"What the hell do you mean youre not trying out for the stunt team?"

Blaine winced and rubbed the bridge of his nose with two fingers. "Good day to you too Santana."

"Fuck good days. Youre like… prime real estate now but your name isnt on the signup sheet to try out. What the hell man?"

Blaine sighed and stretched himself out. It was the beginning of practice and he had spent all of his non existent free time trying to perfect the routine for their first competition. He was tired, stressed out, and presently annoyed after his mother guilted him for not calling more often earlier that day, and the last thing he needed was Santana bitching at him.

"I have too many commitments already Santana. Maybe youre in college to play, but Im here to get a degree."

"Fuck you. Im just as busy as you are if not more."

He held up a palm, "Sorry. Just… god… I dont need one more thing eating away at my time."

"Look. All Im saying is that Kurt does it and he seems okay. Hes co-captain of the Sirens, lead on the stunt team, and hes in every freaking production the musical theater department puts on - usually in a lead role. Maybe you should swap notes with him."

"Fuck off Santana." She always knew which buttons to push to make his agitation increase to sheer frustration.

"Id rather you fuck someone to get rid of your attitude. You used to be pleasant you know."

"Im fine." He stressed the last word, ultimately showing just how not fine he was. He knew the stress was slowly causing him to unravel. He could feel it in his bones. He just didnt know what to do about it.

"I have collected no less than ten numbers for you of guys who are ready and willing to rock your world. I have tried to set you up on five dates. I even sent a hooker to your dorm and you turned him away!"

Blaine grimaced at the memory. It wasnt the way he was raised. Plus the guy at the door was definitely not his type - too tall, too burly, and way too much cologne. "Im not like Kurt. I thought we established that Santana. I cant just screw off my stress with no regret. The same way I cant seem to manage my time."

"Well maybe if you just dropped down to one major instead of trying to double major…"

"I cant. I need to make the most of this scholarship."

"Youre impossible to try and help - you know that?"

Blaine sighed, nodded, and looked back to Santana. "I know."

Their first competition had been that past weekend, and despite Blaines efforts the Spartans had only managed to snag second place behind the Sirens. The smug look that had been on Kurts face when he looked Blaines way made a long sleeping rage fizz up inside him. He had worked so hard, done everything he could think of, and still the Sirens, and Kurt along with them, had ruled.

The Spartans hardly held it against him. It was a competition they had traditionally come in fourth or fifth place at so second was still a big step up for them all. It wasnt enough for Blaine though. He wanted to, needed to, get that stupid smile off of Kurts face and the only way he knew how to do it was by beating him.

After their face to face at the party, Blaine had been resolute about not attending any more gatherings lest he end up having to deal with Kurt again. Besides, he needed the time to work on assignments, choreography, and teaching piano lessons. Parties couldnt be factored in no matter how much Santana bitched at him. He was the captain now, so he figured he could get away with it.

What he couldnt get away with though, was ignoring the vile pranks. It was like every awful B-grade film Blaine had ever seen about college. One of the girls had a skunk snuck in her dorm which sprayed her and she ended up stinking for a week solid and having to change dorms. Another of the girls had a bucket full of pee dumped on her head when she walked out from under the overhang of a building. Underwear had been stolen from the locker rooms and put up on the flagpole and then some of the guys on the team had their own underwear soaked in liquid heat. Blaine could only imagine how much that hurt.

They knew the Sirens were to blame, even though no evidence could be pinned on them directly. Blaine had managed to convince the Spartans not to sink to that level so far, but he didnt know how long he could keep convincing them that it was the right thing to do. Hell, he didnt know how long he could convince himself it was the right thing to do.

"We should go to the play… all the Spartans. Just to screw with Kurts head." Santana suggested after practice.

"Midsummers Night Dream? Pass. Not a fan of Shakespeare."

"Come on Blaine. Hell think were there to mess with him when he sees us in the audience. We dont actually have to do anything but watch though. Total mindfuck."

Blaine rolled his eyes, "I dont have time to scratch myself let alone see a college production about fairies."

"Aww… and here I thought you loved fairies." She winked at him.

"Santana…."

"Fine, fine… no teasing. Already bought the tickets though."

He groaned. The decision had been made for him it seemed since he wasnt about to let her waste her money. Maybe he could work on his statistics assignment during the intermission.

Hours later, dressed in something passing as semi-formal, Blaine was escorting Santana to the SCU theater. She had done herself up quite nicely for what was otherwise a casual event and the instant Blaine saw the program when they sat down he knew why.

"Brittany is in this."

"Oh really?"

"You knew that didnt you."

"You presume an awful lot Blaine."

"Sirens cant date Spartans."

"God Blaine…." She elbowed him in the side, "Dont quote the rules to me. I know that."

He shook his head and looked up as the lights dimmed and the spotlights went to the stage. Of course Santana had an ulterior motive. He had seen how much Santana had been eyeing up Brittany just as much as she had seen him react to Kurt.

Whatever. They were there now.

Despite the lack of glitz and glam a big budget production might have, Blaine had to admit the play was very well done. The casting was spot-on, everyone knew their lines and was able to deliver them fluidly, and Kurt, well… Blaine had never seen this side of Kurt before.

Playing as Puck, Kurt was clad in tighter clothing than he sported at cheer - leaving nothing to the imagination. He used his gymnastics skills to tumble and flip when he entered into a scene, drawing everyones attention and keeping it when he spoke just like Blaine had always imagined Robin Goodfellow to sound in his head when he studied the play in high school. The Kurt he saw on stage smiled more, a part of playing the trickster, and had the best comedic timing.

He also didnt even flinch or lose his place when his eyes caught onto Blaines, noticing him in the audience. So much for mindplay.

"Wasnt she just wonderful?" Santana gushed as they stood to applaud at the end of the play along with the rest of the crowd.

"She had one line Santana…."

"And it was the best line in the whole of the play!"

He rolled his eyes, tucking away Santanas reaction to Brittanys portrayal of Mustardseed for later. She couldnt call him on being obsessive over Kurt if that was how she reacted to Brittany.

"Why did you come here?"

Blaine hadnt expected Kurt to catch up with him as Santana went to congratulate Brittany. In fact, he was rendered speechless by the man in front of him.

"To… see the play."

"Bullshit. Youre trying to mess with me."

Blaine let out a slow breath, reminding himself to stay calm. "That was what Santana suggested but I think shes here more for Brittany and I got dragged along because she already bought the ticket."

"And trying to mess with me is just a nice little cherry on top of your shit sundae hmm?"

"Kurt… come on… just… look. Im not into pranks and mindgames. Thats your thing. Im just trying to get through college."

"Sure you are."

"Nothing I say is going to make you believe me…." Blaine sighed, pressing a finger to his temple. "So why am I even trying…"

"Winners dont just try. They do. Thats why you only got second place."

Blaine couldnt have rolled his eyes harder if he tried. "Whatever… anyhow. You did a good job. Im going now."

Blaine turned and took a step when he was interrupted by:

"Really?"

It wasnt said with the usual venom that came out of Kurt. No, this time it was a true question, and Blaine peered back just to make sure it really did come out of the same man he had just been talking to. "Really what?"

"You really think I did a good job?"

Blaine just nodded, "Yeah. You may have actually made me enjoy Shakespeare for the first time in forever."

"Huh…"

Blaine kept walking then, looking away from Kurt as he went to collect Santana from Brittany. Whatever game Kurt was playing at now, Blaine wasnt going to take the bait.

JBIatSCU
All tickets sold out for all three showings of A Midsummers Night Dream! Whos the hottest fairy? Read my blog to find out.
#JBIatSCU

AuntieSnix
Not even a contest. Brit as Mustardseed.

FondueForMew
Aw! Thanks Santana!

KittysKorner
Barf.