Chapter 4 - Apples and Trees

Today I want to talk about the '80s power ballad. The other day my brother and friend were acting like fools, when we went to a karaoke bar, and it got me thinking. What is it about the '80s power ballad that is so very durable? Why is it that, even though I wasn't even born in the '80s, I still get emotionally touched whenever one of those grand sweeping, rhythmically logic, lyrically simple powerhouses comes on? I won't pretend to have the answer, because I don't feel even close to the truth. Of course there are the universal themes of love and hope. We relate to these stories, recognize them from our own lives -whether experienced or observed - but, and this is where I get confused, a lot of other musical genres share these themes. Of course there is something to be said about my partiality to logic yet layered music. That in and of itself would draw me in, if present, and it is present in many of the iconic songs. But surely there should be more to it, than simple musical preference? I mean, Pachelbel's canon in D is a logic structure, layered still more as the piece goes on. I love this piece of music, and have several versions of it on my everyday playlist, but, unlike the ballads, I don't find myself crying in my head, or imagine my fictional husband serving me freshly baked strawberry cupcakes. So my conclusion must be that there must be an unidentifiable emotional trigger hidden within the music. - 2BaBumblebee

Blaine had been practicing for days with hardly any pause. His arms were hurting and his fingers on the left hand had each their own little indentation from the sharp strings of his violin. - He was long past getting blisters. He knew the pieces that would be performed at the concert in his sleep, knew exactly how he wanted to express every movement in his solo, and had memorized every comment from the conductor. Yet he was still feeling nervous as he stood by the doorway to the stage, waiting with his classmates to be called on stage. This wasn't a new emotion for Blaine. It is said that a little bit of nerves made for a better performance, and Blaine found himself a firm believer of this, mostly because the nerves would make an appearance each and every time he was about to set foot on a stage. Every time he would seriously consider his choice of career until the call came and he stood in front of the audience for the first time. By the time his violin was on his shoulder all nerves would have disappeared and he would melt into the music.

After a few minutes of slightly hopping on the spot and sending thumbs up to his classmates, they were all ushered onto the stage. He confidently made his way to his place in the orchestra, violin tucked safely under his arms. Once seated he proceeded to pretend to organize the sheets on the note stand while secretly scanning the audience. That was another concert playing tradition for Blaine. It had been many years since his parents had attended a concert, and Cooper or his friends only rarely made it (often because he didn't invite them), so instead Blaine would pick a person in the audience and, unbeknownst to them, dedicate his music to them for the night.

Even though there was still some time before the concert was due to start, the light in the hall was already dimmed, making it hard to make out the faces of the people in front of him. He bypassed an elderly looking couple on the first row and continued scanning the rows further back. Then his eyes landed on a young man sitting seemingly alone. He was too far back for Blaine to really make out any details, but it was obvious that he was beautiful; dressed impeccably, not a hair out of place - or so Blaine fantasized - and handsome face expressing his interest in the music he was about to listen to. Blaine had found his audience member, and for once he allowed himself to indulge in the fantasy that this man was there for him.

The first part of the concert went without any noticeable hitches. As always, Blaine found himself carried away by the music, carried by the soft harmonies created by him and his classmates. He liked being part of an orchestra; liked the way the gathering of instruments and musicians had to work together seamlessly or the piece would fall to the floor. No one in the orchestra was more important than the others, each musician was a part of a greater whole. After the intermezzo Blaine had his solo of the night. The concerto Grosso was one of his favourite classical Christmas pieces. It flowed so effortlessly along its harmonies, yet, there was room for so much interpretation and expression of emotion. He couldn't help but trying to seek out the man in the audience, trying to imagine that the enthusiastic applauding was for him alone, because the man was proud of him.

"Hey, Blaine," a voice called out just as he was packing away his violin after the concert. He quickly turned around to see Mercedes make her way towards him. About a week prior David's fiance had asked if they could meet up. - Apparently she had a favour to ask of him, and she would be in New York anyway.

"Hey. You're here! I was just about to text you," Blaine said, as he hugged Mercedes in greeting, "and congratulation! I know it's been a few weeks, but I figure it's the sort of thing you don't get tired of hearing."

"Thanks, and you're right, I don't get tired of hearing it! And congratulations to you! The concert was great! David's always bragging about his violin-playing friend. It was great to see you in action, finally!" Mercedes said with a beaming smile.

"You heard it? Well, thanks, I thought it went quite well." Blaine always got inexplicably shy when someone outside of school praised his playing.

"Yeah, it went great. Anyway, David and I have a favour to ask you! You're absolutely allowed to say no, but we were wondering if maybe you would play at the ceremony for us? We would be really honoured."

"Really? You want me to play at your wedding? I would love to, thank you!" Blaine exclaimed excitedly, pulling Mercedes into another hug.

"Yay! That'll make David so happy! I'm supposed to tell you, again, that he's really sorry he couldn't come, but he had work, so. He sends lots of hugs."

"Well, send hugs back from me, and tell him I'm honoured you asked. We'll have to talk music at some point, and maybe I can find a few friends to make a little trio or quartet or something."

"Absolutely! Anyway, you must be so tired by now. I'll let you get some rest. David said your brother's coming to town this weekend, so you probably need it."

"Yeah. Thanks for coming! I'll talk to you later."

Blaine spend the day after the concert cleaning an already tidy apartment, shopping for Cooper's favourite snacks and cooking enough easy-meals to last him and Wes a week. Friday morning was spent in class, before he endured the overcrowded and stressful journey to the airport to pick up his brother as he arrived from LA. Cooper had spend the flight sleeping, and he was far too energetic for a quiet lunch at the apartment. Instead the brothers ended up strolling to an upmarket, trendy cafe largely inhabited by rich-kid students drinking soy lattes and sweet-smelling green teas, while nibbling at their garden salads. Once they had finished eating their overpriced baguettes filled with posh ingredients, they went hunting for some gatchet or other that Cooper couldn't live without for one more minute. They made it back to the apartment just in time to get changed to go to the musical in which Wes had been cast straight out of college. By the time Blaine sank into his plush seat he felt absolutely exhausted.

The two Anderson children were, in many ways, quite similar - appearances aside. They were both ambitious, driven, generous and kindhearted. Due to their upbringing they were both well-mannered and well educated (Cooper less eagerly so, though a clause tied to the access of his trust fund required a college degree of him. Their father had neglected to stipulate which degree path his sons should follow, which both boys had taken advantage of.) Both boys were generally well liked and respected. They were passionate, confident, affectionate and approachable. Both could go from 'excited puppy' to 'well-spoken man of the world' in seconds. They shared all these characteristics, yet most people, who had met both boys, believed them to be fundamentally different. Where Cooper was boisterous and overly energetic Blaine was subtlety engaged yet wholeheartedly involved. Where Cooper was attention seeking in his sleep, Blaine was in the lamplight by account of his dedicated presence. Cooper was passionate about ten things at the same time every hour of every day, switching between them effortlessly. Blaine often found himself submerged into whatever captured his attention, often disappearing into the details for hours.

Thus, when the curtain closed after the last bows, Cooper was out of his chair instantly, scanning the theater for anything or anyone interesting, while Blaine was sat hunched toward the stage, blinking rapidly as the real world returned.

"Ooh, Blainers, look! Hot guy!" Cooper exclaimed with no attempt at keeping his voice down. "You're single, right? Lets go talk to him!" Cooper was making his way towards the end of their row before Blaine could even respond.

"Cooper, wait," Blaine hissed as he followed his brother.

"Huh," Cooper uttered, slowing down and turning slightly towards Blaine, "do you think him and Mohawk guy are together?"

"Coop, what are you on about?" Blaine asked, exasperated.

"The hot guy we're getting for you, B. Keep up." Cooper explained, waving to where an admittedly very attractive young man stood surrounded by a group of people.

"Cooper, no. We're not interrupting someone's night out so that you can publicly embarrass me!" Blaine tried to protest, but he was very aware that if it hadn't been for some young woman and a rant about credit commercials, he would now be apologizing to some stranger, and possibly said stranger's Mohawked boyfriend.

It was karaoke night at Blaine and Wes' favoured bar. Incidentally, neither had remembered. If they had, Blaine would probably have insisted on meeting up with Wes somewhere else. - not that he minded karaoke, he and Wes usually practically claimed ownership of the mics that one night a month. But tonight he was tired and feeling unreasonably grumpy and he really just wanted to get to bed. He heaved a sigh, swallowed a mouthful of unpleasantly warm beer and continued watching his brother and close friend attempt to out-croon the other. This was going to be a long night, and an even longer weekend.

AN: The song that Cooper and Wes are singing I imagine to be 'I want to know what love is' by Foreigner. I am also imagining them to be overly dramatic in their performance. Chapter 5 tomorrow with the rest of the ND Festive Weekend. Hope to see you then...