Jealousy
(Present Day)
Will was a mess. Exhausted. Frustrated. Lonely. Confused. Things hadn't exactly gone as he planned upon his return to Lima, abandoning his Broadway dreams for a chance to be with Emma. Sure, he adored the kids and was excited to have another year and another opportunity to snatch that National title. But if he was being completely honest, a doe eyed, ginger haired guidance counselor held the key to his heart and if there was even a glimmer of hope that they could finally be happy together he had to give it a shot.
To say Emma was shocked by Will's return would be an understatement. She was over the moon. Will Shuester was the love of her life. The thought of losing him to Broadway broke her heart and his return put her in a daze, butterflies in her stomach and her heart practically bursting with love and joy.
(flashback 2 months earlier)
Will returned on the last day of classes, arriving early that day for a chance to see Emma before he needed to administer the Spanish 2 final. He spotted her in the Teacher's Lounge preparing her morning cup of tea, tip-toeing behind her, he gently placed in hands over her eyes and whispered a gentle "guess who?" in her ear. Emma of course didn't need to guess, she'd recognize Will Shuester's voice anywhere. "WILL! Oh My Gosh! What are you doing here!" She spun around throwing her arms around his neck tackling him with the biggest hug she could muster. "I'm here to stay, Em. I just couldn't leave the kids. The whole experience at Nationals reminded me of my youth. Glee Club was one of the greatest experiences of my high school career. I want to be a part of providing that experience to the students at McKinley for the years to come. Broadway can't top that. " There was more he wanted to say, 'Emma, I'm madly in love with you. You are my passion. The thought of living a life without you is not one worth living' and all sorts of other corny things people say when their love is in it's infancy. But clearly the teacher's lounge at McKinley High was not the proper forum for such comments. So instead he said "Em, I have to administer the Spanish 2 final, but I want to talk some more. How 'bout dinner tonight?" "Will, I would love to. Why don't you come by my place around 7. I'll cook" Keeping her more lustful comments to herself.
Later that evening, their belly's stuffed from a delicious meal and the dishes and kitchen scrubbed. Will and Emma relaxed on the couch. "Emma, dinner was amazing. Ahh with the school year complete it will be nice to have some R&R. We should hang out. The weather is perfect for a picnic on the lake tomorrow What do you say?"
"Gosh Will, I wish I could." Swallowing a lump in her throat Emma continued "I thought you were going to be in New York all Summer. I accepted a job offer counseling kids at the Ronald McDonald House Summer camp in Indiana. I leave tomorrow. I'm really sorry. Maybe we can do something when I get back?" "yeah sure" Will replied trying to mask his disappointment.
The next morning Will received a phone call from a frantic Principal Figgins. The driver's ed instructor failed his background check and the school was in need of a summer school instructor. With Emma gone for the summer, R&R sounded less appealing and so Will accepted the offer. Perhaps it would make the Summer go faster.
(present day)
Tired. His brain fried. Will glimpsed death each day as he entered a vehicle with nervous teenagers behind the wheel . After Laney Thomas nearly struck a pedestrian and then sideswiped a police car this afternoon, Will was a bundle of nerves. So here he stood in front of Rays Supermarket, ready to pick a much needed six pack of beer to take the edge off. When he glimpsed a green Volvo parked a couple cars down. "Could it be? Was she back? Why didn't she call?" he wondered. "Don't be silly Will, she can't be the only person in Lima with a dark green Volvo. Get a grip." Walking through the automatic doors and veering to the left Will froze. There she was. His Emma. Standing at the deli counter waiting for her order to be delivered. With a smile a mile wide, her arm gently wrapped around a tall, good looking man donning a Marine Corps uniform. Will's heart immediately sunk, a lump in his throat and tears welling in his eyes. "I've lost her." he thought "Why didn't I tell her how I felt. How could I have been so stupid, taking it slow. Stuck in the friend zone. Damn it! Why didn't I tell her how I felt. Why didn't I offer to visit while she was gone?" So many emotions, he could hardly bear. Not even sure how to keep them in check. Will slowly turned for the door. "Will?" he heard her call, the familiar click of her Mary Janes approaching. Taking a deep breath, trying to keep his emotions in check although he was sure his face would be an open book. "Will! I missed you!" Emma's arms flying around his neck, giving him a hug. He returned the gesture holding on longer than he should have ceasing his last opportunity to smell her before returning to the friend zone. "Will, this is my brother Kevin. He's just returned from Iraq. Will? . . . . . are you okay?" Relief flooding his whole body, a smile rapidly spreading across his face. "Of course I am." extending his hand Will replied "Kevin, it's a pleasure to meet you"