After being pestered by Sebastian, then Wes and David, and finally Mercedes, Kurt gives in and agrees to do the solo in their project. Rachel is acting up, insulted that she wasn't asked to do the solo until some of the younger classical students come up and beg her to help them out with their project. Getting a solo, albeit for another group turns Rachel into a purring kitten again, which is good because Kurt finds he needs all the support he can get. He is very insecure about his own capabilities with this piece, and it doesn't help that Sebastian has taken it upon himself to 'guide' Kurt on his path to excellence, which basically means there are snarky comments every time Kurt opens his mouth.

The day after he agreed to the solo Kurt hesitantly asks Ms. Korokova about the song and gets a surprising smile and nod of approval from the normally stony faced woman. They work on the song for the next two days, earning Kurt his first praise from his teacher, even if it is just a curt 'better'.

Almost floating back to the dorms Kurt stops for a while watching as Blaine and Finn, and their group of friends have what appears to be a grass fight on the lawn. He looks on as the group of teenagers chases each other around, grabbing each other from behind and forcing hastily pulled up handfuls of grass into shirts and pants. It looks messy and sweaty, and strangely enough, fun. The blond, that he recognises as the one that seem permanently attached to Blaine, has gotten hold of his jeans and is dragging Blaine to the ground with such force that Kurt can see a red flash of underwear as they tumble around. There's a definite jolt in Kurt's stomach region at the sight and even though he doesn't want to, his eyes follow the dark haired boy as he suddenly jumps up from the ground and along with several others, throws himself at Finn and wrestles him to the ground.

It seems like that is the ultimate victory because the game breaks up after that and the boys slowly make their way to the dorms passing Kurt on their way. Almost all of them are trying to shake the grass from their clothes; the blonde with Blaine has taken his shirt off and is loudly complaining about having grass in his underwear. Kurt can't help looking at the ripple of muscle and insane abs the guy is sporting. He wonders if him and Blaine are an item, not that he knows for certain that Blaine is gay, but he is pretty sure.

"Sam, can you help me with this?" Kurt hears Blaine say as they pass him, motioning to his back. It only takes a few seconds, but to Kurt it is like the world has suddenly slowed down as the blonde, Sam, takes hold of Blaine's shirt and unceremoniously drags it over his head.

"Just shake it off," Sam says in a teasing tone and jostles Blaine with his shoulder.

Kurt is just staring, there is so much skin, tanned skin and muscles moving as the shirts are shaken. Hands are grabbing around waists, shoulders tensing, as the two of them try to tackle each other one final time. Blaine's back is golden, his shoulders broad for a teenager and Kurt's eyes trail down to his tapered waist and those worn jeans that is now riding low on his hips...

"Like what you see, opera boy?"

Kurt is snapped out of what was probably obvious staring by Mohawk boy. Feeling his cheeks flush, Kurt clutches the sheet music to his chest and hurries away from the dorms and the group of boys. He can hear laughter and the slap of skin on skin. "Stop it Puck, that was uncalled for," someone says, but Kurt isn't going to turn and see which one, quietly berating himself for letting himself look in the first place because, god what was he thinking? He is not attracted to scruffy guys, even if they turn out to have insanely hot bodies and the most amazing laughter, eyes that glitter with mirth and hair that is just begging for him to drag his fingers through it... 'Stop it Kurt!'

It is dinnertime and Kurt is sitting with his usual group of friends stabbing at his vegetables listening to Rachel moan about the lack of choices for vegans.

Kurt is considering stuffing cauliflower in his ears to tune Rachel out when Sebastian's roommate, Trent, comes over with his tray. He is moving to sit down, when Sebastian places a sweater on the bench beside him, effectively taking away the available seat.

"Sebastian, will you please move your sweater?" Trent asks quietly. Sebastian shakes his head.

"Traitor's aren't allowed at this table," he says in a cold voice, causing most of the chatter along the table to die down.

"What are you on about Sebastian?" David asks.

Trent looks decidedly uncomfortable and Kurt feels sorry for him, it's not fun being on the receiving end of Sebastian's insults.

"Trent here decided that he didn't want the prominent position as third violinist that I offered him, and instead he decided to go slumming with the losers over there," Sebastian says gesturing to the table where the 'pops' are sitting.

Kurt is looking at Trent, his quivering bottom lip and his downcast eyes and he wants to tell Sebastian to stop, but he can't.

"B-Blaine asked me..." Trent begins but Sebastian breaks him off.

"That is pretty pathetic Trent, to come running just because a cute boy asks you too. Do you want to be his boyfriend? Because there is no way in hell you have a chance with him, he is way to hot for you," Sebastian mocks.

'That's enough,' Kurt thinks and he is trying to figure out a way to shut Sebastian up when that beautiful Latina girl that always hangs out with Blaine and his group comes up to the table putting her hand on Trent's arm.

"Hi Trent. Want to come and sit with us? Blaine was asking after you." She isn't looking at Trent though, she is looking at Sebastian and she is wearing a smile that Kurt can only describe as evil. "Oh and Snarky McFancypants, just because you have impressed these guys with your attempt to sound like a villain from an 80's high school movie, it doesn't mean that will work on me, so why don't you sit your twinky ass down and shut up because no one with any real world experience gives a flying fuck about what you have to say."

And with that the girl spins around leading a shocked looking Trent away, leaving Sebastian standing, blinking stupidly, looking like he isn't sure what just happened.

It was the fourth and last day of rehearsal and they had just done a complete run through with full orchestra when something occurred to Kurt. 'He sounded different,' at least that was what he heard with his ears, was he right? Also, the piece didn't feel so difficult anymore. Yes he had sung it so many times now that he could do it backwards in his sleep, but still, singing with all the other instruments behind him, he had never felt this certain that he was doing it right.

"Wes," Kurt joined his roommate as he is packing up his oboe. Wes had taken to holding his oboe whilst conducting after he broke two batons during their first rehearsal and then almost spraining his wrist when he needed to make a point. With the oboe in his hand, he is more careful.

"Hi Kurt, want to hang out with me, David and Nick before hitting the sack?"

Kurt shrugged. "Sure, sounds fun. Wes, can I ask you a question and you have to be completely honest, ok?"

Wes nodded.

"Do I sound different to you?"

Kurt wasn't sure what to think when Wes started laughing. He folded his arms over his chest and gave Wes his best 'bitch please' stare.

"Sorry, sorry, you are just so adorably clueless sometimes. Yes Kurt, of course you sound different, you've really grown up a lot since last year and I know you moan about the Gestapo routine of Ms. Korokova, but man has it worked. If you continue like this, you'll be insanely good by the time we go home."

A wide grin spread over Kurt's face. He was right and not delusional after all. Suddenly, he couldn't wait for tomorrow and the concert.

The day of the concert started out like any other day, but after lunch the groups of teenagers gathered in the auditorium. The two classical groups would go first because the stage was already set up for them with chairs for the different instrumental groups and the conductor's pulpit.

Rachel's group went first and even if Kurt thought their version of Nella Fantasia was beautiful, that type of music really wasn't Rachel's forte.

However, he didn't have time to delve on that because he was up. Giving himself a last minute check, Kurt smoothed down his shirt and took a deep breath before he joined his friends on stage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVIsIGIXd-0

When he finished, Kurt felt elated. It wasn't so much the applause, although that was pretty great. It was more the knowledge that he had pushed himself and actually grown from the experience. He knew now that he was good and of course the praise from the other students and teachers felt amazing, but he didn't need the affirmation like he had in the weeks before. When he went down to find a seat in the audience, Ms. Korokova waved him over.

He was beyond surprised when the short, busty woman grabbed his face with both hands and smiled up at him. "Very good Kurti, very good," she said, before giving his cheek a pat and letting him stumble off to find his friends. It took a while for Kurt to come down from the shock, but when he did he found he was smiling so much his cheeks hurt.

There had been a brief break when the students cleared the stage and Blaine's group set up their instruments, but now it seemed like everything was ready. Kurt studied the motley crew of teenagers up on the stage with interest. There was Sam, Mohawk guy and another blonde, guitars hanging low on their hips, Finn was set up behind a drum kit, the wheelchair boy also had a guitar of some kind, and then there was Trent and the Latina girl, which was a surprise, sitting with their bows ready and finally Blaine behind a synth. The blond guy that was not Sam stepped up front.

"Hi, uhm... I'm Jeff and we are doing variations on Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite... uhm... we hope you enjoy it."

The buzz of chatter rose up for a moment after that announcement, but was quickly silenced by the teachers. Wes leaned in to Kurt and murmured, "This should be interesting."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P9xxJ4V7no

When the music started Kurt was sceptical for about ten seconds, but then he let himself be transported away with the sound. It was different, but so incredibly good. He watched Blaine as he bent over the keys, but then as the piece moved on he eyes was drawn to the guitar boys because the way they gave the familiar music such a new sound was kind of awesome.

When it ended there was a hush, but then the applause came. Kurt watched as the boys (and girl) on stage completely skipped the traditional bowing and instead ended up in a massive group hug. They might be very different people, but they truly are friends.