Chapter 2 – The Skanks

The blood that's running through [his] veins,

With every beat there's no escape,

Lost in everything [he] trusts,

Still can't seem to get enough.

-

The Silence by Mayday Parade

September

Blaine kept his head down and tried to blend in with the crowd. Maybe if he didn't make eye contact with anyone he wouldn't experience – as Mike had called it – a slushy again. Just blend in, he repeated to himself. McKinley was so different from his old school Dalton. At the Academy, he was accepted, even somewhat popular. Being the lead in the Warblers helped with that and his natural aurora of friendliness did wonders for making friends...and boyfriends. The locker slams and slushies that were a common occurrence at McKinley had never existed at Dalton, unless you count Nick and Jeff's pranks. Blaine knew that joining the New Directions did not help his situation at all. Tina had told him how they were the bottom of the food chain and were all destined for daily slushies. McKinley was just like his old public high school; he shuddered at the memory.

Blaine was trying to find his chemistry class; he thought he was heading in the right direction...Blaine suddenly collided with a solid object. His books dropped to the ground, scattering paper everywhere. He groaned and looked up to be met with the bluest eyes he had ever seen.

The guy cleared his throat and smirked. Blaine blushed as he tore his stare away from the stranger's beautiful eyes. He bent down to collect his many books. When he straightened up again Blaine finally took in the rest of the tall boy's appearance. He was wearing sinfully skintight jeans with leather boots. To add to his bad boy image he had a black leather jacket and underneath was an Asking Alexandria t-shirt, a band he had never even heard of before. Blaine couldn't help but feel his heart beat faster as he took in the boy's face. He had one eyebrow piercing and his right ear was pierced from top to bottom. His hair was light brown, with several pink streaks that seemed to work with his whole appearance.

The stranger cleared his throat again. "Are you done checking me out?" His voice was the most surprising, it was so different from the rest of him and yet it seemed to suit him perfectly.

Blaine blushed scarlet and looked at his feet. "I-I wasn't checking you o-out."

"Mhm. I totally believe that new kid." He replied with a wink, while this mysterious boy talked Blaine could see his tongue ring gleaming in the light. Blaine swallowed thickly. "Your name's Blaine right?"

Blaine quickly nodded, secretly thrilled to know that this beautiful stranger knew his name. "Hmm... Well my name's Kurt. If you ever want to hook up let me know because you are hot." Blaine's whole face was probably red as he stuttered on what to say. How does one reply to that? Thankfully, he didn't have to because Kurt flashed him a grin and walked away, patting his shoulder before disappearing into the sea of students.

* * *

Lunch was a problem. There was nowhere to sit. Cliques had claimed all the tables and just because he was in Glee club does not mean he was necessarily allowed to sit at their table. Yesterday he had spent lunch in the guidance office to get his courses that they messed up fixed. He hadn't had to worry about where to sit. Today he was going to have to pull a Mean Girls and sit in the washroom...Well he could sit outside, there were tables just outside the cafeteria's doors. It was a nice day out, the last of summer hanging on.

He glanced at the Glee club table. Tina and Rachel were laughing at something Artie had said. Santana and Brittany sat at the end of the table whispering to each other. Puck was waving his hands around and shouting something as the rest of the football guys laughed. He sighed; Blaine wished that he was back at Dalton with Wes and David.

"Hey boy! Are you coming to sit with us?" A voice asked from behind him. He spun around to see Mercedes standing there with her tray.

"Oh...I wouldn't want to impose or anything. I was going to go outside...It's nice out today...so yeah..." Blaine finished lamely. He really didn't want to intrude on the glee club; Blaine was one for making friends but what if they didn't like him? What if they thought he was too nerdy?

Mercedes rolled her eyes. "Come on. You're one of us now! You even got a welcome to the bottom of the food chain slushy yesterday." Blaine wasn't even offended because he knew Mercedes understood the humiliation.

He smiled. "Okay."

"Watch out for Rachel. She can be a bit...talkative." Mercedes warned him as they walked over.

Tina instantly made a spot beside her for Mercedes. They all looked at him, even Santana and Brittany stopped their whispering to look over at him.

"You can sit beside me!" Rachel patted the bench spot next to her.

He awkwardly sat down. "So Blaine, how are you enjoying you first days at McKinley High?" Rachel asked before taking a bite of her salad. The rest of the glee club turned back to their conversations, except Rachel, Mercedes and Tina.

"It's definitely different than Dalton. It's more like my high school before Dalton." He said quietly. He didn't like to think of Regis High. All it did was bring up bad memories.

"Where did you use to go?" Rachel asked.

Blaine pushed around the pasta in his thermos. "Regis High."

Regis High School was on the other side of Lima. Located in the prestigious side of town, where all the rich kids went. Regis was McKinley's main rival school when it came to sports. Not that McKinley was much to compete with.

Mercedes faked gasped. "Oh no! The enemy has infiltrated McKinley!"

He smiled faintly. "I'm more of a Dalton boy then I am a Regis boy."

Tina brows furrowed. "Dalton is the all boys prep school in Westerville is it not?"

Blaine was surprised she knew about it, not many people did. Unless your parents were an Alumni or you knew people going to Dalton. "Yeah." He took a bite of his lunch so they couldn't ask him more questions.

Obviously Tina did not take the hint. "Why would you leave a place like that? I heard the glee club there is fantastic and they have a no bullying policy."

Blaine chewed his pasta, buying himself time to think of a good excuse. He finally swallowed and looked at Tina. "Um... I didn't want to board anymore." It wasn't exactly a lie; it was more that his mother didn't want him to board. "It was really lonely because I had a single room." That part was fully true.

"I couldn't imagine living away from my family at this age. I love them too much." Mercedes said. "I totally get it."

Blaine forced a smile. He didn't exactly mind living away from his family. Away from his mother's concerned questions, his father's disappointed looks, and his brother's superior life. He looked sadly at his pasta.

Rachel looked at him staring at his lunch like he was going to cry. "So Blaine! Your audition song yesterday was amazing! I didn't think you were going to pull off Katy Perry when you said that's what you were auditioning with but it was really good." Rachel said effectively changing the subject.

Mercedes dropped her mouth open in fake shock. "Oh my god! Did Rachel just compliment someone other than herself?" Tina giggled while Rachel rolled her eyes.

"I compliment people all the time." Rachel sighed.

"Not without saying something horribly offensive before or after it." Tina pointed out. Blaine zoned out while the girls bickered back and forth. He thought of his audition yesterday.

He looked into the choir room and saw ten people talking and laughing. They looked like they were having a really good time, and they looked friendly. Blaine took a deep breath; he could do this. They are just like the Warblers, minus the uniforms and add the girls. As he reached for the door handle he tried to steady his shaking hands. Everyone stopped talking and looked over when he walked in. It's okay, they just aren't use to having new comers, he told himself.

Mr. Schuester was at the front of the classroom. He put down his marker and walked over to him. "Hey Blaine! Glad to see you showed up!" Blaine gave him his best smile. "Guys, this is Blaine! He used to be the lead soloist at his old school." Everyone gave him skeptical looks. "Why don't you sing for us?"

He nodded and pulled his iPod out of his bag. "I'll just plug this into the stereo I guess." While he set up his music the whole glee club started whispering. He tried to calm his breathing. They are just curious. He spun around and faced the group.

"Okay... I'll be singing Lost by Katy Perry." He announced quietly. Everyone looked surprised to hear that he was singing Katy Perry. Tina gave him an encouraging smile and Mike sent him thumbs up.

He started the music and breathed deeply before joining in.

I'm out on my own again

Face down in the porcelain

Feeling so high but looking so low

Party favors on the floor

Group of girls banging on the door

So many new fair-weather friends

Oh oh oh, have you ever been so lost?

Known the way and still so lost?

Caught in the eye of a hurricane

Slowly waving goodbye like a pageant parade

So sick of this town pulling me down, oh

My mother says I should come back home

But can't find the way 'cause the way is gone

So if I pray am I just sending words into outer space?

Have you ever been so lost?

Known the way and still so lost?

Another night waiting for someone to take me home

Have you ever been so lost?

Is there a light, is there a light

At the end of the road?

I'm pushing everyone away

'Cause I can't feel this anymore

Can't feel this anymore

Have you ever been so lost?

Know the way and still so lost?

Another night waiting for someone to take me home

Have you ever been so lost?

Have you ever been so lost?

Blaine finished and grinned as the rest of the glee club applauded very loudly.

Mr. Schuester smiled as he clapped Blaine on the shoulder. "Well I think it's safe to say; welcome to the New Directions!"

"Blaine?" Mercedes asked while waving a hand in front of his face. "You alright?"

He finally looked to see Rachel, Tina and Mercedes staring at him. "Yeah...sorry just tired. It's been busy the past few days."

Mercedes laughed. "It's alright." They went back to their conversation while Blaine looked around the cafeteria. Pink hair just outside the window caught his attention. He looked to see a girl with dark clothing and a bad dye job was standing with Kurt, who was lighting a cigarette. Blaine couldn't help but grimace, smoking was disgusting.

"Who are they?" He found himself asking, cutting off the girl's chatter.

"Who?" Mercedes and Tina turned around to see what he was looking at.

"Oh, those are The Skanks." Mercedes said before turning back around. "They all wear Goth clothing, smoke and die their hair pink. The two out there, Quinn and Kurt, used to be in glee club."

This shocked Blaine. Kurt or Quinn did not look like the type to be in a show choir club.

"Why do you ask?" Rachel raised an eyebrow.

Blaine shrugged, but his cheeks turned red as he remembered his conversation with Kurt this morning.

"Oh God. Did Kurt hit on you this morning?" Mercedes asked loudly.

He whipped his head around to see if anyone heard, thankfully no one did. "Shh! Yes, this morning in the hallway. He told me to let him know if I ever want to hook up because I'm really hot."

The girls laughed. "He never used to be like that. In freshman and the starting of sophomore year he was all about romance. He used to tell me that the touch of the fingertips is as sexy as it gets."

Blaine really could not see that. "What seriously?"

"Oh yeah. And he was a Broadway fanatic and a fashion freak. Honestly, before he would have never been caught dead wearing what he wears now." Mercedes nodded turning to look at Kurt.

"He skips class and smokes under the bleachers with the rest of the skanks now." Tina said sadly. "He could have really gone big with either his singing or his fashion." All three girls nodded with remorse.

Blaine stared at Kurt. The skank stuck his finger up at Quinn before gently pushing her. She just laughed and took a drag from her cigarette. Why would Kurt give up everything to become a skank?

* * *

"Hey Blaine!" Mike called from down the hall. Blaine stopped and waited for him to catch up. "The guys from glee club are getting together to have a Halo marathon on Saturday. Do you want to join us?"

Blaine's expression was one of surprise. "R-really?"

"Yeah man. You're one of us now!" Mike laughed. That was the second person that said he was one of them now, he couldn't help but feel happy knowing that he at least had some people.

Blaine gave him a small smile. They entered the choir room and Mike walked away to greet Tina. Blaine sat at the back alone texting David about McKinley and the New Directions.

"Okay guys!" Mr. Schuester yelled out to get everyone's attention as he entered from his office. "Your assignment this week is-" He wrote the word, duets, on the whiteboard. Half of them groaned while the other half cheered. "You'll pick a name from the hat and whoever you draw is who you're with."

Everyone groaned this time, some shouting out complaints. "Mr. Schue, let's think this over! What if I get paired with someone who is not as musically advanced as I am? I think it would be in the best interest for my voice and this club, if you let us pick our own duet partners." Rachel said loudly from where she was sitting. Blaine had only been to one full glee club meeting and he can already tell that this was her usual behavior.

"Well this way Rachel you can help that person grow if they are not advanced as you." Mr. Schuester said politely. "I want a fun dance number! That's right folks, this year it's not only singing you have to have a dance to go along with it!" Everyone groaned this time.

Mr. Schuester clapped to get everyone's attention. "I haven't told you what the prize for the winner is!" All the singers quieted down at the mention of a prize. "The prize for the best duet will be a gift certificate for Breadstix!" Mr. Schuester said excitedly. Blaine didn't know of this so-called Breadstix, but everyone around him seemed to be very happy with this prize.

"Um Mr. Schue. I don't know if you realized but we don't have an even amount of people in our group anymore." Tina said and everyone quickly stopped talking as soon as they realized she was right.

Blaine's cheeks heated up, it was because of him they had an odd number. "Oh, I d-don't have to participate. I was the one who made it uneven and I'm new so don't worry about me." He could feel everyone's eyes on him as he stuttered.

Mr. Schuester smiled at him. "As much as I like your willingness to take one for the team Blaine, that will not be necessary-"

"Please don't tell me you're going to be one of our duet partners again." Santana sneered. "Because that went so well the last time..." Both, Mr. Schuester and Rachel looked at their feet and blushed.

"No Santana. We happen to have another member for the New Directions. He's making his comeback...Well as soon as he shows up." Mr. Schuester looked worriedly to the door. As if on cue, the sound of footsteps could be heard down the hallway. The door swung open to reveal a tall blonde lady in a blue tracksuit and behind her stood Kurt. His arms were crossed and he glared at Mr. Schuester. A lot of the glee club members look surprised to see Kurt standing in the choir room and from what Blaine was told at lunch they had a good reason to be.

"Perfect timing!" Mr. Schuester smiled. "Thank you Sue."

The woman saluted him before turning to Kurt. "Don't try anything funny." And then she walked out. Kurt just rolled his eyes.

"It's really good to have you back Kurt!" Mr. Schuester exclaimed. Kurt ignored him and sat at the back, away from Blaine. "Anyways! I was just explaining this week's assignment. We are doing duets, we'll be drawing names and the winners will get a certificate to Breadstix. However, this time you have to sing and have a choreographed dance." Mr. Schuester said excitedly. The pink haired boy just stared back blankly. "...Alright let's start picking! I only put half your names in so the other half can choose."

Everyone clapped as Mr. Schuester shook the container. "First up Artie! Come choose your partner!"

Artie rolled over to Mr. Schuester and picked out a name. He read the paper and smiled. "Mike Chang!"

Pretty soon it was just Blaine and Santana who had to pick. He could either be partnered with Kurt or Tina. He was praying for Tina. Although a tiny part of him was wishing for Kurt.

"Okay Blaine you're next!" Mr. Schuester smiled.

Blaine got up and walked to the front. Just breathe; it's only one duet. Blaine grabbed one of the pieces and pulled it out. It felt like an eternity as he opened it up. He read the name. "Kurt."

He looked up to see Kurt smirk and wink at him, he then looked to Tina and Mercedes and they were grinning at him. What was their problem?

As everyone else happily chattered away with his or her assigned partners, Blaine sat next to Kurt nervously playing with his pen. He tried to work up the courage to say something to Kurt, but every time he opened his mouth the memory of Kurt calling him hot came rushing back.

"Are you ever going to say something?" Kurt asked, without even glancing up from his nails as he picked off the black polish. "You look like a fish when you keep opening and closing your mouth."

Blaine turned beet red. "W-we need to figure out a time to p-practice." God, he needed to stop his stuttering. He never had a stutter before meeting Kurt.

"I'm free anytime." Kurt shrugged. "So it's whenever you want to."

"I'm free too. Except Wednesdays." Blaine said quietly. "How about tonight after school? My parents go out Tuesday nights so we'll have the house to ourselves."

Kurt raised an eyebrow. "Inviting me to your house with no parents? Blaine Anderson are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

Blaine blushed. "N-no. I just meant that we won't interrupt anyone with our singing."

"Oh yes. I'm sure you're a very loud...singer." Kurt chuckled. Blaine looked away. This was going to be a long week.

***

Blaine tried to ignore Kurt's astonished expression as he pulled into his driveway. The curly haired boy got out of his car to type the code into one of the brick pillars that stood on either side of two large golden gates. Anderson was spelled out on the top of the gates. Making it known to anyone passing this was their residence. Blaine got back in his car as the gates swung open.

"Holy shit. Are you some prince from a foreign country or something?" Kurt asked as Blaine drove up his driveway. It was more of a mini road to be honest. From the gates the house wasn't even visible. They drove through a lush forest.

Blaine chuckled. "No. Just parents who make a lot of money and like to show it off."

He pulled up to three-story houses that looked more like a castle. Blaine parked the car in front of one of the garage doors and finally looked at Kurt. The skank was sitting there, mouth wide open.

"You live in a castle! You must be a prince!" Kurt gestured to the house. "You could fit like a hundred of my houses in there."

"Wait till you see the inside." Blaine muttered. It wasn't that he didn't think his house was nice, he just didn't like when people made a big deal out of his.

Kurt just looked at him; he looked back. "Let's go." Blaine got out of the car with Kurt following him. They walked up the five stone stairs to the huge wooden door. Blaine unlocked it and pushed it open. Kurt gasped as he took in the foyer. It had marble floors and a huge chandelier hanging in the middle of the room. There was a set of stairs that led to the upper floors and two doorways; one leading to the kitchen and the other was to the living room.

"It's beautiful." Kurt said.

Blaine said nothing as he led Kurt up the stairs to his room. Personally, he loved his room. It was the only place he could truly be himself. When he moved back home in the summer he redecorated. His walls were a dark red with black trim. His king sized bed sat in the middle of the room with its many pillows and plain black comforter. He had a desk on the other side of the room next to a huge bookcase. It was from the ceiling to the floor, the two bottom shelves had boxes of sheet music and old records. The next two shelves were filled with books and all his favourite movies. The top two shelves had his stereo, cds and all his trophies and awards from over the past few years.

"Wow. Your room is huge." Kurt looked astonished. "And it's tastefully decorated."

Blaine could tell the old Kurt was coming out. "Thanks. I did it myself."

Kurt looked at the corkboard above his desk. It had pictures of him and the Warblers from various competitions. There were also many pictures of Cooper and him from his childhood and teen years.

"Do you want a drink or a snack?" Blaine asked breaking the silence.

Kurt turned away from the pictures. "I'll take a glass of water."

After coming back with two banana muffins and two waters and awkwardly sitting next to Kurt on the bed while eating both muffins because Kurt kept saying he wasn't hungry, they finally got onto the topic of the duet.

"D-do you have any song ideas?" There goes the stutter.

"I have one that will suit you perfectly." Kurt smirked. "Stutter by Marianas Trench."

Blaine turned redder if that was possible. Great, Kurt noticed. "By w-who?" Dammit.

"Only one of the greatest bands ever." Kurt rolled his eyes and pulled out his phone. "They're a Canadian punk band who actually writes their own music. Here, look." Blaine looked at the picture that Kurt had pulled up on his phone. The one member had really curly hair just like his own; the second guy had a huge Mohawk. A very good looking dark brown hair stood beside the guy with the giant Mohawk. At the very end was also extremely good looking, he had black and blue hair. Blaine glanced at Kurt. "Well they look interesting."

Kurt smirked. "It would definitely be something new for the glee club. We could even learn the choreography from the music video." Blaine thought he could see excitement lighting up Kurt's eyes.

"It sounds like you're excited about this." Blaine silently congratulated himself for not stuttering. "I thought you had the whole, 'I don't care about anything', attitude going on."

Kurt laughed. "Oh...I'm not excited for the competition. I'm excited to win and take you out to Breadstix and then afterwards I can fuck you in the backseat of my car."

Blaine's eyebrows almost hit his hairline. "W-what!" He exclaimed. How could Kurt be so crude? Although the tiniest part of Blaine was aroused, not that he would ever admit that.

"Relax Blaine, I'm kidding." Kurt laughed at his expression. "Unless you'd like that. Then I have no problem with it."

"N-no. I would not like that." Blaine said quietly. He subtly moved away from Kurt so he couldn't feel the warmth radiating from the skank.

"Well are we doing Stutter? Or do you have a better idea?" Kurt asked as he texted someone.

"Yeah...we can do that one. It sounds g-good." Blaine picked at a loose thread on his sweater.

"It'll be easy for you." Kurt smirked, putting away his phone. "You won't have to practice the stuttering."