Regionals has finally arrived and both Blaine and Rachel felt like they're nervous and at the same time they're excited. They've doubled their rehearsals, planning their best strategy they've ever come up with. They always knew that Vocal Adrenaline was like their number one rival, (of course the second was The Dalton Academy Warblers) and with Mr. Schuester being the coach of the Vocal Adrenaline, pressure seems to fill them.
"Blaine! Rachel!" Mr. Schue shouted and he waved at them, pushing his way out from the crowded hallway walking up to them.
"Mr. Schue!" Blaine and Rachel waved back at him.
"It's great to see you both before the competitions start!" Mr. Schue said while he pats their arms.
"Great to see you too Mr. Schue." Blaine said, "Although we're nervous right now." He added. "Don't be nervous guys, win or lose you guys are amazing." Mr. Schue said with encouragement. "It's really great to see you both but our teams need us right as of this moment."
"It's great to run into you Mr. Schue." Rachel said
"I'll see you guys later!" Mr. Schue shouted as he ran off to go to backstage where his team Vocal Adrenaline was waiting for him.
"You ready?" Blaine asked Rachel. "Let's go."
"That was terrible." Blaine commented while clapping his hands and Rachel nudged him with her elbow. The Crawford Country day singers just finished their performance on stage and up next were the Vocal Adrenaline.
"Mr. Anderson and Ms. Berry? You're up next." A staff approached them,
As they were walking going to the backstage they spotted Mr. Schuester just behind the curtains and they called him.
"Mr. Schue!" they shouted and Will Schuester immediately turned his face around to see who was calling him and he saw Blaine and Rachel, then he smiled and waved at them.
"Good luck!" Blaine and Rachel shouted in sync and Mr. Schue mouthed a "Thank you and you too!"
A few moments later, Vocal Adrenaline had finished their performance and now it's time for the New Directions. The Vocal Adrenaline pulled out a fun performance and the audience seems to enjoy it.
"Hey guys listen up. No matter what happens, win or lose, always remember we had fun." Rachel said.
"C'mon guys on three. 1, 2, 3…"
"NEW DIRECTIONS!"
The New Directions are now on stage, Blaine and Rachel smiled at each other as the ballad song started. The audience seems to be in awe as the performance goes on…
After the ballad, there goes the pop song. The auditorium is now filled with happy cheers and some of the audience got up to dance along, and as the performance comes to an end, The New Directions received a standing ovation from the audience, Blaine and Rachel on the other side hugged each other.
"Congrats guys, that's a great performance!" Blaine said, as their team hit the backstage.
"I think we have a chance to win." Jake said confidently. "Yeah, the audience seems to enjoy it and I saw some of the other judges got on off their feet to dance along." Ryder added. "Oh, let us just wait for the announcement. But you guys did great!" Rachel said and smiled at them. "Now let's go guys, we might don't want to miss the announcement." Blaine said.
"And now on third place..."
Everyone felt nervous, holding each others hand as the host started to announce the winners.
"The Crawford Day Singers!" the host shouted and everyone clapped. That left to the New Directions and Vocal Adrenaline. Mr. Schuester looked at Blaine and Rachel and he smiled at them, the pair smiled back at him. Blaine tighten his grip on Rachel and she sort of felt like it's starting to hurt.
"Blaine you're hurting my hand." she whispered, he looked at her and at their hands. "Oh, sorry." he lets go of her hand but she just holds his hand back again. "I know your nervous, but you don't really need to tight grip on me." Rachel said smiling at him and he just smiled at her and holds her hand back.
"And now on second place... The Vocal Adrenaline and Congratulations New Directions you're going to Los Angeles for Nationals!" the host shouted and both Blaine and Rachel hugged each other, jumping with joy and turning to their team to hug them and it ended up to a group hug.
"Blaine, Rachel! Congratulations!" Mr. Schuester shouted as he approached the winning team. Blaine and Rachel turned to look at Mr. Schuester and both of them gave him a hug. "Thank you Mr. Schue!" Blaine and Rachel said to their former teacher. "I'm so happy for you guys, I knew you guys would do great." Mr. Schuester said as they pulled away. "You taught us a lot Mr. Schue." Blaine said sincerely. "If you need more advice, just call me okay?" Mr. Schuester said, Blaine and Rachel nodded. "Now I have to go, Congrats again guys! I'm proud to the both of you!" Mr. Schuester said as he walks away. "Mr. Schue!" Rachel shouted and Will Schuester looks back at them, "Would you like to join us celebrate?" Rachel asked, "I'm sorry guys, I would love to but I promised Emma to take her and our son out for some family time." Will politely declined. "Oh, it's okay Mr. Schue. I hope we could hang out sometime soon." Blaine said. "I'll look forward to that." Will said and waved at them and Blaine and Rachel waved back at him.
"Now who's ready for some celebratory dinner?" Blaine clapped his hand as he turns to face Rachel and the rest of New Directions.
"Let's go!"
After they had finished their dinner and everyone gone home already, Blaine asked Rachel to give her a ride home which she gladly took. Driving Rachel home like almost every night was already part of Blaine's daily routine, he's truly grateful for the camaraderie he and Rachel had. Blaine never thought that he and Rachel would be best of friends, he knew that Rachel and Kurt are "best friends forever" so he expected that after his break-up with Kurt he would also lose Rachel as his friend, but of course that didn't happen, Rachel stayed in touch with him and even shared an apartment after Kurt moved to Paris.
"Thanks for the ride Blaine." Rachel said smiling at him as they walked through the steps to Rachel's home doorway. "No problem." he smiled. "Would you like to stay for coffee or tea?" Rachel asked while unlocking the front door. "I'd love to." he gladly accepted her offer, as they reached the kitchen Blaine took a seat at the bar chair staring at Rachel as she prepared his coffee. "Now what?" Rachel smiled at him as she realizes that he's staring at her and then she hands him a mug filled with coffee. "Thank you. I was just thinking about Nationals. I think it's just going to be expensive going there." Blaine said while he took the mug from Rachel taking a few sip. "I still have some few savings, I can ask my dad if our money isn't still enough or we can have some fund raising event!" Rachel said. As they continued to drink their coffees, silence filling the kitchen and Blaine had something in mind.
"Wait a minute." he said and Rachel just looks at him. "I've got an idea!" he exclaimed, standing up from where he was seated at the chair and walked over to Rachel. "We can ask Cooper for some help!" Blaine happily said and he grins. "I think that's also a great idea Blaine." Rachel said and she clasped her hand in Blaine's hand. "I'm just going to make some phone call. I'll be back." Blaine said as he stood up smiling at Rachel walking towards the living room.
A few moments later.
"Yeah, thanks Coop. Bye, see you soon!" Blaine said as he approached the kitchen, Rachel cleaning the mugs that they used awhile ago.
"So how'd it go?" she asked, "Cooper said, we could stay at his place and if we need more help financially he's gladly to help. So that's it Berry! You and I are going to L.A.!" Blaine shouted and he scoops Rachel in his arms to give her a tight embrace, Rachel squealed with excitement. "This is really exciting Blaine!" Rachel said as Blaine spun her around.
Nationals, here we go.