A Finchel Season 5 Chapter 46: The Last Regionals?, a glee fanfic

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Chapter 46: The Last Regionals?

"Hold on," Mercedes said on the phone. "What the hell do you mean Mr. Schue might be leaving McKinley?"

"I mean what it sounds like," Rachel told Mercedes on the phone. "Mr. Schue told Kurt's dad that he got a job offer from a performing arts high school in LA and he might take it."

"But what about the glee club?" Mercedes asked.

"That's what we're all wondering," Rachel said.

"If it wasn't for glee club, I probably wouldn't have gottten the courage to follow my dreams in LA," Mercedes said.

"I wouldn't be an understudy on Broadway if it wasn't for Mr. Schue," Rachel said. "My MySpace videos weren't doing much for me."

"Well, I am in LA," Mercedes said. "I could go visit this school and see what it's like."

"Yeah, that sounds good," Rachel said. "Call me after you visit it and tell me if you think Mr. Schue would be happier there. If you don't think he would, that would be an easy way to convince him to stay."

"Of course I will," Mercedes said. "Tell everyone I said hi."

"I will," Rachel said.

"Rachel, before you go - how's Sam?" Mercedes asked.

"Sam's doing fine," Rachel said. "He's been doing pretty well in school and he seems to like New York."

"I miss him," Mercedes admitted.

Rachel didn't know what to say. She knew Sam was with Tina, but whenever someone brought up Mercedes, he did get a little spark. "I'll tell him."

"Thanks Rachel," Mercedes said. "Hopefully I'll see you soon."

"I'd love that," Rachel said. She hung up the phone and went back to the living room, where the rest of the alumni from New Directions who lived in New York were gathered. "I just talked to Mercedes. She said she'll go to the school and try to get an idea of what it's like and then get back to us. She's definitely in for saving the glee club."

"So is Mike," Artie said.

"Yeah, I talked to Puck and he and Quinn are willing to help us in any way," Finn added.

"Brittany wants to make sure that the glee club gets saved too," Santana said. "Since she's at University of Lima, she said she'll go to Regionals."

"That's great," Rachel said.

"We shouldn't tell any of the current New Directions members, though," Blaine said. "At least not yet. They have Regionals coming up and they need to win it."

"I agree," Finn said. "They need to be at their best and if they find out they won't be."

"Yeah," Kurt said. "I know sisters tell each other everything, but Rachel, you can't tell Kylie. Finn, Blaine, Sam, Artie and Tina, I know you're close with the members who were in it last year because you worked together, but you can't tell them."

"Well, well, if it isn't the New Directions."

The New Directions were at the costume shop being fitted for their costumes for Regionals. The girls were wearing a powder blue dress, while the boys had a polo the same color and black pants. The group turned and saw Sebastian.

"Well, if it isn't the guy who thinks he'll be joining me at NYADA next year," Harmony said.

"Correction: I'll be at NYADA and you won't," Sebastian sneered.

"What do you want, Sebastian?" Ryder asked.

"I heard you guys would be here getting fitted for your costumes, so I came to wish you luck on your last New Directions Regionals," Sebastian said.

"What in God's name do you mean?" Kitty asked.

"Oh, you didn't hear?" Sebastian asked. "Mr. Schue's going to LA."

"That's a lie," Jake said.

"It's not," Sebastian said. "I have a cousin who goes to the school in LA that he got a job offer from. That school specializes in performing arts. He told me that school really wants Mr. Schue."

"We know what you're trying to do," Ryder told Sebastian. "You're trying to psych us out right before Regionals. Well, it's not going to work. Get out of here."

"Well, good luck on your last Regionals," Sebastian said before he left.

When Sebastian was gone, the group looked at each other. "Do you think he was lying?" Rory asked.

"I don't know," Marley admitted. "Until Mr. Schue says something to us, we should just assume he is."

"Until I say something about what?" The group turned and saw Mr. Schue.

No one knew what to say. "Sebastian was just here," Kylie said. "He told us that you got a job offer from a school in LA."

Mr. Schue looked shocked, but he didn't say anything. "I..."

"So it's true?" Rory asked.

"Guys..." Mr. Schue began.

"Mr. Schue, you can't leave!" Unique said.

"I don't know for sure what I'm going to do," Mr. Schue said. "I'm considering all my options."

The group didn't say anything. So maybe the glee club's status really was in jeaporady. "I didn't want to say anything to you guys," Mr. Schue said.

"Well, we found out anyway," Kitty said.

Rachel sat at the apartment working on her homework when her phone started ringing. She looked at the caller ID. It was Kylie. Hoping word somehow hadn't gotten back to New Directions, Rachel picked up the phone. "Hey."

"Hey," Kylie said. "Rachel, Mr. Schue might be leaving McKinley."

So they knew. How had they found out? Rachel gulped. "I know. I just didn't want to say anything to you because Regionals are so close."

"I don't want him to leave," Kylie said. "Glee club is the best part of high school for me. I know no one would take over it if he left..."

"All the alumni are doing our best to come up with a plan to convince him to stay," Rachel said.

"How'd you guys find out?" Kylie asked.

"Mr. Schue told Kurt's dad, and he told Kurt," Rachel explained. But how had they found out? "Wait, how did you guys find out?"

"Sebastian," Kylie said.

"Ugh," Rachel groaned. Sebastian did have a way of finding things out. "Well, we don't know for sure what he's doing, right? Just focus on Regionals now."

"The theme for Regionals this year is loss," Kylie told Rachel.

"Loss?" Rachel asked.

"Loss," Kylie said. "That's a bit depressing, don't you think?"

"Yeah," Rachel said. "Where did the committee come up with that?" Now it seemed ironic that loss was the theme for Regionals - it was possible that this would be the last Regionals for New Directions.

"Who knows?" Kylie said. "I just hope this isn't it for us."

"It's not," Rachel said. "All thirteen graduates are working to save the glee club. You guys just focus on bringing home that trophy."

"We'll try," Kylie said.

"Keep me updated if you hear anything else," Rachel said.

"I will," Kylie said as the sisters said goodbye and hung up the phone. Then Rachel went into the living room to where Finn, Kurt, Blaine and Santana were watching TV. "They know." She didn't need to say who or what.

"How do they know?" Blaine asked.

"Sebastian," Rachel revealed.

"That meerkat!" Kurt snapped.

"Now it's even more important that we work to save the glee club and keep Mr. Schue at McKinley," Finn said.

Finn had been debating with himself about whether not to do what he was about to do, but he felt like he needed to. Yes, he wasn't in glee club anymore, but glee club had changed his life. If he'd never joined glee club, he'd probably be at Allen County Community College instead of Columbia. He'd probably be raising a child that wasn't his with Quinn instead of planning a wedding with Rachel. He had to do this. He picked up his phone and dialed Mr. Schue's number. Mr. Schue picked up almost right away. "Finn!"

"Hey, Mr. Schue," Finn said.

"Finn, I've told you before, call me Will," Mr. Schue said. "How are you doing?"

"I'm great," Finn said. "Rachel and I are planning our wedding, and my classes are going well enough. The new apartment's nice, and Jesse and Brody were convicted for breaking in."

"Well, I'm glad you're doing well, even though I do miss having you to help out here," Mr. Schue said. "Regionals are right around the corner. The theme this year is loss. I don't know how the committee came up with that, but I am pretty happy with our setlist."

"I actually am applying to direct a glee club at a high school here starting this fall," Finn said. "Mr. Schue, I wanted to talk to you about something..."

"What's up?" Mr. Schue asked.

"Burt told Kurt about the job offer you got in LA," Finn told his former teacher.

Mr. Schue sighed. "Finn, I don't know if I'm going to LA. I feel really conflicted."

"Why do you feel conflicted?" Finn asked. "New Directions changed so many lives for the better. I don't know where the alumni would be if it wasn't for glee club and you and each other, but we wouldn't be where we are now."

"I love New Directions," Mr. Schue said.

"Exactly!" Finn protested. "And who do you think would take over if you went to LA? No one! Everyone else is too afraid of Coach Sylvester!"

"This school in LA is much more supportive of the arts than McKinley is," Mr. Schue said. "It specializes in the arts. Students need to audition. There won't be any Sue Sylvesters there always trying to tear the glee club down."

"But you're stronger than Sue is!" Finn pointed out. "You always have been."

"This school also pays better," Mr. Schue said. "I have a child now, and Emma and I eventually want to give Daniel siblings."

"Remember what you realized when you decided to stay at McKinley?" Finn asked. "That money's not the most important thing! The most important thing is that you're doing what you love. I know you'd still be doing what you love in LA, but it wouldn't be with us. It would be different."

"It's like I told you, I don't know what I'm going to do," Mr. Schue repeated. Finn heard some crying in the background. "It sounds like Daniel's up. Emma's at a movie with Coach Beiste, so I'd better go. Good talking to you, Finn. Hope you get that glee club director job."

"Bye," Finn sighed as he hung up the phone. As Finn lay on the bed, Rachel came in. "Hey babe."

Rachel gave Finn a hug. "I can't believe opening night's less than a month away."

"That's crazy," Finn said. "I know you probably won't be on stage on opening night, but it's so soon, and you'll still have your name in the program."

"Do you think that I'll ever get to go on stage?" Rachel asked.

"I'm sure you'll get to at some point," Finn said, still thinking about his conversation with Mr. Schue.

"Are you okay, baby?" Rachel asked.

Finn looked down. "I just talked to Mr. Schue."

"And?" Rachel asked.

"I tried to talk him into staying at McKinley but..." Finn began. "He's still torn."

Rachel sat down next to Finn. "We'll all figure something out together. I know we will."

Regionals was here, and the New Directions were pretty quiet in their dressing room. Rachel had told Kylie that all three of the Regionals had challenges attached to them - the first time, there were threats of disbanding the glee club if they didn't place. The second time, Rachel was having a hard time with her breakup with Finn. The third time, they were recovering from hearing the news that a former classmate had almost died.

"Hey, you okay?" Marley asked Kylie.

"Yeah, I'm okay," Kylie said. "I just don't want this to be our last Regionals."

"Me either," Marley said.

"I'm sure you and Ryder will sound great with your duet," Kylie said. "Hopefully a good performance today will be enough to convince Mr. Schue to stay."

"We can hope," Marley said.

Ryder came over and tickled Marley from behind. "Hey babe. Ready for our duet?"

Marley turned, giggled and kissed Ryder. "Of course I am!"

"You two are so cute," Kylie said. "You remind me of Finn and Rachel, and Kurt and Blaine."

"Hey, no one's saying you won't find your someone to be like us, or Finn and Rachel, or Kurt and Blaine," Ryder said.

"I hope," Kylie said. She looked across the room, where Jack was talking with Anthony and Nathan. She'd had a crush on Jack all year, but she'd never had the courage to act on her feelings.

Kitty came over. "I just got off the phone with Artie. The New York alumni found a livestream so they can watch us compete."

"That's great!" Kylie said. "And Brittany's in the audience."

Mr. Schue circled up the New Directions. "All right, everyone. Who's ready to earn our spot to Nationals in Boston?"

The group cheered. Maybe if they managed to win Nationals this year, that could convince Mr. Schue to stay.

"I know you guys got some shocking news this week, but remember that nothing's etched in stone," Mr. Schue said. "I just want you guys to go out there and perform the best that you've ever possibly sounded. Show the judges that we deserve to go to Boston."

The group cheered and went to wait in the wings while Ryder and Marley performed their duet. As they waited for Ryder and Marley to begin, Jack came up to Kylie. "Your sister worked with him all throughout high school. What does she think he's going to do?"

"I don't know," Kylie said. "She doesn't know. She and the other alumni are trying to come up with a plan to convince him to stay."

"I hope they do," Jack said. "I mean, I know I'm in other sports and clubs, but glee club is my favorite part of high school."

"Mine too," Kylie said.

The MC announced the New Directions, and Jack and Kylie stopped talking so they could listen to the duet.

Ryder: Goodbye England's rose, may you ever grow in our hearts
You were the grace that placed itself where lives were torn apart
Marley: You called out to our country and you whispered to those in pain
Now you belong to heaven and the stars spell out your name

Ryder and Marley: And it seems to me, you lived your life like a candle in the wind
Never fading with the sunset when the rain set in
And your footsteps will always fall here along England's greenest hills
Your candle's burned out long before your legend ever will

Ryder: Loveliness we've lost, these empty days without your smile
This torch we'll always carry for our nation's golden child
Marley: And even though we try, the truth brings us to tears
All our words cannot express the joy you brought us through the years

Ryder: Goodbye England's rose, may you ever grow in our hearts
You were the grace that placed itself where lives were torn apart
Marley: Goodbye England's rose, from a country lost without your soul
Who'll miss the wings of your compassion more than you'll ever know

Ryder and Marley with New Directions: And it seems to me, you lived your life like a candle in the wind
Never fading with the sunset when the rain set in
And your footsteps will always fall here along England's greenest hills
Your candle's burned out long before your legend ever will
Your footsteps will always fall here along England's greenest hills
Your candle's burned out long before your legend ever will

The rest of New Directions joined Ryder and Marley on the stage to sing backup for the final chorus before they began their second group number.

Harmony: I'm so tired of being here
Suppressed by all my childish fears
And if you have to leave
I wish that you would just leave
'Cause your presence still lingers here
And it won't leave me alone
These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase
New Directions: When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have all of me
Unique: You used to captivate me by your resonating light
Now I'm bound by the life you left behind
Kylie: Your face—it haunts my once pleasant dreams
Your voice—it chased away all the sanity in me
Marley: These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase
New Directions: When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have all of me
Kitty: I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone
But though you're still with me
I've been alone all along
New Directions: When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have all of me
Marley: me,
Kitty: me,
Unique: me.

The music ended as it was time for the number led by the boys. Today, these songs had more meaning - this was how the group felt about the potential end of New Directions.

Ryder: There's no one in town I know
You gave us some place to go.
I never said thank you for that.
I thought I might get one more chance.
Jake: What would you think of me now,
so lucky, so strong, so proud?
I never said thank you for that,
now I'll never have a chance.
New Directions: May angels lead you in.
Hear you me my friends.
On sleepless roads the sleepless go.
May angels lead you in.
Rory: So what would you think of me now,
so lucky, so strong, so proud?
I never said thank you for that,
now I'll never have a chance.
New Directions: May angels lead you in.
Hear you me my friends.
On sleepless roads the sleepless go.
May angels lead you in.
May angels lead you in.
May angels lead you in.
Joe: And if you were with me tonight,
I'd sing to you just one more time.
A song for a heart so big,
god wouldn't let it live.
New Directions: May angels lead you in.
Hear you me my friends.
On sleepless roads the sleepless go.
May angels lead you in.
May angels lead you in.
Hear you me my friends.
On sleepless roads the sleepless go.
May angels lead you in.
May angels lead you in.

"Wow, they were amazing," Rachel said, wiping a tear as the New Directions finished their performance. For all any of them knew, this could have been the last ever competition performance of New Directions.

"Yeah, they really were," Finn said.

"We are going to see them be even more amazing in Boston for Nationals," Santana said.

"You think they're going?" Rachel asked.

"They're a shoo-in," Santana said.

A little while later, the judge came on stage and announced that New Directions had won Regionals. Maybe this would play a small part in convincing Mr. Schue to stay. Maybe.

Chapter 47 preview: Mercedes tells the New Yorkers about the high school Mr. Schue got the offer from. Meanwhile, in the midst of preparing the weddings, things take a turn for the worse in the family lives of one or more characters.

SONGS: Candle In The Wind (1997 version) by Elton John (performed by Ryder Lynn and Marley Rose), My Immortal by Evanescence (performed by New Directions girls) and Hear You Me by Jimmy Eat World (performed by New Directions boys)

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