Kurt ran down the hall, ducking into the locker room and hid in one of the showers, trying to get his breathing in order. He felt like his throat was closing up, that his chest was going to explode. What just happened? It was barely two weeks ago that he realized he was gay. It was over a month ago that he'd met Blaine Anderson. This was Blaine's- No. This was not Blaine's fault. This wasn't some instance you placed blame on. It wasn't a bad thing. He'd just been drilled for so long in this shit school that being gay was worse then death.

They'd been two people in an ocean of popular kids, jocks, and social rejects and they still managed to somehow migrate towards one another and realize who they were. That wasn't completely true either. Blaine always knew who he was. Kurt had really needed Blaine more then the other way around, to help him discover who he was. "I'm gay..." he said softly. He knew that now. He'd said it before, but now it meant more. Before this, he could say it, but knowing if it was true or not had never been tested. Kurt Hummel could sit there now and admit, that brief, amazing kiss with Blaine felt more real then ANY of the make-out sessions he'd had with Mercedes. He was still reliving it over and over again. Blaine's soft lips, the heat of their bodies drawing close to one another.

Kurt inhaled sharply, checking to make sure he was still alone in the locker room.

Kurt slumped down against the shower wall. Everything before he had met Blaine was so much simpler, but now that he put more thought to it, he was never really happy. Being friends with the jocks meant it would keep him out of harms way but it also meant stifling his creativity and personality and everything that was Kurt. If he had never met Blaine he would still be stuck in a monotonous high school life with nothing to look forward to except maybe the spare time he had spent with Mercedes, the only person with whom he let himself show through.

Kurt definitely did not regret meeting Blaine. Those long weeks ago Blaine was just another face at McKinley, another victim of the everyday bullying, but now after all that time, Kurt knew he had developed feelings for Blaine. More than friend feelings that is. But now Kurt worried if he had just ruined what was an amazing friendship with the slip up in his judgement he just had back in the choir room.

Kurt had no idea how Blaine felt about him, but if anything he would assume nothing more than a best friend. His heart sank as he accepted the truth in his thoughts. He did wish things were as simple as they used to be, but he would never give back what he had with Blaine if he were given the chance. He just had to figure out how to fix it.

Blaine sat frozen in the choir room. The boy he was crushing on just kissed him and it was quite amazing. But why did Kurt run out so suddenly? For that brief moment while their lips were pressed together, Blaine felt a little hopeful that Kurt had maybe felt a little spark between them, but before he knew it, Kurt was running out the door. Did Kurt regret kissing him? Maybe he was imagining singing with someone else, someone he had a crush on and lost control. Blaine felt his stomach sink, he wanted so much to follow Kurt down the hall, but what was the point? Kurt obviously didn't like the kiss as much as Blaine did.

Blaine stood up, pacing the choir room. He didn't know what else to do. How could he even face Kurt after this? He couldn't stop thinking about reuniting their lips. He knew he wouldn't be able to look at Kurt without staring at those luscious lips he missed so much, and that would no doubt make Kurt uncomfortable. The first friend he made at McKinley and he had to go and fall for him. What was wrong with him? Why did one of the hottest guys in the school have to be the one person to befriend him?

He didn't even have anyone to talk to, Kurt was his only real friend at McKinley, and he couldn't very well talk to any of his family about this. He felt so alone.

Just as he was thinking that, the door to the choir room flew open and none other than Rachel Berry walked in. She strutted into the room, head held high and placed piano sheet music on the piano and signaled for Brad to start. What she didn't realize was that Brad wasn't there.

Blaine stood at the other end of the room and looked at her wide eyed. Did she actually not notice him at all? Rachel stopped and opened her eyes when the music didn't start and then she noticed Blaine. She cocked her head to the side and asked, "What are you doing here?"

Blaine responded, "uh, practicing?" It sounded more like a question to his own ears.

"Oh, do you want me to leave? I was just going to perfect my vocal runs, but if you need more practice I can leave," Rachel said.

"No, it's fine," Blaine sighed.

Rachel looked at him curiously and walked closer. "Who were you practicing with?" Rachel asked.

Blaine replied, "Kurt."

"Oh, well, where is he?" Rachel asked. Blaine just shrugged. "You know, I've heard some rumours about the two of you. I just wanted to know if they were true. I have two gay dads you know, so if you ever needed advice or someone to talk to, I could direct you to them. Or I am always willing to listen." Rachel gave a huge smile.

"It's fine. I just don't think Kurt handles the rumours very well. I mean, I'm used to them. But it's not fair to Kurt," Blaine said.

Rachel just nodded. "Kurt is going through a hard time right now. I know he won't talk to me about it, but maybe you want to talk?"

"I don't know Rachel. It's fine. Nothing happened," Blaine said.

"That means something did happen! Oh tell me! You like him, don't you? You can tell me, I won't tell anyone," Rachel said.

"I... I don't know," Blaine conceded. "But I don't think he cares for me at all. Not anymore..." Blaine trailed off.

Rachel scoffed, "Blaine, you can never concede to defeat. You like Kurt, right?" Blaine nodded. "Well, you need to tell him! Have you ever said to him 'Kurt, I like you' before?"

"Well… No." Blaine admitted sheepishly. "But honestly, he was my first friend here. Why would I risk telling something like that when I don't know if he feels the same? For all I know, he thinks that I'm an awesome friend, but not his type. Then I tell him that I like him and then our friendship changes. I don't know if I can risk that."

"Blaine, this is going to sound harsh because we haven't known each other that long, but you seriously need to get your head out of your butt and realize that he is crazy about you!" Blaine raised an eyebrow at her.

"What are you talking about Rachel?" She smirked.

"You think that I don't notice the looks you give Kurt when he isn't watching? When you aren't watching, he is giving you the exact same look, too! Blaine, love is worth the risk because it doesn't just happen. It takes hard work and it takes fighting for each other, but in the end, you are with your best friend and the love of your life."

Blaine stared at her a moment before he thought back. He always thought Kurt was cute, he always thought he was sweet, even when he was trying to hide himself. He was different then the rest. There were boys Blaine saw himself holding hands with, or sharing his first kiss, but Kurt was more then that. He was someone he could talk to, someone he could lay and tell his whole life to and not feel like he had to lie. That kiss, how natural it had been still gave him goosebumps.

"I love him..."

"Well of course you- what? No way really! I was just assuming- Oh my God Blaine!" Rachel threw her arms around him and he just laughed hugging her back. "Go tell him! Go find him and let him know!"

Blaine hesitated for a moment before he flew out of the choir room and started to look for Kurt. He didn't know where he might have run off too. Maybe telling him wasn't the best idea. What if Rachel was wrong about him loving him back. Like, maybe, but love. It was so strong a word and an emotion. He slowed in the hallway, looking around. If he was Kurt Hummel, where would the last place be that anyone would look for him? Gym. Locker room.

Kurt pulled himself off the shower floor, feeling a bit more calm then before. At least he did, till he realized the football team had come in to gear up for practice.

"Well look who's here," they all sneered. "No girls in the boys room. Perhaps we should teach him a lesson?"

Kurt went to run, but Puck caught him and dragged him back into the shower, David and Azimio trailing behind to turn the cold water on. It was like ice, hitting his pale skin and he yelled in shock.

"Get off me you neanderthals!" he yelled, kicking his legs trying to get away and out of the ice cold water.

"Aww the little princess thinks he can get out of this easily!" David laughed, pushing the boy's face under the stream of the water.

Kurt let out a shriek as the cold water hit his face, causing him to inhale a mouth full of water. He threw his elbow back, hitting Azimio square in the nads, causing the jock drop Kurt's arm, falling to the floor curled in on himself in pain.

With one arm free, Kurt clutched onto the divider wall of the shower, pulling himself partially out of the water, choking and gasping for breath.

Just then Blaine came running through the locker room doors, he had heard the commotion and immediately knew Kurt's shrieks. He ran over towards the showers when he saw Kurt and the three jocks, "Kurt! Are you okay? What's going on? What happened?"

"Oh, look princess! Your prince has come to save you!" David laughed, "Too bad he'll be joining Hummel in the showers!" David kicked Azimio, who was still curled up on the floor, signaling for him to go grab Blaine.

As soon as Blaine saw the large jock coming towards him, he knew he was in for. He tried to fight back, tried to run, but it was no use. Blaine squealed as he was shoved into the stream of ice cold water, his arms flailing about, trying to grab onto something, or punch or anything to get away.

Coach Beiste could hear the shrill screams, she came running into the locker room yelling, causing all the jocks to freeze in fear, letting their grip on the boys go enough where Kurt and Blaine were able to break free.

The boys both sprinted across the locker room, dripping and sliding along the way, but so grateful to finally be out of the stream of water. They made their way out of the building and to the courtyard and sat down on the warm grass.

Kurt glanced over at Blaine, he didn't know how it was possible, but Blaine looked so beautiful soaked with the sunlight reflecting off his skin. Why does he do this to me? Why does he have to look so good, despite being completely soaked? He couldn't handle this much longer. He couldn't fall for Blaine.

Blaine wanted to run. Run away from Kurt, run away from this school, just run away from everything. He couldn't be around Kurt and be expected to hold his feelings in it just wouldn't be plausible. He didn't want to ruin their friendship, but he remembered what Rachel had said. He turned towards Kurt, it was now or never.

Kurt quickly turned away when he saw Blaine meet his gaze.

"Kurt? I.. I have something to tell you." Blaine's voice was shaky with nerves.

Kurt tilted his head in Blaine's direction. "If you're gonna tell me that I'm all washed up, you can save it." He laughed, running his fingers through his hair to try to get out the excess water. Blaine tried to laugh, but it caught in his throat.

"No, it's nothing like that." He was losing his nerve. "Kurt, you know that I consider you one of my best friends, right?"

"Really? You do?" Kurt felt his heart speed up a little, processing the new information. Blaine nodded.

"Even though we started off on a really rocky road, you came to me and befriended me with no one else would, even though it meant losing your friends and dealing with rumors and getting beat. No one has ever done anything like that for me." Kurt shrugged.

"I'm told you once and I'll tell you again, it was the right thing to do. Plus, it made me realize how unhappy I was living a lie." Blaine smiled.

"I'm really glad to hear that, Kurt. I'm really glad." He took a deep breath and turned his body to face Kurt. He glanced around for a second before reaching out and taking both of his hands in his. "Kurt, I need to tell you something, but I don't want you to freak out. If you don't like it, it's cool, we can just pretend it never happened, but I can't hold it in anymore because it's killing me." He took another deep breath, then let it out. "Kurt, I like you. You have showed me that people can change and that it's okay to trust someone. I love being around you and I love hearing you speak. I look forward to the mornings because I know that I'm going to see you before school. What I'm trying to say is…" He gazed into Kurt's eyes. "Kurt, I think I'm falling in love with you."

A/N Hope everyone enjoyed this chapter! The boys are finally realizing that they obviously dig each other! About time I say! Stay tuned to see what happens next!

Thanks to everyone that's reviewed/favorited/subscribed! We love you ALL! In the words of Kurt, "Thank you for loving us!"

-LemonAidan