Give Me A Chance (boyxboy)

Twenty-One

Aydin must have told them at least something, because nobody says anything about why we're leaving. I mean, they wouldn't have gotten an answer from me if they had, but if Aydin hadn't said anything, Sadie would certainly have dramatized it in typical Sadie style.

But Blaine knows. As soon as we all once again pile in Sadie's little car, he grabs my hand, his way of grounding me, keeping me from descending into my mind. He's reassuring me, and I'm really grateful for him. I feel the tension drain from my body as he runs his thumb over the back of my hand. I know he can tell that I was crying because I can feel his gaze flitting over every few moments. He's worried.

I squeeze his hand lightly. A hint of a smile shows up on his lips.

"So where are we off to?" Sadie asks, fiddling with the radio dial again. Apparently the previous station didn't meet her standards anymore.

"We could go to Robinson," Joshua pipes up.

"The old park at the edge of town?"

Joshua shrugs. "Yeah," he says simply. "I used to go there all the time, when I still lived at home." The tone in the car drops pretty quickly. "When I had to get away. It's nice." He tries to smile, and I guess he kind of succeeds.

"Let's do it," Sadie says, breaking the silence that had fallen. "Sounds like a hoot and a half."

She puts the car in drive and rips out of the parking lot. I stare out the window at Aspen's Diner as it disappears down the street. I can still see Quinn in there, happy, not a care in the world for what he did. Not a spare thought for what he caused. He doesn't care. He doesn't give a shit.

"Hey," Blaine says, and I tear my gaze away from the window. "Forget about him," he says, even though he doesn't know how hard that is. But he's trying, and I like him even more because he's trying. "You're here with us now." And when he smiles, I'm reminded of the first time I really saw him. Outside the office, when we found out we made the ultimate team. I remember being really excited, which was strange, and I remember seeing the joy on his face, in his eyes. It was the first time I really noticed him. And he left his mark.

Joshua chuckles. "You guys are so smitten,"

"Hush, Joshua," I say quickly, jutting out my chin. "Smitten is for children."

Blaine looks at me. "You are smitten,"

"Shut up," I stage-whisper vehemently, but I can't hold in the laughter.

"Did I lie?" he says.

"I never said you did,"

Joshua throws his arms up, exasperated. "There are too many puppy-dog eyes being thrown around in this back seat," he exclaims. "Aydin, switch me seats."

Aydin cackles from the front seat. "Not a chance, man," he says. "I've got a free pass away from the puppy-dog eyes up here. Here's where I'll be staying." He looks back and gives Joshua a thumbs-up. "You got this, Josh."

Joshua rolls his eyes, a smile on his face. Meanwhile, Sadie has finally found a radio station that's satisfactory to her and she cranks the volume up. What Joshua was about to say is drowned out and it only takes a moment before we all join her as she sings along to Taylor Swift.

I almost forget all about Quinn.

"Josh, are you sure we wanna be here in the middle of the night?" Sadie asks hesitantly as she pulls her car into a faintly outlined spot at the edge of the park. There's one old streetlight positioned looking into the park, and the little wooden playground that was in there is a little worse for wear.

Joshua grins. "Yep," he says, hopping out of the car. I don't end up hopping out as gracefully as him.

"It's a little sketchy, ain't it?" Aydin asks, looking around. Sadie scoffs and locks her car. Aydin darts out to the dilapidated wooden playground.