So sorry I took so long to update! I've been so overwhelmed with work stuff lately and haven't had as much time and energy. I feel horrible :( I decided to put my own spin on the video for Mr. Schue, since it felt like Finn was missing in the video from the 100th. I hope you guys all enjoy this new chapter and review if I should keep going! (My goal is 1200 reviews for this story - I can't believe I have over 1000!)
Chapter 56: Graduation 2014
"Let's put your new trophy in the case!" Rachel said as the past and present members of the glee club gathered in the choir room.
The group cheered as Rachel looked at Ryder and Marley. "You two are the captains. Put it in. That's what Finn and I did."
The group cheered again as Ryder and Marley put the trophy in the case. "And this is a perfect way for an era to end," Mr. Schue said.
Nobody needed to say anything. They all knew what this meant. "So, you are going to LA?" Finn asked.
"This was the most difficult decision I've ever had to make," Mr. Schue said. "It breaks my heart to leave this group. I love each and every one of you in the room. The 28 of you in here were my children before Daniel was born. I've talked to people whose judgement I trust, and I've come to the conclusion that this is what's best for me, for Mrs. Schuester, for Daniel, and for the second child we've just found out is on the way."
"You guys are having another child?" Kurt asked.
"Yes," Mr. Schue said. "We just found out that we have a second child on the way."
"Wow," Brittany said. No one seemed to know what to say. Mr. Schue really was leaving McKinley.
As upset as Rachel was, the current members of New Directions were who she was really worried about. Who would lead the glee club now?
"What's going to happen next year?" Kitty asked. "This is going to sound stupid, but I want to still be able to have glee club my senior year."
"I'll do my best to make sure we find a good replacement before I head to LA," Mr. Schue said.
Everyone looked at each other, not knowing what else to say. They'd spent the last few months trying to convince Mr. Schue to stay, and their efforts had failed.
"Back to business," Mr. Schue said. "We'll need to put some extra effort into our songs for the weddings this week, and we do have the graduation of the Class of 2014. We know how this works. Seniors, pick out a song to say goodbye to us. Graduates, pick a song to sing to the seniors. Underclassmen, pick a song to say goodbye to the seniors with."
x
"So, Mr. Schue really is leaving," Rachel said to Finn as they drove to the Hudson-Hummel house. Carole and Burt wanted to have Finn, Rachel, Kurt and Blaine over for dinner before they went back to New York.
"Yeah," Finn said. "I just... I hoped he would stick around."
"I just hope this doesn't mean the end of glee," Rachel admitted.
"He said he'd try to find a replacement before he leaves," Finn reminded Rachel.
"I know," Rachel said. "I guess a replacement's the best we can hope for."
"Yeah," Finn said. "We tried to convince him. His mind is made up."
"We should still do something special for him before he leaves," Rachel said.
"I agree," Finn said. "Do you have anything in mind?"
Rachel thought for a moment. "Well, you remember the video they made for you for your job interview," Rachel said. "Maybe we could make one for him to show the kids in LA."
"Yeah, we should," Finn said. "Tomorrow maybe we could get together the past and present glee club members to work on it."
"I'm sure my dads would let us use our basement," Rachel said.
"We could all do a song together, too," Finn said. "I have one in mind."
x
"This emergency meeting of the past and present New Directions is now in session," Rachel said. She'd gathered the current and former members in her dads' basement.
"You two know him better than anyone," Jack said, looking at Finn and Rachel. "Do you think there's any chance he'll stay?"
Rachel and Finn exchanged a look. "His mind seems to be made up."
"It's probably not too late," Ellie protested.
"Yeah, those of us who are still here at McKinley do still want a glee club," Samantha added.
"And we'll all do our part to make sure you can still have one," Rachel said.
"So what's going on today?" Aubrey asked.
"We're all here because glee club is special to all of us," Finn said. "And even though he's leaving McKinley, Mr. Schue made it a special place for all of us. We should do something for him, to thank him."
"Like what?" Nathan asked.
"Rachel and I had something in mind," Finn said. "For my application for the director of the glee club that I'll be leading in New York, the members of New Directions from when I was a leader made me a video talking about their time with me as the leader. We were thinking we should make one for the kids in this show choir in LA about Mr. Schue."
The entire group seemed to think that it was a good idea. "Let's get started!" Rachel said.
"Rachel taking charge," Mercedes said. "Just like old times."
"What song did you have in mind?" Artie asked. "We did Don't Stop Believing already for those videos for him..."
"Well, what's the other song that really helped us come into our own?" Finn asked.
"Somebody to Love?" Tina asked.
"Yup!" Finn said. "Rachel and I were thinking we could all sing it, with the people who sang in the original version and anyone who was ever a leader of this group taking a few lines."
Again, the glee club seemed to like the idea. "Let's get to work!" Finn declared.
x
The current and former members of New Directions had put together the video and left a note in Mr. Schue's office before the glee club meeting that day. The songs for the Class of 2014 could come later, but right now, they wanted to show Mr. Schue their creation.
The current and former members of the glee club were waiting in the wings of the stage of the auditorium, but when they heard themselves talking, they knew that Mr. Schue was here, and that he was starting to play their video.
"Hey!" Rachel began. "So, I know you have no idea who I am or who any of the other people you're going to see are, but you are the members of the show choir now led by Will Schuester, and we're the current and former members of the New Directions, the choir he led for five years."
"We don't know what he's going to call you guys yet," Finn added, "so we don't know what to say. But we do know that you have a very special person leading your choir, and we wanted to tell you about him."
"He's a fantastic teacher, glee club leader and person," Rachel said.
"We'll start off by saying that Mr. Schue brought me and this lovely lady together," Finn said, putting his hand on Rachel's leg. "And he helped me discover my dreams of becoming a teacher."
"When I first joined the glee club, I was a crazy, egotistic girl who thought I was the best singer ever," Rachel said. "But then I joined glee, and now I'm going to marry this amazing man, and I have the best friends I could have asked for. I don't even wyant to think about what my life would be like if it wasn't for glee."
Kurt and Blaine were on the screen now. "They aren't the only ones getting married," Blaine said. "The two of us are going to get married - legally. And again, it was because of glee club that we met. Well, I was at a different school at first competing against New Directions, and he came to spy on us before the competition. The rest is history."
"Yup," Kurt added. "And I can say that Will Schuester saved my life. I wouldn't be here now recording this if it wasn't for him."
"If it wasn't for Mr. Schue, I'd still be living my life with a fake stutter," Tina said as she and Mike appeared.
"And I'd still be afraid to dance outside my room," Mike said.
Sam showed up, writing Mr. Schue's name on the whiteboard. "Will Schuester's a really amazing teacher, and he's going to give you lots of pep talks."
Puck showed up now. "I wasn't a very nice person, but then Mr. Schue came along, and I became someone who was kind most of the time."
"Mr. Schue helped me realize everything I can be even though I'm in this chair, and he helped the other glee kids realize what it was like to be in this chair," Artie said as he appeared.
Quinn appeared now. "The glee club got me through a really bad time in my life, but I came out stronger than ever."
"I know this might sound crazy in LA, but here in Ohio, some people think it's crazy for girls to love girls and boys to love boys, but in this room, he made sure we could love whoever we chose," Santana said.
"He can pull ducks out of hats," Brittany said. "You should have him show you."
"He's an amazing teacher," Mercedes said. "I grew in the glee club and now I'm putting together my own album.
The Class of 2014 were now on the screen. "The five of us are going to be the last graduating class to come from Will Schuester's version of New Directions," Harmony said. "But even though I was only here for one year, I got to finish my high school career with a national title, and I'm on my way to NYADA."
"Will Schuester is a blessing from God," Joe said.
"He gave me a second family in America when I was away from my family at home in Ireland, and I loved it so much I wanted to come back," Rory said.
"When I first met him, I couldn't sing," Sugar said. "Now I can. Kind of, anyway."
"You can't find a man more accepting of mankind and human nature than Will Schuester," Unique said.
The current captains of New Directions were on the screen now. "I was an outsider at my previous schools, but thanks to Mr. Schue and the glee club, I'm not one anymore," Marley said.
"By being in this room, with him at the helm, we all have become better people," Ryder said. "I was a loner too, and I struggled in school, but then I joined glee and everything fell into place."
Then the other members who'd joined last year appeared. "If it wasn't for the glee club, I never would have met my sister," Kylie said.
"And I never would have met my brother," Jake added.
"I've changed so much for the better since joining this club," Kitty said. "Before I joined, I hated these people, and now they're my best friends."
Now it was the members who'd joined this year on the screen. "It's going to be odd not having him here next year," Aubrey said.
"He's an amazing teacher," Ellie added.
"I'm sure he'll give you guys lots of fun assignments," Samantha said.
"We might meet you at Nationals to hear about them," Anthony said.
"And you already have Sectionals and Regionals in the bag," Nathan said.
"Our loss is definitely your gain," Jack said. "We're really going to miss him."
The last new person to appear on screen was the outsider who'd been up and down with the glee club for five years. "No matter what, he's going to be supportive of each and every one of you," Coach Sylvester said.
The video went back to where it began - with Finn and Rachel. "As you can see, every current and nearly former member of New Directions came together to make this video to show you what an amazing person Mr. Schue is," Finn said. "That's the type of person he is. He's left such an impact on all our lives."
"No matter where he is, or where we are, we have everything he gave us with him," Rachel said. "And we know he's going to have that effect on each and every one of you as well."
The video ended as Finn and Rachel walked on to the stage to begin a number the current and former glee club had put together in Mr. Schue's honor. They were first joined by the other original six members, then the other people who joined that first year, then other past and present captains (Blaine, Sam, Ryder and Marley), and finally the current members.
Finn: Can
New Directions Original Six: Anybody find me
Somebody to love?
Rachel: Ooooooh
Each morning I get up I die a little
Can barely stand on my feet
Finn: Take a look,
In the mirror and cry
Lord what you're doing to me
Rachel: I spent all my years in believing you
But I just can't get no relief, Lord
Finn: Somebody, (New Directions alumni: Somebody)
Finn and Rachel: Oooh somebody (New Directions alumni: Somebody)
Can anybody find me
Finn: Somebody to love?
Blaine: I work hard (New Directions and Alumni: He works hard)
Every day of my life
Blaine and Kurt: I work till I ache in my bones
Blaine: At the end (New Directions and alumni: At the end of the day)
I take home my hard earned pay all on my own
Kurt: I get down down on my knees
And I start to pray (New Directions and alumni: Praise the lord!)
'Till the tears run down from my eyes,
Blaine: Somebody, (New Directions and alumni: Somebody)
Blaine and Kurt: Oooh somebody
New Directions and alumni: Can anybody find me
Rachel: Somebody to love?
Ryder: I work hard everyday (New Directions and alumni: Everyday)
I try and I try and I try
Marley: But everybody wants to put me down
They say I'm goin' crazy
Sam: They say I got a lot of water in my brain
Got no common sense
I got nobody left to believe
No, Ooooooh (New Directions and alumni: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!)
Finn (New Directions and alumni): (Ooooh, Lord) Oh, somebody (Somebody)
Finn and Rachel: Oooh somebody
Finn and Rachel: Can anybody find me
Rachel: Somebody to love
New Directions and alumni: Can anybody find me someone to love?
Finn: Got no feel, I got no rhythm
I just keep losing my beat (New Directions and alumni: You just keep losing and losing)
Rachel: I'm ok, I'm alright (New Directions and alumni: She's alright, she's alright, Yeah... yeah...)
I ain't gonna face no defeat
Finn and Rachel:I just gotta get out of this prison cell
Someday I'm gonna be free, Lord!
New Directions and alumni: Find me somebody to love
Find me somebody to love
Find me somebody to love
Find me somebody to love (Finn: Oooooh)
Find me somebody to love
Find me somebody to love (Mercedes: Heee, Oooh)
Find me somebody to love (Artie: Somebody)
Find me somebody to love, uh-oh, uh-oh (Finn: Oooooooh)
Find me somebody to love
Find me somebody to love (Rachel: Ooh, Ooh)
Somebody, Somebody!
Somebody, Somebody! (Artie: Ooh, find me, find me, find me)
Somebody, Somebody!
Somebody, Find me somebody to love
Mercedes: Can anybody find me...
Somebody to love?!
New Directions: Find me (Mercedes: Ooooh) Somebody to love (Rachel: Somebody find me)
Find me (Finn: Find me) Somebody to love (Rachel: Somebody find me)
Find me (Rachel: Somebody to love) Somebody to love (Artie: Somebody, Somebody, Somebody)
Find me somebody to love (Rachel: Somebody to love) (Finn: Loove)
Find me (Mercedes: Uuuuh) Somebody to love (Rachel: Somebody to love)
Find me (Finn: Somebody to love) Somebody to love
Rachel: Find me (New Directions: Find me)
Somebody (New Directions: Somebody)
To (Finn: To)
Finn and Rachel with New Directions: Oooh, Love!
At the end of the number, the current and former New Directions all came together in a big group hug. It was like they'd said in their video, not only would Mr. Schue be with them, but no matter what, they'd always be with each other.
x
"Thank you all so much for the video you made for me," Mr. Schue said. "I'm going to show it to the kids in LA the first day."
"We're going to miss you, Mr. Schue," Ryder said.
"I'm going to miss all of you, so much," Mr. Schue said. "But I know you guys. You'll be at Nationals in Seattle next year."
"So will Finn's glee club," Rachel said. She couldn't help herself.
"And so will Finn's glee club," Mr. Schue said.
"Mr. Schuester, since we began with the song for you, can the seniors do our song now?" Sugar asked.
"Of course," Mr. Schue said. "The floor's yours."
The five seniors came to the front of the room. "This is a song for all of you, but for Mr. Schue as well," Rory said. "And for each other. We wanted to do a special song, since we'll be the last class to graduate this club under him."
Unique handed the sheet music to Brad as the music began.
Harmony: I'm nothing special, in fact I'm a bit of a bore
If I tell a joke, you've probably heard it before
But I have a talent, a wonderful thing
'Cause everyone listens when I start to sing
Unique: I'm so grateful and proud
All I want is to sing it out loud
Seniors: So I say
Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing
Thanks for all the joy they're bringing
Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty
What would life be?
Without a song or a dance what are we?
So I say thank you for the music
For giving it to me
Joe: Mother says I was a dancer before I could walk
She says I began to sing long before I could talk
And I've often wondered, how did it all start?
Rory: Who found out that nothing can capture a heart
Like a melody can?
Well, whoever it was, I'm a fan
Seniors: So I say
Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing
Thanks for all the joy they're bringing
Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty
What would life be?
Without a song or a dance what are we?
So I say thank you for the music
For giving it to me
Sugar: I've been so lucky, I am the girl with golden hair
I wanna sing it out to everybody
What a joy, what a life, what a chance!
Seniors: So I say
Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing
Thanks for all the joy they're bringing
Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty
What would life be?
Without a song or a dance what are we?
So I say thank you for the music
For giving it to me
When the seniors finished their song, the alumni applauded. It was hard to believe that it had only been two years since this had been Rachel and Finn. It felt like more, and at the same time, it felt like less.
x
"So, what's the deal with you and Mercedes?" Finn asked Sam. The glee alumni had gotten together at the Hudson-Hummel house to work on their song for the seniors, and now that they were done, the guys were hanging out in the basement, playing xbox.
"Well - I think we're on our way to getting back together," Sam said.
"That's good," Finn said. "I'm happy for you."
"And you getting back with Mercedes will free me up to be with Tina again," Mike said.
"Were you still into Tina?" Artie asked.
"Why do you think I always asked you how she was?" Mike said. "Haley was great... but she wasn't Tina."
"Well, we all know what it can be like to date someone who's not... the one," Finn admitted. It was hard to believe that it this time last year, he was with Penny. He looked at Blaine. "Guess we still do need to reorganize the processions for our weddings."
"Guess so," Blaine said.
"I told you, I'll be fine with standing with Tina at the Klaine wedding," Sam said.
"So, Finn, how about we hire some hot strippers for your bachelor party?" Puck asked.
Finn was horrified by that suggestion. "No!"
"We told you that wasn't going to happen when you suggested that a few months ago, Puckerman," Blaine said.
"Thought it wouldn't hurt to try again," Puck said.
"Well, it's not going to happen," Finn said.
x
Meanwhile, Kurt and the girls were upstairs in the Hudson-Hummel house, having a sleepover. "It's not often that all the original girls - and Kurt - get to all be together," Brittany said.
"It's not," Mercedes said. "If you were closer to New York, Brittany, we could do this more."
"If Tina decides to stay in New York," Rachel pointed out, noting that Tina was threatening to spend the summer in Lima.
"I do go to school in New York," Tina said.
"Yeah, but you said you wanted to spend the summer here in Lima," Santana said.
"I've done some thinking," Tina said. "I don't want to spend it in Lima, I want to be in New York."
"I'm sorry about what I did," Mercedes said. "I shouldn't have done that to you."
"Maybe it's for the best," Tina said. "With being with him at Nationals, and this week... I really remember how much I missed Mike. I think a long distance relationship is worth a try."
"You can do it!" Quinn said.
"Well, good," Rachel said. "Because I want both of you in New York this summer!"
x
The next day, the alumni once again returned to the choir room for their song for the seniors. Finn couldn't believe that this was the second year that he was with the alumni singing to the seniors. It was even harder to believe that next year, the last of the kids he'd mentored last year would be graduating.
Rachel: When you look back on times we had
I hope you smile
And know that through the good and through the bad
Santana: I was on your side when nobody could hold us down
We claimed the brightest star
Mercedes: And we, we came so far
And no they won't forget
Alumni: Whenever you remember times gone by
Remember how we held our heads so high
When all this world was there for us
And we believed that we could touch the sky
Whenever you remember, I'll be there
Remember how we reached that dream together
Whenever you remember
Finn: When you think back on all we've done
I hope you're proud
Blaine: When you look back and see how far we've come
It was our time to shine
Sam: And nobody could hold us down
They thought they'd see us fall
Artie: But we, we stood so tall
And no we won't forget
Alumni: Whenever you remember times gone by
Remember how we held our heads so high
When all this world was there for us
And we believed that we could touch the sky
Whenever you remember, I'll be there
Remember how we reached that dream together
Whenever you remember
Yeah, Oh
Kurt: We claimed the brightest star
And we, we came so far
Tina: You know that we, we showed them all
And no they won't forget
Alumni: Yeah
Whenever you remember times gone by
Remember how we held our heads so high
When all this world was there for us
And we believed that we could touch the sky
Whenever you remember, I'll be there
Remember how we reached that dream together
Whenever you remember
Whenever you remember
Oh, whenever you remember
The seniors clapped at the end of the song as the underclassmen came to the front of the room for their song, "for the seniors and Mr. Schue," as Marley said.
Marley: I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
GOD forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
Kitty: I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
Underclassmen: I hope you dance...I hope you dance.
Ryder: I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances but they're worth takin',
Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth makin',
Jake: Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to sellin' out reconsider,
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
Underclassmen: I hope you dance...I hope you dance.
I hope you dance...I hope you dance.
Jack: I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Kylie: Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
Underclassmen: Dance...I hope you dance.
I hope you dance...I hope you dance.
I hope you dance...I hope you dance..
"Wow," Mr. Schue said. "The songs performed by all three groups are so fitting. I couldn't have asked for better songs for my last assignment for you guys."
The whole group got quiet. This really was the end of an era.
Mr. Schue seemed to notice the somber looks on the past and present glee club members' faces. "You guys will have plenty of more songs. You're all going to go so far in life, and even though I'll be in LA and you'll all be all over the place, I'm going to have the best time watching you. Like I said, the 28 of you are my other children. I love you guys."
Once again, the entire group formed a big group hug. It was hard to believe this era really was over.
SONGS: Somebody to Love by Queen (performed by New Directions and alumni), Thank You For The Music by Abba (performed by New Directions seniors), Whenever You Remember by Carrie Underwood (performed by New Directions alumni) and I Hope You Dance by Lee Anne Womack (performed by New Directions underclassmen)
Chapter 57 preview: The Finchel wedding is finally here! Finchel's wedding, their bachelor and bachelorette parties, and rehearsal dinner take place. Lots of glee characters past and present return!
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