BY VERY DEFINITION
25. Art Of Surprise
"How was the movie?" Kurt and Quinn were waiting on Parker's bed when she returned of Saturday evening from her "First Date" with Tate. They both had magazines opened and, somehow, they had managed to clean the room up since she left. Feeling tired, Parker walked over to her bed and collapsed next to them before answering Kurt's inquiry.
"It was good. Funny." She answered, causing Kurt to roll his eyes as Quinn giggled.
"Yes, the comedy was funny. You're really new at this, aren't you?" He asked.
"New at what?" Parker asked with confusion.
"He wasn't asking about the movie, he wants to know how the date went." Quinn clarified patiently.
"It was good." Parker repeated.
"Parker," Kurt rested a hand on his forehead and closed his eyes, "Give us some details before I shake them out of you." Parker had no doubt that if it came to a fight, she could beat Kurt hands down. However, deciding it best to avoid the bloodshed, Parker folded her legs under her and turned toward her friends.
"Fine." She said, "If you must know, I had a really great time. We talked over lunch, I learned a bit about his family and I asked him about his singing. We spent a lot of it talking about the past year, what we've been doing and stuff. We went to the movie and sat next to each other." Parker could honestly only remember parts of the movie, and not even the good parts. Because every time something funny happened, Tate would laugh, causing Parker to look over and meet his humored eyes, effectively distracting her from the meaningless plot taking place on screen. Tate recounted most of the movie on the way home while Parker listened and agreed with him absently every now and then. He'd dropped her off and she let the shyness get the better of her.
"This is going no where." Kurt sighed, "How about this, what was your favorite part?" The redhead felt stumped. The best part? How could she possibly pick from the many magical moments that had passed that afternoon? She'd never had so much fun, she'd never been so happy. She had never been so blissfully unaware of her pain and her past, being with Tate made her forget about all of her scars and the holes in her heart. The best part?
"The best part," Parker thought for another moment before figuring out part of why she had felt so at peace, "He didn't ask me about my gloves." She realized, "He didn't say anything. He didn't ask why I wore them or if I was hiding something. I never caught him looking at them while he thought I wasn't watching, his eyes were always on my face, not what I was wearing." It had felt as though the gloves were a part of her arms, like she was a whole and healed human being. Without anyone picking at her wounds, she forgot all about them.
"Wow." Quinn sighed dreamily, "I'm impressed, those gloves are a real conversation piece."
"I'll say." Parker grumbled.
"At least you'll always be interesting." Kurt made a show of checking his watch, "Mercedes had homework but she wanted to know how things went so I'd better go and tell her. Even if the report was disappointing." He glared at the two girls on the bed before stomping meaningfully out the door. Parker turned to Quinn with a guilty smile.
"It was a lot more interesting than it sounds," Parker insisted, "I'm just not good at describing things."
"I understand." Quinn patted the smaller girl's hand sympathetically, "You'll get better at it. Come on, you owe me a piano lesson."
The last month of school flew by as spring melted away into summer. The energy around the school turned jittery and expectant, everyone counting down the days until they would be free from the academic institution for three glorious months. Over the last month Parker had felt at peace. She continued to talk to Tate Hanson, they'd even gone out for dinner. Neither of them mentioned 'dating' or 'couple', Parker wasn't even sure if they were 'boyfriend' and 'girlfriend', but she always had a flair for a bit of mystery. It was one of the last days of school when Tate pulled her off to the side in the hallway while she was on her way to Glee Club.
"I need to talk to you." He said. Parker lowered her eyebrows in puzzlement. "Do you have time?"
"Sure." She let him drag her off to the gym, which was empty at the moment since the gym classes were over for the day. Tate gestured for her to sit down on one of the few bleachers that were left open and began to pace in front of her. "What's up?" Parker asked after a moment of watching his nervous movement.
"I completely forgot." He apologized.
"Forgot what?" Parker asked. Tate stopped pacing and looked directly at Parker.
"A couple of months ago my parents signed me up for a basketball camp over the summer. I agreed because I didn't think I had any plans over the summer." Parker continued to look at him blankly so Tate took a deep breath before saying, "It's in Dayton, and it's a 10 week camp." Parker felt the breath leave her and she took a moment to compose herself.
"You're going to be gone all summer?" She asked.
"Yeah, it seemed like a good idea at the time." Tate studied her ruefully. Parker kept her face blank long enough that Tate finally prompted, "What are you thinking?"
"I don't know." Parker answered honestly, "You love basketball, so I guess I don't see what you're so sorry about." Tate blushed.
"I...I had just been thinking recently...about what we would do over the summer."
"We?" The Cheerio repeated in surprise.
"We, you know? I was thinking about going out for ice cream and watching fireworks on the Fourth of July." Tate watched as Parker's face again became impassive, "But those were just ideas. I mean," He collapsed on the bench next to her, "You probably think that's corny or something."
"No." Parker disagreed lightly, "I think it's sweet."
"You're so hard to read." Tate said with a slight smile, "I always feel like I'm doing something wrong with you."
"You just always catch me by surprise." The girl said soothingly.
"Well, I guess that's something." The Basketball player sighed, "And I was thinking about vacations and movies, you know, stuff that guys usually do with their girlfriends over summer."
"Girlfriend?" Parker was caught off-guard while Tate's eyes widened like a deer in headlights.
"I meant..." He struggled to redeem himself, "There's not much point in me having a girlfriend if I'm gone all summer but I was thinking...I mean..." He trailed off, looking at Parker nervously.
"Are you getting at something?"
"I think I've been meaning to say that when I get back, if that's okay, I'd like you to be my girlfriend." He looked nervously at the girl next to him, she was staring across the gym with her eyes glazed over and her mouth set straight, "Did I surprise you again?"
"Very much so." Parker admitted.
"Why is that so surprising?" Tate questioned. Parker just shook her head, embarrassed.
"After you were asking about Quinn, I thought I never had a chance. I figured you'd be more interested in her." That made Tate laugh outright.
"I'm sure even you're attracted to her a little bit." He teased.
"No." Parker argued.
"Everyone loves Quinn, just a fact of life. But I'd rather spend the summer with you. And next school year, since we're on the subject." Tate said. Parker was beet red.
"Thanks." She said quietly, "I hope you have fun at camp."
"And you'll be here when I get back?" Tate asked suspiciously, standing up. Parker, unable to speak much more, only nodded. Tate's face broke out in a relieved smile. He offered her his hand and escourted her out of the gym before leaving. Parker ran to the choir room to find that Glee Club had already started.
"Nice of you to join us." Mr. Schue said as Parker walked quickly to her seat between Kurt and Mercedes. "Now that Parker's here, I believe that Rachel had a presentation for us?" Rachel Berry jumped out of her seat and stood in front of the group.
"I have a song prepared to salute the summer and to tribute our club and friendships." She smiled, "I'd like the other girls of the club to come down here and help me out." Quinn, Tina, Mercedes, Santana, Brittany, and Parker filed to the front of the room to join Rachel on the chorus of the song that spoke to all of them as a group and individually. The song that would represent the end of an exciting year.
"Right right turn off the lights
We gonna lose our minds tonight
What's the dealeo?
I love when it's all too much
5 AM turn the radio up
Where's the rock and roll?
Party crasher
Panty snatcher
Call me up if you a gangster
Don't be fancy
Just get dancey
Why so serious?
So raise your glass if you are wrong
In all the right ways
All my underdogs, we will never never be!
Anything but loud
And nitty gritty
Dirty little freaks
Won't you come on, and come on, and
Raise your glass
Just come on and come and
Raise Your Glass!
Slam slam oh hot damn
What part of party don't you understand?
Wish you'd just freak out
Can't stop coming and hot
I should be locked up right on the spot
It's so on right now
Party crasher
Panty snatcher
Call me up if you a gangster
Don't be fancy
Just get dancey
Why so serious?
So raise your glass if you are wrong
In all the right ways
All my underdogs, we will never never be!
Anything but loud
And nitty gritty
Dirty little freaks
Won't you come on, and come on, and
Raise your glass
Just come on and come and
Raise Your Glass!
Won't you come on and come on and
Raise your glass
Just come on and come and
Raise your glass
Oh shit my glass is empty
That sucks
So if you're too school for cool
And you're treated like a fool
You could choose to let it go
We can always we can always
Party on our own
So raise your
So raise your glass if you are wrong
In all the right ways
All my underdogs, we will never never be!
Anything but loud
And nitty gritty
Dirty little freaks
So raise your glass if you are wrong
In all the right ways
All my underdogs, we will never never be!
Anything but loud
And nitty gritty
Dirty little freaks
Won't you come on! and come on! and
Raise your glass
Just come on and come and
Raise! Your! Glass!
Won't you come on! and come on! and
Raise your glass for me
Just come on and come and
Raise! Your! Glass! For me"
Song: "Raise Your Glass" by PINK
End year one. I don't know when the next chapter will be up but I have a bone to pick with you guys:
My last couple of chapters have only gotten one review each. Reviews for everything have been down lately, what's going on there? I'm not particularly proud of this chapter but I would appreciate anything you have to say.
This should inspire you:
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