The bell soon rings to signify that it's lunchtime, Mr. Schue already en route to the teacher's lounge with Coach Beiste by his side, talking to him about the latest concoction she'd thought up last night. Something to do with marinating roast chicken in some kind of sauce that supposedly boosts up something, Mr. Schue doesn't quite catch it as he's too busy thinking of Holly's return to McKinley.
Now sitting at one of the small, round tables situated in the teacher's lounge, Mr. Schue happily digs into his lunch, taking a huge bite of his nicely-made sandwich, just as Emma enters the room, walking sharply, and looking very cross.
"I am very disappointed in you, Will…letting Holly come in and just teach the Glee kids about…stuff!" It's evident that she's finding it very difficult to talk about the subject as she continues, "Why didn't you just pair them up, huh? Rent 'em a bunch of motel rooms."
"Whoa. I had no choice, Emma," Will defends himself, his hands up as though in surrender, "Most of these kids are totally unprepared." All Shannon can do is sit back, and watch this heated scene unfold whilst also eating her lunch.
Emma takes a moment to compose herself, the subject having made her quite flustered as she allows Will to continue, "Look, in the spirit of fairness, why don't you and the kids in your Celibacy Club come in, and do a number?"
Emma shifts uncomfortably on the spot, "What, like, sing?" She asks hesitantly, crossing her arms, the look on her face showing that she's at least contemplating the idea that she could teach the kids better about that subject through a more appropriate song.
"Yeah, we're trying to teach through song, and yours could be a counterargument to Holly's," he suggests, which puts a cute smile on Emma's face as she answers, "Well, I look forward to the opportunity to nail her to the wall."
This prompts Shannon to laugh, nearly choking on her chicken, as Emma counters with, "You know what I mean," leaving the room before neither Shannon or Will can see her blush, Will actually looking forward to hearing her choice of song to counteract Holly's.
As it's now lunchtime, most of the Glee kids are in the cafeteria, either too busy thinking about Miss Holliday's facts on sex and her chosen song or more or less thinking about all of the guys and girls they'd ever dated which then leads them thinking about all the guys and girls they'd ever dated, and the cycle continues.
Those who aren't there are Puck and Lauren, the latter having suggested to the former that she wanted to be famous and to do that they need to make a sex tape, and Brittany and Santana.
Sitting on the edge of one of these tables, amongst the rest of ND, is Leo, who's deep in thought, chewing his bottom lip anxiously, his eyes staring out into nothing as he continues to think about the subject that was covered in Glee club. He couldn't show his true feelings about it because he didn't want anyone, particularly Sam, to worry or fuss over him, but now that it's occurred, he can't stop thinking about it…the incident that only he, his parents, Glenn, his friends, and the entire school back home know about.
It'd happened on the night "Sensational" had won Nationals, a few months before he and his family moved to Lima, Ohio…when he was dating Austin Parker, his former best friend, of 10 years, and boyfriend of just under a year. After the competition, Leo, Austin and their friends went to the celebration party, and to cut a long story short, Austin had a little too much to drink, Leo had quite a few, but only enough to make him feel tipsy, and one thing led to another leading Austin to force himself on him.
Luckily it didn't go too far as one of Leo's friends had come in just in time before it got out of hand, but the psychological damage had been done which is why it gets a little hazy after that. All Leo can remember from those last few months' breaking up with Austin, and being told by his parents that they're moving away to America because of his Dad's job…in between that it's all a blur.
Back to the present, he knows deep down inside that Blaine would never do anything to hurt him like Austin had, but what if he gets aggressive, angry or even upset, when the moment comes for them to finally have sex, but then Leo refuses him? What am I thinking? This is Blaine I'm talking about; he would never do something like that. He'll understand once I tell him about everything that had happened between me and Austin.
"…Leo? Hey dude, you in there?" he can hear Sam ask, waving his hand in front of Leo's face to get his attention, a smile etched on his face as he continues, "Thought I lost you there for a second. Are you okay?"
Leo slowly nods, but it's evident to Sam that something's clearly bugging him, "I'm just thinking about what Miss Holliday said in Glee club, you know, about the sex and stuff, and it's got me thinking about me and Blaine."
It's clearly evident with the way that Leo's spending more time playing with his food than eating it that it's playing heavily on his mind and, being the friend that he is, Sam tries his best to relieve some of the pressure.
"Well, the first thing you need to do is to stop thinking about it…like now. You're only going to make yourself feel worse. When it comes to that stage in your relationship with Blaine, then it should come naturally. You shouldn't be obligated to do something that you're not comfortable with just because you think you need to do it 'cos everyone else's doing it. That's just not the point. To be honest with you, I don't think Blaine really cares about the sex. Just as long as you both trust each other and you're both sure when the time comes, then that's all that matters."
"Wow Sam," Leo utters, a smile forming on his lips as his food's completely forgotten with his attention now on his blond friend who appears to have a way with words, "that was rather poetic. Never pegged you for a guy to have such a way with words, but thanks. It means a lot, and you're right, you know. When that moment arrives it should be completely natural, and when we're both ready," Leo points out just as his phone begins to beep, signalling that he's got a text message.
Taking it out of his jean pocket, it finds that it's Blaine, and he wants him to come to Dalton after school, obviously, because he wants him to help him out with something. I wonder what that could be? Oh God! Is that some sort of code for sex? He then mentally shook his head, No, don't be daft, Leo. It's too soon, and besides, remember what Sam had just told you just a minute ago, his inner voice retorts, Leo agreeing with himself before texting back his answer, which is an obvious "yes".
"Believe it or not, that was Blaine just now," Leo replies, sliding his phone back into his pocket, "asking me if it'd be alright if I can come over to the Academy as he wants me to help him with something."
As soon as those last words left his lips, Sam looks across the table at him, shock written all over his face, but Leo interrupts before he can say anything, "Don't say anything, Sam. I know he doesn't want me over for sex. It's too soon, and it's right after school so it's not only that, it's also a little weird."
Sam moves his hands into an "I'm not saying anything" gesture before both of them hears the bell ring for the end of lunchtime, getting up out of their seats, and taking their trays of what food they'd left behind over to the trashcans to throw away before heading off to their respected homerooms…Blaine's request playing heavy on Leo's mind.
En route to Dalton Academy, Leo decides to stop by his house to drop off his bag, and grab a quick bit to eat before heading back out. However, what he finds resting next to the door as he enters, completely stumps him.
There, propping up against the wall as though it's been there this entire time is his brother's Army bag, but he's not supposed to arrive until next week? Just in time for Regionals, Leo ponders, not even noticing Glenn standing by the kitchen door, practically seeing the cogs working in his little brother's mind.
"Are you just gonna stand there staring at it or you gonna give your big brother a hug?" Glenn asks, a huge grin on his face and his arms out in front of him as Leo no more than drops his schoolbag where he stands, and rushes into his brother's embrace.
Leo hugs him a little tighter than usual, afraid that if he lets go Glenn's not going to be there, back fighting over in Iraq. Fortunately Glenn speaks again, confirming that he's really here, and a week earlier than originally scheduled.
"I've missed you too, Leo," he replies, letting out a small laugh at the fact that Leo's hugging a little tighter, probably thinks that he'll disappear if he lets go, "and don't worry. I'm not going anywhere, not for a while anyways."
After what seems like forever just standing there in each other's embrace, Leo finally lets go of him, and is relieved when Glenn's still there with a smile on his face, ruffling his hair like he always does, a habit Leo finds annoying most of the time, but not this time.
"So, how come you're here early? I thought you weren't coming until next week?" Leo asks, following Glenn into the kitchen, noticing that he was in the middle of making himself a drink when he'd sauntered through the front door.
"Well," Glenn starts, mixing the milk into his coffee before putting a sugar cube in, "simply put, our leave of absence was put back a week earlier than expected so instead of staying for a week, I'm actually staying for two. So you'll be having me for a little bit longer." He then takes a sip of his brew, enjoying the taste of real coffee for once since joining the Army.
"That's truly awesome," Leo replies, secretly relishing the fact that he'll get to see more of his brother for a little bit longer before he has to return to duty, "that means you'll have plenty of time to meet my friends, and Blaine, of course."
This peaks Glenn's interest, stopping him from taking another sip of his coffee, "Blaine? Now, is this the same Blaine that's both stolen your heart, and hasn't stopped you talking about him for the past few weeks whilst we've been Skyping each other, would it?"
Leo blushes a little, realizing now that their conversations over Skype had mostly been about him and his time at McKinley High so far, his new friends, Glee club, and, of course, Blaine. Glenn can't blame him though, as he didn't really want to talk to him about what was happening over there. It was just too depressing, and a real conversation killer.
"So…when do I get to meet him?"
Remembering back to the text Blaine had sent earlier, Leo points out, "Well, as a matter-of-fact, I was going to ask Dad if he could give me a lift to meet up with him, but seeing as he and Mum are nowhere to be seen, I'm guessing they haven't returned from their walk around Lima…which means that you're going to have to drive us there in Dad's car."
Leo then walks over to the key rack next to the door, and reaches for the keys to their Dad's car before turning round and throwing them across to Glenn, who catches them with one hand, "I'll call him when we're on our way to say that we're borrowing the car, and that we shan't be long so we won't miss dinner."
"Okay, you're the boss." Glenn utters, following his little brother as they leave the house, Leo making sure that the front door's locked up tight before heading over to the car on the drive. Climbing into the passenger seat, he proceeds to take out his iPhone to call Dad, making a mental note to thank him and Mum for the "surprise" he happily received just a few moments ago.
Author's Note: So Leo's big brother, Glenn, has made his appearance an episode earlier, which was always my intention ^^, and to put a picture in your mind about who he looks like…think Hugh Dancy from Hannibal with a dash of Channing Tatum's dance moves from Step Up! (Seriously, that guy can move!)