Signs of Life;

three.

Now:

"Boys, what are you doing?" Aviana smiled, as she sat down on the grass next to me. Wes and David looked over and winked, throwing the basketball over to her. I fling out of my seat on to the grass, attempting to dodge the flying basketball that is bound to hit me in the face. I peer up to where Blaine is standing in the middle court, smirking and stifling his laughter. Typical. He is half-hung-over and is laughing at me. Aviana is giggling, spinning the basketball on her index finger perfectly. I roll my eyes and regain my footing, falling back down into my seat muttering to myself. Meanwhile, on the far end of the court Nick and Jeff are tackling each other to the ground, rolling on top of one another - yelling about something.

Then:

This morning, I awoke with so much determination to lecture Rachel and Blaine about maturity, trust and responsibility that I was prepping myself beforehand on how to address the issue. I should've realized that my attempts would go unnoticed as Rachel moments after I began to lecture her brother and herself, flicked her hair over her shoulder in annoyance and dramatically exited the lounge room yelling obscurities over her shoulder. My so-called 'babysitting' has failed so far, if it isn't remotely obvious. Blaine had the audacity to chuckle and lean back against the couch like some smart ass. He is lucky he is a sexy smart ass. As 'punishment' I forced Blaine and Rachel outside to play basketball with the most annoying employees known to man but unfortunately I once again failed to realize that The Wicked Employees of The West are Blaine's closest friends. Go figure. I set up my umbrella and chair and was ready to dive into the chapters of my newest book before Wes asked me to referee, apparently Jeff and Nick don't like to play fair. No surprises there. Rachel yelled at me some more, stomping her feet like a child until I finally gave in to excuse her and let her resume her daily routine just to shut her up. Wes, David, Jeff and Nick had actually sighed in relief as they watched her storm off - apparently they are scared of her.

Now:

"Are we going to play the game or not pansies?" David hollered over to the tackling two-some. They instantly let go of one another, chuckling as they got to their feet and brushed themselves off. Jeff smiled and pulled Nick into a tight embrace before they jogged over to David and Wes. "You boys good now?" Nick and Jeff nodded and sealed this with their special handshake. Nick formed a six with his fingers whilst Jeff formed a three. I roll my eyes and turn my gaze to Blaine who is looking at me. Like full on looking at me with his mixture of amber and hazel eyes. I raise an eyebrow playfully and wink at him in which he laughs in response, tilting his head back. Wes stops talking and peers around David, raising an eyebrow of his own. "You okay there Blaine?"

Blaine turns back to me, my cheeks lightly brushed with crimson as I blush and turn my eyes to the pages of my novel. Making me blush like a goddamn teenage girl. I hear Blaine chuckle once more before assuring Wes he was 'A-Okay'. I roll my eyes once more and let myself fall into the deep abyss of fiction and imaginary friends, vaguely hearing the shouts of the boys once in a while.

It was nearing 5:00pm when the boys finished off for the day,.. well Wes and David finished off for the day. They both fell down onto the grass next to me, panting and dumping full bottles of water over their faces while Nick and Jeff continued the game. Blaine's musical, yet mischievous laugh sounded from behind me and before I could even blink, water was gushing down upon me. I jumped up from my now-soaked chair, wiping excess water off my eyelids, spluttering. Loud laughter echoed around me as I took a deep breath in, water was now trailing down my back. I lock eyes with a grinning Blaine Anderson. In an instant the laughter ceased as I slowly stepped closer to Blaine whose smile is beginning to slip from his lips. I clear my throat, inches away from Blaine and open my mouth to speak –then a small gush of wind hits me as Blaine runs, sprints away from me across the field. I chuckle humorlessly and run after him; dripping wet and mad.


"Say you're sorry Blaine Anderson!" I cry, straddling his backside, my hands pressed firmly to his back; pressing him into the tiles. "Say you're sorry for ruining my new book and drenching my amazing clothes. Apologize for your actions Blaine." Blaine merely laughed, sending vibrations through my body. He shook his head and flailed his arms across the floor, as I pressed firmer into him. "No? You won't apologize?" Blaine chuckled once more and bucked his hips and flipped us over. My breath catches as my back knocks into the tiles. Blaine is smirking and is now straddling my hips, head cocked to the side. I roll my eyes and attempt to escape from his grasp but he holds me down with excessive force. "Blaine!"

"Not so tough now are you Kurtie?" My mouth falls open at the horrendous nickname to which Blaine laughs loudly at. "You should see your face right now!" I groan and continue to squirm about. "Are you going to apologize Kurt?"

"What? Apologize for what? You are the one who spilt buckets of water over me!" I cry out, trying to ignore the fact that Blaine Anderson; a really hot, really young and cocky teenager is straddling me. "I don't see why I need to apologize!"

"You tackled me into the ground, I could have smashed my jaw against the tiles!' Blaine exclaims dramatically, moving about on top of me. "You could have wrecked my pretty face"

I roll my eyes and swat at his hands that are attempting to regain hold of mine. "What a shame"

"I don't appreciate the sarcasm" Blaine frowns, quickly smiling in victory as he catches my hands in his. "Anyway, you could have been in big trouble from my dad if I ended up in hospital"

"I am sure I would have coped Blaine" I roll my eyes once more and groan, falling limp. "I give up"

Blaine let's go of my hands and fist pumps the air - fucking fist pumps! - with a wide grin on his face. "Are you ready to apologize?"

"Yes. Fine, fine. I… am sorry" I mutter the apology under my breath.

"I didn't hear that, why don't you repeat that one Kurt" Blaine smirks, crossing his arms over his chest, with one eyebrow raised. "Go on"

"I am …" I cut off as Blaine urges me on. "I am sorry! I am freakin' sorry. There! I said it." I roll my eyes at his expression. "Happy now?"

Blaine nods his head quickly sliding off my body. "Ecstatic!"

I quickly stand up, brushing myself off and cringing at the creases in my clothes. I look up to see Blaine sauntering out of the room. He quickly turns around, locking eyes with me once again.

"Oh and you're forgiven" Blaine winks at me before disappearing down the hall. I fall down into a seat with a groan, and place my head in my hands trying to forget that mere seconds ago Blaine was on top of me, in my lap; straddling me.


"You okay now Kurt?" Jeff smirks at me, his blonde hair sticking out on end from, no doubt, another playful tackle with Nick. I glare at him, as I attempt to dry the soaked, and clearly ruined pages of my book.

"You know, cause he got you good"

"Shut it Jeff"

"You got to admit it was funny"

"Stop Jeff"

"How he ever came up with that is beyond me…"

"Not one word"

"I am just sayin –

"Nope"

"Fine." Jeff huffed and slouched in his chair; pouting like a four year old. "I thought it was funny," He softly murmured.

"Jeff" I whine, turning to lock eyes with his. "Stop it"

Jeff smiled softly, springing up from his chair. "I am off to find Nicholas, see you later Kurtie"

" Hey! What did I tell you about that nickname?" I call out to him but Jeff was already out of sight.


I place the hairdryer down, coming to terms with the fact that the book was ruined and no matter how many more hours I spend attempting to fix it, it won't make a difference. The sun was shining outside, even if the day was slowly coming to a close, which strangely led me to start thinking of Mercedes and the summers we spent together during our final years of high school. A fond smile spread across my face as I could almost hear how she would react if she saw this place. Mercedes would adore the Anderson household; I can imagine her wanting to sleep in a different room every night until all 33 bedrooms have been slept in by one Mercedes Jones. It was hard leaving McKinley, knowing that once we walked out of the gates for the last time then I wouldn't be seeing most of my New Directions friends for a very long time, maybe never again. The only person I still keep in contact with is Mercedes, and even then we only manage to see one another once a month – if we're lucky. Mercedes had moved to Boston where she was accepted into Berklee College of Music. I was rather surprised when she told me, especially since I pegged her for a New York City type but I think everyone just left the good ol' NYC and Broadway dream to Lindsay for the first couple of years. I, for one, never left Lima which I think everyone was shocked about considering how I used to swear that once we graduated I would be out of Lima in a blink. That didn't happen, obviously. I don't envy my friends in any way, I am truly glad that they have all gotten themselves out of Lima, I just wish I was able to do the same. A loud bang sounded from behind me. I turn around swiftly in my chair, clutching my chest – scared out of my thoughts. There was a young man, crouched over spilled papers and folders on the tiled floor. I watch as he quickly picks half of the papers up before noticing I was watching him. He quickly stands to face me.

"I am so sorry about that, I tried to work around you quietly and then I dropped them and –"The young man sighs, gesturing towards the mess on the ground. "I am sorry"

I chuckle, watching his cheeks grown more and more crimson. "It's alright, no need to apologize. I am Kurt by the way, I am the babysitter"

"Oh nice to meet you, I'm Mason, I am Rachel and Blaine's vocal coach" He crosses over to me, shaking my hand with a wide smile.

"I should have guessed" I gesture towards the papers which I could see now were music sheets closer up. Mason looks down at the pile in his hands and chuckled, shuffling them around like a giant pack of playing cards.

"How long have y0u been their vocal coach?" I ask, watching his movements. He stopped fiddling around with them and looked back up.

"A little over three years now" Mason smiled softly, placing the distorted papers on the table and took a seat into the recliner. He was watching me, eyes trailing over me – expression; unreadable.

I let out a long whistle, sitting further back into my chair. "Three years with Rachel, jeez". Mason chuckles softly in response, wringing his hands together.

"She is a bit of work Rachel but she is a beautiful person once you tap into her emotions and inner self" Mason smiles distantly, fondly.

"I don't know, she doesn't seem to like me," I laugh as a few of our less pleasant memories over the past couple of days surface in my thoughts.

"Well you are the babysitter Kurt, of course she is unpleasant towards you" Mason winks playfully. "When you get to know her better, you will understand what I mean"

"We'll see" I nod absently, swiveling my chair back to face the table where my ruined novel sat, pages stained and crumpled within it's borders. "How about Blaine, you get along with him too?" I try to sound casual but inwardly cringe as the words leave my lips. Mason chuckles once again and I turn to face him; his smile lighting up his face.

"Blaine is an amazing person" Of course. I should have guessed. "Well of course I have to say that, he is my boyfriend after all" I drop the novel. My breath hitched in my chest.

"Oh, Blaine is your boyfriend. How old are you Mason, if you don't mind me asking" I hastily add on, trying to sound casual as I reach for my novel once again. Blaine is Blaine. He is a seventeen-year-old boy, he is in high school and I am five years his senior. I am his goddamm baby sitter for crying out loud – I am not allowed to develop feelings for him… not that I am developing feelings for him. God. I have known him for like a day! No. I am just implying that if that was the case…

Mason seemed unfazed by the sudden change in my voice as he simply replied with a smile. "I will be turning twenty this October"

"Oh". I quickly clear my throat and flash a smile his way. "Well it's great to meet you"

"Yeah, we are going to be seeing a lot of each other this summer!" Mason's smile only grows wider as he fiddles with the music sheets in his hands. I nod absently and turn back to my battered novel, groaning inwardly – what else could possibly go wrong today?

"MASON!" A loud shrill voice echoes through the room, I roll my eyes as I identify the voice to be Rachel's. Loud clanking of shoes and a rustle of material is all I hear before Mason lets out a groan. I turn around to see Rachel clinging to Mason, arms and legs wrapped around him. Rachel is grinning as one of her hands clutch at Mason's t-shirt, and the other threaded through his hair. I cringe as I could see the t-shirt already forming into wrinkles where Rachel is holding. Mason chuckles as Rachel keeps repeating his name softly and fondly.

"Rach, for the last time, my boyfriend is gay – hence him being my boyfriend" Blaine rolls his eyes as he slouches against the doorframe, watching as Mason swings Rachel around like a toddler.

"A girl can only dream" Rachel sighs pensively as she unwraps her legs from Mason's waist and lets them touch the ground. "Mason, why must you be gay?"

"Sorry beautiful" Mason merely shrugs with a smile and pats the top of her head. Mason then steps around her and winks at Blaine, he doesn't see Rachel's frown as she quickly smooths down her hair. "Hi handsome" I watch as Mason wraps his hands around Blaine's waist and pecks him lightly on the lips. Blaine chuckles and slides his palm up Mason's torso and clutches at his t-shirt, mirroring Rachel's actions, and tugs Mason down to his lips. Mason smiles into the kiss and angles his head, kissing Blaine deeper and more passionately. Blaine pulls away, leaving one light kiss to the other boy's lips and then detangles himself from him.

"Could you please not make-out with the man of my dreams, right in front of me" Rachel frowns, arms crossed across her chest. "Anyway, Mason we need to go and rehearse!

"Will you ever get passed the fact that Mason is gay, it has been three years sis" Blaine smirks, obviously enjoying his sisters discomfort. Rachel just rolls her eyes and picks up the music sheets that had been thrown down earlier. Blaine smiles softly at his sister and then turns around to face Mason. "Alright, off you go mister"

"Eager to get rid of me, are you?" Mason smirks as Blaine reaches up to wrap his hands around his neck. "I am wounded at your attempts"

"Oh shush you" Blaine chuckles and suddenly looks over to me. I suddenly wished I could vanish. Blaine's smile disappears as he holds my gaze. I clear my throat and quickly turn my back to the teenager. I hastily picked up my ruined novel and made a beeline for the door.

"Hey Kurt" Blaine's voice cuts through my attempts. I sigh deeply before turning to face him. "Have you met Mason?"

"Oh yeah, we met a few moments ago actually – I startled him in the process" Mason chuckles as playfully nudges me. "Sorry about that"

"No problem" I manage a small smile before quickly turning to the door. I continue my way to salvation when Blaine stops me once again.

"You okay Kurt, you look a bit… flustered" Blaine tilts his head, eyes focused on mine. Rachel snorts from behind Blaine and mutters under her breath. I chose to ignore her.

"Yeah I am fine, it was nice to meet you Mason but I'll see you all later" I force a smile and quickly slip through the door way and into the hall. I take a few deep breaths as I staggered to lean against the wall. Pull yourself together Kurt, for fuck's sake! I take another few deep breaths and push myself off the wall, reaching for my walkie. I could hear laughter as Wes speaks into the device.

"Hey Wes, get the boys together – we are going out tonight" I smile as Wes distantly calls out to the others, excitedly. Here we go!


A/N: Sorry it's taken so long and if you are still with me then thank you! This is now where the story actually begins so get excited :) The next chapter will be posted a lot quicker as I am now on summer break. Thanks for reading.

Heaps of love; Stephanie.