RPOV:
This was it. Graduation day. A dream come true. Why did I feel so empty?
When I was five, I found my daddy's old graduation cap in his closet. I spent four hours practicing a graduation speech for my dads, both of them clapping every single time I finished. When I was finally done, Daddy picked me up and told me that he couldn't wait to see the final product. He isn't here to see it today.
When I was ten, I "graduated" from elementary school. They had a silly little assembly for us and afterwards I cried because the hats were just paper and I didn't get to give a speech. Today I cry because I wish I could have that simple of a worry again.
When I was thirteen, I got my first slushie facial, courtesy Noah Puckerman. I counted up the days till graduation so that I could get out of this town and prove them all wrong, prove that I was special. Today, he's my best friend and I don't want to leave this town because it means leaving him and everything else that I've ever known.
When I was seventeen, we won nationals for glee club. When I was eighteen, we did it again. Standing there with my team, my family, I realized that there are more important things in life than being a star. Today I'll stand with my team one last time before heading off to become a star, and leaving that family behind for what feels like forever.
When I was eighteen, I was counting the last few days as a high-schooler, the last few days of slushie facials and of hanging out with my friends. I was both looking forward to and dreading graduation as the next step toward who I was meant to be. I was ready. I was waiting, and it was cruelly jerked away and replaced by nightmares and a hopeless painful world. Today I'm haunted by memories and covered by scars from those nightmares, and they threaten to pull me under.
Today my life will change forever, again, and I'm not sure I'm ready.
L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L
The morning of graduation was sunny and beautiful. Dad woke me up with my favorite breakfast; homemade waffles with strawberries and whipped cream on top. They were so covered by the toppings that it took me a second to notice the burnt edges of the waffles. Daddy was the cook, always.
Dad sat there as I ate, watching me carefully, as he had been for the past two weeks, as if I was going to disappear right before his eyes. Before I had to endure too much awkward conversation, the doorbell rang.
"That's Kurt!" I said quickly, jumping up to go answer the door as Noah stumbled down the stairs, still half asleep. He'd moved into our spare bedroom after we got out of the hospital. Dad knew he had nowhere else to go and I wasn't about to let him go anywhere else.
"Hey diva, ready for your beautification?" Kurt asked when I opened the door. I giggled softly.
"Sure thing Kurt." We walked into the kitchen where Noah was polishing off the rest of my waffles. I slapped the back of his head.
"Those were mine!"
"ury." He muttered with his mouth full. He swallowed quickly. "Sorry, Rach. Hey Kurt."
"Do you know how many calories are in that breakfast? Honestly Rachel, you're lucky he stole it!"
"Come on Kurt. We're going upstairs." I made a face at Noah as we walked out and he stuck his tongue out at me. Dad laughed at us.
When we got upstairs, Kurt pulled a tube of make-up out of his bag triumphantly.
"This is for dancers. It'll cover the scars perfectly." I smiled at him, glad that he realized how self-conscious I was about the ugly scars from the beatings.
He worked on my face first, and then pulled my hair up carefully. Then he held out the light pink halter dress I had picked out for under my gown. After I slipped into the dress, he rubbed the make-up on my arms and legs slowly, obviously trying not to make sudden movements. Then he gently covered the part of my back and neck that showed above the dress. I looked in the mirror.
"Perfect! Thanks Kurt!"
"No problem. Now I've just got to put the finishing touches on me."
"All right. I'm going to go down and force Noah to go get dressed. Ten bucks he hasn't moved from the table except to get more food."
When I went downstairs I found that sure enough, Noah hadn't left the kitchen. He was sitting there now with a plate of toast in front of him. I neatly snagged his last piece as he looked up at me in shock.
"Go get dressed lazy bones; we have to leave in twenty minutes."
He disappeared, grumbling on his way out. I sighed and settled down to eat the toast. Within ten minutes he was sauntering back into the kitchen. I squeaked involuntarily as I felt a nudge on my stomach.
"What's wrong?" Noah asked frantically.
"Nothing. Baby knows who just walked in the door." He smiled and knelt down next to me.
"Hi baby!" He said to my stomach. "You know how pretty your mommy looks today?" Standing up he kissed my cheek as Kurt walked into the kitchen.
"Ready guys?"
"I think we should be asking you that question." Noah commented.
"Whatever. Here Rach, you can put your sweater on now. He held out a white cardigan.
"Thanks." I slipped it over my arms, now that the makeup had dried. We all walked out the door, calling goodbye to my dad as we got in Kurt's car.
"Next stop: Graduation!" Kurt called out as he pulled out of the driveway.
L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L
Quinn walked up to the microphone looking a little bit nervous. I couldn't blame her. I was shaking from nerves myself. But I had to listen to her speech so I forced myself to calm down.
"When I started at McKinley High School all I cared about was being popular. I joined the Cheerios, I picked up the quarterback, and I was ruthless to those who could not help me succeed in my quest for popularity. I was shallow and a bitch. I had no clue what real friendship was. Sophomore year, I made a mistake. And it changed everything about my life, everything about me. I got kicked off the cheerios; instead of dishing out slushie facials I was receiving them. As a very wise friend of mine had told me, Glee club was all I had left. But that was ok. Somewhere between joining to spy for Coach Sylvester and keep my eyes on my boyfriend, and performing at Regionals just before giving birth, the glee club, these "losers" who I never would have looked at twice, became more than my best friends, they were my family. And that is the greatest gift I have ever been given. So I wish this for all of you in life, that you find someone, some people who become closer to you than a family. Because my true family is not biological, and they are the only reason I'm standing here today."
Everyone cheered as Quinn walked offstage. I gave her a hug quickly. It was my turn. She smiled at me encouragingly as I stepped up to the microphone. I looked out over the auditorium, finding Dad in the front and focusing on his face.
"I've always known that this is where I belong, on stage." There were a couple of theatrical groans and rolled eyes. "My goal in high school was always to do well and get out. I wanted to leave Lima, leave Ohio, as quickly as possible. I could never find a reason to stay. Unlike Quinn, I didn't have a major shift in my life at school. I started out a loser I ended as a loser. But I ended as a loser with friends. My motto for myself when I was younger was 'it's lonely at the top.' I set my sights so high for myself I never worried about the feelings of others; I'd convinced myself I didn't need anyone anyways. In this past year, so many people followed the phrase 'every man for himself' and I'll tell you, doing that would have been the end of me. I don't want to say something cheesy like you're all so special to me and I'll miss every one of you, because it's not true, there are people sitting in this auditorium who hate me, who would probably slushie me today. And I don't want to say that it was all worth it, that it somehow made my life better; all of the pain and suffering because it was not. But the lesson I'd like to share with all of you is that you need other people. I've learned that anything from slushie facials to starvation is more bearable when you have good true friends to share it with. And I am blessed to have so many good and true friends. I have a reason to care about others besides myself, because I know that others care about me. I have a reason not to just run from here and never look back; I have good memories and good friends here. So my cheesy statement that I'd like to share is that good friends, the best friends, never say goodbye, just see you soon. And in the words of Barbra Streisand, people who need people are the luckiest people in the world."
I stepped back from the microphone as the room erupted in applause many giving me a standing ovation. I could see Dad standing up, in the front, tears running down his face. Looking further back I saw a dark haired woman standing, when I saw the gold hair by her waist, I knew who it was. Shelby, with Beth. In the very back of the room I could just barely make out the silhouettes of two people, standing close together. Though I couldn't be absolutely positive I had a feeling I knew who it was and I couldn't have been happier. I walked off the stage as Principal Figgins came on. He thanked me and Quinn quickly and then began a speech about how he was proud of all of these students.
I got backstage and was met by numerous hugs from the glee club.
"That was great Rach!"
"Ok guys, we both need to change." Quinn said quickly. I smiled at the fact that she had waited for me.
We both changed into the dark jeans, bright t-shirts and black sweatshirts that were our costumes for this song. Looking in the mirror, we appeared to be dressed in all black. After pulling our hair up in ponytails, we quickly left the dressing room and waited backstage with the rest of the group. Mr. Schue came over to us.
"Ready guys?" We all nodded. "Perfect! Go ahead Rachel."
I walked on stage alone. When Principal Figgins had asked for a song that somehow related to the "tragedy" I knew the perfect one. I was glad the glee club had agreed so readily.
"Rachel, you have a song idea don't you?" Mr. Schuester asked.
"Yes I do. It's perfect for the subject and it has plenty of opportunities for all of our voices to shine."
"Rachel always has a song and it's always perfect. For her." Santana commented dryly.
"Well actually if Kurt, will help me, I think we can arrange it so that everyone will have a solo that fits their voice. It was originally sung by a bunch of different artists with many different styles so we'll find a fit for everyone." I retorted.
"Good." Mr. Schue responded. "If Rachel and Kurt will arrange it, I think we have our first song."
Of course that meant I was also elected to introduce the song.
"Facing difficult times it is easy to lose hope. However, we must remember to always dream of a better tomorrow. For a time, hope and dreams were the only things some of us had to hold on to. Hope, dreams, and the promise of someday being stronger, and being free. "I stepped back as the rest of the glee club filed in, forming a semicircle around me. Noah stepped forward to stand with me in the center and I nodded over at Brad who was waiting at the piano.
[All]
When I get older
I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom
Just like a wavin flag
[Noah]
Born from a throne
Older than Rome
But violent prone
Poor people zone
[Rachel]
But it's my home
All I have known
[Noah]
Where I got grown
but now it's gone
[Rachel]
Out of the darkness
in came the carnage
threatening my very survival
[Noah]
Fractured my streets
and broke all my dreams
[Finn]
Feels like defeat to wretched retreat
[Rachel, Finn, Noah]
So we strugglin'
[Noah]
Fighting to eat
[Rachel, Finn, Noah]
And we wonderin'
[Rachel]
If we'll be free
[Mercedes]
We cannot wait for some faithful day
it's too far away so right I'll say
[All]
When I get older
I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom
Just like a waving flag
And then it goes back And then it goes back And then it goes back
[Tina]
So many wars, settled in scores
[Artie]
All that we've been through
and now there is more
[Santana]
I hear them say love is the way
[Brittany]
Love is the answer that's what they say
[Quinn]
But we're not just dreamers
of broken down grievers
[Kurt]
A hand will reach us
And will not forsake us
[Mike]
This can't control us [Matt]no it can't hold us down
[Mike and matt]
We gon pick it up even though we still [all] struggling
[Kurt]
Au nom de la survie (In the name of survival)
[all]
and we wondering
[Kurt]
Battant pour nos vie (Fighting for our lives)
[All]
We patiently wait
for some other day
[Rachel and Noah]
thats too far away so right now we say
[All] When I get older
I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom
Just like a waving flag
And then it goes back And then it goes back And then it goes back
[Noah (rapping)]
Uhh – well alright
How come when the media stops covering
and there's a little help from the government
we forget about the people still struggling
and assume that its really all love again, nahh
see we don't have to wait for things to break apart
[Finn and Noah(rapping)] if you weren't involved before it's never too late to start
you probably think that it's too far to even have to care
well take a look at where you live what if it happened there?
you have to know the urge to make a change lies within
and we can be the reason that they see their flag rise again
[Rachel]
When I get older
I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom
[Rachel and Noah] Just like a wavin' flag
[Finn]
and then it goes back
[Artie]
and then it goes back
[Rachel]
Then it goes back
[All]
When I get older
I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom
Just like a waving flag
And then it goes back And then it goes back And then it goes back
We all pulled off the black sweatshirts to reveal the bright colors of our t-shirts.
When I get older
I will be stronger
They'll call me freedom
Just like a waving flag
And then it goes back And then it goes back And then it goes back
After we finished singing, I stood frozen next to Noah. The rest of the glee club closed in on us and we stood in a tight group as everyone cheered, this time the entire auditorium was on its feet.
We all went and slipped our caps and gowns on quickly then went to join the rest of the class. Principal Figgins began calling names and people moved toward the stage to receive their diplomas. There were only twelve names that I heard though.
"Artie Abrams
Rachel Berry
Brittany
Mike Chang
Tina Cohen-Chang
Quinn Fabray
Finn Hudson
Kurt Hummel
Mercedes Jones
Santana Lopez
Noah Puckerman
Matt Rutherford"
We all stood and cheered for each of our friends. When it had been my turn to walk across the stage, I was surprised at how good it actually felt. Receiving what Noah had once called 'a stupid piece of paper' actually felt like taking a huge step forward in my life.
"There are a few teachers who would like to share some words for the graduates." Principal Figgins announced." Mr. Schuester got up, walking backstage motioning for us to sit until he was done speaking. Of course Coach Sylvester went first.
"As I'm sure you all have kept up with every episode of Sue's Corner, you obviously know that I support euthanasia and the purification of our world. " I rolled my eyes; she was as crazy as ever. "What happened here, the event that so hugely impacted the lives of all of us in this room, was wrong and horrible. I am very impressed by the ability to survive and adapt that many students here have shown, it almost makes me wish that I'd had them on the Cheerios squad." With that, she stalked offstage. I guess that's the best we could ever get from her. Luckily Mr. Schue was next.
"When I formed New Directions four years ago, it was a ragtag bunch of misfits, and frankly, we sucked." We all laughed, the crystal clear memory of performances like 'Sit down, you're rocking the boat,' 'You're the One that I want,' and 'Push-it' coming to mind. "But over the year I watched them all grow together and become a team, a family. The next two years we just got better and I couldn't believe our success. Then that horrible tragedy happened, and I had the proudest moment of my life, when all ten of you chose to delay your graduations. Today, watching you perform and support each other, I couldn't be more glad. Some people have pitied me in the past because I don't have any children, but I have to laugh at that because I have 12. I couldn't love you more or be more proud of you if you were mine. I can't wait to see what amazing things you will accomplish because you are all going to go so far." Mr. Shue was sobbing openly as were the rest of us, well the girls and Kurt anyway. As the audience began to cheer, I took my place as captain and led them all on stage for a group hug. As I threw my arms around Mr. Schue he looked down at me smiling.
"I'm sorry I ever accused you of trying to ruin my career."
"I'm sorry I had to hurt you so many times." I shook my head mutely and hugged him tighter.
"Go get changed guys!" He told us quickly, going to sit down.
In the dressing room as I pulled on my red t-shirt and cardigan, I smiled at the chatter around me. My family.
We all stepped onstage for our final song, Finn stepped up to the microphone and Kurt, Mercedes, Tina, Artie and I turned around so that our backs were to the audience. I had been shocked by this song selection.
"Okay guys so we need a song to close with." Mr. Schue said.
"You have to ask? We're doing Don't Stop." Mercedes said confidently. Everyone else nodded and murmured their agreement.
"But just Rachel and Finn with the solos." Kurt said in a no questions manner. As Mr. Schue and I both looked at him with incredulous looks, the boy who had been almost as whiny as me about solos was turning down any chance for one?
"He's right." Mercedes added. "They started this all, they've been our leaders since the beginning, they deserve this." I threw my arms around her. "Whoa, chill out diva. Besides we're all getting solos in the other song right?" I nodded shakily.
"That was when they first actually became 'Finn and Rachel', they have to sing it" Tina added.
Everyone else had stated their agreement to the plan. I'd never felt more loved.
As I stood next to my friends I thought about how much had changed since we first sang this song, both for the good and the bad. Finn began introducing the song from the microphone.
"This was the first good song we ever sang as a glee club, the first time we worked together. Since then we've sung the song at Regionals, we won our first Nationals with it. It has a very special place in our hearts. It's the only song we could ever even think of ending our years together with. And we'd like to dedicate it to Mr. Schuester who made everything we did possible."
Da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da
Just a small town girl
livin´ in a lonely world
She took the midnight train goin´ anywhere
Just a city boy born and raised in South Detroit
He took the midnight train goin´ anywhere
A singer in a smoky room
The smell of wine and cheap perfume
For a smile they can share the night
It goes on and on and on and on
Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the nights
Streetlights people
Living just to find emotion
Hiding somewhere in the nights
Working hard to get my fill
Everybody wants a thrill
Payin´ anything to roll the dice
Just one more time
Some will win some will lose
Some are born to sing the blues
And now the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on
Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the nights
Streetlights people
Living just to find emotion
Hiding somewhere in the nights
Don't Stop!
We finished triumphantly. Our last song was perfect! We all hugged for the last time as all of the other graduates filed on stage. Then it was time. We all threw our caps up in the air and I laughed along with everyone else. Time to move on past this small town school, to bigger and better things.
A/N: AWWW yay graduation! I'm not sure the speeches all turned out the way I wanted, but the message got across.
The first song is called Wavin Flag, I highly suggest you youtube it, you will have to type in "young artists for Haiti" to get the correct version. It really fit perfectly I think. I changed a couple of parts from male to female(ie brittany's) just to get everyone a solo. But other than that, I honestly tried to match the voices, I think I did a pretty good job, especially with the girls. And Kurt had to do the French(14 minutes of celine dion?)
The second song, if you don't know what it is and who sings which parts, go kill yourself! Jk ( I had the original version[pilot] in mind, but if you insist on the much more mediocre version, feel free to pretend it's the regionals one.)
So I'm not going to be able to update tomorrow ….EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE, but Wednesday I will either be an updating machine, or really depressed because Puck was an idiot, so the chapter will have little to no Noah in it lol.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW! By the way, do you know who the mystery couple in the back was?
So? Thoughts? Suggestions? Rotten tomatoes? Let me know!