Chapter 6:

Previously on The New New Directions: Beth and Aisha decided to be together- but to hide it from Aisha's parents for now, the Glee kids had a mash-up competition to decide a song for Sectionals, and Danny and Aria started self-defence classes after he and his dad managed to get Jack expelled.

It had been just over three weeks since Danny's team had won the mash-up competition. Today was Sectionals. He and Aria were still going to the self-defence classes once a week but it was getting a little easier to focus on his instructor. He really did want to be prepared if someone attacked him or someone he loved. Beth and Aisha had revealed their relationship to the Glee Club but told them they weren't ready to tell their parents yet which was fair enough, as long as they were happy. As yesterday had been a Friday, Liam, Natalia and Aria's parents had let them stay overnight at his house and they'd gone to bed pretty early, excited and nervous for the next day, although not without a game of Never Have I Ever. Now the four of them were getting changed, all in the same room- like they always had. The boys had black outfits with red ties and the girls were changing into red tulle dresses with white lace on the bodice. Danny and Liam were adjusting their ties when Aria said "Can someone do this up?" Natalia was pulling on her own dress and Liam was sorting out the tie. Danny nodded. He stepped closer to Aria and did up the zip at the back, his hand brushing against bare skin. Swiftly, he stepped away. Aria smiled at him over her shoulder before reaching down to put on her black dance heels. "Thanks." Nat asked the same thing and Aria did hers up for her then they both started laughing about something. Liam rolled his eyes jokingly at Danny, who for some reason suddenly couldn't hear anything anyone was saying. It was all distant mumbling. He blinked and again, feeling lost and confused, panicked. They were all looking at him talking without speaking. Suddenly there was a rush of sound and colour and he could hear them again.

"Danny?" Liam was gently pulling him over to his bed and sitting him down so he was leaning against the pillows. Aria and Nat had pulled off their heels and were on the bed too, their faces anxious.

"I'm fine," He said, his voice coming out weaker than he would have hoped. He tried to get up but his friends all pushed him back.

Aria stood up. "I'm gonna go get you some food and water. You don't look too good Danny." He saw his reflection then in the mirror. He looked as pale as a vampire. Natalia put her hand on his.

"It's okay," She whispered. "Liam, can you go tell Mr and Mrs Schue." Liam nodded and followed Aria out the door. "You didn't eat very much at breakfast." Natalia frowned. "You didn't eat anything. What did you eat last night?" Danny shrugged.

"I wasn't hungry," He said, leaning back against the pillows and not answering the question. His head was still spinning but he tried to act like he was perfectly fine, he didn't want his friends worrying for nothing.

Aria raced back up the stairs, bearing a glass of water and a bowl of cereal. She shoved the cereal into Danny's hands, placing the water on the desk beside him and taking a seat on the side Natalia wasn't already at. Their watchful eyes on him, Danny swallowed the food and sipped the drink but it tasted horrible. His parents came into the room as he was taking another spoonful of cereal, Liam behind them. Natalia stood up and headed over to them, whispering something. Emma took both of his hands, saying "Oh sweetie." Danny couldn't look at her, instead keeping his eyes on her shoes. His mom used to be extremely OCD, she was a lot less so now but still liked everything as perfect as possible. He didn't want to disappoint her and his dad. God they must think their son was such a loser. First the whole thing with Jack and now this.

"Look, can we just talk about it later?" He asked, starting to stand up and wobbling. "We need to get to Sectionals." Emma, gently, pushed him back down.

"No way," She said.

Danny looked at his dad, though not into his eyes. "Dad!"

Will shook his head. "I'm with your mom. Liam and Natalia told us what happened and we don't want you up on stage and fainting. Marley wouldn't either-" He glanced at Emma. "Maybe you should talk to Marley about this."

His head still spinning, Danny wasn't exactly in the mood to ponder about whatever that meant. "Okay." The others left the room with his dad, he was probably going to drive them, Danny sat staring at the wall.

His mom gave him a soft smile. "It's okay," She said then she took his hand but didn't make him look up at her. "I want you to know that this doesn't in anyway make me or your dad or your sister think any less of you." He nodded. "And we're going to get you some help, I promise."


As Liam explained to Marley over the phone what was going on, Aria was on the phone to Milo, her self-defence instructor. The two of them had grown pretty close over the last few weeks and she'd told him about Sectionals and the song choices a good few times. She'd even tried to teach him the choreography, and he'd been a fast learner. When they had chosen the full set list Beth and Aisha, ever the perfectionists, had insisted on buying one extra of each outfit (boy and girl), pointing out that they could return it if it never got used. They'd taken an average from the boys' sizes and the result was pretty close to Milo's. He agreed and told Aria he'd meet her at their school (where Sectionals was being held) in ten minutes. Relieved, she hung up on Milo and sent a quick text to Emma asking after Danny as they pulled into the school's parking lot.

"Good luck," Will told them despite his mind clearly being preoccupied.

Natalia smiled. "Thanks, give us updates on Danny."

Nodding, Will added, "None of you need a ride back do you?" Aria explained that her mom was dropping them all off and Will nodded again, leaving them, after one last good luck.

The three friends wandered inside quietly, heading towards the choir room where they were setting up headquarters. Liam broke the silence. "This wasn't how we were expecting our first competition to go, hey?"

Aria shook her head then looked between the two of them. "Let's do this for Danny, win Sectionals so we can go on to Regionals and he can be here with us!" They both smiled and they were in the choir room. Marley was sat at the piano on the phone, she mouthed at them that she was talking to Emma. Jake was there too with the kids as well as the whole Lopez-Pierce family…and Aria's family. She broke away from the others.

Rachel smiled at her daughter when she saw her and spoke before Aria could open her mouth. "Marley called me and Sam in for backup in a bit of a panic, don't worry it looks like everything's fine and we'll be heading out to sit down soon."

"I'm happy you're here," Aria said in a low tone, barely a whisper, but her mom smirked.

"I'll talk to you later," She said, standing up and gesturing behind her daughter. "Looks like you have someone to train." Leading her husband and kids over to Santana and Brittany she whispered into Aria's ear as she went past, "He's totally hot." The brunette glared after her mom before turning to Milo.

"Right, let's get to work."


Aisha sat in the backseat of her parents' car silently. "You didn't have to come to this."

"Everyone else's parents are going, you said?" Her dad pointed out from the driver's seat.

"Yeah," She said quietly, trying to think of an excuse to get them to turn around. The truth was that Marley had given her and Beth a duet and although it wasn't a love song she was worried, well more liked paranoid, that her parents would realise that there was something between them. Once they had pulled into the parking lot and gotten out of the car it was quite busy what with two other schools competing and all the audience members here to watch them parking in here. Still, Beth spotted Aisha. She darted towards her and reached out a hand. "MY PARENTS!" Aisha hissed as quietly as she could and Beth dropped the hand, disappointment noticeable on her face only for a split second and only noticeable because Aisha knew her so well. Beth's mom was right behind her and she knew about them. Aisha envied that.

"Hey Mr and Mrs Abdi," Beth grinned at Aisha's parents. They smiled at her. Aisha's parents liked Beth. They'd known her practically as long as Aisha had and were good friends with Shelby so they were going to sit with her, who would be sitting with Beth's biological parents, Aria's parents, and all the other Glee Club parents. Aisha felt Beth wave at her and snapped back to reality. Their parents were still talking but nodded for the girls to go ahead. Near the choir room Beth suddenly (gently) pushed Aisha to the wall and kissed her. For a second she let herself get lost in the familiar feeling of Beth's chapsticked lips on hers. Then she subconsciously felt the observers walking by's stares and eye rolls and realised that anyone of these people could be her mom or dad. She shoved Beth away, harsher than necessary. "Not now."

Instead of being mad, which would have been easier, Beth nodded. "Sorry, that was stupid, I was stupid." Aisha mentally groaned at how cute and amazing she was and pulled her into the choir room.


Asher and his sister Kaelynn were explaining to his younger brothers Jax and Dane, as well as Aria's half siblings Bailey and Travis, what Glee Club was whilst his mom and mamá talked to Aria's parents. That was until he spotted Maeve Hummel. Maeve was pretty quiet in Glee Club. She spoke but she usually sat at the back and was doodling. They were dance partners but almost never talked apart from then. Today she was impossible not to notice. He'd met her half-brother Kurt quite a few times and they looked nothing alike yet right now he was getting the same vibe he got from Kurt from his sister. That they were doing something they loved and living their dream. He found it really attractive on her.

As they were first up they all warmed up around the piano and then Marley declared "Show circle!" All the kids got into a circle, after Marley explained what a show circle was. They were first up "This hasn't been an easy ride, but we're here and we're not backing down. That's exactly what the theme of Sectionals this year is- bouncing back. I'm amazingly proud of each and every one of you. I know this might sound cheesy, but honestly, you've put the work in and if you work as hard as you've been working this past week I reckon you're in with a great chance of winning this." They all put their hands into the centre and shouted "AAH-mazing!"

Beth and Aisha were at the back of the auditorium, ready to burst through and start their duet. Everyone else was on the stage. Aria and her friends were going through the moves again with her friend Milo who'd agreed to fill in for Danny. Kieran, Lucas and Dylan were whispering in hushed tones. Kaelynn and Maeve were stood next to each other, both looking nervous. Asher cleared his head. All that mattered right now was giving the best performance of his life. A voice over a loudspeaker announced that the show was about to begin and the kids got into their places with their dance partners, scattered across the stage. Marley was on the stage beside them, wishing them each good luck and then she moved over to the wings. Asher took a deep breath as the voice announced that this was the Western Ohio Sectionals 2026, then announced the judges and finally, "Give a round of applause for the William McKinley High School Newwwwww Directions!"

The audience, who they couldn't see what with the closed curtain, cheered and then Beth and Aisha started to sing 'It's my Life'.

Beth: This ain't a song for the broken-hearted

Aisha: No silent prayer for the faith-departed

Beth+Aisha: I ain't gonna be just a face in the crowd

You're gonna hear my voice

When I shout it out loud

They were strutting down the walkways in the audience and when they got to the chorus they were on the stage and the curtains parted. From different sides of the stage Lucas and Dylan ran to the girls as their dance partners and started to spin them at the same time as the other couples. Then the boys swung them up and then lifted their girl partners up onto their shoulders and held them there. Asher lifted Maeve up, grinning as he sung. It felt like he was on top of the world.

After the chorus the New Directions all fell back into a line, moving their arms as choreographed before spinning their heads and then dancing with their partner again.

All: I just want to live while I'm alive

'Cause it's my life!

At the end of the song came to a close the audience cheered loudly. Asher grinned and saw Maeve with a similar expression beside him, but they didn't have time to take it in just yet. The piano player started playing 'Skyscraper' by Demi Lovato. It was slow and beautiful. There wasn't a dry eye in the audience by the end of the song. The boys led the girls into a diamond type shape with everyone facing the front. From there they just sung standing still until the last line of the song where they all dropped to a crouch as the audience roared their approval and Asher cast a quick smile at Maeve, who caught it and winked.


Beth could barely stop the huge grin on her face although she knew she was supposed to have a straight face on for the beginning of the next song. It was just so amazing singing- it felt as good as when they won Nationals at cheerleading last year. Performing was definitely what she was meant to do, whether that be through cheering, singing, dancing- whatever! Now it was time for the song Beth's group had won the mash-up with. As the music for the next song kicked in they stood up row by row along the diamond, starting with Aria at the front.

All: Hush, just stop

Quickly they swung around into a semi-circle and from there the choreography came as naturally as breathing, at least that's what it felt like to Beth. This what she felt comfortable doing.

Boys: Well I, I thought I knew you, thinkin' that you were true
Guess I, I couldn't trust called your bluff time is up
'Cause I've had enough

Girls: I'm not your property as from today, baby

You might think that I won't make it on my own

All: But now I'm…

Stronger than yesterday

Now it's nothing but my way

Girls: My loneliness ain't killing me no more

All: Thanks for making me a fighter

As the song ended and the applause continued Aisha caught Beth's eye. She was smiling widely, and that made Beth's smile even greater. The curtain closed and the New Directions hurried off the stage to reconvene in the choir room before they headed out to the audience seats to watch the next group.

"Well done everyone!" Marley grinned. She stood at the door and gave them all high fives as they entered. "That was amazing, ten times better than anything else we've done, which is saying something!" Everyone grinned. Marley held out her phone. "Someone else wants to congratulate you too!"

"Danny!" Everyone called out at the same time when Marley turned her phone so they could see it. He told them that he'd watched the performance as a live stream on the show choir website and had loved it. There did seem to be something bothering him, though Beth didn't know what it was. She knew what had happened in the morning and could tell it wasn't that, but apart from that she had no idea.

An hour or so later the New Directions were stood on the stage with Marley, the other two clubs, their directors, and the judges. Third place…wasn't them. The spotlight turned black on the club that had come third as one of the judges gave them a trophy. Beth felt Aisha slip her hand into hers and almost gasped in surprise. "In first place and going through to Regionals…" Everyone on that stage seemed to take a collective breath in. "From William McKin-" After that Beth couldn't hear the rest of the result as the roar from her team-mates overwhelmed her. She saw the boy who'd filled in for Danny, Milo, cheer with Aria and her friends and lift her up. Pulling Aisha into a hug, she grinned spectacularly before hugging everyone else on the team as celebratory music played and the judges handed Marley the winner's trophy.

After that there was the 'congratulations' and hand shaking from the other teams, a few (hundred) group photos with the trophy from parents and the hugs from her parents and sister, before they could go. She and Aisha decided to meet their parents in the parking lot, saying they both needed to use the bathroom. It was Aisha that had said that, and sure enough once they were in an almost abandoned hallway she spoke.

"I think I'm ready to tell my parents about us," She said as she put a hand in Beth's.

Pausing, Beth asked "Are you sure?" Aisha nodded. "This just seems very sudden."

Shrugging, Aisha said "I've been thinking about it ever since you told your mom, and Quinn and Puck. I want to be able to be honest with my parents."

"Honest about what?" Mrs Abdi's voice came from behind them and the two girls spun around, Beth dropping Aisha's hand.

Next Time: Aisha tells her parents about her and Beth. It's also Thanksgiving and the kids think about what they have to be thankful for.

Songs Featured: It's My Life- Bon Jovi (Beth&Aisha)

Stronger- Britney Spears (New Directions)

Fighter- Kelly Clarkson (New Directions)