A/N: Okay peoples- this is going to be last chapter in this story. My plot bunny left me ages ago, and I don't want to keep trying to force a story that just isn't in me anymore. I love Lauren and Kassie so much that this will not be the last you see of the dynamic duo, so no fear!
This story turned out to be over 14,000 words long in just eleven chapters. I am proud of the small idea that made this into what it was, and I promise to keep writing. You all have been so incredibly supportive of me during this process and for that I am grateful. Thank you so much.
Without further ado, I present the final chapter of Zizes Who?
It actually didn't take much in the way of scheming to get Kurt to transfer back to McKinley. Lauren and Kassie set up a meeting between Kurt and his parents and David and his parents, so the group could discuss how David had found the error of his ways over a free dinner provided by the girls at Breadstix. When both parties agreed that the only stipulation to Kurt going back to McKinley was David joining the New Directions, two birds were killed with one stone. Dave easily agreed to join the Glee club, explaining that he had planned to once Regional's were over anyhow. Kassie and Lauren watched from a corner booth as Kurt and David shook hands and both girls sighed in relief as they fist pumped.
On Kurt's first day back to New Directions everyone gathered in the choir room, waiting patiently for their friend to arrive. It was not a very pleased Kurt that walked into the choir room that morning and Kassie and Mercedes were the first to reach the fashionista.
Taking her friends' books, Kassie gave the boy a questioning look as Mercedes pulled Kurt into a vacant chair.
"Kurt, what happened, luv?" Kassie had set the boys' books on an empty chair and turned to her friend. Her heart nearly broke at the sadness in those blue/grey eyes.
"It's… Blaine." Kurt choked as he tried to speak through the tears that were threatening to fall. He noticed that the entire Glee club, including David was hanging on his every word. At the mention of Blaine, many of the guys had taken defensive positions and Mercedes gave a grunt of displeasure.
Lauren spoke up, saying what everyone else wanted to. "He broke it off, didn't he?"
Kurt nodded, a lone tear falling down his cheek. "He said I was being selfish coming back here. Told me I obviously didn't love him enough to stay."
"That's crap and you know it."
"Finn, shut up."
Taking Kurt's hand in hers, Kassie had the boy look at her. "Kurt, you know that isn't true. He is the one being selfish and you know it. This isn't your fault. Blaine knew how much you missed your friends. He should have known that if or when given the chance to safely return to McKinley, you would."
Kurt nodded, wiping at his eyes. "I know. And to be honest, I knew this was coming. He's been distant for weeks now." He hugged the girl before him and turned to the rest of his friends with a smile.
"Well? We have National's to prepare for. Let's get going!"
David stood behind a red house curtain, his hand shaking slightly as he hummed to himself. On the other end of the stage stood the most beautiful woman in the world, and as he turned to smile at her, his heart skipped a beat. He went to cross the space between them and smiled again as Kassie met him halfway, center stage behind the curtain that separated them from the audience.
"You look beautiful, Kay." He kissed his girlfriend on the cheek. "I love you," he added, squeezing a manicured hand in his.
Kassie beamed up at her boyfriend; amazed at the changes this year had brought. Staring up in his hazel eyes, she never loved the man more. "I love you, too." She stepped up on her toes and placed a kiss on David's cheek before turning to go back to her place.
David turned and made his way back to his position, trying to calm his nerves before that curtain went up. This was it; National's.
He looked over at Kassie across the stage as the curtain went up and the music began.
"Kiss me too fiercely, hold me too tight,
I need help believing you're with me tonight.
My wildest dreaming could not forsee
Lying beside you, with you wanting me."
Kassie stepped forward, her eyes never leaving David's as she sang to him. The audience seemed miles away as she focused solely on the man before her.
"Just for this moment, as long as you're mine,
I've lost all resistance and crossed some borderline.
And if it turns out it's over too fast,
I'll make every last moment last
As long as you're mine."
Stepping forward, David slowly made his way across the stage toward the beauty singing to him, gathering her hands in his as he sang.
"Maybe I'm brainless, maybe I'm wise
But you've got me seeing through different eyes.
Somehow I've fallen under your spell
And somehow I'm feeling it's up that I fell."
Their voices blending, the pair gazed into each others' eyes as they fell into the chorus together, their hands intertwined as they sang.
"Every moment
As long as you're mine
I'll wake up my body
And make up for lost time."
Pulling the girl into him, David took over, brushing a strand of hair from Kassie's forehead as he sang the line.
"Say there's no future for as a pair"
Voices joining once again, the pair sang in harmony, their chemistry filling the auditorium and they sang around each other, David leading Kassie in a small dance across the stage.
"Just for this moment,
As long as you're mine
Come be how you want to
And see how bright we shine.
Borrow the moonlight
Until it is through
And know I'll be here, holding you
As long as you're mine."
Holding out the last note, the pair gazed at each other, love dancing in each other's eyes. Never had David felt more in love than in that moment. He forced himself to tear away from those bright blue eyes and smiled at the audience.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the New Directions!"
He pulled Kassie back upstage as the rest of the group assembled on stage for their large group number, kissing her hand as they took their places among the group.
"Twelfth place is better than last, isn't it?"
"Yeah, I guess so. It just would have been nice to win, though."
"Look at it this way, Laur. We got to go to New York together, we got to sing with our friends, hand a pillow fight in a five star hotel room, and we got to dance in Central Park. I say it's a win, no matter what we placed."
Lauren shrugged, still disappointed. "I know. I just really wanted to win. I'm not used to losing and I hate this feeling. New York was fun, though."
Sitting beside her friend on her bed, Kassie took the other girl by the hand. "New York was a dream. And we got to go together."
Lauren turned and faced her best friend, knowing that it had to be now or never for this conversation. She knew they both had been avoiding this discussion since Regional's, but there were no more excuses to put it off.
"What about us, Kass? We need to stop avoiding this topic. National's are over, exams are done, and we need to talk."
Nodding, the other girl sighed and turned as well in order to see her friend better. "I know."
"You are my best friend, Kay. The best thing to have ever happened to me was when you had to sit beside me in seventh grade. I don't regret any of the things we have done together, sexual or otherwise. Nor would I be opposed to us just remaining best friends without the other stuff. I know that after what happened with James you weren't comfortable with all of that. And I am so relieved that David has been good for and to you."
Tears began to silently fall down Kassie's cheeks as Lauren spoke, and all she wanted to do was curl up and have a good cry. She loved her friend, more than she had loved anyone in her life, and she was grateful every day to have such a good friend.
"I'm not even sure why I am okay with David. I know it had to hurt when I put that distance between us. Dave knows about James and what happened, and I have told him everything about our past. He has been good for me, but he is no you. You were the one who cleaned me up and helped me when I came home that night. You are still the one I run to when I need to be held or when things have been especially bad."
She took Lauren's hand in her own, and smiled through the tears. "I will always pick you over Dave, just like I know I will always come before Noah. I don't want to lose your friendship, and if I were honest with myself, I don't want to lose the other stuff as well."
Lauren nodded, pulling her friend in for a hug. "I don't want anything to change. What we have, as different and difficult it might be, is special. I love you, Kassie. As a friend, a sister, and yes, even as the lovers we were. I don't want to lose what we have."
Kissing the other girl on the cheek, the blue eyed brunette smiled softly. "We won't. Now, next year is our senior year. We are shoe-ins for Sectional's and are probably going to win Regional's again as well. We should get to work writing some music for the fall." Standing, Kassie crossed to her desk to grab some paper and pencils.
"I'm not going to be in Glee next year, Kass." Lauren turned to look at her friend and flinched at the disappointment that was etched across the other girls' features. "My wrestling has taken a dive since I joined the club. Coach isn't too happy about my performance and had demanded that I have extra practices next year or he'll revoke any recommendations he gave for me on my college applications. He's been waiting for last two years to find a reason to bust my chops, and I can't give it to him, Kass. I'm sorry."
"It's cool, L, I understand. Jenkins has been all over you since freshman year, so it's cool. I'm going back to Glee though. I like it there, and I love the friends we have made. It's pretty cool that we're not alone anymore, don't you think?"
"Yeah. And I still want to be friends with everyone. Puck and I are still together, so of course I'll hang out with everyone. I can't just abandon our friends just because I'm leaving Glee."
Pulling her best friend into a hug, Kassie smiled to herself.
Life was good.
A/N: And so it truly is. Happy New Year!
-ktattoo