The next day at school Blaine stopped him in the hallway before they went to lunch, his hands shaking a little and this adorable nervous smile on his face. Kurt had the urge to kiss him, but they were in school so he held it in, later, when they were in glee, it would be safer. Blaine led Kurt away from the crowds of McKinley students."What's this about, Blaine?" Kurt asked him, risking a hand on Blaine's shoulder.
Blaine smiled and wriggled happily where he stood. "I have something for you."
"What?" Kurt asked with a grin.
"Let me show you." With that he flipped open the top of his messenger bag and dug around for a few seconds. He pulled out a small red box with a gold bow. "I had my mom help me wrap it, I'm not very good at that."
"It's beautiful, but Blaine, Christmas isn't for another week." Kurt felt his eyes widen, the size of the box.
"I know, but… I wanted to give it to you as soon as possible." Blaine's happy voice turned nervous. "So um, open it."
"Okay." Kurt swallowed and started to open it as carefully as possible. Black velvet met his fingers under the wrapping paper; this was DEFINITELY a ring box. "Blaine."
"Go on, open the lid." Blaine came a little closer, invading his personal space welcomingly. So close to him Blaine's excitement was palpable, making Kurt's own heart start fluttering madly.
"Patience," Kurt whispered and then lifted the lid of the box. Inside was a small ring shiny against the black interior. "Are those…"
"Gum wrappers," Blaine said breathily. He rubbed at the back of his neck. "I wanted get you a real one, but I couldn't afford it, so I… um, I made one." Blaine let out a nervous laugh. "I found the directions online. Do you know how hard it is to find gum that still uses the metallic wrappers?""Blaine." Kurt felt his eyes tear up a little.
"Blaine this is… Blaine it's PERFECT." People be damned, Kurt threw his arms around Blaine's neck and hugged the shorter boy tightly to him. "I love it, I love you." He pulled back and brought the ring up to his face. "Put it on me." He held the box out to Blaine.
"Okay," Blaine said. Carefully Blaine took the ring out of the box and Kurt held up his left hand. "It's just a promise ring, Kurt." Blaine teased. Kurt rolled his eyes and let out a laugh.
"I know, just… Blaine."
"Okay, okay." Blaine took Kurt's hand and slid the ring on his third finger. "I promise I'll love you forever."
"I accept." Kurt's heart felt so light. "And I promise the same."
Blaine's face lit up like a Christmas tree, Kurt felt pride settle in his bones for this wonderful boy.
For the rest of the day Blaine felt the slightly overbearing urge to nuzzle into Kurt's side like a cat. He just wanted to be touching the other boy all the time, especially Kurt's left hand, he loved even LOOKING at the ring there. He'd made it so it didn't look like an engagement ring but a fashion ring instead. He hadn't been able to take the idea of Kurt wearing something that LOOKED like an engagement ring, but WASN'T.
Still, he wanted to just slide up to Kurt, wrap an arm around the boy, and take his hand so he could idly run his thumb over it as they went through the day together attached at the hip. He wanted to put his face in Kurt's neck and just SMELL him.
He realized halfway through glee, as he was trying his best to do those things subtly, that it was kind of obsessive and a little bit possessive. Promptly he scooted his chair away half an inch and didn't put into motion his 'yawn and stretch' plan. He still held Kurt's hand; it would have to be enough. He didn't want to be overbearing.
Ten minutes later Kurt pulled his hand from Blaine's and stretched. Blaine's stomach fluttered when Kurt's arm fell across his shoulders on its way down. More than a little pleased Blaine scooted close again, right into Kurt's side. It felt good to be so close to Kurt.
They went to Blaine's house after school and cuddled on Blaine's bed for a few minutes before they had to force themselves up to do homework and practice their routine for glee. They'd be filming the next day and they needed everything down.
Blaine's room proved too small for the dance routine Artie and Mike had choreographed for them so they traveled downstairs and set up in the living room. Blaine's mom came home halfway through their second run through.
"Don't you guys usually just walk around each other in circles?" she asked, blinking tiredly at them.
"Oh, this is for the TV spot," Blaine answered.
Kurt cocked his head. They DID usually just walk around each other in circles didn't they?
"Are you staying for dinner, Kurt?"
"If I'm invited…" Kurt felt the familiar awkwardness settle in his stomach. Blaine's parents had a very different way of dealing with their gay son than Kurt's dad. Where Burt jumped through hoops to make Kurt and Blaine feel no different from Finn and Rachel, Blaine's parents still seemed to be having a hard time adjusting. They mostly just ignored them when Kurt was over, but at least they were calling Kurt by his name now.
"We're having leftovers; you're welcome to anything in the fridge boys." She rubbed a hand through her hair, effectively ruining it for the day, and turned into the kitchen. "Dinner's at seven."
"Okay, mom." Blaine turned to Kurt with the same sheepish look he always gave Kurt when his parents were involved and shrugged.
"She's calling me Kurt now, last month I was still Kris." Kurt offered his own shrug. "It's getting better."
"I guess." Blaine sighed. "One more run through and then we'll run lines in my room?"
"Sounds good."
AN: The Kris thing is because I can't help myself. :D
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