After a flight to Hollywood and a night cramped into 2 bedrooms the New Directions were finally waiting in the massive green room of the equally huge building where show choirs from all over America were battling it out to gain a place in the top 10 list who would be performing yet again to possibly win Nationals. Everyone sat nervously, excitedly chatting. "We're on in 5 guys!" Mr Shuester announced, letting the group know to quickly prepare themselves.
"You ready?" Rachel asked Alice, who was standing next to her at the back of the room.
Alice took a deep breath. "I'm so nervous, I'm shaking." She mumbled quickly.
"Don't be, you're going to do amazing!" She told her. Alice would be the first of the New Directions to hit the stage, performing her solo where the rest of the group planned to come in halfway.
"What are you two talking about?" Rory asked them coming over with a grin.
"The fact that I am so terrified." Alice groaned. "I feel sick."
"Alice!" Rory exclaimed. "You have more confidence than that, you can do this."
"What if I pass out on stage?"
"You won't, I promise." he told her. "When you're out there just think about us and everyone we're proving wrong. Look for that comfort zone and if worst comes to worst just picture everyone in their underwear." Alice giggled. "See it's already working." He took her hand holding it tight.
"Alice it's time." Mr. Shuester said, "Everyone get backstage and be ready for the cue. Let's do this guys!"
"Good luck." Rory whispered before Alice ran off to take her place on the stage.
The whole place was dark, with one or two dim lights out in the audience. She could feel the rush of nerves flowing through her and for a moment felt like running back off and telling Rachel to take her place but then she remembered what Rory had said and instantly she felt more confident. During the performance she thought of Rory watching her backstage, grinning at him when the rest of the group came to join her. The song was over and Alice could hardly believe her eyes as the whole audience stood on their feet and cheered them all on, her nerves finally settled as she ran to her place within the crowd of performers and the group number started. Now, during every step they took the audience cheered and clapped along, waving their arms and dancing to the beat, a roar as they finished up and left the stage.
The New Directions were ecstatic, complimenting one another on how great they had been, smiles on each and every one of their faces. "See, there was nothing to worry about." Rory said taking Alice in his arms and kissing her on the cheek. "You were amazing out there!"
"You think?" She replied still trying to get her breath back.
"I know." He smiled.
She laughed pulling him into another tight hug. "Thank you, Rory. I couldn't have done it without you."
Once again tension built up as they awaited the board of the names of the ten winning show choirs to be put up. "We've got this one, I know it." Kurt exclaimed, clapping excitedly.
"I have a really good feeling about it." Rachel added, the two of them grinning at one another as their boyfriends stood by their side.
"You all did great but after last year I wouldn't get your hopes up to high. We don't want another drama." Mr. Shuester said, reminding them of the arguments that went on after they didn't make the leader board last year.
There were suddenly squeals of joy coming from the middle of the room, telling them that the leader board must have been up. They watched as the faces of disappointed and extremely excited teams came past them, their hearts all tensely beating. "Let's go." Finn said, following after Mr. Shuester, who unlike the rest of them had already started to head off towards their fate. Finally they stood there in front of it, staring for a while before all letting out sighs of relief, screaming and jumping around in happiness as on the leader board, placed a nice 3rd, were the New Directions.
The girls, Kurt and Blaine sat in their hotel room discussing how they were going to beat the other show choirs and grab the first place trophy. Everyone was feeling very hopeful and confident after being placed 3rd. They had already prepared for winning the first part of nationals, practising a solo from Rachel who would then go on to duet with Kurt and after that the whole group would move onto a girls vs. boys sing off to finish up and wow the judges with their remarkable skills.
The rest of the boys were feeling even more competitive and ecstatic about getting into the final part of Nationals. Being as they usually were, rowdy and energetic.
The next day they waited on stage, breathing heavily, for the results of the second Nationals competition. All the excitement was now taken over by a fresh batch of nerves. They held onto one another for comfort, tensing up as the host walked on stage with an envelope and a microphone in hand. Slowly she went down the list, tenth, ninth, eighth, still no sign of the New Directions, seventh, sixth, fifth, fourth. She then asked for the groups to all leave the stage, prolonging the announcement of the winner even longer.
"In third place," She said. "Rover High's Bee's Knees!" The group cheered, the audience clapping. They seemed glad to have made it so far, holding their third place trophy up high. The members of New Directions looked at one another, their stomachs filling with butterflies. They were so close to winning.
"And finally, the winner of this years National show choir competition is," She paused for what seemed like almost ten minutes before finally announcing, "McKinley High's New Directions!"
The whole moment felt as if it was played in slow motion. Everyone jumping up and down in pure excitement, their hearts racing from the rush of it all and the crowd cheered and clapped. Mr Shuester took their over sized trophy from the man handing it out, shaking his hand before thrusting the trophy into the air proudly as the group hugged and congratulated one another, feeling as if nothing could bring them down.