Chapter 14: Disastrous Thanksgiving Sectionals
The day for sectionals had come. The stress was evident in the choir room. Even Alexa was a little nervous, because she how important was this contest and how much it meant for her friends. Her friends. Yes, they had become her friends, had welcomed her with open arms and had made her feel at home in a place so far away from her own. She really wanted for they to win; they had worked too hard and they deserved it.
When she arrived, she greeted everyone with a huge smile and gave them words of reassurance. She even tried to calm down the most nervous ones, such as Marley, Ryder and Jake. Marley was almost hyperventilating because she has the main duet with Blaine and such a pressure for her first competition was getting the best of her. Alexa tried to reinforce the idea in her mind that she was talented enough and that she had it in her to go through this, that all she had to do was believe in herself.
Artie and Tina introduced her to the ex-members of the Glee club (the ones who had graduated last year along with Finn): Puck, Quinn Fabray, Santana Lopez, Mercedes Jones and Mike Chang. They were really nice to her and the guy named Puck even tried to flirt with her. She just laughed it off.
Alexa was wandering around when she caught a glimpse of Finn. She smiled to herself, because he looked so cute when he was nervous: he was pacing back and forth by a corner, running his hands through his hair and trying to take deep breaths to relax. She knew this meant a lot for him to as a way to prove to himself that he wouldn't let down his friends nor Mr. Schuester and that he could success in something, but she could not stop thinking that his nervousness was endearing.
As quietly as she could, Alexa approached him and took his hand in hers. "Hey, there." She said softly and grinning, willing her expression to be as calming for him as possible.
When he felt a hand in his and heard someone speaking to him, Finn looked up from the floor to found Alexa's face smiling at him. At the sight of her, he immediately began to relax a little. He always was more confident when she was around.
"You made it." He said returning her smile.
"I told you I'd be here." Her smile widened.
They were silent for a couple of seconds when Finn spoke up again. "Thanks for coming. I'm totally freaking out. Is a lot of pressure and I feel like I'm about to lose it. This really means a lot to me and…" he was cut off by Alexa's finger pressed against his lips.
"Shh, Finn. Don't be nervous. Everything is going to be okay; you'll see. You told me New Directions never has lost Sectionals, right?" Finn nodded. "You have to trust in those guys and yourself. Just relax and enjoy the show." She said and stood in her tiptoes to give him a quick peck in the lips.
This gesture coaxed a smile to his face. He could never understand how she was able to calm his greatest fears and insecurities. Her presence seemed chase away all his troubles, it was almost like… No he will not think about Rachel while he was with Alexa, much less compare the two of them. It wasn't fair.
He felt a squeeze in his hand and realized that her hand was still holding his.
"We should go to take our seats. The show is about to start. The Warblers are first." She said to him.
"Just wait a minute." He said.
Finn led her to the center of the room and asked for the other's attention. It was time for the Show circle. Finn asked for Joe to say a prayer and then he said a few motivational words. They all joined hands at the center and then lifted them up, shouting the word 'AMAZING!' like was their tradition. Then they headed for the auditorium: the competition was on.
(New York, Rachel's and Kurt's apartment, thanksgiving party)
Rachel watched as Isabelle hugged Kurt and quickly guessed he must just called Blaine to wish him and the rest of New Directions good look before their performance. For just a second she wished she was there, supporting her friends. All the seniors had made a promise of go back to Lima for the holidays and she wondered if the other had kept it.
She shook her head to get rid of those thoughts. The less she and Finn were in the same place, the better. He had wanted it.
When Isabelle let go of Kurt, she approached to him.
"Have they performed yet?" she asked.
"No, but is almost time. They're about to go out now."
She nodded and said nothing more. She silently prayed for good luck and success for her former Glee club.
(Ohio, McKinley High auditorium, Show Choir competition)
Finn and the New Direction had gone to the backstage to get ready for the performance. It was clear that the Warblers were the ones to worry about, but she was confident about her friends and their talent. Mr. Schuester had arrived a while ago from Washington to cheer his kids up.
The first notes of Gangman Style began to come out and Sam appeared in the stage. Short after they all were on the stage, Finn came to seat by her side and she took his hand. She rubbed circles with her thumb in the back of his hand to try and calm him down, but she stopped and let go her hand when the crowd stood and began to acclaim them. She herself stood and began to shout and scream to show her support. The choreography was excellent and Tina was absolutely amazing with the lead.
Everything was awesome. And then something happened. When the song ended, someone fell in the stage. Paying closer attention she realized that Marley had passed out. This was bad; she had the lead in the next song. She watched as Mr. Schuester and Finn ran towards the stage along with Santana and Puck. She stood frozen in place, not knowing what to do and shocked for what had just happened.
In the crowd, she was able to locate Marley's mom and went to her. The lady was very anxious for her daughter; she was at the verge of a nervous breakdown. Alexa had her sitting and tried to assure her that Marley will be alright, that Finn and Mr. Schuester were taking care of her.
When Marley's mom calmed down a bit, she asked her to go and see about Marley. Alexa nodded and began to run towards the choir room. When she was about to enter, she listened as Sue Sylvester let know the Glee club about the Warblers being named as the winners of the contest. Her heart ached for Finn and the others. She didn't feel capable of be with them now; it was a moment theirs alone. She was about to leave when she saw Puck and Santana walking out of the room.
"Hey, guys." She said shyly. They both just nodded sadly. "I'm sorry about what happened. Can you tell Finn that I left and to call me if he need anything?" they nodded again. "And please can someone go to speak with Marley's mom? She is really worried." She finished
"Don't worry. We'll take care of it." Puck said. "But why are you leaving? Finn might need you by his side."
She looked at Finn's direction for a moment and his expression broke her heart; he was so shocked and disappointed.
She looked back at Puck and answered. "I think he might need a moment for himself now. He if need me he will call me. Can you please tell him that?" Puck nodded and gave a look that said he understood. With that she went to the parking lot, get into her car and drove towards home.
Just an hour had passed since she arrived home and put on her pajamas when there was a knock in her door. She went to open and found a tired-looking Finn with red eyed from crying.
"Finn…" Before she could say anything else, he pulled her in to his arms and held her tight. She could do anything but return the hug. That's when she felt him start to sob.
Finn shuffled through the hallways of her building towards her apartment. He just needed to see her; he just needed for her to tell him that everything will be okay again. He knocked weakly at her door. Alexa opened wearing just a pink tank shirt, lavender cotton shorts and a pair of red slippers boots.
When she said his name, he lost it: all the strength he had mustered to drive to her place went flying out of the window. He pulled her into his arms, and when he felt her arm lock around him, he began to cry again. They stood there for a while, until he had cried out all his tears and calmed down a little. She pulled away some and took his hand, tugging him inside.
"Can I stay here tonight?" He asked when she closed the door. She looked at him wide-eyed and he elaborated. "I just… I feel awful. I don't want to be alone tonight and you were the only person I thought to come to. You're the only person I think wouldn't judge me."
She looked puzzled. "Why would anyone judge you?"
"Because I failed them." He said and felt himself began to tremble.
"You didn't." she said sweetly, reaching out to caress his cheek. "You did everything in your hand to help them win. What happened is not your fault; you couldn't know something like that would happen." She gave him a little kiss on the cheek she was brushing. "Of course you can stay here." She said smiling warmly at him. Finn grinned back weakly for a moment before his expression turned to one of sorrow again.
Alexa led him toward the bedroom and sat on the bed. Then she gesture for him to do the same. When he sat next to her, she guided his head to her lap and started to run her fingers through his hair. Being there with her, he felt a little bit better.
Then he heard her began to sing softly.
Alexa didn't know what to do make Finn's sadness lessen, or at least to relax him and getting him to sleep peacefully. She thought about what he was going through and a song came to her mind. It was one of the songs that Taylor Swift has write for the movie The Hunger Games. It was kind of a lullaby and fitted perfectly in this situation, so she began to sing softly for Finn.
I remember tears streaming down your face
When I said, I'll never let you go
When all those shadows almost killed your light
I remember you said: don't leave me here alone
But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight
Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound
She felt his muscles began to relax. She continued running her fingers through his hair and with her other hand she rubbed small circles on his shoulder.
Don't you dare look out your window,
Darling everything's on fire
The war outside our door keeps raging on.
Hold onto this lullaby
Even when the music's gone
Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound
She looked at his face when his breathing started to even and saw his eyes closed, so she sang the last words really quietly.
Just close your eyes
You'll be alright
Come morning light,
You and I'll be safe and sound...
After the song ended, she carefully put Finn's head out of her lap and into the pillow. Then she laid down to his said and cuddled to him. In his sleep, he wrapped his arms around her and she snuggled into his chest, clutching to his shirt with both hands. It was like this that she drifted off too.
A/N: hey, everybody... thanks for reading... I really hope you liked this chapter... I worked real hard on it... I'll have the next one in a couple of days.
thanks to my follows and favs and to all my reviewers... thanks to all my readers too... Special thanks to iheartart13 for your lovely review... and to ecklipsed and LittleLiarGleek for their constant support.
Thanks for reading... I really hope you're liking the story so far... please leave your comments because the inspire me to keep on reading
PLEASE, REVIEW!