A/N: I will probably regret this- but I'm currently posting three stories at once! If you haven't ready then please check out Life With Rachel, and my new story Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. :) thanks.
By the way, in the story at this point in time, Sue is in her early sixties (I know that doesn't match up with the show but I don't want her to be like an eighty year old teacher!)
Guest Replies:
Finchel4eva: Thanks You'll have to wait and see if they win regionals or not…
Amelia's POV:
This week's been crazy stressful. For one thing Coach Sylvester has had mandatory regionals 6.30am practises every morning this week which means I have to get up at five so that I don't look like a zombie, I also sometimes have other cheerleading practises at lunches, I have debate society on a Wednesday lunch, I've taken a break from hip hop because I don't have enough time. Even without that, I've had Glee Club regionals practises for half an hour every day this week, plus an extra ten minutes after that to practise my duet with Harry. Then when I get home I have to study for midterms and any pop quizzes that could happen, and study my driver's ed handbook for my test on Sunday! Finally, Harry's been texting me lots recently and asking if we can get back together. So when I finish my shower in record time, change back into my Cheerio's outfit and need to walk to History don't blame me when I snap "what?" At the person who taps me on my shoulder at 8.30am.
"Oh!" I panic when I see who it is. "I'm so sorry, Coach!"
"Ah, that's alright, A," Coach Sylvester grins at me. "You should show more of that attitude. A bit of anger is essential for a leader." I nod awkwardly and after a moment turn to leave, but Coach Sylvester asks me to go into her office.
"I have a history test now and I'm going to be late!" I protest but my cheerleading coach won't take no for an answer.
"I'll inform your teacher," I assume she's going to give me a note but once we're in her office she announces over her loudspeaker, "Amelia Hudson will be late to class!"
She then offers me a big, red Pilates ball which I take and bounce on almost unnoticeably.
"A, as you may or may not know our Head Cheerio Lindsay Whatshername has had an unfortunate accident involving a flight of stairs and a certain vengeful younger sister called Candy." Coach Sylvester says.
"No; I didn't know that! Is she alright?"
"Not at all. She's in hospital!" Coach continues despite the shocked expression on my face. "So what I need now is a new head cheerleader. Candy's been vying for the spot and whilst at first I admired her violent and backhanded nature, I've decided that I also need someone who has great gymnastic skills and who I'm not, I'll admit, slightly terrified is going to stab me in my sleep."
I stop bouncing on the Pilates ball. "I'm sorry, Coach. This is all really unfortunate, but what did you want to talk to me about? I have straight A's and I want to keep them up so I need to focus on-"
"You are my new Head Cheerleader!" Two cheerleaders I didn't even know were there emerge from behind Coach's desk and blow their party horns with all their might, practically bursting my eardrums!
"While I feel really honoured, I just can't." I say.
"This wasn't a question!"
"I'm sorry," I explain. "But I'm so busy what with debate club, hip-hop- when I go back to that, studying, being on the Cheerios at all, singing, dancing and acting lessons, and Glee Club, I just don't have the time-"
"The damn Glee Club! First Buttchin, now the only two students he ever talked to, Mashed-Potato-Pants and his wife, the hobbit." Coach complains under her breath.
"That's my parents you're talking about!" I complain, but Coach ignores me and continues.
"A, this position will give you college credit, high school respect, it'll spite the Sugar girl-"
"Candy?"
Coach nods. "Sure, her. Anyways, it can get your precious Glee Club more respect too."
I pause for thought at that. I do want to have as good of a resumé as I can, I kind of would love to spite Candy, and I do love cheerleading... True, the glee club isn't treated too badly, but I know that if we lose Regionals again this year we'll be in trouble. I guess I could give up hip-hop- I do enough dancing as it is- I only joined to hang out with my friends but we're close enough anyway and we hang out all the time. Once I've passed my driver's test there'll be less on my plate too. Debate Club's only once a week, Glee doesn't collide with Cheerleading practise, my performing classes are in the evenings on week-ends, I have a few other minor clubs which don't take too much time, I like being busy! "Will I have to have extra practises?"
"Yep, but it'll be worth it!"
I make a snap decision. "Okay."
Alex's POV:
From the wider than usual smile on Amelia's face I immediately know something's happened. Well, that and almost all of the cheerleaders are grouped around her, giggling and chatting or hanging onto a football player. Chloe appears suddenly at my shoulder and smiles.
"I'm really happy for her. You are too, right?"
I give her a look. "About what?"
Chloe gives me a surprised look, then leans up the short distance to my ear before whispering, "She got head cheerio." Well, that explains that. To be honest, I don't really give a crap about her right now. I turn my head so that Chloe's lips are suddenly against mine and back her into a corner, putting my hands around her, trapping her in a box. At first she kisses me back, seemingly as a reflex action, then she pushes me away, leaning back against the wall.
"What was that for?" She asks and I shrug.
"I'm tired of talking about Amelia." I say truthfully. "She's Little Miss Perfect- I really want to strangle her sometimes, you know, I've been having a recurring dream about that actually."
Chloe makes a huffing sound and bites her lip angrily. What did I do? "At first I thought you're couldn't care less attitude was hot, I thought it was confidence, now I'm seeing it for what it truly is- fear."
"What?"
"You think you're parents love her more then you, you think Aaron loves her more than you, you even think I love her more than you."
"Don't you?" Chloe tears up slightly but I continue. "You loved her before you loved me. Everyone thinks you're just dating me because I'm her sister-"
"That's not true!" She says loudly and a few people turn to look at us, thankfully Amelia and her minions have moved on though. "I love Amelia, of course I do! She was my first girl crush, but the love I have for her is sisterly love. OUR love is," She leans in and sucks on my neck- hard. "Surprises. Our love is passion." Her lips against mine again, putting her fingers through my belt loops on either side so as to pull me closer. "Our love is also trust." She pulls back abruptly and takes my face in her hands. "I need you to trust me,"
"I-I-I do," I stutter, still a bit taken aback.
Chloe continues as if I didn't speak. "That I love you more than anyone else. You're the only one for me." I nod.
"I'm working on it." She smiles and pulls me into her again but this time only for a hug- although only isn't the right word to use here. I'm still faintly tingling from before but it's more than that. I feel safe, and loved- the way I only ever do with my family (and even that is only 75 percent of the time I'm with them).
Chloe takes my hand and we head over to the choir room.
"Nice to see you turned up, ladies." Mom says and I realise we're five minutes late. Silently, Chloe lifts my hand up and kisses it softly, her eyes on mine, before we split up and she goes to sit with my sister, and Macey and I head over to Iz and Lottie, both sitting at the back.
"What took you so long?" Lottie asks. "You're late." I raise an eyebrow and Izzy whispers something to her. I don't hear it all, only the words 'janitor's closet' and 'kiss'. Then they both giggle.
"You dirty minded people." I say and then we focus on what Mom's saying- basically that we're going to be practising for regionals this week- as if we didn't know that!
Chloe's POV:
I think Finn and Rachel's idea for a teamwork assignment really did help us a lot. I got to work with people I never normally would have aka. Dave and Harry, plus, and we also learnt loads of new lifts that could be real showstoppers but need trust- which we've all established.
Along with everyone else, at first I was furious at Josh but then Finn told us that he'd had to move to Virginia because of his dad's job. Macey and I then talked to Amelia in the privacy of our bedroom and she told me that she broke up with him and that's why he left rather than staying with relatives. Both Macey and I could tell that she broke up with him because of Harry, so we don't press it, but we do exchange a look.
Regionals rolls around faster than expected but what with our great set list, our amazing teamwork and wonderful singing skills we're bound to win.
This year regionals is in our auditorium- which is great- it means we could practise on the exact stage we'll be performing on. I really love our outfits- I think they're my favourite so far. We're all wearing clear nail polish, nude lipstick and Rachel is doing our eyeshadow so that there's layers of different shades of purple. We're wearing our hair down but curling it slightly and Rachel bought pink and purple beaded headbands. We're wearing white leggings paired with lilac strapless prom style dresses. The top part is sequinned and the bottom is shades of lilac and purple getting darker as it goes down. Finally, we have purple shoes with small heels so that we can dance in them.
Rachel puts on my eyeshadow as Amelia does my hair, Macey does hers, Violet does Macey's, Clara does Violet's, Marissa does Clara's, Sophia does Marissa's, and Jenna (who's ready) Sophia's. Izzy, Lottie and Alex are all ready so they sit on the risers chatting.
"You look beautiful!" Rachel tells all us girls. There's a knock on the door of the choir room and then the boys walk in with their eyes covered by their hands.
"Can we look now?" Asks Ethan (a freshman who joined along with a senior Welsh exchange student called Rhys when Josh left so that we'd have even numbers of boys and girls. Rachel says they can. Out of the corner of my eye I see Harry very clearly checking out Amelia.
"Woah," He says. "You… ladies all look wonderful." Nice save! There's a flashing and then an announcement for the Warblers to head to the stage and everyone else to sit down. Linking one arm through Amelia's and one through Macey's we make our way to the auditorium.
The Warblers are once again excellent- they even get me tingling a little as they perform P.Y.T by Michael Jackson and then Sex on Fire by Kings of Leon. When I see Amelia's eyes stray for a moment towards Harry during that last one, I whisper at her that she's staring, and she quickly focusses back on the Warblers, who I have to admit, are even better than last year. Next up is the Unitards. We haven't competed against them before although I remember Clara saying she did at Nationals in her freshman year. Apparently we beat them, but only just, they came second.
The Unitards sing an assortment of show tunes- which Amelia and I feel we do a lack of. They sing I'd Do Anything from Oliver, You Can't Stop the Beat from Hairspray and All that Jazz from Chicago. It's now that I start to wish for that delinquent school we faced last year!
Aaron's POV:
Mom and Dad tell us to stop worrying about beating the other teams and worry about enjoying ourselves, but we all know we're in trouble if we don't pull off a perfect performance. After our show circle we head backstage and most of us stand on either side of the stage, but Amelia and Harry both stand next to the piano. As the music begins and the curtain goes up they walk further away from each other and then slowly join back up again: sometimes looking out at the audience but
Amelia: It's a little bit funny
This feeling inside
I'm not one of those who can easily hide
Harry: I don't have much money
But girl if I did
I'd buy a big house where
We both could live
Amelia+Harry: And you can tell everybody,
This is your song
It may be quite simple but
Now that it's done
I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is now you're in the world
Harry: If I was a sculptor
But then again no
Amelia:My gift is my song and
This one's for you
Amelia+Harry with New Directions (from backstage): Oh [x8]
Amelia+Harry: And you can tell everybody
This is your song
It may be quite simple but
Now that it's done
I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is now you're in the world
At the end of the song Amelia and Harry are pressed close together. Suddenly, they lean up and their lips connect. At first there was a little pattering of applause but it quickly fades out, although they don't seem to realise.
I should feel, I don't know, worried that this will ruin our chances? Instead I feel lonely. Amelia's rediscovered her true love- come on, we all know they're going to end up together! As well as this, I can see Alex and Chloe on the other side of the stage; Chloe's hand is running through Alex's hair, Alex is glancing between her girlfriend and Amelia nervously as Chloe whispers something, and they're pressed close together. Dave's been on a few dates, as have Jack and Eddie. Ever since I danced with her, I've been working up the courage to ask Izzy out. I finally did it yesterday and she awkwardly revealed that she started dancing with Jack at the party after she left me and they've been dating ever since. I'm sixteen years old and I haven't even been on one date, whereas both my sisters have found the ones they want to spend their lives with!
I feel the wall separating me from the rest of the world close in, until the music restarts. Amelia and Harry quickly pull apart and then he goes straight into the choreography, spinning her before joining the rest of us guys on one side of the stage and the girls gallop to the other side. At the chorus we partner up with a girl each.
Clara: Clock strikes upon the hour
And the sun begins to fade
Marissa: Still enough time to figure out
How to chase my blues away
Jenna: I've done alright up 'til now
It's the light of day that shows me how
Clara, Marissa+Jenna: And when the night falls
Loneliness calls
Girls: Oh! I wanna dance with somebody
I wanna feel the heat with somebody
Yeah! I wanna dance with somebody
With somebody who loves me
Sophia: I've been in love and lost my senses
Spinning through the town
Chloe: Sooner or later the fever ends
And I wind up feeling down
Macey: I need a man who'll take a chance
On a love that burns hot enough to last
Sophia, Chloe+Macey: So when the night falls
My lonely heart calls
New Directions: Oh! I wanna dance with somebody
I wanna feel the heat with somebody
Yeah! I wanna dance with somebody
With somebody who loves me
Oh, I wanna dance with somebody
I wanna feel the heat with somebody
Yeah! I wanna dance with somebody
With somebody who loves me!
We're all breathing heavily but there's another energetic song yet. Alfie starts the song, then Liam and Mark take over, walking along the line of us until they get to the end and Alfie starts dancing with Clara, Liam stops in front of Marissa, Rhys smiles at Jenna and Mark takes Sophia's hand. We each then turn to our own partners.
Alfie: See the people walking down the street
Fall in line just watching all their feet
Mark+Liam: They don't know where they wanna go
But they're walking in time
Alfie, Clara, Liam, Rhys, Marissa and Mark (seniors): They got the beat
They got the beat
They got the beat, yeah
They got the beat
Clara: See the kids just getting out of school
They can't wait to hang out and be cool
Marissa: Hang around 'til quarter after twelve
Clara+Marissa: That's when they fall in line
New Directions: We got the beat
We got the beat
We got the beat
Harry, Jenna, Sophia (juniors): Everybody get on your feet!
New Directions: We got the beat
Me, Amelia, Alex, Dave, Chloe, Macey and Izzy (sophomores): We know you can dance to the beat
New Directions: We got the beat
Lottie,Violet,Will+Ethan (freshmen): Jumpin',get down
New Directions: We got the beat
Alfie, Clara, Liam, Rhys, Marissa and Mark (seniors): Round and round and round!
New Directions: We got the beat!
Finn's POV:
Rachel and I stand up on the stage with the kids as they reveal the winners, the two of us clutching each other's hands tightly.
"In third place," The envelope is carefully opened and then the judge says, "From William McKinley-" And then I switch off. These kids have worked so hard! Now I know how the other felt Junior Year when Rachel and I kissed on stage. I'm vaguely aware of being handed a trophy barely larger than my hand and then retreating into the shadows. As soon as the Warblers are announced as the winners, Rachel and I escort the kids off of the stage.
When we get back to the choir room Alex tries to leap at Harry and Amelia who are standing slightly separate from the rest. The other kids hold her back but they seem half-hearted so Rachel and I have to help. All of the parents are back to the choir room.
"Okay, here's what we're gonna do," I announce. "If all your parents agree we're going to go to the nearest ice-cream shop and Mrs Hudson and I will buy all of you a scoop of ice-cream." The kids all seem excited about this plan and get into their cars- Amelia, Macey (who's mom had work) and Chloe go in Rachel's car while I take Aaron and Alex and everyone else goes with their parents. We all meet up at the ice-cream shop ten minutes down the road.
After I've spent most of my money, we all sit down in the park opposite the ice-cream shop in a circle.
Clara and Alfie interrupt me and ask to make a quick speech, which I agree to. The two of them head to the centre of the circle and then Alfie says,
"We would be lying if we said we didn't want to win, but the truth is, all of us seniors have won a Nationals trophy- even Rhys won one at his old school, as have the juniors. So we're just going to take those memories with us, and we'll definitely be there to cheer you lot on next year."
"Glee," Clara continues for him. "Is about the fun, the music, and the friends," She makes eye contact with every one of us. "I have all of you on Facebook and I promise I'll never delete you, you guys are my second family." We all go in for a group hug and then it becomes more casual and all the kids start talking to each other. Rachel and I turn to the other parents and start to chat to them.
Harry's POV:
Honestly, I feel close to tears. Alfie especially helped me so much when I came here, as did all the other seniors, I'm going to miss them so much- but I still don't regret it. Maybe I should. But I'm selfish.
I grab Amelia's hand and pull her over behind some bushes.
She stares at me- well, specifically my lips. "What is it?" She asks eventually.
I incline my head to the left slightly- she always used to say how cute that was- and lean in, "I think you know." I'm about to kiss her when she goes up on her tiptoes to me and kisses me passionately, moaning lightly.
"So do this mean we're back together?" I ask once we've pulled apart for breath
After lightly smacking my arm, Amelia whispers "shut up" against my lips and then our lips crash together.
Junior year next chapter!