Hey everyone. Thanks for all the support on the last chapter. I appreciate it. Just a warning - there isn't very much Finchel in this chapter. I know this is mostly a Finchel fic, but I also want it to focus on New Directions as a whole and not go too far from canon. Since this episode was mostly about Kurt and Artie in canon, I wanted to give them focus in this version. There is Finchel though. Hope you enjoy and review if I should keep going.
Wheels
Sectionals were less than a month away now, and the glee club was still trying to find the perfect setlist. Doing two separate numbers didn't work and their mashoffs had disqualified each time. As Mr. Schue passed out a setlist, Rachel looked at one of the numbers she saw. Defying Gravity.
"Defying Gravity?" Kurt blurted out. "Wicked is the best musical ever. I saw it with Rachel when it came to Columbus last summer. Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth are goddesses..."
Mr. Schue interrupted Kurt's ramble. "Want to do it, Rachel?"
"I'd love to," Rachel declared. "Like Kurt said, we saw Wicked over the summer..."
"What if I want to do it?" Kurt asked.
"The quarterback of the football team singing a Broadway song?" Puck asked.
"Kurt, you know this song is sung by a female..." Rachel began.
"I can sing it just as good as you," Kurt declared.
"Oh, really?" Rachel asked.
"We don't have time for this!" Mr. Schue interrupted. "Rachel's singing Defying Gravity. Anyway, there's something else I have to say. The school's not letting us take a handicap accessible bus to Sectionals."
"Why can't we use the one for football games?" Artie asked.
"Coach Tanaka won't let me," Mr. Schue said. "So, we'll need to raise money to rent one and have a bake sale."
Rachel froze. The glee club having a fundraiser? No one liked the glee club. Now that she was off the cheerios, she was getting a feeling of what it was like to be an outcast. People wouldn't buy from them. She felt bad for Artie, but wasn't there a way to pay for the bus that wouldn't involve the rest of the school?
"I don't think we have time for this," Santana said.
"We're all really busy," Finn added. "We've got homework and football and that stuff..."
"Artie's parents could probably take him and he could meet us there," Mercedes suggested.
"When I was in glee club, the best part of competitions was the bus ride there and back," Mr. Schue scolded. "You aren't being team players now."
Rachel didn't want to say that no one would buy from the glee club.
"It's fine," Artie said. "We should focus on rehearsing."
x
Soon, it would reach the point in Artie's life where he'd been in the wheelchair longer than he'd walked.
Artie could still remember that car accident clearly. The doctors had told him that it was a miracle that he and his mom had both survived. She had broken bones, and his spine was damaged, leaving him in a wheelchair.
He couldn't feel or move his legs. He'd gotten used to it to an extent, but there were always hassles. He'd always wanted to play sports, but he'd always thought he couldn't. It was a miracle that his parents had gotten the school board's approval for him to join the football team, as long as someone pushed his wheelchair.
It didn't stop there though. At every football game, the officials had to pre approve that an extra person could be on the field to push Artie around. Artie was just glad the school had approved of this though. If he wasn't an athlete, he was sure that he'd be an outcast because of his wheelchair.
He'd thought glee club would be easier since he didn't have to walk around, but now this was another obstacle. He wanted to take the bus with the rest of the team. He knew why they didn't want to have the bake sale - because the glee club was seen as losers. He partially had himself to blame for this - he was sure he'd run over most of their feet before he got to know them. It still hurt though.
The team still needed more numbers for Sectionals. Artie raised his hand. "Mr. Schue, I think I have an idea for a number for Sectionals."
"Okay, Artie," Mr. Schue said.
Ever since Artie had joined glee, he had enjoyed putting together small numbers in his wheelchair, some with wheelchair dance routines. Maybe showing them one of the routines would make them rethink things. He took a guitar and began playing.
Artie: On the floor of Tokyo, oh
Or down in London town to go, go
With the record selection
With the mirror reflection
I'm dancing with myself
When there's no one else in sight
In the crowded lonely night
Well I wait too long
For my love vibration
And I'm dancing with myself
I'm dancing with myself
I'm dancing with myself
Well there's nothing to lose
And there's nothing to prove
And I'll be dancing with myself
If I looked all over the world
And there's every type of girl
But your empty eyes
Seem to pass me by
And leave me dancing with myself
So let's sink another drink
'Cause it'll give me time to think
If I had the chance
I'd ask the world to dance
And I'll be dancing with myself
Oh dancing with myself (A din-don-da)
Oh dancing with myself (A din-don-da)
Oh there's nothing to lose (A din-don-da)
And there's nothing to prove (A din-don-da)
I'll be dancing with myself (A din-don-da)
Oh dancing with myself (A din-don-da)
Oh dancing with myself (A din-don-da)
Oh there's nothing to lose (A din-don-da)
And there's nothing to prove (A din-don-da)
And I'll be dancing with myself (A din-don-da)
Dancing with myself (A din-don-da)
Oh dancing with myself (A din-don-da)
Well there's nothing to lose (A din-don-da)
And there's nothing to prove (A din-don-da)
I'll be dancing with myself (A din-don-da)
Dancing with myself (A din-don-da)
Dancing with myself (A din-don-da)
Well there's nothing to lose (A din-don-da)
And there's nothing to prove (A din-don-da)
And I'm dancing with myself (A din-don-da)
The glee club seemed to enjoy the number, and at the end, Mr. Schue looked at Artie. "I think you gave me an idea for Sectionals."
"What?" Artie asked.
"You'll see tomorrow," Mr. Schue said.
x
Kurt wanted to sing Defying Gravity.
He thought that glee club wasn't as narrow minded as the rest of the school. Maybe if he could sing Defying Gravity at Sectionals, it could be seen as okay. Maybe that would help him come out.
"I think you'd be really good at that song," Blaine said, interrupting Kurt's thoughts. "I sometimes imagine you and me singing As Long As You're Mine from Wicked..."
"We can't do that at Sectionals, Blaine," Kurt interrupted. He wanted to sing that song with Blaine too...
"You've really been confusing me lately, Kurt," Blaine said.
"What do you mean?" Kurt asked.
"Do you want to be with me, or not?" Blaine asked.
"Of course I want to be with you," Kurt said. "But..."
"Then why haven't you broken up with Rachel?" Blaine asked.
Kurt was surprised Blaine was so open to the possibility of coming out. "So you're fine with people gossiping about us?"
"Do you really think people will?" Blaine asked.
How could Blaine be so naive? "Yes, Blaine! This isn't New York or Chicago or something like that..."
Burt came into Kurt's room. "What's going on in here?"
"Nothing," Blaine said. "I was just about to go."
After Blaine left, Burt turned to Kurt. "That wasn't all that was going on."
"Dad, this is my life," Kurt said.
"You just went to homecoming with Rachel last week, didn't you?" Burt asked.
"I'm not ready to come out yet," Kurt said. "So can you and Blaine please stop pressuring me?"
Burt sighed. "Okay. So, how was school?"
"There's a really great song Mr. Schue wants to use on the Sectionals setlist," Kurt said. "But I want to sing it, and he won't let me because it's usually sung by a girl."
"What?" Burt asked. "He can't do that."
"That's what I said," Kurt said.
"Well, you are always saying that you're afraid to come out," Burt pointed out. "Aren't you afraid that people will suspect something?"
Burt had a point. "Well... maybe this could be the first step toward getting comfortable with coming out."
"I'll talk to your teacher and see if he'll let you sing it," Burt said.
x
The next day in glee club, Rachel was ready to show everyone what she'd come up with for her version of Defying Gravity. But her thoughts were interrupted when Mr. Schue pulled her aside. "Rachel, I know I gave you the solo, but Kurt expressed interest in it and wants to challenge you for it."
"What?" Rachel asked. Her boyfriend wanted to sing her song for Sectionals? Wasn't he supposed to support her? The truth was - she'd heard Kurt sing Wicked songs - and he was almost as good as her.
"You and Kurt will sing it as a duet, and then we'll vote for who sings it better," Mr. Schuester said.
"Okay," Rachel said. She wasn't sure if she was okay with this. She went over to Kurt. "You're challenging me for the Wicked solo?"
"Got a problem with that?" Blaine asked.
"Well... I wanted to sing it," Rachel said.
"I did too," Kurt said.
Rachel didn't feel like arguing. She looked over at Finn, who gave her a sympathetic look.
"And I have some more things to say," Mr. Schue said. "I was very disappointed in how unsympathetic you guys were to Artie yesterday, suggesting he drive to Sectionals with his parents instead of riding the bus with the rest of us."
"We didn't think you'd take it personally," Finn said.
"Well, you can't dance, but don't take that personally," Artie said. "I had to fight to get on the football team. You guys don't know how hard it is for me to just keep up."
"Exactly," Mr. Schuester said. "I got some friends at a local nursing home to loan me some wheelchairs, and each of you will spend three hours a day for the next week in a wheelchair. We'll also do a number in the wheelchairs for Sectionals."
x
Spending time in the wheelchair had definitely made Finn have sympathy for Artie. True, Artie used to run over his feet a lot, but now that he was getting to know Artie better, he was learning that Artie was a great guy. Finn was constantly bumping into things in the hall and had to reach up to get to his locker. He saw Rachel and wheeled down to her. "Hey."
"Hey," Rachel said. "Has this been as awkward for you as it has for me?"
"Meaning VERY awkward?" Rachel asked. "Yes. I don't know how Artie does this every day."
"Me either," Finn said. "So, your boyfriend wants your song for Sectionals, huh?"
"Isn't he supposed to be supportive of me?" Rachel asked. "At homecoming last week, he spent more time with Blaine than with me."
That wasn't okay. And Finn knew he would be supportive of Rachel. "Yeah, that's not cool."
"Do you think I'll get the solo?" Rachel asked.
"Totally," Finn said. "You're a really good singer."
"I was hoping you and I could do a duet for Sectionals," Rachel said.
Finn loved that idea. "That would have been great."
"Any ideas for songs for Sectionals?" Rachel asked.
"I'm still trying to figure it out," Finn said. "At least our bake sale seems to be going well..."
"I didn't think anyone would buy from us," Rachel said.
"Well, it's probably because Puck found that good recipe," Finn said. "You saw how slow sales were until he brought that recipe in."
"True," Rachel said.
"Well, I'm rooting for you in the sing off," Finn told Rachel.
Rachel gave Finn one of those beautiful smiles. "Thanks."
x
Today was the day of the singoff for the Wicked solo. Kurt was sure he wanted the solo, but as he sang with Rachel, he thought about his talk with his dad. What if Burt was right? What if people figured out Kurt was gay because he was singing a song meant for a female?
Rachel was good at this. If she sang it, they could still win...
Kurt: Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by the rules
Of someone else's game
Too late for second guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes and leap!
Rachel: It's time to try defying gravity
I think I'll try defying gravity
Kurt: Kiss me goodbye, I'm defying gravity
And you won't bring me down!
I'm through accepting limits
'cause someone says they're so
Rachel: Some things I cannot change
But till I try, I'll never know!
Kurt: Too long I've been afraid of
Losing love I guess I've lost
Rachel: Well, if that's love
It comes at much too high a cost... (Kurt: Cost)
Kurt: I'd sooner buy defying gravity
Rachel: Kiss me goodbye I'm defying gravity
Kurt: I think I'll try defying gravity
And you won't bring me down!
I'd sooner buy defying gravity
Rachel: Kiss me goodbye I'm defying gravity
Kurt: I think I'll try defying gravity
And you won't bring me down!
Rachel: Bring me down!
Ohhhhh, ohhhhh! (Kurt Ohhhhh!)
Kurt blew the last note at the end of the song. Burt was right. People would think that he was gay if he sang this song.
Later, the votes were tallied, and Mr. Schue announced that Rachel would be singing the song at Sectionals. He sent a text to Blaine and his dad: "I blew the song on purpose. It's too risky. I can't let people know yet."
x
The glee club had raised enough money to rent the bus for Sectionals and Artie was happy about that. Members of the glee club had also told him that being in the wheelchairs had helped them understand what it was like. They'd asked him to help choreograph the wheelchair number, and the club would practice it for the first time after school today.
The best part was - Mercedes had asked him if he wanted to hang out after school before glee practice and do some wheelchair racing. Artie wasn't sure if this was a date, but this was the first time that a girl had wanted to do something one on one with him. Even though he was on the football team, he was always sure that people had seen him as someone different because of his wheelchair. He'd gone to homecoming in a group with some other football players and cheerios, but still, it was nice for a girl to express interest in him.
"You're so much faster than I am!" Mercedes said as she and Artie raced down the hall.
"Hey, I've had eight years of practice!" Artie said.
"I don't know how you do it," Mercedes said.
"Wheelchair racing is one of the few advantages I have," Artie told her.
"Well, I think you're going to beat me in every race we have," Mercedes said. "Are you excited to be the leads in the wheelchair number?"
"Of course!" Artie said. He hadn't spent much time with Mercedes other than at football and cheerios events, but he'd never realized how pretty she was, especially now that she wasn't in her cheerios uniform all the time.
"I'm just going to get out of the chair for a little," Mercedes said. "When I'm in the chair, this would be hard to do." She got out of the chair and walked over to Artie, kissing him.
Artie smiled as he kissed her back. This was the first time he'd ever kissed a girl. This wheelchair assignment and number was perhaps one of Mr. Schue's best ideas.
Artie and Mercedes looked at each other before Mercedes spoke. "We've got to get to glee practice."
"Yeah," Artie said. His mind stayed on the kiss as he got to glee practice and led the glee club in the wheelchair number.
New Directions: Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river
Finn: This one's for you Artie!
Mercedes: Left a good job
In the city,
Workin' for The Man every night and day
And I never lost one minute of sleepin'
I was worryin' 'bout the way things might have been
Big wheel keep on turnin'
Mercedes (with New Directions Girls):
Oooh the (Proud Mary keep on burnin)
Mercedes (Artie with New Directions Boys): And we're rollin' (Rollin')
Rolling yeah (Rollin')
Rolling on the river (Rollin')
(with New Directions Girls: on the river)
Said we're rolling (Rollin')
Rolling (Rollin')
Rolling on the river (Rollin')
(with New Directions Girls: on the river)
Artie: So I left a good job in the city
Workin' for The Man every night and day
Mercedes: And I never lost one minute of sleepin'
Worryin' 'bout the way things might have been
Tina: Big wheel keep on turnin' (New Directions: Turnin'!)
Proud Mary keep on burnin'(New Directions: Burnin'!)
Artie and Tina with New Directions: Rolling (Mercedes: Rolling)
Rollin' (Mercedes: Yeeah)
New Directions: Rollin' on the river (Artie: Rollin' on the river)
Mercedes: Cleaned a lot of plates in Memphis y'all (New Directions: Memphis y'all)
Pumped a lot of 'tane down in New Orleans (New Directions: New Orleans)
Artie: But I never saw the good side of the city
'Til I hitched a ride on a river boat queen
Tina: Big wheel keep on turnin! (New Directions: Turnin')
Mercedes: Proud Mary keep on burnin! (New Directions: Burnin')
New Directions: Rolling (Artie and Mercedes: Rolling)
Rollin' (Mercedes: Rolling!)
Rollin' on the river (Artie: Rollin' on the river)
Rollin' (Mercedes: Rolling!)
Rollin' on the river (Mercedes: Rollin' on the river!)
Da do do do, da do do do, da do do do,
Ba da da (yeaah!)
Ba ba ba (yeaah!)
Pa pa pa pa pa pa ra pa yeah!
The glee club had sounded good and the wheelchairs were definitely a unique touch. They'd struggled with this number at first, but Artie had given them pointers. And Rachel had sounded great on Defying Gravity. Whatever their third number was - Sectionals was looking pretty good for them.
