Woo! Chapter 10. So this is it, Regionals! I will post after this, though.

I have the Warblers real last names! Yes! :D

Disclaimer: I don't own Glee...I have said this already. :(

Everyone fell silent. Even Nick and Jeff, who seemed to be trying to make themselves as small as possible.

"Right, everyone, stand up and start making your way off of the bus," said Mr Avery.

Everyone stood up. Kurt had gone even paler than usual. I grabbed his hand.

"It'll be fine," I murmured. He nodded, but didn't look convinced. Kurt and I were last off the bus. Mr Avery gathered us all together.

"Right, I want to make sure we're all here. Blaine Anderson?"

"Yes," I replied.

"John Dempsey?"

"Here."

"Nick Duval?"

"Here."

"Thad Harwood?"

"Here, sir."

"Nicholas Hudson?"

"I'm here."

"Kurt Hummel?"

Silence.

"Kurt?", I whispered, nudging him, "Your name."

He snapped out of the little trance he was in.

"H-here, Mr Avery."

"Try to answer straight away next time, please, Mr Hummel."

"Yes, sir. Sorry sir."

"It's perfectly alright. Now, where were we? Cameron James?"

"Here."

"Richard James?"

"Here."

"James Kirk?"

"I'm here."

"For once," muttered Jeff.

"Shut it, Jeff."

"Boys! Settle down. Jesse Martin?"

"Here."

"Wesley Montgomery?"

"It's Wes," Wes muttered.

"What was that, Mr Montgomery?"

"I said here, sir."

"That's what I though you said. Trent Nixon?"

"Here."

"Jeff Sterling?"

"Here!," Jeff screamed. A group of passing girls jumped and turned around to see what was happening. It turned out Nick had stomped on Jeff's foot just as his name was called.

"Mr Sterling! I will not tolerate that kind of behaviour! Remember, you are representing not only yourself but Dalton Academy and the Warblers!"

"I know, but sir, he-"

"Mr Sterling, that is quite enough. I want to get through this register before the competition starts. Only speak if your name is called. Andrew Stuart?"

"Here."

"David Thompson?"

"Here."

"Flint Wilson?"

"Here."

"And Luke Wright?"

"Here sir."

"Excellent now-", Mr Avery started to speak, but was cut off by Ethan.

"Sir? You forgot me!"

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry," Mr Avery replied, dryly, "Ethan Moore?"

"Here sir."

"Right, okay boys, let's go, we're second up, after Aural Intensity. Give it your best shot."

Just then, New Directions walked past. Kurt smiled.

"Hi guys!", he said, smiling.

"Hey dude. How are you?", Finn mumbled.

"Fine, you? Good luck today," Kurt replied.

"Thanks, bro. You too."

Half an hour later, we were preparing to go on. We had heard snatches of Aural Intensity's performance. To be honest, they weren't very good. They were good enough, but not excellent. I walked over to Kurt, and bounced on the balls of my feet. I breathed out. He was twisting his fingers awkwardly.

"Has anyone ever literally died onstage?"

"Are you nervous?", I asked, incredulously. He was amazing, why was he nervous!

He opened his mouth to speak, and closed it again.

"Please don't judge me", he said. It sounded a bit like he was begging," this is the first time I've had a solo in front of a competition audience. I have this nightmare that I'm going to forget the lyrics, or I'm going to sing and nothing is going to come out."

I had walked around him as he sang. Now I stood on his other side, shaking my head from side to side to warm up.

"Okay, you can judge me", he said.

"I think it's adorable. I think you're adorable, and- and the only people who are gonna be dying tonight are the people in that audience because you and I are gonna kill this thing."

I had put my hands on his shoulders, and I pointed forwards when I mentioned the audience.

He looked more confident now. He smiled at me.

"Let's go," I said, but I was drowned out by the bodiless voice (Argh, Basilisk!) that suddenly announced "And now, from Westerville, Ohio, the Dalton Academy Warblers!"

We all walked onstage and got into position. There was applause from behind the heavy curtain separating us from the audience. The curtain slowly began to lift.

The other Warblers began to back us up. I saw Kurt take a deep breath, and close his eyes slightly, before walking forwards, away from us, into the spotlight. He started to sing.

"The power lines went out, and I am all alone, but I don't really care at all, not answering my phone."

I started to sing as I stepped forward.

"All the games you played, the promises you made, couldn't finish what you started, only darkness still remains."

Then we were singing together.

"Lost sight, couldn't see, when it was you and me,

blow the candles out, looks like a solo tonight, I'm beginning to see the light, blow the candles out, looks like a solo tonight, but I think I'll be alright."

Then Kurt sang his line,

"One day, you will wake up, with nothing but you're sorrys,"

and then it was my turn.

"And some day, you will get back, everything you gave me!"

And we sang together for the chorus once more.

"Blow the candles out, looks like a solo tonight! I'm beginning to see the light!

Blow the candles out, looks like a solo tonight, but I think I'll be alright."

There was rapturous applause. I noticed some people were actually waving plastic candles in the air. I have absolutely no idea where they got them, though.

The spotlight was on me for some reason, so I ran over to Kurt and dragged him into it. He looked awkward, but bowed all the same. We got into position for out next number.

"Right, right, turn of the lights, we're gonna lose our minds tonight, what's the deal, yo?

I love when it's all too much, five am, turn the radio up, where's the rock and roll?

Party Crasher,

Penny Snatcher,

Call me up if you are gangsta

Don't be fancy, just get dancy

Why so serious?

So raise your glass if you are wrong,

In all the right ways,

All my underdogs,

We will never be never be anything but loud

And nitty gritty dirty little freaks

Won't you come on and come on and raise your glass,

Just come on and come on and raise your glass

So if you're too school for cool, and you're treated like a fool,

you can choose to let it go, we can always, we can always,

party on our own.

So raise your...So raise your glaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaass!

...in all the right ways, all my underdogs, we will never be,

never be anything but loud, and nitty gritty, dirty little freaks,

won't you come on and come on and raise your glass, for me,

just come on and come one and raaaaise yooooour glass, for me!"

I grinned. Everyone in the audience was on their feet. A standing ovation. Maybe we had a chance at winning this. I hoped so. Winning would mean Nationals- In New York. Wow.

We all clustered around each, other and I gave Kurt a hug. I wanted to do so much more, but I don't think the audience would have taken too kindly to two boys kissing onstage. Oh well. There'll be plenty of time for that.

Okay, next'll be something of my own creation and then the announcing of the winners.

I felt I had to get this up today as it is Chris Colfer's birthday. :D Happy 21st, Chris!

My Mum managed to get Glee Live! tickets for me and my friend Rachael (Luna)! And herself, of course. Riker tweeted Rachael and myself saying he'll see us there. I hope so! :D x Anyway, hope you liked it, sorry it took so long, I've been reading Dalton by CP Coulter. It's awesome, who's read it?

So yeah, review and stuff. :D

~Rachael.