Blaine could think of all the times he would have liked to have gotten stuck in an elevator with Kurt, but this was not one of those times.

"Hello! HELP! We're stuck in the elevator," he yelled banging on the elevator doors with his mouth close to it for maximum effect. Kurt knew it would be all in vain. He immediately checked his phone and cursed the old building with its thick walls for his inability to get a signal. While Kurt messed with that, Blaine remembered that they typically had a way to speak to the outside world if you got trapped in one of these death machines. He felt around for the phone box and showed it off to Kurt who cheered on his smart thinking.

Blaine did the honor of making the call. "Hello, this is Blaine Anderson. We're party guests of Miss Quinn Fabray, and we got stuck in the elevator. Can you get us out?... Oh.. Oh okay, yeah," he mumbled and hit his head back as he hung up.

"What happened?" Kurt asked him.

"It's a citywide blackout. We're going to have to wait until the power comes back."

"Hmm..."

"What?" Blaine opened his eyes to look at him curiously,

"Nothing!" Kurt brushed him off.

"No, I can tell you were thinking of something," Blaine insisted.

"Well, you didn't tell them it was me in the elevator with you... it's probably fine though."

Blaine was going to look at him incredulous, but he paused and figured it was worth a shot. He was too nervous about what would happen if he sweat long enough to disrupt the gel on his head; he couldn't allow that to happen in public when he was so far from home.

"Hi, it's me again—elevator guy. I forgot to mention that I am stuck in the elevator with Kurt Hummel..." He waited. "Yes, the Kurt Hummel," he answered. Kurt shrugged calmly. He knew who he was already and he sometimes had that effect on people.

"Looks like you're our lucky charm."

"Now we just have to wait for them to come."

"Hopefully it's before we melt. The temperature must have already risen 10 degrees."

"We just need to figure out a distraction that will keep us cool," Kurt answered. It was unfortunately not as easy as they might have thought to figure out how to spend the time with certain funny business off the table.

Blaine was the first to notice the sheets of paper and pencil for fire safety inspection logs—he was sure they'd understand. "Want to play?"

"Oh, my god. Everyone, stay calm. I'm sure the power will be back on in a second," Quinn spoke loudly to everyone. "We have flashlights and phones. Everything's fine," she reassured all her guests who were now stranded at her party while the city grid shut down.

She had to do her best to make them feel comfortable even though, with the air conditioner now off, it would be only a matter of time before they would all become insufferable. She didn't plan to have an acoustic night, but it seemed like there would be a change of plans since she couldn't get any of the amps to work without an outlet. On top of her need to come up with a new source of entertainment, she noticed that Puck had turned up at her party. He wore magenta Club Monaco Lightweight Kennedy Chino with a pink t-shirt. [Take on me]

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"If you're that mad at me, I can't imagine what you're going to think when you finally run into Rachel. I know I saw her already hiding behind some plants," he said. This was news to Quinn who kept adding laundry items to her list.

"She's not your business. You shouldn't have come."

"Who do you think will fill the place of your entertainment without me? I've got a solution to all your problems."

"The solution to my problems right now would you be vanishing from my sight," she said quickly.

"Just listen, okay, I come in peace."

"You don't deserve my time," she said easily removing herself from the situation. He loved to corner her when she was stressed and capable of making poor decisions. He couldn't impress her today.

Tina and Mike were at dinner in a lower Manhattan restaurant when the lights went out. She considered Sam's offer to go to a party but was determined to not let the UES drama take away her one good thing, which was Mike. Thankfully, they were just finishing up with their meal and thought it would be a good idea to follow the crowd for the mass exodus across the Brooklyn Bridge to get off the small island. In a way, it could be more romantic than the night they had planned. Their plans had gone up in dust when their double date partners had bailed on them to attend a party. She hoped wherever they were that they got home safe. She felt safe with her boyfriend as she walked hand in hand under the bright night lights running on a backup generator.

Rachel realized after walking around Quinn's party enough times that her brother and Kurt were nowhere to be found, and because of the blackout, they also weren't answering their phones. As much as she wanted to lay low and not rock the boat with Quinn after the bombshell that was last night, she needed assistance if she wanted to find out where the missing two were.

She changed her pattern and went looking for Quinn, instead of avoiding her. She had dressed in a neon Ted Baker 'Keleche' Floral Jacquard wrap skirt, neon yellow knee-highs, and a pink Victoria's Secret Essential V-neck tee. [Take on me]

"You again... someone told me you were here," she rolled her eyes and made to leave.

"Quinn, I haven't been able to get in touch with Kurt or Blaine. I think they're stuck somewhere, possibly together, but I'm worried."

"They'll be safe if they're together. I'm sure they'll show up eventually or call. I don't have time for this. If you don't mind, I need to work on getting someone on the stage."

"I think someone else just beat you to it," Rachel said despondently looking at Puck take center stage with an acoustic guitar in hand. Sam cheered and clapped loudly as his friend took a seat. The blonde was dressed in green chinos, a yellow tank and red-orange opened button down. [Take on me]

"Flowers in hand, waiting for me / Every word in poetry / Won't call me by name, only "Baby" / The more that you give the less that I need / Everyone says I look happy / When it feels right," Puck sang acoustically. "I know that you're wrong for me / Gonna wish we never met on the day I leave / I brought you down to your knees / 'Cause they say that misery loves company / It's not your fault I ruin everything / And it's not your fault I can't be what you need / Baby, angels like you can't fly down here with me / I'm everything they said I would be / La-la-la / I'm everything they said I would be." His voice was soft and firm as he finished the first chorus.

"I'll put you down slow, love you, goodbye / Before you let go, just one more time / Take off your clothes, pretend that it's fine / A little more hurt won't kill you / Tonight my mom says, "You don't look happy" / Close your eyes," he sang, "I know that you're wrong for me / Gonna wish we never met on the day I leave / I brought you down to your knees / 'Cause they say that misery loves company / It's not your fault I ruin everything / And it's not your fault I can't be what you need / Baby, angels like you can't fly down here with me / I'm everything they said I would be..." he sung smoothly and added some steamy vocals to embellish on the song as he strung his guitar.

"I know that you're wrong for me / Gonna wish we never met on the day I leave / I brought you down to your knees / 'Cause they say that misery loves company / It's not your fault I ruin everything / And it's not your fault I can't be what you need / Baby, angels like you can't fly down here with me, oh-oh / Angels like you can't fly down here with me."

Puck made sure that Quinn knows this is for her. Quinn was impressed but not overcome. She knew it was right to break her addiction and even with his sweet song, he wasn't who she wanted. In a way he probably didn't intend, she agreed with the lyrics that he wasn't what she needed, not anymore.

They played two rounds of guessing words they'd written on cut up slits of paper before Kurt grew tired of the game. His fatigue was more complicated than just stress associated with being stuck in an elevator. It wasn't so hard in there considering he'd been stranded with someone he loved. He knew Blaine loved him back, but as much as this felt good on the surface, he felt like this had come at just the perfect opportunity to announce his doubts.

"Do you think it was wise?"

"What was wise?" Blaine was caught staring at the tiling on the roof of the elevator.

"You know, for this to be like our re-coming out party? Not the other kind," he said knowingly. "I'm not talking about us getting stuck in this elevator either, I mean in general." He was genuinely concerned if he was doing the right thing by bringing Blane to be his date.

"We're just here as friends; we never said anything that changes that."

"Really? What, we walk in as just friends? No one will believe that after what they saw today. Gossip Girl already gave them an eye-full."

"I mean... that picture today was a complete invasion of privacy," Blaine sighed annoyed over that GG blast, which he knew upset Kurt, "But I mean between us, we said earlier we're not official yet, so we're not."

"It doesn't matter what we say. Everyone else will think—"

"Who cares what they think, Kurt? They're not the ones in the relationship!" Blaine added agitated.

Kurt had all this pressure on Blaine to act the same way he did and care the same way, but he didn't. Even with the gossip and jealousy, he didn't care about everyone else as long as Kurt was real with him. He'd spent hours checking out the public opinion on their relationship—doom-scrolling through every thread and post of people who had thoughts on his relationship! It turned out that most people thought he was an idiot for breaking up with Kurt and a passionate minority thought he was a jerk. If he cared any more about others thought of him, he wouldn't be able to sleep at night. In a way, Kurt invited public opinion into their bed in a way he just couldn't tolerate.

"It matters," Kurt whispered simply. He'd been at the mercy of this kind of attention for as long as he could remember. His childhood and adolescence were more engrossed in image than others his age—a fact Blaine couldn't understand even if he tried.

"I'm just saying I don't think it would be too hard to just scale it back a bit..." Blaine said naively. "We'll get some heat, and then, it'll blow over."

"Stories about me take forever to blow over... This is not how I want to start my senior year," he said dramatically hiding his face in his hand.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Blaine said hurt.

"I didn't think we'd be back to being labeled as boyfriends so soon. It'll just be a whole other year with Gossip Girl raining down our necks," Kurt groaned not noticing Blaine's despair.

"If this is going to be too hard for you, you can just say so, rather than lead me on, Kurt. This is all my fault, I know. I came back to you. I made you have second thoughts because I thought this was something you wanted to work on, but everything you've said or done has been negative and just shows me that you don't know how to tell me no. If you know your answer, you should tell me. Tell me I'm wasting my time. I won't force you into a relationship you want no part of..."

Blaine wished he could leave. He wished he wasn't literally trapped with Kurt. He wanted to cry and rail, but instead, he remained quiet and looked away. Kurt would try to comfort him, but he had nothing more to say. The taller boy hadn't changed his mind. For now, it seemed they weren't meant to be together, and when they exited the elevator whatever love they had for each other would just have to melt away. The love never died; it just wasn't in use anymore.

Puck tracked down Quinn to ask what the blonde thought of his performance.

"It was great," she answered honestly.

"You really mean that. You always have something else to say usually."

"Puck, I know what you're trying to do, but it won't work with me. I'm not charmed. You're not as charming as you think you are. You can either go on and enjoy the party, or you can leave, but I'm not interested in your attention. I won't be the object of your hunt anymore. Now, if you don't mind," she said leaving him behind. She was moving on for real this time.

Looks like Lady Q. is determined to have it all. The question is, who with?

"Can you tell me why you chose to stay home with me when you could have been at a cool party hosted by Quinn? I know she's the main party planner," Carole cheesed. Her son had decided to forgo the party to stay in and watch movies with her.

"I just needed a break. You know that's not my scene. It's more Kurt's thing."

"Yeah, well, I'm glad to have at least one of you home tonight because while my husband's off on business. I would have been scared out of mind having this whole place to myself during a blackout."

"It hasn't been so bad," he said munching on some ice cream that he'd requested from room service. It was still cold. Besides the TV outage and the candlelit mood lighting, the perks of having 24/7 room service meant that life pretty much continued on.

"You must be used to not having electricity too when you were a kid," Finn added.

Carole's eyes lit up, and she smacked her son with a pillow.

"How old do you think I am, Mister?!" she cried. Finn laughed. After a beat, she said, "I really am happy you're here. I know we never hang out but it's not for my lack of trying. You both don't want to spend too much time with your mother. You're too busy with your friends, I guess. I would say chasing after partners, but I never see you with girls and Kurt's, well... Kurt."

"I like girls!"

"I don't doubt that," she smiled. "So, who are you interested in? Anyone new since Rachel?"

"Mom..." he didn't feel good about talking girls with his mom of all people.

"I know you don't want to tell me. I won't be too nosey. I'm just curious a little bit."

"I-there's no one, really..." he said deciding he'd be better off keeping his mouth shut.

"No one really? That's mysterious. Alright you tell me when you know something."

Finn nodded embarrassed.

"And friends, you're hanging out with a Puck a lot, and... Sam? They're still friends."

"Yeah, mom that was a long time ago, they're both cool."

"You know who they both have in common? Quinn. She is the sun that all these boys tend to orbit around. You be careful or you'll be the next one under her spell!" she raised her hands and fingers as if she was a witch casting a spell. She added an oOoOO sound for good measure before smiling again. Finn froze and hoped she didn't see how much he tensed up when she said that name. He was trying to keep some perspective, but he wasn't very good at that.

Eventually, the elevator dinged open at the right floor for the party. The two heard a cheer as everyone celebrated the central air going back on. Kurt and Blaine didn't speak anymore. They held hands for a moment before letting go as Kurt went to the party, and Blaine stood alone in the elevator.

Quinn finally felt like she could loosen up. The lights were on, the music was playing, and her guests hadn't driven her mad. She could breathe, and when she did, she exploded like she meant it. This was her party, and no one could stop her from finally having a good time.

Spotted: Lady Q acting not so lady-like. Hope you kept the receipt for that tiara, Q.

FLASHBACK:

The lights in the elevator turned on, and it started moving again.

"I'm scared," Blaine said.

"I know. Me too."

"When you step out of here, it's over."

"I-I think—I think it was already. It just took us this long to realize and get used to the idea," Kurt said. Blaine nodded because he knew that, and it hurt. "Blaine, I still—"

"I know. Me, too."

The doors opened.

Love may fade with the season, but some friendships are year-round. Like you and me. You know you love me. X.O.X.O., Gossip Girl.

TO BE CONTINUED

~A.N. I'm not crying- you are! I've never played with doing a flashback like this before but I though it'd be the cleverest way to end the chapter and the Episode explaining the final conversation they had. Another part of this I really liked was the song sung by Puck. I can't hear that Miley Cyrus song without believing that he's singing it to Quinn so I'm glad I could incorporate it. I hope you enjoy and will look out for the next Episode!