It was the last day before the holiday break at McKinley High. Everybody seemed to be in a good mood; even Sue Sylvester had a smile on her face.
When the bell signaling the end of the day rang, Blaine Anderson hurried out into the crowded hallways, searching the faces for one he knew and loved. It wasn't long before he spotted the familiar chestnut brown hair facing away from him. He quickly closed the space between himself and his boyfriend, and gently grabbed the other boy's shoulders.
"Boo!" he yelled playfully in Kurt's ear before turning him around in his arms, keeping one of his own behind his back.
"Blaine!" Kurt gasped. "You almost gave me a heart attack!"
"'Almost' being the operative word," he responded with a smirk.
"Seriously!" Kurt squealed, lightly hitting his boyfriend on the arm. "I could have died!"
"I guess it's a good thing you didn't," Blaine quipped, "because then I wouldn't be able to give you this." With that, he finally pulled a small box out that had been hiding behind his back.
"I thought we weren't exchanging gifts until Christmas Eve?"
"I know," Blaine said, "but this one just couldn't wait."
"What is it?" Kurt asked.
"Open it and find out."
Kurt tore the paper off the box very carefully, looking up to meet Blaine's eyes every few seconds. When the paper had been fully removed and forgotten on the floor, Kurt opened the box to reveal its contents.
Blaine watched as Kurt's face went from confusion to pure joy. The grin on his boyfriend's face was enough to make Blaine smile, too.
The hallway was mostly cleared by now, leaving a few stragglers hugging their friends.
"I know it's not much, but-" Blaine said, staring down at his feet, before Kurt cut him off.
"No, Blaine," Kurt said as he linked their hands together, causing Blaine to lift his eyes from the floor. "It's perfect, I love it. But..can I ask..why gum wrappers?"
"I just," Blaine said as he stared down at his feet again. "It's silly."
Kurt put his hand underneath Blaine's chin, to meet his gaze. "Tell me anyway."
"I just- I remembered the day you said my breath smelled weird, so you gave me some Spearmint gum," he said as his cheeks flushed bright red.
"Blaine, that was.. that was in May, how do you remember that?"
The hall was completely empty now, save for the two boys.
"Because it was the first day I told you I love you..."
Kurt's face lit up with understanding. "Oh my gosh," he said, "I remember."
"I do love you, Kurt," Blaine began with a bigger smile on his face than he had worn all day. "I know we said something small and I know that this is really small but there's something else just now now I thought you'd like it I thought it would be sweet and oh, god, I'm sorry, you hate it I'll just get you something else and-" but he was cut off completely by a pair of lips attaching themselves to his own for a brief moment.
"I said I love it," Kurt said after he pulled away. "I love it, and I love you."
Blaine's face lit up with joy for the second time that day.
"May I?" he said, gesturing to the box.
Kurt simply nodded his permission.
Blaine reached over and pulled the small gum wrapper ring from its box and slipped it onto Kurt's left hand. The couple stood staring at the ring for a moment before looking up to meet each other's eyes again.
"I love you in May, Kurt," Blaine whispered, holding onto his boyfriend's arm, "and I love you even more now. Tomorrow I'll love you even more, and the day after. I'll love you forever, Kurt Hummel. I just.. I love you."
At those words, Blaine leaned into Kurt and met his lips again, this time a little longer so he could convey just how much he meant every word.
When the two finally pulled away, Kurt looked down at his ring and then back up at Blaine and whispered, almost too quiet to be heard, "It's not silly."