This is short and it took me a long time. I'm sorry :( I hope you enjoy. Next chapter will be sooner, I promise!

Forgive me the angst.

Kurt and Blaine walked towards the choir room after school as if nothing had happened the night before. Kurt didn't mention his growing suspicions, and instead he laughed and flirted and smiled until the skin around his eyes and mouth was sore. When Kurt asked Blaine why he looked so tired, Blaine lied and said his alarm hadn't gone off. Blaine didn't dare mention to Kurt that he'd stayed up, alone in his apartment, all night worrying and sweating and pacing. He didn't mention that everything was fake; that he was a fake. Blaine didn't say that he was maybe, possibly falling in love with the boy who's eyes were like the sea.

The most important things are often the ones left unsaid. Kurt and Blaine both new this well. One had learned from it; he'd lost a mother, and he'd hidden his true self, but he'd found love and acceptance at the end of the pain. Kurt was strong and he wasn't afraid to speak up, but he didn't know what was going on, so he didn't know what to say. Something about Blaine made Kurt uneasy, but the need to be near him far outweighed the suspicion. To Blaine, lying was normal; lies were the very foundation of his existence here in Lima, Ohio. And he'd learned to not bring things up; to not ask questions. His father had taught him that.

So the boys laughed and walked, and the students lining the walls of the school hall shot them glares and disapproving glances, but neither was worried about their appearance or their sexualities or their confusion. They were both content in the completely company of the other.

"Coffee again today?" Kurt asked as they stopped right outside the choir room door. Kurt could see Rachel sitting on the piano bench already warming up with Mr. Shue. Her dramatic faces became more and more extreme as her voice climbed up the scale.

"I can't," Blaine admitted with a sigh. He ran his fingers through his hair, again forgetting about the thick gel. "I have to meet someone after school."

Blaine didn't necessarily want to hang out with Mia after school, but somewhere in his pacing the night before his phone had vibrated and he's accepted the invitation to go to her house for dinner. To meet her parents. To meet her father. Honestly, this job was going much easier than he'd expected, Blaine had to admit to himself. He'd be out of this town and onto a new assignment in record time if things kept going the way they were. But for the first time Blaine didn't want to leave. There was something here he wanted. Someone he wanted.

"Oh," Kurt said with a frown, "Maybe next time."

"Of course," Blaine smiled and patted Kurt's hand where it rested on his bag, "Next time."

The Glee practice was quick and sweet. Kurt and Blaine sat together and this time their knees did touch. It was surreal, at least for Kurt, to sit and listen to his friends preform love songs when he could feel Blaine's presence next to him. Blaine wasn't paying much attention to his fellow Glee clubbers; he was having a hard time moving his eyes away from Kurt's form.

Kurt smiled as his stepbrother stumbled through the lyrics to You and I. Rachel was clearly leading the performance; she held Finn's hand the whole time and looked at him with her big brown eyes. The whole performance was saved by the cuteness factor, and when it ended everyone clapped loudly. Blaine bumped his knee against Kurt's, and Kurt smiled even wider.

"That was really great, guys," Mr. Shue slapped Finn on the back, "Tomorrow Mike is going to help us through some new dance moves, but I promise on Monday we'll finish up with our LOVE performances."

The students packed up and talked. The chatter of the room diminished behind them as Blaine and Kurt walked out of the choir room together.

"See you tomorrow, Kurt."

"See you tomorrow, Blaine."

Both boys started walking in opposite directions.

"Kurt!" Blaine turned around and called, "Wait, I have a questions."

Blaine knew this was a bad idea. He knew he shouldn't be asking Kurt this; he shouldn't be trying to get closer to Kurt. He shouldn't be letting himself fall in love with Kurt when he was with Mia. He was playing them both. Playing them for different reasons. He wanted more than anything to try loving Kurt. Kurt; the boy that stood in front of him in skinny jeans, scarf, and coat. The boy with perfect hair that looked so soft, and bright, small teeth that looked so innocent and perfect against his pink lips. Lips so inviting, so open that Blaine had restrain himself from touching. Everything about Kurt seemed perfect to Blaine; like he had designed a soul mate in some past life and now here he was, standing in front of him. Blaine wanted Kurt, but right now he needed Mia.

Blaine's indecision vanished when Kurt turned around and his smile showed. It was a smile of hope; of love and waiting and joy. It was everything Blaine wanted. Who cared if what he was doing was wrong? It would all be over soon. It would be over and Blaine could quite and get a real job and live in Lima and love Kurt. That was okay, right? Lying for now, so that he could be happy later? Would Kurt still want him?

"I think we should do our LOVE performance together."

"Like a duet?" Kurt asked, raising one perfectly shaped eyebrow.

"Yeah, a duet. That way we could hang out more, you know, to practice and all. And I'd just feel more comfortable singing with someone else for my first real performance with the Glee club."

"Blaine, you did your audition piece and it was perfect. You don't need my help."

"But I want it." Blaine admitted and grabbed Kurt's hand. He squeezed briefly before letting go.

"Okay," Kurt breathed, "Okay, yes."

"Great," Blaine smiled, "We can practice this weekend. Can we do it at your house? We're still unpacking; every thing's a mess."

"Okay," Kurt answered, "Okay, this weekend it is."

Kurt flinched when he realized how many times he'd said "okay" in the past minute.

"We better do Saturday and Sunday," Blaine said with a smile, "We need lots of practice, right?"

Kurt rolled his eyes, "We both know this isn't about practice. If you want to hang out just say so, Blaine."

"I want to hang out. Saturday and Sunday. And I want to sing a love song with you."

"Okay," Kurt nodded slowly, a smile threatening to break across his whole face.

"Okay," Blaine smiled and turned to leave.

Kurt shook his head in awed disbelief and starting walking in the opposite direction towards where Finn and him had parked the car that morning. He was so happy; more happy than he'd been in such a long time. Blaine was flirting with him, Blaine liked him, Blaine wanted to sing a love song with him. Perfect, wonderful, attractive Blaine.

Sometimes happiness comes and it sweeps you off your feet and it leaves you defenseless, open, free. Kurt walked down the hallway with a lightness he had never known and a joy that almost frightened him in it's intensity. Surely something so wonderful would break; surely it couldn't be real. But negative thoughts fled from Kurt's mind as he remembered Blaine's knee against his, and Blaine's hand holding his, and Blaine's smile when Kurt agreed to a duet. Blaine was just as enchanted with Kurt as Kurt was with him. It was obvious, it was beautiful, it felt perfect.

Finn was already in the car when Kurt got there.

"Hello, Kurt," Rachel said from the passenger seat.

"We're giving Rachel a ride home," Finn said and turned the car on.

"How kind of us," Kurt grumbled as he climbed into the backseat, but he didn't complain. He was too happy for complaining. Maybe if he sat in the backseat Finn wouldn't comment on the stupid grin he wore.

Finn and Rachel chatted happily as Finn brought the car around the school and to the intersection that would lead them to Rachel's house.

Finn slammed on his breaks as a sleek, black convertible pulled out in front of them.

"What the fu-"

"Finn!" Rachel cried and grabbed his hand.

"What a moron," Kurt grumbled as he looked out the window at the car zooming by. A girl was driving; a girl Kurt recognized. Her long brown hair was piled into a bun and her black t-shirt was skin tight. As she passed by quickly Kurt could see the violent makeup she wore across her perfect skin. A boy sat next to her, holding her free hand. A boy Kurt definitely recognized.

Blaine didn't see Kurt in the car next to him. He didn't see Kurt's face fall; the love replaced by confusion and then pain. Kurt could feel fire in his chest; the feeling of ice thrumming and growing into anger and hatred.

Blaine had said that he needed to meet someone after school. What he hadn't told Kurt was that he needed to meet his girlfriend.

Kurt could feel the hot tears rolling down his cheeks, but he didn't move to wipe them away yet. They were refreshing; almost a relief in their swiftness. He was feeling; he was breaking.

Kurt was convinced he'd made it all up. Blaine wasn't interested in him, he'd just needed a friend. Blaine had never been flirting; he'd just been friendly, kind.

Kurt reached up and wiped the tears from his face. That's what he would be. Blaine's friend.