𝚍𝚊𝚢𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚖 • 𝚐𝚕𝚎𝚎

𝚅𝙸

Sectionals and regionals were a breeze, as usual. We won and honestly, it wasn't that surprising. Now, it was time to rehearse for nationals. I had been practicing my solo for nationals so much, that my vocal chords started to hurt. I had been drinking a lot of tea and water to try and keep them warmed up and feeling okay. But, of course, that was never the case. I lost my voice over the weekend, which sucked. I couldn't talk—which I think Finn enjoyed—and I couldn't sing either, which I think everyone enjoyed.

When I went to school on Monday, it was a little bit difficult. We were doing an entire run through of the set list for nationals. Nationals were in Chicago this year, that was pretty cool. I had never been to Chicago. When I was younger, I did watch the bootleg of the musical Chicago. Not that great, if I'm being completely honest. 

While everyone else was in the auditorium, practicing. Learning the choreography and the music. I was stuck in the choir room with Scarlett and Lexie, learning how to sing the stupid song, which I already knew how to sing. "I don't need your help." I said to them, taking a drink of the water that sat on the piano. "Clearly, you do. You keep singing the song in the wrong key. It's lower. You need to go higher." I sighed. "I can't sing any higher. What I'm singing right now, that's how high my voice goes. I can't sing any higher."

Lexie and Scarlett both looked at each other. "You can sing higher, A.J." I furrowed my brows. "What? No I can't." Lexie looked at me. "I've been over your house more than anyone. More than Scarlett, and she's Finn's best friend. I've heard you sing when you're in the shower. You sing really high, you just really enjoy singing the low parts. So you act like you can't sing high, but you can." I looked down to the ground. "Just...try."

So, I did. The piano began playing and I tried really hard to start singing as high as I could. And I did. I sang high. Higher than I should have, actually. When I finished, I had to drink so much water to try and get my vocal chords back to normal. "See, I knew you could do it. Now, do that high note that you did just now at nationals and we will win this thing."

I sighed and sat down on one of the chairs. "How come I'm the only one who has to sing here?" They both looked at each other. "Because we didn't get the solo." I stood up and walked over to where the two of them were. "Alright, can we stop with the nationals talk and let's start with the college talk. Where did you both apply to?"

Scarlett and Lexie both looked at each other. "Juliard." They both said at the same time. "You both applied for Juliard?" They both nodded. "I applied for the musical theatre department. It's supposed to have one of the best musical theatre departments in the world." Lexie said. Scarlett rubbed the back of her neck. "I applied for the ballet department." I stared at her for a minute. "No way." Scarlett nodded. "I've been in ballet since I was younger. You would know if you came to any of my recitals. Finn came all the time."

I sighed. "Alright, well, you two are going to Juliard because, one hundred percent. You both are going to kill your auditions. And then, you two are going to New York and have the best years of your life. Finn is gonna be in the military. And then, I am going to go to NYU when I graduate and then the trio will be reunited again. And then, we will all get married—to our significant others, not each other, of course—and our children will be best friends."

They both looked at me. "How do you know we're all gonna be in the same state, even? I mean, you could wind up back here." I sighed. "Yeah, but if Lexie marries Finn that'll make our kids cousins, and then with you being mine and Finn's best friend, you'll be at pretty much all of the family gatherings so that'll turn you into their aunt...of sorts."

I began walking out of the choir room. "A.J, where are you going?" I walked backwards for a minute. "I'm going to learn the choreo and the songs for nationals. I'm not just gonna sing my solo for nationals, am I?" I smirked a little and walked out of the room.

We were goin g to win nationals. Not because of Finn. Not because of Lexie. Not because of Rachel. 

Because of me.