The New Directions and the Warblers got along really well. Kurt and Blaine had been talking to themselves for the last twenty minutes. They went rather unnoticed because everyone was wrapped up in their own conversations. 

“I can’t believe we never competed against you,” Blaine was saying, “We’re only an hour or so apart.”

“I almost transferred to Dalton last year, actually.” Blaine didn’t break Kurt’s gaze. He wasn’t going to press the issue. Dalton was a safe haven for a lot of the boys there. That’s what it was for him. Although he didn’t want to press Kurt, his eyes must have betrayed his thoughts because Kurt continued talking.

“School’s never been easy for me, especially last year.” Kurt hesitated.

“You don’t have to tell me.” Blaine meant what he said even if he felt like he needed to learn everything about the beautiful man sitting in front of him. There was something about Kurt that was commanding his complete attention. Blaine wanted Kurt to trust him. 

“This might sound weird, but, I really want to tell you.” Kurt told Blaine so much. He told him about glee club, football players, Coach Sylvester, and slushies. Blaine couldn’t help asking if getting a slushy thrown in your face was actually painful. The look on Kurt’s face told him that he was serious. Kurt described it as laying on a sheet of ice with your head shoved into the Arctic ocean. Plus, the sugar killed your eyes. 

“I put up with it though,” Kurt continued, “the administration doesn’t do anything and besides, I know there are people out there that have it a lot worse than I do.” Blaine was in complete awe. This man was everything that he wished he was. Blaine was proud and confident, sure, now. Back then, he ran. He ran when the world decided to attack him. He wanted the strength that Kurt had.

“I hadn’t intended to go to Dalton,” Blaine started, “I had gotten bullied pretty bad my freshman year. I spent two weeks in the hospital then transferred. It’s the best thing I could of done, transferring, I realized how much of myself I wasn’t allowing myself to be.” Blaine didn’t speak sadly or like he had been defeated but Kurt reached his hand across the table, covering Blaine’s.  A small smile played at Blaine’s lips when Kurt squeezed his hand. 

“So is this your first time at Nationals?” Blaine asked. Kurt leaned back in his chair looking exquisite even while slouching. Blaine missed the warmth of his hand immediately. 

“Yes,” Kurt said letting out a sigh.

“You don’t sound very excited.”

“Oh, don’t get me wrong. I’m really excited! It’s just, when it comes to a performance we all start to hate each other.” Kurt wasn’t sure if he should be telling Blaine this. He was the competition after all. He couldn’t stop talking, however, when Blaine asked him questions. He knew he should be putting himself on guard, not only because Blaine is competition but because he felt weirdly comfortable with someone he barely knew. There were all kinds of red flags going up but they quickly got blocked by green ones. “What about you Blaine, is this your first Nationals?”

“Personally, yes, but the Warblers made it here four years ago.” Blaine could practically see the next question Kurt was thinking. “We didn’t win. We didn’t even make finals.” Kurt nodded in response. 

A hand came down on Kurt’s shoulder, startling him. For the first time Blaine’s gaze broke from Kurt’s and looked up at the girl standing behind him. He could see the rest of New Directions disappearing through the doors. 

“Hi ‘Cedes.” The girl wrapped her arms around Kurt’s neck. Blaine found himself a little jealous. Kurt let his head fall back onto Mercedes’ shoulder and brought his hand up to rest on her arm.

“Hate to break up the party, Hun, but Schuester wants to rehearse or something.” Both of them let out a long sigh. Kurt rolled his eyes. He smiled at Blaine as he stood up from the table. He was about to say goodbye when Santana yelled at them from the other side of the room.

“Hummel! Take your eyes off the candy and get moving!” Kurt’s eyes went wide and a blush creeped up his face. He cleared his throat as he was being pulled along by his best friend. 

“I- um- see you tomorrow?”

“Absolutely.” Blaine said with a smile.

Blaine watched quietly as Kurt disappeared out of the banquet hall. It wasn’t until he heard the door click shut that he was able to look away. He looked down at the table, resting his head in his hand. He couldn’t believe how enamored he was by Kurt. They had only known each other, for what, an hour, maybe two? Blaine decided he would definitely see him again. Minutes passed before he realized the two faces on either side of him. As much as he tried to look normal, Blaine couldn’t help the smile that showed when he looked up to see all of his friends staring at him. He had actually forgotten that there were other people in the room. The look on Blaine’s face told his friends everything and the teasing started immediately. All of his friends were happy for him. Blaine tried not to smile like a silly school girl but the happiness for him flooding from his friends only fueled his own happiness even more. 

“When are going to see him again?” Nick asked.

“Uh, well, I guess tomorrow morning? We didn’t really get to make plans or anything-”

“Their director seems really controlling. They all left in a hurry, like something was going to explode if they didn’t.” Trent said.

“Yeah.” Blaine wanted to tell his friends everything he could about Kurt but he couldn’t. He didn’t know how much of his story was public. Blaine sat in wonder while his friends kept coming up with ways to take out Kurt. Jeff and Nick suggested, more than once, that he just skip the first date. Blaine could never do that though. He was a charmer. The Warblers dispersed after all the hype about Blaine’s soon to be love life. They were free to do whatever until ten, except leave the hotel. Blaine went to his room though. He was tired from the day of traveling and his nap hadn’t helped at all. Mainly, though, he wanted to daydream about seeing Kurt the next day.

Rehearsals were not going well. Mr. Shue was bending to Rachel’s every whim. The rest of New Directions was not taking it well. They sat on the beds while Rachel fussed about her solo song, which she hadn’t even picked. The first ten minutes were filled with Santana making comments about Kurt and Blaine. None of which were even remotely appropriate. Kurt was thankful that Mr. Shue had put an end to it. They had rehearsed their opening song twice and then it became the Rachel show. Kurt had zoned out. He was thinking about Blaine. Daydreaming, morel like. Everything that had passed between them at dinner had been so honest. Kurt loved that. Kurt just wanted to go to sleep so that tomorrow would come faster.  Mercedes was cuddled against Kurt’s left side. 

“Hey,” she groaned, “if the rest of us have to suffer so do you.” Kurt hadn’t realized that he had been falling asleep. It seemed as though they would never get to the closing song. Kurt glanced at the clock on the bed side table and sighed. It was nine-thirty. Trying to stay awake, Kurt looked around at everyone else, like him, they were almost asleep. Mr. Schue noticed the movement from Kurt’s head and looked away from Rachel. She looked back too. 

“Guys! I can’t believe you’re all falling asleep! This is just as important to you as it to me!” Rachel said firmly. There was a collective groan from the rest of New Directions.

“Mr. Schue, the rest of us have been sitting here for over an hour. Can we please move on or be done for the night?” Kurt asked.

“We’re not close to being-.”

“No Rachel, Kurt’s right. Let’s be sone for the night.” Mr. Schue responded, rubbing his eyes. “Alright! Everybody up! Go to bed.” Everyone got up rather fast. 

“And no leaving the Hotel! Girls, Ms. Pillsberry will be around to make sure you’re all in your rooms. I’ll be checking up on the guys.” He added.

Kurt was happy to fall into his bed once he had finished his night time routine. He felt so tired that ha cut his skin treatment in half. It was after eleven when he finally got to bed. It had taken a while for everyone to get showers and Kurt’s routine took at least an hour by itself so he let the girls go first. He closed his eyes and smiled a little, falling asleep happy.