Hope everyone's excited for next week! I won't mention for people who don't like spoilers, but I like the looks of one of the scenes in the promo! A few things I want to clarify about this chapter:
1. There is no indication that Jesse and Harmony will date on the show. I just thought it might be a good couple.
2. Sebastian's slushieing of Blaine happened before this story began.
3. The songs used by New Directions are "Breakaway" by Kelly Clarkson, "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban and "At The Beginning" by Anastasia.
4. Alex from the Glee project is Vocal Adrenaline's soloist, since that's what spoilers sound like.
Enjoy the chapter, and don't forget to review!
Chapter 6: The Last Regionals
For the first time since her dads' death, Rachel was feeling truly happy and excited. Regionals were here. Since she'd been suspended from Sectionals, Regionals were extra special this year. They were competing against Vocal Adrenaline and the Warblers.
Today could possibly be the New Directions' last competition with the seniors. Vocal Adrenaline had beaten them at Nationals last year and the Warblers were supposedly working really hard.
But at least Rachel was getting to perform a duet with Finn. People said that "whenever Finn and Rachel do a duet, the team loses," and Rachel hoped this wouldn't be the case. Regionals always had a special place in her heart because it was the first place Finn ever told her he loved her. Their costumes this year were even similar to the costumes their first year. The boys had gold suspenders and bowties in their black shirts and pants. Right now Vocal Adrenaline was performing. Their new soloist, an overweight black boy with a soprano voice, wasn't as strong as Jesse or Sunshine. They were doing an original song, no one even recognized it.
When the time came for the Warblers to perform, several people in the New Directions refused to clap because of Sebastian throwing the slushie with rock salt on Blaine. Rachel, Finn, Sam and Rory were the only ones who clapped, but they all knew it was just to be nice. The Warblers did not give Sebastian a solo because of what happened with Blaine. Their songs were "California Girls" by the Beach Boys, "Paint it Black" by the Rolling Stones and "Let It Be" by the Beatles. As they were getting a much louder round of applause than Vocal Adrenaline, the New Directions began heading backstage. Rachel gasped when she saw Jesse, who was now the Vocal Adrenaline coach, kissing Harmony, the girl she'd met at the NYADA mixer.
"Oh look, it's the Barbra wannabe," Harmony sneered.
"Hello, Harmony," Rachel said.
"Thanks for giving me your leftover!" Harmony giggled.
"He's all yours," Rachel told her. Jesse smirked at Rachel and said, "You had your chance."
"Leave her alone," Finn snapped. "If either of you have bothered to read the newspaper, you'd know she's been through a lot lately."
Jesse wrapped his arm around Harmony. "We don't have time for this." He led her away as Rachel looked at Finn. "They deserve each other."
Finn laughed. "Yes they do."
"Is it even legal?" Rachel asked. "She's a sophomore in high school, he SHOULD be a sophomore in college."
"Let's not think about them now," Finn said. "It's about time for the girls' number. Break a leg." He kissed Rachel on the cheek as the girls lined up for their song. The New Directions were announced and the girls entered the stage as the music began.
Rachel: Grew up in a small town
And when the rain would fall down
I'd just stare out my window
Dreaming of what could be
And if I'd end up happy
I would pray (Quinn: I would pray)
Santana: Trying hard to reach out
But when I tried to speak out
Felt like no one could hear me
Brittany: Wanted to belong here
But something felt so wrong here
So I prayed I could break away
All New Directions Girls: I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly
I'll do what it takes til' I touch the sky
And I'll make a wish
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway
Out of the darkness and into the sun
But I won't forget all the ones that I love
I'll take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway
Kelly: Wanna feel the warm breeze
Sleep under a palm tree
Feel the rush of the ocean
Quinn: Get onboard a fast train
Travel on a jet plane, far away (Tina: I will)
And breakaway
All New Directions Girls: I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly
I'll do what it takes til' I touch the sky
And I'll make a wish
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway
Out of the darkness and into the sun
But I won't forget all the ones that I love
I'll take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway
Tina: Buildings with a hundred floors
Swinging around revolving doors
Mercedes: Maybe I don't know where they'll take me but
Gotta keep moving on, moving on
Sugar: Fly away, breakaway
All New Directions Girls: I'll spread my wings
And I'll learn how to fly
Though it's not easy to tell you goodbye
I gotta take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway
Out of the darkness and into the sun
But I won't forget the place I come from
Rachel: I gotta take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And breakaway, breakaway, breakaway
The girls received some loud applause. Finn gave Rachel a thumbs up as she left the stage and the boys took the stage as the music for their song began.
Finn: When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Blaine: Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.
Finn and Blaine: You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.
Artie: You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
Mike: I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.
Puck: There is no life - no life without its hunger;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
Sam: But when you come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.
Rory: You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
Kurt: I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.
All New Directions Boys: You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.
You raise me up... To more than I can be.
As the boys received a round of applause that rivaled the girls', Rachel entered the stage so she and Finn could do their duet that the performance would close with.
Rachel: We were strangers, starting out on a journey
Never dreaming, what we'd have to go through
Now here we are, I'm suddenly standing
At the beginning with you
Finn: No one told me I was going to find you
Unexpected, what you did to my heart
When I lost hope, you were there to remind me
This is the start
Both: And life is a road that I wanna keep going
Love is a river, I wanna keep flowing
Life is a road, now and forever, wonderful journey
I'll be there when the world stops turning
I'll be there when the storm is through
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you
Rachel: We were strangers on a crazy adventure
Finn: Never dreaming, how our dreams would come true
Both: Now here we stand, unafraid of the future
At the beginning with you
Both: And life is a road that I wanna keep going
Love is a river, I wanna keep flowing
Life is a road, now and forever, wonderful journey
I'll be there when the world stops turning
I'll be there when the storm is through
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you
Both: Knew there was somebody, somewhere
A new love in the dark
Now I know my dream will live on
I've been waiting so long
Nothing's gonna tear us apart
Both: And life is a road that I wanna keep going
Love is a river, I wanna keep flowing
Life is a road, now and forever, wonderful journey
I'll be there when the world stops turning
I'll be there when the storm is through
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you
Finn: Yeah
Both: Life is a road that I wanna keep going on
Love is a river, I wanna keep going
Starting out on a journey
Life is a road that I wanna keep going
Love is a river, I wanna keep flowing
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you
Finn gave Rachel a big hug after their duet. She was tempted to kiss him, but resisted the urge, worried if she did, their loss would be blamed for it. Ten minutes later, the results were announced. Vocal Adrenaline was third, the Warblers were second and New Directions was first. Jesse and Harmony both scowled at Rachel as they left, but this didn't matter to her. For the first time since her dads' death, she felt truly happy.
As the group was leaving with their trophy, Rachel felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned and saw Shelby.
"You were incredible up there," Shelby told Rachel.
Rachel smiled. "Thanks. Finn and I have done better duets, I've had better solos - but it was enough."
"It was," Shelby said. "Excited for Nationals in the Outer Banks?"
"Very," Rachel said.
"You're still at Finn's, right?" Shelby asked.
Rachel nodded.
"Rachel, could you please just spend a weekend at my house and see how it goes?" Shelby asked. "I just feel terrible seeing my daughter suffer. If it doesn't work out, you can go back to Finn's. I just want to give this a try. I may not have raised you, but I've loved you since the day you were born."
"To be honest, something has been missing," Rachel admitted. "I'd like to give this a try. Would next weekend work?"
"That would be great," Shelby said. "Now get back to the group to celebrate."
Rachel smiled to herself as she went back to join the group. Life was coming back together. They'd won Regionals. She had friends. She was going back to Nationals. She and Finn were growing strong. She may just have a relationship with her mother.
Chapter 7 preview: Rachel spends the weekend at Shelby's. Finchel with Beth. Finn talks about what he may do after graduation.