'But he said he could do it!' Trent shouted, gesticulating to the person beside him. 'They paid us a visit; why not pay them one back?'

'Because it's not like Blaine can exit quickly and look out for himself if things go wrong,' David interjected. 'It's not gentlemanly to be spying on others, and it's not the Dalton way.'

'Why does everything have to be the Dalton way?'

'Are you trying to criticize our school's moral traditions?'

'Guys, please!'

A hush fell upon the Warbler Council and they all looked towards the source of the additional voice. Despite being very small, Blaine always had the ability to command the attention of the group whenever he first spoke.

'I understand the dangers of sneaking into another school and spying on the competition,' Blaine said, with a pointed look at Wes. 'Which is why Trent and I will be taking extra precautions to ensure I won't be seen. And,' he continued, raising his chin at David. 'I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself.'

Wes sighed and placed his thumb and forefinger to his temple. 'Blaine, you're four inches tall.'

'Four and a half,' Blaine responded. 'And I turned sixteen two days ago.'

'That's irrelev-'

'Blaine has a point,' Thad interrupted, as Blaine voiced a thank-you in his direction. 'If he understands the dangers, and if Trent can arrange that he can't be detected, then why not hold that advantage over our competition?'

Wes threw up his hands. 'Are you suggesting we break the school rules? Because that's what it seems like you are suggesting, Thad. Not to mention that he could end up dead.'

'That won't-' Blaine began.

'Now that's being a tad overdramatic, Wesley, and that's coming from me,' Trent replied.

'It is not without reason,' Wes shot back. 'And I hate being called Wesley.'

'Wes and I are just concerned for his safety,' David said. 'Who knows what will happen if he gets caught?'

'I-' Blaine tried to counteract with I won't get caught, but Thad butted in.

'I propose a vote on this matter.'

Wes huffed in frustration. 'Is that really necessary?'

'Seeing that it has taken up the agenda at today's meeting, I believe so,' David told him, as Thad stood up from his seat. He cleared his throat and looked around the room.

'All those in favor of Blaine Anderson visiting William McKinley High School and seeing what we are up against for Sectionals?'

The majority of hands in the room shot up in the air, Thad's included.

'All those opposed to…' Thad's voice trailed off as he watched Wes stand up and pull a thick hardcover book bearing the Dalton crest from the shelf behind him.

Blaine stood up on tiptoes, unable to see what Wes had started to flick through.

'What's going on?' he whispered up to Trent, who was sitting on the couch beside him.

'He's taken out the Rulebook,' Trent whispered back, eyes flicking down to Blaine standing on the armrest and back to Wes. 'I hate it when he does that.'

Wes threw Trent a glare as he continued flicking through the book. He finally stopped at one page and tapped a finger to it.

'Page one hundred and ninety-four, Section C, rule seventy-one,' he announced, as Thad sat down reluctantly. 'Any pupil in the charge of, or attending Dalton Academy for Orphaned Boys who leaves the school without prior permission from a member of faculty or without prior written consent from a guardian will be suspended from all extracurricular activities for six weeks or as determined by the head of faculty. Any pupil proven to have assisted another pupil with leaving the school without prior permission or written consent will be administered the aforementioned punishment. Now,' Wes replied, shutting the book and scanning the room. 'All those in favor?'

This time, only a few Warblers raised their hands, and did so reluctantly. Blaine and Trent could see with one glance that they were clearly in the minority.

'And all opposed?'

Wes and David raised one hand in the air, along with the remaining Warblers. Ignoring Wes and David's gaze, Thad sighed and raised his hand.

'Decided,' Wes announced, as the others lowered their hands. He turned to Trent and Blaine. 'I'm sorry, but the rules are in place for a reason and we cannot compromise on your safety.' He pushed the Rulebook to one side. 'Next order of business?'

'Next order of business is determining if we should persuade the student representative council to change the drapes in the dormitories to reflect the colors of the uniform.'

A collective groan arose from the boys and Jeff, who was sitting beside Nick, piped up: 'I think we're running overtime.'

'So we are,' David said, glancing at the clock above the fireplace. He looked between Wes and a dejected Thad. 'How about we discuss this matter for next time?'

Wes nodded, picking up his gavel and banging it once.

'Adjourned. Council and Warblers dismissed.'

Blaine's shadow barely made a presence as he walked along the hallway besides the senior classrooms. It was past eight o'clock, and he still had an hour and a half before curfew. His footsteps made light tapping sounds on the tiled floor. The hallway was deserted; all the boys were either finishing off a late dinner, studying or chilling back in their dorms.

Despite its traditions and trappings of a distinguished place of learning, Dalton itself was rather unusual. Part orphanage, part private all-boys' school, the majority of students who attended had been enrolled by wealthy family members, rich uncles and aunts who tolerated their nephews' return every summer when tuition ceased. There was only one student who had no other immediate family to go to, and he was silently making his way to the senior common room where the Warblers often rehearsed.

Blaine slipped through the crack in the double doors and approached the window. The moonlight cast a faint light in the room, enough to illuminate a cage and the tiny yellow bird that sat within it. Blaine stepped up to the small bookcase and climbed (he was so used to climbing that it came effortlessly) until he reached the windowsill. He clasped his hands together and peered at the bird closely.

'Pavarotti? You awake?'

Blaine had inherited riches from his father; the ability to understand animals he had inherited from his mother. Not wanting to stand out even more that he already had, Blaine chose to keep that particular trait a secret.

The canary opened one eye, and then another, lifting his head to gaze at Blaine. It was not the first time that Blaine had sought his counsel so late in the evening.

'I'm always awake for you, little one,' Pavarotti chirped, adjusting himself so that he was standing up straight. 'What brings you here this evening?'

'I don't know,' Blaine sighed, sitting down on the window ledge. 'Just visiting, I guess.'

Pavarotti tilted his head. 'Are you still upset about not being able to spy on the competition?'

'Word travels fast.'

'You didn't have to tell me,' Pavarotti replied, stretching out his wings and contracting them again. 'But that's not the real reason you're upset.'

'Yeah.' Blaine drew his knees up to his chest and placed his head in his hands. He knew it was no use complaining about the meeting held that day; the Council's decision was final. 'Sometimes... sometimes I think I'll be stuck here forever and nothing will change, you know? And Wes and David are graduating next year and soon the other Warblers will be graduating and I'll be on my own again…'

'You'll never be alone,' Pavarotti said gently.

'I know. I guess I just want what they have for once. Freedom to come and go as I please.'

'I know the feeling.' Pavarotti adjusted himself on his perch. 'But, you know, it doesn't have to be that way forever.'

Blaine shook his head and smiled. 'I heard you're getting a junior Warbler soon.'

Pavarotti shuffled his wings proudly. 'Another young Warbler to look after me! Yes, I am quite chuffed about it.' When Blaine looked away, the bird lowered his voice.

'Blaine, life's all about taking risks. We can't leave everything up to fate. Sometimes we have to decide to be brave enough to take that first step if we want things to change.'

Blaine looked up. 'Are you suggesting -?'

'Not suggesting anything,' Pavarotti quickly responded, with a flick of his feathered wing. 'Curfew's coming up, isn't it?'

'Soon.'

'Off to bed then.' Blaine stood up as Pavarotti circled his wings around himself. 'Goodnight, little one.'

'Goodnight,' Blaine whispered back.

Blaine had his own entrance to the dormitory he shared with Nick and Jeff. It was quite useful as it lead to his bed, desk and wardrobe, which rested on a small side table. He was glad for the opportunity to stay in the dormitories; he was treated no differently from the other orphans who resided there, despite his distinctive needs.

As he got closer to his room, he heard the familiar sound of conversation. Though instead of it being lively and boisterous, it was hushed and spoken in turn. He managed to catch a part of it as he walked up the ramp to his bed.

'-And I say we don't need the Council's permission. Who's going to stop us if they don't know?'

Trent stopped talking as soon as he caught sight of Blaine. Nick greeted him and Jeff began to speak.

'Hey Blaine, we were thinking-'

In that moment, Blaine felt a surge of something; a certain courage or boldness, he wasn't sure. But he sure needed it.

'I know,' he said, interrupting Jeff. 'Tomorrow, then?'

Jeff, Trent and Nick all looked at one another. Trent was the first to break the silence.

'Are you sure about this?'

'No,' Blaine replied, and he hopped up on his bed, stretching and yawning widely. 'But, really - when can we ever be sure about anything?'

When he looked back up at the other three boys, not one of them could hide their grins.

'Tomorrow it is,' Trent replied.