"Sectionals, here we come!"

The bus full of teenagers burst into cheers and applause. This year, everything had gone smoothly. There were no drama or rumors or leaked set lists (the Cheerios were back on top of the cheerleading food pyramid, and they doubted Sue would want to ruin that). It was a welcome change.

Rachel shot up from her front row seat. "Okay, everyone, we need to warm up. Repeat after me..." And she led the group in a series of vocal exercises. The New Directions happily complied; they were in a confident, happy mood this morning. They were going to win this.

A couple rows back, Blaine nervously wriggled in his seat. Kurt comfortingly put his hand over Blaine's. "Don't be nervous. You'll be great."

Normally, Blaine wasn't nervous for competition solos. He'd had almost every one in the Warblers, and after a while it's almost like the crowd disappears and he's just dancing like an idiot in his bedroom. But this time he was singing with the New Directions, against the Warblers. He knew the Warblers were his friends and understood why he transferred, but they're still like his family, and he knew the chances of the two show choirs being tied again was extremely unlikely.

He still kept in touch with a lot of the Warblers, but they made a promise not to talk to each other about their glee clubs. They didn't want the fact that they were competitors to get in then way of their friendships. He wondered who'll be singing the solos today.

Blaine rested his head on Kurt's shoulder, letting the rise and fall of his boyfriend's shoulders calm him down. Kurt's hand still on his. They stayed that way, barely speaking, for the rest of the ride.

"And now, from Lima, Ohio, McKinley High's New Directions!" The announcer's voice blared from the speakers. Blaine looked over to Rachel, who nodded to him.

The New Directions were the second group to perform. The first group was a show choir from Richland who had nothing on what the McKinley group had planned. They were mediocre.

After the New Directions would be the Warblers. Blaine hadn't talked to them yet, but he hoped to catch them after their performance. He couldn't wait to see his friends again.

Rachel pushed the curtains aside and stepped into the auditorium full of people, a bright spotlight shining down on her.

I let it fall, my heart

and as it fell, you rose to claim it.

It was dark, and I was over,

until you kissed my lips and you saved me.

She turned her head to the next aisle, where Blaine appeared and another spotlight shined down.

My hands, they were strong

but my knees were far too weak

to stand in your arms

without falling to your feet

Rachel's voice filled the air again as she sang the song's bridge. She and Blaine slowly walked down the aisle, never losing eye contact.

But there's a side to you that I never knew, never knew

all the things you'd say, they were never true, never true

and the games you'd play, you would always win, always win...

Their voices finally came together for the chorus as they climbed the steps to the stage.

But I set fire to the rain,

watched it pour as I touched your face.

Let it burn while I cried

'Cause I heard it screaming out your name, your name.

Now standing in the middle of the stage, they turned to face the crowd.

I set fire to the rain

and I threw us into the flames

Where I felt something die, 'cause I knew that that was the last time, the last time, oh...

Rachel and Blaine belted out the last note of the chorus, drawing it out until they were out of breath. It resulted in a standing ovation from the audience. As the end of the song neared, the red curtain behind them rose to reveal the rest of the glee club.

Oh, no

Let it burn, let it burn...

By the time the song ended, both Blaine and Rachel were breathless. They turned to look at each other, and Rachel grinned as she hugged her duet partner. They both bowed before turning to join the others for the second number. Blaine saw Kurt wink at him as he walked up the steps to the back part of the stage.

Blaine spent the majority of the next song singing and dancing with his boyfriend, twirling him and making him laugh and smile throughout the entire number.

Blaine loved that smile, that smile he had just for him. He loved the way his teeth almost never showed and how his eyes crinkled. He loved everything about him. And the fact that Blaine is the reason he smiles like that makes him even happier.

After the New Directions, the Warblers did a fantastic cover of Bruno Mars's"Just the Way You Are," followed by "Dynamite" by Taio Cruz. It was clear that the winner of the competition would come down to them and the New Directions. Like they (hopefully) were, the Warblers' number was fun and energetic. It made you want to jump out of your seat and dance.

Blaine had stayed backstage when the rest of his glee club went back to their seats, watching the Warblers from the sidelines. He really did miss performing with them. Their "style" was completely different from the New Directions', with the way they moved and danced and sang.

"Great job out there," Blaine said backstage after their performance, coming up behind the group. They turned around and grinned upon seeing who the praise came from.

"Blaine!" They crowded around him, clapping him on the back and shoulders.

"Thanks, buddy." David pushed through the crowd of Warblers and finally stepped in front of Blaine. "You were good, too." He wrapped the group's former lead soloist in a quick hug. "We sure do miss you at Dalton."

The other Warblers agreed, nodding their heads. "I miss you guys, too," Blaine told them. "But McKinley is great. It really is."

"As long as you're happy." The Warblers gave him a big group hug. From a few feet away, Mr. Jackson, the musical director at Dalton, called them over. They pulled apart, calling out disappointed "awww"'s. When Mr. Jackson saw him, he nodded towards Blaine, who waved back.

"We'll have to see a movie or something together sometime. See you later, Blaine." David said to him as he walked away.

With a big smile on his face, Blaine watched his former glee club walk away.

The three glee clubs now stood on stage, waiting to hear the results.

When the head judge announced that neither the Warblers nor the New Directions were in third place, there was a simultaneous, audible exhale from the two groups. Blaine held Kurt's hand and used the other to wave at the Warblers next to him.

"And the winner of the 2011 Sectionals competition is..."

Everyone held their breath.

"The New Directions!"

McKinley's glee club burst into cheers. The Warblers looked disappointed but happy for the other team. Blaine hugged Kurt and Rachel before turning to the Warblers, who he simply shook hands with. "You guys were great. You really were."

Wes looked at him. "No, no, you guys deserve it! Congratulations, Blaine." Blaine smiled at them and turned back to the New Directions to celebrate.

When they returned to Lima, Mr. Schue treated the group with ice cream. Before anyone dug in to their cones and sundaes, Sam called for a toast. "For our win at sectionals, and – even though it's not for a while – here's to hoping that we win nationals this year. And that we make our last year here at McKinley worthwhile."

The students cheered and knocked their cones and dishes together. Kurt kissed Blaine on the cheek. Blaine put an arm around his waist and pulled him closer in response. After everyone was settled in a seat (they had to push the parlor's tables together so they could all sit together), they chatted about their performance. Compliments were repeatedly sent to Rachel and Blaine for their duet. Blaine accepted them humbly while Rachel beamed in reply.

"You guys were amazing. You killed that last note."

"We so have to do Adele again for regionals."

"If we are, that solo is mine."

"You really were great, though," Kurt told Blaine as he scooped up another bite of his sundae. "Watching you up there...it made me feel so proud to be with you. You absolutely killed it."

"I love you so much." Blaine took hold of Kurt's cold hand. Their fingers entwined, Kurt sighed contentedly. Right here, with their friends in the glee club, was the one public place they could hold hands and kiss without fear of being judged or bullied. They knew the rest of the club had their backs. Inside or outside the choir room, with the New Directions was the one place, besides maybe Kurt's house, where they could be one hundred percent themselves.

So Kurt squeezed Blaine's hand and said, "I love you, too."