―

―

"JUST FACE IT, YOU will never be able to beat me." Quinn smirked at the end of a very intense round of rock, paper, scissors.

"I will win one day." Hunter said as Mr. Schuester entered the choir room, a man trailing behind him.

"No you won't."

"No I won't."

"Okay, guys, listen up," Mr. Schue earned the attention of the glee club, stopping all of their murmuring, "This is Mr. Ryan. He's a member of the school board, and he would like to say a few words. I-I just want you guys to listen critically and know that what he's saying is just one of many opinions." He stuttered out, making Quinn and Hunter share a look.

"Take out a piece of paper. And on that paper, I want you to write down your biggest dream. A dream that means so much, you're afraid to admit it even to yourself." The man instructed everyone.

Quinn took a piece of paper out of her notebook, ripping it in half and handing one half to Hunter, as well as a pen, everyone writing down their dreams.

Hunter wrote down his dream in the pink, glittery gel pen that he had been given, smiling down sadly at the piece of paper when Mr. Ryan suddenly snatched Artie's piece of paper from the boy's hand, crumpling it up.

"Your dream is never going to happen," Me. Ryan said, throwing Artie's dream into the trash making Hunter's grip tighten on his own dream, "Ninety one percent of you will spend your entire lives living in Allen County, Ohio. So unless you wrote down that your dream was to 'work for a mid-market health insurance provider' or 'find an entry level job in an elderly care facility', you're going to be very disappointed."

Hunter frowned, looking down at his paper, making Quinn who had seen it take his hand in her own.

"This is really depressing." Mercedes frowned.

"I'm going to guess that a lot of your dreams involve 'showbiz'," Mr. Ryan rolled his eyes, "Well, let me tell you. Showbiz dreams are the most unrealistic of them all."

"But... that's what I want to do with my life." Tina spoke up.

Mr. Ryan sighed, "Oh, look, I'm not trying to hurt your feelings, I'm just trying to spare you disappointment."

"I think we get your point." Mr. Schuester tried to cut him off.

"Aw, well, Schuester here's a prime example," Mr. Ryan put his arm around his teacher's shoulders, "He used to have that glimmer of hope in his eyes that I can see right now in all of yours. But he couldn't make it happen for himself, so he now has to try and convince you all that it will happen for you. Guess what? His dream didn't work out. And neither will yours."

Hunter felt his jaw tighten as Tina started sobbing, making him wrap his arm around the younger girl as she cried into his shoulder.

Mr. Schue glared at Mr. Ryan, "Okay, you're done here."

Mr. Ryan raised an eyebrow, "You would be wise to show me some respect."

"You've said your piece. Now get out." Mr. Schue told him through gritted teeth.

"Well, Schuester, I should thank you. You've made my decision about which program to cut a lot easier." Mr. Ryan said, before exiting the choir room.

―

Hunter leaned against his locker with a sigh, closing his eyes for a moment when some cleared their throat behind him.

"You okay?" Kurt asked softly.

"Just thinking." Hunter hummed, eyes still closed.

"About what Mr. Ryan said in Glee today?"

Hunter only nodded.

"I saw what you wrote on your paper." Kurt confessed.

The taller opened his eyes, turning to look at Kurt, "You did?"

"I wasn't trying to look, I swear," Kurt quickly promised, "I was just sat behind you and I glanced over and it was in a glittery pink pen, so-"

"It's okay, Kurt," Hunter chuckled slightly, "I get it."

"It's just," Kurt thought about how to phrase what he was going to say, "I know what it's like. Losing a mom. I was a lot younger, so I wasn't as aware about what was going on, but I know how it feels. And I'm here for you if you ever want to talk."

Hunter put his hand on Kurt's arm, "Thanks. I'll keep that in mind." He told him, before heading off to meet Katie in the library.

―

Hunter and Mercedes shared a confused look as Mr. Ryan stood in front of the glee club, excitedly opening a box.

"Guys, I've got good news. I siphoned off funds from the Cheerios and I took a little shopping spree through the Jazzhands catalogue. You know why? 'Cause the arts matter. And I got custom-made New Directions jean jackets and some rad tearaway dancewear. Hello. And every piece of sheet music from every Broadway show for the last 50 years. Everything a show choir needs to become champions." The man grinned.

Mr. Schuester let out a shocked laugh, "Wow, that's just amazing. Let's all give a hand for Mr. Ryan." He said, the club complying.

Hunter shook his head, looking over at Kurt, "I don't trust it."

"Thank you. Thank you." Mr. Ryan smiled as Coach Sylvester entered the choir room.

"Congratulations, Will. I'm over the moon for you." The woman said.

Mr. Schue raised a confused eyebrow, smiling nevertheless, "Thanks, Sue. I'm glad you have a good attitude about your budget being cut."

"No, no, I'm not talking about that. I came over here to congratulate you on your new role. Local director, Herb Duncan, does the dry cleaning for the Cheerios and he let it slip that you just landed the lead in Les Miz! Congratulations," Sue smirked, Mr. Ryan's face falling as she then turned to him, "Oh, I'm ecstatic. And the good news just keeps coming, 'cause you got a part, too, Bry. The exciting role of Townsperson. And you got a line, too. Way back here in the second act, you get to say..."Hooray." Congratulations, both of you, really. I can't wait for opening night."

Sue then left the choir room with her smug smile, leaving an upset Mr. Ryan.

Mr. Schuester frowned, "Wait, Bryan."

Mr. Ryan shook his head, snatching all of the merchandise back and repacking the box, "Congratulations, Will. You're going to be great in the show."

"Can we talk about this?" Mr. Schue asked.

"Nothing to talk about. I'm cutting the program." Mr. Ryan declared, before storming out.

"I swear I'm psychic." Hunter muttered.

―

A frown etched onto Hunter's lips as he saw the deep one on Artie's.

"You okay, man?" The older boy asked, sitting next to his friend.

"Even if I say yes, would you believe me?" Artie raised an eyebrow.

"You look like you just saw someone shoot Mickey Mouse," Hunter said, "Is this about the Tina thing."

Artie shrugged, picking at his trousers, "Maybe."

"I'm here, you know."

"I know."

"All right, guys, listen up," Mr. Schuester called for attention as he entered the choir room, "Tina has something that she wants to share with all of us, but first, I have an announcement to make. You've all been reprieved. Bryan Ryan isn't cutting Glee."

Laughter filled the choir room as the glee club clapped in joy.

"Did he die?" Puck asked.

"No. He didn't die. He, uh, is going to be distracted for a couple months making his star turn in Les Miz. He got the lead role." Mr. Schue said.

Quinn raised an eyebrow, moving to sit next to Hunter, "But I thought you got the lead."

"I resigned," Their teacher revealed, "It was the price for keeping the club."

"Sorry you had to do that, Mr. Shue." Finn frowned.

Mr. Schuester shook his head, "I'm not. You know, th-the way I see it, I'm trading my one dream for the chance that all thirteen of you might find yours. I mean, come on– you can't argue with those numbers. So, let's start with Tina's dream. Come on up, Tina."

Tina joined her teacher's side and high fived him because that's how they did it in glee club.

"I understand that you whipped up a little dance number for us– a breakout that we might use at Regionals."

"Yes." Tina nodded.

"You got a dance partner?"

"Mike Chang." Tina nodded, making Hunter pat Artie's back.

[ dream a little dream of me, performed by artie, with the new directions ]

―

"It just sucks." Hunter shrugged with a frown as he and Kurt sat on his bed.

"Yeah, it really does," Kurt agreed, "And I know you wrote that your dream is for your mom to-"

"I know," Hunter nodded, "And I know it'll never come true. But that's the downside to dreams, right? You can only ever fully live them in when you're asleep."

"You know what helps me when I miss my mom?"

"What's that?"

"A song."

Hunter chuckled, "Oh my God, that might be the cheesiest thing I've ever heard."

Kurt laughed, "It is. But it works. Wanna try together?"

"A duet with the Kurt Elizabeth Hummel? Now that would be a dream come true."

[ a dream is a wish your heart makes/once upon a dream, sung by hunter and kurt ]