―

―

MIKE AND MATT LAUGHED at Hunter as the boy almost fell over as he attempted a move. The brunette boy went to retaliate their laughter when a stranger entered the choir room.

Hunter squinted his eyes, cocking his head as he stared at the guy, "Oh my God." He whispered.

Leaning over to Santana, Brittany whispered, "Who is that guy?"

Puck sat on a chair in the corner of the room, Santana walking over and sitting down next to him with a 'wtf' look on her face.

Puck sighed, "My mom found a mole on my head when she was washing my hair on Friday."

Santana pursed her lips, raising an eyebrow, "Your mom still washes your hair?"

"She started crying about sunblock and how she's always telling me to wear a hat when I'm cleaning pools. So she made me go see Dr. Friedlander, the dermatologist. He said he had to shave my head to get a closer look at it," Puck sighed with gritted teeth, "It was nothing! They maimed me over a freaking freckle. I feel like that guy that lost all his hair, then lost all his strength."

Santana looked over at Hunter with a confused look, making the boy ask, "Samson?"

"Agassi," Puck corrected, making everyone confused, "This morning, people actually had the balls to look me in the eye. I mean, it's just a mohawk, right? I'm still Puckasaurus."

The Latina hummed, eyeing him up at down, "Actually, I don't know if it's the missing mohawk or the whining, but I am totally not turned on by you right now." She told him, before standing up and joining the rest of the group next to the piano.

Hunter looked over at Puck, "Dude, buzzcuts are lame."

Mercedes looked over at her childhood friend with a smirk, "You had one last year."

Hunter nodded, "My point exactly.

―

Hunter let out a yawn as Quinn leaned her head on his shoulder, Mr. Schuester stood in front of the club with his arms crossed.

"I am very disappointed in you guys." He told the seven members who had only been miming singing during rehearsals.

Finn glared over at Rachel - the one who had exposed them, "I can't believe you narked on us."

"Don't get mad at me for exposing your laziness," Rachel scoffed, before addressing the rest of the club, "I'm tired of carrying all of your weight. Regionals is in a month, guys."

Tiredly, Hunter muttered, "Isn't bugging a room without consent of one of the party being recorded illegal?"

"I'm just trying to understand what's going on here. Finn, why did you stop singing?" Mr. Schue asked the Finn, ignoring Hunter.

"Cause you started giving all the male leads to Jesse. It kind of shook my confidence, y'know." The quarterback shrugged with a frown.

Santana rolled her eyes as she let out an exasperated sigh, "What difference does it make? Everyone knows that my job here is to look hot."

"My baby hormones are making me moody." Quinn muttered.

"There are so many lyrics." Brittany said, her hands either side of her head.

Mr. Schuester sighed, "Okay. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. A glee club is about a myriad of voices coming together as one. Alright? This ends now. Which is why your assignment for the week is for each of you to come up with a song that best represents how you see yourself, where you are in your lives right now. Your voice. Then you're going to stand up here and sing your hearts out. All of you."

"Solos?" Kurt piped up, "In front of everyone?"

"The Glee Club has lost its voice. It's time for us to get it back." Mr. Schue told them all as the bell rang, everyone picking up their stuff.

Hunter gave Quinn a small smile as she helped him up off the chair.

"Hey, Hunter," Mr. Schuester stopped the pair from leaving, "Are you okay? You've been off the last couple of days and you miming the songs is something I wouldn't ever expect from you."

"Well, sorry that I've not been able to sing for you Mr. Schue," Hunter said, monotonously, "But when my mom's condition is only getting worse, my priorities are on her and sleeping next to her hospital bed every night to spend as much time as I can rather than singing showtunes." His voice turned into a whisper as his teacher frowned and the boy left the choir room, his hand tightly interlocked with his best friend's.

―

The glee club were sat in the choir room, waiting for their lesson to start. Unusually, Hunter had chosen to sit at the back of the class, Quinn sat on his left and Santana on his right, as his eyes were trained solely on his sketchbook.

"You okay?" Quinn whispered softly to the boy.

"I'm fine." Hunter nodded, unemotionally.

Both Santana and Quinn shared a look, both glancing down at what he was drawing, feeling their hearts crack as Mr. Schuester entered the choir room, clapping twice.

"Alright, guys. Let's get things started." Their teacher said.

"As I was first on the sign-up sheet, I'll kick things off." Rachel smiled, walking to the front of the class.

"Okay." Mr. Schue nodded with a chuckle, joining the club at the seats.

"I have chosen Miley Cyrus's 'The Climb' because it's about overcoming obstacles and beating the odds. In my case, the obstacle is you, my lacklustre teammates who refuse to carry their own weight." She grinned at the rest of the club.

"Ouch." Hunter muttered, having paused his sketching to listen to his friend.

The Glee Club all sat in shock as Rachel started singing her song, clearly off key and obviously struggling.

Santana leaned into Hunter, "It's like a dog whistle." She whispered, making the boy crack a smile, Santana doing the same in triumph.

After a few lines of painful singing, Mr. Schuester cut her off.

"Rachel," Mr. Schue walked over to her, "I think you've lost your voice."

Rachel stood, horrified as she looked over at her teammates, who were all just as confused as she was.

―

"Can I see it yet?" Elizabeth weakly asked her son as he sat on the uncomfortable chair next to her hospital bed.

"Not yet," Hunter softly shook his head with a small smile, "It's not perfect yet."

"Which is what I'll love about it." Elizabeth tried ot persuade him.

"Just because you love you unfinished artwork, doesn't mean I love mine," Hunter chuckled, "And besides, this is for you. And you deserve nothing but perfection."

Elizabeth smiled lovingly at her son, placing her hand on his cheek and gently stroking his cheekbone with her thumb. A smile flickered onto Hunter's face as he leaned into his mother's touch, his hand gently holding her rest. They sat like that for a few minutes until there was a knock on the door, the pair turning to see Katie stood sheepishly in the doorway, a bouquet of flowers in her hand.

"I can come back later." The blonde said.

"No, no," Elizabeth shook her head with a grin, her hand moving to rest of Hunter's instead of his face, "Come in, Katie."

"I was just coming to see how you're doing." Katie told her, placing the flowers on the woman's bedside table.

"I'm doing alright," Elizabeth nodded, "You know you don't have to keep bringing me flowers." She smiled.

"I know I don't have to. I want to." Katie shrugged, dragging a chair to her bedside.

"Well I appreciate it," Elizabeth chuckled, "Oh, how was your world politics exam?"

"Ugh, don't even get me started." The girl huffed.

Meanwhile, Hunter smiled, watching the two of them chat animatedly as he went back to perfecting his piece of artwork.

―

[ jesse's girl, sung by finn ]

The glee club all clapped as Finn finished his solo - which he had sung to Rachel - Mr. Schue grinning and joining the football player at the front of the class.

"Nice work. Now that, that is the kind of soul-exposing song I was talking about. We should all be inspired by Finn's bravery. Good job, buddy." Mr. Schuester applauded.

Hunter - who had been feeling more upbeat than the day prior - leaned forwards, muttering to Santana who was sat in front of him, "How much you wanna bet that there's gonna be an overdramatic sing-off in the parking lot when Jesse gets back." 

"Uh, Mr. Schue, can I sing my song now?" Puck asked.

"Yeah. Let's go for it, Puck." The teacher nodded, he and Finn sitting down as Puck got up and opened the door to the choir room, letting in the jazz band.

Mercedes raised an eyebrow, "What are they doing here?"

"I invited my brothers from the jazz band and their righteous horns to help me out with my song. Since I shaved my mohawk I started seeing things differently. Last week I joined a black church. And I recently downloaded every song Sammy Davis, Jr. ever recorded on iTunes," Puck babbled, making Mercedes roll her eyes, "He was a black Jew, you know, and my inspiration. So without further ado, I give you one of Sammy's biggest hits."

[ the lady is a tramp, sung by puck and mercedes ]

The kids gave Puck and Mercedes a standing ovation at the end and Hunter leaned over to a still sitting - and glaring - Santana, whispering, "Breathe."

―

The next day, Hunter was sat next to Finn during glee club rehearsal, cocking his head when he saw Kurt walk in, wearing an outfit that was very unlike him.

"Is he wearing your wardrobe?" Hunter muttered to the quarterback.

Finn raised an eyebrow, "I think he is. Why is everyone changing her looks all of a sudden?"

"Don't ask me," Hunter shrugged, "I've worn the same T-shirt for ten years."

"Alright, let's get things started." Mr. Schuester addressed the teenagers.

"Mr. Schue? I'd like to start us off. I believe I've found a song that finally expresses my true voice." Kurt volunteered, in a 'husky' and manly voice.

"Has he started smoking since yesterday afternoon?" Hunter muttered.

Will nodded hesitantly, "Okay." He said, sitting down.

Kurt nodded over to the band, "Gentlemen."

[ pink houses, sung by kurt ]

Once the song was over, the club either just stared at Kurt or looked questioningly at each other, except for Brittany, who smiled and clapped, making the rest of them join in half-heartedly.

Kurt raised an eyebrow at his teacher, "Is there something wrong, Mr. Schue?"

"I don't really think you got the point of the assignment," Mr. Schuester sighed, walking over to Kurt, "This was about finding a song that expresses who you are. That song didn't really sound like you."

Kurt narrowed his eyes at the man, "Well I'm sorry if I didn't live up to your expectations."

"No no no," Mr. Schue quickly shook his head, "This group needs you to be you, Kurt. You can literally do things that no one else can."

"I'm not a box," Kurt said, his voice a mix of pain and anger, "There are more than four sides to me."

Mr. Schuester looked at him softly, "Don't lose track of who you are just because it might be easier to be somebody else."

Kurt only sighed and walked away, heading for the door, making Mr. Schuester turn ot the club.

"Alright, take five, guys." He said as Brittany chased after Kurt.

Finn and Hunter both shared a look, each letting out a heavy sigh.

―

That night, Hunter and Jonathan sat either side of Elizabeth's hospital bed, an eerie silence looming over the pair of them.

Hunter clasped his hands together as he leaned forwards, glancing up at his father, "Tell me the doctor was lying, Dad. Three and a half months is not enough time." The boy whispered.

Jonathan wiped away a stray tear, swallowing the lump in his throat, clutching at his sleeping wife's hand, "I-I really wish I could, Hunt."

"Oh my God." Hunter sobbed, grabbing his mother's hand, tears flowing down his face.

Jonathan sniffed, looking over at the woman, "Even with all of this crap all over with her she's still so beautiful."

Hunter looked at the breathing apparatus that had been placed on her mother's face, "She's always been the most beautiful woman in the world."

"She doesn't deserve this." Jonathan shook his head, kissing the back of Elizabeth's hand.

Hunter's jaw clenched, "No one does."

―

[ the boy is mine, sung by santana and mercedes ]

The glee club watched as at the end of the song, the two girls got into a shoving match.

Mr. Schuester jumped up, getting between the girls, "Wow. That was intense." He said.

Santana raised an eyebrow at the girl, "Oh."

"Why don't you." Mercedes sassed.

"Don't touch me."

"I'll step to it."

"Y'know I gotta give you guys props for the passion. Maybe hold back on the animosity a little alright." Mr. Schuester talked over the arguing girls.

"Okay. Yeah, I know, I know, I understand." Santana nodded with pursed lips, crossing her arms.

Mr. Schue nodded, turning ot walk way, only for Santana to give Mercedes a big shove, making their teacher turn around immediately and grab both girls.

"Hey hey hey, seriously! This ends now." He cried.

"Alright." Santana rolled her eyes.

Mercedes glared at the Latina, "Talk to the stick figure."

"Please. Alright? You can go at it in song, but that is it." Mr. Schuester said firmly.

"Enjoy it while you can, Wheezy," Santana glared, moving ot sit with Brittany, " His hair is already starting to grow back."

A Santana walked to take her seat, Mercedes made a move at her but Mr. Schue grabbed her in time.

"Calm down. Hey! Hey!" He held the girl still, "Sit down."

Mercedes complied with a sigh, sitting next to Tina on the other side of the classroom to Santana.

Mr. Schuester let out a breath, "Right. Hunter, you're next right?"

The boy, however, didn't answer as he stared, space out, at nothing in front of him.

"Hunter?" Mr. Schue asked again, gaining no response, making Brittany elbow the boy.

"Huh?" Hunter zoned back in to see everyone staring expectantly at him.

"Your solo?" Mr. Schue reminded him.

"Oh. Right." Hunter nodded, standing up stiffly and moving the front of the room.

"Hunter," Mr. Schuester said softly, gently grabbing his arm, "Are you sure you're okay to do this?"

The boy shrugged, "I need to. For me."

Mr. Schue frowned slightly, clapping Hunter on the shoulder, "Okay." He nodded, before sitting down with the rest of the club.

Hunter looked at his friends, swallowing thickly, "Um. I've been quite off lately, as I'm sure you've all noticed," He started, earning confused and empathetic looks from his teammates, "Uh. I've always had this fear that one day, I wouldn't have someone to guide me in my life. And last night, we - my dad and I - found out that fear might become true," He sniffed, "And the assignment is to sing where we are in our lives right now. So, here it is."

[ mama hold my hand, sung by hunter ]

As the song finished, Hunter stood in front of the club, vulnerable, as his friends looked at him with tears in their eyes.

Slowly, Quinn stood up and walked over to her best friend's crying form, embracing him in a hug, which he tightly reciprocated. Then Mercedes joined the hug, then Rachel, then Finn, followed by the rest of the club, all comforting the boy who was always there in their times of need, now there in his.