth.
"Why so blue, Berry?" Hermione inquired with a smirk, earning a high five from Puck.
"I don't understand! I floss between classes!" The diva cried out, covering her mouth with one of her hands.
"Well, sometimes it's genetics," Carl told her sympathetically.
"I think I might be better at brushing and flossing if I could see myself in the mirror," Artie said with a shrug.
"I don't brush my teeth. I rinse my mouth out with soda after I eat. I was pretty sure Dr. Pepper was a dentist…" Brittany trailed off. Carl looked at her in shock before rushing over to further inspect the damage. After he set the blonde, Rachel, and the bespectacled boy up with appointments, he began going over some more tips on how to keep their smiles sparkling.
After glee was dismissed, Hermione waltzed up to her uncle as he was packing up his stuff.
"Wanna tell me what that was all about?" She inquired matter-of-factly.
"What are you talking about? Some of you guys really needed to learn about proper dental care," the choir director pointed out unconvincingly.
"Will…you were doing this for Emma, weren't you?"
"So what if I was?" He answered indignantly.
"Will, she's with Carl now. And she's happy. From what you've told me, he's really helping her." Will opened his mouth to speak, but opted for walking out to be alone for a while. The brunette sighed and went to go find Kurt and Mercedes.
"Guys, we are not doing Britney Spears and that's that," the glee director spoke sternly the next day at rehearsal.
"Mr. Schue, you are letting your own personal issues get in the way of something we are all telling you we really want to do. I mean, this club regularly pays tribute to pop culture and Britney Spears is pop culture. To suggest otherwise is—"
"Kurt! I'm done talking about this!" The hazel-eyed man barked.
"Jeez, let loose a little, would you? Stop being so freakin' uptight all the time!"
"Kurt, I'll see you in the principal's office!" Mr. Schue ordered before following the boy out of the choir room.
"Relax, guys, I'll go talk to him," Hermione spoke up confidently before hurrying after her uncle. "Will, wait up! Please tell me why you snapped at Kurt like that."
"Back off, Mia. I'm not in the mood," he growled out uncharacteristically.
"I can see that," the teenager responded flatly. "What did Emma say to you that's got you so worked up this week?"
"She said I need to loosen up," the curly-haired man answered tersely.
"I agree with her. You're a great guy, Will, but sometimes you're way too afraid of change."
"Fine, Hermione, fine! You guys can do your damn Britney Spears number. I don't give a shit anymore!"
"Will, do not take this out on me! I do not deserve this from you of all people. I'm staying somewhere else tonight to give you time to cool off," Hermione notified him with a glare. She retreated back down the hallway, leaving a guilt-stricken Will in her wake. Upon entering the choir room, the group fell silent, having heard the familial dispute. "Well, we can do Britney," she informed them with a small smile. No one said anything. "Um, well, I thought you all would be happy about this."
"We are. Kurt will definitely be thrilled," Mercedes finally spoke up, grinning at the older girl.
"Thank you for getting Mr. Schue to let us pay homage to me, Brittany S. Pierce."
"No prob, Brit," the wavy-haired brunette chuckled. "How 'bout we do 'Toxic'?" She suggested and was met with enthusiastic cheers before her fellow members began planning the choreography. Only a pair of hazel eyes noticed how distressed the British teen really was. While everyone was busy talking about the homecoming assembly, Quinn approached Hermione who was sitting in front of the piano, absentmindedly tapping the keys.
"We heard the whole thing, you know," the cheerleader murmured as she sat down next to the other girl.
"Yeah, I figured. You guys are really rather awful at acting oblivious," she chuckled uncomfortably, staring intently at the piano.
"I'm sure Mercedes' mom would be cool if you wanted to stay with us tonight." Hermione finally faced the girl sitting next to her and gave her a perplexed look. "It's a long story. Basically, I got pregnant last year and my parents kicked me out, so I ended up moving in with Mercedes and her family," the blonde enlightened her, sadness shining in her hazel eyes. "I guess it wasn't that long of a story actually." Hermione grinned and put an arm around the hazel-eyed girl's shoulders.
"Oh, wow, well you certainly look amazing for someone who was pregnant just a few months ago." The other girl blushed and muttered her thanks. Across the room, as the two continued to converse softly, jealousy flashed in a pair of deep brown eyes.
A/N, part II: The new chapter will be uploaded tomorrow or the next day!