Finn and Mercedes danced several songs together before switching up partners. Finn danced with Tina, Brittany, and Lauren and tried his best to not step on their feet. He always had trouble during the faster songs. After a while they took a break from dancing themselves to watch Mike and Brittany who were doing moves that made Finn dizzy even to watch. Finn thought it sucked that Kurt and Blaine were too nervous to dance with each other, it was their prom too. Maybe he and Mercedes could think of a way to help. He was just about to take her out for another round of dancing when Mason, one of the guys that had caused trouble in their biology class came over to Finn.

"I know Puckerman's been slumming it, but I expected better from the quarterback. Or is some fat ghetto ass the best you can do now that Schuester is done with you?" Mason said with a leer. Everything went so fast it all happened before Finn's mind made a decision between freaking out and ripping Mason's head off. He felt two sets of hands attempting to drag him back and from the murmur of "cutting his brake lines" and "uncivilized behavior" he knew it was Kurt and Blaine. He could see that Lauren was holding Puck back and yelling at him about probation and juvenile detention while fixing her best death glare on Mason. Tina and Mike had run up to comfort Mercedes. Sam took two steps toward Mason, but before he could land a punch Brittany came up beside him. "You're being really mean. I don't like it when people are mean to my friends," she said and with no warning at all she brought her leg up for a high kick landing right between Mason's legs. She looked at him slumped on the floor and smiled, "Oh, by the way. Santana and I think you have the smallest dick in the school and we would know."

While Finn had cringed with the rest of the guys when Brittany's foot landed he was still shaking and was hoping that Kurt and Blaine wouldn't let go right away in case he collapsed. He knew he was supposed to figure out what exactly he was feeling, Dr. McKenna said that would keep things from getting too out of control. Well, he was angry. He had a gay stepbrother so he knew that there were some pretty horrible people in Lima, but talking about Mercedes like that because she was black? They'd learned about all that stuff in history class, but he kind of couldn't believe someone would say that.

He thought that "ghetto" meant like poor and stuff, but Mercedes' dad was a orthodontist and they lived in the nice part of Lima. It's not cool to pick on people because they're poor anyway. He'd hated it in elementary school when he'd gotten teased for getting a free lunch just because they didn't have a lot of money while his mom was learning how to be a nurse.

He was scared too. Worried that Mason actually knew something. Plus, he was embarrassed that he hadn't been able to defend Mercedes. He should have been the one shutting that idiot up, not Sam or Brittany. Sure he was glad his friends were there, but he felt so weak sometimes. While he was trying to get himself together Coach Bieste and Ms. Sylvester came over.

"What the hell happened here?" Coach Bieste asked, looking at Mason who was still on the ground. Sam put an arm around Brittany's shoulders and quietly explained to the two teachers what had happened. Both of them looked furious by the time she finished and Sue Sylvester spoke first, "I'd be happy to give this young man some diversity training." Finn could tell by the way she said it that Mason wasn't going to be writing essays and watching those cheesy movies from the state board of education. Coach Sylvester grabbed Mason's ear and hauled him to his feet. Before she dragged him out the door she turned back, "Oh, and Space Cadet Barbie," she said to Brittany, "your tanning privileges are reinstated. Nice work." Finn almost smiled when the blonde girl squealed and clapped her hands with joy.

He was starting to wonder if they should all just go home when Coach Bieste pulled him aside and slipped something small and metal into his hand. "Maybe you and your friends would rather finish the night in the auditorium? You should still be able to hear the music from there." Finn looked down and saw that she had given him the key to the stage door, maybe they could still have a good night after all. "Thanks coach."

She smiled at him, "Don't mention it. I mean that. Figgins won't like it, but winning coaches at this school seem to get away with a lot. It's about time someone used the power for good. And Hudson, no funny business. I'm trusting you."

"Got it Coach, and thanks," Finn said. He quickly explained to Mercedes where they were going and they quietly rounded up Kurt, Blaine, Sam and Brittany to go with them. Puck and Lauren wanted to stay until Prom King and Queen were announced. Finn didn't expect to win, and didn't care so he carefully lead their little group down to the auditorium with one arm looped tightly around Mercedes' waist. They were careful to avoid Rachel and Jesse on the way out. Just because Jesse knew a lot about show choir didn't mean they had to hang out with him. Besides, nobody wanted to get either of those two near a stage.

When they got to the doors of the auditorium Finn waved the other two couples inside and sat with Mercedes on one of the benches in the hallway. "I'm sorry I didn't do a better job of protecting you," he said.

"Don't worry about that, I'm used to those ignorant assholes. I heard all of what he said, Finn. I think you did pretty good, actually," she said. She leaned her head on his shoulder, which was fast becoming his favorite way for them to sit.

"You shouldn't be used to that. I don't know what is wrong with people in this town. It's like we're trapped in some backwards time warp or something," he said. There was more he wanted to tell her, how beautiful he thought she was, how much he liked sitting close to her. He wasn't sure how to do it without sounding cheesy or fake though. He didn't want those things to be about reacting to Mason anyhow.

"Well, I'll be damned if I let them stop us from having a good time. Let's go dance on stage. This is better anyway, we can all just chill and dance with our dates," she said standing up and offering him her hand.

He took it and followed her through the door and onto the stage. He stopped for a few minutes since this was the first time he'd been anywhere near here since it happened, but he actually felt okay about it. He was here with some of the people he trusted most in the world and every single one of them had already protected him in one way or another, even Blaine who he was just getting to know. As he pulled Mercedes closer, her arms moving from his shoulders to around his neck, he smiled over her shoulder at his stepbrother who was doing the same with his own date. This was much better than being in with everyone else. A number of slow songs passed just like that except occasionally some of them would sing along softly with the music.

When the music sped up a bit Finn took a breather while Mercedes and Brittany went to sneak some bottled water out of the Cheerio;s locker room. While they'd been dancing Finn had been thinking and now he had the opportunity to put his plan in action. His friends were taking a break too, Sam was sprawled across the first row of seats and Kurt was sitting with his back up against the piano with his boyfriend leaning up against his chest. He made his way over to the couple on the floor. "Guys, I need your help. I want to sing to Mercedes but it would help to have the piano behind me. Do either of you know that Billy Joel song "She's Got a Way" ?" Finn asked.

"I do," Blaine said, "or at least I can fake it well enough." Finn nodded his thanks and fiddled with his tie, "We'll do it as soon as the girls get back, okay?"

"Finn, this is the first time you've sung at all since everything happened isn't it?" Kurt asked.

"Yeah, I think I can do this. I mean, I want to. I've got all these things I want to say and I'm not sure how. I can do that if I sing," Finn explained.

Kurt nodded, "Okay. I'm proud of you and this is going to mean a lot to her."

Finn just grinned, "That's the idea, just give me a few minutes to get my head together."

He knew this song, he could do this. He wanted this to be what she remembered about tonight. He took a bottle of water from Brittany when the girls came back and told them both to sit with Sam and Kurt in the front row. Blaine sat down at the piano and Finn took a deep breath. Blaine played a couple bars of the intro and he started to sing, quietly at first. After a few lines he was able to look up and find Mercede's eyes in the audience. She was looking straight back into his eyes and she was beaming up at him, one of her hands over her mouth. He knew she understood. Feeling stronger he picked up the volume as he sung:

She comes to me when I'm feelin' down

Inspires me without a sound

She touches me and I get turned around

She's got a way of showin'

How I make her feel

And I find the strength to keep on goin'

She's got a light around her

And ev'rywhere she goes a million

Dreams of love surround her ev'rewhere

She had been there for him, before he had even expected it. She brightened his whole day when she smiled and now he could tell her without tripping over the words. More than that, he felt free being able to sing again. He was singing for her, and for himself. He knew now that he wasn't willing to lock this part of himself away even if that would be easier. He still wasn't sure about Nationals, but for now, tonight, he wanted to sing. He finished the song, strong and loud. When he was done his friends rushed the stage. To his frustration Brittany was the first to throw her arms around him, and he ended up hugging everyone else while Mercedes hung back. Finally he stepped away from the group and towards her.

"Did you like your song?" he asked. She was still smiling and she just nodded, he could see that her eyes were a little damp but he knew it wasn't the bad kind of tears.

"You're amazing, have I told you that already?" He asked, standing directly in front of her and looking down into her eyes.

"You have, but I won't stop you, " she said, "You're pretty amazing yourself, Finn."

Ignoring everyone else around them he reached down and cupped her cheek. He saw her lick her lips and he knew she was okay with what was going to happen next. He bent his head down and met her lips as his thumb brushed a tear from her cheek. It was soft at first, another step for him and a whole new experience for her. Soon she found her confidence and he pressed more firmly as well, moving his lips just a bit against hers. He could hear the whoops and catcalls behind him, but he took his time before breaking them apart gently with his hand still resting on her cheek.

"So, having a good prom so far?" He asked.

"Best night ever," she replied linking her arm with his and pulling both of them back to the group.