Alternate Scene 6:

She smirks and walks forward to join Blaine, who is already standing by the MC. The MC claps his hands. "Wonderful! Now we can get started. Alright you two, I'm going to have you pick a genre out of a hat. There are only two in here. One is a big dance number. The other is a ballad."

Blaine and Rachel quickly trade looks, each thinking the same thing. Blaine raises his hand. "Um, can I just request which I want now?"

"No."

"What if we both agree?"

"Still no. You pick what you pick. As I was saying, one is a dance number and the other is a ballad. Now, once you pick a song there is no changing it. If you pick the big dance number, you will be responsible for leading your group in the number. If you pick the ballad, you will sing it. The genre you pick is the genre you sing. If you truly can't or won't, you can pass it off to a teammate. However, you will be deducted points for that. And if the person you choose can't or won't, then you forfeit."

Frowning, both teens nod. Neither are happy. Rachel feels a surge of nerves. A big dance number? She can't. Seriously can't. She can sing a ballad, though.

"Ladies first." He holds the hat out to her. She pulls out the slip of paper and her stomach plummets. Rachel bites her lip, handing it to the MC. "And the lady has chosen a big dance number! That means the Warblers will be singing a ballad. You and your teams get to choose what song you sing, but it has to fit the genre."

Blaine gives her a hesitant smile before heading off to talk to his team. Feeling nauseous, Rachel joins her own team. They form a tight clump while they discuss what to do.

"Sorry, Rach. I guess you'll sit off stage while we perform." Mercedes says apologetically.

Rachel shakes her head. "But if I leave we lose points."

"Tink, you can't." Kurt says quietly.

She sees the sympathetic looks her team is giving her and anger bubbles up inside of her. Not at them, just at the situation in general. She has the worst fucking luck! An idea strikes.

"I may have something."

They frown, but lean forward curiously. She quickly whispers her idea as the MC announces they only have another minute to talk it over with their teams. By the time the MC is calling them back, they've hesitantly agreed with her. Rachel and Blaine head back to the MC and flip a coin to see who will go first. Rachel wins and votes to go first. She's tiring and just wants to go lie down. She wants this over with. Blaine nods and the Warblers leave the stage. Behind her, the New Directions spread out and wait for their cue. Rachel begins singing slowly.

"You can't stop an avalanche
As it races down the hill.
You can try to stop the seasons
But you know you never will.
You can try to stop my dancing feet
But I just cannot stand still.
Cuz the world keeps spinning round and round
And my hearts keeping time to the speed of sound.
I was lost 'til I heard the drums
And I found my way
Cuz you can't stop the beat. 5 6 7 8!"

Finn steps next to her and joins in as the song speeds up.

"Ever since the whole world began…."

They stay in one spot singing while their team behind them dances enthusiastically, led by Mike and Brittany. Rachel and Finn do a little two step and hip swing while dancing. Towards the end of their shared verse, Rachel knows she needs to stop dancing. She grabs Finn's arm and tugs. He knows that's the signal to grab her, so he spins her into him and holds her against his side while they finish their verse.

She points to Kurt and Artie, getting them to take the next verse. The boys had pushed the piano out onto stage while she was singing her first verse, so now Finn lifts Rachel and sits her on it. Mike lifts Tina and sets her next to Rachel. The two girls swing their legs and arms while singing backup. Rachel points to Mercedes and gets her to take the next verse. Rachel may not have a solo, at least not the way she'd wanted, but she admits that this is a lot of fun, too. She loves that her team is able to follow Mike and Brittany as they lead them in dance moves to go along with the song.

Finn and Sam lift the girls off the piano, setting them back on the stage. For the end of the song, Rachel quickly arranges them how she wants them to harmonize. They stand in a sort of V formation with Tina in the front. They stay in their spot but follow Tina's simple dance moves that don't require a whole lot of movement or energy. For the last line they start dancing again. Mike spins Rachel towards the piano bench and she sits to belt her final note. Artie rolls so he's next to her and they move their hands to follow what the rest of the team is doing. The end with a flourish and Rachel smiles widely, despite being a little breathless. She starts to stand while the audience is cheering, but her legs shake. Artie grabs her arm and "playfully" tugs her back down until she's sitting once more. It was quick thinking on his part and a good cover. Only those who know her would realize that she wouldn't have been able to stay standing anyway. The ND take their bows and head off stage.

Puck and Sam come over to her. Each boy grabs one end of the piano bench and lifts. Startled, Rachel falls to her side. She lays on her side, her head propped up on one arm, with her legs sort of tucked under her while the boys carry the bench off stage. She shrugs and grins at the audience, giving them a cheery wave and hears some laughter in response. Once off stage, Brittany pulls her up and lets her lean on her as they walk to the green room. Rachel falls asleep. She finds out later that the Warblers sang a very nice ballad, but that the New Directions took the win.