So, I broke my promise to myself and wrote this whole chapter after midnight. So, if it's weird/cring-wrothy/badly written/overly fluffy/over the top/or "wow, i can't believe you went there"-ness, then I'm sorry XD

I don't own anything, obviously. It's fanfiction.

Chapter 5

"Favorite bands, go."

"Umm….Bon Jovi, Queen, Guns 'n Roses, Aerosmith, and AC/DC. There's more, though."

"Sticking with the Classics, nice. 'Kay, Travis."

"Black Veil Brides and Coldplay."

"Bri—"

"One Direction!" ("Boo" Lakota said underneath her breath)

"Riley—"

"Pearl Jam, Black Veil Brides, Red Line Chemistry, Nickelback, Metallica, Breaking Benjamin…"

"Bro fist, dude." Lakota stretched out her arm across from where she was sitting to Riley, who then bumped her fist. "You have awesome taste in music."

The Glee kids were all sitting together, eating their various lunches, as Kurt and Blaine arrived.

"What're you guys doing?" Blaine said, overhearing the previous conversation.

"I am quizzing the new kids." Arty said putting his fingertips together.

"Technically, you're not quizzing them. Anyways, I don't really see the point." Rachel contradicted.

"Okay, One; whatever. And two: There is a point. Due to the resent (and random) flood of new students in this school we might as well get to know the people who might get us to Sectionals."

Before Rachel could "add in her opinion", Travis stood up.

"I gotta go. Told Pepper I'd meet her after class. She's probably waiting for me."

"Who's Pepper, Travis?" Rachel asked curiously, her hopeless romantic heart looking for a new budding romance.

"A friend. See you later." He answered, even though he didn't know how to answer. Who was Pepper to him? A friend? He assumed so. They had lunch together everyday, they talk everyday, and he keeps asking her to join Glee club. Was it silly to not consider her a friend? Was it ridiculous to consider her as a friend?

He bumped into her in the hall—and as in "bump", he literally crashed into her. Travis was walking so fast, worried that he had left her too walk to lunch alone. He had always walked her to lunch, he didn't want her to think he was leaving her for his new friends.

After helping her from the ground, her looked at him quizzically—not angry, just innocently curious.

"Sorry," he gave an embarrassed chuckle.

"Why were you walking so fast you couldn't see me?" Pepper asked in her sweet, delicate voice.

"Well, in my defense, you're so small it's hard to see you." He said, trying to laugh off his embarrassment. When she didn't say anything, he continued. "I was afraid I was keeping you waiting."

"Waiting for what?"

"For me."

"Why?"

"Because I was going to walk you to lunch."

"Is that a thing?"

"Lunch? Yeah…."

"No, I mean you walking with me."

"Oh….I thought it was….Do you want it to be…?"

She blushed slightly, and glanced down. "Yeah…sure."

They started walking, soon reaching the lunch room. They went to their usual table, in their usual spots, and brought out their lunches.

Travis had a Turkey sandwich with barbecue chips. All that Pepper had was a small vine of grapes, enough to probably satisfy a baby. Probably.

"Is that all?" Travis asked.

"Yeah. My mom is going shopping today; we don't have much of food at the moment." She said without looking at him.

"Oh, okay…it's just sometimes you show up with no food at all. I don't want you to go hungry."

"I'm fine." She said, still not meeting his gaze.

Travis shrugged, deciding to believe her. He didn't think she was lying, anyways.

It was silent, and Travis was afraid that the atmosphere will be clouded with awkwardness. Then, Pepper spoke.

"What do you do in Glee Club?"

He was caught off guard, but still pleased with the question. Too bad he didn't have much of an answer.

"We….Um…well, we….To be honest, we usually sit around and listen to Rachel and Finn sing duets. But it's a lot of fun when they're not consently singing."

She smiled, and said "Is it okay I audition?"

"What changed your mind?" He was extremely happy that she said she'll join, but he was curious about her reasoning.

She just shrugged.

"So, Pepper, the floor's all yours." Mr. Shue smiled, moving to the side of the room for a shy, soft spoken Pepper.

Rachel Berry was all smiles until the music started up. People looked alarmed as glanced her way. Finn just look terrified as what his girlfriend might say.

Pepper, on their other hand, was oblivious and got into the song, all nerves faded away as she danced and sung.

Don't tell me not to live, just sit and putter

Life's candy and the sun's a ball of butter

"Oh no," Arty whispered, glancing at Rachel, who had a look of disbelief.

Don't bring around a cloud to rain on my parade

Don't tell me not to fly, I simply got to

If someone takes a spill, it's me and not you!

Who told you you're allowed to rain on my parade

The fact that she was absolutely great didn't help. Travis watched as she danced, making big movements with her arms and danced around on the floor.

I'll march my band out, I'll beat my drum

And if I'm fanned out, your turn at bat, sir

At least I didn't fake it, hat, sir

I guess I didn't make it

But whether I'm the rose of sheer perfection

A freckle on the nose of life's complexion

The Cinderella or the shine apple of its eye

Rachel watched the girl in black sing the song with such energy, critiquing her every movement.

I gotta fly once, I gotta try once,

Only can die once, right, sir?

Ooh, life is juicy, juicy and you see,

I gotta have my bite, sir.

Get ready for me love, 'cause I'm a "comer"

I simply gotta march, my heart's a drummer!

Don't bring around the cloud to rain on my parade!

They all watched in amazement as her dancing and singing got stronger and better.

I'm gonna live and live now!

Get what I want, I know how!

One roll for the whole shebang!

One throw that bell will go clang,

Eye on the target and wham,

One shot, one gun shot and BAM!

Hey, Mr. Arnstein, here I am...

Travis swore his heart almost skipped a beat as her are outstretched.

I'll march my band out! I will beat my drum!

And if I'm fanned out, your turn at bat, sir,

At least I didn't fake it, hat, sir,

I guess I didn't make it

Get ready for me love, 'cause I'm a "comer"!

I simply gotta march, my heart's a drummer!

Nobody, no, nobody, is gonna…. rain on my…parade!

She stood in the middle of the floor, her arms outstretched and breathing heavily. As if realizing what she had done for the past three minutes, she withdrew her arms, and looked down embarrassed. But it didn't look like she regret doing what she did.

Travis what the first one to clap, which caused everyone excluding Rachel and Finn (who started to clap, but received a glare from Rachel).

Pepper bit her lip and blushed, but looked pleased.

"Uh," Mr. Schue had his mouth wide open before closing it. "That was…amazing, Pepper. Take a seat, we're glad to have you on our team."

Pepper took the closest seat she could get to, which was between Rachel and Travis.

'You guys can sit and chat, I have to talk to Emma real quick. Pepper, make yourself at home."

"Well, I must say," Rachel said, turning to Pepper once Mr. Shue was out of the room. "That was an outstanding performance."

Pepper blushed. "Thank you."

"I was wondering, what made you choose that song?"

"Umm…I just-"

"Because it doesn't really seem to fit your character, does it?"

"Oh, boy, here we go." Travis heard Kurt say behind him. "Rachel, drop it."

"What do you mean?" Pepper asked innocently.

"I mean, all due respect, that song is…" She made hand motions, trying to find the right word. Pepper finished for her, though.

"Happy?" Pepper asked, raising her eyebrow just a little bit.

Rachel shrugged. "I suppose. I just mean-"

"Am I not allowed to sing I really like here?" She said it quietly, but Travis knew she was testing Rachel, trying to see what she was really trying to say.

"Well, no, of course not. You can sing whatever you like. It's just, I've been singing that song since I was two and everyone knows it's my signature song, so—"

"So you're afraid she's upstaged you." Lakota finished Rachel's sentence for her, from behind where Rachel was sitting.

"No, I'm not worried about anyone upstaging me—"

Lakota chuckled. "That's not conceited at all."

"It's not—back me up here, Finn."

Finn, surprised by having been dragged into the discussion, just sat there with his mouth open, trying to find the right words to make everyone happy but his girlfriend happier.

"I mean, I would expect you singing something, like…."

"Rachel, shut up!" Mercedes said from the back row.

"Like, something people like you like."

"Rachel!" This was Travis, and several others. Finn just sat there, quietly trying to calm his girlfriend down.

"People like me?" Pepper asked, as though worried of the answer. "What are people like me?"

"You know," some people were already bracing themselves for what Rachel will say next. "With the eyeliner and black hair and—"

"Emo." Pepper answered bluntly. "You mean people like me, who are Emo."

Rachel just shrugged. "Well…"

Pepper looked away from the brunette. She pushed her messenger bag over her should, and said an extremely quiet "Excuse me" and ran out of the room.

"Pepper, wait-!" Travis went after her, following her trail.

"Oh my God."

"What the hell, Rach?"

"What was that all about?"

"What?" Rachel looked around the room, staring at the disbelieving eyes.

"That's was uncalled for." Lakota stared at Rachel, who turned her body to face her.

"That's my song! I wasn't going to let some Marilyn Manson wannabe steal it."

"That's unbelievable!" Lakota raised her voice. "You have no right to judge someone because of what they like. You of all people should know this Rachel. And just because she upstaged you in a song anyone can listen to and like?" The students stared at her as she stood up and walked over to the door.

"Where're you going?" Asked a voice she couldn't place.

"I'm going to find Pepper's skinny ass and apologize for Rachel." Lakota said. She stopped, turned on her heel, and said directly to Rachel, "If you think she looks like Marilyn Manson, who do I look like? I wear more make up then she does."

And with that, she left the room, leaving everyone in silence.

God, I hope she isn't crying. Travis thought to himself as he ran to catch up with Pepper. He didn't know if he could handle a crying girl. They're….clingy. And you're supposed to comfort them….He thought he would be awkward and wouldn't know what to do.

Once he finally caught up with her, he tapped her shoulder. She didn't turn around, but she did stop walking. She adjusted her black, oversized sweater over her bare and pale shoulder.

"Are you okay? I'm sorry, I didn't know Rachel would be like that."

He was relieved when she turned around and saw that her face was dry.

"I know I'm Emo. I like being Emo. I just don't like being a stereotype."

I hope FanFiction didn't spazz out and leave some line breaks or italics out and made it confusing...

I hope I didn't go over board with Rachel's reaction. Although she annoys me (although I like her better in season 4 then the other seasons), she's fun to write. So I hope it isn't over-the-top or OOC.

What OC do y'all like best so far? Tell me in a reveiw, along with constructive critism, your thoughts, or flames. I don't care.