Kurt was absolutely exhausted. Cheerio practice that day was extra hard because they had to do extra lifts and Kurt simply didn't have the arm strength for three straight hours of lifting girls above his head. As Kurt dug in his jacket pocket for his keys his hand reached his phone. He pulled it out to see a new text message lighting his screen.
FROM BLAINE: Got your note. Tomorrow at my place around 6? We can get started on the project.
Kurt sighed. Yes, it would be another long day tomorrow, but he had to get working on this project.
TO BLAINE: That's fine. Send me directions to your house.
Kurt arrived home and tried to read as much of the book as he could. His eyelids were so heavy. He walked to the bathroom to start his daily moisturizing routine when he heard Rachel's shrill voice coming from the living room.
"But Finn, can't you just tell him to be nicer to Blaine? He is scared Kurt will try to pull something while they are working together."
"Rach, I keep the two worlds separate. You know that. Blaine's a good dude, but let's just see what happens."
Kurt finished walking to the bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror. Of course Blaine would think he was going to pull something. Kurt was going to have to fix this. Now.
The next morning Kurt was trying to decide the route to take for his post-Cheerio practice attire. He would be wearing this to Blaine's house and very few people had seen Kurt in anything but his Cheerio uniform in two years. The thought of going to Blaine's after practice sent butterflies to Kurt's stomach, but he just passed it off as the fact the poor Blaine was expecting a rude version Kurt to show up. Kurt thought about this for a minute. Maybe he could let Blaine see who he truly was.
Kurt just shook his head, packed his bag and headed upstairs for breakfast.
Blaine walked into his house around 5:45 that evening. He had stayed out late getting coffee with Tina and Mercedes to celebrate Blaine's solo in Glee. The day had also passed without a slushie, much to Blaine's surprise. He had expected one today as a reminder that he and Kurt were NOT friends. Blaine laughed to himself, as if he could forget.
At 6 right on the doorbell rang. Blaine bounded down the stairs and took a deep breath before opening the door. Once he had the door open though, he lost that last breath. Kurt was standing in front of him in skinny jeans and a grey cardigan with a white button-up poking out. Kurt's smile faltered and Blaine noticed. But Blaine couldn't stop staring, nor could he bring himself to speak. He adjusted his glasses and stepped back to allow Kurt to enter.
"Hello, Blaine. I'm Kurt." Kurt held out his hand. "I know we met by note, but I wanted to properly introduce myself as well."
"Uh, hi, Kurt. Come in." Blaine shook Kurt's hand and blushed ever so slightly.
They walked to Blaine's room where Blaine had already set out his book and question sheet.
"So, I, uh, guess our first assignment is this 'Getting to Know You' sheet we need to answer. I already filled mine out about me and you can fill yours out and give it to me whenever. I just figured we could save the time and energy then." Blaine was looking at the ground as he said this. He quickly held out the paper to Kurt.
"Oh, I figured we would do that together and actually try to get to know each other."
Blaine looked at Kurt expecting to see laughter in the other boy's eyes. But all he saw was a blue ocean of sincerity.
"Okay." Blaine said reluctantly.
The duo spent the next hour getting through the sheet and finding, to both of their surprise, that they actually had some things in common. It was a very awkward hour, even with the commonalities. As soon as they were done they split up the chapter questions.
Kurt watched as Blaine stood and adjusted his glasses. Kurt saw in Blaine's hazel eyes that Blaine was in deep thought. Blaine began stacking his books on his desk. Kurt began to pack his bag with his book and notebook. Blaine finally turned to face Kurt, but his eyes were still on the ground.
"I'm really sorry Mrs. Collins assigned us as partners. I know I'm not the ideal partner. But, please don't worry; I'll stay away at school so no one has to know besides our class that we are working together."
Kurt felt his heart split. He didn't know why Blaine's apology hurt so badly. He knew he should say something, but couldn't form any words. Kurt just sat there looking at Blaine. After a few minutes, Blaine finally looked up to meet Kurt's eyes. Kurt opened his mouth to say something, but almost immediately closed it. He thought for a moment longer.
"Blaine, why don't we meet up again on Thursday to continue working on this. It will give us time to read and gather some thoughts. Let's say, 6 like we met today?"
Blaine's brows knitted together, but he nodded his head. Kurt tore out a piece of notebook paper and wrote directions to his house. Blaine walked Kurt to the front door and Kurt had to resist hugging the boy next to him. He chose to just smile and walk to his car.
The next day, Kurt walked into school with a large smile on his face. English was first today. Quinn stopped him in his tracks and put a cold cup in his hand. Kurt looked down at the slushie. His mind immediately went to Blaine. Sweet Blaine, who was about to get a slushie to the face. As they walked down the hallway, Kurt's mind raced faster trying to think how to stop this. But all too soon they were standing in front of Blaine. The boys locked eyes. Kurt could see the fear and sadness mixed with realization in Blaine's beautiful hazel eyes as the first slushie, Kurt's slushie, hit.
On Thursday evening, Kurt sat in his living room half-watching football with Burt waiting for the doorbell to ring. Burt sensed Kurt's unease but didn't say anything. At 11pm Kurt finally gave up with a heavy sigh and went to his room. Blaine didn't show up. Kurt knew he didn't care about the project so much as he actually missed Blaine's company. Kurt hated that he felt this way, but hated Blaine more for not showing up.
On Friday morning, Blaine was putting his books in his locker, waiting for the slushie parade to come by. It was Friday after all. Then he saw the flash of red, he braced himself for the cold smack, but it never came. His locker slammed shut and he opened his eyes to a very angry looking Kurt. Blaine adjusted his glasses and the strap of his bag on his shoulder.
"Where were you last night? We had a project to work on." Kurt demanded.
"Um, I'm sorry but, um, I don't really have a good excuse. I just kind of, um, didn't feel comfortable coming to your place. A-a-after Wednesday I mean."
Blaine watched as Kurt's eyes came to realization. Kurt then narrowed his eyes.
"Well, come over tomorrow so we can work on the damn project. Let's do afternoon. 2pm my place."
"Well, I, uh, actually thought of another idea. I could do the work. You can put your name on it. I really don't care." Blaine swallowed and looked at the ground.
"That's not how a partner project works, Blaine. Come over tomorrow."
Blaine looked up to see Kurt making his way through the crowded hallway. Blaine stayed rooted to the spot, his mind confused as to what to do.
On Saturday afternoon Finn opened the door to Kurt's house. His face got even more confused than usual.
"Dude, Blaine, I think you have the wrong house. Tina lives the next street over man." Finn began to shut the door when Blaine spoke up.
"Actually Finn, I'm here for Kurt. We are working on an English project together."
"OH! Right dude, my bad. Come on in. Kurt's room is downstairs."
Blaine nodded and adjusted his glasses as he made his way down the steps.
Kurt was in the middle of a yoga routine when he heard footsteps on the stairs. His head popped up quickly to see Blaine's shoes descending the stairs. Kurt quickly turned off the music and rolled up his yoga mat.
"Well, hello Blaine. Good of you to make it." Kurt smiled at Blaine.
Blaine politely half-smiled back.
"Hi Kurt."
They spent the next couple hours working diligently through the questions for the first two chapters. As they were working, Kurt slowly realized he had become hyper-sensitive to Blaine's every move. From something as simple as adjusting his glasses, to the way Blaine carefully held out papers for Kurt to look over and slightly smiling politely when Kurt handed him a paper he was finished with. Mostly he noticed how nervous Blaine was.
"Blaine, can I ask you something?"
Blaine looked up startled. But he adjusted his glasses and nodded. This time he kept Kurt's eye contact. This surprised Kurt.
"Well, you just seem a little nervous and all we are doing is working on a project. I'm not trying to pry, but what's wrong?"
Blaine visibly shrunk in the spot. This made Kurt feel bad for even trying to make Blaine comfortable because it obviously made the feeling worse.
"Well, uh, last time we worked together it went sort of well."
Kurt waited for more, but nothing came.
"Yes it did. What's wrong now? I would have thought we would be more comfortable now that our first encounter was over with? I know we don't usually spend time together but, I don't know, I thought we got along alright."
Blaine shifted in his seat and looked at his knees.
"Well, I guess I sort of hoped that maybe us working together would, uh, stop the slushies. I told you yesterday that's why I didn't show up on Thursday, I figured you'd know I don't feel comfortable around you. I promise I'll stay out of your way at school. I mean, I understand if you don't want to stop attacking me. I just sometimes feel like a human target. Is it even possible, or am I holding false hope?"
Blaine looked up to meet Kurt's eyes. Kurt was silent a second too long and Blaine nodded as he grabbed his things to leave.
Monday morning Kurt was exhausted. He hadn't slept very well after his discussion with Blaine. He felt rotten, yes he knew what he did wasn't nice and he should stop, but he never thought he would hear it straight from Blaine.
Kurt walked into school and was immediately stopped by Quinn who handed him his slushie. Kurt sighed and knew this was his opportunity to do something right. He took his cup and threw it into the garbage can. Quinn looked at him with raised eyebrows.
"Quinn, Blaine is my partner for the English project. We need to hold off on the slushie ritual. I need him to be on my side so I can get a decent grade on the project."
Quinn looked at Kurt in disbelief.
"Fine. You don't have to participate." She turned to Santana and Brittany "Let's go ladies."
Kurt watched as the three made their way down the hall, realization hitting him. They were going to do it without him. He raced through the hall and luckily made it to Blaine before the girls did.
"Blaine, walk away."
Blaine looked at him with wide eyes.
"What?"
Kurt sighed heavily.
"The girls didn't listen to me, they are coming; now, you need to walk away or get a slushie to the face."
Blaine just blinked at Kurt and looked over Kurt's shoulder. Kurt began to get frustrated. Blaine had told him to stop the slushies and yet he wasn't moving. Blaine was still staring over Kurt's shoulder. Kurt heard a scream; he turned to see the girls slushie Jacob Ben Israel. Quinn walked to Kurt.
"Hope you're happy Kurt." Quinn turned to Blaine "Enjoy your break, dweeb."
Quinn grabs Kurt's arm and the two walked down the hall. Kurt looked back to see Blaine staring at the ground adjusting his glasses. Kurt smiled.
A/N: I wanted to do one more chapter tonight so everyone can get a decent feel for my writing and give me some good feedback. I will mostly be posting on weekends as my weeks are quite hectic. Who knows what the future brings though. :) I don't own Glee or it's characters. PLEASE REVIEW! (YES GOOD AND BAD). Thank you to those who wrote a review to the last chapter! You are too kind! xoxo
