Chapter 31

Glee Club

"Nationals." Dad says as he wrote 'nationals' on the white board. "Okay, song selection: We'll be kicking off our Vintage theme with the legendary Jim Steinman's Paradise by the Dashboard Light. Rachel will do the solo, It's All Com.." Dad got cut off.

"Coming Back to Me Now. One of Celine Dion's most powerful ballads, inspired by Wuthering Heights." Rachel cut him off.

"And we'll be working in a new Troubletones number, utilizing the talents of our featured performer, Porcelina Hummel." Coach Sue says to us and points at Kurt.

"Not gonna happen, Dragon Lady." Kurt shakes his head.

"Oh, you'll do as you're told, he/she. We will be performing What A Feeling, from Flashdance, and I'm familiar with the choreography, of course, because I was Jennifer Beals' dance double. And on that note, please look under your seats." Coach Sue says to us.

I frown and look under my chair until I see leg warmers and welding helmets on the box. I turn my face at dad and raise my eyebrows ar him and he just nodded at me.

"Welding helmets and leg warmers?!" Finn frowns.

"Best way to get props is to use props." Coach Sue simply said. "A healthy dose of props, and our plucky transsexual Porcelina, and you are over the top."

"Aren't props a little cheesy?" Blaine asks.

"Guys, I've asked for Sue's help because she's a winner, and I'm not ashamed to admit this I want to win. But there's not one person in that audience who will think we're anything but underdogs who would be lucky to place in Nationals. We didn't even make the top ten last year. We've got one last week to come together and shake things up. If there's anyone here who is not up for trying and working their butts off, you should just get up right now and leave." Dad says to us.

Tina suddenly stand up from her seat and about to walk away. "Whoa, whoa, Tina, where you going?" Finn asks her.

"You guys don't need me carry on." Tina simply said.

"Tina, you don't understand. I need this." Rachel says to Tina.

"Because you blew an audition? That's not a reason for you to get a solo at Nationals.Maybe the rest of us would like one, too." Tina protest.

"I wouldn't mind another one before I get deported." Rory simply said.

"I want one. Even though I can't sing." Sugar says.

"Tina, Rachel is a senior." Mike says to Tina.

"So are you, but you can bet the only thing you'll be doing is a dance break with Brittany or Paris. Other people matter." Tina says to Mike.

"Tina, you may not always get all the solos, but you are a key player. I put you in charge of costumes." Dad says to Tina.

"Wow! Like that's some prize. You want props to move around? Well, I'm a human prop, and I'm sick of it!" Tina protest.

"Take a lap and cool down, Asian Number One." Coach Sue says to her.

"My name is Tina. Tina Cohen Chang!" Tina yelled and walk away from the choir room.

"Isn't she the one who used to stutter?" Coach Sue simply asks.

I let out a sigh and being quiet. I turn my face at dad and give him a disappointed look. He knows his daughter and I can tell him that he made a wrong decision again.

~~~~

"Dad!! Dad!!" I shout and hold my chest.

"Yes, baby? I'm coming! I'm coming!" Dad shouts back and run to my room. "Hold on. Hold on."

I'm just holding my chest and trying to breath as the sweat filling my body then dad take the inhaler from my drawer and give it to me.

"Now breath. Slow down but make sure you got the air." Dad says to me and sit down opposite me.

I'm breathing using the inhaler until I feel my lungs is getting better then give the inhaler to dad.

"Feeling better now?" Dad asks me and rubs my hair.

"Yeah." I nodded. "I guess I cant be in cheerios anymore." I said to dad.

"Why, honey? Being in cheerios is your dream." Dad says to me.

"I cant handle the presure when I'm too tired, dad. My asthma will back and it kills me slowly. I'm afraid if I cant make balance between these two, I'm gonna die."

"Hey, dont say that things. Sweet Pea, you know that your mom and I tried so hard to clear this thing but you know the result right."

"I'm just feel like I'm worthless, dad. With this illness, I'll be depended on someone for my entire life. You're not tired to checking out a room to make sure that I wont get allergic all the time?" I ask him as tears slowly fall down to my face.

"No, I'm not." Dad shakes his head. "Listen, I dont feel like you're depended on me. Paris, that's what a father should do to his daughter especially when you only have one. You are perfect for me, you are everything for daddy. I dont mind to doing all these stuff and you will be cure. You said that you want to be a doctor right? Who knows that maybe you will know how to clear asthma." Dad smiles at me.

"I'm not sure with that." I giggle.

"Come here." Dad says to me and hugs me. "True parents wont leave their children alone. I wont leave you alone neither your mom. Even though your mom and I might not be together, but we agreed that when it comes to you, we have to be one. So if she said no, I would say no, if I said yes, she would say yes. Include your illness. You're not the only one who got sick but also me and your mom. We got through this together. We felt what you feel everyday. If you want to quit the cheerios, that's your choice. Actually if you can manage your time and eat proper meal, I'm totally sure that you can handle these thing." Dad says to me and kisses my head.

"Thank you for being my father." I smile at him.

"Now sleep. We have to get ready for nationals next week." Dad smiles back at me.

"Can I sleep with daddy tonight? So when I'm not feeling okay, I have you next to me." I said to him.

"Sure, Baby Shark. The most spoilt baby in this world." Dad chuckles.

"Dad, I'm not Baby Shark." I roll my eyes.

"Haha but you love this song since you were two. Okay forget it, you said you wanna sleep. Come on." Dad says to me and lay down in my bed.

"I'm still have homework to do but daddy stay here with me. Dont go anywhere." I said to him.

"Yes, my princess. Just dont cover my mouth when I'm snooring." Dad simply said.

I chuckle and shake my head. "Cant promise with that."

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

Now we are in the auditorium and practicing our choreography for What A Feeling using grinding union and welding helmets as our props.

"A-five, six, seven, eight. Mask, mask, helmet down. Pivot, pivot. Jump, mask, boys. A-one, two, three, four, five, six. Burn! Burn! Burn! Come on! Let it burn! Set this joint on fire! Come on, burn the joint down! Okay, cut the music. Stop! Stop. This is an unmitigated disaster. Jennifer Beals is spinning in her grave. Gentlemen, I asked for a cascade of sparks timed to the rhythm." Coach Sue says to us.

"I can't see through this helmet." Mike says and took his helmet off.

"I took mine off. Metal sparks in your face is how you get freckles." Brittany simply said.

"Is this even legal?" Blaine asks.

"Yeah, shouldn't we be in some sort of grinding union?" Sam asks.

"Wanky." Santana simply said.

"Sue, they're right. They can't pick up advanced choreography when they're weighed down by helmets and metal grinders." Dad says to coach Sue.

"Grind, grind, pivot, kick, pivot, spin, flip, split. What's complicated about that? These props were supposed to add to the routine, not be the routine. Well, maybe you're right, William. Maybe basic sheet metal work is just too much for your 12th place choir. Porcelain, thoughts?" Coach Sue said and turns her face at Kurt.

"I'm not doing a drag number. We need a new approach. I have an idea." Kurt says to us.

The bell rings.

I place my welding helmets to the box then walk out from the auditorium. This is crazy. Glee club needs new empowerement but not doing this.

"Where is your cheerios uniform?" Mike asks me.

"I decided to quit." I simply said and open my locker.

"Wait what? But being in the cheerios is your dream and you wont quit that easily. What's going on?" Mike frowns at me.

"Last night I got my asthma attack. I dont want to be in cheerios because it's exhausting."

"I cant belive that you become a loser like this." Mike frowns at me.

"It's disgusting to be me, Mike! You dont understand that! I have to drink painkillers every night, and sometimes I'd rather die than having this illness. I want to be free. I want to be like anyone else. I dont want my parents checking out a new room before I get in to make sure that I wont get allergic. I cant believe you said that to me without knowing what I felt." I glare at him and shut my locker then walk away.

Yeah it looks weird since I dont wear my cheerios uniform anymore. I just dont want to be in cheerios anymore. I'm tired with all the rehearsal and I'm not even sure that I can survive until nationals. This is really sucks.

~~~~

I'm eating my dinner and sitting down in the dining table. Dad just sitting down opposite me and eating his dinner. Until he finishes it and stand up from his seat and walk to the first aid box and take my medicine.

"Dont forget to drink this okay." Dad says to me.

"Dad, it really cant cure?" I ask him.

Dad just being quiet and turn his face away. "Just drink this okay." Dad says to me.

"You didnt answer me." I shake my head.

"Honey, I dont know. We tried our best but the doctor the doctor said... but here is the thing, just never stop praying okay. We'll never know what God has for us." Dad holds my hand.

"I'm exhausted, dad." I said to him.

"I know. I know that. But I told you to not give up on anything alright? I'm here, you're sick, I'm sick too. I will drink this too so you want to do that." Dad says to me and take a pill of my medicine.

"Dad, dont." I stop him.

"Listen, I know what you felt. Eating proper meal every day, make sure you drink your medicine twice a day. Then cant be too tired. If I could transfer that illness from you to me, I would do that but I couldnt. Honey, you're not alone. We are going to get through this together okay." Dad says to me.

"Okay." I nodded.

"That's my baby girl." Dad smiles at me and kisses my forehead.

I smile at him and take my medicine pill and drink that. There are many people who got worse illness than me and they already know that they will live their entire life with that illness and they still survive and have passion so I guess I have to do the same thing too.

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

We are in the boys locker room. I'm just sitting down on the front bench next to dad and having my arm around his shoulder back and lean my head on his shoulder. I dont know what coach Sue want to show us here.

"Please ignore the stench of mildew and jock strap and focus your attention on the screen. Porcelina?" Coach Sue says to us and points at Kurt.

"Yesterday, I snuck into a Vocal Adrenaline rehearsal, and what I saw is not for the faint of heart. Lights." Kurt says and turn on the video.

"Why is this in black and white?" Sam asks.

"Because I worship The Artist." Kurt simply said.

"Look at that. Unlike you misfit, ragtag stumblebums, each member of Vocal Adrenaline is in perfect sync. Not a step out of place." Coach Sue says to us.

"Okay, watch this closely, guys. It's called the Human Centipede. It's the newest, hardest show choir dance move ever invented. Incredible." Dad says.

"That actually really doesn't look that hard." Blaine says.

"Yep totally." I nodded.

"And the cherry on top of the Vocal m Adrenaline sundae is their secret weapon, Unique. Look at him/her. Poised, confident.Pretty as a picture with a booty that won't quit. It's the Unique factor that gives Vocal Adrenaline its edge." Coach Sue says to us.

"Isn't Rachel our Unique factor?" Finn asks.

"Not even close. I'm not saying that Mrs. Focker doesn't deserve a solo, but every show choir in the country has a little girl with a big nose." Coach Sue simply said.

"Okay, Sue." Dad rolls his eyes.

"High school judges are proven idiots. They love props, and Unique is the ultimate prop." Coach Sue simply said.

"Do you seriously think that we need a guy to dress in drag to win?" Puck asks.

"No." Dad answer.

"Yes. It's the only way." Coach Sue simply answer.

I frown and keep looking at the video. Those props are kinda disgusting and melting actually. I mean, we dont need props to win nationals.

~~~~

I'm sitting down on a seat in library and reading my book about some science encyclopedia. I'm bored and got nothing to do.

"Hey, have you heard that there will be new Star Wars movie on the cinema this weekend." Mike sit down opposite me and grins at me.

"And why?" I raise my eyebrows at him.

"I want to watch it with you this weekend." Mike says to me.

"Even though I will fall asleep when you will be busy talking with something I dont understand?" I ask him.

"At least I have you next to me. Then we can go to Breadstix for dinner or go home and continue watching Footloose movie or Step Up marathon." Mike grins at me.

"I prefer watch Step Up marathon then we can call pizza and cuddle up until morning comes." I grin back at him.

"I like that idea better. I though you still mad at me about the things I said yesterday." Mike says to me.

"No, I didnt. I was just too tired with those rehearsal and become little bit sensitive like period woman or pregnant woman." I said to him.

Mike takes my hands and holds my hands. "You're perfect for me. Dont be ashamed of who you are. I never mind with your illness because I love you for the way you are." Mike smiles at me.

"Thank you. And I cant believe that it's only two weeks away until you graduate." I sigh.

"That's why we have to make best two best week ever before we have our long distance relationship." Mike says to me.

"Yeah but I'm out of date idea. I'm not good at that." I shrug.

"We'll figure something out later okay." Mike says to me. "Walk you to the choir room?"

"I though you'd never asks." I smirk at him and stand up from my seat.

Mike puts his arm around my shoulder as I put my hand around his waist and we walk together in the hallways and turn our way to the choir room and sit down next to each other in the middle row.

"Since Porcelain refuses to be a team player and dress up like a lady, we're gonna have to up our prop game. I've ordered 18 little people, one for each of you." Coach Sue says to us.

"Wait. Little people?" Dad frowns.

"Munchkins. I found 'em online, William.And don't worry, I got a mix of race and ethnicities so you can keep up with your little diversity charade." Coach Sue says to us.

"I can't dance with a little person. I can hardly walk." Quinn shakes her head.

"There's that can don't attitude, Quinn." Coach Sue simply said.

"Sue, I think maybe we are going a little too far with the props. Let's just spend some time working on choreography for Dashboard." Dad says.

"Sure, if you want to lose." Coach Sue simply said.

Suddenly Puck walks in wearing a dress and blonde wig. "Puck?" Dad frowns.

"Hello." Sugar grins at him.

"My eyes are burning." Mercedes shakes her head.

"Look at those legs." Mike says as he look at him from head to toe.

"I am strangely turned on right now." Santana simply said.

"Please only address me by my stage name Lola." Puck says to us.

"Puckerman, I respect your commitment to winning, but without a doubt, you are the ugliest woman I have ever seen. For a second there, I thought you were Beiste's sister." Coach Sue says to him.

"It's not about being pretty. It's about someone in here having the balls to do what he has to do to put us over the top." Puck simply said.

"Well, you know, if this is gonna work, you're gonna have to shave off all of your body hair." Coach Sue says to him.

"Enough! Sue, look, I really appreciate all the help you've been giving us but I am done with all this props madness. All we're doing for the next three hours is learning choreography for Dash Board. Puck, go change." Dad says.

"William, I'm oddly aroused by your sudden forcefulness, and I will let you handle this rehearsal, however, I feel it necessary to warn you: I prepaid for the little people." Coach Sue smirks at dad.

I roll my eyes and let out a sigh. This is not gonna be happening. We all want to win but without these cheesy props or I'm gonna die.

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

"That movie was fantastic." Mike says to me.

"You said that to yourself because I didnt watch it." I simply said.

"Can guess that you fell asleep." Mike rolls his eyes. I chuckle and hold his hand then walk out from the cinema. "So what are we gonna do now?" Mike asks me.

"Order pizza then watch Step Up marathon." I said to him.

"Sure if that's what you want. Besides my parents out of the town for weekend so we can cuddle up all night." Mike grins at me.

"That's good." I grin back at him.

"I love you." Mike smiles at me.

"I love you too." I smile back at him.

Mike left a kiss on my lips then holds my hand as we walk to his car then go home and cuddle and watch movie all night long.

~~

I'm laying down in Mike's bed and hugging his pillow then looking at the tv screen. Mike is downstairs and he said that he wanna try make dinner but I know it wont work out.

Suddenly I heard some stuff fall down in downstairs. I stand up from his bed quickly and walk out from his room and walk downstairs.

"Babe, are you okay?" I ask him.

"These pans fell down." Mike giggles.

I roll my eyes and take those pans and put it in the right place. I look at the stove and it's like he is boiling something. I open the boiler cover and he is boiling macaroni.

"You add little oil and salt to this?" I ask him.

"Nope." Mike shakes his head innocently.

"What is the thing you were trying to cook?" I ask him.

"I red this from my mom cooking magazine. Macaroni Bolognaise with Mozarella cheese." Mike says to me.

"Okay, just sit down there and let me cook." I simply said and add little salt and oil to the boiler.

"But I want to cook for our date." Mike protest.

"You want to cook or destroy your mom's kitchen?" I raise my eyebrows at him. "Just sit down."

"But I want to learn. I will live alone in Chicago in two weeks." Mike says to me.

"Okay, come here." I said to him.

Mike walks to me and take the book. "What are we gonna do now? In the book it says that you have to boil the macaroni first." Mike says as he read the book.

"Forget the book. I tried to make some cake from cook book and it never work out." I simply said and take that book away from his hand and take a frying pan. "Turn on the stove then put little bit olive oil on the pan." I said to him.

"This much?" Mike asks me.

"One more table spoon." I said to him while chopping the onion.

"And then?" Mike asks me.

"Wait until the oil become hot then put the grind meat into the pan."

"How could you know that?" Mike frowns at me.

"Mickey, I cook the dinner for me and my dad almost every night. Of course I know that. I'm in my period time now so I'm become sensitive." I grunt.

"Haha this is fun. We can cook every day for the next two weeks." Mike chuckles.

"I dont trust you to do that." I shake my head and chuckle. "Now, put that grind meat."

Mike throw that grind meat to the pan and make the oil spurt into his face. "Ouch." Mike groans.

I take tissue paper and splash it with water little bit and clean his face. "Be careful. This is food, with hot oil and stove and you cant throw food like a football." I said to him and cleaning his face.

"I'm learning, babe." Mike rolls his eyes.

"I know." I roll my eyes and throw the tissue paper to the trashcan. "Now, add 1/2 tea spoon of salt and pepper and mix it with spatula."

Mike takes 1/2 tea spoon of salt and pepper then place it in a small bowl and take spatula. "This spatula cant fit into this bowl." Mike says innocently.

"Unfortunately, I love you, Mike." I sigh and take that bowl with salt and pepper and pour it to the pan and take the spatula from his hand. "Like this!"

"Oh like that." Mike nodded.

"You really never cook anything?" I ask him.

"No. Never." Mike shakes his head.

"Okay, now take tomato sauce and chili powder." I said to him.

Mike give me a bottle of tomato sauce and chili powder. I put the tomato sauce into the pan and put 1/4 tea spoon of chili powder. And put the onion into the pan and mix it.

"Wow it's almost done." Mike says to me.

"The mozarella cheese?" I ask him.

"There you go." Mike give me mozarela cheese.

I put mozarela cheese into the pan. Mike just looking at me and standing near the minibar. I turn off the stove of boiling macaroni then take it. I throw the water and take macaroni using strainer then put it into the frying pan as I turn off the stove.

I mix the macaroni to the bolognaise sauce then put it into the plates. And take parmesan cheese and put it as garnish.

"Macaroni Bolognaise Sauce with Mozarela Cheese ala chef Paris Schuester is done." I smirk at Mike.

"This smells really good." Mike grins at me.

"I know that. Bon'appetit, monsieur Chang Jr." I grin back at him.

I'm sitting down next to him in the minibar table and eat the food that I cook for both of us.

"Wow this is delicious." Mike smiles at me. "I should recommended you to my mom."

"To be your cook helper in your house?" I ask him.

"No. To be my wife. Because my mom once said that I have to find a wife who can cook so I wont look for any other woman's cook." Mike smiles at me.

I smile back at him. Mike just smiling back at me and pushes his face closer to me about to kisses me but I stop him. "You got sauce on your chin." I said to him and clean his chin with my hand and smile at him and kiss him. Mike kisses me back and cups my cheek.

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