Swaying In The Background

Episode 8: Mash-Up

Mike, Matt, and Santana were huddled around the piano while waiting for Mr. Schue to arrive. Brittany was also there but she seemed to be focusing intensely on the Piano's surface.

Santana looked over at the 'IT' couple sitting by the drums, Quinn wiping grape slushie off Finn's face "I can't believe Quinn and Finn got slushied. I thought football players and Cheerios were off-limits."

"Not anymore," Mike said.

"What are you doing, Britt?" Matt questioned.

"I want dots," She said not looking up.

Santana pats her head "I'll get you some later. But I swear to God if Karofsky slushies me, I'll make him regret it"

Matt goes to speak but Mr. Schue walks into the room with some sheet music and Santana and Britt walk away to seats whilst Matt and Mike decide to stay by the piano.

//////

Mike's head shot up from where he was practising tackles when he heard Coach's whistle sounding multiple times. He ran over to see Finn had tackled Azimio to the ground, coach dragged them up and stood between them as they tried to go back at each other.

"Hey, Calm down, everybody. On the sidelines and take a knee!" He shouted at them. No one moved until the coach shouted again.

Mike ended up on the opposite end of the line to Finn and Matt and he was stuck next to Cooper. A fucking asshole who ever since he found out Mike and Matt could dance had been a constant pain in their side.

Mike zoned out as Coach Tanaka shouted at them talking about how they're not a team and how if Finn had broken his arm they'd be even more pathetic than they already are, then got really annoyed when he learned that Puck was working on something for Glee rather than being there. Mike frowned, why was their coach being even more cruel than usual?

"Football is...war," Coach said and Mike rolled his eyes, where was Coach Tanaka's sudden interest in football coming from? He goes on a tangent about learning to be a team and how the last game we won was because they were one not due to the dancing which was kind of inaccurate but okay. Then he introduced a new practice on Thursday at 3:30 which was the same time as Glee.

Tanaka went in on Finn when he tried to speak up "I have had it up to here with Schuester and Glee. That practice is mandatory. No exceptions. You have to choose what's more important, football or the GLEE club"

Mike heard this and his mouth dropped in shock.

Cooper snorted and patted him on his back "Hear that Chang. Looks like you'll have to quit homoexplosion"

Mike shrugged off his hand in annoyance "Who says I'll choose football"

"If you want to start every day in a dumpster and a slushie facial then sure quit football. See you on Thursday, buddy." Cooper punched Mike in the arm and ran off laughing with the rest of the team.

//////

Matt and Mike lay on Matt's bed a day later.

"What are you going to choose? You've been avoiding the subject ever since Coach enforced the practice" Matt asked as they both stared up at the ceiling.

"I don't know, I don't think my dad will be particularly happy that I quit football for Glee." Mike rolled onto his front and leaned up on his elbow so he could see Matt's face "But my passion has always been dancing, yours has been football. What do you want to do?"

Matt sighed "I don't know, I've come to really enjoy Glee. There's no judgment, only a group of people doing what they love. And even though the drama literally never stops, it's kind of fun if you're not wrapped up in it. But I also love football, I want to go and play football in college. So I have no idea."

Mike sighed and leaned over to give Matt a soft kiss "Whatever you decide, I'll be with you."

Mike gave him one last kiss before resting his head on Matt's chest. Matt ran his fingers through his hair and they spent the rest of the night like that both contemplating what to do next.

//////

"Today's the day" Britt finally broke the silence in the dance studio.

"So what are you going to do?" Santana pushed now that Britt had started the conversation.

Mike and Matt's trade looks. Matt didn't speak and continued to eat his sandwich.

"We don't know but I guess by the end of the day, it'll be over," Mike said wanting to comfort Matt.

Santana looked over at Britt who grinned "Well if today is your last day in Glee then let's make it a good one."

Britt jumped up and selected a specific song on the boombox, and the song 'Mr Brightside' by the Killers came on.

Britt turned the dial up to full volume; She ran back over and held her hands out to Mike. He grinned and accepted her invitation. They got into some energetic dance moves and Mike noticed Santana had managed to drag Matt to his feet as well.

Mike grinned thankful for Santana and Brittany as they spent the rest of lunch singing and dancing along to songs not caring one bit how they sounded or looked.

And when 3:30 came around both he and Matt walked into the choir room without a single regret.