Disclaimer: I don't own Glee. I only own Mouse, Candy and Sarah.
Thank you to everyone for reading, and especially to those who reviewed. I really appreciate it!
...
Chapter Seventeen
...
Waiting in the auditorium, Mouse tried to ignore the fact that Puck was sitting across from her on the stage. She didn't want to see him, but Sectionals were this weekend and she had to practice. They were the only two inside so far, and she wanted the others to come, just to stop the silence.
Candy wouldn't be singing today; he had been too tired to do much more than say a sleepy hello to Mouse after school. She'd taken him home, telling Mr. Schue she'd meet him and the other Glee members in the auditorium. Mysteriously, Mr. Schue and the others, bar Puck, had all needed to do something urgently, leaving Mouse and Puck together.
Not at all subtle, she thought, shaking her head. She wasn't going to be the first one to talk though.
Another minute went by and the others still didn't arrive. Standing, she went to leave. Puck stood quickly, blocking her way off the stage. Mouse turned and jumped off the stage. He followed her, his feet hitting the ground with a thud.
"Mouse, would you just talk to me?" Puck muttered, grabbing her arm.
"I have nothing to say to you, Noah," she replied with a glare. She wrenched her arm out of his grasp and walked out to the school corridor.
"I want to apologise, Jane," he said, emphasising her name. "Can you at least let me do that?"
Stopping, she turned and looked at him. "It's been a whole week, Noah. I'm over it, and you're forgiven. Can I go now?"
"I haven't even apologised yet!"
Mouse waited, arms crossed over her chest.
"I'm sorry about going to the babysitting gig with Quinn," Puck said. "And for sexting Santana. Even though she sexted me back, and it wasn't entirely cheating since you were the one to reply."
"As usual, you're blaming it on everyone else but yourself! Can't you even take responsibility for your own actions, Puckerman?" she said, advancing on him angrily.
"It's not my fault. Quinn asked me to the babysitting thing, I just agreed to go," he said, his temper taking over his head.
Around the corner, the rest of the Glee members were eavesdropping intently, silent for the moment.
"And who made you sext Santana in the first place?" Mouse asked, glaring at him.
"What about you and Kent? You weren't exactly pushing him away!" he said.
He'd regret the words later, but for now he was too enraged to think about what he was saying.
Mouse turned away, her fists clenched tightly. Then she turned back to Puck, glaring again. "You always...
"Blame it on the girls, who know what to do," she sang angrily, pushing him back against the lockers.
"Blame it on the boys, who keep hitting on you," he retorted, moving towards her. "Blame it on your mother, for the things she said."
Mouse's eyes narrowed in anger. "Blame it on your father, but you know he's dead," she said, cutting as deep as he had.
They circled each other, anger in their eyes and words. The song that was meant to be bright and bubbly took a new turn, dragging them down into each other's anger.
The Glee members stepped out from behind the wall and took their sides; the girls with Mouse and the boys with Puck. Mr. Schuester stood back, watching as the song continued.
"Blame it on the girls, who know what to do," the girls said, pushing the boys back against the lockers.
"Blame it on the boys, who keep hitting on you," they sang in return, moving forward.
"Life could be simple, but you never fail to complicate it every single time!" Mouse sang to Puck, glaring.
"Like a baby, you're a stubborn child. What's the matter?
Always looking for an axe to grind. What's the matter?" he retorted, circling her once more.
"Blame it on the girls, who know what to do," Mouse sang quietly. "Blame it on your father, but you know he's dead."
"Blame it on the boys, who keep hitting on you," he sang at the same time. "Blame it on your mother, for the things she said.
"Blame it on the girls."
"Blame it on the boys."
The song stopped, and Puck's chest was heaving as he stared down at Mouse, waiting. She didn't look up, and turning away, she walked down the corridor and out of the school grounds. She'd practice for Sectionals on her own.
...
The next day, Mouse entered the room reserved for Glee, ready to practice again. No matter if Puck was being a jerk or not. Candy was beside her, bouncing gently as he hummed.
"Good of you to join us. Sit down, we're all going to have a talk," Mr. Schuester said, indicating to the seats in front of him.
The others were sitting there already, looking as reluctant about this 'talk' as Mouse felt.
"Brittany, could you take Candy out for a while? I don't want him to hear this. I have a feeling it's going to get ugly," Mouse muttered.
"Okay. I have some make up if you want it later," she added in a loud whisper.
"She doesn't mean that she'll be ugly, Brit," Santana said, rolling her eyes.
"What?" Brittany said, confused.
"Hi Brittany!" Candy said with a grin, hugging her.
She smiled, forgetting what was happening, and left with him, holding his hand.
"What do you want to talk about, Mr. Schue?" Mouse asked with a sigh, sitting down.
"We're a team," he began, looking at each of them. "We have to sing together, and that means we have to get along. You need to work this out. Maturely," he added quickly. "There's too much at stake for petty fighting to get in the way of our goals."
"I call a fist fight!" Mike said, grinning.
"Don't be stupid, I can't hit a girl," Mouse replied, laughing.
It took Puck a minute to realise that she'd insulted him.
"Mouse, that's enough," Schue said with a warning look.
"If it's enough, does that mean we can start singing now? I'll be on my best behaviour, promise," she said.
Schuester looked at each of them in turn, attempting to determine their genuineness. He relented with a nod and handed out the music sheets.
"These are the three songs we're going to sing at Sectionals. I want to make sure you're ready. Can someone call Brittany and Candy?" he added, realising they were missing two members.
"Brittany!" Santana called out the door.
"I meant with a phone call, but that's fine too," he said, grinning.
Mouse looked down at the music sheets, frowning. Don't stop believing, was their group song, of course, and Mercedes was singing And I am telling you I'm not going. The third song was what put the frown on her face. She looked up at Schuester, wondering what he was playing at.
"You really want me to sing the lead for Black Balloon?" Mouse asked, surprised.
It was the song she'd sung for her auditions, and she was almost positive that Schue hadn't even considered the song for Sectionals before this.
"Yes," he replied with a determined nod. "We need to practice the song today to see if everyone can handle your version of it though," he added, his determination slipping to a grin.
"I am positive that we can handle anything," Rachel said quickly.
The others started to talk quickly, and Mouse had to raise her voice to get over their chatter. "I don't want to sing Black Balloon, Schue."
The noise died suddenly, and they all looked at her. She reddened slightly under their gazes.
"What are you talking about? Why don't you want to sing lead?"
"I'll sing lead, Mr. Schuester, just not for that song. It meant something different when I sang it for my audition, and I don't think I'll be able to sing it good enough to help us win Sectionals. Can I choose something else? Please?" she asked, her voice quiet.
Will looked at Puck, who was staring at Mouse as if trying to read her mind, then looked back to Jane.
"What song did you have in mind?"
"Crazy little thing called love by Queen?" she suggested.
"I can rock that song," Artie said, grinning, holding up his hand for a high five.
Mouse grinned back at him and slapped his hand.
Before Schue could even reply, the band started to play the song.
"This thing called love,
I just can't handle it.
This thing called love,
I must get round to it.
I ain't ready,
Crazy little thing called love," Mouse sang, grinning.
She looked at the others around her, hoping they were ready.
"This thing (this thing),
Called love (called love),
It cries (like a baby).
In a cradle all night,
It swings (ooh).
It jives (ooh),
Shakes all over like a jellyfish (ooh).
I kinda like it,
Crazy little thing called love."
Someone stepped up next to her, and Mouse was surprised to see Finn standing there. He gave her a wink and began to sing. "There goes my baby,
She knows how to rock and roll.
She drives me crazy,
She gives me hot and cold fever,
She leaves me in a cold, cold sweat."
"I gotta be cool, relax,
Get hip, get on my tracks.
Take a backseat, hitch hike,
Take a long ride on my motorbike.
Until I'm ready,
Crazy little thing called love," Mouse sang.
Artie rolled forward, the chords already spilling for the guitar solo.
"Yeah," the Glee members sang.
They all stepped forward for the last part of the song.
"I gotta be cool, relax,
Get hip, get on my tracks.
Take a backseat, hitch hike,
Take a long ride on my motorbike.
Until I'm ready (Ready Freddie),
Crazy little thing called love."
"This thing called love,
I just can't handle it.
This thing called love,
I must get round to it (ooh).
I ain't ready,
Crazy little thing called love."
As the song died down, they all grinned at each other and looked to Schue.
"Not bad," he admitted with a nod. "Take it from the top!"
...
Sue waited impatiently for Brittany and Santana to arrive from Glee practice. They were late, and the rest of her Cheerios were already practicing. It was the third time this week the two had been late, and she couldn't risk her Cheerios losing nationals because of some ridiculously stupid singing group.
"You're late! Get to practice! NOW!" Sue yelled the moment they arrived.
Brittany's eyes widened in fear. Taking her hand, Santana led her onto the oval quickly.
Something had to be done to put an end to Glee. Attacking Will was far too easy, but it still hadn't shut the Glee club down. While she got pleasure picking on Schuester, Sue knew that she would have to do something much more drastic in order to get Glee to stop and her Cheerios concentrating on the real prize.
She would have to sabotage Glee from the inside.
When practice was finished, Sue pulled Brittany aside. Again, the blonde looked terrified, but Sue ignored her look and gave her a smile.
"Don't give me that look, Brittany. I need you to do something for me. Schuester forgot to give me the song list for Sectionals. As co-director, I need to know what you guys will be singing, don't I?" she asked in a cheerful voice that was so fake that it made Sue's head pound. She held out her clipboard.
"Oh, yeah. You probably do. Here you go, Coach," Brittany replied brightly, writing the three songs down and handing the board back. "Mouse is going to be singing the one by Queen. Isn't that great, Coach? She's so nice. And Candy's sweet," she said, smiling.
"I'm sure he is. Run along," Sue said, waving the cheerleader away.
Looking at the songs, Sue wondered at the feeling of guilt in her chest. She'd known Jane for a long time, before the young girl had come to McKinley High in fact. They'd met at the hospital Sue's sister was staying in, the young girl so fierce in her protection of her brother and anger at her mother that Sue could only watch in admiration as the eleven year old scolded Sarah for being hospitalised again.
Jane reminded Sue of herself when she was younger. Well, if she'd been so unpopular that not even teachers remembered her name, there would have been more of a similarity. But the girl had fighting spirit, and that was close enough.
Looking at the sheet once more, Sue pushed away the feelings. Her Cheerios had a national championship to win, and nothing would stop her from achieving that goal.
...
"I cannot believe how nervous I am," Rachel murmured, pacing the small room.
They were finally at Sectionals, waiting for the first group to go on stage. Out of the three competing, they'd be going last, and no one knew if that was a good or bad thing.
"Stop saying that, you're making all of us nervous," Kurt muttered, turning away before he got any more dizzy from her actions.
"Sing, sing, sing," Candy said happily, bopping his head.
"That's it, keep your spirit up. You'll all be fine," Will said, trying to sound reassuring.
Honestly, he was almost as much of a wreck as his students. His hands were sweating to the point of ridiculousness, and Will was sure he hadn't been this nervous at his own Sectionals all those years ago!
The first group - the students from the deaf school - began to sing. Suddenly, the New Directions singers all went quiet. Even Rachel stopped pacing.
"They're singing don't stop believing," Finn said, too stunned to realise that he was stating the obvious.
Will's nerves disappeared almost instantly, and his face hardened. "Sue," he said angrily. "She sabotaged this," he muttered. "Stay here, I've got to go deal with this," Schuester said, leaving before they had a chance to respond.
They sat in silence as they listened to the others singing. Candy seemed to catch on that something bad was happening and trembled, tears forming in his eyes.
"Don't cry, sweetie. Everything will be okay. We'll figure something out," Mouse murmured, putting her arm around his shoulders.
"You're right. We just need to think of another song to sing," Mercedes said, not liking Candy's tears any more than Mouse did.
"I vote for Single Ladies," Kurt said, with a grin.
"I am very sorry, but I believe we will have to think of more than just one song to sing. If Coach Sylvester has indeed sabotaged us, I doubt that she would do it with just one. The competition will know all of our songs, and will most likely be singing them," Rachel said, her pacing starting once more.
Out in the corridor, they heard Mr. Schuester yelling at the competition officials. Sticking their heads out of the door, the Glee club came to the same conclusion: they were screwed.
The official refused to listen to Will, stating that it wasn't his fault, and there was nothing that could be done. When Schue tried to protest again, the official glared at him angrily. "I have a competition to run, you are wasting my time, and I already told you that I can't do anything about your problem! If I hear another word from you, you're going to be banned from the Sectionals!"
"But, it's not fair," Will said, pleading.
"That's it! Get out of here, Schuester! I don't want to see your face in a ten-block radius! Get out! Right now!" the official yelled, pushing Will out of the back door. "And you lot, get back inside! If you don't find a teacher to represent you, you'll all be disqualified!"
As if on cue, Miss Pillsbury came around the corner. She was holding a bunch of flowers in her gloved hands. Her eyes widened when she saw the entire Glee club rushing towards her. As they all tried to explain what happened, Emma's phone rang.
"Just a moment. Just give me a moment," she said, moving away to answer her phone.
"Emma, you have to help me," Will pleaded.
He was already in his car, driving to the school.
"I just got banned from the competition, and the kids need someone to be their representative from the school. Please, Emma. I know it's your wedding day, but I really need you to do this. For the kids," he added, begging.
Emma's eyes widened at the mention of her wedding. She was sure that Ken would have already told Will that they weren't getting married. She'd chosen Will over Ken.
"I- I'm not getting married, Will," she said, ignoring the look the students were giving her. "I'm at the competition right now. I'll help you ... I mean, the kids," she amended quickly.
Will breathed a sigh of relief, even as he swerved around a car dangerously. "Thanks, Emma. I really appreciate you doing this. Good luck," he added, hanging up.
Emma looked at her phone for a moment, and then turned to the waiting group of children. "So... What songs are you singing?" she asked, placing the flowers on a seat gently.
"As of this moment, we are not singing any. The other groups all got hold of our song list and they are singing our songs!" Rachel replied, pacing.
"We need something brilliant. We need to get past this," Finn said authoritatively, standing up to his full height. "I'm sorry, Mercedes, but Rachel's the only one who can pull something out of thin air to get through the solo song," he said apologetically.
"I hate to admit it, but you're probably right," she muttered, sighing.
Rachel lit up. "Well, I have been working on something since I was four years old," she agreed, smiling, yet still looking sympathetic to Mercedes. "Don't rain on my parade by Barbara Streisand."
"I think we'll only be able to do two songs this quickly as well," Mouse added. "We just need a group song," she said, looking at each of them.
"I've got the perfect song," Finn said, grinning. "You can't always get what you want by the Rolling Stones."
"Sounds good to me," Tina said, glancing at Artie.
"Okay, that's all sorted out. I'll go tell the official the new songs, shall I?" Emma said, slipping outside to catch her breath.
"Does Candy know both of those songs, Mouse?" Artie asked, looking at Candy, who was pulling the petals off the flowers.
"He knows the Barbara Streisand one. We'll have to sing the other one now so he can pick it up," she said.
"Right, hit it guys," Finn said with a nod to the band.
They sang the song quietly, Candy watching intently. At the second chorus, he began to hum along, and by the third, he was singing along with them. As the song finished, Mouse breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that her brother could pick up songs so easily.
"Good work, Candy-kid," Puck said, ruffling his hair.
Candy grinned at him brightly. Kurt slapped Puck's hand away, glaring at him.
"You shouldn't have messed his hair like that, I just got it perfect," he muttered, bringing a comb out to fix it again.
"Okay, the official has agreed to let me represent you. I'll be in the audience. Have fun, and well ... break a leg!" Emma said, smiling at them brightly.
"Thanks, Miss Pillsbury," they chorused.
The juvenile halfway house singers finished their songs a few minutes after Emma had left. As predicted, they'd sung both 'Crazy thing called love' and 'And I'm telling you I'm not going'.
"You've got two minutes," the official said, looking into their room.
They filed out of the room, Rachel leaving to organise her song with the people who did the lighting.
Eleven blocks over, Will was finishing a heated argument with Sue and Figgins. Sue had been fired from her position as co-director of New Directions, but Will didn't feel as triumphant as he thought he would have been. He was going to miss out on the Glee kids first competition.
His phone rang, distracting him from his thoughts. Frowning when he saw that it was Emma's number, he answered the phone quickly, thinking something was wrong.
"Everything's all right," she hurried to reassure him. "I just thought you'd like to hear New Directions' first competition," Emma said, holding her phone out.
Behind the curtains at the back of the audience, a hundred thoughts were running through Rachel's mind. What if she wasn't good enough? She had to do this. For Glee, for her career, and for herself. She had to nail this and she knew she would. She was a star.
"Don't tell me not to live, just sit and putter,
Life's candy and the sun's a ball of butter.
Don't bring around a cloud to rain on my parade!
Don't tell me not to fly, I've simply got to," Rachel sang, going down the stairs and onto the aisle between the chairs.
"If someone takes a spill, it's me and not you!" she sang, pointing into the crowd.
"Who told you you're allowed to rain on my parade?"
"I'm marching my band out, I'm beating my drum," she sang, moving between the seats.
And if I'm fanned out, you'll turn at that, sir," she continued, moving out of the seats with a small spin.
"At least I didn't fake it, hat sir," she sang, sitting next to Emma and Jacob, tapping him on the nose with a smile.
"I guess I didn't make it."
"But whether I'm the rose of sheer perfection," she sang, standing once more.
"A freckle on the nose of life's complexion," she sang, moving back up the aisle. Straight ahead was the stage. The moment she'd been waiting for.
"The cinder or the shiny apple of it's eye,
I've got to fly once, I've got to try once, only can die once, right sir?" she sang with a smile, heading down the aisle and up onto the stage.
"Oh, life is juicy, juicy, and you see, I've got to have my bite, sir.
"Get ready for me love, cause I'm a 'commer
I've simply gotta march, my heart's a drummer!
Don't bring around a cloud to rain on my parade!"
This was it. This part, right here. She had to nail this. She was a star, and nothing would stop her.
"I'm gonna live, and live now,
Get what I want, I know how.
One roll for the whole shabang,
One throw, that bell will go clang.
Eye on the target, and wham!
One shot, one gun shot and BAM!
Hey Mr. Arnstein, here I am!"
"I'll march my band out, I'll beat my drum," she sang, her arms moving up as the curtains at the back of the auditorium opened, the lighting crew turning two spotlights onto them. The rest of New Directions walked down the aisles, Finn fixing his tie, and all of them smiling broadly.
"And if I'm fanned out, you'll turn at that, sir!
At least I didn't fake it, hat sir,
Guess I didn't make it.
"Get ready for me love,
Cause I'm a 'commer.
I've simply gotta march, my heart's a drummer,
No- nobody don't, no nobody, is gonna rain on my parade!" Behind her, the rest of Glee got into their positions, ready and waiting.
The song ended to applause, and Mouse grinned as she looked out at all of the people. Beside her, Candy was clapping as well, smiling brightly.
"Ladies and gentlemen, New Directions!" Rachel introduced, her arm sweeping to show all of them.
The band started again, and with a quick glance to Candy, Mouse began to sing.
"You can't always get what you want,
You can't always get what you want.
But if you try sometimes, you just might find,
That you get what you need," they sang as a group, Finn moving forward for his solo part.
They began their dance routine. It involved a bit of spinning and turning, but it was last minute and it was better than nothing at all.
"I saw her today at the reception,
A glass of wine in her hand.
I knew she was going to meet her connection.
At her feet was a footloose man," Finn sang. "Oh, no you can't..."
"No, you can't always get what you want (Oh no no you can't),
You can't always get what you want (What you want).
You can't always get what you want (You can't always get what you want),
But if you try sometimes, well you just might find," they sang, their hands in the air.
"You get what you need," they sang as a group, Finn singing his own part at the end.
Walking along the stage, they moved into a group, and then split into pairs. Mouse was with Puck, and Candy had Brittany as a partner. Puck grinned at her, still singing.
"Hey," Mercedes sang, her diva sound continuing into the next part.
"And I went down to the demonstration,
To get my fair share of abuse," Rachel sang, the girls on either side of her as the guys crouched behind her. Finn stood to sing the next part with her, the guys standing and spinning their partners to them.
"Singing, "We're gonna vent our frustration,
If we don't we're gonna blow a 50-amp fuse".
Sing it to me now..."
"You can't always get what you want (No, no you can't),
You can't always get what you want (No, no).
You can't always get what you want (Can't always get what you want),
But if you try sometimes well you just might find (If you try sometimes),
You get what you need, you get what you need," they sang as a group, Artie and Mercedes singing the end parts with their own unique voices.
"Oh ye-ye-yeah," Mercedes sang, her voice carrying through the auditorium.
"You can't always get what you want (You can't always get what you want),
You can't always get what you want (Oohh).
You can't always get what you want (Can't always get what you want),
But if you try sometimes well you just might find,
You get what you need," they sang, clapping along with the song.
"You get what you need!" they sang, raising their hands up.
Mouse was grinning broadly as the song finished, the crowd standing and cheering loudly. She could see Miss Pillsbury in the crowd, holding up her phone as she grinned up at them. Taking Candy's hand, and Puck's on the other side of her, they all held hands and bowed as a group.
This was the most amazing feeling in the world, Mouse decided as she left the stage with her friends. It didn't even matter if they won or not.
...
"Congratulations, you were absolutely amazing!" Emma said as she came into the room, grinning broadly. "Mr. Schue has something he'd like to say," she added, putting her phone on speaker.
"You were great! I am so proud of you. All of you! I am sorry I wasn't there to see it, guys. But you were amazing!" his voice said, cracking slightly at the end.
"Thanks, Mr. Schue!" they called, all too excited and happy to say much more.
There was a knock at the door and Grace Hitchens, the director for the Jane Addams choir, opened the door. They went silent immediately, their smiles fading slowly.
"What's going on? Is something wrong?" Will's voice asked, unable to see what was happening.
"I'll ... just take this outside," Emma said, moving past Grace to speak to Will in the hallway.
"I hope you're happy. You not only went against everything you teach your students, but what you did to us was also wrong," Rachel said, glaring at the woman.
"Believe me, I know. It was wrong, and I plan on telling the committee what we did. I can't let this go on in good conscience," she said genuinely.
"I want to see you tell them," Mouse said, her arms folded across her chest.
"All right. Come with me then, if you don't believe me," Grace replied, leaving the room.
They all hurried after her immediately.
"You can't go in there. The committee is making their decision and you're not allowed inside!" the competition official said.
"They can't. I have to tell them something. It's very important!" Grace argued with the small man in front of her.
"I don't care. There are rules that state you're not allowed to go inside, so you're not going in!" he said, glaring up at her.
Behind him, the door opened. There was a giggle as Ron Silverman put his arm around the blonde woman.
"What seems to be the problem here?" he asked, his hand dropping to his side when he saw the group waiting outside.
"I have something to tell you. It may influence the competition," Grace added, nudging past the small man to stand in front of Silverman.
"Oh, I'm sorry. We've already made our decision," the third member of the committee replied, pushing his glasses up his nose.
"You heard him. We've made our decision, and the committee's judgement is final," Silverman said, leading the blonde away, the balding man trailing after them.
With a sound of disapproval, the small man pushed past Grace and hurried after the committee.
Grace turned to them, a sad look on her face. "I am sorry. I did try," she said.
"They're going to announce the winners. Come on, kids! Quickly," Emma called, stopping whatever response they were going to make.
With a nod to Grace, Mouse turned and hurried up to where Emma was waiting. Everyone followed her to the edge of the stage, waiting for the announcement.
Beside her, Puck took her hand, squeezing gently. Mouse let go of his hand. She couldn't forgive him, not yet. She found it harder than she expected to ignore the hurt loon on his face. With a small sigh, Mouse held Candy's hand and smiled at her brother. He was grinning broadly, bouncing on his feet anxiously.
"And the winner is... New Directions!"
Pouring out onto the stage, cheers and clapping and whistles surrounded them. They'd won. They had actually won!
Taking the trophy offered to her, Mouse grinned as she looked at the generic person holding a microphone on top of the wooden block. Their gold trophies shone in the stage lights, and the applause was deafening. When they all had their awards, they raised their hands in the air, united as a group. Mouse was positive that nothing would ever remove the smile from her face.
...
End of the seventeenth chapter. I hope you liked it. Thank you for reading!
For those interested, there is a poll up regarding Kurt's future relationship.
...