In response to Evil Jenyus, I read somewhere that major temperature changes can expose a bruise (ect.) on skin faster. Or maybe I was reading false information (le gasp!).

Swim 'Til You Drown

"That's so silly, Kurt. I'm not going to forget about the one guy who finally told me I don't know how to dress," Blaine smiled, and he flicked a switch on the dashboard. The lights flashed on, and Blaine's smile disappeared almost instantly.

"God."

Kurt leaned over quickly and flicked the lights off. He shrunk back in his seat slightly and turned his face towards his window. He stared out into the night, while the biting silence suffocated him, and he waited for the endless stream of questions to begin.

"What happened? Did you get into a fight? Is that why you needed a ride? Why were you outside? It's like eighteen degrees out, did you not realize that?" Blaine stammered, eyes wide and childishly confused. Kurt shrugged.

"I, er, wanted to go on a walk. I slipped on a patch of ice and fell down, and next thing I know I'm wandering around like a lost puppy," Kurt laughed nervously, continuing his staring match with the snow out the window. Blaine squinted his eyes when Kurt looked back at him.

"You sure about that?" Blaine asked. Kurt nodded silently. "Fine. I'm not going to force you to tell me anything, but please, Kurt, I'm still here for you - just like last time with all that Karofsky business," he continued, sighing.

Sensing a bit of underlying irritation, Kurt subdued a flinch. As quickly as he could manage, he moved his body back until he felt his elbow hit the side of the car. Blaine looked surprised at Kurt's sudden movement.

"I'm sorry," Kurt muttered, "Just… don't be mad."

"I'm not mad," Blaine replied, taken aback slightly, "where did you get that idea?" He reached an attentive hand out to Kurt's leg. He looked up.

"Can you drop me off at my house?" he asked. Blaine looked stunned at the sudden, almost instantaneous, change of mood, but he nodded and pressed the pedal south.

He wondered if he should broach the subject more. Kurt was extremely stubborn, and wouldn't say a word if he set his mind not to. Though Blaine was tremendously nervous, scared even, at how Kurt had gotten so ragged, he didn't want to tense their situation any more. Blaine spread his lips into a line and decided to not push Kurt into sharing anything he didn't want to. Blaine tried to convince himself that Kurt really did fall and slip on the ice. It was not easy in the least.

Kurt was completely silent through the ride, and when his phone went off abruptly, shrieking an obnoxious generic jingle, Kurt jumped slightly and answered quickly without looking at the ID as Blaine pulled around a corner.

"Hello?" Kurt answered, voice hoarse. He cleared his throat, side-eyeing Blaine for a reaction he was sure to get.

"Kurt? Hey, why did you leave? Are you ok?" came Dave's voice. For once in his life, Kurt resented the deep, almost caveman like technique of speech Dave used.

"I'm fine," he replied shortly. Dave was silent on the other end for a moment.

"Are you sure? Where are you?"

The questions rattled on.

Kurt broke in, trying to get a word of his own spoken before Dave ran himself up a wall, or rather, ran him up a wall. "I'm getting a ride home from a friend," Kurt said, glancing over to Blaine. He was keeping his eyes firmly locked on the road, his lips in a thin line. Kurt felt his temple sting, yet he forced his senses back to the voice in his ear.

"Are you mad at me or something?" Dave snapped. Kurt recoiled from the harsh tone, though he became indignant, infuriated at his boyfriend's audacity.

Was Kurt mad at Dave? Kurt nodded to himself.

But then again…

It could have been just a huge accident and Kurt could be blowing it way out of proportion. After all, Dave loved Kurt, and he wouldn't purposely hurt Kurt in any way; it was just a misunderstanding. Maybe Kurt should just have let Dave kiss him; affection wasn't something to shy away from.

"No, I'm not angry with you," Kurt pressed his face closer to the phone, words spoken softly in fear of Blaine overhearing, "It was just a misunderstanding."

"Of course it was. I'll see you tomorrow, then? Before school, same time, same place?"

"Ah, yes," Kurt hesitated, eyes wandering and mind racing in hopes of some sort of guidance he knew he would not find. He took another deep breath and hung up his cell phone. He was being ridiculous; Dave was his boyfriend, not the crazy Neanderthal he used to be. That was the past, this is the now.

Blaine pulled up into Kurt's driveway and turned to face him. "You should put some ice on that eye," he said quietly, looking up at Kurt through his long lashes. His eyes seemed glazed over, as if his mind was far, far elsewhere.

Kurt attempted a smile. "Thank you so much for the ride, Blaine. I can't thank you enough, though I will try through numerous texts."

Blaine nodded, his face turning up in a genuine smile. "I'm holding you to that, Kurt Hummel. I don't want to lose touch with you again."

"I don't want to either," Kurt replied, grabbing his bag from the car floor. He waved a last time and hopped lightly out of the car, onto the cold cement of his driveway. Blaine looked at him for a second, calculating, before opening his own door and stepping down. He walked the short distance from his side of the car towards Kurt, who stood with a confused look on his face.

Blaine chuckled and pulled the other into a suffocating hug. Kurt found himself taking in Blaine's rich cologne, smiling contentedly to himself, though felt no shame until later.

The two separated. Blaine said, "If you don't mind me asking, who were you talking to on the phone?"

Kurt smiled dazedly, though it was not because of the name falling foolishly from his lips. "My boyfriend, Dave," he said. Blaine's mouth fell open a fraction and, upon noticing this, he closed it quickly; Kurt thought it to be just a figment of his imagination.

"Oh, Dave, huh? That's great, Kurt, I-uh, great…" Blaine stammered, caught so sickeningly off guard it was almost disgustingly humorous. Kurt, upon noticing his slip of tongue, nodded stiffly.

"Yes, he goes to McKinley," Kurt said, his voice small.

"Dave…wait, Dave Karofs-"

"Bye, Blaine! I'll make sure to text you more often," Kurt interrupted, all at once overwhelmed and frightened, striding away swiftly, "Thank you again for the ride!"

And at that he left Blaine standing in the middle of the Hummel-Hudson driveway with an unanswered accusation and a mixed head and heart, tangled and trail broken in less than two hours.