13~ Warblers at Regionals

Rule 12: Always keep your friends by your side

To say I wasn't nervous was like saying Bugs Bunny is dumb. I mean, for the love of God, this was a last shot for a lot of us to win something and graduate with our heads held high. We'd have the ability to look back on these experiences with pride and tell our grandkids about it!

"You nervous?" Rachel asked as she came in. I was putting the finishing touches on one of the dresses, just to keep me busy; sowing keeps my nerves under control.

"Uh, yeah. How about you?" I asked. She gave me a look.

"I'm doing a solo, something I've done for years now... this is your first time doing one," she replied. I huffed and nodded.

"Yeah, I guess I am nervous. You think I'll do good?" I asked.

"Of course you will, and you're going to have all of us behind you. And you know what, even if we lose, we'll be okay," she said. I looked at her like she had three heads.

"If we lose, we'll be okay? Who are you and what the hell did you do to Rachel Berry?" I joked. Rachel just laughed, then her smile faded. That either meant too things: either she didn't get what she wanted, or I was in trouble.

"You know who's going to be in the audience right?" she asked.

"I am not intimidated by Horrid Hairgel and his dweeby friends. In fact I look forward to seeing him shed tears when we hold that regionals trophy high and mighty-like," I replied with a smirk. Rachel tilted her head and gave me a look. You know, one of those 'yeah right' looks.

"Reeeeeese," she sang. It was my turn to give her a look.

"Reeeeeese, PZZT! What the hell is that for?" I asked.

"I bumped into your mother yesterday and she told me what interesting pair of hard heads she found in her storage locker. Care to explain how that happened?" she asked.

"Easy, never ever let a Lurch help you carry produce crates into a storage locker with you, you're bound to strangle him with your daggered eyes from anger. Two hours we were locked in there, two hours of my life I'll never get back!" I exclaimed.

"Reese, I'm sure it wasn't that bad," she said. It actually wasn't...but I'd never admit that.

"Yeah well, it's over so... take your dress and go change. It's on hanger thirteen," I instructed.

"Alright, thanks Reese. Hey, these dresses are beautiful. Your best work yet," she smiled.

"Thanks, now hurry and go! We got to be on in three hours!" I exclaimed. Rachel giggled and grabbed her dress off the hanger, then went to change.

"Ow!" you know this was the first time in four years as a semstress I've poked myself with a needle?

⚥⚥⚥

"And now let's meet our judges for the 2012 Midwest Regionals! Deputy Zoning Commissioner, Melba Jackson-Wright!" architect who's looking for a little stimulation aside from her dull sex life.

"President of the Ohio Plumbers Union Local 109, Mr. Harl Beindorf!" creep who has the possible impulse to masturbate to young boys in tight slacks.

"And Central Ohio's number one late-night horror movie host..."

"No..." Finn suddenly gasped.

"...Svengoobles!" I had to laugh at his name. What kind of horror movie vampire names himself Svengoobles? I mean come on, that is hilarious! He didn't even look scary, looked like an anorexic, heroin using clown!

"And now, from Westerbille, Ohio, the Dalton Academy Warblers!" the curtains parted and applause ceased as they Warblers stood there, looking fresh and clean-cut as ever. Of course you could see Hairgel standing there, with the loads of hairgel in his hair as per usual. I betcha anything he was listening to Bach this morning (I'm shaking my head right now you just can't see it).

"Come on, stand,

Stand, up again

Stand, up again

Stand, you're gonna run again

Don't give up,

You're gonna see tomorrow

That you'll be on your feet again

Sometimes the world's gonna knock you over

But you will see who are your friends

Come on, stand, up again

Come on, stand,

Stand, you're gonna run again

Your faith and patience will be your soldiers

To guide you through your troubled times

Just put one foot in front of the other

The battles are inside your mind

You have the power to face your demons

No matter how they go at time

And rid yourself of your fear and weakness

So you can start to live your life

Come on, stand, up again

Come on, stand,

Stand, you're gonna run again

Come on, stand, up again

Come on, stand,

Stand, you're gonna run again

Pick up your will

And put on your face

If you need to, just take my hand

It's time to demonstrate, don't hesitate

Just get up and say "Yes, I can"

Stand, up again

Come on, stand,

Stand, you're gonna run again

Stand, up again

Come on, stand,

Stand, you're gonna run again

Stand, you're gonna run again

Stand, you're gonna run again!"

Everybody got up and started applauding, everyone including us. I couldn't keep the smile off my face, until they stopped of course. I knew he was good, I just didn't think that good.

And that only made me more nervous.

"Thank you. Just a reminder to please make a donation to one of our charity baskets, we're set up all around the auditorium. Just look for the Dalton Blazer. Please... give what you can." he said. That just made my smile grow, he kept his word... I knew he would of course... sort of... not really... whatever.

"The sun goes down

The stars come out

And all that counts

Is here and now

My universe will never be the same

I'm glad you came

You cast a spell on me, spell on me

You hit me like the sky fell on me, fell on me

And I decided you look well on me, well on me

So let's go somewhere no one else can see, you and me

Turn the lights out now

Now I'll take you by the hand

Hand you another drink

Drink it if you can

Can you spend a little time,

Time is slipping away,

Away from us so stay,

Stay with me I can make,

Make you glad you came

The sun goes down

The stars come out

And all that counts

Is here and now

My universe will never be the same

I'm glad you came

I'm glad you came

You cast a spell on me, spell on me

You hit me like the sky fell on me, fell on me

And I decided you look well on me, well on me

So let's go somewhere no one else can see, you and me

Turn the lights out now

Now I'll take you by the hand

Hand you another drink

Drink it if you can

Can you spend a little time,

Time is slipping away,

Away from us so stay,

Stay with me I can make,

Make you glad you came

The sun goes down

The stars come out

And all that counts

Is here and now

My universe will never be the same

I'm glad you came

I'm glad you came

I'm glad you came

So glad you came

I'm glad you came

I'm glad you came

The sun goes down

The stars come out

And all that counts

Is here and now

My universe will never be the same

I'm glad you came

I'm glad you came"

I swear he was singing to me, he kept meeting my eyes and smiling real wide, he even winked at me! Flirt much? But when it was over, I think I was the first to start the standing ovation. I was happy for him, and I was glad that he looked so happy up there. This was what he loved to do, and he wouldn't let anybody -- not even his father -- tell him otherwise.

And I... admired that.