Season One, Episode Two
Showmance

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"Everybody loves disco!" Will shouted through the corridor as students inaudibly disagreed with him, Arden sighed as she leaned against her locker. Rachel ─ who was desperately trying to win Finn's affections to save her loser status ─ and Finn had used Coach Sue's photocopy machine to make flyers in hopes to prevent them having to perform disco in front of the school, however, it backfired.

"Hey, mini Schuester," Quinn Fabray's voice caught Arden's attention, she turned to the head cheerleader to see Santana and Brittany with her. "Y-yes?" Arden stuttered back as she looked up at them. "I've come to terms with what you said and it's fine by me. If you want to be friends and only friends with Finn, I won't get in the way," Quinn told her with her arms crossed, Arden smiled happily with a nod before the trio of Cheerios walked away.

Arden turned her attention to her locker, opening it to see a piece of paper resting in the vent slip causing her to furrow her brows in confusion. She felt anxious about opening it but decided to take the risk, unfolding the thin lined paper. Slowly a smile appeared on her face, her cheeks flushing pink as she read the sentence; You look beautiful when you smile. -hypeking

She had no idea who "hypeking" was but she appreciated the kind words that brightened her day, she carefully placed the note into her notepad before grabbing what she needed and closing her locker. The smile upon her face refused to leave even as she walked by Puckerman and his jocks.

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"She showed up in the Celibacy Club?" Arden asked Finn as they walked down the corridor together. Since Quinn's approval, Arden had taken the opportunity to befriend the school's quarterback and they were currently talking about Rachel's sudden choice to join the Celibacy Club.

"Yeah but then she went on about how girls wanted sex more than boys before storming out... it was impressive," Finn answered as he looked from Arden to the ground with a shrug. "But I bet Quinn wasn't a fan," Arden pointed out with a small smile, Finn nodding in agreement before they walked into Spanish class.

"Also, I know that you're anxious about the performance but who knows... maybe you'll all do so good that they will enjoy it," Arden told Finn, the taller teen smiled at her before she moved to her usual table in the back. Arden was stunned by how her life had changed since the club started and she was beginning to believe it was fate.

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Arden trailed behind Kurt and Mercedes as they entered the choir room, she sat down between them before looking up at Rachel who stood before them. "I officially call this meeting of the Glee Club in session," Rachel spoke as she looked around, her gaze skipping over Arden. "But Mr Schuester isn't here," Artie spoke up as he glanced at Arden who shrugged back with a sigh knowing Rachel didn't care. "Mr Schuester isn't coming. I paid a Freshman to ask him for help with irregular verbs," Rachel replied with a smug expression.

"I'm so sick of hearing you squawk, Eva Peron," Mercedes sneered at the spotlight diva, sending a sympathetic gaze towards Arden knowing that Rachel held a dislike towards her. "Let her talk," Finn defended with a smile in Rachel's direction, the spotlight diva blushed. "I have another idea for the assembly," Rachel informed everyone causing Arden to shrink in her seat, she knew that her father would be upset with her for knowing. And she couldn't help but wonder if that was Rachel's intention.

"Can I, once again, stress my most strenuous objections to this attempted suicide?" Artie expressed with a worried and fearful expression. "They're not going to kill us. Because we're going to give them what they want," Rachel replied to Artie. "Blood?" Kurt asked with a serious tone. "Better. Sex," Rachel blatantly stated gaining the club's full attention while Arden sighed and shook her head. "Is there a problem, Phantom?" Rachel asked with a glare. "When it backfires on you, I want nothing to do with it," Arden answered before leaving the choir room, she tried not to let Rachel's use of her unwanted nickname upset her.

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Arden sat in the crowd in front of the Cheerios at the assembly, she had no idea what they had planned but she knew things weren't gonna end up in a celebration. "Silence, children," Principal Figgins spoke into the microphone. "First, an announcement. The toilets are broken again. We are fixing the problem, but let me warn you," principal Figgins' voice trailed off as Arden turned her head to Quinn.

"Hey Quinn," Arden spoke softly gaining the head Cheerio's attention. "Yes, Arden?" Quinn answered back with a raised brow. "I have to warn you, Rachel changed the song for this performance and I have no idea what it is," Arden warned the blonde cheerleader who nodded understanding the underlying warning about Rachel's motives with Finn Hudson. "Thanks for the heads up," Quinn told her before focusing on the stage.

"Hi. Uh, when I went to school here, Glee Club ruled this place. And we're on our way back," Will spoke through the microphone. "But we need some recruits to join the party. Now, I could tell you all about how great Glee is, but, uh, I think I'm going to let some friends of mine show you instead," Will finished off before stepping aside as the curtains rose to reveal the Glee Club, not in the choreographed stances.

Arden dropped her head in her hands as the Glee Club performed their own rendition of Push It by Salt-N-Pepper while dancing inappropriately. The crowd was pleased with the sexual performance while Arden was disgusted, she felt a hand on her shoulder causing her to look up and see Quinn glaring at Rachel. "I need in," Quinn told Arden who nodded instantly, the two blonde's gained a new potential friend.

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Arden stood outside the office across from Rachel, the brunette had been glaring at Arden after witnessing the blonde talking to Quinn like old friends. Sue made her way out of the office sending an unimpressed look to Rachel and Arden before storming down the hall away from the two teenagers. Will made his way out of the office but before he could approach his daughter, Rachel stepped in front of him.

"Mr Schuester, I'm so sorry," Rachel spoke instantly while Arden focused on her feet, she knew her father was gonna be upset with her even if she had nothing to do with it. "Do you understand what you did today? You lied to me," Will told her before glancing at his daughter, shaking his head before focusing back on Rachel deciding he'd deal with Arden at home.

"And you ruined our chances. No parent in their right mind is going to let their kid join Glee now. Oh, and, here's a list of the songs that we're allowed to sing," Will scolded Rachel before handing her the sheet list that Principal Figgins had given him. "What's a luft balloon?" Rachel asked with a confused expression. Arden rolled her eyes at Rachel's question before adjusting her bag strap resting on her shoulder.

"Look, I know how much you care about Glee Club. And I understand why you did what you did, but I don't like the way you did it," Will told Rachel before walking passed her. "I warned you," Arden said to Rachel. "I don't want to hear it from you," Rachel snapped back. "What's your problem with me? We get treated the same way, we should be helping each other," Arden spoke softly.

"You can pretend all you want, Phantom, but I know your little secret and I will not let you ruin my chances," Rachel warned Arden before turning around and storming down the corridor leaving Arden standing there confused. "What secret?" Arden muttered to herself before making her way to her locker, opening the door she noticed another note in the vent.

I would love to hear you sing. -hypeking.

Arden sighed as she slipped the note into her notepad and grabbed the books she needed for her homework. She made her way through the vacant corridors until she reached the auditorium, letting out a slow breath before slipping into the large room. She made her way up to the stage, sitting down at the piano before pressing lightly on the keys.

Arden closed her eyes as she let her fingers dance along the piano keys, and a familiar song began to echo through her mind. Quietly humming at first, she let out a sigh as she opened her eyes and pulled out her notebook, opening the page to one marked before she began playing with the keys again.

[Somebody - Bridgit Mendler]
{ via Lemonade Mouth }

Can you see me?
'Cause I'm right here.
Can you listen?
'Cause I've been trying to make you notice.
What it would mean to me
To feel like somebody
We've been on our way to nowhere
Tryin' so hard to get there.

And I say, oh
We're gonna let it show
We're just gonna let go of everything
Holding back our dreams
And try to make it come alive
Come on, let it shine so they can see

We were meant to be
Somebody
Somebody, yeah
Somehow
Some day
Some way
Somebody

I'm so tired
Of being invisible
But I feel it, yeah
Like a fire below the surface
Trying to set me free
Burnin' inside of me
'Cause we're standing on the edge now
It's a long way down

But I say
Oh, we're gonna let it show
We're gonna just let go of everything
Holding back our dreams
And try to make it come alive
Come on, let it shine so they can see
We were meant to be

Somebody
Somebody, yeah
Somehow
Some day
Some way
Somebody

We will walk out of this darkness
Feel the spotlight glowing like a yellow sun
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, and when we fall
We fall together
Till we get back up and we will rise as one, oh

Oh, we're gonna let it show
We're gonna just let go of everything
Holding back our dreams
And try to make it come alive
Come on, let it shine so they can see
We were meant to be

Somebody
Somebody, yeah
Somehow
Some day
Some way
Somebody
Oh, oh, oh
Somebody~

Arden opened her eyes as she held the last note softly, she smiled to herself as closed the piano and shoved her notebook into her bag before getting up and leaving the auditorium. She was happy to let the words out and sing them without a worry about who was watching. Though she hadn't noticed the person watching from the corner, a small impressed smile upon their face.

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Will and Arden were seated in front of Quinn, Santana and Brittany in the Choir room as Arden had helped them with their song choice and scored them an audience with Will. "I have to say, I'm a little surprised you guys are trying out," Will expressed to the three Cheerios. "We need more of their talent," Arden expressed with a small smile, getting one from the three girls.

"I'm sure you've read about this in the school paper. Finn and I have been an item for a while now, so what kind of girlfriend would I be if I didn't support him?" Quinn asked with a smile on her face. "Well, let's see what you've got," Will told them before Arden pressed play on the radio playing a backing track for the girls.

The three girls performed their own rendition of Say a Little Prayer by Diana King. Arden smiled widely as the sweet tone of Quinn's voice matched harmoniously with Santana and Brittany's voices. Arden could picture more solos for the three girls, the potential they all carried for lead performances.

"Welcome to the New Directions," Will told them once the performance was done, the teacher smiled impressed before making his way into his attached office. "You three have incredible voices," Arden appraised them, Quinn smiled at her before she and the two girls left the room. "Let's get going," Will said to his daughter before the two headed home.

"I had no idea what song they were gonna perform," Arden explained to her father as they walked into the apartment. "Yet you didn't warn me before the performance," Will scolded Arden as she took her coat off and hung it up on the coat rack. "Not saying anything was the best choice I could make. Either anger the club of teenagers I'll be seeing for the next three years or anger you by being on their side," Arden expressed.

"I chose the option that limited any involvement by me and that was walking out before learning their plan and not telling you only to end up labelled snitch or teacher's pet resulting in more face slushies! It was the best choice," Arden explained before making her way into her room, slamming the door behind her before collapsing onto her bed with no intention to leave her room for the rest of the night.

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Rosemary Speaks

Difficult situations for Arden, huh?

Who do we think was watching?

Who's leaving notes in her locker?

What secret was Rachel referring to?

Is Quinn really being nice or is it fake?

See you in the next chapter!