"Something bursting me wide, open impossible to hide. And suddenly I'm flying, flying like a bird. Like electricity, electricity. Sparks inside of me. And I'm free, I'm free."
-Electricity, from Billy Elliot
Oh, hi! Thanks for clicking on this! Well, this is my new story. I've been working on it since I saw Billy Elliot in February... There was this adorable little boy sitting next to me wearing a sweater vest, and he just reminded me so much of Blaine! So then this idea just started developing, and I knew I had to write this.
This will have two or three chapters where Blaine is 11, and then there will be a major time jump. I know that it seems really focused around Billy Elliot, which would be confusing if you haven't seen it, but it basically goes away after this chapter.
Also, thank you to the wonderful Don'tBeADaisy for editing this! (She's awesome, go read her stuff.) Well, with that, enjoy! I'd absolutely love some reviews! (I have a habit of being a really slow updater, and reviews ALWAYS make me speed up.)
~~o0O0o~~
Blaine willed himself not to squeal. Not that he had anything against squealing, but apparently a grown boy squealing was frowned upon. At least, that's what his brother Cooper said. But still, it was very hard to resist squealing under these circumstances. Blaine was going to see his first musical! He had been begging his mother to take him to see one for years, ever since he discovered Disney movies. But Blaine's mother and father were always busy, and left their two sons home alone a lot. There wasn't much time for family outings. Blaine finally convinced his mom to take him to see a musical for his 11th birthday, and he was super-mega-excited for it. Because as much as Blaine adored the bubbly ballads and overdone villains of Disney, he was pretty sure this live musical he was seeing was even better.
Billy Elliot!The name rolled off Blaine's tongue and straight into his heart. Granted, he didn't actually know what it was about, but it was a musical! It was going to be amazing. Oh, wow. Now Blaine was really getting excited. Would bouncing in his seat be more acceptable than squealing?
"Ugh, Blaine, can't you act presentable for once? You look like a deranged rabbit when you bounce in your seat like that." Cooper said disdainfully. Blaine frowned, his heart sinking just a tad at his brother's critique. However, as was the norm between the two brother, Blaine quickly shot a comment back.
"Oh Coop, you probably don't even know what 'deranged' means." Cooper rolled his eyes.
"Of course I-" Their mother cut them off.
"Alright boys, come on. We're here. Out of the car." She said without emotion, very much used to the boys' bickering. Blaine grinned widely, grabbed his jacket, and hopped out of the car, followed by his brother at a slightly slower pace.
"Cooper, come on. We're going to be late." Blaine grabbed his brother's arm and tugged.
"Get your grubby little hand off me right now." Cooper hissed. He was really only coming because he was always bored on Saturday afternoons. Cooper thought musicals were cheesy, overdone, and on their way out. The boys' mother gave them a look that clearly said, Stop right now or we're going home. Blaine immediately stepped away from Cooper, trying to be the bigger man. (Metaphorically, anyway. Cooper was always growing like a weed, and Blaine was just two inches taller than their eight year old neighbor.) It was hard enough to get his mom to take him, and he wasn't going to let Cooper ruin the night.
They turned the corner and Blaine could make out the words "Ohio Theatre" in fancy red lettering down the street. In his excitement, he sped up, leaving his mother and brother behind. He just wanted to get to that theater!
"Blaine! Get back here! You can't be running around the streets of Columbus!" He heard his mother say from a few feet back.
"Mom,I'm not four," Blaine pointed out.
"Really? I couldn't tell, with all the bouncing and squealing you've been doing." Cooper prodded. Blaine ignored his brother and kept walking. Soon they were in front of the theater. Blaine beamed up at the marquee and pushed through the door. He blinked at his surroundings; sure his eyes were playing tricks on him. The lobby was absolutely grand, filled with gold curlicues and patterns.
"Oh, Blainers. It's beautiful, isn't it?" Blaine's mom breathed. Blaine nodded.
"Gorgeous." Blaine and his mom proceeded to wander around the lobby, trying to look at every single little gold detail on the walls, ceiling, and lights. Once they had taken in everything they could, they went to find their seats. But as soon as they entered the theater, Blaine and Mrs. Anderson gasped again. Cooper shrugged and messed with his cell phone as his brother and mother pointed out various decorations to each other. Finally, they took their seats in the balcony, and Blaine willed the show to start.
Come on lights,he thought. Dim already! Dim!
Finally, Blaine's wishes were granted, and the theater darkened. A woman's voice came over the speakers.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to tonight's performance of Billy Elliot. We ask that you turn off all cell phones and pagers. Please locate your nearest emergency exit. And now, enjoy the show." Blaine grinned in anticipation as a little boy holding a radio ran up the aisles onto the stage, and the curtains opened.
People of various ages and genders began arriving onstage. Some wore mining costumes that made Blaine wrinkle his nose, while little girls flitted around fun, bouncy outfits. And then a boy walked onstage.
He looked to be about Blaine's age. He was tall, slender, and had chestnut hair that just seemed to magically stay piled up on the boy's head. But his face was what really amazed Blaine. He was absolutely gorgeous-
No Blaine! Not gorgeous! You don't think about boys that way, you'renot gay. He's simply very... intriguing. He's really fun to watch onstage, so I hope I get to see more of him.Blaine thought.
He tried to follow the plot, but his eyes kept straying back to the chestnut-haired boy. Someone called him 'Billy', and Blaine cheered internally. The boy was the lead, meaning he'd be onstage all the time! Because, you know, it's fun to watch him. That's all. Blaine reminded himself. And then, the boy began to sing, high and clear. Blaine almost gasped. He didn't know boys could sing like that. Billy didn't sound like a girl, he just sounded amazing. His voice echoed through the packed theater, and the entire audience seemed to be entranced. At least, that's what it seemed like Blaine. Maybe he was too spellbound by the actor himself to notice anyone else's reaction.
As the plot built, Blaine became more and more captivated by the boy. Blaine had tried to find the actor's name in the program, straining his eyes to read it, but eventually gave up and gazed back at the stage. Oh, he was going to dance! Billy started out a little awkward, but as the little tutu-clad girls onstage giggled, he gained confidence and began flitting around the stage. It was almost like he was, well, flying. His movements were so fluid, one step transforming into the next as his limbs bent and twirled gracefully. Blaine felt he could watch this boy pirouette and sashay around the stage for hours. But no, of course the stupid dance teacher had to start talking, and then the scene ended. Blaine just hoped Billy would dance more soon. But only because he thought the actor was very talented.
~~o0O0o~~
Blaine wanted to laugh out loud when Billy walked in on a little boy wearing a dress. He had wanted to do that when he was little for some inexplicable reason. Blaine had been a weird toddler. Wow,Blaine thought.And now that kid's putting Billy in a dress. Strangely, he still looks amazing in it, even though the outfit was really ugly. Well, not amazing, that sounds really gay. And you are not gay, remember? He just looks healthy. Like a dancer.
Blaine pushed the unnerving thoughts out of his head and concentrated on the outrageous musical number unfolding onstage. A curtain of rainbow streamers dropped down and crazy dancers careened around Billy and his friend. And they were dancing again, and it was just all the more breathtaking because he was singing and dancing at the same time, and there were rainbows and lights. Blaine just couldn't stop grinning, and didn't even care when his mother ruffled his hair like he hated. This song just made him feel warm and fuzzy and happy, for lack of better words.
~~o0O0o~~
Blaine really did like this play. And not just because of the boy who played Billy. He also liked the fact that Billy was featured in almost every scene. And of course he enjoyed the plot, and the other characters, and the music. But really, this boy was amazing.
And as the scene onstage unfolded into a passionate dance solo for Billy, Blaine noticed how real the emotion seemed. Either this boy was an extremely good actor, or he'd been that badly hurt before. Blaine knew he didn't even know this kid, but he hated the thought of him ever going through anything that awful. Blaine pushed away all of his weird thoughts for the boy and just allowed himself to become immersed in the dance.
When the scene ended, Blaine jumped up and clapped harder than anyone else. Billy deserved all the applause in the world. The lights came up for intermission, but Blaine just snuggled back into his chair and opened his program to the cast list. After finding the name he was looking for, he flipped to the cast biographies.
Kurt Hummel(Billy) is ecstatic to be fulfilling his dream of being on a national tour at just twelve years old. Kurt began dancing in his hometown, Lima, Ohio, when he was six years old, and has never stopped loving it since. Some of his most memorable roles have been JoJo in Seussical, Flounder in The Little Mermaid, and The Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz Ballet. However, portraying Billy Elliot has been his favorite role of all time. Kurt would like to thank his father for always encouraging him and carting him around to various play rehearsals, dance lessons, and auditions that helped him get to where he is today. He wouldn't be up on that stage without his dad. Kurt wants everyone out here to know that they are special, and should follow their dreams. Because they can come true.
Blaine read the bio several before understanding three things:
One, Kurt Hummel was only a year older than Blaine.
Two, Kurt Hummel lived just two hours away from him.
And three, Kurt Hummel was an amazing human being.
Well, Blaine supposed he already knew number three, but reading Kurt's bio had just added to the proof. Blaine didn't really care that Kurt Hummel was a boy, and that it was probably weird for him to be thinking about a boy like this, because Kurt Hummel was talented and perfect, and Blaine was going to just enjoy the rest of the show.
~~o0O0o~~
Blaine waited patiently, clapping as Mrs. Wilkinson curtsied. And then Billy ran out, and Blaine cheered. Well, cheered wasn't the right word. Blaine screamed, followed by a startled look from his mother and a knowing smirk from his brother. But Blaine was too busy jumping up and down and whooping to notice or care.
Later, after Blaine had finally stopped clapping and agreed that it was time to leave, he began gushing to his family.
"That play was amazing!" He said, his eyes bright.
"Yep, a lot of those people were really talented." Blaine's mother replied, smiling down at her son. On the other side of Blaine, Cooper nudged him playfully.
"How about that Billy, Blaine?" Blaine felt heat rushing to his cheeks and looked away.
"He was good." He mumbled, while internally kicking himself. Kurt had been more than good. Way more than good. Good enough that Blaine needed to find out more about this beautiful, enchanting boy that messed with his feelings. In truth, Kurt Hummel terrified him to no end, because he made him feel a way that he'd never felt about a person. Especially not a boy.