Blake woke up feeling confident but nervous. Today he had to sing for Ryan Murphy. This was his last chance to impress him. Blake wanted to be on Glee, he needed to be on Glee.
Blake left his home when he turned eighteen to pursue an acting career in Los Angeles. He was living with roommates when he was chosen to be on The Glee Project. Working as a parrot salesman, as he waited for a door to open. For a chance to , make it.
So this was it, this was his chance, the big break he needs to make it in Hollywood. He did not want to mess it up. Blake knew exactly what song he was going to sing for Ryan. No not Ryan, he was singing this song for Michael. Ryan will just be lucky enough to be there when Blake sings it.
Everyone had breakfast together. Ali, Aylin and Blake were extremely nervous, but were pretty good at hiding it. Michael was trying his best to be strong for Blake. But he too was feeling very nervous. Michael knew that Blake wanted this badly.
Ali, Aylin and Blake were taken away to rehearse. Michael and the rest of the eliminated contenders stayed to get ready. Nellie was standing by the cheese lamp when Michael entered the room.
"Can you believe it? This is it, the last day of the competition." Nellie said as Michael walked up to her.
"It's hard to believe. So much has happened in the few weeks we've been here." Michael said.
Nellie looked at Michael and smiled.
"I feel like I've learned so much being in this competition, about myself and this business." Nellie said looking directly at Michael.
"Yeah me too, it seems like only yesterday I forgot the lyrics to "Lucky" during my last chance performance." Michael said with a big smile on his face.
Nellie laughed.
"Yeah and for me it seems like only yesterday that I learned the "Milkshake" song was not actually about milkshakes." Nellie said and they both burst into laughter.
The glow of the cheese lamp was setting a mood completely different from the one it set the night Blake told Michael he loved him. It was a lighter mood, a friendly mood.
When Michael and Nellie finished laughing they sat down together and waited for the others to finish getting ready. Michael started rubbing his hands together as he thought of Blake. He must be a nervous wreck, Michael thought. Michael wanted to be with him, to support him, but he couldn't. All he can do now is wait.
Nellie saw Michael rubbing his hands together and she reached out her left hand to grab Michael's right hand. Michael and Nellie's hands intertwined. Michael looked at Nellie, Nellie was smiling, but it was a different smile. It wasn't the same smile she used to hide her insecurities. It was an honest smile.
"He's going to be fine." Nellie said and then she brought their intertwined hands up to her lips and she kissed the back of his hand.
Blake was now rehearsing his song. He chose a song called "I'll be". Blake was extremely nervous. He was having a hard time rehearsing in front of the cameramen and crew. They were everywhere. They've been everywhere. Only at night do they leave. It is strange being under a spotlight, in front of a camera, where everyone sees everything you do. But Blake knew what he signed up for, what he didn't know was that he would fall for Michael.
Michael, this name echoed in Blake's ears, this name ran across his every thoughts, this name belonged to the lips he longed to kiss at this very moment.
When you're in front of a camera everyone knows everything about you. They see what you do. After weeks of living under a microscope you try to grab on to something that's just your own. Something that no one else knows. So for Blake it was nice that no one knew about him and Michael. It was their own little secret, something only they knew. Something not caught on cameras for someone to exploit.
Blake smiled and continued rehearsing. He was a little less nervous now. Ali rolled by his door she was up first, he ran out after her.
"Good Luck Ali!" Blake yelled.
Ali stopped, turned her chair around, gave Blake a menacing look and said,
"I don't need luck."
Ali was in character, Blake laughed then Ali got out of character and smiled.
"Thanks and Good luck to you too!" she said as she turned, got back into character and rolled onto the stage.
Blake got back to rehearsing. When Ali finished he could hear a roar of cheers coming from the auditorium. Ali was right, Blake thought, she didn't need luck.
Blake was up next. He made his way to the stage, the stage that could change his life forever. He walked up to the mic, introduced himself, looked at Ryan, and then he looked at Michael and started to sing.
Michael knew the song, and immediately knew it was meant for him. Blake's voice filled the auditorium, Michael felt every word Blake sang. Michael mouthed the words along as Blake continued singing. Their lips were in sync, counting the minutes until they could meet once more. Nellie couldn't help but smile as Blake sang.
Once Blake finished the song Michael couldn't help but let out a whoa-ing sound louder than everyone else's. He got to his feet and clapped. But Ryan was not impressed.
"Was the mic trick the thing I've never seen before" Ryan said.
This was it, this was Blake's chance to impress Ryan. Blake knew he wasn't the strongest singer in the competition but he was determined to show Ryan another side of him. The side of him that Michael found hidden away under a pillow. His poetic side.
When Michael heard Blake say he was going to read a poem his mind immediately recited the poem he found. But then Blake started to read his poem. It wasn't the same, it was a different one.
"I am the guy who will persist in his path,
I am the guy who will make you laugh.
I am the guy who strives to be open,
I am the guy who's been heartbroken.
I am the guy who's been on his own,
I am the guy who's felt alone.
I am the guy who holds your hand,
I am the guy who will stand up and be a man.
I am the guy who tries to make things better,
I am the guy who's the whitest half-Cuban, ever.
I am the guy who's lost more than he's won,
I am the guy who's turned, but never spun.
I am the guy you couldn't see,
I am that guy, and that guy's me. "
—Blake Jenner
When Blake finished reading almost everyone was in tears. It was a side of Blake no one had seen before. With the exception of Michael, it was the side Michael told Blake to show Ryan. This time Ryan was impressed.
Ryan dismissed Blake and as Blake left he pointed at Michael and Michael pointed back, smiled and clapped as Blake disappeared backstage.
Aylin walked on stage to sing her song. Blake was backstage feeling really nervous. Even more than before. He couldn't help but wonder if he did enough to win.
When Aylin finished her song Ali, Aylin and Blake were put in a room together to wait for Ryan to make a decision. Blake wished Michael was with him, he knew that Michael would know the right thing to say to make him feel better.
A few minutes later Ali, Aylin and Blake were standing on stage waiting for Ryan to make his decision. Blake could see Ryan's lips moving but he could not hear what he was saying. Blake was too busy listening to his heart beating, he could hear one other heart beating along with his. Michael's heart was beating as fast and as loud as Blake's. At that moment Blake knew that if Michael's heart ever stopped beating, his heart would too. Their hearts were connected by a thin string that would forever tie them together.
Blake tried to focus of Ryan's voice. He managed to focus just in time to hear Ryan say,
"The winner of The Glee Project season 2, who will receive seven episodes guaranteed on glee, a recording contract, the ability to tour is... Blake."
Blake and Michael both jumped into the air. Blake could not believe it. He won, he really won. It was the greatest feelings in the world. Michael ran up on stage placed his hands on Blake's arms, shook him and screamed
"I Knew!"
Then Michael hugged Blake. It is here on stage, in Michael's arms, that the greatest feeling in the world got a little bit greater. Time seemed to stop. They once again felt infinite, like they were on top of the world, they were one being. They felt like nothing could pull them apart, nothing at all.
Everyone was still celebrating when Robert asked for everyone's attention.
"Tonight you will all get the chance to celebrate the end of a great season here on The Glee Project. Tomorrow you will all go back home, I've got your plane tickets right here." Robert's voice cut through the air in Blake and Michael's direction, cutting the string that tied both their hearts together.
Blake has been in L.A. for over a year now. Michael had just moved here for the show and now that the show was over he would have to go back home. Blake and Michael went numb, they had just found each other and now they were about to be separated. This time it wouldn't be for just one night and they wouldn't be just a short car ride away.
People were still congratulating Blake on his victory, but the happiness he felt a few seconds ago was now gone. Michael is leaving tomorrow, Blake said to himself. But those words would not register in Blake's head. Michael is leaving, Blake told himself again. These three words almost brought him to tears. Blake tried to be strong. Blake looked at Michael and could tell that he too was trying his best to stay strong.
The night went on. All the contenders went back to The Glee Project house to spend their last night there. It was finally over, the sweat and tears this competition pulled out of them has brought them all closer. Some were closer than others, but they were all close friends now. They shared and fought for the same dream. Now all they had was this moment to say goodbye. They stayed up all night packing, talking, laughing, remembering the good times, and the bad times.
Hours turned to minutes, and minutes turned to seconds. Time seemed to go by faster. Blake was packing his suitcase. Michael and Nellie were already packed since they had just returned for the finale. They both helped Blake pack, Nellie found Blake's wallet and tossed it to him. Blake caught it and put it in his pocket. Michael looked under the bed to see if any of Blake's things were hiding there. It was there that he found something, something Michael knew would soothe Blake's aching heart. Michael reached under the bed to get it, got up off the floor and tossed it to Blake. Blake caught it, it was the Icy Hot. The Icy Hot that started it all. Blake looked at Michael and smiled, then he placed the Icy Hot in his suitcase and finished packing.
It was now morning. They had one last breakfast together. Then the last goodbyes started. Everyone had a different flight. Michael and Nellie's was at the same time so they decided to share a cab together to the airport. Blake was planning on going with them to the airport to say goodbye there. Everyone hugged and said goodbye to Michael and Nellie. Blake, Michael and Nellie walked out to the car, as the three of them were walking out Robert was coming in.
"Blake, Ryan would like to have a word with you" Robert said as he hugged Michael and Nellie goodbye.
"Right now?" Blake asked.
"Yes, you can say goodbye to Michael and Nellie and then wait for me in the car over there." Robert pointed to a car right behind the taxi that was to take Michael away from him.
"I have to go say goodbye to everyone else, when you're ready grab your things and wait for me in the car." Robert added and then walked inside.
Blake, Michael and Nellie walked up to the taxi, they put their suitcases in the back and then Nellie hugged Blake goodbye.
"Goodbye" Nellie said in a quite whisper.
"Goodbye" Blake said back as he held Nellie a little tighter.
When they ended their hug Nellie turned towards the taxi, opened the car door and quickly got in. But not before a few tears ran down her face.
Now Blake and Michael were standing facing each other. Michael smiled at Blake.
"Bye for now." Michael said.
Blake couldn't help but smile back.
"Bye for now" Blake said back and he reached out to hug Michael.
At that moment the severed string that tied Blake and Michael's hearts together, tied itself back together at the very spot it was cut. Their hearts were beating as one again, but that made it even harder to say goodbye. They pulled apart, Michael walked up to the taxi and entered through the same door Nellie did. The taxi then took off. Blake just stood there, using all of his strength to stop himself from running after Michael.