Hi. First, let me apologize for taking so long to update. Work has been pretty crazy lately, and I had a medical issue as well, and a family function this weekend... so sorry! Anyway, only one chapter left of my Season 6 :( The good news is that I'm planning my Season 7 :) You can ask questions about it at finchelseason5*dot*tumblr*dot*com. Hope you enjoy this chapter and review if I should keep going!
Chapter 30: Rise
Finn looked at the trophy in the cabinet, between the Sectionals and Regionals trophy. It was still hard to believe the glee club had done this well in his first year as a director. Of course, this week was a bit sad, since the seniors were graduating...
"Third place, huh?"
Finn turned and saw Collette. "Hello."
"So, you managed to lead the glee club to third place at Nationals," Collette said. "In your first year as a director."
Finn smiled with pride. "Yeah." Was she complimenting him? Had this helped her grow to respect him?
"Yeah, you tied for third place," Collette pointed out. "And the Boston Strong Singers, who you tied with at Regionals, beat you guys. And your two best singers are graduating..."
Finn knew that she was just bitter that since he'd gotten the team a third place finish at Nationals, whereas she'd never even gotten them to Regionals. "You can say what you want," Finn said. "Because it doesn't matter to me. We did well at Nationals. It was the best this glee club has ever done. And I'm going to work as hard as I can to consistently get high finishes at Nationals."
"We'll see," Collette said.
"You'll see," Finn countered. "I know."
The six seniors came into the choir room, and Finn was already feeling emotional. These had been the first six people in the glee club he'd met, and now they were graduating. Next year was definitely going to be different.
"Hey," Finn said. "Did you enjoy your week off?"
"Yeah, but we all hung out a lot," Mark said. "Just making the most of our time with the underclassmen before graduation."
"I know what that's like," Finn said. "And we do still have this week together. I'm really going to miss you guys."
"Hey, we'll all still be in the New York area for college, so we can come back to visit whenever," Miranda said. "I mean, Josh is going to Columbia, Caitlin's going to NYADA and the rest of us are going to SUNY."
"That's great," Finn said. "Plus I'll be seeing Josh all the time at Columbia." He looked at Caitlin. "I heard you found a roommate at NYADA, too."
"Yeah!" Caitlin said. "I friended Marley on Facebook after Nationals and she and I decided to room together. It'll be nice to not have to room with a musical theatre major, that way we won't be in competition with each other."
"We also put together our senior song this week," Scott said.
"You did?" Finn asked.
"Yeah," Bridget said. "We'll sing it for the underclassmen when they get here."
"I bet they'll like that," Finn said.
"You should also bring in your friends so we can see them before we graduate," Miranda said.
"Yeah, they were like your assistants this year," Bridget added.
"I can see about that," Finn said.
The underclassmen began to arrive, and once they all were there, Finn looked at the underclassmen. "Hey guys. The seniors have a message for you." He smiled at the seniors. "Take it away."
The seniors went to the front of the room. "This has been the best year so far," Josh said. "And it's because we had this glee club, and all of you."
"We know you guys can win Nationals for us next year," Caitlin said. "And we'll be there to see."
The underclassmen applauded as the music began.
Miranda: Look at what I'm given
This beautiful creation
This sweet intoxication
Something pure in my life
Bridget: Look at all these changes
Your the light that shines within me
And you'll be mine completely
There'll be no darkness left to view
Scott: I never knew this form of love existed, no
Deep inside of me is where it all begins
Choral Inspiration seniors: So hold me in your heart
Cause you'll have mine forever
Wait and lay inside my arms, I'll protect you for always
Never feel alone, for I'll always be with you
A home is where the heart is meant to be, mmm
You always have a home inside of me
Mark: And we will walk this road together
I'll shelter you from burdens
Just lean your weight on me
And stops me bridge the distance
Josh: You will always have a home here
Right here inside my arms
There is a love waiting just for you
Choral Inspiration seniors: I never knew this love form of love existed, oh no
A world away from love that I've ever known
So hold me in your heart
Cause you'll have mine forever
Wait and lay inside my arms, I'll protect you for always
Never feel alone, for I'll always be with you
A home is where the heart is meant to be, mmm
You'll always have a home inside of me
Caitlin: No matter where the journey leads you
If your path leads to some place new
You'll always have a home in this heart of mine, ohhh, mine
Choral Inspiration seniors: So hold me in your heart
Cause you'll have mine forever
Wait and lay inside my arms, I'll protect you for always
Never feel alone, for I'll always be with you
A home is where the heart is meant to be
And you'll always have a home inside of me
This was likely the last song these seniors would ever perform in the glee club. Finn now knew how Mr. Schue felt when he and his friends graduated. He would miss these kids next year.
x
"Look who's home!" Rachel said when Finn arrived.
"Hey!" Finn said. He noticed Rachel was working on something with Quinn, Santana, Mercedes and Tina. "Quinn, what are you doing here?"
"I'm getting some help from my bridesmaids for the wedding," Quinn said. "Just getting some decorations picked out."
"Very nice," Finn said, looking at some of the decorations the girls had circled.
"We also had our final fittings for our dresses today," Santana said.
"How's Rachel look in hers?" Finn asked.
"Finn, do you really expect us to answer that?" Mercedes asked.
"I guess not," Finn said. "Is Puck here, too?"
"Yeah, he's down the hall with the other guys," Tina said.
"So how was glee club today?" Rachel asked.
"It was good," Finn said. "I'm going to miss the seniors a lot."
"I bet," Rachel said. "But hey, Josh is going to be at Columbia with you."
"I know," Finn said. "And I'm looking forward to it. The seniors were actually hoping for a visit from the New Directions alumni before they graduate."
"I bet we could work something out," Rachel said.
x
The next day, Finn brought his fellow New Directions alumni with him to glee club so they could sing to the seniors. However, the underclassmen were performing first, so he sat with his friends to watch them perform. Next year, this would be the glee club, and he had a good feeling about it.
Carley: And it's a sad picture, the final blow hits you
Somebody else gets what you wanted again and
You know it's all the same, another time and place
Eva: Repeating history and you're getting sick of it
But I believe in whatever you do
And I'll do anything to see it through
Choral Inspiration underclassmen: Because these things will change
Can you feel it now?
These walls that they put up to hold us back will fall down
This revolution, the time will come
For us to finally win
And we'll sing hallelujah, we'll sing hallelujah
Garrett: So we've been outnumbered
Raided and now cornered
It's hard to fight when the fight ain't fair
We're getting stronger now
Find things they never found
They might be bigger
But we're faster and never scared
Brandon: You can walk away, say we don't need this
But there's something in your eyes
Says we can beat this
Choral Inspiration underclassmen: Because these things will change
Can you feel it now?
These walls that they put up to hold us back will fall down
This revolution, the time will come
For us to finally win
And we'll sing hallelujah, well sing hallelujah
Tonight we stand, get off our knees
Fight for what we've worked for all these years
And the battle was long, it's the fight of our lives
But we'll stand up champions tonight
It was the night things changed
Can you see it now?
These walls that they put up to hold us back fell down
It's a revolution, throw your hands up
Cause we never gave in
And we sang hallelujah, we sang hallelujah
Hallelujah
At the end of the underclassmen's song, the seniors applauded. "Well, we don't have anything to worry about!" Mark commented.
"Yeah, you guys are going to do great," Scott added.
"Yes they will," Finn added. "And now, your director and your mentors would like to sing for you." They had decided to sing a song that Blaine had written for a songwriting class at NYADA that had never been performed publicly before, but they thought it would be a good one to perform.
Finn: Have you ever felt like you woke up
Finn and Rachel: On the wrong side of your heart
Finn: Has it ever felt like it's broken
Finn and Rachel: Like the world tore it apart
Blaine: Have you felt so weak,
You could hardly stand
Blaine and Kurt: Like if you ever fell
You could never tell
If you'd ever get back up again
Santana: I know it's hard to do,
But I think you can make it,
Cause I know we can take it
New Directions: Baby we will rise
We are young we are the dreamers we will fly
When the world will not believe us,
We will rise above the ashes
Before this whole life passes us by
You and I, we will rise
Sam: It's difficult to try to stay awake
Sam and Mercedes: When you walk a tired path
Sam: And there are moments when it's easier to take
Sam and Mercedes: The road that leads you back
Artie: I'm not the first to say it,
And I won't be the last,
But I want to remind you,
Tina: I'm there it's time to hold on
You're stronger than that
Rachel: But when it gets too tough to
Find my way home
Kurt: And I'm stupid enough to
Try and find it alone
Puck: When it feels like there is nothing I can do
Quinn: There's nothing I can do
Puck: But give up
Finn: I look up, thank God I have you to tell me
I know it's hard to do,
But I think you can make it
Blaine: Cause I know we can take it,
Yeah baby we will
New Directions alumni: Rise
We are young we are the dreamers we will fly
When the world will not believe us,
We will rise above the ashes
Before this whole life passes us by
You and I, we will rise
Oooooh, Ooooh, Oh
La la la la la la la la
Oh we will...
We will rise!
Rise
We are young we are the dreamers we will fly (Mercedes: We are the dreamers!)
When the world will not believe us, (Santana: Woah oh oh!)
We will rise above the ashes
Before this whole life passes us by
You and I, we will rise
We are young (Rachel: Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah yeah)
We are the dreamers we will fly
(Kurt: Woah yeah!) When the world will not believe us,
We will rise above the ashes
Before this short life passes us by
You and I
We will rise
We will rise
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
We will rise
We will rise!
We will rise above the ashes
Before this whole life passes us by
You and I, we will rise
"Wow, that's a good song," Josh said at the end of the performance. "I'd never heard it before."
"That's because Blaine wrote it," Kurt said proudly.
"You did?" Miranda asked. "It's really good."
"I'm glad you guys could come see us before we graduate," Caitlin said.
"Of course we came," Rachel said. "We loved working with you this year."
x
"Thanks for letting us perform with you guys, even though we didn't spend as much time with them," Puck said as the group of New Directions alumni left the high school.
"Of course," Finn said. "I always love getting to perform with you guys."
"Well, I hope all of you have picked out songs to sing at our wedding reception," Quinn said. "We want top notch entertainment."
"Who would say no to a Finchel duet?" Rachel asked, hugging Finn.
"So, you and the girls picked out decorations yesterday?" Puck asked Quinn.
"Yeah, and we got your sister, Quinn's sister and Brittany to approve them," Mercedes said.
"How's planning of the bachelor party going?" Puck asked.
"We've been communicating with Jake and Mike," Artie said. "We have some plans."
"No strippers," Finn pointed out.
"There's only one girl I want to watch do that now," Puck said, putting his arm around Quinn.
"Good," Quinn said. "What do you girls have in mind for my bachelorette party?"
"It's a surprise!" Santana said. "We bet you'll love it though."
"Beth's so excited for your wedding," Rachel told Puck and Quinn. "She loves being a flower girl."
"When do you think Shelby will let us tell her?" Puck asked.
"I don't know," Rachel said. "I hope soon."
SONGS: Home by Scott Alan (performed by Choral Inspiration seniors), Change by Taylor Swift (performed by Choral Inspiration underclassmen), and Rise by Darren Criss (performed by New Directions alumni)
Chapter 31 preview: Puck and Quinn's wedding!
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