𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬 | s. lopez + b. pierce

Theatricality

Jayden was up before the sun.

The cool, early March wind gently blew her loose hair. The fresh air calmed her racing mind as she sat up on the roof, her eyes glued to the sunrise. Clouds of cotton candy danced against a starburst sky, the bright colors bringing her back to a time when she was at peace with herself and her body.

What happened to that carefree girl? Was she still there, or had she been lost forever? Would she ever be able to find her again, or would her life forever be defined by the numbers on the scale?

She looked down at the apple in her hands. Slowly, she raised it to her mouth and took a bite, the crisp, sweet juice satisfying her taste buds with much needed nutrients. She ate slowly, making sure to savor every bite. If she ate too fast, she'd still want more.

Less is more, which was why she was doing this. The less she ate, the better she felt about herself. She didn't understand it, and she wished she knew why she craved that feeling of being empty inside and feared that feeling of fullness that came from eating a real meal.

Voices inside pulled her from her thoughts. Her sister was calling her.

She finished off what was left of the apple and crawled back in through her open bedroom window, discarding the core in the small trash bin by her desk.

"Oh, good, you're awake," Rachel said as she walked into Jayden's room. "You have to come with me. I've been spying on Vocal Adrenaline–"

"Isn't that against the rules?" Jayden frowned.

"Not exactly," Rachel shook her head, her brows furrowed slightly in uncertainty. "Anyway, I need you to come with me," she said as she grabbed her sister's hand and dragged her out of her room.

"Where are we going?" Jayden asked as she followed Rachel downstairs.

"We're going on a top secret, undercover mission."

It's only seven in the morning.

****

"Guys, we have a serious problem," Rachel said as she and Jayden rushed into the choir room. "Jay and I have been doing some deep background on Vocal Adrenaline–"

"Which she forced me to do, by the way," Jayden interrupted. "I didn't have a choice."

"Isn't that against the rules?" Artie frowned.

"No, not at all," said Rachel. "It's funny, Jayden asked me that exact same thing. Whatever. .Anyway, what we figured out. We rooted the dumpsters behind the Carmel auditorium and found 18 empty boxes of Christmas lights."

"Oh no," Tina said, eyes widening.

"Which led us to Joelle Fabrics," Rachel continued. "We asked them about red Chantilly lace, and they were sold out!"

"Oh, sweet Jesus," Mercedes breathed.

"Oh, my," Kurt gasped.

"What?" Mr. Schue furrowed his brows in confusion.

"They're doing Gaga, stupid!" Jayden snapped.

"That's it," Mercedes sighed, throwing her arms up in defeat. "It's over."

"Exactly!" Rachel cried as she folded her arms over her chest.

"We should have guessed it," said Kurt. "They're going full out theatricality. They know it's the easiest way to beat us. Damn them!"

"What's up with this Gaga dude?" Puck asked. "He dresses weird, right? Like Bowie?"

"Lady Gaga is a woman!" Kurt snapped. "She's the biggest pop act to come along in decades. She's boundary pushing. The most theatrical performer of our generation. She changes looks faster than Britt changes sexual partners."