AN: Been some time, yes. I'm actually updating sooner than I expected because I couldn't keep from writing – lest I go insane. LOL

Still don't own it. DAMN!

Chapter 4: Our support

My heart broke when Kurt cried against my chest, after practicing Animal, and, despite my reluctance, I realized going forward with it would only make things worse between us. So, against my own wishes, I moved to back out on the duet idea, alleging the singers had agreed it hadn't come out so well.

Much to our surprise, however, there was no backup motion for a change of the performers, as everyone had already agreed and the Warblers seemed intent on maintaining such a formation. Besides, we all had to admit, showcasing Kurt's voice might give us an equal base of competition with New Directions, who always performed numbers that had different voices, and, consequently, different rings to them. It would give the Warblers more variety, and anything legal that could help us win was more than appreciated.

However, at Kurt's hard insistence, the Council agreed to set up a vote for other songs, and the countertenor immediately volunteered "Candles", by Hey Monday. When we got around to testing it, most of the other boys seemed to enjoy how it sounded, and so, when all the songs were put to vote, it was Kurt's suggestion and Pink's"Raise Your Glass" that took the podium.

I could only imagine what was going on in my friend's mind for that song to pop up.

~!GLEE!~

"Alright. What's wrong between the both of you?" Wes approaches me, his face contorted into a frown.

Close behind was David, who immediately complements him. "Did you get into a lovers' quarrel or something?"

Of course I know what they are talking about. How could I not? However, I don't want to talk about this with anyone else. It was a topic – a personal topic – between Kurt and I. Naturally, my reaction was, "What are you talking about?"

They both look at me like I was dumb… and, just maybe, I might actually agree with them.

"Blaine," Wes starts, sighing. "You're going to lose him if you keep this up."

"I don't really think our friendship can be ruptured because of song voting… and his choice did win," I answer, absolutely sure they that they didn't know about the behind-the-scenes details.

"That's not what we're talking about." David answers immediately. "And don't play dumb with us. We know there's something going to on between the two of you."

"The whole school knows, Anderson." Wes says, still holding that initial scowl.

This surprises me. All of Dalton knows about this fiasco? Were we that obvious, or did Kurt tell anybody? I certainly didn't.

Perhaps they see the surprise and confusion in my face, because Wes decides to put the cards clean on the table. "Everyone knows you two are dating."

"And everyone knows something went down, because the way you guys are acting weird towards each other – and, at times, towards anyone, for that matter – is plainly obvious." David finished.

At these words, I am even more surprised. So the whole school thought we were dating? No wonder Kurt also thought it before, like he told me a little before Valentine's Day.

"So," David continues, interrupting my thoughts, "what happened?"

I'm not sure I want to tell the truth to them, but there's one thing I have to clarify first. "It's not true. We've never dated. We're just friends... or, at least, I'm hoping we are still that." Their surprise shows on their faces, and I can't help asking. "Did we really look like a couple to you?"

The Warblers Council President and Secretary look at each other, a hint of sheepishness showing, before they nod.

Wes is the first to elaborate, even without me having to ask it. "You guys were always together, always touching, always looking at each other, or going out just the two of you on weekends. There was some sort of invisible barrier between you two that kind of kept the others away, because if seemed as if you and Kurt were only interested in each other, and in absolutely nothing else."

"Besides," David went on, "Blaine, you're always singing a lot of your lines to Kurt during our performances. It seemed obvious…"

I nod, but say nothing else. The realization that maybe I have been involuntarily playing with Kurt has finally dawned on my brain. I thought we were just really close friends, who happened to be gay, but not lovers. I might not see him in that light, but I sure as hell wish I did.

"You know, regardless of that, you still haven't answered our question." David mentioned. "What went down between you guys?"

I think for a nearly half a minute, before answering. "We're having something of a fight because of that. I was stupid enough to get drunk, and then I did a few things I'm really regretting, and which really hurt Kurt."

"So, is that why you wanted to duet with him? To warm your way back into his heart, through singing? Because we all know he loves singing." Wes concludes. I am suddenly aware that this is why everyone seemed so disappointed when I asked our countertenor to sing it with me. They all probably thought I was going to make some sort of confession to make up with my supposed boyfriend.

My boyfriend… Kurt. The idea doesn't seem so horrid, in fact – it almost seems nice.

David looks pointedly at Wes and repeats the latter's opening words to this conversation. "You're going to lose him if you keep this up, Blaine."

Wes places his hand on my shoulder, before locking his eyes with mine. "Look, no one can tell you what to feel – hell, you can't do that yourself – but we can tell you what to see, what to look for. If you don't love him, or if you do, it doesn't matter, but make it clear once and for all, and act on your decision. You can't say 'no' and act like you guys are dating, and you can't say 'yes' and just act like always, because he'll know something's not right."

"We don't want to tell you what you should or what you shouldn't do, but we're telling you what you're doing right now… and it's not looking good." David comments.

"Tell me something I don't know," I mumble, but I know they're well-intentioned. It doesn't mean that I can't be confused about it. When did things get so complicated?

!GLEE!

I'm not sure how, but we ended up in McKinley a few days later, for a benefit performed by New Directions, to which no one except us showed up. Apparently something happened to all the people who were supposed to attend, because Kurt's friends were expecting a full house.

A little before we found out about that, the two of us were walking down the halls of his former school, in silence. I was trying to find a way to talk to him again, to get the conversation we needed to have running. The only reason I was here in the first place was because Kurt's stepbrother, Finn, had thought it would be a good idea for me to come with Kurt, so the latter wouldn't be lonely.

Either the football player didn't know that we weren't on the best of terms, or he was aware of it and thought this would help us patch up, and I wasn't too keen in losing this opportunity. "We really do have to talk, Kurt."

He looked at me almost tiredly, but nodded in a way that clearly meant he wanted this over with. Well, so did I. "I want us to get back to normal, but I know it's not going to be that easy if we don't sort out some things."

"Like what?" he asked, almost rhetorically.

"Like, that we are friends, just friends, with really awkward circumstances going on between us. But… I want to get past them, Kurt. I don't think we should keep this up indefinitely. If we do, we'll be the only ones losing."

"So… you're saying, basically, forget it." he said, not looking at me.

I gulped, but I can't deny that, yes, that's what I'm saying. So I nodded, unable to confirm it verbally. Kurt didn't see it because he still wasn't looking, but my silence offered him the same answer.

He sighed, inhaling a large gulf of air, as if preparing for something really taxing. Soon after, though, he turned around and we finally stared into each other's eyes, after what feels like years. "I care about you, Blaine, and I'm sure you're not aware of just how much I do."

I gulped again, at this point. These were not good opening lines.

"So I can't honestly say I can do that. I can only try… and hope nothing else goes wrong."

I smiled, quite obviously relieved, and was about to take his hand, but refrained myself in time, remembering Wes' warning. This might be harder than I initially thought.

A few soundless seconds pass between us, and we can almost feel them growing slowly from uncomfortable to relaxing.

"So, maybe I should tour you through this place, as this might be the only chance we get to come to my old school without running into unwanted company." Kurt offers, a small smile playing on his lips... A smile that has never looked so beautiful to me before, I realize.

Gladly, I accept the offer and we spend the next half hour going through some of his favorite and not-so-favorite places, from the cafeteria, to some of his classrooms, like Home Ec. I am sure there is a reason why we don't pay a visit to the lockerrooms or the fields.

We reach the choir room, and I smile fondly as I notice the inside walls, covered with eggbox foam, and the chairs arranged in three different levels. The way Kurt looks almost longingly to it pulls at my heart, but I have no time to dwell on it, because a familiar voice interrupts us.

"What are you two doing here?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Kurt freeze, instant fear dominating his semblance before schooling his features and turning to confront Karofsky.

Every last ounce of me wants to knock the guy down and give him the beating of his life. I am sure no one has ever done that before, and maybe the shock would get him to stop going after my friend, even after practically expelling him single-handedly. Doing that, however, would probably only succeed in making him pursue Kurt further…and I want them as far apart as possible.

So, instead, I try to keep still as they exchange words, Karofsky spitting threats and Kurt giving each of them witty replies. After the third exchange, though, I notice the bigger guy's fingers curling, and, somehow, I see in his eyes that he's going to attack my friend, just seconds before he moves.

But I move faster. His fist comes relatively close to Kurt's face and the latter jumps a little, startled, though it does not make any contact, because I have pushed its owner back, forcefully. I'm still wishing I could hit his nose, but that would probably backfire in me getting arrested and him, not.

Karofsky looks back at me a little stunned, but soon recovers. He is just about to launch himself at me, when Kurt's words seem to stop him. "Really brave with your fists, but you're a coward when it comes to the truth."

"I am not a coward!" he replies weakly. It is obvious that he intended to yell that, but it comes out just barely above a whisper.

"Oh, and how do you intend to prove me wrong, Dave?" Kurt retorts. After a few seconds of silence, he continues. "Exactly."

I decide to step in, still keeping myself between them. "The three of us know what's going on, but you're the only one who keeps trying to hide from it. So who's the coward?"

Karofsky looks at us with so much rage, I am sure, he is going to kill us. However, he just turns over, letting out a frustrated groan, and walks away.

When the bigger guy turns the corner, I hear Kurt's breathing again, and, out of the corner of my eye, I see his shoulders sag a bit further.

As I face him, I realize how deeply this affects him, and how he is trying to fight it. Before I can control it, I palm one of his cheeks. "Are you alright?" I ask.

My friend doesn't utter a word, but he does nod. Seconds later, a black-haired girl – Santana – shows up, just in time to get a message that they weren't going to have a full house tonight.

Kurt and I decide to show our support and stay, cheering whenever we can as New Directions performed, and it felt like we had a private show for just us.

TBC

AN: Long wait. Lotsa stuff. Don't know when the next is up, but plan on second week of July.

So I didn't mash NoN and OS, but I didn't skip it either. It comes next – and I know that's not canon sequel, but I'm not writing canon, am I? XP

Thank you everyone for all your alerts and reviews and all.

I GOT FLAMED! And It was in French, but it I still understood it perfectly. "The charm and intelligence of a fish"… now that was new...