Kurt stared in horror at his phone, thinking that Blaine had surely gone mad. Audition tomorrow? But he had no time to prepare! Luckily, he had no homework in for tomorrow, but even so, he needed some help. He closed the text from Blaine and pulled up Rachel and Mercedes' numbers.
An hour later, the three of them were sitting on Kurt's bed. When Rachel had first arrived, Finn had knocked on Kurt's door and asked what they were doing, but Rachel had explained that it was a show choir emergency, and that, even though Finn was excellent company, he wasn't going to help so please go away.
To Kurt's surprise, though, they weren't really focusing on his audition and more on Blaine.
"What does 'Pulled some strings' mean?" Rachel was asking frustratedly, staring at the text on Kurt's mobile.
"I don't know, Rachel," Kurt said through a mouthful of pizza.
Mercedes reached for another slice. "Well, you said he sings lead, right? So he'll have some influence over the decisions."
Rachel gasped, looking at Kurt. "They didn't want you in Sectionals!"
He almost choked. "What?"
"Think about it!" Rachel's game face was on, and she moved to face Kurt straight on. "You've just transferred; they don't know what you sound like. We're a week from Sectionals – it's hardly a big leap to work out – and frankly I can see you'd seem a liability."
"Wow. Thanks, Rachel." Kurt raised an eyebrow, and put down his pizza, rubbing his hands together to rid them of grease. He took his phone back and looked again:
Good. Pulled some strings. You audition tomorrow morning. Break a leg :)
"But then... why would Blaine try so hard to get you in?" Mercedes asked thoughtfully. "I mean, no offence, Kurt, but Rachel sort of has a point."
Kurt, who had flushed bright red, quickly closed the empty pizza box and got up to throw it in the bin. "Well, that's not the point!" he said loudly. "The question is... what do I sing tomorrow for my audition?"
There was a pause. Rachel immediately pulled out her iPod and started scrolling through songs. Mercedes looked at Kurt and smiled.
After a few minutes of Rachel commenting on various songs: "No... too long... too short... boring... too sad... duet... not for your range" (at which Kurt gave a derisive snort), she stopped and looked up. "I think I've got it," she beamed, pressing play.
Kurt looked up as the track started. "Ah," he said, standing up.
Did that really just happen?
Have I actually understood
This weird quirk I try to suppress or hide
Is a talent that could
Help me meet the wizard?
If I make good.
So I'll make good...