Perhaps this was a mistake.

Sure, when I had listened to my sister advise me on the 'perks' of speed dating - her and Andrew of course had met at one and were happily married with a kid on the way, blah, blah, blah I thought that it yeah, this could be fun, I mean, what could to lose - apart from my self-respect and the belief I had held onto for 32 years that Prince Charming would eventually find even me. I guess there wasn't anything holding me back, Carl and I had been officially annulled two months ago and then there was Will. The Will who if I was brutally honest with myself, I still loved. But things had changed between us, ever since Carl and now Holly (and from what I've heard on the great vine they're still together). So here I was, stood nervously in the small back room of Lima's answer to 'Blind Date' or 'Matchmakers' or whatever game show that humiliated the hearts of those desperately seeking anyone, eying up potential suitors that looked somewhat hygienic, and by that I meant clean. No dirt or dried on food, minty breath, a must if I was going to have to sit there and listen intently to whatever they had to say.

God I'm fussy. This is why you've not found love Emma.

I looked at the door. Maybe I could just leave, tell my sister I did it and that there was no one, not one man in the entire Lima distract who wasn't already married, or in a relationship that I could see myself with. But in reality I was lonely and I didn't want spend my life alone. Besides, I already had my name badge and table number, maybe I could do this. Maybe, just for tonight I could step out of my comfort zone and open my eyes to the possibility that I, Emma Louise Pillsbury, could meet someone and find my 'Prince Charming after all.

I hunted out my table, smiling politely at both the men and women that I came across. You're all here for the same reason, don't forget that ok? Nothing to be embarrassed about Emma. You're ALL in the same boat. Desperate, horny (I know I may still be a virgin but that didn't mean I didn't want all those things with the RIGHT guy), wanting love, needing love. Sitting down at table number 4 I waited until everyone else had taken their positions, listening intently to the instructions the organizer droned out from the crackly microphone.

"So you put a tick in the box of suitor X if you like them and so on...We're here to have fun guys so just relax and-"

"Sorry, sorry we're not too late are we?"

My eyes widened at the intrusion, recognising that voice from anywhere. My body stiffened and I refused to look round as I heard Will Schuester and whoever he was with (probably Holly, bet they thought this would just be a laugh, something 'wild and crazy' to do) find their poll and table.

"Right, well as I've just said Mr-"

"Schuester, Will Schuester".

I heard a few murmurs and then a few giggles from the nearby tables as the women eyed him up and down lustfully. I felt my blood boil as I jammed my fingers into my palm, willing myself to do anything but cry. Of course they would find him attractive but the joke was on them. He HAS a girlfriend I screamed mentally; he's just here for a laugh, hell I bet they even knew I was coming here and wanted to embarrass me further.

"Well Mr Will Schuester, what happens is-"

I heard her list off the same information we had just heard, and I felt the salt was being pushed directly into an open wound. It was humiliating enough to admit to myself that this was the only possible way I had of ever finding love but having to hear the same information again, we're all here because we've been unlucky in love before, don't worry you're bound to find a match tonight, repeated for the same man that I still loved, knowing that he was actually here, who had probably already seen me here sat red-faced and nervous – I felt physically sick.

"Right let's begin" the chipper, rather gaunt looking woman announced as she rang the bell, signalling the men to take to their designated table.

It'll be ok, just be yourself and if they don't like you then that's ok. Because what man wouldn't want a mysophobic, clean freak as their girlfriend. Right?

"Hi, I'm Paul". I looked up to the tall, dark haired man about to sit down, taking his extended hand as I greeted him,

"Emma" I smiled, thinking that this was perhaps the most nerve wrecking feeling in the world.

I found out that Paul was an architect, grew up in South Carolina, had been married, divorced last year, this was his first time at speed dating, wanted a dog, enjoyed listening to The Beetles, played ultimate Frisbee...

"Sorry I've been talking about myself all this time, what about y-". The bell chime cut him off as I smiled weakly while he apologised profusely, moving to the next table. I took my ticket, sighing as I put an 'X' firmly into Paul's column before glancing down the list; why hadn't I seen Will's name before?

The next man who sat down was Dave, a rather plumb looking sort of fella from Massachusetts who had moved to Ohio six years ago on work. He droned on about how bad his life was and when he asked me my occupation I answered enthusiastically, finally happy to talk about something I cared about,

"Guidance Councillor, wow. That must suck listening to people moan all the time." He bluntly stated.

"Hum" I replied, noting the sheer irony of his words.

After three more rounds and three more 'X's; Trevor, the name alone made him sound like a wife beater, not to mention the several tattoo's inked along his arms. The final nail in the coffin was when he said he had baked his cat by accident when he was 8 causing me to very nearly ralph. Definite X. Colin, well he wasn't so bad; works in I.T, has a cat, enjoys going to star trek conventions. But when I told him I had never seen it he looked like a kid who had just found out Santa wasn't real and instantly turned off to anything I had to say after that. John was nearly a tick; primary school teacher for 10 years and enjoyed reading poetry. My pen was about to tick his name until he whispered that he had wanted to 'smack my ass in those jeans as soon as he saw me because I was finnnne girl'. Not sure if that was what he considered 'romantic' from where he was from but I always valued a man's compliment to come from the heart, not from objectification.

After all that I was ready to give up hope. To make matters worse the next 'suitor' was one that was all too familiar to me.

"Just skip to the bar or something Will, please, this is embarrassing enough already without having you here".

I looked up to see him taking a seat,

"Hi I'm Will Schuester". He extended an arm to which I ignored, rolling my eyes in vain.

"Will, please". I begged, feeling shame and embarrassment hit me like a ten tonne of bricks.

"I'll start shall I?' He smiled and I wanted to punch him in the face for making me feel like this; so angry and so out of control. 'Well like I said I'm Will, Lima born and breed, married for five years, divorced now for just over a year. I'm a teacher at the local high school, McKinley, you may have heard of it, director of the schools Glee Club which won the Regional title this year and therefore qualifying for Nationals. Oh and I'm still hopelessly in love with you."

It fell silent for a minute and I could feel him staring desperately at me for a response.

"Are you finished?" I sat facing him , tapping my toe hard against the cheap lino flooring.

"It's true". I heard the crack in his voice and for a split second I almost believed him. Or it was a case of wanting to believe him.

"You're just here for a laugh, Will. Holly drag you along did she? A cheap thrill at other people's expense huh?" My voice was rising considerably higher and people at the nearby tables had begun to take an interest in us.

"Holly's not here Emma, I didn't come with her. And I didn't know you were going to be here, I swear. But I'm glad you are."

"Then who did you come with?" I scanned the room, for who I didn't know but wanting to look anywhere but his beautiful face; can a man be beautiful? If they could he was and I couldn't stand to look at him knowing how much I still loved him and missed him and wanted him.

I saw him thumb back to a few tables, tilting his head towards what looked like Shannon engaging in an arm wrestle with none other than Trevor.

"She dragged me along, said it would snap me out of my 'funk'."

"Oh". I nodded, "and has it?" I tried to discreetly look at his ticket, wanting to know if he had placed any ticks to the women he had met.

"What do you reckon?" he laughed, "the whole reason we were late was because I refused to get out the car. When I said Shannon dragged me here I wasn't joking! She hoisted me out the car and everything!"

I laughed, and for the first time in a long time I felt that we were just Will and Emma again, minus the five piece luggage set.

I was itching to ask him about Holly; if she wasn't around then did that mean - they weren't together? And did she tell him about me and Carl? But the bell rang suddenly and without looking I reluctantly said goodbye.

"Hey mate; it's my turn with red". I looked up, rather startled; knowing that the burly man in the suit whose name was Tom was referring to me. My hair didn't make it exactly easy to 'blend in'.

"Will, you've got to move along" I whispered in a hush sort of tone, knowing that the scene created was escalating into a full on theatrical performance.

"Mate, I'm not asking again, you've got to move along".

'Is there something the matter here?

"This jerk's not following protocol."

"Mr Schuester, the whole idea of 'speed dating' is that you have FOUR minute with each person to see how many possible suitors you have something in common with. Now would you mind moving along PLEASE otherwise I'm going to have to ask you to leave the vicinity."

The whole room had stopped silent as I pleaded with him to just do what the woman (named Jean) who was getting angrier by the second had said. My cheeks flamed red as the eyes of dozens of pairs stared directly at us.

"There's only one possible suitor I have something in common with" he replied without looking at Jean as he stared lovingly into my eyes.

"Sir, I'll ask you once more time".

I heard several 'you douche bag' and 'come on mate, you're ruining this for the rest of us!' come from the crowd but he seemed oblivious to it all as he reached for my hand. Looking around once more I bashfully smiled, letting my fingertips gently touch his.

"Right sir, someone is on their way to escort you from the building immediately if you don't leave on your own will right now".

I saw in the corner of my eye some burly white American that resembled something like that that Paul Blart heading forcefully this way and before getting up and making a run for it he squeezed my hand and mouthed 'I love you'.

The rest of the crowd cheered, no doubt ably because he had finally left and that they could commence with their 'dates' but inside I just wanted to cry.

"Finally" Tom muttered, sitting heavily down as the chatter in the room rose, "what a jerk he was, I'm Tom".

I glanced at him, his sweaty palm held out for me to take but all I could focus on was Will and his words, and the fact that he still loved me.

"Excuse me a minute Tom" I smiled, ignoring the angry daggers Jean was sending my way. I darted out of the building, searching the car park to see him leant against a tree, a huge frat boy grin plastered on his face.

I nudged him, in an attempt to be angry at him and to show him how embarrassed he had made me feel but all I could do was laugh.

"I don't think they'll be wanting me back anytime soon!"

"No" I giggled, shielding the sun away with my hand. "Or me, you've ruined my chance of getting a date now William Schuester."

"I'm sorry." He sulked, and I realised right then just how much I had missed him and how much I wanted to give things another go.

I felt the knots in my stomach twist as I plucked up the courage to ask him, "you and Holly then, it's over?"

"Weeks ago" he replied, though he didn't look partially sad or remorseful about it. "I wasn't over you". He smiled, and this was the first time we had been honest with one another in a long time.

"Carl and I got annulled", although I was sure that this was not new information to him.

"I'm sorry" he whispered, caressing my hand.

"Did you mean what you said in there, that you still loved me?"

"Yes". He smiled replying instantly, "and you were the only tick on my ticket'.

I laughed, a tear trickling down my cheek as I showed him the lone tick on a sheet full of 'X''s next to his name.

"Looks like we may be compatible then" he joked, and I laughed along as well at the reality that it took speed dating to reunite us.

"So, Emma, can I have your number, maybe I can take you out on a second date, get to know you better?"

I pretended to think about it before laughing some more, "I guess so its 07745-"

"614254" he finished, looking at me longingly. "Pick you up at 8?"

I squeezed his hand before turning away, smiling to myself as I shouted back, "8 sounds lovely. It was nice to meet you Will".


Just a fluffy one shot. Please let me know what you think :) I love hearing from you!