A/N: Sorry it took me so long to post this next chapter, but I was actually contemplating on abandoning the whoie story. That will not happen; I'm not a giver-upper. It will still be a few more chapters, but I'm a bit lost, and it would be nice to get some ideas on how to not bore myself to death. I know it's not what you want to hear if you plan on reading this story, but it is in the Glee-spirit. The lack of real drama, and no nudity whatsoever. (almost not) I really care about my characters, but the songs they sing are really the only thing in this story that excites me. I listen to the songs as I write, and I hope you will listen to them as you read. Sorry guys, sorry.

A sort of summary of the chapter: They pick one more song for regionals, but the group number is still pending. Ianto feels targetted, and he hopes that nobody notices. Not so. Pretty much everybody is aware of what's going on. They have to pick roommates for at the motel they have to stay at, and that causes a small drama.

Songs in this chapter:
I know him so well - from 'Chess' - M/L: Ulvaeus, Andersson, Rice

Fly/I believe I can fly - Glee cast 2012 - Nicki Minaj feat Rihanna/R. Kelly

Gwen didn't know what Ianto had been up to all weekend, but he had definitely not been able to dig up a solo. That was apparently the case for Castiel and Dean also, but all three of them got another couple of days.

It wasn't that anybody couldn't suggest a song, but with the girls big number Mr Evans wanted the boys to step up.

When Jack and John came running out on stage and asked to perform a duet they had rehearsed, the director emitted a sigh. "Alright. I should have known." He shook his head and chuckled silently. Everybody knew what he was thinking. Jack was unable to let anybody else have the spotlight.

The melody was strangely familiar, but Gwen could not remember what it was. When Jack started singing she realized that she even knew the lyrics somewhat, but she was still not capable of brushing the dust off the memory of where she knew it from.

"Nothing is so good it lasts eternally

Perfect situations must go wrong

But this has never yet prevented me

Wanting far too much for far too long…"

It had to be from a musical. The sound was very much up that alley, and Gwen twisted her brain to try to remember which one. When John joined in and they started singing together, it triggered something in her mind.

"Wasn't it good? (Oh so good.)

Wasn't he fine? (Oh so fine.)

Isn't it madness

He can't be mine?"

It was from Chess, and it was originally sung by two girls. That was probably the reason she didn't recognize it immediately.

"But in the end he needs

A little bit more than me -

More security."

Jack continued and John followed up with the next few lines.

"He needs his fantasy

And freedom…"

It was a bold choice, but it sounded great. The two boys didn't so much as throw a glance at each other as they sang. It could almost look like they tried to avoid it on purpose, as if they were in some kind of competition.

It took a few more seconds before she noticed that they were both very much focused on somebody else in the room. She turned to look at Ianto, and it was quite clear that he'd noticed this as well. The stares he got from John and Jack as they were singing seemed to bother him somewhat, and he tried to scoot backwards to hide behind a couple of the other choir members.

"Looking back I could

Have played it

Differently

Learned about the man

Before I fell…"

The way Jack and John weaved the lyrics together, and sang the different lines in perfect harmony didn't really fit the expression on their faces when they finally looked at each other for a split second. This was definitely a competition, and the grand prize seemed to be Ianto.

It made absolutely no sense for Gwen. She started to think through what had happened with her cousin the last couple of months, but couldn't come up with any good explanation for Jack and John's behavior.

"Wasn't it good? (Oh so good.)

Wasn't he fine? (Oh so fine.)

Isn't it madness

He won't be mine?

Didn't I know

How it would go?

If I knew from the start

Why am I falling apart?

He won't be mine?

Did they both have a crush on Ianto, or was this just fun and games? Gwen moved slowly over to get closer to her cousin, but he kept moving backwards and out of reach. It didn't seem like any of the others had noticed what went on, and if she wanted to keep it that way she had to give up getting to him at this very second.

"It took time to understand him…"

For a moment there it looked like John was getting a little emotional as he sang his line, but when he turned to look at Jack as they finished the song, it was with a smug little smile on his face.

"I know him so well"

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

That was the most embarrassing moment of his life. Ianto hoped that nobody else had noticed how John and Jack kept looking at him through the whole performance.

As the rest of the choir cheered for the two boys, Ianto did his best to hide in the background. Mr Evans was obviously quite impressed, and he kept nodding as he jumped up on the stage. "That was really good. How did you...? It's a little controversial, but I think this song could work. How did you think of this?"

"Well, we…" John was about to answer when Jack cut him off. "I heard it sung by two guys once before, and I liked it. When I suggested it for John, he was very excited." The microphone was still on so Ianto could hear the guy loud and clear. He scoffed to himself. It was just like Jack to make sure he got the credit.

There was only one positive thing about this, except for the fact that they did an excellent performance. If this song got picked, Ianto didn't have to dig up a solo for himself. He could concentrate on the group number, and wouldn't have to stand there like an idiot trying to outsing Jack or Dean or anyone else.

It wasn't like he didn't think he was good enough for a solo, but he was so not in the mood to do it at the moment. He'd spent the whole weekend cooped up in his room really trying to come up with something, but it hadn't happened.

A tap on his shoulder made him turn around. Gwen was standing there with a puzzled expression on her face, and Ianto knew why. She had obviously noticed what happened on stage, and now she was curious about it.

"They sang it for you." She got up on her toes and whispered into his ear. "Why?" Ianto pulled away and shook his head. "Nooo." He tried tried to look surprised and hoped it worked. "Why would you think that? I don't know anything about it anyway."

She rolled her eyes and threw a quick peek up on stage. "But you have to admit that it was a bit strange the way they looked at you through the whole song, right?" Ianto didn't know if it was worth lying, but gave it a shot. "I didn't notice. Did they really? Well. You'd have to ask them."

That was technically the last thing he wanted Gwen to do, and he felt that he had to make her stop. If Gwen had anymore awkward questions for him, he wanted to deal with them in another place than this. She rolled her eyes again. "Don't even try. I know you noticed. What is..." When Ianto lifted a finger to his lips, she managed to shut up mid sentence. Then she nodded a couple of times. "Okay. Later then, right?"

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Dean was kind of relieved when John and Jack was done with the song. If anyone bothered to ask him, he would easily vote for that one for the competition. Not only because they did an excellent job of it, but it would give him a leeway. With his dad in town, he didn't have time to work on a solo for himself, and even if he would have wanted to be one of the leads at regionals, he knew he couldn't compete with Jack right now. John did a very good job up there, but there was no doubt about it; Jack was the star this time as well.

He wondered what Ianto was thinking about it, and he did look for the guy, but he was hiding in the back. Maybe he didn't get it. Maybe he didn't notice the looks John and Jack sent him as they performed.

When Dean and Unique walked with Jack from English class less than two hours ago, he had excitedly told them what was going to happen in the auditorium. He didn't say what song they were going to perform, but he shared willingly that both he and John had a crush on Ianto and they were going to show that. John was walking behind them, and he tried to get Jack to tone it down. Jack seemed to understand, and he urged Dean and Unique to keep quiet about it.

"You think you have a chance?" Unique seemed to share Dean's opinion on this. He could not understand why the two of thought that singing a song together for Ianto would work for any of them. "So maybe he is a little dodgy, but come on…" Unique threw a peek behind her. John had obviously given up on trying to stop this particular conversation, and he just huffed audibly.

"Maybe it won't, but at least he'll know that we…" Jack threw his hands out. "I don't know. The song is good though, and it could possibly make it into the competition."

Both Unique and Dean had agreed that a collaboration between Jack and John could be great, but they still didn't understand how it would make any difference for Ianto.

After hearing it, Dean had totally changed his view. If Ianto was carrying a torch for any of those two, he had to be moved by the song, even if the guy didn't understood that they were singing it to him,

Dean looked for Unique, and wondered if she had changed her opinion as well. She was sitting next to Castiel, so Dean didn't want to approach her, but she looked rather touched.

He hadn't talked to Cas since they parted on the stoop of Dean's building. He could almost still feel the touch of the guy's lips, and wished that he could be bold enough to walk up to him casually, but he wouldn't know what to say.

Mr Evans urged everybody to come on stage to rehearse yet another group number. The song from Hair hadn't worked out so good, and without any really good suggestions from the class, they had a pile of songs to go through this week.

Dean watched as Ianto positioned himself as far away from Jack and John as he could. Maybe the song didn't work, or maybe the guy was just too intimidated about it at the moment. Dean wasn't going to say anything, but he was a little curious.

When Unique came straight towards him with Cas in tow, Dean got a little wary, but she placed herself next to Dean with Castiel on the other side. Then she leaned over and whispered: "If Ianto didn't get that, he's a damn fool."

Dean chuckled a little. "Yeah. I agree." He smiled before he started to look through the sheet music they'd been given. "You know…" Unique leaned in again. "I think I'm going to go stand with the girls." She gave Dean a wink before she stepped away. Nobody came to fill her spot, and when Mr Evans asked them to scoot together Dean found himself standing right next to Castiel.

They didn't exchange one single word on that stage, but Dean dared to send him a quick smile, and was happy to get one back.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Gwen was a little disappointed when she realized that Ianto had nothing to share about what happened during John and Jack's song. As soon as they were in the car she'd demanded an explanation. Her cousin had admitted that he felt like a target, but he swore to her that he didn't know why.

When she suggested that the two of them both had a crush on Ianto, he'd just laughed it away. "They hooked up with each other, why would they do that if…" Gwen stared at him. Was it possible that Ianto was that ignorant? "Seriously! They were just comforting each other. We don't even know if they really hooked up."

She was pretty sure they did, but if they both had pursued Ianto without getting any reciprocation from him, they could have decided to give it up. That they later regretted the whole thing became apparent, the way they had behaved towards one another after New Year's eve.

"So are you intrigued by it? Do you, er, have you ever thought about…" She was normally quite direct, and wouldn't hesitate asking uncomfortable questions, but she was a little worried about the answer. "Could you see yourself being with a boy?"

It wasn't that she wouldn't have embraced it wholeheartedly if Ianto had had those thoughts, but if so, it meant that she'd read him wrong. That would be a little embarrassing. She knew him better than anyone, and she had a well developed gaydar. A simple 'no' would have sufficed if Ianto wanted to get her off his back, but he blushed and started stuttering. "I, er, no, well. Not really." He huffed. "Hasn't everybody? I mean… Haven't you… you know, had thoughts about being with a girl?"

This was so not about her, but she had to admit that it had crossed her mind. When she excitedly tried to force Ianto to tell her more, he'd clamped up completely and refused to say another word.

Curious about what would happen when they met John and Jack again, she could hardly wait for choir practice the next day, but she got no time to find out anything because Sam started talking as soon as they were seated in the choir room. The director had notified them all to gather there for a meeting before rehearsal. Gwen knew what it was all about because Mr Evans had sought her up earlier that day, and she was happy to say yes to the suggestion he presented for her.

"We have fifteen students and three chaperones. I was going to let you all choose your roommates, but I had to take part of the matter into my own hands." He was standing in front of the class. He had told them when and how they were going to get to regionals, and which motel they were going to stay in.

"Gwen and Unique are going to share with Mrs Lopez." He nodded towards the two. "We have already discussed this, and all three of them have agreed to that." Gwen wasn't too thrilled about bunking with a teacher, but she knew that Unique's special situation could have ended up with nobody wanting to share with her. She liked Unique, and she didn't care if there was a dick hiding under the girly clothes.

"The rest of the girls will have to share a room." Sam smiled to them. "It can be a bit cramped with four people, but it's only for one night." Jo, Jane, Madison and Charlie didn't seem to mind. "We only have one double room, and it might sound a little unfair for you, but Mr Schuester and I will take that."

He started to hand out some paperwork as he continued talking. "You boys can find out between you who you want to bunk with. Three in each room. If you can't agree, I'll have the final word." He was done with his round and held up a copy of the paper he'd handed out. "These are the rules for the competition. I have also included my own set of demands."

Gwen chuckled a little when she saw the handwritten note in red ink on the front of the paper. "EVERYBODY WILL STAY TILL MORNING, AND WE WILL ALL LEAVE TOGETHER." She knew what Mr Evans was referring to, and she was blushing a little. Their infamous departure from sectionals, was initially her idea.

The boys started chatting loudly trying to agree on how to share the rooms. Gwen was curious about who Ianto was going to end up with, but got thrown off when Unique sat down next to her. "Hello roomie. We're going to have so much fun."

Gwen scoffed. "Yeah right. Mrs Lopez is going to be so thrilled about that." It was just one night, and it wasn't like it was a big problem having a teacher amongst them. Unique chuckled. "Oh don't worry. Santana Lopez knows how to party."

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Ianto went straight over to Dean and asked if they could share a room. The guy looked a little surprised, but didn't turn him down. "Sure. Why not." He shrugged a little and threw a peek at his brother. Ianto had been quite sure that the two Winchesters would team up, so by staying in the same room as them he could avoid both John and Jack.

He felt that he was in a little bit of a dilemma, because he didn't want to bunk with any of them, but at the same time he didn't want the two boys to end up in a room together either. Not that he worried so much about that happening. Jack and John had barely talked to each other the last few weeks. Things could have changed, but even if they sang together the other day they still didn't seem to want to hang out much.

There was nothing he could do about it regardless, so he decided to try to not let it bother him. That he hadn't spent much time with the Winchester brothers before wasn't a problem. They were only going to sleep in the same room, and when the morning came, they were all going back home.

Mr Evans shuffled them out of the choir room and led the way to the auditorium. "We are going to try 'I believe I can fly'. You already have the sheet music. It's a really good choir version of the song."

Ianto didn't feel comfortable with that song. Everybody knew that the Glee choir from way back when had done this song before for regionals. At that point in time they had won, but doing it again was so 'yesterday's' news'.

Jane and Mason were going to be the lead singers, and Ianto knew that it wouldn't sit well with a couple of the other members. The whole thing was probably going to be a disaster regardless, knowing that they were trying to copy - according to rumors - the best Glee-choir McKinley had ever had.

As he walked over to find his position, Castiel grabbed his sleeve. "Hey. I heard that you have a spare bed. Can I take it?" At first, Ianto didn't know what he was talking about, but then he realized that it had to do with the accommodations for regionals. "Sorry. I'm with the Winchester brothers. We have no room."

Cas stared at him dumbfounded. "You didn't know? Sam is going to bunk with Kevin and Garth, and that leaves you guys with a spare bed." Ianto didn't know that. He also didn't know if Dean had promised that bed to anyone else, so he felt that he couldn't just say yes. "You'll have to ask Dean. It's fine with me, but…" Castiel cut him off. "Can you ask?"

Dean was standing at the front of the stage talking with John. Ianto was pretty sure that the two of them had the same conversation as he and Castiel, and he made a quick decision. "Sure. It'll be fine. He waved Cas off before he ran over to Dean. "Cas is staying in our room. I promised him already."

It could look like Dean was about to pass out for a second, but then he turned to John. "Sorry. Too late. The bed has obviously been taken."

Ianto received a crooked smile from John as he walked away, and he felt bad. John had been his best friend since they first met in Glee-club, but things had turned sour for no reason. That little kiss shouldn't have managed to destroy what they had. Ianto felt totally responsible for their fallout. He could have taken it in the stride and decided to deal with it then and there.

If it was true. If John had a crush on him - which Ianto found very weird - they could have dealt with it back then, and avoided the odd tension that was between them now.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Mason was not happy about having to sleep in the same room as John and Jack. Even if both of them had been rather evasive about it when asked, everybody had their theories on what happened that night after the party. Mason worried what could go down - or up for that matter - in that motel room.

It didn't look like John and Jack was too thrilled about the arrangement either, and all three of them were quietly negotiating with the rest of the boys.

Castiel didn't know what it would entail for him, but if they couldn't come to an agreement, Sam Evans would just pick their roommates at random.

Not that it mattered so much. He followed Unique's advice about being bold and daring, but if he didn't get to share with Dean it was okay. At least he'd tried, and he knew that Unique was proud of him. He'd told her about the kiss, and she was a little disappointed that it didn't lead to anything, but she agreed that it was a start.

"Okay guys." Mr Evans tried to get their attention. "I'll give you till after rehearsal, but then I have to hand in the sheet." He waved with a paper where he'd written down the sleeping arrangement. "It's not such a big deal, and if you guys decide to trade later, I just need to know about it. The motel requires a list, so we have to provide that."

Jane was ready to sing, and was patiently waiting for the boys to settle down. Cas could see that she was nervous, but it wasn't so strange; she was going to compete with the famous Rachel Berry.

"I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive

I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise…"

She started quite abruptly, and the rest of the choir wasn't quite prepared. It went rather well, and both Unique and Mason managed to jump in on the right spot.

"If I can see it"

"Me, me, me against them

Me against enemies, me against friends

Then I can do it

Somehow they both seem to become one

A sea full of sharks and they all smell blood

If I just believe it

They start coming and I start rising

Must be surprising, I'm just surmising

There's nothing to it..."

Ianto did a good job on his solo backed up by the rest of the choir, and when Unique joined him it could sound like they had rehearsed this together beforehand. Cas knew it wasn't so, but so far it was the best part of the song.

"I win, thrive, soar, higher, higher, higher

More fire.."

They were all a little more familiar with the lyrics on the other song in this mash-up, and with Jack and Jane leading on they soon picked up the slack from the first part.

"I believe I can fly

Fly

I believe I can touch the sky."

It didn't last so long. The rest of the song went totally awry, and Sam Evans stopped them before they were done. "That was horrible!" He rolled his eyes before he panned the crowd. "If we're going to do this, you guys have to focus."