Talking Flowers

Some people are born leaders; some have leadership thrust upon them. In Dalton, it was most certainly the latter. It was a long running joke in Windsor House that their prefects were always elected in the same manner. The previous one would have some sort of serious accident/injury and would be rushed to hospital, and a temporary stand-in would be selected by the injured prefect whilst being hoisted into the ambulance (if the student was conscious, that is). The replacement was then usually chosen to be the prefect the next year. No-one had ever been insane or foolish enough to volunteer for the position, and no-one had made it past a year either.

This year's prefect had actually been selected after accidentally hospitalising the previous. Charles Roger Amos had been trying out javelin for the first time out on one of Dalton's sports fields when The Tweedles 'helpfully' pointed out that a talking flower with shiny yellow petals was watching from the stands. So when he was concentrating more on the pretty blonde girl with the cute blue headband and how he could impress her instead of small, irrelevant details such as whether or not there was a boy on the field at that moment in time, well it was obviously the fault of the Brightman imps. The two were practically cackling with mirth when they later informed him that he had been selected as Acting Prefect by Ryan as punishment (much to their obvious delight) and to also practise his aim, because the coach was ordering him to join the Javelin team whether he liked it or not (more guffawing on their part).

Charlie assumed Prefect would be an easy enough job - because really, how hard could it be? Everyone knew not to push too hard as he was only acting prefect, right? - but he soon grew to learn that prefects really had a lot more responsibility than previously thought (though this didn't mean that he might have turned the occasional blind eye to Windsor's antics, of course). On the other hand, he'd done an OK job. After all, he'd gotten Blaine settled into Windsor alright whilst he was in charge after all, even if Blaine had been sucked into the Tweedles madness sooner than he would have liked. He could also recall how shocked he had been to discover that this tradition of prefect election (it really was barbaric) but also how shocked Blaine had been when Charlie had appointed him acting prefect as the paramedics carried him out to the ambulance after falling down the stairs (he couldn't trust anyone else with the task, and it's not like he could have punished the Tweedles with responsibility. Who knows what he would have returned to if he had). His face was, on recollection, almost as shocked as when Charlie had told Blaine of the Prefect tradition after waking up after surgery (surrounded by Windsor students crowding around his bedside with stuffed animals, fruit baskets and - to his genuine delight - bouquets of flowers). When Blaine responded about it being something like You-Know-Who, a squirrel, a snake and a bridge (at least, that's what he thought Blaine said - Charlie could still feel the effects of the anaesthetic and so wasn't sure if he was mishearing things), the realisation hit that he was likely to be next year's prefect and therefore likely to be injured enough to go into hospital for a stay. Blaine promptly fled the room after seeing the identical looks of glee spread across the twin's faces.

Charlie Amos liked to take a break from the crazy of Windsor house and spend some time alone with his flowers in his own special section of the school greenhouse where he could bask in the peace and quiet. So when he saw the ex-Acting Prefect running towards him, he subconsciously braced himself for the bad news. Possibilities immediately began to flash through his mind: Drew and Satoru had blown up a dorm room again, Dwight was off exorcising a statue and needed reining in, Reed had fallen down the stairs/tripped over a rug and stuck his head into the fireplace/fallen out of a tree or (worst of all) Wes was driving David to the hospital after Katherine had taken another turn for the worse.

The greenhouse door was thrown open with a loud CRASH and Charlie winced. Sure Mr. Tamerlane liked him, especially since helping out after the kidnapping of the pet duck, but Charlie doubted that a broken door or window was a good way to get Windsor back into the caretaker's good books - not that they would stay there that long anyway.

"Whose parents do I need to call?" he said, not looking up from the pansies he was checking.

Blaine skidded and narrowly avoiding a bench of precariously balanced plant pots and a large black plastic bag of suspicious smelling fertiliser, leant over and braced his hands on his knees so that he didn't get too dizzy as he was already out of breath and panted, "Huh?"

"Whose parents do I need to call?" Charlie repeated, brushing off the soil on his gardening gloves before carefully removing them so as not to spoil his polo shirt and khakis. "Or has Reed injured himself so badly that I need to actually go to the hospital with him? Do you know how embarrassing it is calling Mrs. Van Kamp's office? Her assistant and I are now on first name basis, you know. She can recognise my voice!"

"No, no! Nothing like that. And Reed's fine. Shane's looking after him."

"Hmm, well that's nice. One less to look out for, I suppose. Or does that make it one more?" Charlie said thoughtfully, inspecting his tulips which were blooming beautifully in a multicoloured rainbow of hues along one glass wall. Then he looked up at Blaine for the first time since he'd come in. His shirt and blazer rumpled, tie swinging from his neck as opposed to knotted smartly and his usually tamed and gel-laden curls were everywhere. "Good Lord what happened? You're a mess Blaine!" Taking in the frantic expression on Blaine's shiny face he quickly amended his statement to calm the boy down a little. "So what's gotten you in such a flap? You popped a string on your guitar for the millionth time? Or have the Twins stolen your pocket watch again?"

"Actually, Charlie, it's about Kurt. And Logan. And Prom." Charlie was even more puzzled than before, and suddenly Blaine was on his knees on the dirty floor of the greenhouse, telling Charlie everything. All that he had heard and all that he knew and all that he feared. From the scene in the library that morning to talking to Reed and Shane to overhearing Wes telling David, Katherine & Merril about Kurt and Logan in the Warbler's Hall. By the time he had finished, his trousers were coated in dirt and his face and curls were damp with sweat and tears. Charlie had ended up crouched on the greenhouse floor with the boy, rubbing soothingly on his back trying desperately to wrap his head around what had happened. Sure, Windsor's 'Queen of Hearts' was a reluctant ruler at first, but he had quickly become fiercely and surprisingly protective of his boys. But even he was struggling to wrap his head around this. And what Blaine was asking was out of the question.

"No, Blaine, I'm afraid I can't do that. I've already said that I'm only providing one boutonnière and one corsage, and that's for David and Katherine. I made that perfectly clear weeks ago!" Charlie stood, straightening his polo and brushing a smear of dust and tears off his arm. "And besides, what you're asking for is impossible, they don't even grow this time of year, I don't know why you think-"

"I know you have one, Charlie," came a quiet voice at knee-height, "despite the time of year. So don't lie to me about that." Blaine climbed to his feet, brushing some of the dirt off the knees and seat of his trousers with an annoyingly determined look on his stubborn face. "I also know how much you treasure it, so I have a proposition for you." He took a deep breath before he ploughed on, "If you will give this to me, this one little thing, I will get you something even better. I know that you want to ask a certain blonde-haired, blue-eyed Dobry girl to the Prom." Charlie's face lit up brighter and quicker than even Reed could manage and started spluttering but Blaine cut him off once again. "Don't bother denying it Charlie. It's as obvious to everyone, even Hope, as Reed and Shane are. She wants you to ask her, and so I'm going to make things a little easier. I've already checked with Justin," Charlie's eyes narrowed at this; who knew what the Hanover had divulged to Blaine about Charlie's feelings for Hope, or anything else for that matter. "And as such I am hoping for your assistance in this matter, a trade if you will. If you give me what I want, I'll get you a Topsy-Turvy for her corsage."

Charlie suddenly looked a lot more interested. "And why would I want that?"

Blaine smirked at him. "Wouldn't that make a lovely corsage for Hope? A rare bloom for a rare flower? And as for the name, well 'A rose by any other name would smell as sweet' but a rose about the craziness of Windsor? Well it just seemed fitting to me." He finished with a shrug and a smile. Charlie simply stood there gaping at him. "I'm no Derek, but I do know a little florigraphy. Which is why to sweeten the deal I'm bribing you with a Pot-Of-Gold, literally."

Blaine pulled a computer print-out from his pocket and gently unfolded it. The edges were slightly crumpled, but along with the creases he gently smoothed them out and handed it to Charlie. "Lilium iridollae I believe. I know that you have a fondness for giving roses," again his mouth turned up at the corners, both knowing that there was one person upon whom Charlie had a particular fondness for bestowing roses, "but in your little sanctuary I'm right in thinking that you like lilies the best?" He gestured opposite where rows upon rows of the flower were blooming brighter and more beautiful than any other in there, as if Charlie gave them just that little extra bit of care and attention. "I know that they're an endangered species and that they only grow in the South East, but I know someone in Florida who could send me one if I wanted. And sure, the two of you wouldn't appear to match, but you'd both know what it meant." He tugged the slightly wrinkled paper from the athlete's hand. "But I really don't want to owe them a favour, so if you don't mind, I think I'll be going. Damage control to do and all."

His hand reached for the door, ready to shut it after him on his way out when Charlie gave a sigh and said, "You've been around the Tweedles and Kurt too long, you know. You're starting to get manipulative." Charlie sighed, and then looked up at Blaine with a smug look on his face. "It's a good quality for a prefect to have you know. I'm in. I'll give you what you want and get you both a lovely boutonnière but you don't get it see it before the big day."

Blaine smiled a wide grin, the happiest he'd been all day. This would be perfect. "Thanks, Charlie, you won't regret it. But I told you already, I'm no fan of hospitals, so I won't be volunteering. And Kurt's done enough singing by people's bedsides; I doubt he'd do well by mine." He turned to leave and the prefect reached for his watering can.

"Oh Charlie, one last thing."

He paused looked back towards the entrance. "Yes?"

"For one so reluctant to be involved in Evan & Ethan's Alice in Wonderland madness or to be known as the Queen of Hearts, you seem to refer to them as the Tweedles as awful lot."

And with a wink and a flash of curly black hair, he was gone, narrowly avoiding a packet of seeds which had been thrown his way.

So, was it the prefect that you expected? (Well you had a one in three chance of getting it correct, but as for those I spoke to, none guessed Chaz).

The flowers mentioned (specifically here) are two rare species of lily and rose and images as well as reasons why they were selected out of all the flowers out there shall both be on my Tumblr (MyScarlettLady) pretty soon. Charlie likes to give Hope roses as they are her favourite, but lilies are his personal preference (I checked this with Monique, I like an accurate story *shrugs*). Whether Blaine already knew this or whether he was asking Justin about something else I shall leave up to you ;)

The part about the Windsor prefect being selected when the next one was in hospital was confirmed (in my story) when Monique released the sneak-peek of episode 24. Charlie wasn't the prefect at the time, yet still helped Blaine to settle in. This just confirmed this little bit of story in my mind. And if you didn't understand Blaine responded about it being something like You-Know-Who, a squirrel, a snake and a bridge that's because Blaine is a HP geek and is referencing Tom Riddle's curse that no Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher would last more than a year (Quirrell, Snape and Umbridge) and Charlie hasn't read the books and mis-heard.

And look at that, my longest chapter yet! Also, the next (possibly final) chapter won't be up at the usual time (Tuesday morning for me, not sure what day/time for you) because I shall be on a tiny island off the west coast of Africa. There is one working shower between 20 of us, not enough beds, hasn't been used in several months and as phone's have no signal inside the place we're staying at, well, there's no chance of internet either. I shall be fighting for that shower and a bed! So this is an early chapter (and a long one too) because next week's shall be slightly late (I fly back Monday evening, almost a WHOLE WEEK LATER) so no Prom spoilers please! (Even though I already know who gets the crown and that it's bring your (ex)boyfriend, the lead singer of your competition to Prom episode!) And yes of course Blaine can quote Shakespeare! (Even if I'm not a huge fan of R&J). So the scene going down on here doesn't correspond to Glee!Prom, this is my version and has been for months.

Have fun out there! And remember, I reply to every review and comment (and give out sneak peeks to those that want them).

~ Sarah (MyScarlettLady)

Also, if anyone over-purchased tickets to Darren's show in July in London, or if (at any point, now or in a few months) cannot go, just let me know and I'll buy them off you in a heartbeat!