"maybe you'll come back here to the place that we'd meet" — the man who can't be moved, the script
The following day, Mike wakes up heinously early in the morning before the sun has even had the chance to rise. Having too many thoughts swirling around in his mind, he decides to rearrange his childhood bedroom instead of trying to catch some more hours of sleep.
After rearranging the placement of his bed and desk, he roots through his old clothes, seeing if there are some pieces he'd like to take back to New York with him or donate elsewhere. And that's when he finds a large unfamiliar box sitting in the back of his closet.
Hearing the music blasting in his room, his parents curiously peek inside his room to see what their son is doing up so early in the morning. They find him sitting on the floor by his closet, the large box opened in front of him, which Julia recognizes as the one Tina gave her to take care of nine years ago. Mike stares intensely at a small box in his hands, his eyes puffy with tears.
"Michael, are you alright?" His mother's gentle voice pulls him out of his trance, prompting him to look up at his parents and their hearts break seeing the pain in his eyes.
"I, uh, I found this in a box hidden in my closet," he croaks, holding up the small box for his parents to see more clearly. "Isn't this yours, mom?"
Julia accepts the box in her hands, squeezing it tightly, before taking a seat on the floor beside her son. She opens the box to find a beautiful ring that her husband gave to her many years ago. She smiles fondly at the memory of receiving it before looking back at her son and gently wrapping an arm around him. "Yes, this was my engagement ring," she confirms. "I left it in that box in hopes that you would someday give it to her."
She doesn't even need to say her name for Mike to know exactly who his mother is talking about and to confirm his suspicions about the owner of the large box.
Mike Sr. watches their exchange from above in confusion. "You told me that you misplaced it and that's why I had to buy you a new one?"
"And my new ring is absolutely stunning, sweetheart," Julia says, holding her left hand up in admiration. "I just thought this one would look wonderful on Tina in particular."
"It would've," Mike agrees, his voice soft as a whisper.
"Right? The blue diamonds are the exact same colour as her old hair streaks," she recalls with a chuckle. "And you loved buying clothes this colour when you were dating because it reminded you of her."
Mike scrunches his eyebrows. "I did?"
Julia laughs in response. "Maybe not consciously. But look at your closet, do you not notice how blue is in there?"
Mike looks up at the remaining clothes in his wardrobe that he hasn't moved to New York. There were a lot of royal blue articles. "No, I guess I never noticed it before." He takes a moment to stare at the ring for a little longer before closing the box and giving it back to his mother. "Well, you should probably take this back then. I'm never gonna get to give it to her."
Julia squeezes him tightly and rests her chin on his shoulder as tears slip down her son's cheeks. Mike Sr. joins them on the floor, sitting on his son's opposite side and patting his back comfortingly.
"I think you should still keep it," Julia suggests, putting the small box back into his hand and closing it around it.
"She's marrying someone else tomorrow," Mike reminds her.
"I didn't say you should still give it to her," Julia retorts, trying to play innocent.
"Mom, I know you," Mike chides. "You still think there's a chance."
"He's right, Julia," Mike Sr. pipes in.
Julia raises her hands in defence. "You never know."
Mike sighs deeply, exasperated. "I've tried."
"Michael, just keep it," Julia simply insists, tapping his hand with hers, and smiles widely when he sighs and places the ring box in his pocket.
Meanwhile, the bridal party doesn't wake up until 2 o'clock in the afternoon that same day. The previous night, they took their rented limo and moved their party from the club to a house that Quinn's family owns just outside of Lima. Despite having way too much to drink at the nightclub, they still root through the liquor cabinet and take more shots together.
Their wild night of partying ends with the Brittany and Santana making out with each other on the couch, Blaine and Kurt dragging an inebriated Tina into bed, Quinn holding back Rachel's hair as she throws up in the bathroom and Mercedes has disappeared with the blonde stripper (which none of them are sober enough to really notice until they wake up from their raging hangovers the following day).
The seven of them moan and groan and vow to never drink that much again which is a promise they know they will only keep until the next party. Quinn whips them all up some sort of concoction – an invention she discovered during her college days – that magically fixes their hangovers and makes them feel somewhat human again before dropping everyone off back to their respective homes.
This grants Tina some time to finish prepping for her wedding before she has to go to her rehearsal dinner later that night. But when she takes out her seating plan and attempts to finalize the placement of her wedding guests, she stares at one seat in particular and gets flashes from the night before but not enough to piece anything together. There is a sudden nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach and she thinks that there is something else that she should be doing right now.
Following her instincts, she gets in her car and drives over to the Lima Bean to grab a cup of coffee and a bagel before stopping at her ultimate destination. When she pulls up in the driveway, she steps out of the car and knocks hesitantly at the front door.
It feels like an eternity but it only takes a few seconds until he is swinging his front door open. His hair is mussed in that way that makes him look irresistible and she silently chastises herself for the way her heart flutters at the sight of him. She plasters a sweet smile on her face and holds up the coffee and bagel in front of him.
"Hi?" Mike Chang greets her with a warm smile despite the clear confusion on his face.
"Hey, I just wanted to say sorry for last night," she elaborates with a chuckle. "The entire night is coming to me in flashes and I'm not sure for what exactly, but I feel like there's something I should be apologizing for. So, this is for you. I'm sorry."
Mike smiles appreciatively at her as he accepts the coffee and bagel from her hands, placing them on the side table by his door. "Thank you for the apology and the food," he says. "I'm surprised you're even alive right now."
"Honestly? Me too. But Quinn gave us some sort of magic potion that apparently was a life-saver during college," Tina explains with a shrug. "It just didn't fix my memory of anything that happened though… But I think you were there? And so was Sam… which is probably why Mercedes wasn't with us this morning."
"Oh yeah, they were getting it on pretty hard last night," Mike recalls with a smirk.
"So, you were there last night?" Tina questions and grimaces when he slowly nods in confirmation. "Do I even want to know exactly what it is that I should be apologizing to you for?"
Mike tries to chuckle at the memory of the previous night but all he can do is take a deep breath, hesitating to even open up this can of worms again. "Well, you said a lot of things to me last night," he starts, shoving his hands into his pockets. "I'm not sure what you actually remember – if you can even remember anything – but if any of it was true at all… I really don't think you should be marrying Artie tomorrow."
The revelation makes Tina hold her breath and widen her eyes, wondering what the hell she could have told him that would provoke this conversation. "What?"
"Please, let me say what I have to say," Mike pleads and Tina immediately shuts her mouth, nodding at him to continue. He takes another deep breath and squeezes his eyes shut, praying that this will work in his favour. "I know you love Artie and you will always have a special place for him in your heart but you are not in love with him. And you sure as hell don't want to spend the rest of your life with him."
Tina furrows her eyebrows and shakes her head in response. "I belong with Artie."
He takes both of her hands into his, bending down so she's forced to look him in the eyes and firmly declares, "You belong with me."
"Mike, I've already made up my mind," Tina affirms but squeezes his hand. "I'm marrying him tomorrow."
He drops her hands like he's been burnt before taking a step back from her and swallowing the lump in his throat. "Then, I'm heading back to New York tomorrow."
"Mike–"
"No. If that's what you've decided then I won't stand in your way and I wish the two of you all the best in life. I know that you wanted me to be there but I'm sorry, I just – Tina, I can't," he interrupts, pain lacing in his every being. "I can't sit back and watch the love of my life get married to someone else knowing that it should be me and you up there – it would probably kill me."
Tears slipping down her face, Tina wraps her arms around him, pulling him in for a tight hug and closing her eyes. "I'm really sorry," she whispers in his ear.
He squeezes her tightly, burying his face in the crook of her neck and breathing her in. "I know."
Later that evening, all of Breadstix has been closed down to host Tina and Artie's rehearsal dinner. With only one night left before the big day, all of their guests have finally arrived in town including their family and friends from college and past movie projects. While Tina and Artie are occupied entertaining their relatives and other guests, the younger New Directions alumni are seated at a large table, chatting amongst themselves.
"I hope you all kept the receipts for whatever you bought Tina and Artie as a present because I do not think this wedding is happening at all," Unique Adams predicts in a whisper as she watches the couple from across the room before taking a sip of her wine with a shady expression. "Have y'all heard any of the rumours floating around about our own Queen T? Now, you know I don't like to endorse those gossips out there – especially since they love to talk about me – but I think these ones might be true."
"Oh, I got them this blender that I have been eyeing for months – if this isn't happening, I'm definitely keeping it," Kitty Wilde quips, earning a chuckle from the table.
"Yeah, I didn't even get them a present in the first place," Jake Puckerman reveals with a shrug before tapping Ryder Lynn, on the arm. "Wait, did you get them something? Can you put my name on it?"
Ryder rolls his eyes in response and nods reluctantly in acquiescence. "Fine."
"Wait, I don't think I kept the receipt for my present," Marley Rose purses her lips in thought, trying to remember
"Girl, you are an international popstar – I think you can afford to lose a buck or two," Unique reminds her incredulously.
"Yeah, I guess you're right – I could always donate it," she supposes but then scrunches her eyebrows in confusion. "But wait, why don't we think this wedding is happening?"
The entire table looks between themselves and her, not-so-subtly wondering what rock she has been living under. "I mean… come on," Kitty voices with a laugh.
Marley glances over her shoulder at Tina and Artie as they smile at each other, seemingly in love. "They look happy."
"Well, that's because you've never really seen Tina when she was with Mike," Blaine cuts in, looming above the table with Brittany and Sugar Motta by his side. The three of them greet the younger glee alumni with hugs as they invite them to sit at their table.
"It's true," Sugar concurs.
"I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if Mike Chang barged in and crashed the whole thing tomorrow," Unique says and everyone else at the table murmurs their agreement.
"I don't know…" Brittany pipes up with her lips pursed, disappointment on her face. "Mikey told me that he's heading back home tomorrow."
"He's just giving up?" Jake asks, trying to seem nonchalant but is unable to hide the disapproval from his voice. "I didn't think would ever let go of her."
"He tried, but Tina's made up her mind," Brittany shares with a shrug.
"I love her to death but Tina is one of the most stubborn people I've ever met," Blaine notes with a roll of his eyes. "She's convinced herself that she and Mike are doomed to fail that she doesn't even bother to give it a try."
"And there's nothing we can do to convince her otherwise?" Kitty questions, nibbling on her bottom lip in deep thought of something they could do.
Blaine shakes his head in response. "Not when she's already decided…"
"The only thing we can do is be there for them," Brittany concludes. "All three of them are our friends."
Unique raises her wine glass and holds it in the middle of the table. "Well, I propose a toast. To years of complicated friendships and relationships – may we finally learn to get our shit together."
While it seems like everyone in Lima is attending the rehearsal dinner or preparing for the big wedding in some way, Mike sits in the living room of his parents' home with his long-time best friend Matt. Since he's currently off-season at the NFL, Matt decided to visit Mike and keep him company while he's in town. They sit together on the floor of Mike's childhood living room, eating pizza, drinking beer and watching reruns of last night's basketball game.
"So, why didn't you go tonight?" Mike asks as he washes down his bite of pizza with his beer. "I'm pretty sure the entire town is at that dinner."
"Out of solidarity, man," Matt simply says, punching Mike lightly on the arm. "Also, I'm not that close with either of them – it would've been weird."
"You got to spend that one year in glee club with them," Mike reasons with a shrug.
"Eh, that one year is not the same as our almost 24 years of friendship," Matt dismisses. "What about you? You're really not going?"
Mike shakes his head and releases a shaky breath. "It would just make me miserable."
"Well, that's okay. At least we get to hang out instead of you going to their rehearsal dinner," Matt supposes before furrowing his eyebrows. "I don't understand what rehearsal dinners even are, like, why do you have to rehearse for dinner?"
"That's not what rehearsal dinners are, Matt."
"Whatever they are, we can just distract ourselves here," Matt replies before raising his beer bottle and clinking it with Mike's.
Mike takes a sip of his beer and sighs deeply. "You know, I thought trying to forget about Tina in New York was hard but it's just ten times worse here… Everything reminds me of her."
"Yeah, I'm sorry, man. It must be tough… I mean, Lima's where you two grew up and fell in love," Matt empathizes.
"It's where they grew up and fell in love, too," Mike recognizes with a frown. "He has always loved Tina."
Matt looks at him incredulously and scoffs. "So have you."
"Yeah, but—" Mike starts to elaborate but Matt interrupts him with a wave of his hand.
"Come on, Mike. You've been in love with Tina your entire life. Or are you forgetting that we have been friends since kindergarten?" Matt reminds him. "I was there when we were 8 and you had a huge ass crush on her and you already knew that you wanted to marry her then. Didn't you propose to her with a Ring Pop and everything?" The memory causes Mike to blush and nod his head sheepishly to confirm. "And it wasn't just some stupid kid thing because that crush came back even stronger in sophomore year and it was the whole reason you dragged me into joining glee club with you—"
"I mean, I also love dancing," Mike mumbles his interjection. Matt gives him an unamused pointed look in return causing Mike to cower in his seat. "But yeah, I might've… joined… just for her."
"Exactly. I was here to see that crush turn into something more… Something real," Matt points out. "Look, Artie's a nice guy and it would suck to see him get hurt but you've always been in love with Tina – long before she even met him. And I might not know her as well as you do but I know she's only setting for him because she's scared to get hurt again."
"I've already promised that I would never hurt her again," Mike says.
"Then, you've gotta find a way to make her believe you."
Mike leans his head back and rests it against the cushions of his couch, groaning miserably. "How the hell am I gonna do that?"
Matt just pats his shoulder in response encouragingly. "You're a smart guy, Mike – one of the smartest I've ever known – I'm sure you can figure something out."