Hey ya'll! :D Again! So here is the new multi-chap story I've made you guys wait a bajillion and a half years for, so sorry sorry sorry sorry. I've seriously been working on this for probably 2 or 3 months already, I just didn't want to publish it until later because THIS STORY WAS SO HARD TO WRITE. Kudos to future-fic writers, man. I know this first chapter isn't very lengthy, but a lot of the future chapters that have flashbacks included are probably almost twice as long as this, so don't worry please!
Anyway, this story was requested by the lovely GGB and he/she originally requested a Mike/Tina/Artie love triangle, but once I started writing my ideas went all coo-coo bananas and basically, this story isn't very MikeTinaArtie love triangly, so I'm so sorry GGB if this wasn't what you wanted, but I still hope you enjoy! As well as all of you guys. Gah, so excited to start this! :D I hope you guys like this and just yeah. Enjoy. By the way, I'm trying out different writing styles so *excuse me* if my writing has changed a lot, both in good and bad ways. Still, hope you like. ;) Also special thanks to Ritter Sport and CandyCane 23049 for helping me figure out some stuff. :D If I haven't mentioned your name, don't worry! There'll be lotsss of chapters where I'll be able to do so. Last thing, this is a futurefic as said on the summary and this'll have a good dose of OCs so sorry if you aren't a big fan! Okay, yeah, I do not own Glee.
Cardboard Cut Outs, Chapter 1
"Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose."
Beads of sweats mounted his tan face as his heart furiously pounded from the great movement of his legs and limbs. His dark gray sweat pants and slightly oversized hoodie consumed his limber body, and it definitely did not discourage his heavy perspiration at all. Even after dancing for at least a decade, he still hadn't adapted to the extreme labor of dance. Caught in his movement, the time had been the last thing on his mind.
"Mr. Ch-Chang, I think it's t-time to go now," the eight-year-old informed innocently pointing to the clock.
He quickly gleamed at the clock realizing how fast time had passed. "Oh, right. Sorry guys, I lost track of time again! Thanks Jessica. I get kind of carried away dancing with you guys," he kindly announced to the class of young dancers. "You guys can go now. I'll see you next week!"
Before departing, the class which primarily consisted of seven-year-olds went up to Mike and affectionately capered onto him, each one taking turns for their regular hugs. They always managed to leave a smile on his face at the end of the day.
The last one of the kids to stay in the studio room was Jessica. She always left quite an impression to Mike. Well, to anyone that is. She had little friends from their hip-hop class and was often made fun of due to her evident stutter and most of the time, he'd have to scold some of the rascals for being way too harsh on the girl. He always thought she was sweet though, and seemed to be one of the more focused ones of the bunch. It was always a nice sight to see a kid pursuing something they want to do, but he couldn't deny how uncomfortable she'd make him feel when she opened her mouth.
He wasn't being mean or anything; it's just she reminded him so much of .. her. From the way her incessant habit scared everyone off to the way her long, silky black hair served as a barrier between her eyes and the rest of the world. Over time he was convinced that they both looked exactly alike, but he was pretty sure they didn't look similar at all. She just kind of served as a remaining yet distraught memory for him.
"Hi Jessica!" he warmly greeted the tiny girl. "Are your parents going to pick you up? I wanted to ask them something."
The young Asian girl stopped in the midst of her packing to stare at him. "Y-Yeah, they're outside. How c-come?"
The apprehension in her voice could be easily recognized. He almost forgot how much more difficult it was to conceal emotions when you're that young. When you're older, you kind of get the hang of it. "Don't worry, you aren't in trouble. I just wanted to see if you wanted to enroll in the hip hop class with the bigger kids. I think you're really good."
Her extended smile made him chuckle, but suddenly her gaze fell down to the wooden flooring. "I d-don't think I can do i-it .."
"Why not?" crouching down to sit on the floor next to her.
"I d-don't know Mr. Chang. But I h-have to go, my mommy and daddy are outside. B-Bye!" Heaving her short arms around his clammy neck, she left before he could even stop her. Although he was more than a little disappointed, he knew it'd take a while for her to build up her confidence like some others he'd known.
After gathering all his belongings from his dance studio, he ambled into the room where all the other instructors had been lounging around. Everyone greeted him politely as equally exhausted.
"Hey Mike!" the group of dancers warmly hailed.
He kindly waved his hand to all of them, smiling meekly. "Hey guys."
"Isn't it your birthday tomorrow?" Martin asked aloud, causing the rest to pause conspicuously for a response.
Right. His birthday. "Yeah, actually it is," scratching his head shyly.
"How old are you turning?"
"Um .." Although he immediately knew the appropriate response to that question, he didn't really want to hear him say it verbally. "26."
"So do you have any plans?"
He thought quietly to himself. "Probably just eating out with family or friends. Birthdays aren't a big thing to me."
"Well we hope you have fun Mike."
Relieved that a chaotic riot over his frivolous birthday plans did not break out, he replied back with an appreciative smile, pulling out a plastic chair. "Thanks."
To be perfectly honest, he wasn't even sure if his so-called "plans" were even true. Lately, all he ever did at home and on his spare time was sleep, be sleepy, be tired, or wake up from either of those choices. When it came to friends, he had them, yeah, but he'd usually bail on them due to dance practice. As for dating, he'd been on dates of course, but that usually ended after the fourth date or an unintended night of foreplay.
He never thought he'd be the one to say this, but being a slut was so much easier. Than actually investing time on something real, that is. After high school, personal life just didn't seem all too important as it seemed to be.
"Hi Mike," a feminine voice interrupting his train of thought. "So I heard it's your birthday tomorrow."
He looked up only to find the main contemporary dance instructor hovering over him. "Oh, hey Erin. And yeah, it's my birthday tomorrow."
The petite girl grabbed a seat right next to his. "I heard you're not doing much for it though."
He instantly knew where this conversation was going. "Well, you heard right. I might just see my family or friends, nothing too special."
A playful grin befell on Erin's face. "Did you want to, maybe, do something tomorrow then?" Mike eyed her blankly, incompetent of finding the proper response.
Mike settled on the idea of him and Erin 'dating,' if 'dating' was the same equivalent of movie dates and occasional one-night stands.
Okay, so maybe he wasn't the most proud of his inexorable routines with women, but like he said before, anything real was just way too time-consuming, especially since anything close to real seemed completely out of reach. It kind of blows having to recognize that the only girl he'd really ever loved had been in high school and basically dumped him for another guy.
Figuring out just what to say, he began with a, "Thanks Erin but I don't know. I haven't really spent time with my family or friends so I might just go see them." The idea hadn't really emerged in his mind earlier, but he probably should see them. "But thanks for the offer. We should hang out another time though."
Obviously displeased, she rocketed from her seat and muttered, "Yeah, another time."
It always made him feel bad knowing how much she liked him. She'd always insist on them devoting more time for one another and to go out on more dates, and her interest in having a real relationship with him wouldn't surprise him one bit. Erin was cool, definitely, and she was pretty cute. She had tan skin and had coats of extensive, shiny dark hair. Her petite yet extremely fit frame never seemed to disappoint .. in many ways, and she smelled good all the time, which was almost always hard to find when you were a dance instructor. That was a definite plus.
But still. Her. Ever since they broke up by the end of junior year, he'd still manage to compare all the most appealing women with her. It was like a never-ending cycle. He thought this annoying habit of his would've worn off after graduating, but it still maintained in the same position. Then days passed and months went by, which not too shortly transitioned to years and still, it seemed impossible for him to find any other girl as attractive physically and personality-wise as her.
But then the menacing realization goes right through him every time. That comparing a grown woman to the vague image of a teenage girl is ridiculous.
They're not in high school anymore. She's not in high school anymore. He's not in high school anymore. And apparently, life has to move on. He just wish he knew that when life was revolved around minimum GPA's and high school sweethearts, though for some reason, it still seemed high school romances were still living in the back of his head.
Finally after a long days' worth of work, laying on his mauve, firm couch never seemed so incredible. He sluggishly kicked his sneakers off promptly closing his eyes.
Sleeping was so easy in his apartment. He lived alone, so noise was never a problem. Though he had to admit, living alone for so long made him feel lonely. This would also rightfully explain all his trashy promiscuity he'd had after moving out of his parents' house. The things his mother would say if she ever found out what a slut her son was.
He checked his black metallic alarm clock that read the numbers 10:41. Minutes away from drifting into another desolate sleep, the urgent ringing of his cell phone snapped him out of his trance.
It was an unfamiliar number and he was more than hesitant to answer it. The area code didn't match either.
"Hello?" tiredly answering, furtively cursing whoever the person was on the other line.
"Mike?" The familiar masculine voice left him in shock. Once he recognized who had miraculously reached out to him, a smile crept onto his face. "Bro, how long has it been? Almost 10 years or something? I missed you."
"Matt .. Rutherford? How'd you get my number?" suddenly awake.
"So much for the greeting, huh? Finn though. Finn Hudson." When was the last time he'd actually seen Finn, and why would he have his number? This was a painfully obvious sign he had to catch up with his friends.
"Sorry Matt, just surprised. I miss you too though. Where you calling from? Area code's weird."
"Remember when I moved to Kentucky?"
Mike gasped in understanding. "That makes sense."
"Well hey man, I'm in town for a couple of days and I just wanted to see if you wanted to catch up. I'm free any day but you're probably tired from your dancing career, am I right?"
He chuckled. "Actually, you know I'm free tomorrow. Where're you staying at?"
"Some hotel in Lima. You're still in Ohio though right? I'd sound stupid if you lived in New York or somethin'."
"Nah, I still live in Ohio. But alright. Just give me the place and time."
Matt was seconds in silence while thinking of a proper response. "There's this restaurant I heard that's pretty good. My treat. Even if I don't know what it's called exactly, I'll text you the address once I find out."
"Sounds good."