-Chapter 40-

-Shelby pov-

We are going to be setting up our regionals set list right now. I have two group numbers set by the kids. I just really want to pop with the next number. There is a knock on my door though and I look up to see Judy with Maribel there.

"Hey girls" They walk in and more of the girls follow after "Uhh...what is happening?"

"We need to talk" I look around and see the expressions on their faces "Just listen to us and try to hear out what each of us have to say before speaking"

"Alright" This must be serious "Let's talk"

-Time skip-Rachel pov-

"Yeah I think one of these could work" I look between the sheet music Mercedes has out on the piano "Try the left one first"

I nod and pick up the sheet.

-Rachel singing-

After all you put me through

You'd think I'd despise you

But in the end, I wanna thank you

'Cause you made me that much stronger

Well, I thought I knew you

Thinkin' that you were true

Guess I, I couldn't trust, called your bluff

Time is up 'cause I've had enough

You were there by my side

Always down for the ride

But your joy ride just came down in flames

'Cause your greed sold me out in shame, mhm

After all of the stealing and cheating

You probably think that I hold resentment for you

But uh-uh, oh no, you're wrong

'Cause if it wasn't for all that you tried to do

I wouldn't know just how capable

I am to pull through

So I wanna say thank you, 'cause it

Makes me that much stronger

Makes me work a little bit harder

Makes me that much wiser

So thanks for making me a fighter

Made me learn a little bit faster

Made my skin a little bit thicker

Makes me that much smarter

So thanks for making me a fighter

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh-oh, yeah, yeah, ohh

Never saw it coming

All of your backstabbing

Just so you could cash in on a good thing

Before I realized your game

I heard you're goin' 'round

Playin' the victim now

But don't even begin feeling I'm the one to blame

'Cause you dug your own grave

After all of the fights and the lies

Guess you're wanting to hold me

But that won't work anymore (No more, a-ha, it's over)

'Cause if it wasn't for all of your torture

I wouldn't know how to be this way now and never back down

So I wanna say thank you, 'cause it

Makes me that much stronger

Makes me work a little bit harder

It makes me that much wiser

So thanks for making me a fighter

Made me learn a little bit faster

Made my skin a little bit thicker

Makes me that much smarter

So thanks for making me a fighter

How could this man I thought I knew

Turn out to be unjust, so cruel?

Could only see the good in you

Pretended not to see the truth

You tried to hide your lies, disguise yourself

Through living in denial

But in the end you'll see, you won't stop me

I am a fighter and I (I'm a fighter)

I ain't gon' stop (I ain't gonna stop)

There is no turning back

I've had enough

Makes me that much stronger

Makes me work a little bit harder (Yeah)

It makes me that much wiser (Oh yeah)

So thanks for making me a fighter

Made me learn a little bit faster (Yeah)

Made my skin a little bit thicker (Yeah, yeah, yeah)

Makes me that much smarter (Yeah)

So thanks for making me a fighter (Fighter)

You thought I would forget but I, I remembered (Ooh-ooh-ooh)

'Cause I remembered (Ooh-ooh-ooh)

I remembered

You thought I would forget (Ooh-ooh)

I remembered (Ooh-ooh)

'Cause I remembered (Ooh)

I remembered

Makes me that much stronger (Ooh-ooh)

Makes me work a little bit harder (Ooh-ooh)

It makes me that much wiser

So thanks for making me a fighter

Made me learn a little bit faster

Made my skin a little bit thicker

Makes me that much smarter

So thanks for making me a fighter

"Nah" Mercedes hands me the other music sheet "We need to keep you in your lane and that was too far out"

"I wish I could disagree" I look at the next song and smile "This could be much better!"

(Lyrics from genius)

[RACHEL]

We could just go home right now

Or maybe we could stick around

For just one more drink, oh yeah

Get another bottle out

Let's shoot the breeze

Sit back down

For just one more drink, oh yeah

Here's to us

Here's to love

All the times

That we messed up

Here's to you

Fill the glass

Cause the last few days

Have gone too fast

So lets give 'em hell

Wish everybody well

Here's to us

Here's to us

We stuck it out this far together

Put our dreams through the shredder

Let's toast cause things got better

And everything could change like that

And all these years go by so fast

But nothing lasts forever

[RACHEL with TROUBLE TONES GIRLS]

Here's to us

Here's to love

All the times

That we messed up

Here's to you

Fill the glass

[RACHEL]

'Cause the last few nights

Have gone too fast

[RACHEL with TROUBLE TONES GIRLS]

If they give you hell

Tell em to forget themselves

Here's to us

Here's to us

[RACHEL with TROUBLE TONES BOYS harmonizing]

Here's to all that we kissed

And to all that we missed

To the biggest mistakes

That we just wouldn't trade

[RACHEL with TROUBLE TONES GIRLS]

To us breaking up

Without us breaking down

To whatever's comin' our way

[RACHEL]

Here's to us

Here's to us!

[TROUBLE TONES GIRLS]

Here's to us

Here's to love

All the times

That we messed up

[RACHEL with TROUBLE TONES GIRLS]

Here's to you

Fill the glass

[RACHEL]

'Cause the last few days

Have gone too fast

[RACHEL with TROUBLE TONES GIRLS]

So let's give em hell

Wish everybody well

[RACHEL]

Well!

[TROUBLE TONES GIRLS]

Here's to us

Here's to love

[RACHEL with TROUBLE TONES GIRLS]

All the times

That we messed up

Here's to you

Fill the glass

Cause the last few nights

Have gone too fast

If they give you hell

Tell em forget themselves

[RACHEL]

Here's to us

[TROUBLE TONES GIRLS]

Here's to us

[RACHEL]

Oh here's to us

[TROUBLE TONES GIRLS]

Here's to us

[RACHEL with TROUBLE TONES GIRLS, & (TROUBLE TONES)]

Here's to us

Here's to love

(Here's to us)

[RACHEL]

Wish everybody well

[RACHEL with TROUBLE TONES GIRLS]

Here's to us

Here's to love

Here's to us

[RACHEL]

Here's to us

"That was much better! I can already imagine the back up and harmonies!" Mercedes nods and then looks up confused "Uh hey! I thought you all were busy"

"We need to talk" I turn when I hear the tone "It is important"

"Are you all leaving me?" I can feel the anxiety rising but try to keep calm "I am fine if you are! I just need to know who and I would love to know why if able"

"That's not exactly what this is" I gulp as they come onto the stage "We seem to have forgotten something very important"

"Well I am sure it is fine" My anxiety is peeking "I think I need to go take a walk"

"Hang on!" I turn and see the club pushing a cart with a cake on it "We all forgot and we are sorry"

"Forgot what?" I walk over and my heart melts "I...I forgot it was my birthday already"

"It has passed but we are hoping you can forgive us?" I nod and wipe my tears "Vegan cake and chocolate cake! Vegan Ice cream as well!"

"Thank you" I let go a watery smile "Thank you so much"

"No more tears!" Noah pulls out confetti poppers and pops them "HAPPY TIMES!"

I laugh and we start the party. The cheerios join and get a cheat day on their diet. Sue has been letting them go on better restrictions. It has been nice to see her human side.

I can not wait for what comes next for us all.