The Big Show - Chapter Four
Sunday - Finn's POV
As much as I wanted a repeat of yesterday morning, or even last night I know we can't get away with it this morning, today is too important.
"Rach? You Ready?" I call.
She comes out of the bathroom, her hair swept up elegantly, dressed in a button up blouse and short skirt. I groan, she looks stunning.
"Yeah, I can't wear our rings today." she says sadly.
"Gimmie." I say holding my hand out. I'm already dressed in my costume for our performance. I loosen my tie and undo the top button. Securing her chain around my neck, thankfully it's long enough to fit around my neck. Tucking them into my shirt I refasten the button of my shirt and slip my tie back into position. "There, all fixed." I wink at her.
"Thank you." she say kissing me quickly.
She grabs her dress bag off the bed, and her purse off the dressing table. We'd gone down earlier to grab breakfast before coming back up to the room to get ready. We're some of the first down in the lobby, most of the junior's and sophomore's are gathered talking excitedly. I'm running through choreography in my head.
"Rachel you ready?" Mr Schuester asks popping out of know where.
"I'm gonna kill it Mr. Schue." she say smiling brightly, thinking of her duet with Santana. She'll sing the first part alone on stage under a spotlight, before being joined by Santana, the rest of us will remain behind the curtain.
I can hear her humming softly under her breath, and smile loving how I'm the only person who knows it's a nervous habit she picked up many years ago. I just rub my hand over her back soothingly. She smiles up at me and I can't help but return her smile with my own excited grin. This is our last competition, we still have a song at graduation to do but this is it, this is the big show for so many of us. Most of us don't have the future Rachel does ahead of us.
I watch the others, some talking excitedly, other pacing nervously. Finally the bus arrives. When we get to the convention center we head back stage to store any costumes that need to be used later, and find our seats to watch the last of our competition before it's our turn.
I walk over to Rachel as she stands beside the stage, I see Santana waiting on the opposite side and give her a small wave.
Reaching out to take Rachel's hands I say "Break a leg."
"I love you." she says in return.
All the love I have for her shining in my eyes. We do this every competition, it's our own little ritual.
I kiss her quickly, then slip behind the curtain to join the others already in position. I hear them announce William Mckinley High School's New Directions. The Lights go down and the spot illuminates Rachel as she steps on to stage singing softly, the rest of us joining in on background harmonies.
If this world is wearing thin
And you're thinking of escape
I'll go anywhere with you
Just wrap me up in chains
But if you try to go alone
Don't think I'll understand
She glides to the center of the stage singing clearly
Stay with me
Stay with me
In the silence of your room
In the darkness of your dreams
You must only think of me
There can be no in between
When your pride is on the floor
I'll make you beg for more
Stay with me
Stay with me
A second spot lights the opposite side of the stage and Santana enters, moving towards Rachel, they circle around each other turning slowly. Singing in perfect harmony.
You'd better hope and pray
That you make it safe
Back to your own world
You'd better hope and pray
That you'll wake one day
In your own world
Coz when you sleep at night
They don't hear your cries
In your own world
Only time will tell
If you can break the spell
Back in your own world
Stay with me
Stay with me
Stay, stay with me
Stay, stay, stay, stay, stay
Stay with me
The crowd is silent, I can hear them hanging on every note. The curtains lifts and as we are revealed they break into applause. Rachel and Santana rush off stage to change costumes. We move onto our second number The Who's Pinball Wizard, as Puck and I take lead on the vocals I see them slip into the back picking up the choreography perfectly. I throw a wink her way as she dances towards me. Our last number keeps the energy level high, the girls taking lead on this one Tina belt's out the lyrics confidently, before Mercedes and Quinn each take a turn. We all preform the intricate dance steps perfectly all the practice pays off.
The curtain falls and the audience goes nuts. Rachel throws herself into my arms and I spin us around. We're both breathing hard, grinning, and laughing madly.
We clear the stage heading back to the green room to wait for them to announce the winners. Someone comes to find us shortly telling us they've made their decisions.
We join the other teams on stage, third place goes to the team from Texas. Second place to a team from Illinois.
"And now ladies and gentlemen the 2012 National Show Choir Competition winner's, and returning champions New Directions!"
Mr. Schuester accepts our trophy, and we all hug each other. Shaking hands with the other groups on the stage. Telling them all how good they all were.
"We did it Babe, we won!" I say pulling Rachel to me. Everyone is gathered out checking our trophy, and talking about our performances.
Mr. Schuester let's us celebrate for a while, in the green room. "Alright guys I know this is a big moment for all of us, but the bus is here. We need to get back to the hotel, pack up and get to the airport, we don't have a lot of time. You'll have to celebrate more when we get home."
Just like that it's all over, and before I know it we're back at the airport. Once again I complain loudly about her bag being to heavy, but I lean in a whisper "Especially since I kept you naked as much as I could."
She giggles and blushes darkly. Her hand goes to my chest, her fingers pressing against our rings.
We go through security, surprisingly there are no issues getting the massive trophy through. Our flight is called and we are soon settled back into seats that are just to small for my large frame, and Rachel is curled into my side. Everyone else maybe going to home to a huge celebration party; not us we're going home to tell our families that while in Las Vegas we got married at the Little White Chapel. I close my eyes, lean my head back and groan softly.
"What?" she asks quietly.
"Your Dad's are going to kill me."
"I won't let them hurt you, you're family now too. They're expecting this eventually, it's just a little sooner that they planned on."
I kiss her brown curls breathing in her scent, relaxing slightly.
I must have drifted off because I wake up and my legs are cramped and my back hurts. It's late, it'll be even later when we get home. There will be another bus waiting for us in Columbus. I look out the window and see darkness, I have no idea where we are or what time it is.
"Hey, you're awake." she says looking up from her magazine.
"Yeah, what time is it?"
"Almost 8, we should be landing soon."
I close my eyes again, trying to find a more comfortable position, and as I do I hear the ding of the seatbelt sign.
We file tiredly off the plane, collect our bags, and file on to the waiting bus.
"Finn?" I hear Kurt trying to get my attention later as we pull into school parking lot.
"What's up little bro?" I ask.
"Just wondering if you're riding with me or Rachel?"
"Err... Rachel. I'll get a ride with Rach." I stammer, nervously. Funny I can sing and dance in front of thousands of people and not have one case of nerves, but facing Rachel's Dad's to tell them we ran off and eloped, I'm terrified.
"Alright, I'll see you at home later." he says.
"Yeah" I mutter under my breath.
"It'll be ok." she says resting her hand on my arm, smiling reassuringly.