New Girl In Town (1) ✔️

Sectionals: So Glad You Came

Some random third team is up first so when I make it back to the choir room they rush me off  to the auditorium.  There are reserved seats for each of the teams so Mr Schuester ushers us all to our assigned rows.  Somehow I end up on the very end of the last New Directions row with Rachel on my left. But there is an empty seat to my right as the Warblers start to file into their seats as well. I'm trying to listen to the PA announcer introduce the judges but I don't recognize any of these people. Although half of the crowd is freaking out over some creepy Birthday clown. Just then someone collapses into the seat beside me.

I glance to my right surprised as I come face to face with Hunter. I attempt to speak but he holds one finger up to his lips and winks at me. I sigh and fold my hands in my lap, focusing my attention forward as the first group takes the stage. As soon as they start their first song, while everyone is paying attention to the singing, Hunter reaches over with his left hand gently prying my right hand off my lap. His eyes never leave the stage as he interlaces our fingers, keeping our hands low enough so that no one else can really see.   I glance at him out of the corner of my eye and he is smirking. Completely proud of himself.

Really?

There are people around....

How many times have I warned him about this?

Yet I don't pull my hand away.  Because even that would cause too much attention, from not only the Warblers but from the New Directions that are surrounding us as well.

And maybe you like holding his hand.

God, I hate that little voice in my head.

I take a chance while everyone is distracted and angle my head slight to the right, whispering his way, "Hunt, really? Now? Your team, mainly Sebastian is sitting somewhere behind us."  He suppresses a small laugh and leans closer to me, whispering in my ear, "Doesn't bother me if it doesn't bother you." Honestly I should have expected that response, it makes me smile just slightly.

And then I sense them, the set of eyes that feel like they are boring a hole into the back of my head.  And I know Hunter can feel them too, because at that exact moment we turn to each other with wide eyes and both look over our shoulders.  Even through the cheering crowd we can still see Sebastian two rows behind us, green eyes narrowed in our direction.  Hunter 'blinks' first as he turns back towards the stage. I give a shy wave back at Sebastian and blow him a kiss with my free hand.  He relaxes some and blows me one back before I turn around to watch the rest of the set.

The first group finishes their songs and the crowd starts to clap politely.  Hunter finally releases my hand so he can clap and I can't help the pouty face I make at that fact.  I clap as well even though I didn't pay attention to a single word of their songs.   Behind us all the rest of the Warblers rise from their seats so they can hurry backstage since they are on next.  Hunter quickly glances behind him to check on the rest of the group and then he turns to me squeezing my hand one more time.  "Wish me luck Angel."   Before I even get a chance to respond he has hurried out of his seat, trailing after the rest of his teammates to the backstage area.

I shake my head and try not to laugh. Rachel looks my way, "Shann, everything okay?"  I put on a smile, "Just nerves I guess."  She smiles back at me, squeezing my left hand quickly.  "You'll do fine.  I've heard you and Blaine in rehearsals, you guys sound fabulous.   Made me a little bit jealous honestly."  My eyes go wide at that and she nods solemnly at me as the lights dim again in the auditorium.  The PA announcer comes back on.

"And now from Westerville, Ohio:  The Dalton Academy Warblers."

The lights on the stage come up and Sebastian steps forward from the group.  "I'm Sebastian Smythe and we're the Dalton Academy Warblers. We hope you enjoy the show."  He steps back into formation and the guys start to harmonize for the first song.