AN- Mattress! Fun fact: I almost forgot this episode existed and was planning on writing Sectionals right after Hairography. Thankfully, (as I watch the episodes while I write to give me ideas) my playlist reminded me "Hey there's another episode between those..."

So, Blaine is kind of avoiding Kurt lately.

They're all standing around in the choir room and Kurt is lecturing them on the history of the Thunderclap Glee Club photo and how it's always vandalized and it's just not worth it to have a picture in it.

One word: Patches.

And everyone agrees because no one wants a photo in the year book. So after Mr. Schue comes in and bursts each one of their bubbles, he storms out in all his teacher glory to right this terrible wrong!

As he leaves, Rachel strolls in.

"Greetings fellow glee clubbers. What's with this little impromptu meeting?"

"We're not getting a glee club photo this year," Blaine explains.

Rachel's eyes narrow. "What? This is an injustice! I'll go speak to Principal Figgins right now!"

And she storms out almost identically like Mr. Schue did.

Kurt catches Blaine's arm as everyone disperses.

"Hey. So, want to go shopping for yearbook outfits? I'll throw in a free cup of coffee to twist your arm."

Blaine almost trips over himself as he grabs his bag. "Er, I can't. I, I have to go help Rachel with something. With music."

"Oh."

Kurt looks so disappointed that Blaine kind of wants to take back what he said but he's got to stick to this whole If He Stays Away From Kurt Feelings Will Disappear plan he's got going on.

"Sorry. Maybe next weekend we can do something?"

"Sure. Yeah."

Blaine shuffles his feet, shoots Kurt a grin, then leaves.

He does go hunt Rachel down; he just doesn't want Kurt to somehow find out he lied.

She's in the library, perusing the old editions of the Thunderclap.

"Oh, hello, Blaine. What brings you to the library?"

"Book report," Wow, the lies keep coming. "What are you doing?"

"Just going over my old photos. Did you know I've managed to be part of every club in this school? I feel it's of great importance to be prepared with photos. Practice for the paparazzi you know."

Blaine smiles at the starlet shining through. "But, doesn't the fact that the glee picture gets defaced make you feel, I don't know, ashamed."

Rachel ponders that. "Glee is very important to me," she says slowly, "It doesn't matter if the public here can't appreciate that. My yearbook won't be defaced, and that's all that matters. Because years from now, I can look back and see me at my happiest."

He blinks; that was really deep. And Rachel definitely has a point. Shouldn't he want to remember glee club years from now? Being able to express himself in music and having Kurt as a friend-

Or, whatever they were at the moment.

And, let's say he has kids one day. Wouldn't he want them to see their father being who he was? Who he wanted to be, not who his father wanted him to be?

And, wow, Blaine thinks he kind of wants a yearbook photo now.

He doesn't say anything.

The entire glee club is still very much against it and they vote Rachel to be their captain because they'd rather her face take one for the team than any of theirs.

And he feels bad that no one steps up to be her co-captain but as much as he wants the yearbook picture he doesn't want to be the only one.

Does that make sense?

He ignores the guilt that sort of eats away at him when he walks by the photo room and sees Rachel all alone. He waits for her and catches her arm as she storms out.

"Hey, what happened?"

"Finn Hudson is a coward, that's what," Rachel seethes. "He didn't show up for the picture."

"Oh, Rach, I'm sorry."

She sighs and crosses her arms over her chest. "Whatever. I am perfectly fine with representing the club by myself. Anyway, I got us a commercial deal."

"Rachel, you don't have to- wait, what?

"I got us a commercial deal!" And she's beaming now, grabbing his arm in excitement. "Come on, we need to tell everyone else. Except Finn."

And Blaine just sort of follows her because her mood swings are kind of scary.

So everyone is really excited for the commercial.

They all show up and change into their costumes (which are just pajamas) and everyone is hanging around, high off the fact that they're about to be on TV.

And when the original script sucks, Rachel speaks up and insists they do it their way.

So, they all jump around mattress to the song 'Jump'. And it's awesome. Blaine is jumping around and laughing with Rachel and he's having too much fun to remember that he's avoiding Kurt because he's jumping right along with him too.

And when the commercial is over, they're all catching their breath, Kurt is still going. Blaine is walking by a mattress when Kurt dive-bombs him and they both fall onto the soft surface.

"Hey!" Blaine shouts, laughing, and Kurt is laughing too as he rolls off of him.

"Hey," Kurt smiles. "Haven't seen you in a while."

And in that moment, in that smile, Blaine sort of forgets why he's been avoiding Kurt and begins focusing more on the fact that he misses Kurt and his laugh and his smile and just him.

So, Blaine kind of says screw it and plays along, ruffling up Kurt's hair (a big taboo).

"Not cool!" Kurt shouts, but he's laughing again.

It's his turn to roll them over and he starts tickling Blaine, who throws his head back and laughs.

"K-Kurt, stop. T-that tickles!"

"Hey, lovebirds! Come on, we're leaving!" Puck shouts.

The mood shifts almost immediately. Blaine stops laughing and looks at Kurt, who looks confused. With a guilty expression, he pushes Kurt (gently) away and stands up. He straightens out his clothes and ignores the look Kurt shoots him.

Kurt watches him walk away and hangs his head in disappointment.

"What is up with him?" Mercedes asks, walking over to him.

"No idea," Kurt shakes his head, "But I'm going to go find out."

He chases after Blaine and grabs his arm, pulling him away from their fellow glee clubbers.

"Okay, what is your problem?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, why the hell have you been avoiding me lately? Did I do something to offend you?"

"No."

"Did I do something to piss you off?"

"No."

"Then what! Why can't you look at me? Or talk to me? Or even be around me?"

Because- I think I've got a crush on you and it's killing me.

"Because, I thought you were still mad at me over the Finn thing and I didn't want to make things worse."

Kurt blinks. It is such a bullshit answer and he knows it, they both know it. And it hurts that Blaine isn't being totally honest with him because he thought that was their thing.

"But, obviously, you're over it otherwise you wouldn't be searching me out so- I'm sorry."

Blaine catches his eye and begs Kurt to just accept this. Because he misses Kurt and as confusing as his new feelings are, it sucks not being around him.

"It's fine," Kurt smiles. "I feel like we've been fighting a lot lately. We should probably stop that."

"Yeah. That would be good."

Kurt squeezes his shoulder quickly then ducks back to find Mercedes.

Blaine watches him go.

So the next day, Blaine storms into glee club because he had a revelation last night, damnit, and he needs to share.

"Fellow glee clubbers, may I have your attention?"

Rachel is immediately at the ready and everyone else looks kind of freaked out because he sounded a lot like Rachel just then and it's scary.

"I had a revelation last night," Blaine begins. "I think we should have a glee club photo."

He doesn't wait for them to respond angrily and argue among themselves, he just speaks louder.

"We need to stop lying to ourselves. We all love glee club- we wouldn't come here every day after school if we didn't. And years from now, when we're reliving all those horrible memories of slushies and locker slams," Here, he meets Kurt's eyes, "we'll also remember the good friends we made, who cleaned us off or helped us up. So, I think we should have a photo and screw everyone else who doesn't understand that. Thank you."

He quickly takes the seat next to Kurt, who bumps their shoulders together playfully. "Nice speech."

"Thanks," Blaine says.

And he should be thanking Kurt- because he had a lot to do with that little revelation. See, after their confrontation, Blaine came to the conclusion that avoiding Kurt was like lying about his feelings, whatever they may be. And that would just be another version of lying about himself and Blaine needs to stop doing that.

Because this is who he is: a glee club member who may or may not be crushing on his guy friend.

And this photo is a great way to start being himself.

He's surprised that the rest of glee club goes along with it. And even more surprised when Quinn manages to get them a full page photo.

Because, wow, club unity kind of rocks.

So because of the dumb mattress, Mr. Schue can't be their instructor anymore.

And that really sucks because Mr. Schue is awesome and he's helped them so much and he deserves to go to Sectionals just as much as they do.

But the damage is done. And it's the only way they can all stay in the competition.

So then they all gather for that picture, they do so with a heavy heart.

Maybe, Blaine thinks as the camera snaps, this wasn't a memory he wanted to have after all.

AN- Mr. Schue! Not cool. Next up: Sectionals. So excited!