CLOUD NINE | GLEE • OC X OC | ON HOLD

•018•

[I'VE HAD THE TIME OF OUR LIVES - performed by Sam Evans, Quinn Fabray, and the New Directions]

[VALERIE - performed by Santana Lopez and the New Directions]

THE PERFORMANCE WENT GREAT. IVORY ONYL MESSED UP A SMALL BIT, BUT IT WASN'T NOTICEABLE TO THE JUDGES.

"And now, this year's head judge Associate Director of the Ohio Department of Motor Vehicles, Mr. Pete Sosnowski." The announcer spoke, and everyone clapped.

"Thank you. Thank you to all the groups who performed here today. We had a serious good time. You know what else is a serious good time? Taking two minutes to save a life by filling out an organ donor card because it's never too late to donate." Judge Pete read off. "Drum roll, please. In third place, the Hipsters. And now, the winner of this year's west central sectionals is...it's a tie. Congratulations! You're all going to the regionals!" He announced.

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"I told you that you would do amazing!" Luke cheered, pulling her into a tight hug. "I'm so proud of you." His voice was muffled by the fabric of the jacket she was wearing.

"I'm uhm, I'm sorry for what you had to do there, though." She sighed, playing with the rings on her fingers.

"What I had to do?" He looked at her.

"For helping me through the panic attack. Normally, I could've pulled myself out of it, but for some reason, I just couldn't do it that time." She looked down.

"What do you mean, 'that time'?" Luke stopped her. "Ivy, how many have you had since the last I knew about them?"

"Uhm, I think eight?" She answered, biting her nail. "I promise, I thought I was getting better, but they just kept coming back, and I thought I could handle them myself."

"Do you want to talk to someone about it again? Do you think that'll help?" He pulled her into an empty classroom to give them more privacy.

"I don't know. It's just that my aunt and uncle were proud of me when I told them I didn't need the help anymore. I don't want to let them down." She explained.

"Asking for help isn't letting anyone down, Ivy. I know it might feel like it, but it's not. It's better to ask for help now, then when it's too late." Luke ran his fingers up and down her sides.

"I don't want to talk to anyone. Not yet. Let me see if I can get it under control first. If not, I'll talk to someone." She grabbed his arms.

"Alright, but I'll be the judge on if you're getting it under control." Luke agreed, making her smile. "Come on, let's go get something to eat."

He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the classroom.

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IVORY, LUKE, REGGIE, AND ALEX WALKED INTO DALTON ACADEMY, AND SPOTTED BOTH BLAINE AND KURT

"Hey! Look who it is! Ivory!" Blaine smiled.

"Finally, it's great to talk to you in person, I've only heard good things from Kurt." Ivory smiled.

"What are you guys doing here?" Kurt asked, looking up from his textbook.

"Do you know this guy? He said he goes here. And Ivory and Luke said he wasn't a warbler or they would've seen him at sectionals." Alex handed Blaine his phone.

"I know the kid that's in the picture, but that's not his name." Blaine handed the phone back.

"What?"

"Yeah, that kid goes to this school, but that's not his name. His name is Johnny, not Emilio like the messages say." Blaine explained.

"So I'm being catfished?" Alex asked.

"I think so. But if you want to talk to him, he's walking in right now." Blaine motioned to the front.

"Thanks, Blaine!" Ivory said and followed the three towards 'Johnny'.

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ONCE THEY TALKED TO JOHNNY, THEY FIGURED IT OUT THAT ALEX WAS IN FACT BEING CATFISHED.

"We'll find the guy, Alex. Don't worry." Ivory put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"I know." He sighed. "I'm sorry for dragging you guys into this."

"Don't be." Reggie told him. Luke and Ivory nodded before they all went their separate ways.

Luke walked Ivory home before he went home himself.

"Luke! Is that you?" Anastasia called from the kitchen.

"Yeah, mom. It's me." He said and walked in to see Anastasia cooking dinner.

"What's up, hun? You seemed stressed." Anastasia spoke.

"If I tell you something, promise you won't tell anyone else?" He looked at her.

"Uh oh, you didn't get Ivory pregnant, did you?" Anastasia worried.

"No! Oh my god, no!" Luke denied. "But, remember last year she would get panic attacks and everything?"

"Yeah, why? Is she having them again?"

"Yeah. She had one right before our performance at sectionals. And when I asked her about it, she said she's had eight others that she's been able to pull herself out of." Luke explained. "I just don't want to betray her trust and go and tell Grace and Ryan, but I don't want them to get bad to where she gets hospitalized again."

"I understand." Anastasia nodded. "That's a hard thing to give advice on. I personally would tell Grace and Ryan if they're getting bad again. If you're able to help her out of them with no problem, keep doing that."

"Thanks, mom." Luke smiled and went to stand up.

"Hold it! One more thing." Anastasia pointed her finger. "You never denied you and Ivory having sex."

"Jesus, mom." Luke covered his face. "No, mom, we haven't. I don't want to push her over her boundaries."

"Good. And when it does come time, please, for the love of god-"

"I know to wear protection, mom." Luke sighed.

"Thank you. You can go now." Anastasia smiled, letting Luke leave.

He went upstairs and walked into his room.

On his bedside table, a framed picture sat. It was of Ivory, Luke, Reggie, and Alex. The first gig they played at Grace's diner.

It was around that time when Ivory started to struggle with the panic attacks and not eating, but no one knew until it was too late.

Luke wasn't gonna let it happen again.

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Songs:
•I've Had the Time of Our Lives by the Dirty Dancing soundtrack
•Valerie by Amy Winehouse