Chapter Five

The Feeling

The concert continued on in a very upbeat blur. Kurt could only remember some significant details that happened during Sebastian's time on the stage, because his mind was currently occupied with Blaine's time.

He had pointed at Kurt. He had dedicated a song to him.

If that was how he felt just being noticed by him, how was Kurt going to survive the meet and greet?

When the concert was over, and Blaine and Sebastian had performed a few extra songs due to demand, the entire front row was ushered to another room by a crew member. After checking their lanyards, they were left to stay in the room until Sebastian and Blaine were ready to meet them.

Eliza and Chandler were discussing Sebastian's choreography to "Mambo Man". Kurt introduced himself to the seven other winners, who didn't hesitate to remind him that Blaine had dedicated a song to him.

"Out of all of the songs, too!" gushed Sarah Bucharan. "'Teenage Dream' is known to be one of his favorites."

"You're so lucky," Loretta Fern said, pouting. "We got here late so we didn't get to buy merchandise or even a bottle of water. My throat hurts."

Her twin brother, Kevin, rolled his eyes. "I told you to have a glass of water before we went."

While Kurt watched the twins bicker, he was aware that somebody was watching him. Two somebodies, in fact. A white blonde boy leaned against the wall watching him with his hypnotic green eyes, while another boy with dark brown hair eyed him. Kurt shivered and tugged on the hem of his shirt.

The door opened. Sebastian Smythe walked in first, waving at the small group of people. He wasn't dressed up like he usually was in Hollywood candid shots. No popped collars or baggy jeans to be found; Sebastian was clad in a dark blue V-neck and red skinny jeans. His hair was disheveled.

Kurt had to admit, when he wasn't dressed like a grade A douchebag and his hair wasn't styled to look messy, he was actually decent looking.

Sebastian was accompanied by a few men with cameras and a crew member carrying a small stack of pictures to be signed.

"First VIP up, please," the crew member called out as she set down the stack of paper next to Sebastian.

Kurt edged forward. He was unsure of whether he should actually meet the guy, as he wasn't even attending his concert for him. Nevertheless, he plastered a smile on his face and greeted Smythe as though they were old friends.

"Nice to meet you..." Sebastian's eyes flickered to his lanyard for a brief second. "Kurt Hummel."

The cameraman asked for Kurt to stand next to Sebastian and smile. Kurt fought to keep his smile on his face as the camera flashed. An automatic copy of his photo with Sebastian printed out, and Sebastian signed it with a silver Sharpie.

Sebastian flicked the glossy face of Kurt's watch. "Nice. Where'd you get that?"

"Oh, just some store in the mall," Kurt said, shrugging. "Can't remember the specifics, really."

"Yeah, well I bet it's a great store." Sebastian smiled genuinely at him. "Here's the photos."

Accompanied with their photo was a photo of Sebastian. It was signed in the same silver, and said: HUMMEL. I'M GOING TO CALL YOU "NUMBER ONE WITH A COOL WATCH." SEBASTIAN SMYTHE

Kurt was rendered speechless. Not only had Sebastian complimented on his watch (which, now he remembered, had been from a specialty store) but he had apparently nicknamed him, too.

Not that it mattered or anything. Smythe was still sort of a douche. Sort of.

The crew member informed Kurt that he'd be receiving a benefits package in the mail, and asked him to wait until Blaine arrived. Kurt waited patiently as Chandler took his photo. His eyes kept wandering to the door, as if staring at it would make the boy he actually wanted to see appear.

Sebastian, although he was posing with Mitchell Cabo, had his eyes trained solely on Kurt. Something about him and his glasz eyes enthralled him. Perhaps it was the fact that he didn't seem too interested in him. In fact, quite the opposite.

Just then, Blaine walked in and he watched as Kurt straightened and smiled warmly in the direction of Sebastian's adversary. Blaine glanced at Kurt briefly before making a double take.

"Smile, Sebastian."

Sebastian forced a smile on his face, even while his eyes widened as they watched the interaction that unfolded before them.

"You're the guy who wore that neon yellow shirt in the front row," said Blaine gleefully. "I dedicated 'Teenage Dream' to you."

"That's what people keep telling me," Kurt remarked, a smile spreading on his face. He couldn't help that he was so happy. He was having the best - but weirdest - night ever.

A crew member set a stack of photos in Blaine's lap. Blaine stared at the pictures of himself smiling at the camera and chuckled.

"How about we take a photo together first?" Blaine asked. "I've only just met you, you know."

Kurt, blushing himself to the point of imitating a tomato, joined Blaine in front of the camera. This time, the camera was lower, which meant that they were going to be sitting on a comfy beige sofa.

"Closer," the cameraman urged, "or I'll have to cut Blaine out."

"Yes," Kurt said sarcastically. "Do just that. After all, I won this meet and greet solely because I desired for Blaine Anderson to sign a photo of me."

The cameraman, instead of being rude, laughed good-naturedly. "Funny, kid. Scoot together."

Blaine moved closer to Kurt until they were hip to hip. Kurt could barely breathe. His celebrity crush, who had seemed so unattainable months ago, was now brushing up against him.

Blaine slung an arm around Kurt's shoulder for an added effect. This maneuver prompted a squeak from him, which only made his face redder.

"Say cheese," the cameraman called out.

"Fromage!" the two boys yelled, smiles spreading once they realized how in sync they were.

The automatic photo was printed out. Kurt was amazed at how nicely it developed. If it weren't for the Ensnared tour logo that occupied the bottom right corner of the glossy picture, it would look quite less staged. In fact, it would look like they were two best friends sitting on a sofa together. Or two boyfriends, depending on how the arm thing was interpreted.

Blaine peeked at the photo. "Not bad." He smiled impishly at Kurt, who was going red again due to the close proximity.

"You're not so bad yourself," Kurt said without thinking. His face was resembling the color of blood within no time.

Blaine laughed. "You don't beat around the bush, do you?" He smiled at the teenager before his eyes landed on the navy lanyard. "Hey, I wrote this one!"

Without thinking, he grabbed the lanyard and held it closer to his eyes to get a better look. Kurt was mesmerized just by the fact that Blaine was actually making a real effort to talk to him, instead of just posing with him and giving him a half-assed compliment, like somebody he just met.

"What a coincidence," Blaine stated warmly, the lanyard slipping from his fingers. Then he glanced into Kurt's face, hazel eyes burning into mesmorizing glasz. And the feeling of something good, something different, hit him again, only this time he knew what it was.

Kurt Hummel was that feeling.

As his eyes were still locked on Kurt's, Blaine's fingers fumbled for a picture. When he'd finally detached one, he finally tore his gaze away and took his sweet time writing on the picture in black Sharpie. He made extra care not to smudge a single letter, in fear that it would not get the message across.

When he was satisfied, he passed the photo to Kurt and thanked him for coming out for the night. Kurt shook his hand politely. Blaine sensed that Kurt wasn't quite ready to leave yet, so he opened his arms for Kurt.

Blaine barely knew the guy, and he was hugging him tightly to his chest. He only ever hugged the girls that came at the meet and greet, as most of the guys he'd met so far were not interested in him.

But standing there, with Kurt wedged in between his arms, he felt different. For months he'd been splitting his time between New York and Los Angeles without a real permanent home. He hadn't visited his family since he first moved. And sure, he had an apartment at both places for convenience, but they weren't homely enough for him. He didn't even have real appliances there, like a toaster or a blender. Every piece of furniture in his apartments were necessities, no luxuries (like a bathtub) allowed.

With Kurt in his arms, back where he used to live, he felt like he was finally home.

Kurt was, in one word, sated. He was in the arms of his favorite celebrity, and he'd just taken a brilliant photo with him! He'd just have a conversation with him! And partly flirted with him!

That night was a night of exclamation points.

Finally, Blaine pulled away from their embrace. Kurt blushed as he realized that most of the occupants of the room were watching them. The two female crew members were giggling slightly.

"Here's the photo." Blaine smiled, exposing two rows of nearly perfect white teeth, albeit his signature crooked front tooth.

Kurt nodded.

"Stick around," Blaine urged. "We'll take a group photo after we're all through." He helped Kurt unfold a gray chair and gestured for him to sit. Kurt obliged, happy that Blaine was caring enough.

Just like the concert, the rest of the meet and greet passed in a blur. Kurt was clutching the photos in his hands, not even bothering to look down.

Finally, after the dark brown haired boy received his signed photos from Blaine, they were all encouraged to squeeze onto the sofa together. After all of the meet and greet winners were sitting down (on the arms, on the cushions, on the back) Sebastian lay over the laps of the front row people. He covered a majority of them, except Kurt, who was blissfully excluded due to Sebastian's height.

Blaine noticed the difference and, without warning, plopped sideways down on Kurt's lap, tucking his legs up as though they were Shaggy and Scooby Doo.

The cameramen laughed as they took three shots of the group. Then, after the best picture was chosen and printed out, Sebastian and Blaine signed each copy and handed then away.

"Have a nice night!" called out Sebastian.

Blaine handed the last copy to Kurt, his hand lingering longer than it should've. "Drive home safely."

The gesture and the warning seemed more personal than it should've been perceived. Kurt nodded and thanked him before being ushered out by the crew members. By then, the Cat's Meow was practically empty.