CHAPTER 19
Three weeks later, the New Directions clambered onto the bus for Sectionals. After their Halloween bash, they had unanimously voted that Finn should solo - even Rachel had voted for him as a way of trying to get him to have feelings for her again but unsuccessfully. Finn was blissfully happy with Bella. She was extremely different to any of the other girls Finn had ever been with: she was a lot more active. They went dirt-biking together, quad biking together in the forest, camping, parachuting and many more. They challenged each other to push out of their comfort zones and Finn had genuinely never been happier. Speaking of Bella, moments after Finn had seated close to the back of the bus, Bella slipped into the seat beside him. He smiled and kissed her.
"Hey, babe." He said.
"Hey! Are you excited for today?" She asked, leaning into his side and resting her head against his shoulder. Finn nodded.
"I guess." He murmured. "A bit nervous though."
"I mean, we all are. I'm sure you'll do great. It's just last minute jitters"
"Nah, it's more than that. I need to do well in this competition. I need to generate college and record label attention if I want a future. If I want to leave Lima. If I want to make something of myself."
Future plans were the one black spot in Finn's life. Everyone was starting to think about their college plans but Finn knew that he didn't have the money for that. His family only had enough money for college if he got at least a partial scholarship. Bella looked at him and nodded.
"Can I give you some advice?" She asked. "Finn, you are the most stubborn, obstinate and single-minded person I know."
"Is there a point to this? Because I asked for advice, not a roast fest." He remarked. She giggled.
"Yes, there is. You're also the most determined, resourceful and perseverant person in the world. If anyone's going to claw their way out of Lima, it's you. Whether it be for football, singing or even something completely different, you're going to make it out of here. Trust me."
"Thanks babe." Finn replied. "You know, there is one more method of making it out, and all it would take is one phone call."
Bella looked at him, curiously.
"Huh? What is it?"
"Well, I've been getting texts from my recruiter recently and…"
"No! No, no, no, no, no! And did I mention no! And also, no! You reenlist and you will never touch this hot bod ever again for as long as you live." She commented. Finn laughed and raised an eyebrow.
"I think that's extortion, babe." He stated. She shrugged.
"You love it." She replied. Finn rolled his eyes.
"Maybe." He chuckled. "But anyways, I wasn't thinking of re-enlisting. I was thinking of getting a job as a Drill Instructor or Drill Sergeant or something. My marksmanship puts me in the top 0.2% of all recruits in history so I feel like I'd be able to pass on some wisdom if I became a teacher for them."
Bella took a deep breath.
"Can we call this a last case scenario? Please!" She begged. "I don't really want you to be with those guys again because I know that if something happens, you're probably going to get deployed again."
"Babe, trust me, nothing's going to happen to me." He murmured into her ears, slowly relaxing her. "I plan on being with you for a long time."
She beamed at him.
"That's right, you are." She replied, kissing him on the lips. "So, what are you doing for Christmas?"
Finn shrugged.
"I don't know. Carole, Burt and Kurt are going to New York to check out some college called NYADA. Apparently, it's like the best college for aspiring Broadway stars. They're spending an extra week in Manhattan sightseeing."
"Oof, you didn't make the cut for that?" She giggled.
"Nah, I just didn't really fancy spending a week of being dragged to every single Broadway theater, museum and street on the East Coast by Kurt. I'm just going to stay in Lima, maybe play a bit of football, guitar."
"Wow, that's… sad." She remarked. "My family rented a cabin in Mansfield for Christmas. Why don't you come with us? My parents offered to invite you but I assumed you were spending Christmas with your family so I didn't but if you're not, feel free to join us!"
Finn's eyes widened
"Are you sure? I mean, I wouldn't want to intrude."
"Are you kidding me?" She laughed. "We would LOVE to have you. My parents absolutely adore you. I swear, my dad loves you a little bit more than he loves me. You're like the son he never had. So, are you coming?"
Finn smiled widely at his girlfriend.
"I'd love to!"
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The bus pulled up at the auditorium in Toledo moments later and the New Directions frantically scrambled out of the bus, eager to get inside and get started. Finn might be singing the solo but they still had two group numbers to sing: one regular song and one Christmas medley. The 13 of them and Mr. Schuester walked into the auditorium and they smiled. They spied Vocal Adrenaline huddled on one side of the lobby and The Hipsters - the other group that were competing against them - on the other side. After being checked in, they were directed into a green room where they waited for a long time. They watched through the overhead monitors as Vocal Adrenaline put on an incredible cover of Bohemian Rhapsody. Every dance move was perfect, every note sung with the power and oomph that only a 6 time World Champion show choir would possess.
After an agonising wait during which they watched the two groups perform, New Directions were finally called backstage. Finn stood around nervously, spinning a handheld mic in his hands and waiting to walk on stage for his solo when Mr. Schue walked over to them.
"OK, listen up everyone!" He announced. Everyone walked over to him. "I don't know what to tell you guys. We've been through this 4 times already. Just sing your hearts out and give it all you've got. Hands in."
Everyone put their hands in the circle.
"ONE… TWO… THREE… NEW DIRECTIONS!" Mr. Schue shouted.
"NEW DIRECTIONS!" They all cheered and got into position to perform. Finn walked on stage first, facing the audience and sitting on a stool that was placed for him in the center of the stage. His solo would not involve any dancing or choreography: it was just him, a stool and a mic with a piano accompanist - just the way he liked it. Finn took a deep breath as Brad began to play the piano accompaniment. He thought of everything he had been through in the past year. All of the hardship, heartbreak, pain, sorrow and misery he was dragged through was channelled into his voice. Rachel not trusting him. Rachel cheating on him. Quinn cheating on him again. Being deployed and having to slaughter people like a heartless murderer. It all came back to him as he sang.
Baby, I'm not made of stone, it hurts
And loving you the way I do, it hurts
Hold tight, it's a sing-along
I'm alright, I'm alright, but I could be wrong, baby
I know you remember me
'53 in the back of the lavory, come on
You could at least try and look at me
Oh man, oh man, what a tragedy, ha ha
Bang, bang, there's paradise
I chill why we always had to roll the dice, la la
Heartbeat in the regular
Two seats in the back of the cinema, hazy
Ah yeah, you're forgettin' it
And all the mad things we did after that, crazy
Your heart, oh come on, baby
I swear you're giving me shivers, shivers
Baby, I'm not made of stone, it hurts
And loving you the way I do, it hurts
When all that's left to do is watch, it burn
Baby, I'm not made of stone, it hurts
Hold on, it's a marathon
Run fast, run fast like the rivers run, goddamn
Never seen in the restaurant
I took a minute till the penny dropped, you know
My tears don't fall too often
But your knife is cuttin' me deep
Deep, deep, deep, deep
Baby, I'm not made of stone, it hurts
And loving you the way I do, it hurts
When all that's left to do is watch, it burn
Baby, I'm not made of stone, it hurts
It hurts the way you pretend you don't remember me
And it hurts the way that you forget our times together baby
Like the time laid in bed when you said it's forever, baby
It's forever, baby
Oh I can't explain no more
Oh baby I'm, not made of stone, it hurts
Oh and loving you the way I do, it hurts
When all that's left to do is watch, it burn
Oh baby, I'm not made of stone, it hurts
It hurts, it hurts
Oh baby, I'm not made of stone, it hurts
To hear the actual song, click:
watch?v=Qoic687FtNE
Or search: 'James Arthur Hurts'
I highly recommend this song cover. Highly emotional, highly awesome.
At the end of the song, for a moment after, you could hear a pin drop in the arena. Nobody dared to speak after the incredible, emotional, earthquake of a performance. Then came the applause. Applause echoed around the auditorium like a pounding bass drum and everyone stood up and gave him a standing ovation. Finn smiled faintly and wiped a tear from his cheek. That song had taken a lot out of him, emotionally. He felt a wrenching pain in his chest but he forced himself to take a deep breath and prepare for the two group numbers. Sure enough, moments later, he was joined on stage by the rest of the New Directions…
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10 minutes later, the three judges sat in the choir room, discussing the performances they had just heard. Somehow, this year, the show choir board had actually found good judges: Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani and Paula Abdul.
"So, what did you think of the performances?" Blake asked as they sat around the round table and talked.
"Well, I thought Vocal Adrenaline was excellent." Paula remarked.
"They were incredible." Gwen agreed. "But what about those New Directions? The brunette who sang the first solo… oh my God! I would die for his voice!"
"Yeah, he sings like he doesn't have a choice." Blake commented. "There's a pain that's there. It's a real pain. He's clearly been through traumatic experiences, I don't need to know him to know that much."
"Yeah, and I love the way he uses that energy to convey the message of the song. And that's a personal message to him." Gwen replied. "There's something in that voice, huh? Like he genuinely could have a future in the industry."
"Yeah, he's incredible. But that anxiety that he also showed can take over, and should that happen, it can turn into a negative in a flash."
"I think you guys are thinking a bit too far in the future." Paula stated. "We're not judging which group contain the artists of tomorrow; we're looking at who was the best group tonight, and that was for sure, Vocal Adrenaline."
"Well, let's vote." Blake announced…
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10 minutes later…
"The winner of the Western Ohio Sectional Show Choir Competition is… New Directions!"