Latte?

Blaine's Side

Blaine had really stepped in it with the spectacle he made of himself during Teenage Dream. He was well aware of this fact, but he couldn't bring himself to care. All that mattered now was that he found Kurt. Blaine felt like he needed to talk to the kid, figure out what was going on with him. He saw Kurt slip out of the door once the performance ended and Blaine quickly moved after him through the crowd. Before he could make it to the door Blaine was stopped by the voice of his best friend, "What the hell was that?" Blaine turned and looked up at Wes. I do not have time for this. "You could have ruined our chances at Sectionals if you pulled a stunt like that there. You need to address the entire crowd, not one person, you know that Blaine!"

Blaine cut Wes off abruptly, "look, Wes, I know that I messed up, but I need you, as my best friend, to trust me when I say that there were extenuating circumstances that caused my actions. I apologize and it won't happen again. Now, I need your help with something." Wes looked taken aback by Blaine's straightforward manner, but he gave a short nod to indicate that he was listening.

Blaine gave a small smile to show his gratitude and continued, "Well, the boy that I…uh, sang to…well I met him earlier and he told me he's a new student here. But he can't possibly be, uniforms are always assigned immediately, and as you might have noticed, he wasn't exactly dressed to the school's standards. I think that he could be a spy from another school—" Wes sputtered in indignation— "I know, I know, but I don't think it's like that. I think there's something going on and I need to find out what it is. Let's take him out for coffee or something. Please? I wouldn't ask if I didn't think it was serious. Besides, his spying is so bad it's clear that he doesn't mean us any harm. It's kind of endearing actually…" Blaine's rant trailed off and he looked up at Wes expectantly.

"Fine!" Wes acquiesced. That's why Blaine loved Wes. Although he was strict when it came to the Warblers, Wes was a good friend and it was clear that he cared about Blaine immensely.

"Thank you! I really appreciate this Wes." Blaine said, looking satisfied with himself. "Grab David and fill him in, I'll find Kurt."

Blaine turned and ran out of the room and down the hall catching up to Kurt's retreating figure. Blaine excitedly extended his hand and grabbed Kurt's shoulder. He felt Kurt tense under his touch and quickly let go. Kurt turned slowly and looked up at Blaine. His face was composed, but Blaine could see fear in his eyes. Blaine's stomach plummeted to his feet. He needed to do something to reassure this kid that he only meant well.

"Hey, do you want to grab coffee with my friends and me? We'd like to talk to you about something." Blaine said with a small smile, hoping he sounded friendly enough. Kurt didn't respond but just stood there, his face blank. But Blaine could have sworn that he saw panic in the smaller teen's eyes. Wes and David approached them hesitantly, looking to Blaine for direction. Blaine held up a finger, signaling for them to wait before turning back to Kurt, who was still standing completely still, rooted to the spot. Blaine slowly reached out his hand and gently took Kurt's arm, leading him to the cafeteria. The physical contact seemed to jolt Kurt out of his reverie, and he quietly asked "are you going to beat me up in a cafeteria? That seems a little unsanitary." Blaine's mouth fell open in shock, and he glanced at Wes as if to say, see what I mean?

"No one is going to beat you up, Kurt." Blaine said sincerely. Kurt just stared at him, the confusion evident in his eyes. Blaine calmly took him over to a table while Wes and David got the coffees.

"Look, Kurt, we know that you aren't a new student here and it's not a big deal," Blaine said, smiling reassuringly. Kurt's eyes widened, but he remained silent. Wes and David joined them at the table, and Wes slid a cup over to Kurt, "latte?" Blaine was relieved when Kurt mouthed 'thank you' at Wes. Hopefully he's realized that we're not going to hurt him.

Kurt cautiously addressed the group, "It's very civilized of you to invite me out for coffee before you beat me up for spying."

"We are not going to beat you up," Wes stated simply.

"You were such a terrible spy, we thought it was sort of endearing," David offered. Blaine's heart soared with gratitude for his friends' simple encouraging statements.

"Which made me think that spying on us wasn't really the reason you came," Blaine said with a tiny smile, hoping to ease Kurt into the conversation.

Kurt gave a nervous chuckle, "can I ask you guys a question?"

The Warblers just looked at him attentively, eyebrows collectively raised. Blaine leaned forward slightly, eager to know what was on Kurt's mind.

"Are you guys all gay?" Kurt hesitantly asked.

Blaine chuckled. He certainly had not been expecting that. Noticing Kurt's confusion at their laughter he responded quickly, "uh, no. I mean, I am, but these two have girlfriends."

Kurt gave a slight smile and David continued, "this is not a gay school. We just have a zero tolerance harassment policy."

"Everybody gets treated the same, no matter what they are. It's pretty simple," Wes explained.

Blaine watched as Kurt struggled to comprehend this piece of information, tears welling up in his eyes. I was right, something is going on with him.

"Would you guys excuse us?" Blaine dismissed his friends gently, making a mental note to thank them later. Blaine then focused his attention on Kurt's face, watching as he struggled to control his emotions.

"I take it you're having trouble at school," said Blaine finally, unsure if Kurt would be willing to talk to him.

"I'm the only person out of the closet at my school…" I knew it. Blaine had known there was a reason he felt so connected to this boy even though he had just met him. He's just like I was two years ago. "…and I-I try to stay strong about it…" Blaine could see that very clearly. Kurt was the epitome of strength. Blaine could feel it emanate from him, he could see it in his eyes, and in the way he carried himself. He is so much stronger then I was. Then I am. "…but there's this Neanderthal who's made it his mission to make my life a living hell. And nobody seems to notice." Blaine felt the desperation in Kurt's words as his voice cracked with emotion, the tears spilling over in his eyes. Blaine's heart ached desperately for him because he knew how it felt to feel so alone. To be completely isolated for something that you had no control over.

"I know how you feel," he told Kurt, hoping that the other teen would realize how much that was true. "I got taunted at my old school and it really…" Blaine huffed angrily as the familiar feelings of anger overwhelmed him, "…really pissed me off. I even complained about it to the faculty and they were sympathetic and all, but you could just tell that nobody really cared." What an understatement, they barely even listened, Blaine reminisced bitterly. "It was like 'hey if you're gay, your life's just going to be miserable, sorry. Nothing we can do about it.' So I left, I came here, simple as that…" Blaine neglected to mention that it wasn't quite so simple. The transition to Dalton's way of life had been its own kind of hell. Not the time or place. He focused back on Kurt, "so you have two options. I'd love to tell you to just come enroll here, but tuition at Dalton is sort of steep, and I know that's not an option for everybody…" Blaine chose his next words very carefully, sure to make them count. "Or you can refuse to be the victim." Kurt stared at him in confusion, so Blaine elaborated, "prejudice is just ignorance, Kurt. And you have a chance to right now to teach him."

"How?" Kurt's voice was small, but Blaine could see a spark of something in his eyes.

"Confront him!" Blaine moved forward in his seat with new fervour, "call him out! I ran, Kurt. I didn't stand up. I let bullies chase me away and it's something I really, really regret." But you can do this, you can stand up to them Kurt. You can do what I was never able to. Blaine wondered why it was so important to him that Kurt stand up for himself. Was he trying to give Kurt the freedom he never had, or was he trying to live through this kid, as though Kurt standing up to his bullies could erase Blaine's inability to do so. Blaine was overcome with uncertainty and prayed that he was doing this for the right reasons and that the situation wouldn't become something he regretted later. For several moments Kurt was quiet, starring at his coffee cup. Blaine worried that maybe his impromptu speech had been little much, but then Kurt looked at him.

"Thank you…for helping me with this. You didn't have to do that. It means a lot." Kurt said, his eyes full of gratitude.

Blaine looked at him warmly, "I'm glad to help, Kurt." He truly was. Blaine was by no means an expert, but he had been through hell and back, and if he could potentially help one person with his experience maybe what had happened could finally be justified in his mind.

Kurt stood up with a small smile and Blaine mirrored him. "Um…" Kurt looked around awkwardly, "I guess I should be going now. I don't want to take up anymore of your time."

"I don't mind, honestly. Let me walk you to your car," Blaine offered, not quite ready to say goodbye to this boy that he felt he had know forever, but was still such a stranger.

"Sure, I'd probably get lost otherwise," Kurt said attempting to joke. There he goes again, trying to hide how he's feeling.

"It's okay to be upset Kurt," Blaine said as he led Kurt out to the guest parking lot.

"Not always," came the quiet reply. Blaine felt it again in that moment, that undeniable urge to reach out and protect the boy in front of him. Blaine settled for handing Kurt his phone as he said, "here put your number in, and I'll give you mine. And if anything happens, or you just need to talk, or vent or whatever give me a call." Kurt looked astonished at the offer, but quickly typed his number into Blaine's phone before pulling out his own. Blaine recited his number off and Kurt nodded before putting his phone back in his pocket.

"Thanks again," Kurt said softly, starring at his feet.

Blaine reached out and squeezed his arm gently, "don't mention it. You don't have to go through this alone." Kurt's eyes welled up again and he turned away quickly and got into his car. With a small wave, he was gone.

As Kurt drove away Blaine realized how much he had meant what he said. Blaine had been alone through his trials, it was why he had run. It was impossible to stand up to them when it was their mission to convince you that you were weak, disgusting, a menace to the earth. Blaine had run because he feared what they said was true. It wasn't until he came to Dalton that he began to accept himself. But it had been a very dark time in his life before he got there. Looking at Kurt, Blaine realized that he was still innocent. He was terrified out of his mind, yes, but he was still strong, still resilient enough to fight off the demons. He was proud of who he was, he wouldn't break like Blaine did. Blaine wouldn't allow it. Kurt wasn't going to be alone in this. Blaine was going to make sure of that.

Firstly thanks so much to everyone that commented, and put this on their story alerts! I really appreciate it!

Okay this honestly took me FOREVER to write. The beginning came together pretty quickly, but then I re-watched this scene and I had to rework everything to make sure that it matched the tone of that scene, because this story is supposed to be about the emotions of certain moments. Like an impressionist painting…all feeling? But um…not anything like that at all, really haha.

Anyway I watched the coffee scene over and over so many times I'm pretty sure I have it all memorized. Might I just say that that scene is damn near perfect, acting-wise. Especially Chris Colfer. Everything he does is flawless, 100%. I'm still tearing up after the 15th viewing because he is just so freakin' incredible. I'm insanely jealous, but it really just makes me love him more. Oh and Darren Criss? Just marry me, kay?

Also, Blaine's perspective is freaking hard to write! It's probably because they give us NO background on the show, but I really struggled with it…I hope I did an alright job of it =S This story is taking me for a ride, and it might be a different kind of angst then what I was originally planning, but it will still be emotional, so I hope you guys will stick with it!

Hope you guys like it =) Kurt's Side might take a while because there was so much I read in his face during this scene and translating that to paper will be quite the feat!

Pleeeeease review! Con crit is greatly appreciated, but please keep it constructive! This story is kind of an experiment to improve my writing, so I'd really love to know what you think! Reviews are love! =)

Hope you enjoy!