"So, we need to convince Kurt here to audition for the musical," Rachel stated matter-of-factly.
"Not that I wouldn't love for Kurt to audition," Blaine said kindly flashing Kurt another show winning smile. God this kid is going to kill me. "But why are you so adamant on getting him to try out."
"A friend of mine at his old school says he was the best kid in their glee club, and he's a countertenor."
"That's very impressive," Blaine said turning to Kurt once again.
"Thank you," Kurt said softly.
"Kurt, is worried that the theater kids are at the bottom of the food chain like his glee club was."
"Well, I can't speak for the rest of the school, but I have a lot of really great friends here. The kids at this school are very nice and they seem to like the drama club well enough."
"Stop being modest, Blaine. We love you guys!" A girl who was walking past in the hallway called.
"Thank you, Laura," Blaine said with a wink causing the girl to blush. "Does that answer your question at all?" He said with a small smile.
"I guess this is all just a little hard to wrap my head around. I used to want to be on Broadway, but it made me an outcast so I just kind of dropped it…It's probably better anyway because it's not an entirely stable profession."
"Broadway? Really? You should come to NYADA with Blaine and I!"
"Rachel you're getting a little ahead of yourself," Blaine said sweetly.
"Right, right."
"What's NYADA?" Kurt asked.
"A performing arts school in New York City," Rachel said dreamily.
"The best performing art school in New York City," Blaine corrected.
"The best performing arts school in the country," Rachel continued.
Kurt smiled. "I get the picture. I didn't mean to insult your dreams or anything. Just because it's a hard business to get into doesn't mean you won't."
"It's perfectly alright, Kurt. We know you didn't mean any harm by it. So, do you think that you might want to audition?" Blaine asked.
"You know, I think I might," Kurt said with a grin he couldn't seem to hold back.
Rachel clapped excitedly once again.
"Really? Damn," Blaine said and Kurt looked at him confused. "I just had this whole thing planned out where I was going to take you to coffee and schmooze you into it."
"I would not object to free coffee," Kurt stated.
"It's too late now," Blaine said, clearly teasing.
"Alright well I guess I'll see you guys at choir auditions then."
"Musical," Rachel corrected confused that she hadn't repeated that enough.
"Oh, the auditions are for a musical? I don't want to do that," Kurt scoffed jokingly.
Rachel stood their completely taken aback, not catching on.
"Could I somehow convince you over coffee?" Blaine asked with a smirked.
"You could try, but it may take two or three coffees. Musicals are awful."
Rachel smiled finally in understanding. "I was so worried I scared you off."
"What did you do?" Blaine asked.
"Just being my usual 'overbearing self,'" she said as if she couldn't understand the description at all. "Plus I may have made one awkward sex joke about you charming him into bed…"
"Rachel!" Blaine said for the first time not looking one hundred percent confident, his cheeks turning slightly pink.
She mouthed "sorry" before brushing past the topic. "I should get to homeroom. I'm on a tight schedule this morning," she said glancing at her watch.
Kurt silently praised himself for guessing correctly on her schedule.
"Bye, Kurt. Later, Boo." She leaned over to give Blaine a very wet kiss on the cheek before walking off.
Kurt frowned for a split second. Blaine was a theater kid who used too much hair gel, but that doesn't mean he's gay, Kurt. He thought to himself. Geez, way to stereotype.
"Can I meet you at the Lima Bean after school?" Blaine asked. Did this kid ever stop smiling?
"Sure," Kurt nodded.
When Kurt called his dad after school to let him know he was getting coffee with a friend after school, Burt was ecstatic.
"Does this mean I don't have to audition for the musical?" Kurt asked hopefully.
"Fat chance," Burt scoffed.
Kurt sighed. "See you at home." It wasn't that he didn't like Blaine and Rachel, because he actually did a lot, he just really didn't want to go back to that part of his life. He felt that it was over and would only bring up bad memories of days when he actually allowed himself to dream just to have them ripped from underneath of him.
When Kurt walked into the Lima Bean he swore he saw Blaine's face light up a little. He clearly had to be imagining things.
"Hi," Kurt said smiling.
"Hi. I was just about to go grab my coffee. What can I get you?"
"You don't really have to buy me coffee, Blaine. I was only kidding."
"I wasn't," Blaine said giving him an expectant look.
"Grande nonfat mocha. Thank you."
Kurt said thank you again when Blaine came back with their drinks.
"So grateful for one cup of coffee," Blaine teased.
Kurt blushed a little.
"So where did you go to school before you came to McKinley?"
"Lincoln High."
Blaine scrunched up his face then thought better of himself. "Sorry that was rude."
"Believe me, I don't mind. I hated it there."
Blaine nodded. "So why did you transfer in the middle of the year?"
Kurt sighed looking away.
"Hitting the hard questions on number two," Blaine joked. "You don't have to answer. It's cool."
"No, it's okay. I was bullied…for being gay," Kurt looked away uncomfortably again. He knew how obvious it was that he was gay, but he still hated people knowing after the way people reacted at his old school.
Blaine didn't seem to notice. "I'm really sorry to here that, Kurt," he said reaching over to take his hand.
Kurt practically melted at the touch. Stop it. No more crushes on straight boys.
"So, uh, how long have you and Rachel been going out?"
Blaine's eyes went wide before he burst out laughing. "I keep telling her she needs to tone down the pet names and physical affection…"
"No, it's cute," Kurt said, though mostly all it does was make him jealous when he shouldn't be. He really, really shouldn't be.
"No, I'm serious. Rachel and I aren't dating."
"You're not?"
"No, I'm gay."
"You are?" Wow, way to charm the first attractive, gay kid you've met with you're two word responses and cluelessness.
Blaine laughed. "I am. And I'm not the only out kid at McKinley if you were wondering. They weren't always so accepting, but they are so kind now. You don't need to be worried."
Kurt nodded as if he could possibly thinking about that when Blaine just came out him. "So tell me about your theater department."
Blaine lit up at the topic. "It's wonderful. We're all one big family really. Everyone shares the same passion to have an amazing performance and it's just an amazing experience every single show."
"I assume you've been doing this all through high school?"
Blaine nodded taking a sip of his medium drip. "I don't know what I would have been doing with my time these last four years if I wasn't."
Kurt raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you student council president?"
Blaine nodded. "Yes, I am. I'm also editor and chief of the school newspaper and on the debate team…" Blaine trained on when Kurt began giving him an incredulous look. "I wasn't trying to brag or anything I just like to keep busy. My point was that I'm in a lot activities, but theater is where my heart is."
Kurt nodded. "I used to be like that…we didn't have a drama club in my old school, but musicals and performing were basically my two favorite things in the world so theater was pretty much all I wanted to do with my life."
"So do it now," Blaine said simply.
"I'll probably audition, but I just don't think it means the same thing to me anymore."
Blaine shook his head. "I don't believe that for a second. You should see yourself when you talk about. You become…lighter somehow. It's really beautiful."
Kurt blushed. He knew Blaine wasn't calling him beautiful, but he couldn't help it.
Blaine saw Kurt blushing and started blushing too realizing what that must have sounded like. "I, uh, I'm out of coffee."
"Oh," Kurt said looking down slightly disappointed that their coffee date was over already. "Yeah, me too. See you tomorrow?"
Blaine smiled. "Absolutely."
Over the next week, Kurt could not stop thinking about Blaine. He knew that Blaine would probably never like him like that, but he still couldn't help himself. Kurt usually was a hopeless romantic. And in the mist of his romantic fantasies he and whoever the object of his affections may be would share innocent kisses and hold hands. But since he met Blaine, his fantasies were quickly progressing into that of a not so innocent variety. It's not that he didn't think about the romantic stuff too, but the fantasies usually stopped there. Blaine was of course attractive, but Kurt wasn't used to being into a guy like that. The more he tried to ignore the thoughts the worse they got. He didn't know what to do about it honestly.
Kurt walked into the cafeteria the following Monday utterly terrified. He had spent his lunch periods the previous week attempting to get caught up in his classes, but now that he was back on track he would have to face the trauma of finding somewhere to sit in the cafeteria. He knew the kids were nice enough here, but that didn't make it any less scary.
Kurt purchased his lunch then stood scanning the tables hoping there was somewhere he could sit alone without imposing on anyone's meal. Before he had a chance to find anywhere an arm latched onto his.
"Kurt Hummel?" said an unfamiliar voice
Kurt looked to his left to see a tall blond boy looking at him excitedly.
"Yes?" Kurt said confused. Why did everyone in this school know who he was?
"Follow me, kind sir."
Kurt was a little uncomfortable but this beat sitting alone he supposed.
The boy led him to a table where he instantly recognized Blaine and Rachel and felt himself relax a little.
"Jeff!" Blaine scolded. "I told you to invite him to sit with us, not traumatize him by dragging him across the cafeteria."
"It's fine, Blaine. Really," Kurt assured.
"Would you like to join us for lunch, Kurt?" Rachel asked sweetly.
"Sure," Kurt said taking the first available empty seat, which just so happened to be right next to Blaine.
"Sorry about him," Blaine leaned over to whisper in his ear. Kurt could feel his hot breath on his neck and had to force himself to focus on what he was saying. "He can be a little over the top."
"That seems to be a reoccurring theme between your friends," Kurt quipped, surprised he could form a coherent thought.
Blaine laughed. "Well, we are theater kids."
Kurt smiled. "Touché."
"Kurt!" Rachel exclaimed suddenly making him jump a little. "You haven't been properly introduced!"
"I'm Jeff!" Jeff said quickly before anyone else could speak.
"Nick," said a shorter, brunette boy across the table.
"Nice to meet you," Kurt replied.
A blonde girl was holding her hand in the air as if waiting to be called on.
Kurt stared at her confused.
"Go ahead, sweetie," Blaine encouraged.
"I'm Brittany!" she squeaked out. "Oh!" she said latching on to the Latina girl next to her, "And this is my girlfriend, Santana."
Santana simply nodded her head in greeting.
Kurt was in utter shock that they were so open about their relationship he almost forgot to respond. "Nice to meet you," he repeated finally.
After the other introductions had finished another person joined them at the table as if waiting for the perfect moment to make his grand entrance.
A hand was extended in front of Kurt. "Jesse St. James," he said with a grin.
"Kurt Hummel. Pleasure," he said shaking his hand.
Jesse just stared at Kurt for an uncomfortably long time before Blaine finally spoke. "This obviously isn't everyone we do theater with but some of them are underclassman or have a different lunch…not that we just have theater friends! If you decide not to audition we would still talk to you of course…" Blaine trailed off.
Everyone looked confused. It wasn't usual for Blaine to get flustered or even ramble at all.
"I get it, Blaine," Kurt reassured with a small smile.
"Are you going to audition?" Brittany asked excitedly. "We can be act together! Maybe we'll have a kissing scene. You'd be fun to kiss. Your lips look so soft."
Santana snaked her arm around Brittany possessively. "Don't even think about it, lady lips."
Kurt laughed. "Your girlfriend is very pretty, but she's not really my type."
"What not good enough for you?" Santana snapped.
Kurt looked confused. "No, that's not what I meant at all."
"So what is your type, Hummel?"
"Cute, funny, charming, but the real deal breaker is they've gotta have a dick." Kurt closed his lips tightly. He wasn't used to actually having people who wanted to impress and he forgot to watch his tongue.
Everyone at the table, however, seemed to find it assuming. Santana even cracked a smile. "I like you, lady lips. I was pretty sure you played for my team, but I just had to be sure. Brittany could make anyone question their orientation. She sure did for me," Santana said leaning over and kissing her on the cheek.
Kurt looked back over at Blaine who was slightly red. Kurt leaned over. "Everything okay?" he asked softly.
"Of course," Blaine said nodding. "What are you working on?" Blaine asked changing the subject.
"French homework."
Blaine looked down at the paper with a raised eyebrow. "That looks really advanced."
Kurt nodded. "AP French 4."
"How can you even read that? I can barely do the most basic French. I only take it because my parents are forcing me. I have a huge test tomorrow that I am going to bomb."
"You don't seem like the type to bomb a test," Kurt commented.
"I'm not. I try to get straight A's, but French is trying to get in the way of that," Blaine said with a sad smile that still somehow managed to be charming.
"I could help you study if you'd like," Kurt offered.
"That's really kind of you, Kurt, but I'm sure you're still getting caught up being so new – "
"Honestly, I'm pretty well adjusted in all my classes. Come on, you don't want to fail that test, do you?"
"No," Blaine agreed, "I really don't. Thank you so much, Kurt. I don't even know how I could repay you for this."
Okay. That gave Kurt some visuals that it really shouldn't have. What was he turning into?
"Don't even worry about it," Kurt said trying to subtly shift himself in his jeans. "My place after school?"
"Definitely," Blaine said with a smile.
My place where my dad isn't home…
Kurt gulped.
"Mind if I join you guys?" a voice asked suddenly from behind.
Kurt turned around to find a guy eyeing Blaine in a way that made Kurt feel exposed just watching.
Blaine gave him a polite smile. "If you'd like."
"Who is this?" Kurt attempted to ask quietly the boy overheard.
"I'm Sebastian, Blaine's ex. And you would be?"
A/N: I know this seems like a bit of an odd combination of characters, but I tried to stick to the ones who were more theater oriented. Plus, I threw in a few that I loved too much to leave out. I may add in a few more characters as well. Let me know what you think so far!