It was only when Kurt was sitting in an uncomfortable silence with Trent in home room that he realised how little he knew about the other boy. Blaine was uncharacteristically late to school and it was only Wednesday. Kurt wouldn't have admitted it, but he was getting worried.
"Do you think he's ill?" Trent asked contemplatively, shattering Kurt's thought process.
"Hmm?" he said absently.
"Blaine," Trent explained, raising an eyebrow. "He wasn't at the Warblers meeting either... maybe he got ill yesterday afternoon?"
It surprised Kurt that Blaine hadn't told Trent what had happened, but he supposed it was for a good reason. "I don't think he's ill," he responded cryptically after a moment.
Trent shrugged and "hmm"ed.
They sat together in the quiet again for a few moments, before Trent asked, "so, are you two actually dating, or what?"
Kurt almost choked on air. "Um, no," he spluttered, "we're not. We're just friends." But he felt himself redden as he spoke.
"Right," Trent nodded. "I think he'd say yes if you asked him out, though."
"What?" Kurt wasn't going to play dumb anymore, so he asked, "really?"
"Sure," Trent replied. "You send each other gooey-eyes all the time. You just don't notice. It's kind of annoying, actually, but also adorable." He laughed. "I think your friend – what's his name? Hugh? – has started an underground gambling society that revolves solely around when you two are going to get together."
Kurt felt his blush deepen. "That's a bit weird," he muttered, secretly celebrating. If other people saw those signals Blaine was sending him as flirting, then they must be... mustn't they?"
This thought was drawn to a swift conclusion when Blaine entered home room, settling himself into his seat with a satisfied sigh. Trent started looking determinedly out the window on the other side of the room, and Kurt fiddled with the desk in front of him.
"One day, you two are gonna have an actual conversation," Blaine chuckled good-naturedly.
Kurt smiled obligingly. "Good mood?" he asked.
"Excellent mood," Blaine grinned. "The best thing happened yesterday, surprisingly enough."
Kurt sat up attentively. "Do tell."
Blaine looked almost shy about revealing the information. "Okay, well – "
Kurt had to restrain himself when their teacher began talking, cutting Blaine off spectacularly. Blaine shrugged and mouthed to him, "not important".
Well, thought Kurt. It was bloody important to him, even if it wasn't to Blaine.
But, surprisingly, Kurt had all but forgotten about it by first break; he was too distracted by the notion of getting Blaine back into the Warblers.
"Warbler meeting was extraordinarily dull without you there," he commented when they met up outside Spanish.
Blaine sighed. "I'm sorry," he said, shrugging. "The second my grade goes above a B, I'm back in. Promise."
Kurt smiled good-naturedly. "Are you thinking about getting a tutor?"
Blaine shook his head. "Not especially. Why?"
"Oh, no reason." Well, no reason other than that Kurt deemed himself an excellent – and very available – tutor. "But, you know, if you ever want any help, I'm happy to do what I can." Was there an innuendo in there. No, stop it, Kurt.
Blaine smiled. "Thanks, Kurt – but I think I'll be okay. I reckon I just have to spend more time on it."
"Okay, well..." Damn. Plan ruined. "Let me know if you change your mind."
"Will do." Blaine paused. "You know, Kurt... you are fantastic."
What? Really? Kurt's heart started racing. He blinked slowly, taking a deep breath. "Um, thanks?" He smiled.
"Sorry, completely out of nowhere." Blaine laughed. "I just... I don't think you get told that nearly enough, Kurt. You're an amazing person."
Kurt swallowed, dumbstruck. "Thank you," he murmured finally, struck by the sincerity of the statement.
Blaine wound an arm around Kurt's shoulders. "You're very welcome," he said softly against the side of Kurt's head.
And it was then that Kurt was struck by the gravity of the situation. It was bigger and scarier than anything he'd thought before.
He was completely, inescapably, desperately, in love with Blaine.