Chapter 19: New York Can't Hold Us

"Oh, no! No, no, no, no! Satine!"

Kurt crouched on the floor and picked up the object that had become a strip of ruined cotton. Meanwhile, the puppy approached him with a coy attitude. It didn't matter; he was in rage:

"Do you know what you have done? This was a legitimate Marc Jacobs' scarf; those things cost a fortune! And worse: it was a gift from Blaine. He gave it to me to celebrate our anniversary. It was so cute and thoughtful, because he said the color matched my eyes. And look at it now; it's ruined!"

As Kurt screamed with the dog, he shook the object in his hands to make his point. Satine grew more and more excited from the movement; waiting for the moment her master would start to play catch with her new toy. Once Kurt realized the dog's intentions, he got up in a sudden hiding his ruined scarf behind him:

"Oh, no, no, no. I know it's ruined but you can't have this. I won't be teaching you that it's okay to ruin my scarves so you can have them as your chewing toys later. No matter what your daddy Blaine has taught you; there were conditions for you to stay in this house and you've just committed a major crime. I just wonder how you got this out of my closet..."

With his mind racing with thoughts of what to do with the dog; Kurt walked to the dumpster, sighed and threw the ruined object away. He found his phone and pressed to call Blaine, having a glimpse of Blaine's smile on the picture before placing the apparel on his ear. Blaine picked up on the second ring; but not before Kurt caught Satine's puppy dog eyes staring at him.

"Kurt?"

"Hi... Blaine."

"Hi? You sound weird... Is there something wrong?"

Kurt looked at the dog's eyes once more, those hazel eyes that shone just like Blaine's. He snorted and answered his fiancé:

"Nothing. I mean... we ran out of cheesecake and I wondered if you could fetch us some on your way home."

He heard Blaine's ringing laughter through the phone:

"If your obsession with cheesecake wasn't so cute; I'd start to worry it's becoming unhealthy. I'm almost home; your cheesecake will be with you soon enough."

"You're adorable. Thanks, Blee."

Kurt hung up the phone and lowered himself to be at Satine's eye-level:

"Your luck is that you're too much alike your father. It will be our little secret, okay? Daddy Blaine can never know about it."

Kurt's mind began to turn into thoughts of how to replace the scarf as not to raise suspicion.

xXxXx

Cassandra July's classes were neither pleasant nor informative. Well, no for someone who has been in dance classes since he was a toddler. At least, Blaine had Louisa to help him cope with it. However, the girl hadn't showed up yet and he was alone to face his terror and boredom.

He was practicing his already prefect pliés while thinking how a teacher could cause fear and yet make him so bored during the whole class. Cassandra was particularly evil with her comments that day and he still felt like the pointers of the clock on the wall had been glued. He was half-hearing she calling a girl names just because said girl couldn't complete an exercise due to a bad knee, when the door opened in a blast and he saw one of the most unbelievable sights his eyes would ever see.

Louisa had walked in the class completely dressed as Carmen Miranda and followed by a small band dressed in colorful shirts. Lou positioned herself in the middle of the dance studio and waited for her band to position themselves while setting her arms in the famous Brazilian singer's trademark. She gave the band a nod and they began to play Yes, Nós Temos Bananas.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/38pNyIhCiOM

Yes, nós temos bananas [Yes, we have bananas]

Bananas pra dar e vender [Bananas to sell and to give]

Banana menina tem vitamina [Banana, girl, has vitamins]

Banana engorda e faz crescer [Banana fattens and makes you grow]

Vai para a França o café, pois é [Coffee goes to France, oh yeah]

Para o Japão o algodão, pois não [Cotton goes to Japan, as you wish]

Pro mundo inteiro, homem ou mulher [To the whole world, man or woman]

Bananas para quem quiser [Bananas to whoever wishes it]

Louisa sang and impersonated the famous singer with all her notorious dance moves. The rest of the class was trying not to laugh; but Blaine was too concerned about Lou's punishment to even giggle. Hadn't she just been released of her first punishment? Why force her luck?

Yes, nós temos bananas [Yes, we have bananas]

Bananas pra dar e vender [Bananas to sell or to give]

Banana menina tem vitamina [Banana, girl, has vitamins]

Banana engorda e faz crescer [Bananas fattens and makes you grow]

Mate para o Paraguai, não vai [Yerba Mate won't go to Paraguay]

Ouro do bolso da gente não sai [Gold won't leave our pockets]

Somos da crise, se ela vier [We're from the crisis, if it ever comes]

Bananas para quem quiser [Bananas to whoever wishes it]

Cassandra was fuming and her humor did not improve when the girl took a banana out of her fruit basket and handed it to the teacher as the finale to her number. She threw the fruit away and pointed a finger to Louisa:

"Explain yourself."

Louisa smirked:

"This is just because I've been feeling unchallenged by your class. Your manners are rude and your lessons have become unimaginative, repetitive and simply dull. I thought I could enrich your class with a little diversity and I brought something from my country to illustrate."

"Enrich? My class?"

Before she could say another word; Louisa had already turned on her heels and stormed out of the class. Cassandra dismissed the class and went the other way, massaging her temples. Blaine wasted no time and went running the same way as Louisa. Unlike the other time, Louisa had not hidden this time and was laughing. He approached her and turned her, grabbing her arm rather unceremoniously:

"Are you nuts?"

She chuckled:

"No. I mean, yes, but not about this. Banana?"

He pushed away the hand she had stretched offering a fruit from her hat. He began to pace around trying to vent off his frustration. She approached him with a serious expression:

"Blaine? Relax, okay? You and Kurt won't suffer any consequence from this; I promise."

"Consequences? Can't you see I'm worried about you? Cassandra never liked you and ... Why did you do that?"

Louisa looked taken aback, but then she grinned:

"Because I'm feeling hyper! I've been feeling like this all week and decided I wouldn't put up with Cassandra's crap anymore."

"Aren't you worried about how she can punish you?"

"I'm not afraid of her, Blaine. I don't care what happens to me anymore. I'm feeling good. I think it's a step forward in my treatment. All I care about is making the ones I love happy. Wasn't it funny?"

Blaine allowed himself to laugh a little at the situation:

"It was a wonderful number. And it's a very elaborate costume; Hummel worthy. Kurt would be proud."

Louisa smiled. Blaine pulled her for a hug. She welcomed his arms and he smiled at the easiness with which it had come. However, he couldn't stop worrying that Louisa's hyperness could mean trouble.

xXxXx

"And here comes the White Swan."

The other girls from the Spring Awakening rehearsal broke into a fit of giggles with their Queen Bee's joke. Rachel turned around trying to keep her poker face:

"Excuse-me?"

The obnoxious girl opened a smirk:

"Oh, I think you heard me. You see, me and my girls here can't help but wonder how such a puritan was casted in a play about sexual awakening..."

So that was why they had been ignoring Rachel? Honestly, she had been through worse:

"I don't need your approval. The director liked my work."

"Your work? Or for him you did open your legs?"

The other girls started laughing and Rachel could feel her rage growing inside her:

"Some have talent and some are sluts; feel free to place yourself..."

The Queen Bee came towards her with a furious look:

"Do you think you are better than us, right? You think that because you overcame all the obstacles to come from Smalltown, Nowhere to New York you're the next hot thing, don't you? But let me explain something to you: you're boring and too naïve for New York. You'll never make it on Broadway and you'll be forever the sex-less wannabe."

"You may think I'm unattractive; I don't care. I got one thing that can make a difference and that you'll never have: talent."

She knew what she had to do, only what she did best. Rachel walked over to the sound system and put on Show Me How You Burlesque from the musical Burlesque. Rachel might not be the prototypical "hot girl" and maybe not even the best dancer. Nevertheless, one thing she could do was holding an audience with her voice and attracting attention with her talent. Everyone has a special way of seducing and it wasn't because Rachel's was less obvious that it was worse than anyone else's.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/U3APrqTKtcA

Underneath the city lights

There is a world few know about

Where rules don't apply, no

And you can't keep a good girl down

She goin' through the club looking for a good time

Gonna make that, shake that money on a dime

Don't need a sugar daddy, she can work it just fine

Up on the table, she'll be dancing all night

Yeah, baby doll just comes alive

Under the spotlight, all the girls wanna fall in line

We say, hey, here come the ladies 'bout to give a little show

Hey, here come the boys, we gonna show a little more

Hit it up, get it up, won't let you rest

Hit it up, get it up, this is not a test

Hit it up, get it up, gotta give me your best

So get your ass up, show me how you Burlesque

Hit it up, get it up, won't let you rest

Hit it up, get it up, this is not a test

Hit it up, get it up, gotta give me your best

So get your ass up, show me how you Burlesque

A little bit of naughty is a little bit nice

She's a whole lot of glam, sweat, sugar, sex, spice

Just shimmy, shimmy, strut, strut, give a little what, what

Up on the tables, we'll be dancing all night

Yeah, everybody just comes to life

Under the spotlight, all the boys wanna fall behind

We say, hey, here come the ladies 'bout to give a little show

Hey, here come boys, we gonna show a little more

Hit it up, get it up, won't let you rest

Hit it up, get it up, this is not a test

Hit it up, get it up, gotta give me your best

So get your ass up, show me how you Burlesque

Hit it up, get it up, won't let you rest

Hit it up, get it up, this is not a test

Hit it up, get it up, gotta give me your best

So get your ass up, show me how you Burlesque

Okay girls, let's show 'em how it's done

It ain't over till we say and we've only just begun

Lemme hear you say, yeah

Say yeah

Say yeah

Say yeah

Hit it up, get it up, won't let you rest

Hit it up, get it up, this is not a test

Hit it up, get it up, gotta give me your best

So get your ass up, show me how you Burlesque

Hit it up, get it up, won't let you rest

Hit it up, get it up, this is not a test

Hit it up, get it up, gotta give me your best

So get your ass up, show me how you Burlesque

The other chorus girls seemed to be convinced of that much after her performance. Only the Queen Bee kept her bitch grimace. It was Rachel's turn to smirk:

"Remember me; how long have you been a chorus girl? And how long it took you to find your first job?"

xXxXx

Lou was doing as instructed and guiding her cousin to meet Blaine for lunch at Callbacks; but she was as in the dark as him as to why it was so important to have this lunch. They entered the restaurant and Kurt broke into his skippety-skip routine towards his fiancé. Blaine welcomed him with his usual love-dovey eyes and opened arms. Louisa simply rolled her eyes:

"Do you never get tired of the cotton-candy routine?"

Blaine chuckled:

"No; and neither of your silly routine of 'oh, I really got upset about that'."

She couldn't help but laughing:

"Busted! You're right, Bowtie; he's happy, I'm happy."

Kurt looked reproachfully to both of them and Blaine couldn't keep it longer before breaking into laughter. He guided the cousins to a table in a corner:

"I'm in my break so I can eat with you. Just wait here because I need to get something in the other room."

Louisa was looking at the menu more out of habit than really choosing from it. Kurt didn't even bother and leaned towards her in a conspirator whisper:

"Has Blaine being this odd all day? He was fine when we left home; but now I can see he's up to something..."

"My Blaine-o-meters aren't as great as yours; but all I'd say is that he was a little hectic during Cassandra's excuse for a class..."

Before they could conjecture more about Blaine's behavior; the boy was back with a box in his hands:

"For the love of my life."

Kurt rewarded him with the hugest of grins:

"Thanks, honey! Is this for some special occasion I'm missing out?"

Blaine chuckled:

"Just open it up and you'll understand..."

Kurt took out a blue Marc Jacobs' scarf from the box and his face filled with a mix of embarrassment and understanding:

"You didn't! Blaine; those things are so expensive! You really didn't need to bother."

Blaine was smiling like a five-years-old on Christmas:

"I know I didn't; but you decided to let me keep my puppy and you didn't have to. I'm quite fond of that puppy; you know?"

Louisa was more confused by the minute:

"Have you guys gone mad or are you speaking in a new strange kind of love language I'm not familiar with?"

After a quick peck to his boyfriend's lips; Kurt turned to his obscured cousin, still clutching to his new scarf:

"We had a deal that Satine would be out of the door if she ever ruined any of my precious clothes. Nevertheless, I couldn't do it after finding my Marc Jacobs scarf, that was a gift from Blaine for our anniversary, ruined. She had those big puppy dog's eyes that melt my heart. They are so similar to Blaine's..."

Louisa smirked:

"Well, if you ever need a place to kick Satine out; you can always do it on my apartment."

Kurt snorted:

"Thanks boo; but I'll be keeping both of them."

Blaine chuckled:

"Besides, we don't want our beloved dog training to impersonate a fruit basket..."

Louisa blushed to her brighter tone of red while Kurt looked puzzled between the two of them:

"What has happened that I'm not aware of?"

Blaine ignored Lou's pleading eyes in favor of his curious boyfriend's ones:

"Let's just say she made an impression on Cassandra's class today that will not be forgotten soon..."

Kurt's eyes were begging for more information, so Louisa gave in:

"I was fed up with her sarcasm and her lack of professionalism. Her classes are dull and she's simply mean! So, yes: I dressed up as Carmen Miranda and danced a number for her."

"Oh boo; you didn't do it."

Her sassy side kicked in:

"Why not, Kurt?"

He sighed and looked at her in his trying-no-to-piss-you-off attitude:

"You know she's looking for the faintest excuse to kick you out of the university; right?"

"And so what? I don't care! I feel so good, Kurt. Maybe NYADA isn't enough for me. Maybe New York isn't enough for me. I feel hyper!"

Kurt and Blaine exchanged a glance between them. Louisa rolled her eyes batty:

"Is there a problem?"

Kurt sighed:

"Lou, aren't you finding this strange? You behavior is completely changed; it's like you're stuck in a mood-swing."

"I don't get you: you complain when I'm down and now you complain that I'm feeling great?"

"It's not that, boo. We just want to know where all this... energy is coming from. Maybe we should channel it into something more productive so you don't feel the need to impersonate any other famous singer at inappropriate hours that could lead you to trouble."

Before she could argue, Blaine came as the peacemaker:

"I propose we go to a picnic this Saturday. The Central Park is a great place for impromptu performances and Satine would love the exercise too."

xXxXx

"Rach; are you sure this is the right way to Sheep Meadows?"

The girl smiled at her boyfriend and intertwined their fingers:

"I'm sure. Sometimes I feel like I was born to be a New Yorker; it's like I know this city better than I know myself."

Finn looked at her suspiciously:

"You're different lately. I mean; you said yes without a blink to this Louisa picnic... Are you two friends now?"

"Not exactly... Let's just say I walked some miles in her shoes and I can understand her better now. Besides, aren't you also tired of seeing her and Brody feeling miserable without each other and doing nothing to change that?"

Finn looked at her even more confused:

"Yeah... but... Didn't you hate her? I don't get it."

She smiled coyly at him:

"Girls can be confusing. I'm still not the fondest of Louisa's personality; but I remembered what it feels like to be the new girl; the outcast. I understood some of her reasons and it's easier to be polite around her. Besides, hanging out with her also means hanging out with our favorite gay friends. I miss them."

He bent down to kiss her lips:

"You don't know how this new found peace makes me happy."

"One more reason to insist on it."

She winked, giving in for the kiss.

xXxXx

"Rachel! Finn! We're over here!"

Kurt didn't know exactly why, but he was so happy to see his big brother. After the usual greetings, Rachel took on the job of helping Blaine out while Finn hugged Kurt in a big-brotherly way:

"It's a lovely day to be outside. I'm glad you and Blaine decided to do this picnic."

Rachel joined in the conversation:

"We should do this more often. You know; enjoy the city and the warmer days. But I didn't quite get it; why we are doing it for Louisa this time?"

Blaine was fastest to answer:

"She's behaving weirdly ever since the time she left the hospital. This is actually our first attempt. This picnic would also be an opportunity to watch her in a more relaxed environment and think of the next steps."

Kurt looked down feeling antsy. He had agreed with Blaine that this could be a nice idea and he was sure his fiancé had nothing but good intentions in his heart. Nevertheless, if Louisa were to suspect that this was a way of dealing with her anxiety; the whole enterprise would backfire. Blaine must had noticed he was lost in thought, because he got closer to Kurt and passed an arm around his waist. However, before he could say anything; Finn was waving at Louisa, who could be seen at a distance.

She was wearing a black floral dress accompanied by her trademark red converses. Kurt smiled despite of himself: she was looking at easy and healthy. When she got closer, he held her in a protective embrace as if to save her from all the dangers of the world. She grinned:

"Woah, pumpkin! I've missed you too; but not this much since I saw you yesterday... Does this have another meaning or..."

He cut her midsentence:

"We are here to celebrate!"

Her eyes inquired him puzzled:

"Celebrate what?"

"That we are young. That we are alive! That we are beautiful and talented and living in the city of opportunity!"

She turned to Blaine with fake annoyance:

"Bowtie! Are you giving drugs to my cousin?"

Blaine chuckled:

"He's only high on love."

Louisa's face turned into a disgusted grimace and Kurt laughed at her silly ways of pretending to be an Ice Queen. He would not be removed of his plans. Not that day, anyway. With a malicious smirk; he stole Blaine's newsie's cap and took advantage of his tapping skills to put on a presentation of King of New York from Newsies – The Musical. Blaine was the first to join him while Louisa sighed in disbelief. Rachel and Finn remained comfortably seated; cheering them on.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/epp6F1PM2vo

A pair of new shoes with matchin laces...

A permanent box at the Sheepshead Races....

Pastrami on rye with a sour pickle...

My personal puss on a wooden nickel...

Look at me: I'm the king of New York!

Suddenly

Im respectable

Starin right at'cha,

Lousy with sta'cha.

Nobbin with all the muckety-mucks,

I'm blowin my dough and goin deluxe

And there I be!

Ain't I pretty?

Its my city.

I'm the king of New York!

A solid gold watch with a chain to twirl it...

My very own bed and an indoor terlet...

A barbershop haircut that cost a quarter...

A regular beat for the star reporter!

Am-scray, punk, Shes the king of New York!

Whod'a thunk! Im the king of New York!

We was sunk, pale, and pitiful,

Buncha wet noodles!

Pulitzers poodles.

Almost about to drown in the drink,

When she fished us out

And drowned us in ink!

So lets get drunk!

Yeah!

Not with liquor. Fame works quicker

When you're king of New York.

I gotta be either dead or dreamin,

Cause look at that pape with my face beamin.

Tomorrow they may wrap fishes in it,

But I was a star for one whole minute!

Look at me:

Im the king of New York!

Wait and see:

This is gonna make both the Delanceys

Pee in their pant-sies.

Flashpots are shootin bright as a sun!

Im one highfallutin son of a gun!

I guarantee:

Though I crapped out, I ain't tapped out!

Im the king of New-

Friends may flee.

Let 'em ditch 'ya!

Snap one pit'cha

Youre the king of New-

History!

Front page story,

Guts and glory,

I'm the king of New York!

Kurt knew the kryptonite to Lou's poker face: him (especially when he was being silly). Soon enough, her laughter had appeared and she was tap-dancing alongside him. Finn and Rachel joined the group at the very end; making them scoop a little money that Rachel got in charge to change for ice-cream for everyone.

xXxXx

Those meetings have become numerous and never-ending. When Brody believed there wasn't anything else to solve about his graduation; something showed up and he had to go back to Mrs. Tibidaux office to look for another solution for his case. He was completely bored as he walked out of yet another endless meeting, when he saw something that had enormous potential to brighten his day.

At first, Louisa didn't saw him leaving the room. However, as she seemed to have been headed to that same office; they were bonded to meet.

"How's today treating you, Ms. Hummel?"

"Oh, Brody! I hadn't seen you there."

He smiled in spite of his better judgment:

"I was yet again trying to fix things for my graduation..."

"I'm so sorry..."

He stopped her mid-sentence; posing his hand in her arm. He realized a little too late that maybe touching her might not be the best idea. She didn't flinch at the touch though.

"Louisa, I don't want you feeling guilty about that. They are not taking your situation into account as to whether or not I'll graduate. It's all about my inability as a director to cast an understudy. Anyway... not important; why are you here though?"

She blushed to an adorable shade of red before answering:

"I did something that awoken Cassandra July's fury; let's put it this way..."

Almost like one of those spirits that are conjured when you say their names; Cassandra walked in the corridor and approached them with a disgusted look:

"Well, well, Brody; you used to have better taste. Don't tell me you had the courage to sleep with her after you had the pleasure of seeing me naked. Mrs. Hummel, I'm waiting for you inside."

Just like that, Cassandra was walking in the office and Louisa was turning to follow her. Brody couldn't let her go without at least an explanation. He grabbed her arm which got her attention:

"It was a long, long time ago. I was reckless and stupid."

"I don't have a habit of giving importance for what Cassandra July has to say."

He sighed relieved:

"Good. Because I really don't want you to use this as a reason not to give us a second chance."

She pursed her lips looking uncomfortable:

"The only reason is me, Brody. I don't know who I am. I thought that moving to New York to become an actress would make my dreams come true and thus making me happy. But I was wrong: all it did was making me realize I'll always be longing for something more and never be truly satisfied."

"I could help make you happy."

She smiled coyly, as if trying not to hurt him:

"No, you can't. That only comes from knowing who you are and I've still got to figure that out."

She squeezed his hand assuring before walking into the office. All he managed to do was smile back rather dopey.

xXxXx

Finn was glad they had settled the encounter at Coffee'N'Stuff. He was a bit scared by Kurt's serious face and he relieved in having nice coffee and donuts to compensate. As soon as Maggie managed to get a break to join them, Kurt cleared his throat and begun:

"Well, you must have guessed that I gathered this group here because I have something to say about Louisa. We are all worried about her behavior in the last couple of days; right? We tried a couple of things and nothing seemed to work..."

Maggie interrupted him:

"She surely seems electric and non-stoppable; but I'd say she doesn't look like she'll do something stupid like the last time."

Blaine smiled politely:

"I'd also say she's probably not close to it. However, she's doing things that end up harming her in other ways. I don't think her normal self would plan and execute the..., let's call it prank, on Cassandra's class. It's like she doesn't care anymore about her education and that doesn't sound like Louisa."

Kurt grabbed his hand wearing his proud-boyfriend smile:

"She's odd and we all know how she's like talking about those things. That's why I took a rather risky chance: I called her mother."

Finn almost chocked on his food: he'd never have the guts to do something that would piss Louisa off this much. She'd consider it high treason. But Kurt was her cousin; if someone knew Louisa better than herself it was him. Kurt gave them time to let the news sink in and continued:

"Aunt Maria always liked me very much and she knows pretty well how her daughter works. In this case, however, she said we probably have nothing to worry. She told me that Lou tends to be a little hyper when she changes medication. At first it's nothing to worry about and it tends to fade away in a few weeks times. She also said she'd be happy if we could keep an eye out for Louisa and report to her anyway. Can I count on you to help me?"

The other three nodded to Kurt. He smiled broadly and Finn couldn't help but following along: Louisa had formed the best family she could in New York.

xXxXx

Louisa saw Carmen Tibidaux taking a deep breath:

"So you are basically saying that you've done what you did because you question Ms. July's methods?"

The girl stares at the teacher for a brief second before answering to the headmistress:

"I wouldn't put it in those words; but, yes: I feel like Ms. July's classes lack diversity."

Cassandra slaps on the table by which the other two were sited:

"And who are you to tell how I should teach? Just because you can dance the samba do you think you're better than me?"

Louisa did her best to keep her calm:

"Not at all, Ms. July. I was just pointing out that, coming from another culture, I have lots of new dance styles I could contribute to your class..."

Cassandra's hysterical laugh scared her of finishing her sentence:

"Look at her! So now I'm to be trained as your pet monkey?"

Louisa's vision was beginning to be invaded with red:

"Don't! I'm not here to be insulted!"

"And I'm not here to be screamed at!"

And that was when the girl completely lost it:

"No you're not! You're supposed to be here to teach me and that's clearly not what you've been doing! You're an educator and all you can do is bringing your students down! I dare you to tell me one student you have actually helped? You're simply a bully!"

Cassandra was out of words, but Carmen went very calming, as if she was trying not to piss her teacher off:

"We can't argue that there have been lots of complains about you, Cassy."

"Carmen, I don't know what your angle is here; but I'm not putting up with this girl. She says I'm a bully; but she's not some innocent little lamb that I chose to torture."

Carmen Tibidaux took a deep breath and rested her head in her hands:

"What do you suggest we do here? You've already punished Ms. Hummel for her last semester's transgression... There's nothing in the university's regulation against impromptu performances; I'd even say we encourage them."

Cassandra looked like she could spew fire at any moment:

"But it wasn't just a performance; it was an insult!"

Carmen shrugged:

"I'm sorry; my hands are tied here, Cassy. What do you suggest?"

Cassandra's next words took Louisa by surprise:

"I want to pass her on to the next level. She'd have another teacher and I wouldn't have to look at her again."

The girl gasped:

"What?"

"I have to agree with Louisa, Cassy. It's a decision I wasn't expecting..."

"The girl isn't bad at ballet and jazz; she can keep up with the next level. I can't inspire her to do more on my class and I have a feeling that one of us could murder the other before the term is due."

Carmen then turned to Louisa:

"Could you agree with that, Ms. Hummel?"

"Hell yeah! Ops; sorry about my language."

Carmen just nodded:

"You're forgiven. I call you for a private meeting later this week so we can arrange the bureaucratic details; you may go now."

Louisa could hardly believe her luck. Not only was she hid of dreadful Cassandra as she'd have more free time for her. She was almost skipping when an unexpected presence caught her attention:

"Brody? Were you waiting for me?"

You couldn't say he blushed (it was not his style), but she knew he was embarrassed.

"I hope it's okay..."

"It actually is. I feel like celebrating and a friendly face is always welcome."

He grinned at her statement. They began to walk away from Mrs. Tibidaux's office whilst Louisa filled him up with her latest news. He got even more excited than her:

"This surely calls for a celebration! Come with me."

He started dragging her by the arm to one of the rehearsal auditoriums; she didn't feel like resisting. He sat her down at the audience and went to adjust the sound system. Then he climbed the stage and cleared his thought:

"Good evening ladies and gentleman. We are gathered here this afternoon to celebrate my good friend Louisa Hummel and her recent victory over the evil Cassandra July."

She was about to correct him, but he raised his hand in a sign that was for her to wait. She closed her lips and nodded. He went on:

"That's why I want to serenade her with a song of her people. Well... kind of..."

He began to sing Take You to Rio from the Rio Motion Picture Soundtrack. He winked at her marauderly and she couldn't help but laugh.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/kCUeVLYu85Q

Let me take you to Rio, Rio

Fly on the ocean like an eagle, eagle

Then we can chill in my gazebo, gazebo

Oh, oh, oh, oh, nah, nah, nah

Let me take you to Rio, Rio

Fly on the ocean like an eagle, eagle

Then we can chill in my gazebo, gazebo

Oh, oh, oh, oh, nah, nah, nah

However, then it was her turn to surprise him and she jumped on stage and began to sing the part in Portuguese. He smiled broadly and joined in a duet. They sang, danced and laughed.

Veja como é rico o nosso riso [See how rich our laughter is]

O sol é feliz de saber rir também [The sun is happy 'cus he can laugh too]

Água verde rindo, mares vindo [Green water smiling, the seas are coming]

Tudo é samba, e o samba vem sambar meu bem [Everything is samba, and samba came to dance, babe]

Para ter amor e um pouquinho de Rio [To have love and a little bit of Rio]

Onde a paixão é o riso de alguém [Where passion is someone's laughter]

Vou te dar calor e um carinho de ritmo [I'll give you heat and a caress of rhtym]

Todo meu amor por natureza vem, vem [All my love comes naturally, it comes]

Let me take you to Rio, Rio

Fly on the ocean like an eagle, eagle

Then we can chill in my gazebo, gazebo

Oh, oh, oh, oh, nah, nah, nah

Let me take you to Rio, Rio

Fly on the ocean like an eagle, eagle

Then we can chill in my gazebo, gazebo

Oh, oh, oh, oh, nah, nah, nah

É tanta beleza a se perder de vista [It's so much beauty you can't see it all]

Cidade floresta, meu cantinho quintal [Forest-City, my place in the backyard]

Faz quarenta graus para esquentar a vida [It´s 40ºC to heat life]

Faz uma batida pra ficar legal [It's a rhytm to makes things cool]

Laje é minha nave no alto do morro [My place is a spaceship on top of the hill]

Todo dia é dia de beijar o sol [Everyday is kissing the sun day]

Samba na batida projetos e rimas [A samba rhytm of projects and rimes]

Não tem fantasia tudo é carnaval [There are no fantasies, it's all carnival]

Let me take you to Rio, Rio

Fly on the ocean like an eagle, eagle

Then we can chill in my gazebo, gazebo

Oh, oh, oh, oh, nah, nah, nah

Let me take you to Rio, Rio

Fly on the ocean like an eagle, eagle

Then we can chill in my gazebo, gazebo

Oh, oh, oh, oh, nah, nah, nah

By the end of it; she approached him and engulfed him in a friendly hug:

"Thank you."

He chuckled:

"It was my pleasure. Besides, I'd love to see you dancing the samba. Word has it that your performance in Cassandra's class was one for the books."

"Well, honey; you have to earn it to see it."

xXxXx

Rachel grabbed another glass of wine and went to sit on the couch looking around, pleased with the party they were throwing. Although they had named it the "Screw Them" party; all the people surrounding her were an us.

It had been a week for celebration in several ways: she had got into good terms (or the best they could be) with her cast-mates; Louisa got hid of Cassandra and her organism was getting used to the new medication, making her calm again; Kurt and Blaine were as happy as they could be; Brody was accepted back in their social group and there had been months since she last had an argue with Finn.

They were living the dream and taking New York by storm; what could go wrong? Deciding that they should party more while they were young; she and Finn had called this little social gathering with the best food, drinks and music in town. As if in cue with her thoughts, Finn looked at her from the sound system and winked.

He pressed play to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' Can't Hold Us. Everybody begun to dancing around the living room; that kind of dance where the body goes free and there's no technique at all. Rachel joined them in their little moment of being infinite.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/xHRkHFxD-xY

Can we go back, this is the moment

Tonight is the night, we'll fight till its over

So we put our hands up like the ceiling can't hold us

Like the ceiling can't hold us

Can we go back, this is the moment

Tonight is the night, we'll fight till its over

So we put our hands up like the ceiling can't hold us

Like the ceiling can't hold us

So we put our hands up

So we put our hands up