The girls wore dresses and skirts and the guys donned pants and clean shirts. Once they were all changed, they filed onto the bus.
"I forget what it's like to wear real shoes!" Tina said, looking down at her black shoes.
"How do you forget something like that?" Artie asked.
Tina rolled her eyes. "I'm kidding. I just mean that I've worn flip flops all week and so shoes feel different."
"Oh!" Rachel gasped as she looked out the window. She turned her head and faced Mercedes, who was sitting next to her and in one swift movement, she slugged her in the arm.
"Pink punch buggy no punch back safety!" Rachel shouted with a demonic grin.
"Ow" Mercedes said wincing, rubbing her arm where Rachel had hit her.
"Pink?" Kurt asked. "I don't believe that."
"Yeah, I've never seen a pink punch buggy" Sam said.
"Look, right there at that intersection" Rachel said, pointing out the window.
"She's right!" Quinn said, spotting the pink car.
"Wow!" Mike said. "That's cool."
"Rachel, you got a mean hit" Mercedes said.
"Has Blaine been teaching you?" Finn asked, his voice getting louder. "Did you know he was in a fight club?"
"Shhh" Blaine hushed with a finger over his lips. "You can't talk about it!"
"That's the first rule of it" Kurt piped up. Blaine had informed him about the secretive fight club when Kurt was at Dalton, but he never had an interest to join.
"Blaine? In a fight club?" Puck scoffed.
"He's like a dwarf" Santana said. "I doubt he can take a punch let alone throw one."
Blaine's chipper smile slowly turned to a hurt frown.
"No seriously guys" Finn said, coming to Blaine's rescue. "I saw him, he's good."
Kurt nodded and held Blaine's hand as silent comfort.
"I believe you" Rachel said. "Blaine is like an ant. Stronger than he looks."
"That's so sweet" Blaine smiled at Rachel. "In a creepy comparing me to a bug kinda way."
"So explain this fight club then" Sam said.
"I can't" Blaine said. "But let's just say no one messed with a Dalton fight club member anymore."
"Pretty big talk for such little to show for it" Puck said.
"Well, do you wanna fight him?" Brittany asked.
"Oooh! A real brawl!" Sugar said.
"No, no" Kurt frowned firmly. "No one is fighting anyone."
"Uh, what's this I hear of a fight?" Shelby asked, her eyes narrowing as she stood up carefully and looked towards the back of the bus at the teens.
"Puck wants to fight Blaine" Sugar answered with a smile.
Shelby looked at Puck with disappointment. She knew he was a sweet boy who just acted tough at times. "I doubt Blaine is interested or egging this whole thing on. Puck, got anything to say?"
"I never said I wanted to fight Blaine" Puck said, holding his hands up, as if he was innocent. "Blaine's my bro, I wouldn't do that."
Blaine looked relieved. "I don't want to fight either" he said quickly.
"Darn. I was hoping to see a good fight" Santana said glumly.
"No" Shelby shook her head. "No fights. Period."
"Don't worry" Puck said.
"I wouldn't want to hurt Puck anyways" Blaine laughed. "I'm kidding" he said, when Puck gave him a glare.
Puck knew it too. "Besides, Kurt would the one I'd have to deal with if I ever hurt his Blaineykins" Puck said, saying the last word in a baby voice and with an innocent blink.
Everyone laughed and Kurt rolled his eyes. "In my defense, I have never called Blaine that."
"If I had another cat, I'd totally name it that. In fact, when Lord Tubbington has babies, I so will" Brittany smiled excitedly.
"Lord Tubbington is a boy" Tina said, but Brittany just nodded.
"We're here!" Emma announced loudly and stood up. "Yay dinner!"
The teens all stood up and rushed to get out the door, except for Artie, who waited to be lowered to the ground.
"Guys, I'd like to make a toast!" Will said, standing up at the table, his glass of lemon water in his hand. He surveyed the teens with sad eyes. They all seemed to have forgotten.
"Wait, wait, wait!" Mike called and hurried to pour more pop in his empty glass. When the glass was filled with cold, bubbling brown liquid, Mike smiled. "Okay, ready!"
Will took a deep breath. They all stared expectantly up at him.
"What's with the sad look?" Rachel asked, when Will hadn't spoken yet and just watched.
"Guys, today is, or was, our last full day of the trip" Will said. Realization dawned on them and they all got the same sad look in their eyes. Tina began to silently cry.
"S-so I'd like to take this opportunity to make a toast" Will said, regaining composure. "This trip has been so much fun and an amazing bonding experience for everyone. I'm surprised we're not sick of each other..."
They chuckled in spite of the sadness that now loomed over them all.
"...And to think that we've grown up together to love each other so much. Sure, we have our battles and enough drama to make for a good TV show, but at the end of the day, we love each other. These past days have flown by. But as they say, time flies when you're having fun. I've had fun and judging by the constant smiles that have been plastered on your faces, I'd think you did too" Will said. He fidgeted nervously as he tried to hold back the tears. Here he was in some restaurant in Orlando Florida, giving speech to fifteen teens and he wanted to cry. He told himself to be a man and not break, but even men cry too. "I-I guess what I'm trying to say here is that tomorrow evening, we board a plane and leave this warm paradise with nothing but memories and the millions of pictures Mercedes took."
Mercedes smiled proudly but her eyes were dark with sadness.
"I feel like this is our g-goodbye now" Will continued. "But really, it's just our goodbye to a great trip in Florida. I'll be with you on that plane. It's just my mind prepping me for the graduation for many of you. But t-that's a whole other speech for a whole other day. So let's not spend the last day feeling sad about leaving, okay? Let's enjoy it and each other and the last of Florida. And think positive! Tomorrow night you can sleep in your own bed! I know I'll enjoy that! And you can see your families, too. So, in closing, thank you, all of you, for making this wonderful trip so enjoyable and memorable and...I'll never forget it or any of you! So cheers!" Will concluded and held his glass high.
The others smiled and raised their glass too. Most of the girls and a few of the guys had tears running down their cheeks. Will gave a nod then sat down. Emma put her hand on his shoulder. She was in tears too.
"Gosh Will" Beiste said, wiping her eyes. "My mascara is running. Thanks a lot."
Will chuckled and stared down the table. Tina was using her napkin to dab away the tears and Kurt rapidly blinked. Puck stared off into the distance and Artie was cleaning his glasses. The boys were trying their best not to cry.
"At this time tomorrow we'll be in the airport" Finn said.
"Going home" Quinn sighed.
"The trip is ending" Rory said.
"No" Blaine said. He pounded his fist on the table, making forks clink. "I mean, yes the trip is ending, but like Mr. Schue said, we shouldn't waste it crying and stuff. Let's make the most of it!"
"Blaine's right" Rachel said, giving a weak smile.
"Yeah" Santana nodded. "Hey, Britt, can I have your pickle slice?"
Brittany nodded and wordlessly pushed her plate across the table to her girlfriend.
Then, without warning, Mercedes jumped up and ran to the washroom.
"Mercedes?" Sam asked after her.
Mercedes didn't answer and ran off.
"I'll get her" Kurt said, standing up.
Rachel stood up too and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, then you'll get kicked out of the whole restaurant because you went in the girl's bathroom."
Kurt frowned and sat down. "I do it all the time at school" he muttered and received sympathetic smiles from Tina and Blaine.
"I'll get her" Rachel said and left the table, taking long strides.
Rachel went in the washroom and saw Mercedes staring into the mirror with tear tracks down her face.
"Girl, what's wrong?" Rachel asked gently.
"Sorry, I just didn't want to cry there" Mercedes said in a sad tone.
"Why are you crying?" Rachel asked. "I mean, yes, Mr. Schue's speech was sad but you rarely cry."
"It wasn't the speech."
"Then what was it?"
"It was everyone's reactions" Mercedes answered. "We all put up a brave front, but everyone, even Finn, was falling."
"I-I don't understand."
"Mr. Schue's speech was sad so everyone was sad. And then he brought up the graduation thing and everyone lost it. You should watch people's reactions sometime, Rachel. You learn a lot. Like Blaine, he gets a sad puppy look. Rory, he bites his lip when he's sad. Mike, he frowns and twiddles his thumbs. Puck stares off into the distance at the wall or clock or something. Artie's cleans his glasses, needing something to do. Tina and Kurt full out cry. Finn blinks randomly and fidgets in his seat. Didn't know that did you? Quinn, she breathes slowly out of pursed lips. Brittany chews her hair, Santana acts casual but changes the subject and Sugar twirls her hair and gives a sad look." Mercedes sniffed and explained.
Rachel looked surprised. "Woah...what do I do?"
Mercedes stared at Rachel. "You bow your head as if you can hide behind your bangs."
Rachel couldn't argue with that. "And Sam?"
"I've never seen him cry."
"I have" Rachel said, recalling the time. "He just full out cries and sorta covers his face with his hand."
"Good to know."
"But that doesn't explain why you're here" Rachel said, leaning against the wall.
Mercedes sighed. "Well, to see everyone, even the toughest of people, cry...it's sad. Really sad. You all are my best friends and my family and when we split next year, I don't know what'll do. Why do you think I took so many pictures? So I'll always remember this. And us."
"You will."
"I know. I dunno, I just really emotional so I came in here. Don't want to cause a scene, you know?" Mercedes chuckled lightly.
"Yes because jumping up and running to the bathroom isn't a scene at all" Rachel retorted. "They all think you probably have food poisoning like Tina."
"I do not!" Mercedes giggled. "I just don't like to cry in front of people. I'm Mercedes Jones. I'm tough. Crying isn't for me...in public at least."
"Girl, you don't need to be afraid to cry" Rachel said.
"Stop trying to sound street" Mercedes rolled her eyes. "It's not working."
Rachel nodded and stood up straighter. "Sorry" she laughed.
"I know, I know, crying isn't a bad thing. I'm just not comfortable, okay?" Mercedes said. "I'm fine."
Rachel smiled. "We still have one more day. How many more pictures can you take?"
"Is that a challenge?"
"Maybe" Rachel smirked.
"Challenge accepted."
"Are you sure you're fine?" Sam leaned over and asked for the third time since Mercedes and Rachel had returned to the table. Rachel had explained that everything was okay but everyone noticed the tear stains on Mercedes' face. So they all just assumed that Mr. Schue's speech really made her sad. Sam, however, had to be sure, hence the many questions.
"Positive" Mercedes said and ate some more of Blaine's ice cream that he had given her. "Blaine, tell me again why you got ice cream?"
"Because I ordered of the kids menu so I get it free."
Everyone giggled.
"Why?" Finn asked. "The kids menu isn't enough food. One burger is the size of my pinkie."
"Naw" Blaine shook his head.
"Blaine's qualified to order off the kids menu because he acts like a kid" Tina said.
"I'll second that" Kurt said.
"I wasn't hungry enough to order a full meal" Blaine said, elbowing Kurt for his comment.
"Are we ready to go?" Beiste asked down the table, to the teens.
Will signaled a waitress over.
"Yeah, we better hurry too" Mike said, looking at his watch.
"Mhmm" Will nodded and signed the bill as the waitress waited.
They all stood up and left the restaurant.
"That was good" Puck said, rubbing his stomach happily.
"Best place we've been to yet" Artie said.
"I agree" Santana nodded and sat down in the bus.
"Fifteen minutes until showtime" Rachel said as thy hurried into their hotel.
"We gotta change" Quinn said, looking at her shirt that had a stain on it from the sauce-covered noodle she had accidentally dropped on herself during dinner.
"Yeah but we have to hurry" Finn said, looking directly at Kurt, who blushed and nodded.
"Okay, change and hurry back right away. Meet backstage by the bench, okay?" Santana suggested, but it was more of a demand.
"Yup" Rory nodded. "Outfits?"
"Black and white" Tina said. "Doesn't matter what, just no colour."
"Go!" Rachel yelled and they all ran towards the stairs and elevator. Tina bounded ahead of everyone, going two steps at a time. She got to the rooms first, but had to wait for Quinn had the key.
Quinn unlocked the door and they hurried inside.
"I don't know if I have something that's black or white to wear on the bottom" Quinn said, searching through her suitcase.
"I have a black skirt you can borrow" Tina said, holding it up.
"Really? Thanks, I-oh, wait! I have this!" Quinn smiled and held up a white dress with black polka dots on the bottom half.
"Cute" Tina nodded, heading to the bathroom to change.
Quinn changed into the dress and was combing her hair when Tina emerged, wearing a black tank top and black ruffled skirt.
"Nice" Quinn commented with a smile.
"Thanks" Tina said. She looked at the clock radio. "Shoot, we gotta go!"
Quinn threw her comb on her bed and grabbed the room key. "Do you have pockets?"
Tina patter her sides where pockets would be located. "Nope."
"Me neither" Quinn said, looked down at her dress.
"Can we figure this out on the way?" Tina asked, holding the door open for Quinn.
Quinn nodded and ran out of the room and down the hall. "I guess I'll just have to..." Quinn mumbled and slipped the pass key in her bra.
"Classy" Tina giggled as they ran down the stairs. They could hear Finn and Puck clambering down the stairs loudly behind them.
"I just hope it doesn't fall out" Quinn said, hopping off the last step.
The girls ran into the ballroom, which was dimly lit and already filled with guests. They ran down the side of the room and to the back stage area. Sam, Rory, Brittany, Santana and Sugar were already there and three minutes later, the whole gang was assembled.
"Oh, here you guys are" Peter Reid said, coming up to them. "Four minutes until showtime!"
"We're ready" Kurt nodded and they all grabbed a microphone. Peter Reid gave them a nod then rushed out on stage to introduce them. The sound of applause was heard.
"Showtime" Mercedes said.
A/N
Here we go. Sorry it's late. I've still been busy and still have a bit of writer's block. Again, feel free to give me some ideas :) I don't have much to say here. Oh, yes, Glee is amazing and I'm super hyped for next week's episode because of two things: KLAINE (obvs) and FABHART. They're my new ship and I love them. If you do too, check out my collab fanfiction that I'm doing called 'Sparks'. Lol that's all for now! I'll try to update sooner.