This is a shift day [see above]. There was another upload this morning: Two Less Tortured Hearts.

"Flying Solo"

6. New Steps

They'd told him to come by the choir room at lunch time the next day. He wasn't sure what they wanted him to do, but he went. When he got there the two of them looked to be browsing through sheet music. Ewan had a feeling now what it was they'd be doing, so he'd closed the door behind him, drawing their attention.

"You're here, good!" Tina went and motioned for him to step up. He put his bag down by the piano. "So we were thinking you might want to try a bit before actually going in front of the others, so… here we are."

"Right…" Ewan blinked, hesitant.

"There's no pressure," Mike promised.

"I know," he nodded. "Okay."

"Okay," Tina repeated. "Should we try dancing?"

"Really want me to answer that?" Ewan frowned, making them smile. "Guess you should know what you're getting yourselves into," he finally agreed. Mike put on some music, demonstrated something brief, not too complicated. Ewan watched intently, if slightly traumatized. When Mike turned to him he took a deep breath, did his best to replicate… it was exactly as he'd been warning all along, although they didn't look nearly as concerned as he'd thought they'd be.

"Well… we've worked with less," Mike assured.

"Sorry to hear that," Ewan bowed his head and the other two smirked. Mike turned the music off, looked to Tina.

"Well, there's singing, ready to try that?" she asked. He halted for a moment, wrapped with a memory which he finally broke free from. He nodded. "Okay, so what's it going to be?" They were silent, thinking.

"My mother loved the Beatles," he ended up volunteering. Tina took this information in and of those songs she knew, and knew Mike and Ewan hopefully would know as well, she began, no music accompanying her whatsoever.

[T] "You say you want a revolution / Well you know / We all want to change the world"

The boys gave reactions which told her she'd been correct in her choice. She looked to Mike, 'passing' the song over for him to carry on. He was getting so good with his lessons.

[Mi] "You tell me that it's evolution / Well you know / We all want to change the world"

As Ewan watched them, listened to them, it didn't take a genius to know before long Mike would turn to him and he'd be expected to tag in, continue the song, start singing. He felt his heart grow restless, but then he could see her in his mind… his mother, smiling, happy, singing… singing to him… and his fear went away. He hadn't realized that Mike had already stopped, to let him continue, and there'd been a sudden silence until Ewan had harnessed the memory and continued the song, carried it even, with their support.

[E] "But when you talk about destruction / Don't you know that you can count me out / Don't you know it's gonna be alright ([Mi/T] "Alright... Alright")

You say you got a real solution / Well you know / We'd all love to see the plan / You ask me for a contribution / Well you know / We're all doing what we can / But if you want money for people with minds that hate / All I can tell you is brother you'll have to wait / Don't you know it's gonna be alright ([Mi/T] "Alright... Alright")

You say you'll change the constitution / Well you know / We all want to change your head / You tell me it's the institution / Well you know / You better free your mind instead / But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao / You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow / Don't you know know it's gonna be alright" ([Mi/T] "Alright... Alright") / [E, Mi, T] "Alright... Alright... Alright... Alright... Alright... Alright... Alright..."

The moment he'd started, it had been a jolt. For Mike and Tina it was the surprise of this voice, from him, a stark opposite to his dancing, and a side of him they'd yet to see in the time they'd known him. All they'd been hoping until then had been to give him a place, safe from torment, a circle to look out for him… but to see him now, it was to understand he actually had something to provide, to nurture…

For Ewan it was a moment to remember as well. It was a jumble of emotions, confused and unused, it seemed, for so very long. He felt her with him when he sang, he really did, so much that when he stopped he had to catch his breath, tried not to let on too much. He looked to his friends, saw them try not to look too much in awe.

"Ewan, that was amazing!" Tina had to say.

"Thank you," he nodded.

"Think you'll be okay to audition?" Mike asked, and Ewan confirmed. After that, they'd gone off to lunch. Ewan had stayed back. He didn't have much hope with regards to his dancing improving but he would try. He felt he owed it to himself… to others. He tried to remember Mike's steps, mumbling to himself.

"You look like you're having a seizure." He turned at the sound of the voice, and he blinked when he saw Sugar at the door.

"Well if I ever have an actual seizure then I'll be in trouble, won't I…"

"Yeah, you'll be having a seizure," she pointed out.

"Right," he slowly nodded. "I'm just practicing… for Glee Club."

"And how's that working out?" she approached.

"Well, you saw… That's it," he admitted, and she laughed, not mean, just amused.

"I think this is what you were going for…" she handed him her bag, 'loosened up,' then did something much closer to Mike's demonstration than he could have ever managed. As if he wasn't sufficiently in awe of this girl, she had to go and do that, and then turn back to him, take her bag back and smile like it was no big deal. "Like that?" He could only nod. "Your mouth's hanging open just a bit," she informed him, silently miming 'picking up one's jaw' by pushing hers shut with her index finger. He blinked, hoping he wasn't staring.

"You should show them that, in Glee Club," he insisted, and she shrugged.

"I still haven't made my mind up. But I swear when I do you'll be the first to know. In fact, give me your phone," she held her hand out. On autopilot, he produced his phone and she took it, working quick in programming her number. "I don't usually do this, because some people do not understand boundaries," she shook her head, eyes bugging out for a moment before she smiled and returned his phone to him. "That's you, and I've just texted myself, so I have your number," she explained. "Now we're all set," she looked please with her achievement. "I hope you'll use it wisely," it sounded like a demand.

"I will," he'd finally found his voice again.

"Well then, I'll let you get back to your practice," she pulled back, and he could almost see her will herself not to say 'you need it.'

"Good idea," he told her. She smiled, turned to leave. "Bye, Sugar," he called after her. She paused, looked back to him.

"Bye, Ewan." It was the first time she'd spoken his name, and he smiled. He thought she'd leave then, but as he got back to practicing – still looing seizure-like – he could swear he'd see her out in the hall, observing him. He didn't look, didn't want to spook her… if she was in fact there. Instead he took her presence as motivation to carry on. It was not going to be his biggest strength, but if there was one thing he knew to do in life, it was to try, always to try.

TO BE CONCLUDED (TOMORROW)