Chapter 2
It's a New Day
Will drove his car into the parking lot. He started to walk. Finn helped Rachel with her suitcase.
"Oh, thanks, Finn. You're so chivalrous."
"Thanks. That's a good thing, right?"
"Yeah."
Will walked into Emma. Actually, she walked into him. "Oh, sorry, Will."
"Emma, hi," Will smiled. "Thank you for the advice the other day."
Santana walked by and said, "Get a room."
Quinn said, "Mr. Shue, Coach Sylvester wants to see you in her office. She doesn't like to be kept waiting."
Will entered Sue's office. The bitch coach told him, "I had a chat with Figgins and according to the show choir rule book, you need 12 members to qualify for Regionals. Last time I checked, you only have six. One of them's in a wheelchair. You want to be in the spotlight. I can respect that. But if you don't show at Regionals, the deal's off. You can be my coaching assistant."
"Are you threatening me, Sue?"
"Threatening you? You betcha."
"Look, Sue, I politely decline your offer. Glee Club is here to stay. We are gonna show at Regionals. You have my word on that."
"Yeah? We'll see."
In the choir room, everyone was rehearsing with "Le Freak." Mercedes said, "Hell to the naw. This song is terrible!"
Kurt said, "It is the song. Coming from me, it's really gay."
Artie said, "We need more modern music, Mr. Shue."
Will said, "You guys, I'm sorry. There's no more time to discuss this. We have to sing something at the pep assembly this Friday."
Tina asked, "In front of the whole school?"
"Exactly."
Kurt said, "But they're gonna throw fruit at us. And I just had a facial."
Rachel said, "I'll press charges if that happens."
Will said, "Guys, we need to recruit more members. There are only six of you. We need 12 to qualify for Regionals, or the club is over."
The next day, Will walked into the choir room after Kurt and Mercedes were dissing each other's appearances. Will said, "All right, guys, how about a little Kanye?"
Mercedes gasped, "For the assembly?"
"No, we won't have enough time. But we can still fold this into our repertoire. Communication is the foundation of any successful music group. You guys wanted modern music. I found some. Mercedes, you know this?"
"Oh, I got this." That was when they started, "Gold Digger." It does not get any more modern than that.
Rachel and Finn were practicing in the auditorium a week later. She played a note on the piano. "Try it."
Finn sung to imitate the note. "La!"
"Good!"
"That was good." Rachel played another note. "La! Was that okay?"
"Yeah. It's like the Holy Grail for a baritone, so it's a good note. Alright, I'll start at the bottom and then we'll go up higher."
"Can we take a break? I mean, singing kinda makes me a little hungry."
"Sure. Lucky I prepared for that." She showed him a picnic.
"Wow! I wondered what that was all about."
"Do you want to sit?"
"Yeah." He walked to the pillows. "Absolutely."
"I was wondering why you asked me to help you with your singing. You kicked butt at the assembly." They sat down.
"Well, this is my only chance to be…you know, good like you."
"You think I'm good?"
"Well, when I first joined, I thought you were kind of insane. I mean, you talk a lot more than you should and…to be honest with you, I looked under the bed. But then I heard you sing. I don't know how to say this, but you touched something in me. You're cool, Rachel."
Rachel smiled. "Thanks. Uh, do you want a drink?"
"Yeah. Thanks."
"Well, cheers."
"Cheers. Cups are like the airplane cups." They sip.
"You know, if you want, we can… but you don't have to."
"I want to." They leaned forward for a kiss. Finn stood up suddenly.
"What? What is it?"
"I just have to go. Look, please don't tell anybody about this, okay?" He walked out without another word.
Puck was kissing Santana in the hallway. Mercedes looked at them with disgust. Kurt walked to his locker and opened it. MJ asked him, "Have you ever kissed anybody?"
"Yes, if by anybody, you mean my elbow." He put on hairspray. "No, I haven't. But I'd like to. Okay, stop it. Mercedes, we are in glee club. That means we are at the bottom of the social heap. Special ed kids will get more play than we will. The only thing that gets me by is that we are superior to all of them." He took her arm and started to walk together. "What are you wearing for our field trip?"
"Is there a dress code?"
"No, but every moment of your life is an opportunity for fashion. We'll hit the mall after school. Meet me at lunch."
Outside they were doing a car wash. Mercedes stood up and glared at Kurt's work. "Those rims are clean. We've polished them three times already."
"Did you bring a change of clothes? We're going straight with the Sound of Music."
"Kurt, this is the third time we've gone out. Can we just make it official?"
"Make what official?"
Rachel stood up and squeezed a sponge.
Kurt said, "Mercedes…I'm gay."
"Why didn't you just tell me?"
"Because I've never told anyone before."
"You shouldn't be ashamed of who you are, Kurt. You should tell people, especially the guys in glee. The whole point of the club is about expressing what's really inside you."
"I guess I'm just not that confident." He walked off.
Rachel was stretching. "I've always tried to be a team player. Let's face it, Mr. Shue, you don't like me very much."
"That's not true. I am your biggest fan."
"Look, I know who I am. I know I can be abrasive, bossy and conceited. I know it sounds awful, but I know that I'm the best one in there. I tried the hardest and I want it the most."
"Everyone knows that."
"I'm not quitting glee. I'm just looking for a reason to stay. Everyone on the team is getting something out of being there. You're doing a great job of getting them out of their shells."
All right. Let's skip a bit. So, Kurt joined the football team, and when he did, he decided to do a new routine. During the big game, at the final play, Finn called a timeout and tapped Puck. "Dude, we gotta do it."
"We will be jokes for the rest of our high school lives."
"We're already jokes! I don't wanna be a Lima loser for the rest of my life."
"Like Baywatch!"
"Hey, ankle grabber. I made out with your mother. No, seriously, I cleaned your pool and then I made out with her in your bed. Nice Ben 10 sheets." Okay… "Let's do it, Captain."
"Ring On It on three. Yeah. Ready?"
The music turned on and the players were dancing to the music. Some of them were really into it.
Finn yelled, "Hut!" and they scored. The crowd went wild. Will and Emma hugged. Kurt did the "Single Ladies" routine and kicked the ball so high that they won the game. The whole crowd cheered! Even the coach was impressed. In Kurt's bedroom, he sprayed his face. Burt walked downstairs. "I don't know what to say, but I was really proud of you tonight, Kurt. I wish your mom would've been there."
"Thanks. Dad? I have something that I want to say. I'm glad that you're proud of me. But being part of glee and football have showed me that I can really be anything. And what I am is…gay."
"I know."
"Really?"
"I knew since you were three. All you wanted for your birthday that year was a pair of sensible heels. I guess I'm not totally in love with the idea, but if that's who you are, then there's nothing I can do about it. And I love you just as much." They hug. "Thanks for telling me, Kurt."
They meet April Rhodes, a talented southerner and Will's first high school crush. In the choir room, she said to the piano player, "Give me Maybe This Time in B-flat. And don't let me catch you snoozing." The music started and April sung flawlessly. Will leaned on the piano on the other side. By the time she was done, she said, "Stick that in your pipe and smoke it." Kurt wiped a tear.
Meanwhile, April tried to win them over. Kurt told Will, "Mr. Shue, April should stay. I worship her." April tried to teach Mercedes and Tina, "You gotta be more natural."
Tina said, "I can't do this."
Mercedes piped up, "I don't even understand why we're doing this in the first place."
"Your lack of imagination astounds me," April replied. "This is only the beginning. If you can master this, you can sneak anything out of a store between your legs."
Mercedes told Will, "She can stay." Tina said, "Totally."
April was walking with Puck, Mike and Matt. Puck is an idiot.
April walked to Rachel and said, "Rough day at the office?"
"I just have a lot on my plate. It's not easy being in the spotlight. It's the difficult road I've chosen."
"Yeah, I know that song, sister. I could use a little pick-me-up. These high school boys are a lot hotter than they used to be. Finn Hudson is one cutie pie I've got my eyes on."
"Finn's taken, April."
"Yeah, well, some guys like a little extra something on the side."
"What you choose to do with your own life is your business, but don't go around screwing up everyone else's."
"I'm not afraid of you. There was a time when I was the biggest star around here. And now that I've got that back, I'm never gonna let that go." She walked out, humming.
April decided to leave. Tina asked, "Where's April?"
Will said, "April is amazing, but she's not teaching glee club anymore. You don't need her to be great."
Meanwhile, back in the choir room, they all looked at the clock waiting for the other guys to come. When 3:30 arrived, they all looked at the doorway. No one came. Will said, "I guess they're not coming."
Mercedes shook her head, "I can't believe this. How could they just abandon us?" Mike and Matt walked in. Brittany hugged Mike. Santana hugged Matt. Then Puck walked in. Rachel walked toward him, "Are you sure about this, Noah? I mean, choosing us over the team means you might get a Slushie in your face all the time."
"Let them come." Rachel then hugged him and Artie asked, "Where's Finn?"
At one moment, outside, Will and Finn were throwing a football back and forth. Nothing too hard. Will told Finn he wasn't gonna make him choose between football or glee club. But Finn made his choice, and whether Tanaka liked it or not, Finn chose glee.
Finn carried a tray of Slushies. "So, what do you think of my welcome-back gift to the club?"
Rachel said, "Thanks for the Slushies, Finn. They're delicious." Kurt said, "And filled with empty calories. You know why they call them Slushies? Because your butt will look like one if you have too many of them."
Finn said, "I'd like to propose a toast. To Mr. Shue. You were right about glee and football being a killer combo."
Artie raised his cup, "Yeah!" They all clinked their cups and cheered. "Mr. Shue, I am sorry to report that we've all been remiss about our assignment this week."
Mercedes stated, "Yeah, none of us could find a good groove for Bust a Move."
Will said, "Well, guys, that's okay because I feel like the lesson landed. That's what's important. And we are glad to have you back, Finn. Ohh! Brain freeze."
They were at Sectionals, and Jane Addams were performing. The look on Mercedes' face said it all. Rachel turned to her and said, "It's a really popular song." Then they were performing "Proud Mary" in wheelchairs. Artie found that offensive. If Tina Turner saw this performance, she would've felt appalled, ridiculed and insulted. Then Haverbrook started to sing, "Don't Stop Believing" and the look on Emma's face was priceless. Rachel called a meeting and they were in another room.
Kurt said to Brittany and Santana, "You leaked the setlist. You don't want to be here. You're just Sue Sylvester's little rats."
Quinn walked in saying, "I know for a fact that's true."
Santana said, "Look, we might still be Cheerios, but we never gave Sue the setlist."
Brittany spoke, "Well, I did, but I didn't know what she was gonna do with it." Terrific. (Sarcasm)
Santana went on, "Look, believe what you want, but no one's forcing us to be here, and if any of you tell anyone this, I'll deny it, but I like being in glee club. It's the best part of my day, okay? I wasn't gonna go and screw it up." She sat down.
Rachel told her, "I believe you," and Santana smiled at that. ("Thanks.")
Rachel said to everyone else, "We have to go on in an hour."
Tina said, "And we have no songs."
Artie said, "Perhaps I could improvise some of my def poetry jams. No?"
Rachel said, "Okay. Let's start with a ballad. Mercedes, do you have anything else in your repertoire?"
Mercedes said, "Yeah, but it's not as good as anything you're gonna sing."
"No, we agreed."
"We agreed that I would sing, and it ain't happening. Look, Rachel, the truth is, you're the best singer that we have."
Kurt said, "As much as it pains me to admit, she's right. Rachel's our star. If anyone's gonna belt it out on the fly, it's her."
Rachel said, "Well, I do have something I've been working on since I was four."
Quinn said, "Then it looks like we have our ballad."
Puck said, "Yeah, that and a can of soup will guarantee us third place. We still need a song we can all sing together."
Finn walked in with papers. "I have one." He set them down. "Mike, Matt, Brittany, Santana, you're our best dancers."
Mike said, "It's gonna be choppy."
Finn said, "Good. We're best when we're loose."
The announcer came on stage and said, "From McKinley High School, New Directions!" He walked off.
When the music started, Rachel gave a stunning performance of "Don't Rain on My Parade." They were all dressed up in black and red. Applause and cheers sounded. Rachel said, "Ladies and gentlemen, New Directions." The audience sat down, and they all performed "You Can't Always Get What You Want." Will and Emma were amazed. After they were done with their second song, the judges were debating.
Candace Dystra started, "Okay, I'm just gonna say it. This is a singing competition. I don't know how those deaf kids got in. They weren't singing. They were, like, honking. Everyone was crying, and I was like, 'Get off the stage, you're terrible, and making me super uncomfortable.'"
The man in the room, who looked a bit like Jay O. Sanders, turned around with a glass of water in his hand. "Now, hold on just a second, Candy. In all the right places."
Donna Landries spouted, "Can I just say something? I have no idea what the hell I'm doing here. I'm serious. I don't understand what a glee club is and I've never even heard the term 'show choir' until about three hours ago when my boss told me he had tickets to NASCAR and I had to fill in at this fool event. Those Jane Adam girls? I'll be damned if I had to pay hundreds of thousands of taxpayers dollars to that school so they can parade their behinds around like a bunch of hooch-y hoes!"
Candace flipped a magazine while saying, "The McKinley group was good. They didn't seem all that rehearsed, but I like their energy."
The Jay look-alike said, "Well, I must admit I do have a soft spot for the Rolling Stones."
Donna stated, "I seriously have no idea what either one of you are talking about. I mean, if I had to pick a group I hated the least…" She was gonna say McKinley, wasn't she? I mean, that woman is not really excited about any show choir or musical.
The New Directions were standing outside the door. It opened and they got out. Candace said, "You guys were so much fun to watch! You should be really proud." They smiled at that.
Donna gave her a shove and started walking, "Get me the hell out of here!" Rude much?
Figgins found out that Sue leaked the setlist to those two other schools. So screwed up. He shouted, "Sue! As of today, you are no longer captain of the Cheerios!"
"I beg your pardon?!" "All this time, I have looked past this because of your monkey shines. But you have gone too far. You have disgraced yourself and besmirched the name of William McKinley!"
"An unknown president!"
"Oh, please. One of the greatest who ever lived!"
Sue stormed out, furious. No doubt plotting revenge. She'll be back, alright. She'll be back.
Figgins said, "Shue, in light of Sue's recent meddling, I have set the record straight with the school board and am reinstating you as glee club teacher."
Will smiled and shook his hand. "Thank you, sir." Figgins winked and nodded. "Good job."
In the choir room, Finn said, "We have a few things to tell you, Mr. Shue. First…" New Directions won first place, and Will was so happy. They showed him the trophy, he laughed and they cheered. "I am so proud of you guys. You won fair and square. The vote was unanimous and the judges didn't even know about all the shenanigans going on behind the scenes. You've earned this. But…" He set the trophy down. "…next we have Regionals. So, let's get started."
Puck said, "Uh, Mr. Shue. Wait, there's just one more thing."
Rachel said, "Since you weren't there to see us perform, we put together a special number just for you. Take a seat!"
They started performing "My Life Would Suck Without You." He later ran to Emma and kissed her. They smiled.