"You know Dalton's one downside?" Jeff asked Nick, as they sat next to Kurt in the common room. "No girls."
"Yes!" laughed Nick
"Personally, I think it's nice to be away from all the... drama." said Kurt, not lifting his eyes from his phone.
"It's alright for you, you've got Blainers over there!" said Jeff, pointing his thumb over his shoulder towards Blaine, who was sat at the piano.
"Blainers can hear you and does not approve of that nickname."
"Go back to your piano-ing."
"Charming." retorted Blaine, "You know if you were nice to me I might have told you that a certain girl is on her way here this very minute, but you aren't, so I won't." he said mockingly.
That got their attention.
"Who?"
"What?"
"Is she hot?"
Blaine checked his phone.
"She's here, right on time." He settled himself at the piano again. "Oh," he said, turning around, "You might want to let her in." He nodded towards the closed doors of the common room and returned to the piano, playing the first light notes of a familiar song.
Jeff and Nick got up and opened the oak double doors. None other than Rachel Berry herself stood at the top of the short flight of steps outside. She was dressed in a white fur coat, black shorts and a pair of knee length black boots. She descended the steps and began to sing, accompanied by the piano.
I think I did it again
I made you believe we're more than just friends
Jeff and Nick stood frozen in their shoes, staring as Rachel walked slowly around the room.
Oh baby
It might seem like a crush
But it doesn't mean that I'm serious
'Cause to lose all my senses
That is just so typically me
Oh baby, baby
As she walked past each boy, they became considerably less interested in their current activity. Homework lay abandoned as they all stood up, moving to the clear space in front of the doors.
Rachel put a hand on Blaine's shoulder as he continued to play piano. The Warblers gathered in the centre added backing to Rachel's lead. They danced in unison to the steady beat of the song.
You see my problem is this
I'm dreaming away
She walked over to the coffee table and put on a mock-dreaming expression.
Wishing that heroes they truly exist
I cry, watching the days
Can't you see I'm a fool, in so many ways
Rachel jumped up with an over dramatic 'oops', grabbed Kurt by the tie and proceeded to skip around the common room, trailed by the mass of Warblers, spinning and twirling.
Oops I did it again
I played with your heart
And got lost in the game
Oh baby, baby
Oops you think I'm in love
That I'm sent from above
I'm not that innocent
Rachel was spun from Warbler to Warbler, getting to dance with everyone.
She ran and jumped onto the table.
Oops I –
The audience at the assembly roared with enthusiasm as Rachel, in a glittering white dress, tangoed with Blaine in his uniform, the Warblers dancing behind them. The New Directions campaign to do Britney had paid off.
– did it again to your heart
Got lost in this game, oh baby
Oops you think that I'm sent from above
I'm not that innocent
As Kurt sang with the Warblers, watching Rachel dance with Blaine and the audience cheering, he realised how much he missed McKinley. Although, it did feel great to have an audience react like that.
Oops I did it again
I played with your heart
Got lost in the game
Oh baby, baby
Oops you think I'm in love
That I'm sent from above
I'm not that innocent!
As Rachel hit the high note, Blaine and Jeff lifted her into the air, spinning her around, to huge applause.
Oops I did it again
I played with your heart
Got lost in the game
Oh baby, baby
Oops you think I'm in love (think I'm in love)
That I'm sent from above
I'm not that innocent
The gym exploded with the noise of the assembly as everyone rose to their feet and cheered. Principal Figgins joined the stage.
"Thank you to Miss Rachel Berry for a lovely performance," he announced loudly over the roar, "and thank you to our special guests – the Dalton Academy Warblers!"
With a final bow, Rachel and the Warblers headed backstage, to be greeted by the rest of the New Directions.
"That was amazing!"
"So much better than last year!"
Jeff turned to Nick.
"See, this is what we're missing!"
Everybody laughed.