Finding an empty spot in the parking lot, Blaine pulled his jeep to a stop and grabbing his bag from the passenger seat, climbs from it. Around him was a sea of now familiar faces going about their own business. As he started across the parking lot Blaine couldn't help but wonder if he would have anyone to talk to this year. The glee club had lost a lot of members with last year's graduating class. Though Artie, Tina, Sugar, Sam and Mercedes were still here, if the icy conversation he'd had with Mercedes was any indication, Blaine had a feeling they weren't going to be too friendly toward him.

~You can do this, ~ Blaine told himself reaching for the front door and pulling it open. ~Even if they won't talk to you, it still won't be as bad as starting at a new school. You at least are on speaking terms with classmates even if they aren't necessarily friends, ~ he said, continuing his silent pep talk as he made his way down the hallway to his locker.

As he approached his locker, Blaine saw a familiar face near it - Artie. He knew he wouldn't be able to avoid his fellow Glee Club members all day but he also hadn't expected any of them to be waiting for him at his locker.

~Wait, how does he even know which locker is mine this year? I don't remember telling anyone, ~ Blaine questioned as he continued his approach. It was then that he realized that Artie wasn't just hanging out near his locker but was in fact putting in the combination for the locker below his own locker.

It didn't take long for Blaine to realize just how ugly this situation could be if all of their friends decided to hate him for dumping Kurt. Forcing a smile onto his face, the teen kept walking.

"Hey, Artie," Blaine said, coming to a stop beside the teen in the wheelchair. "Small world, huh? What are the chances of us ending up with lockers so close to one another?" he continued, leaning a shoulder against the lockers next to his and Artie's.

"I'm just glad I don't have to spend time trying to get my locker change this year because they gave me one of the top ones," Artie replied, opening his locker and putting his jacket into it. Being the first day, he hadn't yet got his books.

Closing the locker again, he backed up to give Blaine room to get into his own locker.

"You know the awkward small talk isn't necessary," Artie told him. "I still consider you a friend, even if you and Kurt aren't still together."

As he pulled open his locker, Blaine turned his head to look down at Artie. "I appreciate that. Honestly I wasn't sure how everyone would feel, especially after my conversation with Mercedes when she was planning the going away party."

"Well, you took us by surprise. You and Kurt seemed like one of those high school couples that would actually make it beyond high school. However, the Glee Club has seen so many combinations of girlfriends and boyfriends over the years that we've pretty much had learned to go with the flow. Only one that might not be too happy with you is Mercedes. She and Kurt were pretty close."

"If she's the only one, I'll count myself lucky," Blaine said. "What's your home room this year?" he asked. Having put his jean jacket into the locker he pushed the door shut.

"One twenty-eight."

"Looks like we're not in the same home room this year," Blaine commented. "I'll catch you later, Artie," he said, turning to head toward his own home room which was one hundred and ten and in the opposite direction of Artie's.

Feeling a bit more at ease after his conversation with Artie, Blaine strode down the hallway. Halfway to his destination Blaine noticed an unfamiliar face standing off to the side of the hallway. The girl, who had long, raven black hair pulled back into a braid, was switching her attention between a piece of paper in her hands and her surroundings. Blaine assumed the girl was new and was trying to figure out where to go. Having been new himself last year, he knew the maps McKinnley handed out didn't do much good. Blaine had relied on the tour Kurt had given him when they had come to see New Directions' Night of Neglect Concert more than the map issued to him when he had started at the school.

Putting on a smile, Blaine walked over to her. "Those maps they give you are practically useless," he told her.

The girl jumped slightly at the sound of his voice but looked up. Recovering quickly she addressed him, "I'm finding that out," the girl said in an accent that Blaine wasn't able to place. Wherever she had transferred from it wasn't in the area. "Any chance you could put me in the right direction?"

"Sure. I'm Blaine Anderson," he told her, holding his hand out to her.

Shifting the things she was holding to her left hand, the girl shook his hand. "EJ Nelson," she replied.

"And EJ is short for?" Blaine inquired.

"I'd rather not say. Don't get me wrong, I love my parents, but I really wish they had thought through my name just a little bit better."

"Okay then," Blaine said, not going to press for her full name on their first meeting. "Well, EJ, what home room are you looking for?"

"Room one ten."

"What do you know, you're in luck. That's my home room too," Blaine told her. Gesturing in the direction that he had been walking, he began to lead her in the direction of the classroom.

"I hope my brother gets lucky enough to meet someone as nice as you today," EJ commented as they walked down the hallway.

"What year is he?"

"Freshman. I really don't know which one of us has it worse - me having to leave my friends my last year of high school or him having to deal with being a freshman as well as being new."

"You both have it pretty rough if you ask me. If you don't mind me asking, why did your family move here?"

"Dad got a promotion at his job, but a transfer to good ole Lima, Ohio came along with that promotion. He's store manager for Explore Works Sporting Goods."

"Lima really isn't all that bad," Blaine told her.

"I'm sure it isn't but it is quite a change from Augusta, Maine."

"That's the capital of Maine right?" Blaine asked, as he indicated for her to turn down the hallway on their right. EJ nodded. "Yeah, I guess Lima would be a big adjustment then," he commented. "Here we are," he added, pointing to classroom one hundred and ten, which was the second room on the hallway.

The two walked into the classroom. Excusing herself, EJ headed toward the teacher's desk. Wondering what she was up to but being polite enough not to ask, Blaine headed for some empty desks in the back of the classroom, intending to save a seat for EJ. Knowing what it was like to be the new kid at a school, Blaine intended on trying to be a friend to the new girl. Not to mention he could use a new friend this year himself.

Blaine slid into the first empty seat in the first row of desks, the desks behind him and in the row next to him were empty. He didn't realize whom he had sat behind until she turned around and addressed him.

"Don't try to be chummy with me, Anderson," Mercedes told him. "What you did to Kurt was not cool, but because he asked me to be civil to you, I will, but don't think that means I approve of what you do."

Blaine was taken aback. He didn't have any idea what to say to Mercedes' speech, although he was touched at the fact that Kurt had asked her not to give him a hard time.

"Okay," he finally said after a few moments when nothing else came to mind.

Satisfied with the exchange, Mercedes turned back around. Looking past her, Blaine saw that EJ had finished her conversation with the teacher. When the new girl looked his way, Blaine motioned to the empty desk beside him.

"Thanks," EJ said moments later when she sank into the desk in the row next to Blaine.

"No problem. If you let me see your schedule and that map, I'll see what I can do to get you through your first day."

EJ gratefully turned the requested items over to Blaine. "I'll take any help I can get."

Neither one of them noticed the scathing look that Mercedes tossed back over her shoulder at the exchange.