"a ballad is a love song." kurt told us.

this weeks lesson was ballads and we had to pick partners.

"sometimes, but they don't always express love. ballads are stories set to music—which is why they're the perfect storm of self-expression. stories and music are the way we express feelings that we can't get out any other way. okay, now, sectionals are in a few weeks and there's a new rule this year– we have to perform... a ballad."

"okay, fine. we will sing don't stop belivin' again." i held my hands up in surrender causing everyone to laugh. even mr. schue.

"alright so onto pairing-"

"i pick quinn." finn smiled.

i couldn't help but frown. and i didn't really know why that made me upset, but it did.

"no. too easy, i put your names into a hat."

"wait, but there's an uneven amount of students in here. there are thirteen of us." rachel pointed out.

"right...so i guess i will have to put my name in the hat." mr. schue wrote his name down on a piece of scratch paper and threw it in.

people came up and took their turns, grabbing whatever paper and getting paired up with whoever.

then it came to me.

"mikey chang." i grinned.

"yes! stevie- damn it, it doesn't work." mike frowned.

we all laughed and i made my way back over to him.

"guess i get you, mr. schue." rachel shrugged.

we all laughed.

next thing a new rachel and mr. schue were singing a very uncomfortable ballad.

•

i sat on the kitchen counter at finn's house while he rummaged through the fridge looking for something to eat.

"hey, stevie. how's your mom?" carole, finn's mom, walked into the kitchen.

"she's alright. how are you?" i asked.

"well, i'm alright. i've had better weeks. found out finn got his girlfriend pregnant." she said causally.

my mouth gaped open.

"you know?" i asked.

"mom!" finn poked his head out from the fridge.

"sorry, i didn't realize it was a secret."

"0h, it's really not." i shrugged.

"stevie!" finn exclaimed.

"so sensitive. i know i wouldn't be like that if i got my girl pregnant."

"oh my god, stevie get out of my house." finn sighed.

carole and i laughed.

"we're just messing with you, finn." carole rolled her eyes.

"i can't take a joke right now. i have to go to dinner at the fabray's in two days. i don't know what i'm gonna do."

"just be cool, finn. it'll be fine." i shrugged.

"if you say so. so what are you and mike doing for the glee project?"

"i've been to his house a couple times but we haven't really gotten anything done." i shrugged.

"how come? were you two like..." he asked, his interest peaking.

"um, no," i said, seeing a visible sigh of relief,"but we'll probably just do seventeen from heathers." i shrugged.

"oh...okay." finn answered like he had any idea of what i was talking about it.

"what about you and kurt, huh? an intense love song for sure." i nodded.

"stop." he rolled his eyes.

"what, you mean to tell me you don't wanna sing endless love with kurt?"

"not really, stevie."

"i think this would bother you less if kurt didn't have a big fat crush on you."

"crush?" he asked.

"don't act like you don't know. he looks at you the same way rachel does." i pointed out.

"i don't wanna talk about either one of them."

"and why not? is it cause rachel has moved onto mr. schue?" i smirked in amusement.

"are you alright?" he asked in disbelief.

"are you kidding, she bought him a tie so he would think of her." i said.

"ew!" finn yelled.

"i know!"

•

i stood with finn after quinn had finished yelling at him about telling momma hudson about her pregnancy.

"why would you even tell her?" i asked.

"i don't know, stevie." he rolled his eyes.

"how do you explain her constant irritation with you? it's because she's a girl." kurt came over.

"perfect timing." i muttered.

"i think it's pregnancy hormones."

"it's enough to wanna give girls up together." kurt gave a flirty little laugh.

clearly he wasn't joking.

"yeah." finn laughed awkwardly.

"kurt can we have a chat?" i asked him.

"um...sure. au revoir, finn." kurt waved and began to walk with me.

"so, what do you wanna talk about?" he linked arms with me.

good, that probably made it a little less awkward.

"um..right i just wanna tell you that finn, well he has a very pregnant girlfriend. and he is content, you know...with girls. and i can tell that you have somewhat of a crush. i just don't want you to get hurt when he can't..reciprocate those feelings." i consoled the poor boy.

"why are you telling me this? you don't think i already know? of course i do. i just can't help it."

"you know, i get it kurt. i really do. i mean, he's my best friend and i would only be so lucky to find a guy like him. he's cute, sweet, funny, my parents love him, he's-"

"wow. doesn't look like i'm the one who needs to be talked to." kurt said.

i stopped in my tracks and furrowed my brows.

"fuck," i spat,"i think i like finn."