Welcome one and all again to the newest chapter of my story. I would like to thank everyone for their amazing reviews of the last chapter. It really fuelled me on to write this chapter for you guys. This chapter is even longer than usual and I wonder if anybody will notice my homage to the Brady Bunch movie in this chapter. So once again all the legal stuff belongs to Ryan Murphy & FOX except my characters. So please read, review, rewind, then read and review again…enjoy!
Lima, Ohio
How dare he. He had no right to try and tell me what to do with my own damn money. It wasn't even his money, it was money left to me by my mother. I gave up everything for him. Everything he asked, I always said, "Yes Sir!" with no arguments. I even gave up the only thing that made me happy since my mother passed, my fiancé Paul Atwood. I attended all the best schools like he wanted, got perfect grades like he wanted, I even went and got my MBA from Stanford so I could show him I was good at business. I even spent six years running the Australian division of his damn company to show him I was worthy of his admiration.
But no, apparently all of that means absolutely nothing to my father. Apparently if you don't have a penis you have no right to run a fortune 500 company. I know my father's old school but seriously hasn't he heard of Mary Barra CEO of General Motors, Meg Whitman from Hewlett-Packard or Virginia Rometty CEO of IBM, newsflash pops it's 2015 not 1960 and you're sure as hell not Don Draper.
She liked her brother Steve, she really did and she wished him all the success in the world. But what did he have that she didn't? That's right the anatomy of a male. Eleanor remembered when she was younger and she would go running into her father's office all excited to show him the A+ she received on her latest test at school. Only to be told, "That's nice honey now go play with your dolls, because Owen was telling me what college's he was looking at."
That was an extremely sore point for Eleanor not because she felt neglected but because of her older brother Owen. Owen Knight was the first-born son of William and Martha Knight. He was an only child until ten years later, William and Martha welcomed twins into the world. A boy and a girl named Steven and Eleanor Knight. Her brother Steven was born three minutes earlier than her so even though she was a twin she was still considered the baby of the family. Both Steven and Eleanor or Ellie as her older brother dubbed her totally adored Owen. Owen was always the best student, best athlete, best brother until he wasn't.
Everybody in the world knows where they were on September 11, 2001, especially the Knight family. Ellie remembers that day like it was yesterday, she was fourteen at the time and her and her brother Steve were watching TV at home. Her father was in his office and her mother was on the phone with her assistant organising some charity event. Owen who had just started in a position of director within their father's company once he had finished his College degree; was in New York attending a meeting on behalf of their father on the 105th floor of the World Trade Centre. Ellie can remember the show they were watching cutting away to a breaking news bulletin. The moment the reporter said a plane had crashed into one of the towers of the World Trade Centre; it was not only the day the world changed but also the day the world changed for the entire Knight family.
After that tragic day with the loss of their brother the family was never the same. Their father while never the most affectionate man withdrew into his shell and became all business all the time. Her mother withdrew from being the outgoing socialite she once was and reverted to a housewife until the day she died. Ellie was shipped off to attend a prestigious boarding school in Sydney, Australia near where her mother's parents lived. Steve was sent to another elite boarding school in London, England. At her young age, Ellie thought being sent away meant she had done something wrong. Which was one of the reasons behind her drive and desire to prove herself to her father.
"Earth to Ellie…anybody home!" the sound of her best friend Nikki McCloud's voice snapped her out of her reminiscing.
"Yeah…sorry what were you saying again?" Ellie replied back to her friend.
"Come on Ellie! The idea of coming to this bar was supposed to help you forget about your dad and to reinvigorate your spirits."
"Yeah, I know I guess I'm still just a bit angry I guess. I've been waiting for this inheritance from my mother since I was sixteen. When I got access to it when I was twenty-one did I go and throw it away on guys, cars and booze? No I invested it and now that I have a business proposal for what to do with the money, what does he say…NO!" Ellie angrily responded to her friend.
"I still don't understand why you need your father's approval anyway. It's your money, Ellie"
"I don't need his approval. I guess I just wanted him to say to me, nice job Ellie or anything really. By the way where the hell are we and what's with all this stuff everywhere?" Ellie asked her friend, while throwing her long blonde hair over her shoulder.
"Well Ms Knight I promised you I would show you a traditional small town bar when I suggested drinking away your sorrows; and what better bar to show you then one in my former hometown of Lima, Ohio. This rather benign establishment is called, The Lazy Sombrero Bar and Grill. Where you can drink yourself silly with tequila while grilling any animal the inhabitants of these parts can get their hands on. It's a place I bet you and your fellow vegan loving New Yorkers have never even heard of. As for all the people setting up the sign outside said there having a battle of the bands thing here tonight. Hey who knows maybe you might find some new exciting up and coming artist for your label" Ellie's friend Nikki excitedly said before drinking more of her drink.
"What label? It's just a proposal at the moment and I've got the business side figured out but I need someone who can handle the creative side. Know any good people who can get me amazing artists and music?" lamented Ellie while finishing off her drink.
"Sorry I don't know anybody, but if you want an amazing party planned for any of your events, then I'm your girl!" replied Nikki while also finishing her drink.
The two friends sat and chatted over a few drinks and some appetizers as Nikki tried to show her friend a good time. When inspiration struck Nikki to what might be a fun evening for Ellie.
"Hey why don't we stick around for the band competition tonight? You never know it might be fun." Nikki asked as she looked over at her reluctant friend.
"No Nikki I'm already depressed! Listening to tone deaf bumpkins from the country will just make me depressed even more."
"Come on…live a little…you never know some of the contestants could surprise you and actually be good. By the way Lima is not a country town, its a small town there is a difference, Ms New York City!" pleaded Nikki
"Okay, fine we'll stay…happy?" Ellie responded
"Very…Let's go find a table before they all go," a satisfied Nikki replied back to her friend while picking up a competition flyer.
I swear to God Nikki! if anyone gets up and sings Cotton Eyed Joe I'm outta here!" Ellie said in all seriousness to her friend.
"Don't worry it says here that it's an original song competition" Nikki explained while pointing to the flyer.
"You do realise your not making this scenario sound any better…right?" Ellie quipped.
"Shush you! Otherwise I'll sign you up for the competition" Nikki quipped back to her friend
"You wouldn't dare!" Ellie accused
"Wouldn't I? Do I have to remind you of your epic performance at Slam Poetry Night at that hole in the wall place in Soho" reminded Nikki
"No! I'll be good!" Ellie meekly replied
"Excellent…Oh look there's a good table," Nikki told Ellie while pulling her over to a vacant table in the corner of the bar. Ellie grumbled the entire way over to the table and wished that this night were over all ready. Because as Ellie told herself nothing exciting ever happens in small towns, except cow tipping and Ellie was definitely not going with some yokel cow tipping.
The music of the competing bands reverberated around the small room that Puck, Sam, Ryder and Blaine had been given to use as a dressing room. At the moment though it seemed at least to the guys that is was more akin to a cage you would find at the zoo. With the one and only Noah Puckerman starring as the caged lion prowling menacingly around the cage, growling at unsuspecting spectators. The guys who were huddled together in one corner of the room watched as Puck once again checked his watch before mumbling something intelligible under his breath before once again resuming his pacing.
"Puck! Can you please stop your pacing your making everyone nervous" Blaine pleaded with his nervous friend.
Puck ignored Blaine and kept on pacing the length of the room while talking aloud to no one in particular. "He said he was ready to stop running away…come on Finn, this is your time bro! I told him when this thing starts…didn't I? Well?"
Puck was looking at the three available guys who were now sitting together on one of the only available couches. Blaine, Sam and Ryder all were looking at each not sure if Puck actually was expecting and answer to his rhetorical question. Ryder was the first to break the awkward silence by answering Puck's question, "Yes Puck you told him when to be here. He's a bit late but don't worry, I know Finn and there's no way he's going to let any of us down!"
"I hope your right there, Newbie…I hope your right" Puck half said, half mumbled before turning around and resuming his pacing.
Finn came screeching into the parking lot of the Lazy Sombrero Bar and Grill and hastily parked his car in the first available car park. As Finn put the car in park he quickly checked his watch; crap he was late and he would've been even later if he didn't break like five driving laws on the way over.
Finn grabbed all the stuff he would need for the competition as well as his phone and ran into the venue. As he entered he could see that the competition was well under way. With a group of extremely hairy individuals thrashing away on stage to something that Finn could only assume was supposed to a death metal song. There set was cut-off early because the lead singer had to be taken away in an ambulance with a severe neck injury from all the head banging. Trying not to waste anymore time, Finn ran up to the front counter of the restaurant and told them that he was here for the competition and needed to be shown where to go. One of the hostesses of the establishment who looked like she was in her early twenties with platinum blonde hair and bright blue eyes started to lead Finn backstage.
The hostess who Finn found out was named Gloria showed him to the dressing room allocated to his band. Just before he went to enter, Finn turned to Gloria and said, "Thanks Gloria, you're a real lifesaver"
Gloria just giggled and answered back, "Anytime Finn. Oh and yes I do mean anytime…" Gloria said flirtatiously as she reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of paper before writing her name and number and handing it to Finn before continuing. "If your not doing anything after the competition call me. My shift ends around ten. Good luck in the competition Finn" Gloria ended her statement with a wink before walking off back to her post.
Finn just smirked to himself and quickly tucked the piece of paper in his pocket even though he had no intentions of using it. As he bent down to pick up his belongings once again, he chuckled to himself as he thought, 'Good to see that the old Hudson Charm, still works!' before proceeding to walk through the door into the dressing room.
The scene that confronted Finn as he walked into the room would have been funny if it hadn't been so weird. Finn looked around and saw Puck pacing around one side of the room mumbling to himself. While in another corner Sam was sitting in a chair facing the wall staring into space while continually applying copious amounts of Lip balm to his lips. Finn then looked over and saw Ryder sitting by himself on the couch clutching his bass guitar to his chest like some type of lifeline while rocking backwards and forwards. Finn looked around trying to spot Blaine but couldn't see him.
That's when a shrill cry rang out from the bathroom alerting Finn to Blaine's current whereabouts. Finn peered into the bathroom and spotted Blaine standing in front of the mirror furiously trying to tame his hair with a mixture of water and hair gel. Blaine would smooth down a portion of his hair, thinking he had it just right before it would suddenly spring back to its original location. A frustrated Blaine had a white-knuckle grip of the bathroom sink as he looked at his reflection in the mirror and continually mumbled, "35% gel is just not going to cut it…My God! I'm going to have Sideshow Bob hair!"
Finn decided he had enough of watching his friends slowly turn crazy. So he walked back to the main room and loudly dropped his stuff onto the ground causing a bang. The attention of the four boys all snapped towards Finn's presence at the front of the room. Since Ryder had been clutching his instrument so tightly to his chest, his sudden turnaround caused Ryder to snap one of the strings on his bass guitar with a loud twang.
"So this is what happens when I leave you guys alone for a couple of hours…huh!" Finn joked.
Before Finn had time to finish speaking Puck had rushed over and punched Finn in the arm extremely hard.
"Ugh! What the hell was that for?" Finn yelled while rubbing the spot where Puck had punched him.
"That was for making me worry, fucker!" Puck answered back flippantly.
"Okay then! So guys what's with all the crazy?" Finn looked around at his gathered friends, genuinely concerned.
No one wanted to say anything; because in truth they were embarrassed they had let the nerves of the competition get to them. They were still all guys and being stereotypical males none of them wanted to admit that they were nervous.
"Come on guys, I know your all nervous, Hell I'm nervous too! Even though we've all performed multiple times for Glee Club, this just seems different…doesn't it? I think it's because when we performed in Glee it technically wasn't us it was the school, we were there representing McKinley. But now…tonight…us being on that stage; there's nothing to hide behind. Tonight's performance is about showing those people out there, who we are. And I don't know about you guys but I want people to know that I'm Finn Hudson and I'm DAMN PROUD to be me, and I'm also DAMN PROUD to be sharing the stage with my friends…No with my brothers! So who's with me? What about you Puck? Tell me who you are?" Finn told his friends while trying to stir up as much emotion in them as possible.
Everyone turned and looked at Puck waiting to see what his answer was going to be. Puck drew out the dramatic silence for a moment longer before making eye contact with everyone in the room. "I'll tell you who I am! I'm the Puckasaurus baby! When where done out there tonight, where going to have more babes after us then we know what to do with. Hell where going to be so hot, even Blaine might hook up with a chick" Puck said while giving Finn a solid fist bump.
"Well Puck tonight just might be your lucky night. I know for a fact that Gloria the girl at the front desk is interested in hooking up," Finn said while handing Puck the sheet with her name and number.
" You mean that hot blonde chick out front wearing that tight dress?" Puck asked and Finn just nodded.
"I feel like I'm going to cry! My boy here just put on some big boy pants and got a number from a real woman, without paying her…. Wait you didn't pay her did you? Cause you know that shits illegal right! Hold up are you finally moving on from Berry?" queried a surprised Puck.
"No I'm not moving on just yet. That's why I gave you her number. Anyway I could ask you the same question are you finally moving on from Quinn?"
"No! But you know me I'm like the sheriff in the Wild West! Even though I'm the law I still got to carry my gun and keep it loaded just in case of emergencies!" Puck replied.
"Wow, Puck you're so romantic!" Sam quipped sarcastically.
"Fuck off, Evans!" snapped Puck towards his blonde friend.
"Anyway, you guys can have the girls! After that one kiss with Rachel in High school…no offense Finn…but I'm definitely G.A.Y. all the way." Blaine countered back.
None taken. Even though I still find that whole situation extremely weird…" Finn started but was interrupted by Blaine.
"Believe me Finn it was weird for me too!" Blaine said
"Well if you find one kiss with Rachel weird Finn and Blainey-Boy…then I have a weird story for you!" Puck said jokingly to his pal. Finn just turned and gave his best friend a look that could melt the polar icecaps.
"What too soon?" a smirking Puck said to Finn who was still staring at him menacingly.
"In your case Puck, it's always to soon and if I ever hear those words leave your mouth ever again, were going to have problems!"
"Geez it was just a joke!" a repentant Puck replied.
Finn turned back to the others and said, "What about you guys are you with us?"
A jumbled chorus of voices echoed throughout the room…
"I'm Ryder and I'm Damn Proud!"
"I'm Sam Evans and you better believe I'm Damn Proud!"
"I'm Blaine Anderson and…I'm just happy to be doing this with you guys" an emotional Blaine answered.
"Fuck this! Where rock stars not a bunch of hormonal women discussing our feelings in a knitting circle!" Puck said trying to raise the level of testosterone back up to an acceptable limit in his presence.
The group dispersed and went back to trying their own personal ways of zoning out before their performance. Finn meanwhile started putting his stuff away to one side of the room. When he noticed that everyone was wearing the same thing.
"Um guys! What are you all wearing?" Finn cast a questioning glance over the attire of his friends.
Finn was a bit shocked when an energetic Sam came rushing over to him with something in his hand. "I almost forgot! Finn these are for you. I didn't know what size you take, so I just checked one of your pants that were on the floor of your room"
"Thanks? When were you in my room?" a confused Finn asked while accepting the pair of pants from Sam.
"No worries. Oh! I just snuck in and checked your size while you were in the bathroom. No need to thank me it's just one of the perks of living with one of my buddies. Oh! And while were talking, Carol was looking for you earlier and you missed one heck of a roast dinner" replied Sam.
Puck started salivating over what Sam had said and replied, "Momma Hudson made her roast? Oh My God! Was it the Pork or the Lamb Roast? Did she make that applesauce?"
"YEP! She made a Pork Roast with applesauce and she also included not only roast potato but also roast sweet potato. It was amazing!" Sam said dreamily.
Before Sam and Puck could continue with their recap of his mothers cooking, Finn interrupted by asking. "What the hell are these things made out of?"
Sam turned around at the sound of Finn's voice and answered, "There leather pants"
"Yeah and they don't chafe at all, they're great!" Puck said while doing power kicks while playing air guitar.
"I got a great deal on these pants, one of the perks of being a former stripper I guess. Can you believe that there was a store basically giving these away?" Sam asked to all the guys.
"Really what was the store?" a curious Blaine asked.
"That's what's weird, it must have been some new type of hardware store or something, there name was Whips, Chains and beyond. The store had some really friendly staff and when I told them I was a former stripper they gave me a great deal on the pants. But they kept asking me if I was into S & M and I continually told them that no my initials were S and E, not S & M, they must of mistook me for someone else…I guess"
Finn, Puck and Blaine looked at each other and just smirked not having the heart to tell their friend what the store really sold. Meanwhile an oblivious Ryder kept talking, "Cool! I'm always on the lookout for a good hardware store. What's there address?"
"I'll take you there, apparently they do live demonstrations of their products on…" started Sam before being interrupted by Finn
"Anyway! You guys continue to pump yourselves up for our performance, while I go and get changed."
Finn grabbed his stuff and his new, apparently chafe free leather pants and headed for the small bathroom adjoining the room. It took Finn a couple of minutes to actually realise, which was the front, and what was the back of the pants. Before it took another moment or two to get them on because of their tightness. Just as Finn was securing the attached belt that came with the pants he heard his phone beep in his bag.
Finn took a moment to admire himself in a pair of leather pants that he would never in a million years wear or buy of his volition. He thought to himself, if only Kurt could see me now. I wonder if he would declare this fashionable or a fashion disaster? With a quick glance at his watch, Finn decided that he still had enough time to check the message he heard beep on his phone a moment ago.
Just as Finn was pulling his phone out of his bag he heard Blaine's voice carry through to the bathroom. "Hey guys do these leather pants make my bum look big?" and then he heard Puck and Ryder running around yelling, "la la la! Can't hear you!" Finn just chuckled at the antics of his friends before once again turning his attention back to his phone.
Finn turned on his phone and very nearly dropped it straight into the sink of the bathroom. The message on his phone was from the only woman who could sing in tune with not only the beat of his heart but also the beat of his soul…Rachel Berry. Finn put the lid of the toilet sit down and sat down so he could read and reread the message.
She thanked him for his support, didn't she know by now that no matter what, together or single he would always walk through fire for her. It buoyed his heart and soul to know even after all their issues; he was still welcome at the most important night of Rachel's life. The last part of the message though knocked Finn for a loop…she wanted to meet up and talk whenever they see each other next. Finn's mind was running a mile a minute, what the hell did talk mean? Did it mean talk…like talk, talk, like as in two people having a conversation talk or have a talk like I need you to leave me the hell alone you whack job weirdo. Even the last part…no pressure…fucking smiley face emoji. What the hell does smiley face emoji mean? Finn felt like that stupid smiley face was staring at him and mocking him with its stupid digital smile. He felt like putting his fist through the phone and wiping that smile off that emoji's face. No pressure! Are you insane Rachel! How is there no pressure? Finn didn't know about Rachel but it felt like he was suffocating there was so much pressure.
This is exactly like that time his mum suggested he try reading that, 'Woman are from Pluto and Men are from Mercury' book, to better understand Rachel and their relationship. Wait was that the right title? Anyway man and women are supposed to be from different planets and it sure as hell felt like that now. Finn really wanted to track down the person who invented emoticons and give them a piece of his mind…as well as walk into their office and kick their computer extremely hard. Just as Finn was planning on how best to Google who invented the emoticon a loud banging on the bathroom door interrupted him.
"Yo Hudson! You better not be taking a shit in there! Cause your going to stink the place up. You've been in there for half an hour and where up next so get your giant ass out of there and let's go rock out!" Puck bellowed through the door.
Finn took one last look at Rachel's message on his phone and quickly got up and tucked his phone securely back into his bag. He took one last quick check of his appearance in the bathroom mirror, all the while mumbling to himself about stupid mocking emoji's. Finn then steeled himself by saying, 'this is your time and you got this' to himself, before running out the door and meeting up with the rest of the guys.
Ellie and Nikki joined in with the light smattering of applause the gathered crowd afforded the last act at the completion of their performance. Ellie had to admit to herself that so far the competition wasn't as bad as she thought it was going to be. It wasn't amazing but at the same time it wasn't, I want to plug my ears bad either. Just then the announcer and who was also the owner of the Lazy Sombrero, came back onto the stage.
"Ladies and Gentleman! Please give a big hand for Tango and Cash and for their performance of their song, City Girl" the announcer boomed through the PA system.
"Alright then. This next performer is an amazing solo act. He's so amazing that we just had to have him in this competition even though it's supposed to be a battle between bands. This guy is going to make every woman want him and every guy want to be him. So without any further ado, I give you…MY SON AKA JOHNNY BRAVO!"
Out walked this tall lanky kid with what looked like to Ellie a large brown Afro that had been permed. He also had an old fender guitar strapped over his shoulder. Johnny Bravo walked to the middle of the stage and placed his own personal amp down delicately behind him for his guitar. After rather badly giving his guitar a quick tune he walked over to the microphone and tapped it three times, saying, "Is this on?"
Still standing in front of the microphone he coughed a couple of times and looked nervously around the room, before hesitantly talking into the microphone.
"Good…Good (cough) Good Evening Ladies and Gentleman. I'm Johnny Bravo and I'm going to perform an original song I wrote called, Clowns Never Laughed Before. It's really moving…so I hope you all enjoy it"
Clowns never laughed before
Beanstalks never grew
Ponies never ran before
Till I met you
Surf never broke before
Artists never drew
Snow never fell before
Till I met you
My dream came true
My dream came true
The World spins my life begins
Cause I met you
Phones never rang before
Wiseman never knew
No one ever loved before
Till I met you
Nothing else could be heard throughout the room, as the last note played from his old fender guitar echoed out into the room. Everyone including Ellie and Nikki were speechless and staring perplexed at the stage. Ellie thought to herself that they might have just found one of the long lost members of the Brady Bunch. The announcer/owner was once again on stage, which broke the silence.
"Oh Boy! I don't know about everyone else but that really had me tearing up back there! Anyway…for anyone who came in late, I'm Donnie Dobblestein and I'm your host and also the owner of this fine establishment your in this evening. And that was my boy, Elisha Dobblestein! But since he's apparently a man now, he likes to be called Eli…"
"I AM A MAN NOW DAD! YOU WERE THE ONE WHO THREW ME A BAR MITZVAH FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!" Eli Dobblestein aka Johnny Bravo yelled from backstage.
"LOVE YOU TO SON!" Donnie yelled back.
"YEAH WELL I HATE YOU!"
"THAT'S IT! You're not going to paintball with your hoodlum friends Saturday!"
"BUT DAD…"
"DON'T YOU, BUT DAD ME! Sorry about that minor interruption, ladies and gentleman, and since there's a break in proceedings. I'll tell you about tonight's amazing special on steak. If you like your steak rare, our chefs will have that bad boy still practically mooing on your plate. If well done steak…"
"SHUT UP! AND GET ON WITH IT!" Donnie was interrupted by a loud heckle from someone in the back of the room.
"Well then! To keep the peace our next band is…" Donnie looked through his notes and realized he never got a band name for the next act.
"Excuse me for a second…please feel free to talk amongst yourselves" Donnie said to the audience before running backstage to where the next act was waiting in the wings to perform.
Finn, Puck, Sam, Ryder and Blaine were standing there nervously waiting to go on when Finn saw Johnny Bravo walking by. "Hey kid! Nice set out there"
"BITE ME!" snapped Eli as he just kept walking.
The guy's attention was reverted back towards the stage where they could see an older gentleman running towards them and trying to get their attention. "Hey before you guys go on I need your band name. So what's your name?"
"SHIT! We didn't come up with a band name!" exclaimed Puck
"Weren't you supposed to do that Puck?" Ryder questioned.
"Hey don't put his on me! I formed the fucking band, okay! I didn't know I had to do everything myself!" Puck snapped back at Ryder
"Cool it guys! Sir our band name is the New Directions" Finn calmly said to Donnie. All the guys turned and stared at Finn as Donnie rushed back to the stage.
"God Finn! That name sucks for a band!" lamented Puck while the others all agreed with him.
"You guys worry to much! Who cares what our name is now, we can just change it when we make it big. All the big bands do it. The Beatles used to be The Quarrymen, Maroon Five used to be Kara's Flowers, Green Day was Sweet Children and even Van Halen used to have the extremely odd name of Rat Salad. So let's just get out there and rock this place!"
Just then they heard Donnie announcing New Directions as the next act and they all hurried onto the stage. Finn sat down behind the drum kit while Puck, Ryder and Sam positioned themselves with their guitars and Blaine moved to the microphone.
"I hope everyone's having a good time tonight. As you heard where The New Directions and were singing an original song written by our immensely talented drummer Finn Hudson…so here we go…" Blaine told the audience before they started playing.
Finn started banging away on his drums….
I'll be your light, your match, your burning sun,
I'll be the bright, in black that's makin' you run.
And we'll feel alright, and we'll feel alright,
'Cause we'll work it out, yeah, we'll work it out.
I'll be doin' this, if you had a doubt,
'Til the love runs out, 'til the love runs out…
All the people in the audience stopped what they were doing and stared at the stage, this time in wonder. All the girls and a few of the older ladies all rushed to the front of the stage and started screaming. While basically everyone else got up and was dancing as the performance on stage continued…
I'll be your ghost, your game, your stadium.
I'll be your fifty-thousand clapping like one.
And I feel alright, and I feel alright,
'Cause I worked it out, yeah, I worked it out.
I'll be doin' this, if you had a doubt,
'Til the love runs out, 'til the love runs out.
I got my mind made up, man, I can't let go.
I'm killing every second 'til it saves my soul.
(Ooh) I'll be running, (Ooh) I'll be running,
'Til the love runs out, 'til the love runs out.
And we'll start a fire, and we'll shut it down,
'Til the love runs out, 'til the love runs out.
There's a maniac out in front of me.
Got an angel on my shoulder, and Mestopheles.
but mama raised me good, mama raised me right.
Mama said, "Do what you want, say prayers at night,"
And I'm saying them, 'cause I'm so devout.
'Til the love runs out, 'til the love runs out, yeah.
I got my mind made up, man, I can't let go.
I'm killing every second 'til it saves my soul.
(Ooh) I'll be running, (Ooh) I'll be running,
'Til the love runs out, 'til the love runs out.
And we'll start a fire, and we'll shut it down,
'Til the love runs out, 'til the love runs out.
Oh, we all want the same thing.
Oh, we all run for something.
run for God, for fate,
For love, for hate,
For gold, for rust,
For diamonds, for dust.
I'll be your light, your match, your burning sun,
I'll be the bright, in black that's makin' you run.
I got my mind made up, man, I can't let go.
I'm killing every second 'til it saves my soul.
(Ooh) I'll be running, (Ooh) I'll be running,
'Til the love runs out, 'til the love runs out.
And we'll start a fire, and we'll shut it down,
'Til the love runs out, 'til the love runs out.
I'll be your light, your match, your burning sun,
I'll be the bright, in black that's makin' you run.
And we'll feel alright, and we'll feel alright,
'Cause we'll work it out, yes, we'll work it out.
And we'll start a fire, and we'll shut it down,
'Til the love runs out, 'til the love runs out.
'Til the love runs out.
A loud cheer rang through the Lazy Sombrero Bar and Grill at the end of their performance. The guys while all breathing hard from their performance smiled at each other and sat back and soaked in the applause from the adoring crowd.
Donnie the announcer came back out on stage, "Whoa! What a performance am I right?" Donnie's statement was met with even more loud cheers from the gathered crowd.
"Okay…Okay, quiet down. It seems like these guys might be close to being our winners tonight. But before we can be sure we have to bring out the rest of our contestants before we can announce the winner…so come on out guys"
All the other contestants came shuffling out on stage to join Finn, Puck, Ryder, Sam and Blaine. "Now that everyone's here we can get started. The envelope please…" Someone dressed in the uniform of the bar and grill came out and gave Donnie an envelope.
"And the winner is…"
Donnie drew out the dramatic pause for what everyone felt like forever before he opened the envelope and gasped. "Oh My! This surely is a surprise result. I didn't see this coming ladies and gentlemen. The winner of the Lazy Sombrero Bar and Grill seventh annual Battle of the bands competition is…"
He looked around at everyone prolonging the dramatic effect even further. "The winner is…JOHNNY BRAVO!"
As Johnny Bravo or Eli came out on stage to receive the winner's trophy there was not a sound to be heard in the place. Eli then started bowing and exclaiming how proud and surprised he was to win, when the entire crowd started by Ellie started loudly booing him. The booing got even louder as did the calls for the winner to be, The New Directions. It got so loud security had to come out and escort Donnie and his son off the stage for safety reasons. An extremely disappointed Finn and the guys packed up their stuff from the stage and headed back to the dressing room.
Most of the guys decided to just head on home, but Puck and Finn decided to hang out a while and drown their sorrows at the bar. Finn and Puck sat down on the stools in front of the bar and quickly ordered their drinks. Both of them were too disappointed to really do anything else apart from drink.
"I pictured this night turning out a lot differently than it did" Puck said out loud to no one in particular.
"Yeah me too buddy…me too" agreed Finn
"Fuck Johnny Bravo!" sneered Puck and he took another swig of his beer.
"Yeah! Fuck Johnny Bravo and his dad too!" Finn agreed absently minded while picking at the label of his beer.
Two beautiful ladies siting down next to them at the bar interrupted Finn and Puck from their pity party. "How are you two holding up after that blatant showing of nepotism?" one of the girls said while also gaining the bartenders attention to order a drink.
"As good as can be expected under the circumstances" Finn replied back to the two women.
"I'm Ellie by the way and this is my friend Nikki" Ellie pointed first to herself and then behind her to her brunette friend.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Finn and this is Puck." Finn greeted back
"So you're the Finn Hudson who wrote that amazing song?" a now suddenly more interested Ellie asked.
"That's right beautiful and I'm the guy who was shredding that axe that sent all the girls screaming" Puck added into the conversation.
Wow! Interesting…Now Finn" Ellie said sarcastically
"Not interested that's fine. How about your friend? What was your name again, Nikki was it? Want to dance or something while these to talk shop?" Puck flirted with Ellie's friend Nikki.
"Sure hot stuff let's go dance and I might be able to show you a few moves" Nikki flirted back.
Ellie and Finn watched as their two friends walked off arm in arm to the dance floor leaving them sitting at the bar. "Should I be worried about that friend of yours?" Ellie asked Finn
"I was going to ask you the same question," Finn answered back while the two of them continued to watch Puck and Nikki on the dance floor. Who had now started half making out, half grinding on each other.
"So you wrote that song, huh?"
"Fat lot of good it did us tonight though," Finn said humourlessly.
"Hey chin up kid! I know a lot about the music industry and let me tell you, if Mr Nepotism Donnie knew anything about music. He would have awarded you guys first place and then taken his tone deaf son's guitar and burnt it. That song was good enough to record let alone win a stupid competition located in a Bar and Grill."
"Thanks. Do you work in a record store or something? You said you knew a lot about the industry," queried an interested Finn.
"Kind of. My mother was Martha Knight or as a lot of people knew her Martha Bennett…" Ellie started before Finn butted in.
"Hold up! Hold up! Your mother was Martha Bennett? The Martha Bennett, the multiple Grammy winner from Australia? That means your dad is William freaking Knight the billionaire business mogul!"
"That's right"
"Oh My God! My mum and ex girlfriend absolutely adore your mother and her music. There going to flip out when I tell them I met you." An excited Finn gushed out.
"Finn I grew up around music. I would go and sit in the studio to watch my mother record everyday. It was one of my favourite things to do, sit there and just listen to the sound of her voice. I have been shown the ins and outs as well as the dos and don'ts of the industry, so that's why I can say without a shadow of a doubt that your song was excellent. Who cares about losing a competition in Lima, Ohio! Use it to write more songs and one day they'll be getting heard around the world. Just keep writing, kid" A serious Ellie tried to articulate to Finn about the strength of his work.
"Keep writing! I already have multiple notebooks full of songs…so what's the point?"
Ellie's attention was heightened when she heard that Finn had more songs just like the one that was performed tonight. "Listen Finn, I'm planning on starting my own label and I need a bunch of songs I can use to really kick-start my label. You think I could get a look at some of your songs and then maybe we could do a deal?" Ellie asked hoping Finn would allow her to look at some of his other songs.
Finn reached down to his bag that he had put beside his seat while he was at the bar. After rifling through his bag for a moment, Finn pulled out a couple of large, black notebooks and passed them over to Ellie. "Here tell me what you think"
He watched nervously as Ellie spent the next hour comprehensible reading through the songs in his notebook. Finn couldn't help but feel extremely vulnerable with someone else apart from himself reading his songs. He kept on trying to decipher if the little noises Ellie was making while reading where good noises or bad noises. Finally Ellie put down the notebook gently on the table and raised her eyes to meet Finn's.
"Finn I'd first like to tell you that these are simply amazing, amazing songs. I've seen award-winning songwriters who can't write songs half as well as you do. Secondly Finn have you ever considered being a professional songwriter cause you could seriously make a small fortune from any one of these songs. So tell me about yourself Finn?"
Finn then sat there and proceeded to tell Ellie all about himself and his musical influences as well as how he would make and shape different music for Glee. As well as write original music and set different vocal ranges to it so it was suitable for different singers. Right at the end of his spiel about himself was when Finn got an idea.
"Ellie I have a proposition for you. You said that your starting your own record label, how far along are you?" a giddy Finn queried
"Well I have the financial backing, the equipment, I even have a space set out that I think would make a perfect studio. I can handle all the business side but I guess now I just need someone who can find artists and handle the creative aspect. Why do you ask?"
"What would you say if I told you I could get you, your very first artist for your label?"
Finn's question had piqued her interest, "I would say tell me more"
"What if I could get Mercedes Jones to sign for your label?" Finn questioned again.
"Mercedes Jones? She's currently doing a mall tour; I've heard some great things about her from friends over at Spectra Records. How the hell are you going to get me one of Spectra's rising stars?" an unbelieving Ellie responded to Finn.
"Mercedes Jones is a dear friend of mine and I know for a fact that she is extremely unhappy with how her current label is handling her career. Now here's my proposal I could get her to sign to your label as long as I can produce her record. I have some money so I am willing to invest into your label and I could be that creative partner you were looking for. I will allow your label the use of my songs, which I will retain the copyright and intellectual property rights to. Which means I would find you new artists as well as produce them and I would also write for any artist from the label or associate labels."
Ellie took a long hard look at Finn. She knew from reading his songs that he was an amazing songwriter but could he produce an amazing album. Sure it was a huge risk taking an unknown such as Finn and making him a partner in her label, but there was something about him that made her want to trust him.
"Okay! But here's how it's going to work. You will invest into my company and we will run it as partners. I will be the business and you will be the creative side. You will write songs for our artists and anybody else associated with our label looking for a song. The proceeds of those written songs will be split evenly between us…Deal?"
Before I agree, I want to add one more thing. If or when I deliver you a smash hit record by the one and only Mercedes Jones you will allow for my band to record an album under your…sorry our label…Deal?" Finn countered back.
"Deal! But know this Finn. There is no deal if you don't get me Mercedes Jones. I'll have my lawyers fax over some contracts first thing in the morning." Ellie said while staring at Finn making sure her point was made.
Puck and Nikki coming back over to the table snapped Finn and Ellie out of their conversation. "What's up? Party people" Puck yelled.
"Nothing much…just the start of a beautiful partnership and hopefully, friendship as well" Finn explained to Puck.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means that Ellie and I are going to start our own record label. Ellie controlling the business and I will control the creative side"
Nikki turned with tears in her eyes towards her best friend and launched herself at Ellie developing the Blonde girl in an extremely tight hug. "You're actually doing it? You've been talking about this since you were little. Screw your father! This is amazing Ellie, it's going to be huge and you better contact me whenever you throw one of those lavish label parties, so I can organise it."
"I wouldn't have it any other way Nikki" Ellie replied back to her friend, getting a bit misty eyed herself.
"What about me? I could be a studio musician," Puck pleaded.
"We'll see Puck, we'll see" Ellie tried to assure Finn's friend.
The foursome sat and talked and drank to their future success. Each person at the table had something different to be thankful for. Ellie for taking the first step in getting her childhood dream off the ground. Finn for taking the leap into an actual career for himself and Puck was just thankful that his friend was finally starting to see his true value. Nikki just couldn't be happier that her friend's dreams were coming true despite her father.
Just as they were about to part ways for the evening, Ellie yelled out. "When you get Mercedes, I'll text you the address in New York where you can meet me!"
Both Finn and Puck stopped in their tracks at the name of that city and Finn turned around and said extremely hesitantly, "New York?"
"Yep, that's where the studio's going to be. So if this works out Finn, you're going to be living in New York City for a very long time. Is there a problem?" Ellie asked.
Finn turned and started walking back the other way, after assuring Ellie that there was no problem with him moving and living in New York. But internally there was a big problem; even though New York City was huge it was also the place where a particular petite brunette with killer vocals currently lived. Finn just hoped that Rachel really meant what she said in that text message, cause otherwise living in New York City in such close proximity to Rachel without getting to be with her, was going to be hell.
Hope everybody enjoyed this chapter. The songs used in this chapter were 'Clowns Never Laughed Before' featured in the Brady Bunch Movie and 'Love Runs Out' by OneRepublic. Until next time have a good one and don't do anything I wouldn't do.