Hey oh! Just a quick note...the song used in tonight's chapter is Single Drop of You by Adam Pascal. If you wish to hear this incredible song...there is a kicking video of it sung by Adam on You Tube that I would link you too if this site would let us do just that. But search it out...totally worth it.
"I changed my mind. You can sing the lead." Matt whispered to Kurt as he took his place on the stool in front of the entire club.
If he had been physically able to smack Matt, Kurt would have done it in a white hot minute. As it was, Matt was lucky the piano was currently separating them. All of their practice, all that time, all of the late nights he had spent because of the stupid thoughts this entire project sparked and now Matt decided he couldn't do this? Oh this was so not happening.
"You're doing it." He hissed back as he set up the sheet music on the ledge of the piano. He didn't actually need it, he had memorized their arrangement almost immediately but still it wasn't absolutely necessary to show off right this second. Besides apparently he might need it to get Mercedes to literally pound sense into Matt.
"You're the singer." Matt argued back. "And me playing guitar will completely be a surprise like we talked about. "
"We're doing this exactly the way we practiced and that's final." Kurt hissed seeing Mr. Schue starting to walk towards them. "Just look at Quinn if you feel nervous. It will keep you focused like Mr. Schue said and she'll love it."
"Look at Quinn?" Matt arched his eyebrow. "Why would she love that?"
"Because girlfriends usually like it when their boyfriends sing to them?" Kurt pointed out, hoping he didn't sound nearly as vile when said the word girlfriend out loud as he did in his head.
"Everything ok here guys?" Mr. Schue leaned over the piano, concerned etched on his earnest features. Just over his shoulder, both of them could see the rest of the class getting bored and restless. Kurt and Matt exchanged concerned looks as they noticed somehow Puck had gotten a lighter into the school and was currently flicking it back and forth. If they didn't get their act together soon, there was a very good chance there wasn't going to be a choir room in a few minutes.
"Just last second nerves Mr. Schue." Kurt promised. "We're perfect."
"There's nothing to worry about guys. You sounded great the other day. Just remember what I told you guys and you'll be fine." Mr. Schue smiled at them both. Turning around he clapped his hands to get the rest of the club to focus on the duo in front of them. "Ok. We're all to set to go now. So let's give it up for Kurt and Matt."
The slow clapping that followed Mr. Schue's announcement caused Matt to blow out a breath and look over at Kurt. There was panic clearly written in his brown eyes. Smilingly reassuring Kurt mouthed out the words "You can do this" before starting the piano intro for Matt to follow with his guitar.
When they picked this particular song, he hadn't realized the hidden benefit of picking a rather obscure song. When he had to play the intro twice because Matt had missed his cue, the only ones who really knew were him, Matt and Mr. Schue. Nodding at Matt as the cue note came around the second time, Kurt managed to catch his eye and mouth the words "Just sing".
It was probably just nerves. Probably just Matt going on autopilot because he was clearly terrified. That was what he was going to keep telling himself because otherwise he might convince himself that Matt was actually singing the song to him.
Especially since Matt was looking directly at him, never loosing eye contact with him.
Little town along the way
Pushed here by the wind
So much sky
A river wave carried me here.
Just getting through the first words seem to ease some of the terror out of Matt's face but still he kept his eyes glued on Kurt. Out of the corner of his eye, Kurt could see the rest of the club looking impressed with Matt's rarely heard tenor while Mercedes kept her eyes firmly on him.
In a lightening flash
On thirsty ground
How you appeared my love
One beautiful gaze and I knew
Keep it together Kurt, he told himself sternly as he prepared to come in on the harmony for the chorus. He's not really singing to you.
But damn if it didn't feel like it.
You fill my eyes and I burn for you
I cannot rest until I'm drowned in your love
Today I live for a single drop of you
Biting his bottom lip just slightly Kurt tried his best to look down at his fingers moving across the keys but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Even though he could come up with a million arguments why feeling this way was completely absurd and a continuing sign of his complete need for daily sessions with Ms. Pillsbury, he couldn't help it. Everything about this felt exactly the way he imagined it would feel if he was ever serenaded. That Matt was singing every word of this song just to him.
Barefoot steps cross broken glass
Take quiet shelter in my shade
Stand drenched in heaven's rain
Together alive in Eden's grace
As their voices began to swirl around each other in choral harmony, Kurt was able to separate himself from the performance long enough to appreciate how well their voices blended together. Yes he might have planned to work with Matt for an ulterior motive and it might be driving him crazy right now but really he had to sing with Matt more often.
We run to the forest
To the river's edge
Naked waters break us free
Matt shot a wink as they both caught Puck straighten up at the mention of naked anything. That seemed to be the trick to finally calm Matt down, even though he never did stop looking right at Kurt for the rest of the song.
You fill my eyes and I burn for you
I cannot rest until I'm drowned in your love
Today I live for a single drop of you
As their voices ended the final note, they both held their breath for the reaction of their fellow teammates. Mr. Schue had loved it and told them so repeatedly at their practice sessions. But Mr. Schue also thought going with a disco number was going to be the way to attract new members. Noticing Rachel stand up and come towards them, they both exchanged a look of concern. Oh this could go very badly.
"As captain of glee I feel I can speak for everyone here," Rachel began ignoring the snort her statement earned from Santana. "When I saw Matthew, you have clearly been holding out on us and that is no longer acceptable."
"Yeah dude, since when do you sing like that?" Finn asked.
"Sing? Since when can he talk?" Arite asked pushing his glasses back up his nose.
"Is that your way of saying you liked what we did Rachel?" Kurt asked, seeing Matt had no clue how to respond to all the attention being shown to him.
"Well of course I would have staged it differently and we'll have to re-arrange most of the piece to better fit other vocal ranges." Rachel began, probably already trying to figure out how to arrange it to fit her voice and only hers. "But it was a very good start."
"Even if it was gay of you to be singing to Kurt." Puck chimed in from his spot next to Santana, who looked like the cat who just broke into the bird store at his comment.
"I…I….I was nervous and that's how we practiced" Matt sputtered out.
"Still gay and not really badass but not that bad Rutherford." Puck shrugged.
Mr. Schue rolled his eyes and approached them. "I still say you guys took a big risk and it paid off. So good job. You definitely made a strong case for this song to be included for next year's set list."
Matt and Kurt looked at each other and beamed. And while they basked in the glow of their performance, Kurt tried to keep reminding himself that the song meant nothing to Matt. It didn't mean a damn thing.
But he just couldn't shake the feeling it most certainly did.