“It’s nothing,” Blaine said, turning his phone so Jeff couldn’t see it.

“It’s awful funny to be ‘nothing.’,” Jeff teased. “Sounds like it might be ‘something.’”
Blaine could feel the blush spread on his cheeks, against his will. “Oooh, does Blainers have a boy toy I should know about?”

“I hate you,” Blaine stuck his tongue out.

“You love me, and you know it,” Jeff insisted. “Seriously, what are you laughing at?”

Blaine looked at him for a moment, debating if he could tell him the truth. Nick, one of the other cast members, chose that moment to join them.

“What are we talking about, boys?” Nick asked, flopping down in the chair next to Blaine.

“Blaine’s about to divulge all his deepest, darkest secrets,” Jeff replied. Nick laughed.

“Blaine doesn’t have secrets,” he poked Blaine in the side, and Blaine joined in the laughter, a little uncomfortable.

“Well, actually…” Blaine trailed off. “I’ve kind of been… talking to someone.”

“You horndog! I knew it,” Jeff crowed. “Spill.”

“Fine,” Blaine sighed. “Okay, so you know that day I accidentally tweeted my phone number?” Both boys nodded. “Well, I found out about it because someone called my number and told me.”

“You mean…like a fan of the show?” Nick clarified.

Blaine hesitated before answering. “Yep.” He paused and let that sink in. “I found out he has a Twitter, and we’ve been messaging back and forth ever since.”

“Blaine, that’s…” Jeff looked worried.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Blaine cut him off. “It’s crazy. I don’t even know him, what if he’s a psycho.”

“Yeah, pretty much,” Nick agreed.

“He’s not,” Blaine said. “He’s a seventeen year old boy who lives in Ohio. He likes to sing, he’s a cheerleader, and his dad just got remarried.”

“Whoa,” Jeff muttered.

“You’ve really been talking,” Nick said. “What’s his name?”

“Kurt,” Blaine’s tone softened, and he pulled up the picture that he’d finally talked Kurt into sending. “This is him.”

“You like him.” Nick looked at Blaine.

“I really do,” Blaine confirmed. “He doesn’t care that I’m famous. If I say something stupid, he calls me on it.”

“Sounds like true love,” Jeff teased.

“You never know,” Blaine murmured.

~**~

Kurt was excited. He couldn’t wait any longer to message Blaine and tell him. He pulled out his phone, hiding it down on his lap as he opened Twitter and signed on. Mr. Schue had finally gotten the letter about their competition for Sectionals, with just a week left to go. Mr. Schue had also announced the leads for the competition and for the first time ever, Kurt had a solo.

He was excited and terrified and he had to tell Blaine.

(Guess what? You’ll never guess! Two things: One – they announced our competition for Sectionals today and we’re up against your old high school! And two – I GOT A SOLO! If you can’t tell, I’m a little excited.)

Kurt grinned widely as he pressed send.

~**~

“Oooh, what’s that?” Nick leaned over. “Another message from Lover Boy?”

“Bite me,” Blaine replied. “And yes, it’s from Kurt.” Blaine opened the message and read it, laughing.

“What’s it say?”

“Well, he’s excited because he just got his first competition solo for glee club, and he wanted to let me know they’re going up against Crawford Country Day at Sectionals.” Blaine answered. “That’s too funny.”

Blaine had attended Crawford Country Day, a co-ed private school in Westerville, Ohio, for a little over a year before he’d landed the role of James on Dalton. He had fond memories of the place, including performing in the glee club. He’d mailed in a tape in response to an open casting call for Dalton, landed the role of James and the rest was TV history.

“When’s the last time you were home?” Nick asked.

“You know it’s been awhile,” Blaine replied, shifting uncomfortably. He didn’t like to talk about his home life – he didn’t get along with his father very well because of his sexuality, and Blaine had ended up filing for legal emancipation once he’d turned seventeen. His mother was still living here in LA, but Blaine had his own place now, and it worked better for him that way. His father was back in Ohio still, working for one of more prestigious law firms in downtown Columbus.

“So let’s go then,” Jeff chimed in. Blaine stared at him in shock.

“What?”

“Let’s go to Ohio, and surprise your boy toy.”

~**~

The day of Sectionals dawned bright and shiny, despite the cold Ohio weather. Kurt felt really good about their chances – even with all the relationship drama going on (it was what New Directions did best, after all), he was still pretty sure they were going to win. Crawford Country Day had never placed at Sectionals, not even when Blaine was there, and the other group they were up against were older contestants known as the Hipsters.

Kurt was almost certain they had it in the bag. The bus ride to the competition alternated between tense silences and nervous chatter, and Kurt spent the time with his iPod, playing his solo on repeat and humming under his breath.

He couldn’t wait.

~**~

Blaine kind of felt like he was in a bad spy movie as he tugged his baseball cap lower on his head and moved through the crowd. He was wearing his hair in loose curls and he hoped that helped as far as disguises went. He didn’t want to draw attention to himself. The last thing he needed was for someone to recognize him. Jeff and Nick were wearing hats as well, though they tended not to get recognized as often as Blaine did.

As Jeff like to say, Blaine was a “media darling,” and therefore attracted more attention than anyone else on the show.

Luckily, they were able to pass through the crowd without any trouble, and find three seats in the back. Blaine kept his eye peeled for Kurt as they sat down, but figured he was probably in the green room with the rest of his glee club.

“Did it get crushed?” Nick asked, looking at Blaine. Blaine glanced down at the yellow rose he held tightly in his hand.

“No, thankfully,” Blaine answered. He’d brought it for Kurt, but whether or not he’d have the chance to give it to him, Blaine didn’t know. The house lights dimmed, and Nick opened the program he’d snagged on their way in.

“Which one is Kurt’s school again?” he asked.

“McKinley High New Directions,” Blaine replied, glancing at the program over Nick’s shoulder. “Looks like they’re last.”

The Hipsters came out first and sang an amazing rendition of “In the Living Years,” as well as two other numbers, but Blaine had a feeling they weren’t going to win this. When it was Crawford’s turn, he clapped hard, and danced along in his seat to their chosen songs – he hated to admit it, but while their lead singer was good, he wasn't that good, and their dancing wasn’t up to par.

If New Directions were as good or better, they had this in the bag.

The crowd grew silent when McKinley was introduced, and then a male voice began to sing at the back of the auditorium. Blaine turned around with the rest of the audience to see a blond boy in the back. The spotlight found him, and he was joined after a second by a blond girl, and the two of them duetted their way to the stage, singing “Time of My Life” from Dirty Dancing.

When they reached the stage, the curtain parted, and Blaine gasped. There was Kurt, front and center, clearly one of the better dancers as they went through their routine.

The song ended and everyone clapped. Blaine couldn’t move. He couldn’t take his eyes off Kurt, and when the music slowed down, and Kurt opened his mouth to start singing – well, Blaine was pretty sure he forgot how to breathe. The rest of their group was slow dancing around him as he sang, the haunting lyrics to “Blackbird” by the Beatles filling the room. The song drew to a close, and they moved into another formation as a dark haired girl started singing “Valerie”.

“He’s really good,” Jeff whispered.

“He’s really, really good,” Nick agreed.

“He’s amazing,” Blaine finally breathed out.

*

Kurt thought his heart might burst with joy when the New Directions was announced as the winner. They were going to Regionals. Just about everyone had cleared out while they were changing – it might have had to do with the fact that they kept fighting over who got to hold the trophy, and celebrating when they should have been getting dressed.

The parking lot was pretty deserted aside from their bus and a handful of cars.

Kurt was talking excitedly with Rachel and Mercedes, planning a celebration sleepover when he spotted three guys in baseball caps standing next to their bus. No one else had noticed them yet.

He stared at them, suddenly nervous. He could feel change in the air, and it terrified him. Kurt had no idea why he felt this way, but it washed over him, and he froze in place, staring.
The one in the middle looked familiar.

Really familiar.

“Oh, my God,” he said, getting everyone’s attention. The group turned to look at him, and then followed his gaze. Kurt couldn’t speak, because he’d just locked eyes with the boy in the middle.

Blue eyes met hazel ones for the first time.

“Who are they?” Rachel asked as Kurt felt his feet start moving faster toward them.

“Kurt!” Mercedes called, trying to get his attention. He didn’t hear her. He couldn’t look away.

All he could see was the boy in front of him, as he came to a stop a few feet away.

Blaine.