Blaine would never have admitted it, but he was excited coming home from school the whole next week, just because Greg was home. He went out late almost every night with his friends, but he stuck around for home-cooked meals and lots of family debates about the state of the Buckeyes. Greg was an even more devoted Buckeyes fan than Blaine, which was why it had been kind of a shock when he'd decided to go to college in Pennsylvania. "Ohio will always be here, Blaine," he'd said. "Time to mix it up." Blaine admired and envied Greg's independence now. Everything about Greg's lifestyle seemed heavenly. The way Greg told it, college life on campus was basically one big slumber party with your best friends, attending really interesting classes and events, with some fun concert or movie to see every single week. Even better, in Blaine's view, was the independence Greg got at home. Being the younger brother, he'd long suffered under having just-this-much less freedom than Greg, but now that he was in college he found it kind of remarkable how much they backed off him. Mom and Dad half-heartedly tried to keep him to a curfew when he was back from school- "So you're not on the road when bars are closing,"- and Mom still made sure there was a drama over laundry a couple times a week, but otherwise Greg was free to sleep late, eat their food, and stay out with friends with barely a memo as to who he was with or where he was going. Most days the car arrangement between the brothers worked out because Blaine wasn't allowed to use the car after a certain hour and Greg was perfectly happy to be lazy and watch TV while he was at school.

The last Friday Greg was home, Blaine had plans to go to see The Green Hornet with him, at the movie theatre by the mall. Maybe they'd walk around the mall for awhile. Maybe Jeremiah would be working and Blaine would introduce him. He didn't want it to be like, "Oh here's this guy I'm lusting for," but an introduction was a good excuse to see him, and maybe, he'd get up the courage to ask Greg if he thought they had chemistry- or something. Maybe. It's not like we're dating though. I just want two people who are important to me to get to meet each other. Happens every day.

So that was why Blaine was chagrined when he arrived home, tie already off and shoes chucked as soon as he got in the door- to find Heather on the living room couch, her head resting on Greg's shoulder as they watched tv together. I thought she went back to school on Wednesday.

"Hey."

"Hey Blaine." Greg didn't look up from the TV.

"Heather, how are you? I, uh, didn't know you were still in town."

"Yeah, plans kind of got changed. I'm going back with Greg and your dad tomorrow."

My dad's taking Greg and his girlfriend back to Pennsylvania?What?

"Yeah, it's a long story. But I talked Dad into it. Heather's going to stay for dinner and then we're going out later." Greg rubbed his hand lazily along Heather's arm as he spoke.

Woah. No.

"Greg. We're supposed to- I thought we agreed- we were going to the movies tonight."

Greg looked up suddenly. "Oh. Man. Blaine- I- I totally forgot."

Blaine bit his lip, freezing in an attempt to cover his disappointment. He's going to Pennsylvania in two days Heather. You can't wait TWO DAYS? I can't just have a night out with my brother?

"So you... don't want to go now, or-?"

"Uh." Greg looked at Heather, then back at Blaine. "Well, um, let's figure it out after dinner."

I thought we were going to leave before dinner and get food at the mall, like we said. So we could see the earlier show? Some of us have curfews to worry about College Man.

"Okay. Uh, whatever." Blaine dropped his bag on the bench and escaped up the stairs to his room. This is stupid. I shouldn't be annoyed about this. He logged on to his computer to check the listings for movie times. He looked up when he heard a knock on his open door.

"Hey, didn't know you were home." Blaine's dad said.

"Yeah. Thought Greg and I were going out but not sure if that's happening or not now." Blaine knew his resentment was evident but, well, whatever.

Blaine's dad looked at him sympathetically. Too sympathetically, actually. It made Blaine grateful he had a computer he could turn his attention to.

"I'll talk to him Blaine, he should spend time with you."

"It isn't a big deal."

"I know. I think..." Gabriel Anderson closed the door partway and lowered his voice. "I think Heather and Greg had a fight, your brother's just patching things up."

They have a fight like that pretty much every other week Dad. "I get it."

"But he should be honoring his plans with you. That's not fair."

Of course he wants to hang out with his clingy girlfriend. He lives for people that worship the ground he walks on.

"Dad. I said it's fine." Blaine's tone had a volume and edge it didn't get to very often with his dad. Truth be told he held his breath a second after the words left his mouth. Dad didn't take too kindly to any kind of attitude.

"O-kay." Mr. Anderson said, evenly. He pursed his lips, deciding not to push it. "I called your mom, she's picking up pizza."

"Great." Blaine busied himself with writing down the movie times.

Blaine heard Mr. Anderson back out of the room and then his steps plodding down the staircase. He heard a very distinctive throat clear, which made Blaine roll his eyes. Guess they're making up now, huh?

"Hey, Dad." Greg's voice could be heard, a little higher than usual.

"Your mom will be here soon, help me with the plates? I- uh, need to discuss something with you."

Damn it Dad. He was going to talk to Greg and tell him he had to keep his plans with Blaine. Now Heather's going to be annoyed and Greg's just going to appease me like I'm some little kid whose feelings are hurt. It's not a big deal- he'd probably spend half the movie looking at the time on his cell phone and sending texts to her the way he did that time last summer. God. Now I don't even want to go.

"Hey all! Dinnerrrr!" Mrs. Anderson's voice sung through the house as she came in.

Blaine sighed. "Coming!" He trudged downstairs.

"What's wrong?" Rosalie looked at the sullen face as she looked over the mail by the stairs.

"Nothing." Blaine was maybe more short about it than he had to be.

"O-kay." She had that look of "teenagers, what now?" on her face but Blaine couldn't be bothered. He pushed past her into the kitchen, making a beeline for the pizza laying open on the island.

He pretended not to notice as Greg and Dad looked up from their conversation at his intrusion. Yes I know what you're talking about. I'm not an idiot. "Uh... excuse me Heather..." he said, pushing past her to fill his plate.

"Geez Blaine wait your turn there's plenty-" Heather smirked, not unkindly. She just thought it was funny that a kid that short still had a teenager sized appetite. It had been the subject of patronizing chiding in the past, and Blaine was pretty bored with it. He ignored her, reached up to the cabinet for a glass, and made his way to the fridge. He opened the refrigerator door and pulled out a bottle of diet soda.

"Blaine, drink some milk or something, all that sugar's not good for-"

"MOM. Seriously?"

The room froze as everyone stared at Blaine.

"Is... there a... problem Blaine?" Rosalie Anderson spoke calmly but it was definitely her watch-it-young-man voice. Her scary voice was always quiet. Dad's volume ranged depending on the circumstance.

Blaine bit his lip. "I- I just..." he was scrambling and he hated it. Everyone in the room thought he was twelve years old right now. I could be at the mall drinking a milk shake for dinner right now and you wouldn't even know. Greg probably drinks soda with every meal at college. Blaine took a breath. He wasn't going to be treated like a little kid. "I think... one little glass of soda isn't going to rot my teeth or anything," he defended. But he spoke quietly, not looking at Mom.

Mrs. Anderson glanced at her husband. "Fine then." she said, as though nothing were wrong at all.

Mr. Anderson opened his mouth but a quick shake of the head from Rosalie closed it. Blaine looked between them. Satisfied- and yet, not- he poured soda into his glass and then sat down at the table avoiding the collective gaze.

"Blaine's right, Mom." Greg made a pained attempt at injecting humor. "Tell you what I'll make him floss extra tonight." Heather chuckled but no one else found that particularly funny.

Attempting to change the subject, Mrs. Anderson turned to Heather. "So... Heather, pleasant surprise getting to see you again before you go back."

"Oh yes, Mrs. Anderson, I can't thank you all enough for agreeing to drive me back." She made googly eyes at Greg, who stole a quick kiss on his way to get pizza himself.

God they're annoying sometimes. You really need to do that in front of Mom and Dad?

"Of course, we're taking Greg anyway, don't know why we didn't arrange that in the first place." Mr. Anderson interjected, eyes diverting back towards Blaine as he poked at his pizza. Sitting down, he turned to Greg. "So, have you worked out your plans for tonight Gregory?" he asked pointedly.

"Uh, yeah. I mean if it's okay with Blaine and uh, Heather." Blaine looked up at his brother, who was somewhat nervously looking over to his girlfriend. "I, kind of messed up and forgot I promised Blaine we'd go to the movies tonight so-"

"Greg, if you don't want to go it isn't-"

"No, I want to go. I've been wanting to go." I know. It was your idea Idiot. "So- Heath, you don't mind if we go to Green Hornet first, do you? We can still go out after."

You're going to bring her with you?

Heather looked like she was put off, but tried to cover it for the benefit of the parental audience. "...I- sure, whatever you want Greg. I just, wasn't really interested in seeing that movie but-" God why do you have to hog him every minute of the day? He's my brother.

"It's just it's my last real night here with-"

"Greg you don't have to change all your plans. It's fine." Blaine spoke with a shortness that betrayed his annoyance.

"Blaine, it's not your fault-" Heather interjected, in a voice that made it sound like yeah, it kinda was his fault.

Greg, poor guy, looked between the two of them with some helplessness. Mrs. Anderson, cleared her throat. "I think, Heather, that Gregory was just hoping to spend some time with his brother before you all get back to your studies in a couple days. Of course, we all didn't realize you'd be here tonight, though we're so happy you are." She had a way of talking like there was no tension in the room at all. How does she do that?

"Oh of course Mrs. Anderson. The boys should have their night on the town. I'll be fine."

"Wait, you- don't want to come to the movie?"

"I'll, uh, go hang at my parents' house for awhile." Her smile was stiff and forced. "I've got to finish packing anyway." She makes it sound like she's some kind of martyr. Blaine had had it.

"Heather. We don't have to go to a movie. Could you please just stop acting all passive aggressive and say what you want?"

"Blaine!"

"Mom, I-" He snapped and then halted abruptly. The words had been coming out faster than his thoughts and he finally put the brakes on, realizing he was perilously close to a lot of trouble now. Damn it. He looked at Greg, who's jaw was dropped open. "I, uh-"

"Young man, I think the words you're looking for are 'I apologize.'" Dad's voice was icy now.

Blaine swallowed. "Yes. Um." He turned to Heather. "I, uh, apologize. I shouldn't have- raised my voice."

"Well it's the third time tonight you've been out of line with someone, Blaine Gabriel Anderson." God Dad please don't do this in front of her.

"Yes sir. I, um- I'm just tired tonight I guess." It was a stupid excuse but it was all he could come up with.

Blaine's dad looked him over. "Maybe you need to take a break and we can have this conversation when you've cooled down a bit." It wasn't a suggestion.

"Ye-es sir." Blaine blushed, excusing himself and chastisedly making his way upstairs to his room. He closed the door, leaning his head back against it. What the hell is wrong with me tonight?