Disclaimer: I do not own The Glee Project.
Note: Almost at the end! No, this is not the last chapter, although this is the last episode. I will be posting an epilogue in a few days. Hooray for epilogues!
Chapter Eleven: Glee-Ality, or, "I've Missed You"
"Wow," Samuel shook his head. "Just…wow."
"I know," Lindsay breathed, her heart still racing. "I can't believe none of us went home. It's just…incredible. Of course, it means the stakes are higher now…"
"So when are you gonna tell him?" Alex turned towards Damian.
"Oh, will everyone get off my back about that already? I'll tell him when I'm good and ready," Damian huffed and stormed towards the pool table.
"Damian," Lindsay said softly. "We're just trying to help you." She sighed. "I hate seeing you so sad. I mean, just the other week you were so happy with Hannah, but ever since you and Cameron kissed," he winced, "you've been a wreck. We all care about you, and we want to see you happy again." She put a hand on his shoulder. "The sooner you tell Cameron how you feel," she said, "the sooner you'll feel better."
"He told me," he murmured.
"What?" she furrowed her dark brows. "What did you say?"
"He told me!" Damian all but yelled, whirling around quickly, causing her to stumble backwards. "Okay? He freakin' confessed that he's in love with me."
"Wait," Samuel stood up, approaching the two. "Was this last…?"
"Yes," Damian was breathing heavily. "Yes, this was last night."
"What's going on?" Lindsay asked, panic rising in her voice. "What's happened?"
"Long story," Samuel waved her off. "What exactly did he say?"
"He said the rumors were true and that yes, he loves me," Damian shook.
"Finally," Samuel let out a sigh of relief. "Then why are you so upset?"
"Because I didn't get to tell him, and now he's probably thinking that I hate him or something because he told me and then I quickly logged off on him with no bloody explanation!"
"Look," Samuel folded his arms. "I'll explain to him what happened, okay? Just…stop moping around, okay? This is it, Damian. This is the finals, and one of us in this room right now is going to be on Glee next season."
"You're right, you're right," Damian nodded. "I'll…I'll tell him as soon as the finals are over. Yeah, I'll do it then…he'll understand, right? Right…" he wandered off towards the Boy's Dorm, Samuel assumed to write in his journal.
"…what was that all about?" Lindsay asked in wonder.
"I was sick of him sulking around over Cameron, so I had them Skype last night, and Cameron apparently confessed his love. Damian was about to do the same, I think, but we were about to get caught, so we had to log-off and run." Samuel pushed his dreads back. "God, they're so in love, it's not even funny."
"I'm not going to ask how you managed to Skype," Lindsay said slowly. "But at least we're half-way there, right?"
"Right," Samuel confirmed. "Operation: Dameron is half complete."
"Well, get some sleep," she hugged him. "We have a big week ahead of us. Goodnight, Alex," she waved to the male diva before heading to the Girl's Dorm.
"Night, girlie," he waved back. "Well, I'm going to take a shower," he addressed Samuel.
"Okay," he muttered. All there was left to do was get Damian to confess, he thought, and then the two friends will finally be together in the way they were always meant to be.
Homework Assignment
"'Don't Stop Believing', of course!" Lindsay slapped her forehead. "It's the quintessential Glee song!"
"What do you think 'Glee-ality' means?" Alex asked.
"It's a way of life," Lindsay immediately responded. "It's a noun, a verb, everything."
"You're awfully quiet, Damian," Alex said. "Are you feeling okay?"
"I know you guys read my diary," he said bluntly.
"We didn't read your diary," Lindsay denied on the spot. "Why would you think that?"
"Don't fucking lie to me, Lindsay," Damian said bitterly, and the dark-haired girl recoiled, stunned at Damian's sudden harsh language and tone. "I know you, Alex, and Sam read my diary the other week. You tried to hide the fact from myself and Hannah, but I guess you didn't do such a good job, because Hannah heard you and told me. I can't believe you guys would betray me like that."
"Damian," Alex took a step forward. "I'm so sorry…"
"Fuck you guys," Damian ripped the sheet music out of Lindsay's hands. "Just…fuck you." He stomped to the other side of the room, deliberately facing away from the others, mumbling the lines to himself. He couldn't fathom that his friends would go through his personal things—and his personal words, at that!—and then would lie to his face about it.
Samuel smacked Alex upside the head. "You were supposed to make sure Hannah didn't hear what we were doing!"
"Hey, everyone has an off day," the African-American boy scowled. "Besides, I swear I didn't see her. She must have like supersonic hearing or something."
"He swore at me," Lindsay shook. "I never thought he'd…speak to anyone like that…"
"Just ignore him," Samuel waved him off. "Let's practice this."
"Hello, hello, hello," Robert walked into the room with Ryan Murphy. Damian immediately sat up straighter. "Your guest mentor this week is none other than Ryan."
"This was Glee's first popular song, and it sold millions on iTunes. It's going to take a lot to impress me with this one," Ryan said.
Damian got up and began the song. "Just a small-town girl, livin' in a lonely world…"
"Stop, just stop," Ryan cut the music. "It's not right. Did you even rehearse any choreography? No, no, this needs…more singers." Lindsay's eyes widened, hoping to see some of the Glee cast members to run into the room, but…
"Heyyyy!" Emily sang, running in.
"Oh my God!" Lindsay yelled, running forth to hug McKynleigh as she burst in.
"Marissa!" Samuel's mouth hung open as the red-blonde girl rushed towards him in a blur, jumping into his arms and planting a kiss on his cheek.
"Hannah," Damian's eyes lit up. "You're back!"
"Ohh, it's like I never left," she wiped a stray tear from her eye, wrapping her arms around him. "But I'm not the only one who came back," she whispered.
"What d'you mean?" he peered behind her. His eyes widened. "Cameron…"
"Hi, Damian," the blonde murmured.
"Cameron," Damian broke into a wide grin. "Cameron!" He ran to the boy, tackling him in a massive hug. "I…about the other night," he stepped back. "I'm sorry…"
"What were you about to say?" Cameron's mouth went dry. "Before you had to go?"
Damian cleared his throat. "That I love you, too."
Cameron's mind blanked. "What?" Surely he was not hearing this; it was all a dream…
Damian leaned forward and kissed the blonde square on the lips. That same dizzying, falling sensation swooped through his body. It was as if no one else was even in the room with them, like Ryan Murphy—Ryan freakin' Murphy—wasn't watching, like they were floating somewhere above the Earth, in a place that couldn't be touched.
"Ow, ow!" Emily catcalled.
"Jesus, finally," Marissa whispered. She leaned against Samuel, the tall boy putting his arm around her waist.
"Well, well, well," Ryan Murphy smiled. "It's about time they saw the light."
Damian broke away from the kiss, breathing heavily, looking imploringly at a stunned Cameron. "Oh my God, I just did that."
"So…you love me?" Cameron managed to choke out, still too shocked to think.
"Jesus, Cameron. Yes, I love you." Damian sighed. "Please tell me you still love me."
"I…" Cameron ran a hand through his messy hair. "Well, yes. I never stopped."
"I've missed you," Damian whispered. "God, I've missed you."
"I've missed you, too," Cameron stroked the Irish boy's cheek. "More than you could've possibly imagined. I, um, I cried myself to sleep every night for a week."
Damian chuckled. "You just admitted that on national television."
"I know," Cameron shrugged. "And maybe I don't care."
"Aww," Hannah cooed, glad she had made the sacrifice that she had. She spotted Bryce from across the room, who smiled at her and gave her a little wave. She returned the actions, blushing a little. He had only been there for a week, but why hadn't she noticed how cute he was before. She wondered if he was single. She refocused her attention on the boys, who were in an embrace, much to everyone's delight.
"Well then," Ryan Murphy said. "I think we're ready to go now then?"
"Yes," Damian nodded. "Yes, we're perfect to go."
"Good," he smiled. "Get to it." Damian squeezed Cameron's hand for a moment before taking his place on the stage. Cameron blushed, head still reeling with the fact that Damian was in love with him. Hannah had told him when she arrived that she had broken up with Damian before she left, claiming that the long-distance would be too much for her to handle, and she felt they were better off as friends. Now, he suspected that she had the feeling that he had the hots for her boyfriend and decided to sacrifice her relationship. "Thank you," he whispered in her ear as they took their places onstage.
"You're welcome," she muttered back, flashing him her brilliant smile. He watched Damian as he sang and danced, grinning, proud that his best friend had made it to the top and that he had forgiven him. He made the decision to ask Damian to be his boyfriend as soon as they had a moment alone to themselves.
"Because this is the final week," Ryan was saying, and Cameron snapped to attention. "There is no winner of this homework assignment. You're all going to be featured. And when I say all of you, I do mean all of you." Emily's mouth fell open as the group realized that they'd all be in the same music video for the first time since 'Firework' months ago. "You'll be performing P!nk's 'Raise Your Glass' atop a skyscraper in downtown Los Angeles. The four of you will have to stand out as much as you can. The rest of you, just have fun."
That night
"I can't believe we're all together again," Samuel murmured as he stroked Marissa's hair. The red-blonde girl lay with her head in his lap, smiling softly as she glanced over at Damian and Cameron, who were entwined in each other, Cameron's hand tucked securely in the dark-haired boy's.
"Damian, I, um, I better ask you this now," Cameron said suddenly. "Before…I better just ask you this now."
Damian managed to pull himself away from Cameron's body so that he could look into the blonde's hazel eyes. "What is it, Cameron?" he murmured.
Cameron looked at Samuel, Marissa, and Hannah, who was lounging on the bed next to them, for a brief moment before returning Damian's gaze. "Will you be my boyfriend?"
"Don't you have a girlfriend?" Damian asked slowly. "What about Macy?"
"I broke up with her when I got home. I didn't tell her why, just that there was a possibility that I might decide to stay here to persue my career, and that I'm not good with long-distance love. I'm not sure what she's going to say after she sees what really happened, but...what do you say? Will you?" Cameron asked hopefully.
"Absolutely," Damian said automatically, not needing to think about it.
"Aww," Hannah and Marissa cooed simultaneously.
"Shut up," Cameron laughed good-naturedly before pressing a sweet kiss to Damian's forehead. "I love you. So much."
"I love you, too," Damian smiled. "I'm sorry it took me so long to realize it."
"It's okay," Cameron stroked his hair. He turned to Hannah. "I'm sorry I stole your boyfriend," he apologized.
"It's no problem," she waved him off. "You're perfect for each other, anyway."
"You can be in the wedding," Damian offered.
"After she's in our wedding," Marissa joked, tickling Samuel in the ribs.
"Wait, we're getting married?" Samuel asked with a straight face. There was an awkward silence. Everyone burst into laughter. "Maybe in a few years," he said in all sincerity.
"What about my wedding?" Hannah pouted.
"I saw you and Bryce making eyes at each other," Marissa teased.
"Oh, stop it," the redhead blushed. "We so were not! We were just being friendly."
"Whatever you say," Marissa rolled her eyes. "How do you feel about being able to choose your own last-chance performance song?" She asked Damian.
"It feels awesome," he grinned.
"So what're you going to sing?" Samuel asked.
"I don't know, what're you going to sing?" he winked, knowing fully what he was doing.
"I don't know," Samuel winked back at Damian, playing his game.
"Hey, no winking at my man," Cameron chastised him, putting an arm around Damian protectively. "Han, do you want me to talk to Bryce for you?"
She blushed. "No, thanks. I mean, you set me up with Damian…I never did thank you for that, so thank you…but I think I can handle this one on my own. Not that I like Bryce…"
"You're quite welcome," he bowed his head. "And I'd like to thank you, in turn, for freeing up Damian so I could snatch him."
"Oh, you," she giggled. "He's a very good kisser," she waggled her tongue at him playfully, causing Damian to turn red and Marissa to laugh.
"I know he is," Cameron tightened his grip on the boy, and Damian turned even redder.
"Oh, stop it. I'm not that great," he mumbled. "I'm just average, really I am…"
"Shut up and kiss me," Cameron titled his chin and planted a soft kiss on his lips. Samuel did the same to Marissa, and Hannah curled up, uncomfortable. Lindsay wandered into the room.
"Oh, sorry, did I interrupt something?" she gaped at the scene.
"Lindsay, thank God, you just saved me from the beginnings of a make-out session," Hannah sat up suddenly, instantly grateful for the distraction.
"I think it's too late for that," she gestured towards the boys, who were battling tongues on the bed next to Hannah.
"Oh, Lord love a duck," the redhead groaned. "Knock it off, you two!" she walloped them with a pillow.
"Huh?" Marissa managed to pull herself away from Samuel.
"Not you, them!" Hannah pointed at the boys.
"I know how to get them to stop," Samuel smirked. "Hey, Cam! I have gummy bears."
"Cool, where?" Cameron snapped out of it, letting go of Damian, who flumped back down on the bed, much to Lindsay's amusement. "Where are the gummy bears?"
"Too bad, bro. I just wanted to make sure you didn't swallow Damo here. He has a competition to carry out, you know."
"Screw. You. You do not joke about those delicious little bears," Cameron pouted.
"Now I know what to get you for Christmas," Damian joked.
"All I want for Christmas is you," Cameron nuzzled his nose against Damian's.
"Here we go again," Lindsay rolled her eyes.
"No, they've been doing this for hours," Samuel said. "It's nothing new."
"Wait," Lindsay held up a finger. "You two are…"
"Dating," Hannah, Samuel, and Marissa said in unison.
"Oh, finally," Lindsay let out a sigh. "It's only been like, months."
"Did everyone seriously know about this but me?" Damian quirked a brow.
"Yes," they all replied.
"You were just so adorably clueless," Marissa shrugged.
"When did you know you loved him back?" Lindsay asked.
"After he kissed me," Damian turned towards the blonde and smiled. "During the 'Teenage Dream' video shoot. That's the moment when I knew I loved him."
'Raise Your Glass' Video Shoot
"It's so tall," Ellis looked up at the 35-foot skyscraper.
"I can't believe we're filming up there," McKynleigh breathed. "Wow."
"I'm not good with heights," Hannah trembled.
"Hey, I'll be right beside you," Bryce put an arm around her. "No need to be afraid."
"Thanks," she whispered, blushing. Damian flashed her a thumbs-up.
"Wait," Cameron brought her back to attention. "We're in an elevator together, right?"
"That would be correct," she nodded.
"This should be interesting," he smirked. "Love in an elevator."
"Oh, please, no," Hannah's eyes widened. "Save that for later, please."
"Wait, I don't get it," Damian's face scrunched up in confusion.
"You're too damn cute," Cameron squeezed his hand. "It's an Aerosmith song. You can't tell me you've never heard of them?"
"Can't say I know any of their songs," Damian said slowly.
"Remind me to sing one to you later," Cameron smiled.
"Am I thinking of the same song you're thinking?" Hannah raised a brow.
"Yes, you are," Cameron laughed. "And Damo, 'Love in an Elevator' is essentially a sex song…about, you know. Love. In an elevator."
"Oh," his blue-green eyes widened. "Oh, Jesus…the images you have given me…"
"I hope they're nice ones," Cameron smiled deviously.
"They're disturbing ones on my half," Hannah muttered.
"Hannah, Cameron, Damian, we're ready for your scene," the director waved them over.
"Oh, this is so exciting!" Hannah bounced on her toes. They were hustled to the elevator, where they were to wait for Samuel, Marissa, and Bryce to join them. The doors closed, and they waited for the playback to start so they could press the Door Open button. "Wait, what if this thing…" The elevator car shook, causing the three to slam into the side. "…breaks?" Hannah finished.
"It's not broken," Cameron pressed the button. The doors remained closed. "It's broken," he stepped back and leaned against the back wall.
"No shit, Sherlock," Damian rolled his eyes. "Now what do we do?"
"Stay calm," Cameron moved towards the elevator's phone. "We'll just buzz the crew and tell them what happened."
"Did I mention I'm also a bit claustrophobic?" Hannah shrank into the corner.
"Breathe, Hannah," Damian put his hands on her shoulders, talking to her in a low, gentle voice as Cameron alerted the crew what happened, who ran to get a maintenance man.
"They're on it, but it could be awhile," Cameron went back to leaning on the wall. "Oh my God, Hannah," he quickly went over to her. "Are you okay?"
She let out a slow, shaky breath. "Yeah, I'll be okay…"
"You sure?" Damian asked her concernedly. "You're white as a sheet!"
"I just need to sit down," she carefully lowered herself to the floor. Damian followed suit.
"I think Bryce likes you," he whispered. "If that makes you feel any better."
"Oh, he does not," she meekly waved him off. "He's just being nice."
"You deserve to find love," he murmured. "You're an amazing girl, Hannah. You're my best friend, and I want you to be happy. I still love you, like a sister, you know."
"Aww," she reached up to touch his cheek. "You're like my baby brother."
"I take offense to that statement," he laughed. "Nah, I get it, though. I am younger than you, after all."
"Only by a year," she smiled softly. "Besides, you have that baby-face."
"Cameron? Damian? Hannah?" Someone banged on the door. "How are you holding up in there?"
"We're all right," Cameron called back. "How much longer will it be?"
"Maybe ten minutes," the voice yelled. "Hang in there!"
"This is just my luck," Hannah laughed bitterly. "Trapped in a small, enclosed space with my ex-boyfriend and the man he left me for."
"It does sound rather like a soap opera," Damian joked. "Or perhaps one of those…what do you call them? Oh, Country-Western songs."
Hannah broke into a wide grin. "Yes, it's just like a Country song. Thanks, Damian. I feel much better now." He took her hand and helped her to her feet. "Sorry to have ignored you for a bit there, Cam."
"It's okay," he shrugged. "It's cool with me that you two are best friends."
"Can we be best friends again, too?" Hannah peered around the Irish boy. "I mean, we were so great until…" she trailed off, knowing they had been cool until she and Damian had hooked up. She had missed the blonde's company in the meantime.
"We-ell…" Cameron looked at the ceiling, drawing out his answer. "Of course we can," he stepped over to embrace her. "I've missed you, Han."
"Aww," she smiled as she hugged him.
"Hooray, the threesome's back together again!" Damian cheered.
"…don't ever refer to us as 'the threesome' again," Cameron groaned.
"Yeah, it doesn't give me good mental images," Hannah shuddered.
"What do you mean?" Damian asked innocently. Hannah and Cameron exchanged a glance before simultaneously smacking up upside the head. "Okay, okay! I surrender! I won't do it ever again," Damian held up his hands, chuckling. The doors slid open, and they blinked in the sudden light.
"Oh, thank goodness, you're all okay," Zach Woodlee sighed.
"Yeah, we're just perfect," Cameron put his arms around Damian and Hannah.
"We're just going to move to another elevator," he gestured them out. "For safety."
Later
"The view is gorgeous," Lindsay breathed. "I can't believe we're standing up here!"
"It's rather beautiful," Marissa turned her face towards the sunset, leaning her head against Samuel's shoulder as he put his hand on the small of her back.
"I think what's next to me is more beautiful," he whispered into her hair. "'Rissa, can I talk to you alone for a moment?"
"Yeah, sure," she nodded, allowing him to lead her off to the opposite side of the roof. "What is it?"
"I wanted to talk to you about...Vulnerability week," he said quietly.
"Oh," she cast her eyes downward. "You mean my board."
"Why?" He asked. "Why did you do that to yourself when you were already so beautiful?"
"I just...saw myself as being this awful, fat, blobby creature," she shrugged. "The only way I could see out of it was to starve myself."
"I don't care if you were anorexic," he said. Her eyes snapped up. "Well, I mean, I do care, but...I know...you have skeletons in your closet, and so do I...but 'Rissa, we can work on them together." He took her soft, pale hand in his tanned one. "I promise, I'll always be there for you, to protect you. I love you."
She gasped, it being the first time he'd ever said it aloud to her. "I love you, too." He smiled as she leaned her chest against his chest, holding her gently against the backdrop of the setting sun.
"Seriously, did everyone just hook up after I left?" Emily rolled her eyes, watching them.
"Pretty much," Alex shook his head. "But Damian promised me an Irish man!"
"Ooh, do I get one too?" She batted her eyes at the dark-haired boy.
"Sure, why not? I have plenty of single mates back home," he smiled.
"Yay!" She jumped up and flung her arms around his neck.
"Hey, don't break my boyfriend," Cameron laughed.
"Oh, hush, nerd. I won't hurt 'im," she flipped her hair.
"Everyone gets an Irish man!" Damian spread his arms. "Or woman," he glanced sideways at Matheus.
"Okay, break's over everyone!" Robert called. "Time to get back to work!"
Wrap Party for 'Raise Your Glass'
"Congrats on finishing your last music video," Robert applauded. "Now, how about you say we all just relax and have a little fun before tomorrow? We have the whole of downtown LA at our disposal."
"It's so pretty," Hannah peered over the edge, momentarily forgetting her weariness of heights. "It's like nothing we have in North Carolina."
"Jam session!" Matheus yelled, bringing her focus back on the group of kids gathering in the middle of the helicopter pad. "Who wants to go first?"
"Me," Cameron raised his hand. "May I have my guitar, please?" Bryce handed it to him. "Thank you. Damian, I promised I'd sing this song for you, so here it goes." He strummed the strings gently, never once taking his eyes off the dark-haired boy. "I could stay awake just to hear you breathing, watch you smile while you are sleeping while you're far away and dreaming. I could spend my life in this sweet surrender. I could stay lost in this moment forever. Well, every moment spent with you is a moment I treasure." Damian broke into a wide smile, drawing his knees to his chest and hugging them. "I don't wanna close my eyes, I don't wanna fall asleep 'cause I'd miss you, baby, and I don't wanna miss a thing. 'Cause even when I dream of you, the sweetest dream would never do, I'd still miss you, baby, and I don't wanna miss a thing." Samuel pulled Marissa closer to him, the red-blonde girl relaxing against him, feeling the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed, singing the lyrics under his breath to her. "Lying close to you, feeling your heart beating. And I'm wondering what you're dreaming, wondering if it's me you're seeing. Then I kiss your eyes and thank God we're together, and I just wanna stay with you in this moment forever, forever and ever." Damian closed his eyes and let Cameron's voice wash over him as he sang the chorus again, wondering how he had never heard of this song before, but so glad that he was now listening to his boyfriend—how strange but wonderful it felt to say that word!—sing it to him with all of his heart and soul. "I don't wanna miss one smile, I don't wanna miss one kiss. Well, I just wanna be with you, right here with you, just like this. I just wanna hold you close, feel your heart so close to mine, and just stay here in this moment for all the rest of time." Damian opened his eyes, tears he hadn't noticed collecting there flowing down his cheeks. How had he been so lucky to have been in this competition? Even if he didn't win tomorrow, it would still have been worth it, to not only gain several friends, but also two best friends, a temporary girlfriend, and now…now, he had Cameron. And that, that was worth ten thousand competitions in itself. His train of thought came to an end when he heard the rest of the group applauding and cheering, and before he registered what was happening, Cameron was right in front of him. "Baby, why the tears?"
"I'm just so…" Damian chuckled. "Happy!"
"Awww," the girls cooed as Cameron gently wiped Damian's tears away.
"I'm happy, too," he whispered. "Happier than I think I've ever been."
Last-Chance Recital
Damian took a deep breath and crossed himself before stepping out onto the stage. He blinked in the light, which seemed harsher than it ever had been, as he looked out on his audience. He smiled when he saw that not only were the main judges there, but also, the past guest mentors and the past competitors. He gave a little wave to Cameron and Hannah, who were seated next to each other, before stepping up to the microphone. "My name's Damian McGinty, and for my last-chance performance, I'll be singing a song called 'Beyond the Sea'. And this is for Hannah and Cameron," he pointed at them.
Cameron smiled and looked at Hannah in happy surprise. Hannah blushed and murmured, "Oh my God," as the rest of the audience "aww'd". Damian cleared his throat and began to sing. "Somewhere beyond the sea, somewhere waiting for me…" He sang and danced his heart out, winking at Cameron as he sang "we'll kiss just as before". He danced his way offstage when he was finished, heart pounding, hoping he'd done enough to win the competition. Samuel high-fived him as he made his way to the stage, and Damian went to wait to be called back. Alex was busy pacing, awaiting his turn to perform last, and Damian cocked his head at the sight of the boy in full drag, still not used to the concept of males dressing up as women. Lindsay paced as well, and Damian had half a mind to soothe her nerves, but then realized that he couldn't calm his own, let alone hers. He sat in the familiar egg chair, doing the Yoga breathing exercises that Marissa had taught him the night before. His heart raced again as they were all called back to the stage. Lindsay grabbed his hand, clutching it as they made their way back. Damian couldn't help but to notice that the lights seemed brighter now, almost blinding, and he shielded his light eyes from them.
"Alex, you're a great actor and singer, but…you're not the winner of The Glee Project," Ryan Murphy said. Alex nodded, accepting his fate in silence. "Lindsay, you have an amazing voice, and you're a wonderful actress, but…you're not the winner of The Glee Project." Lindsay blinked back tears, but accepted this news with grace. Damian's breath hitched in his throat as he looked at Samuel, whose eyes were wide with the prospect of being the winner. "So it all comes down to you, Damian and Sam. Damian, I'll be honest with you, I didn't think you'd be standing in front of me right now. But you've proved yourself over the weeks and rose to the occasion. Samuel, you've always been a strong contender, but you've faltered these past few weeks. That being said…Samuel…you are the winner of The Glee Project." Damian's heart sank as Samuel began to celebrate, and he graciously hugged him before stepping back and watching his fellow competitors and Glee cast members cheer. "Damian, I'd like to talk to you for a minute. How are you taking this?"
Damian sighed. "It's hard, you know? To get so far and be so close…" he swallowed hard, blinking back tears.
"Well, the thing I'd like to tell you is…" The Irish boy's breath hitched again. What was going on? "…you have also won The Glee Project."
"Ahh! Ahh! Ahh!" Damian began to scream and jump around the stage, effectively tackling Samuel. "Jesus!" Samuel laughed, patting him on the back in congratulations. Hannah started to cry, as did Cameron.
"You've both won seven-episode arcs on Glee. You'll be in that choir room with this group of kids…" Ryan gestured behind him, and Damian's head whirled with the possibilities. "Lindsay and Alex, I'd like to talk to you two for a moment here," Ryan was saying, and Damian refocused his attention. "We think you're both brilliant actors, and we'd like to write two-episode arcs for each of you." Lindsay clapped her hand to her mouth and cried, as did Alex. Lindsay jumped on Samuel, and Damian took the moment to congratulate Alex. He could not believe that they'd all won, in a sense. Before he knew what was happening, confetti was falling around them, and the competitors and cast members were flooding the stage. Cameron immediately kissed him, and Damian swooned, head dizzy from the kiss and the win.
"You made it, baby," he whispered. "I'm so proud of you."
"I just…can't believe it," Damian sputtered. "I…I'm going to be on Glee."
"I can't wait to see you. I'll be able to tell everyone, 'that's my boyfriend.' It'll be my favorite character, for sure." Cameron laughed at the awe-struck boy.
"Damian!" Hannah squealed, engulfing him in a bear hug. "I'm so happy for you!" She kissed his forehead. "You're gonna be a star!"
"I think I'm gonna faint," Damian mumbled, and Cameron propped him up, holding him in his arms for a moment as Damian got his head to calm down.
"Do you need me to kiss you again?" The blonde joked.
"No," the dark-haired boy murmured. "It'll only make me dizzier."
Hannah laughed. "Maybe I should get Lindsay to kiss you instead?" She quipped.
Damian stood up straight. "Suddenly, I feel fine."
"You know what?" Cameron asked. "If I win the Fan Favorite prize, I'm going to use the money to buy us an apartment, Damo."
"You don't have to do that," Damian said sheepishly. "It's okay."
"No," Cameron stroked his cheek tenderly. "I want to. I want to live with you, to be with you, to sleep next to you every night and wake up next to you every morning."
"Oh, now you two are just getting cheesy again," Hannah looked for a way out.
"Hannah," Bryce called the redhead over. "Come here!"
"I'll see you later, sweetie," she patted Damian on the arm, relieved, before scurrying over to the lanky boy, flushing a little as he smiled at her and put his arm around her.
"I love you," Cameron murmured. "Have I told you that lately?"
"You might have mentioned it," Damian smiled. "I love you, too."