Author's note: I guess I should introduce myself. I'm Cece and my head is always full of stories. I hate what they to Mike and Tina in Season 4 so the headcanon will differ from the show. This being the first chapter in this space, a few notes, Tina has a crush on Finn, not Blaine. Mr. Schue's wedding goes as planned but Emma needs Will to calm her down. That seems like it's it. I'm kinda writing the ideas when they most excited so they'll be more from this version of season 4, for sure, I just always wanted to write about this wedding, and fix that God awful Tina and Blaine storyline, although I do love Hung Up, so at least I got that. And if you guys have story prompts or storyline ideas, I would love to hear them Anyway, on with the story.
Tina's POV
"We need to talk. Now!" Blaine shouts, and next thing I know, he and Sam are pushing into the closest empty classroom and are forcefully pushing me into a chair. I look up and notice the model planets. Of course, we have to have this conversation in the astronomy classroom. Mike and I would always seek in here for privacy, or the art cupboard, or the bleachers... Focus Tina! You know what they're going to ask, and you have to play it cool. If Blaine finds out, he'll tell Kurt, who will tell Rachel and Santana, and God, if Santana knows, I'm better off proposing to Mike and be humiliated, rather than have her tell everyone, especially Mike that I want to get back together. Dammit, they're staring at me. Quick say something.
"What's your damage, Anderson?" A Heathers' quote, really Tina. Sam and Blaine exchange a look.
"Really Tina? A Heathers' reference-"
"Not the point Blaine! Look, Tina. You have been acting weird ever since the wedding. At first, we thought it was just the whole Finn thing. But we know Artie met someone at the wedding and he told you he thought you would ask him to the Sadie Hawkins dance. And now you go and sing that song and leave immediately after you're done. So, what gives? Do you have a thing for Artie? He said that girl never called so-"
Blaine and Sam are both confused by the fact that I'm now sitting here laughing at them. "You guys think I'm in love with... with Artie," I'm bursting out from laughter, I can't contain myself, are they that oblivious, or maybe I wasn't as obvious as I thought. "Then if not Artie," Blaine speaks first. Please, please let him figure it out so I don't have to say it, "MIKE?" Sam yells and bingo.
"Will you two keep your voices down, someone could hear you," Man, this whole having guy friends is hard, they can't keep a whisper. They wave their hands motioning me to continue with my confession, "Yes, okay, fine. Mike and I slept together-"
"WHAT!" Both of them shout.
I reach for their ears and lower them to my own height. "Voices down, or I'm leaving. Understand?" Both guys nod their heads as I let go. Blaine doesn't seem to have much of a reaction to his ear, Sam, on the other hand, acts as if I shot his and not just lightly tugged his earlobe.
"When?" asked Blaine
"Where?" asked Sam with a bit more concern than curiosity.
"He got a room at the wedding and I-"
"THE WEDDING!"
"Voices!" I whisper shouted at them. "Sorry," they both whisper.
Four Days Ago
For God's Sake Tina, you're so stupid! Of course, he's not over Rachel, they were engaged and look at him, looking at her. He never saw you as more than a friend. Sure, he was the one that defended you doing Rizzo after Unique had to drop out. He was the one that knew you could shine with a solo at sectionals, even if it was a K-Pop song. I guess when he agreed to go to the Sadie Hawkins dance with me, I thought, "He must feel what you feel," but look at him with Rachel. It's as if nothing has changed and you don't even exist. So now I'm all alone at a wedding, ON VALENTINE'S DAY! Why did I build this all in my head? I'm better than that. I guess, if I thought about it it's because the only other person who really ever cared for me like that was-
"Can I have this dance?" I jump in my seat and turn to find no other than Mike Chang.
"I guess," I say and as make our way to the dance floor. His hand slides to the small of my back and he fits like a missing puzzle piece.
"So, Finn huh?"
"What?" I was so lost in how much I missed Mike's touch I didn't realize he was talking to me.
"You're Finn's date? Right?"
"Oh! That. Well, yeah I guess, it's kinda a long story, but I'm over it so that doesn't matter."
"You're sure?"
"Why are you jealous?" He makes an offended sigh at the question.
"I just worry you'll get hurt."
"You don't have to worry about me. Remember? We broke-"
"Why?"
"Sorry?"
"Why did we break up? I didn't want that. I even told you so."
"Mike…"
"Every time I'm in town you avoid me like the plague. You almost didn't even audition for Grease, which I know you were so excited for. At Thanksgiving and sectionals, you barely talked to me. So clearly you had a reason. You said we would still be friends, but you hardly ever talk to me. Remember after Grease, I said I wanted you back and you said no. So why did we break up Tina? You owe me that." I can see his eyes starting to tear up. I guess I always just assumed he knew why we broke up. I knew he was hurt and did not fully understand, but now… he must think I'm a bitch.
"I just… I thought… no, I knew this is what was best. Long-distance ruins relationships. Just look at Kurt and Blaine, Santana and Brittany, Finn and Rachel. I thought if we broke up while things were still good, it would hurt less."
"And?"
"Honest?"
"Yeah Tee, be honest with me."
"Breaking up with you was the hardest thing I've ever done. Every time you come back, I get these old feelings back, as if things were still the same, but I made that choice and I have to... we," gesturing between the two of us, "have to live with that."
"What if I don't want to, I mean it was not my choice.
Two Days Ago
Alright, ladies and gents! The wedding was amazing and thanks for some killer performances but it's time to shift gears and focus and Regionals. Now, who has any song suggestions?"
Of course, Blaine has a suggestion. I love Blaine but I swear, sometimes he rivals Rachel as a control freak.
"Mr. Schue we should sing-"
"Hair Gel if you say Katy Perry one more time, I will end you," Clearly Kitty isn't a big Perry fan. I mean neither am I. Perry is great for shows and little numbers but Regionals. We need a showstopper. Like Gaga. We won nationals with Gaga.
I, unlike previous years, have no problem voicing my opinion, "Kitty's right! Maybe, if we do a new Gaga number-".
"Why is it always Gaga with you guys. C'mon, I'm with Blaine, Katy's got a great new album out," Sam interjects and then Unique and Marley are disagreeing with who has better new music and next thing you know chaos ensues.
"Enough!" Finn shouts and everyone is dead silent. "Raise of hands who think we should go Gaga." To my surprise, only Kitty, Unique, Brittany, myself and surprisingly Jake raises our hands.
"Finn, great idea. A switching assignment! Everyone who voted Gaga, your assignment this week is to sing Katy songs, for those who chose Katy, you'll be performing Gaga songs.
And everyone sighs in discontentment.
After Glee rehearsal, Blaine, Sam, Brit, and I are all hanging out at my place. Sam and Blaine are going through Gaga discography, trying to pick the perfect experimental song, because apparently, that's all Gaga is to them. I'm helping Brit with her homework. Mike used to tutor her and help out with her assignments, but he's not here anymore, so she asked me.
"Tina, what are you going to sing?" Sam asked.
"I don't know yet. Look I like Katy Perry, I auditioned with one of her songs, but I'm just not into the whole bubble-gum pop thing. Besides, it'll be hard to find one Blaine hasn't already sung."
My phone buzzes and I see Mike's name, but I choose to ignore it.
Yesterday
I'm sitting in the choir room watch Sam and Blaine's performance of Marry The Night. It was quite the spectacle they put on, with some interesting choreography to boost. The performance is over and my phone buzzes in my pocket.Mike.
Mike: We need to talk Tee. Please.
Tina: We really don't
He doesn't answer my last text, instead he calls me. I run out of the choir as soon as practice is over and towards the girls bathroom. I notice the concern glances Blaine shoots me on my way out.
"Hey, okay what's-"
"Tina, I love you! You said that you regretted breaking up at the wedding. You're avoiding me again. Please tell me I'm not crazy and you love me too."
I start tearing up. How can he think that I don't love him. "Mike, of course I love you, but I can't do this. Please understand, it's too late."
"But we…you… the wedding…"
"I was drunk and lonely okay! That's all that happened."
"You don't mean that."
"Goodbye, Michael."
I storm out of the bathroom crying, and bump into something, not something rather someone.
"Tina are you okay?" Artie ask me as I try to walk around his wheelchair but he's blocking me in.
"Yeah. That was Mike. He just want-"
"I saw you two together at the wedding. It looked like nothing has changed."
"Well I have… changed, I mean."
"What did he say?"
"Tina!" Blaine shouts and waves me over.
"Coming! Look Artie, I gotta go." I start heading towards Blaine when Artie stops me in my tracks.
"I've never seen you as happy than you are when you're with Mike."
"I'm sorry." I turn around and wait for him to wheel himself closer to me.
"C'mon Queen Tee." Blaine shouts at us, pointing at his watch.
"I'll catch up in the parking lot, just give me a minute." Blaine gives me a thumbs up and starts looking for Sam and Brit.
"What are you talking about, Artie?"
"When you broke up with me for Mike, it hurt. It hurt the most seeing how much happier he made you. But, over time I realized he was meant to be with you. And at the wedding, when you were with him, I saw that spark in you again. Tina, I care about you. I know you're still in love with Mike. And he never stopped loving you. Look, I guess I'm saying don't worry about the what if's and what could've been. If anyone can make long distance work it's you two." With that we starts to leave and make my way toward Sam and Blaine.
Fifteen Minutes Ago
"Alright Gagas! Whose next?" Finn ask the group. Kitty and Jake performed a cool duet of Hot and Cold, unfortunately, Marley didn't look too pleased during the performance. I think something happened between her and Jake at the wedding too. This damn wedding.
"Tina!" Mr. Schue says, "Are you ready."
"Yeah," I get ready and sit on my stool, "I've decided to explore the more vulnerable side of Katy Perry.
The soft piano starts, and I steal a last glance at Artie for encouragement before getting lost in the song.
Summer after high school when we first met
We'd make out in your Mustang to Radiohead
And on my 18th birthday we got matching tattoos
Used to steal your parents' liquor and climb to the roof
Talk about our future like we had a clue
Never planned that one day I'd be losing you
In another life
I would be your girl
We'd keep all our promises
Be us against the world
In another life
I would make you stay
So I don't have to say you were
The one that got away
The one that got away
I was June and you were my Johnny Cash
Never one without the other, we made a pact
Sometimes when I miss you I put those records on (whoa)
Someone said you had your tattoo removed
Saw you downtown singing the blues
It's time to face the music, I'm no longer your muse
But in another life
I would be your girl
We'd keep all our promises
Be us against the world
In another life
I would make you stay
So I don't have to say you were
The one that got away
The one that got away
The one
The one
The one
The one that got away
All this money can't buy me a time machine, no
Can't replace you with a million rings, no
I should've told you what you meant to me (whoa)
'Cause now I pay the price
In another life
I would be your girl
We'd keep all our promises
Be us against the world
In another life
I would make you stay
So I don't have to say you were
The one that got away
The one that got away
The one (the one)
The one (the one)
The one (the one)
In another life
I would make you stay
So I don't have to say you were
The one that got away
The one that got away
I'm crying as I finish and run out of the choir room. Add this to the list of songs I try to sing for Mike but ruin by crying.
Present
"So yeah… now you're all caught up." They are both completely silent, staring at me me as if I'm not finish, "Say something."
Sam just garbs my phone from my bag and head it to me. "Call him Tee. Trust me, you'll be kicking yourself for the rest of your life if you really let him be the one that got away."
"But, I wouldn't even know what to say. How do tell the person whose heart you broke you made a mistake? He probably wouldn't even forgive."
"There's nothing to forgive," Mike. My Mike. I whip around so fast Blaine has to help me keep my balance, "what are you doing here?"
"Artie called me yesterday. He said you needed to see me? Tee, I know we can do this. You graduate in less than three months and then you can come to Chicago, or we can go to New York. As long as I have you, I'll go anywhere. So what do you say?" I slowly make my way towards him. He smiles at me and next thing I know I'm running into his arms. He spins me around and we kiss and I can feel all my deepest fears and worries about the future and the what if's melt away, all in one kiss.
"I love you, so much, Mike Chang."
Three Months Later
"I think that's the last box," I say as I slump into the couch.
Mike and I are all settled in our new shad apartment in Chicago. I start Northwestern in a month for performance. Mike said I should go to New York, but I got a great scholarship and Mike loved Chicago, I wouldn't force him to leave for me.
"Where should we put this one, Babe?" I turn and he has a picture of us from Nationals this past May. I'm holding our first place trophy and he's kissing my cheek. "I want it my dresser. It's one of my favourites."
"Yeah, yeah. Quit rubbing it in you got to win nationals twice."
"Never." I toss the frame lightly on the ground and he leans in to kiss me. For the first time as adults, we can lost in this moment without fear of interruptions. And I thank Mike in my head for never giving up on us, because I wouldn't trade my life with Mike for the world.
I hope you like this one! I've been working on it for a while. Please follow and review. If you have any Mike and Tina prompts, let me know! Don't worry I'll be exploring nationals, graduation and Tina's crush on Finn at some point too : )