A/N: So I have had many ideas running through my head for the last few days. The thing that has sprung from those ideas is a second fanfic. It runs parallel to this one, only it is from Dave's perspective on the events and going-ons of what happens in It Began with a Dream. Please read and review both, because then you will get to see both sides of the story!
Chapter 5: Sectionals
The Wedding and everything else that happened last week had me in a crazy place. But now things are settled back down a bit. Carol and Finn are moving in this week and then Dad and Carol are going on their honeymoon.
Sectionals are this Saturday too! We have been working on our set list for a while, and it looks like it is going to be the Finchel show yet again. I am so over that.
Mr. Schue walks in late as usual and right away Rachel has to open her big mouth and say something about a ballad for her and Finn to sing.
But Mr. Schue raises his hand and says, "Me first. Two things: First, our competition at Sectionals are your classic school choirs. Great voices, but they don't move. Now if we are going to beat them, we need to do what they can't: dance. Which is why I've decided to feature Brittany and Mike Chang's sweet moves in our performance."
All at once all of us are getting pretty excited about this. It isn't something we have done before and they both have a huge amount of talent. But then of course Rachel opens her mouth again to talk about them dancing in front of her while she sings. She is so self absorbed. Quinn and I exchange a eye roll and then Mr. Schue tells her she wont be getting a solo we and both smiling evilly.
"I was thinking that the winners of our duets completion would take the leads." and instantly I am quietly clapping my hands. This is huge for Quinn and Sam. And maybe it will help them to figure out where they are heading in their relationship.
"Ken and Barbie? A-Are you trying to throw this?" I cannot believe her nerve. But Quinn is faster to say something than I am. "You used to be just sort of unlikable, but now I pretty much feel like punching you every time you open your mouth."
"Okay, listen. I have talked the talk about everyone in here feeling special for over a year now, but, frankly I haven't walked the walk. We have got a lot of talent here, and I am going to highlight it."
And of course Finn has to have his spotlight too, " I am for pumping up the team, making everyone feel special, but that's for practice. You don't take the star quarterback out before the big game."
Tina speaks up, "Easy for you to say when you are the star quarterback."
"This isn't just about me, this is about the team."
Then Rachel and Santana start getting into it like usual and I stop paying attention to them. I am happy Q. This is a big confidence booster. But my attention is drawn back to the cat fight when I hear that Santana tells Rachel about last year. Seeing as Rachel is the only one who didn't know, the rest of us are not surprised.
Mr. Schue finally takes control back from us and we start to rehearse our numbers.
After rehearsal Quinn and I walk to our lockers together.
"I can't believe that she and Finn had the audacity to protest you and Sam singing for Sectionals. She has quite the nerve."
"Really? You can't believe it? If she hadn't then I might have been worried."
"I suppose." We both start laughing, "So how do you feel about singing? Nervous?"
"Kind of. I mean first of all we are singing 'Time of My Life.' That in of itself is a classic. But then you think of the lyrics, I am not sure that I can relate to them."
"Well, I know you have the ability to pull off the song. As for the lyrics, well, I think this is an opportunity for you and Sam to try and get to know each other better. Maybe he can take you out on an actual date."
"Maybe. I just don't want to ruin our chances for Regional's because my relationship may be on the line."
"Again. You have nothing to worry about. I know that you and Sam will pull it off flawlessly. I have complete confidence in you."
"Thanks Kurt. I wonder who will get the final song. Santana was pretty pleased with herself to be given the big dance number. But the open auditions, that could be tricky, and you know that Rachel is going to try and pull off some huge ensemble that is way too out there."
"Yeah, but I think Mr. Schue likes those ones. He is always showering her with praise, but you barely ever hear you, Brittany, Tina, Mike, or me sing. Everyone else gets their time in the spot light, but us. So I guess I will have to pull out all the stops this time and do my best to wow him."
"Do you have any clue as to what you are going to sing?"
"Not yet. Wanna come over to my place after school to help me figure it out?"
"Sure! I would love to."
"Thanks Q, you are a life saver!"
After school Quinn comes over and we start looking through my vast collection of music. I probably have over 10,000 songs in my iTunes alone. There is so much to pick from that I have to narrow it down.
"So I want to do something that Mr. Schue wont be expecting."
"That is a good way to grab his attention."
"Precisely. So that means no Broadway, or anything that is even remotely show tuney. And nothing that is sung by a girl. Because I know that I have a tendency to do that as well."
"Well your voice does have the range to do it."
"Yes, but I want to show him that I can step out of my comfort zone and still have that wow factor."
I have moved away from my desk and Quinn takes up my place, glancing at the list that has gotten considerably smaller. Trying to think of something I begin pacing back and forth in my basement room. There are so many options, and so little time.
It is about five minutes later that Quinn squeals excitedly. "I think I have found the perfect song for you." She waves me over and I look at what she is referring to. It is Michael Buble's 'Haven't Met You Yet.'
"It is perfect. It stays true to you, because you have yet to find the perfect guy, and it is non-gender specific, so if you sing it no one can be offended. And you have had your heart broken a few times. I think this is perfect!"
"I think you may be right Q." I practice the song a few times and when I am in the middle of singing for the third time, my dad calls down the stairs to say that he is home and that they are going to start moving some stuff in.
"Sorry but you should probably go. It is going to be chaos around here for while."
"It's okay. I don't think I want to hang around Finn any more than I have to anyway. You know he only did that whole song and dance thing at the wedding because he was intimidated by Sam stepping up to the plate against Azimio. He didn't have the balls to do it so he had to try and show some kind of leadership. Too bad he did it at the Wedding, where only us Glee kids could see it.'
"Well, I think you are right about why he did it, but I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt. I think that he has come around and that from now on he's got my back just like the rest of you."
"I guess that only time will tell."
"I suppose." We walk back upstairs and I show her to the door. "Thanks for the help. See you at school tomorrow."
"Anytime K."
The next day in Glee, there is a sign up for who would like to audition for the last solo. Rachel is the first on the list and Tina is also signed up. I write my name in the third slot and Artie and Mercedes are behind me ready to put their names on the list as well. I have a small laugh to myself. The five of us were the original people to sign up for the club in the first place, and now here we are fighting for a solo. Things have really come full circle for our group. Well almost. All we have to do is win Nationals, then things will be a complete full circle.
We all take our seats, and that is when Rachel walks in with a piece of Duct Tape over her mouth. I roll my eyes and get my self ready for the load of drama that is about to come out.
"Rachel, what are you doing?" Mr. Schue asks with a heavy sigh.
She sighs and sits down pulling back the tape to answer, "I'm not doing anything. You've silenced my talents, I'm merely protesting. My talents are wasted in this club. My star shines too bright, and I think you are threatened by it."
I have had enough of her attitude. "Rachel, you think that all of us like sitting in the background and swaying with the music. Isn't that what you told Sunshine. That all you need us for is to stand there and look pretty. Well I have something to tell you. Yes you may be talented, so is everyone is this club. We all have voices that are equally as good as yours. And for the last year and a half, it has been the Finn and Rachel show. You two get all the Solos, and the Duets. The rest of us really just stand there and sing back up to both of your engorged egos. And quite frankly, I have had enough of it. And I know that I am not the only one."
The rest of the club mummers in agreement. "Since we have all sat around and watched you take center stage for every major performance we have put on, I think that for this one competition you could show some kind of support for the people who I assume you call friends. Because we want to be heard just as much as you do."
The whole time I am reading Rachel out, all she can do is sit there in complete silence. Not that I gave her time to interrupt, or would have let her. By the end I find that I am standing up from my seat and my hands are spread out to encompass the whole club. Everyone but Finn is cheering, and Mr. Schue just has a look of shock on his face.
"Well, I would say that I have to agree with Kurt. He is right. This Club is brimming with talent and I think that instead of sitting there in protest, you could choose to be happy for the others. Let them have some time to shine. Their starts burn just as brightly as yours does. I think you forget that."
"Well I am not happy about this. About a couple of things actually."
"Well Rachel, you can suck it up. Life isn't always about getting what you want. Its about learning to live with what you're given. Or in this case not given. We all have to deal with it and life goes on. Now I for one would like to start. I am prepared to do my audition piece." I step up in front of the group and signal Brad and the band to begin.
I do a wonderful job. All the emotion that I have just gone through I put into the song. All of my hurt and longing and I also give it all of my hopes and use every fiber of my being. At the end of the song I am breathless. Not because I wasn't breathing but because I very rarely put that much into a song. Maybe that is why Rachel always does so good.
Everyone is on their feet clapping and cheering for me. I blush slightly and take a small bow before heading back over to my seat. Quinn is sitting next to me and she gives me a quick hug and glances around to the rest of the group with a face that reads 'try and top that.'
"Well that was amazing Kurt! If the rest of you agree I think we just found our final number for Sectionals."
Everyone but Rachel is applauding and agreeing. So the vote is pretty much unanimous. I have a solo!
The week flies by pretty quickly after that. Between rehearsals and moving Carol and Finn in, there really wasn't a whole lot of time for anything else. I did manage to talk to Guest 64 for a little while on Wednesday. The conversation was cut short because of all the work we were trying to get done before my father and Carol left for their honeymoon on Friday.
They were sad that they would miss my Solo, but I think they heard me plenty of times around the house to know what I would sound like.
I told Guest 64 that I have a big part in the production that my club was putting on. I am trying to keep things a bit vague so as to keep some semblance of anonymity. He seemed happy for me and completely understood that I was busy and couldn't talk. But I think he was a bit sad that we couldn't talk like we normally would. And I find that I am too. I have greatly come to enjoy our conversations.
So before I know it, it is Saturday and we are boarding the bus. Rachel has been a thorn in our sides all week, giving only minimal effort. And some of the others have been down. The only ones that seem to be in a good mood are me, Santana, Quinn, and Sam.
Quinn sits with Sam in the seat in front of me, but she turns around so we can talk. I notice that Mr. Schue is talking to Miss Pillsbury. It looks like she isn't coming. And then Rachel steps back on the stairs, "Mr. Schuster, not that I really care, but if we don't leave now, we are going to miss the competition."
She comes back on the bus, shortly followed by a heart broken Mr. Schue. I feel bad for him, but I glare at Rachel. I hate that everyone in this club has suddenly gone into meltdown mode. We have a set list that will rock the judges worlds, but everyone besides those of us with solos look like they might fling themselves off the bus at any moment.
We all take our seats to watch the competition. The Hipsters are actually pretty good. Their big number is 'The Living Years' by Mike & the Mechanics. Then the Warblers do a fantastic acapella version of 'Hey Soul Sister' by Train. I stand to applaud when they finish encouraging others to give them a standing ovation. They did a really good job and Blaine is kind of become a friend. His vocals were amazing. I can only hope that I will live up to my previous performance.
…
Back in the Green room tensions are running high and everyone is on edge about something. There are a few lovers quarrels going on, and then Rachel walks in how everyone found out. The chain of who told who spirals out of control and then Santana has to speak up and make everything worse.
"Nobody tells you anything because A, you're a blabber mouth and B, we all just pretend to like you."
Puck relaxes back into his seat, "That's not true. I kind of like her."
Then Finn stands up and I start zoning out again. There is so much drama that I am getting sick of it. People really just need to relax and not worry so much about such menial things. So Finn slept with Santana, so what he lied about it. Who cares.
Mr. Schuster walks in the room as Rachel, Artie, and Tina all say that they wont go on stage and perform with the rest of us. I have no idea what Artie's and Tina's hang ups are, but Rachel is really taking this all way too far.
"Enough! Listen to yourselves! I am ashamed of you. Think back to where you were this time last year. In this room, no set list, no choreography. No chance in hell of winning. But you did win. Because you did it together. Even though not all of you were happy with the others. You didn't let that stop you. You may all hate each other right now, but you owe it to yourselves to go out there and remind yourselves, that you are not alone."
Quinn and Sam open the show with 'The Time of Our Lives' I know that she was nervous about the whole performance. Not sure of how she really felt about Sam, but they are really giving it their all. The crowd is on its feet and we aren't even done. We all regroup and get ready for Santana to sing 'Valerie.' I have heard her sing it a few times all the way through and each time she has given me goose bumps. It is scary how suited her voice is for Amy Winehouse. Mike and Brittany Dance like they never have before. And the whole thing goes off without a hitch. Then the set up for my solo begins. Santana passes me the mic and the music starts is slow change from 'Valerie' to 'Haven't Met You Yet.'
As the group starts their back up vocals, I walk over to grab the microphone stand, and pull it back to center stage where I put the mic back in and start to sing. For this song I will stand stationary as Mike and Brittany start a slower dance than they were doing for the previous song. It looks more like a tap dance than anything. Really telling a story with this one. I throw all of my emotions into this song and belt it out like I did the first time I sang it in front of everyone. Its not till the end that I move away from the stand and walk up belting out the last few lines.
I'm not surprised, not everything lasts
I've broken my heart so many times, I stopped keeping track
Talk myself in, I talk myself out
I get all worked up, then I let myself down
I tried so very hard not to lose it
I came up with a million excuses
I thought, I though of every possibility
And you know someday that it'll all work out
You'll make me work, so we can work to work it out
And I promise you, kid, that I give so much more than I get
I just haven't met you yet
I might have to wait, I'll never give up
I guess its half timing, and the other half's luck
Wherever you are, whenever it's right
You'll come out of nowhere and into my life
And I know that we can be so amazing
And, baby, your love is gonna change me
And now I can see every possibility
And somehow I know that it'll all turn out
You'll make me work, so we can work to work it out
And I promise you, kid, that I give so much more than I get
I just haven't met you yet
They say all's fair
In love and war
But I won't need to fight it
We'll get it right and be united
And I know that we can be so amazing
And being in your life is gonna change me
And now I can see every single possibility
And someday I know that it'll all turn out
And I'll work to work it out
Promise you, kid, I'll give more than I get
Than I get, than I get, than I get
Oh, you know it'll all turn out
And you'll make me work so we can work to work it out
And I promise you kid to give so much more than I get
Yeah, I just haven't met you yet
I just haven't met you yet
Oh, Promise you kid
To give so much more than I get
I said love, love, love, love
Love, love, love, love
(I just haven't met you yet)
Love, love, love, love
Love, love
I just haven't met you yet
The whole audience is on their feet and I feel the applause reverberating in my chest. The whole of the club is surrounding me and we are all hugging and laughing and crying. There are so many emotions running rampant up on the stage, that it is a miracle that we can all bow and walk back to the green room while the judges make their final decisions.
"Oh my God! That was amazing! All of you guys did amazing! If we don't win, I am asking for a recount!" Tina was jumping around and hugging us all again while giving out more praise.
Mr. Schue comes in and sees that all of our emotions are running high. "You guys were AMAZING out there! I am so proud of all of you."
The talking goes on for a little while, and I don't really say anything. I have never experienced anything like that before. It was the biggest thrill of my life! I know we all did fantastic, but letting it all sink in is taking some time.
There is a knock on the door, and Blaine stick his head in. I walk over to the door and take a few steps away, getting away from the animated talking of the whole club.
"You guys were amazing. Those dance moves were incredible, and your vocals. Man, you blew everyone away. You guys defiantly won!"
"I am not so sure Blaine, you and the Warblers were pretty amazing yourselves. Your arrangements were very modern and classic at the same time. It will be a tough decision for the Judges to make."
"I guess we will have to wait and see. I also wanted to ask you how you've been. I haven't heard much from you lately."
"I have just been super busy. My dad got married, and I planned the whole thing. And then we had to move Carol and Finn in, that took all week. They only just left for their honeymoon yesterday. They really wanted to be here to see us sing, especially since I got a solo, but I knew that they needed the break away. Plus they hear me sing every other day of the week."
"Yeah, but do you sing like that 'every other day of the week?' I mean come on Kurt, that was one hell of a performance."
I blush lightly, not really used to the praise that everyone is throwing my way. Its nice but embarrassing at the same time. "Well no, but it isn't the last time I will be performing."
"True, well, I better get back to the Warblers. Good luck out there! Even though I know you guys don't need it." He gives me a quick hug and walks away. I turn to head back into the room but as soon as I reach the door Quinn steps out and pulls me back so that we wont be overheard by everyone else.
"So that was Blaine?"
"Yes."
"He's cute."
"Q…"
"Well he is. You cannot deny that."
"Okay fine he is. But he is just a friend. Noting more, so don't be getting any ideas."
She holds her hands up in mock surrender, "Okay, okay. I won't."
"Why don't I believe you?"
"Because you are just as devious as I am, and you know that I would only do what is in your best interests."
I sigh heavily. "What am I going to do with you?"
"I am not sure K. What are you going to do with me?"
We laugh and walk back in, arm in arm, to the Green room and sit and talk with everyone else until the lights flash announcing that it is time to go back on stage to see who won.
When they said that the New Directions won Sectionals and would be moving on to Regional's there was a lot of screaming from us on stage and from the audience. No tie, not third place, we WON! It feels good to know that I had a large part in helping us win. Things are looking up and I can't wait for what lies ahead…