Rachel was annoyed when she finally heard back from Kurt. How long does it take to send a text message? And the news that Kurt would likely be home earlier than she'd thought wasn't good. She sighed. She would just have to run home and try to get the stupid dishes taken care of quickly, she figured. And not forget the vacuuming tonight, too. Now that she was in this position, she was starting to wish she'd just bit the bullet and washed everything in the morning like she'd been supposed to. This is all Blaine's fault. This stupid over-the-top romantic breakfast-in-bed is just out of control.

She tried to put it all out of her mind and focus on her rehearsal. The choreographer was changing things up from the out-of-town tryout and she really needed to remember all this new stuff. It was better than the original choreography, but it was a lot to absorb. Rachel resolved to put the dishes nonsense out of her mind and worry about it later. There were aspects of Kurt's authority on things she could get behind, sort of, but chores were forever the sticking point. They were just so endlessly annoying. She was about to be a Broadway leading lady anyhow —odds were Bernadette Peters never had to do chores right? Someday she would make enough money where she could just hire someone to do these things, or at least pay for a working dishwasher.

Notes at the end of the rehearsal day went a little quicker than expected and Rachel actually left the studio a few minutes earlier than usual. And for once there was hardly any wait for the subway. This gave her hope. Maybe I'll be able to get it all done before they get there after all. It wasn't really that much. Probably just take 20 minutes. Maybe?

She rushed as fast as she could from the subway to the loft practically breathless when she slid open the door.

"Oh hey Rachel!" Blaine called brightly from the couch. "You're back earlier than I thought you'd be!"

Damn it

"You too," Rachel commented, dry.

"Yeah well " Blaine acknowledged, "I kinda was only allowed to go straight home today No restaurants for a little bit" he added looking a little embarrassed

"That's rough."

"It's okay want to watch some Netflix together tonight?" he asked brightly preferring not to focus on his screw ups.

"Uh sure, whatever," Rachel replied, trying to mask her chagrin that he was here

Rachel crossed over to her bedroom and disappeared behind the privacy curtain she tossed her things on her dresser. After a moment, she came back out, thoughtful.

"Where's Kurt?" she ventured.

"Oh he had to pick up his check at the diner so we didn't go home together I figure he'll be here in an hour?" Blaine guessed. He closed the book he was reading and stood up to stretch. Then he went over to the linen closet and pulled out a wash cloth and some cleaning spray.

"You have dusting duty today?"

"Yeah figured I'd get it out of the way now." Blaine said starting to ke his way round the loft.

Rachel eyed the stove as he dusted. "I guess the chores aren't going to do themselves," she said quietly.

"Hmm?"

"I was just thinking, I guess I should do my chores too."

Blaine grinned. "If you do the vacuuming before Kurt even gets here I bet he'll be super impressed," he encouraged.

Rachel made a face. It hadn't been the vacuuming she'd been thinking about. She totally had time to wash those dishes now. Kurt wouldn't have to know anything—but Blaine was right here. She thought about confessing to him and trying to get him to cover. But she wasn't sure Blaine could be trusted not to tattle on her.

"Well maybe. I don't think Kurt is ever that impressed about chores. He acts like they're the easiest thing in the world to do. Like we don't all have lives and other responsibilities," she groused.

Blaine shrugged, dutifully moving on to the bookshelves.

Rachel shook her head. No there was definitely little hope that Mr. Complaint there was going to be any kind of good co-conspirator in this. Even if -in her view- he was partly responsible for having made all those dirty dishes in the first place. She'd have to do it later after everyone went to bed. It'd be risky- not to mention annoying- having to sneak around and not wake the boys up. If she got caught she'd almost certainly be punished. Feeling sorry for herself, she grudgingly pulled the vacuum out of its corner and turned it on.