Title: Just a little crush (7/9)
Rating: PG-13
Pairing(s): Sam/Kurt
Genre: Romance
Spoilers: S1
Disclaimer: Glee is not mine.
Summary: Sam was willing to admit, if only to himself, that it was possible that he might have a slight crush on Kurt Hummel.

A/N: The full title is "There Is A Reason People Don't Wear White". Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far!

PazithiaGallifreya - Hi, I'm glad you're enjoying it so far! Sam is an oblivious numpty who interprets Kurt's behaviour as K thinking S is a total weirdo or as K being uncomfortable in some way. Kurt telling him that he wasn't into him 'in that way' hurt and he took it at face value so I think that Sam considers any tension to be one sided. I actually wrote all nine chapters a few months ago... not sure how subtle/intense it is but I'm happy with it :)

QueenMirror – I wrote a lot of the story before I knew whether or not Lauren was going to be a permanent fixture and I must admit I pretty much forgot about her. I love Lauren though so she'll definitely be in my next Kum fic :)

pinkvegpixie – I'm glad you love it :D and thank you I'm feeling much better now!

It turned out when Rachel said executive BBQ she meant it was some sort of electric thing which didn't need coals. Sam stood around it with Puck, Mike and Artie who were all staring at it with a mixture of disgust and disappointment.

"If you don't get to set shit on fire then really what's the point?" Puck shook his head in dismay and the other guys murmured their agreement.

"Will she actually let us put meat on that thing?" Artie asked.

"She better or it aint a BBQ. I mean hell, I don't even know what this is!" Puck held up a miscellaneous vegetable.

Finn hurried towards them looking relieved "It's okay guys Rachel will let us cook meat on the right side of the BBQ if we listen to a brief lecture on animal cruelty and accept some leaflets."

"Where's Kurt?" Sam asked looking around for him.

"Not here yet. I came early to help Rachel."

Sam tried to quench his disappointment, he had assumed that if Finn was around Kurt would be too since they lived together. Eyes pausing on Brittany and Santana who were sitting on a blanket making out, he sighed. How sad was it that the brief seconds that his and Kurt's lips had accidentally pressed against each other had been the best kiss he had ever experienced?

Sam had been thinking a lot about what Kurt had said the previous night - he liked jocks. Despite the fact that Kurt had denied having those sorts of feeling for him Sam wondered if maybe he stood even a very small chance by been a jock. It seemed unlikely and even if that were the case they were well and truly in the 'friend zone' now. No matter what, Sam was planning on coming out during his Glee performance and he was going to choose a song which declared his feelings for Kurt. So he might not have to worry about them being friends for much longer if Kurt took it badly.

"Hot isn't it?" Puck wiggled his eyebrows.

Sam glanced back to Santana and Brittany "Umm yeah sure."

The pool was awesome, below ground with decking surrounding it. Sam would have been having an great time if only Rachel would have shut up about how many brochures her dads had looked through before deciding on that particular one. He zoned out as Kurt strutted into the Berry's back yard wearing white swimming trunks that stopped at his knees and were not exactly tight but slimmer fitting than the other guys. He also wore a red t shirt, flip flops and a pair of sunglasses. Even dressed down he managed to look breathtaking. Kurt spotted him and gave a little wave, Sam waved back perhaps a bit too enthusiastically and Kurt laughed.

An hour later Sam was in the pool with most of the boys including Artie while the girls and Kurt, tired of the guys splashing, were sunbathing. Sam propped himself against the side, chin resting on crossed arms, covertly watching Kurt as he flicked through his magazine. So far everyone had been in the pool apart from Kurt, he had refused when the girls tried to persuade him to get in and had settled down on a deckchair near the BBQ equipment.

"Kurt, you not getting in? The water is amazing" Finn yelled at him in the middle of a splashing fight with the Puck.

Kurt removed his designer sunglasses and raised an eyebrow "No I think I'll pass thanks."

The guys quickly became exhausted by their antics and the heat, collapsing around the sides of the pool they joined the girls sunbathing.

"It's so hot!" Kurt complained fanning himself with his copy of Vogue. "This is Ohio, how is it this hot?"

"Dude just take your shirt off" Puck rolled his eyes, fanning himself and Quinn with his hands.

Kurt frowned "I'll burn."

"Quinn has some sunscreen." Quinn nodded and pointed to her bag too hot to contemplate moving.

Once Kurt was in possession of the sunscreen he pulled off his t-shirt, Sam tried his hardest not to look but his eyes kept flicking back to Kurt's milky white skin and surprisingly toned chest. Kurt was wrong, Sam's drawing hadn't done him justice at all. Kurt moaned as Mercedes rubbed the cold lotion into his back and Sam bit his lip trying to think unsexy thoughts like Sue Sylvester and Figgins making out. He glanced around at the other gleeks frowning in confusing when he noticed Puck and Finn whispering to each other then looking over at Kurt every now and then. They suddenly ran towards Kurt, Finn grabbing him under the arms, Puck by the ankles then carried him towards the pool.

"Don't you dare!" Kurt glared up at them struggling which only sent his t-shirt and flip flops flying.

"Come on dude you have to try Rachel's new pool or she'll be devastated" Puck smirked.

Kurt seemed to realise they were actually going to go through with it because he began to kick, then beg, fear leaching into his face "Please...no...I can't..."

Everyone laughed including Sam as Kurt hit the water but he was the first to stop when Kurt came to the surface gasping and splashing barely able to stay afloat. Each time he broke the surface of the water he gasped for breath, making strange noises and each time he seemed to be finding it more difficult to reach the surface. He can't swim Sam realised, kicking off his flip flops he jumped into the pool.

Grabbing Kurt he pulled him against his chest and towed him over to a shallower section where they could both stand. Sam held the scared boy against him as he coughed and gasped for air "It's okay, I've got you."

"Shit. We didn't know" Finn seemed horrified by what he had done and Sam wondered why he didn't know such a basic fact about his own step-brother.

"Kurt, I'm really sorry" Puck called apologising for probably the first time in his life.

Sam ignored them focusing on Kurt who was pressed firmly against his chest, hands gripping at Sam's shoulders, legs supporting him but shaking.

"I stopped going to lessons when my mom died" Kurt whimpered slightly.

Sam made soothing noises and rubbed his back until he appeared to calm down a bit. "Come on then, let's get you out of here."

"NO!" Kurt yelled startling Sam and a few of their friends who had moved closer to the edge of the pool in concern.

"What?"

"I can't get out" Kurt said between clenched teeth.

"Why not?"

"There's a reason people who intend to swim don't wear white." Sam was drawing a blank and must have looked it because Kurt let out an exasperated huff, cheeks filling with colour "It becomes see through."

Sam couldn't help looking down, he really couldn't and yeah Kurt's trunks weren't leaving much to the imagination. Kurt groaned in embarrassment letting his forehead fall onto Sam's chest. A towel would only protect his modesty once he was out of the pool and by the look of them he didn't think Rachel would let one be submerged. "Hey someone throw me my t-shirt" he called over his shoulder.

Tina quickly ran to get it and he tightened his hold on Kurt with one arm, reaching out to catch the shirt with the other. He internally winced at the fact that it was his beloved bulls-eye shirt yet again and pushed it down into the water between himself and Kurt. "Hold it in front of you until you can get a towel around you."

Kurt slid the shirt down his body and nodded once it was in place. Sam towed Kurt to the edge and pushed him out of the water as Finn and Puck reached down to grab him under the arms making sure not to dislodge Sam's shirt. Kurt grabbed a towel and his t-shirt then shuffled into the house shaking his head at the girls who offered to go with him, muttering something about it being a damn good thing he always had a spare pair of clothes with him just in case. Sam had to agree with that as he walked away, the back of Kurt's trunks really didn't leave much to the imagination either. He sank back into the cool water to think of Figgins and Sue getting their mack on.

Rachel decided to crank up the BBQ while Kurt was still inside changing so Sam grabbed a few things that he knew Kurt would like and put them on a plate. Ten minutes later Kurt returned wearing shorts with zips all over, obviously designer and a t shirt with a giant Finn face on the front. Kurt grimaced at Sam's bemused expression "My original shirt must have fallen into a puddle, it was wet."

Mercedes seemed thunderstruck "What the hell are you wearing Boo?"

"Don't ask" Kurt looked as if he was physically in pain. "I must have picked up the wrong spare shirt."

"But why...?" Sam started. Why would anyone have a t-shirt with Finn's face on?

"Why does it have such a derpy expression?" Puck sniggered poking the face on Kurt's chest and received a slap on the hand from Kurt.

Rachel glared "It's not derpy Puckerman, it's sweet."

"It's terrifying." Mike whispered.

"Why are there two Finn's?" Brittany asked tugging on Santana's arm.

"Hey you're wearing the Christmas present I got you. I knew you liked it really!" Finn beamed. "Turn around and show them the back" he rushed over spinning Kurt around so everyone could read the words 'I love my brother!' plastered across his back.

"Wasn't almost drowning me enough... must you spin me around repeatedly?" Kurt snapped as most of the Glee club sniggered.

Finn had the grace to look guilty and patted Kurt on the shoulder "Sorry bro, I didn't mean to almost kill you."

Ignoring Finn, Kurt sat down next to Sam "Hasn't your mom been feeding you?"

"Sorry?"

"Why do you have two plates?" he asked slowly as if it were obvious.

"Oh this one's for you" Sam shoved the plate into Kurt's hand.

Kurt smiled "Well as least I know someone cares." He had no idea.

A little while later Finn came over with a peace offering, burgers made just the way he liked them which made them almost inedible to anyone else. He handed one to Kurt and another to Sam. Both boys lifted the burger bun tops off, removed certain ingredients and put them on the other's plate without discussing it or even seeming to think about it. Sam felt his cheeks flush slightly when he looked up and noticed the whole Glee club staring at them with a mixture of amusement and confusion.

After eating they all sat or lay down around the pool groaning and fanning each other or dangling their feet into the water. Kurt shifted on the blanket he and Sam were sharing and pulled his shirt off. "Would you mind topping me up?" he asked waving the sunscreen in Sam's direction.

Sam's breath caught in his throat at the toned perfection in front of him. "Topping you? I... I mean yes I'll top you.. up... top up your sunscreen that is!"

Kurt's mouth dropped open and a delicate blush spread across his cheeks. "I can ask one of the girls" he started to get up but Sam grabbed his wrist and pulled him back down tugging the sunscreen out of his hand.

"No, sorry that came out wrong. Like really really wrong!" Sam squirted some lotion on to his hand and began rubbing it into Kurt's back. Kurt moaned softly and Sam had to bite his lip to stop from doing the same. He massaged from Kurt's shoulders to his lower back then started to creep around his sides until Sam was almost hugging him from behind, rubbing lotion across Kurt's chest and down until Kurt's ragged breathing turned into a gasp and he stopped Sam's hand from moving any lower.

"Th... thanks Sam, I can manage now" Kurt shuffled away and pulled his knees up.

Eventually the Glee club moved into Rachel's basement where her dads had set up several fans so they could watch movies without dying of heat exhaustion. Despite having told Sam about the BBQ and pool party a zillion times Finn had neglected to mention that it was also a sleepover. Noticing the others had brought pillows and light blankets Sam took his cell phone out of his shorts which he had changed into after coming inside.

hey mom cn i stay ova? evry1 els is x

He didn't have to wait long for a reply. That's fine sweetie. Thanks for letting me know. Is Kurt there? Nudge nudge wink wink! Mom x

Sam groaned and quickly stuffed his phone back into his pocket as Kurt sat down next to him with a questioning look. "My mom" Sam rolled his eyes and grabbed a bowl of popcorn offering it to Kurt who took a few pieces and nibbled at them as they all settled down for a movie marathon.

"Cold?" Kurt asked as Sam shivered. He had thought sitting right next to a fan was a brilliant idea but since his t-shirt was sopping wet and he didn't have a spare he was becoming unpleasantly cold with each passing blast of cold air.

"A bit" he admitted rubbing his arms. Kurt scooted closer to him and wrapped an arm around his bare stomach, resting his head on Sam's shoulder. Sam sighed in contentment and snuggled closer to Kurt.

"Okay time for bed everyone! I need to be well rested for my vocal exercises tomorrow morning." Rachel turned the television off and led Finn away from the group to find a more secluded spot to sleep. In fact all of the Glee couples were doing the same, Britt and Santana lay down facing each other hands stroking each other's hair and Mike and Tina were lying side by side holding hands. Sam looked over to Puck who was spooning Quinn gently stroking her flat stomach and whispering. Mercedes and Artie were the only gleeks spread out, not close to anyone and seemed to have settled down to sleep.

"Hey Kurt can I share with you?" Sam smiled uncertain of how good an idea that was, something embarrassing always seemed to happen when they slept together. "Finn didn't mention it was a sleepover."

Kurt stood stretching, the Finn face on his t-shirt morphed into something hideous and Sam got a peak of his pale stomach "Sure but let's get a spot near a fan or we'll overheat."

Everyone seemed to have abandoned any idea of changing into PJs and had just collapsed in their shorts or underwear and t-shirts. Kurt picked a spot near a fan and plumped his pillow, then lay down loosely covering himself with his blanket making sure he left enough room for Sam. Knowing he was never able to sleep in clothes Sam looked around to make sure no one was looking then pulled down his shorts dumping them next to Kurt's bag. He lay down next to Kurt under the blanket attempting to empty his mind but kept being distracted by Kurt who was constantly wriggling and turning.

"Is something wrong?"

Kurt let out an annoyed grunt "These zippers are really uncomfortable."

Sam sighed unable to stand Kurt's jigging around anymore "So take them off." Kurt seemed to debate his options for a minute then sighed resigned to his fate and reached down. Sam's heart rate increased as he heard Kurt pull his zipper down then felt him wriggle out of his shorts. "Better?"

"Much" Kurt sighed contently but his breath caught as his bare thigh slid against Sam's equally bare thigh. Sam shuddered. "Are you okay?" Kurt asked voice higher than normal.

"Yes I'm just thinking about Finn's face being between us, creepy" he lied.

Kurt giggled nervously "Well I'm not taking it off." There was a long pause then "Sam?"

"Mmhmm?"

"Thanks for earlier."

"It's cool dude. Have you ever thought about getting swimming lessons again?"

"Yes but the older I got the more embarrassing it was thinking about being in a class with little kids." He gave a humourless laugh before continuing "I did go to a one to one lesson once but the guy thought I was faking so I could hit on him. My dad had to jump in fully clothed to get me."

"How about I teach you?" Sam asked without thinking.

"Can I think about it?"

"Sure." As Kurt snuggled closer Sam felt a hand slide down his chest, past his abs and graze his groin before it froze and was abruptly pulled back, then he heard a muffled gasp. "Kurt" Sam croaked then cleared his throat "What are you doing?" Kurt was going to be the death of him one way or another.

"S-sorry, I was trying to find your hand."

"It's here" Sam reached out and took Kurt's soft hand pulling it to his chest and holding it there.

A strange noise woke Sam the next morning, his eyes opened to find Kurt facing him with his arm loosely draped around Kurt's waist and Kurt's fingers pressed up against his bare chest. He shifted his legs slightly to find that they were intertwined with the other boy's. Sam watched entranced as Kurt's long eyelashes fluttered and his eyes opened, he blinked a few times then smiled lazily.

Sam looked down at Kurt's lips which were mere inches from his and licked his own. Kurt's smile became shy as he whispered "So whose fault is it this time?" Sam shrugged slightly pulling Kurt closer, burying his face in his hair and breathing in his unique Kurt-like smell.

Kurt came to his senses first, finally registering the suppressed giggles in the background he pushed Sam away quickly and patted his hair. "Stop taking photos! My hair is un-styled!"

Their friends had photographic evidence of them snuggling and Kurt was worried about his hair?

They both pulled their shorts on under the blanket then Sam stood avoiding eye contact with everyone and reached down to help Kurt up. He let go of Kurt's hand abruptly once he was standing and mumbled something about the bathroom before quickly leaving the basement.

When Sam walked into the kitchen, breakfast was in full swing with most of the boys shovelling cereal and toast into their mouths as the girls looked on in horror. Somehow Kurt had been persuaded to make them waffles so he was standing near the stove chatting with Mercedes. "I've told you nothing is going on. Honestly if there was you would be the first to know" he spoke quietly but hadn't noticed Sam approaching him from behind.

"First to know what?"

Kurt spun around ladle in his hand "Absolutely nothing! Nothing at all!"

Okay that was weird. Maybe he had too much sugar in his coffee or something. "How did Puck get you to make waffles?"

"He's not above trying to use his charms on a gay guy to get what he wants. When that didn't work he asked nicely."

Sam blinked "Puck flirted with you for waffles?" The sudden urge to beat the crap out of Puck was overwhelming.

"Mmmhmm" Kurt didn't seem very interested in Puck at least, most of the time he just seemed to tolerate him. Sam watched as Kurt bit into a strawberry, a little bit of the juice running down his chin, without thinking he reached out and wiped it away with his thumb.

"Nothing happening, my ass." Mercedes gave him an odd look then walked over to where the other girls were sitting.

Kurt removed some waffles from the iron, putting one on a plate he passed it to Puck then another to Finn who professed his undying love for his little brother almost drooling over his plate. Sam's fist clenched and he struggled to remind himself that the other guys were straight, Finn was Kurt's brother and it was unlikely that him making them amazing waffles would turn them gay. Kurt shook his head at the guys reaction to his cooking but smiled as he handed Sam a plate with a waffle, strawberries and a little swirl of chocolate sauce in an almost heart-like shape. Sam moaned aloud when he took his first bite.

"Dude that sounded really dirty" Finn stared at him mouth half full.

"Can't help it this is amazing" he smiled at Kurt who had turned pink.

"I agree, Kurt's cooking is positively orgasmic" Rachel turned almost as pink as Kurt when everyone turned to her in shock.

Finn coughed to distract everyone and Rachel shot him a grateful look. "You should try his soufflé, he's an awesome cook. Bet you wish you lived with him" he bragged to the other guys.

Sam moaned quietly again as he took another bite and Santana smirked at him "Maybe you should marry him."

Sam grinned "Maybe I will." He put his empty plate down on the counter and put his arm around Kurt's waist "What do you say?" His heart beat faster as he waited for Kurt's answer, as if he was proposing for real.

"Perhaps. If you're very very lucky" Kurt smirked as he popped a strawberry into his mouth.

"Sounds like a yes to me."

Rachel kicked them all out before lunch apart from Finn who she apparently needed to talk to about something private. On his way through her kitchen with his swimming trunks draped over his shoulder Sam bent and picked up his and Kurt's wet t-shirts from the kitchen floor where they had been dumped the night before. He jogged over to Kurt who was putting his bag into his car, about to leave.

"Can you give me a lift home? I forgot to hang my t-shirt out to dry and it's still sopping wet."

"Did you walk here?" Kurt asked taking his slightly damp red t-shirt from Sam.

Sam nodded. He didn't live far away so hadn't thought it would be a problem. "I don't fancy walking home shirtless" he made puppy dog eyes. Well it always seemed to work for Finn.

Kurt's eyes roamed his chest "I'm not sure. I think you could pull that look off." Sam grinned and Kurt pretended to be disgruntled before breaking into a reluctant smile. "Come on then."

He jumped into Kurt's car, fastening his seat belt "What you got planned for this afternoon?"

"Not a lot. Do you want to come over?"

"If you haven't got anything better to do."

Sam had forgotten one thing when he practically invited himself over to Kurt's house topless. Burt Hummel. Kurt's dad raised an eyebrow as Sam and Kurt walked into the kitchen laughing.

"Kurt, care to explain why your friend is walking around our kitchen half naked?" Sam quickly crossed his arms over his chest, suddenly very aware of his nipples.

Kurt rolled his eyes "His shirt got wet obviously."

"There's no obviously about it. Why did his shirt get wet?" Burt glared at Sam as if getting his shirt wet was some kind of nefarious scheme to get into Kurt's pants.

"Because I fell in the pool and Sam saved me" Kurt smiled at Sam.

"Are you okay?" his dad demanded grabbing his shoulder looking him over intently.

"I'm fine, honestly dad I was only in a minute or two before Sam realised I couldn't swim."

"Thank you son." Burt clapped Sam on the shoulder and he sent the older man a nervous smile.

"How did you end up falling into the pool you're always so careful not to go near the edge?"

"He may have had some help there" Sam answered ignoring the annoyed look that Kurt shot him. Finn totally deserved what was coming to him and not just because he had declared his love at breakfast.

"Who?" Burt demanded.

"Finn and Puck" Kurt replied. "But they didn't know dad, they were really sorry."

"That doesn't make it okay Kurt. What if Sam hadn't realised?"

"Finn made me an apology burger" Kurt said weakly.

"Oh well that makes everything okay." Damn Burt was as good as Kurt at sarcasm.

The front door slammed and they heard heavy footsteps "Finn get your ass in here now!"

Finn poked his head around the door nervously "Hello?"

"You almost drowned your step-brother?" Not for the first time in his life Sam was really glad he wasn't Finn. Out the corner of his eye he could see Kurt pointing at him and mouthing 'not me', the little traitor.

"Umm sort of yeah" Finn looked down at his shoelaces. "I'm really sorry. I didn't know, honest."

Burt took his cap off and rubbed his hand over his head "I know Finn but it was irresponsible behaviour. You're grounded." Finn groaned. "Think yourself lucky I'm not telling your mother and pray she doesn't find out or you'll be worse off than a grounding."

"Yes sir" Finn mumbled. "Sorry dude" he patted Kurt on the arm before whispering something to him.

"Yes I told him about the burger Finn."

Kurt seemed to remember Sam was standing in his kitchen shirtless or just wanted an excuse to leave because he grabbed his wrist and tugged him towards the door. "Come on Blondie, let's find you a shirt."

Rummaging through his closet Kurt pulled out a shirt "I think this should fit."

"You own a plaid shirt?" Sam tugged on the shirt and was surprised when it fit him perfectly.

Kurt laughed "Part of my identity crisis last year where I sang Mellencamp, wore hats with animals on and made out with Brittany."

"You made out with Britt?" Sam asked stunned. Kurt had always seemed so sure of himself.

Kurt shrugged "I was trying to connect with my father. I didn't think I was straight or anything." He plucked non-existent lint off the shirt and smiled "It looks good on you."

Sam grinned and wandered over to Kurt's iPod flicking through until he found something to listen to that they both liked. "How's your Glee assignment going?"

"Fine I think. I'm a bit... concerned about it to be honest" Kurt bit his lip and frowned.

Sam sat down on the edge of Kurt's bed. "Why?"

Kurt hesitated "It's a very personal topic and a very emotional song. I'm going to be baring a lot of myself."

"I'm sure it'll be awesome" Sam reassured. Kurt had the most amazing voice, no matter what he sang it would be amazing.

"So how is yours going?" Kurt sat next to him.

Sam shrugged "Okay I guess. I mean I know what song I'm going to sing but I guess I'm nervous."

"Why?" Kurt moved closer to him on the bed and picked up a cushion hugging it.

"I'm afraid that the person it's about won't like it" he admitted.

"I'm sure she'll love it" Kurt cleared his throat and continued talking before Sam could even think about correcting him "I really think you'll like Mercedes performance. I'm helping her with something."

"I thought they were meant to be a surprise?"

"Cedes can't keep a secret to save her life. I'm not singing or anything so technically it's not cheating."

"What are you doing then?" Sam smiled curiously.

"Ahh now that would be telling."