Here it is, the big one. I know this is a long one, but there was so much in the episode I felt like I couldn't cut, and so much that I wanted to add in. If nothing else, you can skip over the songs in italics. The ending of this episode made me so angry (one of the three things on Glee that have made me angriest), but I tried my best to understand it. (I just wanted Finchel to get married!) Enjoy and review if I should keep going!
Chapter 69: Goodbye
"Goodbye." The word Mr. Schue had written on the whiteboard seemed so final. For the past few weeks Rachel had been in denial that graduation was coming up, but there was no way around it anymore. The end was in sight. On Friday night, she'd be crossing that stage and accepting her diploma.
Classes were over, and this week, students were just coming to the school for exams. However, since glee club was such a close group, they were meeting every day after school for a few last days together. Today, Monday, Mr. Schue had performed a song for the seniors, and the seniors were asked to perform a songs to say goodbye to the underclassmen, while the underclassmen were asked to perform a song to say goodbye to the seniors.
Freshman year and the beginning of sophomore year, Rachel wouldn't have imagined she would be so sad about graduating. But here she was, hoping she wouldn't cry on graduation night. Yes, she'd have the two most important people, Finn and Kurt, with her in New York. But Mercedes and Puck were going to be in LA, Quinn was going to be in Connecticut, Santana was going to be in Louisville, Mike was going to be in Chicago, and the group had just found out that Brittany would not be graduating, instead attending McKinley again in the fall with Blaine, Sam, Tina, Artie, Rory, Joe and Sugar.
Rachel's thoughts were interrupted when Kurt came up to her with the other glee girls. "Hey Rachel, what song are you going to do for the graduation assignment?" Mercedes asked.
"I'm not sure yet," Rachel said. Usually Rachel had lots of ideas for songs for the glee assignments, but she didn't know what would be the perfect song for now. This was such an unusual occasion, she wasn't sure what song would be just right.
"I know what I'm going to do," Kurt said. "Madonna's I'll Remember. It's perfect."
Kurt had found a good song. "You'll sound great on that," Rachel said.
"We'll also need to all do a group number," Santana said.
"Yeah," Rachel said. "It's crazy. This is it."
x
After exams the next day, the glee club gathered in the choir room. Today was Tuesday. Graduation was on Friday. Only two more meetings left after today.
Finn had picked out his song for the assignment, and he wanted to perform it today. He often tried to be private about his emotions, and he had so many emotions now, it was hard to cover them all up. This song was more upbeat, so he hoped it would help him deal with his feelings. Finn had also found what he thought was a great song for the seniors to sing to the underclassmen, and when he texted them to tell them his idea, they all liked the idea and wanted to do it the next day.
Mr. Schue arrived. "All right. Who's ready for their song?"
Before Finn had a chance, Kurt raised his hand. "Mr. Schue, if I may?"
"The floor's yours, Kurt," Mr. Schue said.
Kurt came and stood at the front of the room. "I wanted to dedicate my goodbye song to all of you, but I wanted to mostly thank the men in the room who have truly inspired me and never saw me for the things that made us different. You only saw me for the ways that were the same. Because in this room, it doesn't matter if you're gay or straight... what matters is that we're friends." The music began for Kurt's song, and Finn admitted it was a perfect choice.
Kurt: Say good-bye to not knowing when
The truth in my whole life began
Say good-bye to not knowing how to cry
You taught me that
And I'll remember the strength that you gave me
Now that I'm standing on my own
I'll remember the way that you saved me
I'll remember
Inside I was a child
That could not mend a broken wing
Outside I looked for a way
To teach my heart to sing
And I'll remember the love that you gave me
Now that I'm standing on my own
I'll remember the way that you changed me
I'll remember
I learned
To let go
Of the illusion that we can possess
I learned
To let go
I travel in stillness
And I'll remember
Happiness
I'll remember
Mmmmm...
Mmmmm...
And I'll remember the love that you gave me
Now that I'm standing on my own
I'll remember the way that you changed me
I'll remember
No I've never been afraid to cry
Now I finally have a reason why
I'll remember
No I've never been afraid to cry
Now I finally have a reason why
I'll remember
No I've never been afraid to cry
And I finally have a reason why
I'll remember
No I've never been afraid to cry
And I finally have a reason why
I'll remember
During Kurt's song, Finn noticed tears in many of the girls' eyes. He even felt a lump in his throat. The glee club members went up to hug Kurt, and after they all sat down, Mr. Schue spoke. "Kurt, that was beautiful. Who's next?"
Finn raised his hand. "Can I go?"
"Of course," Mr. Schue said.
Finn went to the front of the room, trying to think of the right thing to say. "Words are hard enough for me as it is, let alone when I'm trying to express how I feel about all of you guys. But if it wasn't for everyone in this room, I would be leaving this school if nothing. All of you helped me grow and you changed me in so many ways, so I wanted to say thanks. For everything." He tried to think of how to explain his goodbye song. "I just know that even though we won't be seeing each other every day anymore, we have a bond that can't be broken, and we'll be close for the rest of our lives." He handed his music to Brad and began to sing. His last solo as a glee club member.
Finn: Woah, woah
Woah, woah
Woah, woah
The sun will still shine tomorrow
So it's time for moving on
There's not a second for sorrow
Even though the moments gone
The puzzle has so many pieces
But you can't, you can't hide
'Cause life just keeps on living
And sooner or later you'll find
This is not the end, no
Your day is gonna come
This is not the end, no
You're not the only one
We all have our ups and all have our downs
That we have to find a way around
This is not the end, no, no, oh, oh, oh
This is not the end
Woah, woah
I know it's never easy
To pick yourself up again
Take a deep breath 'cuz you know that
It's time to look ahead
With one foot in front of other
That you can, you can fly
Into a better tomorrow
And leave yesterday behind
This is not the end, no
Your day is gonna come
This is not the end, no
You're not the only one
We all have our ups and all have our downs
That we have to find a way around
This is not the end, no, no, oh, oh, oh
This is not the end
Oh, oh, oh
Don't ever give up, no
Oh, oh, oh
It's just a start now
Oh, oh, oh
It's just a start now
This is not the end, no
Your day is gonna come
This is not the end, no
You're not the only one
We all have our ups and all have our downs
That we have to find a way around
This is not the end, no, no, oh, oh, oh
This is not the end
Oh, oh, oh
Don't ever give up, no
Oh, oh, oh
It's just a start now
We all have our ups and all have our downs
That we have to find a way around
This is not the end, no, no, oh, oh, oh
This is not the end
Woah, woah
When the glee club applauded Finn and hugged him, he sat down next to Rachel so the next few glee club members could perform their songs. Rachel leaned over to Finn. "Finn, we can't have one last week of glee club without a Finchel duet."
Of course. A Finchel duet. They needed to have one last Finchel duet in the choir room as the captains. "Do you have one in mind?" Finn whispered.
"I do," Rachel said.
"We'll have to practice it together," Finn said.
The other goodbye songs performed that day were also great for the occasion. Mercedes performed Alicia Keys's No One, Santana performed Whenever You Remember by Sarah McLachlan and Quinn performed I'll Always Remember You by Miley Cyrus. At the end of the practice, another idea came to Finn's mind, and he followed Kurt out of the choir room. "Hey Kurt, do you think Blaine's ready to take the reins as the male lead next year?"
Kurt smiled at Finn. "I know he is."
"Well, I was kind of hoping before graduation, he and I could sing a duet together," Finn said. Like a passing of the torch type thing."
"I bet he'd love that," Kurt said.
Rachel came up to the brothers. "Hey. Oh, thank goodness you guys are here. Okay, so I called Pace and NYADA and they sent out out acceptance letters this week."
"Oh, my God, that's so exciting," Kurt said.
Finn thought he'd done well, but there was no way to know for sure. "And like, totally terrifying."
"We need to make a pact," Rachel said. "When we get our letters, we open them together, in the choir room. These letters, you know, they're, like our future so I want to open mine with my two most important people. Deal?"
Whatever Finn's letter said, he'd feel happier or better if Kurt and Rachel were with him when he read it. "Deal."
"Deal. Pinkie swear?" Kurt asked.
Rachel giggled. "Yeah."
"All right," Finn said as the three of them locked their pinkies together.
"Nice song today, Finn." Finn turned and saw Blaine. "Other than Kurt's, it was probably the best."
Finn smiled. "Thanks. Actually, I was wondering if this week, you'd like to sing a duet with me. You're going to be the male lead next year, and it could be like me passing you the torch."
Blaine looked flattered. "I'd love that. If I were graduating, I know what song I'd sing, so maybe we could do it together."
"What song?" Finn asked.
"Good Riddance by Green Day," Blaine said.
"Let's do it!" Finn said.
x
The goodbye songs continued the next day. Rachel opened the glee club meeting with Beyonce's I Was Here, followed by Puck's performance of School's Out by Alice Cooper and Mike's performance of Graduation Day by the Beach Boys. Then, all eight graduating seniors were going to perform together. After Mike's solo, the other seniors went to the front of the room. "And now the seniors of McKinley High School, class of 2012, are going to sing for you. This is your glee club. Take care of it. It'll take care of you," Finn told the underclassmen as the music began.
Finn: One, two
One, two, three
Yaow!
Wake up kids
We've got the dreamer's disease
Age fourteen we got you down on your knees
So polite, you're busy still saying please
Mercedes and Rachel:
But when the night is falling
You cannot find the light, (Finn and Puck: light)
You feel your dreams are dying
Hold tight
New Directions seniors: You've got the music in you
Don't let go
You've got the music in you
One dance left
This world is gonna pull through
Don't give up
You've got a reason to live
Can't forget
We only get what we give
Puck: This whole damn world can fall apart
You'll be okay, follow your heart
You're in harms way, I'm right behind
Now say you're mine
New Directions seniors: You've got the music in you
Don't let go
You've got the music in you
One dance left
This world is gonna pull through
Don't give up
You've got a reason to live
Can't forget
We only get what we give
Don't let go
I feel the music in you
Don't Let go
Mercedes: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!
Finn: Health insurance rip off lying
FDA big bankers buying
Fake computer crashes dining
Cloning while they're multiplying
Fashion shoots with Beck and Hanson
Courtney Love and Marilyn Manson
You're all fakes
Run to your mansions
Come around
New Directions seniors: We'll kick you down yeah!
Don't let go
You got the music in you
Don't give up
You got the music in you (Mercedes: Ooooohh)
You got the music in you
During the chorus of the song, the seniors led the underclassmen to the front of the room and began dancing around them. At the end of the song, Finn, Rachel, Kurt, Santana, Mike, Puck, Mercedes and Quinn sat down, leaving Blaine, Sam, Artie, Tina, Brittany, Rory, Joe and Sugar standing at the front of the room, as if to symbolize that this was the glee club now.
x
Neither Finn nor Rachel had any finals the next day, so they looked at some chairs for the wedding reception. The venue had been booked, the catering had been ordered, the decorations order was placed, but this was the last thing that had to be done. "I don't know. I mean, when you're looking at both of them, it's really hard to not just want to go with the Chiavari," Rachel said, looking at the chairs.
"There's $20 difference between each of those chairs. That's, like, hundreds of dollars or something. We can't afford that," Finn pointed out.
Rachel wanted to think about something other than the budget for at least one aspect of her wedding. It was the biggest day of her life, and all anyone could think about was money. "Look, I compromised on the food, I compromised on the location, I compromised on the flowers. Does my butt really have to compromise on what it sits on?"
Finn looked down. "Maybe what you're really upset about is that you're compromising on your husband."
Rachel couldn't believe what Finn had just said. "Please, that is the one thing that I don't have any doubts about."
"Really? 'Cause you've been kind of giving me a weird vibe lately," Finn said.
Rachel was nervous about finding out about their futures, but she knew she wasn't nervous about Finn. "No. You're just projecting, all right? You're nervous about finding out about school, and you're putting it on me. Besides, when did you become the one that I was settling for? Look, I don't care who gets in where, all right? I'm marrying you, and nothing makes me happier. Even if we have to sit in these ugly fold-out chairs. Okay?"
Finn smiled. "Okay."
"So we'll get the fold out chairs," Rachel said.
x
Today was the last glee club meeting with the seniors as official members. It was hard to believe this day was really here. Finn would be graduating tomorrow and this chapter of his life was officially over. He had to admit, between his football championship, glee club titles, grade improvements, friendships, and engagement, high school had been a success. Now that he thought about it, he'd had a good audition for the Actor's Studio, so maybe he didn't need to be afraid anymore. In between the final exams, Finn decided to stop by to pick up his yearbook from Mr. Schue. When he gave it to Mr. Schue to sign after glee yesterday, Mr. Schue asked if he could hold on to it and find the right thing to say. Finn walked into Mr. Schue's office. "Hey. Just finishing up," Mr. Schue said as he handed Finn the yearbook.
"Lay it on me." Finn took the yearbook and read what Mr. Schue had written. "Dear Finn - been great knowing you. Will Schuester." He couldn't believe that the teacher who had asked him to be best man in his wedding had written such a generic message in his yearbook. "Are you kidding me? I'm, like, the best man at your wedding."
"It's not that bad. And you can't dictate what I write in your yearbook," Mr. Schue protested.
"Yes, I can," Finn shot back. "I want a little emotion in there. Some son I never had or little brother garbage or something."
"Look, I wanted to. I started ten times, and I couldn't get two words out without falling apart," Mr. Schue admitted.
Finn realized now that this was probably going to be a tough time for Mr. Schue as well. There would be new kids in the glee club last year, but this was the group that got it all started. "Well, I don't need a bunch of blah, blah in a book to remember you anyway." He started to leave.
"Finn, wait," Mr. Schue said. "I need to tell you something. Something I would rather not have written down anywhere. Please, have a seat. Um, when I first took over the glee club, we needed a male lead. I heard you singing in the shower in the locker room. REO Speedwagon."
Finn remembered. He would sing in the shower since that was the only place he felt comfortable singing before joining Glee. "Yeah."
"Yeah, you were really good," Mr. Schue continued. "So I planted the pot in your locker and blackmailed you into joining the glee club. It was wrong. Although I can't argue with the results, I've always hated myself for doing it. I'm very sorry, Finn. But I wanted you to know the truth before you left, so..."
So that was how the pot had gotten there. "You are so much cooler than I ever thought you were."
x
Finn went home before the glee club meeting. When he got home, something caught his eye. The photo of his dad. He'd been hoping to get his dad's status changed, but hadn't had any luck.
Carole came in. "Your graduation gown with the extra long sleeves just arrived." She noticed what Finn was looking at. "You know, you can have that thing if you want. It's probably the only thing that'll fit in your tiny little New York apartment, but it's yours to have."
"I can't help thinking I let him down, you know?" Finn admitted. "I feel like I could have spent more time writing that letter to the Army, or I could have wrote 50 letters to the Army, or I could have started one of those letter-writing campaigns, like they had for Friday Night Lights or something."
Carole looked at Finn. "You did everything you could do. Your dad made his choices, and the Army has rules, and there's nothing you could have done about either one of those things."
"I can't help feeling like something's not right. I did a lot of research, trying to get that honorable discharge status, and he did a lot of really great things in Kuwait, you know? He pulled two soldiers out of a burning truck. He saved their lives. They have kids now my age. He's a hero. And how is becoming an actor... how is that redemption for a man who did all that? Everything seems like it's fallen into place. Everything but him," Finn rambled.
"Finn, honey..." Carole began.
"What?" Finn asked.
"I know this is a tough time for you, but I hope you know that your dad is more than his dishonorable discharge and his drug problem," Carole said.
"Yeah, but what does the outside world think?" Finn asked. Part of the reason why he'd considered the army was that if he got a good reputation, it would be a way to help redeem his dad.
"That doesn't matter, does it?" Carole asked.
Finn sighed. Adults always said things like that. But it did matter. "I have to get to my glee club meeting. I'll see you later, Mom."
Finn drove to the meeting, only to discover that everyone else had already arrived. "Okay, seniors, the underclassmen have something they'd like to say to you," Mr. Schue said.
The underclassmen came to the front of the room and Artie spoke. "With all the dedications being thrown around McKinley this week, there was one that we wanted to make sure didn't get missed: Finn. Right now, you're something I never thought possible when I first rolled down these halls. You're my friend- our friend. Even before Glee Club was kind of cool, you had our backs. You were on the football team. You were one of the most popular kids in school. You had a lot to lose, and people forget the sacrifices you made. We wanted to thank you."
The song for the seniors was especially for Finn? He couldn't believe it. As they sang, he thought this was a good song for the entire glee club.
New Directions underclassmen: There are places I remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I've loved them all
But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
In my life I love you more
Finn went up to hug Artie. He couldn't believe that he had gotten special recognition. After the group sat down, Blaine looked at Finn. "Want to do our duet now?"
Finn nodded. "Of course." Then he realized something: the last song performed at the last glee club meeting with the seniors would be his and Rachel's duet.
"Mr. Schue, Finn and I have a song we'd like to sing," Blaine said.
"A junior-senior collaboration," Mr. Schue said. "I like that. Let's hear what you have."
Finn stood at the front of the choir room with Blaine. Singing with Blaine and having heard the underclassmen just sing, he knew that as sad as he was to be leaving, he knew the glee club would be in good hands.
Finn: Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go
Blaine: So make the best of this test, and don't ask why
It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time
Blaine and Finn: It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.
Blaine: So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind
Blaine and Finn: Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time
Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial
For what it's worth it was worth all the while
It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life
It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.
Finn: It's something unpredictable,
Blaine: but in the end it's right.
Blaine and Finn: I hope you had the time of your life.
"Great job, you guys!" Mr. Schue said at the end of the song.
"I can't believe this is the last meeting with the seniors," Tina said.
"Maybe could we end it how this glee club began: with me and Finn," Rachel said. "The two of us prepared a duet and we'd really like to do it."
"Like you said, that would be a fitting end to this era," Mr. Schue said. "Finn, Rachel, let's hear it."
Rachel: Hey, hey
So many things to do and say
But I can't seem to find my way
But I wanna know how
I know I'm meant for something else
But first I gotta find myself
But I don't know how
Rachel: Oh, why (Finn: Oh) do I reach (Finn: Oh) for the stars (Finn: Oh)
When I (Finn: Oh) don't have wings (Finn: Oh) to carry (Finn: Oh) me that far? (Finn: Oh, oh)
Finn and Rachel: I gotta have
Roots before branches
To know who I am
Before
I know who I wanna be
And faith to take chances
To live like I see
A place in this world for me, oh oh
Rachel: Sometimes I don't wanna feel
Finn: Sometimes I don't wanna feel
Rachel: And forget the pain is real
Finn: And forget the pain is real
Rachel: Put my head in the clouds
Finn: Oh, ooh
Rachel: Oh, I start to run and then I fall
Finn: Start to run and then I fall
Rachel: Seein' I can't get it all
Finn: Seein' I can't get it all
Rachel: Without my feet on the ground
Finn: Oh, ooh
Rachel: There's always a seed before there's a rose
The more (Finn: Oh) that it rains (Finn: Oh), the more I (Finn: Oh) will grow (Finn: Oh, oh)
Finn and Rachel: I've gotta have
Roots before branches
To know who I am
Before I
Know who I wanna be
And faith to take chances
To live like I see
A place in this world for me, oh oh
Rachel: Whatever comes, I know how to take it
Learn to be strong, I won't have to fake it
Oh, you're understanding, oh
But we can come and do what's best
Roaming north and south, east and west
But I'll still be standing
I'm standing
If I have
Finn and Rachel: Roots before branches
Rachel: To know who I am (Finn: To know who I am)
Finn and Rachel: Before I know who I'm gonna be
And faith, oh, to take chances
To live like I see a place in this world
Oh, oh, oh, ohh, ohh
Gotta have roots
Before branches
To know who I am
Before I
Rachel: Know who I wanna be (Finn: Who I wanna be)
Finn and Rachel: And faith
To take chances
And live like I see a place in this world
For me, oh oh
Rachel: I gotta have roots before branches, oh yeah
Rachel was crying by the end of the duet. Finn felt tears in his eyes as well. "Wow," Mr. Schue said. "That's a beautiful song to end this group's time in the glee club with."
"This is it, huh?" Rachel said.
"Yeah, I guess this is it," Finn said.
"I know I said this the other day, but thank you all so much," Rachel said. "I love you guys. You all helped me become not just a better singer, but a better person. I'm really going to miss all of you."
"I'm going to miss all of you, too," Finn said. "I did lots of sports, as you guys know, but this was the best part of high school for me. I've made friendships that I hope last forever."
"What we had in this room - the experience, the group bond - that's something that's always going to be a part of all of us, and you guys will keep it next year," Kurt added.
"I know this makes me sound lame, but I love you guys," Santana said. "And you've been here for me a lot these past three years."
"So do I," Mercedes said. "These people are my best friends and I feel like we all came into each other's lives for a reason."
"This group was here for me during the worst times of my life, and I'll always be thankful for that," Quinn said.
"Yeah, remember when I was throwing people into dumpsters?" Puck asked. "Thanks to glee, that's not who I am anymore."
"Being in this room and in this club with these people made us all into better men and women," Mike said.
"That's what you are now," Mr. Schue said, getting teary. "When the eight of you came here three years ago, you were boys and girls. Now, you're men and women. You're going to take on the world and we'll all be so proud as we watch you."
"Just visit us next year, okay?" Sam said. "I mean, you guys built this club and we're all going to miss you."
"Yeah, it won't be the same without you," Blaine said. "I just can't believe you're all actually graduating."
"And that this'll be me, Blaine, Sam, Tina and Brittany next year," Artie said. "We'll try our best to carry the reins."
Tina looked ready to cry. "We're going to miss you all so much."
"Lord Tubbington and I love you!" Brittany said before the whole group got into a big group hug.
"To the class of 2012: thank you so much," Mr. Schue said. "It was an honor."
x
Rachel had to go to the bathroom to cry after she left the glee club meeting. This was it. She was really done. When she stepped out of the stall, Quinn came in. "This freshman just gave me a hug and told me to never change. Poor thing is too young to realize that change can be so good. Just think, if we hadn't changed, we would have never been friends."
Rachel thought back to where they were three years ago. "Still so weird having you call me a friend."
Quinn handed Rachel what looked like a train ticket. "There."
"What's this?" Rachel asked.
"A Metro North pass from New York to New Haven," Quinn explained. "I got one for me into New York. Everybody keeps talking about staying in touch, and I want to make sure that we do."
Rachel gave Quinn a hug. "Thank you. It's so sweet."
" Although I'm still not 100% sure that I'm for teen weddings, I'm really happy that you and Finn are together. You guys were meant to be," Quinn said.
Rachel was glad the anti-wedding phase was over. "Yeah. Thank you." Then she realized there was someone she thought Quinn was meant to be with, too. "You know, it's weird because that's how I always felt about you and Puck."
Quinn looked surprised. "Ancient history."
"You know what I mean," Rachel said. "When you two were together, he was really at his best. You also really grew then. That was when you became more than just the head cheerleader."
"You think?" Quinn asked.
"Yeah," Rachel said.
x
Graduation day was here. Rachel put on her cap and gown and then walked down the stairs, seeing her dads waiting for her and taking pictures. "Oh my God, our baby girl's graduating high school!" Hiram said.
"We're so proud of you!" LeRoy added.
"Thank you," Rachel said, hugging her dads. Now that she was in her cap and gown and leaving for the ceremony soon, it was sinking in that graduation was really here.
Then the doorbell rang, interrupting Rachel's thoughts. She walked to the door with her dads, surprised to see who was on the other side. "Shelby!" Rachel gasped, giving her birth mother a hug. Rachel hadn't seen Shelby since she'd left McKinley after the Troubletones defeat at Sectionals.
"Hey," Shelby said. "Your dads invited me to come for graduation and I thought it might be a nice surprise for you."
"I'm so glad you're here," Rachel said. "Thank you so much."
"Of course I would have come anyway," Shelby said. "I couldn't miss this."
"Thank you," Rachel repeated.
"We should get going now," Hiram said.
"Let's go," Rachel said. This was it. She was graduating.
x
"Finn!"
Finn zipped up his gown as he went downstairs. Kurt was already in his graduation gown, and Burt, Carole and Blaine were all waiting. "Our sons are graduating!" Burt said.
"Please don't remind me of that," Blaine said.
"Hey, this'll be you in a year," Kurt said. "And then you'll come to New York with me, Rachel and Finn."
"Yeah," Blaine said.
"You guys ready?" Carole asked.
"Well, even if we weren't, it's time," Finn said.
"Let's go," Burt said.
The family drove to the school before Finn went backstage to join the other graduates. He saw Rachel in her gown and smiled. "Hey."
"Hey," Rachel said. "Can you believe it?"
"I can't," Finn said. "When we first arrived did you think this was how it would be today?"
"Not at all," Rachel said. "We had a good one, didn't we?"
"The best," Finn agreed.
Before either of them knew it, Figgins told the students it was time for the graduates to line up for the processional. As the opening notes to Pomp and Circumstance began, Finn thought back on the past four years. It was like Rachel had said, despite everything, he wouldn't have changed a thing. These four years had made him the man he'd become.
The ceremony opened with Mike's valedictorian speech, and the top ten percent of the class were recognized as well. When Finn heard his name called as part of the top ten percent, he couldn't believe it. His freshman year, he had a C- average. That became a B average sophomore year, A- junior year, and straight As this year. Rachel was recognized as the salutatorian as well, and Finn was so proud of her.
After the academic recognition, Finn and Puck went on stage to perform a song for the ceremony. Mr. Schue had groups of students try out with songs for the ceremony a few weeks ago and selected this one. This was another thing Finn thought would never happen, singing at his graduation ceremony. But as he sang, he admitted he was so glad he was selected.
Puck: Yeah. C'mon. Hoo!
I had a friend was a big baseball player
back in high school
He could throw that speedball by you
Make you look like a fool boy
Finn: Saw him the other night at this roadside bar
I was walking in, he was walking out
We went back inside sat down had a few drinks
but all he kept talking about was
Finn and Puck: Glory days well they'll pass you by
Glory days in the wink of a young girl's eye
Glory days, glory days
Finn: All right boy watch me working now! (Puck: Working now)
Puck: Now I think I'm going down to the well tonight
and I'm going to drink till I get my fill
And I hope when I get old I don't sit around thinking about it
but I probably will
Finn: Yeah, just sitting back trying to recapture
a little of the glory of, well time slips away
and leaves you with nothing mister but
boring stories of...
Finn and Puck: Glory days well they'll pass you by
Glory days in the wink of a young girl's eye
Glory days, glory days
Glory days well they'll pass you by
Glory days in the wink of a young girl's eye
Glory days, glory days
Finn: What about this!
All right!
Ooh yeah
Puck: All right!
Finn: Woah, c'mon now
Puck: Oh yeah
Finn: All right!
Puck: All right!
Finn: C'mon now
Puck: Oh yeah
Finn: All right boys!
Keep rockin' now!
Finn and Puck: Glory days!
After the song, the diplomas were awarded. As Finn accepted his, he went to wait for Rachel and pulled her in for a kiss after she got hers.
When the last diploma was awarded, Figgins announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you William McKinley High School's Class of 2012!"
The Class of 2012 were official graduates. They'd done it.
x
The day after graduation, Rachel, Finn and Kurt returned to the choir room to open their letters. Rachel really just wanted to open it and get it over with. Finn and Kurt didn't seem to have the same feelings though. "I'm seriously having trouble breathing right now," Kurt said.
"Are you guys ready?" Rachel asked.
"I kind of want to wait," Finn said.
"For how long?" Kurt asked.
"Forever," Finn said. "Just a couple more seconds, but this is the last moment before we know. After we open those envelopes, it's gonna change our entire lives no matter what's in it either way. I just kind of want another minute with you guys here like this."
"So who's first?" Kurt asked.
Finn picked up his envelope. "I'll go first. I got a good feeling about it."
"Look, no matter what happens, we're all here for each other," Rachel said.
Finn opened the envelope. "I didn't get in."
Rachel went over to Finn, attempting to comfort him. But what could she do? "It's okay," she murmured.
Finn looked sick. "Please, somebody else just open theirs. Come on."
"I'll go next," Kurt said, opening his. "I didn't get in."
Kurt hadn't either? This was a double blow. "Kurt, I'm so sorry," Rachel said.
"Your turn, Rachel," Finn said.
Rachel didn't care what hers said. Even if she got in, Finn and Kurt wouldn't be there with her. And she didn't want to go to New York alone.
Rachel opened her letter. The old version of herself would have been over the moon to read this letter. But the current version of her wasn't. "I got in."
Rachel saw Finn and Kurt smiling at her. "It doesn't matter though," Rachel said. "I'm not going."
"What?" Kurt asked.
"Not without the most important people in my life," Rachel said. "I was at the bottom for my first two years of high school. I'm not going to let that happen again."
"So you don't want to go?" Finn asked.
"One day," Rachel said. "But not now. I'll see if I can defer, and if I can't, I'll reapply or apply to another school. I'll spend this year helping you guys reapply and then we can all go together next year."
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Finn asked.
"I'm a million percent sure," Rachel said. "I can't be happy. Not without you." Not wanting Finn and Kurt to argue, Rachel left the choir room. Hopefully the wedding would take everyone's mind off this.
x
Finn couldn't believe what Rachel had said. She was giving up her lifelong dream. For him.
He knew she meant well, but what if she grew to resent him later?
Tomorrow they were getting married. Well, their wedding was scheduled for tomorrow.
Finn had been looking forward to this day ever since he bought the ring. Now it felt wrong. Rachel wanted to give up everything she'd ever dreamed of and worked for because of him.
Well, that was what she thought she wanted to do now. What would she think in a week? Or a month? Or a year? What if NYADA wouldn't take her again?
Finn couldn't let that happen. He couldn't let her dreams go up in smoke. She had to go to NYADA, now.
But what would that mean for them?
He didn't want to break up with her. But he hadn't gotten into colleges in New York, and that was where she needed to be. They'd broken up before and found their way back to each other before. It could happen again, right?
Finn wasn't sure if what he was about to do was the right thing, but maybe it was worth trying right now. He sighed and got out his phone, making a few calls.
x
Rachel's dads had told her that they were going to set up the venue and that Finn would pick her up to give her a ride to the wedding. She woke up that morning feeling so excited. Her wedding day was actually here. She went up to Finn's car and got in when he arrived. "Okay, so you have my dress and my shoes, and I have my makeup and my epic love for you. Let's get married."
"Okay," Finn said quietly.
The drive was quiet, which surprised Rachel. Maybe Finn was nervous. "My dads are still being kind of weird about the wedding. I brought it up last night and they were really quiet, but it's fine." This drive was taking longer than expected. "Are you sure that we're going the right way?"
Finn pulled up into a train station. "We're here."
This made no sense. "Are you joking? 'Cause it's not funny. We're gonna be late," Rachel told Finn.
Finn handed Rachel a train ticket. "You're on the 4:25 to New York. Your dads are gonna meet you there and they're gonna, they're gonna help you look at dorms at the new school. You're gonna spend four years of your life there and you've never even set foot in the place, so..."
"I have all year to go and look at it," Rachel protested.
"You're gonna go there in the fall. All right? You're not deferring. We're not getting married," Finn said.
Rachel's heart broke. "You don't want to marry me?"
"I want to marry you so badly I can't go through with it. Yeah, but the thought of you being stuck here for another year because of me, it makes me sick," Finn said.
Then why was he doing this? "Then come with me. Okay? We can get married in New York and live in a little shoebox apartment together. It'll be romantic," Rachel said.
"Do you love me?" Finn asked.
Rachel couldn't believe Finn was asking this. "Of course I do."
"Then tell me the truth and not just something you think I want to hear. Are you 100% sure you want to marry me?" Finn asked.
"No one is 100% sure of anything," Rachel said.
"I am. I am that sure you're something special. That this is just the beginning for you. Okay? That you're gonna do amazing things. But to get there, you got to have these experiences on your own..." Finn said.
Rachel didn't like where this was going. "Wait a minute. Wait a minute."
"Listen to me. You got to have these experiences on your own," Finn repeated.
Rachel now knew where this was going, and she didn't like it. "Wait a minute."
"I can't have to be there with you," Finn said.
Rachel decided to just ask it. "Wait a minute. Are you breaking up with me?"
"I'm setting you free," Finn said.
Rachel wanted to throw up. "Oh, my God."
"Look, do you know how hard this is for me? How many times I've cried about this?" Finn asked.
Rachel was so sick of this. Everyone had always just seen her as the Broadway girl, and now Finn was being that way. "No. I'm not going, not without you."
"You don't have a choice; I can't come with you," Finn said.
"Well, then I'll stay here! I'll go wherever it is that you're going!" Rachel said.
"Fort Benning, Georgia? Look, I need a chance to try and redeem my father, okay?" Finn revealed.
This was just even getting worse. "Oh, my God! Oh, my God, wait a minute. You're joining the Army? Are you insane? I can't believe that this is happening right now," Rachel said.
"It's also one of the places I knew you couldn't follow me. Look, you're gonna get on that train. Okay? And you're gonna go to New York, and you're gonna be a star. Without me. That's how much I love you. You know what we're gonna do? Surrender. I know how hard that is for you because of how hard you hold on to stuff. But we're just gonna, we're gonna sit here and we're just gonna let go. Okay, and-and let the universe do it's thing. And if we're meant to be together, then we're gonna be together. Whether it's in a little shoebox apartment in New York or on the other side of the world. Okay? Will you do that with me? Will you surrender?" Finn asked.
Rachel figured there was no use in arguing with Finn. "I love you so much."
"I love you," Finn whispered as he kissed Rachel.
Rachel couldn't help but cry as she said goodbye to her fellow glee club members and got on the train. As the train drove to New York, she continued to cry. The worst part was, the only person she could blame was herself. If she hadn't been so hell bent on this, Finn wouldn't have broken up with her. She'd tried to tell him that she didn't want to go without him, but he was worried she'd grow to resent him. Of course she wouldn't.
Rachel's heart had broken when Finn ran after the train. When the train arrived in New York, she wanted nothing more than to get on another train and go back home. But Finn was going to the army. She couldn't change the fact that he had broken up with her.
Her past self had now gotten everything she ever wanted. And her present self couldn't be more devastated.
10 reviews unlock Chapter 70!