Writer's Block (Open To All)

[Rylee McKade]

Rylee sighed in frustration as she ripped the page out of her notebook, balling it up in her hand as she threw the pencil down onto the table. She sat in the food court of the Westerville Mall, hoping going out would remedy her problem, but it hadn't done anything at all to help. She sipped at her Diet Coke and took a bite of her chicken sandwhich, staring at the blank pages of the notebook, as if the intensity of her gaze would cause the words and music notes to materialize on the page.

She had been trying to write a new song all sumer. Usually it was writing stories that was her forte, but she had written a few good songs in her time. Besides, she didn't want to go back to Crawford and the Larks her Senior Year and not have a sngle bit of original music to show for her summer.

The problem was, her usual fountain of inspiration had been nothing but a trickle. She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes, thumbing through the erlier pages of the journal. She kept all of her ideas for stories and poetry and music and songs in this journal and dated everything. She also carried it with her everywhere in case inspiration struck. That way, she could jot the idea down and transfer it to her laptop later. But she hadn't came up with a good idea, or any idea really, since school had ended.

It discouraged her. Especially since she wanted to have at least one new song written by the end of summer. More than anything though, she wanted to get out of this creative rut and do what she loved doing again.

Her eyes wandered around the mall, watching the people go about their lives, seemingly oblivious to the others around them. Secretly, she hoped that somewhere, somehow in this mall on this day, she would find a bit of inspiration.

[Blaine Anderson]

"Thanks again!" Blaine called as he exited the music store and walked into the mall. He had just been picking up some more guitar strings. He had the tendency to pop guitar strings off his guitar when he played it. It didn't happen all the time and yeah he supposed it happened to everyone, but still, it really could be annoying sometimes. He just had to buy more guitar strings. It was a good thing the Westerville mall had a music store that carried them.

He walked a little until his stomach growled, informing him that it was lunch time. Okay, food court it is. So, he walked to the food court and decided to grab a burger. Kurt would probably have had something to say to him about how unhealthy they were for you, but he wasn't here at the moment so he let himself indulge a little. He would get a fruit cup as a side instead of fries to even it out a little bit. He looked around for a table and found much to his dismay, that the food court was really busy. And he didn't really see any tables open... He was debating on sitting on a bench somewhere in the mall when he saw a girl sitting by herself at a table scribbling in some kind of notebook. She looked kind of familiar, but he couldn't really place her. Maybe she wouldn't mind sharing her table so he could eat real fast? "Excuse me," he said, walking over to the girl. "Do you mind if I sit with you so I can eat? Everywhere else is full. I promise I'm not a creepy stalker or someone that's going to offer you candy or something," he said, smiling, trying to make a joke. Hopefully the girl didn't take him seriously...

[Rylee McKade]

Rylee was snapped out of her daze at the sound of the voice and looked up.

"Do you mind if I sit with you so I can eat? Everywhere else is full. I promise I'm not a creepy stalker or someone that's going to offer you candy or something."

Rylee couldn't help but laugh, surprisingly happy at the relief she felt as she did so. She smiled at the boy. He looked like a nice enough boy, kind of familiar, and his bag had the music store logo on it, so he couldn't be all bad. "No I don't mind at all. She said.

As she watched the boy it began to bug her how familiar he looked. She tried not to stare, but she was determined to place this boy. "Sorry," she said, "It's just...you look familiar..." she said.

[Blaine Anderson]

"No I don't mind at all."

Blaine smiled and sat down at a chair at the girl's table. "Thanks," he said, setting his bag down beside him and his food down on the table. He took a bite of his burger, chewed and swallowed before the girl spoke again.

"Sorry, It's just...you look familiar..."

He smiled at little bit. "You know, I was thinking the same about you. But I go to an all boys school so that can't be it," he said, trying to figure out how the girl looked familiar. He took another bite of his burger and frowned as he tried to figure out where he knew her from.

[Rylee McKade]

"You know, I was thinking the same about you. But I go to an all boys school so that can't be it."

Rylee frowned, determined to place his face. "Yeah it's weird because my school is all girls. I have no idea where I'd see you..." It wasn't like Rylee had much of a dating life. Not since her freshman year. She had dated of course, but not much at all. Besides, it wasn't like going to an all girls school made it easy for her.

She went back to placing him, looking over him again and sipping the last of her coke. Then his words clicked. "All boys school? You mean Dalton?" she blurted as her mind put the pieces together "Are you a Warbler?"

[Blaine Anderson]

"Yeah it's weird because my school is all girls. I have no idea where I'd see you..."

Hm. An all girls school. Well that didn't help things. He wondered if she went to Crawford. That was the only all girls school that he knew of. He knew two girls that went there. Wes and David's girlfriends, Jo and Lucy, were both on the Larks, the schools female choir. Like Wes was for the Warblers, Jo was the President of the female choir. Blaine didn't have that many friends that were girls. There were Jo and Lucy and then he hung out with Rachel and Mercedes a bunch as well since they were his boyfriend's best friends. Not only were they Kurt's best friends, but they had also become his friends as well.

"All boys school? You mean Dalton? Are you a Warbler?"

Blaine blinked. Okay, so the Dalton thing wasn't hard to figure out. How many all boys schools were there around here anyways? But the Warblers thing did surprise him. "Yes to both actually. I'm the lead singer of the Warblers. How did you figure that I was a Warbler?" he asked curiously before taking another bite of his burger. Since she went to Crawford, maybe she had seen him in one of the shows the Warblers did? But then she would be sure he was a Warbler and wouldn't be asking him about it since he was the lead singer. Maybe he just looked different without his blazer on? He pondered over this as he ate more of his burger. Hopefully she would be able to answer his question and they would be able to figure out why each other was familiar.

[Rylee McKade]

Rylee could see the gears turning in his head as he tried to place her, and wass caught slightly off-guard by the surprise in his eyes/

"Yes to both actually. I'm the lead singer of the Warblers. How did you figure that I was a Warbler?"

Rylee nodded. Yes, that was it. She smiled and closed her notebook, unable to help feeling victorious. She pointed her pencil up and down him "You carry yourself as a lead singer." she said before putting the pencil behind her ear. She had seen far too many soloists and knew one when she saw one. "The way you walk, your posture, it's undeniable. That and I saw you and the Warblers perform once. Amazing, really."

She caught herself starting to babble. She always did that around guys, even though she had heard that the lead singer from the Warblers was gay. It never failed. "I'm Rylee McKade. I go to Crawford. I'm a Lark." she said, offering him a bright smile.

[Blaine Anderson]

"You carry yourself as a lead singer. The way you walk, your posture, it's undeniable. That and I saw you and the Warblers perform once. Amazing, really."

Blaine blushed a little, not expecting the compliment. Did he really carry himself as a lead singer? He had never really thought about it before. He walked the way he walked. He didn't really put much thought into it. He just kind of walked in the way that was natural to him. Of course, people had said that he was a born performer since he commanded a crowd's attention so easily when he sang lead. Maybe that had something to do with it. It was kind of funny,if the version of Blaine at his old school before Dalton were to see him now, he probably wouldn't have recognized him.

Back then he had been shy and nervous, had long hair, never sang in a public setting and got pushed around way too easily. And now, he was proud, confident, loved to sing and dance, had shorter hair, and most importantly was in love with a beautiful boy. He still didn't like to fight and could get pushed around a little, but now he was able to defend himself with words and he seemed to be a natural mediator. Dalton and the Warblers had given him confidence and had nourished his love of music. He was able to finally just be himself and not have to worry about getting thrown into lockers, getting his books knocked out of his hands or hearing offensive and hurtful comments aimed in his direction. "Really? I never really noticed that. And thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed the show," he said, flashing the girl a smile.

"I'm Rylee McKade. I go to Crawford. I'm a Lark."

Oh! So she did go to Crawford. Okay, he had had that part right at least. That must be why she looked familiar. The Warblers and Larks occasionally combined forces and sang together since they were brother and sister schools. They did a joint Christmas concert and the schools occasionally had dances so that the boys of Dalton and girls of Crawford could all get together and have fun. "Blaine Anderson," he said, extending his hand for her to shake. "Sorry for not recognizing you, I only know two of the Larks. And I really only know them because they're my best friends' girlfriends," he said, laughing a little. Maybe he should meet more of them. But they only met a few times a year and he wasn't really interested in any of them in that way because he was gay. That and the past several months he had kind of been focused on a certain boy with blue-grey eyes and perfectly styled hair...Okay, so it was no surprise as to why he didn't know more of the Crawford girls.

[Rylee McKade]

Rylee couldn't help but giggle a bit as she notice his blush. She hadn't meant to embarass him, but she supposed she had.

"Really? I never really noticed that. And thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed the show."

Rylee just nodded and smiled. "You're welcome." she said with a smile. The Warblers were exceptional performers and very nice guys. At least, that's what she thought when she went to the dances for Dalton and Crawford.

"Blaine Anderson. Sorry for not recognizing you, I only know two of the Larks. And I really only know them because they're my best friends' girlfriends."

"That's fine It's no big deal." she said, shaking his hand "Nice to meet you Blaine. What brings you out on this fine day?" she asked, trying to make conversation.

[Blaine Anderson]

Blaine smiled at the girl. He hoped he didn't come off as an ass or anything for not knowing who she was. He hated not remembering a face. At least he knew she was familiar. That had to count for something right? The fact that she didn't remember who he was either made him feel a little better. They were together in their not knowing.

"That's fine It's no big deal. Nice to meet you Blaine. What brings you out on this fine day?"

"It's a pleasure to meet you as well. You know, officially," he said, chuckling a bit as he took a bite of his fruit cup. It wasn't as tasty as fries, but he knew Kurt would be happy with him if he was there. "I just came to buy new strings for my guitar," he said, gesturing to his bag. "What are you up to? Writing the next great novel?" he asked, gesturing to her notebook and the crumpled up pages. He could tell she had been writing something, but couldn't tell what exactly she had been writing.

[Rylee McKade]

Rylee looked him over as he spoke. She didn't see why she ddn't see it sooner. Of course he was the lead Warbler. How many times had she been to their performances? She felt like an idiot.

"It's a pleasure to meet you as well. You know, officially."

She smiled "Yeah you too." she said with a smile.

"I just came to buy new strings for my guitar. "What are you up to? Writing the next great novel?"

She looked at her paper where she had made no prgress. She laughed a bit. "No...Just trying and failing to write a song."

[Blaine Anderson]

"No...Just trying and failing to write a song."

Blaine nodded and swallowed his food before answering. "Oh I see. Been there before. I've written a few songs Who knows if they're any good though. I've only played them for a couple of people," he said, taking another bite of fruit. He had made more use of his piano skills with the Warblers. Wes and David had heard him play when they first invited him to audition for the Warblers. Blaine had played the guitar for everyone for his audition, but considering the Warblers were an acapella choir, they really didn't need him to play the instrument.

He really should write more. His summer was already pretty packed though from working at Kings Island Amusement park, and practicing with the Warblers for the joint benefit concert with New Directions and the Summer Spectacular competition in California, and then spending as much time as he could with Kurt. There really wasn't a whole lot of time in there for quality song writing. Maybe he would be more focused if he were to write a song for Kurt or something..."So...you came to a mall for inspiration? You're not writing about clothes are you? Because if you are, you really should talk to my boyfriend. He knows everything there is to know about fashion," he said, smiling fondly, thinking of Kurt. He tended to think about him a lot. It probably wasn't healthy, but Blaine could care less.

[Rylee McKade]

"Oh I see. Been there before. I've written a few songs Who knows if they're any good though. I've only played them for a couple of people."

Rylee was lookking at her journal again, where all the beginnings of her ideas, good or not, were written. "I haven't written too many songs. Only two or three. It's not really my strong point but I don't want to my senior year in the Larks empty handed." she explained.

She had learned to play the Flute when she was young, and she was pretty good. She could play a little bit of Piano as well, but didn't practice because it wasn't her main instrument. But the Larks were like the Warblers, an acapella choir, so she rarely got to play her flute at all anymore. Mainly for freelance jobs, her family, for fun, or for lessons she gave sometimes. Still, she still considered the one song she HAD written for Flute her best one.

"So...you came to a mall for inspiration? You're not writing about clothes are you? Because if you are, you really should talk to my boyfriend. He knows everything there is to know about fashion."

Rylee couldn't help but laugh. "I guess you could say that...I couldn't think of anything at home. I thought getting out of the house would help." she said with a half-hearted smile "But it's not really working..." she said. She heard him mention a boyfriend. She frowned slightly. That's what she needed. Not a boyfriend spacifically, but motivation, drive, something to write about. "I just don't have any inspiration. At all."

[Blaine Anderson]

"I haven't written too many songs. Only two or three. It's not really my strong point but I don't want to my senior year in the Larks empty handed."

Blaine nodded at the girl. That made sense. "I understand that. I love performing for people and I love contributing to the Warblers. It's been an honor to get to sing the solos for them for this past year and lead them in competition. And now we have a summer competition coming up. I'm pretty confident that the Warblers are going to be pretty amazing." he said, smiling a little as he finished his burger.

"I guess you could say that...I couldn't think of anything at home. I thought getting out of the house would help. But it's not really working...I just don't have any inspiration. At all."

He took another bite of his fruit cup as he listened to the girl. "Well, people are inspired by all sorts of different things. Sports, art, fashion, music, nature, sometimes people even inspire you. I'm inspired by many things and they change a lot of the time. I know it may sound cheesy or whatever, but currently the main thing that inspires me is my boyfriend. He's pretty incredible," he said, grinning as he thought of Kurt with his blue eyes and dazzling smile that he seemed to only save for him. God, he loved that smile. "So, the question is, what inspires you?"

[Rylee McKade]

Rylee took a sip of her drink and put her pencil behind her ear as she listened to him.

"I understand that. I love performing for people and I love contributing to the Warblers. It's been an honor to get to sing the solos for them for this past year and lead them in competition. And now we have a summer competition coming up. I'm pretty confident that the Warblers are going to be pretty amazing."

Her eyebrows raised. A summer competition? She hadn't heard anything about that. But then again, she hadn't exactly heard from anyone this summer. Except for Amber and her boyfriend Connor one time she hadn't really talked to anyone. She had been pretty distant. "Of course you will." she said with a confident smile. "You're the Warblers. And you're going to win."

She looked directly at him as he spoke now. His tone and question taking her off-guard.

"Well, people are inspired by all sorts of different things. Sports, art, fashion, music, nature, sometimes people even inspire you. I'm inspired by many things and they change a lot of the time. I know it may sound cheesy or whatever, but currently the main thing that inspires me is my boyfriend. He's pretty incredible. So, the question is, what inspires you?"

Rylee saw that he cared for this boyfriend of his by the look in his eyes as he was mentioned. yes, he was indeed inspired. But what did she have? This made her think. Her mom immediately came to mind, but she hadn't been around for years...Her fellow Larks maybe? How they always believed in each other and pushed to be their best? Her dad, who had single-handedly provided for her and her two brothers since her mom had died? Her dog, who had lost two legs and was still up and going? Her two favorite artists, Owl City and Josh Groban whos music always made her feel relaxed and better no matter what? Yes, she supposed they inspired her but then why couldn't she write even one measley little note? Rylee paused, a frown on her face, realizing she had no muse. "I...I don't know..." she admitted quietly, "I don't have a boyfriend or anyone like that. My mom maybe but she died when I was little...Some other things too but I still can't write even when I think of them...I don't know...I'm an artist with no muse."