The lights go out on stage and we rush off, back into the wings, the backstage area. There is already another group there waiting to go on next. It may be darker back here but I would recognize these teenagers anywhere.

Boys with buzz cuts. Girls with their hair in either tight buns or cropped to their shoulders, held back with slim headbands.

Perfectly buttoned up uniforms and an air of confidence.

The Musical Cadets.

The look filled with trepidation.  Dare I even say awe.

Could we have impressed these hard souled military school kids??

My group can't control their joy as we leave the stage. Finn and Rachel are running off hand in hand, giggling. Tina and Mercedes are chatty, even for them. Although their voices are more hushed than usual. Santana and Brittney bustle past me, hand in hand. Just as I think they are going to completely ignore me, Santana skids to a stop directly in front of me, mere feet away from the members of the Musical Cadets.

She smiles.

Honest to goodness smiles at me.

And then releases Brittney's hand, pulling me into a tight yet quick hug. Her voice is soft when she pulls back, but not so soft that those near by wouldn't be able to hear her.

"Water Sprite, I'm sorry I've been so rude to you lately. You're a tremendous asset to our group, your voice. And I let my personal feelings about your relationships cloud my actions. Don't ever tell them I said this, because I always thought you and the Meerkat were perfect for each other. But the New Kid. Seeing you with the New Kid, your dance partner, and how comfortable, natural you are together. It's astounding."

I'm speechless. She just complimented me. Not only on my art, my craft but on my relationships. She unknowingly gave Hunter and I kudos in front of his old teammates.

Thank you Tana.

Her moment of sweetness and honesty doesn't last long. She squeezes me once more, rather quickly and then spins around lacing her fingers with Brittney's again. Only then does she notice the group of teens standing nearby, hanging on her every word.

I'm moving closer to them when I hear her speaking with light venom in her voice. "Avert your eyes army dorks. This ain't a free show."

Most of them have the common decency to look away, seeming ashamed for their eavesdropping as the two girls leave the backstage area.  Except really for that Parker character, he is just staring smugly as the girls run past him hand in hand.

"I suppose your group did well enough, for public school children.  Although I'm still unsure what Clarington sees in you.  The brunette with the big nose has a better voice.  That hispanic girl just now had a much better rack.  And the blonde that went past earlier, she was way hotter.  Seems like he's slumming now that he is in Ohio."

I narrow my eyes and cock my head at this guy.  Hunter was right before, they are judgemental assholes.  At least this one is.

I stalk closer until I am directly in front of him. Screwing myself up to my full height, which is still at least a half foot shorter than him. My best stern face as I jab one of my fingers into his chest. "I've got more talent in my little finger than you do in your entire body, Captain Jagoff. Obviously you're just jealous that your former leader chooses to fancy me over you."

His group is stifling laughter around him as I move away from them, towards the exit.  Before he can format a coherent response there is an announcement.

"Next up, winners of the Western Central Regionals.  From Colorado Springs, Colorado:  The Musical Cadets!"

He hurries onto the stage, followed by the rest of his group.  I'm almost to the edge of the stage when someone touches my arm.   I come face to face with a petite blonde girl with an adorable Mia Farrow haircut. Oddly enough she may even be tinier than me.  Her blue grey eyes are pale and there is a smattering of freckles across her nose.  She smiles shyly, "Don't mind Parker.  He's a dick.  And has always been jealous of Hunter.  I thought your group was great.  And you two look adorable together. By the way, I'm Hailey."

She gives me one more smile before she scurries on to the stage to start their set.

I'm shaking my head and trying not to laugh as I make it into the auditorium and finally meet up with my friends.  I missed most of their songs but do catch the tail end of their contribution for the Vintage category.  Although I'm not sure how vintage 90s George Michael is.

I just hope you understand
Sometimes the clothes do not make the man

All we have to do now
Is take these lies and make them true somehow
All we have to see
Is that I don't belong to you
And you don't belong to me, yeah yeah

Freedom, freedom, freedom
You've gotta give for what you take
Freedom, freedom, freedom
You've gotta give for what you take

I have to admit, these kids aren't so bad.  Although I still think we were better.  My attention sort of wanes as the next few teams come and go.   The only ones that really hold me captive are Vocal Adrenaline.

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Mercedes whispers to me as they are on stage that their lead, Wade, well Unique, is her and Kurt's protégée.  About how they convinced him to embrace her true self.  And that self is noticeably talented.  I'm honestly worried now, because she is AMAZING!!!

After an agonizing few more quasi talented groups we are all dismissed to our respective dressing rooms while the judges deliberate.  They are going to post the results and then call the top three teams in for awards.   It feels like hours.

Torturous hours.

Really I'm just dramatic and as absorbed in the theatrics of it all as Rachel is.  She is pacing while I am nervously tapping my fingers on the piano.

For all of twenty minutes.

Yes just twenty minutes.

What, we're performers, cut us some slack.

Finally there is a knock on the door, an assistant wearing a headset and holding a clipboard is standing there. Mr Schuester approaches him and we all wait with bated breath. He turns around with a wide smile. Positively beaming at us.

"Kids, you made top three!!! They want us back on stage."

Everyone around me cheers as they rush out of the room.  Blaine grabs my hand as he zooms past, Kurt dragging him out of the room.  They are essentially towing me down the hallway and back up on to the stage.

I tidy up my wardrobe once we stop and take a quick glance around to see who the other two groups are.

Quelle surprise.

The other two teams are Vocal Adrenaline.

And the Musical Cadets.

Showdown in Chicago it seems.

I give a small smile across to them.  Parker sneers and looks straight ahead.  But that Hailey girl smiles back and raises her hand in a small wave.  One which I actually return before I turn to focus my attention on the woman with the microphone in her hand right now.

My gaze flits past her, the house lights are finally up more than before so I can see easier into the audience.

My boys, those sweet Warblers who are my friends, who I love, are waiting eagerly to hear the results. Sebastian appears to be nervously nibbling on his fingernails. Hunter, his gaze keeps traveling between where I am and his old team. He is looking a tad green from the stress of it all.

Those two are adorable. You would think that they were the ones up for a trophy with the way they are acting right now.

Blaine nudges me, I've been spacing out, staring at those horribly attractive Dalton boys in the audience.  The head judge is opening up the envelopes with the winners names on them.

"This was one of the most talented competitions we had this year.  Congratulations to all who have performed.  And now, in third place.  From Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Musical Cadets."

A smattering of applause occurs as Parker shuffles sullenly to accept their trophy.  Third place isn't so bad.  I mean Rachel told me that New Directions came in like 12th last year because of some kiss debacle.

He moves back in front of his group as the judge continues her announcement.

I'm not breathing as the notecard is taken out of the envelope.

"And this year's National Champions, from Lima, Ohio. The New Directions."

We won????

How did that happen??