Summary: Blaine is a year older than Kurt, and he goes to New York with Rachel while Kurt finishes school. This is what would have happened, if we simply switched one person out. Klaine angst as fuck, with some other... Ships that I'm not giving away. Will be multichaptered and shit. Woo hoo, just read.
I dont own Glee
"Face it - Rachel Berry was the groups undisputed star. So the question is: Who is the New Rachel?" Jacob Ben Isreal waved the microphone in Kurt's face, earning a scoff and an eye roll. Leave it to Jacob to already cause unneeded drama in the glee club. Again.
It was even worse when Tina, Brittany, and Sam all leaned forward and collectively answered, "I am." confidently.
Great.
"Come on, guys. I was one of the original members. I've been in this club longer than all of you." Tina countered as the bell rang. The group followed her into the hall, Artie and Kurt exchanging a look.
"So was I, Tina, that means nothing." Kurt eyed the girl, noticing her sudden change in clothing.
"Yeah, experience has nothing to do with talent." Sam grinned at Tina.
"Also wrong." Artie muttered. He was unheard, unsurprisingly.
"Look, guys, I have the most dancing talent, and I'm the hottest. And I've made out with all of you. Including Kurt."
"I mean, she's not wrong." Kurt shrugged and Artie snorted, high-fiving the taller boy.
"That's my man!" He whistled, and Kurt giggled harder.
"So it's only fair that I, Brittany S. Pierce, am the new Rachel."
Kurt heard the rest of the group's arguments as he turned into his language class with Artie. "I wish Blaine was here. He usually leveled out the amount of crazy and sane in glee."
Artie shrugged and rolled up to his desk, Kurt moving the chair for him. "I expected this to happen. Glee is mostly about the competition."
"Whatever. It's my senior year, I'm not gonna let 'The New Rachel' ruin it."
Blaine smiled down at the baby in Sue Sylvester's arms, surprised at the tenderness in the woman's voice. He really had never heard her talk in anything less that an angry whisper. But what they say is true, being a mother changes you.
"I'm so devoted to her." Sue carefully placed her baby in the crib, before turning around and shouting, "Kitty! Get in here!"
A small, very Quinn-like cheerleader walked in, adorned in the Cheerio's logo. "Yes, Coach Sylvester?"
"I need you to change Robin's diaper and sing her a lullaby." Blaine rolled his eyes. Of course.
"Hobbit, this is Kitty. She's my new head-bitch." Kitty smiled at Blaine, who offered one back. "She's like a young Quinn Fabray, except not pregnant, manic-depressive, or in and out of a wheelchair."
Blaine opened his mouth to respond, but Kitty beat him to it "Shouldn't you be in college or something? I thought gay people were all successful overachievers." She said, a little bit too sweetly.
"I am- I mean-"
"Oh, don't pay attention to Kitty." Coach Sylvester said, smirking slightly. "Even if it's just as the rest of the world does too."
She circled her desk and sat. "I'm actually proud of you, Private School, you're a real trailblazer. It used to be the ex-football players that would lurk the halls of their old high school, but you've proven that gay, bowtied ex-show choir champs can also be just as pathetic and sad, clinging desperately to their past like an unwanted fungus."
Blaine sputtered slightly. "I-I'm not- Not pathetic, okay? My classes at Lima Community College start next week-"
"I'm sorry, I tuned out the second you opened your mouth. You're boring me. Keep living the dream, hobbit."
Blaine stood there for a few seconds, wanting to say something, but no words formed in his brain. He finally sighed defeatedly and turned, leaving Sue Sylvester's office and trying to convince himself that she was wrong.
"GLEE!" Mr. Shuester shouted as he entered the now almost-empty room. Everyone cheered happily, grinning at their teacher. "We are now coming off a national championship! But now, it's time to look forward. And thanks to glee now being the coolest club in school-" The statement was answered with some whoops and shouts. Kurt laughed at Sugar's dancing in her seat. "-this shouldn't be a problem."
Kurt grinned at Artie excitedly. "Finally, maybe I'll have a year where I don't get shoved into a different array of lockers."
"Keep dreaming, kid." Artie said, and Kurt rolled his eyes playfully.
"Yes, we've lost some huge voices." Everyone exchanged sad looks. "But we still have some huge ones in here. And I promise to do everything I can to replace the ones we've lost."
"And on that note... I'd like to introduce you to our newest member, last year's show choir MVP, Wade Unique Adams!"
Artie, Joe, and Kurt were the only ones to whoop and clap. Everyone looked upset, except for Brittany, who responded, "That's a great haircut, Mercedes, but I thought you graduated?"
"Britt..." Kurt shook his head at the blonde, looking around at his classmates confusedly. Unique was a great girl, and a great singer. This was a good thing, wasn't it?
"I want to be somewhere where different is celebrated." Unique looked at Mr. Shue thankfully.
"We are so excited to have you, Wade." Mr. Shue started clapping again, only to be met by the same three people responding and the rest of the crew remaining silent. "Guys. Where's the love?"
"I-I think Wade is great. But the competition for the New Rachel is already so intense-" Kurt and Artie simultaneously rolled their eyes. "-The last thing we need is another competition." Tina spoke. Mr. Shuester frowned.
"The New Rachel?"
"Every glee club needs a star performer. Rachel was that, and now that she's gone, many of us want the job." Sam responded.
"Okay." Mr. Shue rubbed his temples. "We don't win with stars. We win as a team. One that supports new members. I don't want to hear any more of this... This New Rachel garbage, okay?"
"Thank you." Artie sighed, glaring at Sam, Tina, and Britt.
"Have a seat, Wade."
Wade sat beside Kurt, who smiled and hugged her. "Welcome, Queen." He greeted, giving her a big smile. Artie waved. "Artie Abrams."
But their greetings were ignored the second Kurt let go, and Unique turned to Tina. "Make no mistake. Unique will be the new Rachel."
Tina glared at her, and Britt and Sam leaned forward. "We decide this on our own then." Sam spoke. "Thunderdome style. Five o'clock, in the auditorium. Bring your talent."
"I don't understand what's going on." Sugar whispered to Kurt, eyeing their four friends. Kurt rolled his eyes. "They're competing for the spot of 'New Rachel'. It's stupid. Don't get involved."
Sugar frowned. "I could just buy us a New Rachel, guys. I know plenty of loud brunettes."
Kurt couldn't believe he was actually sitting here, judging his friends as they danced and sang Call Me Maybe. First off, a horrendous song choice, and second off, he hardly wanted to get involved at all. When the music ended, Sugar stood beside him and clapped excitedly.
"Bravo, brava! A wonderful performance! Almost as good as if I did it!" She exclaimed. Everyone smiled politely at her, before turning to Artie.
"So, Artie, who's the New Rachel?" Brittany asked expectantly. Everyone offered their biggest smiles, almost posing in front of the boy. Kurt rolled his eyes.
"We'll see. I have to go over my notes with my co-judges here. I'll have your answer in two to eight business days." He rolled out of the auditorium, Sugar and Kurt closely on his heels- er- wheels.
"Are you actually going to choose?" Kurt frowned at him. Artie shrugged. "I dunno. Probably. Maybe if I choose Tina I'll get in her pants again." Kurt snorted.
"Want to come over? My dad just bought a new TV, and there's a new Doctor Who tonight." Kurt offered.
"Sure thing."
"So... How's Santana?" Kurt asked the blonde across from him, after much badgering about the New Rachel, they finally got to normal, friendly topics.
"She's good. Just... Really busy with cheerleading practice, and it's hard making out over Skype." She responded, a slight sadness in her eyes. Kurt frowned and squeezed her hand.
"She'll visit soon, I bet."
"A no-chocolate soy for Britt, and a medium drip for the pretty boy." Blaine said, kissing Kurt's head, who laughed slightly.
"That was cheesy." He smiled up at his boyfriend, who was adorned in a Lima Bean apron.
"You loved it."
Kurt shrugged cheekily as Blaine sat in the third chair. "So, can't wait till Friday!"
"Why?" Britt tilted her head.
"Glee club auditions?" Blaine frowned.
"Oh yeah." Brittany nodded.
"It'll be nice." Kurt sipped his coffee and Blaine looked down at his lap.
"Is it depressing that I'm more excited than either of you?" He asked.
"No! Not at all, Bee." Kurt shook his head as Brittany responded, "Yeah, a little bit."
"Excuse me? Garcon?" Kitty, from a table in the corner, shouted at Blaine. Kurt turned and frowned at her, about to reply with something bitchy, but Blaine waved him off.
"Yes? How can I help?" Blaine smiled at her as he walked over.
"My iced latte is too cold." Kitty crossed her arms and glared at him.
"It's... an iced latte..." Blaine responded, tilting his head and trying to keep his smile.
"It's an iced latte that's too cold."
"I-"
"Blaine! You have to refill the biscotti barrel!" His boss shouted.
"Make me a new one." Kitty said, glaring at him. Blaine swallowed slightly and picked up her coffee, turning around to see Kurt and Brittany at the door. Kurt waved and made a 'call me' sign, following Britt out. Blaine sighed and nodded.
"I'll be back... With your coffee..." He took Kitty's rejected latte and brought it back to the counter, mumbling under his breath about 'bitchy, pony-tailed blondes' and inability to spend normal time with his boyfriend.
"Artie, you've had enough time already. So, who is it?" Tina asked the wheelchaired boy determinedly. Kurt looked around the lunchroom distractedly. It felt empty without Blaine.
"You can't rush the casting process." Artie replied calmly. "My genius needs its dream time."
Kurt laughed slightly at that. "I thought you were all great." Sugar nodded. "Not as good as me. But still great."
"You guys are the glee club right?" A girl with light brown hair and a knock-off designer shirt stopped at their lunch table, tray in hand. She was pretty. "Hi. I-I'm gonna try out. I'm a sophomore here, my names Marley."
Kurt opened his mouth to invite her to sit, but Tina was speaking before he could. "Great. Well, lots of competition this year. Good luck to you." She responded shortly. Marley simply smiled and left.
"She's pretty." Kurt watched her go.
"She looks in shape too. Bet she'll be a good dancer." Artie smiled excitedly. "We actually have good looking, in shape kids trying out this year. We won't need Lauren Zices or Jacob Ben Isreal to sway in the background this time."
Wade sat beside Sam, smiling at everyone. She had on perfected eye shadow and beautifully done blush, it looked like it had taken a long time. "Unique offers her greetings and salutations."
"Hey Unique." Sugar grinned at her.
"Wade." Sam hissed. "You can't wear that makeup and stuff in here. You have to know how this place works, it's like Game of Thrones." Kurt shot Sam a look.
"Unique... The peace between us and the popular kids is weak. Winter is coming and it's not gonna take much for us to get knocked back down to the bottom." Artie said, keeping his voice kind.
"Artie." Kurt chided. Sugar frowned.
"Maybe you should save Unique for performances and be Wade for the rest of the time." Artie finished, casting a guilty look at Kurt. Unique looked at Kurt, pleading for help, but Kurt turned and saw Kitty and her football friends watching them from the other end of the lunch room. He shrugged and looked down at his food.
"All right..." Unique said slowly. "I'll go... Take off my face then..."
Kurt hated himself for not sticking up for Unique. But he also hated slushie facials. He didn't know which was worse.
He was a horrible person.
"Hey glee people." Kitty said, taking Unique's place.
"Hey Kitty. Artie responded quickly, flashing a fake smile. Kurt just glanced at her.
"Yo, did you see the new lunch lady?" Kitty's football friend, what was his name? Isaac?, asked loudly. "She's so fat, they took a picture of her last Christmas. Still printin'."
"She has to wear a watch on both wrists. 'Cause she covers two time zones."
Kurt heard his friends laughing, but he kept his head down, glancing sideways at Artie, who looked equally uncomfortable.
"Hey. Maybe she has a medical condition. Or she swallowed someone with a medical condition." Brittany said, frowning. Everyone laughed again, but Kurt knew Britt wasn't joking. At least she knew it was wrong.
"Right, Artie?"
Kurt looked at his old friend, expecting him to refuse. Begging him to refuse.
Kurt looked from Kitty and her friends, to the lunch lady, to Kurt, and then said, "When she sits around the house, she really sits around the house."
"Attaboy!" Everyone clapped and hooted. Kurt stood, picking up his lunch tray.
"I don't feel well." He said quickly, leaving the lunch room as fast as possible. God, what was wrong with him? First Unique, and now the lunch lady? He would apologize to Unique later, he guessed. He really needed to talk to Blaine. Last year, hell, even this summer, he would have never made fun of another human without reason. He was so used to being in Unique or the lunch lady's shoes, he wouldn't conflict something like that on someone else for anything.
Popularity really did change people.
Kurt sat beside Blaine in the auditorium, leaning his head on his boyfriend's shoulder and closing his eyes.
"Tired?" Blaine asked, smiling at the other boy.
"Long day."
"Wanna talk about it?"
"Later."
"Okay!" Mr. Shue grinned excitedly at everyone. "Let's get started."
"And remember, everyone, we're looking for superstars." Kurt said, turning on the video camera.
Blaine's heart fell when none other but Stoner Brett came onstage, starting his rendition of 'Get Poppin'. It truly was terrible, and you could tell that Brett had smoked one too many joints before his performance.
Next, they watched a girl whip around to dubstep, spinning her arms and whipping her hair.
"Are there words to this song?" Blaine frowned at Kurt.
"Ooh. She gotta go." Unique shuddered behind him. Kurt tried his best not to laugh.
A cute, dark skinned boy came on the stage next.
"Hello sir. What's your name?" Mr. Shuester smiled at him.
"Jake."
"Got... Got a last name, Jake?" Mr. Shue asked, furrowing his brow.
"Ah... No. Just Jake." The boy responded slowly, taking the microphone stand in both hands.
"Oh... Kay. Well then, show us what you got, 'Just Jake'." Mr. Shue glanced back at Blaine, shrugging.
Jake sung beautifully. He was on tempo, and his voice was low, and sweet. He was definitely a shoe in.
Mr. Shue stopped him mid-song, raising his hand and smiling. "Okay, Jake, thank you."
The boy stopped and frowned. "I don't get to finish?"
"We've got a lot of people to see."
"I've been practicing!"
"We've seen enough. Thank you." Mr. Shue said, slightly rudely. Kurt frowned. Jake was good, did Mr. Shue not think so?
Jake backed up, clenching his jaw and grabbing a music stand, throwing it across the stage.
"That was rude and unacceptable." Blaine spoke. Mr. Shuester held up a hand.
"I'll handle this." He stood. "Jake. Why don't you pick up the music stand?"
Jake just watched Mr. Shue for a second, before bowing, and leaving the stage.
"Next!" Blaine called, rolling his eyes at the dramatic demeanor of the boy's exit.
Kurt smiled widely as Marley took the stage, giving her a small wave, which she returned. She announced her song (New York State of Mind, a good choice, in Kurt's opinion) and began singing.
Her voice was low, in her chest, which not many people could do. She was amazing, too, and she had a stage presence of talent and magnificence. Kurt grinned at Blaine, whispering. "Damn, she's good." He nodded.
When Marley finished, everyone clapped and cheered, completely in awe of the girl's voice.
"Thank you! Wow, now that's what I call star quality. What do you guys think?"
"Ten!" Sugar said, nodded excitedly.
"She was good. Really good." Kurt agreed, grinning at his teacher. Everyone else looked less than excited.
Kurt walked into the choir room with Tina, to be greeted with the sight of Blaine lining up sheet music, in categories.
"Artie, go around, not over it!" Blaine said quickly. Artie scoffed and rolled his eyes, twisting his chair and just missing the papers.
"Thank you, Dottie, you're dismissed for the day." Tina said as a small freshman handed her a lavish cupcake. Kurt stared at it.
"What is... Oh god." He rubbed his temples as she handed it to Artie.
"It's not a bribe." Tina said, smiling sweetly at Artie. "Because we all know that Rachel told me herself that I'm the new Rachel." She raised her voice at the end, scanning the choir room.
"MVP in the house!" Unique announced as she entered, clad in a dress, makeup, and a wig.
"Bro, I thought we agreed you'd only wear that stuff onstage." Sam said, frowning at Unique.
"What's wrong with you guys?" Blaine crossed his arms. "This club is about diversity and acceptance! Or at least it used to be. And who cares about the 'New Rachel'?"
Tina ignored his remark, turning to Artie. "Quit stalling, Artie. Who's the new Rachel?!"
Kurt rolled his eyes and shrugged at Blaine. Britt, Sam, Unique, and Tina all circled around Artie with anticipation.
"Tell us." Brittany demanded.
"After meticulous deliberation and an online pole," Artie said, rolling out of the circle an turning to face everyone. "The New Rachel is..."
He paused for effect.
"Kurt."
"How?!" Sam exclaimed.
"Britt, you were a close second." Brittany fist pumped, smiling and sitting back down.
"I came in third?" Tina said, offended. Unique opened her mouth to argue.
"Let's not worry about third or fourth." Artie spoke quickly, eyeing the two girls nervously.
"What do you hate strong black women for?" Unique said as she wielded her fan against Artie's throat as a weapon.
But before Unique could hurt Artie, Mr. Shue walked in with Marley.
"Guys, this young lady gave one of the best performances I have ever seen, hands down." He announced. Marley grinned behind him. "Let's give it up for our newest member, Marley Rose!"
Everyone applauded and cheered.
"Marley, on behalf of all the New Directions, welcome!" Kurt said happily, ignoring the eye rolls his statement received.
"Thank you. I'm really excited to be here." She said happily.
"Of course I think you should be the lead soloist." Blaine shrugged across the lunch table from his boyfriend. "But can I give you some advice? Even when Rachel was at her most controlling, she still made sure everyone was included."
Kurt looked down at the lunch table guiltily. "You're right. I felt so bad for Unique. I-... I'm just sick of being at the bottom. I mean, Everyone in glee was at the bottom, but I was even below them." He shrugged. "But you have a point. I'll... Say something next time." Blaine smiled and squeezed his boyfriend's hand. "Can I give you advice?"
Blaine nodded. "Sure."
"You can't... Be here anymore, Blaine."
Blaine set his coffee down and nodded. "I know. I get it. I'm pathetic." He chuckled sadly.
"No! Shut up, bee. You're not pathetic, you're just stuck. You belong in New York, not Lima Ohio."
Blaine smiled at him. "And I'm reapplying for NYADA. I can't just go to New York, Kurt."
"Why not? Who needs NYADA?" Kurt shook his head. "And believe me, I'll miss you like crazy, but I can't see you stay here like this."
"What about us?" Blaine asked quietly.
"In a year, I'll be there too, but we're strong. We can do long distance, we're freaking Kurt Hummel and Blaine Anderson. Power couple of McKinely." Blaine laughed at that, smiling at Kurt.
"I love you." Blaine said softly. Kurt grinned.
"I love you too. And I'm never saying goodbye to you, like I promised."
"Hey, guys." Kitty said as she sat down the next day. Kurt grimaced. "So, since we can't do a homecoming float with all white people, I say we do a float with all white flowers."
"That's a good idea." Brittany said, smiling innocently.
"We need a float? Why don't we just ride her?" Isaac pointed at the large lunch lady again. Kurt frowned at him and looked up at Artie, who was already picking at his food and trying not to pull attention.
"Her boobs look like grocery bags of soup." Sugar giggled. Kurt glared at her.
"Sugar-"
"That's really mean." Marley interrupted.
"Excuse me?" Kitty looked Marley up and down. Kurt looked back and forth between the girls, surprised.
"You don't know her. You don't know what her life is like." Marley replied.
"So? Why do you care?" Kitty laughed.
"Because she's my mom." Marley said. The table went silent. "I thought you guys were different." Marley stood and left and everyone sat there, staring after her.
"She's right." Kurt finally said, picking up his lunch tray and following Marley out.
He tossed his lunch as he left the lunch room. "Marley! Wait!" The girl spun on her heels in the hall, her eyes full of tears. "I'm really sorry. They're... Usually not like that. I don't know why it's happening."
Marley sniffled and shrugged.
"I told them you were right. Glee club... Used to be a place of such... such acceptance. It was the first place I came out in. The only place I could hold my boyfriend's hand without punishment."
Marley finally smiled slightly and nodded. "It's alright. I... I was done eating anyways. It's just Kitty."
Kurt nodded. "Do you... Wanna help Mr. Shue organize sheet music? He usually does that during lunch, and I used to help my freshman and some of my sophomore year. Whenever the bullying got bad and I would get egged in the lunchroom."
Marley nodded, smiling. "Sure. I'd like that."
Blaine sighed nervously as he walked through the doors to the airport, suitcase wheeling behind him. All he'd take to New York, the rest he sold or put in storage.
He boarded his flight and sent one last 'Boarding now, Love you, thank you' text to Kurt, putting his headphones in and playing comforting music. He could do this. He was Blaine freaking Anderson.
Kurt was ecstatic when he heard that the entire glee club apologized to Marley, losing their popularity status, but gaining their family-like friendship and comfort again. Kitty hadn't taken it well, but who gave a shit about her? Glee was back to what it was supposed to be; Accepting, and full of misfits.
Talented misfits.
Not to mention, no one had said anything about Wade being Unique at school again. In fact, the glee club loved it. She had such an energetic stage presence, and she was fun to be around.
Kurt was, however, woken to reality when he left Spanish only to be greeted by a cold slushie in the face.
"And with that, order is restored!" Isaac announced, earning laughter from the other kids in the hall. Kurt wiped off his face, sighing softly as Artie wheeled around and handed him a hankerchief.
"Thanks, Artie." He mumbled, wiping off his face and going into his locker for spare clothes.
"No problem. I uh- I'm sorry that I was such a jerk to Unique and Marley. I know that you've been in their shoes, more than any of us, and I shouldn't have been insensitive."
Kurt smiled at his friend. "I-It's okay, really. We all made mistakes. And I guess we're back where we started, so it hardly matters."
Blaine wandered down the streets of New York when his phone rang. Rachel Berry.
"Hey Rachel, what's up?" He answered.
"god- My dance teacher's a monster, a-and I can't even go into my own dorm room b-because my roommate is some sex fiend and s-she's sleeping with the e-entire school in there!" She sobbed into the phone. Blaine smirked as he saw a short, brunette figure across the fountain.
"Maybe you should move out. Get another roommate." He answered simply.
"Yeah." Rachel let out a short, sad laugh.
"Rachel." Blaine grinned. "Turn around."
Rachel froze for a second before confiding, her watery eyes instantly smiling as she ran to him, throwing herself into Blaine's arms and shrieking.
Yeah, they would be just fine in New York.
Review! Chap 2 coming soon!