Tina and Blaine had enjoyable yet lonely lunches at NYADA on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Thursday, they were finally graced with Kurt's presence again. Kurt was in the middle of telling a hilarious story about Rachel almost setting the apartment on fire when they were interrupted by a boy and a girl.
"Hey, Kurt!" The girl greeted happily.
"Hi, Emily! Hey, Bradley!" Kurt replied. "What's up?"
"So, we're throwing a little party tomorrow night." Emily began.
"We want you there." Bradley said, and added with a small wink to Tina, "And your friends can come too."
"What are the details of this rager?" Kurt teased.
"Well there is a small catch. It's sponsored by the Golden Gloves." Bradley said.
"Which is...?" Kurt asked.
"The Golden Gloves is an exclusive club founded by NYADA students two years ago. It's basically the significance of a fraternity or sorority. So, by attending this party, you are basically saying you are interested in being in the Golden Gloves. Throughout the night, members will be watching you to see if you are worthy of moving on to the next round." Emily explained.
"Thanks, but if you haven't noticed by our appearance, Blaine and aren't really the 'frat boy' type." Kurt laughed.
"We go to a performing arts school, Kurt. Yeah, going to a party is the first step, but if you pass the test, there's a performing aspect in it too. We're the GOLDEN gloves. We want only the best. But for now, tonight will just be a fun party for you and your friends to meet some people." Bradley explained.
"We're in!" Blaine and Tina said excitedly.
o~o
"Raspberry hair gel or strawberry?" Blaine asked eagerly the next night before the party.
"Does it really matter? I don't think anyone will be smelling your hair. If it's a real college party, the only thing you should be smelling is crappy beer." Sam said as he flipped through TV channels while lounging on the couch.
"I'm sure the Golden Gloves are much too elite for that." Blaine said snobbishly.
"Hey, guys, does this dress make me look like a slut?" Tina asked, emerging from her room in a short, form-fitting little black dress. Blaine's jaw dropped. Sam was nearly drooling. The dress was short, strapless, and black, hugging her curves in all the right places. She had equipped it with red pumps and dark red lipstick. She looked like a knockout.
"Well..." Blaine began uneasily.
"Yes." Sam finished flatly.
"Ugh, I knew I should've bought the red dress! Now I have to change into something old!" She groaned.
"NO!" Sam and Blaine said suddenly.
"What?" Tina said, taken aback.
"You're not getting out of that dress." Sam ordered, jumping up from the couch to face her.
"But you said I looked like a slut!" She argued.
"I didn't say it was a bad thing!" Sam said seriously. Blaine snorted.
"But it is bad thing!" She whined.
"Tina, I am a very gay man, and I am going to tell you this: keep the dress on. You look hot." Blaine advised.
"Yeah! Like if I was going to this party I would totally hit on you." Sam said. Blaine flashed a smug smile and a wink at Sam, so he added, "If I didn't already know you, of course."
"Are you saying because you already knew me and my personality you wouldn't want to hit on me?" Tina said angrily. "Am I that unlikable?!"
"God, no! Tina, I just added that 'If I didn't know you bit' to keep things from getting awkward! You look incredibly sexy tonight, and I'm jealous of the guy who hits on you at the Golden Gloves." Sam said genuinely.
"Yeah he is." Blaine smirked.
"Shut up, Blaine!" Tina and Sam shouted.
"Side note, which bowtie: turquoise or lavender?" Blaine asked. "I thought I might get a fun color to make my mint shirt really 'pop'-"
"How about NO bowtie?" Sam suggested.
"Oh, come on!" Blaine whined.
"You're going to look like the old man who hired Tina as his 'escort' if you wear that bowtie to the party-"
"Hey!" Blaine and Tina snapped.
"You guys want my advice, but you never like what you hear!" Sam said angrily. "Then don't bother asking, because I'm going to give you the truth!"
"Maybe Sam's right, Blaine." Tina said. "The bowtie is cute, but not for a college party. Lose the bowtie, untuck the shirt, roll up the sleeves and unbutton a few of the buttons." Blaine sighed angrily, but did what he was told. "There we go. Now it doesn't look like I'm going to a party with my grandpa."
"Oh, please, your grandpa wouldn't let you out in that dress." Blaine snapped.
"Blaine!" Tina gasped, but Sam gave him a high five.
"Alright, alright, you two better get going." Sam said seriously, then added lightly, "Hey, Tina, take a picture with me."
"Why?" Tina asked suspiciously.
"So I can upload it on Facebook and look like a total champ." Sam said. "You in this dress is guaranteed at least 100 likes."
"You're a pig!" She laughed, slapping him playfully.
"Oh, come on? Please?"
"No." She said, grabbing her purse.
"You don't want a jacket?" Blaine asked.
"No. Why?" Tina asked.
"Don't you want to...cover yourself, a bit?" Blaine said awkwardly.
"Eh. It's warm out." Tina shrugged.
"Well someone call the stripper hotline, 'cause their baddest bitch is on the move." Sam said, amused.
"See yeah, asshole." Tina smirked before exiting the apartment.
"Only on the floor, whore." Sam said cheekily.
"I hate you!" He heard her laugh from the hallway.
"I'm kind of scared for this party." Blaine admitted.
"Why? Blainey days doesn't think he'll fit in with the frat boys?" Sam cooed.
"No...but now that you think about it, I'm a bit scared for that." Blaine said uneasily. "But I'm a bit worried about Tina."
"Why? She'll be fine; she's often the most level-headed out of the three of us." Sam shrugged.
"Yeah, but that's when she's NOT dressed like a playboy bunny." Blaine said. "I don't know, the fact that she wants go on the subway without a jacket flaunting her body, it makes me nervous. Yes, I know she looks hot in that dress, but she's not supposed to know it! Tina's always been so down to earth, and I don't want this dress to change her."
"Dude, its one dress, and one night. Honestly, I think she was just getting cocky because this is the first time you and I haven't looked at her as if she's one of the bros." Sam assured Blaine.
"Okay, I'll take your word for it." Blaine sighed. "I just don't want any guy taking advantage of her, and I don't want her to let them."
"She won't." Sam said confidently. "And hey, if any guy does, he'll receive a nice black eye courtesy of Nightbird and Blonde Chameleon."
Author's note: I know Finn Hudson has nothing to do with this story, but I would like to dedicate this chapter to Cory Monteith. I was writing this chapter when I heard the news of his passing, and immediately put the story on hold for a bit. I promise I will update more frequently now. Rest In Peace, Cory. You will always be an inspiration.