𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬 | s. lopez + b. pierce

Acafellas

"Five, six, seven, eight," Mr. Schue counted as the New Directions learned choreography. "Step and step. Step and step. And turn it around. Down and up. And hit, hit down, hit."

Jayden glanced over at the Unholy Trinity out of the corner of her eye. Brittany sent her a small smile, and Santana rolled her eyes.

"Can we stop, please?" Rachel asked, getting everyone's attention.

"You don't have to ask me every time for permission to go to the bathroom, Rachel," said Mr. Schue. "You can just go."

"It's not my bladder. It's the choreography."

"Okay, what's wrong with the choreography?" Mr. Schue asked.

"It sucks," Rachel scoffed.

"Dear Yahweh, that's harsh, Rach," Jayden mumbled.

"We can't compete with Vocal Adrenaline with these steps," the diva continued. "You're a great vocal coach, Mr. Schue, But you're not a trained choreographer. That's what we need to be the best. We need Dakota Stanley."

"Isn't that the choreographer for Vocal Adrenaline?" Jayden asked.

"Yes, and he also understudied on Broadway," said Rachel.

"Just because he understudied doesn't mean he ever performed," said Mr. Schue.

"Did you ever perform, Mr. Schuester?" Quinn asked. "After high school. Did you even try?"

A few moments passed, and the teacher didn't say anything. Jayden pursed her lips as she exchanged a look with Tina.

I guess we bully teachers now.

****

Jayden groaned in frustration, shoving her notebook away from her as she banged her head on the table in the library.

"Jay, getting frustrated is just going to make it worse," Artie said as he comfortingly rubbed his friend's back.

"I don't get why you're trying to help me," Jayden sighed as she sat up and ran a hand through her hair. "I'm hopeless. There's no way I can pass this class."

"Well, lucky for you, you're friends with one of the smartest kids in the 9th grade. And friends don't let each other fail."

"None of this makes any sense to me," Jayden mumbled as she looked at the math equations in front of her. "This makes no sense. I don't understand any of it."

"Don't worry, Jayden," said Artie. "I'm gonna help you understand it."

"You really don't have to do that."

"I know. That's what makes me so nice," Artie said, smiling when Jayden chuckled at the Wicked reference. "Algebra's easy, yo! You can do it. I believe in you."

Jayden sighed and picked her pencil up, listening carefully as Artie helped her work through the math problem.

****

"He's not coming," Rachel said as she placed a tray of cookies down on the piano.

"I told you you should have brought him donuts," Jayden said as she took a cookie off of the plate.

"What happened?" Finn asked.

"He doesn't want anything to do with us," Rachel sighed. "But, on the bright side, he said we could hire Dakota."

"Of course he doesn't want anything to do with us after you kicked him in the nads," Finn scoffed.

"Then why did he thank me?" Rachel asked.