The next couple of days blurred together for Blaine. He couldn't think straight and he was inattentive in class. He threw all his energies into the West Side Story rehearsals, knowing that the opening night was only days away. He worked on his dancing and on his singing to distract himself, not just from Ian's death, but also the arrival of Neil.
"Hey Blaine." Blaine spun around as he walked along the corridor in school. He smiled slightly, his lips taut, when he saw his co-star in the musical, Rachel Berry, striding towards him.
"Hi Rachel." Rachel smiled at him and nodded at his greeting.
"I was wondering if you're up for some extra practice after rehearsal ends?" she said briskly. "We could do with running our duets a couple more times."
"Really?" asked Blaine. "I thought they were good." Rachel shook her head.
"They're no way near as good as the soundtrack." Blaine snorted.
"Rachel if you want to be as good as the soundtrack you're going to be in for a severe disappointment." Rachel turned to him, looking slightly worried.
"You don't think I'm ever going to be that good? But I want to be on Broadway."
"Woah." said Blaine, hastily back-pedalling. "I mean in a school production you're never going to be that good and you're never going to sound just like a person on a CD, are you? You'll have a different voice, a different way of singing it. But if you really want to practice, sure I'm game." Rachel beamed up at him.
"Thank you, Blaine!" she cried and threw her arms around his neck. "Now I have to run. I have to catch Artie." Blaine shook his head as Rachel ran off down the hall and in whatever direction she thought Artie would be. Turning back to his previous direction he saw Kurt staring down the hall at him. He raised his arm and waved at him. Kurt came strolling towards him at a rather slow pace.
"What did Rachel want?" he asked the moment he came up to him.
"Oh just wanted to do extra rehearsals." he said rolling his eyes.
"When?" asked Kurt.
"Today, after our run through." Kurt glared at him. "What?" asked Blaine, confused.
"You promised to come shopping with me to help pick an anniversary present for Dad and Carole."
"Oh?" said Blaine unable to remember saying that. "Did I?" Kurt continued to glare at him. "Well we must have agreed that a while ago."
"We did it yesterday."
"Oh." said Blaine, feeling stupid now. "Sorry it must have just slipped my mind. Besides you don't need my help, you're so much better at that kind of thing than me." Kurt smiled slightly. "Also, shouldn't you take Finn, I mean, what's the betting he's got them one?" Kurt stared at him.
"You're right." he said. "And if he has it's going to be rubbish."
"There you go then." said Blaine brightly. "You won't be going alone."
"No I'll be going with Finn." Kurt shuddered. "That's even worse." Blaine laughed and for the first time it was a genuine one. Kurt looked over at him and asked "Are you feeling better now?"
"What?" asked Blaine, instead of answering the question. Kurt stared at him.
"Don't play dumb with me Anderson." he said threateningly. "Something's been off with you since Jeff got that text in the auditorium." Blaine sighed.
"Remember when I said that there were things you didn't know." Kurt nodded, how could he forget it had been horrible to hear that, he'd told Blaine everything about him, but the more he thought about it the more he realised he knew virtually anything about Blaine's past. Blaine gave little bits of information and you somehow built up this picture of his entire life. The little bits he'd gleamed from the others at his time had Dalton had mainly been funny stories about him and Kurt had assumed that it had all been sunshine and rainbows for him. "Well it's about that and I know you'll understand but I don't feel I can tell you when it's still so raw. You'll understand but it's easier to share it with people who are going through exactly the same thing as you." Kurt looked at him, trying to work out what was going on.
"Alright." he said finally. "But will you at least tell me what your song in the auditorium was about." Blaine looked at him a slightly panicky expression on his face.
"You heard that?" he asked. "Yes I heard it, we came in when they were all hugging you." Kurt could have sworn that Blaine looked angry when he first heard that but he soon masked whatever emotion had come charging across his face.
"That was just something I needed to do." Kurt stared at him.
"Was that about us?" he asked urgently. "Is there something making you unhappy?" Blaine laughed and Kurt just felt himself getting more annoyed.
"No, no Kurt." said Blaine. "That had nothing to do with you, I've never been happier than when I'm with you."
"Then wh-" Kurt was cut off when the bell signalling the start of the next lesson sounded.
"Oh god I'm late for French." moaned Blaine. "We'll talk later." he called as he ran away and Kurt sighed and walked back to his own classroom.
"Okay order!" cried Wes. Luckily, or not so depending on how you looked at it, Wes' hands were completely healed and he could go back to banging his gavel to his heart's content.
"Now." said David. "We need to do what we did last year. Throw one impromptu performance for the school to gauge how we're doing. Sectionals is about two weeks away so we really need to get cracking. Any song ideas?" a couple of people threw up their hands and gave song titles and Thad jotted them down on a piece of paper.
"There will be no auditions for this, soloist will be Nick." said Thad. "Nick will be first choice and the following Warblers have been selected to audition for their dedication and talent; Jeff, Trent, Kyle and Daniel." The boys in question all nodded.
"We want your songs ready by- yes Neil?" David addressed the boy with his hand up with an icy glare.
"I was just wondering why I wasn't selected?" he asked, politely. "You know I'm good enough."
"Members are chosen for their dedication." replied Wes crisply. "You joined under a week ago, you haven't had enough time to show dedication."
"But what about my previous?" he asked, most of the Warblers were watching the tense conversation like it was a tennis game.
"Well." said Wes. "We spoke to the Principal and he agreed that the slate should be wiped clean. What you were in the Warblers before, no longer has any baring, it's about you now." The three Warblers seated behind the desk stared him down and Neil just sat back against the couch and crossed his arms.
"As I was saying." continued David as if he hadn't just been interrupted. "We want your songs ready for the end of the week." he glanced at the other two Council Members, they both nodded and Wes banged his gavel.
"Thank you all, meeting adjourned."
"Nick and Jeff." called Thad. "Stay behind to discuss the impromptu." Both boys remained sitting in their seats until the doors had been closed by the last Warbler.
"I am so glad we got that note." said Jeff instantly. The others nodded and Thad ran his hands over his head.
"That was close." he breathed. Then he straightened up. "Right, Nick any preferences."
"But please not Katy Perry." begged Wes. Nick smiled faintly and shook his head. This was the only way that they were getting through, by carrying on as normal. Their only hope was that Blaine was managing the same.
"How about.." he began.
"We aren't doing anything from Mulan." said David quickly, already reaching into his jacket pocket. "I don't care if it's the only Disney movie you like, it's impossible to arrange." Nick pouted and worked his way deeper into the sofa.
"Fine. I'll think on it."
Blaine had been unable to see to his friends for Dalton for the rest of that week because of the hectic nature of his life. He'd had play rehearsals, Glee club rehearsals, homework and the added burden of avoiding Kurt's questions on when he'd sung 'Forever and Always'. However he was glad to get a text form Thad to saying that they; Thad, Wes, David, Jeff, Nick, were all coming to seem him on the opening night. It almost made up for the fact his parents weren't coming. Another thing that lifted his mood slightly was the fact Neil had been very quiet. Apart from when he'd asked for a chance to do a solo he'd done nothing untoward. The thing that really made him tired was the constant pain of Ian's death, that stabbed him through the heart and kept him up at night.
West Side Story had been fantastic. The Warblers had sat in the audience, it turned out that most of the other Warblers in their year and a couple in the ones below, had all gotten tickets to see Blaine. Trent was here and had handed over the duties of watching Neil to Dan, who was very eager to help. Blaine made an excellent Tony and at the end of each number he performed the Dalton boys gave him a standing ovation and whistled and cheered. In fact they were so loud that they got some strange looks from the other people sitting around them.
"What the hell?" cried Blaine as he was mobbed by the Dalton boys after the show. "I didn't think you were all coming!" he exclaimed cheerfully as he embraced some he hadn't seen since he transferred.
"It was a surprise." said John, who was their beep box man.
"Yeah we thought you could some cheering up after-ow!" David stamped on Chris' foot just before he could utter the name 'Neil'. The dark haired Warbler, who all the new ones got confused with Wes, glared at Thad but Thad was looking pointedly over at the other members of New Direction, especially Kurt, who were approaching. "Oh." he said. "Oh hey Kurt!" he added for cover. Most of the Warblers moved off to envelope their ex counter-tenor. David rolled his eyes and turned back to the others, whilst turning on his phone without looking at it, who were asking Blaine how he was coping.
"Okay. I guess." said Blaine. "I mean I've been so busy." they all nodded. "And Sectionals is in a week." he said. "I've only got a week till Neil finds me."
"We could injure him if you want." suggested Jeff but before they could go further into the conversation, Kurt appeared.
"Injure who?" he asked.
"The guy with the appalling accent." said Nick hurriedly. Kurt laughed.
"Yeah Rory's pretty bad at the accent thing, but in his defence he's Irish, he's got an accent anyway."
"True." said David. "But it killed that number before it had even started."
"And not in a good way." added Wes. Kurt laughed again.
"If you say so."
"We do." they said in unison.
"Ah." said Thad suddenly. "We need to get back."
"Or you'll loose your precious Monitor badge." said Jeff appearing at Thad's shoulder.
"Or worse." said Nick, appearing at the other. "You're Prefect badge." Thad swatted them both away.
"You should be glad I hold three positions of power, or don't you remember when you blew up the Chem lab when you discovered Blaine was leaving? Now, who got you out of that?" When both boys looked suitably meek he turned back to the others. David and Wes were chortling and Blaine was smiling fully and broadly.
"He's so right." said Blaine. "I reckon you two would have been thrown out, and maybe Wes and David, if every teacher didn't trust Thad."
"I've always wondered why they did that?" mused David looking back up from where his phone was being slipped away into one of his pockets. "They must have realised that you get all caught up in our schemes." Thad glared at him, too. "Okay, sore topic." he said.
"Jeff, Nick and Wes, those dog faces you pull can be used now to round up the others, and your incredible energy." With great pleasure the three of them bounded away. David stood still for a second before chasing after Wes. Thad didn't blink as he turned back to Blaine.
"You good?" Blaine nodded.
"I reckon I'm on some sort of buzz after the show." Thad nodded, aware of Kurt behind them.
"Well, I want everyone back and rested we have an impromptu to throw. Who knows we may find some 'endearing' spy for Jeff to fall for." Blaine chuckled again.
"I thought Nick was taking steps forward."
"Baby steps." said Thad. "By the time he realises he likes Jeff they'll be in wheelchairs." Blaine snorted again.
"There's hope for you too, Thad. I've never heard you deal out so many insults or cutting remarks." Thad shrugged but he met Blaine's eye and Blaine understood his sudden personality change, he was covering up all his hurt. All the Warblers assembled by Thad and he did a head count.
"Good we're all here. See you at Sectionals!" he hugged Blaine goodbye and all the others did the same, also wishing them goodbye till Sectionals. Blaine had a smile on his face when he watched them go. He wasn't going to get them to injure Neil he was going to stand like he should have done ages ago.
"Blaine we want you to go back Dalton." The notepad on Blaine's lap on which he had been using to take notes on his performance last night, fell to the floor along with his pen.
"Wh..what?" he said, looking horrified. Mr Schue watched his reaction confused then clocked what he thought was wrong.
"I don't mean permanently, god no, I mean there's a performance and we need someone to see it." Blaine frowned.
"What's the point in sending me?" he asked. "Everyone there will know who I am, the Freshmen have even seen me perform and I'm on the cover of the brochure with Thad." he shook his head. "I never heard the end of having five pictures in there. The only who had more was Thad who had seven." all the New Directions stared at him, waiting for his tangent for finish.
"Well we can't send any of the girls for obvious reasons and none of the other boys are likely to fit into your uniform." Blaine thought it over. He couldn't go back to Dalton. He was prepared to stand up to Neil in his mind but when he got there he was pretty sure it would all crumble and he'd rather not bring that day any closer.
"What about Kurt?" he asked. Kurt glanced up at him, confused. Mr Schue frowned.
"Well I suppose that could work, Kurt has the uniform this time and if he's discreet he might not get noticed by anyone who knows him."
"Sorry Mr Schue?" Mr Schue looked at Rachel who had her hand up.
"Yes Rachel." he said, patiently.
"Why are you condoning cheating?" she asked.
"Because last year the Warblers were good, good enough to hold us at Sectionals, this year we're better but they could be too." Rachel still didn't look impressed. "We need anything on them."
"I wouldn't be surprised if the Warblers have sent someone over." added Blaine. "Apart from his terrible 'uniform', I knew Kurt was a spy because Kyle had been here to spy."
"What?" exclaimed several members.
"Kyle?" said Kurt. "You mean the one with the gelled blonde hair."
"Yep." said Blaine. Kurt shook his head.
"I had no idea."
"That's because only me, the Council and Kyle know about it, oh and Jeff and Nick because they just find everything out."
"Alright." said Mr Schue bringing the conversation back to him. "Kurt, are you up for another trip to Dalton?" Kurt nodded.
"Yeah, we need to win this."
"Blaine do you have any idea when the performance will be?" Blaine shook his head.
"Could be anytime, it's called impromptu for a reason." Mr Schue sighed.
"Alright then, Kurt you'd better change and then head over there. I'll give you permission to skip class." Kurt got up and hurried off and Blaine was left wondering exactly how far people would go to win a choir competition.
"For the last freakin' time order!" cried Wes banging the gavel so hard against the wood it was making David and Thad wince. Everyone eventually fell silent, most of them still looking shocked.
"It's not that big a deal." said David. "We did a duet for Regionals last year."
"Yeah and we lost." said John. "We drew with Blaine singing lead." Thad rubbed his temples as the rest began to nod.
"In case you haven't noticed we no longer have Blaine which means we're going to have to do some pretty outlandish stuff to win."
"Remember 'Bills Bills Bills'?" said Wes. "We need some of those stunts in our performance. Remember New Directions last year?" they all nodded.
"I thought we were sunk." muttered Chris and the general proportion of Warblers nodded.
"Exactly!" said David. "We need to combine our solid harmony and our dance moves and we have a winning combination." most of the Warblers looked unsure.
"C'mon guys." said Jeff from an armchair. "Last year we gave a solo to someone who hadn't auditioned and we performed off-campus, this is nothing in comparison." quite a few nodded and seemed to agree with him and the Council Members sighed in relief.
"Okay then, let's take it from the top and remember if this goes well, one of you auditioning will get a solo at Sectionals." there was a good deal of murmuring as the Warblers got to their feet to begin performing.
"I've heard that they've started back-flipping and stuff!" said one excited boy as he flew down spiral staircase.
"Cool!" his friend came chasing after him and Kurt, who felt incredibly self-conscious followed them. Instead of going to the senior commons, however, the two boys-and most of Dalton-exited through the West Court door and went out onto the stone flag path. Kurt kept his head low as possible, and it was hard not to look up when he heard the sound of harmonies coming from the quad.
I make them good girls go bad…
Kurt hopped onto a bench with some boys who didn't recognise him. Peering over the ground he examined the bunch of Warblers. In the front he noticed Jeff, Thad, David and Wes. It looked like one of them was taking over Blaine's role.
good girls go bad
I know your type
The Warblers split instantly into two groups the moment the song started. Kurt frowned none the ones in the front were singing. Then he saw, striding up the middle looking supremely confident, Nick.
(Your type)
The Warblers moved back together in sync, leaving Nick somewhere in the middle, and then straight back apart.
You're daddy's little girl
Just take a bite
Nick strode straight to the front of the group. He felt incredibly buoyed and when he spotted Kurt on top of the bench he through him a seductive wink.
(One bite)
Kurt groaned as the Warblers moved back together and then apart. He was sure Nick had just winked at him meaning his cover was blown. He really was a terrible spy.
Let me shake up your world
'Cause just one night couldn't be so wrong
I'm gonna make you lose control
Nick began to dance; shaking his body and spinning around, his blazer whirling out behind him. He kept glancing at Kurt with a smirk on his face and Kurt could feel his face burning, Nick was just trying to rub it in that he knew he was there.
She was so shy
Till I drove her wild
The crowd were getting very riled up. They were jumping up and whooping, louder and more excited than when Kurt had seen Blaine doing 'Teenage Dream'.
I make them good girls go bad
Nick joined the others and they began to move in perfect step but there wasn't any clicking. Instead they were actually dancing! There were steps and turns and arm movements. They were swaying their hips and Kurt was reminded of why he'd thought they were all gay.
I make them good girls go
Their lines spun into each other and suddenly their order was changed. David was at the front and he ran out.
Good girls go bad
David did a couple of kicks and flips and was soon joined by John who started doing some demented robot dance.
bad
bad
Good girls go
I know your type
Kurt once more craned his neck to see who was singing the female line and surprisingly, or maybe not, he saw that it was Jeff. He came striding down the middle, staring at Nick.
(Your type)
Boy, you're dangerous
Yeah, you're that guy
(That guy)
I'd be stupid to trust
There could be no doubt that Jeff was flirting with Nick as he sung and Nick didn't seem to be deterred by it, if anything he was flirting right back at him.
But just one night couldn't be so wrong
You make me wanna lose control
On the last word Nick, who had grabbed Jeff, spun him around and dipped him. There was a load of wolf-whistles and cheers and Nick sang, inches from Jeff's face;
I make them good girls go bad
Jeff felt himself heat up as Nick sang right in front of his face and then spun him back up and over to the left.
Oh, she got a way with the boys in the place
Treat 'em like they don't stand a chance
And he got away with the girls in the back
Acting like they're too hot to dance
The Warblers had once more divided into two. One half moved with Nick and the other half danced with Jeff.
I was hanging in the corner
With my five best friends
Jeff scooted back in a way that reminded Kurt of when he'd sung 'Baby It's Cold Outside' with Blaine. Wiggling his shoulders, he backed into Thad, David, Wes, Trent and Kyle.
I heard that you were trouble
But I couldn't resist
Jeff took Nick's extended hand and allowed himself to be spun into Nick's body. Jeff was pretty sure Nick was doing this just to torture him.
I make them good girls go bad
I make them good girls go
Nick wasn't entirely sure why he was dancing so closely with Jeff. Maybe it was because he was trying to take both of their minds of Ian, or maybe he was just trying to see if he really felt something for Jeff.
Good girls go bad
bad
bad
The Warblers reformed with Jeff and Nick in the front. Everyone could see that they were practically touching as they danced to the end of the song.
Good girls go bad
The song ended with all the Warblers' heads down and arms folded behind their back. The courtyard practically exploded with applause as they looked back up and began to laugh and hug and clap each other on the back. Neil glanced up at the boy he'd seen Nick winking at. He was rolling his eyes and clapping. He was definitely gay, there was something about him that just screamed it. Neil couldn't say that he liked him, not in the way he loved Blaine, but it might be nice to have someone, until he found Blaine again.
"Kurt alert." said Thad suddenly.
"What?" asked David, who had been in a world known as 'David and his mobile', was confused by the seemingly random statement that had left his sensible friend's mouth. Thad pointed towards Neil was making his way towards Kurt who was leaving.
"Crap." said Wes. He could see Trent trying to push his way through the crowd but he was being swamped by people from Adams.
"We'll handle this." said Wes and David." They darted away from Thad, Jeff and Nick. The other three watched them disappear with concern.
Kurt headed back to the door he'd come through. Whilst he couldn't say he was pleased with the way the spying had gone, he had learnt that the Warblers had something serious packing, especially if Nick and Jeff sang lead. There was definitely a lot of chemistry between them and Kurt wasn't sure what Thad had meant by 'baby steps'. Unless Kurt had missed something huge, that looked like a massive leap forward on Nick's part.
"KURT!" he looked around as he saw his name being called. The only person he saw coming towards him was someone with very short blonde hair, glasses and piercing blue eyes. He frowned, he didn't recognise them. "KURT!" he looked to where he thought the sound was coming and saw Wes and David sprinting towards him. They stopped before him, hands on knees, panting.
"Kurt!" gasped Wes. "Coffee." and the two of them grabbed him from either side and towed him away. Neil stood there watching the brown haired boy going. What had provoked Wes and David's reaction? Was it just because of everything with Blaine and Sebastian? Or was it something more?
Kurt was utterly confused. Wes and David were frogmarching him out of the Dalton grounds and towards his car. When they'd said coffee he'd assumed that they had meant the lovely café at Dalton but instead Wes pick pocketed him and David had ordered him to climb into the back. Still completely bamboozled by the situation he sat in the backseat whilst David sat up front his phone, unsurprisingly, out and Wes drove. They pulled up in the car park of the Lima Bean and Kurt got out as Wes and David stayed completely silent.
"Are you going to tell me what's going on?" he asked. Both boys shook their heads.
"Just order yourself a coffee." said David.
"And buy us a biscuit." added Wes. Kurt nodded and went up to the queue to order.
He was back in about two minutes and he set a giant chocolate cookie before Wes and David settled down with his coffee cup in hand.
"Now will you tell me." he said, impatient. Both David and Wes didn't respond, instead breaking up the biscuit and eating half each.
"Kurt stay away from Neil." said David the moment he'd swallowed his last bite. Kurt frowned at them.
"Who the hell is Neil?" he asked.
"Trouble." said Wes in a dark voice.
"Seriously Kurt." said David. "Stay away from him." Kurt glanced between them, sure that they'd completely lost it.
"I still have no idea who you're talking about." he said. Wes swallowed.
"He was the blonde guy advancing on you." Kurt scoffed.
"Advancing, he was just walking."
"Towards you." said David pointedly.
"Take it from people who have suffered directly at his hands." Kurt glanced between Wes and David, still completely confused.
"I wasn't really planning on going near him." said Kurt.
"He'll be at Sectionals." said Wes, gravely. "Keep away from him."
"If you say so." said Kurt.
"We do." said David in the same grave tone. "He was expelled because he physically harmed six people." Kurt's eyes went wide.
"What?" he exclaimed. "What is he doing back?"
"The faculty didn't learn the whole story." said Wes tensely. "There was more to it but the person who he hurt the most didn't want it to come out. Someone else left because of him, because they didn't think they could stay."
"And we had a different Principal but anyway, he ripped a hole in Jefferson." said David looking down at the crumbs on the napkin. "That will never be repaired." Kurt looked between the two angry, hurt, serious faces and he nodded.
"Okay, I'll keep away from him."
"Thank you." said Wes and David nodded.
"You can go." he added. Kurt stood up and turned but then spun back round.
"Did Blaine have anything to do with this?" He didn't miss the look that flashed between the two of them but he wasn't able to read it.
"Kurt." said David, leaning forward on the table. "You have to trust Blaine, it's never been more important." Kurt stared at them, eyes wide and just a little worried.
"Even if you feel hurt and shut out, you need to keep your faith in him. Promise?" Kurt looked once more between the two of them and then nodded at Wes.
"I promise."
Kurt made it back in time for the Glee Club meeting after school.
"Well Kurt?" asked Mr Schue as he came charging into the choir.
"They're good." he said honestly. "Nick and Jeff did a duet; 'Good Girls Go Bad' by Cobra Starship it was excellent." Blaine looked up from where he'd been gazing at the floor.
"Jeff and Nick sang that, together?" he asked in an incredulous tone.
"Yes." said Kurt as he took a seat near Blaine. "And let me tell you, the chemistry was there and there was serious dancing." Blaine looked thoughtful for a second.
"Anything else?" he asked.
"Not unless you count getting dragged to the Lima Bean and forced to drink coffee whilst being told to stay away from some person you've never met. Do you know anyone called Neil?" he said it all in one breath and Blaine blinked at him.
"Yes." he replied eventually. "There was someone called Neil in our year in Jefferson when I arrived, he was expelled not long into the first term of Sophomore year. We were friends, once." Kurt stared at Blaine for a second.
"Well I got told some pretty horrible things about him." he said evenly.
"Yes." said Blaine curtly. "He turned out to be a pretty awful person." Mr Schue cleared his throat making everyone look away from Kurt and Blaine where they'd been listening, curiously, into their conversation.
"If the Warblers are very good then we can't sit around chatting. We need to get some serious practice, now this year I'm planning on holding auditions for the leads. I also want everyone to have at least a couple of lines on their own. We need to show that we really our a talented group. Mike I want you to personally coach Finn after school, once the musical is over of course. Kurt I'm thinking of displaying your voice on it's own." Kurt sat forward in his chair, his heart beating faster. "Because it's genuinely quite unique." Kurt positively beamed at what Mr Schue said, whilst Blaine just sank back into his seat and listened to his boyfriend chatter about what songs he could sing. He tuned out completely when Rachel, Kurt and Mercedes stared going on about performing as a trio. He felt the numb grief he felt over losing Ian return to him. It seemed to always be like that, when he was busy it didn't seem to bother him because he through his heart and soul into whatever he was doing but if he ever relaxed the gnawing pain seemed to take over. Without thinking he pulled out his phone and texted Nick.
Heard u were making the moves on Jeff!-BA
Whatever, half of what Kurt told u was prob a lie-ND
Hey you're initials r the same as New Directions, u should join-BA
Aww, you miss me that much? I'm flattered. Aren't you in GC right now?-ND
Yeah but Mr S isn't talking 2 us as a group. I just started 2 feel really depressed-BA
Oh. Have you tried anymore singing?-ND
I'm singing every evening till WSS is over-BA
Blaine Anderson complaining about the amount of singing hes doing? Shocking!-ND
V funny.-BA
Made u laugh though.-ND
Actuly no, didn't want to draw atten to me-BA
You sound like Jeff with those abbreviations.-ND
Bitching about ur BFF?-BA
Piss off Anderson-ND
As long as it's on u-BA
Sicko-ND
"Blaine." Blaine looked up from where he'd been suppressing laughter over Nick's latest text. "We're not stopping you from doing anything important are we?"
"No Mr Schue." Blaine replied meekly.
"Then put the phone away and get up, we need to go through our moves." Blaine tucked the phone into his pocket and got up. He could see Kurt looking at him funnily and he forced him a smile that he could tell didn't satisfy him.
"Thaddeus Harwood." Thad was walking down the hallway, arms full of books and Mr Williams' dire threats ringing in his ears.
"If you don't reign those two in that's it! Both badges gone! I might even take the Councillor position of you!"
Thad had kept Ian's death a secret, mainly for Blaine's sake as he knew that Neil would leap on it as a chance to convince someone to tell him where Blaine was, and because hordes of Warblers travelling to give Blaine comfort would not go unnoticed by Neil. This meant that Nick and Jeff's strange behaviour, that was breaking a lot of rules, was just seen as rule breaking taken to a new level. Thad recognised the voice that was calling him and he stopped dead. Suppressing a sigh and closing his eyes very tightly, he turned around.
"Yes Newell Gretchen."
"Since when have called me Newell?" asked Neil.
"Since when have you called me Thaddeus?" Thad shot right back at him. Neil raised his hands in defence a smirk firmly in place.
"Why did you go to the Principal and stop me getting a shot at solo?" Thad raised his eyebrows, he hadn't thought that Neil would care that much about not getting a solo.
"Because I hate you." said Thad bluntly, deciding to give a valid reason that wouldn't reveal the truth, plus it felt good to say those words aloud. Neil's expression didn't change as he stood in front of him. "Is there anything more that you want to talk to me about?" he said, tersely.
"Where did Blaine go?" he asked calmly. Thad raised his eyebrows.
"Do you think that I'm going to tell you?" he asked.
"Fine. What about that cute little boy that Wes and David know? I haven't seem him since the performance and I don't recognise him from before. I think he was called Kurt."
"Oh Kurt, he used to go here but he missed his old school, I forget where, so he transferred back. He wasn't here very long, I didn't really know him at all." Neil studied Thad's face. He took a step towards him and Thad did not quaver.
"If I find out that you're lying." he hissed, his breath hot on Thad's face. "You won't be as lucky as the first time." he punched Thad square in the collar bone, the ring on his right hand was a sharp as ever as it sunk into his flesh. Thad stumbled backwards, his books tumbled to the ground and he hit the wall. He cursed as he felt his head collided with the stone wall. The back of his head had become incredibly sensitive since last time and he could feel the bruise forming. Neil turned on his heel and stalked away. Thad took several deep breaths, trying to steady himself. He looked up as he heard the sound of footsteps.
"Thad?" he looked up to see Trent rushing towards him. "Thad are you alright?" his eyes fell on the bit of flesh that was visible through his open shirt collar. He recognised the impression. "Shit." he gasped.
"It's nothing Trent I'm fine." he said. "Give me a hand up." Trent pulled him to his feet and started to pick up the books. "No leave it. Go find him before he hits anyone else." He nodded obediently and hurried off. Nursing his sore head and flexing his left shoulder he picked up his books and headed back to Jefferson.
"He what?" both Wes and David had jerked up right from where they'd been lying on their beds, David's phone actually clattered to the floor and he seemed not to notice. Nick and Jeff's mouths had fallen open.
"Close your mouths." Thad told them coolly. "You're not catching flies." Both their mouths snapped shut like doors but they continued to gaze at him.
"He hit you!" David was seething, his jaw clenched and his eyes narrow. Thad nodded.
"Tell someone." said Wes. "Tell Williams, or the Principal." Thad shook his head.
"I can't." he muttered, his head hanging low.
"Why not?" asked Jeff.
"Because when Neil asked why I'd gotten the note I stupidly told him I did it because I hate him. If I, now, go to anyone Neil will tell on me and I'm walking on thin enough ice as it is." Despite everyone's rising panic and worry, their expressions turned curious as he finished his sentence.
"How are you walking on thin ice?" asked Nick. "If anyone is, it's us."
"That's just it!" moaned Thad. "Williams has said he'll take my badges, and possibly throw me off the Warblers Council if I don't get you back in line." Both Jeff and Nick looked horrified at the news.
"Thad we're-"
"Don't finish that." he said curtly. "I understand." he got to his feet briskly. "I really understand but at the same time I don't want to fade back away in my parents' eyes." with that he turned around and left the room.
The four Warblers left in David and Wes' room exchanged guilty and worried looks. Thad was the youngest of four brothers that were all over-achievers. His brothers were as clever as him but even more importantly in their parents eye they were out-going, popular and confident. Thad had been a shy, quiet boy up until he'd come to Dalton and he'd slowly grown out of his shell and matured a lot to become the 'mother' of his group of friends, and a well respected boy by most of the school. This respect and general popularity had made him come from the background to the forefront in his family and there was no way that he was going to sink back into the shadows of his older brothers.
"Should we go and check on him?" asked David eventually as he scooped his phone back of the floor, checked it and then put it away. Wes shrugged.
"It can't hurt."
"We'll reign it in." muttered Jeff.
"As much as we can." promised Nick.
"It just helps." continued Jeff.
"With the hole." David and Wes nodded and Nick's statement.
"Let's just go check on him." The four boys trooped from David's room across the hall and stopped outside his room. Pressing their ears to the doors they heard a most unwelcome sound. Though it was muffed and quiet there was no denying that the sound they were hearing was soft sobbing. They looked at each, unsure whether to go in.
"Let's call him when Warblers meet." said David eventually.
"Yeah, I'll go practice my solo." said Jeff. Nick trooped after him and David and Wes went back to their room.
"Order!" cried Wes, it seemed he always had to start meeting like this. Thad was sitting poker-faced in his chair, his back as straight as a ruler and his mouth seemed to have been cemented into a line. It was impossible to tell that just half an hour before he'd been crying into his pillow, then again it was exactly what he wanted.
"A quick reminder." David took over when silence descended on the hall. "Those auditioning will each sing their song. We will vote whilst they're in the antechamber. Then the winner will go and sing another song against Nick. Another vote will be taken. Whoever wins is our lead for Sectionals." there was a round of nodding.
"First to perform." said Wes picking up a piece of paper which had the names written in a random order on it. "Kyle." the blonde Warbler got to his feet, nervously running a hand through his hair.
"Whenever you're ready." said David, sinking back into his chair. Kyle walked over to the boom box and flicked through the tracks till he found his one.
There's only so many songs
That I can sing to pass the time
And I'm running out of things to do
To get you off my mind
Ooohh, no
All I have is this picture in a frame
That I hold close to see your face every day
With you is where I'd rather be
But we're stuck where we are
And it's so hard, you're so far
This long distance is killing me
I wish that you were here with me
But we're stuck where we are
And it's so hard, you're so far
This long distance is killing me
It's so hard, it's so hard
Where we are, where we are
You're so far, this long distance is killing me
It's so hard, it's so hard
Where we are, where we are
You're so far, this long distance is killing me
Kyle got a good deal of applause after he finished. The song suited his voice perfectly and it was definitely arrange able .
"Thank you Kyle." said Thad, speaking for the first time. "If you could take your seat, here or outside it's up to you." Kyle deliberated for half a second before retaking his seat. "Thank you, Jeff you're next." Jeff bounded to his feet and headed straight over to the boom box to find his song.
Some people laugh, and some people cry
Some people live, and some people die
Some people run, right into the fire
Some people hide, their every desire
But we are the lovers
If you don't believe me
Then just look into my eyes
Cause the heart never lies
Some people fight, and some people fall
Others pretend, they don't care at all
If you wanna fight, I'll stand right beside you
The day that you fall, I'll be right behind you
To pick up the pieces
If you don't believe me
Just look into my eyes
Cause the heart never lies
Jeff stared at Nick throughout most of the time that he sang that. Most people stared at Nick instead of Jeff, trying to see what reaction he might give. However Nick did nothing but smile, encouragingly, at his friend throughout his audition. Neil narrowed his eyes and at the two boys, he'd seen it in the performance and he was seeing it now, things were changing between them.
Again, the solo was greeted with a good amount of supportive applause and he got patted on the arm and back as he made his way back to his seat next to Nick. David, tearing his eyes from the pair, cleared his throat.
"Trent." he called and Trent clambered to his feet and set his track in record time. Clearing his throat he turned to face front.
What goes around comes back around, hey, my baby,
What goes around comes back around,
There was a time I thought that you did everything right,
No lies, no wrong,
Boy, I must've been out of my mind,
So when I think of the time that I almost loved you,
You showed your ass and I, I saw the real you,
Thank God you blew it,
I thank God I dodged a bullet,
I'm so over you,
So, baby, good lookin' out,
I wanted you bad,
I'm so through with that,
'Cause, honestly, you turned out to be the best thing I never had,
You turned out to be the best thing I never had,
And I'm gon' always be the best thing you never had,
Oh yeah, I bet it sucks to be you right now,
Goes around, comes back around,
I bet it sucks to be you right now, ooh.
Trent took a deep bow when he finished his rendition of Beyoncé's song. Trent hadn't sung a solo for a long while and he got a very good reception, especially from those who had heard him sing before.
"Last soloist." said Wes. "Our first timer; Daniel." Dan's legs shook visibly as he got to his feet, he was clapped on the back by Trent as he went past and he gave him a faint smile. He set the track pressed play, took a deep breath and missed his cue. The backing track continued and he turned red.
"It's okay Daniel, take a breath and start again." Daniel nodded at David and restarted the track. This time when his cue came he breathed deeply and began to sing.
I got your emails
You just don't get females now, do you?
What's in my heart
Is not in your head, anyway
Mate, you're too late
And you weren't worth the wait, now were you?
It's out of my hands
Since you blew your last chance when you played me
You'll have to cry me out
You'll have to cry me out
The tears that will fall mean nothing at all
It's time to get over yourself
Baby, you ain't all that
Baby, there's no way back
You can keep talkin'
But baby, I'm walkin' away
Daniel got the loudest round of applause when he'd finished. His face was flushed red and his leg was still trembling. He'd been very good, his voice wasn't the loudest or strongest but it was sweet and tuneful, and emotive.
"If you'd like to leave." said Thad and all the soloists got up and walked out. "Nick you're required to abstain." Wes reminded him. "But you should listen as we're considering another duet."
"If you're considering another duet." piped up Chris. "Then we should vote in Jeff."
"And not bother having Nick sing." added John. Thad nodded.
"True but we're undecided on the duet. We think it's better to have one soloist and then, depending on who they are and what we think will work best, we'll pick the runner up to duet." There were more nods.
"Alright." said David briskly. "Voting time, all in favour of voting for Kyle?"
Jeff sat much more calmly than he had the last time he'd been here. He wasn't so bothered if he got the solo anymore, he was quite happy for Nick to have it. Besides they had bigger problems on their hands. The sounds of Thad's sobs plagued his mind. He knew that it was perfectly fine for Thad to cry; he'd lost one of his best friends and he was under a lot of pressure, but it didn't make it easier. Thad very rarely cried and he never sobbed. He'd seen a couple of tears slip down his face, like when they'd gone to 'The Cave' but now it seemed all the pressures were getting to him. Also if Neil was starting to bash them around, again, when he found out about Blaine he was likely to tip very easily. He'd probably go right over the edge if Blaine rejected him.
He heard shoes clip clopping against the flag floor and he looked up. Nick was strolling towards them, hands sunk deep into his trouser pockets. He stopped before the four potential soloists.
"Well they've reached a decision." he said unnecessarily. Everyone nearly rolled their eyes. "And we all agree that you were all good enough. I reckon the standards were the highest they've ever-"
"Cut to the chase." said Jeff and Nick nodded.
"Right. Well, I'm sorry for the rest of you but Jeff won, again." The responses were very unemotional. Dan twisted his lip to the left of his face and shrugged, both Trent and Kyle rolled their eyes and patted him on the back as he stood up and Nick gave him a congratulatory hug.
"You guys are all welcome back in." Nick reminded them and they all got up to listen to Nick vs. Jeff.
"Nick if you'd do the honours." said Wes and Nick nodded. His hands still sunk into his pockets he strolled across the room. He pressed play and stuffed his right hand back in his pocket, gazing unfocusedly at one of the windows.
Another summer day
Has come and gone away
In Paris and Rome
But I wanna go home, mmm
May be surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
I just wanna go home
Oh, I miss you, you know
And I've been keeping all the letters
That I wrote to you
Each one a line or two
"I'm fine baby, how are you?"
Well I would send them but I know
That it's just not enough
My words were cold and flat
And you deserve more than that
Let me go home
It'll all be all right
I'll be home tonight
I'm coming back home
Nick's eyes didn't meet anyone's as he sung, he strolled carelessly through the chairs, sensing rather than seeing their presence. He seemed lost in a world of his own, his voice colourful and when he came to the windows he leant against the sill, blinking up at the sky, streaked with purple and red as the sun set.
No one applauded when he finished, not wanting to shatter the world he'd built himself into. Eventually he moved, taking his hands out of his pockets and beginning to turn. The hall burst into applause, one or two Warblers got to their feet to give him a standing ovation. Nick grinned faintly as he went back to his seat next to Jeff. Jeff gave him one look before getting to his feet, knowing he wasn't going to win.
Oh, oh, oh, oh
There will be no rules tonight
If there were we'd break 'em
Nothing's gonna stop us now
Let's get down to it
Nervous hands and anxious smiles
I can feel you breathing
This is right where we belong
Turn up the music
Oh, oh, oh, oh
This is the dance for all the lovers
Takin' a chance for one another
Finally it's our time now
These are the times that we'll remember
Breaking the city's heart together
Finally it's our time now, it's our time now
There was no denying that the Warblers enjoyed his number. They moved along in time and a couple even clapped along but it was nothing compared to what Nick's had been. He took his seat shrugging as the applaud died.
"You're welcome to stay." said David and Nick nodded and Jeff copied him, it's what they always did.
"All in favour of voting for Nick?" asked Thad. Hands shot up all over the Hall and Thad counted them. "Over half, congrats Nick. You're our returning soloist." Jeff grinned for his friend as he was applauded and patted by other Warblers, it looked like he was resident second soloist.
Blaine relaxed back onto his bed. It was the end of a long week, he had finished West Side Story and he was getting a solo at Sectionals, as was Kurt and Rachel and Mercedes and Finn and Santana and Quinn and Puck and Rory and Brittney and Artie, but his was larger than the others' after his performance of West Side Story. Sectionals was on Thursday which was worryingly close. He'd gotten texts from all of his friends saying that Nick had gotten the lead, again. Blaine vaguely wondered whether him and Jeff were going to duet as he'd discovered Jeff had gotten second solo.
Monday through to Thursday passed without much new, unless you counted Blaine crying himself to sleep every night over Ian, he suddenly felt able to cry about it which was good in the respect he was letting it out but bad in respect to the fact that his father constantly told him he as even more of a fairy than he imagined. His mother sat there and gave him a sympathetic look whenever his father's back was turned. He hadn't liked the dad that had tried to turn him straight by making him build a car with him but at the same time he much preferred it to the father that now critiqued and insulted his every move. It just put him down and a large part of him wanted to move back to Dalton where he would only encounter his father occasionally, when his friends couldn't take him to their homes. He was starting to miss Dalton more and more, maybe it was all the old memories that Neil's return was bringing back, not about the events but the recovery, having the entire school on his side. It had been better than good.
"Okay everyone!" said Mr Schue in a very cheerful tone. "Sectionals today! I think we're ready, now remember the Hipsters rely on sympathy votes more than anything so we just have to wow them so much that they have to vote for us. As for the Warblers, well we'll just have to wait and see what they've got going." He rubbed his hands together making the pen he was holding roll up and down.
They got on the bus and sat quietly, nerves keeping most of them silent, but fear was what paralysed Blaine's body. His time was up, Neil was going to find out where he was and there was nothing he could do about it. His hands twisted themselves into knots and Kurt eyed them, confused.
"Are you alright?" he asked as the bus pulled itself to a stop. "I've never seen you this nervous." Blaine shrugged.
"I think it's just that I'm going up against the Warblers." he said. "You know, I can't really imagine myself competing against them." Kurt nodded.
"Don't worry I felt the same way last year." Blaine smiled weakly.
"I'd forgotten how understanding you were." Kurt took his hand.
"You're going to be brilliant."
"Same to you."
They were up first and he'd managed to avoid to seeing the majority of the Warblers, he only saw the ones that actively sort him out ie. Thad, Wes, David, Jeff and Nick. The curtain was down and it seemed Mr Schue had finally ditched the entrance from the back idea. Blaine stared at the back of the curtain, it was his solo first. The curtain shot up as he began to sing
Woke up in London yesterday
Found myself in the city near Piccadilly
Don't really know how I got here
I got some pictures on my phone
Blaine tuned out of the song when his part ended. He still moved in time but he was more fixed on Neil who was sitting behind Wes and David, with Trent on his left and a younger boy he thought was called Daniel on his right.
Neil had been alert from the moment he heard the opening vocal note. His eyes fixated on the boy in the middle singing and he felt something his chest begin to pound very, very fast. It must be his heart. He'd found him! Whilst his elation grew something else reared. They'd been lying, all of them, because there next to him was the little cute spy he'd seen last week. He was gay and Blaine was gay, were they together? His hands clenched the rests tightly as he felt anger course through him. Thad was as good as dead.
To my friends in New York, I say hello
My friends in L.A. they don't know
Where I've been for the past few years or so
Paris to China to Colorado
Sometimes there's airplanes I can' t jump out
Sometimes there's bullshit that don't work now
We are God of stories but please tell me
What there is to complain about?
Blaine tuned back in for the end because he needed to sing the melody with some other people. He side stepped and danced around as best as he could. He kept his eyes as far away from Neil as he could at the end. He wasn't about to let this get to him.
Neil was the first person to his feet when the song ended. He couldn't describe how he was feeling. His lip curled as he watched Blaine make his way to the back of the group, Blaine in the background, how was that possible? Both Trent and Daniel, the annoying new boy, pulled him back into his seat to sit through the other New Direction song. It was the cute spy and two girls singing but Neil's eyes followed Blaine throughout. Blaine kept an eye on Neil and also on his friends. They looked tense and nervous.
The Hipsters sang a mashup of some old time songs. Blaine sat between Kurt and Finn unable to sit still. He shifted around and Kurt kept glancing at him, questioningly. Kurt had spotted Neil in the Warblers group and he wondered whether it was that that was putting him off so much. He had noticed Neil staring at Blaine in a way that made him most uncomfortable.
The Warblers surged to their feet and hurried out of the hall the moment the Hipsters had finished. They hurried backstage and assembled in seconds.
"Good luck." whispered David to the rest of the Warblers. "We're going to need it." added Wes as the curtain went up.
I'm running out of ways to make you see
Blaine's eyes went slightly wide when he saw Jeff step forward from the main group of Warblers. Nick'd told him that he was singing lead. There were only two explanations; 1. They were doing a duet or 2. They'd lied to him.
I want you to stay here beside me
I won't be okay and I won't pretend I am
Jeff focused his eyes on the back of the hall. No matter how scary it was to be up in front of all these people, nor how worried he was about Blaine and Thad he couldn't help but focus on how much this meant to him. How much he meant every word.
So just tell me today and take my hand
Please take my hand
He began to walk backwards, back to wards the Warblers who were moving as one giant unit, not a toe out of place.
Please take my hand
Please take my hand
Please take my hand
He extended his left arm out as the 'drum beat' leading up to the chorus kicked in, indicating to the empty side of the stage.
Just say yes
The Warblers burst into a synchronised dance, turning and moving and twisting to the beat, as Nick came out from the back his eyes alight in the glow of the spotlights.
Just say there's nothing holding you back
It's not a test
Nor a trick of the mind, only love
Neil kept his eyes on Blaine who was sitting next to Kurt and was watching Nick and Jeff duet with a look of complete fascination, possibly a small smile hinting on the corner of his lips. He didn't look any different to how Neil remembered him, any different to the photos that Neil had.
Just say yes
Just say there's nothing holding you back
Nick and Jeff were wandering back towards each other. Their voices battling for dominance as they sang together.
It's not a test
Nor a trick of the mind, only love
They stopped in front of each other as their voices dropped to a whisper.
I can feel your heart beat through my shirt
Jeff nearly couldn't sing from the lump that was forming in his throat. Why now, of all the years he'd loved Nick, was this affecting. Was it singing a love song to each other in front of hundreds of people? Or was it that Nick seemed to be reciprocating his not-so-subtle flirting?
This was all I wanted, all I want
It's all I want
It's all I want
It's all I want
It's all I want
Just say yes
The two of them looked away from each other. Angling their bodies they began to sing to the audience. The audience, itself, was completely still, watching the two boys with fixated eyes.
Just say there's nothing holding you back
It's not a test
Nor a trick of the mind, only love
Just say yes
'Cause I'm aching and I know you are too
For the touch
They'd sub-consciously turned back to each other during the last verse. The Warblers immobile behind, simply projecting their harmonies.
Of your warm skin as I breathe you in
When the song ended both Nick and Jeff opened their mouths to say something but the hall burst into applause. They turned to the audience and took several deep bows.
Blaine was on his feet, his hands banging themselves together in his effort to give the Warblers as much appreciation as possible. He understood what Kurt meant now. Things were changing between the two of them. Things had changed for him too, unless he was very careful the ceiling of his little world was about to come crashing down.
Neil watched Blaine applaud the Warblers as hard as he could. He took a bow along with the rest of the group and smirked at the audience whilst the rest beamed. His mind, however, was on more important things. He needed to get Blaine alone and he had to deal with Thad. Every time he thought of the smug, self-important Warbler his blood went over boiling point. He deserved to be dealt with. He'd brought this on himself.