After a four o’clock wakeup call and an eight-hour flight, the New Directions had successfully made it to Nationals in Los Angeles. We piled into our hotel rooms, boys in one room, girls in the other, exhausted from the long day of travel. We didn’t have much time to relax as we were to perform in a little over an hour. We all got ready as quickly as possible, the girls sliding into their dresses and putting on their make-up, the boys buttoning their vests and trying in vain to figure out how to tie a bow tie. In the end, I ended up tying more than half of the guy’s ties; the curse of being fabulous, I guess.

I spent extra time on my skin care regimen and my hair products, making sure I looked better than I felt. It wasn’t as if I was getting cold feet or anything; it was just the first time I would be singing a solo in front of an audience! It was natural for me to be at least a little nervous, right?

The looks I was getting from Rachel were not helping my mood either. She kept shooting me death stares and criticizing eyes, as if to see if I would crack under the pressure and she would have to swoop in and save the day.

But no, I would not let that happen, even if I could feel my legs shaking as time moved closer.

The New Directions and I sat waiting for our turn in a green room. We listened to the other teams singing through the speaker above us. The whole thing was very intimidating. My teammates talked amongst one another, as if this wasn’t one of the most stressful days of our lives. Blaine sat next to me on one of the couches, holding my hand and staring at me with empathetic eyes, which in the long run, only made my stomach churn more.

Since yesterday, Blaine had made it even more difficult to determine whether we were an item now or not. He stayed by my side as much as possible, giving me a gentle squeeze here, a soft, reassuring kiss there. But did that mean we were dating? I mean, Tina had been giving me kisses to the cheek all day! I would have been nice if something wasn’t confusing for once.

I excused myself quickly, needing a breath of fresh air.

Maybe I couldn’t do this? If I was having this much trouble now, how could I possibly sing on stage? Maybe I should just let Rachel do it-

“Kurt?” a voice called.

I turned on my heel to find Tina looking up at me with kind eyes.

“Oh, uh, hi, Tina.” I stuttered.

“What’s the matter?”

“Oh, it’s nothing,” I said, trying hard to keep composed. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Come on, Kurt. I’ve known you long enough to know that that is bullshit. Spill.”

I knew that Tina meant business then; Tina Cohen-Chang didn’t just swear for nothing.

“Well, it’s just that, it’s the solo, what if I’m not good enough? I’ve never done something like this before. What if I mess up or freeze up or choke up or throw up! Tina, I’m so nervous. Maybe I should just have Rachel sing, I’m sure she has something prepared just in case I fail-”

“Kurt Elizabeth Hummel,” Tina scolded, looking me straight in the eyes. “I have stood with you behind the fiery burning flame that is Rachel Berry for three years now and I have never seen someone with as much spark as you. Sure, we’ve been burned before, by bullies with slushies, cruel teachers, hell, Rachel has burned us more times than is probably allowed for one person. But we have made it through it all together and have become better people because of it. But, Kurt, this is your shining moment! We may have been branded wingmen all our lives, but now, this is your moment, your change to show the world that you can defy gravity and fly away from the path that has so far been set for you. I believe in you, Kurt, and I know you can do this because you’re a star.”

I was stunned. Tina really understood it. She and I had been through so much together as Rachel’s lackeys. Tina had been there for me every step of the way from joining glee club to supporting my crush on Blaine.

I smiled down at her. “You know, Rachel may have her seal on me as her best friend, but you’ve got mine.”

It looks as though Tina’s eyes were actually twinkling as her face broke out into that sweet smile that had accompanied me through thick and thin. She darted forward, pulling me into the tightest hug the small girl could muster.

“I won’t let you burn, Kurt. I’ve got you, and you’ve got this.”

As if on cue, the door to our green room burst open; the New Directions filing out and heading backstage. Blaine moved aside to stand with us.

“Lookin’ good, Cohen-Chang,” he smirked.

I followed his eyes, taking in Tina’s dress. It was identical to the other girls’ dresses; a dark blue base with large black polka dots on the skirt and a light grey petticoat down to the knee. The middle matched the ruffles below in a shiny, silky, light grey fabric. All of the girls had pulled their hair back into a half up, half down look that really framed her face wonderfully. I fluffed a little bit at the sight; she really did look beautiful.

“You don’t look so bad yourself, Anderson,” she winked, joining the retreating group and leaving us alone.

At that comment, I couldn’t help but sneak a look at Blaine too. All of the New Directions boys wore black pants and a black, short-sleeved, dress shirt. Over the shirt we wore a blue vest that matched the base color of the girls’ dresses. Around our necks we had matching bowties.

The weird thing about it was, Blaine seemed to look better than all of the other guys; his tie a little straighter, his pants a little tighter, his vest a little shinier.

Blaine cleared his throat and I knew I had been staring too long.

I blushed to my roots, looking away. He took my hand, leading me toward the stage.

“How about these outfits, huh?” I could tell he was trying to be nice and not mention the fact that I had been ogling him not two minutes before.

“What about them?” I said carefully. “Do you not like them?”

“Not like them, are you kidding? They’re so cool!” We had made it to the last corner backstage, around which the rest of our team was waiting. But Blaine seemed to have other plans. He pulled me backward and into the wall. He moved in close to me, his face only inches from mine. I looked down at him, my heart beating at triple its normal rate. Blaine placed a hand on my chest, pulling at the vest’s lapel. “I love the feel of these vests, they’re so smooth and silky. And these bowties, very dapper.”

He pulled on my tie, straightening it a little bit. His hands ran down my shoulder and my arms. “And these shirts are so comfortable, perfect for dancing in,” his expression darkened even more. “Or, you know, something else.”

Blaine nuzzled into my neck and under my chin. His hands roamed down even further, sliding around my thighs and circling around to my ass. “And these pants are so nice, but I have to say, yours are downright sinful. Really, Kurt, did you paint these on because damn.”

“Imadethem,” I gasped out.

Blaine pulled back, leaving only his hands on my hips. I whined a little at the loss of connection.

“What?” he asked.

“The outfits. I made them.”

Blaine looked down at his own outfit and back at mine, his eyes wide as saucers.

“No way.”

Finally shaking out of my lustful haze I nodded. “No really. And the dresses too.”

Blaine’s mouth dropped open. He released me completely, rushing to look at the girls around the corner. I followed him, taking in the sight.

“Kurt,” he half laughed. “If you do not get into some fashion school I swear to god I’m going to burn down Rachel Berry’s house. Seriously, a dream like that is meant to be chased.”

I laughed with him, taking his hand and heading toward the rest of the team. I was feeling much better after listening to Tina, and Blaine’s “physical therapy” as we walked out behind the curtain to take our places. Blaine made to leave when I had to stop him, pulling on his arm.

�“What is it?” he turned back to me with a confused smile.

This was it. He was so perfect. It was like fate. Blaine had swooped in out of nowhere, when I least expected it, changing my life in ways I had never dreamed possible. He came to me offering hope and future, telling me I was the brightest star in the sky. And just like that Blaine Anderson was in my heart for good. Even when times got rough with Nicky and Rachel, he was there and he was all I could see. We fit so well together, the prefect combination of sanity and insanity. And now this was my time to show him and the world how much he had done for me and how much he meant to me.

“Just- Just listen, okay?” I breathed.

He smirked at me before placing a quick kiss to my lips. “You too.”

Before I even had a moment to process what that meant, the lights above flashed, signaling thirty seconds until the curtain rose.

I took my place at the front of the group, just a bit more forward than the others. I looked back at Blaine one more time, standing next to Tina. They flashed me a thumbs up and that was all I needed.

The curtain rose up on a dark stage. A single beam of light illuminated me as the intro of the song was played out on guitar. This was it, I was finally a leading man in the spotlight, but what confused me was what was running through my mind; not fame, not recognition, not sticking it to Rachel Berry. No, the one thought in my mind was of Blaine.

I snapped my head up, a smile on my face and a spring in my step:

�

Stop me on the corner
I swear you hit me like a vision

�

As I sang the verse, the stage gradually lit up, revealing the rest of the New Directions in their smiling faces and dance moves. Brittany, Santana, and Mercedes stood in the back, keeping beat with a series of clapping-stomp moves.

I, I, I wasn't expecting
But who am I to tell fate where it's supposed to go with it
Don't you blink you might miss it
See we got a right to just love it or leave it
You find it and keep it
Cause it ain't every day you get the chance to say

�

At the chorus, I found Blaine in his place, front and center with me. I looked at him with all the emotion I had in me. He seemed to understand, smiling that breathtaking smile, just for me.

Oh, this is how it starts, lightning strikes the heart
It goes off like a gun, brighter than the sun
Oh, we could be the stars, falling from the sky
Shining how we want, brighter than the sun

I followed Blaine around the stage for most of the song, making gestures to my heart and to the sun. His smile never once faltered.

I've never seen it, I found this love, I'm gonna feed it
You better believe, I'm gonna treat it better than anything I've ever had
Cause you're so damn beautiful
Read it, it's signed and delivered let's seal it
Boy we go together like peanuts and paydays and Marley and reggae
And everybody needs to get a chance to say

Oh, this is how it starts, lightning strikes the heart
It goes off like a gun, brighter than the sun
Oh, we could be the stars, falling from the sky
Shining how we want, brighter than the sun, yeah
Brighter than the sun.
Brighter than the sun.
Brighter than the sun.
Oho, yeah, oho

�

By now, we were skipping around the stage, clapping in tune, getting the crowed involved and they were more than happy to oblige. The New Directions boys began to chant the last verse.

Oh, this is how it starts, lightning strikes the heart
It goes off like a gun, brighter than the sun
Oh, this is how it starts, lightning strikes the heart
It goes off like a gun, brighter than the sun
Oh, this is how it starts, lightning strikes the heart
It goes off like a gun, brighter than the sun
Oh, this is how it starts, lightning strikes the heart
It goes off like a gun,

Brighter than the sun

�

I sung the last line, only to be greeted with a quick, deafening applause from our audience. I stood center stage, looking out at all the people who had gathered here, who had heard me sing. I noticed my dad, Carole and the Andersons sitting a few rows back, having flown in to support us and my first solo.

I felt like I could fly. It was the best feeling I had ever had in my entire life. That is, until the next song started.

�

Forever unstoppable!

Forever, forever, forever unstoppable!

�

I spun around, finding Tina at the top of the risers, her hand pointed upward and her eyes trained on me. The rest of the group had crowed around her, facing the audience and it was only then I realized I had never learned song. Every time I had shown up to practice, I had been excused to work on my solo. I knew the harmonies I had to sing, but I had no idea what the song actually was or what to do with my feet!

But my worries melted away when Blaine emerged from the group on his own, making his way toward me, his hand outstretched and singing the opening lines.

Falling stars don't crash through your window
If you want it, go get it, it's meant to be chased
All your scars won't heal till you let go
You're perfectly worth it, forget your mistakes

�

Now I knew what Blaine had meant by “you too”. This song was to me. Blaine was singing to me, in front of thousands of people.

If you wanna fly, leave this world with me
We'll touch the sky, let's defy this gravity
Hold on to me tight, when it all falls down

�

I took his outstretched hand willingly. Suddenly, he pulled me in a twirl to him, looking deep into my eyes and making my heart stop before releasing me again.

You can take my heart, if yours won't beat
We're forever unstoppable
If you're torn apart, I'll make you see
That nothing's impossible
When you're broken, and you're shattered
Love will save you from disaster
You can take my heart, if yours won't beat
We're forever, forever, forever unstoppable

Just then, Tina emerged from the back of the group, singing the next line. Suddenly, her words from earlier made so much more sense.

Yeah we've both been touched by the same flame
Don't worry, I've got you, I won't let you burn
You and I got played by the same game
We're in it, together, for better or worse
If you wanna fly, leave this world with me
We'll touch the sky, let's defy this gravity
Hold on to me tight, when it all falls down

The rest of the New Directions came up joining in on the next chorus.

You can take my heart, if yours won't beat
We're forever unstoppable
If you're torn apart, I'll make you see
That nothing's impossible
When you're broken, and you're shattered
Love will save you from disaster
You can take my heart, if yours won't beat
We're forever, forever, forever unstoppable

Tina pulled me center stage. She clutched at my hand, singing the bridge to me.

There's a feeling inside you,
Just dying to break through,
Open up and set it free
We're on a horizon
Just look in my eyes and you will see

She spun me around so that I could see Blaine approaching from the side of the stage, sauntering up to me. He looked at me as if I was the only one in the room and I could feel the tears starting to brim. He sang softly to me.

When you're broken, and you're shattered
Love will save you from disaster

�

I joined Blaine on the last two lines, unable to keep it in any longer. He smiled broadly, taking my hand. Tina came to my side, taking my other hand. And when we sang together, the crowed exploded into cheers and applause.

You can take my heart, if yours won't beat
We're forever unstoppable

If you're torn apart, I'll make you see
That nothing's impossible

Looked between them, my heart swelling and my eyes tearing as I took the higher notes in echo.

When you're broken, (when you’re broken)

And you're shattered (and you’re shattered)
Love will save you (love will save you)

From disaster (save you from disaster, baby)
You can take my heart,(when you’re broken)

If yours won't beat (and you’re shattered)
We're forever, forever, forever unstoppable
We're forever, forever, forever unstoppable
We're forever, forever, forever unstoppable
Forever unstoppable

It felt as if the cheering would never end. The song ended with all of us holding hands at the front of the stage, Blaine on my left, Tina on my right, and me, front and center. I had given up on keeping my tears in check and was openly crying, staring up at the ceiling, trying to take in what had just happened. I was only half aware of the flashes of cameras going off and the tug on my arm as I was lead off stage.

When I finally came to, I was surrounded by the New Directions.

“Kurt, that was incredible!”

“Kurt, who knew you had it in you?”

“That was amazing!”

“That was awesome, Lady face!”

“Thanks, Puck,” I laughed, wiping the tears out of my eyes.

“Why are you crying, Kurt?” Brittany asked, peering over Santana’s shoulder.

Why was I crying? Because this was a dream come true. I had finally had a solo, I had performed in front of a live audience, I had been sung to in front of thousands of people, but above all that, everyone was looking at me. Not Rachel. Not Quinn. Me. They had finally noticed me and it was like a weight was lifted off my shoulders.

I looked at Blaine who was right there next to me and Tina on my other side, just as she had always been, and took their hands. “No reason, Britt. I’m just really, really happy.”

Blaine leaned over, kissed my cheek and wiped a fresh tear that had fallen with his free hand.

“I’ve got to say, little bro, I was really impressed with you,” Finn smiled down at me.

“Finn, just because I’m shorter than you, doesn’t mean I’m your little brother,” I sighed with a smile. It was good to have a little normality to this dream I was having.

“But you are littler than me?”

“I’m three months older!”

�

Blaine and I met up with our parents later after the award ceremony. We dragged behind them holding hands as they talked together. Mattie, who had begged to come along, took pictures at every chance he could get, asking us questions ranging from how it felt to win our first National competition to if Blaine and I were official yet. Blaine had smirked at that, pushing the camera away and responding with a “No comment,” before attacking my face. Mattie made a face and snapped one more picture before rushing up to the parents. Oddly enough, I didn’t even care that my dad was only a few feet in front of me as I kissed him back with just as much passion, wrapping my arms around his neck.

Once we arrived at the hotel lobby, we parted from our families and headed for bed, exhausted from a long day.

“Kurt?”

I turned to see who had called me, finding a very small looking Rachel Berry watching me from the girl’s room doorway. She had her arms crossed across her chest defensively. I made to leave Blaine behind but he was having none of it, keeping his hand tightly in mine.

“Hey, Rachel.”

“I just wanted to congratulate you,” she smiled weakly. “You were really great out there. Better than I ever could have done.”

I stepped forward, pulling her into a hug. She relaxed into my embrace a little. “Thank you, Rachel. You have no idea how much that means to me. Thank you so much for this opportunity.”

We pulled apart, Rachel looking more at ease than she had a moment ago.

“Besides,” she chirped. “With a voice like that and this Nationals win under our belts, we’ll be an unbeatable team at NYADA in the fall!”

My stomach felt like it was going to drop out my ass. Shit. I hadn’t told her about not going to NYADA yet. I looked to Blaine, panicked. He simply stepped forward and took my hand, giving it a squeeze, and it was all the courage I needed.

“Look, Rachel, I know how much NYADA means to you and I know you have been working hard to be perfect for next fall,” I paused, looking back at Blaine who gave an encouraging nod. “But that’s not for me.”

“What?” Rachel gawked.

“Rachel, I love singing and dancing and all that stuff, but it’s not my passion. I would love to be able to try out for shows as a hobby, but my real dream is to be a fashion designer. I want to help people stand out and be who they want to be through freedom of expression, not follow a script someone has written for me. I applied to some fashion schools in New York City a few months ago and if I’m good enough to get in, I’m going. I’m not saying I don’t want to live together, because I still will, if you’ll let me. It’s just, I have to do what I want to do.”

When I finished, she looked up at me through long lashes a faint smile on her lips. “I guess that would explain the department store in your locker and the time you spent on these dresses, huh?”

I nodded sheepishly.

“Well, Kurt, it seems like you’ve made up your mind, doesn’t it?” she shrugged. “Who am I to say no? But let me make one thing clear right now, Kurt Hummel. If you leave fabric samples around our apartment, I will not hesitate to burn them!”

I squeaked with joy, capturing her in a hug again.

“And I get to be your model! I want to be able to say I’ve tried on the hottest clothes before they hit the shelves!”

“Rachel, I’ll make clothes specifically for you!”

�

I have complete dances in my head for the two songs above, but I have no idea how to portray them without chopping up the whole song and ruining the flow… Oh well.

The songs I used are Brighter Than the Sun by Colbie Caillat and Forever Unstoppable by Hot Chelle Rae