“Are you sure about this?”

Blaine glances up at Mr. Schuester, who is hesitating at assisting him in removing the sling.  His teacher is regarding him with one of those overly concerned expressions, like he’s ready to pull Blaine from the performance completely, and that’s not happening because it’s been far too long since Blaine’s performed in front of an audience.  Sure, there was the summer show at Six Flags, but that ended more than a month ago, and this song is perfect, and a healing shoulder certainly is not going to be the thing that keeps Blaine from going out there.

“I’m fine, Mr. Schue,” Blaine says, removing the sling without his help as Schuester stands there, still looking as if he’s going to say something.  “The sling comes off Monday, anyway.  I’ve been in it for a week already.  And I’m just taking it off for this because I’d look silly wearing it.” He looks up at his teacher, eyes beseeching.  “I’ll put it back on right after.  I promise.  Besides, the choreography Brittany came up with doesn’t require me to move it much at all.  It’s mostly footwork.  Lots of spins.  I’ve been doing more in rehearsals for the show this week.”

Mr. Schuester sighs, reaching up to assist Blaine at the last minute, and pulling the sling away, still watching him like he might break or something.  “All right.  I’m trusting you on this, Blaine.  But just remember, we need you for Sectionals.  I know you won’t be one hundred percent by then, but I’d rather you not participate today so we can count on you next month.”

“Rock salt in my eye couldn’t prevent me from participating in Sectionals, Mr. Schue.”

Blaine glances up with a smile to see Mr. Schuester giving him another one of those looks that clearly says his quip was not in the least bit funny, and now his teacher is all worried again.  Kurt has warned Blaine time and again that his sense of humor sometimes needed a little work.  This is apparently one of those times.

Luckily, Tina appears at his side, interrupting whatever Mr. Schuester might have said as she bounces slightly in the Titan’s jersey Blaine knew belonged to Mike. They’re all dressed with McKinley pride for the performance; Blaine, Aaron and Artie in their Letterman jackets, Brittany and Rose in their Cheerios uniforms, the rest in McKinley colors.  They’d debated for a long time on exactly what they should wear.  They’d even had Sugar present some design ideas for costumes.  In the end, though, Aaron suggested that maybe since it’s Homecoming, they should just stick to demonstrating some Titan’s pride; it would assist with emphasizing the fact that even though most of the athletes at the school had very little interest in the glee club, the opposite could be said for the members of New Directions.

“Ready?” Tina asks as Artie rolls over, and they hear Figgins making the announcement of their performance through the gym speaker system.

“Let’s do this!” Aaron slaps Blaine on the shoulder a little harder than necessary as he jogs past him and Mr. Schuester lets out of sigh of resignation as Blaine follows the others to the stage.

There’s a smattering of applause as the lights come up and the music kicks in.  Blaine can’t hide his grin as he begins moving to the beat with the others because there are only two things in the world that make him truly happy--performing and Kurt.  Artie takes center stage to begin singing:

“So we back in the club, with our bodies rockin' from side to side, si-side to side. Thank God the week is done, I feel like a zombie gone back to life, ba-back to life.”

Blaine glances over at Tina, dancing between Brittany and Rose, and she flashes him a big smile before he returns his attention to their audience, attempting to gauge their reactions.  He can see movement from some; after all, it is Usher, and the only reason to not be dancing is because you have something against it.  

Just as Artie is about to finish the first verse, Blaine twirls to center stage and takes up the chorus.  “Cause baby tonight, the DJ got us falling in love again!  Yeah, baby tonight, the DJ got us falling in love again.”  Artie and the others back up him as he continues, focusing on hip and foot movement across the stage, “So dance, dance, like it’s the last, last night of your life, life. Go on, get you right. Cause baby tonight, the DJ got us falling in love again!”

Blaine moves back in line with the others, and they continue their way through the song similarly--Artie taking the verses, Blaine through the chorus.  When he glances out to the bleachers, Blaine can see more students getting to their feet, dancing, singing along.  Tina nudges him at one part in the song, giving him a wink.  So far, so good.  No fire alarms.  The next time Blaine steps out for the chorus, there are a few catcalls and whistles from girls, causing Blaine to blush and grin all at the same time, and maybe he plays a little on that because performing is performing, no matter who it is you’re performing for.

When they reach the rap section, Aaron steps up to take over while the rest dance in sync behind him, and there are actual cheers now, from the football team, from the cheerleaders.  Aaron’s really well-liked for having just moved to Lima from California.  It works that he’s comfortable in the spotlight, that he’s talented, that he loves to sing as much as he loves playing football.  The only bad part is that like Blaine, Aaron’s a senior, and New Directions will be scrambling to replace him next year as well.

“Bada bing bada boom, Mr. Worldwide as I step in the room.  I'm a hustler baby, but that you knew, and tonight it's just me and you!”

As Blaine twirls up for the last chorus, Artie and Aaron join him on it, their voices harmonizing well together, and Blaine finds himself slightly disappointed that they chose not to save this song for Sectionals.  It would have been a spectacular performance in full costumes.

When they finish and take their bows, the gymnasium is thunderous with applause.  Blaine glances down the line at his fellow glee club members to see them all beaming with pride as they take their bows, even Harmony, who simply appears pleased to be performing.  She’d still been against the song, but at the eleventh hour had changed her mind about participating, in a last-minute decision that would have made Rachel plaid with envy at the drama of it.  

“Fantastic performance, you guys!” Mr. Schuester calls out as they head behind the curtain.  He immediately waves Blaine over to return the sling to his arm.  “They loved it!  And, we made it through without any unfortunate emergencies.  I call that a win, even if we don’t get any new members.”

“The point was new members, though,” Blaine says, glancing back toward the curtain as he hears Coach Beiste’s voice echoing across the gym, talking about tonight’s game, and crushing their opponents, and Blaine sighs in disappointment.  He hadn’t realized how much he enjoyed playing until now, when he can no longer do so.

“I’m not too worried.” Mr. Schuester gives Blaine’s good shoulder a light squeeze.  “This glee club’s come a long way, and I have no doubt we’ll be bringing home another Nationals trophy this year.  By the way, congratulations on the Homecoming nomination.  I bet Kurt wishes he were here to see it!”

Blaine rolls his eyes.  “He hasn’t stopped giving me crap about it since I told him.  He finds it ridiculously hilarious that I’m going to be stuck on a float today, surrounded by a Twilight theme--which I hate, by the way.”

Schuester laughs.  “Well, I think it’s great, Blaine.  I think McKinley has come a long way.”

Unwilling to argue with a faculty member when it comes to the merits of just ‘how far’ the school has come in relation to its treatment of out gay kids--population one--Blaine just forces a smile and slips away to join Tina and Sugar as they make their way out to the bleachers to sit down and watch the rest of the pep rally.    

From: Rachel (1/2)
Kurt just showed me your pep rally performance. Looking good, Blaine! Miss singing with you! ~ RB

From: Rachel (2/2)
OMG!!  IS THAT THE GERBER BABY!?  IS THE GERBER BABY IN ND?!!

From: Kurt <333
WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME HARMONY TRANSFERRED?!?!

To: Kurt <333 & Rachel
Oh, by the way, guys. Harmony transferred to McKinley and joined ND.... Miss you!!

Coach Beiste gave Blaine the option of not attending the games, but Blaine is still a member of the Titans, whether or not he can play, so he chooses rather to support his team as opposed to sitting at home, moping over the fact that he can’t play anymore.  Besides, it’s a perfect excuse to get away from the house without constantly calling Tina to do something with him.

With his sling still in place, she tells him not to bother putting on his uniform either, so Blaine is still in the grey suit jacket and slacks he’d worn earlier in the parade.  What a horror that had been.  There’d been plenty of jeers and laughter at the senior float, and Sugar couldn’t understand why the sophomore float had won when she thought she’d made such a sexy vampire.  Brittany had enjoyed the sparkles, and made the decision to wear plenty of sparkles on her skin for the dance tomorrow night.  

Blaine had never been so happy for a parade to end in his life, and he has spent his life loving parades.

“Hey there, bud!”

Blaine glances up at the familiar voice, flashing a smile as Burt Hummel, Finn following behind him, makes his way down the bleacher steps to where Blaine is leaning against the railing.  He steps up to accept the hug Burt always gives him, noting how careful the man is not to put too much pressure on his left shoulder.

“How are you, Mr. Hummel?”

Burt gives him the same eye roll he has for the last year, when he had finally given up on trying to convince Blaine to address him simply as Burt.  “Doin’ good.” He digs into his pocket, pulling out his wallet and handing some money over his shoulder to Finn.  “Why don’t you grab us some hot dogs?  Maybe an order of nachos, too.”

“All right!” Finn grabs the money, peering over Burt’s shoulder a moment.  “Hey, Blaine! S’up?”

“Hi, Finn,” Blaine greets just before Finn spins around and hurries back up the steps.  Raising an eyebrow at Burt, Blaine says, “Hot dogs and nachos, Mr. Hummel?”

“And you won’t be saying a thing to my son about it,” Burt replies, poking Blaine once in his good shoulder.  “I still own a shotgun, you know.”

Blaine just grins and shakes his head a little.  “I promised Kurt I’d keep an eye on your eating habits, Mr. Hummel, and I’m pretty certain the hot dogs and nachos served around here are not in the least bit healthy.”

“You eat ‘em.”

“Yes, and your son gives me crap about it every single time.” Blaine glances toward the field, watching the Titans warm up.  He turns his phone over in his pocket, considering whether or not he should text Kurt to alert him to his dad’s dinner choices for the evening, and then decides to give Burt this one night to have a little fun.

“Your old man here?” Burt asks, looking up through the stands.

Blaine follows his gaze.  “No.  He, uh, he had work things he had to take care of tonight.” Blaine doesn’t meet Burt’s gaze when it shifts back to him.  He’s grown used to the sympathy he usually finds reflected in Burt’s eyes, but he really doesn’t want to focus on that tonight.  

“How’s your shoulder?”

Blaine brings his gaze back to Burt before looking down at his sling.  “It’s definitely better.  I get to take the sling off on Monday, and then it’s just physical therapy appointments for forever.”

Burt laughs and reaches out to give his right shoulder a squeeze.  “It only feels like forever.  It’ll be over before you know it.  You comin’ over for the games on Sunday?  We missed you last weekend.  Carole made... soy nachos.”

Blaine tries, unsuccessfully, to stifle his giggles.  “Absolutely.  Kurt sent me a recipe for a veggie dip that actually sounds like it may have some flavor to it, so I might bring that with me.”  

It may seem odd to others, but even with Kurt off in New York, Burt, Finn and Carole have insisted on Blaine stopping by to visit.  He’s spent most of his Sundays watching football with them, and Burt has mentioned a few times that once the Titan’s season is over, Blaine should start attending family dinners with them again on Fridays.  Blaine can’t decide if this is something Kurt has put his family up to, or if they really do want to spend time with him on their own.  He hasn’t bothered asking.

“Well, I don’t know about the veggie dip,” Burt says, brow furrowing slightly at the very thought of healthy football food.  “But Carole’s gonna make lasagna for us.  She has to work.”

“Veggie lasagna?” Blaine can’t help but ask with a smile.

Burt just waggles a finger at him.

The first half of the game doesn’t go very well for the Titans.  Blaine sits on the bench, wincing each time one of his teammates is tackled or Aaron gets sacked.  Manuel wheels Artie in for a touchdown at one point, but that’s the only score they put up on the board.  The Indians score two touchdowns and a field goal by halftime.  Blaine shifts to glance over his shoulder at the stands where the Titan’s fans are sitting, mostly showing disinterest in the game by this point; phones are out, texts and tweets being sent.  Blaine catches Burt’s gaze and they shrug at one another; beside Burt, Finn has his earbuds in, watching something on his phone.

The announcement of the Homecoming court is just as exciting as Blaine expects it to be, which is to say, not at all.  He stands on the field between the other nominees for king; Aaron sweating and slightly out of breath in his uniform on Blaine’s left side, Jon, the hockey team’s star player and also hand’s down one of the biggest jerks at McKinley in Blaine’s opinion, and Adam on the end, the senior class clown, who even now is wearing a pair of Stewie Griffin boxers over his jeans and making lewd gestures at the crowd.  Blaine can’t help but wonder how he got lumped into this group.

Aaron wins, of course, and Blaine can’t help but feel momentary relief over that fact as Figgins moves on to announce the Homecoming Queen.  His words are lost though, as Jon mutters, “As if McKinley would have had a fag for a king anyway,” and Blaine chooses to ignore him, but Aaron reaches behind Blaine to shove Jon hard into Adam.  They both fall to the ground, and then Jon is on his feet, shouting at Aaron, charging at him, and Blaine tries to break up the fight with one arm before Beiste and half the football team get involved.

Blaine wishes the turn of events surprised him as he looks toward the stands to see Burt on his feet, looking out at him with concern.  He just shakes his head, turning his gaze back to the fray where Figgins is escorting Jon and Adam off the field, and Beiste is yelling in Aaron’s face even as he’s yelling back and waving his arms toward Blaine.  As all eyes shift toward him, Blaine sighs, and Beiste stops yelling and tells the team to get ready for second half.

“That was monumentally stupid of you,” Blaine murmurs to Aaron as he walks beside him toward the bench.

“You’re my boy.  I’m not going to let some dickhead get away with saying shit like that.”

Blaine draws in a breath and steps in front of Aaron, stopping him.  “A, I don’t need you looking after me.  If I’d felt that comment needed a response, I would have given it.  And B, all you did was create a scene and alert the entire team to the problem, when if you’d just let it go, it would have been said and done with and ignored.”

“Well, maybe that’s something that shouldn’t be ignored, Anderson,” Aaron replies, shoving past him.  He turns back around, and adds, “And maybe that’s the problem with you glee kids.  You rant and rave behind closed doors about being treated fairly, but never have the balls to stand up for yourselves.  You’re not going to sing and dance your way to equality, you know.  The world doesn’t fucking work like that.”

Blaine opens his mouth as Aaron stalks away from him, but realizes he has nothing to say in response.

“Well, that was a waste of two hours,” Tina mumbles, twirling her coffee cup between her hands.  “I’m pretty certain that was the worst dance in McKinley history.”

Blaine nudges her with his elbow.  “You look fantastic, though.”

His friend lifts her head, beams at him, a few tendrils loose from the bun fixed on top of her head escaping around her face.

“What about me?”

Blaine turns to Brittany, seated beside him, looking gorgeous in hot pink and black.  “I had the two most beautiful dates there,” he tells her, slipping his arm over her shoulders, and then behind Tina’s, hugging them both close.  “And, I got to escort the Homecoming Queen, so that’s awesome in and of itself.”

Brittany gives him a smile.  “I wish you could have been my Homecoming King, Blaine.”

“Hey!  Since when do I not count?” Aaron asks from the other side of the table where he’s squished between Rory and Rose on one side, and Sugar on the other.  Why the four of them insisted on trying to fit into the booth is beyond Blaine’s understanding.  “I think I make a pretty good Homecoming King.”

“I completely agree.” Blaine nods as he squeezes Brittany’s shoulders affectionately.  “Besides, the crown would have messed up my hair.”

“God knows we can’t have that happening,” Rose says with a roll of her eyes.

“I’m surprised Harmony didn’t attend.” Artie moves his chair up to the end of the table, setting his coffee down before holding out the cinnamon for Blaine, and a plate with two cookies on it for Sugar.  She squeals and leans over to press a quick kiss to his cheek.

Blaine murmurs his thanks, sprinkling some cinnamon over his coffee, and stirring it in as Rory says, “I tried asking her. Thought it would be the nice thing to do, since she’s the new girl and all.  I didn’t entirely understand her response, but I’m pretty certain it wasn’t complementary.”

“Have you heard her set list idea for Sectionals?” Artie asks, reaching out to snap off a piece of Sugar’s peanut butter cookie.  “She was pitching it to Schue yesterday.  All Broadway tunes.  All with her in lead.  Schue seemed to try to let her down easy, but you know that gleam he gets in his eyes when a talented performer starts crying crocodile tears.”

“I’m not denying that she has a gorgeous voice,” Tina says.  “But I’d just kind of found myself hoping that this year might be different?  I had so much fun at Sectionals last year.  I’d never really considered myself as the lead on anything, but I loved the chance to do it.”

“I think as long Harmony has a say, we’d all best get used to being backup singers,” Rose adds, before glancing across the table.  “Well, except for Blaine.  Harmony seems sweet on you.”

“Guys, don’t give up hope yet, okay?” Blaine holds his hands out in an attempt to calm the others.  “I really think Schue understands the value of the team, and yes, Harmony is a stunning singer but I think as long as we all continue to remind him that everyone here is just as good as she is, then we’ll all have our chance.  I think we just need to figure out how to deal with her, too.”

“What do you mean?” Aaron asks, stealing Sugar’s second cookie and ignoring her protest.

“I mean, maybe doing nothing but Broadway tunes for Sectionals isn’t such a bad idea?” Blaine suggests, gauging the reactions of the others as he looks around the table.  “There are plenty of group numbers we could incorporate.  We could include Harmony in a duet, so she at least feels she has the spotlight for some of the competition, and divide up the rest as equally as possible.”

“As much as I’m completely against a set list of show tunes,” Rose says with a sigh. “I have to admit, it’s a good idea.”

Blaine smiles as the others around the table all nod in agreement, his mind already filling with ideas for songs they could possibly do.  Of course, he’d ask Rachel and Kurt for their opinions as well, knowing they’d have invaluable input, and just as if Kurt knows he’s thinking about him, Come What May begins playing from Blaine’s phone.  He pulls his arm from Brittany’s shoulder, sliding his hand into his suit jacket pocket, smiling instantly when he sees Kurt’s picture on the screen before holding it up to his ear.

“Hey, babe.”

“So how was the dance?  Did you enjoy looking like a stud with a girl on each arm?”

Blaine giggles, about to respond when Tina leans over him to say into the phone, “Hey, Kurt.  Brittany and I have decided we’re not letting you have Blaine back--he’s far too good of a dancer, and he opens doors for us.  Like, everywhere.  So, you know, your loss.  By the way, I miss your face!”

Kurt’s laughing as Tina pulls away, and Blaine rolls his eyes at her.  “They do realize they don’t have the necessary equipment it takes to make you happy, right?”

“Well, Tina does,” Blaine says quietly, ignoring his friend as she begins poking him in the ribs, asking him “I do, what?”.  He taps Brittany on the shoulder, waving her out of the booth so he can slide out and attempt to get some privacy.  “I’ll be back, guys,” he whispers, ignoring their whistles and innuendos as he pushes his way through the Lima Bean door outside to the parking lot.

“Alone at last,” he tells Kurt, making his way over to his car to lean against the hood.  “I really missed you tonight.”

“I’m going to tell myself it’s because you missed my company and not just because you needed someone to snark with over tacky Macy’s juniors section Homecoming dresses.”

Blaine laughs, and kicks at the asphalt with his wingtips.  “Well, maybe some of both.”

“Band or DJ?”

“DJ.”

Kurt’s silent for a few seconds on the other end of the line before prompting, “And.... ?  Don’t even try to convince me you didn’t take over the mic at some point.”

“God, you know me so well,” Blaine says with another laugh, face flushing.  “Okay, so I might have sang one or two songs.  But, the guys all joined me on Party Rock Anthem, and Tina practically begged me to sing Ready to Go.  I only gave in because her and Rose started comparing me and Brendon Urie, and then they started talking about him and me--well, I didn’t want to hear the rest of the conversation.  It’s bad enough Rose has a fascination with my ass.”

“This Rose and I are going to have to have a talk, I think.” Kurt says, clucking his tongue for emphasis.

“She’s sweet.  Just... she has no filter.  Like, at all.”  Blaine lifts his head as he hears the door to the coffee shop open, a couple walking out, arms linked as they’re laughing together, making their way through the parking lot.  

“Otherwise, things were okay?”

Blaine knows what he’s asking, and smiles at the worry in Kurt’s voice that he is unsuccessfully attempting to hide.  “Yeah.  I felt a little smothered, actually.  Between Tina and Brittany clinging to me most of the couple of hours we spent there--other than Brittany disappearing to dance with random students.  And the rest of the glee club, hovering.” Blaine chews on the inside of his cheek for a moment.  “Kurt, you didn’t, uh, say anything--”

“I promised that I never would, Blaine,” Kurt points out before Blaine can finish.  “I know you don’t like people knowing about that night, and I’d never share anything about it without your knowledge.  You should know that.”

“I’m sorry,” Blaine says quickly.  “It’s just... they were so clingy and protective.”

“Probably just because I wasn’t there.  You’re not the best at masking your emotions, Blaine.  You probably had the whole cow-eye thing going.”

“I don’t have cow eyes!”

Kurt’s giggles, and Blaine realizes he’s being teased, and ducks his head, laughing softly.  “I’m sorry you didn’t win, though.  You would have made a fabulous king, if I do say so myself.”

“It’s for the best,” Blaine says, thinking about the comment from Jon at the game.

“Well, you’ll always be a king to me, honey.”

Blaine smiles.

“By marriage only, of course.  I’m the only one with royal blood in this relationship.”

“Oh, of course.”  Blaine’s smile grows as he listens to Kurt laugh.  “I wish you were here, Kurt.”

“In one week I will be, and then you won’t have to wish for it.”

“At least until you leave again.”

“Shhhh. We made a promise, remember?” Kurt scolds quietly.

Blaine knows Kurt is right, and he quickly pushes the knowledge that he only gets Kurt for a few days aside.  He should be happy that he gets to see Kurt at all; that Kurt still wants to do this and still be KurtandBlaine even though he’s in New York and going to college, and Blaine is still stuck in Lima, and he can’t help but wonder if Kurt even tells his new friends that his boyfriend is in high school.  He’s never asked, though.  He’s afraid to ask.

Instead, Blaine smiles, and thinks of the future, and how it won’t be too long before he’s in New York, too.  “The best is yet to come,” he says, immediately crinkling his nose in self-disgust because, wow, that was quite possibly the cheesiest thing he’s ever said.

In fact, the sound of Kurt rolling his eyes is so loud, Blaine imagines he can hear it through the phone just before Kurt erupts into laughter.  The laughter is better, and Blaine can’t wait to hear it again in person.