Swaying In The Background

Episode 20: Theatricality

Mike sat in the choir room with the rest of the guys as Finn stood at the front. Finn had cornered him after Glee and requested that he stay behind; he said he had an idea about this week's assignment. 

"What the hell are we doing here?" Puck demanded as he slumped in his chair. 

"I have an idea for this week," Finn said with a dopey smile.

"Don't tell me we're doing a Gaga number", Puck immediately disagreed. 

Mike made a face. He was quite enjoying Gaga week, and the girls' (+ Kurt's) performance yesterday was terrific. He wasn't going to admit it to anyone, but he harboured a secret love for Gaga. She's awesome. 

"No, we're not." Finn pulled a whiteboard out of nowhere with the words KISS on it: "We're doing Kiss."

This caused Artie and Puck to get excited. Mike tilted his head; he was excited, yes, but wasn't Kiss just as if not more theatrical than Lady Gaga. 

"What song?" Mike asked. 

"We gotta do 'Shout It Out Loud,'" Artie smiled. 

The other guys nodded, and Mike felt even more excited about this performance. 

Finn turned to Mike and Matt. "Mike, Matt, you in?"

Mike grinned at Matt. "Hell yeah, but I wanna be the cat-man."

Finn shrugged in agreement. "Sure."

//////

Finn smashed the gong behind them in excitement, causing Mike to jump. Matt saw this and laid his arm across Mike's shoulder in a 'friendly' gesture. 

Matt leaned in as they walked off stage and whispered in his ear, "I really like you in those pants."

Mike blushed and hoped no one saw, and if they did, thought it was from the performance. 

Santana was watching from the audience when Matt wrapped his arm around Mike. While it seemed friendly, something clicked in Santana. 

Santana whispered in realization, "Bicycle."

She ran after the pair who were making their way to the locker room

"Hey, cat face, I need a word with you", Santana called at them. 

Mike turned to see Santana. Matt looked confused, but he waved him off, and then Santana dragged him into an empty classroom.

What is people's obsession with pulling him into classrooms lately? 

"You know I'm taken, right?" Mike teased. 

"Yes, I'm fully aware you're taken and who you're with" Santana looked victorious. 

Mike smirked. "Are you sure? Remember the last time you thought you knew?"

"It's Matt. That's why Britt called you a bicycle because you're bisexual." Santana looked him dead in the eye. 

Mike bit his lip. He could continue to lie, but he didn't want to, not to Santana. It would be nice to be openly affectionate at their lunchtime jam sessions. 

Mike sighed in resignation. "Yes, we're together, but you can't tell anyone. Everyone thinks I'm currently dating a girl at a private school an hour away."

Santana frowned, anger coming onto her face. "Why? Is he forcing you to stay in the closet?"

"No, I'm the one who's in the closet." Mike hurried to explain, "If my parents found out...they'd freak. It's bad enough that I want to dance, potentially professionally, if they knew about this too. I don't want to know what would happen. Matt knows this and understands. Don't ask, don't tell. I wish I could come out. I really do, Santana, but you know what happens to Kurt in this school? We can't risk it. Please tell me you won't tell anyone." 

"I won't. I promise." Santana stared at him, so he knew she was being truthful. "I'm just miffed that I didn't figure it out earlier. Everyone thinks you two are the best of buds." 

"Speaking of best buds", Mike began to smile. 

Santana suddenly got defensive. "Britt and I are just best friends, nothing more than that." 

Mike held his hands up. "Okay."

Santana still looked sceptical, but Mike just smiled. "We better go; I gotta get all this stuff off my face before next period."

"And kiss your boyfriend." 

They walked out of the classroom towards the boy's toilets.
Mike grinned. "If there's time and an empty closet, then yes, that too. See you later, Santana."

Mike walked into the toilets with a smirk; he was definitely looking for a place to kiss his boyfriend.