A/N: I'm pretty sure this is the most I've updated in a week in a long time. I have a couple of days between the end of finals and the start of summer semester, so apparently my muse has decided to take advantage of that.
I know Glee has never mentioned or done anything with a winter formal, and I'm not sure how much other schools, aside from those in my hometown, have them, but I figured it would be something fun for the couples to plan for/do.
Also, you all will find a lovely St. Berry treat at the end. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: My OCs are mine, the rest are not. :(
Once introductions had been made, Penelope could tell none of the three other occupants of the room really knew what to do now. Doing what seemed to come naturally to her, Penelope smiled at them as she spoke.
"Why don't we all go into the kitchen? I'll make some hot chocolate and you three can chat. I know Tony was looking forward to seeing you, too, Holly."
Unsure what to say, Holly simply gripped Dominic's hand as they followed his mother and step-mother into the kitchen. As they walked, Holly felt Dominic squeeze her hand in reassurance. She squeezed back to let him know she wasn't going anywhere this time.
"I thought was Holly's voice I heard. I didn't hear any French, so I couldn't be sure," Anthony commented with a smile as he saw Holly and Dominic walk into the kitchen behind Penelope and Susan.
"Am I in trouble?" Holly jokingly asked as she hugged Dominic's father.
"No, of course not," Anthony replied with a laugh. "We always enjoy having you around. Liv has even decided she wants to take French when she starts high school next year, so that she can speak it with you and Dominic."
"How long have you been speaking French?" Susan wondered.
"Since I can remember," Holly answered. "My dad is a French translator at the hospital here in Akron; he began teaching me when I was little. My parents both thought it was important for me to learn a second language. My mom always said she wished she had paid more attention in her high school French class. She's picked up a few things and remembers some others, but she isn't fluent like my dad and me."
"What does your mother do, if you don't mind me asking?"
"She's a nurse practitioner. She's the reason I'm considering becoming a nurse. I haven't really decided yet. I love to dance, and I have no intention of giving it up either way, but I'm not sure which I want to prefer. I've pretty much decided to apply to both nursing and dance schools…and then go from there, I guess."
"You've looked at colleges already?" Susan asked, clearly surprised.
"Not as actively as I probably should be, but yes. I was in New York with Dominic for his auditions, so I was able to see the campuses of Juilliard and Columbia. I've also been taking an extra class at school so that I'll have enough years of math and science, which I'd probably be doing horribly in if it weren't for Dominic."
"How did you two meet?"
"Shelby, her aunt and our show choir coach, enrolled her in Madame Nicole's dance class at Carmel. She had just transferred back from another school in the area," Dominic began.
"He got me in trouble on my first day by distracting me, and he refused to stop calling me 'new girl' until he came up with 'drama queen' as my new term of endearment," Holly added.
Susan smiled as she watched the way the two teenagers interacted and how at ease they seemed with each other. Holly also really did seem to have a good head on her shoulders, just as Anthony and Penelope had assured her that she did.
"You said Dominic was helping you with one of your classes?" Susan prompted Holly again.
"Yes. Chemistry. I hate it, but I need it for college. We made a deal that I would help him with his French if he helped me with my Chemistry…and things just kind of progressed from there as we spent more time together."
"I thought you already took two years of French?" Susan said to her son.
Dominic shook his head before he spoke again.
"No. I meant to take it my sophomore year, but it didn't fit into my schedule until this year. Even if I wasn't doing well, Holly has already charmed my French teacher, so I'm sure I could have used that to my advantage."
"Dominic!" Penelope admonished, though she knew he was joking.
Glancing at the clock, Susan reluctantly changed the subject.
"I'd love to stay and chat some more, but it's getting late and I have an early flight in the morning," she said. "If you don't mind, I'd like a few moments alone with Dominic. It was nice meeting you, Holly."
"I'm going to find Lina," Holly told her boyfriend, squeezing his hand again before turning Susan. "It was nice meeting you, too."
Once Holly, Penelope, and Anthony were out of the room, Dominic turned fearful eyes to his mother.
"Relax, Dominic," Susan told him. "I'm sorry that I judged Holly without meeting her first. I think she's exactly what you need, and she does have a good head on her shoulders. She seems very smart, but most importantly, she makes you happy."
"She is smart," Dominic agreed, "and she does make me happy."
"I can see that. Keep your grades up…and keep me posted about your acceptance to Juilliard and/or Barnard College. I know I don't always show it, but I am proud of you, Dominic."
"Will you be here for my graduation?" Dominic asked.
"Penelope already gave me the date. I'm going to call my boss in the morning and tell her I need that weekend off because my son is graduating. I'll call you tomorrow when I get settled in Charlotte."
"Okay. Have a safe trip."
"I love you."
"I love you, too."
While Dominic and Susan talked downstairs, Holly made her way upstairs to Melina's room, knocking on the door and waiting for the older girl to answer. She didn't have to wait long.
"Holly? Are you okay?" Melina asked as she opened the door.
"I think so," Holly answered. "Dominic and his mom are talking alone in the kitchen. Distract me before I start freaking out and have another drama queen moment?"
"I need an opinion on a potential outfit for my date with Alec tomorrow," Melina told her. "I need someone to take pictures so I can send them to Kurt for final approval."
Holly nodded, following her friend into the room.
"Things with Alec are going well, then?" she inquired.
"Yes. I'm still not a fan of the whole him going back to New York in a couple of weeks thing, but I'll deal. I take it things are better between you and my brother?"
"We're good," Holly told her. "You can't get rid of me that easily."
Melina laughed as she hugged her friend.
"I don't want to get rid of you, silly. You're one of the best friends I have here. You also just happen to be perfect for my brother, and I will call anyone out on their lie if they think otherwise."
"Did you talk to Dominic's mom?" Holly wondered.
"Not exactly…but I did make a comment that even surprised Alec."
"What did you say?"
"I just introduced myself and Alec, and then told Susan that I would leave her alone, since I was sure she was here to apologize to Dominic."
"I think some of that self-confidence I always knew was in there somewhere is starting to come back."
"I guess so," Melina agreed with a smile.
After walking his mother to the door, Dominic made his way to his sister's room, where he was positive Holly still was.
"You can come in, Dominic," Melina called from inside the room once he had knocked on the door.
Opening the door, he couldn't help but smile when he saw Holly looking through Melina's closet and picking out various items she wanted to borrow.
"Can you get her to stop pilfering my closet, please?" Melina requested with a laugh.
"Hey, it's not my fault you have cute clothes," Holly retorted as she walked over to Dominic.
"I think you've tortured my sister enough for one night, Holl. I found that movie you wanted to watch; maybe we can watch the whole thing before you have to leave."
"My parents said I could stay…as long as it's okay with yours," Holly reminded him as they walked down the hall towards his room.
"You're welcome to stay tonight, Holly," Penelope assured her as she walked out of a room across the hall from Melina's.
"Thank you," Holly told her.
"You're very welcome. I'll see you both for breakfast in the morning. Have a good night."
"What did your mom say?" Holly wondered as she settled in Dominic's arms.
"Apparently my French teacher isn't the only person you were able to charm," he responded. "She apologized and told me she approved of you."
"Good. I really am sorry for being such a drama queen. I just let my own insecurities get into my head."
Dominic hugged her tightly before he spoke.
"I love you, Holly. I've never said that to anyone, at least not to anyone who wasn't my family, before. You know that you've had my attention since the very beginning. I wish you'd stop doubting yourself."
"Me, too," Holly responded with a sigh. "I'll try, but I make no guarantees…and I love you, too."
"Good. Now be quiet so I can hear the movie."
Holly smiled at Dominic's teasing comment as she curled further into his arms and made a mental note to thank her parents again for letting her stay with Dominic for the night.
"Make it stop," Rachel whined as she heard the sound of her alarm clock.
Jesse chuckled as he pressed a kiss to her cheek.
"I'm afraid the only way to make it stop is for you to get out of bed," he reluctantly told her.
"I don't want it to be Monday yet. I was enjoying my vacation."
"If we get going soon enough, we might have time to stop for coffee on the way."
"I'm holding you to that," Rachel told her boyfriend as she opened her eyes and followed him into her bathroom so they could begin their morning routines.
"Morning, Jack," Rachel greeted as she and Jesse walked into the kitchen.
"Good morning, Rachel. Good morning, Jesse," Jack replied, waiting for the two teens to notice the two to-go cups of coffee he had on the counter.
"Are those for us?" Jesse inquired after exchanging a confused look with his girlfriend.
"Yes. I doubt they're as good as the ones from the coffee shop, but I hope they'll do. Shelby mentioned you two usually stop for coffee on the way to school. I figured I'd save you the trip and the money."
Rachel hugged Jack before grabbing some fruit for breakfast.
"How long have you been awake?" she wondered.
"About an hour, I'm just waiting for your Mom before heading over to school. I didn't want to be in her way while she was getting ready, so I woke up a little bit before she did."
"Are you still teaching the music class this semester?" Jesse wondered.
"I plan on it. I think the team will benefit from having more of Shelby's time dedicated to them."
"I just hope we have less drama between now and Regionals than we did between the Invitational and Sectionals," Rachel commented.
"Me, too," Jesse agreed.
"Me, three," Jack added. "Shelby filled me in on what happened."
"Did my Mom show you the list of acceptable replacements that Jesse and I came up with?" Rachel wanted to know.
"Yes. I think they're all very good choices."
"Good. I'm glad you approve."
"Are we in trouble?" Andrea asked as she and five other members of Vocal Adrenaline, plus Rachel, Jesse, Shelby, and Jack sat in the music room later that day.
"No, not at all," Shelby reassured her. "Rachel and Jesse wanted to talk to the six of you about something that's important to them, though."
"Why just the six of us? Why not the whole team?" Giselle questioned.
"We'll explain, if you promise to hear us out," Rachel responded.
"Blaine and Santana, you two already know about this," Jesse began, "but for the other four of you…Rachel and I decided to make a list of acceptable replacements for ourselves, should something happen to one or both of us and we were unable to perform. Sort of like understudies in a show."
"I know you've never had a problem in the past, but you all know me well enough by now to know what I like to be over-prepared," Rachel added, earning nods of agreement from the other six members of her team.
"I assume there's some kind of order?" Chris wondered.
"Yes, there is. Before we tell you the order, we both want you all to know that we think you are all very talented and the order in which we put you does not mean that we think one of you is more talented than the other. It's a combination of experience-based and how well each of you learns songs and choreography," Rachel explained as she handed each of them a copy of the list.
"Does this mean we'll be learning the lead parts in addition to our own?" Andrea inquired.
"Yes, but your first priority is still your own parts. You will each learn one song in addition to any other solo parts available," Shelby answered.
"Seems fair enough," Giselle commented.
"Are you going to tell the team?" Ben asked.
"Yes. Before rehearsal. Shelby and I will take care of that," Jack told him.
"Are you positive I'm supposed to be here?" Puck questioned, earning an annoyed sigh from Rachel, and Jesse and Santana did their best not to laugh.
"Yes, Noah, I'm positive you're supposed to be here," Rachel informed him. "Now please remain quiet so we can finish discussing this very important matter."
"Yes, ma'am."
Jack glanced over at his fiancée, smiling a little to himself when he saw that she was also trying not to laugh.
"Jesse, Rachel, I'd like to talk to you quickly before we start rehearsal. The rest of you can go to the auditorium," Shelby said once she had regained her composure.
"I'll head in there with them and make sure we have everyone," Jack volunteered.
"Thank you."
"When did you dye your hair?" Holly demanded as she saw Tasha for the first time in a few days and noticed her hair was more of an auburn color rather than her normal dark brown shade.
"Marina convinced Mama to let me dye it. We went to a salon to get it done on Saturday," Tasha answered.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I'm still not really sure I like it."
"I think it's cute. I'm surprised your mom relented."
"Marina made a deal with her. She pushed back her return to Boston by a couple of days so she could help Mama out at the studio, and so Melina and Alec could have another date before we started school again. Mama adores Melina and thinks she's perfect for Alec, so she agreed."
"I keep telling her it looks gorgeous," Melina put in from her seat beside Tasha.
"What did Alec say?" Holly wondered as she and Dominic took seats by the other two girls.
"He said something in Russian I didn't understand, which I later found out was the equivalent of "oh my God"," Melina answered with a laugh. "I'm pretty sure he still isn't sure about it, but he's a boy, so he doesn't really understand the whole girls dying their hair thing. I tried to explain it, but I don't think he understood."
"Speaking of your boyfriend, have you talked to him today?" Holly asked, directing her question at Melina.
"For like two minutes," Melina answered with a shrug. "I have to get used to it."
"He's not leaving for a couple of weeks yet, you have more time to spend with him," Tasha reminded her, attempting to reassure her.
"Then I won't see him until March."
"I doubt it'll be that long," Holly told her.
"I don't really want to think about it."
The next day before rehearsal, Holly stopped by her aunt's office to attempt to get some help with a plan she had come up with.
"Aunt Shelby?"
Looking up from her lesson plan, Shelby smiled at her niece.
"Is everything okay?"
"Yes. I was hoping you could help me with something, actually."
"Well, that depends on what it is."
"The weekend of the winter formal is Alec's last weekend here before he goes back to New York. I want to do something special for both him and Melina. They've both been such good friends to me. I was thinking about asking Uncle Hiram if we could have dinner at the restaurant, and I know Alec isn't really thrilled about going, but he's willing to because he wouldn't deny Melina the experience…" Holly began, only stopping when Shelby held up her hand.
"Okay, first of all, breathe," Shelby commanded. Once she had seen Holly take a couple of deep breaths, she spoke again. "Now, as far as doing something special for Melina and Alec, what did you have in mind?"
"I don't really know. We aren't going to have rehearsal that weekend, are we?"
"We need all the rehearsal time we can get, Regionals is coming up, but no, we won't. I agreed to chaperone the dance, and I talked Jack into doing it with me, so I'll be getting ready that day, too."
"Do you have any ideas for what we could do for them?"
Shelby thought for a moment before she spoke again.
"Do they have a song that means something special to them? Maybe you could convince Rachel and Jesse to sing it, or have the DJ play it."
"I'm not sure. I could ask Nell. Maybe Tasha knows, too."
"That would be my suggestion. It's something you can do without seeming too conspicuous."
"You're the best, Aunt Shelby," Holly proclaimed as she hugged her aunt.
"How are your classes going?"
"So far, so good. It's only been two days, though."
"How many times have you cursed Dominic in French?"
"Only a few," Holly responded with a grin before leaving the room.
"You're up to something, aren't you?" Dominic asked his girlfriend when she took a seat next to him in the auditorium.
"What makes you think that?"
From her seat on the other side of Holly, Tasha laughed.
"Because we know you well enough to know that you're always up to something."
"What's going on?" Tatiana wondered, taking a seat next to her sister.
"Something I think all three of you may be able to help me with," Holly began. "It has to do with Alec and Melina."
"They're already together, what more could you want with them?" Tasha wondered.
"I want to know if they have a favorite song; it doesn't necessarily have to be their song, but a song that they both really like."
"Why?" Tatiana asked.
"Because I want to play it at the winter formal."
"That's so sweet."
"Don't encourage her," Tasha told her younger sister before turning back to Holly. "Marina would probably be the person to ask, to be honest."
"I'll text her. Thanks," Holly responded before sending a quick text to Marina and then giving her full attention to her boyfriend, eager to tell him all about her plan and talk to him about something other than school.
While their friends sat in the auditorium, Jesse and Rachel sat by the piano on the stage. Upon seeing Shelby and Jack, they were about to take their own seats in the auditorium when Shelby stopped them.
"I thought we could start rehearsal with a number I know you two have wanted to do, but that wouldn't really work for competition."
Rachel and Jesse exchanged a confused look with each other before turning back to Shelby.
"What song is it?" Jesse asked.
"Do we already know it?" Rachel wanted to know.
"Yes, you already know it, and as far as the song, you'll see once Jack starts the music," Shelby replied.
As Rachel and Jesse waited on stage for their cues, Dominic turned to his girlfriend.
"Do you have any idea what they might be singing?" He wondered.
"No, but I have a guess."
"What's that?"
"I forget which musical it's from and the title of it, but it basically describes those two. They're both so competitive, even with each other sometimes."
"If you two would hush, you'd recognize the song," Melina told them as the music began.
Upon hearing the opening notes of the song, Rachel shared a grin with Jesse before singing the first line.
Anything you can do I can do better...I can do anything better than you
No, you can't
Yes, I can
No, you can't
Yes, I can
No, you can't
Yes, I can, yes, I can
Anything you can be I can be greater...Sooner or later I'm greater than you
No, you're not
Yes, I am
No, you're not
Yes, I am
No, you're not
Yes, I am, yes I am
I can shoot a partridge with a single cartridge
I can get a sparrow with a bow and arrow
I can live on bread and cheese
And only on that?
Yes
So can a rat
Any note you can reach I can go higher
I can sing anything higher than you
No, you can't
Yes, I can
No, you can't
Yes, I can…
