Blaine and Kurt sat at their lunch table with Sam and Mercedes across from them. It had been a quiet day so far--no slushie facials, no ruined clothes, and, surprisingly, no sharp-tongued taunts while they walked the hallways.

The four of them were laughing at yet another of Sam's excellent celebrity impressions when Kurt heard the sound of liquid being poured next to him.

Ross Nelson stood next to their table, a mocking smile on his face as he emptied the contents of two bottles of Pepsi into Blaine's and Kurt's messenger bags.

Kurt's eyes widened in horror, and Sam leapt up from the table, shoving Ross away.

"What the hell, man?" Sam demanded, ignoring the soda that was now pouring onto his shoes. �"They haven't done�anything to you, so what's the deal?"

"They exist," Ross sneered. "They're polluting this place with their fa--" His mockery was cut off by Sam's fist slamming into his face.

Ross drew back, a hand clutching his face as his nose started bleeding.

"Don't you ever�use that word again," Sam seethed. "If I hear you so much as whisper�it, I will smash your face in." As he spoke, he stepped closer and closer to Ross, until they were standing toe-to-toe.

Ross met his gaze defiantly, but there was fear in his eyes. He muttered something under his breath, then walked away.

Sam turned back to the table, one hand massaging the knuckles of the other.

Mercedes, Kurt, and Blaine hadn't moved. Blaine's gaze was focused on the table, and he was so still that Sam wondered if he was breathing. Kurt reached out a hand to Blaine, who jerked away from him and stood up, grabbing his messenger bag and leaving the cafeteria without speaking another word.

"You alright?" Sam asked, knowing the answer already but needing to ask anyway.

"Yeah," Kurt replied, his voice shaking only slightly. "Yeah, I'm fine."�Sam tried to ignore the �way Kurt's eyes seemed to be shining wetly, as though he were fighting back tears.

Sam sat next to Mercedes once more, and the three of them resumed eating, their moods significantly subdued.�