A/N: Okay, I know I said I get this chapter up sooner but I hadn't exactly planned on my college deadlines being a hell of a lot tighter this year so I didn't find the time to finish the chapter until now. It's going to be like this a lot this year so whenever I'm work free or have a holiday, I will try my best write as much I can.

Plus, I was in New York! It was absolutely amazing, one of the best experiences of my life so far. :)

Happy holidays, everyone!

Disclaimer: I don't own Glee or A Walk to Remember; those rights belong to Mr Ryan Murphy himself and Nicholas Sparks

Kurt sauntered down the corridor with a small smile on his face. It's been two weeks since the whole 'unscripted kiss' incident and things weren't so bad. Sure, the jocks still made it their mission to keep up the daily bullying and Karofsky had managed to be that extra bit meaner. He and Blaine couldn't decipher the reason for this but they chose to push it to the back of their minds.

Speaking of Blaine, he was actually handling everything really well. He'd been slushied multiple times, pushed into lockers, – and much harder than Kurt ever has – had homophobic slurs thrown at him and all that, but he'd never got angry or sad. He just stood there and took it. Even though he's never said anything, Kurt knows that a part of him thinks he deserves it for all the times he'd stood and watched them do it to others. He wanted to tell Blaine that he was wrong but he knew it was pointless arguing with him.

The pair of them are practically joined at the hip and Blaine refused to hide their friendship anymore. He didn't care if they were seen together in the corridors or at lunch; he didn't want to hide anymore. Kurt had argued at first not wanting to give them another reason to pester Blaine but he was adamant. People hadn't really been surprised considering what happened in the play and because of how Kurt always rushes to help Blaine when he'd been slushied or pushed. Most people thought they were dating but they weren't. They were just friends – really good friends. Kurt had hoped that their friendship would've progressed in some way after their kiss but neither of them had made a move. Kurt had considered bringing it up but was too scared. He couldn't let himself fall for Blaine; it was too dangerous for both of them. That doesn't mean he wasn't already on his way though.

Kurt was on his way to the cafeteria to meet Blaine and the glee club for lunch. They didn't venture out to the library anymore; Blaine had vowed that he wanted to be with all his friends and Kurt, despite being hesitant, obliged. It's been nice being able to sit surrounded by people who made him happy without having to worry (too much) about what other people thought. That said, the stares they received didn't go unnoticed but they were getting easier to ignore.

However, today, things felt a little… off. Kurt couldn't exactly put his finger on it, but something didn't feel right. It was almost like he knew something was going to happen.

The moment he stepped into the cafeteria, that something happened.

Virtually the entire student body was in there and they were all staring at one thing: Kurt. Snickers and whispers echoed through the cafeteria as Kurt stood motionless at the door. Was there something on his face? Had someone stuck something on him? His eyes scanned the room in hope that it would give him some form of answer.

That's when he noticed the paper. Nearly every person, or at least every table, had a sheet of paper, a poster maybe, in their hands.

Quinn walked purposefully towards him with a bundle of paper in her hands. Her face portrayed a very smug look as if she had just won some sort of prize.

"Hi, Kurt!" she said a little too sweetly. He didn't like where this was going. "Have you seen this? You never told us you had such an amazing body," she smirked, handing him one of the sheets. Kurt hesitantly took it from her and glanced down at its contents.

Kurt wished with every ounce if his body that the floor would somehow swallow him up. The 'poster' consisted of a very revealing image of a woman, Kurt guessing it was probably a porn star or something. But it wasn't just that, the mastermind behind this insightful design had attached a picture of Kurt's head on top of the body.

Kurt felt so… humiliated. Sure, it was only a joke but it felt as though they had exploited him and his sexuality. His chest felt as though someone was squeezing it, his breaths coming out faster and irregularly. He forced his eyes away from the image and took the opportunity to seek out his friends.

The glee club sat looking at him with pity, something Kurt always hated. Finn, however, looked livid. Kurt felt his eyes stinging as the tears started gather. He wanted to run from the laughter ringing through his ears. He needed to get out of there. He turned quickly and collided into a body.

"Whoa, I'm sorry! I didn't see y- Kurt?" Blaine grasped Kurt's arms tightly to steady him, his concern growing rapidly at the pained look upon his friends face. Blaine had stayed behind in his previous lesson to voice his queries about the homework resulting in his tardiness for lunch.

"Kurt, what's wrong?" Blaine asked worriedly. Kurt's breathing was too hysterical for him to form any words so he handed Blaine the poster. He took it curiously and his face morphed into a look of shock which quickly changed to anger.

Blaine looked up to see Quinn retreating back to the table where his old friends were sat. He clenched his fist, scrunching up the paper in the process.

"Stay here," he told Kurt as he stormed off towards the table where Karofsky and the others were laughing feverishly. He took a mental note of Mike's absence.

"Hey, Blaine! You sure you're gay? I mean, you're dating a girl after all!" Karofsky laughed, clutching his stomach.

Blaine laughed mockingly and stalked closer, swinging his fist back and punching him square in the face. Blaine was so angry; he didn't even register the pain shooting through his hand.

"What the fuck, dude?!" Karofsky screeched, cradling his nose in his hand. Blaine said nothing and stared venomously at him before turning.

"What's your problem?" Puck spat.

"What's my problem?" Blaine repeated, turning back around. "You may have a problem with me, but you have no right taking it out on Kurt."

"But he's the reason you've gone queer!" Karofsky shot back.

"You can't make someone gay! It's no one's fault!" Blaine was struggling to stay calm.

"You were normal until you started hanging around with him!"

"Actually David, I've been gay the entire time, I just never told you. Just accept it, I'm gay! There's nothing you can do to change that and it doesn't matter what you do to me because, quite frankly, I don't care what you think. But you don't get to involve Kurt in this because it's between you and me, so leave him out of it." With that, Blaine turned sharply, not waiting for a reply and made his way back over to Kurt who looked completely shell-shocked over his outburst.

"You okay?" Blaine asked softly and Kurt could only nod. He gently took Kurt's hand within his own and led him out of the silent cafeteria.

"Would you like me to take you home?" Blaine asked once they were away from the prying ears.

"Please," Kurt whispered hoarsely.

The pair walked out of the building, Blaine keeping a tight grip on Kurt's hand. Once they reached Blaine's car, he held open the passenger door for Kurt, waiting for him to be fully inside the vehicle before closing it and going around to the driver's side.

The first few minutes were spent in silence as Blaine started the familiar route to the Hudmel's house.

"Thank you," Kurt said softly, looking over sincerely at Blaine.

"I didn't really do anything."

"You did," Kurt pressed. "You stood up for me which was more than anyone else was doing. I mean, you didn't even think about it before you started towards them."

"I didn't have time to think, I was so angry. They had no right doing that to you, Kurt, I'm sorry," Blaine glanced over briefly before returning his gaze back to the road.

"Don't apologise, you didn't make them do it. I know you think that you're the reason they did it, to get back at you, but either way, it's not your fault. They're just blinded by ignorance."

"There's no point in me arguing with you is there?" Blaine said with a knowing look.

"Nope!" Kurt confirmed happily. "You're better than they are. You're honest and true to yourself. What you said, what you did, was so brave, Blaine. I'm really proud of you," Kurt said with a warm smile gracing his features.

"I don't know what came over me. I guess it's all been bottled up inside of me and what they did triggered it. They hurt you; I wasn't going to just stand there. I wish there was a way to take it all away, I'd rip every single poster if I had to."

"Thanks, Blaine. I'm glad I have you as my friend," Kurt said with a genuine smile that lit the fire within Blaine but he couldn't ignore the dominant pain that came with the word 'friend'.

"Listen, Kurt, about that…" Blaine started, his nerves rising to the point where he could feel the beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

"Oh, my God, this has changed everything hasn't it? They've scared you off. You don't want to be my friend anymore, do you?" Kurt rushed hysterically, his smile erased completely.

"No! I mean, yes I still want to be your friend, Kurt! I didn't mean it like that!" Blaine cried, internally kicking himself for the way he worded his previous sentence. "I promise," he added as Kurt's face remained pained.

"Really?" Kurt whimpered, his insecurity pouring from him. The smallness in his voice twisted Blaine's heart, the guilt pulsating through him for making Kurt feel that way.

With his eyes remaining on the road ahead, Blaine reached out and gently grabbed Kurt's hand in his own, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Really." His hand remained there for the rest of the short journey, his thumb gently caressing the soft skin; each stroke calming Kurt down slightly.

Minutes passed before he pulled up outside the Hudmel's house. Blaine turned in his seat, his other hand searching for Kurt's. The pair stared down at their joined hands, Blaine trying to gather the right words to say and Kurt waiting to hear them.

"I know how it must've sounded, but I promise you I didn't mean it like that. I swear, Kurt." Blaine stared into Kurt's eyes, his own swimming with sincerity.

"What did you mean then?" Kurt asked softly, his head tilting in curiosity.

"Um, well I… Um." Blaine stuttered, looking away nervously, his cheeks stained red. This was not going the way he had planned it out in his head. How was he going to say it? Every speech he'd put together in the mirror suddenly seemed useless. What if he said no? What if he doesn't see him in that way? What if –

"Blaine?" Kurt's voice cut through his inner paranoia.

"Huh?"

Kurt chuckled. "I lost you there for a minute. What do you want to tell me?"

"Uh- Well, I wanted to…" he trailed off again.

No, he told himself sternly. This is ridiculous, just ask him.

He inhaled deeply and stared intently into Kurt's eyes.

"Kurt, you're my best friend. What I said before… I didn't mean I wanted to stop being friends, I meant – I meant I wanted to be more." As the declaration left his mouth, it was as if a huge weight had been lifted off of his shoulders but came crashing back down with anxiety as he awaited Kurt's reply.

A pregnant pause filled the air as Kurt sat with his mouth slightly ajar as he stared back at Blaine, his ears hardly believing what they just heard. He became more aware of the feel of Blaine's hands in his own and the words 'wanted to be more' swimming through his mind. Sure, he'd hoped this would happen yet he never thought it would.

The silence, however, was only building up the fear of rejection within Blaine. He hadn't yet prepared himself for rejection and he was deeply hoping he wouldn't have to.

"Y-You do?" Kurt managed to stutter out, the surprise evident in his voice.

"I do," Blaine answered with the upmost sincerity. There's nothing he'd want more.

"So do I," Kurt whispered, the corners of his lips curving slightly.

Blaine's eyes widened a fraction, his lips parting slightly, clearing shocked by the mutual feelings. It only took a few seconds for the words to fully sink in and the wide smile to spread across his face. His happiness seemed to radiate off of him and onto Kurt who mimicked his grin brightly.

"Will you go on a date with me tomorrow night?" Blaine asked, his voice slightly hesitant, his nerves breaking through.

Kurt nodded happily, his heart filling with warmth. Despite everything he'd promised himself a while ago, he wanted this. He wanted to be happy even if it was only going to be for a short period of time. He knew what the consequences might be on both himself and Blaine, but in this moment, he couldn't bring himself to care; he was too elated by the fact that Blaine actually reciprocated his feelings.

"Can we be really cheesy and go to Breadstix?" Kurt asked lightly, a small chuckle escaping his lips.

"Anything you want," Blaine replied airily.

"I'll meet you at my locker in the morning?" Kurt asked even though it's what they did every morning.

"Yeah. I'll see you tomorrow," he leaned over and placed a soft kiss on Kurt's warm cheek causing the boy to flush brightly.

"See you tomorrow, Blaine," Kurt smiled contentedly, reluctantly removing his hands from Blaine's and exiting the car. As he walked away, he kept glancing back at Blaine who was watching him retreat to his door with a radiant smile.

The pair couldn't even remember the humiliation and the anger from earlier, it seemed like days ago. As Blaine drove away, he couldn't remove the smile that was plastered upon his face.

A/N: Well, there we go! I hope you all have a magical Christmas, if you celebrate it and a happy new year :)

Thanks you guys for all your reviews, I can't believe there are over 100! Please keep them coming, I love reading your feedback.