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Hunter sat next to Artie, as Mr. Schue wrote 'ballad' on the board.
"Ballad," The man exclaimed, "From Middle English, balade. Who knows what this word means?"
"It's a male duck." Brittany called out.
"So close." Hunter told her.
"Kurt." The teacher pointed at the boy with his hand raised.
"A ballad is a love song." The teenager grinned.
"Sometimes," Mr. Schue nodded, "But they don't always express love. Ballads are stories set to music—which is why they're the perfect storm of self-expression. Stories and music are the way we express feelings that we can't get out any other way. Okay, now, sectionals are in a few weeks and there's a new rule this year– we have to perform... a ballad."
"Looks like my weekly letter to the Ohio Show Choir Committee finally paid off!" Rachel grinned up at Hunter, who was sat next to her, earning a small smile in return.
"Okay. So here's our assignment for the week: I'm going to pair you off, and I want you to pick a ballad to sing to your partner. Look them right in the eye, find the emotion you want to express, and make them feel it." Mr. Schuester told them.
"I pick Quinn." Finn said, making Hunter chuckled.
"No, no, no. Too easy," Mr. Schue shook his head, "Your partners will be chosen by fate."
"Ooh!"
"Ooh, yeah," Their teacher nodded, "I put all your names in this hat. Whoever you choose is your partner."
"I bet the duck's in the hat." Brittany said.
Santana raised her hand, "Mr Schue, there's an odd number of us."
"Um... I guess I'll just have to put my name in the hat for now," The man shrugged, entering his name, "Who's up first?" He asked, drumming against the piano with his hands.
When it was Hunter's turn to go up, he put his hand in the hat and opened up the piece of paper with his partner's name on it, grinning when he read out, "Quinn."
The blonde smiled and let out a sigh of relief, high fiving Hunter when he sat back down.
Finn then picket Kurt.
"Mr. Schue, I don't know if I can do this with another guy." Finn told him.
Mr. Schuester shrugged, "The fates have spoken, Finn."
The partners were chosen until it was only Mr. Schue and Rachel left.
"Looks like I get you, Mr. Schue." Rachel shrugged, walking over to the piano.
