Blaine sighs for the umpteenth time "Jason." He says in a stern tone "Please take your notebook and got to the corner. You can write your essay over there just the same."
The boys huffs, but, for once and rather miraculously if you ask Blaine, does as he's told.
Class continues and Blaine does his best to ignore the teasing giggles coming from the corner every time a classmate says the wrong answer. During recess for lunch he crosses the corridor and opens the door to Finn Hudson's office. "Your nephew is impossible!" he gasps.
It's the third day of school and he's had to send him to the corner three times already.
Finn just gives him a shrug "Yep." He laughs and pats Blaine's shoulder "You have my brother's number in the file." He says as he turns back to his own desk, cleaning up items and stuffing notebooks into his briefcase "I'm not going to get involved. It was hard enough convincing the kid I wouldn't be spying on him when they decided to enroll him here."
"Where are you going?"
"Field trip." He grins "We're going to the Zoo! Sam's already loading the kids up to the bus." he announces cheerfully "See you tomorrow buddy."
"Oh, right. I forgot about that. Have fun."
Finn gives him a laugh "As if." Blaine returns the smirk. Field trips are the worst thing. Nothing but stress and counting heads every five minutes.
Back in his classroom for the afternoon Blaine does his best to ignore Jason and the way he keeps mimicking everything Blaine's doing or saying like he's just so stupid! Once the bell rings to shouts of joy and class is dismissed, Blaine resists the urge to ask for a word with Jason – it's only the third day, maybe he's just acting out, maybe he'll calm down.
With a long, tired breath he cleans up his desk and heads out for the day – craving that ice cold beer in his fridge and a good old episode of Will and Grace while he grades homework. He puts everything back in order in his classroom and his desk, taking his usual half an hour, before he leaves. He's heading out towards his car in the parking lot when he notices the small child on the front steps of the school.
Doing his best not to resent the kid he approaches with a soft smile "Hey, buddy." Jason looks up but doesn't say anything "What're you doing here?"
The kid shrugs "Daddy forgot, I guess."
"Oh." He should go back inside and check for his number, call him to remind him "Well, that happens sometimes… Grown ups have very busy lives and some things just… slip their minds."
Jason nods, giving Blaine his best annoyed face and letting him know he's not up for a conversation, let alone one so condescending.
Blaine doesn't feel comfortable going back inside and leaving the kid alone, outside. So he sits down and takes out his phone texting Finn for his brother's number. "Mind if I wait with you?"
Jason eyes him with disdain before shrugging and saying "I wasn't going to take candy from strangers, you know. I'm not stupid."
"Oh no, I know that." Blaine says lightly, ignoring the sting of the kid's tone "I just have a lot of homework to look through today, and I'm not feeling it right now."
"So you're procrastinating." The kid says, just as Blaine's phone buzzes with Finn's reply.
Blaine quirks an eyebrow "That's quite the word you got there."
"I told you. I'm not stupid."
Blaine just chuckles as he types out "Hello Mr. Wilkes. This is Blaine Anderson, your son's teacher, and it's just a reminder that he's waiting for you to pick him up at school. You don't need to worry, I'll wait with him as long as you need, but he tells me you were supposed to come, which is why I'm texting you."
He hits send and tries not to act too patronizingly towards Jason. The kid sure doesn't seem like he'd appreciate it. "So, how are you liking the new school?"
The boy shrugs.
"Do you like your classmates? Are you making friends?" he asks. Jason is the newest student in their third grade class. All of the other students already know each other from the first and second grades, and Blaine's noticed he doesn't usually join the rest of them in the courtyard.
Jason gives him a dirty look before saying "I know you hate me. You don't have to be nice to me."
"I don't hate you!" Blaine frowns at once "Why would you think that?!"
"You're always making me sit in the corner!"
"Because you're misbehaving!" Blaine counters "I can't have you disrupt my class. You're not the only student I have and if you're disturbing my class the others can't learn."
"Whatever. They're dumb, anyway."
"Jason." Blaine chastises, but just as he does a speeding black car halts suddenly, tires screeching and a door flings open.
A tall, brown haired man in a fine looking suit clambers out of the car, practically panting "Jason!" he sprints to where Jason's already standing up and hiking his bag over his shoulder, looking thoroughly bored "Jason! Sweetie! Oh my god, I am so sorry!" the man gasps as he reaches them, dropping to his knees and wrapping his arms around a completely stoic Jason. The man glances up and, over a pair of designer sunglasses, locks his bright blue eyes on Blaine "Thank you, Mr. …?"
"Anderson."
"Right. I knew that." He nods standing up and offering his hand, which Blaine takes with a polite smile.
"So you got my text?"
"What?" Mr. Wilkes frowns before shoving a hand to his pocket, pulling out a blackberry "Oh! Oh, god. I didn't forget!" he gasps, cheeks suddenly bright red, before turning back to Jason and kneeling in front of him "I didn't forget, sweetie!" he promises, slightly frantic "Daddy just had a big meeting that ran a little late and I didn't have time to ask Jane to pick you up, ok? I thought uncle Finn could look over you until I got here."
"Finn's class is on a fieldtrip." Blaine clarifies.
"Oh, shoot. Right. Of course. He must've told me. I just… I keep forgetting these things." He runs a tired hand over his face before startling and looking back at his son "Not you! I never forget you."
"Yeah, yeah." Jason rolls his eyes and starts towards the car, which miraculously hasn't been stolen, yet – door wide open and key presumably in the ignition.
"Jason!" Mr. Wilkes calls after him, but the boy just keeps on walking to the car "Fuck." Mr. Wilkes curses under his breath "Fuck, fuck, fuck." He gives a long sigh before pushing his sunglasses back in place and holds out a hand towards Blaine again "I'm so sorry, Mr. Anderson. Thanks again."
"N-no problem."
"Well… It was a pleasure, and…" Mr. Wilkes smiles awkwardly before starting towards his car "I'll see you… whenever you inevitably have to call me over because of Jason's behavior."
Blaine sputters "I… I'm… not…"
The man just gives him a bitter laugh "Come on, Mr. Anderson, let's not pretend here. No point in pretending he's not the spawn of Satan sometimes." He jokes before turning on his heel and sprinting back to his car, leaving a gaping Blaine behind.
His cell buzzes with a new text "Do you need a different number or did Kurt get back to you?"
"Everything's fine. Your brother's picked him up already. He didn't forget. Got held up in a meeting. How's the zoo?"
He receives a picture in reply. Sam's in front of a cage, clearly impersonating a monkey, and Blaine just snorts, pocketing the phone and finally heading home to his beer and TV.
It's two weeks after that that Blaine finally gives up, asking the principle's secretary to call Jason's parents inviting them over for a talk. His behavior is impossible in class: he's disruptive, mean and belligerent. And the worst part is that the kid is actually really, really smart. He always turns up the best compositions and never once has he missed his homework or turned it up incomplete or wrong. His skill level is quite possible above third grade, and if it wasn't for his behavior Blaine might still be calling in his parents to suggest he skip a year. Blaine really wants the kid to succeed, but with behavior like that, not even an impeccable score sheet could keep him from trouble.
Finn volunteers to take the kid to the gym and throw some balls around while Blaine waits for his parents and talks with them.
He's straightened his desk three times before there's a knock and Mr. Wilkes perfectly styled hair is in view. "Mr. Anderson?"
"Oh!" Blaine stands at once, walking around his desk to greet the handsome man – he's dressed in an impeccable suit, with an indigo blue tie that make his eyes shine bright, and if it weren't for the frantic display he'd witnessed weeks ago Blaine would be ready to assume this was a classic case of workaholic parents who forget they have kids and completely ignore them (maybe it's just a classic case of parents who know they're kids are trouble but don't' have time, nor patience to deal with it, chalking it up to the teachers)"Mr. Wilkes, hi!"
"It's Hummel." He says "Kurt Hummel. Not…- I'm not Wilkes."
"Oh… I… his file says Jason Wilkes, I thought."
Mr. Hummel gives him a tight smile "Yes, well, the divorce has been finalized today so it's officially Hummel for me. Jason, I'm afraid, will be stuck with Wilkes forever." He explains lightly as he walks towards the chair Blaine's pulled up.
"Divorce?" Blaine asks politely as he takes his own seat, too.
"Yes. It's funny. You never think you're gonna end up filing for divorce when you agree to organizing your child's name alphabetically. Or when you agree that using a hyphen isn't all that aesthetically pleasing… So you figure, it's just a name… It's not like he's any less mine, anyway. And I mean, it's the least you can do, when your husband never really wanted kids in the first place – you say sure! Pick the name! Sure, let him have your familyname! Anything to make him more involved in the process… even if Jason isn't the most interesting name, or if my family is six times the family his will ever be, and my surname certainly is better and stronger. But by this time, you're just excited he's involved in it, so you could care less about the kid's name as long as he exists and he's yours! And you're excited that your husband is finally excited too." Mr. Hummel says in a perfectly composed tone, like he's discussing the weather "Now, what nobody ever tells you is that it'll do you no good to let him pick the name when he's just a lying, cheating man whore that sleeps around with the male half of the entire PTA at your son's school."
"Oh my god." Blaine finally manages, when there's a moment of pause.
"I'm sorry, that was big rant… And too much information. It was, wasn't it?"
"No… it's fine, it's ok. I just… I wasn't expecting it." Blaine manages to stutter out.
Mr. Hummel gives him a half amused smile before sighing and saying "So tell me, Mr. Anderson. Do you hate my son, yet?"
"No!"
"Because I do. Most days. I do."
"I… huh… what."
"He's so infuriating. God, I wish I could just…. Argh. Anyway, I've tried everything, I've tried being the good cop, I've tried being the bad cop… I've tried… God I've tried giving him just as bad as he gives… I've tried no TV, no console, no comic books, no desserts…! I've run out of things to take way from him, unless I make him starve. And I'm completely alone because… hey, do you see my ex-husband sitting here next to me? No! Of course not! He's too busy to have a son. I'm telling you, these last five months… worst of my life."
"So do you think it has anything to do with the divorce?" Blaine frowns carefully.
Mr. Hummel just laughs "Well, I'm no genius." He jokes, reminding Blaine of Jason's sarcastic streak.
"Right…" He says, refraining from pointing out the similarity.
"It started before, though. His dad was… wasn't around much, and I work too – full time, so… - I'd get off work as soon as I could, pick him up from school, and then I'd still have to cook dinner and clean the house, because god forbid any of them ever help me with that! So I guess I never had much time to play with him. And he resented that of course. He acted out – I got called to his school a lot, and he kept bringing home bad reports, and it had to stop. So we got a housekeeper, and I tried to keep my office hours to the exact stipulations in my contract, refused to work overtime and I started hanging out with him more. And I also begged my husband to get more involved he did – he took care of the PTA and Jason's old school, went to every meeting, helped with every function. Things were definitely looking up, and Jason was so much better, until… well… then word got out my husband was sleeping with one of the other dad's, and… then it turned out it hadn't been just one dad."
"Oh."
"We had to get him out of that school, obviously – but at the time it was almost summer break and… I regret it so much – I should've pulled him out at once, no matter what. I think those two months were absolutely traumatizing for him. It wasn't just our divorce, it was the other's kids whose parents were separating too telling him his father had seduced theirs, had turned their father's into fags… and you know kids… kept calling him a freak and a home wrecker – and you know kids don't learn those words from a dictionary."
"Oh my god." Blaine gasps.
Mr. Hummel just gives him a sad, knowing smile "that being said… it… I can't just excuse his behavior because he had a hard time. It's not ok. I… can't have a spoilt brat for a son, just because his parents got a divorce. God knows where I'd be if my dad had let that happen to me when I was a kid and my mom died."
"Right, I understand that completely." Blaine nods, trying to keep a straight face at the completely overwhelming outpour of information coming his way.
"When I say I hate my kid, I'm joking. Obviously. But… it does get… hard." He pauses and avoids Blaine's eyes, instead choosing to inspect his hands closely before sighing and saying "I'm not… I'm not here to try to excuse him. To convince you to cut him some slack. That's not it at all. It's the opposite. Reprimand him as much as you need to. He needs to know boundaries, and he… I'm not going to treat him with kid gloves because he had a shitty thing happen to him. He needs tough love, and… well… I just. I'm his dad, right? It hurts doing this, watching him get mad at me because I don't buy him every single toy he asks for, or because we're not having pizza for dinner every night… But if I don't love him enough to do that, no one will." He sighs tiredly before shrugging and adding "I'm just… I'm just running out of ideas, it's all."
Blaine smiles and leans closer "I'm sure, he'll be better at some point."
"Yes. He's already moved past trying to cry his way into having what he wants, and now he's entering the plain brat phase. I'm sure he'll get back to normal eventually. In the meantime I just have to try not to kill him." He says with a chuckle.
Blaine gives him another smile before tilting his head and risking "Have you – excuse me if I'm overstepping – but have you considered… professional help?"
"Like a shrink?!" Blaine gives a tiny nod and before he can explain he meant a psychologist or a therapist and not exactly a shrink Kurt's eyes bulge out and he hastens to speak "That was a joke! I'm not going to kill my son! I'm just! I don't need a-"
"Not for you!" Blaine interrupts, holding back a laugh at Mr. Hummel's frantic expression "For your son. I mean for Jason. I know a great therapist who specializes in dealing with children, I could give you her card."
"Oh!" the man gasps before hiding his face in his hands and breathing out a laugh "I'm sorry. I just…"
"No, it's fine. I know the bow tie doesn't exactly scream sense of humor, but I do have one." Blaine shrugs "Here, have the card anyway, and call if you need to. Dr. Pillsbury's office isn't that far from here, and if you schedule the appointments right after school I could even take Jason, myself."
"Oh, I couldn't-"
"It wouldn't be any trouble at all, it's on my way home. So think about it, and give her a call, if you want. I promise you she's amazing." Blaine says, refraining from saying he used to be her patient as a teenager.
"I… thanks… I'll think about it."
Blaine just smiles and nods "Anyway… I… If you're fully aware of your son's behavior, then I'm not sure there's all that much we can discuss here."
"Yeah." Mr. Hummel nods, standing up and brushing his pants "Well, I really am sorry he's giving you so much trouble. I'll… I'll take away his TV privileges again until he gets a good report from you."
Blaine can't help but laugh at that "He's gonna hate us both."
"Humph. I'm used to it. You… however… well, good luck with that, Mr. Anderson."
"It's… huh…it's Blaine… I don't really… call me Blaine, Mr. Hummel."
The man laughs "In that case it's Kurt." He says as he hikes his bag over one shoulder and offers a hand.
Blaine tries to ignore the sparks of electricity as their eyes refuse to leave each other, Kurt's smirk mesmerizing, and takes his warm, strong hand.
"See you around, Blaine." The man says before turning and leaving Blaine with an after taste of something. Something sweet and spicy. He shakes his head before the thought can go any further. Kurt is one of his student's parents. Kurt has just gotten out of a messy divorce. Kurt is not an option.
Kurt is cute, though. And funny, even as he talks about his nasty divorce, and seemingly smart. Blaine sighs with the full knowledge that Kurt's kind of his type.
The next day Jason is absolutely at his worst – the most insufferable he's ever been and it takes all the self-control in Blaine not to send him to the principle's office. When he asks the class to pair up and Jason's left alone Blaine realizes something, though.
A friend. That's what the kid needs. A true friend, a true ally. Someone who he can talk to about whatever he wants and trusts without fearing any judgment. Not a therapist, no, that's different – equally important but completely different.
So, when the bell rings he asks Jason to stay for a word. Jason rolls his eyes and approaches Blaine's desk just as he finishes writing on a piece of paper.
"So Jason." He starts "This is your report for today."
Jason just continues to silently glare at him.
"It says you behaved perfectly."
Jason squints suspiciously "Why?"
"Because TV's a big deal." Blaine shrugs with a smile.
"No, it's not." Blaine just looks at him pointedly before the kid rolls his eyes and sighs "Fine! It is! But I thought grown-ups were supposed to tell us it's not."
That makes him laugh, which only makes Jason look more irritated.
"Listen, Jason. I know things aren't perfect at home right now."
"Oh here we go." Jason rolls his eyes yet again.
"What?" Blaine pauses "What do you think I'm going to say?"
"That dad still loves me even if he moved back to LA and never calls anymore. That daddy's trying really hard but he has to work to pay the bills. That I need to be a little man because daddy can't do everything alone. That…"
"Buddy…! That's not what I was going to say."
"Yeah, right. I know you talked to daddy yesterday. I know he told you everything. I know you made a deal. You're just like him."
"Yes, I did! And I'm breaking that deal right now, aren't I?" Blaine tries, pausing enough time to exchange a meaningful look with the boy "I was going to say, that I know sometimes grown ups won't understand you, and I know that stinks, right? I'm sure you're trying your best."
Jason eyes him warily.
"I'm giving you this report because I trust you, and I'd very much like you to trust me." He says softly walking around his desk, and lowering himself so he's eye to eye with Jason "Listen, I'm on your side, Jason."
"You still called daddy in here… and you told him."
"I had to. You have to understand, buddy, I need you to follow my rules in class, so that everyone else can learn."
"They're dumb. Everything's too easy."
"I know." Blaine resists a laugh "You're by far the smartest kid in here, Jason. I'm not just saying that, you are. But you have to understand we can't all be that smart. Just like we can't all be good soccer players like Mattie."
"I stink at soccer."
"You really do!" Blaine does laugh this time and Jason smacks his chest "What?! It's true!"
"I thought you were cheering me up!" he whines with ill-conceived amusement. And wow, he's just like Kurt. They have the exact same smile, and they have the exact same eyes.
"Right! But the thing is, Jason, you don't have to be good at everything. You're already the smartest kid in class."
"Ok."
"Everyone's got their talents." Blaine shrugs "And everyone's entitled to stink at something, too."
"What do you stink at, Mr. B?"
Blaine considers it for a while "I'm a very bad driver. I can't cook at all. You already know I can't draw. I play the guitar and the piano, but I absolutely cannot play the violin. I'm not a fast runner at all. And I wish I could play football, but I really can't."
"Wow. That's a lot of things."
He chuckles and shrugs "I can also do a lot of things, so it's ok."
"It is?"
"Yes. Why?"
"Well… daddy sings really well. And uncle Finn, and aunt Rachel, and aunt Mercedes, and… well… my daddy's friends can all sing. But I don't think I can."
"Alright. Not everybody can sing. Actually most people can't."
"But daddy'll be disappointed."
"I'm pretty sure he'll be fine." Blaine shakes his head "He just wants you to be happy."
"He keeps saying that. But then he won't let me watch TV." Jason complains and Blaine feels a small sense of victory, noticing there's no trace of malice left in it. It's just a kid talking about stuff. He trusts Blaine.
"That's just a parents' job. When kids misbehave it's a parent's job to make sure it has consequences, so that they will learn not to misbehave." Blaine explains calmly, looking carefully for any trace of anger and annoyance. He finds defiance, as the boy crosses his arms over his chest and cocks his hip.
"My dad always buys me the toys I want, even when I'm bad." Your dad feels guilty about all the shit he put you through so he's trying to buy your love, Blaine thinks and before Blaine can come up with something else to say Jason adds "Or he used to. When he was home."
"Listen. Your daddy can't buy you everything you want, because toys are expensive and because life is… well, it's about earning things. It means he loves you very much, because it means he's doing what's best for you even if it means that you get angry with him. It's called sacrificing."
"Yeah, right."
"It's true, buddy." Blaine smiles before standing back up and running his fingers through the kids hair, receiving a weak scowl in return "Anyway, here's the report, so you can watch TV."
Jason looks at him for a long time before taking the report "Thank you."
"You're welcome, Jason. Make sure you watch a good show, tonight. Now, go on, I'm sure your dad's waiting for you"
Jason just nods before he leaves.
That evening Blaine's curled up in his couch, watching Jack McFarland and Karen Walker perform an outstandingly funny duet, when his cell rings "Sam! I told you, I don't want to go out."
"It's hum… it's not… it's not Sam…?"
"Oh!" Blaine gaps, recognizing the voice at once – it's a really nice voice "Hi, Kurt! I'm sorry! I thought- well, never mind. Is something wrong?"
Kurt chuckles and says "I know what you did, Mr. Anderson."
Blaine feels the heat crawl up his face, and can't help the smile that takes over it "What ever do you mean?"
"I mean the report, mister." Blaine can make out the sounds of cartoons on the other side.
Blaine completely ignores the fact that their tone is nothing if not flirty and mutes his own TV "He was a perfect gentleman today."
"No, he wasn't." there's a smirk in Kurt's voice, if such a thing is possible.
"Ok, fine, he was insufferable. I needed an aspirin by lunchtime. But I think he just… he really needs someone who he can talk to with no expectations. Someone he doesn't feel like he owes anything to."
Kurt is silent for a moment, there's shuffling and a door closing "I know…" he sighs "I've been thinking and I'm going to call that therapist you recommended."
"That's great!"
"Yeah… He's… particularly well behaved today. He didn't even say anything when he saw me prepping the broccoli for dinner." Blaine chuckles but Kurt continues before he can't say anything "I know you talked to him, he said so. He wouldn't say what about, but, thanks. Whatever it was, it worked."
"He's a good kid." Blaine smiles.
"Deep down, like, way deep." Kurt says and Blaine can't help but actually throw his head back and laugh at that. "Anyway" Kurt interrupts with a chuckle "I just wanted to thank you, and, huh, I guess I'll just… hmm. I suppose I'll see you at the bake sale."
"Bake sale?"
"For the drama club, right…? I figured I'd get involved in things, put on a good face for the PTA moms. I know from experience it's not good when they hate you because they usually take it out on the kids, and I need them not hate my son."
"Oh! Right!" Blaine gasps remembering the fundraiser, scheduled two weeks from now. It makes him a little disappointed that it'll be so long before he gets to talk to Kurt again, but his brain quickly supplies the fact that Kurt is a parent, that Kurt is fresh out of a divorce and that Kurt is, therefore, off limits "I'll see you then!"
"Yeah, thanks again."
"No problem. Bye!"
"Bye!"
They hang up, Blaine wanting nothing more than to keep talking to him for hours on end. He chastises himself and puts the sound back on with a sigh.
The following two weeks Jason behaves progressively better. For the first few days it's almost like he's testing boundaries, but after a while he seems to be calming down. Well, he still rolls his eyes and sighs a lot, but at least he keeps his annoyance to himself. Blaine is sure to give him a smile at the end of each day – he keeps it off of condescension and more playful than anything – and Jason actually smiles back most days. It feels like each day is another battle he's won.
He receives a couple of texts from Kurt gushing about Dr. Pillsbury and thanking him profusely for the referral. One night he receives a text saying "He offered to help! He actually OFFERED to help with dinner! I'm amazed. I could fly from happiness right now."
He just smiles and texts back "I think I saw him making a friend today, at recess, too. I'm glad he's making progress." Before going back to his microwaved lasagna, and picking up his laptop where a blank word page, safe for the words 'Chapter 1', awaits him. It's the third time he's decided to start over. But somehow a picture perfect family doesn't seem all that right to him.
Every children's book he looks at includes a picture perfect family. What about the kids who don't have one? What about Jason? What about Lena, whose mother left while she was still two years old? What about Pete, whose mom was barely out of high school when she had him, no trace of the dad whatsoever? Where are they supposed to find a book they can relate to?
In a society where divorce numbers keep climbing monumentally, affecting the lives of children everywhere, Blaine thinks it's straight up bizarre how little support there is for them from the arts.
That night he writes without pause. He's reached twenty full pages before his words start faltering and his eyes start drooping. He goes to bed with a smile on his face and for the first time since he got out of college feeling like he might actually fulfill his lifelong dream of writing at least one children's book. Finally he has a strong message he wants to get out.
The next day he can't help smile a little wider at Jason, and ruffle his hair and exchange a few words.
"Have I told you you've been a really great student lately?" he says as everyone else scurries out of the classroom.
Jason gives him an exasperated smile and hides his blush.
"I'm proud of you." He reiterates "And I bet so is your daddy."
"Yeah, yeah…"
Blaine just laughs "Excited for tomorrow?"
"Sure." The boy shrugs and hikes his schoolbag higher "I gotta go now. Daddy's waiting for me, so we can bake things, or whatever."
"See you tomorrow, then, Jason."
"Bye, Mr. B."
At home Blaine decides to forego his beer and Will and Grace for once and tries to bake cookies, failing miserably and ending up calling Tina so she can come over and help him out. Tina's the drama teacher, but also the art teacher and the music teacher – basically she's in charge of the whole arts department –, and, aside from Sam, she's his best friend, and has been since he started working at the school – straight out of college (thanks to amazing professors and impeccable education records, and also god bless recommendation letters!) – and she fell in love with him. The infatuation had been put behind them soon enough, Blaine making sure she knew he was Kinsey six gay.
They put on music and sing and dance while they bake.
She snorts when he slips on some flour, only managing not to fall on his butt and completely ruining his amazing dance step. He flicks the dishcloth towards her and she runs squealing to the living room.
Blaine just laughs not bothering to follow her, and instead he makes sure he sticks the tray in the oven before he sets the timer and joins her in the living room where she's already splayed on his couch with a wine bottle open.
"What're you doing?!" he laughs "We've got school tomorrow!"
"Oh, come on, just one glass."
"Parents are coming!"
"One glass!" she pushes.
"Fine! One!"
She beams while he takes two glasses out of the cupboard and returns to sit next to her. She pours the wine and then smirks "So… I met someone."
"Oh?" He grins.
"He's a dance teacher. I've been thinking of adding dance to my program, and I was checking out a school. His name is Mike, and his abs are the seventh wonder of the world."
"Tell me more. Dates? Calls? Texts?"
"We're going on a date on Friday!" She giggles "But we won't stop texting each other! I love text flirting."
"I know, it's my favorite too." He says wistfully, trying not to think of the few texts he's exchanged with Kurt.
"Have you been flirting with someone?" she teases, nudging him with her foot.
"No!" he says, too fast to sound sincere, and as such receives a glare from her until he's blushing and smiling shyly "Not really… maybe… almost. I don't know. It's… it's not something that…"
"Oh my god, who is it?!"
"I… I may be developing a crush… on a dad."
Her eyebrows rise, disappearing behind her bangs and she smirks "No laws against that."
"I know, but… come on. You're telling me you'd just go for it?"
"I don't know… It depends, is he worth it?"
Blaine gives an unconvincing shrug "I don't… we've only met twice, and then we had one brief conversation on the phone, and there were just a couple of texts. But it's… it's more than that. He's fresh out of a really messy divorce, Tina, and Jason, his kid, has been giving him hell, already, I doubt he's looking for a relationship anyway."
"He's Jason Wilkes' dad? He called me about getting the kid involved in the school play… said the other kids told him not to bother showing up to rehearsals because he was a freak and no one liked him anyway."
"What?! They said that?! Wow… kids suck." Blaine mutters, making a mental not of paying better attention to why exactly Jason doesn't mingle with his classmates during recess.
"I know, right? I met the kid, actually, I asked Sam to talk to him during P.E.. He's… he's not the nicest either, but…"
"He's been doing much better! But I'm sure it's… it can't be easy watching his parents get divorced, and… you don't even know the half of it. That's why I'm not… Of course I'd like to ask Kurt out on a date – he sounds really smart, and he's so funny, you have no idea, and he's gorgeous, come on, who wouldn't get a crush on that? But… it's… complicated."
She sighs "Well, anyway, just don't… don't walk away from something special just because the circumstances aren't perfect, Blaine."
He smiles and shrugs "Yeah, well…"
"Will he be at the bake sell tomorrow?"
"I… I think so. He said so."
"Good… I want to see him."
"Tina…!"
"Just see him! From afar. I promise. I'll keep my mouth shut."
He gives her one last stern look before giggling and nudging his foot against her "Look at us, a couple of smitten idiots." She returns the giggle and downs her glass before refilling. He eyes her for a while before muttering "so you're staying the night, I presume."
She just grins.
In return, Blaine laughs once she groans in the morning, complaining of hangover. He passes her a glass of water and an aspirin and reminds her she's not a college student anymore. She scowls in response and he tells her to hurry the fuck up. For some reason there's a small tingling in Blaine's toes and fingers today, and he really doesn't want to be late.
He joins Sam as soon as they get there in setting up the tables. He's holding a table above his head, Sam telling him every detail about the movie he watched last night, when he spots Jason stepping inside the school, hand held by Kurt. Tall, lean, designer clothed Kurt.
"Hey Mr. B!" Jason calls, holding up a huge bag "We made muffins!" he says excitedly.
"Sam…" he grunts, and the other man gets the unvoiced request, so they put the table down "Hey Jason, hey Kurt." He says ruffling the boy's hair and shaking Kurt's hand, noticing he has to drop an equally large bag before doing so "That's a lot of muffins!" He chuckles.
Kurt seems to blush a little at that and shrugs "I came home early yesterday and I took today off so I could… so… hm… we might have gotten a little carried away, I guess."
"That's great!" Sam interrupts "We can never have enough muffins!" he announces cheerfully.
"This is my colleague, Sam Evans. He teaches P.E.. Sam, this is Jason's dad, Kurt Hummel."
"Hi!" they say as they shake hands.
"Daddy." Jason pipes up.
"What?" Blaine frowns.
"He's my daddy. My dad's in LA."
"Right." Kurt smiles awkwardly "I'm his daddy. Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Evans." He smiles "So, where can I put these! And how can I help? I'm afraid I didn't realize there would be hard labor involved, and I'm not exactly dressed for…"
"Oh, you could go help Ms. Chang over there!" Sam says before Blaine can even give him a look "She's organizing and labeling the cakes, over there."
"I will, thank you!"
Blaine watches them go and sighs dejectedly.
"What?!" Sam frowns.
"Nothing, nothing. Let's go."
He tries to ignore the growing twisting of his stomach as he sees the rest of the PTA moms arriving, knowing he's probably missing his chance to talk to Kurt. But then again, he shouldn't want to talk to Kurt. Not like that anyway.
He finishes positioning the tables and walks over to where they keep the tablecloths. Kurt is bending over the bag – Blaine definitely doesn't look at his butt. "You looking for something in particular? They're all the same size."
Kurt startles a little before noticing it's Blaine and straightening up with a hint of a flush "Yes! I was looking for something that's not hideous." He says, holding out a bright green cloth.
Blaine laughs "You know this is a school's bake sale, right? It's not a wedding reception." He teases before crouching down and grabbing a pile of them.
"Exactly! You should be teaching them important life skills like decoration and color coordination!" He counters in clear mock seriousness, his eyes bright with mirth.
This, Blaine, realizes, is a lost cause. He doesn't stand a chance of not developing feelings for this man. "I promise I wasn't the one who bought them."
"Do you know who did? Tell me who should I report to the police?"
Blaine bites his lip playfully (trying not to register the fact that Kurt's eyes follow the movement) before leaning over and whispering "Mrs. Philips."
"The blonde one?" Kurt mutters back.
"They're all blonde." Blaine chuckles.
"Oh… I meant the natural blonde one." Kurt shrugs.
"Right, yes, that would be the one."
"Oh… she's a bitch." He says automatically before startling "Oh my god, pretend I didn't say that!"
Blaine just bites back his laughter and shakes his head "Said what?" They share an amused smile before Blaine gestures towards the tables "Come help me?"
Kurt huffs and grabs another pile of tablecloths "Alright… I'll even use the barf colored one."
Blaine laughs.
"But I demand my muffins are sold on a less offensive table."
"You're impossible." Blaine breathes "I can see where Jason gets it from!"
Kurt gasps in horror "Take that back!" he throws a cloth, hitting Blaine square on the face, but he just snickers and walks a little faster "I mean it! Take that back!" Kurt calls after him "That was a horrible thing to say."
"Boy, do you love your son!" Blaine jokes, throwing a cloth over a table.
"I do. But I'm his father. It's biological, I can't help it. I wouldn't if I could." He says, doing the same on the next table, grinning with mirth "He makes me want to gauge my eyes out, sometimes. There's no way he takes after me."
Blaine just laughs and shakes his head before carefully saying, "You are so wrong, Kurt. And, you know, he's my favorite student, so..."
He watches as Kurt falters in his movements, his cheeks coloring once the full meaning behind Blaine's words hits him. He presses his lips together, the corners quirking up before he turns towards back towards Blaine "I thought you weren't supposed to have favorites?"
It's Blaine's turn to blush under Kurt's attentive eyes "I guess I'll just have to ask you not to tell anyone."
"I'll think about it. But if Mrs. Phillips threatens to buy more tablecloths, I'm going to have to use this knowledge to my advantage." Blaine laughs "No seriously, I think I want my muffins on a cloth-less table."
Blaine's phone buzzes in his pocket and it's a text from Tina.
"You two look cozy!"
He tries to ignore the burn on his face as he types back "Shut it."
"He's hot and gorgeous. I approve."
"SHHH leave me alone"
He pockets his phone and directs an innocent smile towards Kurt, who returns it and, as they move on to other tables he turns to Blaine "So, tell me about yourself, Mr. Anderson. I feel terribly vulnerable here with you knowing all about my divorce and me knowing nothing about you." Blaine gives him a soft smile, but before he can start Kurt adds "It's strictly professional, I promise." He shrugs with a teasing smirk that completely betrays his words and makes Blaine's stomach do a summersault "I just want to know the man that's teaching my son how to add and subtract."
"Sure." He chuckles bashfully, before clearing his throat and trying not to sound like a teenager with a crush "Well then, professionally speaking, I graduated from NYU with a double major in Teaching and English and a minor in Music, and then I just came here fresh out of college."
Kurt gives him an impressed glance before asking "Did you always want to be a teacher?"
"No. I wanted to be a musician, or an actor… Broadway. Up until I had to get some money together for college and started baby sitting and tutoring younger kids… and… I don't know. I guess I just found my calling. I went to college thinking I'd become a music teacher, though… but I fell in love with English and hence the double major."
"Did you ever consider college level teaching, or high school?"
"I love kids." Blaine says simply.
He sees as the short answer registers in Kurt's face, he sees the curiosity build, but he also sees the moment he refrains from asking. It's not that it's a big deal – Blaine wants to be there for kids when they're small and vulnerable, when sometimes parents forget to be and kids are too young to know why – he wants to make sure they've got someone looking out for them, someone trying to keep their illusion of a big, bright, wonderful world alive for a couple more years before reality crashes. He wants that because he never really had that – his dad worked too much, his mom cared about him but loved her benefits a little too much, his brother was busy with his own adolescence. He remembers his teacher for it: the person who kept telling him he was a good kid, and lent him Disney DVD's so he could watch home.
"I'm from Ohio." He adds, changing the subject.
"Oh! Me too!" Kurt gasps.
Conversation comes easy between them, like Blaine knew it would. They handle the muffin and cupcake section of the sale together, and the whole day is a blur of laughter and teasing glances. He notices Mrs. Phillips eyeing them with suspicion and a slight sneer.
"She is a bitch, thought." He mutters as he leans over to put a couple of twenties away.
"What?" Kurt frowns with confusion.
"Mrs. Philips." He clarifies "I really, really… dislike her. Moms like her are the reason I avoid getting involved in PTA as much as I can."
Kurt follows Blaine line of sight before he sighs "Oh." He shrugs "I'm used to it, I guess. But Jason's definitely not getting any play dates with her daughter. You should've seen her face when she put the puzzle together and realized I was divorced from a man and not a woman."
"Really?"
"Pfft… When I was a working, straight single dad she was just about ready to be my new best friend… She figures out I'm gay – which come on… not that surprising, really – and it's like I have leper and I'm the worst dad in the world."
"Ugh..." Blaine scoffs.
"I wonder if she knows her daughter's teacher loves dick." A voice says next to them and Blaine turns to find Sam.
"Sam!"
"What?! You do!"
"That's- I- Jus- Sam!" he groans, feeling his cheeks burning a hot shade of red "Jesus Christ, Sam."
The stupid man-boy just shrugs and turns to Kurt "I didn't realize earlier, but you must be Finn's brother…? He told me about you, you settling in fine?"
"Yeah, yeah, thanks." Kurt smiles, visibly holding back laughter, his own face flushed "We're doing fine."
"Good. I'm sorry about the divorce thing. Must suck."
"It does." Kurt says with a strange smile, while Blaine just gapes at Sam's complete lack of filter "But, I'm… I'm happier now, so…"
"Cool! Great!" Sam grins "Can I get a muffin?"
"Are you going to pay for it?" Blaine eyes him sternly.
"Later…?" Sam offers with a cringe, making Kurt snort.
"No."
"Oh, come on! I'm staff! I moved tables! I deserve a muffin."
Before Blaine can reiterate his stance on the subject, Kurt's grabs a napkin and a muffin "Here. Have your reward, and stop asking people you just met about their divorces."
"Cool!" Sam grins before taking his muffin and scurrying away.
Blaine watches him go with a scowl before turning to Kurt "You know, if you reward him for his stupidity he's never going to learn."
Kurt smirks back "Says Mr. Lying report card."
"He said I love dicks." Blaine mutters under his breath, making sure no one can hear him "I could kill him."
"I don't know." Kurt shrugs, as he ties up the trashcan bag and picks it up "I kind of liked it." he throws over his shoulder before walking away, leaving a flushing, gaping Blaine behind.
"Oh my god." He gasps. That was flirting. That was definitely flirting. That was real life flirting! That was…
"I'd like a muffin, please!"
"Oh my god!" Blaine practically screams as he finally notices the woman standing in front of him "You scared me." He smiles trying not to look entirely pathetic.
Kurt's recruited by one of the mom's to help paint scenarios for the drama club, so their interaction is reduced to the occasional eye contact for the rest of the day – it takes three times before Blaine can actually smile towards him, wide, happy and maybe even a little bit cheeky.
By the time the day ends, Blaine barely gets to say goodbye. He catches up to him as he's already hoisting Jason's backpack over his shoulder.
"Oh, you're going already?" Blaine asks stupidly.
"Yes. Kind of exhausted, really." Kurt breathes with a smile.
"Right, well. Hum… I… well, I guess I'll see you around?" he asks with innuendo.
He watches as Kurt picks up on his tone and smiles "I guess you will."
"Come on, daddy!" Jason whines, pulling Kurt's hand towards the exit "I wanna go home."
"Alright. Let's go, kiddo." Kurt smiles and then turns to Blaine, looking way too hot to be ok "Goodbye, have a nice weekend, Mr. Anderson."
"You too." Blaine manages as he watches them turn around and head out.
"You have got it bad." Tina's voice drawls right next to his ear.
"Tell me about it." Blaine sighs before going back to find something to do. It doesn't do to dwell on these kinds of thoughts.
Late that night he's not quite so successful at avoiding them, but then again, taking into account the way Kurt kept looking at him, and the way he'd said Mr. Anderson at the end of the day, there wasn't much to feel guilty about as the feeling seemed pretty much mutual.
That Sunday he agrees to go for a hike with Sam – maybe physical exertion can help his growing sexual frustration.
"Maybe we could call Finn." Blaine says, just as he buckles up.
Sam pulls out of his parking and starts driving "Nah, he's at his nephew's birthday party."
"It's Jason's birthday?" Blaine frowns "Huh. How did I miss that?"
"You know your students' birthdays?" Sam looks at him in surprise.
"I write them down on a calendar in the classroom, so we never forget to sing. I must've forgotten to write his down, he was the only new student I had this year."
"Right. That's sweet of you." Sam considers.
Blaine just gives him a half annoyed smile before pulling out his cell phone.
"Tell Jason I said Happy Birthday! :)"
"He says thank you! :)"
"He's very polite. Will there be cake tomorrow?"
"Do you want cake tomorrow?"
"I always want cake."
"Attractive."
Blaine can't help but laugh at that and Sam glances over with a smirk "Who're you talking to over there?"
"Ku-Jason's dad. I was just wishing Jason a happy birthday."
"Jason's dad?" Sam quirks an eyebrow "Jason's gay dad? Single gay dad?"
"Divorced."
"And therefore single." Sam shrugs easily.
Blaine just shoots him a smile and sighs, typing away on his phone "Why, thank you!"
"Are you going to keep texting all day?"
"No." Blaine answers with a chuckle "There's no reception on the trail, anyway."
"Adventuuure!" Sam practically yells and Blaine throws his head back with laughter.
"I'll have Jason bring you some cake from today. But he said he doesn't want to have a party at school, so…"
"Oh, I was half kidding, you don't have to do that! (Why not? should I be worried?)"
"You? No. He wanted to invite you to the party. And Ms. Chang (I think he has a crush on her. Cute). He just says he doesn't have any friends at school."
"Oh shit."
"It's fine. He'll come out of his shell. He's shy and it's the start of the year. Don't worry."
"Is he having a nice birthday, though? Is he having fun?"
"Yes! He's laughing and playing with his cousins, it's great. I haven't seen him this excited in a long time."
"That's great! :D I can't wait for the cake tomorrow, then!"
"I made it myself, I'll save you the best piece."
"Is it going to be delicious?!"
"I said I made it, didn't I?"
"I'm sorry! I forgot, of course! I'm going on my bi-weekly hike with Sam– you met him – just now so I can burn the calories beforehand!"
"Lol, like you need to burn calories beforehand."
"Are you saying I'm scrawny?"
"No, I'm saying I wouldn't mind seeing you in hiking attire."
"Oh! Is this a thing we do now?"
"What?"
"Flirt."
"Do you want it to be?"
"Yes."
"Then it is."
"So, maybe we could come hiking together, then. So we can both take advantage of the hiking attire. Listen, we're almost at the track, and there's no reception there, so I bid you a flirty goodbye. ;)"
"You are a dork, Mr. Anderson."
Hiking with Sam is, as usual, amazingly satisfying. They talk while they walk,– mostly about Sam's date the night before and how fantastically smitten he is – but more than half of the time is spent in comfortable silence. As is traditional they sing a song as they reach the end of it, reveling in the privacy of an open, empty field, away from it all, then they laugh and bang their chests together before getting into the car and driving back for a revitalizing shower at Blaine's a sci-fi movie with beer.
Blaine is, therefore, in a ridiculously good mood Monday morning.
He greets his students cheerfully, makes sure Wendy's fully recovered from her very nasty breakup with Tommy, makes sure Tommy's fully recovered from his very nasty breakup with Wendy, and tells Julian he's happy to have him back after that flu. When Jason walks up to him, container in hand, he grins "Hey buddy! Had a nice birthday?"
"I guess." The kid shrugs, his complete lack of smile taking Blaine completely aback "This is for you."
"Thanks!" Blaine smiles and leans a little closer "Is everything alright, Jason?"
"Yeah." He says quickly before going to his desk without another word.
Blaine watches him carefully while he waits for every student to arrive. The boy has his head on his arms and is staring out of the window listlessly.
When Blaine starts the lesson the kid doesn't even budge. When Blaine calls on him with a question he knows Jason could answer in his sleep, the boy shrugs and mumbles, "dunno."
Reluctantly he excuses the class for recess and doesn't hold him up to talk.
He's at his desk, carefully eating his slice of heavenly lemon and strawberry cake, while flipping through a book, when he hears the commotion outside. He's out of his desk in a flash, opening the door to the playground, eyes immediately finding the huddled group of kids, growing by the second. The teacher on watch is already sprinting towards it and Blaine doesn't miss the name she's calling "JASON!"
