Dear Readers,
First of all I would like to thank you all for the incredibly positive response that I've had to this story. The reviews, alerts and favourites all mean a lot to me, so thank you. Secondly, I will not be updating until, at earliest, the week after next as I'm going on holiday tomorrow and when I come back I have a four day music course so there won't be too much time for me to write. Either way, enjoy the latest chapter!
Sopphires.
The Scholarship
Episode 8: Roadblocks
Okay, so I've just hit a very strange part of my life. Everything for the past week has been about getting into Dalton Academy. I experienced a week of life there, though I reckon quite a lot of that wasn't a typical representation of it, and I've already made friends. The thing is, though, I thought that when I got in to Dalton everything would change. I'm not sure how, but I figured all the confusing things might just slot into place, but they haven't. It's still as hard to find my way around, and the lessons are still impossible. Somehow, though, Blaine is still my biggest problem…
"Morning, Kurt." Kurt looked up and saw Parker smiling at him from across the hallway.
"Hey Parker."
"Well done on the audition." Kurt smiled, seemingly unable to get tired of hearing those words.
"Thank you, and thank you for the advice. I'd have still been stressing over it." Parker smiled again, and paused as Kurt looked between him and the kitchen where Blaine, Sebastian, Thad, Juri and Chris were sitting.
"Coming to the cafeteria?" asked Parker, and Kurt blinking, shrugged.
"Um, sure." he cast one glance at them, before following Parker.
"They can't come to breakfast." he explained, as they crossed the grounds. Kurt frowned.
"What?" Parker sent him a confused look.
"Well, Sebastian and Blaine can't come to breakfast in the cafeteria." Kurt continued to look confused. "They're under house arrest, didn't you know?" Kurt raised an eyebrow.
"House arrest? How? What is house arrest?" Parker sighed, heavily.
"House arrest is when you can't leave your house-" Kurt rolled his eyes. "-for anything other than lessons, and a list of cleared activities like Warblers, Orchestra, Chess…the play, but that's over. You can't go off campus, except for something like Sectionals." Kurt let his mouth hang open.
"What did they do?" Parker rolled his eyes.
"Those two, David and Wes threw a party." Kurt raised an eyebrow.
"Just the four of them?" Parker shook his head.
"No, there was a load of them, but they're the only ones that got caught…they were playing really loud music, they got drunk, one of them punched Liam-" Kurt gasped as they moved through the halls of Dalton. "-but that wasn't actually a big deal, anyway Hammonds got super pissed because Sebastian's head boy, Wes and David are on Warbler council and Blaine's a lead. Then there was the whole tree house thing." Kurt quirked an eyebrow as they went to get trays, and Parker spooned out a bowl of porridge for Kurt to supplement his fruit salad.
"Tree house?" Parker nodded.
"Yeah," he said as poured out a glass of orange juice. "they - Sebastian, Wes and probably Liam - built a tree house out by the woods at the back of campus. We're not really allowed to go there, you know, but of course they do."
"They're actually lucky to not have been suspended." said Andy, slipping seamlessly into the conversation. Kurt raised his eyebrows.
"Really?"
"Yeah, but this is Sebastian and Blaine so what were we expecting?" Kurt frowned at Vince.
"You guys don't like each other?" there was a pause in which looks were shared, and everyone sighed as one, putting down their cutlery.
"It's not that we don't like each other." said Keats, looking mildly worn out. "It's just we don't really…" he broke off, shrugging. "We're just different people." there were nods, but Kurt remained unconvinced.
"There's something else, though, right?" there were more sighs, and most eyes went to Keats.
"You're probably gonna find this out soon enough, so we might as well get it over with; you'll find that there are quite a few boys in our year that don't like the Warblers." Kurt frowned, swallowing.
"Why not?" there was a long pause.
"Because the Warblers are so popular." he said with a long sigh. "Our sports teams are good, but every school has that kind of team, not every private school as a good show choir, and the Warblers are good." Kurt frowned.
"So, what, you guys are jealous?" there were sighs, and Keats ruffled his wavy hair.
"It's more complicated than that; eighty per cent of the people had Dalton come from high pressurised kind of homes, where grades are everything, and basically nothing is good enough. That's the case for me, Andy, and Stuart."
"My parents don't care, but not in the good not care way." Kurt nodded at Vince, and Parker smiled.
"My parents are quite cool with the whole thing."
"Anyway," said Keats, turning the conversation back to where it had been. "the Warblers has a maximum of twenty students. I think, now, there are 15, and that's practically nothing." Keats shrugged. "So it's kind of bad when all they ever talk about is the Warblers."
"Yeah," said Vince noisily crunching at a bit of toast. "no one ever mentions that fact that us five have been in charge of the magazine and website since we were Freshmen. We're the only people that work on it." Kurt frowned, grudgingly eating the porridge.
"So, you're saying, what? You guys are…undervalued?" Keats shrugged.
"It's just how some people feel."
"We're not saying the Warblers are bad people or anything." added Andy, hurriedly. "They're talented and they deserve the credit they get." Kurt sighed, setting down his spoon feeling a little disheartened.
Great, just what I wanted to hear. I just got into Dalton, and was looking forward to joining the Warblers, only to be told that. I guess that they didn't mean to make me feel so discouraged, at least I hope they didn't.
"Don't let that put you off joining." said Keats, placing a hand over Kurt's. "Show choir is your love, than go for it. I'm sorry that I couldn't see your audition, people have been saying that you sung like an angel." there were rolled eyes.
"Kurt, I'm sure your voice is beautiful, but nobody said that." Kurt frowned, glancing between Vince and Keats, who was glaring back at his friend, in a confused manner.
"What?" he questioned, not quite understanding the situation.
"You know what," said Stuart suddenly. "I'm gonna head off. Parker, Andy?"
"Yep." said Andy, leaping to his feet. Parker nodded, and Vince, slapping Keats on the back, left the table. Kurt stared at Keats in confusion. Keats was glaring at the table, seemingly suppressing the urge to yell or just loose complete composure.
"Err, Keats, want to give me some information?" the boy shook his head, raising it slightly, and Kurt saw that his ears had gone slightly pink as he clenched his jaw.
"You know, I have to talk to Trinity." he leapt from his seat and all but ran towards the three boys who were sitting with Drew and Fred. Kurt stayed in his seat, blinking.
Okay, I have no idea what just happened, like, really no idea. I just- what the hell was that about? I don't get it. I know I should stop trying to figure these guys out, but really? I thought Keats and his friends were kind of normal…guess I got that part wrong.
Blaine had never found things as awkward as they were with Sebastian as now. They'd had their moments; the uncomfortable silences after rows, or the tense moments of uncertainty when they just didn't know how to act around each other. The problem was, though, was that they were meant to be dating. They were dating, but they couldn't look each other in the eye. It was like there was some unspoken agreement between them saying that they weren't going to discuss this now. It was only made more bearable by Thad, Juri and Chris' presence as they ate breakfast.
Another thing that was sinking in to Blaine was their current situation. The two of them were under house arrest. Before it hadn't really sunk in because, due to the play and Sectionals, they'd had so much authorised leave that it hadn't really mattered. Now, though, things were reaching their lowest point in this part of the term, and it meant that his only authorised leave was for Warblers, and Sport because his ban from Luc was lifted. Now, though, the consequences were that neither he nor Sebastian get off campus on a date. They couldn't leave the house after lessons. How the hell were they meant to do anything if they were locked in Franklin?
"So." said Sebastian, who was peeling an apple. "Want to hang out later?" Blaine blinked at him, torn from his depressing thoughts rather abruptly.
"Um, yeah, but I should probably check up on Kurt, I've kind of done a shit job as far as orientating him is concerned." Sebastian shrugged, and Blaine rolled his eyes. "Come on, you paid we way more attention."
"Yeah, but I liked you."
"And I like Kurt." there were groans as his other friends, even Thad, banged their heads against the table.
"What?" Chris put his hands down on the table, feigning a look of patience.
"Blaine, he means he liked you. You already- Blaine, are you winding us up?" Blaine cracked a smirk as Juri and Thad exchanged eye rolls.
"Hey, vere is Kurt?" the others looked round, also noting the absence of the counter tenor. Eyes flitted back to Juri who was frowning.
"Did you get up before him?" asked Blaine. Juri shook his head.
"He vas avake, but I left before him." Sebastian got to his feet, a fixed expression on his face.
"I'll go see if he's okay." he strode out of the room. The four boys left looked at each other, perturbed expressions on their faces.
"Well, that was abrupt." Chris snorted at Blaine, and Juri shrugged. Thad picked up the book that had been by Chris' elbow, and began examining it. He raised an eyebrow at Chris, when he flipped to the inside cover, who grinned, sheepishly.
"He couldn't believe I hadn't read it, to be honest neither could I, I mean, remember when I just spouted quotes from Romeo and Juliet throughout the West Side Story rehearsals?" Thad nodded, seemingly not paying attention to what was actually being said.
"What is it?" asked Blaine, setting down his spoon. Thad slid the book across the table to him, cover open. Blaine, a mild frown on his face, picked it up and looked at it. His eyebrows rose, quickly.
"Bastian leant you his book?" Chris nodded.
"Yeah, I was shocked too. I'm going out on the weekend to get my own copy, but by then I'll have finished it." Blaine shook his head.
"You need an e-reader." Chris rolled his eyes.
"That's what Feel and my parents keep saying, but I couldn't give up books. An e-reader doesn't have the same smell." to prove his point he picked up the book and sniffed it, breathing in deeply. It was this, possibly strange, sight that greeted Sebastian when he walked back in.
"Um, Chris, why are you molesting my book?" the boy hastily put down the book, looking guilty, and Sebastian moved to stand behind Blaine, who was going red by their proximity.
"I was just telling them that books smell nice." Sebastian raised his eyebrow, and leaned against Blaine, almost sending the younger boy into a cardiac arrest.
"Are you okay?" Blaine looked at Juri who was eyeing him in a confused manner. Blaine gulped in some air for a little bit whilst he nodded.
"Yeah…I'm good." for some reason, Sebastian being near him, or touching him was all different now that they were officially a couple. He couldn't explain why, but his brain seemed to be telling him that everything had changed, which now meant he was, once more, unable to deal with Sebastian.
"Blaine, you sure you're okay?" Blaine nodded, swallowing again.
"You know what, give me a minute." he leapt from the table, and Sebastian turned with mildly startled eyes to the others.
"Am I meant to follow him?" he asked. Thad shook his head. "I guess this isn't the point to mention that Kurt went to breakfast with Parker." Thad shook his head again, this time getting to his feet. Without saying a word, he hurried after Blaine. Sebastian rolled his eyes. "Oh, hallelujah, Mr 'I-won't-say-a-word' is going save the day."
Blaine closed the door to his room, and flopped down onto his bed. The helpless tears falling down his face. He put his hands over his head, and half hoped that Sebastian would follow him, but at the same praying that he wouldn't out of fear of mortification.
He was prodded, softly, on the back, and, with a smile to himself, he rolled over. He'd known, the moment he'd felt the gentle prod, that it was Thad. After he'd first joined, and the nightmares and everything that had happened, it had become their thing that, when he was upset, Thad would prod him, lightly, once to let him know that he was there and Blaine could speak to him if he wanted. Blaine gratefully accepted the tissue box that was proffered to him by Thad, pulling one out and blowing his nose.
"Red?" he asked. Blaine shook his head, and Thad retreated to his bed, sitting on it and crossing his legs, waiting for Blaine to talk.
Blaine sighed, wiping his eyes away with his hand. He tried to speak, but kept faltering, not really sure what the best way of describing how he felt was.
"I'm sorry." he said, eventually. Thad frowned, and Blaine gave him a smile. "I don't know how many times we've been in this situation, but you must be sick of it." Thad shrugged, his facial expression telling Blaine he wasn't really bothered either way. Blaine let out a breathy laugh, a smile cutting across his face, and he wiped away the lingering tears.
"I just- I don't really know how to act. I just-" he broke off, handing moving to his chest. "I can feel- in my chest. It's like a panic attack." he breathed deeply. "I don't think I can breathe. Why did I ask him out? Why did I-" his head was shoved down, his knees opening on instinct, and he could hear Thad breathing just inches from him. He gulped, deeply, and felt his head spin a little bit. He tried to think straight, but the pounding blood in his head was commandeering all his attention.
"Okay, okay, Thad, you can let me up." the pressure was relieved from his neck, and Blaine sat upright, giving his friend a small smile. Thad was crouched before him, eyes wide, clearly asking why he was having a panic attack now. Blaine shrugged.
"I think- I know I didn't think this through…I just, I heard everything he said, and it was like 'oh, there you are'…you know?" Thad shook his head, looking completely confused. "It was like I know Sebastian, he cares about me, but I know he's not just- he's not-" Blaine let out a laugh, unable to explain. "Just hearing him say that, admit that…the way he opened up. He suddenly wasn't unreachable, or too good for me. So I just asked him out…but I didn't think it through. I don't know how to act, anymore, I don't know what to tell Cooper, Emily…dad." he shook his head, feeling the panic at telling his father that he had a boyfriend seeping through. "And then there's…there's, well, you know- and I can't- I don't."
His rambling was cut short, when Thad reached up and hugged him. Blaine was absolutely taken aback, not sure that the boy had ever hugged him of his own volition before. Still mildly in shock, Blaine reached up and put his arms around Thad's back, holding him to him, and taking comfort in the beating of his heart and the warmth from his body. Blaine sniffed, loudly, and clung on for a little bit longer, appreciating the gesture that was being made as well.
"Okay, I'm okay." he took a deep breath, and Thad retreated back to his bed, perching on the edge as if he may be required to leap off to help Blaine - which, Blaine considered, wasn't such a crazy thought. He ran a hand through his hair. "So, what do I do? I mean, do I talk about this with him?" there was a pause before Thad nodded.
"Yesss…he needsss…to know." Blaine gave him a small smile and nodded.
"I just- do you think this is just about sex?" Thad's eyebrows, which had shot up his forehead, answered the question perfectly for Blaine. "Okay, okay, I just- it was just a thought." Thad tilted his head, raising his eyebrows, and the expression just screamed 'do-you-really-think-he-would-have-chased-you-for-two-years-if-this-was-about-sex?'. Blaine chuckled, lightly. "Right, but, really, what do I tell the others?" Thad shrugged, his expression saying that he didn't have the faintest clue what to do in a situation like that. Blaine laughed again.
"Alright, well, thanks anyway." Thad shrugged, and Blaine got to his feet, swinging his arm around his friend's shoulder. "You know, for someone who doesn't say a lot, you sure as hell give good advice." Thad smiled at him, and Blaine shook his head, as he half laughed.
I wish the others would turn up soon because Keats is avoiding me, his friends keep bursting into hysterics and Trinity won't leave me alone! They are, possibly, the most annoying people I've ever met, and this is someone who spent over a year in show choir with Rachel Berry. I still don't get what happened at breakfast, but Trinity do, and it's driving me insane. Each time I ask them they just giggle and skip. I thought I saw Drew earlier, but it's occurred to me that, apart from sitting with him briefly at meals, I don't really know him…still, I think I'd prefer his company to that of Trinity's…
"Hey Kurt!" Juri was running down the corridor, several books in his arms, and a smile on his face. Kurt smiled at Juri, and then noticed he was about to run right into a table.
"Juri, your left." Juri stopped, looked to his right, saw nothing, started walking again, and then crashed into the table. The hall winced as one. Trinity bounded over to his side, and Daniel and Michael pulled him to his feet whilst Gabriel collected the scattered books. "Juri." said Kurt in a scolding tone. "do you know left from right?"
"Sorry." he said, grinning sheepishly. "I have trouble seeing zings zat aren't right in front of me." Kurt raised an eyebrow, delicately.
"I'd noticed." he said, dryly, and Trinity just giggled. Juri accepted his books from Gabriel, and set off to his lesson. Kurt turned to the giggling friends. "What," he demanded in a very annoyed voice, "is so funny?" they just giggled some more.
"You'll never get a straight answer out of them." Vince had turned up, Parker by his shoulder, and was eyeing the three small boys with a calculating expression.
"I actually think Keats is the only person that voluntarily speaks with them." Kurt could imagine that was true. Then he remembered something.
"Do they have roommates?" he asked, sounding horrified at the idea of someone living with them. Vince and Parker nodded in complete sync.
"Chris rooms with Daniel, Drew with Michael and Fred with Gabriel." Kurt's mouth hung open, gaping at the strange boys who were entertaining themselves with piece of paper that had fallen out of one of Juri's books.
"I feel sorry for them, I feel really sorry for them." the other two shrugged.
"They've made through two years." said Vince, casually. "Then again, Chris and Fred are just as mad as them. In fact, it was a pretty dumb idea to put Fred and Peel in the same room." Kurt stared at the two of them.
"Peel?" Vince rolled his eyes whilst Parker just shook his head.
"Their names all end in "el" so somebody - not sure who - decided to call them Feel, Heel and Peel after Franklin, Harriot and Putnam." Kurt rolled his eyes, and nodded in understanding.
"Oh, I see. Does anybody call them by their real name?" there was a pause before they shrugged.
"Mrs Daniels will call them by their surnames, but most of the others just stick with Trinity 'cause it's easier than saying all their names."
Well, these guys just keep getting weirder and weirder. I'm not sure I could ever go around calling someone "Feel" or anything, though. I might just stick with Trinity. I wonder if they like being called by all these different names like they're something really different? I wonder if anyone bothered to ask them before they named them?
"Ah, Kurt, nice to see you again." Mr Hartfield, and Kurt smiled up at his maths teacher. Mr Hartfield squatted down by his desk, and Kurt knew that he was going to get his work back. "Now, Kurt, this is good, but I'm afraid that you didn't do this yourself, did you?" Kurt froze.
How the hell does he know I got Vince and Parker to do half of it?
Mr Hartfield smiled at Kurt, sympathetically, as Kurt fought for words that wouldn't incriminate him, knowing that his silence wasn't helping him in anyway.
"Um…"
"It's okay Kurt, but I've taught Vince since he was Freshman, I know his working out." Kurt looked sheepishly down at the table, heart sinking.
Oh fuck. What the hell happens now? It's my first day as a proper student, and I'm already getting done for not having completed my homework myself…dad's gonna kill me.
"There's need to look so upset, Kurt." Kurt jerked his head upright, and noticed that Mr Hartfield was smiling at him kindly, still, and that he clearly wasn't finished talking. "I know that Dalton gives you a lot of catch-up work when you first join. I remember being completely snowed under." Kurt stared at him, blinking rapidly.
"Huh?" he cringed, internally, at his unintelligent, crude, response, but his mind had chugged to a complete stop; he wasn't being told off. Mr Hartfield gave him another kind smile.
"I'm ex-Dalton." he explained, calmly. "I joined about this time of year, in your year, and the work load was…immense. It didn't help that I'd just gotten an academic scholarship, so everyone thought I was a genius…" he shook his head. "It takes getting used to, Kurt, but I set you do that work on your own because I found that's the only way you can properly catch up. It's all very well and good being told what to do, but it works better when you do the work yourself." Kurt swallowed nodding, feeling a little bit calmer.
"So, I'm not in trouble?" Mr Hartfield shook his head.
"No, but Kurt, I want you to redo these exercises yourself, okay?" Kurt nodded, and Mr Hartfield removed the stack of papers from his desk. "And I want them in for next lesson." Kurt nodded again, not feeling at all inclined to argue with a teacher who had just let him off the hook for having someone else do his homework.
Mr Hartfield moved away, giving him one last smile, and Kurt breathed out in relief. That had been way too close. He had just got here. He didn't need to get into trouble for not doing his homework. That was definitely not on the agenda. Not that Kurt actually had an agenda, his only plan was get into Warblers and win Regionals and then Nationals. He smiled at the thought. Internally, he decided that that would have to be the last time he got anyone to do his work for him. That was clearly the nicest way to go about that. Imagine if Mrs Daniels realised that Keats had dictated half his assignment to him…oh god, that was a terrifying thought.
He opened the text book, and was about to start working when a piece of paper landed on his desk. He picked it up, frowning. Two more pieces followed, and Kurt rolled his eyes. Looking around, he noticed that Mr Hartfield was talking to Vince - Kurt hoped he wasn't getting told off - and so couldn't see Kurt. With a sigh, Kurt opened the first scrap of paper.
What do you think of Keats?
Kurt blinked, completely baffled by the question, and moved to the next one.
We mean both.
Huh, what the hell?
That made even less sense than the first one. At the first had been an actual question. He opened the last one, hoping that it would shed some light upon the conversation.
Appearance and personality.
Oh, well that clears things up..kind of.
Well, that was a bit odd, thought Kurt, glancing back around, before ripping out a page of lined paper. He paused before writing anything, wondering whether it was a good thing to be discussing this now. In the end, instead of answering the question, he penned his own.
Why?
He twisted around, and threw it at the three boys seated right at the back, before hastily turning back to the exercises as Mr Hartfield eyed the classroom suspiciously.
"Trinity, stop laughing." Kurt was glad of an excuse to look at the three boys, and saw - along with the rest of the class - that they were giggling over their textbooks, but Kurt had a feeling that it was his note that was making them snicker.
"Sorry, sir."
"Deepest apologies."
"Sincerest condolences." Kurt rolled his eyes, and guessed that that was something they said to teachers a lot as he remembered hearing it in Mr Sutherland's class. Mr Hartfield eyed them once more, before turning back to the student that he was helping. Kurt cast one last look at the three boys, before he turned back to his work.
Kurt set down his pen, feeling incredibly impressed with himself because he'd finished an exercise, when three more pieces of paper landed on his desk. Sighing he picked them up and opened them in order.
You hang out with him.
More than you do with Blaine.
And you like Blaine.
Kurt sighed, picking up the sheet of paper he'd hidden underneath his textbook that had the corner ripped out of it. Glancing back around once more, he began to write his response.
Firstly, I think it's really creepy that you write in the same order…and I don't see how who I hang out with is any of your business. Is this something to do with this morning?
He chucked the note back, and began to work again. He could feel eyes on him, and he guessed that either Mr Hartfield had noticed him, or Trinity were staring him. Both possibilities made him uncomfortable, and he set about applying his mind to his work in a productive manner.
"Trinity!" Kurt jumped, like most of the class, and looked around at the three boys that were all half out of their seats, eyes raised in the air. "What exactly do you think you're doing?" they looked at each other and sank back into their seats, arms still raised.
"Um…"
"Err…"
"Erm…" Mr Sutherland let out a long suffering sigh.
"Put your arms down, boys, and stop disturbing the class. In case you hadn't noticed you're right at the back so what you're doing isn't the most efficient method of gaining someone's attention." they all nodded and everyone turned back to their work. Kurt had the distinct feeling they'd been trying to attract his attention, but thought that it would probably be wise to pretend that he didn't know that. Three more notes appeared on his desk.
We need to talk.
Meet us at lunch.
Come to Mr Sutherland's classroom.
Kurt sighed, feeling that the tidings were rather ominous, but decided that he might as well go and see what they wanted.
After all, if they're just really nutty I'll walk away. What I wouldn't give for another peaceful day. That Friday when the Warblers were at Sectionals is still by far the best day I've had…I wonder what that says about my friendship with Blaine and the others. Either way, I'm rooming with Juri and he's their friend, and not talking to Blaine doesn't help with my crush…in fact I'm sure it makes it worse…
Blaine was glad when the bell for lunch went. He shot out of his seat, causing Mr Kerr to glare at him, and dashed from the classroom. He'd made up his mind when he ought to have been working, and had decided that he should tell Emily and Cooper about Sebastian. They'd know what to do about dad. Hopefully. This in mind, he set off towards Warbler Hall in the hope it would be empty.
Sure enough, when he opened the door, there was no one else in sight. Blaine shut it firmly behind him, and checked the rooms off it again. Luc was nowhere in sight, thankfully, because Blaine did not want to have him listen in on a conversation with Cooper.
He flopped down onto one of the sofas, and took his phone from his pocket, trying to decide who to call first. He was more concerned about telling Cooper, his big brother meant more to him than he ever let on, but Emily was by far easier to talk to, especially about this kind of thing. Maybe Emily could help him with Cooper too? Though they'd not been close, the moment he left and dad got down on him about his life choices, Emily had backed him up, so she might just know something to help him.
Mind made up, he pressed the call button, deciding it would be safer to call her mobile than the home phone because she could be out, and he needed to do it when he had the nerve.
"Blaine?"
"Hey, Emily." he heard the surprise in her tone, and found himself smiling.
"Oh, Blaine it's so good to hear from you. I was beginning to think that you'd lost your phone." Blaine smiled, wider, happy to hear from someone who was genuinely happy to hear from him.
"Yeah, sorry, life's been a bit hectic."
"I know, Cooper and Mr Hammonds told us all about Kurt." Blaine paused, biting down on his lip nervously.
"How did dad take it?" He heard her make a thoughtful noise over the phone, and took that to be a good thing.
"He wasn't happy, but he didn't get angry or anything." Blaine sighed in relief, nodding.
"Are you coming to the concert?"
"Yes, yes we are!" and the delighted tone of her voice was enough to bring the smile back to his face. "Your dad's been grumbling about you not having a solo, but me and the girls and Cooper are coming anyway." Blaine sighed in happy relief.
"Cool, and, about the solo, because I didn't throw the audition there's still a good chance I might have one."
"Oh, well, that's wonderful." an awkward silence overtook them both, and Blaine knew that she knew there was something big he wanted to say. "Is everything okay, Blaine?" Blaine sighed, and made a noncommittal movement with his head that she couldn't see. "Is it K-"
"No, it's Sebastian." despite the silence, he could hear her frown and confusion.
"Sebastian? What's happened? Has he hurt you?" Blaine shook his head.
"No, um, actually, I asked him out." there was a very long pause after that.
"You asked him out?" she repeated in disbelief, and Blaine rolled his eyes.
"Why does that baffle everyone?" he demanded, and Emily chuckled.
"Because, after everything you told us, it sounded like he'd be the one doing the asking out." Blaine sighed, a smile playing on his lips.
"Yeah, that's what I thought, but, you know, I couldn't wait forever." Emily laughed.
"Well, darling, this is wonderful, you've only fancied him since you got here, and after everything that-" Blaine cut her off, wanting to get to what was troubling him.
"Yeah, I know, but…what do I do about dad?" He heard her sigh, thoughtfully, and silence fell over the line. In the end Emily just sighed again.
"I don't know, dear, he's so- well, we both know how he thinks…your best bet would just be to introduce him, and hope for the best." Blaine winced, not really liking the idea. "Also, have you spoken to Cooper?" Blaine shook his head. "Phone line, dear." said Emily, and Blaine laughed, remembering that she couldn't see him, but knowing that she knew what his silence had meant.
"No, I was gonna call him after. How do you think he'll take it?"
"I don't know." she said, thoughtfully. "I think he'll be more concerned about you than he'll let on, and, no doubt, he'll find something to mock you about, but he's not going to get…whatever." Blaine nodded.
"Right, thanks Emily."
"It's nothing, dear. Call Cooper, he might have some ides about your father, and I'll see you soon." Blaine smiled.
"Yeah, looking forward to it. Love you."
"Love you too, sweetheart." Blaine hung up, smiling and glad that he'd called Emily first because it put him in a good mood, and gave him confidence for talking to Cooper. He dialled his brother's number and listened to it ring, stomach growling.
"Hi this is Cooper Anderson. I'm far too busy to take your call so if it's important leave message, but a short one 'cause I won't listen to whole thing, and dad, if this is you - piss off. Oh, and squirt, try growing up and dealing with your own problems." Blaine sighed and rolled his eyes at his brother's voicemail.
"Hey, Coop, I have something I need to tell you. Um, well, I have a boyfriend…it's Sebastian, and I asked him out…anyway, what the hell do I do about dad? See you at the concert." Sighing again, Blaine hung up. He rubbed his hands over his eyes, and stuffed his phone away. Now, he just had to speak to Sebastian. Groaning, and wondering just how crazy Dalton had driven him. Why did he enjoyed spending time with someone who gave him panic attacks, and could close his wind pipe with a smile or casual touch?
I have no idea why I'm doing this. For one, I'm not even one hundred per cent sure I know how to get to Mr Sutherland's classroom. Dalton is too confusing, I don't care if I've been here a week. Oh, hang on it's that statue thing that creeps me out that's near his classroom, I think. It's the freaky bust of some guy. I wonder who the hell he was, either way he does not have a nice face to look out.
"That's the founder of Dalton." Kurt jumped into the air, and spun around to see Luc standing behind him, staring at the statue passively. "You get use to how ugly he is." Kurt nodded, heart still thudding, slightly, and Luc narrowed his eyes. "You look scared. I don't bite, normally…except there was that one-" he broke off, at the wide eyed look of shock he was getting from Kurt. "Forget what I just said." Kurt nodded, dumbly.
"Yeah… yeah I will." Luc frowned at him.
"Apart from the bust, and my appearance out of thin air, is there something wrong?" Kurt shook his head, slowly. Luc just stared at him, and moved closer to the bust. "You know, in my first year me and friends stole this." Kurt gaped at him, and Luc snorted. "Yeah, that was fun. We got into a ton of trouble, obviously, when they found out we had him, but it was totally worth it…" Kurt frowned at him.
"Really?" Luc nodded.
"Yeah, Hammonds went berserk." Kurt frowned at him.
"Hammonds was your headmaster, too?" Luc shot him an incredulous look.
"How old do you think I am? I graduated, and then Sebastian and Wes and that year turned up. I went to music college for approximately a week before I got expelled."
"Why?" asked Kurt, completely fascinated. Luc shrugged.
"This and that…and the old music director had resigned…I think that was my fault." Kurt shot him the question "how?" with his eyebrows. "He was an idiot, and I pointed it out, a lot. I mean, he made the Warblers about popularity, not talent. He let anybody in, no auditions, you just needed enough peer votes. You know, I could sing on Broadway or in Opera, but I never once got a solo because nobody liked me."
"Why did nobody like you?" Luc shot him another incredulous look.
"Why do you think nobody liked me. I'm not a likeable person, Kurt, and I quite like it that way. In fact there's, I think, one student at Dalton that genuinely likes me, and that's Thad which is not saying much 'cause he's one heck of a weird kid." Luc shook his head. "Anyway, life story over, you're lost." Kurt nodded.
"Where's Mr Sutherland's classroom?"
"Round the corner…ah, you're the poor sod that Trinity are meeting there." Kurt gave him a horrified look.
"What do you mean?" trepidation filling his voice.
"They're bouncing around and cackling, like, honest to god, Wicked Witch of the West, cackling. Something you'd know all about." Kurt swallowed, nervously. Luc began to walk off, the sleeves of his ruffled shirt flapping. Kurt stared after him, baffled, before remembering something.
"Um, Mr Lucey!"
"Luc, kid, call me Luc." Kurt allowed himself a small smile.
"Right, um, when's my Warbler audition?" Luc rolled his eyes.
"Don't care. Sort it out with the council." Kurt nodded, and walked off round the corner to see Trinity.
Well, that was odd. I mean, he was being really nice to me. I wonder what he did to get expelled in a week, that must be some sort of record…I need to talk to the council. That's Wes, David and Thad…I'll talk to David when I get to lunch. I hope we make it soon, I want to perform in this concert of theirs. Maybe I could even do a solo? I could sing-
"Kurt."
"Elizabeth."
"Hummel." Kurt stared at the three boys who were all standing on the desks, grinning at him. Kurt swallowed, mind spinning a little bit, and feeling incredibly nervous because of the looks on their faces.
How the hell do they know my middle name? I haven't told anyone at Dalton my middle name. If they've broken into my room I will kill them.
"How," he began in a falsely calm voice. "do you know my middle name?" they looked at each other before shrugging.
"We Googled you."
"It's on Facebook."
"Mercedes Jones' Facebook." Kurt swallowed, feeling a little calmer, but making a mental note to demand that Mercedes removed that piece of information immediately.
"Okay, what do you guys want?" They lost their grins for half a second.
"We need to warn you."
"About Keats, Blaine and Sebastian."
"You have to be careful." Kurt stared at them all incredulously.
"What?" he demanded, in unison.
"Just take care."
"Yeah stay out of it."
"In case it kicks off again." Kurt blinked once more.
"Could you be any more mysterious?" there were thoughtful looks on their faces, and Kurt hurriedly added. "Rhetorical. That was rhetorical." They leapt off the tables, landing, catlike, on the floor before straightening up and walking over to Kurt.
"Take care, Kurt."
"We like you."
"You seem nice." They patted him on the shoulder one by one, and walked out of the classroom, leaving a completely confused Kurt standing there, mind spinning.
Okay, well, I guess now I know that my jealous mind isn't just inventing things…there really is something going on between them, and I'm guessing it doesn't really have anything to do with being envious of the Warblers. But, I don't understand how this involves me. I mean, yeah, I'm practically in love with Blaine, but he's with Sebastian…so, I don't see how whatever problem they have with each other involves me…heck, I don't even know if Keats is gay. Huh, well, I really hope that was just some cryptic thing for something, anything, else. Betting it wasn't though…
So, despite my mind being completely occupied with whatever is up between Keats, Sebastian and Blaine, I managed to make it to the cafeteria without getting lost once. I'm feeling pretty proud of myself, actually. Take that whoever designed this building! Kurt Hummel can find his way around now.
"Hey, Kurt." Kurt jumped, and saw that Blaine was standing behind him, smiling. Kurt narrowed his eyes at the grin.
"What?" Blaine frowned at him, but somehow managed to keep smiling.
"Nothing, I'm in a good mood." Kurt raised his eyebrows.
"I can see that."
"You're not in a good mood?" he asked, looking concerned, and Kurt felt his heart flip, and a smile worked it's way onto his face.
"I'm just- I've a couple of odd conversations today." Blaine smiled at him, genially.
"Oh, you'll get use to it, and Kurt I wanted to apologise for-"
"Hey Kurt." Kurt jumped at the sound of Keats' voice, having been so zoned into Blaine's eyes that he'd forgotten the world around him. He saw something darken in those beautiful hazel orbs, as he turned to face the boy on his other side.
"Hi Keats."
"Do you want to come sit with us?" Kurt froze.
"Um…"
"Keaton, I was having a conversation." Kurt blinked. That was, like, the first time he'd ever heard anyone use Keats' first name. Even Mrs Daniels called him Keats.
"Oh, sorry, didn't see you there Blaine, you were hidden behind Kurt." Kurt felt the smile that had been frozen on his face slip.
Oh god, they were right.
Kurt cleared his throat, and tried to pretend that the atmosphere hadn't just gone from friendly to tense, or that half the cafeteria was staring at them.
"Erm, I'm going to get some salad." Neither boy responded to him, and he slipped round Blaine to the salad bar. The moment he was gone, but not out of ear shot, they began to talk again.
"What's the game with Kurt, Keats?" Keats and Kurt both frowned.
Okay, so now he is calling him Keats. Though I should probably be more focused on the actual question, seeing as it concerned me.
"What game? There's no game."
"Don't play dumb with me, Keaton. I didn't make people take sides, that was you."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh really. So the words "you're with him or with me. There's no middle ground" don't ring any bells with you?"
"Nope."
"Oh still smarting from that, are you? The fact that all our friends chose me, with the exception of the entourage. Or the fact that Trinity created their own "middle ground" and most of the year are happily camping there, more inclined to me."
What the fuck?
"I really don't know what you're talking about, Blaine, but just remember you started it, this time round."
"Kurt." Kurt looked round to see David hurriedly beckoning him over. Kurt walked towards him, frown firmly implanted on his face.
"What's-"
"Just pretend to Blaine you didn't hear that." he hissed, as Blaine began to walk over.
"But I-"
"Just do it." Kurt swallowed, completely confused.
"Um…David," he began, his voice slightly raised. "Luc told me to talk to you about my audition."
"Oh yes." said David, sitting down at the table, and positioning Kurt so that he was next to him. Blaine sat down, foodless, and tried to look like he hadn't just been glaring at someone.
"Blaine, food." said Flint, looking annoyed.
"I'm not-"
"Here, have some of mine." dirty glares were thrown at Blaine as Nick extended his plate to him.
"No, Nick, it's fine. Take it back before we get murdered." Nick ruefully pulled his plate back towards him, and Flint and Jeff dumped some random bits from their lunch onto the lid of David's Tupperware box. David threw a banana at Blaine who took it gratefully.
"Anyway," said David, turning back to Kurt. "your audition. I think, correct me if I'm wrong Thad, that we could squeeze you in today." The quiet boy nodded a little. "Excellent, the vote won't take long, and then you'll just have to sing twice."
"Do you have another song, though?" asked Flint. "Because you can't really do the same one." Kurt nodded, chewing on a tomato.
"Yeah, I was trying to choose between two songs so I should be okay." Jeff clapped his hands together, enthusiastically.
"Oh good, I'm really look forward to hearing you sing." Kurt flushed red, and looked down at his plate slightly bashfully. It still felt a little bit strange for the guys to be giving him compliments.
"Oh, thanks Coop." Blaine had pulled out his phone, and was examining the text message that had been sent.
"He's texting you?" demanded Nick, incredulously.
"I left him a message." said Blaine in a explanatory tone.
"What about?" asked Flint, curiously.
"Oh, about telling dad about Sebastian."
"You're going to tell him?" Flint sounded incredulous, and Blaine shrugged.
"I want him to know, anyway, listen to what Cooper said; You better go find a nuclear bunker to hide in." the boys all rolled their eyes, and Kurt was about to ask who Cooper was when Sebastian walked over to their table. He nodded, briefly, in greeting the rest of them before leaning into Blaine.
"You wanted to talk to me?" Blaine nodded, pushing the Tupperware with the left over food back to David, and getting to his feet.
"Yeah, um, in private."
"Like you're not going to tell them all anyway." Blaine rolled his eyes, chuckling. Kurt watched the two of them go, curious and barely noticing the sinking feeling in his chest.
I wonder what he wants to talk about. I wonder if I should just ask about Keats. Keats has been lovely to me. He helped me when I was arguing with Blaine…heck, didn't he tell me that Blaine wasn't one to hold grudges…though there was that awkward moment after he said that…oh, great, another person lying to make me feel better. I wonder why I get annoyed whenever people are trying to be nice…I guess I just don't like the way they do it. Trinity seem to think that this involves me, and so far, they seem like they get Keats' side of thing which must have mentioned me…oh, this is too much. I want to know, but at the same time I don't because I think I'm starting to get what the others seem to be implying…and I'm not sure I like it…
"So, you gonna explain this morning, 'cause I have to admit, totally baffled me." Blaine smiled at him, gaze shooting to the ground, and face colouring.
"I'm sorry, I just- I had a panic attack, sort of."
"Panic attack, oh I'm flattered." Blaine whacked Sebastian's arm.
"Shut up, this isn't funny."
"Please tell me we're not about to have another heart-to-heart because was one was too much for me." Blaine smiled again.
"No, and stop talking." Sebastian rolled his eyes, and crossed his arms. "It was just- I was panicking about telling my family." Sebastian nodded.
"I see."
"Emily was, you know, brilliant, and Cooper just- he didn't say anything about me having a boyfriend, but dad would go ballistic. I mean, how do I tell him?" Sebastian shrugged.
"I don't talk to my parents, Blaine." Blaine.
"No, I know, but I just- when I do, will you be there?" Sebastian shrugged.
"Well, yeah, if I'm around I'll come over, or whatever. Hang on, your dad's coming to the concert." Blaine nodded. "Do it then." Blaine blinked.
"Before the concert?"
"Or after."
"You want me to tell him I have a boyfriend, before the concert?" Sebastian rolled his eyes at the hysterical tone to Blaine's voice.
"Blaine-" he snapped his fingers. "-piece of advice, always drop bombshells on homophobic parents in public, it stops them exploding. It's what I did with mum. I mean, I'd already made the mistake of asking dad advice." he rolled his eyes, and mimicked his father's deep voice. "Why the fuck should I care? I have more important things to do than listen to your whining. Go fuck a man and then woman, and decide who you like better…don't bother me again." Blaine burst out laughing.
"I still can't over the fact that's what he said!" Sebastian rolled his eyes.
"He's lucky I don't take his advice, I was thirteen! Anyway, I came out to mum in the middle of one of her charity galas. If we'd been at home she might have slapped me, but, as it was, it was just; don't bother me now, Sebastian, I'm very busy being very fake." Blaine laughed at Sebastian's impersonation of his own mother, and rolled his eyes. "Then it got swept under the proverbial rug, and never discussed again - not that we talk let alone discuss anything." Blaine nodded.
"Well, anyway, okay, but still be there." Sebastian nodded.
"Naturally. What else?" Blaine bit his lip.
"Well, it just occurred to me we can't go out on a date."
"So?" said Sebastian, frowning. "We can just hang out in my room. I'll even talk feelings." Blaine laughed, blushing.
"Okay. I just- I feel- now that we're dating isn't everything…you know." Sebastian raised an eyebrow, and Blaine sighed. "Isn't it all sexual now?" Sebastian shrugged.
"Well, yes, it is." Blaine put his hand over his eyes, gripping at his temple.
"I just- I don't- it's so complicated."
"No, I think I get what you're attempting to say…but Blaine, if I just wanted to have sex with you I would have hooked up with you in Freshman year. In fact, that would probably have led you to a world record in emotional scarring." Blaine snorted, removing his hand. "Yes I want to kiss you, and yes, I want to have sex with you, but doesn't mean I will because you're not ready, and I'm not gonna do that to you." Blaine smiled at him.
"Thank you." Sebastian rolled his eyes.
"It would be counterproductive, and a complete waste of time." there was a pause. "You want me to comfort-hug you, don't you?" Blaine nodded.
"You have to, Thad did." Sebastian raised an eyebrow, suggesting that he thought Blaine was lying, but beckoned him into his arms anyway. Blaine wrapped his arms around his waist and breathed out.
"If we get detention for "excessive PDA" from Mrs Daniels, I will kill you." muttered Sebastian, and Blaine just laughed into his chest, his pounding heart slowly calming down and the cloud of panic in his chest evaporating.
I don't know how I made it through Social Studies with Trinity behind me. They were muttering, and kept telling me to "walk away" and "take care" and "be very careful". Nick and Flint looked pretty tense, so I guess that they know what's going on. I tried to ask them, but they both just shook their heads and pretended to be working - they seem to have forgotten they kept asking me for obscure words for their game of hangman - so I let it drop. Maybe they're hinting that I should be talking to someone else, I'm not sure. Either way, I went with them after lessons to Warblers. They voted for my audition, so now I'm waiting to sing before Luc and the council. Then I sing to the group again. I'm not that nervous, though, because, well, 'Defying Gravity' was fine. I know I'm going to pull this off.
"Kurt Hummel." Kurt looked up and saw Wes, a grave look upon his face that Kurt presumed was something he just had to do as a councillor. Kurt, clutching the CD in his hand, stepped through into the small room. David and Thad sat at either end of a table, an empty chair between them. Luc sat at another table, the CD player by his right elbow. Kurt walked over, confidence in every step, and inserted it, skipping to the right track.
"Announce the song." muttered Luc under his breath, and Kurt turned to the council, stepping out into the centre of the room. He took a deep breath, steadying the nerves that were forced to appear when faced by three solemn faced peers.
"I will be singing Don't Cry for Me, Argentina from Evita." Wes wrote that down, and David glanced at Thad who gave him an almost imperceptible nod. It unsettled him, a little, but, when Wes looked back up and motioned with his right hand, Kurt turned to Luc with a confident air. Luc pressed play. Kurt turned back to the council, counting inside his head so that he came in at the right moment.
It won't be easy
You'll think it strange
When I try to explain how I feel
Kurt definitely preferred the start this time, and he imagined that he was singing to the New Directions and the people that he'd left in Lima. He imagined standing in their choir room with everyone sitting on the red chairs, looking down on him with different expressions. Some of them would be bored, Rachel would probably be annoyed that she wasn't singing, and - when he was finished - Santana would probably make some insulting comment about how he sounded like a girl.
That I still need your love
After all that I've done
You won't believe me
All you will see
Is a girl you once knew
Although she's dressed up to the nines
At sixes and sevens with you
He sung to them because he'd barely seen them in over a week. He'd barely been in touch, and he missed them. It was like a dull ache within him, and he resolved, as he sung, that he would be in touch with Finn and Mercedes tonight, regardless of the amount of work he had to do. He was all dressed up in uniform, thankfully they were his clothes now, and he felt so different to how he felt when he was at McKinley. He was also competing with them, and, after Jesse St James and Vocal Adrenaline, that idea made him just a little bit wary.
So I chose freedom
Running around trying everything new
But nothing impressed me at all
I never expected it too
Wes and David looked impressed, and out of the corner he saw that Luc was sitting back, just enjoying the song. Thad, though, was genuinely smiling, and Kurt began to wonder whether he was the one that knew about musicals. Whether he was really being judged by the quiet Warbler as opposed to the teacher and the other two councillors.
Don't cry for me Argentina
The truth is I never left you
All through my wild days
My mad existence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance
His voice grew in confidence, and he half wished that the others were recording it so that he could show it to the New Directions. This was his homage to them for loving him, and accepting him, and giving a place to feel safe in a high school full of bullies. He saw Wes and David glance at Thad, who smiled wider, and nodded at them. The action convinced him that his performance was mainly being judged by Thad, and not the other two.
He closed his eyes, and let the music take over him. He wasn't sure whether this was what they wanted from him, but he found himself not caring. He didn't care if he fitted into Dalton's mould because he was singing, and no one could tell him how to sing or what he was meant to be feeling or thinking of whilst he was singing.
Don't cry for me Argentina
The truth is I never left you
All through my wild days
My mad existence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance
He sang in front of the gathered Warblers, all seated in sofas, or armchairs, or perched on the edge of tables or sofa arms. They all looked impressed by his voice, and Blaine was smiling up at him. Sebastian was leaning back, a small frown on his face, and Kurt wondered whether he had him worried about his spot as lead.
Have I said to much?
There's nothing more I can think of to say to you
But all you have to doIs look at me to know
That every word is true
He smiled to them, himself, and the New Directions when he finished. He took a deep breath, colour highlighting his cheeks, and glancing once at the floor as they burst into applause. He unclasped his hands from where they'd been hidden behind his back. All the Warblers were nodding at each other and grinning excitedly.
"All in favour of welcoming Kurt Hummel to the Warblers?" there was not a single hand that didn't go up, and Kurt felt something inside of him swell as the Warblers budged up to give him a seat, and Wes began to talk about the Autumn concert. Blaine reached over, touching his arm.
"You're amazing." he whispered, and Kurt flushed bright pink as Wes brandished his gavel - Kurt was slightly alarmed by this gesture, and little bemused by the fact they had a gavel - and launched into a rant about talking over the council. Kurt began to laugh under his breath with the other Warblers as Blaine and Wes turned redder and redder.
I did it! I'm a Warbler! I'm going to Regionals! I'm so excited, and, what's more - no matter what the others said to me earlier - it's nice to be a part of a club that's cool. Also, we get to perform way more than the New Directions did. This is going to be awesome, I know it. Even if I have to put up with Wes banging the gavel and ranting.
Next Time- Wearing Out: Kurt learns about the school's sports policy, Blaine attempts to convert Sebastian to the ways of a hopeless romantic, and things with Keats continue to escalate, dragging Kurt further down into the realms of confusion…