Kurt was floating, the same way he'd been floating since that Blaine guy came back with Finn for the winter break, and it was a bit disconcerting to see her usually catty friend so dopily happy. However, Mercedes kind of liked the stupid grin he barely noticed adorning his face, it made her smile.
It also pained her just a little, because now that he was smiling so freely, she realized he hadn't been before. He'd slowly pulled away and stopped smiling and she hadn't even noticed, too caught up in herself and glee and everything else. How could she NOT have noticed?
Then Kurt would snap out of his happy, dopey, daydream mode long enough to make a bitchy comment or mock Rachel's clothing, and she'd realize his tone was missing the heat she'd become accustom too, turning more to the vaguely fond irritation he'd used when they'd first become friends. He'd changed, Mercedes realized, hardened, and he'd pushed her out, not that he'd let her in far to begin with. But now he was looser, too happy to keep up his usual demeanor.
"I have your Christmas present in my locker; want to do exchanges in glee?" Mercedes asked at lunch.
Kurt stopped eating, fork halfway to his mouth and turned to blink at her. "Um… okay." He said, his eyes were big, like he was surprised or something.
"I hope you like your gift." She winked and he blushed faintly. She counted it a win and turned back to her food.
Before the bell rang she shoulder bumped him and he squawked indignantly, bumping her back and turning a half hearted glare on her. Mercedes smiled, happy. She might have dropped the ball a little, but he was happy now and she'd noticed. Now she'd just remember to keep a look out and make sure he stayed that way.
"Don't do that dainty unwrapping thing like you did on your birthday, I want to see you rip the paper." Mercedes ordered as she handed over a slim box wrapped in pretty blue paper, the words 'Silver Bells' decorating it in silver script.
"I thought this was my present?" Kurt raised an eyebrow.
"It's my only request." She shrugged.
"Fine." Kurt fake sighed and ripped the paper. The box was a glove box, but it felt too heavy to actually have gloves in it, besides, he wasn't the biggest fan of gloves. Gloves required the right occasion and that didn't occur often. Also they were hard to work in. He preferred fingerless gloves over regular ones.
He opened the box. He gasped. "Mercedes."
"Thought you'd like it." She grinned.
"I love it." Kurt sighed happily and pulled out the scarf she'd gotten him. He wrapped it around his neck. It was so soft.
"Check under the tissue paper." She prompted and he did so. "Oh," He laughed. "You got me Sweeny Todd."
"It was the first thing I thought of when I saw that scarf. I think it's the stripes."
"Definitely." He agreed. He swooped down and got her present, holding it out for her. "And for you, Miss. Jones."
She ripped the paper off, much like he had, and crumpled it up. Kurt wanted to pick it up where she dropped it on the floor, but held off the urge for until she was done. She pulled the box open and went 'oooo'. "My favorite." She pulled out the perfume he'd gotten her.
"There's also a gift card, I couldn't remember what lotion you use and I didn't want to get the wrong thing." Kurt explained.
"Gimme a hug." She ordered and pulled him in. He didn't try to pull away, and didn't even realize that he would have a month ago.
Christmas was Saturday, and Tuesday was Kurt's last day of classes. That meant he'd been home when Blaine woke up. Kurt would be in the room right next to his, and Finn would be out until at least noon and then he'd probably go work for Burt and they'd have MORE time together.
Blaine nuzzled into his pillow. It didn't smell like Kurt anymore, but that was alright. Soon he'd be able to nuzzle into KURT, on Kurt's bed, in Kurt's room. He'd be surrounded by the boy and he'd never wanted to be around someone so much before. A spike of worry went through him, but happiness flooded it. He LIKED feeling like this, even if, somewhere deep in his mind, he was fretting over it.