Glee- New Directions – Underdogs Once Again
Two's Company
"Romeo, Antonio. I'm curious. What's the backstory on your relationship?" Natalia asked. Romeo cocked an eyebrow.
"I don't follow. What do you mean, exactly?" he asked. Natalia pointed at them.
"You two just barely got together. You act like you've been together since you were kids," she stated. Boy, would I know that one. Romeo smiled and looked Antonio in the eyes. Antonio blushed a bit, smiling back.
"Well, it started remotely five or six months ago…" Antonio started.
I was waiting in the lobby for a counseling appointment to start. I was fighting Elesa in my copy of Pokemon Black and losing. She's a bitch, what can I say? Anywho, I internally ragequit and put the DS down. My hand just so happened to brush across someone else's as I put it away. I quickly withdrew my hand, apologizing. That's when I looked at the person. It was the most beautiful sight I have ever seen…it was Romeo.
"I'm so sorry I bumped up against your hand!" I apologized. Romeo gave me a smile I will never be able to forget.
"No worries! It didn't bother me or anything!" …after a long pause, he introduced himself.
"I'm Romeo Jensen. I'm waiting for my cousin to get out of counseling. What are you here for?"
That was a question that would usually result in me running, fearing the government was after me at the time. However, I found myself spilling my guts to some dude I had only known for a few minutes. It was his damn smile, I swear.
"Um…I'm Antonio…I'm here for myself, actually…"
"Really? Why?" . I remember anxiously biting my lip, fearing his response to my reply.
"I kind of…maybe…have…paranoia and anxiety…" I slowly responded. I expected some horrified response, but instead he just leaned closer.
"I see. Don't let that get to you, though. I can tell by looking at you that you're uncomfortable from telling me this, but I know you're actually a kind person," he told me. I had never felt such painful warmth in my heart before in my life. I actually had to choke back tears from fear and joy. No one other than my mom had really said anything like that, and it was weird that a total stranger was telling me this.
Well, we talked more until his cousin came out. Before he left, we exchanged numbers.
"And from there we started to hang out all the time. I think for me, summer was when I found out I was becoming more and more attracted to Antonio. We'd spend a lot of time doing stuff at the beach as 'friends'. I feel like we both knew that we liked each other, but were afraid to admit it," Romeo explained. Antonio leaned against him intimately.
"I felt attracted to you after the first time we hung out together. I was just scared of getting attached. I didn't want to lose you…" he muttered. Romeo put an arm around him.
"Well, don't worry. I don't plan on leaving any time soon. You make me so happy…"
Natalia rolled her eyes as they kept exchanging compliments. She scooted a couple seats away. I suppose I deserve it for asking them. I didn't know I'd trigger a waterfall of love, though. It's sad that they only got together a week ago and can be this comfortable while Apollo and I still have too much sexual tension to get past five minutes of kissing.
As other people started to pour into the choir room, Antonio and Romeo cut the love down to just holding hands. Natalia was impressed that there was at least one couple that didn't believe PDA was necessary 100% of the time.
Alexandra walked in. As soon as she entered, heads were turned. She smiled. Her makeover seemed to be a slight success. People had been staring at her all day. The noticeable changes were her newly dyed scarlet hair, she replaced her glasses with contacts, her shirt was a flashy zip-up shirt with a huge zipper, tight leather pants, and shiny black, platform boots. Mimi, Lei, and Shantel shared a high-five as their hard work shone. Alexandra took her seat next to Shane, mildly blushing.
Mr. Schuester came in and wrote on the white board in bold, black letters: DUETS.
"Hey, guys! This week we're going to work on duets! This is one of my favorite assignments to assign, because it encourages people to work together rather than fight. This year, I'm going to throw in a little something extra that I did a few years ago. This is going to be a competition," Mr. Schuester explained.
"A competition for what?" Amber asked.
"The winners get a free dinner at Breadstix. Also, this year I'm going to add a something more to the mix. The duo that wins will also get to each have a solo at a competition of my approval," he answered. Natalia scoffed.
"You lie. I'm still waiting for my solos," she pointed out. Mr. Schuester ignored her.
"You may choose your partners," he added. Tate energetically waved his arm.
"Can we bring in partners from outside the club? I wanna sing a duet with my girlfriend!" he yelled.
"Sure! That way we could get more members! Thanks for asking, Tate. Okay, so you all can invite outsiders to sing with you!"
"My partner lives three hours away!" Natalia complained. It fell on deaf ears.
"So, with that said, I'm excited to see what you all come up with!" Schuester said.
"And then that asshole kept ignoring me! Curly-Q really needs to be fired from directing that club! He is terrible!" Natalia complained to Apollo later that evening. Apollo snickered.
"Wow, that sounds dumb. The Warblers are just run by a council. It's pretty chill," he bragged. Natalia glared.
"Either way, it doesn't matter. I'm not doing a duet for Glee club. I want to do my duet with you, and I know it won't happen," she muttered.
"How about we do a duet for us, then? Perhaps one that's not as angry as that mash-up we sang?" Apollo suggested. Natalia sighed.
"I have no objections. What did you have in mind?" Apollo smiled at her, pressing play on a boom box in his room.
"Follow my lead. I think you know this song as well as I do"
"I thought that dreams belonged to other men. Cause each time I got close, they'd fall apart again…" he sang.
"I thought my heart would beat in secrecy. I faced the nights alone…" she sang. Apollo walked over to her, looking intensely at her eyes.
"How could I have known? That all my life I only needed you! Oh, almost paradise! We're knocking on heaven's door! Almost paradise! How could we ask for more? I swear that I can see forever in your eyes…Paradise…" They sang together. Apollo backed away, but grabbed her hands.
"And in your arms salvation's not so far away! It's getting closer!" he sang.
"Closer everyday!" Natalia joined. Their fingers intertwined.
"Almost paradise! We're knocking on heaven's door! Almost paradise! How could we ask for more? I swear that I can see forever in your eyes…Paradise…Paradise…" They finished. Apollo and Natalia stared each other in the eyes. Apollo was about to go in for another kiss, but he heard the most frustrating noise at the current moment in time.
"Hey, dude! I'm back from the Laundromat! Sorry I'm late! I got caught up in a conversation with my dude Dennis. Oh? Am I interrupting something?"
"Hi, James…no, you weren't," Apollo disappointedly said. Natalia couldn't help but laugh.
"I forgot about your roommate," she stated. James chuckled.
"I guess I must be a pretty plain dude, then. Oh well. I'll manage somehow," he sarcastically responded.
"So, James? You talking with a friend or boyfriend over there?" Apollo asked.
"Friend. He's pretty cool, though he seems a bit awkward," James trailed off. Natalia stared at him.
"Sounds like a Dennis I know. Odd," Natalia muttered. Well, I knew Dennis was gay. He sent my gaydar sky-rocketing.
"Maybe it's the same dude. It would be cool if it was, I guess," James added. Natalia nodded. And he's gay, too…even if he hasn't realized it. Intriguing.
Tate dragged Kourtney into the choir room enthusiastically. She looked less than happy, but still followed Tate. She swallowed a bit, sweating.
"Tate, I'm nauseous…I think it's stage fright. I'm really nervous. I can't sing! I can't perform! I mean, if I could the other Cheerios wouldn't bully me and…and…"she started blabbering, getting flustered.
"Don't worry! They're all really nice, so there's nothing to worry about! You'll do great because you actually sound really good!" Tate encouraged, not easing Kourtney's fears. They entered the choir room. Tate dragged Kourtney to the front of the room.
"Mr. Schue, we have a duet ready!" Tate exclaimed.
"That's great! Everyone please give your attention to Tate and his girlfriend," Mr. Schuester asserted.
"Kourtney and I worked super hard on this! It's Sonny and Cher's 'I Got You Babe', but with more guitars and drums!" Tate informed. The music started. Roderick snickered.
"Is this wuss music?" he quietly asked Shane. Shane nodded.
"They say we're young and we don't know. We won't find out until we grow," Kourtney smoothly sang.
"Well, I don't know if all that's true. Cause you've got me, and baby, I've got you! Babe," Tate sang back.
"I got you babe. I got you babe," they sang together. Tate pulled out a bouquet of flowers from behind his back. He faced Kourntey, holding them out to her.
"I got flowers in the spring. I got you to wear my ring!" he sang. Kourtney smiled, accepting them.
"And when I'm sad, you're a clown! And if I get scared, you're always around! So let them say your hair's too long, cause I don't care; with you I can't go wrong!" she sang. Tate held his hand out to her.
"Then put your little hand in mine! There ain't no hill or mountain we can't climb! Babe," he sang.
"I got you babe. I got you babe," they sang.
"I got you to hold my hand," Tate sang.
"I got you to understand!" Kourtney sang.
"I got you to walk with me"
"I got you to talk with me!"
"I got you to kiss goodnight"
"I got you to hold me tight! I got you, I won't let go! I got you to love me so!" Kourtney sang.
"I got you babe…" they finished together. After a few seconds of applausing, Kourtney quickly covered her mouth with her hand. She zoomed out the door in a hurry. Tate looked worried. He chased after her.
Lei and Shantel stared in shock. Seeing as how they were Cheerios, they knew Kourtney pretty well. Amber stood up, going after Tate and Kourtney. Even if she was an ex-cheerio, she was still concerned.
Mr. Schuester made a point to change the subject. He asked if anyone else had any duets at that moment in time. After a period of silence, he accepted the answer as "no" and allowed everyone to visit and hopefully discuss duet ideas. Lei, Shantel, and Glen gathered around. Shantel sighed.
"How is it that I'm one of the few people in here without a significant other?" she asked, "I mean, even Glen has a girlfriend before I have a boyfriend. How wack is that?"
"All rudeness aside from that statement, the answer is simple. You just aren't looking hard enough. I already sort of knew Lei. Had it not been for that, I'd still be a Single Pringle," Glen answered.
"We can help you find the perfect one," Lei offered. Shantel shook her head.
"Thanks, but I'm not into things like blind dates. I guess I just have to hope and pray for it to happen and then wait forever while my hopes build up. I'm going to leave. I feel like visiting that old record store. Maybe I can find a platonic duet to sing with one of you," Shantel informed, walking off.
Amber warily approached Roderick. She cleared her throat, hoping to get his attention. She was still really nervous since he had insulted her greatly; however she had to prevent that from getting to her. Roderick glanced at her. He grinned.
"Hey, bro-slut. What do you want?" he asked. Amber winced.
"I'm not a slut…I'm very much a virgin," she retorted. Roderick laughed.
"That's not what Stella and everyone else have been saying."
"But that's just it. The rumor came from Stella. Stella is a liar. You know that, don't you?" Amber asked.
"I guess that's true. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, then. So, what else did you want?"
"I want to sing a duet with you. It doesn't have to be romantic, but I just thought we might as well…you're a junior, I'm a junior…you have no partner, I have no partner. You're hot, I'm hot…you know?" Amber proposed. Roderick thought about it.
"I suppose. Just don't choose wuss music or any music using the word 'babe' or 'baby'. I really hate those words," Roderick requested.
"I was actually thinking along the lines of 'The Phantom of the Opera'. It's a bit grim-dark, but it's really amazing," Amber suggested. Roderick wrinkled his nose.
"I dunno…it still sounds pretty stupid…do I have to wear the phantom mask?"
"Hell no"
"Then I'll do it," Roderick agreed. Amber smiled.
"Great! Let's go get started!"
Shantel browsed through records at the record store. Finding a platonic duet proved harder than she originally anticipated. Every duet she found was romantic in some aspect, and she couldn't sing something romantic with her brother or her best friend. It would be awkward and start too many stupid rumors she'd rather avoid.
She made her way to the N section. She flipped through the records a bit before stumbling upon Olivia Newton-John. Picking up a record one by one, she browsed through the tracks on each one. She sighed.
"It's not fair…I love 'Suddenly'…but I don't have a super special somebody to sing it with…" Shantel complained.
"Sing it anyway," a teen boy said. Shantel looked across the record rack at him. He had chocolaty brown hair and light blue, almost grey, eyes. He smirked at her, eyes drooped. Shantel gave him a small smile.
"I don't have a duet partner, though," she argued. He took the record out of her hand, going to a record player.
"No problem there. I'll be your partner. I'm Aiden, by the way"
"Oh…okay…I'm Shantel…," she replied. The song started as Aiden walked back over to her.
"She walks in, and I'm suddenly a hero. I'm taken in. My hopes begin to rise," he sang. Shantel smiled.
"Look at me. Can't you tell I'd be so thrilled to see the message in your eyes?" she sang.
"You make it seem I'm so close to my dream, and then suddenly it's all there," Aiden sang.
"Suddenly the wheels are in motion, and I'm ready to sail any ocean. Suddenly, I don't need the answers, cause I, I'm ready to take all my chances with you…" they sang together.
"Why do I feel so alive when you're near? There's no way any hurt can get through!" Aiden sang.
"Longing to spend every moment of the day with you…with you…Suddenly, the wheels are in motion, and I'm ready to sail any ocean. Suddenly, I don't need the answers, cause I, I'm ready to take all my chances with you…" they finished. Aiden smiled.
"You sound pretty good. Want to do this again tomorrow?" he asked. Shantel blushed and nodded.
"So who has some duets today?" Mr. Schuester asked. Antonio and Romeo quickly raised their hands. Mr. Schuester sat in the audience as they walked up.
"We're singing 'Let's Do It, Let's Fall in Love'…which is originally a really dumb song. But this is the version Joan Jett and Paul Westerberg did. So it won't put anyone to sleep," Antonio informed. Romeo smiled.
"When the little bluebird who has never said a word starts to sing," Romeo sang.
"Spring…When the little bluebell at the bottom of the dell starts to ring," Antonio sang.
"Ding dong, ding dong…" Romeo muttered.
"When the little blue clerk in the middle of his work starts a tune to the moon up above, it is nature, that is all, simply telling us to fall in love. And that's why birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it. Let's do it, let's fall in love. Cold Cape Cod clams, 'gainst their wish, do it. Even lazy jellyfish do it! Let's do it, let's fall in love!" they sang together.
"I've heard that lizards and frogs do it layin' on a rock. They say that roosters do it with a doodle and cock," Romeo sang.
"Some Argentines, without means do it. I hear even Boston beans do it. Let's do it, let's fall in love!" they sang.
"When the little bluebird who has never said a word starts to sing spring spring spring," Romeo sang.
"When the little bluebell at the bottom of the dell starts to ring ding ding ding," Antonio sang.
"When the little blue clerk in the middle of his work starts a tune," Romeo sang.
"The most refined lady bugs do it when a gentleman calls," Antonio sang.
"Moths in your rugs they do it. What's the use of moth balls? The chimpanzees in the zoos do it, some courageous kangaroos do it. Let's do it, let's fall in love! I'm sure sometimes on the sly you do it. Maybe even you and I might do it! Let's do it, let's fall in love!" they finished
"Anyone else have a duet?" Mr. Schuester asked after applause. Amber raised her hand and Roderick slightly raised his.
"Alright, the floor's yours!" Mr. Schuester permitted. Amber and Roderick walked to the front of the class.
"We're singing 'The Phantom of the Opera,'" she informed.
"In sleep he sang to me. In dreams, he came. That voice that calls to me and speaks my name. And do I dream again? For now I find the phantom of the opera is there inside my mind," Amber sang.
"Sing once again with me our strange duet! My power over you grows stronger yet! And though you turn from me to glance behind the phantom of the opera is there inside your mind," Roderick sang.
"Those who have seen your face draw back in fear. I am the mask you wear," Amber sang.
"It's me they hear!" Roderick sang.
"Your/my spirit and your/my voice in one combined! The phantom of the opera is there inside your/my mind!" they sang.
"He's there, the phantom of the opera! Ahhh!" Amber sang.
"Sing, my angel of music! Sing, my angel…sing for me! Sing, my angel…sing for me!" Roderick finished.
After applause, Mr. Schuester pulled out a basket.
"It's safe to say that that's the end of the duets competition. I can't decide who did the best, so I put the names into this basket. Everyone would vote for themselves if I held a vote, so this seems to be the best way to do it," he explained, mixing the papers in the basket with his hands. He pulled out a folded piece of paper.
"And the winner is…Roderick and Amber!" he announced. Amber smiled. She and Roderick walked back to the front of the room as Mr. Schuester handed them their gift certificate to Breadstix.
"So, when do we get to do our solos at competitions?" Roderick asked.
"I never said anything about that," Mr. Schuester replied. Amber glared.
"Yes you did!" she affirmed.
"I did not," he asserted. Roderick glared as Amber pulled something out of her book bag.
"Bro, that's not cool," he stated.
"I don't know what's not cool about it. I didn't promise anything. You're making it up in your head," Mr. Schuester argued. Amber held a Snapple bottle up to him.
"You have five seconds to run. Roderick and I will then chase you. 5," Amber informed.
"You can't chase me"
"4" Roderick counted.
"Don't!"
"3" Amber counted.
"You'll get in trouble!"
"2" Roderick counted, smiling.
"You wouldn't!"
"1" Amber counted. She broke the Snapple bottle over the piano and approached Mr. Schuester, who began running. Amber and Roderick followed angrily. Natalia sighed.
"I knew he wouldn't give the winners solos. I knew it," she muttered.
Songs:
Almost Paradise by Mike Reno and Ann Wilson - Natalia and Apollo watch?v=kmzLAfKXyLA
I Got You Babe by Sonny and Cher - Tate and Kourtney watch?v=ylGrQVL774k
Suddenly by Olivia Newton-John and Cliff Richards - Shantel and Aiden watch?v=qKt_Qf1T22o
Let's Do It by Joan Jett and Paul Westerberg - Antonio and Romeo watch?v=DzsMGJ2Nw6o
Phantom of the Opera from Phantom of the Opera - Roderick and Amber watch?v=VlRnzANjVZs