PREVIOUSLY: The New Directions were given their first counselling session, and Puck's counselor gave him a different target all together. By focusing on the bottle of whiskey, he tried to remember what Tina wanted him to remember, but failed to at his first attempt.
Meanwhile on their first three hour break, Kurt, and Blaine went to see Kurt's father, Burt, just to reunite with him after so many years of Kurt being away. And Finn and Rachel went to see Finn's mother, Carole.
Also Puck managed to get out, and went to a pub, where Michael got the call from Puck's minder, and found him staring at a bottle. He wants to remember so bad. But this also couldn't produce the memory he so badly wanted.
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And now the continuation:
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CHAPTER 28 - THE JOURNEY TO THE WORLDS BEGINS
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Kurt, Blaine, Finn, Rachel, and Puck returned to the Training Center, where they joined up with the rest of the New Directions to have tea.
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At 6 p.m. they all piled into the Choir Room where Michael was waiting for them. Also joining them were the band.
"I would like to officially welcome all of you to the beginning of the journey to the Worlds" started Michael "It all begins here tonight."
Santana put her hand up.
"Yes, Miss Lopez?"
"Obviously, you're here tonight to kick start us, who is going to be leading these sessions from here on in?"
"That's a good question Miss Lopez. Dan will be overseeing the sessions while I am not here, and he will nominate someone to lead each session."
"That's got a potential to turn ugly," said Mercedes
"Agreed," replied Santana
"You guys are old enough now to run sessions," said Michael "You've seen it done in the past. So for the foreseeable future that is going to be the case. So let's get begin. Sectionals is about 4 months away. Every 10 weeks after that are the other stages. Regionals, Nationals, Hemispheres, and the Worlds. Can anyone tell me what would be the best way for you guys, the New Directions, to start off with a bang?"
Everyone looked at one another. No one said anything.
"Does no one have an answer?" asked Michael
Again no one said anything. Santana again put up her hand.
"Yes Miss Lopez?"
"You say that you our number 1 fan," started Santana "So by you asking that question you obviously know the answer."
"Yes I do, I was just wanting to see if you guys knew."
"So why don't you tell us what you think would be our best plan of attack? To start off with a bang as you said."
Everyone else agreed.
"What is one way that you guys stand out as a group?" asked Michael "By conducting a solo."
"Right solo," said Santana sarcastically "Don't you mean the Rachel Berry way?"
"Hey watch it," said Finn
Santana held up her hands "It's true. Rachel was our best soloist. Everyone knows that."
Rachel was trying to look inconspicuous, she hated people staring at her.
"That's not fair," said Michael "Miss Berry isn't the only one who can do a solo. Miss Jones has a very strong voice."
"Had," said Mercedes "Had a very strong voice. I haven't sung for 10 years. So I don't know what I could sound like, or if my voice is strong enough."
"Well there's also a number of other strong candidates," replied Michael "There's Mr Hummel, Mr Anderson, Mr Hudson, Miss Lopez."
"Don't forget me," said Brittany smiling
"Oh we couldn't forget you, Miss Pierce," said Michael
"We would need a very big song in order to attack Sectionals with," said Puck
"I agree Mr Puckerman. That's why I would request anyone who wants to try doing a solo, to come forward and stake their claim."
"How so?" asked Blaine
"Sing us a song. We'll put it to a vote. The one with the highest votes wins the first solo."
"Another potentially wrong idea," said Santana
"Well Miss Lopez," smiled Michael "If you continue to dish my ideas, why don't you put your money where your mouth is, and come on down, and sing the first song."
Santana shook her head "No thanks, I'm not ready."
"Okay then, who would like to go first then?"
Everyone looked at one another, no one else put up their hand. Michael thought that this had started swimmingly well. Suddenly Rachel put up her hand.
"Yes Miss Berry?"
"I would like to go first," said Rachel quietly
"Sorry, what was that, I didn't hear you?"
"Rachel," said Finn looking at her "Are you sure? You don't have to do this?"
"If I don't give it a try, then I'll forever be running from the fear."
"Rachel, Finn's right," said Mercedes "Just give it a little bit of time. Ease your way back into this."
Rachel shook her head. "Mr Baxter I would like to give it a try."
"Okay, Miss Berry, come on up."
Rachel looked at Finn.
"I have to try."
"I believe in you babe. I believe in you."
Rachel smiled. Stood up, and walked to the front.
"What song would you like to attempt?" asked Michael
"Don't Rain on my Parade."
"Wow, that's one of your most powerful songs," replied Michael "Are you sure you want to go with that one?"
"Yes," said Rachel
Michael looked across at the band.
"Okay, so Don't Rain on my Parade."
The band members nod. They get ready to start.
Michael goes and sits down. Rachel looks at Finn, who is smiling, then looks at Mercedes, who is also smiling, but then she looks at everyone else. She inhales, and then exhales.
"When you are ready Miss Berry," said Michael
Rachel took one more deep breath, and looks across at the band.
"Okay... hit it..."
The music starts playing. Rachel looks back at everyone. The introduction starts... Rachel begins to see something else. Her friends all laughing at her. Why are they laughing.
"Miss Berry," said Michael "Are you okay
Rachel blinks, and her friends seem not to be laughing. The music has stopped.
"Sorry what?"
"You missed the start," said Michael
"Did I?" said Rachel trying to sound calm "I must have didn't hear it."
"Rach," replied Finn "Maybe you should try again another time."
"That's right," smiled Rachel "I'll try again."
"That's not what I said."
Rachel looked at the band.
"Sorry guys. Let's go again."
The band starts playing the song again. Rachel smiles and looks back at everyone. The introduction starts. Rachel begins to see something else. No one is in the room. Where have they all gone to?
"Miss Berry," came Michael's voice "Miss Berry."
Rachel blinks again. This time her friends are looking concerned.
"Sorry what?"
"You missed the introduction again Rach," said Mercedes "Maybe it'll be better if you sit this one out."
"No, no," said Rachel "I'm fine. I'm just going to give it one more time."
"Are you sure Miss Berry?" asked Michael
"Yea I just didn't hear the introduction. I was concentrating too hard. I'll try one more time."
"Come on babe," said Finn
"One more time," said Rachel sternly
That stern voice told Finn not to push it.
"Okay Miss Berry, one last time." said Michael
Rachel breathed in and out. And smiled. She can do this. She has to.
"Okay," Rachel said to the band "One last time... Hit it."
The music starts playing. Rachel looks at her friends. And the introduction starts... She keeps staring at her friends. She can't do it. The pressure is too much. Everyone is expecting too much from her, she is expecting too much from herself...
"Stop... Stop..." yells Rachel to the band
She looks at everyone as the music stops, and starts sobbing, and runs from the room crying.
"Shit," said Finn
"And there goes our chances now," said Puck
"By god Puckerman how many times do I have to tell you, to shut up," said Santana
Everyone seems shocked and looks at Finn.
Finn sighs "It's okay, I'll go after her guys."
Finn gets up and runs out of the room.
"So Mr Money Bags," said Santana "That went well. Who's next to go after that?"
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The doors to the lift was closing as Finn got there. He watched it go up to the 4th Floor. Must be going to her room, where the dormitories were. Finn pushed the button, and the lift came back to the 2nd Floor. The doors opened, he got in, and pushed 4th Floor.
The lift doors opened on the 4th Floor, and Finn quickly walks down to the dormitories. He tries Rachel's room first. But no sound is coming out. So he tries his own room next, and hears sobbing. It's Rachel. He can hear her talking to herself.
"I can't do this... I just can't... It's too hard... Too hard."
"Rachel," said Finn knocking on the door.
The sobbing stops. Rachel isn't talking to herself anymore. He tests the door to see if it's locked. It's not. He opens the door, and slowly walks into his room, and shuts the door.
There on his bed, is Rachel moving backwards and forwards. His heart sinks at the sight. He walks slowly over to her, and sits down right beside her. She continues to rock backward and forward for a minute, before stopping. Finn just being there, says it all. She trusts him. Slowly he moves over behind Rachel, and lies down on the bed. He gently pulls her backwards onto him. Finn puts her head on his chest. And Rachel starts to calm down even more. She is listening to his heartbeat.
Rachel soon looks up at Finn, and smiles a small smile. He gently wipes away her tears with his thumbs.
They lay there for a few more minutes, before Finn makes an attempt to sit up, but Rachel keeps a hold of him. Finn remembers this is how she had always calmed down while in high school.
"You are listening to my heartbeat aren't you?" asks Finn quietly
Rachel just nods with her head still on Finn's chest. Finn starts stroking her short hair. He keeps letting Rachel listen to his heartbeat.
"I know you use to do it, all the time when we were back in High School," whispers Finn "I hope I haven't lost my touch?"
"No," mumbles Rachel "I just miss it."
Finn smiles down at her.
"Well you can listen as long as you want... I will always be here for you... when you are ready we can talk what happened in the Choir Room..."
Rachel looks up at Finn, and moves her head up, and kisses Finn. Then she goes back and places her head back on Finn's chest.
"What if I can't do it ever again?" asks Rachel after a while
"Baby, you just need to stop putting pressure on yourself," replied Finn "I believe in you. Once you take off that pressure that you aren't good enough for this anymore then you'll be confident enough to start singing again."
"You are always confident in my abilities when I seem to doubt myself. Why do you believe in me so much?"
Finn looks down at Rachel, and Rachel looks up "Because Baby, you were the best damn singer in the whole Choir world. You've won Tony's during your Broadway stint. I was there watching you wasn't I?"
"Yes you were."
"I believe in you. You can do this Rachel Berry. I love you. I wouldn't say it if I didn't believe it. YOU CAN DO THIS AGAIN. Do you hear me?"
"Yes my love I do hear you."
Finn kissed Rachel on the head.
"I made a fool out of myself 3 times," said Rachel "Trying to think I could sing, do we have to go back tonight?"
"You didn't make a fool out of yourself," replied Finn "They will understand. They just want you to be better, and do well. Don't feel their pressure. We can win Sectionals with anyone."
"But they need me to win the Worlds."
Finn nodded "By then you'll be ready. If you don't want to go back to the Choir room then I understand."
"Not tonight. Tonight I just want to lie here."
"Okay. Then we won't go back tonight."
"Just lay here with me until I fall asleep and then you can go back if you want to," smiled Rachel
"Are you sure?"
"Very. You need to be their leader again. They listen to you."
Finn smiled down at Rachel.
"Okay babe."
Rachel focused on Finn's heart beat some more, and closed her eyes.
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Can Rachel Berry ever get her confidence back? Can she stop herself from choking every time she stands in front of people? Can Mercedes get back to the level that she was at before the incident happened 10 years ago. Stay tuned.
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NOTE: SPECIAL MENTION TO GLEEKFOREVER12345 WHO WROTE HALF OF THE FINN CALMING DOWN RACHEL SCENE. SHE WANTED TO ADD SOMETHING TO THE STORY. IF ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO ADD THEIR OWN UNIQUE WRITING TO THE STORY THEN PM ME AND WE CAN DISCUSS WHO YOU WANT TO ADD A SCENE FOR.
THANKS AGAIN GLEEKFOREVER12345.