Sectionals Alternate Scene 3:
It's not long before the MC returns to the stage and calls Rachel and Blaine back up. They resume their spots on their stools and wait for his decision.
"By unanimous vote, the judges have decided to allow you both to pick a new song."
The audience cheers. Rachel barely hears it over the intensity of her relief. She smiles widely at Blaine.
"And to avoid us risking a similar situation, we have decided we will not be assigning the songs." He turns to the two teens. "We've gathered that you two are friends, is that correct?" They nod. "So you two know each other fairly well?" Again, they nod. "Good. You are going to choose a song for your opponent. Choose a song that they have not sung in a competition before."
"Any song?"
"Any song." He confirms.
Grinning, they take the small white boards and dry erase markers the MC hands them. In seconds, several boys from the Warblers run on stage and surround Blaine. Rachel watches in bemusement as they whisper fiercely while glancing at her occasionally. Trent kisses her cheek before he and the rest leave Blaine alone on stage once more. Blaine is grinning at her as he hands her his board. A little nervously, she takes it and reads what he wrote. She immediately feels a little bad for what she's about to do.
"No." She hands it back to him.
His face falls. "What? Why?!"
She looks at him incredulously. "You know why!"
"No, I don't!" He truly looks lost.
Rachel shakes her head. "You've heard me sing that song."
"Well, yeah. And we really, really want to hear it again! That's why we're requesting it."
"You remember me singing it."
He pauses uncertainly. "Yeah."
"Then you remember what I said before and after singing it."
His face falls again. "You said you'd never ever sing it again."
She nods. "And I meant it."
"But…."
"No, Blaine."
"It was so good! It was…incredible! I get goosebumps just thinking about it!"
She smiles at the praise. "You remember it that well?"
"Yes!"
"Good. Then I don't need to sing it again."
His shoulders slump and he gives her a look while the audience chuckles. "Rachel. Hearing you sing that song was….one of the most incredible moments of my life. I know I'm going to sound incredibly dramatic and ridiculous saying this, but…when you sang this song…it was like you reached inside and gave my soul a hug. That's how warm and beautiful it was. And you didn't let us record you singing it! We only have it in our memories, so please sing it again for us. Please?"
Rachel turns on the stool so she's fully facing him. "It wasn't as good as you seem to recall."
"Yes it was!"
She shakes her head. "Blaine…..I wouldn't be able to recreate it even if I wanted to." At his confused look, she goes on. "It was a warm summer night. A group of close friends hanging out in the woods, sitting around a fire. The stars were bright and everyone was in good spirits." He nods, a fond smile spreading across his face. "Mercedes dared me to sing it, thinking I wouldn't be able to. You all thought I'd suck and we'd all have a good laugh over it, so you had low expectations. So when I started singing and proved that I could, it was a pleasant surprise for you all. Plus, do you remember what I did right before I started singing?"
"You…..moved spots."
"I moved to a specific spot so that when I turned my head a certain way, my voice would float over the small cliff and echo back to us slightly. It gave my performance an extra edge. If I sang it now, you'd know I can sing it. You'd have very high expectations. Not low. I can't recreate the low expectations, the echo, or the bright stars on a warm summer night and the happy relaxed mood everyone was in. It just….wouldn't be the same. It wouldn't be as special."
He slumps dejectedly. "It was just…..so good."
"Besides. That was what, three months ago?"
"So?"
She gives him a look. "Three months ago." When he still stares at her blankly, she rolls her eyes. "A lot has changed in three months. I was stage two back then. I had more energy." Realization dawns. Duh. "Even if I wanted to I'm not sure I'm physically up to singing it right now. Sorry. Pick something else."
The MC steps back to them. "Can I ask what song he requested?" Grinning, Rachel shows him the sign. He reads off of it. "'That song you sang at our spot over the summer.'" He frowns. "I don't get it."
"He doesn't know the name of the song, but he remembers when and where I sang it. He also knew I'd know what song he's referring to."
"Can I ask what the song was?"
Rachel grins. "It was from an Italian opera."
The MC's eyebrows shoot up. "You can sing opera?"
"Yes she can!"
Rachel rolls her eyes. "Not well."
"Don't listen to her!"
"Not as well as he seems to think I can. Seriously, I think they only remember it being really good because they didn't think I could at all."
Blaine is shaking his head. "You haven't lived until you've heard Rachel Berry sing opera."
"Pick something else, Blaine. No opera."
He heaves a despondent sigh. "Fine."
