***Chapter 2 is UP! So I haven't gotten quite the response I am looking for yet, so I need a favor from those who are reading…SPREAD THE WORD! :) I love you all so much for reading my work! Please review so I know what everyone thinks of this! One other warning…This will mostly be my own imagination so scratch the end of the season for this and I Lauren is a non-entity, because I will be doing this my way. Read and review PLEASE! Love you all! Read and review :) I own nothing sadly. :( -Rosaline***
After Blaine finished his song with Rachel everyone clapped. No one could deny that Blaine was fantastic and when the two of them sang together, magic appeared. Almost like when Rachel and Finn sang together.
Mr. Shue stood up and took control of the room. "Thank you, Blaine. That was fantastic and I think you are a great addition to New Directions. Now, Nationals is in a month and a half and we need to start preparing!"
Everyone nodded in agreement, and Mr. Shue continued, "Now, Nationals is really important, and it's in New York this year. We will need to raise money to get there, and we need to come up with our soloists and set list. This time I won't just be handing over the solos. This is too important."
Murmurs of how Mr. Shuester would give out solos spread throughout the room. Finn spoke up, "I think Rachel and I should do a duet." Quinn glared at Finn. Rachel's eyes went wide, and silence spread throughout the room.
"That will be taken in to account, Finn." Mr. Shue tried to recover, "However, I will be doing this differently. You will have an assignment each week, so six assignments. There will be at least two duets, but a lot of solo-centric things. I will keep my eyes peeled, then when we get to New York, the soloists will work for the week in perfecting the set list."
Quinn asked, "Two songs I assume?"
"No, actually. The competition will be split up over an entire week. We will be getting there a week in advance. The first day, the teams are honed down to 25. Then, to 10, to 3, and finally, to 2. It seems long and drawn out, I know. However, it is to ensure that we aren't cutting any talent that doesn't deserve to be cut. Guys, this will work in our favor."
"Then how many songs?" Mercedes spoke up.
"This is where it gets a little tricky. For the first and second days, there will be two songs. For the third, three. Then, for the last two days, there will be five. Each day has a theme we need to abide by. They also decide how many solos, duets and group numbers there will be to keep it fair. Bur right now, I don't want you to worry. Not until we get closer."
Rachel did the math in her head. "Mr. Shuester, that's SEVENTEEN songs. How are we supposed to keep up? No one can sing all that. Our vocal chords-"
"I understand your worry. That's another reason for themes. One person isn't forced to do all the singing. You showcase the best talent for the particular theme, which brings me to this week's assignment. I will be choosing your songs for you."
Confusion spread throughout the room. "We have six weeks. This week, I will pick songs I think you should sing, or maybe a duet to get all of the unresolved feelings out of the air so we can really focus on Nationals. Some of you will be singing two or three songs, some none. I really want you to get a feel for what it's going to be like. I posted the list just outside the choir room. Get ready, guys. Things are just going to get tougher from here on in. You're dismissed."
Everyone looked nervously at each other. Rachel was the first to get up and walk out of the room. Kurt and Blaine followed. Soon everyone was up and out the door looking at the list. There were only four people chosen. FOUR. Everyone who wasn't chosen felt cheated.
Duets:
Finn & Rachel: Breakeven (The Script)
Quinn & Rachel: What Is This Feeling? (Wicked)
Quinn and Puck: Strangers (Martina McBride)
Solos:
Finn: Something In the Way She Moves (James Taylor)
Quinn: Cold Day In July
Those not included have a reprieve for this week. If you do want to perform, speak to me. It must be approved. This will NOT be used to tease fellow members. Get ready for next week. Good Luck everyone.
Rachel, Finn, Quinn, and Puck, all stepped away from the list numb. These were songs dealing with intimate feelings none of the teenagers wanted to deal with. Rachel was the first to speak. "Well, I suppose we should just get it over with. Why don't the four of us go to Quinn's house? We can work in groups on our numbers and keep an eye on each other as I'm sure Quinn will want to keep an eye on Finn and I, and Finn on Quinn."
"That's the best idea you've had all day Berry." Quinn said with a glare. They all walked out together, unease filling the air.
Kurt and Blaine looked to each other after looking at the list. They both shrugged. Not a huge deal. It was reprieve before the really hard work started. "You want to come over?" Kurt asked as they walked back to the choir room to grab their things.
"Sorry, but I got to get home. You know my parents. Maybe tomorrow?" Blaine said with a sigh.
"Yeah, sure. I'll see you later. Love you." Kurt said before kissing him and walking out of the room.
"Love you too." Blaine said with a smile as Kurt walked out of the room. He could get used to this.
"Blaine," Blaine was yanked out of his thoughts as Mr. Shue called after him. "Hey, if I had known you were transferring, you would have been on the list. Why don't you do a solo, and pair up with Rachel for a duet. I'd really like to see what you can do."
Blaine was a little dumbfounded. Usually when people complimented him, they wanted something. An in to the Warblers. To psych him out before a competition. Or just being plain smug. But this man, he meant it. He believed in him.
"Uh, um," Blaine stuttered before finding coherent words, "Yeah, I'll call Rachel up when I get home. Any thoughts?"
Mr. Shue gave him a smile, it was reassuring for Blaine. "Stretch yourself. The duet you did with Kurt at Regional's was fantastic." And with that Mr. Shuester was gone. Blaine hit the lights and closed the door on his way out, being the last to leave.
When he got home, he called Rachel. He could hear screaming in the background, and quite honestly, it frightened him. He thought she came from a better, happier, family.
"Hey Rachel, what's up?"
"I'm about to pull my hair out!" She yelled. Blaine was taken aback but continued.
"Well, what's wrong?"
"Quinn is screaming at me," He could hear through the phone, 'Get back over here! I'm not done with you!'; "And Puck and Finn are screaming and shoving at each other. This was one of Mr. Shue's worst ideas to date! Would you SHUT UP YOU HEARLTESS HARPY?" Rachel screamed at Quinn while on the phone.
"Well then," Blaine continued, but was cut off by Rachel.
"OH MY FREAKING CHEESUS! DO YOU JUST NEED TO HEAR THE SOUND OF YOUR VOICE EVERY SINGLE SECOND OF THE FREAKING DAY YOU EVIL SUCCUBUS? Sorry, Blaine, talking to Quinn not you. What do you need? SHUT THE HELL UP FOR TEN SECONDS PLEASE!"
"Do you want to just come over here? I can probably explain better that way." Blaine said quickly, trying to find the best way to get Rachel out of her current situation.
Rachel gave an exasperated sigh, before saying quickly and matter-of-factly, "I'm on my way. I'M LEAVING YOU EVIL, POSSESSED,-" Then Blaine hung up the phone before hearing anymore.
Blaine's doorbell rang an hour later, with an exceptionally frazzled Rachel Berry standing there. "Please tell me you have water." She said hoarsely.
"I kind of figured you would want something, what with all the screaming, so," Blaine's hand swooped over the array of drinks he had out by his piano.
"Oh, thank Cheesus!" She said exasperatedly. "I swear to Cheesus, they're all insane."
"What happened?" Blaine asked, genuinely curious. "I've never heard you speak like that directly to someone."
Rachel gave a frustrated sigh and rolled her eyes, "Well, Finn and I went off to work on our song, and Noah and Quinn on theirs. After about a half hour, things were going well. I mean they were intense, especially for Finn and I, but we had gotten our songs down and we were ready for tomorrow. Well, needless to say, Quinn did NOT like the way Finn was looking at me. We both saw the longing, and it didn't help that I had the same look in my eyes as well."
"So then what happened?"
"Well, if you recall the list, there was still a duet for Quinn and I to accomplish."
"What is This Feeling."
"That's the one. I suggested we take a break. Finn and Noah agreed. We ALL saw the murderous look in Quinn's eye, but she was relentless. We made it through twice. That's when all the yelling started. Quinn still seeing that look in Finn's eye started yelling at him. When I started defending Finn, she went off on me. We all know how I feel about Quinn. Finn stood up for me, Noah stood up for Quinn, and THAT'S when things got really ugly."
"That's when I came in."
"No, Finn and Noah started shoving and yelling at each other. Quinn, being too involved with herself to notice, and I too concerned with my life, kept yelling at her. It just kept escalating until we all burst. THAT'S when you called. I was about ready to rip my hair out. Maybe pull a Britney Spears on everyone. I can't explain what happens when I get around Quinn. I see red. I can't help it."
"Loathing." Blaine began.
"Unadulterated LOATHING." Rachel continued.
"And you will be loathing for forever," Blaine said matter-of-factly.
"Loathing truly, deeply," Rachel copied him, with a gleam of mischief in her eye.
Then the two sung out the end, "Loathing her, your whole life LONG!" The two teens doubled over in laughter, at the cheesiness of what they had sung, and the insanity of what Rachel had just gone through.
When they began to breathe again, Rachel asked, "So, you called me over here for a reason I presume?"
Blaine looked confused then remembered his original purpose for calling Rachel. "Right, well Mr. Shue wants us to do a duet. He also wants me to do a solo. I think he is going to have me sing at Nationals."
"If you want that solo, you have to stretch. We are the underdogs, Blaine." Suddenly, a wicked idea popped into Rachel's mind. It was just crazy and bad enough it would be perfect. If they could just execute it.
Blaine saw the look. Something told him he wasn't going to like it. "Rachel,"
"I know what we are going to do."
"Rachel, please, whatever it is-"
"High."
"No."
"School."
"Cheesus, please save me."
"Musical."
"Know I know you've lost it."
***Thoughts? Ok,so, HSM is REALLY insane, BUT (yes, there is a but) it will be quick and painless, and there will be none of this madness at Nationals. PINKY PROMISE! I really was able to just pull this out. I am really happy with it! Chapter 3: Rachel's insanity, and the first week's assignments. Blaine and Kurt's date possibly at Kurt's house. I haven't quite decided yet. Read and Review PLEASE! Love to all my Readers and Reviewers! –Rosaline***