The Way We Were

The Way We Audition 4 Madame

Kurt was a nervous wreck. He and Rachel were auditioning for NYADA, a prestigious arts school in New York City. He didn't know about Rachel but he really wanted to get in.

Rachel was terrified. Everything had been so different this year that she was off her game. She wanted to sing her standby, Don't Rain on My Parade but for some reason, the words were getting jumbled in her head.

Mercedes put her hands on Kurt's shoulders and breathed deeply until he did. "You got this, Kurtie. Go out there and do you."

Kurt was about to kill over but he staggered out on stage. He gulped as the spotlight hit him but he opened his mouth and laid his soul bare. It wasn't a traditionally musical number but he forgot where he was and what he was doing and he was singing for all the people in his life; his friends, his family, his lover, himself.

The glee girls clapped for him as he finished. Madame Carmen Tibideaux made notes in his file then called for Rachel.

Mercedes took her hands. "You have this. You've been doing this for your whole life and it's who you are. Go show her."

"Artman says he'll take you to get vegetarian curry when you nail this." Marcy nodded once. "I think you should bomb just so you don't have to eat that fire covered shoe leather but hey?"

The other girls giggled but Rachel smiled before walking out on stage. She nodded to the band and began singing. Her piece was also not a musical number but instead a pop song.

She'd always been confident in herself and had her fathers be confident in her as well. But it'd always been them three against the world. Now she had friends. Real friends. She knew she still aggravated them but they included her now and sought her out.

With the exclusion of the increasingly hostile Santana and Brittany, the glee girls had finally accepted her. And although she'd never thought it was possible, Artie had been a great boyfriend.

All in all, she'd had a great year and it was thanks to them. She'd always be grateful to them and even if she didn't get into NYADA, at least she had them.

Madame Tibideaux nodded. "Thank you, Rachel."

W.W.W.

Mercedes blew out a breath. "I know I told the others that they had to be confident but I'm totally stressed."

"I understand." Quinn was shaking.

Mike kissed both. "We have this. It's just one more audition. One in a long month of auditioning for every art school that we can audition for. We can do this."

"And we're all behind you." Marcy beamed. "Because we'll need you next year when we do this."

"I thought you wanted to go to Julliard?" Quinn was confused.

Marcy shrugged.

Mal looked away.

Mercedes narrowed her gaze on them. "We're talking about this when this is over!"

"Go away." Marcy enunciated.

"Mercedes Catherine Chang." A voice called out.

Mike pushed Mercedes on stage. The Leo glared at her little sister as her cue came. She began singing her favorite ‪Whitney Houston‬ cover song, I Will Always Love You then assembled a clarinet to play an ‪Aretha Franklin‬ cover song, I'm Wanderin.

Madame Teresa Chopin from Pepperdine University made marks in Mercedes' file. "Michael Chang Jr."

Mike kissed Mercedes as she came back then Quinn before jogging on stage. He sat and tuned a cello before playing Fix You by ‪Coldplay‬. When he was done, he got up to dance to Usher's You Make Me Wanna.

Madame Chopin nodded as she made notes in his file. "Lucille Chang."

Quinn kissed both of her spouses before going on stage. She tuned a violin and began playing Papa Don't Preach by ‪Madonna‬. Then she sang Baby Love by the Supremes.

"Thank you. Your auditions will be under review for two weeks. You will receive a letter in the mail either accepting you or declining you. Have a good day." Madame Chopin left.

Mercedes pouted. "Here's hoping."