Chapter 21
A/N: I do not own anything from this story. All products belong to either Ryan Murphy or JK Rowling. The song belongs to Ryan Murphy I believe. Sorry if it's short. My stupid mind isn't exactly coming up with good stuff.
Oh! If anyone is reading this, could you answer the poll on my profile? Please and thank you!
Teddy sighed as he straightened the cap, perched on his blonde hair. This was the last time he'd ever be John Thomas.
"You okay spring load?" Santana asked. She'd been a little depressed over the week since Brittney wasn't graduating with the Seniors.
"A little bummed that I have to leave," Teddy told her. Looking at his watched, he sighed. "You ready?"
"I've been ready," Santana grinned. "Let's go. You've got a speech to give."
"WHAT!"
Teddy didn't know he'd have to give a speech. He despised talking in front of people. They judged him. He knew it.
"Apparent, McKinley always makes the exchange student say a few words at Graduation if they're seniors," Santana said as they got into Puck's car. Harry was already there with his family.
"Great," Teddy grumbled from the front seat but his mood picked up as Puck sped off. The run down apartment was already packed up and the stuff was put in the Potter vault. There was only one thing left to do.
0000
"….Thank you," Finn finished his valedictorian speech and sat down. Teddy was in shock the entire time. Finn had the highest GPA in the class? Kurt had told him one time that Finn cheated off of Brittney!
"Thank you Mr. Hudson," Figgins said with a smile. "Our last speaker, Mr. John Thomas, will say a few words before we hand out our diplomas!"
Teddy stood up and took a breath. He didn't know what the heck he was going to say but he was going to make it memorable.
"Thank you Principal Figgins," Teddy smiled and turned to the sea of people. "When I first came here from a private school in London, I was nervous. But here, I quickly found friends. Finn was the first senior I met my first day, and my luck didn't stop there. That day I met Santana, Brittney, and Kurt—people who I now consider to be my closest friends."
Teddy took a breath and wiped his sweaty brow on his hand. "I then met the rest of the Glee club and found them to be in a situation like I'd been in my old school. Right at the bottom of the social heap, if the slushies had anything to say about it. But they didn't let it get them down. They included me in the group, and for once I had friends."
Looking down, Teddy didn't know where to continue. It wasn't as if he'd rehearsed this speech after all.
"I hope the future's kind to all of you," he addressed all the seniors of McKinley, "especially my friends in Glee. Hey, It's our time now."
The Gleeks chuckled at the inside reference to Blaine's song from Nationals—everyone else looked clueless.
"Thank you," Teddy nodded and sat down to applause. Figgins stood up and the graduation began. One by one, students got up to accept a piece of paper, which would drastically change their lives forever.
"John Thomas," Figgins called and Teddy stood up, thankful for the opportunity to watch all of them go up. He could hear Lily cheering from the audience and shook his head fondly.
0000
"Settle down," Figgins said once the diplomas had been handed out. "Now, our Glee club would like to grace you all with a performance from their Regionals win last year!"
Teddy smirked; he knew what the song was. They'd only been practicing it all week after all. It'd been Santana's idea. The Gleeks unzipped their robes and got into position.
Rachel: Yeah you may think that I'm a zero
But hey, everyone you wanna be
Probably started off like me
You may say that I'm a freak show [Santana]:(I don't care)
But hey, give it just a little time
I bet you're gonna change your mind
All of the dirt you've been throwing my way
It ain't so hard to take
That's right (that's right)
'Cos I know one day you'll be screaming my name
And I'll just look away
That's right (that's right)
All: Just go ahead and hate on me and run your mouth
So everyone can hear
Hit me with the worst you got and knock me down
Baby I don't care
Keep it up and soon enough you'll figure out
You wanna be, you wanna be
A loser like me
A loser like me
Kurt: Push me up against the locker
And hey, all I do is shake it off
I'll get you back when I'm your boss
I'm not thinking 'bout you haters
'Cos hey, I could be a superstar
I'll see you when you wash my car
All of the dirt you've been throwing my way
It ain't so hard to take
That's right (that's right)
'Cos I know one day you'll be screaming my name
And I'll just look away
That's right (that's right)
All: Just go ahead and hate on me or run your mouth
So everyone can hear
Hit me with the worst you got and knock me down
Baby I don't care
Keep it up and soon enough you'll figure out
You wanna be, you wanna be
A loser like me
A loser like me
A loser like me
Hey you over there
Keep the "L" up, up in the air
Hey you over there
Keep the "L" up 'cos I don't care
You can throw your stick
And you can throw your stones
Like a rocket just watch me go
Yeah
L-O-S-E-R
I can only be who I are
Just go ahead and hate on me and run your mouth
So everyone can hear
Hit me with the worst you got and knock me down
Baby I don't care
Keep it up and soon enough you'll figure out
You wanna be, you wanna be
A loser like me
Just go ahead and hate on me and run your mouth
So everyone can hear
Hit me with the worst you got and knock me down
Baby I don't care
Keep it up and soon enough you'll figure out
You wanna be, you wanna be
A loser like me
A loser like me
A loser like me
A loser like me
A loser like me
The group bowed to the applause, and Teddy chuckled at the glares that were coming from a certain Rick the Stick's direction. All and all, not bad for a guy who'd have to leave.
000
"Party at my place," Finn said once the mob had cleared. "Come on. We've graduated!"
"No more pencils, no more books! No more teachers' dirty looks!" Puck chanted with Mike and Santana.
Teddy chuckled. "Sorry guys. Harry's got to go back to London tonight and….I'd said I'd go with them."
"So this is goodbye?" Rachel gasped. The mood turned somber. They knew they'd all have to say goodbye but they didn't realize it'd be so soon.
"Yeah, but thank you guys. For everything," Teddy said. "Finn, thanks for picking me up from the drugstore that one time even though we weren't exactly close friends. Puck, thanks for the rides to and from my place."
"No prob bro," Puck told him.
"Still…."
Teddy tossed the bag that had the rest of his 350,000 dollars at Puck. "For your pool cleaning business. I'd better be hearing the name Puckerman a lot when I'm home."
"DUDE!"
Ignoring Puck's outburst, Teddy turned to Santana. "I know, I know. We're allies. But here, even allies need a place to sleep too."
He handed over the key to the apartment to Santana as a silence fell over the group.
"The papers are already in your name," he told her. Santana couldn't respond, she was shocked.
"Rachel," he turned to the petite brunette, "you owe me ten bucks."
The group burst out into laughter, ending the tension that had surrounded them. Everyone gathered for a group hug and then threw their caps in the air in celebration.
"Ready?" Harry's soft voice asked from behind Teddy. Turning around, Teddy nodded. He hoped though, that he wouldn't have to vanish his friends' memories.
"Then let's get going," Ginny smiled. "It's a long flight to Heathrow after all."
Teddy nodded. "Sure thing Gin. Bye guys. Give New York hell for me Rachel, you too Kurt."
The two NYADA bound nodded with smiles on their faces. Turning to leave, Teddy sighed as Harry led him into a side ally.
"Apperation?"
"Portkey," Harry told him. "Ginny, you have it?"
"Right here dear," Ginny smiled. "We'll be just in time to watch Olive Wood graduate from Hogwarts."
"Wait, that's today!" Teddy asked, a nervous pit filling his stomach and his heart beating so quickly it might have jumped out of his chest.
"Yep," Lily nodded.
"Oh," Teddy mumbled and was quiet the rest of the ride. Even arriving at Godric's Hollow, he didn't say a word. He didn't know what to say. That he wasn't exactly thrilled to be going to a hostile area?
"Ted," Harry knocked on the door to Teddy's room but then came in before Teddy could say come in. "I think we need to talk."
Teddy shrugged, petting Moony absentmindedly.
"Why did you leave?" Harry asked, causing Teddy to freeze. "I want to know Ted. I know you could being seventeen but I think I'm owed an explanation about being worried for almost a year."