Blaine looked at the dark stains on his hands in distaste. He was not one for building things… but if there was one thing he couldn't stand seeing it was the look of disappointment on his father's face. Especially when he knew he was the cause of it. That's why he had so easily agreed to helping his father build a car, despite his brother being the better candidate by far. He couldn't help but be jealous of the relationship between Cooper and their dad. Cooper was the golden boy…the perfect son that could do no wrong. He had tried not to be bitter about it but it was difficult for him. Ever since he came out, Blaine's relationship with his dad had been anything but healthy.
"So, Blaine," came his father's always aloof voice, "What do you think of the Davenport family?"
Blaine felt a pang in his chest; he knew where his father would go with this. Still he answered in a casual manner, "They seem nice. I can't say I know them well."
His father looked him in the eye then and Blaine concealed a shudder. His father was intimidating at times. Blaine thought maybe it was how his hands were always too steady and his icy blue eyes always too hard. He knew his father loved him…but not enough to accept him for who he is.
It's not what parents should be like. They shouldn't want to change their child, Blaine thought solemnly.
"They have a daughter about your age," he commented as he wiped his hands on a piece of scrap cloth, "Her name is Madeline."
Blaine remained silent. When the older Anderson realised that he wouldn't get a reply out of Blaine, he continued, "You know her. She went to your old school."
Blaine inhaled sharply upon the mention of his previous school, as if he just took a punch to the stomach. He had hated every second he spent there. Even the mention of it was enough to make his newfound confidence in himself falter. It was where he was alone and isolated and bullied all because he was…
"Oh," was all he could say in reply.
It didn't satisfy him.
"I was speaking with her parents last week. We all thought it would be a nice idea if you two got to know each other better. You'll be dining together on Friday. Just the two of you."
Blaine quickly came back to life after the initial surprise of the words. He calmly whispered, throat dry, "Dad, you know that I'm –"
His father cut him off with a warning in his voice, "No, Blaine. I know what you said. I know that you're growing up and you're confused. I'm your father and it's my job to lead you on the right path. You'll thank me when you've moved on from this…this phase of yours."
Just the look on his face would have been enough to silence Blaine usually. However since transferring to Dalton…Blaine had learnt that he needed to stand up for himself. He ran from his bullies before and he now knew that running shouldn't even have to be an option.
"Ph-phase?" Blaine stuttered as he turned away to wipe his stinging eyes. He needed to get rid of the tears before they fell because he couldn't cry in front of his dad. Not him.
His father did not soften with sympathy at his son's clear distress but instead grew angry with Blaine's reaction. To him, that wasn't how men were supposed to react. Strong men didn't cry and strong men didn't…
"For God's sake. Why can't you be more like…?"
Blaine's father had held his tongue but Blaine knew the name that was about to escape his mouth.
"Why can't he be more like Cooper?"
"I don't know," was his weak reply.
His father threw the cloth to the floor in exasperation and swiftly left the room, running a hand through his dark hair. Blaine was left staring at the spot where his father had stood, willing himself to stop trembling.