Chapter 4

Sectionals

I straightened my tie in front of the mirror and smoothed out my collar. Everything must be in place. Everything must proceed as practiced.

Today is Sectionals.

My first test.

Calling on my military reserve, I ran through my list, as I call it. In every task, I put into writing as well as commit to memory a list—a list of not just objectives, but also the necessary steps in meeting them, and of course, a string of contingency plans and numerous alternatives. And to my satisfaction, I've done all I could to make sure we were prepared for today.

We are ready.

I had to smile.

"Now that's the look us minions want to see fom our boss," came Sebastian's approving voice.

I brushed my blazer and smirked at him.

He grinned and nodded. "You really look confident, I have to hand it to you. You make me believe we've won already, it's inspiring."

I cocked an eyebrow. "You're just believing now?"

He chuckled. "Careful, we can't be too cocky now. We've already lost twice already to them. Wouldn't gun for three."

I just shrugged. "All I know is we've done everything right upto this point. We only need to put on a great show. We got this. They'll be eating out of our hands." I grinned.

"I believe that. But for good measure, let me just say, whatever you do, show no mercy. Don't blow this just for one Ms. Valmont.

I sighed. Sabrina.

"My committment is to Dalton, my priority, Sectionals," I said. And after... Sabrina.

I promised myself that I would think of how to pursue her if I would pursue her after Sectionals. We'll see.

It's...it's not something I can just rush to as I please. I don't like to waste time, and I don't want to just fool around. If I wanted that, I know that there were other girls that would be all too willing.

But this is senior year. We can't just think of high school anymore. Besides, I'm sure she already has plans too.

He shook his head. "Whatever. Anyways, in case you were looking, she's in the audience with the rest of 'em already."

I ignored him, while doing my best to fight the urge to swallow. Just then, the stage manager went up to me. "You Warblers are first to bat. You're on in two minutes."

I nodded at him and called on my team.

"Okay, Warblers. We did this a million times to perfection. We got this. You all know that. Now, let's make them never forget us. And remember, charm their pants off," I grinned.

That earned cocksure grins and nods of agreement from them.

"Agreed, now go out there captain. Start this thing," Sebastian motioned with his head.

I nodded at them, took a deep breath and put my game face on as I walked as casual as I could over to the middle of the stage into the spotlight.

My almost mistake is I saw the audience first when I should've looked directly at the judges instead. Or at least, not see Sabrina first.

But no.

Eye level. Center. Looking directly at me was Sabrina. Even in a silly costume, she was still beautiful. For a second everything faded and all I saw was her.

But I prepared for this. I blinked and raised my eyebrows at her in greeting. She got it, gave me a secret smile and an imperceptible nod.

I grinned my biggest smile, turning on my charm to ham it up with the audience. "I'm Hunter Clarington from Dalton Academy. Hope you enjoy the show."

And with that I lead the first number with Whistle.

I know I might get flak for our song choices being very...suggestive but I had to bank on selling whatever is ours to give to win. And being an all-male show choir, I figured we'd play the part and well, be boys.

We needed to be masculine, strong, passionate, confident, composed, and hella charming.

Alpha males.

What better way to couple our boyish good looks than with catchy naughty songs?

With our arrangement, it'll just come across as a fun cool song, not crossing the lines of downright raunchy. I made sure of that. Still, not once during the whole performance did I look at Sabrina. I don't have to explain why.

I am aware of course that some of my members were openly gay or bisexual. I'm not against that. And this is not to discredit or belittle them. Sex appeal is universal. And in everyone, there is always a masculine side. It's part of them by birthright, but doesn't and will never dictate who they are. And they had to tap that side of them to seduce the audience.

Finally, that number's almost over and as I stood in place and sang the last bar, instead of the traditional head bow at the end of the song, we all held our heads up high and met our audience's eyes. Alpha males.

Then it was Sebastian's lead next with Live while we're young. For this number, I let him steal the show and remained mostly in the background. I wanted as much as possible not to let any member just fade out. And with extensive learning of every one of their weaknesses and strengths, I could place them all like winning chess pieces to our advantage.

Everything was pristine. Smooth. And yes, fun. We've done this too many times not to enjoy it now.

And now the performance was ending, the crowd is on their feet. And finally, I think it was safe to look at Sabrina now. So I did.

Like some damn, cheesy movie, everything seemed to blur around her, and all I saw was her. Her hands clasped together, her eyes focusing on mine like she was waiting all along, and her slow widening grin – a grin that I easily returned, not at all caring who noticed our moment.

Like clockwork, we all took our final positions and closed our performance to a standing ovation from the crowd. Chin up, eyes to the audience. Well, mine, to hers and hers alone.

I raised my brows at her and she stopped applauding to give a thumb's up. I winked in reply.

Our moment was over when my team grabbed me and ushered me towards the backstage, clapping my back, laughing and just plain happy to have given a great show.

"All right. Let's just see them beat that!" Sebastian nudged me hard and laughed.

I laughed with them. "Come on, let's go to our seats. It's our turn to watch." As we walked to our seats, I realized that we were only a row below theirs. The row directly above us were occupied by Hudson and the rest of their chaperones while. The one above that row were for the club members themselves.

"You guys were great," I heard Blaine say to Jeff.

"Thanks. Glad you enjoyed the show," Jeff replied.

I wanted to just ignore them point blank to keep up with the facade but at the last second, I glanced up and saw Sabrina laughing at something Tina Cohen-Chang said. It would've been the perfect moment to look away but Chang saw me staring, raised a brow and smiled a knowing smile.

Keeping my wits with me, I raised my brows back at her and smirked. Sabrina noticed Tina's distraction and followed her gaze down to me. She blinked in surprise and gave another thumb's up at me, smiling.

I gave a curt nod and tore my gaze from her before I get to be too suspicious. I could hear Chang giggling.

As we settled on our seats, the New Directions headed towards the backstage. They were performing after this.

I can't wait.

...

Finally after sitting through one of the...weirdest performance I've ever watched. It was time for the New Directions.

And as expected of them, they pulled out all the stops with Gangnam Style. Showstopper indeed.

It was entertaining, bordering unexpected and expected. It was so wrong, it's right. For some reason, it worked for their group. The crowd loved it, and I had to admit that, I was suddenly nervous.

But there was nothing left to do but watch, wait, and hope for the best. So I just sat back and trained my eyes on no one else but Sabrina, wondering if they were going to use her golden voice aside from her dancing.

She danced. And danced so effortlessly. That and she was living in the moment, enjoying herself. To see her like this, carefree, all smiles, happy... that and her sexy hips and shapely smooth legs...

"Wow. Look at you. All focused and shit," Sebastian elbowed me.

I glared at him.

He just laughed then along with the rest of the crowd, he stood up and applauded them.

To see that I'm a good sport, I stood up as well, nodding to their performance, my hands on my pockets though. It's too much to ask me to give an early applause. I was already standing, wasn't I?

But everything happened all too fast. Just as the song was ending, just when they were at the peak of their performance, something happened. The shock was palpable over the crowd, with the room a sudden stand still in silence after that one big thud.

As the confetti cleared, we saw the group huddled over their fallen member, their chaperones rushing towards them.

Sprawled on the floor was a dark-haired female member. At once I scanned the rest just to check if it was Sabrina. I sighed inwardly in relief as I spotted her immediately telling her members to give way, the shock apparent on her face. She was white, her eyes wide, one fist clenched then something crossed her features that I couldn't identify.

And I felt bad for thinking that she was okay when her friend was injured in some way.

"It's Marley Rose," Sebastian muttered. "I hope it's nothing serious." I could only nod and watch as Jake Puckerman picked up Marley Rose and headed off the stage, the rest of the team fast on their heels.

There was nothing we really could do. I wanted to go to them, offer assistance, but it wasn't my place to do so. My place was to stay with my team.

But I couldn't shake off the way Sabrina looked. It's a look I never want to see on her. Worry mixed with fear and something else.

I was too lost in thought to notice that the silence was gone and was replaced with whispers, cries, among other things from the audience. I only came out of it when the host came out to call our attention.

"We will take a ten minute intermission as the judges decide on the winners. So for the mean time, sit down, relax, and go on a bathroom break. We'll be back shortly," he explained then the lights went on as he exited the stage.

Some people stood up and left, others stayed put and all around you could hear different conversations.

I didn't even notice that Sebastian left. I just saw him walking up and taking his seat beside mine.

I looked at him expectantly.

He shook his head. "I tried to talk to Blaine but when I got to the backstage, they've all gone."

My eyebrows drew together. "What do you mean gone?"

He scratched his nose and shrugged. "I asked the stage manager where they went and he said they just went out and left."

My eyebrows shot up. "No one stayed? Not even one?"

He shook his head then it hit him. He looked at me with wide eyes and mouth hung, and in a flash, he produced his phone, calling, I'm so sure of it, Blaine.

I scanned the judges' table and saw them filing in the auditorium, taking their respective seats, with the host approaching them.

I looked up at Sebastian.

"Come on, pick up, pick up, pick up," he chanted, almost frantic.

Looking back at the judges, I saw the host nodding at them before he went up the stage.

"Damn it, Blaine! Answer your goddamn phone!" Sebastian almost shouted.

But it was too late.

"And we're back. Can all the groups come up the stage?" the host yelled.

Sebastian cursed and shoved his phone in his pocket. I clapped his shoulder and grimaced. "It's not our place. They should have known better. Let it go. You did all you could. We tried."

He sighed deeply and nodded as we walked up the stage and put our game faces on.

The host after looking at all the groups then turns towards the audience. "With the exception of the New Directions, every team is here. So as a courtesy of the 2011 National champs, may we call on them for one last time? McKinley High New Directions please come up the stage."

Almost instantaneously you could see all eyes trained towards both backstage entrances as well as towards the auditorium doors. But nothing.

The host gave a smile and looked to the judges. The judges gave a grim smile and a nod to proceed. "I guess that's that. Show Choir rule states that at any time, it is required that at least one member be present for the whole duration of the contest. As all the members of the New Directions are...not present, they are therefore officially disqualified."

Shock, confusion, and outrage racked the audience while I glanced at Sebastian whose mouth was set in a fine line. We knew this would happen the moment he tried to call Blaine to warn them.

It was too late now.

They were officially out for the season with but only half of their performance to offer and in a foreign language at that.

I should be happy because with them gone, we were shoo-ins. I mean, I am, but I can't help but feel a bit disappointed. All that is left, even if we win, were questions we'll never get answers to. Like who was really better? But we really can't think about that now.

After they announced the runner ups, I just continued to smile, stay calm, and look proud. We all knew by now. We had to let everything go at least for now and prepare to enjoy our moment.

"And this year's Champions, by unanimous votes, go to... Dalton Academy Warblers!"

I struck a fist and yelled yes as we collected the trophy, my team going crazy with excitement and exhilaration.

We were drowned in thundering applause, cheers, confetti and I just stood there accepting all the back claps, the one armed-hug, the fist bumps, the high-fives, my right hand clutching on the trophy as anchor.

I swear I would get more bruises from this more than I did during rehearsals. But I didn't care. This was our moment.

And I would have to give myself some credit.

In a way, this was my moment too.

"We did it captain. Thanks to you! Good job!" Sebastian punched my arm. I let him, grinning wickedly at him.

"You know what this means do you?" I asked him.

He tilted his head, "Free booze and chews at your place 'til the sun comes up?" He asked with a hopeful glint in his eyes?

I laughed heartily and loudly, shaking my head at him. Then quickly deadpanned. "Regionals. Greater pressure, greater effort. Harder practice."

He backed away and frowned at me. "Man, you know how to kill a moment." Then his eyes widened. "Wait, you're serious."

I raised my brows at him.

A look of horror crossed his face. "Crap."

Then I broke into a fit of laughs, and then once I was steady enough, I cupped my hands over my lips and shouted to my team. "Party at my house! Let's go champs!"

After a collective yeah and all rights and yes they all filed out of the auditorium.

"Well played, boss," Sebastian clapped at me.

I shrugged.

"So..."

Crap, here it comes.

I decided to play it as cool as I can last.

"So..." he repeated louder. "What are your plans after this?"

I looked up and wrinkled my nose. "Plans? Well I plan on buying lots and lots of alcohol, order an army's worth of pizza, and then sleep a sleep of the triumphant."

I didn't have to look at him to see that he was rolling his eyes.

"So..." again he really wasn't letting this go. "Now that our team will move forward and the New Directions are out... will you finally ask Sabrina out?"

There it is.

I stopped walking and looked at him. To his credit, he washed the smirk on his face and knew I was being serious.

"Honestly? I don't know yet," I admitted.

He looked at me confused. "What's not to get? You obviously like her. And from what I see, I think she's responding positively to you."

I shook my head. "It's not that."

He frowned at me. "Don't tell me it's about Regionals and crap. I already know about the pink rose you gave her."

I tried not to flinch. Boy, was someone going to hear it tomorrow. Lock your doors freshman.

"What do you want to hear, Sebastian? That I like her? That I want to know her? That I want to date her?" I looked directly at him.

He looked at me a full minute, sighed, and shook his head. "All I'm saying that, there should be nothing to hold you back now."

"But there is." I sighed.

He crossed his arms again. "Like what?"

I turned my back to him and started walking. He would follow anyway.

"It's almost halfway through my senior year...her senior year as well..." I said quietly.

I heard him sigh. "I see. You have plans."

"She probably has plans too," I added.

We were silent for a while when I heard his footsteps stop. I looked back at him and he shook his head at me.

"Plans are just that, plans, Hunter. If you really wanted to, you still have time to work things through. Change them. Who knows? You haven't even given it a chance yet."

I had to admit that there was some truth to that. And even if he didn't say it, I knew that all along.

It's just that.

I don't want to be in a position where I would make her compromise what she's planned and trained for.

I don't know how much I could adjust for her.

And a few months might not be enough.

"We'll see. But right now, let me give you all my undivided attention, you once losers." I grinned trying to change the topic.

He grinned back but raised a brow. "Ouch. Fine. Let's go to your castle and get everyone wasted as hell!"

I laughed and went to my team.

I can think of that more tomorrow. I will, as promised. But right now, I am here with my team.

Looking at them, happy, proud, energized... I was proud.

Grinning, I swung my arm around the nearest member, Nick and I punched Jeff's arm lightly. "What do you say, gents? Let's go reap the fruits of our labour with righteous old grape and fermented barley. Or you know, good 'ol beer."

"Hell yeah!" Jeff pumped his fists in the air.

"That's the spirit. Enjoy it now, because practice starts, the day after tomorrow," I smirked.

Cue collective groans.

I chuckled.

This was just the beginning.

AN: Hi. I don't know what happened to my AN during the first chapter but hey. This is my first Glee fanfic and you have one Hunter Clarington to thank or blame for this story. I don't own anything, just the plot and Sabrina Valmont, my OC which draws great inspiration from the lovely Kristin Kreuk's look and my fondness for Audrey Hepburn. Because both characters are relatively new, (Hunter and my OC of course, Sabrina), I decided to write this also in the perspective of Sabrina so we can know the two of them better though I have yet to post her side of the story. For now, just see things through Hunter's eyes. Hope you like it.