Chapter 8

Summer 2011

Thad and Kurt Skyped every night the first week. On his first day of work, he'd called in the morning to get Kurt's advice on tie selection. Kurt had complemented him on his Armani suit which might have seemed a bit much for an intern but he and Thad had that in common. He hadn't seen Thad outside of his uniform much but it seemed that he was a snappy dresser if a bit conservative for Kurt's tastes.

Luckily, Thad seemed to have moved right into the friend zone with little trouble. Maybe this was just how he was when they weren't together physically but Kurt looked forward to their virtual visits. He didn't even notice when their Skyping sessions dwindled, first skipping just one or two nights a week, but toward the end of the July they were only talking once per week.

Burt hired Finn to work in the shop with them for the Summer and Kurt had to deal with the jealousy of sharing the one thing he and his father truly bonded over. He had mixed feeling because he knew that someday, Burt would need someone to take over for him and it wasn't going to be Kurt. Still, it hurt to see Finn become the son Burt had always wanted. He shared his feelings with a very sympathetic Thad.

Kurt only heard from Blaine once. He sent an email with just a link to a video of one of his performances. No message or anything. Kurt knew he shouldn't expect more but he'd hoped for it. He developed a genuine friendship with Thad over their emails and Skype sessions and he was very glad that he hadn't broken the older boy's heart with the breakup. At least, it seemed like he hadn't.

About four weeks before he was due to arrive at Harvard, Thad started to freak out a little.

"What if I don't really want to study economics and get an MBA? What if I suck at business and all my father's plans have been for nothing? Oh my God, Kurt, what am I doing with my life? Every minute has been planned by my father and it all seemed OK but what if this isn't me at all?"

"Thad, it's OK. College is about figuring out what you want to do, right? If you don't like it you can change your concentration. Your first semester is mostly core classes and electives so just have fun. What do you want to do? What if your dad didn't have a plan?"

"I have no idea! That's just how lame I am. I don't even have a secret desire to do something rebellious. I've never even thought about it before."

"What about clubs or extracurriculars? Any ideas?"

"Of course, I'll be auditioning for the Kroks. My dad was a Krok but it is rather ambitious to expect to get in so my backup plan is the Din and Tonics."

"I'm sure either of them would be honored to have you."

"Now you're just patronizing me. It isn't like I have your voice," Thad snorted. "What if I have to join a mixed group?"

"Ooh, and sing with girls? Poor thing," Kurt teased. "I promise, they don't bite. At least, they don't if you make it clear that you're gay."

"Very funny. At least my dad is OK with that. I don't know why I'm even complaining. My dad has given me everything my whole life. I'm so lucky. He loves me; he really does. He just wants what's best for me. I know plenty of people don't have that in their lives."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. I was terrified to tell my dad but he's really OK with it."

"Me too. I wouldn't have even told him if he had kept pushing girls with 'impeccable breeding' on me. I just finally had to spit it out. Dad, I'm gay so all that breeding is wasted on me. I don't think he got the joke though. In fact, he said 'Since the tides of public opinion seem to favor normalization of marriage between persons of the same gender, I shan't be expecting you to enter into a marriage of convenience. That does not, however, absolve you of your obligation to produce progeny'"

"Wow, what are you, a race horse?" joked Kurt.

"With a name like Thaddeus James Prescott Cornett the fourth, what do you think?"

"Good point," Kurt laughed. He liked this Thad. The one he'd gotten to know over the Summer who could make fun of himself and, in private at least, relax a little. "I hope you aren't planning to name your son the fifth. Please say you won't."

"I'm just eighteen going on nineteen; I'm not ready to be thinking about marriage and kids. But no, I don't plan to name my son the fifth. It's bad enough being the fourth. At least, my father got the cool nickname - everyone calls him Trey."

"Well, back to school and what you want to do. Why don't you just pick some crazy electives and just have fun with it? Explore some options just see if you like something other than business/finance/economics. You love music, maybe there are some other artistic outlets you might enjoy."

Kurt open the course file that Thad had sent him earlier.

"But I've already picked all of my first semester classes."

"That's not set. You have the entire first week to change classes. Here's one. What about photography?"

"I don't know. I've never done any thing other than a point and shoot."

"Or what about an astronomy class?"

"That's crazy. What practical application could that have?"

"That's the point. Pick something completely impractical. Maybe we should just roll some dice to decide."

"Really? My entire fate resting on a random event?"

"You'd be surprised how much of everyone's lives are driven by random events. In fact, I'd suggest quantum physics but that's an upper level course."

"Why don't you pick for me? It's an elective, so why not? You're right, I need to do something completely unplanned."

"OK, I will. I'll email you some suggestions after I've looked at the course guide some more. This is kind of overwhelming. There must be a thousand classes to pick from."

"So my first day is August 30th, I'll be flying out the Friday before." Thad hesitated looking shy and nervous. "I could fly directly from Chicago to Boston...or..."

"Are you asking if I'd like you to come see me?"

"Yeah, I could stop in Columbus for the night. I could even drive to Lima if you'd rather."

"There's nothing to do in Lima anyway. I could meet you in Columbus. We could go out or something. If you don't mind. If you really want to. Would you spend the night?" Kurt was unsure of how to broach the topic of sleeping together. Oddly, he thought it would be more difficult to fake it with Thad now that they were such good friends. He had a great deal of affection for the older boy and maybe even love but it wasn't passion. It was more like what he felt for Mercedes. He'd made love to Thad twice and it wasn't as though the experience had been bad. Quite the opposite - Kurt had enjoyed it but he didn't want to lead Thad on. He wanted his ex-boyfriend to find someone special at college or at least have the chance which might be difficult if he was holding on to the idea that he and Kurt would get back together.

"Yeah, I could fly in Friday and we could go out. I'd get a hotel room for the night and we could even spend the day Saturday if you wanted to."

"OK it's a date but not really a date," Kurt added hastily. "I mean..."

"I know what you mean. Kurt, I don't expect anything. I don't actually want that kind of relationship where we get together occasionally. It would be weird and confusing. If we're not together then we're not together. It's OK."

"Is it? Are we OK, Thad? Really?"

"More than OK, angel. I still love you but I'm OK with not being lovers anymore. It's hard some times because I miss you so much but even if we were still together, we'd be apart and I think you're right that it would be even more difficult that way."

"I'm glad that we're still friends, Thad. I love you, too" Kurt said meaning it for the first time, perhaps.

The last four weeks of Summer flew by and Kurt met Thad in Columbus the Friday before the first day of school for both of them. They went to an expensive dinner, which Thad insisted on paying for, then The Jersey Boys at the Ohio Theater. After, they stayed up most of the night talking and Kurt ended up spending the night in Thad's hotel room but only sleeping.

The next morning they had breakfast together and the topic of Dalton and the Warblers came up.

"So have you talked to anyone else from Dalton this summer?" asked Thad.

"No, not really. Nick sent me an email but it wasn't personal. I think it was sent to all the Warblers. Blaine sent me a link to a video of him performing but he didn't even write a note to go with it."

"Then you you haven't heard about Dalton?"

"No, what do you mean?"

"The financial manager of the Dalton endowment embezzled all the funds and disappeared to parts unknown. The school had to close down. My father is really angry. All the alumni are. It's really a sad day."

"Wow, that's horrible. What's going to happen to all the students?"

"They're going to have to go to other schools. There are plenty of private schools but I imagine the parents are going to be reluctant to give money at any fund raisers after being burned like that."

"Poor Nick. That was his home for three years. I wonder what he's going to do? And he and Jeff just got together right before the end of school. It's so sad."

"Really? I didn't know. Since when are you such good friends with Nick?"

"I'm not really. I guess..." Kurt didn't know what to say. He had no idea how well he'd known Nick and Jeff in this universe but they had been friends in the last three. He also had trouble thinking of them as separate persons because they were so together in his mind. "It's just sad. They barely realized that they were in love with each other and now they may never be together," Kurt continued.

"Sad? What about poor Blaine? Jeff just dumped him out of the blue for Nick? When exactly did that happen? I got the same email that you did and I don't think he mentioned it."

"Facebook status. Jeff and Nick updated their Facebook statuses. Besides, poor Blaine? Aren't you forgetting something? You're surprisingly forgiving about Blaine putting the moves on me. That was just tacky," Kurt pointed out sincerely. As much as he had wanted Blaine to kiss him, the circumstances bothered him. He didn't understand what had been going on in Blaine's mind and Kurt didn't appreciate cheating. It hadn't bothered Kurt at the time because the situation hadn't really sunk in but over the Summer he'd started to fully realize that Blaine had put the moves on a boy who was with someone else while he was dating someone else as well. It was very strange and he was determined to find out why when Blaine got back from St. Louis.

"Yeah, well, I try not to think about that. It's all water under the bridge now anyway."

"You're not very good at facing conflict are you, Thad?" observed Kurt.

"No, I avoid it and I find that strategy has served me well," laughed Thad.

"You know, Thad, you're smart, sweet, and good looking; you need to give yourself more credit."

"Whoa, where'd that come from?" asked Thad looking embarrassed.

"From knowing you. I mean it, you're going off to Harvard and you are going to be amazing there. You can do anything you put your mind to. I believe in you."

Thad reached across the table and took Kurt's hand.

"Thanks, angel, that means the world to me coming from you. You are so fierce and brave. You've changed my life for the better."

"Me? No, I just ran away, didn't I? I'm going back to Mckinley and taking the place by storm but you are going to Harvard and setting the place on fire. Figuratively. I'm not endorsing arson."

They laughed together and finished their breakfast with small talk.

"What shall we do with the rest of the day?" asked Kurt.

"Shopping?" asked Thad hopefully.

"Oh, you know me so well, Thaddeus James Prescott Cornett the Fourth."

"Indeed, I do, Kurt Elizabeth Hummel."

August 29th, 2011 - The first day of school

It was Kurt's first day back at McKinley but more than that it was the ninety-fourth day that he hadn't jumped universes. A new record. He'd stayed with Blaine-3 for ninety-three days. As much as Kurt had matured and been troubled by his last jump, he wasn't so foolish as to believe he'd never jump under any circumstances. He still rolled his dice every day and picked out accessaries to correspond just in case.

"Hey, Kurt," greeted Mercedes.

"Cedes."

"So how does it feels to be back amongst the lowly now that you've been with the champions?"

"Don't be silly, the Warblers only came in third. That's not really winning."

"To those of us who've never even won at Regionals, third in the entire country with pretty awesome."

"Yeah, I guess it is," Kurt sighed. He couldn't tell his best friend that they had beaten the Warblers at Regionals with an inspiring original song about being losers.

Kurt walked up to the Glee Club sign up sheet that Mr. Shue had posted. Rachel's name was at the top with a star next to her name. He wondered why Mr. Shue continued to insist on the formality of auditions when he admitted that no one was ever turned away. Nevertheless, it was an excuse to sing a solo and Kurt was not one to miss that opportunity. He already had his audition number planned - As if I Never Left.

Mercedes stepped up and started to write her name down as Kurt heard, "Excuse me, I'm new here. Can someone tell me where to sign up for Glee Club?"

"Blaine?" Kurt exclaimed as he turned around to see the former Warbler standing behind him grinning like the cat who ate the canary. Without thinking, Kurt throw his arms around Blaine and cried, "Oh my god, Blaine. It's so good to see you." Suddenly realizing his mistake, Kurt pulled back and said a little more cooly, "I mean, how are you and what are you doing at McKinley?"

Blaine laughed and replied, "I go here now. Didn't you hear about Dalton?"

"Yeah, of course, Thad told me but I still don't understand why you are going to school in Lima."

"Thad. Your boyfriend, Thad. Of course, he told you about Dalton."

"Ex-boyfriend," Kurt said a little too quickly. "I mean, we decided not to try the long distance relationship. We parted on good terms," he amended lamely. He didn't want to sound too eager but he was failing miserably. He couldn't help it. Even after more than three months apart, he was hopelessly in love with Blaine but if he let the boy know that, Kurt would just seem easy.

"Oh, I'm glad. I mean... I'm glad you're on good terms."

"So Blaine, why are you going to school in Lima?" asked Mercedes who'd been observing the entire exchange with keen interest.

Blaine shrugged and replied, "I had to go somewhere with Dalton closed down. My sister is a lawyer and she has a big case here in Lima so I'm living with her for the duration. She's rented an apartment here while she's working in Lima."

"Well, don't be late for auditions, Blaine," insisted Mercedes as she dragged Kurt away. "See you later."

Once they were out of earshot, Mercedes turned and planted her feet.

"Spill! What is up with you and short, dark, and handsome?"

"Mercedes, what are you talking about? There's nothing going on between us. He's just a friend. We went to school together and he was the lead singer for the Warblers. You know that."

"Uh huh. First he drops in to see you at the Lima Bean and now he's here at McKinley. Come on, Kurt, I saw the way you looked at him. What aren't you telling me? I didn't say anything all Summer because I thought you'd tell me but enough is enough."

"It's complicated."

"Oh my god, were you cheating on Thad? Is that why you really broke up?"

"No. How could you think that, Mercedes? No. You can't repeat what I'm about to say. Not to anyone. Promise?"

"I promise."

"OK. First of all, I didn't cheat on Thad. Not ever, but I am in love with Blaine. Don't judge me, please."

"Oh, please. With the way everyone around this place switches partners like they're playing musical chairs, I'm going to judge you for moving on? But in love, Kurt? I thought you loved Thad. The way you went on and on about him. How he was there for you during the whole Dave K. thing. When exactly did you fall for Blaine? All I've ever heard you say about him was negative. How he hogged all the solos and how he was basically a male Rachel Berry. You never even hinted that you liked him and then suddenly you're eye fucking him at the Lima Bean the day after your boyfriend leaves town. What gives?"

"Like I said, it's complicated."

"Give me the simple version."

"There isn't one. Just let it go, Mercedes. Please."

"OK, for now. But this isn't the last of it."

"All right, we'll get together later and I'll try to simplify it for you but not just yet."

Apparently, Blaine either didn't have any classes with Kurt or he didn't go to any of them on the first day because Kurt didn't see him again until he auditioned. Kurt sang As If I Never Left liked he'd planned to. Other than Sam, the rest of the club was back, in addition to a few new kids. Sam's family had moved back to Tennessee to stay with family and hopefully find work.

Blaine sang I'm Not Going to Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance and enlisted Brittany and Tina to sing backup for him. It wasn't the kind of song one normally cried over but Kurt did. He couldn't help it. There was no way that song would ever be the same for him after losing the Blaine who had sang it at prom.

"Umm...very energetic performance, Blaine," commented Mr Shue. "I don't usually see backup singers for solo auditions."

"Is that against the rules?" Blaine asked stricken at the thought he'd messed up by not knowing the audition rules.

"No, no, there aren't any rules. In fact, everyone is welcome in Glee Club."

"Oh, that's a relief. Wait, what? Everyone? Are you kidding me?"

"Everyone, Blaine. That's the kind of Glee Club I run. Alright, I'll see everyone at our first practice on Thursday. Welcome back."

Blaine walked up to Kurt, who had managed to discreetly wipe away his tears before anyone had seen them.

"So that's weird," started Blaine. "Why hold auditions if everyone is accepted? And how can you win if you don't screen for talent?"

"Simple," interrupted Rachel before Kurt could answer. "Me! I sing and everyone else stands behind me and sways in the background."

"Oh, that makes perfect sense," nodded Blaine.

"No it doesn't," objected Kurt. "And it isn't going to happen this year. Rachel, I am going to fight you for every solo."

"That's ridiculous, Kurt," exclaimed Rachel with her hands on her hips. "I'll admit you have a beautiful voice and having a countertenor in an all boys choir might be a plus but there is no reason for you to get the songs that would be better served by my superior soprano voice."

"Yeah? How'd that work out for you last year? Oh, that's right, the Warblers kicked your ass, that's how." Kurt smirked and ignored the hypocrisy of arguing about a victory that he didn't remember that was perhaps due to the fact that he hadn't been featured in a duet with Blaine at regionals. Logic had no place in a diva off with Rachel.

"That wasn't my fault," answered Rachel defensively. "Mr. Shue just didn't listen to my ideas."

"Are they always like this?" Blaine asked Finn as he wondered up and watched the exchange silently.

"Yeah, pretty much."

"Glee Club isn't all about you, Rachel. When are you ever going to learn that?" admonished Kurt.

"You're absolutely right," Rachel agreed.

"I am?" Kurt asked looking surprised at his victory.

"Duets. That's the answer. We need more duets," Rachel exclaimed triumphantly.

"Rachel and I sing alot of duets," explained Finn.

"And now that Blaine has joined New Directions," Rachel continued as she snagged Blaine's arm, "I think he and I will be the new power couple."

"What?" exclaimed Finn.

"He's gay, Rachel," smirked Kurt.

"Musically, Finn. Musically, not romantically. Sorry, Blaine, but my heart belongs to Finn. However, I think we will make excellent duet partners."

"Um...I'm flattered?" tried Blaine, looking uncomfortable about the whole situation.

"What wrong with our duets?" complained Finn.

"Our duets are spectacular, sweetheart. It's just...well, there are some songs that you just don't have the skills to handle. I have a feeling that Blaine can keep up with me musically. After all, he did take the Warblers to Nationals. We would be foolish to not tale advantage of that, Finn."

"Well, I don't like it."

"Isn't Mr. Shuester in charge of making those decisions?" asked Blaine trying to defuse the situation.

"Actually, I am the co-captain of the Glee club,"insisted Rachel smugly.

"The position is entirely titular," snorted Kurt.

"Dude! Not cool, that' my girlfriend you're talking about," objected Finn.

Kurt sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Titular means is just a name. She's a figurehead. No real power."

"Oh. Cool. Thanks," Finn nodded looking a little confused having lost the train of the argument.

"You know what? I think I should be going and leave the two of you to discuss this," interjected Blaine. "Kurt? Will you join me for some afternoon coffee?"

"Of course," he said as they left Rachel and Finn behind as they started arguing again.

"It is always so contentious in this club?"

"You get used to it. I had to get used to the Warblers; you'll get used to New Directions."

"Do you want to hang out with me tonight?" asked Blaine with a smile.

"Sure. What'd you have in mind?"

"Well, nothing that exciting. Unfortunately, I need to get home to watch my nephew. So maybe some takeout dinner and Disney DVDs until he falls asleep?"

"That sounds like fun," agreed Kurt.

They grabbed a quick coffee at the Lima Bean, Blaine gave Kurt the address, and they met at the apartment.

"Crystal, I'm home," Blaine called as they walked in.

Blaine threw his keys in a bowl by the door and turned to Kurt.

"So this is where I live. At least for now. My sister is working a big case here in Lima for an indeterminate amount of time so I'm welcome to stay with her for as long as she's here."

"Yeah, you mentioned that."

A young blond woman walked in, smiled at Blaine, and said, "Who's your friend?"

"This is Kurt. Kurt this is Crystal. She looks after my nephew while my sister is at work. Crystal, do you want me to take over for you?"

"If you wouldn't mind. If you have something to do, I can stay until Brianna is home."

"No, we were going to stay in, so you can go. I love spending time with Carson. I never got to see him much when I was at Dalton."

"OK, I just fed him but you can give him a snack later if he's hungry. Just no sugar! And don't keep him up past his bedtime."

"I know, I know. Come on, Kurt, I'll introduce you to my nephew, Carson."

Carson took to Kurt surprisingly fast and the three of them snuggled up on the coach watching Disney DVDs and eating pizza.

"Don't tell your mom I gave you pizza!" Blaine whispered conspiratorially.

Carson giggled, "You're silly!" and drove into Kurt.

"He's really taken with you," Blaine commented. "It's strange because he's usually so shy with new people."

"I guess he has good taste," laughed Kurt.

After the last movie, they tucked the little boy into bed with no trouble.

"So where's his father?" Kurt wondered.

"Who knows. Bri won't even tell us who he is. Believe me, my parents grilled her on it enough when she was pregnant but she isn't spilling."

"Speaking of your sister, shouldn't she be home by now?"

Blaine shrugged.

"This is all new territory to me so I don't know. Sorry, I know this is a pretty boring date. Not what you were expecting, was it?"

"So this is a date?" asked Kurt shyly.

"If you want it to be. I promise to take you out next time if you want there to be a next time."

"Yes, to both," Kurt answered, "And this wasn't boring at all. I enjoyed it."

"Good," Blaine said taking Kurt's hand in his. His tugged Kurt slightly and started down the hall. Kurt followed blindly. "This is my room," Blaine explained as they walked into a room that was nearly an exact replica of Blaine's Dalton dorm room. Except instead of two twin beds, there was one queen sized one and no mini-fridge. The books, posters, and desk were all the same.

Kurt barely had time to take it all in when Blaine attacked him with a kiss. Startled, Kurt just stood frozen at first then he leaned into the kiss and wrapped his arms around the smaller boy. Blaine's hands were roaming his back and slid shamelessly to Kurt's ass as he walked backwards pulling Kurt with him. When they reached the bed, Blaine tumbled back and Kurt fell on top of him. A little breathless, Kurt looked down at the boy beneath him trying to formulate an articulate response to the situation but before he could Blaine's lips were on his again. His tongue demanded entrance and Kurt granted it groaning into his mouth. He'd been waiting so long for this. He and Blaine had been apart for so long that he'd almost forgotten how good it was to feel Blaine's body, hard underneath him. How searing his kisses were. How bold his hands could get.

Kurt was lost in the sensations as Blaine pulled off his shirt and planted soft kisses along his chest, murmuring, "You are so beautiful. You skin is so soft and perfect. Oh god, Kurt, I've thought about doing this so many times."

Blaine's lips dragged against Kurt's jaw and pressed against his ear as Blaine whispered hoarsely.

"I want you so much. This feels even better than I imagined. Kurt...Oh Kurt, I can't wait to feel your hard cock pounding my ass." Blaine emphasized his words by palming Kurt's erection through his jeans.

The words and action broke through the haze that had come over Kurt. He pushed Blaine away, clutched his shirt to his chest and exclaimed, "What are you talking about?"

Blaine looked confused as he stammered, "I ...I thought...have I misread the situation? I thought you wanted me, Kurt. I mean, it seems like you do."

"I do," Kurt answered turning red. "Just not like...this."

"Oooh. I get it. You want me to top? I'm cool with that. I'm versatile. I hadn't pictured it like that because you seem so dominate. But, hey, if that's what you want..."

"No! I mean, I don't know. Blaine, this is our first date. What kind of boy do you think I am? I can't believe we're even talking about this."

"It's just sex, Kurt. It's not like we're virgins. Why wait? You know, we're both guys with needs. Consenting adults. At least, I will be in a few months."

"That's not the point."

"You aren't, are you? A virgin?" Blaine exclaimed incredulously. "Surely, you and Thad...I mean you lived together."

"Not that it's any of your business, yes, Thad and I made love. Oh god, I can't believe that we're having this conversation." Kurt turned his back to Blaine and pulled his shirt on. This date was so not going the way he'd hoped.

"Made love? Seriously? Is this some sort of romance novel? There's nothing wrong with calling it fucking, Kurt. We're not twelve year old girls."

Kurt turned back to Blaine.

"When did you become so jaded? There's plenty of territory between a virgin and someone who puts out on the first date. And there's nothing wrong with wanting sex to mean something. It should be making love because it should be between two people who love each other. Or at least care about each other. It's supposed to mean something, Blaine. It's supposed to be romantic and special."

Blaine shrugged.

"OK, call me cynical but I recommend the fucking. Romance is over rated. Come on, Kurt. Sex feels good. It's just a way to have some fun. It doesn't have to mean anything."

"I can't believe that I have to ask this. Blaine, how many guys have you been with? I thought Jeff was your first boyfriend. I'm too young to be having this conversation," Kurt said burying his head in his hands.

"What do you mean?" asked Blaine.

"The past sexual partners conversation. I'm going to be eighteen next month. I should not be having this kind of talk with someone I'm dating until I'm like thirty."

"Are we dating?" asked Blaine suddenly perking up with a grin.

"Focus, Blaine," admonished Kurt. "I asked you a question."

"Don't judge me," snapped Blaine. "Just because I enjoy sex doesn't make me a slut. Yes, Jeff was my first boyfriend. And yes, we did everything and maybe we got physical a little fast but how can you blame me? Jeff is sexy as hell and I'm a teenage boy. He was also...well how shall I put this? A little oversexed. Maybe a lot, so I got used to having sex regularly when we were together. Maybe it wasn't so romantic as you like to imagine it but we had fun."

"So that's it? Just Jeff?"

"Well, I fooled around before him but just hand-jobs and blow-jobs. Just two other guys before him and this summer, I was involved with someone. You know him actually."

Kurt looked shocked.

"You had a boyfriend after Jeff and you've already broken up?"

"We weren't together, really. Just friends with benefits. This time, we actually were friends."

"And I know him? Who? I don't know any one in St Louis."

"Jesse St. James. He mentioned that he'd been with New Directions for a little while your sophomore year and dated Rachel Berry. He was working at Six Flags for the Summer too so we roomed together with a handful of other guys.

Kurt racked his brain but the name wasn't familiar so he grabbed the only information that Blaine had given him.

"I didn't know Jesse was gay," Kurt said trying to buy time to sort through his feelings. He was reeling from the news that Blaine was a man-whore who apparently shared an ex-boyfriend with Rachel, of all people.

"Bi. Pan, actually. Jesse would fuck anything with a pulse. Maybe a pulse isn't a requirement," joked Blaine.

"Would you stop being so crude?" Kurt begged. "And ewww. Please tell me you used protection."

"Of course, I did. Even with Jeff. I'm not stupid."

"Sorry. I'm just not used to having to ask this sort of stuff. Thad is the only experience I've had," Kurt lied. He wished he could tell Blaine the truth but that would just drive the boy away. If he told anyone, they'd just think Kurt was crazy. He wanted more than anything to tell Blaine how much in love they'd been. How sweet and romantic their explorations had been and how after two months together they'd still been waiting for right time to go all the way. He wanted to explain that he hadn't actually been with Thad for six months. That he'd only made love to him to keep from breaking his heart.

"This was a mistake," insisted Blaine. "I'm sorry that I'm such a disappointment to you after your romantic first love but maybe we just aren't right for each other. Maybe you should go."

Kurt stood up and pleaded, "Blaine, no that isn't what I meant. I..."

"Just go, OK? I don't need your sanctimonious lectures. Just because I'm living in Lima doesn't mean I don't have other options. It was silly of my to think you and I were compatible. You were never even nice to me at Dalton."

"Blaine, I want to date you," Kurt tried. "I want you...I just wanted take it slower. I'm sorry if I sounded..."

Blaine strode to the door, opened it, and motioned for Kurt to leave his room. Kurt complied with a resigned face. Blaine followed him silently to the front door and opened it too. Kurt walked out and turned to face Blaine.

"Please, don't leave it like this," Kurt tried one more time. "I want something more with you. More than just sex, can't you see that it's possible?"

"No, I can't," replied Blaine coldly as he shut the door.