Hi! Thanks for all the reviews on Chapter 11. They mean so much to me. This chapter was a bit harder because there's not as much Finchel, but I did add in a deleted scene and explored some of Finn and Rachel's individual scenes. This is probably going to be the last time I update before Christmas, so I hope all of you have a great Christmas! Enjoy this chapter and review if you want me to continue :)
Chapter 12: Mattress
Finn was sitting in the choir room talking with the other guys when Kurt came in with a stack of yearbooks. "Where's Rachel?" Kurt asked.
"She's not here yet," Finn said.
"Perfect," Kurt said. "Glee club stands on a delicate precipice. We have all felt the cold humiliation of a slushie in the face. But as of right now, our relative anonymity as a club shields us from more severe persecution— Swirlies. Patriotic wedgies."
"What's a patriotic wedgie?" Mercedes asked.
"It's when they hoist you up the flag pole by your undies," Finn said. Why hadn't he said anything when the guys from the football team did that to people."
"Strangely, it did make me feel more American," Artie said. They'd done it to Artie? Now Finn felt worse.
Kurt opened a yearboook. "Based on my investigation, I am of the opinion that a yearbook photo would only fuel the flames of anti-glee-club terror. I've done a little library research. Peter Gellar. Glee club second tenor, 1998. He can be seen here with both a drawn on Hitler mustache and rice paddy hat. Shortly after the yearbook came out, Mr. Gellar had a nervous breakdown. He is now the homeless man Who sleeps in front of the public library."
"Patches?" Quinn asked.
Kurt nodded. "Patches."
So people had always hated the glee club. Kurt opened another book. "Exhibit B. Tawny Peterson. Glee club class of 2000. Seen here in her photo with a cartoon knife stuck in her head, in a macabre tableau that, in four years, would prove eerily prescient. I think I speak for all of us when I say that not having to pose for a yearbook photo might be a blessing in disguise. I suggest not fighting Figgins' ruling."
Finn had been disappointed when he first heard that the glee club wouldn't have a photo in the yearbook, but now he thought maybe it was for the better. He'd always have memories of his time in glee. Then Mr. Schue came in. "Oh, hey, guys. Ah. Looking at old Thunderclaps?"
"It's really unsettling," Artie said.
Mr. Schue took a yearbook. "And totally unfair. Hey, can I borrow one of these? You know what? This year's thunderclap is going to have a glee club photo with every one of your smiling faces. You have my word on it."
x
Mr. Schue had said that the glee club would hav a yearbook photo and Rachel was thrilled. But that was only one photo. Every year she tried to join as many clubs as possible simply to be in as many photos as she could. Last year she had counted the photos in the yearbook and had been in the most. This year, she was determined to match that again, and what she had to do was join as many clubs as she could. As she went into the Glee club room, she went up to Kurt. "Kurt, I have a fantastic idea for a club that would officially make me the most involved student In the whole school. I want us to start a gaylesball."
Kurt looked confused. "I'm sorry?"
"The gay-lesbian alliance. Gay-lesb-all," Rachel said.
Before she could explain it further, Mr. Schue came in. "Hey, guys! Great news! Glee club gets a photo in the thunderclap. Yep. It's going to show everyone at the school that glee club is on its way up. When we win regionals, those claps are going to be collector's items. I mean, all of your classmates are going to be begging for your autographs. But I had to compromise to do it. Um, we only get a quarter page in back. Which means we have to pick two team captains to appear in the photo. So, tomorrow we're going to put it to a vote. Exciting, huh? All right."
Only two of them would be in the photo? Rachel had to be there. But she wasn't sure if Mr. Schue was right. The rest of the school hated the glee club. She had a feeling even if they won Regionals, that wouldn't change.
Still, she wanted to be the captain. She cared the most. The next day, she'd prepared a speech about why she was the best choice for captain. Rachel went up to the front of the room to give her speech. "With your permission, I have prepared a few words."
"I nominate Rachel," Mercedes said.
"Second," Kurt said. They thought she would be good? Wow. She thought they didn't like her.
"All right, let's vote up in this piece. I gotta go hit the gym and load up the guns of Puckerone for the football picture," Puck said.
Everyone wrote down the name of the person they thought would be best on the paper. Rachel wrote her own name. She wanted so badly to be a captain and she figured no one would figure out that she voted for herself. She dropped the paper in the basket.
Mr. Schue looked over the pieces of paper. "Looks like everybody voted for Rachel. Including Rachel. But we need two captains, guys."
Everyone had voted for Rachel? They really thought she would be a good leader? She was honored.
"Why two?" Quinn asked. "We're fine with having Rachel represent us In the thunderclap by herself."
"We'd actually prefer it," Kurt said.
They really thought she was a good enough leader to be the only leader? Wow.
x
"You wanted to see me, Mr. Schue?" Rachel asked as she went in. She was sure he wanted to talk to her about her new leadership role.
"Oh, yeah, Rach. Sit down. So, how's the new captaincy going?" Mr. Schue asked.
"I think that my unanimous election gave me a very strong mandate to shake things up," Rachel said. She had so many ideas, and now that she was the captain, she was going to start implementing them.
"Great," Mr. Schue said. "Well, I have a job for you, captain. We need a co-captain. You have so many great ideas. No reason you shouldn't have some help pushing them through."
Maybe he had a point. "I could use a trusty lieutenant. I do have over 65 proposals."
"So, can I count on you?" Mr. Schue asked.
"No problem. I'm on it," Rachel said.
x
Finn was at his locker when Rachel came up to him. "Hey."
"Hey," Finn said. "What's up?"
"I was wondering, maybe could you be another captain?" Rachel asked. "I've got lots of great ideas but I need some help."
Finn paused. He'd love to be the leader, but he knew this meant being in the photo, and he really didn't want to subject himself to more bullying. Just yesterday someone had broken into his locker and filled it with dirty kleenex. "I don't know, Rach."
Rachel looked like she knew why he hadn't said yes. "I'm desperate. Glee club needs you, Finn."
"I'm totally honored you asked me, but don't you think you should pick somebody who, like, cares more?" Finn asked. Wrong word choice. Other than Rachel, he cared the most, and he knew that. "Not that I don't, but I just have football and friends and stuff."
"Glee club only started working after you joined," Rachel said. "Face it, we wouldn't have all of the cheerleaders and football players in the club if it wasn't for you."
"You know I love glee club. I just don't know why I have to represent it," Finn said.
"Because you're a leader, Finn. And that's what leaders do. They stick their necks out for people that they care about. There are stakes here. Morale is low, you know it. If things don't change, We're not even going to place at sectionals. And then the club is over. I can't do this alone," Rachel said.
She had a point. "You don't have to. I am a leader. That's who I am, who I want to be. You got yourself a co-captain. I'll do the picture with you," Finn said.
Rachel gave Finn a big hug. "Thanks so much!"
"Hey, it's no problem," Finn said. Since the photo would be in the back of the yearbook, people probably wouldn't even notice it. Right?
"Maybe could you meet me in the choir room after school to get ready?" Rachel asked.
Time alone with Rachel? Of course he was in.
x
"I totally understand that as captain of the football team, you've worked really hard to project an appearance of steely toughness, but glee club is different," Rachel said as she led Finn into the choir room. "We have to present the appearance of positivity and optimism. So... we're gonna practice, and I'm going to teach you how to smile correctly for your photo."
Rachel handed Finn some sheet music and Brad began playing on the piano. An opportunity to sing with Rachel? Finn was definitely going to take that offer up! Rachel gave Finn some cute flirty looks as she began to sing and Finn couldn't wait to join in.
Rachel: when you first left me, I was wanting more
you were kissing that girl next door
what'd you do that for?
Finn: what'd you do that for?
Rachel: when you first left me
Finn and Rachel: I didn't know what to say
Rachel: I never been on my own that way
just sat by myself all day
I was so lost back then
but with a little help from my friends
I found a light in the tunnel at the end
and now you're calling me up on the phone
so you can have a little whine and a moan
and it's only because you're feeling alone
Finn and Rachel: at first, when I see you cry...
it makes me smile
yeah, it makes me smile
at worst I feel bad for a while
but then I just smile
I go ahead and smile
la-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la
la-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la
la-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la
la-la-la
Rachel: at first when I see you cry
Finn: see you cry
Rachel: it makes me smile
Finn: makes me smile
Rachel: yeah, it makes me smile
Finn: yeah, it makes me smile
Rachel: at worst I feel bad for a while
Finn: feel bad for a while
Rachel: but then I just smile
Finn: smile
Rachel: I go ahead and smile
Finn: go ahead and smile.
She'd tickled him. She'd ruffled his hair. She'd slapped his butt. She was so cute. He loved singing with her and dancing with her, and he couldn't wait to take the photo with her.
x
After football practice, Finn was getting his things out of his locker when Karofsky and Azimio came over an began attacking his face with sharpies. "What the hell?!"
"Hey, man, shh, we're practicing, dude. Chill out," Azimio said.
"We heard you're going to be in the glee club photo, and we don't want to mess up messing it up," Karofsky said.
How did they know? Finn hadn't told them! "Screw you, Karofsky! I'm sick of you pulling people down."
"Hey, man, don't talk that kum-bah-yay-yah crap. All right, you know the system's put in place To keep order around here. You know what, I'm gonna give you some options, okay? Do you want me to put the Hitler mustache On your glee club picture, or you want the buck teeth On your glee club picture? Which one do you want? It don't matter to me either way. I'll put..." Azimio ranted.
"Hey, how do you spell "loser"? I'm gonna write it on his forehead," Karofsky said.
"His big ol' potato head. You could write a whole haiku on that thing," Azimio laughed.
Finn was so tired of all the bullying. Maybe the photo wasn't such a good idea after all.
x
Finn had skipped the photo and he was nervous about going to glee club the next day. He knew Rachel would be upset with him and she had a right to be. He was so annoyed at himself right now. Why was he so worried about what people thought all the time? Why was he defining himself by what people who didn't even like him thought? Karofsky and Azimio had never been his friends, even before Glee.
Nervously, Finn went into the room where Rachel was talking. "I'd like to call this meeting to order." She noticed Finn. "Oh, hello, Finn. How nice of you to show."
"Look, I'm sorry," Finn whispered. "The guys were harassing me in the locker room about it. They said that if I took the glee club photo, that they'd make me choose between an Hitler mustache or buck teeth, and I can't rock either of those looks. Do you think I have a potato head?"
Rachel ignored Finn and he felt worse. She turned back to talk to the rest of the group. "Okay, look, I realize now that all of you think that glee club is just a joke. Okay, and you're convinced that we can't win, and you're content to just sit idle by until Figgins cancels the club. Well, I'm about to present to you a rare opportunity. The opportunity to become stars."
"How?" Quinn asked.
"We've all been cast in a local commercial," Rachel said.
Finn couldn't believe it. "Are you serious?"
"Yes, Finn," Rachel said. "And while all of you have been so concerned with your appearance in this school, I've landed glee club its first big break. Simply put, making us all celebrities. Okay, and no one messes with celebrities or defaces their pictures."
"What's the commercial?" Tina asked.
"Hold on to your hats and get ready to sell... some mattresses!" Rachel said.
They were in a commercial? This was so cool. Rachel was so cool.
x
The next day, the glee club was at Mattress Land, dressed in blue pajamas, getting ready to shoot the commercial.
"I can't believe we're finally breaking into the biz!" Tina said.
"You guys, I want us to always remember this moment," Rachel said. "Soon, there may be agents and managers and movie deals, but right now I want us to remember what it feels like to be here together as a team." She couldn't believe they were going to be on TV.
"Whatever," Mercedes said. "Soon as I get my record deal, I'm not speaking to any of you." Rachel couldn't believe people thought she was the one who had an attitude problem.
The Mattress Land owner came over with the commercial director. "Okay, guys, we're very excited to have you here," the owner said. "We here at Mattress Land believe that mattresses aren't just for sleeping and fornicating anymore. We believe that buying an affordable mattress should be fun."
"All right, let's go over the script. I think it's pretty brilliant. I wrote it myself. Action!" the director said.
"Ah, me," Finn read.
"What's wrong?" Mercedes read.
"We just lost our jobs at the factory, and we can't get a good night's sleep," Puck read.
"Chipper up! Come on down to Mattress Land. We've got near-wholesale prices To fit your style and pocketbook," Rachel read. Then something came to mind. They should sing a song and perform for this commercial. "I'm sorry. Mr. Cusperberg. This script is brilliant, but we're a glee club, and we should perform."
"Perform the lines as I wrote them," the director said.
The owner looked like he liked Rachel's idea though. "Wait a minute, Dennis. What did you have in mind?"
"Well, we should sing a song, do a performance," Rachel said.
"Do you think you guys could put something together?" the director asked.
"Definitely!" Rachel said.
After a few hours, the number had been put together, and the commercial was filmed.
New Directions: ba, ba, ba, ba-ba, ba-da ba, ba-da-da, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba-da, ba, ba-da-da
Finn: I get up
and nothing gets me down
you got it tough
I've seen the toughest around
New Directions: ba, ba, ba-da
ba, ba, da-da
Rachel: and I know
baby, just how you feel
New Directions: ba, ba da-da
Finn and Rachel: you've got to roll with the punches
to get to what's real
New Directions: ba, ba, da-da
Artie: oh, can't you see me standing here
I got my back against the record machine
I ain't the worst that you've seen
Quinn, Tina & Mercedes: ain't the worst that you've seen
Artie: oh, can't you see what I mean?
Quinn, Tina & Mercedes: can't you see what I mean?
New Directions: might as well jump, jump!
ba, ba, ba
might as well jump
ba, ba, ba-da
ba, ba-da-da
New Directions: go ahead, jump, jump!
ba, ba, ba
go ahead and jump
ba, ba-da-da
Mercedes: jump...
New Directions: ba, ba, ba, ba-ba, ba-da
Mercedes: jump...
New Directions: might as well jump
might as well jump
ba, ba, da-da
go ahead and jump
go ahead and jump
ba, ba, da-da
jump, jump, jump
oh, oh, oh
Mercedes: yeah...
New Directions: ba-da, ba-ba-da-da
jump!
"Come on down to Mattress Land!" the owner called.
"Come on down to Mattress Land!" the New Directions shouted.
Rachel couldn't help but notice how much fun everyone was having and felt pretty good. She'd been the one to put this together. It almost made up for the real reason she now knew that they'd all voted for her - they didn't care about seeing a photo of her defaced.
x
The commercial success wasn't long lived though. It turned out that Mr. Schue had used one of the mattresses and he was being disqualified from Sectionals. The glee club would have to go without a leader, unless they found a replacement advisor. Now Rachel was feeling guilty. This was her fault. If she hadn't gotten them to do the commercial, Mr. Schue would be leading them to Sectionals.
"It's without me or not at all," Mr. Schue said. "Look, I was the one who slept on the mattress, which means I accepted them, not you. Which means I'm disqualified from competition, not you guys. We have worked too hard for you guys not to get your shot."
"We can't do this without you, Mr. Schue," Finn protested. "Hell, we probably can't do it with you."
"That's not true," Mr. Schue said. "You guys are good. You're really good. You did Jump for that commercial without me, right? Look, the best teachers don't give you the answers. They just point the way and let you make your own choices. Your own mistakes. That way you get all the glory. And you deserve it. Look, if... if you can't win without me there, then I haven't done my job."
"We're really sorry, Mr. Schue," Rachel managed to say. She was more sorry than she could say.
"I know. I want you guys to go get gussied up and take that glee club photo with pride. I want to see a smile on every one of your faces," Mr. Schue said.
x
Rachel could barely manage to smile in the photo. It was her fault they were going to Sectionals without a leader, and she knew it. After the photo was taken, she went to sit in her car. She was worried the glee club would dislike her even more than they already did. Did they have a chance at Sectionals without Mr. Schue?
Rachel heard a knock on the window of her car. She looked and saw Finn. "Hey," she managed to say.
"Hey," Finn said. "I thought I'd find you here."
Rachel gave Finn a small smile. "You know me pretty well." She unlocked the passenger door so Finn could sit next to her.
"I'm really sorry," Finn said. "I should have taken the picture with you."
"We all got a photo," Rachel said.
"I know but this would have just been you and me," Finn said. "I'm just so sick of the bullying. Why can't people just let us be?"
"I've wondered that my whole life," Rachel said. "I just wish things were easier, you know? And I feel horrible about Mr. Schue. This is all my fault."
"How is it your fault?" Finn asked.
"I'm the one who got the commercial," Rachel said. "If it wasn't for that, Mr. Schue wouldn't have had that mattress."
"This isn't your fault," Finn said. "It's Coach Sylvester's fault. She won't let us catch a break."
"Do people have to be complete bullies to stay on top?" Rachel asked.
"It sure feels like that here, doesn't it?" Finn said. "People like Coach Sylvester and Karofsky dominate and get everything they want, and nice people like you and me get all their crap."
Rachel sighed. "I just hope after we graduate, the real world isn't like this."
"So do I," Finn said. "I just really hope we can still do well at Sectionals. I've really been looking forward to it. I love singing with you."
"I love singing with you too," Rachel said. Her heart fluttered a little when Finn said that.
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