Hi. Sorry. I wanted to get longer with this one, too. Maybe we'll have a few more than 50 chapters in total.
...
Actually, should I just stop counting? (That was a very embarrassing typo and I am so glad I spotted it. Phew!)
I have had thoughts, though. I do have events which need to be covered in Tears & Cookies before I move on. Now, the timeline between T&C and its sequel, Smiles & Biscuits, could be seemless. Or, and I am now thinking I shall go for this, I could start S&B with a series of flashbacks to key events, after the first chapter which will be a skip forwards to meeting the title characters. Spoilers! So, what do you think? Is the flashbacks a good idea? It stops the meaningless stuff? And means I can work properly on it rather than ruining T&C which I so often feel like I'm doing due to simply never enough time. Thoughts?
Enjoy this chapter, and please check out IThinkILeftMyCoatOutside's story Glowing? I am uploading for her for a few weeks. I think you'll like it.
Previously
Greg Jones is left in control of the Warblers whilst Blaine is at the hospital with Robert, and is surprised when his girlfriend, Kurt's friend Gina, turns up.
-*T&C*-
The room was abuzz when Mr Jones re-entered the room, walking in just ahead of his girlfriend. As he stood at the front, Gina leaning carefully against Blaine's desk, the students all quietened slowly, eyes turning to the front. Anthony, sitting near the back, scrunched his eyes up as he looked to the floor. Greg could see his clasped hands. He wanted more than anything to tell him that his friend was still alive. But in front of everyone else, he couldn't.
He cleared his throat. "So. To those of you who haven't noticed, I am not Mr Anderson. Unfortunately, he had somewhere else he needed to be at the present time, but he shall return as soon as he is able to. So, I am in charge today, and I have with me a glamorous assistant, Miss Williams. So, be nice to her. Um, I think we can start with a song. Anyone has a song they want to sing?" The room remained quiet. "Okay. Tyler. Pick a song."
The blond seventeen year old blinked, not used to getting picked on. "Errrr... ummm... We could... errr... A Beatles song?"
Greg smiled. "I have a personal favourite. Could we try that? Mr Moonlight."
There was a pause before a quiet shuffling of chairs, like the boys knew what was happening in the hospital down the road. They all stood and grouped, as if they were getting ready to sing. Greg stood back to watch them. But they didn't. Timidly, Tyler stepped out of the group. "Um, sir?"
Greg frowned but nodded at the boy. "Mm?"
"C-could we do a d-different one? M-maybe Here Comes The Sun?"
Greg thought about the hospital; about Robert lying there with days or maybe hours left of life, or Peter by his side trying to remain strong but his protective walls falling, of Blaine who loved the boys like his own and of Kurt who rushed to his side. He thought of Peter and Blaine returning and giving the boys the news, of how it'd tear them apart and how they'd be a member shorter next year. He thought of all that, and looked at Tyler. "Of course."
Greg kissed Gina softly on the lips. They had just said goodbye to the last of the boys, Anthony getting a decent length story as the headteacher managed to pull him aside to speak to him. To his shock, the rusty haired boy had hugged him, and Mr Jones had joined in cautiously after a few seconds.
But now that was over, and they were alone in the Aviary. Gina smiled and kissed back, then pulling away again. Greg chased her lips.
This was the most flirty they had been. Before, when they had gone out, they had looked at each other over cooling mugs of coffee, or brushed hands as they went at the same time for a handful of popcorn, probably purposefully. They had first kissed on the steps up to Gina's apartment, and it had stolen their breaths away. Since then they had exchanged tentative pecks hello and goodbye. Nothing like this.
"We should go," Gina whispered against Greg's lips, which he used to kiss her with once more before pulling back slowly, his eyes folding open.
"Yeah," he replied breathlessly. "I... I should go to the hospital. See how they're getting on. Give Blaine his bag."
Gina nodded, but still neither of them made to move. They were happy just watching each other. Somehow, in this room, nervousness dissipated. A smile crossed Greg's lips as he thought of how flirty Blaine and Kurt were in this room. Maybe that's why it felt so easy for them now.
Finally, Greg made a move. He went to Blaine's desk to retrieve his bag, then walked to the door. He waited for Gina, who followed him with a smile. The girl put a hand on the door handle and started pushing it open as Greg turned the lights off. She yelped as she was pulled back inside.
Her back touched the wooden door and she felt a hand in hers. She was vaguely aware of Greg dropping Blaine's bag to capture her cheek, and she turned into his touch. With the lights off, everything suddenly became so much louder. She could hear that his breath was stuttered and nervous. She swallowed back her own and sought his lips, pressing a firm kiss to them. He kissed back. Their lips were joined, and now they moved slowly over each other. Their noses were pressed close together, and Gina suddenly discovered that her hands were playing in Greg's hair, pulling him closer. She was stood on her tiptoes and had no idea when that happened, but now Greg was pushing her more against the door. He was gentle but firm. Slowly, Gina parted her lips.
Their tongues tangled. Gina gasped, causing their mouths to open more and Greg's tongue to dive deeper. They explored each other's mouths like they were OS marking a new map. Gina had kissed before. And kissed like this. And every man she had had let her down, leaving her heartbroken. Greg had kissed like this before. He had married her. And then Sonia had slept with his then-best mate. He pulled Gina closer, and she breathed him in.
It was early in their relationship. They were nowhere near reading saying those three words yet. But somehow this felt different. Gina didn't feel as if she had to keep an eye out. Greg didn't feel like he'd be hurting years down the line. At the same time they shared a thought: Is this what it feels like for Kurt and Blaine?
Greg pulled his lips away and softly pressed a kissed onto Gina's exposed shoulder. He lowered her to the floor, not quite knowing when he had pushed her up against the door. In the dark room, he didn't have to be shy. He kissed at her chin, and she hummed in contentment.
She breathed and finally broke the silence. "We should go," she breathed, speaking to the ceiling as Greg nipped carefully at her neck. "We need... hospital... go..."
Greg kissed her skin for a few more minutes, from her cheeks to the tips of her ears and to her forehead. Then he pulled back and tucked her red hair behind her ear. "Yeah."
Gina smiled softly and Greg broke away to adjust his shirt and pick up Blaine's bag again. Second time lucky. She turned to the door and opened it, waiting patiently for her boyfriend to follow her and lock the door behind him as they left.
Thank you for reading, and I apologise for the minimal Klaine in this chapter. Oh, they'll be back. In a couple of chapters they will very much be back. And Mercedes is coming to stay! Let's all cheer for Cedes and her friend! I've finished school for the summer now so I should be able to get some proper writing done.
-* Don't forget to check out luspeak. wordpress. com for updates, deleted chapters and spin-offs! *-
Coming next: Blaine and Peter return to Dalton and finally tell the Warblers what is happening...