Kurt Hummel’s plan to make his senior year magical had already hit several snags two weeks into the semester. The first was when he and Rachel were informed their plans for Juilliard had zero chance of happening. Then the entire glee club was slushied by the hockey team. Then came the NYADA mixer and Harmony and a frightening amount of talent he wasn’t even sure he could compete with. And of course there was Coach Sylvester and her futile attempts to destroy New Directions, this time using Santana, Becky, and unknowingly, Quinn, to do her dirty work. Now the glee club was down to just nine of the thirteen people who went to Nationals. The purple pianos hadn’t attracted any new singers to the group, but as always, Mr. Schuester and Rachel weren’t worried about the lack of members and focused on strengthening everyone else to make up for the lost voices.

Truth be told, even if NYADA rejected him, Kurt was going to New York no matter what. The trip in May confirmed his need to spend his life in the city. Lima was a small-minded town that would hold him back from everything just because the majority did not agree with his sexuality. He didn’t think he could take any more than another year of the glares and snickering that followed him everywhere. He was lucky that the rest of the glee club had supported him when he came out, but it was still a difficult process. He kept Dave’s secret to himself, slowly forgiving him for the bullying that made his junior year pure hell. Even over the summer when Santana came to him for advice on her feelings for Brittany, she made him swear not to tell another person or risk losing his entire wardrobe. With two closeted people at McKinley (which was reduced after the Karofskys moved to Toledo), Kurt understood how being gay in a small town was going to be a problem no matter how many more rights were granted to same-sex couples. The only homosexual adults he knew were Rachel’s fathers, and he admired how they took the hostility in stride and were still role models for their daughter, despite others’ insistence they could not be.

Kurt was standing at his locker Monday morning getting his French and Government books out when he felt a tap on his shoulder. Expecting it to be Mercedes, he turned around to ask about her weekend, but was startled at who he found instead. It was a boy he had never seen around school before. Kurt would have remembered seeing him around before because he was, simply put, beyond handsome. He was slightly shorter than Kurt, but from the look of his upper arms, looked toned but not overly muscular. His hair was tamed with a massive amount of gel, but in a few places it curled out at the ends. His wardrobe was quite different from the rest of the male students: a black polo, red and gray striped tie, cropped red pants with a braided white belt, and black shoes. Kurt knew after his failed crushes on Finn and Sam that he shouldn’t get his hopes up, but there was something about this boy that had already made him enamored with him.

Then the boy opened his mouth. “Hi,” he said, and Kurt was even in love with this stranger’s speaking voice. “This is my first day here and I forgot my map at home. Can you tell me where room 149 is?”

When Kurt tried to answer, he found his mouth was unable to work properly. He then nodded. “Yeah, i…it’s around the corner at the end of the next hallway. It’s on the way to my French class, so I can walk there with you.”

“Thanks,” the boy answered with a smile. “I meant to ask my sister, but she mentioned something about her boyfriend needing some homework help so she came early without me. I’m Blaine, by the way.”

“Well hello, Blaine, I’m Kurt,” he said offering his hand. Something flickered in Blaine’s eyes, but Kurt chalked it up to his friendliness. They walked down towards their classrooms, talking the entire way. He found out Blaine was a junior who had just transferred from Dalton Academy because it was time for a change. He loved football, much to Kurt’s chagrin, but also had a deep affection for the arts, especially singing. When Kurt brought up the glee club, Blaine mentioned he had already heard great things about the group and would probably audition at some point. Before they knew it, they reached the room Blaine’s precalculus class was held in.

“It’s been very nice to meet you, Kurt. Hopefully I’ll see you around later on, if not when I come check out the glee club,” Blaine said.

Kurt nodded. “Likewise. Take care.” Blaine waved to him before disappearing into the classroom.

The day flew by, and before Kurt knew it, the final bell rang. He went to his locker to grab the books he needed to take home that evening before heading to the choir room. He wasn’t anticipating Blaine to show up that afternoon, but walking in, Kurt saw the boy standing up front with Mr. Schuester and Rachel. With a warm smile towards Blaine, Kurt took a seat next to Tina and began discussing plans for the physics project they were doing together. It wasn’t long before Mr. Schuester got everyone’s attention to begin.

“Okay guys, before we talk about this week’s assignment, I would like to introduce you to our newest member…Blaine Berry.”

The other members of New Directions, save for Finn who was clapping, sat in stunned silence. Rachel had never made mention of having a brother, not even to her closest friends. Kurt looked at Mercedes, who began shaking her head. If Blaine had even half the talent Rachel did, the chances of them getting solos had dropped from slim to never.

Brittany was the one who finally broke the silence. “Did Mr. Schue have another son? Is Jesse hiding around here?”

Rachel chuckled. “No, Blaine’s my younger brother. When we moved to Lima, he won a scholarship to Dalton Academy and decided to attend there instead.”

“And it was amazing there,” Blaine continued. “I was in the Warblers, their acapella group, and almost beat Vocal Adrenaline at regionals last year. Too bad I wasn’t involved the year before…” he trailed off.

“You don’t need her, Blaine. You’re much better off not knowing her,” Rachel whispered, placing a hand on Blaine’s back to comfort him.

Mr. Schuester interrupted the moment. “Blaine, I can tell you Ms. Corcoran is a wonderful woman who would be proud of you. But for now, why don’t you show us a bit of what you did out at Dalton? I’ve heard some impressive things about the Warblers.”

“Thank you, Mr. Schuester,” Blaine said. He smiled at Rachel, who took a seat next to her boyfriend to give her brother support for his audition. “Um, I know you guys are probably expecting an acapella number, but it wouldn’t be right without the rest of the guys here. But would you mind if I played something instead?” he asked, nodding towards the piano.

“Not at all, go ahead,” Mr. Schuester said. Blaine smiled and sat down in front of the keys to begin playing. His fingers danced across the ivory as he started a few vocal runs. Kurt was impressed already. Then Blaine began singing…

Handle bars, and then I let go, let go for anyone
Take me in, and throw out my heart and get a new one
Next thing, we’re touching
You look at me, it’s like you hit me with lightning, ahhh
Oh, everybody’s starry-eyed
And everybody goes
Oh, everybody’s starry-eyed
And my body goes
Whoa oh oh ah ah
Whoa oh oh ah ah
Whoa oh oh

Kurt was mesmerized by Blaine’s voice. It was powerful, yet soothing. He had the same amount of talent as Rachel, but instead of the theatrics she thrived upon in her performances, Blaine chose to present it in an understated way. What Kurt didn’t notice was that every time Blaine looked up from the keys towards his audience, his eyes always landed on the same person.

As Blaine played the final notes of the song, the class gave him a standing ovation. “I’d do this twice if I could,” Artie joked while joining everyone in the applause.

“Blaine,” Mr. Schuester said, “I think I speak for everyone when I say welcome to New Directions.”