“And Thad was screaming his lungs off! He literally ran from the room because of that spider and it was the funniest thing ever, and…oh excuse me Kurt,” Blaine's cell phone rang, Katy Perry California girls playing as a ringtone which caused Kurt to laugh in an outburst.

His phone had been on silent in the park, but he turned the volume up when they were sitting in the café so he wouldn't be tempted to look at it all the time.

They had been talking like they known each other for years. Turns out Kurt and Blaine have a lot in common. Kurt loves Broadway, loves romantic comedies, loves everything about New York from the Skyscrapers to the statue of liberty, the botanical garden and radio city stage.

Blaine gave him a death glare and mouthed ‘don't you start' as Kurt held back another laugh when it continued to play until Blaine answered the phone.

Kurt was just finishing eating the food that Blaine had pushed onto his plate when he wasn't looking. Kurt didn't realise Blaine had may of accidentally put more of his own tuna sub on Kurt's plate while Kurt had asked to use the bathroom. He wanted to wash his face. Blaine had been pleased with himself when Kurt continued to eat without noticing the additional food. He seemed to really take his time and enjoy the meal in front of him.

He was grateful. Blaine could tell.

“Speaking of the devil,” Blaine grinned at Kurt as he noticed Thad's photo appear on his screen to show who was calling.

“Hello Thad,”

Blaine couldn't help but watch Kurt as he ate with a small smile on his face.

He wanted to know more about this boy. He was so different, so unique.

“Blaine! We start in 20 minutes, where the hell are you man?” Thad sounded frantic and Blaine cringed as he looked at his watch “Shit,”

He talked to Thad or a bit who was describing the scene at the screen room as Blaine got up and grabbed his coat which he had taken of during their meal feeling guilty as Kurt had none.

“Something wrong?” Kurt asked. Blaine left to the counter and handed $20 to Lucy who eyed him “This is more than you…”

“Keep the change,” Blaine added before heading back to Kurt who was already gathering up his things and putting the leftovers in his bag under the wrapper “Kurt I'm sorry to hurry you but if you want to come watch us perform we really have to go now and were going to have to make a run for it, is that okay?”

He didn't need to know the answer though because Kurt was already gathering his things and heading to where he was before he nodded “Yeah let's go,”

“Just follow my lead! It's not far, but we have to run through the park, I know a short cut”

Kurt already had everything organised much to Blaine's relief, and he grabbed the boy's hand and the two of them began running “Bye Lucy! Thanks for the cookies,” Kurt shouted back to the girl who was waving at them.

Blaine had eventually admitted that Lucy got them extra cookies.

“Come back after the performance!” She shouted back and Blaine thought that wasn't such a bad idea, maybe he'd bring the other guys with them.

Lucy was a nice girl, she could see the guys having a crush on her and they could do with a little flirting for a change. They were in a new city, why not.

Kurt was looking ill in the face by the time they made it through the park so Blaine stopped them to allow them catch their breath, he was horrified when he saw Kurt's face basically collapsed in front of him “God I'm sorry Kurt, I shouldn't have made you run so fast, you okay?”

He immediately put his arm on Kurt's back and Kurt tried to answer but was looking terrible.

Kurt was putting his hands on his knees and struggling to breeath, he was almost ill enough to vomit and he looked like he was about to as Blaine went to him.

“Woah easy there,” Blaine gently rubbed his back. “I'm so sorry,” he added again. Kurt finally stood up straighter. Blaine silently rubbed the boy's back and felt terrible. Kurt eventually stood up straighter and looked at Blaine, “I'm okay, I'll be okay.. how far, you can't miss your show,?”

Kurt look like he wanted to be sick but he held back.

“You sure, if you need to vomit, I won't be offended so long as you don't get it on my shoes,” Blaine continued to rub gentle strokes on his back and Kurt looked gratefully at Blaine as he turned his body away from Blaine to allow bile to escape, which was some of the sub he had eaten and Blaine wished now he hadn't forced Kurt into more food.

“Only one more street, we have15 minutes, that's enough time for us to walk there, I don't want you to get sick again,

“Don't worry about that,” Kurt shook his head. Thankfully Blaine had a hanky and encouraged Kurt to use it.

Blaine refused to continue until Kurt told him he was fine and this time they walked at a fast pace instead of a running for it while Blaine carried Kurt's things. He was holding them delicately, the way he had seen Kurt hold it, and he had promised he wouldn't break the bag, but they weren't going anywhere if Kurt was going to carry it and Kurt refused to let him miss the performance so he made the compromise.

They made it to the green room 10 minutes before the show started.

The boy's that were already in the room in blazers immediately cornered and hurried Blaine into a change room and offered him deodorant, men's perfume and his Dalton Uniform to change into.

Blaine hadn't had time to explain who Kurt was to his friends. He tried to look back at Kurt with an apologetic look at having left him alone but he saw another of his fellow Warblers get in his way of vision of Kurt. Kurt had heard someone call a boy Sebastian who was now heading his way.

“Excuse me sir, you shouldn't be here, contestants only,”

“Oh…” Kurt looked inside. Blaine was too busy chatting with his choir to help out. Kurt noticed them all circling Blaine like he was a legend and immediately started doo-oping as practise while helping him get ready. He didn't even know his way around the venue, how was he supposed to find the audience seat?

How was he supposed to even pay for it if Blaine wasn't there?

“I'm here with Blaine,” Kurt took the courage to answer not letting this boy scare him of staring Sebastian straight in the eyes.

Sebastian looked him over and frowned at him, he closed the door behind him which stopped Kurt from looking in, “Why are you wearing that?”

Kurt closed his eyes to calm himself before opening, he knew his tongue often got himself in trouble and after “I don't see that as any of your business,”

Sebastian ignored his reply, moved more closer which started to make Kurt feel uncomfortable and looked at the stuff in his bag “You smell homeless, you shouldn't take advantage of Blaine, he's too nice for his own good,”

Kurt was hoping Blaine's friend Jeff whichever one of him would come to the rescue, he had sounded nice to him from the way Blaine described him, but the boys were too busy fussing over Blaine in the change room, and making sure the other boy was ready for his performance.

“Again it's not your business. I'm not taking advantage of him,” Kurt gave him a scowl. “I never even asked for his help, he wanted my company,”

“No, maybe not but your still taking advantage of him, I know Blaine, and I know how kind and generous he can be,” Sebastian looked slightly amused as if Kurt was trying to defend himself in hiding behind a lie.

Kurt wished Blaine had finished getting dressed. The boy was taking forever in the change rooms.

“What do you want from me,” Kurt snapped.

Sebastian looked unmoved out of his outburst “To stay away from Blaine, but I doubt you could if you tried, he's irresistible,”

“Blaine wants me here to watch him sing, and I'm staying until after that performance is over then I'll go, but for now get used to me being around,” Kurt with little effort was trying his best to be composed.

Sebastian laughed evilly and opened the door wider “This was fun, but I must go back in to help the guys, I'm sure security can show your way to where the back of the audience is then I hope to see you gone afterwards,”

“I don't need your help thanks,” Kurt angrily turned on his heel then.

“I wasn't offering it anyway,” Sebastian told tartly.

Kurt navigated his way into the hallways. He still didn't have any money to pay for the tickets and was worried that he'd be kicked out.

He'd hate to see the satisfaction on that Meercat's face if that were the case. He really did want to watch Blaine sing.

He was still feeling dizzy from vomiting earlier, even though he was somewhat more presentable having cleaned his face and all, he still had no shoes, and he was light headed, so he took his time, he didn't want security to think he was a drunk. Eventually he managed to find his way to a room where audiences by following people who had visitor badges on and were wearing entry stickers on their hands entering the venue in one big group. Kurt managed to find a yellow sticker on the ground within another corner he had turned and put it on his hand. When it came to the door, a guy asked for his badge.

“I lost my badge while I was waiting for the show, I was in hyde park, along with my shoes they got soaked, I had to throw them out” Kurt said laughing apologetically. After the man looked in his bag he looked at Kurt seriously and he could tell he wasn't buying his story, but he could also tell this man didn't seem to find Kurt harmless.

“Well there are no knives or dangerous weapons in here, but I'm still sorry sir, we can't let you in if you don't have a badge,”

For once the guy actually looked like he didn't mind Kurt. Kurt wondered why more people couldn't be as polite as this man, he looked really guilty at not being able to let him in when clearly other people didn't even look like they cared about where they were.

“I got my sticker here look” Kurt showed his arm and the guy nodded waiting for Kurt to continue “My friend Blaine is in one of the groups, the Warblers, he said he'd come see me later if you'd like to ask him,” Kurt lied hoping the security guy would buy it. His eyes looked surprised at the mention of Blaine.

“You know Blaine?” The man asked “You should have said so in the first place, go on in then, if anyone asks we can call Dalton and get them to confirm who you are,”

“Thank you sir, but I don't think that'll be necessary,” Kurt smiled feeling a sense of victory “Enjoy the show,” the man replied as he found his way to a seat halfway through the audience so he could still see the stage.

He told Blaine he'd watch, and he was going to, even if it meant sneaking in.

He was just in time as the curtains opened up and there was Blaine, right in the middle.

‘dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun' Kurt's eyes lit up as he heard the group sing. He looked around at the audience and noticed they appeared excited as though the Warblers were well known celebrities in New York.

Kurt couldn't help as laugh as he listened…and Blaine started to sing ‘You think I'm pretty…without any make up on…” He rolled his eyes fondly as he stared at the boy taking hold of the stage of course Blaine had to sing Katy Perry. They all looked so ridiculously handsome in their uniforms. Kurt envied the group.

They looked so comfortable with each other.

He noticed Blaine's eyes found his in the audience “You think I'm funny when I tell the punchline wrong,” and there was a massive smile plastered on his face as Kurt was staring at him in awe and admiration, before giving a little wave the boy wasn't lying when he said he could sing. “I know you get me, so I let my walls come down…doooown,”

Kurt tried not to let Blaine's stare at him affect his heart too much. Blaine was still looking at him like he was the only thing that mattered in that room and he felt his heart pumping in his chest. “Before you met me, I was alright but things were kinda heavy, you brought me to life, Now every February, you'll be my Valentine….Valentine, Let's go all the way tonight, no regrets…just love,”

He observed the other boys on stage and noticed that they appeared to be enjoying themselves.

“We can dance…until we die you and I…”

Were they all gay? Kurt couldn't help but wonder. They sure didn't seem at all like the boys in his old school. He thought back to his days at McKinley and how they'd be boo'd and shouted at with nasty names had they attempted such a thing as these boys had courage to do and the audience was loving it.

“Will be young forever! YOU MAKE ME…feel like I'm living a teenage dream, the way you turn me on,”

Blaine's eyes found his again and Kurt felt himself blush.

The audience literally got to their feet and Kurt found himself doing the same otherwise he couldn't see Blaine. He whistled himself which made Blaine smile wider if possible. He noticed Sebastian look his way at that whistle however and the other boy frowned as he eyed him from the stage, but Kurt didn't care. He only had eyes for the boy with dark hair and hazel eyes.

He was phenomenal and he was glad he came.

Kurt was the first to clap when the songs finished and the first to leave as the others stayed where they were to finish watching the performances. He needed to leave before Blaine caught up with him.

He felt bad for leaving without saying goodbye, but he had a feeling Sebastian would cause trouble and that's the last thing he wanted for the boy that had been so kind to him, so he left on his word, even if it meant he'd be alone again.

Kurt held onto his things tightly.

Thankfully it was still the same guy that was waiting at the show.

“You leaving already?” He looked confused as Kurt nodded and thanked him for being kind.

“I told Blaine I was going to watch him perform, but he knows I have a family dinner to attend, so I couldn't stay for the whole show,”

“Ah shame, I heard their competition were really tough and really good, New Directions in particular came all the way from Ohio, it was nice of you to pop by for Blaine though, his family never seem to attend the shows,”

Kurt froze. The New Directions were in New York? No…he had to have heard wrong.

“Sorry did you say the New Directions?” The humour had gone from the man's face once he saw Kurt's ill like expression. “Yeah, but don't worry I have no doubts the boys in there will nail it, this is only the semi-finals,”

At that moment Kurt stilled when he heard the sound of Rachel Berry's voice singing ‘Don't Rain On My Parade,' Kurt found himself moving back to glance through the door as Rachel sang.

My god, she hadn't changed, she was fabulous as always.

Rachel was so caught up in the spotlight that she didn't even notice Kurt tear himself away from the door, eyes getting teary as he heading for the exit. Rachel may not have noticed but that didn't stop Finn who had been staring at Kurt watching his girlfriend from behind the curtains.

Finn turned to Mercedes because he knew Mercedes had known Kurt more than anyone, “I think I just saw Kurt,”

“Finn…nobody has seen Kurt for 5 months, now is not the time to bring this up,” Mercedes sighed. She didn't want to be reminded of Kurt right now, not when they were about to perform, she wouldn't be able to stay focus.

“No I swear, I thought I saw him in the foyer…he was staring at Rachel,”

“It could have been anyone Finn,” Mercedes shushed him, she was losing her patience. She missed her best friend, and she was still mad at Finn for being the one that caused Kurt to run away.

He would have loved to been in New York for Nationals. Nobody had noticed how withdrawn Kurt had been until he was gone.

Nobody had noticed their friend slipping away…

She hated herself every day for not being more aware of what he was doing. She knew Kurt was gay, but she had waited and waited for him to open up to her first, but now it was too late. Her best friend was gone, and he didn't know she was on his side.

Finn didn't stay to argue though. He had to find Kurt while he still had the chance.

“Finn where are you going were starting in 2 minutes!” Quinn fumed.