"I think we're doing original songs for Regionals." Mr. Schuester said and the club clapped before the teacher heard a little knock on the door. He then looked to the club again, who were so into their discussion about original songs they didn't hear the clap.
"Guys, I have some good news too." The teacher said and the talking faded before Mr. Schuester went to the door and opened it.
"Please welcome back, Mr Dylan Armstrong."
And in walked in a tall, blonde boy wearing a black polo with yellow lining, blue jeans and black Converse. Everyone applauded as Will patted him on the back and the boy sat down next to Quinn.
"What the hell happened with you? You just go AWOL and then come back a week before Nationals? Something smells funny here." Mercedes said and the smile on Dylan's face faltered.
"Yeah. I mean you left us thinking you weren't gonna show up again. What happened?" Sam asked.
"I don't wanna talk about it." Dylan replied and everyone started to gang up on him.
"Guys." Mr. Schuester called but the questioning still went on. That was until Quinn put two fingers in her mouth and whistled, resulting in people putting their fingers in their ears to block out the piercing sound.
"You almost ruined my perfect hearing!" Jack said between groans from the clubbers before Quinn spoke up.
"Listen. I know Dylan has had it really rough recently and when he wants to tell you why, he will. And obviously he doesn't want to tell you now so can you stop interrogating him? We need to focus on Regionals and not each other's lives." Quinn said and mumbling could be heard before everyone turned to Mr. Schuester who gave a smile to Quinn.
"Thanks, Quinn." He said before speaking up again.
"Okay. While Quinn and Rachel write their song, we will have songwriting sessions every glee sessions to write 2 monster hits for Regionals." Mr. Schuester said before turning to the board. Dylan raised his hand.
"Actually, Mr. Schue, I have-" Dylan started before getting a collective "shh!"
"What the hell guys?" he asked.
"Look. Until you tell us why you've been ice cold lately, we probably won't talk to you." Finn said and Dylan sighed before slumping back in his chair. He felt Quinn place a reassuring hand on Dylan's knee but he ignored it.
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After glee, Dylan headed to his locker when he heard two familiar voices nearby and somehow he was listening in on their conversation.
"Wait, you're still dating Sam? But you told me you were in love with me." One voice said and Dylan could only heavily sigh. He knew that if Brittany wasn't with Artie, she'd go with Santana. Dylan had no chance whatsoever now. But he was drawn out of his mind funk when he heard screaming nearby. He looked to see dirt spilling out of both of their lockers. He then watched Coach Sylvester walk off and he ran over, deciding to get Jack to open his locker later.
"I don't even remember putting that in there." Brittany said as Dylan reached them.
"Come on, seeing as you're both blinded by dirt, I'll take you to the girls' locker room." Dylan said before putting a gentle hand on each girl's back and gently led them to the locker room, trying to ignore how his hand was tingly from touching Brittany's back.
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"Alright, guys. Let's hear it for our first songwriting seminar." Will said and everyone applauded as the director started handing everyone books.
"While Quinn and Rachel are hard at work, we're gonna try and write an anthem of our own. Now these are rhyming dictionaries for all of you" he said as Dylan took his. Santana then got Mr. Schuester's attention by saying that herself and Tina were working on a song she wrote.
"Really? That's amazing. Well, can we hear it?" he asked eagerly and the two girls stood up and headed to the front: Santana standing up while Tina went behind the piano. Dylan applauded the girls as Santana announced that it was a song for Sam.
"It's called 'Trouty Mouth'." She said and Dylan had to seriously hold back a giggle.
"Wait, what's it called?" the boy the song was directed at asked.
"Trouty Mouth." Mike, Dylan and Mitchell replied as the music started. Dylan had to admit, Tina was a talented piano player. And of course, Santana was a talented singer but Dylan had to clamp his rhyming dictionary over his mouth to stop his laughter from being audible. Apparently Mike was enjoying it but she got to the end of the bridge when Sam stood up.
"Okay, can we stop? Stop with the mouth jokes!" he exclaimed.
"Sit down! I'm not finished." Santana fired back.
"Yes you are! Mr. Schue, we're not doing a song at Regionals called 'Trouty Mouth'." Sam said to Will who stood up.
"You know what; I have to agree with Sam on this one. But such a good first effort. I just don't think it's got the epic feel we need for Regionals." He said.
Puck then said he wrote a song for Lauren and says it's got a rockabilly feel so it could give them an edge and it makes up for when he sang 'Fat Bottomed Girls'.
"Alright, show us what you got." Will said as Santana and Tina sat down.
"It's called Big Ass…Heart." Puck said and Dylan let out a laugh before the mohawked boy went into the song. Dylan had to admit, it wasn't too bad and when it finished, Mr. Schuester even made it a contender.
"But I don't totally think we're there yet. So everyone, look at your rhyming dictionaries and let's work on banging out some songs that rock." He said and everyone looked into their dictionaries while Dylan stood up and went over to the teacher.
"Mr. Schue." He said and the teacher turned to Dylan.
"Since I'm not getting a word in edgeways to anyone in the club apart from Quinn, but she's working with Rachel. But anyway, I actually wrote a song too." Dylan said and Mr. Schuester sighed.
"If it's about blonde stereotypes, I'm not sure I wanna know." He said and Dylan let out a little laugh.
"No, it's not. I promise. Can you at least look over it after glee and tell me what you think?" he asked and Mr. Schuester sighed, nodding and Dylan smiled.
"Thanks, Mr. Schue." He said before heading back to his seat.
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When everyone left the choir room, Dylan and Mr. Schuester were sat by the piano while Mr. Schuester looked over his song.
"Dylan, this is great. When did you write this?" he asked.
"When I wasn't in school last week, I spent all day in Quinn's music room writing music for that song against the doctor's orders, not because I had a 'Big Ass Heart', but it was worth it in the end. Rachel inspired me with her original song idea and Quinn helped me with the lyrics so it wasn't all me." Dylan explained.
"This is definitely being used at Regionals. This sounds like such a great song." He said, smiling at the sheet music before Dylan.
"Would you like to perform it?" he asked and Dylan's eyes widened.
"Really?" he asked, his eyes lighting up for the first time in weeks which Mr. Schuester spotted and smiled at.
"Yeah. I saw how calm you looked during Jack and Mitchell's duet at Sectionals and you looked like you were having fun when dancing with Brittany. And I don't think anyone can sing your words." The teacher said and Dylan grinned, nodding.
"Thanks so much, Mr. Schue. I won't let you down." Dylan said and Mr. Schuester patted the blonde boy on the back.
"I know you won't." he said.
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The next day, Mercedes performed an original song she wrote called 'Hell To The No' which Dylan thought was the best original song he had heard so far from the others. Even Mr. Schuester was clapping when it ended.
"Really, really good. But um-" he started but Mercedes cut him off.
"But my butt, Mr. Schue. That song was amazing." She said with her usual sass.
"No, I agree. I'm just not sure that it's Regionals material." The director replied and Mercedes sighed while Santana said she wrote another verse for 'Trouty Mouth', which Sam replied with a sign he made saying "Hell No" for Mercedes song.
"No, no, no, no guys. Just think about it. What's your favourite song of all time?" he asked.
"'My Headband'." Brittany replied.
"Michael Bublé's 'At This Moment'." Dylan said.
"Alanis Morrisette's 'You Oughta Know'." Santana added on.
"'What's Going On?' by Marvin Gaye." Puck then said, to which Lauren said he was on a roll.
"Okay and what are all of those songs about?" Mr. Schuester then asked.
"Headbands." Brittany replied and Dylan shrugged. She was right…almost.
"All these songs come from a place of pain. The greatest songs are about hurt. And that's the side of yourselves that I want you to get in touch with." the Spanish teacher then said.
"That should be easy. Coach Sylvester tortures us for no reason and gets the entire school to hate us." Artie answered before Santana mentioned the incident where she filled hers and Brittany's locker with dirt.
"Yeah. I haven't opened mine in days because my locker is close to theirs and I'm afraid something like stones is gonna fall out of mine." Dylan said as Mr. Schuester wrote 'dirt' and 'stones' on the board.
"Well she literally throws sticks at me." Mercedes said and Will proceeded to write 'sticks' on the board.
"Okay, what else? What else?" he asked.
"She called the Ohio Secretary of State saying she was me and that I want to legally change my name to Tina Cohen-Loser." Tina said and after a moment of shock, he wrote 'Loser' on the board.
"Okay and how does that make you feel?" he asked.
"Well, at first it hurts, but then it mostly makes you wanna win." Finn said and Mr. Schuester looked around.
"Guys, I think you may have just found your song." He said before writing 'like me' after 'Loser', creating 'Loser Like Me'.
"Now, let's get to writing. I want you to say some bad experiences that have happened to you in the past but you have overcame them." Will said and Dylan raised his hand.
"Dylan." Mr. Schuester said.
"I went to the same elementary school as Strando and he used to tease me all the time for being a nerd before he found out my brother was gay. He teased me for 2 years before I stood up to him. He now washes my car for $2.50 an hour." Dylan said, smiling at what he has achieved and Will smiled.
"Okay, that's a start. Keep going." He said.
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Dylan walked out of the session with that same glint in his eye. The club had just spent 2 and a half hours writing 'Loser Like Me' before deciding to give the lyrics to Artie to create music to go with it.
He was walking down the hallway when he saw Rachel walking at a fast pace down the opposite way. As she passed him, he heard her sniffle and there were tears in her eyes. Dylan gently grabbed Rachel's arm.
"Rachel. What's wrong?" he asked and she just sobbed. Dylan gently pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Hey, hey. It's okay." He whispered before breaking the embrace.
"I'll take you home. I don't think you can drive with your pretty little eyes all clouded up with tears." He said, an arm still gently around her shoulders. Rachel could only nod as Dylan began leading Rachel out of the building.
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Back at the Fabray residence, Dylan was pissed. And not intoxicated. Rachel had told Dylan what Quinn had said and Dylan realised that the blonde was just using Rachel to get to Finn.
His thoughts were halted by the sound of the door closing. Dylan headed into the hallway where Quinn was stood. The girl could tell that Dylan was upset about something.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Cut the crap, Quinn. I know what happened with you and Rachel in the auditorium and what you told her." He said and Quinn rolled her eyes.
"What's going on with you Quinn?" Dylan asked.
"Look, this will stop once I'm prom queen." Quinn replied and Dylan scoffed, putting a hand to his forehead.
"I don't believe this. You've used Rachel and now you're using Finn?" he asked. Quinn's eyes widened.
"No! I do love Finn." Quinn replied.
"Do you love him enough to know that being prom queen doesn't matter? Because if I was in your shoes Quinn, I'd just be happy that someone has found you and loves you for who you are and not just for your status." Dylan said and Quinn just sighed.
"Look. I'm going back over to Rachel's in a minute. But I'm gonna tell you one thing Quinn: You're turning back into the Queen Bitch, emphasis on the bitch. And if you continue to be a bitch then I can't be in the same house as you. I'm not sure I can even talk to you." Dylan said before picking up his bag and walking out." Dylan finished, leaving Quinn shell shocked.
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"Rachel…this is…amazing. This song. You wrote this in an hour and a half?" Dylan asked, looking up from the sheet music and Rachel smiled.
"Well. Jack helped me." Rachel said.
"Damn right, I did." The balladeer's voice called out as he entered the bedroom.
"Rachel, I think you're dads are scared of me again." He then said, causing Rachel to giggle before turning back to Dylan.
"Alright. Now let's see yours." Rachel said, reaching for the sheet music which Dylan pulled back to Rachel's confused expression.
"I don't trust Jack around sheet music that isn't his own." The dancer said and Jack nodded.
"Smart boy. But you don't realise that I have some sheet music framed in my room and that isn't mine." Jack said.
"That's because it's probably the original score of 'West Side Story'." Dylan said.
"…have you been in my room?" Jack asked and Dylan laughed before handing Rachel the music. She scanned it before going onto the next page and looking to Dylan.
"This is…good. Really good. How long did it take you to write?" Rachel asked.
"A week." Dylan replied.
"And you wrote the music by yourself?" Rachel asked. Dylan nodded.
"I didn't write the lyrics, Quinn did but I did write the music." He said while Rachel handed the music to Jack, along with a warning to damage it in anyway.
"Not even internally? Because I can do that." Jack said and Rachel sent him a stern look before the boy dramatically sighed.
"Fine." He drew out before looking over the music. He kept making noises like 'mhm' and 'mmm', which weirded Dylan out but he had finished reading it and he looked to Dylan.
"Looks like 'Happy Feet' has happy hands too. I'd call you that but that doesn't really fit." Jack said and Dylan smiled before taking the music from Jack.
"Looks like we have 2 winning hits for Regionals. What about the group song?" Rachel asked Dylan.
"It's going great. We all pitched in with the lyrics but Artie and Finn did the music and it sounds awesome. We have an amazing setlist. We're gonna win this." Dylan said and they all smile, even Jack which again scared Dylan.
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After Aural Intensity performed 'Jesus Is A Friend Of Mine' while Dylan thought 'It just goes to show that Sue Sylvester can never lead a show choir…oh god, I'm spending too much time around Jack!', he readjusted himself in his seat as the tannoy was on again.
"And now from Westerville, Ohio, the Dalton Academy Warblers!" he announced as the curtain raised and they began singing. Dylan recognized the tune but he wasn't focused on that because after a short introduction, Kurt stepped forward and began to sing. Dylan then recognized it as Hey Monday's 'Candles' and he was killing it. And so was Blaine when he stepped forward and sang the counter lines. And when they sang together, Dylan smiled. Kurt looked so nervous but so happy at the same time. And he had to applaud when Kurt hit his high notes.
As the song drew to a close, Dylan stood on his feet and applauded the two boys and as Blaine pulled Kurt into the center spotlight and the countertenor curtsied, he laughed while continuing to applaud wildly. And then when they went back to their original places, Blaine started 'Raise Your Glass' and Dylan knew they had the audience in the palm of their hands, applause rising whenever Blaine raised his hand to his ear and asked for more and with everyone, including the New Directions getting up and dancing to the song, they knew they had to bring it.
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"And now from William McKinley High School in Lima, Ohio: the New Directions." The MC announced and the curtains raised as Rachel walked onstage. Applause could be heard as she walked to the microphone stand in the middle of the stage. She looked back and looked to Jack and Dylan, who just smiled and gave a small nod. Rachel returned the smile as the piano introduction of her song started. And then she started to sing. Dylan could only watch on as Rachel's words ran through his head. She sounded so beautiful that it actually put a sense of pride into Dylan. And when she finished the first chorus, Brittany and Tina walked on the first platform behind Rachel to do backing vocals. As Brittany walked, she locked eyes with Dylan and smiled before facing the audience. Dylan couldn't help but grin as the song continued and as it went to the alternative verse, Rachel looked to their wing again before turning back. She had this high note at the end and Dylan could feel Jack internally telling her to hit it. And she did. And when the song finished, even Jack and Dylan applauded her in the wings, along with the riotous applause from the audience. Rachel beamed before putting the microphone to her mouth.
"Ladies and gentleman, we're the New Directions." She announced before the microphone and stand were taken from her by a stagehand and the boys went onstage where the guitar introduction for 'Loser Like Me' began.
Dylan had to admit, although he hated Artie he did a great job with the music of this song. And of course Finn with the drum part. And he could tell the audience did too. They were clapping and cheering and Dylan was sure someone was throwing foam fingers across the arena for them, especially the lyric: I'll see you when you wash my car. That lyric got Dylan every time they practiced and when Finn sang it just then considering Mr. Schuester decided to use Dylan's experience and put it in the song. And the confetti slushies had to be one of Brittany's best ideas ever. The audience seemed to enjoy it too and they all bowed before heading offstage…well, except for Dylan who stood centre stage.
When they were in the wings, everyone turned to see Dylan still onstage.
"Umm, Mr. Schuester. Why is Dylan onstage?" Mitchell asked and Mr. Schuester just smiled before turning to them.
"Just watch." He said before turning back to the stage as a keyboard introduction started and Dylan began to sing.
Baby, it breaks my heart that you don't smile anymore
I'm dying to help you heal but you won't unlock your door
You say it takes time, but you don't have to spend it alone
You're stuck in the memory that you desperately to rewind
You're too busy looking back, won't you make another try
Now your trust is gone, but you won't find it again on your own
So don't go telling me it's too late to start
You're still holding a broken heart
But if you let me in (let me in)
Baby, you can start again (start again)
And don't go telling me there's no second chance
You'll understand when you take my hand
Baby let me in (let me in)
I promise we will start again (start again)
Trying to get to you so I make this promises
I swear they are breakable, but you still just hearing hiss
I won't let you go 'til you decided you want to be free
You're haunted by yesterday and still sore from the fall
All you need is to whitewash this old walls
Paint something new, if you let yourself listen to me
So don't go telling me it's too late to start
You're still holding a broken heart
But if you let me in (let me in)
Baby, you can start again (start again)
And don't go telling me there's no second chance
You'll understand when you take my hand
Baby, let me in (let me in)
I promise we will start again (start again)
Don't give up yet, I won't let you close the curtain too soon
We can reset, you can take the leap and let me show you
You just gotta make the choice, yeah
We love, we lose, and you think that the best defense is distance
You know, what now, put it on the mute so you can listen
But there's a way out of here, just follow my voice
So don't go telling me it's too late to start
You're still holding a broken heart
But if you let me in
Yeah…
So don't go telling me it's too late to start
You're still holding a broken heart (a broken heart)
But if you let me in (let me in)
Baby, you can start again (Baby, you can start again)
And don't go telling me there's no second chance (you'll understand)
You'll understand when you take my hand (take my hand)
Baby, let me in (let me in)
I promise we will start again (I promise we will start again)
So don't go telling me it's too late to start
You're still holding a broken heart
But if you let me in (let me in)
Baby, you can start again
The last note faded and the audience was practically screaming for the young boy. Dylan smiled openly and bowed before heading offstage to hugs from everyone.
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Carla Turlington-Stevens came onstage as the 3 competing show choirs stood behind her. She went centre stage before speaking into her microphone.
"My husband is verbally abusive and I have been drinking since noon." She said and there was a long awkward pause before she spoke again.
"I'm bored. Let's just see who won, huh?" she asked before opening the envelope. Dylan's eyes scrunched shut and his grip on Brittany's hand tightened with the blonde mirroring the grip as the announcer took a breath.
"The New Directions! You're going to Nationals in New York!" she said and Dylan's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropping which his hand quickly covered and he hunched over. He then felt a pair of arms wrap around him in a tight embrace and with the cinnamon body spray, Dylan could tell it was Brittany. They just stayed like that until they both heard a thump and they turned to see Sue Sylvester walking away from a floored Carla Turlington-Stevens. Dylan stepped in front of Brittany, his protective nature showing but she walked past and they just smiled and continued to celebrate.
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"Guys, before we announce the MVP, Dylan has something he'd like to say." Will said and Dylan smiled, feeling a comforting hand on his shoulder from Quinn before he stood up and turned to the others.
"First off, I just want to say 'thanks' for people's support. Especially Quinn, Rachel and surprisingly Jack. They really pushed me through this week with my song and they helped me. But this doesn't leave this room otherwise Jack's reputation will be in pieces." He said and everyone laughed before Dylan sighed.
"Now for the serious stuff. I'm gonna tell you guys why I've been so horrible the past 2 and a half weeks." He said and everyone settled down.
"On the night of Rachel's party, I was getting ready for it when I got a phone call." He said.
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"Hello?" he answered.
"Is this Mr. Dylan Armstrong?" a voice asked.
"Yeah, it is. Who's calling?" Dylan then asked.
"This is Dr. Robert Covington from the Lima General Hospital. I understand you are an emergency contact for Matthew, Dawn and Eric Armstrong?" the doctor asked.
"Yeah. They're my parents and my older brother. Has something happened?" Dylan asked, now concerned.
"I think you need to get down to the hospital right away." Dr. Covington said and Dylan hung up his phone.
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"I got there and he said he had bad news." Dylan continued.
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Dylan runs into the hospital where a tall, well-built man in his early 30s with dark blonde hair was waiting.
"Are you Dylan Armstrong?" he asked and Dylan nodded.
"I think you should sit down for this." He said but Dylan jumped in.
"Just tell me what happened." He said and the doctor sighed before starting to say something.
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"They told me that both my parents and Eric were hit by a drunk driver. And the scene was 'too gruesome to go into detail'. The driver was in critical condition but he died soon after…he survived longer than my dad." Dylan said, his voice beginning to crack. The glee club began to feel horrible at themselves for going on at Dylan, asking what happened.
"He was pronounced dead at the scene. My mom died 2 days after the accident. Eric is unconscious but stable and should recover within a month. And I've been living with Quinn ever since." Dylan said, his voice cracking at every other word so Quinn stood up and took over.
"That's why he was angry about everyone else drinking, because they were killed by a drunk driver. He's been to see Eric everyday since the accident. He saw his mom for the 2 days before she died and she died with Dylan by her side. The reason why he's been so closed off is because he didn't want anyone on his case, but that hasn't worked has it?" Quinn asked coldly and everyone flinched. Rachel, Tina and Brittany had tears flowing down and everyone else looked somber for the boy.
"I'm sorry." Everyone began to say and Dylan looked up, giving a small nod.
"It's okay. I shouldn't have took it out on you guys." He said before turning to Mr. Schuester.
"Mr. Schue can you announce the MVP and brighten everyone's spirits?" he asked, letting out a laugh which everyone mimicked and Mr. Schuester smiled, nodding while patting the boy on the back.
"You're a brave person, Dylan." He said and Dylan smiled before sitting down with Quinn.
"Anyway, per a unanimous vote by all of you, our Regionals MVP is…Miss Rachel Berry." Will said and Rachel looked shocked as everyone applauded her. She then headed up to the front and collected her trophy, receiving a hug from the teacher.
"If I could just say a few words?" she asked.
"Sure." Mr. Schuester said, sitting down before she began to speak about how the song everyone wrote was amazing before sighing.
"But…I don't deserve this. Not after what Dylan has just told us. I mean, the battle he has gone through is so heartbreaking yet so inspiring and he wrote a song through all of it, intending to sing it at Regionals…so, if the club will allow me, I would like to change the result and give this award to Dylan." She said and Dylan shared a smile with Rachel and she was about to sit down when Dylan spoke up.
"Wait…stay there, Rach." He said and Rachel moved back into her original spot before Dylan stood up and went over to the girl.
"You helped me through this. We're sharing the award whenever you like it or not." Dylan said and Rachel smiled before they hugged.
"MVPs." Artie said and everyone went into a group hug, laughing. Dylan then felt a tight grip on his shoulder and he looked into the bright blue eyes of Brittany S. Pierce and they shared a smile before merging with the others.
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The song is 'Start Again' by Sam Tsui. Yes, I know I didn't write it, therefore it's not an original song but the lyrics suited the situation so well and I just visualised it being Quinn's poem. Pluse, it's a great song.
Whoo! Longest chapter yet! I'm quite proud of this :)
So now you know why Dylan was angsty. Was I a little too serious? I wanted to put Dylan under a more emotional state because the only emotion he really shows is anger and I wanted to put him in a different light yet still being him if you get me…
The 'A Night Of Neglect' chapter will not be up until next week because my school exams are coming up and also the episode has not aired yet in the UK. That chapter shall be the introduction of a new OC who shall be a recurring character in my stories but the story will still revolve around Dylan.
And no! I do not have Songbird on repeat, squealing and clapping like a seal every time I listen to it…*shifty eyes*
Feel free to review!