Hello! I'm back with the next chapter. I'm going to explore the Burt Bacharach weekly lesson a little so it's not all about Rachel. I had to do a lot of research on Burt Bacharach to write this chapter. Unfortunately it was really hard to find songs for them to sing because most of them are instrumentally focused, but I finally found a few songs for everyone to sing! I hope you enjoy this chapter! It might be a while until my next post because this week is going to be crazy at school and I'm working 4 days in a row instead of 3 spread out days so that's gonna be fun. Hopefully I'll get the next chapter up next weekend. I'm really excited to write about Rachel's party in 'Transitioning'. Enjoy!

After a restful and uneventful weekend, the New Directions were ready to go on Monday. They walked in to the choir room and took their seats, waiting for Rachel and Kurt to walk in and start the lesson. Mason noticed that Jane was trying out a new hair style and he liked it. Her hair was in slightly more tamed ringlets held back by a headband, as opposed to her usual wild mane. He and Madison sat down next to her and smiled, waving energetically. She smiled back and they all turned toward the door when Rachel and Kurt walked in.

"Hello winners!" Rachel said, walking in confidently with Kurt trailing behind her. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm still basking in the glow of our first of many championship trophies!"

"Well Rachel and I want our champions to celebrate another champion!" Kurt added.

"Katniss Everdeen!" Brittany interrupted.

"Close," Rachel said as Kurt unveiled the white board. "Burt Bacharach!" She announced excitedly. Kitty whispered something to Spencer and he smirked as Rachel and Kurt launched into their explanation of the weekly lesson.

"Burt Bacharach has written 73, count 'em, seventy three, top 40 hits. He's also won 3 oscars, 2 golden globes, a boatload if grammies, and his music has been featured in everything from The Simpsons to Good Fellas," Kurt started.

"And you can't help but grin when you listen to his music. His songs are uplifting, and theatrical, and optimistic!" Rachel continued.

"We need to soak up all this uplifting energy as we get ready for Sectionals, which are 5 weeks away, but I guarantee you, Vocal Adrenaline and the Warblers are doing everything in their power to regain their former glory," Kurt added. Everyone became very focused and he continued in a corny accent, "But, fear not, because we have a secret weapon!" Everyone turned their attention to the door as the Legendary Mercedes Jones walked in.

"Is that my cue?" She asked. Everyone cheered and Artie yelled 'Diva' as she came in, handing out her new CD.

"Yes, I am here to mentor you. And yes, these might be real diamonds. And yes, my single 'Shaking my Head' is number 89 on iTunes. So, which one of you wants me to mentor you?" She said dramatically. She really knows how to make an entrance. The New Directions all cheered and stood up, immediately swarming Mercedes. She welcomed them with open arms, laughing, and got to work. Rachel looked a little bit jealous about being over shadowed by her slightly more successful friend, but Mercedes was there to help and there was no way Rachel was going to give that up.

"Alright, let's gets started!" Mercedes said to the beaming students.

"Miss Jones, I just have to say, I'm a huge fan! I love your music and what you did for the glee club while you were in it. And we're so lucky to have you as a mentor!" Jane exclaimed, star struck. The twins were nodding along ecstatically and Mercedes chuckled light heartedly.

"Well, thank you! That's so nice to hear! What's your name?" Mercedes inquired.

"Um, Jane. Jane Hayward." Jane stuttered.

"Well, Jane, I think we're gonna get along just fine," Mercedes said matter-of-factly. Jane was smiling so hard, Mercedes thought her face might get stuck like that. "So the lesson is Burt Bacharach, right? So tonight I want you all to go home and find one of his songs that you want to sing and bring it to me and I'll coach you all individually. Ok?" Mercedes continued. Everyone nodded enthusiastically. "For now, we'll start with some basic vocal exercises."

Everyone came back the next day with a song or two in mind, excited for their one-on-one lesson with a real star. The New Directions went to the choir room that morning to pitch their ideas to Mercedes so she could figure out a plan for how to coach them on their songs.

"Ok, who wants to start?" Mercedes asked. Everyone's hands went up immediately. "Ok, how about you? What's your name?" She asked pointing to Roderick.

"Um, Roderick. I was thinking about doing 'Tower of Strength'," Roderick said as if it were a question.

"Excellent choice, Roderick! Jane?" Mercedes directed her attention to the wild-haired girl.

"I want to do 'Don't Go Breakin' My Heart'," Jane stated confidently.

"Great! I think I'll have the other 2 ladies back you up on that one, cool?" Mercedes suggested. The girls of the glee club nodded. "How about you Kitty?" Mercedes asked.

"'Wanting Things'," Kitty said simply, shrugging. Mercedes nodded and moved on, looking at the twins.

"We want to sing 'The World is a Circle' from the 1973 classic, Lost Horizon!" Mason immediately announced, fist-bumping his sister.

"Ok, then! I don't see a problem with you two singing that one together. And you?" Mercedes asked looking over at Spencer.

Spencer looked a little taken aback that Mercedes was asking him a question. "Oh, uh, the thing is, I don't really know anything about Burt Bacharach," Spencer stuttered.

"Mmhm. Ok, well luckily I do and I think I have the perfect song for you!" Mercedes said excitedly. Spencer breathed a sigh of relief that she wasn't yelling at him for not doing his homework. Not that she was the kind of person who would, but Spencer was slightly intimidated by her.

"Alright guys, now that I know what you'll all be singing, come by here whenever you have a free period or after school or whatever and I will work with you! Now get to class," Mercedes concluded. The New Directions were eating lunch together, except for Kitty and Spencer, when Mason and Roderick got a text from an unknown number.

'Come to the choir room after school. It's important. XO - Mercedes'

"That's weird. Did you all get this text?" Roderick asked his friends. The girls shook their heads, but Mason nodded. They looked across the cafeteria at Spencer, who was also looking down at his phone, confused.

"I wonder what that's about," Jane said.

"And why we weren't invited," Madison added.

"It's probably for the Burt Bacharach assignment," Mason said. They just shrugged and kept eating, thinking about why the boys got the text and not the girls. The end of the day finally came and Mason, Roderick, and Spencer walked into the choir room to see that Kurt and Sam were already there.

"Sorry to break up your boy time, boys, but we have a crisis and I need to recruit you guys," Mercedes said, walking in to the choir room. They all immediately directed their attention toward her, wondering what the crisis could be. "It's Rachel. Now we all know that she needed to come back here and lick her wounds, and I think it's great that she got the glee club up and running again," Mercedes began. Kurt cleared his throat pointedly. "And you're doing a great job too, Kurt, with whatever your thesis is. But what I do know is Rachel's destiny is bigger than this place. And it's not just that she's scared to try again, it's almost like she's forgotten that," Mercedes finished.

"Yeah, but, how-" Spencer interjected.

"How are we supposed to remind her?" Roderick interrupted.

"Well we have to make her homesick," Mercedes answered.

"But, isn't she home now?" Mason asked, confused.

"We need to make her homesick for New York," Mercedes clarified. "It's where she belongs. Artie's already in and I put in a call to Blaine. Sorry if that's awkward for you, Kurt. But if you guys will follow me." Kurt looked a little startled. He hadn't seen Blain since their kiss in the fake elevator. All the boys got up and followed Mercedes to the Auditorium while she explained the plan.

"Ok, so in the spirit of this week's lesson, you boys are going to sing 'Arthur's theme' by Burt Bacharach. You'll get to wear penguin suits and everything!" Mercedes exclaimed. Mason looked super excited about this impromptu performance. He sent a quick text to Jane and his sister cause he knew they were dying to know what this secret meeting was about. "And I thought the three new boys could be featured, cause that would make Rachel very proud," Mercedes finished, gesturing to Mason, Roderick, and Spencer, who smiled and nodded excitedly.

They met up with Blaine and Artie in the auditorium and rehearsed a few times before changing into the old-timey suits. Mason had to help Roderick and Spencer with theirs. They didn't wear nice suits very often so they weren't extremely educated about how to wear one. The boys waited backstage in their places for Mercedes's cue. They heard her leading Rachel to her seat, trying to suggest gently that New York was end game for her. Blaine nodded and started playing the intro to 'Arthur's theme' and the lights came on. Mason saw Jane, Madison, and Kitty sneak into the theater and sit in the back row. Madison waved at him and he smiled as Blaine and Artie sang the opening verses.

The girls of the glee club watched proudly as Spencer, Roderick, and Mason had their solos. Jane noticed that Mason looked very good in a penguin suit and she thought she saw him wink at her. Jane blushed and Madison looked over at her questioningly. After their performance, Jane, Madison, and Kitty went backstage to meet up with the boys. They all walked to the choir room together for Mercedes's coaching and the boys were in a great mood.

The New Directions didn't leave the school until nearly 7 because they wanted to take advantage of every moment of Mercedes's mentoring. Roderick had joined in on their little Tuesday-night hang out thing and they had a blast. They watched yet another Disney movie, which everyone loved, even Roderick, and they ate popcorn and talked the night away. Everyone had been 10 times closer since the lock-in rehearsal, even with Kitty and Spencer, but the two of them weren't quite ready to admit to liking the other glee kids. They each had a little private lesson with Mercedes after school for the rest of the week until their performances after school on Friday. When Friday came, Mercedes made sure the New Directions were ready. They were going to kill this.

I'm sorry it's short and I ended it in a weird spot, but the next chapter will be very long cause it will contain all of their performances, including 'Alfie' with Santana. I hope this chapter wasn't too weird and it made sense, I was pretty tired when I wrote it. I'll try to get the next chapter about 'What the World Needs Now' up soon but who knows? Thanks for reading!