FOUR

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RACHEL BERRY had quit the glee club, and the new directions were doubting themselves. Trying to lift everyone's spirit, Mr Schuester went on a mission to recruit an old friend. Smiling in front of his frowning students, he introduced their newest member.

"Wait. So, old people can join glee club now?" Finn asked, concerned about the situation.

"Old, huh?" April questioned. "You guys look like the world's worst Benetton add."

Sheepishly, Artie raised his hand. "Mr Shuester, this seems like a terrible idea."

"April is a great singer. And, she never graduated." He smiled, fully confident in his decision of tracking her down.

"We appreciate what you're trying to do, but she's no Rachel." Mercedes spoke out, getting a nod in agreement from Emery.

"Whos Rachel?" The older lady wondered.

"Sh-she's kind of our star." Tina informed her.

Emery rolled her eyes, scoffing. "We still have a room full of singers, why not give us a chance?" She frowned, getting an apologetic look from Mr Schuester.

"I just want us to win." He expressed, turning his attention back to April. Emery sighed, dropping her head. Matt reached over, giving her a soft tap on the back and sending her a small smile.

April chuckled lightly, slipping off her jacket and throwing it at Mr Schue. "Hey, tinkles. Give me 'Maybe This Time' in B flat." She ordered, not giving Brad a second look.

April was good, there was no denying it. However, Emery couldn't bring herself to be excited about her presence if it meant that Mr Schuester really had no faith in his current students.

☽☾

Emery was stood at her locker, sloppily throwing her books into it. April Rhodes was trying to get on the glee clubs good side, and Emery had no interest. She planned on avoiding her for as long as she possibly could.

She almost climbed into her locker at the sight of April making her way down the corridor with Puck clinging onto her arm, and Mike tickling her. His attention was quickly redirected to the brunette.

She was tucking her hair behind her ears, and he couldn't help but be mesmerised by her beauty. Taking note of his best friends staring, Matt knew it was his job to give him a push.

He made his way towards her, helping her pick up the books she had dropped. "Hey, Emery." He greeted.

Jumping at his sudden appearance, she stood up and almost hit her head off her locker door.

"I don't bite." He laughed. "You don't need to be so scared."

"You snuck up on me." She rolled her eyes playfully.

"I'm gonna make this quick before they realise i'm gone. Do you want to sit with Mike and I at lunch?"

Emery felt her stomach twist at the mention of Mikes name, and she doesn't know why. She's only known him for a very short period of time. Knowing she wouldn't survive lunch alone with them—because of her nerves, she asked Matt a favour.

"I'd like that. But, could Mercedes join us? She's kind of my best friend." She nervously played with the hem of her dress, afraid he'd say no.

"Of course!" He exclaimed, tightening his hold on his bag. "Bring anyone you want. Just not Rachel."

"Well, I guess i'll see you at lunch." Emery smiled. She made her way to find Mercedes, watching Matt run down the hall with excitement.

☽☾

The new directions were sat in the choir room, gossiping. Emery was stood beside Artie, while Matt passed the football between her and Mike. She either dropped it every time, or tried to dodge it, resulting in Artie getting hit in the head.

Emery felt herself feeling uncomfortable with the conversation topic, being one of the only people who knew the story. She tried her best to ignore their chatter, but it was hard.

"M-maybe she just doesn't like the group." Tina suggested, referring to Quinn and her constant crying.

"Are you all that stupid?" Puck wondered. "Seriously? I bet you thought Bert and Ernie were just roommates."

Emery lowered herself to Artie's level, whispering. "Who's Bert and Ernie?" He just shrugged in response, not really interested in explaining.

"Maybe.." Puck stood up, dragging out the word. "..Quinn's got one in the oven."

Everyone stopped what they were doing, giving him their full attention.

"Well, who's the baby's daddy?" Mercedes queried.

"Who do you think?" He paused, causing everyone to impatiently stare at him, before answering like it was the most obvious thing. "Finn."

Emery followed Puck out of the room, but decided on finding Quinn instead of scolding him. She bumped into a rather chipper Rachel on the way, silently cursing once she realised Rachel was probably rejoining glee.

☽☾

Their first performance for Invitationals couldn't have went better. With April singing the lead vocals in Last Name, and the glee club putting on their best dance moves, they got their biggest applause yet. They couldn't help but gush over the older woman for all the glory she caused them.

On the other hand, Mr Schuester was seeing things more clearly. April wasn't the right fit for the New Directions. After many conversations with Ms Pillsbury—consisting of her telling him to give his students a chance, he finally listened.

Walking into the choir room, he had a regretful look on his face. Seeing how excited his students were made him ecstatic, and now he had to let them down.

"April is amazing. But she's not in the glee club anymore." Everyone immediately stopped what they were doing, looking at their teacher.

"I screwed up bringing her here. It was about me, and glee club is supposed to be about you guys. You don't need her to be great." He assured them.

Emery sighed sadly, resting her head on Artie's shoulders. "But we need her for the second act, Mr Schue." She quietly told him.

"I'll just have to go out there and tell them that we had to cut the show short." He shrugged, earning a look of disappointment from everyone in the room.

Making her presence known, Rachel coughed lightly. "Excuse me. I think I might have a solution." Seeing as no one was telling her to shut up, she made her way into the room. "In show business when a star can't perform, her understudy steps in. I'd be happy to go in for April if you'd let me."

"Since when are you willing to be an understudy?" Mercedes wondered.

"Since I quit the play." Rachel smiled.

"Really? Why?" Kurt looked up curiously.

"I realised being a star didn't make me feel as special as being your friend. If I let you down when you needed me the most, i'd never forgive myself. I know all the words to the song."

"You don't know the choreography." Quinn snarled, looking for any excuse to not have Rachel back.

"Then we're gonna have to give her a lot of help out there." Finn smiled.

As everyone made their way back out onto the stage, Mike grabbed Emery's hand lightly. "Hey, I was just wondering if I could ask you something?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Matt and I were gonna go bowling after this..to celebrate. Um, do you want to join us?" He nervously raised an eyebrow, biting his lip in anticipation.

"Sounds fun." She grinned, linking her arm with his and heading for the auditorium.