Not once did I think that I would be moving back to Lima to coach the glee club, alongside my husband and best friends, Brittany and Santana; but when Sue left after winning the Amazing Race, and the cheerleading coach's spot was opened up to Santana, I was offered an amazing opportunity. I can restart the glee club back up at McKinley.
As I walked back into our high school from a few years before, I was overcome with a sense of nostalgia. I didn't recognize any of the kids, which surprises me. I wasn't gone long, just long enough to get a music degree from NYADA and a feel for New York.
I had felt a sense that this was going to mean something. After all those years of New Directions, and watching it change lives, I knew that's what I wanted to do. I want to do more than make things better for these kids, I want to make things as good as I'm capable of. I want to inspire them.
When I made the sign up sheet, I only put ten spots, because from former experience, nobody wants to be in Glee club. I was surprised to see that all ten spots were filled, plus an added line, with a name scribbled onto it in messy, teenage handwriting.
The first kid was a freshman named Laron Devoh. When I heard the guitar begin, I immediately recognized the song.
The dark-haired boy, who hadn't spoken at all, sang with so much passion in his voice. He seemed to connect to the song so well. He had a look in his eyes that showed his vulnerability, as if he was going to crack. During the bridge I could feel myself start to tear up. This kid could change people's lives. He seemed like he had the emotion bottled up somewhere, and needed to let it loose. You can see it in his eyes, that he's about to give in and let it all out. He blares on the last notes of the bridge. On the final chorus, he just lets go, and it shows.
"Hey," he says in a quiet, deep voice. "I'm Laron."
"Blaine. Your performance was… Wow."
"The song just seemed to click."
"So… You want to be in glee club? Because, if you do, you have a spot."
"Thanks, Blaine. Um… Is it weird that I call you that?"
"If it's more comfortable, you can call me Mr. Anderson."
"Thank you sir. Have a good rest of your day."
"You too, welcome to McKinley, man."
The next person to come in was Mallory McCauley, a junior. I've heard about her from Ryder and Jake; both had admired her beauty and her confidence. She gave me a quick smile, before introducing herself.
"I'm Mal," she says quickly. "I didn't want to try out, but my friend Lauren, I don't know if she already auditioned, thought it would be good for us."
The drummer counts her in, and I don't recognize the song, but it surprises me, considering a girl like this seems to me like she would sing some Katy Perry song or something.
She starts strong, hitting all the notes, including the low, not finding struggle in hitting them.
She rocks the rest of the song, ending strong, and smiles at me. Ryder was right when he said her smile was glorious. We need her, who cares if she doesn't want to be in the club. Just the look on her face shows how much she loves performing.
"So, you like?"
"I love."
"Well, Lauren and I are a package deal. She stays, I stay. She goes, you lose me. I'll see you around, Blaine."
Lauren auditioned directly afterward. Her voice didn't allow her to hit notes quite as low as Mallory's had, but she definitely had a good vocal range.
The third student to audition was a junior, Derrick Novak. Not once did I imagine this. He was just like Finn. He had the same voice, the same style, and he even sang one of his favorite songs. When I heard More Than A Feeling begin to play, I immediately looked up. He rolled through the song at ease, and if he was nervous you couldn't tell. He seemed so comfortable up there, the lyrics just flowing so simply.
"Welcome to the club, Derrick."
"Thank you, Mr. Anderson. I won't let you down," he replied, as I tried to figure out why he would think he could let me down.
The next two girls, Lindy Amara and Isabelle Brooke, both sing Ed Sheeran songs. Both girls sing with such a soft sweet tone, but the power behind it is visible. As the two walk out, Isabelle looks back at Lindy and asks if she did alright. Of course you did, I want to reply. You did perfect.
The next person to come audition was a girl named Zoe, and a guy named Josh, a sophmore and a freshman. When Joshua kicked a guy off of the piano, I questioned this a whole lot more than I should've, but when another girl, Audrey, came in and took drums, and Zoe picked up a guitar, I found myself awaiting the performance. When Josh played the opening chords to Ten Thousand Hours, I wondered what it would sound like.
He began the song, and Chloe took over for the upcoming chorus. Then, Audrey came in rapping/singing the second verse. Their performance was hardcore, they got into it. There was no doubt in my mind that they were in a band together.
There were more people coming in to audition, and each got better than the last. You had brothers, Louie and Paulie Beckham, who sang great together, but it was clear that Louie only auditioned so that Paulie would have the courage. It wouldn't surprise me if he quit within a week or so. You also have Roxie and Noah Crawford, two twin sisters trying to make themselves noticed. I could tell Noah was lacking in confidence, but so was Kurt, and he got into NYADA. Finally, you had Miles. Miles was about as punk as you can get. His blue eyes shined as he blared Sugar, We're Going Down by Fall Out Boy. He was playing it on guitar as well, a white Stratsburg that I couldn't manage to figure out where the hell he had gotten it from. His tattooed hands could play though, and the lip piercing didn't seem to get in the way of his voice.
As auditions came to a close, Blaine began packing up his things. Everybody did significantly well. Now he awaited his fate. They may have performed well, but can they keep it together as a group?