Tina was definitely not prepared for Blaine to sit on her lap. “Oomph! Really Blaine? Do you really have to sit on my lap?” Despite her questions, she wrapped an arm around his waist so that he wouldn’t fall then looked up at him as best as she could. “You’re ridiculous. I hope that you know that.” She couldn’t help loving him. She was also sure that Sam would kick himself for missing this moment. “Alright, last question first would be the easiest to answer. So there’s the obvious which is Mulan though I also love Belle. We have to go on the Matterhorn for sure. Also the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and Space Mountain. We probably should stay away from Splash Mountain if we don’t want to give us away to the others. I’m pretty darn excited. How about you?”
“Yes. I really have to sit on your lap. It’s comfy and I like it here,” he grinned while wiggling in to get even more comfortable than he was before she wrapped her arm around him to steady himself. A true friend preventing him from biting the tile on the floor. Aww. Tina was amazing. “Yes. I’m ridiculous and I don’t care.” The broad, dopey grin he gave her backed that up. There was no shame in enjoying his seating choice. None whatsoever. An arm wrapped lazily around her as he listened–laughing when she insinuated they should miss one of the best rides in the park as to not clue in the others who weren’t included in this excursion. “We are not skipping Splash Mountain. They’re just going to have to wonder,” their foreheads touched and he gave the edge of her nose a tap with his, “I can’t wait. We need this.” He needed this and–thankfully–he has some amazing friends who agreed to his crazy idea. Leaning back up–a small smile curved the corners of his lips. “Should we go find Sam? Maybe we can stop by Breadstix and finish up our plans? Grab some dinner? My treat!”
You’d think Blaine would’ve learned his lesson from the first game of Spin the Bottle ending up with him having his very first kiss with a girl who happened to be Rachel Berry. You’d think he would know to stay out of it this go round. Yet–apparently not. Here he was–laughing like a fool on the floor in his living room joining right in when Sam mentioned the idea. Wasn’t it some rule that there couldn’t be any observers in Spin the Bottle anyway? Sort of an all in kind of deal? When Tina’s spin landed square on him–the whole room went into peals of laughter than dead silence of anticipation to see if he’d go through with it.
All eyes were on them and he wasn’t ready to have to face weeks of trying to live this down if he backed out. Mirroring Tina’s neck rub–he gave her a lopsided grin and waved off the idea she did this on purpose. She didn’t–right? “Oh come on. It’s not that big of a deal and you’re making it way more devious than this was. I mean–it’s just a–. You know what?”Rolling up onto his knees–Blaine leaned over the board and shoved any nervous hesitation out of the way at the curl of his fingertips against Tina’s cheek to draw her in. “Ready..?” Letting go–he smiled that same, easy ear to ear smile he was known for as his breath ghosted over her mouth before he sealed their lips together in a gentle press.
This whole thing was getting out of hand and Tina lost it when Blaine said they’d bring Burt along with them. Once her laughter subsided, she grinned at her best friend. “Yeah, that’s probably a better idea. Burt’s pretty relaxed so he probably won’t have a problem with it.” She couldn’t help thinking back to when Kurt hadn’t come out to his father yet and Burt walked in on her, Kurt and Brittany practicing the Single Ladies dance and how Kurt said she was his girlfriend but they weren’t exclusive. Burt just went with it. The memory caused her to break out in giggles again. “How could I not notice? I thought this year would be easier for me to actually get to sing but it hasn’t mattered.” Tina sighed. She wasn’t sure that Mr. Schuester was a teacher that she actually liked. He played favorites just like Coach Sylvester but just not as obvious about it. “You think its bad since you’ve been with us but that’s only the tip of the iceberg.” It was great to look forward to graduation because she was done with McKinley, with the New Directions, with everything. At the mention of the pictures, she smiled. Tina didn’t want the negativity to ruin this for them. “Alright, let’s go find Sam and plan this out. Of course, he does. I’m not surprised.”
“We’ll find Sam in a second. First?” Seeing Tina’s sudden mood drop after her giggle fit brought Blaine springing into action because there was no way, no how this moment was going to be ruined by Mister Schuester’s lack of noticing how amazingly talented his best friend was. Or Tina doubting herself because some high school glee club teacher wasn’t giving her the credit she deserved. They were almost out of there. McKinley would be a thing of their past. But what would be? Was them for each other. So? He was bound and determined to make this trip to Disneyland the best day of their entire school year. Bar none. No if’s, and’s or but’s. Without a single thought–Tina’s lap was soon his seat. Blaine plopped himself into it–carefully–and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “First I want you to tell me how excited you are. What rides you want to go on and who your favorite Disney princess is. These are all important parts of our journey,” he nodded firmly, “and we’re not moving an inch til you do.” So said his refusal to move. Not even a little bit!
Tina laughed at Blaine’s expression because she was sure he thought that she wouldn’t say yes to his idea. Of course, she wasn’t sure that they would be able to pull it off but this is their senior year and they need to do something big to celebrate that. She could admit to herself, that she was glad that Rachel graduated last year because the woman would have killed them had they tried to pull this on her watch. “Are you sure they’re the best ones to go to about this? You know, one of them might spill to Marley then she’d probably tell Mr. Schue.” Plus, Carole was here and Tina didn’t want to upset the woman anymore than she already has been. “Going to the store wouldn’t take hours though, Blaine. Our excuse needs to be better than that. Though, I’m sure Mr. Schue would really care all that much.” Their teacher didn’t seem to care as much as he did last year and she knew it was down to certain people graduating. Pushing that thought away, she concentrated on their mission to get to Disneyland. “It sounds like fun, so let’s do it. Of course there will have to be the obligatory group photo with the mouse ears. What did Sam say about this plan?”
“Okay. Maybe they’re not the greatest to trust. Maybe I’ll just ask Burt. You know? He might go for it. Or maybe he’ll want to come along,” he bit his lip trying to think about what Kurt would say if he found out they dragged Burt Hummel onto as many rides as they could in the span of half a day at Disney. Was it worth the potential trouble he’d get in when the glue was still drying on the repairs their shattered ‘friendship’? Mental Note: Do not let Burt get on the ones that Kurt probably would say no to. “You noticed, too, huh?” Will Schuester was never on Blaine’s top five list of amazing teachers. The ones at Dalton set too high of a bar for someone who ran glee club emotionally first before putting his students above anything else. Then there were times he was the exact opposite and cared so much that his potential shined through and Blaine liked the guy. Just lately? With how checked out he was? Tina wasn’t the only one to chalk it up to certain people graduating. “Well.. Anyway. We can have all the mouse ear photos you want,” he grinned and slipped his arm around her waist then gave her a peck on the cheek. “Sam loves the idea. He helped it become more of a reality than just a pipe dream. Looks like the three of us are going to Disneyland.”
Tina really tried to not laugh at Blaine’s reaction, really she did but he was too ridiculous for her. Once she composed herself, she waited for him to pull himself together and tell he what the two troublemakers had up their sleeves. Seriously, how did she end up being best friends with the two of them? It feels like it was just yesterday when she and Sam were being polite and civil for Mercedes’ sake. “Disneyland? In that case, I’m game. How are we going to sneak away? Because this has to happen now.” If only Mike could see her now and what they were going to pull off. He’d try to talk her out of it. Tina pushed the thought of her ex-boyfriend away because she didn’t need him to rain on her parade even just in her head.
She said yes?! Blaine had a back up plan of his own set of huge, round eyes because he knew Tina wouldn’t be able to say no to if he resorted to those measures. She just couldn’t. And he knew it.
Not that he would ever take advantage of that. All lies. He so would and has.Whatever it takes! This is Disneyland! Exceptions had to be made. And advantages would be exploited if necessary! “Okay! Great! Hear me out,” he jutted up his pointer finger, “I already made a plan for that. It’s going to take some bribery and favors but I think we can pull it off if we talk Jake and or Ryder into covering for us. One or the other or both. Because I forget whether or not they like each other this week or not. But I think we can pull it off. They could say we had to go to the store. So we went together. And call us if anyone finds out? We could offer to return the favor? I’m seriously willing to do practically anything if it means the three of us get to don some mouse ears and run around acting like idiots for half a day! I’ll get us Fast Passes and we’ll make the best out of whatever time we can! See? Flawless!”
“What’s going on, B?” Tina was curious about what Blaine wanted so she put down her book and looked at her best friend. “Oh so this Sam’s big idea, is it? I don’t know it that should worry me or not. I think you are particularly vulnerable to that.” She smirked at him. “So LA huh? What did the two of you have in mind?” Tina was going to get the details before she agreed to anything because she knew the two of them.
“Sort of. I mean–I can resist the puppy dog eyes if,” Blaine was trying his best to downplay how he was absolutely, one hundred percent easily convinced any time the blonde in question put on his best pout and wide eyed stare. He could stand his ground whenever he wanted! Seriously! His mouth moved without words coming out and soon–Blaine himself–had his own poutful frown he had to blink out of at the realization that maybe he wasn’t so Sam Proof. “Anyway! As I was saying! What if we make a pact that we sneak away for a day trip together? We were thinking–and I know you’re going to love this–Disneyland?”
“Queen T? Before you ask me if I’m crazy and decline what I’m about to propose? Remember. This is Sam’s idea and I couldn’t say no if I tried. Okay–I tried once and then he did the eye thing and there’s no human defense to Sam’s deadly pout ability. Plus! How many times in our lifetimes will we be in Los Angeles together?”
“You know, that’s a good idea. Chance of scenery probably helps with motivation. I imagine road trips of any kind are better with friends than parents. You can actually enjoy yourself.” At least, that’s the point Tina got from the movies that she watched which featured road trips in them. She focused on the barista for a few moments so she could order her mocha latte. Reacting a few moments too late to Blaine paying for their drinks, she could only playfully roll her eyes at him .If they ran into each other again, she would certainly return the favor. “I think that I would like that and I could always use another friend. Just don’t ask for details on what the New Directions are planning and I’ll do the same regarding the Warblers.”
Tina couldn’t help grinning at Blaine. He seemed nice and sane which was something she could use more of. “Though, general music discussion on favorite songs, recommendations and the like are perfectly acceptable.” At his comment, she couldn’t help blushing but also thinking that Artie could use a few lessons. “Thanks Blaine, that means a lot. At McKinley……,” she paused to try to figure out the right words, “being different is frowned upon by the majority of the student body.” Tina didn’t answer his other questions right away. Leaning on the counter, she tried to figure out what to say that wouldn’t have Rachel coming after her, should she find out. “We have been meeting since the first day of school, coming up with ideas and the like while dealing with recruitment.” Nothing was set in stone yet and they were still finding their footing.
“You’re more than welcome to ignore my barrage of questions then,” he grinned coyly at the set of rules he just broke not a blink of an eye later. Honestly, it was completely by accident! He was only aiming for polite conversation. Any idea of going to the Warblers with the answers didn’t even cross his mind. They might slightly go for an edge now and then by sneaking into theaters or doing other lightly nefarious–thing Diet Nefarious!–things to get a leg up on the competition. Sure. Hey! If the events were being held at say..a different school–they knew their acoustics, layout and what went with it! Why couldn’t the Warblers, too? Stuff along those lines! And it wasn’t all the time! Not usually! On occasion it was some sort of weird bonding moment they shared. Don’t ask him–he was just usually along for curiosity’s sake! But what they did was nothing like outright stealing information and using it against the competition or two their advantage to the level one would call it boldfaced cheating!
“We can’t take music completely out of this new relationship, Tina. I’m willing to compromise and say our personal favorites are more than acceptable to be talked about. I mean it’s music. I’m not sure we can’t talk about it from one music lover to another at some point. Right?” Hazel eyes squinted and a small frown tugged his lips downwards. He understood first hand what being different could do to you damage wise. Whether it ends up the way it did for him. Or how it affects someone else. No one deserved to go through their own personal hell just because of who they were. “I’m sorry. That’s not right.. Does that happen a lot? Because you seem pretty great! If that means anything coming from a stranger. And that’s great that you guys are getting there.“
Tina couldn’t help looking over at the table of guys as well and grinned to herself because they looked like a fun bunch. Then again, anyone who wasn’t Puck or the hockey players would look like that to her. At the mention of the piano being his favorite, her smile widened because it was nice to meet someone else who appreciated the instrument. “I figured you had to go to a private school given,” she gestured at his outfit,” what you’re wearing. It stands out around here. You’re part of the Warblers, huh?” She remembered coming across the group on various show choir blogs and forums but hadn’t realized that they were located so close. Of course, the New Directions were too busy focusing on Vocal Adrenaline and Jesse St. James to give the Warblers much thought. “Yup, that’s us. You’re looking at one of the original members, thank you very much.” Oh, Rachel and the others were going to have her head if they found out she was chatting with a member of a rival choir. But Blaine seemed so nice, Tina couldn’t help it. “Indeed, we very well could be. I’m sure both sides will make a good fight out of it.” At least on the surface, the Warblers seemed like they were a group with actual integrity and good sportsmanship. “Thank you. It would be boring to be someone else. The last person who tried to get me to change learned the hard way that that’s not something I appreciate.”
Blaine looked at his blazer with it’s red piping and Dalton emblem like he was just noticing how wearing it would make him and his classmates stick out and was oblivious to it up til now. They were in Lima–after all. The land of McKinley High. How that wasn’t much of a thought to him before smacked him upside the head and he smirked embarrassedly. “I am. We’re a misfit band of brothers but I think we have something pretty special. All those guys behind me,” his thumb jutted back over his shoulder, “They’re Warblers too. A few of them live here in town. We met up for a weekend practice and to drive a couple back to Westerville. The trip’s much better with friends than being stuffed in the car with your parents. Don’t you think?” The couple before them finished their order and the barista waited expectantly. Blaine ordered his medium drip–the second for the day–and motioned for Tina to order what she wanted. “Oh! And one of those four people sized chocolate cookies too? Thank you,” he made sure the girl used his debit card before Tina could argue then gave her a triumphant grin. A few dollars were shoved into her jar for a trip. “Looks like I got lucky to meet at least one of you before competitions start. Maybe we can be friends before foes, huh?” Another cheeky smile and he lightly lead Tina towards the pick up counter with a touch to her elbow and a warm smile. “Never let anyone change you, Tina. From what I see so far? You’re an interesting person. Being unique is a huge part of that. Don’t you think? So? Have you guys started rehearsing? How’s it all going? Who are your key players so far? Any ideas yet?”
Tina appreciated what Blaine was trying to do. At the end of the day, she knew that he had a point but it was hard to see that at times. She kept looking out the window as she bit her lip. After everything that she has gone through, Tina can’t help wondering if there was something wrong with her. Her mind flew back to when she ended up going head first into the fountain. “Do you remember when I ended up in the fountain? I don’t think I ever told you how exactly I ended up in there.” As long as she kept looking out the window and not at Blaine, she could do this. “Mike had sent me a text, you know, after I stood up for myself before Nationals last year. This particular text…..it hit me right in my insecurities. It was something along of the lines that Rachel is one of a kind and that I was being unreasonable.” Letting out a sigh, she tried to not go back to where she was when she got that text. It still hurt to think about it, let alone talk about it which she’s never done. “If my own boyfriend basically told me that I’m nothing special, that wanting to matter is ridiculous then its hard to believe that from someone else.” It was true what they said; those closest to us caused the greatest hurt. At the mention of Dalton, she looked over at him. “Are you sure that would be a good idea? I remember the drama that went down when Rachel was dating Jesse.” Interteam dating never really seemed like a good idea when it came to the New Directions.
Okay. Saying Tina telling him why she ended up in the fountain didn’t settle well with Blaine in was the understatement of the century. His fingers tightened on the steering wheel until his knuckles were stark white and the muscles lining his jawline flinched then tightened with a clamp of his back teeth hitting them together. Everyone who knew the smallest details about Tina would know that wording things the way she said Mike had would not only hit home but it’d do it with enough impact to leave a scar. Proof positive in the way that months after–it stuck with her enough to bring it up now. Whether or not she was being unreasonable–which looking at things from her side..she wasn’t–you just don’t. Keeping his thoughts to himself was becoming increasingly difficult the more he thought about what she must have–and still–felt like hearing that. Try as he might–and it was a lot–to keep from showing how perturbed he was, Blaine forced a smile and took her hand letting the back of her knuckles rest on his knee. “The Vocal Adrenaline idea? No. That part was a joke. I’d never give any of jerks my permission to be within ten feet of you let alone date you. The Dalton guys though,” his head swayed from side to side as he bit the edge of his lip and hummed. “Who cares about what people think? All I’m saying is the idea might have merit. There’s some really good guys at Dalton. Not all of them are Warblers. If you want? We can stop by on the way home,” he grinned and shot her a conspiratory wink, “I could show you around? I won’t tell if you don’t?”
pianokeysandbowties 