Defying Gravity

Ballads

"Ballad. From Middle English, balade. Who knows what this word means?" Mr. Shue said.

"It's a male duck." Brittany said. I said "Wrong one, Brit. He meant the song."

"Kurt." Mr. Shue said

"A ballad is a love song." Kurt said. "It's a song that tells a story." I said.

"Sometimes, but they don't always express love. Ballads are stories set to music-which is why they're the perfect storm of self-expression. Stories and music are the way we express feelings that we can't get out any other way. Okay, now, sectionals are in a few weeks and there's a new rule this year- we have to perform... a ballad." Mr. Shue said.

"Looks like my weekly letter to the Ohio Show Choir Committee finally paid off!" Rachel smiled.

"Okay. So here's our assignment for the week: I'm going to pair you off, and I want you to pick a ballad to sing to your partner. Look them right in the eye, find the emotion you want to express, and make them feel it." Mr. Shue said.

"I pick Quinn." Finn said. I harrumphed because the person I wanted to sing to didn't even go to this school.

"No, no, no. Too easy. Your partners will be chosen by fate." Lola said.

"Ooh!" We all said.

"Ooh, yeah. I put all your names in this hat. Whoever you choose is your partner." Mr. Shue said. Lola crossed her arms and frowned.

"I bet the duck's in the hat." Brittany said. I looked at her confused.

"But Matt's out sick today. He had to go to the hospital, 'cause they found a spider in his ear." I made a grossed out face as Santana said this.

"Um... I guess I'll just have to put my name in the hat for now. Who's up first?" Lola said, drumming with her hands.

We all go up, one by one, and picked a name out of the hat.

"Mercedes." Puck looked at Mercedes.

"All right." Mr. Shue said

"Quinn." Artie said.

I got up behind him and pulled "Blaire." Another paper fell out of mine and I said "Nope, it's actually Maggie."

"Kurt." Finn said.

Everyone else in the Glee club but Kurt, Maggie, Blair, my cousins and Finn laughed

"Mr. Schue, I don't know if I can do this with another guy." Finn said.

"The fates have spoken, Finn." I frowned at Mr. Shue.

"Other Asian." Tina said.

As Tina sat down, Santana pulled Brittany's name.

"Brittany." She gasped

"How fitting." I mumbled under my breath as Mr. Shue said it.

"Yay! No way." Brittany said.

"Rachel." Matt said

"Looks like I get you, Lola." Kyle said as he walked up to the piano

"Uh... you know what? Maybe we should just wait until Matt gets back." Lola said nervously.

"The fates talked, Mrs. Malfoy."

I snickered as everyone else laughed. Maggie whispered "This is going to bite them in the butt." I laughed even harder.

"Would you mind clarifying what kinds of songs you want us to sing?" Artie asked.

"Why don't you let Mrs. Malfoy and I demonstrate. Brad, "Endless Love" in B-flat, please. It's my favorite duet."