Summary: The morning of the Teen Vogue photo shoot, Blaine puts himself on vocal rest and everyone there wants to be the first to break him. In fact, they have money on it.
Reminder: There is a review in Chapter 58.
From: Warbler, Blaine
Sent: Tuesday, April 8, 2013 6:21 AM
To: Warbler, Sebastian; Warblers, Senior; Warblers, Non-Senior
CC: Duval, Nichole
Subject: Housekeeping/Nationals Prep
Fellow Warblers,
You may have already heard what has been happening with me here in NYC, especially how it relates to Sam Evans, Captain of the New Directions. If you haven't, ask someone.
I wanted to assure everyone this will not be an issue as it relates to my Co-captaincy of the Warblers. This past Saturday, Sebastian, the Senior Warblers, several Warbler alumni and myself had lunch with members of the New Directions, both past and present. A set of ground rules were put in place and I give my word as a Dalton Boy, I will follow them faithfully.
With that out of the way, let's get down to what's truly important…Nationals
Prior to my departure, Acting Head Master Montgomery informed me my Senior Project had been changed. One of the aspects of this change allows me to devote a significant amount of time to Nationals prep. This by no means takes away any authority of Sebastian as co-captain and I will feel no pity for anyone who attempts to challenge him.
I want to establish a list of potential Nationals songs before the Seniors return next week. So, start sending ideas (artists and/or songs) to Nichole Duval, Nick's sister, at the email listed above. She has agreed to be my liaison for the rest of the week as I prepare for my performance at NYADA on Thursday and my Julliard concert on Friday. Remember, we are focusing on male divas not just male artists. For example, despite the fact we sang a Queen song at Regionals, I believe we cannot properly represent male divas without going full-on Freddy Mercury at some point.
Do not send ideas to myself, Sebastian or the Senior Warblers separately. While we agreed Nationals prep should begin, our focus remains on College Visit Week. Any Warblers not respecting this request will be meeting with Sebastian and Thad upon their return. Again, I will feel no pity.
Since Sebastian had a break in his schedule, he went to find his boyfriend/co-captain. Of course, Blaine, who had a hundred different things going on, had sent out an email about Nationals. Although he had mentioned doing this, Sebastian was still surprised to see the email in his inbox. However, it did explain why Nichole was there.
"So, what the hell happened in Boston?" Sebastian asked as he plopped down in the director's chair next to her. "I got a call from Trent telling me something happened at Harvard but wouldn't say what. He did say all the guys' parents are on their way, including Thad's and he was at Yale and Nari's who definitely isn't one of the guys. And get this, Trent's soon-to-be brother Doug is on his way to Boston too. He has an interview at MIT…yeah, that MIT. The kid is a first-year."
"First of all, good morning. Second, I didn't know the Doug thing but seriously, what the fuck? And I have no idea what's going on with Nicky, Nari and the guys. I only know it had to be something big for my parents to leave their Nichole why the hell did you drop out of Harvard inquisition ahead of schedule. Nick's birthday is next month. I'll have to get him something big as a thank you for rescuing me…if they don't kill him. Speak of the devil." Nichole opened the notification of a new email. "He's asking me to ask Blaine for 11 tickets to his concert on Friday."
"11 tickets?"
"5 sets of parents plus Doug. Sounds like this isn't going to be a quick trip. Sebastian, what the hell did they do? I'm beginning to wonder if Nari's parents are coming for her or for the fact her father is Wesley Montgomery, Sr. Acting Head Master of Dalton."
"Maybe, but it sounds like we're going to have to wait until they get back into the city tomorrow night to get any real answers." Sebastian took a quick look around for Mercedes or even Santana. He wanted to talk to Nichole without an audience but wondered if he had used up their unexpected alone time. He decided to take a chance. "Can I ask you something personal?"
Nichole went absolutely white "Oh, god. You know about my feelings for Sam too?"
"No, I mean yes, I know you broke up with Jeff because you have feelings for Sam, which was absolutely the right thing to do, in my opinion, I mean…"
"Sebastian?"
"Will you go to lunch with me tomorrow?" Nichole didn't say anything, just looked at him like he had lost his mind. It was only then he realized exactly what he had said. "Oh, no, no, no, not like that. Blaine, I love Blaine…Shit!"
"Sebastian, I know we're not actually friends but you can talk to me."
"I want to take a gap year." The second the last word was out he slapped his hand over his mouth. While he couldn't believe he had finally said the words, he had to admit it felt good to do so.
Nichole couldn't believe he said the words either, especially to her, but if she had to guess "I take it you haven't told your parents ." When he shook his head, she had one more question "Does anyone else know?"
"Blaine and Mike Chang. That's it. I just thought…"
"It's ok, I understand, I really do. It's just I have an appointment tomorrow at 2PM, so I can't do lunch. Breakfast?"
"I was going to go to the Versailles exhibit tomorrow morning…"
"Oh, I've been wanting to see that. Maybe I could go with you and we could talk while viewing beautiful art work?"
"I'd love to go to the exhibit with you but if anyone asks you're helping me with my Art History project. I'm done but I've been using it as an excuse so my mother wouldn't ask to go with me. She's hiding something and the last secret she kept from me blew up my life." He tilted his head to point out Mercedes had come out from the back and was accompanied by two men in suits. "Do you know what the hell that's all about?"
"They're lawyers. Evidently, your boyfriend bought a building and they brought the paperwork for him to sign. Did you know about this? Because, I mean, seriously, Blaine bought…a…building?"
"Yeah, I knew. I'm just surprised it happened so fast." He didn't want to elaborate, not knowing if anyone else was aware of the particular building he bought.
Mercedes said goodbye to the lawyers, then came to join them. She looked tired, Sebastian told himself. The poor girl probably hadn't realized how crazy things were when she agreed to help out for the week. And by crazy, he meant Blaine. For example, after he begrudgingly admitted sleeping on the rooftop deck had not been the smartest idea, he put himself on vocal rest due to a tickle in his throat. Sebastian thought it was a good idea at the time but didn't realize the idiot (who he loved more than anything) meant all day until he went to rehearse at Julliard. The notes, texts and hand gestures got very old very fast. "Did he at least speak to the lawyers?"
"No, he wrote notes then tore them into tiny little pieces so no one else could read them. But, fair warning, if that boy doesn't say something soon, I'm pretty sure Santana will hurt him." Mercedes let out a sigh as she pulled up a chair and had a chance to rest for the first time that morning. "Just to annoy her, Blaine's response to anything she says is a middle finger. He almost laughed once but caught himself. Sam had to hold her back. This has gone way beyond wanting to win the bet for her."
The bet begun as a joke but had then taken on a life of its own. After the first hour of Blaine's vocal rest, Sebastian, Sam, Mercedes, Santana and Nichole had each wagered $20 they could be the first to make Blaine talk. Since then the bet had added the assistant editor overseeing Santana, Blaine's model "girlfriend", the hair stylist, and Phil the photographer.
"Is Blaine talking yet?"
None of them had noticed Sierra's arrival, but to be fair, it was a huge room with multiple entrances. "Sis, what are you doing here?" Sebastian asked. "I thought you were heading back to the office. And no, he hasn't said a word…yet. I'm sure I'll break him eventually."
"I hope your fellow competitors put restrictions on your unfair advantage."
"How is my being B's boyfriend an unfair advantage? In fact, it's the opposite. My kisses leave him speechless."
From the look Sierra gave her brother, it was obvious Sebastian's infamous expression of amused disdain was an inherited trait. So, when the Smythe siblings began a rather lively conversation in French, it gave Mercedes an opportunity to stare at Sierra without it being creepy. She couldn't shake the feeling she had met her before. The more she thought about it, she began to wonder if the feeling related to Kurt's obsession with the designer. Although, in all the years they were friends in high school, she doesn't ever remember him mentioning Sierra. None of it made any sense.
"Haven't figured it out yet?" Nichole whispered, leaning in toward Mercedes.
Half hour into what was becoming her own obsession, Blaine told (texted) Mercedes that Nichole was coming in to handle some Warbler business for him. As much as he appreciated all she was doing, and even though she had helped with the Diva-Off, this was Nationals.
Mercedes was overjoyed with the news. Since they met her, members of the New Directions (both Old and New, to include Blaine) had told Nichole some of their more interesting stories for the creative writing class she was taking while still at Harvard. This meant she was familiar enough with Kurt's antics to not get confused, while at the same time being far enough removed to be objective…the perfect sounding board to bounce theories off of. "No, but I'm not giving up. Maybe if I figure out why he's so hung up on Sebastian's sister, I can help Kurt move past whatever is going on with him. Oh, it looks like they're about to get started. Santana's coming over."
She watched in awe as Santana worked the room with an aura of complete confidence. The 19 year-old moved as if she had been working at Vogue for years, not an intern who had been there 4 months with only two of those at Teen Vogue. She was glad she was there to see this. Even though she and Santana had become closer since her move to New York, Mercedes had to admit she had been concerned about Santana's reaction to her spending so much time with Blaine. The last time it happened, she was certain at one point the girl was going to Go all Lima Heights on her ass for trying to steal her Best Gay. Of course, the huge bouquet of lilies Blaine sent, with the note of how proud he was of her, probably helped.
While Mercedes might have been impressed, Santana was literally willing herself not to vomit. Everything had been going remarkably well, perhaps a little too well. She kept waiting for something to go wrong and why shouldn't she. It was obvious her co-workers were. In the beginning of the process, more than a few of them had done some not so subtle bitching to the editor. They were convinced the only reason she had chosen Santana's idea was because she was one of Anna Wintour's godson's best friends. But, that didn't mean she didn't take the opportunity and run with it. People didn't have to like her but she was going to make damn sure they respected her work. You know, like high school.
Sebastian gave Santana his chair and then went to find another. Sierra had asked him to so she could talk to her. She had been watching Santana throughout the day and had been impressed with her work. It was one of the reasons she had chosen to stick around. "Santana, I saw some of the preliminary shots from Seb's Study Date Boyfriend scenario. I am extremely pleased with how both he and his model girlfriend were able to show off their outfits."
"Thank you, Ms. Smythe. That means a lot to me."
"I thought I asked you to call me Sierra?"
"I will, but not while on duty" Santana stated with a surprising seriousness. The fact that the head of Baby Dior (and the new Teen line) had praised her work was a bit overwhelming. She didn't want to ruin the moment by instinctively coming out with one of her colorful remarks.
"Professionalism, an admiral quality."
If Santana thought she was overwhelmed by Sierra's comments, Anna Wintour's praise was almost more than she could handle. "Thank you, Ms. Wintour. If you'll excuse me, I'll get Ms. Astley."
"No need, I'm here to see Charming."
"Charming?" Sierra asked Sebastian who was now sitting to the other side of her.
"It's what she calls B."
"Anna Wintour calls your boyfriend Charming…as in Prince Charming? There's no way I'm not using that piece of information in the future." Sebastian glared at her but she chose to ignore him. Watching Anna leave to address the photographer, Sierra wished she would have asked why the fashion icon insisted she not to miss this shoot. Comic Book Boyfriend had nothing to do with her line. Then she saw her brother's face when Blaine and Sam came out wearing ridiculous superhero style outfits. "Hey Brat, pick your jaw up off the floor. I don't want to slip on your drool. And Santana, what the hell are they wearing?"
"Ms. Smythe, Nichole and possibly Mercedes, may I present Nightbird and the Blond Chameleon."
"How did you get those?" Mercedes laughed while at the same time trying to knock Nichole out of her stupor. Her reaction to Sam as the Blond Chameleon was similar (but not quite as bad) to Sebastian's for Nightbird. However, her attraction was supposed to be secret.
"Sam's was easy. His mom knew where it was. Blainers' was a different story. His mom couldn't find his. I finally thought to call Sugar. Got to admit, 75% of the time I still forget they're cousins. Anyway, she said it was in his room at her house but she was in Ireland visiting Rory and couldn't get it. I then called Cooper who found it and took it to Sam's mom who brought both outfits when the Evans clan came to town for the twin's birthday. A lot of work but totally worth it except I'm kind of pissed I didn't get more of a reaction out of Nightbird. I was sure this would end his fucking vocal rest and win me the money."
Santana knew Blaine's whole answer everything with a middle finger schtick toward her was to keep her from fixating on every little detail of the day, and she loved him for it, but it didn't mean she wasn't going to kick him in the balls if he did it again. Speaking of balls, Blaine's costume left little to the imagination and she couldn't let the opportunity for a little fun pass by. She moved her chair to the other side of Sebastian "So, you and those tight black pants ever play Oh, Nightbird, I'm so glad you've come to rescue me. Now please untie me from this bed but only after you fuck me first."
"No, but we probably will soon." For the second time in an hour, Sebastian slapped his hand across his mouth after saying something he didn't mean to. While he trusted Nichole to not say anything about his gap year, that wasn't going to be the case with Santana, especially with as hard as she was laughing.
Santana's laughter only stopped when Phil came out from behind the camera and began to stage the boys for the shot. Something wasn't right. The entire room (more like small studio) had been set up as a comic book convention. There were supposed to be other nerds in costumes in the background and the model girlfriends off to the side rolling their eyes while wearing cute outfits. With as much work as she put into the guys, it was sometimes hard to remember this spread was about what the girls were wearing.
She had almost reached the level of panic where she was going to get up and see what the hell was going on when Phil went back behind the camera. "Blaine, Sam, we're going to get your shot first and then put you in with everyone else later." Santana relaxed but was anxious for Phil to explain why he was doing it this way. "I want the two of you to have a total fanboy freak-out at seeing your favorite superhero…like Iron Man."
"Can mine be for Captain America?" Sam called out, trying to get into character. Then from out of nowhere, a voice came up behind them and said…
"But Anna promised I was your favorite."
"Robert Downey Junior!"
Phil looked down at the shot on his computer screen and then to Anna who gave him a subtle nod "We've got the shot. You guys can go change."
As Blam tried (and failed) to control their fanboy freak-out (in their defense, Phil told them to have one), Anna walked over and she and Robert did the celebrity, double cheek kiss before she turned to face the others.
"I believe several of you owe me $20."
As always, thank you for reading.