Chapter 3

The first thing Blaine saw when he got to Puck’s party was Rachel and Finn sucking face on the front porch. Full on making out, tongue and everything, it was disgusting a display of affection.

Making his way up the path, he walked over to them. Rachel, realizing someone was approaching them, suddenly tore herself off of Finn and squealed.

“BLAINEY you’re here!!” Rachel yelled, hopping off Finn, and running sloppily over to Blaine, spilling more of her drink on the grass with each step. She slammed her body into his, almost toppling him over with her tight hug.

“Hey Rach, hey Finn,” Blaine said with a wave. Or at least an attempted wave, Rachel was still wrapped tightly around his waist.

“Sup, dude? Cool costume,” Finn said. Blaine finally pried Rachel off his middle.

“Thanks”

Blaine was dressed in tight blue jeans cuffed just above his black high top Converse. He topped it off with a tight white t-shirt under a black leather jacket with “T-Birds” stitched on the back. He’d slicked his hair back and put a fake cigarette behind his ear.

“Ooh, Grease! A classic costume choice, I approve,” Rachel noted happily.

She walked shakily to Blaine’s side and pulled his head down so her lips were right next to his ear.

“You should go inside, I think Sebastian is in there and it might be a good time for you to do what I asked you to do!” Rachel whispered loudly. Finn just stood there confused.

“Um ok Rach,” Blaine replied, amazed at how drunk she was, “I’ll see you later?”

“Bye bye! Ow, Finn put me down!” Rachel shouted. Finn had apparently lifted her up and thrown her over his shoulder.

Blaine crossed the porch, inhaling slightly, and opened the door to the house. He was about to walk into his first house party.

How Puck managed to throw a rager this big and not get in trouble was incredible. There had to be over a hundred people in the house and spilling into the surrounding yard. Everyone had embraced the holiday. Girls dressed in skimpy costumes, ranging from slutty super heroes to slutty woodland creatures. It seemed like the boys got away with half assed attempts. There were orange and purple lights hanging from the ceiling with some plastic cutouts of bats and pumpkins taped to the walls. Red cups were littering the floor and there was a smokey haze hanging in the air.

“Nice of you to make it, dude!” Puck yelled across the living room, with Quinn and Lauren on each arm.

Blaine nodded back and looked around for someone else he knew. It seemed as if most of New Directions was there and there were a few people he recognized from his classes. Tina and Mike had come dressed as vampires and were in middle of a spirited game of beer pong against Mercedes and Sam. He saw Santana and Brittany in a corner, not really talking to anyone but each other. Otherwise, the party was mainly people he didn’t know. 

He walked carefully through the house, hoping to find Sebastian, but he was no where to be seen. Giving up, he pushed his way through the crowded hallways and living room and found himself in the kitchen, bumping right into Kurt.

“Um, hi,” Blaine said, trying to talk over the bump of the baseline echoing through the house.

“Oh my god, hi!” Kurt yelled. He pulled Blaine into a hug. He could smell a mix of Kurt’s cologne, sweat, and alcohol. Stepping back, he got a good look at Kurt’s costume.

“Haha, I guess we both went with a musical theme,” Kurt giggled. He was dressed in an excellent Phantom of the Opera outfit, complete with a real porcelain mask.

“Wow you look great!” he breathed, “The mask is so cool.”

“Well, you pull off the Danny Zuko look nicely! Did you stitch the back of this by yourself?”

Talking about their costumes, Kurt led him over to the counter with a large array of bottles and cups.

“Do you want a drink?” he asked, spooning a bit of punch into a cup for himself.

Blaine bit his lip.

“Sure, why not?”

Blaine had never really drank before. All of the Warbler’s parties were dry. The only time he’d ever tried alcohol was last New Years at a family party with his parents. It was champagne and after two glasses, it had gone straight to his head. He had to go to bed in his cousin’s room before the clock struck midnight in order to keep from passing out at the dinner table.

But everyone here was drinking. He had already seen Santana drunk and yelling at Sam about their failed past relationship and of course Rachel was stomping around, drunker than a sailor. But more importantly, Kurt was drinking and he didn’t want to seem like a dork. He didn’t have to drink that much, but having a bit of whatever Kurt was pouring him wouldn’t be so bad, would it?

“Thanks,” he said as Kurt passed him a red cup.

“So, is this your first McKinley party?” Kurt asked, sipping his drink daintily and licking his lips.

Blaine stared, transfixed at Kurt’s lips. How a habit so simple be such a turn on? “Uh, yeah.”

“Buckle up, you’re in for a treat then. Want to sit down?” Kurt gestured to some bar stools.

“Sure. Are Puck’s parties usually this big?” he asked, pulling out a seat for Kurt before sitting down himself.

Kurt took another sip and nodded.

“Well, here’s what normally happens: the whole school gets wasted, someone pukes on Puck’s mom’s special passover linens and he spends the whole evening juggling two women. Rachel tries to get New Directions to perform something, but everyone refuses. She ends being the only one and she gets booed out of the house after some boozy rendition of a Streisand song. And I sit back and watch it all,” he grinned.

Blaine laughed. “Sounds fun for you.”

“For you too, if you’d like to join me tonight. I could always use another partner in crime.”

“I don’t know, singing with drunk Rachel is sounding pretty appealing...” Blaine said, rolling his eyes.

“Hey!” Kurt yelled, giggling.

Absentmindedly taking a sip from his cup, Blaine meant to ask Kurt where he bought his vest, but instead, he practically spit out what Kurt poured for him.

“Ugh what’s in this, Windex? Hey, stop laughing, I don’t drink much!” Blaine complained as Kurt almost fell of the stool he was perched on, doubled over with laughter.

“It’s Jungle Juice,” Kurt finally said after regaining composure.

“What the hell is Jungle Juice?”

“You don’t want to know,” Kurt replied, looking at Blaine curious yet mad face, “Ok, it’s just a lot of vodka and rum and different fruit juices.”

“Vodka AND rum?”

“Yeah, I think that’s it.”

“THAT’S IT?”

Blaine clapped his hand to his forehead. Kurt

“Just drink it in small doses.”

“Oh, I plan on it,” Blaine said, taking another small sip and wrinkling his nose.

“You come alone?” asked Kurt. He looked at Blaine with his beautiful blue eyes.

“Yeah, but I’m supposed to find Sebastian when I get here,” Blaine said.

“Sebastian Smythe?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh. I didn’t know you two were close,” Kurt said, staring into his cup.

“We aren’t. I mean, we’re friend, but... yeah,” Blaine finished stupidly.

“Ok. He’s, well, he’s an interesting guy.”

“I heard you two dated.”

Kurt nodded. “For a year.”

Blaine desperately wanted to ask why they broke up, but refrained. He knew it was the elephant in the room. But asking wasn’t probably the best idea. However, he couldn’t think of anything else to say. They just sat there for a few moments, avoiding eye contact.

“Have you guys started a working on numbers for the holiday talent show yet?” Kurt finally asked.

Blaine breathed out, relieved Kurt had changed the subject. “No, we don’t start for another week. How did you know we’re performing?”

“Oh, New Directions does a few things for it every year. And Finn’s been trying to get me to join lately.”

“Oh cool, do you sing?”

“A little,” Kurt shrugged.

“You should join, we need more member,” Blaine said hopefully.

“That’s what Finn said. I don’t know, I’m super busy.”

“Well at least think about it?”

As if right on cue, Finn ran into the room.

“Hey, uh Blaine? Rachel needs you, she’s in the backyard.”

“Finn, go away, Blaine and I are talking. I’m sure whatever Rachel needs can wait.”

Blinking at Kurt, Finn frowned and said, “Dude, you know how she is.”

Blaine got out off of his stool. “Kurt, I’m going to go deal with this, but I’ll be right back, ok?”

“Sure, sure,” Kurt replied with a wave of his hand.

Blaine followed Finn outside to a bunch of lawn chairs. Rachel was sitting in one haphazardly staring at the sky.

“See that one? That’s Sirius. Daddy showed it to me when I was younger and I’ve never forgotten. He said it’s the brightest star in the sky, just like me.”

Blaine cleared his throat. “Hi Rachel.”

She sat up quickly. “Blaine! Blaine, Blainers! We need to, need to talk. About Kurt,” she said, pouting.

“What about him?” Blaine asked.

“I saw you two together. I saw,” she said, scrambling out of her chair and poking her finger into the middle of his chest.

Blaine didn’t want to deal with this right now. Every moment deal with Rachel was a moment lost with Kurt.

“Cool, Rachel. Is that all you wanted to tell me? Or can I go back in?”

“He’s my best friend and I don’t want him to get hurt. What are your intentions?” she said.

Blaine asked, “My intentions?”

“You’re not going to break his heart? His heart has been hurt before. He’s over it, but still.”

“Rachel, we’re just friends.”

Rachel laughed, loudly. “Not for long ahahahah! I see the way he looks at you.”

“Ok this conversation is going no where,” Blaine said, going scarlet, “I’m going back inside.”

“Go! Go for it, you dog!” she screamed, slapping him on the butt.

Blaine wanted to be mad at Rachel, but he couldn’t. He was only looking out for his best interests.

“Bye Rachel,” he said. He turned to Finn. “I think it might be time to take her home.”

“Yeah, I’m going to go find the keys.”

Blaine turned around and started heading for the kitchen. Spying Kurt, he started to go over, but was stopped suddenly by Sebastian of all people.

“Hey there, Blaine. Didn’t know you were coming tonight.”

“Oh well, yeah.”

“You talk to Kurt tonight?” Sebastian asked, twirling the straw in his drink.

“For a bit,” Blaine shrugged. “We talked a little about Glee and our costumes and stuff.”

“Do you think it’s going well?”

Blaine shuffled a bit. These questions were making him uncomfortable. “I’m not sure. I guess?”

“Well, do you want me to go find out?”

“No, it’s ok...” Blaine said quickly.

Sebastian grinned mischievously. “Too bad”

“No, Sebastian, don’t...”

It was too late, Sebastian was already on the other side of the kitchen.

Blaine sighed. He tried not to stare as Sebastian slinked over to Kurt, tapping him on the shoulder. He smiled as Kurt turned around and looked surprised and a little confused to see Sebastian. Sebastian suddenly was gesturing over Blaine’s way. Unsure of what to do, Blaine waved slightly.

They both waved back, Kurt smiling softly and Sebastian grinning. There was something in Kurt’s eyes he couldn’t quite place. Sebastian gave Blaine a wink and then turned back to Kurt, talking animatedly. Blaine couldn’t hear what they were saying, but he could make out the words on Sebastian’s lips. He said things that looked like “Blaine” and “cool guy”. Kurt looked a little nervous, but he was laughing and his smile lit up his eyes.

Blaine still had his doubts about Sebastian, but he was nice to help Blaine with this Kurt thing. He looked out for him.

But, he didn’t like the way Kurt suddenly looked up into Sebastian’s eyes or the way Sebastian started slowly caressing Kurt’s arm. Something was off. This wasn’t part of the plan was it? What was Sebastian doing?

What happened next made Blaine’s heart stop.

Blaine watched in horror as Kurt and Sebastian’s lips met, crashing together hard. Kurt was running his hands through Sebastian’s hair, while Sebastian slid his hands down Kurt’s arms.

Blaine thought he was going to throw up. Sebastian was never going to help Blaine with Kurt, he was always planning to get Kurt back for himself. Sebastian had lied to him.

Why Blaine had ever trusted that asshole...

The next day, Blaine drove over to Rachel’s, hoping to talk about what had happened the previous night. What he didn’t expect was Rachel answering her door in a disheveled robe and pajama combo, her hair in a sloppy pony tail, and blotchy looking complexion. 

“Hi Rach, I was wondering... What happened to you?”

She rubbed her hands in her face, her tiny frame looking huge in her oversized Barbara Streisand 2006 concert tour shirt and sweats. “Hi. Hungover. Don’t talk too loud.”

She ushered him into the kitchen.

“Gatorade?”

“Uh what?”

“Do you want a Gatorade?” she asked again, hanging on the refrigerator door as if her life depended on it. She was a post-drunk mess.

“No thanks.”

She shrugged, picked out a blue one, and chugged half of it in five seconds.

“Remind me to never drink again,” she said miserably, wiping her mouth with her arm.

“How bad has it been?”

She massaged her temples. “I haven’t been this sick since the laryngitis debacle last year.”

Blaine nodded. “Cool shirt,” he added.

“Thanks. I got it when she came to Columbus.”

“What did she sing?”

Rachel sighed. “Blaine, not to be rude, but why are you here? As you can see, I’m exactly in the best shape right now.”

“Um. Last night...”

Rachel looked at him expectantly. Blaine ran his hands through his hair.

“He took him back. Kurt took Sebastian back.”

“Oh, Blaine! I’m so sorry!” Rachel cried, yet again knocking the wind out of him as she hugged him tightly.

“Is this hugging thing going to be a common occurrence?” Blaine said in strained tone.

“Yes.” Rachel finally let go and looked up at Blaine sadly. “How are you holding up?”

“I just... Why? Why would he do that?” Blaine asked sadly, tears starting to run down his cheeks.

“Because. He’s a life ruiner. He ruins people’s lives,” Rachel said seriously. “He’s not going to get aways with this.”

Blaine sniffled a little. “He’s not?”

“No,” Rachel said bitterly, “We’re going to do something about it. I can tell you like Kurt. And he knew and used that to make you miserable. He’s gone far enough.”

“Yeah. But how are we going to make this work?”

Rachel thought for a second. “Well,” she said, pacing around the kitchen, “I think finding out what really happened at Nationals is going to be key. You find out what happened with Santana and Brittany and we can expose Sebastian for what he really is: a liar and a jerk. And once he doesn’t have them anymore, he won’t have any allies.”

“I guess that makes sense.”

Rachel stopped and took his hands into her own. “Blaine, in order for this to work, you’re going to have to keep hanging out with him as if nothing is wrong. Can you do that?”

“Yes,” Blaine said confidently.

“OK, then! Operation: Expose Sebastian Smythe is in effect,” Rachel said with a laugh.