Lover

3x21 Nationals

The week before nationals has been a stressful week for Ariel as she had to split her time evenly between the New Directions and the Warblers. The New Directions needed to practise the choreography for the national numbers and the Warblers needed to finalise the choreography and the vocals for the acapella competition. To say the least, Ariel is ready to pass out and just sleep for 3 days.

Sebastian got the final confirmation as to where the acapella competition is happening before the New Directions left for nationals and the Warblers and her were so glad to find out that the acapella competition is happening at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago on Sunday. They were glad that it was the day after the show choir nationals as they wouldn't be able to cope with it being on the same day.

Ariel knew that she wouldn't be able to take her Warblers uniform as it would make the New Directions suspicious of her so she gave her uniform to Sebastian so that he could keep ahold of it until she needed it on Sunday as she was gonna go to their hotel and get ready with them but at the moment she has to deal with the show choir nationals with the New Directions and then she can worry about the acapella competition with the Warblers.

At the moment all of the New Directions are trying to practise the choreography and change it now that Mercedes isn't going to be in the show but all they are doing at the moment is arguing, shouting and shoving each other. "What's going on?" Mr Schue asks Sam.

"He's studying geography while we're trying to rehearse!" Sam exclaims while pointing to Puck. "It's bogus!"

"I already know the dance!" Puck says. "You dance like you got your feet caught in bear traps and you're trying to gnaw them off!"

"Mr Schue, are you aware that while we're arguing about jazz squares, Unique is being handed a key to the city by Rahm Emanuel?" Kurt asks while sitting at the table.

"Really?" Mr Schue asks.

"Plus my blanket and my pillow fell into the pool. Disaster," Brittany says while standing by the open window.

"Look, I think everybody is just a little tired. We've been rehearsing for three straight hours," Artie says.

"Yeah. And we'll rehearse all night if we have to," Finn says. "We can rest after we've won!"

"Just because we lost Mercedes doesn't mean we can be anything less than perfect. Perfect!" Rachel says.

"That's easy for you to say," Artie says.

"You know what? You know what? Hey!" Santana says while clapping her hands and moving to the middle of the room. "I don't want to hear any of this, 'We can't do it without her.' Because guess what, we don't have a choice. So be warned. If you are not giving this everything you've got, I will go all Lima Heights on your sorry asses."

"Listen to yourselves," Mr Schue says.

"I know. I'm sorry. I always go to the yelling place," Santana says. "I have rage."

"No. It's a good thing. A great thing. There is so much passion in this room. Even all your arguing about work. You guys really want this. Okay, so let's take a half-hour break, and then we'll run it from the top."

"Mr Schue, is it okay if we keep going? We got the first slot, which is the death slot. We have to be amazing," Tina says.

"Yeah, 'Edge of Glory's' a bitch. I said I'd be dancing at nationals. I'll be damned if I don't," Quinn says.

"Okay. Then let's keep going," Mr Schue says. "Mike, help the guys out with the choreography. Artie help Puck with his geography. Ladies, 'Edge of Glory.' Come on."

The New Directions then proceed to spend the rest of the day rehearsing the songs and dance moves and by the time they go to bed, Ariel just wants to give up and not do it anymore as it is taking a lot out of her but she knows how much this means to a lot of the New Directions.