Ryder wandered down the halls with a lot obviously on his mind. He was on his free period, so at least he didn't have to worry about being late for class. What was bugging him was everything that Marley said to him a couple of days ago, was it really true that Mr. Schue discovered Finn's talent, just like Finn had discovered him? Marley had actually been right about something, he had been distancing himself from his friends in glee ever since he quit the club over the catfish incident and he actually felt alone. Since he joined the club, he had been surrounded by people he came to call friends and enjoyed expressing himself through music.
"You're not only letting us down, you're letting the very first person to truly believe in your talent down." Marley had said to him.
He turned the corner and heard music coming out of one of the classrooms down the hall, if his sense of direction was correct, he was nearing the choir room because the music was getting louder the closer he got – maybe he could sit somewhere and do some thinking. As he opened the door and started to step inside, he saw Will sitting in a chair playing a song he didn't recognize on a guitar, and the words "TOGETHER WE'RE ONE" written on the blackboard. The music stopped as Will turned to see the lone student in the room.
"Hey Ryder," he said with a smile, his right hand resting on the top of his instrument.
"Sorry to disrupt your playing, Mr. Schue," Ryder said, "but I was wondering if I could talk to you about something." Will was still Ryder's history teacher, and of course it was always a good idea to go talk to a teacher when something was on a student's mind.
"Of course," Will said, "pull up a chair." Ryder picked up a chair and set it near his teacher. "So, what's on your mind?"
"I think…" Ryder said, "I made a mistake of quitting the glee club after regionals. You see, I ran into Marley a couple of days ago and she reminded me of how Finn was the one who had recruited me for the musical which led me to join glee because he thought I had talent. Is it true that you were the one to discover Finn just like he discovered me?"
"It's true," Will said with a nod, "I needed a leader, someone who can bring people together to form a strong club. And when I heard Finn sing that first time, I knew he was the right person for the group. Did you know Finn also brought Sam into the club? He's come a long way, and now he's about to graduate. You have no idea just how much glee changes people's lives – even mine when I was a student a long time ago."
"But what about Unique?" Ryder asked. "Marley says she only catfished me because she wanted to get closer to me."
"Marley is absolutely right," said Will. "Glee club is about being part of a group where you can't be judged on who you are and where you can fit in and be a part of something special. I think you owe it to yourself to apologize to Unique, she likes you and respects you as a friend. We all do – the lockdown proved how close we really are.
"And besides," he continued, "with Blaine, Sam, Artie and Tina graduating at the end of the year, we're going to need someone to step up and help lead the next generation of New Directions. I think you could be that person Ryder, Finn believed in you just as much as I do." Ryder thought about what Will had said, then took a glance at the words on the whiteboard:
TOGETHER WE'RE ONE
"I'm convinced," he said, "I will definitely come back – you're going to need some extra voices for nationals." Will smiled. "On one condition, Mr. Schue."
"What's that?" Will asked.
"Could you play that song you were playing when I walked in?" Ryder suggested. "It sounded really good." Smiling again, Will began to play.
"So you managed to convince Ryder to come back to glee?" Emma asked as she, Will and Shannon had lunch together in the staff lounge. "I thought he left after regionals over that whole catfish thing you told me about. I wonder how you did it."
"Come on, Will, spill it out," added Shannon. "You know as well as I do that your glee boys on the football team have benefited greatly from being in the club."
"I simply told him about how I discovered Finn just as he discovered Ryder," Will explained. "And with four more graduating at the end of the year, I could see someone like him being a leader for the next generation of the group. Unique did what she did because she wanted to get closer to him, she wanted him to see what the rest of us see – that we recognize her as a girl."
"I certainly hope those two work things out," said Emma. "If you want to win nationals, the entire group needs to be united."
"Which is why you inspired the assignment," Will said with a smile to his wife.
"Ryder's a good kid," said Shannon. "I see his confidence on the football field, and it's because you and Finn helped it to grow, Will." Both Emma and Will agreed.
"Em, I need you to come to glee with me today," said Will. "We have this great group number planned, and I would like you to be part of it with us."
"I'd love to," Emma replied.
"So guys," said Will as he, Emma and the glee club met in the choir room after school, "what things did we take away from this assignment?"
"Like you said in the beginning," said Tina, "we all have our individual strengths and talents, but when we are united as a group there's nothing we can't accomplish."
"Yeah," added Artie. "Four years ago, we were just a group of misfits and underdogs who people thought wouldn't amount to anything. We've gotten a lot stronger since then."
"Together, we are going to give it our all at nationals, no doubt!" Jake exclaimed, resulting in cheers from the rest of the group.
"And I've learned that we help each other when we need it," said Ryder, giving a small smile to Marley and a nod to Unique. "After everything that this group has gotten through over the course of this year, it's going to continue to be that way. Like the message on the board says, together we're one!"
"That's the spirit," Will said. "Now, let's do that group song we were practicing, Emma and I will meet you at the auditorium." The two adults headed out of the room. Ryder turned to Unique.
"Unique, do you think we can talk about that whole catfish thing?" he asked. "I want to apologize for being so rude to you."
"Apology accepted, hon," said Unique, "and sure we can talk. Come on everyone, let's rock!" The kids cheered as they exited the choir room and headed down the hall towards the auditorium together as they started to cheer.
(ND) Hey! x3
Down another hallway, Will and Emma walked together and Will began to sing.
(Will) When the times are getting rough
Gold and silver turn to dust
People build their barricades
Out of jealousy and hate
(Will/Emma) But there's one thing they could never
Never ever separate
In the auditorium, the kids walked down one aisle and the adults another, all singing as they headed towards the stage.
(All) Ah... let it hear from near and far
This is how it's meant to be
We're together, you and me
Ah... nothing can tear us apart
Sailing on a stormy sea
We're together, you and me
Reaching the stage, they all stood in groups enjoying the rhythm of the song.
(ND) Hey! x2
(Marley) We build castles with our hands
On a solid ground they stand
(Marley/Jake) They're our shelter from the storm
Keep us safe and keep us warm
(Tina/Blaine) No, there's nothing that can hurt us
Whatever there may come
(All) Ah... let it hear from near and far
This is how it's meant to be
We're together, you and me
Ah... nothing can tear us apart
Sailing on a stormy sea
We're together, you and me
(Kitty/Sam/Ryder) Time is flowing to the sea
But it's still you and me
(Artie/Unique) Nothing's like it used to be
But we're here, you and me
(Will/Emma) Ah...
(All) Let it hear from near and far
This is how it's meant to be
We're together, you and me
Ah... nothing can tear us apart
Sailing on a stormy sea
We're together, you and me
Ah, nothing can tear us apart
Sailing on a stormy sea
(Will) We're together, you and me
When the song ended, the entire group cheered, high-fived and hugged each other. Tina was right: when New Directions was united, there was nothing they couldn't accomplish. And whatever happened at nationals, they would all take on the challenge together.
Notes: Song is "You And Me" by Takasa (Switzerland)
