Half an hour later the bus ride is finlly over and the New Directions check in to finish getting ready. After that they can hang out and see other people or just stay in their dressing room. Also they have time to get ready because according to Wes the Warblerswere stuck in traffic and aren't there yet.
"Blainers!" Wes greets his best friend as soon as he sees him. "Wes! Hi!" the curly haired boy greets back and runs to hug his best friend. "Where are Nick, Jeff and the others?" Blaine then asks. "You know David. He wants everything to be perfect but I was able to sneak out and I think the others will be here too in 10 minutes or so" Wes tells and then finally turns to Kurt standing next to Blaine "Hey. I'm Wes. You must be Kurt?". He shakes Kurts hand and adds with a smile "Blaine talks a lot about you". Kurt smiles when the curly haired boy blushes and answers "He talks about you a lot too". "It's nice to finally meet you Kurt. I hope you've been good to Blainers". "Of course. How could I not?!" the chestnut haired boy says and now all three laugh.
They talk a little more before the rest of the Warblers join them and greet Blaine happily. Besides his dad he had a good live in Westerville but one person was able to destroy it all. Now he has a good life in Lima too and he conciders himself lucky to have this life and his friends. Shortly before everyone has to take their seats the New Directions join the group and everyone wishes the others good luck. Vocal Adrenaline goes first, second the New Directions and last the Warblers.
Rachel is full in panic mode. Second starters are bad luck. The first ones make an impression, the last ones are the freshest in the judges minds but the ones in the middle? They can get easily forgotten. Finn tries to calm his girlfriend. They will be awesome today and they will have fun. Kurt is worried too but Blaine is by his side, his hand holding Kurts to stop it from shaking. They will have fun and enjoy their time on stage. But Blaine also knows how much the New Directions want to win this time since they didn't made it further last year.
Vocal Adrenaline sets the expectations high. Really high. Next are the New Directions with a group song, a solo from Santana and a duet by Finn and Rachel. Blaine cheers the loudest when the Warblers perform and first Kurt then the other New Direction members join him as the all boy glee club performs a duet by Nick and Jeff and two group songs. They were all very good. The judges must have a hard time deciding who wins. Everyone's nervous. Rachel and Kurt are very nervous. The girl still thinks that it's bad luck that they went on second and Kurt just really really wants to win and reach Nationals. Both Finn and Blaine stand next to the two and try to comfort them. Kurt and Rachel hold hands, Rachel squeezes Finns hand as hard as she can and Blaine stops Kurts hand from shaking, again.
After what feels like an eternity the groups are called on stage again and the four friends stand in the front row exactly like in their room, close by each other and holding hands. Blaine could swear he saw how Wes winked at him when the boy noticed Blaines hand holding Kurts but he's not sure because he can't think clearly. Kurts hand in his, feelings, nervous, winning? Kurt by his side no matter who wins.
The tension on stage is strong, someone could cut it with a knife. "On third place we have" Blaine holds his breath "The Dalton Academy Warblers". The curly haired boy claps and cheers for his friends while his hand doesn't let go of Kurts and they share a smile. The Warblers may came in third but they were good and it looked like they had fun. Like Kurt taught him it's the most important thing. "In second place are the William McKinley High New Directions and Vocal Adrenaline come in first place congratulations!" the first thing Kurt hears is Tinas "Nooo!" and then Vocal Adrenalines cheering. Mr. Schue goes to the front to take the second place trophy and the group goes back to their room. "You did well guys. Everyone did well. We still had fun and next year we get another shot" Mr Schue says and holds up the trophy "We can still be proud of this".
The bus ride home is quiet. No one says a lot and the music is more of a quiet background noise now. Everyone is in a bad mood. After last year they really want to do better and get to Nationals this year.
Back in Lima Blaine has the idea to take Kurt to Lima Bean to try ad cheer him up. The whole ride he noticed that kurt seems a little disappointed. "Kurt please do me a favor and smile again. I don't like seeing you like this and I got us coffee to cheer you up and not to sit here in silence and be down" the curly haired boy pouts at his best friend. "You know I can't say no when you look at me like that" Kurt says and smiles a little. "Puppy eyes always work on you" Blaine answers and even manages to make Kurt laugh a little. "Thanks" he then says smiling and Blaine answers "As long as you keep smiling always". They slowly finish their coffee and then realize that it got quite late and that they should go home so both are in time for dinner.
In front of Lima Beans the friends stop "Should I take you home?". "No thanks" Kurt answers but smiles "Thanks for cheering me up". "Don't mention it" the curly haired boy says and hugs his best friend. Blaine breaks the hug again but stays close to Kurt. It's like he stopped thinking. He listened to his heart that told him to cheer Kurt up. Now he listenes to his heart again and leans in to kiss Kurt. The chestnut haired boy is surprised but doesn't back down. On the opposite after a second he starts to kiss back. Their lips fit together like they were always meant to be. Like it always should've been that way. Their second kiss. Longer this time. More this time. Better. It's real and it's magical.
Until Blaines brain clicks. He's kissing Kurt. Just like that. Fast he breaks the kiss. Sure the other boy kissed back but still Blaine is afraid of Kurts reaction so the curly haired boy does the first thing that comes to his mind. He turns around and runs. Runs, runs, runs home where it's safe.
For a moment Kurt just stands there, trying to process what just happened. Blaine kissed him. Actually kissed him? His best friend, the boy he likes since so long. But he ran away. Why did he ran away? Was it that bad? Did he do something wrong? In Kurts eyes the kiss was magical. Maybe Blaine didn't feel the same? Still a little shocked and more than confused Kurt shakes his head and goes home himself. He has to talk to Finn, get distracted. He and Blaine will only see each other again on Monday in school but then he has to talk to Blaine. Desperately.
It's one of those late night talks the brothers have, sitting on the carpet in Kurts room and talking. "He kissed you? Just like that?" Finn asks and his brother laughs "I already told you twice. Do you wanna hear it a third time?"
"Pleaseee just help me. What should I do?" Kurt asks and the other boy answers "Write him a letter. Clearly you both can't just ask each other out even tho it's obvious that you like each other. Maybe you can tell him how you feel in a letter better than in person". "That's actually a really good idea. Thanks Finn" the chestnut haired boy says and Finn adds "Maybe also give him time to think tomorrow. Talk in school but let him sort his thoughts. I'm sure he has a reason for running away".
Kurt spend the night thinking what he wants to write in his letter to Blaine and after breakfast on Sunday he sits down at his desk and writes.
Dear Blaine
How do I start this letter without sounding harsch? I'm confused. Not about the kiss. Okay maybe a little about the kiss because it came out of the blue. But I'm confused because you ran away. You ran away and I didn't knew why or had a chance to react.
I hope I didn't do something wrong or so because I really liked the kiss. I liked the one on New Years Eve too.
The reason why I'm writing this letter is because I'm not brave enough to talk about it. Truth is I like you. A lot. More than a friend. A lot more than a best friend. I have since we wrote letters. You were the one who made me realize that I'm gay.
This could go well or totally wrong but I hope that you had a reason for running and not just didn't liked it.
So I'm asking you Blaine Devon Anderson do you want to go on a date with me? Okay scratch that. Since I'm getting cold feet saying it face to face I at least should be brave writing this.
Do you want to be my boyfriend?
Love Kurt
If only Kurt knows that Blaine had a talk with Wes yesterday just like Finn and Kurt did. Instead Kurt is nervous what Blaine will think when they see each other again on Monday and when he reads the letter.
Blaine talked to Wes on the phone long. "Do it like in old times. Write him a letter. Maybe it's easier for you to express your feelings and I'm sure he likes you back. I saw the look on his face when I met him today" Wes said and folloing that advice Blaine sits down the next morning to write a letter to Kurt.