Chapter 8
"Alright, everyone circle up!" I heard Mr Schue shout as he enters the green room. I could feel myself practically shaking, I was nervous and I had never felt this nervous before. Quinn was doing her best to calm me down, as was Brittany and it was helping a little. Looking around the green room at everyone they all seemed nervous but it was an excited nervous, I tried to get that to wash over me. The guys were all wearing black button up shirts, black denim jean, which match their black shoes, the only colour were their ties and they were a light blue colour. All of us girls were wearing light blue dress, which cut off at our knee, there was also a black stripe around our waist, and we had on black flat shoes. Mum and Dad were out in the audience with Toby and Melissa; they managed to get seats together. I had made sure to get loads of photos taken of me, not just for my parents but for the girls who were still back in Rosewood.
Mr Schue speaks "So this is our first performance of the year and with Emily in New Directions. Let's make it a good performance but remember to have fun, that's the number rule when performing. Hands in," Brittany had explained this bit to me; we all put our hands in and shout amazing at the same time. Something about Mr Schue old choir director doing it, that's what Quinn, explained to me when I didn't understand what Brittany had told me. The girls all walked up onto stage, while the guys waited in the wings. We were starting our performance with all the girls singing together and then the guys would take over, before we all came together for our last song.
"You okay?" Quinn whispered as we wait for the curtain to rise.
"I stand in line," I say making Quinn look at me confused.
I explain "I always listen to that song before going to swim; this is just like swimming but with more clothes on." As Quinn takes in my words, I see she's confused as to whether I'm serious or not and when I nod my head she's silently laughs.
"See, I'm relaxed now," I say. Quinn laughing and relaxing herself is what made me relax. We then hear the announcer announcing us, I can hear the crowd cheer as the curtain gets pulled up and bright lights are on us very quickly.
Rachel: "Loving can hurt, loving can hurt sometimes but it's the only thing that I know," Rachel had started the song off beautifully, as she sung out she walk down the two step we had in place for our number. Rachel moved to stand in the middle of the stage, she swayed gently with the music.
Mercedes: "When it gets hard, you know it can hard sometime, it is the only thing that makes us feel alive," Mercedes followed Rachel action, going down the step to stand on Rachel's right side and swaying with the music.
Brittany: "We keep this love in a photography, we made these memories for ourselves," Brittany walk down and went to stand on Rachel's left right.
Tina: "When our eyes are never closing, hearts are never broken, times forever frozen still," Tina walked over to stand by Mercedes.
Santana: "So you can keep me, inside the pocket of your ripped jeans," keeping up the pace of the song Santana sang and walked over to stand by Brittany. I could help but smile when Santana and Brittany held hands for a brief second before standing evenly a part.
Quinn: "Holding me closer, til our eyes met," I smiled proudly as Quinn sang while moving across the stage to stand next to Santana. She had such a beautiful voice and I loved hearing her sing, it was always incredible.
Emily: "You won't ever be alone, wait for me to come," next it was my turn to sing and I hoped I didn't let anyone down. Since we were uneven group, we spilt into pairs but would leave someone not in a pair, Rachel was happy to sing and dance by herself. I walked over to stand next to Quinn, who looked across at me and smiled, I smiled back at her.
The group: "Loving can heal, loving can mend you soul and it's the only thing that I know (I know.) I swear it will get easier, remember that with every piece of ya and it's the only thing we take with us when we die," as we sang perfectly together the audience clapped a little enjoying our performance so far.
Santana and Brittany: "We keep this love in this photography, we made these memories for ourselves." As the pair sang we all jumped to be face to face with our partner, Rachel however jumped one hundred and eighty degrees to be facing the back of the stage.
Tina and Mercedes: "When our eyes are never closing, out heart were never broken, times forever frozen still." When Tina and Mercedes sung, we all started walking towards each other to be right in front of each other, Rachel turn back around to face the crowd and start swaying with the music.
Emily and Quinn: "So you can keep me, inside the pocket of your ripped jeans," as Quinn and I sang we all reach out and grabbed our partners, pulling them into our arms. I looked deeply into Quinn's eyes; we were singing to each other, it felt like there was no else in the room and it was just us.
Rachel: "Holding me close, til our eyes meet, you won't ever be alone. And if you hurt me, that's okay baby, only words bleed. Inside these pages, you just hold me and I won't ever let you go," when Rachel sang we all pulled out of our individual moments and moved around the stage, to change places. Mercedes was now on the wing with Brittany next to her, Rachel, followed by Quinn. Next to Quinn was Tina, with myself on her other side and lastly Santana.
Santana and Brittany: "Wait for me to come home," as the pair sang they both took one step back before turning to face each other.
Tina and Mercedes: "Wait for me to come home," the two sang beautifully together and took two step back, before turning to face each other.
Emily and Quinn: "Wait for me to come home," as we sang together, we took three steep back and turned to face each other.
Rachel: "Wait for me to come home." With Rachel singing all couples walked towards each other, to join in the middle and stand behind Rachel.
Santana: "Oh you can fit me inside the necklace you got when you were sixteen," Santana took one step so she was now diagonal to Rachel. Santana reached up with her right hand and placed it on Rachel's shoulder.
Brittany: "Next to your heartbeat, where I should be, keep it deep within your soul," Brittany took a couple of steps so she could be diagonal from Santana. Brittany reached up with her right hand and placed it on Santana shoulder. Santana with her left hand, place it upon Brittany shoulder.
Mercedes: "And if you hurt me, well that's okay baby, only words bleed," Mercedes took one step left, so she was now diagonal from Rachel. Mercedes reached up her left hand and place it on Rachel's shoulder.
Tina: "Inside these page you just hold me and I won't ever let you go," Tina took a couple of steps so she could be diagonal from Mercedes. Tina reached up with her left hand and placed it on Mercedes shoulder. Mercedes with her right hand, place it upon Tina shoulder.
Rachel: "When I'm away, I will remember how you kissed me," Rachel placed her right upon Mercedes shoulder and placed her left hand upon Santana's shoulder.
Quinn: "Under the lamppost back on Sixth Street," Quinn took a couple of steps so she could be diagonal from Brittany. Quinn reached up with her right hand and placed it on Brittany shoulder. Brittany with her left hand placed it upon Quinn's shoulder.
Emily: "Hearing you whisper through the phone, wait for me to come home," with having the last line, I had to move quickly while singing smoothly. I stepped an inch forward to place my left hand upon Quinn's shoulder and my right hand upon Tina's shoulder. Quinn with her right hand placed it upon my shoulder and Tina with her left hand placed it upon my shoulder. As the light shone brightly down on us, we formed a triangle. When the music stopped, our head went down into a bowing precession, we heard the audience cheering, I smiled as I soaked it all up. After a two second count, the light dropped out giving us the chance to run off and the boys to run on and get into precision.
"You girls were amazing," Mr Schue spoke giving us all high-fives as we joined him centre wing.
I heard Santana say, "You know for your first performance you weren't that bad."
"Thanks," I say with my signature smile and wrap my arms around Quinn.
As the familiar tune rung out the guys start off facing away from the audience, the boys tapped their right leg to the ground in time to the music. In time to the music they jumped to face the crowd and begin doing different muscle precision. They then changed into doing different training moves, fake jump-roping, punches into thin air, star-jumps and pretending to hold weights and doing cruels with their arms.
Artie: "Rising up, back on the street, did my time took my chances," as Artie started the song. He had Finn pushing he chair down the middle of the stage as he sang.
Finn: "Went the distance, now I'm back on my feet. Just a man and his will to survive," Finn sang while pushing Artie's chair. When they reach their precision, he sang the last note out to the crowd with his signature smirk in place.
Puck: "So many times it happens to fast, you trade your passion for glory," Puck rudely walked in between Finn and Artie, making both glare. Puck walked away smiling and shaking his head at the pair.
Sam: "Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past; you must fight just to keep them alive." Finn and Artie had turned to go after Puck but Sam run over while singing to stop them, while also backing Puck up; the two weren't happy.
The group: "It's the eye of the tiger; it's the thrill of the fight. Rising up to the challenge of our rival and the last known survivor. Stalks his prey in the night and he's watching us all with the eye of the tiger." As the chores came up, the four guys turned towards the audience pausing their fight, however every now and then they'd turn to glare at each other; just reviving the fight up.
Kurt: "Face to face, out in the heat. Hanging tough, staying hungry," as the two fight groups approach each other ready for battle; Kurt run over trying to intervene. Puck lightly threw Kurt backwards, making Finn and Artie angrier.
Mike: "They stack the odds still we take to the street for the kill with skill to survive," Mike run over to catch Kurt from falling and made sure Kurt was okay. However, in the meantime things were only heating up between them all.
Finn and Puck: "It's the eye of the tiger, it's the thrill of the fight," while the two sung they did different things to train for the fight. Puck practice boxing with Sam ducking, he also did push-up and sits-up with Sam fake counting. Finn did the same, but also did laps around Artie each time getting faster.
Artie and Sam: "Rising up to the challenge of our rival and the last known survivor," they swapped roles. Artie and Sam began practicing while Puck and Finn trained them. Artie did stretches with his arms before doing leaning back on his chair for a wheelie which he held in place, he then did a couple of punches upwards; proving he had sneaky tricks.
Mike and Kurt: "Stalks his prey in the night and he's watching us all with the eye of the tiger." Kurt and Mike shrugged their shoulders knowing this fight was going ahead no matter what; however, they had to make sure it'd be a fair fight.
Puck and Artie: "Rising up, straight to the top. Had the gut, got the glory," the fight broke out it was Puck taking on Artie and Sam taking on Finn. All getting cheap little shots in, ducking when they could and running circles around each other.
Mike "Went the distance, now I'm not gonna stop, just a man and his will to survive," Mike called a time-out and went to check up on each fighter before clearing them to fight once again.
Finn and Sam: "It's the eye of the tiger, it's the thrill of the fight," when the fight was resumed neither side were going to back down, going harder than before. Artie run over Pucks foot giving Finn the perfect chance to punch Puck in the face, Sam quickly pushed Artie away and punched Finn in the head twice.
Kurt: "Rising up to the challenge of our rival and the last known survivor." Kurt goes into break the fight up and give everyone a breather, however when he goes in he doesn't see Puck fists aiming Finn but instead connects with Kurt. Kurt falls down and lay they're not moving, no one moves.
Puck and Sam: "Stalks his prey in the night and he's watching us all with the eye of the tiger," the pair sing while looking down at Kurt who is being assessed by Mike. The pair realise their mistakes, walk across to Finn and Artie and hold their hands out.
Kurt: "The eye of the tiger," as they are shaking hands Kurt sits up and sings. The group rush to Kurt to apologize for the stupid fight and that he got caught up in it.
The group: "The eye of the tiger, the eye of the tiger, the eye of the tiger." As a group they stand up, all with a hand on Kurt shoulder and finish the song off strongly together. When the music drops away the audience starts clapping, as do we on the sidelines. I was really impressed with the guy's performance they had done so well to tell the story while singing.
With the lights dropping once again, the boys quickly run side stage to quickly unbutton their shirts and reveal their white t-shirts. We helped each of them unbutton their shirts and straighten out their white shirts. During the guy's performance, the girls and I had changed out of our dresses and into our own white shirts with black pants. This had been Mr Schue idea; you see they weren't just normal shirts they each had something written on them. A quality of our own, which we didn't like however we couldn't change it and we would have to accept it either now or in the future.
Kurt: "Likes Boys" Tina: "Brown Eyes" Artie: "Four Eyes" Mercedes: "No Weaves" Rachel: "Nose" Finn: "Can't Dance" Emily: "Not Straight" Quinn: "Bisexual" Santana: "Lesbian" Brittany: "I'm With Stoopid" Puck: "I'm With Stupid" Mike: "Can't Sing" Sam: "Trouty Mouth"
"Nice shirt," Quinn whispered.
"Right back at you," I whispered back before using the back of the stage to get to other side of the stage, to stand in the correct wing. Kurt walked out onto stage in a certain way which blocked the audience view from his shirt. He stood alone with his back to the crowd as we waited for the music to begin.
Kurt: "It doesn't matter if you love him, or capital H-I-M, just put your paws up baby, cause you were born this way, baby." As Kurt began the song, he turned around just as strong as he was singing. I looked out in the audience to see their reactions, they were surprised but whether they liked it that was another thing.
Tina: "My mama told me when I was young we are all born superstars," Tina walk onto stage from the same wing I am in. She walked to the middle of the stage where Kurt was, she paused and showed her shirt to the crowd before high-fiving Kurt and continuing to walk. Tina stopped at the side of the stage but up at the top step.
Santana: "She rolled my hair and put my lipstick on, in the glass of her boudoir," Santana walked out onto stage from the same wing Quinn was currently standing in. I watched as Santana strutter across the stage with a signature smirk upon her face, it was like a weight was begin lifted of her chest. Santana stopped at Kurt who looked at her shirt, nodding his head approvingly before high-fiving her and Santana continued across the stage. I smiled out at Santana as she walked near us to get to the side of the stage and going up to the top part.
Finn: "There's nothing wrong with loving who you are," Finn walked out from my wing and walked steadily over to Kurt. Kurt smiled at Finn, giving him a high-five and sending him on his way. Finn went and stood next to Tina, evenly spread out.
Sam: "She said cause he made you perfect babe," Sam walked out from the opposite wing to me and went straight over Kurt. Once again Kurt looked at his shirt, approved of it and sent Sam on his merrier way with a high-five. Sam walked up and joined Santana up top of stage, evenly spread out.
Mercedes: "So hold your head up girl and you'll go far, listen to me when I say," Mercedes walked out from my side and strutter over towards Kurt with a smile in place. After Kurt approved her shirt, he high-five her and she stepped up into the middle placing of the back row. Kurt quickly stepped down, so the next group of people could use that step to stand on.
Quinn: "I'm beautiful in my way, cause god makes no mistakes," I watch again proudly as Quinn walked out onto stage. She paused to show her shirt off a little before moving to walk across the stage towards Kurt. I watch Kurt nod his head with a smile, giving Quinn a high-five before she continued on her way. Quinn moved her lips a little when she walked passed me to go to her precision, it was her way of sending me a kiss.
Emily: "I'm on the right track, baby I was born this way," I walked out onto stage and taking a leaf out of Quinn's book, I did the same thing in pausing to show off my shirt. As I sang the words born this way, everyone who was on stage did a fist pump to the air. Walking across to Kurt who was smiling at me proudly, I stopped right in front of him and I watched as he looked me up and down. Kurt gave me a high-five before approving me to continue on which I did. While walking I saw Mr Schue smiling proudly as we all revealed ourselves to strangers, I nod my head to him before moving to my correction precision.
Rachel: "Don't hide yourself in regret, just love yourself and your set," Rachel walked out from the wing I am now standing near. Like everyone else she walked across to Kurt, who approved of her shirt with a high-five and she went to stand next to Quinn.
Mike: "I'm on the right track, baby. I was born this way," when Mike sang those words this time we all fist pump the air again. Mike walked out from the wing I had, he walked across to Kurt with a smile upon his face. Mike was quickly approved and stood next to me.
Puck: "Oh there aint no other, baby I was born this way," as Puck walked on stage he kind of gestured towards his junk; which was such a him thing to do. Kurt shook his head at Puck's actions but still gave him and high-five. Puck stepped up to stand into the middle of our row.
Brittany: "Baby I was born this way, oh there aint no other way," Brittany walked out from the same side of the stage as I had done. She walked over to Kurt, who approved her shirt and high-fived Brittany. Brittany stood on the bottom level of the stage but in between Mike and I and Tina and Finn.
Artie: "Baby I was born this way, I'm on the right track baby I was born this way," we do two fist pumps to the air this time. As Artie rolled out onto stage from the wing I am closet to, he rolled over to Kurt who stopped him. Artie turned toward the audience and showed them his shirt before getting a high-five from Kurt. Artie turned back and rolled toward the other wing, stopping when he was in the middle of Quinn and Santana but at bottom level.
Kurt: "Don't be a drag just be a queen, don't be a drag just be a queen, don't be a drag just be a queen. Don't be!" Kurt fitted nicely in place with the rest of us, he was in between Brittany and Artie on the bottom level. When Kurt had sung don't be, at the end of his solo, we all did another fist pump to the air.
The group: "Give yourself prudence and love your friend. Subway kid, rejoice your truth. In the religion of insecure, I must be myself, respect my youth. A different lover is not a sin; believe capital H-I-M. Hey, hey, hey." We sang together nicely as a group, you could hear all our voice together and no one was trying to overpower the other.
Finn and Rachel: "I love my life, I love this record and Mi amor vole fe ya." As their pair sang in perfect harmony together, they both also walked down from their precision on the stage. They joined together in front of Kurt, took each other's hand and Rachel led them to the edge of the stage and then to the right.
Santana and Brittany: "I'm beautiful in my way cause God makes no mistakes." Brittany and Santana sang beautiful together. Santana joined Brittany in front of Kurt; they linked arms before strutting down to the edge of the stage. They then walked off to the left.
Mercedes and Sam: "I'm on the right track baby I was born this way," the pair who were standing next to each other sung towards each other. Sam took Mercedes hand and led her down the levels, to then stand in front of Kurt and strut down the middle together. At the edge of the stage, Sam showed Mercedes off getting the crowd to encouraging Mercedes it was very sweet and the pair walked across the right of stage.
Emily and Quinn: "Don't hide yourself in regret, just love yourself and you're set," Quinn and I meet in front of Kurt. Offering my arm to Quinn, she smiled as she looped her arm through mine and rests her head upon my shoulder as we walked down the middle of stage. At the edge, we showed off our shirt before turning left and going to join Santana and Brittany.
Mike and Tina: "I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way." The two were both near each other, Mike had turned to offer his hand to Tina and help her walk down to his level before they move to stand in front of Kurt. Together they cutely walked down the middle and got to the edge, flaunting their shirts quite proudly. Mike then lead them to the right of stage to join Mercedes, Sam, Finn and Rachel.
Artie and Puck: "Oh there aint no other way, baby I was born this way. Baby I was born this way, oh there aint no other way." Puck moved to meet Artie in front of Kurt, Puck strutted down the stage in his fashion and Artie rolled himself down fast enough to keep up with Puck. At the edge of the stage they showed their shirts off before turning and going spate ways, Artie joined our side and Puck went to the other side.
Kurt: "Baby I was born this way. I'm on the right track, baby I was born this way," as Kurt sang he strutted down the stage. At the edge, he flaunted he shirt off proudly. We all quickly huddle to wrap our arms around each other in support.
Mercedes: "Don't be a drag, just be a queen," after her line Mercedes turned around and went to stand on the top level of stage.
Sam: "Whether you're broke or evergreen," after his line Sam turned around and went to stand on the middle level of stage but the opposite end to Mercedes.
Tina: "You're black, white, beige, chola descent," after her line Tina turned around went to stand on the stage level; but the opposite end to Sam.
Puck: "You're Lebanese, you're orient," after his line Puck turned around and went to join Sam up on the middle level of the stage.
Artie: "Whether life's disabilities," after his line Artie turned around he is chair and joined Tina on the bottom level of the stage.
Rachel: "Let you outcast, bullied or teased," after her line Rachel turned around and went to join Mercedes on the top level of the stage.
Quinn: "Rejoice and love yourself today," when Quinn sung rejoice she looked up to the sky and it was like a weight had also been lifted from her shoulders. After finished her line Quinn turned around and went to stand on the bottom level of the stand, but the opposite end to Tina and Artie.
Brittany: "Cause baby you were born this way," after her life Brittany turned around and went to joined Quinn at the bottom of the stage.
Emily and Santana: "No matter gay, straight, or bi, lesbian, transgendered life. I'm on the right track baby, I was born to survive." Santana and I were meant to be singing at different times like everyone else has but we thought this line was important for us and important for everyone else to know you're not alone in the world. Mr Schue had approved the idea, blaming himself for not thinking of it before. As we finished the line, we turned together and walked over to join Brittany and Quinn.
Mike: "No matter black, white or beige, chola or orient made," after his line Mike turned and went to joined Tina and Artie.
Finn and Kurt: "I'm on the right track baby, I was born to be brave," the two shared the line in order to have Kurt move as well. The pair turned and head in different directions, Finn joined Puck and Sam on the middle level and Kurt joined Mercedes and Rachel on the top level.
Emily, Quinn, Brittany and Santana: "I'm beautiful in my way, cause God makes no mistakes. I'm on the right track, baby I was born this way. Don't hide yourself in regret, just love yourself and you're set. I'm on the right track, baby. I was born this way," as the four of sang together perfectly. It had been important for the four of us to get this line and the others understood the message we need to get across together, plus we did sound amazing together. Everyone had practiced the same moved during these lines; we would hit our hips with our fist and wiggle before turning around; doing it as much as we could during the portion of that part of the song.
The group: "Oh there aint no other way, baby I was born this way. Baby I was born this way. Oh, there aint no other way. Baby I was born this way, I'm on the right track, baby I was born this way," we continued to do our small dance routine; we hit our hips, wiggled and turned.
Kurt, Rachel and Mercedes: "I was born this way, hey! I was born this way, hey! I'm on the right track baby," we did continue to dance but the three-sing stopped to sing and pumped their fists encouragingly.
Tina, Mike and Artie: "I was born this way, hey! I was born this way, hey!" Kurt, Rachel and Mercedes started dancing again while Tina, Mike and Artie stopped to sing.
Finn, Puck and Sam: "I was born this way, hey! I'm on the right track baby, I way born this way, hey!" The three guys stopped dancing while the last three singers resumed dancing. The guys sound really good together, I thought made they should do a song together later but now was not the time to think about it.
The Group: "Same DNA, but born this way. Same DNA, but born this way," we all sing together as the music fades away and we drop our heads at the same time as the music stops completely. Everyone in the audience is on their feet applauding our performance, I soaked up everything as best as I could. Enjoying this new rush of adrenaline, you get from performing, it was almost like swimming; however nothing could beat my swimming high.
As we all quietly walked off stage after the curtain dropped, we had to be quiet because there was still more to do after our performance; another school still had to perform. Mr Schue high-fived us all as we head down towards our green room, which was our choir room. When we entered, the whole room erupted with loud noise, everyone praising each other and just talking about the performance.
Mr Schue walks in last and said "You guys were incredible. Girls great show of emotion, I truly was going to cry. Boys great acting skills, I really did believe you were about to hurt each other. Then you all come out with that performance, damm you guys were hot."
"You know it," Santana said making everyone laugh.
I then heard a voice behind me ask "Hey, you okay?"
"Yeah, I just thought I was little rough on some of my notes," I replied turning around to see Quinn.
"I didn't notice. Maybe you were but everyone out there didn't seem to mind," Quinn said trying to boost me up.
I then say, "We better get changed back into our dressed," I pick mine up from the back of my chair.
"Hey Emily, you were great out there, perfect even."
"Thanks," I say with a smile before turning around and heading towards the girl's bathroom. In the bathroom, I see Mercedes and Rachel talking and redoing their make-up, but they were still in there born this way outfits.
Mercedes said "Hey, you were good out there. If I didn't know any better, I'd say that's not your first time performing."
"Thanks. You were good too. It wasn't, not really. I mean this was the first time with more clothing on," I say and laugh at their horrid expression.
I then say before Rachel winds up to give me a lecture "I'm a swimmer remember, that is like performing for me."
"Swimming, isn't that just were you relax and have fun?" Mercedes questioned.
I replied with "Maybe that's what it is here but back in Rosewood, swimming like I do it's an art."
Rachel said "You talk about swimming the way I talk about singing or Broadway."
"Swimming has been my entire life and it's something I love doing," I say with a shrug before heading into a stall.
I then heard a voice ask "Hey Emily, are we still on for our date after this?" it was Quinn.
"Yes, of course we are Quinn. Unless you need to cancel, we can always reschedule or something."
Quinn spoke "Don't you even think about rescheduling, we are still on,'" I heard some Aww being said which made me shake my head and smile.
Once we had all changed back into our dresses or shirts/ties, we went out to watch the last group to perform; they had been good but not as good as us. We were then told to come up onto stage, I was holding Quinn's hand as the announcer thanked sponsors, judges and audience members for joining us today. Third place was announced it went to group from St. Andrews, we all clapped because that's what Mr Schue expressed urgently; that we clapped our fellow competitors no matter what.
The Announcer said, "And now, in first place from William McKinley High School it's the New Directions," after the announcer called us as the winners, we all began jumping up down; crazily. Finn and Rachel run to collect the trophy for us, as well as thanking everyone. With the trophy in the air, we cheered and screamed as loud as we could.
"You guys did it," Mr Schue said. It had been an hour since they announced us as the winners, the celebrating slowly died down and all of us head for the choir room.
Mr Schue spoke "Once again you guys have proven that being different and having different stories, shouldn't be the thing that tears you down; it should be the thing that lifts you up. I am so proud of you guys, you were incredible out there. As a tradition, we all put this in the trophy cabinet together, however I think the new member should do it," he looked directly at me and everyone seem encouraging. I was then pushed forward by Santana; I smiled back at her before walking over to Mr Schue.
I asked, "Are you sure?"
"Yeah, you do know how to lift trophies?" Mr Schue spoke cheekily back.
"Of course," I say with a smile. Picking up the trophy carefully, I walked across to the trophy case and carefully place it next to the twelfth-placed trophy they'd all won last year at nationals. Once it was out of my hands, the celebrations began again and I was surrounded by arms hugging me, patting my back.
"Hey, can we come in," I heard a voice say and it was my Mum's voice. After Mr Schue approved it everyone's parents flooded in a scooped their child up.
"Emmy," Dad said.
"Hey," I say reaching over to hug him.
"You were really good out there," he whispered into my ear.
"Thanks Dad."
Mum said "I never knew you could sound that good."
"Thanks Mum," I say hugging her.
"Damm Em, I knew you could sing but damm," Toby said and pick me up in his arm for a hug.
I replied with "Thanks Tobs."
Melissa added "They're right, you were amazing."
"Thanks," I say smiling across at her while still in Toby's arms. While my parents continued talking, I look across at Quinn who was talking to her Mum. When Quinn's eyes lock on mine and I smiled, Quinn smiled back. Holding up two fingers to her, signalling I would pick her up in two hours, Quinn nods her head and goes back to listening to her Mum.