The following Monday found Blaine in the cafeteria following Kurt to a table. Kurt had texted him that morning and asked if he wanted to eat with him and some of his friends from New Directions. Blaine agreed immediately, but he was nervous. Blaine had always been a nerd and had never had any friends. He just preferred to be alone most of the time. He was invisible to everybody—most people didn’t even know he existed, even the ones with whom he had shared many classes over the years. A part of him had always been grateful for this; he was able to fly under even the jocks’ radar and go through his days unscathed. But now he was worried Kurt’s friends would find him too weird or too nerdy and would reject him. Or, even worse, they would encourage Kurt to stop hanging out with him. They were pretty much the bottom of the McKinley High food chain, and if even they didn’t want to be his friends… Blaine didn’t even want to think about it.

So that’s how he found himself approaching a table with three other kids whom he’d never met before. He’d seen them around, usually with other members of the glee club, but he’d never spoken to any of them. They looked friendly enough as they laughed at each other and smiled at Kurt as they approached. When they saw Blaine following they looked confused, but only for a moment. A wide grin spread across one girls face and she didn’t even wait for Kurt to introduce them.

“Hi. I’m Mercedes,” she said as she stuck out her hand.

“Hi, um, Blaine.” Blaine shook her hand and sat down next to Kurt. He hoped his smile didn’t reveal how nervous he felt.

“I’m Mike, and this is my girlfriend, Tina,” the Asian boy—Mike—said. Blaine smiled at them and nodded, and they smiled back.

“So, Blaine, what brings you to our table?” Mike asked. He didn’t seem angry, as Blaine would have expected, he only sounded curious.

“Well, I’ve been tutoring Kurt in chemistry. He invited me.”

“Oh, cool! Kurt told us he was struggling with that class. I’m glad he found you,” Mike replied, and the three new faces beamed at him. Blaine immediately relaxed. They were really friendly, and they liked him for helping Kurt. Maybe this wasn’t going to be so bad.

“He told me last week that he had never seen a musical, so he came over on Friday and we watched Rent. Can you believe that? Never. Seen. A musical.” Mercedes looked at him with horror before she leaned across towards Kurt, and the two started conspiring about what to show him next. Tina rolled her eyes and looked at Blaine.

“So tell us about yourself, Blaine. What do you like to do? Mike and I are in glee club, obviously, and we study a lot. Mike loves to dance. He’s amazing, you should see it,” she looked proudly at Mike before turning back to Blaine.

“Yeah, that sounds cool,” Blaine smiled. “Well, I also study a lot. I like to watch Lord of the Rings and play World of…play videogames.” Blaine blushed at his accidental revelation. Most people frowned upon World of Warcraft and it was not something he wanted to reveal to these new friends.

“Oh. What else?” Mike and Tina seemed totally unfazed.

“Um, well, sometimes I help my mom bake. I don’t really have hobbies, I guess. I usually keep to myself.” Again Mike and Tina seemed unfazed, as though they liked him no matter what he did after school.

“Have you ever seen the glee club perform?” Mike asked. Mercedes and Kurt stopped talking between them and turned towards Blaine, the questions repeated on their faces.

“Um, no. No, I haven’t. Sorry.” Blaine shifted uncomfortably. He felt bad. He had never seen them perform and now he’d insulted them. They obviously loved glee club and he didn’t know anything about it.

“Yeah, most people in this school haven’t, besides our few misguided attempts at assembly performances,” the group flinched simultaneously at some memory Blaine didn’t know of. “But we’re rehearsing in the auditorium this afternoon. We have sectionals in two weeks so we’re rehearsing a little more.”

“Which reminds me,” Kurt interrupted, “I can’t meet you after school to work on chemistry. Is tomorrow okay?” Blaine looked at him and agreed, but he was disappointed. He was really looking forward to the shameless flirting in the library.

“You should come watch us rehearse,” Mike said, continuing his earlier thought. “We have a really great setlist for the competition. We don’t get the auditorium again until next week, so tonight’s rehearsal should be really cool.”

Blaine’s mind wandered back to the stunning voice he had heard on Friday night. He knew Kurt didn’t have any solos, but he would give anything to see him perform.

“That sounds awesome. Is that okay?” Blaine asked Kurt, who nodded before blushing and ducking his head. Blaine wondered if he was thinking about Friday night as well.

“Cool, come to the auditorium at four. Just sit out in the seats, and don’t be alarmed if Mr. Shuester comes out too.”

Blaine picked a seat in the front section of the auditorium and sat down. He had barely gotten comfortable when he heard voices just off stage.
            “Alright guys,” a voice said. It sounded like the Spanish teacher. “Just go out there and run through what we’ve got. I’ll see what we’re good at and what needs to be changed. You ready, Rachel?” Blaine had nearly forgotten about her.

“I was born ready, Mr. Shue.” Blaine rolled his eyes. Mr. Shuester came out from behind the curtain and walked into the audience. He walked right past Blaine and went to the table situated halfway up the rows of chairs. As soon as he had given them the command to go, he heard Rachel’s voice. She came slowly out from the side of the stage, singing dramatically. Blaine had to admit she had an amazing voice, but it was nothing compared to Kurt’s.

As the song reached its climax the rest of the group came onstage, swaying and harmonizing behind her. Blaine was impressed. He was even more impressed, however, when the song ended and the next one started. This one was upbeat and featured Mercedes with a boy Blaine recognized couldn’t quite place, but he recognized the mohawk. The two sounded amazing together, and Mike and a blonde girl danced around them. Tina was right; Mike was an amazing dancer, as was the blonde girl. He sat in amazement as he watched the group. They seemed so happy up there, like they belonged there, and Blaine thought they could win whatever competition with that performance. Who knew what they could do with two more weeks. Then he noticed Kurt. He was in the back dancing with one of the cheerleaders, but he might as well have been alone on stage with the way he stole Blaine’s attention. He was glowing with happiness, singing his heart out and dancing effortlessly. Blaine had never seen anyone look so beautiful.

He actually whimpered when the song ended, but started clapping along with Mr. Shue. He stopped, though, when the entire club’s attention turned to him. Some of the members looked confused by his presence, and Blaine blushed under their gazes.

“Sorry,” he mumbled, “that was really good.” Kurt bounded forward and smiled at him.

“Guys, this is Blaine. He’s a friend of mine. He’d never seen us perform so Mike invited him to our rehearsal. He’s a sophomore here. He’s tutoring me in chemistry,” Kurt added when the group started to look suspicious. As soon as he mentioned that he was a McKinley student, they relaxed. Blaine figured there was a story there, but he wasn’t going to ask now.

“So, Blaine, you liked it?” Mike asked as Mr. Shuester came and stood by him.

“Yeah. You guys sounded good. Your solos were amazing, and that dancing was… I don’t even know how you did that. I’m sad it’s over.” The group smiled and pulled him onstage, gathering him into a hug. He didn’t know what to make of it, but he liked the acceptance he found here.

After rehearsal he walked towards the parking lot with Kurt, Mike, Tina, and Mercedes’ duet partner, whose name he had learned was Puck.

“So, Blaine,” Puck started, “the glee club is having a party at Rachel’s place on Friday. You should come.”

“Oh, Puck, that’s a great idea,” Kurt said. He bounced towards Blaine and grabbed his arm. “Blaine, seriously, you should come. It’s going to be really fun. They always are, somehow, even when Rachel hosts.” Blaine looked around at the hopeful faces and smiled.

“Sure. That sounds awesome,” Blaine said. He drove home that night with a smile on his face.