Uh...wow. That's...not even excusable. I haven't updated in almost three months. I fail.
But I've planned out the rest of the story chapter by chapter. If everything goes well, there should be 17 chapters in the end. I'm also considering a sequel. I'll give you more info later on.
Time for some R and R!
AllIWantForChristmasIsKlaine - I'm gonna make this note as short as possible: Yes. I agree. :)
lost-in-the-lyrics - Nah, it's not bad. I kind of want her to win, too. But that's the whole point. ;)
Atsuko Uehara - Thank you for your kind words! I'm sorry I stopped it here, and I hope you can forgive me!
Thank you for all who reviewed, and keep reviewing!
Last but not least, two songs are featured in this chapter. The first is Here I Am by Leona Lewis. The second is Just a Dream, cover by Christina Grimmie and Sam Tsui . I encourage you to look them up if you don't know them!
Disclaimer - I don't own Glee or the songs used in this chapter.
Chapter 10 - Performances
The auditorium was packed. Every chair was being used but people were still standing in the backs and the sides of the auditorium. Had the Gleeks arrived any later, they wouldn't have found seven consecutive seats for themselves.
Soon, the host of the show arrived, a man of age no more than thirty.
"Good morning Oklahoma!" he announced with stately boldness. The crowd applauded for his appearance.
"Welcome to the 23rd annual Summer Talent Competition! This year, we've had the most competitors ever, so in an effort to end this on time, we're going to start immediately!"
The host introduced the first act: a classical pianist performing Canon in D.
The talent was diverse and abundant. While some of the talent included ventriloquists, comedians, and unique types of dancers, the most common competitors were musicians. Some played classical instrumental solos, while others sang a variety of types of genres ranging from opera to hip-hop.
One man even sang "Pants on the Ground," to which the audience responded positively and sang along ("It's nice how everyone knows that song…" Mercedes had said).
Finally, it came time for an anticipated performance: Adalia.
She was an innocent looking old lady. Her hair was long and lustrous silver. She had on a long black raincoat, slightly tattered. She wore black glasses that indicated she was blind, and she was supported by an antique cane.
The host had guided her to the center stage microphone before rushing off. Two spotlights shown: one on Adalia and one on a professional pianist for accompaniment.
The crowd was silent as the music began with a beautiful piano introduction.
She began singing with the voice of an angel.
This is a crazy world
These can be lonely times
It's hard to know who's on your side
Most of the time…
Who can you really trust?
Who do you really know?
Is there anybody out there who can make you feel less alone?
Sometimes you just can't make it on your own…
A cymbal roll pushed the first verse into the chorus, in which a drum set silently joined the ensemble.
If you need a place where you can run
If you need a shoulder to cry on
I'll always be your friend…
When you need some shelter from the rain
When you need a healer for your pain
I will be there time and time again…
When you need someone to love you
Here I am…
The drum set became more evident as the chorus fell into the second verse.
If you have broken dreams
Just lay them all on me.
I'll be the one who understands
So take my hand
If there is emptiness
You know I'll do my best
To fill you up with all the love
That I can show someone
I promise you you'll never walk alone!
With beautiful, powerful vocals, the verse drifted into the chorus for a second time, at which time a small orchestra had been revealed by spotlight accompanying Adalia.
Well, if you need a place where you can run
If you need a shoulder to cry on
I'll always be your friend…
When you need a shelter from the rain
When you need a healer for your pain
I will be there time and time again…
When you need someone to love you
Here I am!
The song entered a contradictory bridge, featuring a stately string section.
Everybody needs somebody who
Could keep a heart and soul in two
The instruments died down, leaving Adalia and the piano alone in one last emotional repeat of the beginning of the chorus.
If you need a place where you can run…
If you need a shoulder to cry on…
I'll always be your friend…
The background music made a powerful return for one final statement.
When you need a shelter from the rain
When you need a healer for your pain
For one last time, all instruments except piano died down. Adalia brought the song to a quiet finish.
I will be there time and time again
When you need someone to love you
Here I am.
A few moments of silence passed before the crowd erupted with tremendous applause and a standing ovation. It didn't seem like there was a single dry eye in the room. Through the lengthy applause, Quinn turned to Mercedes.
"I don't know if I even want them to win anymore…" she said. Mercedes agreed. They knew how badly Adalia deserved the prize now.
The host came out and took the microphone. "I feel sorry for whoever has to follow up on that performance!" he said, which he promptly followed with an introduction of the next act, New Directions.
Rachel shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "I'm not performing with them, but I'm so nervous…It's…frightening," she said. Finn grabbed her hand reassuringly.
After much consideration, it was agreed that Mike, Matt, Tina, and Brittany would perform the vocals, with Mike and Matt doubling on piano and keyboard respectively. Artie would take care of the percussion in the song, joining the vocals toward the end.
Mike began with his trademark piano solo, being joined by Matt on the keyboard after the first phrase.
Matt started off with a solo.
I was thinking 'bout you
Thinking 'bout me
Thinking 'bout us
What we're gonna be
Open my eyes
Tina joined:
It was only just a dream…
Tina took over the second half of the chorus.
Travel back
Down that road
Will you come back?
No one knows
I realize
The two harmonized one last time.
It was only just a dream.
Artie joined on the drum set. Matt took control during the first verse.
I was at the top and now it's like I'm in the basement
Number one spot now you found you a replacement
I swear now that I can't take it
Knowing somebody's got my baby.
And now you ain't around, baby I can't think
I should've put it down, should've got that ring
'Cause I can still feel it in the air
See your pretty face, run my fingers through your hair
My lover, my life
My baby, my wife
You left me, I'm tied
'Cause I know that it just ain't right
Mike and Brittany took over for the chorus, harmonizing perfectly.
I was thinking 'bout you
Thinking 'bout me
Thinking 'bout us
What we gonna be
Open my eyes
It was only just a dream…
So I travel back
Down that road
Will you come back?
No one knows
I realize
It was only just a dream…
Brittany stepped forward and claimed her own powerful solo in the next verse.
When I'm riding, I swear I see your face at every turn
I'm trying to get my Usher on but I can't let it burn
And I just hope you know that you're the only one I yearn for
No one will I be missing when I learn
Didn't give it all my love, I guess now I got my payback
Now I'm in the club thinking all about you baby
Hey, you were so easy to love
But wait, I guess our love wasn't enough
I'm going through it every time that I'm alone
And now I'm wishing that you'd pick up the phone
But you made a decision that you wanted to move on
'Cause I was wrong…
Matt and Tina returned for the chorus, while Brittany and Mike added a lyrical echo behind them.
I was thinking 'bout you
Thinking 'bout me
Thinking 'bout us
What we're gonna be
Open my eyes
It was only just a dream…
So I travel back
Down that road
Will you come back?
No one knows
I realize
It was only just dream…
Tina and Brittany harmonized for the bridge.
If you've ever loved somebody, put your hands up.
If you've ever loved somebody, put your hands up.
And now they're gone and you're wishing you could give them everything.
Matt and Mike joined to make a sort of round effect.
Oh, if you've ever loved somebody put your hands up
(If you've ever loved somebody put your hands up)
If you've ever loved somebody put your hands up
(If you've ever loved somebody put your hands up)
Now they're gone and you're wishing you could give them…
All the instruments went silent as Brittany and Tina took total control of the song with the sheer force in their voice for the next part.
Everything…
The instruments returned. Matt and Mike repeated the traditional chorus, joined by Artie, while Tina and Brittany added their own vocal spice to it here and there, displaying excellent control over their voice.
I was thinking 'bout you
Thinking 'bout me
Thinking 'bout us
What we're gonna be
Open my eyes (open my eyes!)
It was only just a dream (it's just a dream…)
So I travel back (travel back!)
Down that road (down that road!)
Will you come back?
No one knows
I realize
It was only just a dream…
I was thinking 'bout you
Thinking 'bout me
Thinking 'bout us
What we're gonna be
Open my eyes (open my eyes!)
It was only just a dream (it's just, I know it's just a dream…)
So I travel back
Down that road
Will you come back?
No one knows
I realize (I realize!)
It was only just a dream… (baby it was just, it was only just a dream…)
The percussion and strings died down as the singers sang their last few lines.
No…
Oh, it was only just a dream…
Mike closed the performance with the same piano melody that had entranced the audience from the beginning.
The audience exploded with applause, the most obnoxious of which was the rest of the Glee members who hadn't performed.
The host stepped out.
"Wow!" he said. "Two phenomenal performances in a row! I don't know about you, but I think this is going to be one of the most difficult decisions our judges have ever had to make!"
A few performances were after that, but none were as noteworthy as the previous ones. Finally, all the competitors had performed. The judges took several minutes to discuss, but they soon came to a decision, putting the results in an envelope and giving it to the host. Several acts were called back to the stage, and he proceeded to announce their place in reverse chronological order, starting with eighth place.
Tensions were high as each act was called. Certain performers that were called early on broke down in tears and had to be escorted off the stage. Finally, the third place act was announced, leaving only two acts: Adalia and New Directions.
"And the winner…" the host started. "…of American Idol…" One of the judges cleared his throat and corrected him. "Oh, right…wrong contest. The winner of the talent competition is…" he looked down at the paper of results. "New Directions!"
And thus ends the first chapter in months...
Originally, Adalia was going to sing "I Will Always Love You" but I figured that song is way too well-known. I had also just seen the movie Prayers for Bobby where I heard the song "Here I Am" and loved it. Such a sad movie...I have never cried so much like...ever.
Unless you guys absolutely love songs included in the story like they were in this chapter, don't expect any more performances like that. I did draw my inspiration for future chapters from certain songs, so if it's not a performance, I'll just be sure to make a note telling you about the song that inspired me so you can look it up and understand the situation more.
You know, this entire story probably wouldn't exist if I hadn't been inspired by a couple songs, one of which was "Keep Holding On," which Glee did in an episode a while back.
Random-sorta-spoiler-thing note: someone is going to die at the end of the story. ;)
So...enough reading. If you like this chapter, review. If you like this story, add to favorites and alerts. If you like me as a writer (or as a person in general) add me to your Favorite Author/Author Alert list. Any future Glee story I write will be based in this universe I've created, so expect a sequel.
Thank you!