CHAPTER 21: FUNERAL

(SEASON 2: Episode 21)

"New Directions I would like to introduce you to our new show choir consultant Jesse St. James."

Everyone wore unimpressed facial expressions while Rachel clapped, full of excitement.

"You have to be freaking kidding me." Haley groaned. "I'd give you whatever you dig a hole and throw both me and Sam in there. And that's the tea." She whispered, causing Santana, Quinn, and Sam to both chuckle.

"Just...WANKY." Santana rolled her eyes playfully at Sam and Haley.

"I don't trust this guy. He's gonna trick us into doing something stupid so his alma mater wins." Finn spoke up.

"I don't need to do much tricking to get you to do something stupid, Finn." Jesse sharply replied.

"Guys, Jesse is just a consultant. I still make all the calls. I have all the confidence in the world in you guys. I just think we could use all the help we can get because this is it." Mr. Schue explained. "We've been working so hard for two years for this moment, and that moment is finally here. I was talking to Jesse and he agreed we continue with our successful trend of doing original songs for the competition. I was thinking of doing one group number and one duet." He continued.

"Rachel and I should sing a duet. We killed it last year at Regionals with Faithfully." Finn suggested.

"Everyone please welcome our typical scene stealers and our constant demanders of attention." Haley scoffed.

"Yeah, killed us. We lost." Quinn commented.

"May I?" Asked Jesse, as Mr. Schue gave him a nod. "I agree that Rachel should sing lead, but Finn, I think it's best if you sit this one out. The fact is, most of the other guys in here are better singers and Mike Chang, who can't even sing, can at least dance. You kind of sing and dance like a zombie who has to poop." Jesse said.

"You see what I'm talking about? This guy's a jerk!" Finn explained, as the glee kids tried to hold in their giggles.

"Maybe you could be a little gentler with your advice." Mr. Schue suggested.

"Gentle? I'm sorry I didn't realize we were training for the Good Try ribbon at Nationals. I thought we were in it to win the whole thing, and there's only one way we can do that." Jesse scoffed.

"Poison darts?" Brittany suggested.

"The Vocal Adrenaline strategy is simple. Identify your best performer and build the entire performance around them." Jesse said, ignoring Brittany.

"That's rich, and pretty unfair." Haley commented. "I can't stand him and I don't want to put up with his unfair bullshit. Mr. Schue." Haley said. "Sorry for the language but I'm merely expressing my valid thoughts and feelings right now."

"Who's our star performer?" Puck asked.

"Probably Berry." Santana muttered.

"Britney Spears." Brittany said aloud.

"We're gonna have auditions to find out. I'm gonna post a sign-up sheet later this afternoon." Mr. Schue clarified.

"Don't you think this is kinda not our style?" Finn asked.

"Normally, I'd agree with you, but this is the big time. I think we should listen to Jesse."

"Just manifesting the loss already." Haley muttered.

----

After the whole glee club had been informed about Coach Sylvester's sister's death, they were chatting away about what to do.

"Honestly we need to help her. I know she's overwhelmed, and clearly can't do this alone. She needs help." Haley explained.

"Seriously? I'd like to put the fun back in funeral just as much as the next girl. But why would the Glee Club help Coach Sylvester plan a service?" Asked Santana.

"We are doing it for her sister, not her." Argued Haley. "Think about it, her sister was an outsider like all of us. We all know how it feels, it's not pleasant. We need to celebrate that."

"Can I say something? When someone dies, yes, it's a tragedy. But it's also a part of life, and you can't let death put your life on hold. Now, I don't mean to be blunt, but I don't think you should be planning a funeral the same week you should be focusing on the set list for Nationals." Jesse said.

"Wow, you heartless son of a bitchhhhh." Haley commented.

"Yes. Do you know what Vocal Adrenaline is doing right now? They're in their third week of 24-hour-a-day rehearsals. They're on an I.V. drip. That's how hard they're working. Do you know what happens in Vocal Adrenaline if someone dies during a number? They use them as a prop, like Weekend at Bernie's."

"That is advanced and rigorously demanding. Okay, look, you guys, I'm helping Coach Sylvester, in fact I promised. So if you want to help me, feel free." Haley said marching out of the room.

"No. Thanks for your input Jesse, but we're helping Sue with the service for her sister." Finn said. "Rachel, you said I needed to be more of a leader of this club. Well, here goes. I'm making the call. We're doing this." He finished as he followed Haley out of the room.

----

The day of the funeral arrived, and Haley couldn't have been more emotional and pleased that the Glee kids had chosen to help out with the service.

"Do you like it?" Haley asked Sue who was taking in the Willy Wonka themed funeral.

"It's lovely." She replied, as everyone sat down in their seats.

"Welcome to the most unusual funeral I have ever attended. Which makes sense, because Jean was the most unusual person that I ever had the pleasure to spend every Sunday for the last 30 years with. I think that Jean's sister Sue would like to say a few words." The priest said.

"I miss my sister. Every night, at 10:00 or so she used to call me on the phone and when I asked her why she'd tell me that her body told her she wanted to hear my voice..." Sue trailed off unable to continue.

Haley's eyes began to water as Sam pulled her into a comforting hug. Mr. Schue slowly got up and walked to stand beside Sue as he read the speech for her, while she cried quietly.

"I miss my sister. The smell of her shampoo, the way she could always convince me to read her another book. When you love someone like I loved her they're a part of you. It's like you're attached by this invisible tether, and no matter how far away you are, you can always feel them. And now, every time I reach for that tether I know there's no one on the other end, and I feel like I'm falling into nothingness. Then I remember Jean. I remember a life led with no enemies, no resentments, no regrets and I'm inspired to get up out of bed and go on. I miss my sister so much. It feels like a piece of me has been ripped off. Just one more time I want to hold her. Ten more seconds. Is that too much to ask? For 10 more seconds to hold her? But I can't and I won't and the only thing keeping me from being swallowed whole by sadness is that Jean would kill me if I did. So for now I'm just gonna miss her. I love you, Jeanie. Rest in peace."

As he finished, Haley, along with the rest of the glee kids got up to sing Pure Imagination. Mike and Sam turned on the small video which displayed a slideshow of videos and photos Haley had managed to retrieve.

"This was Jean's favorite song." Finn said as he nodded at the band.

{PURE IMAGINATION-SUNG BY THE NEW DIRECTIONS}

----

After they were done they slowly began to exit the church. Haley hadn't been standing outside for too long when Quinn came running over to her crying.

"Q what happened?" Haley asked, pulling her into a hug.

"He left me. He left me again for Rachel. He said he didn't feel it with me as he did when he was her, he----" Quinn trembled as she sobbed."

"Okay, shh... Q I need you to take a few deep breaths okay? I'm here, it's going to be alright." Haley assured her. As Quinn followed her breathing as it returned to a normal pace.

After she was done, Haley looked at the taller girl. "We will drive you home okay?" Quinn only sniffled, as she nodded.

----

Later on in the evening, Haley and Sam lay on her bench on her balcony enjoying the stars and the silence in the air. They merely enjoyed the comfort of each other's company.

"You know, I'm proud of you Hay. Everything you managed to pull off today. You didn't have to do it, but you chose to. For that I'm proud." He whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead as she cuddled into him, burying her head into the crook of his neck.

"Thanks, it was hard but it was the right choice." she agreed silently.

"Yeah." He said.

Haley sighed before opening her eyes and pointing to the stars in the sky. "You know that I count my lucky stars everyday that I'm able to call you mine? See that one, is my personal star."

"Is that so." He smirked. "Well I will have you know that I do as well." Sam responded as he pressed his lips to hers.

"I'm so lucky." She breathed out hugging him tighter.

"So am I Hay, so am I." He agreed as he brought her back into his arms, suddenly pulling apart again, holding her at arms length, making her face him. "Which is why, I want you to wear this promise ring." He pulled out a gorgeous gold ring with one simple diamond on it, getting down on one knee as he held it up.

She gasped, tears beginning to fall. "Yes! Of course I will accept it." She interjected before he could say anything else.

"Just let me make a little speech." He said, laughing while holding his hand up. "Haley I feel so, so lucky that the stars finally aligned, bringing us together. You are my best friend, my everything, and I'm so fortunate to have met you many months ago. I want you to know that you'll never ever be a burden to me, because you aren't, and you matter too much to me. This ring signifies that I will always be here for you, even if we aren't together, you can look at it and know I'm there. I want you to know that you can always talk to me, nothing is stupid or pathetic. I'll do whatever I have to do to make you happy, to protect you, to make you feel safe, make you laugh or anything. Even coming up with new impressions and jokes." He added. "So will you accept this promise ring?"

"Yes!" She said, in awe and amazement by his heartfelt speech.

He brought her in for another kiss, and slid the ring onto her finger. Haley couldn't help but squeal with excitement, making him chuckle, bringing her back into a hug.