Warbler Infections

Chapter 8 "practice makes partial perfect"

Wednesday August 26, 2010
Kurt's POV:

   You know what people say about prep school boys? That they're all snobs and love spending Daddy's money. They clearly weren't talking about Dalton Academy.

  Since I've been here all I've gotten is respect. I know it's supposed to be normal but it's odd not getting shoved into a locker or called a ladyboy. It's not that I don't miss McKinley, Rachel's numerous solos, Quinn and Finn's scandals, or Puck going to juvie every other week. Dalton is just like heaven and Blaine's my guardian angel.

   I can honestly say that he's become my best friend. I've spent so many late nights dying of hysterical laughter from his impressions and getting no sleep after watching musical marathons. He just gets me. And I really am trying to hide what I feel towards him. He deserves so much more than I could ever give him.

  "Ready?" His strong voice pulls me out of my sea of thoughts. "For what", I replied genuinely confused, "we don't have dinner for two more hours." Blaine effortlessly tore off his Dalton sweater in exchange for a white button up and Warblers blazer. Damn he had nice abs too.

"For your first Warblers practice silly, you forgot didn't you?" Shit. I've been so caught up with school and calling my friends that I didn't remember. "Psh of course I didn't forget, I was just testing you." Do you really think he bought that, dumbass?

  "Sure you were, c'mon Wes will throw a tantrum if we're late." I was not wanting to see the council member throwing his beloved gavel out the window so we sprinted down to the practice room. I still had some anxiety as I stood in front of the comically large oak doors, but there was less than at my audition.

"Here we go. Chaos in a choir room." Blaine sure wasn't kidding. Trent and Thad were in a corner tossing hands over a piece of sheet music while the others shouted "fight, fight, fight!" David was desperately trying to pull them apart, Wes just set down his gavel and banged his head repeatedly on the table. Calling the room chaotic was like calling World War II a minor disagreement.

  But with a simple, "ehem" from Blaine every person was dead silent. He was like their drill sargent. "Guys you remember Kurt and his phenomenal audition on Monday? This is his first official practice so go easy on him." Go easy? What's that supposed to mean? That they'll wait till next week to make me lose my mind?

  "Uh hey everyone, I'm happy to finally be one of you and yeah, go easy on me please." They all had devious grins spreading across their faces. "We can't make any promises!" Jeff shouted and the others nodded in agreement.

Wes shook his head disapprovingly and came up to Blaine and I. "Don't worry about their antics Kurt. There's a calm in the eye if the storm and that's me. If any of them won't shut up know that I'm not afraid to take away their speaking privileges." He seemed disturbingly serious about that last part.

  "Ok guys, now that I can actually hear myself again", Karl and Grant winked to each other, "we can get back to the purpose of this meeting. Sectionals. Our choreography, set list, soloists, and theme. We'll be holding open auditions for a solo, Blaine will carry a number, then we all join in on a group performance. Choreography won't be too different, it's our singing that really counts." Wes ended proudly.

  I don't remember a single competition where Mr. Schue actually told us a plan. Usually he haphazardly threw together a mediocre dance routine while Finn and Rachel had all the solos and Mercedes wailed the last notes. But we're they going to be switching things up? Rachel called me last week to rant about how she lost a duet with Finn to Quinn and Sam. She also mentioned an after school dance practice, which we never had before. They were planning something, I just know it.

"If you have any suggestions feel free to tell David, Thad, or I If you wish." Wes' comment brought me back from my pondering. "Just cause the council makes most of the decisions doesn't mean that we don't want your input. Now, Jeff and Austin wanted to show us some choreo for the group number so get off your asses and let's get moving guys!"

  Practice flew by in no time, the routine was simple enough for me to grasp and those who wanted it signed up for solos. I did put my name on the list but as much as I'd love to have a competition solo, there were others who've been here longer. One can dream.

   "So how was your first Warblers practice? Was it all you imagined?" Blaine questioned while at dinner. "Yeah! The guys were all super understanding and unlike the New Directions, you have your stuff together."

He set down his fork and finished his bite of pasta. "What do you mean? You guys were always so smooth on stage." I literally spit out my spaghetti from my laughter fit.

  "Wait you thought we were put together? Wow, I guess we all deserve an Oscar then." Blaine had a puzzled expression. "So you didn't practice your routines or have pre-show bonding sessions?" Boy did he have a lot to learn.

"Nah, Mr. Schue usually gave us our set list two days before the competition. And there was always some drama backstage. A pregnancy, adultery, illness, love confessions you name it.

   "Do you miss it?"  That took me aback. What kind of question was that? "Yeah I mean their my friends and some are my family so I can't not miss them." Wasn't that obvious? "No I meant like, the scandals and rumors. We don't have that here", he corrected me. Did I miss all that?

  "Kinda. It made us better. We might be at each other's throats in the green room but the second we hit that stage we were reunited through the music. All the pain we felt would be belted in a ballad. The angst would translate perfectly into a classic rock duet. The judges would think that we're pretending but all those emotions were real and raw. That's what made us special. So maybe the fighting wasn't great but I do miss our camaraderie."

Blaine had a blank stare the whole time. "I guess I never thought about it that way. Not a single step can be out of place for us. Yeah us Warblers have charm but it's our biggest strength and weakness. We put on masks so we look flawless. But maybe what made you so good was your sincerity. Maybe we just need to shake things up for sectionals. Give 'em a performance they'll never forget." Blaine ran off to god knows where. I personally think Finn's dancing is what made us special.

Hey guys! I know this chapter isn't really plot driven but it will get us ready for the next chapters to come. Oh and btw any random names are just guys who I've like/liked, not cannon characters. Thank you so much for over 130 reads at the moment! It might not seem like a lot but when I see that you voted, commented, or added my story to your reading lists it makes my whole day. So please keep interacting because it means so much to me. I'm trying to write multiple chapters on the weekend and put them out in Sunday's and Wednesday's but online school takes a lot of my energy. But this story is important to me so I'll be sure to update often. Have a good morning, afternoon, or night and I'll see you soon. Remember that you are beautiful!

Your fellow gleek,
- Lindsay💕