Usual disclaimer: Not mine. Well, the rearranging and retelling of certain events are mine, but the characters and the show and stuff aren't. My beta Glee68, though, is mine. Temporarily. When she has time to be. Gotta love her for it.
Chapter 7
xXxXxXx
"All set, Mr. Schuester?" He was on the phone with Blaine, hiding out in a seldom used dressing room to avoid being heard.
"It's all set, Blaine. Just remember what I said about timing. You need to be very careful or we will be disqualified."
"No worries, Mr. Schue. I would never do anything to ruin your chances of winning. Thank you so much for your help."
"Good luck, Blaine. I can't wait to see how this all pans out."
"You and me both. I'll see you soon!"
xXxXxXx
The New Directions was on stage, having just performed their two new original numbers to standing ovations that lasted several minutes after each song had ended. Feeling confident, Kurt and Rachel met at the middle of the risers and grabbed each other's hands. They walked together to the front of the stage.
"Break a leg, Kurt!"
"We got this, Rachel. We're going to be amazing."
Kurt looked out into the audience. Though the stage lights prevented him from seeing faces, he knew approximately where Mr. Schue and Jesse St. Sucks…ahem, Jesse St. James were sitting. He was relieved to see the little red flashing light that indicated that Mr. Schue had remembered to turn the video camera on. He had asked him to film the performance for Blaine, and he had readily agreed. Kurt had thought he'd get a little more resistance from him, assuming he'd want to be unencumbered while watching the group perform, but it was amazingly easy to get him to comply.
The opening notes began, and both Rachel and Kurt took deep breaths. Then, Rachel began to sing.
I'm limited
Just look at me – I'm limited
And just look at you
You can do all I couldn't do, Glinda
So now it's up to you
For both of us - now it's up to you...
Kurt's beautiful countertenor voice took over the melody from Rachel at that point.
I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...
Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good
Rachel smiled, knowing Kurt had done a phenomenal job. She only hoped she did just as well on her part.
It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend...
Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
Kurt rejoined Rachel at this point.
Because I knew you
I have been changed for good
Rachel turned to face Kurt at this point in the song. She felt the lyrics were entirely appropriate for the blows their friendship had suffered from the past couple of months. She looked straight into his eyes as she sang, hoping she was able to convey her sincerity.
And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I've done you blame me for
Kurt recognized the significance of the lyrics and understood that not only was she singing the song, but she was asking Kurt for his forgiveness, also. He looked right back at her as he picked up the lyrics and hope that she was able to tell that yes, he was forgiving her.
But then, I guess we know
There's blame to share
And finally they rejoined each other for the rest of the song.
And none of it seems to matter anymore
Like a comet pulled from orbit (Like a ship blown from its mooring)
As it passes a sun (By a wind off the sea)
Like a stream that meets a boulder (Like a seed dropped by )
Halfway through the wood (A bird in the wood)
Who can say if I've been
Changed for the better?
I do believe I have been
Changed for the better
And because I knew you...
Because I knew you...
Because I knew you...
I have been changed for good...
Kurt and Rachel ended the song to thunderous applause. The audience quieted down almost as soon as they began, though, and Rachel was irritated. Didn't they know that she needed the applause to live?
Because I knew you, I have been changed for good…
Kurt knew that voice. His jaw dropped as he slowly turned to face stage left. There was his Blaine, HIS Blaine, walking out on stage with a long stemmed red rose in his hand. He was dressed impeccably in a well-tailored suit, and yes, the Dalton tie. You can take the boy out of Dalton…
The audience assumed he was approaching Rachel and started to whistle when Blaine got closer to her. However, he bypassed her and headed straight for Kurt. Suddenly, the auditorium became dead silent.
Kurt's emotions ran the gamut – surprise, shock, disbelief, embarrassment, awe, and finally, love. He had been pretty certain before, but it wasn't until that moment when he finally knew – he was irrevocably in love with Blaine. A tear slipped down his cheek as Blaine arrived next to him and handed him the flower.
Though they were on stage and the audience was dying to hear what was going on, Blaine dropped his voice.
"Kurt Hummel, when you left for Nationals, I was inexplicably devastated. I didn't know why, as I knew you'd be back in a few days, but my heart just hurt dropping you off at the airport. I'm finding it nearly impossible to be separated from you. When you called to tell me about your duet, I found that I just had to be here to see your big debut. I always knew you'd be here in New York one day, and after hearing you and Rachel together, I know you'll be back again. But I just couldn't wait to come here to you. To tell you that…I love you, Kurt. I am SO in love with you."
Kurt's eyes filled with tears. "Oh God, Blaine, I love you too," but before he could finish his last word, Blaine grabbed him and pulled him into a (somewhat) chaste but emotionally charged kiss.
The audience initially wasn't sure what to think of what was happening right before their eyes. The New Yorkers were used to seeing men kiss before as New York City was very diverse, but a good portion of the audience was family members of the glee clubs performing. Many of them were from very conservative small towns and hadn't seen such a display before. Even the New Yorkers, though, were a little surprised to see this happening on stage during a high school show choir competition. That was new to all.
Jesse St. James turned to Will Schuester. "Was that scripted?"
Will, shaking the shock out of his head, replied "No, no it wasn't."
And it wasn't. Mr. Schuester knew Blaine was going to surprise Kurt somehow by coming out on stage and doing SOMETHING, but he wasn't privy to the exact details. And after seeing the amazing display of love before him, he was glad he hadn't known what was going to happen. It wouldn't have been as awesome and emotional to him as it was had he known.
The sound of one young girl clapping came from the front row. Thankfully the crowd decided to embrace their inner romantics and joined the teenager in her exuberant applause. Not everyone was as accepting – there were a few scattered boos and tongue clucking heard around the auditorium. But for the most part, they felt as if they were seeing a romantic movie come to life in front of their eyes.
Blaine and Kurt, being startled out of their own little world at the sound of the applause, both turned bright red. Kurt felt extremely lucky that this had been their last song and it was time to leave the stage. As they turned to go backstage, they noticed that the New Directions members had already filed out quietly behind them and they were the only ones left on stage. They both turned just a little bit redder and rushed off stage. They were met by their friends – the girls with tears in their eyes and smiles on their faces, the boys with high fives and single-armed man-hugs.
"That was the sweetest thing I have ever seen in my life," sighed Rachel.
"Way to go BOO!" cheered Lauren as she high-fived Kurt.
"Dude, this is awesome. I just know someday you'll be part of our family officially. Not that you aren't now, 'cause I totally see you like family and I know my mom and Burt do, too, but I can see you guys together for the long haul," Finn babbled to Blaine.
Quinn approached Kurt with sadness and distance in her eyes. "Kurt, I have made a lot of mistakes in my fairly short life so far, but the biggest regret I will have is screwing up so much and so often with Finn. Please, learn from my mistakes and don't mess up like I did."
Kurt grinned a bit and replied, "Well, I don't think I'll be cheating on him and getting pregnant, but I see what you're saying." Quinn glared at him, but she wasn't too serious. She had gotten to the point where little digs at her transgressions weren't quite so painful to her anymore. "I honestly don't think my heart would ever let me intentionally cause Blaine any harm. It's not who I am, and I think if I hurt him in any way, I think I would be hurting myself even more."
"Good. I approve, by the way. He can sing, he can dance, he's GORGEOUS, and he understands you. That's more than I ever got with Finn."
"Thank you, he IS pretty amazing, isn't he?" Kurt smiled. He couldn't believe the turn of events but he most definitely wasn't dumb enough to question anything. He didn't want anything to distract him from the beautiful boy gazing at him with as much love and devotion as he was sure was displayed on his own face.
"The judges have made their final decision. Will all the show choirs please report to their assigned spots on stage?"
"Kurt, sweetie, I can't go out there with you, but I want you to know – "
"No, Blaine. You're coming out there with us. You may not go to McKinley with us, but you are a part of our group. You are friends with everyone in the club, you took time to help us make Prom better by performing, and most importantly, you're with me. I say you're coming out there with us. Right guys?"
"RIGHT!" every New Directions member yelled in unison. Even Mr. Schuester nodded his head in agreement.
"Okay, then, let's go!" said Blaine, leading the singers to discover their fate.
XXxXxXx
"12TH PLACE? This is a joke, right?" cried Mercedes.
"I just don't understand! We were absolutely amazing!" said Quinn.
Rachel added, "I have never felt so good about a performance in my life! What happened?"
"Maybe they just don't understand original songs. I noticed that NONE of the groups we were able to watch had anything original. Maybe we're just not appreciated," thought Tina.
"Yeah, we even stunned the audience into silence. I have never seen that happen before!" Finn added.
"Guys, I think that might just be it," said Mr. Schuester. "I think the judges were pretty stunned, too, by that kiss. I've been reviewing your performance in my head since they announced the results, and that is the only other thing I can think of that we did differently than anyone else."
Kurt gasped and tears filled his eyes. Blaine's face fell and he felt his heart practically drop into his shoes.
Puck snorted. "Yeah, I'll say that was different."
"Guys, I am so, so sorry. I feel like all I'm doing is screwing up and apologizing around you, but you've got to know that if I had any idea this would affect the competition, I would have never done this. I would have found some other way to express," he turned to grab Kurt's hands, "my complete and total adoration for Kurt."
"Blaine, please don't apologize for this. I told you not to interrupt the songs at all, and you didn't. I honestly didn't think that anything done after the pieces were done would affect the standings."
"Wait, Mr. Schuester, you KNEW about this?" exclaimed Kurt.
"Yeah, I did. Your boyfriend called me a couple days before we left and ran some ideas by me. He wanted to actually break into the middle of the song and sing with you, but a) I figured a student not from McKinley singing with you would probably break the rules somehow, and b) I was pretty certain I'd be scraping Blaine off the floor with a spatula if he dared to take Rachel's part from her."
Rachel smiled. "You're right, Mr. Schue. I probably would have had to throttle Blaine. But I would have still stepped aside and let them have their moment. I love being in the spotlight, but Kurt and his happiness are more important. I've been forced to learn recently that it is most definitely NOT all about me, and that I have a tendency to do terrible things when I am trying to MAKE things all about me. For what it's worth, that was the most wonderful thing I've ever been witness to, and it couldn't have happened to two more deserving guys."
Kurt wrapped his arms around Rachel. "Thank you, Rachel. And I just wanted to say, I forgive you."
"Th-thank you, Kurt. Th-that's all I ever wanted from you," she stuttered through her tears. Of happiness, this time.
"Mr. Schue? Blaine and I need a few minutes alone. We're going to go back to the hotel coffee shop and talk a bit, okay?"
"Sounds good. We'll all be back there within the hour. I think I'd like to have a longer 'post-game' chat with you all, so we can sit down and discuss what we did great, what we need to work on – "
"Where you need to improve security to prevent yahoos like me bursting out on stage and ruining your chances to win…" sighed Blaine.
"No Blaine. You're wrong. Let me tell you a little story. Back when I first took over the Glee club, I met a young man. A very, very, talented young man, but he always seemed to be a bit in the background. Not to mention, he always seemed to be digging himself out of dumpsters." The group laughed at that. "Then he started standing up for himself. He came out to his friends. He singlehandedly, or footedly, as the case may be, was able to break the football team's double-digit game losing streak with the help of Beyonce's Single Ladies dance."
"Oh God, someone please tell me there's video of that," begged Blaine.
"There is," smiled Tina. "See me later, I'll hook ya up."
"He bravely took on the illustrious Rachel Berry in a diva-off in an attempt to wrestle a solo at Sectionals out of her grasp, and then selflessly threw the competition in order to keep his own father from suffering the repercussions of him taking a solo typically sung by a girl," Mr. Schue continued. "He suffered the near loss of his father and began to be subject to the cruelty that can be inflicted on a young gay man by those who are scared and don't understand someone who is different than them. Or perhaps even too alike for comfort. But then, this young man met another young man, and the veil of darkness surrounding him had begun to lift. He was smiling more, had more confidence, and more courage. And even though we temporarily lost him to another school, the other school, and this new boy, healed our young man and sent him back to us whole. And also brought us a new friend that I am honored to know and excited to learn more about. So, Kurt? Blaine? Don't ever even think about apologizing for today's events again. Ever! I have been witness to your story, and it has been beautiful. And I feel like I'm speaking for everyone in New Directions that it was all totally worth it."
As Mr. Schuester finished his speech, he moved to embrace the two boys, who were both overwhelmed. Kurt buried his face into Mr. Schue's shoulder as he accepted the hug. They then heard Finn yell out "GROUP HUG!" and felt the crush of twelve other bodies around them.
Blaine grabbed some tissues and began to dab the tears from Kurt's face. "I think it's probably time for that coffee now, don't you think?" he asked Kurt.
"Yeah, totally. Just let me stop at the mens' room first before we go. I absolutely can NOT go out in public with my eyes as puffy as I'm sure they are now."
Blaine grinned. That sounded exactly like "his" Kurt. Blaine grabbed Kurt's hand and stared lovingly into his eyes. "I love you," he sighed.
Kurt smiled. "I love you too, Blaine."
A/N: Grand gestures are grand. So are reviews. Leaving one would be grand.
So – what did you think of my rearranging of events? Totally unlikely, but that's what makes it interesting. Their performance of For Good on the show was amazing, but the editing of the scene was horrendous. Choppy much? Fail. They should have kept it full length like they did with AIWNSG. Don't like it when they chop Chris' parts – not okay.
