Hello once more again audience! Chapter Ten is upon us! =D

SquirrelzAttack here, and can I just say that me and Sarah tweeted up a storm as we were typing this? I'm shocked I managed to even finish it with her incessant tweeting. ;) In case you didn't already know, Sarah and I both have Twitter accounts now – SquirrelzAttack and SarahFAWU. Tweet us! If you send us a tweet, we'll tweet you back! We had a very long conversation with someone today, and it was lovely. =) Plus, we mi-i-ight have been talking about this story earlier today, so…*cough*

(Sarah: What Angela neglects to mention is that she tweet-spammed ME the whole time. And talked way too much about this story. And might have given stuff away)

Thank you once more to all of our wonderful reviewers. =) You're all awesome, and I love you all. Even the critics. Especially the critics. *shifty eyes*

Anyway, we're getting awfully close to the ending now! The climax is fast approaching! The plot is winding down! I CAN'T WAIT TO WRITE IT! =D

*cough*

Enjoy this chapter! ;)

"This Warblers meeting has officially been called to order." Wes said, banging his gavel. He straightened the papers in front of him, and Blaine though he detected a streak of excitement on his friend's face. "Now, Warblers, as you all know, we will be performing our hearts out this coming Monday – just a few short days away, and I'm sure you're all anxious to hear who will be receiving a solo."

And just like that, the room went deadly quiet. Blaine stopped slumping and sat up straight, alert and waiting. His breath caught a little. Even if he was completely miserable in his personal life, he knew that this solo was more important to him than any solo ever before, and –

"Blaine Anderson."

There were a few groans of disappointment, and honestly, Blaine couldn't blame them. But he didn't have time to feel guilty, because he was completely elated. A thrill of pure excitement rushed through him, and he felt drunk on his own exhilaration, as light as air –

"And, Jeff Sterling."

Wait a second. What?

Blaine felt all of his happiness melt like morning dew under a hot sun. This had to be a joke. A big joke. Jeff had gotten a solo? Jeff? He turned to stare unflatteringly at the blonde, who looked like he couldn't believe he'd gotten the solo. Don't worry, I can't believe it either, Blaine thought critically, frowning deeply.

"Seventh time's a charm?" Nick asked teasingly, nudging his shoulder against his boyfriend's.

"I guess so." Jeff looked like his wildest dreams had come true. "Man, that's just…awesome!"

Distastefully, Blaine turned to look back at Wes, who was talking quietly with David. What infuriated him further was that the announcement of Jeff's solo had been given a much better reception than his own. No one had cheered when Blaine's solo was announced. But the whole club had cheered when Jeff's solo was announced. Blaine sighed. He understood where the other Warblers were coming from on that one, but it still really stung.

As Wes got everyone's attention and began to talk again, Blaine came to a conclusion. He had to make this his best performance yet. He would really have to wrack his brains to find just the right song. It had to be perfect, that much he was determined of. Or, well, it had to be better than Jeff's.

"…and get back to us with your song choice by tomorrow at the latest. We know it's short notice, but we need to work out harmonies and backing and things like that."

"What about the duet?" Cameron called.

Wes hesitated for a split second. "We'll be announcing those results privately."

"Why?"

"Because I'm Head Warbler, and I said so." Wes fixed Cameron with his best death glare, and the younger Warbler fell begrudgingly silent. Wes turned back to the room at large. "Any other questions?"

There was a pause. "Meeting adjourned."

Mindlessly, Blaine picked up his bag and strolled out, furiously going over song choices in his head. He knew he'd think of the right one eventually, but he was waiting to have an, "AHA! PERFECT!" moment. But what should he do? A ballad, a rock anthem, a pop number?

What he needed, Blaine decided, was to find a song that was deeply emotional. He needed something that really described him right now. A song that was powerful enough to make the audience feel all of the pain and emotions and turmoil that the performer was singing about. But where would he find a song to fit such a tall order?

Before Blaine could continue his contemplating, footsteps rang out behind him, and a voice called his name. "Hey, Blaine! Wait up!"

Turning, Blaine had to repress a sigh. Wes and David were hurrying towards him, their faces expressionlessly serious. He loved them, but lately all they'd done was push and lecture him about his life and his decisions, and he wasn't eager for a repeat. Still, he forced a smile as they approached.

"Hey guys. What's up?" he asked, hoping that he came across as normal.

"We've got big news!" David said, smiling. He reached into his bag and pulled out some sheet music, handing it over to Blaine. "You'll be dueting at our performance next week."

"I'll be – what?" That caught him off guard. Open-mouthed, Blaine looked from Wes to David to the sheet music and back again. "I – I'm not sure I understand." He said slowly.

"What don't you understand about it?" David asked teasingly. "It's sheet music. You learn your part and then sing it. Really Blaine, I thought you knew that by now."

"That's not it." Blaine said, frowning. "I didn't audition for a duet, guys. I think you're mistaken."

"We're not mistaken." Wes said, raising an eyebrow. "What, don't you want a chance in the spotlight?"

"That's not what I'm trying to say here!" Blaine objected. "The rules say that you can't give me something that I haven't auditioned for. And Wes, you're a stickler for the rules. You live and breathe the rules. And you two are the ones that told me to audition for a solo because you 'couldn't give me one unless I auditioned.' So what are you on about now?"

"Look, Blaine," Wes said, dropping all pretenses, "let's face the facts here. You're the most likely out of all of us to get signed for that EP, and you want it the most anyway. We want to give you every chance possible in the spotlight to show off your versatility, passion, and talent."

"Well, thank you, Wes, but – "

"Just do it." Wes cut across him firmly. "Don't question it. Just do it. It's a shot at your dreams, isn't it?"

Blaine opened his mouth, trying hard to find a decent argument. But he was stuck. Wes was pretty darn smart, and he knew exactly which of Blaine's buttons to push. He looked down at the sheet music as a way of putting off a response. Nonchalant, his eyes roved over the title. And then he read the chorus, and a lump formed in his throat.

"Guy, I – I can't perform this song."

"What?" David looked at him like he had just said, I hate Katy Perry.

"You heard me." Blaine swallowed thickly. "I just can't. I'd be a mess."

"You won't be a mess." Wes assured him, reaching out and grasping his shoulder. "You'll do great. The song is perfect for you."

"That's the problem with it." Blaine started mentally praying that he wouldn't start bawling in front of the two of them. "I just…there must be something else you can pick. Or I can pick it. Or anyone. Please."

"Blaine, we sweated bullets over this song choice." David berated, his words tinged with irritation. "Do it for us. We think it's perfect. As a favor?"

Blaine considered them for a moment, his thoughts churning rapidly. He glanced down. And then, like a ray of light striking through a window, something clicked.

"Fine." He said. "I'll do it. But you guys owe me."

"Yeah, we do." David agreed.

"I'm calling that debt in right now." Blaine continued, confident in his decision.

"Name it." David offered, shrugging.

Blaine took a breath. "I want you to let me write my own song for the performance, which I will then perform as my solo."

"Done." David said, earning him an elbow to the ribs compliments of Wes.

"David!" Wes looked almost scandalized. "That's completely insane! We asked for the song choices to be ready by tomorrow."

"Don't worry." Blaine said before David could rebuttal. "It will be. And if it's not, you can pick my song for me."

Wes hesitated. Then – "Yeah. Yeah, okay. We can do that."

David rolled his eyes. "Honestly, Wes. You're so confusing sometimes." Shaking his head, he turned back to Blaine. "So are we good?"

"Yeah, we're good." Blaine said with a nod.

It was at that moment that Jeff came rushing up. "Wes, David! I've been looking for you guys everywhere!"

The blonde boy surveyed Blaine coolly before turning back to the council members. "I know what song I want to sing for the performance."

"That's great!" David said, casting a glance at Blaine. "What is it?"

"See you guys later." Blaine mumbled, turning and hastening down the hall. Just seeing the other Warbler so happily sure of himself sent a tongue of hot flames down Blaine's throat. He felt empowered, somehow, by his tumultuous emotions.

They always said that the best songs came from deep emotions. Let's see if they're right, Blaine thought, narrowing his eyes.

It wasn't until Blaine was back to his dorm that he realized he had neglected to ask who his duet partner was.

Kurt fell back onto his bed with a sigh. He had come straight back to his room after the meeting, not quite sure what to do with himself. While the others got to spend the weekend rehearsing songs and preparing for the performance of a lifetime, Kurt would be fine tuning his harmonies and practicing his background swaying. What a treat.

He knew he was being melodramatic, but after auditioning for both the solo and duet spot, it was a bit depressing to know that he hadn't gotten either. And Kurt knew his voice was amazing and a rarity in the group, so clearly it was something he had done to throw off his performance. Dueting with Jeff might not have been the smartest of ideas after the response they had gotten from the rest of the group. And his solo...

"Maybe I let all of this stuff with Blaine get to me too much," he told the roof of his dorm room, completely ignoring the fact that the 'stuff' with Blaine was still getting to him and probably wouldn't stop doing so for quite some time. After all, Blaine would be up there singing a solo in a couple of day's time, and, if his audition was anything to go by, it wouldn't be the most cheerful of songs. And Kurt crying in the middle of his solo audition probably didn't grant him any favors at all... except that Blaine had done the exact same thing, and he had gotten a solo. But of course Blaine would, his voice is exquisite, Kurt thought ruefully, sighing.

As Kurt lost himself in silent contemplation and slight wallowing in self pity, the door swung open and David entered followed by Wes. Kurt didn't bother sitting up, used to the boys wandering in and out, until Wes cleared his throat importantly. "Oh," Kurt said, pulling himself up and swinging his legs off the bed, "did you need the room to practice or something?"

"No, actually we wanted to present you with this." David pulled a few sheets of paper out of his bag and handed them over before turning to smile at Wes.

Kurt glanced at the top of the first sheet and blinked. "What is this?"

"Congratulations, Kurt." Wes had the same look on his face as he did the last time Kurt had been awarded his solo. "You've been selected for the duet."

Kurt stared between the two of them for a second to make sure it wasn't a joke. "Yes, we're serious," David said, clearly having read the expression on his face. "You and your partner will be closing out the performance. I don't think we need to tell you how important this is, so make sure you put in a lot of practice. But we're confident in your abilities to deliver a strong performance."

The smile that crossed his face was one of the first genuine ones Kurt could remember giving anybody since the breakup. "Thanks guys."

"Don't thank us; you earned it." David clapped him on the shoulder quickly. "Okay, Wes and I are off to practice our number."

"Are you going to let anybody know what you've chosen yet?" Kurt couldn't help asking. David had refused to let him in on their song selection, which they had known for about a week now.

But as usual, David shook his head, smirking. "You'll find out on Monday."

As the two turned to leave, Kurt was struck with an important thought. "How do I practice with my duet partner if I don't know who they are?"

Wes and David swapped a look. "You don't." Wes explained. "You just have to learn your part. We've decided that you and the person you're paired with have the natural harmonies to pull off an unrehearsed performance, and the song will actually seem more natural if you're singing it together for the first time on stage." Before Kurt could begin to argue or point out the flaws in their logic - every performance sounded better rehearsed, after all - the two boys were gone, the door closing quickly behind them. Kurt sighed, but couldn't stay down for long. I've got the duet!

His first instinct was to call Mercedes and gush about it, but common sense reminded him that he only had a short amount of time to work out his part, as well as try to prepare a harmony without knowing the range of the person he was harmonizing with. Glancing down at the sheet again, Kurt began to idly read through the lyrics before pausing. What the...?

He read it again, slowly, and his mind began to fill in the music to a song he had only heard once or twice, but was now a very significant song. Quickly grabbing his iPhone, Kurt pulled up YouTube and found the song, listening to it silently until it was over. Then he reacted.

"What the hell are they playing at? Do they want me to ruin the performance or something? We have a once in a lifetime chance here and they give me... that!"

Kurt took a deep breath, calming himself down. His frustration was still simmering beneath the surface, but sadness was quickly overtaking it. The fact that such a simple song which had had no meaning before their breakup could be completely ruined by his emotions was too much, and once again Kurt found himself in tears. "You need to get a grip," he told himself as sternly as possible. "Get a grip, or pull out of the duet."

Thankfully, that was all it took. Kurt knew that the duet was his shot at something bigger than Ohio, a chance to make a name for himself and for the rest of the Warblers to do the same. He couldn't let it be ruined by his petty emotions. After all, it's just a high school breakup that happened a couple weeks ago. You should be over it, and even though you're not, you're going to get up there and act like you are.

His voice wavered a little as he worked his way through the verse, but was holding strong through the chorus. I can do this, he realized as he finished his part, glancing down at the words that his partner was going to sing. Just as he was about to start working on the bridge, he paused. Hold on... what if I'm singing with Jeff?

The thought was enough to practically knock Kurt off his feet. He knew how much drama it had caused when he and Jeff had dueted together - he had overheard Nick and Jeff talking about some kind of confrontation with Blaine the other day and couldn't help but feel awful about his part in it all. In hindsight, it was a completely stupid idea to use his friend, who was happily taken, and sing a love song with him to try and make his ex boyfriend jealous. Kurt sighed. He knew he hadn't really been thinking rationally at the time.

If he and Jeff had to duet together - and the chances were probably high, he had auditioned with Jeff after all - they might give a good performance but the potential strain on Nick and Jeff's relationship wasn't something that Kurt wanted, not for the sake of just one performance. Not to mention that any chance of reconciliation with Blaine would be thrown completely out the window, even though Kurt hadn't chosen his partner.

He knew that the Council had seen how awkward it was when he and Jeff had performed together, come to think of it, and hoped that they had chosen not to subject everybody to that again. Even though the performance had been natural from the outside, Kurt had felt strained as he sang the words to Jeff, knowing that they weren't his feelings for the blonde boy. They were his feelings for Blaine - coincidentally, so was the song that the Council had selected. And everybody knew it.

Wait... what if -

No, Kurt decided instantly. They wouldn't have put him with Blaine for the duet, because Blaine already had a solo and that would be more than enough for him to focus on. And with that thought came another onslaught of relief as Kurt remembered that Jeff also had a solo. So I'm probably not going to be with Jeff then.

Kurt decided there was no point in trying to predict his partner, and instead decided to head down to the music room to get some proper practice in. After all, he had two days to master a song to performance standard.

And this time, it wasn't a show choir competition hanging in the balance. This time it could be the rest of their lives.

DRAMATIC OUTRO MUSIC! *Jaws theme begins to play* …Well, that's good enough, I guess.

So tell me, readers…What do you think Jeff's solo is going to be? What about Wes and David's performance? What about Klaine's duet? I'm really curious to see what you come up with. And if you guess correctly than you are BOSS like a freakin' Zefron poster! =D

(Sarah: Honestly, I just felt like contributing. We'll probably give you something if you guess correctly by the way - and guesses can be either reviewed or sent to our Twitter accounts =D I also have Tumblr and I can't resist plugging it, so if you want to follow me, check my profile (foraworldundeserving) for the link.)

Till next time, then. Over and out!

~SquirrelzAttack