Super early post today because I have work plus I need to go somewhere before work. I can't wait to see my coworkers reactions to the hair...

Right. And for anybody who doesn't follow me on Tumblr, I chopped off over half of my hair yesterday. It was so liberating and I love having short hair, especially with summer coming up. My mother had the best reaction in the world and my sister walked in and took one look at me and went "Oh my god, you got a Quinn cut!" which... well, yeah. I did.

I also just got asked on Tumblr how many chapters are left. After this one and including the epilogue, twenty. Twenty days, guys...

From BriannaLiz: Could you imagine that, when Kurt first showed up at Dalton looking for the Glee room, happened upon some Warblers playing spin-the-bottle? Now, I know that isn't very realistic because most of them are straight, but, what if Blaine had some sort of dirt on them and he just wanted to see when make fools of themselves? :) So, the Warblers kinda just force Kurt into it and BAM! Klaine kiss...mhm…

So it's not going to be just spin-the-bottle. If anybody has ever played this game before, let me know, because as far as I know I just made it up.

Madness

This place is a nightmare.

Oh, it was elaborate yes, and beautiful and Kurt could just imagine himself fitting in perfectly - as long as he didn't have to wear the uniform that was - but Kurt had been sneaking around the school for a good half hour and had to face facts.

He was lost.

It had still been class time when Kurt had arrived and the entire school had been empty. Wandering up the extravagant staircase, Kurt had been a little too taken in by the decor to focus on where he was actually headed. After awhile, he had started listening out for the sound of music or singing that might guide him to a choir room, but there was nothing. And, thirty minutes later, Kurt not only still had no idea where this choir room was, but he had no idea how to leave either. If someone happened to walk past, Kurt would somehow have to explain that he had snuck in to spy from another school and then ask how to get out.

More likely than not he would be strung up in the dungeons to rot because Kurt was pretty sure this damn school had one of those too.

Climbing yet another staircase - and that was stupid because he probably needed to go down to get out but Kurt couldn't find the staircase down for the life of him - Kurt froze as he heard voices. He had already walked past a few classes in session but the doors had all been closed. This one was open and it certainly didn't sound like a class in session; too much laughter, too much fun… could it be?

The sound of a piano ringing out confirmed it. Kurt had found the choir room.

Now what?

It was obvious that the Warblers weren't actually practicing and Kurt found himself at a loss. He had come to spy after all and if they weren't singing, he had no reason to be there. But at the same time, he kind of had no idea how to leave and Kurt just knew he would get even more hopelessly lost if he tried.

So for now, Kurt leaned against the wall and listened.

"We totally should!"

"Cameron, I thought you were straight!"

"Yeah, but I like Never Have I Ever and Jeff usually ends up being the one kissing all the guys anyway."

Kurt was pretty sure he had crashed on his way to Dalton and was lying unconscious on the side of the road because were these boys really talking about kissing each other and not caring? He had heard rumors of a zero tolerance bullying policy - just another reason to spur him to come along - but did it really go that far that they were so open about it?

Or are they actually all gay like I only dreamt they might be?

"I'll go get a bottle!"

Crap.

A boy walked around the door before stopping and turning to him. "Guys, there's someone out here!"

Kurt cringed as murmurs of interest rose, just waiting for the entire group to come and stare at him like he was some kind of freak show - at least if they were all the same as the boy who was currently watching him. And then a voice rose above the others sounding exasperated. "Really? If there is someone out there, we're probably going to scare them off. I'll go." Another person joined the first, shaking his head. "Insanity. Cameron, go get the bottle if that's where you're headed." The first boy disappeared, casting no less than seven curious looks back at Kurt and the second sighed. "I'm so sorry about him. We try to hide him away and only bring him out for performances but it doesn't work too well." Kurt smiled slightly and the boy grinned reassuringly. "Oh, right, sorry! I'm Blaine."

"Kurt," he said, not sure what else to do. Blaine held out a hand and Kurt grasped it, shaking lightly. "I - um. I'm not really sure how to explain myself being here." He had, about half an hour ago when Kurt had thought it would be much easier to just sneak into a prestigious school like Dalton. But somehow 'new kid' just didn't feel like it was going to fly with this guy.

Blaine still hadn't stopped smiling. "Considering you're outside our choir room three weeks before Sectionals, I can't help but wonder whether you might be a spy from another school."

"Did he say spy?"

"I'm dealing with it, Thad!" Blaine called back into the room before turning back to Kurt. "So?"

Kurt nodded, ducking his head. "I'm sorry. I didn't really want to, the other guys told me to do something useful and spy and I sort of ended up - I'm sorry, I'll go."

"No, wait." Blaine's hand was suddenly on his arm and Kurt glanced down at it, surprised. "You're not just here to spy, are you?"

"Are you gay?"

The question was out before Kurt could stop it and Blaine was answering before he could do damage control. "I am. Not everybody here is though - it's not a gay school, just zero tolerance. I'm guessing you are too by that question?"

Kurt nodded, biting back a sudden flood of emotion. "I'm the only one out of the closet at my school. It - it gets difficult."

"I'll bet," Blaine said quietly. "I -"

He was cut off by the reappearance of the other boy - Cameron, if Kurt remembered correctly. "I've got the bottle!"

"I can see that, thank you," Blaine said in a tone that Kurt somehow knew was reserved for this boy, just like Kurt had a tone reserved for Finn at his most idiotic. "I'll be there in a moment, you can start without me." He turned back to Kurt apologetically. "I'd apologize again but I'd have to be apologizing for him forever. Now, I've got three choices for you. One is that, of course, you can leave if you want to. I can show you how to get out of here, I know it's a bit confusing. Two, we can find somewhere to talk because you look like you need to. Or three, we go in there and watch my friends make general idiots out of themselves because you also look like you need cheering up."

Kurt had expected to need to think about it but the answer was already slipping out because, strangely enough, the one thing he really wanted right now was just to let loose a little. "I'll come with you guys."

Blaine grinned. "Alright, come on then. I will warn you though - they're either on the wrong side of crazy or… okay, we're all crazy. Anyway, I'll look after you." And before Kurt could comment on not needing to be looked after or change his mind because these Warblers were actually starting to sound kind of scary, Blaine took his hand and led him into the room.

The conversation stopped immediately and every boy in the circle on the floor - Kurt suddenly remembered something about spin-the-bottle and wondered how quickly he could slip Blaine's grip and escape - turned to face them. "Guys, this is Kurt," Blaine said cheerfully, making Kurt wonder if there was anything he did that wasn't cheerful. "He's come to visit us for the day - no, he's not a spy, he's also not my boyfriend so don't go there. Just try not to be as crazy as normal and we'll go on with our game."

"But -"

"No."

"You can't just -"

"I can."

"What about -"

"Nothing like that."

"Blaine -"

"Katy Perry nonstop for the next three weeks."

Silence, and all the boys looked to three who were sitting together. One was holding a gavel and the other two were whispering to him. Finally he nodded. "We'd call your bluff but clearly this is important to you. Welcome, Kurt."

Thankfully Blaine guided him to sit down at that point because Kurt's head was spinning, more from the fact that the other boys were sitting there like this was normal.

And I thought New Directions was dysfunctional.

"Have you started yet?" Blaine asked, grinning when the others shook their heads. "Okay, here's how this game works. It's a combination of Never Have I Ever and Spin-The-Bottle. We play knockout Never Have I Ever - we all raise our hand and lower it when we're out - until there's only one person remaining. They have to spin the bottle and either kiss the person or the person gets to make them do something like in Truth or Dare. Make sense?"

Kurt had to shake his head. "You told me this wasn't a gay school."

The others burst into laughter, Blaine joining them. "I'm sorry, Blaine, but if you wanted to show him that we were straight, this was probably the worst example!" called out one of the boys on the other side of the circle. "There's actually only three gay guys in this room - Blaine, Nick and Jeff."

"Four, actually," Kurt found himself saying.

Nobody batted an eyelid. "Four then. The only other questionable ones are Wes and David who claim to just have a very epic bromance."

"We do!" came the simultaneous protests from the boy with the gavel and the dark-skinned boy next to him, causing more laughter.

Blaine rolled his eyes but Kurt could tell he was trying not to smile. "Whenever you're ready, guys." Everybody raised their hand, Kurt following suit a touch awkwardly. "I'll make this one very simple on you all. Never have I ever kissed a girl."

Every hand except for Blaine's and one other person's went down. Blaine shot Kurt a surprised look and he smirked, enjoying having the upper advantage for once. "Nick, when did you kiss a girl?" one of the boys from the Wes and David bromance asked.

"Truth or dare," the dark haired boy explained before nudging the blonde haired boy who still had his hand up. "Jeff managed to avoid that particular evil."

Blaine elbowed a boy on his other side. "Trent, your turn."

"Never have I ever had a solo."

Jeff groaned loudly. "Are you for real? Against Blaine?" He sighed as Blaine lowered his hand, smirking. "Fine, give me the damn bottle."

Silence as everybody watched the bottle spin before a collective groan rang out. "How the hell did he get Nick?" came the demand from one of the boys. "Is the bottle rigged or something?"

"I don't think -"

"He wasn't being serious, Cameron," Blaine interrupted wearily. "Can we just keep it PG, guys?"

Jeff winked - actually winked - at Blaine. "You're just jealous," he said before turning to the boy next to him that Kurt had by now learned was named Nick. "Come here, you."

Kurt could do nothing but stare - not so much at the boys who were kissing (although they were a little distracting) but at the other boys who were doing nothing. No disgusted expressions, no rude comments, nothing to indicate that what was going on in front of them was anything less than normal.

Whatever they were on, Kurt wanted some to give to his school. The crazy after effects were enough of a price to pay.

"Okay," the boy with the gavel spoke up and Kurt blinked, realizing the two had stopped kissing already. "Hands up. Never have I ever dated a cheerleader."

Kurt couldn't bite back his laughter as he lowered his hand - one of only three boys who had. Blaine shook his head. "I'm sorry, there are male cheerleaders at your school?"

"No. Well," Kurt amended, "just me but I'm not really on the squad anymore. The girl I kind of dated but mostly made out with during my butch phase was a cheerleader."

Blaine's incredulous stare made it all worthwhile. "You are by far the most interesting person to have walked through those doors, Kurt," he finally said. "I'm going to have to get to know you better."

"And when the two boys in the corner have stopped flirting, we can continue our game!"

"There's no corner in a circle, Cameron," Kurt found himself saying, trying desperately to hide his blush because had he really just been flirting with this boy? He quickly glanced up at the next person in the circle, frowning. "Which one are you, Wes or David?"

The boy laughed. "I'm David. Good luck with that though, if I remember my first Warbler experience correctly you'll be having trouble remembering your own name right now." Kurt nodded, eliciting more laughter and a gentle elbow nudge from Blaine. "Never have I ever broken a bone."

"Never?" one of the boys asked incredulously and there was a collective murmur of surprise as the rest of the boys put their hands down, leaving David as the only one with his hand raised. "What kind of teenage guy are you? You do backflips."

"Successfully," David explained as he reached out for the bottle. "I just have coordination."

"What did you break?" Kurt whispered to Blaine as the bottle span.

Blaine chuckled. "Funnily enough, my arm when I was trying to do a backflip. David's insistence - oh, this is going to be interesting."

The bottle had stopped on a boy two seats down from Kurt who raised an eyebrow thoughtfully. "Well, David, as lovely as you are, I did just get a girlfriend so I think I'm going to have to make you do something."

"Suit yourself," David said cheerfully.

The boy thought for a few seconds before snapping his fingers, grinning. "Wes, disappear for a second." Frowning, Wes stood and left the room, the boy waiting until the door was shut before he continued. "Next official Warbler meeting when Wes gets you to read back the minutes, they all have to be a complete mess. Half taken notes and things not recorded properly. I want to see how far he'll flip out and how much bodily harm he'll threaten you with before you reveal the proper minutes."

Nick leaned across to give the boy a high-five as the Warblers all cracked up laughing. "Oh my god, he'll murder me," David said, looking appalled. "He's going to ban me from choreographing and we'll get someone like Blaine doing it and then we'll end up with a two step shuffle for all of our songs again."

"My choreography was excellent!" Blaine called out. "Any time we tried to do anything more complicated last year, Jeff tripped over his feet!"

"Hey!" came the yell from the hallway. "I hear laughter. Can I come in yet?"

"Confused out of your mind yet?" came the murmur in Kurt's ear and he nodded quickly. "I thought so," Blaine said, amusement tingeing his words. "We're a strange lot but I can assure you, we are good competition for Sectionals. So if your group is expecting anything back from you, you can give them that."

Wes entered the room again, taking his place as Kurt mulled over Blaine's words. Would the boys be expecting intel from him? After all, nobody knew that he was actually here and they probably wouldn't believe the afternoon he had experienced… come to think of it…

"I'll just tell them I spent the afternoon playing Never Have I Ever Spin The Bottle with you guys, one of you has a gavel and prep school boys do make out," Kurt whispered back. "They'll go crazy themselves, especially Santana."

Blaine looked somewhere between amused and confused, the same state Kurt had spent his entire time here in. "Sounds like a great Glee club."

"Funnily enough, they're a bit like yours."

"Hands up!" came the call and Kurt raised his hand again. "Never have I ever dated my best friend."

Kurt's hand stayed up that time and he smiled wryly, remembering what had happened with Mercedes the previous year. Blaine's hand was also up as well as a few other boys - Kurt noticed that both Jeff and Nick had lowered their hands and smiled. "Okay," said the next guy around, "never have I ever wanted to study medicine."

Two more hands went down including Blaine's and Kurt glanced at him. "Still do?"

"Not really," Blaine murmured back. "I'm definitely more into performing now."

And that was something to mull over later - not only the fact that Blaine was a performer like himself but that he was talking to this guy like he had known him for ages and was planning to continue getting to know him. But the game was continuing and Kurt tuned back in, realizing there were only two other hands raised in the room besides his. "Never have I ever," the next boy began before pausing, clearly thinking. "Been fishing."

One of the hands went down and Kurt's eyes widened. Jeff laughed suddenly and stared right at Kurt. "Well, I could be nice because you're a visitor and I don't know you but… nah. Never have I ever been a Warbler."

Kurt groaned, aware of Blaine chuckling beside him. "Fine," he said mutinously, grabbing the bottle and spinning it quickly. "At least I don't have to see any of you ever again if you make me do something stupid."

"Well I believe we'll have to see each other at Sectionals actually," Blaine chipped in, "so I don't - oh."

Both boys stared down at the bottle which was pointing square at Blaine.

"It's your decision," Kurt heard himself saying. His mind had gone blank, almost carefully so, and his mouth was working on autopilot because if he thought too much about this he might freak out and run away and never come back and that would kind of suck because Blaine was actually pretty awesome.

"It's yours, actually," Blaine said quietly. "But if you want me to -?"

"Please."

Blaine nodded, Kurt only catching it out of the corner of his eye as he was still staring at the bottle. "Okay. Can you look at me?" Kurt slowly lifted his eyes, turning to look at Blaine who stared at him thoughtfully for a second. "I think I'm going to ask you to kiss me."

His heart leaping, Kurt managed to swallow it and his fears in one go. "I think I can do that," he said quietly before leaning in to put that theory to the test.

Yeah. He could definitely kiss Blaine.

Even though Kurt had talked a fair bit about his experiences with Brittany that day, he knew full well that his kissing experience was limited. Brittany had been the one kissing him the whole time, after all, and Kurt had spent the time off in another world, trying to ignore the fact that a decidedly female girl was trying to suck his tongue out of his mouth. He didn't know how it felt to kiss someone who would simply kiss back, take the emotion that was meant to be behind the action and bring that to the foreground.

And somehow this boy who Kurt had known for all of half an hour was doing that and Kurt couldn't believe it. Blaine was kissing him like Kurt was the most important person to him, kissing him like all he wanted to do was kiss Kurt even though they didn't know each other and they were rivals and all of those things that should be important but weren't because they were kissing.

Maybe it was meant to just be a physical action, a result of a game that nobody took seriously and all that, but Kurt couldn't help but take more from it.

A loud wolf-whistle had the two breaking apart, sharing one glance that said a thousand uninterpretable words before Blaine turned his glare to Cameron. "You do realize you are a complete idiot, right?"

"Yeah," Cameron said. "You do realize you were sucking face with your friend and we were getting bored, right?"

Blaine sighed. "You know what? I'm suddenly in the mood for an impromptu performance. Teenage Dream in the Senior commons in five?"

Wes grabbed his gavel and rapped it on the floor. "All in favour?" Kurt watched, amused, as the group raised their hands. "Decided. Make your way down."

The boys stood and headed out of the room. Kurt moved to join them but Blaine's hand closed over his own gently, keeping him seated. "Hey," Blaine said as soon as the room was empty, "look, I don't know whether you've got a boyfriend or anything -"

"I don't."

"Or if that was even anything more to you than just a game -"

"It was."

"Or if you even want to get to know me -"

"I do."

Blaine stopped, rolling his eyes. "Okay then. Why don't you tell me what you want since you can't let me talk?"

"I just want to get to know you," Kurt said honestly. "That was the first kiss for me that's counted and maybe it was just due to it being that, maybe it's due to you being the first openly gay guy I've met and talked to, but maybe there's more and I don't want to let that slip away if I can. And even if there isn't, you still seem like a great guy who I'd like to get to know."

Blaine squeezed his hand. "Agreed. Let's start with friends and work our way up. What's your number?" Kurt rattled it off and Blaine punched it into his phone. "Now, I need to get down there and sing some Katy Perry. Do you want to come and watch?"

Kurt shook his head, noticing the flash of disappointment in Blaine's eyes. "No. I don't want to spy on you guys, not when you've all been so nice to me. We'll be seeing each other at Sectionals, anyway."

Blaine nodded, understanding. "I hope we'll be seeing each other before Sectionals though," he said quietly and now it was Kurt's turn to understand that Blaine was pretty much laying his heart on the line right there.

So was Kurt. And all he could do was hope that it would pay off.

"We will. Trust me."

Ah, my crazy Warbler boys. Becoming more and more canon by the day.

I was too early for MusicalEscape today I think. Sorry!