As far as Jericho Phin was concerned, the entire month of April could be banished from the face of the earth and he would not miss it. Not one bit. But, as it stood, he had no control over the calendar and just simply had to deal with it. To bad "it" was more than he cared for.

Can't believe its over

I watched the whole thing fall apart

His room was silent until Jericho's mom poked her head in. She had already taken the door off of the frame the year he turned thirteen, so there was really nothing to stop her from coming in except her own mood. Over the years, Jericho had become really fantastic at hiding emotions from her, but she knew that today was going to be hard for him. Jericho at least had that as his saving grace.

And I never saw all the writing that was on the wall

Aimee Phin tried tentatively to connect with her son. "I could try to call in sick."

Jericho shook his head in response, with a lethargy that disturbed them both. "No. I'll be okay. I just needed a personal day."

"Do you want me to make some tea? Rossi gave me this recipe you might like..."

Jericho's eyes glazed over at the mention of Rossi's name. "Go to work, mom."

"Okay dear, but I'm just a phone call away."

How the days were fading fast

The good things never last

Jericho didn't respond as she crossed the room to kiss the top of his forehead, her hands nearly wrenching his head upwards to do so. He didn't fight the ice cold fingers or the cat smell that reeked from her.

You were crying

He listened for the sounds of his mother leaving the house as he sat in his chair, book opened on his lap. It was a cross between a clear day and a grey day, not a cloud in sight but without too much hazy sun. The leaves were all back on the trees as well, which he preferred in this interim between winter and the coming allergy season. Allergies were his mortal enemy, among other things.

Summer turned to winter

And the snow it turned to rain

And the rain turned in to teardrops on my face

She turned from the sidewalk as she walked toward her car, his being parked in the garage without use. Well, technically, it had been his and dad's dream project. Spare parts from the Jeep were probably still lying around in there. Neither Jericho nor Aimee had been in there in a very long time. Jericho managed a wave, causing his mother to smile and return the wave before getting in her car. He knew she would have never left if he hadn't shown movement.

You'd hardly recognize the boy I am today

And God, I hope its not too late

Its not too late

Jericho breathed a sigh of relief when she was finally gone. Closing the book, he turned it over in his hands. It felt solid to him and yet...the book felt as though it could go through him if he tried hard enough. Finally getting up from his chair, Jericho replaced the book on his bookshelf, the one from grandpa's old study made from rosewood, and walked down to the kitchen.

Rummaging about, he found the leftover pizza. It was cold, the pepperonis a bit more pink than they were when the pizza had been fresh. He chewed without tasting, the sound of mastication the only sound in the place, save for the ticking of the clock. If anyone had looked in on the scene just then, they never would have guessed that it was Jericho Phin's birthday.

Life can show no mercy

It can tear your soul apart

Ten minutes after the pizza was gone and the box was put out for cardboard recycling, Jericho headed silently for the attic. The attic itself was just as clean as the rest of the house, though mostly maintained by him in secret. He even foraged up here for mom's sewing supplies when she needed them.

It can make you feel like you've gone crazy

When you're not

There was a chest and two boxes in the corner near the window. Jericho had tried moving them more than once, but no other place seemed right. His entire body seemed to go numb as he sat, cross legged, right next to the chest and took the key from the hidden pocket he had in all his shirts, just in case he had to pack quickly.

Though things have seemed to change

There's one thing that's still the same

That lovely musty smell rose from the chest and Jericho took a moment to soak the smell in, his fingers trembling as they slid along the lip of the chest lid. The chest was real, the contents were real. But Jericho didn't feel real anymore.

In my heart, you have remained

The chest was always a bittersweet experience because it reminded him that all of it was his fault: his situation, his mother's pain...everything. But he pushed that thought out of his mind as he picked up the post cards from the top. Dad had loved to get post cards any time he passed through a state and they had several varieties from California, when dad had gone on choral expeditions with the church.

And we will fly, fly, fly away

He liked the ones from Florida the best, because Dad had written messages on the back in a hurry and the tail end of some of the words had these weird little splotches or were just a bit smeared. Jericho and his father had shared the joys and pains of being a southpaw. To this day, whenever Jericho wrote anything, he would look at the black line on the side of his hand and try to make it a mark of distinction rather than something to foam over.

Cause you are not alone

I'm always here with you

Placing the post cards carefully to his empty side, Jericho picked up his dad's favorite book from the chest. He knew that there were other books in the boxes behind the chest and some clothes, but this was his favorite. It reminded him of dad. His dad, who would read Hamlet to him as a kid and act out all the parts, having Jericho make him a crown when he was king and being generally obnoxious until mom would come in the room and tell him to knock it off.

And we'll get lost together

Until the light comes pouring through

There were three feathers beneath the red leather book. Two of them were from a down pillow when they would pillow fight on Saturday morning while mom made french toast and one was from the tail of a hawk that had dropped onto the trail one summer after Jericho had finished cub scouts. That had been the summer before the accident.

Cause when you feel like you're done

And the darkness has won

Jericho stopped for a moment, leaning into the chest so his head just touched the side. He had cried here so many times but couldn't seem to do it anymore. He had loved that man. He had been so foolish.

********************A week before his sixth birthday******************

"Dad! I want an ice cream cake for my birthday!"

"Why?" Gabriel Phin had chuckled, as if he didn't already know the answer.

"Because...they have that new mint flavor at Maggie Moo's!"

Dad had just shaken his head. "But mom's making you that cake. I thought you said you liked her cakes."

Jericho's silence had been incriminating, but his dad had merely chuckled and slid down from his recliner to join Jericho on the floor. "Tell you what, you'll get your ice cream cake as long as you don't tell mom that I don't like the way she makes lasagna."

Jericho's face had broken out into a smile and that followed with a laugh, which made Dad teasing him into a pinky swear all the harder. Eventually, Gabriel had just given up and they had collapsed on the floor in a tickle fight until mom had tried to come in and break it up, swatting at them with a dish towel.

"For heaven sakes, Gabe! Get off the floor, I just ironed those pants!"

It had been stormy the night of his birthday, great gusts of wind that always seemed to be on the prairie. Dad had been coming home with the cake when the wind hit the car just right. He had flipped out of his seat belt and when Jericho had seen the photos years later of the hand, just the hand, caught between the window and the door, he had thrown up until he had thought he would never eat again.

***************************Present Day********************

There were more things in the bottom of chest, but Jericho only reached in as a rote response, his heart lacking the ability to feel after that. His dad's old vest and hat came out of the box. The hat was this black fedora that felt as though it were made out of beaver pelt, and had this stripe of color right above the brim. Dad's vest had red silk on the back and smoky grey in differing lights and darks on the front.

Babe, you're not lost

When Jericho put them on, he saw his father in the attic's full-length mirror with one cracked edge. He buttoned the top two buttons slowly and then stopped. Damn, he thought, I was hoping that I wouldn't cry this time.

When the world is crashing down

And you cannot bear the cross

Jericho was lucky that he heard the knock on the front door and the only reason he did was because he had trained his ears to strain for movement, mostly his mother's. But his mom hadn't forgotten dinner or wasn't surprising him or anything like that. It was...

I said baby, you're not lost

"Tina!"

Tina gave a little wave with her gloved hand. "I just came by to make sure you were okay."

Jericho shook his head, which still had his father's hat on it. "How'd you know where I live?"

Tina smiled as she pointed. "Finn Hudson, one of the guys from Glee, lives right down the street."

Jericho poked his head out to follow the direction of Tina's fingers. "Oh, fantastic. Where are my manners? Come in please."

"I don't think you've ever missed a day," Tina spoke as she entered.

Jericho chuckled in response as he closed the door behind them both. "It's rare, believe me."

"I also didn't know you had such cool outfits at home, you should wear that to school more often."

"What?" It took Jericho a second to understand that she was talking about his father's vest and hat. "Oh, umm...no...this is kind of embarrassing. Its old stuff of my dad's."

"It looks great on you, it really fits."

Jericho's voice fell to almost a whisper as he felt his hands shake and the need for a stiff belt of scotch on the rocks like he saw in the movies. "Thanks. You've got an insanely large book in your arms. Is that our new bio book?"

Tina nodded. "Oh yeah, the other reason. You missed book exchange day and so I thought I would bring you your copy."

Jericho shook his head. "Nah. I planned for this, I already had it worked out."

"Oh," Tina stated with obvious embarrassment," well, I guess I sh-sh-should have figured that. Y-y-you're always so prepared."

Jericho shook his head. "Not really. I still suck at bio, but less then chemistry. I hate math."

"Me too! And everyone thinks because I'm asian that I should be good at it."

"Here, let me grab that." Jericho set the book on the side table, making a mental note to return it. "I can return it to Mr. P. My dad had a saying Tina, you don't have to be good at everything. You just have to suck less at some things to get by."

"Never heard that one before."

Jericho shrugged. "My dad was an odd man, but honest and loving."

Tina bowed her head. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't...."

Jericho gave a half-hearted smiled. "That's okay. Most people don't know or don't remember."

"I c-c-can understand that."

It was a good thing that the phone rang at that moment, the conversation needed a moment to relieve the awkward pause. Jericho excused himself and Tina only heard him swear lightly under his breath once, which she found odd because she could never remember hearing Jericho swear before.

"So," Jericho began when he returned, "how about a half-priced smoothie?"

"I don't understand."

Jericho let out a large breath of air through his nose before looking as though he were gonna rest his arms on top of his head. "My boss just called, said he needed me tonight because our new kid wasn't working out. I figure I can con a smoothie out of him for ya, since you had to lug that obnoxious book all the way here."

Tina smiled again. "I love fruit smoothies. But whats the half-price part?"

"We have to walk to get there," Jericho replied flatly.

Tina didn't seem to mind the walk though. The sky was still clear, but darker. Street lights were coming on and most of the houses had that inviting television glow starting to pop up. Jericho and Tina walked in amicable silence.

"So, whats up with you and Artie?"

"What do you mean?" Tina asked in reply.

"I mean, are you a couple?"

"Why do you ask?"

Jericho chuckled, shaking his head. "We're never gonna get anywhere like this. I'm asking because I knew Artie before the accident but we lost touch after and its good to know that he's not lonely, I guess."

Tina seemed to like that answer. "Well, to answer your question: yes, for the most part. So, how did you know Artie? I mean, I've never seen you hang out."

Jericho shrugged as they walked. "Its a small town, you either know all the kids by choice or you don't."

"I g-g-guess. And what about you?"

Jericho furrowed his brow as they stopped to rest, his back against a tree and arms folded loosely. "What about me what?"

I'm not surprised

Not everything lasts

"Do you have someone that k-k-keeps you from g-g-getting lonely? Unless that's too personal, I mean."

I've broken my heart so many times I stopped keeping track

"I don't. And I can't imagine doing that in Lima. It's not in the Plan until I'm out, at least."

"Its good to have a plan, but what if someone liked you?"

Talk myself in, talk myself out

Jericho cocked his head. "Do you know something I don't?"

Get all worked up and I let myself down

Tina thought for a moment. "Well, its just that, you know, the kids in Glee have seen you hanging out with Quinn a lot and I thought..."

Jericho rolled his eyes. "I admire her. Nothing is going on between us. I mean, who else would have the ability to have a kid, lose her place at the top of the dog pile, and still be a fighter? She's incredibly cool to be around now."

I'll have to wait, I'll never give up

"Would you date her?"

Jericho bit down on his lip and then playfully moved around the tree trunk, popping his head out of the other side. "What do you think?"

I guess it's half timing and the other half's luck

Tina shook her head in merriment. "I don't know. Shouldn't we be getting to the smoothie shop?"

"Eh, it'll still be there when we get there. It can't burn down, we don't have any ovens or anything."

"You didn't answer my question about Quinn."

And darling we could be so amazing

Jericho put a sly smile on his face. "You're right, I didn't. I'd rather sing about it."

And your sweet love is gonna save me

Jericho started to walk backwards as he sang, nearly killing himself as he tripped into a mailbox but that only made Tina laugh and sing along all the harder.

"But, of course, dear Tina, your answer is no. Simply put, I'm not looking to date and neither is she. I would just rather have a friend."

I know I had thought of every possibility

"Well, thats admirable. But what are you looking for then?"

"As long as she's not my mom, I think I can deal with anything. Maybe thats why my mom is always trying to fix me up with this girl in church thats just like her."

"Sounds like a pain," Tina replied.

"Yeah, parents are funny like that, but you learn to live with it."

"I think we're coming out of the neighborhood, Jericho...does anyone have a nickname for you, like Jerri or something?"

And somehow I know that it'll all turn out

You'll make it work so we can work to work it out

And I promise you kid

I'll get so much more than I get

"No one's ever offered."

I just haven't met you yet

Jericho stopped a few feet from the shop, putting his arm out to protect Tina.

"Wh-wh-what's wrong?"

Jericho's brow furrowed. "The lights are off, thats weird. I hope Parker hasn't forgotten that he called me."

"Not too busy for a Tuesday night in this part of downtown either," Tina stated nonchalantly as they crossed the street.

Jericho shook his head as they got to the door. "It never is."

"Should we knock?"

Jericho reached for the door handle. "Nah, I have the alarm code."

But when he opened the door, the lights flooded on and a stream of balloons seemed to hit him from nowhere.

"What the..."

"Surprise!" came the volley of voices.

Jericho turned this way and that until Tina had pushed him into the store, closing the door behind herself so that none of the balloons escaped.

Jericho caught Parker first as he started laughing. Jericho grabbed Parker's hand into a shake then a hug. "You old scoundrel. How did you manage this?"

Kurt, with a hand on his hip, produced a large card in a purple Hallmark envelope. "He didn't. Mercedes and I saw you working last week and decided to call to see if you were in since you didn't come to school today."

Parker nodded in his gruff voice. "Yeah, and I told them that you were taking your birthday off, like you always had."

"But dude," Finn came up and put a hand on his shoulder while Jericho was turning the card over in his hands, "nobody should spend their birthday alone."

"However," Rachel chipped in from behind the counter, where she was putting colored flame candles on a homemade sheet cake, "if it was up to Finn, it wouldn't have been a party at all."

Puck shook his head from the corner he seemed to be sulking in. I mean, who wants to be at the party of a guy who you told to back off the girl you got pregnant? "Dudes don't celebrate birthdays with lame parties, Berry."

"Please. There's nothing lame about having to blow up two dozen balloons in one night."

Brittany looked from where she was standing with Santana, next to the nutritional guide on the wall. "But you had fun staying at my house, blowing up all those balloons, didn't you?"

Jericho looked around in disbelief, turning a 180 throughout the store lobby. "Thanks everyone. I...I don't know what to say."

And I know that we can be so amazing

"How about, here's to a great next year?" Artie wheeled by while raising a can of soda in a mock toast. "Maybe even getting to hear you sing once."

"Sure," Jericho chuckled as his eyes caught Tina, "and thanks."

And being in your life is gonna change me

Tina looked down at her own shoes. "It wouldn't have been m-m-much of a surprise party without the s-s-surprise, Jerri."

"Okay," Rachel stated, "I think you should start blowing the candles out before the mint chip ice cream melts."

And now I can see every single possibility

"Mint chip?" Jericho's voice tried to hold down its squeak.

Quinn smiled from where she was next to Rachel, frosting still fresh under her nails. "I hope you didn't mind that I dug up some information on you. You know how hard that was? Don't keep to yourself so much, you jerk. And happy birthday."

"Now blow out your candles," Kurt smiled.

"And make a wish," Mercedes added.

"You deserve it, kid," Parker whispered without reservation.

I said love, love, love, love

Jericho moved forward to the cake. It was done in school colors with m and ms around the border and a giant smiley face of m and ms around Happy Birthday done in swirly red frosting. The candles were pretty and the lights were lowered just enough that they glowed over everyone's faces.

Love, love, love, love, love

Jericho blew out the candles, but he couldn't think of a single wish. For just that moment, he was happier than he could ever remember being.

I just haven't met you yet

A/N: Songs for April: Michael Buble's "Lost" and "Haven't Met You Yet"