Nobody Loves Me Like You Do

Chapter 29: Regionals

I lean my head on Quinn's shoulder letting my eyes droop closed. In order to get to the day-long competition, we had to wake up extremely early. Once we get to the competition we still have to register, warm-up, get into costumes and makeup, and then sit around and wait for a long time. So until we get there, I will be sleeping. Quinn and I are sharing headphones listening to our setlist for the show on repeat. We both figured out that visualizing the dance steps helps ingrain them in my brain indefinitely.

"Kurt?" she whispers. Most everyone else on the bus is trying to sleep or talking quietly.

I groan and bury my head into her neck, "What?"

"I'm bored. Can you please wake up and talk to me?"

"No, I'm tired," I mumble. "What do you want?"

I can feel her shift and sit up straighter, "Are you sure you are going to be alright for today? I mean, I don't want anything to happen to you, you know with him being there."

I sigh and lift my head from her shoulder, "I promise I will not let Blaine distract me from performing my best. If anything it will probably make me perform better, I want to win."

"I just want to make sure that you aren't just doing this out of spite," Quinn says.

"I'm not. I swear I am doing this because winning will feel great, and then we will be able to go to New York, and I won't have to see him ever again."

"Alright alright."

After a while the bus finally pulls to a stop, everyone groggily stumbles out of the bus. Well everyone except for the ever-peppy Rachel Berry. She is already happily humming the setlist and doing jazz squares with every step she takes. I love her, but it's annoying to have a morning person amongst all of the exhausted teens. Mr. Schue already has enough energy for the whole team, we don't need another obnoxiously annoying optimist. We check-in and head to the green room to get dressed and ready for the competition. There is a piano in the corner, curtains to change behind along with couches and vanities.

I go behind one of the curtains to change quickly in our black suits with golden ties. After changing I move over to one of the vanities to cover up the clear bags underneath my eyes from the lack of sleep due to crying all night long. Luckily my eyes aren't noticeably red, although I still put a couple of eye drops in just in case. I fix my hair and spray it with lots of hairspray to keep it intact. Once everyone is dressed and ready we start up vocal and dance warm-ups. Then it's time for the competition to start, we sit in the back of the auditorium watching the other groups until it is our turn to perform. By a random stroke of luck, the New Directions are going last, meaning they will be fresh in the judge's mind when they make their decision. Unluckily the Warblers happen to be the first ones performing.

The lights dim signaling the start of the competition, Mercedes reaches for my hand on one side while Quinn reaches for the other. I have my friends here no matter what. The group of perfectly dressed boys walks onto the stage, their silhouette placing themselves thoughtfully in a simplistic formation. The lights rise to show them with their heads bowed low and hands clasped in front of them, the classic Warbler beginning. The music starts and guesses who steps forward. Ding ding ding! Mr. Blaine fucking Warbler. They sing a set of upbeat whoop-dee-doo-dah-day songs every single one of the Warblers singing backup to Blaine. Jeff and Nick didn't get the duet they fought for, Wes and David didn't even get to sing a simple bridge part. Sure they all say it's the council's decision but everyone knows that Blaine is controlling everything from behind the scenes.

I stand up and leave the auditorium before the first song can end. I can't stand to watch Blaine singing a happy sappy duet with Sebastian. The way that they are exchanging loving gazes across the stage. God, I feel like I'm going to vomit. I run toward the bathrooms and lean over the toilet. My throat burns and my eyes water as bile spews from my mouth. I lean against the stall and raise a shaky hand up to my mouth and wipe it clean. I flush the toilet and stand on still shaking legs to walk over to the sink.

"Kurt?" a voice echoes through the bathroom. "Kurt are you alright?"

"Nick?" I ask weakly.

His figure appears in front of me and he pulls me into a tight embrace. I lean heavily onto him, "How did the rest of your performance go?"

He laughs, "That's what you are asking right now? After I'm assuming you just threw up, I mean due to your breath and all."

"Oh my god, you are awful."

"Yeah, but you love me for it."

I pull away from his hug, "How have you been?"

"I mean I should be asking you that, but I guess I'm doing alright. Jeff and I are still together, Blaine is still an asshole, a moping asshole which is a whole new level of terrible. He's been processing the breakup through taking control of the Warblers which sucks. Dalton isn't the same without you though, we all miss you a lot," Nick smiles.

"Jeeze, I'm sorry. I haven't been much better, eaten more ice cream than anyone should in their lifetime," I chuckle at my own joke.

He laughs as well, "Well, I should let you get to your group, I'm pretty sure you are performing any minute. We'll catch up after, okay?"

I nod, we hug again, and then I'm back with my group, waiting behind the curtains. Feeling a sense of dread, we step out on stage. The singing and dancing is a blur, Rachel and Finn sing together. Tina and Quinn sing together, and then Mercedes sings a breathtaking solo. The dancing was on point as well as all the vocals, everything went smoothly hurray!

"And the winners of this year's regional competition are... the New Directions!" the host exclaims.

We all erupt in screams, and this is the only true joy that I have had in a while. I'm not thinking about Blaine or Sebastian or anything that makes me stressed. I'm just happy and me and my friends, we are just celebrating our accomplishment.

Omg, I did another update!! I'm so proud of myself for this! The next part is the last sadly. Hope you all are doing okay!

~Lacy