I wasn't sure if I should bother showing the Karaoke since we can't actually hear them singing, but the story didn't feel quite complete without it.
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The light crowd of skaters showed little notice of Kurt and Santana as they spoke with the DJ, but when they approached the small stage at the center of the roller rink with microphones in hand the interest level picked up.
"The next dance is a couples-skate," the DJ's melodious voice announced. "This young man and his lovely lady are going to do the honors for us, so grab hold of the one you love and get yourself out here on the floor."
Soft familiar chords of music began pumping through the overhead speakers. Giving Santana a smile, Kurt began to sing to her.
Well, here we are again;
I guess it must be fate.
We've tried it on our own,
But deep inside we've known
We'd be back to set things straight.
Then Santana took over, her clear alto voice providing a perfect counterpoint to Kurt's gentle tenor.
I still remember when
Your kiss was so brand new.
Every memory repeats,
Every step I take retreats,
Every journey always brings me back to you.
The two voices grew stronger as they blended together on the chorus, hands stretching out to link in a moment of spontaneous symmetry.
After All the stops and starts,
We keep coming back to these two hearts,
Two angels who've been rescued from the fall.
After All that we've been through,
It all comes down to me and you.
I guess it's meant to be,
Forever you and me, After All.
As they wended their way through the next verse and repeated the chorus, both teenagers were staring into each others eyes and smiling as they allowed the music to carry them and express the unexpected joy they had both found in this night. The passionate strength of their voices faded into a quiet and altogether beautiful harmony as they softly repeated the final line of the chorus.
I guess it's meant to be,
Forever you and me, After All.
Taking a step closer, Santana kissed Kurt on the cheek. Both of them jumped when the surrounding crowd burst into enthusiastic applause. Sharing a grin, they sketched a bow for their audience.
"Anyone else want a turn?" Kurt asked, holding out his microphone. A group of college-age girls accepted the challenge, taking their place as Kurt and Santana left the stage.
"We could have kept going," she pointed out as they walked back over to the table to collect Kurt's abandoned jacket and their discarded skates.
He shook his head. "It's getting kind of late. When we were leaving, your dad made me promise to have you back by eleven, so we should probably go."
"Yeah, I guess. Too bad, though. That was fun."
He smiled. "It was. Maybe next time we can do more."
"Next time?" she repeated; her tone slightly incredulous.
Kurt stopped; face flushing as he realized that he had completely forgotten the true nature of this date. Just a favor in return for a favor. Nothing more. Picking up her skates, he returned both sets to the rental counter and paid for their time.
The two of them barely spoke on the walk back to Kurt's truck and the ensuing drive home. A strange awkwardness had descended over them both and neither seemed capable of recapturing their earlier easy banter.
As they pulled up to Santana's house and got out of the vehicle, Kurt heaved a silent sigh, a bit surprised by how disappointed he felt to know that the clock had struck proverbial midnight and the fairy tale was over.
He walked Santana to her door in silence but when they reached the porch, he said, "Thanks for everything, Santana. I'll understand if you have to ignore me completely next week at school, but I just want you to know that I won't forget what you did for me yesterday, or what a great time I had with you tonight."
"I had a great time, too," she told him. "You're a really good guy, Kurt. Don't let the losers get you down or give you shit for being who you are."
"I won't." He smiled. "So, I guess that means our deal is complete."
A sparkle of mischief came into the girl's dark eyes as she slid her arms around his neck. "Not quite."
Kurt could feel his cheeks burning at the reminder of his promise. He had hoped Santana might let him out of this part but clearly she had every intention of making him honor it to the letter. He licked his suddenly dry lips, hoping ridiculously that Santana did not share her best friend's taste in lip-gloss. Root beer was just not his favorite flavor.
Taking a deep breath, Kurt bent forward, closing his eyes against her overwhelming proximity as their lips met.
Santana's embrace tightened. Her mouth was soft and warm against his and as she teasingly licked his lips Kurt instinctively copied her. Cherry lip-gloss. Much nicer.
Brittany's kisses had been light and teasing, attempting to coax a level of enthusiasm from Kurt that he just could not manage. He had been distracted by the novelty of the experience and the – admittedly twisted – hope that his father would show up and catch them together. Santana's kiss was very different. It was sensuous and determined, making Kurt's temperature rise and his knees go a little bit weak, though the rest of his body remained stubbornly unimpressed. He felt simultaneously relieved and disappointed by this. He was definitely not ashamed of his attraction to boys, but life might have become a little bit easier if he had discovered an equal enthusiasm for girls.
As Santana broke the kiss, Kurt took a step back, brushing at his now cherry-flavored lips with his thumb.
Watching him, Santana smiled, shaking her head at him with unmistakable fondness. "Just friends, huh?"
"Just friends."
She nodded. "See you at practice on Monday?"
"I'll be there. Good night, Santana."
"Night, Hummel."
He laughed. Yep, their deal was definitely completed. Dropping a second quick kiss on her cheek, Kurt turned and walked back to his truck with a light step that perfectly matched the feeling in his heart.
Turning back, he watched for a moment as Santana disappeared inside the house, wondering what kind of story she would decide to feed her hopeful, sweetly gullible, parents to explain why Prince Charming would not be making a return appearance.
He would probably never know.
