"Now we have a real treat for you" Peter Reid said into the microphone. The lights were dim except for the bright stage spot light that Peter sweated under. The ballroom was full of guests and travelers.
"All the way from Lima, Ohio we have... The New Directions!" Peter shouted, his voice echoing. He quickly hurried off the stage and the loud sound of clapping was heard. New Directions walked on the stage and got into their positions. The music started and they started singing. Blaine and Quinn stepped out from the lineup and sang along perfectly.
Rachel beamed into the crowd that she couldn't see very well due to the bright spot light. Either way, she was in her element. On stage where she can sing and dance her heart out. Not to mention that her friends were right there with her. It was perfection.
Finally, 'Don't Stop Believing' ended and a fresh round of applause began. New Directions smiled into the crowd and stood still to catch their breaths before the next song began. When the clapping died down, the music for the next song, 'Shut Up And Drive' began. The boys stepped back while the girls jumped to the front of the stage.
They sang it out loud and considering that they only practiced it twice before, they did amazing.
"They're rocking it!" Beiste leaned over and whispered to Emma and Shelby.
"I know" Emma nodded. "They're great!"
"They have so much potential" Shelby said.
The girls' song ended and the crowd erupted in cheers.
"Whooooo!" The female chaperones of the group jumped out of their seats and gave them a standing ovation.
The girls bowed quickly and gave off wide smiles.
The boys stepped forward and the girls stepped back to they were all aligned. The music for their next song began. The girls rushed to one side of the stage while the boys headed for the other. They danced and sang around, hitting all the right notes.
Will, who was watching from the side, was grinning.
"Pretty awesome, huh?" Peter said, coming up behind Will. Will turned to look at him, still smiling.
"Yeah, I'm proud of them" Will said.
"They're good" Peter commented, watching the boys sing their lines. "Gives Kaylee and her group a run for their money."
"Kaylee?" Will asked.
"My daughter" Peter said. "She's fifteen."
Finally, the name clicked in Will's memory. "Oh, yes, Kaylee. The kids told me about her. I didn't know she was your daughter."
"Yup" Peter nodded. "So what song is this?"
Will paused to hear the song. "I dunno. Some new pop song. I'm not familiar with this new stuff."
Peter laughed. "I know what you mean. Kaylee goes around singing some 'Katie Perry' or something, I have no idea."
"Katy Perry" Will corrected with a smile. "Well, thanks to the kids, I'm somewhat aware, but I'm more of an oldies fan. Journey and all that."
"I'm right with you!" Peter laughed with a grin.
"Mr. Reid?" A skinny teenage boy wearing a hotel uniform came running up.
"Yes?" Peter turned and looked at him.
"Y-you're needed in the kitchen" the boy said.
"Okay" Peter nodded. He turned back to Will. "Great talking to you. See you around, yeah?"
Will nodded and Peter and the mousy boy walked off.
By now, New Directions had finished 'Good Girls Go Bad' and had taken a ten minute break to catch their breaths and drink some water and rest up. Then they were back at it with 'Sing' now.
Will watched for a brief moment then he hurried off to the hotel's business room to use the free computers. He needed to get the lyrics to several Abba songs. Luckily, the computers were free and he quickly got he lyrics. Internet...What would they do without it? When the pages had printed and Will paid the small usage fee, he grabbed the sheets and ran back to the ballroom to see New Directions end their amazing rendition of 'You Can't Always Get What You Want'. They had improved so much since Sectionals only two years back. It was amazing how far they'd come since then. Will found himself getting a bit teary-eyed at the thoughts and memories.
When New Directions finished, they stayed for the applause that was loud and meaningful. They all bowed and then exited the stage, glad to get a break.
"Hey guys!" Will said, running up to them. "Great show!"
"Thanks" Rachel beamed at him.
"So I have the lyrics to several Abba songs here" Will said, showing them the pages.
"Okay, hold on Mr. Schue" Mercedes said. "We just came off."
"That mean Kaylee and her crew is going on" Blaine said.
"Oh, I wanna see this" Santana said. They all followed her out of the back-stage area and into the main ballroom.
"Now, make some noise for...Phat Lady!" Peter called into the mic.
The members of New Directions laughed out loud. A few members of the audience did too.
"The group is called Fat Lady?" Puck howled. "That's ridiculous!"
"And hilarious!" Sugar laughed.
"Guys!" Will snapped at them. "Show some courtesy and stop laughing!"
"Sorry. They deserve it and also, who can't help but laugh? I mean, Fat Lady?" Mike laughed.
Will rolled his eyes and tried to cover up his own chuckle. That was a pretty bad name for a show choir, he had to admit.
"Shhh! They're about to sing!" Kurt said, shushing them with his hands. They all stopped laughing and stood still as music began playing.
Kaylee and her group started dancing around. They were good dancers and stayed in sync most of the time. Then Kaylee started singing. She sang the first verse solo in a higher octave then the rest of her group jumped in from the chorus on.
"I'm gonna make it bend and break
Say a prayer, but let the good times roll
In case God doesn't show
And I want these words to make things right
But it's the wrongs that make the words come to life
Who does he think he is?
If that's the worst you've got better put your fingers back to the keys
One night and one more time
Thanks for the memories
Even though they weren't so great
He tastes like you only sweeter
One night yeah, and one more time
Thanks for the memories
Thanks for the memories
See he tastes like you only sweeter
I'm looking forward to the future
But my eyesight is going bad
And this crystal ball
It's always cloudy except for
When you look into the past,
the past
One night stand
One night stand
One night and one more time
Thanks for the memories
Even though they weren't so great
He tastes like you only sweeter
One night yeah, and one more time
Thanks for the memories
Thanks for the memories
See he tastes like you only sweeter
They say I only think in the form of
Crunching numbers
in hotel rooms
Collecting page six lovers
Get me out of my mind
Gets you out of those clothes
I'm a liner away from
Getting you into the mood
One night and one more time
Thanks for the memories
Even though they weren't so great
He tastes like you only sweeter
One night yeah, and one more time
Thanks for the memories
Thanks for the memories
See he tastes like you only sweeter
One night and one more time
Thanks for the memories
Even though they weren't so great
He tastes like you only sweeter
One night yeah, and one more time
Thanks for the memories
Thanks for the memories
See he tastes like you only sweeter"
The song ended and the wild applause began.
All of New Directions stood still, refusing to clap.
"They are good" Rachel grumbled.
"Kaylee has great range" Kurt said.
"So they're good. We're good, too" Blaine said, trying to stay positive.
"But are we better?" Finn asked. Blaine didn't respond.
"Yes. Yes you are better" Will said, trying to show as much confidence as he could summon. They walked out of the ballroom into a large dressing room where they could talk and rehearse in peace.
All the teens looked at up at him with wide eyes.
"You really think so?" Rory asked.
Will nodded. "Yes. Look, they are like Vocal Adrenaline. They have one lead singer and a bunch of backup singers. Kaylee is clearly the main attraction."
"Or the Warblers" Puck said. Blaine blushed, making Kurt snicker.
"But the point is, they have a weakness too. Remember Vocal Adrenaline's was funk?" Will reminded them. They nodded and thought about it.
"But in three days, we can't figure theirs out" Quinn said.
"Okay. Let's just focus on doing our best with our songs" Tina said.
"I agree" Artie said.
"Well, let's learn these lyrics then" Sugar said.
"What songs are we doing?" Brittany asked.
Quinn rifled through the sheets. "Umm... 'Super Trouper', 'SOS', 'Take A Chance On Me', 'Thank You For The Music' and 'Our Last Summer'."
"Who knows the lyrics to these already?" Will asked.
Rachel, Kurt, Blaine, Mercedes and Tina raised their hands.
"Great" Finn nodded. "You can teach us. And if we forget the lyrics, at least you guys will still be singing!" They laughed at his logic.
"You guys have 45 minutes to do this. I'll leave. I think you work best when I'm not pressuring you" Will said.
"If you want to" Rachel shrugged. "You can stay and give us some direction."
Will smiled and nodded. He pulled up a stool and sat down. The people who said they are familiar with the lyrics began to sing quietly.
"Now, welcoming back to the stage, we have...New Directions!" Peter said. The crowd cheered. Phat Lady had sung five other songs, each one as amazing as the last.
"Tough act to follow" Mercedes had said as they waited to go on.
"I bet they said that after we sung, too" Tina smiled.
New Directions stepped on stage into the hot light.
The music started playing.
"Where are those happy days
They seem so hard to find
I tried to reach for you
But you have closed your mind
Whatever happened to our love?
I wish I understood
It used to be so nice
It used to be so good
So when you're near me, darling can't you hear me
S. O. S.
The love you gave me, nothing else can save me
S. O. S.
When you're gone
How can I even try to go on?
When you're gone
Though I try how can I carry on?
You seem so far away
Though you are standing near
You made me feel alive
But something died I fear
I really tried to make it out
I wish I understood
What happened to our love
It used to be so good
So when you're near me, darling can't you hear me
S. O. S.
The love you gave me, nothing else can save me
S. O. S.
When you're gone
How can I even try to go on?
When you're gone
Though I try how can I carry on?
So when you're near me, darling can't you hear me
S. O. S.
And the love you gave me, nothing else can save me
S. O. S.
When you're gone
How can I even try to go on?
When you're gone
Though I try how can I carry on?
When you're gone
How can I even try to go on?
When you're gone
Though I try how can I carry on?"
New Directions gave a proud smile as the music died off. That was one of the best songs that they've ever done. They saw Phat Lady frowning at them from the side. It was hard to tell if Kaylee's look was mad, sad or amused.
They took off into the next song, feeling a bit more confident now.
Finally, it was eleven o'clock. That means the show was over- for both groups.
The crowd was clearing out and the hotel employees were starting to clean. New Directions, who had been done their singing shift an hour before were waiting in their dressing room and chatting a bit.
When they heard that the show was over, they walked out, hoping to run into Phat Lady.
And they did.
"Well, well, well. Look who it is" Kaylee tutted.
"It's 'Fat Lady'" Puck snickered.
"What's with the name?" Rory asked.
Kaylee's tough expression softened a bit. She smiled a bit, too. "You know that saying, 'it ain't over until the fat lady sings'? Well, we used that as our name, because it's pretty clever, but we changed the F to PH to make it cooler."
"Oh..." Kurt nodded. "Interesting."
Kaylee shrugged.
"You guys were really good" one of the members of Phat Lady said. It was the same one who told Kaylee what time it was a bit earlier.
New Directions smiled.
"Thanks!" Quinn smiled.
"You're welcome" the boy said with a shy smile.
"You guys were good too" Finn said.
"As expected" Kaylee said.
"Kay, play nice" the same boy whispered to her.
"Sorry" Kaylee muttered. She shook her head and stepped forward. "Look, I gotta go. I'm tired and I need my sleep, as you all know. I'll see you tomorrow, guys."
"Bye" the members of Phat Lady chanted. Kaylee looked at New Directions for a moment, her dark brown eyes meeting each of theirs briefly. Her eyes settled on Rory's wide blue ones. She lingered for longer than anyone else's. Then she blinked and walked out of the ballroom, her black boots making 'chlunk' each step she took away.
"What's her deal?" Sam asked the remaining members of Phat Lady who watched her walk away then exchange unsure glances with each other.
The same boy spoke up first. "Kaylee...she can be different at times..."
"She's always fine when it's just us, but when there's other people around...she gets funny" one girl said. This girl had shoulder-length curly brown hair.
"We think she doesn't like other singers who are better than her" the same boy said. He was a shorter boy with strawberry blonde hair.
New Directions stayed quiet for a moment. So she was just jealous?
"We're not as mean or stuck up as we, or Kaylee, portrays us as" the girl said with a smile.
"Thanks for tell us" Mercedes said, smiling back.
"Is Kaylee the leader of your group?" Santana asked.
"Yeah, she's sorta the heart and soul of Phat Lady" the girl said.
"We all love to sing and perform and all, but Kaylee is way more competitive than us" the boy said.
"Then why don't you bring her back down? You can outnumber her easily" Kurt said.
"Singing is all she's got" another girl said quietly. She was on the larger side and had brown wispy hair.
"What do you mean?" Rachel asked.
The boy sighed. "Her mom left when she was three and it's been just her and her dad. Her dad is normally busy with the hotel so we are like Kaylee's makeshift family. We love it and she does too. But if we just took her singing away..." his voice trailed off.
"Look, we have no issue telling you this. She's been pretty harsh to you so you deserve it, but don't judge her on it, please. She get's mean when she's upset" the first girl said.
"No, we get it" Blaine said, nodding.
"Yeah, we are like the least judgmental people ever" Brittany smiled.
There was an awkward silence. Both groups just sorta stood there, avoiding eye contact in all ways.
"I'm Cam, by the way" the boy said with a smile.
"And I'm Jess" the curly-haired girl said.
"And I'm Sophie" the wispy-haired girl said.
"Hi!" New Directions all said at the same time. They all laughed.
"What time is it, anyways?" Artie asked.
Cam looked at his watch. "Almost midnight."
Quinn yawned. "That'd be why I'm about to pass out right here on the floor."
"Same" Jess yawned, leaning her head on Cam's shoulder.
"I think it'll be best for us to go now" Rachel said. They all nodded their agreement.
"See ya" Cam and Phat Lady waved to New Directions.
New Directions waved back lazily and they turned to walk slowly away to the door.
A/N
So what did you think? I added in a few more OC's. And I know Kaylee seems like a rude snob, but I do have more of a story line for her coming up.
And another thing, I have decided that ND will go to Universal Studios. That's coming up too. I won't go into a whole bunch of detail on it but I think it'll be fun. :)
Lemmie know what you think/want/enjoy/hate/feel/suggestions you wish to share.
P.S. Here are the songs sung/mentioned in the past 2 chapters. 'Don't Stop Believin'' by Journey, 'Sing' by My Chemical Romance, 'Shut Up and Drive' by Rihanna, 'Good Girls Go Bad' by Cobra Starship feat. Sabi, 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' by the Rolling Stones, 'Thanks For The Memories' by Fallout Boy, 'Super Trouper' 'SOS' 'Take A Chance On Me' 'Dancing Queen' 'Thank You For The Music' and 'Our Last Summer' by Abba.
P.P.S. What did you think of the new glee club's name: Phat Lady? I thought it was pretty clever... ;)