Author's note: this is in fact my last chapter. I may do another set of drabbles, or I may write a story or something I donno, I just know I'm done with this particular set. Anyway, thanks for all the support and reviews, and I'm a bit creatively stuck on what to do next so all suggestions are welcome as always.

She'll look back an refer to him as her first boyfriend

When Jim- the cute guy who worked with her at movie masterplex- asked her out on a date, Mercedes called a code red. She had no idea about what to do; luckily there was a sleepover at Tina's house that night.

"You said yes right?" Tina asked her excitedly, "Well yes… but I've never been on a date; I have no idea what to do!" Quinn patted her hair, "don't worry first dates are easy, and you have the added bonus of it being in summer, daytime dates are a lot less stressful." Mercedes was glad Quinn started coming to their get togethers (not all the time though) as she had the best advice, and they now had an official tie breaker when they were deadlocked.

"Or you could try a double date like Finn and Rachel" Artie added, but Kurt shook her head "no way that'll just put more pressure on the next date, you like this guy, right Cedes?" Mercedes nodded enthusiastically, Jim was a senior from another school, tall, with nice eyes and kind of dorky but totally sweet. "then you'll want to get to know him."

"What was your first date like with Puck?" asked Quinn, thinking maybe they could compare "we never really dated, just sort of said we were" she moaned, "Jim's a senior, he probably has loads of experience with dating, he's gonna think I'm immature." Artie shook his head "no way, he hangs out with you so it's not like he doesn't know you, and he asked you out which means he must like you. Plus who would think that?" Mercedes shot him a grateful smile.

"What was your first date like?" Mercedes asked Tina, "which one?" she laughed, "the one that didn't kill the romance" she specified, "oh well, Artie planned it, we went to that little garden outside of town, the one with the water features." She smiled warmly at Artie who blushed. "That's so romantic!" Quinn told him; "Finn took me to the food court" she told them dejectedly, "he never really understood romance."

"A movie would be safe" Kurt pointed out, feeling slightly put out he didn't have any real advice to give (he and Brittney never went out on a real date either), "no chance to talk though, and you said that's what the date was about" Artie pointed out. "And if his intentions aren't pure that could go pretty south, pretty quick" Quinn frowned, a face of experience.

"A dinner and a movie is sort of second date material anyway right?" Kurt asked, he wasn't exactly king of protocol and Artie and Tina were a lousy case study on dating norms. "Most likely he'll pick the place anyway, did he tell you?" Mercedes shook her head, "he said he'd give me the details tomorrow at work and we could go out Friday, it's the only day we both have off."

"Wow, so then it's serious instead of a casual coffee date, he must like you" Quinn told her smiling, "then we have to work out what you're going to wear!" Artie made a hasty retreat to the door "Ah- Kurt let's go find that movie you wanted to watch," Mercedes whipped her head frantically "no! Kurt I need your input" Kurt shrugged "nah you girls have fun, I need to fill my manly quota for the night anyway.

Things were going to be different if Mercedes had a boyfriend. He just wondered if there were ever a way things could be different for him too.

I wanna hold your hand

People were always saying that Tina and Artie lacked a certain romantic aspect in there relationship- except for Quinn who insisted the way Artie looked at Tina was totally the most romantic thing she ever saw. But generally the fact that they didn't date in a conventional manner bothered most people.

They didn't go to expensive restaurants or dress up to go out. They didn't really celebrate anniversaries. Though Artie did buy flowers and Tina did give presents at random intervals it wasn't really the way normal high school romances went.

They didn't really do PDA in a conventional sense, not that they never did anything; just they never really showed they were more than friends in public- still acting like they had little unresolved crushes on each other. What with the blushing, the opening of doors, saving of seats, the passing of notes- that sort of stuff usually stopped when you started dating. It wasn't really supposed to get worse.

And they didn't really fight. Well okay they did, like all the time in fact. But they didn't fight over ice cream toppings or who was off key in practice last week, or why someone was spending too much time with someone else. No they fought about the things that mattered to them, things people didn't start fighting about until they were serious or even married. Things that would affect each other longer than a week or a year or even the span of their relationship.

They were in love too. They told each other all the time, and that it itself was strange because there was no big moment it was just sort of understood- like they both had expected it. There was no big story behind the first time they said it, and they can't even remember who said it first and what had prompted it.

No they were not especially romantic. They were undeniably cute, but they weren't about passion. They weren't about sex or pain or some great and important moment. Sure all those things were important, and they could be experience them whenever they wanted too, they didn't have to happen all at once, or right now. For now they were fine with the small things.

Because when it came right down to it they didn't need all that stuff just to want to hold hands, or be with each other.

There are was to come out and then there's this

Kurt had imagined when he finally got to the point where he was ready to kiss him; he'd instantly known what to do. but it wasn't like his first kiss with Brittney (he always felt like he missed some important steps in kissing there) or with a male 'friend' of his who felt sorry he'd missed out on a proper first kiss (who he wouldn't name even in his head because he had promised he wouldn't- and frankly he didn't want to remember.)

But he didn't know what to do now. He had imagined they'd be some where secluded (they were not) and alone (THEY WERE NOT) and he know where to put his hands (the shoulders were a safe bet right? Maybe the waist?)

He didn't expect it because well… he had just helped him get over all this emotional crap that had been holding him back, the whole drama of homosexuality that Kurt had figured out in preschool when he didn't want to pull girls pigtails. So really Kurt was surprised he was ready to be so- so public. He had ex-girlfriends (well okay Kurt had Brittney but that hardly counted- everyone had, had Brittney), he also had football and the friends that came with it.

All the stuff that's going to blow up at you when you start making out with 'that' gay kid in the middle of the hallway right before class.

He pulled back a little and rested his forehead on Kurt's. "I never do anything halfway," he grinned at Kurt like they weren't about to get their asses handed to them. "Oh and you will go out with me right?"

Kurt laughed, he finally got himself a boyfriend and it turned out he wasn't the more theatrical one of the two.

Typical

Nobody asked for this deconstruct did they?

Jacob wasn't an idiot. He knew he had no shot with a girl like Rachel Berry. And yes, he was aware acting like a total horn-bag probably wasn't the way to any girl's heart.

It's just; he didn't know how to control himself around her. If he was good looking like Puck it would be a non-issue he could say whatever the hell he wanted and still get the girl. But no. girls were shallow. Which, okay to be fair, he was shallow too, but didn't determination count for anything, anymore?

At first it had been about that talk she gave at celibacy club- where he had legitimately been trying to get a lid on his hormones. He realised what she said had in no way been directed at him, but rather as some sort of plea to Finn-the-quarterback to dump his girlfriend. Still it had peaked his interest, and when he set his sights on someone it was sort of over for them.

And he liked Rachel Berry. She wasn't pretty in a conventional way, but still… she was Jewish and that was a plus, she had pretty eyes and a large mouth and her features didn't quite go together but hey, he was no spring chicken either. The more he looked at her, the prettier she got, maybe it was love, or perhaps he just hadn't been looking hard enough.

Then, as he began watched her, he actually started to like her. She was strong and independent and knew exactly what she wanted and where she wanted to be. She was actually kind of like the girl he wanted to marry one day. Someone who would be caring enough to look after him, but strong enough not to get run over in life.

Of course there were the draw backs. Finn Hudson being number one and the pathetic infatuation they seemed to have for one another. Then there was 'glee club' which he so didn't understand at all, and her overachieving-ness which would probably drive him crazy in large doses.

But he got her in the details. He understood drive and obsession (frankly nobody did it better than him) and the need to manipulate and control. He got all of that and frankly he doesn't understand why she doesn't. Because their perfect for each other.

She just didn't see it yet.

Breaking up is easy to do when it's you

People break up all the time. Sometimes it's angry- like Quinn and Finn, sometimes it's like a dying flame- like Santana and Puck. But all of the time it hurts like fucking hell.

"Why?" Puck asked again, it wasn't like when Rachel broke up with him, this time it actually meant something. "You're kind of an asshole dude," was Artie's response and got him a football in the face. "Mercedes is too good for you," Artie kept the ball and put his hands up for anymore projectiles.

He knew it too. Mercedes was sort of the real deal, someone that had expected more from him, and people had stopped doing that in the second grade. He had wanted to meet her halfway really, to make it more than just a thing he was doing for the cred. But as per usual, he had fucked up.

"I don't know how you do it in the first place" Artie continued oblivious or just plain ignoring his pain. "I mean Quinn was way too good for you, Santana settles for you, Rachel must have been out of her mind the three days you were together- because really they could all do much better."

Puck felt like throwing some stuff, maybe Artie down a flight of stairs. He knew it was true, but why did he have to tell him that, he didn't come here for this shit. "So what do they deserve? You? I don't think anyone deserves that, I feel sorry that Tina has to deal with you" he gestured at his wheelchair.

If he felt bad, goddamn it everyone else was gonna feel bad too! Artie didn't even respond, just looked at him, blank faced.

"You're supposed to be making me feel better wheels," he kicked at the wheels with enough force that Artie skidded across the floor, Artie glared in retaliation, "why should I? because how I see it you just made another one of my friends feel like crap!"

Artie left. And that seemed to be the trend lately, people leaving.

Eclipse

Rachel and Finn spent the summer together, and for once Rachel felt truly happy. Finn wasn't perfect, but he didn't have to know the right words to say, or do the right things, but even still he made her happy.

She was actually becoming lower maintenance as time wore on- not about everything, there was only so much love could do- but she was happy with Finn no matter what, as long as they were together.

The first- abysmally short- time they were together Rachel had been clingy and needy right away, and that had just push him right away. This time she was trying to be cool about the whole thing, waiting to call back, not going out everyday, spending time with other people.

Artie tells her she's never seemed more relaxed, and she likes it this way. She's trying to be a new person, and he tells her it shows. After all summer is supposed to be about slowing things down and working things out.

And things were great.

Supernova

Things were not great. Finn's not sure what he did but Rachel is cooling off him like ice on a stove.

He doesn't get it. He kisses her, she acts all cool about it, and he tells her he loves her, she smiles at him- just smiles! And now that there together as a couple she's driving him crazy. It's like there is literally not enough of her. He feels like a dying man. Wasn't this drought supposed to be over now that they were together?

He tried flowers, surprise visits, romantic destinations. He's never had to try this hard with anyone before. Not friends, girlfriends, teachers, his mum. It's not like she's not worth it, he's known that for months now- but he remembers when he used to turn her down when she was all over him. Desperate to touch him, kiss him, date him… God he was an IDIOT then!

What had he been thinking? And now he was in some kind of insane purgatory. He asked Mike about it, he said maybe she wasn't that into him. But she had shown time and time again that she was, so he was stuck. Was she punishing him? Because really, what about hours rendered! He'd spent all that time away from her while she was with Jesse. Was that it? Was she not over Jesse?

That's it! He had to do something.

Hello I love you

Terri knew right away Will Schuster wasn't the sort of guy you dated.

Just look at the last name, hideous, nothing would go with it, Will certainly didn't. Even so people just kept saying what a perfect match they would be for each other.

He was older, by a year, and in the glee club and totally not her type. Terri was going to follow the grand tradition of dating a football player so she didn't marry some loser like her older sister. Footballers were safe.

Will Schuster isn't even handsome, or charming or nice or anything. He's nothing to whisper about, nothing to get hot over or dream about.

He's defiantly not the sort of guy you'd want to date.

He's the sort of guy who asks you about your family, or the sort of guy willing to tutor you in Spanish when she falls behind because of cheerleading. He's the sort of guy who open's door and knows when something is wrong just by looking at her.

He's not the sort of guy anyone wants in high school. Even if he does serenade Terri with songs, or bring flowers to her locker and lets her cry into his ugly sweater vest when her dog you've had since you were five dies.

He's from an unstable home, everybody knows his mother drinks and his brother sleeps around. People like that aren't good for you- or at least that's what Terri's sister always says.

A good boyfriend should be strong and good looking and always be in control- at least that's what Terri's sister says. So no, Will Schuster is not the type of guy you date.

But he's certainly the guy she knows she wants to marry.

A better person

During the Summer Will had a lot of time to think about the man he wanted to be, who he decided he needed to be. It wasn't the man he had been last year. First a doormat husband then confused, then a crappy boyfriend, then confused, then a crappy teacher and then even more confused.

This drama was over. Well okay not quite, he still had to win over Emma and deal with Sue every day, but he was going to make this year as drama-free as possible damn it!

There was still glee. And God! He loved those kids. As a teacher you're not supposed to have favourites (even if everybody does) but if he could it would be that group of kids.

He got to watch them make mistakes last year to. Watch them grow into stronger, better people. He liked to think he had a little impact on the way they turned out, but really it was just the support of having each other that pushed them forward and made them better.

And they did the same for him. They made him better. He hoped they always would.