Wednesday came and Mr. Sheuster told the New Directions that as a last minute change in rehearsal, they'd be going to Dalton Academy after school. As Kurt's face gave away how he felt about the situation, Mr. Sheuster explained it away, saying "Think of it as a way to practice our National's line up for an audience."

"Tell me again why we're doing two Leona Lewis songs?" Zach asked Kurt on the drive to Dalton. "What happened to you guys writing your own songs?"

"Every competition has requirements. I keep forgetting that you've only just joined and have never done this before. Nationals has a theme this year: Billboard Top 40. Both of the performed songs must be from a Billboard top 40 singer, past or present, one of those songs must be a chart number and the other can be any from the artist's repertoire."

"How did you guys decide on Leona Lewis? It seems the obvious choice would have been Michael Jackson. He's the most popular, most accessible, and has more to choose from."

"Exactly. Which would make him already taken by at least one other group. Believe me, the king of pop was everyone's first choice, but then we all realized that if he was our first choice then he had to be everyone else's first choice too. So we went with a powerhouse singer who had a song message that related to our group. Hence the song choice."

"I really like them. Happy and I Got You are great songs. I really like the arrangements too."

"We're lucky to have Brittany and Mike to help with choreography."

"Are you nervous?"

"No, but I'm sure I'll get nervous once we get to the airport. I've never been on a plane."

"No, I meant about today."

Kurt stared ahead at the road and blinked, no thoughts coming to his head at the moment. "He called me a bunch of times yesterday. I called him back and he didn't pick up."

"Is that a good thing?"

"I don't know."

"Do you have any thoughts on the matter?"

"I have a lot of thoughts on the matter. I haven't figured out which ones are true and which ones I made up in my head."

"Either way. If you need someone to talk to you can always call me."

Kurt suppressed the want to ask why Zach cared so much because that was his knee jerk reaction to ask that, but ended up smiling pitifully and saying "Thanks."

Zach and Kurt arrived at Dalton long before everyone else did because they chose not to meet up with everyone else in the choir room first. Finn was riding with Rachel in Mercedes' new car with Sam.

They heard music coming from the Warbler room and Kurt stopped just before entering in because he felt a sudden surge of nerves and fear. If all the Warblers were in there, he didn't want to walk in without the support of all his friends. All eyes on him, was not what he wanted right now. Zach didn't catch onto this fact and stepped into the room. He quickly retreated and pushed Kurt back. "We should have came in with everyone else."

"Why?" Kurt asked quickly, his facial expression giving away his emotions. Zach widened his eyes and made a face while he motioned his head to the Warbler room. "He's in there?" Zach flattened his lips. "He's the one playing?" A head nod. "Alone?"

"Bingo."

Kurt sighed. "Hoooh-kay." He leaned back against the wall, resolving to stay in this spot until more people showed up.

Blaine's voice rasped out of the empty room.

I have to block out thoughts of you, so I don't lose my head

They crawl in like a cockroach leaving babies in my bed

Dropping little reels of tape, to remind me that I'm alone

Playing movies in my head that make a porno feel like home

There's a burning in my pride, a nervous bleeding in my brain

An ounce of peace is all I want for you,

Will you never call again?

and will you never say that you love me

just to put it in my face?

and will you never try to reach me, it is I that wanted space

Hate me today

Hate me tomorrow

Hate me for all the things I didn't do for you

Hate me in ways, yeah ways hard to swallow

Hate me so you can finally see what's good for you

The music went by as Kurt started contemplating Blaine's reason for calling him so many times. He was so distracted the he admittedly wasn't really listening to the lyrics. He went in and out of paying attention and just happened to hear 'I have to block out thoughts of you,' 'Will you never call again,' and 'never try to reach me."

So I'll drive so fucking far away that I'll never cross your mind

And do whatever it takes in your heart to leave me behind

Hate me today

Hate me tomorrow

Hate me for all the things I didn't do for you

Hate me in ways, yeah ways hard to swallow

Hate me so you can finally see what's good for you

"Kurt, are you okay?" Zach asked, reading Kurt's facial expressions.

Kurt was trying to hold back tears. "He hates me."

"No!" Zach exclaimed quietly. "The opposite actually."

"Listen to the song!" Kurt pushed, positive that he was right and after what Blaine said on Monday, why wouldn't Kurt be right?.

"I am. I'm well acquainted with it. Hate Me by Blue October. If he's singing about you, since he's alone I'm assuming he is, he doesn't hate YOU. He wants YOU to hate HIM. Listen."

Kurt stopped his musings in his head and really paid attention.

And with a sad heart I say bye to you and wave

Kicking shadows on the street for every mistake that I had made

And like a baby boy I never was a man

Until I saw your blue eyes cry and I held your face in my hands

And then I fell down yelling "make it go away"

just make a smile

Come back and shine just like it used to be

And then she whispered "How could you do this to me?"

Zach's tone changed. It was softer, gentler. "He did something wrong. He feels guilty about something."

Hate me today

Hate me tomorrow

Hate me for all the things I didn't do for you

Hate me in ways, yeah ways hard to swallow

Hate me so you can finally see what's good for you

For you

For you

For you

The song ended and Kurt had a single tear run down his cheek. "You think that he broke up with me to hide something he did?"

"It's possible. It's also possible that he broke up with you because he felt so guilty that he couldn't face telling you the truth."

Kurt left Zach standing there and rushed into the Warbler room. He froze when he saw Blaine. He stood there, in the middle of the room, waiting for Blaine to notice his existence.

Blaine gasped. "Kurt!"

"H-hi."

"You called."

Kurt's eyes shifted away from Blaine's pained face and then back. "You didn't pick up."

"I was on the phone with my father. I tried calling back."

This was awkward. Kurt and Blaine had never had an awkward conversation since they met. "You're talking to your dad again? Good for you."

"Thanks. He wants me to come home this weekend." Warblers started to file in and their eye contact was broken. Blaine closed the gap between them as the Warblers tried to pretend they weren't paying attention and stood a couple feet from Kurt. "Can you stay behind after practice?" He asked tentatively. "I really need to talk to you."

The New Direction members arrived and Kurt gulped. "Sure." He paused. "I can do that."

Wes banged his gavel and Kurt and Blaine took seats away from one another. Neither one being able to go too long without glancing back at the other.