she let out a soft breath of air, reaching up and wiping at her eyes before she actually cried. it was stupid. she was living the dream. she was happy. she was in new york. but she missed it. she missed mckinley. her friends. her family. she squeezed his hands, her eyes flicking over his face and she felt her breath hitch at his words, pursing her lips and looking away from him as he spoke. “yeah, you don’t know who cassandra is. she’s making my life a living hell.” her dark eyes flicked back up to his face, letting out a soft laugh and she shook her head, immediately pulling him toward her and wrapping her arms around him in a hug. “thank you, blaine anderson. you’re amazing.”
Blaine hunched down as he listened, eyebrows shoved together in a sympathetic expression that said Rachel was equal parts adorable and pitiful. Not in a mean or sarcastic way. Just–he felt bad. She was so worked up that she didn’t realize that she was going to tear down any walls that got in her way with her talent alone. All she had to do was believe in her as much as he did? And Rachel Berry would be unstoppable. “Well. Sometimes people are put in our paths to teach us lessons. Maybe she’s here to teach you how to be stronger. Test your conviction so it just wiggles inside you even dee[er and you take it and run with it and never look back.” Being pulled into Rachel’s arms–Blaine wrapped his around her and pulled her in tight with the intention of not letting go. Not yet. Once his chin was hooked on her shoulder–his expression alone said he needed the contact as much as she did. Careful arms held her snug and he pressed his cheek against the curve of her shoulder. “So are you, Rach. One of most amazing people I know,” and he rubbed her back like he was making his point sink in with the gesture.
Tina couldn’t help rolling her eyes as she tried to smother a smile at Blaine’s reaction to her words. Tapping her finger against the window, she thought about his point for a moment. “It might have something to do with that though you’d expect her to like more of the glee club if that were the case.” Her mother wasn’t a fan of some of the things that had happened to Tina over the years so the cheerleaders and jocks wouldn’t be getting any free food from her mother any time soon. Though, Tina was sure Blaine, Artie and the others not on that list wouldn’t mind getting extra free food at all. “What can I say? She has standards for who I date.” Tina shrugged, having come to terms with that a long time ago even though that was a time when she was sure no one would want to date her at all. At Blaine’s compliment, she couldn’t help blushing because its been awhile since she heard someone call her any of those things. She smacked his arm. “You’re such a charmer, no wonder you get into so many romantic problems.”
Blaine lit up like a Christmas tree when he heard that her mother approved of him so much. He knew Mrs. Cohen Chang was a hard woman to impress. Pulling it off meant the world to him. Not only because he wanted her mother to like him but because it seemed to make Tina so happy that she did. Blushing at the compliment–Blaine leaned over and pressed a kiss to Tina’s warm cheek before settling back in his seat and giving her an overly thoughtful look. “You know. Maybe you’re right. That has to be the cause of all my problems.” God. He wished it was that simple. If all he needed to do was back off on charm that he wasn’t even sure he knew how he was pulling off so well and things would magically fix themselves? He’d drop it all in a heartbeat. Not wanting to dampen their time together–he started the car and pulled out into traffic and headed away from suburbia towards the interstate. “What about yours then,” it was time to get the subject off himself before he lost the chance, “You’re smart, pretty and I love you. I think we need to find you a guy who really appreciates you for you. No more compromises. No more changing yourself to suit anyone else. This time? They suit you or I’m making you dump them. Deal?”
Open Starter. (new and old mutuals!)
“For the last time.. No. Believe it or not. Ninety percent of my wardrobe wasn’t inspired by a Macklemore song..
–but you have to admit. ‘Over played’ or not. It’s catchy?”
Tina was relieved to leave her house so she could start to put this behind her and focus on the fun that they were planning to have. “Alright, time to get going. Mr. Anderson.” Walking over to the car, she opened the passenger side door and got in. She placed her purse on the floor once she made sure she had her phone, wallet and house keys. Her parents had plans later so she didn’t want to be locked out when she got home if they weren’t around. “How is it that you’ve managed to become her favorite without dating me?” First, it had been Artie then Mike but now it was Blaine but they weren’t dating. Though, towards the end of her relationship with Mike, her mother became less impressed with him and had Tina thinking that it had something to do with certain comments he made and her hitting her head on the bottom of a fountain.”
Settled into his seat–Blaine clasped his seatbelt in place and grinned happily, eyes sparking to life as a happy chuckle bubbled out. “I’m her favorite? Really?” The question was asked with a sheepish half-grin. “Maybe it’s because we’re not dating? Throw that whole,” he gestured about trying to paint a mental image along with his explanation, “guy who might marry her daughter thing into the mix? She’d probably dislike me as much as any potential suitor come knocking. Can’t say I blame her.” Warm cheeks puffed out as his smile kept growing, bashfully flattered at first but then a full on flash of teeth as he turned the keys in the ignition. Hearing he was Tina’s mom’s favorite made his heart feel lighter than it had in days. Nothing against the company of his best friend doing that for him. Of course it did. But to get the stamp of Mrs. Cohen Chang’s Approval? That was a pretty big deal. “I’d be super suspicious of anyone showing up to take my daughter out too. Especially if she was as gorgeous, smart and wonderful as you.”
“oh yeah, definitely.” another laugh fell past her lips and she reached up, pushing her hair behind her ear. she didn’t mean to get sad, she should have been happy. she was in new york. she was supposed to be happy. but she looked up at him with a sad smileand real tears in her eyes. she laughed and wiped her eye with her knuckle, shaking her head head. “i just – i miss this place. new york – new york is terrifying but a dream all at the same time,” she moved her hand to rest over his, giving it a reassuring squeeze, “but i’m fine. i promise.”
Blaine felt his heart drop when he saw Rachel’s laughter fade. It shattered when he saw tears in her eyes that she was fighting like hell to hold back. Watching her close–he inched forward and tenderly took her hand between both of his. The pads of his thumbs traced tiny circles against her skin as he tucked his chin down and dropped his voice to an encouraging whisper. Suddenly–his missing them so much it hurt just–felt selfish when someone else was going through the same. “This place misses you too, Rachel.” He laughed in a barely there huff. “I miss you every day but just wait! Pretty soon, you’ll be taking that town by storm and all of us will be there to cheer you on. I know it’s hard now but this is your dream and you can so do this. Look,” he shrugged and smiled wider, “You already are and I can’t even begin to tell you how proud of you I am.”
“Yeah, we’re fine.” he responded, even though he felt as if something was wrong. His teeth dug into his lower lip before nodding. “Excellent because I need to get out of this place.” He glanced around the hallway before looking back at him. “We can go to the new cafe down the street, or we could go to the Lima Bean again. Personally, I’d rather go to the new cafe, but that’s totally your call.”
Seeing Kurt mirror him and bite on his own lip–Blaine studied him closely and used the edge of his thumb to trace a small circle against the side of Kurt’s hand. They were fine. Kurt just said so. Why didn’t things feel fine? Was it just him? Sighing softly as he let it go out of worry that if he brought it up again and things were fine that they wouldn’t be fine after–Blaine leaned in and touched their foreheads together before inching up to peck Kurt’s forehead. “Cafe sounds great. Getting tired of the Lima Bean or deciding to be adventurous? Because we can hit up Starbucks tomorrow morning if you really want to,” he grinned letting the subject stay changed as he waited for Kurt to start leading them down the hall if he was ready.
Somehow, Sugar had spent her first year at McKinley bully free. There’d been occasional incidents, sure; the inaugural food fight, getting caught in the crossfire of the hockey teams regular slushings, all came with being in the glee club – but she’d been sort of/maybe/hopeful friends with Santana, so. The bullies were unwilling to cross ‘Snixx,’ or so it was said. But then everyone graduated, and oh so suddenly she wasn’t a Troubletone any more. She wasn’t even Sugar to most people. She was the rich kid. She’d known from the first day, something like this was only a matter of time.
It had still surprised her, though. How fast it had happened, in flashes. Her bag slid across the floor by a hefty throw, the guy standing tall and filling her vision. Her mouth catching on itself, lips shaking, pressing herself against the wall. Sugar shook her head once, twice, no, “I’m not giving you a cent,” far braver than she’d ever feel. She braced herself when he brought his arm back, fell into a crouching position, hands to her face, protecting it.
The punch didn’t come, though, and through the harsh filter of her ears she heard Blaine’s voice, a punch and a crash, then coach Beiste’s voice. Bringing her hands down, she opened her eyes, watched the three figures. Beiste hauled the jock away, leaving Blaine there, and Sugar slowly stood, nerves still alight with sparks. But the mask went up, and she picked her bag up, facing the boy. “Could have taken him, but you saved my nails, so,” she lied, hoping he’d understand.
Once the Coach released him with a firm shake to his shoulders and a mumbled lecture of how she understood what he was doing. But he needed to refrain from that in the future–which he nodded to but didn’t meet her eyes while agreeing because there was no way he’d let someone take a hit if he could stop it–Blaine turned to face Sugar thankful for two things. First? That she was okay. Second? That his feet were on the freaking ground and the embarrassment of pretty much dangling from Coach Beiste’s hands was over.
“You definitely could have taken him and I’m surprised he wasn’t knocked out with a single punch before I came up. Who knows? I probably saved his dignity by interrupting the smack down you were about to unleash on him.” Yes, he got that lie and the understanding smile he gave her said he wasn’t about to disagree. He’d been down the road she was on before. More times than he’d like to count. But wasn’t one more than enough considering the subject?
A hand was reached out for Sugar to take and Blaine inclined his chin towards her bag with an upward twitch of his brow as the offer to carry it for her too. If her nerves needed a rest before she took on the burden of hauling her things across campus. “Now that’s in the safety of probably yet another detention for this week? How about we skip last class and go get some coffee? There’s a shop across the street. It’s not the Lima Bean but it’ll do in a pinch? Your choice. No pressure. I don’t want to end up like he almost did,” he grinned jokingly trying to lighten the mood.
Tina blinked as the words were coming faster than she could process them. It took her a few moments before she could respond to Blaine. Of all of the things he could ask of her, this wasn’t what she was expecting nor was it as bad as what she was imagining. Placing her hand on his shoulder, she looked him directly in the eye. “First, remember to take a breath or two or ten. You’re just as bad as Rachel when it comes to giving a lot of information in one breath. Second…..,” Tina drew it out to build suspense, “second of all, I will go with you and spend the night at your place.” It actually sounded like fun and it had been awhile since they had done something that was just the two of them and for fun. All of the New Directions drama was wearing out its welcome, so she thought that it would be just what she needed. Tina smirked then messed up Blaine’s hair a bit. “That’s for not asking me first. Try to remember that in the future.” Moving away from him, she finished up gathering what she needed to take home with her.
Blaine’s eyebrows crept impossibly higher and higher as he stood–leaning into Tina’s hand and waiting for her response. Yes, he knew he could talk as bad as Rachel when he was excited or put on the spot. Hey! The narrow eyed Tina glare would do that to anyone with a sense of self-preservation and he was excited. Perfect storm? A bounce on his heels was the inevitable outcome of her agreeing to go. “Hey-hey! Not that!” As was the buckling at the waist and waving off her hand from his ‘do after she messed it up. Well. Great thing about gel. Toss some water in there? Completely fixable. But now his bangs were dangerously close to his eyes and he was forced into a fight to get them back that–without some H20? Blaine Devon Anderson was going to lose that war. Long fingers continued to tug and toy with the dark, misbehaving strands as he leaned around the locker door and looked right at her profile. “It’s going to make things like surprise birthday parties and Christmas very difficult if I’m not allowed to throw spur of the moment things on you,” shoulders rose in a drawn out/dramatic shrug, “But if that’s what you demand? So be it. We’re still going to see the show so, technically, I still win.”
Tina was gathering her things to go home for the weekend when she heard a familiar voice. Turning to her right, she saw that was Blaine and couldn’t help smiling at him. “Hey Blaine!” She watched her friend closely and noticed that he was nervous about something. Crossing her arms, she leaned against the locker as she waited for him to explain. “You volunteered me for something without asking me first? What is it?” Ignoring the compliment, she stared right at Blaine while she waited him to answer her. She was a good person but she didn’t like people taking advantage of that especially her best friend. “Either tell me what it is or I’m going home.”
Seeing Tina clearly annoyed with him–Blaine puffed out a laugh trying to calm her down. “Well–um.” Rocking up onto his tip toes and back to his heels–a puckered pout freed his poor lip. “Okay,” his left hand sharply lifted as he pointed at the ceiling motioning for her to hold up, “Before you’re actually capable of killing me with the death glare you’ve got? It’s for this!” Wasting no time–Blaine rooted around in his back giving her an ‘I’m sorry!’ peek when he couldn’t find what he was looking for. Ah ha! Shoved towards her were two tickets to the The Ohio Theatre Friday Night With Fritz showing of Son of Frankenstein and Brides of Dracula. “I–um. Got us these..it’s in Columbus next Friday–have you seen this guy? From Sectionals. Remember? He’s hilarious and the movies?!” There went the eyebrows and he was starting to grin that grin that said he was about to dork out! Warning! “The movies are great! We–,” he bit his lip and looked down smiling strangely and obviously jumped tracks of what he was about to say–knew it was obvious–and hoped she’d give him a pass. “We can take my car. I’ll have you back late–or! You could stay at my house? What do you say, Tina? Come on! Make it a yes!” All that and he didn’t give her time to get a word in? The stumble was more of bash to his knees on concrete he was ignoring but he really, really truley excited.
“Hey, Tina? You busy? I have a serious favor to ask you,” Blaine hurried to catch up gripping the strap of his brown leather satchel tight to keep from knocking into several people between them. “Technically–I have a serious favor to ask you to agree to that I already volunteered you for. I promise it isn’t anything too terrible?” He cringed putting on his best begging face complete with upturned eyebrows and a heavy dose of puppy dog eyes. “Mostly–? Sort of” Better yet! Added into the mix was a huge smile and a rock up onto his tip toes/bounce. He’d feel guilty for pulling out all the cute on her later. “Wait! First! Have I told you how pretty you look today??”
pianokeysandbowties back up 