Author's Note: Hello everyone. Thanks so much for all the support I've been getting on this story you guys don't know how much it means to me. This next chapter is all about the episode 'Hold on to Sixteen'. I changed quite a few things around with the episode such as The Troubletones already being a part of the New Directions. I added a Glee Club that the Glee Cast previously competed against, The Haverbrook School for the Deaf since I thought them competing would be the most entertaining. I hope you enjoy this chapter. I apologize for it being short I had to eliminate a lot of stuff from the episode of Glee it's based off of.
The next few days were all about preparing for sectionals which we found out were going to take place in our own auditorium. "Without Rachel we're going to have a lot of work to do," Mr. Schue said. "Rachel's not the only star member of this group Mr. Schue," Mercedes said. "Mhmm. Us girls in the Troubletones are more than willing to step up and perform," Santana smirked. "I'm excited to see the number you girls have prepared," Mr. Schue smiled. "Oh it's going to be a killer," Santana said as Mercedes nodded in agreement. "We were actually hoping Quinn and Tina would join us for the performance," Brittany grinned. "Count me in," I smiled a bit. "Me too," Tina agreed as Mr. Schue clapped. "Excellent. Now we need to work on the other two numbers. I think I have some ideas for you guys to show off your voices singing the Michael Jackson hit 'Man in the Mirror'," Mr. Schue said as the guys cheered seeming excited to take on the Michael Jackson song. As for our final song Mr. Schue had picked 'Control' by Janet Jackson which would feature me, Blaine, and Artie having solos. This sectional was going to be a tough one to beat but I knew in the end it was going to be worth it.
The sectionals performance started off with the Unitards which featured a girl named Harmony on the lead singing 'Buenos Aires'. Kurt and Rachel seemed to know her, referring to her as the 'Gerber Baby'. Harmony reminded me so much of Rachel with the way she performed. In some ways it made me glad that Rachel wasn't performing with us. The second group that was up was a group we had faced off against in the past the Haverbrook School for the Deaf. Our very first sectional had been against them when Coach Sylvester had leaked our set list. This time there were no similar songs performed as we were in the clear.
"Now ladies and gentlemen from McKinley High School put your hands together for the New Directions!" the announcer said as the crowd cheered as The Troubletones first took the stage with our mashup of 'I Will Survive' and 'Survivor'.
"At first I was afraid I was petrified, kept thinkin' I could never live without you by my side. But then I spent so many nights, thinkin' how you did me wrong and I grew strong, and I learned how to get along," Santana sang on lead as we backed her up on 'Oohs' as we did the choreography. "And so you're back from outer space . I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face. I should've changed that stupid lock, I should've made you leave your key, If I had known for just one second you'd be back to bother me," Mercedes sang on lead. "Oh, now go walk out the door. Just turn around now, 'cause you're not welcome anymore. Weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye? You think I'd crumble? You think I'd lay down and die?" Santana sang as us girls then went into a tango as we switched songs to 'Survivor'. "I'm a survivor, I'm not gon' give up. I'm not gon' stop, I'm gon' work harder. I'm a survivor, I'm gonna make it. I will survive, keep on survivin'," Brittany sang on lead as us girls from the Troubletones backed her up. "Thought I couldn't breathe without you, I'm inhalin'. You thought I couldn't see without you, perfect vision. You thought I couldn't last without you, but I'm lastin'. You thought that I would die without you, but I'm livin'," Mercedes sang on lead as the rest of us backed her up on 'Aahs' we did the same thing as Santana took the lead. "Thought that I would fail without you, but I'm on top. Thought it would be over by now, but it won't stop. Thought that I would self-destruct, but I'm still here. Even in my years to come,
I'm still gon' be here," Santana sang. "I'm a survivor, I'm not gon' give up. I'm not gon' stop, I'm gon' work harder. I'm a survivor, I'm gonna make it. I will survive, keep on survivin'," Brittany sang on lead as us girls from the Troubletones backed her up. "Oh no, not I! I will survive. Oh, as long as I know how to love I know I'll stay alive," Mercedes sang as the rest of us did jumping jacks that were in the choreography. "I'm a survivor, survivor, vivor, vivor, vivor," The Troubletones sang as Mercedes continued to sing the chorus of 'I Will Survive'. "I'm a survivor, I'm not gon' give up. I'm not gon' stop, I'm gon' work harder. I'm a survivor, I'm gonna make it. I will survive, keep on survivin'," Brittany sang on lead as the rest of us backed her up. "I will survive!" we all sang as we collapsed on the floor as the choreography had called for.
The crowd cheered loudly for us. I couldn't help but beam. We had done it. We had really done it. We were soon joined onstage by the guys as I spoke the first lines of our second song. "This is a story about control, my control. Control of what I say, control of what I do and this time I'm gonna do it my way," I said as I got back in line and put my head down as Blaine and Artie then took over on lead. I was on lead on the chorus which was just "Control" as Artie and Blaine took more of the lyrics to sing. "I'm in control," we sang as few times as the song ended and the crowd cheered for us.
The guys then took the lead as they performed 'Man in the Mirror'. Us girls only sang on the chorus "I'm starting with the man in the mirror oh yeah. Just change. Ooooh. Man in the Mirror. Make that change," we sang as the song ended and the crowd cheered for us once again. We had done it. We had really done in. I couldn't help but smile feeling so proud onstage. I smiled at Finn proud of what we had accomplished before rushing over to Puck to hug him tightly. He wrapped his arms around me as I lay my head on his shoulder. "We did it," I said. "Yeah we did," Puck grinned, seeming surprised by my hug as we exited offstage.
Puck seemed to want to say something to me but couldn't exactly seem to find the words. Just then Sam rushed over to me. "Hey you were amazing out there," he grinned hugging me tight. "Thank you," I smiled a bit "So were you." "Thanks. It felt so good to be back in the New Directions," Sam grinned a bit. "Definitely," I said nodding. "Do you think we could go somewhere and talk?" Sam asked as I nodded. "Yeah. Totally," I smiled a bit as I walked off with Sam as we entered the same Astronomy room where he had first talked to me about duets.
"So why did you bring me here Mr. Evans?" I smiled a bit looking around at the planets in the Astronomy classroom. "I never got a chance to thank you for bringing me back," Sam said. "It was nothing really," I said shrugging it off. "It was something to me. Quinn, you payed my way through New Directions. It means so much to me to be back in this group...to be back with you," Sam said as I bit my lip. "What do you mean by that?" I asked. "You didn't just bring me back for no reason right...I mean we have a history," Sam said as he leaned in closer to me. "I cheated on you with Puck," I said slowly backing away. "I know that. I've forgiven you for it haven't I?" Sam asked. "I guess so," I shrugged. "I never stopped caring about you, Quinn. You know you felt it too," Sam said. "Sam..." I said hesitating.
My emotions had been all over the place. I cared deeply for both Sam and Puck but part of me felt like neither of them was the right choice for me now. Who knew where my life was going to end up. If I was meant to be with either of them it would last past high school right? "I care about you. I just don't know if dating is right for me," I said honestly "If you haven't noticed I was kind of a mess this year." "I saw...I was surprised about the whole pink hair thing," Sam said honestly as I chuckled. "I do care about you but I'm graduating this year. Who knows where I will be this time next year," I sighed. "Are you sure that's all it is?" Sam asked. I bit my lip hesitantly. "I think I might have feelings for someone. Someone I never thought I'd have feelings for," I admitted for the first time out loud. "I know what you mean," Sam sighed. "You do?" I asked surprised. "Yeah...Mercedes and I kind of had a summer fling for a few months," Sam said as I seemed shocked. I hadn't heard about Sam and Mercedes' summer fling. Then again I had cut off communication with the Glee Club over the summer. "Do you think you still love her?" I asked him seriously. He sighed "I don't know. All I know is everytime I see her with her new boyfriend it just feels...wrong," Sam frowned a bit. "I know the feeling," I nodded thinking of Finn and Rachel.
"I guess that's why I thought getting back with you would help. I mean you were the only girlfriend I had that I felt serious about," Sam said honestly. I smiled a bit. "I don't think those feelings go away. But you have feelings for Mercedes and I have to figure out what I'm feeling," I said. "Fair enough," Sam nodded as he extended his hand "Friends?" "Friends," I smiled shaking his hand and giggling a bit. For once it felt nice to have a guy who was my friend on my side.
"What did he want?" Puck asked in an annoyed tone as we made our way back out onstage. "He just wanted to talk," I shrugged as Puck didn't seem to believe me. Just then Chuckles the clown made his way out onstage as we all stood nervously hoping he would say that we were advancing. "As an award-winning clown, I'd like to say that it's nice, for once, to be working with kids that are just sick with talent," Chuckles said as we all were silent in anticipation of what was to come. "Third place....." Chuckles said as he opened the envelope "The Haverbrook School for the Deaf," Mr. Rumba took the trophy as he and the Haverbrook kids walked offstage. "In second place.....The Unitards," Chuckles said as Harmony celebrated as she got the trophy for The Unitards. "Which means the New Directions, you are moving on to Regionals," Chuckles said as we all celebrated. We won. We had actually won. Rachel looked at us all smiling, proud of what we had accomplished.
"We did it guys! Regionals here we come," Tina celebrated. "I'm so proud of all of us," Mike grinned as he kissed Tina. Rachel then came backstage. "Congratulations you guys," she smiled "You were amazing out there." "Thank you," I smiled a bit. "What? No I should've been performing speech?" Santana snarked at Rachel. "No," Rachel said simply, smiling a bit "This was exactly what was supposed to happen." "Get in here girl," Mercedes grinned as we all had one big group hug. The New Directions were moving on to Sectionals and we could not be more excited.
Monday was the day Rachel's suspension was supposed to be over. I waited for her in the office. "Well, my suspension is officially over. It'll still be on my transcript, though. I'm just hoping that the admissions department at NYADA sees it as a sign of my artistic, rebellious, attitude," Rachel said as I chuckled. "Good luck with that," I smiled. "Thanks...what are you doing here?" Rachel asked. "I came here to talk to you, actually," I smiled a bit. "Me? What for?" Rachel asked confused. "I wanted to tell you how proud of you I was. I know it was hard for you not to perform but you've come such a long way," I smiled. "Thanks Quinn. It was tough to see you guys win without me but it made me realize that everyone deserves a chance to shine," Rachel smiled a bit.
"What do you think about Yale?" I asked Rachel. Rachel shook her head "Oh, no, I have my sights set on NYADA." "No, for me," I smiled a bit as Rachel seemed interested. "I'm not the singer that you and Kurt are, but Yale has an amazing drama program. And I really do like to perform," I said. "Yeah," Rachel nodded. "Certainly would nail all the parts where the girl has to cry," I smiled a bit as Rachel laughed. "No, I think it's a great idea. I mean, especially since you won't have me to compete with," Rachel said as she then looked me in the eye "You're a lot better than you know." "Thanks," I smiled a bit. "You're welcome," Rachel said as we walked out of the office together.
"So Yale huh?" Rachel smiled a bit. "Yeah...I applied there this past week. You know what they say. Shoot for the moon even if you miss you'll land amongst the stars," I said simply. "I think Yale's the perfect fit for you Quinn," Rachel smiled "I always envisioned you making it in an Ivy League school." "Thanks," I smiled a bit as we headed to the auditorium to sing our celebratory song 'We Are Young' to celebrate advancing to Regionals.
Rachel started us off on the song followed by Finn. Sam then took the lead as we sat together. I harmonized with him "And you feel like falling down. I'll carry you home," Sam and I harmonized. "Tonight, we are young. So let's set the world on fire! We can burn brighter, than the sun! We are young. Fire! Brighter than the sun," we all sang as the Troubletones joined us. "Carry me home tonight. Just carry me home tonight. Carry me home tonight. Just carry me home tonight. Carry me home tonight. Just carry me home tonight. Carry me home tonight. Just carry me home tonight," I sang on lead as I danced with Mercedes bringing her and the other girls into our group. We then sang the chorus again as we smiled, celebrating our 3rd win at Regionals. We couldn't be more proud to be a Glee Club reunited once again.