Author's Notes: It's been a long time since I've posted something that I thought was of really good quality, but I've recently been inspired and this is the result. Also, please note that there will be some controversial themes in this story. However, my intention is not to spark a debate, it is only to create something entertaining using the characters of Glee. I am not affiliated with Ryan Murphy, or Glee in any way, and no copyright infringement is intended; I am not being compensated for writing this piece in any way. That said, enjoy!
"Okay guys, it's almost four. Time to pack it in for the day!" Mr. Shue called to the group of New Directions members scattered about the auditorium.
"Thank God. I'm wiped." Mike Chang sighed from inside the prop closet. He placed the chairs he'd been moving on the ground.
After closing the fall musical of West Side Story a couple of weeks ago, it was now time for the Glee Club to help strike the set and reorganize the prop closet, which was a complete wreck after all the use it had seen the past few months. There was a ton of stuff to be moved and put away, and everyone was getting kind of tired after over an hour in the hot auditorium.
"I don't know about you, but I could use a Six Pack and a movie where stuff explodes." Puck commented from a couple of feet away. He set down the table he'd carried into the closet, and wiped the sweat from his brow.
"…Yeah." Mike replied, half-smiling. Puck was too much. "Cool."
The two of them walked out into the house to find most of the club already grabbing their stuff to leave. Of course, one person was conspicuously missing.
"Hey Tina?" Mike called, knowing his voice would echo enough that she'd hear him wherever she was. He threw on his hoodie as he looked around. "Ready to go?"
"Coming!" She replied back, almost immediately. "Just one second."
It was then that she and Mercedes entered stage left, holding either end of a set piece. She turned and smiled at him as she clumsily maneuvered past with the piece of wood. The same smile that made his heart beat just a little faster every time he saw it.
Cohen-Chang-Chang, as they were called, was well-known as the most drama-couple in New Directions. Having been dating for nearly six months, Mike couldn't say he was complaining. He'd never been happier than he was with Tina. She'd been his first girlfriend, the first girl he'd slept with. She was the first girl he'd ever fallen in love with.
"Need any help?" He asked, readying himself to jump onto the stage and take over.
"Nah, Twinkletoes. We've got this." Mercedes quipped as they reached the right stage curtain.
"Just let us set this down and then we can go." Tina said, and as he nodded in response the two of them disappeared offstage.
As Mike and Tina stepped out the back door of McKinley High ten minutes later, Mike was grateful for the cool air of winter on his face. It had been a long day, and he was anxious to get home, finish his homework, and pass out for the night. He knew by Tina's expression that she probably felt the same. The last couple of weeks had been pretty jam-packed, with the musical and sports practice and glee rehearsals.
"Tired?" He asked, touching her cheek playfully as they got into his black Jeep.
"Yeah." She replied, touching his hand lightly. "There hasn't been too much downtime lately, even with Christmas break. We were performing at the shelter and then suddenly we were back at school and it was back to rehearsals."
"I know. Well, hopefully now that West Side is done we'll actually be able to breathe." He said, pulling out of the parking lot and making a left toward Tina's neighborhood.
"I hope." She replied absentmindedly, playing with a piece of her long black hair. "I just can't wait to go to bed. I sound like an old lady, huh?"
"Well, if you're an old lady, then I guess I'm an old man!" He joked, laughing. It was then he noticed that she was shifting in her seat. "What's the matter?"
She sighed. "Nothing. My back just kind of hurts."
Making a right onto the tree-lined street where Tina's modest middle-class home stood, he glanced at her. "Really? Maybe you pushed yourself a little too hard lifting stuff at strike today."
"Yeah, probably." She replied as he pulled into her driveway. She kissed him on the cheek as she gathered her bag from the floor of the passenger seat. "I'm gonna get to bed early. Call me if you need help with the Chem homework."
"Will do." He said, smelling the mint shampoo in her hair as she leaned toward him. "Use a heating pad for your back if you need to, it's what all the guys on the team do."
"I'll try and remember that, Twinkletoes." She teased.
"Hey, that is one pet name I'd prefer you not use." He said, pulling her in for a sweet goodnight kiss. Once she'd returned it, he watched as she closed the door and gave a quick wave as she headed into the house.