A/N: Hey guys! Thanks for giving my story a chance. Any feedback you have would be much appreciated :)
I also don't own any of these characters, I'm just playing with them.
Blaine thudded against the lockers without so much as a sound of protest. He simply pushed himself off them and continued down the hallway. If he had cared to notice, he could have found a group of chuckling jocks behind him, but Blaine didn't care. Honestly, it didn't even really hurt to be shoved into lockers anymore.
Blaine was aware the bullying was worse than it had ever been for him (besides the Sadie Hawkins Dance). He also knew he was being a real hypocrite for allowing it to continue. It had been his own advice to stand up to the bullies- "Prejudice is just ignorance". Yet he'd stopped standing up for himself last month, just after he returned from New York. It wasn't that he'd given up all together- anyone messing with the Glee club was in for it. The bullying was probably much worse for him since the jocks had lost their other outlets, but Blaine felt good knowing he was keeping everyone else happier.
He heard the footsteps approaching and closed his locker. It was Monday, the day he didn't have Glee or student council after school, so there was only one group of people who would bother coming up to him. Sure enough, the cold beverage was trickling down his head- he suspected they'd poured it on top of him this time. He turned to face the pair- they seemed younger than usual, he suspected the football team was adding harassing him to their hazing regimen. Only the one looked like he was really enjoying it.
"How's the shampoo homo?" the enthusiastic jock asked. Blaine reached up to wipe some off his forehead and put a finger in his mouth to taste it when he came up with purple instead of the standard red or blue.
"Grape," he stated. "Can we go back to cherry next week?" With that, he began reopening his locker to retrieve his book bag and head for home- he kept towels in his car to keep the slushy off the seats.
"What the hell?" Blaine didn't really care what the girl was shrieking about so he ignored the outburst. "What are you doing?" Blaine was drawn into the situation when he realized the speaker must be right next to him, so he finished retrieving his books and turned. The jocks were still present and seemed a little confused. A dark haired girl in a Cheerios uniform was standing next to Blaine staring at them, her expression livid.
"It's Monday," the more enthusiastic jock observed. The girl didn't seem to think this was an adequate explanation.
"YOU DO THIS WEEKLY?" The less-enthusiastic jock now looked downright horrified, and the second didn't seem particularly excited to deal with her either. They pretty much ran, and Blaine found himself rolling his eyes slightly at their behavior. Then the girl turned to him.
"Are you okay? That must be freezing and it's getting everywhere-"
"I'm fine," Blaine dismissed her concerns. "They only do it Monday, I just go home-"
"They really do this every week?" Blaine suddenly realized what was wrong with this situation. Yes, he'd managed to keep the New Directions from knowing how much he got bullied because they'd obviously over-react. But he was pretty sure the jocks and Cheerleaders were aware of it.
"Are you new here?" The girl's eyes flickered with confusion before snapping back.
"First day," she offered. "Why do they do this?" Blaine shrugged.
"I don't let it happen to everyone else. It's really fine." Blaine wiped the slushy creeping down his forehead off and smiled at the girl quickly. "Thanks for stepping in anyway." He started off down the hall.
"You aren't going to do something about this?" she called after him. Blaine just shook his head, chunks of purple ice flying off as he did so.
*GLEE*
The Glee club sat together during lunch almost all the time. Blaine had tried avoiding this with his various clubs, but Sam had gotten concerned that he was over extending himself, so he'd dropped a couple clubs and ate with the others. It wasn't that he really cared about over extending himself (that had really been the objective) but he didn't really want anyone worrying about him either. And he'd be lying to say he didn't enjoy having the New Directions around.
"Blaine? Earth to Blaine!" He started and looked over at Tina, who seemed playfully annoyed at him. Usually he avoided actual discussion during these lunches; he just sat and enjoyed pretending he really belonged.
"Huh?" There were a few snorts at Blaine's less than eloquent reply.
"What do you think?" Blaine continued to give Tina a blank look. "About the songs we were discussing for Glee? One More Night or Live While We're Young?"
"For sectionals?"
"Wow Blaine, what's got you so out of it?" Artie asked. "Did you stay up all night on that history paper too?"
"I finished that over the weekend," Blaine countered.
"Yeah, we aren't all procrastinators," Sam stated.
"Unique knows that look. You have your eye on someone."
"No." Blaine winced slightly at how he'd snapped, and internally berated himself as the others gave him confused looks.
"Hi Brittany." The attention was quickly redirected to the dark haired girl from yesterday, still in a cheerleading uniform, who was now standing alongside their table holding her lunch tray. "Do you mind if I sit here?"
"I'm not scared of your magic," Brittany replied. The girl took this to be a yes and sat down next to the blond. "Amanda's a witch, but she's a good witch so she isn't scary." The New Directions, long since used to Brittany's strange theories, smiled and greeted Amanda.
"Are you thinking of joining Glee?" Artie asked. Amanda tilted her head.
"Glee?"
"We're the New Directions, the school's glee club," Sam explained. "No one told you to avoid us?" Amanda shook her head.
"Who'd tell me that? The other cheerleaders don't want me around; evidently I offended Kitty."
"No wonder you gravitated toward us," Sam joked as he held out his hand to her. "I'm Sam by the way.
"Amanda." Everyone else was then introduced in turn.
*GLEE*
"So." Blaine jumped at the sudden voice from the other side of his locker. He glanced around the red metal door to discover the voice was, in fact, Amanda again. Over lunch, he'd learned the girl was a junior whose mom had suddenly moved them from New Jersey the previous week because of her job. He shot her an "I'm listening" look before going back to organizing his books. "I was talking with Jake and he said you're the student body president. You have the power to make those guys stop bothering you." She appeared content to leave "why?" as an unstated question.
"As president I have been working to get rid of the bullying," Blaine offered. Amanda studied him for a second.
"But you want them to bully you." Blaine was surprised at the statement, but the surprise was more at being forced to relinquish his excuses than anything else. He wasn't quite sure what to respond with, and Amanda seemed content to keep watching him. Then she nodded. "I've got practice; I'll see you tomorrow, Blaine." With that, she headed out as thoughshe'd asked him a question about the weather.
*GLEE*
Saturday found Blaine taking a walk in an attempt to clear his head with the penetrating chill of the fall air. It had been, well, a week his supposed. Glee had been working on a set list for sectionals. Blaine was getting a solo, and he knew what song he was singing already, so he wasn't particularly vested. Nothing eventful ever happened academically at McKinley it seemed. He supposed Amanda had been a very disorienting presence on Tuesday, but after that she'd mostly been with the glee girls- though they couldn't convince her to join the club- and she had not sought out Blaine again.
Blaine was watching the houses as he walked by. He realized that most teenagers had better things to do with a Saturday than walk through suburbia, but somehow the plain houses were comforting. He even spotted a girl raking leaves. It occurred to him that he should rake his yard when he got back since his parents would never be home long enough to think of such things.
It was at this point that Blaine realized who the dark haired girl was. And before he could make any attempt to avoid the situation, she looked up and saw him.
"Blaine?"
"Hi Amanda," he offered. He figured his failure to recognize her was due to the lack of a high-pony and cheerleading uniform. Her hair was loose around her shoulders and she wore a sweatshirt and jeans as she held the rake.
"Out for a walk?" Blaine shrugged.
"Why not?" Amanda raised an eyebrow.
"Because it's cold. I'm just trying to get this done as quickly as possible."
"The cold's refreshing." Numbing. Amanda watched him for a second.
"I guess I'll test your theory then," she offered as she set down the rake against a bush.
"Huh?"
"I'm going to come with you on this refreshing walk," she explained. "Hold on a second." With that, she vanished back through her door. Blaine stared after her leaning between the urge to run away and his need to be dapper, polite Blaine Anderson. By the time Amanda reappeared (much faster than he'd thought would be possible) his Dalton training had won out. Amanda emerged in pea coat with a deep blue scarf and hat.
"I had to change out of the yard-work sweatshirt." Blaine nodded at the explanation, more than accustomed to those who cared about their appearance. Then Amanda was holding out a thick red piece of fabric to him.
"This is?" he asked as he took it from her.
"A scarf," she replied. "Typically worn around the neck to prevent freezing when it's cold in the late fall."
"I don't need a scarf," Blaine protested. Amanda shook her head.
"If I'm going to walk around with you, you're going to have to look like you're at least trying," she protested. "The scarf matches the lettering in your sweatshirt and everything!" Blaine did have to admit the scarf matched the lettering of his Dalton sweatshirt, and it seemed rude to continue to refuse, so he wrapped the thing around his neck. He instantly lost some of his numb, but his body seemed pleased with the change anyway. "See! Now, where are we off to?"
"Nowhere really," Blaine replied. "This way?" Amanda seemed satisfied, so they continued down the block.
"You had better know how to get back here though," she informed him. "Because I moved a week ago."
"I assure you that I will return you safely to your house," Blaine managed to joke in his "dapper" voice.
"What a gentleman," Amanda replied. "I'd always heard that breed was dying." Blaine managed to smile a bit. He could almost imagine that this was two years ago, back when he was just another Dalton boy who hadn't screwed up everything he cared about.
"We're not dead yet," Blaine replied. "At Dalton we're thriving." Blaine's mood crashed violently as he realized the fault in his own statement: in no universe could Sebastian's behavior, or that of the Warblers around Regionals, be called gentlemanly. Another thing he'd screwed up.
"I clearly should go to this Dalton. Is that a summer camp or something?"
"Dalton's a high school. I used to go there." The silence overwhelmed them for a little while.
"You know what? Let's play the question game," Amanda suggested. Blaine shrugged. "Great. I'll go first. How old are you?"
"Seventeen. I'll turn eighteen in January." There was a pause.
"It's your turn now," Amanda reminded him. Blaine nodded, and responded with the quickest thing he could think of.
"How old are you?"
"Sixteen, but I'm young for my grade so I only turned a couple weeks ago. Do you have any siblings?"
"Happy belated birthday," Blaine offered before answering. Amanda snorted. "An older brother. You may have seen him on 'Free Credit Rating Today' commercials."
"Really?" Blaine nodded. "My friends always said he was really hot, I sort of just took him to be annoying. Though that may have been transference from the commercials, please don't take offence." Blaine snorted.
"You actually have no idea. Do you have any siblings?"
"This is the last time you get to just repeat my question," Amanda warned. "But no, it's just my mom and I. Now… how'd you get into singing?" Blaine shrugged.
"It's just my outlet. I've always loved it, and now I sort of can't see myself without it." Blaine wondered why he was sharing such things with a strange new cheerleader, but it felt good to talk to someone. "Are you upset about moving to Lima?"
"Yes," she replied before backtracking, "not that I don't like you or the rest of the Glee people, but I miss my friends, my school and my home. I just feel like an interloper here. And Kitty doesn't help with that." Blaine snorted.
"I think you'd be hard pressed to find a school where there isn't at least one mean cheerleader."
"You have something against cheerleaders, Anderson?"
"Never." He stopped alongside Amanda, who was looking across the street. Blaine followed her gaze to see a coffee shop- it appeared the two had walked into a row of shops and stores.
"You want to grab some coffee?" Blaine froze slightly.
"I… I- no, I can't. Sorry." Blaine started to flee, but Amanda grabbed his arm.
"Don't run off!" she protested. "We don't have to. It was just an idea since its cold out." Blaine worked on throwing his mask back on.
"No, don't worry, I just… never mind. If you're cold, we should go get some coffee." Blaine started for the coffee shop, continuing to steel himself. It wasn't even somewhere he'd ever been before; if he couldn't go into a simple coffee shop he was scared of what would happen when he inevitably found himself at the Lima Bean. Yet the smell off the coffee beans made him feel a little queasy when they entered.
"Blaine, if you're this uncomfortable-"
"I'm fine, really." Amanda didn't seem inclined to take his word for it and reached out to give his hand a squeeze as they waited in line. Blaine wasn't sure that actually made him feel better because the gesture reminded him so much of Kurt, but he appreciated the thought all the same.
"There are a bunch of drinks here that don't even have coffee in them," Amanda suggested. "We could stick to those." Blaine nodded. They reached the front of the line- Amanda got a large tea, Blaine attempted to not get anything but Amanda talked him into a hot chocolate, which she then paid for before he could protest. They got their drinks and promptly exited the shop.
"You really didn't have to pay for my drink. I actually feel that I should have paid for yours," Blaine protested once more. Amanda rolled her eyes.
"While it is adorable that you're such a gentleman, I forced you into the coffee shop and talked you into the drink. It's fine." Blaine sipped on his hot chocolate to cover his ill-ease. He did have to admit the warm liquid made him feel a little better.
"And if it makes you feel any better, we can go out on a non-coffee outing again and you can pay," she stated. Blaine smiled slightly. Amanda then walked over to a bench and sat down, gesturing for Blaine to do the same. "Though I now have a more serious question. Would you like to explain why you're so freaked out about coffee?" Blaine was quickly reminded of why he didn't want to talk to the strangely frank girl. Yet the idea of actually letting someone in on what was going on was too tempting.
"My boyfriend and I used to go on coffee dates all the time," he offered before realizing his slip. "Ex-boyfriend."
"Bad break up?" Blaine nodded, staring determinedly at his hot chocolate.
"I destroyed the best thing that ever happened to me," he could feel tears welling in his eyes, and struggled to hold them back. "He doesn't want to ever talk to me again."
"Why?"
"Because I cheated on him!" Blaine practically exploded. "I'm such a moron that I went running to an old friend just because I was lonely. And I've hurt Kurt and now he never wants to talk to me again and I can't really blame him because I don't really want to have anything to do with me ever again since I'm probably the biggest fuck-up on the planet." Blaine just sort of stared at Amanda for a second after his explosion, then buried his face in his hands. Amanda seemed a little shocked and far from her comfort zone, but she put a hand on his shoulder and sort of patted it in at attempt at comfort.
"Blaine, you made a mistake, that doesn't mean-"
"Yeah, anyone could make the mistake of cheating on their soul-mate," Blaine retorted darkly. "You don't have to try to make me feel better, I'm an awful excuse for a human being and I really don't deserve any comfort."
"You are not an awful excuse for a human being," Amanda insisted firmly. "You are a kind-hearted person who made a mistake. I have met some awful excuses for human beings and don't you dare put yourself on their level." Blaine nodded, a little thrown by the firmness of Amanda's tone. They sat there for a little while, sipping their non-coffees. Blaine was sort of happy he'd vented, he felt just a little bit better.
"So, it's your turn," Amanda voiced. Blaine shot her a confused look. "For the question game? My attempt at forcing conversation?" He snorted. "What?"
"Nothing." Amanda stuck out her tong at him. "Okay… have you dated?" She nodded.
"I was sort of going out with a guy but it was too complicated," she replied with a shrug. Blaine raised an eyebrow. "What? Not everyone has the kind of relationship drama that seems to be going around here."
"Yeah, I thought everyone was teasing me when they started telling me about the New Directions," Blaine agreed. "I think I was more shocked when I found out they weren't lying." Amanda laughed.
"So you came to McKinley part way through high school?" Blaine nodded, going to take a sip of his hot chocolate but discovering he was out. He glanced around for a trashcan. "You done too?"
"I'd say it's time to head back," Blaine announced- it was starting to get dark and he was beginning to see Amanda's point about the cold. "I did say I'd return you home at some point."
"Good because I really have no idea where we are." Blaine chuckled and they started back as Blaine began telling her about Dalton and the Warblers.
*GLEE*
Blaine heard the familiar approaching footsteps after school Monday and closed his locker in preparation. But instead of the expected freezing cold, he had a pat on the back by a warm hand.
"Hey man," Sam offered before leaning against the lockers next to where Blaine stood. "Are you free tonight?"
"Well, I have some homework but it won't take too long," Blaine replied. "Why?"
"Sue just drug Finn into Figgins'; she's trying to get Jake and Ryder thrown out of glee for their GPA's. You up for another guys' study session?"
"Are we going to be at school till four again?" Sam shook his head.
"Nah, we aren't cramming for a test, just sort of a 'nip the problem in the bud' type thing," he offered. "We're heading to Artie's and we'll play Call of Duty once we've studied for a while." Blaine considered. "Come on, if you don't come we're going to have to let Artie explain everything!"
"I'm in," Blaine agreed.
"Sweet! Can I get a ride over with you by the way?" Blaine agreed and retrieved his books. The two headed for the parking lot, not noticing the two confused football players with cups of slushy staring at Blaine's abandoned locker.