Author's Note BEFORE the chapter! So I've been reading some of your reviews and messages, and also thinking it through, and I've decided not to do the last two auditions, which I apologize for. They're growing tedious and I want to get to the real story as quickly as possible for you all, though, so I hope you'll agree that this is a fair trade. Now without further ado, the final part of 1x02, Auditions!
"Why did you rush out of auditions so fast, Lols?" Jenny asked her best friend as they walked down the hallway Friday morning. The Cheerio was wearing her uniform with pride, a bright smile on her face; tonight was the first Football game of the season, and her first opportunity to cheer in front of a crowd with the squad. To say she was excited...well, that was an understatement.
Lola hardly looked up when Jenny addressed her, a look of deep concentration on her face. "Hello? Earth to Lola?" Jenny said with a smirk. "I asked why you rushed out of auditions so fast," she told her friend.
"Oh, I just had a lot of homework to do, you know. High school is a lot tougher than I thought it was going to be, and I've got to keep up," Lola lied, still not looking at Jenny as she spoke; the young Cheerio didn't believe her for a second. She bit down on her lip, opening up her locker in a rush. "It's not like we can all balance a clubs and our actual life like you, plus have a job on the side," she then added snidely, not caring that Jenny recoiled immediately.
"Did I do something wrong, Lols? Seriously, what's going on?" Jenny asked her friend, concern clear in her eyes. "If I did something to upset you, I'm sure I didn't mean t-" she was cut off by Lola slamming her locker shut, and she jumped when she rounded on her.
"Will you shut up, Jen? Nothing is going on except for you being nosy and making something out of nothing," Lola chided her, heading down the hall without a goodbye. Jenny wasn't giving up so quickly, however, and followed her.
"I'm not being nosy, Lola, I'm just worried about you. You haven't been answering my texts, and I just wanted to see if you were okay," Jenny tried to defend herself, knowing how lame of defense it was. "You can talk to me if something is up. You can tell me anything," she called after her, sighing as the blonde left her in the dust, not bothering to turn around.
Lily had no clue why she was currently sitting in the office of her gym coach. Actually, she had a fairly good idea as to why; that didn't mean she wanted to endure the lecture that she was sure was to come.
"Mr. Evans, have I done something wrong?" She asked in an attempt to feign innocence, nervously flipping her ponytail over her shoulder.
Sam took a deep breath, not knowing how to approach this confrontation. With Hugh, it was much easier, having once been in his position. With Lily, he didn't know what there was to say to a Cheerio used to being driven by excellence. He knew how lame Glee Club was around school, and he knew how easily you could ruin your reputation by joining.
"I just wanted to ask you something, Lily. Was there a reason you didn't show up for auditions? I just figured, you know, with your name being the first on the list and everything, that you were actually interested in joining," Sam started, watching as the girl shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Without you and Hugh, we're two people short to be able to compete, so I was just wondering if I could convince you to think of joining still," he told her, cutting to the chase.
Lily frowned as she listened to this, feeling guilty about skipping out, but only a tiny bit. "I don't know, sir. I'm just really busy, you know, with Cheerios and everything, so I don't know if I want to stress myself out too much," she fibbed, wanting to back her way out of this easily as possible.
"I understand, but I really think that joining would be a good thing for you. Plus, I've seen how you are with Sienna, and I really need someone to help her stay in the club. I'm sure she's told you about her ultimatum?" Sam asked her, hoping this would work as a bargaining tool.
Feeling herself caving, Lily forced a scowl onto her face. "I didn't get her into that mess, so I don't see why I have to help mop it up," she stated, crossing her arms over her chest. She couldn't stop herself before she was blurting, "would I have to audition still?"
Sam felt a smile betray him as he looked across his desk. "Well, I don't think it would be fair for you not to have to audition. If you come to our first meeting and have a solo prepared, that should work. Unless you can convince your friend, Mr. Sanford, to come with you," he reasoned, hoping the line about Hugh would work as well.
"I'm not his keeper, either, Mr. Evans. I'll talk to him, but I don't know. I'll see you on Monday I guess," Lily said, getting up from her chair. She gave the gym teacher a curt nod before walking out of his office.
The second the door shut, Sam pumped his fist in the air. Possibly twelve members, and he didn't even have to beg too hard.
Tanner was shutting his locker in preparation for the end of the day when he noticed the Quarterback lingering a few lockers away. Instead of addressing him, he lowered his gaze and headed for the bus circle without saying a word.
"Tanner, wait, man!" Hugh called after him, stopping him in his tracks. The freshman turned on the heel of his beat up red Converse and forced himself to look up. "I wanted to, well, apologize. What the guys and I did the other day wasn't cool, and uh, well yeah. I'm sorry," he rambled through quickly, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. His eyes scanned the halls for any signs of his teammates, and some of the tension left his body once he realized that they were probably gone.
Tanner shook his head, taking a deep breath before he spoke. "Hugh, I wasn't trying to make you look like you were dating me or something. I thought you were trying to be my friend, but I guess I thought wrong," he said, turning again once he said his piece.
Hugh had said they were teammates the day that he helped him out, but it was clear to Tanner which teammates he had chosen. While it was upsetting to him, he didn't know what he had expected from him.
Sam smiled as he set the dinner table that night, feeling much better than he had the almost a week and a half before. "You know, you were right babe," he told his wife as he placed the last napkin down.
"See, I told you that you were worried for nothing. Now you get to help a whole new round of Glee clubbers 'find themselves through music', or whatever it is that Schuester told you guys that you were doing," she teased him, bringing their food to the table. "Are you going to teach them your McConnaughey impression as their first lesson. Show 'em that you're just as nerdy as them," she then added with a grin, making her husband chuckle.
"I don't think they're prepared for that quite yet," Sam reasoned, smirking as he came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Thanks for convincing me that Glee had a chance this year," he then murmured, nuzzling his face in the crook of her neck for a moment before straightening up, dropping a kiss to the top of her head gently. Taking his place at the table, he smiled. "Let's eat."
I know, super short but I wanted to get a chapter up faster this time and also close a few loose ends of this chapter so far. Now, we can get into the super fun stuff. Thanks you guys!
