The more time that Blaine spent in New York, the more he realised the number of lonely people was too much. Blaine had always thrived spending time on his own, not because he preferred it but more because it allowed him to think and be; to come to his own conclusions and be his own person. As he met up with Alice in between classes, which he found he shared quite a few with her, he realised she was lonely and didn't want to be, she just didn't know how to change the situation.

Blaine invited her along to his audition for the Warblers and although he was nervous, he was quietly confident that his voice was good enough. Winning nationals, getting into NYADA and Kurt's constant affirmation was growing on him and he was becoming more confident in his own skin. Seeing Alice, shyly sitting there and watching, made him stand taller, forgetting his nerves and explaining that he would be singing a song that meant a lot to him. David, Wes and Thad waited in the auditorium that they had booked for the occasion, clearly expecting a lot of people to sign up.

Innocent, they swim
I tell them 'no'
They just dive right in
But do they know?

It's a long way down
When you're alone
And there's no air or sound
Down below the surface

There's something in the water
I do not feel safe
It always feels like torture
To be this close

I wish that I was stronger
I'd separate the waves
Not just let the water
Take me away

There was a time I'd dip my feet
And it would roll off my skin
Now every time I get close to the edge
I'm scared of falling in

Cause I don't want to be stranded again
On my own
When the tide comes in
And pulls me below the surface

There's something in the water
I do not feel safe
It always feels like torture
to be this close

I wish that I was stronger
I'd separate the waves
Not just let the water take me away

The Warblers looked spellbound and there was a long pause, whilst Blaine panicked slightly that they had not enjoyed it, that it was too serious, but they started clapping and clapping loudly. Thad stood up, causing David and Wes to do the same and they said, just as enthusiastically as they were clapping, that they would get in touch with Blaine soon.

Alice watched on, close enough to see the shiny eyes of the few people watching the auditions. She looked a little surprised that such emotion could be induced so easily in the faces of strangers but she watched as Blaine bowed slightly in thanks and walked from the stage. Alice met him along the gangway.

"What did you think?" he asked, raising a perfectly triangular eyebrow.

"Perfect Blaine," she said simply, her own eyes twinkling, "Perfect, I wish I could sing like that."

"Are you sure you can't?" he asked simply.

"No, I mean yes, I can't sing like that," she said calmly as they walked out of the auditorium, "I know I could never induce that feeling in anyone."

"But you must have sung for your audition?" he asked, "They don't let people into NYADA just as actors."

"No but I acted first, I know that's why I was chosen."

"Well I'd like to hear you sing and see you act," Blaine said sweetly, "I know you must be better than you think."

"Well I'm auditioning for a student play; you're welcome to watch later."

"You're on," Blaine said, "Now we need to get you to join the Barden Bellas," and he swiftly turned them around so they were facing the poster that graced the wall of the auditorium that they had just left.

"The who?"

"Barden Bellas," he repeated, "They're the female version of the Warblers and their main competition apparently."

"I don't think they're my sort of group," she said looking at the pristine girls in their matching outfits in the poster, "They look like air stewardesses."

"Well I think you should hear them, apparently they need new members after one of them vomited on stage at their last competition." Alice pulled a sympathetic face as Blaine laughed.

"Ok I'll audition," she said following Blaine to the auditorium and they watched the other girls audition. There were scary girls, egotistical and confident; there were others that looked out of place, some that could barely sing but as the last girl finished, Alice timidly went up on stage and asked to sing.

"What is your name?" they asked politely, looking at their clipboards.

"Alice, I didn't sign up, I'm just here today."

"Well go ahead Alice," they said, "Show us what you've got."

She looked petrified up there but Blaine smiled warmly, giving her all the encouragement she needed and she began.

The storm is coming but I don't mind
People are dying, I close my blinds

All that I know is I'm breathing now

They were all a little astonished at the simplicity of the song, the piano quietly tinkling in the background. Blaine knew she had chosen the right song to suit her voice and although it wasn't a powerful voice, Blaine also knew it was beautiful and the song heartfelt and honest.

I want to change the world
Instead I sleep
I want to believe in more than you and me

But all that I know is I'm breathing
All I can do is keep breathing
All we can do is keep breathing now

All that I know is I'm breathing
All I can do is keep breathing.
All we can do is keep breathing

All we can do is keep breathing
All we can do is keep breathing
All we can do is keep breathing
All we can do is keep breathing
All we can do is keep breathing now

They were clearly impressed and the Warblers, who had stayed behind for the girls' auditions to see what their competition was like, also applauded Alice as the Barden Bellas explained they would be in touch. Blaine gave her a quick hug as they left the auditorium.

"That was beautiful," he said quickly lest she wouldn't believe it. She smiled.

"Thanks Blaine, I wouldn't have had the courage unless you had been there."

"I've got to meet Kurt now for lunch but can I still watch you perform later, in your audition?" Blaine asked.

"Of course, I'll text you the details, I'll let you go," she said and in her effort to get away and not waste anymore of Blaine's time, she started to walk briskly away out of the building.

"Hey, wait," Blaine said, almost shouting in his effort to catch her up, "Do you fancy coming with me? You can meet Kurt and have lunch with us."

Alice looked taken aback at the suggestion, like it hadn't even occurred to her that Blaine might actually want to spend more time with her. She smiled.

"Sure."

And so they found themselves walking to the coffee shop that Blaine had agreed to meet Kurt. Blaine introduced Kurt to Alice and they ordered salads and coffees, sitting down amidst the student rush. They talked of their classes, their hopes for the future, what they excelled in and what they found difficult. Although Kurt was surprised to have another person at their lunch date he didn't let it show and he quickly understood that Alice was important to Blaine. He made her feel welcome, let her open up and politely asked questions. He knew as well as the next person how lonely and isolating a place like New York could be but he didn't want her to think she was a new project. Kurt laughed and joked about Rachel's new diva like behaviour and Blaine recalled the story of the Midnight Madness they had fought over. Alice laughed and forgot her nerves and thanked Kurt as she prepared to get ready for her audition.

"Oh yeah, Alice is auditioning for a student play now," Blaine said to Kurt by way of explanation, "I said I'd go with her and watch."

"Could I come too?" Kurt asked, "I have a free slot now too."

Alice looked a little nervous that someone else would be joining them but she nodded happily and smiled.

She had to simply read a page or two of the script of this new play – a senior had written it and was directing it herself. It told the tale of a young man's death and Alice had to act out the scene where her character found out her boyfriend of a year had died in a terrible car accident. The play was well written for a student effort and Kurt and Blaine found themselves mesmerised as they watched Alice change and morph into this new character. She had only five minutes to prepare her material before she went on stage to read and to watch her come alive was truly fantastic. She was so understated and muted in her acceptance of her boyfriend's death in the scene that the director clearly looked a little shocked. She had obviously seen far too many people overact and exaggerate the emotion of the scene this afternoon and she was impressed. A guy was in the scene with her, telling her the news and although she was frozen in her acceptance of the death, as soon as the other character left the scene and the stage Alice allowed herself to cry quietly, her body broken and Kurt and Blaine watched believing she really had heard such terrible news. Kurt found his own eyes filling with tears. She was brilliant.

As soon as the scene ended, the director stood and applauded quietly, smiling to indicate it had been a good performance and just like earlier with the singing, Alice was told she would be informed soon of their decision. She walked calmly off stage, wiping at her face as if she was a little surprised to find tears there. Kurt and Blaine came quickly to her side as they left the room together.

"Alice that was perfect," Kurt breathed, his admiration clearly showing through, "I really believed you had heard the news yourself."

"You made him cry," Blaine said, smiling slightly at Kurt's beautiful face as he quickly dabbed away his own tears.

"It was really that good?" she asked.

"Of course," Blaine said emphatically, "You're bound to get the part. No wonder you got into NYADA."

"Thanks guys," she said quietly and they walked on to get dinner at a noodle bar not too far from their college building, chatting away and discussing the play in more detail. Blaine had only a moment to reflect how life could change so quickly, how dreams could be lived and discussions enjoyed before he added his own opinion. This year really was new and perfect and he was determined to enjoy every second.