Layla sat in front of Tina's house waiting for the rest of the cavalry to show up. She yawned and took a sip of her jasmine tea. Her head hurt. Scratch that, her head hurt AGAIN. The pain was usually just a dull throb that she associated with the stress of honours classes. Today it wasn't a dull throb. It was a pain behind her eyes that made her swallow more Tylenol. Merceds pulled up, quickly followed by the three Cheerios. Layla hopped out of her car and the five of them walked up to Tina's house as a pack. Safety in numbers. It was 7:00 am they had an hour and a half before they had to be heading out for school, more than enough time. Mercedes rang the bell and waited as they heard Tina thunder down the stairs.

"What are YOU guys doing here?" Her hair was wet and she was wearing a short pale yellow bathrobe.

"We're here to get you ready for your date today." Santana said with a grin, pushing her way through the door.

"…How did you know?"

Mercedes scoffed. "I know that Mike is pretty romantic, but did you think that he could come up with this all by himself?"

Tina stood in the doorway and blinked a few times, trying to figure out exactly what was going on. "So you guys were in on it?"

"Well, it was all Mike's idea, we're just…" Started Quinn.

"Aiding and abetting." Layla said with a smile.

"Yes, now let's go and start." Mercedes finished, ushering Tina upstairs along with Brittany and Santana.

"Hey, CiCi, have you eaten yet?" Layla called as she watched the Asian girl being rushed upstairs.

"No…."

"I'll stay down here and make breakfast." She called, hearing the door slam.

.

Mike ran his hand along his chin for the umpteenth time that afternoon. The clock was moving backwards. Well, not completely backwards, but it wasn't moving as fast as he wanted. It was only second period and he wanted to tear his hair out. Thank god for small miracles that he only had a few classes with Tina, and they were doing group work in those classes. And they weren't in the same group. 3:45 couldn't come quick enough. He was wearing his usual attire, jeans, sneakers, a tshirt and a cardigan, but in his locker hung what he was most excited about. Black suit, black shirt, blue and white tie. He begged Mr. Schuester to keep the corsage and bouquet of flowers in the staff room fridge. He felt absolutely ill.

.

"Everyone's looking at me." Tina whined, pulling at her dress. "I look retarded."

"Blasphemy!" Kurt exclaimed, looking Tina up and down. "Girl, you look Ah-maze-ing. That dress…the colour on your is PERFECT. The makeup…completely and totally understated…and as much as it pains me to admit, Santana did a great job on your hair. You look stunning." He grinned. "And people are staring BECAUSE you lot gorgeous."

She sighed and looked down at her dress. It was prefect. A deep blue, falling to her knees, sleeveless with a long sleeved black shrug. It. Was. Perfect.

"I have to go with Kurt on this one." Santana said, gently adjusting Tina's now flowing waves. "Girl, you look muy hot." She pasted a fake scowl on her face. "Now deal with it. You're hot, so flaunt it."

"I don't WANT to flaunt it."

Layla rolled her eyes. "Well, then flaunt it to just ONE person." She grinned up at Matt who shook his head slightly.

"After school…" Tina started.

"Yeah, you'll see him after school." Layla shot a look to the girls standing around Tina, and then one at Kurt and Matt. "Okay, I've gotta run and grab Quinn. We've…uh…got stuff to discuss. Biology." She finished lamely. "Home Ec Lab. Three O'clock." She whispered harshly when Tina started gathering her books from her locker.

The group nodded silently.

.

"You're really good at this."

Layla shrugged and stirred the sauce that was threatening to boil over on the stove. "I can cook, but hate to bake. My mom cooks a lot since Abdul has a specific diet…it's something that we've always done together."

Quinn smiled. "Well you're awesome. So we have the chicken in the oven that just needs the sauce in half an hour…the vegetables are…"

"Marinated and waiting to be grilled." Layla filled in. "Spinach salad is ready, just needs the dressing."

"Looks like we're good, except for desert. I know Mike LOVES Crème brulée." Quinn's face fell slightly. "But Tina is allergic, so we'll have to find something else."

"Actually no." Layla pulled a variety of cans and boxes out of a large green bag. "We will have crème brulée, just no crème." She shrugged. "Come on, it's time consuming, but they're amazing. We can make four and have two ourselves…"

Quinn nodded. "Sounds great. Let's go before the rest of the group shows up."

.

"Okay, Jamal and Puck, you guys are going to handle the music." Layla ordered, sitting on the counter of the home ec lab and checking things off a list.

"Great, she's got a list, we're all fucked." Jamal muttered, pulling pitifully at the tie he was wearing. "Why the hell do we have to wear monkey suits?"

"Ambiance." Layla replied with a glare. "Kurt, you're the maitre d, Santana and Britt, the waitresses. Quinn and I will finish up with the food…everyone else. You're on security detail."

Finn frowned. "Security detail?"

"Artie Duty." Mercedes translated. "We got it girl, nothing's going to mess this up."

"If Artie shows, call me ASAP." Layla ordered. "I'll take care of him."

"You sure?" Finn started. "I mean…"

"I broke Karofsky's nose, I'm SURE I can handle Artie." Layla replied looking at her watch. "Okay, let's get this date on the road."

.

Mike stood in the auditorium, his hands shaking clutching the flowers and the corsage. He watched as Puck and Jamal, both in black suits came in, Jamal taking a seat at the piano and Puck grabbing his guitar. The auditorium was dark, except for a few lights and some strategically placed candles. Lilies were placed around the auditorium, centred around a small table with a white lacy tablecloth. He chewed his bottom lip nervously waiting. Maybe she wasn't going to come. She probably wasn't going to come. He should just call it off. He nervously looked towards Puck who was tuning his guitar. The other boy smiled and nodded towards the quietly opening door.

She stood there, squinting, trying to adjust to the low light. Mike swallowed hard, and started up the newly installed ramp to where she was standing. With shaking hands he extended the flowers. "They're…uh…for you." He finished lamely. "So's this." Taking her hand and gently slid the corsage on her wrist.

"Thanks…they're beautiful." She smiled, her dimple showing.

He smiled, digging the toe of his shoe into the soft carpet. "Com'on. There's…a table over there for us."

Tina followed, her eyes open in awe. "Mike…you did this…just for me?"

Shrugging, he pulled the chair out for her and then once she sat, pushed it in. He walked around to the other side and sat down with a smile. Tina looked over and saw Puck wearing a tux start playing his guitar, along with Jamal on the piano. The soft music surrounded them.

Kurt walked up to them, a bottle of sparkling cranberry juice at hand. "For you, Sir, Ma'am." He poured the juice into their glasses offering them a smile. "Your appetizer will be out soon."

Mike stretched his hand out and offered it to her. "Would you care to dance?"

She nodded slowly, taking his hand.

They spun on the softly lit floor, piano and guitar music floating softly around them.

"One word, that's all you saidSomething in your voice called me, turned my headYour smile, just captured meYou were in my future as far as I could seeAnd I don't know how it happens, but it happens stillYou asked me if I love you, if I always willWell you had me from helloI felt love start to growThe moment I looked into your eyes you won meIt was over from the start you completely stole my heartAnd now you won't let goI never even had a chance you knowYou had me from helloInside I built a wallSo high around my heart, I thought I'd never fallOne touch, you brought it downThe bricks of my defenses scattered on the groundAnd I swore to me I wasn't going to love againThe last time was the last time I'd let someone inBut you had me from helloI felt love start to growThe moment I looked into your eyes you won meIt was over from the start you completely stole my heartAnd now you wont let goI never even had a chance you knowYou had me from helloThat's all you saidSomething in your voice calls me, turns my headYou had me from helloYou had me from helloGirl, I've loved you from hello"

Tina looked up at Mike, a small smile playing on her lips. She knew the boy was probably shyer than she was, and had never heard him sing out loud. His voice was soft and breathy, but amazingly perfect.

"I hope…I hope this date is…" He started to stumble over his words.

"It's amazing." Tina finished, leaning her head on his shoulder. "I can't believe you went to all this trouble."

The music changed, still slow and romantic, but a different tune. He glanced over her shoulder. "Our salads are here."

She smiled. "It's not going to get cold anytime soon."

He nodded, holding her tight to his chest. "Whenever you're ready."

.

Matt sat in front of the door, his feet up on the garbage can, his eyes on the English book in front of him. Mercedes sat beside him filing her nails.

"We shouldn't have let Rachel and Finn watch the back door together. Who KNOWS what they're doin'." She wrinkled her nose and frowned.

"Do you really care?" Matt asked with a smirk.

"Not really." She went back to filing her nails before a soft squeak made both of them jump.

"What're you guys doing here?" Artie asked. "And what's with the back get ups?"

Matt swallowed hard, stealing a look to Mercedes. "Chilling."

"Have you seen Tina, I need to talk to her."

Mercedes frowned, her fingers flying on her cell phone…

.

Layla grabbed her phone as it vibrated on the counter. She rolled her eyes and turned to Quinn. "Are you okay with the rest of the food?"

"Yeah, it's not problem. I think everything is done for now." She gave Layla a dark look. "It's Artie, isn't it?"

"Yes." She shoved her phone in her pocket. "I'll be back before we have to serve the desert." Quickly she jogged around the auditorium, careful not to interrupt what was going on inside.

"Artie."

The boy in the wheelchair looked up at her, his blue eyes angry. "They WON'T let me in." He complained, trying to free himself from Matt and Mercedes's grips. "I NEED to talk to Tina."

Layla squatted in front of him, placing her hands on his shoulders. "Artie…I can't let you do that. She's in there on a date with Mike." She said honestly.

"That's why I have to speak to her. I…I have to prove to her that we're meant to be together." He said, jerking the chair viciously.

"Artie, do you care for Tina?" Layla asked slowly.

"Damn right I do."

"All you're going to do it hurt her if you go in there. You're going to make her hurt over again. If you really care for her, you'd want her to be happy." She stood up, allowing her words to sink in. "You'd allow her to be happy."

.

"Layla and Quinn are in on the food, right?" Tina asked as she carefully cut a piece of the chicken.

"How can you tell?" Mike asked with a smile, placing a piece of the vegetable in his mouth.

"I don't think anyone else can cook like this." She put her fork down and stared at him. His dark almond shaped eyes that were slightly larger than her own. His broad upturned nose that crinkled when he laughed. His gorgeous white teeth. His dark hair that was perfectly messed up.

"What? Do I have something on my face?" He asked nervously.

"No." She smiled. "You have really nice teeth." Taking another bite of the food, she watched as a deep red filled his face.

They sat in a comfortable almost silence as Puck and Jamal played a different song. She closed her eyes briefly, thinking about all the work her friends put in, all to make her feel like a princess. "They did a really good job on the food."

Mike nodded in agreement. "They really did. You make good choices." He pushed his plate forward and placed his fork and knife down. "Would you care for another dance?"

She nodded silently. "Mike, this is perfect."

He grinned. "It's just beginning."

"I've got a funny feelingThe moment that your lips touched mineSomething shot right through meMy heart skipped a beat in timeThere's a different feel about you tonightIt's got me thinkin' lots of crazy thingsI even think I saw a flash of lightIt felt like electricityYou shouldn't kiss me like thisUnless you mean it like thatCause I'll just close my eyesAnd I won't know where I'm atWe'll get lost on this dance floorSpinnin' aroundAnd aroundAnd aroundAnd aroundThey're all watchin' us nowThey think we're falling in loveThey'd never believe we're just friendsWhen you kiss me like thisI think you mean it like thatIf you do baby kiss me againEverybody swears we make the perfect pairBut dancing is as far as it goesGirl you've never moved me quiteThe way you moved me tonightI just wanted you to knowI just wanted you to knowYou shouldn't kiss me like thisUnless you mean it like thatCause I'll just close my eyesAnd I won't know where I'm atWe'll get lost on this dance floorSpinnin' aroundAnd aroundAnd aroundAnd aroundThey're all watchin' us nowThey think we're falling in loveThey'd never believe we're just friendsWhen you kiss me like thisI think you mean it like thatIf you do baby kiss me againKiss me again"

Their lips touched gently, his large hands spanning her back. The shyness, the timidity…it left. They were alone in the auditorium, just the two of them, holding each other tightly in their arms…

.

Sorry it's so broken up, but it was kind of necessary for the story.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends! No one died this thanksgiving, my brothers were stuck up a tree for an hour . It was great.

Anyway…anyone else excited for tomorrow?