It was her last year here; once her education was over she would be heading back to England. She actually found herself in two minds on this, one was happy and one was actually quite sad. Eden had been here in Lima for six months, and she had loved every second of it. Never one to be shy around people, and sporting a crisp English accent, she had quickly been drowning in friends and people trying to get closer to her. It had almost been overwhelming at first, but it certainly made her transition here a lot easier. She had grown incredibly fond of a few of her friends, especially her host and his family. Joseph Sawyer, or Joey as he was more commonly known was Mr Superstar at the high school, and his popularity had soared when he turned up with the English girl. He had kissed her once, but Eden had already stated she didn’t want to get involved with anyone as she would be heading back to her home country, and nothing ever came of it.

But now as she walked down the halls of McKinley high, she felt a little sad that in less than a year she would be leaving this place for good. She kept in touch with all her friends back home, and they were desperate for her to return, but the friends she had made here were desperate for her to stay. It actually put a bit of a downer on her day, and the blonde had difficulty summoning a smile that day. That was until she paused by the notice board and looked to a sign-up sheet that had a fair few names on it, and she stopped in thought. A lover of drama and music class back home, Eden had a strong love for all things performance related. But she had recently stuck to singing in the shower or in her own room, but never publicly. She sighed and walked on, pausing by her locker to dump most of her books.

As she opened her locker she heard a few gasps and the blonde turned her head to see Dalton Bentley walking through and she couldn’t help but roll her eyes a little. Eden had never understood the cliques and stereotypes of an American high school; she certainly hadn’t stuck to one. The cheerleaders had tried to force her with them; her instant popularity apparently meant she had to adorn the uniform. But she couldn’t bear most of them, nor could she stand people who had a ridiculous sense of self-worth. She was friends with who she wanted and ignored those she didn’t like, perhaps that were one of the things that set her on bench above most. She watched the schools resident bad-boy as he scooted off down the halls, and she couldn’t help but smirk a little as she watched him go.

“What’up English?” A familiar voice sounded, and Eden closed her locker with a smile.
“Hey” She said as she turned to the dark skinned Lothario that was Bryce Cole, as he turned up the collar of his letterman.
“Where’s Joey?” He asked as he openly eyed a girl who slunk past, trying to get his attention with smirk and a wink.
“Probably making out with his reflection” She said as she closed the locker, leaving her bag a damn site lighter. She pulled her phone out and looked to see a message, to which she promptly grimaced. “Stop sending me these!” She said to him, flashing him the topless selfie he had sent of himself.
“Maybe when you agree to dinner… Come on English… You, me, breadstix… Think about it” He said kissing her on the cheek before he headed off and made a loud noise as he was reunited with the rest of the footballers. Eden shook her head and made her way off to her History class, passing the Glee sheet another look as she went.

It was almost becoming an obsession, he had to get scouted. Football had become his life, and now senior year was here, the need to get to that professional level had never been stronger. He had arrived at school an hour earlier than need be to make use of the Gym, having received permission from Coach he had gotten into a routine of running and lifting before school, and eating high protein meals. Now covered in sheen of sweat, the dark haired teen made his way through to the showers and scrubbed himself down in the scented body scrub before he set about his routine. But as he pulled on his clothes and styled his hair, he found himself singing along to the music that poured from his phone. No one really knew of his love to sing, his status as king of the school didn’t really allow room for it. But he had a powerful voice with a husky edge to it, and had always loved music.

Putting the gel in his hair and bursting into a final chorus of the song, he jumped when he caught sight of another in the reflection of mirror. “Shit!” He startled, before he turned to the teacher. “Sorry” He added quickly, knowing that they were hot on cussing in the school.
“No, sorry to startle you” The man said as he perched on a stool against the wall and looked to the teen. “Who was that?” He asked, pointing to his phone.
“Oh, Artic Monkeys?” Joey replied as he shut the music off and pushed his phone into his pocket. When the man looked a little questioningly, Joey shrugged. “Some English band” he said. Eden’s taste in music had certainly rubbed off on him all the while she had been staying there with him. The teacher nodded before he looked back to the student.
“You have a nice voice you know… Should come to the Auditorium at eleven, we’re having open auditions for the new Glee club” The man replied.
“Glee?” Joey repeated before he laughed, shaking his head and pulling on his letterman. “No, thanks but no way”. The man behind him however chuckled as he got up and adjusted his jacket.
“You know, a few years ago I was in the same locker room convincing the star quarterback the same thing” He said as he made for his exit.
“What he do?” Joey asked him.
“He won a national championship” The teacher replied with a nod, before he exited the room and Joey was left to think as his phone vibrated in his pocket.

Joey sat in History class with his back half turned. No one really paid much attention to the teachers droning voice; Eden was on the table behind him on her phone when some whispering to the side of them caught their attention, though they remained silent. It was two girls chatting about the Glee club and what songs they were going to perform. Joey didn’t look at either of them as he scribbled idle patterns on the paperwork, singing in his head and unable to think of anything but singing. No, he was a footballer and that was his future. He loved music but there was no way he was going for Glee club.

She had spent the entire class thinking about nothing but the glee club, and she was feeling incredibly annoyed at that. It was silly, and even back in England being in a choir was social suicide. But then again, Eden really wasn’t one to conform to social expectancies. She did have a passion for singing, and it would be nice to be able to enjoy it, and showcase her talent. So as the bell rang and the class was called over, Eden got to her feet with her mind made up. She stuffed her belongings into her bag but kept her phone free, sticking the earphone jack in.

But before she could head out the classroom, Joey caught up with her. “Any plans for the free period?”
“Yeah, actually” Eden said, sticking one earphone in. “I’m going to audition for the choir” She said with a laugh, but when he looked at her a little questioningly she quickly amended herself. “Glee club” she added,
“Really?” He asked.
“Yeah, I love singing so why not?”
“Because it’s quite possibly the geekiest thing ever” He added as he fiddled with the strap on his bag.
“See that is the difference between me and everyone else here” Eden added as she clicked on a certain song. “I don’t care what other people think. I’ll catch you later” she added before heading to the auditorium.

Eden stood a little nervously with the song playing again in her mind before she heard someone call “Next”. Eden walked out onto the stage, taking a deep breath as she stopped in the middle. “Your name?”
“Eden Davies” She said clearly. “I’ll be singing Titanium” She added.
“Good song. When you’re ready” Said the man and Eden took a step back and she breathed, before looking to the man behind the piano. She nodded once, and as the notes slowly began to sound, she begun to sing. Her voice was powerful, though at the moment was calm and she sang with as much emotion and perfection as she could master, the words meaning a lot to the blonde.

When she finished, you could have heard a pin drop before applause sounded and she couldn’t help but smile and laugh a little. “That was beautiful… Thank-you” The man said to her.
“Thanks” Replied Eden, thrilled with her performance before she turned and headed off of the stage, still grinning as she pushed a hand through her hair and stopped to pick up her bag. When she straightened up, she looked to see Dalton Bentley there and couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow questioningly, but undeniably intrigued. “Good luck” She said to him as she walked past, but slipping instead into the seats. But she was quickly surprised by the presence of another, Joey. “Thinking of trying out?” She asked him, tossing her hair to one side.

Even when Eden said she was going to audition, he still did not want to do. He wished he could have had half of her self-confidence, not care what others thought and just do what he loved. Well he was, he loved football and it was his key to college. But his popularity meant a lot; it kept him happy and his social life full. But then again, Eden was hardly ever short of dates and invites, but was that because she was English, and in small Lima that made her a miniature celebrity? Joey felt annoyed at himself for over thinking this, and he shook his head as he made his way out of the classroom, heading down to his locker. He intended to spend this free period out in the fields like he always did or in the weights room if it was raining.

But as he passed the bulletin board he saw the Glee sheet and again found himself thinking. Suddenly a whole other future was in his mind. One of laminated stages and screaming fans, of fame and fortune not gained through football. “Shit” he said to himself as he found his feet carrying him to where the open auditions were happening. However, he didn’t line up to sing but instead hid in the rows to just watch. He watched that odd guy from most of his lessons sing, swathed in black as usual as he belted out a song by some band called The Cult, and had to admit he had an individual yet interesting sound to him. Then there was that unbearable girl who had transferred, Megan something. She played the bad-girl, but most the time was just tragically funny.

And then Eden sang, and he was actually stunned by just how good she was. Without the restrictions of the bedroom, her voice was incredible. When she came over he nodded at her. “Impressive set of lungs you got there” but when she asked him if he was going to audition, he just shook his head.
“Then why are you here?” She asked him. Why was he here? “Look, get over yourself and get over this silly popularity thing and get your arse up there” She said to him.

But before either of them could move, Dalton Bentley took to the stage and they both turned to look at him.