Chapter Three: Siren.

The bell buzzed loudly three times signaling the rest of the day. That's right it buzzed. Seems like even the bells in the school were so old then dirt that they couldn't even conjure up a solid ring.

I gathered my books hastily from my locker tossing them into my sling bag. Junior year was such a joke. Already having finished all of my credits in Grade 10, I was eligible for early graduation. But my mother, ever delusional, wanted me to have a 'normal high school experience', which apparently included attending five different high schools in only three years. Reasoning was never one of her strong suits so kept quite and took electives to fill the time till Senior year when I could hopefully move out to New York to settle down for good.

I struggled with my locker willing the rusty door to shut unsuccessfully.

"Should have went to Carmel High", I murmured to myself, "I bet the lockers there are paved with gold." I leaned against my locker with all my weight.

A large arm shot out from behind me and slammed the locker shut sending a resounding bang down the now empty hallway. I pivoted quickly and was face to face with a tall, hulking boy uniformed in a Titans Football Jersey. He kept one hand flat against the locker above my right shoulder, cornering me.

"Azimo" I noted calmly.

It was hard not to recognize him from my Spanish class earlier when he had asked Mr. Shue how to say, "Lunch money or Slushie".

He grinned down at me, obviously proud of his preceding reputation.

"Word gets around quick, huh? Normally I would torment the new kids. But I like your look." Azimo slowly twirled a piece of my auburn hair with his free hand.

If that's how you want to play.

Smiling flirtatiously I leaned into him, putting both my hands on his chest. I stood on my toes and whispered into his ear, "The only thing you can give me, that girls can't, is about two and a half inches."

I quickly hooked my foot behind his and pushed his over causing him to topple into the janitors water bucket.

Standing above him I gathered my books and gave him a sweet smile.

"Thanks for the help with the lockers." I winked and blew him a kiss.

Azimo sat flabbergasted on the floor, "Dike!" he yelled to my back as I sauntered down the corridor towards the parking lot.

"At least I get more pussy then you." I screamed back, not facing forward as I rounded the corner.

I collided directly into none other then Mr. Schuester, Glee club teacher and boyfriend of Ms. Pillsbury, the slightly unhinged guidance consular.

When I regained my balance I looked up to see his coffee painted the front of his white-checkered shirt.

"Well look on the bright side, that shirt was hideous." I meekly smiled remembering the last thing I had shouted publicly moments ago.

Mr. Schuester dabbed at his shirt hopelessly trying to get the brown stain off.

"I'm trying to change up the wardrobe. Stay away from vests. I don't want to be called out by Santana on the first day of Glee rehearsals."

Santana.

Would I ever figure out why that name made me lose track of everything?

I only ever knew one Santana, with a very different anatomy. He worked at a car repair shop in downtown Detroit. Every day my friends and I would take a trip to the convenience store across the way so they could fawn over him. He would do basically the same thing every shift. Open the hood of the car, and lean into it to check the engine, oil, pretty much everything routine.

I would guess it was the way he looked while he did it that made it different. He knew what he was doing, because he was good at it. When someone is in their element they become a different person.

I wondered what Santana's element was. Maybe it was fixing cars. I pictured her learning into the car, the hot sun beating down while she worked with oil covering her bare arms. A bandana in her back pocket, her skillful hands knowing everything's place working in-

"Valerie", Mr. Schue broke me out of my revere, "Are you okay, you look a little flushed."

"Fine", I recovered, " Better get going, this homework is not going to do itself."

He smirked and offered to walk me towards the exit. He explained that the choir room was on the way and he would make sure Azimo was not lurking the halls.

I appreciated the thought, but I didn't think I would be seeing much of Azimo anymore. Once you insult a guy's manhood they tend to stay clear of you. If worse came to worse I would fight.

My motto was: Fist high: Pride higher.

On the long walk over to the exit Mr. Schue discussed Glee Club, it's successes and failures. He apologized for Rachel and called her, "festive" instead of the choice word I would have used and asked for my opinions on ' theme weeks'.

I had to admit it was the first time I had felt like an actual student at a school since first grade.

We slowed by room 206.

"This year we have it in the bag. I'm planning on utilizing our strongest emotional singers. One's that can really put feelings into the songs, you know?" he continued, growing more animated by the second.

The sweet, slow sounds of a piano sounded through the door. I peeked around Mr. Schuester as he continued to talk about Nationals.

Through the small window I could see a petite Asian girl with long black hair seated at the bench. She played masterfully, as if it came second nature. Every so often she would bob her head to the music as if it was a part of her.

Old friend, why are you so shy?

A'in't like you to hold back or hide from the light.

A voice rang out clear and strong. Someone was performing. I strained my neck to see but Mr. Schuester shifted as he talked. My view was obstructed as he began again.

"The kids in the club are all so different but they have one thing in common. They have passion." He smiled wistfully.

I hate to turn up out of the blue, uninvited

but I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it

I had hoped you see my face and that you'd be reminded that for me it isn't over.

As the song continued I found myself stepping closer to the door. I wanted to see the singer with the voice like a sirens, drawing me in. It was sultry but sweet, brave but vulnerable.

"Glee club is just full of acceptance."

Nevermind, I'll find someone like you

I wish nothing but the best for you too

Don't forget me, I begged, I remember you said

Mr. Schue looked down at me, "It really is a safe haven you know?"

Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead.

Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead.

I grabbed the door handle, letting the cold air from the hallway circulate into the choir room.

A group of nine eyes stared back at me. The singer stood back to me gazing at Brittany who in turn looked at me in confusion. I spotted Puck in the crowed who gave me a traditional head nod and Rachel who almost spoke up but was silenced by a pretty blonde next to her, who seemed to sense the tension in the room.

The girl who had sung twisted her ring around her finger nervously before turning around.

Our eyes met for a brief second.

Of course it had been her, the pain, regret, acceptance all of the senses her eyes reviled were present in her voice. I noticed tears running down her face.

"Santana.. I" I began unsure of where I was headed.

I wanted to help her. To tell her that whatever it was she was dealing with, she did not have to do it alone. That I was there and that I could help. But she didn't know me well enough and it seemed the only person she knew well enough to talk to just did not feel the exact same way. I stole a quick glance at Brittany who still looked confused.

The silence broke as Mr. Schue stepped up from behind me and clapped his hands together loudly causing half the class to jump.

"Santana, excellent choice for serenade week. Who was it that you choose to serenade?" He asked curiously.

Her eyes swept the room, pausing on Brittany for the slightest second before landing on a lean Asian in the back of the room.

"Mike", she said clearing her throat.

The boy, Mike, looked extremely confused before exiting the room to follow his apparent girlfriend who had stormed out in a rage.

"You are supposed to serenade someone you have feelings for, friendship or otherwise. I think you missed the point of this lesson. Although I appreciate the creativity." Mr. Schue sighed.

Santana answered back brazenly, " Speaking of creativity, just because you wear a tie over a hideous button up shirt does not make it formal. It makes it tacky".

The cold look was back in her eyes. She gave me a slow, challenging, once over before heading back to sit next to Puck.

Rachel, whom at this point had her hand up so high it might have punctured the ceiling, could not contain herself any longer, "I think that it was a very valiant effort and a good start to the discussion of multi- cultured relationships and the advantage it could give us over Carmel High during Sectionals this year."

"Well Rachel I actually have a secret weapon this year. Everyone this is Valerie. She will be joining Glee club." Mr. Schuester said proudly.

"I'm what?" I gaped.

Puck spoke up, "I may or may not have broken into your old school computer files and noticed you were enrolled in Glee Club once. So I stole some of the tapes and let Mr. Schue listen. You've got some pipes girl."

"That's like ten sorts of illegal." I reasoned helplessly, "You have to understand that was years ago. I left that behind when I left New York behind. I have moved on. Maybe I can learn water polo or something here. No repeats."

A small fashionable boy stood up near the back corner of the room. He was dressed in a black and red pin strip suit with a matching hat with an embroidered pin that read, "Kurt".

"If I may", he cleared his throat delicately, "I think that it's only fair that Valerie audition for the club if Blaine had to." He pointed next to him at the good-looking boy in a cable knit, cream-colored sweater.

"Hold on here. Who said anything about auditioning?" I interjected quickly.

I noticed with shock Quinn Fabray, former head cheerleader, spoke up. If any one was well known in this school it was Quinn. Talk of her was in the hallways, not to mention trophy cases with her name and picture plastered in them.

"Look Valerie, right? There is no arguing that this club is a little unusual. Quinn spoke softly, "but there is room in it for every type of person. Just give it a chance. You might just meet someone worth while" as she talked Rachel bobbed her head in agreement.

Shaking my head, I still was not sold. It took a lot for me to listen to someone, especially if it was someone who was popular in a school in Lima Ohio. Popularity was dependent on how long you were in any given place. This place had an expiration date.

Santana sat still. Shaking her head softly in disagreement, with what I was not sure.

"Thanks but no thanks. Seems like you all have a nice setup here. I wouldn't want to ruin the dynamic", I responded quickly before turning to walk out.

A loud slam echoed through the room.

I glanced back and saw that Santana had stormed off though the backdoor.

Resounding groans and collective eye rolls passed through the room, while I stood confused. Seems like she got mad often.

"Finn, what is the count at?" Puck asked loudly.

Finn, a tall awkward boy sitting at the drum set, guffawed and said, "2nd time today Santana has walked out."

The rest of the room let out a resounding laugh, while Brittany had a small smirk.

I felt the overwhelming urge to stand up for her. Maybe everyone assumed because of her tough attitude she never needed protecting, and maybe she didn't, but it was nice to be offered some regardless.

"That's nice you all think this is funny. At least she had the guts to show emotion when things go wrong. Instead of sitting here with a plastic smile like the rest of you."

The club looked taken aback. Santana had surely given them some trouble before. But the new girl, probably not.

I stormed past Mr. Schue and spoke out loudly, "Nice, accepting club", before going to find Santana.