They arrived at the theater where the competition was held. Rachel immediately took the lead over the group and went looking for the registration table. Soon after that they were guided to the backstage to get ready for their performance.

All the time Kurt was anxiously looking all around him searching Blaine with his eyes.

“I think I saw some of the Warblers downstairs at the entrance,” Mercedes whispered in his ear. “Just avoid being seen by Rachel, if you don’t want to hear her speech about befriending an enemy and sabotaging your own chances to win.”

Kurt laughed quietly, “Thanks, Mercedes.” With that he kissed the girl’s cheek and quietly slid out the door.

He went downstairs and instantly noticed group of Warblers, Blaine standing among them. He looked so different from the time when Kurt had seen him in the Westerville’s coffee shop. He was wearing Dalton’s uniform, which made Blaine look more serious and elite. His curly hair were neatly combed back and styled with hair gel. Only his eyes were shining just like the other night and Blaine’s smile never left his lips.

Suddenly the boy turned his head and saw Kurt looking at him. He politely excused himself from the rest of the boys and walked towards. Kurt caught his breath, when Blaine stopped in front of him still smiling.

“Hi, Kurt! Ready for to perform?” he said cheerfully.

“Yes, and you?” was all Kurt managed to say.

“Yeah, we’ve rehearsed so much that I’m sure we’ll do a good job.”
Suddenly on of the Warblers called Blaine’s name signalizing that it’s time to go.

“Excuse me; we’re performing first so I really must go now, Kurt. It was nice to see you. Maybe we could meet after the competition?”

“Yes, I’d love to,” Kurt replied too eagerly. Did I sound desperate? He thought.

“Okay, then see you soon. And good luck!” Blaine called walking away.

“Good luck to you, too!” Kurt said and turned back to stairs.

When he arrived in the backstage Mercedes immediately took his hand and pulled him towards the audience where rest of the New Directions were already taking places and waiting for the performances to start. Kurt sat down and looked at the stage impatiently.

Lights were slowly switched off and music filled the room. Kurt recognized this melody – Raise Your Glass.

Right right, turn off the lights
We gonna lose our minds tonight
What's the dealio?
I love when it's all too much
5 AM turn the radio up
Where's the rock and roll?

Party crasher, panty snatcha'
Call me up if you are gangsta'
Don't be fancy, just get dancey
Why so serious?

Kurt was surprised to see Blaine leading the whole group. He moved so naturally on stage like he was born to be there, smiling at the audience and enjoying every second of this.

So raise your glass if you are wrong
In all the right ways
All my underdogs, we will never be, never be
Anything but loud
And nitty gritty dirty little freaks
Won't you come on, and come on, and
Raise your glass
Just come on and come and
Raise Your Glass!

Slam slam oh hot damn
What part of party don't you understand?
Wish you'd just freak out
Can't stop coming in hot
I should be locked up right on the spot
It's so on right now

Party crasher, panty snatcha'
Call me up if you a gangsta'
Don't be fancy, just get dancey
Why so serious?

Kurt was looking at Warblers completely amazed. They moved so syncronized with each other and even Blaine was leading, he wasn’t trying to stand out all the time, like it happened with Rachel and New Directions. He was part of the group.

So raise your glass if you are wrong
In all the right ways
All my underdogs, we will never be, never be
Anything but loud
And nitty gritty dirty little freaks

Won't you come on, and come on, and
Raise your glass
Just come on and come and
Raise Your Glass!
Just come on and come on and
Raise your glass!
Just come on and come and
Raise your glass!

My glass is empty...that sucks!

So if you're too school for cool
And you're treated like a fool (treated like a fool)
You could choose to let it go
We can always, we can always
Party on our own...

All of sudden Blaine looked straight at Kurt and smiled the most adorable smile Kurt had ever seen. There was so much happiness in his eyes that it seemed he could burst in any minute.

So raise your
So raise your glass if you are wrong
In all the right ways
All my underdogs, we will never be, never be
Anything but loud
And nitty gritty dirty little freaks
So raise your glass if you are wrong In all the right ways
All my underdogs, we will never be never be!
Anything but loud
And nitty gritty dirty little freaks
Won't you come on! and come on! and
Raise your glass
Just come on and come and
Raise your glass
Won't you come on! and come on! and
Raise your glass
For me
Just come on and come and
Raise your glass
...for me

Blaine finished the song looking right into Kurt’s eyes. The audience started to cheer and Kurt jumped to his feet to applaud. So did the rest of the New Direction, except Rachel, who wasn’t looking so self – confident anymore.

***
After finishing the song Warblers quickly disappeared in the backstage, where they congratulated Blaine and each other with a successful performance.

“We will win, guys! We will win!” Wes announced patting Blaine’s back. “Now let’s go and see what our opponents are up to.”

With that boys quietly left the back stage and went looking for some empty seats in the audience. Blaine noticed that the New Directions had already left to prepare for their number. He remembered the smile on Kurt’s face when Blaine was looking at him from the stage, and how Kurt jumped to his feet to cheer in the end.

Next choir was Aural Intensity, but Blaine wasn’t paying much attention to them. He couldn’t wait to see New Directions perform. Next to him, Wes was looking amused.

“You look too excited considering that they are our rivals, although not the best ones,” Wes whispered to Blaine.

“What?” Blaine looked distraught, brought back from his daydreaming. “Oh, I wasn’t listening to them, sorry. Did I miss something?” he looked at Wes, who just laughed quietly.

“If I didn’t know you’ve met that guy only once I’d think that you’ve fallen so hard for him,” he whispered, suppressing laughter.

Blaine just glared at him. By this time Aural Intensity had finished their performance and everybody applauded although Blaine didn’t even hear what song they had sung.

“And now, please welcome the McKinley High Glee club, The New Directions!” presenter announced and Blaine finally turned his full attention to the stage.

Can anybody find me somebody to love?
Dark haired girl and boy stepped out of the group of kids and started to sing.

Each morning I get up I die a little
Can barely stand on my feet
Take a look in the mirror and cry
Lord what you're doing to me
I have spent all my years in believing you
But I just can't get no relief, Lord!
Somebody, somebody
Can anybody find me somebody to love?

I work hard every day of my life
I work till I ache my bones
At the end I take home my hard earned pay all on my own -
I get down on my knees
And I start to pray
Till the tears run down from my eyes
Lord - somebody - somebody
Can anybody find me - somebody to love?

Blaine had to admit they were good. Really good. Maybe the girl was overacting a bit and being too theatrical, but her voice was gorgeous. That’s something you can’t deny.

Everyday - I try and I try and I try -
But everybody wants to put me down
They say I'm goin' crazy
They say I got a lot of water in my brain
Got no common sense
I got nobody left to believe
Yeah - yeah yeah yeah

“Which one is he?” Wes quietly whispered to Blaine.

“Left corner, last row,” he whispered back, his eyes glued to Kurt. At first it was difficult to notice him, because he was standing at side, but when Blaine’s eyes found Kurt, no one else on the stage mattered any more.

“Not that I understand much, but he is really good looking. Good catch, Blaine Anderson, good catch,” Wes patted his friend’s back smiling cheeky. That earned another glare from Blaine.

Oh Lord
Somebody - somebody
Can anybody find me somebody to love?

Got no feel, I got no rhythm
I just keep losing my beat
I'm ok, I'm alright
Ain't gonna face no defeat
I just gotta get out of this prison cell
Someday I'm gonna be free, Lord!

Find me somebody to love
Can anybody find me somebody to love?

The New Directions finished their song and audience exploded with cheers. Blaine started to feel a bit insecure about their chances to win. McKinley Glee club was good, though Blaine had wanted to hear Kurt sing.

***
Thirty minutes later all three Glee clubs stood on the stage, waiting for the results. Blaine couldn’t stop himself from glancing at Kurt from time to time. Once he even caught Kurt’s sight and saw the boy blushing slightly. What was going on in that kid’s head? Blaine wondered.

“And the third place goes to… Aural Intensity!” presented announced and everyone clapped. That didn’t make Blaine feel any more relieved. His nerves and heart were going crazy. Hearing the results always was the most stressful part of any competition.

“And this year’s Sectional winner is… the Dalton Academy Warblers and McKinley High New Directions! It’s a tie!”

All of sudden Blaine was pulled in a group hug with the rest of the Warblers who were shouting and jumping.

“We’re having a party tonight!” one of the boys screamed and Blaine couldn’t contain his laughter. He looked at the New Directions and saw them cheering and hugging, too.

“Go and congratulate him,” Wes told Blaine standing to his side again. “I know you want to. And now, when the competition is over, you don’t have to feel guilty for anything.”

“I will talk to him, but not here. I don’t want to do that on the stage,” Blaine explained.

“You can invite him to our party, if you want,” Wes said.

Blaine looked at him with wide eyes, “I barely know him, plus he’s in a rival choir and now you want me to simply ask him to come to our celebration? What are the others going to say?”

“You don’t know Warblers if you think they’re not going to support you,” Wes said sounding a bit offended. “If you don’t want to bring him to our party, okay, go out for a coffee or something. You promised not to hide from people, Blaine.”

“Okay, I’ll talk to him and maybe we’ll go for a coffee. But is it fine that I’ll miss the party?” Blaine looked at Wes concerned.

“For the lead singer you’re terribly insecure, Blaine. It’s not our last party and we will have another one when we win the Nationals. Now, go!” and with that Wes gently pushed Blaine towards the New Directions who were leaving the stage.
Blaine took a deep breath and stepped forwards to Kurt who was the last one leaving from the McKinley choir.

“Wait, Kurt!” Blaine called, surprised how sure his voice sounded.

Kurt turned to him, his face beaming.

“Congratulations on the victory!” Blaine smiled at him.

“Congrats to you, too,” Kurt smiled back. “You were really great. All of you, I mean! All the Warblers, together, as a choir,” he started to ramble making Blaine laugh.

“Relax, I understand!” Blaine kept laughing. When his laughter died down, an awkward quiet took their place.

“Would you… hmm… would you like to have some coffee tonight?” Blaine started finally breaking the silence. “If you don’t have any other plans, of course!” he quickly added, mentally slapping himself for sounding so forward.

“Well, the New Directions will be having a party tonight, but I wasn’t planning to go, so coffee sounds great,” Kurt replied shyly.

Blaine’s eyes brightened up immediately. “I came here with my car, so maybe I can pick you up? We could meet outside the theatre,” he suggested.

“Yeah, that’s very nice. We came here by bus, so I’m left without transport, Kurt explained. “I only need to tell my friends I’m not going with them and change my clothes. Is that okay?”

“Sure, take your time. I’ll wait for you outside,” Blaine granted him one more smile and turned to leave feeling happier than he had today.