So... It has started off as Klaine fanfic... since I'm a die-hard Klaine's fan... But then I needed a plot to place my ideas in it. That's how the whole musical thing came to life. But musical would not sound so logical if only Kurt and Blaine was involved, right? That's how the rest of the team came on board... So now I use this fanfic to worship my Klaine and to showcase some of my favorite songs on expense of the New Directions (they are OK with it, they get to have some good stories out of it)... Basically it's still going to end up as Klaine fanfic... but don't be surprised to see entire chapters dedicated to Tina or Brittana or Artie... and surely you are to see some Kurtofsky and Seblaine =)

And, yeah, you kinda need to read my other fic "On a count of ten" to get some of the plotlines right 'cause I'm intertwining these two fics here and there...

Chapter One. Vanished

POV Kurt

I really simply don't know how to start. They all are watching me with those curious gazes… should have I expected anything else since I'm the one who called them all here on Sunday? Well, not ALL of them since Quinn is out with her parents for some family reunion, Sam babysits his brother and sister and Dave was out of reach when I tried to call him…

But everybody else was here since I announced that I have something important to talk about… So talk, Kurt, talk!

- Ah, so, my topic…

There! I officially give up! It's too damn hard to talk about something so precious to one's heart – and I'm with friends now… what would it be like in less friendly surroundings? Maybe I shouldn't even start this whole thing?

Finn encourages me:

- Bro, whatever this is, you can tell us. We're always here for you, you know that!

You know, it's a bit irritating to be called "bro" all the time – but I guess Finn's just trying to underline his family connection to me and implied protected status. Very nice of him – even though I wish he would've chosen his ways differently.

While I keep silent every ND joins in with agreeing nods and words of support. It's so warm to feel so loved… Especially by one very specific dark-haired boy who eyes me intently, ready to come to my rescue upon first sign of emotional failure. It's like he gives me space to stand up on my own feet – and is always there if I need him to lean on… Blaine is my… no, not soulmate, he IS my soul itself!

OK, I have had enough of mysterious silence so here we go:

- I have a story to share with you…

- I love stories! Is it a happy one? - Brit chirps with beaming childish smile. She interrupted me even before I've started – yet still I can't be mad with her… It's Brittany, after all…

- Brit, shush! – Santana gives her soft scolding look and not so soft warning glare to the rest of the group that implies "you'd better all shut up or I will go Lima Adjacent crazy on you!" Then she turns back to me with little nod hinting that she'd just secured me my much needed attention. And she's right – I don't get interrupted till the end of my story:

- So, this is a story of a person named Di. Actually, a really nice person… but kind of invisible. Not literally, of course… well, not in the beginning, at least…

Anyway, Di is a stage worker for a local school's theatre and knows everybody in their local theatre club. But nobody seems to know Di… I mean, they like Di's funny one-liners, friendly shoulder to cry on and willingness to help in any way possible. But nobody really notices Di… until one day there's nothing to notice – Di disappears. Not like in a ghost way, there's no tragic death involved… more like becoming an invisible spirit.

And the problem is that Di does not want to stay that way. But to come back to real life Di needs people to get to remember this little shy stage worker. Get them to ask somebody: "Where is Di?"… acknowledge Di's existence, Di's presence in their lives…

And the only way Di can communicate with those people is though their subconsciousness, trying to remind them of some experience they've shared. So this is the rest of the story – Di's walking through people's lives, re-living sad and funny memories and, hopefully, getting back some life substance… End of story.

Here I went silent for I had nothing more to say at this exact moment. Faces of my friends were watching me with millions of questions written all over them, but it was Puck who asked the first one:

- So, is it like a movie or some'? 'Cause I'd definitely go to see that – sounds so spooky-cool to me!

I can't help but smile in respond to the adjective – Puck is so great in his own rough and simple way. Then Mercedes comments with some confusion:

- No, not a movie… I would've heard of something like this – I'm a sucker for this kind of stories…

To ease them on questions I say:

- No, it's not a movie. Not a book. It's a musical. More specifically – a musical I'm writing. It's called "Vanished", if anyone's interested.

Room goes struck-silent again – and my friends' faces express wide spectrum of emotions from shining pride (love you, Blaine, always will!) to respect (same here, , same here) to well-hidden jealousy (sorry, Rachel, I get to be the first one of us to write a musical).

makes a remark while everybody else is looking for some way to react to this revelation:

- I think there is a story behind the whole musical idea? Or did it just come to you like that?

- I'd be lying if I say there was no trigger for this idea. When we were doing West Side Story couple of month ago… I've just got that feeling that my performances…

I don't want to say it out loud, I really don't… but that's truth so…

- … my performances aren't "masculine" enough for a majority of roles out there. I mean… I can sing "manly" and still don't come off as "every girl's dream" type of guy.

I almost don't have to look to know that Artie and Blaine have just exchanged those pained looks that say "we've done it to him, we've shaken his fate". Not totally untrue, but not correct either:

- It's not something I can blame on somebody, not even on myself – that's just the way I am and the way those roles where written. And I'm not going to change to fit in better because I'm pretty unique the way I am…

- Preach, bro! – Finn chuckles, – There's nobody to play Kurt Hummel's role better than you are!

I smile for it's like the first time my brother has actually got it right from the first time:

- My point exactly! Or, more correct, it was my dad's point – he said "If there are no roles for you to play, then make one only you can play!" or something like that, I don't remember the details. That got me thinking… than writing… then it brought me here today.

Rachel gets over her little jealousy strike and is back to being supportive and overexcited as a diva-friend should:

- So is it finished? Can we see it? Or rather – can we hear it?

I shake my head:

- No, no and no. It's not finished – and this is why I'm here. Initially I wanted to write the whole thing before presenting it to you. I mean, I was always going to show it to you and ask if you want to take part in it…

- Kidding me, man? We wouldn't miss it for a world! – Everybody cheerfully joins Mike's words. I nod appreciatively to him – Mike is so nice to me it's endearing. And it doesn't matter he can't really sing – I will organise something on the background for him to have a breath-taking dancing solo – his body speaks emotions better than some voices do!

- In any case, I was going to finish it before showing to you. But that it got to me that I don't really know enough to write so many different people in so many different life situations. And to write those I either need to live much longer life with much more experience… or I just need some help form group of people with their individual experiences. So… here I am… asking…

- Wait… Are you asking us to co-write your musical?

Question comes from Tina but can easily be read on every face in the room. Have I surprised them or have I scared them away?

- Well, not exactly "co-write" the whole musical, more like that part you want to be involved in… I've already written the general story and few crucial characters… but if any of you want to come in and you have something you want to share though this show – you are more than welcome! It's like role-play game only with music involved… and singing… and dancing…

I nod to Mike to acknowledge the fact that by "dancing" I mean him. He looks surprised but flattered – I guess, he didn't think he had a shot in here…

- What leading characters have already been written? Are they open for audition yet? – Santana measures me and Blaine with suspicious eyes since in her mind us being a couple and me being an author equals to "the best roles are not for everyone to take". Blaine responds to Santana with innocent look because he really doesn't know anything about it – I kept this musical thing well hidden inside of me.

I say to Santana knowing very well that every diva in this room (and we have a very high diva-content in the club!) is listening patiently to hear about the leading roles:

- I didn't say "leading", I said "crucial". I don't believe this musical will have "a lead" in the general meaning – every story will have its significance. I will just use those two characters to tie different stories together, to show how people's lives cross each other's without them even noticing it…

- But still, - interjects Rachel, - have those two CRUCIAL roles been casted already?

Well, this is the truth moment…

- Yes, they have. I'm playing Di.