The Life and Times of Kurt Hummel
Season 2, Episode 20: THE OPEN RHODE
20/22- Kurt and Rachel's audition for NYADA has finally arrived and Kurt receives much needed love and support from Blaine, but will it pay off? Also, April Rhodes returns to McKinley and has a favour to ask.
"Glee club, welcome back Miss April Rhodes!" Will exclaimed as April walked through the door. Kurt saw the small blond woman slightly stumble in and remembered her for her incredible voice and when she gave him alcohol. She didn't seen as drunk as he remember; perhaps she was getting better after all.
"Well, I have a favour to ask of all you little buttons," April said, "I would like you all to help me put on a concert to fund my new musical; CrossRhodes, the April Rhodes Story. You talented little monkeys have the voices and moves I need to sell lots of tickets!"
"Well, I'm sure we'd be happy to help, April, but I don't think Rachel and Kurt can take part as their NYADA auditions are in a few days." Will said.
"NYADA? Wow, that's impressive...what's NYADA?" April asked.
"The incredible performing arts school in New York? The New York Academy of Dramatic Arts? Surely you've heard of it!" Rachel exclaimed.
"I probably have dear, but I may have slipped a few lizard tranquilisers into my system on my way here; I bet you didn't know there were lizard tranquilisers." April said. Will looked at her awkwardly as Kurt looked at Blaine nervously. Blaine squeezed his hand.
"You're gonna be great." Blaine said.
Kurt was grateful for Blaine's support, but he was worried his nerves would get the better of him.
-THE LIFE AND TIMES OF KURT HUMMEL-
Most of the New Directions were talking to April about song choices for the concert, while Kurt was watching Rachel practicing her audition song in a separate room. She was singing 'Don't Rain On My Parade', a song she'd known well for years. Adam approached him.
"Good luck with the audition tomorrow; you'll be great." Adam said.
"Thanks...you fed up of April?" Kurt asked.
"Yeah, I think I'll only take that woman in small doses. Blaine told me he thought your audition song is incredible." Adam said. Kurt started to blush.
"He really said that?" Kurt asked and Adam nodded. Kurt smiled and looked down.
"...You really love him, don't you?" Adam asked.
"I really do." Kurt replied. Adam seemed to take time to say something, like he was struggling to get the words out.
"My dad's company is being moved back to England." Adam said. Kurt was taken back.
"Wait...are you leaving? Going back to England?" Kurt asked.
"I don't know yet. My mum is thinking of staying here with me but if I do go back it will be a different area, a new start, away from everything with the fire and the bad things I've done. I don't know what to do. But don't mention it to Blaine until I've made my mind up." Adam said. Kurt nodded and Adam smiled before walking off.
That night, Kurt went through his song again and again before listening to words of encouragement from Rachel, Finn, Burt and Carole. As he was getting ready for an early night's sleep his phone rang and he only answered because it was Blaine.
"Hey." A very nervous Kurt said.
"Don't be nervous. You're amazing, you know you're amazing, so do I, and that means the audition will be amazing. This Carmen woman won't know what hit her!" Blaine replied.
"God, I hope so." Kurt said.
"I wish I could hug and kiss you over the phone." Blaine said.
"So do I...do you think you could come and watch tomorrow? I know you'd have to skip lunch-" Kurt began.
"-I honestly wouldn't miss it for the world. I didn't want to ask 'cus I didn't know if you'd want me there." Blaine interrupted.
"Thank you. It would mean the world to me. You mean the world to me. And whether it goes well or not, just having you there to hug afterwards will get me through." Kurt said passionately.
"I will deliver my best hug ever. Love you. Now get some sleep!" Blaine said.
"I love you. Bye..." Kurt said and hung up. He sat on his bed, trying to hold back the nerves.
Kurt and Rachel's hearts were beating faster than ever...this was it. The previous night had felt both long and short at the same time for both of them. Kurt smiled as Rachel and Finn shared a moment before Finn took a seat in the audience. Kurt couldn't bring himself to look at the stage or the audience yet; backstage felt safe. Rachel approached him.
"I honestly wish you all the luck in the world." Rachel said.
"You too, Rachel Berry. Prove to her you're a star!" Kurt replied and the two hugged. Rachel looked out to the stage and saw Will sat with Finn and Blaine as Carmen took her seat on a desk in front of the stage.
"Rachel Berry." Carmen called. Kurt squeezed Rachel's hand and she smiled at him as she walked out.
"Hi, I'm Rachel Berry and I'll be singing one of my favourite songs, 'Don't Rain On My Parade' from Funny Girl." Rachel stated as Carmen wrote down notes. The music began and Rachel started to sing.
"Don't tell me not to live, just sit and putter I'm gonna live and live NOW! I'll march my band out, I will beat my drum,
Life's candy and the sun's a ball of butter
Don't bring around a cloud to rain on my parade
Don't tell me not to fly, I simply got to
If someone takes a spill, it's me and not you
Who told you you're allowed to rain on my parade
I'll march my band out, I'll beat my drum
And if I'm fanned out, your turn at bat, sir
At least I didn't fake it, hat, sir
I guess I didn't make it
But whether I'm the rose of sheer perfection
A freckle on the nose of life's complexion
The cinder or the shiny apple of its eye
I gotta fly once, I gotta try once,
Only can die once, right, sir?
Ooh, life is juicy, juicy and you see,
I gotta have my bite, sir.
Get ready for me love, 'cause I'm a "comer"
I simply gotta march, my heart's a drummer
Don't bring around the cloud to rain on my parade,
Get what I want, I know how!
One roll for the whole shebang!
One throw that bell will go clang,
Eye on the target and wham,
One shot, one gun shot and bam!
Hey, Mr. Arnstein, here I am ...
And if I'm fanned out, your turn at bat, sir,
At least I didn't fake it, hat, sir,
I guess I didn't make it
Get ready for me love, 'cause I'm a "comer"
I simply gotta march, my heart's a drummer
Nobody, no, nobody, is gonna rain on my parade!"
The song ended and Will, Finn and Blaine all clapped; Finn was beaming with pride. Rachel also had a huge smile on her face.
"Thank you Rachel, I'm sure that Miss Streisand would have approved of that version. You'll get your letter in a few weeks." Carmen said, and Rachel ran off excitedly and hugged Kurt.
"You were incredible! You're best performance by far!" Kurt said.
"Thank you! I know you'll be amazing! I can't wait to live with you in New York!" Rachel said and ran off to join the others. Kurt's heart suddenly began to pound as he watched Carmen continue writing before she leaned towards her microphone.
"Kurt Hummel." Carmen said. Kurt took a deep breath and walked onto the stage. Kurt looked into the audience and saw Blaine sat there, proud as ever. The others all smile and waved at him, wishing him luck.
"Well Mr Hummel, I must ask you about your choice of song-" Carmen began but was interrupted by a loud bang as the doors burst open and April walked in.
"While they're busy rehearsing songs I wanted to come and see my favourite boy audition for NYADAAAAAA!" April exclaimed then saw Carmen glaring at her.
"Oh, are we supposed to be quiet? I'll sit down and shut up!" April said and sat next to Will.
Carmen returned to face Kurt and spoke again.
"AS I WAS SAYING...I wanted to inquire about your song choice. Why did you choose 'Not The Boy Next Door' from The Boy From Oz?"
"Well, it just screams Kurt Hummel. And if I want to be accepted to NYADA I want to be accepted for being me; there's no use wearing a mask." Kurt said. April looked at Will and smiled.
"Very good. When you're ready..." Carmen said. Kurt nodded and looked at Blaine, whose eyes shone pride. Kurt looked at the band around him and thought to himself.
'Focus, Kurt. Focus.'
The music began and Kurt started to sing, leaping around the stage as he did so.
"Comin' home used to feel so good
I'm a stranger now in my neighbourhood
I've seen the world at a faster pace
And I'm comin' now from a diff'rent place
Though I make look the same to you
Underneath there is somebody new
I am not the boy next door
I don't belong like I did before
Nothin' ever seems like it used to be
You can have your dreams, but you can't have me
Oh I can't come back there anymore
'Cause I am not the boy next door
You've been savin' those souvenirs
Faded photographs from our foolish years
We made plans, but they're wearin' thin
And they don't work out 'cause I don't fit in
And those mem'ries will just weigh me down
'Cause I got no place to keep 'em uptown
I am not the boy next door
I don't belong like I did before
Nothin' ever seems like it used to be
You can have your dreams, but you can't have me
Oh I can't come back there anymore
'Cause I am not the boy next door
I'm not sorry for just bein' me
But if you'd look past the past you could see
That I am not
The boy next door
Nothin' ever seems like it used to be
You can have your dreams, but you can't have me
I can't go back there anymore
'Cause I am not
I am not
I am not the boy next door!"
The song ended and there was a loud applause from all Kurt's supporters, with some indescribable sounds coming from April's mouth.
"Blaine, you okay?" Will asked as he looked at Blaine, who had tears running down his cheeks.
"Yeah, it's just...god, I love that boy." Blaine said, staring at Kurt in awe, reminded of when he first fell for Kurt when he first sang Blackbird.
"I've worked with Hugh very closely, and I know he would have been as impressed by that rendition as I am. You'll receive your letter in a few weeks. Thank you, Kurt." Carmen said and began packing up her things.
"Thank you, Miss Tibedeux!" Kurt exclaimed and ran off the back of the stage and ran out into the hallway, where everyone was already waiting for him. He jumped into Blaine's arms and wouldn't let go.
"You were incredible. Incredible." Blaine said, still holding Kurt tight. They pulled apart.
"You ARE going to New York, Kurt Hummel. You must be." Blaine added, and tears filled Kurt's eyes.
"I will miss you so much." Blaine said. Kurt hugged him again.
At Breadstix, the whole of the New Directions as well as some of their family members were gathered to celebrate; Will, Emma and Shannon came to offer their official congratulations while Sue came for the free food and drink.
Blaine was sat watching Kurt dance with Rachel and Mercedes when Burt approached him.
"He'll call you every day, you know." Burt said.
"He'll be in New York; I don't think he'll have the time. That's fine, though...he belongs there. And he'll be so happy." Blaine said.
"He told me he'll call you every day no matter what." Burt said.
"...Maybe..." Blaine said cautiously. Burt patted him on the back and went to talk to Will and Emma. Blaine quickly snuck a glass of champagne from the display table and drank it rapidly as Adam approached him.
"Well, I'm impressed that April is staying away from this table. You don't seem to be." Adam said.
"It's one glass of champagne old chap," Blaine said, mocking Adam's accent as usual, "I'm just enjoying myself."
"Well, don't get out of hand, old chap. Kurt's not even gone yet, he might not even get in, so savour the time you'll have with him now." Adam advised.
"He'll get in, but I'll still have you around to keep me company. You're not going anywhere!" Blaine said.
"Yeah..." Adam said in almost a whisper, looking away. Blaine didn't appear to notice and Adam walked off after his phone started to ring.
"Hello? Oh, hey Sebastian..." Adam began before walking outside to continue his call. Blaine took another two glasses of champagne and walked off.
"Okay everyone, Will and I are gonna sing our favourite duet for you all!" April squealed as the music began and Will joined her on stage. She started to sing.
"I hear the ticking of the clock Till now I always got by on my own."
I'm lying here the room's pitch dark
I wonder where you are tonight
No answer on the telephone
And the night goes by so very slow
Oh I hope that it won't end though
Alone...
Will then joined in with her.
"I never really cared until I met you
And now it chills me to the bone
How do I get you alone?
How do I get you alone?"
Will then sang a section to himself.
"You don't know how long I have wanted
To touch your lips and hold you tight, oh."
The two sang together.
"You don't know how long I have waited
and I was going to tell you tonight."
April sang a line, followed by Will.
"But the secret is still my own
and my love for you is still unknown
Alone..."
The two sang together for the rest of the song.
"Till now I always got by on my own
I never really cared until I met you
And now it chills me to the bone
How do I get you alone?
How do I get you alone?
How do I get you alone?
How do I get you alone?
Alone, alone."
Everyone clapped and cheered as the song ended. Blaine finished his last glass of champagne as Kurt approached him and wrapped his arms around him.
"I'm going to miss you a lot. A LOT." Kurt said. The two boys both smelled the alcohol on each other's breath.
"I'm gonna miss you to." Blaine replied. Kurt pulled Blaine even closer and whispered in his ear.
"I have keys to my dad's car."
"What are we gonna do in your dad's car?" Blaine replied before catching on to that look in Kurt's eye.
"Oh." Blaine said with a giggle. Kurt started laughing two and the two boys rushed to the car hand in hand as everyone else partied.
That weekend, the New Directions had a great concert to raise money for April's show and were pumped for Nationals the next week. Kurt and Blaine were closer than ever, but Kurt had spent the last week worrying about if they'll survive as a couple if he goes to New York. Kurt was still excited nonetheless, as New York was an open road for him.
And he couldn't wait to drive down it.
NEXT TIME…
"Well, I never thought I'd do that with you."
All he had to focus on now was graduation, NYADA and Blaine.
"I wanna sing, I wanna shout..."
Kurt cried into Blaine's shoulder for hours.