I truly apologize for my delay in getting this episode released. I never intended for a month long break. Between illness and company visiting this has taken far too long. Also, I am desperately behind on responding to your comments, so I apologize for that as well. I read and truly appreciate each and every one.
First, I wanted to say how excited I am that Klaine is now a cannon pairing. Loved that the kiss came in response to Kurt's question and Blaine's confession. Second, apparently some people in the fandom have decided to give Kurt a twin brother named Cameron. I just wanted to point out/remind everyone that the Cameron in this story is definitely NOT Kurt's brother.
Also, I have a question for my lovely readers regarding the direction of this story. You will find it in the footnote. If you would be kind enough to respond either in the comments or by message, I would like to hear my readers' opinions.
If you are ever wondering about the status of this story or have questions you would like me to answer, feel free to look me up on tumblr: araniaduncan. I post semi-frequent updates about this story, as well as a bunch of other Klaine related things.
As always, the songs are in the footnote and I don't own anything. :)
Thank you for reading!
So that was the longest author's note ever. On with the story...
"Hello?" Kurt said as he raised his phone to his ear, rubbing his bleary eyes with the heel of his left hand and looking toward the clock. 5:30.
"Kurt?"
"Oh, hi Dad," Kurt said immediately recognizing the voice on the other end of the phone.
"Are you okay?" Burt asked urgently.
"Yeah," Kurt returned questioningly, trying to shake the sleep from his system. "What's wrong, Dad?"
"You said that you would call me back last night, but you didn't. You seemed in some big hurry to get off the phone yesterday and we haven't seen you in two weeks. I was concerned."
Kurt slipped into his robe and out into the hallway as Patrick grunted and rolled over. He made his way to one of the chairs grouped together in the second floor lobby, plopping down and keeping his voice low so as not to disturb his floor mates.
"Oh, I'm so sorry Dad. We got back at curfew last night and I got busy preparing for today, and I..." Kurt blurted out trying desperately to explain before Burt cut him off.
"I know that you get busy, kid, but I need you to call me when you say you will."
"I understand. I'm sorry Dad," Kurt apologized.
"I'm just glad that you are okay," a wave of relief present in his voice.
Kurt's stomach soured, tightening at the emotion in his father's voice, internally scolding himself for forgetting to call his father back. He never meant to make Burt worry.
"I am okay, Dad, really," Kurt reassured. Wonderful actually, he thought as he filled with memories of the previous day.
"I want you home this weekend, Kurt. Friday night preferably."
Trepidation spread through Kurt's veins. He had planned to go home this weekend. He had not planned on Blaine. Kurt really did not want to spend their first weekend as a couple in different parts of the state.
"Sure, Dad. Can I bring someone with me?" The words escaping Kurt's mouth before he realized it.
Kurt could almost hear his father's eyebrows raising on the other end of the phone. Trying to temper the uneasiness in his voice, Burt asked, "Is it that Cameron kid?"
"No, not Cameron. Blaine," Kurt replied trying to hide his eagerness and confusion at his own boldness.
"Oh, sure," Burt's voice noticeably brighter, "Your friend Blaine is always welcome here, you know that."
Kurt smiled widely to himself at his father referring to Blaine as his "friend," knowing that now they were so much more than that.
"Great. Thanks Dad."
"No problem, kid. So, tell me more about your finals and this dance."
A half hour later, Burt and Kurt said their "I love yous" and bid each other goodbye. Kurt took a deep breath trying to refocus on the day ahead. He felt a bit guilty that he hadn't told his father about the developments between he and Blaine, but he wanted no more awkwardness between them than would already be present during the coming weekend. Sighing, he looked down at his phone, noticing he had a text waiting from 9:00 the night before.
Mercedes: How was the dance? Need details boy.
Then fifteen minutes later,
Mercedes: WTH? Where are you? Call me.
Kurt could feel color collecting in his cheeks as he remembered exactly where he was at 9:15 the night before. He smiled wistfully as his brain filled with all of the lovely images it had stored from the time spent in the backseat of Blaine's car. After a moment, he righted himself, heart still fluttering in his chest. It was just after 6:00. There was no way that Mercedes would be up yet and Kurt didn't have time for a long conversation anyway, he wanted to take an extra long shower and make sure that he looked perfect when Blaine arrived for him at 7:30. So, he went with,
Kurt: Sorry. I was with Blaine. Talk later.
knowing full well that this message was sure to insight a riot of speculations and questions from his friend.
XXXX
"Good morning," Blaine greeted when Kurt opened the door, looking an absolute vision snatched from Kurt's imagination.
Kurt smiled brightly. "Good morning."
They caught for a moment in the weight of their stare, working each other over with their eyes before locking them together once again.
"Ready to go?" Blaine asked softly.
"And face the firing squad?" his boyfriend returned sarcastically as he shouldered his bag.
Blaine chuckled, "It feels that way a bit."
Meeting the smile on Kurt's face, Blaine leaned their faces close together, saying just above a whisper, "Don't worry, babe, I'll cover you." Stepping forward he wrapped his arms around his boyfriend.
Kurt smiled down at him, a smirk growing on his face.
"What?" Blaine questioned playfully.
"Nothing," Kurt's smirk almost turning to a giggle.
"What?" Blaine asked again, suddenly self conscious, loosening his grasp.
"It's too cheesy," Kurt shook his head a bit.
Blaine smiled, brightening, curiosity in his voice, "Tell me."
Kurt's eyes searched Blaine's face for any trace of knowing what Kurt was about to say. And when he didn't find any, Kurt opened his mouth, feeling embarrassment welling up inside of him, "Rent?"
Blaine's eyes searched Kurt's face, narrowing a bit in confusion. He clearly wasn't following. Kurt sighed, crossing his arms across his chest and shooting his boyfriend a judging look while trying to decide if he could trust his early morning singing voice.
Live in my house
I'll be your shelter
Just pay me back
With one thousand kisses
Be my lover and I'll cover you
When he lifted his eyes, Blaine was smiling amorously, hearts in his eyes. Random singing? Of amazing musicals? This man, his boyfriend, was perfection incarnate. I love you, Blaine heard his heart say, but the words stilled before they could be uttered. Instead his body took control, moving forward, clasping Kurt's face in his hands and landing a firm kiss on Kurt's perfect pink lips. Kurt's hands landed on Blaine's waist, pulling the shorter boy closer, deepening their kiss.
The clearing of a throat startled them, both of their faces spinning toward the open door.
"Good morning, Blaine," Patrick said teasingly from the doorway, then looking to Kurt, "I thought you guys would be gone by now."
Kurt turned amorous eyes on Blaine, "I thought we would be too," he said dreamily. Adding, "we are leaving right now."
"Mr. Hummel, may I escort you to breakfast?" Blaine said offering his arm to Kurt.
"Why certainly, Mr. Anderson," Kurt returned haughtily, threading his arm through Blaine's.
Patrick couldn't keep his eyes from rolling in his head and smirk growing across his face.
"Why do I have a feeling half the school is going to be in the nurse's office today?" he mused to himself as he crossed the room.
Kurt glowered at his roommate, "What is that supposed to mean?"
"I just think that everyone within ten feet of you two is either going to be suffering from a toothache ... or nausea," Patrick smirked.
XXXX
It wasn't unusual to see Blaine Anderson and Kurt Hummel walking into the cafeteria arm in arm. In fact, this had become quite a regular sight at Dalton Academy. But, this morning it felt very, very different to the two boys involved. As they made their way into the large, noisy room they were surprised how much attention their arrival attracted. Clearly the news of the redefinition of their relationship had traveled school wide.
Kurt liked the attention he garnered from performing, but getting the whole school's attention for his personal life made him quite uneasy. He realized that if he had wanted to remain under the radar, walking into the cafeteria on the arm of the lead Warbler was a terrible way to do it. And he wondered if they should have been more covert. Blaine could feel Kurt's grasp starting to fade as they were presented with the barrage of faces and knowing smirks. He remembered just how odd it had felt last year when Mark had paraded him (quite literally) through the cafeteria in front of everyone, that uncomfortable feeling of not wanting to be the center of attention. Blaine set his free hand on Kurt's where it was threaded through his elbow, giving it a slight rub of reassurance. Kurt turned his attention to his boyfriend, smiling at the contact. Blaine met his smile, and suddenly it was only them. The protective bubble forming around them, erasing any feeling of trepidation they had. They walked confidently through the crowd to take their rightful place at the Warblers' table, united.
XXXX
From where he sat at a small table near the window, Jeff's eyes met Kurt's. Jeff smiled weakly at his friend, Kurt returning the smile, a puzzled look on his face. He had never known Jeff to sit away from the Warblers' table. Kurt was suddenly hit with the realization that the adoring look Blaine was giving him, likely had something to do with it.
"I need to go talk to Jeff," Kurt whispered as he returned his eyes to Blaine.
"Okay," Blaine returned soft and understanding, "I'll take your bag. Take your time."
Kurt smiled, his heart filling with admiration as he hooked his bag over his boyfriend's shoulder and fought the urge to lean across the inches and make contact with his lips.
Jeff's glance had escaped through the window as he saw Kurt approaching.
"Hey, Jeff," Kurt said kindly, "Mind if I sit?"
Jeff turned to his friend, gesturing to the open seat across from him. They sat in an awkward silence for a moment while Kurt searched for what to say.
"How are you?" he asked genuinely.
"I'm doing okay actually," Jeff said, a pained smile crossing his face.
Kurt attempted to smile in return, hating the tension between them.
"Honestly, Kurt, I am really happy for you," Jeff offered, his eyes traveling across the room, "and Blaine."
Kurt struggled for words, not really sure what to say that would acknowledge his friend's kindness without sounding like gloating, deciding on a simple, "Thank you."
"I'm working on getting past this as fast as I can. I don't want things to be weird between us."
"I don't want that either," Kurt immediately returned, relieved, his eyes filling with gratitude. Staring firmly into Jeff's eyes, willing his voice not to choke, "You are one of my best friends, Jeff."
The laugh that bubbled from Jeff, caught Kurt off guard.
"I'm not dying, Kurt," he teased, suddenly sounding lighter. "We'll get through this. We are better friends than to let something like this get in the way."
Kurt still stunned by the rapid change in mood, brightened, "I'm glad that you think so, too."
"It's funny," Jeff's tone softening to wistful, hazel eyes moving back to the window, "I've had a crush on him for over a year, but seeing the two of you together just makes so much sense. Because that is the thing, what I felt for him was a crush. You two are in love. And, it makes me think that if he and I had ever gotten together it wouldn't have been like what you have because you were meant to be with him ... and I was not."
Kurt could feel his heart simultaneously filling and breaking at his friend's words.
"And in a way, part of why I am so happy that you are together now is because it means that I can move on. I can let go. Get over him," Jeff looked up sadly, then a small smile moved across his lips, "And hopefully find someone that feels about me the way that you two feel about each other."
Kurt was overcome and reached out to squeeze his friend's hand.
"What did I ever do to deserve a friend like you?" Kurt wondered aloud.
"You are just very lucky," Jeff answered as two pairs of eyes trailed across the room and landed on the hazel-eyed lead Warbler.
"Yes," Kurt sighed, "I really, really am."
XXXX
Blaine settled the couple's bags into adjoining chairs at the Warbler's table, drawing the attention of the group. He looked up brightly, a far too large grin on his face. The group fell silent, expectant smiles on their faces. Suddenly uncomfortable and questioning, Blaine lowered himself into one of the chairs.
"So, what did you do yesterday, Blaine? No one saw you around Trinity," Wes asked smugly.
Blaine scanned the faces around the table, suddenly realizing that he was being met with knowing expressions. He felt his heart start to hammer in his chest, color rushing to his face. How did they all know?
"Kurt and I hung out," Blaine answered, truthfully and tentatively.
"In the backseat of your car?" Wes spouted, not being able to contain his words. Snickers broke out around the table.
Blaine's mouth fell open a bit, the color in his face deepening, as he tried to fumble words together into a coherent thought.
"I'm not sure how it is any of your business," Blaine glared at his friend, "but yes."
The table broke into comical applause and cheering. Blaine's hand met his face. He stood up from his seat, looking around the table. "Screw all of you," Blaine huffed, earning yet another round of laughter from the Warblers as he turned to walk away.
"I don't think Kurt would appreciate that very much," Wes called after him.
Blaine shook his head to himself, laughing a bit. He really loved his friends, even if he was going to have to kill every last one of them.
XXXX
Kurt looked at the door like it was the gateway to hell instead of the entrance to a classroom. He was going to avoid entering for as long as possible.
"This is going to suck," Kurt grumped, twinning his fingers with Blaine's as they leaned against the wall outside the door.
Blaine sensed the frustration in his boyfriend's voice, squeezing his hand, "It's just an hour, babe, you'll get through it."
Kurt's glance fell to the tile, "I know. I just feel crappy about the way things were left," he released a sigh, "It's going to be awkward."
Blaine stared at the top of Kurt's head, willing his boyfriend to raise his eyes so he could offer a reassuring look, but when Kurt didn't look up he said, "Just be your wonderfully compassionate self. He won't be upset forever."
Blaine squeezed the younger boy's hand, causing Kurt to finally raise his eyes. Blaine fought with every ounce of his resolve the urge to lean over and kiss away Kurt's frustration. But, considering that they were standing in the main hall of Dalton with the whole school filtering by, he hesitated. Instead he raised his hand to his boyfriend's cheek brushing it lightly, smiling into Kurt's sparkling eyes. No words were necessary, just having Blaine beside him looking at him in that way was enough to reassure Kurt. He smiled, too.
"I have to go now," Blaine said softly, "I'll meet you right here after class."
"Okay," Kurt agreed. They stood for a long moment caught in each other before they realized that the hall had all but emptied. They broke their hold, Blaine turning and hurrying in the direction of his class. Kurt took a deep breath, smoothing his blazer before opening the door and entering the chemistry lab.
Kurt's eyes searched the room in confusion as he moved cautiously toward his seat at the back of the room. Next to Peter? Kurt set his bag down on the desk, unloading his notebook and pen as his eyes darted back and forth between the back of Cameron's head and Peter, his face a tangle of confusion.
"New semester, new partner," said the voice beside him as Kurt took his seat.
For a moment Kurt was relieved. Not having to work with Cameron should help them avoid some of the awkwardness. He was thankful that the change had to do with the beginning of the semester, not the breaking of Cameron's heart. However, Kurt's relief was momentary when he realized how much harder he was going to have to work now that Peter was his partner instead of Cameron. Because while Cameron was a very good student with an easy understanding of chemistry, Peter was not. Shit, there goes my grade in this class.
"Oh, that makes sense," Kurt mumbled in return, turning toward Peter. "Hello partner," Kurt offered a bit more cheerfully.
"Seriously," Peter sneered at him, rolling his eyes.
Kurt drew in a nervous breath. What issue could Peter possibly have with him? Then he felt tension sweeping through his body when he realized that Peter and Cameron played on the soccer team together and resided in Grayson Hall, home of the athletes at Dalton. Clearly Cameron had filled him in on what had happened with Kurt at Winter Formal.
Kurt shifted nervously in his chair, guilt welling up inside of him. He let out the breath that he didn't realize he was holding in a long sigh. Looking once again at the back of Cameron's head before training his eyes on the front of the class.
Peter kept his eyes forward as well, though all that was visible was Mr. Filbert hurriedly attempting to reorganize his notes and the second semester syllabi.
"What you did to Cameron was really awful," Peter said quietly, to Kurt's surprise.
He turned to meet the other boy's stare, hardly believing his ears.
"And Cam is too nice to say anything about it, but I don't plan on forgetting it any time soon," Peter added coldly.
Kurt's stomach soured.
"Like I told him, I'm sorry that I hurt him. It was never my intention," Kurt replied with all the confidence he could muster.
"Hurt him?" Peter whispered indignantly. "You fucking broke his heart," he hissed.
Kurt realized that he had walked into a landmine. He sat dumbfounded, lost for words.
Peter's irritation was clearly evident and seemed to be growing, "How you managed to capture the hearts of two of the most eligible guys at this school I will never understand. What could they possibly see in you?" he spewed.
Kurt's mouth was now slightly agape, searching for words to defend himself.
But Peter just kept coming, "You're a coward. You clearly didn't care about Cameron's feelings at all or you would have had the decency to tell him yourself that you were cheating on him."
"Cheating on him? What are you talking about?" Kurt shot back, incredulous and a little too loud for keeping the conversation somewhat private.
"Were you or were you not messing around with Blaine while you were supposed to be with Cameron?" Peter accused, matching Kurt's volume and drawing the attention of the other students around them.
"Cameron and I were never together!"
"Well maybe not in your mind..." Peter trailed off. "But still you could have told him about you and Blaine."
"I did tell him," Kurt seethed, having all he could do to keep from flying at Peter.
"No, you let your friend Jeff do the bidding for you,"
"What?" Kurt shrieked.
"Don't act like you don't know what I am talking about."
"But...I..."
"Good morning, gentlemen," the low voice at the front of the classroom greeted, "Let's get started."
Kurt sat in a confused and angry silence for the rest of the period, a tight knot of emotion brewing in his stomach, his mind reeling, focusing on everything but the lesson at hand. The tension between he and Peter was palatable, neither raised their eyes to glance at the other, though they sat just inches away. The swirling in Kurt's head left him with a page of incoherent notes and a headache. At the end of the class, Kurt, Peter, and Cameron, who couldn't help but hear their interaction and who never once looked at Kurt, bolted from the room.
It's going to be a long semester, Kurt thought as he slumped against the wall, rubbing his temples and trying to make sense of what had happened. A bright hazel gaze and adorable smile, forced a small smile across his face.
"Everything okay?" his boyfriend asked as he took Kurt's hand.
"Better now," Kurt said honestly as he felt the tension starting to release a little, his smile widening.
As they turned down the hall, two pairs of hands gripped Blaine from behind, breaking their hold.
"Sorry lovebirds, but we have some urgent business to attend to with Mr. Anderson here," Wes said.
"We promise to take good care of him, Kurt," David smirked.
As they started to half-drag Blaine down the hall, he shook free of their grasp, stepping toward a surprised looking Kurt. Blaine took his boyfriend's hand in his own, smiling at Kurt with his eyes.
"See you at practice," he said, stroking his thumb across Kurt's knuckles. They are lost in a moment together, once again fighting the urge to lean in for a kiss. Blaine placed a peck on the back of Kurt's hand, smiling up at him. Kurt immediately blushed and he nodded dreamily, his heart full with Blaine's attention.
Wes and David grabbed Blaine from behind again. "Come on loverboy," Wes teased sarcastically, dragging Blaine down the hall as he waves. "Practice at 4, Hummel," Wes shouts over his shoulder as they round the corner.
As soon as Blaine is gone from view, the coldness, and confusion rush back in. And suddenly Kurt felt all alone in the crowded Dalton hallway.
XXXX
The Warblers are filing into the music room, milling around and exchanging first-day-back war stories, as Blaine and Kurt sit closely together on one of the couches in a comfortable silence. Their hands clasped together in their laps, eyes roving each other, identical smirks gracing their faces. They didn't need to exchange words to know what the other was thinking and those thoughts may have had a lot to do with their activities on that very same couch the previous day. Kurt could feel the color sweeping across his face as the smirk turned into a smile. Blaine automatically reciprocated. The feeling of the shared secret spread through their bodies, relishing in the knowledge that only the two of them would ever need to know why the music room had become such a special place. They were happy that they could be more open here, surrounded by their friends and this space, but they still dared only to display certain things publicly. Once again the bubble of happiness encircled them and they became oblivious to the noise, commotion, and raised eyebrows around them.
Wes's gavel put an end to all of that.
"Blaine," he yelled irritatedly.
Blaine looked up to find all the Warblers staring at him, equally irritated looks on their faces.
He returned his eyes to Wes, "I'm sorry," he shook his head slightly, "what were you saying?"
Snickers broke out across the room and Wes banged his gavel again, eyeing the other Warblers harshly.
"Blaine," Wes said seriously, "we have been talking for five minutes about our strategy for Regionals and your position as lead."
Blaine looked at Kurt for a moment, hoping that maybe he knew what Wes was talking about. Kurt shook his head softly, neither of them had even heard Wes call the meeting to order.
Wes's sixth sense kicked in, "You didn't hear I word I was saying, did you?" he asked in confusion and frustration. This was exactly what Wes was worried about.
Blaine was clearly embarrassed now, a look of shock on his face. He closed his eyes and shook his head lightly again from side to side, trying to collect himself.
Pulling on his confident exterior, and steadying his voice, he apologized, "No, Wes I did not. I am very sorry. It won't happen again." He released Kurt's hands and turned toward the head table.
Kurt's stomach sank a little at his boyfriend's action. He didn't want to distract Blaine from his important role as lead singer, but he had always wished for the kind of openness in their relationship that he had seen so many times in New Directions. He wanted to hold hands and sit close and lay his head on Blaine's shoulder and stare adoringly into his eyes. They didn't need another place where they had to put on a show, where they couldn't just be. But, he also realized that the reason for the restraint was decorum and had nothing to do with their relationship in particular. And even he had to admit that they had been quite distracted.
"Thank you, Mr. Anderson. Let's continue."
An hour and a half later, after strategy had been discussed, the merits of different songs analyzed, and several songs practiced, the council decided that it was time to break for the evening. Kurt turned his eyes to Jeff, who had been noticeably avoiding the couple all evening. Jeff usually sat on the same couch as them and stood close by as they sang, but tonight he had been distant, sitting with Nick on the other side of the room and avoiding Blaine's gaze as he circled the room in song. As the Warblers collected their things and headed for the door, Kurt leaned toward Blaine and whispered in his ear, "I need to talk to Jeff."
Blaine looked a bit surprised, "Okay, do you want me to wait for you?"
"No, it's okay. You go ahead. I will catch up in a few minutes."
Blaine nodded, squeezing Kurt's hand before heading out the door with the other Warblers.
"Jeff," Kurt caught up to his friend as he reached the top of the stairs outside the music room. When the taller boy turned toward him, Kurt continued, "Can I talk to you for a moment?"
Jeff consented wearily and Kurt could tell that his friend was hurting. He wondered if this was the right time for the conversation that they needed to have. He didn't want to cause Jeff any more pain, but he also wanted complete honesty between them.
They walked into the adjoining hallway, taking seats in two high back leather chairs near the window. Kurt could sense Jeff's hesitation, his sadness, his pain.
"How are you?" Kurt asked, his voice genuine.
Jeff's eyes met the floor, "Fine I guess." Both of them knowing that wasn't exactly true.
"I don't exactly know how to say this," Kurt began, "but I need to ask you a question and I need you to tell me the truth."
"Okay," Jeff turned a concerned eye toward his friend.
"Did you say something to Cameron about me and Blaine while we were at the dance?"
Jeff inhaled sharply, worry running behind his eyes. "Yes," he confessed.
Kurt sat puzzled, the obvious question written across his face. "Why, Jeff?"
Kurt lost his friend's eyes again. Jeff's hands wrenched together, emotion starting to build up in his body. Kurt sat for a moment watching his friend's misery before reaching out his hand to cover Jeff's.
"You remember what we said this morning about being better friends than to let this ruin us. I believe that, but to get past this I have to know the truth."
Jeff sobbed in a gasp, "I'm sorry Kurt. The guy was just sitting there all starry-eyed for you and I just felt sorry for him. I didn't want him to have to find out by accident the way I did. It just came out."
Kurt swallowed hard as tears started to drip down Jeff's face. Kurt felt sorry for his friend, but he was hurt too. "But, that wasn't for you to tell," he replied flatly.
"I realize that," Jeff retorted, raising the back of his hand to wipe the moisture from his face, "But, my heart was kind of breaking at that moment knowing that I was about to watch my friend and my date declare their love for each other through song, while I stood idly by."
Kurt was taken aback, surprised by Jeff's honesty. He clearly hadn't thought this through from his friend's point of view.
"And here was this other guy who was also about to get his heart broken by your song and I just wanted to reach out to him, give him some inclination, some clue about what was going to happen so he wasn't blindsided the way I was," Jeff's voice was turning from apologetic to angry now. "Because as much as I knew that you and Blaine were going to get together in the end, it still hurts to hear the guy you like professing his love for someone else." Jeff paused for a moment, looking up at Kurt, before adding, "Especially since he was supposed to be my date."
"But this morning, you seemed so okay with everything?" Kurt babbled trying to figure out how they had gotten to this point.
"What I told you this morning was the result of spending the whole day yesterday trying to make this all okay in my head, telling myself that I could easily get over him and that I needed to move on. But after spending the whole day watching the two of you together I realize how much it still hurts," Jeff squeaked.
Jeff had his hands covering his face now, his body visibly shaking. And in that moment Kurt realized the difficult situation they were in. Jeff's feelings for Blaine were clearly deeper and stronger than he wanted to admit. And Kurt, being the object of Blaine's affections, had become the enemy. Kurt could see that Jeff didn't intend to do harm by telling Cameron about he and Blaine. Jeff was heartbroken. And sometimes people do stupid, unfair things when they are heartbroken.
"I'm so sorry about all of this Jeff. We never meant to hurt you," Kurt tried to soothe his friend. But that was the last straw. Hearing Kurt refer to Blaine and himself as 'we' sent Jeff right over the edge of despair.
He lowered his hands from his face, words spewing angrily from his mouth, "I just wish that Blaine had never asked me to that stupid dance! And I wish that I had never come to your room. And I wish that I hadn't asked for the night with him because that just made everything worse. We had such a good time and it seemed for a moment like he really could have liked me that way if it wasn't for YOU," Jeff stood up from the chair quickly, like his body needed to get as far away as possible from the poison that was Kurt Hummel. He stilled for a moment, choking out his last thought before turning and hurrying down the hallway.
"And I just...I just...I just wish that I had never let myself fall in love with him in the first place."
XXXX
It had been a long day. Kurt was emotionally drained, his head spinning as he trudged dejectedly up Dalton hill toward Westcliff hall. The weight of the day's events and his school work weighed heavily on his mind and body. As he crested the hill he could just make out a figure standing on the other side of the lawn. Immediately recognizing Blaine, his heart fluttered.
Blaine recognized Kurt as well, a vision even from a distance. His gaze catching on his boyfriend's face as it was lit up in the moonlight, already feeling his body flooding with adrenaline and happiness. His thoughts bubbling out in song.
All those days watching from the windows
All those years outside looking in
All that time never even knowing
Just how blind I've been
Now I'm here, blinking in the starlight
Now I'm here, suddenly I see
Standing here, it's all so clear
I'm where I'm meant to be
Kurt wondered how it could be that just the sight of Blaine, waiting for him, eyes transfixed could melt away the stresses of the day and begin to put his mind and heart at ease. As Kurt approached, the sight of his love brought a song to his lips.
All those days chasing down a daydream
All those years living in a blur
All that time never truly seeing
Things, the way they were
Now he's here shining in the starlight
Now he's here, suddenly I know
If he's here it's crystal clear
I'm where I'm meant to go
Their voices blended seamlessly together across the open space, Kurt striding purposefully toward Blaine as they sang, smiles enveloping their faces.
And at last I see the light
Blaine:
And it's like the fog is lifted
Together:
And at last I see the light
Kurt:
And it's like the sky is new
Together:
And it's warm and real and bright
And the world has somehow shifted
Kurt finally reached Blaine, extending his hands for his boyfriend to take, interlacing their fingers, singing quietly to each other.
All at once, everything is different
Now that I see you, now that I see you
They slipped their arms around each other, gaining strength from their closeness, closing their lips quickly together. They could feel the worries and stresses of the day fading away, suddenly oblivious to the fact that they were kissing openly in front of the community building. The emotions and desires that they had been trying to fend off all day finally getting the better of them. In that moment they forgot the world, it was just them.
XXXX
"Can you come over for a while?" Blaine asked tentatively as they crossed the lawn after dinner.
"Of course," Kurt smirked at him.
It was funny really, the fact that Blaine even thought he needed to ask. Since when did they not hang out in one of their rooms almost every night? Well, since the whole Cameron fiasco started.
Kurt's phone buzzed in his pocket.
"Hey Mercedes," he answered.
"Kurt Elizabeth Hummel, what the hell is going on? You don't call for days. You don't answer your phone. Then you send me some cryptic text message about being with Blaine and expect me not to flip my shit?"
"Nice to talk to you, too," Kurt deadpans sarcastically.
"Seriously though, what is going on?"
Kurt mouths I'm sorry to Blaine as he removes his hand from his boyfriend's. Blaine understands immediately kissing him lightly on the cheek before walking the last few feet into Trinity Hall.
Kurt fills his friend in on the events of the past few days. Mercedes nearly deafens him when he gets to the part where he and Blaine kissed.
"Wow, Kurt, I have to give that boy props the next time I see him. What a cool way to ask someone out!"
"I know right..." Kurt trails off dreamily. He neglects to fill Mercedes in on the finer details of their day together, sufficing to say that they went on a date and had a wonderful time.
"We'll be home this weekend. We should all get together," Kurt remembers to tell her.
"We?"
"Yeah, Blaine and I," Kurt clarifies.
"You are bringing your boyfriend of less than a week home for the weekend?" Mercedes says in disbelief.
"Yes," Kurt says hesitantly.
"Oh my god, Kurt," Mercedes laughs, "your dad is going to freak out."
"No, no he isn't," Kurt's mind was now racing, "He already said that Blaine could come."
"Does he know that you are dating?"
"Well, no." Kurt mused, then suddenly turning very serious, "and he is NOT going to find out until I tell him."
"Okay, Kurt, calm down. Your secret is safe with me."
"Thank you, Mercedes. I will talk to you later, okay? I need to go now, I have a bunch of things I need to do tonight."
"Blaine one of them?"
Kurt's face reddened. His friend was laughing hysterically on the other end of the phone.
"Well yes actually," he said confidently. "And if you must know he is amazing!"
There was an abrupt silence on the other end of the phone, "Oh my god, are you serious?"
"I guess that is for me to know, and you never to find out. Bye now!" Kurt said as he hung up, claiming victory.
When he opened the door to Blaine's room, Kurt saw that his boyfriend had shed his blazer and was reclining comfortably on his bed looking quizzically over the paper he was holding.
"Hey, beautiful," he said as stood up from the bed, crossing the room and kissing Kurt firmly.
"I could really get used to this," Kurt hummed when they parted, arms comfortably wrapped around each other.
"Me too," Blaine smiled, leaning up to snatch another kiss.
They stayed together in their warm embrace, trading sweet kisses for several minutes before speaking again.
"Did you have a good conversation with Mercedes?" Blaine asked as he led Kurt to his bed.
"Yeah, I did," Kurt said, sitting next to Blaine on the edge of the bed and setting his book bag on the mattress. "She is looking forward to seeing us this weekend."
"Oh, is she coming for a visit?"
"Well, actually when I talked to Dad this morning he said that he wanted me home this weekend..."
"Oh my god, your Dad," Blaine cut him off. "You forgot to call him back yesterday."
"It's okay, Blaine. He was a little worried, but, yeah, I need to remember to call him when I say I will."
"God, Kurt, I'm sorry. I should have reminded you. I totally forgot."
Kurt smiled inside and outside at Blaine's concern, "It's not your fault."
"I know. I just don't want to do anything to get between you and your Dad."
"Seriously, don't worry about it. We talked it out. It's fine."
"So, you're going to be gone this weekend?" Blaine pouted.
"No," Kurt smiled, "we are going to be gone this weekend."
Blaine's eyes widened a bit in recognition and surprise. "You want me to go home with you?"
Kurt kissed him right then because he couldn't help himself. "Yes, of course. I already asked Dad and he said you were welcome."
Blaine swallowed audibly, "Don't you think it is a little soon for that?"
Kurt looked crushed, "You don't want to go?"
Blaine back tracked, "Oh no, it's not that. It's just...we will have been dating for less than a week."
A smile or realization graced Kurt's face, "I didn't tell Dad that we are dating. I want him to get to know you without the complication of him feeling like he automatically has to hate you because you are dating his son."
"Oh, so you want to take me home and torture me by making me keep my hands off of you all weekend?" Blaine smirked, reaching out his hand to gently trace the line of Kurt's jaw before placing a soft kiss on his boyfriend's cheek.
"I won't be able to do that," Blaine stated sadly.
"No," Kurt shook his head.
Blaine crashed his lips into Kurt's. When he pulled back Kurt was panting and Blaine's eyes were starting to darken with desire.
"And I won't be able to do that?"
"No," Kurt smirked as he caught on to Blaine's game.
Blaine ran his palm up Kurt's thigh. Kurt's breath hitched as Blaine's hand reached his hip, the look in Blaine's eyes growing hungry.
"Not this?"
Kurt could only shake his head as he was consumed by Blaine's eyes.
"Then I am sure that this would be out of the question."
Blaine was in his lap, straddling his legs, their lips searing together. Blaine's fingers trailing down his boyfriend's back as Kurt threaded his hands in the back of Blaine's hair. They could barely breathe, their mouths moving hungrily together, welcoming the other boy's tongue into their mouth. Excitement started to take hold, noises of pleasure being exchanged between them. Logic flying out the window, Kurt was suddenly bold, reaching up, loosening Blaine's tie and carefully, teasingly removing it from his neck, dropping it to the floor. Blaine smiled against Kurt's mouth, breaking their kiss for a second to consume him once more with his hungry expression while he wasted no time freeing Kurt of his blazer. Kurt smiled devilishly and Blaine thought his brain might just explode at the sight of him.
The shorter boy captured his boyfriend's neck with his mouth, sucking a bit of his pale skin between his lips before moving across to his Adam's apple as his boyfriend's head tilted back to welcome his mouth. He loosened Kurt's tie and in one swift motion liberated it.
Kurt unbuttoned the top button of Blaine's shirt, kissing him gently on the lips, sucking his bottom lip into his mouth, before smiling back at Blaine.
Blaine unbuttoned the top button of Kurt's shirt, leaning over and feathering kisses along Kurt's ear. The younger boy could feel his mind melting and body hardening at the feeling of his boyfriend's hot breath on his ear, goosebumps running down his arms.
Kurt unbuttoned another button, kissing the pulse of his boyfriend's neck, the place he had discovered the day before elicited something like a growl from Blaine. This time was no different.
The thoughts were fading, the heat in the room rising, hearts pounding, breath coming irregularly.
Blaine was becoming a bit unhinged, unfastening two of Kurt's buttons, his mouth darting between the open fabric, roving the indentation below Kurt's neck before turning his attention to his collar bones. Kurt began to realize that the forcefulness of Blaine's affection was likely going to leave a mark on his sensitive, porcelain skin.
And Kurt Hummel began to understand something else he hadn't before. Because if he had been asked for his opinion on hickeys before Blaine Anderson was giving him one, Kurt would have said that they were disgusting in appearance and clearly showed a lack of good judgment on the part of the parties involved. Well, that was before his gorgeous boyfriend was working him over, sucking and biting hungrily at Kurt's collar bones, before he was pressing him back into the mattress to gain more leverage, before he was marking Kurt as his own. And, Kurt Hummel, the boy obsessed with his skin and appearance had never wanted anything more. Because a mark was something tangible, something real, something that he (and the rest of the world if they cared to notice) could see and know that he belonged to someone, to Blaine.
Blaine is still straddling him and marking him, and Kurt is completely unhinged now, head thrown back against the mattress, chin jutting up, strangled, deep moans emanating from his mouth. Blaine's lost in it, too. Hungry, so hungry to know, to feel, to touch every bit of the angel beneath him. Blaine trails kisses up his neck and along his jaw before sliding across Kurt's mouth to capture his breath. Their eyes open and the stare breaks the kiss.
"God, Kurt, you are gorgeous," Blaine pants. "It's criminal how much I want you."
Then have me, Kurt thinks, but can't bring himself to say because, really, they had been dating for one day and how desperate and slutty did that sound? And, because as much as Kurt wanted it right at that moment (and he definitely did) he knew it was too soon.
"Trust me, the feeling is mutual," Kurt returned between heaving breaths, well aware that given his position Blaine was probably completely aware of how much Kurt wanted him.
They pressed their lips together in a slow, but smoldering kiss before Blaine rolled off of Kurt settling in beside him on the bed.
"Another epic fail for our 'talking not touching' idea."
"Groping, Blaine, 'talking not groping'" Kurt corrected, smiling at his boyfriend with hearts in his eyes.
Blaine captured Kurt again in a kiss, before chuckling, "You have such a way with words."
They stared at each other in mutual admiration, breath and heart rates returning to normal. Well at least as normal as they can be when you are in bed with your heart's desire.
"Oh my god, Kurt, what have I done to you?" Blaine exclaimed as his eyes caught on the red marks forming along his boyfriend's collar bones, devastation in his eyes.
"It's okay, Blaine," Kurt reassured him.
"I hurt you," Blaine squeaked, fighting the tears welling up in his eyes.
"No, no you didn't," Kurt reaffirmed taking Blaine's hand and looking hard into his eyes. "I actually kind of like it."
Blaine's expression puzzled, "You do?"
"Yeah," Kurt sheepishly admitted. "I mean I never would have believed it myself, but yeah I kind of do."
Once again, Kurt Hummel had rendered Blaine Anderson speechless.
"Besides, you were very careful to put them all where I will easily be able to hide them under my shirt," Kurt teased.
And just when Blaine thought that Kurt Hummel couldn't get any more perfect, he showed a new side of himself and Blaine fell for him a little harder, a little faster, a little further.
A half hour later, the staring and flirting were once again getting in the way of studying. Kurt is trying as hard as he can to focus on what he is supposed to be reading and not the fact that his elbow is touching Blaine's as they sit next to each other at the head of the bed. Clearly the contact is distracting Blaine as well because Kurt is pretty sure he hasn't even looked at his book in the last several minutes, contented, it seems, to allow his eyes to dart from his boyfriend's lips to his neck before returning back to his eyes. Kurt finally decides that he might as well give in and attempt the "talking not groping" idea.
"So what did Wes and David want earlier?"
Blaine smiles happily, glad that he can now fully concentrate on the beautiful boy beside him instead of pretending to be studying, "Well, first and foremost they wanted to plug me for details about us," Blaine began, drawing a bit of a blush to Kurt's face. "Then, we discussed song selections and they sent me off to make all of these copies for them while they chatted with Thad about more ideas."
"Oh, so you are like the errand boy?" the younger boy laughed.
"Yeah, they always want to have me involved with song discussions even though they are going to make the final decisions, but they never let me forget that I'm the junior and therefore low man on the totem pole when it comes to actually having to do work." Blaine sounded a bit irritated, "I hate making copies."
Kurt laughed at his boyfriend's disgust. "You are so cute," he said as he reached up and ruffled his fingers through Blaine's hair.
Blaine lightened, smiling back at his boy.
"Don't you see, Blaine? They are grooming you. Everyone knows that next year you will be the one holding that gavel and sitting behind the head table making the decisions."
"You think?"
Kurt couldn't help but roll his eyes. Blaine could be quite dense sometimes, but this was an achievement even for him. "No, Blaine. I don't think.." he let his statement hang for a moment just to string Blaine along, "I know."
Blaine took his hand, "And you will be sitting right beside me. We are going to make an awesome team."
Kurt had never really considered being selected for the council before. Sure, Wes had mentioned it on his very first day with the Warblers, but he didn't really consider it a possibility given all of the other juniors that would be vying for the spot, several of whom had been Warblers since their freshman year.
"I already think we make an awesome team," he said squeezing Blaine's hand, "but I don't think that we will get to be on the council together."
Blaine looked stunned, even more stunned than when Kurt had suggested Blaine was a shoo-in for the council.
"Why Kurt? Everyone loves you and they have since the moment you walked through the door. You got a solo on your second audition."
"I know, but there are a lot of other people who have been around a lot longer than me. They really deserve it more than I do."
"Well, it all comes down to a vote. The Warblers will vote for whoever they want to lead them, the people that they think are the best for the job. And, honestly, if they don't pick you, I would doubt their intelligence."
"You are too kind to me, Blaine Anderson," Kurt smiled up at him through his lashes.
"No, I'm just telling the truth." Blaine leaned this forehead against Kurt's, rubbing the tips of his noses softly together.
A comfortable silence stretched between them and once again they were both wondering how they could be so lucky.
"Speaking of other Warblers, what is going on with Jeff? You two seemed to be having a lot of conversations today."
And there it was, the beginning of the conversation that Kurt had been trying to avoid all night. The conversation that he wasn't sure he wanted to have.
Kurt's face lowered and saddened, he sighed frustratedly. Blaine pulled his boyfriend's hand into his lap, covering it with his other hand.
"What is it, babe? What is going on?"
Kurt truly wasn't sure where to start, but he knew that Blaine needed to know and he didn't want secrets between them.
"Jeff told Cameron about us before I did."
"Oh," Blaine said, turning toward his boyfriend slightly.
"And apparently Cameron told all of his friends that I cheated on him and didn't have the decency to tell him about it myself, I had to get a friend to do it for me."
"But that's not true," Blaine protested.
Kurt looked down his nose at him, "Thank you Mr. Obvious."
"Sorry, continue."
"Anyway, I have a new partner in chemistry, Peter White. He is a friend of Cameron's and pretty upset about this whole thing and committed to not letting me forget it."
"Oh, babe," Blaine sounded distressed.
"But that's not the whole of it. When I talked to Jeff this morning he seemed like he was doing okay with everything, I mean as well as could be expected considering the guy he has liked for a really long time is now dating one of his best friends." Blaine smiles, but Kurt can't bring himself to do the same because knowing Jeff is upset makes him kind of sick to his stomach. "But, when I talked to him this evening and asked him about the whole thing with Cameron he was totally different. He is really upset. His feelings for you are a lot deeper than I think anyone realized."
Blaine was stunned by that last bit of information because while he likes Jeff a lot and they are good friends, he had never thought of Jeff in that way. Suddenly Blaine realized all the problems he had made for Kurt and he felt a knot forming in the pit of his stomach. Jeff was one of Kurt's best friends, probably his best friend at Dalton after Blaine, he had to figure out some way to make this right again. But before he had much time to think about how, Kurt spoke again.
"Did you know that Jeff liked you, like that?" he asked honestly.
"No, I really had no idea. He is so quiet and we didn't really talk that much last year other than in passing during Warblers practice."
"Yeah, you were too busy with Mark," Kurt said tersely and it stung Blaine a little. Because really what did Kurt have against Mark? That was all in the past. But, that was a different conversation for a different time.
"Then this year I got to know him better and we became friends, but I really had no idea he had a crush on me. I mean he never said anything, I never heard anything from anyone else, and I never caught him looking at me in a way that would have made me question that he thought of me as more than just a friend."
"But, Blaine, you can be a little dense sometimes," Kurt teased as he brushed the tip of his nose across Blaine's. "I mean, how long did it take you to figure out that I liked you?"
Kurt had a point. Even when he had every reason to believe that Kurt liked him, the hand holding, the lingering looks, the fact that everyone in a 50 mile radius kept telling him so, he still didn't really believe it.
"I guess I can be a bit dense sometimes," Blaine admitted.
"A bit dense? Blaine, all the touching, the longing looks, the flirty duets, leading you around the room as we sang together. God, I even leaned over the back of the couch suggestively – I was kind of wearing a huge neon sign that said, 'I like you.'"
Blaine smiled mischievously, "Yeah, Kurt Hummel, you are a gigantic flirt. Do you know how hard it was for me to not just lean over and kiss you when you were leaning over the back of the couch like that? I mean, I don't know if I have ever had to use that much self restraint."
"That was kind of the point Blaine. I was offering it to you. I just wish that you would have leaned over and kissed me because it would have saved us a lot of heartache."
"Yeah," Blaine sighed pensively. "Ugh, this is such a mess, Kurt. How are we going to fix it?"
"I don't know, Blaine." Kurt thought for a moment before adding, "But we are an awesome team. I am sure we will figure something out."
Thank you so much for reading!
Songs:
I'll Cover You – Rent
I See the Light – Tangled
In the next episode: Can we fix it? God I hope so!
Now for the question, we are swiftly getting to the part of this story where the M rating is going to kick in. Up until this point it really hasn't been necessary, but I put it there from the beginning knowing where this story would eventually be headed. So, my question for you is, would you like to see this story remain rated M, meaning that you will be reading the full and raw version of future events, or would you like to see the story downgraded to a T rating where the plot will remain basically the same, but will be written in a less direct way?
I appreciate your comments.