Hey. So here it is - the last episode featuring Finn. In some ways, I like to think of this as the last episode of Glee ever because I don't like the idea of Glee without Finn and Finchel. However, I will put Finchel moments in the last three Season 4 episodes, and then my Season 5 and Season 6 are what comes next in this universe. Enjoy this chapter and review if I should keep going!
Chapter 89: Sweet Dreams
"Well, here we are," Carole said as she and But arrived at Geneva Hall at University of Lima with Finn. "You're a college student now."
"It's crazy," Burt said. "We're empty nesters."
Finn looked around the dorm room. His roommate wasn't here right now, but the bottom bunk was the empty one, so this one would probably be Finn's. "I can't believe I'm here," Finn said.
"It happened so fast, didn't it?" Carole said. "Since they're on quarters instead of semesters, you could start right away."
"I know," Finn said. "I'm kind of nervous."
"Hey, you'll be okay," Burt said. "You did get a scholarship, didn't you?"
Finn smiled to himself. "Yeah, I did."
"So you'll be okay," Burt said. "I'm sure you'll have lots of friends in no time."
Carole started putting Finn's clothes in the dresser drawers. "Honey, please try to at least keep your room clean enough."
Finn smirked. "I'll do my best." He reached into his bag and found a framed photo of him and Rachel. He put the photo on his dresser and looked at it for a few seconds. What would Rachel think of this? He'd gotten a Facebook message from Brody saying that he told Rachel about what happened... what would Rachel think of that?
"You okay?" Carole asked Finn.
"Yeah, just nervous," Finn admitted.
"You're going to do fine," Carole said. "You don't need to worry."
"Okay," Finn said.
x
It was the first day of classes, and Finn was surprised. Sure, they seemed harder than high school ones, but not too bad. As he went back to his dorm, he saw a group of students dancing in the hall. He danced with them for a few minutes before going to his room. In the middle of the floor was a sleeping bag that clearly had a body in it. Maybe now Finn could finally meet his roommate. He tapped on the bag. "Hey. Get up."
But Finn knew who the guy who popped out of the bag was - and this wasn't the guy whose name was on the door. "Puck! What are you doing here?"
"I live here now!" Puck declared.
"What?" Finn asked. "Which dorm?"
Puck tapped the top bunk. "This one. Like, right here. Top bunk."
"What happened to Lee Hei?" Finn asked.
"Hei's no longer," Puck said. "He moved out a couple hours ago. I told him if he hoped to get any studying done this year, he should probably find another room."
Finn had to admit, having one of his friends since childhood as his roommate was a nice surprise. "I can't believe you're going here. What are you taking?"
"Taking?" Puck asked. "You mean, like, classes? Dude, I'm just here for my bro, some brews and the bountiful Bettys. I love college!"
x
The first week of classes had gone well, and Finn and Puck's dorm hall had set up a slip-n-slide in the hallway. As Finn prepared grilled cheese as snacks, Finn heard Puck speaking. "Mr. Schue! Hey! Welcome to Geneva Hall, aka Chez Puckerman."
Mr. Schue was here? Why was he here? Was he going to give Finn a hard time about what had happened again? Finn wasn't up to that emotional manipulation.
"Noah, I didn't know you were enrolled here," Mr. Schue said.
"Well, I'm not technically enrolled, but, you know, I'm just auditing a few classes," Puck said.
"Do you even know what that means?" Mr. Schue asked.
"Got to go," Puck said, going down the slip n slide as Mr. Schue came over to Finn. "Looks like you're really having the college experience. I hope you're finding time to make it to class."
Finn looked at his former teacher. He didn't want to be lectured. He'd apologized and Mr. Schue wouldn't accept his apologies. "You know, Mr. Schue, I don't need you to come into my house and tell me how to live my life." How did Mr. Schue know where he was anyway?
"You're right," Mr. Schue said. "Look, I came here to apologize. I was still stinging from what happened at the wedding and then when you told me about kissing Emma, I totally mishandled the situation. And now I really see that we only have so many days, you know? I want you to come back and help me coach the glee club. They need you. I need you."
Finn missed coaching the glee club. That was true. But he could get a teaching degree and coach his own glee club. And he didn't want Mr. Schue to keep treating him like scum.
Puck came over and interrupted Finn's thoughts. "Finn! I just got us invited to the Delta Kappa Chi frat party tonight. It's supposed to be the biggest party of the year. I got to shave my hello giggles. Good to see you, Mr. Schue."
Mr. Schue and Puck hugged. "Thanks Puck." Mr. Schue turned back to Finn.
"Thanks, but no, thanks," Finn said.
Mr. Schue looked upset. "I'm not expecting things to just go back to normal right away. I'm willing to work at this."
"Well, I'm not," Finn said. "There's just some things you can't come back from. It's a nice offer, but as you can see, I'm pretty busy with college." Finn decided that this could be a fresh start for him. He ran ahead and ran down the slip n slide as the other college students cheered.
x
Rachel couldn't believe her audition was in a week. Since she knew all the songs from Funny Girl, she knew this shouldn't be a problem. She handed her sheet music to the piano player at NYADA. "Okay, so let's start with the Funny Girl classics. I know them by heart. But anyway, I just want to go over..."
Rachel heard a voice. "I always seem to find you the piano, rehearsing."
Then Rachel looked up and saw her mother. "Shelby." She ran up to hug Shelby. "Oh, my God, what are you doing here?!"
"I'm trying to track you down," Shelby said. "I wanted to find you before your Funny Girl audition."
Rachel had considered asking Shelby for help, but she knew that Broadway was a sore subject for Shelby. "You found out about that?"
"We're Facebook friends, Rachel," Shelby explained. "You started posting as Barbra. I noticed."
Maybe Shelby was hurt that Rachel hadn't come to her. They had gotten coffee a few times now that they were both in New York. "Look, I'm sorry, okay? I just felt a little weird. You know, I know that you have the same affection with Funny Girl as I do, and I just..."
"You didn't want to remind me that I never got to play the role, and now it's too late?" Shelby asked, as if she was reading Rachel's mind. "I love my life. I do. It's not the life that I always imagined I'd be living, but I have Beth, and I have this new Broadway Daycare business, and we're both in the same city now, so I get to see you a lot more. I have no regrets. In fact, as much as it was my dream to maybe study at a school like NYADA, and, um, perform songs like that on a Broadway stage, my bigger, better dream now is to see my incredibly beautiful daughter perform those songs."
Rachel felt so touched as Shelby took the sheet music. "Just not at your audition. Honey, you can't do Barbra."
No Barbra? But Barbra WAS Fanny. "What?! No. Fanny Brice is the most iconic role... Okay, this is this is the only way to do it."
"Yeah, Hamlet's an iconic role, and it's been done differently and successfully by Laurence Olivier, Kenneth Branagh, Richard Burton, Keanu Reeves..." Shelby began.
"Okay, Hamlet is different," Rachel interrupted. "This is Fanny."
"Yes, and they cast Barbra as Fanny because she was one-of-a-kind," Shelby pointed out. "She was an original. If the producers are smart, they're not gonna be looking for some carbon copy. They're gonna want a fresh interpretation, someone that can put their own stamp on the role."
Rachel realized Shelby had a point. Rachel Berry needed to play this role. She wanted to gain fame as Rachel Berry, not Barbra 2.0. "Well, I've just been learning Barbra's entire repertoire, so..."
"It's okay," Shelby said. "You have time. We'll find something. I'll help you." She got out some music. "This may not be 100% right, but maybe it will inspire you. And any excuse to sing next to you."
Shelby began the song and Rachel joined in. She always did love singing with Shelby.
Shelby: You won't find him drinking under tables
Rolling dice or staying out 'til three
You won't ever find him being unfaithful
You will find him, you'll find him next to me
Rachel: You won't find him trying to chase the devil
For money, fame, for power, out of greed
You won't ever find him where the rest go
You will find him, you'll find him next to me
Next to me
Ooh, ooh
Shelby: Next to me
Ooh, ooh
Rachel and Shelby: Next to me
Ooh, ooh
You will find him,
You'll find him next to me
Rachel: When the money's spent
And all my friends have vanished
And I can't seem to find no help or love for free
Shelby: I know there's no need for me to panic
'Cause I'll find him, I'll find him next to me
Rachel: Oh, the skies are grey
And all the doors are closing
Shelby: And the rising pressure makes it hard to breathe (Rachel: Hard to breathe)
Rachel and Shelby: When all I need is a hand
to stop the tears from falling
I will find him,
I'll find him next to me
Rachel (Shelby): Next to me (Next to me)
Rachel and Shelby: Ooh, ooh
Rachel (Shelby): Next to me (Next to me)
Rachel and Shelby: Ooh, ooh
Rachel (Shelby): Next to me (Next to me)
Rachel and Shelby: Ooh, ooh
I will find him,
I'll find him next to me
Rachel: When the end has come
and buildings falling down fast
Shelby: When we spoilt the land
and dried up all the sea
Rachel: When everyone has lost their heads around us
Rachel and Shelby: You will find him,
you'll find him next to me
Rachel (Shelby): Next to me (Next to me)
Oh, (Ooh, Ooh) Woah!
Shelby: Next to me
Rachel and Shelby: Ooh, ooh
Next to me, yeah
Oh woah!
You will find him,
you'll find him
Rachel: Next to me
Shelby: Next to me, yeah!
Rachel: Next to me
Rachel and Shelby: Next to me
Yeah, yeah!
Shelby: Next to me (Rachel: Next to me!)
Rachel: Oh, yeah
Shelby: Oh, yeah
Next to me
Rachel: Next to me
Rachel and Shelby: Yeah, yeah!
You will find him,
you'll find him next to me (Shelby: Yeah)
"Thank you," Rachel said. "I'm going to find a good song."
"You will," Shelby said. "I know you will. I'm so proud of you and you're going to get the role."
Rachel smiled. "Thank you."
"So, how've you been?" Shelby asked. "It has been a while."
"I'm doing well," Rachel admitted. "The first few months were rough, but I'm doing better."
"What happened with you and your boyfriend?" Shelby asked. "I saw you guys broke up..."
"I'm still in love with my boyfriend from high school," Rachel admitted. "He and I were really in love in high school and I guess that it never went away."
"What about your New York boyfriend?" Shelby asked.
"Well, that's part of it," Rachel admitted. "I found out that he was a gigolo..."
Shelby looked shocked. "Rachel, are you okay?"
"Yeah," Rachel said. "Don't worry, I took a test and it came back clean."
"Good," Shelby said. "I wouldn't want you to get hurt."
"I'm going to be okay," Rachel said. She always did come back.
x
Finn had been thinking about his conversation with Mr. Schue. Mr. Schue had been unreasonable, but helping with the glee club had been one of the best experiences of Finn's life. He'd really grown as a person and a leader and he'd had some good times during a hard time. Finn arrived at the party with Puck, hoping that it would be a good distraction. Some of the guys were complaining that the stereo was broken, so Finn and Puck provided music, and the party guests seemed to enjoy it.
At the end of the party, two boys came up to Finn and Puck. "Dudes, I'm Matt Cromley, house president," one of the guys said. "This is Chip. He's in charge of pledging."
Did the boys want Finn and Puck in the fraternity? "You guys want us to pledge or something?"
"Under normal circumstances, we'd ask you to pledge," Chip said. "Then you'd have to go through a six-week hazing program."
"But dudes, this is our biggest party of the year, and when the stereo broke, we all thought it was ruined," Matt added.
"You saved our house and its honor and its position as top party house on campus," Chip continued.
"Well, Puck and I we do have musical training," Finn said.
The two guys shared a look. "Glee club? That's awesome. So, listen, even though you guys are apparently gay, we'd like to invite you to become brothers here. No hazing or anything. Just say yes, and you're in."
Now Finn was asked to join one of the top fraternities on campus? This was getting better and better!
x
Rachel had been thinking more and more about what Shelby had said to her. She needed the perfect song to sing for her audition. Kurt had suggested she sing something from Wicked, and Santana had suggested Amy Winehouse songs. Rachel had a feeling another Broadway song wouldn't be the best idea, and that Amy Winehouse songs weren't really right for her. Then the answer came to her. She knew who'd know the answer. She picked up her phone and dialed that person's number. After a few rings, Finn picked up the phone. "You're probably still pissed about Brody, so I'll start by saying that I'm sorry and that my hand still hurts. His face has sharp edges."
Finn thought Rachel as mad at him? She was glad Brody was gone. "Okay, I'm not I'm not mad. Actually, I think I owe you a debt of gratitude. Just, you know, I wish that you would've stayed and hung around a little longer."
"Next time, I promise," Finn said.
Rachel knew next time couldn't come soon enough. "So, how is college?"
"It's a dream come true," Finn said. "Parties with Puck..."
That was someone Rachel didn't expect to go to college. "Puck? Puck is there?"
"Yeah, he's here," Finn confirmed. "Long story, but it's amazing. Every night, we go out, we're meeting new people..."
"Well, then, that sounds amazing," Rachel said. She tried to think of the right way to ask Finn. "I, uh, actually I just, I needed to, um, to ask you something."
"Let me guess: Funny Girl auditions," Finn said.
Of course he knew. "I knew you'd remember. Finn, I can't believe that this moment is happening, and I know that this is a long shot, but I need to find the most perfect song to sing, and no Barbra."
"You're one of the most unique talents in the world," Finn said. "You always shine your brightest when you do something personal, something intimately important that defines you. So just do something that takes you back to the roots of your passion. That's what people want to see, and that's what makes the best impression. Make those producers fall in love with you in that moment on the stage. I know you have it in you."
At that moment, Rachel knew what to do. "Wow. Thank you, that was, uh perfect advice."
"You'll be great," Finn said. "Can't wait to come to a show sometime. Call me as soon as it's over, okay?"
x
Rachel stood in the stands, waiting her name to be called. She couldn't believe this moment was actually here. "Rachel Berry, hit the stage, you're up," a voice called.
Rachel went on stage. "Um hi. I'm Rachel Berry, and I'll be singing a classic."
As Rachel sang, her mind shot back to that first rehearsal. The first time the group had really felt like a group. The first time she and Finn had really sang together. The first time he gave her those looks. It was as if Finn, Kurt, Artie, Mercedes and Tina were on stage singing with her.
Rachel: Oooh
Just a small town girl
Livin' in a lonely world
She took the midnight train goin' anywhere
Just a city boy
Born and raised in South Detroit
He took the midnight train goin' anywhere
A singer in a smokey room
A smell of wine and cheap perfume
For a smile they can share the night
It goes on and on and on and on
Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Streetlights, people
Livin' just to find emotion
Hiding somewhere in the night!
Oooh!
Workin' hard to get my fill
Everybody wants a thrill
Payin' anything to roll the dice
Just one more time
Some will win
Some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues
Oh, the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on
Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Ooh Streetlights, people
Livin' just to find emotion
Hiding somewhere in the night!
Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feelin'
Streetlights, people, ooh!
Don't stop believin'
Hold on!
Street lights people, ooh!
Don't stop!
At the end of the song, Rachel was feeling more and more emotional. "Well, thank you, Ms. Berry," one of the female producers said. "That was something quite different."
"Rachel, suddenly, something happened to you in the middle of the song. What was going on there?" the male producer asked.
"I was thinking about my friends," Rachel said. "Um, how I wouldn't be the person I am today, standing in front of you, doing what I'm doing right now if they hadn't shown me that I could. If they hadn't believed in me."
Finn had told Rachel to call her as soon as it was over. She picked up her phone and called him. "Finn, I sang Don't Stop Believing and I think it went well."
"You did?" Finn asked. "That's perfect."
"You're the one who inspired me to sing it," Rachel said. "It.. I thought it would be perfect."
"That was perfect for you," Finn said. "I wish I could have heard you."
"So, how are you?" Rachel asked. "How are your classes?"
"Well, to be honest, I didn't go to class today," Finn said.
Rachel got worried. "Are you okay?"
"Puck and I went to a party over the weekend and we were invited to join a fraternity," Finn explained. "Every night there've been parties... I was so exhausted today."
Rachel didn't like the sound of that. "Finn!"
"What?" Finn asked.
"Finn, you didn't go to college to party," Rachel said. "You went there to become a teacher."
Finn sighed. "It's been fun..."
"Well, Finn, you should really think about this," Rachel said. "I want you to succeed and do well. I want you to be the best teacher ever."
x
Finn had been up late night, but it wasn't because of partying.
He was thinking about what Rachel had told him. He didn't come to college to party. He came to learn to teach. Then he felt Puck nudge him. "Dude!"
Puck threw a piece of paper at Finn. "Dude, yourself. What the hell is this?"
Finn looked at the paper. "Uh, it's from my sociology prof. Guess I missed a test.
No biggie." He looked at the clock. "Crap, what time is it? I'm late to play Frolf with that Cromley guy."
"Dude, it is a biggie," Puck interrupted. "It's a very biggie. Isn't that class one of your requirements for your teaching major?"
Finn knew that even though he'd missed a test, he'd be okay. "Don't worry, I'm gonna pass that class. The the final's worth, like, 60% of the grade. I'll just cram and ace it."
"Is that your dream? To barely skate through school and become a mediocre teacher?" Puck asked.
"Wait, since when do you care about school so much, man?" Finn asked. "You're not even in school."
"Dude," Puck lectured. "This isn't high school anymore. It's not just about potential. This is the real casaba. So you're a crappy high school student. Who cares? But if you're a crappy teacher, that means something. Look. This has been awesome. I'm having the time of my life. And doing it with my best bud is a dream come true. But last night, I was in bed with three chicks, and I was thinking, 'What is this all about for you, Puckerman?'"
"So, what'd you come up with?" Finn asked.
"I want to show all of 'em, everyone who ever crossed the street when I came down the sidewalk or didn't call on me in class 'cause they just assumed I'd fart my answer, or told me I'd be pumping gas someday that we are worth something," Puck said. "That we are more than they say we are. I'm not saying we need to stop having a good time, but partying this hard, skipping out on tests, that's their vision of who we are. Doesn't have to be ours."
Puck had a point. Just like Rachel had. "So what are you gonna do, like, enroll here now?"
"I still think school's for suckers, but I'm gonna stay here and write my screenplay and be on your ass that you become the best teacher that you can be," Puck said. "We've always known we were special. This is our chance to prove it. Yeah. I'll grab the iron and make us some grilled cheeses."
Finn had gotten some things to think about, but he knew one thing was still missing. So he decided to make some calls so that one thing wouldn't be missing anymore.
x
After classes, Finn went to McKinley and saw Mr. Schue in the auditorium. "Mr. Schue? You were right."
"About what?" Mr. Schue asked.
"Me," Finn admitted. "Needing to get my focus back. So I-I talked to the Dean of Students about your offer, and she said she's willing to give me college credit for all the time that I spend here helping out."
"Is that your way of saying apology accepted?" Mr. Schue asked.
"That's my way of saying I'm willing to come back," Finn said. "But if I do, things have got to be different. No more fetching your coffee or picking up your dry cleaning. I mean, I don't want to come back to be a gopher. It's got to be a partnership. I want to be treated like an equal. Like a - like a teacher. And then you bring your best and I bring my best and we go get another trophy."
Mr. Schue looked at Finn. "That all seems fair. But I also have a condition. Let's just move past this."
Finn gave Mr. Schue a hug. "Right!"
"Want to come with me to practice?" Mr. Schue asked.
"Yeah," Finn said. He followed Mr. Schue to the choir room and heard his teacher talking from outside. "So just about 20 years ago, I was sitting right where you are now. I was co-captain of the soccer team with a forehead full of acne and a dream of being the next Vanilla Ice. And standing right here was Mrs. Adler. She constantly mumbled to herself and she stuffed used Kleenex up her sleeves. We all were convinced that she was crazy. But you know what? That's why we loved her because we were crazy, too. This is the room that always felt like home. Maybe because we knew Lillian Adler loved music almost as much as she loved us. And that's how I feel about you. Every one of you. And I'm sorry if I made any of you feel like you don't have a voice in this room. You do. And I know someone else who does, too."
Finn figured now would be a good time for him to come in. As he came in, the glee club cheered. "Finn and I are gonna be working together as a team," Mr. Schue said. "Equal partners."
"And we are not gonna eat, sleep or breathe until you've blasted through regionals and earned your rightful spot at nationals!" Finn declared. It felt good ot be back.
x
There were still no calls from the producers.
Rachel and Kurt sat in their kitchen, making cookies together. "So, what is Broadway Daycare exactly?" Kurt asked Rachel, clearly trying to take her mind off things.
"All the show people who have kids while they're rehearsing or performing they send them to Shelby's studio and she teaches them, like, dance routines and songs and plays theatre games with them," Rachel said. "It's like Fame for toddlers."
Kurt held out a cookie. "Well, no news is good news, right? Cookie?"
Rachel took the cookie. "At this point, if I haven't heard anything... life goes on. You know, Fanny was just a dream. I read on that they're doing a production of Sweeney Todd at the Pasadena Playhouse, and I don't know I think Johanna could be a good role for me."
"Do you regret not doing Barbra for the audition?" Kurt asked.
"No way," Rachel said. "Honestly, something so special and something magical happened in that room, and if those producers are too narrow-minded or star-obsessed..." Then her phone rang and Rachel looked at it. "Oh, my God.
Oh, my God, it's a number I don't recognize. What do I do?"
"Answer it," Kurt encouraged.
Rachel picked up the phone. "Hello?"
"Hi, is this Rachel Berry?" the voice asked.
"This is Sidney Greene, one of the producers for Funny Girl," the voice said. "We were wondering, would you like to have a second audition?"
They wanted her to try out again? A callback? "Uh, yeah, of course."
"Great," the producer said. "We'll be in touch about a date soon."
Rachel couldn't believe it. "Thank you so much." She hung up the phone and turned to Kurt. "That was one of the producers."
"And?" Kurt asked.
"And I got a callback for Fanny!" Rachel said. She gave Kurt a big hug and then sent Finn a text: "I got a callback!"
Finn replied almost right away. "I am so proud of you!"
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