If asked, Kurt will forever insist that he loathes Jesse St. James with every fiber of his being. If asked why, he will insist that it's because Jesse is: Pretentious; condescending; egotistical; ignorant to the world; consistently assholey; very bluntly, irritating.

His current frustrations have absolutely nothing to do with the fact that yes, Jesse St. James is actually talented, and he can actually be rather charming when a person is given no other option than to be in his presence. Kurt doesn't loathe him because he's a wonderful dancer, or because he knows how to correct someone's posture with such delicate, light touches that it feels more intimate than anything Kurt has ever experienced with his boyfriend. And Kurt absolutely does not care that Jesse knows just what to say, when to say it, and how it should be said to get Kurt's heart racing and his cheeks reddening.

Really, the only feelings of note that Kurt has for Jesse are ones of disgust and distrust. His heart doesn't swell when those eyes, so dark and smoldering, stare back into his like they're searching for something that only Kurt can provide. His breath doesn't hitch when Jesse moves closeclosecloser and there's suddenly a hand on his cheek, not forcing him to look at Jesse, but just suggesting that it would be perfectly appropriate for him to do so. His lips don't tremble when Jesse's so near and is looking so willing and is so imperfect but in the easiest to forgive of ways.

They don't. Because Kurt loathes Jesse St. James with every fiber of his being, and not just because he was just inches away and reminded Kurt of the one person he would be so happy to have forgotten; not just because Jesse intoned in the quiet, hateful, sexy way that he's mastered, "Your boyfriend – what's his name, Blaine? He's a lucky guy."

It's because he's pretentious, and condescending, and egotistical, and all of the above.

That's his explanation to Tina and Finn for why Jesse St. James totally Jesse St. Sucks, at least.

xoxox

AN: St. Hummel for LJ's rtcrescent.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.