CHAPTER 29
After Rachel stormed out, everyone was slightly amused.
"Well, that was… disturbing." Mr. Schue said. "Bella, are you okay?"
Bella nodded.
"Yeah, fine." She said, resting her head against Finn's shoulder and leaning against him. Finn kissed her head gently.
"Okay. Who wants to sing next?"
Sam raised a hand.
"I'll go." He said. Mr. Schue nodded and walked to the front of the room. Sam walked to the front of the auditorium and stood by the mic. He started singing…
You gotta go and get angry at all of my honesty
You know I try but I don't do too well with apologies
I hope I don't run out of time. Could someone call a referee?
'Cause I just need one more shot at forgiveness
I know you know that I made those mistakes maybe once or twice
And by once or twice I mean maybe a couple of hundred times
So let me, oh, let me redeem, oh, redeem, oh, myself tonight
'Cause I just need one more shot at second chances
Yeah
Is it too late now to say sorry?
'Cause I'm missing more than just your body, oh
Is it too late now to say sorry?
Yeah, I know-oh-oh, that I let you down
Is it too late to say I'm sorry now?
I'm sorry, yeah
Sorry yeah
Sorry
Yeah, I know that I let you down
Is it too late to say I'm sorry now?
I'll take every single piece of the blame if you want me to
But you know that there is no innocent one in this game for two
I'll go, I'll go and then you go, you go out and spill the truth
Can we both say the words and forget this?
Yeah
Is it too late now to say sorry?
'Cause I'm missing more than just your body, oh
Is it too late now to say sorry?
Yeah, I know-oh-oh, that I let you down
Is it too late to say I'm sorry now?
I'm not just trying to get you back on me (oh, no, no)
'Cause I'm missing more than just your body (your body), oh
Is it too late now to say sorry?
Yeah, I know-oh-oh, that I let you down
Is it too late to say I'm sorry now?
I'm sorry, yeah
Sorry, oh
Sorry
Yeah, I know-oh-oh, that I let you down (let you down)
Is it too late to say I'm sorry now?
I'm sorry, yeah
Sorry, oh
Sorry
Yeah, I know-oh-oh, that I let you down (let you down)
Is it too late to say I'm sorry now?
Of course Sam had decided to sing a Justin Beiber song. Provided, it wasn't great, but it was traditional Sam. When he sat down, he received a couple of high fives and pats on the back but it was safe to say that he wasn't getting the solo. Next up was Artie, who went for a slightly more unorthodox approach. Contrasting his usual Classic Rock, Artie had decided to go with the Soft Pop song, Apologise by One Republic. Right before he started singing, Rachel sheepishly walked back into the room and slipped back into her seat, not saying anything but staring daggers at Finn and Bella.
I'm holding on your rope, got me ten feet off the ground
And I'm hearing what you say, but I just can't make a sound
You tell me that you need me then you go and cut me down, but wait
You tell me that you're sorry, didn't think I'd turn around, and say (that)
"It's too late to apologize (it's too late)."
I said, "It's too late to apologize (it's too late)."
I'd take another chance, take a fall, take a shot for you
And I need you like a heart needs a beat, but it's nothin' new (yeah)
I loved you with a fire red, now it's turning blue, and you say,
"Sorry," like the angel heaven let me think was you, but I'm afraid...
"It's too late to apologize (it's too late)."
I said, "It's too late to apologize (it's too late)."
"It's too late to apologize (it's too late)."
I said, "It's too late to apologize (it's too late)."
I said, "It's too late to apologize," yeah (too late)
I said, "It's too late to apologize," yeah (too late)
I'm holdin' on your rope, got me ten feet off the ground
To hear the actual song, click
watch?v=ZSM3w1v-A_Y&ab_channel=TimbalandVEVO
Or search, 'Apologise One Republic'
Artie did an incredible job for his song and was definitely the favourite up until this point. However, there was one person yet to perform and he was the favourite to win the whole thing.
"Finn, you want to perform now?" Mr. Schue asked. Finn nodded and stood up, grabbing his guitar and walking over to the front of the room.
"So, as you all know, I'm kinda famous for doing loads of dumb stunts and adrenaline junky activities that don't always end the way I wanted them to. But I don't regret any of them for a minute. I don't regret biking down a volcano in Hawaii and ending up fracturing my ankle. I don't regret jumping off a 4 story building and dislocating my shoulder. I don't regret any of it because if I don't try them now, I know I never will. I'm young, this is my time to do dumb shit. So that's really what I'm singing about…"
Finn was singing a song, originally a dance track called Young by a singer called Tulisa, but he was putting his own acoustic, soulful spin on it. He started strumming his guitar and began singing.
I said forgive us for what we have done
'cause we're young, we're young, we're young
I said forgive us for where we come done
'cause we're young, yeh
I've made a lot of mistakes in my past
But I refuse to live there, nah
I saw a lot of hearts break in the past
But I refuse to go there, agh
It hurts too much, I'm looking for a crutch
I'm looking for just any girl, just for a touch
I let my angst out, i let myself go
And when I let myself down I just swag it out
Uh, uh, baby girl I,d like to dance
Uh! But I'm just looking for a brief romance
What's wrong with that? I´m young, forgive me
I live fast, die a legend, Whitney
Oh, oh we're young, oh
Forgive us for what we have done
We're young, we're young, we're young
I said forgive us for what we have done
'cause we're young, we're young, we're young
Oh we're young, we're young, we're young
We're young, we're young, we're young
To hear the actual song, click:
watch?v=ZgVXyV_FgE&ab_channel=newcontrast
Or search 'Young James Arthur'
Finn nailed his audition number, absolutely flipping the original song on its head and writing his own, unique cover.
"Great job, Finn." Mr. Schue said, standing up. "Now, Coach Beiste, Ms. Pillsbury and I are going to take a bit of time to deliberate and we'll get back to you in about 5-10 minutes…"
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15 minutes later, the Glee club were called back to the auditorium and they all sat together, nervously awaiting the results. Finn could hear his phone buzzing in his pocket but he ignored it. This was much more important. Mr. Schue and the two other teachers eventually approached the stage, mini-whiteboards in their hands.
"Okay, guys. Each of us have written the singer we believe should solo for Regionals. If the score is 1-1-1, the three finalists will have to sing again sometime next week. Everyone understand?"
"Yes!" They all chanted nervously. Coach Beiste was the first to flip her whiteboard, revealing a word in block capitals…
FINN
Finn smiled faintly. He had 1/2 votes he needed to win. Now, just one more vote. One more and he would be leading the club he loved so much into battle in Regionals in two weeks time. Ms. Pillsbury was the next to flip her board, revealing the name of the person she believed was best suited to be the leader…
SANTANA
Santana and Finn nodded at each other in congratulations and nervousness. Somehow, against all odds, during Senior year, Santana and Finn had managed to resolve all of their differences and had become somewhat friends. However, given that the score was 1-1, the fate of the competition now lay in hands of Mr. Schue. He could vote for Finn and have Finn solo, vote for Santana and have Santana solo, or he could vote for someone else and have a three-way showdown in the final. He flipped his board…
FINN
After shaking hands with Santana out of respect, Finn let out a sigh of relief. He did it! He got the solo for Regionals! Bella squealed in delight as she saw the name on the board. Rachel's eyes flared with fury as she watched the happy couple hug and kiss. She needed to do something…
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That afternoon, Bella was standing at her locker, changing out her books, when she felt a sharp pull on her hair, pulling her away from the lockers and onto the floor. Rachel stood over her. Bella tried to scream but Rachel just kicked her in the stomach. She coughed and spluttered while gasping for air.
"Hey bitch." She snapped, looking at Bella with an inferno in her eyes.
"What do you want?" Bella stammered. She was scared and Rachel could see it.
"I want my boyfriend back. So you're going to break up with him and he'll come back to me and we'll own the Glee club together."
Bella's eyes filled with tears as her side seared in pain.
"Stop crying! Ugh you always cry!" Rachel exclaimed, kicking her again. Bella let out a sob before Rachel continued. "And if you don't break up with him, or you tell anyone about this… I'll make your life a living hell."
Bella looked up at Rachel's eyes. She was mad without power.
"You already do! I'll never break up with Finn, Never!"
Rachel went ballistic. She kicked Bella and punched her face. When she was done with Bella, Rachel just left her there, crying. At the end of the hallways she turned around and shouted "STOP CRYING!"
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"This is bullshit!" Finn muttered as he helped clean up a cut on Bella's knee that afternoon. He had gone looking for her when she didn't show up to his car as they were going home together and he nearly had a heart attack when he saw her lying there, shivering and spluttering in pain. He easily picked her up and carried up to his car, speeding home and treating her wounds there. Thankfully, Rachel was pretty weak so she didn't do much damage.
"Baby, calm down. It's okay. I'm okay." Bella reassured him. Finn growled.
"This has gone way too far!" He snapped. "I know I don't hit women but I swear… I want to sock her right in the face."
"Finn, I know you're not going to do that." Bella giggled. "But I'll tell you what, if I ever see her walking past, I'll make sure to stick my leg out and trip her up."
Finn chuckled and kissed her.
"Deal."
Suddenly, Finn's phone rang for the 6th time that afternoon. He stood up.
"Babe. I feel like I should take this. They've been calling me for practically the whole day. It's probably telemarketers, but can I…"
Bella nodded and Finn stood up, answering the phone.
"Ayo, wassup?" He said, slightly annoyed.
"Wassup? That's how you greet your old Lieutenant." Lieutenant Brandt's familiar drawl answered. Finn smirked.
"Hey, Lieutenant. What can I do for you?" Finn laughed. He could practically hear Lieutenant's grave tone over the phone. He could tell it wasn't good news.
"Um… Finn, there's no easy way to say this. Do you remember Clint Eastwood?"
Finn nodded.
"Yeah, dude saved my life and Bella's countless times over the summer. Is he… No! No, no, no!" Finn stammered as he put two and two together.
"Yes." Lieutenant replied. "Suicide. Last night…"