Author's Note: I understand this isn't in the crossover section for Glee, but seeing as those are hardly read, I'm placing it here. If you don't like this, just go on find other fanfictions. I've worked really hard on this and I cannot wait to share it with you all. I really hope you enjoy it as much as I did writing it.
She wasn't necessarily angry, per se. Perhaps she had been selfish when she yelled at her fathers. Technically speaking, it wasn't really their fault. Her father's boss had to branch out to a lot of different locations in order to help out with opportunities to interlink with other companies. Unfortunately, one of the employees he was forcing to move was LeRoy. At first, he had refused, saying Lima was his home and it would be too much of a hassle to get his daughter and husband on board, but then his boss offered him a larger salary. Hiram agreed that moving would help with the memoir he was writing, but none of them consulted their little girl who was quite content with her place in Lima before she'd move off to New York to accomplish her dreams.
No, this town wasn't perfect. She was slushied on a daily basis by hooligans like Karofsky or one of the other football players that felt Glee club was the spawn of Satan. However, that didn't take away from the aura of complete happiness that she felt with her fellow Glee clubbers. At the beginning of the year, she was quite possibly the most hated girl in McKinley High School, but as time passed, she befriended the most unlikely of people. She even managed to get on Quinn Fabray's good side, her sworn enemy that she often admired from afar. She had the star quarterback and lead male in Glee to become her boyfriend after so long of longing for him.
And now she had to kiss it all away because her fathers told her they were moving to Mystic Falls, Georgia literally this weekend, where she would then have to apply to their local high school for rest of her sophomore year. It was her biggest nightmare. What if they didn't have a Glee club? What if they threw something that was far worse than slushies? What if she didn't gain any companions of her like she has in Lima? What if this meant she would never be able to move to New York like she wants?
But all of those questions would have to wait for when she was put on a plane. For now, she had to muster up whatever lack of courage she has to go into her school for the last time and tell her newfound friends and team that she would be leaving and not returning anytime soon to finish her junior or senior year. What made her feel all the more paranoid was that they might not even be sad she was leaving. They might just laugh and be excited they'll finally get the solos they want. Rachel doesn't blame them. If she was in their shoes, she'd feel ecstatic, too.
The day was calm and ordinary. She avoided Finn and the others all day long, afraid she'd just break down in tears if she looked them in the eyes. She'd have to wait for Glee practice after school to tell them all the bad news. Her stomach tightened uncomfortably at the thought of it. She wondered what Mr. Shuester would say. He always had some kind of inspiring quote he would come up with to make her feel good. His constant goal was to make sure his kids were happy.
Soon enough(too soon in Rachel's opinion), practice was in five minutes. She cooped herself in the bathroom in the mean time, staring uselessly at her reflection that looked like a complete mess. Her eyes were swollen and pink from all the crying, her lips chapped from the sobs. If anything, they might just think her and Finn broke up. Glancing at her wrist watch, she saw she had no more time to spare. Glee started in just two minutes.
"You can do this," she whispered to herself, gripping the edge of the filthy sink. "Just tell them goodbye. Besides, it's not like you can't still talk to them. You can call them everyday if you'd like. Daddy might be able to even spare a plane ticket so you can watch them perform at their other competitions... C'mon, Rachel..."
"Well! If I didn't know any better, midget, I'd say Mr. Shuester has finally driven his kids crazy," a voice interrupted her monologue, startling Rachel as one of the stall doors opened and Coach Sue popped out, wearing a black and gold tracksuit for the day. She smirked confidently at Rachel as she approached a free sink and turned the water on. "Don't tell me you're going to go and come out as a schizophrenic with a song in mind that'll just put the cherry on the sundae that is...your terrible life."
"If you must know, Coach Sylvester," Rachel growled, glaring at her, "I will be leaving Lima this weekend to live elsewhere thanks to my Daddy getting a job opportunity. But I bet that makes you feel happy for yourself that New Directions will be losing a player, right? Everything you do is just an attempt to ruin Mr. Shuester's life. Well...since I have nothing else to lose, I just want you to know you are the most horrific teacher I've ever come across. You have done nothing to teach us whatever painful lesson you think you're expressing. I will be glad to be rid of you and I hope Mr. Shuester and New Directions pummel you and the Cheerios into the ground!"
Coach Sylvester didn't answer at first. Instead, she finished washing her hands and dried them with the paper towels available before she finally met Rachel's eyes, still smiling as calmly as ever. Instead of yelling at her and issuing her a detention for mouthing off to an instructor, Coach Sylvester suddenly wrapped her arms around Rachel in a warm embrace before backing away.
"Wha...what?"
"C'mon, kid, I ain't gonna waste my breath screeching at ya. I'm afraid you'll try and break out into some terrible song from Rent on how I'm more terrible than you presumed and I may as well just quit now while I'm ahead! Gotta say, though, you're giving me an unfair advantage. You leaving makes them weak. But it'll be less fun trying to destroy them without having you belt out another song from a play I don't really care about. I will say this, however, and don't go off and try to tell anyone I have. You...are not as annoying as I thought. I will be sorry to see you go. Now...can you get out of the way? The stench of your sadness is stinking up the odor of my success."
Rachel sniffed and quickly moved, still in disbelief from this exchange from a teacher she has hated for so long. Coach Sylvester hummed as she walked by, pulling open the door and strolling out. Rachel looked at her watch again, startled to see she was five minutes late for Glee club practice. Biting her lip, she grabbed her bag and scurried from the bathroom and toward the choir room, the sounds of her flats hitting the tiled floor echoing off the walls.
"I'm here!" she heaved, grabbing her chest, "I'm so sorry for being late. Coach Sylvester held me up."
"No worries, Rachel," Mr. Shuester smiled, "go ahead and take a seat so we can get started. I have some great news!"
"Um...actually, M-Mr. Shuester," Rachel mumbled, setting her bag down on the piano, "I-I was hoping I can announce something myself. I promise to try and make it quick. I'm afraid if I wait I won't have the courage to say it after all."
Mr. Shuester could only stare at her. Used to her odd behavior, however, he smiled and nodded before he left to go take the empty seat beside a confused Finn. He smiled up at Rachel, encouraging her to continue. Whatever she had to say couldn't be too bad. They won Sectionals in their very first competition! Nothing she could say could ruin that, right? Everyone quieted down simultaneously, watching Rachel with expressions of calm relaxation. None of them were expecting what she said next.
"I...I'm leaving Lima this weekend. I won't be back. My father, he...his boss has moved his workplace to Mystic Falls, a town in Georgia. I'm afraid this means I'll be gone for good..." Rachel trailed off, fresh new tears filling her brown eyes, "I'm so sorry, everyone... I know, this is all probably sudden. I didn't even know until last night. Everything about this is short notice. I don't even get to finish my sophomore year."
The choir room had gone silent. The only thing making a sound was Rachel's quiet sobs as she attempted to wipe away the new tears beginning to fall. Nobody would've believed it, but Rachel never cried over nothing. Just when things seemed to be looking up for them after their win in Sectionals... They finally seemed to come together as a fully-fledged team. They worked together better than any other Glee club, they were sure. And now all of that was ruined.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Finn asked, getting up from his chair to approach her.
"I wanted to tell you all together. I'm so sorry, Finn," Rachel wiped her eyes furiously. "I don't know what else to say."
"Don't apologize, Rachel," Mr. Shuester said, getting up, "It's not your fault."
"Do you know when you'll be back?" Quinn asked, her own soft voice cracking as she caressed her swollen belly. She had been hoping Rachel would be there to see her with it. Ever since the news came out of Quinn's real baby daddy, Rachel has been trying her hardest to make it right for outing her without even consulting her about it. At first, it had been rather annoying having Rachel constantly follow her asking for forgiveness she didn't even need, but they slowly came close as friends.
Rachel shook her head. "They said it might be for as long as three years...that's long after we'll all be graduated. You know...I've been talking all this crap about how terrible Lima is...and now I'm crying because I'm finally leaving it. Isn't that silly?" She laughed as more tears leaked out. Finn embraced her tightly, placing his chin atop her soft, brunette head. The rest of the Glee kids all looked uneasy before they slowly inched their way out of their seats to approach her. In Artie's case, he just wheeled so he was closer.
"Rachel, we're...damn, girl, we sure as hell are gonna miss you," Mercedes said first, waiting for Finn to let her go so she could hug her next. "Can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm gonna miss arguin' with you all the time for solos. We always kill it when we do those duets together." Rachel laughed as she clung to her. "I'ma give you my number so you can call me from Georgia. I don't wanna hear that they're givin' you a hard time."
"Same from me," Kurt went next, hands on his hips, "Lima is losing one of its most accomplished divas. I have to say, it's actually a tragedy. But, Rachel Berry, this Mystic Falls will be gaining someone awesome. I just hope you'll at least attempt to wear something different there." He joined the hug with Mercedes. The others smiled; they were New Directions' three divas. If Rachel was staying, they were sure the three of them would form one hell of a friendship. Once the three separated, Brittany threw her arms enthusiastically around Rachel, tightening her hold so badly Rachel was sure she cracked a rib.
"I'm really sad you're leaving, Rachel. I still don't really like you, but I love it when you sing," Brittany admitted honestly.
Rachel laughed awkwardly and hugged her back. "Yes...thank you, Brittany."
Santana took her attention next. "Gotta say, Berry, you were really growing on me. Don't let them change you in Mystic Falls. You being an annoying, talented bitch is part of your charm. While, yes, it got on my damn nerves sometimes, I like that you didn't care. Make sure you still don't in Georgia." Rachel smiled and hugged her, the Latina cheerleader laughing in a friendly way as she hugged back.
Puck rubbed the back of his neck nervously as Rachel turned to him. Their history was complicated. They dated briefly just to make two people they really felt for jealous. After it was nothing but silence and occasional exchanges. He didn't know how he felt, really, about her leaving. He assumed he was hurt by the way his heart clenched painfully. He knows he doesn't have any romantic feelings for her, but they still had that platonic connection.
"I'm going to miss you, Noah," she smiled, placing a hand on his bicep. "Seeing you change from a big jerk to a singing jerk was truly something."
Puck smiled. "I'm gonna miss you, too. Don't let any guy down there treat you any differently, though. I can totally jack my mom's minivan to go beat the hell out of them." The others laughed as Rachel did, going as far as to hug him. He smiled, returning it wholeheartedly. It was a lot less hard to say that than he thought.
"I'm really gonna miss you, Rachel," Tina admitted, walking up to her as she let go of Puck. "Glee isn't ever gonna be the same again. I really wish we spent more time like this...together and all." Rachel smiled and hugged her, feeling the tears go from cold to warm. She never expected all of this warmth from them. It was foolish of her to think they'd be happy she was leaving. They weren't that cruel. They were the same as her. New Directions was a family.
"We were really hoping to teach you how to pop and lock," Mike chuckled as he and Matt stood side-by-side. "We're gonna miss you, Rach." The two hugged her simultaneously, practically hiding her smaller form with their bigger ones. Rachel wasn't really close with either of them, but she'd still miss them very dearly.
"I still find you exceptionally irritating," Artie said as she moved onto him, "but...it's gonna be a lot more irritating without you." Rachel grinned, bending down to embrace him. Artie was very interesting, plus he made riding around in a wheelchair look way easier than it was. She remembered the lesson Mr. Shuester tried to teach them by making them all ride them. It was extremely difficult.
Finally, it was down to the hardest three. Mr. Shuester, Quinn, and most of all, Finn. These three pretty much shaped her sophomore year entirely. It was going to be hardest not seeing them everyday. Rachel was sure she wouldn't find a teacher in Mystic Falls that cared about their teachers as much as Shuester did. As for Quinn, Rachel wished she could be there for when the baby comes. Quinn has come so far, and Rachel was very glad to be called her friend. And Finn...
She had spend all of her freshman year and this year being completely in love with him. She had craved for his attention. When he had joined Glee, she was sure she'd never feel happiness like that. When he came into the room, it was like Superman had arrived. Leaving him was like leaving your soul behind. Rachel had thought about doing the long distance thing all last night, but that wasn't fair to Finn. She understood he needed to be free to see other people, especially if she wasn't coming back anytime soon. While he still had her heart, she wouldn't be angry at him for it.
"I treated you like crap for nearly two years," Quinn's voice broke her from her thoughts. "After I finally see you're not as selfish as I thought...you have to go. I think the universe is trying to say something." She snorted sarcastically, her gaze leaving Rachel's to stare at the ground as she continued to caress her baby bump.
"It's telling you that you're an amazing person and you have changed into a wonderful human being. I wish I could stay, too. You becoming my friend is probably one of the best things to ever happen to me." Rachel said truthfully, "I'm...I'm gonna hug you now." Quinn giggled and pulled Rachel in for an embrace, being mindful of the baby. Rachel tried to keep her tears at bay now, but it was becoming a lot harder.
Mr. Shuester cleared his throat. Wiping her face, Rachel turned to face him.
"I have never met a student like you, Rachel Berry. You are kind, talented, and...everything I had looked for when I originally came up with New Directions. You have truly shaped us into who we are. We all have you to thank. I am going to miss you...so much." He coughed awkwardly as he wiped a tear that breached from his right eye. Rachel's mouth shook and she cried out as she threw her arms around him. Mr. Shuester returned the hug, rubbing the back of her hair lightly. Their hug lasted the longest so far. When they separated, Mr. Shuester stepped back and smiled at her. "We are definitely gonna have to dedicate our next setlist for Regionals to you."
"I would hope so," Rachel joked.
Finn had his hands shoved in his pockets with his own set of tears staining his cheeks. Rachel turned to him, her stomach practically doing a backflip. This was going to be the hardest of all. They had been through so much together that Rachel wasn't even sure she'd be able to say the words that were needed.
"Y-You know what comes next, don't you, Finn?" she mumbled.
"Don't say it..."
"I won't be back for a long time, Finn, and it's not fair to you. I'm not doing this because I want to. I'm doing it because I have to," she whispered, taking his bigger hands into her own. "I've never felt this way for any boy in my entire life. When I look at you, I see my future. I still do. I love you...and I want you to know the only reason New Directions is as amazing as it is...is because you decided to join it. I think it's safe to say for myself, Kurt, Mercedes, Tina, and Artie that we weren't anything until you came."
Finn's tears seemed to come down harder.
"I want you to call me everyday. In fact, call all of us. I don't want us to lose touch," he said. "I love you, too..." Rachel bit her lip and wrapped her arms tightly around him, failing at keeping her crying away since she was now bawling into his chest. Finn hugged her harder, kissing the top of her head. The others smiled sadly and joined in the hug, including Shuester. Their family would be losing someone very important to them.
"I think this calls for a number," Mercedes giggled as she wiped her eyes. "I think we all have something in mind. Rachel...why don't you sit down? I think it'd be better to send you off on a proper New Direction way." Rachel laughed and nodded, going to take her usual chair after flattening her skirt.
Quinn went to whisper something into Brian's ear while Artie went and spoke with the band. Then the music slowly started up. Rachel sniffed, knowing exactly the song they were doing. They all stood side by side, smiling down at Rachel with tearful smiles. Mr. Shuester stood off to the side with his arms crossed, but he had never looked more proud than he did then.
"I will stand by you," Finn and Quinn began first, "even when you fall. I will be the rock, that holds you up and lifts you high so you stand tall."
"I won't let you go," Mercedes sang next, smiling happily down at her, before Kurt joined for the next verse, "No one can take your place. A couple fights and lonely nights. Don't make it right to let it go to waste!" Rachel smiled, bringing a hand to her heart as she nearly cried harder.
The next verse, they all sang together, their lovely voices sticking to Rachel's hearts where they would stay, no matter what Mystic Falls did to her. "I won't let you fall! I won't let you go! No matter where you are! No matter where you are, I'll be there! No matter where you are! No matter where you are, I'll be there!"
Santana and Brittany joined hands, before turning their smiles to Rachel and singing, "I will hold on to everything we've got! A quitter, a regretter, and forgetter is everything I'm not!" Santana playfully blew a kiss to Rachel as they finished the verse with Santana's voice beautifully complimenting Brittany's.
Tina and Artie nodded their heads to Rachel knowingly, going next, "I'll take care of you and love you just because! You and I are better than forever! Nothing can stop us!"
Once more, the entire club came together for the chorus, "And I won't let you fall! I won't let you go! No matter where you are! No matter where you are, I'll be there!" Mike suddenly burst from the group, taking Rachel's hand and twirling her around in a quick step dance. Rachel's laugh was unheard as they continued to sing, "No matter where you are! No matter where you are, I'll be there!"
Rachel was twirled once more, suddenly flying into Puck's arms as he sang the next verse alone, "We can be the generation who learns how to love. Mistakes and empty promises will never be enough!" Rachel couldn't help but sing with him as he flung her around expertly, "To tear apart the giant hearts that beat inside us now! Let's conquer the percentages and rise above the ground!"
Puck suddenly moved so she stood in Finn's arms instead. That's where she stayed, swaying with him slowly with her head in his chest.
"And I won't let you fall! I won't let you go! No matter where you are! No matter where you are, I'll be there!" they all sang together, but Rachel felt as though it was just her and Finn. She smiled, pulling him closer. "No matter where you are! No matter where you are, I'll be there!"
"No matter where you are," her and Finn sang solely, "No matter where you are I'll be there! I'll be there! I'll be there!"
As the song ended, they all joined in a final group hug, exclaiming their goodbyes and sorrows. Rachel had never felt more loved. She was going to miss them infinitely. They talked for the remainder of the practice, Rachel stuck in Finn's arms as he continually pressed a kiss to her head. Soon enough, unfortunately, practice came to an end and everyone had to leave. Each of them gave Rachel a final hug, also giving her their number so they could call and text while she was in Mystic Falls.
She had no more tears left to cry after that. It was as if all the tears from before was all she had, but Rachel still felt the remorse. She would never be the same after losing her family. New Directions was everything to her and now it was ripped away. She knows she shouldn't blame her fathers, but now she just couldn't help it. They were taking her from something she loved.
"Let me drive you home," Finn offered quietly, stopping Rachel from texting her dad to pick her up. She looked up at him and nodded. Grabbing her hand, Finn waved at Mr. Shuester before walking her out of the choir room and toward the exit doors. Neither of them exchanged a word the entire way.
He opened the passenger door for her to his rusty truck his mother managed to get after Burt Hummel helped out with it. Rachel automatically buckled herself in, already knowing how Finn was when he drove. She knew he wouldn't kill them, but that didn't take a possible wreck off the table. Rachel shivered to even think about it. What made it worse was that she knew this would be her last time in the vehicle with him. If anything, this was the last time she would see him in person.
He started the truck and pulled out of the parking lot. Uncomfortable with the silence, Rachel switched on his radio, turning to a station that was blasting some old Queen song. It helped tune out the sadness and the awkwardness the two were displaying. Rachel desperately wanted to know what he was thinking, but she understood she needed to give him time.
Soon enough, they pulled in front of what would soon be her old home. Turning off the truck, Finn bowed his head as he let out a shaky breath. Rachel made no movement to leave. Instead, she stared at him longingly. Her heart pounded against her ribcage, pleading with her to say something. Anything! But nothing rushed to her lips. She didn't know what else she could say to help the situation.
"I've never loved anyone the way I love you," Finn suddenly said, breaking the silence. "I don't wanna break up. M-Maybe we can work out the long distance thing. I-I can get a job and save up so I can move to Mystic Falls after graduation. I could meet you there." Rachel smiled, unbuckling herself and sliding over so she could lean her head on his shoulder. He placed his arm over her shoulders, rubbing softly at her arm.
"I love you so much, Finn," she admitted honestly, "But...I'm not going to do this to you. I'll tell you what'll happen if we try that. Either you or me is going to find someone in Lima or Mystic Falls and we're going to catch feelings. At first, we'll attempt to ignore it. We would never want to hurt each other that way, but...eventually we'll act on those feelings. We won't be able to take that guilt away, Finn. I won't do that to you. I want you to be free to find whoever you want."
"But I want you..."
"And I want you," Rachel agreed, her eyes suddenly watering for what seemed the thousandth time that day, "but we both know we can't. I'm sorry..." He situated himself so he could hug her properly, crying into her hair while she sobbed into his neck. This was a lot harder than she thought it would be. Losing Finn was the one thing she never thought she'd have.
The two slowly looked at each other, both of their brown eyes now pink. Rachel bit her lip, before she leaned in and claimed his own. His lips tasted of tears, but she didn't care. She wrapped her arms carefully around his neck, pulling him closer. Finn returned the kiss as best as he could, pulling her back cradling the back of her head while his other hand roamed at her lower back.
The kiss lasted for about a whole minute before Rachel finally moved back.
"I love you, Finn Hudson," she declared proudly. "I'm going to miss you the most..." She pecked his lips a final time before grabbing the handle to her door and opening it. She carefully stepped out, waving to him a final time. Not wanting him to see her miserable face, she slowly turned and walked up to her front door. She felt her heart stay with him, the sound of his screeching tires leaving causing a whole other wave of sadness as she covered her face with both of her hands.
Her fathers must've heard her crying because the door suddenly opened.
"Oh, Barbra, what happened?" Daddy mumbled, instantly embracing his little girl. "LeRoy, she's crying."
"Yes, Hiram, I can see that," Dad responded, pulling the two inside. "I'll make her a glass of hot tea. She probably told New Directions goodbye. We knew this was coming." He disappeared into the kitchen while Hiram pulled her into their living area, rubbing her back softly. Soon, she was being cradled between the both of them while she attempted to down her tea whole. She couldn't get Finn's face out of her mind. The rest of New Directions and Mr. Shuester already seemed so far away.
Rachel was heartbroken, but she couldn't let it stop her from the rest of her packing and helping her fathers place all of their luggage into their cab. Rachel practically forced them to drive in front of McKinley on their way to the airport. She watched it longingly, reminiscing in all the drama, the happiness, and the music that occurred there. Mystic Falls would never be able to measure up to it. It was probably more boring than Lima.
Soon enough, they had arrived at the airport and moved quickly to get to their right plane. Rachel had already received four different text messages from Mercedes, Kurt, Puck, and Finn.
'Have a safe flight, girl! Skype me and Kurt when you get settled in! We wanna see your face!' 'Please consult me for whatever outfit you're wearing on the first day at their school. I will not have you wearing that hideous pantsuit.' 'Hey, Rach, mind letting me know if they're any hot chicks in Mystic Falls?' 'I didn't get to say it last night, but...I love you, too. I'll always love you, Rachel Berry. Don't let Mystic Falls change you. You're always going to be a star.'
Rachel held her phone to her heart as she boarded the plane. As they went to find their seats, her fathers were already arguing over something silly. Rachel paid them no mind, instead staring at her phone's screen as more and more texts revealed themselves from New Directions and how much she would be missed.
Mystic Falls was never going to become like Lima. It was quite possibly going to be an ordinary town that didn't even have a show choir, let alone anything Rachel legitimately liked. She was going to be bored out of her mind.