Kitty rolled her eyes as she walked into the choir room. Why did she even bother with this lot? They were a bunch of over-inspirational idiots who she greatly feared had some sort of fungus growing in their throats that helped them harmonize so well together. Yet, it was Glee club and she was expected to go, no matter how much she didn't need it. And although she'd never admit it, she loved to sing. Taking her seat at the front of the room, she turned, her eyes finding Ryder, and her stomach turned over on itself. She looked away quickly, however couldn't hide the small smile on her face. Ryder had told Katie that he was going to sing to Kitty. This was perfect. Kitty was nervous of his reaction if and when he ever found out that she was Katie, but what could she do? She now knew for sure that Ryder liked her back and that was good. Sitting back in her seat, she crossed her arms, trying to look indifferent to what she was sure would be an interesting Glee club session.
Ryder followed Kitty to her seat with his eyes, catching a small smile towards him before she quickly covered it up. His legs were shaking rapidly as he thought about what he was about to do. Ryder wasn't sure Kitty felt the same way that he did, or that she would even spare him from some humiliating remark when he was finished singing. He had made his choice, though, and he couldn't turn back. He had to at least know for sure how she felt. His inner monologue was interrupted by Will's voice, calling on him to start his performance. Ryder gulped, pushing down his anxiety as he stood up. He slowly walked to the front of the room, curling his sweater string nervously as he walked by Kitty. As he stood in front of the group, he let out a deep breath. "For fearless week, I thought I would confront one of my biggest fears" Ryder stated, pulling over a stool and sitting on it softly. "My feelings, for one person in particular" He explained, looking at Marley for a moment, and then turning to Kitty. Ryder almost wished that he could turn back, but it was too late. He signaled Brad to begin playing the piano, and looked up, letting out a larger sigh than before.
Kitty shifted in her seat as Ryder walked past her, trying to keep an impassive mask on her face. She prided herself on being a good actress, she could play heartless for hours, yet didn't know how long she could keep it up if Ryder was sitting there in front of her, about to sing. She crossed her legs, leaning her head back slightly as he sat down on the stool and started talking to the Glee club. God, he had amazing eyes. She didn't really notice it all the time, but they seemed to draw you in, not letting you go, and she found herself transfixed at the sight of them. She took a deep breath, tearing her eyes away from the boy in front of her and to Brad, trying to make her acting job easier. The music started and she instantly recognized the tune of Iris, her breath catching in her throat. Her eyes darted up to the ceiling of the choir room. God help her.
Ryder looked back down to the group as the music started, noticing Kitty's usual display of disinterest. What if she really didn't care about him like she had said before? He quickly shoved all of that to the side as he sang the first line "And i'd give up forever to touch you, cuse I know that you'd feel me somehow". Ryder was scanning the group as he continued, "You're the closest to heaven, that I'll ever be. And I don't wanna go home right now". His eyes landed on Kitty, and he continued. "And I don't want the world to see me, cuse I don't think that they'd understand". He stood up, walking slowly towards her. "When everything's meant to be broken, I just want you to know who I am" He sang, reaching her by the end of the line. Ryder let out a smile, and then turned around and continued singing.
Kitty watched Ryder, newly transfixed, as he started singing. His voice was clear, as if he wanted to make sure that every word got out and was understood. She watched him, her eyes wide, as his met hers. Her stomach tightened as she looked into his eyes and she swallowed, her hands gripping onto her Cheerios jumper under her arm to keep her steady. She watched him, her face a still, emotionless mask as he stood up, trying to take in every movement, every word, to trap it and save it forever. He started walking towards her and her breath caught in her throat, her stomach filled with butterflies again. Not even the complete preparation as Katie helped her now. She was completely at the mercy of Ryder and his performance. As he smiled at her and walked away, she had to settle her head back, realizing that she has been leaning towards him, trying to get closer.
Ryder couldn't know for sure, but it almost seemed to him like Kitty was into the performance. As he made his way around the piano and back to the stool, he made a decision. He was going to dive in head first and see what happened. Even though he felt goosebumps along his arms and the hairs on his back were standing in attention, he knew it was better to go all in. As he began to sing the chorus once again, he continued to make his way to Kitty, bringing the stool with him. Once he was standing in front of her, he placed the stool down and sat directly in her line of vision. "I just want you to know who I am.." he sang, running his hand up her left arm until it reached her cheek.
Kitty hid a smile as he pulled the stool towards her and sat on it, looking right at her as he continued to sing. He dragged the stool right in front of her and sat down. She watched him with wide, careful eyes, terrified of betraying her excitement on her face. Watching him reach down, she looked out of the corner of her eyes as he ran her hand up her arm, sending volts of electricity coursing through her skin. She moved her eyes up from his hand to his eyes and he stared into her eyes, her heart racing. She hoped he couldn't tell what he was doing to her, it would make her seem weak that she could be moved so easily by a song, but just watching the boy in front of her sing these words was enough to make her blood roar.
Ryder just sat in front of the girl for a few moments while singing, almost not realizing that the song had ended. Once it did, he moved his hand from her cheek and looked around at the group, who were collectively shocked by the performance. He then swallowed a spoonful of nerves and turned back towards Kitty, who looked just as shocked but almost in a good way. "That song was for you, Kitty" he spoke. Ryder waited impatiently for a response, wondering if he was about to be embraced or completely shut down.
Kitty watched Ryder stand up. Although she knew what was happening, she was silenced for a moment at his words. "I- um..." She stuttered, not quite knowing what to say. In her mind, she had created had a thousand speeches for this moment, however now, none of them came to mind. She stared at him, her mouth slightly open for a moment, her tough persona completely forgotten, before her lips formed an almost silent response. "That was beautiful." She murmured, watching him quietly.
Ryder almost fell over as she spoke, completely dumbfounded by her reaction. "It uh - it was?" He asked, running his fingers through his hair, often referred to as "The Biebs" by her. It had actually worked, or it at least seemed that way. He was grinning so large that he probably looked like a little boy who just got a new toy train, but he couldn't help it. Kitty Wilde liked HIM. Not anyone else. But him! He heard Will get up behind him and ask for the next person to perform, and quickly took a seat beside Kitty. Looking deep into her eyes when he arrived beside her.
Kitty nodded at his words. "It was." She whispered. She smiled gently as he ginned like a boy on Christmas, biting her lip gently at him. She breathed in deeply, tearing her eyes away for a second just as Mr Schue clapped his hands. She shifted herself round, making room as Ryder sat down next to her and watched him, his eyes locked to hers. "What was that?" She whispered, turning her head to look at him under her eyelashes.
Ryder laughed quietly at the question. The whole thing had come from the leftest of left-fields, so it made sense that she would be confused. Truthfully, he was a little bit confused about the whole thing. He felt the way that he did, and he hadn't put all that much thought into the situation. "I just - wanted to show you the way I feel a-about you" Ryder answered, locking eyes with her as he did.
Kitty bit her lip at his words and gave a small smile, however one that reached her eyes, trying to ignore the impulse to squeal. She gently guided her hair high pony behind her back and grinned at him nervously. "Well... we seem to have similar feelings then." She broadened her smile. "Guess you're not such a loser after all, hey Lynn?" She turned herself around to watch the next performer come up, however maintaining the sinister, cheeky smirk on her face.
Ryder grew his smile even larger, loving every second of the two's interaction. "We do? Well, that's perfect then" He gushed. When she turned away, he turned his head to face the same direction, gently grabbing the blondes' right hand and holding it in his left. Somehow, the performance was a perfect success.
Kitty smiled as she felt his hand on hers and, a gentle smile on her face, knotted her fingers with his. She felt like she was floating, like all this hadn't really happened. But it was. She was here, holding Ryder's hand, feeling like she was on top of the world. She gently turned to look at him, biting her lip. "And I do care." She whispered, quiet enough so only he could hear.
