Infuriated

•36•

Quinn's point of view

Rachel and Mercedes are arguing about Whitney Houston the next morning in Glee club since Mr. Schue told us our next assignment has something to do with the passed away singer. I lean my head on Finn's shoulder and sigh, continuing to listen to them.

,,It was written for Diana Ross." Mercedes says.

,,No, Mercedes. You are wrong, okay?" Rachel almost yells. ,,The bodyguard was originally written for Barbra Streisand." Poor Artie is stuck in between them and tries to push Rachel back a bit as she leans over him. I reach forward, grabbing the handlebars of Artie's wheelchair and pull him back as far as he can go before hitting the elevated floor behind him. He smiles up thankfully at me when he realizes he's no longer stuck in the crossfire.

,,Actually, Rachel, it was supposed to be Diana Ross and Steve McQueen, back in the 70s." Mr. Schue says. Rachel sits back on her seat next to me now.

,,Thank you Mr. Schue." Mercedes says loudly.

,,I've been doing some research to prepare for this lesson." Mr. Schue says before writing Whitney's name on the whiteboard.

,,Oh, my God, yes! It's about time we did a Whitney tribute!" Rachel says, excitedly clapping her hands.

,,Are we sure that's appropriate?" Sam asks and I spin around in my seat, slapping his knee.

,,You did not just ask that." Mercedes says incredulously.

,,I just mean, didn't Whitney kind of have a lot of problems?" Sam asks innocently but I still frown at him.

,,She had a hard life, Sam. So?" I ask him, knowing Beca's life is hard too.

,,Look, this assignment isn't about passing judgment on Whitney. It's about celebrating her legacy, honoring her memory, and her accomplishments." Mr. Schue says, pacing around the classroom.

,,Which I will happily list for you." Kurt says, pointing his finger as if about to list them. Blaine reaches out, grabbing his hand and stops him.

,,Kurt, I love you, but no one wants you to do that." He says, patting his knee.

,,But I also want you guys to use her songs to get underneath your own feelings." Mr. Schue completely ignores what's happening in class and continues his assignment. ,,To express and explore what's really going on with you."

,,I don't get it, Mr. Schue." Finn says confused. ,,What's really going on with us?"

,,Well, for most of you, this assignment will be your last here at Barden High. Lots of changes are coming up, lots of saying goodbye." I look over at Rachel. She's moving to New York when the year is over and I have to stay here, because I'm pretty sure I messed up all my grades by now. ,,To your friends, to your significant others, to the last four years of your life. For a young person, all that transition can be overwhelming, so it's easier to focus on other things. Like not being able to say goodbye to Whitney Houston." My jaw drops when I realize what he is insinuating. Can we really not be sad about someone's death or someone being missing without it having connotations to what's happening at Barden High?

,,What are you talking about?" Santana asks, outraged and narrowing her eyes at Mr. Schue.

,,It's okay, Santana." Mr. Schue says. ,,I get it. You're hanging on to Whitney because it's difficult to handle the upheaval in your own lives."

,,Oh, my God, you're unbelievable!" Mercedes and Rachel say angrily. ,,We're hanging on to Whitney because she was incredible and we love her."

,,Yeah, so don't put your baggage on us!" Santana backs them up.