My Love Is Your Love
Belief in yourself is one of the most important bricks in building any successful career
The contestants that were left standing have managed to sing their way through sectionals, grabbing first, second or third place which got them into regionals, where they has proved to be the best of the best in their state, and now they were at nationals having managed to grab first place.
Mercy and her friends were in the group category, they couldn't lie, it had been intense to get this far but now the pressure was really on, the Slaybells; a group of want to be posh girls, were representing New York, which was where the best of the best came from, according to their blog status, having won the last battle. The Soul Sisters were representing California they weren't there to be messed with in life or in their music, and right now they were in a place where they didn't feel they could live it down if they didn't go back home with at least a trophy, having come third last battle.
Then there was You, Me and He representing Florida a very rowdy group, according to their socials they felt it was their god given right to win, everyone was waiting to hear them sing because they'd only ever put other people's songs on their site. Then last but not least amongst the groups category were the Busy Brother's representing Tennessee, according to the hype for the event they'd earned their place in the line from the ground up, this was their first nationals' appearance so of course they weren't holding much hope, already thankful for just being there.
So far it had been easy sailing, they'd practiced the hell out of a song and killed it once they were up on stage, but today the stakes were higher, they were being given a song just thirty minutes before their performance and they were expected to bring their A game. They'd been shown to a hall, were all the contestants were waiting to be told their place, Mercy sat looking around the room, hoping for last place
Her eyes met with some guy across the hall staring at her, at first, she thought it was just a coincidence, but when she looked again and he smiled, she knew he was flirting, she smiled back to be polite, and he raised an eyebrow at her, she blushed embarrassed, and looked away.
"Don't bother" Jane caught Mercedes line of sight a second later and smiled as she sat at their table "They're all on the same team" she looked at the three guys playing some silly game at the table across the room
"She's right" Bree sat down "It's not for the want of trying believe me" she looked across at the table too "I can't even get eye contact"
"I'm not interested in them" Mercedes smiled
"You were checking them out" Bree laughed
"I think the clues in the name with that group" Mercy rolled her eyes at her irritating group member "You, Me and He, who never put themselves on their page?"
"Oh, that's them?" Bree looked over at them again "Shame, a couple of them look fit too"
"You make me laugh girl" Jane shook her head "You have no limits" Jane laughed "Even checking out the not available"
"A girl can check someone out without being sexually attracted to them" Bree frowned
"They can?" Mercedes, and Jane looked at her, knowing her views on relationships
"Mm" Jane hummed "Let me know when that happens for you" she looked around the table before they all burst out laughing
"The other day I swear you two were talking about settling down, is this how you plan on acting when you find the one?" Mercedes looked at her friends asking
"Listen, when and if that someone finally puts a ring on this finger" Jane pointed at her ring finger "That just puts a lock on my kitty kat not my damn eyes"
"Damn straight" Bree held her hand up for a high five
"For real?" Jane hesitated
"Real girl" Bree laughed at her high fiving her
"Remember, competition, not hook up" Mercedes reminded them
"You're always such a…" Jane looked at her
"Virgin?" Bree suggested
"Here we go" Jane rolled her eyes at the repetitive conversation "Ladies it's been a month since we've had any friction, can we just at least perform before you two go off on each other?"
"Could you tell your friend I'm not frigid as she's trying to imply, maybe I would just prefer to have a relationship with a guy that doesn't start with a blow job in the men's bathroom" Mercedes hissed, her eyes on Bree while she spoke
"Snap" Jane held her hand up in agreement
"Ouch" Bree winced closing her one eye for the pain of the dis "No need to throw shade"
"That's not shade" Mercy laughed "It's…"
"How about we concentrate on making our performance perfect?" Jane interrupted them
"It's going to be perfect" Bree smiled "But" she looked at Mercy "We can be better"
"Something's perfect" Mercy stole a look across the room, smiling at that someone that had caught her eye earlier "And lord knows I could do a lot of practicing on that"
"I told you, on the wrong team" Jane whispered in her ear, Mercy took no notice
"I wonder which one is he?" Bree looked across at the group
"Never mind them, let's get our shit together" Jane announced
"I bet he's all man" Bree growled
"Come on" Jane rolled her eyes getting up to leave the hall
"Here they are" Mercy nodded at Slaybells entering the hall "The competition"
"I told you to keep up with their blog, that lead girl Quinn swopped out the other two, they're brand new Slays" Bree told them
"They look like competition" Jane commented watching the tall blond and mousy brown-haired girls gliding in behind Quinn
"Looking like and sounding like are two completely different things" Bree huffed grabbing Mercy's arm "And for the record we're the competition" she pushed Jane to lead the way
"Proof's always in the singing" Mercy reminded them
"Yeah" Bree laughed "And we're bad asses" she looked back at the girls "Hey" she stopped to take a proper look "They're talking to the You, Me's whatever's'"
"I could have sworn they bat for the other side" Jane rolled her eyes
"Whatever they are or aren't they're definitely in the competition" Mercy told them
"Soul Sisters?" A dark haired, older woman stopped them asking
"Yeah" Jane answered
"You're tenth"
"Oh" Jane smiled
"Who do we follow?" Bree asked
"The Busy Brother's, there are four groups in your category, so get back here at around nine forty-five for your piece, or I'll find you" she smiled "Just ask for Rachel if all else fails" she walked away fast
"We will" Bree called after her
"Do you know who that was?" Mercy asked as they walked out the door "That was the Miss Rachel Berry, I bet she's one of the panel" she told them excitedly
"Who?" Bree asked, her eyebrows meeting with puzzlement
"Musical theatre?" Mercy asked "You're so musically challenged I'm amazed, she's a freaking super star"
"Was she Fanny Brice?" Jane asked with uncertainty
"The one and only amongst other famous productions" Mercy smiled
"We need to be worrying about the Slaybells" Bree told them "According to the socials those Brother guys are new to the scene, did you see them in there?" she nodded back at the hall
"No" Jane replied, Mercy said nothing, but they didn't notice
The girls had formed their group on the back of a failed audition, a missed audition, and place in the line, Bree had failed her audition because her sister had bottled out in front of the judges, Mercy's broken down car was the culprit for her missing her sign up to get in, and Jane had a place in the line that she was seriously thinking of giving up, because of all the good singers she was seeing being sent back out through the door. They'd gone in, sung an acapella version of some Beyonce song and were snapped up, even they were shocked at how good they sounded together at full belt, and those belts had got them through many a competition.
"We need to be worrying about the hour we've got" Jane told him
"You know what" Mercy stopped them "If we haven't got it now, we never had it, and I don't even believe that"
"She's right" Bree shocked them all by agreeing with her "We'll practice when we get the song"
"Let's go back and chill" Mercy suggested
"You do know those contestants are gay right?" Jane asked Mercy
"And I told you twice, I'm not interested in them" Mercy smiled
They walked back into the hall, Mercy stood looking across the room at the guy she now knew was part of the Busy Brother's "What a name" she smiled diverting her eyes when she realised, she was looking straight at the guy, and his eyes were on her
"Can you see those busy guys?" Bree asked looking around the room
"Grab that table" Mercy pointed at an empty table "I'll get some drinks"
"Ladies and gentlemen, our first group of the evening" they heard the commentator announced, they all froze "Please welcome to the stage You, Me and He singing their rendition of 'Broke' by Teddy Swims & Thomas Rhett
"Forget the drinks, the first ones are going through" Jane pointed at the fuss by the studio doors
They made their way to the where everyone else was standing "Who are they?" Bree asked one of the girls standing in front of her she knew was a member of the Slaybells
"Cute" she smiled "Roderick, Spencer and Sebastian" the girl pointed at each one as she said their names
"Great sound" Mercy nodded
Chorus: Roderick (with Spencer & Sebastian)
I'm so used to being broke yeah but not no more I'm buying all the things I never could afford yeah
Like what the hell, top shelf, we going to toast tonight to temporary wealth
Mama told me, baby, save it, knowing me, I probably won't, all this money in my pocket got to go
I'm so used to being broke, oh, oh, oh, one, two, three…
"Oh my god, they are so good" Jane held her chest
"We haven't heard the other one yet" Bree smirked at her
Spencer (Sebastian & Roderick) …. Yeah, uh, dropping out of college, said goodbye to that degree oh yeah
Playing every college party from Georgia to Tennessee, let's go
Packing six up in a van six string in my hands circling in parking lots drinking natty out the can, yeah
Ain't saying that I'm rich, but I got a couple dollars to blow you know, yeah, you know
Yeah, we gon' celebrate tonight aw yeah with some champagne on some ice ooh, cause you can't take it with you when you go…
"What was it I said?" Jane looked at Bree as Spencer sang
"Nobody got here by default" Mercy reminded them "What kind of win would it be if you never had to work for it"
"Did you notice that one guy took all the chorus'?" Jane whispered to Bree
"Yeah" she looked at Jane "And I thought they all had potential to cover that"
"Drop the mic" one of the girls from Slaybells, shouted at the performance before looking at Mercy, Jane and Bree stood next to them like she was just noticing them standing there "Hey Soul Sister's we meet again" Quinn smiled "And this is Sugar and Brittany, new members of the Slaybells"
"Good, weren't they?" Brittany asked
"Good, no doubt" Mercy answered for the three of them, as they stood clapping with everyone else "And you remember Bree, Jane and I make three Soul Sisters"
"I do" Quinn smiled that false smile of hers
They stood listening to some of the other artists before Rachel found them and gave them their song "Break a leg" Sebastian told the Slaybells, just as they got announced
"Ladies and gentlemen" the commentator got everyone's attention "Our second of the four groups this evening please welcome to the stage Slaybells singing their rendition of 'Made You Look' by Megan Trainor
"Can we.." Bree asked her group, eager to stay and hear the competition
"Hell yes" Jane almost rocked her head off her neck replying
Quinn (Sugar & Brittany)
I could have my Gucci on, I could wear my Louis Vuitton, but even with nothing on bet I made you look I made you look
I'll make you double take soon as I walk away, call up your chiropractor just in case your neck break
Ooh, tell me what you, what you, what you gon' do, ooh
Cause I'm 'bout to make a scene, double up that sunscreen, I'm 'bout to turn the heat up, going to make your glasses steam
Ooh, tell me what you, what you, what you gon' do, ooh
"Sounds good" Mercy nodded
"Isn't she going to give the other girls a spot?" Jane whispered in Mercy's ear
Chorus: Quinn (Sugar & Brittany)
Ooh, I could have my Gucci on Gucci on I could wear my Louis Vuitton, But even with nothing on
Bet I made you look said I made you look
Yeah, I look good in my Versace dress take it off, baby, But I'm hotter when my morning hair's a mess a mess
Cause even with my hoodie on. Bet I made you look said I made you look
"Apparently not" Mercy replied, "I think that might have lost them some points" she looked at her friends "That's why we need to get this so tight"
"No wonder she's tired" Jane commented
"Come on" Bree rushed them off to go practice "Sorry" she smiled as she bumped into someone coming into the hall
"It's fine, no one got hurt" he smiled at her "Jake" he held his hand out
"Bree" she smiled at him "Oh" she looked at her friends "And this is Mercy and Jane, we call ourselves the Soul Sisters"
"Okay" he looked at them all "And this is Sam and Mason, we're the…"
"Busy Brother's" Jane smiled at Mason "Pleasure"
"I believe you're last up?" Mason looked into Jane's eyes
"We're up in fifteen" Sam told them
"You sorted your song in fifteen?" Mercy asked shocked
"Used to the genre" Sam nodded "California, right?"
"Yeah" Mercy smiled
"Must visit sometime"
"Break a leg" Jane told Mason, filling the silence
"Yeah" Mercy and Bree said at the same time "Break a leg"
"Thanks" Jake grinned at Bree
"You should come cheer us on" Sam looked at Mercy telling them
"I will" she smiled "I mean we will" she looked at Bree and Jane "Practice" she shook her head trying to get it straight, smiling at Sam as they walked off
"What the hell was that?" Jane asked when they got outside the hall
"Did you feel that?" Bree asked
"First guy I've known to stun you into silence without sticking his…" Mercy went to take it there
"Ladies" Jane stopped the conversation
"She left herself wide open for that one" Mercy laughed "Pardon the pun"
"Song" Jane looked at them seriously "This is work" they all knew the word; they went into action getting the cues sorted
"Okay I come in do the first one soft, Jane takes it up a notch and you belt that last one" Bree confirmed "Now can we go watch the Brother's?"
"You are all shades of wrong" Jane shook her head
"Come on already, this is us, we'll kill it" Bree begged
"Come on then" Mercy smiled knowing full well she wasn't about to miss it either
"Great" Bree punched the air, leading them back to the hall to watch the Busy Brother's
"Ladies and gentlemen, our third of the four groups this evening please welcome to the stage Busy Brother's singing their rendition of 'Stupid Mad Love' by Jeverson
Jake: Every day and night, night, and day all I think about is crazy
Mason: laughing to myself I don't know what's been happening to me lately
All: We got a situation and its nothing but good vibrations,
Sam: Not sure what it is that you got but you got me feeling wavy
Chorus
Mason (Sam & Jake): Don't you know baby don't you know baby you got me stupid mad love, stupid mad love
It ain't no, maybe it ain't no, maybe you got me stupid mad love stupid mad love
"Totally different sound to You, Me and He don't you think?" Bree asked Quinn
"Totally different cute" Quinn nodded
"There is that I guess" Bree smiled "Jake asked us to watch the performance" she dropped in
"They're doing what we said we're doing" Jane looked at them on stage
"Great minds" Mercy smiled at Sam singing
"Do we need to change anything?" Jane panicked
"Nothing, we're good" Mercy told her getting back to Sam singing
Sam: Hear me now I got something to say, nobody ever made me feel this way
You got a hold on me it's kind of insane and all I want to do is see you again
Jake (Sam and Mason): babe, baby, baby, stupid mad love stupid mad love
It ain't no maybe, maybe, maybe, we go this stupid mad love stupid mad love…
"Saw you enjoying the song, is it stupid of me to ask, what did you think?" Sam stood in front of Mercy asking
"Not half as much as you guys were" she laughed "That was a definite contender, I loved it"
"No notes?"
"I'll add them if we win" she giggled
"That good?" he raised an eyebrow "We'll hang around for the competition"
"Hi" a voice invaded their conversation "We're the Slaybells" Quinn smiled at him "Brittany, Sugar and I'm Quinn"
"Nice to meet you" Sam smiled pleasantly at them "Good show"
"You thought we were good?" Quinn asked happy he'd heard them
"Well, I only heard you, so I couldn't possibly comment" Sam replied, Mercy could only look to the ground for him saying something that they'd all been thinking "So I do have a note" he looked at the other group members "I fear you might lose points for that"
"Thanks" Quinn smiled at him, Mercy looked up she couldn't tell whether that was genuine thanks or the shame of his note making her not want to act out "We'll keep that in mind for next year" she turned on her heels and walked away
"That was harsh" Mercy giggled
"Honesty wastes no one's time"
"I guess" she frowned "Please be nicer when you give us notes"
"If my love is your love, you'll want it perfect"
"Props for always being right so far, I'm guessing that could be irritating in your relationship" she looked up at him
"Nice fish" he laughed "Do you want to find out?"
"Let's hear the notes first" she giggled
"Mercy" Bree called her
"Excuse me" she smiled at Sam and walked away
"Jake's invited us to their room after the show, what do you think?"
"I think we need to hear their notes before we go any further, Sam's just been really brutal to those Slaybells" Mercy turned to smile at him
"Tell him yes, we're bringing our A game, right?" Jane told them
"Okay" Bree walked off to deliver her response
"That girl will get us in trouble one day" Mercy rolled her eyes
"That Sam seems cute" Jane nudged her
"He's alright" Mercy turned to smile at him again "I'll be back" she went back to talk to him
"Ladies and gentlemen, our last group performance for this evening please welcome to the stage Soul Sisters singing their rendition of 'Make You Love Me' by Aiyana Lee
"That's us" Bree took a breath and tapped Jake's chest before she walked towards the stage followed by Mercy and Jane
"Break a leg" Sam shouted from side stage as the crowd clapped, the music started, and they were forced into action
Mercy: Oh na na na na no no baby babe
Bree (Mercy & Jane): Caution to the wind like leaves on autumn nights oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Mercy (Jane & Bree): I want to see you then, baby, I'll book your flight oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Jane (Bree & Mercy): If I'm on your mind, you better think it twice oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Mercy (Jane & Bree): You want to take a chance with me, then roll the dice oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Bree: Woo, I am not a sugar momma I just want it when I want it and I get it baby, let me give it to you
I'm the type to meet your mama tell her we go have a daughter named Aiyana, then be gone by end of morning
"This girl asked for notes" Sam laughed telling Jake
"I asked them over after the competition" Jake whispered to him
"Why?"
"I'm feeling that Bree"
Bree (with Mercy & Jane): Chorus
I'm a make you love me, make you love me make you love me, make you love me
You've been searching for the feeling of a ball and chain; I've been in love before and told myself that I'll never fall again
But I'll make you love me make you love me, make you love me, make you love me, make
"Notes?" Mason asked Sam, it was a running joke with the group, he was always the one looking for perfection in everyone, including himself. During rehearsals instead of telling everyone they sucked he'd say, just a few notes, before he ripped their performance to shreds "That was your chat up line?"
"Got me her digits" Sam did a phone sign
"I think they might have the edge" Jake smiled
Jane (Mercy & Bree): Chorus
Mercy (Bree & Jane): I got you so I'm taking care of business I like you, but I don't want no commitment
time or two I've been bruised so now I'm triggered I might even pay for dinner just so you don't get it twisted
Mercy (Bree & Jane): Chorus
"That was… can I kiss you?" Jane held her head asking Mason when they got off stage
"Stupid, mad, love" he smiled pulling her in for a kiss
"You were better?" Bree asked Jake
"No way" Jake laughed
"Notes?" Mercy looked at Sam asking
"I have none, that was brilliant, you?"
"You weren't half bad yourselves" she smiled "It's going to be tight"
"Tight isn't the word" he frowned
"Ladies" Mason got everyone's attention "I think that gives us an hour, how about we grab a coffee or something?"
"We could do that" Jane smiled at him, no one else said anything they just followed Mason, breaking off to have their separate conversations, it felt natural
Jake & Bree
"So, what's important to you in a friendship?" Jake asked falling back in his chair to relax
"To be honest I can only be friends with females, I don't seem to keep boundaries well with male friends, so I tend not to have them as friends" she smiled "You?"
"Funny enough I'm the same with females" he frowned "But I'm at the point where I'm feeling used"
"I know what you mean" she leaned in "I was telling my girls I was fed up with being a piece of meat"
"I don't mind meat" he laughed "But I want something substantial with it"
"Why don't we try a three course, take our time getting to desert?" she smiled
"Link up on socials, see how we go?"
"Agreed" she smiled sipping her drink
Mason & Jane
"So, what do you do when you're not performing?" Jane asked hugging her hot drink
"I'm part of a local theatre company, that keeps me busy, teaching, acting, and a bit of singing sometimes" he smiled "Two younger siblings" he rolled his eyes "Much younger from my dad's second marriage, take up some of my time too"
"No time for long distant relationships then?"
"Depends"
"On?"
"Who it's with, I mean if it was with someone like you" he smiled at her
"You don't even know me"
"I want to"
"Be careful what you wish for" she giggled sipping her drink
Sam & Mercy
"You might be sick of this question, but it beats my usual every girl pick up line" Sam smiled "What got you into this music business?"
"My dad said the first words I said was from that song I can't stand the rain by Missy" she laughed "With notes and everything, I guess singing got into me" she took a sip of her drink "I didn't get any tutoring until I was in my late teens"
"Your instrument is amazing"
"Yours isn't too bad either" she smiled "So what got you into it?"
"Musical family" he smiled "Strict Christian parents, my love is your love type of thing, and low and behold it became my love"
"Religious as well?"
"I am" he frowned "Is that a thing for you?"
"It is" she smiled "Only in that I approve" she grinned "One of my prerequisites"
"You know I'm definitely calling your number after this is over?"
"I hoped" she watched him pick his drink up
"Should we get back?" he looked over at the others asking, everyone got up to make their way back with more conversation on the way
Results
The stood listening to the categories, watching people smile, laugh and cry as the results came at them, some were even angry and resentful "Cam we have the groups out please" the compare asked looking at both sides while the four groups walked out "The panel have made their decision" he smiled looking at the card in his hand "In third place" he looked from side to side "She, Me and He" he roared as someone came out to give them a small trophy and a cheque
"Thank you" Sebastian called to the judges as they waved and left the stage
"In second place Busy Brother's" he smiled watching the guys come forward taking a slightly larger trophy and cheque
"You've nailed this" Sam whispered as they passed the Soul Sisters
"And the winners of the group performances and carry away 100 thousand dollars" he looked at both groups still on stage "Soul Sisters" he smiled watching as they jumped in the air elated before grabbing the trophy and large cheque
"I hear we're celebrating at ours" Sam hugged her when she came off stage
"We are" she smiled up at him