Hey guys, sorry this one is so short. I've decided that this story will be updated every Saturday and Sunday, which means you'll get two new juicy chapters every weekend. This chapter came to my head while I was in church, so if it's a little disconnected let me know. Anyway, I hope you enjoy and please go check out the poll on my page, give my tumblr a visit and stay perfect. I own nothing but the storyline. Reviews are love!


Chapter 2: This Ladder is Ours

Blaine stands in front of his locker, just like every other day, and puts his books inside just like every other day. He sighs because it's become monotonous. He shrugs to himself because it's become routine.

Out of the corner of his eye, Blaine can see Ryder, walking straight toward him. It's only scary for Blaine because this is not routine, this is not Ryder's normal path to class and Blaine could almost feel the ground shake with every step.

"Hey, Blaine." Ryder leans against the locker next to Blaine, smoothly and easily. His words come out like butter and it's only just a greeting. He was a little tall, a little awkward, Blaine could see but it only added to his adorability, his cute.

"Oh, hey, Ryder. What's up?"

"I just wanted to know if you wanted to duet with me. I think you're the only one who hasn't picked a side yet."

Of course. Of course he wouldn't come over to ask Blaine out, of course he wouldn't want to know how his day was. No, he wants to get Blaine to sing with him. The senior mentally scolds himself for thinking, even for a second, that Ryder Lynn, any boy, would find him attractive anymore.

"Sure Ryder, sounds fun." The smile on his face are as fake as the words that just rolled out of his mouth and fell to the floor. Ryder's easygoing smile quickly turns to one of worry, one of concern for his friend.

"Is something wrong, dude? Do you want to talk about it?" Blaine wants to lie. No. What he really wants to do is take Ryder in his arms and kiss him like there's no tomorrow. Couple that with the fact that he wants to punch everything that's ever existed in the face, and Blaine is left confused and disjointed, unable to answer.

"I stayed up a little too late last night."

"Oh yeah, doing what?" The smirk is back. Blaine considers going into a love/hate relationship with that smile.

"I was talking about stuff. I think your name came up a few times." Blaine's eyes go wide for a second, calling himself all kinds of atrocities mentally for revealing for a second that he thought of Ryder outside of class. The other boy doesn't falter, however, that confident smirk stays plastered on his face like it's painted on.

"Really? What was said?"

"I was actually asked if I thought you were attractive or not." Well, if Blaine didn't know it was over before he did now. He condemns himself to a life behind the scenes, lurking in shadows to avoid contact with the boy. It'd only be a few more months.

Ryder simply smiles at the ground and gives a soft blush. He looks at Blaine with a different look, one of hope and anticipation. He wants to know the answer as much as Blaine doesn't want to give it.

"And what was your answer." Blaine rolls his eyes, his only defense against Ryder and his killer smile. Every tooth was a bullet and Blaine had only been successful in dodging a few. "So, listen, Sam's having a party tonight and I was wondering if you wanted to go with me."

If Blaine could start a nosebleed with just his mind, he would. He'd fall to the ground in the most dramatic of fashions and let himself bleed out right then. Wait, had Ryder just said party? "Sam's having a party?" The question is innocent enough, but it gives Ryder a quizzical look, brow furrowed in thought.

"Yeah, he invited us all yesterday." There was his answer.

"Oh, right. I wasn't all there yesterday." Blaine turns to walk away but Ryder follows him. The bell was taking an awfully long time, Blaine made sure to take note. "Besides, wouldn't you be happier with Marley?"

"Marley is kinda busy with Jake, I don't think she likes me like that. Besides, you're way cuter."

Blaine's tiny mental battleship takes a blow right to the side, Ryder's cutesie comment bombs enough to successfully sink it. Blaine blushes and doesn't know what to say, typical.

"You know Sam and I have... History." Blaine bites his bottom lip, worried about what Ryder's reaction would be if he didn't turn tail and run. Hopefully Ryder's not that kind of guy.

"The past is history, the future is a mystery but now is a gift, that's why it's called the present." Ryder smiles at Blaine again.

Blaine blushes and smirks, "I love that movie." Sam's younger brother begged Blaine to take him, it was their first official 'hanging out'. The night ended with a kiss but nothing more. Blaine attributed it to Sam's lack of intelligence.

"It's one of my favorites. So that's a yes?" Ryder's eyes are hopeful again, hands lacing in front of him. He's ready for whatever Blaine has to say.

"That's a maybe. We'll see how well you sing." With that, the bell rings, sending Blaine walking in one direction and Ryder in another. Blaine can't wipe the smile off his face. He can't deny that the attention from Ryder wasn't welcome but there's still a problem.

Sam.