You guys...

I LOVE YOU SO FREAKING MUCH I CAN'T EVEN CONTAIN IT I'M A GLASS CASE OF EMOTIONS AND I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH YOU'RE ALL LOVELY AND I WOULD MARRY YOU ALL IF I COULD BUT THAT WOULD BE ILLEGAL BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT I LOVE YOU ANY LESS.

So, yeah, that's about the size of it.

Basically I love you all. Like, a lot. Thank you so much for all of your amazing reviews. Anyone who's read Take Off Your Colours and has read my author's note will know that I have extremely low self esteem so all of these lovely reviews are just incredible.

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Please leave me a review on this chapter if you have a second to do so, thank you so much. :)

Chapter three

"Hey, kiddo!" Burt called out from the couch as Kurt came through the door. "How was the taster day at Dalton?"

"It was good, I really like it," his son told him, flopping down beside him.

"I'm glad, son," Burt replied, smiling kindly at him before turning his attention back to the TV. "Carol and Finn will be home soon."

Kurt nodded. His father and Carol had been married for a few months now, making Finn his stepbrother, and he was a lot happier with the arrangement than he'd originally imagined that he'd be. Finn was really stepping up the mark as a brother and Kurt couldn't be prouder.

"Make any friends?" Burt asked, his eyes not moving from the TV screen.

Kurt considered this. "I guess," he shrugged. "One guy in particular."

At this, Burt perked up immediately, switching the television off and turning his attention to his son. "Go on," he urged.

"It's nothing," Kurt insisted, "Just a guy. Blaine Anderson, lead singer of the Warblers."

Burt struggled to keep his face impassive, instead echoing, "The Warblers?"

"Yeah, Dad, that's the name of their Glee club," Kurt told him.

"Oh, right," Burt grinned at this. "Is he gay?" He blurted out.

Kurt nodded, fighting to keep the blush off his cheeks.

Burt's grin widened. "So, you like this guy, huh?"

"He's alright," Kurt shrugged. "Kind of arrogant, but he's pretty much perfect so I think he's entitled to be."

"Perfect, huh?" Burt echoed, smirking. "Sounds like you're smitten."

Kurt gave him a withering look. "Hardly. Besides, he has a boyfriend."

Burt's head whipped round to look at him. "He's found his soul mate already?" He let out a low whistle. "That's…coincidental."

Kurt shook his head. "No, not a soul mate. Just a boyfriend."

Burt frowned, looking put out, "But, why?"

Kurt took a minute to think this over. "Fun, I guess," he replied. "I don't really know."

"Hmm," Burt considered this, "Sounds a bit weird."

"I don't know him," Kurt reminded him, "he could be a nutter for all I know."

Burt snorted out a laugh. "I doubt that. So, do you think you'll want to go to Dalton? It's either that or Carmel."

Kurt shuddered. "I'm not becoming a brain-washed Vocal Adrenaline junkie." But he shrugged. "I need to think it through."

Burt nodded, "Of course. But let me guess, this Blaine will be a contributing factor to your decision, right?"

Kurt glared at him. "No," he replied stubbornly, "why are you so obsessed with Blaine, anyway?"

Burt tried to look nonchalant. "I don't know. You haven't…met anyone like that in a while."

Kurt struggled with this. He had yet – if ever – to tell his dad about Karofsky. He knew it would be too painful for Burt to deal with and Hell, it was a lot for him to deal with right now. He didn't want to go shouting about it. It would just make it more painful, and affirm in his mind that it did actually happen. Right now, he was in denial, and it was a much better place to be in than the all-time low he was threatening to fall to.

"You mean I'm still single?" Kurt eventually asked, raising an eyebrow. After a few moments, Burt gave a small nod. "This is Ohio, Dad."

"I know that, kid," Burt insisted, "but you have a soul mate out there for you and –"

Kurt sighed. "Dad, I don't want to meet my soul mate."

"I know you think that now, son, but things might change," Burt reminded him.

"Well, when they do, I'll let you know," Kurt said, crossing his arms across his chest.

"I just don't want you to be lonely, kiddo," Burt replied, giving him a sideways look full of concern.

"I'm not," Kurt insisted. "I'm OK, really."

"I hope so, son," Burt said, smiling at him. "But who knows, maybe this Blaine kid is your soul mate."

Kurt scoffed. "I really hope not. He's hooking up with some Warbler – who has the range of a dying cat, I might add – because he can't be bothered to wait for his soul mate. If that isn't arrogance, please draw me a picture of what is," he replied, fixing his attention on his nails rather than meeting his father's eyes.

"Jealous?" Burt piped up.

Kurt sighed, giving his dad a withering look. "Far from. Disgusted is more appropriate."

"There's a fine line between hate and love," Burt called after him as Kurt flounced out of the room, rolling his eyes as he went.

Later that night, Kurt fingered the wool of his gloves. For the first time in his life, he was tempted to remove the fabric and bear witness to the name beneath. How bad could it be? He thought, fingers catching in a loop on the wool.

Instantly, he let the fabric drop against his skin. No, he berated. One chance meeting with another gay guy didn't mean that he had to question his very ethos on life.

He didn't want to meet his soul mate. Of that he was certain. But what was the harm in just knowing? At this point, he was so lonely that just the reassurance that there was someone out there who wanted him would have been comforting.

He'd had the gloves on since he could remember. As a child, he must have read the name on his palm but ever since he was old enough to think for himself, he'd insisted on the gloves and eradicated any memories of the name from his mind. He didn't want to know.

His fingers had fallen to playing with the garments again when his phone buzzed, startling Kurt.

Hey, K, it's Karofsky. I know we parted on bad terms, but do you fancy meeting up? My parents are out. – David x

Kurt nearly dropped the phone in shock. Why the hell was Karofsky contacting him? Had dropping out of school not given him the hint?

Fingers poised over the screen of his iPhone, Kurt considered for a few long moments how to reply. Should he agree?

The fact that he'd even had that thought appalled and shocked Kurt, but after a minute of consideration, he was almost warming to the idea. The content of Karofsky's message had made his intentions quite clear and if a quick hook up was all he wanted, why should Kurt decline that?

In truth, he was desperately lonely, especially after witnessing Blaine being perfectly happy with a guy who wasn't his soul mate. Why couldn't Kurt be that happy? Maybe he could be, a small part of his brain argued, if you gave Karofsky a chance.

Why shouldn't I meet him? Kurt thought.

You're running away from this guy; you're transferring midterm away from your friends to get away from him. Another part of him argued. Why would you willingly meet him?

…I'm lonely, Kurt reasoned. No matter what I said to my dad, I'm lonely. I want to feel wanted. Karofsky wants me.

It was undeniable that the desire to be wanted, needed, craved by someone far outweighed Kurt's hatred of Karofsky. Besides, if Kurt was so set against the idea of soul mates, why would he deny a hook-up?

He didn't want love or commitment or a long term relationship. He wanted, though every bone in his body told him that it was a bad idea, fun. Fun was what Blaine had said, right? It didn't have to be anything more than fun.

But Karofsky terrified him.

Before he could think, he was typing out a reply.

Why? – K.

Within a second, Karofsky had replied.

I made my feelings towards you perfectly clear and I know that you don't feel the same way, but hey, you might even enjoy spending time with me – David x

Kurt's fingers flew across the screen.

But you bullied me – K

I won't lie; I was struggling to come to terms with my feelings for you. I know that you're out of McKinley now and maybe that will be good for us. I'm sorry for how I treated you, but I'd really like the opportunity to make it up to you. I know you don't believe in soul mates, so I'm guessing you're looking for fun rather than commitment. That's where we're similar. Even if nothing happens between us, I'd still like to see you – David x

Kurt struggled with a response as he considered Karofsky's reasoned responses and genuine, heartfelt apology. He took a deep breath. He couldn't believe he was doing this.

But, if he was going by Blaine's logic, he might as well make the most of it, he thought, fingers flying across the keys as he replied to Karofsky's message.

I'll be there – K

TBC...

I know it seems a bit unrealistic, Kurt so easily agreeing to meet with Karofsky, but let me justify myself: he's lonely; he idolizes Blaine, who is hooking up with someone else so he feels that it's OK to do so; this is the first offer from any guy he's ever received; and he is also easy to forgive. So don't hate me! ;)

Please review if you want the next chapter up ASAP! :)