Kurt Hummel. Sixteen. And waiting. Waiting for something more. More than Lima, Ohio. With dreams to become a star and to be loved and accepted for who he is, he had no one to be with. Sure, he had friends now, with Glee Club and all, but it never seemed like enough. His tiny hopeful flame with Finn Hudson had died out and there wasn't anyone else left. Even more confusing, he was beginning to question his own choices. Relatively recently something Sue Sylvester said had made him think. He really didn't know anything about love. Crushes, sure, but nothing more. There had been that brief period of "dating" Brittany, but that was not love. No one really knows what that was.

Either way, love was not something he was succeeding in, as much as he wanted to.

It was Wednesday, sometime towards the end of January. Everyone had made it over the "Tuesday hump" and already looking forward to the weekend. Not Kurt Hummel. This weekend was predicted to be as boring as the last. Glee club was only after school, and as many friends as he had made there, none of them had ever really made an effort to get together over a weekend.

Kurt sat in class during 5th period. English. Not his favorite, but certainly not the worst subject ever. The only obnoxious thing about the class was the people. He, of course, had to be seated in the middle of the classroom, surrounded by all the idiot football players and obnoxiously chatty girls. People either teased and mocked him, or didn't bother talking to him at all. He preferred the latter.

The bell was about to ring signaling for class to begin, when the door opened. A girl walked in. She was wearing jeans at least 2 sizes to large for her, an oversized t-shirt with the words "Let the Sun Shine In" on the front. Her black converse were worn and doodled on. Her dark brown hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail with a thin fabric headband wrapped around her head and across her forehead. She was clutching at her worn shoulder bag anxiously. She walked, unnoticed by anyone else, up to the teacher's desk. They exchanged a few words and shook hands. The bell rang.

"Class!" Ms. Berry stood up and tried to get the attention of the classroom, "I have an announcement! Everyone! Quiet down!" The class eventually quieted down and she was able to speak again. "This is Emily. She is new to the school, so I'd like all of you to treat her kindly and help her settle in to the school."

While Ms. Berry talked, the girl just stood there next to her and smiled slightly. She held herself awkwardly, yet in a strangely confident way. Ms. Berry retrieved a piece of paper from her desk and examined it.

"Let's see. Jack has, unfortunately, been recently suspended from school, so you can take his seat." She gestured to an empty desk in the row next to Kurt. She nodded and sat down. Ms. Berry then continued on with their lesson for the day. The whole time Kurt couldn't help but glance at the girl every once in a while. He had caught a glimpse of the back of her shirt and it said "HAIR: The Broadway Musical" in bright colors. A necklace with a peace sign pendant dangled from around her neck as she leaned over her notebook. There were also many buttons, patches, and pins attached to her bag. The majority of which had the name of a musical, something to do with peace, lyrics of a song, or a strange looking cartoon winking.

The bell rang at the end of the period signifying the start of reading period. Everyone stood up and moved around the room to interact with each other. Kurt and Emily stayed seated. She seamed wrapped up in an old notebook. The page she was currently on was covered with words and doodles.

A large football jock was loudly chatting with one of his friends right next to Kurt's desk. He "accidentally" elbowed him in the head as he turned.
"Oops! Sorry sweetheart! Didn't see you there!" he said tauntingly. Emily glanced over at them.

"Whatever. Just go away." Kurt said rubbing the side of his head.

"What? No show tune? I was ready for a good song!" his friends chuckled behind him. Kurt ignored him.

"Hey! I'm talking to you!" he said nudging him roughly in the arm, "Sing me a song! And call over you're freak friends while you're at it!" Kurt remained silent; his head turned slightly the other way.

"What's the matter sweetheart? Don't you wanna sing?"

Nothing.

"Whatever, faggot."

"Excuse me?" a voice on the other side of Kurt appeared. Everyone looked up. The girl, Emily, was staring straight into his face. Him and his friends chuckled.

"Faggot, sweetheart. It means…" The girl stood up.

"I know what you said, asshole. And I find it very offensive."

"Oh do you now, sweetheart?"

"Yes. And I think that you should shut you mouth before you say something else insulting, because the more you talk the more I want to slap you right across your thick, stupid face. And frankly, you are insensitive, unintelligent, and just plain rude. Oh, don't worry; I'm just trying to help you before you say something worse and sound even more brainless! So, you're welcome!" she pushed up her glasses more on her face and shook his hand, "Hello! I am Emily Taylor, and I have been here for 46 minutes and I already want to slap you. 'Mkay sweetheart?" She sat back down.

Everyone within a six-foot radius was silent. A full ten seconds went by until everyone had turned around to resume their reading period.

Emily had gone back to her notebook as if nothing had happened. Kurt, meanwhile, didn't know what to think. No one had ever stood up for him outside of Glee Club, let alone a complete stranger.

"Thanks." He said without looking at her. Emily looked up.

"No problem. And ignore those guys. One day, they'll all be working for you."

Kurt smiled. This was a friendship waiting to happen.