A/N : Just a short update to set up the next chapter. Nationals from James PoV leading up to New Directions performing.
National Championships 2011 - New York City
"James" He hears Lucy's voice calling his name followed by a soft hand touching his bare arm.
"Jimmy?" He turned his head at the sound of his best friends voice. James opened his eyes and saw Lucy, Matt and Heather staring at him; the two girls with worry in their eyes. "Alright buddy?"
"What?" He asked, blinking a few times to get the tiredness away. "Yeah I'm fine"
"Are you sure, sweetie?" Heather asked, pressing a hand to his forehead softly. "You're looking a little pale; I knew we shouldn't have woken you up early to go through-"
"Heather, he's fine" Matt interrupted her, patting James' shoulder "Right pal?"
"Yeah" He nodded, forcing a smile "Yeah I'm good"
Heather and Lucy looked at him sceptically as he tries to give them a more reassuring smile.
"Do you want some food? We could go and get something..the competition isn't starting for another hour" Heather smiled, moving to squeeze his hand affectionately. "Maybe some water ?"
"Hev, I'm fine" He replied, standing up. "Just need to go and find Mr Atherton. Double check things. Coming Matt?"
"Yeah man" Matt said, turning and giving Lucy a quick kiss. "See you in a bit, babe"
"Make sure he's okay" Lucy replied softly as her boyfriend pulled away; but not quite softly enough to avoid James hearing as he turned and waited for Matt to follow.
"Still feeling sick?" Matt asked as they got a little way away from the girls.
"You know I hate travelling" James murmured
"It's not normally this bad, dude" Matt replied "We've been here four days already…."
"You're sounding like the girls now, man" James laughed
"Maybe…just get some water in you right? Can't have you feinting on stage"
"I know, believe me…all of you guys are counting on me and my family are coming; can't let any of you down" James said softly.
They were in New York for nationals, and the Scale Blazers had arrived a good few days in advance; something James wasn't overly impressed with because he knew it was because of him and his travel anxiety that often resulted in sickness. It was compounded by the fact that he and his teammates were expected to be champions and he felt, although he'd never admit to it, an enormous amount of pressure not to let anyway down.
"Dude, relax" Matt said, clamping his hand on his best friends shoulder. "This is fun, remember? Win or lose; we're still going to love you and we're still going to think you're fucking amazing alright?"
"I know" James replied, emphasising it again as Matt gave him a look "I do, but I want to win and this is our best chance"
The two boys walked in silence until they came to be outside of the venue for the National show choir championships, passing groups of excited teens who were all laughing and joking. James lent on the railing overlooking the courtyard and took a deep breath.
"New York...its crazy isn't it" Matt remarked after several minutes where they stood watching the crowds "Listen to me bud. We're going on the stage and we're going to fucking dominate this competition. You're our leader...all this year you've been incredible"
James smiled, nodding. "Thanks"
"Now come on lets go find the rest of the guys"
A half hour later James found himself in the room they'd be allocated to prepare in.
"I've got our schedule here" Mr. Artherton spoke to them as they gathered around him "We're performing an hour and a half into the show. Vocal Adrenaline are a few acts in front of us, so we're going to have a great chance to make an impression"
The Scale Blazers all put their hands into the huddle. James took a breath before he spoke "We're here guys. Nationals and we're sooo ready to win. I'm not going to say anything else except for... Thank you for being with me this year. Lets go out there and have fun"
As they split away, Mr Atherton held him, Matt, Lucy and Heather back. "I want you guys to keep an eye on a few of the groups that could be with us tomorrow in the final five"
"The New Directions?" Heather said with a frown as he finished listing of the five teams "Who?"
"Weren't they the ones that tied sectionals?" Heather clarified
"Yeah that was them" James nodded
"Yes, they were and while they are quite fortunate to be here….but they are talented and could be a risk. Watch them" Mr Atherton said firmly
...
"Mom!" He exclaims as he spots his parents and sister, striding quickly towards them and when he reaches them he pulls his mother into a tight embrace "I've been trying to find you...it's not long till it starts"
"I know sweetheart" His mom replied, holding his face after they had parted from their hug "Oh you look so handsome, I love it when you slick your hair back"
He blushed, he loved her but he was eternally grateful that none of his friends were there to see it "Mom-"
"I know, I know" She said her eyes slightly teary "I'm just so proud of you"
"Thanks mom" He replied, kissing her cheek
"No hug for your big sister Jam Jam?" Charlie laughed as he separated from his mom again
"I missed you" He murmurs before hugging her, her arms coming around his neck and she holds him close. He hadn't seen Charlie since his birthday a few months before. "Thanks for coming Charlie"
"I missed you too monkey. I wouldn't miss this for the world" She says kissing his head "Hugh sends his love and he's sorry he couldn't be here"
"Its fine, we'll just show him the video when I win"
"Look at you, all dressed up and confident...is that makeup?" His sister teased as they separated, tugging on his nose affectionately. "How are you feeling?"
"Stop" He laughed trying to move away from her "I'm great. Better you are here now"
"Good answer" She smiles as she leans up and kisses his cheek. "You're going to be amazing"
He can't help but grin back before standing up straighter as he turns to his dad. His father is stood there wearing a suit and a surprisingly warm smile on his face."Hello son"
"Hi Dad" He says trying not to tense as his dad grabs his arm and squeezes it firmly.
"Your mom is right, you do look handsome" Robert Agrisino replies moving his hand up so its gripping his shoulder "Feeling ready?"
"Yes sir" James says simply, smiling at his father. Truthfully, he feels confident: the pep talk from his friends earlier doing his job.
"Good. I can't wait to see your performance, son"
"Hello Andrea and oh, Charlotte - what a surprise, I'm so glad you could make it" James turned away from his father as he heard his mentor greeting his sister and mother.
"I've not missed one of his shows yet, was never going to be this one " Charlie replied with a warm smile as she gazed towards him
"Hello Michael" James watched as his father stepped forward and shook hands Mr Atherton.
"Good to see you Robert" They stood around for several minutes as his family and mentor spoke together until he heard the familiar voices of his friends as they were joined by several of the Scale Blazers. His family all greeted them warmly, his mom was one of the teams biggest supporters so she was fuzzing over all the girls and boys outfits.
"Are you feeling better James?" Heather's asked him quietly as she put an arm around his waist - holding him gently.
"Yeah" He replied squeezing her back "All better now"
...
"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the National Show choir championships, 2011, here in New York City!"
James smiled applauding with the rest of the audience as the announcer formally started the championships. Here he was sat next to his best friends, his teammates and all their families sat in the row behind them. Soon he would be competing for the title he had worked three years for, everything was falling into place for the Scale Blazers to win.
As he had throughout their years together in the Scale Blazers, James sat in between Matt and Heather, with Lucy sat on Matts left. He spends the first hour of the competition sharing candy with them and making small comments about who they each liked, and who they thought would be placing highly. Their coach, Mr Atherton, was sat in front of them next to his wife and a couple of the Stanley High chaperones. He would turn around and join in with them after every performance, their coach adding his own remarks as to the groups who he thought would be there in the Final Five the next day. James was incredibly grateful for their coach, preparing them in every way; every situation that may arise so that the whole group felt ready.
After The LA Supersonics had performed and after receiving "break a leg" and "good lucks" from all their families, the Scale Blazers moved back stage to wait for their turn to perform. He managed to find a seat near the refreshment table where he waited with his friends, listening to the next groups.
Vocal Adrenaline were the best that had performed so far, their new singer was good; not quite as good as Jesse had been, nor their coach as good as Shelby Corcoran but they had proved their raw talent and organisation would make them difficult to beat at Nationals once again. He was impressed but as they waited backstage but he knew that they had the edge as long as he performed as well as he could. After several more teams performed, he perked up as he the next introduction.
"and now from William McKinley High in Lima, Ohio...The New Directions!"
As the music started playing, a song he didn't recognise met came through the speakers, James frowned as he looked towards his team. "I don't recognise the song"
"Neither do I..." He heard Heather voice, his gaze on Matt and Lucy as they both shrugged their shoulders.
Whatever the song, it was a duet. The guys voice was okay, not particularly impressive compared to the other male leads that he had heard over the course of this competition; but it fit the music, it sounded like he was channelling what the words meant and using it in his performance. The girls voice on the other hand was...well, it was incredible. James hadn't understand what the threat of this team was until, until the girl started to really sing - a power in her voice that was too good to be true.
"Wow..." James felt himself say instinctively as his heart beat faster.
"She's good" Matt murmured and James nodded subconsciously.
The two of their voices seemed to go well together; not just with one another but with the song as if it meant something deeply personal to the two of them and James found himself wondering where they had found a unique song like that until Heather said something that clarified everything for him.
"They're doing original songs"
James turned and glanced at her, his eyes slightly widening. Original songs was a bold, risky choice for nationals; if the judges didn't like that idea then you were done, 100% out of it before you'd even finished your first song. But there was something about this song that seemed so much more than simply a song, that James had the feeling it wouldn't have any problems with the judges. As the two on stage sung to each other, James could see the level of threat increasing and wondering if he would have some serious competition for the National title - that Mr Atherton had been right to point them out. As their voices were joined with the harmonies from the remainder of the New Directions...the girl held the long note.
"Wow" He murmured, wishing he could see who this girl was. Turning to look at his fellow leaders of the Scale Blazers he could see they were all shocked.
The crowd applauded and James felt like joining in. Whoever the girl is, she was incredible. Her voice was powerful, pure and just beautiful to listen to. As the song came to and end, the music stopping: The was a suddenly silence in the main theatre. The crowd were no long making any noise at all. Where was the applause?
"oh my god!" At the same time, there was a gasp from closer to the stage and as James moved forward in the long silence trying to work out what was going, the applause suddenly came.
"What happened?" James asked confusedly looking between the groups in front of them.
"They kissed!" A random girl dressed in blue exclaimed. James felt his eyebrows shoot into his hairline.
"They're done…last place" Matt murmured with a slight smirk gracing his shocked expression.
James finally reached the curtain and glanced through the curtain with several others but he didn't get a glance at who had been singing as they'd already started their next number. As he watched them he knew that whoever they were, they had blown it for their team.
"One down" Heather remarked from next to him "You're going to be awesome James. Lets go win"
James nodded, glancing at her before his gaze went back at the stage. As he watched the gravity of what they had done dawned on him. There must have been something in the song other than just words, he knew that if someone had done that and ruined any chance of winning the biggest show choir competition in the country...well it must have been worth it.