Ending 1 – Already Home
"So?" Sam asks, as he sets down the guitar.
"So." Tina replies.
"So," Blaine breaks the silence, "Sam and I were talking last night about how important our friendship with you is to us. Even though we all only become so close senior year, it feels like we've known each other forever. And as much as we love being Blam, we're not complete without you. The three of us balance each other out in this really special way."
"Yeah, and you know we always have each other's backs, no matter what," Sam continues. "So, when one of us isn't happy, the other two need to do something to help."
Tina begins to fume. She glares at Sam and gestures towards Blaine. She thought she had told Sam about her difficulties at Brown in confidence.
Blaine takes her by the shoulder. "He didn't have to say anything, Tina. I'm your best friend; I know when something isn't right. Well, I actually did trick him into admitting what you told him, but I knew before that." Blaine breathes deeply. "So knowing that you aren't happy at Brown, and seeing how happy you've been this past week, we think you should move here. You can stay at the apartment until you get settled."
"Yeah," Sam agrees. "You heard the song. Don't leave us; you're our best friend."
Tina is silent. The boys brace themselves for tears, but there's no wavering in her voice when she finally speaks. "I love you guys and I love this place, but I can't just quit something as soon as it gets hard. Thank you for this, but I'm sorry. I can't." She gets up to leave, but Sam takes her hand.
"You won't even consider it?"
She shakes her head. He looks heartbroken.
"Well, I can't say we were expecting this reaction," Blaine sighs. "We're Blam. Our powers of persuasion have never been resisted before."
"So you thought you'd sing me a song and I'd uproot my whole life? I worked really hard to get into Brown and I'm going to work really hard to find happiness there. I love you guys for caring, I really do. But this is the real world. You can't just run away from your problems."
"Maybe it wouldn't be running away from something. Maybe it would be running towards something better." Sam's eyes plead with hers, saying the things left unspoken in his words.
"I don't know what else to say, you guys."
They all look at their palms. Sam takes a swig of vodka.
"Maybe you could just sing to us, then?" Blaine asks. "I miss your voice and it seems like forever since you sang us a solo. No interruptions this time, either. No school bell, no crying, no booing. Just you and your beautiful voice." He and Sam sit on the floor of the stage, crossing their legs at the ankles and resting their elbows on their knees. They look up at her expectantly, making it clear they won't move until she sings.
Tina takes a seat at the piano bench and deliberates. After a while, she begins to play.
"A Great Big World," Blaine says under his breath with a tender smile.
You say love is what you put into it
You say that I'm losing my will
Don't you know that you're all that I think about?
You make up two thirds of the whole
Blaine chuckles at her slight change of the lyrics.
You say that it's hard to commit to it
You say that it's hard standing still
Don't you know that I spend all my nights
Counting backwards the days 'til I'm home?
If only New York wasn't so far away
I promise the city won't get in our way
When you're scared and alone,
Just know that I'm already home
I say that we're right in the heart of it
A love only we understand
I will bend every light in this city
And make sure they're shining on you
If only New York wasn't so far away
I promise the city won't get in our way
And when you're scared and alone,
Just know that I'm already home
When life takes its own course
Sometimes we just don't get to choose
I'd rather be there next to you
Promise you'll wait for me, wait for me
Wait 'til I'm home
All I have is this feeling inside of me
The only thing I've ever known
If only New York wasn't so far away
I promise the city won't get in our way
When you're scared and alone,
Just know that I'm already home
If only New York wasn't so far away
I will be there every step of the way
And when you're scared and alone,
Just know that I'm already home
Just know that I'm already home
She gets up from the piano bench and crouches between them. For once, the boys are the ones in need of comfort.
"I'm always going to be with you guys. You know that. You can call me or text me or even just look at your tattoo and know that I'm thinking about you, too. If I'm completely honest, the idea of moving here crossed my mind a million times this week. But I have to finish what I started. In the meantime, I'll come back for visits and you can come visit me. Providence is gorgeous in the fall and it's only a three hour train ride."
"What about this summer? Is there still a chance you'll spend it here?" Sam asks hopefully.
"Definitely," Tina answers. "I've already been emailing some people on Craigslist about subleasing their places."
Blaine wraps her in a big bear hug. "That's amazing!"
Sam pushes Blaine out of the way, picks Tina up, twirls her around, and plants a huge kiss on her lips. Blaine clears his throat. They both turn their heads slightly, lips still connected, and look at him unapologetically.
"Dude," Sam mumbles through another kiss, "get over it."
Blaine scoffs, then smiles. "I guess if my two best friends make each other happy, I'm happy for them. Admittedly jealous that they share something with each other that I can't share with either of them, but happy for them." He backs out of the room, taking one of the Peach Schnapps bottles with him. "Anyway, it's been twelve hours, so I'm going home to my fiancé. Have fun." He salutes them with the bottle and flicks the lights off, leaving them to light their own way through the darkness together.