Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Glee or any of its characters. I don't have a beta so all mistakes are mine.
Chapter 20
Glee Duets Competition
Upon entering the auditorium they make their way to the stage. Mr. Shue is at the director's desk in the middle of the seating area with the other judges. "Ok guys I have the hat here and will draw out one group at a time to perform. I want to thank our guest judges in advance for their time and help today." He pauses and all of the Gleeks clap. "Ok first up," he says reaching into the hat and drawing a name. "Kurt and Mike. Let's see what you boys have prepared." All of the Gleeks leave to find their seats as Mike and Kurt take the stage and prepare for their song.
The boys give an awesome rendition of Sing from A Chorus line. They all clap and cheer for the funny performance and Mr. Shue chooses the next duet. "Next up we have Puck and Tina." He says.
As they got ready Puck turned to Tina "I'm nervous. Do you think we are ready for this?"
Tina smiled running her hand up and down his arm. "We are ready. We're going to kill it."
He nods taking a deep breath, "Ok. We got this."
They got set and started their performance.
Tina Puck Both
Like a warrior that fights
And wins the battle
I know the taste of victory
Though I went through some nights
Consumed by the shadows
I was crippled emotionally
Somehow I made it through the heartache
Yes I did, I escaped
I found my way out of the darkness
I kept my faith, kept my faith
When the river was deep
I didn't falter
When the mountain was high
I still believed
When the valley was low
It didn't stop me, no, no
I knew you were waiting
Knew you were waiting for me
With and endless desire
I, I kept on searching
Sure in time our eyes would meet
Like the bridge is on fire
The hurt is over
One touch and you set me free
No, I don't regret a single moment
No I don't, looking back
When I think of all those disappointments
I just laugh, I just laugh
When the river was deep
I didn't falter
When the mountain was high
I still believed
When the valley was low
It didn't stop me
I knew you were waiting
Knew you were waiting for me
So we were drawn together through destiny
I know this love we share was meant to be
Knew you were waiting
Knew you were waiting
I knew you were waiting
Knew you were waiting for me
I didn't falter
I still believed
When the valley was low
It didn't stop me
Knew you were waiting
Knew you were waiting for me
I didn't falter
I still believed
When the valley was low
It didn't stop me
Knew you were waiting
Knew you were waiting for me
I didn't falter
I still believed
It didn't stop me
Knew you were waiting
I didn't falter
I still believed
It didn't stop me
As they finished the song they hugged and the group cheered and clapped loudly for them. Mr. Shue spoke into the mic. "That was great guys. Next is Mercedes, Artie, and Matt."
They gave an exciting performance of Black or White by Michael Jackson. Everyone loved it and cheered wildly. Mr. Shue once again spoke out. "You guys are all doing so well, it's going to be hard to choose. Ok next is Quinn and Brittany.
They get set and start singing as the music starts, and sang the whole song while looking at each other, San and Rachel.
Quinn Brittany Both
I never thought I'd feel this way
And as far as I'm concerned
I'm glad I got the chance to say
That I do believe I love you
And if I should ever go away
Well then close your eyes and try
To feel the way we do today
And then if you can remember:
Keep smiling
Keep shining
Knowing you can always count on me for sure
That's what friends are for
For good times and bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
That's what friends are for
Well you came and opened me
And now there's so much more I see
And so by the way I thank you
Oh
And then for the times when we're apart
Well then close your eyes
And know these words are coming from my heart
And then if you can remember...
Keep smiling
Keep shining
Knowing you can always count on me for sure
That's what friends are for
In good times, in bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
That's what friends are for
Keep smiling
Keep shining
Knowing you can always count on me for sure
That's what friends are for
In good times, in bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
That's what friends are for
Keep smiling
Keep shining
Knowing you can always count on me for sure
That's what friends are for
In good times, in bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
That's what friends are for
When they finished San and Rachel had tears in their eyes, the group was moved and they all cheered. It was a wonderful performance. When they make it back to their seats they are pounced on by Rachel and Santana hugging them fiercely. Mr. Shue took to the mic again. "Ok, ladies thank you for that beautiful song. Now, last but not least, Santana and Rachel."
Santana led Rachel to the stage. They pushed the piano to center stage. San took Rachel's hands, "you ready hermosa?"
Rachel nodded, "yes angel, I'm ready. Let's do this." She turned and addressed the room. "With things that have happened in our lives recently and in the past few years we thought this song was great for us."
San took her place at the keys and Rachel stood in front of the piano and they sang their hearts out.
Rachel Santana Both
When life has cut too deep and left you hurting,
The future you had hoped for is now burning,
And the dreams you held so tight have lost their meaning,
And you don't know if you'll ever find the healing...
You're gonna make it.
You're gonna make it,
And the night can only last for so long. (can only last for so long)
Whatever you're facing, if your heart is breaking,
There's a promise for the ones who just hold on. (promise for the ones who just hold on)
Lift up your eyes and see (up your eyes and see) the sun is rising.
(The sun is rising)
The sun is rising.
(The sun is rising)
Every high and every low you're gonna go through,
You don't have to be afraid, I am with you. I am with you
In the moments you're so weak you feel like stopping,
Let the hope you have light the road you're walking.
You're gonna make it. (You're gonna make it.)
You're gonna make it. (You're gonna make it.)
The night can only last for so long. (can only last for so long)
Whatever you're facing, (Whatever you're facing) if your heart is breaking,
There's a promise for the ones who just hold on. (promise for the ones who just hold on)
Lift up your eyesand see (up your eyes and see) the sun is rising.
Even when you can't imagine how,
How you're gonna ever gonna find your way out,
Even when you're drowning in your doubt,
Just look beyond the clouds.
(The sun is rising)
(The sun is rising) Just look beyond the clouds
(The sun is rising)
(The sun is rising)
Whatever you're facing, if your heart is breaking,
There's a promise for the ones who just hold on. (promise for the ones who just hold on)
Lift up your eyes and see the sun is rising. (up your eyes and see)
Yeah. (The sun is rising)
(The sun is rising)
(The sun is rising)
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh. Yeah. (The sun is rising)
Even when you can't imagine how,(The sun is rising)
How you're ever gonna find your way out,(The sun is rising)
Even when you're drowning in your doubt,
Just look beyond the clouds.
Even when you can't imagine how,(The sun is rising)
How you're ever gonna find your way out,(The sun is rising)
Even when you're drowning in your doubt,
Just look beyond the clouds.
At the end of their song the auditorium exploded. The Gleeks and the judges were on their feet cheering madly. All but one. She was clapping but she was pissed, she knew they were beat. San and Rachel hugged and bowed to their small audience. All the Gleeks joined them on stage, Mercedes a little to the back of the group. The judges and Mr. Shue all talked for a few minutes and then joined the group on the stage.
Principal Figgins was the one holding the vouchers. "By a unanimous vote, the winners are Santana and Rachel." The Gleeks cheered again as Figgins handed them their vouchers.
Mr. Shue clapped and cheered with them "That was an amazing duet ladies. That is definitely going to be our duet for regionals." The group cheered louder hugging the excited girls and the judges left the auditorium Mr. Shue following them to talk to Miss Pillsbury for a minute in the hall. This was Mercedes breaking point.
Once the adults were out of earshot she walked up to Rachel pissed. "Oh my god I am getting so sick and tire of this act."
Everyone was instantly silent, all shocked at her outburst. Rachel flinched and backed up into San and Quinn whose arms were instantly around her. Santana was the one to recover first. "What is your problem Wheezy? You can't take the fact that we won fair and square or that we were awarded the duet for Regionals?"
Mercedes was seething. "What I can't take is the, oh woo is me act that she has going on ever since the thing with Finn. Oh my god get over it already and stop using it to your advantage." Mocking what Rachel had said before they sang she repeated it. "'With things that have happened in our lives recently' you got him kick out of school and disciplined far harsher then was necessary. Move on."
San was ready to explode and kill the girl. Rachel was livid. Before San could say anything she put her hand on her arm and held her back as she moved forward. "This song had nothing to do with Finn and I didn't get him kicked out he got himself kicked out. You don't know me or what I have been through in the last couple years. You don't get to stand there and berate me for something you have no knowledge of." She said this with a controlled rage the others had never heard from her before.
Mercedes didn't seem to get it. "Oh poor rich girl with the supped up Camaro and Nova. Yea I saw you get out of the Camaro at the mall and the Nova this morning. What happened? Did daddy not buy you the pony you wanted?"
Puck, Britt, San and Quinn all gasped looking to Rachel. She was visibly shaking. They weren't sure they could or wanted to keep Rach from tearing her apart. Rachel stepped toward her. The look in her eyes told Mercedes she had just gone way too far. "No Mercedes my daddy died. Then my dad left me with my aunt because he couldn't bear to be around without the love of his life and gave up custody because I was a reminder of a life her couldn't have anymore. Then my aunt kicked me out and I have be living alone. I became an emancipated minor Monday on my birthday the second my aunt could cut all ties to me because she couldn't get her hands on my daddy's money through me. And that's just some of what I have been through. There is more that you don't get to know about. So don't you dare stand there and tell me to get over anything and move on. You have no right." She was shaking so hard and had tears streaming down her face by the end of her speech.
San was about to go to her but Mr. Shue showed up as she was telling Mercedes not to dare to stand and tell her to get over it. Missing the rest of the conversation. "Rachel! Don't stand there and yell at a teammate. You don't get to do that because you are captain and don't like what they say." Everyone's jaws hit the floor.
Rachel tried to defend herself. "Mr. Shue you didn't hear wha…"
He cut her off. "NO! It doesn't matter…"
San rushed to Rachel and put a hand on her back. Quinn tried to stop the man from continuing. "Mr. Shue you don't understand…"
He cut her off too. "No Quinn. I will not make concessions to one student over the other." he looked back to Rachel. "I gave you leeway after the Finn incident but no more. Ever since you joined the Cheerios you have been acting all high and mighty. We are going to Figgins office to call your parents."
Everyone gasped and Rachel snapped, yelling at the man. "I don't have any parents or a guardian. If you would take two seconds to listen to the whole story or get to know your students at all you would know this. I am emancipated minor. Talk to me about me. I'm all I have. I have enough going on in my life for me to deal with I don't need this too. At least Coach supports me and is concerned for my well-being and is willing to try and help me. I don't need this club to get to Broadway. I QUIT." With this she runs out of the room Santana hot on her heels shouting back that she quit too on her way out the door.
Quinn looked at him with distain. "You have no idea what you have done. That girl is the sweetest, kindest, and most helpful and loving person I have ever met. I only hope I can grow up to be half the person she is now. She has been through hell and back and some of it in the last two weeks, and I'm not talking about Finn. You have no idea what she is dealing with. None of you do. Have none of you noticed how withdrawn she has become? No, because you don't care. This is the first time she has sung outside of her house in two weeks in front of anyone but Santana. She has turned down every other opportunity to sing that she has been given. She and San found a song that has helped her and Mercedes turned it in to something it wasn't. I quit too and will only come back if she does, and you better hope she does. Because without her we don't have a club. She IS our club just ask the others what she has done behind the scenes for us. She just proved that up here singing today. Mercedes petty jealousy today is what started all this. Ask her what she said to Rachel that caused that scene. She deserved to be yelled at, she was in the wrong, and so are you. You have no idea what you have just done to her. Good luck finding enough replacements before regionals." She says as she turns and leaves.
Britt goes to follow and says, "I quit too, my Rachie's heart is hurting and you made it worse." Then she starts running to catch up to them. Puck and Tina follow saying they quit as well. The others just stand there dumbfounded, than all but Mercedes run after them.
Coach comes from around the side by the curtains followed by Figgins and Miss Pillsbury. "William, I am ashamed of you. I was in the balcony listening to your little competition as my Cheerios and Trainer are in this little club. I heard everything that went down with this one here." She says pointing to Mercedes. "I was recording the performances of my girls and caught it all. In fact it is still recording since I left it to get down here as quickly as I could. Quinn was right. Everything she said was right. That girl, you have no idea. I watched her for one week and figured out what was wrong with her, well I am ninety-nine percent sure I know what is wrong with her. You would too if you took the time to pay attention to your students and what goes on around here instead of trying to get into Emma ultra clean skirt. I hope for her sake she doesn't come back. You are poison. Hell even I knew her father died and I wasn't even her coach until this week. Leave her alone if you cannot be the kind of teacher she deserves." With that she turns and leaves the auditorium to retrieve her camera and gear.
Figgins turns to Shue. "We need to talk William," and motions for him to follow with Miss Pillsbury in tow shaking her head in disgust. What he doesn't know is that Sue grabbed them both when Mercedes started in on Rachel and they heard all that happened with Shue and the Gleeks. Mercedes is left standing there alone thinking to herself, what have I done?
Santana catches up to Rachel as she enters the choir room. As soon as Rachel entered she collapsed to the floor as San scoops in and takes her into her arms. She is a shaking, sobbing mess. San just holds her whispering reassurances in her ear until she calms down a bit. "Why San? Why does everyone hate me? I just don't understand."
"I don't hate you querida. Quite the opposite I assure you. Quinn doesn't hate you. Puck, and Britt, we are all here for you. We all care for you." She tells her hoping she believes her.
"I know San but that is all just so new to me." She pauses. "My dad left because I wasn't good enough to be around without daddy. My aunt hates me and only wants my money. This school and the people in it… I mean I was raped two weeks ago for god sake because no one can accept me." She starts sobbing again and San just holds her and tries to tell her how much she cares.
She turns her head and sees Quinn and the rest of the Gleeks standing stock still by the door and with her eyes wide she shake her head slightly at them. Quinn was heartbroken and frozen in place at what Rach was saying and didn't realize that everyone had followed them until she turned to leave when San shook her head. She ushered them all into a classroom down the hall.
Once they are all inside Kurt started to speak but Quinn cut him off. "What you guys just heard cannot be repeated to anyone. Do you understand me? We are trying to help her. We don't know who did it. All I know is that San found her after it had happened and took care of her. Rachel will not talk about it. If any of you care for her at all you will keep your mouths shut and you will not let her know that you heard her say that. She has been through enough and doesn't need to deal with your questions too."
Everyone nods. Mike speaks first. "When did it happen? Where?"
Quinn sighs, "The day before the incident with Finn, and it happened in one of the bathrooms here. That's all I know. Please, please leave her alone. She will tell us who and talk when she is ready." They all nod again tears running down most of their faces. She glares at Kurt, "and under no circumstances is Mercedes to know anything about this. I don't even want you talking to each other about this unless you are in the privacy of your own homes where you cannot be over heard. Do I make myself very clear? I like all of you, but I will destroy each and every one of you if you upset her anymore."
They all nod and Kurt response to her statement about Mercedes. "I promise nothing will be said by me. Mercedes will be lucky if I ever speak to her again after that stunt. We could all see that something was going on with Rachel. We just didn't know what and you girls seemed to be what she needed so we just did what we could to support you in helping. We will continue to do so." They all voice their agreement with him.
Quinn nods to them, "Ok guys go home. I am going to go and see if I can help get Rachel out of here." She turns to Puck and Britt. "Keep your phones handy. I will call or text if we need you." They nod and she leaves the room to go to Rachel and San.
When she gets back to the choir room the girls are in the same position as when she left. She goes over to them and pulls them into her arms. Rachel looks up at her and burrows her face into her neck while keeping her hold on San. They stay like that for a while not knowing that as the rest of the Gleeks leave they look in and see them together. All still silently crying or having devastated looks on their faces at what has happened to their tiny diva. All vowing to themselves that they will be better friends to the girl.
Once Rachel is no longer shaking and is calm Quinn starts to get up. "Ok guys, let's get our bags and head to the house. I already text mom and told her we were having a study session tonight for a test and that I would probably just stay over if it got late. She said it was fine and that she was going out of town for a girl's weekend with her friend and they were leaving after work tomorrow. So I am free to stay until Sunday at least." The other two smile at this and nod getting up to go home. They gather their things and head toward the door.
Rachel is barely able to walk she is so emotionally drained and tired that San hands hers and Rachel's things to Quinn and picks her up bridal style and carries her to the car. Quinn puts everything in the back and gets in. San hands Rachel over to her and she cradles the tiny girl in her arms as San buckles them in together and goes around to the driver's side to drive them home. Once they arrive and park in the garage San come around unbuckling them and take the sleeping girl in her arms. Quinn gets their things, locks up the car and garage and follow them into the house where San is carrying Rach up the stairs to bed. They settle her in with them and she never wakes.
Quinn grabs her phone and calls in an order for vegan pizza and curls up with the girls to wait for it. While they are waiting for the pizza Quinn receives a text from coach telling her to keep Rachel home and let her have a day of rest with her and San. She says that Britt, Sam, and Marsha can handle training and practice and to just take care of Rachel. She would see them the Thursday after Christmas for Cheerios training Thursday, Friday and Saturday. They are all excused for the day with Figgins Ok and it won't count against them. She shows it to San and they smile hoping a day of rest will help their tiny diva.
They almost forgot about Christmas break with everything that was going on. None of them celebrate the holiday with their families so they haven't thought of it. This is what they all needed, a break to get Rachel back on track and happy again. Once the pizza arrives they get her to wake up long enough to eat and get all of them changed for bed. Quinn text Puck and Britt to let them know that they won't be at school tomorrow. They settle for the night and hope for nightmare free uninterrupted sleep for Rachel.
A/N: Ok that's if for that chapter. The songs that were sung were:
Puck and Tina song I Knew You Were Waiting for Me by Aretha Franklin and George Michaels
Quinn and Brittany's song That's What Friend Are For by Dionne Warwick and friends.
Santana and Rachel's song The Sun Is Rising by Britt Nicole
I love these songs especially The Sun Is Rising. Check them out on you tube. Up next up the girls on break.