Hey guys! Thanks for the reviews on the last chapter. I really appreciate them. I have noticed that there have been fewer reviews lately, but I guess that's to be expected when Finchel's not part of the show anymore. I miss Finchel so much :( I didn't see Glee last night, but apparently Rachel talked about her love for Finn. Anyway, enjoy this chapter and review if I should keep going!
Chapter 11: Graduation 2013
The New Directions and alumni arrived back in Lima after Nationals. As they stood in the choir room to put the second place trophy in the cabinet, Finn was reminded of last year, when he and Rachel put the trophy in the case. This year, Blaine and Sam put the trophy in the case.
"It's shorter than last year's, but not as short as our trophy from junior year," Brittany said as the group looked at it.
"Thanks to those two!" Artie said, pointing at Finn and Rachel.
"Will everyone let that go already?" Finn said as everyone laughed.
"Second place is pretty awesome," Mr. Schue told the group. "Those of you who are graduating have a first place finish to remember. Underclassmen, you still have time to get one. When I started the glee club back when the current seniors were freshmen, I never would have imagined we would have placed in the top fifteen at Nationals three years in a row and the top two twice in a row."
The group cheered again as they went to go sit in familiar chairs.
"Those of you who were here last year know what happens this week," Mr. Schue said. "In a week, the Class of 2013 will have their graduation. Underclassmen, you guys put together a song to say goodbye to the seniors. Seniors, you put together a number to say goodbye to us. And since the alumni are back, if you want, you can do a song for the seniors as well."
"May I say something?" Brittany asked.
"Of course you can," Mr. Schue said.
"My parents talked to the school," Brittany said. "Even though I left before the school year is over, I'm still going to be part of the graduation ceremony."
The group applauded for Brittany as Blaine turned to her. "Would you like to sing in the senior song then?" Blaine asked Brittany.
"I'd love to," Brittany said.
"And Class of 2012, let's meet at my house today to put together a number for the seniors," Rachel said.
"Taking charge, are you?" Mercedes asked.
"Of course!" Rachel said.
"At least she's acting like Rachel again," Santana said.
x
The other alumni would be coming over that evening, but for now, Rachel wanted some time alone with Finn at her dads' house. Between Nationals and the trip to LA, she'd almost forgotten that she'd auditioned to be the understudy in Funny Girl and that she still hadn't heard back from the director. "Maybe they didn't like me again, so they just aren't calling me," Rachel told Finn.
"Rachel, don't be silly," Finn said. "Even if you don't get the understudy role, there will be other productions."
"I know," Rachel said. "I'm just glad that whatever life throws at me in New York, you'll be there."
"Of course," Finn said. "So will Kurt and Santana, and in the fall, Blaine, Sam, Artie and Tina will be there too."
"Yeah," Rachel said. "This time, there aren't going to be any breakups. You and I are staying together forever."
"Did you just propose to me?" Finn asked, laughing.
"That's your job," Rachel said as she kissed Finn.
"We just got back together," Finn pointed out.
"You're right," Rachel said. Then, her phone started vibrating. She knew this number. It was Rupert Campion. "Finn, it's him."
"Answer it!" Finn said, leaning toward Rachel and the phone.
Rachel knew she couldn't get out of answering the phone with Finn eagerly awaiting to hear what Rupert would have to say. "Hello?"
"Rachel, this is Rupert Campion from Funny Girl," Rupert said.
"Hi," Rachel said.
"Rachel, I wanted to let you know that we'd like you to be the understudy for Fanny Brice in this production," Rupert said.
She'd gotten the job as the understudy? Rachel smiled wide. "Wow."
"So, you know that means that you need to know all the lines and all the songs in case Marissa ever can't perform," Rupert said.
Rachel knew that. "I can do that."
"So I'll call you soon to let you know about the rehearsal schedule," Rupert said.
"That's great," Rachel said. "I promise you won't regret choosing me." As she hung up the phone, she turned to Finn. "Finn, I'm the understudy!"
"I'm so proud of you!" Finn said, giving Rachel a hug.
"Thank you!" Rachel said.
"So, when do you want to tell people?" Finn asked. He perked up and his smile got bigger. "Can I tell people?"
Rachel smiled. She had a feeling Finn was even more excited than she was. "Let's focus on graduation this week."
Finn pouted. "Okay."
Within a few minutes, Kurt, Santana, Mercedes, Quinn, Puck and Mike had all arrived at Rachel's house. Rachel wanted to tell her friends the news. She could tell Finn wanted to tell them too. But they couldn't tell them now. Right now, the eight graduates were sitting in Rachel's living room having snacks and talking. "At this time last year, we were choosing a song to say goodbye to the underclass members of New Directions," Rachel said.
"I think You Get What You Give was a good choice," Finn said.
"Well, you picked it!" Kurt said. "We sounded pretty great though."
"I liked the song the underclassmen did for us too," Finn said.
"So, what song do you guys think we should sing for the seniors?" Quinn asked.
"We should do Seasons of Love," Mercedes said.
"I can't believe the glee club hasn't done that song yet," Rachel said. She'd always liked that song.
"Yeah, I love that song," Kurt said.
"Well, I don't know that song, but if you three think it's good, it must be," Puck said.
"After they graduate, do you know who's going to be the leads of New Directions?" Mike asked Finn.
"I don't know," Finn said. "I'm sure whoever they pick will be amazing."
"You and Rachel did a great job," Kurt said. "And Blaine and Sam did a great job this year, too. I'm sure whoever gets it next year will be amazing, too."
"I do miss being in that choir room," Rachel thought out loud. "I mean, I do still get to sing at NYADA, and I'll get to sing once I start rehearsals, but we had something special, and we all had this special bond."
"Had?" Mercedes said. "We still have it."
"Yeah, we don't get to see each other as often, but we're still close," Quinn said.
"Right now it feels like no time has passed," Finn said. "And we'll have that forever."
Rachel gave Finn a kiss. "Let's decide who's singing which part of the song for tomorrow, shall we?"
x
"The Class of 2012 got together yesterday and we wanted to do something special for Artie, Blaine, Tina, Sam and Brittany," Rachel said in the choir room the next day. "A year has passed, but what we got in this room is still with us, and the experience, the camraderie and the support that New Directions provided for us are things that we'll always carry with us, and we know that's something you'll always carry with you as well."
She stepped back to stand next to Finn as the music began and the Class of 2012 all sang together for the first time in nearly a year.
New Directions alumni: Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty-five thousand moments so dear
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?
In daylights, in sunsets
In midnights, in cups of coffee
In inches, in miles
In laughter, in strife
Finn and Rachel: In five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure
A year in the life?
Mike: How about love?
How about love?
How about love?
New Directions alumni: Measure in love
Seasons of love
Rachel: Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
Santana: Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Journeys to plan
Mercedes: Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
Quinn: How do you measure
The life of a woman or a man?
Puck: In truths that she learned
Or in times that he cried
Finn: In bridges he burned
Or the way that she died!
New Directions alumni: It's time now
To sing out
Though the story never ends
Let's celebrate
Remember a year in the life of friends
Remember the love! (Kurt: Oh, you've got to, you've got to remember the love)
Remember the love! (Santana: Share love, give love, spread-ead love)
Measure in love! (Mercedes: Measure, measure your life in love, ooh)
Seasons of love
Seasons of love
Rachel: Measure your life, measure your life in love
The current members of New Directions applauded as the current seniors ran up to hug those who were in the place those who'd just sang were in last year. "That song was perfect," Tina whispered to Rachel.
"Well, you guys deserve something special," Rachel whispered back.
"Mr. Schue, the underclassmen have something prepared for the seniors, too," Marley said.
"That's great," Mr. Schue said. "The floor's yours."
It felt like last year as Rachel was sitting in the chairs of the choir room with Finn, Kurt, Blaine, Santana, Brittany, Quinn, Puck, Sam, Mercedes, Tina, Mike and Artie. The difference was that half the people at the front of the room hadn't been in the glee club last year.
"We wanted to thank all of you guys for being so amazing this year," Kitty said. "Of course Artie's the most amazing, but the rest of you are pretty amazing, too. If it wasn't for glee club, I'd probably still be the mean cheerio who looked down on everyone."
"We're really going to miss you guys," Ryder added. "So, this is for the five of you. Thank you for this year."
Ryder: I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
And each road leads you where you want to go,
And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
Jake: And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,
Marley: If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,
But more than anything, more than anything,
New Directions underclassmen: My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.
Marley: I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the place you left,
Unique: I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
And you help somebody every chance you get,
Kitty: Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
And you always give more than you take.
Marley, Kitty, Unique, Sugar and Kylie: But more than anything, yeah, and more than anything,
New Directions underclassmen: My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Jake, Ryder and Joe: Yeah, this, is my wish.
This is my wish
I hope you know somebody loves you
May all your dreams stay big
At the end of the song, the graduates and seniors applauded again as Mr. Schue came to the front of the room. "Sorry Mr. Schue, we'll have our song ready tomorrow," Sam said.
"I understand," Mr. Schue said. "I just want to say something. We're a team, but the team always has its leaders. For the first three years, the captains and leaders of this group were Finn and Rachel. This year, it was Blaine and Sam. I talked with all the seniors, and we've agreed that next year, we'd like to pass the roles to Ryder and Marley."
Although Rachel didn't know any of the remaining members well, from what Finn had told her, she was sure that this was the right choice. Everyone applauded as Ryder and Marley looked thrilled.
"Wow, thank you," Ryder said.
"I feel so honored," Marley said.
"You should be!" Rachel said. "It is an honor to be the leader of this group."
"You two are going to do a great job, I know it," Finn said.
"And we'll all be watching from New York as you lead the group to kick ass at the competitions!" Blaine said.
x
The next day, the seniors had their song prepared to say goodbye to the glee club. Today was the end of an era. This was the last glee club meeting which members at the first New Directions rehearsal were still going to still be members of the New Directions. The five members who would be graduating came to the front of the room. "We are glad that last year, the seniors didn't do this song," Tina said. "The five of us talked, and we thought this would be the perfect song to sing at our last official glee meeting."
Blaine: And so we talked all night about the rest of our lives
Where we're gonna be when we turn 25
Sam: I keep thinking times will never change
Keep on thinking things will always be the same
Artie: But when we leave this year we won't be coming back
No more hanging out cause we're on a different track
Tina: And if you got something that you need to say
You better say it right now cause you don't have another day
Brittany: Cause we're moving on and we can't slow down
These memories are playing like a film without sound
Blaine: And I keep thinking of that night in June
Sam: I didn't know much of love
Artie: But it came too soon
Tina: And there was me and you
Brittany: And then we got real blue
Blaine, Sam and Artie: Stay at home talking on the telephone
And we would get so excited and we'd get so scared
Tina and Brittany: Laughing at ourselves thinking life's not fair
And this is how it feels
New Directions Class of 2013: As we go on
We remember
All the times we
Had together
And as our lives change
Come whatever
We will still be
Friends Forever
Blaine: So if we get the big jobs
And we make the big money
When we look back now
Will our jokes still be funny?
Sam: Will we still remember everything we learned in school?
Still be trying to break every single rule
Artie: Will little brainy Bobby be the stockbroker man?
Can Heather find a job that won't interfere with her tan?
Tina: I keep, keep thinking that it's not goodbye
Keep on thinking it's a time to fly
Brittany: And this is how it feels
New Directions Class of 2013: As we go on
We remember
All the times we
Had together
And as our lives change
Come whatever
We will still be
Friends Forever
Brittany: La, la, la, la
Yeah, yeah, yeah
La, la, la, la
New Directions Class of 2013: We will still be friends forever
Blaine: Will we think about tomorrow like we think about now?
Can we survive it out there?
Can we make it somehow?
Sam: I guess I thought that this would never end
And suddenly it's like we're women and men
Artie: Will the past be a shadow that will follow us around?
Will these memories fade when I leave this town
Tina: I keep, keep thinking that it's not goodbye
Keep on thinking it's a time to fly
New Directions Class of 2013: As we go on
We remember
All the times we
Had together
And as our lives change
Come whatever
We will still be
Friends Forever
Everyone clapped at the end of the song, and the past and present members went up to form a big group hug. Then, like last year, Rachel, Finn, Kurt, Blaine, Sam, Mercedes, Tina, Mike, Artie, Brittany, Santana, Quinn and Puck went to sit down, leaving Ryder, Marley, Jake, Kitty, Kylie, Unique, Sugar and Joe at the front of the room.
x
Before graduation ceremony the next day, the original six glee girls were in the hall outside the auditorium, chatting as they waited for the graduates to go backstage and the audience to take their seats. "So, after tonight, all six of the original glee girls will officially be McKinley graduates," Rachel said. "I'm glad you're still going to be part of graduation, Brittany."
"Well, I have news for you guys," Brittany said. "I'm not going back to MIT."
"Why not?" Quinn asked.
"Well, I didn't enjoy it," Brittany said. "They expected too much of me and it was too much pressure. I also didn't really like math."
"So what are you doing?" Mercedes asked.
"I don't know," Brittany said.
"Why don't you come to New York with us?" Santana asked. "I originally didn't know what I was going to do there, and neither did Kurt, but we've both been doing well."
That made Rachel wonder what would happen with Santana, Dani and Brittany if Brittany came to New York.
"I'll think about that," Brittany said, smiling.
Becky Jackson came over. "Tina, Brittany, time to go line up."
"You guys have a great graduation," Rachel said, hugging Tina and Brittany. Then she smiled at Becky. "Congratulations on graduating, Becky."
"Thanks, Berry," Becky said before leaving with Tina and Brittany. Then Rachel, Mercedes, Santana and Quinn went to the auditorium to join Finn, Kurt, Mike and Puck. Rachel took a seat between Finn and Kurt.
Pomp and Circumstance began to play as the graduates processed in. After the speeches, the awarding of the diplomas began, and Artie was the first to get his diploma. Blaine came a few names later, and Kurt cheered so loudly, Rachel thought she would need earplugs. Rachel also couldn't help but notice that Mercedes was especially enthusiastic when Sam got his diploma and Mike got very excited when Tina got hers. It was also nice to finally see Brittany getting a diploma. Finally, when the last diploma was awarded, to Lauren Zizes, the Class of 2013 were declared official graduates of William McKinley High School. Finn leaned over to Rachel. "Remember last year when we made out on the graduation stage after we got our diplomas?"
"Of course!" Rachel said. "That was almost as great as our kiss at Nationals!"
Songs: Seasons of Love from Rent (performed by New Directions Class of 2012), My Wish by Rascall Flatts (performed by New Directions underclassmen) and Friends Forever by Vitamin C (performed by New Directions Class of 2013)
Chapter 12 preview: Finn and Blaine move to New York. (Since Artie, Sam and Tina have to live in dorms, they'll arrive in the fall.) Finn adjusts to life in a new city. Rachel tells people that she got the part and has a life changing encounter.
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