GREETINGS ALL! I HAVE RETURNED WITH ANOTHER CHAPTER!
We hit 100 reviews with the last chapter :3 Many thanks to all who reviewed and a special thanks to amvman52 who was the 100th reviewer! More of you than I expected missed Stu, SO STU IS BACK! We are getting closer and closer to the bigger plot stuff that I have plotted out. This plotting is what caused this chapter to take so long to write, but it does mean that I now know where this is all going.
This chapter includes regionals, so has 3 songs in it. With the final song there are no lines specifically given to people, because it doesn't really matter who sings what in that song, SO USE YOUR IMAGINATION!
ALSO The formatting is being weird with this chapter and wont let me put the proper paragraphing in the songs, so I apologise for that!
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Time passed. as it has a tendency to do so, and Harry still hadn't used that phone number that Mr Schuester had left him, despite having actually purchased himself a mobile phone, or 'cell phone' as they called them in America. He had only purchased the thing a couple of days ago and hadn't actually used it yet. He didn't have any numbers to contact people, and nobody had his. Harry was actively avoiding spending any unneeded time with the man. He saw him in class and in Glee Club and made sure that he was never alone with the man. Mr Schuster knew too much. He had seen Harry too vulnerable for Harry to be comfortable with him. The only people that had seen him anywhere near that vulnerable were Ron and Hermione, who were his age and thus it was different, and look how that had turned out. They hadn't even known half of what Harry had gone through with the Dursleys. Mr Schuster didn't know details, but Harry knew that if he got near the man Mr Schuster soon would.
This avoidance ensured that no drama occurred. Harry didn't have the time to deal with any personal drama.
Harry's life was full of school work and rehearsals for glee club. He didn't have time for anything else. It had become somewhat of a tradition at rehearsals that Harry would bring some kind of baked goods for the New Directions to consume. This was a win win situation for all because it allowed Harry to bake and the others were more than happy to dispose of his creations for him. For the past couple of weeks they had been unable to have their weekly Disney movie as chicken pox was going around Charlie's younger siblings so none of them were allowed round, but with rehearsals for regionals Harry needed all the spare time he had to keep on top of his school work so that he didn't fall behind. He spent both 'recess' and lunch in the library, sneaking food from his bag as he plowed on with his homework. This focus on rehearsals and school meant that Harry was drifting slightly from his friends, but they didn't seem to notice. They were also swamped, not as much as Harry though.
Marley seemed to be able to spend ever increasing amounts of time with Jake. The very few group activities that were planned she gave excuses not to attend, or just didn't turn up. Harry supposed that spending time with Jake was more interesting than the rest of them. He knew that both Ron and Hermione had done the same and drawn away from him when they finally got together. Was it that Harry made things awkward? But she was avoiding all group activities, perhaps it was something that all people in relationships did. Even so, Harry missed being able to spend time with her as the only times he really saw her was during Glee rehearsals and those weren't a time when they were able to talk at all.
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Before he knew it Regionals were upon them and the Glee Club had all packed themselves into a mini bus and were on their way to a school a few towns away who were hosting regionals. When the others had said it was a few towns away he thought it might be an hour and a half journey at most. Regionals was in Oxford, Ohio not England, which was a two and a half hour journey from Lima with the traffic that they encountered.
Harry wished that he could have just apparated there. He hated being in that infernal contraption that they called transportation. It got incredibly hot in the minibus, despite it not being the warmest outside, with all of the Glee Club inside and it was just their luck that the air conditioning broke 40 minutes into the journey. The smell of sick wasn't any better. It turned out that one of the girls that Harry couldn't quite remember the name of suffered from car sickness. It was gross, and they had to survive with the smell and the girls moans for a whole hour before they could escape the minibus. Harry was just grateful that she hadn't puked up over him.
The almost constant singing also grated on Harry's nerves. He could handle a song or two, but the almost constant stream of songs and singing was just irritating! Had none of them ever heard of this wonderful thing called silence?
By the time that they were finally at the venue Harry was on edge; his patience already having been worn thin by the journey. There were so many people and Harry automatically catalogued every exit and escape route as he passed them. Mr Schue signed them in and then they were shown to their group dressing room.
The New Directions changed into their competition outfits and then after a motivational speech from Mr Schue they went out to take their seats in the audience. They were performing last out of the three groups that would be performing which meant that they could sit and relax and watch the other performances. Or, as some others such as Marley were doing, stress out at watching the other teams and whether they were beatable.
Their competition consisted of a strange group that performed in medieval dress. They had been okay, but certainly not as good as Harry knew the New Directions to be. It was the host school that were the ones to worry about. They had wowed the audience and Harry had to admit that he didn't know if the New Directions were good enough.
It wasn't long before Harry was stood backstage, the Glee club in a circle listening to Mr Schuster give them a pep talk before they were due to go on. A stage hand indicated that they only had 30 seconds before they were on. They all put their hands in together, Harry's hand ending up between Marley and Unique's. They all rushed to get into their positions on time and Harry took a deep breath. He and Blaise were up first.
Harry stepped out into the stage into the blinding lights and started singing, despite not really being able to see the audience.
(Harry)
(Blaine)
(Both)
You're the light, you're the night
You're the color of my blood
You're the cure, you're the pain
You're the only thing I wanna touch
Never knew that it could mean so much, so much
You're the fear, I don't care
'Cause I've never been so high
Follow me through the dark
Let me take you past our satellites
You can see the world you brought to life, to life
So love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do
Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do
Touch me like you do, to-to-touch me like you do
What are you waiting for
Fading in, fading out
On the edge of paradise
Every inch of your skin is a holy grail I've got to find (I've got to find)
Only you can set my heart on fire, on fire
Yeah, I'll let you set the pace (I'll let you set the pace)
'Cause I'm not thinking straight
My head's spinning around I can't see clear no more
What are you waiting for?
Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do
Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do
Touch me like you do, to-to-touch me like you do
What are you waiting for?
mmm What are you waiting for?
What are you waiting for?
Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do
Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do
Touch me like you do, to-to-touch me like you do oh
What are you waiting for?
I'll let you set the pace (I'll let you set the pace)
'Cause I'm not thinking straight
My head's spinning around I can't see clear no more
What are you waiting for? (What are you waiting for?)
Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do
Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do
Touch me like you do, to-to-touch me like you do oh
What are you waiting for?
Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do (oh will you love me like you do)
Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do (oh)
Touch me like you do, to-to-touch me like you do
What are you waiting for?
What are you waiting for?
There was an explosion of applause from the audience and Harry grinned. So this was the performers high that Blaine had been on about. It felt amazing. Maybe they could win this thing after all.
Harry and Blaine stepped back into line, in the gaps left by the others who had come out on stage quickly and silently during the applause. After a moment Kitty stepped forwards out of formation. This song they were 'pulling a warbler' as the others had referred to it as, and were singing the next song accapella. This meant that Kitty was singing the melody whilst the rest of the New Directions sang a relatively complex accompaniment, with a couple of the girls, including Marley gave supporting harmonies during some parts in the chorus.
I stare at my reflection in the mirror:
"Why am I doing this to myself?"
Losing my mind on a tiny error,
I nearly left the real me on the shelf.
No, no, no, no, no...
Don't lose who you are in the blur of the stars!
Seeing is deceiving, dreaming is believing,
It's okay not to be okay.
Sometimes it's hard to follow your heart.
Tears don't mean you're losing, everybody's bruising,
Just be true to who you are!
(who you are [11x])
Brushing my hair—do I look perfect?
I forgot what to do to fit the mould, yeah!
The more I try the less it's working, yeah
'Cause everything inside me screams
No, no, no, no, no...
Don't lose who you are in the blur of the stars!
Seeing is deceiving, dreaming is believing,
It's okay not to be okay.
Sometimes it's hard to follow your heart.
But tears don't mean you're losing, everybody's bruising,
There's nothing wrong with who you are!
Yes, no, egos, fake shows, like whoa!
Just go and leave me alone!
Real talk, real life, good love, goodnight,
With a smile that's my home!
That's my home, no...
No, no, no, no, no...
Don't lose who you are in the blur of the stars!
Seeing is deceiving, dreaming is believing,
It's okay not to be okay...
Sometimes it's hard to follow your heart.
Tears don't mean you're losing, everybody's bruising,
Just be true to who you are!
Yeah yeah yeah
The last song that they were performing was a mashup of two songs that Harry hadn't heard of before. But the two songs worked well together. When they had all started practising Blaine had acted slightly strange. Apparently one of the songs that was used was Blaine and Kurt's song, Kurt being Blaine's boyfriend. In asking Harry had opened himself up to being told the whole story of how Blaine and Kurt had gotten together. Harry didn't mind though, he was a good listener and it seemed as though Blaine had needed someone to talk to. Kurt and Blaine were in a long distance relationship, Kurt having gone off to university at the beginning of the year and Harry got the impression that Blaine really missed Kurt.
They had moved into the starting positions for this song at the end of the last songs, so that the two flowed well. This song, being the group song, meant that everyone that wanted one had a small solo within the song. There were a few members of the New Directions such as Charlie that hadn't wanted a solo. They were happy to just to be a part of the group, for regionals at the very least. As the backing track started playing Harry started grinning again.
Oh don't you dare look back
Just keep your eyes on me.
I said you're holding back,
She said shut up and dance with me!
This is real, so take a chance
And don't ever look back, don't ever look back
We were victims of the night,
The chemical, physical, kryptonite
Helpless to the bass (I know you get me, so I let my walls) and faded light
Oh we were born ( come down,)to get together,
Born( down) to get together.
Let's go all the way tonight
No regrets, (She took my arm,) just love (I don't know how it happened)
We can dance until we die
You and I, (We took the floor and she said) will be young forever
You make me feel like I'm living a teenage dream
The way you turn me on, I can't sleep
Let's run away and don't ever look back
Don't ever look back
My heart stops when you look at me
Just one touch, now baby I believe
This (This woman is my destiny) is real, so take a chance
And don't (She said oh oh oh) ever look back, (Shut up and dance with me) don't ever look back
We drove to Cali and got drunk on the beach
Got a motel and built a fort out (I felt it in my chest ) of sheets
as she looked at me.
I knew we were born to be together,
Born to be together
She took my arm,
I don't know how it happened.
We took the floor and she said
Oh don't you dare look back
Just keep your eyes on me.
I said you're (feeling like a teenage dream) holding back,
She said shut up and dance with me!
This woman is my destiny
She said oh oh oh
Shut up and dance with me
I'ma get your heart racing in my skin-tight jeans
Be your teenage dream tonight
Let you put your hands on me in my skin-tight jeans
Be your teenage dream tonight
Shut up and dance with me
You- make me (Oh don't you dare look back)
Just keep your eyes on me.
I said you're holding back,
She said shut up and dance with me!
I can't sleep
Let's run away and don't ever look back
Don't ever look back
This man is my destiny
He said oh oh oh
Shut up and dance with me
This is real, so take a chance
And don't ever look back, don't (Shut up and dance with me) ever look back
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The wait in the dressing room for the judges to make their decision was one of the longest Harry thought he had ever experienced. Jake had brought Uno cards, which had kept everyone occupied for a little while, however most of them were too nervous in having to wait, not knowing how they had done.
Harry, although had relaxed initially after performing, soon was as tense as everyone else. Mr Schuster kept sending Harry strange knowing looks, which were actually rather disconcerting. Was the man going to confront him again? Harry hoped that he wouldn't, or would at least wait until they were back in Lima to do so. A thought that kept coming back to Harry was that he was just being paranoid. The man hadn't confronted him since he had broken into his house, which Harry still didn't know how he had gotten in. The doors had been locked and although the place wasn't warded to the high heavens against muggles, as it was against wizards, Mr Schuster should have never been able to get in. It had been bugging him since it had happened, but the only way to find out was to ask Mr Schuster himself, which Harry had absolutely no intention of doing. Harry decided that his paranoia must just be the nerves of having to wait and attempted to distract himself with another game of uno.
Harry had never played 'uno' before. However the game seemed to be very similar to Exploding Snap, without the spontaneous explosion part of course.
"New Directions? " someone asked from the doorway, making Harry jump and curse his black of observation. What would Moody say if he saw him now? "The judges have made their decision. Please make your way back on to the stage."
It was time.
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Harry was wrong. The wait in the dressing room wasn't the longest, the wait there, on stage, waiting for them to announce the winner was excruciatingly long. It seemed to take an age for the announcer, which was one of the judges, to announce what they all knew, that was that the group in medieval dress were in third place.
"And in first place, and moving onto sectionals, is…."
Harry stopped breathing. Had they done well enough to beat the host school? Now that it was down to the moment of truth he wasn't so sure. Why were they waiting so long? Couldn't they just say it and put them out of their misery?
"The New Directions! "
Harry really couldn't believe it. They had won! They had actually truly won! The feeling was just as good, if not better than winning the Quidditch Cup, although Harry would never dare even think the words if he were anywhere near Oliver Wood. The lack of maiming was making Harry lean towards winning Regionals. Now all they had to do was make it to Nationals. Blaine was shoved forward to accept the trophy from the judges. The applause from the audience was almost deafening. Harry felt ecstatic.
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As fun as winning regionals had been, Harry was glad to get back to Lima and retreat back to his nice, quiet house. He had forgotten how stressful being around so many people was. Harry dumped his bag in the hallway and made his way into the kitchen. He needed a few hours of celebratory baking to help him unwind. He knew that one of the Glee Club members was throwing a party, but that wasn't what he needed. He much preferred the relaxing atmosphere of his kitchen.
Two hours later Harry had made 2 batches of chocolate muffins and 1 batch of strawberry and white chocolate cookies that were in the oven cooking. Harry heard a knock on the door. He had no clue who it could be, so curiously went and answered it to find a distraught Marley on his doorstep.
"Marley? Are you okay?"
"Can we talk? "
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Stu adores haikus
He uses them to make you
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