Chapter 2

A couple days later things seemed to be returning to normal for Blaine Anderson. He had walked away from the crash with only a hurt leg, a small concussion, and a small gash on his forehead.

He woke up Sunday morning and limped into the kitchen, greeted with the smell of freshly made breakfast made by his mother. When he came in she was standing at the sink doing dishes and the only greeting he received was a small look as she turned around for a split second. She was still kind of upset about the entire situation on Friday night.

After everything that happened on Friday Blaine was dreading church more than usual today. He figured he would have to sit through a lecture about being on the path of God for the entire time and he would probably receive judging looks from everyone around him. It wasn't like Jacob Ben Israel died or anything. But he knew that's would happen if he went today.

Blaine slowly lowered himself into his seat at the table, careful not to hurt his leg, and looked to his mother, "You know, Mamma... my leg really hurts today. I don't think I can go anyplace."

Cynthia Anderson looked back at him for a moment and then turned back to the dishes, knowing her son would do anything to get out of church. She turned back around and sighed, "Maybe I should call your father."

Blaine's expression grew hard as he swallowed his food and answered simply, "No."

Cynthia stared back at him, her expression unchanging.

"Okay, I'm not talking to him. There's no way."

She shook her head, "This has got to stop between you and him. You can't do that. You need a father."

Blaine twirled his fork in his fingers and kept the same hard expression. There was clearly no getting out of church today.

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"Let us be thankful today that a young life was saved by our lord." Spoke Burt Hummel, the reverend of the local town church. "Let us pray for the lives of the other's involved who are clearly not on the path of righteousness." As he spoke that sentence he seemed to look directly at Quinn Fabray, whose gaze turned sideways to where Blaine and his mom sat.

Burt nodded once and moved to the side as music started and the choir stood up, preparing to sing.

Blaine rubbed above his left eye, preparing himself for another ridiculously righteous song by the same ridiculously righteous choir.

Let the light

From the lighthouse

Quinn's eye roamed up and around the room as the song continued and her mind wandered off.

Let it shine on me

I wonder

Blaine tried to suppress a yawn as his mother looked at him disapprovingly.

I wonder

If the light

From the lighthouse

Blaine mentally rolled his eyes as the preacher's son, Kurt Hummel, seemed to look his way for a moment. Kurt was just as Jesus crazy as his father. Blaine found it a bit condescending the way the boy looked at him, so Blaine held the boy's gaze for that short moment, not daring to look away first and show any sign of intimidation.

Would shine

Would shine

Would shine on me

The next part of the song Kurt sang solo and Blaine wasn't going to lie and say the boy's voice wasn't good. It was really good. But that didn't make Kurt any less annoying to him.

Here is my thought

This is my plea

Lord let your holy light shine on me

I wonder will you

At these lyrics Kurt decided to bring his gaze back to Blaine. Blaine kept up a nonchalant expression and didn't give the boy more acknowledgment than simply moving his eyes up to look back. If Kurt Hummel wanted to try and chastise him in a song he wasn't going to let it show that the boy was getting to him at all.

Hear my prayer

I know I'm not worthy but I need your help

Kurt was still looking at him. Blaine tried to keep eye contact but he couldn't help but feel slightly smaller under Kurt's gaze. He knew he fucked up but he didn't need Kurt putting a damn spotlight on him in church. He eventually felt too awkward to hold the gaze and looked to the side, shifting uncomfortably in his seat.

Lord shine your light

Shine it this way

From the other side of the church Quinn noticed Kurt staring blatantly at her boyfriend. Yes, he had technically broken up with her but that didn't mean he had actually broken up with her. Blaine was still her boyfriend. She glanced to the side to see Blaine's reaction and back up at Kurt disapprovingly.

Shine it so I can see which way to take

My faith is in you

To bring me through

I have one question

Kurt had stopped his staring after a few lines and the choir joined back in. But one thing was certain, Blaine Anderson hated church.

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The next day at school life seemed to move on. He sat in the front of the school with his friends and everything seemed it was falling back into place.

"So how's your leg, man?" Puck asked that morning.

"It's uh, it's good." He answered.

Santana stood beside them finishing her makeup that day. "I can't believe you were in jail."

"So, I mean, what'd you tell them?" Puck asked.

"Oh, I just said it was a nice night for a drive, ended up hanging out at the cement factory. Found Ben Israel. You know, tried to give him some help, got a little spooked. Then I thought I ought to leave before they thought I had anything to do with it. And I split."

Puck nodded, impressed. "I've got to hand it to you, man. You're a Jedi master bullshit man." He said, giving Blaine a fist bump as the group of friends laughed.

"Damn, that Kurt Hummel sure has style." Commented Santana, looked off to the side where the boy was walking into school carrying a box full of random things seeming to deal with astronomy.

"Yeah," Quinn agreed. "He wore that sweater in the fourth grade."

"Hey, it's the quite one you've got to watch out for. I mean, hey, he might put it on a brother like a Pop-tart." Puck said, making them all laugh even though it didn't make much sense. But Quinn just looked disgusted. "Well, maybe he might not look too bad, you know." Karofsky and the others continued to laugh as Kurt got closer.

"Nice sweater." Quinn said to him, clearly not meaning it as a compliment.

But Kurt stopped for a second and smiled sweetly replying, "Thank you."

Karofsky and the others snickered at the reply and Blaine watched the boy curiously as he ignored the others and continued on his way. How did Kurt seem to just walk around like nothing fazed him?

When the boy was far enough away the group broke into full out laughter, including Blaine. Puck laughed hard enough to fall onto the seat next to Blaine and mocked Kurt in a high and soft voice, "Thank you." This only made Blaine laugh harder.

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Later that day Blaine sat in Principal Figgins' office, twirling his keys around on his finger as he waited for the man to tell him why he was there.

Figgins walked back around the desk and placed empty beer bottle on it, looking pointedly at Blaine. "A student claims that you were drinking on school property Friday night."

Blaine didn't say anything and just looked back with the usual ignorant expression he gave to his teachers and other people he looked down upon.

"Lucky for you, Jacob Ben Israel is not talking. The owners of the factory are not pressing charges, at least not today."

At this Blaine avoided his gaze and looked down, shutting his eyes to keep himself from commenting on the man's ridiculous voice.

"I told them that I would arrange an appropriate punishment."

Blaine smirked. "What are you going to do? Expel me?"

Figgins stared back unwavering. "Not yet. Besides attending all your regular classes you will help our janitorial staff after school-"

"For pay." Blaine interrupted.

"For the inner satisfaction it brings." Figgins corrected, making Blaine roll his eyes. "On Saturday mornings you will tutor disadvantage students at our school. And finally, you will participate in the glee club's final event."

"The spring play?" Blaine asked with a smirk, not believing what he was hearing.

Figgins didn't respond at first and only stared back at him. "It is time for you to start experiencing other things. Start spending time with other kinds of people. Don't blow it, Mr. Anderson."

Blaine had expected some sort of punishment but he hadn't expected anything is humiliating.

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That afternoon Blaine was doing as he was told and was assisting the janitors after school. He was helping sweep the floors with one hand and holding a crutch in the other. His headphones were in, playing his usual rock music but not loud enough to overshadow the sound of Kurt Hummel's voice.

He was assigned to the same area that all the after school clubs met and of course, Kurt was head of the astronomy club.

"This is a very simply device made of plastic wrap, a coat hanger, and wire. Does anyone know what it is?" Kurt asked the group of students in front of him.

"It's a star frame." Blaine answered.

Kurt narrowed his eyes and lowered the device he was holding to look over at Blaine for a second before looking back to the students in front of him. "This is a star frame. And it will help you locate stars and planets with your naked eye."

Puck, Sam, and Karofsky walked in, mocking Blaine and making sweeping motions.

"Mercury and Jupiter can be seen best over the West, Southwestern horizon after sunset." Kurt explained, holding up the star frame again for the other kids to see.

Karofsky walked by and whispered to him. "I bet you can see angels up there flying around." He walked towards Blaine laughing with Puck and Sam.

"In fact, there are some things that could be called miraculous." Kurt responded confidently smiling at the group. "Einstein said the more he studied the universe the more be believe in a higher power."

Karofsky and the group looked at him mockingly. "Well, if there is a higher power, then why is it he can't get you a new sweater?" Puck and Sam made no attempt to hide their laughter.

But Kurt responded just as quickly. "He's too busy looking for your brain."

"Oh!" Puck laughed again, nudging Dave, who pushed him back, embarrassed by the comment.

"Hey, laugh. It's a joke." Blaine told him.

"Come on, let's just get out of here." Dave said, still obviously not happy about the joke.

"Can't got to stay."

Puck groaned. "Come on. Principal Figgins is gone. Let's make some moves."

Blaine considered it shortly.

"Come on." Karofsky urged as he walked away, using Blaine's other crutch. "Come on."

Puck followed, "Come on, man."

"I don't know," Sam said as he followed the other two, "The janitor thing kind of suits you. It works."

Blaine smiled, "Aw, well, thanks, buddy. Thank you." He looked back to the side and found Kurt looking at him again. Blaine frowned and looked away before following his friend's out.

Kurt Hummel really needed to stop staring at him.