Rise Above The Ashes
Chapter 8
Blaine stormed through the corridors, still feeling raw from the conversation he'd had with Burt three nights ago. Most people in the school avoided him these days anyway but after his fury had seeped into Cheerios practice during their morning session, the news had spread like wildfire to avoid him, resulting in Blaine seeing very few people over the course of the day.
Rounding the corner he could feel his frustration with everything reach boiling point as he watched a handful of jocks, and several of his own Cheerios surrounding Unique and Marley. Spying the slushies that had been thrown over the girls, and the ones that several of the jocks still held on to he thundered up the corridor shoving through the jocks to stand in front of Marley and Unique. Seeing the rage on their captains face, the smiles instantly dropped from the Cheerios faces and they all backed off, almost running up the corridor will all but three of the jocks following them.
"What the actual fuck is your problem?" Blaine roared, shoving Azimio who seemed to be the leader of the pack. "Because you're thick as shit and couldn't graduate on time with your class last year you thought you'd pick on girls three years younger, who will probably be out of here before you are?" He shoved Azimio again, snorting when he fell over.
Stumbling back to his feet, Azimio glanced at the two behind him, "You're a god damn freak Anderson!" He yelled taking off up the corridor after the rest of the team.
"Yeah well at least I'm out of here this year," Blaine hollered, shaking his head in disbelief. Turning to look at the two girls he sighed, taking in the purple and red slushie dripping from their faces and clothes. He winced slightly when he saw them looking at him in fear. "Come on, I've got a spare t-shirt for Marley and I have one of Mercedes shirts from last year you can wear Unique. Don't ask why," He warned, shooting them a small smile.
"You confiscated it from Sam when he was pining?" Unique smirked and Blaine laughed, feeling freer than he had in a while when the girls laughed with him.
"Got it in one. Seriously though, head into the bathroom and I'll bring them in for you."
"Thanks Blaine," They grinned, Marley leaning over to kiss his cheek, laughing when he went red.
"D-don't mention it," He stammered, rushing off to his locker.
"Is everyone decent?" he called into the girls bathroom, entering with one hand over his eyes.
Marley cracked up, shaking her head slightly, "Yeah Unique's in the stalls and I'm still trying to wash this dye out of my hair."
"Oh, awesome," He smiled locking the door behind him and jumping up onto the sink beside the one Marley was using. "Unique incoming," He hollered, throwing the shirt over the door.
"Blaine?" Blaine turned to look at Marley curiously. "I just wanted to say thank you again, I know not a lot of people give you the time of day around here anymore, but you were the only one who stopped what was just going on." She sighed, even Mr. Schue walked by before the first slushie, saying it was great that we were branching out and making new friends."
Blaine rolled his tawny eyes, "That man's obliviousness knows absolutely no bounds whatsoever."
"No kidding, he's clueless," Unique sighed leaving the cubicle and trying to fluff up her hair.
"Use the hand dryer," Blaine advised with a shrug, "It always worked wonders for everybody else. You look fabulous though Unique, as ever."
"Well of course," She preened making Blaine and Marley laugh.
He sighed loudly, "Well some of us have detention to get to so I'll leave you be ladies. Get out of school before the Neanderthals come back, yeah?"
"See you later Blaine," Marley smiled, pressing another kiss to his cheek, "And thanks again."
Unique popped up from under the dryer rushing over to plant a kiss on his other cheek, "Thanks Hobbit."
Blaine grumbled good naturedly as he pulled away and left the bathroom, the sound of the girls laughter following him out of the room.
Finn whistled to himself as he tracked up the corridor to the choir room aggravated that he had forgotten the sheet music he needed for college when he had left an hour ago. Tilting his head, he grinned at the chiming sound of the piano, fully expecting to find Brad working on an original piece. He was caught off guard though when he pulled the door open to find Blaine, looking more carefree than he had in months, absorbed in the music with his eyes closed.
"Thought you had detention again?"
Blaine looked up from the tune he was tinkering out on the piano, scooting over on the bench to make room for Finn. "Nah but I've got a rep to live up to you know. No one expects me home before four thirty these days." Shrugging he started to play again, Finn watching him momentarily before joining in on his side of the piano.
"You know, you should cut Kurt some slack and cool it with the jokes, especially in front of Burt." Finn raised an eyebrow, chuckling quietly when Blaine blushed.
"Yeah, well…"
Finn stopped playing and turned until he was facing Blaine. "I know how rough this year's been on you, and I know that pushing people away is what you do best right now. But Kurt is Kurt he's not like everyone else. And I know you still love him."
Blaine considered for a moment, nodding a little, "You know you're going to make an amazing teacher one day Finn."
"Thanks," He beamed. "That means a lot coming from you."
Blaine just shrugged, "I speak the truth." Fingers resting on the keys once more, he started to play quietly again, "Don't let them know I was here and not in detention, yeah?"
Finn laughed softly, "Your secret's safe with me little brother." Gently, he nudged Blaine with his shoulder before wrapping an arm around him, startling when Blaine hugged him back.
"Thank you Finn."
"For what?" Finn asked, confusion knitting his brow together when he drew back, but Blaine just shook his head and went back to playing the piano again. Sighing, the older boy ruffled Blaine's curls and stepped away, finding his sheet music and watching Blaine for a moment more before leaving him to his music.
Blaine jumped down the school steps at the same time he normally would after detention, slapping his skateboard to the ground before he noticed Kitty waiting for him on the bottom step. He eyed her ripped short shorts and flowing mint green top with a smile, glad that she was letting her blonde hair curl and flick naturally around her face, as opposed to her usual scraped back look. Blaine new she was stunning whatever she wore, but he always liked that he got the chance to see this Kitty, the softer Kitty that didn't inevitably help him terrorize the school.
"We need to talk Cupcake," She said dryly, nodding to the bleachers.
Blaine quirked an eyebrow but followed her on his skateboard regardless. "What's up Kitkat?"
She smiled softly at him, "It's time to stop Blaine. You graduate next week, you need to think about the future."
"Jesus not you too," He huffed, falling onto the couch.
"Blaine, you love Kurt, that much is obvious." She sighed, reaching to take his hand and rolling her eyes when he yanked it back, "You need him Blaine."
His eyes shot up to look at her, "I do not need him. I don't need anyone at all. I'm fine on my own."
"What about me? What about Burt? Carole? Sam?"
"I don't need anyone," He growled between gritted teeth.
Kitty stood up throwing her hands up in exasperation. "You're just a scared little boy who runs away from all of his problems. Man up Anderson. I mean Christ. Kurt's back and the sooner you realize that the better."
"Screw you Kitty." He growled flipping his skateboard to the floor and taking off, closing his eyes at the feel of the breeze against his face. "I don't need her, I don't need anyone," He murmured to himself, ignoring the numbing feeling in his gut and Kitty yelling his name in the distance.