Mrs. Foster loved Jason, but his careless way of warming up bothered her a lot. He never seemed to pay attention, but according to the people around him, he didn't miss a note. His hazel eyes sparkled when she talked to him about it, asking where he'd learned such sloppy habits. He generally answered that he'd learned in choir, but she never knew if she should believe him because he always laughed when he said it.
This evening, though, he paid strict attention while warming up and going though a low key rehearsal. "If we don't know it now we never will," he mumbled as they finished. The tenor next to him looked at him oddly, wondering what had gotten into his friend, and Jason laughed. He paced nervously, humming songs and generally driving people crazy. Everyone watched him; he'd never been nervous before.
Finally, the concert started, then they had their turn, last. They performed some traditional carols, did some farces, and ended with "This One's for the Children." Jason wasn't sure why Mrs. Foster had chosen him to sing this one, but he'd decided to do his best. They had no choreography for it because the combined choirs sang. The rest of the singers stood on the risers behind him, and he stood off to the side with a microphone.
Halfway through the song, he couldn't stand still anymore. Mrs. Foster stared as he began walking as he sang, keeping an eye on her, though he knew it was unnecessary. At the end of the song, while the choir just sang "This one's... for the children", he began to speak.
"I want dedicate this song to my brother, my family and friends, and most of all, to JJ. Thanks for being there for me." Finished, he returned to his place in the choir, turning the mike off and holding it loosely in his hand.
The following applause was deafening. Jason couldn't quit smiling as the choir left the stage, a lot of the singers staring at him, especially those in the show choir. Mrs. Foster pulled him to the side as he got off the stage.
"What was that all about?" she asked, not really mad.
"I couldn't just stand there anymore. I'm not used to it when I... hear the song. I just got my life patched up, my brother and other friends are here, and I wanted to let them know how much I appreciate them," Jason explained. "Besides, most people have a preconceived notion of what should happen when they hear the song, and I decided to go along with it."
"You like the band who does this song?" she asked, bewildered. Jason thought of the groans when they'd been told they would be singing it, and chuckled.
"Very much," he admitted. "Jordan's on a very tight schedule, so I'd like to see him before he goes. I'll see you after Christmas?"
"All right," she sighed with a smile. He grinned in appreciation and slipped back into the auditorium, trying to remain unseen. There were a lot of people looking for him, he realized with surprise, as he headed through the auditorium. Finally reaching the back, he found them waiting for him, and grinned excitedly.
"I'm glad you could make it," he said, giving JJ a hug. None of them had ever seen him glow before, and it was an unnerving experience. He seemed so changed.
"Me, too," Sam grinned, leaning against Danny. Jon smiled at her.
"Maurice was right," Jordan said as Jon led the way into the hallway. "You should have sung the song."
"No, no," Jon said, turning to face his brother. "I would have ruined it then. Peter, do they have time to meet my roommates?"
"Yeah. But we have to leave in about half an hour, all right?" He looked at Danny who nodded, and Jon grinned.
"Hot. Peter, come explain to Mrs. Foster how I can warm up so absent mindedly. Pretend you're a choir teacher or something; I have to live through another semester here." He led the way though the halls to the choir room, where one of the tenors grabbed his arm.
"There you are, Jason. What's going on?" he asked, pulling Jason into the group of the show choir. Jason shrugged.
"Nothing, really. I just couldn't stand there," he grinned.
"Where did you get so natural at it?" a redhead asked. Jason grinned at her.
"Practice," he said. Behind him, Jordan laughed.
"We can barely get you to talk," he protested.
"I watched my brother. He's very good at that. He gets all the practice I don't," Jason teased, glancing back at Jordan. "It's not that hard if you have something to say. My friends have a limited schedule, so I've got to go." He turned to the others, took JJ's hand, and started out, then paused and turned to see the choir staring after him. He blushed slightly. "Tina, when Peter finishes talking to Mrs. Foster, send him to my place, okay?"
"Okay," a petite brunette answered, startled, and they left.
"Who's Tina?" Donnie asked as they headed through the snow that drifted lightly to the ground.
"One of the alto's," Jon grinned.
"And how does she know where you live?" Joe asked.
"We all know where everyone lives. It's an exclusive group, like you guys. They've been to my place for drinks and a get together after concerts, as I've been to each of their houses," he explained.
"Right," Jordan grinned. JJ slapped his shoulder, smiling, then leaned against Jon.
"Why did he call you Jason?" she asked.
"That's my name here," he said gently. She looked up at him and smiled.
"Oh. Where do you live?" was the next question.
"The bottom of the hill, in that apartment house. The apartment is on the ground floor, right by the laundry room. It's nice. I have three crazy roommates, who are dying to meet you and Sam because all they think about is girls. Danny, keep a hold of my cousin or you'll lose her," Jon grinned, turning around momentarily. Danny laughed. "Also, while I'm here, I'm Jason, okay?"
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