To anybody waiting on Straight Camp or Stalker. This is the official note to tell you that neither will be updated in about a week at least. I keep getting these reviews telling me to update and that I 'should' be updating and I can't. I only really have time to get on here and post this chapter every night and then try and keep up with my writing. So please just bear with me, they will be updated but not straight away.

Oh, and my folders of 'Completed but not published' and 'Incomplete' chapters of Kiss have evened out. Which means that before long, I'll be out of chapters to actually write. Which means... this story is drawing to a close. Somewhat. I mean, we still have three months, but for me it just got real that this will be ending.

I think I'm going to be calling a sick day soon. I think it'll conveniently be on the day that I'm meant to fill a shift at another and much bigger store. Seriously though, I feel awful right now.

From Mrs. Malfoy-Goode: so Kurt's at Mercedes' house cuz shes getting ready for her 1st date w/ Sam and Blaine goes to pick Kurt up and seeing Kurt with Mercy made him a little jealous ;)

Friend

"I now call this Warbler meeting to order."

A loud banging noise filled the room and Wes's hand jerked up in surprise, as well as the heads of the majority of the Warblers, because that wasn't Wes's gavel.

"Mercedes?"

Kurt was on his feet and Blaine leant forward, looking around Kurt to see the New Directions girl standing in the doorway. "Kurt! Good, I need to borrow you for a few hours."

Blaine frowned in confusion along with the rest of the Warblers, but Kurt barely batted an eyelid. "Am I to assume I need to bring the kit?"

Mercedes nodded. "Please. I signed you out already."

"How - no, I don't even want to know." Kurt shook his head, grabbing his bag and heading out the door. "So we'll have to swing by my room, it's just down.."

His voice trailed off abruptly as the door closed behind the two. Blaine turned his attention to the Council who were looking a bit shell-shocked - after all, nobody had ever just walked out of rehearsal before. Wes blinked back to attention, banging his gavel loudly as if to make up for being usurped earlier.

"First point of business. We seem to be facing an issue in regards..."

Blaine sighed, figuring he'd learn about whatever was going on with Kurt later. But try as he might he couldn't keep his focus on rehearsal, his eyes continuously flickering to the empty seat beside him.

Kurt waited until they had made it to Mercedes car before beginning the interrogation. "So, it's date night, I've got my makeover kit and you're torn between nervous-and-wanting-to-pass-out and excited-and-still-probably-wanting-to-pass-out. Without passing out, tell me what's happening."

"Sam asked me out."

There were a few seconds of silence before two twin squeals echoed through the car. "Details, girl!"

Mercedes could barely keep her eyes on the road as her words rushed out. "We're working together on this week's Glee project and we were sitting in the choir room at lunch and right after we'd gotten the song perfect, be admitted he'd asked me to partner with him because he wanted to get to know me better and asked me to Breadstix."

Kurt clapped his hands together, the smile lighting up his face. "I'm so happy for you, 'Cedes! You have to call me after and tell me what happens, okay?"

"I will." There was a few moments of silence where Kurt mentally ran through their time frame and how many treatments he could get done in that time before Mercedes spoke up again. "So, what's happening with your boy?"

Kurt sighed. "Nothing. I think he's oblivious. Short of getting in his face and screaming 'Hey, I like you!', I don't think anything's going to make Blaine realize that I'm crazy about him." He shook his head, refusing to let himself get upset on Mercedes's important day. "But who cares about that! What are you wearing?"

After a little while more of discussion about various outfits and hairstyles, they pulled up at Mercedes's house. As soon as they reached her room, Kurt wasted no time, ordering the girl into the shower as he scoured her wardrobe. By the time Mercedes had finished, Kurt had laid out four outfits on her bed and had ducked to the other side of her privacy screen while she changed.

"So, what's the assignment?" he called, flipping through one of the many magazines Mercedes had lying around.

"About simply being yourself, singing a song that reflects both people," Mercedes replied from the other side of the room and Kurt couldn't help but smile at the sound of her voice. He couldn't remember the last time Mercedes had sounded this carefree, and as long as Sam treated her right, Kurt was happy.

"So what song - that's a maybe," Kurt decided as Mercedes emerged in the second outfit. She shrugged, returning to her bed for another. "Anyway, who chose the song and what is it?"

"He did. And he picked Chances by Five for Fighting. It took a lot of reassembling but we got it to work for our voices together and it actually sounds really good."

"It's always a sign when your voices go well together," Kurt informed the girl, tossing the magazine back on the table. "I always wondered how you'd sound in a duet with him."

"You mean like yours and Blaine's voices fitting together perfectly?"

Luckily Kurt was spared from answering as Mercedes appeared again. "That's divine!" he exclaimed, jumping to his feet. "Time for hair."

It was only as Kurt had finished sweeping Mercedes's hair back and clipping it in place when the realization occurred to him. "So, how am I meant to get back to Dalton?"

Mercedes's eyes widened in shock. "I didn't even think about that! I'm sorry, Kurt, I should have."

"It's fine," Kurt assured her, moving across the room to his bag as Mercedes began to apply her makeup. "I'll just get Blaine to pick me up."

"Kurt, honey, did you notice what you just said?"

Kurt turned around, phone in hand. "That I'd get Blaine to pick me up?"

Mercedes nodded, applying her eyeshadow expertly as she stared at him in the mirror. "Most people would be asking. You're calling him and knowing that he'll pick you up."

Kurt shrugged, flipping through his contacts. "So he's a good friend. It doesn't mean he's into me, Mercedes."

Mercedes muttered something inaudible that Kurt figured he was better off not knowing. He hit Blaine's number, putting the phone to his ear and waiting for his friend - and only friend, no matter what Mercedes said - to pick up.

"Hello?"

"Blaine, hi!"

Kurt could almost hear the smile in his friends voice as he responded. "Oh, hey Kurt. What can I do for you?"

"Well you know how Mercedes kinda kidnapped me earlier?"

Blaine chuckled, Kurt trying not to think about how much it affected him. "I think everybody might have noticed that one, Kurt."

Kurt could feel himself blushing. "Right. Anyway, she's going to leave me stranded here with no car in a couple of hours, so is there any chance you could come and pick me up?"

Blaine responded instantly. "Of course. I'll just finish up with some homework and be on my way. How close does she live to your place?"

"Pretty close actually." Kurt gave some quick directions before hanging up with a promise from Blaine that he'd be there soon. As he turned back around he saw Mercedes staring at him in the mirror before pretending to finish putting on her earrings and Kurt sighed. "I saw that."

Mercedes sighed, spinning on the stool. "Kurt, I wish you could see what I see. You'd know that the way you two talk to each other is not the way two completely platonic friends talk. It's not just you who's into him, he's interested."

Kurt shook his head. "Let's not think about it, okay? Tonight's about you. Now, tell me more about Sam - how long have you been interested in him?"

His diversion tactics worked. Mercedes immediately began to gush about the blonde haired boy, allowing Kurt to just listen. The time flew by as it always did when Kurt and Mercedes were together, and just as they were discussing Rachel's fashion choices - "Honestly, will she ever learn that white tights should not be worn by girls under fifty?" - Kurt's phone buzzed with a text.

I'm outside. At least I hope it's the right house! - Blaine

Kurt smiled at the text and Mercedes giggled. "What?" he snapped, quickly typing a reply: If it's two stories and white, you're at the right one. Come on up, door's unlocked. - Kurt

"You. Your face. You are so smitten."

Kurt rolled his eyes. "Mercy, nobody uses the word smitten anymore." He heard the sound of the door opening and immediately changed the subject as footsteps began to ascend the staircase. "So what are you doing after the date?"

Mercedes turned bright red. "I - what do you mean?"

"I didn't mean it like that!" Kurt began to laugh before noticing Blaine in the doorway and gesturing him in. "I meant are you going to invite him in - for coffee, Mercedes! For goodness sakes girl, where is your mind?"

Mercedes joined his laughter. "Okay, okay!" she said, raising her hands. "I may have talked to Santana before I came to get you -"

"Bad move!" Kurt finally remembered that Blaine was still standing there, looking slightly out of place. "Sorry, Blaine. Sam will be here in about ten minutes, so come and sit with us."

Mercedes was torn between excitement and nerves and Kurt knew he needed to focus all of his attention on her. So, trusting that Blaine could look after himself, he turned to his friend and took both of her hands. "You are going to have an amazing time," he said slowly, making sure she was listening. "Just be yourself, because that's the Mercedes that caught his attention, understood?"

"Understood." Kurt pulled her in and kissed her cheek lightly. "Thanks honey."

The doorbell rang and Kurt and Mercedes were both on their feet. "Get that gorgeous body down there and get your boy!" And with that, Mercedes was gone, clattering down the stairs in her heels. Kurt crossed his fingers, listening as the door opened.

There was absolute silence, and then Sam's voce drifted up the stairs. "You look beautiful, Mercedes."

Kurt bit his lip to stop from squealing, clapping his hands together. Mercedes replied quietly and then the door was closing behind them. Immediately, Kurt crossed to the window and peered out, seeing the two walking down the path hand in hand. They climbed into Sam's car and then they were off. "That's gorgeous," Kurt whispered quietly.

Turning back around, Kurt was surprised to see Blaine - he had forgotten his friend was there. "Hey, sorry about that. Ready to go?"

Blaine nodded, standing quickly. He was already halfway out the door before Kurt had moved and he frowned. What's wrong with him?

Blaine was already halfway across the yard by the time Kurt caught up, grabbing his hand. "Blaine? What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Blaine said quickly, trying to avoid Kurt's eyes. He knew he was being rather obvious, but he couldn't help his feelings. He also couldn't help what came out of his mouth next. "Good to see you had fun bailing out on us this afternoon."

Kurt's grip on his hand relaxed, probably in shock, and Blaine took the opportunity to pull away, jumping into the car. A moment later, Kurt joined him and before he knew what was happening, the keys had been snatched out of his hand. "Kurt!"

"No, you're going to talk to me." Kurt was frowning at him, looking confused. "Are you really that annoyed that I skipped rehearsal? Because you seemed fine when we were talking on the phone earlier." Blaine thought frantically, trying to think of an excuse. But then Kurt kept talking. "You do know I have a life outside of Dalton, right? If that's your problem."

"Of course I know that!" Once again, the words were escaping before Blaine could control them. "You just act different when you're with her. And I know she's a girl," he added as Kurt opened his mouth to speak, "but you said to me that Mercedes and I were your two best friends and you don't treat us the same."

Kurt stared at him for a few more seconds and then something flickered to life in his eyes, causing a pit of dread to settle in Blaine's stomach. Does he know? "Blaine, are you jealous?"

Crap.

Blaine knew there was no point in pretending now. After all, Kurt had just hit the issue on the head. "It's weird seeing you with her, Kurt. You're so touchy-feely and flirty and ... and you're never that way with me." He knew he sounded ridiculous, but he couldn't help it. Seeing Kurt act that way with Mercedes hurt more than he had wanted to let on.

Kurt raised an eyebrow. "Yes, that's because she's friend-zoned, Blaine."

It took a few seconds for the meaning to sink in. "So.. so I'm not friend-zoned?" Blaine asked, his voice suddenly dropping, scarcely daring to believe what had just been implied.

"The only person that friend-zones you is you." And there it was, out on the table. Kurt's irritation was dying quickly and he began to look shocked at what he had said. Any minute now, the boy would probably disappear and with him any chance of their relationship. Blaine had seconds to do something, anything...

So he closed the gap between them and kissed Kurt quickly. Well, he only meant for it to be quick, just to prove to Kurt that he didn't want to be in the friend-zone... but as soon as their lips met, he couldn't stop. Neither could Kurt for that matter.

Finally the need for oxygen became prevalent and they pulled apart. A second later, Kurt started giggling, the sound just about driving Blaine crazy with how cute it was. "What?" he asked, smiling softly.

"Oh, I just imagined what would happen if you were still friend-zoned. I can't imagine doing that to Mercedes as well." Kurt mock-shuddered, still fighting his laughter.

"You'd better not," Blaine growled playfully. "I'd like to keep you all to myself, thanks."

Judging by the way Kurt's lips were pressed up against his a second later, Blaine figured the other boy was definitely okay with that.

MusicalEscape:

*starts to board plane*

"Kurt, wait!"

"Yes, Blaine?"

"I have something important to ask you."

*excited and nervous* "What?"

"...Can you bring me one of those mini packs of peanuts when you come back?"