She knew everything would be different, from the days of school she attended, the subjects they offer, especially the people. She hadn't been in the education system in over a month regardless of the country, it was too overbearing. But she was back in a whole different environment.

She took a feeble attempt of trying not to look awkward as the principal's assistant had called a student to be her guide around the school. Checking the schedule again, as everything was an awkward silence, except for the students outside.

A girl opened the door, her gothic appearance gathering Dorothea's attention at an instant. The principal, Figgins, came barreling from his office. "Donna," He said to his assistant, "I told you to call that Berry. Not the Vampire King's daughter!" He exclaimed in terror, signalling to the girl by the door.

"Rachel was busy," The supposed vampire told Figgins, "So she demanded I helped. Apparently, it'll strain her voice because she needs it for nationals," She grumbled.

Dorothea looked bewildered between the Vampire and Figgins, Figgins sighed, terror still evident in his voice, "Miss. Smythe," She didn't correct him of the mispronunciation, he said it as if it were Smith, "Miss. Cohen-Chang will show you around the school," He said quickly.

Figgins clung onto the door handle to his adjacent office, "Please do not attack the new girl with your vampire skills," He quivered, begging, before he turned to Donna, his assistant, and attempted a whisper, "Her father can sue us," He whispered concerned, pointing at Dorothea, before practically pouncing back into his office.

Dorothea left the office with the Vampire girl, who immediately burst out into fits of laughter, gathering a myriad of strange looks from people in the corridors, she looked at Dorothea. "Tina. I'm the Asian Vampire King's daughter. The heir to his legacy," She unconvincingly told her, as Dorothea gave Tina a shy smile, slightly hiding her amusement.

"He's... definitely something," Dorothea interpreted of the Principal, as Tina nodded profusely.

"It's gotten me out of gym for the past nearly two years," Tina proudly admitted, as Dorothea put her hands into her pockets. "But do you know what? My academic decathlon boosts my grade up still, had no effect," Tina talked, as Dorothea, inside of her pocket, still clutched her schedule, contemplating whether to ask to give Tina the schedule or not.

She looked up from staring at her shoes, "Do I give you my schedule..?" Dorothea hesitantly asked as Tina nodded. Dorothea handed the schedule as Tina gave it a quick look over. She raised an eyebrow as she got to a certain section of the page. The bustling hallway didn't stop around them, people slowly waiting by their lockers, or stopped in the middle of the hallways, or walking, very, very slowly. She tried to not focus on the people getting shoved by the so-perceived Jocks, or taunted by the cheerleaders. They were in their uniforms, just like in the movies.

"You're taking Spanish?" Tina questioned, "Not to make assumptions... but you have a French accent?"

Dorothea shrugged awkwardly, "I don't want to relearn a language I already know by some teacher who probably isn't even French... I'd rather take another different language," This got a laugh from Tina, who stopped herself as soon as Dorothea tensed up.

"I'm not laughing at you! It's just the fact that the teacher is horrible at the language," Tina told her, as Dorothea's hopes for this school dropped even more, "Schuester's awful. Sorry to break it to you this early..."

The brunette sighed, "I didn't have high hopes anyways," The conversation came to a halt, though not being in the mood to talk to people about really anything at that moment, she opted to have an attempt at a conversation, "What's that academic decathlon you mentioned..?" She asked as Tina motioned to walk and talk.

"Mike knows more about it," Tina told her, an almost dreamy looked appearing in her eyes by even mentioning this Mike person. "It's like something based on knowledge. It's our first competition soon, I'm excited about it, but uh, we really need another member for it, just in case we can't bribe Brittany," Tina glanced over towards her with that.

Tina guided her to what Dorothea assumed was her English class. "I don't know what it is, though, if you have a first competition then I won't be useful for it?" Dorothea questioned, catching onto Tina's slight hint. She stuck close to Tina's sides, as people glared for some unknown reason.

Tina was stopped in her tracks, therefore stopping Dorothea beside her, as a boy in a wheelchair rolled up to them. "Hey, girl!" He called out to Tina, as Dorothea watched the exchange quietly. "You bailed from the decathlon meeting," The boy grumbled.

"I had to bring the new girl around. Rachel told me to. It'll stop her from complaining about straining her voice," Tina told Artie, as Dorothea swayed anxiously, feeling out of place when near both of them.

She cleared her throat, "Uh, if you want to go back to your decathlon thing, I won't mind, I'll find my way—"

Tina simply shook her head, "Artie can come with us, it's fine, don't worry," Tina smiled, "But, you should think about joining us if academics is your thing."

Artie rolled on Dorothea's other side, "Or, hear me out, glee club," He suggested.

Dorothea bit her lip, looking down towards the floor, noticing the scuffling shoes on the ground rather than the two beside her, "I don't know what a glee club is," She mumbled.

"Huh?" Tina asked from beside her.

She repeated herself begrudgingly, "I've never heard of a glee club, like what is it?" Dorothea questioned, clutching onto the straps of her worn-down bag she'd been using for what seemed to be years. She never felt the urge to replace it, if any holes appeared, then get her maman to stitch matching heart patches over it.

She couldn't do that anymore.

Her heart felt heavy with the thought of the woman she loved. The random thoughts of her appearing throughout her day, ruined any past emotion she could've experienced at that time. Artie drew her from her thoughts, "Girl, did you live under a rock?—"

"—France.Not a rock. I'm not educated in mid-Western American extracurriculars."

Artie nodded, "Got it. Anyways, it's like a singing club. Except usually, it's Rachel getting the solos." He scoffed.

Dorothea shrugged, "I did choir in école élémentaire. It was fun, I guess. I can't really remember much about it though, are they similar?" Artie and Tina shared a strange look about it, she sheepishly added, "Primary school basically." This came to no avail, as she tried to rack her head around the American school system. "Middle school..?"

"Oh," Artie sighed, "It's a show choir,"

His answer was a dead end. "That doesnt really hold any meaning," Dorothea murmured, "I mean..."

"We do performances of songs in competitions, basically," Tina helpfully explained, stopping outside of a classroom door, "This is it," Tina told her, "I'll find you after, okay? Also, don't feel... forced to join glee,"

Dorothea gave Tina her best genuine smile, despite still being plagued with thoughts of her mother. Wanting just to text her constant updates already.

***

The teacher talked too fast.

She couldn't absorb anything that the teacher said, their point wandering off. Every time a question came up, all she could think about was the book they were covering in her old school.

Everything was hopeless.

Her main pride and joys included her studies, her annotations scribbled in mixes of French and English could fill a book by themselves, but not unprepared like this. She was an extremely late arrival to the school already, this wasn't helpful. They were halfway through the book already.

Her misery must have drew attention, as the blonde in front of her swung around. "Do you want my notes?" She offered, and Dorothea met her eyes, they were an intoxicating, emerald green. Dorothea gulped, taking her pen away from drawing flowers and stars on her hand. "Catching up will probably be difficult, but like, if you want my help, don't be scared to ask me." The girl smiled.

"Thank you... so much," She responded, as the girl in front of her took her exercise book.

"That's the one I use for studying, just give me it back ASAP. I still have my own books to write in though," The blonde told her, flicking her blonde hair behind her shoulder and flashing a sweet smile.

Dorothea ducked her head, "Thank you," She took the exercise book gratefully, noticing the stickers stuck on and silly, though endearing, hearts drawn around the girl's name on the label.

"Just remember to vote Quinn Fabray for Prom Queen," The girl, Quinn, told Dorothea before spinning back around to finish her own work.

She never tried to give her attention back to the board.

***

Making it until lunch was a success. But, as her final class before lunch drew nearer, she just got nervous instead of proud of herself for making it halfway through the day.

She tried to elongate how long it took her to pack up. She was grateful she didn't have to eat somewhere like under the bleachers or in the disgusting bathrooms like loners did in the movies — because Tina was waiting outside of the door.

"I'd feel bad," Tina opted to say first, as she nearly got shoved by someone walking fast-paced down the halls, "You can sit with the glee kids. Just ignore what everyone says about us," With that, Dorothea would've prepared to sit alone under the bleachers, but, she couldn't deny Tina's kindness towards her. "We're doing this night of neglect, and honestly, you should come," Tina suggested honestly.

Dorothea processed all of her thoughts as quickly as possible, "Yeah... of course. How much is the night of neglect tickets?"

Tina stopped in her tracks, "Uh. I'll ask Mr Schuester about that," Tina shrugged, trying to navigate in the busy hallways. "Or, you can come to glee club and ask him..?" Tina offered, "We have enough members, but, in case Puck robs another convenience store," Tina joked, though, Dorothea raised her eyebrows, failing to know why on earth someone would have the name Puck of all things unless they had an overbearing fascination over hockey.

She and Tina managed to make it to a crowded canteen. Tina was able to lead the pair to a table through a maze of other tables crowded with people talking loudly. The table Tina managed to find, almost from memory had a few spare seats. "Rachel, could you move down?" Tina asked a girl with slightly choppy bangs who automatically looked up.

This was the infamous Rachel Berry.

"What?" Rachel replied, snapping, "Why should I move down?"

A Latina girl who was previously talking to an enthusiastic blonde, swung around to look at Rachel, "Berry, listen to the goth. Maybe if you weren't so difficult over nothing people wouldn't hate you so much,"

Rachel whispered so quietly that only the two opposite sides of her were probably the only ones able to hear her, "Shut up, Santana,"

"I don't hate her," A boy with a mohawk muttered as Rachel turned her nose away and scooted down slightly. The mohawked boy raised his eyebrows as Dorothea sat down beside the Rachel girl and Tina opposite.

The seat was grimy, which just made her miss being able to go home over lunch even more. Dorothea gave Rachel the friendliest smile she could muster at that minute, "Tina, who's your friend? I'm assuming you've gotten her to get a ticket to watch my performance on the night of neglect," Rachel asked Tina, ignoring Dorothea'a presence.

"Rachel, it's not just your performance, it's everyone who's performing, so please don't make it about you again," The girl who gave her the English notes, Quinn, firmly told Rachel, "It's her choice to go or not,"

Artie piped up, "But, you said you did choir in your version of middle school? You could join the glee club and buy a ticket,"

"We all know Zizes isn't gonna stay," The mohawk boy muttered bitterly from where he sat.

"You people are all so stupid," The Zizes girl groaned, setting down a wrapper, "Adding on another person is gonna make you have to sell more of that salt-taffy stuff for Nationals and newsflash, I've just eaten a box of it."

Dorothea pondered of why they were making such a big deal about this glee club, "Theoretically, if I did join glee club, I could just pay for myself for whatever the Nationals thing is..."

"Don't feel forced to join the glee club though," Quinn, leaned over from the other side of the table and told her, "Only if you want to."

Santana laughed, "Quinn's being all nice. Listen to me, you'll get a slushee facial, and those are worse than hearing Berry squawking about some irrelevant person that no one over the age of dead cares about."

Rachel put a genuine hand over her heart in offence, "Leave Barbara alone!"

Santana snickered, "Being honest. You all are just too sensitive and can't take it."

The enthusiastic blonde looked up, and glanced confusedly between Santana and Quinn, "I thought you said that Quinn was only being nice because she wanted to be Prom Queen but also because her Lizard baby is out for karma so she needs to be nicer?" She tilted her head ditzily, as Santana gave her a genuine smile.

"Quinn's Lizard baby is out for revenge, BritBrit."

The table went silent for a bit. Dorothea though was still mentally processing everything from the twelve at the table. Quinn scoffed, "I did not give birth to a Lizard child."

Maybe with the slightest bit more peer pressure, she'd actually think about joining this cult-like club.

***

She felt like a tag-along, constantly by Tina's side.

Walking down the horribly lit corridors, giving a yellowish-hue, she was alongside Tina, Mike, who Tina seemed to be head over heels for, even without mention, Rachel, Lauren Zizes and Mercedes Jones.

She was lurking behind the rest, besides Lauren Zizes who made hilarious, though snide comments under her breath if anyone said anything even remotely ridiculous. "Im totally doing Lykke Li, she's Bjork meets Florence and the Machine meets a promising new talent," Tina told the group, as she turned to Mike, "What about you, Mike?"

"Mike Chang dance dance revolution," He confidently boasted, "I'm tired of my dancing being overshadowed by all of you guys singing. It's gonna be just me and my sweet moves on that stage."

Mercedes scoffed playfully, "You're forgetting about the most neglected artist this glee club has ever seen! Aretha Franklin."

"Neglected?" Lauren questioned, "She's like the queen of soul,"

Mercedes looked to Lauren then back to face in front of her, "I auditioned for this club singing 'Respect', and she's gotten none since. So, I'm doing Aretha."

Rachel spun around without warning, stopping in the middle of the corridor, "Awesome, Mercedes. Awesome all of you! Those songs are great appetizers to my main course," She boldly stated, as someone who could practically rival the height of an average garden gnome nearly shoved into her, "Celine Dion's 'My Heart Will Go On'. It's gonna be our finale."

Mike made a screeching sound and placed his hand in a stop motion in front of Rachel's face, as Tina scoffed, "That's like her biggest song of all time."

"My little sister sang that song for her school's talent show. I love Lillian but it seriously scarred me," Dorothea shrugged as Lauren gave her an amused smirk.

Lauren snickered, "Being near Berry will leave you scarred."

"None of you understands, Celine isn't the neglected artist, I am," Rachel simply told them as if it were a common fact.

"The only thing neglected is your hair. I can see the split ends," Dorothea muttered, as Lauren snickered, nodding as her sign of approval.

Mercedes crossed her arms, "I was hoping to do the closing number..?"

A tall man, Finn, appeared behind Rachel, "Hey, do you guys remember Sunshine Corazon?"

Despite never hearing of her, she loved her name regardless of what kind of person Sunshine was.

***

She was sat beside a blonde boy in the school's auditorium, watching as Rachel interrogated someone Dorothea deemed to be said Sunshine Corazon, "You are a terrible spy,"

Artie shook his head, "Seriously with your size you could've been in the air ducts for days,"

Sunshine looked across all of their faces as she replied with offence, "I'm not a spy. I heard about your benefit concert on Facebook and I wanted to perform. I know what it feels like to be in Academic Decathlon, no one pays attention to you, and no one cares. It's not right, we study so hard,"

"Yeah, but you're in Vocal Adrenaline, how can we trust you?" Quinn questioned from beside the tall man.

"Because I have nothing against any of you! Well... maybe Rachel. But, I have six hundred followers on Twitter who would buy tickets. I can get all of them to come," Sunshine honestly told them, as Rachel snarled.

"How many tickets have we sold so far?" Finn asked, looking around him.

"Four," Santana groaned, her legs kicked over the chair in front of her, "No one's interested, I can see why,"

The boy beside her leaned over, "Would you buy a ticket?" He whispered, "Or like audition? It's scary but you'll get used to it,"

She glanced at him, though not moving her head, "Maybe... I'm just dealing with a lot right now," She vaguely responded. The boy nodded, leaning back in the chair.

"Sam I am," He told her, "If you do want to audition, I'm sure it won't be awful, Tina told Mercedes who told Quinn who I heard tell Finn who can't keep a secret that you did choir in middle school."

Dorothea raised her eyebrows, "Do secrets usually get around fast here..?"

Don't tell anyone anything, Dorothea noted.

He nodded. "I only moved here at the start of the year. I've made friends, I think, you seem nice enough, I'm sure you're capable." Sam shrugged before he turned back to face Sunshine who was still standing in front of the glee club.

"Show us what you can do," Santana told Sunshine, as she pulled out a nail file she must have conveniently kept in her pocket, probably to pull out at the most random times.