Cry Pretty || Mike Chang

Chapter Thirteen

Jordyn was messing with the radio. Without realising it, she had journeyed through the entire catalogue of Ohio's stations. There was nothing that she would sit through as she travelled towards the high school with her aunt.

So many of the songs were about the mistakes from others or glorify things that cause her to cringe slightly. Children listen to the radio and get influences by the celebrities they see. It hurt her when she realised that they didn't have the same idols as she had with Stevie Nicks, Aretha Franklin and Billy Joel.

"What has you wound up today?" Emma asked noticing that her niece seemed quieter than she usually was and was unable to sit still. "You know that you can talk to me."

Nodding her head, Jordyn sighed, "It's Kurt, I'm worried about him."

"I know," Emma declared, causing the younger Pillsbury to turn to her slightly confused. "I saw him looking at my pamphlet the other day. I'm guessing you did too." Jordyn nodded. "I probably shouldn't tell you this, but I spoke to his dad. I think he has enough people in his corner now."

"I hope so," Jordyn replied. "I've not been here long, but I owe a lot to Kurt. He helped make Ohio feel like home."

Emma smiled at her niece as she called the little town home. It had been a bumpy ride the last year, Jordyn resenting the move and changing her mind repeatedly, but, now, the girl seemed genuinely happy.

"I want to help him the way he's helped me." Jordyn explained. "Without him, I wouldn't have survived my first week at McKinley."

There was a silence as Jordyn took a breath, turning the radio off before she began talking again, "Or without you. Emma, I haven't thanked you properly. You never pushed me to be better all at once, you let me break down but never let me go. I never fell apart on my own, and I never felt abandoned."

Jordyn was speaking through her tears as Emma pulled into the school, a smile on her face. Turning the engine off, she pulled her niece into a hug saying, "you're everything to me Jordyn," as she pushed her hair back from the girls face.

***

Standing to the edge of the stage, Jordyn witnessed Kurt's falsetto for the first time. Perhaps she had never realised because he had never sung while she was in the same room, but Kurt could carry his weight vocally. Closing her eyes, Jordyn smiled as he held the note without variation. Her friend was amazing, and she couldn't wait to let him know.

She had missed Will's words to the boy before he walked over to her. Clapping her hands, Jordyn smiled widely at her friend. He raised his shoulders, not as convinced of his talent as she was. Opening her arms, Jordyn embraced her friend as she squealed slightly.

"You're amazing," Jordyn declared, "that falsetto was flawless."

Shaking his head, Kurt announced, "I was okay. You are going to knock me out of the park."

Pulling away, Jordyn raised her shoulders, "I don't know about that. I'll see you afterwards."

Stepping onto the stage, Jordyn's eyes switched between the piano and the guitar to the side of her. Despite living with Emma, who loved riggorus planning, she had not yet decided on her audition song. It was a last minute decision that she had yet to make.

Turning to face Will, she let the words leave her mouth instinctively, "Hi, I'm Jordyn Pillsbury and I will be singing Break In by Halestorm."

"The stage is yours Jordyn."

Crossing to the piano, Jordyn smiled at Brad, not trusting her voice. Nodding as he stood up, leaving the stage to her alone. Her heart beat quickly as she pushed her sleeves up to her elbows and placed her fingers on the keys.

She felt a certain type of comfort behind the piano. Even if her voice failed, she knew that she could trust her playing. IT had become second nature after the hours she had spent on the ivories, her escape coming from her ability to express her pain without saying a word.

"Put your lighter in the air and lead me back home. When it's all said and done, I'll follow the echoes. I hear you night after night calling out my name, and I find myself running to meet you." She let out a sigh as she shook vocally. There was very little she loved doing as much as using a musical creative outlet. So, in that moment, as she made her way through the song, she lost all sense of fear that had once devoured her entire being.

"You let me fall apart without letting go, then you pick up the pieces and you make me whole." She sang the beginning of the second verse, thinking only of her aunt. There was nothing she was more thankful for than the faith that has been put in her, and how much she had done to help her become complete once again. She had broken so many times since she had moved in with Emma, but the elder women had not once given up on her. She had been there completely.

As she came to the end of the song, Jordyn looked up from the piano to see Will smiling her way and nodding his head. Smiling slightly, Jordyn stood up from the piano, ready to walk away. However, before she could leave the stage, Will had called for her attention.

"I was wondering," he started, "would you be able to choreograph for us? Not everything, but you are such as good dancer that I feel it would give us an advantage."

Jordyn went to speak but her words failed, sticking to her throat. She had never expected to be asked to help in a way that made her feel both nervous and honoured. As much as she wanted to say yes, she knew there was a chance that the pressure would send her under. Yet, if she said no, she would have to fight for everything from that point on.

"You don't have to answer now," Will added, seeing the conflict on Jordyn's face. "Just think about it."

"I will," Jordyn declared, "Thank you Mr Schue, for having faith in me."

He nodded, watching as the red-haired girl left the stage, every ounce of confidence that had been seeping from her as she sang having disappeared. If there was one thing that Will wanted the New Directions to do, it was help the kids of McKinley, starting with Jordyn.

He had seen her at her best, as she danced the day away in the studio. Yet, he had also witnessed her fall apart. Maybe, through Glee he could help her find a middle ground. But that could only happen if the humble and independent girl let him help her.

I had been craving some Jordyn and Emma moments, so here's one. Though I have to admit I have got a tonne more written, mainly around the entire Carl story line. Jordyn is a bit of an angsty little nightmare, because who doesn't like angsty teenager storylines. 

Now that I have gotten to the New Direction, the chapters wont be as short or snappy. They will follow the story line of most of the episodes, with a few extras thrown in for good measures (I'm a slut for Heather's so there is definitely a moment in there).

I hope you have enjoyed the incredibly long intro to the book, I didn't mean for it to get so out of hand but I had so much scene setting it was unbelievable. I also know there are a few time that I said Denver not LA for Jordyn's old school and home, but I am going through as soon as I finish work to correct those.

I am going away as well so I am hoping to get a few chapters written before I go so that I can just publish them while I am away, cause I don't want to to be two weeks before I update. (I have two weeks residency at the leading law firm in England so I am increadibly busy so there's an advanced apology for no updates just in case.)

I'm sorry for the massively long authors note, I swear there won't be any more like this now. I hope you have liked this so far, I can't wait to get Jordyn and Rachel together and for the cat fights to start. (I love Rachel, but Jordyn is going to knock her down a few pegs.)

Jurt? Mordyn? or Jordina?