A/N: A little break from all the re-uploading because mini Finchel got a hold of me =). Reviewing would be you know, awesome.
He holds back a groan as he leans back in his seat. This really blows. He really doesn't want to stay for this whole stupid talent show thing. For one thing, most of his classmates aren't even here 'cause they get to be at home and play with Super Mario or whatever, which is so much better than just sitting around school after school's ended. Why anyone would want to stay back in school when you're free to go is beyond him. For another, Finn kinda hates Azimio 'cause he's mean and he pulled that stupid prank where he'd written 'kick me' on a piece of paper and stuck it to Finn's back and everyone laughed at him at the playground.
He hates carpool, he hates that his mom's gotta do a double shift, and he really, really hates that their house just happens to be smack dab in the middle of the school and the Adams'. And right now, Finn thinks he kinda hates Isabelle too for being in this stupid talent show in the first place. Usually she just makes him blush, 'cause she's older and she's always nice to him, even when her stupid brother pokes him on the side continuously in all their car rides. It sucks 'cause she already did her dance thingy, but they have to wait for another five kids before they announce the winner and he really just wants to go home.
The auditorium is filled with polite applause as Ms Branch introduces the next performer, and his head perks up at the slight commotion in the front row, where two men are clapping enthusiastically, the bigger one with a camcorder in his hand and the smaller one kind of flailing in his seat a little. He smiles, 'cause they're kinda funny, especially when the smaller man starts blowing air kisses to the stage.
Finn looks up at the direction of his kisses, and finds a little girl on stage about his age. He knows her. Well, kind of. She's not in his class though, she's in the next one. They only really have two classes for second graders. He can't remember her name, but she's standing up on stage with the biggest smile he's ever seen, and he ignores Azimio's elbow to his gut as she takes a deep breath in front of the microphone.
"Hi," she says brightly, her smile growing even wider if that was possible. "My name is Rachel Berry, and I'll be singing Catch a Falling Star, a classic song made famous by the legendary Perry Como."
Wow she talks really fast, he thinks, as she takes another deep breath and turns to nod Mr Vernon, their music teacher who's sitting on the piano stool. Azimio is snickering beside him, laughing at her pigtails and commenting that she's singing a baby song, but Finn just ignores him. He actually likes her pigtails, and whatever, he used to love this song when his mom sang it to him. She still does sometimes, when he's down with the flu or broke his wrist or something.
And then she starts to sing.
He watches as her voice seems to just come pouring out of her, her eyes closed as she sways gently from side to side. It feels a little like when his mom comes home late and there's ice cream in the freezer that he sneaks a generous helping of, because Mrs Norman who babysits him sometimes never really notices when Jeopardy is on tv. There's a kind of rush he feels as he stares at her, eyes wide, and goosebumps running along his forearms.
He's got goosebumps.
His mom never sang to him like this. He thinks she sounds like those princesses he watches at his neighbor's house sometimes when his mom can't find a babysitter and he has to stay over for dinner. Lucy, his neighbor, is five and she loves Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid, and sometimes she makes Finn act like he's a prince. He does it mostly 'cause she can cry like nobody's business if he doesn't, and because he kinda actually likes Lucy. She's like a kid sister.
Anyway, he thinks this girl sounds like one of those princesses, only you know, like a kid and she's real. She's got her eyes closed and he doesn't even notice that his mouth is open until she's on her last note and his mouth feels a little dry. She opens his eyes, and he thinks she looks a little scared for a moment before she stands up straight and gives the brightest beam he has ever seen.
The room breaks into applause again and he joins in, clapping enthusiastically and ignoring Azimio's comment about her being lame and a baby. What does he know anyway? Finn can't remember what she said her name was, but he thinks maybe after this if he ever sees her around or something, he could talk to her.
Maybe she would sing again.
That would be awesome.