Isabel took a deep breathe. She was extremely nervous. Hex Education was at Nationals for the first time in years and Isabel had the first solo. She took another deep breath. Everyone she knew was out there waiting to hear her sing. She walked on the stage to the microphone. She stood in front of it, waiting for the curtain to rise. Her hands were really sweaty but she couldn’t wipe her hands on her dress. God, she hated this dress. It was a pink v-neck, sleeveless satin dress. It stopped at her knees showing her pink flats. Her hair fell to her shoulders.
The curtain rose up and the piano began to play. When it reached her cue, she began to sing.
The story was suppose to last
You were never supposed to be
Just somebody in the past
Somebody I used to see

Isabel found her rhythm and dug into her emotions to give this song more power.

Trouble crept up on us
The warning never came in time
Before I knew it we were dust
Just left behind
Left behind
Changes come but where they go
You never know
Just another day like any other
Nothing in the sky said run for cover
Just another reason
Never thought it would end this way
There was no parade
No lights flashing no song to sing along the way
There was no parade
No waves crashing
There was no one around for days
There was no parade

Blaine was in the crowd, listening to the song, and he could feel all the emotions Isabel was trying to convey. He didn’t understand it though. Isabel sang the song with a lot of emotion, emotion she didn’t realize she had.

And after all noise I never heard our last goodbye
It was silent as a butterfly
There was no parade
No lights flashing no song to sing along the way
There was no parade
No waves crashing
There was no around for days
There was no parade
No parade
No parade

Isabel sang the last note and the crowd erupted with applause. Isabel smiled glad that she got the solo over with. Now with the rest of Hex Education behind her, she could sing the next song.
The beat played and Isabel counted it out in her head. 3…2…1

You make me feel like I’m losing my virginity
The first time every time when you touch me
I made you bloom like a flower that you never seen
Under the sun we are one buzzing energy

Everyone started to side-step and sway with the music.

Let’s pollinate to create a family tree
This evolution with you comes naturally
Some call it science we call it chemistry
This is the story of the birds and the bees
Even the seasons change
Our love story stays the same

Isabel started to run around the stage swaying along with the beat and twirling at certain intervals. Everyone started to sing the chorus.

You give me the hummingbird heartbeat
Spread my wings and make me fly
The taste of your honey is so sweet
When you give me the hummingbird heartbeat
Hummingbird heartbeat
Oh, oh
Hummingbird heartbeat
Oh, oh
Hummingbird heartbeat.

The girls behind Isabel started to do flips and cartwheels. It looked random but, in actuality, it was all planned.

You love me, you love me
Never love me not, not, oh no
When we hear a perfect harmony
You make me sound like a symphony
Spread my wings and make me fly
The taste of your honey is so sweet
When you give me the hummingbird heartbeat
Hummingbird heartbeat
You give me the hummingbird heartbeat
Spread my wings and make me fly
The taste of your honey is so sweet
When you give me the hummingbird heartbeat
Hummingbird heartbeat
Oh, oh
Hummingbird heartbeat
Oh, oh
Hummingbird heartbeat
Oh, oh
Hummingbird heartbeat
Oh, oh
Hummingbird heartbeat

They finished the song with a pose of standing with their legs closed, hands out on the sides with their palms face down and their faces looking up
They were all smiles as the crowd gave them a standing ovation. The curtain came down and everyone left the stage. And that’s when Ashley took her cue.
“I don’t understand why Isabel got to sing that song. It’s not like she has any experience.”
Isabel, Leslie, Beth, and the other girls besides Ashley’s cronies rolled their eyes at the same time.
“I’m just saying that if I had sung that song, we would’ve brought the house down,” she continued.
“Oh my god, do you ever shut up? Cause it’s getting kind of annoying,” Leslie said.
Ashley just glared at Leslie and then left with he cronies flanking after her.
“Isabel, you got a text message,” Candice, the outfit designer, said handing Isabel her phone. She didn’t do any of the singing but she was still part of Hex Education.
“Thanks Candice,” Isabel said taking her phone
She saw it was from Blaine.
You guys need to join the audience now. There are people here to see you –B
Isabel read it with some confusion. “Okay?” she said out loud.
“What is it?” Leslie asked.
“Blaine wants us to join the audience. Apparently there are people here to see us.”
“Well then we should go see who they are,” Beth said.
They left backstage and went to audience. There they saw that all the Warblers were sitting in the crowd.
“Look we came,” Blaine said walking over to Isabel and giving her a hug. “You were amazing by the way.”
“Aw, you’re just saying that,” Isabel said.
“No really,” the Warblers said in agreement.
“Come one let’s sit down,” Leslie said.
“There’s an empty spot next to Trent for you Leslie and Beth there’s a spot next Shane for you,” Blaine said.
Leslie and Beth went to their designated seats, leaving Isabel standing by herself.
“Where am I going to sit?” she asked.
“In between me and Jeff,” Blaine said.
“We actually got into an argument about where you would sit,” Wes said.
“Really?” Isabel asked.
“Yeah. We didn’t stand a chance against Blaine and Jeff,” David said, “They’re more important.”
“Aw, no they aren’t. Jeff move over,” Isabel said.
“What? Why should I-?” he started to ask but then caught the look on Isabel’s face, so he stopped and moved over one seat.
“Same thing with you David,” Isabel said.
Without argument, David moved one seat over. Isabel then sat in the empty seat between Wes and David.
“See? They aren’t more important,” Isabel said.
“Really Isabel? Really?” Blaine said, still standing.
Isabel smiled and nodded. “Yep.”
Blaine just rolled his eyes and sat down. Isabel looked down the row and noticed someone was missing.
“Where’s Kurt?” she asked.
“He’s sitting with his family. His step brother’s in New Directions,” Wes answered.
“Oh, okay.”
The lights in the audience dimmed and the curtain on stage went up. Finn was standing on the stage with the customary black shirt and pants but with a deep purple tie. The beat of the song started to play and Finn began to sing.

I used to laugh it off
I used to look the other way
I used to save them troubles for another day
I kept my fingers crossed
I used to never take the blame
I’d pull a sunshine story in the pouring rain
The more I had to change I just stayed the same
The same the same I stayed the same

Isabel could feel the emotions Finn was trying to convey in the song. It sounded like he really meant what he was saying.

You don’t know what you got till you’re missing it a lot
I had to go throw it away
I was wrong from the start from the bottom of my heart I apologize
What I did to you was hurtful
What I’m going through is hurtful

Isabel wondered who he singing this to. It so full of emotion, Isabel felt like she was going to cry.

I used to bide my time
I used to beat around the bush
I’d rather give my ego another push
I used to be a fool
It was foolish game I played
And it’s a fool fate counting mistakes I’ve made
Once I had it right, it was all too late
Too late too late too little too late
You don’t know what you got till you’re missing it a lot
I had to go throw it away
I was wrong from the start from the bottom of my heart I apologize
What I did to you was hurtful
What I’m going through is hurtful
What I’m going through is hurtful
It is hurtful
It’s hurtful
Oh what I did to you
What I did to you
What I did to you was hurtful
What I’m going through is hurtful
I was wrong from the start from the bottom of my heart I apologize
What I did to you was hurtful
And what I’m going through is hurtful

He sang the last notes and a few seconds later, the beat ended. After a moment of silence, the crowd erupted with applause. It was obvious everyone felt the emotion Finn was trying to convey. The performance was breathtaking to say the least. Finn smiled and announced the New Directions, who then came on stage. Finn moved to the background as Sam took the lead for the second song.

Time to round them up
And tell them where we're gonna go
If they don't know how to work it
Then I'll leave them at the door
Gotta make it to the center of the circle, grab my hand
Tell the DJ drop the beat
Don't play some other find of band

The New Directions started to dance along with music. Every member was dancing in their own way. It looked strange but it flowed in some way. Everyone sang along with the chorus.

Let it in your body
And the party won't stop
'Cause it's seven kinds of naughty
When you let the beat drop
I told it to you once
I said why don't you understand?
Tell the DJ drop the beat
Don't play some other kind of band

Sam took the lead again.

So give it to me baby
Tell me, what's it gonna be?
Gonna give it to me dirty
Out where everybody sees
'Cause I can't do nothing with you
If you're never gonna dance
So you better find some rhythm
'Cause they're playing Bad Romance
(Want your Bad Romance)

They all started to sing along with the chorus.

Let it in your body
And the party won't stop
'Cause it's seven kinds of naughty
When you let the beat drop
I told it to you twice
I said why don't you understand?
Tell the DJ drop the beat
Don't play some other kind of band

Let it in your body
And the party won't stop
'Cause it's seven kinds of naughty
When you let the beat drop
I told you three times
I said why don't you understand?
Tell the DJ drop the beat
Don't play some other kind of band

Let it in your body
And the party won't stop
'Cause it's seven kinds of naughty
When you let the beat drop
I told you four times
I said why don't you understand?
Tell the DJ drop the beat
Don't play some other kind of band

Let it in your body
And the party won't stop
Seven kinds of naughty
When you let the beat drop
I've said it five times
Said why don't you understand?
Tell the DJ drop the beat
Don't play some other kind of band

The crowd went wild. The dance moves combined with the song blended well together. It was obvious they spent a lot of time practicing this song.
“Wow, that was amazing,” Isabel said.
“Yeah, I can see how they beat us,” Wes said.
“We don’t stand much of a chance,” Isabel said.
She wasn’t complaining or being mean, she was just stating a fact. She knew Hex Education didn’t want to win in the first place. They were just competing for fun.
“Well, you never know,” Blaine said.
. . .
“I can’t believe we didn’t win,” Ashley said after New Directions had been declared the victor.
Isabel could believe it. New Directions put a lot of work into their performance, they deserved that trophy. They were really good, better than Hex Education.
“Well, we always have next year,” Isabel said.