I think I hinted about a little Klaine here and there in this chapter... sorry. No Klaine today, it doesn't fit with the direction I was going with this, so Kurt went away for a while. He might be in the next one, hopefully, but we'll see. I know it took me a while to update this, so from now on I will not say "more coming soon!" because I think it might be taboo... Anyway! A little story for you AVPM fans that I think you will enjoy but don't have to read:

So we had a verbal test on Canada today, and I was waiting, and waiting, and waiting for my teacher to ask what the capital of Manitoba was. My plan was to yell somewhat loudly "GONNA TAKE YOU UP TO WINNIPEG. THAT'S IN CANADA!", but of course he never asked the question. I was devastated. I almost flipped out right there in my desk and started scolding him. But I didn't, of course, because that would've gotten me in trouble.

Thanks for your very super kind reviews, and I hope you do enjoy this chapter, even if it may be a little cliché and/or boring. :)

On the car ride home, I discover that my dad is not the only one who has something to say to me. Blaine starts up a conversation with me as soon as we're out of the parking lot. "I'm sorry," he says. Wow. That's not at all what I was expecting.

"Excuse me?" I ask, confused.

"I never realized how my sexuality can affect people besides me. I thought that if I was gay, I'd be the only one who had to suffer. So I'm sorry that I put you through this," he says with genuine guilt.

"Blaine, pull over."

"I don't know if-"

"Just do it," I command. Maybe I'm being a little too harsh right now, but this has to be done. Blaine silently parks the car on the side of the nearest open road, then turns to me.

"Don't ever apologize for being gay. You are the kindest, funniest, most sincere and logical person that I know and likely will ever meet. If anything, you'll make me a better, stronger person. I don't want to hear you say that again, unless you see Zefron and forget to take pictures. Or you break up with Kurt. Then you'd really have to go all out," I say.

Blaine laughs and starts driving again. "I don't know about Zefron, but you don't have to worry about me breaking up with Kurt." He looks in my direction, which is showing a great disregard for driver's safety, and flashes a crooked smile. "Thank you," he says, grateful that I am comfortable with him being gay.

I nod and say, "Hey, keep your eyes on the road, mister. Did you not see 'The Blind Side'?" I know that he did, in fact, we saw it together.

Blaine laughs and turns his head away from me. "So, since your suspension starts tomorrow, and we're sort of taking the day off today, you're going to have a lot of time on your hands. Any idea what you want to do?"

"Ugh. No. I'll probably just perform on the sidewalk again. Sleep. Eat. All that good stuff," I say, and I can already tell this next week is going to suck.

"Well, if you ever want to do something, just let me know."

"Don't worry. I will," I say. No week of trying to be un-bored is complete without Blaine.

I get home and fall face-first on my bed, completely ignoring my father, who is sitting in the living room watching football. He pretends not to notice me, but I see him watch me out of the corner of his eye, hoping that I'll come and give him a hug and say that I forgive him, that it's okay. I decide to deny him that.

The stuffiness of my covers eventually gets to me, and I roll over on to my back, tossing a soccer ball into the air and catching it. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, when I'm not singing or playing guitar or making a fool of myself in other ways, I play soccer with myself. I'm not that good, but I can kick hard and settle the ball, so I guess that's okay. Blaine says I should try out for my school's soccer team, but I wouldn't belong there.

Just then, my phone starts ringing. It's a number that I don't recognize, but I pick it up anyway since I have nothing else to do.

"Hello?" I ask cautiously.

"Julia Anderson? This is Adam Foster, the coordinator for the musical arts at the Ritz Carlton in Westerville. In other words, I hire people to perform," a man says through the phone. This gets my attention and I quickly sit up.

"Um, yeah, this is Julia. Can I… help you?" I ask awkwardly, but Adam laughs.

"Actually, you can. I saw you play a week or so ago, just at the street corner in front of Starbucks, but you had drawn quite a crowd. And you weren't so bad, either," he says, making me blush behind the protective shield of the phone.

"Well, I try, I guess," I say.

"Well, I was wondering if you could play at our children's cancer benefit next Sunday. I know it's a bit last minute, but one of the bands canceled, and I thought that you'd be the perfect replacement. Of course, it would be non-profit, since it's a benefit, but we'd really like to have you," he asks, and I could not be more thrilled. I'm almost jumping up and down on my bed.

"Yes, yes, yes," I answer a little too quickly. "I mean, if you're sure you want me. I'd probably just be a pain."

"Well, if you don't want to I'm sure that-"

"No, no I'd be happy to do it. More than happy, actually. But, can I just make one request?"

"Blaine! Blaine! Blaine! Blaine, Blaine, Blaine!" I scream as I run to my brother's room and storm in, interrupting his playing of the piano. "I need to talk to you!"

Blaine turns around and looks at me, sarcastically saying, "Sure, not like I was doing anything just now."

"Just let me tell you what I was going to say. I promise it's going to be a zillion times better than what you were doing."

"Okay…"

"Adam Foster, the person who… makes the shows… do stuff… musically…" I say, not remembering how to describe what he does. "Anyway, he works for the Ritz, and he just called me. He said," I pause. "Drum roll, please." Blaine pats his legs in mock-drumming.

"He said that he wanted me to perform at the cancer benefit next Sunday!" I practically yell, not able to hold it in any longer.

"You mean as, a gig, almost?" Blaine asks, his expression showing that he's surprised yet eager to hear more.

"Well, it'll be non-profit, but after the show, they take the tips and divide them among the performers, so I'll make a little bit. But that's not the point. The point is, someone is asking me to play at the Ritz Freaking Carlton, which important people could possibly attend, boosting my social status and my career as a musician." I babble on and on. It's a good thing Blaine has learned to speak the language of fast-talking teenagers, because God knows that it's my main language.

"I'm really proud of you, Julie. Just imagine their faces when you knock their socks off," Blaine praises me.

"I haven't even gotten to the best part yet," I say, smiling devilishly, though I have no idea what is devilish about what I'm going to say. "You are performing with me."

I keep my smile as Blaine raises his eyebrows slightly. "Unfortunately, I could only get you to do two numbers out of the total five they want me to perform, but that's okay. The only reason they agreed in the first place to have you and I together was because Adam's seen you before and he thinks you're really talented," I say, not pausing to let Blaine interject.

"You're sure you want me to do this with you? It's not like I haven't had performances like this before, I'd hate to ruin it for you by dragging my nutty ass in there," Blaine tells me, obviously wanting this show to be about me.

"Oh, please, Blaine. You know you would only make it ten times better than anything I could do on my own. Besides, it would be nice to have my experienced big brother up there to help me out."

"If you really want me there, I'll go, but I really think you should let yourself shine on this one. I don't want to take away your spotlight," Blaine says, still being so… charismatic. As much as I love him, his perfection really gets on my nerves sometimes.

"Oh my god. I cannot believe we're having an argument about this. Yes, I want you there to support me and blow away the audience with your amazing talent. No, you won't be stealing whatever 'spotlight' I have. It's only two songs. Just please, say yes," I ask, hoping to wrap up this drawn-out conversation.

Blaine smiles. "Okay, if you insist. Have you picked any songs yet?"

"Yes, Blaine. In the seven seconds it took me to get off the phone and run to your room, I figured out the whole set list," I say sarcastically.

"Hey, I didn't know! But tell me when you figure it out and we'll start working."

"Will do." I start walking out of the room, but pause and turn around to face my brother. "Thank you," I say, appreciative that he is willing to do this for me.

"Anytime," he says, and I leave.

If you have any ideas about what songs they should sing, please tell me in the form of a review, because I have no clue what is going to happen next chapter. I should probably plan things before I make a story...

For that occasional internet stalker out there, I'm going to share some information with you. Earlier I said this story would be about ME and my brother, Blaine, but so far Julia and I are completely different. I'm older, just a smidgen more popular, and not nearly as vocal or witty as she is. She can also sing and play various instruments, which I fail at. I also changed the names around a bit, so we don't share the same name. I guess that makes this story not about me anymore, but that's okay. It's more fun to read about fictional characters than silly old me. Okay, I'm done.