CHAPTER 7

Over at the Delphos Community High School, Blaine and Vance were leading the Music Masters through a cover of Justin Bieber's "Beauty And A Beat" to prepare for Regionals. Blaine couldn't deny that he was having a good time since his transfer. Not only were the people at the school nice, but they were also helpful, insightful, and supportive of his goals. It had only been a week, but he felt that this was where he belonged.

As he went to go get lunch later in the day, he was met by Kurt, who had a disappointed look on his face. Blaine, on the other hand, was trying to look as unsurprised as he could.

"Kurt, what are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing."

"Well, I transferred here to speed up my chances of getting to New York to be with you."

"What happened back at McKinley? Don't you like it there anymore?"

"McKinley was good, there's no denying that. It's just that the very idea of me not being able to spend more time with you just kills me. This school is going to help me get there, and in better ways. The Glee Club here is great and largely successful…"

"Blaine, you honestly think that taking the short path leads to good things? I've tried it, Blaine, and it ended disastrously. I want to be with you more, too. But the method you've chosen is so flawed that I can't believe you did it. Vance Turman is an egotistical jerk who lured you away so that he could try to be your boyfriend. He doesn't care about you like I or any of the others back at McKinley do. And the fact that you allowed yourself to be manipulated by him just disappoints me."

"Vance has his flaws, Kurt, and I recognize that. But I believe he's willing to help me move on the bigger and better things. I feel more at home here than at McKinley or Dalton combined. People here are friendlier, more understanding, and extremely talented. And it's not just the students, but the faculty as well."

"Is there a problem here, Blaine?"

Both boys turned to see Vance joining them, smirking widely.

"No, Vance, there's no problem. This is my boyfriend, Kurt."

"Ah, yes, the infamous Kurt Hummel. Blaine's told me so much about you", said Vance, shaking hands with Kurt, and both of them attempted to crush each other's hand without Blaine noticing.

"Vance, I've heard a lot about you too. You seem like a fun guy", said Kurt, wrenching his hand from Vance's and slightly shaking it around.

"You've got quite a handshake, Kurt. You work out?"

"I've started some weight-lifting classes at NYADA. You?"

"Local 24 Hour Fitness, four days a week. I like you already. How about later today, the three of us have dinner together, huh?"

"Well, Blaine and I already have plans."

"We do?" asked Blaine, realizing a second too late what Kurt had meant.

"Nah, you don't. Come on, I'll pay for it myself", said Vance, trying to hide his smirk.

"Someone like you, paying for three meals? I don't think so", said Kurt, glaring into Vance's eyes.

"Someone like me, huh? What kind of person am I, Mr. Hummel?"

"Okay, guys, that's enough. Lunch is finishing soon, and we have to get to class. Kurt, I'll talk to you later, okay?" said Blaine hurriedly, leading Vance away at the same time. Kurt maintained eye contact with Vance until he was out of sight, and left in a huff.

INTERLUDE

Back at McKinley, Alexander had found Amanda sitting alone in a classroom. Perplexed, he entered to see that she had been crying.

"Ms. Packard, are you all right?"

"Why do you do that?"

"What?"

"Address people so formally? Why don't you talk like a normal teenager?"

"Because I'm not normal. Nobody is. May I sit down?"

Amanda motioned for him to sit, and he took a chair in front of her.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. I'm fine."

"Very well, then. I'll leave you to your…"

"I'm trying to pray to God, okay?!" shouted Amanda, and she looked up just enough for him to see multiple tear streaks down her cheeks.

"What are you praying to Him for?"

"A second chance, maybe retribution."

"Are you looking for a way to make things right again?"

"My parents raised me as a Christian. I went to Sunday church meetings, made my contributions, read along in the Bible, and delivered several sermons. But I never truly believed in Him, because that meant living by the rules. I grew up not wanting to be bound by rules and regulations. I grew up wanting everything at once, anything that would advance me, and I didn't care what happened to anyone else. And then I discovered something that changed my life forever: reality. I learned that I didn't live in my own little world where everything was at my feet and I got to make the rules."

"And you discovered this by being in the Glee Club?"

"Yeah. Music helped me to see things more clearly the longer I stayed with it. I got to see what being an underdog felt like. And it felt… right. It felt like it suited me. It helped me to restore my faith in God, that maybe I had found the right path to go down."

"Are you saying that you want to rejoin the Glee Club?"

"Yes, I do. I know that it's where I belong."

"Then you will need to appeal to Mr. Schuester before he leaves."

"How do I do that?"

"Go with your faith. Spill your heart to him. Help him to see your sincerity."

With that, Alexander stood up to leave, but Amanda stopped him.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"Do you believe in God?"

Alexander looked into Amanda's eyes calmly, with the brim of his top hat shadowing the rest of his face so that only the blue and white of his eyes showed.

"I am agnostic", said Alexander, and he tipped his hat to her and left. Amanda stayed where she was, trying to figure out what to do.