Gossip Glee Girl

Episode 15, Chapter 1

Chapter 15

There are three things we do alone: We are born, we die, and, if we're a high school junior headed for college, we take the SAT. And while the test is said to measure our best traits, preparing for it inevitably brings out the worst...Humility becomes self-doubt...Striving becomes obsession...Some are driven to self-medication...While others cling to the security of being part of a group...And anyone who's used to bending the rules will find themselves breaking them.

"Well look who's here? I haven't seen you in a week; let alone heard from you. How's it going Blaine?" Tina said coming up to him in her café uniform.

He didn't see her when he first walked in—he'd been too absorbed to even look around. Blaine couldn't say anything as he drank a gulp of his coffee, so instead he pointed eagerly to the cover of the book he'd been reading.

"Studying for the SAT? Me too! I've been in tutoring prep classes since I started high school, so hopefully I'll do okay. It depends a lot on where you want to go. I think I have a fair shot at Brown. You know that's always been my dream school!" she smiled.

"You'll definitely get it too, Tina. They'd be out of their minds not to accept you," he said putting his hand over hers.

"Thanks, Blainey-days! Wow, it's been a while since I said that. You mind me interrupting you right now?"

"No, not at all, I could use the distraction," he said organizing his books so she had a place to sit. "Don't you have work?"

"No, I'm on break; it's been an oddly quiet morning," she looked around, "Anyway... so before I forget to ask, how's Kurt?"

"He's good..." he said and began nodding a lot; his eyes looked far off.

"Are you sure?" she said more urgently.

"I mean I haven't talked to him in a while. I've kind of been an island all to myself since Monday. What day is it?"

"It's Friday... speaking of which shouldn't you be going to school?"

"What time is it?" he checked his watch. "Oh gosh, yes I should be!" he got up frantically getting his things together. Tina had time so she helped him and then decided to walk him out.

"So, how's the studying going? You don't look so good," she asked him nicely.

"Really? I don't know what you mean. I feel fine! Confident! Like I'm going to show that test who's the boss—" he stopped when he caught the disbelieving face Tina gave him. "I don't know if I can do it!" his brows scrunched together as he admitted his fears.

"Of course, you can, Blaine; you're one of the smartest people I know."

"I don't know...like I felt fine at first, and then I cracked open a new SAT book on Monday, and knowing I have less than a week before the test, all of a sudden I just fell apart. I go stir-crazy in my room studying so I drink more coffee. Tina, I haven't slept in days! I can't pay attention in class. I'm looking at the board and thinking through these logic problems," he said lifting the book in his hand.

"That explains why your hair looks a little off," Tina commented, noticing he used less hair gel, and it was showing. He was sweating it out, and the back of his head was curling fast.

"OH NO!" he panicked, feeling the back of it.

"Blaine, you need to listen to me. You've never been nervous in your entire life. You're the voice of reason, and you fix everyone else's problems. Now, you just need to work on your own. You can do this, and you will. It is just a test that will come and go and make you wonder why on earth you wasted your time giving yourself a heart attack over it," she said with any easy breath. "So, breathe, go to class, listen to your teachers and know that everything will be okay! Call me later. We're going to hang out. You are not cramming the night before a test. You will rest if I have anything to say about it," she said.