When the seniors leave, it's hard. Mercedes and Quinn have been two of the main members of the God Squad since it started. And Quinn has just been there, and been honest with him, when everyone else just kind of saw what was on the surface.
Not everyone is gone. Sam's still here, and that's good. But it's not the same. Making friends doesn't come naturally to Joe. He's more apt to text the ones he's got - to make sure he stays in touch - then to go out and try to make new ones.
By the fall, he's got friends he thought he'd keep, and friends he didn't think he'd ever have. Rachel Berry, for example. She's been texting him. Asking him to pray for her because he is the most faithful person she knows and maybe with his prayers she won't feel like this is all so hopeless.
Joe wouldn't have believed it was possible. Two major car accidents involving three of their glee club members in three months? Sure, Quinn's on the road to recovery and Finn wasn't actually hurt. But Rachel… Just thinking about it makes Joe question things he shouldn't question.
He sends her texts in return, reminding her that he's just a regular person, but he'll definitely pray for her as much as he can. And that if she needs anything, to let him know.
She doesn't say anything to that, but he still gets texts at random times. She invites him to Kurt's final performance in New York, and Joe feels awkward about accepting because if Kurt wanted him there, wouldn't Kurt have invited him? It isn't until after, when Blaine returns just in time to graduate, bursting with stories about how awesome the trip was, that Joe begins to really regret not doing more to make the trip happen.
An envelope comes in the mail, decorated in gold star stickers. He doesn't recognize the handwriting and there is no return address. But it's for him, so Joe tears it open as he walks into the house.
Dear Joe,
Thank you for all the prayers you said on my behalf. Clearly, they're working.
Sincerely,
The New Rachel
He pulls out the other item in the envelope. A program. And he sees Rachel's name, but it's not where he expects to see it.
If Rachel's happy, though, then that's enough for him.
The End.