GREEN EYES ADJUST to the shine of the ghost light on the stage, but just for a moment, before blaine has flicked on some of the lights, and stadium seating exposes itself at an entirely new angle. sure, she’d been in the auditorium countless times before, but usually her little butt was planted in one of the maroon folding seats. no, now she was standing on the stage with him, on the other end of the room she’d always seen without thinking twice. ❝ it’s so cool to just like… be on this side of it, y’know ? ❞ she crosses her arms, holding herself a little as she shrugs. ❝ i mean, i’m… an avid shower-singer. but… i dunno. i love music, all music, and… i guess i just can’t remember a time when i wasn’t interested. i just didn’t… think i’d be good enough to bother… ❞
Blaine stole a few seconds to glance out over the rows of seats that stretched up into the inky dark. “You know? Sometimes,” he paused and shook his head turning his attention to her and lifting his brows to stress his correction, “All the time, actually, being up here? Makes me feel like I’m in a different world. From the stage to the props and even if there aren’t any where and it’s only lights above and below?” His toe nudged at the row of footlights on the lip of the stage. “I think coming up here lets you be good enough no matter how much you might doubt yourself. Once you’re here? If you let it? The stage takes care of the rest,” he smiled warmly, “Sorry. That’s grossly poetic. So. Do you have questions about the New Directions? Or do you want to get down to the part where we sing right away? Cause, as of right now, this is your show.”
OF ALL PEOPLE, torrance had never known herself to really be nervous, but sometimes, especially when trying something new, she knew herself to be occasionally wracked with nerves, like her stomach was full of bubbles and butterflies, and she could burst at any second. despite this, it had never deterred her from a new adventure, and when blaine pushes open the backstage door, she can’t help but grin with a flush to her face. ❝ honestly, i think that sounds like a GREAT idea. ❞
Seeing the grin and how her face filled with color made going out on a limb like this more than worth the potential for it to go South and her to look at him like he had two heads before walking off. “That’s because it is a great idea,” he grinned teasing her as he lead her out from behind the heavy curtain. The stage was illuminated by a ghost light and a few overhead lights created beams that lit up a circle of seats in each part of the auditorium. “How long have you been wanting to sing? I had no idea you were interested.” A flick of a few switches and the lights at the foot of the stage cut through the dark. “Pretty neat, huh?” He nodded towards the rows of chairs beyond the stage.
TORRANCE’S STOMACH TWISTS nervously for just a moment, but it fades quickly, very comfortable in blaine’s company and under his wing, despite wondering what he was up to. ❝ oh GOD, it’s… there’s this one song i’ve been listening to for like… weeks. it’s this… no doubt song that i remember hearing all the time, it’s called SPIDERWEBS. it’s just… i dunno, the perfect song to jump around to. i listened to it a million times when i broke up with my boyfriend back home. it was the first time i felt an emotional connection to a song about screening someone’s phone calls. ❞
The thing about favorite songs? Everyone has their own reasons about why they pick the ones they hold near and dear. And if it is because you’re trying to skirt around an ex-boyfriend’s phone calls? Who was he to judge? Didn’t stop his eyes from brightening up and that half-chuckle from escaping before he bit his lip to mute the rest of it. “Okay. That’s probably the most adorable thing I’m going to hear all day, but Spiderwebs it is then. Want to play it over the speakers in the auditorium and give the stage a go?” He shouldered open the side door to the auditorium and stepped in holding it open with his back so he could wave for her to walk into the dimly lit backstage area. “Or at least see what the seats look like from the best view in the house?” Either way? He was getting her on the stage.
SHE’S UNSURE WHAT she did to deserve someone as passionate and talented as blaine to take an interest in guiding her. sure, her experience mostly amounted to singing in the shower, but maybe that was just as good experience as she’d need to start. ❝ oh, man… i mean, i LOVE pop music, stuff that’s fun and positive and makes you feel good. and i actually like rock and punk a lot too, actually !something that can make you jump around and fill you with energy, y’know ? ❞
Blaine was in love with the idea of getting to know someone new as much as he was in getting the opportunity to teach her. He hummed happily at her choices, glad that she seemed to mirror his in a few ways and they had a common ground to start off from. “If you could pick one song, right now, to get on a stage and sing your heart out with; what would it be? Curious minds want to know.” Curious minds leading them towards the auditorium especially needed to know. For..reasons.
TORRANCE HAD NEVER been to see any shows before. sure, she’d gone to see the club itself in performances, but she’s never seen a legitimate production before. back in CALIFORNIA, she’d seen a few local performances with her parents or on school trips, but a touring production ? that was a new, and exciting idea to her. ❝ that… sounds super cool…! i’ve never seen a show before, that would be INCREDIBLE ! ❞
Blaine blinked, jumping at the idea instantly as something to cling to that’d help push her over the edge of the jumping into all things performing arts pool. Seeing that she was on board with the whole idea? Only made him all the more excited. Maybe it was the freshness of it all. Someone without so much bias as the rest of the glee club had towards what they thought was amazing verses what they thought was eye roll worthy or boring was door open wide for the opportunity of enjoying things without all the buzz kill. Oh. He was going to have fun with this.
“Great! I’ll get the seats and we’ll make the plans! Until then? Practice. I guess the best place to start would be,” he shrugged giving a nod towards the hall as a gesture for her to follow, “what’s your favorite music? Song? Performer? No judgement. I promise.”
HER MASSIVE GRIN grows up into pale, rounded cheeks at the lilt in his voice, watching blaine’s honey eyes go big for a moment as if brilliance had hit him (something she definitely didn’t doubt). ❝ this weekend ? just a short practice saturday morning, but that’s it – what were you thinking about ? ❞
Okay! Great! With that grin, Torrance was already half onboard with the idea before he went into it! Wanting to sing with New Directions was one thing. Enjoying something like musical theater? That could be a whole other ballgame depending on the person. Still! Nothing could beat learning from experience. Knowing the theatrics that the glee club often resorted to? There was no better place to witness that than.. Andrew Lloyd Webber. “Well. The Phantom of the Opera is in Columbus. I thought you might like to see a show? Observe and get some inspiration? Maybe a Sunday matinee? I saw it once with Kurt already and it was amazing. My treat! I can drive us? With learning a new art? Instead of dipping your toes in and getting your feet wet? Sometimes it’s more exciting to just dive in. At least for me.”
TORRANCE’S HEART ADMITTEDLY flutters, and she grins beamingly at her classmate. ❝ your secret is safe with me, just so long as i get to learn from the best ! i really would like that, though. i mean, if you’re free and stuff, say… during lunch ? ❞
“Good. Because you have no idea what it’s like to be at the end of a Rachel lecture. No one deserves that. They’re the things nightmares are made of.” The twinkle in his eyes said he was playing. But was he? Sort of? Over-exaggerating? Not really. He’s been there to watch them happen and knows firsthand he never wants to be on the receiving end of one. Ever. “Lunch would be great!” He fell silent for a beat as an idea struck then blinked out of it. “What are your plans this weekend, too? Just curious.”
❝ oh, GOSH, alright, you’re TOTALLY just saying that. i can keep up on the field but… i mean, you guys are the real deal, title-holders and everything. but like… would you really be willing to practice with me ? because that would actually be SUPER cool… ❞
“No! I’m not. I swear! I’d be more than happy to practice with you. Whenever you want. Let me know and we’ll make the time. Before you know it? You’re going to be on the stage with us. Just don’t let Rachel’s death glare deter you. The harder it gets? The better you’re getting. Always a good measurement of how far you’ve come.
❝ katy perry ? TOTALLY underrated. and she’s in my pretty LIMITED range, which is even better. ❞
“Thank you for being the first person to agree with me on that. Aw. Come on. Your range is a lot better than you’re giving yourself credit for. I bet if we practiced? You’d surprise yourself on just how good you could be. I’ve heard you singing along. If you’re that good under your breath? It’s in there.”
pianokeysandbowties back up 