I can't believe that I let that happen. It was blindingly clear now to Will. I thought that it would be more important to keep the glee club going at school. I didn't want the responsibility of choosing, but I should have been the one to make the right decision. Now we're going to lose somebody and New Directions will be dissolved anyway. And you know Figgins will exercise that right in your contract, another voice whispered in the back of his head, but Will didn't care about that now. Any employer could exercise the right to reduce non-executive staff pay by up to 30 percent without making another concession except reducing the length of the contract by 5 percent. If it happens, it'll be what I deserve. Not one of these kids has the money to buy off the rules. The official price was $175K, established after a Senator's child had been chosen in college for Trophy. The change had been heralded as a victory for family values, the American competitive spirit, and compromise.
Finn was repeating, over and over, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Artie and Mercedes were both glaring at him and Rachel was sitting by herself in a corner, but the others were sitting near Finn and trying to comfort him. "I lost it for us."
"Come on, Finn, you didn't exactly expect to see that Neanderthal there." Kurt's voice was shaky but still full of contempt for Karofsky.
"I was pretty distracted, too." Sam added. "I was kind of sleep-walking it. We might have lost anyway." "They might still do as badly as they did in the rehearsal videos we saw," Tina said quietly. "It could be a race to the bottom here." In the silence that followed, they heard wild clapping and cheering from the hall.
"I don't think so," Quinn shook her head. "It doesn't sound like it."
One of the judges came into the room and made eye contact with Will. "Come with me, please." This is it. It's real and it's happening.
A boy in the Dalton uniform was standing out in the hallway. "Mr. Shuester? It's a pleasure to meet you. My name's Blaine and I'm the one our members delegated to make the choice." He's offering to shake hands like this is any kind of deal. The boy's handshake was warm and firm. "The one I'd like to take with us is your countertenor, the rather slight one, I think his name is Kurt Hummel?"
"Yes, that's his name." Will drew a deep breath. "Blaine, you've got to know something. He's had a terrible year."
"Really? What happened to him?"
Will tried to figure out if the question was politeness, curiosity, or perhaps even concern. "His father had a heart attack just after he got engaged to marry again. The insurance company wouldn't pay for advanced treatment. They were too close to making a loss that quarter so they didn't have to. Kurt and Carole, Burt's fiancee, did everything they could to raise the money but there just wasn't enough. He didn't make it." At least he's listening. "Kurt's always been bullied but it's gotten worse this year. He's gotten death threats."
Blaine nodded, clearly considering this, and then said, "That's good to know, sir. Thank you for telling me. I'm sure he'll be grateful, too." He looked away for a moment. "Do you want to go in first and tell him?" Will nodded. There was nothing he could do now but try to make it as easy as possible for Kurt and for the rest of them.
He returned, went over to Kurt, and put a hand on his shoulder. The others stared and Kurt went white. God, he looks so young. "Kurt, I just talked to one of them. He's picked you."
"What? No way! They can't!" Puck stood up, enraged. Mercedes bent over, sobbing, and Kurt, still staring at Will, put an arm around her.
"There's got to be something we can do," Rachel said, as firmly as she could. "There's nothing, Rachel. The money just isn't there." "There must be a mistake. They surely can't want a...a countertenor when they could have a...leading soprano instead. I'll go talk to them and explain that. After all, I can be very persuasive when the necessity arises." Will had thought that offering to give up a solo was Rachel at her very best, but here, she was offering to sacrifice herself for four months for somebody who wasn't even all that close to her. She was even trying to keep up the pretense that it was all about the stronger, better team coaching somebody from a lesser team. He'd never admired her more.
"No, Rachel, I can't take that. You're the one who can keep Glee together." Kurt actually managed to smile at her.
"Kurt, we lost. We won't have Glee any more, either. Without singing, except for the roles in local productions that might interfere with my education, I have lost almost everything that I live for."
Kurt got up and hugged her. "Rachel, it won't be a school club any more, but remember, you've got a practice room at home. Everybody can still meet there, and...that will give me something to come home to, after the four months are over. Promise me, okay? Promise?" Will felt like somebody had dragged a bottle brush through his sinuses as he fought tears as the two clung to one another.
Puck turned around. He had noticed Blaine, who had come into the room and was watching, quietly. Puck's face darkened and he silently tracked Blaine with his eyes and then turning his head to keep Blaine in his view. Like an animal on National Geographic. Will crossed to him quickly to ensure that he didn't actually attack the Warbler. It would only make things worse for Kurt. Fortunately, Puck must have come to the same realization.
"Kurt, I'm Blaine. I hate to rush you but the bus is leaving in about five minutes. It's a long ride back to Dalton."
"Okay," Kurt whispered, quietly, and turned to each of his fellow club members, sharing hugs and blurted goodbyes. Will snatched quick glances at Blaine, frustrated at not being able to read the expression on the teen's calm face.
After what seemed like no time at all, Blaine's phone buzzed and he looked at it. "Okay, Kurt, we've got to get going now." For the first time, he approached Kurt, and Will held his breath. Under any other circumstances, he'd have thought the way that Blaine took Kurt's hand was downright engaging. Please, God, keep him safe. Please don't let him be broken. Keep him safe.