"You came into this place, a bunch of young kids, who didn't know very much, and now look at ya: young men and women ready for what's next. Snap out of it. Get in here! What are you doin'?" Matthews asks.

"We value our friendship too much to look at each other."

"Turn your chair around. Get in your seat. Now, the most important thing you can do in life is give people a reason to remember you. The people who do that are the ones we study in here. So, your last assignment from me, and for yourselves, is to figure out what you'll give back."

"What?" I ask.

"I looked at Riley." Lucas says to me.

"I know, I saw." I say.

"So, I'm looking at you to even it up!" Lucas says.

"Oh, well, a girl always wants to be looked at to be evened up." I say sarcastically.

"We're just friends, and I love your outfit." Lucas says to me.

"Hey!" Riley screams and slams her hands on the window.

"Your hair smells nice!" Lucas yells.

"You smelled her hair?" I growl.

"Lucas!" Matthews scolds.

"I'm dying here!" Lucas shouts.

"What are you grateful for? Who do you want to remember you?" Riley walks into the room as her father finishes.
"Do something about it... right now. Now, get outta here!" Matthews says. All of us leave except Riley.

---------------------------------

It's the end of the day and I'm walking around the school to get to the choir room. I finally get there and see my choir director packing up her supplies. I walk into the room and the choir teacher looks at me.

"Hey Rachel." Miss. Corcoran says.

"Hi." I say.

"What are you doing here sweetie?" She asks.

"Well, it's my last day, and I wanted to let you know how much you've helped me this year." I say.

"I am honored to be your teacher Rachel. I can tell you will do great things in life. What do you want to do when you get out of college?" Miss. Corcoran asks.

"I want to be on Broadway or act, sing, and dance on a show like Dancing With The 🌟 ." I say.

"Well, just keep practicing and I have no doubt that you will make it in show business." Miss. Corcoran says.

"Thank you so much. When I star on Broadway, hopefully, I will send you a ticket to my first performance." I say confidently.

"That would be great." She says happily.

"There's something else that I just noticed. Why are you packing up everything. Normally teachers only take what they need." I ask.

"I'm packing up everything because I'm not going to be a teacher here next year Rachel." Miss. Corcoran sighs.

"Why not? You are the best music teacher ever" I say.

"I'm leaving because I was offered a job as a Glee Club director at a high school." My teacher says.

"Is is my school?" I ask, slightly perking up.

"No Rachel, I looked. But I have to get going now. I'm sorry Rachel. But don't forget to follow your dreams sweetie. No matter what. Don't Stop Believing." Miss. Corcoran tells me and pulls be into a big hug.

Still in the hug I say, "Thank you for believing in me, not many people do."

Miss. Corcoran releases the hug. "Well, I shouldn't do this but I don't care. You're graduating, so I'm not your teacher anymore. Here's my number, text me or call me if you need anything at all ok? You are going to do great things Rachel, don't doubt yourself." Miss Corcoran says, handing me a piece of paper with her number on it.
I start to walk out of the room but I stop, turn around and whisper a quick 'thank you' then walk out of the room.

-------------------------------

I meet Maya, Lucas, and Farkle in the hallway and we all walk into Mr. Matthews classroom.

"What?" Matthews asks.

"You got one last lesson for the road?" I ask

"Yeah. I do." He answers.

"Well, I've never said this before but... you have my attention." Maya says.

"Good! This one's important. I've gotten to watch you guys become friends, and I've gotten to watch you grow. You guys grew up so fast... and I've been trying to teach you to keep your feelings inside..." Matthews says.

"And you were right. Look at us." Riley says.

"I was wrong! Your teacher was wrong. I can't keep you in this place. You've outgrown it. You guys are graduating to whatever comes next. You know why?" He asks.

"No." Maya says.

"You've earned it." Matthews says.

"How do we know when we're ready?" I ask.

"Same way we know anything. Let's take one last test and see." Mr. Matthews says.

"Yay!" Farkle and I shout.

"Are you even allowed to do this? It's the last day of school." I ask.

"I'm still your teacher. I can do whatever I want. Besides, this test isn't for a grade. This is a test to find out what you have actually learned here. Question one: What's the secret to life? Rachel."

"People change people." I say.

"And for extra credit? Maya."

"What us does for them?" She answers

"What does that mean?" Matthews asks.

"How we help those who are less fortunate than us?" I answer.

"And are you an "us" or "them"?" Matthews asks.

"I'm an "us". I'm very blessed." Maya says.

"We all are." I say.

"Question two: Sneak attack. Riley?"

"Pearl Harbor." She says.

"And for extra credit?" Matthews asks her.

"Missy Bradford tried to tear our friendships apart. Lucas was new here and she tried to throw a sneak attack. I think that was the moment we all realized what we really meant to each other. The moment we all came together." Riley tells us.

"Good! Farkle, Canada?" Matthews asks.

"Our greatest allies are the people right next to us." Farkle answers.

"Lucas..." Matthews says.

"I think I was the most changed by these people. I know that whatever I'm feeling, I can just tell my friends and everything would be okay." The texan says.

"Will it?" Riley asks.

"I guess we'll see." Lucas says.

"I thought we stopped?" I ask.

"I thought we were just friends." Riley says.

"We're not. We're no good at it. We can't even look at each other any more. I don't need any note cards now that we have different feelings now." Lucas says.

"And that's why your teacher was wrong. I can't hold you back from what you feel. Congratulations! You've all passed this test with flying colors." Matthews says.

"What happens now?" Farkle asks.

"Now you graduate, Farkle. You walk out of here with everything you've learned... and you live life. You live it. You face whatever comes. This is going to be the greatest test of your friendship yet." Mr. Matthews tells us.

"Wow. I made it to high school. We're gonna need some good teachers, Matthews." Maya says.

"Yeah. So... one last thing: How will the school remember you?" Mr. Matthews ask us.

"I have an idea." Lucas says.

"What's our prank?" Maya asks.

"I have an idea." I say.

A/N:

I'm so sorry I haven't updated in soooo long!

Over break I saw The Greatest Showman and let me say, IT WAS AMAZING!!! I saw it twice and memorized all of the songs in one day. I'm listening to the soundtrack rn actually. I just started school again today so updates will get slow (even tho are already slow). I'm finishing this episode tonight and might post the next part over the weekend.

Do you want season 3 to be in this book or a different book. If you want a different book, can someone volunteer to make the cover for me plz. I don't have time and the proper way to do it because my laptop broke and I'm currently typing on my Chromebook for school.

~Anne Wheeler