"Are you ready?"
Isaac felt the warmth of two arms wrapping around his waist, a familiar gesture that brought a small smile to his lips as he adjusted his tie.
"Ellie, I'm going to be fine," he reassured her, rolling his eyes affectionately at his sister's evident concern.
Gabrielle sighed, a hint of resignation in her tone, as she met Isaac's gaze through the reflection in the mirror. "She's going to be there."
The mention of Quinn sent a shiver down his spine, a mixture of longing and pain stirring within him. He paused in his adjustments, turning to face his sister. "What do you mean by that?"
"Are you seriously telling me that you're going to see her and her boytoy, and you're going to feel anything? You're going to be singing love songs on stage."
His jaw tensed, "It hurts like a bitch, okay? But it was her decision, and I respect it," he said sharply, his words laced with bitterness. With a final adjustment of his tie, he turned away, his resolve firm. "It's been five months since that. Ellie, seriously, don't worry."
"I have a right to worry," Gabrielle insisted, her voice tinged with frustration as she followed her brother to where her boyfriend and her twin were waiting for them. "She broke your heart, and it didn't take her a month to get a boyfriend without giving you a chance."
"Gabrielle, leave it," Isaac interjected, his tone firm as he made his way towards his car, guitar in hand. "Ash, Jay, I'll meet you there," he called out, the engine roaring to life as he pulled away, leaving his sibling and his best friend behind.
In Jayden's car the atmosphere was tense, "Love, we've already talked about this. I understand you're worried, we all are, but if he says he'll be fine, he'll be fine." Her boyfriend broke the silence, his voice calm and reassuring as they drove to their destination.
"I hate her," Gabrielle muttered bitterly, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside the window. "Hope she chokes singing or something."
"Are you okay?"
Sam's voice pulled her back to the present, and she turned to look at him, forcing a smile despite the tension coursing through her veins.
"Yeah. Why wouldn't I?" Quinn replied, her voice strained.
His smile was gentle as he covered her hand with his. "You look a little tense. Are you sure you're okay?"
She wasn't okay. Seeing Isaac had caught her off guard, "I'm fine," she insisted, though her voice lacked conviction. She scolded herself for forgetting that Isaac and Kurt were friends and was probably the reason he had been invited to the wedding. Her heart sank as Isaac passed by, his gaze not even flickering in her direction. "It's your fault," a voice whispered in her head.
As the evening progressed, the atmosphere in the hall shifted as Finn rose from his table, a glass of champagne in hand, a smile brightening his features. "Uh…Well, I want to propose a toast to my mom…who is so awesome," he began, his voice filled with affection. "I mean… somehow even without one in the house, you taught me what it means to be a man. In Glee Club, uh, whenever two of us got together, we got a nickname. Rachel and I are Finnchel. Rachel and Puck were Puckleberry. And today, a new union was formed. Furt. You and me, man."
She watched as he turned to Kurt, his eyes shining with genuine admiration. The mention of their newfound brotherhood brought a smile to the boy's lips, his excitement palpable.
"We're brothers from another mother. And over the past few weeks, uh, some stuff's gone down. And I haven't kept up like I should've. From now on? No matter what it costs me, I got your back. Okay? Even if it means getting a Slushie in the face every now and then. You put this entire wedding together by yourself, Kurt. So as a thank you, I had the Glee Club put together a little number in your honor. You're going to dance it with me, dude"
Isaac stood confidently at the center of the stage, the spotlight illuminating him as he adjusted the microphone stand with practiced ease. His fingers strummed the strings of his guitar lightly, a playful grin dancing on his lips as he surveyed the gathered guests.
"Well, I think this is a good time to introduce myself," he began, his voice carrying easily over the room. "You're probably wondering, who is this handsome boy?"
"No one's wondering that," Santana's voice rang out from the crowd, eliciting laughter from those around her.
He chuckled, his gaze playful as he locked eyes with his friend. "Santana, you love me," he teased, earning a playful roll of her eyes in response.
"I love your chocolate, not you," she shot back, earning another round of laughter.
Isaac grinned, his confidence undimmed. "Well, at least Britt loves me, right?" he quipped, casting a wink in Brittany's direction. The blonde beamed at him, blowing him a kiss in return.
"Anyway, back to me," Isaac continued, his smile widening. ""My name is Isaac, and I met Kurt after one of those slushies that Finn mentioned. Let me tell you, they hurt like a bitch."
A collective grimace rippled through the Glee Club members, each one nodding in agreement at the memory of the icy projectiles.
Turning his attention to Kurt, his expression softened, his admiration evident. "Kurt, you are a wonderful person," he said sincerely. "You have wicked talent for fashion, and it's incredible how you've managed to put together this wedding in such a short time."
"I love you," Kurt mouthed in response, his eyes shining with gratitude.
"Burt, Carole. It's such a pleasure to be here celebrating this special day with you. You remind me of my parents, you know? My Dad met my Mom when they were sixteen, and they were never apart for more than a day. My father always promised my mother that he would always come back for her, and he always kept his promise." he explained, his voice soft with nostalgia. " That's what I see when I look at you two. I see two people who look at each other and see in the other person their safe place, their home."
Burt and Carole's eyes glistened with tears as they nodded in agreement, their love for each other palpable in the air.
"And since Kurt gave me the freedom to choose the songs for this day," Isaac continued, his voice softening, "I'm going to sing you one of my favorite songs. And no, Ellie, it's not Taylor Swift."
He grinned mischievously at his sister, eliciting a playful roll of her eyes in response. "So I would like the newly wed couple to get up and dance to this if anyone knows the song, don't hesitate to join in."
As the first chords of the song filled the air, couples began to rise from their seats, drawn to the dance floor by Isaac's velvety voice.
"So honey now, take me into your loving arms. Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars, place your head on my beating heart. I'm thinking out loud, maybe we found love right where we are."
For the first time that night, hazel met green and the hustle and bustle of the wedding reception faded into the background, leaving only the two of them in a world of their own.
"I'm thinking 'bout how people fall in love in mysterious ways. Maybe it's all part of a plan, I'll just keep on making the same mistakes. Hoping that you'll understand."
Quinn's gaze drifted over Sam's shoulder, her heart aching as she watched Isaac on stage. Despite the distance between them, there was an undeniable connection that transcended words. She felt a pang of longing as she witnessed the subtle sadness in his smile, yearning to reach out to him but she remained rooted to her spot, unable to tear her gaze away.
"Oh baby, we found love right where we are," Isaac concluded, his voice trembling with raw emotion. Tears glistened in his eyes as he looked away, a wide smile gracing his lips. "Burt, Carole. Congratulations again, and enjoy the rest of the night. You deserve it."
As he stepped off the stage, the energy of his performance still lingering in the air, she tried to follow but before she could take a single step toward him, a firm hand on her shoulder halted her in her tracks.
"Don't," came Brittany's voice, her tone serious as she locked eyes with her.
"Don't what?"
"Quinn, don't do it."
"I wasn't going to do anything."
"You were going to talk to him, I know you."
Quinn sighed heavily, sinking into a nearby chair. "I want to apologize. I miss him. We used to be friends."
"You two were never just friends, " the taller blonde pointed out, her tone sharper than intended. "You were always something more. You broke his heart and didn't even give him a chance. What were you trying to achieve by talking to him? He's trying to get over you."
"And what if I don't want him to get over me?"
"You're playing with fire, Q. You had your chance, and you blew it. Now you have Sam, and he loves you. Are you going to play with his feelings too?"
"And what do I do then?"
"I never understood why you never gave Isaac a chance when you clearly liked him," she mused thoughtfully. "There's something holding you back, Quinn. What is it?"
"What do you mean, Britt?"
"I know you, we're best friends, remember?" Brittany's smile stretched from ear to ear, "You always calculate all your movements and you never do anything without being one hundred percent sure. You rarely let anyone see the real you. But Isaac... he brought out a different side of you. He makes you more spontaneous and relaxed, something that never happened with Finn, Puck, or Sam, which leads me to think that there is something you are hiding from Santana and me that has to do with Isaac."
She cursed under her breath, inwardly cursing her friend's keen observation skills. "Homecoming. You called him by his name like you were expecting him to know you, but he didn't." her friend continued, her excitement palpable as she connected the dots. "Isaac had an accident when he was 10 years old making him lose all his memories. You moved to Lima around the same 's it, right?"
"I hate that you're so smart," she muttered, her arms folding defensively across her chest. "Isaac and I knew each other before," she conceded reluctantly, her voice tinged with sadness, "but like you said, he doesn't remember me."
"Have you tried talking to him? I mean, maybe he remembers you. He's been working with this amazing hot therapist named Hannah, wicked baking 's helped Isaac remember his parents, maybe he remembers you too."
"He hates me. His whole family hates me. It's going to be impossible for me to talk to him."
Brittany moved to sit beside her friend, gently bumping shoulders with her. "Wanting to talk to him at this wedding with his family and a feisty drunk Santana hanging around wasn't your brightest idea, Q," she pointed out with a sympathetic smile.
"I guess not," Quinn laughed softly, "Thanks. I needed that."
"Santana may not show it, but she's not really mad at you. She wants you to be happy, and it bothers her that you're trying to distract yourself with Sam when you really like Isaac. Answer me this, if that thing holding you back didn't exist, who would you be with right now: Sam or Isaac?"
"Isaac." She didn't hesitate.
"Then clear things with Sam before he gets his hopes up, and then talk to him. He'll listen to you. After all, you're still the girl he likes."
"I never thought I'd hear a guy admit out loud that he was a Swiftie."
Isaac turned around at the sound of a voice, his attention drawn to a girl who was watching him with an amused expression. She had a cascade of blonde hair framing her face, her gray eyes twinkling with mischief as she flashed him a pretty smile. The soft glow of streetlights lending an air of ethereal beauty to her features. cast a gentle illumination as Isaac stood beside his car, lost in thought.
"Are you done watching me?" she asked, her tone playful yet tinged with curiosity.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable. Tough day at work?" he ventured, attempting to diffuse the tension with a touch of humor.
"A little. You have a great voice. Following the Collins legacy?"
"Thank you but I'm more into hockey. Singing is just a hobby" Isaac murmured, his fingers absentmindedly scratching at his neck in a gesture of bashfulness. "How do you know who my mother is? Do I know you?" he inquired, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.
"Nope but Shelby won't stop talking about you."
They leaned against the hood of his Audi, their shoulders brushing as they settled into a comfortable silence. Sensing her shiver, he instinctively removed his jacket and draped it over her shoulders
"How do you know my aunt?"
"Thank you," The girl murmured, her gratitude evident in her soft smile as she nestled into the warmth of the jacket. "I study at Carmel."
"So, spying on the enemy?"
"Aren't you in on it too, Hargrave?"
"I see you haven't done your homework, blondie," Isaac retorted, earning a playful punch to the shoulder from the girl. "The Hargrave Foundation is one of the sponsors of the event."
"Our auditorium's named after your mother, and I know that a big part of Vocal Adrenaline's funding comes from your family. I'm not as dumb as you think."
"You know my name, but I don't know yours. Bit unfair, don't you think?"
"Charlotte Berkshire," she introduced herself, her voice carrying a faint hint of an English accent adding an extra layer of charm to her already captivating presence..
"She was a queen, right? Married to George III," a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he recalled a tidbit of historical trivia.
"You may be the first American who knows how to locate England on a map. Congrats."
"I'm not just any American" Isaac quipped, flashing her a charming wink that caused a soft blush to rise to her cheeks. Glancing at his watch, he added, " It's late, want me to take you somewhere?"
Charlotte shook her head with a smile, retrieving her car keys from her purse. "No need, I have my car here," she replied graciously, handing back the jacket he had lent her. "But thanks."
Together, they walked to the car, enveloped in a comfortable silence. "Look, I don't usually do this, but can I get your number?" he winced, feeling a rush of nerves at his own forwardness.
"You don't usually do this, do you?"
"No, not really." He admitted sheepishly, his cheeks tinged with a becoming blush watching her type a few digits on his phone before returning it to him. He held the driver's door open for her.
"Thank you, kind sir."
"You're welcome, m'lady." Isaac responded with a mock British accent, adding a theatrical bow for good measure. "Let me know when you get home, okay?" he added, leaning against the car window once the engine started.
"I don't like getting up early, just so you know."
He watched her car disappear into the darkness, a smile playing on his lips as he glanced down at his phone. Chuckling softly to himself, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement as he saw Charlotte's contact name saved as "Lottie" and a crown emoji beside it.
"Aren't you a smooth talker, Hargrave?"
Isaac glanced up from his conversation with Charlotte to see Santana stumbling towards him, clearly intoxicated, her heels dangling from her hand.
"Santana, you are so out of it," he chuckled, approaching his friend and carefully lifting her into his arms. "Careful." He opened the passenger door of his car and gently settled her inside, draping her jacket over her to keep her warm.
"She was hot. What's her name?" the brunette slurred, her words slightly muddled as she peered up at Isaac with a lopsided smile and half-open eyes. "I can't believe I just saw Isaac Hargrave in action. Is this how you get all the girls?"
Isaac laughed at Santana's intoxicated state, shaking his head in amusement. "Her name is Charlotte, and I don't get all the girls."
"Oh please, you're hilarious." The girl attempted to get out of the car, but Isaac caught her just in time, preventing her from falling. "You're tall, handsome, rich, and have a killer smile. You play hockey, and you have abs that could cut glass. You're like every girl's wet dream. Not mine, of course, I already have Britt."
"I should film this," he muttered to himself. "Where's Britt?"
"I lost her," Santana pouted,fishing her phone out of her purse and cursing when she saw that it had no battery. "Would you mind calling her?"
"Britt, hi—Yes, she's with me—Okay. Love you."
"You're a good guy, you know? Anyone else would have already tried to hook up with me or Britt. Don't you think I'm pretty?"
Isaac gave her a fond look, knowing that her words were fueled by alcohol. "Santana, you need to sleep," he replied gently, trying to steer the conversation away from any potential awkwardness.
"No, no. Answer me," the cheerleader insisted, crossing her arms stubbornly as they waited for Brittany to arrive.
"Yes, I think you're pretty. You know it too, but you have a girlfriend and even more importantly, you're a lesbian."
"For you, I'd change my mind."
"But that's not the point. You have a girlfriend who loves you, and you love her," he continued, trying to reason with her in her intoxicated state.
"You can join us. Britt sure wouldn't mind," Santana suggested with a wink, her playful demeanor not dampened by her inebriation.
Isaac blushed at her suggestion, feeling a mix of embarrassment and amusement. "I would never get into a relationship, San," he replied, trying to diffuse the situation with humor.
"Are you a virgin? What's your dick size? You look big."
"Santana Maria Lopez! But since you won't remember any of this, I'm not a virgin."
"What about your dick?"
"I'm going to leave you guessing but I'm a grower not a shower." the hockey player replied with a playful wink. Before the latina could continue with her barrage of questions, Brittany appeared, a smile lighting up her face as she approached them.
"BRITT!" Santana squealed with delight, reaching out to embrace her girlfriend.
Brittany chuckled softly, returning Santana's embrace while casting a questioning glance at Isaac. "She hasn't done anything crazy, has she?" she asked, concern evident in her voice as they walked towards her car.
"You know what she's like." He gently guided his dark-haired friend into the back seats of the car making sure she was comfortable before gently closing the door.
"ISAAC, I LOVE YOU!" Santana yelled, her words slightly muffled by the closed door.
"She's crazy." Brittany laughed softly, shaking her head in amusement as she watched her girlfriend drift off to sleep.
"She wouldn't be Santana then," he joked, sharing a smile with his friend as they exchanged a brief hug. "Let me know when you get home," he added, concern evident in his voice.
"You for taking care of her," With a final wave, she climbed into the driver's seat and started the car, pulling away from the curb with her girlfriend safely tucked in the back.