Kurt was back at school on Monday, but Blaine noticed that he still looked peaky. It was force of habit after so many morning Warbler rehearsals that Blaine arrived at school unreasonably early, and when he saw Kurt wander into home room, he was immediately up and at his side. Btu just as a friend, he reminded himself reluctantly as he rested an arm around Kurt's shoulder.

"How're you holding up?" Blaine asked.

Kurt shrugged. "Dad thought that I should stay home for another day but I didn't want to miss any more work – I've got enough to catch up on as it is."

Blaine nodded sympathetically, sitting back down in his seat. Kurt sat at the desk next to him, leaning his chin in his hand.

"Kurt!" Wes had just arrived with David. "Blaine said you were, you okay?" At Kurt's half-hearted response, he continued, "there's a Warbler rehearsal after school, but don't feel like you have to come – you need to recuperate."

"And well done for pressing through it at Sectionals," David added. "You were great – Regionals, here we come!"

Kurt smiled politely. "Thanks, guys," he said. "And of course I'm coming, Wes. Provided I'm not going to have to sing anything."

The two other boys laughed and took their seats, but Blaine took a sideways glance at Kurt. Had that been some passive aggressive comment about not getting a solo? He dismissed the thought; he could sort of see where Kurt was coming from with that anyway, and being congested made him sound sarcastic regardless of whether he meant to be or not.

As part of his new Get-Over-Kurt plan, Blaine had been trying to avoid thinking about the memorial garden, so he felt somewhat betrayed when Kurt suggested that they go there at lunch. Having no counter-proposal, though, he found himself sitting next to Kurt on "their" bench (as accidentally christened by Trent) after they'd eaten.

"Are you sure you'll be okay? It's really cold today," Blaine worried, his breath misting around his mouth, before being brushed away by the breeze.

Kurt sighed, exasperated. "Blaine, I'm fine," he assured his friend. "All you've been doing all day is asking me how I am."

"Well, I'm looking out for you," Blaine responded casually, staring at the tree standing in front of them.

There was a pause. Blaine fidgeted with his gloves.

"Why did you come to visit me?" Kurt asked eventually. "I mean, thanks, but...?"

Blaine smiled, raising an eyebrow. "You're welcome," he said, laughing a little. "Well..." He wasn't quite sure what to say. "Like I said, I'm looking out for you."

That seemed to answer Kurt's question to an acceptable degree, and the two boys sat once again in silence.

"It's just that I looked horrendous," Kurt explained eventually, and Blaine laughed.

"I knew you'd say that!"

Kurt shoved him playfully, and Blaine shoved him back, before standing up. "Come on," he said. "You're gonna freeze out here: let's go inside."

Kurt smiled at him and stood obediently, smoothing down his blazer. "Okay," he agreed, and walked with Blaine back to their home room.