Hi y'all. So here is the latest chapter. It's time for Regionals. This is a bit of a long chapter, but that's because I included the lyrics to some of the songs, I thought the songs that Marley sings are important for the way she is feeling, first about her family and second about Sebastian. The last one I included the lyrics to because the arrangement I hear in my heard on how it would sound with the Glee vocals is what I tried to get across. If you know the songs, you are welcome to skip over them. As always I do not own the songs that are in this story.
I'm working on the next chapter right now and I am planning a time jump here pretty soon. As always, let me know what you guys think. I really appreciate any reviews that you are willing to share. Let me know what you like, or don't like. I will address one thing really quick so I don't forget to do it later, Finn is not going to be a part of the story (RIP Cory), and Rachel will end up with Jesse, so I'm going to bring him in to this soon, especially since I plan on having him be important a little later in the story.
Okay, that's me. Cheers!
Sebastian POV
By the end of the week, everyone was feeling rough. The gun scare at school had drained everyone, but they were all feeling closer to one another, feeling more like a family.
The only thing that didn't help was Ryder had tried to call 'Katie' and someone's phone in Glee club had started ringing, meaning the catfish was a member of Glee club. The only ones that were immediately ruled out were Sebastian, Marley, and Jake who were sitting next to Ryder at the time and had their phones on their laps and none of them had lit up.
Sebastian sighed as he shoved his books into his backpack and went to go find Marley. They didn't have any plans, but he just wanted to see her. She somehow always gave him the energy to keep going even when he was dog tired. They still had to travel to regionals next week.
He found her alone in the auditorium. However, the song she was singing made him pause.
My mother bought it secondhand from a silent movie star
It was out of tune but still I learned to play
And with each note we both would smile forgetting who we are
And all the pain would simply fly away
Something secondhand and broken still can make a pretty sound
Even if it doesn't have a place to live
Oh, the words were left unspoken when my Mama came around
But that Secondhand White Baby Grand still had something beautiful to give
There was something hauntingly beautiful as she just sang into the quiet auditorium, her powerful voice echoing to the farthest corners of the room.
Through missing keys and broken strings, the music was our own
Until the day we said our last goodbyes
The baby grand was sent away
A child all alone, to pray somebody else would realize
That something secondhand and broken still can make a pretty sound
Even if it doesn't have a place to live
Oh, the words are still unspoken now that Mama's not around
But that Secondhand White Baby Grand still has something beautiful to give
For many years the music had to roam
Until we found a way to find a home
So now I wake up every day and see her standing there
Just waiting for a partner to compose
And I wish my mother still could hear that sound beyond compare
I'll play her song till everybody knows
That something secondhand and broken still can make a pretty sound
Don't we all deserve a family room to live
Oh, the words can't stay unspoken until everyone has found
Her voice quieted down as she sang, the last line coming out as a whisper, a few tears falling down her cheeks.
That Secondhand White Baby Grand that still has something beautiful to give
I still have something beautiful to give
He watched as she stared into the distance for a long moment before she turned away, back to where she had some papers stacked on the piano. She sniffed, rubbing at her eyes.
"Marley," He said stepping out.
She jumped, yelping a little. "Sebastian, I didn't see you there. How long have you been there?" She asked.
"Long enough to hear you sing." He said walking out. "I really felt that, Marley that was beautiful."
She smiled slightly but looked down. "Thank you." She said.
"What is it?" He asked gently as he came to stand beside her, watching her shuffle papers nervously.
She bit her lip, staring at the sheet music for a long time. He almost thought she would respond until he heard her quietly reply. "I called my dad." She said softly.
Sebastian raised his eyebrows. "Your dad? I thought you didn't know where he was?" He said.
"He saw the news report about gun scare and reached out to my mom." She said. "My mom gave me his number. He told her that if I wanted to speak with him that he would like to know me."
"We've never really talked about your dad. Is that a good thing he's reaching out?" He asked.
Marley shrugged. "I don't really know how I feel about it." She said quietly. She laughed mirthlessly. "He's married, he has a son now, my half brother."
Sebastian listened quietly as she talked.
"I'm glad that he's happy…" she said. "But…"
"He still left you guys." Sebastian finished gently.
Marley sighed and just leaned against him, wanting a hug. He wrapped his arms around her, pressing a kiss to her hair.
"You know Marley," he said. "It's okay to be upset with him for leaving you guys."
"I know." She said, words muffled by his chest. She looked up at him slightly. "I invited him to come watch us at regionals. He said that he would be there."
Sebastian just looked down at her, concerned that this might be more damaging than she thinks it will be.
Marley POV
Marley smoothed her hands over the purple skirt of her performance dress. She took a deep breath, feeling the familiar nervous squirming of her stomach. Everyone was getting ready in their own little corner of the choir room, there was some tension after Ryder found out Unique was the catfish, but there was am excitement as well.
Sebastian had informed them that Hunter had been busted as not only being a college student but was also accused of doping the Warblers with steroids. Trent had helped with exposing him. The Warblers were still going to compete but the likelihood that they would be very effective competitors was minimal. They just had to worry about the Hoosierdaddies, who would still be a challenge, but they were still feeling confident for the most part that they would win.
Sebastian walked up behind her, playfully pinching her sides making her giggle. "You ready?" He asked wrapping his arms around her, pinning her back to his chest.
"Here's hoping." She said back.
He pressed his lips to her temple. "You're gonna be amazing." He said.
"Alright lovebirds!" Kitty walked by shooing them forward, so they could start show circle.
They all put their hands into the middle. "Amazing!"
Marley walked out with the group but stopped to hug her mom before she followed them to their assigned seats. She kissed Ms. Rose on the cheek and straightened to follow her team. She reached them, but as she waited for Blaine and Sam to move so she could get to her seat, she looked up and caught sight of a man staring at her. She froze, feeling something familiar as she stared at him. She quickly shook it off and took her seat, glancing over her shoulder again. He was still staring at her but there was a kind smile on his face.
"What's wrong?" Sebastian whispered softly.
"I think that's my dad." She whispered back.
Blaine, who was sitting on her other side, overheard this, and looked back with them. "Are you gonna be okay Marley?" He asked.
"Yeah." She said quietly.
The lights dimmed, and Marley couldn't really focus on the performances in front of her. She was so lost in her own head that it didn't quite register to her when it was time for them to head back stage to get ready for their performances. Sebastian gently prodded her to move. She snapped out of it and followed Blaine backstage.
Sebastian caught her shoulders, making her face him. "Are you okay?" He asked.
"Yeah." She said. "I'll be fine I promise."
Blaine came up and clapped Sebastian on the back. "You ready?" He asked.
Sebastian looked at her.
"Go." She smiled giving him a quick kiss. "Break a leg."
They had decided to go with a theme of the Greatest Showman for their setlist, so first up Blaine and Sebastian were covering the duet "The Other Side". Marley watched with rapt attention as they walked out on stage in the darkness, forgetting completely about the audience. Their performance was energized, funny, and perfect as they played off one another. As they finished the song, the lights went out and everyone cheered while Marley traded with them to take her place in center stage.
As she passed them coming off the stage, Sebastian reached out quickly to squeeze her hand. She squeezed back and as she took her place took a deep, steadying breath.
A single spot light came down to shine on her. The music started, and she closed her eyes for a second before singing. She was thankful for the single light because she couldn't see the audience as she looked up.
She began the song softly.
I'm trying to hold my breath
Let it stay this way
Can't let this moment end
You set off a dream with me
Getting louder now
Can you hear it echoing?
Take my hand
She closed her hand loosely remembering the feel of Sebastian squeezing her hand moments ago.
Will you share this with me?
'Cause darling without you
All the shine of a thousand spotlights
All the stars we steal from the night sky
Will never be enough
Never be enough
She began to build on the song.
Towers of gold are still too little
These hands could hold the world but it'll
Never be enough
Never be enough
For me
Never, never
Never, never
Never, for me
For me
Never enough
Never enough
Never enough
For me
For me
For me
She demonstrated her full range as she continued to lose herself in the the song.
All the shine of a thousand spotlights
All the stars we steal from the night sky
Will never be enough
Never be enough
Towers of gold are still too little
These hands could hold the world but it'll
Never be enough
Never be enough
For me
Never, never
Never, never
Never, for me
For me
Never enough
Never, never
Never enough
Never, never
Never enough
For me
For me
For me
She spoke the last line barely above a whisper the echoed through the entire stunned auditorium.
For me
Glee POV
Everyone erupted into cheers and applause as more lights came up as the others came out on stage as well. Marley tried to catch her breath as everyone else took their positions on stage with Unique in the front. When the music started, people started cheering immediately.
Unique began the song.
I am not a stranger to the dark
Hide away, they say
'Cause we don't want your broken parts
I've learned to be ashamed of all my scars
Run away, they say
No one'll love you as you are
But I won't let them break me down to dust
I know that there's a place for us
For we are glorious
When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out
I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I'm meant to be, this is me
Look out 'cause here I come
And I'm marching on to the beat I drum
I'm not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me
The boys and girls alternated on the next notes.
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh
Artie took over the next part.
Another round of bullets hits my skin
Well, fire away 'cause today, I won't let the shame sink in
Tina sang the next part.
We are bursting through the barricades and
Reaching for the sun 'everyone joined in and sag' (we are warriors)
Yeah, that's what we've become 'everyone added their voices again' (yeah, that's what we've become)
Everyone sang in unison as they danced on stage together, the audience standing, clapping along.
I won't let them break me down to dust
I know that there's a place for us
Marley hit the high note of the next line.
For we are glorious
They all continued singing as one.
When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out
I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I'm meant to be, this is me
Look out 'cause here I come
And I'm marching on to the beat I drum
I'm not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me
Boys and girls alternated on singing the notes again.
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh
This is me
Unique began singing again as the others sang their notes in the background.
and I know that I deserve your love
(Oh-oh-oh-oh) 'cause there's nothing I'm not worthy of
(Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh)
Unique sang the next part softly while the others swayed in sync together.
When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out
This is brave, this is proof
This is who I'm meant to be, this is me
Everyone started singing together as Unique sang the accompanying verses.
Look out 'cause here I come (look out 'cause here I come)
And I'm marching on to the beat I drum (marching on, marching, marching on)
I'm not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me
When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out
Unique took over the solo again as the others harmonized.
I'm gonna send a flood
Gonna drown them out
Oh
They all finished together on the same line.
This is me
The cheers and applause were deafening in the auditorium. Everyone rushed off stage and embraced each other, jumping, and laughing, adrenaline still rushing through them.
The Warblers and Hoosierdaddies came up to compliment the performances. After a brief intermission, they were ready to announce the results. The Warblers came in 3rd, the Hoosierdaddies came in 2nd, and New Directions came out the winners!
After being good competitors and shaking hands with the other teams, the all went back to the choir room with the trophy. They celebrated together, but the biggest surprise came as Mrs. Pillsbury came in with a minister.
She and Mr. Schue were going to be married right there in a small ceremony with just the Glee club there.
Marley POV
Everyone was exhausted after the ceremony, so they made plans to gather together later on for a celebration party; Marley and Sebastian left together, both day to just crawl into bed. Sebastian stopped her quickly and pulled her in to a long, deep kiss.
"What was the for?" She asked breathlessly as they separated.
"I've been wanting to do that since you finished your solo." He replied with a smile.
He put his arm around her and they went to leave. As they were walking down the the hall, they weren't paying attention, so when Marley heard someone call her name, she jumped slightly. She looked up and froze. "Dad."