A/N: I Niff you all. Have some more Niff friendship. How about I promise they get together soon? Yeah?
Chapter Two:
"Halfway through freshman year, just as the Warblers were gearing up for Regionals, a new kid came along: Blaine Warbler. Then-junior Wes took the extremely talented, extremely good-looking freshman Blaine under his wing. You can't get into the Warblers unless you're good-looking, it's a pre-requisite. We're still not sure how Sebastian got in."
"Okay, first things first, what extracurricular are you joining?" Jeff asked.
"I don't know, yet, what do you like to do? Sports?" Nick asked. Jeff snorted.
"Right, like they'd let me do sports," he said. "Look at me, I'm all awkward."
"You're beautiful, remember?" Nick said. "Smile." Jeff did, unable to control himself. "Perfect."
"Oh, shush," Jeff said, his smile only growing bigger, even though he tried to contain it.
"No sports then," Nick said. "Music?"
"We both like to sing, right?" Jeff asked.
"Yeah, of course," Nick replied.
"Let's try out for the Warblers," Jeff said. "Show choir. It looks like fun."
"It does look like fun," Nick said, flipping through the pamphlet for the Warblers. Wes was smiling in the center of the front of the leaflet holding his precious gavel. On the inside was a group shot of all the previous year's Warblers. "I was in choir back home. Kind of got hassled about it."
"No hassle here!" Jeff said. "Says the Warblers are one of the most elite clubs on campus. They're like rock stars. We'll never get in."
"Hey, we haven't even tried yet!" Nick said. "Look, below that. Almost the whole team graduated last year, they have eleven open positions."
"Does sound like our shot," Jeff admitted. "What should we sing? Solos or a duet?"
"Hmm…" Nick considered. "I don't know. Solos, probably. They might ask us to sing something specific…"
They didn't. Auditions were simple. You went in alone and sang in front of Wes and two seniors. Jeff sang Fifteen by Taylor Swift, because it was one of his favorite songs. Nick sang Take Me There by Rascal Flatts, because honestly, why not? They met a few other people that day, Thad, David, and Beatz. They, along with a few others, were chosen to become part of Dalton's elite.
It was kind of surreal, really. In February, Dalton Academy got two new students, and the Warblers got two new members, Blaine and Trent. Blaine had it all. He was good-looking and so talented. He became Nick and Jeff's third roommate, so late in the semester he had no other choice but to share. Nick and Jeff didn't mind, Blaine was awesome.
"Point of order," Wes said, banging his gavel loudly. "We have worked hard this season, but with Blaine we will definitely have what we need for Regionals."
"I agree," said the councilmember to his left, one of the only remaining seniors. "Blaine is the best, and we need the best."
"Blaine it is," Wes said, banging his gavel again. "Meeting adjourned." Blaine was still frozen, sitting on the arm of one of the couches.
"Blaine?" Nick asked, waving his hand in front of Blaine's face.
"Blaaiine?" Jeff sang, shaking him a little. Everyone else was gone by this point, it was just the three of them. "You okay, buddy?"
"Yeah," Blaine said, suddenly coming out of his trance. "Did I really just get the solos for Regionals?"
"You bet your ass you did," Jeff replied, holding up his fist to bump. "Congratulations."
"Thanks," Blaine said. He hopped off the couch and walked with the other two back to their dorms. "Wow, I just can't believe it. Competition solos, me."
"You say that like you would never have dreamed it was possible," Nick laughed.
"Well, I didn't," Blaine said.
"You fruit loop, you're amazing!" Jeff praised. Blaine laughed softly. Nick and Jeff traded compliments for Blaine as they neared their room. When they were finally back inside, Blaine sat on Nick's desk and faced the other two.
"Do you know why I transferred here? Trent and I, both?" Blaine asked.
"Nope," Nick shrugged.
"Oh," Blaine said.
"Trent said something about getting beat up at a dance," Jeff said.
"Yeah," Blaine said, off-handedly.
"That's okay," Jeff said. "I was bullied too."
"You were?" Blaine asked.
"Yeah," Jeff said, laughing in spite of it. "People are jerks."
"Is- Is everyone who goes to school here gay?" Blaine asked quietly.
"What?" Nick asked.
"Um, no," Jeff said. "I don't think so, at least. I mean, I am, but…" He trailed off, realizing he'd never told Nick that before.
"You…are?" Nick asked. Jeff nodded, biting his lip. "Oh. Fantastic. Congratulations."
"Thank you?" Jeff replied, confused. "Anyway, Blaine. Nick's not, but he's chill. We've been best friends for a thousand years."
"And we'll be best friends for a thousand more," Nick grinned. Blaine laughed.
"You guys are cool," he said. "I'm gonna take a shower, okay?"
"Enjoy," Jeff said. Blaine disappeared into the bathroom.
"How come you never told me?" Nick asked.
"Wasn't important," Jeff said. "What's it to you?"
"If that's the reason you were being bullied–"
"Forget it," Jeff replied. "We're here now."
"How did you know?" Nick asked out of nowhere after a quick pause.
"What do you mean, how did I know? I just did," Jeff shrugged. "It's not rocket science. I've always liked guys. Ever since I was a kid."
"Nothing, I just… I never thought about it," Nick said.
"You're fifteen, put a lid on it," Jeff said. "You're probably straight."
"Yeah, I guess," Nick shrugged. "Doesn't matter anyway, does it?"
"Not as far as I can see," Jeff replied. "I'm gonna go to bed if we're done with the weird conversation. Super tired from dance rehearsal."
"Yeah, sure," Nick said, realizing he was sitting on Jeff's bed and vacating it. "Are we on for our usual Thursday breakfast shenanigans?"
"Of course," Jeff said. "It's not Thursday without breakfast shenanigans."
"Just like it wouldn't be Monday without sweater vests," Nick agreed.
"I Niff you," Jeff sighed.
"I Niff you too."
The Warblers, unfortunately, lost at Regionals and nothing particularly noteworthy at all happened until the fall of the next year. One dreary Tuesday, Blaine came spinning happily into Nick and Jeff's room.
"You don't live here anymore, remember?" Jeff reminded him.
"Where were you two today?" Blaine asked, sitting down on Nick's desk. "There was the cutest boy at the performance this afternoon."
"We missed another performance?" Nick asked. "Dammit, Jeff, I told you we didn't need to go to Abercrombie!"
"Teenage Dream," Blaine said wistfully. "He was my teenage dream."
"Who?"
"Kurt. New kid," Blaine said. "He's so pretty."
"I totally thought I was the prettiest person on campus," Jeff said.
"Well, look whose self-esteem is flourishing today," Nick commented.
"Shut up," Jeff said, shoving Nick playfully. "You know it's true."
"Oh, it totally is," Nick replied, "I'm just saying."
"Jerk," Jeff said, sticking out his tongue.
"I Niff you," Nick said sweetly.
"I Niff you too," Jeff replied.
"I didn't think we were getting any transfers this week," Nick said to Blaine.
"But…" Blaine said. "Oh."
"I'm sure he's still pretty whoever he is," Jeff assured him.
"Oh," Blaine said again. He hopped off the desk and left the room without a goodbye.
"Is he dreaming cute guys now?" Jeff asked Nick. "Because if he is, I want some of whatever he's taking."
"There aren't enough cute guys in real life, you need to dream them?" Nick asked.
"Call em like I see em," Jeff shrugged.
"I take real offense to that," Nick said.
"No you don't, you big nerd," Jeff said. "Come on, we'll be late for practice."
"What are we waiting for? Kurt, Blaine, hook them up!" Thad said. "I have a lot of money rested on them getting together."
"It's complicated," Nick said. "Blaine's still reeling over the whole Jeremiah thing, and I'm not sure tonight is the best time. It's Valentine's Day."
"Yeah, and he'll be the only one with a date if we set them up," Jeff said. "Then what if they don't work out and Valentine's is a source of awkward in their lives for the next two hundred years?"
"I'll see what we can do at Breadstix tonight," Nick sighed. "But it probably won't be tonight. Before Regionals, definitely, but not tonight."
"Breadstix tonight," Jeff echoed as Thad left. "Sounds exciting."
"Sure does!" Nick exclaimed. "David says his girlfriend has a friend that would be perfect for me."
"Have you ever been on a date before?" Jeff asked skeptically.
"Nope, not a one," Nick replied.
"Alright, good luck," Jeff said. "Really, I'm sure if David thinks she'll be perfect for you, she will be. You're amazing."
"Well, this is true," Nick said. "I am amazing, but not anywhere near amazing as you."
"Ha," Jeff said. "I'm nowhere near amazing. I am the opposite of amazing."
"Oh shush," Nick said.
"I Niff you," Jeff said, laughing.
"I Niff you too," Nick replied.
Nick ended up on a date with Ashleigh, David's girlfriend's friend. She was lovely, sure, but Nick wasn't feeling it. It ate him apart for weeks, but finally he knocked anxiously on Blaine's door.
"Hey Nick, what's up?" Blaine asked.
"I need to talk to you, alone, preferably now, while Jeff's still out," Nick said. "We kind of like to eavesdrop through the wall…"
"What can I do for you?" Blaine asked, holding the door open so Nick could enter.
"How do you know if you're… gay?" Nick asked.
"Uh… that's kind of complicated," Blaine said. "Why do you ask? Maybe I can help better this way."
"It's just… I went out with Ashleigh and it was… weird."
"Of course it was weird, it was your first date."
"No, but it was weirder than a first date really should be," Nick said. "I watch TV, I know about first dates. This was… different."
"So you bombed one date and you think you might be gay?" Blaine asked. "Nick, that's probably not what it is. She's just not the right girl for you. There are literally billions more."
"No, I think it's more than that," Nick said. "I guess I wasn't realizing it until lately, but I think I have feelings for Jeff."
"You don't say?"
"You don't have to act so surprised," Nick mumbled.
"I'm not surprised in the slightest," Blaine said.
"But I could be wrong," Nick said.
"Even if you're not, that still doesn't make you gay," Blaine said. "You fall in love with a person not a gender. What kind of parts that person has doesn't determine anything besides where you put it. You can have feelings for Jeff, or anyone you want. Doesn't change anything. You just need to accept yourself for whoever you are. Yeah?"
"I guess so…" Nick said, biting the edge of his lip in thought.
"Besides… you're never ever alone," Blaine said, smiling.
"Thanks," Nick said. "What about you?"
"What about me, what?" Blaine asked.
"How do you know?"
"I got drunk and spent an entire night sucking face with Kurt's friend Rachel," Blaine said. "That, sir, is what we call rock bottom. I got all confused, thought I might be bi, and then one afternoon, she kissed me sober, and I just really knew."
"Oh," Nick said. "I've never kissed anyone."
"No one?" Blaine asked. Nick shook his head. "Neither have I. Well, Rachel, but not a boy, and that's all that really counts, I guess." He looked up at Nick, standing just inches from Blaine as he sat on his desk. It happened at the same moment – their lips connected slowly and just as quickly parted. "And now we have."
"And now we have," Nick echoed.
A/N: Leave a review, please? I get more response when I ask discussion questions.
Discussion Question:
If Kurt couldn't be with Blaine (cuz Blaine is with Sebastian), who would you like Kurt to be with? I'm vaguely torn between Adam and Karofsky, myself, but I'd love to hear your opinions.
Samantha.