I love all of you who have reviewed so far, and don't be shy to lend me some ideas while you're at it!
Sorry it took so long to update, again! I was on Vacation for another two weeks but now I'm back. (:
I don't own glee, only my original characters.
The memory of things gone is important to a jazz musician. – Louis Armstrong
It had been about a week since Invitational's and the choir was too relaxed about sectionals, thinking they had it in the bag. Mr. Shue had told them at the beginning of the week that their competition is a school for the deaf and a correctional girl's institute. But that wasn't exactly why Jazz was completely out of it today.
Their director was teaching them a new dance and she followed along in sort of a daze, grinning giddily.
"Come on guys, you're sleep walking on me here, give me some energy." He said the piano stopping. "We've got sectionals in two weeks."
"Please," Mercedes chimed in, rolling her eyes. "Sectional's is gonna be a breeze." Jazz giggled falling back on a chair, everyone ignored her. She'd been doing it a lot lately.
"Maybe so," Mr. Shue agreed. "But if we coast through sectionals, we're going to get killed at regionals. We have got to be on our game."
Jazz giggled again, and leaned over onto another seat.
"Okay, she's been doing that all week, what's wrong with her?" Mr. Shue demanded, getting angry.
"I'm not entirely sure…" Cory said cautiously, staring at his sister who was twirling her hair.
"She's been seeing," Puck said the next part in an accent, "Mr. English Perfect Boy Oliver Jones."
Kurt gasped. "Oliver Jones. He transferred in a few weeks ago but he is at the top of every girls dream boy list. I understand now, darling." Kurt patted her leg.
"He's absolutely amazing." Jazz said, grinning bigger. People were silent for a few beats and Jazz turned her glare onto Puck. "And once again, it's not your job to pry into other people's business. So but out, fuzz head."
"It is when his locker is next to mine and he's making kissy faces at you ALL THE TIME!" Puck said, taking a step towards her.
"He does not!" Jazz yelled, standing up. "At least we don't have sex in the school hallways!"
"I have never done that!"
"Basically!"
"Cut it out!" Mr. Shue yelled.
Both of them had forgotten they were in the room with other people. They were bearing down on each (well, Puck was over Jazz) with clenched fists and silted eyes. Jazz made sure Puck turned away first, then, with an audible humph, she gathered up her bag and stormed out of the room just as the bell rang.
She was still fuming as she reached her locker. With obvious venom, she ripped the locker open and shoved her books inside, grabbing her new ones. Someone tapped her shoulder.
"What?" She snapped, turning on the spot. Oliver was looking at her with wide puppy eyes, his hands behind his back.
"Bad glee club rehearsal?" He asked, kissing her forehead.
"Just Puckerman again. He just get's me so riled sometimes." Jazz said, closing her locker and then facing him again.
Pressed in her face was a beautiful purple tulip. Oliver was grinning crookedly and Jazz wanted to burst into tears. She jumped and hugged him around the neck.
"You always know how to make my day better." She said, taking the flower once she'd released him.
"That's what I'm here for." He said, putting an arm around her, taking her books, and leading her to class.
"Competition." Mr. Shue said, hanging up different photos. "Every one of these was a champion in their own right. But they used competing with eachother to make themselves even better."
"I don't understand how lightning is in competition with an above ground swimming pool…" Kurt said slowly. Jazz laughed, and connected pinkies with him. He winked.
"Jazz, stop laughing now." Mr. Shue said, grabbing his forehead. Puck smirked and chuckled. Mr. Shue glare rivaled Jazz's. "And Kurt, just go with it. You guys have become complacent. You were great at the invitational." Tina nudged Jazz with her hip. "But you gotta up your game if you want to get through sectionals. Okay, split up. Guys on left side, girls on the right side." No one moved. "Let's go, come on."
Once everyone was split up, Kurt waited a few beats before walking to the girls' side.
"Kurt." Mr. Shue said, motioning back to the guys.
"Mr. Shue," Jazz spoke up stepping forward. "If I may suggest, we mix it up a little. Kurt can stay over here and a girl can go over there?" Kurt beamed at her.
"Okay, Jazz, go with the guys."
"That's not exactly…" Kurt gave her a pleading look. "Alright." She walked, defeated, to the guys' side.
"Here's the deal. Two teams. One week from today. You will each perform a song of your choice. And it may be a mash-up, if you so choose."
"What's a mash-up?" Puck asked. Jazz rolled her eyes.
"A mash-up is when you take two songs and mash them together to make an even richer explosion of musical expression. Boys… and Jazz will perform on Tuesday. Girls the next day. I want you guys to go all out. Costumes, choreography. Whoever wins the competition gets to choose the number that we do for sectionals."
"Wait," Rachel interjected, raising her hand. "Who's gonna be the judge?"
"She's right, Mr. Shue. You're gender will make you biased." Jazz added, nodding at Rachel. Cory nudged her playfully.
"Doesn't matter if you're with the boys."
"Ah," Mr. Shue said, throwing a baseball up. "There is going to be a celebrity judge."
"W-who?" Tina asked.
"You're going to have to show up to find out." Mr. Shue said, turning his back on them. The discussion was over.
The girls walked out immediately, thinking they had it in the bag.
"Hey," Mr. Shue walked over to the guys and Jazz. "I hope you're up to this competition. The girls look pretty pumped."
"We're planning on smacking them down like the hand of god." Artie said seriously.
"I have a perfect song for us," Jazz clapped her hands together and grinned.
"Do you have to be so happy all of the time?" Puck said, rubbing his temple.
"At least I'm not an asshole all of the time." Jazz retorted, sticking her tongue out at him. Jazz scooped up her bag and made her way out to football practice.
"Know your routes." Coach was telling them after practice. "Now that is the key to this play, gentlemen." Kurt coughed. "And lady." He continued on telling them about the play but Jazz was slowly losing it. She needed to get out of here, she could not breath. She had already pulled off her pads and was standing there in a cut-off and sports bra, but it was sweltering hot. And it smelled like Cory's under arms after he mowed.
"Kurt," She whispered. "Give me your shirt."
"Why?" He asked, turning to his locker.
"I need good smells." She grabbed it out of his hand and held it to her nose, breathing through it.
Coach finished talking and not too long after, Jazz was rushing out of the room.
"Boys smell so bad." She smiled to herself, sucking in the fresh air.
"Except Oliver." Puck said in a girly voice as he pushed passed her. He still didn't have a shirt on and it looked like he was making for the water fountain.
"Seriously, Puckerman." Jazz said, standing up once she was breathing alright. "What is you're problem?"
"Nothing." He said, bending down for a drink.
"Then why are you constantly trying to get in fights with me." Jazz said. "It's none of you're business who I choose to spend my time with, and it's none of my business who you suck face with. Why can't we just leave eachother alone?" She was tired, and just wanted to go home, not fight with Puck.
He brushed by her and she missed the three words he said as he looked back at her. "Because I care."
Finn pushed past Puck and ran into Jazz.
"Whoa, there, big boy." Jazz said, placing her hands on his shoulders and holding him straight. "Are you alright?"
Finn rubbed his eyes and yawned. "Just… so tired."
"Get some sleep tonight, no video games." Jazz winked and was happy to see a grin appear on his face. "Promise?"
"Fine." Jazz squeezed his upper arm and made for the locker room.
A couple days later, Puck and Jazz were standing in front of Finn who was fast asleep on the chair.
"He's drooling!" Jazz said, laughing and touching his forehead.
"Dude, wake up." Puck said.
"Sure yeah, that sounds good." He mumbled, and then closed his eyes again.
"You didn't hear my idea, you dweeb." Jazz laughed again, snapping her fingers in his eyes.
"I said, we can't let those girls beat us." Puck snapped.
"Sorry," Finn said, now fully awake. "When I'm thinking really hard it helps when I close my eyes."
"We're going to do Good Girls Go Bad by Cobra Starship." Artie said, rolling up between me and Puck.
"We should get some Trash Can lids and stomp the yard up in this piece." Puck said, smirking. Jazz rolled her eyes and got closer to Finn as he closed his eyes.
"Puck," Artie said seriously. "With respect, you're more helpful when you don't contribute."
"Dude, what's wrong with you?" Puck questioned, bending down in Finn's eye level again. "Go see the nurse. Everyday I say I have a headache, I sleep for three hours. I haven't attended a math class in two years."
"That explains a lot." Jazz mumbled to herself. Artie laughed behind her.
Finn wiped the drool from his mouth and sat up. "Thanks guys, keep up the good work." He patted Puck's shoulder and Jazz's head and walked out of the room.
"Well," Jazz said, watching him walk out, disbelievingly. "He's the male lead."
"He can just start the choreography tomorrow." Michel said.
"Sure, okay guys, let's start." Jazz said, lining them up for the beginning of the song. Everyone was slowly picking it up, although it was hard without the lead there.
"Hey guys, let's run the number!" Finn said, walking back in the room. He was talking very fast and looked a lot more awake than he did before. "I'm excited, are you excited! You guys stand up! Come on, let's get this joint jumping!" He was walking around and pushing people off of chairs (they were taking a break.)
"Has your soul been taken over by caffeinated space aliens?" Artie asked.
"No," His voice cracked. "Just visited the school nurse and got this great vitamin I feel fantastic.
Jazz gave him a weird look, trying to figure out what was wrong with him. Finn walked up and started pinching her cheeks. "Jazzzzieee. Did you ever realize, your name has to do with music? How cool is that?" Jazz pushed him off with an incredulous look.
"I'm going to the bathroom, be right back." She gave the hyper boy one last look before she walked out of the room.
When she walked back in, they were all pumped and grinning like idiots, ready to go. They quickly learned the choreography.
"What do you think of the costume?" Jazz asked, spinning in a circle. The costume consisted of orange high heels, a mid-thigh black pencil skirt that reached around her navel, a white low-cut tank, and a form fitting leather jacket over it.
Cory pulled a frown and said, "I don't know if my little sister should be wearing stuff like that."
"Oh, shut up." Jazz laughed as Cory grinned and looked back down at his report.
"I agree with him," Jennifer Lentz clucked as she walked in the room carrying a paper sack and a phone stuck to her ear. "Alright, alright. I'll get that all in tomorrow. Goodbye." There was a beeping sound and Jennifer set down her phone and the bag.
"Who do you agree with?" Jazz asked cautiously. "Whoever was on the phone?"
"No, I was talking about your brother." Jennifer eyed her daughter. "No proper lady would wear that."
"Mom, it's just a costume…" Cory tried to veer the conversation the other way, before things got out of hand.
"I'm wearing it," Jazz snapped.
"Not if you want to live under my roof you want. You look like a tramp that sells her body."
"It's for glee club, it's a costume." Jazz snarled, "I've seen you dressed like this after when you were with dad and you stumbled in at two in the morning after your 'late shifts'…"
"Jazzebel!"
"Jennifer." Both Cory and his mom cringed as she stomped out of the room and slammed the door behind her.
Jazz walked in the next morning with their costumes. She was already wearing hers and Matt and Puck whistled as she walked in. Jazz decided to ignore her mom and go with the costume she'd picked out anyways, also adding dark make-up.
"You're looking foxy today." Puck said, spinning her around.
Everyone was as pumped as they were yesterday learning the choreography, no one could sit down.
"Shut up, and get dressed." She told them. Each of them got a different button up shirt, a black jacket, and Finn got a pair of white ray bans. "The girls will the coming soon."
The girls made their way in, staring at the jumping boys and the sexy Jazz. When everyone was seated, Jazz nodded her head and got into place.
"I make them good girls go bad. I make them good girls go. Good girls go bad." Artie sang, as everyone performed the choreography with enthusiasm.
"I know your type," Finn said, walking Jazz backwards.
"Your type." The rest of the choir echoed.
"You're daddy's little girl," Finn sang, getting closer to her, Jazz pushed him away and he spun out. "Just take a bite," Finn said, as Mike and Matt converged on Jazz.
"One bite," All the boy except Finn stood over Jazz, covering her from view,
"Let me shake up your world," Jazz made a pushing motion, and all the guys flew
off of her dramatically. "'Cause just one night couldn't be so wrong," The boys dropped back, doing the choreography again. Finn walked back up to Jazz. "I'm gonna make you lose control," Finn pulled at the small rubber band holding her hair back and broke it. Jazz flipped her hair around.
"She was so shy." Finn sang, as Jazz back off. "Till I drove her wild." Jazz threw off her jacket and danced around Finn to the other side.
"I make them good girls go bad. I make them good girls go bad," Everyone took to the chorus and the dancing again. Cory and Mike split to one side with Jazz, while Finn, Puck, and Matt stayed to the other.
"You were hanging in the corner, with your two best friends." Finn sang as Cory and Mike pretended to gossip with Jazz as the other boys winked at them. "You heard that I was trouble but you couldn't resist," Jazz made her way over to the middle of the risers, standing chest to chest with Finn. "I make them good girls go bad. I make them good girls go, good girls go bad." They continue dancing.
"I know your type," Jazz sang, pushing off of Finn, and back to Cory and Mike who danced around her.
"Your type," Everyone echoed.
"Boy, you're dangerous," Jazz got into it again, dropping down and then wagging her finger at him. "Yeah, you're that guy," She laughed at Finn's stupid expression and flipped her hair around.
"That guy," the boys sang.
"I'd be stupid to trust," Jazz did a little cat walk away from the boys on the other side.
"But just one night couldn't be so wrong," She slide her leg in a fancy manner across the floor, and then slid back over to Finn. "You make me wanna lose control," She grabbed the edge of his jacket and spun down and then up again, before pushing him away.
They performed the chorus just like they had before and with more energy, if that were possible.
"Oh, she got away with the boys in the place. Treat 'em like they don't stand a chance." Puck, Matt, and Finn sang dancing forward so that the other three had to step back.
"And he got away with the girls in the back, acting like they're too hot to dance," Cory, Jazz, and Mike sang, dancing them back this time.
"Yeah, she got away with the boys in the place. Treat 'em like they don't stand a chance," They others danced apart and performed the perfect moves and left Finn and Jazz in the middle. They were flirting and singing.
"And he got away with the girls in the back, acting like they're too hot to dance," Jazz messed up his hair and they turned back to back.
"I make them good girls go bad," Jazz and Finn sang together, leaning on eachother, back to back.
"They don't stand a chance," Artie sand softly in the back round.
"I make them good girls go, the good girls go bad, yeah." Jazz leaned on Finn for a second longer, stuck her leg up and then pushed off of him, turning around.
"Good girls go bad," Finn picked up, pinching her cheeks again. She swatted at him.
"I was hanging in the corner with my five best friends. I thought that you were trouble but I couldn't resist," Jazz said, picking up the choreography with the others.
"I make them good girls go bad. I make them good girls go bad. I make them good girls go, good girls go bad. Good girls go bad. Good girls go." On the last beats of the music, Jazz jumped and put her hands on Finn's shoulders, holding herself above him. Puck grabbed her thigh to help hold her up and the rest of the boys posed around them.
The room was silent at first then all the applause picked up, but all the boys dropped their poses quickly and started running around congratulating eachother.
"Awesome guys!" Mr. Shue said, standing up and giving everyone a high-five. "Jesus. I didn't know you had that in you! It's like somebody slipped something in your juice-boxes." Everyone gave a nervous laugh and Jazz looked around beginning to suspect something. "You ladies better bring it tomorrow; otherwise… we've got our opening number for sectionals." The boys started yelling, but Jazz stayed silent, trying to figure out where the boys got all their energy.
The guys were the first out when the bell rang, running out of the classroom, screaming. Jazz followed silently.
Oliver was waiting for her at her locker.
"I can't talk today, something's up with the boys, and I need to figure it out." She shoved her books into her locker, gave him an apologetic smile, and started interrogating each of the boys.
All of them said the same thing. "Just really rested I guess. What a wonderful day." And walked away with her yelling at their back. It wasn't until she'd cornered Matt with a threat to tell everyone about him and the chick from the old maids club that he spilled.
"The school nurse gave Finn decongestants. They gave us all a boost." He slipped away as Jazz stood their stunned.
The next day the girls and Kurt were in the choir room, talking about the amazing piece from yesterday. None of them could figure out how they did it.
"They cheated. The school nurse gave them a pill to boost their energy levels." Jazz said, walking in on their conversation. "I know you aren't my team, but I won't be able to accept it if we won by all the guys cheating."
The girls all looked stunned, but Jazz had done her job so she walked back out.
Jazz had refused to talk to any of the boys since they had taken the pills, including Cory. She'd been in a slump that not even sweet Oliver could pull her out of. The girls were performing today and they were standing all ready with yellow dresses on.
"Thank you for coming today," Rachel said quickly. "While the boys chose a song that cast an eye inward on an irresponsible life chosen by the sexual hunger of today's modern teens. We have chosen a selection of songs that speak to the nation as a whole, during these troubling times filled with economic uncertainties. Because if there are two things that America needs right now, its sunshine and optimism."
As soon as she finished talking Jazz knew they had taken the pills too, she rubbed her temples.
"Also angels." She added.
They performed the song with as much energy, if not more, as the guys and completed it perfectly. Jazz scowled at them, and glanced over to the guys who were sitting on the other side of the room. Before anyone had started clapping, she walked out of the room, muttering darkly to herself.
"Someone get Jazz to come down here with the rest of us," Mr. Shue said, throwing his bag down by the piano. Jazz was staring moodily out of the window. She refused to be near any of them.
"She won't talk to anyone of us, Mr. Shue." Finn said, grimacing.
Mr. Shue slowly looked up at them, "What'd you do to her?"
"We didn't do anything." Puck said, rolling his eyes.
"She's being a drama queen." Santana added with an eye roll.
"At least I don't take drugs." Jazz snapped facing them. Everyone looked away from her.
"What are you talking about?" Mr. Shue demanded with wide eyes.
"Go ask your wife, she's been giving everyone over the counter drugs, and they've been taking them." Jazz threw on her yellow backpack and stormed out the door.
Jazz thought she forgot her calculus book in the choir room so she doubled back after football practice. It was sitting in the far corner so she went and grabbed it quickly, hoping to just sneak out. As she turned around, however, the entire glee club stood before her. She tried to push past them but they held strong.
"Move. Oliver's waiting for me in the parking lot." She said quietly, not wanting to talk to any of them.
"Not until you forgive us." Finn said, crossing his arms.
"W-we're really s-sorry." Tina told her, frowning.
"I told them about Aunt Kris." Cory told her, rubbing his arm, ashamed. "How we had to come live with mom because she's in a coma from over-the-counter drugs."
"We had no idea, Jazz." Mercedes added, looking about ready to cry.
"Maybe you shouldn't be such a hot head; it was just one time..." Puck began, but Cory elbowed him sharply and he added, "But yeah, I understand why you feel that way."
"Do you promise?" Jazz asked skeptically.
"If I ever do again, I'll wear a flannel shirt and my fathers fishing hat to school." Kurt offered. Jazz laughed and opened her arms and everyone converged on her, giving her one group hug.
Mr. Shue walked in right then. Everyone parted, looking guilty.
"We're really sorry Mr. Shue." Finn started.
"We didn't mean to get you into trouble." Rachel finished.
He breathed heavily and began talking. "I'm really… disappointed in you guys. Glee is supposed to be about what's inside your heart, not what's coursing through your veins."
"We know and I think I speak for everyone when I say that we'd be happy to move forward and put this episode behind us." Rachel told him and behalf of everyone.
"Well, it's not the simple." Mr. Shue said, closing his eyes. "Because of this…"
"Most idiotic move in the history of rash judgments." Jazz suggested. He shook his head in agreement.
"It's been decided that I'm no longer fit to run glee club myself." Jazz gasped, glaring around at her peers. "We've been assigned a co-director."
"Who?" Rachel questioned.
"Hey, Kids." A woman walked in wearing an ugly teal jump suit. Jazz let out a little scream.
"She sat next to me at the faculty meeting when I transferred." Jazz told Kurt. "The nightmares haven't stopped yet."
"I gotta tell ya, I'm just thrilled to becoming on board to co-captain," She made a saluting move to Mr. Shue. "You're little show biz cruise."
Jazz couldn't sit there anymore, with an audible eep; she leapt from her chair and ran out the door.
Behind her Sue said, "Ah, well. She's a ginger. Evil soul less demons they are."