Boston series #5

Kurt is meeting Puck at the party because they live across campus from each other (which isn't all that far, but still). Kurt has a room on-campus while Puck had to find something off-campus since he was wait listed for so long.

The party is held in some sort of ballroom or gym (Kurt can't quite tell which because the flooring is this ambiguous wood-print laminate) and is geared toward welcoming the freshmen, though they don't call it that. Kurt's roommate runs off somewhere to call his girlfriend, who lives in Montana, so Kurt's standing by himself next to the bar, trying to snag himself a sparkling cranberry juice. Or water. Water would be fine. It's August and sweltering in Boston and whatever excuse for air conditioning this building has just isn't cutting it.

"Hey," a voice startles Kurt out of his overheated haze and he looks around to see a boy who's slightly shorter than him with buzzed blonde hair and a hand sticking out for a shake. His smile is nice, so Kurt gives him the benefit of the doubt and returns the gesture. "Name's Peter."

"Kurt," he replies, vaguely mortified at how sweaty Peter's hand felt. Well, it was as hot as hell in here. It couldn't be helped. The music's a little loud, so Kurt has to keep his voice raised as he asks, "So, Peter, where are you from?"

"Providence," Peter replies and Kurt admires the alliteration. "And your beautiful self?"

Surprised by the sudden compliment, Kurt fumbles for a moment before replying, "O-ohio."

Peter chuckles loudly, "Midwestern boy! Alright! No wonder you're so bashful and charming!"

If this was a year ago, Kurt would be preening under the praise, but as things stand now he is more flummoxed and uncomfortable than anything else. What does this boy want from him? What would Blaine think? Blaine's dead, but he's not gone from Kurt's heart and the dichotomy of the feeling has Kurt grasping for the words that will make this boy just go away.

When an arm slides behind his shoulders, Kurt almost freaks out, but then he recognizes Puck's voice as he says, "Hey, sweetheart. Who's your new friend?"

Kurt looks over at Puck to ask him what the hell he's doing, but Puck gives him a little eyebrow shimmy that probably means, just go with it. Well, Kurt is nothing if not a supreme actor. "Oh, there you are, pumpkin," Kurt replies, lacing his fingers with Puck's at his shoulder. "This is Pete.

"Peter, actually," he says, eyes widening a little at the sight of Puck's arms in the tank top he chose to wear that day because of the heat.

"He thinks I'm bashful and charming," Kurt says, nuzzling his head against Puck's jaw. Peter-not-Pete looks like he might actually be scared and Kurt has to work hard to keep a straight face. "Why don't you ever say things like that to me?"

Puck doesn't miss a beat as he replies, "Because I'm too busy telling you what an animal you are in bed, snookums."

Peter gets this half-interested-half-uncomfortable look on his face as he looks down into his cup and says, "Oh, look at that! I need a refill!" He practically runs away.

As soon as he's out of earshot, Kirt starts laughing and pulls away from Puck, "I really didn't need saving, but thanks."

Puck replies, "Sure you did, dude. I could tell from across the room you so weren't into that guy. You can hit me back the next time an uggo wants in my pants."

Kurt's glad Puck doesn't ask if Blaine is the reason he isn't into Peter. It's nice having a friend - a wingman even - who takes everything at face value.