Hey everyone! Thanks as always for the support on the last chapter. I really appreciate it. There wasn't Finchel in this episode, but I did my best to add some in! I also wanted to see Finchel's take on the Klaine situation. Enjoy and review if you want me to keep going!
Chapter 64: Dance With Somebody
Rachel had looked at her calendar this morning and couldn't believe it. There were only about six weeks until graduation. Six weeks. Six weeks of seeing the people who started as rivals and were now friends every day. Six weeks of still spending every day with her dads. After graduation, she'd most likely move into a New York apartment. Her whole life, she'd thought she was bigger and better than Ohio - and now she was beginning to get the feeling that she'd miss it.
Rachel's dads had already left for work, so she got in the car and drove to school. When she arrived, she went up to Finn in the parking lot. "Hey."
"Hey," Finn said. "How are you today?"
Rachel gave Finn a kiss. "Great, now that I'm with you."
"You know what's crazy?" Finn asked.
"Tell me," Rachel said.
"Less than two months until graduation," Finn said.
"I know," Rachel said. At least now she knew Finn was having the same thoughts she was having. "I do wonder where everyone's going to be."
"I do too," Finn said. "The end of high school isn't just the end of high school, it's the end of an era, the end of the beginning of our lives."
"Yeah, it's kind of scary," Rachel admitted. "I don't know where everyone's going to be or even who we'll stay in contact with and who we won't."
"I hope we stay in contact with most of our friends," Finn said.
"So do I," Rachel said. "I've talked to my dads and they don't even know where some of their high school friends live anymore. The thought of that happening with some of us is scary."
Finn nodded. "Everything's going to be so different."
"The sixteen of us in that room and Mr. Schue - we became a family over the past three years," Rachel said. "And now everyone's going to be all over the place. Well, about half of them will still be there because they'll still be at McKinley, but you know what I mean."
"Well, we know that Quinn's going to be at Yale, and Puck's going to be in LA, and I guess Santana's going to that college in Kentucky," Finn said. "And then of course, you, me and Kurt will be in New York. I don't know where Mercedes, Mike and Brittany will be."
"Then at this time next year, Blaine, Sam, Tina and Artie will be graduating," Rachel added.
"Well, we do have about six weeks until graduation," Finn said.
"We might as well make the most of these six weeks," Rachel said. Then she heard a noise down the hall. Mercedes, Kurt and Santana were singing a Whitney Houston song at Mercedes's locker.
The death of Whitney Houston had been shocking for them. Sure, Rachel didn't have the connection with Whitney that she had with Barbra, Patti LuPone and Bernadette Peters, but she couldn't deny that Whitney was one of the best artists of this generation. She had out of this world talent, and her songs were very relatable. Rachel gave Finn a kiss and went to join Mercedes, Kurt and Santana at Mercedes's locker, joining in the song.
Mercedes: There's a boy I know
He's the one I dream of, oooh
Looks into my eyes
Takes me to the clouds above, mhmmm
Ooh, I lose control (Santana: Ooh)
Can't seem to get enough,
When I wake from dreaming (Kurt and Santana: Ooh)
Tell me is it really love (Kurt and Santana: is it really love, aha)
Rachel (Kurt, Mercedes, and Santana): How will I know? (Don't trust your feelings)
How will I know?)
(Ooh) How will I know? (Love can be deceiving)
How will I know?
Kurt, Mercedes, Rachel, and Santana: How will I know if he really loves me
I say a prayer with every heart beat
I fall in love whenever we meet
I'm asking you cause you know about these things
How will I know if he's thinking of me
I try to phone (Mercedes and Santana: But I'm too shy) (Kurt and Rachel: Can't speak)
Falling in love is all bitter sweet
This love is strong (Why do I feel weak, oh, wake me)
Mercedes (Kurt, Rachel, and Santana): I'm shaking (Santana: Ooh)
Wish I had you (with Santana: near me now aha)
(with Kurt, Rachel, and Santana: Said there's no) Mistaking (Oooh)
What I feel is (with Kurt, Rachel, and Santana: really love aha)
Oh tell me
Kurt and Rachel: If he loves me (Mercedes and Santana: If he loves me)
If he loves me
Kurt, Mercedes, Rachel, and Santana: If he loves me not (Mercedes: Ooh yeah)
Kurt and Rachel: If he loves me (Mercedes and Santana: If he loves me)
If he loves me
Kurt, Mercedes, Rachel, and Santana: If he loves me not
Rachel: Oh, how will I know
Kurt, Mercedes, and Santana: How will I know
Mercedes and Santana: If he's thinking of me
Kurt, Mercedes, Rachel, and Santana: I try to phone (Mercedes and Santana: But I'm too shy) (Kurt and Rachel: Can't speak)
Falling in love is all bitter sweet
This love is strong, why do I feel weak
Mercedes: How will I know
Kurt, Rachel, and Santana (Mercedes): How will I know
If he really loves me (How will I know?)
I say a prayer (Hey, how will I know?)
With every heart beat, (How will I know?)
I fall in love (Ooh, how will I know?)
Whenever we meet (How will I know?)
I'm asking you (Yeah, how will I know?)
Cause you know about these things (How will I know, yeah...)
Kurt, Mercedes, Rachel, and Santana: How will I know?
This song had more meaning now. Sure, it was about a man, but it could apply to the future, too. How would they know if they were going to be successful after graduation? How would they know what would happen to their friendships? How would they know where they'd get in - and where they wouldn't?
x
"So, I heard you guys singing How Will I Know this morning," Tina told Rachel, Mercedes, Santana and Kurt in glee club that afternoon.
"We couldn't catch up to Whitney, but I do think we sounded pretty amazing," Kurt said.
"Well, I thought so, too," Tina said. "I must say, my favorite of Whitney's works was The Bodyguard."
"She wasn't originally going to be in it, but I'm so glad she was," Mercedes said. "It was written for Diana Ross."
Rachel had heard something else. "No, Mercedes, you are wrong, okay? The Bodyguard was originally written for Barbra Streisand."
Mr. Schue came in. "Actually, Rachel, it was supposed to be Diana Ross and Steve McQueen, back in the '70s."
"Thank you, Mr. Schue," Mercedes said.
Mr. Schue wrote "Whitney" on the board. "I've been doing some research to prepare for this week's lesson."
After Whitney's death, this was perfect. "Oh, my God, yes. It's about time we did a Whitney tribute!" Rachel exclaimed.
"Are we sure that's appropriate?" Sam asked.
Mercedes gave her boyfriend a shocked look. "You did not just ask that."
"I just mean, didn't Whitney kind of have a lot of problems?" Sam asked.
"She had a hard life, Sam," Mercedes said.
"Look, this week isn't about passing judgment on Whitney. It's about celebrating her legacy, honoring her memory, her accomplishments," Mr. Schue said.
"Which I will happily list for you," Kurt interrupted.
"But I also want you guys to use her songs to get underneath your own feelings. To express and explore what's really going on with you," Mr. Schue continued.
What did Mr. Schue mean? "I don't get it, Mr. Schue. What's really going on with us?" Finn asked.
"Well, for most of you, these next few weeks will be your last here at McKinley" Mr. Schue said. "Lots of changes coming up, lots of saying goodbye: to your friends, to your significant others, to the last four years of your life. For a young person, all that transition can be overwhelming. So it's easier to focus on other things. Like not being able to say goodbye to Whitney Houston."
"What are you talking about?" Santana asked.
"Santana, it's okay. I get it. You're hanging on to Whitney because it's difficult to handle the upheaval in your own lives," Mr. Schue said.
"We're hanging on to Whitney because she was incredible and we love her, so don't put your baggage on us," Santana defended.
Did Mr. Schue have a point? Rachel and Finn had just been talking about the upcoming graduation this morning. Still, Rachel knew what she wanted to do for the assignment. "You guys, Mr. Schue's attempt to understand us, though misguided, doesn't matter. What matters is that I start rehearsing Whitney's version of The Star Spangled Banner immediately. It is the Mount Everest of anthems."
x
The Star Spangled Banner wasn't going so well for Rachel. Maybe a different song would be better. She went to Kurt at his locker, hoping he'd have advice. "Oh, my God, I've been practicing Whitney Houston's version of The Star Spangled Banner all night, and I still can't sing it," Rachel complained.
"You're just realizing this now?" Kurt asked. "I'm surprised anyone's attempted it after she nailed it to the wall."
Kurt's phone went off, and Rachel saw Kurt giggling when he opened it. "Oh, I know what that is. Finn sends me cutsie text messages all the time. Usually, they're puns about my boobs, but I still appreciate the effort."
"It's not from Blaine," Kurt said.
This didn't sound good. "Then who is it?" Rachel asked.
"He's just a guy," Kurt said. "I met him at Between the Sheets. His name is Chandler. He's nice."
Rachel didn't like the sound of that. "And what did Mr. Between the Sheets say then?"
"Nothing. We just joke around. It's sweet," Kurt said.
Rachel had a feeling Kurt wasn't being completely honest. "Mmhm."
"Okay, all right. Um..." Kurt read a text. "Are you an astronaut? Because your smile is out of this world."
Rachel began looking at the phone. "Oh! Are you kidding me? Kurt, you have been going at this with him for two days now?"
"It's nothing. It's just fun. He makes me feel good," Kurt protested.
"Blaine is supposed to make you feel good," Rachel pointed out.
"You said that Finn sends you cute text messages every day? Does he compliment you? Constantly trying to get in your pants?" Kurt asked.
"Yes, he's an 18-year-old boy," Rachel said.
"Have you ever heard of lesbian bed death?" Kurt asked. "I read about it online. It's when two lesbians date for long enough, they become like sisters. And Blaine and I are like an old married couple, a fabulous old married couple, like Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. But I don't think we've had an unscheduled make-out session in, like, a month."
Rachel and Finn made out almost every day. "You schedule make-out sessions?"
"The point is: I love Blaine and Blaine loves me, but he doesn't exactly make me blush with his texts right now. What's the harm of someone making me feel special if it's all innocent?" Kurt asked.
"Okay. Would you show Blaine those text messages?" Rachel asked.
"Of course not." Kurt sounded like he was stating the obvious.
"Oh, well, then I guess it's not that innocent," Rachel said. If another girl sent Finn text messages like that, Rachel would ask Finn to stop texting her. Before she had a chance to say anything else, Santana came up to her. "Hey."
"Hey," Rachel said to Santana.
"So, I know this is a weird request, but I was wondering if you'd like to sing a duet with me for Whitney week," Santana said. "Our voices sounded good together in West Side Story, and I already did one with Britt."
"Sure," Rachel said. She and Santana hadn't gotten along their first two years in glee, but this year, they'd been more civil, and if Santana wanted to sing with her, that would be good. Whitney's version of The Star Spangled Banner clearly wouldn't work.
x
Rachel and Santana performed their duet in glee the next day, and everyone seemed to enjoy it, especially Finn, who was taping it on his phone. Rachel had to admit, singing with Santana was a lot of fun, and their voices were great together.
Santana: I don't know why I like it, huh
I just do
Ooh, ooh, hee!
I've been hearing your heartbeat inside of me
I keep your photograph beside my bed
Livin' in a world of fantasies
I can't get you out of my head, (and Rachel: oh)
Rachel: I've been waiting for the phone to ring all night
Why you wanna make me feel so good
I got a love of my own baby
I shouldn't get so hung up on you
Rachel and Santana: I remember the way that we touch
I wish I didn't like it so much (Santana: Uh!)
Oh!
I get so emotional baby
Every time I think of you
I get so emotional baby
Ain't it shocking what love can do
Rachel: Ain't it shocking what love can do
Rachel and Santana: Ain't it shocking what love can do
Hee!
I gotta watch you walk in the room baby
I gotta watch you walk out, mhmm
I like the animal way you move
And when you talk
I just watch your mouth
Oh I remember the way that we touch
I wish I didn't like it so much (Santana: No!)
I get so emotional baby
Every time I think of you
I get so emotional baby
Ain't it shocking what love can do
I get so emotional baby
Every time I think of you
I get so emotional baby
Ain't it shocking what love can do
Rachel: Ain't it shocking what love can do
Santana: Ain't it shocking what love can do
After their performance, Rachel realized that Mr. Schue had a point. The time was running out. It wasn't jut the end of high school, it was realizing what could have been. Rachel and Santana could have spent the last few years singing great songs together rather than going after each other. This was a missed opportunity. Rachel went up to Santana at her locker. "Hi."
"Hi," Santana said.
Rachel looked at Santana's locker. "You know, you can learn a lot about a person by looking into their locker."
"Are you, like, stalking me?" Santana asked.
Rachel decided to get to the point. "You know we blew it, right? We wasted three years going at each other's throats when we could have been singing together, killing it in Glee Club."
"We hated each other. Actually, I hated you," Santana admitted. "Sorry. Yes, our duet in Glee was a whole truckload of awesome. And who cares that it took three years? I mean, we still have plenty of time to do it again."
"We have 42 days left until graduation," Rachel pointed out. "Half of that's gonna be prepping for Nationals."
Santana looked shocked. "Oh, crap. I think I just realized gonna miss you. Oh, God, say something irritating so I can get the taste of this out of my head, please."
"It's okay. Look... you went out of your way to make my life a living hell for three years, but at the end of the day, I know that you respect my talent and my ambition," Rachel said.
Santana looked like she agreed. "I like it when you sing, and hey, you're the only other person at this school besides me who's willing to kill their best friend to get to the top."
Rachel reached into her purse and got out one of her school photos. "Yeah. Will you do me a favor? Will you put this up in your locker?"
"You want me to put up a picture of you in my locker?" Santana asked.
"Okay, we may not be able to sing together, but we have 42 days to at least be friends," Rachel said. "I'm gonna give you a hug. It'll be quick." The girls hugged each other, and Rachel felt like the tension from their first two years was gone.
x
"Hey guys."
Finn and Rachel looked up from their lunch to see Blaine. Usually the four of them ate together, but Kurt wasn't with Blaine right now.
"Hey, where's Kurt?" Finn asked.
"Well, he's with Mercedes and Tina now," Blaine said. "Can I talk to you guys?"
"Of course," Rachel said.
Blaine sat down. "Over the past few weeks I've been trying to create some space between me and Kurt to prepare us for next year. I'm really going to miss him and I know it'll be hard. I know I'll be with you all in New York after I graduate, but it's just..."
"I know," Finn said. He'd been worried that the same thing would happen to him and Rachel at first.
"Well, I'm beginning to think that was a mistake," Blaine admitted. "Kurt met this guy at Between the Sheets and he's been sending him these flirty texts. Kurt claims it's innocent, but..."
Finn couldn't believe what he was hearing. Kurt sending flirty texts to another guy? He knew how much Kurt loved Blaine.
"Yeah," Blaine said.
"I know," Rachel said. "He told me about it. And he notices that you're trying to distance yourself from him."
"Why didn't he say anything to me?" Blaine asked.
"He was worried that might mean you were losing interest in him," Rachel said.
"I'm not losing interest in him," Blaine pointed out. "I'm just afraid of what it'll be like when he's gone next year."
"You shouldn't try to avoid him," Finn told Blaine. "Kurt's going to miss you, too, so you might as well spend as much time with him as possible before he leaves."
"And you can come visit us in New York any time," Rachel added. "We'll always be happy to have you."
"What if Kurt meets someone better for him in New York?" Blaine asked.
"There's no one better for Kurt than you," Finn said. He felt his phone vibrating and looked to see a text from Puck. "Oh look, Puck wants me to meet him in the locker room."
Blaine looked at his phone. "I got the same text."
"You guys go ahead," Rachel said. "I'll see you at glee."
Finn and Blaine went to the locker room, where they joined Mike and Sam before Puck arrived and began handing out small bags to each of them. "Okay, bros, here you go. I was inspired by the goodie bags they give out at the end of birthday parties. Thought I'd try it. A little something from the Puckster to all of you. Sorry, Finn, I tried to get your balls back from Rachel, but she's got those on lockdown."
Finn looked in his glass. There was a guitar pick and a shot glass. "Guitar pick. Sweet."
"And a shot glass that says Dinosaurs on Ice."
"Why does mine say, 'Drink till she's cute'?" Blaine asked.
"Had the picks inscribed with 'The Dudes of Glee 2012.' Shot glasses all say different things 'cause I jacked them from houses I clean pools at," Puck explained.
"Thanks, man. What's this for?" Blaine asked.
"The clock's ticking, the time's coming when we're all gonna have to say adios. Some of us, forever. I want to make sure you guys remember all the broments that we had together, and the great things we accomplished, forever. I know I haven't always been the perfect friend or teammate, but you've stuck by me, forgiven me for sleeping with your women. Not everyone in my life has done that. One cougar's husband even chased me around with a gun. Anyways... I'm only gonna say this once... but I'm going to miss all of you. I love you guys. Cheers," Puck said before they all clinked their glasses together.
Time really was running out. The four other boys in this room were four of Finn's closest friends. After graduation, the five of them may never even be in the same city again.
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