Two Steps Beyond
Part 39
When the three of them walked outside everyone was up on deck and Cooper had quite the fire going in the fire pit. Some of them needed to switch seats so that the guys could all be sitting relatively close to one another. After they were all situated started the usual daunting task of choose the first one which always gave them issues. But then Brittany put in her request which definitely easy for the guys to fulfill since she wanted them to sing the same song they serenaded her with on Valentine's Day.
Since Jeff was going to carry the bulk of the vocals he handed over his guitar to Nick so he could concentrate a bit more. "Do you know this one Hunter?" Blaine asked.
"I do, just let me know what key." Blaine then gave them the key they arranged in for Jeff then began. Santana, Rachel, and Hailey were all clearly impressed as the guys sang. Even with everyone else around, it was clear Jeff was only singing to Brittany who was giving him her complete attention. Lexi just leaned against Cooper who wrapped his arms around her while they listened. Cassie watched and was happy to see her brother so relaxed considering he wasn't in the best of moods when he first came to live with her.
"Where are you going?" Cassie asked softly when Tasha got up. Once she held her phone up Cassie just shook her head. There were times where both she and Lexi just wanted to confiscate Tasha's phone for just one evening.
"What is it Kurt?" Tasha asked once she was on the far side of the deck.
"Simon called and said he needs the guys back in studio because he's not happy with the proofs and doubts that you'll be." While Tasha sighed, she glanced over at everyone who was just enjoying the night. "Tell him that's fine, but there is no way I can get back into the city."
"He knows." Tasha couldn't help notice Kurt take an uncharacteristic pause since he usually talked a mile a minute. And she couldn't help wonder if it was because he might've heard the guys in the background since they were all singing.
"Is there anything else Kurt?"
"No, but if anything else comes up I'll let you know. Enjoy your weekend."
"Same to you."
When she returned to her seat she just leaned her head on Cooper's shoulder which caught Cassie and Lexi's attention. "What's wrong?" Lexi asked while looking back at her.
"Work. And I'm pretty sure I'm going to have an irritable assistant on Monday."
"Why?" Cassie asked.
"That would be because I'm almost certain he heard the boys singing."
"Fuck him." Cooper said just loud enough to catch Blaine and Sebastian's attention. "Personally I don't know why you haven't fired his ass."
"That's because except for those slight moments, he's actually really good at his job."
"More power to you for dealing with him. I'm going to get a drink, you ladies want anything?"
"Wine please Coop." Lexi told him to which Tasha and Cassie agreed.
"Three glasses of wine coming up." After Cooper walked away, Sebastian glanced over just as they were finishing the song.
"Is everything okay?" He mouthed to her so as not to draw attention to the conversation.
"Don't worry." Lexi replied softly and all Sebastian could do was shake his head.
"What did you ladies think?" Thad asked.
"I think Brittany is very lucky." Hailey replied from her spot curled up next to Wes. "Makes me wish I met Wes sooner if this is the way you boys treat your girls."
"How did Coach Sylvester take it?" Rachel asked.
"She actually complimented us." Jeff told her. "Told me, I set the bar so high that the rest of the Cheerios boyfriends would never be able to top it."
"That is a compliment coming from her." Santana said.
"She even let me leave practice early." Santana just looked at Brittany wide-eyed.
"She must really like you Jeff, because I don't ever remember her ever doing something like that."
"I think it also had something to do with the way the all of us were helping Britt." Dave added. "She was happy with the way we were looking at for her."
"Britt, how did she react when you came home and told her the Warblers won Nationals?"
"She was really happy, but I think she was happy after Regionals when they beat us."
"Wait, so your cheer coach was happy that your boyfriend's glee club beat the one from her own school?" Hailey asked.
"It's a long story." Santana told her. "If we have time later on I'll fill you in. Now, how about you boys sing again?"
"What if we want to hear you girls sing?" Nick asked.
"Ladies?" Santana asked.
"I think that can be arranged. Do you mind if we bring in reinforcements?"
"Anyone of your choice." Sebastian replied.
"Lexi do you and your friends sing?" Santana asked.
"We do, why?"
"Would you mind joining us, the guys would like to hear us girls sing?" Lexi looked at Tasha and Cassie who agreed to help the girls out. "Thank you." Santana replied while they moved their seats closer. When Cooper came walking back out he was surprised to find all the girls huddled together.
"Do I even want to know?"
"They're going to sing with the girls." Blaine replied. "Santana felt they needed more voices."
"Okay, I can accept that."
"Hunter, my guitar please." Cassie asked, while Hailey walked up to Jeff to ask if she could borrow his.
[Hailey & Rachel]
Lyin' here with you so close to me
It's hard to fight these feelings when it feels so hard to breathe
Caught up in this moment
Caught up in your smile
[Santana & Lexi]
I've never opened up to anyone
So hard to hold back when I'm holding you in my arms
We don't need to rush this
Let's just take it slow
[All]
Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight
Just a touch of the fire burning so bright
No I don't want to mess this thing up
I don't want to push too far
Just a shot in the dark that you just might
Be the one I've been waiting for my whole life
So baby I'm alright, with just a kiss goodnight
[Tasha & Brittany & Cassie]
I know that if we give this a little time
It'll only bring us closer to the love we wanna find
It's never felt so real, no it's never felt so right
[All]
Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight
Just a touch of the fire burning so bright
No I don't want to mess this thing up
I don't want to push too far
Just a shot in the dark that you just might
Be the one I've been waiting for my whole life
So baby I'm alright, with just a kiss goodnight
No I don't want to say goodnight
I know it's time to leave, but you'll be in my dreams
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight
Just a touch of the fire burning so bright
No I don't want to mess this thing up
I don't want to push too far
Just a shot in the dark that you just might
Be the one I've been waiting for my whole life
So baby I'm alright, oh, let's do this right, with just a kiss goodnight
With a kiss goodnight
Kiss goodnight
Once the girls finished the guys all applauded before they went back to their seats. "Who knew we were surrounded by such talent?" Sebastian said with a smile.
"I'm pretty sure you did Bas, considering you recorded it."
"Blaine's got you there." Hunter chimed in.
"Alright, so maybe I had a good idea. The only one I didn't know that she could sing was Hailey."
"What prompted the song choice Santana?" Blaine asked once she sat down.
"We needed something that we all knew, plus nothing that would offend certain individuals."
"Considering this group, that's almost impossible." Sebastian said.
"Okay, so if we sing again you won't have a problem with Lexi or Cassie singing a song about sex or seduction." Sebastian looked right at Hunter after Santana spoke.
"She nailed the one thing that would probably make us both uncomfortable." Hunter said.
"You're right. Who knew?" Sebastian said.
"Lexi actually, Cassie was all for embarrassing Hunter."
"Remind me to thank your sister Seb."
"I can do that." Sebastian then turned to face Nick who couldn't get the silly grin off his face, one that was very similar to the ones Wes, Jeff, and Brody were sporting as well. "Nick, are you happy with the song choice?"
"It was acceptable." The next thing they saw was Santana move to get off his lap, but quickly get pulled back down. "What fun would it be if you knew just how much I approved? Last thing you'd want is me to give in easily."
"That's very true."
"Glad that the two of you are so comfortable just being you." Thad told them. "Behaving around us all those times must've sucked."
"We managed." Nick replied.
The next morning it was almost ten by the time everyone was up and moving. "Where's Cooper?" Blaine asked when he walked into the kitchen.
"He, Jay, Hunter, and the rest of the elder guys are out on the boat." Lexi told him
"Risky play by Hunter, the girls all wanted to go out."
"He's in the clear; Santana and Rachel were both up when they headed out. Told him, it was alright since Brittany and Hailey weren't up yet. But he had to promise to take them all out once he returned." Cassie added. "Before I forget, Logan said you needed to get online."
"Where is he?"
"He's out on the deck with a few of the guys." Tasha told him.
"Did he say anything else?"
"Nope."
When Blaine walked outside, he saw Logan, Thad, Dave, Beat, and Brody all sitting in a group. "Hey guys! Dave, happy birthday!"
"Thank you!"
"You look overly happy."
"That's what happens when you get kissed by Lexi, Tasha, and Cassie first thing in the morning." Beat said.
"Being the birthday boy has its perks." Thad said.
"Where were you, Seb, and Nick this morning? Lexi said you all went out.
"We just had some errands to run." Blaine said prior to sitting down. "Now, why was I told I needed to go online?"
"Do you want the good news or the bad news?" Logan asked.
"The bad news first, that way I have something to look forward too."
"Kurt realized his dear boss was with us all last night."
"And?"
"He feels like he'll never be rid of all of us." Dave said.
"Sucks for him, he can quit his job then, because I can't see him trying to tell Tasha she should get better friends. And considering Lexi is one of her best friends, the chances of Tasha being around Bas and I is pretty strong."
"Also doesn't help that you two work for her as well." Thad added.
"Very true. Now was that all he said?"
"Basically, he was just whining. But we thought you better know." Beat said.
"I appreciate that, now what's the good news?"
"Our videos from last night were a huge success with everyone that isn't here." Logan said.
"You guys posted all of them?"
"Technically, Wes and Jeff posted them, but yes. All of them are up. And Puck has the hots for Tasha, Lexi, and Cassie." Brody told him. Blaine took in what he was being told, but then looked at them.
"They didn't post everything, did they?" Blaine asked, remembering that Santana and Nick join Cooper and Lexi on a number.
"No, that number wasn't posted nor anything showing the two of them in the state we're getting used to seeing them in." Dave said. "Wes and Jeff made of point of that."
"Speaking of Wes and Jeff, where are they?"
"Locked in a bedroom upstairs." Thad replied. "And we were told not to disturb them."
"Do I even want to know?"
"I think they are working on something for the birthday boy." Sebastian said once he approached the group.
"For some reason the two of them working on something scares me." Dave said.
"What, you don't trust them Dave?"
"It's not that, but they have way too much footage of stupid things I've done in my life."
"Are you talking about that time you impersonated Tom Cruise in Risky Business in the common room?" Thad said with a laugh.
"That's a moment I'd like to forget."
"But it was such a golden moment." Blaine added.
"And how did I miss this?" Sebastian asked.
"It happened prior to your arrival which is why Wes has the footage. It's also why Dave won't touch Jagermeister with a ten foot pole." Beat told him.
"I need to see that footage." Sebastian said.
"No you don't." Dave told them. The guys were still discussing whatever Jeff and Wes might be up to when Hunter, Cooper, and the rest of the guys returned. By the time they returned to the deck the girls were all outside. While Cooper was filling the guys in all the craziness that occurred while they were on the water, Blaine slipped away to talk with the girls.
"Are you ladies ready to go?" Hunter asked, while Logan and a couple of the other guys headed down to the pier.
"We are." Santana replied after giving Blaine a kiss on the cheek. They had just reached the guys when Brittany and Santana each took one of Dave's hands. "You're coming with us."
"May I ask why?"
"We want to give the birthday boy some extra attention."
"Unless you don't want to come with us?" Brittany asked, with the cutest of pouts.
"He's screwed." Thad said to Nick who was trying not to laugh.
"Ya think."
It didn't take long before the rest of them were headed down to the pier as well. "I'll be right there." Hunter called out when Dave asked if he was coming. "Now, how long do you need me to keep them out?"
"At least an hour." Sebastian told him. "We figured with all of us here we should be able to accomplish everything in that amount of time."
"Alright, but if you need more text Logan or one of the guys, but I'll need at least twenty minutes notice otherwise I'll already be in the channel."
"Got it."
"Thanks!"
"You're welcome. Good luck!"
Once they all walked back into the house everyone else was gathered in the kitchen. "Do we even want to know how you convinced him to go back out on the boat when he planned to lounge all day?" Trent asked.
"Sure, we had the girls do our dirty work." Blaine replied. "Santana told him that they wanted to give the birthday boy extra attention today."
"And then when he looked hesitant Brittany gave him her pouty face." Jeff added.
"No wonder he went so willingly." Trent said. "Even I can't say no to Brittany when she does that."
"It's her secret weapon."
"I thought that would be those long legs of hers?" Cooper remarked, getting a laugh out of his buddies as well as a few of the guys while Jeff just shook his head. "How much time is Hunter giving us?"
"I told him an hour, but if we need more time we just need to text Logan or Jacob." Sebastian replied.
"Alright then, let's get to work." Tasha said, before handing each of the guys a piece of paper. Seemed that while they were all outside that morning Cassie, Tasha, and Lexi came up with a game plan to make sure everything got done. Everyone started to go their separate ways when Cooper grabbed Sebastian and Beat.
"And what do we owe this honor?" Sebastian asked.
"If you look at the list, you guys are with me. We need to go get the stuff put up on the pier and around the deck."
"Why us?" Beat asked.
"My wife trusts me not to screw up and you two are the tallest."
"Sounds reasonable enough." Sebastian replied before he and Beat grabbed the two boxes of stuff for outside while Cooper grabbed the ladder. While the decorating was getting done Cooper's friend Cameron got the tunes started outside once he was set-up.
"You don't think we're over doing it, do you?" Blaine asked Lexi while they brought in some items from the garage.
"Normally I might say yes, but after everything that happened I think it's a sweet gesture. And more than ever, I'm happy that you and Bas are out here permanently now."
"We are too. I think there is only one other person that should be out here permanently, since it affected her as well."
"You must be talking about Santana. That must not have been easy for her. And I know it wasn't easy for Brittany either, but she seems a little more forgiving."
"I am, and you're right about Brittany. I'm pretty sure Nick would prefer she was out here as well. He's not looking forward to her leaving with the rest of the guys."
"I need you to answer something for me Blaine."
"And what would that be?"
"I thought Santana was a lesbian."
"She thought so too, but something is going on between her and Nick that neither of them can quite explain. So until they can, they're just going with the flow. They're a couple, but without the boyfriend/girlfriend titles. Bas is calling Santana, Nick's non-girlfriend."
"Only my brother."
"Blaine!" Nick called out.
"What?"
"Check your twitter."
"Why?"
"Just check it." There was something about the look on Nick's face that Blaine set the box down on the counter and pulled out his phone. "I think the girls are doing a splendid job, don't you?"
"You could say that again." Blaine then handed his phone to Lexi to show her the picture Hunter tweeted.
"The birthday boy clearly looks happy."
"Agreed. That reminds me, Seb wants to know if he needs to send a text to Jacob or Logan."
"We're just about done, these were the last two boxes so Hunter is safe to return when he sees fit."
"I'll let Seb know." Nick was just about out the door when Blaine called for him. "What?"
"Knowing how much Rachel loves good news how did you and Santana convince her to keep her mouth shut?"
"Santana threatened to kick her ass if she told anyone."
"I should've known. I'll be out soon."
Song: Just a Kiss by Lady Antebellum