Hi! Thanks for the reviews on the last chapter. Since the timeline between 4x4 and 4x5 wasn't clear, I'm going to say this was a week later and then 4x6 was four weeks after that so it gives the ND time to prepare for the musical. I know Rachel wasn't in the episode, but I added in some stuff :) Enjoy and review if I should keep going!

Chapter 75: The Role You Were Born To Play

It had been about a week since the breakup, and Rachel still wasn't feeling any better. Rachel and Kurt sat together in the living room in silence, not knowing what to say to each other. Rachel hadn't talked to Finn, and Kurt hadn't talked to Blaine. Neither of them had really talked to each other much either. Or anyone. Rachel didn't have the same sort of energy she used to. Everything reminded her of Finn. She was barely eating and barely sleeping.

She'd been the one to end things, but that hadn't been because she wanted to. She wanted to be together, she really did. But she didn't think it was the right time for them. Of course, by breaking up, questions remained. When would the right time come? Would it ever come? What if he met someone else?

Her thoughts were interrupted when the doorbell rang. "Could you get that?" Kurt asked.

"Sure," Rachel said. She went to the door and saw a UPS man with a package. "May I help you?"

The man held up a package. "Is there a Kurt Hummel here?"

Rachel recognized the handwriting. It was Blaine's. "Could you hold on a minute?" Rachel asked the delivery man before going to see Kurt. "Kurt, there's a package from Blaine..."

Kurt made a face. "Tell them they have the wrong address!" he snapped, with a look of hurt and anger Rachel didn't see very often.

"Okay," Rachel said. She went back to the door, told the delivery man that he had a wrong address and went back to Kurt.

"I wish he'd stop, Rachel," Kurt complained. "The calls, the texts, the e-mails, the flowers he sent me at Vogue, and now a package... I even unfriended him on Facebook and unfollowed him on Twitter."

Ouch. That had to hurt. At least Finn still kept Rachel in his Facebook friends and still followed her on Twitter. "Did you try talking to him?"

"There's nothing to talk about," Kurt said adamantly. "He cheated on me."

x

Finn didn't like working in the tire shop.

One of his fears had been that this was where he'd be spending the rest of his life working there. Now it looked like that was what was going to happen. He'd only agreed to work again to take his mind off things.

"Why do I always feel so at home in a tire shop?" Finn heard a voice say. He turned and saw Artie wheeling in. "That was a joke."

Finn knew he was supposed to be friendly, but he was feeling so sad right now, he couldn't. "What do you want, Artie? I got a lot of work to do."
"I just wanted to check in on you," Artie said. "You've had a rough couple of months, and I thought maybe you could use a friend."
"It's not that bad," Finn said sarcastically. "I just embarrassed myself out of the army, lost Rachel completely, and now I'm back in my hometown working in a tire shop. Figure maybe my luck will change soon and one of the lifts will break, and I'll get crushed by a car." When he saw Artie's offended expression, he realized he may have taken things too far. "I'm sorry, Artie. I appreciate what you're doing. You're a great friend. I'm just kind of sitting back and looking at the next 60 years of my life. It just sort of makes me want to puke, but it is what it is."
"Do you remember what I said when I dedicated that song to you last year?" Artie asked. "That you were my friend, my hero. I'm not gonna let you bury yourself in self-pity, Finn. You're better than that."

That was what Finn had heard his whole life, but clearly that wasn't the case. "You know, I've heard that a lot all my life, Artie. That I'm better than I think I am. Well, look around. Maybe I'm not."
"You just lost your confidence because you forgot your place," Artie said. "You're a creative person. You need to find an artistic outlet. Come codirect the musical with me. Grease was your idea."
Directing a musical would just remind Finn of Rachel. "I don't know how to direct a musical, Artie."
"Directing is about having an idea and convincing everyone around you to make it happen," Artie protested.
Finn shook his head. "I don't think so."
"Fine," Artie declared. "Then I'm not doing it, either, which means there is no musical."

Finn knew what a hit the musical had been this year. "You can't do that, man, hold the musical hostage. That's like terrorism."
Artie wouldn't budge. "Basically, Olivia Newton-John is strapped to my chest, and unless you codirect with me, I'm gonna blow her up. I'm serious, Finn. Trust me, as your friend, you need to do this. Just so you can look at the first month of the next 60 years of your life and not want to puke."

Directing the musical would be better than spending time in the tire shop. "Okay. I'll give it a try."

"Good!" Artie declared. "We have some auditions tomorrow after school. Meet me in the auditorium?"

"Sure," Finn said.

x

Being in the auditorium did remind Finn of Rachel.

Sam had been the first person to audition and said he wanted to play Kenickie because he liked the song Greased Lightning. Joe Hart had auditioned next, and then Tina tried out. Now Blaine was auditioning with Hopelessly Devoted To You. Watching Blaine perform, Finn could tell that Blaine was hurting. He was close to tears as he sang the song.

Finn knew he wasn't the only one hurting from a breakup. Blaine was clearly damaged by his breakup as well. Finn felt horrible for Blaine, not knowing what to do. He wanted to talk to Blaine about what it felt like to be broken up with by the love of their lives, but he also felt like being there for Blaine would be betraying Kurt to some degree.

As Blaine finished his song, Artie leaned over to Finn. "Say something."

"Like what?" Finn whispered back.

Artie looked at Blaine. "I think I speak for both of us when I say that though you auditioned with a Sandy song, you are the Danny Zuko of our dreams." He turned to Finn. "Right?"
"Yeah, yeah, totally," Finn said. "You were awesome."
Blaine broke down. "I can't. I'm sorry, I just can't, Finn. I didn't want to let you down, but Grease is a romance, and how can I play any of the scenes if I have ruined mine? Thank you for letting me audition, but I... I just can't."
"But wait," Artie called. "Is there any part you think you could play?"

Blaine paused. "I don't think so. Maybe teen angel. It's only one scene, but probably not." He left the stage.
Artie turned to Finn. "Wow, I've never seen Blaine so Masterpiece theater."

Finn noticed that Artie had seemed a lot more knowledgable at auditions. "Look, sorry, man. I know you're just trying to help, but this is a bad idea." He got up and started to leave.

Artie wheeled out behind Finn. "Finn, hold up. What was a bad idea?"

Finn turned to face Artie. "Me directing. I'm not qualified for any of this, Artie."

"You have to trust your instincts," Artie insisted. "But also, part of being a good director is surrounding yourself with the right people. The right choreographer and the right vocal coach, right? Just trust me. So I called in some favors, and the cavalry has just arrived."

Finn turned and saw Mike and Mercedes coming over. "What are you guys doing here?" he asked as he high fived Mike.

"Well, we're on fall break, so Artie suggested we come help out for the week," Mercedes said.

"That's awesome!" Finn said.

"So, you're directing?" Mercedes asked.

"We're helping Finn re-find himself," Artie declared.

"Breakups suck," Mike said. "I just didn't think long distance could work for me and Tina."

"Yeah, Sam didn't think it would work for us, either," Mercedes added.

At least Finn wasn't the only one who had a break up issues.

x

The next day, Marley, Unique, Brittany and Sugar all auditioned for the musical, and Finn and Artie asked Mike and Mercedes to meet with them in the choir room to talk about the casting process so far. "We have plenty of girls auditioning for Sandy, but we're gonna have a serious Danny Zuko problem if Blaine can't do it," Finn pointed out.
"What are the other options? How about Sam?" Mike asked.

Finn thought Sam would have been good, but he had a different role on mind. "He's got his heart set on Kenickie."
"Joe Hart?"

"Won't cut his dreads."
"Wait, what about Puck's brother? Can't he sing?" Mercedes asked.

"Not interested," Finn admitted. "Why is it that we can't find one dude to play the lead in the school play?"

"Well, there aren't a lot of dudes like you," Mike said. "Even Mr. Schue had that problem when he first started Glee Club. That's why he went looking for you."

Finn thought back to that. Mr. Schue had found Finn when he had trouble finding a male lead by going to see the football team and hearing him sing in the shower. Maybe one of the boys from the football team had it in him. "I'm going to go look around to see if i can find someone."

He left the choir room and went to football practice, where Coach Beiste was calling out to the players.

"Hey Coach," Finn said as he walked up to his coach.

"Finn!" Coach Beiste exclaimed. Then she turned back to her team on the field. "There's no prize for running the slowest! Come on!"

Finn looke at the field. "Good-looking bunch of recruits this year."
"Idiots on patrol," Coach Beiste relented. "But I'll knock them into shape. Heck, I coached you to a state championship. I'm kidding. You're one of a kind. I just wish you still believed that."

It did feel good to know that people still believed that. "Thanks, Coach. It's just kind of hard to feel that way about myself right now."
"Give it time," Coach Beiste encouraged. "You're going through the biggest change in your life. Guys like you always find their way."
"You think you got any guys like that out here today?" Finn asked. "Searching for some recruits of my own. We need a male lead for the musical." Then he saw one of the boys doing a dance at the end of the field. "What's his story?"
"Ryder Lynn, sophomore," Coach Beiste told Finn. "I think he flunked out of his old school, so they transferred him here. Sweet enough kid, but he's a loner and can't learn to play for his life, and if you ask me, I say he's got a lazy streak. Moves good, though. You want to know the thing about you that makes you special? It's not the singing or the dancing or the way you threw the ball. It's that you could move people."
"Figure that Ryder kid's got anything like that in him?" Finn asked.

"Maybe," Coach Beiste said. "If he had the right guy showing him the way. I know he has a study hall third period tomorrow."

Third period, Finn was going to go try to recruit this boy for the musical. He got out his phone and sent Artie a text. "I think I might have found someone. I'll let you know how things go."

Artie texted back. "Awesome! Get him to come audition after school tomorrow."

x

During third period the next day, Finn went into the study hall. First he needed to find a way to get the teacher out of the room. "Hey, Mr. Clippenger. Uh, you got a phone call in the teachers' lounge."

The teacher looked confused. "Why didn't they call my cell?"

With the teacher gone, Finn went up to Ryder. "Hey, what are you doing?"

Ryder looked up. "Uh, studying."
"In the study hall?" Finn asked. "I think you're the first."
"I've got to work twice as hard as everyone else to do half as well," Ryder explained. "I'm pulling a C- average since I got here, and if I don't get it up to a B, my parents are going to make me quit football, so whatever it takes, you know? I'm sorry who are you again?"

Finn realized he hadn't introduced himself yet. "Finn is my name. I graduated last year. Played football, too. Quarterback."
"Oh, awesome," Ryder said.
Finn remembered his low grades and how after he joined Glee, they went up. "I also had a C- average in my sophomore year, but I graduated with a B+."
"Are you serious? How did you do that?" Ryder asked.

"Glee Club," Finn said. "Learning the music and the choreography, it just opened up my brain somehow." Maybe that wasn't all. Maybe it was because Mr. Schue and Rachel had helped him out so much...
Ryder interrupted Finn's thoughts. "I'm not joining the Glee Club. I mean, I hear it's fun, but I've got too much on my plate already."
Finn got to the point. "Start slow, then. Come try out for the musical. Who knows? Maybe it could be like one of those gateway drugs."
"I don't sing," Ryder protested.
"Prove it," Finn said. "Auditions are at 4:00 in the auditorium. See you then." He then decided to leave, hoping that Ryder would come.

x

"So, do you think he'll come?" Artie asked Finn after school as they stood in the auditorium.

"I don't know, I hope so," Finn said.

"Me too," Artie said.

"I think Marley would be good as Sandy, we just need the right Danny," Finn said. He looked at the jukeboxes in front of Artie. "Are we using those?"

"Well, one of them," Artie said. "A director's job is to make choices. You have to pick one."

Finn didn't know which one would be right. "I don't know anything about jukeboxes, Artie."
Artie pointed at one. "Well, that one is a zodiac jukebox, this is a wurlitzer bubbler a knockoff, I'd imagine, because an original goes for around 40 grand." He pointed at the other. "And that one is a seeburg, you may recognize it from the opening credits of Happy Days."
The answer came to Finn. "Oh! Happy days is a show from the '50s, and so is Grease, so we should use this one, right?"

"No, that's the exact one we shouldn't use," Artie declared. "It's cliché. I say we go with the zodiac. But we're gonna have to change the records in it. It's filled with classic rock from the '80s."

As Artie started to wheel out, Ryder came in. "Hey."
Finn was glad Ryder had shown up. "Hey! Auditions aren't till 4:00, but..."

"I just want to make sure I'm doing everything I can to make my grades, and if I'm dumb, then so be it, but I want to be sure I didn't miss anything," Ryder said.
"Great," Finn said. "So you want to audition, then."
"As long as I don't have to sing," Ryder admitted.
Finn was reminded of himself from sophomore year. "You know, I used to be just like you. I didn't think that I could do it, either, but then I just did it. No thinking. I just started singing and It just started coming out of me and it felt awesome, like a really good poop. Bet you're a classic rock guy, right?" He turned on the jukebox and recognized the opening music of the song, and could tell by the look on Ryder's face that he knew it, too. "Follow my lead." Finn began singing the song, letting Ryder join in at the second verse.

Finn: Standing in the rain
With his head hung low
Couldn't get a ticket
It was a sold out show.
Heard the roar of the crowd
He could picture the scene.
Put his ear to the wall
Then like a distant scream.
He heard one guitar
Just blew him away
Saw stars in his eyes
And the very next day.
Ryder: Bought a beat up six string in a secondhand store
Didn't know how to play it
But he knew for sure
That one guitar
Felt good in his hands.
Didn't take long to understand.
Just one guitar
Slung way down low
Was a one-way ticket
Only one-way to go.
So he started rockin' ain't never gonna stop
Finn and Ryder: Gotta keep on rockin'
Ryder: Someday he's gonna make it to the top.
Finn and Ryder: And be a Juke Box Hero got stars in his eyes
Ryder: He's a Juke Box Hero.
Yeah
Finn: He took one guitar
Finn and Ryder: Juke Box Hero got stars in his eyes
Juke Box Hero he'll come alive tonight.
Ryder: He's gotta keep on rockin'
Finn: He just can't stop
Ryder: He just can't stop
Finn and Ryder: Gotta keep on rockin'
Finn: That boy has got to stay on top
Finn and Ryder: He's gonna be a Juke Box Hero got stars in his eyes.
He's a Juke Box Hero (Finn: Yeah)
(Ryder: Just one guitar) Juke Box Hero with stars in his eyes
Yeah, he's a Juke Box Hero
Juke Box Hero
Juke Box Hero he's got stars in his eyes
Stars in his eyes.

At the end of the song, Finn could tell Ryder had enjoyed himself. "Man, that was awesome. So what do you think? Should I audition?"

"Dude, you just did," Finn said. "How would you like to play Danny Zuko?"

"Really?" Ryder asked.

"Really," Finn said. "Do you know Marley Rose?"

"Yeah, she's in some of my classes," Ryder said.

"Well, she's who I'm thinking will be playing Sandy," Finn said. "And I think your voices will sound great together.

x

Finn was at a dilemma.

He was sure that Ryder and Marley would be playing the leads, but today Jake and Kitty had come to audition, and their audition had been pretty darn good. He wanted to get the casting done before Mike and Mercedes headed back to school so they could have the musical numbers down. "So, we know Sam's going to be Kenickie and Blaine's going to be Teen Angel," Mike said, putting their names on the board they had for the cast list.

"And Sugar would be good for Frenchy," Mercedes said. "The thing is, who for the two leads?"

"Okay, we need to do that thing where we call people back," Finn said. "What's that called?"

"Callbacks," the other three said.
"I don't know, I feel like Kitty has the inside track on Sandy," Artie said. "Sandy can't be brunette."
"Oh, like Maria couldn't be black?" Mercedes snapped.

Finn could think of other reasons why Mercedes hadn't gotten the part, but luckily Artie spoke. "That was a year ago, Mercedes. Let it go."
"Okay, so we call back all the Sandys and the Dannys," Finn said, trying not to start this discussion. "What about the rest?"

"Brittany for Cha-Cha, she's the best dancer," Mike said.

"You know, Tina would make a great Jan," Mercedes said. "It's too bad she won't audition because she refuses to be in the same room with Mike."
"Okay, what about Rizzo?" Finn said. "Now, I know it's way outside of the box, but I like Unique for it. He wants it so badly."
"So, we cast a brunette as Sandy and a guy as Rizzo," Artie lamented. "Who's directing this, Julie Taymor?"

"Think about how cool it would be to do something really different," Finn said.
"Though I don't agree with your choices, I appreciate your passion," Artie said. "It's nice to have the old Finn back."

Finn had to admit, he felt like he'd been refinding himself this week. But then Coach Sylvester came in and interrupted his thoughts. "Finn Hudson, in Principal Figgins' office now. Now, fatty!"

Finn followed Coach Sylvester to the office, where Mr. Schue was already sitting. "The twin idiots seated before you are poised to cast the she-male-fabulous Unique Adams as Rizzo in Grease, the already overly sexualized minstrel show featuring teen pregnancy and the ridiculously unnecessary lubrication of lightning," Coach Sylvester told Principal Figgins. "If they succeed, they will set a legal precedent that will clear the way for Unique to become a cheerio in the very year that I am set to notch my 1,000th tournament victory and become the winningest coach in cheerleading history."

This didn't make any sense. Why was Coach Sylvester so opposed to this? No one was forcing her to go to the show. And last year, she'd actually been supportive of the glee club...
"Wait, when did Unique say he wanted to be a cheerio?" Mr. Schue asked.

"Sue, I don't understand," Principal Figgins said. "Unique Adams is nothing more than an attractive, buxom young woman who's got it going on in all the right places. She's a brick house, Sue!"

So Principal Figgins didn't know that Unique was transgender? "Uh, Principal Figgins, Sue's right about that. Unique is definitely a guy."
The only way Unique was male was her anatomy. She was female in every other way, and Finn thought she would be great for Rizzo. "I don't see what the big deal is. If Unique identifies as a girl and dresses as a girl, she should be allowed to play one onstage."
"Cross-gendered casting is as old as theater itself. In Shakespeare's time, all the female roles were played by men," Mr. Schue said.
"In the last few years, McKinley's become the kind of place where all kinds of outcasts can feel free to follow their dreams. I don't think that should change just because Coach Sylvester's a bigot," Finn pointed out.
"You know, I'd think twice about calling someone a bigot who's had gay cheerios, both male and female on her squad, and who resigned her post as principal in protest because this school wasn't doing enough to protect a gay student from being bullied!" Coach Sylvester demanded. "But you do have a point there, mashed potato pants. We've become somewhat of a progressive bubble here at McKinley High, and I think that's due to the fact that the Glee Club is being run by a strange, weepy man-child who has lotion in his hair, but no adult friends. We live in Ohio, and if you choose to cast Rizzo with a naive, gender-confused boy in a dress, I guarantee you someone is going to raise a very public stink about it, and I don't think that's fair."
"Don't put this kid in danger because you want to make some grand gesture about how open-minded you are," Mr. Schue said.
"William, I spent the last year stifling my natural hatred for you and helping you win a Glee Club national championship," Coach Sylvester snapped. "Now is your moment to pay me back by putting a stop to this so I don't have to."
"It's not my call, Sue," Mr. Schue said. "Finn and Artie are running the musical this year, and I trust them implicitly."
"Enough!" Finn snapped. "With all due respect, this is none of your business. I'm the director. It's my decision."
"William, maybe you need to remind chubby-wan-Kenobi of the daily nightmare that is borne of being my enemy," Coach Sylvester demanded.

Finn was so tired of this woman always tearing people down when she had the program at the school with the most funding, the most attention and the most popular kids. "You can't threaten me, Sue. I've already lost my girlfriend, my future, my pride. I've nothing more to lose. I'm casting Unique, and that's all there is to it. And you know, I thought that you would have known more about being an underdog after you helped us win nationals and had a retarded baby, but you..." Then Coach Sylvester looked angry after Finn used that word. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that. That that was the wrong word to use. I apologize."

Coach Sylvester left the room, and Mr. Schue turned to Finn. "Finn, don't worry about her. Unique's great for Rizzo."

"I just hope Unique will be okay," Finn admitted.

"She will be," Mr. Schue said. "Coach Sylvester dishes out abuse, but she can't take it."

x

After the callbacks, Finn, Artie, Mike and Mercedes decided to cast Ryder as Danny and Marley as Sandy. They still wanted to cast Unique as Rizzo, but Finn felt like he owed Unique a talk before. He found Unique in the library and went up to her. "Hey. I came to talk to you about the play."
"I get it," Unique said. "I heard about Coach Sylvester's meltdown."
How had she found out? Finn would rather not talk about it. "I want to offer you the part."
"But what about Coach Sue?" Unique asked.

"Well, Coach Sue isn't directing the play. I am," Finn said. "So now all you got to worry about is getting a curly wig and learning the words to There Are Worse Things I Can Do and I'll take care of Coach Sue or anybody else who might try and sit on us."
"Unique knows the song and has the wig," Unique pointed out.
Finn smiled. "Good." He noticed Unique looking upset. "You okay?"
"I don't feel right the men's locker room, but I can't go into the girls'," Unique admitted. "And I don't feel right in men's clothing, but I can't wear dresses every day. It sucks to never know your place. It's just nice, for once, to feel like I found one."

Finn knew what Unique meant. "Yeah, it is. Well, before I post the cast list, I just need to that you're ready. 'Cause there's gonna be a lot of heat on you, and like I said, I can shield you from some of it, but at the end of the day, you're gonna be the one out on that stage."

"I want to do this," Unique told Finn.

"Good!" Finn said. "You'll be great."

x

Rachel and Kurt sat in their living room, watching TV. Kurt's phone rang. Kurt looked at his phone and then at Rachel. "It's Finn."

Rachel's heart broke. "Make sure he's okay."

"I'll put it on speaker," Kurt said. He answered the phone, putting Finn on speaker. "Hey Finn."

"Hey Kurt," Finn said. "How are you?" Rachel was both happy and sad to hear Finn sounding upbeat.

"I'm doing better," Kurt admitted. "How are you?"

"I'm doing better, too," Finn said. "Artie recruited me to direct the musical with him, and it's really helped me get back on my feet."

"That's so exciting," Kurt said. "What musical is it?"

"Grease," Finn said. Rachel was reminded of singing You're The One That I Want with Finn at his first Glee rehearsal.

"That's a great show," Kurt said. "So, who's playing who?"

"Some of the new kids are playing the leads," Finn said. "Sam's Kenickie, Blaine's Teen Angel, Tina's Jan, Brittany's Cha Cha, Sugar's Frenchy and Joe's Doody."

"I'm surprised Blaine's not Danny," Kurt said, as Rachel was surprised to hear Kurt mention Blaine's name without getting angry.

"He didn't want to," Finn said. "He's really beating himself up about what happened..."

"Well, he should," Kurt said, his bitter tone returning.

"How's she doing?" Finn asked.

"She's doing as well as she can," Kurt said. Rachel thought that was accurate. "You know, you can call her and ask her that."

"I can't," Finn said. "Not now."

Rachel's fear was realized. Finn didn't want to talk to her. He might not want to talk to her again, or get back together. But at least he was doing better.

x

As Finn sat in the choir room looking into special effects for the musical, Mr. Schue came in. "How you doing, buddy?"

"Good," Finn said. "But how am I supposed to make a car fly onstage in the auditorium?"

"You're really throwing yourself into the musical, huh?" Mr. Schue asked. "I guess they're wrong when they say you can't go home again."
"Well, it's not being in high school again," Finn explained. "I'm not interested in that. I guess it's just nice helping other people's dreams come true."
"It's called being a teacher," Mr. Schue said. "I'm really gonna miss it."

Was Mr. Schue leaving McKinley? "Wait, what do you mean?"

"I'm leaving," Mr. Schue told Finn. "Not for good, but for a few months. I'm going to Washington to fight to keep the as alive in our schools. I figure if I don't take a stand now, there won't be auditoriums left to fly cars in."
"But, Mr. Schue, you can't just leave the Glee Club like that, with no one in charge," Finn protested. "They need you."

Mr. Schue looked at Finn. "No, they need a leader. Someone who understands how to win, but also understands that winning is not more important than doing the right thing, or taking care of each other. Someone who's really good at making kids' dreams come true. I spoke to Principal Figgins about it, and since Glee Club is not an actual class, we don't need a certified teacher to run it. We just need an adult."

Was Mr. Schue suggesting Finn sub for him? "Mr. Schue, I'm not an adult."
"First of all, I think maybe it's time you start calling me Will," Mr. Schue said. "And second how you stood up to Sue. How you went out and found Ryder. You're ready. And if you're willing, then I can promise you that there's no greater joy in the world than helping a young boy like you turn into a man. It's three months. So will you do it? Will you take over the Glee Club?"

"You really think I can?" Finn asked.

"I know you can," Mr. Schue said. "Just think about it for a few days."

10 reviews unlock Chapter 76!