Chapter 2:

AN: Thank you to everyone who read, and especially to those who reviewed! I honestly am so happy that you liked it! I totally understand why authors are always saying reviews are like crack haha. Anyway, I promised myself if even one person wanted this to continue, I'd do it, and a lot of people did, sooooo here I am. I'll most likely update around twice a week, maybe three, and always on a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday, so check back every so often. Don't take it easy on me, please. If you see something that could be improved, by all means tell me. Review and let me know what your favorite part was, your least favorite part, tell me I suck, tell me I rock, anything. I love it. Without further ado, Chapter Two (How cool am I for rhyming?).

Oh! One more thing: The first part was written as a sort of prologue so that it could double as a one shot if need be, so now it'll be more...story-like I guess you could say. Also, this is unedited, sorry for any mistakes.

Disclaimer: No.

More didn't look like what Blaine was going to get, however. They had pulled apart slowly, eyes fluttering open and meeting. Rachelhad stared at him, emotions he couldn't name swirling in her russet eyes. He could only imagine what his must be showing. So he closed them again. To hide, to protect himself from Rachel and her hypnotic mannerisms, from the myriad of questioning looks, glowers, and blank stares alike coming from all directions. Someone cleared their throat, trying to ease the suddenly intensely awkward living room.

Blaine chanced a once-over of the room and its occupants, noticing how they would glance away quickly, almost guiltily, when his gaze skated over them.

"Oooooookay! Who's next?" Puck clapped his hands together eagerly, looking around to find the next spinner. When Tina voiced that she thought it was her turn, the tension seemed to dissapate and the game continued on, sans Blaine. He had gotten up and struggled his way to the kitchen for a glass of water and some quietude. He leaned on the marble counter, feeling decidely sober after the events of the night, yet still left with a splitting headache and a monumental sense of confusion.

"Where...have...you...been?"

Kurt's voice broke him out of his reverie. He was stumbling through the kitchen towards Blaine, running into counters and cabinets on the way. Blaine looked up at him, wincing as he did. What did allthis mean? Was he not gay? And if he wasn't...what about Kurt? What about their story? It was all too much to digest while in his current state of mind. Blaine shook his head,

"I, I...just really need some sleep. Monster headache," he pointed to his temple, attempting to chuckle.

Kurt nodded understandingly, giggling, "Of course. Have you ever been drunk, Blaine-Blaine?" Blaine closed his eyes and tipped his head back, groaning and shaking his head in the negative, "I know, right?" Kurt continued, "April Rhodes got me tipsy one time, um, last year, it was cuh-raaaaazy! I was like, blahhhhh" Kurt explained intelligently as he made a puking gesture with...well, with his whole body. He got so into it, falling to his knees and retching, laughing hysterically in between heaves.

Blaine could see this conversation was going nowhere while Kurt was drunk, so he sighed and grabbed Kurt off the floor, leading him back to the living room where everybody sat broken into small clusters of people, conversing away as if Blaine's whole world wasn't being turned upside down at the moment. He needed sleep. This could all be dealt with in the morning...maybe. His eyes caught Rachel's from where she was sitting on the couch, quietly watching everyone. She offered him a small smile and nodded to the stairwell. Blaine smiled gratefully, turning on his heel toward the stairs and promptly tripping over Brittany, who was on the floor bicycling her legs and giggling. Blaine let out a cry as he fell to the floor, his arm flailing out and slapping Finn across the face on the way down.

Finn looked around angrily, "Hey, watch it!" he growled as he lunged forward and punched who he thought was Blaine in the face. Sam looked livid as he nursed his bleeding lip,

"What the heeelll, dude?" They began to roll around on the floor, clawing at each others' faces and pulling hair. Wasn't that how girls were supposed to fight? Puck had decided to join in their 'brawl' out of boredom, and in the process of senselessly fighting, they had ran into Artie's wheelchair and somehow managed to knock him over. Brittany rushed to his aid, trying frantically to put a band-aid on Artie's finger. Quinn and Santana were both sitting in silence, glowering at the shattered glasses and assorted trash items strewn across the floor. Or maybe at the other students. The looks on their faces suggested the two were synonymous to them anyhow. Rachel was standing on the coffee table trying to get control of the situation, but her commands were coming out sounding like a mix between slurred Chinese and a Ke$ha song. Tina and Mike were nowhere to be found, and Mercedes was passed out in front of the TV with her mouth open, head tipped back against the front of the couch and a bucket of popcorn in her hand.

When it became apparent that the situation wasn't getting any better and he couldn't move to try and help out anyway, Blaine gave up on keeping his eyes open and succumbed to the welcoming embrace of sleep.

BRBRBRBRBRBRBRBRBRBRBRBR

He awoke through much the same circumstance as right before he fell asleep. That is, through more bodily injury. There's nothing quite like opening your eyes to a new day, only to have your vision stripped away and the air knocked out of you by way of an enormous body collapsing onto your stomach. Nothing quite like it. It was, to say the least, almost like some almighty, unseen force was taunting him, playing games. Making him feel pain and confusion in return for feelings and sensations he couldn't help, much less justify. It was hell. It also did nothing for his throbbing head and aching body; his fall from the previous night had taken its toll.

"Oomph! Oh, man, I'm sorry I was juss tryn'a, tryn'a, um, get to the bathroom over there," Finn said, pointing to the couch Blaine was lying near, "I didn't see you and...stuff." Blaine nodded to get the giant to stop trying to explain himself, and surveyed the area. The various members of New Directions were littered across various items of furniture, still fast asleep, save for Finn who was desperately crawling toward the couch. Blaine sighed; this was not how he pictured the last twenty four hours going. When he tried to make a move to sit up, the pain in his head hit him in waves, almost pulsatingly. Instead he laid back down and let his thoughts drift.

The next thing he knew, someone was gently shaking him awake and offering him an apple. He slowly looked up and was met with the sight of a cheery looking Rachel Berry.

"Everyone's already up and had breakfast. Most of them have left as well. You looked entirely too far gone to even consider waking up, you know it's very unhealthy to interrupt one's sleep whilst they are recovering from any injuries or indiscretions," she said, nodding emphatically, "Speaking of injuries, are you alright? The memories are foggy, but I believe you took a pretty nasty fall last night."

Blaine struggled to sit up and found that his head felt nowhere near as bad as it had earlier. He shook his head in an attempt to gather his thoughts, and he realized that this was the first time he had ever spoken to Rachel one-on-one. The thought of it made him a little uneasy. He didn't know what to do; he still didn't know her all that well. Did he even like her? Nothing was clear. Time, Blaine thought, I need time. To think and sort through all this.

"Yeah, I did, thanks," he pushed out, accepting her apple and taking a hearty bite. "Um, do you have the time?"

"11:27"

Blaine's eyes widened considerably. He never slept in this late! Then again, he never got drunk and kissed pseudo-strangers and enjoyed it, like, a lot.

"Wow! Listen, I'm sorry, Rachel, I have to go..." he trailed off, for Rachel had chosen that moment to look unbearably, captivatingly- moreso than usual, at least- beautiful. He didn't know if it was the warm smile she was wearing or the fact that there was a lot she wasn't wearing, or maybe that she was so adorably concerned about him. Whatever it was, Blaine had lost the ability to form sensible words. He stood up and looked at the door, an unspoken excuse for leaving left on his lips. He turned back to Rachel, who didn't push and nodded towards the door.

"I totally understand. Thanks for coming, Blaine," she said, nodding and holding her arms out for a friendly hug. Blaine immediately complied and wrapped her up in his arms, not eve realizing it when he instinctively pulled her flush against his body. As they stood there, Blaine came up with a million reasons to stay a little longer. Having Rachel this close was terrifying, exhilarating, and enticing. Everything he was trying to avoid right now, he reminded himself. This was unfamiliar territory, this...feelings thing. Unfamiliar and treacherous. He pulled away and cleared his throat, which had suddenly become inexplicably dry.

"Well I should probably..."

"Sorry for not waking you up earlier.."

Rachel blushed and gestured for Blaine to speak first. He didn't fight the grin that took over his face as he looked at her, "Hey, it's no big deal. I'll...talk to you later, Rachel." he said, walking out the door and to his car.

Rachel stood leaning against the doorframe, watching as he got into his car, waved, and drove away, a lingering smile on her lips.

As Blaine pulled away from the Berry household, he turned the radio on low and thought of how he still hadn't heard Rachel sing. Kurt never stopped tallking about how amazing she was, though he would never admit to the fact. Come to think of it, everyone raved about Rachel's voice, and if she really was as good as her reputation, well, he was in a lot of trouble; she was hard enough to resist as it was. He shook his head, Not what I need to be focusing on right now, he thought. He drove around Lima aimlessly, trying to figure out what to do. Suddenly, it hit him like a rhino charging full speed ahead. He knew exactly who he needed to see before anything could be said or done for sure. Blaine pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number he knew by heart.

"Hello?" A sleepy voice answered.

"Kurt? Meet me at the Lima Bean in 10. We need to talk."

So there it is! I apologize for it being so short, but I felt the need to just get the morning after out of the way and get the ball rolling, so yeah. Hope you liked!