Happiness [Book 2]

Chapter 8 - Left Outside Alone

"After much contemplation," Mr. Schue announced on Monday morning, "Finn and I have decided on a song for the pep rally."

I looked over at Angie, my eyebrows raised and my smile wide, excited. She smiled back at me, seeming so incredibly nervous about it all. 

"We will be performing... drumroll, please Finn..." Finn, from behind the drum kit, played out the drumroll. "I'm Outta Love by Anastacia!"

I gave Angie a gentle tap on the shoulder. "You did it!" She beamed at me.

"And Marley will be singing our lead," Mr. Schue said. Kitty, from the back of the room, groaned.

"Oh," I turned to the front, my eyes wide, "what?"

"Marley just has the same... attitude that the song conveys. Her voice would fit it, and I think she's probably very experienced," Mr. Schue reasoned.

I looked over at Angie, expecting to see her look disappointed, but she looked perfectly content. "What about- what about Angie? She's the one who suggested it."

"Angie's so new to the club, Marley," Mr. Schue said, "and it's a big job." 

Angie nodded at me, quiet as ever. 

"Um, what about me?" Kitty asked, slapping her hands on her knees. "That song is full of... full of sex. I have so much more sex appeal than little miss Prude over here, who only wears skirts that end past the knee. Plus, I am qualified - I have been in the Cheerios since freshman year."

"I've made my decision, Kitty," Mr. Schue said.

Kitty groaned, yet again. "I don't know why she gets everything."

"Anastacia, as a performer, has a certain... stage presence. To ensure that we can emulate that presence, this week we will be focusing on songs by Anastacia and only Anastacia." 

I turned to Angie. "Surely you'll be singing something this week."

She gave a breathy laugh. "I guess I'll have to now."

As the bell rang, Mr. Schue passed out lyric sheets. My page was covered in bright pink, highlighting each word I'd need to sing. I looked back at Kitty, whose page only had the back up bits. 

For a moment there, I caught myself feeling bad for the girl who bullied me. 

***

The whole Glee club had made it to the cafeteria at lunch that afternoon. We gathered around a table, eating our food and having a friendly conversation, when a bunch of jocks came up behind us... holding the all too familiar cups above our heads. 

I felt the dread settle in my stomach, beside the pure nervousness. 

"What's... happening?" Angie asked, looking behind her. She looked as timid as ever. 

"Yeah, I'm confused," Travis replied. 

"This is normal," Jake sighed, straightening his back and just waiting for the impact of the slushie to hit him.

"Wait, what-" And before Angie could even finish her sentence, a cup of colourful ice was tipped onto our heads. I felt it fall down my face, into my eyes, and down my shirt. It was so cold that it burnt. I heard Angie next to me gasp loudly and let out a small whine of pain. 

"What... the... fuck?" I heard Kitty scream, before I heard her gentle footsteps fade away.

The entire student body burst into laughter. I had been here a million times before, so it didn't hurt as much physically or mentally. My heart ached for Angie, however, who had probably never been humiliated to such a great extent. I immediately felt guilty - I was supposed to be protecting her.