Glee Fic
Wow, I haven't posted here for a while. Who designed this layout? Weirdo.
Anyway I come baring fic.
Title: Bewitched and Bewildered
Rating: PG-13
Pairing/Characters: Will/Finn
Summary: Will puts a spell on McKinley High he can't undo.
AN: This was betad by the lovely hopenight. It is the longest fanfic I've ever written so please tell me how I did!
“Damn it!” Will Schuester slammed the door to his house.
Some punks had put spray glue on all of the chairs in the choir room. Glee had been a disaster. Those that didn’t storm out as soon as they were removed from their chairs spent the whole time yelling and arguing amongst themselves. They needed new members to join but they couldn’t stand anyone else in the school. Heck, they could barely stand each other when things got rough.
Will dropped down onto his couch. This was growing more out of control and every day they grew closer to sectionals. Will knew if the people of McKinley could stop being so judgmental that everyone would get along and there would be plenty of people joining Glee, but no matter what they did to make it look appealing they were still hated. The club hadn’t been the top of the food chain when he was in school either but it was terrible how this generation treated each other.
Will automatically turned on the TV before going to make himself dinner. It was quieter in the house without Terri and he liked the background noise.
As he was seasoning some chicken he noticed a candle in the corner of his eye. Terri always liked scented oils but last year she bought a ton of white candles of various sizes around Valentine’s Day. Will thought they were for a sweet surprise at first but they stayed unused and sprinkled around the house. It probably had something to do with the Book of Spells she didn’t know he knew about. Her sister was always talking to her about how she needed to rein Will in. Terri wasn’t completely crazy when she thought magic or a child would be the only way to do it. She hid it behind a bookshelf in what could’ve been their kid’s room.
Will stopped grinding pepper at that thought. Was that book still there? Terri had been reluctant and slow to move her things out. It was likely she had forgotten it. Of course it was probably some silly Twitches inspired jumble of words… but when he was younger he had made all of his action figures float from something he saw on Bewitched… maybe…
The man scrambled into the spare room and pushed the bookshelf away from the wall. There were three baby books tilted to hide one large hardback.
Will grabbed the large book and sat down in the living room. It was probably a bad idea but Glee was his whole life right now and his kids needed his help. It was a large book. There must be something that could help him in there.
__~~__~~__~~__~~
Will stood in the parking lot of McKinley High wondering if he was the dumbest person alive. It wasn’t like he needed to be so desperate. There were plenty of other ways to go about it, but something in Will wanted to take drastic measures. He wanted to know if he could actually do it. Magic.
The sky was full of clouds getting ready to pour outside of the city. He looked down at the bookmarked page. It was one of the shortest spells in the book. He didn’t have time for candles and Latin chants. People would start showing up any second. If he was going to do something crazy he needed to do it now.
He took a deep breath and said, “In this building I stand before there hold problems I can’t ignore. Let enemies befriend those they despise. No more judgment and no more lies.”
There wasn’t anything to suggest the school had changed and after a minute he was sure nothing had, but Will was glad he tried. If anything, he felt like a good sport that he loved his club so much he’d use his crazy ex-wife’s silly magic book to try to help them. He slipped the book into the back of his car and grabbed his briefcase.
When he entered the building he exhaled sharply. That was weird. He didn’t think he’d been holding his breath but… oh well.
__~~__~~__~~__~~
The day had been going pretty well as days go. Sue hadn’t said anything to him as any Cheerios practice was held out on the football field, and he and Beiste had a civil conversation during lunch.
He was trying to review a class for the test they would be having and everyone was being surprisingly blunt about their lack of interest. Strangely though, he didn’t care. He still taught them and didn’t punish anyone for being rude or abrupt.
“Alright, I know you guys just want to get the credit without any work. Unfortunately it doesn’t work that way so if you listen you might learn enough to pass. Now Finn, usted puede tener tutorías sesiones en la biblioteca. Can you tell me what I just said?”
“Not at all.”
“Come on Finn, take a guess.”
“You’re sitting on the desk with your legs spread open. I couldn’t even tell you what you said in English, let alone Spanish.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I sit like this so you guys don’t think of me as a teacher but more as a friend. I want everyone to like me.” Well that was too much information.
“Well I’m thinking of you as more than that.” As was that… what was going on?
“Alright, change of subject. If you would all please look at the whiteboard and write down anything you’re not sure about just in case you decide to study tonight.”
__~~__~~__~~__~~
“Sylvester’s been acting different today,” Santana commented to Kurt as Will walked in. “She refuses to enter the school. She says it feels tainted or something.”
“Hmm. I’ve been thinking about trying out for the Cheerios again.” Kurt said pensively. “I didn’t at the beginning of the year so I could be true to Glee but our routines are not making use of my spectacular skills.”
“I would hate that. I’m already at the bottom of the pyramid. I don’t need another diva stealing my spotlight.”
“I don’t care. I only hang out with you because Brittany’s in love with you.”
Brittany looked up at the mention of her name. “I’m afraid that if I try and become smart no one will like me anymore,” she piped in. “but if I’m not smart I’ll end up with a bad credit score and Santana will leave me.”
“Those are justifiable fears.” Santana replies, not looking away from fixing her make-up.
The kids had been talking as if they were casually remarking on the weather and yet they were being frighteningly truthful.
Will stopped sorting through his music sheets. Truthful? No more lies. The spell! Will was blown away. It had actually worked. It hadn’t been his imagination when he was a kid. He had really done magic!
Right on time, two new kids walked into the choir room, a blonde male and a large girl.
“Hello,” Will walked over to the new comers with a bounce in his step. “Are you here to join the club?”
“Yeah,” the blonde replied first. “Coach said as long as it didn’t affect my practice I could join. The other guys surprisingly said they wouldn’t judge me.”
“I’m just here cause I think you are smoking hot and I’m lonely,” the girl said. “This club has kinda has been getting the most action out of the whole school except for the Cheerios. I want in.”
Will just smiled at her awkward honesty and welcomed them to the club. He was right. The knowledge of that was all that he needed.
__~~__~~__~~__~~
Sitting on his couch listening to the radio Will tried to figure out how to place their new members, Sam and Amber. Sam sounded really well but Amber needed some work as Rachel quite loudly pointed out. She didn’t need any spell to be rudely honest.
Wow. That was something. He had cast a spell on McKinley High. He was… well he was pretty badass. Will the Wizard. Sorcerer Schuester. William Schuester: Accomplishing the impossible since 2010.
He wondered for a minute if anyone else would notice. Santana had said Sue wouldn’t go into the building. She must have had no idea how to act without judging people. And it’s not as if they wouldn’t remember what happened in the school… was it? He remembered of course, but he knew about the spell. How did this magic thing really work? Maybe no one would think it was strange. Like it was a normal day. Maybe.
His doorbell rang.
It was Finn.
“Hi. Umm, hey. Rachel told me where you lived. I just… what I said in Spanish today, that was so weird. I shouldn’t have said that. It was like I was thinking something and then I said it. Not that I think that really. No. I mean, it came out wrong and I couldn’t stop myself from talking. It was like that movie, The Invention of Lying where everyone just automatically tells what they’re thinking no matter what. I think they were making fun of Christians in that movie which was kinda weird but it was still funny, not that I don’t like Christians or anything. I’m not really sure if you’re a Christian actually, not that it matters cause either way I’m totally cool with you in whatever it is you wanna be in. I didn’t mean IN. Not like clothes. I mean, of course you can wear whatever clothes you want but that’s not what I meant. What I’m trying to say is I didn’t mean to say anything in class and I don’t think about you naked.”
Well that answers the memory question.
“Finn, that’s totally okay. Everyone said strange things in class today. It’s fine.”
“Huh you’re right. Everyone was being pretty weird. Must’ve been Sue being outside the whole day.”
“Yeah must have been.”
They stood in the doorway staring at each other for a moment, just wondering what the other was thinking about the situation.
Will cleared his throat. “You should probably get back home.”
“Right. Yeah, I’ll just leave you to do… whatever.”
“See you tomorrow Finn.”
Will closed his door on the retreating young man. Well that was quite a shock. He hadn’t really thought about how so much truth might affect his kids afterwards. Santana and Kurt might be having a bitch fit right now. And the new members were probably regretting joining with the realization that judgment was just outside the school walls. This wasn’t really helping anything but his ego was it? This was wrong. He should turn it back.
He sat back down. Stay by Lisa Loeb was playing. That might be a good song for Amber. If she decided to stay in the club. It would be so difficult to get students to join if McKinley was back the way it used to be. Maybe he could keep it there for one more day. Just to see if Sam and Amber came back.
__~~__~~__~~__~~
Will didn’t remove the spell the next day although Sam and Amber did return. He didn’t remove it the day after either when Sam brought a soccer player he was interested in. A week passed and it was still impossible to lie or be prejudiced in McKinley high. In fact, everyone had been as painfully nice as they could be without lying. Needless to say, no one had any idea what to do with themselves.
Athletes bought slushies although they felt no need to hurl them at anyone.
Sue Sylvester sent her Cheerios inside to get anything she needed for fear of thinking any non harmful thoughts of the passersby.
Finn and Amber kept complementing him on his ass during Glee.
It was really bad. Will needed to take the spell off but nothing was working even though he was trying everything he could think of. Terri’s book didn’t have a “My bad. Undo” spell and there were only so many times one can watch Bewitched in a day. It was surprising how many episodes didn’t actually include spells. If only he could wiggle his nose.
He was in his office after school one day searching for spells online with the book hidden in his briefcase. Maybe he could combine two spells for one purpose.
There was a knock on his door and Finn slowly entered.
“Hey Mr. Schue. Can I come in?”
“Of course.” Will quickly minimized his page and hoped Finn wouldn’t ask what he was doing.
The young man sat down silently, rubbing his hands together nervously.
“What’s up Finn?”
“Oh lots of stuff I guess. Rachel’s off giving lessons to Amber and I don’t really wanna be around that. Puck’s been giving half assed attempts to be my best friend again. We’re not enemies anymore but I don’t think I really wanna be his friend. Mom and Burt are at work right now so Kurt’s the only one at home and I don’t like being in the house alone with him. I’m not sure whether I’m supposed to act like his friend or his brother or just the dork he knows from Glee. Anyway I’m here cause you’re really the only one I feel comfortable around nowadays and I just like being around you. You get me more than most people.”
“Thank you.” No matter how much he heard it, Finn’s sincerity never failed to make Will smile. Even if it was forced by a spell.
“Lately I’ve been really… I don’t know, open around you.”
“It’s not just me.”
“Well no, but I think it has something to do with you.”
“You… do?” He couldn’t know… could he?
“Yeah. I’ve been thinking a lot about you. More than if you were just a teacher or a friend. And in Glee you always tell Amber to keep her thoughts about how sexy you are to herself but you never really mention my comments.”
“Oh, I never realized I-”
“It’s just, you always support me and help me and hug me. And your smiles make me feel kinda special. You tell people you don’t have favorite students and I’m hoping it’s because you’ve stopped seeing me as your student. I’m hoping maybe you think of me the same way I think of you. I like you Mr. Shue. I’ve tried not to but every time I’m around you I just see more of how great you are and I can’t help it. So, am I right? Do you like me too?”
The man didn’t say anything. He couldn’t say anything. There were literally no words. The spell wouldn’t let him be a responsible adult if it was dishonest. Even if there were no spell he doesn’t think he would have it in him to hurt the boy sitting in front of him.
There was a long stretch of awkward silence.
“Okay,” Finn broke the quiet and stood. “Sorry. Was I completely off the mark here because-”
“No.”
“No, I wasn’t off the mark, or no you don’t like me?”
Will stood up and looked in Finn’s eyes. “I wish I could say that I don’t like you. That I would rather you not think of me in that context. It’s probably what any other teacher would say in this situation but I can’t say that because I can’t lie.”
The boy stopped to think about that. “You can’t lie?”
“Not at the moment at least.”
Finn slowly made his way around the desk. “So, if I were to ask you if you wanted to kiss me right now...”
“I would have to answer… yes.”
“Yes, you would have to answer or would yes be the-“
“Just come here.” Will pulled the other boy by his shirt and gently brought their lips together. Finn slipped his hands around his waist and pulled the man closer. Will never considered himself a moaner but when the younger boy ran his tongue across his lips he couldn’t help the needy sound that escaped his throat. His hands stroked the taller boys face and let himself sink into the kiss.
He knew it was time to pull away when his lips started to get chapped and numb.
“We shouldn’t do this here.” Will started to pull away but Finn just tightened his grip.
“No, it’s cool. Everyone should’ve been gone at least an hour ago.”
“What? But it’s-” he looked at the time on the computer. Had they really been kissing for half an hour?
“Hey Mr. Schue, what were you doing here late anyway?”
“You can call me Will.” The man untangled himself from his… Finn.
“Will, what were you doing here late? Waiting for me?”
“Heh. No, I could not have predicted that.” He awkwardly tried to put his sheet music in his briefcase without letting the boy see the spell book.
“What’s the big deal? Why aren’t you answering me?” When Will didn’t answer he put his hand on his shoulder and turned him around. “So why can’t you lie?”
“Well you can’t either!” That’s not what he meant to say. Damn spell.
“What are you talking about?”
He sighed. He should’ve known it couldn’t go on forever. “I put a spell on the school. I was just trying to get people to be nicer to each other but, it made it so that once anyone enters they can’t lie.” Well he’d really messed this one up.
“Oh. Wow. You can do magic?” He was smiling. Why was he smiling? “That is so cool!”
“Yeah it is but aren’t you upset? I enchanted you and everyone else.”
The young man laughed. “Mr. Schue. Will. You’ve been enchanting me for a while. You can use that word that way right?”
“Yeah you can. So, you’re okay with all this?”
“It is a little freaky but, Will, you’re amazing.” He tilted the man’s chin up and kissed him again. “So, how long is this spell gonna last?”
“I don’t know. I can’t find a way to take it off. I was looking up reverse spells when you came in. Nothing’s been working.”
“Well I can help you if you want. No one’s really expecting me home anytime soon.”
“If you want, sure. That’d be great.” And then Will kissed him, just because he could.
__~~__~~__~~__~~
Finn was a genius.
Once he got on the computer he directly went to Youtube and typed spells into the search box. Immediately he got hundreds of clips of movies and TV shows showing just the spells. Sure they would have a lot of watch but it was much more direct than what Will was getting and he was optimistic. For a while.
It was insane how many spells there were to get people to tell the truth. Unfortunately, there weren’t any on how to get them to lie again. After an hour of watching the Charmed sisters vanquish demons and badly lit videos explaining how big your spell circle should be, Finn said he had to go home.
“Thanks for your help.” Will walked him out. “Wish we could’ve gotten more done but thanks for the support.”
“Yeah. I’ll try and look some up when I get home. Sylvester can’t avoid the school forever.”
“Unfortunately.” They chuckled as they stopped at the door.
Finn looked at the door and said, “So I’ll uh… just…” Then he looked back down at Will, swooped down and kissed him. The man instinctively tilted his head and pressed his body against him.
It was only a moment of stroking lips, a reminder, before Finn pulled away. Something in Will told him he would never get tired of that.
“So,” Finn started, absentmindedly fixing one of the man’s curls, “what is this? What are we doing?”
“Magic?” Will quirked smiled.
“You know what I mean. Us.”
“Yeah I know what you mean. I don’t know really. Aren’t you still with Rachel?”
“Not exactly. At school, the whole honesty thing, she found out I had sex with Santana and got all pissy for no reason. She was with Jesse when it happened and it’s not like I really liked it anyway. It was just stupid.” Finn stroked the curl he was messing with back and Will grabbed his hand.
“So is that why you came to my office today? Because you two had a fight?”
“What? No! Of course not. I really like you Will. I’ve been meaning to do that for a while but, you know, I didn’t wanna come off as stalkerish like Rachel was and everyone had been acting so strange I thought I’d probably say something wrong. The fight just kinda made me wonder why I’m even with Rachel anymore. It’s becoming less fun as it goes on and that’s why I was walking around after school. To get away from her. And then I saw you were still here and no one else was and it was kinda now or never. Or then or never. Anyway it’s not like it was a spur of the moment thing. I mean it was, but it wasn’t. I wasn’t just doing it because of Rachel, I really like you and you’re not some backup plan or anything. You know that right?”
Will smiled at the bumbling boy. “Yes I know. How bout we put that question on hold until we get this magic thing figured out? Alright?”
Finn smiled his crooked smile. “Alright.” The kiss was longer this time. More lips and tongue. Hands stroking comfortingly. Each telling the other that they weren’t going through a phase and that this would all work out for the best. Each memorizing the others taste, just in case it wouldn’t. And when they parted their smiles matched. Happy. Slightly nervous, but really happy. Finn walked out of the apartment and the older man leaned against his door. Yup. Just another evening.
Will stayed up all night on Youtube trying to find anything that could help him. It was one in the morning when he fell asleep on his keyboard watching an episode of Wizards of Waverly Place. It was 1:45am when a loud chime from his e-mail woke him up. He would’ve ignored it but he saw it was from Finn and figured if he sent it so late it was probably worth looking at.
Hey, this is the only one that looks like it might work for us. Hopefully i’ll be able to lie soon. ;)
Then a long list of instructions. Will yawned, printed them out, and stumbled back to bed careless throwing his clothes off as he went.
__~~__~~__~~__~~
When a loud ring went off at 6:30am the next morning, Will made sure he was very careful not to smash his alarm clock completely when he threw it across the room. He then drew his sheets over his head and slipped back into the warmth of his dreams.
When a loud ring went off at 7:15am, Will went to grab for his clock again, only to realize he had already thrown it across the room. It took him a minute to realize the noise was from his doorbell.
He groggily opened his front door to see Finn holding a piece of black material with a pack of incense and a marble held in it. The younger man’s eyes trailed down Will’s body as the tired man tried to remember if Alex Russo ever got out of her doll house.
“Finn? Why’re you ringing my doorbell?”
“I knocked first, a couple times, but you didn’t answer. I didn’t even know you had a doorbell until right now actually. Sorry. Were you about to get in the shower?”
“No I was just waking up.” Will yawned and opened the door wider. “Come in.”
Finn put his supplies on the living room table and stood across from the other man with his hands awkwardly in his pockets. Will was almost completely awake by then.
“So why are you here so early?”
“Sorry. I figured you would be up.”
“I’m not complaining. I probably would’ve slept the day away if you hadn’t.” He yawned again.
“I just thought I could help you with some of the supplies for the spell in case you didn’t have them.”
“Supplies?” He stretched as he walked back to his printer. “I didn’t get around to reading it cause it was so late last night. Do you think you could get everything ready while I go put on clothes?”
“Who needs clothes?” Finn said, blatantly staring at his chest. When Will cleared his throat, he looked up and smiled his lopsided smile. “Sorry, spell.”
“Uh huh.” The man smirked as he handed the paper over before heading back to his room.
When he returned, fully dressed with Listerine fresh breath, the table was pushed against the wall with several sticks of incense burning. Finn had made a pentagon of lit white candles where the table once was and the black material and marble were sitting next to them.
“Hey.” The teen smiled when Will entered the room. “Do you have any beads? I brought a marble just in case but they said a necklace bead would work best.”
“Yeah I think so.” Will removed a fake pearl necklace from the table and sat down on the opposite side of the pentagon. “Puede usted mano me las instrucciones por favor?” After seeing the confused look on the others face Will grieved for his teaching skills and repeated, “Can you hand me the instructions please?”
“Oh, si!” Finn had made the pentagon rather large and had to lean in order to hand the paper over and ended up knocking over a lit candle. Reflexively he went to grab the candle with his right hand, the hand that held the instructions. He managed to grab it before the carpet could be damaged but the left side of the paper was burned up.
“Oh damn. I’m so sorry. I’m such a klutz. I shouldn’t have come.”
“Finn,” Will grabbed his flailing hands, “It’s fine. Let’s just see what we have. We have to leave soon. School’s starting in less than an hour.”
He looked over the half singed paper and grimaced. He looked up at Finn who had scooted away from the candles and stared at his feet.
“It’s okay,” he said encouragingly. “I’m magical remember? I can make it work. And I can get us to school on time now that’s only half as long.” Finn didn’t laugh but his mouth lifted slightly. “Now come on. Stop whining and let’s do this.” Finn stayed a good distance away but crossed his legs and held his head high. He was not gonna act like a whiny teenager in front of his… whatever.
Will took a deep breath. “Okay. I now ask the favor of having the spell removed. I understand to take back a spell… I need to show my spirit is true and my intentions are good.” He broke off a bead from the old necklace. “I give this pearl from a necklace I own, at least I think I own it. I transfer the spell into the pearl… This is my will -so be it.” He tossed to fake pearl to Finn to place in the black cloth. Finn glanced up when he didn’t continue.
“Is that it?”
“It says I’m supposed to put candle wax on something but I don’t know what.”
“Maybe the bead?”
“I don’t know. Let’s not worry about it. Just wrap it up and put it in your backpack. If this works Sue will be on my back all day streaming with insults she’s been waiting a week to let out.”
Finn blew out the candles as the other went to collect the rest of his things. They walked to the door together but before Will could grab the handle Finn pulled him back.
“So are you gonna pretend yesterday didn’t happen now?”
“What? No, of course not. I just-”
“Good.” Finn cut him off and pulled the man in closer for a kiss. Will dropped his briefcase and returned the kiss eagerly. Finn back away just enough to say, “Because I would hate to not be able to do that.”
__~~__~~__~~__~~
Rachel walked up to Finn at his locker that morning, minutes after he separated from Will.
“You seem rather happy this morning.” She says somewhere between amused and suspicious.
“I am happy.”
“Something to do with me hopefully.”
“Why would it have to do with you? I haven’t talked to you since you freaked out on me yesterday.” Finn considered putting the pearl in his locker before deciding to keep it where it was.
“Yes well, on the subject of that, I have decided that I was being very harsh on you yesterday. I also lied to you about sex and although mine left me pure and with a knowledge of myself I never had and yours left you sullied and probably with some sort of disease, I have decided that we are perfect together either way and I will happily take you back after you’re tested.”
“Wow Rachel.” He leaned against his locker as if the offensiveness of her statement had actually pushed him. “As romantic a statement as I’m sure you think that is, I’ve already been tested. I don’t have any diseases and I'm not getting back together with you.”
Finn walked down the hall with a bounce in his step and a plaid suited girl running behind him.
“You can’t mean that. My entire level of self worth is based on my performance abilities and you being my boyfriend. We just have to stay together!”
But he just smirked and headed to homeroom. He should’ve done that weeks ago.
__~~__~~__~~__~~
Finn wasn’t sure whether the spell that morning had worked or not. At times it seemed like everything was normal with people saying just enough and not spouting uncontrollable truths. But something would switch and then blunt awful honesty came rushing out.
He and Kurt had been having a perfectly civil conversation in the lunch line, but once they sat down suddenly Kurt said, “Every world that comes out of your mouth makes me care less and less about anything you have to say. I actually feel my IQ decreasing as you speak. Pick up a book.”
Everyone at the table looked at Kurt with horror-struck expressions.
A few seconds passed before he said, “That was out loud wasn’t it?”
Finn decided to look up the spell during study hall to see what they skipped. He went to Schuester’s office directly after.
Will was sipping coffee and alphabetizing when he entered unannounced.
“The spell’s still working.”
The teacher looked up confused. “What? But it’s been normal all day.”
“Well yeah. Cause I’ve been carrying it around all day. The pearl? It’s still making people tell the truth. I looked up the spell we- well I- burned. You were supposed to tell it to become a doormat or something.”
“Dormant?”
“Yeah, exactly. So it wouldn’t work anymore, but now whenever people get near it it’s on again.” Finn was kind of proud of himself for figuring it out. Will however didn’t look as excited. He put his head in his hands and sighed.
“Hey, it’s okay Mr. Schue. We can just keep it in a drawer in your office or I could take it home and bury it.” What happened to fun sleepy Will? Damn coffee.
“I should never have done that. I shouldn’t have even attempted to do anything to try and control other people. I just wanted people to get along but I always mess things up.”
“No you don’t Will. Here I’ll just break it.” He started taking books out of his bag to find the pearl.
“I don’t think that-”
“Schuester!” Sue Sylvester burst into the office cause both of the men to jump. “Figgins wants to see you next period.”
“But Glee’s next hour.” Will said.
“Yeah, that was probably on purpose because you and your little club are taking up his time, money and patience. I see your hair doesn’t quiet have that spit shine on it. No hair product? Maybe you thought that would leave me without insults but, of course, you were wrong. I’m sure I could think of a thousand top notch zingers to throw in your direction but for some reason I don’t feel like it.”
At that Sue sauntered back out into the halls. The two men looked at each other questioningly, and then Finn stared down into his backpack. He slowly lifted the back cloth from his bag.
“I think I broke it.” He said. “Is that bad?”
__~~__~~__~~__~~
“William I am very disappointed in your Glee kids. On several occasions they have said rude and unnecessary statements to nearly every member of the faculty. It has been happening all week and for some reason I decided not to worry about it but I am taking action now.”
“You can’t blame this on my kids. All of the students have been uncouth all week. Everyone’s noticed and you can’t punish the Glee club without punishing the entire student body.”
“The Glee club has been warned about outbursts before.”
“Everyone’s been warned about outbursts. Can you honestly say the Glee club were the only people to say rude and unnecessary statements to their teachers?”
“Of course not.” Figgins seemed mildly surprised that he had actually spoken the truth.
“Exactly! Everyone’s been doing that since I-” Stop. Wait Will. You do not want to say something you will regret.
“Since what William?” Figgin’s looked at him suspiciously.
“Since… last Thursday.” The truth. “Wednesday night I… I think there were a bunch of movies with teenagers rebelling on TV.”
“Are you implying that this strange new behavior is a response to television?”
“I am implying that.”
Figgins considered it and sighed. “Alright Will. You are right. I can’t punish the Glee club but I want to find out what has been causing this.”
“I’m sure everyone does Principal Figgins.”
Oh he had no idea.
When he entered the choir room the Glee club was in a riot. Everyone was shouting at the same time and were assembled in a circle around one chair. They stopped to look when he walked through the door.
“What’s going on here?” He asked, and the shouting resumed.
Finn managed to scramble his way out from the center of the group.
“Hey, Mr. Schue.” He said over the bustle of the other members. “So, good news, when I broke the pearl it did sort of break the spell. The ‘no judgment’ part seems to have been hugely weakened. But the truth part is still going strong.”
“Yes I’ve noticed. But why is everyone-”
“Yes, the bad news is because of that I, uh, have accidentally told all of Glee club about the spell.”
“You bet he did and we want some answers!” Mercedes voice rang out above the crowd.
The whole group started moving in closer, surrounding him with shouts of “how could you do this to us?” and “what gives you the right?” and “you let FINN of all people help you reverse it?”
“It’s not like… Well I didn’t…” He couldn’t seem to answer anything but no one was listening anyway. They were one bad answer away from suggesting burning the witch.
Will’s head started throbbing and his muscles started cramping. Every doubt he had been having for the past week, every regret that he had tried to push down, was being thrown back at him. He put his head in his hands. This wasn’t right. That’s not why he did this. He had just made things worse. Why did he always think he could save everyone? He just needed to undo it. Just stop everything and go back. Just fix it before it went too far.
“Stop!” he shouted and opened his eyes.
He was outside the school. The sky was full of clouds getting ready to pour outside of the city and Terri’s spell book was in his hands. There was no one in sight. Had he done magic by accident? His watch assured him that it was the Thursday he first said the spell.
Will looked down at the words that started it all. Four lines. He supposed he could’ve picked a worse spell to use. He closed the book, placed it back in his car, took his briefcase and walked cautiously into the building. When he stepped inside the doors he waited for some sign that nothing had changed. He took a deep breath and exhaled.
“I’m wearing a skirt.” He said, then smiled at the completion of the sentence. Things were back to normal.
Will asked Finn to stay after class and barely held in his excitement while the other students left.
“What’s up Mr. Schue?” Finn asked casually.
“Have you noticed?” He said with a smile.
“Noticed what?”
“I’m a girl.”
Finn laughed awkwardly. “Is that a song or a code or something?”
“It’s back! We’re back to normal. I don’t even know how it happened. Everyone is Glee was shouting and suddenly bam! I was back here, lies and all.”
“Yeah look I know everyone was crazy yesterday but we’re all really sorry. But spray glue on the chairs? That doesn’t happen to everyone else and we all kinda snapped. I’ll talk to them if you want.”
“What? No, I mean the-” Will’s face dropped. “You don’t remember do you?”
“What am I supposed to remember?” Finn asked.
What was he supposed to remember? The fumbled denying of inappropriate thoughts that would’ve happened at Will’s door that night? The hours of searching YouTube and Google for spells? The soft kiss before school that would happen a week later? Or did happen a week later. Or wouldn’t happen at all.
“Nothing I guess.” Will said. “I thought I told you something but I guess I didn’t.”
“Do you wanna tell me now?” Finn said it so innocently Will felt like a sad pervert.
“It’s nothing really. You should get to class. I’ll see you in Glee.” He smiled to reassure his student and waved as he walked out.
Surprisingly Sam and Amber showed up for Glee that day. Sam had finally convinced Bieste that Glee wasn’t a joke or a threat to the football team. Amber made pretty much the same raunchy comments about Will’s body.
Glee went more or less the same as it did with the spell. A lot of the same questions were asked but without such honest answers. Will assigned them to find group numbers they could practice together because not every song can have just one soloist. Hopefully this way he can wean himself off his Finn favoritism.
After school he decided to stay in his office and look up free sheet music websites. Amber couldn’t sight sing as well as the others and he couldn’t pay for all the things they needed with their small budget.
There was a knock on his door and Finn slowly entered.
“Hey Mr. Schue. Can I come in?”
“Of course.” Will smiled turned away from his computer.
The young man sat down silently, rubbing his hands together nervously.
“What’s up Finn?”
“Oh nothing much. It’s probably a bad idea for me to say this but I’m going to anyway.”
“Did you do something wrong?”
“No, no. It’s just, I’ve been thinking a lot about you. More than if you were just a teacher or a friend. It’s weird. I’ve never been interested in guys or older people but, wow I don’t know how to say this. I came here because I’m hoping maybe you think of me the same way I think of you. I like you Mr. Shue. I’ve tried not to but every time I’m around you I just see more of how great you are and I can’t help it. I’m not like Rachel and if you say that you don’t feel the same I won’t follow you home or anything but, you know, you’re always nicer to me then the other Glee kids and you smile at me in a way that no one else does. So I just wanted to know if I was crazy thinking of all this stuff. So am I crazy? Do you like me too?”
A smile slowly crept onto Will’s face and he said “Yes.”
“Yes, I’m crazy or-”
“Yes I like you Finn. I really like you.”
And Finn smiled back.
Anyway I come baring fic.
Title: Bewitched and Bewildered
Rating: PG-13
Pairing/Characters: Will/Finn
Summary: Will puts a spell on McKinley High he can't undo.
AN: This was betad by the lovely hopenight. It is the longest fanfic I've ever written so please tell me how I did!
“Damn it!” Will Schuester slammed the door to his house.
Some punks had put spray glue on all of the chairs in the choir room. Glee had been a disaster. Those that didn’t storm out as soon as they were removed from their chairs spent the whole time yelling and arguing amongst themselves. They needed new members to join but they couldn’t stand anyone else in the school. Heck, they could barely stand each other when things got rough.
Will dropped down onto his couch. This was growing more out of control and every day they grew closer to sectionals. Will knew if the people of McKinley could stop being so judgmental that everyone would get along and there would be plenty of people joining Glee, but no matter what they did to make it look appealing they were still hated. The club hadn’t been the top of the food chain when he was in school either but it was terrible how this generation treated each other.
Will automatically turned on the TV before going to make himself dinner. It was quieter in the house without Terri and he liked the background noise.
As he was seasoning some chicken he noticed a candle in the corner of his eye. Terri always liked scented oils but last year she bought a ton of white candles of various sizes around Valentine’s Day. Will thought they were for a sweet surprise at first but they stayed unused and sprinkled around the house. It probably had something to do with the Book of Spells she didn’t know he knew about. Her sister was always talking to her about how she needed to rein Will in. Terri wasn’t completely crazy when she thought magic or a child would be the only way to do it. She hid it behind a bookshelf in what could’ve been their kid’s room.
Will stopped grinding pepper at that thought. Was that book still there? Terri had been reluctant and slow to move her things out. It was likely she had forgotten it. Of course it was probably some silly Twitches inspired jumble of words… but when he was younger he had made all of his action figures float from something he saw on Bewitched… maybe…
The man scrambled into the spare room and pushed the bookshelf away from the wall. There were three baby books tilted to hide one large hardback.
Will grabbed the large book and sat down in the living room. It was probably a bad idea but Glee was his whole life right now and his kids needed his help. It was a large book. There must be something that could help him in there.
__~~__~~__~~__~~
Will stood in the parking lot of McKinley High wondering if he was the dumbest person alive. It wasn’t like he needed to be so desperate. There were plenty of other ways to go about it, but something in Will wanted to take drastic measures. He wanted to know if he could actually do it. Magic.
The sky was full of clouds getting ready to pour outside of the city. He looked down at the bookmarked page. It was one of the shortest spells in the book. He didn’t have time for candles and Latin chants. People would start showing up any second. If he was going to do something crazy he needed to do it now.
He took a deep breath and said, “In this building I stand before there hold problems I can’t ignore. Let enemies befriend those they despise. No more judgment and no more lies.”
There wasn’t anything to suggest the school had changed and after a minute he was sure nothing had, but Will was glad he tried. If anything, he felt like a good sport that he loved his club so much he’d use his crazy ex-wife’s silly magic book to try to help them. He slipped the book into the back of his car and grabbed his briefcase.
When he entered the building he exhaled sharply. That was weird. He didn’t think he’d been holding his breath but… oh well.
__~~__~~__~~__~~
The day had been going pretty well as days go. Sue hadn’t said anything to him as any Cheerios practice was held out on the football field, and he and Beiste had a civil conversation during lunch.
He was trying to review a class for the test they would be having and everyone was being surprisingly blunt about their lack of interest. Strangely though, he didn’t care. He still taught them and didn’t punish anyone for being rude or abrupt.
“Alright, I know you guys just want to get the credit without any work. Unfortunately it doesn’t work that way so if you listen you might learn enough to pass. Now Finn, usted puede tener tutorías sesiones en la biblioteca. Can you tell me what I just said?”
“Not at all.”
“Come on Finn, take a guess.”
“You’re sitting on the desk with your legs spread open. I couldn’t even tell you what you said in English, let alone Spanish.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I sit like this so you guys don’t think of me as a teacher but more as a friend. I want everyone to like me.” Well that was too much information.
“Well I’m thinking of you as more than that.” As was that… what was going on?
“Alright, change of subject. If you would all please look at the whiteboard and write down anything you’re not sure about just in case you decide to study tonight.”
__~~__~~__~~__~~
“Sylvester’s been acting different today,” Santana commented to Kurt as Will walked in. “She refuses to enter the school. She says it feels tainted or something.”
“Hmm. I’ve been thinking about trying out for the Cheerios again.” Kurt said pensively. “I didn’t at the beginning of the year so I could be true to Glee but our routines are not making use of my spectacular skills.”
“I would hate that. I’m already at the bottom of the pyramid. I don’t need another diva stealing my spotlight.”
“I don’t care. I only hang out with you because Brittany’s in love with you.”
Brittany looked up at the mention of her name. “I’m afraid that if I try and become smart no one will like me anymore,” she piped in. “but if I’m not smart I’ll end up with a bad credit score and Santana will leave me.”
“Those are justifiable fears.” Santana replies, not looking away from fixing her make-up.
The kids had been talking as if they were casually remarking on the weather and yet they were being frighteningly truthful.
Will stopped sorting through his music sheets. Truthful? No more lies. The spell! Will was blown away. It had actually worked. It hadn’t been his imagination when he was a kid. He had really done magic!
Right on time, two new kids walked into the choir room, a blonde male and a large girl.
“Hello,” Will walked over to the new comers with a bounce in his step. “Are you here to join the club?”
“Yeah,” the blonde replied first. “Coach said as long as it didn’t affect my practice I could join. The other guys surprisingly said they wouldn’t judge me.”
“I’m just here cause I think you are smoking hot and I’m lonely,” the girl said. “This club has kinda has been getting the most action out of the whole school except for the Cheerios. I want in.”
Will just smiled at her awkward honesty and welcomed them to the club. He was right. The knowledge of that was all that he needed.
__~~__~~__~~__~~
Sitting on his couch listening to the radio Will tried to figure out how to place their new members, Sam and Amber. Sam sounded really well but Amber needed some work as Rachel quite loudly pointed out. She didn’t need any spell to be rudely honest.
Wow. That was something. He had cast a spell on McKinley High. He was… well he was pretty badass. Will the Wizard. Sorcerer Schuester. William Schuester: Accomplishing the impossible since 2010.
He wondered for a minute if anyone else would notice. Santana had said Sue wouldn’t go into the building. She must have had no idea how to act without judging people. And it’s not as if they wouldn’t remember what happened in the school… was it? He remembered of course, but he knew about the spell. How did this magic thing really work? Maybe no one would think it was strange. Like it was a normal day. Maybe.
His doorbell rang.
It was Finn.
“Hi. Umm, hey. Rachel told me where you lived. I just… what I said in Spanish today, that was so weird. I shouldn’t have said that. It was like I was thinking something and then I said it. Not that I think that really. No. I mean, it came out wrong and I couldn’t stop myself from talking. It was like that movie, The Invention of Lying where everyone just automatically tells what they’re thinking no matter what. I think they were making fun of Christians in that movie which was kinda weird but it was still funny, not that I don’t like Christians or anything. I’m not really sure if you’re a Christian actually, not that it matters cause either way I’m totally cool with you in whatever it is you wanna be in. I didn’t mean IN. Not like clothes. I mean, of course you can wear whatever clothes you want but that’s not what I meant. What I’m trying to say is I didn’t mean to say anything in class and I don’t think about you naked.”
Well that answers the memory question.
“Finn, that’s totally okay. Everyone said strange things in class today. It’s fine.”
“Huh you’re right. Everyone was being pretty weird. Must’ve been Sue being outside the whole day.”
“Yeah must have been.”
They stood in the doorway staring at each other for a moment, just wondering what the other was thinking about the situation.
Will cleared his throat. “You should probably get back home.”
“Right. Yeah, I’ll just leave you to do… whatever.”
“See you tomorrow Finn.”
Will closed his door on the retreating young man. Well that was quite a shock. He hadn’t really thought about how so much truth might affect his kids afterwards. Santana and Kurt might be having a bitch fit right now. And the new members were probably regretting joining with the realization that judgment was just outside the school walls. This wasn’t really helping anything but his ego was it? This was wrong. He should turn it back.
He sat back down. Stay by Lisa Loeb was playing. That might be a good song for Amber. If she decided to stay in the club. It would be so difficult to get students to join if McKinley was back the way it used to be. Maybe he could keep it there for one more day. Just to see if Sam and Amber came back.
__~~__~~__~~__~~
Will didn’t remove the spell the next day although Sam and Amber did return. He didn’t remove it the day after either when Sam brought a soccer player he was interested in. A week passed and it was still impossible to lie or be prejudiced in McKinley high. In fact, everyone had been as painfully nice as they could be without lying. Needless to say, no one had any idea what to do with themselves.
Athletes bought slushies although they felt no need to hurl them at anyone.
Sue Sylvester sent her Cheerios inside to get anything she needed for fear of thinking any non harmful thoughts of the passersby.
Finn and Amber kept complementing him on his ass during Glee.
It was really bad. Will needed to take the spell off but nothing was working even though he was trying everything he could think of. Terri’s book didn’t have a “My bad. Undo” spell and there were only so many times one can watch Bewitched in a day. It was surprising how many episodes didn’t actually include spells. If only he could wiggle his nose.
He was in his office after school one day searching for spells online with the book hidden in his briefcase. Maybe he could combine two spells for one purpose.
There was a knock on his door and Finn slowly entered.
“Hey Mr. Schue. Can I come in?”
“Of course.” Will quickly minimized his page and hoped Finn wouldn’t ask what he was doing.
The young man sat down silently, rubbing his hands together nervously.
“What’s up Finn?”
“Oh lots of stuff I guess. Rachel’s off giving lessons to Amber and I don’t really wanna be around that. Puck’s been giving half assed attempts to be my best friend again. We’re not enemies anymore but I don’t think I really wanna be his friend. Mom and Burt are at work right now so Kurt’s the only one at home and I don’t like being in the house alone with him. I’m not sure whether I’m supposed to act like his friend or his brother or just the dork he knows from Glee. Anyway I’m here cause you’re really the only one I feel comfortable around nowadays and I just like being around you. You get me more than most people.”
“Thank you.” No matter how much he heard it, Finn’s sincerity never failed to make Will smile. Even if it was forced by a spell.
“Lately I’ve been really… I don’t know, open around you.”
“It’s not just me.”
“Well no, but I think it has something to do with you.”
“You… do?” He couldn’t know… could he?
“Yeah. I’ve been thinking a lot about you. More than if you were just a teacher or a friend. And in Glee you always tell Amber to keep her thoughts about how sexy you are to herself but you never really mention my comments.”
“Oh, I never realized I-”
“It’s just, you always support me and help me and hug me. And your smiles make me feel kinda special. You tell people you don’t have favorite students and I’m hoping it’s because you’ve stopped seeing me as your student. I’m hoping maybe you think of me the same way I think of you. I like you Mr. Shue. I’ve tried not to but every time I’m around you I just see more of how great you are and I can’t help it. So, am I right? Do you like me too?”
The man didn’t say anything. He couldn’t say anything. There were literally no words. The spell wouldn’t let him be a responsible adult if it was dishonest. Even if there were no spell he doesn’t think he would have it in him to hurt the boy sitting in front of him.
There was a long stretch of awkward silence.
“Okay,” Finn broke the quiet and stood. “Sorry. Was I completely off the mark here because-”
“No.”
“No, I wasn’t off the mark, or no you don’t like me?”
Will stood up and looked in Finn’s eyes. “I wish I could say that I don’t like you. That I would rather you not think of me in that context. It’s probably what any other teacher would say in this situation but I can’t say that because I can’t lie.”
The boy stopped to think about that. “You can’t lie?”
“Not at the moment at least.”
Finn slowly made his way around the desk. “So, if I were to ask you if you wanted to kiss me right now...”
“I would have to answer… yes.”
“Yes, you would have to answer or would yes be the-“
“Just come here.” Will pulled the other boy by his shirt and gently brought their lips together. Finn slipped his hands around his waist and pulled the man closer. Will never considered himself a moaner but when the younger boy ran his tongue across his lips he couldn’t help the needy sound that escaped his throat. His hands stroked the taller boys face and let himself sink into the kiss.
He knew it was time to pull away when his lips started to get chapped and numb.
“We shouldn’t do this here.” Will started to pull away but Finn just tightened his grip.
“No, it’s cool. Everyone should’ve been gone at least an hour ago.”
“What? But it’s-” he looked at the time on the computer. Had they really been kissing for half an hour?
“Hey Mr. Schue, what were you doing here late anyway?”
“You can call me Will.” The man untangled himself from his… Finn.
“Will, what were you doing here late? Waiting for me?”
“Heh. No, I could not have predicted that.” He awkwardly tried to put his sheet music in his briefcase without letting the boy see the spell book.
“What’s the big deal? Why aren’t you answering me?” When Will didn’t answer he put his hand on his shoulder and turned him around. “So why can’t you lie?”
“Well you can’t either!” That’s not what he meant to say. Damn spell.
“What are you talking about?”
He sighed. He should’ve known it couldn’t go on forever. “I put a spell on the school. I was just trying to get people to be nicer to each other but, it made it so that once anyone enters they can’t lie.” Well he’d really messed this one up.
“Oh. Wow. You can do magic?” He was smiling. Why was he smiling? “That is so cool!”
“Yeah it is but aren’t you upset? I enchanted you and everyone else.”
The young man laughed. “Mr. Schue. Will. You’ve been enchanting me for a while. You can use that word that way right?”
“Yeah you can. So, you’re okay with all this?”
“It is a little freaky but, Will, you’re amazing.” He tilted the man’s chin up and kissed him again. “So, how long is this spell gonna last?”
“I don’t know. I can’t find a way to take it off. I was looking up reverse spells when you came in. Nothing’s been working.”
“Well I can help you if you want. No one’s really expecting me home anytime soon.”
“If you want, sure. That’d be great.” And then Will kissed him, just because he could.
__~~__~~__~~__~~
Finn was a genius.
Once he got on the computer he directly went to Youtube and typed spells into the search box. Immediately he got hundreds of clips of movies and TV shows showing just the spells. Sure they would have a lot of watch but it was much more direct than what Will was getting and he was optimistic. For a while.
It was insane how many spells there were to get people to tell the truth. Unfortunately, there weren’t any on how to get them to lie again. After an hour of watching the Charmed sisters vanquish demons and badly lit videos explaining how big your spell circle should be, Finn said he had to go home.
“Thanks for your help.” Will walked him out. “Wish we could’ve gotten more done but thanks for the support.”
“Yeah. I’ll try and look some up when I get home. Sylvester can’t avoid the school forever.”
“Unfortunately.” They chuckled as they stopped at the door.
Finn looked at the door and said, “So I’ll uh… just…” Then he looked back down at Will, swooped down and kissed him. The man instinctively tilted his head and pressed his body against him.
It was only a moment of stroking lips, a reminder, before Finn pulled away. Something in Will told him he would never get tired of that.
“So,” Finn started, absentmindedly fixing one of the man’s curls, “what is this? What are we doing?”
“Magic?” Will quirked smiled.
“You know what I mean. Us.”
“Yeah I know what you mean. I don’t know really. Aren’t you still with Rachel?”
“Not exactly. At school, the whole honesty thing, she found out I had sex with Santana and got all pissy for no reason. She was with Jesse when it happened and it’s not like I really liked it anyway. It was just stupid.” Finn stroked the curl he was messing with back and Will grabbed his hand.
“So is that why you came to my office today? Because you two had a fight?”
“What? No! Of course not. I really like you Will. I’ve been meaning to do that for a while but, you know, I didn’t wanna come off as stalkerish like Rachel was and everyone had been acting so strange I thought I’d probably say something wrong. The fight just kinda made me wonder why I’m even with Rachel anymore. It’s becoming less fun as it goes on and that’s why I was walking around after school. To get away from her. And then I saw you were still here and no one else was and it was kinda now or never. Or then or never. Anyway it’s not like it was a spur of the moment thing. I mean it was, but it wasn’t. I wasn’t just doing it because of Rachel, I really like you and you’re not some backup plan or anything. You know that right?”
Will smiled at the bumbling boy. “Yes I know. How bout we put that question on hold until we get this magic thing figured out? Alright?”
Finn smiled his crooked smile. “Alright.” The kiss was longer this time. More lips and tongue. Hands stroking comfortingly. Each telling the other that they weren’t going through a phase and that this would all work out for the best. Each memorizing the others taste, just in case it wouldn’t. And when they parted their smiles matched. Happy. Slightly nervous, but really happy. Finn walked out of the apartment and the older man leaned against his door. Yup. Just another evening.
Will stayed up all night on Youtube trying to find anything that could help him. It was one in the morning when he fell asleep on his keyboard watching an episode of Wizards of Waverly Place. It was 1:45am when a loud chime from his e-mail woke him up. He would’ve ignored it but he saw it was from Finn and figured if he sent it so late it was probably worth looking at.
Hey, this is the only one that looks like it might work for us. Hopefully i’ll be able to lie soon. ;)
Then a long list of instructions. Will yawned, printed them out, and stumbled back to bed careless throwing his clothes off as he went.
__~~__~~__~~__~~
When a loud ring went off at 6:30am the next morning, Will made sure he was very careful not to smash his alarm clock completely when he threw it across the room. He then drew his sheets over his head and slipped back into the warmth of his dreams.
When a loud ring went off at 7:15am, Will went to grab for his clock again, only to realize he had already thrown it across the room. It took him a minute to realize the noise was from his doorbell.
He groggily opened his front door to see Finn holding a piece of black material with a pack of incense and a marble held in it. The younger man’s eyes trailed down Will’s body as the tired man tried to remember if Alex Russo ever got out of her doll house.
“Finn? Why’re you ringing my doorbell?”
“I knocked first, a couple times, but you didn’t answer. I didn’t even know you had a doorbell until right now actually. Sorry. Were you about to get in the shower?”
“No I was just waking up.” Will yawned and opened the door wider. “Come in.”
Finn put his supplies on the living room table and stood across from the other man with his hands awkwardly in his pockets. Will was almost completely awake by then.
“So why are you here so early?”
“Sorry. I figured you would be up.”
“I’m not complaining. I probably would’ve slept the day away if you hadn’t.” He yawned again.
“I just thought I could help you with some of the supplies for the spell in case you didn’t have them.”
“Supplies?” He stretched as he walked back to his printer. “I didn’t get around to reading it cause it was so late last night. Do you think you could get everything ready while I go put on clothes?”
“Who needs clothes?” Finn said, blatantly staring at his chest. When Will cleared his throat, he looked up and smiled his lopsided smile. “Sorry, spell.”
“Uh huh.” The man smirked as he handed the paper over before heading back to his room.
When he returned, fully dressed with Listerine fresh breath, the table was pushed against the wall with several sticks of incense burning. Finn had made a pentagon of lit white candles where the table once was and the black material and marble were sitting next to them.
“Hey.” The teen smiled when Will entered the room. “Do you have any beads? I brought a marble just in case but they said a necklace bead would work best.”
“Yeah I think so.” Will removed a fake pearl necklace from the table and sat down on the opposite side of the pentagon. “Puede usted mano me las instrucciones por favor?” After seeing the confused look on the others face Will grieved for his teaching skills and repeated, “Can you hand me the instructions please?”
“Oh, si!” Finn had made the pentagon rather large and had to lean in order to hand the paper over and ended up knocking over a lit candle. Reflexively he went to grab the candle with his right hand, the hand that held the instructions. He managed to grab it before the carpet could be damaged but the left side of the paper was burned up.
“Oh damn. I’m so sorry. I’m such a klutz. I shouldn’t have come.”
“Finn,” Will grabbed his flailing hands, “It’s fine. Let’s just see what we have. We have to leave soon. School’s starting in less than an hour.”
He looked over the half singed paper and grimaced. He looked up at Finn who had scooted away from the candles and stared at his feet.
“It’s okay,” he said encouragingly. “I’m magical remember? I can make it work. And I can get us to school on time now that’s only half as long.” Finn didn’t laugh but his mouth lifted slightly. “Now come on. Stop whining and let’s do this.” Finn stayed a good distance away but crossed his legs and held his head high. He was not gonna act like a whiny teenager in front of his… whatever.
Will took a deep breath. “Okay. I now ask the favor of having the spell removed. I understand to take back a spell… I need to show my spirit is true and my intentions are good.” He broke off a bead from the old necklace. “I give this pearl from a necklace I own, at least I think I own it. I transfer the spell into the pearl… This is my will -so be it.” He tossed to fake pearl to Finn to place in the black cloth. Finn glanced up when he didn’t continue.
“Is that it?”
“It says I’m supposed to put candle wax on something but I don’t know what.”
“Maybe the bead?”
“I don’t know. Let’s not worry about it. Just wrap it up and put it in your backpack. If this works Sue will be on my back all day streaming with insults she’s been waiting a week to let out.”
Finn blew out the candles as the other went to collect the rest of his things. They walked to the door together but before Will could grab the handle Finn pulled him back.
“So are you gonna pretend yesterday didn’t happen now?”
“What? No, of course not. I just-”
“Good.” Finn cut him off and pulled the man in closer for a kiss. Will dropped his briefcase and returned the kiss eagerly. Finn back away just enough to say, “Because I would hate to not be able to do that.”
__~~__~~__~~__~~
Rachel walked up to Finn at his locker that morning, minutes after he separated from Will.
“You seem rather happy this morning.” She says somewhere between amused and suspicious.
“I am happy.”
“Something to do with me hopefully.”
“Why would it have to do with you? I haven’t talked to you since you freaked out on me yesterday.” Finn considered putting the pearl in his locker before deciding to keep it where it was.
“Yes well, on the subject of that, I have decided that I was being very harsh on you yesterday. I also lied to you about sex and although mine left me pure and with a knowledge of myself I never had and yours left you sullied and probably with some sort of disease, I have decided that we are perfect together either way and I will happily take you back after you’re tested.”
“Wow Rachel.” He leaned against his locker as if the offensiveness of her statement had actually pushed him. “As romantic a statement as I’m sure you think that is, I’ve already been tested. I don’t have any diseases and I'm not getting back together with you.”
Finn walked down the hall with a bounce in his step and a plaid suited girl running behind him.
“You can’t mean that. My entire level of self worth is based on my performance abilities and you being my boyfriend. We just have to stay together!”
But he just smirked and headed to homeroom. He should’ve done that weeks ago.
__~~__~~__~~__~~
Finn wasn’t sure whether the spell that morning had worked or not. At times it seemed like everything was normal with people saying just enough and not spouting uncontrollable truths. But something would switch and then blunt awful honesty came rushing out.
He and Kurt had been having a perfectly civil conversation in the lunch line, but once they sat down suddenly Kurt said, “Every world that comes out of your mouth makes me care less and less about anything you have to say. I actually feel my IQ decreasing as you speak. Pick up a book.”
Everyone at the table looked at Kurt with horror-struck expressions.
A few seconds passed before he said, “That was out loud wasn’t it?”
Finn decided to look up the spell during study hall to see what they skipped. He went to Schuester’s office directly after.
Will was sipping coffee and alphabetizing when he entered unannounced.
“The spell’s still working.”
The teacher looked up confused. “What? But it’s been normal all day.”
“Well yeah. Cause I’ve been carrying it around all day. The pearl? It’s still making people tell the truth. I looked up the spell we- well I- burned. You were supposed to tell it to become a doormat or something.”
“Dormant?”
“Yeah, exactly. So it wouldn’t work anymore, but now whenever people get near it it’s on again.” Finn was kind of proud of himself for figuring it out. Will however didn’t look as excited. He put his head in his hands and sighed.
“Hey, it’s okay Mr. Schue. We can just keep it in a drawer in your office or I could take it home and bury it.” What happened to fun sleepy Will? Damn coffee.
“I should never have done that. I shouldn’t have even attempted to do anything to try and control other people. I just wanted people to get along but I always mess things up.”
“No you don’t Will. Here I’ll just break it.” He started taking books out of his bag to find the pearl.
“I don’t think that-”
“Schuester!” Sue Sylvester burst into the office cause both of the men to jump. “Figgins wants to see you next period.”
“But Glee’s next hour.” Will said.
“Yeah, that was probably on purpose because you and your little club are taking up his time, money and patience. I see your hair doesn’t quiet have that spit shine on it. No hair product? Maybe you thought that would leave me without insults but, of course, you were wrong. I’m sure I could think of a thousand top notch zingers to throw in your direction but for some reason I don’t feel like it.”
At that Sue sauntered back out into the halls. The two men looked at each other questioningly, and then Finn stared down into his backpack. He slowly lifted the back cloth from his bag.
“I think I broke it.” He said. “Is that bad?”
__~~__~~__~~__~~
“William I am very disappointed in your Glee kids. On several occasions they have said rude and unnecessary statements to nearly every member of the faculty. It has been happening all week and for some reason I decided not to worry about it but I am taking action now.”
“You can’t blame this on my kids. All of the students have been uncouth all week. Everyone’s noticed and you can’t punish the Glee club without punishing the entire student body.”
“The Glee club has been warned about outbursts before.”
“Everyone’s been warned about outbursts. Can you honestly say the Glee club were the only people to say rude and unnecessary statements to their teachers?”
“Of course not.” Figgins seemed mildly surprised that he had actually spoken the truth.
“Exactly! Everyone’s been doing that since I-” Stop. Wait Will. You do not want to say something you will regret.
“Since what William?” Figgin’s looked at him suspiciously.
“Since… last Thursday.” The truth. “Wednesday night I… I think there were a bunch of movies with teenagers rebelling on TV.”
“Are you implying that this strange new behavior is a response to television?”
“I am implying that.”
Figgins considered it and sighed. “Alright Will. You are right. I can’t punish the Glee club but I want to find out what has been causing this.”
“I’m sure everyone does Principal Figgins.”
Oh he had no idea.
When he entered the choir room the Glee club was in a riot. Everyone was shouting at the same time and were assembled in a circle around one chair. They stopped to look when he walked through the door.
“What’s going on here?” He asked, and the shouting resumed.
Finn managed to scramble his way out from the center of the group.
“Hey, Mr. Schue.” He said over the bustle of the other members. “So, good news, when I broke the pearl it did sort of break the spell. The ‘no judgment’ part seems to have been hugely weakened. But the truth part is still going strong.”
“Yes I’ve noticed. But why is everyone-”
“Yes, the bad news is because of that I, uh, have accidentally told all of Glee club about the spell.”
“You bet he did and we want some answers!” Mercedes voice rang out above the crowd.
The whole group started moving in closer, surrounding him with shouts of “how could you do this to us?” and “what gives you the right?” and “you let FINN of all people help you reverse it?”
“It’s not like… Well I didn’t…” He couldn’t seem to answer anything but no one was listening anyway. They were one bad answer away from suggesting burning the witch.
Will’s head started throbbing and his muscles started cramping. Every doubt he had been having for the past week, every regret that he had tried to push down, was being thrown back at him. He put his head in his hands. This wasn’t right. That’s not why he did this. He had just made things worse. Why did he always think he could save everyone? He just needed to undo it. Just stop everything and go back. Just fix it before it went too far.
“Stop!” he shouted and opened his eyes.
He was outside the school. The sky was full of clouds getting ready to pour outside of the city and Terri’s spell book was in his hands. There was no one in sight. Had he done magic by accident? His watch assured him that it was the Thursday he first said the spell.
Will looked down at the words that started it all. Four lines. He supposed he could’ve picked a worse spell to use. He closed the book, placed it back in his car, took his briefcase and walked cautiously into the building. When he stepped inside the doors he waited for some sign that nothing had changed. He took a deep breath and exhaled.
“I’m wearing a skirt.” He said, then smiled at the completion of the sentence. Things were back to normal.
Will asked Finn to stay after class and barely held in his excitement while the other students left.
“What’s up Mr. Schue?” Finn asked casually.
“Have you noticed?” He said with a smile.
“Noticed what?”
“I’m a girl.”
Finn laughed awkwardly. “Is that a song or a code or something?”
“It’s back! We’re back to normal. I don’t even know how it happened. Everyone is Glee was shouting and suddenly bam! I was back here, lies and all.”
“Yeah look I know everyone was crazy yesterday but we’re all really sorry. But spray glue on the chairs? That doesn’t happen to everyone else and we all kinda snapped. I’ll talk to them if you want.”
“What? No, I mean the-” Will’s face dropped. “You don’t remember do you?”
“What am I supposed to remember?” Finn asked.
What was he supposed to remember? The fumbled denying of inappropriate thoughts that would’ve happened at Will’s door that night? The hours of searching YouTube and Google for spells? The soft kiss before school that would happen a week later? Or did happen a week later. Or wouldn’t happen at all.
“Nothing I guess.” Will said. “I thought I told you something but I guess I didn’t.”
“Do you wanna tell me now?” Finn said it so innocently Will felt like a sad pervert.
“It’s nothing really. You should get to class. I’ll see you in Glee.” He smiled to reassure his student and waved as he walked out.
Surprisingly Sam and Amber showed up for Glee that day. Sam had finally convinced Bieste that Glee wasn’t a joke or a threat to the football team. Amber made pretty much the same raunchy comments about Will’s body.
Glee went more or less the same as it did with the spell. A lot of the same questions were asked but without such honest answers. Will assigned them to find group numbers they could practice together because not every song can have just one soloist. Hopefully this way he can wean himself off his Finn favoritism.
After school he decided to stay in his office and look up free sheet music websites. Amber couldn’t sight sing as well as the others and he couldn’t pay for all the things they needed with their small budget.
There was a knock on his door and Finn slowly entered.
“Hey Mr. Schue. Can I come in?”
“Of course.” Will smiled turned away from his computer.
The young man sat down silently, rubbing his hands together nervously.
“What’s up Finn?”
“Oh nothing much. It’s probably a bad idea for me to say this but I’m going to anyway.”
“Did you do something wrong?”
“No, no. It’s just, I’ve been thinking a lot about you. More than if you were just a teacher or a friend. It’s weird. I’ve never been interested in guys or older people but, wow I don’t know how to say this. I came here because I’m hoping maybe you think of me the same way I think of you. I like you Mr. Shue. I’ve tried not to but every time I’m around you I just see more of how great you are and I can’t help it. I’m not like Rachel and if you say that you don’t feel the same I won’t follow you home or anything but, you know, you’re always nicer to me then the other Glee kids and you smile at me in a way that no one else does. So I just wanted to know if I was crazy thinking of all this stuff. So am I crazy? Do you like me too?”
A smile slowly crept onto Will’s face and he said “Yes.”
“Yes, I’m crazy or-”
“Yes I like you Finn. I really like you.”
And Finn smiled back.