NEW YORK – Part 2
(Rachel)
The auditorium had a nice audience, but it wasn't crowded on the first day. Even so, that was better than I expected for two o'clock of a Thursday. We were the fourth team to perform. The third one, Strawberry Fields, from High Salen, Oregon, was defending a song by Carole King. They weren't that good in my opinion. I love Carole King music, but the arrangement for multiple voices wasn't well done. Based on the audience reaction, I would say the Oregon team would have trouble to qualifying. The light blinked for the first time in the waiting room: five minutes to our performance. I could feel the apprehension growing in the New Directions.
Finn had that distant and lost look. Soon, he would begin to walk from one side to another and then make moves like it's starting to warm up for a game. Artie snapped his fingers, Tina looked at everyone as if she was angry, Lauren was doing crunches, Mike stretched, Kurt had that look of someone who wanted to run away, and Quinn was leaning against a chair as if she was sick. I looked at Finn and then to Quinn and I was trying to avoid both, still, I needed to talk with someone before going on the stage. Santana was just there by my side.
"How are you doing?" I asked my sister.
"I'll nail it." Her confidence was always remarkable in these times.
"Hopefully, because if you waver, I will kill you. I bet my skin on you as soloist in the technical round!"
"Rachel... relax. I got it."
Santana would be our main player on the first round, and the most important one because if she fails, goodbye Nationals. The performance came from a joke: what if Amy Winehouse sings Lou Reed? I knew I was the most technical singer of New Directions and the best option for a solo on this round, but I hadn't the necessary aggression. Santana fits as a glove on the porpoise, so she won the part. Of course I made her to work her singing and apply the technique correctly on our rehearsals in the pool house.
The lights blinked again. The boys of our jazz band were already positioned. Our presentation would have the classical battery-bass-guitar-keyboards formation, but with the version was a little heavier than the originals. We were prepared for Act 1.
Everyone ran to the initial positions, Mike gave a brief monologue to introduce our nine minutes musical play. He was chosen because surprisingly he was the best actor among us. Then the band started playing and I went singing the last verse of "Walk On the Wild Side". "Jackie is just speeding away/ thought she was James Dean for a day..." The voices were added and the group was positioned singing "doo doo doo..."
Santana was in front of the stage next to Mike. Countdown, the boys begin to play at once, forming a deafening wall of sound. The lighting is dark at first, with a spot on the Santana dressed in jeans, black all star and black tank top. The mash-up was an insinuated relationship between the user and the dealer. Santana played the user, while we would be the dealers. Our plan was to do a musical number from Broadway, taking into account the proper proportions.
"I'm wainting for my man/ 26 dollars in my hand/ Up to Lexington, 125/ Feel sick and dirty, more dead than alive/ I'm waiting for my man". While Santana sang the first verse alone, we began to evolve on the stage. The lights went dancing, evolving. The sound was firm but without protruding into our voices. We made arrangements with several smaller ones. "Hey, white boy, what you doin'uptown?/ Hey, white boy, you chasin'our women around?/ Oh pardon me sir, it's the furthest from my mind/ I'm Just lookin 'for a dear, dear friend of mine."
The choir interferes more in the third verse, the lights were lighter, brighter. "Here He comes, he's all dressed in black PR shoes and a big straw hat/ He's never early, he's always late/ First thing you learn is you always gotta wait/ I'm waiting for my man". Then the third song started, with altered in order to better fit the first song arrangement. All voices were on a powerful, stimulating wave. "We passed upon the stairs, we spoke of was and when / Although i was not there, He Said i was his friend / Which came as some surprise I spoke into his eyes / i thought you died alone, a long long time ago / oh no, not I / we never lost control / you're face to face / with the man who sold the world."
Santana regains the solo and back the momentum with the choir. "Up to a brownstone, up three flights of stairs / everybody's pinned you, but nobody cares. He's got the woks, gives you sweet taste / ah then you gotta split because you got no time to waste." Gradually we returned to our starting positions, the light dims and Santana have the ground again. "Baby do not you holler, darlin 'do not you bawl and shout / I'm feeling good, you know I'm gonna work it on out / I'm felling good, I'm feeling oh so fine / till tomorrow, but that's Just other time / I'm waiting for my man". And our presentation ends with Santana ahead. The band stops and she begins acapella.
"Hello darkness , my only friend / I've come to talk with you again / Because the vision soflty creeping / Left its seeds while i was sleeping / and the vision That was planted in my brain / Still remains Within the sound of silence." the girls harmonize with Santana. "In restless dreams I walked alone / Narrow streets of cobblestone / Neath the halo of street lamp / i turned my collar to the cold and damp / When my eyes were stabbed / by the flash of neon light / that split the night / and touched the sound of silence."
Santana "dies" on stage in Brittany lap and the boys took the following verses. "And in the naked light i saw/ ten thousand people, maybe more/ people talking without speaking/ people hearing without listening/ People writing songs that voices never share/ and no one dare/ disturb the sound of silence" Finally all voices were unite for the final verses of "Sound of Silence".
We hear the audience burst into applause, with people standing up at the end. We ran toward the center of the stage and we bow in gratitude. More than that: I felt we were in, that we would return on Friday. When the lights came up and the curtains were closed, the drive was intense for the next group. The boys in the band barely unplugged the instruments and other musicians were already taking place but the drums, which was the same for everyone. But we were allowed to stay in there a little to celebrate and download the adrenaline.
Neither seemed that Sam was sad because of Quinn, Artie avoided being close to Santana because he was still bitter after the breakup with Brittany, Finn and Noah were wondering, Santana and Quinn were very close to fight, or that most of the members of the choir just tolerate me. Nothing of these cared at that moment. Right there, Finn hugged me, lifted me off the ground and spun me in the air. Then, he gave me a quick kiss on the lips in front of everyone.
"Please leave the area." One of the organizers ordered and we obey to avoid problems such as fines and disqualifications.
We left the stage to the dressing rooms, where we could drink some water and calm down.
"So Rachel, did you think your daily torture worked?"
"I'd say it was a job above expectations" I smiled and hugged Santana. God knows how difficult it was to make this creature work and at the same time be ready to run at the slightest sign that she was going to jump on my neck.
Schuester entered in our dressing room giving high fives.
"You guys were superb. I wanted to beat myself for almost not accept this number. But the choreography..."
"We had to make some changes" Mike explained. "The original lacked the aggression we need and how you had to leave, so I assumed the direction..."
According to the rules, at least the captains and the director had to be present when the results are announced, so most of the team was exempt to enjoy the afternoon and night. Even Finn and I could go if we back in time. But I wanted and needed to know the other contestants, and Mr. Schue also did the same. Finn opted to come back later, but not before trying to convince me to leave with him. Quinn, to my surprise, took the camera in her backpack and stayed.
"I'll take some photos. Maybe I have luck to take unusual things." She said in an almost nonchalant tone as we bought a bottled a snack. Whenever she kissed me, she acted as if nothing had happened. I frowned and thought it would be impossible to continue the game after admitting she wanted me. Still there she was acting this way because of the kiss with Finn? Why, if I hadn't officially over with him and wouldn't even do it during National for the good of the team? And she knew that.
It gave me willingness to do an interrogation, but an interval of 20 minutes for the second block of presentations was ending. I sat in one of the unoccupied chairs next to Mr. Schue and concentrated in presentations. The second block was stronger than ours, where we were the best. High Steinbeck's choir, from North Carolina, was more traditionalist and less performative, but team was very solid and organized. Another strong competitor was Coral House, from the Bronx, New York City. It was almost like watching "Sister Act 2" with Alicia Keys and Jay Z ahead. I had to take a little air in the range.
"Are we so bad?" Quinn met me in the lobby.
"This block five was very strong, and Vocal Adrenaline hasn't even presented yet."
"Hey." Quinn put her hand on my face. "It is going to work, okay?"
"Do you think? What if I fought so much with Schuester to be wrong in the end?"
"What I saw is that the audience cheered us, and as much as I hate to admit, Santana was superb. Nobody so far has invested in a theatrical presentation and that sets us apart from them, even if our performance was polemical. The boys from the jazz club made an excellent arrangement, we did the acapella thing and all technical requirement. There is nothing to fear, Rachel."
"I wish I had your confidence."
"Let's make a bet. Without even see the third block, I guarantee you that we will be in the top five." I tried to argue, but Quinn raised his finger in warning to wait for her to finish. "And if it is confirmed, you will owe me a favor."
"What kind of favor?"
"I will say when the time comes, but don't worry: it won't be something dirty or bad."
"What if we fail?"
"Then I will be the one who will owe you a favor."
I looked at her in jeans and black Iron Maiden t-shirt. She was beautiful, even when poorly dressed. My fallen for her was getting serious.
"Quinn... about yesterday..."
"I know we should talk. Today in the terrace?" I noted.
The warning bell rang. I sat in the same chair I was previously. Quinn sat in the row right behind me. The first choir, from Texas, was technically very good, but I believe it made a mistake in choosing the music: Johnny Cash didn't fit well in the format. Meanwhile, Finn, Kurt and Mercedes returned to the auditorium. Finn sat by my side and I avoid to look at Quinn at all costs. Then the Vocal Adrenaline came to the stage and they were perfect as ever, but with a key difference: Sunshine Corazon was a strange presence despite the impressive voice. In a way, I'd rather the robotic and perfect leadership of Jesse and Giselle with Shelby directing them. I really liked the Kennedys Lived (reference to band Dead Kennedys), from Idaho: it was a group with the minimum number of members, like ours, but they were more homogeneous.
Finn held my hand at the time the organization said it would announce the result. The captains and directors awaited on stage while the rest of the members spread among the audience or in the theater hall, where they could watch everything through the internal monitor. Finn and I were there next to Mr. Schue, nervous as ever.
It seemed a deliberate cruelty, but the organization decided to announce the 10th to the 1st, leaving disposed teams on stage until the last name. Five names was announced and nothing about New Directions. North Carolina's choir ranked in sixth. To my surprise, Vocal Adrenaline was announced in fifth place. Their director didn't look happy. The New York group was the fourth and it only increased my nervousness.
"Third place, New Directions, from William McKinley High, Lima, Ohio."
Finn immediately hugged me and lifted me off the floor for the second time that day. We scored 48.2 of 50 and I wanted to kiss my sister so bad. Third among 15 strong teams, what a feat! Mr. Schue received the symbolic "medallion" and we had to leave the stage to continue celebrating. The Kennedys Lived ranked second. The winner of the first round was New Beats, Mason City, Iowa. For me, it was a surprise because I thought the performance with Bruce Springsteen's music was good enough to qualify, but not to win. Seen as a sign that national would bring surprising results in any way.
…
I was eager to get to the hotel to celebrate with all the team and, after that, have my conversation with Quinn. I needed to understand this lopsided relationship. Finn had no idea about my affair, much less that our relationship was on borrowed time. Quinn had that "I'm a big bitch and I'm better than you" kind of look: it was very difficult to interpret what is behind it. Anyway, as soon as Quinn gave me a sign, we would have that roof to our conversation.
"Schuester." One of the jazz boys ran up in the hall. "Problems."
He took us to one of the rooms where some hubbub was happening. We saw Santana, Lauren, Sam and Noah drunk and partially naked playing strip poker against other two guys and two girls from the other choir. There was a considerable crowd around and empty vodka bottles.
"EVERYONE OUT!" Schuester yelled. At the same time, their director arrived not too happy. Less than a minute, the audience left the room. "Clothe yourselves, NOW!" And he turned more discreetly to me. "You better go help your sister while Mercedes and I will help Lauren."
"You won't suspend them, correct?" If students were punished by the tour manager, in case: Mr. Schuster, goodbye competition.
"Santana and others will be punished in some way."
"Maybe this unpleasant incident should stay between us." the other director said while helping her lead singer to get up. "I'm sure that each team can handle with these problems in a proper way."
Santana was really drunk, only in bra and panties. She put the top tank with some difficulty. Brittany and I had to help her put her pants while some helped the other girl, who was only in her panties. The boys didn't seem so bad. Noah appeared to be the most sober of the group of six after Lauren. Santana put her arm around my shoulders and I helped her to get out the room.
"I told you not to play!" Brittany looked tired. "But you never listen to me!"
"I would crash them." Santana spoke with her alcoholic breath. "Schuuu is a party pooper."
"What exactly happened?" I asked Britt as we held Santana.
"They said it was to make peace between the teams. And then to celebrate the rankings."
"And we seal the peace..." Santana said truncated "I just had to show my twins and voila!"
I didn't give opinion. If I spoke anything to my sister, I would swear her until the fifth generation of her future kids. It was better to leave the scolding for later.
"Britt, take some clean clothes in her bag, please?" And I looked at Quinn. "Do you help me to take her in the shower?"
"What? I don't want this to see me naked!" Santana muttered. "This is a failure gay from Narnia." And turned to me as if to tell a secret for everyone hear. "Careful! She wants to get in your pants. I don't want to see her paws on you, Ray... because otherwise I'll have to kick her ass." Santana was winding all "R's" "Heard it, bitch, I'll kick your ass if you get close..."
"You know what?" Quinn opened the bathroom door. "Drunk or not, she's your problem, Rachel. I don't have to hear this kind of shit. Brittany helps you deal with your drunken sister after all... she's used to do that."
I could only imagine how Brittany would be familiarized with this kind of situation. Despite never attending the festivities of the popular kids, I knew Santana sometimes exaggerated because the hang over the day after she slept in Britt's house. She never went home drunk of respect or fear to my parents, especially papa. But since daddy died, she wasn't that concerned anymore, despite the last time I saw her drinking was at our last party.
I was almost undressed my sister, who was collaborating, when Brittany arrived with pajamas, towel, Listerine, aspirin and a bottle of water.
"We need to get her to drink water and take this medicine now." She warned. "She will feel less harm tomorrow."
Even in the shower, Santana was surprisingly cooperative. While the warm water was falling on her body, she took the water and medicines without insistence. Quinn was right: Brittany was accustomed to do that. As soon as Santana came out of the shower, we helped her to wear the clothes. The hair was the last. Finally, Santana made use of Listerine and she looked better, more sober at least, still I through my arm firmly around her waist. The other girls were looking the scene while they wait to help Lauren.
"Today you will sleep here." I sat beside her on my bed of our bunk.
"Good night, Ray... love you." She cuddled the pillow unceremoniously.
"Love you to, Santy."
Quinn wasn't in the room, but Kurt, Mercedes and Tina were around talking about the scene and also keeping an eye if an emergency happens. I was exhausted and drunken Santana was the icing on the cake. I thought about Quinn and I figured maybe she was on the roof, so I decided to check it out. My intuition worked one more time.
"Did you solve the problem with your sister?" Quinn said without even turning to me and I began to hate this. She was sitting just on those nasty sunbeds.
"She is asleep."
"At least Santana made clear her opinion about me. Hypocrite! Whoever sees so even thinks that she is the heterosexual queen."
"She was drunk. And she is bisexual, if you want a more precise definition."
"Drunks tend to be very sincere." Quinn got up and went towards me on that bitch expression locked on her face. I felt trapped. "Do you want to talk now or prefer wait till tomorrow?"
"Now is fine!"
"I'll leave some things clear here, Rachel. I like you, and I want to stay with you. Now I need to know if you really want the same."
"I… I think, maybe… yes?"
"Correct..." She was circling me like a predator. It was as if she was waiting for a response and if I answer correctly, she wouldn't devour me. "I know you want me and it is no use denying." There wasn't point to denial it, so yes, I want her. "The problem is that I'm not good to share, do you understand?" She looked half angry, half serious, and I found it so sexy and terrifying at the same time. "Don't you think you can stay with me and Finn the same way your sister do Brittany and Puck. If you want to stay with me, publicly or not, then you will have to be only with me, and nobody else."
"It's fair."
"Great. So what do you say?"
"I... I... I will... Could you not looks like you will throw a slushie on me anytime? It makes me nervous!" She took two steps back and I breathed a bit. "Thank you. I won't fool you, Quinn: my feelings for Finn is still strong and I don't think it go away in a heartbeat. But I also feel that crazy attraction for you, and I have this anxiety to live something new, a new romance. Having new expectations, do you understand? Here are you offering me just that and I want so much to be yours. But you know I can't break up with Finn, here in New York during the Nationals, when we need to keep our team reasonably united. You have to be patient."
"I understand! I'll give you these days to stay with the big foot for the good of the team. But don't abuse my goodwill. I hate to see you kissing him. It's horrible, Rachel."
"I won't abuse you." I hold her hand then we kissed to seal your agreement. "I think we better go downstairs. The day was long and we need to rest."
She agreed and gave me a peck before we went back to your room. I was so tired…