"So, Quinn...what can you tell me about Blaine?" Kurt said in what he hoped was a nonchalant manner as they got off the bus together the next morning.

            "Blaine...Anderson?" Kurt nodded, trying to hide how eager he was. "He and his group of Neanderthal jocks barely ever speak a word to people like us.  So unless you know cheerleader - it's not worth it.  Why?"

            "Oh...I was just wondering...he seemed nice enough to me." Quinn rolled her eyes at that before Kurt continued, "He's not like...um...dating anyone, is he?"

            Quinn looked at Kurt suspiciously before replying, "No...I've never actually seen him "date" someone steadily, to be quite honest.  But rumor has it he's hooked up with more than his fair share of girls."

            "Oh. That's interesting. Thanks, Quinn." Kurt replied bashfully as he hurried into school, excited by the new tidbits of information, leaving Quinn behind with a puzzled look on her face.

            "What...I don't wanna know," she said, shaking her head as she followed him into the building.  

------

            Blaine had spent most of that morning pacing. Today was glee club auditions. It was time for him to make a decision, one he wasn't sure if he was ready for.

            So he paced.  Back and forth, back and forth.  Normally when he was really freaking out, he would go to his special hiding place and calm down.  But there wasn't enough time today, so he had to let off his energy in the easiest way possible with a minimal amount of people thinking he was insane.  And off he went. 

            Back and forth.  Oh my god, Blaine, everyone's gonna think you're insane stop it.  But he couldn't.  This wasn't just a decision about whether or not to join some club.  This would choose the way he'd be remembered in high school.  This would choose whether or not he wanted to stand up for something and embrace who he really was, a side of him almost no one had ever seen before - except Kurt. Kurt was the reason he was doing this, and Kurt, he knew, would have to stand by him if they decided to do this.  Because Blaine couldn't do it alone. 

            He leaned against a nearby wall, trying to calm down, and stared at the audition sheet tacked on the board in front of him.  On one hand, there was possible public humiliation and ostracism, disappointing his dad, and having to give up on something he'd had to do his whole life.  On the other...there was Kurt.  Kurt and a whole new life and whole new dreams and beginning something he'd never even thought of as a possibility and maybe feeling better than he ever had while being on the team. 

            Almost as if he sensed that Blaine was freaking out, Kurt walked in the doors of the school and noticed Blaine, leaning there, looking horribly distressed.  He was thinking about going over there when Puck appeared from around the corner and went right up to his best friend.  Of course.

            "Hey, bro.  So, I know we don't have practice right away after school because the synchronized swimmers have the pool, but the rest of  the team and I were thinking about meeting up anyways in the weight room to work on some stuff.  So as our team leader, what do you think we should do?"

            "Uh...I don't think I can make it."  Blaine looked away from Puck and caught Kurt's eye, just for a moment, before turning back to his friend with a barely noticeable smile on his face.

            "...What? What do you mean, you can't make it. You have to be there. You're the captain!"

            "I have. Um. Homework to catch up on. Right.  I gotta pass Chem or I can't play, right? Homework."

            "...Right.  Okay, I guess I'll just see you at practice?"

            "Of course."

            And just like that...Blaine had made his decision.  He just had to make sure Kurt was on the same page.  Kurt was standing by his locker, alone, when Blaine walked towards him, as nonchalantly and as quickly as possible. 

            "So...will I be seeing you after school today?"

            Kurt jumped a little at hearing Blaine's voice so close to him.  He hesitated for a brief second and took the chance to look Blaine up and down.  His voice was enthusiastic and sincere, and he had one arm against the row of lockers, leaning up on it, trying to appear suave.  For a second, Kurt couldn't even remember what Blaine had asked him - not only did he look gorgeous today, but he was so close Kurt wanted to jump on him - but he quickly came to his senses.

            "Yes. You will." A quiet smile spread across his face as he said it.

            Blaine broke into a broad grin.  He wanted to hug Kurt, he was so oddly excited.  "Awesome."

----

            By the time Blaine arrived at the auditorium that afternoon, auditions had already started.  He could see Rachel Berry proudly seated front and center, wearing an expression of encouragement and faint disgust at whoever was currently singing.  Mr. Schue sat towards the middle of the theater, taking notes on the girl singing now - a mousy redhead with some serious pitch issues.  A seemingly shy Asian girl sat at the piano, accompanying her.

            "Wow...is she even in the same key as the accompanist? I could barely even recognize the song and I hear it on the radio every day."

            Now it was Blaine's turn to jump as Kurt snuck up behind him.  They were standing in the very back area of the theater, where it was dark enough that no one could see them. 

            "Oh my god, I know.  I really didn't think anyone could butcher Taylor Swift more than Taylor already has, but...wow."

            Kurt laughed quietly as so no one else could hear them.  "Are you as scared to go audition as I am?" he whispered quietly to Blaine after a moment.

            Blaine nodded slowly.  "Maybe this was stupid...maybe we should just go."

            "No, let's just wait. Please?"

Blaine looked at Kurt and realized...he would never be able to say no to this boy.  As the girl onstage finished, they snuck into the back row and sat back to watch the performances - most of which were, unfortunately, pretty excruciating.  There were a few standouts here and there - including one Asian boy who didn't even bother singing but just came on stage and danced for about 30 seconds before leaping off the stage - but for the most part, Blaine and Kurt felt like their ears were bleeding.  At one point, Kurt started to zone out and noticed that Blaine had already done so and had been staring at him for presumably the past several minutes.

            "What?" He looked at Blaine concernedly, as if he thought that something was horribly wrong with him that Blaine had just noticed.

            Blaine leaned over close to whisper in his ear.  "I was just thinking about how much better you were compared to all of these people."

            Kurt flushed slightly as he felt Blaine's breath on his neck, his lips brushing his ear, his compliment filling his brain and spreading out onto his face in a warm, embarrassed smile. 

            Once the last person had finished singing, Mr. Schue stood up, looking exhausted because of all he had just had to sit through, and turned to face the students sitting around him.  "Alright, thank you all so much for auditioning.  Are there any more last minute sign-ups?"

            The auditorium was silent.  Kurt and Blaine, ducked under the seats so Schue wouldn't notice them, looked at each other. 

            "Anyone?" Another silent pause.  Blaine made a gesture towards the door as if they should go, but Kurt remained frozen in place.

            "Alright.  Callbacks will be posted on Wednesday."

            The students began to file out of the auditorium.  Blaine was about to go with them, when suddenly -

            "Mr. Schue, I'd like to audition." Kurt stood up proudly and quickly before he had time for his nerves to take over.

            The teacher turned around, surprised.  "Well, I'm sorry, but it's too late.  I called for anyone to audition last minute and you didn't respond.  Punctuality is key, Mr. Hummel."

            "Yes, sir, I know, but couldn't I just - "

            "Rules are rules.  I'm sorry, but I'm not going to be able to allow this."

            Blaine, at first so shocked at Kurt's bravery, suddenly became outraged.  With a sudden burst of courage, he stood up from behind the seats and said, "Oh, come on, can't you just let him sing? He's got an incredible voice."

            Now Schue really looked shocked.  "Blaine Anderson?  Well, isn't this a surprise.  Shouldn't you be in a pool somewhere, doing...whatever it is you jocks do?"  Mr. Schue's expression suddenly turned from one of shock to smug realization as he looked at the two boys.  "Unless...you were planning on auditioning as well?"

            Blaine took a deep breath.  "I was considering it, sir."

            Schue sighed.  "Well, that's just too bad, boys.  I should've known Kurt here was with you, considering you can never make it on time to my class to begin with.  Auditions are over.  You are dismissed."

            Blaine's temper rose and he began to say, "But that's just not fair, you can't do th-" when he was silenced with a glance back from Kurt.  Blaine could see the disappointment in his eyes, but also the look of resignation that it wasn't worth fighting back. As they began to exit their row, Rachel haughtily sped past them, first sticking her nose up at Kurt, then smiling at Blaine. It was obvious she hadn't wanted Kurt to audition in the first place, and had only wanted Blaine to because of her crush.  Now I wish I was in this club only so I can beat this girl out at everything. The nerve of her to treat us like that...Kurt was disgusted.  On second thought, maybe this is a blessing in disguise that we don't have to deal with Rachel Berry every day...The two boys began to slowly make their way out together, disappointed, when suddenly they both heard a thud from behind them.

            The girl who had been playing the piano seemed to have tripped as she was making her way out from behind the bench and had fallen, her papers flying everywhere.  Blaine, almost without thinking, ran up the aisle towards the stage, with Kurt not far behind him.       

            "Hey, oh my god, are you okay?" Blaine asked tenderly, looking into the nervous girl's eyes.  She didn't reply, but just stared at him with a clearly shocked gaze.  It was almost as if she couldn't believe that Blaine was talking to her.  Looking at her expression, Kurt realized that to her, Blaine was a celebrity. 

            Kurt fluttered about, trying to collect her papers as Blaine offered her his hand to help her off the floor. 

            "Your name's Tina, right?" Blaine asked, encouragingly. Again, the girl didn't speak, but merely nodded apprehensively. There was an awkward pause, and Blaine continued, "Well, I'm Blaine, and this is my, um,"

            "I'm Kurt. Kurt Hummel. I just moved in here." Tina looked between the two of them and said nothing.  Kurt and Blaine looked at each other and again there was an awkward pause as they both tried to figure out what was wrong with this girl - or at least how they could get her to open up to them.

            "So, um, we were listening to you play.  You've got some seriously impressive skills, there.  Trying to follow some of those singers is hard enough as it is...I really like your work," Kurt offered helpfully.

            Finally, this was something Tina seemed able to relate to.  "Thank you," she said timidly, although it was obvious the praise had excited her.  "I worked on rearranging a bunch of pieces to make them sound better for piano before this audition...no one really wanted to sing them, though."  She spoke quickly and in a quiet voice, but she actually seemed interested in talking to them now. "Would you guys...like to hear one?"

            Kurt looked at Blaine and shrugged.  "Why not?"

            "I think I have one perfect for you two."  Tina ruffled through her stack of scattered papers until she pulled out a piece of sheet music that had been scribbled all over with her notes. 

            Simple chords filled the air while Tina's dexterous hands plunked out a melody for them to sing.  Both boys recognized the old Beatles' tune immediately - but under Tina's rearrangement, it sounded different.  It was slower, in a different key, and the melody was made simpler, but somehow much more intimate.  With nothing but the piano playing, the chords echoed in the large empty space. After a look from Tina as they approached the end of the intro, Kurt began to sing.

Who knows how long I've loved you
You know I love you still
Will I wait a lonely lifetime?
If you want me to I will

Blaine joined on the second verse, smiling secretly at Kurt as he did, who grinned back in turn.
For if I ever saw you
I didn't catch your name
But it never really mattered
I will always feel the same

On the chorus, Kurt joined in with Blaine, singing the melody as Blaine harmonized easily underneath.  Together, the three voices swelled and blended in a crescendo of beautiful music.

Love you forever and forever
Love you with all my heart
Love you whenever we're together
Love you when we're apart

Kurt and Blaine had moved closer together now, looking deep into each other's eyes as they floated through the simple notes of the love song.  With every note Tina played as the piece grew more complex, they seemed more and more drawn to each other, and their voices grew to blend so well that it seemed as if they were coming from the same person.  For the last verse, Blaine took the melody yet again as Kurt began to harmonize, each taking a line as the song drew to a close.

And when at last I find you
Your song will fill the air
Sing it loud so I can hear you
Make it easy to be near you
For the things you do endear you to me
Oh, you know I will, I will

            Tina finished out the song with a flourish and looked up happily at the two boys.  At some point during the song, Blaine's hand had come to rest on top of Kurt's on top of the upright piano, and Kurt's head was turned to look at Blaine.  Both were beaming at each other shyly, amazed not only at how good they had sounded together but how well they had connected to the song.  As Kurt looked at him, Blaine thought, I have never wanted to kiss someone more in my whole life.  Of course, he couldn't do anything, but even as Kurt turned to talk to Tina he seemed as if he were in a daze just thinking of the possibilities this song might have brought about.

            However, he was quickly snapped out of his reverie when a voice boomed from the back of the auditorium, scaring all three of them.

            "Mr. Anderson.  Mr. Hummel."  Mr. Schue stepped out from around the wall protecting the back entrance to the theatre with a stern look on his face.

            Ohhh no. Oh god. Kurt thought.  How long has he BEEN there? Shit, are we doing something wrong? Are we going to get in trouble did he see me and Blaine and -

            "Yes, Mr. Schuester?" Blaine's cut through his panic.

            "You two have a callback.  Tina, make sure they're prepared."

            Tina's face lit up and she immediately started talking more than either of them had ever expected her to.  "Oh my gosh, this is so exciting! You guys have to join glee club we'll have so much fun! Okay, I can meet with you guys after school, or before if that's better - you can come to my house!  Or I have a study hall, or there's free period..."

            "Uh...a callback? No, I -" Well, fuck.  Blaine didn't know someone was actually going to hear him sing, and now - how was he going to explain this one to his team? Or, even worse, to his dad? Singing with Kurt had felt so right...but now, suddenly, joining glee club was becoming a tangible thing that he could do...but he wasn't sure if he was willing to sacrifice everything he'd ever known to do it. 

            Blaine looked around towards the clock and Kurt could see the panic and worry in his eyes as he did so. 

            "No, I...I have to go. I'm going to be late for practice, um, shit, bye - I'll see you later, Kurt?"

            And just like that, Blaine had run out of the auditorium, leaving Kurt standing there awkwardly with Tina, a little scared of Blaine's frenzy of panic and emotion and what it might mean for their future.

            Shit, Kurt thought. Now what were they going to do?