"How are you feeling, Em?" Will asked as the two entered the auditorium of the Crouse Performance Hall downtown where the auditions for the musical would be taking place. A lot of people from adults to children had shown up already, some filling out forms while others were rehearsing their songs or doing vocal warm-ups. With a possible talent pool this large, it was certainly going to take a huge effort to find the best people to fill all the main roles. Emma wished that Shannon could also be with them for moral support.

"I'm feeling okay, a little nervous though," Emma replied as she began to fill out her audition form. "I've never actually performed on stage before aside from dance recitals when I was a little girl, but nothing as big as this. You on the other hand Will, I think you're going to be a shoo-in for a huge part." She knew her best friend well, she knew how talented he was. She watched as he finished filling out his own form and went down to hand it in to a person sitting at a table near the front of the stage. When he came back, he sat back down next to Emma.

"What you need," he said, "is a little confidence in yourself." At that moment, Emma knew what song she was going to sing for her audition.

"Can I have your attention please?" said a man standing on the stage, and the assembled group quieted down. "Thank you. My name is Paul Chapman, and I will be the director of this production. First of all, I want to say thank you for coming to audition and supporting the arts in our city, I hope this will be a rewarding experience for all of you whether or not you are selected to be part of our cast. Now, let's get started, we'll begin with the adult vocal auditions followed by the children's auditions and finish up with the adult acting tryouts. When I call your name, please come up on stage and sing the song that you have prepared either acapella, with a backing track, your own accompaniment or our pianist Brian." The person who had collected the audition forms handed the stack marked "Adults" handed them over to the director. He called the first name, and a young woman came up on stage and handed her sheet music to the pianist before beginning to sing.

"She's good," Emma said, listening to the woman sing an upbeat contemporary song. "What do you think, Will?"

"She's decent," he replied. "Though she's a bit under pitch." Emma knew Will knew this kind of thing because he directed the glee club and knew what a good voice sounded like. After the woman finished, the other people trying out applauded politely. A few more followed, and then Paul called out the next name.

"Emma Pillsbury," he said.

"Go get them, Em," Will said as Emma made her way down the aisle and up to the stage. She told the pianist what her song was, and she heard him start to play. Taking a deep breath, she started singing.

What will this day be like? I wonder.
What will my future be? I wonder.
It could be so exciting to be out in the world, to be free
My heart should be wildly rejoicing
Oh, what's the matter with me?

I've always longed for adventure
To do the things I've never dared
And here I'm facing adventure
Then why am I so scared

A captain with seven children
What's so fearsome about that?

Oh, I must stop these doubts, all these worries
If I don't I just know I'll turn back
I must dream of the things I am seeking
I am seeking the courage I lack

The courage to serve them with reliance
Face my mistakes without defiance
Show them I'm worthy
And while I show them
I'll show me

So, let them bring on all their problems
I'll do better than my best
I have confidence they'll put me to the test
But I'll make them see I have confidence in me

Somehow I will impress them
I will be firm but kind
And all those children (Heaven bless them!)
They will look up to me

And mind me with each step I am more certain
Everything will turn out fine
I have confidence the world can all be mine
They'll have to agree I have confidence in me

I have confidence in sunshine
I have confidence in rain
I have confidence that spring will come again
Besides which you see I have confidence in me

Strength doesn't lie in numbers
Strength doesn't lie in wealth
Strength lies in nights of peaceful slumbers
When you wake up - Wake Up!

It tells me all I trust I lead my heart to
All I trust becomes my own
I have confidence in confidence alone...
(Oh help!)

I have confidence in confidence alone
Besides which you see I have confidence in me!

The auditorium erupted in loud applause when she finished, and she heard Will cheering the loudest. Smiling, she walked off the stage and back to her section. She felt her friend's arms around her as he hugged her in congratulations. At the front of the stage, the director and the production team sat at the table and whispered amongst one another.

"That was fantastic, Emma," he said with a smile, "you sounded terrific up there! How did you manage to find that confidence so fast?"

"You, of course," she replied, "when you told me that all I needed was a little confidence in myself. That's when I came up with the idea to sing the song. It was as if all the nervousness went away just like that. I hope I do as well at the acting as I did with the singing though."

"Will Schuester," the director called out almost fifteen minutes later after several more people performed. Emma gave his hand a squeeze and he walked over towards the stage. Noticing a guitar nearby, he picked it up and made sure it was tuned properly. Satisfied, he looked towards the people sitting at the table.

"Go ahead," said the director, which was Will's cue to start playing. He played a simple introduction before starting to sing, his pure tenor voice filling the room.

Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Every morning you greet me
Small and white, clean and bright
You look happy to meet me

Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever

Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Bless my homeland forever

He played and sang the song through one more time, making it sound longer like it did in the movie version. When he finished, the auditorium burst into thunderous applause. The director and his team watched as Will went back to his seat, Emma hugging him warmly.

"I think," the director said in hushed tones, "that we may have a strong candidate for the male lead. What do you think?"

"He certainly has an amazing singing voice," the woman sitting next to him admitted. "We'll have to see how well he does in the acting audition, both him and his companion." The director then called another name, continuing the auditions.