Blaine’s mom decides that if he’s set on going to the Sadie Hawkins dance, then he’s going to need some decent pants. Not jeans or cargoes, but something more trouser-ish. She drags him to the mall the week before the dance. Blaine doesn’t want to go, the mall is a place where there are too many variables.

He’s right to be nervous. As soon as they walk into one of the side entrances he sees a small mob of several of his tormentors seated near the fountain. He feels the acid rise in his stomach and he wants nothing more than to hide. He tries to make himself small, but the movement catches their eye. The movement of surrender is like a magnet to guys like these.

The whispers and snickers and laughter begin a moment later. Blaine’s heart stutters as his eyes make contact with one of the worst offenders. They don’t do anything in front of Blaine’s mom though and she seems sadly oblivious to what’s really going on.

Blaine hates the pants she buys him that day.

When those pants are torn and bloodied after the dance, Blaine relishes the idea that they were thrown in the trash.