"And now, the winner of this year's West Central Sectionals is…"
Kurt held his breath as he waited for Pete Sosnowski to announce the winner. Please let it be the Warblers. Please let it be the Warblers. I know my friends worked hard. I just can't stand the thought of them going on without me, all because of Dave Karofsky.
"It's a tie." Pete chuckled. "Congratulations. You're all going to the regionals."
Relief flooded him, and Kurt glanced over at the rest of his friends, surprised and confused to not see them really celebrating. He caught, from the corner of his eye, Blaine saying something to Mr. Schue, who also looked less than thrilled. Then, suddenly he was following the rest of the Warblers off the stage as the applause from the crowd continued, feeling like he was part of a Warbler herd, unable to catch the eye of anyone in New Directions. I've got to ask Mercedes about that. Or Finn this weekend. Something is definitely going on at McKinley.
Quickly, all of the Warblers went back to their homeroom area and gathered their stuff before making their way outside to where the chartered Dalton Academy bus was waiting to take them the nearly two hours back to Westerville. Kurt's heart thudded in his chest as he thought about the rather cryptic text he'd received from Blaine that morning: "Afterward, we need to talk." Blaine had been on vocal rest that morning, preparing for his big solo, and now was the first opportunity they were going to have to talk.
Kurt was relieved when he walked onto the bus and saw that Blaine had saved him a seat toward the rear. He slid in next to him, grinning when he saw Blaine's delightful smile shining at him. "Hey," was all he could manage to get out.
"Hey yourself."
They got comfortable in their seat as the bus took off, getting their bags settled on the floor and their phones checked, sending messages to their parents to let them know how the competition had gone. Finally, as the bus turned onto the highway, they both stopped, turning to look at each other.
"So, what did you want to talk about?" Kurt asked shyly, immediately looking away from Blaine's gaze.
"I want to apologize."
And Kurt's head snapped right back up. "What? Why?"
"Because of what I told you after your audition a few days ago. I told you that you should try harder to fit in, and I realized that's what you were trying to get away from by coming to Dalton. In a way, I was bullying you by encouraging you to be someone you're not, and I never want to be a bully, especially not to my best friend." He gave him a soft, sad smile. "Can you forgive me?"
Kurt really didn't know what to say. I… That never even crossed my mind, that he would view that as bullying. And how did he know? I never told him how much that bothered me, and yet… "I—Of course, I forgive you. And thank you, Blaine. I don't know how you knew, but that did hurt my feelings. I hadn't even considered how it could be bullying until just right now, though. I know you wouldn't and didn't mean it that way."
He could see the moment Blaine's face relaxed in what he hoped was relief. "Thank you, Kurt. I promise I would never try to hurt you like that."
"I know."
The two of them sat in companionable silence for a few moments, thinking about how to erase the last of the tension until, out of the blue, Blaine reached over and put a hand on Kurt's thigh. "Let me show you this song I am going to put in front of the Warbler Counsel tomorrow! I think it's perfect for Regionals!" He was beaming again, back to his bubbly self.
Kurt could only nod, his brain completely short-circuiting. Blaine's hand is on my leg. Blaine's hand is on my leg. Don't get hard. Don't get hard. This is nothing sexual. This is just the two of us being great friends. And maybe Blaine being a little bit careless. Don't focus on it. Just breathe and stay calm. Blaine's hand is on my leg. Don't get hard!
The next thing he knew, Blaine had popped one of his headphones into Kurt's hand, and their heads were pressed together as they listened to the upbeat, poppy song a few times, Blaine telling him all the ways he'd change the arrangement to suit the Warblers better and what he could see in his mind as the proper way to do the choreography.
Then, he was bouncing in his seat, talking about a project he was excited about for a class that Kurt hadn't managed to catch. This boy is positively crazy with energy, and I love it. He is constantly going a mile a minute; his thoughts must be like a jet plane, zooming through his head. If he doesn't catch them as they go by, he'll lose them forever. He had to hold back a giggle at that. And look at the way he's like the sun personified, all happiness and bouncing and giggling, his smile reaching his eyes and beyond. It's like it stretches to the ends of his hair and the tips of his toes all at once. He puts out energy and light and love in the world, and it's amazing. He's amazing. I'm so glad he's in my life, that I get to share in his exuberance.
And sooner than Kurt had really expected, about 25 miles outside of Westerville, Blaine fell asleep on his shoulder, snoring softly while music played through his headphones, one in his own ear and one in Kurt's. Should I wake him? What will the rest of the Warblers say if they catch their lead singer sleeping on my shoulder? He glanced around the bus, realizing then how many of the other boys were sound asleep, too. Oh. I guess it doesn't really matter, does it? Maybe I should just enjoy it until we get back to the dorms.
Settling back, Kurt allowed himself to close his eyes, leaning his head against the back of the seat. That stretched his neck at a funny angle, though, and so he experimentally leaned his head on top of Blaine's, immediately loving the warmth and gentle softness of the few curls he let remain untamed by his hair gel. And what will the rest of the Warblers say if they see me sleeping on their lead singer's head? Oh, let them talk, Hummel. Just enjoy the last 20 minutes of your ride home and the comfort of your best friend.