Authors Note: Chapter five. Sorry its late. Exams are pulling me down a bit. Enjoy :)
...
Journey
A Glee Fan fiction
Chapter 5 – Well Damn.
Tina stood at her locker, rummaging for a book, a silly grin happily planted on her face. The song Mike had sung her was still reverberating through her heart, and slowly to her head. She had not stopped smiling since yesterday afternoon when he had dropped her off at her house, driving away in his car and tooting the horn at her in the rhythm of I'm Crazy for This Girl.
"I'm lucky" she whispered "Lucky, lucky, lucky"
"Oi you. Tina right?"
Tina turned to see an Asian girl in a Cheerio's uniform. May Lin, member of the Cheerio's and total bitch. She frowned, she remembered Mike telling her about the one date he had been on with May Lin, an experience he cared not to talk about since.
"Yeah what?"
"So you're the new girl Mike's shimmying up too" May Lin sneered.
"What's it to you?" Tina snapped. She did not want May Lin shattering her happy bubble.
"I'm warning you right now. Stay away from Mike" May Lin said "He's not interested in you. Why he's kept you this long is anyone's guess, because you certainly don't put out"
"Shut up" Tina snapped "Mike is interested in me"
Even as she said it she felt a fire of doubt start to burn in her heart. Why had he kept with her for this long? May Lin smiled knowingly at her, and shook her head.
"Let me guess. He dropped you off out the front of your house, kissed you and then drove away beeping the car horn to some ridiculous song, I'm Crazy for This Girl?" May Lin asked.
Tina's stomach dropped. How did she know?
"Use your brain freak" May Lin said "He did it to me as well"
Tina felt tears spring to her eyes and ducked her head. May Lin laughed and turned away, sauntering up the hallway. Tina lent back against her locker and felt a ball of sadness begin to unfurl in her stomach. How could she have been so blind? She fumbled for her phone and rung Rachel, the brunette was at home helping her dad get over the flu.
Hi you've reached Rachel Berry. If this is Noah, leave a sensible message. If this is Hollywood call later. If you are none of the above leave a message at the beep. Bye!
"Rach" Tina whispered "It's Tina. I need to talk to you. Call me back as soon as possible. Okay bye"
Tina hung up the phone and closed her locker door. Slowly, quietly she began to hum. Then she began to sing.
Umm oh
Mmm
Mmm
Come with me
Stay the night
You say the words but boy it don't feel right
What do you expect me to say
(You know it's just too little too late)
You take my hand and you say you've changed
But boy you know your begging don't fool me
Because to you it's just a game
(You know it's just a little too late)
So let me on down 'cause time has made me strong
I'm starting to move on
I'm gonna say this now
Your chance has come and gone and you know
Tina began to walk slowly down the hall, still singing softly. She passed by the music room, where Mercedes, Kurt and Artie were practising their chords and slipped by quietly. Mike had used her, she felt stupid and heartbroken.
It's just too little too late
A little too wrong and I can't wait
Boy you know all the right things to say
You know it's just a little too late
You say you dream of my face but you don't like me
You just like the chase
To be real it doesn't matter anyway
You know it's just too little too late
Yeah, yeah
It's just too little too late
Mmm...
I was young and in love
I gave you everything but it wasn't enough
And now you wanna communicate
(You know it's just too little too late)
Go find someone else
I'm letting you go I'm loving myself
You gotta problem
But don't come asking me for help
'Cause you know
Somehow Tina found herself out in the bleachers, staring down at the football field. That was Mike's original place in society, a star footballer. Why was he still in Glee, lying to her and everyone else? May Lin was right, why had he stuck around for so long.
It's just too little too late
A little too wrong and I can't wait
Boy you know all the right things to say
You know it's just a little too late
You say you dream of my face but you don't like me
You just like the chase
To be real it doesn't matter anyway
You know it's just too little too late
I can love with all of my heart baby
I know I have so much to give
(I have so much to give)
With a player like you I don't have a prayer
That's no way to live, no
Mmm no
It's just too little too late
Yeah, yeah!
It's just too little too late
(Oh yeah)
A little too wrong and I can't wait
(Yeah yeah yeah yeah)
Boy you know all the right things to say
(Whoo)
You know it's just a little too late (Late)
You say you dream of my face but you don't like me
You just like the chase
(You just like the chase baby)
To be real it doesn't matter anyway (A hey)
You know it's just too little too late
Ooh ooh ooh ooh
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
(You know it's just a little too late)
Oh
I can't wait
No no ooh
[chorus:]
It's just too little too late
(Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh)
A little too wrong and I can't wait
(Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah)
Boy you know all the right things to say (A hey)
You know it's just a little too late
You say you dream of my face but you don't like me
You just like the chase...
Tina stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror, silently crying. The tightness in her chest was too painful to let her cry loudly. She could honestly not see what Mike saw when he looked at her. Maybe it was her voice that attracted him, but then wouldn't he be chasing after Mercedes or Rachel. Even Zoe was better than her at singing.
Tina was so wrapped in her own world that she didn't hear the door to the girls toilets open and shut. She didn't notice Zoe until the red head said something.
"Tina" she said softly "Are you okay?"
Tina observed Zoe's reflection in the mirror. The red head looked genuinely concerned; her lips turned down and green eyes bright. Tina ducked her head, to hide her tears; she didn't want anyone feeling sorry for her.
"Fine" she lied, the shake in her voice giving away that she was indeed not fine.
"Do you need me to get Mike?" Zoe asked.
Tina turned sharply, fire burning in her gut. "He won't care" she bit out.
Zoe cocked her head. "Have you asked him?" she asked "I'm pretty sure he cares – you two are dating after all"
"Not everyone has the luxury of having perfect relationships with our boyfriends like you"
Zoe threw back her head and laughed. "Oh my god" she breathed "You think that me and Jesse are dating? Wow, can see why but no we're not. I'm way below his level"
Tina wiped her eyes. "Everyone thinks you are" she said simply.
Zoe shrugged and moved closer and leaned against the wall. "It's in my past experience that what people think of me is not the best thing to go on" she said "Everyone judges me – why should I care?"
"Wish I could be like that" Tina muttered.
"You can – if you are willing to shut yourself off from the entire world" Zoe said darkly "Not even Jesse knows much about me. Keeps me strong but I've never been closer to anyone than I am with Jesse"
Tina stared at Zoe, amazed at the honesty which she was speaking with. It was like she had been friends with her for years. For someone who barely let anyone in Zoe was quite honest.
"Mike's been lying to me" Tina said quietly "He treats me the same as his ex and then says I'm special to him"
Zoe clicked her tongue. "Who's his ex?" she asked.
"May Lin"
"Asian cheerleader who looks like she's got a couple of pom poms shoved up her –"
"Yep" Tina replied, a smile forming. "May Lin told me about the date he took her on and how he honked the rhythm of Crazy for this Girl. Which he did to me"
"Is May Lin usually honest?"
"I don't know" Tina replied "I've never really had much to do with her"
Zoe nodded and stared up at the ceiling. Tina shook back her hair and brushed her fingers through it. She sank down onto the floor and hugged her knees to her body.
"The sad thing is that I prided myself on having a sweet, good looking honest boyfriend. I thought that made everything better. How wrong was I?"
Zoe knelt down to Tina's eye level. "No Tina" she said "It's all Mike's fault. If he really is lying to you which I doubt because he seems really genuine and sweet, then it's his stupidity and loss not yours"
Tina stared at Zoe, fresh tears flowing down her cheeks. Zoe patted her knee and smiled softly at her. "Follow your heart – it'll all work out"
Lunch Time . . .
Tina turned her water bottle over and over in her hands, nervous about the confrontation that she knew she could not avoid. She loved Mike, and didn't like fighting with him but it had to be done. Even as she thought of him he appeared from the crowd, laughing with Matt and Jesse.
She felt sick as she got to her feet and walked towards him. He was such an asshole. So why did he still make her heart beat a thousand miles a minute? She held the scrunched up bit of a paper like a lifeline as she made her way through the crowd towards him. Mike saw her and smiled widely at her.
"Hey sweetie" he called but his face changed quickly as she walked by him, clasping the note into his hand she did so.
Mike stared after his girlfriend, utterly perplexed, grasping a piece of paper she had pressed into his hand. Jesse moved to his side.
"What's with her?" he asked.
"You tell me" Mike breathed.
He peeled open the note and read the few words that Tina had scribbled there.
Meet me in the gym. Need to talk to you.
Mike furrowed his brow and dashed off, navigating easily through the crowds of kids. Jesse stayed where he was, totally confused. Zoe made her way up to him.
"Long story" she said and shook her head sadly.
"Tina" Mike said, standing behind her. "What's up?"
"Why'd you do it?" she asked.
"Do what?" Mike asked.
Tina turned to him, tears falling. Mike looked shocked and moved to touch her. "Tina – baby what's wrong?" he asked quietly, sadness and fear in his voice.
"You lied to me" Tina bit out "You are such a fake Mike Chang"
Mike looked hurt and taken aback. "What are you talking about?"
"You did the same thing to May Lin that you did to me!" Tina snapped. "The car horn thing! And the kiss in the car!"
Mike laughed angrily. "You actually listen to what May Lin says?" he asked.
"At least she is honest with me!" Tina snapped "Tell me the truth Mike – is May Lin right!"
Mike looked at her sharply. "I can't believe your having to ask me that Tina" he said.
"Well I am so an answer would be most appreciated" Tina cried.
Mike rand his hands through his hair. "God help me" he swore.
"So it's true?"
"No Tina" Mike snapped "I'm telling you right here right now – you are the only person I've ever done that too. May Lin is not the girl for me"
"Well what sort of date did you take her on then?"
"I can't tell you that Tina" Mike said. He looked sad and Tina was beginning to feel very guilty.
"So you want me to trust your word but you won't trust me with that? Well that really shows how much you trust and care for me" Tina ground out.
Mike frowned. "You should know I care for and trust you. There are just some things that I don't particularly want out there"
"You know everything about me Mike what's the difference?"
"Tina – "
"NO!" Tina shouted. She put her hand to her temple. "Mike for a relationship to work we both have to trust each other. It is clear that you don't trust me. When you are ready to do so come and find me. Until then stay the hell away from me"
Mike stepped towards her, shock plastered all over his handsome face. "Are we breaking up?" he asked.
"No – just taking a break. See if you can figure out what's more important Mike. I sure as hell won't wait around forever" Tina said, her heart breaking as she said it. Then before she could change her mind she turned and walked out the gym, tears flowing fresh down her cheeks.
Mike watched her walk away. Swearing under his breath he ditched his bag at the bleachers in anger. Tina frustrated him, but he could see her point. He could not bring himself to tell her that he lost his virginity to May Lin – it would break her heart and make her believe she was not worth anything to him. She was everything to him.
He had joined Glee for her. Not just because he liked dancing and singing. He had been watching her for a long time, trying to get up the courage to talk to her. He had felt bad when she had dropped Artie for him but now he had been living on cloud nine and now. God he'd screwed up so bad.
It's late at night and I can't sleep
Missing you just runs too deep
Oh I can't breathe thinking of your smile
Every kiss I can't forget Baby you know that I just wanna be with you The future I cannot forget Baby you know that
This aching heart ain't broken yet
Oh God I wish I could make you see
'Cause I know this flame isn't dying
So nothing can stop me from trying
Maybe it's time for miracles
'Cause I ain't giving up on love
You know that
Maybe it's time for miracles
'Cause I ain't giving up on love
No I ain't giving up on us
'Cause living is so hard to do
When all I know is trapped inside your eyes
This aching heart ain't broken yet
Oh God I wish I could make you see
'Cause I know this flame isn't dying
So nothing can stop me from trying
Maybe it's time for miracles
'Cause I ain't giving up on love
You know that
Maybe it's time for miracles
'Cause I ain't giving up on love
No I ain't giving up on us
He wasn't giving up on Tina so easily. She was his world; he wouldn't let her walk away so easily. Now all he had to do was work up the courage to tell her everything and prove how much he cared. God, when did high school get so complicated?
End Chapter 5 – Well Damn
Next time: Chapter 6 – Challenge Two
Author Note:
Song 1: Too Little Too Late – JoJo
Song2: Time for Miracles – Adam Lambert