Chapter 20- Sectionals
"Alright guys," Will cheered as he walked into the choir room, holding a stack of paper. "Happy Sectionals week!"
Rachel sat up a little straighter in her seat. She knew what day it was. Sectional setlist reveal. And she knew that it was between her and Tina for the solo. She wasn't sure whether or not Mr Schuester was going to take half the group's threat to quit seriously or whether he would capitulate to their demands. He wasn't the most courageous person at the best of times. Rachel had heeded their warning about demanding things last Glee rehearsal. So she did what she did best. Sit as straight as her spine would allow and hope that she would be noticed and selected due to her perpetual enthusiasm for their club.
The KHHHB sat on their usual back row, looking bored yet cautious. They were looking for Will to make the correct choice, hoping that they wouldn't have to quit. Despite everything that had been going on lately with them, they all loved Glee Club. They had joined for a reason and stayed for a reason. They would hate to have to quit.
Tina rubbed her hands together - this was her shot. She would finally get a competition solo and show both the Glee Club and Lima what she could do.
"I have the setlist picked out but we're going to do things a little differently."
Tina leaned forward in her seat.
"I've only picked the singers. I chose the song for the group number, but the solo and the duet are for those soloing to select."
Kurt blinked in shock. Maybe Mr Schuester had learned something from their rebellion. However strict he was being towards them, bordering on unfair treatment, he seemed to have gotten used to the idea of someone else singing.
"The solo will be taken by Tina."
Tina grinned as Rachel stood up immediately, pointing at her.
"This is preposterous! You're only doing this because she threatened to quit. Look, Tina is a very talented singer, but she simply doesn't have the performance ability and gravitas to be able to lead a song."
Will shrugged. "You haven't let her try, Rachel."
That was Kurt when realised that Mr Schuester was smarter than he appeared. He recognised their influence in the group while not ultimately agreeing with their methods. He knew that they weren't bluffing and that counted for a lot.
"I'll be speaking to my fathers about this."
Kurt was confused as to what Hiram and Leroy were going to do about Rachel not receiving a solo.
Will cleared his throat. "Anyway, I would like Kurt and Quinn to take the duet. I noticed your harmonies during the Cheerios performance the other day and would like to see what you could do with your own number. I'd also like to apologise for neglecting your talents last year."
Quinn blinked in surprise but Kurt just nodded. He was beginning to see it.
"Thank you, Mr Schue. We won't let you down."
"And then the group number. I listened to what you all said yesterday. It's clear I've made some missteps regarding the talents of this club. That's why I'd like Brittany and Mike to choreograph the number, with Artie, Santana, Rachel, and Puck on lead vocal."
Kurt rolled his eyes at Puck's smug look.
"And if you're not singing lead this time, there'll be something for you at Regionals. I'm sorry that it took some tension for it to come out, but I wasn't fair to some of you last year. And that will change.
"But these changes come with a condition. You all have got to start being nicer to each other. The judges will notice if you're not gelling as a group. I know there have been some damages done by members of this group that will no longer go ignored. Mercedes, after Sectionals, you're out."
Kurt raised an impressed brow.
Mercedes spluttered. "Mr. Schue…"
Will shook his head. "I should have acted on this earlier. You threatened the safety and privacy of two of our members. Your actions have caused shockwaves in their lives and they no longer feel safe in this school. You went against everything we preach in Glee Club and frankly, I'm disgusted you were capable of something like this."
Mercedes sneered. "How are you going to qualify for Regionals with eleven members? The band is filling in even now. You need me."
Santana shook her head at Mercedes' continually belligerent attitude. The girl was showing her true colours and they looked more like Rachel Berry than anyone ever realised. Even Rachel was livid with her, and that had to mean something.
Will smiled darkly. "No, Mercedes, we do not. Your voice is wonderful, but your attitude and work ethic are not. Luckily for us, Kurt managed to find us your replacement."
Kurt preened at the mention of his name, eager to rub Mercedes' nose in what she did to his girls. It was almost like Mr Schuester was framing the situation in his favour on purpose. "My adorable boyfriend just so happens to have a beautiful voice and be an excellent guitar player to boot. He's more than willing to fill in."
Santana smirked. "Wanky."
Kurt shrugged. "Yes, I suppose it is."
Mercedes sneered. "Not much of a replacement for me. I can do things nobody in this room can do."
"Yes, like betray everyone and be a homophobic asshole," Brittany spat.
"Language, Brittany," Mr Schuester berated, but his heart wasn't in it. Brittany simply shrugged.
Rachel shot a hand up one last time to try and change Mr Schuester's mind, but it was clear that the man was staying firm, which Kurt almost respected. It had taken him a while, but he had finally learned something about the other members of the club.
"I don't want to hear it, Rachel. This is our plan for Sectionals. Tina, Kurt and Quinn, I want your song selections by the end of school tomorrow at the very latest so I can approve them and you can start rehearsals."
Kurt nodded. "Got it. And thanks, Mr Schue."
"I don't deserve your gratitude, Kurt. This is the least I can do for shutting you all out last year. Consider this the start of my reparations."
No, William Schuester was many things, but an idiot was not one of them.
As soon as the meeting ended, the drama began.
Rachel rounded on Tina but was intercepted by Brittany and Santana, who folded their arms.
"May we help you?"
Rachel put her hands on her hips. "I would like to speak with Tina, not her bodyguards."
Tina sighed. "It's okay, girls. She'll just email me later and I could do without anything distracting me from my solo rehearsals."
"You know what you're singing already?" Rachel appeared shocked.
Tina nodded. "I spent all of last year dreaming about what I would sing if I ever got a solo. Sitting on the back row with a song in my heart while you got out of your seat and butchered every Barbra standard I've ever heard."
Rachel gaped. "Tina!"
"What? So you're allowed to criticise my ability to carry a song but your vocals are untouchable? No, I don't think so."
Kurt didn't think he'd ever been happier or prouder of the girl.
"Tina, I respect your talent and I always have."
"Really? You respected my talent when you quit the club because I got a solo?"
Rachel's mouth opened to argue in her defence but promptly closed again.
"I thought so. I tell you what, Rachel, if we lose Sectionals because of my solo, I'll nominate you for all of next year's solos. Okay?"
"Not okay," Santana hissed.
Tina shrugged. "That's how confident I am in myself and in Kurt and Quinn. We're going to win and you Rachel are going to see that other people can bring us victory and not just you and Finn singing every song by yourselves."
Rachel sighed. "While I know that there's no changing Mr Schuester's mind now, I would be happy to come over to your house and work on your song with you. Then you'll have the benefit of my fourteen years of singing lessons and performance classes to give you an edge."
"I think I can do this without your help."
Rachel shrugged. "I'm not so sure."
Tina flexed her hand before throwing it up in the air and across Rachel's face, a slap that echoed across the hallway.
Kurt and Quinn gasped, smiling.
Santana's eyes lighted, sending a rare impressed glance Tina's way.
Tina gritted her teeth, trying not to revel in the moment and concentrate on sending the message she had intended to send. "This is the last time I'm going to say this, Rachel. Show the rest of us some respect or we walk. Try competing at Regionals without us."
With that, Tina walked away, leaving the others no choice but to follow. Rachel stood on the spot, nursing her injured face.
Tina released a large breath. "I can't believe I just did that."
"Frankly, I've never liked you more," Santana chuckled.
Kurt nodded. "Not to go all Velma Kelly, but she did have it coming. She's been belittling you for years now, it's about time she learned to see you for who you are. The way we see you."
"I love you guys," Tina crowed.
Quinn beamed. "We love you, girl. I can't wait to see her face when you kill it at Sectionals."
"It'll almost be worth all this time not getting any solos. Maybe I should sing Don't Rain on my Parade."
The group laughed, thinking about how that would go down and imagining the aghast look on Rachel's face if Tina took on her go-to ballad.
Around the corner from them and out of sight, Puck sighed as the rage of the group running around the school and causing chaos took over him once again. He pulled out his phone and pulled up a number he hadn't used in several months.
Need ur help. Meet in the parking lot in 5?
New Directions ended up taking Sectionals as everyone has expected them to do. Tina had taken to the stage first and brought the house down with her rendition of Speechless. Kurt and Quinn had followed that and nailed their version of Bittersweet Symphony, which had brought Sam and a surprised Santana to tears. Mr Schuester had chosen We Didn't Start the Fire for their closing group number, but they had gotten the audience's energy up to the point where they couldn't possibly have lost. Even the judges were standing and dancing with them.
It had wiped the smug smiles right off the faces of the Warblers, who had probably vastly underestimated New Directions despite their Sectionals success the previous year.
Things were going well for everyone. Mercedes was gone from the club, they were advancing to Regionals, and things were changing in Glee Club.
Kurt should've known that good things rarely lasted.
As soon as Kurt stepped into the choir room for their Post-Sectionals celebration, he knew that something was going to go very, very wrong. There was something hanging in the air that he couldn't explain that worried him. Perhaps it was a consequence of things going too well at Sectionals, he and his friends singing the leads, Mercedes leaving the club, everything seemed to be coming up roses for them.
So, in true Kurt Hummel fashion, what was up absolutely had to come down.
He met Sam's eye with a cautious nod and chose to linger at the back of the room. He made sure to spot Puck on the back row of the bleachers, scowling at anyone who looked at him.
Then, the boy met Kurt's eye and his lips spread into a smirk, Kurt's heart dropping immediately. Whatever the boy was about to do, it wasn't going to be pretty.
Puck stood up and raised his non-alcoholic sparkling cider. "You know, I'd like to say something."
"Must you?" Santana drawled, but saw a worried Kurt in the background and stopped talking.
Puck grinned. "I'm proud of us for taking Sectionals. We really are the best at putting our pasts behind us and singing together, then celebrating like we're all best friends."
Everyone stared at him, not really sure what he was going on about. Kurt was growing increasingly concerned, knowing a bomb was about to drop.
"There are countless elephants in this room and I'm just shocked we've managed to get past them."
Quinn opened her mouth to speak but was intercepted by a stoic Santana. Quinn frowned but nodded, seeing the girl nod to Kurt.
"Tina," Puck continued, "you did great up there today."
Tina folded her arms, curious about where this was leading.
"Despite everything that's going on, you managed to keep yourself undistracted. Though it was funny to see you and Mike celebrating afterwards, given everything."
Mike frowned. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Puck grinned at the confused looks on both of their faces. "Oh, you haven't told her. Maybe you're not as great a guy as she thinks you are."
"Fuck," Kurt whispered under his breath.
Puck put his glass down and held his hands up. "Hey, if you're not gonna tell her, someone should. Hummel?"
Puck turned to him.
Kurt held his steely gaze.
"Fine. Since everyone here's too chicken shit to tell the truth, I guess it's up to me."
Tina scowled. "I doubt I care, but I'd love to know exactly what you're talking about, Puck."
"Oh, I think you'll care about your two best guys sleeping together."
The air seemed to fizzle from the room. Kurt held his breath and had the grace to look at Tina. Mike shrank into himself as Santana and Quinn turned to him simultaneously. Their combined gazes were enough to make anyone feel intimidated.
Tina's frown deepened. "You're full of shit."
Puck shrugged. "Maybe I am. Or maybe I'm right and you just don't want to see it."
Tina turned to Mike first. "Aren't you going to say anything?"
Mike cleared his throat. "Tina…"
Tina put a hand up and her head snapped to Kurt. "Kurt?"
Kurt took a deep breath, eyes flickering to Sam for just a second. "Can we talk about this outside?"
"No," Tina muttered. "You're always the one saying we should call each other out on our shit."
"Where it's appropriate, Tee, not in front of the whole Glee Club."
Puck snorted. "That's rich, Hummel. You've been fucking her boyfriend and now you're telling her what to do. I thought you guys were friends."
Tina huffed at Puck. "That's enough out of you. Kurt…I can't believe this."
"It's not at all what you think it is."
"Yet neither of you have denied it. Do you have that little respect for Sam and me?"
Kurt sighed. "Tina, this is ridiculous, I—."
"No, Kurt, you're my best friend and I love you but this is too much." Tina stood and stormed across the choir room, sweeping right by Kurt and into the hallway.
Sam folded his arms and Kurt and Mike locked eyes for the first time since Puck started speaking.
Kurt turned into the hallway. "Tina, please wait."
Tina stopped and turned on her heel. "There is nothing you can say that'll make this better, Kurt. And if you believe that there is, then you're wrong."
"But I…"
"No. God, I'm so used to you never doing anything wrong that I always believe the best in you even now."
"Are you not even going to let me explain? I thought we respected each other more than that. Letting Puck drive us apart is exactly what we've been trying not to let happen all this time."
Tina grimaced. "Yet apparently we don't even need Puck. What else are you keeping from me?" She put up a hand. "I don't even want to hear it, Kurt. Just leave me alone."
Kurt nodded. "Can we talk soon, though?"
"Yeah, sure," Tina said a little reluctantly before turning away from him entirely.
Kurt's knees threatened to give way as the anxiety settled in his chest. He turned back around to see Quinn, Santana, Sam, Brittany, and Puck all gathered at the entrance to the choir room.
Puck snorted as he walked past them and up to Kurt. "Your move, Hummel."
He whistled to himself as he walked down the hall and away from them all.
Kurt's legs buckled under him and he dropped to his knees.
Sam walked slowly to him and Kurt reached out and grabbed his leg, eyes teary as he looked up.
"Can I explain?"
Sam swallowed heavily. "Of course. But you don't need me right now. Take your time, do what you need, and I'll be here when you're ready."
Sam crouched down and pressed a kiss to Kurt's head. "I love you."
This only made Kurt feel even worse. As Sam walked away, he doubled over, tears coming freely now.
He looked up through blurry eyes at Quinn, Santana, Brittany, and Mike who had joined the trio and wondered how things had gotten to this point.
Anger surged through him as he realised what had happened and that he hadn't been able to coherently explain things. He just hoped that Tina would be willing to listen when he did.
Brittany took a very deep breath. Her gaze flickered between Kurt and Mike. "Do we want to know what this is about?"
Mike looked to Kurt. "It's…not what you might think."
Santana rolled her eyes. "So you've said. Just tell us."
Kurt returned to his standing position and saw a shadow in the background. "Wait here?"
He walked past them without another word and marched towards the smirking figure of Noah Puckerman, who had lingered after making his dramatic exit.
"How did you find out?"
Puck just shrugged with one shoulder and held his smirk. "Does it matter?"
"It matters to me."
"You might want to focus on fixing things with Tina first. That is, if she wants to after what you did."
"You haven't done what you think you've done. This isn't over."
"Look forward to your reply," Puck winked before leaving out the side door he was hanging by.
Kurt balled his fists and gathered himself before turning back to face what remained of his friends.