I breathe in and out while I wait for Ryder to show up.
I've been waiting for him at the Auditorium. I'm not going to audition until he gets here.
"Hello." I jump and I look behind me. I see a worried Ryder. "I'm sorry. Did I scare you?" I smile and I kiss him.
"It's okay," I said and I look at the stage. I see Jake and Haylee singing onstage.
"So, how is it going? Are they good?" Ryder whispers.
"Good? They are amazing," I whisper back as they finish their song. I clap and cheer.
"That was great you two. So, who are you auditioning for?" Mr Shue asks. I look up at the judge's table and I see Mr Shue, Coach Beiste, and...Artie?!
What is he doing here?!
"Penny and Seaweed," Haylee said and she smiles. They then walk offstage. I jump into Jake's arms and I hug him tight.
"You guys were amazing. You are totally gonna get those parts," I said with a huge smile. Jake and Haylee smile.
"Thanks Gracie. I hope your audition will be great as well," Jake said and I kiss his cheek. They then walk off and they sit in the seats in the Auditorium. I hear someone clear their throat and I turn around. I see Marley...and Lucas.
"Hello Emily," Lucas said and I roll my eyes.
"Hi Lucas," I said with a depressed voice.
"Do you like my partner?" He asks and I look at Marley.
"Oh. So now you are going to use Marley for her voice? Wow, that's low, even for you," I said.
"Marley Rose and Lucas Hunter," Mr Shue said. They then walk onto stage. They start to sing straight away.
Marley:
I wish I was strong enough to lift not one but both of us
Someday I will be strong enough to lift not one but both of us
Lucas:
Uh, ever thought about losing it
When your money's all gone and you lose your whip
You might lose your grip when the landlord tell ya that you're due for rent
And the grass so green on the other side
Make a nigga wanna run straight through the fence
Open up the fridge 'bout twenty times
But still can't find no food in it
That's foolishness
And sometimes I wonder, why we care so much about the way we look.
And the way we talk and the way we act and the clothes we bought, how much that cost.
Does it even really matter?
Cause if life is an up hill battle
We all tryna climb with the same ol' ladder
In the same boat, with the same ol' paddle
Why so shallow? I'm just asking
What's the pattern to the madness
Everybody ain't a number one draft pick
Most of us ain't Hollywood actors
But if it's all for one, and one for all
Then maybe one day, we all can ball
Do it one time for the underdogs
Sincerely yours, from one of y'all
Marley:
I wish I was strong enough to lift not one but both of us
Someday I will be strong enough to lift not one but both of us
Lucas:
I can feel your pain, I can feel your struggle
You just wanna live, but everything so low
That you could drown in a puddle
That's why I gotta hold us up, yeah hold us up
For all the times no one's ever spoke for us
To every single time that they play this song
You can say that that's what Bobby Ray wrote for us
When the tides get too high
And the sea up underneath get so deep
And you feel like you're just another person
Getting lost in the crowd, way up high in the nosebleeds
Uh, because we've both been there, yeah, both of us
But we still stand tall with our shoulders up
And even though we always against the odds
These are the things that've molded us
And if life hadn't chosen us
Sometimes I wonder where I would've wound up
Cause if it was up to me, I'd make a new blueprint
Than build it from the ground up, hey
But if it's all for one, and one for all
Then maybe one day, we all can ball
Do it one time for the underdogs
From Bobby Ray, to all of y'all
Marley:
I wish I was strong enough to lift not one but both of us
Someday I will be strong enough to lift not one but both of us
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Everyone claps except for Ryder and I.
"That was great guys. So, who are you auditioning for?" Coach Beiste asks.
"Tracey and Link," Lucas said with a wicked smile. I fume with rage.
They then walk off the stage. I manage to stop myself from strangling them.
"Ryder Lynn," Mr Shue said.
I give Ryder a good luck kiss and he then walks onto the stage. He walks over to the piano.
"I dedicate this song to a special lady," he said and I smile.
Aww. How cute is he?
He starts to play a few keys before he starts to sing.
What would I do without your smart mouth?
Drawing me in, and you kicking me out
You've got my head spinning, no kidding, I can't pin you down
What's going on in that beautiful mind
I'm on your magical mystery ride
And I'm so dizzy, don't know what hit me, but I'll be alright
My head's under water
But I'm breathing fine
You're crazy and I'm out of my mind
'Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I'll give my all to you
You're my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I'm winning
'Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all of you, oh
How many times do I have to tell you
Even when you're crying you're beautiful too
The world is beating you down, I'm around through every mood
You're my downfall, you're my muse
My worst distraction, my rhythm and blues
I can't stop singing, it's ringing, in my head for you
My head's under water
But I'm breathing fine
You're crazy and I'm out of my mind
'Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I'll give my all to you
You're my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I'm winning
'Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all of you, oh
Give me all of you
Cards on the table, we're both showing hearts
Risking it all, though it's hard
'Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I'll give my all to you
You're my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I'm winning
'Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all of you
I give you all of me
And you give me all of you, oh
I clap and cheer as loud as I can.
"That was incredible Ryder. So pumpkin, who are you auditioning for?" Coach Beiste asks.
"Link," Ryder said with pride.
He then walks offstage and over to me. I hug him tightly.
"Babe! That was amazing!" I said with excitement and he smiles.
"Thank you. You are going to be better," he said and I shake my head.
"Emily-Grace Puckerman." I smile when I hear Artie call out my name.
I grab my guitar and I walk out to the middle of the stage. I sit on a bar stool and I put my lips up to the microphone.
"Hey everyone. Hi Artie!" I said and I wave up at him. He smiles and waves back. "Okay. Well, I'm Emily-Grace Puckerman and I'm going to sing 'Say Something'."
I start to play my guitar as I sing the acoustic version of the song.
Say something, I'm giving up on you
I'll be the one, if you want me to
Anywhere I would've followed you
Say something, I'm giving up on you
While I sing, I think about the one good thing that was in my life: my mum.
Now that you mention it, why didn't I see that she was sick? She was always coughing, vomiting.
I use the thoughts of mum to make this song very emotional.
And I am feeling so small
It was over my head
I know nothing at all
And I will stumble and fall
I'm still learning to love
Just starting to crawl
Say something, I'm giving up on you
I'm sorry that I couldn't get to you
Anywhere I would've followed you
Say something, I'm giving up on you
And I will swallow my pride
You're the one that I love
And I'm saying goodbye
Say something, I'm giving up on you
And I'm sorry that I couldn't get to you
And anywhere I would've followed you (Oh-oh-oh-oh)
Say something, I'm giving up on you
Say something, I'm giving up on you
Say something...
I finish the song finding myself crying. I wipe my tears away with my cheerios jacket. I look up at the judges who are blown away. I smile.
"Wow Emily. That was...very emotional," Artie said and I laugh a little.
"Thanks Artie," I said with a big smile.
"So, who are you auditioning for?" Mr Shue asks me.
"Tracey, definitely," I said and I walk offstage. I find Jake waiting for me. I place my guitar against a wall and I run into his arms.
"Hey, you okay? I saw you crying," he said and I nod. I then wipe away the extra tears.
"Yep. It's just that song was really emotional. A bit too emotional," I said with a little laugh. He smiles.
"Come on Gracie. Let's get home," he said and I nod. Ryder joins us. By the time we made it to the main door, Unique finished singing her song.
We walk out and down the hallway with one of my arms wrapped around Jake and holding Ryder's hand with my other hand.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SONGS:
Both Of Us-B.O.B & Taylor Swift
All Of Me-John Legend
Say Something-Great Big World & Christina Aguilera