SUBTRACTION

"I need to quit glee club."

Jesse inhaled sharply and leaned back in his chair. He was sure to keep a neutral expression on his face in order not to give anything away. Plus, he wasn't entirely sure how to respond in this situation. Given all of this, he allowed his eyes to senselessly glance around his office for a few moments before snapping back to Karofsky. "What?"

Karofsky sighed. He had been expecting this type of reaction, and now he apparently had to explain. The only question was where should he begin? Because he could explain how last night he finally came to the conclusion that glee just wasn't wroth everything that came with it. But then that would only truly make sense if he explained all his decisions pertaining to the glee club over the last year. Except that would be revealing too much.

There weren't many things Dave Karofsky was afraid of when he was growing up. He and the kids who lived next door to him at the time were constantly wreaking havoc and getting into trouble around their part of Lima. Fear didn't find a way to settle into his life until around the time his hormones came into play. And then it became a permanent resident once he realized what all those urges meant. The prospect of possibly being gay in Lima, Ohio was one thing to worry about, but being gay in McKinley High gave a person every reason to be terrified. The school was vile and dangerous and there were times that it seemed to be sucked right out of the 1950s. And Karofsky of all people knew this considering he was one of the ones to continuously enforce this routine. Doing so lessened the fear and gave him both power and acceptance. What changed his perspective on all of this was when he was given an outlook that was even more frightening than the world finding out he was gay. It was Santana Lopez who laid out his startlingly accurate future in the damn Lima Bean that put his previous fears to shame and truly scared the crap out of him.

Depending on how he wanted to look at it, last year was either the best thing that could have happened to him or the worst. (He still hasn't figured out that answer yet.) He had lost every ounce of control and kissed the only other gay guy he'd ever come across; which when that guy is also the guy Karofsky spent the better part of his high school career bullying, probably not the best move. After that breakdown, it was straight into panic mode. Despite only being eighteen, it was pretty easy to acknowledge that what he did to Kurt was going to be his life's biggest regret. Still, Karofsky was also selfish enough to realize that unlike everyone else involved, he was actually able to gain something in light of those decisions. In a backwards way, wrongfully bullying Kurt away from McKinley somehow only led everything Karofsky was trying to escape from even more into his life. He got his first real taste of glee when Sam attacked him. Then he actually got to perform with them because Coach Beiste and Shitster thought it would be a good idea. Before he knew it, Santana was threatening him with razorblades, starting the Bully Whips, and making him watch New Directions' performance of "Born This Way." Even though he hated all of this at the time, it still seemed to make some things in his life appear better.

Over the summer, he had begun to distance himself from some of his friends on the football team. He saw them occasionally, but the only person he willing sought to hang out with was Santana. They would talk Bully Whips, future plans, if they should keep up their beardmance, and for Santana's part, Brittany. When he wasn't with Santana, he was attempting to do some much needed soul-searching. Among coming to the conclusion that for at least one of his years in high school he was going to try to get good grades, he also decided that he was going to join the glee club. It was his last year, and he was going to spend it doing something he actually wanted to do. So he auditioned. He knew it wasn't going to be easy given his history with the club, but he also knew he had Santana in his corner. And after those initial hiccups with Blaine, the transition into New Directions went smoothly. He no longer hated everything about coming to school, and everything was fine for a few months there. But then football season ended, and it had all gotten increasingly worse every day since. At this point, he didn't see how he could stay in glee any longer.

"I just…I can't be in glee anymore." Karofsky repeated.

Jesse clicked is tongue, still busy processing. "That's disappointing. Say, is there any way you can perhaps put off this impression of a midlife crisis? Because see, Regionals are coming up and-"

"Look, there's a lot going on, and it's complicated. I seriously need to quit. And it's not like glee needs me or anything. I mean-"

Jesse went back to looking around his office as Karofsky just rambled on. Jesse had no idea what he was saying considering he stopped listening. Frankly, he didn't care. In fact, he was surprised more of the glee club hadn't already quit earlier in the year. Still, this was going to put a hindrance on their rehearsals. New Directions was still at the point of perfecting the numbers, and now the choreography had to be altered to fit their missing member. Maybe he could just mimic Shelby Corcoran and refuse to let anyone who joins quit. It could be the new mafia rule, effective today. No, he doubted that'd go over well considering his club was filled with oversensitive sock puppets. Damn them. And it had already been such a dreadful couple of weeks. Regionals were going to be here before they knew it, and they still weren't entirely ready. Quinn was becoming quite adapted to making sure he had nothing to tease her about. Rachel seemed to only find the time to talk to him about glee as of late. Finn still existed. And now Karofsky felt like being a person.

"I'm sorry." Karofsky finished his unheard speech with a shrug. He then turned around and exited through the hallway door.

Jesse leaned his chair forward and placed his elbows onto his desk. His head sat in his palms a moment later. Well so far this was just the loveliest of mornings. Now he needed to make choreography adjustments. And he'd need to sit through telling the glee club all about what just took place. Sometimes his life just wasn't fair. He highly doubted New Directions would go about this with any maturity or indifference. They made a big deal out of everything.

"He quit!"

"Who would quit glee?"

"I can't believe this."

"We should go talk to him."

"Maybe the pressure of performing finally got to him."

"Or maybe he had to quit in order to get a job to support his family. What? It could happen."

"Maybe he's just sick of not being a jackass."

"Did he say why?"

Jesse sighed as he looked over the glee club. Sometimes he really did hate these people. "He gave an explanation, but I wasn't listening because I was too busy with being concerned about how we're going to change our numbers for Regionals."

"So you didn't even try to talk him out of it?" Blaine frowned.

"No? Is that something I should have done?"

"Yeah."

"Why?" Jesse returned. "Since very few of you have any idea what self-awareness is, you should know that all of you –including Karofsky– are both stubborn and stupid. A toxic combination. Karofsky no longer wants to be in glee which means we could spend a countless amount of days chasing after him or we can just focus on ourselves. Now. I'm not sure how much more I can stress just how important Regionals are. We need to be focusing on that."

"Are you incapable of being anything other than selfish?" Kurt huffed.

Jesse's eyebrows rose fleetingly. "Selfish? Right, because that's exactly how I'm behaving at the moment." He shook his head. "Tell you what, since that I'm so selfish how about I quit too, and then all of you can take over glee with your fragile egos and never-ending personal problems. Between the breakups and hookups and unrequited feelings that are quickly losing their luster, I'm sure you'll be able to go on and be successful by winning Nationals."

Rachel stood from her chair. "I think everyone just needs to calm down." She walked over to where Jesse was in the center of the floor. "Santana, maybe you can try talking to Dave and see if he wants to come back. And Kurt, if you're so inclined, then you can make an attempt yourself. As for us-"

"I honestly don't see him returning anytime soon." Jesse told her. "And I'd rather not change the choreography around anymore than we already have to. Let's not make this into a Ross and Rachel pine-away romance. Talk to him, give it a few days, and if he still doesn't want to return, then move on. At least until we get past Regionals."

"Fine." Rachel nodded.

He grinned. "Great, then let us get to the auditorium because we've got a lot to work on."

All in all, there weren't that many changes to be made. However, that didn't make them any less significant. The opening number belonged to just the boys, and all of them were going to be sitting on the black bar stools they were bringing with them. (All save for Artie of course.) Then, instead of clearing the stools off of the stage, they were going to incorporate them into the mash-up's chorography. When Karofsky was here, they were to use seven stools. Now they were down to six which meant Tina (who was originally paired with Karofsky) was going to have to switch places with Rachel, and Rachel was going to join Blaine in front of everyone because she was leading the second song. In Jesse's opinion it didn't look as systematic as it did before, but it was workable. He just hoped New Directions wasn't going to get adjusted to this only to have Karofsky return, thus having to alter everything all over again. And if he did return, that he at least did so within the week so this could be like a nightmare that never happened. Although, so far, Karofsky's return didn't seem likely.

Much like when Karofsky quit the play, New Directions had spent the last couple of days trying to get him back. Kurt and Blaine had tried their thing while Brittany and the rest of glee had tried theirs. But those attempts had stopped when Santana had quit her own. It was made clear to her that he really wasn't returning once he also quit the Bully Whips. Santana had a private conversation with her friend that no one really knows what was about, but it was obviously enough to change her mind. Rachel, having previously taken over the role of the conductor of Brittany's tutoring sessions, scratched Karofsky from the schedule since she didn't want to waste any more time. Then, like Jesse had said, they all began to move on. Kurt did not understand any of this behavior. Glee had been good for Karofsky this year and him quitting was probably going to lead into some type of regression. Personally, he really didn't want anyone involved to go through last year again. So it was decided that he would try talking to Dave again only this time without Blaine's presence as he felt that would go over better.

Kurt found him in the middle of the day on Friday. Karofsky quickly acknowledged the boy beside his locker with a "what?"

"You quit glee and the Bully Whips." Kurt answered simply.

"Which means we no longer have anything to talk about." Karofsky shrugged as he shut his locker and walked away. Kurt wasn't too far behind.

"We have a lot to talk about. Like, what's it going to take for you to grow up and come back to glee?"

"I thought Santana already told you all to leave me alone."

"Oh was that what her job was supposed to be? I'm sorry I don't feel like joining in the abandonment." Kurt took notice of Dave's grunt paired with his anger-face. He obviously offended him in some way. "What? What would you refer to her behavior as being?"

Karofsky stopped walking, prompting Kurt to do the same. "Supportive. Now seriously, leave me alone." He left Kurt where he was before heading back in the direction of his class.

"You're a coward." Kurt called after him.

Karofsky turned back around. "What?"

"Like everyone else in this school, you're too afraid to even be who you are."

Karofsky looked around the hallway, taking notice of some of the eavesdroppers. Though there were nowhere near as many people watching this exchange as there probably would have been last year, it was still far too many people for his liking. He shook his head before grabbing on to the sleeve of Kurt's fancy jacket of the day. He dragged him over to the nearest, empty classroom he could find.

Karofsky slammed the door behind them. "What do you want?"

"An explanation." Kurt informed, primly straightening out his sleeve.

"For what? No longer wanting to pointlessly sing on stage?"

"Why did you even join glee to begin with then; if you were only going to quit a few months later?"

"I joined because I wanted to. And now I want to quit. Deal with it." He got his body halfway facing the exit before Kurt continued talking.

"Except I don't actually see a reason for you to want to quit. Unless you're really that bent out of shape over the sad fact that your once so-called friends have begun calling you names. Yes, I can see how troubling that must be for you."

Dave turned completely back around to face Kurt. "Oh screw you. You don't even know what you're talking about."

"Right. Because this has nothing to do with your irrational need for approval. God forbid you don't fit in with the Neanderthals of this school."

"Yeah actually, because unlike you, we don't all get to run off into the land of your precious rainbows. Some of us don't get to move on from everything when school's over. I'm still going to have to see everyone out in that damn hallway. Including McKinley's Neanderthals. Every day. I'd rather spend the rest of this year fixing everything than making it worse, and that's all glee will do."

"So what, you're going to spend the rest of your existence pretending to be someone you're not? Because that always goes well." He quipped. "You do realize that doing so will kill you, right? And just out of curiosity, what is it you plan on doing if and when you meet a guy you like? Continue to hide yourself? Be eternally alone?" Karofsky looked away, and Kurt sighed, losing some of his bravado. "You should just tell them. No one can keep secrets forever. Especially ones that carry the weight of your sexuality. The truth always finds a way of making itself known."

"That's never gonna happen." He warned.

"Would it really be so awful to tell everyone that you're gay?"

"Okay, you've seriously gotta stop doing that." Karofsky snapped, waving his hands briefly. He hated when Kurt tried this. "You can't make people come out just because you already are. It doesn't work that way."

"Fine. Then you should at least follow in Santana's footsteps." Kurt advised. "Come out to glee. The glee club will accept you for who you are. They might be a little surprised and you might receive some comments from our more tactless members, but they'll welcome you. We're your friends, and that's what glee is. Ever since Mr. Schue founded it, it's been a safe haven in this hellhole of a school."

"And what happens when we graduate in a couple of months?" He challenged. "What happens for those us who are stuck here? What's going to be our safe haven next year? Or the year after that? Should we just create a post high school glee club? Please." Karofsky shook his head and headed back over to the door.

"Because the alternative is so much better?" Kurt's voice stopped him, turning him back around once more.

"Yeah, 'cause the way I see it, I spend the next four years getting some stupid degree that helps get me some piece of crap job that pays enough for me to get my own apartment. Then I can be a gay as I want in the privacy of my own home. And yeah, no one has to know."

"That will never work out."

Karofsky shrugged. "Well it's not your problem is it?"

Kurt waited until Karofsky finally made his departure before he leaned back against the closest desk. That did not go as planned. And Karofsky was right. It wasn't like Kurt could force him to come out if he didn't want to; no matter how dumb Kurt found that decision. The only thing he, or anyone, could do at this point was hope Karofsky figured this out at his own pace.

"So do you think we'll be getting our free days back again this week? Because glee is like death without them." Sam placed his lunch tray down, followed by Blaine. At least Monday was chicken tender day.

Rachel watched as they both greeted their significant others. This was something that had changed back during the week when Quinn was avoiding Rachel for whatever reason Jesse created. Rachel had come to lunch one day, and Quinn was already seated with Mercedes and Sam. Then this seemed to catch on, and Kurt and Blaine moved across the lunch room with the other couple. Now all six of them, and Jesse when he still occasionally showed up, ate together. Not to be rude as Rachel valued her other friends, but she preferred it when it was just her table with Quinn (and occasionally Jesse). Sometimes she wondered if Quinn also regretted her initial decision. There were times when that seemed to be more than clear.

"Sam, while I agree and value our free days, we need to get accustomed with the new adjustments in the choreography." Rachel told him.

"It's still weeks until Regionals." Mercedes pointed out. "We can have a little fun on the way."

"I agree." Blaine nodded, opening his soda.

"If only. Though, I doubt Jesse St. Sucks is going to give us a break." Kurt huffed before everyone looked over at the gleek who hadn't answered.

Quinn paused and set down her fork full of salad since she apparently had to answer them. "I only like free days when Jesse performs. He's in a better mood, and I don't have to deal with him."

Mercedes chuckled. "Girl, keep saying things like that, and people will think you're married."

"That will never happen. I'm confident enough to say that Jesse would marry my mother before he married me."

"I've never even met your mom, but the imagery in my head right now…" Blaine trailed off.

"Well then you're lucky you're not in our heads." Kurt told his boyfriend.

"You don't like free days?" Rachel asked Quinn, ignoring whatever it was that had the rest of the table flustered.

"Did I say that?" Quinn frowned, thinking back to her previous words.

"You said you only liked them because of how they benefit Jesse's mood."

Quinn smiled lightly. "I like free days for other reasons too."

"You never perform anything." Blaine interrupted them.

Both girls turned to address him, losing their smiles in the process. This was one of those times that Quinn's stance on their joined tables was clear. Since their lunch tables had first combined, somewhat of an unwritten rule was created. No one really understood why it existed, but it was simple so no one openly questioned it. When Rachel and Quinn were talking selectively to each other, they weren't to be directly disturbed. It was fine to talk to them afterward or to someone else at the table, but it wasn't okay to jump right into their conversation. Blaine was the only one who had yet to comprehend this.

"I sing when I'm assigned to or when I feel there's a purpose to." Quinn unwillingly explained. "Jesse doesn't make assignments. I'm more than fine with just watching everyone else."

"Yeah, but because Jesse's Jesse and not cool like Mr. Schue, we're probably not gonna get to sing at a competition this year." Sam reminded her. "Which means if you don't sing on free days, when are you going to sing?"

"Seeing as I didn't even want to be in glee this year, I really don't care."

Sam frowned. "In the first conversation we ever had, you told me one of the reasons you were in glee was because you liked to sing."

"And I can still sing whenever I feel like singing if I feel like it. I don't need a stupid club to do so." She snapped.

Rachel flicked her eyes back and forth between Quinn and the other four. Quinn continued to hold her glare while the rest were clearly having their own silent discussion on Quinn's behavior. Rachel found this to be a good time for a distraction.

"I have something new for you to try today." She gained Quinn's attention and opened up her Tupperware container. "They're crisp-edged cookies. I believe you'll like these."

Quinn narrowed her eyes before hesitantly picking out a supposed cookie. "Is this going to be another fake brownie bite outcome?" She inspected the non-food in her fingers.

"No." Rachel told her teasingly. "I think you'll find that this actually has flavor. That was you objection the last time correct?"

"Healthy food can taste good. Or, you know, like something. Anything."

"I think this problem we have is because you have a predisposition against vegan food and are too stubborn to change your mind."

"And I think your food is just tasteless."

"I think some vegan food is really good. Or at least the stuff Rachel has let me try."

Quinn and Rachel slowly looked over at a smiling Blaine again. Albeit one of them much more politely.

Rachel sighed. "Would you like a cookie, Blaine?" She held out the Tupperware dish for her friend.

"Thanks." He grinned before taking one.

Rachel looked back over to Quinn and gestured down to the cookie Quinn was still holding on to. Quinn rolled her eyes before taking a small bite.

"Well?"

"It's better, but it's still not good." She set down the rest of her cookie, brushing off her fingertips.

"I will find something one day, Quinn Fabray, that will make you both eat my vegan treat and your words."

"Doubtful."

"But not certain."

Rachel smiled as she won this argument. Quinn returned to her lunch. Mercedes and Sam entered into a conversation. Blaine asked for another cookie. And Kurt shook his head, but Rachel didn't care about Kurt's look of criticism. She enjoyed her friend-time lunches with Quinn. Or, you know, just friend-time in general. Their friendship was progressing quite swimmingly if you ask her. They were comfortable now. And yes, Quinn still had her odd moments here and there that Rachel questioned, but there were no longer awkward delays in every conversation they had together. Ever since Quinn had moved passed what had initially caused her week of avoidance, things had been easier. Quinn stopped engaging in the ambiguous arguments with Jesse, and she had gone back to talking to Rachel during breaks in rehearsals which, actually, last week was something to be grateful for.

Everyone in glee took advantage of any distractions during their practices last week. Full rehearsal weeks without the free days were obviously something New Direction was never going to become accustomed to. And how the rest of that afternoon went indicated that they were going to have another full one. When arriving at the choir room that day, the doors were locked with a note taped on them, telling everyone to go to the gym. The gym was empty other than the two stacks of barstools and CD player. Jesse was nowhere to be found, and all fourteen glee members showed up long before he did. They waited together on the bleachers all while contemplating what they were doing there. A change in location couldn't mean anything good for them.

"Maybe he won't show up." Quinn ventured.

Rachel frowned. "Quinn, do you honestly believe that Jesse would miss a glee rehearsal?"

"A girl could hope."

"We really do need these rehearsals."

"If Jesse didn't show up, I think I'd throw a party." Finn mused.

"If Jesse didn't show, I'd go home." Puck continued.

"I'd lead us in a classic glee performance." Kurt added.

Rachel snapped her attention over to her friend. "Why would you lead us?"

"Maybe a little Journey. We've never done 'Wheel in the Sky'." Mercedes chuckled.

"With good reason." Santana shot her idea down.

Mike nodded. "Yeah, let's at least do 'Separate Ways'."

"I'm still confused on why Kurt would automatically be given lead." Rachel repeated.

Rachel's concerns were overlooked as everyone's attention was pulled over to the sound of the gym doors opening and closing. The club slowly stood up and gathered around the center of the gym as Jesse finally joined them in rehearsals.

"What is that?" Tina asked, gesturing to the dark fabric in Jesse's arms.

"Blindfolds." He answered easily. The smarter ones within the club understood what this was leading to.

"Oh hell no." Mercedes shook her head. "I don't think so."

"You can relax. It's why I brought you to the gym. We don't need anyone falling off stage." Jesse told them offhandedly. He moved on to his practiced explanation. "By losing one of your senses, the movements within your choreography will become as natural as your blood flow. It's called muscle memory."

Finn frowned. "I thought only golfers did that."

"But then how do they know where to dig their holes?" Brittany asked, also confused.

"Wait." Finn looked over to her. "Golfers dig their own holes? I thought they were set up for them."

"No, they totally do it themselves. And then they come out and tell us if winter is still going on."

"Then what are the flags for?"

"Maybe it's to help them when they can't see."

"That would probably help."

"Oh God." Kurt rubbed his left temple.

Jesse sighed impatiently. "Look, just put one on. We used to do this in Vocal Adrenaline. It works wonders. Just trust me."

Sam laughed lightly. "Yeah dude, there's like only one person here who trusts you."

"Yes, and since her emotional growth has been stunted over the course of her life and she trusts no one else that should indicate that I am in fact trustworthy."

"I'm in the room." Quinn waved feebly

"Besides, I also trust him." Rachel informed.

Santana crunched up her face in thought. "Yeah, that's still not saying much."

"I think it'll be fun." Brittany grinned and turned to Santana. "Like remember that time in your room when your parents were away and-"

"Brittany!"

"What? That scarf smelled nice."

Everyone paused to think that one over.

"On that note, I'll take a blindfold." Mike held out his hand. He needed anything to erase the imagery Brittany had put into his mind.

"Yeah." Artie agreed and received his own blindfold as did Brittany seconds later.

While Artie figured out how to put a blindfold over his glasses, Mike put Tina's on for her before tying his own. The three pulled back the blindfolds and wore them as headbands until they absolutely had to do whatever it was Jesse was asking of them. Brittany, on the other hand, kept hers over her eyes.

"This better not screw with my weave." Mercedes warned and moved forward with Sam to get their blindfolds. Puck and Lauren gave off shared shrugs before following suit.

"Wait we're seriously doing this?" Finn questioned. "What if like someone comes in and sees? Doesn't Miss Sylvester use the gym for Cheerios practice?"

Quinn dropped her arm away from grabbing her own blindfold. "That's actually a good point. She'll kill us for trespassing."

"I wonder if she still has the sign." Santana snickered while Quinn grinned slightly, rolling her eyes lazily. "No Trespassing: Trespassers will be shot-"

"-and survivors will be shot again." Quinn finished.

"I loved that sign. It matched our uniforms." Brittany spun over. Santana grabbed the blonde's arm to keep the blinded girl from getting too far away.

"After some encouragement from yours truly, your former coach has seen the benefits of an outdoor practice today." Jesse explained. "Now just take the blindfolds." He held out his hands farther until every last member had grabbed one.

"Careful." Kurt protected his hair as Blaine tied up his blindfold. He chortled before moving on to tie his own. (Also carefully.)

Finn, who had the least amount of reason to trust Jesse, was sure to put his blindfold on very, very gradually. Everyone else readjusted theirs or finished putting them on. Some wandered aimlessly while others stood dead still. Rachel grabbed onto the people nearest to her because though irrational, she had the dreaded feeling that she was going to get lost. Momentarily it was Finn and Quinn until Finn detached himself and shuffled away to keep from breaking their no-touching-each-other rule. And then of course two of them thought they'd have a little fun.

"Brittany, Santana!" Jesse's voice bellowed throughout the gym. "Just because you can't see me doesn't mean I can't see you." He warned and then addressed all of New Directions. "New rule, everyone. Along with keeping your hands to yourself, tongues will also be kept in your own mouth."

"At least someone finds this enjoyable." Rachel voiced.

"I wouldn't put it past them to do that in a normal rehearsal." Quinn mumbled from beside her.

"I think we should just appreciate a drama-less relationship in glee while we've got it."

"It's only drama-free because you've relieved Santana of all her stress."

Rachel frowned. "I thought you preferred me being in charge of Brittany's schedule?"

"I do but not at the expense of making Santana happier."

Rachel chuckled. "I'm sure she has her own headaches when trying to teach Brittany the branches of our government. You're not alone in your frustration."

Quinn lowered her voice and spoke sharply. "She thinks quadratics are thigh exercises."

"Stop it." Rachel laughed again before a feeling of being enclosed washed over her. She blindly reached out to her right and latched on to someone else. "Whose hand am I grabbing?"

"Mine."

"Oh. Noah, good." She sighed contently and then proceeded to laugh. She was blindfolded and felt secure between Quinn Fabray and Noah Puckerman. Somewhere the Rachel of three years ago was being given an unexplainable sensation.

"What?" Quinn questioned.

Rachel pointlessly shook her head as none of them could see. "Nothing. It's just the contrast between now and freshman year seems to be amusing me at the moment."

Quinn smiled. "What do you mean? Because I'm not being a bitch, and Puck's not throwing a slushie in your face?"

"Something like that."

Puck smirked. "Plus, I've totally hooked up with both of you since then."

"I'm glaring at you right now." Quinn spoke upon losing her smile.

"As am I." Rachel agreed.

"Whatever." Rachel felt him shrug. "I like it when you guys do that. Feisty is my type."

"Do you have to be so gross?"

"Yes Noah, we could have shared the perfect, sentimental moment together. Instead you had to ruin it with your comments. All while smirking, and don't deny it because I can hear it in your voice."

"Sorry. So like what? You want to talk about how we gave our baby to your mom?"

"Ugh."

"Well not now." Rachel amended him. "The moment has passed. But yes, something along those lines would have sufficed."

"Then can we go back to our other conversation? Because I seriously want to know why you know me well enough to know what my face looks like when you can't see me. Have you really checked me out that much, Berry? 'Cause that's something I can easily get excited about. Us Jews gotta stick together. Repopulate our race."

"Hmm. You know with my eyes closed, you shockingly sound very much like Jacob Ben Israel. It begs the question if all of your appeal comes from your good looks."

"Wine coolers also help." Quinn nodded along.

"Okay, now you two are starting to kill the mood." Puck grumbled.

"Good, there shouldn't be a mood." Jesse's clear voice cut through the three before he was removing Quinn from the group. He walked her over to where Mike stood waiting and then came back to set up Puck and Rachel with their partners as well. Once everyone else was in position, Jesse walked over to his CD player. He looked over his club. "Now for those of you with stools, it's the same choreography you've been working on for months. You just won't be able to see anything. Trust yourselves and have confidence and it should all go over well. Rachel, Blaine…well, good luck."

"That's not very encouraging." Rachel complained.

"Look at it this way, at least you won't have the misfortune of falling off a stool." He shrugged to himself before starting their music.

Back when Vocal Adrenaline had done this sort of thing, it had taken them around fifteen minutes to get used to not being able to see. So of course it took New Directions just over forty. Several stools seemed to tip over. Brittany spent the majority of the time facing the wrong way. (Though, her choreography was spot on.) And oddly enough, the only one who seemed to improve at all was Finn. Vocal Adrenaline really did benefit greatly from Shelby's strategies, but clearly they were never going to work with these misfit toys. Jesse would bring them back to their ordinary ways tomorrow. As for today, he was just going to continue being entertained. He was going to spend this entire afternoon covering his mouth when laughing and taking pictures of those who looked utterly ridiculous. So everyone. It was perfect, and he needed a lighthearted day like this as his own life seemed to dull out lately. All thanks to that one patient of his.

Quinn had been evasive as of late. On the one hand, she had been spending more time with Rachel, and on the other, she was very deliberate with what details she let Jesse in on. It was incredibly frustrating and not at all fun for him. He was supposed to be her therapist. She was supposed to find him to confide in. And yes, they were supposed to become a pair within a tragic tale of comparing the traits they both liked about Rachel all while knowing they'll probably never be with her. It was a good movie, and besides, Quinn seriously needed someone to push her into exploring herself. Honestly, even if he was wrong in his assumptions regarding her sexuality (he wasn't), it would do her well to at least question it. Instead, she was busy ruining his happy-times by keeping him out of the loop. Yet again he was going to have to go out of his way to defeat Quinn's regression, avoidance, denial, repression, fears, and anything else she bothered throwing at him.

Then again, he did find himself wondering if this was her own special way of dealing with it. On the being-a-human-being scale, Quinn had continued to improve over the last month or two. One of the reasons he put all of this into motion when he did was because he felt she was finally in a place where she could handle it. He could give her the benefit of doubt. He could leave her be and let her work through this at her own pace. She easily could have opted to spend more quality time with Rachel in order to test the waters; solve the equation. Quinn hadn't been withdrawn or overly emotional in the last couple of weeks which is what he would expect had she been running away from her life's difficulties again. Quinn might actually be attempting to solve her own emotional hang-up alone this time. He could stand by and play the proud and supportive friend...Still, it was Quinn. And Quinn did tend to walk backwards instead of forward. To get back involved or not? Should he jump in and retake control or not? This was such the difficult decision. He really had to weigh his options seriously before making a choice.

Or maybe he could just flip a coin. The weight in pennies was distributed evenly, right?

"I never thought I'd say this, but I no longer regret not being invited to anyone's birthday parties when I was a child." Rachel voiced as she and Quinn exited their school for the day. "There are too many party games that require a blindfold."

Thankfully, their practice was finally over. It clearly was a form of torture that Jesse had come up with to surpass the laws against torturing people. It was guaranteed that not one member of New Directions didn't acquire a bruise today. Well, except for Lauren, but she didn't count. Lauren claimed to not be able to bruise as she wasn't that weak.

"Somehow I don't think party games are that strenuous. Or as dangerous." Quinn added as an afterthought.

"What about swinging at a stuffed, colorful donkey with a stick?"

"I don't know. I've never swung at a piñata."

"And there are tails being pinned." Rachel continued on like Quinn hadn't spoken.

"I think they use tape."

"Maybe I should make up for lost time and throw a birthday party of my own. People who I'm not related to may actually come this time."

"Your birthday was months ago."

"Not important." Rachel waved off. "I firmly believe that we should treat every day as if it was our birthday. Birthdays exist in order for us to celebrate ourselves and our lives. Why should we only do that once a year?" Quinn laughed at this. "You disagree?" She questioned her.

"I don't even think you agree. I think you're only looking for an excuse to make the idea of this party plausible so you can break open a piñata filled with food you can't even eat."

"But my guests will be able to."

"Guests? Are you actually being serious about this?"

"Why not? Do you think people will be hesitant at the idea? What if I make it no gifts required? Though, I think that's a waste considering none of you actually got me a birthday gift anyway."

"It's not like you gave us a gift."

"Well I would have if anyone had ever invited me to their parties when we were growing up. I could easily be owed hundreds of gifts."

"Okay, don't include me in that group. I didn't even know any of you then."

"But if you did, would you have invited me?" She questioned.

Truthfully, Quinn would have invited everyone, and like Rachel, only her family members would have showed up. But those were depressing thoughts.

Quinn stopped them in the parking lot before they had to go their separate ways. "I don't like hypotheticals."

"Fair enough."

"Are you really going to have this party?"

Rachel shook her head slightly. "No."

"Why not?" Quinn asked curiously.

"Because we're too old for party games, and unless I planned on offering alcoholic beverages, I'm afraid of how many people still wouldn't attend."

"I'd go."

"I thought you didn't like hypotheticals?" Rachel teased lightly. Quinn lifted one of her shoulders in a half-shrug. "I'll see you tomorrow…well, hopefully." She wouldn't put it past Jesse to make them wear blindfolds all week.

As Rachel crossed the few lanes and made it over her car, Quinn stayed rooted in her spot. She crossed her arms. These situations were becoming a problem. She shouldn't be talking to Rachel this much. And she really shouldn't be noticing minor, unimportant details about the girl. Quinn narrowed her eyes as she took in the rest of her school's parking lot. She focused in on the black Range Rover pulling out into the street. That's whose fault this was. She could blame this on Rachel if she wanted to. She was practiced in blaming things on Rachel, and really, it wasn't fair that Rachel was so enjoyable to be around anyway. But no. This was all on Jesse. Because only he could cause such problems without even making a big deal out of anything. He had a way of both creating drama and destroying it at the same time. It was annoying, but that was how their friendship worked. However, that didn't change the fact that in the future, one of them was going to be found dead in an apartment somewhere while the other one was out on the lam trying to evade their impending murder charges.