Chapter 2

“YOU DID WHAT???”

Blaine almost clapped his hands over his ears. Rachel looked manic as she continued yelling and pacing around the choir room. She was so loud he thought his ear drums were going to burst.

“We just had coffee. Is that bad?” Blaine asked sheepishly, looking around at the others for guidance. When Blaine walked into glee on Monday afternoon, he didn’t really expect his weekend to be a topic of conversation. But apparently, his coffee with the Unholy Trinity had made it’s way around the school and back to the club. Rachel was beside herself.

“Is that bad? IS THAT BAD?” Rachel practically yelled as she pounded her little fists on the piano, making the rest of them jump.

“Rachel, calm down, girl,” Mercedes said soothingly.

“Blaine,” Rachel whined, “Sebastian is not a good guy.”

“What’s wrong with him?” Blaine asked timidly.

“He’s a sleaze ball, he ruined my life!” Rachel huffed.

“Ok, but what...”

“It’s irrelevant. All that matters is that you DON’T talk to him! You can’t! We can’t lose you! Not after... Just. Blaine, you can’t talk to him. I don’t think you can be a part of this group if we all know you’re friends with him!” Rachel said indignantly, crossing her arms.

“Blaine, we don’t want to get in the way of you making friends,” Quinn said, “ I think we’re all in agreement that we don’t like Sebastian, but we aren’t going to stop you.”

“BUT...”

“AND,” she continued, shooting Rachel a glance, “You’re always going to be welcome here. We’re a family. And you’re a part of it now.”

Rachel opened her mouth, ready to start yelling again, but to Blaine’s surprise, she didn’t. She just stared at Quinn, fuming and lamenting the fact she was right.

Blaine got acclimated to McKinley more quickly than he expect. New Directions was easily the best part of his transition. They all adored Blaine and Blaine really got to love each and every one of them, even Rachel and her crazy. The numbers were fun and he even got to do the lead solo in one of their first public group numbers. When he wasn’t at practice, he split most of his time way from school at his house playing guitar or at the Lima Bean, sipping the best coffee in town. Every once in a while, he’d run into Sebastian by his locker or while getting coffee. He knew that he was technically “allowed” to talk to him, but something told him that getting on Rachel Berry’s bad side wasn’t smart. So he was always polite, but short with Sebastian, only having a few minutes of conversation before making up some excuse to leave.

During the last week of September, Blaine was at his locker, putting his books away during the passing period, when he felt someone creep up next to him.

“Well well well, if it isn’t Blaine Anderson.”

Blaine felt his face go pink as he faced Sebastian, who had propped himself up against the lockers, his arms folded over his pristine Cheerios uniform.

“Hey, how’s your... Um, how’ve you been?” Blaine asked, making sure not to make direct eye contact. Sebastian knew he was avoiding him.

Sebastian smiled. “Ok, better now that I’m talking to you,” he said with a wink.

“Um, cool.”

“Blaine, you don’t have to be so shy when you’re talking to me,” Sebastian said, patting him on the shoulder, “I like you, it’s ok.”

“Really?” Blaine replied, walking down the hallway to English.

“Yes. And actually, I’m here for a reason,” Sebastian said, catching up to him, “The girls and I want to know if you’d like to eat lunch with us this week.” 

“Well I already kind of...”

“It’s kind of a big deal, we don’t normally just invite people to sit with us,” Sebastian interrupted.

“But...”

“So you’ll come?” Sebastian almost pleaded.

“Ok, I guess,” Blaine said, looking down at his shoes.

“Killer. See you at lunch!” Sebastian said, turning on his heel to the men’s room.

Blaine wanted to crawl into a ball and die. He considered himself a very sharp person, able to see through bullshit a mile away. But there was something about Sebastian that just drew him in and turned him into an ineloquent pile of mush.

He walked into English, ignoring Rachel’s greeting and dropped down in the desk next to her.

Class went on and after 30 minutes, Rachel finally gave up getting his attention.  

But she cornered him after class.

“Blaine, are you ok?” she asked after practically knocking over Mercedes and Tina as she ran after him down the hall.

He sighed. “I’m just confused, that’s all.”

“Why?”

“Rachel, I really like you and the rest of New Directions,” Blaine started, “But, I’m having a hard time, well, not talking to Sebastian or I guess him not talking to me? I don’t know.”

Rachel’s face fell.

“He just, I don’t know, likes me? He invited me lunch today.”

“Blaine, you heard Quinn. Even though I may not have particularly warm feelings towards him, you’re welcome to be his friend,” she explained.

“I know. It’s just hard. I kind of feel out of the loop a little. You guys keep saying he ruined ‘everything’ but that’s all you guys say about it. I guess I just don’t get why you hate him so much.”

Rachel closed her eyes and rolled her shoulders, as if she was getting ready for something big.

“Blaine, maybe I better explain a little why, well, why I don’t like him,” she finally said.

She stopped for a moment and gathered her thoughts.

“You know we went to nationals last year and we lost.”

Blaine nodded.

“Well, it wasn’t because we weren’t simply up to par with the other groups, quite the opposite. We ended up not having enough members.”

Blaine wrinkled his eyebrows. “I’m confused.”

“In the show choir rule book it says you need twelve to compete. We had twelve. Lauren Zizes used to be in Glee before Puck... Never mind, not important.”

Blaine thought for a second. “Wait, but with Lauren, you guys still only had ten...”

Rachel shifted a little, trying to find a way to explain the situation delicately.

“Did you know that Brittany and Santana used to be in Glee with us?”

Blaine eye’s widened. “Really? Those two? Seems a little... Out of their element.”

“No, they were really great and part of our family. It’s just...”

She paused, as if not really sure how to continue.

“They had Cheerios too. Which they didn’t want to give up. They’d been really good with balancing New Directions and Cheerios. But when it came down to it, they always chose us over Cheerios, always. They ended up missing too much practice for the squad to go to Nationals. I’m guessing Sebastian wasn’t too pleased, being the captain. But they seemed ok with it.”

“Well, what does that have to do with nationals?”

“Ok,” she continues, “when we got to New York, we had three days to prepare and sight see and everything. We were all really excited. We spent most of it looking at famous places and trying to get tickets to a show. Hey, did you know Cats isn’t on Broadway anymore? I was so sure... Never mind. The important part is that during the week, the two of them weren’t really, I don’t know, all there? We thought they were just nervous, but I guess they had other things on their minds.”

They’d reached the choir room. She opened the door and beckoned him inside.

“Won’t we get in trouble for missing class?”

Rachel sat down at the piano and plucked out a few notes absentmindedly.

“No, the teachers know I have to rehearse a lot for my voice to be top notch. I have to spend fifteen minutes every two hours just doing scales in order to keep my voice as perfect as possible. We’ll just tell your teacher you’re with me.”

“Ok. So, you guys were in New York...”

“Right. The day of the competition, we were all ready in the lobby, waiting for Brittany and Santana to come down so we could go to the center to get ready. Well, they were five minutes late, then fifteen. After half an hour, Mr. Schue went to go check on them. Apparently they had just up and left. The front desk said they’d turned in their room key early. We got a call from their parents. They’d gone home.”

“What? That’s crazy!”

“That’s what I thought. Until we got home, empty handed, and found out that Sebastian had them both promoted to cheer captains. They’s had been scheming the whole time for them to leave us during nationals, to make us look bad! We could have won that year! We were so close, so close!!” she cried.

Blaine just sat there, trying to make sense of the whole thing.

“And now they won’t talk to us. And I just know Sebastian is just sitting there, quietly laughing at our misfortune..”

She scowled and stared at the floor for a long time.

“We’ve had problems with loyalty in the past, especially from Santana. But I just know deep down that they wouldn’t just abandon us like that,” Rachel finally said quietly, “There’s something going on.”

Blaine nodded. Rachel suddenly turned to him, taking both his hands.

“Blaine, I just don’t want to loose you. We lost Brittany and Santana to the Cheerios. We lost Lauren Zizes because Puck is an idiot. We need two more people right now, but if you become good friends with Sebastian, we may need three and I like you and you’re talented and I’m just so upset.”

“Rachel, I’m not going anywhere,” said Blaine confidently, putting an arm over her shoulder. “I’m going to stay with you guys, we’re going to get two more members, and we’re going to win nationals this year.”

Suddenly, Rachel hugged Blaine tightly.

“Thank you so much Blaine. I knew I could count on you. I just wish I could figure out why they left. If I knew, maybe we could all convince them to come back,” she said as she got up and paced around the room.

“And it’s not like someone can just ask them,” Blaine added.

Rachel stopped in her track. “Or can they?”

She rushed to Blaine’s side again.

“Ok, I know that this might seem really odd of me to ask, but do you think you could maybe hang out with them a little more, just to see what he’s up to?”

He starred at Rachel. “You want me to spy,” Blaine confirmed.

“Well, yes. And if the time is right, maybe dig a little, try to find out what really happened? They like you. It’s only a matter of time before they trust you completely. Britt will be easier, but she and Santana are best friends. Once you have Britt, you have Santana.”

He thought for a moment.

“I mean, I guess I could try,” He said slowly.

He had to endure another Rachel hug complete with squealing before he could leave for his class.

Blaine was spending way too much time looking at the back of Kurt’s head in class. He needed to talk to him and this made him nervous. But he realized that in order to get to know Kurt, he was in fact going to have to talk to him. However, every time he felt enough courage to start a conversation in class or in the hallway, sometime always got in the way.

He’d had a stressful Monday. Rachel had put him in the middle of another song choice battle with Mercedes. It was stupid, but really did take a lot of energy out of him. Plus he’d missed another opportunity to talk to Kurt at lunch. He’d made eye contact and waved a little through the crowd of students, but Kurt was suddenly wrapped in conversation with one of the sophomore Cheerios once the crowd cleared.

“Maybe I’m just not meant to talk to him. Stupid karma,” he thought as he walked down the hallway, “Great, self deprecation. Always a good way to end the school day.”

Blaine was just about to head to the parking lot, drive as fast as he could home, and spend the rest of the evening listening to sad music and drinking peppermint tea when he heard someone calling his name.

“Hey Blaine, wait up!”

Kurt was jogging down the hall, smiling.

“Blaine, hi!” he breathed when he finally caught up with him.

“You know my name?” Blaine asked dumbly.

Kurt laughed softly. “I’ve only sat behind you for a whole month of school.”

“Oh, right.”

“Anyway,” Kurt continued, “Do you think we could meet up sometime this week to go over the conversation project for spanish?”

Frowning, Blaine replied, “What about Azimo? Isn’t he your partner?”

“Well, yeah, but I hate doing work with him, he never really contributes. I asked Schuester if I could switch to work with you. Is that ok?” Kurt asked, biting his lip.

Damn, even when he was asking for homework help, Kurt still managed to look hot.

“Sure, sure. Can I get back to you about when though?”

“Ok. Here, let me put my number in your phone so you can text me.”

After punching in his number and returning Blaine’s phone, they both started walking to the parking lot. 

“So I hear you joined Glee. You any good?” Kurt asked.

Blaine shrugged. “I guess, I was in the Warblers at Dalton.”

“Wow, you must have a great voice then! The Warblers were amazing when I saw them.”

“When did you see them preform?”

“Last year, at sectionals? Finn’s my step-brother and I came and watched them last year with our parents.”

“Cool. That’s funny you were there last year.”

“You’d think I’d remember you... Wait. You, well, you weren’t their soloist last year, were you?”

“Guilty,” Blaine said sheepishly. 

“Oh my gosh, you were fantastic! You guys did Hey, Soul Sister! I loved it, you were so much fun to watch. I can’t believe it’s taken this long for me to recognize you.”

“I can’t believe you would have recognized me in the first place.”

“I guess it would have been easier if you were in your uniform. Although, I kind of like the vest and bowtie combo. It works for you,” Kurt added, playfully punching Blaine in the shoulder.

Blaine hoped his face wasn’t going as red as he felt. “Thanks.”

They’d reached Blaine’s car. They stood there awkwardly for a moment before Blaine broke the silence.

“So, this is me.”

“Ok. So you’ll text me later for a good time to work on the project?”

“Yeah of course”

Kurt smiled warmly. “Well, I gotta go find Finn. But I’ll see you around?”

“Yeah. For sure.”

“Cool, see you soon!” Kurt exclaimed. He smiled and pulled Blaine into a friendly hug.

Blaine thought he would die right then and there.

Blaine didn’t forget Rachel’s request. He’d been spending more time with the Unholy Trinity, eating lunch at their table, getting coffee at the Lima Bean, shopping occasionally at the mall. He was still weary of Sebastian and his charming demeanor, but he was growing to like Brittany and Santana, or at least get along with them. 

Brittany wasn’t gifted in the brains department, but she had a big heart. She was quick with a complement and was always nice, even if she didn’t make much sense. Santana was cold and icy, but Blaine could tell that there was a kind person under her bitchy facade. Even though she was ruthless towards everyone that talked to her, she seemed to be a true friend to Brittany.

It was Sebastian he was still having trouble warming up to. He just could find himself able to completely trust him. But every time Blaine questioned their friendship, Sebastian would say or do something that just pulled him back in.

“So is there anyone you like here?” Brittany asked Blaine at lunch during the week of Halloween.

Blaine hesitated.

“I guess, there’s this guy in my AP Spanish class...” he replied nervously.

Santana whipped her head up. “Who?” she asked cautiously.

“His name is Kurt Hummel...”

Santana laughed cruelly. “God Hobbit, you really know how to pick them.”

He frowned “What, why?”

“Kurt Hummel is Sebastian’s ex-boyfriend,” Brittany explained softly, patting his hand.

Blaine’s heart sank.

“Oh.”

“‘Oh’ is right. They went out for a year. Horrible break-up. So many tears on Hummel’s part,” Santana elaborated. 

“Well I guess he’s off limits then.”

“Off limits?” Santana laughed. “Boy, you’re not even part of his radar.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Blaine asked through gritted teeth. He knew better than to fight with Santana, but sometimes her jibes got to be a little too much.

“Look, all I’m saying is that you can’t transfer here and immediately go after Kurt Hummel.”

“What about Kurt Hummel?”

Sebastian had come back from the bathroom. Blaine tried to change the subject, but Santana just talked over him.

“Blainey here has the hots for him,” she spilled with a smirk.

He could kill her, he really could.

“Oh really?” Sebastian asked, folding his arms.

Blaine avoided eye contact as he picked at his fruit salad. “Err, yeah. Sorry.”

“Why are you sorry? He’s hot,” Sebastian said with a shrug.

“I just don’t want to cross a line,” Blaine mumbled.

“There’s no line. I mean, I could talk to him for you, if you want. We’re still pretty good friends.”

Blaine looked at Sebastian hard, as if he was trying to see through some sort of lie Sebastian was feeding him.“Really? You’d do that?”

“Anything for a friend,” Sebastian said with a wink.

“Um ok, cool. Thanks,” Blaine replied, smiling.

Santana rolled her eyes.

 Blaine knew better than to trust Sebastian. But he was just being nice, right?

With Sebastian’s blessing, Blaine texted Kurt that afternoon.

Blaine (4:45 PM)

- Hey, it’s Blaine. Is Thursday ok for the project?

Kurt (4:47 PM)

- Excellent!

Blaine (4:50 PM)

- Cool. Wanna meet at the library at 4?

Kurt (4:53 PM)

- Sure! See u then!

Kurt and Blaine ended up in the Lima Bean at the end of their first meeting for their Spanish project. They did meet at the library for a bit but they spent most of their time giggling and trying not to get shushed by the librarians. They abandoned the project half way through to get coffee and just sat for an hour just talking about musicals and school and life in general. 

Turns out Kurt was not only beautiful, but funny and smart. He loved the way Kurt’s nose wrinkled when he laughed or that he was so effortlessly cool when it came to fashion. Blaine had decided that Kurt was the most interesting boy in all of Ohio. Kurt had blushed and bit his lip to hid his smile. With every passing minute Blaine was getting more comfortable talking to Kurt. He was starting to really crush hard.

“So, have you heard about Puck’s Halloween party tomorrow?” Kurt asked.

Blaine rolled his eyes. “Yeah, he invited me, told me he had some guy to fix me up with.”

“Oh god. Don’t ever go on a date with someone Puck knows. I’ve been there,” Kurt said, his eyes sparkling. Blaine laughed and took a sip of his coffee.

“Yeah, Puck throws this every year. It get super crowded and hot, but the costume part is usually fun and it’s always funny to see our classmates, well, unwind. Just wait. A drunk Rachel Berry is hilarious.”

Blaine smiled, imagining Rachel wasted and playing some stupid party game like Spin the Bottle.

“So are you going to go?” Kurt asked hopefully, giving puppy dog eyes.

Shrugging, Blaine replied, “Well, I don’t know, my parents said there’s this family thing I’m supposed to go to in Columbus.”

“That sucks. I was hoping you’d go, maybe we could hang out there.”

Blaine paused. “Well, I guess I could go. I don’t need to go to another family party with all my old relatives.”

Kurt cheer dramatically. “Awesome. So, I’ll see you there?”

“Yes. Definitely,” Blaine said.

“Yay! Oh crap, I’m late for dinner with my dad. I’ll see you tomorrow!” Kurt said, bolting up from his seat and giving Blaine a quick hug that made Blaine’s knees turn to jelly.

He watched Kurt run to his car. Oh, he was going to this party and he was going to make an impression. One that Kurt would never forget.

Who was this new Blaine Anderson and what had he done with Mr. Dapper Warbler?

Blaine smiled to himself. He didn’t know, but he didn’t care. He was ready to do whatever it took to win Kurt’s affection.