For the next couple of days Kurt stayed as far from his friends as he could. It meant avoiding Glee club, it meant eating soggy salad sandwiches in his car at lunch, it meant lonely rides in the car to school and it meant wishing he had a cat or something to keep him company. He thought avoiding them would keep him far away from any involvement in the fight; he couldn't have been more wrong. Whispers in the corridors followed him between classes; discussions of fighting echoing off the walls wherever he went… it seemed every senior was going to show for it. And the very thought made Kurt sick to his stomach.
However, despite the terrors flitting around his school, Kurt had found solace in the evenings, meeting up with Blaine every night after work and then talking to him on the phone before bed. They hadn't kissed again since the first time, the streets had always been too crowded each time they said goodbye, but that didn't stop the delicate touches or the adoring looks. Blaine was now well on his way to knowing pretty much everything about him, but Kurt couldn't say the same for Blaine. It was like Kurt was managing to break down the walls, but then behind the walls there was an iron door. But Kurt swore to himself he would be the one to smash through the door. Even if it meant losing everything.
It wasn't until Thursday morning when Kurt finally found himself cornered in the auditorium by the Glee club. He'd been running through a couple of songs he'd been working on when he heard footsteps approaching. He tried to slip away to the steps at the back of the stage but he wasn't quick enough…
"Stop right there cumquat" Came Santana's usual impatient sneer.
Kurt sighed heavily before turning around to face the rabble. To his surprise the entire glee club had showed up to confront him…apart from Tina. Great.
"What's up guys?" Kurt asked in his most nonchalant voice, feigning confusion.
"Don't act like you don't know, Hummel" Puck glared at him, stepping forward.
"You've been avoiding us all weak" Quinn piped up, folding her arms and throwing him her bitchiest look. One which was pretty scary if you were on the receiving end.
"I…" Kurt started "I've been really busy"
"With what exactly?" Sam asked, looking at Kurt with distain "What are you trying to hide from us, Kurt?"
"Nothing! Why would I be hiding something, you guys are like my family"
"Yeah? Well families don't lie to each other." This one does "Look, just… what's going on? Is this about the fight? Because I know you're not a huge fan of violence but can you not see that there's no other way around this?!"
"Of course there is!" Kurt's words hissed out much harsher than he had intended, but they were all being complete drama queens "We could talk to them or something.."
"Please tell me this is one of your jokes I don't get."
"You honestly think this is going to end well?" Kurt whispered, voice hoarse "Just because of a stupid rivalry. I just don't think it's worth this. They aren't worth it I mean."
"I'm worth it. My shampoo bottle says so" Oh Brittany..
"Do you even know why we're rivals Kurt?" Puck asked.
"I didn't think there was a reason"
"Yeah well, there is."
"Go on…" This should be good.
"Look, we've always been rival schools… ever since day one. But things got bad, Kurt. A Dalton student challenged a McKinley student to a drag race in their cars down Griffins Creek." Kurt's eyes widened. Griffins Creek was the single most dangerous spot in Ohio. Kurt's Mom had taken him there once when he was little, and he remembered the height, the narrow, narrow road which was out of bounds, and the death toll of people thinking they were smart enough to race round it. "It was simple, the person to reach the other end wins. But Dalton cheated, Kurt. They cut her brakes. She couldn't stop when she got to the end… they say she was dead before she hit the bottom of the creek."
Kurt could feel the color drain from his face. Surely this couldn't be real? It couldn't.
"And to this day" Artie continued "Dalton have shown no remorse. They say she deserved what she got." He shook his head in disgust. Kurt looked around at the faces of the group before him. They all wore the same expression of hatred.
"So, it's time we got even." Finn said, looking around at the group like he was Obama making a huge speech "They need to pay for what they did."
Kurt stared. He couldn't be serious.
"Finn!" He gasped "Murder is never an option-"
"We're not going to kill them, Kurt" Quinn said, a slight smile playing on her lips "We're not in the Hunger Games…"
Kurt was still really pissed at them all, but he appreciated the reference. Ten points for effort.
"No, of course not" Sam said, his eyes making silent attempts to comfort Kurt. For once it wasn't working "We just want to show them that they can't mess with us."
"And they sure as hell can't get away with what they did."
Kurt rolled his eyes.
"But it wasn't even them who-" He started
"Look, Mother Theresa," Santana snapped, rounding on him having had enough of the talking "the way I see it, if you're not with us you're against us, so either man up and come fight with us or go and join them."
She had no idea at the time just how close one of them would come to losing their life over the consequences of her suggestion.
Join them.
Fight.
Or leave.
That's just how it is.
Incoming call Bus Stop Boy 7.23PM
"Hey Tribrows." Kurt answered, closing his laptop and lying down on his bed.
"Really, Kurt. Really." Blaine laughed on the other end of the phone "A whole world of eyebrow related humour… and you're going with Tribrows?!"
"You have no idea how long it took me to come up with that…"
"I don't even know how to handle you…" Blaine muttered, Kurt could practically hear the smile in his voice.
"With caution." Kurt quipped "I'm in a rage."
"I see" Blaine said "Did your Dad tape over Moulin Rouge again?"
"Okay, one, too soon. Two- seriously, don't even joke about that, and three, in case you haven't realised we're going to be beating the crap out of each other tomorrow night and I'm freaking out."
There was a silence. It was probably because this was the first time that Kurt had voiced the reality of what was going to happen. And it made him feel like grabbing Blaine and running away to live on a coco plantation in Ghana.
"Could be worse, he could be taping over Real Housewives" Blaine finally said, trying his best to keep the tone light. And far away as possible from the topic of discussion.
"Blaine." Kurt scolded, playing along "Not okay."
"You're right. I overstepped the mark on that one. I'm sorry."
"I suppose I can forgive you." Kurt said, before frowning "We're ignoring the whole 'huge-fight-between-our-districts-could-end-extremely-badly' thing then?"
"Guess what I did in school today" Blaine asked, as if Kurt hadn't spoken.
"That's a yes, screw it I'll play along, what did you do in school today Blaine?"
"I watched Romeo and Juliet!" Blaine sounded so excited that Kurt couldn't help but smile.
"Ergh. I'm so sick of that play. We've been studying it all year and it's just like… we get it, you're both idiots."
"But… Leonardo DeCaprio.." Kurt knew that if Blaine was in the room he'd be giving him his puppy dog eyes at this point…
"Up until the age of 16 I thought his name was Leonardo DeCappuccino." Kurt said- his Dad never had the heart to correct him
"Like the coffee?!"
"Like the coffee."
"Oh Lord. Please tell me you're joking. Please."
"Nope!" Kurt said "He's not even hot."
"Have you not seen him?! He's like sex on legs!"
"He looks like a foot." Kurt said blankly, trying his best not to get jealous of Blaine's crush on Leonardo DeStupidname.
"Have you even seen the movie for Romeo and Juliet?!"
"I refuse to watch it."
"Why?!"
"Because Romeo's a pervert"
"No- Kurt, it's romantic!" Blaine argued, as if Kurt had just missed something really obvious.
"Let me get this straight, excuse the pun" Kurt said, smirking at Blaine's laugh as he choked on his coffee on the other end of the line "Your idea of romance is sleeping with a 13 year old girl and then dying for no reason? I'm seeing you in a whole new light, Anderson."
"You just don't understand." Blaine said dramatically "I actually have it on DVD"
"This changes everything..." Kurt replied sarcastically
"I have a point I swear!" Blaine laughed, "I was going to say maybe you could come over and watch it with me?"
"What, now?!" Kurt asked, it was only 7.30 but even so, it was still risky "What about your parents?"
"They're in New York on business for two weeks." Blaine said flatly.
"Oh." Kurt replied, feeling almost bad for Blaine. His parents never seemed to be around "So when?"
"Now?" Blaine asked hopefully.
"But" Kurt started, looking down at his casual sweats and almost hearing his hair take on a life of its own "I look like I've slept in a bin"
"Kurt" Blaine laughed "I'm sure that's not true."
"You have no idea!"
"Well, come over so I can laugh at how gross you are!"
"Blaine. Not helping your cause here."
"Please Fancy!" Blaine pleaded "Let me show you that Leonardo is so much more than coffee. And I'll also let you pick out my outfits for the next week."
"I'll be there in twenty."
Half an hour (and several lies to his Dad about going over to Tina's house to study) later, Kurt was pulling up to Blaine's house (thanks to Blaine's directions and his trusty sat nav). Darkness had settled, but even in the dim glow of the street light, Kurt could still appreciate the vast, well kempt garden leading up to a grand house… or manor. Kurt had to admit, this was pretty impressive. He knew Blaine's family was rich, but daaaaayum girl.
Kurt parked his car on the short gravel drive and killed the engine.
Silence.
He was safe to be here.
He hadn't realised up until that moment that tonight was going to be the first time which he would be completely alone with Blaine. Of course, they'd had these…meetings, but they had always been in a public place. Hence platonic front and therefore minimal touching. Was Blaine expecting… no. I mean, they weren't even… Kurt didn't know what they were. They'd been on these 'dates' and they kissed once, but Blaine hadn't asked Kurt to be his Boyfriend. But then again, Kurt hadn't asked him either.
Whilst he was freaking out in his car, he didn't notice Blaine slip out the front door and walk over to where Kurt was parked. Confused, he bent down and tapped at the window.
"Oh my" Kurt yelped, jumping out of his skin. Blaine burst into laughter, creasing up outside the car. Kurt tried giving him a bitch stare. He really, really tried. But. But. But Blaine. Kurt doubled up, joining in with Blaine's laughter from the other side of the car, tears of joy spilling down each of their cheeks.
And was it saying something that even though they had a pane of glass in between them, separating them from each other's touch, they still managed to share a moment. A moment of freedom. A moment of laughter. It didn't matter that they were on different sides, the feelings they had for each other were powerful enough to burst through.
"Oh come on!" Blaine cried in mock horror "You cannot look me in the eye and tell me he isn't a tiny weeny bit attractive!"
Kurt made a point of sitting upright, staring Blaine directly in his eyes –his beautiful, beautiful eyes…
"He isn't a tiny weeny bit attractive." He said intently, not breaking contact.
They were about half way through the movie and somehow Kurt had ended up curled into Blaine's side while the other boy wrapped an arm around him and stroked his hair with his other hand. It felt incredible. It felt intimate. But above all else, it felt like the most natural thing in the world.
"You're wrong." Blaine said, pulling out his puppy dog face and staring defiantly back.
Then it was happening. It was slow motion…it was with the sound of people shooting each other in the background – romantic- , but it was theirs. Both boys leaned forward, lips not quite touching, just enjoying being so close to each other, their hot breath meeting between the minuscule gap which separated them; eye to eye, so close their visions blurred. And when neither one could take it any longer, their lips came together.
It wasn't a desperate kiss. It was a meaningful one.
Blaine's lips were softer than Kurt remembered, even though it had been all he could think about for the last week. Their mouths began moving in synchronisation, exploring the unfamiliar territory, slowly, carefully. Kurt hesitated for a moment before flicking his tongue against Blaine's mouth. The groan he got in response made him dizzy. Blaine brought his hands to setting on Kurt's hips, while Kurt wrapped his around Blaine's neck. They were lying down now, lips locked, passion exploding.
When they finally broke apart, they didn't let go. They just held each other, breathing heavily.
"Kurt" Blaine whispered, bringing up one of his hands to stroke back Kurt's hair from his forehead
"Yeah?" Kurt whispered back, leaning into Blaine's hand where it came to rest against his cheek.
"You're the Lord to my Ring" Kurt stared at him, sitting bolt upright for a few seconds, before creasing with laughter, so much that it hurt, and holy abs was he going to be toned after this.
"Annnnnd, the moments ruined" Kurt said through gulps of laughter, struggling to breathe "You're really eloquent with words, Anderson!"
"I try!" Blaine said, still shaking with laughter
"Anyway" Kurt said, wiping a tear that had run stray down his cheek "I honestly don't even know how to respond to that statement… so… thanks?"
"You're welcome." Blaine grinned, pulling Kurt back down and holding him close "But seriously. I…"
A car turns down the street.
"I really like you" He whispered softly
"I really like you too" Kurt responded, marvelling in the warmth of Blaine's body against his and the words which were about to be said
"Well that's good otherwise this would be really awkward…" Blaine winked "Um… so, yeah, do you want to maybe be…."
An engine turns off and the sound of several pairs of feet on gravel.
"Boyfriends?"
Footsteps
Kurt's heart explodes. Jesus Christ what was this boy doing to him. His. Boyfriend.
"As long as you never ever EVER use a Lord of the Rings chat up line on me again, yes, I would love that"
They leaned in for another kiss, but it was different from the last; the smiling made it very toothy.
Suddenly, without warning there came three loud thuds on the front door. The boys froze.
And waited.
"Blaine!" Someone called from outside "We know you're home, we're coming in!"
"Oh my god." Kurt whispered, still frozen in Blaine's arms, panic racing through his body "Who's that?!"
Blaine didn't respond at first, he, like Kurt, was frozen in sheer panic, his face was drained of color, ghostly white.
"It's Wes."