3

Shocked blue searched flustered hazel for a few moments more before either boy thought to speak.

"…Hi," Kurt said carefully, breaking the tense silence. "Um, Blaine, right?"

"I, uh, Blaine. Hi, yes," Blaine replied, immediately giving himself a mental kick in the head for his blithering. He closed his eyes and forced his racing mind to calm down before he tried again. "I mean, Yes. I'm Blaine. Hello, again, Kurt." Then he tried to pull on a smile—anything he could do to seem like less of a psycho at that moment, given that he was sure his eyes were probably also bloodshot from the teary pity-party he'd just thrown for himself.

Naturally, he took a moment to appraise Kurt's appearance again. He'd changed out of his black coat ensemble from earlier and now he was sporting a simple gray T-shirt and a pair of black sweatpants. He couldn't help but notice the way the sleeves of the T-shirt hugged Kurt's surprisingly toned biceps.

"I'm sorry. Am I being too loud?" Kurt guessed when Blaine didn't say anything more. He turned to close his computer and silence the music playing.

"N-no," Blaine said frantically. "It's not too loud. It's… nice."

Kurt turned back to face him, looking even more confused. Blaine could feel the other boy's eyes sweep over him, no doubt taking in his tear-stained eyes and slightly mussed hair from lying on Wes's pillow. "Thanks…" he replied slowly, cautiously.

"Um, what was it?" Blaine asked, feeling like he needed to strike up a conversation about something now that he was planted awkwardly in the doorway.

A small, perhaps curious smile pulled at Kurt's lips, and once again his expression shifted from confusion back to intrigue. "'Sweet Disposition'" he said with a chuckle. "It's from Temper Trap. Do you know them?"

Blaine shook his head 'no.'

The smile grew slightly. "Well, they're one of my favorites lately."

Blaine licked his lips as Kurt spoke. He still had no idea what exactly it was that this boy did to him, but he found himself completely transfixed as he watched Kurt's mouth form words. "It sounds great," he said through his daze.

Kurt let out a musical chuckle at the boy in his doorway. "It is." He paused, eyes glancing back up at Blaine's bloodshot ones. When he continued, his tone was more somber. "Did you need something, Blaine?"

Blaine's eyes widened. A small shiver ran up his back when he heard Kurt use his name so casually. "Me? Oh, no. No, I'm fine." He stopped to take a breath and gather himself before he could ramble more. "Sorry I just came stumbling in here. I'm not drunk, I swear. I just didn't think anyone else was up here with the party going on, so when I heard the music I just wanted to come see who it was," he explained.

"Ah," Kurt said with a nod. "Well, it's just little old me." He smiled warmly.

Blaine noted the way eyes seemed to glimmer when he smiled. "So it is," he said, returning the smile.

A small silence ensued in which the boys' eyes didn't leave each other's. Blaine could have sworn he saw some pink enter the newcomer's cheeks.

Kurt was the one to break the silence. "You were really great tonight at the party," he said, his eyes communicating his sincerity. "You know, you're a pretty captivating performer, Blaine Warbler."

A long-dormant warmth rose up in Blaine's chest. He gulped at the unfamiliar sensation. Was Kurt flirting with him? Practically no one besides Sebastian had ever flirted with him. Which was understandable when he considered the fact that he barely went anywhere without a toddler glued to his hip. That really didn't do much for reeling in many eligible young bachelors. He'd almost forgotten the feeling of having someone he was actually attracted to flirt with him.

Blaine laughed nervously at the comment. "Thank you, Kurt. That's nice of you to say. That was my first performance in a really long time, so I'm glad… I'm glad you liked it." He bit his lip for a second. He wondered if Kurt had noticed the fact that he'd sung the entire song to him. "Oh, and it's, um, Anderson. Blaine Anderson, please," he said with a smile. "Although Blaine Warbler does have a nice ring to it."

Kurt laughed. "Well, you're welcome, Blaine Anderson."

Blaine reveled again in the feeling that Kurt saying his name gave him.

"When did you join?" he asked, causing Blaine to go rigid. "I mean, you must be a third- or fourth-year member to be the front man, right? I'm just wondering how long it takes to get a whole glee club wrapped around your finger like that."

Blaine blushed. "Um, I uh…" he reached up to scratch the back of his head, another nervous habit. He searched his mind for the right way to say this. How could he explain his situation to Kurt without totally freaking him out? "I joined the Warblers when I was a freshman, but actually…" he trailed off and glanced down at his blue blazer. "God, this probably going to seem really weird." He gestured to the uniform. "But I'm actually not the front man. I actually don't even go here. Not anymore."

Kurt narrowed his gaze skeptically for a moment. "What do you mean?" he asked, clearly totally confused.

"Well, I don't go to school anymore," he tried to clarify. "My friends just invited me back for tonight."

Kurt looked contemplative for a moment. "Oh," he began with a look of realization. "So, you graduated."

Blaine's face fell. He really wanted to try and explain this without having to tell a gorgeous, interesting stranger that he had to quit high school in order to have a baby. He was so sick of being known as the kid with the baby. He saw no reason for Kurt to see him that way too. At least, not yet.

"No, I didn't graduate. Not technically," he began. His stomach clenched when he saw Kurt's eyes narrow. He hoped the kind boy wasn't judging him. He was tired of people always judging him. "I used to go to Dalton but then… there were some, um, family issues to take care of and I had to drop out." Blaine figured that was specific enough to not be a lie, but vague enough to not give anything away.

"Oh," Kurt said, surprised. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry."

"It's okay. I know I'm kind of a unique case," Blaine assured the other boy. "I would be a senior this year, had I stayed in school. But I study with a tutor a couple times a week and I should still get my diploma this spring."

"Oh, well, that's great," said Kurt with a small, reassuring grin, seeming unsure what else to say.

Blaine returned the grin and another small silence ensued before Kurt let out a sigh.

"It just figures though," he said, lowering his eyes to the floor. His face took on an expression trapped between amusement and incredulousness.

Blaine cocked his head to one side. "What figures?"

Kurt let out a humorless laugh. "That the one guy who's been decent enough to talk to me for more than two sentences since I got here doesn't even go here." He raised his eyes back up to Blaine.

"Oh…" Blaine began, picking up on the edge of sadness in the other boy's voice.

"No, no, it's fine. I'm sorry. I didn't mean for that to sound so broody and pitiful. I'm not like, self-loathing or emo or anything, I swear."

Blaine put on a crooked smile. "Well, I'm glad to hear that."

"Yeah," Kurt breathed. He licked his lips, looking contemplative. "Would you like to come in and sit down?" he asked, causing Blaine's eyebrows to shoot up. Noting his surprise, Kurt continued, "I mean, we've just been having a full-out conversation with you standing in my doorway and I figure if we're going to continue it, you should at least make yourself more comfortable."

Blaine felt the heat rise in his cheeks again. He found it both completely incredible and relieving that Kurt wanted to keep talking to him even after he'd already admitted to being a high school dropout with family issues. He couldn't really think of any other time he'd experienced such immediate, unconditional acceptance.

"Yeah," he replied, taking a step inside the small single room. "Yeah, I'd really like that."

Kurt smiled and Blaine noted that excited glimmer in his eyes again. He crossed the room and took a seat on Kurt's neatly made bed.

Kurt turned around more in order to straddle the back of his desk chair so he could face Blaine easily. He leaned his forearms on the top of the chair and smirked up at Blaine. "So how come you're not down at the party with all your Warbler friends?"

His breath caught in his throat at the question. How was he supposed to answer that? Oh yeah, you know, I was just chatting with my son and baby daddy in the midst of raging high school party. Then I broke down into a depressive anxiety attack… No big deal. Completely normal. "I guess I was just looking for something in Wes and David's room," he answered calmly, motioning toward next door.

Kurt continued to look up at Blaine. He narrowed his eyes slightly, as if he was trying to see beyond what Blaine was telling him, trying to really see what was making him tick. "Mmm," he responded. "Did you find it?"

Blaine's small smile returned. He was impressed with how perceptive Kurt seemed to be. "No, actually."

"Well, I'm sure it'll turn up." Kurt put on a knowing smirk.

Blaine chuckled and let his eyes drop to the floor. "Yeah, I'm sure it will." When he raised his eyes to Kurt again, they met and held for another long moment.

"So, Anderson," Kurt began, "tell me more about this glee club of yours."

He cocked an eyebrow. "What do you want to know?"

Kurt looked contemplative for a moment. "How does one become a Warbler?"

Blaine's eyes widened. "Are you interested in becoming Kurt Warbler?"

The other boy laughed. It was a beautiful sound. "I think I'll stick with Kurt Hummel, but yes, I'm thinking about joining."

Hummel, Blaine noted mentally.

"I was in glee and musicals and at my old school and it was pretty much the only thing I liked about school at all. I'm also involved with this independent musical troupe in Columbus on weekends, so it would be great if I could pick that kind of stuff up at school here too."

As Kurt spoke, Blaine took note that Kurt's gray T-shirt was apparently from 'WMHS West Side Story.' Glee Club and musicals? he thought. Wait, this gorgeous guy can sing too? Blaine gulped back an expression of pure awe from taking over his face. Cool it, Anderson. You don't even know if he's gay. Although… musicals and anxious to join glee? Not to mention that poster of Lady Gaga… all signs point to yes…

"Plus, the idea that the glee club isn't treated like the scum of the earth here is kind of rocking my world."

Blaine felt his expression fall at the words. "What do you mean? People didn't like your old glee club?"

Kurt let out a humorless laugh. "Uh, that would be a 'no.'"

Blaine frowned. "Where'd you go before?"

"McKinley in Lima," Kurt answered. "It was just your typical public high school. You know, designed to look like a prison and filled with delinquent assholes who might as well be in prison…"

Blaine chuckled at the description. He wondered why Kurt had transferred to Dalton in the middle of the year like this, and in February at that—not even at the beginning of the semester or anything. But he didn't know if it would be rude to ask, so he figured he wouldn't push it. After all, Kurt had been decent enough to pry any farther into his vague 'family issues' explanation or the reason for his tear- stained eyes. Blaine figured that Kurt's parents probably just had to move or something.

"McKinley's nothing like this place. Dalton seems like a total maze to me right now. Thanks for helping me earlier, by the way."

"It was no trouble at all. Yeah, Dalton can be a pretty overwhelming place if you're not used to it."

Kurt nodded. "In more ways than one," he said softly enough that Blaine wasn't sure if he was meant to hear it.

"Anyway," Blaine began, trying his best to segue, "you just have to audition for the Warblers. One song in front of the council and they'll decide," he explained.

Kurt nodded again. "I think I can handle that," he said with an impressive air of confidence.

From there the conversation fell into an easy exchange of music likes and dislikes, from which Blaine learned that Kurt was well versed in seemingly all genres of music, from musicals to alternative to hip-hop. They were deep into a friendly argument about the legitimacy of One Direction as a band (Kurt was deeply opposed while Blaine argued they had a certain je ne sais quoi) when Blaine's phone buzzed in his pocket.

"Excuse me," he said to Kurt when he took it out to read the text.

Dude, where'd you go? You fall in the toilet or something? – Wes

He smirked at the teasing text and then looked at the time on his phone. He and Kurt had been talking for over an hour. "Oh my God," he said.

Kurt raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"Nothing, it's just… we've been talking for almost an hour and a half already! I had no idea…" he trailed off when he met Kurt's eyes again.

"Oh, wow. That's crazy," Kurt agreed. "Did you want to go back downstairs? I won't keep you any longer."

It occurred to Blaine that he should probably get back to his friends. He had come to see them, after all. But he was having such a good time talking with Kurt… For the past hour he hadn't thought about Sebastian or home stress or anything like that. He'd just been able to unwind and talk and chill out like a normal kid again. It was nice to finally talk with someone who didn't just identify him as 'the teenage dad.' He found himself really not wanting to leave. It couldn't possibly hurt to make a new friend, right?

"I don't have to go," he said, perhaps a bit too quickly, making Kurt's eyes widen in surprise. "I just mean," Blaine continued, slower, calmer, "I guess I'm just not really in the party mood anymore. This is more my speed." He gestured between himself and Kurt.

Kurt grinned.

"Plus, I've known those goons for years. They're old news to me by now."

The newcomer let out that musical chuckle once more.

Blaine smiled. "You, on the other hand, I find fascinating."

There was a beat of silence and Kurt went suddenly rigid. For a moment, Blaine was afraid the line had been too much. He held his breath and waited for Kurt's reaction, really hoping he hadn't just blown it.

"Really?" Kurt asked.

Blaine let out the breath. "Yeah. I mean, we just seem to have a lot in common and I'm having a really good time talking to you…"

"Blaine," Kurt interrupted, his expression now very serious.

Blaine fell silent. "Yeah?"

"I'm gay," Kurt stated. Then his eyes dropped to his lap. "I just thought you should know before you go on talking to me like that."

Blaine restrained himself from jumping up and doing a happy dance at the affirmation of his suspicion (hope) about Kurt's being gay in order to address the more important issue.

"Talking to you like what?" he asked.

A tiny smile pulled at the edge of Kurt's mouth. "Like you actually like me."

Blaine cocked his head at the comment, reminiscent of the way Ollie did when he was contemplating something. "I do like you, Kurt."

Kurt sighed. "That's nice of you to say, but you don't have to. I'm giving you your out, here. You can get up and go before I make you more uncomfortable. No hard feelings."

Blaine was appalled at the way Kurt was speaking. What had this poor boy been through before that he immediately figured that people would be disgusted with him?

Blaine shook his head, trying to grasp the idea that this beautiful guy couldn't tell how wonderful he was. Blaine had just met him a few hours ago and he could already see it.

"I mean it, Kurt. I really do like you. And I'm not uncomfortable at all. Why would you think that?"

Kurt just shrugged. "Experience, I guess. Not a lot of people stick around once… well, once they know."

"Well, I'm not most people."

Kurt finally raised his eyes back up to Blaine.

"And I'm gay too, you know."

Kurt's eyes widened again just slightly.

"Oh, come on. Like you couldn't tell."

Kurt just shrugged.

"Kurt, we talked about Stephen Sondheim for fifteen minutes straight. You had to have known."

A small smirk slipped through his serious demeanor. "Yeah, well I did have my suspicions."

Blaine smiled.

"But recent experience has taught me not to assume anything about anybody anymore." Kurt's tone was laced with cynicism.

Blaine picked up on it and the atmosphere in the room was immediately more somber. Kurt's eyes were staring ahead of him at nothing in particular and he looked completely lost in thought.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Blaine suggested timidly, hoping he wouldn't provoke Kurt to tears or something.

The blue eyes refocused on Blaine and Kurt smiled sadly. "No, that's alright. Let's just say that people can really surprise you, that's all."

Blaine nodded, although not entirely satisfied with the vague clarification. The only clear meaning he gained from it was that Kurt must have been carrying around some pretty heavy baggage. Another thing we have in common, he thought.

"Anyway," Kurt began in his formerly chipper tone, "sorry for going all broody again."

"It's okay," Blaine assured him. "We all have our moments." He thought back to how he must have looked in Kurt's doorway just an hour ago: face all tear-stained and eyes bloodshot from crying. "What matters is that you can bounce back." Blaine felt a little cheesy reciting the old phrase his postpartum psychologist had always said to him, but it seemed to work okay in the situation.

"Right," said Kurt with a grin. "Okay, let's change the subject now." He leaned forward and hugged the back of his desk chair, his eyes back to sparkling with excitement. "Now that I know you're gay, I have to ask. How is it here?"

Blaine raised an eyebrow. "How is what?"

"Being gay," Kurt clarified. "Are people accepting? I know that there's supposed to be a zero-tolerance policy for bullying, but how is it really?"

"Oh. Yeah, everyone is really accepting mostly. There really aren't that many gay students here, not outed ones anyway, but there are a few and they get treated just like everyone else."

"Really?" Kurt asked, voice quiet and disbelieving.

"Yeah. I never had a single problem when I went here."

Blaine could see the hope rising in Kurt's expression.

"I mean, I was with my boyfriend all the time and no one ever bothered us once."

And the hope immediately fizzled. "Oh," Kurt replied tightly, moving his eyes away from Blaine and back to the floor once again. "Well, that's great," he said with what Blaine could already tell was fake enthusiasm. "I'm glad the people here were so accepting of you two."

Blaine frowned slightly at Kurt's sudden decline into fake perkiness. He went over the last few seconds of the conversation in his head and then he realized his slip-up. He'd just referred to Sebastian as his boyfriend.

"Ex-boyfriend," Blaine blurted, making Kurt jump a little. "He's my ex now. We're not dating anymore," he added in a ramble.

"Oh, okay," Kurt said calmly, although Blaine could detect a little gusto come back to his voice.

There was a beat of silence in which Kurt looked at Blaine contemplatively before speaking again. "I'm single too," he said matter-of-factly with a slight smirk.

Blaine felt his eyebrows rise in intrigue.

"Just, um, so you know." Kurt's smirk turned up into a full-blown smile before he re-directed his gaze away from Blaine's face. His cheeks were flaming red now.

That blush was the first trace of nervousness Blaine had seen Kurt display all night, and it was probably the most endearing thing Blaine had ever seen. It took every ounce of Blaine's willpower to maintain his dapper charm and not do a fist pump of triumph. This gorgeous boy was gay and single and letting Blaine know it. And damn if that wasn't incredible.

He knew he couldn't let his excitement get the better of him, though. Yes, Kurt seemed to like him now—now, when he had no idea that Blaine had family drama coming out of his ears and, oh yeah, a child. Not to mention the baby-daddy debacle. The fact that Blaine was practically betrothed to Sebastian against his will probably wouldn't be a great selling point for any kind of relationship with Kurt.

The weight that had been lifted off his chest while he'd been talking with the new boy suddenly crashed back down on top of him. The fact of the matter was that as much as he would have loved to continue the first class flirt-fest he and Kurt had going on, he knew he couldn't lead the poor boy on. Blaine just could not let himself want normal teenager things. He was just not a normal teenager. So, no matter how damn awesome Kurt was, Blaine had to remind himself that he didn't need Blaine's drama dragging him down.

Blaine wiped the dopey smile off his face and cleared his throat. It sounded remarkably like the way his father would "clear his throat" in order to nip awkward situations in the bud.

"Right, well…" Blaine began in a diplomatic voice but then trailed off. He'd fully intended to make some excuse about being tired and then retreat back to Wes and David's room before Kurt fell any more into the delusion that they could actually be anything together, but then he found himself trapped in those blue orbs again, looking up at him so hopefully, and he knew he wasn't going anywhere.

"Do you want to watch a movie, maybe?" Kurt asked quickly, as if sensing Blaine's plan for retreat and countering it.

"I…" Blaine began in one last feeble attempt at doing the responsible thing and leaving. But the words died in his throat as soon as he saw the way Kurt's long eyelashes fluttered against his pale cheeks. "I… I would love to, Kurt."

A brilliant, relieved smile flashed across the other boy's face. "Great," Kurt said as he got to his feet. "What do you like? I have just about everything imaginable downloaded on my external hard drive." He turned to his desk and bent over to open the top drawer. Blaine blushed as soon as he caught himself staring at the other boy's backside as he fished the device out. "Well, everything imaginable that's good," Kurt added over his shoulder.

"I'm sure it's all really good," Blaine replied blankly, suddenly feeling very hot.

Blaine barely raised his eyes up from the object of his ogling when Kurt turned back around with an inquisitive expression.

"I just mean, if our taste in movies is as similar as our taste in music," Blaine said, giving himself a mental pat on the back for the save.

Kurt smirked at that and plugged the hard drive into his laptop. Then he lifted the computer and approached the bed. Blaine practically gasped when Kurt climbed right up next to him.

"I hope this is alright," he explained as he settled next to Blaine on the bed. "I think it'll work best if we sit here." He then proceeded to set the laptop over his right knee and Blaine's left, right where their legs were touching.

As Kurt went about selecting a movie, Blaine's mind was a million places at once. With the rush of adrenaline sparked by the fact that Kurt's leg and shoulder were pressed right up against him, he instantly panicked.

Oh my God… what is he doing? Oh wow, he's warm… Wait, what am I doing? What am I supposed to do? Is he expecting me to do something? I haven't even sat this close to a guy since Sebastian. Sebastian would totally try something… No, goddammit, don't think about Sebastian! This is Kurt. Kurt with the killer blue eyes who smells nothing like Sebastian. He smells really really good actually... Would it be creepy to tell him he smells nice?

As The Wedding Singer started up on Kurt's computer, Blaine stole a glance at the other boy's profile. Kurt was watching the movie with a small grin on his lips, the light from the screen illuminating his pale skin beautifully. And as the two boys relaxed more into Kurt's pillows, Blaine already knew he was falling way too fast and way too hard for a boy that was basically still a stranger. But he just couldn't stop himself.

Blaine resolved to just concentrate on sitting up straight and keeping his hands placed safely in his lap and his eyes straight ahead as the movie played. He could have sworn he felt Kurt giggle at his forced posture at one point, but perhaps it was just the movie making him laugh. He had such a nice laugh.

They were about halfway through the movie when a huge ruckus echoed from down the hallway. Heavy footsteps and muffled laughter carried over the sound of Adam Sandler singing and both boys looked up from the screen.

"Sounds like the guys are back upstairs," said Blaine. "Wow, I honestly forgot there was even a party going on."

Kurt snickered. "Yeah, me too."

The boys heard some shuffling around in Wes and David's room next door.

"Blaaaaaainey!" a voice called out from the hallway. Blaine recognized it as David.

"Blaine? Where are you?" Wes's calmer voice echoed.

"Looks like I'm wanted in the hall," Blaine said to Kurt with an apologetic look. "I should probably get back to the guys," he added, even though it was practically the last thing he wanted at that moment.

Kurt nodded understandingly. "Right. Of course." He threw his legs over the edge of the bed and stood, allowing Blaine to stand also. "Well, thanks for humoring the new kid as long as you did."

"No. It was my pleasure. Thank you for letting me hang out in here as long as you did. I had a really great time."

Kurt smiled that heart-melting smile again.

As much as Blaine wanted to prolong his time with Kurt, the reality bug was still in the back of his head nagging him. He knew he should get out of there before he fell so hard he could never get up again. He nodded and smiled one more time in Kurt's direction, not trusting himself to look into the blue eyes again. Then he turned and took a step toward the door.

"Blaine, wait!"

Blaine froze instantly, goose bumps flaring all over his body. He turned back around to face Kurt.

"Um, I was just wondering… Do you want to get lunch together tomorrow?"

Blaine felt his eyes widen. He was not expecting that.

"Just… in the cafeteria. If you'll still be here, that is. I just… I still don't really know anybody else here and I don't want to be alone."

Blaine's heart melted at the request. Kurt suddenly seemed so vulnerable in that moment, and Blaine wanted so badly to just say yes. Just to get that gorgeous smile back on Kurt's face. But he couldn't, and he knew that.

"Oh, well, I don't think I can, Kurt. I actually have get home pretty early in the morning. I promised my dad I'd help him around the house tomorrow. I'm sorry…"

"No, no that's fine. Really. I shouldn't have assumed you'd be available." Kurt crossed his arms and plastered on a grin, but Blaine could already tell it wasn't his genuine smile. "It's okay. I'll figure it out. That's what being new kid is all about, right?"

In that moment, Blaine wanted to kick himself for agreeing to help his dad with the guest bathroom renovation that weekend. He knew it was just one of his father's feeble attempts at bonding that were always madly unsuccessful, but he also knew that once you make plans with Cooper Anderson Sr., you sure as hell don't break them. Not unless you wanted a thirty-minute lecture on responsibility and a guilt trip that would probably follow you to the grave.

"Don't be silly," Blaine began, placing a reassuring hand on Kurt's shoulder before he could think better of it. "I wouldn't leave you here completely defenseless. I'll talk to my friends. I'm sure they'd love to have you join them at meals."

Kurt perked up a bit. "Really?"

"Absolutely. I mean, you'd get to know them sooner or later. If you're going to be a Warbler, that is."

"That would be really great. Thanks."

Their eyes lingered on one another for another silent moment.

"But I'm free on Sunday," Blaine heard himself say before his mind could catch up. He practically gasped once the words were out, shocked that they had come from nowhere. But once his mind could process what he'd said, and once he saw the way Kurt's face lit up, he knew he didn't regret saying them.

"Yeah?" a hopeful-looking Kurt replied.

"Yeah. Um, we could meet for coffee, maybe? I mean, if you want. There's this place that's a pretty regular haunt for Dalton students that you should probably know about…"

Kurt cut him off. "That sounds perfect."

Blaine felt himself smile like a dope. "Great. Um, how about you give me your number then? So we can hash out the details later?"

Kurt nodded, and Blaine handed him his phone. Kurt paused, quirking an eyebrow up at Blaine. "Who's the cutie in your background picture?" he asked, holding up the iPhone to reveal the picture of Oliver's spaghetti sauce-smeared face currently serving as Blaine's phone wallpaper.

Blaine's heart skipped a beat as he stared at the photo. He suddenly felt like a fist had settled in his chest and was squeezing his lungs. He knew he couldn't tell Kurt the truth about him. Not yet. They were getting along so well and Kurt hadn't judged him yet. Blaine was so scared that if he knew he was a father, Kurt would run for the hills before he could get one more word out.

Blaine had never experienced such mixed emotions in his life. He almost wished he had had enough sense to have just left Kurt's room hours before when he first realized how impossibly the odds were stacked against him. But it was too late now. So, feeling totally trapped, knowing that it was probably worst set up to a potential relationship ever, he lied. At this point, it was a better option than letting Kurt walk away forever without even giving him a chance.

"It's… my nephew," he said. Blaine thought the vice-like feeling in his chest would subside with the fib, but it just grew worse as Kurt smiled back at him in response.

"That's adorable. He looks a lot like you, you know."

Blaine forced a tight smile. "Yeah, everybody says that."

Kurt finished typing in his number and handed the phone back to Blaine. "I'll see you Sunday, then?" he asked cheerily.

"Sunday," Blaine confirmed. "And I'll tell the guys to expect you at lunch tomorrow."

"Thank you, Blaine. For everything."

"You're welcome. I'll see you soon."

They exchanged one last grin before Blaine turned and left the room. He pulled Kurt's door closed behind him. Then he sighed and slumped against the wall.

He was already in way over his head.