That was the summer of 1963, when cigarettes didn't give you cancer and they taught you ballroom dance in gym class. That was before the Beatles came, before the personal computer, when I couldn't wait to join the Peace Corps, and I thought that I would never be as happy as my parents.
That was the summer that we went to McKinley's Family Resort.
Blaine Anderson gazed out the window of the family Chevrolet. He leaned forward and tapped his father on the arm. "I'm really glad that we can spend this time as a family, Dad." He said.
The Anderson parents- James and Lillian- smiled too. James responded "We're glad that we can do this too, son. I hope you're ready for the horse-shoe show down!"
"I sure am, Dad. Maybe this year you and Mom will beat Santany and I!"
Santana Anderson rolled her eyes and made a gagging gesture. "Are we there yet? I hope the waiters this year are more attractive than the ones last year."
. . .
They pulled up to the main building amidst a flurry of activity. Art easels were set up on the lawn, other groups were playing croquet, and a man was yelling into a megaphone advertising more family events in other areas of the resort.
They got out of the car and a skinny, terrifying blonde woman rushed over to them with a younger blonde girl in tow. "Jim! Doc! Hey, buddy, I'm so glad you could make it!.I've been trying to get you up here for years. "
James Anderson turned and smiled. He, too, had the characteristic Anderson beaming smile. He looked like an older version of his son: more wrinkles, more grey in his shorn curly hair, a little bit extra around the midsection, and maybe a little bit shorter. "Sue! I'm glad I could make it. How's the blood pressure?"
While the older folk made inane conversation, Brittany openly stared at Blaine's sister. Santana met her stare harshly, almost daring her to do something. Brittany grinned and looked down, giving in and admitting that she was looking.
"Brittany, get their bags!" Sue ordered. Brittany rushed to obey. Santana smiled in appreciation and followed Brittany with her eyes, admitting that she noticed her too.
Blaine leapt over to help carry bags. "You should get a job here, too!" Brittany offered brightly. Blaine laughed.
. . .
Later that night, Blaine left his parents playing card games so he could spend some time looking around. He pulled his sweater more tightly around his body and hopped from stone to stone on the path, enjoying the simple pleasure of the evening.
He poked his head into a closet and found where they kept all the tennis rackets. The balcony by the main dining room had a beautiful view that he took advantage of. From around the corner he heard Sue's distinctive voice. He peeked around a door to investigate. She was giving instructions to the waiters and waitresses. "Ladies and Gentlemen, you know why I hired you this summer. You are all impressive, so please act like it. Don't spill on the guests, be friendly. Show them a good time. Especially the sons and daughters. You get my drift, yeah? ALL of them; even the dogs."
"You got that guys?" A soft, biting voice cut through the crowd. A man with a jacket thrown over his shoulder sauntered into the room, Brittany followed. Blaine's chin lifted as he looked the newcomer over. Hair peaked with gel, sparkling blue-green eyes and a chiseled jaw drew his attention. Large, delicate hands held onto his coat. Impossibly tight black jeans left little to the imagination. In fact, they very clearly defined the hottest ass that Blaine had ever seen.
"Wait." Sue commanded, and the man halted his strut. "You have your own instructions, Hummel. Teach them the Mambo, the Cha-Cha, whatever they pay for. That's it. Nothing extra, no conversations. Don't get too close to anybody. I don't want to have a problem with you, but if I get a complaint I will follow through. Got it?"
The man stared down at the floor, listening but clearly not chastened. Rebellion showed clear through his face, but he nodded in understanding nonetheless.
"Think you can handle that, Hummel?" A beefy waiter sneered while arranging a table. The man's eyes flashed and he 'accidentally' bumped into the table, sending silverware and plates to the floor.
"Whoops. Sorry Karofsky. Think you can.. handle.. that?" He flared for a second and walked away. Karofsky watched him go with an face that Blaine couldn't read.
He took his thoughts and headed back to his cabin to dress for dinner.
. . .
Sue herself seated them.
"David, this is Dr. and Mrs. Anderson, their son Blaine and their daughter Santana. This is your waiter, David Karofsky. Yale medical school. These people are my special guests, give them anything they want." David bowed.
Conversation was a little forced at the dinner table. Blaine was still thinking about what he had seen earlier. Santana was having fun flirting with Karofsky, though Blaine suspected that it was all an act.
James and his wife traded jokes and smiles, enjoying each other's presence. Blaine knew that it must be hard on them, with his father's medical career being so demanding. Once again he wondered to himself if he would ever find 'the one' like his parents did, and his thoughts turned back to the man from earlier.
He had known for a while that he was interested in guys. It was taboo, though; it wasn't allowed. In school they had been shown PSAs about the dangers of homosexuality and homosexual men. The movies portrayed it like it was an illness that needed to be cured, that all homosexuals preyed on young boys. He'd never felt like a monster, and it was terrible being told he was one.
He sighed. Karofsky was back to clear the table. Sue towed a young girl behind her. "I'd like you all to meet my niece Rachel. She attends the Julliard School for singing performance and music business."
"Oh, Blaine is starting Brown in the fall."
"That's nice. And what are you going to do, miss?"
"Oh, She's going to rule it." Blaine cracked. Santana glared at him.
Rachel smiled at him eagerly. He returned the sentiment wanly. The whole group left the dining room to join the other guests on the dance floor. Rachel insisted on dancing with Blaine, and his parents literally pushed him towards her. He sighed once more and brought her to dance.
"I am so excited to graduate next year!" She started. "I am going to be a famous broadway actress, you see. I will do that for 20 years or so, and then I will become a famous Broadway producer! I have some fantastic ideas. I just know that I'm meant to-" Blaine rocked with her on the dance floor, detaching himself from her relentless stream of words.
He looked desperately towards his parents, but they just smiled and encouraged him silently.
Suddenly some much more exciting music began, the trumpets blaring. Blaine was snapped back to reality with Rachel screeching exultantly "I love the Mambo!"
Blaine dealt with it until he saw the dancers. It was the beautiful man from earlier and a very pretty blonde girl. Her charming girl-next-door looks were belied by the ferocity of her dancing. "Who are they?" He asked Rachel.
"Oh, them? They're the dance instructors. I don't know what they're doing, dancing with each other. That's not how you sell lessons." Blaine watched them appreciatively, completely inattentive to his partner at this point.
The two of them were beautiful together, and they clearly enjoyed dancing with each other. His smile was wide, and she giggled in his arms. Blaine's heart fell a little. In what alternate universe did he ever have a shot?
Shee threw threw her leg up over his shoulder. He raised his arm up and behind her, paralleling her leg. She bent back, almost touching the floor with her head. He stepped backwards, supporting her as she held herself before him. It was the most beautiful thing that Blaine had ever seen.
Sue intercepted them and told them to knock it off and dance with the guests already. They hurried to do so.
. . .
Later that night, Blaine found himself exploring again. He wandered past the 'Staff Quarters No Guests Please' sign to follow some music he thought he heard.
He spotted Brittany struggling to carry some watermelons and he ran over. "Hey!" He yelled. "Need some help?"
"Sure, thanks." She looked at him nervously, as though she didn't know what to do. They walked a few feet and she stopped again. "I'm not sure..." She thought for a moment. "I'm not sure if I'm allowed to bring you here. Maybe you should go back."
"But then who would carry this watermelon? I'm certified, you know." He joked.
"Oh! Well in that case." She continued on her way and Blaine laughed. He decided that he liked Brittany; she had a sense of humor.
They walked in on the most bold display of sexual abandon that he had ever witnessed. There were young people everywhere rocking and swaying to the music. He had never seen anything like this before in his life. He followed Brittany dumbly, moving past couples who were lost in each other.
"Where did they learn to do that?" He asked.
"At home." She replied. "In their basements. Haven't you ever danced?"
"Apparently not," he mused.
"Wanna try?" She asked. He shook his head. He had to admit, though, it did look like a lot of fun.
Cheers erupted as two more people entered the fray. Kurt grabbed a proffered bottle and took a long swig. Immediately he started moving his body to the beat and pulled Quinn to him. She laughed again and they danced, outshining everybody.
"That's my cousin, Kurt Hummel" Brittany said. "He got me this job."
"They look great together." Blaine stated morosely.
Brittany laughed. "Yeah, they'd've made a great couple."
"You mean they're not?" Blaine was shocked.
She shook her head, looking nervous again. "No, not since Kurt- he's.. different. He doesn't.. He's.." She thought for a moment. "He's special."
Blaine hoped that she meant what he thought she did. He hoped she meant that Kurt was gay too. From the way he went around from person to person invading personal space and causing blushes, he seemed to be indiscriminate when it came to flirting. It seemed that he did that with anybody.
For a second amidst the flirting and gyrating Blaine thought that Kurt spotted him ogling, so he looked away quickly. He figured he was safe after a few seconds and went back to staring brazenly again. The song ended and everybody cheered, getting ready for the next one to start.
It did with lots of drums and there was more excitement. Blaine had never been anywhere like this- the smell of sweat and sex hung thick in the air, the heat from all of the bodies, the music coursing through his veins. Tonight was special.
Kurt made his way over to his cousin, dancing with men and women on the way over. "What's he doing here?" He asked. Blaine blushed furiously. It was the first time that he'd been addressed by Kurt, albeit indirectly.
"He came with me." Brittany covered.
"I carried a watermelon." Blaine said, flashing his patented brilliant Anderson smile. Kurt didn't seem amused. He rolled his eyes and went back to dancing.
Blaine tried to sink into the floor. "I carried a watermelon? Good job, Blaine, really great."
Brittany patted his arm sympathetically, sensing intuitively that there was something 'special' about Blaine too.
When Kurt danced near them again, she pushed Blaine hard and he tumbled into Kurt. Kurt pushed him off harshly. "What's your problem, man? Do you want to dance with me or something?" It was a throwaway comment, but Blaine found himself unwittingly nodding.
He stopped almost immediately, but Kurt saw it and stopped moving. Blaine cursed under his breath, the first time he had ever done that. Kurt stepped toward him. "What? You want me to teach you?"
Blaine didn't look up. Kurt took his wrist and led him to a darker area, keeping them shrouded in the noise and the haze. He was brazen, but he wasn't stupid.
Kurt scrunched Blaine down by the shoulders and started moving his hips obscenely. Blaine just stared. A smile tugged at the corners of Kurt's lips, the first Blaine had seen. "Copy me." That kickstarted Blaine into action and he did, trying to move his hips the same way.
Kurt struggled not to laugh at how silly the boy looked, trying to move like he felt the beat but obviously missing the mark. Kurt wasn't sure what the boy's intentions were, but he figured that everybody should have a chance to learn how to dance.
He was surprised at how quickly Blaine did catch on. Kurt decided to be bold and pulled Blaine in. He aligned their hips and they started moving together. Kurt had to bite back a groan, not wanting to hint at how much he was enjoying this. It wasn't often that he got to dance with other men. And judging from what he felt in their dancing, other gay men.
He knew to protect himself, he'd been burned too many times. But still, he was just teaching the kid how to dance, right? He brought the boy's arms up around his neck and looked deeply into his dark eyes. He dropped and swung him around, and did it again. It all clicked into place.
He led the other boy's now pliant body into some hot moves. Didn't go too far, though, this was a one time thing. As the song came to a close he quickly removed his arms and faded into the crowd, leaving Blaine dancing against thin air.