2 months and 10 days ago.

      “Wake up, Brother Dearest, it’s the first day of school!” Rachel said boisterously as she threw open the door to her brother’s room making a loud bang!

      A tuft of dark hair could be seen in between the rumpled bed covers and fluffy pillows, the vague shape of a body making itself known as the young man shifted.

      “Rachel, go back to sleep,” the form growled from under the extreme coverage of bedding.

      The brunette girl looked unfazed by the remark as she plopped herself down beside the covered figure.

      “Blaine, this really is no way to approach the new school year,” she said with a remorseful shake of her head. “It’s all about your attitude,” Rachel said with a smart nod.

      “Really? Because I think it’s quite appropriate seeing as I don’t want to approach the new school year at all,” Blaine said with his head still stuffed under his pillow.

      Rachel’s mouth was opening to respond when a slightly flustered, middle-aged man appeared in the doorway. “Blaine, listen to your sister. It’s time to get up, and if you don’t hurry you’ll be late on your first day.” The man had dark hair just like his son, although it was straight instead of curled. He stood at an average height with a medium build, but enough to fill out the broad length of the shoulders of his suit. Michael Berry-Anderson was just getting his shirt cuffs buttoned as he talked to his kids.

      “If you’re not ready by the time I get back…” Michael said leaving the threat in the air knowing Blaine would get the hint. He turned and disappeared down the hallway looking for his tie.

      Smirking Rachel reached over and patted Blaine’s arm. “Get up or Dad will get the bucket for you like last time.”

      Blaine groaned at the memory and shifted, his head becoming more visible as he rolled onto his side. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and ran a hand through his tangled curls. “Yeah, I heard him, Ms. Kiss Up. Now get out of my room so I can get ready.”

      “Have you thought about my proposal?” Rachel asked distractedly, seeming not to have heard Blaine’s demand.

      The bed squeaked slightly as the young man rolled out of it. Stretching once he was standing up straight he gave his sister an annoyed look.

      “What proposal?”

      She sighed dramatically and rolled her eyes. “Glee Club. I’ve been asking you to join all summer, but you’ve never given me an answer.”

      Blaine’s forehead scrunched together in thought, “I’m pretty sure I’ve said no every time you’ve asked me.”

      Rachel scoffed, “We both know you weren’t serious when you said it. It’s okay, I know you were going to say yes so I already sent Mr. Schue an email letting him know to expect your audition today.”

      “You emailed a shoe?” Blaine asked with feigned innocence.

      His sister stood and gave Blaine a determined look, “You’re auditioning.”

      “Actually, I’m really not. Now, what did I say? Out. Of. My. Room.” He made a shooing motion with his hands as he started rummaging through his closet for clothes to wear.

      “I’ll stay here until you promise to audition,” Rachel stated defiantly as she crossed her arms.

      The dark-haired boy rolled his eyes as he picked out jeans and a t-shirt to wear.

      “Fine, then you’ll just have to stay here while I undress,” Blaine said as he turned back to Rachel and started to ease his boxers down, the only article of clothing he was currently wearing.

      Rachel gasped and made a squeak akin to the sound of a dogs chew toy before she quickly jumped up from the bed, turning her back to him, covering her eyes at the same time. “Blaine!” she whined. “That’s disgusting and put your clothes back on so I can at least get out of here!”

      Blaine smirked letting his boxers go, he’d only pushed them down half an inch or so, but he knew it would do the trick. “There, you can leave.”

      She turned in the direction of the door and uncovered her eyes enough to see where she was going before she hurried out of the room, tugging the door shut behind her.

      He chuckled and shook his head as he turned back to the closet. He could vaguely hear his sister complaining to their dad’s about him down the hall.

      Picking up his outfit for the day he trudged into the bathroom attached to his room and turned the shower on before tugging his boxers off. He let the water get warm before stepping under it, relaxing as the pelting waterfall worked out the small knots in his neck and shoulders. His hair turned black and stuck to his forehead as the water washed over it. Working quickly, he got clean and shut the water off, grabbing a fluffy towel that hung by the shower and wrapping it around his waist. He used a hand towel to wipe a circle of condensation on the mirror away.

      Checking his stubble and shrugged, knowing he probably didn’t have time to shave it clean and settled for brushing his teeth and putting on deodorant before getting dressed.

      Tossing the towel in the hamper as he walked out of bathroom Blaine ran his hand through his still wet hair again, a habit he’d acquired over the years. He sat at the edge of his bed as he slipped his almost combat, boot-like shoes on before standing and grabbing his jacket as he left his room.

      He found his family in the kitchen, Rachel blabbing insistently and their dad’s running around getting their things together.

      Shuffling through the pantry he grabbed a pack of pop-tarts and slipped them in his jacket pocket, the foil making a small crinkling noise. He patted his jeans pockets for a moment making sure his phone was still in it from when he left it ther the day before. Relaxing as he found the familiar object he checked the battery and figured he’d be okay for the day.

      “Well, aren’t you going to punish him?!” Rachel asked indignantly, drawing Blaine from his thoughts. Michael was fighting the urge to roll his eyes at his daughter’s persistence. Thankfully, his husband decided to jump in for him.

      “Sweetie, you were in his room and he told you to leave, what have we said about peoples rooms?” James asked his daughter, his glasses glinting slightly in the sunlight streaming in from the window above the sink. James was around the same age as his husband, late-thirties, and had warm, chestnut colored hair. He was smaller, a little bit softer as far as muscles went and he put off more of an artistic air about himself. Much more of a free spirit compared to his partner who was all about expensive designer suits and looking professional.

      Rachel took a deep breath, as if it was physically draining for her to say, before reciting, “It’s their personal space and it’s to be respected at all times and they can kick you out as long as they have good reason.”
      “And…” James prompted when it didn’t sound like Rachel would continue.

      “And you and dad can override the rule whenever you choose,” Rachel grumbled, clearly upset at being proven wrong.

      James leaned over and kissed his daughter on the forehead as Blaine rolled his eyes at them.

      The young brunette sighed and continued to eat her breakfast in silence, a rare occurrence. Her legs sung back and forth a few inches off the ground from where she was perched on top of the stool. Neither of the Berry-Andersons were of impressive height.

      Michael was just finishing packing his suitcase when his husband pecked him on the lips and handed him an apple. “Have a great day, Hon,” James said with a smile. “And you two,” James said giving Blaine and Rachel sharp looks, “try not to kill each other.”

      “Like I’d talk to her in a public place,” Blaine muttered as his sister reassured their parents that she wouldn’t be caught dead near him because it would ruin her reputation.

      Blaine scoffed, “What reputation? The only thing people know about you is that your bossy, obnoxious and you wear clothes that somehow make you look 75 and 6 at the same time.”

      “Blaine,” Michael said warningly as Rachel glared at her twin.

      James, however, was finally taking a look at what his daughter was wearing. “Sweetheart? Are you sure that skirt is for you?” he tried to ask nicely.

      “What’s wrong with my skirt?” Rachel asked defensively, running her hands over the wool material protectively.

      “Enough!” Michael said loudly, drawing everyone’s attention. “In the car, both of you.”

      Michael made his way to the door, his kids and husband following him. James and him shared another kiss on the doorstep before Michael left. James worked from home while Michael went to work in a law firm office in Westerville. It was a long drive, and he was usually gone far before the sun was up, but he always made the time to drive his kids to school on the first day of school. After all, once the first day was over Blaine would be back to riding to school on his bike and Rachel would be hitching rides from her friends. Michael liked seeing his kids off to school and he wished he could do it more often.

      Once everyone was in the car, Rachel taking the passenger seat quickly and Blaine slowly making his way into the backseat, the rather short drive to school began.

      “Remind me again why I can’t use my bike?” Blaine asked sullenly.

      “Because you shredded one of your sisters favorite shirts,” Michael said as he gave Blaine a stern look through the mirror.

      “I was doing her a favor! That shirt was hideous,” Blaine said heatedly. “Not to mention Pa agreed with me,” Blaine muttered to himself so neither of them would hear. He turned his eyes back to the window and watched the trees and houses as they passed by.

      Rachel huffed and stared out the window, her arms clutching her backpack to her chest.

      Michael pulled into the McKinley High parking lot and parked along the curb before turning in his seat to look at both his children. Blaine knew what was coming and had to fight the urge to roll his eyes.

      “I don’t want another call from the office about you mouthing off in class, or smoking, or anything for that matter. Got it?” Michael asked his son. Blaine glared at the floor of the car but nodded slightly, making sure not to make a verbal agreement.

      “Alright, and Rachel I want you to keep in mind that you can’t force your brother to do everything that you want.”

      His daughter’s response was another huff as she unbuckled her seatbelt.

      “Blaine where’s your backpack?” Michael asked suddenly, noticing he didn’t have the familiar bag next to him.

      “In my locker,” Blaine said with a smirk, his attitude changing drastically.

      “What the hell is doing in your locker already?”

      “It’s been there all summer, left it there on the last day of school,” Blaine said.

      “We get new lockers every year!” Rachel said shocked.

      “Well I don’t.” He gave an arrogant shrug, his chin raised in the air.

      Michael shook his head already exhausted with his children. “Alright, just go. I’ll see you guys at dinner. Have a good first day,” he added trying to brighten up the mood.

      Blaine slid out of the car smoothly without a word and made his way into the building exuding an air of confidence as he walked.

      Rachel made her way out of the car much slower after she gave her dad a peck on the cheek. Just as she was about to close the car door her father stopped her.

      “Rachel!”

      She opened the door wider looking expectantly at him, “Yes?”

      “Are those cats?” Michael asked with an inward wince as he looked at the knitted design on her skit.

      Rachel looked down at her skirt before smiling at her dad, “Aren’t they cute?”

      Michael nodded slowly, placing a fake grin on his face. “Of course, Dear. Have a good day!”

      She smiled and said goodbye before closing the door and bounding happily into the school.

      Her father shook his head as he pulled out of the parking lot and made his way to work. “We’ve got to stop letting her buy her own clothes,” he said under his breath.