𝗚𝗟𝗘𝗘 | 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠

CHAPTER XXVII : THANKSGIVING

{Naya's Pov}
"Quinn Fabray!" I yelled walking into the choir room and spotting a familiar head of blonde hair. She spun around and spotted me, her smile widening "Natalia Vasquez!" She shouted back and I ran at her. She ran at me as well and we jumped into each other's arms, holding each other tightly "I've missed you so much" I said, burying my head in the crook of her neck "Aw, I've missed you too" She said, resting her head on top of mine. We pulled away from each other reluctantly and I hugged everyone else, Santana, Puck, Mike, and Mercedes, just as tightly as I hugged Quinn. Finn walked in and gestured for me to sit down "Naya, can you sit down?" "Sir, yes, sir," I said, doing a little salute before getting into my seat, in between Brittany and Marley "Alright, do you realize, standing before you are legends? Any single one of these guys could be. President of the United States one day" Finn said over-dramatically "I don't know about that" Artie said confusedly "And lucky for us, they've agreed to help us" Finn continued ignoring Artie "Hang with the new chumps and see if some of our sheer awesomeness doesn't rub off on you. It will" Puck added cockily "When you hear your name, pair up. Puck, you're with your brother. Mike, you're with Ryder. Marley, you're with Santana. Kitty, you're with Quinn. Wade, Mercedes" Finn read out, each person went up to their partner excitedly "I knew it, Mercedes was cloned" Brittany whispered to Sam and I. I shook my head, chuckling at Brittany, but Sam seemed to think it was true. I reached across Brittany and patted his hand comfortingly "Sam, don't look so worried, Mercedes hasn't been cloned" "Now, your mentors are here to help you with whatever you need: Singing, dancing-" Finn further explained "Birth control" Quinn added in and Kitty laughed crazily "You're so funny and self-deprecating! We're so much alike!" She exclaimed "Wanky" "The worst mistake that we can make is to underestimate our competition. The Warblers are ruthless this year" Finn warned "They were ruthless last year too until Sebastian turned over a new leaf but still they were really good singers but we beat them, I'm sure we can do it again" I said, doing finger guns at everyone. Sam reached across Brittany and pushed my hands down "Stop doing finger guns, dude" "I don't know I keep doing it, it's so weird" I said, staring down at my hands
in confusion "Don't forget about the Rosedale Mennonites. Any show choir that can raise a barn in five minutes deserves mad respect" Artie said, changing the subject away from finger guns "Marley and Blaine will handle our duet, and for the showstopper, we're doing
'Gangnam Style'" Finn announced "Okay, lumps, let me just say out loud what everyone here is thinking: You finally got an okay haircut, you're not doing that annoying half smirk as much as you used to, but you're still an idiot. No one in this room can tackle a massive dance number except for Britt. That includes your little 'Hand-Jive' that, to me, looked more like a hand j-" "Is there any way Mr. Schue can come hack for this?" Joe asked, interrupting Santana "Listen to me, we have never lost sectionals before, and there's no way—we're gonna do it under my watch. We can and we will succeed! We need an ambitious number with a strong dance element. That's the Warbler's calling card, and we need to blow them out of the water. And Mike said he could easily show one of our guys how to do the dance number" "I did?" Mike asked confusedly "Crap, I, uh, I kind of forgot to ask you about that. But one of our guys is gonna have to take the lead with Brit. So who's it gonna be?" "Hello? White Chocolate" Sam said, doing a weird little body roll. I reached across Brittany and stopped Sam, whilst shaking my head "No, Sam, just—just, no"
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"Along with being beautiful, the three of us are National Show choir Championship goddesses," Brittany said as she, Santana, and Quinn stood in front of the rest of us glee girls "We are winners. Which is why Finn has asked us to come and shower you with the inspiration that is the Unholy Trinity" Santana said, doing her signature smirk "Santana, Brittany and I knew each other so well that I could tell by the slightest quiver in Santana's upper lip which way we were gonna move. Whether our hips are gonna shake or shimmy" Quinn said, smiling softly "You girls have to be tight up there, okay? The judges love the feminine quality, and the Warblers just don't have it" "It's about being individuals. You know, we're all different. But it's also about synchronicity" Quinn explained "Can you give us an example?" Marley asked hopefully "It's been a few months, but I'm sure the three of us could put together something on the fly," Quinn said to cheer from everyone. The three girls stood up and turned their backs to us, as the music started.
Come See About Me — The Supremes (Sung By Quinn, Santana & Brittany)
The singing ended to applause but Marley did not look okay. I place my hand on top of Marley's and squeezed it, she looked down at me and I did a small little thumbs up at her asking if she was okay, she shrugged her shoulders, not answering. Santana noticed this and her smile faded "Hey, are you feeling okay? You look like you're gonna hurl" Santana asked concernedly "Um, I think I'm just really tired from all the rehearsing" Marley said dismissively. Santana and I exchanged a look, we both knew something else was going on.
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"Vasquez" Santana and Quinn said, slamming their hands down on my table, in the library. I straightened up in shock and looked up at them "Fabray, Lopez" I greeted with a small smile "What's up?" "It's time for you to forgive Blaine," Quinn said, pulling out a couple of chairs for her and Santana "Um, no thanks. I told him I would forgive him when I'm ready, and I am not" I said, finishing a sentence "Look, no offense, carrot-top but I don't care. You need to forgive him, you two need to be at least civil if we want to win Sectionals" "He's been reaching out to you, hasn't he? You told me you've had a couple of talks where he's tried to get you to forgive him, that's a sign that you should-" "I should, what? Assuage his guilt? No, sorry, cheater. This petal needs to move on" I said, slamming my history textbook shut "Look this is what I've been learning in my psychology classes it's always easier to move on if you've had an apology accepted, or in your case accepted an apology" "Yeah, you know, sometimes it's the not forgiving that holds us back" "Look, guys, I get where you're coming from. And I know you have good intentions, but I can't forgive him. You know full well, that I would do anything for this team. But forgiving Blaine, that's one thing I won't do" "Naya, come on-" "No, I'm sorry. The only way I'll even be alone with him is if you force me, drag me bound and gagged, and lock me in a room with him—and even then I can't promise that I'll even speak to him" They shared a suspicious look and I rolled my eyes before gathering up my stuff "I'm truly sorry, guys. Now, I have to go, my history exam is in five minutes"
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Marley and I walked down the corridor when we spotted Unique, not Wade, she looked beautiful and Marley and I ran straight up to her "Wade—I mean Unique, you're back!" Marley shouted as we both pulled Unique into a tight hug "Yes, in all her glory" Unique said happily, hugging the both of us back "And as you can see Misses Marley and Naya, she is ready for her close-up" "You look fabulous, darling" I said in a posh voice, making them chuckle as we walked down the corridor "I thought your parents didn't want you wearing-" "They don't" Unique said, cutting Marley off "They're trying to protect me. But what they need to understand is if I'm not being true to myself at least when I'm performing, then there won't be anything left inside me to protect. So they can keep talking about sending me to a camp for little boys who like to wear dresses, but I will not and I cannot be ashamed of who I am or how I look" "Yes, queen" I said, high-fiving Unique "You look beautiful" Marley said as we stopped outside of the choir room "I think it's inspiring how brave and proud you are. I wish I was more like that" "Oh, come on, Marley, you are incredibly gorgeous as well, you should be brave and proud" I said, wrapping my arm around her shoulders "We are women, and we women are wonderful" "Hustle up, you three" Mercedes said as we walked into the choir room "You're gonna miss show circle" "What's show circle?" Marley asked as Santana joined the two of us and Unique went to talk to Mercedes. Santana and I both wrapped an arm around Marley's shoulders and guided her to the show circle "It's a tradition before every competition" Tina explained, joining to circle "It's something Mr. Schue made up. And today I want to add to it. Joe, how about you lead us in prayer?" Finn asked "Whoa, dude, Old Testament. There are Hebrews here" Puck said quickly "Yeah, okay. This is one of my favorite Bible verses from Isaiah. Considering that the Warblers are so good and that it's the first competition for a lot of you, I think it's appropriate. 'So do not fear because I am with you. Do not be dismayed. I will strengthen you, I will uphold you with my righteous hand'" "And our righteous dance moves, amen" Artie added as everyone took each other's hands. Everyone cheered and clapped as Finn started to speak "Ugh! Man, I—I remember our first sectionals like it was yesterday. We came together as a team because we had to. Because no one outside our circle knew how much we'd been through, and how much it meant to us to win it. This is our house. Look into the faces of these graduates. They've been to the mountaintop. This is just the first step in your climb to meet them there" "On three?" Santana said, putting her hand in the middle. Everyone followed suit and counted down "A........mazing!" We shouted, throwing our hands in the air.
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"A reminder that the American Legion Turkey Shoot begins at 6:00 pm. So, please, drive carefully. Now, put your hands together for our distinguished panel of judges! Lima News Obituary Editor, Stan Cook! Chief Historian of the Lima Locomotive Museum, Harrison Paolucci! And 2012. Defiance County Catfish Queen, Allison Metcalf!" The announcer declared over the PA. We all quickly took our seats as the Warblers took the stage. I spotted Moriah in the audience and quickly ran down to her seat, hugging her as she wished me good. luck before Quinn joined me and pulled me back to our seats "I'm Hunter Clarington, and we're the Dalton Academy Warblers. Hope you enjoy the show" I rolled my eyes at Hunter's overly obnoxious voice as the music started.
Whistle — Flo Rida (Sung By Hunter & The Warblers)
Live While We're Young — One Direction (Sung By Sebastian & The Warblers)
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"They traveled 87 miles by horse and buggy to drop an old school beat. The Rosedale Mennonites!"
Over The River And Through The Wood / She'll Be Coming Round The Mountain — Lydia Marie Child / Traditional (Sung By The Rosedale Mennonites)
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Everyone was backstage, preparing to go on stage. I wrung my hands nervously, shuffling on my feet as Tina did some more vocal warm-ups beside me "Mr. Schue is here" Sam whispered, much to our excitement. Suddenly someone grabbed me by the hands, pinning them behind my back and covering my mouth with the other one. They dragged me away and I didn't even bother to scream, I could tell by the perfume that it was Santana. She pulled me over to the dressing tables and sat me down "If you try to run away, I'll karate chop the carrot out of your hair, got it?" She said sternly "Yes, ma'am," I said confusedly. I heard someone sit in the chair opposite to me and turned to face them, only slightly surprised when I saw Blaine "Hello" He said confusedly "Hey" I greeted back, quietly "I'm guessing you didn't know about this either?" "Nope" His eyes were already becoming glassy with tears and I didn't fully understand why but I suppose my throat was becoming choked up too "Naya, I just want you to know that no matter-" "Wait, just let me talk for a second. I've been thinking a lot this week, and I need to say this. You've- you've said you're sorry a million times. And...I...I believe you. And I'm trying to forgive you, not just for the sake of the team but for the sake of my sanity as well, but I'm just not there yet. But...it's Thanksgiving and it's Sectionals, and I miss you like crazy. And...I just can't stand not talking to you, even though I'm mad at you. Cause you're still my best friend" I said, my eyes welling up with tears, I struggled to try to not let them fall "You're mine too" He said, his voice breaking "At Christmas, we...we need to have a mature heart-to-heart. And maybe if it's cold enough we can go ice skating, you know at that lake where we did the little photo shoot? And maybe get a hot chocolate, or something, anywhere but the Lima Bean, Kurt told me he saw a mouse when he was working there" Blaine chuckled softly and a small smile tugged at the corners of my mouth "So, we're going to spend Christmas together? Like last year?" "Not exactly like last year, but yeah—together. I know it may seem like a while away, but I just need a little more time, you know? But still, I'm not going to say you can't look at me or think about me, or even talk to me. I don't think we're quite ready to properly be friends, but you can talk to me, we don't have to go out of our way to avoid each other, or not talk. It's going to be hard, I don't think we've ever been just friends, we've always just been sort of...attracted to each other since we met pretty much—but—but I don't know, I think we can do it, right?" "Yeah, yeah, I think we can" I stood up and so did he. I gestured for him to step closer and when he did I pulled him into a hug. I held him tightly, not ever wanting to let go. I buried my head into the crook of his neck and he rested his cheek on top of my head. running one of his hands through my hair "Naya, I love you so much" "I love you, too" I said quietly, before pulling away from him. Santana came back over and grabbed both Blaine and my hands, pulling us back over to the group. She quickly used a tissue to wipe away my tears and any smudged mascara. Santana hugged me quickly and ruffled my hair as I squeezed her "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the stage—The New Directions!" Everyone hurried onto the stage, getting into their places. I sniffed quietly and wiped away my last stray tear, putting on a bright smile as the music started.
Gangnam Style — PSY (Sung By Tina & The New Directions)
At the end of the song Marely faints.
Jake, Ryder, and I ran over to her, checking she was still breathing which luckily she was. I looked over at the audience and spotted Mr. Schue and Finn looking worried, I waved my hands frantically at them, gesturing for them to come over.