Chapter 15
Opening Night
When the new year rolled around, Claire was finally 18 and on her way to graduating. She told Beiste that she decided to turn down her football scholarship. Beiste nodded and shook her hand. "This team is gonna be at a loss without you, Claire. You were a great player." In New York, Sidney called for Rachel outside the theater. Rachel said, "I'm sorry, Sidney. I have to meet my friends." "Oh, that's not gonna be a problem. Look, I know you've had a rough couple of months. What with having to do the show on the road, your boyfriend passing away, we having to re-stage the entire play. But you've been a trooper. I just want to say thank you. And this is my way of saying it." He offers her a car. Rachel was stunned, "Is this for me?" "Who else would it be for? No more crowded subways for my star. Now, the only question is, where would Ms Berry like to go?" "Oh, my goodness." She gets in the car and it drives. She and the guys were singing "Downtown." In the apartment the next day, Blaine was making blueberry pancakes and Kurt got up. Blaine said, "No, I can't make breakfast in bed for you if you're not in bed." "It's been months. You don't have to. But that does smell good." "Lemon and blueberry pancakes. There's the Sunday Chronicle." "What? It's not even Sunday." "They print the Arts and Leisure in Style on Wednesday." "Well, is there anything I can do to help?" "You can check to see if the coffee is steep enough to press." "Wait, are we turning into an old married couple?" "On the contrary." They were singing "You Make Me Feel So Young." Sam came in and said, "Ice cream. Good job." Kurt said, annoyed, "Okay, I know Sam is your bestie, but you said he'd be couch surfing for a few weeks. It's been months." "I know." "This apartment has too many people in it." While everyone was getting ready for the rehearsal dinner, Rachel told Shelby that Hiram and LeRoy were coming to see Jack get baptized. Rachel said, "Anyway, I kind of want to tell you that Jack should be baptized." Shelby asked, "What? Why?" "Well, he's going to be part of our family now. He needs to be official." "What, like in My Big Fat Greek Wedding when the minister baptizes Ian Miller?" "Yeah, pretty much. It's just a little bath in some clear oil. Whatever it takes for him to be accepted and welcomed with open arms." Shelby nodded, "I guess I can live with that. Listen, I know it's kind of last minute, Rachel, but I was hoping you would be my maid of honor." Rachel raised her eyebrows. "Really? Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!" She hugged her. "Oh," while Shelby kissed her head. Sam was playing video games in the apartment. Blaine said, "Sam, you haven't moved from that couch since I left this morning." "This is the only place in here that's comfortable." "Look, this isn't easy for me to say." "You want me to move out." "Look, I know work has been slow." "Try nonexistent. Okay? I've had zero auditions. None. Mr. Shue said we should not care what people think, be ourselves." "Well, Mr. Shue also said we need to face our fears." "Well, I hate New York. It's messy, it's loud, it's way too crowded, and everybody here is basically just paid to be rude to you. Sometimes it's just easier to stay inside." "Well, I don't want you to waste away in here. Come on, follow me, we're going outside." Outside, they were singing "Best Day of My Life" by American Authors. Everyone was joining along. When they were done, they clapped and cheered. Blaine said, "If you can dance like that in the middle of Times Square, you can get through anything." "I don't understand why they call it Times Square. Why do they call it that?" The next day, the priest was oiling Jack while Rachel, Shelby and Rachel's dads were watching. The priest was chanting and gently put Jack's head in the water. Shelby said, "Any minute now, he's going to look right at me and say, 'Heh, yeah, right. You're so not worth this.'" Hiram said, "Yes, you are." They smile at each other. When they were done, Jack was dry and dressed. Shelby walked up to him and giggled, "You're all oily." "I'm Jewish now." "Thank you so much for doing this." They hug.
Shelby woke up alone on the day of the wedding. She found a card with a rose next to her. It said, "I can't wait to marry you." She smiled and looked at the rose. "Extra! Extra! Somebody's getting married!" "Somebody's getting married? Hey, somebody's getting married!" "Whoa! Somebody's getting married." "Somebody's getting married." "Somebody's getting ma…rried!" Claire said, "Are they here yet? Are they here yet? Did I miss it? Am I late?" Anne Marie said, "No, they'll be here any minute." Rachel said, "Oh, boy, I can hardly wait." Claire said, "Yeah." Carole said, "Isn't this exciting?" Emma said, "It's the wedding of the year." Brittany said, "Can't we start without them?" Quinn said, "No, you can't until they're here."
Finally, the church was filled with people for Shelby and Jack's wedding. Rachel noticed Jack in his suit, getting nervous. "Wow. Jack, you look very handsome. What's wrong?" "What if she's not coming?" "What? Jack, that's the farthest thing from Shelby's mind. She can't wait to marry you." The organ started. Everyone stood up. Shelby started walking down the aisle with Hiram by her side. Jack was in awe and Rachel was so happy. Will and Emma smiled at her. Beiste was also there. Kurt looked as though he were going to cry. Blaine and Sam stood by his side. Claire and Anne Marie smiled greatly, as did Henry and Ian. Justin smiled right next to his brother. Burt smiled and Carole looked like she were about to cry. Dennis and Cathy smiled, too. Quinn and Santana smiled with Brittany. Artie was happy. Tina was happy, too. Mercedes and Mike smiled at them. Jake and Ryder smiled. Kitty, Marley and Unique did, too. Puck smiled at them in his Air Forces uniform. He took off his hat. Sugar took a picture with her phone and Joe smirked. Austin, Ann and JJ were also there. By the time Shelby got there, she hugged Rachel. Jack said, "You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." Shelby said, "I missed you." The minister showed up and started the ceremony. "Everyone please be seated." And they sat. Shelby handed her bouquet to Rachel. "Dearly beloved," Minister Bose started, "we are gathered here today to join these two lovebirds in holy matrimony. Who gives this woman?" Rachel answered, "I do." "Let's hear the vows." Jack started, "Shelby, I've been in love with you since the first time I saw you. I wasn't really living until I came to McKinley. The first woman I fell in love with, I thought she was the one. But then I came here, and you…you just completely blew me away. Rachel, you were the first person to ever take a chance on me, and I'm forever grateful. Shelby, you are a real challenge. You're smart, sharp, beautiful and strong. I can't imagine my life without either of you in it. And I will do whatever it takes to make you both happy." Shelby stated, "Jack, from the moment I met you, you were always so shy, careful and cautious, and I was okay with it, because it was who you are. But later I started seeing you as braver, more confident, and a bit more daring. When I first started teaching at McKinley, I had no intention of falling in love. But then you walked into the teacher's lounge and you took me by surprise. Everything changed for the better. You always assumed that I would end up with some flamboyant theater guy. But that's not why I fell in love with you. I fell in love with you because you are the most…amazing, courageous, intelligent, strong-hearted man I've ever met. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me since Rachel. I am crazy about you and everything you do is more than enough. I love you, Jack. You're perfect the way you are, and you're all the music that I need." Carole's eyes were filling with tears. Ian said, "Oh." He was struggling not to cry. Henry patted his shoulder. Anne Marie smiled at them. Claire smirked and raised an eyebrow. Rachel smiled. Minister Bose also struggled not to cry and said, "May we have the rings, please?" Someone came by with the rings on the pillow. "Do you two take each other from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?" Shelby said, "I do." Jack also said, "I do." He took a ring and said, "With this ring, I thee wed." He puts it on Shelby's finger. Shelby took the other ring and said, "With this ring, I thee wed." "Well, then. By the power vested in me, and the state of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may—" Shelby kissed Jack and the audience was surprised. The minister continued, "You may kiss the groom." Applause and cheering followed. Rachel shouted, "Whoo-hoo!" Outside, Shelby and Jack were kissing and everyone was cheering and applauding. Rachel held up a microphone saying, "Well, as the sister of the bride and the maid of honor, it looks like I'll start the toasts. So, last night, I had a nightmare. I dreamt that Sue Sylvester was going to come here in a wedding dress and spoil the big day." Everyone chuckled. "Thankfully, that didn't happen this time. First off, I just want to say that I'm so very happy that my sister has found love. Shelby, you taught me everything I know, and I feel like I'm a better woman for it. But what you didn't prepare me for was the music that was gonna be playing during the ceremony." Everyone chuckled again. Rachel went on, "Okay. Um, anyway, this is just my way of giving back, so thank you. Jack, when we first met, I knew you were the perfect guy. Obviously, everyone else knew it, too." Mercedes muttered, "Especially Kurt." Kurt and Santana glared at her. Rachel continued, "I can only say that this is a wonderful day for all of us here. I always knew that you were the one, but what my subconscious knew was that you weren't the one for me. And I've made my peace with it. Jack, Shelby's not the only one who loves you. I do too, and I'm very thrilled, honored and proud to welcome you and your family to ours. To the bride and groom." They all raised their glasses and drank. Shelby stood up and hugged Rachel. She kissed her cheek. Claire got together with Treble Base and performed the Cheetah Girls' "Feels Like Love" with Henry, Anne Marie and Ian. Rachel also sung with them. Claire and Henry were dancing together, as well as Anne Marie and Ian. Burt and Carole clapped in beat. Kitty, Marley and Unique were singing in the background. Even Elliot Star-child joined in. Shelby and Jack were dancing together. Shelby hugged him. Applause and cheering. That night, they were still hugging. Jack said, "I'm the happiest man alive." Shelby said, "And I'm the luckiest woman ever." They looked at their reflection in the water. He asked her, "So, what do you see?" Tears filled her eyes. "The rest of my life." She kissed his cheek. She threw the bouquet and Anne Marie caught it.
The next day, Shelby was packing for the honeymoon. Rachel said, "Well, I think I've had my fill of wedding cake for one day." Shelby said, "This is a night I will never forget." "Neither will anyone else. I'm really glad that Jack picked his brother to be best man. It would've sucked having to choose between Ian or Henry." Shelby chuckled. "So, you will be back in time for my opening night, right?" "Are you kidding? We would never miss that. Ever. I said I'd be there." "I have a wedding present for you." She gives her a black briefcase. Shelby opened it and found a clean picture frame. "It's not a lot, but it should be meaningful for you." They hugged. "I love it so much." There was a knock on the door. Rachel opened it. "Oh." "Mrs. Masterson?" Cathy said, "Rachel, could you give us a moment alone?" Rachel said, "In my apartment? Sure. Take all the time you need." She walked away. Shelby said, "Mrs. Masterson, please. I love your son. I want him so badly it kills me not being near him." Cathy said, "Shelby, I believe I owe you an apology. I only wanted what was best for my Jackie. He's always been so kind and thoughtful, even when he was a boy." Shelby smiled. "I can see now he already has it. Anyway, I'm sorry." "Thank you, Mrs. Masterson." "Cathy." "Cathy." Outside, Shelby and Jack were packing up the car. Rachel said, "Oh, my God. This is gonna be so exciting. Your first time in the Bahamas! This is so cute. I'm so glad Mercedes is still here." Kurt said, "Yeah, where is she?" Artie shrugged. Blaine said, "She's inside with Sam." Artie said, "Oh, dear God." Jack said, "You're not serious." Blaine said, "I'm dead serious." Shelby said, "Well, you know, when everyone came to the wedding, I felt like I was home again. Seeing all of their faces, like nothing has changed." Rachel said, "Yeah, well, I'll be doing sound and mic checks at the theater. Are we still on for our dinner tonight? Because Monday's the only night I have off." Kurt said, "Let's make it a potluck. Because I am not cooking for everybody." Rachel said, "I'm gonna go get pies for everyone." She hugged Shelby again. "Oh." Shelby said, "Rachel, I'm gonna miss you." "I'm gonna miss you, too." She went to Jack. "Jack." She hugged him. Shelby hugged Kurt and Blaine next. Kurt said, "Have a great time." Blaine said, "We'll see you at opening night." Artie and Jack did a high-and-low-five. Anne Marie shouted, "Have a good time, Shelby!" Ian shouted, "And Jack!" Blaine said, "Heh." Rachel was on stage singing "People." Mercedes and Sam set up her home. Kurt and Blaine were walking and holding hands. Anne Marie and Ian clinked glass cups and kissed. A flower merchant gave Kurt and Blaine flowers. Kurt held them. Claire got on a plane to go back to Ohio with Henry. Artie was rolling in his wheelchair. Shelby and Jack kiss in their hotel room in the Bahamas. Rachel was walking in New York. Shelby was laying down on her bed, happy as hell. Jack then took his shirt off and Shelby said, "I love you."