Chapter 5: Something to Remember

"So, what will you order?"

"Boo, I'm not sure buying Blaine coffee is the best thing for me to do now..."

"Oh Kurt; haven't I told you? You are making things up with your boyfriend today. We are buying him his favorite kind of coffee, we'll go to you guys' apartment, you are going to give him the coffee and talk things over with him. Then you'll engage in amazing make-up sex and luckily I'll be far away not to hear it."

Kurt smiled at her:

"But why? Why are you doing this?"

She gave him a side hug and rubbed his arm:

"Because I love you, pumpkin. And I want to see you happy. What can I do? Your mind is set that Blaine is the one... Besides, the guy has already called me a hundred times; he packed my mail box and voice mail. And I know you; you won't call him back."

"Well, if I didn't know you; I'd say you are worried about Blaine."

She smirked at him:

"Glad you know me."

He grinned back at his cousin and walked towards the barista to order his and Blaine's favorite coffees along with some heart-shaped cookies.

xXxXx

Finn rubbed his eyes and it took him a few minutes to remember where he was. It wasn't the first time he had to sleep in the bedroom that once belonged to Kurt; but this time it was his choice to sleep there.

He went a little drowsy to the kitchen were Rachel was already having breakfast. He tried to smile her good-morning and she simply turned her head away. He was still outraged as he spoke:

"I can't believe that you are mad at me after what I saw yesterday."

She returned him an icy glare:

"It's me that can't believe you are saying this after what I saw yesterday!"

"And what was that; may I be informed?"

"You giving flowers to Louisa and then not wanting to sleep in the same bedroom as me."

Finn looked at her in disbelief:

"How dare you accuse me? After our discussion in the morning; I bought you flowers and when I went to NYADA to give them to you I saw you holding Brody's arm and offering to buy him lunch. Louisa saw me distressed and invited me over for coffee."

"Since when did you and Louisa become best friends?"

"I don't know; probably since when you decided to see Brody behind my back!"

Rachel got up throwing her napkin away:

"Brody has ever been my friend. That's it; nothing more! I'm with you!"

"And I can't make a new friend?"

"Not one that you are clearly attracted to!"

"Same goes for you and Brody! You know what, Rachel? I'm tired of us trying to tell the other what to do..."

She sat back with a worried face:

"What do you mean by that? Do you... do you want us to break up?"

"I don't know..."

"Me neither. Where does it leave us?"

"I said I don't know, Rachel."

Finn went to the bathroom slamming the door behind him. He heard the front door closing a few minutes later indicating Rachel had left the apartment.

xXxXx

Blaine was preparing breakfast when Kurt entered the apartment and looked at him with a coy smile:

"Hi."

Blaine tried to hide his grin from seeing the boy but failed. Instead, he decided to let his emotions show:

"Hi there. How are you? How was your night?"

Kurt sighed and looked attentively to his own fingers tracing patterns on the table:

"Fine; Louisa took care of me. Look, I said something I didn't mean to and I know it wasn't fair to leave you not knowing where I was. But you got to understand that my head was hot and if I talked to you yesterday it would have leaded to even more fighting. I don't want to fight with you..."

Blaine didn't know if it was the moist in Kurt's eyes, the words he was saying or simply Kurt's presence; he only knew he had to kiss his boyfriend right then. He took fast steps towards Kurt and pulled him by the waist into a passionate kiss. They broke it moments later to recover their breaths. He smiled at Kurt:

"I don't want to fight either. And I also have my share of blame on this."

Kurt grinned and started to play with Blaine's still free curls:

"Louisa made me buy you your favorite coffee before dragging me here. Do you want to have breakfast with me?"

"Breakfast without you is so awfully lonely. I was wishing you'd come home today; but I must admit I didn't think you would because of your stubbornness."

Kurt chuckled:

"A Hummel knows how to turn another Hummel's stubbornness around."

"In this case, remember me to thank Louisa. I have to tell her that you bringing me heart-shaped cookies was a stroke of brilliance; I could never resist it!"

Kurt bit his lips in a malicious way:

"You can thank me; because the cookies were entirely my idea."

Blaine understood Kurt's look and walked closer to him again:

"I can think of several ways you'd like to be thanked. How much time do we have?"

"For you? My whole life."

Blaine went for a kiss in the neck that Kurt was more than glad to welcome.

xXxXx

Rachel was walking to her class when she saw her. Louisa was talking and laughing with Kurt and Blaine; but Rachel wouldn't get distracted by that. She walked closer to her nemesis and grabbed the girl by the arm. Louisa began to protest:

"What the hell is this? Who do you think you are to drag me around like this?"

Rachel continued to walk and drag the girl, now followed by Kurt and Blaine, and she simply turned back to reply:

"I have a bone to pick with you! So now it's you and me on a diva-off; this academy is too small for both of us."

Louisa started to laugh a little hysterically:

"Are you being serious? Is this some kind of western duel?"

Kurt coughed a little embarrassed:

"Ah, Louisa dear, I don't think you'll need fire-arms of any kind; but this is a fight."

They finally reached an auditorium and Rachel let go of the other's arm. She went on turning the lights and sound-systems on and turned to Louisa:

"Any rules you'd like to propose? I'd go with simple sing-off competition: one song each from the Broadway catalog. You'd like to go first or can I take the stage?"

Louisa looked at her at first still a little incredulous but then deciding to cooperate:

"Be my guest; this whole circus was your idea anyway."

"Right. Kurt and Blaine will be the judges."

They began to protest but Rachel silenced them:

"No one asked you to follow us along."

Blaine gave Kurt a stare that seemed to call him down, seeing that both of them nodded. Rachel smiled at them:

"Alright then. Hello, my name is Rachel Berry and I'll be singing At the Ballet from the musical A Chorus Line."

http://www.youtube.com/embed/Fk0uhPovR4U

Daddy always thought that he married beneath him.

That's what he said, that's what he said.

When he proposed he informed my mother

He was probably her very last chance.

And though she was twenty-two,

Though she was twenty-two

She married him.

Life with my dad wasn't ever a picnic

More like a "Come as you are."

When I was five I remember my mother

Dug earrings out of the car

I knew they weren't hers, But it wasn't

Something you'd want to discuss.

He wasn't warm.

Well, not to her.

Well, not to us.

But

Everything was beautiful at the ballet.

Graceful men lift lovely girls in white.

Yes,

Everything was beautiful at ballet.

Hey!

I was happy... at the ballet.

Up a steep and very narrow stairway.

To the voice like a metronome.

Up a steep and very narrow stairway.

It wasn't paradise...

It wasn't paradise...

It wasn't paradise...

But it was home.

Mother always said I'd be very attractive

When I grew up, when I grew up.

"Diff'rent," she said, "With a special something

And a very, very personal flair."

And though I was eight or nine,

Though I was eight or nine,

Though I was eight or nine,

I hated her.

Everyone is beautiful at the ballet.

Every prince has got to have his swan.

Yes,

Everyone is beautiful at the ballet.

I was pretty...

At the ballet

I used to dance around the living room

with my arms up like this

My fantasy was that there was an Indian Chief...

And he'd say to me

"Rachel, do you wanna dance?"

And I'd say, "Daddy, I would love to dance!"

But it was clear...

When he proposed...

That I was born to save their marriage and when

That's what he said...

That's what she said...

I used to dance around the living room...

He wasn't warm...

Not to her...

It was an Indian chief and he'd say:

"Rachel, do you wanna dance?"

And I'd say, "Daddy, I would love to dance"

Raise your arms and someone's always there.

Yes, everything was beautiful at the ballet,

At the ballet,

At the ballet!!!

I was pretty...

I was happy...

"I would love to.."

At...the...ballet.

Rachel's performance was breathtaking; she sang her entire soul to every note. Being

a dancer and a singer was everything Rachel knew how to do and everything she trained for since she could remember. She wouldn't let a girl from a faraway forgotten land to steal it from her. As she finished the song; she was receiving a standing ovation not only from Kurt and Blaine but also from Louisa:

"Rachel, that was incredible!"

"Well, now it's your turn..."

"I couldn't possible top that. You won."

Rachel was confused

"What? This is a diva-off; you can't simply give me the victory!"

"You won, Rachel. I must admit that I don't like you as a person as I think you don't like me. I'm not saying we should be friends; but there's no dispute that this is what you were born to do. You are a true diva, Rachel Berry."

"Glad you admit it; but it's still you turn. Where is your diva?"

"I'm just trying to avoid that our relationship turns into a blood-bath. I'm not trying to steal your thunder or anything; I simply think there's enough room for both of us around here."

Rachel had lost it:

"I won't let you go like that! There's room for only one diva around here and I want things to be clear that the room is mine."

Louisa turned back to her with her face beginning to change to a bright shade of red:

"What's all that really about? It's Finn, isn't it? It's because I had to comfort him after he saw you flirting around with your ex-boyfriend?"

"Yes; it's about Finn who happens to be my boyfriend. I won't let a Brazilian whore

come here and steal him from me!"

Kurt and Blaine had stood up in a jump and were approaching the girls. Louisa, however, had a calm look on her face:

"Well, if you are not woman enough to hold your men it's not my fault."

Like that; Louisa turned on her heels leaving the other three stunned behind her. Blaine was the first to recover from the shock and turned to Kurt:

"I'm going after her."

"Are you sure, honey? You and Lou don't have the best history."

"I know what I'm doing."

xXxXx

Blaine had to run around a little to find Louisa. However, he wasn't prepared for what he saw when he finally found her. She was obstinately walking towards an open window; with her eyes wide like a maniac and hyperventilating. Blaine acted on instinct when he ran to her and captured her in his embrace while, at the same time, he took her out of the way from the window.

She instantly began to cry very hard making her gasp for air even more strongly. He was absolutely scared and not knowing what to do. He just kept rocking her and trying to calm her down. She managed to say a few words in a hoarsely voice between sobs:

"My purse... pillbox... water..."

Blaine looked at her even more lost:

"Are you alright? Do you want me to call Kurt?"

She shook her head:

"Pills!"

He got up to reach her the pills and luckily found a water bottle in her purse. He got her the medicine and sat back down by her side on the floor. She took the pills and rested her head on Blaine's shoulder. He tentatively passed his arms around her and she made herself more comfortable in his embrace. Her tears continued to run for a long while but her breathing was beginning to even. Blaine kept whispering that he was there and she wasn't alone and she managed to give him a feeble smile. After that, she closed her eyes and Blaine could only tell she wasn't sleeping from the occasional sob she gave.

After several minutes, she began to move in his embrace and he let her sit up. She looked at him with her face still swollen from crying and tears running down her cheeks:

"Thank you. I think I own you an explanation, right?"

He smiled back at her:

"You own me nothing, Lou. But if you are feeling well to talk; I must say you scared the hell out of me... Would you... would you really jump?"

She sighed:

"I don't know; probably not. What was attracting me mostly was that piece of broken glass by the window."

Blaine nodded but without really having understood. He felt like he was crossing some kind of limit and getting into something deep personal with her. To his surprise, she continued talking:

"It's the secret I've been trying to hide. It's also the reason I build so many protective walls around me. Kurt knows because he has watched me having several panic attacks like this over the years. It was much scarier for him because we were much younger and I hadn't so much control over myself like now."

Blaine was drinking her every word but still had more questions than answers. She must have seen it because she chuckled and took his hand:

"Let me try to explain it: I suffer from a thing called generalized anxiety disorder. It takes me to having panic attacks like the one you just witnessed. I know it's not pretty and people tend not to understand it. There's too few information about it to the general public and so I went through a lot of prejudice when I told people about my disease. You see; it's a disease; I have no control over it. I'm in therapy and medication; I'm better but sometimes things get out of control."

She was crying again and couldn't talk anymore. Blaine felt more confident to hold her again:

"Don't worry Lou; you can trust me. I'll tell nobody about your secret and I'm now an ally you can count on. I'll ask for Kurt's help to research about it and learn as much as I can to help you."

"Thank you, Blaine. After how I treated you; you are still here whiling to help me."

"Not to mention. I was about to thank you for helping Kurt and I make up and the opportunity just raised from me to help you back. Not that I liked that you are suffering..."

She interrupted him to easy his guilt:

"I understood. And I'm really grateful to you. Eleanor, the lady I work for, is also helping. Her son had depression too and..."

"Wait! Are you depressed?"

"I tend to be from time to time; a little gift anxiety brought me. But the medication keeps things in order."

He smiled:

"Lou, I have a proposition for you: why don't you came over to mine and Kurt's place and we can have a pajama party? We would feel better knowing you are, at least, happy."

She smiled back cleaning away the last tears:

"It would make me really happy. Just tell Kurt to leave some room in the kitchen for

me to do some treats."

xXxXx

As Blaine went running after Louisa, Rachel and Kurt stared at each other. Kurt tried to smile but Rachel turned away shaking her head:

"I know what you're going to say, Kurt; she's your cousin. I get that she's family, I love you very much; but there is absolutely no way for me and her to become friends."

Kurt chuckled:

"You got some things in common. However, I wasn't going to say anything like that. I know my cousin very well and I know best than to get on her way when her mind is settled about something. I don't think you and Louisa will get along anytime soon. I wonder, however, what happened to us? We used to be so close and now I feel like I haven't talked to you in ages!"

She laughed:

"I missed you too. But let us be real; we began walking opposite directions since I started dating Brody."

"That's true; but we still bumped into each other a couple of times on the way. Things got different when Finn and Blaine moved in and now with Louisa being my cousin and Blaine's best NYADA friend. Besides, the times at the beginning of term when we tried to go out in group; the tension between you and Louisa and Brody and Finn was unbearable."

Rachel hugged him:

"I'm sorry, Kurt. I hate your cousin because Finn is attracted to her."

"You and Finn are an eternal soap-opera. Will you ever stop fighting?"

"I think on some level we like the drama of fighting."

"Speaking of drama; may I borrow the stage?"

Rachel nodded looking curious. Kurt got upstage and grabbed the microphone:

"Good-morning ladies and gentleman; my name is Kurt Hummel and I'd like to serenate my good friend Rachel Berry with Friend Like Me from Aladdin."

http://www.youtube.com/embed/99Op1TaXmCw

Well, Ali Baba had them forty thieves,

Scheherazade had a thousand tales.

But master you're in luck, 'cause up your sleeves

You've got a brand of magic never fails

You've got some power in your corner now!

Some heavy ammunition in your camp!

You got some punch, pizzaz, yahoo and how.

See, all you gotta do is rub that lamp, and I'll say:

"Mr. Aladdin, sir, what will your pleasure be?

Let me take your order, jot it down?

You ain't never had friend like me

Life is your restaurant and I'm your maitre'd

Come on whisper what it is you want;

You ain't never had friend like me!

Yes sir, we pride ourselves on service.

You're the boss, the king, the shah.

Say what you wish; it's yours, true dish.

How 'bout a little more baklava?

Have some of column A try All of column B,

I'm in the mood to help you, dude.

You ain't never had friend like me

Oh my.

No no.

My my my.

Can your friends do this?

Can your friends do that?

Can your friends pull this

Out their little hat?

Can your friends go poof?

Well looky here.

Can your friends go abracadabra, let her rip,

And then make the sucker disappear?

So don't just sit there slack-jawed, buggy-eyed,

I'm here to answer all your mid-day prayers,

You've got me bona fide certified;

You've got a genie for charge d'affaires.

I've got a powerful urge to help you out,

So what you wish, I really wanna know?

You've got a list that's three miles long, no doubt,

Well all you've gotta do is rub like so, and oh ­-

Mr. Aladdin, sir, have a wish or two or three.

I'm on the job you big nabob!

You ain't never had a friend, never had a friend,

You ain't never had a friend, never had a friend,

You ain't never had a friend like me.

You ain't never had a friend like me

He got around the stage like he owned it. His moves, faces and dance steps were worth of any Broadway number. Rachel laughed excitedly from the audience. Kurt bowed at the end and winked at her

"That's for you not to forget who the real diva of NYADA is."

"I know best than to compete with you, Mr. Hummel."

Kurt laughed getting down the stage and taking her by the hand:

"Come on; let's grab some lunch. I'm sure Blaine won't mind not eating with me if I was catching up with an old friend."

xXxXx

Louisa and Kurt kept bringing treats from the kitchen. Most of them Blaine knew; but several he had never seen before. When the others sat down and began to dig in; Blaine looked puzzled between the two of them. Louisa saw it and explained:

"I went to the Brazilian street today and could get some treats and the ingredients to do others. Kurt grew up with me and is used to the Brazilian culinary."

Kurt kissed his cheek and filled his spoon with a sort of chocolate cream:

"Try this one, honey. It's my favorite."

Blaine took the spoon in his mouth and was surprised by the delicious taste of that different consistency chocolate:

"Oh my God! What's that? It's delicious!"

Louisa chuckled:

"It's brigadeiro still warm to eat with a spoon. We Brazilians are particularly proud of it and it's really easy to make if you have the ingredients."

Kurt started stroking Blaine's hair:

"She began to make me it as soon as we learned how to deal with the stove."

Blaine looked at him:

"And why have you never cooked me this?"

"Partly because of the calories and partly to prevent my father from eating it. I have to take care of my men. And partly because I forgot it..."

Blaine laughed:

"Now there are no more excuses! Or I'll simply call Louisa to cook for me. Speaking of which, since you've forgotten the recipe she taught you; I think it's only fair she chooses the film tonight."

"Thank you for the kind offer Blaine; but I have something here that might interest you more. In this little pen-drive I have digitalized photos of me and my dear cousin from the vacations we spent together at Grandma Hummel's place."

Blaine's eyes were glowing brightly:

"That's precious. Especially since Kurt has forbidden Burt to show me most of his childhood pictures."

Kurt hid his face on a pillow:

"I knew no good could come from introducing the two of you. You are not doing this to me boo, are you?"

She smirked at him:

"I'm actually testing Blaine; if he continues to say he loves you after what he sees here, then I'll have to approve him because his feelings are true."

Blaine helped her set the laptop to slide-slow her photos. He then sat by Kurt's side rubbing his legs cheerfully. As the photos passed, Blaine exclaimed about one or other; making Kurt's cheeks more scarlet with every comment.

"You were such a cute little chubby kid, Kurt. I love it!"

Kurt playfully slapped him:

"One more word and you'll be the one sleeping on the couch!"

However, the next picture could not go by without an exclamation:

"What are those costumes you two are wearing?"

Louisa laughed at Kurt's embarrassed expression and began to fill Blaine in:

"Grandma Hummel liked to teach us little numbers ever since she learned we loved singing and dancing. She always dreamed of becoming a ballerina but her father forbade her."

"And in this picture you were doing which musical?"

"Mary Poppins."

Kurt intervened:

"And I have to take care of the costumes because Grandma and Louisa are good for nothing in that department."

Blaine laughed:

"How I wish I could see that!"

Kurt looked mischievously at Louisa:

"You see honey; after boo showed you those pictures, she owes me one. So now, my dearest cousin, will join me performing Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious just like our grandmother taught us."

Louisa stared at him with a mortal glance; but Kurt wouldn't take no for an answer. He dragged her out of the couch and they soon where singing and following an elaborated tap-dance routine to go with it. Blaine was bending in half from laughing.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/Rg6vc66foXE

It's...

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Even though the sound of it

is something quite atrocious

If you say it loud enough you'll

always sound precocious

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Um diddle diddle diddle

um diddle ay!

Because I was afraid to speak

when I was just a lad

Me father gave me nose a tweak

and told me I was bad

But then one day I learned a word

That saved me achin' nose

The biggest word I ever heard

And this is how it goes: Oh!

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Even though the sound of it

is something quite atrocious

If you say it loud enough you'll

always sound precocious

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Um diddle diddle diddle

um diddle ay!

He traveled all around the world

And everywhere he went

He'd use his word and all would say

"There goes a clever gent"

When dukes and maharajas

pass the time of day with me

I say me special word and then they ask me out to tea

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Even though the sound of it

is something quite atrocious

If you say it loud enough you'll

always sound precocious

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Um diddle diddle diddle

um diddle ay!

So when the cat had got

your tongue

There's no need for dismay

Just summon up this word and then

You've got a lot to say

But better say it carefully or it

could change your life...

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

He loved the performance; but the best part was seeing Louisa in such a relaxed state with her silly dress and low hanging piggy-tails. Also, the way she could light up Kurt's face was something worth seeing. They finished and were cheered by Blaine's wolf-whistles:

"Bravo! Amazing that you guys haven't forgotten it after all this time."

Kurt pecked him:

"You don't know how many times we have rehearsed and performed it."

xXxXx

Finn didn't feel like going home. He and Rachel hadn't talk to each other all day long and nothing told him their fight had been forgotten. Truth be told; he wasn't even sure if he wanted to forget it in the first place. Things with Rachel had always been stormy and sometimes he got sick of it. Nowadays maybe more often.

He was leaving the university and decided to join a group of his classmates to a bar nearby. As the alcohol was going in; his will to go home was going out. From the dinner at the bar; a smaller group wanted to extend it to a night club and Finn decided to go along.

Flashes of the night went by as he danced and drank more and more. He vaguely remembered being put on a cab by some of the guys and he was pretty sure he slept all the way home. Luckily, he got home with no more consequences than puke on the living-room carpet. Rachel would be so mad when she saw it.

xXxXx

Louisa protested:

"I think it's time that Blaine shows us something from his childhood as well."

Kurt grinned:

"Oh Blee; I'd love that!"

Blaine answered the pleas and went to the piano:

"This is something from a Harry Potter parody show that I liked a lot when I was younger. It's called To Have a Home and it's from a group called Team Starkid."

http://www.youtube.com/embed/zmeMvRQnvyM

"Home."

I've heard the word before,

but it never meant much more

than just a thing I've never had.

A "place,"

They say, "Hey, know your place!"

But I've never had a place to even know,

or a face that I could go to

if I needed someone there...

I'm laughing

it's hard to hide a smile

My God, it's been a while

since I have had a reason to.

To think

it's been here all along

somewhere to belong,

and a reason,

a something-to-believe-in

I've finally found it,

a place where I'm wanted...

This must be how it feels to have a home

I used to dream about it

but never schemed or counted

on fantasies or wishes-

it breaks a man to see what he misses

So many nights I'd pray

for a better life, a better day

but I never thought that it'd come true

now that it's here, I don't know what to do

and I'm trying not to cry

This must be how it feels

to have a home

I've finally made it

I've hoped and I've waited

and for the first time in my life, I don't feel so alone

My heart starts to heal

to know that it's real.

This is how it must feel

to have a home!

Blaine played the heartfelt melody as Kurt and Louisa were cuddled on the couch. He played it until the end; but he was crying as he finished it. Kurt got up and went to comfort him:

"Honey; that was so beautiful."

"Thank you; I chose that for tonight because hanging out with you two makes me feel more comfortable than I ever felt my whole life. Lou, be sure that you are part of it; ever since Kurt told me of how supportive you were to him when he came out, I admired you even more. I was glad to know Kurt had someone to count on unlike me."

She got up from the couch and extended her hand for him:

"Now I'm also your ally for when you need."

She winked at him and he chuckled in response. Kurt found better not to ask about it now:

"Why don't we go to our king-size bed and watch a movie? Since Lou is sleeping over there's no need to finish our kiki earlier."

The three of them lay together with Kurt on the middle. Louisa rested her head on his shoulder finally allowing the tiredness of her stressful day wear her off. Before the end of the movie, she was sound asleep on Kurt's warmth.

Blaine got up when the movie ended:

"I'll go sleep on the couch."

Kurt complained:

"No! I'm sure she'll be fine if we wake her up and move her there."

Blaine smiled at him and kissed him on the lips:

"Believe me; she needs you more than I do tonight."

xXxXx

Finn woke up in the middle of the afternoon with a dreadful hung-over. He wasn't feeling like making food for himself and decided to grab a cab to the first place he could think of where there would be coffee and food: Coffee'N'Stuff.

He arrived too early for Maggie's and Louisa's shift and had Mr. Peaches to take his order. Feeling better after food, he ran into Louisa on her way in:

"Finn! Glad to see you; but you don't look good at all!"

"Hung-over..."

She smiled warmly at him:

"Do you want me to make you a tea at the staff-room? We have some good recliners back there."

"I just ate; but I don't think I can say no to the recliner offer."

She made herself some tea as Finn lay down feeling miserable. Her pitiful side took over as she lightly touched his shoulder:

"Anything you'd like to talk about? They say I'm a good listener."

"A good listener; peace and quiet, that's what I need in my life right now."

She chuckled:

"Rachel does seem like high-maintenance.

He sat up and looked Louisa in the eyes:

"Do you know what's like to live with a diva full mode? It's exhausting..."

She was looking at him with such interest and so much benevolence that it caught his attention. Rachel hardly ever paid him full attention. It was strange yet fascinating to be the center of someone else's attention; maybe that was why Rachel liked it so much. But this wasn't Rachel; it was Louisa who wasn't asking anything and offering support and attention.

Before he knew it; Finn was leaning in to kiss Louisa.

xXxXx

Louisa couldn't believe her eyes when she saw Finn trying to kiss her. Then, all the thoughts came together in a sudden towards her: Finn; Kurt's brother; the guy you like; Rachel's boyfriend; the fight with Rachel; the panic attack afterwards. It was just too much; and before Finn's lips could touch hers she was already running away.

She had stormed out of the shop and went straight into NYADA trying to remember in which class Kurt could be at that time. Her thoughts were interrupted by bumping very hard against someone. She was apologizing but Brody was smiling at her:

"I can almost say bumping into you was a pleasure."

"Look, I don't have time for your jokes today. Do you know were my cousin is?"

"As a matter of fact; I do. He just left with Blaine to go to lunch."

"Merda!"

"Sorry?"

"Nothing, it's just that I really needed Kurt right now."

"Hey; calm down. I was serious when I said I want to be your friend. Come on; what makes you feel better: stage or coffee?"

"Right now: stage! I want to be as far from coffee as possible."

They went to one of the rehearsal auditoriums and sat together at the edge of the stage. Louisa let her defenses down a little and allowed herself to rest her head on Brody's shoulder. He said nothing about it and began to chit-chat:

"Want to hear something good? To get my degree I'll have to direct a play and they let me do a musical and use the big auditorium to perform it."

"That's awesome Brody."

He smiled

"And there's more; I want you on my cast. Preferably as the leading lady."

"That's crazy; you've never seen me acting.

"People gossip; I know Carmen Miranda is good."

She bumped him with her shoulder:

"That would be a kind of nepotism."

He laughed:

"Fine! We'll do a duet now then. Something from the Broadway catalog and you can show me your acting skills through it. I'll start."

He went to the piano and begun to sing and play Perfect for You from Next to Normal.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/ICAfH5I8ttk

Henry:

Our planet is poison,

The oceans, the air,

Around and beneath

And above you.

She joined in as Nathalie and walked closer as she sang.

Natalie:

Um, Henry, that's true,

And I totally care—

Henry:

I'm trying to tell you

I love you.

Natalie: [Spoken]

What?

Henry:

The world is at war,

Filled with death and disease—

We dance on the edge of destruction.

The globe's getting warmer

By deadly degrees—

Natalie:

And this is one fucked up seduction.

Henry:

This planet is pretty much

Broken beyond all repair...

But one thing is working

If you're standing there.

Perfect for you...

I could be perfect for you.

I might be lazy, a loner,

A bit of a stoner—it's true.

But I might be perfect--

I'll make myself perfect...

Perfect for you.

You square all the corners,

I straighten the curves.

Soon, they didn't know any more if it was Nathalie's and Henry's words or their own.

Natalie:

You've got some nerve, Henry,

And I'm just all nerves.

Henry:

But even if everything else

Turns to dirt—

Henry & Natalie:

We'll be the one thing

In this world that won't hurt.

Henry:

I can't fix what's fucked up,

But one thing I know I can do...

I can be perfect for you.

Natalie:

I can be perfect for you.

Henry & Natalie:

Perfect for you.

She sat by the piano with him and they sang for each other. The song finished and Brody cupped Louisa's face pulling her in for a kiss that she gladly accepted. They had both being oblivious to their feelings and the touch of their lips just felt fine.

They broke the kiss and smiled at each other. He spoke:

"Welcome aboard; Diana Goodman. I just found my musical."