WHOOMP.
Santiago stumbled backwards with the force almost falling over. He didn't even have to look to know who was currently wrapped around his body in a tight, bone crushing hug. He chuckled. "Hey Brett. I missed you too dude." He hugged the taller boy back, breathing in his scent and smiling happily.
"Gayyy!" Quentin called as he walked past the boys in the hallway. Upon hearing this the two boys quickly separated and Santiago shot him a glare.
"Shut it Fabray, you're just jealous cause I got Quarterback and you didn't." He retorted and watched as Quentin scowled, walking off in annoyance.
"Be nice San" Brett said with a laugh, his blue eyes growing impossibly brighter as he grinned his adorable dopey grin.
"I try but Quentins an ass." The latino chuckled.
"That he is, but then so are you." Brett chuckled stuffing some books from his locker into his bag, blowing a puff of air to get rid of the annoying piece of hair that flopped over his eyes.
"Am not!" Santiago defended himself with a grin.
"Okay, but you do have a nice ass."
Santiago froze and looked around nervously, worried that someone heard, breathing a sigh of relief when he realised they were alone. "Brett. You can't say things like that out here. It's not good."
"Why? You were fine last night when I said it, in fact you gave me a blo-"
"SHHH. Dude! No. What if someone hears?"
"They won't, we're alone, keep your briefs on!"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to snap."
"It's fine San. I gotta get to class, I got Cheerios practice after school, can you give me ride home?"
"Sure B. I'll meet you afterwards?"
"Awesome." He went to walk off when he felt a strong hand grip his arm.
"We're still going to the dance together right?" Santiago whispered, after checking no one was around.
Brett smiled,nodded and jogged off to class, the butterflies in his stomach going crazy.
…
Santiago had just got changed after practice and he stood in front of his locker in the changing room, he was trying to style his hair when he was interrupted.
"What's up faggot?" Quentin asked, walking past Santiago and shoving him hard into his locker. The boy fell over, crashing to the ground, knocking all of his stuff from the locker.
"What the hell Fabray?!" He shouted, jumping to his feet and squaring up to the blonde. "You got a problem?"
"Yes actually I do. But your pussy ass can't do anything about it so shut the fuck up and sit down."
"How about you back off before I break your nose. Again."
"Pfft. I got a better idea, how about you go and suck Brett off and get out of my face." He laughed, Santiago went to go for him when he felt a strong grip around his waist pull him away, it was Michael Jones.
"He's not worth it. Let it go." He whispered feeling Santiago relax, the black boy let him go.
"Yeah, let it go faggot." Quentin chuckled, walking away, causing Michael to have to hold his friend back again.
"Seriously San. Take a deep breath, Brett will be pissed if you get in a fight again."
At the mention of the other boys name, Santiago calmed down relaxing and stepping away from his friend. He whispered a thanks as he cleared up his stuff, a hundred thoughts running through his head.
…
Santiago waited until all the guys had left the changing room before turning to his friend.
"I can't go to the dance with you Brett."
"What? Why? Are you not going?"
"No. I am, but I just… I can't go with you. As your date, we can still hang together but-"
"What do you mean San? You promised."
"I know, but I'm taking Norah now. And you'll go with Samantha."
"What are you saying? Why are you taking her? Don't you love me?"
"Of course I do."
"Then why the hell are you doing this?"
"Because I love you too much to see you get hurt Brett!"
"So instead of standing beside me while others ridicule and treat me like shit, you're the one that's going to cause me pain? To make me feel worthless and ASHAMED for loving you. Is that what this is?"
"No. It's not that. I… I"
"Then what is it? Why are you still with Norah when you have told me, countless times that you love me,me and only. Why would you lie about something like that? You're just like everyone else, poor old dumb Brett doesn't understand, so we'll lie to him, belittle him, he won't know the goddamn difference, he's too sweet and innocent!"
"No, it's not that-"
"THEN JUST TELL ME. I just want to know why the fuck you think it's okay to treat me like this?"
Santiago sighed, running his hand through his short black hair, he held back the tears that threatened to spill over and looked away from the other boy.
"I'm not strong enough Brett. I want to be strong for us, but I can't do it. The talks, the looks?Can you imagine how people will act when we walk into the dance together? People already think we're gay. You see the way Kate gets treated. We'll get it twice as bad because we're the most popular guys in school, we'll get it not only from our friends, but our family. My Abuelo… he… he would hate me. I care about you Brett. A lot, but we're different, and no matter how much I love you, I'll never be good enough." He said, sniffing and turning away, walking from the changing rooms and leaving Brett alone.
"You'll always be good enough San." He whispered into the empty room. He grabbed his gym bag and began his long walk home.
…
"Fix your tie Brett. It's wonky." Samantha said, leaning forward and adjusting it, before posing next to the boy, throwing a smile to the camera in her dads hand.
"Beautiful" The older man chuckled stepping forward and shaking Bretts hand. "You take care of my daughter now, the southern man chuckled.
"Yes, sir." He replied, a small smile on the edges of his mouth. He was trying to be happy, he was going to the dance with a great girl, he was going to be able to dance. But he couldn't be truly happy knowing that he couldn't be there tonight with the one person he desperately wanted to be. Santiago.
Across town, a different scene was unfolding. Norah currently had her tongue down Santiagos throat in the back-seat of his car, her hand trailing down his abs to the zipper on his suit trousers, the moment he realised he leaped back, banging his head on the roof and pushing the girl away, clearing his throat and trying to ignore the feeling of guilt and nausea settling low in his stomach.
"What's the matter babe?" Norah asked, shuffling closer to him and going to try and kiss him again.
"Nothing. I just think we should stop." He said, climbing into the front to escape the girls advances. "It's almost time to get to the dance."
"Whatever." She mumbled, fixing her hair and checking her nails as the boy started his truck and made his way to the dance.
…
The first thing Brett though when he walked in was that it looked awesome, the second was that there more people than he had expected. The third thought that ran through his mind was, where is Santiago?
"Come on Brett. Let's get some punch and dance!" Samantha shouted over the music, grabbing his arm and dragging him to the table.
When Santiago walked in however the first thing he thought was, this is lame, really lame, where the hell is Brett? He glanced around the room for the boy and his heart stopped when he saw him laughing with Samantha by the punch bowl, a sting of jealousy in his gut.
"I'm gonna spike the punch. Wanna help?" Norah asked, opening her jacket and shaking the flask at him.
"I'm okay thanks, I think I'm just going to chill."
"Suit yourself." The girl said scurrying off.
They'd been there an hour. Santiago was bored shitless. Brett was bored of Samantha and neither boy had the balls to go and speak to the other, they just pretended they weren't looking at each other when ever they had the chance. Santiago was just about to quit and go home when Ms Shue came running up to him. "Santiago, as a member of the Glee Club, you need to go up there and sing. It's your time slot, Ryan needs a break and you promised."
He was going to argue when suddenly he had a thought. He agreed, much to the Glee teachers surprise, and he hopped up onto the stage, fixing his bowtie and grabbing a guitar.
"What's up you guys?" He said into the mic and the room cheered. He sat on a stool and moce the mic stand to his level. "It's my turn to sing for you guys, so this is my favourite persons favourite song. They know who they are." Santiago said, adjusting the tuning on his guitar. "It's a slow song so grab someone you care about and just dance." He smiled.
He played the first few chords and straight away Brett knew it. He knew it was for him, and as he listened his heart warmed, knowing the boy he loved was singing for him. Even if he couldn't tell everyone, he was telling Brett.
"Clock strikes upon the hour
And the sun begins to fade
Still enough time to figure out
How to chase my blues away
Ive done alright up till now
Its the light of day that shows me how
And when the night falls the loneliness calls"
Samantha tried to pull the boy to the dance floor but he politely declined, choosing to stay at the sides and watch instead. "Suit yourself she grumbled and wandered off to get some more punch. He watched as Santiagos eyes scanned the room, searching desperately for something… or someone. Watching how a relieved smile flashed on his face as his eyes met Bretts and in that moment there was no one else in the room.
"Oh I wanna dance with somebody
I wanna feel the heat with somebody
Yeah I wanna dance with somebody
With somebody who loves me
Oh I wanna dance with somebody
I wanna feel the heat with somebody
Yeah I wanna dance with somebody
With somebody who loves me"
He sang the entire song at his lover, trying to convey his feelings and his apology through it. Afterwards he got mild mannered applause from the guys and a load of girls squealed as he walked through the crowd, he smiled and thanked them only caring about where he was going. He came to a stop in front of Brett, the crowd already distracted by Ryan Berry and Fanny Hudsons upbeat duet onstage.
He said nothing, merely nodded his head towards the door in a silent question, Brett nodded also and the two boys snuck out of the dance into the parking lot. They walked towards Sans car in silence, both too nervous and unsure to say anything. Brett was the one who broke the silence.
"That song was really beautiful."
"I'm sorry Brett."
"I understand San. And I'm here for you, we can do this but we'll do it together." The two boys held each others hands and stared into the others eyes.
"I love you." Santiago said.
"I love you too." Brett replied as they kissed under the moonlight, knowing that although it was going to be hard, it would be fine in the end, because they had each other.