Young Love {Glee}

Ballad

Liam's POV

"Ballad. From Middle English "balade". Who knows what this word means?" Mr. Schue wrote it on whiteboard.

"It's a male duck." Brittney called out. Mr. Schue made a weird face before calling on Kurt. "A ballad is a love song."

"Sometimes, but they don't always express love. Ballads are stories set to music which is why they're the perfect storm of self-expression. Stories and music are the way we express feelings that we can't get out any other way. Okay, now sectionals are in a few weeks. And there's a new rule this year. We have to perform....a ballad."

"Looks like my weekly letter to the Ohio Show Choir Committee finally paid off." Rachel jumped in her seat. "Okay, so here's our assignment for the week. I'm going to pair you off, and I want you to pick a ballad to sing to your partner. Look them right in the eye." He lent down to look into Artie's eyes. "Find the emotion you want to express and make them feel it."

"I pick Quinn." Finn said without hesitation. "No, no, no. Too easy. Your partners will be chosen by fate. I put all your names in this hat. Whoever you choose is your partner."

"I bet that duck's in the hat." Brittany whispered. "But Matt's out sick today. He had to go to the hospital bevy they found a spider in his ear." Santana stepped in.

"I guess I'll just have to put my name in the hat for now. Who's first?"

Puck walked up and put his hand in the hat. "Mercedes." Artie wheeled up. "Quinn." Finn was up next. "Kurt." He was shocked then whispered in. "I don't know if I can do this with another guy."

"The fates have spoken, Finn." After Finn, Tina walked up. "Other Asian." Santana then went up and picked. "Brittany." She chuckled.

"Looks like I get you Mr. Schue." Rachel walked up. "Uhhh, maybe we should wait till Matt gets back." Mr. Schue tried to get out of this. "The fates talked, Mr. Schue." Finn mocked him.

Rachel began to sing with Mr. Schue. They sang Endless Love. I knew I didn't get picked for the ballad. I didn't want to speak up mostly because I didn't want to be Rachel's partner.

After rehearsals ended I walked up to Mr. Schue who was sorting out papers on the piano. "Umm, Mr. Schue?"

"Yeah, what's up, Liam?" He looked up. "I didn't get a partner for the assignment this week." He jumped at this opportunity. "Then, you will be partners with Rachel."

"But, Rachel already sang her ballad today, and I am not that good of a singer to keep up with her, so."

"Fine, I'll put you in Quinn and Arties group." I nodded before walking out. I didn't really want to be in their group but at least I'm in a group at all.

* * *

I was taking a shower in our bathroom when I walked out to Mom questioning why Finn was singing to a sonogram.

"We're you just singing to a sonogram?" Finn tried to play it off. I changed into my pajamas and walked over.

"Is Quinn pregnant?" Finn immediately fell into her lap crying. She looked over at me and gestured to come over.

She brought me into the group hug. I rested my head on her shoulder. I could tell she was holding back tears.

* * *

"Thanks for coming over, Kurt. I know your into fashion and stuff. And I need to run something nice to wear to the Fabray's for dinner." Finn started to take out boxes. I stood at the bottom of the stairs watching.

"I couldn't be more pleased and honored to help you find something vintage and appropriate to wear."

"Here it is. My mom never had the heart to throw this stuff away."

I ran over to see what's inside. "No way, it's dad's helmet from the war."

Kurt started to talk about the same way his dad is with our mom. He talked about how he never had the heart to throw it all away. Even after his mom died ten years ago.

"That's not stupid." He shook his head. "I guess in a way I'm lucky I never knew him. You know?"

He found a nice blue blazer in the chest. "Thanks Kurt." He handed him a tie. "Looks good Finny boy." I patted his back.

"Our father was brave enough to fight in some desert thousands of miles away and I can't even go over to Dudley Road to tell the Fabray's the truth."

"Your father didn't charge into the breach empty-handed. He had a weapon." My idiot brother asked. "Should I bring a gun."

"No, where would you even get one?" I asked. "No, you should use your greatest weapon of all. Your voice."

* * *

"What song should we do?" Artie asked. "We have to me the choreography good." Mike added.

We all decided to sing Quinn and Finn a ballad to show that we had their backs. We just needed to figure out what song and the dancing.

"I've got it!" I stood up from my chair.

* * *

"Liam." Finn called walking up the stairs. "What I'm in the bathroom." I walked out only wearing a towel from my shower.  I saw Quinn standing there awkwardly.

"What's wrong?" I started to panic. "Quinn's parents threw her out, mom said she could stay here with us. So, we are gonna have another roommate."

"Oh, I'm sorry about that, Quinn. Sure, I'll get the blow up mattress. And you can sleep in my bed."

"Thanks." She nodded quietly.

I walked back in with the mattress and plugged it in. I grabbed another duvet  for Quinn because I was taking my covers.

* * *

"Open your eyes, I didn't tell you to close them." Mercedes walked in with Finn. "Is there a cake?"

"No, there's no cake. Sit down."

"Your fellow glee club members want to sing a song to you. To let you know how they feel about you." Mr. Schue stood in the middle of the room.

"What are you gonna sing?" Finn asked curiously. "Just listen, it explains everything." Rachel added.

We decided to sing Lean On Me. Artie took the first few lyrics, then Mercedes joined in with him.

I took a few lyrics in the song. I guess the group wanted me to sing because Finn was my brother.

"There is a load, you have to hear. That you can't carry. I am right up the road, I'll share your load. If you just call me."

We brought Finn and Quinn up to dance with us. Finn did a trust fall into Mike, Brittney, and I.

We ended the song standing and holding each other. I hope they appreciated it and they know we got their back in this.