Chapter Two

Kurt managed to steer clear of any football playing menaces for the remainder of the afternoon and was feeling almost cheerful as he walked into the choir room for Glee Club.

He hadn’t made it three steps inside the room before his blood ran cold.

Noah Puckerman was in standing in the middle of the room, surrounded by the remainder of the Glee kids and was excitedly telling a story, waving his hands frantically as though it would help entice his listeners.

Rachel Berry looked awe struck. “Oh my goodness!” She stated, “Then what happened, Noah?”

“Ha! I took her back to my place and banged her brains out!” He shrugged matter-of-factly. He then added with a Cheshire cat-like grin, “twice.”

Kurt had never seen anyone turn that shade of red before. Rachel genuinely looked shocked.

Puck was a player.  No two ways about it. It was rumored that he’d slept with nearly every willing or eligible female student (not to mention a good number of the female faculty members) at McKinley High. He had never been modest a day in his life.  Not that he’d even know what the word “modesty” meant.  Where he was gifted in the physical appearance department, the muscular teen was a few bricks short of a full load.  He managed to flirt his way through many of his classes (and not only the ones with female teachers). The football player was tough - built like a brick shithouse so no one ever dared to call him on his stupidity.  But Kurt had come to the conclusion a while back that Puck was not as dumb as he let on. He had heard that Puck was raised by his drunk-of-a-mother after his dad had walked out on him and his little sister years ago. Kurt knew Puck had a pool cleaning business to make extra money for himself and his sister.  He’d also heard that it wasn’t just the pools that he provided maintenance for when employed by attractive (and often married) women.

Kurt sidestepped away from the group and took his regular seat in the back row of the chairs.  He fumbled around with his phone, pretending to be texting before he heard a familiar hearty laugh echo through the classroom.

Finn Hudson had arrived.

He was dressed in jeans and his number five football jersey. It didn’t make sense to Kurt why someone with such beautiful features would ever wear such an un-flattering ensemble.

Kurt had been madly in love with Finn Hudson since the first time he saw him. 

He stared off into space as he recalled the day that he was rudely shoved into the lockers for the first time by no other than Noah Puckerman.  Finn had been walking with Puck at the time and swatted him saying, “Dude! Impulse control!” Kurt had been enchanted by the gangly teenager ever since. He was his knight in shining armor.

Kurt was never into sports and had no desire to ever go to a football game, until he’d realized that Finn was the all-star quarterback.  He’d convinced his dad to take him to a game once (so it looked like he was there to actually enjoy the game, not just the “scenery”) but Kurt couldn’t recall a single detail from the game itself.  His eyes had stayed trained on the awkwardly tall teenager for the entire duration of the game.

Kurt’s next attempt at trying to get Finn’s attention involved him trying out for the football team as the kicker.  The end result was bittersweet.  Kurt won the team their first game, gained some respect with Finn but ended up getting slushied and tossed into the dumpster more times than usual in the following weeks. The only really good part of the whole ordeal was that it had given Kurt the courage to tell his dad the truth about his sexuality.  

He then recalled the time when he had intentionally blown a high F in the song Defying Gravity during the diva-off with Rachel to avoid causing his father unnecessary stress due to his son singing a song traditionally performed by women. Kurt promised himself and his dad on that day that he wouldn’t hide in the closet, but he had to admit, he had significantly toned down his flamboyance and zest for life since then.

Kurt’s eyes not-so-subtly followed Finn as he walked into the choir room and, after slapping Puck on the shoulder to wordlessly say hello, took a seat in the middle row just to the left of where Kurt sat nervously fidgeting.

Three identically-clad Cheerios entered the room then, looking like a small flock of arrogant birds.  They were lead by Quinn Fabray, the blonde Cheerio captain and girlfriend of Finn Hudson.  Kurt hated her. Not only because she had staked a claim to his “man” but because she was just a genuinely mean person. Although she had of course, never wasted a breath on him since about fifth grade, Kurt frequently watched her, in envy, and found himself despising the ease at which she strolled through life.  When Kurt got basically stampeded and stomped in the hallway, people literally parted and allowed her a clear path. All of the boys fawned over her and all of the teachers loved her. She was the president of the Celibacy Club and a supposed Christian through and through. Kurt however, saw right through her façade, and it made him hate her even more. 

Strutting along behind Quinn was Santana Lopez, who was the female equivalent of Noah Puckerman.  The feisty Latina was co-captain of the Cheerios squad and had a tongue sharper than steel and the wit to go with it.  She was hot-tempered and quick on her feet and always seemed to vie for even half the attention that was often given to her Cheerio counterpart. She was raised in Lima Heights Adjacent, a rough neighborhood literally on the other side of the tracks and could put even Dave Karofsky in his place when the situation was warranted. No one ever messed with Santana Lopez.

Strolling alongside Santana was Brittany S. Pierce, who was the polar opposite of both Quinn and Santana.  Kurt doubted that there was a mean bone in the tall Cheerio’s body.  They’d actually dated once. But that was a long time ago before he’d come to his senses and Kurt refused to think about that subject any further.  Brittany was an innocent as a newborn baby. Her blonde hair was almost always pulled up into a tight ponytail that swished as she walked. To say that Brittany was naïve would be the understatement of the century.  She was so gullible that she was commonly mistaken for stupid.  She had a childlike imagination and was one of the most caring and genuine people Kurt had ever met.

Kurt’s thoughts were interrupted by the entrance of Mr. Schuester into the classroom. The sweater vest-clad teacher strolled in and set a stack of music books on top of the piano. “Good afternoon guys and girls!”

The rest of the group quickly ended their conversations, dispersed and found their seats. Kurt noted that there was still an obvious segregation between the old members of the Glee club and the newest additions. Quinn sat so close to Finn that their arms were touching and Kurt felt a pang of jealousy.  Puck sat up in the top row and slouched down in his chair looking bored already. Mike Chang sat in the front row next to Tina.  Kurt noticed him turn to the shy girl and give her a smile.

“Okay guys,” Mr. Schue started, “I’m assuming you all know each other? Do we need to do any introductions?”

After a brief silence he continued, “Alright then, welcome to New Directions! Let’s get started!”

He walked over to the whiteboard and picked up a blue dry erase marker and wrote the word ballad on the board.

“Ballad.” He said. “From the Middle English word balade. Who knows what this word means?”

Brittany was the first to speak up, “It’s a male duck.”

Confused glances spread throughout the room.

“A ballad is a love song.” Kurt corrected.

“Not always. Ballads are stories set to music, which is why they are the perfect storm of self expression.” Mr. Schue explained. “There is a new rule for sectionals this year; we have to perform a ballad.”

There were several groans heard from around the room.

“Here’s the assignment for this week. I am going to pair you off, and I want you to pick a ballad to sing to your partner.” The teacher explained, walking over towards the black piano.

“I pick Quinn” Kurt heard Finn say quickly.

“No no no. Too easy.” said Mr. Schue, pulling out a top hat. “Partners will be chosen by fate.”

“I bet the duck’s in the hat.” Brittany whispered to no one in particular.

“Whosever name you choose is your partner and you will perform your songs tomorrow.”

Puck walked up to the piano and drew the first name.  He looked appalled when he announced that he’d drawn Mercedes’ name. She looked equally annoyed.

Artie was pleased to draw Quinn, who watched in disgust as Finn went up to draw his own partner’s name from the hat.

Kurt held his breath, anticipating that he would likely draw Rachel’s name.  He hadn’t failed to notice their sudden attraction to one another.

Was there anyone in this school that wasn’t in love with Finn Hudson?

He watched as Finn pulled a card out of the hat and read the name.

“Kurt.” Finn said taken aback.

Kurt paled. Oh shit.

Finn ignored the chorus of giggles permeating around the choir room and looked at his teacher. “Mr. Schue, I don’t think I can do this with another guy.”

“The fates have spoken Finn.” The teacher announced, and more giggles could be heard around the room as Finn shuffled back to his seat.

Kurt was still in shock. Oh double shit.

It was then Tina’s turn to choose and her card read, “Other Asian.” Mike looked bewildered at the announcement, but not entirely disappointed.

When Santana pulled Brittany’s name from the hat, they both cheered excitedly, then Rachel announced that she would be doing her duet with Mr. Schuester, who looked mildly disturbed.

Rachel decided it was necessary to give (yet another) impromptu performance, and began singing an awkward rendition of Endless Love (in B flat) with the teacher, who looked more and more uncomfortable as the performance went on.

Kurt barely noticed.

I can totally sing this song with Finn, he thought to himself. But screw him if he thinks he’s taking the Diana Ross part from me.