Friday night found Kurt pacing the dull greys of his carpeted floor, nervously debating between his blue and green scarf. He couldn't help but realise how his actions mirrored the previous week when he was trying to decide which jeans to wear to the Warblers party (oh, how irrelevant his wardrobe choices ended up being…).

It was strange how much had changed within this week. Time was a strange science. It was always passing too fast or too slow, an un-believeable amount of events lapsing by. Kurt shot a look at his calendar, which informed him that he had been at Dalton Reform Acadmey a grand total of two months.

Two months? Somehow it still felt just like yesterday that he walked through the front doors of the Academy…

And yet, when he shot a grateful look over at Tim (who had kindly suggested that he go with the green as it 'brought out his eyes'), he felt like he had been here his entire life.

Time is a scary thing. It creeps up on you when you least expect it. Sometimes we move so quickly that we forget to pause for a moment and look back at how far we've come.

In the past year, Kurt had gained a new step brother and mom, gotten revenge on the guy who has been tormenting him for his entire freaking life, moved schools, moved house, made friends, lost friends, fallen out of love, falling in love…

Kurt's eyes widened as they examined his reflection in the cracked glass of the small mirror that their bedroom provided.

Fuck.

He was in love with Blaine Anderson.

"You alright?" Tim asked from his position at his desk where he was studiously copying Kurt's English notes.

Kurt swallowed the sudden lump that had appeared at his revelation. "I'm-I'm fine," he faltered, wrapping his green scarf around his neck. He cast another look at the mirror, but this time he held his reflection's gaze.

Despite himself, a small smile appeared. Wow, he really was growing. Literally. He was finally losing his baby cheeks and his jaw was distinctively more defined than the last time he had truly looked, not to mention he'd finally grown a few feet taller. He was nearly as tall as Tim now!

As Blaine's knock sounded on the door, he shot himself another small, private smile. Here he was, Kurt Elizabeth Hummel, going on his first date. He hadn't felt this happy in a while…

Or this nervous, actually.

When Kurt opened the door carefully, he found Blaine resting against the frame, smriking down at him cockily, his eyes bright with anticipation, his dark eyelashes fluttering in a thick framework. A single curl hung across his forehead and Kurt had the odd urge to reach out and tuck it behind his ear. But he was too scared, too scared that Blaine might reject him or flinch away. He had to be careful not to scare him away.

He really cared about him… he didn't want to mess this up.

"Cazzo," Blaine breathed, his eyes trailing up and down Kurt's long and lean frame, his best features carefully accentuated in his new outfit. "Sei bellissima."

"Okay," Kurt said with a breathy laugh, "if this date is going to work, you're going to have to start talking in English."

"Aww, but it's fun," Blaine teased with a smirk. Kurt rolled his eyes. "You ready to go?"

Kurt nodded and waved a goodbye to Tim as Blaine watched on incredulous. He allowed Blaine to take his arm as they walked down the hall, trying to calm the shivers that ran through him at Blaine's warm touch and hoped he didn't notice.

"So where are you taking me?" Kurt asked as they made their way out into the dark cark park. Kurt internally congratulated himself on finding an outfit that was both fashionable and warm, as it was rather cool in the winter night air.

"If I told you it wouldn't be a surprise, would it?" was Blaine's reply as he directed them to his sleek, black car, holding open the door for him.

"No motorbike?" Kurt couldn't help but quip, sliding into the passenger seat. Blaine laughed as he shut the door behind him, climbing in the other end.

"No, I got rid of that ages ago…" he said, starting the engine. His tone was light, but Kurt noticed his eyes flashing with memory and he couldn't help but wonder if that was a tale for another moment…

Kurt decided not to push it. As Blaine pulled out of the Dalton carpark, Kurt reached for the stereo, pressing play and smirking as the latest Britney Spears hit poured from the speakers.

"Britney? Really?" Kurt teased, just a hint of judgement in his voice. "You didn't really strike me as the Pop Princess sort of guy."

"Well," Blaine chuckled, unabashed, "under the risk of sounding cliché, there's a lot you don't know about me, Kurt."

"Anything I'll get to find out…?" Kurt pressed lightly, keeping his voice conversational although he was truthfully desperately curious to find out more about the dark, handsome and mysterious enigma that was Blaine Warbler.

"If you play your cards right," Blaine winked, reaching for the stereo and cranking up the volume as Toxic played. Kurt bit his lip, trying to will away the blush that rose in his stupidly pale cheeks as the memory of Blaine's lust driven stare at his Warblers audition filled his mind.

Stop thinking about that," Kurt warned himself.

"I like this song."

Kurt's eyes shot up quickly to meet Blaine's hazel stare at his quiet statement. Blaine stared back as the red light flashed in front of them, only breaking his intense gaze when the light flashed back to green.

"We're here," Blaine announced happily, moments later as they pulled into a restaurant car park. Kurt didn't recognise the name of the place, flashing bright on a pretentious sign above the spacious building.

Blaine helped him out of the car once more (much to Kurt's delight – this new dapper side to Blaine was rather exciting…) and together they walked inside.

The interior of the restaurant was just as nice as the exterior, but much less flashy. The carpets were plush and rich beneath Kurt's boots, an earthy brown to match the chocolate tones in the walls. It seemed to be in rather big business tonight, full of couples and families of all ages, but to his surprise not a single customer gave them so much as a second glance to the placing of Blaine's warm and steady hand on the small of Kurt's (not quiet so steady) back.

"Reservations for Anderson," Blaine addressed the host as they reached the front of the fast pacing cue.

"Right this way," the host said after flipping through the guest list. They were directed to a quieter part of the restaurant, smooth jazz pouring over the speakers. Their server left them with the menus after they were seated, Kurt glancing around eagerly, drinking the warm atmosphere in.

"Like it?" Blaine asked, just a hint of carefulness in his voice, as if he was truly worried that Kurt might not like it.

Kurt placed a daring hand on Blaine's. "It's lovely," he assured him, enjoying the way Blaine's eyes crinkled around the edges as he rewarded him with a happy smile – a genuine smile, instead of one of those sexy smirks that were his trademark.

Kurt decided he liked his actual smile better.

They talked for a few minutes, Kurt graciously praising the design of the place, Blaine telling him that his older sister directed him to the place. Kurt was about to ask more about her when their server returned.

They ordered and he left, leaving Kurt to ponder just how he should bring up the topic of his sister.

Thankfully, Blaine beat him to the punch.

"Let's play a game while we wait," he announced, leaning back easily in his chair and examining Kurt. Kurt smiled, thinking that Blaine looked more relaxed than Kurt had ever seen him.

"Okay," Kurt answered. "What did you have in mind?"

"Twenty questions," Blaine returned. "Or as I like to call it, getting to know each other without the awkward small talk."

Kurt smirked at his blunt reply. "Okay," he agreed. "But I get to go first."

"Deal." Blaine smiled Kurt's favourite smile and extended his hand in a gesture for Kurt to go ahead.

"Why did you have Britney Spears as the CD playing in your car?"

Blaine laughed, probably louder than was proper date protocol. "Out of all the questions…" he mumbled before answering properly. "After your audition I went out and bought the Greatest Hits CD. I guess you really opened her eyes to her brilliance."

Kurt sat with his mouth agape as Blaine winked.

"Sorry," Blaine chuckled. "I thought we had to be honest…"

"It's fine," Kurt replied, his voice more breathy and higher than he would have liked. "Totally fine…"

"Your turn," Blaine announced, looking rather amused at Kurt's flusterdness. He scrunched his face up adorably in thought until he found his question. "What do you want to do after school?"

That was easy. "Broadway."

"Broadway?" Blaine repeated, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, college first, of course," Kurt elaborated. "Prefferably Julliard… somewhere in New York. I don't want to stay here any longer than I have to…"

Blaine nodded, a knowing glint in his eyes. Of course, everybody in their position wanted out of Ohio…

"That sounds reasonable," Blaine allowed. Kurt laughed.

"Most people think I'm just dreaming."

"Of course you are," Blaine said simply. "But how can you expect your dreams to come true if you don't create them in the first place. It's people with no scope for change, no scope for imagination, people who refuse to look farther than what they know or expect… those are the people who will never leave this place. Those are the people who don't succeed."

Once more, Blaine left Kurt speechless. How did he just say things like that?

Their server reappeared with their meals and thankfully Kurt had a distraction. He busied himself with his meal but could feel Blaine's eyes boring into him.

"What is it?" he had to ask after a few minutes.

Blaine smirked in reply. "It's your turn to ask the question."