DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN GLEE OR ITS CHARACTERS

Author's Note: Hello again, hello! Wow, I'm so happy with the feedback I've been getting from you guys! It means the world to me, just so you know, so please review/favorite/etc. You guys rock!

So this is the beginning to my one-shots. So far, THEY WILL NOT BE DONE IN ORDER. I will tell you if I change my mind, because I might… Anyways this is high school graduation! Enjoy!

1. Goodbye's Go Hand In Hand With Graduation

"Hi everybody, I'm Rachel Berry, William McKinley High School's valedictorian of 2012. I can remember when I first transferred here a year and a half ago. I hated it at first and I don't know if it was because of the town or the school, but I did. And then I got to know my classmates and how great you guys all are.

"The memories we made will forever be cherished, not only to ourselves, but the school as well. The glee club titling first place at Nationals this year, the first time in nearly twenty or so years. Or the football team and their success, making it all the way to state.

"We couldn't have done anything if we hadn't been all together. When senior year started, we all pushed our rivalries aside and we had a great year. It's really hard to say goodbye. So, I decided that we won't say goodbye. We will merely smile at one another, and say 'See you later' because I honestly believe that this isn't goodbye. With the strong friendships people have, I think that each of us will go the distance.

"I hope you all do well and achieve the dreams that you had set and I can't wait to see you again. This is definitely not the end. This is merely the start of something new. Class of 2012, are you ready to graduate?"

Rachel's words flow out from memory, and tears are watering her eyes as her classmates, her lovely classmates who'd she befriended over her senior year at William McKinley High School, cheer out how ready they truly are.

She makes her way off the stage as Principal Figgins gets up and starts to list off the names.

When Finn's name is called, Rachel holds her breath. The extremely handsome, lanky eighteen year old makes his way politely up to the stage. He shakes Principal Figgins hand firmly, happily taking his diploma.

Rachel smiles and cheers excitedly for the boy whom she loves. The boy she's leaving behind for New York. Before she has time to delve into further thought, Principal Figgins announces the next important name.

"Noah Adam Puckerman."

She watches her brother glide up on stage with an intimidating stance. He pumps his fist in the air, receiving loud whoops from the crowd and accepts his diploma. Rachel is so proud of him. After Quinn gave birth to their child Beth, the two stayed together and raised her. Now the little blonde is one year old.

"Rachel Barbra Puckerman."

This is it. She is officially going to no longer be a high school student. She uses her acting skills and smiles brightly, breezily grabbing her diploma and gracefully exiting the stage as the audience claps. Rachel glances down the line of students and sees Finn looking at her proudly with that trademark half-smile on his face.

"I love you," He mouths.

"I love you," She mouths back at him and blew him a kiss.

"Everyone, the high school graduates of 2012," Principal Figgins states. They look at one another, grabbing they're hats and tossing them up into the air before exiting while the fanfare plays.

"Oh sweetie, I'm so proud of you," Dad and Daddy approach Rachel through the sea of students, gasping her tightly as they push through the school doors outside where people's family members are littered around.

"Rachel!" Finn yells.

She turns around to see him struggling to get out of the doors and he finally makes it out to her.

"We'll leave you two alone," Dad says. "Let's wait in the car, Leroy."

After they leave, Rachel turns to look over at Finn. Soon his arms are wrapped around her small figure and she's hugging him tightly, nuzzling her face into his warm neck.

"Oh Finn," She breathes out sadly. "I'm going to miss you so, so much."

"I know, I will miss you too. But you've got to go and do this. You're better than Ohio, Rach. Maybe I can get into Brooklyn or NYU next semester, but for now I will be in Ohio," He soothes.

"Do you think we'll make it?" Rachel dares to ask.

Pulling away from her, Finn looks deeply into her eyes.

"Yes, I do. I love you more than anything," He tells her honestly.

"Finn, there you are!" Burt exclaims, coming up to hug his step son and Rachel.

"We'll talk about this later," He leans down and whispers in her ear.

She nods and wipes at her face, for the tears had already started to fall.

For now, she tries to focus on hugging all of her friends and family and talking about how much she'll miss everyone.

-glee-

Finn leans down and kisses his girlfriend softly on the lips. It's just a simple one, for he knows her Daddy is probably looking out the window to where they are sitting on the swing on the deck.

"What if I stayed here?" She asks, settling back into his strong arms. "I could go to Ohio State with you. We could even try to get a dorm together."

"No," Finn replies. "You're not staying back because of me."

"I'd rather be with you than be on Broadway," She admits.

"That's really awesome," He grins and kisses the top of her head, inhaling the scent of her strawberry shampoo deeply. "But I'd rather you follow your dreams than stick around me."

"The way you talk… it's like you're happy to get rid of me," She whispers.

"Oh trust me, I'm not. I'll probably cry when you leave," He tells her. "But I know we'll be together."

"How can you be so sure? What if you fall for some beautiful blue eyed blonde in college?" She challenges.

"I'd never. You're it for me, Miss Berry. However, if you fall for someone back in New York, then I'd let you go without a fight. Only if I knew it's what you really wanted," He explains.

She looks up at him in confusion.

"You wouldn't fight for me?"

He shakes his head.

"Why not?"

"Because if you love something, you learn to be able to give it away."

She has tears in her eyes and she chokes out a strangled sob.

"All I want is for you to be happy. If I have to give you away to some fancy, spectacular New Yorker, then that's what I'll do if it makes you happy."

"It won't happen. You're it for me," She sniffs.

"Awesome," He smiles and they let the silence overcome them.

"But if it did," He adds after a while. "I'd always be waiting for you if you wanted to come back to me."

-glee-

Rachel's going away party was a success. She had no clue that her close friends (Mercedes, Tina, Kurt, Blaine, Mike, Artie, Brittany, Santana, Quinn, and Sam), her brother, and Finn were throwing her one.

She had shown up at the Jones' home, ready to watch the baseball game with her friends. She had a feeling that this would be the last time she'd see her friends, so even though she's not a fan of the sport, she went over anyways.

Knocking on the door, no one answers. Rachel decides to just walk in because she practically lived at Mercedes during the school year. The two girls, plus Tina and Kurt, had become sisters.

After Finn, she'd miss the divas terribly. Rachel was of course going to Julliard while Finn and the rest of her friends attended OSU.

Noah was trying to convince Quinn to move out to New York, but so far his persuading wasn't doing much. Quinn wanted to move to Columbus and become a reporter. Noah didn't even want to go to college, but he ended up being forced to because of their fathers'. He's going for engineering and science. They plan on moving to an apartment soon with Beth.

"Cedes'?" Rachel calls out, shutting the heavy front door and walking into the cool house.

"Finn?" She questions, knowing that she saw his truck out front.

Padding over to the living room, she looks around.

"SURPRISE!"

A crowd of her friends yell loudly out to her, making her jump out of her skin and scream.

Soon she settles down and gives her friends hugs when they show her the cake they had.

'We'll Miss Ya, Munchkin!' was written on it along with the initials of everyone. A heart is around Finn's initials.

"You guys, you didn't have to do this!" She exclaims and pulls Quinn into her embrace.

Quinn had hated Rachel while she was pregnant, but after Beth was a couple of months old, the girls had become friends.

"Of course we did. We can't just send you off to New York without one of our classic parties," Kurt murmurs, hugging Rachel tightly.

Usually Rachel Berry hates surprises.

This one would have to be the only exception.

-glee-

"I will see you on Thanksgiving," He tells her, not wanting to pull away from the hug they'd been wrapped up in for minutes.

"Yes, of course. I wish I'd be able to come home for Halloween," She says and holds onto him tighter, wishing they didn't have to do this.

Finn makes a move to let go, but she whimpers and he hugs her tightly again.

"Passengers for Flight 78, please get on board."

They stay connected for another five seconds before pulling away.

"Call me as soon as you get there, okay?" He asks her, holding her hand loosely.

"Okay," She nods and tilts her head up for one last kiss.

He passionately presses his lips against hers and they both melt into the kiss. Their last kiss.

His lips linger upon hers, not wanting to pull away because this really, really sucks.

"See you soon, Rachel. I love you," He tells her for the umpteenth time.

"I love you, too, Finn."

She leans down to pick up her suitcases, turns around, and walks away.

She leaves Finn behind in the terminal. She leaves behind the love of her life.

How will she survive?

Finn sighs sadly and tries to ignore the stinging in his eyes. This sucks so much. He waits until the gate closes before leaving, knowing that she's not going to come back out for another kiss goodbye.

He goes to his old truck and drives away from Columbus back to Lima where he'll be for another week before heading off to Ohio State University on a football scholarship. He listens to his favorite classic rock station and just tries to remember her as much as he can.

As if he could ever forget her. Her scent, the way that she feels, how she looks… it's all permanently burned into him.

Finn isn't Finn without Rachel, and that's now become a fact.

3

Here's my first one-shot! I'm really excited to hear your feedback. I know a lot of you have been waiting for this, so here it is. I hope you enjoyed!

PLEASE REVIEW!