Something - Quinn Fabray

Chapter 63

A few days before prom, Ryan ended up at James' apartment, having a quick snack after school as he told his dad all about what was going on. James just smiled, happy to listen to Ryan chatter. "... So we're going to be taking turns singing at the prom, so that each of us has ample time to dance as well. Which is good, because I'm looking forward to actually having a partner for the dance. We had a couple of dances in middle school, and I wasn't exactly Mr. Popular," the teenager said wryly.

"I wasn't either," James admitted. "I was the weird kid who bounced between schools. I enjoyed my junior prom though," he said reminiscently.

"Did you go with mom?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "She was in this red number for my junior prom, and she was the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen. Still is, actually." Ryan smiled, nudging him playfully.

"All right, all right, don't need to hear all that mushy stuff," he teased. James pushed him back, smiling. "But that's great. What about your senior prom? Did you go with mom again?"

"I sure did. She was beautiful then, too." His smile faded.

"What?"

James smiled sadly. "That was kind of our last real party," he said. "My enlistment was already being processed at the time. She knew, of course. I told her. We knew we were running out of time." His smile turned genuine. "But we had a fantastic time."

Ryan chuckled. "80's music?"

"It was all new back then," James defended. "What are you guys singing, anyways?"

"We're still thinking up our set list. It's this Friday, so we have a few days. Quinn's actually out at Columbus with a few of the other girls, shopping for dresses." His smile turned dreamy. "She's the prettiest girl I've ever seen, and I'm sure she'll be incredible at prom."

James hid a smile at his son's obvious infatuation. He was happy for Ryan, Quinn was a great girl, and the young couple seemed to have a very strong relationship. "So what's the plan?" he asked curiously.

"Well, I'm going to pick her up at her house," Ryan explained. "I thought I'd get her a wrist corsage. Gardenias are sort of our thing. Then we're having dinner at Breadstix with Mike and Tina. Blaine and Kurt might be there too, we're not sure yet. Then we'll all go to prom together."

"What's the plan for after prom?"

"After prom?"

James smirked. "Well, after our prom, your mom and I –"

"Okay, okay! I don't think I want to hear the end of that sentence," Ryan said hastily. "But, yeah, I don't know. Quinn's mom will probably be home, but we might be able to sneak in. I don't know why I'm telling you this," he grumbled.

"Because," James said amusedly, "I was thinking that your mom and I would have our own night out. We'd be back late, so if someone were to be in the house for some rather illicit activities, she'd be none the wiser. Hypothetically speaking, of course."

"Oh," Ryan said, nodding as he caught on. "Got it."

"Just throwing it out there," James said, standing up. "Come on, we should get going. I have work in an hour."

..

Half an hour later, Ryan opened the front door of his house after James dropped him off. He took off his jacket, hanging it up on the rack, when he heard voices from the living room. Curious, he went inside, only to stop short at the sight of his mom and her guest. Shelby smiled at him. "Hi Ryan."

"Mom," he said tightly. "St. James. What are you doing here?"

"Nice to see you again too." Jesse St. James waved a hand at him from his seat on the couch. "You look very different."