May 26, 2013

The morning before the competition was stressful for everyone. A very palpable tension hung around the group as they went about their morning routines. The current members of New Directions ran through their routine a final time to make sure there were no problems. Kurt, Santana, and Rachel had gone to the show to watch the other performances, sending updates after every act. Finally, it was 1 o’clock and it was time for the New Directions to perform.

Marley walked onto the stage to start the performance.

Can I ask you a question please
Promise you won't laugh at me

Tina joined her on stage and sang the next few lines as Marley moved off to the side of the stage.

Honestly I'm standing here
Afraid I'll be betrayed.

Kitty joined the others on stage to sing the next line.

As twisted as it seems, I only fear love when it's in my dreams

The three girls joined together at center stage to sing the nest line and the chorus.

So let in the morning light and let the darkness fade away

Can you turn my black roses red?
Can you turn my black roses red?

Next Brittney joined the others on the stage and sang the next few lines straight to Santana.

Drowning in my loneliness
How long must I hold my breath

Unique now joined the girls to add her voice to the performance.

So much emptiness inside I could fill the deepest sea
I reach to the sky as the moon looks on
One last year has come and gone
It's time to let your love rain down on me

As Sugar rushed on stage to join the others, they all finished the song together.

Can you turn my black roses red?
Cuz 
I'm feelin like I've never known love.

The ladies all run offstage to give the boys their solo performance. Artie and Blaine started their song when Blaine pushed Artie directly to the middle of the stage. They sang the first verse together as they danced to the upbeat song, Blaine twirling, jumping, and skipping around, keeping close to Artie.

Hey, where did we go
Days when the rains came?
Down in the hollow
Playing a new game,
Laughing and a-running, hey, hey,
Skipping and a-jumping
In the misty morning fog with
Our, our hearts a-thumping
And you, my brown-eyed girl,
You, my brown-eyed girl.

Blaine pushed Artie to the left side of the stage as Jake and Ryder walked to the middle of the stage. Their part was perfectly choreographed and they were able to impress the audience with the synchronicity of their dance moves as they sang.

Whatever happened
To Tuesday and so slow
Going down to the old mine with a
Transistor radio.
Standing in the sunlight laughing
Hide behind a rainbow's wall,
Slipping and a-sliding
All along the waterfall
With you, my brown-eyed girl,
You, my brown-eyed girl.

Blaine and Artie moved back to the middle of the stage; the four boys sang together while having fun and losing themselves in the performance.

Do you remember when we used to sing
Sha la la la la la la la la la la dee dah
Just like that
Sha la la la la la la la la la la dee dah
La dee dah.

Finally the last two boys—Sam and Joe—made their way onstage to sing their part together, acting out the lyrics through their movements.

So hard to find my way
Now that I'm all on my own.
I saw you just the other day,
My, how you have grown!
Cast my memory back there, Lord,
Sometime I'm overcome thinking about
Making love in the green grass
Behind the stadium
With you, my brown-eyed girl,
You, my brown-eyed girl.

Blaine stepped up to the front of the group and addressed the audience with the next line, ushering for them to stand and clap along.

Do you remember when we used to sing

All six boys belted out the final part of the song with huge smiles on their faces.

Sha la la la la la la la la la la dee dah
Laying in the green grass
Sha la la la la la la la la la la dee dah
Dee dah dee dah dee dah dee dah dee dah dee
Sha la la la la la la la la la la la la
Dee dah la dee dah la dee dah la
D-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d...

The girls made their way back on stage for the final number. Everyone went back to the raised portion of the stage and sat on the ledge, arms draped around one another as they swayed back and forth as a unit while singing the final song. Blaine and Sam lifted Artie out of his wheelchair and helped him to sit on the ledge with the rest of the New Directions as Joe pushed the wheelchair offstage before quickly returning and taking his place with the group.

In the town where I was born
Lived a man who sailed to sea
And he told us of his life
In the land of submarines

So we sailed up to the sun
Till we found the sea of green
And we lived beneath the waves
In our yellow submarine

We all live in a yellow submarine
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine
We all live in a yellow submarine
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine

And our friends are all on board
Many more of them live next door
And the band begins to play

We all live in a yellow submarine
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine
We all live in a yellow submarine
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine

Sam yelled out the next portion of the song in an impressive imitation of the original recording.

[Full speed ahead, Mr. Parker, full speed ahead!
Full speed over here, sir!
Action station! Action station!
Aye, aye, sir, fire!
Heaven! Heaven!]

The large group sang the main part of the next verse and Artie sang the echoes back to the group.

As we live a life of ease (A life of ease)
Everyone of us (Everyone of us) has all we need (Has all we need)
Sky of blue (Sky of blue) and sea of green (Sea of green)
In our yellow (In our yellow) submarine (Submarine, ha, ha)

We all live in a yellow submarine
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine
We all live in a yellow submarine
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine
We all live in a yellow submarine
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine
We all live in a yellow submarine
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine

Joe quickly ran offstage to retrieve Artie’s wheelchair. When he returned, Blaine and Sam lifted Artie back into the chair and they all lined up to take their bows before running offstage. They went into the lobby to celebrate their performance. As they were hugging, Rachel, Santana, Kurt, and Mr. Schue joined them in the lobby.

“You were all fantastic, guys! I think we have a really good shot!” Mr. Schue exclaimed.

Kurt went straight to Blaine and engulfed him in a tight hug. “You were amazing, Blaine.”

“How’d you come up with Yellow Submarine as the ending number? It was a perfect choice!” Rachel asked.

Blaine smiled and tugged Kurt closer to his side. “It was Kurt’s idea, actually. When I told him the theme was colors he suggested it. We tried it in practice one day and thought it sounded great so we knew we just had to use it.”

Everyone made their way to the concession stand to buy snacks before the results were to be announced at 3. They ate and chatted until it was announced that the top 3 were posted and required to go back to the stage. With baited breath, the group made their way to where the top 3 were posted. They stood off to the side not looking until Santana got frustrated.

“Aye dios mio, I’ll go look and tell you if you’re top 3 or not.” She walked over to the sign, read it, nodded once, and walked back to the group.

They all looked at her expectantly. “So…” Kurt prompted.

“Looks like Berry, Hummel, and I need to go find seats again because you guys are in the top 3!” Santana exclaimed.

Cheers erupted throughout the group as hugs were shared.

“Alright, guys, we need to get back on stage.” Mr. Schue announced.

The group split: current members and Mr. Schue went back to the stage as Rachel, Santana, and Kurt went back into the auditorium to find seats.

Once all three groups were on stage, the announcer went to the middle of the stage with the envelopes. “We saw some amazing performances today. The top 3 are: from Los Angeles, California—the Treble Makers, from Lima, Ohio—the New Directions, and from Atlanta, Georgia—the Showstoppers. And now, to find out the winners; in third place we have,” the announcer pauses for a moment to open the envelope, “from Atlanta—the Showstoppers!”

The group collects their trophy and exits the stage. “And the 2013 National Show Choir Champions are,” the announcer opens the envelope slowly, “for the second year in a row—the New Directions!”

Cheers erupt from the crowd and the group as they all excitedly hug and jump up and down. They collect their trophy and run back out to the lobby to meet their friends. Rachel, Kurt, and Santana run out and enthusiastically congratulate the group.

Pictures are taken, interviews are given, and finally the group is free to go have dinner. They go to a nice restaurant close to their hotel and celebrate with sparkling cider.

“I just want to say that it has been an honor working with you guys this year. I know we started out a little rocky this year, reeling from the loss of so many key players after graduation last year. But we pulled it together and we became National Champions two years in a row. That’s all you guys. You are truly talented and I cannot wait to see where you all end up in life. Big things are in your futures.” Mr. Schue said, raising a toast to the group.

Blaine stood up. “We couldn’t have done this without you, Mr. Schue. If we were on our own we would never be able to pick songs to perform, let alone come up with choreography and rehearse. I think I speak for the whole team when I say that you are the best teacher we could hope for and that none of us would be where we are today without you.”

Sounds of “hear, hear” and “cheers” were heard around the table.

After dinner they went back to the hotel, all rules forgotten as members of New Directions went to whichever room they wanted to stay in that night. Blaine and Kurt laid on their backs, holding hands on the pull out couch in Kurt’s room. They both wore huge smiles, even as they were falling asleep. In one motion, Kurt turned on his side and tugged Blaine over so that Blaine’s back and legs fit into the curve of Kurt’s body. Kurt pressed a soft kiss to the back of Blaine’s head. “You were amazing today. I’m so proud of you.”

Blaine smiled and snuggled back into Kurt a little more. “Good, I want you to be.”

The two laid in silence for a few moments before Blaine whispered, “In the morning you’ll be 19.”

“Yes, I will.” Kurt chuckled. “Get some sleep, Blaine.”

“Good night, Kurt.”

“Good night, Blaine.”