"Let's run this one more time."

"You've got it, Dave. It's perfect."

"Yeah, but, I wanna run it one more time…"

"David." Kurt grabbed Dave's chin and turned his face towards him. "We're done. It's perfect."

"You're perfect." Dave's eyes were wide and unblinking. Kurt resisted the urge to roll his eyes. It was a bit… much.

He let go of Dave's face and stood up straight. "No, I'm not. Stop putting me on a pedestal or you'll never be able to reach me. And trust me, I don't need my ego stroked any more than it has been."

Dave groaned. "Can't you just let me compliment you? I'm being honest with you, I think you're perfect."

"I'll let you compliment me when I hear you complimenting yourself."

"But complimenting myself's so… stuck-up."

"Your hair looks funny."

"What?"

Kurt raised his eyebrows. "I think your hair looks funny. Either wear a hat until it grows out or get it cut."

"…I like my hair, though…"

"Also, you should stop wearing your jacket everywhere."

"…But I like my jacket…"

"There. That's two things you like about yourself; your hair and your fashion sense - both of which, by the way, do actually need some adjustments."

"You're such an ass."

"You like ass, though."

"What?"

"Santana told me how she figured you out. Apparently you were staring at Sam's ass?"

Dave turned bright red. It spread all the way to his ears. He looked away.

"Don't worry, I won't tell him."

"Thank you."

000

Puck spread the word about Quinn and Rachel's locked-in-a-classroom shenanigans around the club pretty well - although some of it was pretty obviously made up, such as the very creative use of the whiteboard markers - so it wasn't too surprising that they picked I Hate Everything About You as their song. Finn recognized the song from the intro and nearly got up to leave before Kurt pulled him back into his seat, but neither girl paid him any mind.

They ended it looking more awkward and unsure than anyone had ever seen them before. Santana glared at them, mumbling something about "stealing her thunder"; Brittany was the only one who wasn't too confused to clap.

Santana, not willing to be upstaged, grabbed Brittany's hand and dragged her up. "Lemme show you how a real dyke gets it done."

Quinn shot her an ice queen glare. "Who says we're lesbians?"

"You. Now park it." Santana silenced Quinn's protests by shoving an open hand in front of her face, and then motioned for Brittany to join her on the recently vacated stools.

She signaled to Brad, who played an unfamiliar set of chords. Once the girls began to sing, however, there was no mistaking the song.

How can I convince you what you see is real?

Who am I to blame you for doubting what you feel?

I was always reachin', you were just a girl I knew

I took for granted the friend I have in you

Kurt was surprised by the new piano accompaniment; he wasn't aware that Santana knew anything about song arrangement, but somehow it came together perfectly. And while he doubted there was anything in the world that Santana couldn't sing, the song was certainly out of Brittany's usual blonde-girl-pop zone.

Mid-way through the first chorus, Brittany's fingers wove their way through Santana's. They stayed like that, hands dangling between them and loosely clasped together, for the rest of the song.

000

"Are they dating or not?"

"I don't know. I can never really tell what's going on with them." Kurt turned Mercedes' hand slightly. "Or… wait, who?" he corrected, realizing his mistake.

"Both."

"Rachel and Quinn are, I presume, just very confused. They'll probably just part ways once they figure out where their sexuality stands. I think they're both bicurious. Quinn might go with girls after what happened with the baby, and Rachel will probably ignore it so she doesn't become another statistic of gay-parents-raise-gay-child. Santana and Brittany are most likely trying to be in a casual, celibate relationship to see if they can actually handle it. I'd like to be optimistic about that. I think they're good for each other. Here, finished." He released her hand.

Mercedes peered at her thumbnail, admiring the tiny flower that Kurt had designed on it. "Wow, that's beautiful. And those girls…" She shook her head. "I never really know what to think. It feels like we're the gayest school in Ohio sometimes."

Kurt laughed. "We've got nothing on Dalton. Every boy there is at least… flexible."

"How do you know that?"

"Because after Blaine and I broke up, he slept with most of them."

Mercedes' eyebrows shot up. She hadn't heard this one before. "You never tell me anything."

Kurt shrugged. "It wasn't important. He did it safely and I took him to get tested for everything under the sun as soon as the tests would be effective and I'm taking him to get retested in a couple months."

"You're…. surprisingly chill about this."

"Why wouldn't I be? We're not dating, much as he still wants us to be. He can sleep with whoever he wants."

"That's not what I mean. I mean that I thought you were sex-phobic or something."

"Well, yes." Kurt scrunched up his nose. "The idea of actually doing it myself still freaks me out, but if it's someone else it doesn't bother me. It never has."

"Except if it's porn."

"Well, yes. I guess as long as I don't have to have any experience personally involving it, it doesn't bother me. I remember one time I went to see Blaine and he hadn't washed his sheets yet." He shuddered. "I spent about fifteen minutes hyperventilating into a bag in the hallway. His room still smelled like it, too. That was way too much. And I'm so glad they cut out 'Contact' when he and I went to see RENT a couple months ago."

Mercedes shook her head. "Sorry, baby. Now, let's change the subject." She grinned. "Dave. How's it going?"

"How's what going?"

"Have you kissed him again?"

Kurt rolled his eyes. "No. We've just been practicing our song."

"Ooh, what song?"

"It's a surprise. But it sounds pretty fabulous, if I do say so myself." He smirked. "And I do say so."

"Oh, come on, everything you do is fabulous. Case in point-" She help up her hands and wiggled her fingers.

"Careful! They're not dry yet."

Mercedes pouted. "Boy, what is wrong with you? You care more about my nails than a potential boyfriend."

"I'm not even sure I'm interested."

"Why not?" she whined.

"He still hates himself. He needs to love himself before anyone else can love him."

"So you are planning on it."

"Eventually. Maybe."

Mercedes squealed a little bit. "You need to promise me-" she grabbed Kurt's hands "-promise me that you'll give me all the details. And I mean everything."

"Will do. Anyways, I couldn't keep it from you if I tried."

000

Music:

"I Hate Everything About You" by Three Days Grace

"The Search Is Over" by Survivor