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PROMPT TWO: Ballroom Dancing

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"We're going to be doing a slow-dancing number this week," Mr. Schuester said in his usual lively way. A few groans from around the choir room responded, with the exception of an excited gasp from Rachel Berry.

"To get you guys more excited than that, we're going to be having a friendly competition. In partners, you'll compete against one another, and we'll see who can get-jiggy-with-the-waltz the best!"

An unenthused sigh and the many bored observations of cuticles met the teacher's excitement.

"And today, I'm letting you pick your partners. See you next week!"

The fact that Mr. Schuester was letting them choose lightened the mood slightly. The club members gathered their things and left, most immediately partnering up. Kurt crossed his arm with Mercedes' and suggested an Edith Piaf tribute and exited, Finn staring after him as Rachel vividly described a Jekyll & Hyde number that she had been mentally choreographing since sixth grade.

Finn was terrified. As if he wasn't bad enough at dancing, now he had to do ballroom? Rachel was going to hate him for stepping on her feet so much.

"Finn! The LOD! Observe the LOD!"

It almost bothered Finn that Rachel just assumed what that was. But he didn't blame her. It had been two days of practice and he still had no idea what was happening.

"I'm sorry… let me try again…"

Rachel hit the "play" button on her stereo and Finn placed his hands accordingly and stared at his feet vacantly as he tried to figure out where to move.

Twelve and a half seconds passed before he stepped on her foot. It was a new record.

"Ugh!" Rachel groaned, sitting on her bed and rubbing her foot, "That's enough for today. We'll practice more tomorrow."

"I'm sorry Rachel, I'm just not good at this…"

"Whatever."

"I love you?"

She paid him no mind as she removed her shoe and massaged her toes. Finn dropped his head dolefully and exited.

The next day passed too quickly for Finn's taste- he did not want to go back to Rachel's house again today. He purposely left his backpack in the auditorium after Glee practice so he'd have to go back and retrieve it.

When he did return to the auditorium, he found Kurt tinkling on the piano keys. It was when Finn observed Kurt's feet tapping rhythmically when an idea popped into his head.

"Kurt?"

Kurt looked over abruptly, eyes wide.

"Oh, Finn, it's just you," Kurt said, "You scared me."

"Sorry… I had a favor to ask."

"What's that?"

"Y'know this whole… ballroom dancing thing?"

"Yeah?"

"I was wondering if you could help me out. With the dancing stuff."

Kurt stood and moseyed down the stage steps.

"Help you out with the dancing stuff?" Kurt snickered as he leaned on a seat, "I don't know, Finn, wouldn't that be like helping the enemy?"

Finn shoved his hands in his pockets, understanding Kurt's logic.

"I just don't want Rachel to get mad at me, I guess."

Kurt's cynicism suddenly vanished.

"Rachel, huh."

Great, now he'll never help me, Finn thought, Nice work, Finn, mentioning this is for Rachel to the one person who hates her more than anyone.

"Okay then," Kurt said, to Finn's surprise.

"What?"

"I'll help you," Kurt responded, going backstage to get stage tape out of a cupboard.

"Right now?"

"Yes, right now," Kurt said, marking the stage with pieces of tape.

"W… well do you have music?"

"Yeah, I can plug my iPod on over the speakers."

"Oh… thanks!"

Kurt merely nodded as Finn took his sweater off and placed it on the piano bench.

Kurt pointed to the markings he made.

"You'll be facing stage right, your right side to the wall and your left side to the audience. Got that?"

Finn nodded.

"Straight ahead of you, this line here, that's the LOD, or the Line of Dance. The line facing the other way is ALOD, or Against the Line of Dance. Does that make sense?"

Finally, someone explained what LOD meant. Finn nodded again. Kurt went on describing the alignment, Wall, Center, Diagonal Wall, et cetera. Finn thought it would be hard for him to keep track, but it was surprisingly simple.

"That's Alignment, which is, put simply, what direction to go in when you dance. Then there's foot work…"

Kurt continued on and Finn listened avidly. He wondered where Kurt learned all of this. Definitely not his dad. He didn't imagine Burt would be the kind to teach his son the waltz.

"Ready to try?" Kurt said. Finn nodded again.

"Rachel probably taught you hand placement, so I figure…"

"Actually," Finn cut him off, "She kind of didn't. She was too busy with my feet."

"Oh," Kurt said quietly, "Well, in closed position, which is the basic position, the girl puts her hand on the guy's shoulder…"

Kurt stood centimeters away from Finn, exhaled nervously, and placed his hand up on Finn's shoulder. Finn felt the heat from Kurt's breath on his collarbone, and his shoulder tingled under Kurt's hand.

"And then the guy puts his hand on the girl's waist," Kurt said even quieter, looking away from Finn's eye.

Finn warmly brushed Kurt's waist with his palm. Kurt blushed immediately.

"And then they hold hands with their empty hands," Kurt said again. Finn's fingers curved around Kurt's hand and rose it slightly. Kurt looked up at Finn and Finn returned the gaze. Finn suppressed his breathing as much as he could, afraid of having bad breath.

"I'll lead first, and just watch my feet, and I'll give you direction as we go along," Kurt said, trying his best to keep this professional. He pressed play on a remote and a slow chamber played in.

Like the beat-beat-beat of the tom-tom
When the jungle shadows fall…

"Sinatra?" Finn nearly whispered.

"I figured it was appropriate. It's really slow, good for beginners…"

Like the tick-tick-tock of the stately clock
As it stands against the wall…

It came more naturally to Finn this time, as the two boys slowly waltzed across the stage. Kurt's quiet voice pointed him the way.

Like the drip-drip-drip of the raindrops
When the summer shower is through
So a voice within me keeps repeating you, you, you…

Finn attempted to turn Kurt around, and much to his surprise, succeeded. He subconsciously pressed himself up against Kurt more than before. Kurt blushed further, but eventually his nervousness subsided.

Night and day, you are the one
Only you beneath the moon or under the sun.

"Want to try leading?" Kurt said.

"Okay…" Finn said.

He hesitantly lead Kurt along. Kurt didn't have to direct him now, so the two simply danced in silence.

Whether near to me, or far
No matter darling where you are,
I think of you…

Frank cooed through the speakers of the auditorium with his melted-chocolate voice, and Kurt quietly hummed along.

Night and day, day and night, why is it so
That this longing for you follows wherever I go?

Finn had his arm completely swathed around Kurt's waist now, and Kurt's arm was likewise around Finn's neck. They were pressed together like sandwich bread, and the warmth of Kurt's torso meshed together with Finn's beating heart.

In the roaring traffics boom,
In the silence of my lonely room,
I think of you…

Finn rose his eyes to Kurt's, and though he was much taller, his face was merely inches from Kurt's. Kurt's eyes swam with emotion that Finn couldn't read. Finn opened his mouth, trying to find his previously lost breath.

Day and night, night and day
Under the hide of me
There's an oh- such a hungry yearning, burning inside of me…

"W… want to try a dip? The end of the song is coming up…"

Finn didn't say anything, but ever-so-slightly nodded, his eyes not leaving Kurt's for a moment.

And this torment won't be through
Until you let me spend my life making love to you!

Finn grasped the other boy's waist and dipped him toward the ground. Finn's nose brushed Kurt's, and the sensation of Kurt's breath on Finn's lips made him shiver.

Finn bent his head in slightly. His top lip brushed against Kurt's bottom one. Kurt made a little noise in surprise as Finn closed his eyes, gently kissing. Kurt returned the small kiss and they parted, Finn pulling them both back up.

Day and night… night and day…

The two boys left their embracing dance. Kurt blinked in shock at Finn, who still wasn't fully sure what just took place.

"Finn?" a female voice called from an auditorium door. Finn turned abruptly to see Rachel standing in the doorway.

"Rachel… how long have you been standing there?"

"I just came in to get my sweater."

Finn turned around. Sure enough, drape over a maroon theater-seat, was a knit-sweater with a unicorn on it.

"What's going on?" Rachel said, skeptically, eyeing Kurt.

"Nothing," Finn said quickly, "Kurt was just…" Finn looked at Kurt, his eyes pleading.

"I thought I had a cavity and I wanted Finn to check."

"Yeah! He's clean though, ha-ha…"

"I see…" Rachel said, "Well, Finn has to come practice our waltz number now, so if you'll excuse us…"

"Oh of course," Kurt said. He looked over at Finn with his shining blue eyes, "I look forward to beating you."

"Hah! In your dreams," Finn said, descending the steps and grabbing Rachel's sweater. He handed it to Rachel, who looked curiously at him.

"Bye Kurt," Finn said tenderly, waving at the well-dressed boy standing on the stage.

"Bye, Finn…"

As soon as Finn and Rachel had left, Kurt walked over to the piano bench. He sat upon it and brushed his lower lip with his fingers, asking himself if Finn's lips had really kissed his, and trying to regain the feeling again.

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Glee belongs to Fox

"Night and Day" by Frank Sinatra