Don't Be Afraid to Sing Along Chapter 7, a glee fanfic

A/N: Hey all. So, I don't know if you saw the last chapter, seeing as I didn't get much feedback (and a million thanks to those who did review) but here I am anyway. Another week another chapter, and I hope you enjoy. Please tell me what you think.

Enjoy :)

"Ash, where the hell are you taking me?" Dylan wondered as he allowed his girlfriend to pull him through the hallways.

Ashleigh didn't answer, instead yanked Dylan around the corner, weaving through the lunchtime crowd and pulling Dylan along with her. "Ah ha!" she exclaimed after a moment, head snapping up as she spotted Levi down the hallway.

"Here," Ashleigh said, skidding to a stop in front of a surprised-looking Levi. "Dylan, this is Levi. Levi, Dylan," she introduced, gesturing between the two boys.

Dylan furrowed his brows, looking at Ashleigh with visible confusion. "Yeah, babe, I know," he reminded.

Ashleigh placed her hands on her hips. "Really?" she questioned sarcastically. "Because it doesn't seem like it. You do know you have a duet to perform on Friday, right?"

Dylan and Levi exchanged looks. They hadn't even spoken since the first meeting of the week. "Yeah, but..."

"No buts, Dylan," Ashleigh scolded. "You two are going to prepare a duet. And you can start now," she announced, placing a kiss on Dylan's cheek. "See you later."

Levi let out a low whistle as Ashleigh left. "Wow, dude, you are whipped," he said.

Dylan turned to him sharply. "Shut up," he grumbled. "Let's just get this over with."

Perry clutched her sketchbook close to her chest as she strolled through the empty halls, listening to the sound her boots made against the tile floor. She hummed quietly to herself, but quickly halted the noise as she turned the corner and spotted someone sitting down the hall.

"Hey, watchya doing?"

Anya glanced up at the sound, startled from her reading. "Oh, hello Perry," she greeted softly, somewhat shy. She had only spoken to the older girl once before, and even though they were in Glee Club a few times a week, she still wasn't comfortable with all the people.

Perry tilted her head to the side as she examined the girl, somewhat fearful that she had frightened her. "Don't you have class?" she wondered.

Anya nodded. "Yes, um, study hall," she explained. "I prefer to work out here," she said. "Do you have class now?"

"Yeah-"

"Oh, sorry," Anya interrupted, not wanting to offend the other girl. "I wasn't suggesting that you were, how do you say, skipping?" she stuttered. "I was only..."

Perry chuckled. "It's alright," she assured. "I have art class right now, but I'm way ahead, and Miss Hartford knows I don't work that well in a classroom setting," she explained.

Anya chuckled somewhat nervously. "Oh, okay."

Perry stood there for a moment, simply watching the younger girl before speaking once more. "Mind if I sit down with you, kiddo?" she asked.

"No, uh, go ahead," Anya said, looking genuinely surprised that Perry wanted to sit with her, which made Perry a little sad. Anya quickly shoved her books to the side so the older girl could sit down.

Perry opened her sketchbook, pulling the pencil from behind her ear and tapping it against the page. Anya listened to the sound for a minute, then turned back to her reading. The only sound in the hall was the two girls' breathing, and the scratch of Perry's pencil on the page.

They sat there in peaceful silence until the bell rang, and Anya briefly found herself wondering if that was what it felt like to have a friend.

On a lonely day
I look out on the freeway
I can, fantasize 'bout the car I drive
Don't leave the light on
I can find my way
It's been so long now I have to say..

It was obvious to Jordan the moment that Levi began to sing that him and Dylan had thrown this duet together last minute. She wondered if the two boys had been given the same ultimatum that her and Shay had, but she suspected that Ashleigh's influence was much more likely. They way she was grinning triumphantly at the pair gave it away.

The two boys took the chorus together, and Jordan had to fight not to roll her eyes. It was all so typical.

I'm goin'ta California
gonna live the life
sipping on tequila night after night
dreaming of the moment when everything looks right
a little bit of love goes a long way tonight

The next verse was Dylan's.

I'm on my way (I'm on my way)
Heading for the sun
that's where I'll stay
I'm never going back home
do you ever feel like
you need a change
hang out where no one knows your name

The rest of the song was like this as well, the two boys switching verses and singing the chorus is rough harmony. Jordan had to admit that there voices sounded nice together, and then again she hadn't expected anything better from a highschool glee club. They were smiling by the time they finished the song.

I'm goin'ta California
gonna live the life
sipping on tequila night after night
dreaming of the moment when everything looks right
a little bit of love goes a long way tonight

a little bit of love, a little bit of love, a little bit of love
goes a long way tonight
oh yeah

oh yeah
on my way...

Ashleigh and Sabrina stood confidently in front of the group, clad in matching outfits and smiles. They looked more than comfortable next to each other, in fact the were probably the only group that had really enjoyed who the had been partnered with for this assignment.

Sabrina turned to her friend. "You ready, Ash?" she questioned.

Ashleigh chuckled. "You know it," she replied.

Sabrina nodded, turning to the band behind her. "Hit it."

Can you hear them?
They talk about us.

Ashleigh stalked forward and next to her friend, responding to her in song.

Telling lies

Well, that's no surprise.

Sabrina chuckled, eyes roaming the small crowd.

Can you see them?

See right through them.

Ashleigh jumped in;

They have no shield,

No secrets to reveal.

The girls leaned against each other as the sang the chorus, looking as if they had been practising this for years.

It doesn't matter what they say.
In the jealous games people play.
Hey, hey, hey.
Our lips are sealed.

The next verse continued in the same fashion, each girl alternating lines, and Ashleigh giggling ever time Sabrina made an over-dramatic gesture.

Pay no mind to what they say

It doesn't matter anyway

Hey, hey, hey

Our lips are sealed

The song finished, and the two girls high fived, giggling still.

Sunny looked nervous as she stood in front of the group, hands at her sides. She relaxed as the music began, taking a deep breath.

All I knew this morning when I woke
Is I know something now, know something now I didn't before.
And all I've seen since eighteen hours ago
Is green eyes and freckles and your smile
In the back of my mind making me feel like

Greg joined in, smiling at Sunny as their voices blended together.

I just wanna know you better, know you better, know you better now
I just wanna know you, know you, know you

'Cause all I know is we said, "Hello."
And your eyes look like coming home
All I know is a simple name
Everything has changed
All I know is you held the door
You'll be mine and I'll be yours
All I know since yesterday is everything has changed

Greg swallowed, preparing for his solo.

And all my walls stood tall painted blue
And I'll take them down, take them down and open up the door for you

And all I feel in my stomach is butterflies
The beautiful kind, making up for lost time,
Taking flight, making me feel right

As the chorus came around again, Greg could feel energy surging through him, and he swayed slightly to the music, cheerful, albeit a bit awkward.

All I know is we said, "Hello."
And your eyes look like coming home
All I know is a simple name
Everything has changed
All I know is you held the door
You'll be mine and I'll be yours
All I know since yesterday is everything has changed

Sunny gave Greg a rare smile as she finished off the song.

All I know is we said, "Hello."
So dust off your highest hopes
All I know is pouring rain and everything has changed
All I know is a new found grace
All my days I'll know your face
All I know since yesterday is everything has changed

Standing side-by-side in the centre of the room, Shay and Jordan looked as if they had surpassed awkward days ago. In fact, Levi couldn't even tell who looked more uncomfortable. It was almost making him uncomfortable just watching them glance at each other every once and a while.

"Neither of us actually wanted to do this," Shay informed simply, arms crossed over her chest.

Jordan nodded. "I'm only here because Ms. Rodgers said I had to be. Also, she picked the song."

Levi suppressed a chuckle as Ms. Rodger's cleared her throat from the side of the room. "Thank you, girls," she said, though she sounded much more annoyed than grateful. "Why don't you start now?"

Jordan nodded as the music began, opening her mouth to sing.

And another one bites the dust
Oh why can I not conquer love?
And I might have thought that we were one
Wanted to fight this war without weapons

The song fit her voice surprisingly well, and Levi found himself taken aback by how good she was. He would never have expected that from the way she looked and held herself. Then again, he had always been a bit judgemental. His eyes turned to Shay as she took the next verse.

And I wanted it, I wanted it bad
But there were so many red flags
Now another one bites the dust
Yeah, let's be clear, I'll trust no one

Her eyes were ablaze, and Levi had a feeling that she meant every word she was singing. The music slowed as they took the next bit together.

You did not break me
I'm still fighting for peace

Well, I've got thick skin and an elastic heart,
But your blade - it might be too sharp
I'm like a rubber band until you pull too hard,
Yeah, I may snap and I move fast
But you won't see me fall apart
'Cause I've got an elastic heart

I've got an elastic heart
Yeah, I've got an elastic heart

As the song continued, Jordan's high voice bending the lyrics to her own will, Levi found himself watching Shay. Her eyes were slightly glazed over, focusing on some random point in the back of the room. Levi had heard about Shay. He had seen her around, knew about her reputation. She was harsh, manipulative, self-destructive, and so was he, in a way. But at least he didn't party every night, or sleep around.

Shay was different though, and as he watched her now he saw something he had never seen before. Behind her stoic expression, was emotion. Strong, painful emotion that he only recognized because he knew. Her lips moved, and if Levi was more cliche he might've said that he could see her singing her heart out. It almost hurt to watch.

He glanced around the room, eyes moving to Perry. She was watching Shay too, and he knew that she understood as well. His eyes travelled around the remainder of faces. Evan seemed to be tiring his best not to watch Shay's perceived apathy, but his eyes kept drifting back to her. Even the little Russian girl in the back was watching Shay with what seemed like understanding.

When Levi finally glanced back at Jordan he could see a bit of understanding in her eyes too.

Shay and Jordan sung the last chorus together.

Everyone held there breath as Shay sung the last line, and if Levi didn't know better, he might have thought that the glistening he saw in her blue eyes was a tear.

I've got an elastic heart.

"Evan," Lauren Conaway exclaimed as her son walked through the front door, moving to embrace him. "Where have you been?" she wondered. "Why didn't you answer my texts?"

Evan stifled a sigh, hugging his mother back. "I was at Glee," he reminded. "Remember?'

Lauren pulled away, nodded. "Oh, oh yes, alright."

"Where's dad?" Evan wondered as he pulled off his shoes. His dad might still be at work, but that would be surprising. In fact, it was even more surprising that his mother was home already. She almost always was at the law firm until fairly late.

"I'm not sure," Lauren replied, though she didn't seem all that concerned. She took Evan by the arm and pulled him further into the house. "Are you hungry?"

Evan shrugged her off, running a hand through his short hair. "Nah, I'm good," he assured, moving towards the stairs. "I think I'm just going to go hang out up in my room."

Lauren nodded, a bit too enthusiastically. "Alright, just tell me if you need anything," she said. "I'll come check on you later."

"Yeah mom," Evan said, trying not the roll his eyes as he climbed the stairs. He moved quickly through the hallway, dodging boxes as he went. They had moved here a year ago and there were still unpacked boxes lining the halls and filling the closets. Mostly Noah's things, but none of them had had the heart -or the stomach- to touch that stuff yet.

Passing the guest bedroom, Evan paused. The door was closed, but light was streaming through the crack at the bottom and into the hallway. Silently, he pressed his ear to the door, pulling away when he heard his father's faint crying from inside. That was probably where he was going to drink himself to sleep tonight. No wonder his mother hadn't wanted to talk about it.

Evan sighed, moving down the hall and into his bedroom. He flopped down on the bed. It wasn't even six o'clock, and he was already too tired to move.

Songs:

California by Wave

Our Lips Are Sealed by Hilary and Hayliie Duff

Everything Has Changed by Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran

Elastic Heart by Sia