Blaine pushed through the dressing room door and saw Kurt at a little vanity, swiping gloss on his red lips. One corner of his mouth curved and he walked over to Kurt, who spotted him in his mirror and gasped with pleasure. "You look beautiful," Blaine muttered, kissing Kurts cheek.

Kurt cooed and blushed, "And youre very handsome." Pinching his cheeks to make them rosy, he got to his feet and pressed himself to Blaines chest. Tugging Blaines bowtie to tighten it, he rubbed Blaines chest, "Thank you for last night. It was excellent."

Smirking, Blaine wrapped his arm around Kurts waist and led him into the hallway, where the ten minute lights were flashing. "Im happy to pleasure you." He stopped Kurt outside the door, seeing the rest of the glee club at the other end of the hallway. "I want to give you something. You can wear it in your hair." When Kurt nipped his bottom lip and grinned, he reached in his jacket for a little rose.

"Oh, Blaine!" Kurt squeaked, happily taking the pretty flower. He sniffed it and closed his eyes at the sweet fragrance. "Its so pretty! Thank you so much." Kissing Blaines cheek, he let him take the flower back.

Blaine gently slipped the flower into Kurts dark blond hair, the petals brushing his pale forehead. Giggling, Kurt pinched one of the petals that were tickling him. "Youre the best boyfriend ever." He whispered and wrapped his arms around Blaines neck, pecking Blaines stubbly jaw.

Blaine was startled by the label Kurt had for him, but when he tugged from Blaines arms when the lights blinked again and pulled him by his hand, he realized he was happy. He followed Kurt and the rest of the glee club to a dark area that looked like it might have been backstage.

Kurt hopped up to the curtain with Blaine on his heels, poking his nose out at the small audience in the rows of seats. Blaine looked with him, and his hand tightened on the back of Kurts dress. Peeking over his shoulder, Kurt saw how pale Blaine looked, his lips parted and eyes wide, so he rubbed his chest. "Blaine, youll be perfect." He whispered and kissed the corner of Blaines mouth.

Blaine flicked his eyes to Kurt, and he slid his hand down to his waist. Following Kurt onto the stage when he pulled him, Blaine glanced at the audience and heard them clap, but he couldnt see their faces through the darkness. Swallowing thickly, he stayed on Kurts heels and closed his eyes when the music belted out of the speakers.

Lacing his fingers through Blaines, Kurt prettily smiled at the audience and sang the first word of Candles, humming into the second. Kurt danced across the stage with Blaine on his heels like a loyal puppy, his voice so beautiful that it almost distracted Blaine from missing his cue. He opened his mouth and made a noise, pausing when Kurt twirled in a circle around his body.

Wrapping his fingers around Kurts twitching hips, Blaine took Kurts knee in his hand when he lifted it to his chest. Kurt wrapped his leg around Blaines hips, pointing his toes at the ceiling. Giggling, Kurt hummed the soft tune and let Blaine dip him, squealing when his hair almost brushed the floor.

Chirping the last two stanzas, Kurt spun into Blaines arms where he curtsied, then bounced off the stage. Abandoned, Blaine froze as he realized he just performed that entire song with Kurt and sounded very good. Blaines eyes widened to the size of saucers as the audiences faces lit up and they stood and clapped, some whistling.

The second the applause faded to silence and the lights dimmed once more, Blaine held out his hand for Kurt, who shimmied out from behind the curtains. Kurt put his hand in Blaines and smiled at him, humming the first stanza of Defying Gravity. He matched Kurts tempo as best he could, whirling behind Kurt and taking him by the hips. Kurt swayed side to side, bending at the knees while Blaine lifted him into the air. He hooked his legs around Blaines thighs. Kurt shrieked the final notes and Blaine tried to follow his lead, but his voice came out much quieter.

Breath taken, Blaine caught Kurt in his arms and watched him smile at the audience, then his blue eyes lifted to Blaines. "You were wonderful!" He squeaked, giggling when the audience erupted.

Blaine held onto him and looked at how happy he was on stage, his cheeks and eyes glowing, and part of him-just something selfish-was bothered that Kurt was going to leave him for this. His happiness wouldnt be Blaine.

Blaine walked backstage with Kurt at his arm, bouncing beside of him and humming a soft tune. The glee club was celebrating how good they did, slapping each other on their backs and noisily laughing. Kurt seemed interested in what they were doing, but he stayed by Blaine, which Blaine was relieved for. Sitting down on one of the chairs away from everyone else, he pulled Kurt onto his lap and stroked his hair. Kurt, wiggling, tucked his head under Blaines chin, "Im so happy I was on stage again. It was even better that you were there with me!"

Swallowing thickly, Blaine stared at the glee club, most of them gathered around Finn and Rachel. They were all screaming and shouting, clapping each other on their backs and chests. He looked back down at Kurt, who was gazing up at him. "What if my voice wasnt strong enough?" He muttered lowly, "What if we lose?"

Kurt whispered, "Blaine, Im just happy you were on stage with me. I would even be okay with a loss... not that we will lose. You were too amazing for that. The performing is what I love." After he kissed Blaines cheek to soothe him, he turned around to face Finn, who was hesitantly approaching them.

Finn held up a cooler, his eyes not moving from Kurt, "Hey, guys. Good job out there. Are you thirsty? We have water... and juice... and I think a few pops are left-" Looking down at the cooler, Finn moved aside a few of the water bottles to find the pops.

"Mm..." Kurt took a juice box from the top and sipped on the straw, "yummy."

Keeping his hands on Kurt, Blaine pretended like he didnt even notice Finn. He had spoken to two people, but Blaine still felt like he wasnt one of them. Finn obviously got uncomfortable because he rubbed his nape and muttered, "You can have one, too, Blaine. Do you want a coke? Its your favorite pop."

Blaine held his hand out when Finn offered him a coke, and he swigged it to show Finn his appreciation. Before he could finish the syrupy drink, Schuester waved them onto the stage again. Blowing out heavily, Blaine put his drink aside and watched Kurt pop up. He chattered on and on to Finn about how much fun he had, and Finn grinned at him and rubbed his arm.

"You did great, Kurt. I like your voice." Finn turned back to Blaine and stared at his emotionless face, clearing his throat several times. "Thanks for not screwing us up. What you did was really cool."

Blaine rolled his eyes. He was tired of people labeling him as the bad guy, when he had no intentions of upsetting Kurt, but he knew he deserved it. Getting to his feet, he shoved past Finn and wrapped his arm around Kurt. He ignored everyone else as he walked back onstage, Kurt clinging to his arm and hopping beside of him.

Lining up in the middle of the room with the rest of the glee club, Blaine kept his hand on Kurts waist, feeling him shiver with nervousness. Kurt held onto Blaine tightly, his eyes wide and his mouth slightly parted.

One of the judges stood up and held up his hand for silence, and he looked at a card in his palm. "Thanks to everyone for performing. We had some great performances this year. Third place goes to Jane Addams Academy. And second place is Vocal Adrenaline... which means New Directions takes first place."

Kurt squeaked and bounced, tossing himself at Blaine and wrapping his arms around him. "Blaine, we won! Im so happy! You were amazing!" Lifting his head, Kurt touched his mouth to Blaines, which startled Blaine. But, in the chaos, no one seemed to notice.

Blaine felt someone clap him on the back, so he hissed and whipped around, but then he saw Finn grinning at him. "Were first place, dude. Smile a little." Finn walked away from him when Puck yanked him by his wrist, leaving Blaine with Kurt. Kurt was still purring in his arms, happily celebrating being on stage again.

Staring out at the clapping audience, Blaine realized this was really what Kurt wanted. It wasnt him, which hurt him.