As soon as four rolled around I dismissed everybody and Kyle took my clothes that were still wet from the slushy attack.

"So I will have my mom wash these for you and they should be ready for you at the party tonight..."

"About that, could you just give them to me tomorrow?" I asked and he nodded.

"I'm guessing Shelby doesn't know about the whole Beth thing?" Kyle asked and I nodded.

"Yeah and being as I am suppose to go to the party with them I think that it is best that it stays that way." I said and he nodded.

"Of course. So I guess you should get going." Kyle said and I looked around the empty auditorium and sighed.

"Yeah." I said as I gathered my things and walked out to Shelby's car and waited for her to walk out a few minutes later.

"Sorry I had a few things that I had to finish." She said as she fished her keys out of her purse.

"It's fine. I haven't been waiting that long." I said as I put my phone away.

"Beth is going to go with Aaron to pick something up for the party and then he is going to drop her off later so it is just going to be you and I for about an hour." She said as she unlocked the doors and I opened mine.

"That's fine." I said as I got in and waited for her to do the same.

"So how was your day?" Shelby asked and I looked over at her.

"Fine." I said and she looked at me.

"One word answers, this is almost as much fun as driving Beth home." She joked and I rolled my eyes.

"I don't know what you want to know. You asked how my day was and well it was fine, it wasn't great, but it didn't suck so in a word it was fine." I said as I went through my bag and pulled out my water bottle.

"Okay changing the subject because apparently this is a touchy one for you." Shelby said and I sighed.

"No it's just that it's been a long day and I still have a few things to fix before tomorrow. Stuff like that. I didn't mean to take it out on you." I said and she smiled.

"Not so easy to be a coach huh?" She joked and I looked at her.

"Ha ha."

"So you still think that you have a chance to win?" She asked and I gave her a look.

"I don't have to think it, I know it." I said and she laughed.

"I'm glad your confident in your team, but sometimes confidence is mistaken with being cocky and you need to be careful with that." She warned and I shrugged.

"I'm not cocky, not yet anyway."

"Oh okay. So are you going to let me do your hair?" She asked as we pulled into her driveway.

"I don't really like people touching my hair." I said as we got out of the car knowing that it was still a mess from earlier.

"You don't like people touching your hair?" She asked as we walked into the house and I nodded.

"Yeah why?"

"Because people touch your hair all the time and it doesn't seem to bother you that much." She said and I shrugged.

"The only people who really touch my hair are my parents..."

"Well I am doing your hair and you are just going to have to get over it." She said as I put my stuff down in the living room.

"Fantastic..."

"So are you hungry?" She asked as she walked into the kitchen.

"Is it something that you cooked?" I asked and she nodded.

"Yep."

"Then I will pass." I said as I took a seat on the couch and she walked over to where I was sitting.

"I've gotten better at cooking. You should at least try it." She said and I shook my head.

"That is not going to happen. I need to make sure that I am at the festival tomorrow, not throwing up because of something you ate." I said and she took a seat next to me and pushed me lightly.

"For saying that I should make you eat it." She said and I gave her a look and then smiled.

"I'm sorry?" I questioned using my sweet voice and she laughed.

"Nope, it's too late for that. Anyway do you want to see the outfits that I made for the performance tomorrow?" She asked and I nodded.

"Yeah, that would be great." I said as she got off the couch and walked into the other room to return a few minutes later with a black dress with an orange sash.

"So what do you think?" She asked turning the dress and I bit my lower lip.

"It's nice but..."

"But what?" She asked as she lowered the dress.

"It's just not what I expected." I said as I adjusted myself on the couch.

"You can make your team wear whatever you want them to, it's just that this is what worked best for my team and well we weren't talking so we couldn't exactly work on what you needed..."

"I can figure something out." I said and she smiled.

"So does that mean you aren't going to be needing what I made?" She asked and I shrugged.

"I don't know. I will have to think about it tonight..."

"Mom?" We both turned when we heard Beth call.

"In here." Shelby called and Beth walked into the living room a few seconds later.

"What is she doing here?" Beth asked as she pulled off her jacket and threw it on the couch.

"Hang it up." Shelby said and Beth sighed as she picked up her jacket and took it into her room.

"She has had a rough day with rehearsal and stuff, she didn't mean to be rude." Shelby said as she gave Beth a look as she walked back into the room.

"Yeah, it's just been a rough day." Beth said as she sat by her mom.

"So what are you doing home so soon?" Shelby asked as she pulled Beth into her arms.

"We were half way to the store when Aaron's mom called and said that she had what she needed and we didn't have to go so he brought me here." Beth said as she settled into her mom.

"Well I guess that just means more time for the three of us to talk." Shelby said as Beth shot me a look.

"Hey mom do you know where you put the hair piece that I need for tonight?" She asked and Shelby looked at her.

"We just had it last night."

"I know but I couldn't find it." Beth said as Shelby got up.

"I will be right back." She said as she took the dress and then left and Beth turned to me when she was gone.

"You didn't tell her?" She said and I gave her a look.

"No I didn't tell her. You may be a child but I'm not." I snapped and Beth rolled her eyes.

"Only children break the rules..." She said and I laughed.

"You are the only one who really breaks the rules. I mean sneaking out, drinking, fighting with people on your team..."

"Everyone has to follow the rules and if you choose to break the rules there are consequences." She said totally ignoring what I had just said.

"Yeah and you get to choose what they are, fantastic! That is hypocrisy if I have ever seen it." I sneered and she leaned in closer to me.

"Listen here, that little display in the hallway was nothing, if I were you I would watch your back." She said leaning back a few seconds before Shelby walked back into the room.

" Here is the hair piece. So now that I have that settled, we have some time before the party what do you girls want to do?" She asked and Beth put on a smile.

"I have to take a shower, it was a rough rehearsal." Beth said as she got up and Shelby looked at me.

"I think that is a good idea for both of you." She said as she ran a hand through my hair and I pulled away not wanting her to feel the stickiness that lingered after the events this afternoon. "What is in your hair?" She asked as Beth got up from the couch and made her way back into her room leaving me alone to be questioned.

"It's nothing..."

"Nicole that isn't nothing. My hand is all sticky, what is that?" She asked combing through my hair with her fingers.

"Kyle and I were playing around at lunch and he got some of his drink in my hair, I thought I got it out, apparently I didn't." I said as I moved away from her.

"Some of his drink?"

"We were joking around and he accidentally threw the entire thing at me..."

"Is that why you changed?" She asked and I nodded.

"Yeah, Kyle felt really bad but I told him not to worry about it being as I could just change..."

"Where are your clothes?" She asked.

"Kyle took them. He said that the least he could do was wash them and I didn't want to argue with him."

"Kyle is a good kid, now come on." She said as she grabbed my hand and led me down the hallway into the guest bathroom. "Okay here are the towels, and I will grab something of Beth's for you to wear. Let me know if you need anything." She said before she walked out of the room and I turned to the mirror and sighed.

I knew that I should have told her about what happened with Beth but for some reason I didn't care that much about what had happened. I guess it had to do with the fact that I knew no matter what Beth did she had no control over what I did. I took a deep breath and then turned on the water in the shower and undressed and got in, letting the warm water surround my body. I was in the middle of washing my hair when I heard the door open and I saw Shelby's shadow slip some clothes onto the counter before she turned to leave.

When I was done with my shower I dried off and then changed into the clothes that Shelby had given me being as she had taken my clothes out of the bathroom so I had no other choice than to wear what she had left. As soon as I was dressed I finished towel drying my hair before I walked out into the living room where Shelby was working on Beth's hair.

As soon as Beth's hair was dry and straightened Beth left to go finish her hair while Shelby pulled me over onto the floor in front of her and she started to dry my hair.

"So you don't really seem to mind me touching your hair." Shelby said as she turned off the blow dryer and put it on the table.

"I'm working on being okay with it." I lied and she took my shoulders and pulled me back towards her and started brushing my hair.

"Hold still." She said as she started to separate my hair into sections while I texted Nick.

"I'm trying to hold still but you keep yanking my head into different directions which makes it hard to keep still." I complained as she took a large portion of my hair and ran a brush through it.

"Give me the phone." She said as she dropped my hair and held out her hand.

"What? No." I said as she leaned forward and took it out of my hands.

"You can get it back when I am done." She said as she placed it next to her and picked up the brush.

"This sucks." I said as I pouted and she pulled my hair.

"Opps." She said and I went to move but was held firmly in place by her other hand.

"You did that on purpose!" I complained and she laughed.

"You can't prove it, now hold still so I can finish." She said and I sighed as she finished brushing my hair and then started braiding it. She had just finished braiding it when Beth walked back into the room.

"Mom can you do this?" She asked as she handed her the hair piece and I got up and Beth sat down where I was so Shelby could work on her hair.

"Nicole your costume is on the chair over there. Go change and then I will finish your hair and then start on your make up." Shelby said and I grabbed my phone and then grabbed my costume and walked into the bathroom and changed and then checked the text from Nick that I had gotten when Shelby was doing my hair.

So are you ready?

-Nick

Not yet. Let's just say Shelby is taking her sweet time with my hair and Beth is...Beth

-Nicole

It seemed like as soon as I put my phone up I got another text.

I can't believe that you are going with them to the party, I mean not after what happened today. Anyway have fun and I can't wait to see you Ms. Pocahontas!

-Nick

I shook my head as I took my phone with me out into the living room and Shelby motioned for me to come over to the couch. She finished doing my hair and then did my make up before she forced Beth and I to take pictures together.

I was just relieved when she finally told us that it was time to go. I grabbed my things and we all walked out to the car and got in. Shelby talked to Beth and I but you could feel the tension that was in the car and I just couldn't wait until we got to the party. As soon as the car was parked Beth and I both hopped out of the car.

"Hey girls are you forgetting something?" Shelby asked as she got out of the car and held our masks. Beth took hers and put it on while Shelby tied mine before we walked into the party.

As soon as I walked in Kyle took my hand and pulled me into a side room where I saw a bunch of kids from the team dancing and having a good time.

"So here is the deal..." Kyle said as we walked into the room.

"What deal?" I asked over the music.

"This is our room, that..." He said pointing across the entryway to another opening. "Is the other team's room, and the adults will float..."

"You seriously have different rooms for different teams?" I said as I walked towards the dance floor.

"It just sort of worked out that way." Kyle said as I took him and pulled him out onto the dance floor.

"You and your brother are lame!" I said as the song changed to an upbeat song and we started dancing. I was in the middle of dancing with Kyle when I felt arms wrap around my waist and I turned to see Nick behind me.

"Hey!" I said as I gave him a hug and Kyle moved over to dance with Dakota and Haley.

"Let's dance!" He said as he took my hands and I laughed as we started dancing.

Overall it seemed like the party was turing out rather well until the kids from the other room decided to invade our territory.

"What's going on losers?" Aaron asked as he walked in and I felt Nick pull me in close to his body as I tensed up.

"Aaron just leave." Kyle said as his brother shoved him to the side.

"Why? It's a party, so lets all party!" He said as he dragged Beth onto the dance floor and I turned to Nick.

"Let's just go." I said and he nodded as we went to leave.

"That's right just run off with your boyfriend and leave your team behind." Beth snapped and I stopped walking and turned towards her but didn't say anything for a second.

"Beth..."

"Nicole don't." Lance and Kevin said as they walked around Beth and Aaron over to where Nick and I were.

"No this whole thing is between her and I and I am not going to let you get in the middle of it." I said to both of them before I turned back to Beth. "This isn't the time or the place to get into this. I'll see you tomorrow Beth." I said as I grabbed Nick's hand and we walked out of Kyle's house out to where he parked his motorcycle.

"Hey wait up!" A few people said walking out after us.

"What is going on?" I asked as Nick untied my mask and handed it to me.

"Well it's too early to go home but we don't want to stay here. Do you want to head to breadsticks?" Haley asked and I turned to Nick.

"Do you?" I asked and he nodded.

"That sounds like a plan." He said as he handed me a helmet and I went to put it on when I heard Shelby's voice coming towards me.

"Nicole, a word please." She said as I handed the helmet back to Nick and followed her over to where her car was parked.

"Yes?" I said as soon as she faced me.

"Don't even start with me." She said in a harsh whisper.

"I'm not starting anything." I countered as she glared at me.

"What is going on? Everything was fine and then all of a sudden I hear that you and Beth started fighting?" She said and I shook my head.

"We were dancing and having a good time and then we just got tired and decided to leave..."

"You aren't leaving." She said and I took a step back.

"Yes I am, you can't stop me." I said and she gave me a look.

"You aren't leaving unless your parents say that it is okay." She said thinking that she had won, when I pulled out my phone and texted my dad.

Can I leave and hang out with some friends?

-Nicole

I didn't have to wait more than a few seconds before I got a response.

Sure have fun and be home be three

-Dad

I smiled as I turned my phone around and showed Shelby.

"See I'm leaving." I said as I turned and walked over to Nick and took the helmet and put it on before he helped me on the back and then we drove off as Shelby watched from the driveway.

When we pulled into the parking lot I saw mainly all the kids that I had worked with on the Disturbia routine waiting for us in the parking lot.

"Hey Shelby let you go!" Kyle said as I got off the bike and fixed my costume as we walked inside.

"I'm just hoping that we win tomorrow because if we don't we are all dead." I said as we made our way to a long table.

"You a little more dead than others." Kevin joked as we sat down.

"Yeah tell me about it." I said as I grabbed Nick's hand.

We hung out for a few hours before we all decided that we should head home being as we had a morning rehearsal to make sure that everything was working. Nick was going to take me home but in the end we agreed that Dakota should be the one to drop me off. It seemed like as soon as I walked through the door I was being hounded by my parents.

"Nicole can we talk to you for a minute?" My mom asked as soon as I walked in the door and I nodded and followed her over to the kitchen table.

"What is going on?" I asked as I sat down and my dad pulled out his phone and showed me a picture of me on the back of Nick's motorcycle.

"What is this?" He asked and I looked up at him.

"That is me on Nick's bike." I said as if it was common knowledge.

"You know how your mother and I feel about motorcycles and here you are on the back of one..."

"What is the big deal? You said that I could go..."

"Nicole, we said you could go because we thought that A, you were going in a car, and B it wasn't because there was a fight at the party." My mom said and I looked at both of them.

"There wasn't a fight..."

"That isn't what Shelby said..."

"That's because she gets her information from Beth." I said and my parents looked at me.

"What is going on between you and Beth?" My dad asked as he laid his phone down on the table.

"Beth decided to remind me of the rules of the club today by throwing a slushy on me, along with getting other kids from the team to do the same." I stated and I saw my mom exchange looks with my dad.

"Is that so?" My mom asked reaching for my dad's phone when I put my hand over hers.

"I didn't tell Shelby about it." I said and they both looked at me.

"Why not?" My mom asked as she stroked my hand.

"I don't want her involved. This is between Beth and I..."

"So there was a fight at the party?" My dad asked and I shook my head.

"Beth tried to start one but I just walked away." I said and my mom smiled.

"I'm glad but you missy need to get to bed because we have about twenty kids showing up here at eight in the morning and you need some sleep." My mom said as she got up and kissed my head and started to take my hair out of the braids.

"But Nicole your mother and I want to be sure that you know our rules. We aren't going to try to keep you off of motorcycles, although we do not like them..."

"Just wear a helmet and do your best to avoid riding on them." My mom said as she finished freeing my hair and she gave me a hug.

"Alright. I love you both." I said as I got up and gave my dad a hug before I walked up to my room and laid down before I finally got up and changed out of my costume and into some pajamas.

I woke up at five in the morning to the sound of my phone going off and I groaned as I reached over and answered it.

"Hello?" I said as I laid my arm over my eyes not wanting them to open.

"Nicole? It's Kevin, I have some bad news." He said and I shot up in my bed.

"What do you mean?" I asked and I could hear him sigh.

"I broke my arm last night..."

"What happened?" I asked rubbing my temple with my free hand.

"After we left last night Lance and I went skateboarding and I fell. I didn't think it was too bad but..."

"You know what, don't worry about it I will think of something."

"I just feel bad, I mean where are you going to find a guy to dance my part at this time? Maybe you should call Shelby and..." I didn't listen to the rest of his sentence because I knew what I needed to do.

"Kevin I hope you feel better but I have to go."

"Is there anything that you need me to do? I just feel so bad..."

"Send out a mass text and tell everyone to wear black shirts and shorts. Girls need leggings or fish nets of some sort and ask Mr. Schue if there are any old New Directions shirts that we can have." I said.

"I can do that." Kevin said and I smiled.

"Good and show up at eight." I said before I hung up the phone and dialed Nick's number. It rang twice before he picked up.

"Hello?" He mumbled into the phone.

"Nick, I am so sorry to be calling this early..."

"Don't be Nicole. I love hearing your voice." He said and I smiled.

"Yeah well you might like hearing it a little less after I ask you this favor." I stated and there was a brief pause.

"What is your favor?" He asked and I leaned back against my head board.

"Kevin broke his arm and can't dance today. I need you to take his spot..."

"Nicole I..."

"I know that I am asking a lot of you but it would mean so much to me and you are the only guy I can think of who learn the dance, I mean you already know most of it..."

"Nicole..."

"I mean I know..."

"Nicole." He said and I stopped talking.

"Yes?" I asked and I heard him laugh.

"I will do it, for no other reason than because I love you. So what time do I need to be there?" He asked and I looked over at the clock.

"I hate doing this to you but six thirty." I said as I got out of bed and flipped on my light.

"Okay, I will see you then." He said and I hung up the phone and then made my way down the hall and into my parent's room.

"Mommy." I said as I climbed into bed next to her.

"What baby?" She said as she opened her eyes and pulled me into her arms.

"Kevin broke his arm and he can't perform." I said as my dad opened his eyes and sat up.

"Wait Kevin as in..."

"My partner in the dance." I said and they both looked at each other.

"What are you going to do?" My dad asked as he placed a hand on my knee and stroked it with his thumb.

"Nick can dance and he is coming over here at six thirty and I was wondering if you could work with him." I said as I looked at my dad and he smiled.

"Of course I can work with him. Everyone else gets here at right right?" He asked and I nodded. "Okay then when he gets here just send him down into the basement and I will work with him, but I guess that means I have to get ready." He said as he pulled the covers off of himself and got up and walked into the bathroom.

"Mom, I need your help with the outfits." I said as she moved me to where my dad just was.

"I thought Shelby was taking care of the outfits." She said and I gave her a look.

"She did what her team needed and well, they aren't what I need." I said and she smiled.

"I will see what I can do." She said as she kissed my head before she took my hand and we both got out of bed to get ready being as it was turning out to be a long day and it had barely begun.

A/n: So this was the party and the start of the fall festival. I am going to keep this note short and sweet...

Wandering121: Thank you for your review and I hope that this chapter was worth the wait!

IluvMarkSalling: You better believe Beth did that! haha anyway I hope you liked this chapter and thank you for your review!

Gleek1990: I'm glad you liked my last chapter and well I'm sorry but you are going to have to wait just a little while for the festival chapter. I'm so sorry!

elphieistheshiz: So I took your advice and there should be more Rachel and Shelby moments in the next chapter, I promise!

(): Yes she is going to find out, so that should be good. As for who is going to win, who knows? (well I mean I do but still!) Thank you for your review it was awesome!