A/N: What's this, an update?! I know I've been AWOL for a long time, and I'm sorry about that. Thank you to everyone who's still continued to stumble across this story and read it, it means a lot more to me than you could imagine! I hope you enjoy this chapter, I'm aiming on having the next one out soon!


"Thank you very much. You've been incredibly helpful, have a great day!" Trent announced, ending the call on his cell and crossing off the box next to 'restaurant reservation' on Thad's whiteboard.

"Operation Junior Prom is a little excessive, is it not?" Blaine queried, popping his head through Trent and Thad's open door.

"Don't say that to him," Trent begged, "he's so desperate to get this right for Rachel, especially now that creepy Jesse guy is back on the scene."

"Yeah, Kurt's told me all about him. What kind of a guy would arrange to have eggs tossed at his ex-girlfriend?" Blaine wondered aloud, before shaking his head. "I'm going to prom with Kurt."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Trent asked, knowing all about his friend's past with school dances.

"Nothing bad can happen. Besides, Kurt asked me to go, and I'll do anything to make him happy. Where even is Thad?"

"I'm here!" Thad announced, shoving Blaine fully into the room in his haste to get to his desk. "I've just collected the corsage. You can tick that off the list."

Trent saluted his best friend's back before turning back to the whiteboard and ticking 'corsage collection' off the list.

"Have you got your suit yet?" Blaine asked Thad, who replied with a brisk nod, opening his wardrobe to show Blaine. "She's really excited, you know."

"I know." Thad replied, glancing toward Blaine, "and that's why I'm determined to make it the most special night I can for her. She deserves it."

"Don't worry about Jesse," Blaine announced, purposely ignoring the looks Trent was giving him, trying to warn Blaine that he was about to enter into dangerous territory with Thad. "Rachel wants nothing more to do with him. He destroyed her Thad. He took her to a place far lower than she expected to be possible. And look at her now, look at the person she has become, thanks in part to you. There's no way in the world that Jesse St. James will ever steal Rachel away from you. I won't allow it. Kurt won't allow it. And we both know that Trent and Tina will not allow it."

"Thanks man," Thad replied, walking over to Blaine and pulling him into a brief hug.

"That dress is perfect for you Rachel, you're going to look stunning!" Kurt exclaimed as Rachel emerged from the changing room in a pale pink, strapless knee-length dress.

"Do you like it?" Rachel questioned, spinning around and looking over her shoulder in a poor attempt to look at her entire outfit at once.

"Wait, was that Rachel Berry sounding unsure of herself? Quick, someone call the press!" Kurt called, laughing and ducking as Rachel swatted at him. "Just go pay for the damn dress already. You won't find another one more perfect than that, I promise." Rachel nodded, seemingly satisfied with his answer, and hurried to get changed so she could purchase the dress.

"Okay, so that's my outfit sorted, Tina's helping me with my hair and make-up, and I think Thad's doing everything else. Have I missed anything?" Rachel queried, scrolling through the note she had created on her cell as Kurt and herself headed out of the mall and towards her car.

"Nope. You're done. I'm done. We just need to wait for prom now." Kurt replied. "Have you spoken to Jesse again?"

"No. And I don't plan on it either. He's awful, Kurt. He's an awful person who I don't want to waste my time on."

Kurt nodded in understanding, reaching over and squeezing his friend's hand in reassurance. "How about we go get coffee?"

Two days later, Thad was staring at himself in the mirror, positive he could see himself turning greener with each passing second.

"Thad, if you don't hurry up, you're going to be late in picking Rachel up, and you'll miss your reservations!" Trent announced, bursting into the dorm.

"I can't do this, Trent." Thad announced, turning to look at his best friend.

"Are you being serious?" Trent replied, looking at Thad in horror, unsure of the best course of action. He hurried back into the hallway and began bellowing names at random until someone, anyone, came to his rescue.

"What's up?" Nick questioned, poking his head out of his door.

"It's Thad, he's saying he can't go through with prom." Trent had barely finished his sentence before Nick was hurrying into the dorm room, pulling Thad away from the mirror.

"Dude, don't give me that crap." Thad opened his mouth to protest, but quickly shut it after seeing the look on Nick's face. "You're going. Everything is going to be fine. Rachel is expecting the best night of her life tonight, and you would be one crappy boyfriend if you went and ruined that, wouldn't you? Yes, you know I'm right. Now go and get Rachel and enjoy a prom with actual females in the room for all of us, alright?"

Thad mock-saluted Nick, took a deep breath and glanced at himself in the mirror one last time before grabbing Rachel's corsage and hurrying out of the dorm room.

"He stresses too much," Nick announced to Trent as they watched Thad leave Dalton, receiving several pats on the back and handshakes along the way. Trent glanced back at the 'Operation Junior Prom' board before replying.

"What do you think he'll be like next year?!"