AN: I had to write this because let's face it, the Warblers performance at Sectionals was stiff. I like to believe that Kurt loosened them up. And yes, Kurt's though about the Warblers cheography is my personal opinion. Inspired by lyrics from "Circle of Life" by Elton John
Following Blaine backstage, I was once again struck with the feeling of not belonging. Oh, Wes and the others had certainly tried to be welcoming. Everyone had been nice to me, whether we were in practice or in other classes. It was nice to be at a school where the Glee club wasn't ridiculed by everyone else at the school. It was a relief to be able to walk down the hall without fear of getting a slushy thrown in your face or being pushed up against a locker.
Still, Dalton was not McKinley. I missed my friends and I missed being able to wear what I wanted to. And though I had often felt like an outcast even within the New Directions, I missed being a part of that group. The dynamics within the Warblers just wasn't the same.
For now though, Dalton and the Warblers were where I had to be. The rules and traditions that felt stifling to me were what was keeping me safe. It wasn't what I wanted but it that was the cards that had been dealt to me.
"You ready?" Wes asked me as Blaine and I joined the others.
I nodded. The singing had been easy enough to learn and even Finn could have learned the choreography, what with us doing movements that reminded me of hopping marionette puppets.
"Okay, guys. Let's do this! Regionals here we come," Wes said enthusiastically as he looked around at the rest of the group.
In the dim light behind the curtain the Warblers took their place on the risers. Standing one riser down and to the left of Wes, I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. This might not be what I wanted, but for now it was where I needed to be. One day I would find the place where I felt I belonged but for now I just had to make the most of the cards that life dealt me.