Adalynn clung tightly onto Finn, hiding behind him as they walked into the school on the first day at school without her brother. She spotted Azimio and Karofsky and tightened her hold on her step brother's arm as they passed them.
"You have to stop worrying, Adalynn," said Finn. "No ones gonna dare mess with you after what happened with Kurt. You're gonna be fine."
"Not taking any chances," the younger girl said, shuffling further behind Finn as they passed Rick 'the stick' Nelson, who always gave her a bad vibe.
"Okay, how about this." Finn turned around to face Adalynn. He took his letterman jacket off and wrapped it over her shoulders. The younger girl slipped into it, and the quarterback chuckled at how big it was on her. "It'll protect you. Nothing can harm you as long as you keep it on."
"Thanks, Finny," Adalynn said, giving her step brother a hug before heading down the hall and meeting up with Bailey, Santana, and Brittany.
"Girl, that jacket is literally eating you," Bailey chuckled.
"It's warm," the brunette shrugged. "And that's good cause it's cold outside."
"How are you feeling?" Santana asked as she leaned up against the row of lockers. "You know, about Kurt transferring?"
"It's not really anything I have any control over," said Adalynn. "I'm gonna miss him though."
"You'll still see him at home," Brittany pointed out.
"True."
"Sup, MILF," Julian said to Bailey as he passed the group of girls.
"You're fucking dead," Santana spat, glaring at the senior. "I'm killing you."
Santana lunged at Julian and shoved him into the row of lockers opposite where the others were. She used her knee and kicked him in the stomach. Julian shoved her off and the Latina shoved him back harder.
"Guys stop!" Bailey cried, pulling Santana away from Julian.
"You're fucking dead you stupid fuck!" Santana shouted.
"Santana, stop the violence!" Brittany yelled as she helped her sister hold her back.
"You're such a fucking idiot," Adalynn scoffed as she grabbed Julian's arm and dragged him away from Santana, who began yelling in Spanish.
"Soy de Lima Heights, ¡no te tengo miedo perra!"
****
It was time for Glee Club, and Adalynn decided to sit by Rachel instead of taking her usual spot next to Quinn. Ever since their almost kiss at the wedding, things had been weird between them. Quinn was spending more time with Sam, and it was like she was trying to rub it in Adalynn's face that she chose him.
I hate her.
You love her.
I hate that I love her.
"Mr. Schuester, I have an announcement," Rachel beamed as their teacher walked into the room. "I have selected the perfect moving ballad for Finn and I to sing to launch our performance at sectionals."
"Me first. Two things," said Mr. Schue. "First, our competition at sectionals are your classic stool choirs. Great voices, but they don't move. If we're gonna beat them, we need to do what they can't: dance. Which is why I've decided to feature Brittany and Mike Chang's sweet moves in our performance."
Everyone – except Rachel – clapped for Brittany and Mike.
"Wait so they're gonna dance in front of me while I sing my solo?" Rachel scoffed.
"Why do we still tolerate her?" Julian asked.
"You're not getting a solo for this competition, Rachel," said Mr. Schue.
"Finally," Mercedes beamed. "So what song do I get to sing?"
"I was thinking that the winners of our duets competition would take the leads."
"Now you're just being mean," Adalynn pouted as she crossed her arms and sunk down in her chair, hiding her face in Finn's letterman – which she refused to take off.
"Ken and Barbie?" Rachel scoffed. "Wait, are you trying to throw this?"
"You used to be just sort of unlikable, but now I feel like punching you every time you open your mouth," said Quinn.
"Okay, listen," said Mr. Schue. "I have talked the talk about everyone here feeling special for over a year now, but I haven't walked the walk. We've got a lot of talent here, and I'm gonna highlight it."
"Do something," Rachel whispered to Finn.
"It's just one competition, Rachel," Adalynn whispered. "It's not the end of the world."
"No one asked you," the older brunette whispered through gritted teeth.
"Look, I'm all for pumping up the team, making everyone feel special, but that's for practice," said Finn. "You don't take the star quarterback out before the big game."
"Easy to say when you're the star quarterback," Tina said as Bailey nodded in agreement.
"This isn't just about me. This is about the team."
"You are such a hypocrite," Santana spat.
"Like you even know what that means," Rachel scoffed.
"It means that your boyfriend is full of crap, hobbit," the Latina said.
"You know what?" Rachel asked as she turned to face Santana. "Ever since the wedding you have been up my butt, and I'm sick of it."
"Rachel, don't worry, no one wants to be up there," said Adalynn.
"Come on, Rachel, she's not worth it," said Finn.
"Oh, really?" Santana asked. "Because that's not what you thought last year in that motel room. That's right, Yentl. Your sweetheart, he's been lying to you. Cause he and I totally got it on last year."
"Okay, enough already!" Mr. Schue snapped. "No more conversations about this, or anything. This is our plan for sectionals, and that is that. Mike, Brittany. Let's start choreographing."
****
A couple days later, everyone was sitting in the choir room waiting for Glee Club to start. Bailey looked around the room and noticed that everyone was there except for three members.
"Where's Puck?" Santana asked. "I haven't seen him since yesterday, and I need him to get me a churro."
"Julian isn't here either," Bailey mumbled, crossing her arms over her chest. "And he promised he'd take me to McDonalds after school."
"My guess is they'd rather quit Glee Club than lose sectionals," said Mercedes. "I can't blame them. Our set's gonna be real light on the Mercedes."
"I'm telling you, if the Warblers win sectionals, it's only because we gave them Kurt," Tina said as she gave Bailey a pack of Cheez-Itz from her bag. "Here. Hopefully that can tide you over."
"Thanks, Tina," Bailey smiled as she accepted the snack from her friend.
"If we lose, we should throw possums," said Brittany.
"Rachel, what the fuck are you doing?" Adalynn asked as the diva came into the choir room with her mouth duct taped shut.
"I'm not doing anything," Rachel said, peeling the tape off so she could talk. "Mr. Schuester has silenced my talents and I'm merely protesting."
"This bitch," Bailey muttered as she ate a Cheez-It.
"My talents are wasted in this club," the diva continued. "My star shines too bright, and you're threatened by it."
"Take that off!" Mr. Schue yelled, throwing the pile of sheet music down that he was organizing.
Quinn looked over at Adalynn in the front row from her spot in the middle, as she knew how sensitive she was to loud noises. The younger girl clutched the sides of Finn's letterman jacket and hugged it close to her for comfort.
"I'm tired of this Rachel," Mr. Schue spat. "You have a terrible attitude, you're a lousy sport, and it's not okay anymore!"
"Well, I'm upset!" Rachel snapped. "I'm furious about this! About a couple of things, actually."
"Sorry you're disappointed. But, you know, you could also make the choice to be happy. We're a part of a glee club bursting at the seams with talent. There's an awful lot of 'me' talk going around. 'What's in it for me?' 'What solo am I gonna sing?' Now, when we go to sectionals, we'll be good sports. We'll cheer on the Hipsters, and cheer on Kurt and the Warblers. And if they win, we will congratulate them because that's who we are."
"Dude, where have you two been?" Artie asked as Julian and Puck walked in with a girl.
"I found them in a porta potty," the girl said.
"Gross," Adalynn cringed and made a face. "You better take at least 3 showers before you idiots come anywhere near me."
"We were trying to find Kurt's replacement for sectionals and the guys on the football team decided to make an example of us by locking us in a porta potty," Puck explained.
"We were trapped in that porta potty for 24 hours," Julian added. "It was awful. Then Lauren found us and we asked her if she wanted to join. It only cost us a carton of Cadbury Eggs and seven minutes in heaven with Puck."
"Wait, you had seven minutes in heaven with Puck?" Bailey asked, disgusted.
"No, Lauren did," the older boy corrected.
"I have to say, she kind of rocked my world," Puck said as Santana scoffed.
"Okay, guys, looks like we're back in business," said Mr. Schue. "Let's all welcome our newest member, Miss Lauren Zizes."
****
It was the day of the competition. Adalynn was in the lobby trying to fulfill the demands of their newest member.
"I'm sorry, miss, but we don't have that," the man at the desk said.
"Then go down to 7-Eleven and get some, you incompetent idiot," Adalynn said through gritted teeth, growing frustrated. "I need Raisinets!"
"Carb loading?"
"Kurtie!" the younger girl exclaimed, recognizing the voice and turning to hug her brother. "I missed you!"
"You just saw me this morning," Kurt chuckled.
"Yeah, but that was a long time ago."
"Fair enough. So what's with the need for Raisinets?"
"Puck and Julian got Lauren Zizes to take your place, but she won't go on unless she gets her damn candy," Adalynn explained, annoyance in her voice. She ran a hand through her hair and took a deep breath to calm down. "Rachel said you were auditioning for a solo. Did you get it?"
"Sadly, no," Kurt sighed.
"If you didn't get a solo, then they must be really good. We're doomed. Sorry, that was selfish. What I meant to say was, 'wow, that really sucks. I'm sure you were really good.'"
"I was," the older boy said. "I mean, I think I was. Being in the Warblers made me question everything I thought about myself. So how are things going with the New Directions?"
"Okay, I guess," Adalynn shrugged, running another hand through her hair.
"Okay, what's wrong?" Kurt asked. "And don't say it's nothing. You only mess with your hair like that whenever you're sad or nervous or stressed about something. What's going on, little me?"
"It's Quinn," the younger girl sighed.
"What did she do?"
"We... um, we almost... kissed at the wedding."
"What?" Kurt gasped. "Adalynn Emilia Hummel, why haven't you told me any of this? We're supposed to talk about our crushes together."
"Is that why you've told me so much about this mysterious Blaine person?" Adalynn asked, raising a brow.
As if on cue, a Warbler came up and placed a hand on Kurt's shoulder.
"Kurt, they're calling places," the boy said.
"Are you Blaine?" Adalynn asked with a teasing smile towards her brother. "He's cute."
"Shut up," Kurt whispered, giving his sister a quick hug. "I love you. Break a leg."
"You too," the younger girl said. "It was nice meeting you, Blaine."
"Nice meeting you too... I'm guessing Adalynn?" Blaine asked.
"Guilty," the brunette shrugged. "I'll see you guys later."
Adalynn gave her brother one last hug before heading back to the greenroom. The only open spot was one next to Quinn, so she sighed and slowly made her way over to her.
"Hey, Addie," the older girl greeted, her voice shaky and a worried look on her face.
"Are you okay?" Adalynn asked as she sat down next to her.
"No, I'm totally freaking out. The last time we performed in front of an audience, I went into labor. I think I'm having post-traumatic stress disorder."
"Quinnie, you don't have anything to be worried about," the younger girl said, gently brushing a strand of blonde hair out of the older girl's face. Quinn turned to look at her, sparks flying as her green eyes stared into Adalynn's blue ones. "You're going to be amazing."
"You told Kurt?" Rachel accused as she stormed into the greenroom.
"I don't remember," said Finn. "Maybe?"
"About Finn and Santana?" Mercedes asked. "No, I think I told him."
"Who told you?" Rachel asked.
"Me," Quinn spoke up. "I think Brittany told me. Or maybe it was Adalynn."
"Yeah it was me," Adalynn confirmed. "I heard it from Bailey, who said she found out from Tina."
"Everybody knew about this but me?" Rachel asked.
"Pretty much," said Tina.
"Nobody tells you anything because A, you're a blabbermouth, and B, we all just pretend to like you," Santana scoffed.
"That's not true," Puck mumbled. "I kind of like her."
"Look, Rachel, when this all happened, you were dating another guy," Finn said as he stood up and turned to face her. "You don't really have a right to be pissed at me about it, okay? I shouldn't have lied about it, but that isn't what you care about. You care about the Santana of it all."
"Who are you right now?!" Rachel yelled.
"Best greenroom ever," Lauren said as she placed a pretzel in her mouth.
"You know what? You guys are gonna have to find someone else to mindlessly harmonize in the background, because I'm not going on stage with him!"
"Make that two," Artie chimed in, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'm not going out with Brittany."
"Me either," Tina said, glaring at Mike.
"Enough!" Mr. Schue yelled. "Listen to yourselves! I am ashamed of you!"
"Why does he keep yelling at us?" Adalynn whined, leaning into Quinn, who wrapped a protective arm around her.
"Think back to where you were this time last year. No set list, no choreography, no chance in hell of winning, but you did win, because you did it together. I don't care if you guys hate each other. All I want is for you guys to go out there and sing together. Get up there, and for six minutes, remind yourselves that you're not alone. Alright. Showtime."
****
****
When it was time to announce the winner, Adalynn stood between Santana and Quinn, the blonde holding onto Sam's arm and leaning into him. In an attempt to make her jealous, the younger girl took Santana's hand. The Latina looked at her weird at first before taking her hand away and wrapping that arm around her shoulders, sending Quinn a smug smile when she looked over to them.
"Thank you to all the groups who performed here today. We all had a serious good time," the announcer said. "You know what else is a serious good time-"
"Just say who won already!" Adalynn interrupted, getting a laugh from the audience and the people on stage.
"That's my sister," Kurt chuckled, shaking his head.
"In third place..." the announcer began. "The Hipsters!"
Everyone applauded the group of elderlies as they accepted their trophy.
"And now, the winner of this year's West Central sectionals is... it's a tie."
"In reality what he's saying is we're all losers," Adalynn pouted as she buried her face into Santana's chest.
"Congratulations!" the announcer exclaimed. "You're all going to the regionals!"