Fic: Be Wary of Warblers
Title: Be Wary of Warblers
Genre: Romance, Humor
Pairing: Kurt/Blaine, Kurt/OC
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Jealous after losing another solo to Blaine, a Warbler sets out to take away something he doesn't think Blaine fully appreciates: Kurt Hummel.
That night, Andrew pulled up to the Hummel household in his car, his veins pulsing with triumph. Kurt was his, and Blaine was left in the dust. In the passenger seat next to him, Seth finished off his first bottle of Stella Artois.
“I can’t believe you’re drinking already,” said Andrew as he unbuckled his seatbelt and unlocked the car doors.
Seth did the same and tightened a scarf around his neck. “Pre-party buzz.”
They exited the car, bracing against the cold, late-winter air and walked up the long driveway.
“You said Kurt’s step-brother is in New Directions?” Seth asked, rubbing his hands together and breathing into them as they approached the door.
“Yeah,” said Andrew, ringing the doorbell. “The guy threatened to beat me up if I ever hurt him.”
Seth snickered. “Can’t wait to be there were that happens.”
Andrew punched Seth on the shoulder as Carole opened the door and greeted them.
“Well, hello, Andrew!” she said as she ushered them in. “And this is?”
“Seth.” He let go of his bruising arm and shook her hand.
“Seth.” She smiled. “You two look very nice.”
Andrew nodded while Seth frowned and tugged at his old purple cardigan.
“Kurt picked this out for me,” said Andrew, resting a hand on his chest. He actually really liked the blue button-down Kurt selected, and looked forward to shopping with him in the future.
“Oh, he’s so good at that, isn’t he?” said Carol. “He revamped my whole wardrobe.”
A man in a trucker cap Andrew presumed to be Kurt’s dad entered the foyer and put a hand on Carole’s shoulder.
“Carole, mind steppin’ out for a sec? I’d like to have some man-talk with theses kids.”
Caroel nodded and left. Mr. Hummel put his hands on his hips and stared down.
“Burt Hummel,” he said, shaking their hands. “Tell me the truth, boys. Will there be alcohol at this party?”
Andrew and Seth exchanged a glance.
“Do you want us to tell you the actual truth or what you want to think is the truth?” Seth asked, squinting his eyes and tilting his head to the left.
Burt sighed. “I get it. Do you guys at least have a designated driver?”
Seth blinked and pointed to Andrew, who clumsily raised his hand. Kurt rushed into the room, carefully wrapping a long scarf around his neck and tugging on a pair of gloves. He gave his father a quick hug before grabbing the two boys by the arm and pulling them toward the door.
“Bye, Dad!” he called as he pushed them out the door.
“Ok, love you,” his father replied, waving. “Have fun, be safe.”
Kurt poked his head back through the door before closing it. “We will!”
Seth shivered and crossed his arms as the door closed behind them. “Your family seems… nice.”
“Thank you,” said Kurt, pulling on his other glove as he marched down the driveway. “For a second I thought Dad was going to give the ‘you hurt him, I hurt you’ speech.”
Andrew laughed and opened the door. “Ha, no, I already got that from your brother.”
“Really?” said Kurt as he opened the door on his side. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry.”
Andrew laughed again and shook his head. “It’s not a problem, I promise.”
Kurt climbed into the front seat while Seth grabbed his six-pack and moved into the back. As Kurt situated himself, he glanced behind him at Seth, who opened another bottle.
“You’re, uh, already drinking?” he asked.
Seth took a sip. “Yep. I’m gonna need it.”
Andrew started the car and pulled out. Kurt blinked at Seth slowly.
“Where did you get it?” he asked. “Do you have a fake ID or something.”
Seth shrugged. “It’s my brother’s.”
Kurt buckled his seatbelt. “And he doesn’t care that you took it?”
“He doesn’t care what I do.”
Andrew stopped at a light, and used the opportunity to plug in his iPod. Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance blasted out of the speakers to Kurt’s delight, and the conversation dissolved. By the time they reached Dave’s house, it was already full of people. They didn’t recognize most of the girls as they came from other schools, but the music was loud and the drinks flowing. Dave welcomed them, as they entered the living room, and Andrew and Kurt mingled while Seth sauntered over to the kitchen.
Across the make-shift dance floor, Blaine watched them with a frown on his face and a knot in his stomach. He hated the way Andrew rested his hand on Kurt’s back, the way Kurt leaned into him and blushed. He gulped and turned toward the kitchen. Normally he didn’t drink, but this week had been rough and he could use a little liquid courage. In the kitchen, Seth poured various fluids into a glass.
“What are you making?” Blaine asked, eyeing all the bottles.
“It’s called a Tie Me to the Bedpost.” Seth said as he stirred the drink with a straw. “You want one?”
“Uh, no,” said Blaine, raising an eyebrow. He had heard about Seth’s drunken escapades, but had never been a witness. “Just beer, thanks.”
Seth shrugged and handed him an opener and a bottle. “Suit yourself.”
Blaine popped the cap off, sighing as he gazed into the living room.
“What’re you sulking about?” Seth asked as licked excess liquid off his straw.
“Nothing.” Blaine took a sip of his beer. “Jesus, now they’re dancing.”
Seth looked up from his drink and squinted into the archway. “Who? Oh, them.”
Blaine swallowed his drink and sighed. “Right. Them.”
He felt his stomach clench as Andrew twirled Kurt in his arms. He turned to Seth, who sneered.
“If it bothers you so much, why don’t you do something about it?” he asked, taking another swig.
Blaine frowned. “Like what?”
He turned to see Seth holding out his straw in favor of gulping down the drink all at once. When he finished, he slammed the glass down and exhaled loudly.
“Whatever you feel like doing,” he said, wiping his mouth with his hand.
“Did you just swallow that whole?”
Seth winked. “I can swallow a lot of things whole.”
Blaine looked back to Andrew and Kurt, then back to Seth. “Hey, do you want to, um, dance or something?”
Seth smiled, but didn’t really look happy. “I thought you’d never ask.”
He waltzed around the kitchen table and grabbed Blaine by the arm, pulling him through the archway and back into the living room. Seth was a surprisingly touchy dancer. He leaned into Blaine, dragging his hands up and down his chest. He tugged at the ends of Blaine’s shirt, and traced his fingers along his waistband.
Kurt watched them dance from over Andrew’s shoulder and narrowed his eyes. “What the hell is Seth doing?”
Andrew turned to see what Kurt was talking about and laughed. “I told you,” he said. “Seth’s a slutty dunk.”
Andrew wrapped his arms around Kurt’s waist and tried to turn him away from Seth and Blaine, but he resisted.
“But does he have to slut it up on him?” said Kurt as he pulled away from Andrew.
Andrew frowned. “What do you care?”
Kurt looked away. “I don’t. I mean, I don’t know.”
Andrew moved in closer and caressed his cheek. “Come on,” he said, “let’s find someplace a little less… distracting.”
Kurt watched as Seth snaked his fingers into Blaine’s belt loops. “Yeah, ok.”
Andrew took him by the hand and led him out of the living room and up the stairs.
Blaine awkwardly rested his hands on Seth’s hips as they pulsated with the beat of the music. Despite the fact that Seth looked like a teenage boy version of Audrey Hepburn, he couldn’t quite get into it, especially as Kurt and Andrew left the dance floor, probably in favor of somewhere more secluded. Blaine closed his eyes as he tried to push the image out of his head. Seth’s fingers tickled lightly against his sides, prompting Blaine to look down at him. Seth smiled and buried his face in Blaine’s neck. Across the room, he saw Wes raise an eyebrow at him. He blushed and pushed Seth away.
“What?” said Seth, as he stumbled and regained his balance.
Blaine coughed. “This isn’t right.”
Seth rolled his eyes and groaned. “This isn’t right? Are you kidding me?”
Blaine swallowed and glanced toward the stairs. Seth scoffed and ran his fingers through is hair.
“What, are you worried about them?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.
“I’m not, I mean…”
Seth waived his hands and stumbled again, this time grabbing onto Blaine for support.
“They’re gone, Blaine, ok?” he said, holding himself up on the other boy’s arms. “Andrew finally won. You should just, just get over it.”
Blaine pulled Seth off of him and held him by the shoulders, staring into his eyes. “What do you mean Andrew won?”
Upstairs, Andrew pulled a giggling Kurt into an empty bathroom and pressed him up against the door. Kurt sighed and smiled as Andrew traced his fingers up and down his arms. Andrew grinned and left a trail of kisses up Kurt’s neck and jaw. It had been so long since he’d had a good make out session with someone. Last time had been with Seth out of drunkenness and boredom, but now Andrew was sober and there was a sense of something more behind the act. He dipped his tongue into Kurt’s ear, causing him to bite his lip and shiver. He pulled off Kurt’s scarf and pushed his hand up under his shirt, feeling the warm skin beneath.
Kurt laughed. “That tickles.”
Andrew smiled and kissed him on the mouth. Kurt’s lips parted beneath his and Andrew pressed his tongue inside. Outside, someone banged on the door and Andrew pulled away.
“Occupied!” he called, and moved back in for another kiss.
The door swung open, causing the two of them to tumble out into the hall. Andrew felt a hand grab the back of his shirt and pull him up onto his feet. Blaine slammed him against the wall and the room went silent as the other partygoers’ conversations died.
“You’re doing this because you wanted my solo?” Blaine shouted, his face red with anger.
Kurt sat himself up on his elbows and his eyes widened. “What?”
Andrew gulped. “It wasn’t, I mean, that wasn’t everything…”
“You were just using Kurt to get back at me, weren’t you?” said Blaine, shoving him up against the wall again. “Seth told me, ok? Just admit it.”
Andrew glanced around the hall for Seth, but he was nowhere to be seen. Turned to Kurt on the floor, who stared up at him with wet eyes.
“Oh my God,” he breathed. “I’m so stupid.”
He got up, grabbed his scarf and brushed himself off. Andrew made an attempt to push past Blaine and reach out to him, but Kurt slapped his hand away.
“Kurt…” he said, swallowing.
“Get the hell away from me!” he snapped, stumbling backwards. “Blaine, can you take me home?”
Blaine nodded and released his hold on Andrew. “Yeah, yeah I can.”
He walked over to Kurt, put his arm around his shoulders and escorted him down the stairs. Andrew watched the two of them go, the whole thing not quite registering in his brain. He jumped back to reality when he realized that everyone in the hall was staring at him.
“What?” he barked. “What the hell are you looking at?”
He pushed past a group of girls and marched his way down the stairs. He saw Seth leaning against a wall in the living room, another drink in his hand. Andrew walked up to him and snatched the glass away.
“Hey!” Seth protested, reaching out for the glass.
Andrew held it out of his reach. “You told him?”
Seth squinted at him. “What?”
“You told him?” Andrew asked, his voice rising. “What the hell, Seth? I thought we were friends!”
Seth frowned and rubbed is eyes. “What’s it matter? It was gonna come out soon anyway.”
“Fuck this,” said Andrew as he took out his car keys. “Fuck you. I’m out of here.”
He shoved the drink back into Seth’s hands, spilling it on his cardigan. He began to walk toward the door when Seth stumbled after him.
“Wait!” said Seth, grabbing onto his sleeve. “You’re supposed to be my DD!”
Andrew twisted his arm away and opened the front door. “Your drunk ass can find its own way home.”
Andrew slammed the door behind him and trekked through the maze of parked cars to his own. He looked up to the stars, and sighed when he realized it started to snow.
After assuring him that he was fine to drive because he only had maybe two or three sips of alcohol, Blaine loaded Kurt into is car. They drove home mostly in silence, with only Kurt’s sniffles to be heard. Blaine felt awkward and guilty. As they pulled up to Kurt’s house, Blaine sighed.
“This is all my fault,” he said.
Kurt wiped his eyes and looked up. “What? How? You didn’t make that asshole…”
Blaine heaved another sigh. “This never would have happened if I hadn’t taken you for granted.”
Kurt blinked at him. “What?”
“I didn’t think anyone else would go after you,” he replied as he parked the car. “Not that other guys wouldn’t want to go after you, I just thought that it was, you know, common knowledge that I liked you and I didn’t think anyone would want to, like, disturb that.”
Another awkward moment of silence passed.
“You, um,” Kurt sniffed, “you like me?”
Blaine smiled. “Yeah. I had this whole plan to ask you out on Valentine’s Day.”
Kurt blushed and stared down at his hands in his lap. “That sounds, um, romantic.”
“Would, um, would you have said yes?” Blaine asked, nervously scratching the back of his head.
Kurt looked up. “Of course I would have yes!”
Blaine beamed. “Really?”
“Yes!”
They gazed at each other for a moment, their smiles widening.
“Kurt?”
“Yeah?”
“Will you go out with me?”
“Yes!”
Kurt quickly unbuckled his seatbelt and leaped at him. Blaine laughed, wrapping his arms around his waist as Kurt crawled into the driver’s seat with him. They kissed, their mouths pressing against each other forcefully. Kurt’s back hit up against Blaine’s steering wheel, honking the horn. They laughed and pulled apart as Finn opened the house door and called out.
“C’mon, guys!” he said as lumbered down the driveway. “You’re gonna wake Mom and Burt up.”
Blaine unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the door, letting Kurt climb off of him. Finn squinted at them.
“I thought you went to the party with that Andrew guy.” Finn said, looking confused.
Kurt rolled his eyes and groaned. “Let me tell you about that manipulative little…”
Blaine stepped out of the car. “Can we go inside? It’s freezing.”
Finn nodded. “Yeah, sure. What happened?”
As they entered the house, Kurt recounted the events of the night, with Blaine filling in various details.
“He was just using me to get back at Blaine because he didn’t get the damn solo he wanted.” Kurt said as he plopped down on the couch in his room.
“Which is so stupid,” said Blaine, sitting next to him, “because he got a solo.”
“Yeah,” said Kurt, “He’s singing Buddy Holly.”
“What, like that Weezer song?” Finn asked, sitting down in the circular chair across from them. “That’s cool. I like that song.”
Kurt and Blaine nodded.
“To be honest,” said Blaine, “it was kinda weird that he got the solo for that song. He didn’t even audition for it.”
“That’s true,” said Kurt. “I actually thought Seth was gonna get it. He wore Buddy Holly glasses at his audition and everything.” He frowned. “They made his face look very narrow. They didn’t suit him.”
“I think Wes has a thing against Seth because he has a lot of influence over group despite not being a councilmember.” Blaine said, running his fingers through his hair and thinking.
“What was with Seth tonight?” Kurt scoffed. “He was drinking in the car on the way over.”
“Wait,” said Finn, holding his hands up. “Slow down. Who’s Seth?”
“Seth is a Warbler,” Blaine explained. “Wes is always calling him a robot behind his back. Apparently he gets a little wild when he drinks.”
“A little wild? Are you serious? He was all over you!” Kurt said, waving his arms. “Why were you even dancing with him, anyway?”
Finn raised an eyebrow at Blaine, who blinked rapidly and gulped.
“We, um, we were just, well… you were dancing with Andrew,” said Blaine, rubbing his neck and looking away. “And he just, I don’t know, he asked. But his behavior was totally making me uncomfortable.”
Kurt seemed to accept this explanation and nodded. “I’m certainly not going to let him near you while he’s drinking ever again.”
Blaine stood up. “I had better go,” he said. “It’s getting late. I’ll see you at the brunch on Sunday, ok Kurt?”
He waved goodbye to Finn as Kurt escorted him back upstairs. When they reach the front door, Kurt hugged him and kissed him on the cheek.
“I’ll see you.” He said.
Blaine smiled and kissed him briefly on the mouth before leaving.
Andrew woke up the next morning to a ray of sunlight shining through his window and onto his face. He sat up, rubbed his eyes, and groggily pulled his laptop onto his bed to check his Facebook, like he did just about every morning. He rubbed his eyes again and stared at the screen. He could barely believe the first thing he saw.
Kurt Hummel is in a relationship with Blaine Anderson.
He clenched his jaw, resisted the temptation to comment with a DISLIKE and scrolled down.
Jeff Lynch doesn’t think that douche deserves a solo.
Nick Mega wonders what kind of person would lead someone on for a SONG?
Wes Leung has a love/hate relationship with Warbler love drama.
Dave Makin wonders why this shit always happens at his parties and no one else’s.
Andrew sighed and closed his computer. He lay back down and stared up at his bedroom ceiling. Everything was going completely wrong and it was all Seth’s fault. If Seth could just control himself, if he hadn’t started drinking before the party even started, none of this would have happened.
He cringed as he thought back to the night before and realized he left Seth alone and without a ride home. He sat back up and opened his laptop, scrolling again through the Facebook statuses.
Seth Vention is at work.
Andrew sighed in relief. At least Seth managed to get home safe. He rubbed his forehead and groaned as he remembered some of the last words he said to his best friend.
“Fuck this. Fuck you.”
Andrew knew now that it wasn’t fair for him to blame this whole disaster on Seth. All Seth did was tell the truth. Andrew gulped. Was it the truth? Did he seriously spend the last week manipulating a boy into liking him because he didn’t get the solo he wanted? He buried his face in his hands. He felt like he took every little thing that didn’t go his way as a personal affront. He was so selfish. Seth lost a solo to Andrew, and did he throw a hissy fit? No. He just congratulated his friend.
He looked back at the status as sighed. Apologies were in order, and Seth was first on the list.
Seth worked at a bookshop downtown known for its extensive music selection. A bell on the door rang as Andrew entered, and he scanned the place for his friend. He wandered through the stacks, examining the book titles as he past them. He found Seth loading books onto a shelf in the back corner of the store.
“If you’re wondering how I got home last night,” said Seth as Andrew approached him, “my brother came to get me.”
“Oh,” said Andrew, “Ok, that’s, um, good.”
Seth shoved a book onto the shelf. “What do you want?”
Andrew sighed. “I wanted to apologize. I shouldn’t have left you there alone. I, um, I shouldn’t have gotten so mad at you. You were right, it would have come out eventually.”
Seth put the last book in its place on the shelf, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a small pill bottle. He opened it, shook a couple pills into his palm and popped them into his mouth. He took a bottle of water off the shelf and sipped it.
“Hung over?” Andrew asked.
Seth nodded, then sighed. “I shouldn’t have told him.”
“It’s ok,” said Andrew. “You were drunk. You weren’t exactly in your right mind.”
“It’s more than that,” said Seth, leaning against a shelf and rubbing his eyes. “I felt… neglected, I guess.”
“How so?”
“You were spending so much time with Kurt, and I felt like, I felt like you only needed me to help you get with him.” Seth said, biting his lip.
Andrew laughed. “You make it sound like you were jealous.”
Seth shrugged, and Andrew blinked.
“Were you jealous?” he asked.
Seth turned back to the books and started rearranging them. “It’s just, you know, you’re very important to me. I love you because you’re my best friend, and I’m sexually attracted to you because you look like Andrew Garfield.”
“You did really did like The Social Network.” Andrew said, smiling. “I thought you were above all that, though? Mixing platonic love and sex.”
Seth sighed. “I never said I was above it. I just said that I recognize that stupid teenagers tend to get that confused and think they’re in love. And, well, I can be a stupid teenager sometimes.” He turned back to Andrew and put a hand on his shoulder. “I still don’t want to date you. I don’t want to date anyone. Not yet, anyway.”
Andrew nodded. “I understand.”
He frowned as he saw Seth’s eyes widen. He turned around to see Finn towering over both of them.
“Oh shit,” said Andrew.
“Oh, um, hey,” said Finn, squinting.
“Is this Kurt’s stepbrother?” Seth asked.
Finn nodded.
“Are you here to beat the crap out of me?” Andrew asked.
Finn looked around and swallowed. “That’s not really what I came here for, but I guess I kinda have to, don’t I?”
Andrew nodded. “We did have an agreement.”
“Can you take it outside?” said Seth, cringing. “I’d prefer it if there wasn’t a lot of commotion in here.”
Andrew followed Finn through the stacks with Seth close behind them. Finn and Andrew exited the store and stopped at the sidewalk outside while Seth watched from the store window. Finn put a hand on Andrew’s shoulder.
“Are you ready for this?” Finn asked.
Andrew nodded. “Yeah. Just, um, please avoid my face? Seth just said I looked like Andrew Garfield and I want to stay that way.
Finn narrowed his eyes. “I don’t know who that is.”
Andrew pointed to his friend in the window. Finn blinked at him, and then turned back to Andrew.
“That’s Andrew Garfield? You don’t look like him.”
“No, no, that’s Seth.” Andrew explained, shaking his head. “Andrew Garfield’s gonna be the new Spider-Man. Look, never mind. Let’s just get his over with.”
Finn nodded, and Andrew braced himself. Finn punched him hard in the stomach and Andrew doubled over in pain. As an only child growing up in zero bullying tolerance school, the most punches he had ever received were on the arm or the shoulder. He felt Finn’s fist knock the wind out of him, and an overall feeling of nausea engulfed his body. Andrew fell to the sidewalk and Finn bent over him, his hands on his knees.
“So the reason I’m only giving you one punch to gut is because I don’t think you really meant to hurt Kurt, because otherwise you wouldn’t be so cool with this.”
Andrew coughed. “I can’t breath”
“Yeah, that happens.” Finn said, grimacing. “Don’t fight it. Exhale.”
Andrew did so, and curled up into a ball of pain.
“You should probably apologize to him at that Valentine’s breakfast thing.”
“Brunch,” Andrew breathed, “It’s a brunch.”
“Right, that.” Finn said as he stood. “Just, like, don’t do anything stupid like that to Kurt again. Burt’ll probably kill you.”
“Got it.”
Finn walked away, and Seth stepped out onto the sidewalk, kneeling down next to Andrew.
“That was anti-climactic.” Seth said, frowning.
“Say that to my stomach.”
Seth put a hand on Andrew’s arm and rubbed it, trying to comfort him.
“You’ll be ok,” he said. “Sudden pressure has just been applied to your solar plexus, resulting in a spasm of the diaphragm. Just relax and keep breathing. You’ll recover in a few moments.
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
Compared to the weather of the previous couple days, Sunday morning was surprisingly warm and sunny. Andrew let his windows fall open, allowing the sunlight to pour into his bedroom as he got ready for the brunch. He stood in front of his mirror, combing his hair and trying to look as presentable as possible. Today he was going to have to go up to Kurt, Blaine, and the rest of the Warblers and apologize for his actions. He looked himself up and down, and sighed. Humility was never something Andrew found easy to come by, but he knew he had to scramble some up in order to redeem himself.
The brunch was held outside, on the lawn in front of Dalton Academy, with chairs and tables brought in from the cafeteria and covered with tablecloths and ribbons. Soft, classical music played through speakers set up around the lawn. Students and their significant others mingled at their tables and through the buffet line. Andrew took a deep breath as he approached the scene, scanning the crowd for Kurt. Instead he saw Seth hanging out by the baked goods table, picking up muffins individually and examining them. He walked over to him and picked one up for himself.
“Are they any good?” he asked, peeling off the paper.
Seth put a muffin back into the basket from which it came. “They’ve been all mixed up. I can’t find the blueberry.”
Andrew held his muffin up and squinted at it. “I think this one is.”
He handed it to Seth, who thanked him.
“Have you decided what you’re going to say to Kurt?” Seth asked, biting into it.
Andrew shrugged. “Kind of.”
Seth swallowed and took out his phone from his jacket pocket to check the time. “We’re supposed to meet over by the trees right about now.”
Andrew nodded and the two walked away from the food tables toward a group of trees around which Warblers were already gathering. Seth reached into his back pocket and pulled out a pair of glasses.
“I brought these for you,” he said, handing them to Andrew. “They’re the glasses I wore for the audition. I figured you could wear them for your solo.”
Andrew smiled and took them. “Thanks. You’re so much better at this than I am.”
“Better at what?”
“Accepting defeat.”
Seth rolled his eyes as they came to a stop. The other Warblers looked at Andrew with contempt, and he gulped uncomfortably. Wes clapped his hands and the boys gathered into a circle.
“There’s been a change of schedule.” Wes announced, gazing around at the group. “The programs listed the songs out of order, and the council thinks it’s best if we just go with it instead of potentially confusing our peers. Everyone ok with that?”
The group murmured in agreement. Wes narrowed his eyes at Andrew.
“Are you ok with this change, Andrew?” he asked. “Because if you’re not, my girlfriend’s over there, getting an omelet if you want to take it out on her.”
Andrew glowered while some other Warblers snickered. “No thanks.” he said, “I’m cool.”
Wes smiled. “Great, because you’re going first.” He clapped his hands again. “See you all on stage in five minutes.”
The group dispersed, and Andrew watched Kurt walk away, holding hands with Blaine. Blaine whispered something in Kurt’s ear, rubbed his arm and walked off, leaving Kurt alone by the punchbowl. Andrew took in another deep breath and approached him. He reached out and grabbed the ladle, pouring the neon pink liquid into a plastic cup. Kurt peered behind him and scoffed.
“Don’t even think about it, Andrew,” he said, putting his hands on his hips.
Andrew sighed. “I just want to apologize.”
Kurt sneered. “Apologize? What, you think you can just waltz up to me and say you’re sorry and everything will be ok?”
“No,” said Andrew, stirring his drink with a straw. “I don’t know.”
“Who the hell do you think you are, anyway?” Kurt asked, grabbing the ladle and pouring a drink himself. “What made you think you could just seduce someone just because you didn’t get the solo you wanted?”
Andrew slammed his down on the table. “I didn’t seduce you, ok? I just got you to like me because I liked you and… and you were just another thing I wanted that Blaine got without even trying.”
Kurt frowned. “I’m not a thing.”
Andrew grabbed a napkin and mopped up the pit of punch that he spilled. “I know, I’m sorry. It really wasn’t just about the solos. I really did like you.” He paused. “I really do like you.”
“How can I ever believe that, Andrew?” said Kurt, looking a little less angry. He topped off his drink and walked away.
Seth watched Andrew and Kurt talk from the muffin table as he chewed on a particularly savory cornbread one. Kurt left Andrew standing alone by the punchbowl with a frown on his face, so Seth guessed that it didn’t exactly go very well. He swallowed as Kurt walked up to the muffin table to pick one out.
“So are you and Blaine together now?” he asked. “You were holding hands earlier.”
Kurt smiled. “Yes, we are. Finally.”
“Hm.” Seth said, taking another bite. “That was fast.”
“Excuse me? What is that supposed to mean?” Kurt asked.
Seth shrugged and chewed. “Two days ago, you were with Andrew. Today, you’re with Blaine.”
“I wasn’t with Andrew, ok?” said Kurt. “That wasn’t real.”
“It was real to you at the time…”
“It doesn’t matter anymore.” Kurt insisted. “So, yeah, me and Blaine are together now, so no more asking him to let you drunkenly rub up against him.”
Seth squinted. “What?”
“At the party,” said Kurt, “you asked Blaine to dance, and I’m sure that it some cultures what you ended up doing qualifies.”
Seth shook his head. “No, Blaine asked me to dance.”
“How do you even remember?” said Kurt, narrowing his eyes. “You were drunk off your ass.”
“I have a relatively clear view of that night,” said Seth. “The only thing I don’t really recall is whose shoes I threw up on.”
At the next table, Jeff raised his hand. “They were mine.”
Seth nodded in acknowledgment. “Ok, Jeff. I’ll get you new ones.”
Kurt frowned, worried. “But, but then why would Blaine say that you asked him?”
“Either he doesn’t remember or he’s lying.” Seth said, rolling his eyes.
“But why would he lie?” Kurt asked. “And why wouldn’t he remember?”
“I don’t know?” said Seth, waving his hands. “Listen. When exactly did you get with Blaine?”
“In the car, on the way home after the party.”
“So within an hour of you making out with Andrew, you’ve fully committed yourself to another person?”
Kurt’s frown deepened. “So, what?”
“So what if Andrew keeps pursuing you?” Seth asked, leaning forward. “What if someone else starts pursuing you?”
“I’d stay with Blaine!”
“But you were already in full pursuit of Blaine when Andrew decided to go after you and you didn’t really stick with it, did you? Andrew got you to like him pretty fast, didn’t he? Is that all it takes for a boy to get you to like them? Some attention and maybe a good Florence and the Machine cover?”
“Shut up!”
The sharp, high-pitched sound of microphone feedback penetrated the air, causing the students and their guests to groan. Kurt and Seth turned to see Andrew standing on the stage, tapping his index finger on the podium microphone.
“Uh, hi, hello everyone,” he said into the mic, his voice amplified by the speakers.
The people stared at him in confusion. Seth glanced over to Wes, who looked like he was having an aneurism.
“So, uh, I’d like to welcome everyone to, um…” He held up a program. “A Wery Warbler Walentine’s. We’re actually calling it that this year? Uh, ok.”
He put the program back on the podium and took a deep breath. Wes stomped over to Seth and grabbed him by the arm.
“What the hell is he doing?” Wes snarled.
Seth blinked and shook his head. “I have no idea.”
Andrew cleared his throat. “As you guys may or may not know, among the Warblers, solos are, um, intensely coveted, and sometimes we’ll do pretty ridiculous things to get one.”
He paused, taking in another breath. “Or in reaction to losing one. Recently, um, a certain Warbler’s actions transcended from pretty ridiculous to pretty insane, and, well, actually kind of cruel. So, um, as a consequence of that, this Warbler will give up his solo.”
He pulled out the program again. “I know it says in your programs that the soloist for the first song is Andrew Starkofsky, but that solo will now go to Seth Vention.” Andrew pulled out the glasses Seth gave him. “Um, Seth? These are for you.”
He stepped away from the podium and off the stage, walking past the tabled full of students to Seth, Kurt and Wes by the muffins. He held the glasses out to Seth, but Wes snatched them away.
“No,” Wes snapped. “You two cannot fucking do this to me again.”
“I’m not going back up there.” Andrew said, crossing his arms. “I’m not singing that song. I’m giving it up.”
Wes seethed. “If you don’t sing that damn song, Andrew, you are out. Do you hear me? I will personally throw you the fuck out of the Warblers.”
Seth frowned. “A singular councilmember cannot expel a Warbler from the group. The rules state that if an individual appears to be detrimental to the group, then the Warblers as a whole must vote on whether or not expel him. Only if the vote comes to a tie is the council allowed to make that decision.”
Wes gaped at him while Andrew grinned.
“So, we’ll vote on Monday then?” Andrew asked innocently.
“This is bullshit.” Wes grumbled.
“Just give Seth the damn glasses, ok Wes?” said Kurt. “We have to go on in thirty seconds anyway.”
Wes shoved the glasses into Seth’s hands, and Seth stared at them in awe. “I hope you installed your emotion chip today,” he sneered.
Seth put them on and smiled.
“Warblers!” Wes called out, “To your places!”
The Warblers came out from their various places among the tables and students and gathered in formation onto the stage. Andrew pushed Seth in front of them as they began their background harmony. Seth grinned, and started to sing.
“What's with these homies dissin' my girl? Why do they gotta front?
What did we ever do to these guys that made them so violent?”
The rest of the Warblers joined in, and Andrew remembered why he loved being a part of this team.
“Woo-hoo, but you know I'm yours. Woo-hoo, and I know you're mine. Woo-hoo, and that's for all of time.”
Come Monday, Dalton Academy was covered in paper hearts, candy wrappers, ribbons and balloons. Boys with girlfriends showed off the gifts they received from them, while those with boyfriends made gratuitous public displays of affection. When classes ended and most of the school emptied out, the senior commons was still full of Warblers.
They each wrote down their vote on a small slip of paper, bringing it up to the council’s table and putting it in a box. Andrew sat in a corner away from the group, not allowed to participate. He nervously looked over each one of his teammates as they submitted their vote. He caught Kurt’s eye briefly as he sat back down, but couldn’t read his expression.
“Is that everyone?” Wes asked.
He was met with silence, and he nodded, apparently taking that as a ‘yes.’ He stood up and started to take the papers out of the box, putting some on one side and some on the other side. When the box was empty, Wes stared down at the papers for a moment before sighing.
“Seven ins, five outs,” he said. “Andrew, you are allowed to stay with the Warblers.”
“YES!” Andrew shouted, leaping up and pumping his fists into the air.
The other Warblers either cheered with him or clapped politely. Wes banged his mallet.
“Ok, ok, meeting dismissed.”
The boys got up and gathered their things. Seth walked up to Andrew, smiled and patted him on the shoulder.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Andrew,” he said as they left the room.
Andrew grinned. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Seth.”
All but two of the Warbler’s left. Alone in the room sat Kurt and Blaine. Blaine stacked together his notebooks and put them in his bag while Kurt pet the teddy bear Blaine had given him as a gift.
“Do you like him?” Blaine asked, smiling.
“Yes,” said Kurt, caressing the bear with his fingers and gazing at it fondly. “He’s lovely.”
Blaine closed the bag, stood up and hoisted it over his shoulder. “I’m glad. You ready?”
Kurt swallowed. “Um, Blaine?”
“Yeah?”
“We, um, we have to talk.”
Blaine stopped and stared at him before slowly sitting back down. “What is it? Has Andrew been bothering you?”
Kurt shook his head. “No, no, it’s not like that.”
Blaine tilted his head. “Then what’s wrong?”
Kurt sighed and adjusted the bear’s arms. “I can’t stop thinking about how you either can’t remember that you asked Seth to dance, or you lied.”
“What?” said Blaine, blinking. “What, like at Dave’s party? Why does it matter?”
“I don’t know why it matters, but I can’t stop worrying about it.” Kurt said. “I mean, if you can’t remember, then the distinction obviously isn’t important to you, even though for some reason it’s very important to me. And if you’re lying then I don’t understand why, and if you’re not that means Seth is lying and what the hell does that mean, and…”
He sniffled, and Blaine put an arm around him.
“What I’m saying is, if I’m so worried about this one little detail then… then maybe I’m not really ready to be in a relationship with someone.”
He looked up at Blaine, who took a deep breath and sighed.
“Are you sure?” Blaine asked, biting his lip.
Kurt nodded. “I’m so sorry. I like you, Blaine, I really do, but…”
Blaine pulled his arm away from Kurt and put his hands his lap. “I understand.”
Kurt took Blaine’s hand and squeezed it. “We, we can still be friends, right?”
Blaine gave him a small smile. “Of course we can.”
He squeezed his hand, pressing his forehead against Kurt’s. They stayed like that for a long time.
THE END.
Thank you all for reading, I hope you enjoyed it. Any reviews or critiques are greatly appreciated.
Genre: Romance, Humor
Pairing: Kurt/Blaine, Kurt/OC
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Jealous after losing another solo to Blaine, a Warbler sets out to take away something he doesn't think Blaine fully appreciates: Kurt Hummel.
That night, Andrew pulled up to the Hummel household in his car, his veins pulsing with triumph. Kurt was his, and Blaine was left in the dust. In the passenger seat next to him, Seth finished off his first bottle of Stella Artois.
“I can’t believe you’re drinking already,” said Andrew as he unbuckled his seatbelt and unlocked the car doors.
Seth did the same and tightened a scarf around his neck. “Pre-party buzz.”
They exited the car, bracing against the cold, late-winter air and walked up the long driveway.
“You said Kurt’s step-brother is in New Directions?” Seth asked, rubbing his hands together and breathing into them as they approached the door.
“Yeah,” said Andrew, ringing the doorbell. “The guy threatened to beat me up if I ever hurt him.”
Seth snickered. “Can’t wait to be there were that happens.”
Andrew punched Seth on the shoulder as Carole opened the door and greeted them.
“Well, hello, Andrew!” she said as she ushered them in. “And this is?”
“Seth.” He let go of his bruising arm and shook her hand.
“Seth.” She smiled. “You two look very nice.”
Andrew nodded while Seth frowned and tugged at his old purple cardigan.
“Kurt picked this out for me,” said Andrew, resting a hand on his chest. He actually really liked the blue button-down Kurt selected, and looked forward to shopping with him in the future.
“Oh, he’s so good at that, isn’t he?” said Carol. “He revamped my whole wardrobe.”
A man in a trucker cap Andrew presumed to be Kurt’s dad entered the foyer and put a hand on Carole’s shoulder.
“Carole, mind steppin’ out for a sec? I’d like to have some man-talk with theses kids.”
Caroel nodded and left. Mr. Hummel put his hands on his hips and stared down.
“Burt Hummel,” he said, shaking their hands. “Tell me the truth, boys. Will there be alcohol at this party?”
Andrew and Seth exchanged a glance.
“Do you want us to tell you the actual truth or what you want to think is the truth?” Seth asked, squinting his eyes and tilting his head to the left.
Burt sighed. “I get it. Do you guys at least have a designated driver?”
Seth blinked and pointed to Andrew, who clumsily raised his hand. Kurt rushed into the room, carefully wrapping a long scarf around his neck and tugging on a pair of gloves. He gave his father a quick hug before grabbing the two boys by the arm and pulling them toward the door.
“Bye, Dad!” he called as he pushed them out the door.
“Ok, love you,” his father replied, waving. “Have fun, be safe.”
Kurt poked his head back through the door before closing it. “We will!”
Seth shivered and crossed his arms as the door closed behind them. “Your family seems… nice.”
“Thank you,” said Kurt, pulling on his other glove as he marched down the driveway. “For a second I thought Dad was going to give the ‘you hurt him, I hurt you’ speech.”
Andrew laughed and opened the door. “Ha, no, I already got that from your brother.”
“Really?” said Kurt as he opened the door on his side. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry.”
Andrew laughed again and shook his head. “It’s not a problem, I promise.”
Kurt climbed into the front seat while Seth grabbed his six-pack and moved into the back. As Kurt situated himself, he glanced behind him at Seth, who opened another bottle.
“You’re, uh, already drinking?” he asked.
Seth took a sip. “Yep. I’m gonna need it.”
Andrew started the car and pulled out. Kurt blinked at Seth slowly.
“Where did you get it?” he asked. “Do you have a fake ID or something.”
Seth shrugged. “It’s my brother’s.”
Kurt buckled his seatbelt. “And he doesn’t care that you took it?”
“He doesn’t care what I do.”
Andrew stopped at a light, and used the opportunity to plug in his iPod. Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance blasted out of the speakers to Kurt’s delight, and the conversation dissolved. By the time they reached Dave’s house, it was already full of people. They didn’t recognize most of the girls as they came from other schools, but the music was loud and the drinks flowing. Dave welcomed them, as they entered the living room, and Andrew and Kurt mingled while Seth sauntered over to the kitchen.
Across the make-shift dance floor, Blaine watched them with a frown on his face and a knot in his stomach. He hated the way Andrew rested his hand on Kurt’s back, the way Kurt leaned into him and blushed. He gulped and turned toward the kitchen. Normally he didn’t drink, but this week had been rough and he could use a little liquid courage. In the kitchen, Seth poured various fluids into a glass.
“What are you making?” Blaine asked, eyeing all the bottles.
“It’s called a Tie Me to the Bedpost.” Seth said as he stirred the drink with a straw. “You want one?”
“Uh, no,” said Blaine, raising an eyebrow. He had heard about Seth’s drunken escapades, but had never been a witness. “Just beer, thanks.”
Seth shrugged and handed him an opener and a bottle. “Suit yourself.”
Blaine popped the cap off, sighing as he gazed into the living room.
“What’re you sulking about?” Seth asked as licked excess liquid off his straw.
“Nothing.” Blaine took a sip of his beer. “Jesus, now they’re dancing.”
Seth looked up from his drink and squinted into the archway. “Who? Oh, them.”
Blaine swallowed his drink and sighed. “Right. Them.”
He felt his stomach clench as Andrew twirled Kurt in his arms. He turned to Seth, who sneered.
“If it bothers you so much, why don’t you do something about it?” he asked, taking another swig.
Blaine frowned. “Like what?”
He turned to see Seth holding out his straw in favor of gulping down the drink all at once. When he finished, he slammed the glass down and exhaled loudly.
“Whatever you feel like doing,” he said, wiping his mouth with his hand.
“Did you just swallow that whole?”
Seth winked. “I can swallow a lot of things whole.”
Blaine looked back to Andrew and Kurt, then back to Seth. “Hey, do you want to, um, dance or something?”
Seth smiled, but didn’t really look happy. “I thought you’d never ask.”
He waltzed around the kitchen table and grabbed Blaine by the arm, pulling him through the archway and back into the living room. Seth was a surprisingly touchy dancer. He leaned into Blaine, dragging his hands up and down his chest. He tugged at the ends of Blaine’s shirt, and traced his fingers along his waistband.
Kurt watched them dance from over Andrew’s shoulder and narrowed his eyes. “What the hell is Seth doing?”
Andrew turned to see what Kurt was talking about and laughed. “I told you,” he said. “Seth’s a slutty dunk.”
Andrew wrapped his arms around Kurt’s waist and tried to turn him away from Seth and Blaine, but he resisted.
“But does he have to slut it up on him?” said Kurt as he pulled away from Andrew.
Andrew frowned. “What do you care?”
Kurt looked away. “I don’t. I mean, I don’t know.”
Andrew moved in closer and caressed his cheek. “Come on,” he said, “let’s find someplace a little less… distracting.”
Kurt watched as Seth snaked his fingers into Blaine’s belt loops. “Yeah, ok.”
Andrew took him by the hand and led him out of the living room and up the stairs.
Blaine awkwardly rested his hands on Seth’s hips as they pulsated with the beat of the music. Despite the fact that Seth looked like a teenage boy version of Audrey Hepburn, he couldn’t quite get into it, especially as Kurt and Andrew left the dance floor, probably in favor of somewhere more secluded. Blaine closed his eyes as he tried to push the image out of his head. Seth’s fingers tickled lightly against his sides, prompting Blaine to look down at him. Seth smiled and buried his face in Blaine’s neck. Across the room, he saw Wes raise an eyebrow at him. He blushed and pushed Seth away.
“What?” said Seth, as he stumbled and regained his balance.
Blaine coughed. “This isn’t right.”
Seth rolled his eyes and groaned. “This isn’t right? Are you kidding me?”
Blaine swallowed and glanced toward the stairs. Seth scoffed and ran his fingers through is hair.
“What, are you worried about them?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.
“I’m not, I mean…”
Seth waived his hands and stumbled again, this time grabbing onto Blaine for support.
“They’re gone, Blaine, ok?” he said, holding himself up on the other boy’s arms. “Andrew finally won. You should just, just get over it.”
Blaine pulled Seth off of him and held him by the shoulders, staring into his eyes. “What do you mean Andrew won?”
Upstairs, Andrew pulled a giggling Kurt into an empty bathroom and pressed him up against the door. Kurt sighed and smiled as Andrew traced his fingers up and down his arms. Andrew grinned and left a trail of kisses up Kurt’s neck and jaw. It had been so long since he’d had a good make out session with someone. Last time had been with Seth out of drunkenness and boredom, but now Andrew was sober and there was a sense of something more behind the act. He dipped his tongue into Kurt’s ear, causing him to bite his lip and shiver. He pulled off Kurt’s scarf and pushed his hand up under his shirt, feeling the warm skin beneath.
Kurt laughed. “That tickles.”
Andrew smiled and kissed him on the mouth. Kurt’s lips parted beneath his and Andrew pressed his tongue inside. Outside, someone banged on the door and Andrew pulled away.
“Occupied!” he called, and moved back in for another kiss.
The door swung open, causing the two of them to tumble out into the hall. Andrew felt a hand grab the back of his shirt and pull him up onto his feet. Blaine slammed him against the wall and the room went silent as the other partygoers’ conversations died.
“You’re doing this because you wanted my solo?” Blaine shouted, his face red with anger.
Kurt sat himself up on his elbows and his eyes widened. “What?”
Andrew gulped. “It wasn’t, I mean, that wasn’t everything…”
“You were just using Kurt to get back at me, weren’t you?” said Blaine, shoving him up against the wall again. “Seth told me, ok? Just admit it.”
Andrew glanced around the hall for Seth, but he was nowhere to be seen. Turned to Kurt on the floor, who stared up at him with wet eyes.
“Oh my God,” he breathed. “I’m so stupid.”
He got up, grabbed his scarf and brushed himself off. Andrew made an attempt to push past Blaine and reach out to him, but Kurt slapped his hand away.
“Kurt…” he said, swallowing.
“Get the hell away from me!” he snapped, stumbling backwards. “Blaine, can you take me home?”
Blaine nodded and released his hold on Andrew. “Yeah, yeah I can.”
He walked over to Kurt, put his arm around his shoulders and escorted him down the stairs. Andrew watched the two of them go, the whole thing not quite registering in his brain. He jumped back to reality when he realized that everyone in the hall was staring at him.
“What?” he barked. “What the hell are you looking at?”
He pushed past a group of girls and marched his way down the stairs. He saw Seth leaning against a wall in the living room, another drink in his hand. Andrew walked up to him and snatched the glass away.
“Hey!” Seth protested, reaching out for the glass.
Andrew held it out of his reach. “You told him?”
Seth squinted at him. “What?”
“You told him?” Andrew asked, his voice rising. “What the hell, Seth? I thought we were friends!”
Seth frowned and rubbed is eyes. “What’s it matter? It was gonna come out soon anyway.”
“Fuck this,” said Andrew as he took out his car keys. “Fuck you. I’m out of here.”
He shoved the drink back into Seth’s hands, spilling it on his cardigan. He began to walk toward the door when Seth stumbled after him.
“Wait!” said Seth, grabbing onto his sleeve. “You’re supposed to be my DD!”
Andrew twisted his arm away and opened the front door. “Your drunk ass can find its own way home.”
Andrew slammed the door behind him and trekked through the maze of parked cars to his own. He looked up to the stars, and sighed when he realized it started to snow.
After assuring him that he was fine to drive because he only had maybe two or three sips of alcohol, Blaine loaded Kurt into is car. They drove home mostly in silence, with only Kurt’s sniffles to be heard. Blaine felt awkward and guilty. As they pulled up to Kurt’s house, Blaine sighed.
“This is all my fault,” he said.
Kurt wiped his eyes and looked up. “What? How? You didn’t make that asshole…”
Blaine heaved another sigh. “This never would have happened if I hadn’t taken you for granted.”
Kurt blinked at him. “What?”
“I didn’t think anyone else would go after you,” he replied as he parked the car. “Not that other guys wouldn’t want to go after you, I just thought that it was, you know, common knowledge that I liked you and I didn’t think anyone would want to, like, disturb that.”
Another awkward moment of silence passed.
“You, um,” Kurt sniffed, “you like me?”
Blaine smiled. “Yeah. I had this whole plan to ask you out on Valentine’s Day.”
Kurt blushed and stared down at his hands in his lap. “That sounds, um, romantic.”
“Would, um, would you have said yes?” Blaine asked, nervously scratching the back of his head.
Kurt looked up. “Of course I would have yes!”
Blaine beamed. “Really?”
“Yes!”
They gazed at each other for a moment, their smiles widening.
“Kurt?”
“Yeah?”
“Will you go out with me?”
“Yes!”
Kurt quickly unbuckled his seatbelt and leaped at him. Blaine laughed, wrapping his arms around his waist as Kurt crawled into the driver’s seat with him. They kissed, their mouths pressing against each other forcefully. Kurt’s back hit up against Blaine’s steering wheel, honking the horn. They laughed and pulled apart as Finn opened the house door and called out.
“C’mon, guys!” he said as lumbered down the driveway. “You’re gonna wake Mom and Burt up.”
Blaine unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the door, letting Kurt climb off of him. Finn squinted at them.
“I thought you went to the party with that Andrew guy.” Finn said, looking confused.
Kurt rolled his eyes and groaned. “Let me tell you about that manipulative little…”
Blaine stepped out of the car. “Can we go inside? It’s freezing.”
Finn nodded. “Yeah, sure. What happened?”
As they entered the house, Kurt recounted the events of the night, with Blaine filling in various details.
“He was just using me to get back at Blaine because he didn’t get the damn solo he wanted.” Kurt said as he plopped down on the couch in his room.
“Which is so stupid,” said Blaine, sitting next to him, “because he got a solo.”
“Yeah,” said Kurt, “He’s singing Buddy Holly.”
“What, like that Weezer song?” Finn asked, sitting down in the circular chair across from them. “That’s cool. I like that song.”
Kurt and Blaine nodded.
“To be honest,” said Blaine, “it was kinda weird that he got the solo for that song. He didn’t even audition for it.”
“That’s true,” said Kurt. “I actually thought Seth was gonna get it. He wore Buddy Holly glasses at his audition and everything.” He frowned. “They made his face look very narrow. They didn’t suit him.”
“I think Wes has a thing against Seth because he has a lot of influence over group despite not being a councilmember.” Blaine said, running his fingers through his hair and thinking.
“What was with Seth tonight?” Kurt scoffed. “He was drinking in the car on the way over.”
“Wait,” said Finn, holding his hands up. “Slow down. Who’s Seth?”
“Seth is a Warbler,” Blaine explained. “Wes is always calling him a robot behind his back. Apparently he gets a little wild when he drinks.”
“A little wild? Are you serious? He was all over you!” Kurt said, waving his arms. “Why were you even dancing with him, anyway?”
Finn raised an eyebrow at Blaine, who blinked rapidly and gulped.
“We, um, we were just, well… you were dancing with Andrew,” said Blaine, rubbing his neck and looking away. “And he just, I don’t know, he asked. But his behavior was totally making me uncomfortable.”
Kurt seemed to accept this explanation and nodded. “I’m certainly not going to let him near you while he’s drinking ever again.”
Blaine stood up. “I had better go,” he said. “It’s getting late. I’ll see you at the brunch on Sunday, ok Kurt?”
He waved goodbye to Finn as Kurt escorted him back upstairs. When they reach the front door, Kurt hugged him and kissed him on the cheek.
“I’ll see you.” He said.
Blaine smiled and kissed him briefly on the mouth before leaving.
Andrew woke up the next morning to a ray of sunlight shining through his window and onto his face. He sat up, rubbed his eyes, and groggily pulled his laptop onto his bed to check his Facebook, like he did just about every morning. He rubbed his eyes again and stared at the screen. He could barely believe the first thing he saw.
Kurt Hummel is in a relationship with Blaine Anderson.
He clenched his jaw, resisted the temptation to comment with a DISLIKE and scrolled down.
Jeff Lynch doesn’t think that douche deserves a solo.
Nick Mega wonders what kind of person would lead someone on for a SONG?
Wes Leung has a love/hate relationship with Warbler love drama.
Dave Makin wonders why this shit always happens at his parties and no one else’s.
Andrew sighed and closed his computer. He lay back down and stared up at his bedroom ceiling. Everything was going completely wrong and it was all Seth’s fault. If Seth could just control himself, if he hadn’t started drinking before the party even started, none of this would have happened.
He cringed as he thought back to the night before and realized he left Seth alone and without a ride home. He sat back up and opened his laptop, scrolling again through the Facebook statuses.
Seth Vention is at work.
Andrew sighed in relief. At least Seth managed to get home safe. He rubbed his forehead and groaned as he remembered some of the last words he said to his best friend.
“Fuck this. Fuck you.”
Andrew knew now that it wasn’t fair for him to blame this whole disaster on Seth. All Seth did was tell the truth. Andrew gulped. Was it the truth? Did he seriously spend the last week manipulating a boy into liking him because he didn’t get the solo he wanted? He buried his face in his hands. He felt like he took every little thing that didn’t go his way as a personal affront. He was so selfish. Seth lost a solo to Andrew, and did he throw a hissy fit? No. He just congratulated his friend.
He looked back at the status as sighed. Apologies were in order, and Seth was first on the list.
Seth worked at a bookshop downtown known for its extensive music selection. A bell on the door rang as Andrew entered, and he scanned the place for his friend. He wandered through the stacks, examining the book titles as he past them. He found Seth loading books onto a shelf in the back corner of the store.
“If you’re wondering how I got home last night,” said Seth as Andrew approached him, “my brother came to get me.”
“Oh,” said Andrew, “Ok, that’s, um, good.”
Seth shoved a book onto the shelf. “What do you want?”
Andrew sighed. “I wanted to apologize. I shouldn’t have left you there alone. I, um, I shouldn’t have gotten so mad at you. You were right, it would have come out eventually.”
Seth put the last book in its place on the shelf, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a small pill bottle. He opened it, shook a couple pills into his palm and popped them into his mouth. He took a bottle of water off the shelf and sipped it.
“Hung over?” Andrew asked.
Seth nodded, then sighed. “I shouldn’t have told him.”
“It’s ok,” said Andrew. “You were drunk. You weren’t exactly in your right mind.”
“It’s more than that,” said Seth, leaning against a shelf and rubbing his eyes. “I felt… neglected, I guess.”
“How so?”
“You were spending so much time with Kurt, and I felt like, I felt like you only needed me to help you get with him.” Seth said, biting his lip.
Andrew laughed. “You make it sound like you were jealous.”
Seth shrugged, and Andrew blinked.
“Were you jealous?” he asked.
Seth turned back to the books and started rearranging them. “It’s just, you know, you’re very important to me. I love you because you’re my best friend, and I’m sexually attracted to you because you look like Andrew Garfield.”
“You did really did like The Social Network.” Andrew said, smiling. “I thought you were above all that, though? Mixing platonic love and sex.”
Seth sighed. “I never said I was above it. I just said that I recognize that stupid teenagers tend to get that confused and think they’re in love. And, well, I can be a stupid teenager sometimes.” He turned back to Andrew and put a hand on his shoulder. “I still don’t want to date you. I don’t want to date anyone. Not yet, anyway.”
Andrew nodded. “I understand.”
He frowned as he saw Seth’s eyes widen. He turned around to see Finn towering over both of them.
“Oh shit,” said Andrew.
“Oh, um, hey,” said Finn, squinting.
“Is this Kurt’s stepbrother?” Seth asked.
Finn nodded.
“Are you here to beat the crap out of me?” Andrew asked.
Finn looked around and swallowed. “That’s not really what I came here for, but I guess I kinda have to, don’t I?”
Andrew nodded. “We did have an agreement.”
“Can you take it outside?” said Seth, cringing. “I’d prefer it if there wasn’t a lot of commotion in here.”
Andrew followed Finn through the stacks with Seth close behind them. Finn and Andrew exited the store and stopped at the sidewalk outside while Seth watched from the store window. Finn put a hand on Andrew’s shoulder.
“Are you ready for this?” Finn asked.
Andrew nodded. “Yeah. Just, um, please avoid my face? Seth just said I looked like Andrew Garfield and I want to stay that way.
Finn narrowed his eyes. “I don’t know who that is.”
Andrew pointed to his friend in the window. Finn blinked at him, and then turned back to Andrew.
“That’s Andrew Garfield? You don’t look like him.”
“No, no, that’s Seth.” Andrew explained, shaking his head. “Andrew Garfield’s gonna be the new Spider-Man. Look, never mind. Let’s just get his over with.”
Finn nodded, and Andrew braced himself. Finn punched him hard in the stomach and Andrew doubled over in pain. As an only child growing up in zero bullying tolerance school, the most punches he had ever received were on the arm or the shoulder. He felt Finn’s fist knock the wind out of him, and an overall feeling of nausea engulfed his body. Andrew fell to the sidewalk and Finn bent over him, his hands on his knees.
“So the reason I’m only giving you one punch to gut is because I don’t think you really meant to hurt Kurt, because otherwise you wouldn’t be so cool with this.”
Andrew coughed. “I can’t breath”
“Yeah, that happens.” Finn said, grimacing. “Don’t fight it. Exhale.”
Andrew did so, and curled up into a ball of pain.
“You should probably apologize to him at that Valentine’s breakfast thing.”
“Brunch,” Andrew breathed, “It’s a brunch.”
“Right, that.” Finn said as he stood. “Just, like, don’t do anything stupid like that to Kurt again. Burt’ll probably kill you.”
“Got it.”
Finn walked away, and Seth stepped out onto the sidewalk, kneeling down next to Andrew.
“That was anti-climactic.” Seth said, frowning.
“Say that to my stomach.”
Seth put a hand on Andrew’s arm and rubbed it, trying to comfort him.
“You’ll be ok,” he said. “Sudden pressure has just been applied to your solar plexus, resulting in a spasm of the diaphragm. Just relax and keep breathing. You’ll recover in a few moments.
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
Compared to the weather of the previous couple days, Sunday morning was surprisingly warm and sunny. Andrew let his windows fall open, allowing the sunlight to pour into his bedroom as he got ready for the brunch. He stood in front of his mirror, combing his hair and trying to look as presentable as possible. Today he was going to have to go up to Kurt, Blaine, and the rest of the Warblers and apologize for his actions. He looked himself up and down, and sighed. Humility was never something Andrew found easy to come by, but he knew he had to scramble some up in order to redeem himself.
The brunch was held outside, on the lawn in front of Dalton Academy, with chairs and tables brought in from the cafeteria and covered with tablecloths and ribbons. Soft, classical music played through speakers set up around the lawn. Students and their significant others mingled at their tables and through the buffet line. Andrew took a deep breath as he approached the scene, scanning the crowd for Kurt. Instead he saw Seth hanging out by the baked goods table, picking up muffins individually and examining them. He walked over to him and picked one up for himself.
“Are they any good?” he asked, peeling off the paper.
Seth put a muffin back into the basket from which it came. “They’ve been all mixed up. I can’t find the blueberry.”
Andrew held his muffin up and squinted at it. “I think this one is.”
He handed it to Seth, who thanked him.
“Have you decided what you’re going to say to Kurt?” Seth asked, biting into it.
Andrew shrugged. “Kind of.”
Seth swallowed and took out his phone from his jacket pocket to check the time. “We’re supposed to meet over by the trees right about now.”
Andrew nodded and the two walked away from the food tables toward a group of trees around which Warblers were already gathering. Seth reached into his back pocket and pulled out a pair of glasses.
“I brought these for you,” he said, handing them to Andrew. “They’re the glasses I wore for the audition. I figured you could wear them for your solo.”
Andrew smiled and took them. “Thanks. You’re so much better at this than I am.”
“Better at what?”
“Accepting defeat.”
Seth rolled his eyes as they came to a stop. The other Warblers looked at Andrew with contempt, and he gulped uncomfortably. Wes clapped his hands and the boys gathered into a circle.
“There’s been a change of schedule.” Wes announced, gazing around at the group. “The programs listed the songs out of order, and the council thinks it’s best if we just go with it instead of potentially confusing our peers. Everyone ok with that?”
The group murmured in agreement. Wes narrowed his eyes at Andrew.
“Are you ok with this change, Andrew?” he asked. “Because if you’re not, my girlfriend’s over there, getting an omelet if you want to take it out on her.”
Andrew glowered while some other Warblers snickered. “No thanks.” he said, “I’m cool.”
Wes smiled. “Great, because you’re going first.” He clapped his hands again. “See you all on stage in five minutes.”
The group dispersed, and Andrew watched Kurt walk away, holding hands with Blaine. Blaine whispered something in Kurt’s ear, rubbed his arm and walked off, leaving Kurt alone by the punchbowl. Andrew took in another deep breath and approached him. He reached out and grabbed the ladle, pouring the neon pink liquid into a plastic cup. Kurt peered behind him and scoffed.
“Don’t even think about it, Andrew,” he said, putting his hands on his hips.
Andrew sighed. “I just want to apologize.”
Kurt sneered. “Apologize? What, you think you can just waltz up to me and say you’re sorry and everything will be ok?”
“No,” said Andrew, stirring his drink with a straw. “I don’t know.”
“Who the hell do you think you are, anyway?” Kurt asked, grabbing the ladle and pouring a drink himself. “What made you think you could just seduce someone just because you didn’t get the solo you wanted?”
Andrew slammed his down on the table. “I didn’t seduce you, ok? I just got you to like me because I liked you and… and you were just another thing I wanted that Blaine got without even trying.”
Kurt frowned. “I’m not a thing.”
Andrew grabbed a napkin and mopped up the pit of punch that he spilled. “I know, I’m sorry. It really wasn’t just about the solos. I really did like you.” He paused. “I really do like you.”
“How can I ever believe that, Andrew?” said Kurt, looking a little less angry. He topped off his drink and walked away.
Seth watched Andrew and Kurt talk from the muffin table as he chewed on a particularly savory cornbread one. Kurt left Andrew standing alone by the punchbowl with a frown on his face, so Seth guessed that it didn’t exactly go very well. He swallowed as Kurt walked up to the muffin table to pick one out.
“So are you and Blaine together now?” he asked. “You were holding hands earlier.”
Kurt smiled. “Yes, we are. Finally.”
“Hm.” Seth said, taking another bite. “That was fast.”
“Excuse me? What is that supposed to mean?” Kurt asked.
Seth shrugged and chewed. “Two days ago, you were with Andrew. Today, you’re with Blaine.”
“I wasn’t with Andrew, ok?” said Kurt. “That wasn’t real.”
“It was real to you at the time…”
“It doesn’t matter anymore.” Kurt insisted. “So, yeah, me and Blaine are together now, so no more asking him to let you drunkenly rub up against him.”
Seth squinted. “What?”
“At the party,” said Kurt, “you asked Blaine to dance, and I’m sure that it some cultures what you ended up doing qualifies.”
Seth shook his head. “No, Blaine asked me to dance.”
“How do you even remember?” said Kurt, narrowing his eyes. “You were drunk off your ass.”
“I have a relatively clear view of that night,” said Seth. “The only thing I don’t really recall is whose shoes I threw up on.”
At the next table, Jeff raised his hand. “They were mine.”
Seth nodded in acknowledgment. “Ok, Jeff. I’ll get you new ones.”
Kurt frowned, worried. “But, but then why would Blaine say that you asked him?”
“Either he doesn’t remember or he’s lying.” Seth said, rolling his eyes.
“But why would he lie?” Kurt asked. “And why wouldn’t he remember?”
“I don’t know?” said Seth, waving his hands. “Listen. When exactly did you get with Blaine?”
“In the car, on the way home after the party.”
“So within an hour of you making out with Andrew, you’ve fully committed yourself to another person?”
Kurt’s frown deepened. “So, what?”
“So what if Andrew keeps pursuing you?” Seth asked, leaning forward. “What if someone else starts pursuing you?”
“I’d stay with Blaine!”
“But you were already in full pursuit of Blaine when Andrew decided to go after you and you didn’t really stick with it, did you? Andrew got you to like him pretty fast, didn’t he? Is that all it takes for a boy to get you to like them? Some attention and maybe a good Florence and the Machine cover?”
“Shut up!”
The sharp, high-pitched sound of microphone feedback penetrated the air, causing the students and their guests to groan. Kurt and Seth turned to see Andrew standing on the stage, tapping his index finger on the podium microphone.
“Uh, hi, hello everyone,” he said into the mic, his voice amplified by the speakers.
The people stared at him in confusion. Seth glanced over to Wes, who looked like he was having an aneurism.
“So, uh, I’d like to welcome everyone to, um…” He held up a program. “A Wery Warbler Walentine’s. We’re actually calling it that this year? Uh, ok.”
He put the program back on the podium and took a deep breath. Wes stomped over to Seth and grabbed him by the arm.
“What the hell is he doing?” Wes snarled.
Seth blinked and shook his head. “I have no idea.”
Andrew cleared his throat. “As you guys may or may not know, among the Warblers, solos are, um, intensely coveted, and sometimes we’ll do pretty ridiculous things to get one.”
He paused, taking in another breath. “Or in reaction to losing one. Recently, um, a certain Warbler’s actions transcended from pretty ridiculous to pretty insane, and, well, actually kind of cruel. So, um, as a consequence of that, this Warbler will give up his solo.”
He pulled out the program again. “I know it says in your programs that the soloist for the first song is Andrew Starkofsky, but that solo will now go to Seth Vention.” Andrew pulled out the glasses Seth gave him. “Um, Seth? These are for you.”
He stepped away from the podium and off the stage, walking past the tabled full of students to Seth, Kurt and Wes by the muffins. He held the glasses out to Seth, but Wes snatched them away.
“No,” Wes snapped. “You two cannot fucking do this to me again.”
“I’m not going back up there.” Andrew said, crossing his arms. “I’m not singing that song. I’m giving it up.”
Wes seethed. “If you don’t sing that damn song, Andrew, you are out. Do you hear me? I will personally throw you the fuck out of the Warblers.”
Seth frowned. “A singular councilmember cannot expel a Warbler from the group. The rules state that if an individual appears to be detrimental to the group, then the Warblers as a whole must vote on whether or not expel him. Only if the vote comes to a tie is the council allowed to make that decision.”
Wes gaped at him while Andrew grinned.
“So, we’ll vote on Monday then?” Andrew asked innocently.
“This is bullshit.” Wes grumbled.
“Just give Seth the damn glasses, ok Wes?” said Kurt. “We have to go on in thirty seconds anyway.”
Wes shoved the glasses into Seth’s hands, and Seth stared at them in awe. “I hope you installed your emotion chip today,” he sneered.
Seth put them on and smiled.
“Warblers!” Wes called out, “To your places!”
The Warblers came out from their various places among the tables and students and gathered in formation onto the stage. Andrew pushed Seth in front of them as they began their background harmony. Seth grinned, and started to sing.
“What's with these homies dissin' my girl? Why do they gotta front?
What did we ever do to these guys that made them so violent?”
The rest of the Warblers joined in, and Andrew remembered why he loved being a part of this team.
“Woo-hoo, but you know I'm yours. Woo-hoo, and I know you're mine. Woo-hoo, and that's for all of time.”
Come Monday, Dalton Academy was covered in paper hearts, candy wrappers, ribbons and balloons. Boys with girlfriends showed off the gifts they received from them, while those with boyfriends made gratuitous public displays of affection. When classes ended and most of the school emptied out, the senior commons was still full of Warblers.
They each wrote down their vote on a small slip of paper, bringing it up to the council’s table and putting it in a box. Andrew sat in a corner away from the group, not allowed to participate. He nervously looked over each one of his teammates as they submitted their vote. He caught Kurt’s eye briefly as he sat back down, but couldn’t read his expression.
“Is that everyone?” Wes asked.
He was met with silence, and he nodded, apparently taking that as a ‘yes.’ He stood up and started to take the papers out of the box, putting some on one side and some on the other side. When the box was empty, Wes stared down at the papers for a moment before sighing.
“Seven ins, five outs,” he said. “Andrew, you are allowed to stay with the Warblers.”
“YES!” Andrew shouted, leaping up and pumping his fists into the air.
The other Warblers either cheered with him or clapped politely. Wes banged his mallet.
“Ok, ok, meeting dismissed.”
The boys got up and gathered their things. Seth walked up to Andrew, smiled and patted him on the shoulder.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Andrew,” he said as they left the room.
Andrew grinned. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Seth.”
All but two of the Warbler’s left. Alone in the room sat Kurt and Blaine. Blaine stacked together his notebooks and put them in his bag while Kurt pet the teddy bear Blaine had given him as a gift.
“Do you like him?” Blaine asked, smiling.
“Yes,” said Kurt, caressing the bear with his fingers and gazing at it fondly. “He’s lovely.”
Blaine closed the bag, stood up and hoisted it over his shoulder. “I’m glad. You ready?”
Kurt swallowed. “Um, Blaine?”
“Yeah?”
“We, um, we have to talk.”
Blaine stopped and stared at him before slowly sitting back down. “What is it? Has Andrew been bothering you?”
Kurt shook his head. “No, no, it’s not like that.”
Blaine tilted his head. “Then what’s wrong?”
Kurt sighed and adjusted the bear’s arms. “I can’t stop thinking about how you either can’t remember that you asked Seth to dance, or you lied.”
“What?” said Blaine, blinking. “What, like at Dave’s party? Why does it matter?”
“I don’t know why it matters, but I can’t stop worrying about it.” Kurt said. “I mean, if you can’t remember, then the distinction obviously isn’t important to you, even though for some reason it’s very important to me. And if you’re lying then I don’t understand why, and if you’re not that means Seth is lying and what the hell does that mean, and…”
He sniffled, and Blaine put an arm around him.
“What I’m saying is, if I’m so worried about this one little detail then… then maybe I’m not really ready to be in a relationship with someone.”
He looked up at Blaine, who took a deep breath and sighed.
“Are you sure?” Blaine asked, biting his lip.
Kurt nodded. “I’m so sorry. I like you, Blaine, I really do, but…”
Blaine pulled his arm away from Kurt and put his hands his lap. “I understand.”
Kurt took Blaine’s hand and squeezed it. “We, we can still be friends, right?”
Blaine gave him a small smile. “Of course we can.”
He squeezed his hand, pressing his forehead against Kurt’s. They stayed like that for a long time.
THE END.
Thank you all for reading, I hope you enjoyed it. Any reviews or critiques are greatly appreciated.