Hi everyone! Thanks so much for all your support of this story! It means a lot to me. I'll tell you guys, right now I am leaning toward writing a Season 6, and if I do, Season 5 will end with one or more cliffhangers. Enjoy this chapter and review if I should keep going!
Chapter 47: Losing Battles?
Rachel looked at her ringing phone and saw that it was Mercedes. She knew that Mercedes was visiting the high school that Mr. Schuester was considering going to work at. She picked up the phone, wondering if Mercedes had any updates.
"Hey," Rachel said.
"Hey," Mercedes said. "So, I visited that high school today."
"And?" Rachel asked.
Mercedes groaned. "We're in trouble."
"What do you mean?" Mercedes asked.
"Well, the high school itself isn't even like a high school," Mercedes began. "It's like a small college campus!"
"What do you mean?" Rachel asked.
"There's three buildings," Mercedes continued. "The academics building, the arts building and the athletics building. Each building has a fountain in the lobby, and the courtyard looks like a courtyard at a palace. The whole school looks like a palace."
Rachel hoped Mr. Schue wouldn't let that disuade him. "Well..."
"That's not all," Mercedes said. "Their map was full of brags. I went to the auditorium, claiming I wanted to see local talent in search for my indie label, and the auditorium sits 2000 and has velvet seats and velvet curtains and marble banisters. They have an on site student rec center."
"What did you learn about their show choir?" Rachel asked.
"Apparently the show choir is the school's one weakness," Mercedes said. "Their instrumental music program has won international competitions, their dance team won dance nationals and their theatre program's productions attract people from all over California. That's not all though. Their academics are excellent too. They sent eleven kids to Ivy League schools last year, and the Class of 2014 has so far had five perfect ACT scores, nine perfect SAT scores and fourteen National Merit Finalists. The school also offers 40 AP classes."
"This school sounds insane," Rachel said. And she meant insane in a good way. On paper, this sounded like the ideal school - much better than McKinley.
"Even their sports teams ALWAYS win the California state championships," Mercedes continued. "And the school has like a ten percent acceptance rate. We're in trouble, Rachel."
"I'll say we are," Rachel said. "This school - honestly, before I joined glee and found out what happiness and friendship really were, that would have been the school of my dreams."
"Yeah, me too," Mercedes said. "I'm glad we did what we did though."
"So am I, but we need to work harder than ever now to get Mr. Schue to stay," Rachel said. "When I think about where I'd be if it wasn't for glee, that just... I don't want to think about it." She'd probably be attending the music program at an unknown school and still being made fun of, looking at Facebook photos of Finn with a hot popular girl.
"The thirteen of us alumni and the current New Directions members - even with all of us working together, we might not be able to do it alone," Mercedes told Rachel. "We might need more help."
"When the others get home from work, I'll call you with an update," Rachel said.
"Sounds good," Mercedes said. "Have a good night."
"You too," Rachel said. After she hung up the phone with Mercedes, she heard a knock on her door and went to answer it, seeing Sam, Tina and Artie on the other side. "Hi, come on in," she said, leading them in. "The others are still at work, but they'll probably be home soon."
"We were just signing our lease!" Sam said. "At the end of the semester, the three of us will be moving into a two bedroom apartment down the hall from you guys!"
"It's official?" Rachel asked. "That's so exciting!"
"Yeah, I can't wait to get out of the dorms and move in here," Artie said.
A few minutes later, Finn, Kurt, Blaine and Santana arrived back from the diner. "Now that you're all here, I might as well tell you about Mercedes's visit to the high school in LA," Rachel said.
"How'd it go?" Sam asked.
"Well, we're in trouble," Rachel admitted. "This school - it's like the fantasy school from a book. They have nice facilities, they send a bunch of kids to Ivy League schools, the kids get perfect SAT and ACT scores, the sports teams win states, their plays attract people from all over California, and their dance and instrumental music groups win national competitions. Their only missing piece is an amazing choir."
"Oh dear," Finn said. "This is trouble."
"Yeah," Rachel said. "I think we might need more help."
"Well, lots of people have visited the glee club over the years," Kurt said. "Maybe some of them could help us."
"Yeah, you have a point," Blaine said. "We can make some calls and see who's in."
"I actually have an idea for something we can do," Finn said. "It might not be much, but it could do something."
"What were you thinking of, Frankenteen?" Santana asked.
"Well, Mr. Schue was going to quit teaching once before to become an accountant," Finn said. "We brought him back with Don't Stop Believing."
"And?" Artie asked.
"Artie, you got the AV club to videotape our first performance, right?" Finn asked.
"Yes!" Artie said. "And our Regionals performance."
"Well, I think we should put together a video with the first performance and the Regionals performance, and then a new performance with all the alumni singing it," Finn said. "We can divide up the song get Puck, Quinn, Mercedes, Mike and Brittany to tape themselves singing their parts and then Artie and his film classmates can use technology to work them in. Then we can send the tape with all three performances to Mr. Schue."
"I love that idea," Rachel said as she gave Finn a hug.
"Yeah, that's great," Kurt said. "Let's call up the other alumni."
x
The next day, Rachel went to Shelby's townhouse after classes and rang the doorbell. Rachel figured that since Shelby had been a glee club coach in the past and knew Mr. Schue, she might be help in trying to convince Mr. Schue not to go to LA.
"Rachel, thanks for coming over," Shelby said as she answered the door.
"Of course, you know I'm always happy to come over," Rachel said, walking in. "Have you and Beth missed having me around?"
"We do, and Finn too," Shelby said, leading Rachel in.
When Rachel came into the living room, Beth jumped up and ran over to Rachel, giving her a hug. "RACHEL!"
"Hey Beth!" Rachel said, giving Beth a hug. She looked ahead of Beth and saw a man sitting on the couch. "Who's that?" Rachel whispered to Beth.
"Rachel, this is John," Shelby said. "Remember how on Valentine's Day, Puck and Quinn came to watch Beth..."
"He's Mommy's boyfriend!" Beth blurted out.
"You could say that," John said. "So you're Rachel?"
"Yeah, I am," Rachel said.
"Shelby's always talking about all three of her girls," John said. "I just have to meet Kylie now."
"Well, she'll be in Boston for Nationals for glee club in May," Rachel said. "Maybe we could go out there overnight to see her perform."
"Depending on how I'm feeling, I'd love to," Shelby said. "I haven't seen her perform yet and I don't know how many chances..."
"Kylie's a sophomore, she has plenty of time for you to see her perform," John said.
"Well, there might not be," Rachel said, preparing to tell her mom about Mr. Schue and the job offer in LA.
"What do you mean?" Shelby asked.
"Mr. Schue got a job offer in Los Angeles, and he sounds like me might be leaning toward taking it," Rachel said. "If he leaves McKinley, I doubt anyone would take over the glee club. You were at McKinley. You know what it's like. Coach Sylvester's always trying to destroy the club. Everyone else at that school just obeys her because they're afraid of her."
"Well, when I was at McKinley, that woman did seem pretty ruthless," Shelby said.
"She's horrible, Mom," Rachel said. "I know it's stupid that I'm so upset about this - but I really want the glee club to keep going. It changed my life, and the lives of so many other people, for the better, and I want it to keep doing that."
"I'll talk to Mr. Schue," Shelby said.
"Thank you," Rachel said. "The other alumni and I are doing a project, but we do need all the help we can get!"
"So, Rachel, Shelby tells me you're getting married soon," John said.
"I am!" Rachel said. "In May."
"Rachel's wedding dress is the most beautiful dress I've ever seen," Shelby said.
Rachel smiled. "Thanks, Mom."
"And I'm going to be the flower girl!" Beth exclaimed.
"Yes, you are!" Rachel said.
"My dress is going to be a pretty blue, like the big girls!" Beth told John.
"Very nice," John said.
"I'm so happy for you, honey," Shelby said.
"It's crazy how close it's getting to my wedding day," Rachel admitted.
"Well, we're all excited," Shelby said.
"So am I," Rachel said. In the midst of school, work and now trying to save the glee club, it was always nice to know she had a wedding to look forward to.
"Rachel, I'm glad you stopped by, because in a few days my doctors will be giving me an update," Shelby said. "Will you come with me?"
"Of course," Rachel said.
x
"Okay, we got in all the parts from the other alumni, so now all I have to do is edit them in with us," Artie told the group. Earlier today, one of Artie's friends from school had shot the New York alumni singing their parts of Don't Stop Believing in the auditorium at Brooklyn Film Academy. Now the group was just waiting for Artie to finish putting the video together. While they waited for the video to finish buffering, the group watched the first and second glee club performances of the song.
"The first time we sang together," Finn said as he gazed at Rachel.
"The first of many," Rachel said with a smile.
"Don't get sappy, you two," Santana said.
"Hey, that was where it all began," Finn said. He had to admit, that had been his favorite New Directions group number.
"I'm glad Blaine and I got to be part of it this time," Sam said.
"Well, it's like the New Directions theme song," Tina said.
Artie's computer beeped. "Well, look's like it's ready! Let's watch it."
The group gathered around the computer to watch the video. Finn had to admit, watching the videos from sophomore year and the video from now - it was amazing to see how much they'd grown.
Finn: Just a small town girl
Livin' in a lonely world
She took the midnight train goin' anywhere
Rachel: Just a city boy
Born and raised in South Detroit
He took the midnight train goin' anywhere
Blaine: A singer in a smokey room
Kurt: The smell of wine and cheap perfume
Blaine and Kurt: For a smile they can share the night
It goes on and on and on and on
Artie: Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Tina: Their shadows searchin' in the night
Sam: Streetlights, people
Livin' just to find emotion
Santana: Hidin' somewhere in the night
Puck: Workin' hard to get my fill
Everybody wants a thrill
Quinn: Payin' anythin' to roll the dice
Just one more time
Mike: Some will win, some will lose
Brittany: Some are born to sing the blues
Mercedes: Oh, the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on
Finn and Rachel: Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searchin' in the night
Kurt and Blaine: Streetlights, people
Livin' just to find emotion
Hidin' somewhere in the night
New Directions alumni: Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feelin'
Streetlights, people
Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feelin'
Streetlights, people
Don't stop!
"Let's send that to Mr. Schue now!" Sam said as the group cheered.
x
Rachel arrived at the hospital, hoping things would go okay at Shelby's appointment. Shelby had seemed to be doing as well as she could, so she hoped that was a good sign.
Rachel told the receptionist that she was here for a doctor's appointment with her mother, and the receptionist told her what room Shelby was in. Rachel went to the room, where Shelby was already waiting with the doctor. "So this is your daughter?" the doctor asked.
"Yes, this is my oldest daughter," Shelby said. "My middle daughter's in Ohio with her adoptive parents, and my youngest daughter's at home with one of my friends."
"It's nice to meet you," Rachel said to the doctor.
"You too," the doctor said. "Your mom's always talking about you and your sisters. Now, I do have the results of your mother's latest scan..."
Rachel gulped. Somehow she didn't have a good feeling.
"The good news is that the cancer is out of the ovaries, but the bad news is that we found another tumor," the doctor said.
Rachel jumped up. "What? How could you not discover this tumor earlier?"
"Rachel..." Shelby began.
"No!" Rachel said. She wasn't going to let the doctor give up on her mom. "She's been in treatment for months, how was this tumor not discovered until now?"
"We're going to do some more chemo," the doctor began.
"Can't you just remove it with surgery?" Rachel asked. "I'm getting married soon and..."
"And I will be there," Shelby said, eyeing the doctor.
"I just can't believe this tumor wasn't found after all this time," Rachel grumbled. She couldn't help but be a little resentful of the doctor. She finally had her mother in her life, and she just didn't want to lose her.
"We're going to go through all the options," the doctor said.
"Well, like she said, she's getting married in May," Shelby said. "I am not missing my oldest daughter's wedding for anything. My middle daughter's maid of honor and my youngest daughter's the flower girl, so all three of them have an important part."
"We'll see if you can be there," the doctor said.
Rachel felt herself getting angry again. "My mom is going to be at my wedding."
"Rachel, you and Finn have been planning this for months," Shelby said.
"It's not just my wedding," Rachel said. "So many milestones are coming up for all three of us. Beth's going to be starting school soon. Kylie's going to be graduating in a few years..." She didn't say what she was thinking out loud, but she and her sisters couldn't lose their mother.
"Don't worry," the doctor said. "We'll do everything we can."
x
"Finn, you're doing this too, can you please back me up?" Blaine asked.
Finn went over to Kurt and Blaine at the dining room table. He saw that his brother and future brother-in-law were looking at menus. "We are not serving escargot at our wedding, Kurt."
"But it's so fancy!" Kurt protested.
"We are not having people eat snails!" Blaine repeated.
"I think I'll have to agree with Blaine," Finn said.
"Some best man you are," Kurt grumbled. "Blaine, you aren't having input on the girls' dresses, and neither are you, Finn."
Blaine and Finn shared a glance. "Well, what color did you have in mind?" Finn asked.
"Purple," Kurt said. "With blue sashes. Not like the blue you and Rachel are having the bridesmaids wear, although the girls will be carrying purple and yellow flowers at your wedding, so I guess it would be fair for us to use that blue for the sashes..."
"When are they going to get fitted again?" Finn asked.
"Next week," Kurt said.
"What are you guys thinking for your menu?" Blaine asked Finn.
"Well, we haven't put in the final order yet," Finn said. "We were thinking spring rolls for an appetizer, then salad as the second course, then filet minion with roasted potatoes and vedgetables, and then wedding cake."
"That sounds amazing," Blaine said.
"Yeah," Finn said. "I can't believe we actually managed to book Bow Bridge."
"Hey, the place we booked for ours was pretty awesome," Kurt said.
The door opened, and Rachel came in, looking upset. "Hey babe, are you okay?" Finn asked. "Kurt and Blaine and I were talking about our weddings..."
Rachel looked down. "Apparently my mom has another tumor that they couldn't find until now..."
Finn dropped the papers he was holding and went over to hold Rachel close. Rachel hugged Finn tightly. Neither of them needed to say anything. They both knew that this was what they needed to do right now.
Chapter 48 preview: Rachel and Shelby tell Kylie, Quinn and Puck about Shelby's condition. The glee club alumni contact other people linked with the glee club for more help with saving the club. The next few chapters also feature more buildup to Finchel and Klaine's weddings!
10 reviews unlock Chapter 48!