Kurt really didn’t think the day could be better, that was until Mr. Shue brought him out of his reflection saying, “Sit down Kurt, I think I have a great idea for a solo at sectionals.”

Kurt looked wide-eyed at Mr. Shue, but sat down as the rest of the glee club looked at him with mild shock. Kurt risked a look at Rachel who was staring daggers at him.

“Okay guys, yesterday I was listening to some old CD’s and I came across a song that I think could be perfect for sectionals. I know many of you are familiar with Danny Elfman, he has scored most of Tim Burton’s movies and several other movies. What you may not know is that he had a band in the ‘80’s called Oingo Boingo. Now most of their music would not be suitable for competition, however, I found two songs that I thought would be amazing for Kurt to sing. I am going to pass the music around and let you feel out the song and then we will make a decision later this week. Now for the other number…” But Kurt stopped listening for a minute and looked at the music before him. One was called, ‘Try to Believe’, and the other was ‘We Close Our Eyes’. He looked over them and both songs would show off his range well.

That was all the contemplation he got before Rachel interrupted his thoughts. “Excuse me Mr. Shue, do you really think that Kurt is ready for this. I mean this is a competition after all shouldn’t we put our strongest singer forward.”

“I think we are Rachel, You aren’t the only strong singer we have.” Mr. Shuester said diplomatically.

“Are we forgetting last year’s Diva off?” Rachel said glowering at Kurt.

He couldn’t take it anymore, he bit back at Rachel, “I threw the note Rachel, you won last year because I cared more about my father’s sanity than I did singing my dream song. Both you and I know until I ‘missed’ that note that I was winning, ask anyone in the room. Maybe if I had known that the song wouldn’t be in the set list I would have blown you out of the water. Be that as it may, I was afraid of what people would say to my dad if I sang that song in front of an audience. Therefore, the next time you decide to put down my talent, remember that. I. Let. You. Win.”

The glee club sat looking at Kurt in amazement. Rachel opened and closed her mouth not knowing what to say.

Finally, Mr. Shue broke the silence. “Okay so any suggestions for our group number?”
@@@

Blaine sat in Warbler practice, waiting for the council to make final judgment. Finally Wes looked up at Blaine and spoke, “Okay so after careful consideration we have narrowed it down to two songs, ‘Hey Soul Sister’ and ‘Teenage Dream’. We will continue to rehearse both until the day of the competition. We want to feel out the crowd that day to see which would work best.”

So Blaine worked through both numbers, thinking of Kurt the entire time. He just wished he knew if he even had a chance with the boy. As soon as the meeting was called to an end he grabbed his stuff intent on going home where he could be alone with his thoughts once more.

Just as he was reaching for the door, none other than Wes and David cornered him. “Are you alright, Blaine?” Wes questioned him.

“Yeah, fine, why?” Blaine responded automatically.

“You seemed distracted today. What’s on your mind?” David replied.

“Kurt” the word flew out of Blaine’s mouth before he realized what he was saying. The two other boys looked at each other with knowing smiles on their faces. He knew it was no use trying to keep anything from the two council members. “I saw him on Friday at a meeting at his school. I just don’t know what to do anymore. All I want to do is get to know him better, to see if all that I am feeling is real, but he keeps pushing me away. I understand why he doesn’t want to date the competition, I guess, but I am at my wits end here.”

“Are you sure this isn’t some ploy on their part to sabotage our lead singer?” Wes asked.

“Yes, they knew that you were going to send me there to spy on them. They planned for me to fall for their gorgeous, witty, sexy member so that I couldn’t focus on anything else. They knew that in their club they had the man of my dreams and they knew they could use it. The New Directions are evil geniuses. However did you figure it out?” Blaine deadpanned.

“I have an idea.” David said. Blaine wasn’t sure he could trust him with that gleam in his eyes.

@@@
Glee club was a mess, Santana yelled at Rachel that Finn slept with her last year causing a horrible fight. Mr. Shue had yet to find another number for the glee club to perform and to top it off Kurt still couldn’t decide which song he liked better.

Kurt was about to leave for the day when he ran into Rachel talking to Puck. Kurt knew better than to trust Noah Puckerman with a girl who was not feeling her best and decided to intervene.

“Hey, Rachel.” He said with his most apologetic voice. She gave him a sad smile and decided to go on. “How about we go to your house and have a slumber party. I promise to give you a complete beauty treatment that will leave you feeling ‘oh so fabulous’. And we can talk if you want.”

Rachel pause for a moment before surprising Kurt by wrapping her arms around his neck in a fierce hug. “I would like that Kurt, thanks.”

Kurt glanced back at Puck who he was surprised seemed a bit relieved.

Kurt sat in front of Rachel on her bed rubbing an avocado mask on her face when he decided to broach the subject they had been ignoring for the last hour.

“You know why he didn’t tell you don’t you?” He said gently.

“No, why?”

The smallness of Rachel’s voice made Kurt frown. “Finn was hurting, you were with Jesse, you were going to give yourself completely to him. He went to Santana, I think because he wanted to feel… something. In the end, he felt nothing because it hadn’t meant anything. You really are lucky, most guys just see sex as meaningless fun, but there are a few of us, who know that it is deeper than that. Unfortunately, Finn found out a little too late. He was embarrassed, even more so when you told him that you did too.”

Rachel cut him off, “I didn’t you know, I never slept with Jesse, I don’t know why I said it, it just seemed like a good idea at the time.”

Kurt smiled kindly at her, “Kind of like when Finn lied to you?”

“Yeah I see your point, when did you get so good at romance?” she asked with a smile.

“Oh I’m not, I’m just observant. In this case too it helped that Finn decided to have a talk with me about saving yourself for someone special. Let me tell you I think that was the most awkward exchange I have ever had with the boy and I once told him I wanted to sing I honestly love you to him.” Kurt laughed.

Rachel blushed and laughed, “When did this talk happen?”
“Last night, why do you think I was so ready to come over here tonight. Our parents are on their honeymoon in Hawaii, we are home alone, and I didn’t want to know what bonding time my new brother wanted to have. No I would rather have girl bonding time, I figure you needed someone more.” Kurt smiled at Rachel. As annoying as she could be, he liked her and wanted to see her happy.

“I’m sorry I was so mean yesterday about your solo, I guess I had my heart set on singing a solo at sectionals.” Rachel truly meant it too, she tends to lash out when she gets hurt, she rarely means what she says.

“I know, it does kind of suck that you had to make me feel like crap too. But I understand.”

After that, they discussed possible song choices for the group number, trying to find the perfect contrast to Kurt’s solo choices. In the end they had a great idea, and to Kurt’s surprise it didn’t involve the spotlight on Rachel at all.

Kurt doesn’t know how it happened but soon they were discussing Blaine. “He keeps asking me for my number and I keep saying no. I just don’t want to go through what Jesse put you through last year.”

Rachel took Kurt’s hand in her own, squeezing it gently, “Kurt, I doubt Blaine is like Jesse. When he was waiting on you the day he was spying, he seemed so embarrassed. I just hate that you may be depriving yourself of something because you’re afraid. I didn’t think Kurt Hummel was afraid of anything.”

Kurt let his eyes meet Rachel’s and she could see the glisten of unshed tears. “I am scared, I don’t want to put myself out there just to find out I’m a big joke. I’m getting there though. I mean three times he has asked for my number, maybe next time he will get lucky.” He chuckled, the tears vanishing in his mirth. “I think I am enjoying the game we play though, but I do worry what everyone else will think.”

“If it is any consolation, I think it would be outstanding.” Rachel said giving Kurt one more hug.
The next day at school, Rachel stood before the club ready to present their idea. Kurt told her to take all the credit, being generous, since she needed to show she was still a team player.

“Fellow Glee Clubbers, I have a proposal for our second number for sectionals featuring…” Here she paused for dramatic effect as everyone just knew she was going to say ‘me’. “Santana on lead vocals. And Brittany and Mike dancing. I think that to stand out from these other choirs we need to show that we can move. Our backup vocals will need to be tight for both Kurt and Santana’s solos, but I think if we have the right moves we can win this thing. So what do you think?”

“I hate to sound modest but why me? Yesterday you were saying I would only work on a pole, what changed?” Santana said with her arms crossed in her normal defensive position.

Rachel smiled, genuinely. “Your voice is amazing, and I wanted to make sure you knew I was sorry.” She was quick to clarify, “Not that this is a pity solo, I wouldn’t have suggested it if I didn’t think you could handle it, but I wanted to also apologize for all I said yesterday. I had no right to attack you. And Finn, I’m sorry for all I said to you too yesterday. I understand why you didn’t say anything.”

After that the New Directions were ready to blow them away at sectionals.

@@@@@
Blaine sat on the bus on his way to the competition, his gut in knots. He wasn’t nervous to perform, but he knew he was seeing Kurt today. He also knew that this maybe his last chance to try to make a connection with the boy. At least his last chance to do it and not look like a crazy stalker. He couldn’t stop trying to picture his eyes, were they blue or green or grey? He wanted to feel the boys hand in his one more time. He wanted to press his lips against the pink of Kurt’s and give him his first real kiss that counted. He wanted his own first real kiss that counted too.

When the bus pulled up in front of the theatre hosting the competition Blaine made his way to the front. The Warblers gathered around the lobby waiting for Thad to come back and announce what spot they drew. Blaine was somewhat relieved they were second, it meant there was a chance he would see Kurt before going backstage.

Unfortunately, while he caught a glimpse of the boy sitting in the middle of his group, he didn’t get a chance to approach him. He was happy to see that they were close to the front and Kurt was right in the middle of his row. Blaine thought David’s plan just might work, if not in winning him over then at least in encouraging Kurt to give him a chance.
@@@@@

Kurt sat anxiously awaiting their turn to perform. He was nervous being third. He knew that the judges would compare him against the other two groups from the get go. He was also nervous to see Blaine, although he wasn’t sure whether he was more nervous for him to ask for his number again or not. The hipsters had made it off the stage, they were cute and good, but Kurt thought they were better. And really was it fair to let a group of septuagenarians compete with actual high school students.
The announcer soon presented the Dalton Academy Warblers and Kurt sat a little straighter in his seat. He saw Blaine in the middle of the group his head bowed with the rest of the boys. Kurt marveled how… dapper Blaine looked in his uniform. Soon the other boys raised their heads and started making noises sing the background of a song Kurt couldn’t place just yet.

Then Blaine’s head shot up, and looking straight in Kurt’s eyes he began to sing.

Before you met me
I was a wreck
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
We can dance until we die
You and I
We'll be young forever

You make me
Feel like
I'm living a Teenage Dream
The way you turn me on
I can't sleep
Let's runaway
And don't ever look back
Don't ever look back

My heart stops
When you look at me
Just one touch
Now baby I believe
This is real
So take a chance
And don't ever look back
Don't ever look back

I might get your heart racing
In my skin-tight jeans
Be your teenage dream tonight

Let you put your hands on me
In my skin-tight jeans
Be your teenage dream tonight

You make me
Feel like
I'm living a Teenage Dream
The way you turn me on
I can't sleep
Let's runaway
And don't ever look back
Don't ever look back

My heart stops
When you look at me
Just one touch
Now baby I believe
This is real
So take a chance
And don't ever look back
Don't ever look back

Kurt’s face was red by the time the song ended. He knew to the rest of the audience it looked like Blaine was performing for everyone. Kurt knew that he had just been serenaded in the middle of a crowd. Everyone else was just lucky enough to be in the room. Kurt’s heart beat fast, but he stood up and walked out of the room trying to push the feeling away as her prepared for his solo.
Luck was against him as we walked back to the green room with the rest of the New Directions to prepare for their turn he ran right into Blaine.

“Kurt… hey”

“I can’t right now Blaine… sorry… really, just go out and watch us. Ok?”

“Sure, Kurt.” Blaine replied uncertainly.

Kurt shot him a coy smile before turning around and following the rest of the choir, “At least you have permission this time.”

@@@@
Blaine wasn’t sure what to think, he had sang to Kurt, but when he saw him… nothing, the boy did nothing. Well maybe not nothing, Blaine thinks maybe he was flirting with him when he left, or was he just teasing. Of course Kurt was about to perform, is that why he hadn’t given him the time of day?

Blaine was pulled out of his thoughts with a heavy drum beat pounding him in his heart. Soon other instruments joined the drums as a spot light illuminated the stairs to Blaine’s right. He was sitting on the end on the row so he had a clear shot of the entire aisle. He was shocked when he turned around and saw Kurt standing at the top of the aisle singing.

We close our eyes and the world has turned around again
We close our eyes and dream
Another year has come and gone

Kurt slowly made his way to the center of the room. Blaine could hear back-up vocals from behind the curtain up front, but he only had eyes for Kurt.

When everybody is running in the big race
And having a good time
Who am I to cast a shadow
Who am I?
I looked death in the face last night
I saw him in a mirror and he simply smiled
He told me not to worry
He told me just to take my time

Kurt started moving down the stairs again dancing to the music.

We close our eyes and the world has turned around again
We close our eyes and dream
Another year has come and gone
We close our eyes and the world has turned around again
We close our eyes and dream

Kurt was now on the aisle next to Blaine and he turned and looked to him, just enough for Blaine to know that he was singing to him, even if he couldn’t be obvious about it.

And if you come to me
And if you touch my hand-Kurt reached his hand towards Blaine, but over his head so only they knew the moment was passing between them.
I might just slip away- Kurt lowered his hand.
I might just disappear He back toward the stage keeping his eyes on Blaine.
Who am I?
And if you think I'm worth it
And if you think it's not too late
We might start falling
If we don't try too hard
We might start falling in love

By this time Kurt was on stage, where the rest of his Glee club were still singing back-up and dancing.

We close our eyes and the world has turned around again
We close our eyes and dream
Another year has come and gone
We close our eyes and the world has turned around again
We close our eyes and dream

We're on the healing path
We're on a roller coaster ride that could never turn back
And if you love me
And if you really try to make the seconds count
Then we could close our eyes
Close our eyes
And the world has turned around again
Close our eyes
Another year has come and gone

We close our eyes and the world has turned around again
We close our eyes and dream
Another year has come and gone
We close our eyes and the world has turned around again
We close our eyes and dream

Close our eyes and the world has turned around again

Blaine was mesmerized by Kurt’s voice, it was like nothing he had ever heard before he sang the high notes effortlessly, he was not using his falsetto but his voice just went that high. His lower range was full and clear.

Blaine had never heard such a versatile, beautiful voice before. He knew the rest of the group was dancing and they were good, but he only had eyes for Kurt.

The song over Blaine was one of the first to lead a standing ovation much to Wes and David’s chagrin. As the applause dies down Kurt announced clearly but breathlessly, “Ladies and Gentlemen, we are the New Directions.” He then melted into the group, but Blaine never took his eyes off his lithe figure. Music started again and Blaine found himself mesmerized by Kurt’s dancing. He was only in the background now, but the Warbler couldn’t take his eyes away from the way Kurt moved effortlessly. Blaine clapped along with the rest of the audience he caught Kurt’s eye and Blaine was almost sure he saw him wink.

@@@@@@
Kurt walked off stage feeling like he was flying. His heart was racing and his every nerve felt like it was on fire. His skin tingled and he felt like he was vibrating from his toes to the tips of his hair. Each of his friends was smiling and laughing along with him. They felt great about their performance.

Kurt was startled when he felt a hand grab his from behind, he whipped around expecting to see Mercedes or Rachel or even Finn, but standing in front of him was Blaine Anderson.

A grin sprang to Kurt’s face before he could think of feigning disinterest. “Hey!” he said happily.

“You were amazing, I thought you said you never get solos.” Blaine said a huge smile on his face as well.

“Normally I don’t but Mr. Shue saw the error of his ways. You were great too, I think I have another new favorite song.”

“Me too, you need to tell me where you found that song sometime.” Blaine said playing with his program. “Hey before they announce the winner, do you think I could have your number?”

Kurt could see the worry of rejection all over Blaine’s face. “Give me your phone Mr. Anderson.” Once Blaine handed it over Kurt quickly added his number to Blaine’s contacts. As he handed the phone back he said, “You will have to text me or call me so I have your number too. I have to go, you should find your group too they will be announcing the winner soon.” And before he could stop himself Kurt turned and ran to Mercedes.

“I did it, I gave him my number.” He whispered in her ear as he walked her back to their green room.

@@@@
Blaine walked back to the Warbler’s green room in a daze. He had Kurt’s number securely in his phone. They were minutes from knowing who was going on to Regionals. And Blaine felt his heart racing from the smile that had illuminated Kurt’s face. He had never seen him look so radiant. A new sensation was taking over Blaine’s chest, it almost felt like his heart was breaking, no not breaking, like it was splitting to make room for this new feeling rising within him. It felt like his heart smiled every time he thought of Kurt. This was a feeling Blaine wanted to experience again and again.

Wes and David noticed the punch-drunk look on Blaine’s face immediately. At first they were worried he had been rejected yet again, by the boy they saw perform tonight. But as soon as he reached them a huge smile broke across Blaine’s face and he actually giggled as he said, “I got his number.”

The two older boys just shook their heads and placed a hand on each of his shoulders leading him to the green room, so they could await the judges’ decision.

@@@@
Thirty minutes later all three groups were situated on the stage waiting for the announcement of the winner. A portly gentleman came out talking about organ donation and other nonsense.

“And third place goes to… The Hipster.” He said and smiled to the group of saddened old people.

“And this year’s Sectionals winner is…” the wait as the man tore open the envelope was excruciating. Neither the Warblers not the New Directions so much as breathed as he pulled out the slip of paper that would decide their fates. “the New Directions. Congratulations.”

Kurt and his friends jumped up and down hugging each other, while the Warblers stood looking defeated. Kurt turned and saw the sad look on Blaine’s face and slowly approached the group.

“For what it’s worth, I thought your number was amazing.” He smiled at the group who thanked him, many returned the compliment, Kurt was sure out of politeness. He then turned to Blaine who said to him quietly.

“I don’t understand, how did you do it you didn’t even work on your numbers until this week. We have been perfecting ours for weeks. Don’t misunderstand me, you were outstanding, but how do you do it.”

“Loosen up a little, have more fun. Glee is more than just singing and dancing with precision, it is about expressing yourself and having fun while doing it. Even if the feelings you are expressing are sad, or you feel like you are broken, you should feel better after you finish. I saw you shining through your song, but everyone else, they were just a backdrop. No one in our group will let themselves be relegated to just being a backdrop. Each of us shines in our own way, which makes us… like a super nova. You were great though.” Kurt paused as he heard someone call his name. “I’ve got to go. You have my number.” And with a wink Kurt turned and walked away, leaving Blaine to contemplate his words.