I know I've done a million and two of these "Blaine serenades Kurt" stories, but this one's different because… well, because I said so. But, seriously, it is different because it involves the homophobia that is obviously all around Ohio (which I don't think I've covered in any kind of depth, which surprises me because that would definitely make for a good story). I don't want to give away too much, but let's just say it's not only the students at McKinley opposed to homosexuality.
Oh, and the song used in the chapter is "She's Everything" by Brad Paisley, which I do not own (though I guess you could say I "own" the changes made to it).
Here's Chapter Thirty-Eight: You Can't Do That!
"I've got some bad news, guys," Mr. Schuester said, walking into the choir room.
"Let me guess," Tina said. "Coach Sylvester somehow got Principal Figgins to cancel our benefit." As with the year before, New Directions was holding a benefit to pay for a trip to Nationals. But unlike last year, there were actually going to be a substantial amount of people, since going to Nationals had raised the glee club's popularity a little bit. Well, that and Blaine had a lot of pull at Dalton still and he had managed to get, like, half the school to agree to come.
"It's actually kind of worse."
"I knew it!" Rachel exclaimed suddenly and everyone turned to look at her. "I knew he was a spy. But no... none of you wanted to listen to me because he's nice and…"
"Rachel," Mr. Schue said, talking over her, as everyone tended to. Blaine was grateful for that because he didn't want another lecture on Rachel's asinine conspiracy theory that he was a spy for Dalton. "For the last time, Blaine's not a spy. But the bad news sort of has to do with Blaine."
"What?" Blaine asked, confused. "Why?"
"Well, Principal Figgins has decided that he and the school board need to approve our set lists, considering some of our past performances." Everyone looked around, pretending to completely innocent when Blaine knew for a fact that every single one of them – Mr. Schue included – was anything but. "And they've decided that… Oh, God. I don't even know how to say this. It's just so awful."
"What is it, Mr. Schue?" Kurt asked, squeezing Blaine's hand. Blaine rested his head on his boyfriend's shoulder, his heart racing. What could the school board have decided that had to do with him?
"Okay. So you know how you chose to do "She's Everything" for the benefit, Blaine? But you were obviously going to change around some of the words?" Blaine nodded, having a sick feeling in his stomach as to where this was going. "Well, I wrote it on the set list that Blaine Anderson was going to sing "He's Everything" and… the school board didn't like that so much."
"Who cares?" Kurt said. "So we upset a couple of homophobes. That's nothing new for us, Mr. Schue."
"I know it's not, guys, and normally I wouldn't even bring it up, but…" He paused and Blaine could see it in his eyes that what he was going to say next was going to be less than pleasant. "The school board decided that they didn't want the public subjected to a boy singing a love song to another boy, so they told me that either I pull Blaine's number from the show or the whole show's cancelled."
Suddenly, everyone was shouting objections, none louder than Finn, who was saying, "Mr. Schue, you can't let them do this! I'm going to get up there and sing a love song to Rachel – it's only fair that Blaine gets to do the same! Seriously, I've never seen a couple more in love than Kurt and Blaine."
"You don't think I know that, Finn?" Mr. Schue said, rubbing his temples. "I'd love nothing more than to see Blaine to get up on that stage and sing his heart out, especially considering half the people there are coming to see him." Oh, yeah. The Dalton boys. "But it's out of my hands."
"It's fine, Mr. Schue," Blaine said, his heart heavy. He knew that going to school at McKinley was a lot different than going to school at Dalton, but he'd thought that only pertained to the students. He'd never imagined that the school board would prevent him from singing to his boyfriend in public because it would upset too many people. "I just won't sing. I don't want everyone else's hard work to go to waste."
"I wish it didn't have to come down to this."
"I know. But it's just one of those things that I'm going to have to deal with for the rest of my life. Might as well get used to it now." Kurt gripped his hand tighter and Blaine turned his head and kissed Kurt's neck.
"You shouldn't have to!" Mercedes said indignantly. "Isn't the whole point of the arts to push boundaries?"
"Yes, Mercedes. But like I told Finn, it's out of my hands."
No one said anything for a minute as they let the seriousness of the situation sink in. "I have an idea," Puck said finally. Everyone groaned, as Puck's plans usually ended in someone getting injured. "No, this is a good one. I swear."
"All right, Puck," Mr. Schue conceded. "What's your plan?"
"Okay. So here's how it's gonna go down…"
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Blaine asked Kurt as Mercedes belted out Adele's "Rumour Has It" to a packed auditorium. When Blaine had looked out earlier, he noticed that there were three men in suits sitting in the front row with Principal Figgins. Mr. Schue had informed him that they were from the board and were there to make sure that everything went the way they wanted it to.
Well, they were in for a surprise.
"Not at all," Kurt said with a smile. "But we need to show these people that they can't touch us."
Blaine smiled widely and wrapped his arms around Kurt's waist, pulling their bodies close together. "Why can't I be as brave as you?" he said softly.
"Hey, I'm not the one going out to sing a love song to another boy in front of 600 people, most of whom would be less than receptive of said performance."
"You're not instilling me with a ton of confidence here, babe."
Kurt kissed his nose quickly. "You're going to be amazing. You always are." Blaine smiled. "But, if you need any kind of reassurance, I'll be right here." He pointed at the ground, indicating that he wasn't moving. "Just look over and I'll help you through it."
Blaine pressed their foreheads together. "I don't deserve you," he said, his voice almost inaudible.
They were brought out of their little world when the auditorium exploded in applause for Mercedes's earth-shattering performance. When it calmed down, Mike (the night's emcee) said, "All right, ladies and gentlemen. That was Miss Mercedes Jones. Now, I know that your programs say that this was the last performance, but we have a last minute addition." Blaine watched the board of education guys furiously whispering to each other and he smirked. They deserved it. "A few days ago, a friend of ours was told that he couldn't sing in tonight's show because his song would make some people… uncomfortable. But, you see, the New Directions don't like to be silenced, so… with a slightly altered version of Brad Paisley's "She's Everything" give it up for Mr. Blaine Anderson."
"Wish me luck." Kurt kissed him quickly and pushed him towards the stage.
Blaine approached the mic, his guitar in his hands. He'd never felt so out of place in the spotlight before, never wished all eyes weren't on him for a change. Everyone was staring at him, wondering what he was going to do and the guys from the board were still whispering to Principal Figgins, who was shaking his head vigorously. Blaine took a deep breath and looked over to the wings of the stage, where Kurt gave him a thumbs up and a wink, mouthing "I love you".
That was all he needed.
Without a word, Blaine started to play and sing, meaning every single word, since no song had ever meant as much to him before.
He's a yellow pair of running shoes
A holey pair of jeans
He looks great in cheap sunglasses
He looks great in anything
He's I want a piece of chocolate
Take me to a movie
He's I can't find a thing to wear
Now and then he's moody
He's a Saturn with a sunroof
With his brown hair a-blowing
He's a soft place to land
And a good feeling knowing
He's a warm conversation
That I wouldn't miss for nothing
He's a fighter when he's mad
And he's a lover when he's loving
And he's everything I ever wanted
And everything I need
I talk about him, I go on and on and on
'Cause he's everything to me
He's a Saturday out on the town
And a church guy on Sunday
He's a cross around his neck
And a cuss word 'cause it's Monday
He's a bubble bath and candles
Baby come and kiss me
He's a one glass of wine
And he's feeling kinda tipsy
He's the giver I wish I could be
And the stealer of the covers
He's a picture in my wallet
and my unborn children's father
He's the hand that I'm holding
When I'm on my knees and praying
He's the answer to my prayer
And he's the song that I'm playing
And he's everything I ever wanted
And everything I need
I talk about him, I go on and on and on
'Cause he's everything to me
He's the voice I love to hear
Someday when I'm ninety
He's that wooden rocking chair
I want rocking right beside me
Every day that passes
I only love him more
Yeah, he's the one
That I'd lay down my own life for
And he's everything I ever wanted
And everything I need
He's everything to me
Yeah he's everything to me
Everything I ever wanted
And everything I need
He's everything to me
He finished the song to apprehensive applause from the audience, but overwhelming applause from his friends in the wings. He looked over to see Finn and Mercedes beaming, Puck nodding his head in approval, and Rachel was looking at him like he was her first-born child. But as nice as it was for them to be proud of him, he needed to see Kurt's face. His eyes automatically located his boyfriend, who had tears shamelessly rolling down his cheeks.
Blaine handed the guitar to one of the guys in the band and opened his arms wide, an unspoken invitation. Kurt ran into the embrace and for a moment, all they did was hold each other. Then Kurt held Blaine out at arms' length and said, "I am so proud of you."
"I couldn't have done it without you. You're everything to me, Kurt Elizabeth Hummel."
"And you, Blaine Everret Anderson, are the cheesiest person in the world."
"You love me."
"Someone has to."
"Gee, thanks."
"I'm kidding, babe. I love you, too." And then, the audience all but forgotten, Blaine attached his lips to Kurt's, their bodies flush together. Their mouths moved in a familiar rhythm and Blaine's hands started to creep underneath Kurt's shirt as they so often liked to when the sound of Mike's voice cut through their moment.
"And that was Blaine Anderson and uh… Kurt Hummel, too, I guess." There was laughter in his voice as the boys broke apart. Blaine looked at Kurt, whose face was the reddest Blaine had ever seen it.
Blaine reached up to kiss Kurt's forehead, then his nose, and then – so briefly it hardly counted as a kiss – his lips. "You are so beautiful."
"You aren't half bad yourself." Kurt untangled himself from Blaine's embrace, but kept ahold of his hand. "Now let's get outta here."
"Sounds good to me." They walked off stage hand-in-hand, not even thinking about how much trouble they were going to get in come Monday.
Because they'd done what they set out to do. They showed that nobody could push Blaine Anderson and Kurt Hummel around.
And that was enough.
Why am I so horrible at endings? Anyway, so yeah. This was born purely out of my somewhat unhealthy obsession with Brad Paisley and that song. So if you don't like it, that's okay because it was simply me fangirling. Plus, I would love to hear Blaine do that song, wouldn't you? (Unless you're not a Brad Paisley fan, in which case I ask, what kind of sad existence are you living? jk jk)
Yep. That's it.
Review!