I've signed my final contract. Now I'm just relying on the International post, my father and then the post service in New Zealand to guarantee my acceptance on time. Fingers crossed.

Now excuse me while I pass out on the keyboard.

From Practically everyone: Sardines

The sheer amount of prompts I got for this after the Hide And Seek chapter... well, I stopped counting names after about seven. So this one is for all of you :)

Sardines

Of course Kurt should have known it was coming.

The snowfall had started during first period, completely distracting anybody from concentrating because no matter how upstanding and dapper the Dalton boys were supposed to be, they were still teenagers and snow meant snowball fights to them. First break had been spent standing just outside of firing range as Kurt watched the rest of the boys go crazy and become absolutely saturated with snow, leading to most of them having to get changed before the next set of classes. According to Blaine, it was well worth it.

But by the time it was final period and the snow hadn't let up, Kurt was starting to get worried. As one of the non-boarders, he still had a two hour drive home that afternoon and the roads were starting to look dangerous. If he left straight after school, he would probably make it, but there was still Warbler rehearsal and, this close to Regionals, Kurt wasn't planning on missing a single practice. Five of the other Warbler boys had already left, but Kurt wasn't planning on being one of them. So with reluctance he dragged himself to the choir room, settling on the couch next to Blaine who frowned at him. "Hey, what's wrong?"

"I'm just worried about getting home," Kurt admitted, glancing out the window again. "I don't want to get stuck here."

Blaine's hand slipped into his, the action natural by now. "We have plenty of spare rooms if you need to spend a night here," Blaine said smoothly. "I'd much rather you did that than tried to drive now, anyway. So would your father, I imagine."

"My father would assume I'm spending the night with my boyfriend and probably drive out here himself to drag me home," Kurt retorted, smirking at the way Blaine's eyes grew just that bit rounder. No matter what he said, Blaine was definitely afraid of Kurt's dad.

Before they could continue, Wes walked into the room and took his position, rapping his gavel for silence. "Listen up. I've just been to the office and they're putting the school into lockdown at four. If anybody needs to leave now, you're excused from practice, but I strongly suggest that you don't drive, simply because of the roads. And we all remember two years ago…" Wes trailed off and a few boys murmured quietly in response. Kurt squeezed Blaine's hand, having been told the story of one of the Dalton boys who had lost his life from driving home in treacherous conditions and knowing exactly what Blaine was thinking. "Kurt?" Wes continued. "I know you have the furtherest to go and we don't know what it's like in Lima -"

"I'm not going to go," Kurt said, pulling out his phone. "But do you mind if I call my dad and let him know?"

Wes nodded towards the door and Kurt stood, extricating his hand from Blaine's grasp. Leaning against the wall outside, Kurt dialed his home number and waited until his father picked up. "Dad? It's Kurt."

"Kurt! Where are you, are you safe? Do I need to get the truck out to you?"

Kurt winced. "No, Dad, I'm totally fine, I'm still at Dalton. I figured it's not safe enough to drive and the boarders told me there's plenty of bedrooms available here for situations like this so it'll be fine if I stay overnight."

There was an almost imperceptible sigh of relief. "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea," Burt said. "If you can't come out tomorrow, I'll come get you myself for the weekend, okay?"

"Thanks, Dad. I'd better go, we're having Warbler practice now."

"Hold on," Burt said, just as Kurt was about to hang up. "You're sleeping in an empty room, right? Not with that boyfriend of yours?"

Kurt sighed. "If I have to share a room, it won't be with Blaine unless circumstances dictate," he said wearily. "Trust me, Dad, I'm nowhere ready to take that kind of step with Blaine and you know it."

"Alright. I do trust you, kid. Look after yourself."

Kurt pocketed his phone with a fond smile. Yes, his dad could get overbearing sometimes but Kurt knew it was because he cared about him. And he was telling the truth - he and Blaine definitely weren't ready to take that step just yet. Turning back towards the door, Kurt opened it quietly, aware that the Council had probably started the meeting, before freezing.

All hell had broken loose.

Kurt could only stare at the boys racing around the room in front of him. A few were hanging out the window, gathering snow in their hands. Others were cranking up the fire and producing bags of marshmallows - from where, Kurt had no idea because nobody had passed him to go to the kitchen. And amidst it all sat Blaine who was working quietly on his homework. Of course.

"Okay," Kurt said, finally making his way through the room without being knocked over or roped into any of the craziness. "I know I should be used to this by now but… how?"

"Don't question it, you'll go crazy too," Blaine said mildly, pushing his assignment away and slipping an arm around Kurt's shoulders. "Just sit tight, let them run their course and pray that Wes doesn't come up with -"

"Hey, I've got a great idea!"

Kurt and Blaine groaned simultaneously. "A 'great idea'?" Kurt completed. "How bad do you think this is going to be?"

The rest of the Warblers were already gathering around the Council table where Wes was whispering in David's ear. Sighing, Blaine stood and held out a hand to Kurt who allowed himself to be pulled to his feet. "Just stay near the back and don't let yourself get volunteered for anything."

"Now, we need a volunteer!" Wes called out and Kurt stifled a laugh. We really know them too well now. "Blaine?"

"Oh no, no way! I remember what happened last time you got me to volunteer for something."

Wes pouted. "Come on, your eyebrows grew back!" Kurt immediately turned to stare demandingly at Blaine who winced and shook his head. "Kurt?" Kurt raised his hands to cover his eyebrows on reflex and Wes sighed. "Nobody's getting burned, maimed or injured in any way… that I have control over. We can't speak for Cameron but you should be fine. In fact, you'll probably like it."

"Why don't you just tell us what we're volunteering for first?" Kurt asked reasonably. "Because right now in our minds we're just signing a death wish without choosing the form."

"Okay," David said smoothly, taking over. "Everybody listen up! We're playing Sardines!"

There were a few murmurs of interest, a loud sigh from Blaine and a general blank stare from Cameron. "What's -?"

"Sardines is the opposite of hide-and-seek," David continued, clearly having anticipated the question. "Instead of everybody hiding and one person finding them all, one person hides and everybody has to find them. But instead of sending them home, they have to hide with the person, and the last person to find them is in. Obviously it's inside only, no dorm rooms, nothing that will be dangerous or break property and somewhere that people can actually get into. Other than that, anything's fair game."

Cameron still looked lost and Andrew sighed, pulling out a piece of paper. Diagrams generally worked best in situations like this. Kurt glanced at Blaine, grinning wickedly before raising his hand. "I'll volunteer."

Wes blinked a couple of times before letting out a sigh of relief. "Nobody ever volunteers. I was going to have to get them to draw gavels."

Kurt decided it was best to let that one go. "Okay, so you guys are going to count to.. what, two hundred?" Wes nodded. "Alright." Leaning over, Kurt kissed Blaine's cheek before whispering in his ear, "You know the place."

He just had time to see Blaine's eyes light up with comprehension before he was disappearing out of the room, breaking into a jog. He had plenty of time but the spot was across the other side of the school and he definitely wanted to get hidden with plenty of time so nobody else had any chance of spotting him. Heaven forbid someone else get to the spot before Blaine could!

Finally arriving, Kurt scaled the last flight of stairs and gave himself a moment to breathe before tiptoeing along the hallway. He was sure it had only been a minute but wouldn't put it past Wes and David to change the rules with no warning. Besides, he was fairly sure he was just above the choir room now and it wouldn't do to have them know where he was without actually looking. Once he reached the end of the hallway, Kurt slipped around the corner to the small alcove nestled into the corner, almost invisible unless you actually walked right up to it, and settled himself on the window sill, staring out across the snow covered grounds with a smile.

This was Kurt's spot.

He had needed somewhere to go during his first week at Dalton, that week when everything had hurt too much and the bruises on his back were still healing over and his mind was replaying the words over and over in his head. Most of the time, Kurt had just gone to Blaine to talk things over, but sometimes Kurt just needed to be alone, to spend a lunch hour or the half hour before Warbler practice of an afternoon with just himself. So Blaine had led him up to the top of the boarding residence where the rooms were empty and shown him this spot.

"You can come here whenever you like," Blaine had told him. "And this way I'll know where you are and I can come and get you if you lose track of time or if you need anything."

Naturally, once he and Blaine had actually decided to take the step from friendship into relationship, Kurt had started inviting Blaine to join him. Not to get up to anything, like the rest of the Dalton boys seemed to presume was happening when the two disappeared together, but just to talk and learn each other and be together. So technically it was now their spot. But, more important than anything, they were the only two who ever went there, and possibly the only two who knew it existed.

So naturally, they were going to win.

Kurt heard the sound of laughter and footsteps and realized that the boys must have finished counting. He wasn't sure whether any of them would think to have a plan or not so stayed silent, waiting for the sound of footsteps.

It took a lot longer than Kurt anticipated but finally a near silent tread echoed down the hall, purposefully heading in his direction. "Sorry," Blaine whispered as he ducked around the corner. "Jeff realized it would probably be smart to tail me. I managed to shake him off though, I think."

Kurt rolled his eyes as Blaine sat down across from him, resting their knees together. "Did anybody have any thoughts about where I might be?"

"Cameron's determined you'll be in my room, regardless of the rules." Kurt stifled a laugh, placing his hands on Blaine's knees and leaning closer so he could hear his boyfriend's whispering clearer. "The others all think this'll be cake because you're the newest and you don't board, so they're all headed for the obvious spots. So I think we have a little while before anybody starts poking around properly."

Kurt smiled as Blaine took his hands, closing the distance further between them so there were only a few inches between their faces. "So, whatever shall we do with ourselves until then?"

Blaine tilted his head to the side a little and Kurt watched his eyes flicker down before making eye contact again. "I've got an id -"

Kurt kissed him. Blaine stuttered to a stop, but it was only a second later that his arms were around Kurt's waist, attempting to pull him closer even though their legs were in the way. Kurt bit back the urge to laugh and instead focused on the fact that he was kind of kissing Blaine right at this second and it was kind of amazing.

And then Blaine was pulling back, attempting to look at Kurt sternly. "Now, interrupting people isn't very polite," he mock-lectured. "And this is rather counterproductive to my idea of planning a way to make the Warblers think we're somewhere else in the school."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Kurt shifted back as far as he could go, leaning back against the window frame and grinning wickedly at the expression on Blaine's face when he realized Kurt had called his bluff. "What do you suggest?"

Blaine gaped at him for a second before pouting in the most obnoxiously cute manner. Laughing softly, Kurt conceded and kissed him again quickly. "I don't know how to make them think we're not here," he whispered, fairly sure he could hear the sound of footsteps echoing up the stairs already, "but I know how to make them not want to be here."

As someone began walking along the hallway, Kurt winked at Blaine before closing the distance between them again. Half of his focus was on Blaine's lips, of course, but the other was on the footsteps that were growing louder and closer and… there.

There were a few seconds of silence, then a low chuckle. "We can do that too, you know."

Blaine pulled away and groaned. "Damn it, why does it have to be you two?" he demanded of Jeff and Nick who were watching them, identical smirks on their faces. "Fine, pull up a spot. How did you know where to come?"

"You really thought you shook me off?" Jeff said, still smirking as he elbowed Blaine. "Move along, lovebirds. We need some room in here."

It was a tight squeeze but they managed to get all four of them sitting on the seat side-by-side. Now that they had been discovered, Kurt remembered that this actually was a game and it was probably important that they stay quiet and not get discovered. After all, this spot would probably only hold another two or so people before things started getting really awkward and, being the first one to get there, Kurt was not looking forward to being at the bottom of a pile up.

And then there was another set of footsteps, but unlike Nick and Jeff, this person didn't sound like they had any idea that there were people along here, instead just scoping out the area. Kurt held his breath as the person moved closer, knowing they were probably about to be discovered but just praying it wasn't Cameron. Knowing the boy, he would stand in the middle of the hallway and decide it was a decent hiding spot.

A head poked around the corner and Kurt breathed a sigh of relief. "Come on, get in," he whispered. "Before someone sees you."

Wes slipped into the small space, raising an eyebrow before leaning against the wall, just out of sight of the hallway. "You know David will be here in a matter of minutes," he stated calmly. "We went separate ways but -"

"David always knows," Nick completed, rolling his eyes. Another set of footsteps was coming and Kurt stifled a laugh. "Speak of the devil."

David slipped around the corner, winking at Wes. "There's a group hot on my heels, I think one or two might have seen me coming up here so be ready."

Sure enough, the sound of running could be heard and Kurt glanced at Blaine who was wincing. Four Warblers skidded around the corner, stopping to stare at them. "Um… guys, we need to actually get in to make it count," Richard finally said. "How are we gonna fit?"

Kurt rolled his eyes and grabbed Blaine, pulling the boy into his lap and laughing softly when he squeaked in surprise. Nick did the same to Jeff and Kurt grinned up at the newcomers innocently. "By that logic, there's room for all four of you now."

After much grumbling - under their breath of course - Ethan and Andrew sat down, allowing Thad and Richard to sit on top of them. "At least there's only three more to go," Andrew muttered.

"Yeah, but one of those is Cameron," David pointed out and a set of simultaneous groans echoed around the corridor.

"Down here!" came the whisper, unmistakably Trent's voice. Kurt wasn't sure whether to be relieved that the game was almost over or disappointed that, once Cameron found them, Blaine would have to get out of his lap. Because Kurt quite liked having his boyfriend here and, judging by the way Blaine was leaning back against him with their heads resting together, he didn't seem to have a problem with it either.

Trent and Flint came wandering around the corner, stopping dead at the sight in front of them. "Are we last?"

"No," Wes told them, smirking from his position against the wall - because he wasn't squished onto the seat, he had felt the need to inform them. "Cameron's still probably walking around the choir room in circles."

The quiet snickers of laughter were cut off when Flint nodded. "Uh, yeah, he was actually doing that when we left." For a moment there was an awkward silence - because Kurt knew they all wanted to laugh so badly but that would give away their position - and then Flint raised an eyebrow at them. "So, how do we fit exactly?"

"However you can," Kurt told them.

"Bags the floor!" Flint collapsed in the last available spot on the ground and sighed happily. "Nice and relaxed down here," he informed them all.

Trent sighed before eyeing up the boys crammed into the window seat. "I can totally make this work." And before Kurt had the chance to question them, Trent was settling himself so he was lying across all of the laps of the boys sitting on the top, eliciting grunts and complaints from the bottom row. "This is pretty comfortable too. Oi!" He glared at Jeff who had just poked him in the ribs. "Can't help it if you didn't think of it."

And now all they could do was wait. Every so often, one of them would let out some kind of call, hoping it would attract Cameron's attention and at least help the boy realize their general area. Wes kept checking the time and finally sighed, stretching his arms above his head. "Guys, it's been half an hour. If he was going to find us, he would have f - is that him?"

Indeed, the familiar sound of footsteps was heading down the hall and everybody immediately quietened, waiting. They were getting closer, ready to come right around the corner -

And stopped.

Kurt's jaw dropped as Cameron turned around and began to walk away. "Oh for the love of - Cameron! Get in here!"

The boy stopped and there was a long moment of silence before finally, finally, Cameron appeared around the corner. "Oh," he said simply, staring at them all before pulling his phone out and taking a photo. "Cool. Who else are we waiting on?"

"Just you," Nick said irritably. "Game's over, Cameron lost as usual, Trent, get off me."

Slowly the group of boys disentangled, helping each other up and not-so-accidentally standing on Flint in the process until he managed to get off the floor. Finally it was just Kurt and Blaine left and, as Blaine moved to stand, Kurt tightened his grip around his waist. "You guys go on ahead," he told Jeff who was watching them knowingly. "I need to call my dad again."

Instead of replying, Nick simply winked and the two boys disappeared hand-in-hand. Kurt relaxed his grip enough for Blaine to turn and look at him curiously. "Why do you need to -"

Kurt leaned in and kissed him again. "I don't," he explained. "But I have the choice to either play a game where I have to cram into small spaces with a group of mostly straight guys… or stay up here with my boyfriend. Who turns out to be a very good kisser, by the way."

Blaine simply smiled, resting against his chest as Kurt stretched his legs out, entangling them with Blaine's. For a long moment they stared at each other before beginning to kiss again, softly, as relaxed as the snow falling outside.

So no, maybe Kurt hadn't seen this coming. But he planned to enjoy every second of it.

A lot of you request stories where the first kiss happens a lot earlier in the story and then we get to see more of them. I hope this is sufficient :)

MusicalEscape:

"I'm thinking of singing Teenage Dream, what do you think?"

"Well, start the music!"

*start singing and dancing*

*storms in* "HELL NO, KP is MY turf!" *grabs Kurt protectively* "Now we're going to sing romantic-platonic duets and gaze into each others eyes and continue to friend-zone each other, got it?"

"Mm, nope!" *grabs and klisses*