Chapter 43

Now we are sneaking into the stage for the show in two days. Actually this is kind of illegal thing to do but Blaine kept insisting we all have to do this.

Sam walks lead me and hold my hand as his other hand hold the flashlight while we are sneaking it out.

"Are you sure we should be doing this? I mean, if we get caught." Unique says to us.

"Oh, just go!" Tina says and pushes Unique to keep walking.

"Trust me, when I was in the Warblers sneaking onto stage the night before a show was tradition. We had other traditions, but I can't really speak about 'em." Blaine says to us.

"We're not doing anything wrong. We're just, you know getting a feel for the layout of the stage- our stage." Sam says to us.

"So should we sing a song or hold hands or say a prayer or something? Because if I'm being honest, these ghost lights kind of freak me out." Artie says to us.

"All right, everybody, circle up." Sam says to us and open a briefcase. "I have a surprise." Sam shows us Finn's plaque. "Finn Hudson made us a promise at the beginning of the year- that we were all going back to nationals together. Even when we lost sectionals, which was totally not Marley's fault Finn told us that it wasn't over. He said that we'd be right here, together. Now, maybe you're thinking, Finn isn't here. Well, he is. I made sure of it." Sam says to us.

"Well, well! Les Directions Nouveau! Uh, apparently, we had the same plan for an illegal midnight rehearsal." Jean Baptise suddenly walks in.

"We? You're alone." Blaine frowns at him.

"Am I? Existentially, yes, Blaine." He simply said until the light turns on and the rest of his team come in. "Perhaps we are all alone. But tonight- Tonight, this stage belongs to us from midnight until dawn. You see, I called in a few show choir favors.So, we'll just give you three minutes to gather your feelings and leave." He said to us.

"Who is that? Your spirit guide?" A guy asks us and points to Finn's plaque then laughs.

"Dolph, enough. Have some respect. Look, everyone knows you're that show choir. And everyone knows it's been a very rough year for you. And now everyone is just waiting and watching you. Tonight, you have our condolences, New Directions. But let's just be very, very clear. Tomorrow, you will not have our mercy, pity or restraint. We are Throat Explosion. Expect us!" Jean-Baptise grins at us and walks to the stage and start their rehearsal.

"That was extremely rude." I frown at them.

"Kate.." Blaine holds my hand and trying to cover me.

"Well, well, well, if I'm not mistaken it's little girl from Hummel who has gay brother. Let me tell you, your divas are graduated. Wake up from your dream." Jean-Baptise smirks at me.

"Come on, we better go." Sam takes my hand and walks lead me from the stage until the others following us.

"I just wanna slap his face you know." I said to him.

"Kate, hold your anger. Your dad is here. You want to see him get heart attack because of what you did?" Sam asks me.

I let out a sigh and shake my head. "I'm sorry. It's just depressing." I said to Sam.

Sam chuckles and put his hand around my shoulder. He takes my fedora hat from my head and wear it on his head. I just put my hand around his waist and let out a sigh.

~~~~

I'm sitting down on the edge of Sam's bed i  his hotel room with Blaine and cross my legs. I'm staying with my parents as my dad booked a room with one double bed and one single bed beside that the others get one room for two people except Jake, Artie, and Ryder.

"You okay? You've been quiet since we back from that stage." Sam raises his eyebrows at me.

"I'm fine." I said to him.

Sam didnt say anything but place my fedora hat on my head then kisses me softly. I just kiss him back and put my hand around his shoulder.

"Geez, stop making out in front of my face." Blaine yelled.

"Give us some respect." Sam protest.

I roll my eyes and lay down in Sam's bed and sighs. "I was just thinking what Jean Baptise said was right. Our divas graduated. We dont have Santana, Rachel, Mercedes, Kurt, even Mike and Brittany. They are graduated." I said to them.

"Well, I was thinking the same thing but I'm not afraid with that." Blaine says to us.

"Sure because you won have more show choir competitions." Sam rolls his eyes.

"Okay I was out of control. I'm sorry." Blaine sighs.

"Can we just stop thinking about this? We need to focus okay." Sam says to us.

"Yeah you're right." I nodded. "Blaine, you wanna come to L.A Fashion Street tomorrow?" I ask Blaine.

"Sure." Blaine nodded.

"Good because Miss Fuss told me to report that." I said to Blaine.

"Why dont you ask me?" Sam asks me.

"Like you want to go there with me." I simply said.

"I want to." Sam says to me.

"Sam, you better stay here and lead them to practice okay." I grin at him.

"Whatever you say." Sam sighs and lay down next to me.

"Okay I'm going to back to my room. Dont forget we have to go tomorrow." I said to Blaine and stand up from the bed. "Bye bye." I wave them goodbye and walk out from their room.

I walk in the hotel hall and turn my way to my room along with my parents. I open the door and Carole is sitting down on the sofa in the corner while sewing the costume.

"Hey honey, you're hungry? It's almost midnight and I bet the restaurant already closed. But I bet the room service open 24 hours." Carole says to me.

"I just had dinner with the others outside." I said to him and jumps to my bed. "Dad, quit hogging the bathroom, I wanna brush my teeth!" I groan.

"He ate too much shrimp downstairs." Carole says to me.

"He is kind of allergic with seafood." I frown.

"I told him so but he still wanted to eat that and now he cant stop go back to the bathroom." Carole shakes her head.

"By the way, instead of sewing manually, you better use this." I leave my bed and walks to my suitcase and take my sewing kit and give the mini sewing machine that just looks like stapler to Carole.

"Aww thanks, honey." Carole takes that and continue sewing. "I didnt know you brough this thing here."

"I never leave house without bring my emergency fashion kit." I giggle.

"Kate, can you call the room service and order warm milk?" Dad walks out from the bathroom.

"Honey, what's wrong?" Carole asks dad.

"I guess I had food posioning." Dad says to us.

"You know that you're allergic with seafood but you still eat that." I roll my eyes.

I take my phone and text Sam. "Kate, honey, I told you to call room service." Dad says to me.

"I texted Sam to buy you milk from 7-eleven downstairs. You can get three box of fresh milk with the same price you got a glass here." I said to dad. "He said he wanna go also he want to buy some snacks. Just open the door and give the money to him. I'm so sleepy. Good night." I said to them and pull the blanket to cover my body.

"I feel like I have a baby." Dad simply said.

"You said that when the fact that you are the one who start to treat her like a baby, honey." Carole chuckles.

"You heard that, dad?" I shout.

"Just sleep now. This room wont be noisy if you fall asleep." Dad simply said and sit down next to me then rubs my hair.

Carole was really right. Dad always said that he feels like he had a baby who is me. When the fact that he is the one and only who loves to treat me like a baby.

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

I went out from the bathroom of my room then fixing my hair as I'm already dressed up with my summer dress for L.A Fashion Street today along with Blaine.

Tina and Sam are also here. They want to pick up the costume from Carole who is still sewing it and fix that.

I turn my face and dad helped Sam wearing a bowtie since tomorrow all the boys will be wearing bowties as Blaine's request.

"How'd you learn how to do that?" Sam asks dad.

"Have you met my son Kurt? Or my daughter Kate? They taught me." Dad says to Sam.

"I cannot believe this is our last competition. I am not ready for this to end." Tina says to us.

"Do not start crying again." Sam warns Tina.

"I'm not gonna cry. It's just that some of my best memories from Glee are these competitions." Tina says to us.

"Yeah, well, you know what? That's why guys love playing sports so much.bIt's not so much about the winning and the losing. It's about going to war with your buddies.You know? The camaraderie." Dad says to us.

"That's right. That's why you see a bunch of 50-year-old men humping around a softball field or playing flag football. They're trying to re-create that feeling they're never gonna get back." Sam says to us.

"They sounds like you." I frown at dad.

"Oh, my God, yes!" Dad rolls his eyes.

"That's it. Ugh. It's so depressing. I can't believe this is our last competition. My life's gonna be so empty from now on." Tina sighs and lay down on the bed.

"At least you get to have one." Carole suddenly said. We turn our face to her and raise our eyebrows. "Oh, my God. I can't believe I said that. I am so sorry." Carole says to us.

"No. It's okay. I'm sorry. That was totally insensitive of me." Tina says to her.

"Tina always does this." Sam simply said.

"No, no, no. It's fine, honey, really. You didn't do anything wrong." Carole says to Tina.

"You know what, guys? Why don't you go? You go, uh- You go practice or something and I'll have Carole finish up the sewing and I'll drop the dress by your room, okay? Relax.bDon't eat anything from the minibar. It's expensive. If you want something, go down to the 7-Eleven." Dad says to them.

I stand up from my seat and take my slingbag. "I'm going." I said to them.

"Where are you going to?" Dad asks me.

"I have to report L.A Fashion Street for my work. I'll be back before dinner time. See you guys." I wave them a goodbye and walk out from my room as Tina and Sam are still standing in the hall.

"I cant believe that I said that things. Is she cry or something?" Tina asks me.

"No. It's just my dad and I usualy avoid to talk about this to her unless she started it." I said to them. "It's okay, Tina." I smile at Tina and rub her back.

"Where are you going to?" Sam asks me.

"Oh, having a date with Blaine." I grin at him.

"Hey, come on, I was about to call you." Blaine went out from his room.

"So you and Blaine huh?" Sam frowns at me.

"We just want to go to L.A Fashion Street. Look, I brough my camera here. Last time I asked you to carry me to Tomford Vanity Fair, you said 'I'd rather to sleep at home' so I'm going with Blaine. Besides I already told you last night." I roll my eyes.

"I'm forget about that." Sam simply said. "Dude, take her care, if she is looking for another hot male model, kick her ass remind her that she even doesnt have any boobs or butt." Sam says to Blaine.

"You forget that I'll be working with hot male model. Even hotter than you." I pouted at Sam. "Come on, Blaine we are gonna have a beautiful date." I take Blaine's hand and walk lead him.

"Your relationship with him is getting crazier everyday." Blaine simply said.

"I cant deny that I love Sam. I really love him but my deep dark fears about relationship still ruin me." I sigh.

"You think that it may hurt him right?" Blaine says to me.

"Yeah. Maybe if he wanna give up and find another girl, he can do that." I half-smiled at Blaine.

"Just calm down. Soon your fears will be gone." Blaine rubs my back.

"I hope so." I sigh and nodded.

"Come on, we have report to be done and shopping clothes." Blaine grins at me.

"Yes." I chuckle.

~~~~

"Hey, guys sorry we're late, what's going on?" Blaine and I walk in to the meeting room as the others already waiting for us.

"Where have you both been?" Artie asks us.

"I have to report L.A Fashion Street for my work and I asked Blaine to carry me." I said to them.

They already make a circle and seems like they wanna talk about something. I'm just sitting down next to Sam and raise my eyebrows at them.

"Last year, Finn made us sit down like this. We told each other about our fears and anything we felt before the competition begin." Sam says to us.

"I'm still feel guilty about what I said to Carole." Tina sighs.

"It was suddenly come out. You were right. Dont be sad." I said to Tina.

"I'm sorry you guys." Tina half-smiled at us then start crying.

I grab her body then hug her and comfort her. "It's okay, Tina. We will always be here for each other."

"We are come here for one reason to tribute our perfomance to him. Some of you might not know him really well. But I did. Finn was the one who convience me and tell me that glee club is fun. I bailed at first but then I came back and he was right. When my dad lost his job, we moved to Kentucky, I worked as stripper so I can help my parents pay the bills, it was crazy and I'm ashamed of that but Finn came to me and brough me out to back to McKinley and indirectly told me that my future is waiting for me. And look at me now. I was homeless, I was stripper, but now I can get into The Cooper Union College, and CK wanted me to sign up some papers and have contract with me as their model. I did that because he showed me what is it to be a man." Sam says to us.

"He was our leader. Our hero." Artie smiles at us.

"And he will always be." I nodded.

"Come on, let's hug it out before we have our biggest competition tomorrow." Sam stand up from his seat and spread his arm.

I stand up from my seat quickly and we then start hugging each other and smiling at each other. He is really like our leader now. Even though can be stupid sometimes.

"Tomorrow, we're gonna kick Jean-Baptise's ass." I grin at them.

"Well, let's go back to our room and get ready for our big competition tomorrow." Sam says to us.

They're just smiling each other and nodded until we pull each other's body away. Sam is still put his hand around my shoulder as we walk out from that meeting room.

"I found this in that fashion street." I said to Sam and show him a picture in my camera.

"Isnt that me?" Sam frowns at me.

"Yes. There was CK parfume booth and they used you for the promotion of new product so you can see that your picture with topless body on their banner." I said to him.

"You should bring me there tomorrow." Sam says to me.

"For what? Let any other girl see the real you so they can take picture with you and touch your abs or something? Hell to the no." I shake my head.

"I like it when you become jealous." Sam grins at me.

"Oh you want me locked you out and didnt talk to you afterward? Sure." I simply said.

"But I can cuddle with you in the midnight." Sam smirks at me.

Sam open his room door and we both get in. I'm just sitting down on the edge of his bed until he throw all his snacks to me. I roll my eyes and place those snacks to the side table next to his bed.

"Sam, can I talk to you?" I ask him.

"What? Seems like really important." Sam sitting down in front of me.

"I know this is silly. I keep hangin you like this. And give you no certainty but I do love you, Sam. I mean, you're the only one person who knows me better than anyone else even better than myself. But if you want to find another girl who wants to date you and claim yourself as her boyfriend, you can do that. Just go ahead. I mean keep you hangin on like this just because my fears having commitment, this is hurt you slowly and I dont want that happen." I said to him.

"You're right. This is killing me slowly." Sam simply said. "But you know what is more hurt? Living without you. It was sucks to see you with Jake you know. Saw you kiss him or hug him when I just can standing alone in the corner and wondering that should be me. Kate, I never mind with that. I mean, I love you that's it. You said yourself that we know who we choose right? Then dont be afraid. As long as you're here with me, I'm fine. Label is just label, screw that. We are who we are. We know us. We know the things behind this. Dont say that things. You're my future wife." Sam smiles at me.

"You scared me with calling me that." I chuckle.

"You started it first when we both in New York." Sam chuckles.

"So, are you okay with that?" I raise my eyebrows.

"Yeah. This is our things. Screw the others." Sam nodded.

I smile at him as Sam smiles back at me and then cup my cheek and kisses me softly. I kiss him back and put my hands around his shoulder. I love him. I really love him.

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Nationals

Today is nationals day and we are ready to go that place with our bus. I'm just sitting down on the front seat and looking at my phone. I turn my face and Sam cant stop walking go back and forth and looking for something.

"What's wrong?" I ask him.

"Finn's plaque, it's missing." Sam says panicly.

"Don't panic. I'm sure it's here somewhere.- It's not in here." Blaine says to him.

"I put it right here. It's gone." Sam simply said then turn his face to outside the bus until he walk out from the bus and blocks Throat Explotions's way. "Give it back!"

"Give what back? Your talent? Because you obviously left that in Ohio." Jean-Baptise glares at him.

"All right, just give us the plaque back." Blaine says to them.

"Gentlemen, let's get serious. You've got zero chance of winning. You lost your sectionals. So you're only here on a technicality. And everyone knows all your decent singers graduated. And a little piece of wood with a picture of a guy on it isn't gonna change." Jean-Baptise says to Sam and Blaine.

"You're a tool, man! Come on!" Sam pushes his body away.

"Okay! Break a leg." He simply said and walk away.

"Sam, just-just let it go. They're just trying to psych us out. They're being idiots. We got to get our game faces on and win this thing. Okay?" Blaine says to Sam.

"Okay, guys, look." Sam and Blaine walk back to the bus. "The plaque doesn't matter.You know why? Because I believe with all my heart that Finn is here. He's right here with us, right now. And he's holding all our hands, and he's telling us, "The show must go all over the place." When we're up there on stage, he's gonna be sitting right next to Mr. Schue cheering us on. And when we win our second nationals trophy, he's gonna be cheering us on even louder. All right? So let's do this! Let's go!" Sam grins at us.

We are cheering happily and nodded about what he said. He is totally right. Without plaque we still can win the game and we know that Finn is always be with us.

~~~~

"A reminder from the City of Angels! The 405 Freeway is closed for repairs this month. Also, the subway isn't working, and bus service has been canceled due to snipers. Also, if you try to walk, people will look at you weird."

"Hi, guys." Mercedes smiles at us as she walks into the auditorium and sit down on her seat.

I look around and turn my face. Where are my parents? Carole and dad didnt say anything to me last night. This is weird.

"Also, watch out for terrorists. And now let's meet our judges! Please welcome living legend and Academy Award winner, Miss Marlee Matlin! Give a warm hand for entertainment icon and Emmy Award winner, Jacké! A round of applause for the inventor of the fitness craze that's sweeping the nation- Prancercise- Joanna Rohrback! And now from Oklahoma City, the Amazonians!"

"Where are your parents?" Sam asks me.

"I dont know. They didnt say anything about bail to me last night." I said to Sam.

"This is must be what Tina said yesterday." Sam sighs.

"Stop blaming Tina, okay. They will come." I said to Sam and hold his hand.

"Okay. A Belinda Carlisle triple medley is impressive. But it's not that great. We're still safe." Blaine says to us.

I keep holding Sam's hand and make our finger interlocks. "And now, from Fort Wayne, Indiana, please welcome Throat Explosion!"

I cant take my eyes off of the stage. They performing Mr. Roboto by singing lead from Jean Baptise. They coller than Vocal Adrenaline. Those dance move and the theatricality are incredible.

Second song they surprised the audience with changing their clothes and sing Counting Stars by One Republic. Okay I'm gonna die.

They ended up their song with full of applauding and standing ovation from all the audience here. I turn my face to the door and my parents seats are still empty. I guess they bailed. Since Carole being sad with this competition.

"Guys, get ready now." Mr. Schue says to us.

We then stand up from our seat and walk to the backstage to get ready for competition. I take my phone and dial dad's number but no answer. They really bailed.

~~~~

"Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats. Three minutes until showtime."

"They aren't here." Sam says after he checking out the audience seat from the curtain in the stage.

"My dad or even Carole didnt answer the phone." I shake my head and lock my phone.

"Well, if they were coming, they'd be here by now." Blaine says to us.

"I can't believe I said all that stuff in front of her." Tina says sadly.

"Oh, it's cool, Tina. You can't help it." Blaine says to Tina.

"Carole just being emotional since she went out with all of Finn's friends. Just stop blame yourself, Tina." I said to Tina and rub her back.

"They're with us in spirit. Just like Finn. Let's bring it in. Okay. We're not like the other teams here. We don't have the big budget or the- the giant pool of students to choose from. We're also different from these teams because we didn't come here to win. We came here to sing and dance our hearts out." Mr. Schue says to us.

"Oh, that's horse poop, Schuester." Carole's voice. I turn my face. Carole and my dad are finally come. I smile at them and hug my dad. "We were halfway down to Laguna before Burt convinced me to turn around." Carole says to us.

"I never said a word." Dad simply said.

"Oh, you didn't have to. None of you did. I could hear Finn's voice in my head. "This is nationals, Mom. I coached those kids. You leave them and you're leaving me." You guys are his legacy.bWhich means I don't want to hear any garbage about doing your best or giving it the old college try. Go out there and wipe the floor with the other teams! Wipe it!" Carole grins at us.

"Yes! You guys are the reigning national champions. Get out there and show 'em how it's done." Dad says to us.

"All right. Perfectly said. Hands in, everyone. All right." Mr. Schue says to us as we start having show circle.

"Aaaamazingggg!!!"

"And now, raise the roof for last year's national champions from Lima, Ohio, the New Directions!"

Blaine:I looked out this morning and the sun was goneTurned on some music to start my dayI lost myself in a familiar song

Tina with Blaine:I closed my eyes and I slipped away

Blaine (New Directions):It's more than a feeling (More than a feeling)

Tina (with Blaine):When I hear that old song they (used to play) (New Directions: More than a feeling)

Blaine and Tina (New Directions):(Blaine: And) I begin dreaming (More than a feeling)

Tina (and Blaine):'Til I see Marianne (walk away)

Blaine (with Tina and New Directions):I see my Marianne (walking away, hey)

When I'm tired and thinking cold

Blaine with Tina:I hide in my music, forget the day

Blaine (with New Directions):And dream of a girl I used to know(I closed my eyes and she slipped away)

Blaine and Tina with New Directions (New Directions):(She slipped away) She slipped away

Blaine (New Directions):It's more than a feeling (More than a feeling)

Tina (and Blaine):When I hear that old song they (used to play) (New Directions: More than a feeling)

Blaine and Tina (New Directions):(Blaine: And) I begin dreaming (More than a feeling)

Tina (and Blaine) with New Directions:'Til I see Marianne (walk away)

Blaine with New Directions: More than a feeling

First song perfectly done with a loud of applauding from the audience. Now it's time to rock them with our second song.

Artie:FarWe've been traveling farWithout a homeBut not without a star

Sam with Kate:FreeOnly want to be freeWe huddle closeHang on to a dream

Kate with New Directions (New Directions):On the boats and on the planesThey're coming to America (They're coming to America)

Kate with Unique and New Directions:Never looking back againThey're coming to America

Sam (Unique):Home (Home)Don't it seem so far away (Don't it seem so far away)Oh, we're traveling light today (Oh-oh)In the eye of the storm (In the eye of the storm)In the eye of the storm

Artie (and Kate with New Directions):Home (New Directions: Home)(To a new and a shiny place)Make our bed and we'll say our grace(Freedom's light burning warm)Freedom's light burning warm

New Directions:Freedom's light burning warm

Sam with New Directions (Unique):Everywhere around the world (Everywhere)They're coming to America (They're coming to America)Every time that (and Unique: flag's unfurled)They're coming to America (Ooh)

Artie (and Kate) with New Directions:(Got a dream to take them there)They're coming to America(Got a dream they've come to share)They're coming to America

Sam and Unique with New Directions:They're coming to AmericaThey're coming to AmericaThey're coming to AmericaThey're coming to America

Kate and Sam with New Directions (Unique):Today (Artie: We're coming) (We're coming)Today (Today) (Artie: Ooh)Today (Today) (Artie: We're comin', ooh) Today (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah) (Kate with New Directions: Today)

Sam (Kate with New Directions):They're coming to America (Unique: They're coming to America) (Today)They're coming to America (Artie: Oh, woah) (Artie and Kate with New Directions: Today)They're coming to America (Unique: America) (Today)They're coming to America (Unique: Today, woah) (Today)

Kate with New Directions (Artie):(We're coming) (Unique: Ooh) TodayToday (Unique: They're coming to America)(Ooooh) Today(with Artie: Today)

Sam (Kate and Unique with New Directions):My country 'tis of thee (Today)Sweet land of liberty (Today)Of thee I sing (Today)Of thee I sing (Today)

Second song done perfectly. Now coming up for the third and our last song. A song that I usually heard Finn sang in the bathroom while he took shower or I can say that this is his bathroom playlist.

Sam:I have climbed highest mountainsI have run through the fieldsOnly to be with youOnly to be with you

Blaine with Sam (Blaine):I have run, I have crawledI have scaled these city walls(These city walls)Only to be with you

Blaine with Sam and New Directions:But I still haven't found what I'm looking forBut I still haven't found what I'm looking for

Artie:I have kissed honey lipsFelt the healing fingertipsIt burnt like fireThis burning desire

Tina with Artie (Tina):I have spoke with the tongue of angels(I have held) (Artie: I have held)Hand of a devilIt was warm (in the night) (Artie: In the night)(I was cold as a stone) (Artie: Cold as a stone)

Blaine and Sam with Artie and New Directions (Tina):But I still (But I still) (and Tina: Haven't found)What I'm looking for (What I'm looking for)But I still (But I still) (and Tina: Haven't found)Wat I'm looking for (What I'm looking for)

Blaine with Kate (Artie):I believe in the kingdom come (I believe, oh)Then all the colors will bleed into one (Bleed into one)Bleed into one (Ooh, yeah)

Blaine (Kate):But yes, I'm still running (Yes, I'm still running) (Artie: Yes, I'm still running)

Sam (Artie):You broke the bonds and you loosed the chains Carried the cross and, oh, my shameOh, my shame (Ooh)You know I believe it (I believe it)(New Directions: You know I believe) (Mh, I believe it)

Blaine with New Directions (Artie):But I still haven't found (Still haven't found)What I'm looking for (Yeah, yeah, hey)But I still haven't found (No, no, yeah)What I'm looking for (Oh, no, no, no)But I still (Blaine: Still) haven't foundWhat I'm looking for (Blaine: What I'm looking for) (What I'm looking for)

New Directions (Blaine and Tina):But I still (But I still) (and Blaine and Tina: Haven't found) (Artie: Ooh)What I'm looking for (Sam: What I'm looking for) (Blaine, Sam, and Tina: Looking for)

Artie, Blaine, Kate, Sam, and Tina with New Directions (Tina):(Artie, Blaine, Kate, and Sam: But I still) (But I still) haven't found (Artie: Haven't found)What I'm looking for

We ended up our song with standing ovation from the audience. Sam throws Finn's drum stick through the end of the performance. We just smiling at each other until the curtain lift down and Sam walked out from the stage quickly.

I walk off from the stage and about to come to him but Blaine takes my hand and shake his head. I half-smiled at him and nodded then walk away.

~~~~

And now we are back to the stage to listen to the winner announcement. I'm just standing next to Sam and put my hand around his waist as he put his hand around my shoulder. This is terrifying.

"And in fourth place, from Lake Tahoe, Vicious Harmony!"

I let out a sigh and open my eyes and see the judges give the trophy to them. I close my eyes again and waiting for the winner announcement.

"And third place goes to our bronze beauties, the Amazonians!"

"Finally!" Sam sighs.

"And now, the pivotal moment is here. For there can only be one champion show choir per nation.bSecond place goes to..... Yeah! New Directions! Which means the winner of the National Show Choir Championship is Throat Explosion!"

I'm just being quiet and frown. No one of us said a word. The judges give us second place trophy and Artie just place it in front of him. We lost. And I dont know what I'm gonna do. This is crazy.

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

Now we are back to Lima. No celebration. Nothing. Only the second place trophy. I'm sitting down on the piano as Sam place Finn's plaque back to its place.

"All right, guys. Time to put our new trophy in the case." Mr. Schue says to us and hold the trophy.

"I've always found that second place trophies are just a lasting reminder that you didn't win." Artie says to Mr. Schue.

"Hey, there were 16 teams in that competition. We beat 14 of the best show choirs in the country." Mr. Schue says to us as dad and Carole walk in.

"I'm sorry we let him down." Sam says and hug Carole.

"Let who down? Finn?" Carole asks us.

"We just really wanted to win this one for him, and for you." Blaine says to her.

"We had a plan that we were gonna call you up on stage and give you the trophy to keep." Marley says to Carole.

"It's not right. This is not how the story was supposed to end." Sam shakes his head.

"You're right. Oh, it would have burned Finn to have lost to those guys. All we would have heard for months was how the judges had robbed you or how you were so much better than them. But then he would have stood up, and he would have told you that even though most of you had never been in a show choir before this year you still stood tall against the best of the best. And you know what? Even though Finn didn't have the best voice or the best rhythm or the best throwing arm, he always brought out the best in himself and in others, and the great thing about him is he always managed to find a way to feel like he'd won. I was really proud of you guys up there. Hearing those songs was so healing for me. And, I don't know. I saw how much he meant to you. So, win or lose, Finn lives in you guys." Carole smiles at us.

"Okay, guys. Let's put this trophy where it belongs." Mr. Schue says to us.

"A second place showing is superior to when Finn decided to make out with Rachel on stage, and we ended up in 12th." Artie chuckles.

"Then Santana stormed out in the hotel room yelled at Finn and Rachel in Spanish." I chuckle.

"And Brittany almost wanted to sing a song about Cup during nationals." Tina chuckles.

"I love you guys." Mr. Schue smiles at us.

"Principal Sue wants to see you, Schuester." Becky suddenly walks in and yelled at Mr. Schue.

Mr. Schue put the trophy in the trophy case then half-smiled at us and walk out from the choir room. I stand up from the piano and standing in front of the trophy case. Second place doesnt looks like we are win.

I'm still standing in front of the trophy case until Sam hugging me from behind and place his chin ontop of my head.

"I feel like I'm losing myself." Sam simply said.

"I'm just sleepy." I simply said.

"You are a sleepyhead." Sam chuckles and kisses my head.

Suddenly dad clears his throat. Sam and I pretend like we both didnt do anything. The fact that we're just hugging each other.

I turn my face and Mr. Schue walks back to the choir room with his head down. I raise my eyebrows at him then Mr. Schue turn his face at us.

"Glee club is over."

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