"Did you guys hear about Mr. Schue?" Rachel asks racing into the choir room looking frantic.

"Did he finally lose his hair under the weight of all that product?" Santana asks, smirking at Brittany.

"Please tell me Miss Pillsbury finally got him to ditch the plaid shirt/tweed tie combo. It's a crime against fashion," Kurt says.

"No," Rachel says with a glare at her friends. "This is serious," she adds, pausing for dramatic effect, eyes wide. When she is sure everyone's eyes are on her, she continues. "Figgins fired him."

"So he is the father of Coach Sylvester's baby?" Puck asks looking shocked.

"What?" Rachel asks, incredulous. "No, Puck, it had something to do with an inappropriate attachment to his students. Something about the district cracking down on teacher-student relationships." Rachel looks a little sad, and also maybe a little guilty, as if she worries she might accidentally have let something slip. Her mind flashes back to a tearful declaration in Figgins' office sophomore year.

"Well, he did ask me to be his best man," Finn says. "And he was always hugging us and crying and stuff."

"You guys are missing the big picture here," Rachel says.

"Rachel's right," Mercedes says, looking serious. "Who's going to take over glee club?"

The group shares a few looks before the arguing starts. Over the din, Artie shouts, "Aw, hell no! I am not going to be in the Rachel Berry showcase, y'all."

Everyone quiets for a moment and looks at Rachel. She's smiling nervously and opens her mouth to speak again when a seldom-heard voice from the back of the room catches everyone's attention.

"Look, we just need to find another teacher to sponsor us," Tina says. "Let's make a list of the teachers who actually like glee and see if one of them wants to help out."

"Maybe Figgins has already hired someone new," Sam says, finally looking like he's not bored to death for once.

"No, I asked," Rachel replies, assuming her self-imposed leadership role again. "If we don't have a new teacher to sponsor us by the end of the week, we can't compete."

"Damn," Merecedes says, shaking her head. "That's not much time."

"So let's get to work," Quinn interjects, a look of annoyance flashing across her face. She walks to the front of the room like Mr. Schuester had done so many times and writes "Teachers who don't hate us" on the white board. She turns and smiles at her fellow glee clubbers. "Any ideas?"

By the end of the class period, they have five names on the board: Señor Martinez, Miss Pillsbury, Miss Holiday, Coach Bieste and the new English teacher, added at the last minute because Kurt figures a new teacher might be easier to sway than one who knows how much time goes into coaching New Directions. Because it's his idea (Rachel says) and because he has the new teacher for AP English (Finn points out), Kurt gets assigned to approaching him/her.

No one's really sure who the new teacher is yet. Everyone else has a teacher who had been at McKinley the previous year. But the rumor mill was already churning on the first day of school, and word is there's a hot new English teacher hired to take the place of Mrs. Spitzer, who had retired last year. No one seemed to bother with the minor detail if "hot" meant male or female. No one seemed to remember who had started the rumor, so information was pretty scant.

However, when Kurt's schedule got flipped around that morning to accommodate glee, he noticed a cryptic addition to his courseload. At the top of his schedule, it says 1st period: AP English, room 265. There's no teacher listed. Kurt has landed the new teacher. He secretly hopes that whoever started the rumor is either a straight girl, or a closeted gay. He wouldn't mind some eye candy to keep him awake in first period.

The rest of the teachers on the list are all ones the group knows, so they divvy out assignments based on who knows them the best. Rachel offers to ask Miss Pillsbury because she has an appointment with the guidance counselor after first period. Finn promises to talk to Coach Bieste after football practice.

Artie enthusiastically volunteers to hunt down Miss Holiday (he actually says "I'll take the shawty. She can't resist my swagger," which earns him a high-five from Sam).

Mercedes insists that Santana talk to Señor Martinez. When the yelling (in Spanish … about how stereotypes are holding back the entire Latino community) dies down, Mercedes explains that Señor Martinez forces all his students to speak Spanish and she's the only one fluent. Santana says she sees the other girl's point and reluctantly agrees.

Rachel tells the rest of the choir to make sure they talk up glee club at every opportunity. That earns her a few more eye rolls. Rachel simply shrugs and offers an explanation.

"No sense in letting our credibility slide just because we're leaderless. If we want to recruit new members, we're going to have to work on our social standing."

"Good luck with that," Quinn say under her breath as she stands up to leave. "Since when has glee club had any credibility around this place?"

"Since about half past never," Mercedes replies as the rest of them shuffle out of the choir room and head home for the day.

Kurt is just about to his car when he hears Finn call out. Kurt turns to see his stepbrother jogging across the parking lot toward him. When he stops within a few feet of Kurt, he's already a little out of breath. Kurt wonders, not for the first time, how he manages to make the football team every year being in such poor shape.

"Will you tell mom and Burt that I'll be a little late?" Finn asks, trying to catch his breath. "Rachel wants me to help her pick out some sheet music and stuff for our first duet."

Kurt offers a terse, "sure," and watches as Finn grins and runs back in the direction he came. That's when Kurt notices him — the most gorgeous creature he's ever laid eyes on — stumbling unceremoniously out of the door after nearly getting floored by Finn's gigantic frame. He has a messenger bag across his body. It looks well-worn, but not worn out by any means. His hair is gelled back in a style that makes Mr. Schue's level of product use look scant in comparison. Kurt is willing to overlook that minor faux pas because he's wearing a gorgeous silk bow tie with a crisp red button-up shirt and an absolutely gorgeous grey cardigan that Kurt had been envying that very morning on the Barneys website.

Sure all of that catches Kurt's eye, but it's his smile that really takes Kurt's breath away. From where Kurt's standing, Finn seems to be bumbling through some sort of apology, but the gigantic smile hasn't left his victim's face the entire time. His eyes are crinkled up a bit and he's laughing, either at what Finn is saying or maybe just at Finn. Either is entirely possible.

Without thinking, Kurt steps forward until he can hear the conversation.

"No really," Finn stutters. "My fault."

"It's okay," Gorgeous Smile says. "Like I said, I should watch where I'm going."

"Is my bumbling idiot of a brother bothering you?" Kurt asks, sounding much more breathy than he intended.

Gorgeous Smile turns toward the sound of Kurt's voice. And oh my god his eyes. Kurt is sure his heart can be heard from the other end of the school with the way it is thudding in his chest. This guy has the most gorgeous, expressive and curiously tea-colored eyes that just happened to be framed by impossibly thick eyelashes.

"No, no..." he says. "We were just getting acquainted, and I was telling Finn here that I need to watch where I'm going. He insisted it was his fault."

"Well, he's not the most coordinated of people," Kurt teases, unable to look away from those gorgeous hazel eyes. "But he means well."

"As evidenced by his propensity for apologies," Gorgeous Smile says, laughing.

"Propensa—what?" Finn asks doing a very convincing imitation of a guppy.

Kurt starts laughing at that, and Finn looks even more lost than before. "Nevermind," he huffs out between laughs. "Don't you have to go meet Rachel?"

"Oh shit!" Finn blurts. "I gotta go."

Kurt watches the taller boy take off through the double doors and turns back to Gorgeous Smile.

"Sorry about that," Kurt says. "Finn's kind of …"

"Tall?"

"Yeah, that too," Kurt laughs. He pauses and holds out his hand in greeting. "Kurt Hummel."

"Bla– Um, Mr. Anderson," he replies shaking Kurt's hand.

"You're a teacher," Kurt gasps, eyes wide.

"Yep," Mr. Anderson says. "English, the occasional drama class…the usual."

"I, uh…think I have your class first period," Kurt stammers. "Do you teach AP?"

"As a matter of fact, I do," he says smiling. "You must be smart if you're in AP English."

"Well," Kurt says preening a little under the praise. "Compared to some of the Neanderthals in this place."

That earns him another laugh from Mr. Anderson, and Kurt smiles dopily back at him.

"Guess I'll be seeing you tomorrow then, Mr. Hummel."

"Bright and early," Kurt says, instantly regretting the cheesy line and the flirty way it comes out.

"Bye," Mr. Anderson says as he walks past Kurt and into the parking lot. Kurt's eyes follow him until he's no longer visible among the sea of cars. It's only then that he notices he's been holding his breath. He lets it out in a shaky sigh and takes his phone out of his pocket.

To Mercedes
OMG! The new English teacher is gorgeous!

Kurt may or may not get to school a little earlier than normal the next morning. But if he does it's only because it's easier to find parking that way and he can avoid the jocks who for some reason still insist on yelling things like "hey homo" and "sup fairy?" at Kurt as he passes.

If anything, that's why Kurt might be seated at the front of room 265, 10 minutes before the bell rings, sipping a cup of coffee, legs crossed to perfectly display his new boots, and replying to a text message from Rachel about glee rehearsal.

Rachel
Don't forget to ask the new teacher about glee club! :)

Kurt
It's too early for exclamations and emoticons.

Rachel
This is important.

Kurt
On it.

Rachel
:)

Kurt is about to reply to Rachel's text with a snarky comeback about smiley faces being immature and not to mention, downright tacky, when he hears humming coming from the hallway. He looks up just in time to see Mr. Anderson walking through the doorway. His tattered bag from the day before is slung across his body and he's balancing a gigantic cup of coffee along with a stack of folders, books, and paperwork in his arms. Kurt wonders briefly why he didn't put all of that in his bag, before his thoughts are interrupted.

"Good morning," Mr. Anderson says, beaming. "Kurt, right?"

"In the flesh," Kurt replies, returning the smile shyly. "Need any help?" Kurt uncrosses his legs and starts to stand before Mr. Anderson stops him.

"I've got it, thanks," he says, laying the stack of papers and books on a desk at the front of the room. He adds his coffee cup to the now cluttered desk and turns to face Kurt. And wow, his clothing is insanely adorable. How on earth does a grown man manage to pull off a bowtie and high waters?

"As punctual as you are polite, I see."

"Well, I kind of wanted to talk to you about something," Kurt says tentatively.

"Shoot," Mr. Anderson says, leaning back on his desk and crossing his arms in a way that Kurt shouldn't find at all seductive. Kurt takes a deep breath before he continues.

"Well, it's about glee club…our teacher, Mr. Schuester? He got fired last week, and Principal Figgins says if we don't find a new sponsor by the end of the week, we have to disband." Kurt pauses, taking another deep breath because he knows he's kind of rambling, but damn it's hard to concentrate when someone looks at you like they're hanging on every word you say. Bright hazel eyes stare back at him expectantly and it's so distracting that Kurt has to look away before he can continue.

Seriously, what is he, a Disney prince or something?

"I don't suppose you have any experience with show choir," Kurt continues hesitantly.

Mr. Anderson works his mouth as if he's having difficulty forming words, and Kurt finds it incredibly endearing.

"I mean, it's okay if you don't," Kurt says. "We really just need someone to show up for rehearsal and to be our chaperone for competitions. You don't even have to choreograph or anything."

"Actually," he says, interrupting Kurt's rambling. "I was kind of the lead singer of my prep school's a cappella group, The Warblers."

He rubs the back of his neck as he talks, and when he looks up at Kurt, he sees the boy is beaming back at him, eyes twinkling under the fluorescent lights.

"Oh my god, that's so perfect," Kurt gushes. "You have to do it."

"Kurt…" he begins.

"Well, I mean you don't have to," he says. "It's just….well, we really need a sponsor, and you're perfect. I mean you'd be perfect … for the job, I mean. We went up against the Warblers last year, and New Directions could really use some discipline." Kurt is positively blushing. He can feel his skin burning with embarrassment, but he just cannot stop talking.

"Kurt," Mr. Anderson tries again.

"Oh, wait until I tell Rachel. It's going to be like that time we found out that Patty Lupone ..."

"Kurt," Mr. Anderson says more forcefully this time, enough firmness in his voice to capture Kurt's attention. "I'd love to, but I'm not sure I'll have the time."

Kurt's face falls and the brightness in his eyes dulls a little.

"Oh, I understand," he says weakly.

"It's just, I'm new here, and I've got a pretty hefty courseload, and glee club takes a lot of time, Kurt. I don't want to screw this up."

"No, it's okay," Kurt says, crestfallen. "I get it. I'm sure we can get Miss Pillsbury or Coach Bieste to fill in. It will be fine."

"Kurt, I'm really sorry," Mr. Anderson says, smiling ruefully, just as a tall, blonde girl walks through the door and takes a seat in the second row, drawing Mr. Anderson's attention. "Good morning," he says to her.

"Hey," the girl replies.

Kurt is already busy texting Rachel, and misses the apologetic glance Mr. Anderson gives him as the bell rings.

Turns out none of the glee clubbers got a firm yes out of any of McKinley's teachers, but Rachel was able to convince Miss Pillsbury to sit in on rehearsal that afternoon and for the remainder of the week. Of course, Rachel had to promise that they would find someone permanent by the following week.

Rehearsal was an absolute disaster with Rachel, Santana, and Mercedes arguing over solos, Mike and Sam arguing over choreography, and Kurt and Finn arguing over song selection. By the end of it all, Miss Pillsbury looked like she was about to pass out or throw up, and everyone was exhausted.

"This isn't going to work," Kurt says to Tina as they're exciting the choir room.

"I think Finn said Coach Bieste offered to fill in for a few days until we find someone," Artie offers. "And Miss Holiday was down. Maybe they can do a rotation?"

"We have to try something," Tina says. "Or someone, probably Santana, is going to kill Rachel."

"I fail to see the problem here," Kurt says, earning a laugh from Tina and Artie. He's teasing, but inwardly he knows they're doomed if they don't find a permanent replacement, and fast.

That night Kurt searches YouTube for old Warblers videos — for research only, of course. He is not at all interested in seeing Mr. Anderson's singing ability or how completely adorable he looks in that stupid blazer. It's really ill-fitting, and are those pleated pants?

Kurt also does not watch the Warblers' performance of "When I Get You Alone" seven times in a row. Even if he does wonder why they were performing in a Gap of all places. And above all, he does not have vivid dreams about Mr. Anderson's finger pressed seductively to his own lips while being spun around on a clothing rack.

Nope, Kurt's intentions were purely academic. Entirely innocent.

Blaine's head is a mess for the rest of the day after Kurt asks him to coach New Directions. He had wanted to say yes, but something held him back. What it was, he couldn't say. Or maybe he didn't want to admit it. Because if he was totally honest, Kurt had been on his mind since he had met him the day before, and that was definitely not good.

Something about the way the boy looked at him when he had apologized for his brother's clumsiness wouldn't leave Blaine's mind. Instead, it had filled his subconscious with thoughts of bright blue (or were they green?) eyes and the quirk of an eyebrow, matched with a perfectly crooked smile. The slight lilt of his laughter and the breathy quality of the boy's voice — well if fresh-out-of-college, 22-year-old Blaine Anderson was being honest with himself — the thought of everything about Kurt absolutely made him go weak in the knees. And that is the crux of the problem, isn't it?

When Blaine had walked into room 265 that morning to find that same piercing gaze and beguiling smile, he couldn't help but delight in his good fortune. Sure, Kurt had said he had AP English first period, but the sight that greeted Blaine was more than he had hoped for. Kurt, seated elegantly, (well, as elegantly as one could look in a cheap public school desk), long legs crossed precisely over one another, no doubt to showcase his exquisite pair of designer boots, was cradling a coffee cup in one hand and using his long, nimble fingers to navigate his phone. All of that combined with the morning sunlight catching Kurt's brown hair just right to place a soft haloed glow around his head, well, let's just say the sight was more than breathtaking, and Blaine couldn't look away.

When Kurt looked up, Blaine nearly dropped his own coffee in the doorway to the classroom. He must have looked like a bumbling idiot when he walked through that door, and for every minute after that because he couldn't stop grinning, and he refused to break eye contact.

Yet, he still said no when Kurt asked him for his help.

The irony, of course, is that Blaine would love to coach New Directions. Music is still his life, and the idea of being back among the show choir set made him absolutely giddy. But he was busy, very busy. Did he mention he's teaching two AP classes? Oh, and there was Kurt…lovely, tempting, witty, long-limbed — and as his best friend, Wes, had pointed out over a frantic phone call the night before in which Blaine revealed he might have flirted with a student — underage Kurt.

So it's really for the best that Blaine sticks to teaching English and drama and whatever else the Lima school district would throw his way, and stay the hell out of glee club, because getting involved with anything that puts him in a situation involving singing and dancing in Kurt's vicinity could only end in disaster. Bad things happen when Blaine sings around guys he's even remotely attracted to.

Which is why Blaine is on the phone to Wes for the second time in as many days. Wes only had to remind him of an ill-fated serenade during his sophomore year for him to remember what happens to him when cute guys and choreographed numbers are involved.

"Need I remind you of the so-called 'Gap Attack' and a junior manager named Jeremiah?"

"Wes, I was 15," Blaine says. "What the hell did I know? I'm a grown man now. I've learned to exercise a little restraint since then. I also learned how to read a signal … and to stick to guys my own age."

"So why are you calling me about this?" Wes asks. "If you've got it under control. Then there's nothing to worry about."

He's testing Blaine. Wes always was the voice of reason. Even as a teenager leading the Warblers, Wes always seemed grown up and completely comfortable in his own skin. Not like Blaine, who had struggled to fit in and was prone to jumping on furniture like a puppy.

"Why did it have to be my first job?" Blaine asks rhetorically. "Why does this kid have to be so damned cute?"

Blaine sighs and flops himself down on the sofa in his tiny, one-bedroom apartment in west Lima, covering his eyes with his forearm.

"You're only making this more difficult on yourself by even considering it," Wes says finally. "You told him no, right?"

"Yeah."

"So, don't worry about it. I'm sure by tomorrow it will be old news, and they'll have found someone else to lead the glee club. And by the end of the week Kurt will be just another face in the endless sea of ungrateful teenagers."

"Yeah, maybe you're right," Blaine says reluctantly.

"I usually am," he says with a laugh. "Look, I've got to go, pizza's here. Call me later if you need to chat."

"Okay…will do," Blaine says before hanging up. He lies on his sofa staring at the ceiling for a few moments. Maybe Wes is right; he's usually right. Kurt will fade into the background after a few days. Blaine can keep himself busy with lesson plans and grading and getting to know his way around McKinley. And New Directions will go on without him, and Kurt will fade into the background. Blaine might repeat that mantra to himself a few more times that night.

And oh yeah, Wes Montgomery is usually right … except when he's not.