Chapter 3

In these last hazy days of summer a few simple tips to beat the heat. One—drink plenty of fluids. Two—stay out of the sun. Three—limit all physical activity. That is, within reason.

Rachel was entirely sure that Jesse was dropped into her life to bring her the joy she'd long been missing. He visited her in the city the next day. He ran in different circles since he went to a performing arts school in the Theatre District. Still, he was hell-bent on getting her to make the switch and join him at Carmel.

"With you and me, our show choir would be unstoppable," he beamed at her in a dark grey V-neck and black vest. [Hello twelve] She sat comfortably apart on the bench by her bed in a burgundy and grey Marc by Marc Jacobs Plaid Ruffle Crewneck Tee with cap sleeves, burgundy skirt with black tights and shoes. [Hello twelve] "We'd get every duet, and... we'd win Nationals," he whispered conspiratorially in her ear, making her shiver. They'd left the door open a few inches since Burt was still in the apartment. Burt made it clear he was keeping an eye on them. He wanted to make sure they weren't up to any funny business under his roof.

"That would be—something," she said dreamily. "But I can't... William McKinley may be a lot of things—not all of them good—but I have friends and my academics to think about."

"Do you know where a quarter of all students who attend Carmel go to for college?" he paused for dramatic effect. "Julliard." Rachel wanted to believe him. He believed in her so openly and honestly. It was a strange relief to be around someone who built her up and believed in her dreams. "We crank out so many future stars that there's a whole avenue of Hollywood boulevard dedicated to our high school graduates," he continued grinning. He held onto her hands. She blushed, and then, froze.

"Is that why you're talking to me in the first place? You want me on your team?"

He shook his head and sighed dramatically, which was the adverb of the hour.

"I'm here because you're talented, Rachel Berry. When I meet someone as talented as myself, who's beautiful and sweet, I am thoroughly, completely and devastatingly captivated by them, and I just want to be with them," he finished smoothly.

Rachel was about to have an aneurysm. Finn made her feel loved, but he wasn't the smoothest talker. Rachel's eyes went cross-eyed as Jesse leaned in close and kissed her for the first time. It felt like a first and was a total breath of fresh air. He had a strong grip on her as he deepened the kiss. Rachel's mind went dark for a moment before she pulled back.

"Now that was a kiss," he said airily. Rachel felt fire and needed to exit.

"We should go... now," she said impatiently. Jesse followed her completely smitten.

And if the heat's still too much, there's always a cold shower.

Finn was sweating profusely as he trained in full pads as part of the acclimation period, working on strengthening and conditioning his legs, arms and core. While technically a rookie, he was the best shot the team had for a quarterback, and the coaches were paying a lot of attention to him to ensure his success when they began playing full contact games in 4 weeks. He should have gotten extra sleep the night before like he was told in order to be at his best today, but rather than sleep, he'd somehow been talked into a date with Brittany and Santana the night before.

It started with flirtatious behaviors. They'd never spoken directly to him before, so the shock got the better of him. Then, it escalated into Brittany getting hungry after a while and Santana talking him into paying for dinner. They left the party together and ended up at an Italian restaurant. Finn was still confused about all of this, even more so when they didn't include him in any conversations and sent back their empty plates to get more. He was still waiting for things to turn around and make sense when Santana told him what their deal was. While most guys would have probably been interested in buying them dinner and watching the girls make-out later, it wasn't going to work for him.

Even though he'd walked out on them last night, the two were dressed in their cheerleading costumes and eyeing him from the sidelines where they practiced old routines with the other girls on the cheer team. Quinn arrived from the locker rooms and purposely avoided Santana and Brittany when she saw they were keeping up their ridiculous antics and hitting on Finn in front of her.

He kept looking towards the girls when he felt their eyes beating into him. He eventually caught sight of Quinn too; he gave her a half-smile sheepish-look, exhibiting his severe discomfort with what the two were doing. He knew they didn't actually like him, but they were persistent and odd. Quinn took pity on him. He was good and kind. It made her angrier, and when she was angry, she tended to do something about it; so, she got in their faces.

"Ladies, did you come here to balk at the football team or to practice? If you're not interested in being on the team, you can leave the field," she said.

They girls huddled up, and as repayment for their attitudes last night and this morning, she relegated them both to the bottom of the pyramid until they got their acts together. As Captain of the cheerleading team for her senior year, she was taking a no-holds bars approach to her power. She'd arrived.

Blaine met Tina for breakfast. It was the first time they got to catch up since her weeks away at camp, and he had too much to tell her. She led the discussion telling him all about her new found love. He felt sorry that she thought he might not be excited for her.

"Hey Tina, of course, I'm happy for you! This is such big news!" Blaine said giving his friend a big hug. Even on the hottest day of summer, she had stylishly and edgily outdone herself in Hot Topic red plaid bow black fingerless gloves, calf-high red plaid Dr. Martens Lorna Boots, white top, black beanie, tights and leather dress. [season 1 promo] "I always knew you'd find love one day. How amazing is that?" he beamed to himself happy with all the love floating around.

"You're going to love him—I think anyway. I was nervous about you finding out, but now, this is so exciting. We should get dinner tonight! You and me and Mike, Rachel can come too so you don't feel like a third wheel!" Tina cheesed.

Tina was excited. She was happy to be a part of the pack in a real way. She could finally be the center of attention, and her friends could fawn over her and her new budding romance, instead of the other way around. Of course, she loved to hear all the juicy stories when there were some, but it was now all dried up as Blaine and Rachel, respectively, adjusted to their newly single lives. She'd always been second string. She didn't have an interesting love life. This was Tina 2.0. She was eager for her time in the sun.

Blaine suddenly realized what Tina said and the tone that she meant it, and it dawned on him that he might need to come clean. He wasn't entirely dating, but he wasn't entirely single either.

"Well, um, actually, something has been happening with me and Kurt..."

"WHAT?!" Tina freaked.

"It's totally just like—no big deal—yet! I mean we're working it out. We're spending time together that's why I was late."

"You spent the night at Kurt's? Are you kidding me, Blaine? He just finished breaking your heart, and you're moving on like oh-nothing-ever-happened! He's going to break your heart again, and I won't be around when he does!"

"Tina! Come on! Cut the attitude alright, I don't need judgment," he reacted and huffed a deep breath. "I love Kurt, and he still loves me. We needed the summer to be apart and think things over, and I think we're working towards a reconciliation..."

"You have to be joking!" Tina spouted before cutting herself off and taking a deep breath. If she reacted any wilder, it would be clear that she was jealous and upset that her fantasy of being the only one in relationship was falling apart. She needed to be clear-minded. If Blaine was getting back together with Kurt, he needed her on his side to back him up and make sure he didn't get trampled. Tina to the rescue, as usual! She thought.

"Fine! This is your business, but he's not invited as your plus-one to dinner with me and Mike. I'll still see if Rachel can make it. At least she's not rushing back into her relationship with Finn!" Tina mumbled under breath mockingly.

Now that she'd taken off the gloves, Blaine felt less terrible about giving her more unexpected bad news.

"Rachel is actually seeing some new guy named Jesse. They met in the Hamptons."

"WHAT?!" Tina shouted for the second time over breakfast.

Blaine looked around at the strangers who were definitely now watching.

"This morning is really going great," Blaine said calmly to himself wishing he was somewhere else.

That morning had been going really great; meaning that Blaine had woken up next to Kurt. He'd tiptoed into the living room to order room service. If he was in his own apartment, he would have made breakfast for the sleeping angel. He met the waiter at the door and carried the tray himself into the bedroom.

"Wake up, I have hot coffee," Blaine said in his singsong voice.

"Ugh, it smells so good," Kurt turned over following his nose. His eyes widened when he saw the tray. He sat up in bed. "What did you do?" he smiled giddily. Blaine laughed.

"I wanted to get you something to eat. I was feeling pretty famished after last night," he teased as the other boy took a sip of coffee. Kurt nearly spit some out at the other's words. Kurt smirked and kissed the boy lightly knowing to avoid any open mouth kisses before he'd brushed his teeth.

"Thank you. It was very considerate of you," Kurt said and heard movement in the hall. He realized in that moment he didn't want to be caught by Finn, his mom, or whoever was home. "How about we eat quickly and then, go for a walk?" Blaine understood what he meant and why. He nodded pleasantly.

The month of September in New York was typically one of the hottest months of the year. August had been brutal, and it seemed unending as they entered an even hotter Indian summer. They dressed in bright colors. Blaine tried on a white Calvin Klein S/S Contrast Tipped polo with yellow and gray to match his yellow pants and grey belt. He also had on Cole Haan Air Colton Saddle Oxford shoes, yellow Brooks Brothers Mini BB#1 Stripe Bow Tie, and yellow Urban Outfitters Neon Risky Sunglasses. [Got to get you into my life] Kurt wore his green Splendid 'Renegade' Slim straight leg jeans, purple button-down and ascot, brown Dr. Martens Ferdinand Calvary Boots, and black Ray-Ban Original Wayfarer sunglasses. [Got to get you into my life]

After a short walk outside from the safety of an air conditioner, Blaine picked up some iced teas from a corner spot to keep them cool.

"What do you think is happening here?" Kurt asked him. Blaine swallowed nervously.

"What do you mean?"

"Do you think... we're dating now?"

"Oh! Um, well, I think we might be soon. You know how I feel about you, and I think I'm getting the same feeling from you. I think we're working it out and still just figuring out if that's what we want," he said somewhat confidently.

"It's not that..." Kurt shook his head in disagreement. "Look, Blaine, I've never been good at telling you what I'm feeling. I don't talk from the heart, not like you do anyway, but I do want this," Kurt said. Blaine smiled, but Kurt shook his head again. "It's not about 'want' though. How do we know it will work this time? Nothing has changed really. You're still you, and I'm still me."

"And we're still us. This has never been a problem. What came between us was the lies."

"Was it just that or was it that we're too different?"

"We're not different where it counts," Blaine interrupted.

"Are you sure about that?" Kurt asked seriously but also with some hope for reassurance. If there was anyone who could make him feel safe and loved, it was Blaine. If he could learn to believe him, then they would be okay. He would be all-in.

"Of course, I am. We'll always be there for each other," he said with a hug before Blaine moved in for a sweet kiss.

Let's hope so, K because it looks like your coming-out party just moved up.

Individuals like Kurt Hummel couldn't go anywhere without being spotted and no spotting was complete without a picture sent directly to Gossip Girl. While they'd been acting friendly in the crowds, like an example of model exes, who could be in each other's lives, pictures would always be there to prove the sexual tension was through the roof. A picture with a controversial lip-lock was headline material for any famous Upper East Side resident.

Spotted: K and Lonely Boy locking lips like all is forgiven. Will Round Two be any different?

Quinn's party was nearly put-together. While the events of the previous night had gone over well, she was hoping to tear up some hearts with a WHAM!-themed 80s extravaganza that would be a kaleidoscope of color and kick off a smashing start to the school year.

As usual Brittany and Santana were first on the scene to help as amateur party organizers, although she was still minorly upset with them for making fools of themselves at her party and at cheer practice earlier that morning, she was always ready to forgive apologetic helpers. Kurt would have been a better help, but he was almost never around.

Santana managed others by barking at the waiters. Brittany helped by twiddling with Santana's hair. Quinn was just ready to send them off to get their hair done since they didn't lift so much as a finger when it came to setting up the main party room, and if she let them into the kitchens, all the champagne would be gone before the guests arrived.

"You two really are no help," she complained viciously.

Santana rolled her eyes. Brittany looked hurt.

"It's too hot to do anything today," Santana droned. She dressed in violet, green and black Betsey Johnson Tin Can Rose long sleeve peplum top, violet Wet Seal Banded zip front skirt, and black Steve Madden Timburr boots. [2x22-Quinn's haircut] "The weather today is hotter than the sun," Brittany explained in greater detail. She wore short, white Forever 21 Rose denim overalls, Forever 21 Conductor Stripes denim jacket, Anthropologie Shrewd Stitches Stole, and brown Aldo 'Armiger' boots. [2x22- Quinn's haircut]

"If you think it's so hot, how about you go get some more ice?" Quinn asked standing tall in her rich Juicy Couture Squash Blue linen sundress and white cardigan. [1x13] The two girls barely gave her a response. "Oh, just go get changed and be back at 5." Santana took that as her cue and walked out with Brittany locking pinkies.

Quinn wished she had more expectations for this year, but she really just desperately wanted to be happy. So far, nothing had been able to lift her spirits. She hoped it might change and that tonight would be better than the one before.

~A.N. Finally a new chapter, I know! That was a long unfair wait, but I appreciate you bearing with me. There is going to be a lot of awesome looks in this Episode so enjoy it before the school year at the William McKinley School really kicks in and you can imagine are favorite characters in uniform the whole day...