A/N: Hey guys! It took another week to update -_- I didn't exactly want it to be that long, but it's here now! Hallelujah! I also wanted to let you guys know, that the reviews are awesome! They make me feel so great as a writer and encourage me to write! :D I wanted to give a couple of shout outs! 1) My beta! gottriplets is amazing! I forgot to thank her last chapter! 2) My sister, Carolin, because she told me to! 3) My friend Bel, who has been helping me with organizing the ideas in my head. The plot bunnies are so bad that I have started writing in the middle of school! And what do you guys think about this weeks episode? Crazy huh? Wow, I'm rambling. But I have one more question: What's your favorite Kurt outfit? (I personally like his Cheerios uniform. Hot :)) I'll stop talking now.

Disclaimer: I do not own Glee. I do kinda wish I owned Darren Criss though. And Chris Colfer, I would give him to my friend Lucas. Chapter Four: The Bit That Lingered

Kurt and Blaine struggled to suppress their laughter. They were sitting in Mr. Jackson's class,- and trying, but failing horribly, to pay attention to the lesson that was going on. They were too focused on Cameron's stiff appearance, and how tightly his lips were pressed together. He looked afraid that he would have to say something, and then end his sentence in 'dick'. That was the last thing you wanted to do in front of this Blaine was in the advanced History section, Kurt was in the class with him. They sat close to each other, Blaine directly behind Kurt, on the left side of the room, and they had a perfect view of Cameron who was still rigid in his seat right in the front of the classroom.

Sure enough, Mr. Jackson, tall and intimidating, began to call on students for a quick review of the chapter they had just concluded. He called on a sophomore first, and he spluttered his answer, unsure of what it was. Mr. Jackson quickly corrected the boy, explaining the correct answer. He next called on Blaine, who answered his question flawlessly, smiling broadly after having his reply being deemed right. His next victim: Cameron. A look of panic immediately etched itself upon the attractive, dark haired boy as soon as the History teacher's gaze fell upon him. He gulped.

"Mr. James, can you please tell us what years the Spanish American War took place in?" Mr. Jackson inquired sternly. He glared at a petrified Cameron as if he was a lion and Cameron was a gazelle- his prey.

"Umm…the early 1800's sir." A pause. "Dick." He muttered the word very quietly, almost inaudibly, but as the teacher, who had been wandering the room, had stopped in front of the nervous boy, he just barely heard the Warbler.

"Excuse me? What did you just say?" he boomed, growing angry at a rapid pace.

"I said the word dick, sir. Dick." He looked absolutely mortified. Blaine snorted loudly, and a few glances were cast his way, but Mr. Jackson's attention stayed trained on the student that he was ridiculing. Kurt chuckled softly as well, admiring his work on this dare.

"May I ask why you are using such atrocious, foul language in my classroom?"

"Well, as you might have known - probably not - Friday evening was Warbler bonding night. Dick. Unfortunately, I-I-I, lost, I lost, a game, and w-was dared to do this sir. Dick." Cameron stumbled over his words, stuttering and becoming flustered at his own awkwardness.

Mr. Jackson looked anything but pleased. Blaine and Kurt, along with James, who was also in this class, were now giggling and tittering uncontrollably now. The stringent professor just shot them a look of disapproval, and continued his conversation with Cameron, who was sinking lower and lower in his chair. "May I dare ask how much longer this little act will be in effect for?"

"Just for today sir. Dick." Cameron fiddled with his thumbs, looking down bashfully and seeming painfully embarrassed.

"Very well then. I will see you after school on Tuesday evening for detention. Be sure to pass on the message to your Warblers," he spat the word, "to not have dares like this one be done while in my classroom." Cameron nodded furiously,- then shot a fiery, angry glare at the three Warblers in the classroom who were still laughing. "On with the lesson now," Mr. Jackson stated, beginning to get the class back on track.

Cameron remembered that he had never found out if he had answered correctly. He tentatively raised his hand. The professor eyed him angrily, and grumbled dryly, "Mr. James?"

"Um, Mr. Jackson sir, did I answer my question correctly? Dick," he whispered the last word.

"As a matter of fact, Cameron, you did." Then Cameron sat up in his chair, raised his head, and tried his best to ignore Blaine and Kurt who were still snickering. They high fived one another, pleased with the work they had done.

"Best dare ever!" Blaine exclaimed, in a whisper, of course, being in Mr. Jackson's class. Kurt just beamed.

Later that day, Kurt walked with Jeff to the cafeteria for lunch, and he looked back on his weekend. He had woken up Blaine's arms on Saturday morning, and he was more than pleased. He remembered the events from last night when he had woken up in his best friend's arms again. Kurt had just sighed contentedly when he had woken up and snuggled closer to Blaine, squeezing his hand and relishing the short time he still had in his strong, protective arms. He smiled fondly, and Blaine's head found its way to where Kurt's shoulder met his neck - just like last time. His lips were pressed against the bare skin where Kurt's V-neck had slipped off center, and Kurt was honestly just in bliss. Cuddling with Blaine just kept going higher and higher on his list of favorite things to do.

Blaine had woken up about thirty minutes later, and immediately he grinned, knowing Kurt was in his arms. He didn't hear the calming steadiness of his breathing through his mouth like when he was asleep, but the one through his nose that he was so used to hearing. Blaine immediately knew he was awake. "Kurty?" he mumbled, still groggy from sleep. "You awake?"

"Mhhmm," he received in response, a tired,- but coherent answer. Kurt glanced over at his iHome. They had fallen asleep at who-knows-what-time, but it was already one. Kurt shifted in Blaine's hold, turning to face him. They looked each other in the eye now - or rather, Kurt looked at Blaine. The latter still had his eyes shut, and had the tinniest smile etched on his face. Kurt, being himself, countered, "Are you awake?"

"Barely," Blaine murmured softly, still not opening his eyes.

"Blaine. It's one o'clock." Blaine's eyes snapped open, bewildered. He lost himself in Kurt's glasz eyes for a minute, starting into the forever changing color. Were they blue? Or green? Or gray? Was that yellow I saw? They're so beautiful. God. All of him is so beautiful. He interrupted what was about to be a whole train of thoughts on Kurt in his head when he remembered to respond.

"What? How? Already?"

"Well, Blainers," he started sarcastically, "the Earth doesn't stop spinning for us, so we just slept late. Calm down." The Kurt realized something as he finished speaking. There was no weight on the other side of the bed, or at the end. Kurt noticed,- that Jeff and Nick were no longer next to Blaine and him, cuddling. Jesse and Cameron weren't haphazardly sprawled across the edge. Then he turned his head, and he noticed,- none of the Warblers were in here. Based off of Blaine's confused look, he had noticed too. "Where is everyone? Did they just leave us here?" Then something else dawned on him. "Oh Gaga, did they write anything on my face?" His expression looked panicked, with a little bit of an I'm-gonna-freaking-kill-those-boys kind of look.

Blaine squeezed their still intwined hands, and calmly stated, "No Kurt. There's nothing on your face, I probably would've told you by now. We were mostly likely the last ones still sleeping, so they just left us here." Blaine contemplated what getting up and going to find out where the Warblers entailed - getting up. "But Kurt," he started again, "I don't really wanna get up. I don't mind being the only ones in here."

"I never said I wanted to get up Blaine. Actually, I'm quite comfortable." He playfully nudged his head into Blaine's chest and poked at his muscular bicep.

"As am I," Blaine agreed, poking Kurt's arm back.

"But I do have to get out of bed in two hours. I'm going to Lima for dinner, and I need at least an hour to get ready - you know me -" Blaine nodded, "and then I have the two hour drive from Westerville to home."

"Ah. You coming back tonight?" Blaine inquired, trying to hide the hopefulness in his voice.

"No, I have a coffee date with Mercedes and Rachel tomorrow. It's been far too long since I've seen them. Plus, if I drove back tonight, I wouldn't get to the dorm until about eleven. I don't want to be driving that late."

"You make a good point," Blaine said, not wanting Kurt to drive that late either. "So, we have two hours do we?"

"We do."

"Rent?"

"Rent."

Kurt smiled at the Saturday morning memory, and he loved how he and Blaine stayed cuddling for all of that time. He also remembered how reluctant he was to have to get out of bed at three o'clock, and say goodbye to Blaine for the rest of the weekend, or at least until late Sunday evening. Kurt had gone home to a quiet dinner with his family, helping Carole in the kitchen, talking to Finn and his Dad, and just smiling at being with his family. He shared with them some of the crazy stories that he had experience during bonding night, like the dares and Grog, but he conveniently left out the parts that were touchy, like when he and Blaine kissed, for instance, or when they 'made out' in the closet. The family of four spent most of the night laughing at Kurt's silly stories and enjoying Carole's healthy, yet delicious meal.

Kurt talked with Finn after dinner by the fire about the latest New Direction drama. He and Rachel were no longer together, Mike and Tina were still the Asian Fusion, Sam and Quinn were growing strong, Puck was still being, well, just Puck, and he also reported that he was glad that he was meeting up with Mercedes tomorrow, because he said that she seemed very lonely since Kurt had left. Kurt smiled at the news, because he had really missed Mercedes, but also girls in general. He needed his girl time, and being in an all boys school… well it wasn't so easy to come by.

That night, he was more than happy to sleep in his old bed again; curling up in his soft down comforter was soothing, and it felt good to be home again. He realized how much he had missed it. When he finally got to the point where he was about to drift off, he couldn't help but feel that something was missing. He moved back to snuggle into the figure behind him, when he realized no one was there. That's what was missing. Blaine. He suddenly longed for the warm body pressed into him, the arm around his waist, his fingers to be intwined with, and the warm breath that Blaine always cast on the back of his neck and his shoulder. Kurt sighed, and then looked forward to the next day, hoping that would get him to sleep. After all, he was going to have a coffee date with is two favorite girls, and eventually,- he would end up seeing Blaine again. He would be able to wrapped up in those warm, strong, safe arms again. Or at least, when he got his welcome back hug. Eventually, with thoughts of Blaine and Mercedes and Rachel and everything that was to be in the coming day, he drifted off.

Kurt sipped his Grande Non-Fat Mocha while looking across the table at his two best friends, listening to them talk about the latest Glee Club news. Rachel was talking animatedly with wild hand gestures and her loud, loud voice.

"One day, Finn will realize how much he needs me, and I could take care of him, but right now, he'll just have to go on without me. Even though, I am so, so good for him," she babbled, trying to sway her two friends on her opinion about her and Finn's breakup.

"Rach, honey, how about we don't talk about Finn right now. How you two have been?" Mercedes smiled gratefully, and Kurt assumed that she had to go through this often.

She spoke up first, "Missing you, not getting solos, school, the usual, white boy." Mercedes sent him the smallest of smiles and Kurt gave her a look of sadness.

"I'm sorry 'Cedes, I've missed you guys so much. And if it makes you feel any better, I've yet to get any solos either. Any boy action?"

Rachel frowned, and just muttered something sounding like, "Finn. Ugh. Puck... just kill me."

Mercedes just shook her head, "White boy, you know that the most boy action I get is with you. But that same question goes for you; how's Blaine? He treating you right? Do I have to cut someone?"

Kurt blushed and smiled at the mention of his name, and laughed at Mercedes' threat. "No, Mercedes, you don't have to cut anyone. Blaine's great actually. He's been really sweet and helpful with settling me in this past month. But I do have to let you girls in on some dirt…" He retold his story of Friday night. He told them everything, every little detail, unlike what he had done with Finn, Carole, and his dad. Rachel and Mercedes' expressions varied from shocked, to pleased, to disappointed, to fits of laughter, and finally with as much as confusion as Kurt had over the kiss. He had explained right down until he had left Dalton the previous day, but the girls had obsessed over his uncertainty over the matter.

"So wait," Rachel butted in. "You full on kissed him in front of all of the Warblers, and you still aren't in a relationship with him? How is this possible? Did you feel anything?"

Kurt looked back on that very moment. Oh, did he feel something. He recollected, "It was amazing. I mean, I was furious at Jeff and the rest of those imbeciles for doubting me. Although what they were saying was somewhat true, I'm Kurt Hummel, I can't just not prove my point. But kissing him," he was at a loss for word. It was almost indescribable, "It was like every single firework on the Fourth of July going off at once. It was an explosion of emotion, and I was letting every pent up thought or feeling I had ever had for him out in one kiss. It was beautiful and amazing, and oh so lovely, but it wasn't real."

The two girls had their eyebrows quirked in confusion. They didn't understand what he meant buy 'wasn't real'. The porcelain boy continued to speak, "It was an anger kiss, if you will. It wasn't mutual; it was stolen. And that made me feel so dirty. It made me feel like I had done the same thing to Blaine that Karofsky had done to me. Not to say that Blaine didn't kiss back, because he did, and it was amazing. But then I think he realized that it wasn't out of love, it was out of rage. Or so he thought, because for me, it was definitely both. Plus, for all I know he could've just been kissing back to help with my little 'act' and to prove the point. I mean, he would do that because he's such a good friend, and he cares about me. For all I know, this could all be an act. Oh, Prada! The cuddling. What if he felt obliged to do that? This isn't good. I kissed him and probably ruined everything and- Gaga, now I'm rambling."

His two best girls were frozen in their seats, coffees still in hand. They were processing Kurt's explanation and his reasoning, and Mercedes was first to give her opinion. "Kurt Hummel. What in the name of Patti LuPone is wrong with you, white boy? You know better than to think like that? You freakin' spoon the boy! I know how much you want this, but you have to give it a little time to develop, y'know? And boo, I love you, but boy do you over think. If he was that mad, he would not have stayed in bed with you for two hours after you woke up."

Rachel spoke next, not giving Kurt a chance for his input. "I most certainly agree with everything Mercedes said. Also, you kissing Blaine was not the same thing as Karofsky kissing you. What Dave did to you was sexual assault; you kissing Blaine, well, you were at a party - though I do find you kissing him slightly inappropriate - but, he kissed back, and he's evidently not angry with you. He's a valued, faithful friend of yours, no?" Kurt nodded, and once again before he could speak, Rachel continued, "then I don't see why this should get in the way of anything. If you were meant to be, it will happen."

Kurt groaned in frustration and ran his hands through his perfectly coiffed hair before he could stop himself. "You don't get it! It's like there's this tiny bit that lingered! I have no idea what it is, but there's the slightest bit, of I don't know, sexual tension between us, and it won't go away! It's been there since we kissed, and it's just like something's… off." He hung his head in hands and felt his eyes begin to sting with tears. There was no way he was going to let himself cry now.

Sensing his discomfort, Mercedes put a hand on his back from where she sat next to him at the small table. The Lima Bean was nearly empty during the mid afternoon hours, and few people were around to see this little scene, except one barista who glanced over and helped the one other costumer in the cafe. "Kurt, things will get better. I promise. I think the only way you can make this better is if you talk to him about it," Mercedes told him. She rubbed his back, and he lifted his head. "Blaine is a nice boy, but I will never let him hurt you. You hear me Hummel? Because I will cut a bitch." Kurt rubbed his eyes, and smiled.

"Thanks Mercedes, I'll know who to call. I just don't think he'd do that. Blaine's too.. dapper." They all smiled. "So, ladies, if you don't mind a change in subject, have you seen the latest article on Broadway's website about Wicked?" That started a whole new element of conversation between the three best friends, and they sat there for a whole additional hour, talking about Broadway, and musicals, and what songs they'd like to sing the most, if they had the opportunity, from each of the plays.

Kurt was truly happy. He had missed his girls, and it was really easy and relaxing to talk to them. He had a wonderful afternoon with them, and he realized how much he had missed them, and how much he was going to miss them when he went back to Dalton again.

Kurt arrived back at his dorm at Dalton at six o'clock on Sunday night. He brought his messenger bag to his room, and went straight to the dining hall for dinner. He saw most of the Warblers at their usual table. After going on the line to retrieve his meal, he went over to where they sat and plopped down in between Jeff and Wes. The Warblers welcomed him cheerily, thanking him again for an amazing bonding night. He looked around the table and noticed that Blaine's familiar face was not present.

"Looking for Blainers?" Jeff asked, noting his scanning eyes. The blonde was absently picking at his pasta and salad, not really eating.

Kurt, not even trying to argue said, "Yes. Care to tell?"

Jeff smirked at Kurt's bitchy tone and just simply told him, "The dorm."

"Can I know why?" Kurt was just growing angrier and angrier, stabbing at his salad, and eating hastily.

"Oh, so Kurty-pie wants to know everything tonight, now does he?"

Kurt gave up being bitchy and just sighed. "Look Jeff, I really need to know, okay? I need to talk to him about the-" He stopped himself, and rephrased. "I need to talk to him about something, and it's important. Can you please tell me?"

Jeff, hearing the sincerity in his voice gave in, and said, "He's in our dorm because he's not feeling too well tonight. I think he has like a stomach ache or headache or something. I don't really remember to be honest." Kurt rolled his eyes at his platinum blonde's poor memory, finished his salad quickly, and returned his tray to the line. "Take care of him Kurty! He needs some TLC!" Jeff called from across the cafeteria.

Kurt ignored his friend and quickly made his way to Blaine's dorm room. Once he reached the room, he knocked three times, loudly, and received no response. Figuring the door would be open, he turned the handle,- and the door swung open. He was met with a sleeping Blaine, sprawled out on his back on his bed with covers only over one of his legs. His black sweatpants were rolled up to his knees and his hair was unglelled, his curls unruly and untamed. There was stubble on his face after probably not shaving the entire weekend. He wore no shirt and his toned chest was completely exposed, his muscles shown off fully. Blaine's face was peaceful as he slept, but he had broken out in a sweat on his forehead, and really did appear sick.

Kurt was at first very distracted by this half naked version of Blaine, - he still looked gorgeous, as always - but then he realized that he was here to take care of him on Jeff's 'orders' of TLC. He decided that now was definitely not the time to talk, but he did want to take care of his ill friend. He immediately went into the small bathroom that all of the dorms had and looked around for a spare washcloth. Kurt ran it under the cool water from the sink and rung it out, leaving it just damp. He folded the green towel in half and walked back into the room, next to Blaine's bed side. Blaine was breathing lightly, steadily, through his parted lips, and Kurt gently laid the towel on his forehead, as an attempt to cool him down and bring down the fever. Kurt decided to wait, wanting to see how Blaine felt when he awoke, but he didn't want to wake his sick friend. He settled for sitting on Jeff's deep purple comforter, letting his thoughts overwhelm him.

When Blaine woke up - twenty minutes later - he felt a damp cloth on his head and he opened his eyes to a dim room that hurt his vision. He had a blinding headache and his throat was immediately hit by a wave of pain. He felt hot and cold at the same time and just all out disgusting. "Ugh," he groaned, rubbing his eyes. When did this cloth get here? What time is it? Why can't I see? Blaine absently reached to his bedside table for his glasses, and when he found them, he shoved them on, the dark, thick rims framing his face.

"I never knew you had glasses. They're cute." Blaine wasn't expecting a voice. Especially not that voice. Or what he said.

"Kurt?" He thought I was cute? What? Then his inner pessimism reminded him, He thinks your glasses are cute, Anderson. Glasses. Right, oh.

"Hi, Blaine," Kurt greeted his confused friend. "How are you feeling?"

"Like shit." He honestly couldn't think of a better response, because that really was how he was feeling.

"Eloquent."

"I try," Blaine joked back, sending Kurt a cheeky smirk, but then remembered,- that he hadn't actually seen Kurt yet, or even knew where he was sitting. With as much energy as he could muster, he propped himself up so he was leaning against the headboard, and saw Kurt sitting on Jeff's bed. The cloth flopped down from his forehead, so he picked up and held it there; it's coolness soothing. "So, you're back?"

"That I am, oh wise one." Kurt was being sarcastic, but he flashed Blaine a bright smile.

"Since when?"

"About an hour ago. I got back to the dorm, went to dinner, and noticed you weren't there. So I asked Jeff what was up, ate, and then came here."

"You didn't have to, y'know."

"I know. I wanted to. Knowing your best friend's sick in bed and not doing anything to help isn't very kind."

"True," Blaine said, as that was all he could muster. The air between them started out normal, but it suddenly got tense. Something was off, and they could both feel it. There was an awkward silence until Blaine thought of something to say. "I don't know how much you can do though."

"There's always something I can do, Blaine," Kurt told him sternly, but with caring in his voice. "Get you food or water, get you medicine, keep you company, at the very least." Blaine smiled at the thought of just spending time with Kurt, but then he remembered the medicine the nurse had told him to take earlier. He had planned to take it when got back from her office, but he ended up passing out as soon as he lay down.

"Actually, I do have some pills the nurse told me to take. Do you mind getting them for me? They're on my desk." Kurt nodded and stood, walking over to the desk and picking up the small container of pills.

"Water?" Kurt asked, already heading to the bathroom, knowing the answer.

"Yes please," Blaine croaked, definitely sounding sick. Kurt returned with a glass of water and two pills in his hand.

"It said two on the container. Is that right?" Blaine nodded and took the capsules from Kurt. He popped both in his mouth, and swallowed them with a swig of water. It then dawned on him how thirsty he was, and he downed the rest of the cup.

He finished with a resounding, "Ahh." He paused and looked over at his friend, who was now sitting at the edge of the bed. "Thanks Kurt. This is really sweet of you." There was that awkwardness between them. That phrase wasn't supposed to sound awkward or tense. Their friendship was supposed to be easy going and relaxed. The word sweet just made the whole conversation odd. Or at least Blaine felt that way because he ridiculed himself about his wording. He normally wouldn't be so hard on himself, but there was an air around them that was just off. It was rather unsettling too; they were supposed to say and do anything with each other - well, obviously not everything, but close to it.

"Anytime," Kurt responded. "Anything for a sick friend, right?" He chuckled lightly and then asked, "Blaine?" Blaine quirked an eyebrow in response. "Are there any side effects to those pills?"

Blaine racked his brain for anything the nurse might have said about side effects. "I think she might have said that they can make you a little, like, crazy. Y'know loopy? Off?"

Kurt smirked and poked Blaine's leg. "Ooh! This is gonna be fun…"

Less awkward.

"Are antibiotics supposed to do that?" Kurt inquired. "I mean it's strep right?" Blaine was puzzled; were antibiotics supposed to do that? He didn't know, or particularly care, so he just shrugged. Kurt shook his head as a joke, but Blaine just smiled, although he was secretly dreading what these drugs were going to make him do.

Twenty minutes later, the drugs had finally kicked in.

"KUURRRRTYYYYY! Come cuddle with me!" Blaine whined, kicking his legs up and down.

Kurt rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath, "Oh. There go the pills." Their conversation had just gone from civilized, talking about their weekend, albeit still tense, to completely random, when Blaine started to whine about cuddling. "Blaine," he ridiculed. "I don't want to get sick."

"Oh, so this isn't about not wanting to cuddle with me? You want to cuddle with me, Kurt? Plus, the nurse said I wasn't contagious unless I cough, sneeze, or share silverware or glasses. I'm not sneezing or coughing and just don't drink out of my cup! Please Kurt?" he begged, pouting and breaking out the puppy dog eyes. That got to Kurt. "You can be the big spoon! You don' have to worry about me even breathing on you! Please! I just wanna cuddle…"

"Fine, but only because you're sick and begging."

"I wasn't sick and begging the other times we cuddled," an oblivious and drugged Blaine said.

Kurt panicked for a quick moment, but then realized that Blaine was loopy and not really in his right mind at the moment. "But last time, you weren't contagious. This time it's mostly because you're begging. The other times it was fully by mutual consent."

"Okay. But we get to cuddle right?" Blaine had no idea what Kurt was saying, and honestly, he just wanted to be held by Kurt.

"Yes, Blaine." Kurt flung off his Doc Martens and went around to the other side of Blaine's bed. He hesitantly lay down next to his friend, his thoughts swirling about his conversation with his girls earlier that day, and how nothing would be resolved until they talked. So he just decided to go with this, no matter how awkward or strange it was, that Blaine might not realize it because of the medicine he had taken.

"Kurtsie, just lying next to me isn't cuddling! We have to spoon!" He was practically pleading, and Kurt obliged, turing on his side and wrapping an arm around his friend's waist. Kurt knew it wasn't right, to be like this with the tension in the air, but he just loved being this close to Blaine so much,- that he couldn't bring himself to care. Although, Kurt wasn't relaxed at all, and was very stiff and rigid about how he lay with Blaine. He was nervous about the tension that swarmed them, even if Blaine could no longer detect its presence. "Kurty, you're tense. I promise we won't kiss again. 'Cause that'd make you sick. I just like cuddling with you… not that I don't like kissing you. That's good too. But you didn't really mean that; you were an angry Kurty-pie. That's okay. I still like you though." Blaine was babbling, sounding like a five year old with all of the medication. His tone started out pleading, then faded to slightly wistful, then to reassuring, as if to remind Kurt that they were still best friends.

Kurt desperately wanted to talk to Blaine for real,- about this problem, this lingering little bit of tension, but he knew he couldn't. Blaine either wouldn't remember or wouldn't care because of his medication, and no matter how much Kurt wanted to spill his heart out, or at least break the tension, he couldn't because he would just have to do it again. Instead, he just responded, "I'm not worried about getting sick Blaine. I still like you too."

"Yay!" Blaine cheered. "Does this mean we'll cuddle for real?" Instead of responding, Kurt just pressed his body close to his friend's, immediately met by the heat from the fever he was radiating. He tightened the grip he had on Blaine's waist, and found his hand, interlocking their fingers. He pressed his face into the back of Blaine's shoulder and closed his eyes contentedly. No matter how awkward the situation, this would still be soothing and wonderful. Blaine still wore no shirt, so the skin on skin contact between Kurt's arm and his waist was blissfully strange, yet not unwelcome.

"Better?"

Blaine gave a hum of agreement,- and squeezed his hand,- Kurt that his friend had drifted off after five minutes. Meanwhile, Kurt just kept on thinking.

"KURT! We need to dance! Come on! Will you dance with me?" Another twenty minutes had gone by and Blaine was on his feet, and was starting twirl absently around the room. His shirt was still off, and he was spinning in circles. Kurt stood, and Blaine's face lit up, but the countertenor just grabbed his friend's arm, and sat him back down on the bed. Blaine's face fell.

"Blaine," he started, "you're sick. I don't want you to get worse or overexert yourself. Those pills make you feel better, but you're not all the way recovered yet. So no jumping around."

"You're no fun," the tenor huffed, folding his arms, then flopping back on to the bed, his head nearly hanging off of the side. Then Blaine yawned. "Why am I tired again? I just slept! Can I go back to sleep Kurty? Will you let me?"

"Of course. These side effects are due to wear off any minute, so maybe sleep will bring you back to normal."

"Hey! I'm perfectly normal," he argued unconvincingly and sleepily.

"Sure," Kurt drawled. Blaine didn't argue again, and he just repositioned himself on his bed, falling asleep once again.

This time when Blaine woke up, he didn't feel nearly as bad, still sick, but relatively better. His memory of the past two hours or so was foggy, but he wasn't surprised when he saw Kurt on the edge of the bed.

He rubbed his eyes and sat up, immediately asking Kurt, "Ugh, what happened after you gave me the pills? I barely remember! I just kinda remember cuddling again, maybe?" Kurt nodded and explained everything that had happened.

Blaine's jaw dropped,- and he exclaimed, "I said what? Oh, my God." Blaine ducked his head bashfully, and ran a hand through his gross, messy curls. I must look horrible. Kurt just laughed, as if it was nothing, but Blaine could see the little glint in his eye that said otherwise. I am such an idiot druggy. Kill me. How the hell could I talk about kissing, cuddling, and liking Kurt in the same paragraph? Of course, I didn't mean like, like that, but still. Double meanings right?

"Honestly, it's fine," Kurt insisted, still brushing it off. "But really, what happened next was even better. I can't believe you don't remember!" Kurt laughed melodically with his high voice, eyes shining. Blaine tried hard not to stare, but his best friend just looked so beautiful when he was happy.

"W-what happened?" Blaine asked in a slight trance. Kurt grinned.

"After you woke up - I never slept - you just like, jumped up and started dancing." Blaine's eyes bulged in shock and embarrassment. Kurt just chuckled. "There was no music or anything. You just started twirling and spinning in circles. It was pretty amusing, actually. Then you tried to get me to dance with you."

Blaine ducked his head. "Oh, God. How much can I embarrass myself in two hours? Seriously, the next time I take these pills I'm staying alone. They don't do good things to me." Then he muttered, "Stupid strep."

Kurt made a noise of agreement and his eyes flicked back and forth, scanning the room for nothing in particular. Then Blaine realized something. "Oh man, is there more?"

Kurt laughed again. "No, not really. I just told you to go back to sleep because I knew spinning could not be good for a sick boy."

Blaine quirked an eyebrow playfully. "Oh," he started sarcastically. "So you didn't want to dance with me Kurty?"

"No," Kurt answered coldly. The light mood vanished in an instant. Blaine had thought that Kurt would've just giggled adorably or made some kind of cheeky retort. Instead, he'd just become cold and distant; not at all like himself. Blaine sensed the sudden change in attitude. He sat up completely and shifted so he was now sitting next to the chestnut haired boy, their legs hanging off the side of the bed. He put a comforting hand on Kurt's shoulder, and as much as the countertenor wanted to shrug it off, he left it.

But, he was tense. Blaine noticed, and gave his shoulder what was meant to be a reassuring squeeze. It was no help. "Kurt? What's up?"

"I can't stand this!" he blurted, thinking Blaine would understand. He was wrong.

"Stand what?" Blaine was still sick, so his voice came out scratchy. He gulped down some of the water from the cup still on his bedside table that he assumed Kurt had refilled when he was asleep.

"Can you not feel the awkward right now Blaine? I feel awful!"

"About what? That silly kiss?" The words came out harsher and rougher than he intended. He didn't actually think that - that it was silly - but he was unsure about Kurt's feelings, and that would just make it even more awkward.

Kurt looked crushed. "Do you really think that it was silly?" Tears welled up in his eyes. "Look Blaine, I feel like an ass. I-I-I stole a kiss from you, and that's something I promised myself I would never do. I feel awful, and you're my best friend, and-and, after K-karofsky, I-I-I just can't shake the feeling that I used you or offended you. And… I can't lose you now Blaine. I just…" he trailed off. Kurt wasn't expecting it, but he was suddenly wrapped in Blaine's arms, and he let out the tears, sobbing into Blaine's shoulder.

After letting out his tears, he realized how much of an idiot he must look like. He sniffled and wiped his eyes, looking up at Blaine. His friend looked distressed and nervous.

"I'm… I'm sorry for dumping this on you. I probably look like an idiot," Kurt sniffed.

"Don't ever think that, Kurt," Blaine whispered, close to Kurt's ear. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm sorry I made you feel that way, I-I never meant to call it silly. I could feel that-that tension, and I tried to ignore it, y'know thinking that it would go away. I'm just… sorry." There was a pause,- and neither one of them said anything. Kurt was still in Blaine's arms, and he buried his head in his chest again.

Kurt sniffled another time, then mumbled in to Blaine's chest, "Are we okay?"

Blaine let out a big breath. "Kurt, look at me," he ordered. Kurt lifted his head off of Blaine once more and looked up into his smoldering hazel eyes swirled with ambers and browns and greens and even specks of gold. "I think," he started slowly, "we are better than good. I think this is going to help us become stronger in our friendship and closer to each other. I understand that you regret what you did, but I think we can push past this. I think we're stronger than this, and we respect and understand each other enough to put it aside. Still best friends, right?"

Kurt hugged him so hard that they fell backwards, flopping back onto the bed. "You're the best."

"You're not too bad yourself."

Kurt and Jeff rounded a corner in the hall leading to the cafeteria, and Kurt smiled brilliantly after looking back on his relatively amazing weekend.

"Why so smiley, Kurtsie?" Jeff asked.

"Oh, just a good weekend, Jeff," Kurt sang.

"Oho, does this mean that something did happen between you and hottie hobbit when you went to go baby that little sicky? He wouldn't tell me a thing. He just said, and I quote, 'Oh y'know, he just came around. Helped me out, we talked. The usual,'" Jeff huffed.

"By happen, do you mean everything that he said? If yes, then of course! Something happened!" Kurt joked, shooting Jeff a fake smile.

"Oh come on, Kurt!" he exclaimed, poking the countertenor in the ribs. "Blaine is noticeably less tense. And I know it's because of you, so don't even try to pretend. Come on! I know you like him. I know! Just tell me!"

"Ugh, fine Jeff. You are so whiny!" Then he stopped walking in the hallway and pulled Jeff over to a bench. "Listen here. You tell no one that I like him. Seriously."

Jeff just smirked. "Kurty you poor thing. All of the Warblers already know, but trust me, the only one that needs a wake up call is little Blainers over there. But yeah, yeah, I won't tell anyone about your little infatuation." Jeff had promised Blaine just about the same thing, but there's no way he could mention that. Unless of course, he wanted to break is promise, so he just left it there. "So?"

Kurt smiled. "Pretty much I gave him his pills and helped him out. But the pills have this odd side effect, so when he took them, he got a little… loopy. He asked me to cuddle with him." Jeff smirked, and his thoughts were written all over his face, As if you guys don't do that already! "We did, and he took a little nap. Then he started to dance and spin, and then he asked me to dance with him. Then he slept again. Maybe another side effect was drowsiness?" Kurt thought aloud. "When he woke up again, the pills had worn off, and he didn't remember anything. So I had to tell him everything, including some of the things he said, which were actually really funny. He was adorably embarrassed."

"Aww," Jeff cooed. "You guys are so cute. So that's it?"

"Erm… no. Then I kinda flipped out. Ugh! I don't know what got into me, but I just snapped, and poured my heart to him." Jeff grinned slyly and raised an eyebrow. "Not all of my heart, idiot. I told him what I felt about the like, sexual tension and all the awkwardness after the kiss. So we-"

Jeff cut him off. "Oh, you didn't look too awkward during Harry Potter!" He winked, and Kurt rolled his eyes, but he couldn't help the smile that came at the memory.

"You saw that?…"

"Everyone saw that."

"Anyways," Kurt interjected, bringing the subject back again. "We just had a nice heart to heart, and well, resolved things, so we're not awkward anymore. I really think it helped our friendship. I'm happy." Kurt was positively beaming, and Jeff just had to wrap him up in a bone crushing hug.

"Your time will come, Kurt. I know it will."

"That means a lot, Jeff." There was a brief pause. "Oh, by the way, you didn't hear anything from me. You have to find out any vital information you want from Blaine." Jeff huffed, but nodded. "Let's go to lunch. Carrying around a designer messenger bag all day is tiring, and I need my energy."

"I know where you're coming from," Jeff agreed, chuckling, and swinging his own bag.

"Okay, okay, why am I not in that class? It must have been priceless!" David exclaimed. The whole table was cackling and laughing, and Cameron just hung his head in shame, not even bothering to try and eat. There was a discussion going on at the Warblers' lunch table about Cameron's now famous dare. Almost everyone at the school had heard about the 'dick' spiel, but it was the most special and funny for the a cappella group.

"Kurt! How could you've not told me about this earlier?" Jeff wailed.

"Well Jeff, based on the fact that we were having a very important conversation about something else, I don't really think I stumbled upon the time to tell you. I offer my greatest apologies," Kurt retorted, smirking. Jeff pouted and Nick gave him a sweet peck on the cheek, but Blaine, Jesse, Wes, and David just laughed at Jeff's failed attempt at complaining.

"Never mind earlier," Jesse cut in. "It's more fun together. But seriously, Cam? You asked if you got your question right? Are you really that stupid?"

"Evidently," Kurt muttered under his breath. A scowl was shot his way, but Kurt brushed it off as if it was nothing. He continued idly picking at his salad, sandwiched between Blaine and Nick.

"I was just curious, God!" Cameron backed himself up. "I already suck in that class, and I was actually pretty confident about the answer. I just wanted to know."

"Fair enough, I guess," Jesse said, wolfing down whatever he happened to shoving in his face at that time. Casual conversations started up at the table, little groups of people all having their own separate chats.

Jeff whispered to his boyfriend, "Nicky, I need to go talk to Blainers for a little, okay?"

Nick just smiled, "Of course."

Jeff stood, taking his tray of food with him, and Nick scooted down. Kurt followed, as did Blaine. The platinum blonde took Blaine's place at the end of the table, and was now sitting next to him. "Blainers," he sang, "we gots to talk, my little love sick, actually sick boy."

"Hey, I'm not contagious anymore. I'm still taking my antibiotics."

"But you see, you didn't deny the love sick part, and that, my friend, is why I am here to talk to you."

Blaine rolled his eyes,- and glanced next to him to see if Kurt was listening. Luckily, he was not, and was in some sort of heated argument with Wes. He kept his voice down anyway. "What's up, Jeff?"

"I need to talk to you about last night."

"I already told you. We talked, he helped me out, nothing big."

Jeff's eyebrows knit with anger as he took a sip of his Fresca. He glared at his roommate. "Listen, Blainey. I know you think I'm a dumb blonde. I'm not. So spill."

"I don't think you're that dumb," he joked. He saw Jeff begin to angry again, so he just told him. "Listen. I was passed out in sweatpants, looking nasty and gross and sick when he came in."

"Just sweatpants?"

"Yes. No shirt," Blaine responded coolly. Jeff raised his eyebrows and winked. "Not like that, you perv! I didn't know he was coming. I had a fever and was really hot! God…"

"Well, I'm sure he liked it either way. You're toned, Blainers."

"Thanks Jeff, I try. But when I woke up, I had a cloth on my head and he was just sitting there. So pretty much, he gave me my antibiotics, and then I went wacko. Afterwards, he explained to me that I had pretty much made him cuddle with me, that I tried to get him to dance with me, and how I just napped and said embarrassing things."

Jeff looked interested. "What kind of embarrassing things?"

"Do you really need to know?" Jeff sent him a 'Bitch Please' look. "Fine. I quote, 'I promise we won't kiss again. 'Cause that'd make you sick. I just like cuddling with you… not that I don't like kissing you. That's good too. But you didn't really mean that; you were an angry Kurty-pie. That's okay. I still like you though.'" Jeff had his mouth open; Kurt hadn't told him that much. "I swear I felt like the world's biggest ass, fuck up, and idiot all at once. God Jeff, never let them drug me again."

"No promises," he sang. "Continue."

"So after that, he just kinda… snapped. He, like, poured all his feelings out about the kiss and stuff… so we had a nice little heart to heart, and I honestly tried my best to comfort him. I really care about him, and the way he undermines himself sometimes isn't good. I just… I want to be able to let him know that people care for him and love him,- just the way he is and for what he thinks." He voice had grown from joking to raw and sincere. Jeff saw all of the devotion in his voice, and hugged him with all of his might, sending them both into Kurt's side.

"Ow, guys! If you're gonna have group hugs, all you have to do is ask. I've had enough shoving for one lifetime, thank you very much." The two other boys laughed, and Kurt's arms were around Blaine's torso, squeezing him tight. They've come a long way, and are still making the journey. Blaine was more than excited.

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