Hey Soul Sister! (A Darren Criss Fanfiction)

Dinner For Two, Please!

I couldn't believe my lucky stars, I am going out to dinner with Darren Criss!! Also thank those stars that I finally had a free day to myself. There hasn't been a free time for me to do as I please in the six years of residing in New York City.
I decide to take a jog around Manhattan to Central Park. I put in some ear buds and play showtunes, Darren's album and covers, and some songs I tend to run to. All though I am listening to music, I still have my keen senses to navigating Manhattan. The city, as usual, is full of activity. People walking from place to place and taxis and cars filling up the streets. When I arrive in Central Park, I run to the fountain. Note, it is where the end of the Avengers was shot. I run up the steps ten times up and the same amount down. At the last run up, I have my Rocky moment. Lifting my hands up. I take a quick selfie and send it to Darren.
Caption: After my first appearance on Broadway... I have my Rocky moment...All thanks to you, Darren!
Darren: Great! You were so fricking amazing! Oh and about tonight...I'm going to pick you up at your apartment (What's your address?), that'll be around 7:30, and take you to this great joint for dinner. Don't ask where because it is a suprise, Quinn! See you later, you shining star!
I sigh and smile. I text him my apartment complex address and ask if he'd like the apartment number.
Darren says, "Yes, it is the gentlemanly thing to do...Escorting you from your apartment, down to I guess I'll say our shining steed, (I know, cheesy)...We then head to our destination."
I text back my address number and this:
Sorry, if I'm getting the wrong impression, but you make this sound like it's a date.
Darren answers: Maybe it is, Silly (smiley face)
My grin seems to rise up to heaven, nothing can contain my joy. Now, apparently I wasn't just going out to dinner with Darren Criss, I am actually going on a date with HIM! But then...I think of Mia.
I text: What about Mia?
My answer: Don't worry about her, Quinn!
Okay, Darren, I think to myself. The glee returns almost instantly. I walk back to my apartment, feeling like a champion. When I arrive, the shower is my first destination. I meticulously shave my legs and pits, wash my hair with natural but fragrant shampoo and conditioner, and expoliate my black heads, white heads, and acne. Then comes make-up and styling my hair. I first blow dry my locks until there is no longer water sticking to it, combing it as I go. Then I am pulling it back into a ponytail, to begin painting on the canvas. There are so many options, bold smoky eyes, flirty pop eye lashes, nude cheeks to flushing ones, and beautiful simplicity. I knew not what path should be taken. I stare into the mirror, only seeing blue eyes.
Blue Eyes! That's it! I discover an Almay pallette with silvery blues and coppery to dark browns. I put it to the side, first doing my foundation, concealer, and then setting it with a dry powder. Continuing on, finally putting on the eye shadow, I've always been very colorless in my cheeks (No, No! I am not sick!), so I put on a rosy shade of blush that isn't too overpowering, and then I put on a pinkish red lip gloss on. I am trying to still attempting to keep it simple. As I was doing all this, I am belting out "On the Edge of Glory" by Lady Gaga.
I go to my bedroom, raiding my closet for the most perfect ensemble. Going from a dress, skirt, blouse, and pants, I cannot decide on what to wear. Deep in my closet, I discover a knee-length, lace dress in a shade of baby blue. I then see it all, a small brown purse that goes on the shoulder, my knee length brow boots with a heel, maybe if I feel chilly, a jean jacket, a baby blue necklace, and studs to match. As I envisioned, it comes out marvelously. Last task, my hair. I brush it again and tightly curl the ends. I take two small strands from the right and left side of my head and put it into a partial ponytail. Holding it in place with miniscule pins. At last, I am ready for this date.
Then I hear a taxi roll up, quickly I move to my bedroom window, and I spot Darren coming out of it with a bouquet of what looks like lillies and Scarlet red roses. I go over to the kitchen, waiting for that knock.
I hear Darren say, "Knock! Knock!"
I go along with the joke, "Who's there?"
"Your date!"
"Who's my date?!" I'm smirking as I put my hand on the door knob.
Darren exclaims, "Why don't you open the door and find out?!"
I open the door, of course it reveals Darren. He's wearing a white t-shirt under a black blazer, black jeans, and dressy shoes. Darren's ever adorable long curls are present.
"Hello, Goofball!" I exclaim.
Darren just stares at me. I wave my hand in front of his face, then he comes out of his daze. Darren, as usual, smiles and laughs it off.
"Ha-ha! Sorry, Quinn, I'm just mystified by you!"
I smile at the ground, "Thank you."
Darren bows and hands me the bouquet.
"You're such a goofball, Darren!" I giggle.
"One of my great qualities, Q," Darren says.
"Come on in!" I say as I put the flowers into a glass vase.
"Quinn, you've got a nice place!"
"Thanks," I say. "It's home."
After doing the task with the flowers, Darren strides over to me, giving me his hand.
Darren grins, "Shall we, Quinn?"
"Yes, Darren."
We walk out of the apartment hand in hand (After I lock it). Darren helps me into the cab and like a gentleman, opens the door for me.
"Still, you're being a gentleman," I say.
"Another quality I have, Quinn," Darren replies.
"A quality that most men don't possess, Darren," I tell him.
Darren gets in and tells the driver, "Please, drive us to the resteraunt, Velvet."
I give him one of those stares of like "Oh my God!"
Like always, he's grinning at me. Darren also stares deeply into my eyes.
"You're so beautiful, " he whispers close to my lips.
I could've, we both could've kissed right then and there, but we didn't.
He only gingerly moves one of my curls behind an ear. My body is raging with so many emotions.
"Thank you...At least someone thinks I am," I say.
Darren then abruptly asks me, "How can you not believe you're beautiful?"
"I'm not, Darren, there are so many other prettier girls out there."
"Quinn, stop this crap!" Darren says loudly.
I then ask, "What crap?"
"Q, listen to me...You're beautiful and talented...And don't let anyone tell you differently!"
Before I can speak once more, we've arrive at the resteraunt, Velvet. Darren quickly pays the driver, gets out, let's me out, and holds my hand into Velvet. My head is going nuts. The resteraunt has a fancy area with well dressed customers, five-star meals, and romantically lit tables with candles. The other half is a bar as well as club. People are having a blast dancing on the dancefloor. We go up to the hostess to get our seats.
Darren says, "We have a reservation under the name " Criss"."
The hostess takes a moment, looking over reservation notes, and then grabs two food menus as well as one with alcoholic beverages.
"Come with me," she says.
Darren and I follow her. We pass through the fancy side, but then we go outside. I'd been to Velvet, but never outside.
A table had been set up under a gazebo strung with lights and covered with ivy. The table has a simply beautiful set up, a floating candle in the middle of it, surrounding it, flowers floating in their own vases (the set up sort of has the appearance of a flower itself), and pretty regular table set up after that. Darren pulls out a chair for me and I sit down. He goes over to the other chair and takes a seat. The hostess places the menus in front of us.
"Someone will come out and take your order, shortly," the hostess says.
I tell her thank you. Then for a moment, Darren and I are alone.
"So, how long I have you been in New York, Quinn?" Darren asks.
I answer,"Six years. Four years for college and two actually living here."
"Where'd you go to college?"
"I attended Juliard, Darren."
Darren is awestruck, "Oh my God! Now I know why you're so dang talented!"
I laugh. Our conversation is interrupted by our waiter who takes our drink order.
I decide on a ginger ale and Darren, some sort of cocktail made with gin.
"Alright, so Darren...What got you into music? You are also just as talented as me, maybe even more so," I ask.
Darren says, "My God! I haven't been asked that in such a long time, surprisingly! I took violin lessons when I was five, taught myself how to play other instruments, and played around with the school music scene...I'll get theatre out of the way, too...I got accepted to study musical theatre at the American Conservatory Theatre....Let's end that right there."
"Wow, Darren...I knew you were talented, but I didn't realize how versatile you were!"
Darren only smiles and he reaches for my hand. I intertwine my fingers with his.
Darren then asks, "What about you, Quinn?"
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"How's you get into theatre and singing?"
I answer, "Well, I've always been into singing...I guess that started when I began piano at...What a coinscidence! Five...Then came seventh grade year, I got chosen to portray Liesel in my school's production of The Sound of Music. That summer, my parents took me to New York to see Wicked. That was the moment I knew that my dream was to be on Broadway."
Darren beams even more, "Now it has happened, Q."
I smile even more and stare deeply into his eyes, "Because of you, it has come true."
When our drinks come, we toast.
"Quinn, to your first performance on Broadway...May it open new doors for you."
I have nothing to say to that, but, "Cheers!"
The glasses clank and we drink.
The waiter asks, "Have you decided on what you would like Mr. and Mrs. Criss?"
I stare at Darren, "Ummm..."
Darren then says, "We're not married, but if anyone was married to her, they would be the luckiest man alive."
What did Darren just say? I think to myself.
The waiter then blushes, " Sorry! Ummm...That's what your reservation says...So Mr...And Miss...What would you like?"
Darren gestures to me to order, "I'll have the spaghetti marinara with the side of a Caesar salad, dressing on the side, please."
The waiter nods and writes it down .
Darren then orders, "I'll have the smoky lemon shrimp scampi, thank you."
The waiter takes the menus and says, "If you don't mind me saying (Darren and I shake our heads in no), you two do look like a couple...You even act like an item."
Darren then says, "I'll take that as compliment, thank you."
When the waiter leaves, Darren laughs.
"What's so funny, Darren?" I ask.
He answers, "The guy thought we were married...Even though I wouldn't have minded that accusation..."
I then ask, "What did you say about me after saying we weren't married?"
Darren smiles, "That if the man who will marry you, will be the luckiest man in the world."
"My past boyfriends didn't think that, Darren," I tell him.
"Then they were idiots, Quinn!"
I am now smiling. When the waiter had come around, we'd broken our intertwined fingers. Now I reach for his right hand. Thankfully he takes it. Those rushing sensations overtake my body once more. We put the hands on the table. Then something crosses my mind.
"Darren, this morning I asked about Mia, you told me not to worry. What did you mean by that?"
He exhales, "I broke up with her, last night."
"Wow, I'm sorry! Did it have anything to do with me?" I ask.
Darren replies, "No! No! We've been arguing so much the past year...Usually Mia and I were able to resolve our conflicts, but the year hasn't been like that....I had to buy my own apartment because lately, I've just walked out...I broke it last night, I was so sick and tired of fighting that I knew this was something I had to do."
I then ask, "How are you feeling?"
Darren responds with this, "To tell you the truth, I feel better than I thought I would feel. We were together such a long time that I pondered that I'd feel more crushed...All I feel now is relief."
"The longest relationship I've been in is three years, my shortest was a couple weeks," I tell him.
Darren guffaws and says, "I think that is what I would call a courtship....Quinn, I have one fear."
"What kind of fear, Darren?"
He exhales again, "I'm twenty-nine, almost thirty...That isn't old, but I'm afraid I won't find someone until after I'm thirty...I feel like the dating pool will be about my age, younger...How old are you? (I answer, " Twenty-four.")....And older."
I then say, "I have a secret for you, my dad got married when he was thirty-one. My mom was twenty-nine...It isn't the end of the world...I am a product of that proof."
Darren then says, "Thank you, Quinn...I feel a lot better now."
"No problem, Darren."
Our food comes then and there. My side salad didn't come and I could care less. Our hands then break apart once more. We both dig in after the waiter leaves. Delicious and flavorful. That is my response to the spaghetti hitting my tongue.
"How's yours, Darren?" I ask.
He gives me a thumbs up. I go back to my meal.
"What about you?" Darren asks.
I also give a thumbs up.
The both of us manage to finish our meals.
"You up for dessert?" Darren jokes.
"I feel like a hippo," I reply.
Darren then says, "Don't take this the wrong way, please....You'd be a very cute hippo if you were one."
I just giggle uncontrollably, "I'm not offended because you're not actually calling me a hippo."
Well, the waiter gives us free small sorbet cups. I ask for a scoop of raspberry sorbet. Darren asks for mango sorbet.
The sorbet cleanses the pallette enough. Darren like a gentleman, then pays the bill. He takes my hand and we walk over to the club area. Darren tries to get me on the dancefloor.
I tell him, "I can't dance that great without choreography."
Darren says, "I think you can, Quinn."
I let him pull me onto the dance floor. Darren holds me close to him and I put my hand on his shoulder. There's a slow dance playing so we just glide along the dance floor.
"See," Darren says. "You're dancing."
I say, "I can flit and float, Darren...I just can't dance by myself listening to club music...Even you said years ago, that you were turned off by bad dancers."
"It depends on who I'm with, Quinn...I guess we could still dance like this."
Then the song "Shut Up and Dance" comes on. Darren begins to sing the lyrics, twirl me around, dipping me, and having me spiralling in and from his chest. We dance to a couple more songs after that and then make our leave.
Darren calls a taxi and we get in. He gives the driver an address I didn't know.
"Where are we going, Darren? Aren't you taking me home?" I ask.
Darren answers, "I want to take you to my place."
I am startled for a moment.
"What is it, Quinn?"
I answer, "I trust you, Darren, but I don't know if I'm comfortable going to your apartment...It is because I've only just met you a couple weeks ago and I don't want things to get out of hand."
Darren tells me this, "Quinn, I promise you that something like that won't happen...I just have another suprise for you."
I only smile and he kisses me on the forehead. We arrive at Darren's apartment complex shortly afterwards. There are for sets of stairs to brave before getting to his apartment. He quickly unlocks it.
It is a nice apartment that has a great view the city through big windows.
"Just make yourself at home...I just need to grab something," Darren tells me.
I take seat on his gray couch. Then Darren comes in strumming his guitar. He plays it vertically, begins singing out of tune, and sings out random lyrics. I am laughing so hard that my insides are sore.
"You're such a goofball, Darren!" I exclaim and go back to giggling.
Then he stops, "I was just joking around! Here's the suprise, Quinn."
Darren sits next to me at a close distance. He plucks individual chorded strings of a A chord and then a D. It is so enchantingly melodic, I begin to sway. Darren has his eyes closed before he starts singing.
He smiles at me as he starts singing a song I've never heard before. It is far into the chorus when I realize that it is about me. I begin to cry. Darren Criss has written a song for me. From the chorus, I guess the song is called "My New Shining Star".
When it is finished, I'm balling my eyes out.
" Quinn," Darren touches my thighs while putting his guitar down. "Are you okay? Was it that bad?"
I hold his hand in mine, "No! It was beautiful! No one's ever done something that kind for me, Darren!"
"Hey, you are worth being someone's muse, Quinn! I think I've discovered a new inspiration in you," Darren tells me, leaning in for a kiss. I am close to pressing my lips against his, then I pull away.
"What is it?" Darren asks. "Does my breath stink or something?"
"No, it is all me...I'm not ready for that yet...I'm sorry, I've probably messed up everything," I tell him, turning away so I'm not facing him.
Darren says, "No, I understand, Quinn... I'm probably pressuring you...Were you badly hurt?"
I answer, "My last boyfriend cheated on me three times...And no you're not pressuring me...If I can be honest, I really like you...I just need to take things slow."
"I don't know if they've come up for a guy word for slut, but your ex was a slut...I would never do that to you...I also really like you, Q....If you a want to take it slow, I will...You're not going to get rid of me," Darren gingerly uses a hand to turn my face towards him.
I nod and kiss Darren on the cheek.
"So, anything else you wanna do?" Darren asks.
I reply, "Play your guitar some more."
Darren picks up the guitar and says, "How about we sing a some songs or ballads as duets."
I agree to that idea, "Do you know how to play " Hallelujah " by Leonard Cohen?"
Darren nods and then counts us off. I sing the first verses before the chorus.
I heard there was a secret chord, that David played and it pleased the Lord, but you don't really care for music do you, well it goes like this, the fourth, the fifth, the minor fall, and the major lift, the baffled king composing Hallelujah.

Then Darren joins me at the chorus.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Halleluuuujah.

Darren sings the next few verses.
Your faith was strong, but you needed proof, you saw her bathing on the roof, her beauty in moonlight over threw you, she tied you to her kitchen chair, she broke your throne, she cut your hair, and from your lips she drew the hallelujah.
The duet continues from there and then I know that my other dream had truly come true.
"You know, Darren....Please don't freak out, but it has also been a dream of mine to sing a duet alone with you."
Darren says, "Now that has come true as well...If only I knew you, it could've been a dream of mine to sing with you."
I beam and ask, "Do you have a piano?"
He nods and I follow him to probably what was supposed to be a guest bedroom, but within it was a grand piano, sheet music is stuffed everywhere, and a desk with paper as well as writing utensils.
"Oh my God, Darren! This is flipping amazing!" I exclaim.
Darren says, "My home within my home, Quinn."
I sit at the piano, I begin playing the notes of "I Have a Dream" and "Thank You For the Music" from the movie\musical smash, Mamma Mia. As you can guess, I also sing out the lyrics of each song. When I conclude, Darren claps for me. He then sits next to me and sings a snippet of "Piano Man". Of course he sang along.
He smirks at me. I think Darren is challenging to a piano/sing off. I play a small fragment of " Maybe I'm Amazed" by Paul McCartney. When I finish, I playfully nudge Darren. He continues his initial song. Before I know it, we're doing a mash-up of both songs. Which actually together, with us singing the two songs, they both sounded good.
We'd switch off singing the melody of our own song. As the other person sang their song, the harmony was the opposite song. It truly feels like a scene out of Glee. By the end, we're face to face, again close enough to a kiss. We back away slowly.
"OMG! That was fun!" I exclaim.
Darren nods, "You were a star!'
I grin, " You too...I should be getting home now, Darren."
"Alright! If you must, Quinn...Let me take you," Darren takes my hand.
We walk out of the apartment and I call a cab. Darren and I crack jokes on the way back to my apartment. I'd never liked the traffic in New York, but tonight I hoped it wouldn't end. I desperately desire more time with Darren. This date had been fun yet romantic at the same time and I didn't want it to conclude either. My heart feels as if it is flying on a cloud...Maybe to a castle on another cloud. (Anyone get the joke?...No!....I guess I'll be one of the Miserables of this world....Anyone get it now?)
My brain is full of light and song. Darren puts his arm around me. I'm not ready for kisses on the lips or making love (One of those girls who's decided to be old-fashioned). Sometimes, taking it slow for me means pecks on the cheek or forehead, arms being put around each other, hugging, and flirtatious jokes.
The taxi ride is slow yet it feels as if it goes by in a whirl.
Then Darren asks me, "Would you like me to escort you back up to your apartment, Q?"
I reply, "If you want to, Darren."
Again, he's the gentleman and takes me up to my apartment. I unlock the door quickly. Darren stands before me.
"I guess this is goodbye until tomorrow," I say.
Then Darren asks, "Can I kiss you on the cheek, or is that off limits, too, Quinn?"
I laugh, "No! You've been kissing me on the cheek and forehead...I haven't protested, Darren."
He beams and leans closer to kiss both my cheeks. Darren then also takes my hand and kisses that as well.
"Quinn, I had such an amazingly fun night with you...I am glad we got to know each other tonight...I really and truly can't wait to do this again!"
I then tell him, "Thank so much for an awesome night! Darren, thank you for everything you've done for me...Fulfilling my dreams and writing a song for me...We should do this again!"
Darren smiles a big grin, "I'll see you tomorrow, Quinn!"
I am falling head over heels for this guy. I wave goodbye as I close the door. I start blasting some champion music for an hour.
Then I go to my bathroom, rub off the make-up with a cloth, undid my hair, and took off my garments, waiting it for a tank top as well as on pj pants. I stand by the window, staring out at the city. The moments prior to this still feels as if it is a dream. I decide to end this night, like most nights, in song. As I comb my blonde hair, I begin to carol the song "At Last I See the Light" from the Disney movie, Tangled. I pretend Darren is singing Flynn\Eugene's part within my mind. The song concludes and I lay on my pillow. I desire to dream even more about this enchanting. I am out like a light, already within dreams.