Lover

3x22 Goodbye

The last week before summer was the most emotional week anyone has ever seen at McKinley High. It was also the busiest week for Ariel as Scott decided it was the perfect time for her to do photoshoots for her album so he kept pulling her out of school early so that she could spend a few hours doing photoshoots in different places. On the Wednesday before school, Ariel realises that she should tell her dad and Carol before they find out that someone has been taking her out of school to do something.

Ariel walks downstairs and sees Carol and her dad sitting on the sofa talking. "Perfect," Ariel thinks. "I don't have to wait until after school to talk to them."

"Dad. Carol. Can I talk to you both about something?" Ariels asks once she gets into the living room.

"Yeah. Sure. Come sit and talk to us," Carol says.

"What did you want to talk to us about?" Burt asks.

"Quickly. Are either Kurt or Finn here?" Ariel asks.

"No. They went to school early as they needed to talk to Mr Schue about something," Carol says.

"Good. I don't want them to listen to what I'm about to tell you," Ariel says.

"What do you want to tell us, Sweetie?" Burt asks.

"So, you know how I was away over the Valentine's weekend," Ariel says.

"Yeah. You're boyfriend, Sebastian took you away for the weekend to relax," Burt says.

"Well, he didn't exactly take me away to relax. He took me to Tennessee. Nashville to be specific," Ariel says.

"What were you doing in Nashville? The main thing there is producers of music and record companies," Carol says.

"Yeah. So the main reason we were in Nashville was to try and get me a record deal with Big Machine Records," Ariel says. "And I might have managed to get myself a record deal with them." Burt and Carol looked at Ariel in shock. "And I have my first single coming out in a month and an album in a few months."

Ariel then sat there leaning back slightly and her eyes closed as she waited for them to shout at her. She then waits for a minute but when she realises that neither of them is saying anything, she opens her eyes to see them sat there in shock. "Can one of you say something as it is making me think that this was a bad idea?" Ariel asks.

"I don't know what to say," Burt says. "I know that you have loved songwriting but I didn't know that you would've ended up with a record deal while you were in high school."

"Well, Sebastian was the one to encourage me as I don't think that I would've got it if it wasn't for him," Ariel says. "Also before I leave, I just wanted to warn you that you might get a call from the school today as my manager needs to take me out of school for a photoshoot that I need to do for my album."

"Yeah, that's fine," Carol says.

"Thanks. I love you both," Ariel says before standing up to leave the house. Just after she leaves the living room she remembers something so she turns around and says "Also, I don't want Kurt or Finn to know about what I just told you both." Ariel then runs out of the house and gets into her car before driving to school.

Later in the day, everyone is sitting in the choir room and then Mr Schue walks in and says "Okay, Seniors, the underclassmen have something they'd like to say to you. Come on."

All of the underclassmen walk to the front of the choir room which includes Ariel and then Artie starts to say "With all the dedications being thrown around McKinley this week, there was one that we wanted to make sure didn't get missed. Finn. Right now you're something I never thought possible when I first rolled down these halls. You're my friend."

"Our friend," Ariel says.

"Even before Glee Club was kind of cool, you had our backs. You were on the football team. You were one of the most popular kids in school. You had a lot to lose, and people forget the sacrifices you made. We wanted to thank you," Artie says.

(In My Life sung by the underclassmen of the New Directions)

Once they finish singing all of the seniors get up and hug them. "Mr Schue. I was wondering if I could sing something for the seniors on my own?" Ariel asks.

"Yeah. That's fine," Mr Schue says.

"So I want to sing this song to all of the seniors. I only want to sing this song as I just want to remind them that it's not about what you achieve as much as it is about the journey there, and the experiences you learn along the way," Ariel says before walking over to the piano and start playing.

(The Climb sung by Ariel Hummel)

While Ariel is singing for the seniors, Maria (Scott Borchetta's assistant) is standing in the doorway. "Woow," everyone cheers once Ariel finishes singing. "That was great Ariel," Mr Schue says.

Just then clapping could be heard from the doorway so they all turned around to see someone standing in the doorway. "Can we help you?" Mr Schue asks.

Ariel then turns her head around and sees Maria standing there. "Let me just grab my bag and I'll be with you," Ariel says.

"Ariel. Do you care to explain who this woman is?" Mr Schue asks.

"No I do not," Aiel states bluntly.

"Does Dad and Carol know that you are leaving school?" Kurt asks.

"Yes. I told them this morning that someone would be coming to get me from school as I needed to do something," Ariel says. "I'll see you later."

A few days later, it is finally graduation day for the seniors and everyone is in the auditorium watching the seniors collect their diplomas.

Just after all of the seniors collect their diplomas Ariel receives a phone call from Scott saying that she is needed for an emergency photoshoot as some of the photos were deleted by one of the photographers.

Ariel is slightly annoyed by that as she wants to be able to give the New Directions a hug for graduating but she knows that it is important as her album is coming out in a few months and she would like it to be ready a few months before she releases it so that she doesn't have to worry about it.