June 23, 2023
It was strange for Blaine to be here at McKinley. He'd be working here in about two months, but he still thought about his senior year here. That was an insane year. Leaving Dalton and coming here was hard, but for his education it was the best choice. Why would he stay at Dalton when they got rid of his favorite thing about it?
"Are you getting your own classroom?" Kurt asked. Blaine shook his head.
"Not really. The whole backstage is up for my taking. There's a lot of work to do in there. I will get my own office they said." Blaine told his husband, "I'll have to come in a few weeks before the year starts to get things organized."
Blaine was extremely excited to get started this school year. McKinley had a great reputation for being one of the best for the arts and that is what he was excited for. Maybe they would do Grease or The King and I. Maybe he would even help out the show choir. They were bigger than the football team here.
"Took you guys long enough." Finn said walking down the hallway.
"Eliza was being a brat." Kurt said. He always tried to get her into pink, but she always fought it. Her favorite color was purple, so finally after a twenty minute fight, Kurt just gave in. She was a lot like him. Very opinioned when it came to what she wore.
"There they are." Quinn said, spinning her wedding band around. Tina came running down the hallway. She looked amazing. Heels, tight skirt, she looked divine.
"I love your short hair!" Was the first thing that came from Kurt's mouth. Tina laughed as she hugged Kurt.
"I chopped it off when the baby came. It's so much easier." She flipped her hair back with some laughter. As if on instinct, Both she and Blaine took out photos of the kids. "This is Phillip. He just turned two. He is such a handful and very kinetic like his daddy."
"Oh he is adorable. Look at those eyes." Blaine showed Kurt the photograph, "This is Eliza. She'll be three in November. She's amazing."
"Come on. Everyone is in the choir room waiting." Tina said ushering them down the hallway. As soon as Kurt stepped into the room, he felt like he was home. Already he wanted to break out into song. Maybe sing some songs by Judy, Barbara, or Liza. A little dance here or there. It had been too long.
Kurt looked around the room with all his old friends in it. It was weird. Everyone was sitting in their old chairs. Maybe it was just to be silly or maybe that is where they felt more comfortable. A few people were missing. Kurt frowned as he looked around as if they would magically appear.
"Where's Rachel?" He asked.
"Probably forcing her autograph on some passersby." Noah chuckled, "She seems to think people in Lima care about her career." As if on cue, Rachel breezed into the room.
"They do care. How often do they get to talk with Tony award winners." Her nose went up into the air as if they were still impressed over her win four years ago. Of course, at the time, everyone was thrilled for her. Blaine and Kurt saw her in Poor Girl. They thought she was amazing. The Tony was well deserved, but with Rachel Barry, she never let it go. The next plays she did had been flops. She was standing still in her career.
"I'm sorry, Rachel, but Grammies are more impressive." Santana said walking into the room giving Rachel a look. Nothing changed. Mercedes walked over to Kurt and embraced him.
"I'm sorry I haven't called you back. Our schedules have been crazy." She said. "I'm so glad we could come to this. To see everybody is great. I don't even see my husband even while we're on tour."
"That's okay. I understand." Kurt said reassuring his old friend. The group of adults sat in the chairs in awkward silence for awhile. They exchanged looks.
"I think we should sing Star Hope for you guys." Santana said standing up. Artie threw his hands up.
"Please don't do that." He said. Brittany groaned loudly.
"I get a headache when I hear that song." She said. Santana frowned. "You need a new hit."
"I'm well aware of the fact." Santana said as she sat back down. Another few minutes before anyone spoke up. Maybe this was a mistake. Maybe they had grown too far apart.
"Drinks. Maybe We should go grab a few drinks." Sam said as he stood up. He had no problem breaking the ice. Yes, this was a tad awkward, but he knew a drink would loosen them all up. They were all adults. No sense pretending they were back in high school.
Sam had been right. Grabbing a drink was the right choice. No one at the bar cared who Santana and Mercedes were. No one cared that Kurt and Blaine were gay. No one cared Artie was in a wheel chair. Or as Brittany put it, No one cared that she was a blonde there. Drinks and singing with the jukebox was great.
"I cannot believe the two of you have four kids." Quinn shook her head. Artie and Brittany deserved that joy, but Quinn couldn't help but to feel a little jealous.
It wasn't fair. Her and Finn were such good people. They went to church every Sunday. They donated to charities, but why couldn't they get pregnant? They had been trying for three years and nothing. Quinn often feared Beth had been her one chance at motherhood. She wouldn't tell Finn that. She didn't want to upset him. She hoped someday their hopes and dreams would come true. They deserved to complete their family.
"Oh we're going to have more. I think three more would do. But you know Five more would be even better. It all depends what this one says. He's the bread winner." Brittany nodded looking at her husband. Artie smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
"Whatever you want, You'll get." He said. Quinn looked at Finn and gave him a sad smile. He could read her mind and he just wanted to reach over the table and give her a hug. Their turn would come.
"So explain to me your job again, Artie." Finn said scratching his head. Artie couldn't help but to laugh. A lot of people wanted him to clarify it.
"Well, in simple terms stem cell research. Now that the bill has passed, I have a lot on my table." Artie said, "So many people can benefit from my work. If I can just help one person, then all these years of fighting will be worth it." Finn smiled patting the man on the back.
"I think that's amazing." He said, "I always knew you were brilliant."
"I married brains." Brittany said nuzzling Artie.
"I married beauty." Artie chuckled. They still acted like they were in high school.
"Hey Kurt, I hear you're in the art world." Lauren came over to his table and sat down.
"I was." He said. Lauren opened up her purse and pulled out a slip of paper. She slid it across the table. "What's this?"
"My Phone number." She rolled her eyes as she shook her head, "This is a guy I went to college with. He owns an awesome gallery about a half hour away from Lima. It's like wicked awesome. I think you'd really like it. He's looking for someone to help him out while he opens another one out of state. Granted, it's not as MFA, but it's an opportunity. I told him I'd be giving you his number."
"Wow. Thanks." Kurt looked at the phone number. It would be amazing to get a job in the field that he wanted. The quicker he found a job the quicker he could get out of his parents house. "How'd you hear I was looking for a job?"
"Lima isn't that big, Brother." Lauren said as she stood up, "Doesn't matter how many years pass, Kurt, us new Direction kids need to stick together. It's in our DNA."
"Hey, Blaine, is your little girl a dancer yet?" Mike Chang asked him as he placed a pitcher of beer in front of them. Beer. It was a great thing. Blaine shrugged his shoulders.
"We've never really got her into that kind of stuff yet. But hey, if you're interested in taking her under your wing, go for it." He said. Blaine could imagine his little girl a dancer and a star. Mike Chang opened up a very well respected dance studio for children about a year after he and Tina got married. There was a waiting list a year long to get into these classes, so if he was willing in taking Eliza, Blaine would jump at the opportunity.
"I wish Mr. Shue could have at least made an appearance." Sam said with slight disappointment. "This reunion isn't the same without him." Everyone fell silent for a moment, but when 'Don't Stop Believin' came onto the jukebox, Everyone looked up and smiled.
"Journey." Rachel said with a twinkle in her eyes. As much as they grew to hate that band in high school, now when they heard it, it brought back such fond memories. Memories of competitions. Memories of sleepovers. Memories of friendships once lost. Memories they were determined to make once again.