On Blaine’s first day at Dalton Academy, he was a bundle of nerves. He knew he could handle it academically. He had missed most of his freshmen year because of the severity of his injuries, so he was repeating the grade.

But he was terrified of socializing. He felt like he hadn’t talked to anyone his own age in decades. He knows he looks like a deer in the headlights when one of the guys approaches him in the hall.

“Hey, you’re new right? I’m Wes.”

“Yeah, I’m Blaine. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Blaine winces at the formality of the phrase.

“I heard you might be interested in joining the Warblers,” Wes is saying when Blaine tunes back into the conversation.

“What, was there a background check?” Blaine is a little shocked by his sudden boldness and swagger. He didn’t know he had it in him, but there’s something about the realization that people already know things about him that makes him feel like he doesn’t have to hide.

“Something like that,” Wes responds. “I’ll see you tonight at auditions.”

Something good was going to happen tonight, Blaine decides as Wes walked away.