-Chapter 44-

-Rachel pov-

It has been a month since regionals. The school has been moderately accepting of us. Donna even is my new babysitter at school! She has been so much fun!

Right now we are having a fundraiser concert. Mom and Holly figured it would be best to get the money this way. We all have had fun setting things up. I have even made friends with sunshine!

"Rachel!" I jump and turn to see Mercedes look mad "I will not take a middle spot! I deserve to be up there on the stage! I thought you finally stopped being selfish!"

"You last" I smile as I feel myself shrinking down "I fine"

"Wait so who set up you to be last?" I just stare up at her as I tip over and suck my thumb "I have to go figure this out"

"She's rude" I turn toward Amelia and Beth "Now come over and let's make Donna angry!"

"Viva La baby revolution!"

-Mercedes pov-

"You ever wonder what they talk about?" I nod as Donna walks over to them "I wish Rachel would tell us"

I nod again and leave them room. Sunshine is about to go up and I want to know my answer. Who tried to stick Rachel as the main event? She truly seemed fine with me doing it.

I see Shelby in a heated discussion with Santana. I slowly make my way over. They look ready to throw fists. I get closer and finally hear the argument.

"She wanted this Shelby!" Santana is pretty much growling out the words "She would have told us if she did not!"

"She talked to me and asked Mercedes to have the final part!" Shelby turns and see me "Eavesdropping is not a very becoming trait for anyone Mercedes"

"I just wanted to know why Rachel got scribbled onto the list" Shelby glares at a huffing Santana "So am I still the finale?"

"Yes" Shelby looks at her watch and walks away "I have to make sure this show goes well!"

She disappears and I turn to Santana "Why do you still hate me?" She does not look at me or respond "I thought we were the closest!"

"I will do anything get to get my mate to her dream" Santana walks away from me "Enjoy your damn solo Mercedes"

"I will" I sigh and shake my head "This is going to begin a long and windy road"

-Shelby pov-

I walk to the opening and see sunshine walk out. Rachel is the reason she is here. Rachel really helped a lot setting this up. I hope she is enjoying time with the kids.

(Lyrics from genius)

[SUNSHINE]

When I was young

I never needed anyone

And makin' love was just for fun

Those days are gone

Livin' alone

I think of all the friends I've known

But when I dial the telephone

Nobody's home

All by myself

Don't wanna be all by myself

Anymore

Hard to be sure

Sometimes, I feel so insecure

And love so distant and obscure

Remains the cure

All by myself

Don't wanna be all by myself

Anymore

All by myself

Don't wanna live all by myself

Anymore

All by myself

Don't wanna be all by myself

Anymore

All by myself

Don't wanna live

Whoa

Oh

Don't wanna live by myself

By myself

Anymore

By myself

Anymore

Whoa

The crowd applauds as she takes a bow. I see some people drop money in the baskets. The decathlon team and the club will hopefully get enough money. Tina is up next!

(Lyrics from genius)

[TINA]

Oh I beg you

Can I follow?

Oh I ask you

Why not always

Be the ocean where I unravel?

Be my only, be the water where I'm wading

You're my river running high, run deep run wild

I, I follow

I follow you deep sea baby

I follow you I, I follow

I follow you, dark doom honey

I follow you

He a message

I'm the runner

He the rebel

I'm the daughter waiting for you

You're my river running high, running deep run wild

I, I follow

I follow you deep sea baby I follow you I, I follow

I follow you, dark doom honey I follow you

Oh, oh, ooh, oh oh oh, ooh

Oh, oh, ooh, oh oh oh, ooh

Oh, oh, ooh, oh oh oh, ooh

Oh, oh, ooh, oh oh oh, ooh

You're my river running high, run deep run wild

I, I follow, I follow you deep sea baby

I follow you

I, I follow

I follow you, dark doom honey

I follow you I

I follow

I follow you deep sea baby

I follow you I

I follow

I follow you, dark doom honey

I follow you

Oh, oh, ooh, oh oh oh, ooh

Oh, oh, ooh, oh oh oh, ooh

Oh, oh, ooh, oh oh oh, ooh

Oh, oh, ooh, oh oh oh, ooh

More people donate money and I can see Tina smile. We are slowly getting stuff done. Holly is up next and I pull up the green room screen. How are the kids doing?

I watch in horror as Donna is tied up and the kids are running amuck. I quickly turn off the screen and turn back to the stage. If I do not see the problem it does not exists. I smile as the audience seems to be ready for Holly to sing.

(Lyrics from genius)

[HOLLY]

Close enough to start a war

All that I have is on the floor

God only knows what we're fighting for

All that I say, you always say more

I can't keep up with your turning tables

Under your thumb, I can't breathe...

So I won't let you close enough to hurt me

No, I won't ask you, you to just desert me

I can't give you what you think you gave me

It's time to say goodbye to turning tables

To turning tables

Under haunted skies I see you

Oooh, where love is lost, your ghost is found

I braved a hundred storms to leave you

As hard as you try, no, I will never be knocked down

I can't keep up with your turning tables

Under your thumb, I can't breathe...

So I won't let you close enough to hurt me

No, I won't ask you, you to just desert me

I can't give you what you think you gave me

It's time to say goodbye to turning tables

To turning tables

Next time I'll be braver, I'll be my own saviour

When the thunder calls for me

Next time I'll be braver, I'll be my own saviour

Standing on my own two feet

I won't let you close enough to hurt me

No, I won't ask you, you to just desert me

I can't give you what you think you gave me

It's time to say goodbye to turning tables

To turning tables

Turning tables, yeah

Turning, yeah...

Everyone applauds and I can see they are enjoying this. Holly comes over to me and we share a hug. I hear a grow and roll my eyes at Maribel. Holly goes over and scratches her head.

"There has been a lot of money raised" I smile as Fran comes over "The green room seems to be silent"

"Yeaahhh" I turn as the music starts "We may need an ambulance for in there"

(Lyrics from genius)

[MERCEDES]

Ain't no way for me to love you

If you won't let me

It ain't no way for me to give you all you need

If you won't let me give all of me

I know that a woman's duty is to help and love a man

And that's the way it was planned

Oh, but how can I, how can I, how can I

Give you all of the things I can

If you're tying both of my hands?

[MERCEDES & (THE CHOIR)]

Oh, it ain't no way (Ain't no way)

It ain't no way (Ain't no way)

It just ain't no way, baby (Ain't no way)

Ain't no way baby (Ain't no way)

It ain't no way for me to love you

[MERCEDES with the Choir harmonizing (MERCEDES)]

If you won't let me

(Stop trying to be someone you're not)

How cold and cruel is a man

[MERCEDES & (THE CHOIR)]

Who pay too much for what he got?

And if you need me (Oh-oh-oh) to love you, (Say) say, (Say) say you do (You do)

Oh, then (Baby) baby, baby, baby don't you know that

I (Don't you)

Need (Know that)

You (I need you)

Oh, oh, it ain't no way (Ain't no way)

I'll tell you that it ain't no way

It ain't no way

It ain't no way, baby, (Ain't no way)

No

It just ain't no way (Ain't no way)

It sure ain't no way (Ain't no way)

It ain't no way for me to love you

If you won't let me

Everyone applauds and I make my way out. Mercedes takes a bow and walks off stage. Everyone has smiles on their faces. We pulled off a great concert.

"Thank you all for coming out and enjoying this show!" They applaud and I smile "Thank you all for you donations too! They will help the club and the school's decathlon team! We appreciate you coming and please have a safe ride home!"

The lights come on and I make my way to the green room. I see everyone standing in the doorway. I walk to where I can see inside. I sigh as I see the mess.

"They just attacked me" Donna looks like she has been traumatized "They are evil! It was all the blonde one! She leads them!"

"I wish I could say that was not true" I walk in and grab Beth "You are getting punished at home..for now let's just leave this for the janitors"

Everyone nods and we quickly get out of the building. Today went very well. This past moments has been great. Next up is nationals on New York.

We have a long road to gettin there though. I just hope it stays as uphill as this month as been. But every high eventually has a low.