Stand By You (1/?)
Title: Stand By You (1/?)
Characters: Mike Chang/Tina Cohen-Chang, Sam Evans,
Rating: PG13
Spoilers: Up to 2.19
Summary: Gossip just comes to Tina; especially when it's about her boyfriend's best friend.
It’s awkward, to say the least.
Sure, Brittany might have called her one of McKinley’s biggest gossips, but Tina’s still resting comfortably a distant second behind Mercedes. There are different forms of gossip, and the gossip Tina deals with is the type that she doesn’t pass along. It’s the stuff every teen novelist dreams of, but it’s not like she actively goes out looking for scandalous details on the Cheerios, or the latest baby drama. Unlike Mercedes, who has a tendency to track down gossip like it’s on sale, Tina finds that the best gossip just kind of comes to her.
Sitting beside Brittany in Home Economics is how Tina found out officially that there was something going on between Santana and Brittany; supposedly baking an apple pie is a great conversation starter about lesbianism and bisexuality and how cheating isn’t cheating if the parts are different. Or something like that. The point is, Tina didn’t go looking for it and she hasn’t really done anything with the knowledge either. She could, and it might help the situation but it also might not. And really, Brittany and Santana have both done a good enough job spreading it around the school themselves without Tina adding fuel to the fire. Just like she didn’t do anything with the knowledge Kurt was gay, long before Tina knows he even came out to his Dad. She’s known forever, really, and most people have assumed too, but hearing him say it while sitting on her front step in the pouring rain made it real. And when the next rumour went around McKinley about Kurt’s sexuality, she could have totally piped up and given it the credibility of “even Kurt Hummel’s best friend confirmed it”, but Kurt trusted her. And she trusted him with her secrets too.
Tina also knows that the rumour she and Mike hooked up at camp before she officially broke up with Artie is true. That’s one she definitely hasn’t spread around.
The gossip about Sam just basically fell into her lap. Well, Tina mostly fell into Mike’s lap and these days all it takes is a well placed quirk of her eyebrow and Mike’ll tell her whatever is bothering him. Mostly because he’s just the kind of guy that wears his heart on his sleeve and he’s terrible at lying. Absolutely terrible. But also because even if he says nothing, which he does this time, they have a policy that they talk to each other. About everything. It was instituted after the Sectionals debacle and while it’s hard sometimes, to be that willingly honest with another person, Tina can’t deny that it’s been good for them.
Except what Mike says-“Sam’s parents are probably going to loose their house”-isn’t what Tina was expecting. Maybe something about the continual Finn, Rachel and Quinn drama in Glee, which Mike’s pretty sensitive about because he really doesn’t like fighting, or the Santana and Brittany issue, because she knows he’s sort-of friends with both and they’ve both talked to him about it. Secretly Tina kind of hoped maybe he was just nervous about asking her to prom because he still hasn’t even mentioned if they’re going or not.
But it basically spills out of Mike after that; about Sam’s Dad’s job, and their move, and how he’s got two younger siblings Tina never heard about at all. About how Sam’s been trying to do it all and keep it together and unless his Dad finds a job they’re probably going to loose the house. Tina sits quietly and listens, fingers stroking the fine hairs on the back of Mike’s neck because when he’s upset, and she knows he is from the way his voice croaks and cheeks burn red, it tends to help calm him down. To let him know she’s there and this is another thing they’ll work through together.
“Who… who else knows?” she finally asks, minutes after Mike’s fallen silent.
“I don’t know. I think just me. And you now,” he pauses, “I don’t think he even meant to say something but we were just in the weight room and he just kind of…. started talking.”
“Because he knew he could trust you.”
“But I don’t know what to do. What good is knowing if I can’t do anything?”
“Just keep being a good friend.”
--
The next time it’s brought up Tina’s waiting outside the library for Mike after football conditioning; she’s not surprised to see Sam walking with her boyfriend because the two tend to be joined at the hip in a ridiculously adorable bromantic way, but there’s something wrong about the way they’re not joking around. Sam doesn’t even get all that close to her, and Tina allows Mike to gently move her back into a classroom doorway so they’re out of sight of anyone else that might pass by.
“Do you think you could take the bus home?”
“Yeah,” she pauses, “What’s going on?”
“I hate to make you because I know I promised we’d go for fro yo since you waited for me to be done practice and-”
“Mike, what’s going on?”
“Sam’s parents lost the house. He asked if I’d help him move some boxes they have into the motel they’re staying at.”
The worst part of that moment isn't knowing that Sam’s going through hell, but watching the way Mike’s face looks so pained as he imparts the information to her. His lip is worried between his teeth and he looks absolutely so devastated and confused that Tina just snakes her arms around his waist silently, pressing her body as close to his as possible. She knows it’s not much comfort if any, but Tina decides that her love for Mike has reached a new, absolutely dizzying level. She battles with insecurity in their relationship for this exact reason-Mike is such a good person-but it’s honestly her favourite quality about him. Not just that he cares so deeply for everyone, but especially those closest to him. That he’s so genuinely devastated for his best friend it reads all over his face and even in the way he’s holding her.
“I’m sorry,” she feels more than hears Mike mumble into the crown of her head.
“Can… can I do anything? I know I’m not that strong but I might be able to-”
“No,” Mike pulls back abruptly and shakes his head, “Sam doesn’t know you know. He probably thinks we’re making out right now or something.”
It’s an attempt at levity but it falls flat, and Tina nods and tenses her arms around Mike’s torso once last time-tying to impact all her pride and love and support into him at once.
--
She scrubbed her face harshly with the paper towel, willing the rough texture to remove the black stains that seem to be permanently embedded in her skin. It’s overkill and in the mirror’s crystal reflection Tina knows that all she’s managed to do is redden her cheeks even more; her eyeliner is little more than a dull shadow around her eyes that looks a little strange but far better than the racoon look of earlier. Focusing on her appearance has given Tina the opportunity to pull herself together for the time being- she doesn’t want to give anyone else the satisfaction of seeing her tears.
The hallways of McKinley are deserted, and Mike and Sam’s voices are distinctly audible as she steps out from behind the washroom door, tugging uncertainly on her gloves.
“I don’t see what the problem is. Just let me-”
“Dude,” Sam sighs, “You don’t think people are going to talk if you drop me off at a motel?”
“It’s just Tee and I?”
“Yeah, well, you and Quinn are the only ones that know and I’d sort of like to keep it that way?”
“I’m not going to tell anyone we dropped you off at a motel, Sam.”
Despite her boots, Tina managed to situate herself nearly beside Mike before either noticed her presence; the conversation had placed identical tight frowns on their face. Mike looks torn between anger and embarrassment at her announcement and any other time she would have reached out to squeeze his hand, at the very least, but the way Sam’s eyes roll and he takes a step back is much more pressing.
“That’s just great. Thanks Mike. I specifically said not to-”
“I asked him what was wrong, Sam. I’m sure you know our share everything policy?”
“Share everything that’s about your relationship. Just because you asked doesn’t mean he should have said anything!”
“I’m still here?” Mike’s arms are thrown up in the air.
“Yeah, well maybe your best friend was worried about you and as his girlfriend I picked up on it? It’s not like I’ve told anyone!”
“There’s nothing stopping you?”
“Hey,” Mike finally cuts in, “You know Tee wouldn’t say anything. That was a low blow.”
This time Tina does reach out and intertwine her fingers with Mike’s, giving his hand a tight squeeze and a glance sideways. Even though she knows that what Mike did is something he doesn’t process as being noble, the fact that he sticks up not just for her but her integrity without a second thought, even to his best friend, makes her stomach do a funny dip. Sure, it’s not the most feminist thought in the world but it’s this sort of thing that reminds Tina just how incredible Mike really is.
“Just let me drive you, dude.”
“It’s cool. I said I’ll take the bus,” Sam finally mumbles.
“Sam, I’m driving you.”
The finality in Mike’s tone is rarely heard and it makes Tina jump slightly; he’s usually so easy-going and laid back that anything different carries so much emotional weight. She squeezes their intertwined hands once again, thumb rubbing circles aimlessly along the back of his hand as they stand. Sam’s awkwardly scuffing his shoe, but when Mike sighs and begins to pull her down the hallway Sam follows as well. It’s really, by far, the worst night Tina’s had in recent memory. Worse even than the night Artie stood her up at the movie theatre for a halo marathon.
Mike knows better than to open the car door for her, although Tina totally does let it slide sometimes because it’s those little things again, but she gives Sam’s foot a little kick while they wait for the doors to be unlocked. There’s no way a car this old could even have dreamed of having power locks.
“I’m not going to tell anyone, Sam. It’s not my business.”
There’s a long beat.
“What I said was douchey. Sorry.”
“It happens. Next time I seduce Mike into canceling plans with you, you let is slide and I’ll call us even.”
“Ugh,” he groans, “It wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t know why he was canceling.”
“At least you don’t know what’s going on sometimes when he’s calling you?”
Characters: Mike Chang/Tina Cohen-Chang, Sam Evans,
Rating: PG13
Spoilers: Up to 2.19
Summary: Gossip just comes to Tina; especially when it's about her boyfriend's best friend.
It’s awkward, to say the least.
Sure, Brittany might have called her one of McKinley’s biggest gossips, but Tina’s still resting comfortably a distant second behind Mercedes. There are different forms of gossip, and the gossip Tina deals with is the type that she doesn’t pass along. It’s the stuff every teen novelist dreams of, but it’s not like she actively goes out looking for scandalous details on the Cheerios, or the latest baby drama. Unlike Mercedes, who has a tendency to track down gossip like it’s on sale, Tina finds that the best gossip just kind of comes to her.
Sitting beside Brittany in Home Economics is how Tina found out officially that there was something going on between Santana and Brittany; supposedly baking an apple pie is a great conversation starter about lesbianism and bisexuality and how cheating isn’t cheating if the parts are different. Or something like that. The point is, Tina didn’t go looking for it and she hasn’t really done anything with the knowledge either. She could, and it might help the situation but it also might not. And really, Brittany and Santana have both done a good enough job spreading it around the school themselves without Tina adding fuel to the fire. Just like she didn’t do anything with the knowledge Kurt was gay, long before Tina knows he even came out to his Dad. She’s known forever, really, and most people have assumed too, but hearing him say it while sitting on her front step in the pouring rain made it real. And when the next rumour went around McKinley about Kurt’s sexuality, she could have totally piped up and given it the credibility of “even Kurt Hummel’s best friend confirmed it”, but Kurt trusted her. And she trusted him with her secrets too.
Tina also knows that the rumour she and Mike hooked up at camp before she officially broke up with Artie is true. That’s one she definitely hasn’t spread around.
The gossip about Sam just basically fell into her lap. Well, Tina mostly fell into Mike’s lap and these days all it takes is a well placed quirk of her eyebrow and Mike’ll tell her whatever is bothering him. Mostly because he’s just the kind of guy that wears his heart on his sleeve and he’s terrible at lying. Absolutely terrible. But also because even if he says nothing, which he does this time, they have a policy that they talk to each other. About everything. It was instituted after the Sectionals debacle and while it’s hard sometimes, to be that willingly honest with another person, Tina can’t deny that it’s been good for them.
Except what Mike says-“Sam’s parents are probably going to loose their house”-isn’t what Tina was expecting. Maybe something about the continual Finn, Rachel and Quinn drama in Glee, which Mike’s pretty sensitive about because he really doesn’t like fighting, or the Santana and Brittany issue, because she knows he’s sort-of friends with both and they’ve both talked to him about it. Secretly Tina kind of hoped maybe he was just nervous about asking her to prom because he still hasn’t even mentioned if they’re going or not.
But it basically spills out of Mike after that; about Sam’s Dad’s job, and their move, and how he’s got two younger siblings Tina never heard about at all. About how Sam’s been trying to do it all and keep it together and unless his Dad finds a job they’re probably going to loose the house. Tina sits quietly and listens, fingers stroking the fine hairs on the back of Mike’s neck because when he’s upset, and she knows he is from the way his voice croaks and cheeks burn red, it tends to help calm him down. To let him know she’s there and this is another thing they’ll work through together.
“Who… who else knows?” she finally asks, minutes after Mike’s fallen silent.
“I don’t know. I think just me. And you now,” he pauses, “I don’t think he even meant to say something but we were just in the weight room and he just kind of…. started talking.”
“Because he knew he could trust you.”
“But I don’t know what to do. What good is knowing if I can’t do anything?”
“Just keep being a good friend.”
--
The next time it’s brought up Tina’s waiting outside the library for Mike after football conditioning; she’s not surprised to see Sam walking with her boyfriend because the two tend to be joined at the hip in a ridiculously adorable bromantic way, but there’s something wrong about the way they’re not joking around. Sam doesn’t even get all that close to her, and Tina allows Mike to gently move her back into a classroom doorway so they’re out of sight of anyone else that might pass by.
“Do you think you could take the bus home?”
“Yeah,” she pauses, “What’s going on?”
“I hate to make you because I know I promised we’d go for fro yo since you waited for me to be done practice and-”
“Mike, what’s going on?”
“Sam’s parents lost the house. He asked if I’d help him move some boxes they have into the motel they’re staying at.”
The worst part of that moment isn't knowing that Sam’s going through hell, but watching the way Mike’s face looks so pained as he imparts the information to her. His lip is worried between his teeth and he looks absolutely so devastated and confused that Tina just snakes her arms around his waist silently, pressing her body as close to his as possible. She knows it’s not much comfort if any, but Tina decides that her love for Mike has reached a new, absolutely dizzying level. She battles with insecurity in their relationship for this exact reason-Mike is such a good person-but it’s honestly her favourite quality about him. Not just that he cares so deeply for everyone, but especially those closest to him. That he’s so genuinely devastated for his best friend it reads all over his face and even in the way he’s holding her.
“I’m sorry,” she feels more than hears Mike mumble into the crown of her head.
“Can… can I do anything? I know I’m not that strong but I might be able to-”
“No,” Mike pulls back abruptly and shakes his head, “Sam doesn’t know you know. He probably thinks we’re making out right now or something.”
It’s an attempt at levity but it falls flat, and Tina nods and tenses her arms around Mike’s torso once last time-tying to impact all her pride and love and support into him at once.
--
She scrubbed her face harshly with the paper towel, willing the rough texture to remove the black stains that seem to be permanently embedded in her skin. It’s overkill and in the mirror’s crystal reflection Tina knows that all she’s managed to do is redden her cheeks even more; her eyeliner is little more than a dull shadow around her eyes that looks a little strange but far better than the racoon look of earlier. Focusing on her appearance has given Tina the opportunity to pull herself together for the time being- she doesn’t want to give anyone else the satisfaction of seeing her tears.
The hallways of McKinley are deserted, and Mike and Sam’s voices are distinctly audible as she steps out from behind the washroom door, tugging uncertainly on her gloves.
“I don’t see what the problem is. Just let me-”
“Dude,” Sam sighs, “You don’t think people are going to talk if you drop me off at a motel?”
“It’s just Tee and I?”
“Yeah, well, you and Quinn are the only ones that know and I’d sort of like to keep it that way?”
“I’m not going to tell anyone we dropped you off at a motel, Sam.”
Despite her boots, Tina managed to situate herself nearly beside Mike before either noticed her presence; the conversation had placed identical tight frowns on their face. Mike looks torn between anger and embarrassment at her announcement and any other time she would have reached out to squeeze his hand, at the very least, but the way Sam’s eyes roll and he takes a step back is much more pressing.
“That’s just great. Thanks Mike. I specifically said not to-”
“I asked him what was wrong, Sam. I’m sure you know our share everything policy?”
“Share everything that’s about your relationship. Just because you asked doesn’t mean he should have said anything!”
“I’m still here?” Mike’s arms are thrown up in the air.
“Yeah, well maybe your best friend was worried about you and as his girlfriend I picked up on it? It’s not like I’ve told anyone!”
“There’s nothing stopping you?”
“Hey,” Mike finally cuts in, “You know Tee wouldn’t say anything. That was a low blow.”
This time Tina does reach out and intertwine her fingers with Mike’s, giving his hand a tight squeeze and a glance sideways. Even though she knows that what Mike did is something he doesn’t process as being noble, the fact that he sticks up not just for her but her integrity without a second thought, even to his best friend, makes her stomach do a funny dip. Sure, it’s not the most feminist thought in the world but it’s this sort of thing that reminds Tina just how incredible Mike really is.
“Just let me drive you, dude.”
“It’s cool. I said I’ll take the bus,” Sam finally mumbles.
“Sam, I’m driving you.”
The finality in Mike’s tone is rarely heard and it makes Tina jump slightly; he’s usually so easy-going and laid back that anything different carries so much emotional weight. She squeezes their intertwined hands once again, thumb rubbing circles aimlessly along the back of his hand as they stand. Sam’s awkwardly scuffing his shoe, but when Mike sighs and begins to pull her down the hallway Sam follows as well. It’s really, by far, the worst night Tina’s had in recent memory. Worse even than the night Artie stood her up at the movie theatre for a halo marathon.
Mike knows better than to open the car door for her, although Tina totally does let it slide sometimes because it’s those little things again, but she gives Sam’s foot a little kick while they wait for the doors to be unlocked. There’s no way a car this old could even have dreamed of having power locks.
“I’m not going to tell anyone, Sam. It’s not my business.”
There’s a long beat.
“What I said was douchey. Sorry.”
“It happens. Next time I seduce Mike into canceling plans with you, you let is slide and I’ll call us even.”
“Ugh,” he groans, “It wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t know why he was canceling.”
“At least you don’t know what’s going on sometimes when he’s calling you?”