Why, yes I am continuing this story! I will finish it and hopefully it won't be the last thing I ever do. I'm trying my best to remember what's going on in the stories. Sorry for the wait.
Days at McKinley bled together oddly. Emiliana wasn't sure if it was Friday or Tuesday most days, but there was always the constant Cheerio practice that she didn't ever skip. In fact, today was the day she would get her uniform. Apparently, she'd shown that she was a capable cheerleader and singer. When the bell rang, she reported to the girl's locker room to have Slyvester shove her uniform in her arms and order her to try it one along with the customary white socks and shoes. It wasn't the first time that she'd worn something like this, but slipping it on was like diving into a cold ocean. It was a crisp feeling that hummed along her nerve endings and eventually faded to numbness. When she came out, Slyvester nodded her head in approval and told her to get ready for practice.
She supposed she looked good... or at least she hoped she did. Her radar of good was screwed up so she'd have to take other people's words for it. Practice was over and she met Emiliano outside on the football field. He drove them home and it started all over again most days.
For Kurt, who had decided against the less than smart idea of falling for another straight jock, the day was a little different. He was hyper aware of what day, what time, and where he was in space in time. He knew when he had classes with Emiliano and tried to sit as far away as possible. Their art class made that impossible, but he managed to be as objective as possible about it, so it didn't matter. He knew that Emiliano was getting annoyed with his stuttering and avoidance of speech, but he didn't have time to explain. Instead, he went to Glee and he went to Cheerio practice as often as he needed to and tried not to think about the fact that Emiliano was one of the sexiest, probably straight guys he'd ever met.
He huffed, and Emiliano didn't usually huff without good reason. He hadn't seen his sister all day an he needed to talk, more than that he was fairly sure Kurt was avoiding him. Maybe Kurt was still interested in someone else. If so, he wondered who. If not, what the hell was the problem? Ever since Emiliana had come to McKinley and damnable Jesse had followed her, her and Kurt and Mercedes had become the best of friends... And now Emiliana was a Cheerio and left him hanging at Glee half the time with Mercedes (who was awesome), Tina (also awesome), and Rachel (who really needed a lesson in humility). He fucking hated it and it was beginning to show, he was more ticked off than usual recently.
Now he was sitting at a stupid pep rally. Fucking high school.
"Hey, Emiliano, have you talked to your sister yet?" Mr. Schue, who was vying for her to return to Glee. After all, she did have the lungs of an opera singer and of course two was better than one.
"Nope, she did say that so long as St. James is on the team she wasn't coming back."
He huffed and Emiliano smirked at that. He was glad he wasn't alone in his annoyance as Sue Slyvester appeared on the floor and spoke in the microphone. She smirked over at Will Schuester with that superior gleam in her eyes and laughed. Wouldn't this make the curly headed loser squirm? She figured so considering that not only had she stolen away his male soprano, but his newest opera acquirement... the only thing was left was to steal Aretha back and then she could sit back and laugh more than usual.
"McKniley High Cheerios!" Cheers went up but there was nothing but silence, the gynasium was darkened and the entire room sat waiting for the show.
"I can tell you're looking at me, I know what you see. Any closer and you'll feel the heat...Cheerios..."
The spot light turned on and Emiliano took a deep breath in shock, his sister in the Cheerio uniform, bent at the waist slightly, hat on her head, mike coming around her cheek.
"You don't have to pretend like you didn't notice me, every look'll make it hard to breath... Here we go... Bring the Boys Out."
Cat calls and wolf whistles flooded the air as the music started up and it was obvious that Emiliana and the rest of the Cheerios were a lot more adept at dancing than anyone thought. He gawked and couldn't help but clap at the obvious comfort and ease that Emiliana took the stage as a sexy, cheerleader singing with Kurt as her partner.
"I'm feeling this in my heart... My heart~ BRING THE BOYS OUT!"
He wasn't sure how he should feel about Puck wolf whistling at his sister, but he supposed that a hair flip and a smooth drop to the floor warranted that from the straight man. Her tango practice showed through, and it was obvious that Kurt had been taking lesson of some kind, because he made Emiliano think that he wasn't a virgin or something like that. When they belted the notes together the entire gym went up in applause.
"'Cause we Bring the Boys out, We bring the boys out, WE Bring the Boys Out!"
Kurt looked out into the gymnasium, avoiding the gaze of the one person he wanted to see as the song ended and swallowed. He'd never felt so sexy than in that moment. He took a glance at Emiliana as the next song started up, one that was definitely more dance intensive and more meant to make sure people realized that he was boy. It was hilarious as no one really expected them start rapping Busta Rhymes " Break Ya Neck." Slyvester laughed maniacally at Schuester's distress. Emiliana was talented and Kurt really could dance more than the silly show choir steps he'd always been given. They looked together in sync hip hop routine that Sue had only agreed to because it was completely new. The students loved it and so long as it was censored, then it didn't really matter. They also discovered that Kurt could actually rap and pull out the base in his voice. The pep rally ended with the Cheerios headed back into the locker rooms to debrief, grab their things and get ready to head to class. Emiliano, unfortunately was saddled with Puck ongoings about his sexy sister.
"Puck, really?" He groaned. "She's my sister."
"I know... it's a little creepy since you're twins, but she's hot dude. Surely you know that."
He could only shake his head heading towards the Glee room after classes were over. He would not discuss his sister's level of attraction with Puck, especially since he had no particular interest in women that wasn't platonic. There was no Cheerio practice so Kurt was with them in his Cheerio uniform and entered to cat calls and wolf whistles from Mercedes and a heated stare from Emiliano.
"Ow, ow! Get it in, Bring the boys out!"
Kurt flushed and shook his head, "I didn't choose the song. Emiliana did."
Emiliano wasn't surprised about that either considering that his sister was who she was. When they were getting ready to go, he tossed Emiliana the keys to his car and cornered Kurt by his car.
"Take your time," she said teasingly. "Bring the Boys out, Kurt."
Kurt wasn't really sure what she meant but it was obvious that Emiliano had something important to say to him and he wasn't really sure if he was really ready to hear it.
"Uhm... is there something wrong?"
Emiliano watched him as Kurt avoided looking back at him. He was reading the obvious apprehension.
"You're avoiding me and I don't appreciate it."
Kurt winced, preparing himself to be punch when something interesting happened: Emiliano kissed him. No, kissing would be the wrong term. Kissing was reserved for silly hollywood meeting of the lips or teenage crushes. No. This felt like sex and it was so personal that Kurt was sure that he wasn't Kurt anymore. He could smell Emiliano's shampoo and soap and something else that was too delicious to give a name. His mouth opened out of shock and need to breathe and Emiliano took the time to slide his tongue along the roof of Kurt's mouth, his arm around Kurt's waist and pulling him up close to him, his other hand in his hair and holding him close.
When Emiliano finally released him, Kurt wondered if he had legs and where they went. Emiliano held him up right and moments passed in silence and more silence until Emiliano spoke.
"So, are you free Saturday?" Emiliano asked. "I'm asking because I'm assuming that you were avoiding me because of your mishap with Finn..."
"How... You're..."
"I'm what?"
"Straight."
Emiliano snorted, "Mmmm... should I kiss you again or shove your hand down my pants? Which is more convincing?"
He swallowed, "But... but... you... I don't understand."
"I want to date you, Kurt. I'd like to place a public claim on you, take you out on dates, romance you... kiss you..."
Emiliano grinned at the blush that darkened with every passing moment and kissed Kurt again, savoring the taste of cherry chapstick and smiling.
"So, Saturday?"
"G-Game..."
"After the game of course, I'm playing in it remember?"
Kurt nodded.
"Is that a yes? We'll do something casual. Get you another burger you aren't supposed to have, lots of fries and watch the stars or something. How about it?"
"O-Okay..."
"Fantastic. We'll go right after the game, kay?"
Kurt nodded dumbly. Emiliano trailed a hand across his face before heading towards his car and seeing Jesse walking past Emiliana with the distinct look of someone who had been ignored. He arrived grinning at his sister who grinned back.
"Date with Kurt?" She asked.
"Ignorant dance choice?"
She nodded and climbed into the car, "I've been accosted by three of your team members that weren't Puck."
"And Puck didn't accost you?"
"Of course not, bro' code."
Emiliano nodded and revved the engine, "What's up with Jesse? Still upset with him?"
"He told you then did he?"
He shrugged, "We talked, I punched him. We came to an understanding."
She nodded, "How macho."
He snorted, "He is sorry."
"I know, I've forgive him. Doesn't mean I want to talk to him."
"Cutting him off?"
"I didn't change my number."
"Yet you're acting like you were nothing."
"We were friends, that's it."
He winced at that but didn't say anything more. She apparently didn't realize how much Jesse really liked her, not that it seemed to matter considering what he'd done. He dropped her off at her house with the advice that she should at least hear him out.
"Let me guess, you two had a bonding moment?"
He shrugged, "A little bit. He is actually sorry."
She knew that, but that didn't really matter to her. It was still too close and she was trying to move past that moment so reconciliation (if that was to happen) would have to wait until she got a handle on it. Until then, she'd stick to looking down at her Cheerio uniform with a wry smile. Her legs really could bring the boys out.
Kurt came home. Finn was already there, Carol and his father was there and he had a distinctly dazed look on his face. Burt looked up with an eye brow raised.
"Kurt, everything alright? Finn's been telling us about your performance today..."
It was a slow lazy, dazzling smile and he flushed. Carol made a face.
"Spill, who is it?"
Kurt shook his head, "I'm going to go take a shower...I'll be back for dinner."
They watched him float down the steps, into the basement and Burt had the feeling that he would like it... He wasn't going to like it at all...When Kurt came back for dinner, he hadn't lost the positively glowing look on his face.
"Did Mr. Schue give you a solo?"
Kurt snorted, "Who cares about that?"
"Alright then Kurt, what's going on? You're-"
"He's got a date," Carol said with a grin. "Am I right?"
Kurt nodded enthusiastically and Finn looked floored.
"With who?"
"None of your business," Kurt said in a clipped tone and continued eating humming.
Burt made a face and cleared his throat, "Uhm... Kurt... you have a date?"
"Surprisingly."
"With a guy?"
"Yes."
"At your high school?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"After the game."
"And when will you be home?"
"Before curfew of course."
Burt sighed, "How long have you know-"
"For god sake's Burt," Carol cut in. "Just ask him what you really want to know. Who is it?"
Kurt grinned, "You'll meet him. He has to drop me off obviously. He's really nice, you'll like him Dad."
Finn didn't like the sound of waiting to find out but they all let it go. Burt had the distinct feeling that he wouldn't like this young man at all, on principle. He wasn't sure what kind of... guy Kurt was in to, but his mind went crazy with the possibilities everything from the grungy loser of Mckinley to that Jesse kid that had been dating Rachel. The possibilities were terrifying and while Kurt was much more interested in thoughts of where Emiliano was going to take him, he hadn't heard Finn's demand for answers.
"Who is it Kurt?"
Kurt rolled his eyes, "Feeling protective?"
He growled, "I just don't want you to get hurt."
"I highly doubt that will happen, but thank you for your concern-"
"Kurt, at least...please? I worry about you. You're sort of like a little brother. I just don't want you to get hurt."
Kurt smiled at him and patted his shoulder, "You know him."
Finn's eyes widened, "I... know him? Like how well?"
"Fairly I would think."
"It's obviously not Puck..." Kurt made a face. "Karofsky?" He gagged and shook his head before bouncing onto his bed and opening his textbook to start work for the night.
Finn spent most of the night pondering through the list of guys he knew, trying to sift through the ones that he knew it couldn't be, but none of them seemed to be out of the realm of possibility. He decided when they were turning into sleep that he was thinking about it the wrong way. Not who would be interested in Kurt, who would Kurt be interested in... Who had he shown interest in? He had a thing for cleanliness and the like so most of the guys on the team were out... He didn't do stupidity so there went a few others. He'd said that the other would be picking him up so it had to be someone with a car...
Finn sat up out of bed and scrambled over to Kurt who was just now dozing off and shook him. Kurt groaned.
"What is it Finn? What?"
"Emiliano?" Finn asked softly. "Emiliano is the guy you're going on a date with?"
"Took you long enough. I thought it was obvious-"
"Are you sure this is a date Kurt? I hang out with him enough to think..."
"Yes Finn I'm sure."
"Well how sure are you?"
Kurt smiled and flushed, curling into perserve the warmth of the memory fluttering in his eyelids, "Very."
"How sure is very Kurt? Like he wants to date you and hide you or what?"
Kurt huffed sitting up and looking at the worried expression on Finn's face. Finn seemed to be telling the truth when he said that Kurt was a kind of like a little brother to him. It was sweet in the sort of needless way. He remembered why he'd crushed so hard on Finn for so long... and then Emiliano came to mind and all that was nothing but a memory.
"I'm not going to get any sleep if you're not sure am I?"
Finn shook his head.
"He kissed me, outside, asked me out in broad daylight, and told me that he intended to, and I quote, place a public claim on me. He even said that I had a choice of how he convinced me: kissing me or shoving his hand down my pants. Happy?"
Finn gawked and decided that he would definitely have to have a talk with Emiliano the next day. He crawled back into his own bed and turned over, flushing at the words that Kurt told him so plainly. This was going to be a very interesting conversation and it gave him a headache to think about it.
Jesse arrived home to hear the crashing of glass on the floor and angry yelling coming from the kitchen.
"Go ahead tell me I'm wrong! Tell me I'm wrong!"
"Honey, please-"
"Don't! Just... don't."
The sound of glass scraping against the floor and a curse.
"Stop it, you'll hurt-"
"I can put a bandage on this," Helen said pointedly and snatched her hand away from William. He had the nerve to be hurt about what she'd said and she turned back to cleaning up the glass she'd broken. William bit his lip and sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"Do you want me to leave?" He asked after a moment and Jesse gasped. Helen stopped her eyes watering as she stood and she swallowed.
Her internal structure was going haywire, folding in on itself, but he didn't move. Just breathing through the pain, the slash of those words across her senses. She said that she wouldn't suggest it, that she couldn't. She didn't know if it made it better, or more bearable if he suggested it. Judging by the overwhelming need to curl up and die, she supposed not. How had it come to this?
"I don't know..." She said, shaking her head. "I just don't know William..."
He swallowed and took a breath, he wouldn't be the one to leave. He wouldn't be the one to end this conversation, for as long as she wanted to talk he would bear it. She could beat at him, talk down to him, smack him, punch him and he would bear it. He deserved it, it was his fault after all, no one else's fault but his own.
I'm sorry, the words would have done no good though. Wasted and empty on the woman he loved and was probably hating him, ready to stab him dead. He would have taken that too so long as she didn't say she wanted him to go.
"I can-"
"Don't." Helen said. "Just go."
He growled at that and grabbed her arm, turning her around and glaring down at her, "I am not cheating on you, Helen. I don't even know where you got the idea from, but I am not cheating on you, so get that out of your head. I will leave if you want me to, but I won't leave you thinking that I'm cheating on you."
"..." Helen swallowed but didn't look at him, not really hearing him, not really caring anymore. It was so dark, pulling her down. He let out a breath and pulled her into his arms to squeeze her.
"I know I hurt you... I know that and more than anything I wish I could take it back, but please... please Helen believe me when I say I could never cheat on you. I love you and if you want me to go, I will but that won't stop me from loving you, okay?"
She shook her head, pushing her way out of his eyes and streaking towards the stairs, not bothering to register Jesse standing there as she rushed up the stairs. William sighed watching her go, wanting to go after her but knowing that wasn't an option. How had it gotten that bad? It had started off as a question of what she wanted for dinner and blew up into her suggestion that he should get a mistress. He missed what she'd said and it had only made it worse. He glowered at his phone as Jesse walked into the kitchen and bit his lip.
"Are you okay?"
"Go check on her."
Jesse nodded and headed up the stairs to hear Helen behind the closed bathroom door weeping. He winced at the sound of tears and ache coming from behind the door and knew that the feud wasn't over as he headed down the stairs while William made dinner.
"Are you leaving?"
He took a breath and shrugged, "I don't know if that would do any good..."
Helen didn't come down for dinner, nor did he see her for the rest of the night as he made himself comfortable on the couch. He heard her move around eleven that night. She came down the stairs in her EMT gear, suited up and walked through the kitchen to pack a quick breakfast before heading towards the door. She stopped to look through the darkness at the form she expected to be sleeping, let out a short gasp and headed out the door. He shook his head as the door closed. Something would have to give.
Jesse decided that he wasn't going to wait for something to give. He was tired of getting the silent treatment, getting ignored. He'd rather have her yelling at him than brushing him off, at least then he would know where he stood. Thus when he found her at the end of the day, no practice for either of them. He seized his oppurtunity by the arm and pulled. She struggled against his incessant pulling and he didn't bother to humor her as they headed towards the auditorium. The speakers were set up and the sound crew was there waiting for them. He wouldn't let her talk him out of something he already feared doing. After all her resistance was only half hearted, and his drive was 150% in overdrive. There was no way in hell she would get away from him this time.
When they arrived on stage, her shoes were soft and stumbling across the stage and she pulled him around to face her.
"What the hell is your problem, St. James?"
Words, that's a good start.
"You've been avoiding me since I came here."
"Well I was avoiding you before I came here, "She snorted. "What the hell made you think that would change? Let me go!"
She ripped her hand from his grasp and he stopped her from leaving, blocking her exit.
"I thought you'd at least let me-"
"What do you expect me to do when you're still in love and in a relationship with Rachel? Sorry to say but I have no interest in being someone's friend if they won't even listen to me!"
"I'm not in love or in a relationship with Rachel. And I don't want to be just friends with you anymore! I never have, goddamnit! Weren't you even listening to me?"
"You're full of shit and I'm going home," before she could take a step the bass of "Another One Bites the Dust" played from the speaker and he caught her hand, willing her to listen. She glared at him noticing a set up when she saw it.
"I'm not lying, Ana."
She glared at him, "You don't get to call me that. You don't get to do this to me."
He raised an eyebrow and pulled her across the floor and up against him, staring her down with defiance.
"Does it feel like I'm giving you a choice?"
"Do I look like I'm a giving you a choice?"
"I'm not letting go."
She huffed and push at his shoulders only to be manipulated into a pseudo dance step. How the fuck did he learn the tango so quickly?
"Dance with me," he pleaded. "And I'll explain everything."
"I hate you St. James, and I don't want to hear it."
She twirled out, up and back against him gasping at the passion that she hadn't seen since freshman year, blazing out at her. He was almost human.
"I'm not the same anymore... I would have thought you would have noticed the change."
"Oh yeah? Did Rachel finally give you back your dick?"
He blinked, guiding her across the stage floor at a quick pace to match the song. He figured the song matched them perfectly and was willing to bet she felt it too.
"I broke up with her," he said. "She was cheating on me with Finn."
She blinked, "And when I told you this you said-"
"I'm sorry, Ana... I was stupid and delusional... Not anymore."
She stepped back as the words of that damned song poured out of his mouth, "Are you ready? Are you ready for this? Are you hanging on the edge of your seat? Out of the doorway the bullets rip-ah~... to the sound of the beat. Yeah~..."
The steps followed and she glared, "Another one bites the dust."
She shifted her weight and regarded, challenging him as she stepped forward and countering his act of attempted reconcilation with all the anger she had never unleashed before... and it still wasn't all of it. He almost tripped at the fast pace and when he fell she towered over him, even as he unleashed his anger as well.
"HOW DO YOU THINK I'M GONNA GET ALONG, WITHOUT YOU WHEN YOU'RE GONE? YOU TOOK ME FOR EVERYTHING THAT I HAD AND KICKED ME OUT OF MY HOME!"
She pushed him back down damn near screaming and marching across the stage as he scrambled back to avoid the white soles of her shoes,"ARE YOU HAPPY? ARE YOU SATISFIED? HOW LONG CAN YOU STAND THE HEAT? OUT OF THE DOORWAY THE BULLETS RIP TO THE SOUND OF THE BEAT. LOOK OUT!"
He rolled onto his feet and took her hand, spinning her out and rejoining the routine as they followed each other's steps across the stage and fought it out on an equal playing field. She wasn't in Glee anymore, but that didn't mean she'd lost her touch, and him letting go of the soulless automaton definitely boosted his performance quality.
Another one bites the dust. Another one bites the dust. And another one gone, another one gone.
She headed towards the exit and he cut her off, walking backwards.
He smirked, "Another one bites dust."
Her attempts to get away or side step him had him taking her hand and spinning her into him, she struggled but on basis of trainning fell into step with him. She hated it.
"There are plenty of ways you can hurt a man and bring him to the ground. You can beat him you can cheat him you can treat him bad and leave him when he's down."
"But I'm ready, I'm ready. yes, I'm ready for you. I'm standin' on my own two feet. Out of the door way the bullets rip, repeating to the sound of the beat. Oh~ yeah~...
Another one bites the dust... Another one bites the dust.
"Hey I'm gonna get you too."
"STOP!"
The song ended and she finally got free of him, glaring at him as he stared at her.
"You... can't do this to me. You can't! You're the one who broke this-"
"And I'm trying to fix it."
She scoffed, "I don't give a damn. Sometimes, you just don't want anything to be fixed."
He bit his lip, taking her hands and looking down at her, "Emiliana...please... I'm not trying to make an excuses. I just... I just want you to understand..."
She looked up at him and he didn't dare look away. God, she was beautiful and wonderful and he'd hurt her so badly. It felt like an eternity before she took a seat on the edge of the auditorium.
"I'm listening."
Jesse felt the breath he didn't know he was holding and took a seat beside her.
"But Jesse," she said. "If you're bullshitting me, I'll kick your ass."
He smiled at that and promised that he would bullshit her, starting from the beginning with the fire and middle school, high school, his father, his mother, everything. When he was done she looked at him with a light in her eyes that he couldn't place. She nodded at him.
"Okay," she said nodding and taking a breath. "Guess you're about as fucked up as I am..."
He blinked, trying to figure out what she was trying to say. She leapt down.
"I don't know if things will ever go back to being the way they were Jesse. But I appreciate you telling me the truth."
"How do you know all of that was the truth?"
"Helen told me already."
To be honest, she'd been told a lot before today, before she transferred. The fact that Jesse was telling her now was just a marker of his investment in reconciliation. Jesse was a good guy, damaged, confused, and fragile, but not an inherently terrible person. But she wouldn't tell him that she thought so, it was better to hear what he had to say on the topic. She'd been proven right (thank god for that).
His jaw dropped, "So wait, you did all of this, you knew-"
"It was less important that I knew and more important that you told me."
Jesse swallowed agreeing with that as she turned around.
"I suppose I can't keep ignoring you now... Don't think things are back to the old days though. I actually liked that skirt."
Jesse laughed, "Will you come back to Glee?"
"Never in a million years. You want me to deal with Berry? Nope. I'll pass."
Jesse nodded and admitted that Rachel was a handful, "Should I... give you a ride home?"
She shrugged, "I dunno know. How do you feel about this reconciliation thing?"
Jesse grinned, grabbing his backpack off the stage and trailing after her. She retrieved her things from her locker, sent Emiliano a text and climbed into the Range Rover she was only slightly familiar with giving Jesse directions to the house she now occupied. When they arrived, she took the time to look at him.
"Emiliano seems to think that you like me."
Jesse flushed as she pulled her bag off the floor.
"Whether that's true or not, doesn't matter. What does matter is that I'm not even sure if we'll work out as friends again... let alone anything else."
Jesse frowned not really understanding where she was gong with this.
"But we'll cross that bridge when we get there, Jess'. Try not to be to awkward about it, and if I catch you staring at me I'll hurt you."
She hopped out of the car with that and disappeared into the house as he couldn't help but stare at her legs as she walked. She filled out the Cheerios uniform nicely and he shook his head. She'd definitely did that on purpose.
