Chapter 3: Bad Reputation

Kurt made his way into the choir room. He took his seat in back next to Santana and Brittany. They were busy talking and didn't even notice Kurt.

His thoughts were on his little field trip to Dalton Academy. It was very informative. They now knew what they were up against for regionals. He wasn't thinking about the performances, though. He was thinking about afterward when Rachel and Mercedes were ushing him out of the school. For a brief moment, he thought he had seen Blaine. It has been so quick, Kurt had thought that his eyes were playing tricks on him. He couldn't think of a plausible reason for Blaine to have been there. He imagined things.

"Alright guys, I found out who we'll be facing come February," Mr. Schue said, capturing Kurt's attention.

"The Dalton Academy Warblers?" Rachel said, jumping up.

"Yes, how did you know," Mr. Schue asked slowly.

"Mr. Schue I am very resourceful, and there isn't really a rule against going to other schools sectionals performances," Rachel replied.

"Yeah, we just wanted to see our competition," Finn said, joining her.

"They're a stool choir, Mr. Schue," Kurt said.

"How do you know?" Blaine asked, looking at Kurt.

"What I mean is, they aren't dancers. They were pretty uniform and stayed still," Kurt said shrugging.

"Maybe they just didn't want to distract from the singing," Blaine replied.

"Yeah, they do have some killer voices, so we need to bring it," Mercedes said, looking around at the club.

"Ok anyways," Mr. Schue said getting the club back on track. "Ok guys, time for your assignment," Mr. Schue said after a while. The club turned their attention to Mr. Schuester. "We won sectionals as a group, but I don't want to lose our individuality," he said. The club members all nodded their heads in agreement with Mr. Schuester. "So this week, I want you to find a song that represents who you are and where you are in life. How you're feeling, or where you want to be in life," he said, looking around the room. Everyone nodded their heads.

"You want us to express who we are?" Mercedes asked.

"Yes," Mr. Schue said, "we'll start as soon as someone has a song, but right now let's run our Lady Gaga number," he said. Everyone nodded their heads and moved to the floor to rehearse.

-If I Had You-

Kurt was sitting at a lunch table with the rest of the glee club. He wasn't listening to the others. Even Puck was sitting with the glee club, and that was saying something. The closer they got to regionals the closer the club got. They were all excited about winning and going to New York. The only one missing was Blaine.

Kurt was thinking about the absent member of the club; Blaine. He was a mystery to him. One minute he did one thing and the next it was another. It was usually something that contradicted the first thing he did. It was confusing to Kurt. He hated that he couldn't figure Blaine out. There had to be something going on in the Hobbit's mind that he wasn't talking about. Then again, Blaine didn't talk about anything much. No one knew where he was from or anything about him. He was an enigma to the club, and they were all trying to figure him out.

"Porcelain."

Kurt looked up and saw Sue standing a few feet away from him. He knew she would only come so close to the glee club table. She pointed at Kurt and made a come hither motion before walking away. Kurt just rolled his eyes, stood up, grabbed his messenger bag, and followed her back to her office.

"If this is about the glee club gaining a member it's true, and for the last time I will not spy for you," Kurt said once he sat down across from her.

"I didn't ask," Sue said, putting a hand up to stop him.

"Then what is this about," Kurt asked.

"It has come to my attention that you don't like the new glee club member," Sue said.

"I may not like him, but we need numbers for regionals, whatever you want me to do the answer is no," Kurt said. He knew he could talk back a little to Sue, she wouldn't kick him off the team. She needed him to have that edge she liked.

"Are you sure?" Sue asked.

"Yes, I am sure," Kurt said.

"Well then ok Porcelain," Sue said, pointing to the door.

"That's it? you're giving up just like that," Kurt asked.

"You can go," Sue said. Kurt gave Sue a wary look before he left her office. He didn't feel like going back to lunch. Maybe he would head to the auditorium and pick a song for this week's assignment.

Kurt made his way to the auditorium. He stopped at the door when he heard someone playing the piano already. He walked into the auditorium, wondering who was in there. He was sure the entire club was still eating lunch. He hadn't left them that long ago.

"Out on my own again, face down in the porcelain, feeling so high but looking so low. Party favors on the floor. Group of girls banging on the door. So many new fair-weather friends ooh."

Kurt recognized that voice. He looked down to the stage and saw Blaine sitting at the piano playing. He was singing Lost, by Katy Perry. Kurt knew the song and had thought it fit how he used to feel sometimes, even still did once in a while. He had never thought that Blaine would identify with the song. Blaine looked raw and like he had his heart on his sleeve. This was a side of Blaine that Kurt hadn't seen.

Kurt stood there, mesmerized. He wasn't sure was going on right now. Blaine was bringing a whole new level to the song. He was emotional, and even though Kurt couldn't quite see Blaine's face since his back was to him, he was sure his facial expressions were fitting the song and the way he was singing. Maybe there was more to Blaine than Kurt had though.

"Have you ever been so lost, known the way and still so lost," Blaine sang. "Another night waiting for someone to take me home. Have you ever been so lost?"

Blaine's hand moved across the piano with ease. He was so at home right now, his voice was thick with emotion. He was finally letting his guard down and being himself.

"I'm pushing everyone away, 'Cause I can't feel this anymore, Can't feel this anymore," Blaine cried out into the auditorium.

Kurt took a step closer to the back seats of the auditorium as he watched Blaine. The song came to an end. Blaine sat there, deep in thought.

Kurt's bag slipped from his shoulder and fell to the ground before he realized it. It made a loud thud in the auditorium. He ducked down as Blaine stopped playing and turned around.

"Who's there?" Blaine called out.

Kurt bit his lip and remained silent. He didn't want Blaine to know he was there. He hoped to god that Blaine would leave through the side doors and not come and investigate. He heard the side door slip shut and slowly peeked over the back of the chair. Blaine was no longer sitting at the piano. He breathed a sigh of relief.

-If I Had You-

Blaine was walking down the hallway alone. He didn't mind being alone. He just wanted to get through this year without any drama. Having friends only brought drama, something he didn't want. Therefore he had no friends here. It was better this way. Fewer people to hurt him.

He thought about this week's assignment. He wasn't sure what song he was going to do. He hadn't really had something like this at his old school. Glee club hadn't been this open. He just had to sing what the others wanted. This was what he had transferred to McKinley for. He had wanted the freedom this school offered.

He thought back to the auditorium. Lost was a great fit for where he was in life, but the club would ask too many questions. Questions that he didn't want to answer He tried to forget his old life and move on with his new one. He needed a kick-ass song to show the club his new self. He had to show them that he was a force and he was going to be reckoned with. He had to do a song that made indicated that he didn't care about what they said about him, that he was here to stay. He didn't care about the reputation that he suddenly had.

A small smile played across Blaine's lips as he thought of the perfect song. There was one song that showed the club what he had. It also fit Mr. Schuester's assignment. It was excellent, and it was what he was going to use. He hoped whoever had seen or heard him sing lost wouldn't say anything to anyone.

"Hey, man."

Blaine turned and saw the blonde boy with an abnormally big mouth from the glee club walking up to him.

"Hey, uh," Blaine said slowly.

"It's Sam," the blonde said.

"Right," Blaine said as he continued walking. Sam fell into step beside him. He didn't seem to get that Blaine didn't want to talk right now.

"Look you're new, and it's hard coming to a new school trust me, I know," Sam said slowly.

"This place is just a bit different than I am used to," Blaine admitted.

"It might help the glee club open up to you if you told us where you were from," Sam said.

"It doesn't matter where I was, it only matters where I'm going," Blaine said, looking over at Sam. Sam nodded his head thoughtfully.

"Right, so uh, you got a song for Mr. Schue's assignment?" Sam asked.

"Yeah I've got one," Blaine said, "I'd love to stay and chat, but I've got class," he said. He took off walking as Sam said goodbye to him. Blaine just waved and made his way to his next class.

"Hey, glee loser."

Blaine looked up and saw a football player heading towards him with a cup in his hand. Before he could register what was going on, he flung the cup at him, and a slushy hit him in the face. He gasped shocked. The sticky substance slid down his face, burning his eyes and giving him slight brain freeze.

"Welcome to McKinley, loser," the football player said. He laughed with his buddies and walked away.

"I figured someone might have warned you about them," a familiar voice said.

A hand on his back and led him to a room which Blaine realized was the bathroom. He washed his face and looked up at Kurt.

"Welcome to McKinley," Kurt said simply as he stood back.

"What was that about?" Blaine asked.

"It's what the football players do to the lowly people in the school, and the lowest rung on the food chain is glee club," Kurt explained.

"Why?" Blaine asked, confused.

"It's always been that way," Kurt replied with a shrug, "that was Dave Karofsky by the way, he's the worst. I"d avoid him at all costs."

"How are they allowed to do that?" Blaine asked angrily.

"Figgins is a pushover, I don't think you ever get used to the burn," Kurt replied. With that, he turned and left, leaving Blaine standing there confused.

-If I Had You-

Finn was sitting with Rachel in the choir room. They had a free period, and Rachel wanted to go over songs for her to sing for the assignment. She wanted Finn's opinion on her song choice, but Finn's thoughts were elsewhere. He was thinking about Kurt. He was worried about him.

"Finn, are you listening to me," Rachel asked.

"You'll kill whatever song you choose babe," Finn said, smiling at her. Rachel smiled at that and set the sheet music in her hands down.

"So what's on your mind," Rachel asked.

"Kurt, I'm worried about him," Finn admitted.

"I know he hasn't been the same since he joined the Cheerios, but he is getting bullied less. It's his choice Finn, and it's not like he's completely changed. I know in a bind he'd choose glee over the Cheerios," Rachel said.

"I know that, but still," Finn sighed.

"I'm more worried about him chasing Blaine off," Rachel said. Finn quirked an eyebrow at her. "He's amazing, and we need him if we want to win regionals," she said.

"Ok, what have you done to my girlfriend, where is she?" Finn asked teasingly.

"I know when to admit defeat or when someone is good," Rachel said smacking Finn's arm lightly.

The door opened, and Puck, Sam, and Mike ran into the room and shut the door quickly. They all looked a bit panicked but were laughing. Rachel gave Finn a confused look.

"What's wrong guys?" Finn asked, looking at them confused.

"Dude someone set a stink bomb off in the guy's locker room, and Karofsky is on the rampage," Mike said.

"He thinks we did it," Puck said.

"Why hide if you're innocent?" Finn asked.

"You know how he and Azimio get," Sam shot back.

Finn nodded his head as the other door opened. The others all turned as Blaine ducked into the room and turned to look out the window. He didn't seem to notice the others.

"Hiding from someone?" Finn asked startling Blaine. Blaine turned around and saw others.

"Who me? No way, why would you think then," Blaine said, glancing out the window again.

"It was you," Puck said.

"What was me?" Blaine asked, feigning confusion.

"Don't play dumb," Puck said.

"I honestly have no idea what you're talking about," Blaine said, putting his hands up a smirk on his face. Puck just shook his head.

"Badass man," Puck said before he left the room. Mike and Sam grinned and followed him.

"If you get caught you could get in serious trouble," Rachel warned Blaine.

"What are you implying?" Blaine asked with a wink. He then looked out of the window and left.

"I can see why Kurt doesn't like him," Finn said.

"What?" Rachel asked

"He's cocky, and he challenges Kurt more than we do. I think Kurt might be right about him being gay," Finn said.

-If I Had You-

Kurt walked into the choir room with the rest of the glee club. He saw Blaine was sitting at the piano talking to Mr. Schue about something. Kurt wondered if he was going to sing Lost for the club. That song was the right choice. It showed Blaine's vulnerable side that's what being an artist was about. It was about letting yourself be vulnerable and showing you had a soft side.

Kurt was surprised when the band started with a fast guitar line with a solid drum beat that he knew. It was a song the whole club seemed to know. They all had their eyes on Blaine as they bobbed their heads along with the beat.

"I don't give a damn about my bad reputation," Blaine started. He belted out the word and moved around to the beat. He was so into the song, and it held true that Blaine didn't care what people thought about him. Kurt was definitely getting the message loud and clear.

Blaine started to strut around the room. Sam smiled at Blaine and jumped up and joined him. They both belted the song out and made. Once they finished, Sam looked at Blaine, who just nodded his head.

"Like I was telling Sam the other day, it doesn't matter where I was, it only matters where I'm going," Blaine said.

"And where are you going?" Kurt asked arching an eyebrow at Blaine. The whole club looked at Kurt before looking back at Blaine.

"To regionals and then on to nationals, with the New Directions," Blaine said smirking. The rest of the club smiled at that.

"See, there you go that's team spirit," Mr. Schuester said, smiling at the club. They then started rehearsal with some songs for regionals. Everyone was talking about Blaine's performance though when Mr. Schuester was busy.

-If I Had You-

Santana pulled Quinn aside before glee club rehearsal. She wanted to talk to her about Blaine. For the last two weeks, since Blaine had arrived, she and Quinn had flirted with him, but he brushed them off. It didn't say that he was gay or not, just that he didn't have time for them.

"Wanna find out it Lady Hummel's right about Blaine?" Santana asked Quinn.

"What did you have in mind," Quinn asked.

"A song that no straight man can resist," Santana said smirking.

"Get Britt and let's do it," Quinn said.

"And the unholy trinity strikes again," Santana said smirking. They both headed to the choir room where the rest of the club was.

Kurt was in the middle of performing a Katy Perry song, Hot n Cold. It was a far stretch from last year when he stuck to Broadway songs or musicals. Ever since he had joined the Cheerios, his taste in music had changed thanks to Santana, Brittany, and Quinn. Santana and Quinn took their seats while Kurt sang.

"Wow Kurt," Mr. Schuester said once Kurt finished.

"It's how I feel right now, you said to pick a song that describes how you feel," Kurt said simply.

"It was good, not what I expected from you, but still pretty good," Mr. Schuester said. Kurt

nodded his head and took his seat.

Santana didn't miss the look Kurt gave Blaine. She arched a brow at him as he sat down next to her. Kurt just shrugged at her.

-If I Had You-

The glee club was in the auditorium once more. They were all on stage while Will was sitting at his table. He was watching them perform a group number he had assigned them earlier in the week. They had chosen the song, We Are Family. They had split the song evenly among themselves, and everyone had a moment to shine. They had a great dance routine that everyone had down, well mostly. Some steps were off, but they had only had a week to prepare.

The assignment was individuality, but he wanted them to perform a group number where they showed they could be one. Throughout the week some of the club had shown their more vulnerable side, while some, like Puck, made a joke of it. Blaine had actually done the assignment. Kurt's choice of song had confused Will a little bit until he thought it over. Kurt did feel how the song described someone. He knew that someone was Blaine. Blaine was a mystery to the club still. He refused to talk about his past.

Once they finished the song, Will clapped and walked up to the stage as he told them how good they did. Everyone seemed satisfied with the end result. They were all standing in a group close together, except for Kurt and Blaine, who were on opposite sides of the group. Will wondered how to get the two to at least be civil with one another.

"That's great guys," Will said, standing up clapping. "Individually you guys are great. We have a group that is diverse and very talented, but together you are unstoppable. This is the teamwork we need to work on for regionals. If we can keep this energy we can win this year."