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.