"There really is nothing left to do... maybe you were right."

"Oh please, I know I am right! You're pretty much perfect with all of your lines. There's nothing else to run over."

"Well, there is one more scene that I have questions about..."

"Okay. Where?"

Two boys sat alone upstairs in the Hummel-Hudson house, surrounded by fluffy pillows with designs on them and papers with cut-out lines and song lyrics written across them. Thursday afternoon, almost night, and this was the last time that Kurt and Blaine were going to run lines together after school. The opening night of the Stone Cage was tomorrow- Friday, in the McKinley auditorium at 7:00 pm. Blaine was grateful that it wasn't during school hours and that they didn't have to perform in front of the entire school, only because people at McKinley didn't appreciate music like the glee club did. Plus, the torments probably would never end.

Blaine liked spending time with his new friend, Kurt. Loved it, even. They found that they had more in common than they thought. They got along just fine, had a few laughs here and there. Blaine didn't think that Kurt was...well, like the way he was, to be honest. He was such a genuine, creative person who seemed to over-think things a little too much. He enjoyed his company and was always very happy whenever they practiced lines together. Maybe a little bit too happy.

Now, did Blaine think Kurt was good-looking? Sure, absolutely. Kurt was very different looking from the other boys at school, with softer features, with his bright blue eyes that were almost transparent and his skin the color of a creamy cloud, with the voice of an angel and a personality both superior and gentle. Any gay guy could take a look at him and admit that he was cute, and any girl (well, let's be realistic: any girl who wasn't into bulging muscles and stubbles and chest hair) could agree that Kurt was handsome. Did Blaine think so? Of course. But there's a difference between actually liking someone and liking the way that they look. No one should ever "like" someone only based on their looks. You should get to know them as a person as well. But Blaine knew Kurt. Well enough, at least. And he couldn't help denying the tiny, faint butterflies fluttering around in Blaine's chest whenever Kurt laughed, or flipped his hair dramatically, or turned the page to his script slowly while closing his eyes and opening them again.

But Blaine didn't think they were anything serious. Probably just some pesky little I-am-smitten-with-you kind of thing. Hey, teenage girls had those over celebrity band members all the time, so why couldn't he? Did it make it worse because he spent so much time with Kurt and he knew him pretty much almost entirely now?

The boys were going over one scene, the part where Henry Arthur is reunited with his love, Rebecca, which is the dialogue right before Quinn and Blaine's duet. The finale, the curtain call, blah blah blah.

" 'Vision seems so odd,' " Blaine read. Well, he half read, because he already knew the lines, but he just wanted to go over it one last time. Plus, it would be kind of weird if he made eye-contact with Kurt while practicing the big, sappy romantic scene.

" 'Indeed it does, my dear,' " Kurt read back, reciting the lines of Rebecca just for now. Blaine was impressed to see that even though Rebecca was clearly not his role, he gave a lot of enthusiasm and emotion while reading.

" 'What do you suppose will happen now? Now that I can see, and you're back? Do you suppose I should sell this ratty old cabaret? Maybe we could move away, pack up our things and go? I'd do anything as long as I am by your side.' "

Kurt chuckled, mumbling under his breath, "This is so sweet I'm getting a tooth ache," before continuing, "That's not up to me, Henry, that's all you. The cabaret is yours and whatever you choose to do with it, that's fine. I'm just so glad that the chaos is over.' "

Blaine snickered at Kurt's witty little comment, and continue. " 'As am I, Rebecca. Maybe now we can finally do something with our lives. I love you."

And then it went quiet. A little bit too quiet. Kurt could feel the heat in his face, rising from his forehead and then masking his cheeks. Kurt cleared his throat and almost whispered,

"And I love you."

Deciding to do both of them a favour, Blaine coughed and closed his script shut. "Well, that went rather well."

Kurt shook his head and smiled. "I think you're reading that thing too much." Kurt gestured to the script. "You're starting to sound like Henry Arthur himself."

Blaine shrugged and held his palms in the air. "Maybe, maybe not. Who knows? He's a pretty inspirational guy."

"I'm sure Felix is ten times more inspirational than Henry," Kurt narrowed his eyes, but laughed.

"You're probably right," Blaine yawned, stretching his left arm outward and then brining it back to rest on the space between Kurt and himself on the couch, "But at least he's blind and can play an instrument. That's pretty impressive."

Kurt gave a little giggle, slightly eyeing Blaine's hand.

"By the way," Kurt said, "I finished those books on my shelves, so I guess that's one of my ambitions nailed down."

"You finished all of them?" Blaine whipped his head around and almost chocked on the air. "Kurt, there were more than one hundred books on that shelf! There was practically no room left."

Biting his lip and smiling at the same time, his eyes looking up at the ceiling in a mischievous way, Kurt said, "Okay, fine. There are 3 books left that I have to read, and I just finished one like, two days ago. Plus I started reading way before we even started talking."

"I see," Blaine said, "Well, good job. Looks like you're going to accomplish it." Blaine gave a round of applause and Kurt bowed in his seat.

"I've always been a fast reader," Kurt shrugged. "I don't know, it's in my blood, I guess. My mom told me a long time ago that she read at least 15 books the first 2 months she was pregnant with me."

Blaine cocked his head to the side. "Really?"

Kurt nodded. "Yeah. I guess I just get so involved in these stories that I feel like I'm apart of it. Sometimes I wish I could disappear into a story and I'd never have to come back. Things would be so easy if my life was printed out of paper. I could do anything. I wouldn't have to live in this hell hole."

Blaine watched with amusement as wonder sparked in Kurt's eyes and voice, getting very expressive.

"Sorry," the babbling boy cut himself off. "I talk too much when I talk about nothing."

"Nah, that's alright. It happens to everyone. Hell, you should see me at home when I talk to my mom about Disney."

For some reason, this was the most funniest thing that Kurt had ever heard in his eighteen years of living, so he practically rolled all over the couch, laughing until his cheeks turned red. He hadn't laughed this hard since he found Sue Sylvester's Physical video.

Actually, he hadn't laughed this hard in a very long time. It felt good.

Blaine thought that Kurt's high pitched giggle was adorable as it echoed off the walls, then muffled by the pillows.

"I didn't know there were still teenage boys who liked Disney movies still," Kurt caught his breath, wiping away a tear. "I thought I was an endangered species."

"Either that, or we're just the gayest of the gays," Blaine huffed. Kurt laughed again.

The boys discussed their lines a little more, and how much fun the show would be on Friday night.

"I really can't wait," Blaine exclaimed, sounding like a puppy who was about to be let outside. "I have no idea why, but out of nowhere I suddenly like performing. In front of people, I mean. I hated doing it before, but now I can't wait to get out there."

"I'm glad," Kurt smiled, "Confidence can be very useful in front of an audience."

Blaine shrugged. "I owe it all to you."

Kurt's head turned, and slowly, a smile, spread across his lips as he looked away and down at the ground.

Later on, Kurt's father, Burt Hummel, came upstairs, back inside from the shop and heading to wash his hands.

"Hey boys," Burt greeted. Kurt gave his dad a smile.

"Hi, Dad. Is the shop closed?"

Burt poked his thumb behind his shoulder gesturing to whatever was behind him. "I'm about to close it right now. How are things coming along?"

"Great, ," Blaine said. "We're all set for tomorrow. It's going to be a great show."

"Good," Burt said, "Good to hear that. Anyway, Kurt, dinner will be ready soon. Would you like to stay, Blaine? It's getting pretty dark out."

Blaine waved a hand in the air. "No thank you, sir, I appreciate that, but my mom is expecting me home. Maybe some other time."

"Alright," Burt nodded, "Kurt, finish up with that. I'll be out in a minute." Kurt gave his father a nod before he disappeared into the bedroom.

Blaine stood up off the couch. "Well, I best be going now. It's getting late."

Kurt and Blaine walked downstairs to the door.

"Tomorrow will be amazing," Kurt told Blaine happily as Blaine slipped his sneakers on, tying the laces sloppily and zipping up his maroon sweater half-way that he left by the door.

Nodding in agreement, Blaine said, "Yeah, it will be. Thank you so much, by the way."

Oblivious to what Blaine was talking about, Kurt cocked his head to the side, tlting it in a curious way. "Why?"

"For helping me out with this- all of this. I had no idea what I was doing when I first started out, but now I've got it like the back of my hand. And it's all because you agreed. I probably would have been a speechless idiot on stage if I hadn't had your help."

Kurt snorted. "I doubt it. But any time, Blaine. It was fun."

Blaine nodded. "I'm really glad we did this. Thanks."

They stood at the door for a little while, Kurt rocking back and forth on his heels, waiting for Blaine to say goodbye.

"Well," Blaine said, taking his hands out of his pockets, "Thanks again. I'll see you tomorrow at school."

The other boy grinned. "'Kay."

Before Blaine turned to go, he held out his arms and stepped up to Kurt. His eyes were wide, like a child on Christmas morning. "Hug? For old time's sake."

Kurt tried his absolute very best to hide the bush on his nose, covering the faint freckles and ghosting over his cheeks. But he smiled wide again and stepped into Blaine's open arms.

They stood there for a quite a while, a lot longer than what you would consider a friendly hug. But neither of them said anything about it or seemed to care. Kurt felt safe, wrapped in Blaine's warm, long arms, and Blaine felt an odd sensation as Kurt patted his shoulder blades. As much as they secretly wanted to stay there and sway at the door, they eventually broke apart and awkwardly said goodbye again.

Kurt stayed at the door and watched Blaine walk down the street and out of sight.