The week that Blaine's concert tickets were scheduled to go on sale was the same week McKinley High started back to school. Luckily, the first week back was always a short week with the first day being Wednesday and a half-day to boot with the Welcome Back pep rally. Kurt walked into the school slightly apprehensive but head held high. With Karofsky and Azimio off to college, he had decided that this year would be better. He would step up more in glee club, push for his ideas to actually be heard and not just dismissed out of hand. He was just as talented as Rachel Berry and it was time he proved it to everyone else.

He went through the day with a positive attitude. This year no one would ridicule him; this year no one would toss him in the dumpsters. He was a senior and, damn it, he deserved their respect. Surprisingly, the day went smoothly. He liked his classes and his teachers. Even though the material was not challenging in the least, he was actually looking forward to what he had to learn.

By the time he walked into glee club that first afternoon, Kurt was actually smiling. He'd had some classes with Mike, Puck, Mercedes and Rachel so had caught up with them earlier in the day. Since they only had a short amount of time before the assembly, they mostly discussed what they had done last year and how to improve their chances even more to win Nationals. They all walked to the assembly feeling rejuvenated and excited by the year to come.

Unfortunately, the good luck was not to last. The next day, the entire glee club was greeted with slushie facials from the hockey team, a new teacher suddenly appeared in his chemistry lab and decided to see where everyone's skill level was with a pop quiz and by Friday, he was ready to strangle Rachel and her ridiculous ideas for a Carpenter's medley for Sectionals. Maybe if they wanted to put the judges to sleep, that would have been a good idea. Oh, and apparently Finn had dumped her for Quinn. Again. Or something.

By the time Kurt got home that afternoon, he just wanted to curl up in his bed and sleep until Saturday morning. He'd been talking about the concert ever since the announcement was made last month and his whole family had been made aware that Saturday morning was very important and he should not be disturbed unless the world was ending. He just…. He needed something to look forward to so he didn't go mad from all the drama.

Saturday morning, Kurt was up early, logging on to the internet to make everything was working and up to speed. The show was at the House of Blues down in Cleveland, so it was standing room only which meant there was no need to worry about if they would get good seats, but he didn't want to take the risk of the show selling out in five minutes.

Once he was sure everything was in working order, he made a light breakfast before texting Mercedes a quick smiley face. Her family was heading over to Indianapolis for her cousin's wedding or she would have been there with Kurt. He got a smiley in reply and was just about to hop in the shower when his phone rang. Seeing his dad's number at the garage, he picked up.

"Hi, dad!" he answered.

"Hey, Kurt," Burt replied and Kurt did not like the tone of voice he was using. "Listen, I hate to do this, but I really need your help down here."

Kurt closed his eyes and his shoulders dropped in disappointment. "But the concert…" Kurt said, knowing any excuse would be meaningless. He knew his dad wouldn't be calling if it wasn't urgent.

"I know and I'm sorry, but Steve and Joe both called out this morning. Kevin is still working on Mrs. Patterson's car that should have been done on Thursday and we've just been slammed with a half dozen walk-ins wanting oil changes."

"Fine," Kurt said eventually. "Let me hop in the shower and I'll be right there."

"Thanks, Kurt. You know how much I appreciate this."

"I know. I'll see you soon," Kurt replied before hanging up.

This is just fantastic, Kurt thought.

He sent a quick text to Mercedes to update her on the concert situation before hopping in the shower. He had a "sorry. :( good luck!" waiting in response when he was done. He just prayed the show didn't sell out before he would be able to get home later. That would be just his luck, though.

Six hours later, Kurt had finally helped his dad clear the back log of cars and made his way home. The garage had been non-stop all day. There was grease and oil and all matter of dirty things embedded under his nails and in his cuticles. Kurt felt disgusting. He needed a shower stat. But before he could do that, he needed to get those concert tickets.

He slowly trudged upstairs and finally made it to his room. He logged on to his computer, trying to be careful and not spread the dirt and filth everywhere. He headed over to the Ticketmaster website and pulled up the page for Blaine's show. His heart dropped and his eyes teared up as two words immediately came into focus: SOLD OUT.

This just…. it wasn't fair. Couldn't he ever have anything he wanted? It wasn't like he was asking for much, just two measly concert tickets, but apparently even that was too much for Kurt Hummel. Why couldn't the universe just let him be happy for once?

---

Kurt had plans to meet with Mercedes before school on Monday for coffee and he was dreading having to tell her he wasn't able to get the tickets. It was going to be like reliving it all over again.

Kurt's dad had felt awful when he got home later that evening and he found out the show was sold out. Kurt had tried to wave it off, but he knew his dad wasn't buying it. Carole apparently sympathized and made Kurt's favorite meal to try and cheer him up, but even her delicious eggplant parmesan wasn't enough to break Kurt out of his funk. He barely ate half of it before excusing himself and just heading to bed. He pulled out his iPod, queued up his Blaine Anderson playlist and let the other boy's voice lull him to sleep.

By the time Monday morning rolled around, Kurt was feeling a little better. He was still upset about not being able to get the tickets but it had settled into a faint disappointment, rather than the bone-deep sadness it had initially been.

Luckily, Mercedes was understanding if also disappointed.

"Yeah, it sucks, but there's nothing you could have done," she said. "Besides, I'm sure the radio will have a give-away when it gets closer to the concert."

"True," Kurt agreed. "But then I would have to have the kind of luck that would actually allow me to win such a thing."

He took a sip of his mocha as he sighed. Oh, if only, he thought. Winning a radio contest would probably come with a little something extra besides just tickets. They usually did. What he would give to be at the sound check or maybe even a meet and greet, if he could.

Mercedes just smiled and winked, making Kurt laugh. He relaxed and finally asked her about the wedding. He got lost in her voice describing the rather raucous event and the crazy hats that many of her relatives had worn. She promised to have some pictures posted later on Facebook.

---

That afternoon, Kurt and Mercedes walked into glee club together to find Mr. Schue already there sorting through some sheet music. Kurt's stomach dropped in anticipation of what whacky theme he had waiting for them this week. As soon as everyone was gathered, he walked to the white board and one simple word – HOMECOMING.

Everyone just groaned. But, no. Kurt was not going to be a defeatist this year. He was a senior. This year, he would prove that he could be just as much of a leader as Finn was and gain some real respect from his fellow members.

"I know," Mr. Schue said. "But Principal Figgins has specifically requested we perform at the pep rally next week and I think we could use this as an opportunity to try and pull in new members. With Sam gone and many of you graduating this year, we're going to need all the new members we can get."

"Mr. Schue?" Rachel interrupted raising her hand. "If I may. I spent the summer brainstorming ideas for how to get the kids in this school excited and I think I have the perfect idea – a Gershwin medley!"

"Isn't he that pickle guy?" Brittany asked.

"Maybe if you want to get everyone excited about thinking up new ways to torture us this year," Santana remarked.

"That's a great idea, Rachel," Mr. Schue said, cutting off any other comments. "However, Figgins has actually also requested we do something more current; something released in the last six months. I think it's a great idea. The summer months have a history of providing some of the most fun and upbeat songs in pop history. So, any ideas?"

The usual Britney Spears and Beyonc� were tossed around before Finn, surprisingly, came up with an excellent idea.

"What about that Blaine guy?" he suggested. "I mean, he's all anyone can talk about and he's from around here, too."

"That's a great idea," Mr. Schue agreed.

"No offense," Puck said. "I mean, I kinda dig what that Blaine kid is doing, but isn't his stuff a little mellow for a 'pep' rally?"

"That is a valid point, Noah," Mr. Schue said. "Which gives me an idea."

Kurt, despite trying to keep his positive attitude, groaned. Mr. Schue's spontaneous ideas never turned out well.

"We'll split up into two teams and you'll each come up with a more upbeat number to mash with one of Blaine's songs."

"Boys versus girls?" Rachel asked eagerly.

"You know what?" Mr. Schue said after a brief pause. "No. Let's shake things up a bit. I'll put everyone's names in a hat and the first six are one team and the next six the other."

This, at least, perked Kurt up a little. He wouldn't be stuck on a team with all the stupid boys and forced to do some ridiculously macho number. In the end, Kurt wound up on a team with Santana, Mercedes, Lauren, Artie, and Puck. While Mike, Finn, Rachel, Tina, Brittany and Quinn were on the other. As much as Kurt would have loved to have Mike or Brittany on their team, he was very glad that he wouldn't have to deal with any of the Rachel/Finn/Quinn insanity that was sure to rear its head.

The two groups split and immediately started brainstorming ideas. They would perform their mash-up next Monday for a panel of special judges (Ms. Pillsbury and Coach Beiste, no doubt) and then the whole group would perform the winning number at the assembly on Friday.

Santana and Puck immediately started throwing out stupid ideas to try and mash-up Blaine Anderson with Metallica or Paramore which, just no. Kurt was thinking, trying to figure out what would actually have a good chance of winning when he started humming Don't You under his breath, his new go-to stress relief song. Suddenly, he had the most perfect idea.

"Fellow teammates, if I may?" he said, silencing everyone else. "I believe I have come up with the perfect idea. A mash-up that will win us this competition and prove to the school that we do know how to have fun: Blaine's Don't You mashed with…" Kurt paused for effect. "Last Friday Night by Katy Perry!"

Everyone kind of stared at him blankly for a moment.

"Come on!" he urged. "They're perfect together. They're both songs about having the greatest night of your life and partying and having a good time which everyone loves!"

"That is actually kinda brilliant," Mercedes commented.

"And we can all wear the most garishly awesome 80s clothes I can find. It'll be fantastic!"

"Okay," Santana commented. "I think I can get behind that. Now, the main question, who's singing lead?"

Everyone turned to Kurt for his opinion.

"Well, what if we mixed things up even more?" he said. "Mercedes and Santana can share the Don't You part while Puck and Artie do Katy Perry?"

"Don't you want lead?" Mercedes asked. "It's your idea."

"I'll be too busy coming up with costumes for everyone," Kurt said. "Don't worry. I know you guys can handle it. I'll get lead next time."

"We can totally rock this, yo," Artie said, slapping Puck's hand.

Everyone else added in their agreement and they set to work trying to figure out how to best meld these two songs together. Puck pulled out his guitar to start working on the musical arrangements with Artie while Santana and Mercedes started thinking up possible choreography. Kurt pulled Lauren into a corner to help brainstorm costume ideas and organizing the best plan of attack for hitting all of Lima's best resale and second hand shops. They were totally going to kick the other team's butts!

---

And they did.

Thanks to Rachel trying to mash Blaine's Lights Off with Lady Gaga's Judas, the other team just crashed and burned. Kurt had to admit Mike and Brittany tried to do their best to save it with their dancing, but it was clear they hadn't meshed as well as Kurt's team.

By a unanimous vote of 3-0, Kurt's team was declared the winner and the whole group set out to pump up their routine. By the end of the week, they had a really amazing number that should get at least some kids interested in joining New Directions.

"Now," Principal Figgins said at the assembly on Friday. "Your Regional Show Choir Champions, the New Directions!"

The lights went down in the gym and the two spotlights hit Puck and Artie on cue. They started off with a remix of the chorus of Last Friday Night before Santana and Mercedes stepped up to belt out the chorus of Don't You. Mike and Brittany's additions to the choreography were amazing and really played up the best of everyone's abilities. By the end of the routine, most of the student body was on its feet cheering and clapping enthusiastically. Kurt just grinned as the number ended. They had done it. He couldn't wait to see how crowded the choir room would be Monday afternoon.

---

The months passed easily for once. There had not been a single slushie incident since that first week back. Oh sure, there were still the occasional sarcastic comments and some boys would still make sure to whack Kurt with their backpack as they passed him in the hall, but at least he wasn't getting body checked into lockers anymore. He had been right. With Karofsky and Azimio out of the picture, the bullies had lost their ring leaders and had taken to basically just ignoring everyone, which was perfectly fine with Kurt.

Glee club was going well. They'd gained a half dozen new members after their performance at the Homecoming rally and Kurt was happy to see they were all actually talented. Maybe not as talented as him, or even Rachel, but they were certainly able to hold their own.

Mr. Schue had been pushing them to start thinking up original songs again as that had proved to be successful for them last year. One of the new girls, Brianna, had actually proven to be rather adept at song writing. She and Rachel had teamed up one week and produced a very powerful ballad about the fears they all faced of an uncertain future. Everyone had liked it so much they had agreed to keep working it for Sectionals with the two girls actually sharing the lead as a duet. Kurt thought that showed a lot of growth on Rachel's part, letting one of the new kids share lead with her at a competition, no less.

All in all, Kurt's senior year was going pretty fantastically.

---

The first week in October was a little bittersweet. Blaine's concert at the House of Blues was coming up and the radio stations were going nuts with the promotion. It seemed like they were playing his songs every hour and KISS 93.9 was promising an interview with Blaine early next week.

That Wednesday, Kurt was at his locker before class getting himself organized for the day when Mercedes sidled up with a smile on her face.

"How much do you love me?" she asked coyly.

"I love you until the ends of the earth and the depth of the oceans," Kurt replied flatly pulling out his calculus text book. "You are the Billy Crystal to my Meg Ryan and I cannot imagine my life without you in it."

"I'm very glad to hear that because I have a surprise for you."

"What is it?"

"Guess who won tickets to Blaine's concert next weekend?"

Kurt slammed his locker and almost dropped his bag as he whipped around to face her.

"Are you serious?" he said.

"100 percent."

Kurt pulled her into a hug and wanted to start jumping up and down he was so excited. This was amazing! He couldn't believe it! He was going to go to Blaine's concert!

"Oh, but that's not all," Mercedes added.

"It's not?" Kurt asked, his stomach filling with butterflies.

"These are super special concert tickets that also come with passes to the pre-show sound check and a private meet and greet!"

"Oh. My. God," Kurt said. His heart was pounding, he could feel sweat starting to trickle from his forehead. "We get to meet Blaine?"

"We get to meet Blaine."

"I could kiss you right now," Kurt said. He took her arm and they started walking down the hall towards first period. "This is amazing. This is just beyond. Oh my god! What are we going to wear?"

Mercedes laughed and promised Kurt a trip to the mall that weekend to be sure he had the perfect outfit.

---

All that week, when Kurt wasn't doing his homework or rehearsing for glee, he was scouring his closet and the internet to try and come up with the perfect outfit for when he met Blaine and brainstorming ideas for Mercedes. He had to be fashionable, but approachable; fabulous, but still tasteful. He kept falling back into wanting to do some sort of James Dean-esque 50s inspired look. He thought it was something Blaine would respond well, too, given his own fashion sense. He printed out a couple ideas and gathered them for his shopping trip with Mercedes. He would use his own dark wash, skinny jeans and either a pair of Converse or the new vintage leather booties he had picked up last month. All he needed was a shirt, a jacket, leather of course, and maybe an accessory or two. For Mercedes, something purple or navy would look fabulous.

Their first stop was the Hand Me Down, Lima's premiere resale shop. It wasn't a huge store, but they had an excellent selection and Kurt had scored many deals on vintage designer pieces here. He wanted to look for the jacket first as that would probably be the hardest piece to find and he could build the rest of the outfit around that.

"So, what exactly are you looking for?" Mercedes asked as they entered the store.

"Something vintage, something cool. Think James Dean," Kurt explained. "Nothing motorcycle-chic, though. I really can't pull that off."

"Black? Brown? Color?"

"Whatever we can find. This jacket will the base for the entire ensemble so tweaks can be made depending on the best one we find."

"Got it," Mercedes said. "I'll take the left, you take the right and we'll meet in the middle?"

"Sounds like a plan."

The two split up and began their search. Kurt shuffled through rack after rack of harsh, black motorcycle jackets and was starting to get discouraged when Mercedes called out.

"I think I found it," she said, holding it up as Kurt approached.

Kurt actually gasped when he saw it. It was gorgeous. The jacket was a soft black that was completely broken in around the hem and cuffs. Even so, it was in excellent condition and none of the leather was actually cracked. The zipper was off-center, running on a slight diagonal with a large tear-drop shaped pocket on the left side and a second slitted pocket above that. He unzipped it to take a look at the lining and was pleased to see it intact. It was a beautiful deep, emerald green silk that was so soft to the touch. He gingerly took it off the hanger before slipping it on to try it out. He practically purred as he pulled it on. It fit perfectly. The sleeves weren't too wide and hugged his arms and broadening shoulders so well. He zipped it up and moved to look at himself in the mirror.

"Okay," Mercedes said. "I am making you buy that jacket. I don't care if you wear it to the show or not, but you need that jacket in your wardrobe."

"I totally agree," Kurt said. With the jacket zipped up, it stopped just above the top of his jeans, showing off his trim waist perfectly. "It's perfect."

Only one small fact remained – the price. He slowly held up his right arm where the price tag was dangling from the cuff. He closed his eyes and prayed to whoever was listening that he would be able to afford it. When he looked, he almost cheered - $50. Totally in his price range! He hugged Mercedes and the two ran up to the cashier to purchase it. This day was starting off perfectly. He couldn't believe what a find the jacket had been.

"What's next?" Mercedes asked as they got back in the car.

"Now, we find a shirt," Kurt replied. He paused as he started the car, thinking of what direction he wanted to go. "If I wanted to keep with the straight-up 1950s James Dean theme, then I would just need a plain white t-shirt. But, that's a little boring, I think."

"Yeah. You can definitely pull off something more fabulous than that," she agreed.

"So, plaid was another big thing back then. And it's also back in style for the fall, so it should be fairly easy to find something."

"Gotcha."

"And for you, I'm thinking navy or a deep purple. Maybe even something with bling or studs on it."

"I can dig it," Mercedes agreed.

They pulled up to the mall a few minutes later and set out on their quest to find the perfect shirt to complete Kurt's outfit. After striking out in the department stores, they finally headed to H&M. Kurt immediately saw the perfect top for Mercedes. It was a bright purple crew-neck cardigan with elbow-length sleeves. There were small metal grommets around the cuff and the buttons were large and a distressed silver.

"You can pair it with that feather print t-shirt we got a couple weeks ago. You'll look amazing," he said.

"I love it!" she said happily. "I can totally wear this with my gray skinny jeans. It's perfect."

"Excellent!" Kurt said. "Now, is there anything here for me?"

They started wandering through the racks, and while there were plenty of plaid shirts to choose from, nothing jumped out at him. He was about to give up and move on to the next store when a lone shirt on the sale rack caught his eye. It was a short-sleeve bright blue, large print plaid with stripes of white and navy. The plaid was off-center lending a more visual interest to the shirt.

"What do you think?" he asked holding it up for Mercedes.

"Yes," she said. "That blue really makes your eyes pop. It'll look great with the jacket, too."

"Fantastic," Kurt said. "Let's go check out and grab lunch. I'm starving."

"Shopping is so exhausting," Mercedes agreed. "I don't know how you do it as often as you do."

"Practice," Kurt said. "You start slow and gradually build up your stamina. With my comprehensive training program, soon, you, too, can be spending entire days at the mall with nary a second thought."

Mercedes laughed and swatted at Kurt's arm. They checked out quickly and decided to head over to Breadstix for lunch. They spent the meal firming up the details for the concert next week. With the extras that came with the tickets, they had both managed to convince their parents to let them stay in Cleveland overnight, rather than having to leave early to start the three hour drive home. Kurt was especially grateful as he wouldn't have to wear his concert outfit in the car and could change when they got to the hotel.

"What time does the sound check start?" Kurt asked.

"It starts at 3:00 and the meet and greet is after that," Mercedes said. "The concert starts at 7:00 with The Formula opening. So, Blaine should go on about 8:00, I think."

Kurt nodded as he started planning the timetable in his head. The tickets were still at will call, so they should be at the venue by 2:30 at the latest. A three hour drive meant they should probably leave by 10:00 am if they wanted time for a quick lunch and to freshen up once they got to the hotel.

"Wait a second," Kurt said as something occurred to him. "The House of Blues is standing room only. If we're backstage at the meet and greet are we going to be shoved to the back of the crowd after they let everyone else in?"

"Didn't I tell you where the seats are?" Mercedes said.

"No, you did not," Kurt confirmed.

"We get to sit in the private boxes that are right next to the stage! There's wait staff there so we can order food and drinks and whatever without having to lose our place!"

"That is fantastic!" Kurt said clapping a little in excitement. "This is going to be the best night ever!"

---

When Kurt got home that afternoon, he pulled his purchases out of their bags and got his jeans and a couple pairs of shoes from his closet. He needed to try everything on and figure out what shoes would best complement the outfit.

But first, he wanted to inspect the jacket a little closer, just to make sure it was in as good a condition as it looked in the store. He examined every seam on the outside and all the zippers, very pleased to find everything was in working order and there were no rips or pulls. None of the pockets had any rips in their lining and the buckles around the cuffs were still perfect. He gently turned the jacket inside out to check the lining a little more carefully. Replacing the lining on a jacket could get expensive, especially on a vintage piece. There was no designer tag, though, so it could very well be an excellent quality knock-off. Happily, though, everything was secure and in mint condition. He ran his hands over the lining again, smiling as his hands glided smoothly over the silk. It was so beautiful, Kurt wanted to know the jacket's story. Who was its previous owner? Why had they gotten rid of it? Where were they now?

Kurt paused as his fingers snagged a little at the hem. He bent down to see what it was and quirked his head at the embroidery he found. It was very small, but Kurt was pretty certain it was a set of initials. He pulled out the magnifying glass he kept with his sewing kit for the finer work he did and almost dropped it when he saw what the initials were.

YSL.

There was only one person that could be – Yves St. Laurent.

Holy. Crap.

How had he managed to get a vintage YSL jacket for $50? His pieces usually fetched thousands of dollars. No doubt the original owner had no idea what they had had in their possession. If this was from the 1950s like Kurt suspected, it had to be from when Yves St. Laurent first started working at Dior.

This was the find of a century.

---

One week later, Kurt picked up Mercedes and they started the journey to Cleveland. Kurt had surprisingly never been there before and his dad was a little nervous about him making the drive. Kurt reassured him that the GPS in his Navigator was working properly and had also printed out directions from Google Maps as a back-up. His phone was fully charged and with one last hug to both his dad and Carole, Kurt was off.

The drive was easy, taking US 30 to I-71. They set-up the Blaine playlist Kurt had on his iPod and sang along the whole ride there, discussing his music and what they thought the show would be like. Mercedes wanted to hear I Still Think and Lights Off while Kurt was pulling for Me, Myself and Lies. They both agreed that Stutter would be amazing live. Kurt secretly hoped Blaine might throw in the cover of Teenage Dream he seemed to favor from the all the internet videos Kurt had watched.

They found the hotel easily and were very happy to see the Holiday Inn was definitely within walking distance of the House of Blues. Kurt could actually see the venue from the window in their room after they had checked in. He graciously offered Mercedes the bathroom first to freshen up and change. He carefully unpacked his bag, hanging up his clothes for the show and the drive home tomorrow. He may be stuck in a car for three hours, but every moment was an opportunity for fashion. Being in the car with the cool weather was the perfect chance to try out how warm his new shawl collar cardigan was. He hated being overly warm or cold in the car.

"How do I look?" Mercedes said coming out of the bathroom.

"You look amazing," Kurt replied. She had indeed paired the purple cardigan with the feather print tee and gray jeans. She'd added the heavy gold boombox necklace she had and black high top sneakers. Her hair was smoothed down and parted straight down the middle. "You are one fabulous diva."

"Thank you," Mercedes said. "Now go get dressed; it's been too long since breakfast."

Kurt grabbed his garment and toiletries bag and raced off to get changed. He'd tried on everything when he'd gotten home from shopping last week so he knew it all fit perfectly. He had settled on the mock snakeskin brown leather boots to complete the outfit. They had a little bit of a heel and were the perfect punctuation mark on a perfect outfit.

He quickly stripped out of the simple tee and looser fitting jeans he'd had on in the car, making sure not to disturb the perfect pompadour he'd managed to style his hair into that morning. He pulled on the white tank undershirt and plaid shirt, rolling up the short sleeves a little more to get that true 1950s look. Feeling a little daring, he decided to leave the top two buttons undone on the shirt. Not that he thought he actually had a chance at anything, but it made him feel good. He struggled into the skinny jeans and tucked the shirts in. He added a distressed brown leather belt before bending over the put on his shoes. Once dressed, he turned to look at himself in the mirror. He looked good. He felt good. There was electricity in the air, a wave of anticipation of something exciting waiting for him.

He pulled his toiletries bag closer and pulled out his hairspray and brush. He coaxed a few stray strands back into place and finished everything with a quick dust of translucent powder on his face to help stop any shine from popping up. He nodded to his reflection and pulled on the leather jacket. A quick spritz of his favorite cologne and Kurt was ready to go.

He exited the bathroom and found Mercedes lounging on one of the beds, flipping through the TV.

"So?" he asked.

"Wow, Kurt," she said. "If you weren't gay and my best friend I would be all over that. You look fantastic."

"Well, thank you very much," he said with a small curtsey. Kurt grabbed the insert from Blaine's CD for Mercedes to carry on the chance they were actually able to get autographs at the meet and greet. Then, he took her arm and the two left to go find some lunch. Now if he could just get his stomach to settle enough to eat something, he would be good to go.

---

They had a quick bite and were at the House of Blues box office by 2:30. Mercedes picked up the tickets and they were ushered inside for the sound check. There were maybe thirty other people, all girls, when they made it inside and Kurt was very happy that this was going to be small and intimate. Plus, he was the only boy. This was very good news, indeed.

Just before 3:00 someone of import came out and explained how the sound check would work. They would not be allowed to take pictures or record what was happening. Blaine would play a couple songs, maybe not even in their entirety and then they would all be ushered backstage for the meet and greet. Kurt was a little disappointed at the formality of this. He was beginning to worry that the meet and greet would just be a quick two second handshake and a picture before the next group was ushered in. He tried to remain positive. Even if that was all he got, it was better than nothing and more than he ever thought he'd get. He would be fine.

Kurt was discussing his fears with Mercedes when a couple girls let out a cheer. Kurt's head whipped around to the stage and he couldn't stop staring as Blaine walked on stage. He was wearing a simple black and white striped Henley with slim fitting gray trousers and what looked like incredibly soft Italian leather booties. He conferred with a couple of the other band members on stage before pulling a guitar over his head.

"Oh, hey, guys," he said into the microphone as he looked out at the crowd. He smiled brightly as he made brief eye contact with each person. Kurt's breath caught as his gaze locked with Blaine's. God, he was just gorgeous. "I'm Blaine. You probably already know that. Um, so we're gonna do a couple songs, play around with a few things, give you all a little preview of what you'll hear later tonight. And maybe a little Q&A if there's time."

The band members started picking out random chords, getting everything tuned up and the various levels evened out. The stage lights started flicking on and off in seemingly random intervals. Blaine moved around the stage, stepping in and out of spots as they lit up. It wasn't very elaborate as far as stage shows went, but then again Blaine's music didn't really call for pyrotechnic flashes and strobe lights.

"Can we try that amber filter we used in Chicago?" Blaine called to someone off-stage.

Immediately, the lights became softer, as if the stage was lit by candles. The audience "ooh"ed in response.

"You guys like that?" Blaine asked.

"Yeah!" some of the girls cried out.

After a few more minutes of lighting tests, Blaine finally stepped up to the main microphone.

"What do you say we play a little music now?" he asked.

The crowd erupted in cheers and Blaine just laughed. He turned back to his band members, conferring about which song to play. The drummer counted off and then I Still Think came pouring through the speakers. Kurt laughed as Mercedes whooped and started dancing around. But he couldn't keep his eyes off Blaine for long. If Kurt had thought he was charismatic in video, it was nothing compared to seeing him live and in person. The energy just poured off him, washing over the crowd with a raucous infection. Soon, the whole crowd was dancing and cheering along. Blaine laughed and hammed it up for them, getting even crazier and busting out some truly ridiculous dance moves. Kurt doubled over in laughter as Blaine misjudged the distance and ended up running into the microphone as the chorus started back up. They finished with a flourish and the whole place went wild.

"Thank you," Blaine laughed. "That's pretty much par for the course for us. I'm surprisingly uncoordinated when I'm not dancing, so I tend to run into things all the time. I'll probably break at least 2 guitar strings tonight, too. So, anyway, any requests?"

"Stutter!" one of the girls yelled out.

"You got it," Blaine said. "Here we go."

Remember that time?
When you wouldn't talk to me?
You wouldn't talk to me
All night.

Remember that song?
And all the words we'd sing?
Well here's a song I sing
All right.

In a stark contrast to the last song, everyone just stood still with their eyes glued to the stage. No one was moving, no one was singing, Kurt wasn't even sure they were breathing; he wasn't sure he was breathing. It was mesmerizing. That was the only way to describe what was happening. It was like everyone had been hypnotized by the show on stage and couldn't do anything until Blaine let them. Everyone finally broke out of their trance when they reached the bridge of the song where he got the audience to sing along. Kurt's voice rang out strong with the rest as Blaine sang over them:

Don't you tell me that you don't want to.
Don't you tell me that you don't want to.

Blaine grinned as he joined back in:

Oh, don't you tell me no
'Cause there you go again
You're ten out of ten
I'm sorry d-did I just s-stutter?

Won't tell you what you know
But this is the end
You were never my friend
You were never my-
You were never my no, no, no, no!

"Thanks, guys!" Blaine said after the song ended. "You were amazing! This is gonna be a good show, I can tell. Hey, can I get the piano out here?" he said to the stage hands, putting his guitar away. "Um, I've been working on something new I'd like to share with you. It's not finished, so it'll be brief, but I'd love to hear what you guys think so far."

A grand piano was wheeled out on stage and Blaine took his place behind it. He played a few random chords and scales to warm up before seeming to settle down. He started playing a haunting but hopeful melody before his voice rang in strong and clear.

I've been alone
Surrounded by darkness
I've seen how heartless
The world can be

I've seen you crying
You felt like it's hopeless
I'll always do my best
To make you see

Baby, you're not alone
Cause you're here with me
And nothing's ever gonna bring us down
Cause nothing can keep me from lovin' you
And you know it's true
It don't matter what'll come to be
Our love is all we need to make it through

Kurt blinked back the tears that were threatening to fall. Once again, Blaine had managed to say so eloquently something Kurt had longed to hear. He looked over at Mercedes who had taken his hand and saw the same look on her face. He squeezed her hand and she looked over, smiling a little sadly. Kurt couldn't help himself and pulled her into a tight hug, whispering "Thank you" in her ear.

"I love you," she whispered back.

"Love you, too," he replied.

One last chord rang out from the piano and then Blaine was silent. The whole place was still, wrapped in awe at what they had just heard. Kurt was actually the first to compose himself and start applauding. That seemed to snap everyone out of it and they were all clapping and cheering very loudly.

"Wow. Thank you," Blaine said sincerely. "So you liked it?"

"Yeah!" they all shouted.

"Good. Good," he said. "Well, I think that's all for now. We're gonna head back and finish getting set-up and I'll see you all backstage shortly."

With a quick wave, Blaine was offstage and the whole room erupted into excited chatter at what had just happened.

"Oh my god!" Mercedes exclaimed. "That was amazing."

"That was so amazing," Kurt agreed. "How are we going to survive a whole concert?"

"How are we going to survive meeting him?"

"Oh my god!" Kurt shouted. "How did I forget that? I'm going to die, Mercedes. Please tell my dad and Carole and Finn that I love them and that my clothes should be donated to charity and not just tossed out."

"You're not going to die," Mercedes said, smacking Kurt's shoulder. "You're going to be fine because Blaine is amazing and friendly and he is going to love you because you are amazing and awesome."

"Right," Kurt said, taking a deep breath to calm himself. "I can do this. Just, be cool, be myself."

"Right."

They stood patiently for a few more minutes before someone came to direct them backstage. Kurt kept his fingers crossed for something better than the two second handshake he had been fearing. He was quite pleasantly surprised when they were shown to an area that had been set-up with high cocktail tables and stools. There was a buffet of appetizers and some beverages for them to partake. The same person who had taken them backstage introduced himself as Blaine's manager and explained how the meet and greet would work. Blaine would come around to each table and chat for a little bit with everyone. They were all asked to remain at whatever table they had chosen and not go wandering once it had started. When that was over, they would have the chance for autographs and a photo if they wished.

Kurt and Mercedes grabbed a table in the middle of the room and were joined by two other girls – April and Kerry. They were from Cleveland and part of their school's theater group. They talked briefly about the similarities and differences between show choir and a full on theater production. Kurt was a little jealous to hear that the theater and music departments were actually respected in their school, having won several state and national titles.

Kurt and Mercedes eventually made use of the buffet, grabbing a light snack before Blaine came out. Kurt nibbled on some carrot sticks as Mercedes chatted with the other girls. The longer the wait got, the more nervous Kurt became. Couldn't Blaine just get out here already so they could get this over with? He still hadn't decided if he should say anything to Blaine about him being that boy from the competition he had gushed over in the Rolling Stone article. Mercedes was firmly in the Yes, you should do it camp, but Kurt still wasn't convinced. He didn't want to seem like he was just trying to get Blaine's attention. He decided to just wait and see what happened and if an opening came, he would take it. Maybe.

Shortly after, Blaine came out from a side door and made his way to the first table. Kurt kept a close eye on what was happening and was very glad to note that everyone seemed to be behaving themselves. He would have hated if anything had to be called off because of overzealous fans.

Blaine went around the table, shaking hands and talking briefly with each person there before sitting in one of the empty seats. He stayed for a good fifteen minutes before moving on to the next table. With the layout of the room, it was over an hour later before Blaine finally made it to Kurt and Mercedes' table. But that was fine. As long as they all got the same amount of time, Kurt would wait hours for Blaine if he had to.

"Hi, everyone," Blaine said as he reached their table. "Hey! Another guy!" he added as he noticed Kurt. "Finally. Not that I don't appreciate you ladies, but sometimes it's nice to know there's another guy around."

Everyone laughed and Kurt was instantly at ease. He could do this. Blaine was just another guy. No big deal at all.

"What's everyone's name?" Blaine asked, looking to April. She introduced herself and her friend before Blaine turned to Mercedes and Kurt. He shook Mercedes' hand first, before finishing with Kurt. Kurt went to pull back, but found he couldn't as Blaine was still holding on.

"I'm sorry," he said looking between Kurt and Mercedes, still holding Kurt's hand. "But have we met? You look familiar."

Kurt glanced at Mercedes, suddenly tongue tied. This was his chance and he was failing horribly.

"Um, not formally," Mercedes said. "We're part of the show choir from McKinley High in Lima, the New Directions. I believe we competed against you in last year's Sectionals contest."

Blaine looked between them some more, as if trying to place their faces. Then suddenly, his full attention was on Kurt, and he grasped Kurt's hand tighter with both his. Kurt started at action.

"Oh!" Blaine cried. "You're that boy! You were so wonderful! I wanted to find you after to tell you, but so much happened and then we were swept off back to the bus so I never got a chance to tell you."

"Oh, well thank you," Kurt said quietly, a blush creeping onto his cheeks. "That's very kind of you to say."

"It's just the truth," Blaine replied. "Seriously, ladies," he said turning to April and Kerry. "You should hear him sing. He will blow your mind."

Kurt meanwhile was fixated on the table where Blaine's hand was still wrapped around his. It was like Blaine had forgotten he was even holding Kurt's hand.

"How did you guys do at Regionals?" Blaine asked, turning back to Kurt and Mercedes.

"We won," Kurt spoke up. "Unfortunately, we didn't even place at Nationals, but just getting to see New York was exciting enough."

"I bet," Blaine said. "It's a wonderful city. Did you get to see any shows while you were there?"

"There wasn't enough time," Kurt said. "We were pretty much in and out. But if things work out, I'll be back there for college next year and I can finally see Wicked on a proper stage. If it's still playing."

"Oh, Wicked is breathtaking. I was lucky enough to get to see it with Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel when I was on a trip with my dad."

"And now I officially hate you," Kurt joked.

Blaine just laughed and shoved at Kurt's shoulder playfully.

"So, is that what you want to do with your life?" Blaine asked. "Perform?"

"I think so," Kurt replied. "I would at least like to try and see what happens. I know I don't have the most conventional male voice, so I don't know if there's even a place for me. But I think I'd always wonder 'What if?' if I didn't try, you know?"

"I think you would be wonderful," Blaine said. "From what little I saw at Sectionals, you are an amazing performer."

Kurt smiled shyly, slightly astounded that someone like Blaine could believe in him so strongly. Blaine smiled back and time seemed to stand still for a moment as they just stared at each other, the air crackling between them.

The moment broke when Kerry knocked over her glass and Coke started seeping into the tablecloth.

"Oh my gosh!" she said, trying to sop it up with the tiny cocktail napkins they had. "I'm so sorry! I'm such a klutz!"

"That's okay," Blaine said, calling over someone to help clean up. "I'm sorry. I've been ignoring you."

Blaine turned his attention to the other girls which was fine with Kurt. He was still reeling from his interaction and was glad for the break to gather his thoughts. He spaced out a bit and was ashamed to admit he didn't really listen to what they talked about. It was just… Blaine remembered him. Honestly remembered him and thought he was wonderful. And Kurt was sure he hadn't imagined that moment between them.

"Well, guys, I'm afraid I have to be moving on," he said patting Kurt's hand. "Oh, gosh," he said looking down. "Have I been holding your hand this whole time?"

"So it would seem," Kurt said, a little breathless.

"I'm so sorry," Blaine said, slowly pulling his hand away.

"Believe me, it's not a problem," he replied with a laugh.

There was another pause as their eyes caught one last time. Blaine's manager finally came over to get him moving to the next group.

"It was great meeting all of you," Blaine said cordially. "I hope you enjoy the show."

After he had moved out of ear shot, April leaned over and whispered, "Are you that boy from the Rolling Stone article?"

"I am," Kurt admitted.

"Oh, wow! My friends are not going to believe I met you!" she exclaimed. "You have been the subject of some interesting gossip in the Blaine chat rooms."

"I… What?" Kurt asked, confused over the fuss. "Why would anyone care about me?"

"Because Blaine does," Kerry explained. "We all figured you had to be someone special if he remembered you so fondly."

"Well, I don't know about that," Kurt replied. "I honestly didn't even remember him from that competition."

"How could you not remember him?" April asked.

"I asked the same thing," Mercedes replied. "That boy is fine and was super talented even back then."

Kurt just rolled his eyes at Mercedes' fawning. "I had my first competition solo that night," he explained to everyone else. "I was a little distracted with concentrating on not throwing up or fainting on stage."

"Still, he seemed very taken with you," Kerry remarked. "You should totally go for it."

"What?" Kurt exclaimed. "No. No, I don't think so. Why would he even…? No."

"We all saw how he was looking at you, Kurt," Mercedes said. "That boy is yours if you want him."

Kurt looked over towards Blaine at the next table. Could he? Why would Blaine even want someone like him? He could have his pick of guys. He was just Kurt Hummel from Lima, Ohio. Besides, how would that even work? Blaine was in L.A. when he wasn't on tour. There was no way it could work.

About 45 minutes later, Blaine was done making his rounds and everyone got ready for the autograph and photo session. Mercedes passed Kurt the CD cover as they got in line. When it was his turn, Blaine greeted him warmly, like an old friend.

"Go for it, Kurt," he said he passed the cover back and laid his hand over Kurt's again. "You can do it and you should."

"Thank you," Kurt said sincerely and moved off to join the second line that was forming for the photo ops. He glanced back at Blaine after a minute and smiled when they caught eyes again. He looked down at the autograph and smiled as he saw the simple message Blaine had inscribed –

To Kurt,
COURAGE

Blaine XO

He tried not to read too much into the "XO" but after what Mercedes and April and Kerry had told him, he couldn't help wishing maybe it did mean something.

During the photo op, Blaine actually hugged them briefly but firmly. "Can you guys hang around for a second?" he asked when they were done. "I just have a quick question when this is all over."

"Yeah, sure," Kurt replied. "We'll just be over there," he said gesturing vaguely to the area off to the side.

"Great," Blaine smiled. "I'll be right there."

Luckily, they had been near the end of the line so it was less than five minutes before Blaine joined them. Kurt noticed that interestingly, Blaine had not hugged anyone else.

"So, um, I would love to talk to you guys some more, if you're free after the show," he said. "I need to go get ready, but there's an after party thing back at the hotel and I'd love if you could make it. Unless you need to get back home?"

Blaine just looked like such an eager puppy that even if they did have somewhere else to be, Kurt would have gladly blown it off just to be able to say yes to Blaine.

"No, actually," Kurt said. "We were going to spend the night at a hotel before heading back home in the morning."

"Great!" Blaine said, a large grin spreading across his face. "Um, if you want to give your info to my manager I'll make sure you guys are on the list and you'll know where we are and all that stuff."

"That sounds great!" Mercedes said.

"Awesome. Well, see you later!"

Blaine ran off with a wave and his manager came over to get their info. They were at the Ritz-Carlton a few blocks away, but they should be able to get a cab there and back to the Holiday Inn without much trouble. They were then ushered out into the hall to make their way towards the special seating area. Kurt paused when they were half way down the hall and clutched onto Mercedes' arm.

"Did that just happen?" he asked.

"It did," she replied.

"Pinch me. I must be dreaming."

"Well, if you're dreaming, I am, too, boo. This is amazing."

"Blaine Anderson wants to hang out with us! In what world does this happen?"

"Uh, no," Mercedes said. "Blaine wants to hang out with you. He's just too polite to leave me out of it."

"Really?"

"Really."

"So, you think…?" he trailed off.

"Oh, he wants to tap that," Mercedes said.

"Mercedes!" Kurt admonished, playfully shoving at her and blushing at her crudeness.

"Sorry!" she said holding up her hands in surrender. "But it's true. That boy is gone on you."

Kurt just smiled as his head spun. Blaine liked him. Like liked him. He couldn't help as a laugh bubbled up out of him. This was too much to believe. A boy, a wonderful, amazing, beautiful boy liked him. Kurt didn't know what to do with himself.

---

The concert was just as amazing as Kurt knew it would be. Blaine pulled out all the stops and put on an amazing show. And he would periodically look over to their seats, searching out Kurt and smiling when he found him through the bright stage lights. There was one moment, though, that Kurt knows he will remember for the rest of his life.

"I'd like to slow things down a bit, if that's all right with you," Blaine said to the crowd.

The grand piano from the sound check was wheeled out onto stage and Blaine tinkered with it a bit before speaking again.

"Um, I hadn't planned on this song, but if the band will allow me a few moments of indulgence. I'm sure they'll be glad for the break, anyway."

The crowd cheered and laughed as the band exited the stage, leaving just Blaine and the piano in the spotlight. With the way the stage and box seats were set-up, the piano was side on to the audience so Blaine was facing Kurt straight on.

"I would like to dedicate this to someone special," Blaine said, as the tune started falling into place. It was Teenage Dream, the slowed down acoustic version Kurt had watched on YouTube so many times. "Well, he might be special. One day."

He started singing, his eyes closed as he concentrated on the song. When he reached the chorus, though, his eyes snapped open and his gaze landed directly on Kurt.

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

Their eyes stayed locked through the rest of the song and Blaine smirked as he reached the part of the song involving skin-tight jeans. Kurt couldn't help blushing at the implication which only seemed to spur Blaine on more. He played it up even more, his voice taking on that gravelly quality that made Kurt's knees turn to jelly. Blaine winked as the song ended and the crowd erupted in applause. Mercedes and the other girls in their little booth whooped outrageously and shoved playfully at Kurt.

Kurt meanwhile, kind of just wanted to crawl into a hole and hide. He was definitely not used to this kind of attention. However, since there was no hole available to hide in, he simply smiled at Mercedes and considered what he might do later.

Would this be worth it?

---

A few hours later, Kurt and Mercedes made their way through the lobby of the Ritz-Carlton and up to the sixth floor lounge that was hosting the after-party. They paused in the doorway after being let in by the bouncer, unsure of what to do. It looked the party was in full swing already with the music pumping and lights flashing. Kurt noticed a few of the musicians he had seen in Blaine's backing band, but didn't see Blaine anywhere. He was just about to suggest they head out, it was a good try, when he heard someone call his name. He turned around to see Blaine bouncing across the dance floor towards them.

Kurt took the moments he had to admire Blaine's off-stage apparel. He had changed into dark wash, straight leg jeans and a black t-shirt with some sort of metallic design emblazoned on the front. He looked amazing. He definitely had very, very nice arms.

"I'm so glad you guys made it!" he said exuberantly.

"Wouldn't have missed it!" Mercedes said.

"Come on!" he said, once more grabbing Kurt's hand and dragging him over to some couches on the far side of the room. Mercedes followed closely and Kurt found himself being pulled down on one of the couches and Blaine's arm thrown over his shoulder.

"You're here!" Blaine said.

"We're here!" Kurt agreed. The music was really loud; it was kind of hard to hear anything.

"Can I get you guys anything?"

"Um, a couple waters would be great," Kurt said, exchanging a look with Mercedes.

"Water. Got it. Be right back!" Blaine bounded off to get their waters and Mercedes sat down next to Kurt on the small couch.

"Is he drunk?" she asked.

"If he's not, I think he's on his way," Kurt said.

"Huh."

Kurt wasn't quite sure what to say, either. Sad as this was to admit, this was the first real party he had ever been to. He didn't count Rachel's failed house party last year when her dad's were out of town. That little shindig had been over before it even started. As such, he was a little wary as to what was going on and what would be expected of him. And, well, his one previous experience with alcohol had been enough to have him swearing off everything until he was at least twenty-one, if not longer.

And Blaine's current state of inebriation left him a little confused. He'd just never seen Blaine as the kind of guy, teenager that he was, that would really drink that much. Then again, Kurt really didn't know Blaine. They had just met for the first time a few hours ago and were pretty much complete strangers. This was fine. He just had to adjust his picture of Blaine a little. It didn't mean he wasn't the nice guy Kurt thought he was. So, what if he had a drink on occasion? Half of New Directions was at Puck's every weekend getting their drink on and they were fine. So, yeah. This was totally fine.

Blaine hurried back over with two bottles of water in one hand a tall glass filled with something blue in the other. Kurt eyed Blaine's drink warily and daintily sipped from his bottle.

"So, what did you think of the show?" Blaine asked.

"You were amazing," Mercedes said. "Definitely one of my top five concerts."

"Thank you very much," Blaine said. "That means a lot. Kurt?"

Kurt was suddenly very aware of how small this couch really was. The three of them were pressed hip to hip and Blaine's hand was very close to Kurt's knee and it was kind of hard to concentrate on anything with everything that was going on around him.

"I, um, yeah," Kurt said. "Definitely one of the best."

Mercedes stood up suddenly, causing Kurt to almost topple over into the now vacant space. "I'm gonna go find the restroom," she said.

Kurt wanted to beg her to stay. She must have seen something flash across his face because she just waved him off and squeezed his shoulder in support. Kurt took the opportunity to move away from Blaine a bit and tried to remember how to breathe. It was so stuffy.

"Are you okay?" Blaine asked, placing his hand gently on Kurt's knee.

"Yeah," Kurt said and took a gulp of water. "Sorry. It's just a bit overwhelming in here. I'm not really used to this."

Blaine nodded and appeared to think for a moment before motioning Kurt to follow him. He hesitated, not wanting to disappear on Mercedes, but he actually spotted her a few feet away talking to one of the guys in the band. She just smiled and nodded at him to follow Blaine. Kurt smiled nervously and quickly hurried after Blaine.

They left the lounge and walked a few doors down to another bar. This one was empty save for a piano in the corner. The chairs were resting on the table tops and half the garish fluorescent ceiling lights were on. Blaine, of course, headed straight for the piano and sat down to fiddle with the keys. Kurt hesitantly moved to sit next to Blaine on the small bench, removing his leather jacket as the room was quite warm.

"Is this better?" Blaine asked quietly.

"Yes, thank you," Kurt admitted. "But you didn't have to leave everyone; it's your party. We can go back."

"Kurt," Blaine said calmly. "It's fine. No one's going to miss me. Besides, they know where to find me if they need me."

"Come here often?"

"Well, we've only been in town a couple days, but I found this room the first night and kind of adopted it as my hiding place. To be honest, all that's not really me, either."

"Oh? You seemed to be having a good time."

Blaine just scoffed and gulped down the last of his drink.

"Okay," Kurt said. "Not to be Debbie Downer or anything, but couldn't everyone get in a lot of trouble if you get caught?"

"Who's gonna tell?" Blaine asked. "Sorry. God, that sounded horribly pretentious didn't it? I don't drink, at all really. I mean, my parents let me have a glass of wine with dinner every now and then, but I really don't do this."

"So, why are you?"

"Truth?"

Kurt nodded.

"I guess I needed a little Dutch courage. You make me nervous."

Kurt just stared at Blaine, his eyebrows creeping closer to his hairline.

"I make you…?" Kurt asked. "But, why? How? I just… I'm nobody."

"You forget, Kurt," Blaine said coyly. "I've been thinking about you for a year now and what I would say if I ever got to meet you."

"And did you ever figure that out?"

"Sing with me," Blaine said after a pause.

Kurt blinked at Blaine. His mouth opening and closing with no sound coming out. What was happening to him? How had this become his life?

"I want to sing with you. Please," Blaine pleaded.

Kurt finally nodded, hoping his voice wouldn't fail him in this completely life-changing moment.

"What," Kurt said clearing his throat. "What do you want to sing?"

"I think," Blaine said, adjusting his hands on the piano, "that this would do us well."

Kurt listened as the familiar strains of For Good finally took shape. He smiled at Blaine who started them off with Elphaba's part.

I'm limited
Just look at me - I'm limited
And just look at you
You can do all I couldn't do, Glinda
So now it's up to you
For both of us - now it's up to you...

Kurt sat up straight and took a deep breath. This was his chance. He closed his eyes and sang.

I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

Kurt opened his eyes as the last note rang out. He turned his gaze to Blaine who was staring at the piano, giving Kurt the opportunity to stare at his profile. The way his eyelashes fell across his cheeks, the slight bump in his nose, his strong jaw and chin. He was, to be honest, everything Kurt had never known he'd wanted. His crushes had always tended towards athletic guys, Finn being chief among them once upon a time. Blaine was the complete opposite of all that. He was shorter than Kurt, but there was still strength in his slight build. His wild hair and golden-hazel eyes at odds with perfectly groomed men he usually admired.

Blaine looked up and smiled the song reached the part where their voices finally joined together.

"Because I knew you," Kurt interjected before singing with Blaine, "I have been changed for good."

They traded leads once more before the final chorus as their voices united in harmony.

Who can say if I've been
Changed for the better?
I do believe I have been
Changed for the better

Kurt's gaze never wavered from Blaine's. "And because I knew you..."

"Because I knew you..." Blaine answered.

"Because I knew you," they sang together. "I have been changed for good."

Blaine's hands rested on the keys and the air in the room grew heavy. Kurt was barely breathing, every fiber of his being completely aware of how close they were. The hair on his arms stood on end where it brushed against Blaine; their legs were pressed together from knee to hip as Blaine had moved during his playing. Kurt watched as Blaine's eyes dilated and he licked his lips in anticipation. Oh, god. This was it. Kurt was going to get his first real kiss.

And it was going to be from Blaine Anderson.

His gaze dropped to Blaine's lips as they leaned in to each other. His heart was beating so loud he was sure Blaine could hear it. He could feel Blaine's breath on his cheek and he was so close. He closed his eyes and…

"There you are," someone interrupted.

Kurt pulled back quickly, his face heating up at having been caught almost doing something.

"Sorry," the guy said, clearing his throat. "Alan was just wondering where you were. There's cake."

"Right," Blaine said. "Thanks, Terry. I'll be right there."

"Thought you said no one would miss you," Kurt said trying to laugh.

"I kinda forgot about the cake stuff," Blaine said. "Hometown show, so to speak. Gotta make it extra special."

"Right," Kurt agreed. He stood awkwardly and pulled his jacket back on. "You should get back to your guests."

"You're leaving?" Blaine asked.

"Yeah. It's getting late," Kurt reasoned. "We should get back to the hotel soon. Check out is 10:00 am, so, no sleeping in for us."

"Oh, yeah. Right," he replied. "I, um. It was great to finally meet you, Kurt."

"Yeah," Kurt said with a smile. "Yeah, this has been probably the best night of my life."

Blaine quirked his head and smiled at Kurt wistfully.

"What?" Kurt asked.

"Just… wondering, I guess. What if and all that?"

"What if what?"

"What if… we had met last year? What if I was still just… Blaine Warbler?"

"Another life, I guess," Kurt replied.

"Could I…" Blaine paused. "Do you think we could trade numbers? I'd like to stay in touch, if that's okay."

"Really?"

"Yes, of course."

Kurt pulled out his phone and passed it off to Blaine who handed his to Kurt. They programmed their numbers into each other's phone and walked slowly back to the party, their hands brushing but never quite catching hold. They stopped just outside the door, neither sure what to say. Kurt finally laughed at the tension and boldly pulled Blaine into a hug.

"Thank you," he whispered.

Blaine just nodded as they pulled apart, his hand trailing down Kurt's arm and giving him goosebumps even through the leather.

"Take care," Blaine replied. "I'll talk to you soon."

"You better," Kurt teased.

Blaine just chuckled and left Kurt with a wave and a wink. Kurt did a little happy dance once Blaine was out of sight. He was just about to text Mercedes to meet him in the hall, when she walked out of the lounge.

"And what do you have to be so excited about?" she asked.

"Oh, nothing," Kurt said, linking arms with her. "Just the best night of my life."