Rachel pulled at the bottom of her dress, making sure it wasn't riding up as she rode to the theater. She covered her mouth when she let out a cough, her cab driver had been smoking. She looked up into the rear view mirror with disgust. The man was only slowly killing himself by doing such a thing.
Her driver fiddled with the radio while they were crawling through traffic. The static had been giving her a headache so she politely asked him to change it. He grumbled something to himself and Rachel rolled her eyes.
Did he not realize that he was risking her job by driving so carelessly? If she were late to her rehearsal they might recast her role of Maria in the Broadway musical West Side Story. It was the role she had worked her entire life for. Sure, there were other roles she had dreamed to receive... But this one was SO essential to her career!
She heard her driver curse under his breath and she scoffed. He was still messing with that damn radio. Finally he had found some kind of station reception. At the close of a commercial break, the radio announcer had said something along the lines of: "Welcome back to Oldies Rock, we've got a little bit of The King for you this morning. Enjoy." And the song began to play.
The scenery had completely changed. She was no longer in a cab, but sitting at a dinner table in a nearly empty restaurant. She was wearing a different dress and had a slightly smaller figure. She was no longer twenty seven, but seventeen. The song on the radio had been slightly altered, and wasn't sung by Elvis... But in her eyes, a more attractive and talented teenage boy.

Baby let me be,
Your lovin teddy bear
Put a chain around my neck,
And lead me anywhere
Oh let me be
Your teddy bear.

Blaine was snapping and tapping his foot to the beat of the song he sung. He was wearing a grin that stretched from ear to ear. He had an old rock type of style that Rachel absolutely adored. His fashionable suit jackets, sweaters, bow-ties and gelled hair were just a few things that made him so incredibly lovable. That and his talent of course.

I don't wanna be a tiger
Cause tigers play too rough
I don't wanna be a lion
Cause lions aint the kind
You love enough.

He wagged his finger back and forth. His dance moves came right out of the fifties, but they were to die for. Any girl would kill to have a gentleman like him. He was so relaxed and comfortable performing... but it was hardly performing. He was just being himself, and it was fun to watch.

Just wanna be, your teddy bear
Put a chain around my neck
And lead me anywhere
Oh let me be
Your teddy bear.

He hopped into the booth with Rachel placed his hand under her chin as he serenaded her. She blushed and he glided the pad of his thumb over her cheek as he began the final verse.

Baby let me be, around you every night
Run your fingers through my hair,
And cuddle me real tight

Rachel was swooning in her seat. She and Blaine were the only two left at Breadstix. The cast and crew after party for their Opening Night of West Side Story had come to an end. Although, she had sort of thought that they were having a party of their own now that they were alone. They had been talking for quite a while about how swiftly the show had gone that evening. Every now and then, Rachel would notice Blaine holding his gaze on her for a little longer then normal.

"What?" she giggled as she called him on the act and tried to hide the red that had crept onto her cheeks. His eyes didn't shift or blink. She pushed his shoulder playfully and jutted out her bottom lip. "Stop it!" she pouted as he continued to gawk.

"You're beautiful," he chuckled and kissed her cheek sloppily. "I hope you realize there isn't anyone who could have played my Maria more perfectly than you did tonight."

"Like you weren't the perfect Tony?" she asked, bewildered.

She shook her head in amazement. He had talent, that she could never deny. There were times when she wondered if he were more talented than she was. She doubted if she would ever admit it aloud, especially to the other members of New Directions. There would never be a day that she would let the other glee club members know that she thought someone other than Barbra Streisand had more talent than she did. She had considered telling him though, although she figured he would assume she was kidding. She had only fallen even harder for him by playing his leading lady in West Side Story. It was such an honor to be on stage with him. She knew that he was going somewhere, whether she was or not.

"Oh, I know I was the perfect Tony. I just wanted to let you know that you're my perfect Maria." he smiled, took her hand and kissed it. "I should probably get you home, shouldn't I?"

"You know my dads trust you, I'm sure we can stay out a little longer." she stood and took his hand, and dragged him out of the restaurant at a sprint. She didn't have a clue what time it was, she only knew that the owner of Breadstix had already been politely asked to stay open as long as there were cast members still around. They had already paid for their meals hours ago.

Outside of the building, Lima was cold and quiet. There weren't any cars on the streets. Even though it was the weekend, it hadn't been a very busy night for their town. Rachel had already let go of Blaine's hand and was running down the street, twirling and spinning in her spaghetti strapped dress.

"You're crazy!" he shouted. He laughed as she watched her. She was already at the end of the block. It was close to forty degrees outside and she was wearing a sleeveless dress. She didn't care though. It had been the best night of her life and nothing was going to stop her. "Aren't you cold?" Blaine called to her and he held his sweater up.

She shook her head violently. "Just enjoy the night! It's gorgeous out!" she shouted. She raised her arms and gestured to the stars that were shining brightly above them. He watched her curiously as her eyes wondered around the seemingly deserted town. She made eye contact with him and he could tell she was developing an idea.

Her smile beamed in the dark. "Will you catch me?" she asked him.

"What do you mean?" he asked, furrowing his brows.

"Will you catch me?" she repeated, and readied herself for a run and jump.

He simply nodded and she broke into a sprint. He couldn't help but burst into a fit of laughter as she ran as fast as she could towards him. A few sidewalk blocks in front of him, she jumped into the air and he outstretched his arms. She flung herself into them, wrapping her legs around his waist. They were suffocating in their own happiness as they struggled to regain their breath from the laughter.

"You caught me." she whispered in his ear as she hugged his neck.

"Of course." he replied with a slight chuckle. They were silent for a long time. He hadn't noticed, but as he held her he was playing with her long hair between his thumb and forefinger. Rachel had begun to hum the song he had performed earlier and he smiled. "Its so quiet. Its peaceful." he commented.

She leaned back in his arms so she could see his face. She had always wanted someone like Blaine... someone she knew she could count on. He was everything she could possibly need. He had talent, a sense of humor, he was comforting and loving, and he was gorgeous. As far as she was concerned, she and Blaine were perfect for each other.

He wouldn't look at her, though she was dying for eye contact. She wanted to know what was going through his head. He heard her whisper his name as she placed his hand on his shoulder and he turned to look at her. "I love you, Rach." he said hesitantly. He shook his head and started over. "I love you." He sounded confident the second time around, more sincere.

There wasn't anything that he could have wished for to make the moment more perfect than it already was... except for hearing that she felt the same way. He knew she did, she had to. He wouldn't have said it if he wasn't sure. He couldn't help, though, the fact that his stomach was churning and twisting into knots. He refused to breathe until she replied.

Rachel was getting dizzy. She couldn't tell if she was hallucinating or if Blaine had really just said that. Her heart was beating fast and she saw their entire relationship flash in front of her eyes. He had practically laid everything on the line with three simple words. I love you. It rang in her head a thousand times. I love you. She knew they were serious, she had always thought of saying those words... I love you. Now that it was real, though? Now that she was experiencing it first hand, rather than as a figment of her imagination? I love you. She wanted to say it back, but she couldn't find her voice.

She climbed out of Blaine's arms so she was standing on the side walk. She stood, sputtering, unable to speak in full sentences or words. Random sounds and noises departed from her lips, she sounded like a babbling idiot! Blaine stared at her wide-eyed. She shook her head back and forth in frustration. He was growing impatient.

He placed his hands on either side of her face and kissed her with everything he had in him. "I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you." Rachel's thoughts screamed inside of her head. "Of course he would know exactly what to do to make everything right. My nerves still haven't quite calmed down, but it's better. He and his perfection would make it better, like only he can do. I love him."

As her thoughts spiraled out of control she knew she had to end the kiss, no matter how good it felt. She had to tell him. Even though it was the last thing she wanted to do, she had to pull away. So, she did. Blaine looked slightly hurt but she shook it off. "Blaine..." she started. Her palms were sweating.
"I get it, you aren't ready and I accept and respect that. I just thought we were..." he trailed off, hoping she would get the picture he was trying to paint. He took a step back. He had been so sure that she felt the same way. He was crushed.
"I love you, too." she breathed. She felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted off of her shoulders. It wasn't like she wanted to get it over with... She had just felt she had bottled up her feelings for long enough. Now she could be completely honest with him. She didn't have to hold back in fear that he didn't feel the same way.
"Thank God..." he grinned, and let out a sigh of relief along with a nervous chuckle. "I was worried there for a second."
"That felt amazing. I love you, so much. I really do. There isn't statement that is MORE true."
"The feeling is mutual." he laughed and wrapped his arms around her waist. He placed a small kiss on her forehead. She stood on her tip-toes and pulled him into a tight hug. Once she pulled away, he could see tears in her eyes. He suppressed a laugh, it was so typical of Rachel to react dramatically.

"I think it's time for me to go home now, but I had a lovely night. Thank you, Blaine." she smiled sweetly and pressed her lips to his cheek. She turned away and walked down the street towards his car. Suddenly she stopped and faced Blaine again.

He raised his eyebrows and watched her carefully. "Why did you have to drive me here? It ruined my dramatic exit!" she giggled and waited for him to catch up.

He snaked his arm around her lower back and they walked in the direction of where he had earlier parked. "You're an excellent actress. It was very nice performance, I'm sorry I ruined it for you." He chuckled lightheartedly, pulling her closer to him. "I had a lot of fun with you tonight. Our party was definitely better than the cast and crew's."

She nodded in agreement. "Definitely." She stood still, thinking over something. "I wonder when Artie's going to come down from his director's high. He really seems to think that he's great."

"He is, we needed him. He's just got a bit of a big head." he grinned and his eyes lit up. "I just realized something.."

"What's that?"

"We get to do it all again tomorrow night."

"Good." She kissed him again once they were in front of Blaine's car. He held the door open for her and she got in. She didn't want to leave, but she was afraid she was worrying her fathers. It had been the best night of her life though, by far.

A/N: I'm really excited to be writing my first Glee fanfiction! It's been a while since I've written and posted anything... so I'm kind of pumped. I'm not sure how long this will go for... or if it will go on at all! I guess I'll just see what kind of feedback I get. Again, it's my first time writing a Glee fic, I'm a little nervous about how it will go over. I hope anyone who reads it, though, likes it and reviews are always appreciated! :)