Hey there people! I'm back! So sorry you've had to wait so long, but hey, such is life. But fortunately, thanks to Alex Goode and AquaDestiny'sEmbrace finally allowing the minimum review quote for the previous chapter to be fulfilled, you all get the promised newest chapter (which I'd actually managed to get done a good few days earlier than now as a result of how long I've been waiting; no offense). In this new chapter, we get to see a certain jock and a certain cheerio having some thoughts to themselves during their practice sessions to be engaged in before the after-school session of glee club. What will the inner workings of their mind have to offer for us? How about I let you all find out in this new chapter? I say that's a good idea. Don't you?
A/N: But first, just to remind you all, I do not own Glee. Nor do I own either of the two songs to be featured in this chapter . . . YES, you read correctly. As of this chapter, songs are finally entering into the mix ^_^. That being said, what are we waiting for? Onward! With! The! Fic!
Chapter 3:
Reflections at Practice
Quite a few hours later, Daniel Taymor found himself tensed up in a crouching position that indicated that he would soon take off in a headlong dash, his right hand firmly grasped around a football lying on the ground in front of him. "Here goes nothing," he thought to himself.
Sure enough, the air was split with the sound of a whistle. Upon hearing it, Daniel was off like a shot. All the other players gathered on the football field likewise zoomed off into action. Within mere seconds, it was utter chaos as Daniel rushed and bulled his way down the field, trying his absolute best to avoid getting successfully tackled to the ground. By a sheer miracle, he managed to avoid being taken down long enough to reach the exact spot he wished to reach. And upon reaching that spot, he promptly drew back his right arm and hurled the ball through the air towards the distinctive touch down post. And as had proved very often the case just about every other time he'd done such an action, the football soared effortlessly through the post. In other words, instant touchdown.
"Yes!" he yelled. "Another one!"
"Alright everyone. That's a wrap."
Daniel and all the other football players on the field turned their heads in the direction they heard the voice, and saw Coach Shannon Bieste standing on the side of the field. Clearly, she both appeared to be in approval of what had gone down, and had now deemed practice to be over for the time being.
"Good work everyone," said the coach. "At this rate, if you can continue to do this good in the upcoming games as well as in future practice sessions, the other schools we'll be playing against this year aren't gonna stand a chance!"
"Yeah, as per freaking usual."
Daniel mentally sighed, and rolled his eyes upon hearing this whisper. He turned his head. Sure enough, he could see an annoyed looking Miles Surette standing not too far behind him. Clearly, the linebacker was a bit miffed at their coach's words due to how the McKinley High Titans had only ever lost a game once, possibly twice, since Coach Bieste had replaced Ken Tanaka all the way back in the fall-winter semester of 2010. "Well excuse us all for being confident," Daniel thought to himself sarcastically.
"Take the time to rest now everyone," Coach Bieste continued. "In about a half hour, I want us all to go over the plays one more time, and then you're all free to go."
"Yes coach," all the players said in unison, some of them sounding more like they were grumbling than others. They all split up and made their way to various areas of the field.
Daniel himself came to a stop nearby a chainmail fence near one of the corners of the field. He leaned his back up against it, arms folded across his chest, a contented sigh escaping from his mouth. Today was certainly turning out to be a good day for him so far. "Doing good in my classes," he thought to himself. "My first proper session of the glee club as a member unfolded pleasantly enough, I still haven't lost my game in regards to football, I don't really have all that much homework for today, and Charlotte has more or less left me alone for almost the entirety of my time at school today so far." He nodded his head. "Yep. So far, so good."
At the sound of chuckling and lighthearted conversing coming from behind him, Daniel turned his head. Gathered around a good couple feet or so away from him in that direction were three other jocks who had an important sports related position like him, but in different sports. One of the three boys, and the only black one amongst the trio, was his best friend Zach Skinner, captain of the basketball team. The other two, however, were jocks that Daniel wasn't entirely sure he really cared that much about. Both were white, one of them blonde and the other dark-haired like himself. The blonde boy with hazel eyes was Becket Nelson, captain of the hockey team. The dark-haired boy, on the other hand, was Donovan Gunderson, captain of the baseball team.
Daniel sighed, and turned his head away. He honestly had no idea how Zach could stand being around Becket and Donovan. Admittedly, Donovan had shown the potential of being a nice guy. Becket, however, was not exactly the friendliest kid on the block, and signs of influence had more than once seemed to unpleasantly rub off on Donovan. Then he remembered how both Becket and Donovan had girlfriends amongst the McKinley High cheerleading squad, and his eyes narrowed. Much like with Donovan and Becket, he'd managed to become far more acquainted with their girlfriends over the course of his time at McKinley High then he wanted.
Becket's girlfriend, Silena Townsend, was the 2nd highest ranking member of the squad, and she had just the right attitude to be the perfect bitch to compliment Becket's overall jerkassery. Donovan's girlfriend, Ashley Manning, on the other hand, was the 3rd highest ranking cheerio, and had the potential for being a nice girl; she was just often seemingly either forced or tricked into being much less so by influence from Silena and Charlotte.
Upon briefly thinking about Charlotte, Daniel growled, rolled his eyes, and shook his head side to side. "She may be leaving me alone so far today, but knowing her, she most definitely hasn't given up on her efforts to sway me over, inane and doomed to failure as they are." He growled. "Lord knows how long I've been turning her down and refusing her again, and again, and again." He sighed, and lifted his eyes up to Heaven. "God, what's it gonna take?"
"Hey there dude."
Daniel mentally groaned, and turned his head. Zach was now standing right by him on the opposite side of the fence. "Good to see you to Zach," he managed to say politely.
Zach chuckled, his dark face agleam with happiness. "Come now man, is that the proper way to greet your best pal?"
Daniel sighed, and turned his head away. "Sorry," he responded.
"Hey it's fine," said Zach. "Let me guess, the other football guys getting on your nerves again?"
Daniel sighed. "Well that's one thing on my mind now that you mention it."
"I hear you pal." Zach nodded his head in agreement. "Not every sports team is as well acquainted and 'good friends all around' material as me and the rest of the basketball team." He looked back at Daniel. "Heck, all the other guys on the basketball team were actually more than willing to throw a party to celebrate my making it into the glee club. They're just that supportive."
Daniel gave a bitter chuckle. "Wow," he managed to say. "I so wish that all the other guys on the football team could be that supportive." His eyes narrowed, and he directed a glare in the direction of Miles Surette and his fellow linebacker black best friend, John Lipoff. "Trust me, they may not have really gotten into full swing on teasing me, or started openly erroneously calling me gay yet. But trust me, give them till the end of the week at the very least, maybe even the end of the month at the very most if I'm lucky, and they'll have it started in full. And I don't even want to think about how the other sports teams are gonna behave in regards to my newfound status as a gleek."
"Come on man, they can't possibly get that bad."
Daniel sighed, and directed a meaningful look at his friend. "Zach," he began. "Just because you were chumming around with the leaders of the hockey and baseball teams not too long ago doesn't mean that you're automatically the 100% best judge of their character." He unconsciously turned his head in the direction he'd seen the two team captains in question, and raised his eyebrow in confusion upon noticing that they were now nowhere to be found. He looked back at Zach. "Speaking of which, where are they?"
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot." Zach chuckled. "Donovan, Becket, and I were planning to go see if we could check out the girls at their practice session." He nodded his head. "You're free to join us if you want."
Daniel took a deep breath, rolled his eyes to Heaven, hung his head, and then exhaled heavily. "Zach," he managed to say in a noticeably tense voice. "I never once said yes to your suggestions to watch the cheerios alongside you and any of the other jocks during sophomore and freshman year. What reason do you have to believe that I'll start saying yes to that suggestion now?"
"Nothing really," Zach admitted. "Just the usual ritual at this point you know?"
Daniel sighed. "Sorry buddy, but I'm gonna pass on this one."
"You pass on all of them."
"And this time shall be no exception," Daniel responded, a smug grin of amusement now on his face.
Zach sighed, and shook his head side to side; albeit, with a slightly amused look on his face. "Whatever man," said Zach. He turned around and started walking off back in the direction of the area he had been chumming around with Donovan and Becket at. "Nonetheless," he said as he left the area, "I'll see you at glee club later."
"Sounds good," said Daniel. "See you there."
"Will do," Zach responded.
Once Zach had departed entirely, Daniel turned his head to face the area in front of him once more, sighing in content. "Here's to hoping that the upcoming after school session of glee club will be just as pleasant and enjoyable as the recess one." He nodded his head. "I'm especially hoping that our time in this club will be enjoyable for all of us. Well maybe not for Charlotte, but definitely for me and the others, especially Diana." His smile widened. Even now, he couldn't help but smile as he thought of his good friend.
"If I've truly fallen in love," he thought to himself, "then I certainly picked the right girl to fall for." He nodded his head, gray eyes warm with a happy gleam. "God I wonder if she feels at all the same way around me as I now do around her these days." He chuckled, and shook his head side to side. Then his smile widened, and he looked up towards the sky at nothing in particular. "Heck," he thought to himself. "I wonder if this is how Finn Hudson felt all these years about Rachel Berry." He chuckled, and shook his head side to side once more.
Then he directed his head down towards his feet. Now that he thought about it, he was actually thinking of a song that fit his current situation perfectly, and feeling very tempted to sing it right that very moment. He chuckled. "Man, it's not even time for the after-school session of glee club yet, and I'm already thinking of bursting into song." He shook his head side to side. "Then again," he thought to himself. "Considering this is glee club we're talking about, this is probably a good sign."
He nodded his head, eyes closed, and smile on his face. He could already hear the appropriate music in his head. And then, when the mental music in his head reached the right moment, he proceeded to sing the song that had sprung to his mind in a voice just loud enough for him to hear, yet miraculously not be heard at all by anyone else in the area. The resulting performance went something like this:
I can't fight this feeling any longer
And yet I'm still afraid to let it flow
What started out as friendship has grown stronger
I only wish I had the strength to let it show
(Scene Break: Daniel is now in the bleachers leaning up against the side railing)
And even as I wander
I'm keeping you in sight
You're a candle in the window
On a cold, dark winter's night
(Scene Break: Boys' Locker Room, with Daniel now singing in the shower while using his soap bar as a microphone)
And I'm getting closer
Than I ever thought I might
And I can't fight this feeling anymore
I've forgotten what I've started fighting for
It's time to bring this ship into the shore
And throw away the oars
Baby, I can't fight this feeling anymore
(Scene Break: Daniel walking happily through a conveniently empty McKinley High hallway)
My life has been such a whirlwind since I saw you
I've been runnin' round in circles in my mind
(Scene Break: Still in hallway, but now he's discreetly watching from the side as Diana and Susan have a conversation near some lockers in the same hallway)
And it always seems that I'm following you girl
Cause you take me to the places that alone I'd never find
(Scene Break: Back on the bleachers)
And even as I wander
I'm keeping you in sight
You're a candle in the window
On a cold, dark winter's night
(Scene Break: Dramatically posing in center of hallway)
And I'm getting closer
Than I ever thought I might
(Leans back and then starts walking forward once more)
And I can't fight this feeling anymore
(Scene Break: Back on bleachers)
I've forgotten what I've started fighting for
(Scene Break: Locker Room Shower)
It's time to bring this ship into the shore
And throw away the oars forever
(Scene Break: Bleachers)
Cause I can't fight this feeling anymore
(Scene Break: Shower)
I've forgotten what I've started fighting for
Even if I have to crawl upon your floor
Come crashing through your door
Baby, I can't fight this feeling anymore
(Scene Break: Hallway)
Ooh-ohh, ooh-ohh
(Scene Break: Shower; for the remainder of the instrumental finish, Daniel proceeds to rear up, and then lean back down to make a dramatic finishing pose in the shower)
(Scene Break: Back at original position near the fence surrounding football field)
Daniel sighed in content, feeling quite proud of himself for his performance. He looked around the area, smile still on his face. He had to admit, he certainly had done a pretty good job at his singing not too long ago, and even better, no one else seemed to have noticed or cared. And therefore, no one was now looking at him oddly or teasing him. He chuckled. "Yep," he thought to himself. "Today is definitely still a great day so far." He sighed in content, and then checked his watch. His smile widened. In another 15 minutes, Coach Bieste would be calling him and the other football players to the center of the field to go over the plays. And about a half hour after being called to said discussion, he'd be free to go just in time to join back up with Diana, Zach, and his potential brand new friends in the choir room for the after-school glee club session for the day. He took a deep breath, and then exhaled. "No doubt about it," he thought to himself. "I've certainly out to be correct in what I was thinking this morning. Today truly is turning out to be a great day."
. . . . .
Charlotte Thornton had her eyes narrowed as she watched an area nearby the fence surrounding the outdoor field reserved for the cheerios' practice sessions. At the current moment, she and the other members of the squad were in the midst of a 'half time' break that Coach Sylvester had been kind enough to grant them. And while all the other cheerios were either talking in groups or walking around the area doing nothing in particular, she was seated upon one of the bleachers at the bottom row, watching the aforementioned area by the fence.
The reason she was paying such close attention to this area had far more to do with the three boys standing on the other side of the fence then with the actual fence itself. She recognized all three of them; an easy thing for her to do since they were all jocks, and rather high ranking ones to at that. The two Caucasians amongst the group, one of them a blonde and the other dark-haired, were the boyfriends of her 2nd and 3rd in command, Silena Townsend and Ashley Manning. Coincidentally, these same two boys were also the captains of the hockey and baseball teams, respectively. The 3rd boy, an African American, was the captain of the basketball team, and Daniel Taymor's best friend, Zach Skinner.
The fact that these three boys were present, and almost certainly there to watch her and the other cheerios, was not making her angry at all. Rather, it was the conspicuous absence of one other high ranking jock in McKinley High that was currently putting her in a bit of a bad mood. "What is it going to take for Daniel to come and watch me at practice?" she thought to herself angrily.
She shook her head in disbelief. "I mean come on," she thought to herself. "I specifically made sure that Zach would always ask him to come by to watch during a time in which he's having a break during his football practices and would have plenty of time to return to the football field in time to avoid being late when the break is over." She clenched her fists. "Why is he still refusing to take Zach up on his offer and come to watch his future wife; ahem, me; in her element?"
She turned her head away from the fence, glowering at nothing in particular in the direction opposite. "I've been going too easy on him today," she thought to herself. Her teeth gritted into a silent snarl. "Perhaps maybe if I were more actively getting myself involved in trying to get him to watch me at the cheerios' practice sessions, maybe he'd be here watching right now."
Charlotte thought of another detail, and her eyes narrowed further. "At least, that is, assuming he doesn't continue just ramrodding my advances down or have other people in that lame ass glee club backing him up." Right as she had that last thought, she clenched her fists once more as she incidentally thought of another major detail to the equation that she found especially irksome. "And that's being optimistic considering how there's still that undeserving meowling quim in my way that needs to remain included into the equation." She tensed up, just barely managing to avoid flat out growling in her anger, and managed to tensely exhale. "By God, why can't she get it through to her tiny little brain that he's mine and that she should stay the Hell out of my freaking way?" She opened her eyes, tense glare still present. "And for that matter, why must Daniel be so damn insistent on keeping his sights set on that unworthy street whore when the girl he truly belongs with has been right here at the top of the school food chain alongside him this entire time?"
She turned her head to once more face the area where the three jocks were gathered. "To think that I've actually ended up having to go so far as to join that disgusting loser haven in order to still have even the most remote chances of clearing Daniel's eyes so that he can finally see the proper story he's destined to follow that he even now still continues to ignore in plain sight."
Charlotte took a deep breath, and then exhaled. "Remain calm," she thought to herself. "So what if it's even now proving harder to save Daniel from throwing his life away then you thought it would? That's just a sign that it will be all the more worthwhile when your eventual success finally comes to fruition!" As she had this thought, a wide smile of confidence came onto her face. "That's right," she thought to herself. "It wouldn't be nearly as fun, nor as satisfying or rewarding, if it were easy; now would it?"
She chuckled, leaned backwards, and stared happily up towards the sky. "To think that I spent so much time in elementary school and middle school just ignoring him and dismissing him as a nerd." She chuckled again. "Well not anymore. Thank God I finally realized what I was willfully causing myself to miss out on in time for high school." She shook her head side to side in contentment. "I may have spent so many early years of my life letting my happy fairy tale destiny slip through my fingers, but I sure as Hell am not going to allow myself to leave high school without having once gotten close to finally clasping hold of it in its efforts to escape." She nodded her head, and then opened her blue eyes once more, an icy determination flaring in them. "And by God," she thought to herself. "I'm sure as Hell not going to let that same destiny that I spent so much time ignoring back in elementary and middle school forever be cast aside by Daniel. No way. Not even in the slightest."
She chuckled to herself. Part of her actually felt slightly amused at the jarring difference between how she felt about Daniel back in all her years before the summer after graduating middle school and the way she currently felt about him. She'd only been feeling this way for Daniel and actively pursuing him for two full school years, and a single day of a 3rd. And yet, she even now felt as if she'd felt this way for him all her life. "And on my heart and soul," she thought to herself. "If it takes my entire life to finally get Daniel to see the light and understand how we're destined to be together, then so be it." She chuckled to herself once more. "Heck, I feel so happy right now, I almost feel like singing." She turned her head to directly face the area in front of her, smug smile now on her face as she started to hear just the right music for an oddly appropriate song playing in her mind. "I guess being a member of the glee club isn't entirely without its perks," she thought smugly to herself.
In that instant, right as the proper moment came in the instrumental tune playing in her mind for her to start singing, she placed her hands palm-side down on the bleacher she was sitting on, raised herself back onto her feet, and started confidently walking straight back towards where her fellow cheerios were seemingly already starting to gather around to resume their practice session; and she did all that, while happily singing the lyrics to the tune she now heard playing in her mind. And the performance that unfolded went something like this:
I've been everywhere, man
Looking for someone
Someone who can please me
Love me all night long
I've been everywhere, man
Looking for you babe
Looking for you babe
Searching for you babe
(Scene Break: Charlotte is in the midst of her fellow cheerios, and all of them are in the midst of actively practicing and performing routines)
Where have you been?
Cause I never see you out (Ashley and Silena: I never see you out)
Are you hiding from me, yeah?
Somewhere in the crowd (Ashley and Silena: where in the crowd)
(All cheerios: Yeah 10x) (Charlotte: Oh whoa)
(All cheerios: Yeah 10x)
(Charlotte:)
Where have you been all my life, all my life?
Where have you been all my life?
(Charlotte, Silena, and Ashley:)
Where have you been all my life?
Where have you been all my life?
(All cheerios:)
Where have you been all my life?
(Beat break)
(Charlotte:)
I've been everywhere, man
Looking for someone
Someone who can please me
Love me all night long
I've been everywhere, man
Looking for you babe
Looking for you babe
Searching for you babe
Where have you been?
Cause I never see you out (Silena and Ashley: I never see you out)
Are you hiding from me, yeah
Somewhere in the crowd? (Silena and Ashley: where in the crowd)
(All cheerios: Yeah 10x) (Charlotte: Oh whoa)
(All cheerios: Yeah 10x)
(Charlotte:)
Where have you been all my life, all my life?
Where have you been all my life?
(Charlotte, Silena, and Ashley:)
Where have you been all my life?
Where have you been all my life?
(All cheerios:)
Where have you been all my life?
(Beat Break)
Where have you been all my life?
(Beat Break)
(Charlotte:)
You can have me all you want
Any way, any day
Just show me where you are tonight
(All cheerios: Yeah 10x) (Charlotte: Yeah)
(All cheerios: Yeah 10x)
(Charlotte: Oh)
(Scene Break: All cheerios, top 3 included, are standing still and calmly with hands on their hips on the ground in the center of the practice field)
(Charlotte:)
I've been everywhere, man
Looking for someone
Someone who can please me
Love me all night long
I've been everywhere, man
Looking for you babe
Looking for you babe
Searching for you babe
(Scene Break: Charlotte sitting where she was on the bleachers, eyes closed, the entire performance apparently just one long imagine spot.)
"THORNTON!"
Charlotte's eyes snapped open, and she almost fell backwards. She was that stunned by the abrupt shout. When she finally got her bearings back, she turned her head to face the exact direction the shout had come from . . . and found herself fighting to keep herself from turning literally red as a tomato upon sight of every single one of the cheerios but herself standing at attention in the center of the field with amused looks directed her way while none other than Coach Sue Sylvester herself stood directly nearby Silena and Ashley with a very annoyed glare directed towards the head cheerio.
The coach shook her head side to side, her blue eyes icy with annoyance and her short blonde hair ruffling slightly with the motion of her head. "Care to explain yourself?"
Charlotte let a sheepish smile come on her face. "Sorry." She got up from her seat and calmly walked over to join her fellow cheerios. Upon taking her usual position amidst them, she turned to face her coach. "Honestly coach," she admitted. "Don't know what got into me; it seems I got distracted for once. For that, I apologize."
Coach Sylvester narrowed her eyes, seemingly not sure what to think about Charlotte's response. Then she nodded her head. "I suppose I can't be too hard on you for getting distracted like this for once. Sometimes stuff like this just happens to the best of us I guess." Then she directed another serious look at the head cheerleader. "But I'd greatly recommend you try hard to refrain from any repeats during future practices. Understood?"
Charlotte nodded. "Yes coach."
Coach Sylvester nodded. Then she allowed her gaze to accommodate for all the girls in the squad. "And this applies to the rest of you to! And don't get too comfortable with how I just now let Charlotte off the hook. This was only her first offense period, let alone in this sort of regard! Don't expect me to be anywhere near as lenient on you if I catch any of you in similar circumstances! And trust me, the more times I catch you not paying attention, the further in the year I do it, and the shakier your standing with me is at the time it happens, the harder it's gonna be girls! You hear me!?"
All the other girls were very quick to respond in the affirmative. Immediately after this, one tall Korean American girl standing amidst the back of the group directed her head slightly in the direction of two younger girls standing to her right and whispered, "Harsh as ever I see."
"You think this is harsh?" Sue Sylvester asked in a loud tone, clearly having somehow heard the Korean American girl's remark. "Think about what all the concentration campers had to go through! That's harsh!" She turned around, walked a couple feet ahead of the squad, and then turned around to face them, firm look still on her face. "Compared to that, even the worst I could do is getting off lightly!" She clapped her hands together once. "Alright! Enough loafing around! Time to get back to work! You hear me?! Who's ready!?" And just like that, break time was over. Practice was back in session.
And just like that, another chapter done! Hope you all enjoyed reading it, and that you leave plenty of feedback! Remember, a minimum of 3 reviews must be left for this new chapter before you can have the pleasure of reading the next chapter (and considering how, as of this writing, it shouldn't take too much longer for me to finish writing chapter 4, let's hope that review quota gets fulfilled real quickly). On another note, any comments on how, as of this chapter, songs are now officially included? It's always a pleasure for me to include and write in the songs ^_^. I'll bet you certainly enjoyed how I had Daniel sing Can't Fight This Feeling (not to mention had some of the parts for his performance take place in the shower). And on another note, I'll bet it's nice to still be at the point in the GWAFU where Coach Sylvester's still around. That being said, I hope I did a good job with her from what I've gotten of the story so far. Remember, since this occurs before Sectionals of the GWAF main story, this is during the time when good ol' Sue Sylvester is in the midst of one of her anti-glee club phases. So yeah, best make note of that for future chapters, and I hope to write her correctly in that mindset during said future chapters. Well anyway, all that being said, again here's to hoping you all read and enjoyed, and that you leave plenty of reviews. ^_^
Songs Used
Can't Fight This Feeling - REO Speedwagon - Performed by Daniel Taymor
Where Have You Been - Rihanna - Performed by Charlotte Thornton
Coming Up Next: The very first after-school session of the current school year in the GWAFU takes place, and the first ones up to fulfill their part in the week's assignment are our favorite trio full of drama; Cody, Bailey, and Raj. And not too long after those three performances are out of the way, another important matter is taken care of as well in regard to club leadership. Sound fun? I certainly hope so! ^_^