It was finally here. The day they had all been waiting for. Sectionals. And Kurt had a duet with the boy he is was in love with.
"I'm screwed", Kurt said aloud.
"Why's that?", said a voice from the doorway of Kurt's bedroom
Kurt jumped at the sudden voice. "BLAINE! What are you doing here?" Kurt hadn't planned on seeing Blaine until the competition later that day.
Blaine shrugged. "Thought I would see how you were holding up, today being the big day and all. You nervous?"
Kurt blushed. He was nervous all right... just not for the reasons Blaine thought he was.
"Yeah... a little."
"Well don't be!" Blaine said while walking over and sitting down next to Kurt, who was sitting on his bed. "You'll be fantastic. We've practiced this song over and over. There's nothing to worry about."
Blaine had his suspicions that Kurt might be nervous for more than one reason. Blaine was clueless, sure. But Kurt had straight up told him that he liked him on Valentine's Day. Not easy to over-look that. But Blaine just didn't feel the same way. He loved Kurt, sure. But they were only friends. They relied on one another. Blaine was a mentor-type figure to Kurt. And Kurt was just... not sexy. At all. Sure, when Kurt sang Blackbird earlier, it was amazing. Blaine had never heard a voice like Kurt Hummels. And when Kurt wasn't trying to dance around making claws at the crowd, he was an amazing performer. But that's all there was to it.
"We should probably head out. We need to meet everyone at Sectionals in a few hours." Blaine said, squeezing Kurt's shoulder in reassurance.
"Yeah, ok," Kurt sighed, realizing that the only touch he would ever get from Blaine would be a friendly shoulder squeeze. Nothing more. No magical Broadway touches for him.
--
"Hey guys!" Wes greeted Kurt and Blaine, "You're here! Great! We're all in the green room warming up. We go on after New Directions, so we're just going to stay backstage until we perform.
"Hey Wes," Kurt pulled Wes aside, but noticed Blaine was hanging back, waiting for him. "Is it ok if I stay on the side and watch New Directions perform? I mean, they're like family"
Wes shrugged. "Yeah, sure, if you feel warmed up enough. I understand."
"I'm gonna stay with Kurt, if you don't mind..." Blaine said.
Both Kurt and Wes nodded their agreement, and it was settled.
"Might as well scope out the competition." Blaine said with a shrug and a wink at Kurt.
At that, the lights began to flicker, and New Directions took their place on the stage.
When the music started, it was a song Blaine didn't recognize. He looked at Kurt questioningly, and noticed that there was something in Kurt's eyes that he didn't quite recognize. Was that... pride? Longing? Excitement? Sadness? He couldn't tell...
Kurt saw Blaine looking at him questioningly and leaned over, whispering in his ear, "Rachel wrote two original songs for them to perform. Aren't they wonderful?"
When Kurt pulled back, Blaine saw that there were now tears in Kurt's eyes. Blaine tried to watch the rest of New Directions performance, but he couldn't take his eyes off of Kurt the entire time. He had never seen Kurt look so... well, the only way he could describe it was "Kurt". He was practically glowing. And then, all too soon, New Directions were done and it was the Warblers turn to perform.
"Ok, boys. You ready?" Wes questioned Kurt and Blaine from the side of the stage. "It's just you two for this first song, so start us off strong!"
"You got it boss." Blaine replied with a dapper smile, then grabbed Kurt's hand and walked on stage.
The Warblers began to sing backup to the song, but they were backstage, hidden by the curtain, so it was only Kurt and Blaine on the stage. And even though Kurt had been nervous before, he was as confident as ever after seeing New Directions on stage. Man, had he missed performing with those guys.
Blaine, on the other hand, was now a nervous wreck. He couldn't get the image of Kurt, proudly and longingly staring at his New Directions friends. Why didn't he ever look like that when he was with the Warblers? Sure, he would see that shine in his eye when he was singing with the boys, but never when they were just hanging out. This was a new side of Kurt that Blaine had never seen before. Did Kurt really miss his New Directions friends that much?
Kurt started the song off.
The power lines went out
And I am all alone
But I don't really care at all
Not answering my phone
It was Blaine's turn to take the next part. He wondered if Kurt really felt that alone? He thought it was better now that he had Blaine in his life... but maybe what he really needed was to be back with his New Directions family...
All the games you played
The promises you made
Couldn't finish what you started
Only darkness still remains
Now Kurt and Blaine were singing together. And wow, Blaine thought. It always amazed him how great their voices sounded together.
Lost sight
Couldn't see
When it was you and me
Blow the candles out
Looks like a solo tonight
I'm beginning to see the light
Blow the candles out
Looks like a solo tonight
But I think I'll be alright
Kurt was putting his all into the song. He had picked it out for a reason. He missed his New Directions friends and he planned on going back to them. He was hoping that Blaine would get the message through this song. He knew he would be at risk with Karofsky back at McKinley, but he knew he would be alright. His friends and family would be there to protect him, and they were worth the risk.
Been black and blue before
There's no need to explain
I am not the jaded kind
Playback's such a waste
You're invisible
Invisible to me
My wish is coming true
Erase the memory of your face
'Wait a second...', Blaine thought. 'He couldn't mean me, right? He's not trying to forget me because I don't like him back?' And then it hit him. The look in Kurt's eyes while watching New Directions, the solemn mood he'd been in since Pavarotti died, and the song choice... Kurt was going back to McKinley. He was giving up on Blaine and going back to his friends. Blaine felt like he couldn't breathe. He didn't sing the next few verses quite as strongly.
Lost sight
Couldn't see
When it was you and me
Blow the candles out
Looks like a solo tonight
I'm beginning to see the light
Blow the candles out
Looks like a solo tonight
But I think I'll be alright
Kurt took the next three verses. Meanwhile, Blaine was still having difficulty breathing. He had lost Kurt. He didn't want to loose Kurt. Kurt was his best friend. Maybe Blaine did like Kurt after all, because the idea of Kurt leaving was hurting way too much.
One day
You will wake up
With nothing but you're sorries
'This is my chance', Blaine thought. These next three lines say everything. One day, I'll show Kurt how much he means to me. I'll show him that I can return his feelings. I don't want to loose him.
And someday
You will get back
Everything you gave me
Blow the candles out
Looks like a solo tonight
I'm beginning to see the light
Blow the candles out
Looks like a solo tonight
But I think I'll be alright
Blaine and Kurt ended the song together, and Blaine pulled a surprised Kurt into a massive hug, holding him as tightly as he could, with tears in both their eyes. Now wouldn't be the right time for Blaine to tell him. No. Kurt wanted to go back to New Directions, and Blaine would let him, if that's what would make Kurt happy. But Blaine was beginning to see the light. He was in love with Kurt Hummel, and someday soon, he would make sure Kurt knew it.