A/n: and another Security side-story! This one is from my world's version of season 4 - meaning the break up never happened.
Enjoy!
Blaine sat at the head of the table next to the senior members of the student council, while all the underclassmen were scattered around the room. There was a bit of an awkward silence and all eyes were directed at him. He didn't know what was going on. All he could remember was his hands starting to shake and his mouth going dry when Tina suggested the -
Oh.
Right.
The Sadie Hakins Dance.
Blaine shook his head and tried to put on a smile. "I don't know if that's a good idea," he finally said.
Tina looked indignant. "Of course it is!" She launched into another rant about empowering women or it being too long until prom - she could have been talking about how to best make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for all that Blaine was paying attention. He did notice, however, when Tina called for a vote.
Every hand in the room went up.
I guess they forgot, Blaine thought.
Kurt was more than excited to finally, finally be starting at NYADA, where he belonged. Of course, working at Vogue had been a dream come true and Isabelle told him that he always had a job there, but performing was where his heart was.
He was on the train back to the apartment after his first (thrilling and terrifying) day of classes when his cell phone rang. His smile grew when he saw Blaine's face on the screen.
"Hey Blaine," Kurt said. He was probably calling to see how Kurt's first day had been. He's so considerate.
There was a long pause before Blaine spoke. "Kurt."
"Blaine?" Kurt asked, suddenly concerned. "What's wrong, honey?"
"I'm scared," he admitted in a small voice. "I've never done this without you, and now it's the same one. I know it's irrational, but -" Blaine rambled.
"Whoa, Blaine, slow down," Kurt consoled. "Can you back up and tell me what this is about?"
"Tina wants us to hold a dance, and the entire student council voted in favor of it."
"Well, that should be fun. It'll be something for the glee club to do now that your season's over," Kurt reasoned.
"Kurt ... it's a Sadie Hawkins Dance."
Oh.
"I know I've done the school dance thing twice now, but still. I'm scared to go alone. Especially because it is a Sadie Hawkins Dance again."
"When is the dance? Maybe I can fly home for it," Kurt suggested desperately. He knew his bank account was going to say a big fat "NO!" to the idea, but he felt like he had to do something.
"No, Kurt, it's fine. I know how expensive flights are. Anyway, you should enjoy your time at NYADA. I just needed to hear your voice. I'm much better now."
Kurt didn't entirely believe him, but he let the boy lie. Instead he told Blaine all about the NYADA glee club he was thinking of joining. Blaine laughed when Kurt told him about their rendition of "Baby Got Back." Even if the boy's laugh was a little fake sounding, it was better than tears.
Sam, Tina, and Blaine had quickly become the best of friends. It was strange - none of them had been close last year or the year before, but now that they were seniors and the glee leaders, they were inseparable. So it was strange that after the student council meeting, Blaine had bolted from the room instead of waiting for Tina and Sam to go out for their usual post-meeting coffees at the Lima Bean.
He joined them eventually, but was frantic and ended up leaving early. Sam and Tina exchanged confused glances, but continued on with their chat.
Blaine still hadn't made up his mind about the dance. He was almost positive that Finn would have them sing there, and he was student body president, so he probably was supposed to go. Maybe he could get mysteriously ill on the day of the dance.
Time was moving strangely, and Blaine wasn't sure what to do. He hadn't told anyone about the dance except Kurt, and didn't think he wanted to.
Of course, that plan was foiled by Principal Figgins.
The Andersons were eating a relatively happy family dinner when Kathleen dropped the bomb. "So Blaine," she began casually, "your school is having a dance next weekend?"
Blaine looked up with panic in his eyes. "Um, yeah."
"A Sadie Hawkins Dance?"
Blaine could only nod his head.
"Are you going to go?"
Blaine was silent for a long time, trying to figure out if he was going to go. Finally, he managed to say, "How did you find out?"
"Your principal sent out an email to all the parents asking for chaperones."
"Oh."
"So are you going?" this time Andrew joined in the interrogation. "Because if you are, your mother and I want to chaperone."
"I - I don't know. I mean, I have to be there, technically, but I don't really want to go," Blaine finally admitted.
"So you're not asking anyone this time?" Kathleen asked kindly.
"It's a girls ask boys dance, mom. I learned the hard way not to mess with the rules."
"Well, let us know if you're going to be there so we can chaperone anyway, just in case," Kathleen said. She tried too hard to suppress the pain constricting her heart at her little boy's downtrodden expression and ended up sounding too cheerful. It broke her heart, though, to see how three little words could break Blaine, turning him from the confident young man she had raised and was proud of into the broken child in the hospital three years ago.
Tina was the one who finally figured it out. She was with Blaine and Sam at the Lima Bean after school on the Monday before the dance. Girls had been asking boys out left and right at school, and Sadie Hawkins fever was everywhere. Naturally, that was what she and Sam were talking about. She noticed that Blaine was much less animated than usual. That he cringed at the words 'Sadie Hawkins.' That he practically jumped out of his skin when the barista accidentally knocked over a plate of biscotti.
When they walked back to their cars and she saw Blaine limping slightly, it all clicked. She called Kurt as soon as she got in the car.
"Hello?" Kurt's voice sounded tired, but Tina didn't care to ask about the other boy.
"Kurt, I am so sorry! I just completely forgot everything you told us - Blaine never mentioned it and he's always so happy and I wanted a dance so I just forgot what happened to him at his last Sadie Hawkins!"
"Tina, it's okay," Kurt reassured.
"No, Kurt, it's not. He's really freaked out. I know he's trying to hide it, but it's like he just curled in on himself."
"I know. I've been trying to help him as much as I can, but it's hard when I'm so far away."
"Is there any chance you could come and surprise him for the dance?"
"I wish, Tina. Believe me, I've already tried. But plane tickets are more than I can afford right now. Can you look after him for me?"
"Of course," Tina said, a plan already forming in her head.
Brittany and Marley asked Sam and Jake out in glee the next day.
Kitty even asked someone, serenading Ryder during Wednesday's meeting.
On Thursday, it was Tina's turn. She stood in front of the chemistry classroom they were borrowing, noticing Blaine sitting in the back. He was hunched over a desk and looked incredibly tired. Taking a deep breath, Tina began to sing.
When you're weary
Feeling small
When tears are in your eyes
I will dry them all
The other members started looking around when they recognized the song. Sure it was a nice song, and completed Tina's voice beautifully, but it was a bit subdued - and not about love, like the other girls' had been.
I'm on your side
When times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Tina looked right at Blaine as she sang. The boy didn't look up, though, so she slowly started walking towards him.
When you're down and out
When you're on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you
She reached Blaine, and the boy finally looked, surprise etched in his face. Tina simply held out a hand to him as she kept singing.
I'll take your part
When darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Tears looked as if they were threatening to spring from Blaine's eyes as Tina sang to him. When she finished the last note, he hugged her tightly before wiping at his eyes.
The rest of the glee club had turned around in their seats to watch the proposal, still a bit confused.
"Blaine," Tina said gently, kneeling down before him, "will you go to the Sadie Hawkins Dance with me?"