The Future's Unknown Chapter 8: Sectionals, a glee fanfic

A/N: Hey guys, chapter 8 is here :) Just a warning, there's angst - I had to stop writing 4 times because I began crying, so heads up and I'm sorry if I make you cry and if you don't then fair enough! A few songs to add to the end of the youtube URL. First song (sung by the Lyrical Explosion girls) is When I Grow Up by The Pussycat Dolls - /watch?v=K0K46C82v9o . Second song (sung by Blaine, Finn, Sam, Joe and Mike) is Little Things by One Direction - /watch?v=xGPeNN9S0Fg . Third song (sung by The Warblers) is Troublemaker by Olly Murs featuring Flo Rida - /watch?v=4aQDOUbErNg .

Hope you enjoy the chapter :) PLEASE REVIEW!

Dear Students,

In light of a recent event, all students are to partake in a buggy refresher session upon return to Dalton Academy after fall break. This refresher session is MANDATORY to all students and has been arranged to ensure your safety upon use of the buggies available to you. Failure to attend your 15-minute session, regardless of class schedule, will result in a week's detention and permanent removal of buggy privileges.

The schedule will be attached to the boarding house noticeboards, lunch hall noticeboards, and any extra-curricular noticeboards around the school. Please check your time upon your return to campus after fall break to ensure you know when to report to the school courtyard.

I hope you have a pleasant and relaxing fall break,

Mr. H Thornton

Your Principal

The next two weeks seemed to fly by, much to both Blaine and Kurt's satisfaction. The fortnight seemed to go really well in comparison to what they had experienced in that one terrible weekend. For a start, Karofsky hadn't gone anywhere near them since Blaine kneed him in the groin. Kurt was no longer on edge because of it so he felt more carefree and relaxed than he had been since he knew about Karofsky's arrival. The only bad thing about the two weeks was that Sebastian was officially welcomed into the Warblers as a permanent addition to the group. That meant countless suggestive glances in Blaine's direction and endless minutes of jealousy flooding through Kurt's brain.

Earlier in the day, Blaine had gone to Westerville Hospital to have his bandages and eyepatch removed. Both injuries had healed nicely; the eyelid scar was non-existent and his forehead scar was really faint. Carole had done a good job taking care of him and he could tell that she would be supportive of him and Kurt during fall break, no matter what ended up happening between him and Kurt's father.

Blaine was packing his bag, humming happily at the fact that he was going to be staying over Kurt's for the entire week. He folded his clothes and collected his belongings that had been scattered around the room from weeks of living there. He desperately searched for his last remaining bottle of hair gel, which he would need to keep handy for the following morning. Kurt walked in, ruffling his hair in a towel to make sure it was dry after having a shower. Blaine bombarded him and asked panicked, "Kurt, have you seen my hair gel?"

Kurt smiled cheekily and bit his lip, "I might be holding it hostage."

Blaine walked over to Kurt and grabbed the towel, throwing it onto his bed before grabbing Kurt lightly around the waist, "Where is it?"

Kurt chuckled, "Not telling you."

Blaine whined, "Kurt, come on. Sectionals is tomorrow and I refuse to go onstage without my hair gel."

Kurt chuckled again, his forehead now resting against Blaine's, "Well, that's going to be a shame. I was looking forward to your rendition of Rick Astley's 'Never Gonna Give You Up'. Now we'll just lose Sectionals instead."

Blaine pretended to look annoyed, his bottom lip sticking out in a pout, his brow furrowed, his eyes narrowed slightly, "You realise you are holding both my hair gel and our win at Sectionals hostage? Where is your logic?"

"I want to see your hair, not gelled."

It was Blaine's turn to chuckle, "If I agree to a day without hair gel over fall break, will you please give it back?"

Kurt's smile widened, "Deal."

Before Blaine could tell Kurt to go get the hair gel, wherever he had hidden it, Kurt closed the small gap between their lips, a long lingering kiss making Blaine's mind flood with happiness and calmness in the moment. He was slowly becoming addicted to kissing Kurt, never wanting the slender pink lips pressing against his own to stop what they were doing. The next thing Blaine knew, Kurt had pushed him down onto one of their beds, but he wasn't sure whose as he was disorientated from the overflow of emotions he was feeling. The kisses continued, gentle and caring at first, but as time went on, tongues began to dance across each other's lips and start to explore each other's mouths like there was no tomorrow. Moans, groans, gasps and sighs all escaped their mouths as the kiss deepened further, teeth occasionally clanking against each other's now but with no hesitation in continuing. Kurt's hands were gripping Blaine's gelled hair, unable to care about whether or not he would mess it up, whilst Blaine's hands glided up and down Kurt's sides, wondering how far he would be able to go before Kurt stopped him.

Kurt pulled away, unable to contain his thoughts any longer. He looked into Blaine's mildly disappointed eyes, his heart beating wildly as he was about to take a big risk. He took a deep breath in, "I love you, Blaine."

Blaine spoke before his mind could process what Kurt had just said, "Shit."

Kurt climbed off Blaine and sat at the end of his bed, trying desperately not to show any upset, hurt or anger. Blaine swore at him when he told him he loved him. Anything would have been better than swearing. Before he knew it, Kurt could feel the tears streaming uncontrollably down his cheeks. He desperately tried to wipe them away, getting up from the bed and reaching into his blazer pocket hanging on his wardrobe's door handle to retrieve Blaine's hair gel. He turned around and threw it onto Blaine's bed, missing Blaine's thigh by only an inch, before yelling, "Here's your stupid hair gel!"

Blaine stuttered, "K-K-Kurt I-"

Kurt interrupted him, hurt slicing through his voice, "You know what, Blaine? I just told you how I really feel about you. I was just being honest with you, and you swore at me. Anything would have been better. Even if you had just told me you weren't there yet, then I would have understood. But you swearing... That tells me everything. That tells me you aren't serious about this. About us." He turned around and grabbed his pyjamas, a pillow and his duvet, "It took a lot of courage for me to even dare say that, Blaine. I've never expressed my true feelings for anyone before and you've just thrown it back in my face. It hurts. It hurts more than anything ever has before."

Blaine tried to talk again, "Hear me out?"

Kurt shook his head, "I'm sorry, Blaine, but I just can't right now. I'm going to stay with Finn and Puck tonight, and I'll listen when I'm ready, but I just hope you have a back up plan for fall break, because it's looking like you're going to need to use it."

With that, Kurt began to advance over to the door, pausing at Blaine's voice echoing through the room, "Kurt, wait!"

Kurt didn't turn around. He shook his head and opened the door, "No, I won't."

Kurt slammed the door and quickly walked to the next door down the corridor, knocking on it half-heartedly, almost completely losing himself in the waterfalls of tears and held back sobs that were consuming him.

Puck answered the door. He took one look at Kurt and then pulled him into a hug, "I don't know what's happened bro, but you can stay with us tonight."

Blaine knocked on Wes' and Thad's bedroom door, desperate to get some advice. When the door was replaced by air, Blaine immediately walked in and began talking, glad to see that David was also visiting them because that meant he wouldn't have to make another visit, "We need to change my solo song to a group song, and it can't be 'Never Gonna Give You Up' anymore."

Thad crossed his arms over his chest, "Why not? It's the night before Sectionals. Why would we change our setlist now?"

Blaine ran his hand over his head, "I screwed up. Kurt told me he loved me. I said shit. I need to show him that I love him too. I have the perfect song choice but I need you to be onboard as the Warbler Council so I can begin getting together the group of guys I need to make this perfect."

David raised an eyebrow, "You swore at him. What were you thinking?"

Blaine replied, pacing up and down, "I wasn't. That's the point. My mouth moved before I could think. I wanted to tell him that I love him too and me swearing was just me being surprised at him telling me how he truly feels. But he stormed out before I could."

Wes nodded, "Okay, gather the troops up. You can do your other song choice. I don't even care what song it is. I know you have good judgement. I just don't want something special ending because you had a lapse in thought process. You go get him. We'll support you the entire way."

Thad asked, "Who else will be singing?"

Blaine sighed, "I was thinking Finn, Sam, Joe and Mike because I think Puck will be comforting Kurt and it's too slow a song for Artie."

David clapped his hands together, "That's perfect. All very good candidates for the job."

"Thank you. Thank you all. You have no idea how much this means to me."

Kurt waited in Finn and Puck's room until he heard the door to his room close and the wheeling on a couple of suitcases faded down the hallway before returning to the room to get changed in record time and to finish packing. 5 minutes later, he emerged with his suitcases, Puck waiting for him outside his room.

They walked across campus together in silence, Puck knowing that Kurt just wanted to be alone with his thoughts. Kurt had explained everything to Finn and Puck the night before, even though that a lot of it seemed to come out as incoherent sobs. Finn had agreed to talk to Blaine on the bus on the way to Sectionals whilst Puck sat at the back of the bus with Kurt and tried to take his mind off of Blaine's stupidity for just a little while.

Having dumped their bags in the luggage compartment under the bus itself, Puck led the way towards the back of the bus, Kurt following close behind. He was stopped by someone grabbing his wrist, and he could tell from the way his wrist was being gripped who it was. Blaine pleaded, "Kurt, will you please listen for one second?"

Kurt snatched his wrist away, hurt crossing over his face once more, "Save it. You'll just hurt me more."

He hurried down the bus and slid onto the seat next to Puck. Puck asked quietly, "You okay?"

Kurt nodded before resting his forehead against the seat in front of him, "He's an asshole. I wish I never met him."

Puck gasped, "Don't say that. Think about the past few weeks, okay? I don't think any of us had ever seen you as happy as you have been since you met Blaine. I mean, even in your current state, you still seem happier in some way. He changed you for the better. If you hadn't met him, you'd still be under the torment of Karofsky and fearing bullies every day. Don't you get it? He hurt you, and yet I can still see you love him. Do you know how I see it? Because every time you say something bad about him, I see the guilt on your face. So don't go giving me that crap about how you wish you'd never met him, Hummel. He made your life better, and you know that you will patch this up."

Kurt couldn't help but smile a little at Puck, lifting his head off the seat in front of his as the bus began to move, "He did make my life better, but now he's the one who has made it bad again."

Puck sighed, "Okay, I didn't want to tell you myself. I wanted him to tell you, but I can tell he loves you back and he was just surprised you got there first. I mean, he's glancing back at us every few seconds and keeps begging for you to listen. He wants to be with you still, Hummel. That's gotta count for something."

Kurt let out a disgruntled snort, "Don't be so absurd, Puck. He just hates people being mad at him."

Puck shrugged, "There's definitely something else there. Definitely."

Kurt muttered, "Whatever." He closed his eyes and tried to take a nap, having not slept well on Puck and Finn's bedroom floor during the night.

He was drifting between sleep and being awake, clutching onto a recurring dream he had been having of him and Blaine taking a walk in Lima park, hoping that he would one day get to do that. Hope. He still hoped. That was all he had left to cling onto now. Hope that it would work out.

His thoughts were disturbed when he heard footsteps breaking the rhythm of the rumbling engine, causing him to lazily flutter his eyes open. He glanced over at Puck, who was snoring lightly with his head against the window, before turning back to the shadow now towering over him, "What do you want, Mike?"

Mike knelt down beside Kurt and quietly murmured, "I want you to not give up on Blaine."

Kurt whined, "Not you too."

Mike placed his hand on Kurt's shoulder, "Kurt, I've just spent the past 30 minutes listening to him talk about how much he regrets what he said and how he wished that he was with you at the back of this bus, making you laugh and telling you how perfect he thinks you are. You've never had anyone fight to keep you before. Please at least think about it."

Kurt had a single tear escape his eye, thinking about how Blaine could be in his arms right now. He nodded, his voice cracking as he replied, "Okay. I'll think about it. But no matter what I decide, I'm going to wait until after Sectionals is over. I'll give myself the chance to figure out what to say."

Mike also nodded, "That seems fair."

Kurt bit his lip as he caught sight of Blaine turning around to look at him, "My head is telling me to end it, but my heart is telling me that he's the best thing that's ever happened to me, and I just don't know what to do anymore, Mike."

Mike stood up, "Whatever you decide, it will be the right choice for you. But remember that hurting someone you're close to, no matter what has happened, could really hurt you too."

Mike turned around and left him alone with his thoughts. Kurt's mind was reeling. Mike's words repeating in his head. Whatever you decide, it will be the right choice for you. But remember that hurting someone you're close to, no matter what has happened, could really hurt you too.

Kurt didn't need the mind of a rocket scientist to understand what Mike was trying to say. If he hurt Blaine, then he would be hurting himself too. How, he wasn't sure yet. But he was debating whether or not it was best to find out. He was at war with his thoughts and his feelings, no longer sure what to do. All he knew was that he wasn't ready to let go, even though it seemed like he would have to in order to protect himself from being hurt by Blaine again.

Blaine waited for Mike to come back to see what his findings were. The footsteps echoed down the bus and then he was back in his seat on the other side of the bus from Blaine and Finn. Blaine raised an eyebrow at Mike, "What did he say?"

Mike replied, lightly poking Artie awake as he did, "He said he'd think about it, which does seem fair."

Blaine murmured, "He wasn't suspicious about you guys sitting up front with me?"

Mike began to shake Artie, who was stirring but drifting back to sleep again, "I don't think he's even noticed." Mike turned to Artie, "Abrams, wake up!" He turned back to Blaine, "I think he'll make up his mind when we're all out on that stage singing."

Finn interjected, "I don't get it though. Why this song? It's all about love and a flawless person. I know you think he's perfect, but you don't love him, do you?" Blaine shrunk in his seat, "You wouldn't have sworn if you love him."

Blaine sighed in defeat, "I love him, Finn! Okay? I do! I love your stepbrother and I was shocked. The real question is how are you so clueless to the fact that I'm in love with him after everything I've told you guys?" Blaine cupped his face in his hands before continuing, "Sorry for that outburst. I just... I hate myself right now."

Sam leant forward so his head was in between Finn's and Blaine's, "Don't hate yourself. What you're about to do is very romantic. I mean, declaring your love for the guy who you've hurt in front of a few thousand people... Not everyone would do that, bro, especially not with homophobia around. He'll come to his senses."

Blaine sighed, "I hope you're right, Sam. I don't want to lose him."

Finn smiled slightly, "You won't. I know Kurt, probably not as much as you to be honest, but I know him enough to know that he wouldn't give this up. He just needs time to think."

Blaine asked, trying to contain his hope, "So I'm not going to lose him?"

"It's not set in stone, but I don't think you will."

Finn's words were music to his ears. Blaine let a smile swipe across his lips as he wandered into his thoughts. Just give Kurt time. Sing this song. Hopefully, he'll understand. Maybe he'll get that that's what I've been trying to say to him. Please, let him understand.

The Warblers all sat in the green room, waiting for the signal that they should go wait backstage. They were last to perform, right after Lyrical Explosion had finished. Kurt was upset that he would only get to hear his friends perform one song, but he knew that it was the standard protocol. All glee club members were to meet in the green room for at least 5 minutes each with the rest of their glee club to have a final discussion and to make sure everyone knew what they were doing.

Kurt felt a pit in his stomach as Blaine stood up and began to speak, "Well everyone, this is what we've all been working towards. Sectionals. Wouldn't it be great to start fall break on a win at Sectionals?" There were mumbles of agreement scattered across the room as he continued, "For all of you who don't yet know, I've given up my solo song to sing a group song with some of our newer members to the group." The room roared with questions, confusion and outrage. Wes banged his hand, having left his gavel at Dalton, against a table and nodded at Blaine to continue when the shouting stopped, "I have my reasons to do this, and I trust that they will only secure our win further than if I was alone on that stage. This song will be the first song and then we'll do 'Troublemaker' as we had planned."

The lights flicked on and off, signalling for everyone to head backstage to prepare for their performance. Thad yelled as everyone began to file out, "Remember what side you're meant to enter on and make sure you are with the same group of people you expected to be."

As they all began to walk towards their places, Kurt felt another grab to his wrist, exactly like the one he had felt on the bus. He tugged his hand away and questioned, annoyed at Blaine, "What do you want, B?"

Blaine chuckled, "B? Well, you must still have some feelings for me if you're nicknaming me."

Kurt kept a steady tone and continued walking, feeling Blaine follow close behind, "What do you want?"

Blaine was happy that at least Kurt was willing to hear him out a little, "I just want you to know that I'm going to dedicate the first song to you."

Kurt stopped and turned, Blaine almost walking into him as he crossed his arms over his chest, "Why?"

Blaine replied in a sincere tone, "Because every word we will sing is what I really wanted to say to you last night, instead of ruining everything like I did."

Kurt turned and began to walk again, "Well, we'll see how I feel about still being in a relationship with you after you've sung it."

Blaine smirked to himself, "So you admit we're still in a relationship then?"

Kurt sighed grumpily, "I don't even know what we are anymore, Blaine. All I know is that you hurt me and that my heart hurts more than it ever has before and ever will again."

Kurt walked off to the wing of the stage and watched as his friends got into position for their next song, sparkling purple dresses making their movements unsubtle. Mercedes glanced over in his direction and gave him a small smile that he returned instantly. He was looking forward to having a proper conversation with her during fall break. It was long overdue for them to have some time alone together, and it seemed even more likely that it would be just him and her, with no Blaine there to distract.

The music started playing and Kurt immediately knew the song. He had hoped that the girls would have gotten to sing this back when they were all together in the New Directions, because it suited all of their voices. He was surprised when he heard Quinn singing and not Rachel. He smirked slightly as he knew that Rachel was probably not happy with the arrangement, but no doubt the entire last song was her and her alone.

Quinn sang in her pristine voice, with the other girls interjecting their voices every now and then to perform backing vocals:

Now I've got a confession. (Ha ha ha ha)
When I was young, I wanted attention. (Ha ha ha ha)
And I promised myself that I'd do anything, (Ha ha ha ha)
Anything at all for them to notice me. (Ha ha ha ha)

Mercedes now took the lead vocals, making Kurt smile at the fact that his best friend in that group of people was finally getting a solo:

But I ain't complaining, (Oh)
We all wanna be famous, (Oh)
So go ahead and say what you wanna say. (Oh)
You know what it's like to be nameless, (Oh)
Want them to know what your name is, (Oh)
Cause see when I was younger I would say,

All the girls were now singing together, the occasional harmony added here and there. A full-on dance routine had also begun, Kurt raising an eyebrow at how raunchy some of the dance moves were:

When I grow up, I wanna be famous, I wanna be a star, I wanna be in movies.
When I grow up, I wanna see the world, drive nice cars, I wanna have groupies.
When I grow up, be on TV, people know me, be on magazines.
When I grow up, fresh and clean, number one chick when I step out on the scene.

But be careful what you wish for cause you just might get it.
You just might get it, you just might get it.
But be careful what you wish for cause you just might get it.
You just might get it, you just might get it.

Rachel took a step forward, a single spotlight falling on her as she weaved in and out of everyone else who was standing still. She sang loudly, a twang of sassiness ringing through her voice as she did:

I see them staring at me, oh I'm a trendsetter.
Yes this is true cause what I do, no one can do it better.
You can talk about me, cause I'm a hot topic.
I see you watching me, watching me, and I know you want it.

Santana seemed to take the last chorus, with the others quietly singing along as backing vocals. She was smiling widely, and Kurt was as happy for her as he was for Mercedes, because as much as he hated to admit it, Santana was as talented as him and Rachel; she just didn't used to apply herself in rehearsals back at McKinley. She seemed to have had a change in mindset though, if she was getting a solo now:

All the girls joined in properly, all their voices mixing as one. That was something he loved about New Directions; the fact that all their voices were so different and yet still fitted perfectly together:

The auditorium filled with applause and cheering, the sound reaching its maximum possible level without literally raising the roof off the building. Kurt clapped frantically, a proper smile plastered on his face for the first time since he had taken Blaine's hair gel hostage. He was proud of what his friends had just achieved and was almost certain that nothing would be able to beat that.

The girls began to walk offstage his way, as Blaine, Finn, Mike, Sam and Joe all grabbed microphone stands and began to walk on. Mercedes stood in front of Blaine for a second, "Try not to get too emotional out there, okay?"

Blaine just nodded as Artie wheeled past with an acoustic guitar on his lap. They both followed the other 4 out onto the stage, Mercedes now approaching Kurt. Kurt raised an eyebrow, "What was that about?"

Mercedes placed her arm around Kurt's shoulders, "I'm meant to go with the others back to the audience now, but I'm going to stay here with you. You're going to need some support here."

Puck stood the other side of Kurt, smiling slightly, "What you are about to hear could change your mind about everything to do with the situation right now, okay?"

Kurt furrowed his brow as the announcer yelled into his microphone, "Please welcome, from Westerville, Ohio, The Dalton Academy Warblers."

A spotlight fell on each guy standing onstage, each of them standing behind a microphone stand, except for Artie who had a guitar poised in his hands, ready to strum. Kurt raised his eyebrow again when Blaine cleared his throat and began talking, "So erm... Hi. We're from the Dalton Academy Warblers and I would like to dedicate this song to someone who I've hurt real bad and I hope that they will forgive me for what I did. I'm really sorry for hurting you, Kurt. This is for you."

Blaine gave Kurt a brief sideways glance before nodding at Artie to start playing. Kurt knew this song too, and could feel tears prickling in his eyes before the guys had even started to sing. He was going to be a wreck by the end of this he could tell, and was more than grateful to Puck and Mercedes, who were giving him reassuring looks and touches. Finn began singing, his eyes fixated on a spot in the audience, probably on Rachel:

Your hand fits in mine, like it's made just for me.
But bear this in mind, it was meant to be.
And I'm joining up the dots with the freckles on your cheeks,
And it all makes sense to me.

Sam's eyes darted around the audience and then over towards Kurt, Mercedes and Puck. When he caught a glimpse of Mercedes, he smiled before returning his eyes to the audience and singing in the most heartfelt way Kurt had ever heard him sing:

I know you've never loved, the crinkles by your eyes,
When you smile. You've never loved, your stomach or your thighs,
The dimples in your back at the bottom of your spine,
But I'll love them endlessly.

All the guys glanced over at Kurt, except for Blaine who looked down at the floor, clearly preparing himself for his solo by keeping emotions in check. Kurt let his tears fall freely, a grin plastered on his face. Puck was right. Blaine was just surprised that Kurt had said those three relationship-changing words. He didn't know how to react to Kurt's words and had a momentary lapse. Kurt shook his head at how stupid he had been for the past 16 hours. Finn, Sam, Mike and Joe all chorused together, taking turns in glancing sideways at Kurt:

I won't let these little things slip out of my mouth.
But if I do, it's you, oh, it's you they add up to.
I'm in love with you, and all these little things.

Blaine took an audible deep and shaky breath in, turning slightly to look at Kurt with a sincere look before turning back to the audience, his soft, passionate tone covering his overemotional state, briefly squeezing his eyes closed to help think about what he was singing and not why he was singing it:

You'll never love yourself half as much as I love you.
You'll never treat yourself right, darling, but I want you to.
If I let you know I'm here for you.
Maybe you'll love yourself like I love you, oh.

Blaine stole another glance offstage, Kurt's eyes meeting his for the first time since the performance had begun. Both boys had tears glossing over their eyes, desperate to run into each other's arms and apologise for everything. Blaine choked a little on his words as he continued to sing:

And I've just let these little things slip out of my mouth.
Cause it's you, oh, it's you, it's you they add up to.
And I'm in love with you, and all these little things.

The rest of the guys onstage joined in, a perfect blend of harmonies and pitches moulding together to create a dreamy tone to the final chorus:

I won't let these little things slip out of my mouth.
But if it's true, it's you, It's you they add up to.
I'm in love with you, and all your little things.

As the audience applauded louder than they had with Lyrical Explosion, Kurt wriggled out of Mercedes' grasp and ran onstage, almost jumping onto Blaine as he reached him. He could immediately feel Blaine's warm strong arms wind around his waist and his face nuzzled into Kurt's neck. Kurt pulled back slightly to try to speak over the further uproar of applause when he had ran out, but instead Blaine had to lip-read, "I'm sorry for everything."

Kurt also had to lip-read Blaine's response, "I'm the one who should be sorry."

Kurt mouthed, "Never leave me?"

Blaine replied in the same way, "Never want to." He paused as he began to walk into position for the next song, Kurt following to get in position next to him. Blaine turned his head as the noise began to die down and Kurt could just about make out him saying, "I love you, Kurt Elizabeth Hummel."

Kurt grinned widely and began to wipe his happy tears away from his face, "I love you too, Blaine Devon Anderson."

They had a moment to be alone with their thoughts whilst everyone else was shifting into position. They both thought about how stupid they had been when the solution was so simple. Kurt tried his hardest not to laugh at his stupidity, glad that his back was turned from the audience so they couldn't see his smirk, as Artie began to rap:

You're a troublemaker, you're a troublemaker.
You ain't nothing but a troublemaker, girl.

Blaine spun around next to Kurt and walked down the stairs to join Artie, pacing and wheeling across the stage together with a complete different atmosphere to their last song; an atmosphere of excitement and energy was now on that stage as Blaine sang with the most enthusiasm he had sung with in a while, causing Kurt's heart to melt slightly at the tone:

You had me hooked again from the minute you sat down,
The way you bite your lip, got my head spinning around.
After a drink or two, I was putty in your hands.
I don't know if I have the strength to stand. Oh oh oh.

Finn turned on the other side of Kurt and joined the other two at the bottom of the stairs, all three of them travelling across to the other side of the stage. Finn and Blaine's voices blended together as they sang:

Trouble troublemaker, yeah, that's your middle name, oh oh oh.
I know you're no good but you're stuck in my brain, and I wanna know.

All the Warblers turned around, as they all sang an 8-part harmony, Kurt finding it difficult to concentrate on his group's harmony as Blaine winked while dancing past:

Why does it feel so good but hurt so bad, oh oh oh?
My mind keeps saying, "Run as fast as you can."
I say, "I'm done," but then you pull me back, oh oh oh.
I swear you're giving me a heart attack.
Troublemaker!

Blaine waved Kurt over from the other side of the stage, nodding his head towards the top of the stage steps. Kurt walked towards them, careful not to get in anyone else's way as the performance went on. He met Blaine at the top of the stairs centre stage and raised an eyebrow. He lip-read what Blaine had to say, "Sing the last chorus with me?"

Kurt's mouth fell open almost not registering the performance in the background where Artie and Puck had started rapping:

Maybe I'm insane, cause I keep doing the same damn thing.
Thinking one day we gon change, but you know just how to work that back,
And make me forget my name, what the hell you do I won't remember.
I'll be gone until November, and you'll show up again next summer, yeah!

Kurt mouthed back, "Are you insane? That's not what we rehearsed! The council will go nuts!"

Blaine grinned, "Screw the council. You need a time to shine and that time is now."

Kurt turned back to look out at the audience, everyone on their feet dancing along to Artie and Puck's rapping:

Typical middle name is Prada, fit you like a glove, girl.
I'm sick of the drama, you're a troublemaker,
But damn girl it's like I love the trouble, and I can't even explain why.

Blaine gave Kurt a sideways glance, hoping that Kurt would respond in some way, but he didn't. Blaine sighed slightly as he began to chorus again with the rest of the Warblers in their harmony. He grinned even wider than before when someone with a higher voice joined in with his part, turning to his boyfriend as they sung together:

Why does it feel so good but hurt so bad, oh oh oh?
My mind keeps saying, "Run as fast as you can."
Troublemaker, I say, "I'm done," but then you pull me back, oh oh oh.
I swear you're giving me a heart attack.
Troublemaker!

The applause and cheering was even louder than they had heard it the entire day. All the Warblers were jumping around out of excitement at the bottom of the stairs, overjoyed with their performance. Blaine and Kurt were the calmest people in the entire auditorium as they reached out to take each other's hands and smiled shyly at each other.

The curtains were dropped as the stagehands began to prepare for the award ceremony, which would happen in about 30 minutes as the judges had to deliberate over who deserved to win. Kurt turned around, still holding Blaine's hand and quickly walked down the stairs and off the stage, desperate to find somewhere secluded. They bumped into Mercedes on their search, "You guys were incredible."

Kurt smiled, "Thanks Mercedes." He paused to lick his lips, "You know your own school better than us. Where's somewhere quiet and secluded?"

Blaine raised an eyebrow next to Kurt, causing Mercedes to giggle slightly as she responded, "Under the bleachers either in the gym or out on the football field. It's more difficult to get under the outdoor ones because there's wooden panels filling the gaps but there's a gap in the bottom of the panels somewhere that you could fit through."

Kurt grinned widely, "Thanks. We'll catch up later."

Mercedes yelled after them as Kurt ran off, dragging Blaine behind him, "You've got 25 minutes. I'll cover for you if anyone asks where you guys are."

Kurt and Blaine ran across the football field in silence, both just concentrating on their footing and searching for a hole in the panels. Blaine pointed when he saw the hole and they continued towards it. Kurt ducked down and crawled through first, Blaine following him instantly. They were now out of sight with only the colourful glowing sunset seeping through the gaps in between the wood panels finding them. Blaine took Kurt's hands in his once more and whispered, "I'm sorry about everything that happened."

Kurt nodded and smiled, a single happy tear escaping his eye, "I love you."

Blaine grinned widely, knowing he wasn't going to make the same mistake again, "I love you too."

Kurt whispered wholeheartedly, still careful not to be found, "You know, what you did out there today. That took so much courage to do that. I mean, Karofsky isn't the only homophobe out there, so that was the most courageous thing I've ever seen."

Blaine began to rub his nose against Kurt's, "I was willing to do whatever it took to make you see that I knew I made the biggest mistake ever." He paused before asking, "So are our fall break plans still happening?"

Kurt chuckled softly, "Are you seriously asking me that? Isn't it obvious that you're coming home with me tonight?"

Blaine also chuckled, a little louder than Kurt had done and abruptly stopped when he realised just how loud he was being, "It's a bit difficult to think at all when we're standing this close and not kissing."

Kurt grinned widely and teased, "Well, you stop thinking entirely when I kiss you and I need you to be coherent for just a minute more."

Blaine's smile faded slightly, "Why?"

Kurt sighed, "Because I'm just worried that because we've said we love each other, you're going to be expecting more. I mean, I'm not gonna let you forget I love you. But I'm just not there yet to be any more intimate than we already have been. Making out is as far as it goes for now. Is that okay or would you rather find someone who will be more intimate?"

Blaine rubbed his nose against Kurt's again, "Don't worry. We won't get any more intimate than making out. I get you're not ready, Kurt. I can tell you're not ready because you tense up slightly whenever I hold your hips whilst we do make out, and I only do that because it makes me feel closer to you. It's not because I want anything more from you, because if I'm going to be honest, I'm not there either. Right now, I'm just looking for an emotional connection with the guy I'm in love with. Right now, I only want your heart."

Kurt smiled, "Thank you for understanding."

Blaine replied sincerely, "No, thank you for talking to me about your worries."

Kurt closed the gap between their lips, not even hesitating to fill the kiss with love and desire and happiness, with a sense of urgency within the kiss as they knew this moment would have to end and they would have to return to the auditorium in a few minutes. Blaine only deepened the kiss when a small hum of bliss escaped from Kurt's throat, both of them completely absorbed in what they were doing, as if the rest of the world didn't matter anymore.

The only thing that stopped them was when Kurt's phone beeped loudly. He pulled away with an annoyed growl. He slid it out of his pocket and opened the text:

From: Mercedes Jones :)

It's been 20 minutes. Please tell me you guys are on your way back here - Mercedes x

Kurt rested his forehead against Blaine's, sighing in disappointment, "We have to get back."

Blaine nodded, "Okay." He paused before grinning widely, "I love you."

Kurt mirrored Blaine's smile, "I love you too. I love you so much. I shouldn't have doubted you for a second."

Blaine released Kurt from his grasp and laced his fingers in between his boyfriend's, "You had every reason to. But now everything's out in the open, I'm going to remind you at every opportunity I get."

Kurt chuckled lightly as Blaine led him out from under the bleachers and back towards the auditorium, knowing that an endless string of 'I love you's were as imminent as a blizzard of kisses. He was ecstatic that everything had worked out and that everything was moving forward, because even though the future's unknown, Kurt knew that Blaine was going to be a part of it for many moments to come, or maybe even forever. Kurt knew forever wasn't a promise he was willing to make with someone who he had just admitted his love to, but he hoped that forever would be a promise they would make at some point in the many years to come.

Kurt stood with Blaine and the rest of the Warblers onstage, one arm around Puck and the other around Finn, as they nervously awaited the results. He spotted Blaine, who was standing towards the front of the group whilst Kurt was near the back, ringing his hands together anxiously. It took a minute for Rod Remington to appear from backstage with some random unsuccessful actor in tow. As he walked across the stage towards the trophy table, every Warbler looked around at each other, with everyone's eyes filled with hope and pride for their performance.

Rod announced, "Firstly, I would like to thank our show choirs for giving us an afternoon filled with entertainment, excitement and emotion. It has proven difficult to make a decision for this competition, but we have come to a decision." He was handed an envelope with 'second place' embossed onto it in golden letters, "In second place..." He paused for dramatic effect, "From West Lima High, it's Lyrical Explosion."

The crowd applauded and the Warblers all looked around at each other excited, David leaning back and saying to Kurt, Finn, Puck and anyone else who was able to hear, "We've got this in the bag, guys."

Kurt nodded in response, but was too busy glancing over at his friends across the stage, who looked disappointed but accepted their second place trophy graciously. Mercedes looked over at him and gave him a weak smile. Kurt responded by pursing his lips before she walked offstage with the rest of Lyrical Explosion. The tension was now building even more. Kurt knew that they had performed better than The Singing Charms, but did the judges have the same opinion?

Rod was handed the 'first place' envelope by the unsuccessful actor. He opened the envelope as slow as a snail, building up everyone's anxiety further. Rod cleared his throat as he slipped the paper out of the envelope, "In first place, and earning a spot at Regionals, is..." Kurt squeezed his eyes shut as the suspense began to make him feel a little annoyed. He took a deep breath in when he heard Rod clear his throat once more. Rod continued, "From Dalton Academy, The Warblers."

Kurt, along with all the Warblers, began to cheer and jump up and down in excitement. Finn ruffled Kurt's hair, much to his annoyance. Puck was shouting in his ear. Everything was so loud and quick that Kurt almost forgot to breathe.

Finn and Puck had jumped away to celebrate with other members of their glee club when Blaine ran up the stairs to hug him. Kurt almost fell over backwards as he did not brace himself for the force at which Blaine wrapped his arms around him. Blaine grinned widely at him, "We're going to Regionals!"

Kurt squealed in response, "I know! I'm so happy!" Blaine's smile faded as he tiptoed up so his face was level with Kurt's, causing Kurt to gulp audibly above the surrounding yells of joy, "Blaine, not now. Not in front of all these people. Homophobia is a bitch and Lima is filled with it."

Blaine nodded and stood normally again, "Can we grab the trophy and get off the stage then?"

They ran down the stairs and towards the trophy as Wes and Thad lifted it, causing the audience and the Warblers to cheer louder than they were before. Kurt leant to was Blaine and said loudly in his ear, "I don't think anyone will notice if we walk offstage right now."

Blaine grinned widely as Kurt lead him off the stage and away from the wing so no one in the audience could see them.

Blaine turned to Kurt, noticing Kurt's messed-up hair for the first time, "Your hair. It's-"

Kurt sighed, "Blame Finn. He did it."

Blaine chuckled, "I want to thank him actually. You've reached a whole new level of gorgeousness. If I'm having to do a whole day of fall break without my hair gel, you have to do the same without any hairspray."

Kurt giggled slightly, "Okay fine, but we are staying in and watching movies all day that day."

Blaine smiled wider, "A day cuddling with you on the couch? Deal."

Kurt wound his arms around Blaine, his breath hitching at the idea of kissing Blaine. His eyes fluttered as he whispered, "I love you."

"I love you too."

"Let fall break be the best week of our lives."

Blaine nodded happily, "It will be."

They let their lips meet the other's, a soft, loving kiss making them both feel warm inside as they shared the moment.

Winning Sectionals. Admission of love. Fall break. There was nothing but hope, promise and love in the air, and neither boy wanted that to change anytime soon, especially after everything that had happened to them over the past couple of days.

Everything was perfect now. Everything felt so right.

Dear Journal,

I'm writing from backstage at Sectionals so I'm going to make this entry very brief.

Kurt and I made up and made out and everything is great between us, in fact better than before.

Oh and also... WE'RE GOING TO REGIONALS!

I'm done for now. Gotta go celebrate with the Warblers and then to Kurt's to let fall break really begin

- Blaine

Dear Journal,

He loves me too. I doubted him but he really does love me. It just took 'Little Things' to make me see that. I'm so happy right now with our newfound love that I'm almost in tears right now.

One last thing. DALTON ACADEMY WARBLERS WON! Regionals here we come.

I need to go now because Puck and Sam are challenging each other to ridiculous dares and no one else seems to be stopping them. The sooner everyone calms down, the sooner we all go our separate ways for fall break. I'll see the McKinley boys during the week and obviously I'll see Blaine. Can't wait to let the best week of my life begin. Why won't it begin already?

- Kurt

A/N: So there we go. Chapter 8. Hope you enjoyed it :) PLEASE REVIEW!

I'm off on a college trip to the Isle of Wight on Monday, back on Wednesday, so I will be on a writing hiatus for the two days I am fully away :/ It properly sucks :/ Oh well, life goes on! I'll continue to write as soon as I walk through my front door :D