There's not really much to say other than enjoy :)
Nick let go of Blaine and wiped the tears from his eyes as if he was electrocuted. Nick turned to Blaine with a 'dear-caught-in-headlights' expression and Blaine had to laugh at his friend.
"Calm down, Nick. Just play it cool." Blaine encouraged.
Nick scoffed in disbelief. "Play it cool? We both know that cannot play it cool!"
Blaine laughed at his friend's panic and decided to take a look at the new arrivals, wondering if he could pick who it was Nick liked. There were five guys there, each distinctly different from the other and four girls. One girl was about average height and had blonde hair, she looked a little vague and as if she had no idea what was going on. A dark-haired Asian boy was wearing a bright plaid shirt with matching converse and was talking animatedly to a tall blonde next to him. His hair was platinum blonde and swept over his face, sheltering one of his eyes. He too wore a pair of converse, though his were a blue that stood out against his black skinny jeans.
Blaine had to admit, the Blonde was very attractive. He was kind of small in his build, but was toned as well – most likely due to his dancing – and the jeans he was wearing would catch the eye of any human being attracted to man.
"Oi, stop staring!" Blaine jolted a little when Nick hissed in his ear, who quickly turned his head back so it appeared as if he was looking at Blaine, but kept an eye on the dance crew.
"So…" Blaine drew the word out. "Which one is he?" Glancing back at the group who had clustered at the front of the room, Blaine again tried to decide on which one Nick would be attracted to.
Nick blushed when Blaine turned back to him, his face heating up at his question. "I told you not to stare." Nick mumbled to Blaine, teeth clenched.
"Sorry, I'm just trying to figure out which one he is." Blaine smiled guiltily at Nick.
Nick didn't get much of a chance to answer when the teacher began to talk.
"For the first part of the project, we're joining together with the dance crew, while the theatre group are joining the other music class." The teacher paused to indicate the group that was standing next to him. "So, what you're going to do is…pair up. One music student, one dancer. You are to work together over the next week and come up with a song and then you will perform it together. Obviously you music students will be singing, while the others will be dancing."
There was an even level of excitement around the room. Every student was eager to start as they had never been given a project like this before. Blaine was intrigued and looked forward to working on a new song. Nick on the other hand, well it was needless to say that he was freaking out. He knew who he really wanted to be partnered with, but then he also knew that he didn't want to spend a whole week working with that same person.
"Alright, so partners…we've already put you in pairs, which are as follows;
Mike Chang and Tina Cohen-Chang…okay, that was unintentional…" the class let out a small laugh.
"Santana Lopez and Brittany Pierce, Wes Montgomery and David Hughes, Nick Duval and Jeff Sterling."
Blaine noticed Nick visibly tense and understanding washed over him, this Jeff Sterling was his partner, and was also the boy he was so upset over before. Blaine felt bad for Nick, it really did suck when you liked someone that didn't like you back. Blaine had been through that one back in high school and he hoped that it wouldn't happen again. He definitely hoped that Nick would be okay; this whole unrequited love thing was hard.
Blaine was too caught up in his own thoughts to even notice that he hadn't been called out in the list and everyone in the room already had a partner to work with. "Oh, it seems we have an odd number. Don't worry Blaine, we'll figure something out."
Worry? Blaine thought. Pff, I didn't even notice, ha!
Before Blaine had the chance to assure the teacher that he understood, he and Nick were joined with company. The tall blonde – who Blaine had dubbed the most attractive out of the group – came to sit beside Nick. Blaine could sense Nick's unease and hoped that this project wouldn't make things worse for him.
"Nickers, hey dude!" Jeff cheerily greeted with an equally excited smile. "You pumped for the project? I am, it's going to be great!"
Already, in the first few seconds of meeting Jeff, Blaine could see how Nick had fallen for him – not that he was in love with him, but it seemed to be headed that way. Jeff was so much like Nick with his enthusiasm and forwardness when it comes to sparking up a conversation. Not to mention the nickname – which Blaine had openly laughed at – that was so similar to the one Nick had labelled Blaine; Blainers.
"Sup Jeffers? Hell yeah I am, it's going to be awesome!" Blaine was shocked by how at ease Nick was with Jeff, especially after confessing to Blaine that he liked him. The two boys high-fived as Jeff sat down beside Nick and slung his arm around Nick's shoulders.
Introductions were taken care of and soon the three boys were discussing the project and the things they were thinking of doing. Blaine eased himself out of the conversation to watch his best friend interact with the blonde.
Blaine definitely understood now how hard it must be for Nick when he is around Jeff, but the only way to make things easier is for Nick to tell Jeff exactly how he feels; it's never that easy though.
While watching the two interact, Blaine really hoped – more than he hoped for anything in his life – that in some miracle Jeff was indeed gay, or at least bisexual, for Nick's sake. They both got along so well and they mirrored each other without even realising what they were doing; when Jeff leant away from Nick in his chair, Nick leant into Jeff. When Nick's hand moved subconsciously closer to Jeff's, it was met with the blonde's, but always kept a small distance. When one moved, the other followed. When one spoke, the other gave complete eye-contact. When Blaine had no idea what they were talking about, they both knew exactly what each other meant. If one couldn't find a word, the other found it. They were in sync and they didn't even realise it.
Blaine put all the hope he had into those two, even if it took a while.
"You okay, Nick?" Jeff asked after only about five minutes of conversation.
Nick panicked for a moment, but then quickly covered his slip up. "Yeah dude, I'm good."
"Are you sure?" Jeff asked, a concerned expression spread over his features. "Your eyes look different, they're…distant."
Oh, come on! Blaine's mind screamed. That's it, there is no way this Jeff cannot be gay or bi. No straight guy would notice his best mate's eyes like Jeff just noticed Nick's.
Before Nick could respond there was a loud knock at the door and a guy dressed in dark jeans and a loose t-shirt with a print of a motorbike on the front. "Got any music kids to spare?"
The boy didn't wait for someone to call him inside, he just waltzed to the front of the room and scanned the onlookers. Everyone was a little weary as they watched him stare each of the members down, some of the dance crew edged their way towards the music students, concerned for their safety around the boy – more like man – with the Mohawk.
When no one answered – probably unsure of how to approach this guy – he spoke again to the group. "We're down a music dude, anyone not got a partner?"
Quickly realising that he had just been discussing this very problem with his teacher, Blaine took the initiative to answer the boy. "Yeah, I don't have a partner."
"Good, come with me. We need you in the theatre." The boy turned and walked out the door, expecting Blaine to follow him. Blaine stood up and made to leave when he felt a hand grasp his wrist. "Blaine!"
Nick hissed too quiet for Jeff to hear, who understood that what Nick was saying was not meant to be heard so he busied himself with his phone. "Oh relax, you'll be fine."
Before Nick could protest, Blaine walked out of the door, following the guy to the theatre. Nick hoped that Jeff didn't re-ask his question and would drop the subject; thankfully Jeff was so excited about the project that as soon as Nick made a suggestion, his attention span took a sharp turn.
Please review :)
Sorry if the progress is a little slow, but it needs to be to set the context. Things will start to develop more in the next chapter :)
