Hey guys. Thanks for the reviews on the last chapter. I'm so happy that I can write Finchel interactions again. I missed doing this so much. Since I was so excited to write for Finchel again, I extended their phone call and added in another :) Hope you guys enjoy this chapter and review if you want me to keep going!
Chapter 79: Swan Song
Finn ran to the choir room with the other alumni, where Marley was being carried in by Ryder and Jake, with the rest of the group following them in. "Give her some room. She needs space! Breathe, girl, breathe!" Unique called out.
"Does anyone have anything she can eat?" Kitty asked.
"I have some leftover Halloween candy in my locker," Tina suggested.
"I may have a juice box," Blaine said.
"This is bad," Artie said. "Never in the history of show choir competitions has anyone ever fainted."
Blaine came back and threw a juice box at Marley. "We got the juice."
"No, I'm okay," Marley said.
"Drink the damn juice!" Kitty demanded.
Finn finally moved in. "Marley, are you okay? What happened?"
"She hasn't been eating," Jake said. "She's been skipping lunch."
Santana eyed Kitty. "Is that because you've been telling her to? You trying to turn her into a damn rexy?"
Kitty looked shocked. "What? would I why would I want that?"
"Cause you're a crazy, evil bitch," Santana snapped.
That got Finn thinking. He knew Marley and Kitty didn't get along... but this? He was going to need to talk to Kitty and Marley about this. How had he let this happen under his watch? He was supposed to always have his eye on these kids... and apparently one of them was doing something horrible to another without his knowledge.
Mr. Schue came in. "Hey, Marley, you all right?"
"The nurse is on the way, Mr. Schue."
"Santana, Puck, you stay here with Marley," Mr. Schue said. "The rest of you guys, get back up there. Leaving the stage mid-competition, for any reason, is risking immediate disqualification."
Wasn't Marley's health more imporant? "What?! That's a rule?"
Coach Sylvester came in. "Yeah, it's a rule. One of the bylaws, actually. As all of you all were spiraling into a self-created K-hole of crazy, the judges, by unanimous vote, have declared the Warblers victorious." She smirked at Finn. "Hey, congratulations, Finn Hudson. For the first time in its charmed, yet pitiful existence, the New Directions has lost Sectionals. But here's the good news: Christmas came early for one Sue Sylvester."
Finn couldn't blieve it. He'd failed. Yet again. Was there any hope for him? It felt like anything he did these days was a big failure. Mr. Schue patted Finn on the back sympathetically as Finn tried to think of something to say.
He knew one thing. He did need to talk to Kitty and Marley about what Santana was so sure about. "What's this about Kitty trying to give Marley an eating disorder?"
"Well... when we did Grease, she was in the bathroom, sticking her fingers down her throat," Ryder admitted.
"What?" Finn gasped.
"Oh, I knew it!" Santana said. "Marley looked like she was going to throw up when the girls were getting tips from us, and then I found some laxatives in her bag."
Finn looked at Kitty, who was looking pretty guilty. "Well?"
"Yes," Kitty admitted.
"You did give those to her?" Finn demanded.
"Why would you do that?" Unique asked.
"I shouldn't have done that," Kitty said.
"Hell yeah, you shouldn't," Finn snapped, his anger building up more and more as the nurse came in. "We're going to take her to the ER," the nurse said.
"Okay," Finn said. "Feel better, Marley. The rest of you, stay here. We're going to need to talk."
After Marley left with the nurse, Finn looked around the room, eyeing each glee club member. Finally, Ryder spoke. "I didn't think..."
"You didn't think what?" Finn asked.
"I didn't think it was this bad," Ryder admitted.
"Why did you do that to her?" Jake asked Kitty.
"I was mad that I lost you to her and lost the lead in the musical to her," Kitty admitted.
Finn couldn't believe what he was hearing. "That is no reason to put someone's life in danger! She could have died. You'll have other triumphs, Kitty. You could have had a Sectionals victory. But you don't, and none of us do."
x
Rachel sat in the apartment as Kurt talked on the phone. When Kurt hung up, he turned to Rachel. "That was Blaine. They lost. Apparently, the new girl, Marley, passed out on stage, and the Warblers won."
Rachel couldn't believe it. "Oh, my God. So, wait. That's it then. What are they going to do now?"
"I don't know," Kurt admitted. "I just feel bad for Blaine. If he was still with the Warblers, he'd be on his way to Regionals right now."
"You think I should call Finn?" Rachel asked.
"If you think it's gonna make him feel better," Kurt said.
Then Rachel had to once again remind herself that Finn didn't want to talk to her. "No. I don't, actually. It'll probably just make him feel worse. Imagine coming down from one loss just to be reminded of an even bigger one."
"Well, our friends' feelings aside, it's really woken me up to the idea of making the most of the chances that you have," Kurt said. "I've got one more chance of getting into NYADA, and I can't blow the audition."
Rachel hoped Kurt wouldn't give up. "It's not your last chance, okay? I mean, you can still reapply."
"No," Kurt denied. "I can't live my life chasing something that the universe is trying to tell me that I'm not good enough to achieve."
"It's not the universe, it's just Carmen Tibideaux," Rachel encouraged.
Kurt still looked discouraged. "Is there a difference? Speaking of Carmen, has she started passing out her golden tickets for the Winter Showcase yet?"
"No, and it doesn't matter, because I'm not getting one," Rachel said. "Alexandra Blasucci was the last freshman to get one in the past seven years, and she was practically raised on the Broadway stage. Wait. How do you even know about those tickets?"
"I've become very active on the NYADA blogs," Kurt explained. "I figured, the more I know, the better I can streamline my application and audition. The Winter Showcase is like the NYADA Met Ball. Ten students are invited to perform at the showcase a year. The cream of the cream. She handwrites and hand-delivers each invitation. Just getting invited is an honor. Former winners have gone on to win Emmys, Tonys, Golden Globes and even an Oscar. But they all agree. The proudest and greatest moment of their careers was when Carmen handed them that Golden Envelope."
Rachel sighed. "It's not like I'll get one."
x
Finn wasn't going to let glee club end.
But it was going to be tough. When he went to the choir room the next day, Sue Sylvester was there, and so were some of the cheerios. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. What's happening? What are you doing?"
"Hey, there, Lumps," Coach Sylvester said. "Just taking advantage of the high ceilings on this, my new rehearsal space. It is now the home of my brand-new French-Canadian, circus-inspired Cheerios! Side project, Sue du Soleil. Get rid of all this sparkly red stuff. It still smells like the Glee Club in here."
This was the choir room! "What are you talking about?"
"Well, when your season ended, with your loss at Sectionals, I filed the appropriate paperwork so that the Cheerios take full possession of this room, including everything in it your trophies, your beloved plaque with the late Lillian Adler... and I took her inspirational quotation, and I re-engraved something for myself here: I died a slow, horrible death choking on the fluid in my own lungs," Coach Sylvester lectured.
Who did this woman think she was? "You can't do this!" Finn demanded.
"Oh, I didn't do this," Coach Sylvester snapped, grabbing the trophy. "You did this, and now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to take your Nationals trophy, and I'm going to run over it with my car."
That was the last straw. Finn grabbed the trophy. "Over my dead body."
"Figgins' office. Now!" Coach Sylvester demanded.
Finn followed Coach Sylvester to Figgins' office, where Mr. Schue was waiting. "Mr. Schue, Coach Sylvester's taken over the choir room!"
"How could you have let this happen?" Mr. Schue asked Figgins.
"It's not rocket science, Will," Figgins said. "When the football team loses and the season is over, they are longer entitled to use the field!"
Finn tried to think of other places. "Fine. We'll use the auditorium."
"The auditorium now belongs to the McKinley High Drum and Bugle Corps," Figgins said.
"What about the Spanish Room?"
"I've rented it out to the Rotary Club."
"The history classroom?"
"Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous."
Finn had a feeling Coach Sylvester had something to do with this. "You're telling me that there's nowhere in this school that the Glee Club can rehearse?"
"That's exactly what I'm telling you, Finn Hudson," Figgins continued. "It's pure economics. The district is running a seven-figure deficit, and we're sitting on prime real estate."
"Let's face facts," Coach Sylvester interrupted. "The New Directions are finished. You have no place to practice or perform. The only thing left to do is to hand over the keys to the choir room and inform your students that Glee Club is over for the year, and if that's too much for your feeble constitution, I'm happy to do it for you."
Finn had enough of this woman. "No. I'll do it.
x
"Hey guys," Finn told the glee club. "I'm sorry that it's come to this, but we don't have any rehearsal spaces available. And with no competition..." He couldn't bring himself to say it.
"So, that's it? No more Glee?" Sam asked.
"Until next September," Mr. Schue said.
"Sugar already bailed," Artie pointed out.
"Can I just say what everyone is thinking?" Tina demanded. "This is Marley's fault. New Rachel, my butt. I knew Rachel Berry. I was friends with Rachel Berry, and you, Marley, are no Rachel Berry."
"Preach," Artie added.
The last thing the glee club needed. "Guys, guys, enough," Finn said. "It's not like it's over. The holiday concert is later this week, and we are going to be preparing for it all week long. If this is our swan song, let's make it the best one it can be."
"You really expect us to go up in front of the whole school and parade our loserdom for all to see?" Kitty snapped.
"Yeah, Kitty does have a point," Artie admitted. "We agreed to do the show when we thought it would be on the heels of another Sectionals victory. Now it just feels like a pity party."
"I love to sing and dance as much as anybody, but without a competition to prep for, it's hard to get motivated," Tina added.
Finn didn't know what to say. "I understand that we need a little shift in perspective, but let's just enjoy this week, and look forward to our big comeback next year."
"That's right," Mr. Schue encouraged.
"What about those of us who won't have a next year?" Sam asked.
Now Finn really didn't know what to say.
x
Rachel arrived at dance class, really not wanting to be there. With the winter showcase coming up, she was sure that Cassandra July was going to mock her. Carmen arrived into the classroom and handed Rachel an envelope. Could this be...
Rachel opened the envelope. It was an invitation to perform at the showcase. She'd been selected?
The other students applauded, but Cassandra didn't. She simply demanded the students go through the dance that they'd been practicing.
After about ten minutes, Rachel got thirsty and looked at Ms. July. "Can I go get a sip of water?"
"Of course," Ms. July said before turning to the class. "Everybody, stop." She turned back to Rachel. "Because that's what happens when you're thirsty on Broadway. You see, they stop the show so that mommy can hand you a sippy cup. Is this how you respond to getting a golden ticket?"
Rachel was only thirsty! "I'm not being a diva. I'm just dehydrated, and I've been working my butt off in this class, and I have gotten better."
"Three months in, you still have no stamina, no precision, and you think you can outperform Alexandra Blasucci at the Showcase?" Ms. July demanded. "That girl was born in toe shoes. You won't even be able to keep up."
"I've kept up with you," Rachel said. When she saw the look Ms. July was giving her, she realized she'd chosen the wrong words. "I just meant, with everything that you've thrown at me...
"I don't throw things," Ms. July snapped. "I teach. Nothing I do here is random or unintentional. It's not my fault that you don't understand my methods."
Rachel was tired of this. "And it's not my fault that you don't see how good I've become."
"Okay," Ms. July snapped. "Would you like to show me how good you've become? Show me that I'm not wasting my time? Fine." She turned to the students near the CD player. "Chicago, opening number. You familiar with it? Anybody else here can join in if they like, but this is between me and the platypus."
Rachel couldn't believe that a teacher was basically asking her to have a diva off. Sure, she was getting some backup, but during the song, she realized that her real talent was singing.
Cassandra: Come on babe
Why don't we paint the town?
And all that Jazz
I'm gonna rouge my knees
And roll my stockings down
And all that Jazz
Start the car
I know a whoopee spot
Where the gin is cold
The piano's hot
It's just a noisy hall
Where there's a nightly brawl
And all that Jazz
And all that jazz
Rachel: Slick your hair
And wear your buckle shoes
And all that Jazz
I hear the Father Dip
Is gonna blow the blues
And all that Jazz
Hold on, hon'
We're gonna bunny hug
I bought some aspirin
Down at United Drug
In case you shake apart
And want a brand new start
To do that Jazz!
Cassandra: Find a flask
We're playing fast and loose
And all that Jazz
Rachel: Right up here
Is where I store the juice
And all that Jazz
Cassandra: Come on, babe
We're gonna brush the sky
I bet you luck Lindy
Never flew so high
'Cause in the stratosphere
How could he lend an ear
To all that Jazz?
Rachel: Oh, you're gonna see your sheba shimmy shake
Rachel with NYADA Dance Students: And all that jazz
Cassandra: Oh, she's gonna shimmy 'till her garters break
Cassandra with NYADA Dance Students: And all that jazz
Rachel: Show her where to park her girdle
Oh, her mother's blood will curdle
NYADA Dance Students: If she'd hear her baby's squeal
Cassandra: For all
Rachel: That
Cassandra and Rachel: Jazz
All that Jazz
Cassandra: No, I'm no one's wife
Rachel: But oh, I love my life
Cassandra and Rachel: And all that Jazz!
That Jazz!
"Now do you see what I'm saying, Schwimmer? You're not good enough yet," Ms. July said at the end of the song.
"Maybe you're right," Rachel said. "Yeah, I'm not as good of a dancer as you are."
"Oh! Oh, you're finally learning something in here!" Ms. July exclaimed.
"But I'm just as good of a singer, maybe even better," Rachel added.
"You think anyone in here believes that? Because there's a big difference between self-confidence and delusion," Ms. July shouted.
Rachel was tired of arguing. "No one else has to believe it. No one but me. But thank you. You actually did teach me something, which is that if I'm going to win this showcase, the only way I'm gonna do it is with my voice."
x
Finn had managed to get some glee club time in the auditorium, but the glee club members didn't look ready to rehearse.
Instead, they all looked ready to join some extra curricular activities that weren't glee. Jake and Ryder were in basketball uniforms. Unique was on roller skates. Blaine and Tina were in cheerios uniforms. Artie was wearing a drum major uniform. "Lots of you guys are late," Finn pointed out.
"Lots of us joined other clubs that are actually in session," Jake said.
"I can't believe it's been, like, what, two days, that you've all gone in completely separate, and totally insane, directions, Finn snapped.
"We lost Sectionals," Tina protested. "Our season is over. You can't be upset that we've moved on. It's the healthy thing to do."
Finn looked at Tina in a cheerios uniform. "Is it really? Is it the healthy thing to do to take orders from Sue Sylvester for the rest of the school year?" He turned to Artie. "And Artie, man, you basically dragged me out of the tire shop, telling me that this club was part of my destiny somehow. What did you even join? Your costume is ridiculous. I looks like a peacock died on your head."
"It's called a plume," Artie corrected.
Finn had to get to the point. "Whatever! Okay, look, I'm not going to waste all six minutes I was able to book the auditorium for yelling at you guys."
"Six minutes?" Joe asked.
Finn nodded. "Yeah. Emperor Sylvester swooped in and carved the reservation hours into tenths. So the only other time I was able to get was 9:54, Friday night, and I'll be here ready to rehearse, and I hope you will, too. 'Cause if you don't, I think you're going to regret missing that opportunity for the rest of your lives."
"I'll definitely be here," Marley said.
"Yeah, well, we'd all be here if you hadn't face-planted at Sectionals," Tina snapped.
"Tina, enough," Finn sighed.
Tina left the auditorium, and just about everyone else did too. As Finn saw them leave, he couldn't help but feel a strong longing for Rachel. She'd know what to do right now.
x
Tonight was it, the showcase.
Rachel stood backstage, listening to the music Alexandra Blasucci was dancing to. This was the girl who Cassandra July was talking about. If this girl won the showcase, fine. But this was the only other opportunity Rachel would have to perform this semester, so she was going to make the best of it.
Brody came up. "Hey."
Not exactly who Rachel wanted to see. "Hey."
"You're nervous," Brody said. "I was, too, at my first showcase. Just remember what I said when we first met you're here because you're the best of the best."
That reminded Rachel of Finn's pep talks. She wished he was the one talking to her. "Well, that's very sweet. That was a very good pep talk. I don't know. I feel like I like I got this, you know? Look, I know I may not be a like, a typical beauty, and no one's gonna ever pay me to walk the runway on Fashion Week or I'm not gonna cure cancer, write the Great American Novel, but if you give me a stage to sing on, I know, in my gut, that there's no one that can beat me."
"I can't believe you can be so calm," Brody said.
"Oh, my God I'm terrified!" Rachel admitted. "But I know who I am and I know what I'm gonna do. I'm just gonna go out there like I'm never gonna get a chance to sing again."
"Well, I may not be able to cure anything either, but I'm smart enough to know never get in the way of a woman on a mission," Brody said. "So break a leg."
Another thing that reminded Rachel of Finn. But Finn didn't want her anymore, so she may as well let Brody in. She kissed him, figuring that maybe being with someone else could heal her heartache.
"What was that for?" Brody asked.
Rachel didn't want to say the real reason. "I think I'm just gonna start doing things like I'm never gonna get another chance to."
Kurt came over. "Hey! Uh, as sympathetic as I am at this particular act of a rom-com, Rachel, you're up."
Rachel went to the stage as she heard Carmen speak. "Our next performer is from the freshman class. Please welcome Miss Rachel Berry."
Rachel came on stage. "Hi, I'm Rachel Berry, and, um I'm just going to sing for you." She'd selected a Streisand song today, and this song had a particular meaning to her. In a way, it was to send a message to all the people who'd doubted her.
Rachel: Being good isn't good enough
Being good won't be good enough
Gotta fly and if I fall
That's the way it's gotta be
There's no other way for me
Being good just won't be good enough
I'll be the best or nothing at all
I'll try, am I strong enough?
If there's time, have I long enough?
Gotta fly and if I fall
That's the way it's gotta be
There's no other way for me
Being good just won't be good enough
I'll be the best or nothing at all
The audience seemed to like it. In fact, they were asking for an encore. Rachel couldn't believe it. She tried to think of something else. "Um, this is my favorite holiday song that I'd like to sing for you today," she said before starting to sing again.
Rachel: O Holy Night
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night
Of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world
In sin and error pining
Till He appeared
And the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope
The weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks
A new and glorious morn'
Fall on your knees
Oh, hear the angel voices
Oh night divine
Oh night when Christ was born
Oh night divine
Oh night
Oh night divine
Truly He taught us
To love one another
His law is love
And His gospel is peace (And His gospel is peace)
Chains shall He break
For the slave is our brother
And in His name
All oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy
In grateful chorus raise we
With all within us
Praise His holy name
Fall on your knees
Oh hear the angels voices
Oh night divine
O night when Christ was born
Oh night divine
Oh night
Oh night divine
Oh Night Divine
Rachel had to admit, this applause didn't feel quite as good as the applause she'd gotten at Nationals. She had a feeling she knew why. Carmen Tibideaux came up to her. "Rachel, that was wonderful. No it was superb. And now we're going to have a brief intermission, and when we come back, if he thinks he's ready, we'll have a performance from Mr. Hummel."
Rachel looked at the shocked look on Kurt's face as he ran out of the room. Rachel knew what this was. This was Kurt's retry, like Nationals had been hers.
"Carmen Tibideaux is an insane person," Kurt rambled when he saw Rachel. "Asking me to sing in front of the entire NYADA faculty? And all those theatrical luminaries? I mean, why would she do that?"
Rachel knew what this was. "She's giving you a second chance at your audition. She just wants to see how you perform under pressure."
"I'm gonna fail, that's what's gonna happen," Kurt rambled. "I have nothing prepared."
Rachel knew there were plenty of songs Kurt could do. "Oh, my God. You have an entire repertoire."
Kurt thought for a minute. "I guess I could do Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again."
Rachel knew someone else was doing a song from that show. "No Phantom, not in front of this crowd."
"With One Look? Sunset Boulevard?" Kurt suggested.
"Same thing," Rachel said.
"Being Alive?" Kurt asked.
Rachel knew that was perfect. "Yes. Oh, my God, I just got chills. That's perfect!"
"There's only one problem I think that's a song that Carmen hates and I can't do it without a costume or props!" Kurt rambled.
Rachel knew that Kurt was just trying to make excuses for himself. "You don't need any of that stuff!"
"Yes, I do," Kurt countered. "You know that I'm at my best when I have my careful assortment of bells and whistles, like steel scaffolding or my gold lamé pants."
"You said it yourself that is exactly what Carmen does not want to see," Rachel reminded Kurt. "You know when you were your absolute best? My favorite performance ever? When you sang I Want to Hold Your Hand in the choir room. It was so just simple and emotional and I don't know, I get chills every time I think about it. Do you remember that?"
"Of course I do," Kurt said. "But things were different my dad was in the hospital. I dedicated it to him. Who am I supposed to dedicate this to? Carmen?"
"To yourself," Rachel said. She went back to sit down as Kurt took the stage.
"Uh, hi," Kurt said. "I'm Kurt Hummel, and I'll be auditioning for the role of NYADA student. Tonight I am going to perform a song that I've loved since I was six. But I think for the first time in my life, I finally understand what it means."
Kurt: Someone to hold you too close
Someone to hurt you too deep
Someone to sit in your chair
To ruin your sleep
Someone to need you too much
Someone to know you too well
Someone to pull you up short
To put you through hell
Someone you have to let in
Someone whose feelings you spare
Someone who, like it or not
Will want you to share
A little, a lot
Someone to crowd you with love
Someone to force you to care
Someone to make you come through
Who'll always be there
As frightened as you
Of being alive
Being alive
Being alive
Being alive
Somebody, crowd me with love
Somebody, force me to care
Somebody, let me come through
I'll always be there
As frightened as you
To help us survive
Being alive
Being alive
Being alive
Rachel felt so proud of Kurt at the end of his performance. This was one of the best he'd ever sounded, as Kurt came back to his seat. "That was incredible," Rachel whispered. "You would have won if you were part of the official lineup."
"You think I might get in?" Kurt whispered.
Rachel knew she'd let Kurt in for sure. But there was no way to know with Carmen Tibideaux. "Yeah."
At the end of the showcase, Carmen came on stage. "Thank you, all of you. And the winner of the 2012 Winter Showcase is Miss Rachel Berry."
It was odd. As Rachel heard the applause, she didn't feel the sense of accomplishment she knew she was supposed to be feeling. Instead, she felt slightly empty. Without the boy she loved with her, things did feel less real.
As people began to file out of the round room, Rachel went to a hallway and dialed Finn's number. Maybe he would answer. She missed him. She just wanted to talk to him.
Sure enough, Finn picked up. "Rachel, it's Finn. You butt-dialed me again."
"Oh, I didn't butt-dial you," Rachel said. "I just wanted to hear your voice. Especially after..."
"Hearing we lost? That everyone's giving up and moving on? It's over," Finn rambled. "We're done competing for the year."
Rachel now remembered what was going on. "Finn, Glee Club isn't just about competing."
Finn groaned. "You kidding me? You live to compete. Kurt told me you were competing tonight. How'd it go?"
Now Rachel remembered why she really called. "I won."
"Great," Finn said. "That's ... Wow, uh congratulations."
Rachel thought right now, the glee club was more important than her showcase victory. "Finn, listen to me. You know, even if we we never won our Sectionals, or Nationals had never happened it still would have been worth it. I mean, Glee it's it's about the love of music. It's about people like Puck and Artie not just singing together, but actually being friends. And Brittany and Mike dancing just for fun when no one else is around. It's even about the romances. You know, they come and go, but they're just as important.
Look, those kids they respect you so much. And they look up to you, so don't let them give up on their dreams. Okay? Promise me one thing. Don't give up on yours. Okay?"
"I promise," Finn said. "I've missed you."
"I miss you too," Rachel said. "I'm sorry. About everything."
"Yeah," Finn agreed. "Me too."
"I really am sorry, Finn," Rachel admitted. "Maybe now isn't the time for us, but I really hate not talking."
"I know," Finn said. "When we lost Sectionals, and when every rehearsal place was taken away... I just wanted to call you."
"You could have," Rachel admitted.
"I know," Finn said. "I was being petty. You're too important a part of my life for me to cut you out of it."
"You're the only person who really knows me and gets me," Rachel said. "I just... I feel so alone at times. Even tonight, when I heard I won, it wasn't quite the same because you weren't here to share it with me."
"Really?" Finn asked.
"Yes, really," Rachel said.
"Well, remember our star?" Finn asked. "If you ever feel alone, you can just look up at it and talk to it."
Rachel smiled to herself. "Yeah."
"Well, I do need to get to our six minute practice tonight," Finn sighed. "But I'll call you again soon. I promise."
"Finn, you guys should find another place," Rachel said. "If nothing else, you could go to peoples' houses."
"Yeah, maybe," Finn said. "You go celebrate with Kurt."
"Okay," Rachel said. "Good luck." She smiled and hung up the phone as she saw Kurt coming over. "Was that him?" Kurt asked.
"Yeah," Rachel said. "Now it feels real."
"I hate to be the buzzkill, but aren't you forgetting something?" Kurt asked. "You kissed another guy a few hours ago..."
Crap. Rachel had forgotten. If she'd known - she wouldn't have kissed Brody. She'd made this bed, and now she had to sleep in it.
x
Finn felt so much better after talking to Rachel, but it was hard for his feelings to stay up when the only person who showed up to the six minute reservation was Marley. "No one else is coming, are they?" Finn asked.
"I don't think so," Marley admitted. "I had some good news for us, but maybe it doesn't matter anymore. I found a place where Glee Club can practice. It's not great, but I know for a fact that no one can kick us out."
"Where?" Finn asked.
"My mom said we can practice in the courtyard," Marley said. "We don't even need to make reservations."
"I'll e-mail everyone and see if we can meet there tomorrow," Finn told Marley. He got out his laptop and typed an e-mail, askign them to all come to the courtyard tomorrow.
But once again, only Marley showed up. It was cold outside, and Finn wondered if maybe he should have taken up on Rachel's suggestion and suggested they go to his house. "It gets dark so early now."
"I'm really sorry, Finn," Marley rambled.
Finn didn't like seeing Marley put herself down. "Marley, don't."
"No, I mean it," Marley sighed. "You're being so nice about this, but it's my fault. I was naive and insecure and self-centered, and now Glee Club's over."
"Well, you and I are still here, right?" Finn said. He began to sing, and Marley joined in eventually. But even more people arrived and started joining in the song.
Finn: There is freedom within
There is freedom without
Try to catch the deluge in a paper cup
There's a battle ahead
Many battles are lost
But you'll never see the end of the road
While you're traveling with me
Finn and Marley: Hey now, hey now
Don't dream it's over
Hey now, hey now
When the world comes in
They come
They come to build a wall between us
We know they won't win
Blaine and Tina: Now I'm towing my car
There's a hole in the roof
My possessions are causing me suspicion
But there's no proof
Brittany and Sam: In the paper today
Tales of war and of waste
But you turn right over to the TV page
New Directions: Hey now, hey now
Don't dream it's over
Hey now, hey now
When the world comes in
They come, they come
To build a wall between us
We know they won't win
Ahhhhh, ahhhh, ahh, ah (Tina: Ooo, yeah) (Finn: Hey now, hey now)
Ahhhhh, ahhhh, ahh, ah (Finn: Don't dream it's over)
Ahhhhh, ahhhh, ahh, ah (Tina: Don't dream 'til it's over)
Ahhhhh, ahhhh, ahh, ah (Finn: Yeah!) (Tina: Oh, whoa)
Finn and Tina: Now I'm walking again,
To the beat of a drum
And I'm counting the steps to the door of your heart
Blaine and Tina: Only shadows ahead (New Directions: Ahhhh, ahhh, ahh, ah)
Barely clearing the roof
Get to know the feeling of liberation and release
New Directions: Ahhhh!
(Marley: Oh, whoa, whoa!) Hey now, hey now
Don't dream it's over (Marley: Yeah, yeah, yeah!)
Hey now, hey now
When the world comes in
They come, they come
To build a wall between us
Finn: We know they won't win
No, they won't win, no
New Directions: Hey now, hey now
Don't dream it's over (Marley: Don't let them win)
Hey now, hey now
When the world comes in (Marley: When the world comes in)
They come, they come
Blaine and Sam: To build a wall between us
Tina: Hey now, hey now!
Blaine: Don't let them win
New Directions (Tina): Hey now, hey now (Oh yeah!)
Don't dream it's over (Blaine and Finn: Don't let them win)
Hey now, hey now (Oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh oh, yeah)
Don't dream it's over
Hey now, hey now
Don't dream it's over
"You guys are here," Finn said.
"Yeah, we're here," Blaine said.
"You still want to do this?" Finn asked.
"Of course," Tina said. "I'm sorry." She turned to Marley. "I'm really sorry..."
"I'm so glad you're all still here," Finn said. Maybe Rachel was right. Maybe she wasn't the only one who saw glee as being more than the competitions.
"Well, it's cold out here," Finn said. "What do you guys say we go over to my house and do some things there?"
The glee club agreed, and Finn smiled to himself. Maybe this was going to work after all.
x
Rachel arrived home from grocery shopping and saw Kurt with a letter in his hands, looking surprised. "Oh my God, what happened?"
"I got my NYADA letter," Kurt said. "I got in!"
"You got in!" Rachel cried, giving Kurt a big hug. "Oh my God!"
"You were right, Rachel!" Kurt said.
"Aren't I always?" Rachel asked.
"Well, yeah," Kurt laughed.
"Can I tell Blaine?" Rachel asked.
"I want to!" Kurt said.
"You are going to kick ass!" Rachel said.
"I guess it was meant to be," Kurt said.
"Yeah, me too," Rachel said.
"Oh, and I got a text from Blaine," Kurt added. "Glee club's back in session."
"That's amazing," Rachel said. "Things are finally working out again. You're in NYADA, glee club isn't over... and Finn and I are talking again."
"You missed him, didn't you?" Kurt asked.
Rachel nodded. "So much."
x
Finn had to admit, he felt a lot better now that glee club was practicing again. And he knew who he needed to thank. He picked up his phone and dialed Rachel's number.
Rachel picked up right away. "Hey!"
"Hey," Finn said. It felt good to hear that carefree tone in her voice. Sounded like old times, before they broke up.
"So, did you hear the good news?" Rachel asked.
"What good news?" Finn asked.
"Kurt got into NYADA!" Rachel said. "He had a retry audition at the showcase and he was absolutely perfect and he just got his letter today!"
"Really?" Finn asked. Kurt had told him that his retry had been at the showcase, but he didn't know that he'd hear back so soon.
"Yes," Rachel said. "He was perfect, Finn. I wish you could have heard him."
"I'll have to check the NYADA YouTube channel," Finn said. He figured he may as well admit that he'd been going to the NYADA YouTube channel. "I keep going there in hopes of finding a video of you singing."
"Really?" Rachel asked. "Well, first semester students only get to sing publicly twice: the debut and the winter showcase."
"Well, do you think videos of your performance will be online soon?" Finn asked.
"I don't know," Rachel said. "I hope so." She paused. "You know, Blaine told Kurt something about glee."
"Yes," Finn said. "We're back in session. We came to the courtyard, but it was too cold, so we went to my house."
"See, Finn, I told you," Rachel said. "The glee club's not over."
"Yeah," Finn said. "Thank you."
"Thank you for what?" Rachel asked.
"Just - thank you," Finn repeated.
"You're welcome," Rachel said.
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