AN: Sorry for such a late update! I'm going to have to say updates will no longer be everyday at all anymore. I have started another fanfic that requires much more than this one does, which I am juggling with this one, and work. Next week, I return to the land of high school, so that will be taking up my time as well. So I will do my best to have at LEAST one chapter per week until this story is complete! Enjoy chapter twelve!

Chapter Twelve: It's Time

Blaine's Perspective

My first school day at Dalton was, as I suspected, extremely difficult. Everything was faster paced, the work to be done was much higher quality, and I couldn't believe that the stress levels of the students wasn't at breaking point every moment of the day. Kurt did tell me there was a lot of new things to experience, as well as effort put into every waking day. But I didn't let myself fuss about all of that. Not only for my health's sake, but because I seriously needed to choose a song for my Warblers' audition.

I quickly stole a glance at the clock in my last period class, while the Advanced Algebra teacher wrote our homework assignment on the white board in front of him. Oh God. I had precisely 35 minutes to figure out what I was going to sing, and to practice. I somehow prevented myself from slamming my head on the table violently, as I was still in class, and scribbled down the homework assignment into my planner. My mind was far from focusing on spending these last five minutes working on the homework, I was fried. As slowly as I could, I flipped to the page the math problems were on, and that seemed to do the trick. I was thirty pages away from the correct page when the dismissal bell rang, granting a series of sighs of relief to erupt from my fellow classmates, including myself.

Everyone hurriedly collected their belongings and raced out of the math room as a herd. I took my time, avoiding the chance of being trampled and giving myself more time to think. "Mr. Anderson?" my teacher asked me.

I looked up sheepishly, meeting his eyes. "Yes, sir?" I politely called back in return.

He waved his hand dismissively. "Oh please, class is over, call me Collin." He began with a friendly smile, "I noticed how distracted you were today, need help with something?"

I chuckled and shook my head sadly. "I agreed to have my Warblers' audition in 30 minutes from now, and I don't even have a song picked out." I told him simply, sighing at my own stupidity.

"I'm not just a math teacher, Blaine, I'm a person. I can't decide for you, because that isn't right, but I can help you narrow ideas down." He suggested with a shrug.

My eyes brightened instantly and I smiled. "That would be awesome, sir. I mean, Collin." I muttered excitedly.

Collin laughed happily then asked me seriously, "Tell me how you're feeling right now."

I groaned and said, "I'm feeling like it's time to figure out a song."

My math teacher processed my statement before letting a smile stretch across his face. "I think you found your song. Think about what you just said."

I gazed at him questioningly, then pondered what I had just said. I'm feeling like it's time to figure out a song… What does he mean? Wait… it's time to… oh! I bolted out of my seat, a wide smile on my face and instantly hugged Collin. "Thank you so so so much!" I spoke quickly then ran out of the room to go practice.

I swung open the door of my shared dorm and Kurt looked almost startled as tossed my stuff onto my bed and grabbed my guitar. He then put down the book he was reading and gazed at me with a light and caring smile tickling his lips. "Figured out a song?" he asked in clarification.

"Yes!" I nearly squealed as I unlocked the case, and pulled out my precious electric-acoustic guitar, snatching a pink pick along with it. Kurt stood up and started to leave the room. I gave him a questioning gaze and he returned it with a smile. "I want to be just as surprised and marveled by you as the rest of the guys. See you down there in fifteen minutes." He finalized, briskly walking out of the dorm and closing the door behind him.

I shook my head with a smile stuck on my lips. That boy is going to be the death of me, I swear. Avoiding any chance of letting my brain gush over Kurt any longer, I strummed the tune of a common radio song and practiced three times. After I finished practicing, I decided to put my guitar back in its case, reluctantly. They were acapella group, so it didn't seem smart to drag instruments in for an audition.

Taking a deep breath, I walked down to the main floor, heading to the room Kurt sang "Teenage Dream" right at me. I shivered at the memory of his captivating voice and quickly found myself in front of the large wooden doors. Who knew doors could be so scary? I bit my lip and pushed open one of the doors slightly, and I was greeted by around fifteen smiling boys. I took one final deep breath as Kurt directed me to the center of the room, whispering, "Show them how amazing you are." Into my ear and retreating to one of the expensive couches. With my heart lifted from Kurt's sweet words, I sang.

"So this is what you meant,
When you said that you were spent?
And now it's time to build from the bottom of the pit, right to the top!
Don't look back!
Packing my bags and giving the Academy a rain check."

A few of the boys recognized the song right away, clapping their hands to the rhythm of the song. Kurt joined in, improvising with the others and soon the whole lot of Warblers were there supporting me as I sang. I looked at Kurt as I sang, because he's the only one that got through to me. He was basically my knight in shining armor, whisking me away to this castle of understanding and acceptance.

"I don't ever want to let you down!
I don't ever want to leave this town!
Cause after all,
This city never sleeps at night!"

Kurt smirked at the line stating that I didn't ever want to leave this town, knowing quite well we both wanted to venture off to New York in three years. But right now, it didn't matter the words weren't exactly true to me. They spoke of starting something new, and that's what I was here for.

"It's time to begin, isn't it?
I get a little bit, bigger but then, I'll admit,
I'm just the same as I was!
Now don't you understand?
That I'm never changing who I am!

So this is where you fell,
And I am left to sell.
The path to heaven runs through miles of clouded hell, right to the top!
Don't look back!
Turning to rags and giving the commodities a rain check!"

Everyone seemed to be smiling and having a good time, and I felt comfortable and free. I was no longer the gay boy in the background, I was the appreciated performer right now. And it was all thanks to the porcelain-skinned boy in front of me. I would never be able to repay him for everything he's given me.

"I don't ever want to let you down!
I don't ever want to leave this town!
Cause after all,
This city never sleeps at night!

It's time to begin, isn't it?
I get a little bit, bigger but then, I'll admit,
I'm just the same as I was!
Now don't you understand?
That I'm never changing who I am!"

I gestured for the Warblers to join me at the chorus repeat and they did, happily and flawlessly in harmony.

"It's time to begin, isn't it?
I get a little bit, bigger but then, I'll admit,
I'm just the same as I was!
Now don't you understand?
That I'm never changing who I am!"

The boys returned to their clapping for the rhythm and humming background vocals as I sang the hook and first chorus.

"This road never looked so lonely!
This house doesn't burn down slowly!
To ashes…
To ashes!"

"It's time to begin, isn't it?
I get a little bit, bigger but then, I'll admit,
I'm just the same as I was!
Now don't you understand?
That I'm never changing who I am!"

Smiling I raced over to Kurt, snatching one of his hands and he tugged someone else up with him. Quickly, everyone was on their feet singing the final chorus with me. This is was being part of a team felt like.

"It's time to begin, isn't it?
I get a little bit, bigger but then, I'll admit,
I'm just the same as I was!
Now don't you understand?
That I'm never changing who I am!"

For the hell of it, I added my own closing line.

"Oh! I'm never changing who I am!"

At that moment, I felt cared for and noticed. To prove my point, the Warblers all burst into a round of applause. The Counsel was on their feet, smiling approvingly at me and I received a few whistles as well. Wes banged his gavel rapidly to still the excitement and he quickly was given the Warblers' undivided attention. "All those in favor of Blaine becoming a fellow Warbler, raise your hand!" he announced.

Within seconds, everyone raised their hand. Kurt held up both of his. Smirking, Wes, David, and the third Counsel member nodded at each other. "Welcome to the Warblers, Blaine." Wes spoke with a smile.