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Chapter 15

Now we are in Chicago. I'm just sitting down on the bed as Mercedes is having high fever. I half smiled as dad walks in and looks at us.

"What's going on? How bad is it?" Dad asks coach Sue.

"Her temperature's 101 degrees. Given the fact that Weezy's complaining about an upset stomach, it's either Amazonian dengue fever or the H1N1 super virus." Coach Sue says to dad.

"Or I have food poisoning." Mercedes says weakly.

"We all wanted burritos for lunch, so we went to Chipotle, but Mercedes tried some dive called Seahora Salsation." Santana says to dad.

"Will, word, please." Coach Sue says to dad and walks away.

I half smiled and give Mercedes a warm fresh milk to clear her stomachache. Nationals is tomorrow and we are screw up. I mean, Mercedes is sick now.

With Monique down for the count, we are entering the Hunger Games of show choir competition without one of our most powerful voices.

"So here's what's gonna happen: Mercedes, you're on bed rest, Quinn, you're stepping in." Dad walks to us.

"No, no, no, I can't dance that number. I can't sing it, either, not like..." Quinn shakes her head.

"The Troubletones need you." Dad says to her.

"And you're better than you think you are." Tina says to Quinn.

"Tina, you, too. You're in the Troubletones. You too, Paris." Dad says to us. I raise my hand and shake my head. "I'm not dying on your little whimpering about something this time." Dad says to me.

"Mr. Schue, this is my last competition. I don't want to miss it." Mercedes says weakly.

"Amen, to that, sister. That's why I'm putting you on a vitamin B-12 drip. We're flushing your system with Pedialyte, and I'm gonna fill that bathtub with ice and see if we can't get your ambient body temperature back down to normal.

Worked in Jacob's Ladder." Coach Sue says to Mercedes and walks away.

"All right, we all have our marching orders. Let's do it. Now you guys can leave Mercedes with coach Sue and have rehearsal downstairs." Dad says to us.

I take my bagpack and walk out from the hotel room holding hands each other with Tina. I can't believe that dad put me in The Troubletones number. I mean they're all Cheerios and good dancers.

~~

I shake my head and sit down on a table as Sam and Puck are fighting. I can't stop them and those guys already hold them but they are still arguing at each other.

"Hey, cool out!" Dad yells and stops them.

"He's studying for geography while we're trying to rehearse! It's bogus!" Sam yells.

"Cause I already know the dance! You dance like you got your feet caught in bear traps. You're trying to gnaw them off." Puck yells at Sam.

Sam was trying to punch Puck and get him again. I roll my eyes and take his hand to stop him and bring him a bit further from Puck.

"Mr. Schue, are you aware that while we're arguing about jazz squares, Unique is being handed the key to the city by Rahm Emanuel?" Kurt says to dad.

"Really?" Dad frowns.

"And plus my pillow and my blanket fell into the pool. Disaster." Brittany says to us.

"Look, I think everybody is just a little tired. We've been rehearsing for three straight hours." Artie says to us.

"Yeah, and we'll rehearse all night if we have to. We can rest after we've won!" Finn says to us.

"Just because we've lost Mercedes doesn't mean we can be anything less than perfect. Perfect!" Rachel yells.

"That's easy for you to say." Artie simply said.

"Okay, you know what? You know what? Hey! I don't want to hear any of this, "We can't do it without her," because guess what? We don't have a choice. So be warned: if you are not giving this everything you've got, I will go all Lima Heights on your sorry asses." Santana yells at us.

"Listen to yourselves." Dad simply said.

"I know. I'm sorry. I always go to the yelling place. I have rage." Santana sighs.

"No, it's a good thing. A great thing. There is so much passion in this room. Even all your arguing, it's about the work. You guys really want this. Okay, so let's take a half-hour break, and then we'll run it from the top." Dad says to us.

"Mr. Schue, is it okay if we keep going? We got the first slot, which is, like, the death slot. We have to be amazing." Tina says to dad.

"Yeah, "Edge of Glory's" a b***h. I said I'd be dancing by nationals. I'll be damned if I don't." Quinn nods.

"Okay, then let's keep going. Mike, help the guys out with the choreography. Artie, help Puck with his geography. Ladies, "Edge of Glory" Come on. Brittany, run us through it." Dad says to us.

"From the chorus?" Brittany asks.

"Yeah, from the chorus. Let's do it." Dad nods.

I let out a sigh and get up from my seat. I walk to the girls and follow Brittany doing the choreography. I'm exhausted but I'm trying to work on it.

~~

I walk to the door and walk out from dad's room. I look around and text Sam. I don't know where is the boys room actually.

"Hi.." Sam suddenly hugs me from behind.

"Hey, I'm hungry. Can we have dinner?" I ask Sam.

"Sure. Seven eleven downstairs?" Sam asks me.

"Yes. Cheap." I chuckle.

"This is hallways not a place to have PDA." Puck simply said and walks passed us. "By the way, we still have to rehearsal."

I laugh and take Sam's hand then walk to the elevator. We then get to the elevator and walk out from the elevator as we got downstairs.

"Wanna have rehearsal or dinner?" Sam asks me.

"I'm actually hungry but maybe this is more important." I said to Sam and turn my way to the meeting room.

I open the door and the others are sitting down on the ground making a circle. I raise my eyebrows and sit down joining them as Sam is sitting down behind me and wrapped his arms around me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today is Nationals day. I'm just standing opposite Sam and fixing his tie. "All done." I smile at him and turn my face to the vanity mirror and fixing my hair.

I put the lipstick on my lips as Sam is standing behind me and take my chapstick then put it on his lips. I'm nervous and we got the first slot which mean like the death slot.

"All right, gather around, everyone!" Dad walks in as we are cheering and make a circle. Sam just standing next to me and put his arm around my shoulder. "I just want to say a few words before we go out there." Dad says to us.

"Hold on, Mr. Schue. Hold on. You've given us a lot of pep talks over the years, but remember, you told us once that, you know, a teacher's job is done when his students don't need him anymore?" Finn says to dad.

"Okay. Finn, the floor is yours." Dad says to Finn.

"Last night we all sat around in a circle after you went to bed and we told stories. But then we went around the room, and everybody said what they wanted to win this thing for, and we all said the same thing: we want to win this for you." Finn smiles at dad.

"Yeah." Sugar smiles.

"And I know every year at school Figgins gives away the Teacher of the Year award. But I don't think any of us have to wait to see how we feel about that. You're, like, our Teacher of a Lifetime." Finn smiles.

"Yeah." I smile.

"Whoo! Yeah, definitely." The others applauding and cheering.

"Thank you, Finn, all of you. I love you guys so much." Dad smiles at us.

"New Directions, line up."

"All right, that's it. Show time. Hands in, everyone." Dad says to us.

"Now I know you weren't planning on doing the show circle without me." Mercedes walks in and grins at us.

"You're alive!" Tina laughs.

"Yeah, thanks to Sue. She's a miracle worker." Mercedes giggles.

"Oh, well, it's amazing what a little TLC, some cortisone and a witch doctor will do." Coach Sue says to us.

"Thank God you're okay because that just means I'm not gonna fall on my face during that Troubletones number." Quinn chuckles.

"Oh, screw that. This is our last time performing together. You're doing it, and so you are you two." Mercedes smiles at Quinn, Tina, and I. "I'm not taking no for an answer. Plus I have so many steroids going through my body right now, I may turn into the Incredible Hulk if you piss me off." Mercedes says to us.

"Okay, if we don't get out of this room soon, none of us will be performing. Let's go!" Dad says to us as we are having show circle.

I hold my hand and walk out from the green room then walk to the backstage. I'm stretching out a bit before the Troubletones number because this is going to be the first and last time I'm performing with them.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 48th annual National High School Show Choir Competition brought to you in part by Salozy-Edison Chevrolet, where you always save more money! Please give a warm Windy City welcome to our judges America's sweetheart, Lindsay Lohan! Hollywood gossip legend, Perez Hilton! And Democratic City Councilman representing the new North Side and the West Loop corridor, I remind you to please turn off all cell phones and pagers. Please welcome our first contestants, from William McKinley High School in Lima, Ohio, the New Directions!"

Quinn with The Troubletones (Tina with The Troubletones):

Ah, ah, ah, ah

(Ah, ah, ah, ah)

Ah, ah, ah, ah

(Ah, ah, ah, ah)

Santana (The Troubletones):

There ain't no reason you and me should be alone (Ah, ah, ah, ah)

Tonight, yeah, baby, tonight, yeah, baby (Ah, ah, ah, ah)

I got a reason that you're who should take me home (Ah, ah, ah, ah)

Tonight (Ah, ah, ah, ah)

Mercedes (The Troubletones):

I need a man that thinks it's right but it's so wrong (Ah, ah, ah, ah)

Tonight, yeah, baby, tonight, yeah, baby (Ah, ah, ah, ah)

Right on the limits where we know we both belong (Ah, ah, ah, ah)

Tonight (Ah, ah, ah, ah)

Quinn (with The Troubletones):

It's hard to (feel the rush)

Tina (with The Troubletones):

To brush the (dangerous)

Quinn (The Troubletones):

I'm gonna run right to (Run right to)

Tina (The Troubletones):

To the edge with you (Edge with you)

Quinn and Tina (The Troubletones):

Where we can both fall far in love (Far in love)

Santana with Mercedes and The Troubletones:

I'm on the edge of glory

And I'm hangin' on a moment of truth

I'm on the edge of glory

And I'm hangin' on a moment with you

Santana with Paris and The Troubletones:

I'm on the edge, the edge, the edge, the edge

The edge, the edge, the edge

Mercedes and Santana with The Troubletones:

I'm on the edge of glory

And I'm hangin' on a moment with you

I'm on the edge with you

Mercedes and Santana:

Oh! Woah-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh

On the e-edge with you

Santana (The Troubletones):

Another shot before we kiss the other side (Ah, ah, ah, ah)

Mercedes (The Troubletones):

Tonight, yeah, baby, tonight, yeah, baby (Ah, ah, ah, ah)

Santana (The Troubletones):

I'm on the edge of something final we call life (Ah, ah, ah, ah)

Tonight (Ah, ah, ah, ah) (Tina: Alright, alright)

Mercedes (The Troubletones):

Put on your shades 'cause I'll be dancing in the flames (Ah, ah, ah, ah)

Santana (The Troubletones):

Tonight, yeah, baby, tonight, yeah, baby (Ah, ah, ah, ah)

Mercedes (The Troubletones):

It isn't hell if everybody knows my name (Ah, ah, ah, ah)

Tonight (Ah, ah, ah, ah) (Paris: Alright, alright)

Quinn (with the Troubletones):

It's hard to (feel the rush) (Paris: Feel the rush)

Tina (with the Troubletones):

To brush the (dangerous) (Mercedes: Dangerous)

Quinn (The Troubletones):

I'm gonna run right to (Run right to)

Tina (The Troubletones):

To the edge with you (Edge with you)

Quinn and Tina (The Troubletones):

Where we can both fall far in love (Far in love)

Santana with Mercedes and The Troubletones:

I'm on the edge of glory

And I'm hangin' on a moment of truth

I'm on the edge of glory

And I'm hangin' on a moment with you

Santana with Paris and The Troubletones:

I'm on the edge, the edge, the edge, the edge

The edge, the edge, the edge

Santana with Mercedes and The Troubletones:

I'm on the edge of glory

And I'm hangin' on a moment with you

I'm on the edge with you

Mercedes (The Troubletones):

Ooh, whoa, whoa

Yeah, yeah, yeah

Yeah (Ooh, Ooh)

Uuh, uuh

Woah, woah

Santana with The Troubletones (Mercedes):

(with Mercedes: I'm on the edge) of glory (Glory)

And I'm hangin' on a moment of truth (I'm hangin' on a moment of truth)

I'm on the edge of glory (Yeah)

And I'm hangin' on a moment with you (Hangin' on a moment of truth)

I'm on the edge, the edge, (with Mercedes: the edge, the edge, the edge, the edge)

The edge (I'm on the edge)

I'm on the edge (Of Glory)

Of Glory (Yeah, yeah)

And I'm hangin' on a moment with you (Hangin' on)

Paris with Quinn, Tina, and The Troubletones (Mercedes):

(with Mercedes: With you) With you, with you, with you, with you (Yeah)

Santana and The Troubletones (Mercedes):

I'm on the edge (Yeah)

Paris with Quinn, Tina, and The Troubletones (Mercedes):

With you, with you, with you, with you, with you (You, oh, oh yeah)

Santana and The Troubletones:

I'm on the edge

Paris with Quinn, Tina, Mercedes and The Troubletones:

With you, with you, with you, with you, with you (Mercedes: Ooh, uuh)

Santana and The Troubletones:

I'm on the edge

Paris with Quinn, Tina and The Troubletones (with Mercedes):

With you, with you, (with you) with you, with you (Mercedes: Yeah, yeah)

Santana with The Troubletones (Mercedes):

I'm on the edge (I'm on the edge)

Mercedes with Santana and The Troubletones:

With you

We are ending up our first performance with full of standing ovation. I smile and run to the piano as the lights off. I'm sitting down behind the piano and get ready.

We kind of changing plan in the last minute. I will play the piano and Rachel will have the solo and some will be the backing vocals for her.

Rachel (New Directions):

There were nights when the wind was so cold (Ahh)

That my body froze in bed if I just listened to it right outside the window (Ahh, ahh)

There were days when the sun was so cruel

That all the tears turned to dust and I just knew my eyes were drying up forever (Forever)

Rachel:

I finished crying in the instant that you left

And I can't remember where or when or how

And I banished every memory you and I had ever made

But when you touch me like this

And you hold me like that

I just have to admit

That it's all coming back to me

When I touch you like this

And you hold me like that

It's so hard to believe

But it's all coming back to me

Rachel with New Directions:

It's all coming back

It's all coming back to me now

There were moments of gold

And there were flashes of light

There were things I'd never do again

But then they'd always seemed right

Rachel:

There were nights of endless pleasure

It was more than any laws allow

Rachel with New Directions harmonizing (with New Directions):

Baby, baby, if I kiss you like this

And if you whisper like that

It was lost long ago

(But it's all coming back to me)

If you want me like this

And if you need me like that

It was dead long ago

(But it's all coming back to me)

It's so hard to resist

(And it's all coming back to me)

I can barely recall

(But it's all coming back to me)

Now!

But it's all coming back

Rachel:

But you were history with the slamming of the door

And I made myself so strong again somehow

And I never wasted any of my time on you since then

Rachel with New Directions harmonizing:

But if I touch you like this

And if you kiss me like that

It was so long ago

But it's all coming back to me

If you touch me like this

And if I kiss you like that

It was gone with the wind

But it's all coming back to me

Rachel with New Directions:

It's all coming back

It's all coming back to me now

Rachel (with New Directions):

There were moments of gold

And there were (flashes of light)

There were things we'd never do again

But then they'd (always seemed right)

Rachel with New Directions harmonizing (with New Directions):

There were nights of endless pleasure

It was more than all your laws allow

Baby, baby, baby, when you touch me like this

And when you hold me like that

It was gone with the wind

(But it's all coming back to me)

When you see me like this

And when I see you like that

Then we see what we want to see

(All coming back to me)

The flesh and the fantasies

(All coming back to me)

I can barely recall

(But it's all coming back to me)

Now!

Rachel:

If you forgive me all this

If I forgive you all that

We forgive and forget

And it's all coming back to me now

New Directions:

It's all coming back to me now

Rachel:

And if we

New Directions:

Oooh

I half smiled at the end of the song. I turn my face at Blaine who became the backing vocals and he just half smiled at me. I made a mistake. I don't know anyone else will notice it or not but I was pressing the wrong tone when the band start playing.

The lights start to off. I get up from my seat and get ready for our last performance. Focus, Paris! Focus!

Finn:

Well, I remember every little thing

As if it happened only yesterday

Parking by the lake

And there was not another car in sight

And I never had a girl

Looking any better than you did

And all the kids at school

They were wishing they were me that night

Puck with New Directions:

And now our bodies are oh-so close and tight

It never felt so good, it never felt so right

Kurt with New Directions:

And we're glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife

Glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife

Blaine (Mike):

Come on (Hold tight)

Oh, come on (Hold tight)

Brittany and Santana with New Directions:

Though it's cold and lonely in the deep dark night

Blaine and Kurt with New Directions:

I can see paradise by the dashboard light

Finn (with New Directions):

Though it's cold and lonely in the (deep dark) (and Mercedes with New Directions: night)

Mercedes with New Directions: 

In the deep dark night

Finn (and Mercedes with New Directions):

Paradise by the (dashboard light)

Finn and Puck:

We're gonna go all the way tonight

We're gonna go all the way

And tonight's the night

Blaine, Finn, and Puck:

We're gonna go all the way tonight

We're gonna go all the way

And tonight's the night

Blaine, Brittany, Finn, Puck, and Santana:

We're gonna go all the way tonight

We're gonna go all the way

And tonight's the night

Blaine, Brittany, Finn, Mercedes, Puck, and Santana with New Directions:

We're gonna go all the way tonight

We're gonna go all the way

And tonight's the night

Rachel:

(Mercedes: Night!) 

Stop right there

I gotta know right now

Before we go any further

Do you love me?

Will you love me forever?

Do you need me?

Will you never leave me?

Will you make me so happy

For the rest of my life?

Will you take me away

And will you make me your wife?

Finn (New Direction Girls):

Let me sleep on it (Sleep on it)

Baby, baby let me sleep on it (Sleep on it)

Let me sleep on it (Oooooh, oooooh)

And I'll give you an answer in the (with the New Directions Girls: morning)

Rachel (New Directions):

I gotta know right now 

Do you love me? (Do you, do you love me?)

Will you love me forever?

Do you need me? (Do you, do you need me?)

Will you never leave me?

Will you make me so happy (Will you never leave me)

For the rest of my life? 

Will you take me away (Do you, do you, do you)

And will you make me your wife?

(with New Directions: Uh, do you love me?)

Will you love me forever?

Finn with New Directions Boys:

Let me sleep on it

Rachel with New Directions Girls:

Will you love me forever?

Finn with New Directions Boys:

Let me sleep on it

Rachel with New Directions Girls:

Will you love me forever?

Finn (with New Directions):

I couldn't take it any longer

Lord, I was crazed

And when the feeling came upon me

Like a tidal wave

I started (swearing to my god)

And on my (mother's) grave

That I would (love you to the end of time)

I swore I would (love you to the end of time)

New Directions:

Ah, ah, ah

Finn with New Directions:

So now I'm praying for the end of time

To hurry up and arrive

'Cause if I gotta spend another minute with you

I don't think that I can really survive

I'll never break my promise or forget my vow

(Finn: But God only knows what I can do right now)

I'm praying for the end of time

It's all that I can do (Mercedes: All that I can do)

Prayin' for the end of time

So I can end my time with you! (Mercedes: You, yeah)

Finn with New Directions (Rachel):

It was long ago and it was far away (It never felt so good, It never felt so right)

And it was so much better than it is today. (Mercedes: Better than it is today) (And we were glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife)

It was long ago and it was far away (It never felt so good, It never felt so right)

And it was so much better than it is today. (Mercedes: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah) (And we were glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife)

It was long ago and it was far away (It never felt so good, It never felt so right)

And it was so much better than it is today. (Mercedes: Long ago, oh) (And we were glowing like the metal)

Finn and Rachel with New Directions:

Felt so right

Felt so good

Paradise (Mercedes: Ooh, yeah)

We are ending our performance with the standing ovation from the audience. I smile nervously and hope that we won't screw this competition. I run away from the stage as the curtain fall down.

I run to the corner and hold my hand as tears slowly fall down to my face. I'm scared. If we lose then it will be all my fault. All those dreams has built for the past three years will be over in a minute.

"Hey, it's okay. Nobody's going to notice it." Dad grabs my body and hugs me.

"If we lose then it will be all my fault, daddy. I screw up the things we've been waiting for the past three years." I cry and hug dad back.

"Look at me!" Dad pulls my body away and look at me. "You are Paris William Schuester, you aren't going to screw things up. We will win. I got a feeling that we will win this. None is as amazing as you are to me. Those judges don't notice it. Even Rachel didn't notice it. It's okay. It's not your fault." Dad says to me. "You trust me right?"

I nod slowly and wipe my tears away. "I just hope that we won't screw things up today."

"We won't. Come on." Dad wipes my tears away and kisses my forehead. "That was amazing though. You can learn those notes in few hours." Dad smiles at me as we walk out from the backstage.

I smile back at dad and wipe my tears away with a tissue paper as we walk to the audience seat. "Paris Schuester?"

I turn my face and see Dylan is sitting down on the audience seat. "Hi. How are you?" I smile at him.

"I'm doing good. Man, that was an amazing performance." Dylan smiles back at me.

"I missed one tone though." I giggle.

"Really? I didn't even notice it." Dylan smiles.

"So what are you doing here?" I ask him.

"Oh I'm just having a week off in my grandparents house around neighborhood so I went here to see what's a show choir championship looks like and to see Lindsay Lohan actually." Dylan giggles.

"Okay. I'll see you around." I smile at him and walk to my seat with the others and sits down next to Sam.

"Who is that cute guy?" Sugar asks me.

"Oh that's my friend when I was in New York. He is from Springfield. Named Dylan." I said to Sugar.

"Paris's duet partner in that concert." Sam simply said to Sugar.

"Are you jealous?" I turn my face at Sam.

"Nope." Sam simply shakes his head and look at to the stage.

"Well he just came because he said he is staying with his grandparents. So? Besides I'm here next to you." I said to Sam.

"Did you just crying?" Sam turns his face at me.

"How could you know that?" I raise my eyebrows.

"Your mascara." Sam says to me and take his handkerchief from his pocket and wipes my eyes.

I smile at him and he smiles back at me. Sam pulls his face closer to me about to kiss me until dad who is sitting behind us clears his throat. I roll my eyes and pull my face away from Sam and turn my face to the stage watching Vocal Adrenaline performance.

~~

I'm standing on the stage and holding hands each other with Sam. This is the winner announcement. I'm scared to the death. If we lose this is going to be my fault.

"And now it's time to announce the winner of this year's individual show choir MVP award....... From Vocal Arednaline, Carmel High's Wade "Unique" Adams!"

I smile and applauding for her. I turn my face at Sam and he is just smiling at me and put his hand around my shoulder.

"And now a round of applause to your top three finalists for this year's National Show Choir Championship. In third place all the way from Oregon the Portland Scale Blazers!"

I let out a sigh and smile and applauding for them. I close my eyes and put my arm around Sam's waist.

"And now, ladies and gentlemen, quiet, please. Congratulations to both teams standing with us onstage. But not it's time to announce a winner.

The 2012 National Show Choir Champions from...... McKinley High in Lima, Ohio, The New Directions!"

I close my eyes and jumps happily. The paper cut fall down from the top and the judges hand us the biggest trophy. We are hugging each other and smiling at each other. This is the best. I didn't screw this up.

We then walk out from the stage and walks to the backstage. I smile and hug dad. "I didn't screw things up. We won!" I smile at dad.

"Yes you didn't." Dad smiles at me.

I smile and walk away from this theater and walk out together from the others. We won this thing. It's amazing. Finally a Nationals Championship.

"We can take a picture over there." Dad says to us and points to be under the banner.

"Paris Schuester, Mr. Schuester, congratulations."

I turn my face and smile at Mr. Easton. "Thank you, Mr. Easton. And you really came."

"Yeah I'm looking for a future star to be in that concert next year." Mr. Easton smiles and gives the others his name card.

"Thank you." Dad smiles at him.

He smiles back at dad and turns his face at me. "So have you made up your mind yet?" He asks me.

"Yes I'm picking Juilliard." I giggle.

"Good choice. I thought you're going to Royal College." Mr. Easton smiles. "And I'm so sorry about your mom."

"Yeah." I nod.

"Alright, you will probably get invited for the next year honorary performance with some of the others so be prepared. Congratulations, you guys." Mr. Easton smiles at us.

"Thank you, Mr. Easton." I smile back at him.

"He is the head officer for that concert?" Blaine asks me and read the name card.

"You got your chance next year, Blaine. Get that Juilliard scholarship." I smile at Blaine.

"Come on let's take a picture together." Dad says to us.

I smile and start standing in position together as Miss Pillsbury is taking pictures of us. We won. This is incredible.