Chapter One: Meeting the Competition

"Living easy, Livin' free,

Seasoned tickets on a one-way ride

Going down, party town

My friends are gonna be there too…"

So far so good, I thought as I watched my team perform our latest number. Just as Jesse began leading the chorus, I thought I saw the ground entry doorway open and someone poke his head in, but decided to ignore it and continue to watch.

"I'm on the highway to hell!

On the highway to hell!

Highway to hell!

I'm on the Highway to Hell!"

Uh-oh, I realized, this was where most fatal errors are encountered. Having a chorus that repeated the same line over and over was very difficult to pull off. I made a note to think of ways to mix that section around a bit, to add some variability to the number; we don't need the audience thinking we're predictable.

"Ooooooooooooh don't stop me,

Ooooh, Yeah-eh!"

As the flame columns subsided, I decided to go with harsh truth. "No. Stop, stop, stop," I started, "Seriously guys? It's like watching beige paint dry. Could everyone please look at Jesse," I pointed, and everyone's head turned, "Jesse, give us a show face," I asked. Jesse then gave an intense smile, I thought he looked like he was constipated, "That's a show face guys," I continued, "You wanna look so talented, its literally hurting you. I want a look that's so optimistic, it could cure cancer." Everyone then gave me the same look Jesse had. "That's what I'm talking about! Take five everybody, drink a Redbull."

I began to tidy up my sheet music, just as a man with curly hair approached me and asked "Are you Sam Corcoran?" He held out his hand for me to shake, which I did, "I'm Will Schuster."

"I'm sorry; I don't know who you are." I answered.

"Oh, I'm a big fan of your work; I was surprised to see you're only a teenager. I also coach the McKinley Glee club, New Directions."

"I'm not usually cotton too well with our competition sneaking in to watch a rehearsal, but from what I hear you guys aren't much competition."

"I believe you have a student named Jesse St. James?" Will asked, "I think he may be dating one of my students." Rachel, I thought, and made note to speak to Jesse about dating her rather than befriending her like I asked. Will continued to say, "I'm more than a little concerned about the fraternising with the enemy aspect of the relationship."

"You think we're spying on you?" I asked, "Don't you think it's a bit hypocritical to accuse me of spying by casually coming to tell me during one of my rehearsals?"

Will looked at me a moment and said, "I'm sorry, I didn't realise you were in rehearsal. Its just I'm very concerned for my student, Rachel. She's an important member of the team, and I just don't want her to get hurt."

"Noted," I said, acknowledging his point, "Look, I don't stand for any funny business, and Jesse's a good kid, and I seriously doubt that he would date anyone from the competition unless he was really falling for her." I began to pick up the rest of my things and leave, "I mean, what can you do when the heart wants what the heart wants…Sometimes there's that little spark."

As began to leave the auditorium to go our separate ways, Will asked me, "Sorry, I'm still getting over the fact that our biggest rivals are coached by a student. How did that happen?"

I chuckled to myself, this wasn't the first time other coaches were thrown, "Actually my mother was a big performer on Broadway when I was little, so I saw a lot of professional performances. When I started coming here, I actually started Vocal Adrenaline as an after-school activity, and that was when the competitor in me awoke, I imagine."

"Is your mother still a performer?" Will asked as we continued walking toward the parking lot.

"Actually," I said, and hesitated, "She died when I was 10, after which I spent 2 years being bounced around the foster care system before settling here. Music was really the only thing I enjoyed during that time so I drilled myself into and became a top glee club coach."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Will said.

I sensed he was uncomfortable where the conversation had turned, so I decided to help him out, "Well, the past is the past, we can only move forward. So what do you think about the competition?"

"What do you mean?" Will asked.

"I spend every waking minute thinking about Vocal Adrenaline. I haven't been to party or on a date in over a year. That's the price you pay for winning championships, I think."

"Yeah, I know what you mean," Will said, "I've been so focused on the glee club, I think it played a big part in ending my marriage."

"How long have you been divorced?"

"Umm, not really divorced yet," he said, "And to make things more complicated, a little while ago I started seeing someone who I really care about."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, hang on," I said, stopping us at the front doors, "You're already seeing someone, you're not even divorced yet, and you're taking the time to come see me about our clubs?" This guys biting more than he can chew, I thought.

"I guess I'm kind of a mess." Will said.

"Look, I can't tell you what to do," I began.

"Please, go ahead," Will responded, "I could use the opinion of a fellow glee coach."

"It sounds to me like you're asking too much of yourself," I began, "You just finished being somebody's husband and that didn't really work out, and now you're running off to be someone's boyfriend. All the while trying to do right by your glee club and getting them to win in their first year of competition? You need to take a little breather. Take a little time to introduce yourself to yourself; find out what it is you want." By this point we had reached our respective vehicles, coincidently parked next to each other. I continued to say, "That hair, that dimple, that terrible clunker you drive," I pointed at his car, "I think you're gonna be just fine in the romance department, my friend."

Will chuckled and asked, while opening his car door, "How did a kid your age get to be so smart?"

I laughed, "That's a story for another day." I opened my door, "If I were you, Will, I'd focus on the glee club for the time being. They're depending on you to get them through the next competition. Don't let your complicated love life distract you from your commitment to them. And I'm serious about this, your Glee club needs to be at their best if they hope to defeat mine at Regionals."

"You're on!" Will said as he entered his car and pulled away. As he drove off into the distance, I couldn't help but smile and think, even though this man was my competition, I couldn't help but like him. He seemed like one of the most genuine human beings I had ever met, which was hard when everyone around you expects you to get them that win.

Driving home, I began to wonder if this wouldn't be the only time I crossed paths with Will Schuster.

*NOTE: I don't intend for my character to come off as gay for Will Schuster, I'm trying to get across the idea that Sam and Will become really good friends for each other, nothing more. Sorry if my writing came across the wrong way.