"You fucking idiot!" Wes yells as he storms past Blaine and into the hallway.

"I was trying to sleep," he tries but Wes is in full flight and won't take his crap.

"Bullshit you were. You've been crying again and I'm not surprised. What the hell did you think you were playing at? And that poor boy. Humiliation is not the word."

"It doesn't matter anyway," Blaine says morosely as he heads to the kitchen. "He told me he doesn't want to see me again."

"Well one of you needed to end it. I'm glad someone was adult enough to see that."

"Wes,"

"Don't 'Wes' me. What I saw on that dancefloor made me so uncomfortable. You looked as if you were trying to inhale him."

"I think I was."

"It was more intense than anything I've ever seen in my life- and I've seen Sebastian in action. Were you really surprised that the poor kid tried to kiss you? You looked like Lestat the vampire discovering new prey."

"No...not surprised," Blaine says, filling two mugs with coffee and handing one to his friend before sitting at the table.

"Then why did you yell?"

"Because I had to stop myself from kissing him back. Wes, I'm sorry if you think it's gross or whatever but...holding him in my arms felt so right."

Wes sighs, takes a sip from his cup and then looks at Blaine again. "I don't think it's gross. I think I saw two people who are falling head over heels in love and are powerless to stop it."

"No. No...that's not..."

"Deny it all you want Blaine, but it's true. You can play this game of cat and mouse for as long as you choose, but you two are irresistibly drawn to one another and eventually you won't be able to deny it any longer."

"So what? You're saying I should go for it?"

"No. I can't say that Blaine. You want me to, so that it will make you feel better about yourself and the situation...but I can't. I'm the same age as you, and I teach kids his age. I can't say I'm okay with you pursuing him."

"Don't use that word."

"You see! You feel uncomfortable about it yourself. Leave Kurt be for a while. Months if necessary. Maybe try contact again in the summer."

"The summer? But that's ages away!"

"It's not that long. And it will give Kurt time to become stronger, more mature. You too for that matter."

"But...what about school? The bullying?"

"He'll deal with it the same way he always did. He has a supportive dad you said, and he has other friends too don't forget."

"I don't like to think of my life without him in it," Blaine says sadly, which prompts Wes to pull him to his feet and into a hug.

"He was in your life for two months. Before that you had thirty one years of ignorance."

"Ignorance is bliss."

"Quite. So become ignorant again. You can do it I'm sure."


Kurt wakes on the morning of his sixteenth birthday, not delirious with excitement as he had always imagined he would be on such an occasion, but with a heavy heart and tears stinging behind his eyes. He drags himself to the shower, cursing the thought of yet another day of mindless torment awaiting him in the halls of McKinley high. It was almost bearable- in that week he spent with Blaine- because he knew that no matter what he had to go through at school, by three o'clock he would be happy again.

He dresses slowly, trying to prolong the inevitable and makes his way downstairs to his dad.

"Happy Birthday buddy!" Burt says, pulling him into a hug and ruffling his hair.

"Dad," he groans in annoyance as he tries to right his hair again before sitting at the table.

"So...these came," Burt says as he hands over the most enormous bouquet of flowers Kurt has ever seen. "I'm guessing they're from that guy in the black car who is strictly not a boyfriend," Burt teases gently, but regrets the words as soon as he sees Kurt's eyes start to shimmer. "Kurt?"

"Strictly not a boyfriend," Kurt mumbles as he opens the card. "Not now, not ever."

Happy sixteenth Birthday, love Blaine xxx
P.S I miss you.

"Give them to Carole," Kurt says, face hardening as he pockets the card.

"What? They're for you. Has something happened?"

"Blaine- the guy in the car- won't be picking me up anymore."

"What'd he do?" Burt asks, shoulders immediately tensing.

"No...nothing. It just...It just didn't work out that's all."

"So you were dating then. I knew it!"

"No, we really weren't. I hoped...but no. It's not gonna happen." He offers his dad a watery smile, but Burt shrugs his shoulders in confusion.

"I don't get why he'd send you flowers then."

"Neither do I. Like I said, give them to Carole."

Burt sighs heavily as Kurt reaches for the cereal. Watching his little boy growing up is harder than he ever thought it would be. He tries to be understanding about him being gay, and he knows he has a hard time at school because of it. He had hoped the appearance of this guy might have helped Kurt deal with everything, a few dates here and there would bring a much needed boost to his confidence and subsequently make the bullying easier to deal with- because then he'd finally know, like Burt has always known- that there are people in this world who are ignorant, fearful and unaccepting, and then there are those who love and accept someone just as they come.

But instead, Kurt had spent an entire week in the company of black-car-guy as Burt was now calling him, then a week sulking, and now he's moping about like his heart is broken and that, he can't even begin to understand.

"What's the deal with him then?" Burt tries again, but his son has built walls of steel around himself and refuses to discuss it.

"Dad, drop it."

"Fine. Come get your gift," he says, dragging him out onto the porch where he sees a black navigator standing proudly on the driveway.

"Oh my god!" Kurt cries, launching himself into his day's arms who laughs and hugs him tightly. "You are the best! The absolute best! Can I drive to school? Can I? Please?"

"Okay!" Burt laughs loudly. "Okay. Whatever you want. I'm just happy you're smiling again," he mumbles as he heads back into the house.


"Fuck, fuck, fuck!" Blaine yells in exasperation as he slows his car until its crawling along. It's only a flat tire, and he knows he shouldn't be so angry, but in all honestly he's been this way for a while now. It's been two months since he last saw Kurt, stepping from his car and into the darkness with tears running down his face. Two long months in which the pain has lessened only slightly, to leave a dull ache, a longing in its place which he knows can only be erased by him.

He had thought a month in LA with Cooper would cure him, maybe help him forget the torment and shift his focus onto living again. But it only succeeded in making him miss Ohio, something he never thought he'd do, and wishing he was home for the holidays where maybe he might bump into Kurt at the mall, or ice skating.

He's had no contact with him, apart from sending the flowers on his birthday to which there was no reply. Wes, Cooper, Jeff, even Sebastian- who Blaine is never quite sure of even after all these years- all initially agreed that this was for the best. They have each done their bit, taking him out for coffee (Wes,) housing him all over Christmas and holding him as he cried his way into the New Year (Cooper.) Getting him hideously, insanely drunk and trying but failing to set him up with any available guy (Sebastian) and clearing up his vomit stained hallway, putting him on the couch and cradling his head tenderly while he sipped at water and cried some more (Jeff.) But none of it has helped, and his friends are starting to wonder if really Blaine should try to make contact. But he is stubborn in his refusal, insisting that Kurt didn't want to see him anymore, and so it is up to him to change his mind when he's ready.

"But he's not going to though," Wes had insisted that morning over breakfast at a diner. "He's probably sitting at home, lamenting over what could have been. There's no way he's going to call a thirty one year old guy and risk getting made a fool of again."

So Blaine finds himself driving to downtown Lima- as he has on so many weekends past- in the vain hope of spotting Kurt on the street. But whatever Kurt does to fill his weekends, it doesn't seem to involve browsing the shops or showing up to acoustic night- as Blaine hasn't seen him there either. His flat tire seems to have put paid to today's efforts anyway, and he eventually crawls to a stop in front of a garage and walks inside.

"Hey man, problem with your car?" an extremely lanky teenager asks as he walks towards him wiping his hands on a rag.

"Yeah. Flat tire."

"That all? Can't you do that yourself?" the kid asks, surprised.

"Uh...no. I don't know the first thing about cars I'm afraid, other than driving them."

"Dude. That's...like... Hey! Don't I know you from somewhere?"

"Uh...no?" Blaine offers, confused. "I don't think so."

"No worries," The teen laughs and shakes his head. "I'll go get Burt for ya."

Blaine stands in the shop and looks around. It is quiet except for the distant sound of a radio and the occasional hum of some sort of machinery. He waits for a while, and begins to think maybe the teenager has forgotten about him so he coughs loudly, twice, but still nothing. Another few minutes pass, and Blaine starts to become impatient.

"Uh... Hello?" he calls and hears a thud of tools being downed.

"Hi," an all too familiar voice calls back. "How can I... Oh."

"Kurt." The emotion which floods both of them is evident. Blaine actually drops his car keys in surprise but makes no move to pick them up, choosing instead to stare and stare for as long as possible. It's Kurt alright, but Kurt as he's never seen him before. Dressed in navy blue coveralls, with the hint of a white undershirt showing against his alabaster skin, hair mussed from lying underneath different vehicles. Blaine watches as the blush creeps across his cheeks- one sporting an oil streak- and down his neck before flooding his chest. Swallowing, Blaine forces himself to look into those eyes and realizes to his...Dismay? Pleasure? That the pull is still there. His breath catches in his throat as blue lock on gold and heartbeats quicken.

Kurt grips the wrench he's holding so tightly his knuckles turn white. Blaine looks good. Tired, maybe, but just as devastatingly handsome as ever, the few days worth of stubble only making Kurt's stomach lurch in the most delicious way possible as he watches him biting on his lip. When their gaze locks it is everything Kurt can do not to throw himself into Blaine's arms and beg to be allowed to stay there for all eternity.

"I uh...got a flat tire," Blaine says, gesturing lamely towards his car. "Someone said they'd fetch someone but they didn't come back."

"That'd be Finn," Kurt says, his voice barely above a whisper. "He probably got distracted. That happens with Finn. I can change it," he shrugs and walks to the back of the shop before Blaine can say anything else. He returns carrying a small tool box, and strides confidently out to Blaine's car, ignoring the way the early february chill bites through his thin coveralls as he sets to work.

"How have you been?" Blaine asks, so desperate to reach out and touch him that his arms physically shake from the force of his longing.

"Um...good. Yeah. Good. You?"

"Okay I guess," he says as he settles on the hard ground to watch Kurt work.

"Don't sit down there," Kurt says over his shoulder. "There's a customer waiting room just inside."

"I'd rather sit and talk with you if that's okay?" Blaine asks and feels dismayed as he's met with only a shrug. "I uh...didn't know you liked cars," he offers.

"Love 'em," Kurt huffs as he removes the flat tire. "Been helping dad since I was three."

"This is your dad's place?"

"Yeah. Name's a bit of a giveaway," he says, smiling softly.

Blaine looks up at the giant 'Hummel's tires and lube' sign and chuckles. "Right. Guess I didn't see that. I just saw the pumps and figured someone could probably help."

"Want me to use your spare or put a new one on?" Kurt asks, one hand on his hip and squinting down at him.

"Wait a minute," Blaine says standing. "You've grown," he says, laughing in disbelief as Kurt stands at an equal height.

"So?"

"I uh...nothing. I just...I just noticed, that's all."

"I'm sixteen Blaine. I'm expected to grow," Kurt snaps in an attempt to hide his embarrassment.

"Clearly my sixteen year old self missed that memo," Blaine replies and Kurt can't help but laugh. "I've missed you." Blaine knows he shouldn't have said it, things were awkward enough and he's only made it worse judging by the way Kurt stares hard at the ground. But he clears his throat and looks up with something approaching a smile.

"I've missed you too."

"Have you?" Blaine asks, relief washing over him. "Oh thank god. I mean I know we can't date or anything but..."

"I am dating actually," Kurt interrupts quickly, cheeks flaring. "I'm um...dating a guy from school."

Blaine actually feels his heart plummet upon hearing those words. He knows his face falls- for a second he had allowed himself to be hopeful but now those hopes have been dashed in the cruelest way possible.

"I thought you were the only one?"

"Like you said...not everyone had come out."

"Right," Blaine says, shaking his head to try and focus his thoughts. "Um...Good. I guess. I'm um...pleased for you." And Kurt tries desperately not to stagger backwards as his offhand dismissal hurts like a punch to the gut.

"Hey there," Blaine turns to see a man who he can only assume is Kurt's dad walking towards them. "Finn said you needed help changing a tire. Looks like my son got to you first."

"Yeah...um...thank you, Mr. Hummel," Blaine says politely.

"No worries."

"You still haven't told me if you want a new or use your spare," Kurt snaps, making Burt turn to him in surprise.

"Kurt," he says out the corner of his mouth. "Be nice to the customer."

"Well?"

"Uh...new please," Blaine says, hoping that may mean he gets to hang around a little longer and talk to Kurt some more.

"Nice car," Burt comments, cocking his head to one side and trying to place it in his mind.

"Thanks."

"Come through to the office, I'll sort out the bill."

"Okay." he makes to follow Burt but Kurt calls.

"Blaine! Your keys are here," he says throwing them to him, and it is this that makes Burt stop dead.

"The black-car-strictly-not-a-boyfriend-Blaine? I knew I recognized that car!" Burt says in utter disbelief as he looks from the man, to his son and back again. "You been dating my son?" he says menacingly moving towards a suddenly terrified Blaine.

"No!" Blaine cries backing out of the door and holding up his hands. "No, not at all Mr. Hummel sir."

"Then what the hell have you been doing with him?" he growls. "And where do you get off sending him flowers like that and making him cry night after night?"

"What? I um..."

"Dad!" Kurt cries, running to his side. "Please. I told you, Blaine and I only saw each other as friends. We had a disagreement, that's all."

"What about?"

"I'll tell you later," Kurt says, tugging on his arm.

"Tell me now. Or you tell me," he says, turning to Blaine once more.

"Um..."

"It was my fault. I snuck into a club, Blaine caught me and drove me home. I got mad at him for it." Kurt says, reddening again and then staring at the ground.

"What? Kurt! That's not like you. Were you drinking?"

"No he wasn't," Blaine offers.

"I didn't ask you," Burt snaps and Blaine retreats once more.

"No dad. And please don't be mad at Blaine. You should be grateful he was there to keep me safe."

"Did you know anything of this?" Burt asks, pointing a finger squarely at Blaine's chest.

"No sir. I was out with some friends and I saw him come into the bar so I took him home. That's all."

"How old are you?"

"Thirty one sir."

"Are you gay?"

"Dad!"

"Yes," Blaine says meekly, wincing internally as Burt removes his baseball cap and runs a hand over his bald head.

"Right. Kurt, you listen to me... You too sunshine, if you value your balls. I'm grateful to you for driving my son home, and Kurt, I think you were incredibly immature, stupid and reckless. Also, getting mad at him over it, when he only did the right thing, is dumb. But as for this...friendship...I gotta question what would make a guy of thirty wanna be friends with a boy of sixteen. And I can't say I'm entirely happy about it."

"Doesn't make any difference," Kurt huffs in annoyance. "We're not friends anymore."

"Kurt, go out the back and stay there. And don't think this is over...when we get home you can consider yourself grounded for a month."

"What? That's ridiculous!" Kurt fumes, and Blaine has to suppress a smirk at his diva-esque tantrum. "It happened like...two months ago."

"Doesn't matter!" Burt calls after his retreating back. "See?" he says, turning to Blaine once more, "Just a kid."

"Oh I know," Blaine says hurriedly. "And I can't really do anything other than reassure you that I have never, ever crossed the line with your son. He was only fifteen when I first met him, and I would never...no. Just no."

"Really?"

"Really. You have to believe me," Blaine pleads.

Burt looks him up and down a few times, shrugs and then walks off, returning a few moments later rolling a new tire. "I do actually," he says nonchalantly. "You looked so horrified when I suggested it. But you do like him though," he continues matter-of-factly as he starts to fit the new tire.

"Excuse me?"

"You like him, he likes you. I ain't blind. But you're sure as hell not dating him while he's only a sophomore."

"No...I um...I've already told him that."

"Have you now?" Burt says looking back over his shoulder with one eyebrow raised. "And how did he take the news?"

"Um...not too well I guess. I asked if we could stay friends and he said no. That's the real reason we fell out."

"Yeah, that sounds like Kurt alright," Burt laughs as he straightens up. "Stubborn as hell. He gets it from me. The good stuff he gets from his mom. So...what is it you like about him then?"

"Huh?"

"You heard," he says folding his arms and awaiting the nervous man's response. "What do you like about my son?"

"Um..." Blaine's mind scrambles for a response, instantly dismissing any of the more physical suggestions. "He's just...incredible," Blaine sighs happily.

"Steady." Burt warns.

"Sorry. But he's just so much fun to be around. And he's funny and sweet. Smart too. He may be young but he can hold a better conversation than most adults. I notice his age sometimes, but most of the time we're just two equals talking about stuff that interests us and cracking jokes."

"I like you," Burt Hummel says decisively. "By rights I should hate you, but y'know...I've a feeling you're gonna end up dating him however much I kick up a fuss."

"I wouldn't go against your wishes."

"You might not, but he sure would- he's a teenager; it's what teenagers do. But I meant what I said. No dates at the moment. Not with someone as...mature as you."

"I don't think you need to worry," Blaine says despondently. He stops short of telling Burt that his son is dating someone else, figuring that's Kurt's news to impart when he's ready.

"But Kurt could use a friend like you right now, someone who's gonna be responsible and there to listen when he needs to talk. About school, friendships, and gay stuff too y'know? I gave him a talking to just last week- but it was mortifying for us both. I can talk about the emotional side of it all, and I gave him some pamphlets but it's not really my area if you know what I mean."

"I understand," Blaine says kindly, "but really, I can only be a friend to him if he'll let me."

"He will...eventually."

"And in the meantime?"

"Wait. Patience is a virtue my son, patience is a virtue."