AN: Inspired from lyrics from "Just Like Jesse James" by Celtic Thunder.
Drawing the comb back through my hair one last time, I slick the last strands into place. It almost seems as if someone else is staring back at me, the black dye in my hair strange to see. But perhaps the feeling is fitting, after all when I walk out onto that stage tonight I'm not making an entrance as Kurt Hummel - I'm making my entrance as Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker.
This is the realization of all my dreams. This is my first performance on Broadway and it's the lead role. A straight, alpha-male role, which not long ago I thought I would never be able to get after overhearing Artie's comments after my audition for Tony. As much as hearing those comments had hurt, back then they were accurate. But I wasn't that person anymore. I had changed and grown during my time in New York. The workshop I had participated had challenged me both as an actor and a person. Getting the understudy part for this musical had been proof of that and now finally after everything I had gone through, all the heartbreaks I had suffered, I had finally gotten my break.
I looked at the three vases of flowers setting on the dressing table. The red roses were from Blaine, who had quite literally called everyone we knew to spread the news about my opening night. The white roses were from Carol and Burt, who had almost suffocated me with their hugs when Blaine and I had met their train and I had told them the real reason I had invited them to the city. The tag on the yellow roses said they were from Rachel and Finn, but quite honestly I couldn't see my step-brother having any part of sending me roses. Still, the roses were nice and I appreciated Rachel's gesture.
Those three vases represented the people who meant the most to me. The people who I knew would be on my side no matter what took place. The ones who I knew would clap for me even if I totally screwed up my lines tonight.
But that wasn't going to happen. I had taken being cast as an understudy seriously and I was ready. I was ready for my dreams to be realized.