Hello again! Just wanted to clarify: Santana's birthday is November 19, 1994. Blaine's birthday is December 16, 1994. This is about as canon as I can make the birthdays while still having Santana be older than Blaine... seeing as she graduated a year earlier than Blaine, let's just say that she was put into the grade above Blaine when she was six, and then when he went to Dalton, he skipped a year ahead so he could finish 8th grade and go into 9th grade like his sister. And then when he eventually transfers to McKinley, he goes into junior year instead of senior because Dalton is weird about grade levels. And during this chapter, they are both 14. Also, this chapter takes place in between Sadie Hawkins and the Brittana meeting. Cool? Cool.
Blaine was pretty nervous about the move. For the first time since he was five years old, he'd be going to a different school from his sister. She wouldn't be there to go Lima Heights on his behalf. He hoped he wouldn't need her to.
As he and his mother made the drive up the Westerville, Blaine stared out the window, listening to music through his earbuds. He had an entire playlist comprised of recordings of Santana covering her favorite songs, and he shuffled through that playlist as Lima disappeared behind him. He missed his sister already.
They drove straight to Dalton so that they could set Blaine up in his new dorm. They stopped at the front office and got his room number, keys, and schedule, and then set about figuring out where his dorm was. Once they finally found it, Blaine knocked lightly on the door.
A boy with dark, shaggy hair opened the door. Behind him stood a taller boy with platinum blonde dyed hair.
"Hey, there. I'm Nick. This is Jeff. You must be the transfer student. Finishing up 8th grade with us, right?" the boy who opened the door said.
"Uh, yeah. My name's Blaine." Nick grinned.
"Cool. Come inside!" Blaine grabbed his bags and headed inside, his mother trailing behind him.
"This is your bed over here, next to the window. Feel free to decorate the walls if you want. Just warning you, Nick and I like to sing, so I hope you're not too bothered by noise." Jeff told him. Blaine smiled.
"Thank you. I actually don't mind if you guys sing, because I love to sing as well." he replied.
"Awesome. Maybe you can join the Warblers. That's the name of Dalton's show choir. Jeff and I are in it. It's pretty awesome." Nick exclaimed. Blaine nodded thoughtfully.
"Maybe." The three boys and Pamela got to work unpacking Blaine's things.
"Woah, who's this?" Jeff wondered, picking up a photograph. Nick peered over his shoulder.
"Dude, she's pretty." Nick commented, whistling. Blaine laughed.
"That's Santana." he said, not offering any further explanation. Jeff and Nick glanced each other for a second, and then nodded.
"Awesome." they chorused, seemingly nonplussed. Blaine blinked in surprise. Pamela chose that moment to speak up.
"Alright, I've got to go now, Blaine. I hope you have fun here." she said.
"We'll take care of him." Nick reassured, slinging an arm around Blaine. Jeff came up on his other side and did the same.
"Thank you." his mother replied sincerely. Blaine said his goodbyes, and then she was gone.
"Okay, new kid. Show us what you got." Jeff said suddenly.
"Um, what?" Blaine asked.
"Sing!" Nick clarified, leaning forward excitedly.
"Oh... okay. What should I sing?" Blaine wondered.
"Anything. Just whatever comes to mind." Jeff suggested. Blaine thought for a second, deciding on the last song he'd heard Santana singing. He was pretty sure that she'd unconsciously been directing it at their father. He hoped that the two of them would be able to adjust to living together.
"Alright." He cleared his throat.
I'm holding on your rope
Got me ten feet off the ground
And I'm hearing what you say
But I just can't make a sound
You tell me that you need me
Then you go and cut me down
But wait...
You tell me that you're sorry
Didn't think I'd turn around and say..
That it's too late to apologize, it's too late
I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late
I'd take another chance, take a fall, take a shot for you
And I need you like a heart needs a beat
(But that's nothing new)
Yeah yeah
I loved you with a fire red, now it's turning blue
And you say
Sorry like the angel Heaven let me think was you,
But I'm afraid
It's too late to apologize, it's too late
I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late
Woahooo woah
It's too late to apologize, it's too late
I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late
I said it's too late to apologize, yeah
I said it's too late to apologize, yeah
I'm holding on your rope
Got me ten feet off the ground...
He realized he'd closed his eyes, and opened them to see Nick and Jeff staring at him in shock.
"Dude, we need to get you into the Warblers, stat." Jeff said in an awed tone. Blaine blushed, looking at his hands.
"Really?" he asked.
"Yes, really!" Nick exclaimed.
"Well, before we do anything else... I just want to say one thing. You guys have been so nice to me, and I'd really like to be your friend, but there's something about me you should know." Blaine started nervously. Jeff and Nick exchanged a conspirational glance.
"If it's that you're gay, that's fine by us, man." Nick told him, laughing slightly. Blaine's eyes widened in surprise.
"Trust me when I say you're not the first kid to come to Dalton because his old school wasn't very accepting." Jeff added. Blaine nodded slowly, eyes wide.
"Alright then." he said, unable to say much else. He definitely thought that he was going to like Dalton.
Blaine had decided that he didn't just like Dalton. He absolutely loved it. He quickly adjusted to the school, making friends in all of his classes. He tried out for the Warblers, which turned out to be one of the most popular groups on campus, and was accepted into the show choir. That was also pretty awesome, because instead of almost everybody hating him, he was one of the most well-liked people in the school. He found the experience strange but nice. However, he still missed Jaz and his family. Jaz had been his closest friend while at his old school. They'd made a lot of good memories, and Blaine was happy that she'd found a better school that was more accepting.
In terms of his family, he talked the most with his mother. The fact that she was living so nearby helped a lot, and he went home every two weeks just to spend some time with her. His relationship with his father had been a little strained since he came out, but he knew his father was trying to accept him, although it was hard. However, his father was so often at work, Blaine started to wonder if he was avoiding him and his sister out of guilt over the things he'd said the night Blaine came out. As for his brother, his career was starting to take off, so he was always busy. He called home as often as he could, but Blaine began to hear from him less and less as time went on.
Santana was also strangely hard to get in contact with. She'd thrown herself into kickboxing, gymnastics, going to the gym, and schoolwork. Whenever she wasn't doing one of those things, she was keeping up with the latest trends, shopping, or learning new things about makeup. She'd also picked up a couple side jobs so that she could pay for the things she bought herself. Still, whenever they did talk, she put everything aside for at least two hours, saying that she would take care of them later. He had no idea how she managed to pull that off, but he appreciated that she would drop everything to just listen to him talk. However, he started calling less because he didn't want to cause any trouble for her. They ended up talking about once a month.
One day, late in the spring, his sister showed up at Dalton.
"How'd you even get here?" he wondered, gaping at her. She smirked as she pushed herself off the wall she'd been leaning against.
"I took the bus." she said.
"That's kind of dangerous." he pointed out.
"Hermano, nobody wants to mess with this." she joked, gesturing to her whole body. Blaine raised an eyebrow.
"Right... New question. How'd you get into my room?" he responded. Santana shook her head.
"Blaine, there is nothing that can keep me from getting to you. Not trespassing laws, not high walls, not security cameras; not even windows that are more than three stories off the ground are going to stop me. If I want to be by your side, I will be. Just accept it, little brother. No need to question it." she stated firmly. Blaine was touched at her words, but he knew that overly emotional displays made her uncomfortable. He decided not to make a big deal out of it, switching to a lighter topic.
"You're only a month older than me." he complained. Santana stepped up to him and ruffled his hair.
"Still my little brother. Deal with it." she teased as he swatted at her hands, protesting loudly.
"Hey, leave the hair alone, and come on! I'll show you around Westerville." he suggested.
"Alright then, Ovenbird. Lead the way." she agreed.
"Ovenbird?" Blaine wondered, frowning.
"It's a type of Warbler; the only member of the genus Seiurus. The species is genetically unique, and this fits you because you are in a class of your own. Or genus, whatever. The point is, you are different from everybody else. And not only is that okay; it's great. You should always embrace that." Santana explained. Blaine smiled.
"Okay. Whatever you say, sis. Whatever you say."
Santana continued to show up at random times throughout the school year. Somehow, nobody ever realized she was there. Blaine didn't know whether to be awed or concerned at his sister's ability to sneak around. Blaine continued to enjoy being in the Warblers and all the fun that came with it, especially his close friendship with Nick and Jeff.
Once in a while, they'd head down to hang out at the Lima Bean, a popular coffee shop on the outskirts of Lima. Sometimes, he'd catch sight of his sister typing away at a laptop in a secluded booth, looking very focused. On those days, he'd make an excuse to slip away and order his sister a Caffe Mocha. Minutes later, she would get the drink, look up, and raise it into the air in a silent salute before taking a sip. Then, she'd go back to work, looking like a college student and not a fourteen year old. He always wondered what she was doing over there, but he never bothered to ask.
The days slipped by, and Santana began to seem more closed off and resigned. He couldn't figure out why- maybe it had something to do with what his father had said the night he came out? He'd heard his father when he said that he'd taken the worst thing that had ever happened to Santana and thrown it in her face, but to be honest, Blaine didn't know what that was. He didn't know how Santana had lost her parents; he only knew that his mother had wanted to have a daughter and they were lucky enough to find Santana. When he finally asked Santana what was wrong, she brushed it off, saying that she'd started to visit somebody that she used to know. Blaine was kind of sad that he didn't know who that was. She was his sister, yet there was so much that she kept bottled up like soda. And once she was shaken too much, she'd explode.
All he really knew is that he didn't like these visits. Santana came back from them looking just as sad and lonely as she had the first day he met her, and Blaine hated it. Why did she keep going back if all that person ever did was make her feel miserable? He started getting so frustrated that he actively went looking for a way to blow off all of his steam.
Naturally, Santana, although she didn't know why he was so frustrated all of a sudden, suggested boxing. It was a good way to release negative emotions, and it would allow Blaine to defend himself if he ever needed it. He agreed to the idea and started taking lessons. To his surprise, Santana was right. Boxing could be pretty cathartic; just letting his mind go blank and punching a bag for a couple hours helped a lot with clearing his head. Blaine wasn't a violent person like Santana could be when she was majorly ticked off, but he could see how his sister liked it.
When he wasn't boxing or doing homework, Blaine would hang out with the Warblers. Singing with them wasn't as fun and awesome as singing with his sister, but it was still amazing regardless. They were such a supportive group, helping him out with homework, teaching him life hacks, and even attempting to help him with the art of romance. Unfortunately, Blaine was still kind of hopeless at the latter. He could not figure out how to tell if someone was interested or not, and sometimes, him being friendly was misconstrued as flirting.
"I was just singing Can't Help Falling In Love! How was I supposed to know that someone I randomly recognized as a cashier from the Lima Bean would think it was meant for him?" he exclaimed incredulously, walking down the streets of Westerville with his sister.
"To be fair, just before you started the song, you looked him in the eye, smiled, and gave him a little wave." Santana pointed out.
"Because he's so nice to me! Ev1ery single time I go there, he asks me if I want the usual, and if I say yes, he just hands them to me, as if he's prepared them in advance!" Blaine defended.
"Blaine, that really should have tipped you off about his crush. You don't go there that often, so for him to have memorized your order and then immediately make it the second he sees you walk through the door is a little strange otherwise. You're oblivious." Santana sighed. Blaine threw his hands up in the air.
"Okay, I get it. I suck at romance. Please stop criticizing me." he pleaded. Santana laughed.
"Don't worry. You've got a ton of wingmen at Dalton. And a wingwoman here in Lima. But I feel like you won't even need one. You'll figure it out eventually." she reassured.
"I really hope that you're right, 'Tana. I really do." he responded.
"Oh, I will be. Trust me. Now, come on. We have just enough time left to do an impromptu duet." she replied.
"Okay. But what artist?" he wondered.
"Well, seeing as I'm wearing a fedora right now, let's go with Michael." Santana suggested. Blaine nodded in agreement.
The resulting duet version of Smooth Criminal, although acapella, made Blaine's top ten list of their covers. And although he didn't know it yet, it would remain there for the rest of their lives.
A/N: And now, a quick look into Santana's side of things.
Santana had been relaxing on the couch when she got the call.
"I'm sorry - did you say my grandmother?" she asked, wanting to make sure she'd heard right.
"Yes. Why do you ask?" the caller responded.
"It's just that I haven't talked to her in a while. You said I was her emergency contact? How'd she get my number?" she wondered.
"She found it in a phonebook, apparently." came the reply.
"Huh. And you said that she had a nasty fall and has now been moved to a nursing home? And she wants me to come visit her?" Santana clarified.
"That's correct." Santana swallowed heavily, unpleasant memories beginning to flash through her mind. However, she steeled herself and firmly nodded to herself.
"Okay. I'll be there tomorrow. Have a good day." she said, and hung up.
Tomorrow she was going to see her Abuela for the first time since she was three.
For some reason, she wasn't very excited.
And that's the chapter. A big thank you to you lovely people who are reading this story. And another thank you to those who reviewed, favorited, and/or followed. Your support means a lot. Now, a bit of unashamed self-promotion: my other story the lights are on (but no one's home) is a Brittana story with a lot longer chapters, although there are only three at the moment. I hope you'll go check that one out as well. Thanks for reading!
- Ryta