Everybody Wants to be Loved

[morbidbubbles]

Who: Tina Cohen-Chang + whoever finds her in the girls' room
What: Self analysis that is open to interruption
Where: McKinley High Girls' Bathroom
When: Friday, around the same time as the Glee Club rehearsal with Quinn
Rating: PG

Tina hurriedly made her way to the nearest girls' bathroom, the chain belt around her waist jingling noisily as she walked.

Comments

[allshowbusiness]

Charlotte had been working in the costume lab, practicing various sewing skills in her attempt to fix up a slip she'd found in the storage room. She'd been busy for the better part of an hour, managing to completely remove the bottom hem of the skirt, but in her attempt to open the ribbing, she'd wound up slicing her hand with the slide-cutter.

So she'd made her way down to the bathroom, a roll of gauze on her hand and a curse on her lips as she shoved the door open. Seeing anyone else in there, let alone a girl she recognized from auditions, was a little bit of a shock, but she wasn't going to let it stop her from taking care of business. Settling in at the far sink, Charlotte unwrapped her hand, wincing a bit as the cold water hit her open palm.

"Fucking Christ," she muttered under her breath before turning to the other girl. "You're going to be Liz, aren't you? What's your name again?"

[morbidbubbles]

Tina jumped when the door was pushed open, the loud noise shocking her out of her self-reflection. She tried to regain her composure and look normal, but she couldn't help glancing over at the recent arrival. Something about her was familiar...

The swearing and watery blood falling down the drain suggested that the girl had wounded herself somehow. Tina was more surprised however, that the girl actually addressed her. "Um, T-t-tina," she stammered in reply, finally recognizing her from the Chicago auditions. She was one of the leads. "You're....hurt." Well that was obvious. She felt dumb as soon as she said it.

[allshowbusiness]

"Tina." The name hung in the air, and Charlotte nodded as if in agreement before nodding towards the dispenser on the wall. "Can you grab some paper towels so I can try and stop the bleeding?"

She didn't say please, because it just wasn't really something she did, but at least she was being nice. Well, as close to nice as Charlotte could really be with blood gushing out of her hand.

[morbidbubbles]

"S-s-sure," Tina said, mentally berating herself for not thinking of that on her own instead of just standing there like an idiot. She pulled the dispenser handle a few times, pulling out the paper towels in a hurry. She stepped to the sink where Charlotte (she finally remembered the girl's name) stood. She handed the paper towels to her. "Um....you're...Ch..Charlotte...right?"

[allshowbusiness]

She gave a small, tight smile in thanks, lifting her hand out of the running water to press the paper towels against the cut. "Right." It wasn't surprising that Tina knew her name - most people did.

"So." As much fun as standing in silence was, Charlotte preferred to gossip. "I sincerely doubt you're hanging out in the bathroom for fun, and most people don't stick around after they wash their hands, so what's up? Hiding from someone?"

[morbidbubbles]

After handing over the paper towels, Tina wasn't sure what to with herself. She knew it would be rude to suddenly leave, but she felt uncomfortable. So she what she usually did and stayed quiet. She glanced down at her shoes when Charlotte inquired to her reason for being there.

"Um...n-not exactly..." she said, fidgeting with her striped armgloves. She could feel the outline of a friendship bracelet beneath the glove on her right wrist. It was one of two she had made in her freshman year. Artie had the other one. "I, uh, I needed s-some air...water...sp-space...something." Tina's awkward level was rising and her vocabulary was falling fast.

[allshowbusiness]

Charlotte raised a brow, her curiosity piqued as she watched the girl fidget. Girls were so obvious about their feelings, she thought with a bit of amusement. It had been a long time since Charlotte had felt awkward or jittery about anything, let alone a boy.

"And escaping into the bathroom is your usual plan when you feel claustrophobic?" She wasn't outright laughing, but there was definitely amusement on her face. Not cruel amusement, for once, but simple almost-laughter.

[morbidbubbles]

Tina very much wanted to get out of here, but she was trapped in the conversation. "N-n-no," she replied, stepping back to one of the other sinks. She turned the faucet and let the cold water run. "That wasn't it. I'm...s-stressed. And when that happens, m-my rosacea acts up." It wasn't a total lie. Her rosacea did flare when she was stressed; she just wasn't at that point yet when it came to her feelings and how they were affecting her.

She ran her hands beneath the water, dabbing it on her face again. Though this girl made her uncomfortable, she was going to try to be polite. "How's your h-hand?"

[allshowbusiness]

"What're you stressed about?" It wasn't that Charlotte really cared, because she didn't know this girl from Eve and even if she didn't, caring was reserved for a small circle of people, but more that it was just easy conversation.

"Rehearsals have barely even started. Nothing to be stressed about yet."

[morbidbubbles]

Tina sighed. Maybe Charlotte would pass out from blood loss and she wouldn't have to keep talking to her. Although then Tina would feel obligated to get help, and she was sure that the nurse or the principal would then ask her a million questions about what happened. Totally negating her attempt to talk as little as possible. After running through the scenario in her head, Tina reluctantly replied with another half truth.

"It's...p-personal stuff. I'm...worried..about a f-f-friend."

[allshowbusiness]

Okay, so this girl wasn't going to give up details, and Charlotte honestly didn't care enough to pry. It was one thing to gossip with someone who would talk - which most of the girls in this school would gladly do - but it was another thing altogether to play therapist.

"So talk to them. Or someone else, if it's serious business 'I want to jump off a cliff' bullshit." She shrugged, turning to grab another paper towel. Pressing it against her skin, she let out a satisfied breath when it came up clean. "As much as I don't do the therapy thing, I can't offer my sparkling advice when I don't know the situation. Good luck, though."

[morbidbubbles]

Tina narrowed her eyes and glanced over at Charlotte, some irritation seeping into her words. Charlotte seemed like the type of girl who had no trouble with the opposite sex.

"S-sorry, but I guess I'm not sure what sort of 'sparkling advice' you could give in a situation like th-" she stopped, then changed the direction of her sentence. "l-like my f-friend is."