They arrived in the hotel lobby, tracking mud and water in. The lobby got a whole lot noisier when they came in.
"Guys, just take a seat and keep the voices down" Beiste said to them. They all walked over to the couches and chairs that stood in the corner of the large lobby. Everything was either brown, black or yellow. There was also a large chandelier on the ceiling.
"Gorgeous!" Kurt breathed in awe, looking up.
"That is a beauty" Mercedes nodded.
They all sat down on some piece of furniture.
"This is a real snazzy hotel" Tina said, looking around.
"I know. I hope the rooms are just as lovely" Quinn said.
Shelby walked to the front desk, where a skinny boy stood.
"Hello" Shelby said.
"Hi, welcome!" The boy said with a friendly smile.
"Um, are you the manager?" Shelby said.
"No, he's not here right now" the boy said. "I think he is in the hotel, though."
"Okay, well you see, we are New Directions and we are suppose to perform here" Shelby said. "And we have a bunch of rooms reserved too."
"Oh, well I can set you up with the rooms, but you should talk to the manager about the singing thing" the boy said. He typed on his computer. "Name?"
"My name is Shelby Corcoran, but I think the rooms were under Will Schuester's name" Shelby said.
"Will Schuster?" He typed on his computer some more. "Oh, yes, found it. Yup, you got ten rooms. There are two beds per room. Here are the room keys." He held up ten white plastic pass cards.
"Thanks" Shelby said, taking the cards.
"Rooms 12 to 22 on the fifth floor!" The boy called as Shelby turned and walked away.
"Okay, troops" Shelby said, walking up to the loud teens and the two other adults. "Listen up."
"Do we have rooms?" Rory asked.
Shelby nodded. "Fifth floor. Listen, there are two beds per room and we have ten rooms. So partner up. Girls with girls and guys with guys. I'm serious, no funny business."
Santana winked at Brittany.
"Pick your partners now so there will be no fights" Beiste said.
"Mercedes, do you wanna be my roomie?" Rachel smiled.
"Only if you swear to never say 'roomie' again" Mercedes smiled.
"Deal!" Rachel grinned.
"Quinn, want to room with me?" Tina asked with hopeful eyes.
"Sure" Quinn nodded.
"Sam, would you do me the honor of being my roommate?" Rory asked Sam.
"Sure thing, man" Sam smiled and nodded.
"Do I even have to ask?" Blaine looked at Kurt.
"Not at all" Kurt smiled. They laughed.
"Brit- you and me, right?" Santana asked the blonde girl.
"Forever" Brittany smiled.
"Who wants to room with the Puckster?" Puck asked.
"I'm rooming with the dancing Asian" Artie said. Mike nodded.
"So that leaves..." Blaine looked around at them.
Puck smirked and turned to look at Finn.
"Hey Finny D" Puck said.
"Hey Pucky Puck" Finn laughed.
"Ugh, are you guys back to those ridiculous rapper names?" Mercedes asked.
"I'm sorry, I'm lost" Sam said.
"Two years ago in Glee club, we were singing funk songs and Finn and Puck did a rap song with Mercedes. And they made rapper names. It was crazy" Quinn told Sam.
"Too bad I missed that" Sam laughed.
"We may have to start rapping again so our new comers can experience the wonder that is Pucky Puck and Finny D" Finn said.
"No!" Kurt, Tina and Rachel screamed.
"Sorry to interrupt, but are you still picking partners?" Shelby asked them.
"No, I think we're done.
"I don't have a partner" Sugar said.
"Well, you can room with another pair of girls. We'll get a bed in there for you" Emma said.
Sugar nodded with a smile and looked around at the girls. She didn't really know Tina or Quinn, so they were out of the question. Rachel got all the solos, so she didn't like her much.
"Santana, Brittany. Can I room with you? Pretty please with sugar on top?"
Santana looked annoyed at first but shrugged. "Fine."
"So we are all set?" Shelby asked them.
They all nodded.
"Grab all your bags and let's go. We can't all fit in the elevators at the same time, so split in half, please" Beiste said.
Kurt went pale.
They grabbed their suitcases and bags and anything else they owned and paraded across the lobby to the side where the elevator door was. Mike pressed the button and it lit up.
"How many floors are there?" Artie asked, looking up at them.
"Twenty-five" Emma said.
"That's high" Tina said.
"We're only on floor five" Emma said.
The elevator door opened with a 'ding'.
Kurt pushed the extendable handle in the suitcase and picked the whole bag up.
"I'm taking the stairs!" Kurt announced.
"Why?" Shelby asked.
"I hate elevators" Kurt said, picking up his two bags.
"Oh. Are you sure you'll be okay? It's five flights of stairs" Shelby said.
Kurt nodded. "I'll be fine."
"I'll go with you" Mercedes said, picking up her own bag.
"If you want to" Kurt smiled.
Half of the group filed into the elevator and the door shut. Kurt and Mercedes walked to the door that enclosed the stairway.
"Why don't you like elevators?" Mercedes said. "Are you scared of heights?"
"Not at all. I love them" Kurt laughed. "I just hate elevators."
"Why?"
"I used to watch a lot of afternoon soaps. I've seen way too many episodes where people get trapped in elevators. One was a lady who was pregnant and then, when she was still trapped, she went into labor. Or one where there was a fire and they were close to death" Kurt shuddered as she recounted the episodes.
Mercedes laughed. "Really?"
"Yes. And I know it's all fake in the shows but it could happen for real" Kurt said. "So I've decided to never ever take an elevator."
"Well okay then" Mercedes said with a laugh.
"What about you?" Kurt asked, looking at her. They passed the third floor sign. "Why are you taking the stairs?"
"I wanted to talk with you" Mercedes grinned. "We haven't chilled in a while."
"So true. As soon as we get back in Lima, we so have to have a girls movie night!" Kurt said.
"Agreed. That is, provided I'm not sick and tired of you all by then" Mercedes said.
"I don't I'll ever be. I love this trip because I love you all" Kurt smiled.
"Awww, I love you too Kurt" Mercedes cooed in a baby voice.
"Touching" Kurt said sarcastically. They arrived at the door to the fifth floor.
Kurt opened it and held it for Mercedes.
"Oh, such a gentleman" Mercedes winked at him playfully.
"You know how I do" Kurt laughed. They stepped into the maroon-carpeted hallway, only to be greeted by half of their group.
"How was the walk?" Sam asked.
"Pleasant. I love the smell of dingy old stairways" Kurt gave a widely fake smile.
"Then why didn't you take the elevator?" Blaine asked.
"Kurt has an overdramatic imagination" Mercedes smirked.
Kurt rolled his eyes.
"Please explain" Blaine said with a confused look. Sam had an expression to match.
"Never mind" Kurt said, waving his hand.
"Tell me!" Blaine pouted.
"Later" Kurt sighed.
"No tell now. So I can hear too" Sam said.
Kurt sighed. "Mercedes, would you like to talk?"
Mercedes' eyes lit up. "Sure! Okay, so when Kurt was a bit younger, he used to watch soaps and there were a bunch of episodes where people got caught in elevators when they were pregnant or there was a raging fire or something. He got so scared he vowed to never ride an elevator."
Sam and Blaine snickered. Mercedes was full out laughing by now.
"Don't laugh at my fears!" Kurt demanded with a blush.
"Sorry, Kurt, but I think that's a bit ridiculous" Mercedes said.
Kurt but his hands on his hips and glared at Blaine. "You guys are mean." By now the other half of their large group arrived in the elevator.
"Guys, quiet down please" Beiste said.
"We have rooms 12 to 22. Here are the keys" Shelby said, holding out the keys.
"One per pair?" Quinn asked.
Shelby nodded. "So don't lose it."
They all took a key and went to a room.
"And here we are!" Tina said, opening the door to their room.
The room was small. There were 2 beds, a TV, a desk, a chair, a closet and a small bathroom.
"Cozy" Quinn said, plopping her bag on one of the beds.
"Go. In. Go. In. Go. In!" Finn mumbled, pushing the small plastic card in the machine at the door handle to try and unlock the door.
"Dude, what's the hold up?" Puck asked.
"It won't unlock!" Finn said.
Finn looked to his right, to see Kurt, three doors down, successfully unlock his door.
"Kurt!" Finn yelled.
Kurt looked over at the sound of his name. "Yes?"
"Help me open the door?" Finn asked, holding out his pass key and stepping away from the door.
Kurt chuckled and walked over, taking the card from his step-brother. He turned he card so the black stripe was facing the door and he slid it in the slot. The little red light turned off and the small green one lit up. Kurt pulled out the card and opened the door.
Finn's eyes lit up. "Hey! You did it!"
"It's not that complicated" Kurt said, handing Puck the key. "I trust you'll keep it safer than Finn."
"Sure" Puck said, pocketing the card.
"Great! Thanks, Kurt!" Finn said, walking inside.
"No problem" Kurt said, walking back to his room.
"I can't believe you couldn't do that yourself" Puck said to Finn.
"It was hard!" Finn replied.
"Okay" Puck said sarcastically.
"What was that about?" Blaine asked Kurt when he strolled back in their new room.
"Finn couldn't open his door" Kurt said coldly.
"Why the harsh tone?" Blaine frowned a bit.
"You laughed at me for the whole elevator thing" Kurt said, his tone softening a bit.
Blaine blinked. "But you know I'm just kidding. It's totally fine to afraid of elevators. Just your reasoning behind it is kinda funny. But cute funny."
Kurt glared at him. "It's not funny or cute."
"Everything you do is cute" Blaine smiled adorably.
Kurt ignored him and started unpacking his bag in silence.
"Come on, Kurt. I'm sorry, really. It's okay to have fears" Blaine said, anxiety in his voice.
Kurt stopped unpacking and turned to face Blaine. His eyes wandered over his face, as if to look for doubt.
"What are you afraid of?" Kurt finally asked. Blaine looked startled by the question, but pondered it for a moment.
"Spiders. Well, actually any bug or insect" Blaine answered.
"Why is that?"
"They're gross."
"So it's not that you're afraid of them, it just that they gross you out" Kurt said with a small frown.
"Well, no, I'm scared of them" Blaine protested.
"Why?"
"When I was five, my older brother found this huge spider in the garden. And he put it on my face when I was sleeping. And I woke up when it was crawling all over my face. Plus, he had duct-taped my arms and legs down so I couldn't get it off. It was pretty horrifying. I screamed so loud that my mom came and let me free, and I ran off and took a thirty minute shower so the feeling of spider on me would go away. And after that, I'd literally cry if there was a bug or spider in the room and no one would kill it for me" Blaine said, shuddering but smiling a bit too.
Kurt's face softened a bit.
"Are you afraid of spiders?" Blaine asked.
"No" Kurt shook his head.
Blaine smiled. "Good. When we move in for real together, you are officially on spider-killing duty!"
Kurt smiled. "And if I say no?"
"I'm afraid I cannot live with you" Blaine said with a grin. "I'll have to move in with someone who will always kill the evil bugs for me."
Kurt rolled his eyes. "Fine, I'll do it."
"Really?" Blaine smiled.
"For you, of course" Kurt smiled a bit.
"Yay, I love you!" Blaine jumped up and threw his arms around Kurt.
Kurt hugged him back while chuckling.
"So you forgive me now for laughing?" Blaine asked.
"Yeah."
"Good."
"Open the window. It's dark in here!" Mercedes said.
"Okay" Rachel nodded and waltzed over to the curtained windows. She flung the curtains back and light poured in.
"Is the view glamorous?" Mercedes asked from the other side of the room, not looking over. "Like New York?"
"No. Like the wet parking lot" Rachel giggled.
Mercedes laughed. "Is it still raining?"
"Yes" Rachel nodded.
"Gross."
"I need a bed" Sugar said once she got into the room.
"Your bed is right here" Santana said, pointing to the big bed on the left.
"And where will you sleep?" Sugar asked her.
"Right here" Santana said, jumping on the other bed.
"What about Brittany? Where will she sleep?" Sugar asked, looking surprised.
"Here. With me" Santana said, patting the blanket next to her.
"In your same bed?" Sugar gasped. "Is that allowed?"
"Sure it is" Brittany nodded, jumping on the bed and landing next to Santana.
"Yeah, we're dating so it's totally allowed" Santana agreed, nodding.
"I mean, is it okay with the adults? Because that Coach Beiste looks like she could bit your arm off when she is mad" Sugar said quietly.
"Naw, it's totally okay" Santana said. "Besides, it's not like it'll be the first time."
"Well, okay then" Sugar shrugged and jumped on her own bed with a grin.
RING!
Emma heard her cell phone ring. She dug around in her purse and soon pulled it out.
"Hello?" Emma asked.
"Em?" Will asked.
"Yeah? Where are you?" Emma asked.
"I'm in the lobby. What room number are you?" Will said.
"Oh, floor five, room 13" Emma said.
"Did you talk to the manager?"
"No we didn't. We figured we'd wait for you" Emma said, unpacking another bag.
"Okay. I'll be right up. Love you" Will said.
"Bye. Love you too" Emma smiled and hung up the phone.
Five minutes later, Emma heard a knock on the door. She hurried over to it and opened it. There stood Will.
"Hey!" Will smiled.
"Hi" Emma moved to let him in the room. Will kissed her quickly.
"Nice room" he said, looking around.
"Yeah. So how's the bus and stuff?" Emma asked.
"Being fixed. Where's everyone else?"
"In their rooms" Emma said.
"Good."
"So now what?" Emma asked. "I'm all unpacked."
"I'll call the front desk and see where the manager is" Will said, flopping down on the large bed and grabbing a phone.
He pressed a button and waited.
"Hello?" Will asked. "Hi, I'm Will Schuster and I'm the coach of New Direction, which was hired to perform here. Would the manager be in?"
"Uh, I think he is in the ballroom now, actually. Hold on, I'll get someone to check and make sure he waits, if you wanna come on down" The man on the other end said.
"Sure" Will said.
"Okay, hold on a moment."
Will waited.
"Um, he'll be waiting for you" The man said after a moment.
"Great. We'll be right on down" Will said. "Thanks, bye!"
"So?" Emma asked, watching him.
"We're going down to the ballroom to see the manager" Will said, standing up.
"Okay, cool" Emma smiled.
"You don't have to come" Will said.
Emma paused.
"Like, you can it you want, or you can just wait here or talk with Shelby and Shannon or whatever. I'll deal with New Directions, you don't have to join us. It's no problem" Will said.
"Naw, I'll come. I wanna see the place" Emma smiled at him and stood up.
"If you want" Will shrugged. He turned to face her. "You have the key?"
Emma nodded and patted her pocket.
"Great."
They left the room and started knocking on the others' doors.
Once everyone was able to hear, Will who was standing in the middle of the hallway, spoke.
"Hey guys! We're going down to the ballroom to meet the manager. He's the one who got us to sing here" Will said. "So leave your stuff and let's go."
"Sure thing, Mr. Schue" Quinn smiled and turned back into her room.
Will turned to Shelby and Beiste. "You guys don't have to come if you don't want to."
Shelby looked at Beiste. "Do you want to go?"
"I don't care. If you all are going, then I will" Beiste shrugged.
"I'm going" Emma said.
"Okay, I'll go too, then" Shelby said.
"As will I" Beiste said. She looked at Will. "We're all coming."
"Okay, great" Will nodded. He turned back to the teens' rooms. "Let's go!" He called.
Slowly but surely, they exited their rooms.
They walked down the halls.