The next morning...
Finns POV:

Ever since we picked out the group song yesterday, everybody's been in such a good mood. I guess everyone is really feeling the freedom of the song choice without Mr. Shuester here. I do miss him, but I hope he's working out whatever problems he's having at home. I just hope it's nothing too serious to the point where he doesn't come back when he says he plans to. I mean, a couple days before Regionals Is risky as is, but without a glee club director? We'd be screwed. I mean, at least Spanish isn't so boring anymore. We have this really nice substitute teacher who doesn't really make us do any of the work we really have to do, so that rocks. Right now, Rachel, Santana, Kurt, Blaine, Brittany, and I are talking about a bunch of random things: glee club, triple dates, after high school, and just a whole bunch of other things I can't even keep up with.

"Finn, are you even listening to us!?" Kurt exclaims while snapping his fingers in my face. I snap back into reality, and I look at him confused

"What are we talking about?" I ask, and everyone laughs except for Kurt

"Finn, we're talking about our plan to hang out next weekend! All six of us. And I said something about our plans with dad and Carole, but they didn't believe me. So, I pointed to you for help but you were daydreaming!" Kurt exclaims again, and I laugh

"Hey, it's not my fault they don't believe you. But it's also not my fault the Carole and Burt wanna have family time on Saturday, so we can't do anything" I say to everyone, and they sigh

"Well, what about after glee club one day this week? That could be fun" Blaine says, and everyone looks around at each other for approval.

"I would love to. But, speaking of glee, I know we have a group song to sing already, but what about the other performances? Like a duet, or a solo? Who's getting featured? Mr. Shue isn't here to tell us anymore. Now it's free reign. Everyone's gonna want to be featured" I say, and we all look around at each other with doubting looks on our face

"I mean, I don't wanna leave anyone out, but, we could give us seniors a chance to shine one last time. The juniors have next year" Santana says, and I nod in agreement

"But, we all know our juniors. They'll freak because we're leaving them out" Kurt says, and we all sigh

"I mean, we could give everyone a featured line in the group song. I mean, that's what Mr. Shue wanted anyway. And, then we could have the one duet and one soloist." I say, hoping at least someone will agree with my idea

"I think that's a great idea, Finn. We'll discuss it in glee club today. And, throughout the day, I'll also think of other songs for people to sing" Rachel says, and we all look at her with a few raised eyebrows

"What?" She asks innocently

"Well, a couple of us were talking and..." Kurt goes to say

"Almost everyone thinks that you should be featured in regionals" Santana says

"We all agree that you deserve it after the crappy year you've had, and that you're our best chance at winning. I mean, sure, we can give the duet to someone other than you and Finn..." Santana says, and I glare at her. "But, we definitely think that you should be featured" Santana finishes, and Rachel smiles wide

"Are you sure that everyone will be okay with it?" She asks, and we all smile and nod at her

"Well, okay. I'll think of songs for me to sing, and also the people who are going to do the duet. I haven't decided yet though" Rachel says

"Take your time to pick out the best people you can. We definitely need to win regionals again this year. I'm determined to make it to nationals with you guys, and win. This is our senior year. We got this" Kurt says, and Rachel smiles and nods. We all look around smiling at each other just as the bell rings. We all get up, say our goodbyes, and go onto our next class

At Glee Club:

Rachel's POV:

I, of course, was the first one at Glee Rehearsal today. Seeing as I am now the leader since Mr. Shue is absent for whatever reason, I have to set the example I have been setting since Freshman year. I have to show everybody that I know I'm doing in Mr. Shue's absence. Even though, I kind of don't. I mean, I can sing whatever songs anyone wants me to, I can come up with a five count dance on the spot, and I can recite the musical Funny Girl from beginning to end with no mistakes... but I can't be glee club director. It's not in the cards for me to be a leader like that. So, in truth... I have no idea what I'm doing. But, I have to act like I do. I go into Mr. Shuester's office, and sit down in his chair and look for notes he has on the glee club. I was hoping to find some songs he would want us to sing. But all I saw was a note that said, "don't worry Finn. You've got this". What the hell did that mean? What did Finn 'have'? Just as I was lost in thought about this stupid note, there's a knock on the office door. I look up, and see Finn smiling at me

"Hey Rach. Hard at work?" He asks still smiling, and I smile back at him and then laugh

"Ugh, I'm trying to be. I just, cannot, for the life of me, come up with a good song for the duet and for me to sing. It's like nothings coming to me" I say, and he sighs and walks over to me

"Well, if you want, I can help you think of some songs" Finn says, and I smile graciously at him

"Thank you, Finn. But, I want to be able to do this myself, ya know? Prove that I'm good enough to be in Mr. Shue's place" I say, and he looks at me shocked. "What?" I ask him

"Nothing... I just know that you are better than good enough to be in Shuester's place. I mean, you're destined to be on broadway, win a bunch of that guy Tony's awards! And Mr. Shue? He's a high school glee club teacher who teaches Spanish.... badly." He says, and I laugh. "I know you are way more than good enough for Mr. Shue's job. He couldn't have picked someone better" Finn says, and I smile and kiss him. I couldn't believe that he had so much faith in me. It was honestly refreshing

"And to think at the beginning of the year, I almost lost you for good..." I say with a sad look on my face, and then Finn kisses my forehead

"Hey... you will never lose me... not again. I'm by your side. Forever." He says, and I kiss him once more on the lips. I then look out of the office door to see a few people swarming in and sitting down in the chairs. Finn smiles at me, and walks out to sit with them. I take a deep breath, and walk out of the room. As soon as I walk out, the glee club starts yelling and cheering for me. I laugh, and then set a pile of papers on the piano

"Okay everybody! To get real for a minute before we start... this is our first rehearsal without Mr. Shue. He's not here to guide us in which songs to choose. He isn't here to tell us what to do, and tell us how to act anymore. We're basically on our own." I say, and as I go to give a pep talk, my throat falls into the pit of my stomach. Words aren't coming out anymore. What is this feeling? Why do I feel this way? Why do I feel... nervous? I'm just talking to the glee club aboout sectionals. All this is, is them counting on me to pick the right songs to sing, and the right people to sing them... Okay, maybe I bit off more than I can chew. I can't do this. I can't lead this team to a sectionals win! I'm not as confident as I was in freshman year! I've changed so much since then! I can't just pretend that I know what I'm doing, let alone actually know what I'm doing. I look up at everyone's confused faces, as if they're asking me for guidance on what to do next. I look at Finn, and he looks at me with worry.

"I... I am so sorry, guys. I know that you all are looking at me for guidance and to lead the glee club, but, I just can't do it. I'm not a leader! I can't just take Mr. Shue's place! It's not right! I can't do it!" I exlcaim, and then walk out of the choir room. I stand against a wall in the hallway, and sink to the floor with heavy breaths. A few tears of frustration fall from my face as I hear the door across from me open up to reveal Finn coming over to me and sitting next to me. I lean my head on his shoulder, and he kisses my head.

"Rach, what's going on? What happneed to everything we talked about before?" He asks, and I sigh

"I just came to the realization that I can't do this. I can't lead this club. It's not in me. I don't want to be a director on broadway, I want to be a star. It's the same thing with this. Give me a song, and I will probably know it and could sing it on key on the spot with no warm ups. But, this? Being a leader, a director? It's just not in me." I say, and Finn moves to sit in front of me

"Rachel Barbra Berry. Why would you ever say those things about yourself? You can be a leader, and I know it" Finn says, and I smile at him

"Finn, I think we both know that... that isn't true. I think we both know that there is someone way better than me for this job." I say, and he looks at me confused

"Rach, If you don't think you're fit to lead this club, I don't think anybody else in there would be too fit. But i mean, we can go ask th-"

"No, Finn. They aren't who I'm talking about" I say, and He looks at me even more confused then before.

"I meant you, Finn. We both know that you would be a perfect leader for the glee club! Not only did you give me that amazing pep talk earlier, but you care so deeply about this club. More than anybody does. Even me or Mr. Shue. You deserve to take his place Finn, not me." I say, and he smiles a little, and then his smile fades.

"But, Rach. You were so excited to take this on. Are you sure you just wanna hand it over to me?" He asks, and I laugh.

"Of course I do, Finn. I want us to have fun, do our best, and win at sectionals. And, you are our best chance to do that. So, I'm going to walk in, you are going to stay out here for ten seconds, and compose yourself, and then you are going to walk in there and own the room. I love you, Finn" I say, and he smiles brightly. He hugs me tight, and then lets go and stands up. I stand up after him, and kiss his cheek.

"Now, Finn, If you need more time then ten seconds, just let me know and I'll try to stall them as much as I-" Before I could finish, Finn was already in the choir room with a big smile on his face and writing on the white board. I run into the choir room and sit down in the chair that Finn was sitting in. Luckily, he was sitting next to Kurt.

"Um, what happened in that hallway? You walked out of here almost having a panic attack, and then you walk back in here with a huge smile and now Finn's leading us?" He asks, and I laugh

"Finn and I talked, and I basically told him that he was the right person for the job. He deserves to do what he's passionate about. And, what we all know that he could do better then anyone  in this room." I say, and I look back and smile at Finn while he's talking to all of us about sectionals

"Well, you were right about that. He's doing great. He doesn't even look the tiniest bit nervous. And, truth be told, he's doing better than Mr. Shue did on his first day of glee club. He was a nervous wreck. Finn? He just looks like a natural up there. It's absolutely incredible" Kurt says, and I smile at him and nod. He was right. Finn really was a natural. The words flowed out of him like a flowing river. He was coming up with all of these ideas for the duets and the choreography suggestions that he was giving Brittany and Mike were actually not too bad. I was extremely impressed with him, and it wasn't too bad that he looked extremely handsome standing in front of everyone with all of this confidence that he has.

"Okay, so, I know that none of you really wanna take me seriously, but at this rate and with Mr. Shue gone because of who knows, I'm the best we've got according to you guys. So, don't treat me like a teacher, but please treat me like you would Mr. Shue. Maybe even a little bit better, actually. I've heard what some of you say about him behind his back." He says, and everyone laughs. "Okay guys. So, I know that you all unanimously voted for Rachel to be featured at Sectionals, but that still leaves our duet. So, I've been thinking about this a lot, and I already have the songs that Rachel and the people doing the duet are going to sing. Rachel, you are going to be singing Wherever you will go. But, the cover version by Charlene Soraia. I think it would fit your voice wonderfully and it could be a great compliment to our setlist. And, I feel like this should be announced with the highest enthusiasm possible, that our duet is going to be sung by Santana and Puck!" Finn announces, and Santana throws her fist in the air and gets a hug from Britt. She turns to me, and high fives me.

"Did you hear that Rach!? I'm in the duet!" She exclaims, and I laugh and smile brightly at her. I looked over at Puck who was getting fist bumps and pats on the back from Sam, Mike, and all of the other guys. I even saw Quinn lean over and give him a kiss on the cheek.

"Now, the reason I picked both of you to sing the duet is because the song that I want to be in the setlist fits your voices perfectly. The song that you both will be singing is Wild Ones by Flo Rida and Sia!" Finn says excitedly, and Puck exclaims a faint "yes!" from across the room, and Santana starts singing the chorus. Everyone cheers for her as Puck comes in with a little bit of the rap. He stops singing, and everyone starts laughing.

"Okay, okay. I know we're excited, but now we need to actually rehearse for sectionals which is very soon. So, I want Brittany, you take Santana and Puck over on the left side of the room, and just feel the rhythm of the song and just start making up the dance moves that you think best go along with them. Mike, you can bring half of the glee club to the right side and start making some dance moves that go along with our group song. Mercedes, can you please take the rest of the half og the glee club and come near the piano to teach the harmonies and the melodies of each of the songs that we are singing?" Finn asks, and Mercedes nods. Finn smiles back at her, and then takes a deep breath.

"Okay.... then let's get to work!" Finn exclaims, and we all cheer and get to work