If They Only Knew

(This chapter focuses on the events in chapter 23-24 of the main story.)

Chris' POV

It seemed like the party had to end all too soon, which I wasn't too pleased about because that meant that my time with Leah had to end too. The more time that I spent with her, the more connected I felt to her… and the more these strange feelings I had towards her started to grow.

"Well, I guess I should go grab my 'boyfriend' and get ready for the show," I sighed to Leah, who looked equally as sad that the party had to end.

"I guess," she sighed as well. "But you guys are gonna come visit us between shows, right? Maybe help us with the laundry again?"

"I'd like that," I smiled.

"Me too," she smiled back, batting her eyes shyly at me. The action made my stomach do a strange flip flop.

"Well, uh, I'll see you then, uh, then," I stammered, trying desperately to keep myself from blushing. Before I could make an even bigger fool of myself, I quickly turned and searched the room for Darren, who I easily spotted (surprise! surprise!) by Kaley. I could almost swear that those two had feelings for each other but they just kept on denying it!

"Come on, Darren!" I exclaimed as I moved over towards him, linking my arm through his. "We've gotta go get ready!" I glanced at Kaley and gave her a bright smile. "See you after the show, Kaley! We're dedicating this one to you!"

It felt nice to add that little tag on the end, kind of an extra birthday present for her… Speaking of birthday presents, I'd have to come up with something that I could get her… I quickly made a mental note to ask Leah about what Kaley would like later.

"I'll see you later, Kaley!" Darren called back to her as I pulled him out of the room.

And just before we were out of earshot, I heard Leah say, "Don't you just love them?" I struggled not to blush again as I gently eased my arm out of Darren's.

"Aren't they great?" he asked me, a totally lovestruck smile plastered across his face.

"Yeah, they really are something," I agreed, trying not to laugh at Darren's expression. "So when are you going to ask Kaley out?"

"What?!" Darren sputtered, breaking out of his enchantment. "W-Why would I ask her out?"

"You're into her, aren't you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

"N-No!" he balked. "W-We're just friends, that's all. It's like you and Leah. Just friends."

Oh. Right. Just friends.

I couldn't help but sigh. That's all that Leah and I would really be, wasn't it?

"Hey, I'll catch you later, okay?" Darren said suddenly, looking at something ahead of us. "I gotta go talk to someone about something…"

Without any further explanation, Darren hurried off down the hallway away from me, leaving me to dwell in my own thoughts.

Was friendship all that there was available to me and Leah? Would the fact that I was gay be a turn off for Leah? But what if she knew that I was straight?

Wait a second! my mind objected. Who ever said anything about you being straight? You're not straight! You're gay! Always have been, always will be!

But why does it always have to be? I argued. Why can't I have a change of heart, so to speak?

It's not right, my mind rebuked. You'd be putting yourself back in the closet!

Or maybe I'm just leaving the house all together! I stated firmly, quickly pushing away any other objections that my mind could throw at me. My mind was made up. I needed to see if these feelings that I had for Leah were genuine or not. And there was only one person who could help me with that.

I quickly made my way back to the black box, hoping that the person that I was looking for was still there. As I got closer, I suddenly heard a beautiful voice singing, a voice that I very quickly recognized.

That's Darren's mystery girl! I realized excitedly. If I could discover who she was, maybe Darren would finally be able to bring himself to chose between a girl with a nice voice and a girl who he had obvious chemistry with.

I slowly crept towards the open door of the black box and peeked in. And to my surprise, I recognized not only the song she was singing, but also who the voice belonged to.

Cause I'm
The Greatest Star
I am by far!
But no one knows it
Wait!
They're gonna hear a voice
A silver flute
(hoo ho hoo, hoo ho hoo)
They'll cheer each toot
(Hey, I heard it's terrific, hmm)
When I expose it
(Now can't ya see to look at me that)
I'm a natural Camille
As Camille I just feel
I've so much to offer
(Hey, listen kid I know I'd be divine because)
I'm a natural cougher
(ahoo, ahee, aheh)
Some ain't got it, not a lump
I'm a great big clump of talent
Laugh!
(Ha ha ha ha!)
They'll bend in half
(Did you ever hear the story about the traveling salesman?)
A thousand jokes
(Stick around for the jokes!)
A thousand faces
I reiterate
When you're gifted, then you're gifted
These are facts
I've got no axe to grind

As she was singing, I couldn't help but be drawn farther into the room, so close that I was now standing behind her. And yet she hadn't even noticed that I was there until she suddenly backed up into me.

Well, if you want to make an entrance… I thought with a slight smirk before opening my mouth and continuing the song for her.

"Hey, whaddaya blind?!" I exclaimed, watching amusedly as she spun around to look at me. I smiled as I continued to sing. "In all of the world so far, I'm the Greatest Star!"

"Yes, you are," Kaley laughed, a smile spreading across her lips. Her happiness was contagious as I felt my heart swelling with happiness and pride.

"Dang, Kaley," I exclaimed suddenly. "I didn't know that you could sing! And not only do you have an amazing voice, you're the voice!"

I just couldn't believe that the two girls that Darren was struggling to choose between were actually the same person. And that that person was Kaley! This discovery just made my determination to get them together that much stronger.

"I'm sorry?" Kaley said, furrowing her eyebrows at me in confusion. "The voice?"

"Yes, we-" I started to explain, but I was quickly cut off as Darren suddenly burst in through the door, gasping for breath.

Perfect timing, I thought with a smile.

"Where. Did she. Go?" he panted, leaning against the door frame as he tried to catch his breath.

"Who?" Kaley asked, still confused.

"The girl. Where did. She go?" he repeated, still out of breath. "I must. Find her. I have to. I need to."

"Easy, Darren!" I exclaimed, quickly moving to his side to try to settle him down so that I could tell him the news.

"I have to tell her how amazing she is!" he told me anxiously.

I think you just did, I smiled to myself knowingly. But, before I could reveal my newfound knowledge, Kaley was suddenly pushing past us out of the room, only mumbling a quick apology in response to her actions. Darren was seemingly unphased by her actions, too lost in his thoughts about his mystery girl to notice.

But I noticed. I noticed the slight hitch in her voice as she mumbled, "sorry". I noticed the tension in her posture as she practically ran out the door. She was upset.

Well, I guess I would be too if I heard the person that I liked talk about a someone else like that in front of me, I sighed to myself. Man, Darren can be very blind and dumb sometimes!

That was the moment that I decided that I couldn't tell Darren about Kaley yet. If she was upset, then there would most likely be tears involved and that wouldn't be the best setting for Darren to see her in. No, it would be best to give her some time to collect her thoughts before I reveal her secret to Darren… Unless…

If I knew Salling the way I thought I did, then it would be very likely that he would want to go to a bar on Friday night, seeing as Saturday we were being given the day off. It wouldn't be hard to convince the cast to go to a karaoke bar instead and then all I'd have to do would be convince Kaley to go up and sing with me and presto! Darren's mystery girl is revealed to him!

Yes, I do believe that that would be a much better plan.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leah's POV

I had never seen Kaley look so devastated before. I'd seen her have crushes on guys before, but never one this serious. I'd never seen her break down like this before.

Obviously, I couldn't let Kaley stay here when she was in such a state. People would start asking questions, questions that she wouldn't be prepared to answer, so I thought that it might be best to just send her home. Darren did seem a bit disappointed when I told him that Kaley had gone home sick, but Chris seemed more suspicious than concerned. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to talk to him about it until after the second show.

"So how's Kaley feeling?" he asked me as he walked into the laundry room.

"Hopefully better," I shrugged. "She hasn't texted me in a while so I'm guessing that maybe she's sleeping it off."

Or she cried herself to sleep, I thought sadly to myself. The poor girl just couldn't get a break with guys that she liked. First, her ex and now, Darren.

"It's kind of odd how she was the only one to get sick from eating cake," Chris pointed out casually as he picked up a shirt and hung it on the rack. "I mean, if you also consider the fact that she barely touched her cake, it'd almost seem a little suspicious that she got sick from it."

Wow, he was observant!

"Ok, you're right," I sighed. "It wasn't the cake. But it was personal, so I can't talk about it, okay?"

"That's fine," he grinned. "I just wanted to see if I was right."

"About what?" I asked.

"Just about why she went home, that's all," he shrugged. "I knew it couldn't have been the cake."

"Cause you're just that smart, eh, Sherlock?" I teased lightly.

"Better believe it, Watson," he teased back with a light grin.

"Oh, I'm Watson, am I?" I laughed. "Does that mean that we should go solve some mysteries then?"

"Well, we do have a lot of evidence here," he replied, gesturing around the room at all of the costumes. "We can call it 'The Mystery of the Missing Belt Buckle'."

"Really?" I raised an eyebrow at him. "Is that the best you've got?"

"Well, how about 'The Mystery of the Haunted Clothing Rack'?" he suggested.

"Lame," I yawned. "Where's your creativity?"

"I don't see you making any suggestions," he pointed out.

"Cause mine are already awesome," I grinned. "Like 'A Shadow in the Fly Gallery' or 'The Mystery of the Fallen Curtain."

"Those aren't bad," he shrugged. "But I still like my belt buckle one."

"Careful, Chris," I giggled. "Your Kurt side is showing! You're too focused on the fashion and the clothes!"

"Hey, just because Kurt likes fashion doesn't mean that I can't like it too!" he argued. "I happen to think that you should dress to impress."

"Spoken like a true fashionista," I teased.

"Says the girl working with the clothes," he countered.

"Touché," I grinned. "Oh! I've got it! What about 'The Case of the Missing Fashion Sense'?"

"I think that you might be onto something there," he chuckled.

For the next hour or so, we kept throwing different ideas back and forth as Chris helped me with the laundry. He'd been doing that more often lately, coming in and helping me. It was nice because it felt like I was starting to get to know him on a more personal level. And the more I learned about him, the more I fell in love with him.

Which was why it felt so hard to say goodbye to him at the end of the night.

"You sure that you don't want a ride home?" Chris asked me as we were walking towards the exit.

"I'm fine," I nodded. "I have to stop at the corner store on the way home to pick up a few things. Thanks though."

"Ok, just make sure that you text me when you're home safe, okay?" he said seriously. "I don't think I'd be able to sleep comfortably not knowing if you made it home ok."

"I will," I told him, as a slight flutter went through my stomach. "I promise."

"Good," he smiled. "Have a good night, then! Enjoy your walk!"

"Night!" I waved after him as he turned and hopped into his limo. My heart felt a little heavier as I watched it drive away. As much as I would have loved to ride with him, I had to pick up a few things for a very special breakfast tomorrow.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chris' POV

I was true to my word when I said that I wouldn't be able to sleep until Leah told me that she had gotten home safely. I laid in my bed, staring at my phone, willing her to text me. I needed to know that she had gotten home safely.

And just when I was about to cave and text her, my phone finally lit up with a text.

Leah: Hey, I'm home safe and sound! Sorry I didn't text you sooner. Found Kaley passed out on the couch when I got home and woke her up with a pillow fight :p Getting ready for bed now. Sweet dreams! :)

Me: Glad to hear it :) Hope you had fun! (and won :-p) Have a good sleep! See you tomorrow :) Night!

I was about to put my phone away when suddenly I got another text. Thinking it was Leah, I eagerly opened it, but I was quickly surprised to find it from someone else.

Kaley: Hey Chris, I've a favour to ask of you.

Me: Ok, what's up?

Kaley: Well, you may not know this, but it's actually Leah's birthday the day after tomorrow (yeah we're good at keeping secrets) and I was hoping that you could help me surprise her.

Leah's birthday was in two days? I was a little put out that she didn't tell me that.

Me: Of course! I'd love to help! What can I do?

Kaley: Well, I kinda wanna get her back for the surprise party she threw me, so I wanna make her think that you're mad at her or something, freak her out a bit. I don't want to do a huge surprise party like she did for me cause I don't want to copy her, but if you wanted to jump out and surprise her or something?

Me: What if we made a giant cardboard cake and I jumped out of it or something? I've always wanted to do that.

Kaley: That would be perfect!

Me: Do you know what I could get Leah for a birthday present?

Kaley: …Well, there is something that she'd want…

Me: Well? What is it?

Kaley: Well, she's gonna kill me for telling you this, but something that she's always wanted was a kiss from you. It's ok if you don't want to, but if you'd be willing to give her a special birthday kiss, I know that it'd make her day.

I think my heart nearly stopped. Leah wanted a kiss from me?

Me: Sure, I could do that.

Of course I could do that!

Kaley: Awesome! Thanks for being such a sport about this! This'll make her day for sure :)

Me: I'm happy to help :) So is there anything else you need me to do for Operation Payback?

Kaley: Operation Payback? Haha I like it! :-p And yeah, if you could like ignore her completely for the next couple days, like not text her back and kind of avoid her at the theatre, I think that it'd really freak her out and make her unsuspecting of what we're planning.

Not text Leah? Ok, this was going to be a bit harder than I thought. But if it resulted with me getting the chance to kiss Leah, then it'd be worth it, right? Because maybe once I've kissed her, I'd finally be able to figure out exactly how I feel about her.

Me: I'm in.

Kaley: Then Operation Payback is a go! :-p

Operation Payback? I mused. Or Operation Kiss-The-Girl?