13:57
A/N: Actually. . .I have nothing to say. Sorry
Walking into school the next day was the hardest thing Kurt had ever done. Sure, he had Rachel on one side, and Mercedes on the other, but even so. . .he walked to his locker with his head down. He couldn't glance to his left, where he was sure that he would see Blaine pulling out his books for the day. He couldn't glance to the right, where Finn would undoubtedly be stuffing his jacket into the too-small locker. He just opened his own locker, shuddering a little as he saw all of the photos of Blaine that he'd taped to the side. He supposed that he should take them down.
Tina walked up and took his hand as they walked to Biology. Mercedes must have told her. . .Kurt glanced up at his best friend and mouthed "thank you" before following the Asian girl to Bio.
He didn't glance to where he knew Blaine would be sitting with Mike.
He didn't go to lunch. He went to the choir room, instead, to the one place in the school where he knew he would feel safe and protected. He sat down behind the piano, and took out another flavorless salad.
"Hi."
He wasn't surprised that Rachel was there, too. Her eyes were red, as was the tip of her nose.
"We messed up," she said softly.
"Yeah," Kurt agreed. "We messed up."
"Are you sure they aren't. . .are you sure they aren't just doing to us what we did to them?" Rachel asked, desperately.
"I don't know. . ." Kurt sighed. "I mean. . .it's hard to imagine Finn ever liking guys. But you didn't see them, Rachel. It looked. . .it looked real."
Rachel sighed and nodded. "We could. . .maybe we could sing to them?"
Kurt just shrugged. He wanted to tell her that singing wouldn't fix things. He wanted to tell her that they should just give up, back off, let their boyfriends go off and be happy together. After all, didn't they deserve that? But he knew that there was no stopping Rachel once she got started, and to be honest, he didn't even want to.
Singing had always helped him before, hadn't it?
Finn and Blaine were sitting together in Glee when Kurt arrived. They were clearly uncomfortable, as all of the girls kept glancing at them suspiciously. The minute Kurt walked in, Blaine leaned over and whispered something in Finn's ear. Kurt noticed the way that Blaine placed his hand on the other boy's thigh, the way that Finn didn't jerk away from it. He stared at the floor.
"So, who's up today?" Mr. Schuester asked, clapping his hands together.
"We are," Rachel said.
"Um. . .Rachel. . .didn't you two already go this week?"
"Irrelevant," Rachel said. "As many of you know, there has been quite a bit of drama going on this week, between Finn, Blaine, Kurt and I. . ."
"Really?" Quinn seemed genuinely confused. "I've been so busy campaigning for Homecoming Queen that I hadn't even noticed."
"Yes, really," Rachel said. "And. . .it's Kurt and my fault. And we know that. And we're so sorry. Finn. . .I was wrong. I was so, so wrong, and I never should have broken up with you. I'm sorry."
Finn coughed uncomfortably, and glanced at the floor. Rachel turned to Kurt. When he didn't say anything, she elbowed him in the side.
"Blaine. . ." he whispered, but he couldn't finish the sentence, because he caught on a sob. He saw his ex jerk forward at the hidden tears. "Please just. . .just listen to the song," he begged.
"Noah?"
At Rachel's prompting the other boy walked forward and picked up his guitar, strumming a little bit before Rachel started singing.
"In the party, love
Some band's playing halleljah
Hallelujah
In the corner, love
All night girls drink wine and try to sing along
I made a mess of things
The stops and in betweens
They weigh me down
You got someone new singing your songs."
Kurt joined in on the chorus, staring straight at Blaine the whole time. His eyes met hazel ones, that were so open, and caring. . .he couldn't help the tears that started trickling down his face as he stared at Blaine.
"Sooner surrender
Then watch the last wall collapse
And sooner surrender
And our love will count for everything"
Rachel stepped back, letting Kurt sing the next verse alone. He walked forward, until he was standing just in front of Blaine. He started to reach out his hand to take the other boys, but then he noticed how close Blaine and Finn were sitting, and he dropped it back awkwardly to the bottom. He was saying good-bye, he reminded himself fiercely. He was going the right thing.
"In my sweetest dreams
It's just you and me
And we break wide
I waked reminded, love
How I just gave up
And how you move on, how you moved on"
Rachel joined him for the chorus, her voice more broken and rough than Kurt had ever heard it. He tore his eyes away from Blaine for just one moment, to squeeze her hand. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Tina turn her tear-streaked face into Mike's shoulder. He was Lauren remove her glasses, rubbing at her eyes furiously. Artie and Santana were tightly grasping Brittany's hands. Even Mr. Schuester looked upset, sitting on his stool. Kurt turned a deep breath and turned back to Blaine.
"I'm sorry that you've gone
So sorry that you've gone
I'm sorry that you've gone
Love
I'm sorry that you've gone
So sorry that you've gone
So sorry that you've gone away
You're a little bit right
More than a little bit right. . .
Sooner surrender
Then watch the last wall collapse I know
Sooner surrender and our love will count for everything
Our love will count for everything
And I miss when you were everything"
Rachel collapsed into herself, sobbing. Mechanically, Kurt put his arms around her, and dropped his own, tear-stained face into her hair. He couldn't look at Blaine, or Finn for that matter. He couldn't stand to see their indifference, to watch them just walk by. So he smelled Rachels' raspberry scented hair, and clutched tightly to her abominable cat sweater.
The other students filed back, each one dropping a hand on someone's shoulder. Kurt just tried to contain his sobs.
It was a cleared throat that finally made them look up, to see Finn and Blaine standing in front of them, each one awkwardly shifting from one foot to another.
"Uh. . .Rach. . ." Finn didn't seem to know what to say. Finally he sighed, and just held his arms open. Rachel immediately flung herself into them, crying loudly again.
"I'm so sorry, Finn, I'm so sorry. . .it's just. . .there hasn't been any drama, and I missed it, but I missed you so much more, and I'm so sorry!"
Finn just awkwardly pat her on the head. Kurt took a deep breath and turned to look at Blaine. He almost crumpled again. Had it really only been a week since he'd kissed those lips? Only a week since he'd said those words? Only a week. . .
Xoxo
"Who's that?"
"Only a friend. But I'm in love with him, and he's actually gay. We call that progress."
"I thought that the one you wanted to ask out on Valentine's day was me."
"I really care about you, Kurt, but I'm not very good at romance."
"Why did you want to sing that song with me?"
"You move me, Kurt."
"Good night, Blaine. I love you."
"See you tomorrow!"
"So we'll be like When Harry Met Sally."
"Don't they get together in the end?"
"God, Blaine, I love you so much. . ."
"You're amazing, Kurt."
"I love you. . ."
xoxo
"Can we talk?"
Kurt wanted to say that of course they could talk. Or they could not talk. They could do whatever Blaine wanted to do.
They walked into the abandoned astronomy room. Kurt settled himself into a chair, while Blaine just stood there.
"Are you ready to be honest, yet?"
Kurt swallowed, heavily. "I'm so sorry, Blaine. I never should have done that. We were wrong. But we'll get out of your way."
"Out of my way. . .what. . ."
"Finn," Kurt said softly. "We both know what happened last night. And Rachel and I. . .we talked and we won't get in your way. You two both deserve better than us. You deserve each other."
He tried to walk away then, he really did, but Blaine reached out with one arm and grabbed him by the wrist, pulling him back. Kurt glanced up, shocked to see that Blaine's eyes were dancing, almost happy.
"Kurt," he said, laughter in his voice. "Don't be ridiculous. Finn and I aren't together. He's not even gay!"
Kurt shook his head, confused. He knew what he'd seen. He'd seen them, together. He'd seen the kiss. "I was there, remember?" he finally managed to say. Blaine just shook his head, that small smile still on his lips.
"Stupid," he said. "We knew that you and Rachel wanted some drama. So Finn and I. . .were just agreed to give it to you. We were going to kiss today at Glee, and Finn just wanted to practice ahead of time."
Kurt bit his lip. He wanted to believe Blaine, he really did, but. . .but something still wasn't right. He sighed.
"Why are you being so nice about this? I was a total bitch to you."
"You're my boyfriend," Blaine said, as though that explained everything. "At least, I think you still are."
Kurt's lip was trembling as he glanced up again. "Really?" he asked. Blaine just grinned and spread his arms. Kurt ran forward and flung himself into them. He felt the gentle pressure of Blaine's lips on his forehead, and sighed.
"I love you, Blaine," he whispered. "I love you so much, and I was so stupid. I just. . .I knew that we'd get back together."
"I know," Blaine said soothingly. But, Kurt noticed with a sinking heart, he didn't say the words back. Which meant that all of the pain and the drama had been for nothing. Blaine still didn't love him. Still, as Kurt huddled deeper into his boyfriend's warmth, he realized that it was enough. He'd loved Blaine for months without getting anything. Now he was getting kisses and cuddles. Maybe in a few months time he'd get the other boys heart.
Or, he realized with a shot of fear, maybe in a few months time it would be Blaine who got bored and moved on. . .
A/N: One more chapter to go. Maybe an epilogue. Or maybe you should just read "Three Accidental Words" to have some idea how the epilogue would go. Haven't decided yet. Also, the preview clips for tomorrow: LOVE
Reviews are love! Song is "Suddenly Surrender" by Matt Nathanson
