Chapter Seventeen: The New Kid
TPD: Special Education

"He's a countertenor, and it would give us a nice round fifteen," Blaine urged the council.

"We've had auditions for the semester, Blaine," David reminded him. "It's going to seem unfair if we just take a transfer- especially without an audition- after we've already said no to a bunch of guys who've actually been here at Dalton, some of them trying out semester after semester."

"I know," Blaine placated. "But none of them could hit soprano notes. When I first got into this choir, that was why. Then my voice changed. Well, Kurt's voice is probably going to stay in the countertenor range."

"How do we know that he's going to mesh well with the group, though? No one's heard him but you, Blaine."

He nodded. "True," he agreed. He really wanted Kurt to fit in here. No matter what the other boy said, Blaine still felt partially responsible for the quick downward spiral that sent him to Dalton in the first place. "I can vouch for him. He's talented, caring, and he's in the Glee club at the school he's transferring from. He'll fit right in without any hullabaloo."

If only Blaine had been right. Later the next day, he found himself swearing that he'd talk to Kurt about being a team player. He barely managed to keep the despair from his voice as he assured Kurt that he'd fit in soon enough. He'd vouched for Kurt, and now the Warblers were frustrated with Blaine because Kurt hadn't fit right in. So he suggested that Kurt just wanted to contribute to the group, and maybe he'd feel like he was more a part of things if he had a shot to audition for a solo. It wasn't like Kurt had gone and told The Warblers that they sucked... exactly. He just wanted to help. He had suggestions. The Warblers took him at his word, and Blaine hoped that would be the end of it.

To top it all off, Kurt sent him an emergency text right when he was running late on Sunday to meet Jeremiah and everyone for the movie. Pavarotti was molting and Blaine remembered when he'd freaked out about that, but he needed Kurt to stop needing him. Blaine had plans. Blaine was going on a not-date with a group of people and Jeremiah was going to be there. Why did Kurt have such awful timing? As soon as Kurt seemed relieved enough to get on with things, Blaine rushed out to catch the bus into town but was still late.

He missed the movie. He didn't even wait for everyone to get dinner after. He probably shouldn't have tried going out that late in the first place and, god, there was a voicemail from his mother. He tried not to listen to it, but she wanted to know "Are you still the same clothing size, Corinne? I'm uniform shopping and I don't want to get the wrong thing."

So he went to the gym and beat up on the punching bag until his muscles were so tired he could barely walk back to his room for a shower.

Kurt's performance blew him away while it was happening, but to hear the group talk after... more bad reflections on Blaine.

"He sang a woman's song."

"I sang a woman song at my audition," Blaine reminded them.

"Yes, but it was a pop song- not a show-stopping solo from one of the most famous musicals of all-time."

"He's trying to impress us. Being the new kid sucks."

"You're right, Blaine," David agreed, "but The Warblers is a team. It's not about impressing us. It's about everyone in this room and what is best for everyone in this room. We gave him a shot. We brought him into the group because of his range and your recommendation. I hope his attitude gets better."

Blaine nodded. He could argue further, but they'd already formed their opinions and it was likely that anything Kurt did was going to reinforce it at this point. What Kurt had to do now was hang back, take direction, do what was asked of him- nothing more. It wasn't that hard. Why did Kurt have to be so... attention-starved?

He barely managed to smile when he suggested Kurt adopt a more team-driven attitude and was almost certain a little of his frustration shone through. He needed this. He needed his friend to tone it down because Blaine couldn't deal with The Warblers hating him for his recommendation and he certainly couldn't deal with having to kick Kurt out of the group.

Thankfully, Kurt took Blaine's words to heart. He toned it down. He acclimated to the team-driven method the Warblers lived by. During their sectionals performance, Blaine risked a couple glances toward Kurt. He was smiling, didn't seem bothered by his background role. Good. With a voice as good as Kurt's, he'd be in the spotlight soon enough, anyway. It didn't hurt that Blaine hadn't heard from his parents again since that voicemail. He realized some of his anger toward Kurt had come from the stress of next year and what was going to happen to him. But he couldn't think about that now. They had to win sectionals.

They tied.

Blaine tried really hard not to blame himself, but he had been distracted. They should have won. They had to be the best, not equally as good as their competition. They had to win nationals. And this was probably his last chance because whatever school his parents were going to force him to attend next year... Blaine probably wouldn't want to be in their Glee club. If they even had one.

He'd just have to work even harder. Who knows? Maybe he could convince his parents to let him stay at Dalton. But they had to win. Especially if it was his last chance.