Episode 18, Chapter 2:

Shelby arrived at the wedding with her son in tow dressed in a purple Diane Von Furstenberg Aurora dress. [Somewhere duet] Although he was hoping she'd head home immediately, she decided to linger around. She promised not to cause drama, but there seemed to be something hidden behind her smile and passive reassurance. Blaine reluctantly left her side to find Kurt, understanding that he had no control over her leaving.


Puck was stressed and drinking, not a good combination for him. He had a name and number for Jake, his half-brother, but he didn't think he had the strength to do anything about it.

Sam reached out to him with his good news and his good deed, literally.

Puck knew there were concrete differences between them, namely that his father was very much alive and out of prison. Sam felt more need to do this because his father had been put away for a very long time; it made their situations very different. Mr. Puckerman already seemed to despise his son on a good day. What would come of disrupting their relationship even more? And, according to what he heard from the mother, she was offered a substantial settlement that allowed her to live and work comfortably with only one steady paycheck a month from her waitressing hours.

Just as he was going for a refill, he caught sight of a beautiful older woman. He was immediately entranced. She tried to ignore him, but his looks were persistent and engrossing.

He made his way over to her... he had more than enough time to get her name and info before the vows. He wouldn't be missed, and she seemed like a much more interesting way to spend his night.

"Hello, I don't think we've met. I'm Noah," he said smoothly, shaking her hand.

"Shelby," she replied.


The wedding began with some light fanfare. Anyone who was anyone had arrived early to socialize with the height of the Manhattan elite. The union today would be all the tabloids would talk about for months. Between the two of them, they were on more boards and owned more property than the bottom percentage of New Yorkers combined.

Kurt sat with Blaine; they didn't speak much or touch at all, besides the awkward hug they had when they found each other dressed in tuxedos by the floral arrangements at the front entrance.

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the face of this company to watch them... totally eff things up. Excuse me while I pull out a hanky and pass it to K and B.

It was bittersweet watching his mom look stunning, moving on with her future, while the person who he thought was his future for months avoided looking at him. The vows were simple, but weddings still made Kurt emotional.

Looks like I'm not the only one who cries at weddings...

The reception had always been a favorite part of the night. Kurt intended to sing some songs but understandably was no longer in the mood. If he could just get through the dinner, cake-cutting and idle chitchat with people he didn't know or care to meet, then maybe the pain wouldn't be so intense. Maybe inviting Blaine was a massive mistake?


Quinn got a call 30 minutes into dinner that she sent straight to voicemail. When her phone continued nearly vibrating off the table, she eventually answered out in the lobby.

"What do you want?" she sneered angrily.

"Q, we're in the back. Let us in!" Santana insisted. Quinn's eyes lit up.

"What are you talking about?" she asked looking around crazily. She heard some light commotion as Brittany took the phone.

"Come on, Quinn!" she responded.

"The security won't let us in," Sugar said sounding as if she was struggling.

"That's because you weren't invited!" she raised her voice and immediately regretted it. She smiled to the one person she saw watching her.

"Get us inside! This is the wedding of the year—I want to get my booze on," Santana cheered. Quinn was going to lose her cool. She made her way out front with her cream-colored Call it Spring Berec Envelope Clutch, fuchsia Kate Spade Normandy Silk Dress with a black ribbon around the waist under a colorful Alice + Olivia Ellie open-front box jacket. [I Do]

She saw the girls at the entrance.

"You are all crazy!" she said annoyedly but waved off the security guard who looked glad to be rid of the persistent gaggle of teens.

"Thanks Q, I knew you'd come through," Santana patted her and started sashaying away in a red BCBGMAXAZRIA Edesa Ruched Dress with Vince Camuto Chevron Bangle and pendant necklace matching set. [I Do]

"You're the best!" Sugar jumped up happily in a glittery gold cocktail dress with a matching, fluffy bolero and small tiara. [S6 Wedding] Brittany hugged her tight nearly lifting her off the ground in a Moschino Fall 2011 RTW Rose Print Ruffle Peplum dress with red roses on it and her favorite Betsey Johnson Gold Bow Stud Earrings. [I Do] That was when she saw the smallest and quietest member of the group: Rachel.

"What are you doing here?" Quinn asked curiously.

"I've been wondering that myself," Rachel looked demure patting her pale pink Ted Baker 'Inga' Clutch. She wore a hot pink Diane Von Furstenberg Zarita Lace dress. [I Do]

Rachel had no intention of going at first, but she knew she needed to see Finn's face outside of school again before she could expect to not see or speak to him again until September. It was too hard for her to even think about. She needed a break from reading her lines for the two shows she'd have tomorrow. Her theater director would freak out if she found she was there rather than resting the night before. Also, Blaine got an invitation from Kurt, and if he was there, it couldn't be the biggest deal that she was there too.

Quinn didn't object. It wasn't her place, and for once, she didn't want to fight with her.


"Rachel, what are you doing here?" Finn asked. It was the first words he said to her in weeks.

"It's not bad that I came, is it? I don't want to cause trouble, and I'm not here for any grand gestures. This can just be a normal night between two people who used to date and have some unresolved feelings for each other," she said clearly.

"It's good to see you. You look beautiful," he smiled lightly. She smiled.

"Thank you," she answered. "Congrats to your mom. It's a big day."

"Yeah, totally. Look, I can't stay I have all these people my mom wants me to talk to, but I'll see you around," he said kindly before heading off.

Rachel processed out her feelings for a moment by herself before she looked around. Quinn made it obvious she was watching. The friends were all on the dance floor. She gestured for Lil R to come join them. Rachel went willingly.


"My sister can sneak in anywhere," Blaine said looking on to his sister in a crowd of her friends. Kurt knew for sure none of them were on the guestlist, but he didn't care enough. Blaine paused. "If you want to go dance with your friends, you can totally do that. I don't want to keep you here. I know it's weird between us. I'm thankful you still invited me, but I get it... I'm not the person you want to be with right now," Blaine said self-deprecatingly. He was obviously uncomfortable and embarrassed with himself.

"I wanted you to be here, Blaine. As awkward as it may feel, I always want to be with you," he said honestly. Kurt tried to smile, but it was hard. Blaine's eyes warmed.

Breaking up with someone he loved had to be the hardest thing he'd ever had to do. Blaine wanted to say something. He was interrupted by the MC of the night.

"Mr. Hummel, I've been looking all over for you. Are you ready for your number?" the man said.

Blaine looked at him. Kurt looked appalled.

"No, no that was cancelled. It was in the memo. I sent an email," Kurt tried to shoo the man away with no luck. Blaine was curious.

"What's he talking about?" he asked.

"The band's all set. You're supposed to sing a Moulin Rouge song with your boyfriend or something. I have it down here. No memo. I never got a memo," he answered quickly in true New York fashion.

"I'm the ex-boyfriend," Blaine answered.

"Oh well, that's awkward. We'll have to start the cake-cutting then," he said before stepping away momentarily to talk into his earpiece. Blaine looked at Kurt who eventually looked at him too. He'd been planning something special to sing.

The man returned a minute later.

"Is there any chance you can sing anything up on that stage right now? The cake won't be ready for another ten minutes, and I have you in the program. If we don't—"

"We can sing it," Blaine agreed. Kurt's mouth opened in shock.

"Blaine!" he insisted.

"It's just a song. Come on, we sound great together. We've sang this song together a million times," he said giving his hand to Kurt to help the other from his seat.

"Are you sure about this?"

"Absolutely," he said confidently walking him to the stage. Kurt looked at passing faces nervously. He attempted to calm himself. He could do this.

The opening bars of 'Come What May' began, which Blaine sang effortlessly before Kurt came in smoothly. He always loved this song.

Kurt didn't think it was too obvious how much he was still in love with Blaine. He had always been more reserved in matters of the heart. Blaine, on the other hand, didn't hide his feelings so well. His eyes melted him. It was extremely hard to look at him through this song.

After their performance, Blaine headed swiftly to the door; he needed to go home to rest before his double shows tomorrow, or at least that's what he told himself, and his ex. Kurt would have liked to have him stay longer, but there was no convincing him.

There was no doubt that it would be a hard summer all around.


"Make sure to save me a dance," Quinn said warmly to Kurt after Blaine left.

She gave him a light shoulder pat. She was feeling very bright after getting rid of Karofsky and was thinking about what might happen with Puck this summer. It was a world of possibility. Although she hadn't seen him since the bar, she wanted to talk to him, first to find out about the brother, and second to mention them possibly spending some time together soon. It was killing her with anxiety so even though she thought the girl should wait for the guy to ask her out, she sent an impatient text.

It went unread.


A knock on the door of her broom closet turned private dressing room caused Rachel to break out from her reverie. She had on an exquisite Christine Lingerie 'Dream Catcher' Silk Robe. [Funny Girl backstage look]

"Entrer," she called. The stage assistant walked in with a vase of blooming lilies and roses.

"Oh my goodness!" she squealed in excitement. "These are gorgeous. Who sent them?" she said looking for a card. The assistant didn't answer but shrugged. Rachel searched a bit more before she found the note card. "Good luck, Rachel. The show must go all over the place! -Finn," Rachel smiled brightly to herself as she read his sweet words.

Rachel would not be jilted when she had a show to do. The memories from the night before lingered in her mind, but she used it to spur her performance. She knew all about love and heartbreak. She knew about sisterhood and family and the power of enemies. Her heart was open for whatever was soon to be hers.


"How are you feeling? Are you excited?" Tina said applying makeup to Blaine's eyes and cheekbones. She wore a Lip Service Lace Up Long Gloves, Lip Service Lolita Candy Snap-front Dress, Dr. Martens Lorna Boots [season 2 general]

"Yeah, just a bit nervous, I guess," he answered honestly while in his charcoal and camel Burberry Check robe. [4x03]

"Don't be. You're going to do fine. No one can sing like you, except don't tell Rachel I said that. I'm so happy for her that she got accepted into the NYADA summer program. She's going to be so great," she said eagerly forgetting herself. Blaine sat up quickly.

"Remember, Tina, that's our secret she hasn't seen the letter yet. It just came in this morning. It'll be the perfect end to her day regardless of what everyone thinks of the show."

"Oh right, not a peep out of me," she mimed locking her lips and throwing away the key.

"What are you doing for the summer?" he asked her genuinely, keeping her up to date with all the madness of his life took up a majority of their conversation time.

"Well, I finally heard back about my application for the academic decathlon team, The Brainiacs, and I got into their intensive 4-week summer bootcamp!"

"Tina, you didn't tell me you applied! That's so amazing congrats," he smiled.

"Thank you. How about you? Any big plans?"

"I don't really know. Any plans I had originally had Kurt in them... I don't know what I'm doing anymore." Tina realized she struck a nerve. She brushed off his worry.

"You'll come up with something great. There's still time to figure it out." Blaine had enough on his mind before he began to worry that he wasn't doing enough this summer.


Blaine looked out into the crowd only a few times. He was trained to look just above the heads of everyone seated in order to not get too spooked by the faces, but Kurt sitting in the audience caught his attention. He wore a red with black and white trim Forever 21 Men Prep School cardigan with a black and white Houndstooth button-down and black and grey Topman Black Houndstooth Print Ultra Skinny dress pants. [6x12] Blaine almost forgot the next line in his song and had to catch himself. There was something about Kurt that made him completely forget himself. He would have raced off stage if his co-star in that scene hadn't lightly nudged him.

He expected to see him again, but when he got back on the stage for the bows later, Kurt was nowhere to be seen. It jolted him just for a moment before he bowed and cheered alongside the rest of the cast.


Kurt had felt when Blaine spotted him in the audience. He didn't expect watching a school play to have this type of effect on him, but Kurt left during the intermission and had no desire to return to his seat. He stood far in the back of the auditorium where there was enough distance from the stage that he could feel invisible.

He walked out needing a friend, so he called Quinn to see what she was doing.


Quinn's plans for the summer originally involved Puck. She thought there might have been something to look out for there, but after the mysterious teen skipped town the last few weeks of school and never responded to her coy text from the night of the wedding, she felt pretty certain she'd given him more credit than he deserved, and she was not one to be kept waiting. If he wouldn't be her ride for a summer of adventure, she could get that on her own. Once school ended, she took a first-class flight to Paris for her solo escapade.


Kurt would have jet-set with Q if he wasn't still preparing his mother for her honeymoon and his summer internship with Vogue magazine. It was the opportunity of a lifetime, and he was just excited to have done something for himself without the benefit of his name. He had purposely changed his name on the application to ensure he didn't get preferential treatment. He had also kept his application a secret from his entire family for the last couple weeks so they couldn't go behind his back. He got his placement strictly on his own merit and knowledge of fashion trends. This was looking to be a summer of maturity and independence.

They say a leopard can't change his spots, but some things do change... The path not taken can become a road trip. Being grounded can lead to something groundbreaking. And whether they're sweating it out on the sultry streets or cooling their heels in the Hamptons, no one does summer like New Yorkers. Grab your shades and your sunblock, this one looks like a scorcher. Until then, you know you love me. XOXO, Gossip Girl.


~A.N. This is it! The end of an era! Thanks for reading! If you want to continue the story, please check out my other, new story 'Gossip Glee Girl 2.' If you've liked this so far, the following story will take us on the journey of Season 2 of Gossip Girl with all the characters you love from Glee and a few new ones! ENJOY!