Kurt's sitting at the table with Nick and Jeff and he's enjoying himself when he notices that Nick and Jeff are looking over his shoulders. He realizes there is someone standing behind him and he turns and sees the last person he ever expected to see standing behind him. She staring at him like he's a puzzle she can't figure out and he's looking at her expectedly. He's not sure what to say or do because Santana was never his friend while he was in New Directions. Sometimes, he just lumps her in with everyone.

"Hummel" is all she says before she pulls up a chair and sits down. Nick and Jeff are watching the exchange or lack of exchange on Kurt's part.

"This is Santana Lopez" Kurt said to Nick and Jeff. "Santana, these are Nick and Jeff," indicating to each of them. She nods in their direction and he's never seen Santana so quiet and it's eerie. Normally she ignores his presence and sends catty remarks to him about his appearances but this Santana is almost sullen and withdrawn. He's studying her face openly and she's letting him. He pulls his phone out of his pocket and hands it to her. She enters her number without direction and saves it. He realizes she must've been calling herself because shortly after she's typing on her phone. When she hands him back his phone she gets up and waves goodbye.

He feels a little overwhelmed because he never expected to see anyone from New Directions act amicable towards him and least of all Santana. He realizes he doesn't know much about her either way so he decides to see where it will go.

"She seems…" Jeff starts. Kurt shrugs because he feels the same way, he's not quite sure how to describe how Santana seemed but she was so different from the cheerleader that walked the halls of his old school as if she owned it, she seemed more real but also more lost than he's ever seen her before.

"And he didn't know that they were taping him?" Thad asked Wes for what felt like the thirtieth time. "What I don't understand is why he didn't even try out for the Warblers. You two said you're his friends, which would've been an activity you could've done together."

David sat thinking about the conversation he had with Blaine and how pissed the rest of the Warblers would be if they knew what Blaine had done. He felt his loyalty to Wes but he had given his word to Blaine to allow him to fix it first and he would stand by it. David wasn't please but there wasn't much he could do.

"I'll speak to Kurt, as an objective party in the Warblers. Let's be honest, he isn't our normal style but there isn't anything saying that we have to stay in our normal style. Most of us didn't audition as the person that can be the better guitar number 3 so we should think about switching it up. Think of us at Sectionals with that voice? Now that I think about it imagine him and Trent on a duet or David and Nick. Nick and Jeff voice sounds awesome together. Guys, the possibilities are literally limitless right now." Thad was so excited he failed to notice how much of his plan actually hinged on Kurt actually agreeing to audition for the Warblers.

David wait until he's alone and calls Blaine. "Listen, the council has a video of Kurt singing, if you don't apologize to Kurt before Wes and Thad find out why Kurt won't join I won't get involved. Thad is a bullying fanatic and he might look at it as you bullying Kurt and is argument will be that there are other forms of bullying."

"I never meant to bully Kurt. Can't you give me one day. Just one more. Kurt's not even here now for me to speak to him." Blaine pleaded.

"Well, I am sure you can speak to him when he gets back. I'm in a tough position Blaine because I knew about it and should've brought it to the other council members immediately. Please don't let e regret this." David cautioned.

"I swear, just until I spoke to Kurt." Blaine said. "Tonight," Blaine confirmed.

Kurt, Nick and Jeff got back to Dalton about and hour after their run in with Santana, Kurt noticed Blaine sitting on the steps before Nick and Jeff did.

"You guys go in, I'll meet you inside." Kurt said hoping Blaine would follow the duo inside.

When Kurt got back from parking he saw Blaine was still there. He nodded a greeting in his direction and made to continue when Blaine spoke "Kurt, I'd like to speak to you."

"Yes," Kurt said coolly.

"I'm not sure where to start but I guess an apology is best. I'm sorry for how I've been treating you." Blaine said

"I'm not sure what you're apologizing for. Is it the fact that you haven't spoken to me since I transferred here. Or that you barely contain sneering at me sometimes. Or is it that you have some problem with me that magically developed since I got here a problem you didn't have when you met me on the stairway, held my hand and took me to coffee after?" Kurt demanded.

"It's not like that Kurt. I was being an asshole, I know that but i'm asking if we can start over? Friends?" Blaine said with a note of condescension in his voice that annoyed Kurt. It reminded him of when someone thought he was an idiot and tried to talk down to him without making it obvious.

"Blaine, you lost the ability to be my friend after getting to know me you decided to push me away. We all have issues and if I lashed out at everyone I met for no reason I'd be a very pitiful individual. So, I don't see us being friends Blaine, acquaintances with mutual friends is the very best I can give you." kurt told him.

" I can live with that, Kurt. I really am sorry." Blaine said as he walked away.

Kurt feels his phone vibrating and he looks and see's that Santana has already sent him a message, or messages. The first one is asking him if she can come over one day soon and the others are just please. He's a bit unsure but she seems persistent so he sends off a quick text agreeing to a weekend lunch of some sorts. And the only response he gets is a smile. He wonders where that Santana was when he was in McKinley.

"So, you can sing and sing well and you won't join the Warblers?" Nick asked.

"I wasn't really planning on it, I have my reasons and I don't think the Warblers are for me now. Maybe next year or next semester." Kurt replied.

"Well, I we sent a video of you singing to the council and knowing them they'll be hankering after you soon to join us."

"I don't think that's a good idea right now, soon but not right now. I'll tell them no if they ask me. Unless Wes asks, then I don't think I could say no."

"I tried David, he a rely looked at me. I didn't expect that from him. I thought he'd be accepting of an apology!" Blaine said exasperatedly.

"Why? Because he's wanting friends? Because he should feel lucky you want to be his friend? Because you're the head of the Warblers? Why?" David demanded. "You can't treat people like shit and expect them to roll over to please your manipulative ass when it suits you. I hope Kurt tells the council exactly why he refuses to join and you better pray the rest of the Warblers doesn't vote you out. You acted selfishly and in your own interest. For all you knew, Kurt wouldn't even have went after lead singer. How often do we get a countertenor? How often do songs for countertenor come up? We don't even know if he would've joined just to spend time with people who he thought were going to be his friends. So, I don't feel sorry for you that someone in this school is immune to the puppy dog eyes and woe-be-unto me expressions everyone else in this school falls for. Or did you give him that characteristic smile and hoped he'd be so smitten he'd let bygones be bygones. I'm so glad he disappointed you."

"It wasn't like that." Blaine defended. "I can admit I was wrong and treated him badly and I was an ass but I wasn't trying to manipulate him. I'll even step down as lead singer if it'll prove it to you."

"No, if you step-down it will be because we took it to a vote, not because you want to act like you are the bigger person, the council will take all further actions." David replied.

"I don't know where to take Kurt for our date!" Wes lamented.

"Dinner and a movie is always a failsafe." David offered.

"I don't know what kinds of movies he likes, or foods he'd enjoy eating on a date. What if he has allergies?" Wes reasoned.

"You could take one of those evening cooking classes they offer at the catering company in the mall. And have a indoor picnic and agree on a movie you both want to watch. He strikes me as the romantic type, I'm pretty sure he'd enjoy that." David said thoughtfully. "Just, don't take it personally if we speak to him as the council and it doesn't go the way you want it to. He has his reasons"

"Sounds like you have inside information." Wes said.

"Yes, and has my best friend I want to tell you, but I'm thinking it over in my head before I tell you. I'm sure he'll tell you about it tonight. When were we as a council planning on speaking with him?" David asked

"I'm not sure, Thad's on a hunt for his old glee club performances to see some of his old work and once he gets an idea he's like a dog with a bone." Wes joked. He sobered up though "The thing you're thinking over is it about his old school?" Wes asked

"No, it's nothing like his old school. Just give me a few hours." David said.

"Hey Dad,"

"Hey Kid, How's it going?"

"It's okay. Wes and David are off probably doing council things for the Warblers."

"Any change with Blaine?"

"He apologized for acting like a jerk but I told him the most he could hope for was acquaintances who share mutual friends."

"Did he say why he suddenly became so distance."

"No, but he spoke to me as if I should've been pleased to get an apology. I just didn't like his tone."

"Well, sometimes we have to follow our guts, and also give it some more time, he seemed like a good kid when I met him."

"Yeah, but the Warblers have a video of me singing, Jeff and Nick thinks they'll extend an invitation to join or audition. I'm not sure I want to though."

"I thought you enjoyed singing..."

"I do but that's not the only thing i like, I like drama and reading and other things too. I feel like here is a chance to pursue other things I like to do without tying myself in."

"There's more to it. What is it Kurt?"

"That's mostly it but also what if they decide to go Blaine on me. First New Directions and now Blaine? I don't think I could go through that again. I'd rather not if I can avoid it."

" I understand not wanting to get hurt but you can't hide yourself away from the hurt because as likely you're to get hurt you can also make a wonderful group of friends who will support you and who you can support. You can get hurt in the acting club if you join or you may not. The point is you can't hide away from pain."

"I know dad, but it's hard becoming invested in a group and being hung out to dry like that."

" I know kid, but we have to try. I won't keep you but we'll talk tomorrow."

A bit of a delay but I've decided to update the stories in order. The next update should be next friday if all goes well.

Thanks for all the alerts, they do make me smile!