A New Gleeful Era Glee Season 4 Chapter 10: Sectionals, a glee fanfic

Author's Note: Sectionals time! Feel free to submit song suggestions for Regionals and Nationals.

The choir room was abuzz with all the preparations. Microphones and amplifiers being packed into boxes. Bubble wrap and packing peanuts littering the floor. Wardrobe being hung neatly onto hangars and being rolled out to the bus stop. Sue and Jean were onboard already. In fact, Sue was the one driving. Last year at Nationals she felt as if she missed out on a lot of those fun bus rides, and volunteered for the job again. Of course this meant that Figgins was happy, not having to hire a bus driver for the event.

New Directions had just evaded a close call. Up until the last week, they still hadn't found a twelfth member. They were already making contacts for Jacob Ben Israel to come onboard to sway in the background. Luckily, however, something wonderful happened in rehearsal.

The final member of the cast was finally found. To everyone, especially Sam's surprise, that last cast member playing Augustus Gloop was none other than Bradley, the talented freshman singer and football player who refused to join Glee Club per Sam's request. But apparently he had some sort of chemistry with Jaelyn, and joined as a forgiveness token to her. However, he was absent from almost every rehearsal because of daily football practices. Beiste, though a lover of the arts, had to keep all of her linebackers in to train up for the state tournament. This left Augustus' mother's actress, a sophomore by the name of Caroline Mitchell, left to act in solitude. Artie did her a favor by rolling in a big dodgeball to act as Augustus. In all honesty, that ball was just as good of an actor!

The script ran thus:

Caroline (as Mrs. Gloop): What a disgusting dirty river!

Greg (as Mr. Salt): It's industrial waste, that. You've ruined your watershed, Wonka. It's polluted.

Blaine (as Willy): It's chocolate!

Sugar (as Veruca): That's chocolate?

Rory (as Charlie): That's chocolate.

Brittany (as Violet): A chocolate river.

Joe (as Grandpa Joe): That's the most fantastic thing I've ever seen!

Caroline, however, came from an artistic family and had been enrolled in acting since age five and singing since age seven. She clearly knew what she was doing. She wasn't as much of Rachel-caliber, but she was definitely one of McKinley's most dedicated performers.

"Okay, hold up!" Caroline barked one evening at rehearsal.

"What is it, sweetie?" Emma asked. She had taken a liking to Caroline. She was kind of a full figure, but she accepted it, and it was very handy in her role. There was one scene where she complained to Blaine about being squished in one of the factory doors because of her size. It communicated well to the audience, in Artie's mind. Caroline then explained that there had to be a more natural balance of inter-dialogue between the characters. Everyone seemed to be replying on cue, rather than reaction.

Rory, Sugar, and Joe, as amateur actors, nodded to each and every instruction. So now, instead of saying lines of "that's chocolate!" they were reacting to each other in rapid succession. It was enough to make Artie and Emma drop their jaws.

"Okay, I'm so glad you brought that up, Caroline, because the recruiters from the film institute are going to love that!" Artie cheered.

At the end of that evening, Artie encountered Caroline after she emerged from the dressing room.

"Hey, what's up?" Caroline asked sweetly.

"What do you think of joining Glee Club?" Artie asked plainly.

Caroline moved her mouth and eyes from side to side. "I've honestly been thinking about it," she said.

"Well what's been preventing you?" Artie asked.

"Just, well..." she began. "No one ever talks to me to begin with because I'm such a conservative artist. I like everything done a certain way and people leave me alone for it."

"And?" Artie asked.

"Have you even seen Annie lately? Have you not noticed how much neglect you all have been giving her? I thought you of all people understood her situation. She sits with you all, in the choir room, but none of you acknowledge anything she says. That's why she decided to join the orchestra and band that play your music. At least she felt a duty there!" Caroline stated all of this with defensive passion, clearly one of Annie's only and closest friends. "I'm not even her friend," she added. "But I know bullying when I see it. I've lived it. And even though you all might not be intending to hurt that poor girl, it still hurts just as much," Caroline finished.

Artie was plainly at a loss. He hadn't even noticed that Annie even showed up to rehearsals. She usually sat in the middle of the choir room to attempt to join in on conversation, but she never seemed to manage.

"You know what?" Caroline responded without any backtalk from Artie. "I'll join Glee Club!" she exclaimed.

"You will?" Artie asked jovially.

"I will. I mean, it's a win-win situation for everyone. I get more singing into my life. I guess I might as well start trying to make Annie feel welcome. And this looks good on my college applications. And you guys won't have to drop out of the competition!"

Honestly, Caroline was a huge reminder of Rachel. So ambitious, so quick to add remarks, and so smart to think of every pro and con. The difference was that Caroline was obviously so much more humble and sweet, probably being so because she had been through a lot in her time in Lima.

And so, back in choir room, the chaos was still flowing.

"Has anyone seen the boys' ties?" Blaine asked frantically.

"I think Brittany packed them!" Sugar said.

"I'm not sure if I packed the ties or Lord Tubbington's rat tails," Brittany replied.

"Found them!" Will exclaimed, carrying a hanger of ties on his pinky.

"Everyone, Emma has your lemon water and tea ready for you in the teacher's lounge!" Will said.

Most of them flocked off to clear their throats. Tina and Artie stayed behind though. They didn't get solos for this competition. Will assured them that they'd be getting heavy limelight at Regionals and Nationals in return. Brittany, Rory, and Sugar would be carrying the vocals for today's competition.

"Are you guys sure you're okay with this?" Will asked.

"Of course!" Tina said brightly.

"We've been the Sectional winner for three straight years. I'm sure we can do it again, especially with the killer group number we've got!" Artie exclaimed.

"And goodness knows that Jane Addams Academy is probably going to get disqualified for their wardrobe choice," Tina responded.

"What about the Unitards?" Artie asked.

"Well Kurt said that it was going to be a bloodbath this year," Blaine said, walking into the room with a half-empty cup of lemon tea with honey.

"And why is that?" Will asked.

Blaine sipped his tea. "Their lead singer Harmony? One of Kurt's number one fans at NYADA? Yeah, apparently she just got eliminated off of some singing competition and she's really upset," Blaine said.

"So apparently she's working extra hard to get at least some recognition in," Tina added. "She's kinda depending for every possible recognition for admission into NYADA."

"So does that mean they have a good chance of winning?" Will asked, worriedly.

"Nope!" Artie said. "The judges said that the Unitards relied too heavily on their lead vocalist."

"Which is why we tied with the Warblers that one year?" Tina asked. Will nodded in response. The judges said that New Directions only featuring Santana, Sam and Quinn barely could pull a lead over the Warblers who only featured Blaine.

Momentarily everyone was back to shuttle all of the boxes, hangers, and wardrobe to the bus.

"Alright kids! Let's get on our way to getting our second consecutive National Championship!" Sue said, fumbling with the lever to close the bus doors. As she did so, Caroline, the last to leave the bus, had her body squashed into the mechanical door.

"HELP! I'M STUCK!" she bellowed. The bus roared into fits of laughter. That was her exact line when Mrs. Gloop got stuck in the factory door. Blaine, jokingly staying true to character, got up out of his seat to help Sue undo her action. The door opened and Caroline, blushing, entered the bus. Sometimes people laugh at this situation because it was a dialogue joke. Others might be laughing because only a fat girl would get her butt stuck in a bus door. Caroline had a feeling that it was mostly the latter.

The bus drive was amazing for almost everyone in the bus. Will always told the story of the camaraderie that the Glee Club always shared on the bus trip going to competitions, and how it only strengthened their performance as a team. However, today, it wasn't totally working out true. Of course, Artie was strapped into his wheelchair on the wheelchair elevator system, but Blaine and Sam were sitting next to him. Greg and Jaelyn sat together in front of the three boys, next to Emma who was cradling baby Jean. In the row forward sat Will, talking strategy with Sugar, who was actually owning up to her responsibility as a duet singer. Joe and Rory sat right next to them, so Rory could also listen to the duet tips. Brittany sat with Tina in the middle of the bus. But Annie was alone in the very front seat, looking longingly out the window. She wasn't longing for anything out there, but longing for what was within the bus: friendship. Friendship that she hadn't ever experienced in her life. But Caroline, also sitting alone at the front of the bus, scooted up to Annie.

"Hey," she said kindly.

Annie smiled and attempted to mutter out a greeting back. Nothing came out. She cleared her throat. "Sorry," she whispered. "I mean, hi," she whispered back, though a little more audibly this time.

"Excited for today?" Caroline interrogated.

"I guess," she said.

"Sorry you had to drop out of the orchestra at the last minute." Annie was in the middle of learning a part for the group number when Mr. Scheuster approached her and asked if she could switch back to vocals, to account for an eleventh singer. Annie hated saying no to people, so she obliged.

"It's okay," Annie whispered back. "I actually do prefer singing."

Caroline didn't even bother asking why Annie switched to the orchestra. She knew the reason. "Do you want to do singing as a career?" Caroline asked.

"No, actually," Annie said, getting a little more comfortable. "Apart from music, I also like technology," she admitted.

"Technology?" Caroline asked. "Like, computer programming and stuff?"

"Haha, no." Annie said. She didn't even realize she was speaking at a normal volume. "More like robotics and stuff like that. I like inventing things that have a function. Kinda makes me wish I had a more definitive one."

"I know absolutely nothing about technology," Caroline stated, laughing. "I really would love to become an actress. But I guess that's far-fetched. Technology is a rapidly growing field. You'd do well in it."

Annie smiled. "You'd be a great actress. I'm jealous of how natural you are on stage!"

"So you don't want to become a musician at all?" Caroline asked.

"I haven't even thought about a career yet," Annie said. "I love both, I guess. But how could you make that work? They're totally opposite!"

"Well," Caroline began. "You could double major. It's always nice to have a backup plan. I know music teachers are hard to find these days, especially band teachers. You'd be a great one, too!"

"That's smart," Annie said.

In no time, Sue was speaking over the bus' intercom saying "We're halfway there!"

In the rear middle of the bus sat Jaelyn and Greg.

"Can you believe Artie said that I've been late to practice?" he asked.

"Well you kind of are!" Jaelyn protested playfully.

"Not my fault I actually have a life," Greg said.

"Shh!" Jaelyn whispered. "You know how sensitive some of them are!"

"Oh yeah, like Ms. Shy sitting up front? What's her problem anyway?"

Jaelyn looked sadly at the girl at the front of the bus. "Not everyone can be as social as us," she said.

"Whatever," Greg said. "So how's volleyball?"

"Fantastic! We got second in the state!" she exclaimed.

"Really?" Greg asked.

"Yes," Jaelyn replied. "And you would know if you actually looked at the 2015 page on Facebook! But, how's basketball?"

Greg sighed. "Super tiring. And we've lost almost every single game!" he whined.

"Why's that?" Jaelyn asked.

Greg shook his head. "Well speaking of Facebook, I did see your status last night," he said.

Jaelyn blushed. "Which one?"

"The one about your parents?" Greg asked.

"Oh... Yeah... That..."

Jaelyn had been having some problems at home. Actually, it had been going on her whole life. Her parents argued every day for as long as she could remember. It was always about the most stupid stuff. Not cooking dinner before 6:00 was a crime in her dad's mind. But going out to drink with friends was even worse, in her mom's mind. Running the vacuum was a weekly necessity to dad, but only a monthly obligation to mom. They were incompatible these days. Jaelyn could even foresee a divorce coming soon. Actually, she had been telling herself that since she was in elementary school.

But that's not to say that Greg was having his own problems. He absolutely hated basketball. He truly loved baseball, but Greg's father was an ultimate jock in high school. He did football, basketball, wrestling, and soccer. When Greg's dad tried to teach him basketball, Greg hated it. He'd run into the house sobbing because of all the pressure his dad was building on him. Then one day Greg's mom took him out to play baseball, which he loved. Greg's dad didn't approve of it though, because when he was younger, baseball didn't come naturally to him. But it was different for Greg. He didn't care about much else.

"And we're here!" Sue said over the intercom.

The parking lot was packed. The New Directions bus parked in alignment next to the other. Of course, there were the Unitards. The girls in their flashy red dresses, though this year longer in length. The boys had flashing black pants with a red button-up shirt. And it was hard to miss Jane Addams' girls. The hot pink girls wearing sports bras as shirts with skinny jeans, prancing their behinds around like a bunch of hippy sluts. But Ms. Hitchens was there, and Will always took a liking to her, being honest enough to take the initiative to disqualify her own team for stealing the set list that one year.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Mr. Scheuster and Ms. Set List Thief!" Ms. Hitchens greeted politely.

"Well if it isn't the brunette who prances her girls' juvenile booties around the stage like a bunch of hookers?" Sue responded bluntly.

Will, on the other hand, shook Ms. Hitchens' hand. "So you guys are back competing this year?"

She nodded. "The girls wanted to come back just to have something to do, but I told them not to have high expectations after the amazing record you guys have been holding up!"

After a few more exchange of words, the kids all headed towards the dressing room to get into their costumes. For today's competition the girls were wearing their usually-designed type of dress. For this competition, the color scheme was a deep purple dress with a sunny yellow embroidery to capture the sadness in their feature songs but the excitement of their group number. It seemed as if Jane Addams were strutting their stuff in hot pink. The triple flicker of lights sent all of New Directions to their seats to watch the first number.

"And now," rang the usual announcer's voice. "Let us introduce the judges for the 2012 Show-Choir Sectionals Competition. First up, let us welcome back Lima's very own WOHN news anchor, Rod Remington!" Rod stood up with his usual flirtatious smile and waved around at the audience. "Another welcome back to Miss Ohio 2006, 5th Runner Up, Ms. Candace Dystra!" The preppy blonde woman stood up and gave a cheery wave to the audience. "And last but not least we have former national champion coach, Shelby Corcoran!"

The veteran members of New Directions gasped and stood up to cheer for Shelby, who graciously didn't let the biasness overcome her and wished the best of luck to all three groups.

"And now," the announcer continued, "let us welcome back to the stage after a two-year hiatus, the girls of the Jane Addams Academy!" Loud ruckus sounded from their supporters. Clearly people who were recently released from jail.

Song: "Super Bass" by Nicki Minaj (Verse 2 Omitted)

This one is for the boys with the booming system
Top down, AC with the cooler system
When he come up in the club, he be blazin' up
Got stacks on deck like he savin' up
And he ill, he real, he might gotta deal
He pop bottles and he got the right kind of bill
He cold, he dope, he might sell coke
He always in the air, but he never fly coach
He a ridiculin' trip, trip, sailor of the ship, ship
When he make it drip, drip kiss him on the lip, lip
That's the kind of dude I was lookin' for
And yes you'll get slapped if you're lookin' hoe
I said, excuse me you're a hell of a guy
I mean my, my, my, my you're like pelican fly
I mean, you're so shy and I'm loving your tie
You're like slicker than the guy with the thing on his eye, oh
Yes I did, yes I did, somebody please tell him who the hell I is
I am Nicki Minaj, I mack them dudes up, back coupes up, and chuck the deuce up

Boy you got my heartbeat runnin' away
Beating like a drum and it's coming your way
Can't you hear that boom, badoom, boom, boom, badoom, boom, bass
Yeah that's that super bass
Got that super bass boom, badoom, boom, boom, badoom, boom, bass
Yeah that's that super bass
Boom, badoom, boom, boom, badoom, boom, he got that super bass
Boom, badoom, boom, boom, badoom, boom, he got that super bass

See I need you in my life for me to stay
No, no, no, no, no I know you'll stay
No, no, no, no, no don't go away
Boy you got my heartbeat runnin' away
Don't you hear that heartbeat comin' your way
Oh it be like, boom, badoom, boom, boom, badoom, boom, bass
Can't you hear that boom, badoom, boom, boom, badoom, boom, bass

The only people clapping by the end of this performance were the Jane Addams entourage and the judge Candace, who was even sporting a hotpink Nicki Minaj wig. Brittany of course also loved this performance for its amazing hairography. The four new kids to the group, especially Caroline and Annie, were absolutely appalled at the inappropriate choices the group made. However, the two sophomores and one senior

"Third for sure," Blaine whispered.

"I can't even remember if there's anything in the Bible about... all of that!" Joe exclaimed silently.

"How did they genetically engineer that hair?" Brittany asked, referencing all the girls' hot pink wigs.

The applause subsided and the Unitards took to the stage, in almost the exact same hues of red as they did last year.

"And now, in their second time in this competition from Defiance, Ohio, we welcome the Unitards!"

"Harmony! She was at the NYADA show," Blaine whispered to Tina, who nodded.

"Wasn't she just on X-Factor too?" Sam asked, only to be shushed by Will.

Song: "So Much Better" from Legally Blonde, the Musical

All of this time,
I've been so patient, and,
You would love me again.

You'd come to respect my mind,
and at last you'd find,
You could love me again.

And I have turned my whole world
upside down,
trying not to let you go...
Watching you walk away
is like a fatal blow.

WHOA!

Is that my name up on that list?
Does someone know that I exist?
Is this a mistake?
Am I even Awake?
Pinch me now to make sure...

OW!

Yes that's my name in black and white
maybe I'm doing something right
WOW! I feel so much better
Than before!

WARNER!

Sorry I've been a pest
But I guess my best
Was not working with you
But looks like i've found a cure
And I so look forward to working with you

Hey remember when we spent spring break
In the hot tub every night
As if nothing else
Could ever feel so right
Well this might!

Seeing my name up on that list
That beats the first time that we kissed
You thought I was dumb
But I think that somebody's judgement was poor
Seeing my name in black and white
It's like making love with you all night
NO WAIT!
It feels so much better
hello much better
its oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
much better
'cause I am so much better than before

Maybe she's what you prefer
But hey last year I was her
Maybe you will change your mind
But you might look up to find
I've gone on to better things
Better jobs or bigger rings
I don't have the time to cry
I'm to busy loving my name up on that list
kind of a cool and wanted twist
who else can I tell?
Oh Wait where's my cell?
Call my mom on the phone

HEY MOM!

Look at my name in black and white
your daughter's doing something right
I feel so much better

I'll be there on monday nine o'clock
and we will see who walks the walk
NO NO I CAN'T WAIT!
I will be there at eight
When they unlock the door

OH OH
Elle will be dressed in black at white
See I have not begun to fight
And you'll go OH much better and
OH much better
and soon we'll all know so much better

I am so much better
I am so much better
I am so much better
than before!

The first verse started out so subtle and as soon as Harmony broke out into the chorus and her twelve teammates leaped out on stage, the entire audience was on their feet to cheer them on. The entire performance exemplified a true feeling, tremendous theatricality, and pure entertainment. The applause for Harmony lasted for almost a full minute; something that Will, Tina, Brittany, and Artie hadn't noticed in all their time competing. Their jaws were all dropped, but they were soon hurrying off to the dressing room to get ready for their performance.

"They were so good!" Jaelyn screamed!

"Psh, they got nothing on us," Greg replied.

"Don't let it get to your head," Sam said.

"We'll take them!" Blaine added encouragingly. "Just keep your heads held high and don't show any sign of weakness."

"Good advice there, buddy!" called a familiar voice at the door. "And by buddy, this time I just mean enemy."

"What are you doing here, Sebastian?" Blaine asked.

"Oh, just here to support a former Warbler in his last Sectionals performance!" Sebastian replied. "Once a Warbler, always a Warbler, right?"

Blaine scowled. "Yes, right. Now if you would excuse us, we have a competition to win."

"Tsk, tsk. I've been snooping around the audience for the past half hour and they said you'd all better have a really impressive set list to win above the Unitards," Sebastian explained.

"We do have a killer set list," Blaine replied.

"Well, I'm sure you'll all win, then. I'm pretty sure that those juvie girls got disqualified for all that profanity and illegal clothing, though I'm sure that news anchor dude loved them!" Sebastian gave a curt nod to all the others in the room. "See you later, Blaine. I'll be at the bar tonight if you want to have a friendly chat!"

When the door closed and Sebastian was clearly out of earshot, Blaine turned around to Sam. "Not after he dug a trench into my cornea."

Just then, the lights flickered again and they all headed out. Rory and Sugar were about to do a repeat of the 'walk in move to the stage while singing' move that Finn, Rachel, Sam, and Quinn did in their respective Regionals and Sectionals duets. Rory cast one flirtatious look to Sugar before the music began. Then he pulled open the curtains and made his move. Sugar followed suit when her verse began.

Song: "Desperado" by The Eagles

Rory: Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
You been out ridin' fences for so long now
Oh, you're a hard one
I know that you got your reasons
These things that are pleasin' you
Can hurt you somehow

Sugar: Don't you draw the queen of diamonds, boy

She'll beat you if she's able
You know the queen of hearts is always your best bet

Now it seems to me, some fine things

Have been laid upon your table
But you only want the ones that you can't get

Rory: Desperado, oh, you ain't gettin' no younger

Your pain and your hunger, they're drivin' you home
And freedom, oh freedom well, that's just some people talkin'
Your prison is walking through this world all alone

Sugar: Don't your feet get cold in the winter time?

The sky won't snow and the sun won't shine
It's hard to tell the night time from the day
But you're losin' all your highs and lows
Ain't it funny how the feeling goes away?

Both: Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?

Come down from your fences, open the gate
It may be rainin', but there's a rainbow above you
You better let somebody love you, before it's too late

The silence was so thin that you could hear individual sobs coming from the audience, and soon after, a gentle applause rang out in appreciation of the moving ballad with such a gentle balance between the two kids on stage. The rest of New Directions rearranged themselves to their new places to begin the group number.

Song: Till the World Ends" by Brittney Spears

Tina: This kittens got your tongue tied in knots, I see
Spit it out cause I'm dying for company

All girls: I notice that you got it
You notice that I want it
You know that I can take it
To the next level, baby
If you want this good bitch
Sicker than the remix
Baby, let me blow your mind
Tonight

[Chorus:]
I can't take it, take it, take no more
Never felt like, felt like this before
Come on get me, get me on the floor
DJ what you, what you waiting for?

All: Woah oh oh oh oh oh ohhh. [x8]

Girls: Watch me move, when I lose, when I lose it hard
Get you off with the touch dancing in the dark

You notice what I'm wearing,
I notice that you're staring
You know that I can take it,
To the next level, baby
Harder than the A-list,
Next one on my hit list
Baby, let me blow your mind
Tonight

[Chorus:]
I can't take it, take it, take no more
Never felt like, felt like this before
Come on get me, get me on the floor
DJ what you, what you waiting for?

Woah oh oh oh oh oh ohhh. [x8]

Boys: See the sunlight, we ain't stopping
Keep on dancing till the world ends
If you feel it let it happen
Keep on dancing till the world ends
Keep on dancing till the world ends
Keep on dancing till the world ends

All: Woah oh oh oh oh oh ohhh. [x8]

See the sunlight, we ain't stopping
Keep on dancing till the world ends
If you feel it let it happen
Keep on dancing till the world ends

The applause was now louder than ever. New Directions filed off the stage, while Brittany, Sugar, Tina, and their three remaining TroubleTones filed onto the stage. The returning TroubleTones consisted of two seniors and one junior, who had joined Shelby's group last year as a favor to Santana and Sugar.

Song: "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepson

Brittany: I threw a wish in the well,
Don't ask me, I'll never tell
I looked to you as it fell,
And now you're in my way

I'd trade my soul for a wish,
Pennies and dimes for a kiss
I wasn't looking for this,
But now you're in my way

Girls: Your stare was holdin',
Ripped jeans, skin was showin'
Hot night, wind was blowin'
Brittany: Where you think you're going, baby?