"Come on, guys. The wedding was incredible, but we've got to focus on Sectionals next week," Will began with his characteristic enthusiasm, his smile widening as he caught sight of Kurt walking through the door. "Kurt, perfect timing. I want to talk to you about this amazing idea I had for a solo for you at Sectionals."
"Can I make an announcement first?"
Will nodded as he stood in the center of the choir room, drawing the attention of everyone present. Taking a deep breath he started. ""First, I want to thank everyone for what you did at my dad's wedding, especially Finn," he began, his voice tinged with gratitude. "It's comforting to know that I have such wonderful friends here, as well as a true brother. Which is why it's so difficult for me to say what I'm about to."
"Leave?" Quinn's voice broke the silence, her eyes widening in shock. The rest of the Glee club members shared similar expressions of surprise and concern. "What do you mean, 'leave'?"
"Exactly what you heard.I'm transferring to Columbus... immediately. My father believes it's the best decision, and thanks to Isaac's mother putting in a good word for me, I have a guaranteed spot there."
"Kurt, you can't leave," Tina murmured sadly, her voice filled with genuine distress, while Mike nodded in agreement.
Finn rose from his seat, his expression a mix of confusion and indignation. "What the hell, dude? Why didn't you talk to me about this first?" he demanded, his voice laced with hurt. "All I hear is Isaac this, Isaac that. What about me? I'm your brother, not him."
Kurt's face hardened, his eyes flashing with anger. "He's more of a brother than you'll ever be," he shot back, his words cutting through the tension in the room. "He accepts me for who I am and doesn't hide me away like some dirty secret. Your speech at the wedding was nice, but let's face it, when it comes down to it, you wouldn't do shit."
Gasps filled the room as his words hung in the air, the weight of his accusations landing heavily on everyone present. "He stood between me and a slushie without even knowing me. A slushie that you, Finn, and Puck threw at me."
The room fell into a stunned silence, never had they seen their friend so openly confrontational, his usual calm demeanor replaced by a fiery determination to speak his truth.
Puck shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darting around the room. "Dude, I'm sorry," he mumbled, his voice tinged with genuine remorse. "But seriously, we can, like, form a perimeter around you, like the Secret Service."
Kurt's expression remained stoic, his arms crossed defiantly, "You're late to the party," he retorted, his tone firm. "The only thing that can truly protect me is what they have at Columbus—a zero tolerance, no-bullying policy. And it's enforced."
Rachel raised her hand eagerly, her brow furrowed in concern. "Um, does this mean that you're going to be competing against us at Sectionals?" she inquired, her voice laced with concern.
Santana shot the Jewish girl a withering glare. "Dwarf, why don't you shut your fucking trap? Stop making everything about you."she snapped, her gaze softening as she turned to Kurt. "If it's what's best for you, then I'm glad. The important thing is that you're safe. Isaac knows, right? Knowing him, he'll probably throw a party."
Hechuckled at her accurate prediction, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "He found out this morning and was like a kid at Christmas," he admitted. "I've already met some Columbus students, so I won't be the weird new kid."
Mercedes rose from her seat and enveloped him with a warm hug. "We're going to miss you," she murmured, her voice thick with emotion. "Do they have a Glee Club there?"
"Not they do have a drama club that covers a bit of everything, so I'll give it a try. But don't worry, I'll be at Sectionals to cheer you on. You guys are gonna kill it."
Sam interjected, his tone pleading. "But we can still protect you, Kurt. Together."
"No offense, Sam, but we don't receive the same treatment outside this four walls. You're one of the popular ones; I am not. The best thing for now is for me to stay away from here. I jump at every locker slam and flinch at every turn of a corner. I don't feel safe at this school."
Brittany's innocent voice cut through. "But we can still visit you, right? We're not gonna stop being friends, are we?"
"Of course not, Britt. "You and Santana practically live at the Taylor house half the time, anyway," Kurt joked, attempting to lighten the mood.
Santana rolled her eyes dramatically. "How many times do I have to say it? I'm only there for the chocolate," she quipped, "And maybe to satisfy my curiosity about certain... attributes. Can't live with the unknown." she finished, a wicked grin spreading across her face.
"Santana!" The group exclaimed in unison, their voices a mix of disapproval and exasperation.
"What? Don't tell me you've never wondered what size his dick is. You see that fucking single hot male specimen and don't you wonder what he's hiding in his pants?"
"NO, SANTANA!"
"Alright, alright. No need to get your panties in a twist," Santana relented, raising her hands in mock surrender. "But mark my words, if I ever find out, I'm keeping that information to myself."
Kurt smiled sadly at his friends. "Anyway," he began, his voice tinged with melancholy, "I wish you all the best for Sectionals, and we'll see each other around. Come on, group hug. I'm going to miss you all," he said, opening his arms as each member of the Glee club stepped forward to embrace him, some shedding tears. "I love you," he whispered, his voice barely above a whisper, as the warmth of their embrace enveloped him, filling him with a bittersweet sense of belonging.
Isaac's smile was infectious as he eagerly awaited Kurt's reaction. "What do you think?" he asked, his eyes bright with anticipation. "It's cool, right?"
"Sure," he replied with a smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Look, Kurt, I know you miss them but you're doing this for your own safety. Once things settle down a bit, you can always reassess and decide if you want to return."
"Wouldn't you be mad at me? I mean, I know you were the one who gave the enrollment papers to my dad, regardless of what he says about it being his idea."
"I would never be mad at you for prioritizing your safety," Isaac assured him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders as they strolled down the bustling school corridors. "And as for your dad, we all had your best interests at heart."
Their conversation was interrupted by the approach of a red-haired girl, who beamed at them. "Kurt Hummel, right? Hello, Isaac," she greeted them with enthusiasm.
"Yes, that's me. Is there something you need?"
"My name's Claire. I'm part of the drama club," she explained, offering Kurt a pamphlet. "Isaac mentioned that you were in the Glee Club at your old school, and while we might not be as polished, we'd love for you to give us a shot. If you're interested, we'll be in the auditorium."
"Sure, thank you."
"No problem!" Claire chirped, her enthusiasm palpable. "See you around, guys!" With that, she dashed off down the hallway.
Kurt couldn't help but chuckle at her enthusiasm as he examined the pamphlet the girl had given him. "She's intense."
"That's Claire for you. She's like Brittany, but with red hair and green eyes. Anyway, Kurt, you know the drill. If you need anything, just give me, Ellie, Ash, or Jay a shout. We'll be there for you, pronto." The hockey player flashed a reassuring smile as he escorted his friend to his next class. "Ellie has cheerleading practice this afternoon, and Ash, Jay, and I will be hitting the gym. If you decide to give the drama club a shot, just let me know, and we'll swing by to pick you up, alright?"
"I'll be fine," he replied with a playful roll of his eyes. "You're worse than my dad this morning." Isaac chuckled and planted a kiss on the top of his head before departing, "Now go on, shoo."
Isaac's fingers danced across the screen of his phone as he entered the bustling sushi restaurant, the aroma of soy sauce and rice filling his senses. With a slight furrow of his brow, he tapped out a message to Charlotte, his mind momentarily occupied with thoughts of her across the pond.
"How's everything in London?" he typed absentmindedly, the soft hum of conversation surrounding him.
The familiar ping of a notification drew his attention back to his phone, and he eagerly opened her response. "Cold as always, but I'm used to it," her message read, accompanied by a photo of her holding a bag labeled Hardy's. "By the way, I have your sweets and I bought Santana strawberry Jaffa cakes."
"When are you coming back?" he inquired, sending her a snapshot of the bustling sushi restaurant he found himself in. "I'm here buying sushi for my sister."
He watched the conversation bubble with anticipation as he waited for Charlotte's reply. Eventually, her response came through, and he chuckled softly as he read it. "I'll be back the day after tomorrow and I don't like sushi," she wrote, punctuating her message with a sad emoji. "Not true. I've tried it but it's not one of my favorite dishes."
"Not one of mine either.I prefer Italian cuisine."
"Have you ever tried my grandmother's Beef Wellington? You have no idea about food, Hargrave."
He chuckled as he imagined her playful scolding, swiftly typing out a response. "You haven't tried Asher's cooking," he retorted, adding a playful tongue-out emoji for good measure.
"Touche," she conceded with a laugh. "I have to leave you because I'm going out tonight and I still don't know what to wear."
Isaac glanced at the time, mentally calculating the time difference between their respective locations. It's 8:30 a.m. here, so it must be around 1:30 a.m. in London, he mused as he typed back. "Have fun." a warm smile gracing his features before he tucked his phone back into his jacket pocket.
"And now, the winner of this year's west central Sectionals is… it's a tie. Congratulations! You're all going to the Regionals!" Pete Sznowski's voice boomed over the applause, filling the room with an electric energy.
Shelby's heart sank momentarily as she heard the unexpected announcement. She had been so sure victory was within her grasp. Determinedly, she made her way through the crowd, her expression a mix of disappointment and forced graciousness.
"Congratulations, William," she said, her tone carrying genuine warmth despite her internal disappointment.
"Hey, nice work too. See you at Regionals," Will replied, returning her smile before moving off to celebrate with his team.
As she turned around she was surprised to find himself face to face with a bouquet of roses, accompanied by mischievous laughter. Shelby immediately recognized the source - his nephews and niece. "Congratulations, Aunt Shel," they chorused in unison, their faces beaming with pride and excitement.
"Thank you for coming," Her smile widening as she took in the familiar faces of the Taylor and Hayes family.
"I honestly think you deserved it," Sabrina remarked as she embraced her, her voice filled with sincerity as she joined the family gathering.
"You're being biased, Sabrina," she teased, her heart swelling with love as she embraced each of them in turn. "They deserve it too."
"Your daughter has lungs in her," Alec interjected with a playful smirk, exchanging a high-five with Mason. "I wonder if she has the same temper as you."
Bailey rolled her eyes good-naturedly at her husband's teasing. "You're suck a kid sometimes. Shelby, don't pay attention to him. Rachel has a beautiful voice and you can tell she has talent."
"Thank you," Shelby responded, a sense of pride swelling within her as she glanced over at her daughter, who was beaming with joy at her own success. "She's worked hard for this, and I couldn't be prouder."
Quinn walked through the bustling hallway, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of the upcoming Regionals and the intense rehearsals that lay ahead. Lost in her own world, she failed to notice the figure in her path until she collided with it, jolting her back to reality with a start.
"Shit. I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention to where I was going. Are you okay?" she heard a voice ask, filled with concern as she reached out to steady herself and the person she had inadvertently bumped into.
As she looked up, her surprise was evident in her widened eyes and parted lips. "I-Isaac," she breathed, recognizing the familiar face before her. The boy blinked in equal surprise, his gaze meeting hers in a moment of shared astonishment before he cleared his throat awkwardly, stepping back slightly.
"Quinn," he replied, his voice tinged with a mixture of surprise and warmth. "Congratulations on the victory."
Their eyes lingered on each other, the weight of unspoken words hanging between them. Though they had crossed paths at Kurt's father's wedding, it had been months since they had last spoken face to face.
"How have you been?" Isaac inquired, offering her a small smile. "It feels like it's been ages since we've had a chance to catch up."
"Good," Quinn replied, returning his smile with one of her own. "I wanted to talk to you at the wedding, but it didn't feel like the right time."
The boy nodded in understanding, a faint grimace crossing his features. "You looked beautiful in your dress," he remarked softly. "I saw Sam was with you. How's everything with him? Kurt mentioned he's the new addition to the Glee Club and the Titans. I hope he plays better than Finn."
"We're just friends," she blurted out, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment at her sudden confession. "Sorry. And yeah, he's been doing great on Glee. He definitely plays better than Finn, but Finn's still the Quarterback."
"A shame," he commented with a sympathetic nod before his eyes widened in realization. "Were you heading to the cafeteria? Do you want me to come with you?"
She was taken aback by the unexpected offer but nodded in agreement. Together, they walked in comfortable silence to the bustling cafeteria, waiting patiently in line to place their orders before finding a free table where they could sit and chat.
"This is…weird."
"What's weird?"
"Us. Having a conversation."
Isaac leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the table. "We're adults, Quinn. I think we're capable of having a civilized conversation, don't you think?"
"Yes, of course," Quinn responded quickly, her tone a touch defensive as she glanced away, her eyes momentarily avoiding his. "How's the band? Any projects in mind?"
"We're actually planning to re-record my mother's album," he explained, leaning forward and retrieving his cell phone from his pocket. With a few taps, he brought up a video on the screen. "This is the original video. Would you like to watch it?"
She nodded and he pressed play. The song was catchy, but what truly moved her were the images of Isaac's parents, along with Alec, Bailey, Mason, and Sabrina, captured in their younger years. They all appeared in the video, engaging in various activities, some more domestic, while others showcased their playful antics and shared laughter during trips.
"My mother recorded this song the summer before she entered entire album was her final degree thesis. She was even nominated for a Grammy for 'Song of the Year.' Did you know that?"
She bit her lip, resisting the urge to admit that she was already aware of that fact. Instead, she cleared her throat, preparing to broach the topic that had been weighing on her mind.
"Isaac, there's something important I want to talk to you about," she said seriously, setting her coffee down on the table.
"Sure, go ahead"
But before she could speak, a blonde girl approached Isaac, enveloping him in a hug around the neck. Quinn felt a pang of annoyance as she watched the interaction unfold.
"Isaac, I've been looking everywhere for you! I finally found you!"
"Lottie, you could have called me," the boy chuckled, pulling out a chair for the girl to sit in. He then turned to Quinn, introducing them. "Quinn, this is Charlotte. Charlotte, meet Quinn."
"Nice to meet you!" Charlotte exclaimed with genuine enthusiasm, offering her a bright smile, which Quinn forced herself to reciprocate. "Great performance, by the way."
"Thank you," Quinn responded, her tone polite but forced, as she stood up from the table. "Excuse me."
She walked away, feeling a mixture of frustration and disappointment gnawing at her. In the distance, she heard them talking, but she didn't linger to listen. A few minutes later, Isaac caught up with her, his voice soft as he called out her name.
"Quinn, wait," he said, his tone gentle. "What... What did you want to tell me before Charlotte showed up?"
"It's nothing, really."
"It seemed important to you. Tell me. I'm listening."
"Can we talk another day? I'm feeling tired, and I think my parents are probably looking for me," Quinn fibbed, the words slipping off her tongue with a pang of jealousy swirling in his chest as she remembered the effortless way the redhead had greeted him.
Isaac raised a skeptical eyebrow, silently conveying his disbelief in her excuse, but nodded curtly nonetheless. "Okay. Text me when you're free. We can set up a time and place."
Charlotte observed Isaac's return to their table with a thoughtful expression, her green eyes tracing his movements with a hint of amusement. "So, that's Quinn," she mused, her tone light and casual. "She's pretty."
He arched an eyebrow at her comment. "Don't give me that look. You were practically drooling over her, Lover Boy."
"You spend too much time with Santana," Isaac retorted, shaking his head. "And for your information, I wasn't drooling. I was just being friendly."
"Friendly, my ass. If by friendly you mean the heart eyes you were giving her and the way you were undressing her, then sure."
"I wasn't ogling her. That'd be completely disrespectful."
"Sure, whatever. And did you notice how jealous she got when she saw me hug you? If looks could kill, I'd be six feet under by now."
"There's no reason for her to be jealous of you, Charlotte. We're just friends,"
"Oh god, Santana was right. You can be so dense sometimes," Charlotte reprimanded, lightly smacking her friend on the head. "She thought we were a couple, silly. Wake up and smell the coffee. That girl is head over heels for you."
"Ouch, ease up on the violence, will you? She made it abundantly clear that she wants nothing to do with me."
"The way she looked at you, or rather, the way you both looked at each other, no one would think you're just friends. Friends don't look at each other like the other hung the moon and the stars."
"Charlotte, don't be ridiculous. We're just friends," Isaac repeated, although his hazel eyes betrayed a hint of sadness.
"Friends don't gaze at each other as if they're the center of the universe, Isaac. I saw you two at the wedding," She reminded him gently. "Friends don't look at each other the way you and Quinn do. Admit it, you still love her. Screw what anyone else thinks."
"And so what if I do?" Saying it out loud felt like a revelation, a truth he had been denying for far too long. "So what if I still love her?"
"Go after her. You're Isaac Hargrave, right? What did your father always say to your mother?" She fixed him with an intense gaze, as if imparting some profound wisdom.
"That he'd always come back for her, why?" Isaac recalled. Suddenly, a wide smile spread across his face as everything seemed to click into place. "That he'd always come back to her."
"I'm glad you caught on. So, what's your next move?"
"I'm going to talk to her," Isaac declared with newfound resolve, his gaze following Quinn's path. "And this time, she won't slip away so easily."