Kurt Hummel's life wasn't exactly what he hoped it would be. Well, to be quite fair, it was far from it.

His life sucked.

Well, at least he had glee club. And Mercedes. He still wasn't sure if he should consider Rachel a friend, since he still wanted to shove a sock down her throat every single time she opened her mouth to say something completely oblivious. Regionals was coming up too, which made her go even more obnoxious than she already was. Well, he had to admit, the complete horror in Finn's eyes every now and then, when she started one of her rants against some if not all of the glee club members (which usually consisted of bulging eyes, dramatic hand gestures, shrill voice peaks and insults which Kurt not even knew that they existed) was quite enjoyable.

But, other than that, nothing was really able to make Kurt Hummel smile. At least for now.

Chapter 4

Sit With Me

Still in a rush from his "date" with Blaine, Kurt rushed upstairs to his bedroom immediately after coming home. Since his dad wasn't home yet, and he didn't mind Carole overhearing, he decided to call Mercedes, instead of texting her.

'boo!' Mercedes picked up almost directly. 'tell me all about him!'

'oh, 'cedes,' Kurt sighed, before starting his ramble. 'he is truly amazing. He loves New York. He's so great to talk to. Our conversation didn't fall silent for a single second. And he is such a gentleman. His voice sounds like honey tastes, soft and sweet, and he has a great fashion sense. It's.. he's like everything I've ever dreamed of. And god, those eyes, I could drown in them, I swear. They're so much better when you're up close, and..

'woah sweetie, calm your booty,' Mercedes laughed on the other side of the connection. 'you're rambling, I can't figure out what the heck you're saying.'

'sorry, it's just..' Kurt sighed. 'I'm so happy I've finally found someone with whom I've actually got a shot. He's like my missing puzzle piece, and were not even together nor officially dating, it's all flirting around. And I've only known him for a day or so. But he's just so.. perfect.'

'no need to apologize,' Mercedes said. 'I'm so happy for you, Kurt.'

'now.. I just have to wait until he texts me again,' Kurt heard the front door of his house open and close. 'I gotta go. Dad's home. I'll see you tomorrow.'

'well hunny, I'm sure you won't have to wait long until he texts you,' Mercedes chuckled lovingly. 'I'll see you tomorrow, Kurt. Take care.'

Within just half an hour, it turned out Mercedes had been right. Kurt got distracted from his homework by the buzzing of his phone.

'Hey Kurt, since you happen to be so smart, could you help me with math? -B'

'smooth, Anderson,' Kurt smirked. 'slipping in another compliment while you're at it.'

'Well, I'm not that much of a genius, especially not with math. But since it's you, I'll see what I can do. -K'

'Okay. How much is 7 divided by 2 and that number quadrupled? -B'

'Are you that bad at math? -K'

'Just answer. -B'

'14. -K'

'And what month is it the month after this month? -B'

'Uhm.. November? Why are you asking me this? -K'

'Sssh, don't ask. Well, actually, do ask. Makes it easier to answer. -B'

'I just did, "sharpie". What's on your mind, Anderson? -K'

'Would mr. Hummel like to come and view a performance of the Warblers on november 14? We're performing at the mall in Westerville. -B'

Kurt grinned. This Blaine guy was so simple it was complicated and also the other way around.

'Couldn't you have asked that straight away? Ofcourse! I'd love to! -K'

'Nope, I couldn't. But that's great! I'll make sure they keep a seat open for you. If we're planning stuff anyway now, when are we meeting up again? -B'

Kurt read that text a few times before answering.

'I'll only "meet up" with you on one condition. -K'

'And what's that condition? -B'

'We call it a date. And I'll pay for whatever we're going to do. -K'

'Those are two conditions, cheater. -B'

'Okay, okay, your way. The first one is the most important anyway, so we'll keep it to that, because you apparently love the thought of emptying your pockets to woo me. -K'

'Well, I agree to that condition. It's a date. And I'll keep silent about the last comment ;) -B'

Kurt squealed over the last text and dropped himself on his bed.

'But. -B'

'Did you just waste a text on one word? And "but" what? -K'

'I don't do energy-efficient texting ;). I get to pick where we're going. And I'm not telling you until we get there. -B'

'Oh god, I must be crazy to agree to this. Okay, that's a deal. You get to pick the place. -K'

'how's this Sunday? 5.30 PM? -B'

'5.30 PM is great. I'm looking forward to seeing you again, I really loved it this afternoon. -K'

'Me too, I loved it too. -B'

'oh, and next time when you need help with "math", feel free to ask ;). -K'

'oh, that won't be a problem ;). So what's the idea? Should I come and pick you up at your house? -B'

'that would be good. It's the second left turn after the Lima Bean, and it's the first house on the left, behind the big Oak tree. -K'

'I should be able to find that. If I don't you'll find out soon enough. See you on Sunday! -B'

The next morning Kurt went to school with renewed body language. Instead of the slouchy, slightly bent over and bored charisma, his body now expressed something new. A small, genuine but still a little cautious smile played around his dusk rose lips, he took bigger steps and held his head up, instead of looking at his shoes, avoiding eye contact with practically everything. He'd crack a smile every now and then to members of the glee club. It must have helped that morning, because he didn't even see one dumpster from the inside. Victory.

'hey, you.' Kurt smiled at Mercedes, leaning against the locker next to hers.

'well, you sure look confident today,' Mercedes grinned. 'this Blaine guy is really getting to you, huh?'

'oh, Mercedes,' Kurt rolled his eyes playfully and sighed. 'if you only knew.'

The rest of the week went by terribly, terribly slowly. The hours crept away second by second and time never in his life had Kurt wished so hard for time to not exist. Or to at least be able to skip it. Until it was finally Sunday.

Kurt heard Blaine's car pull up into their driveway.

'dad, I'm leaving!' he opened the front door.

'where are you going?' Burt stuck his head around the corner, into the hallway.

'I'm meeting Blaine. With Blaine.'

'with Blaine? Who's Blaine?'

'I met him at regionals last week,' Kurt smiled. 'he's the first guy who seems to appreciate my girly ways.'

'you're not girly, you're yourself, as you should be, okay?' Burt patted his son on the shoulder. 'now, he's just a friend. Right?'

Kurt tried as hard as possible not to roll his eyes. 'yes, dad,' Kurt smiled. 'he's just a friend.'

'good,' Burt turned around and made his way back into the living room. 'have fun!' he called back.

Kurt smiled and closed the door. 'that won't be a problem.'

Kurt opened the passenger door of Blaine's car and got in.

'hey.' Blaine's soft voice made Kurt's heart flutter in his chest. The two embrace over two steaming cups of coffee from the Lima Bean. Kurt pointed at the largest one. 'is that..'

'a non fat mocha, yes,' Blaine chuckled quietly at Kurt's pleasantly surprised expression. 'I'm good at memorizing stuff.'

'I'm impressed,' and Kurt truly was. 'most people usually tend to overlook me.'

'well, it so happens to be,' Blaine smiled up at Kurt while starting his car, batting his eyelashes once or twice. 'I'm not like most people.'

Kurt was melting so bad from the inside that he almost flubbered off of the passenger seat. 'where are we going?'

Blaine started backing up onto the road and shifted into first gear. 'someplace nice,' Blaine smiled. 'you'll see when we get there.'

They drove for around half an hour, talking what seemed like an endless conversation, slowly getting to know each other better. During that time Kurt got even more amazed by Blaine's personality, and he hoped, he almost prayed, it was vice cerse. Kurt saw something great in this guy, and he saw an opportunity he wasn't willing and planning to let go. With Blaine, whom he barely even knew, everything just felt so natural and worriless. And Kurt was optimistic about everything. Maybe it was just the pink cloud that he took place on, but hey, what the hell. If it already felt like this on their second meet-up and first 'date', how would it feel like further into their intercommunion?

'well,' Blaine stopped the car in front of a forest that was so idealistic autumn colored that Kurt legitimately started to wonder if it was enchanted. 'we're here.'

Kurt's mouth fell open at the sight of it all. This was by definition the most beautiful place he had ever seen.

'Blaine, w..how did you find this place?' Kurt gaped at the younger boy's face in awe, who's eyes started twinkling with just a little delight.

'it was a tip from my brother when he was in town,' Blaine sighed. 'he's.. usually pretty impassive about this sort of stuff, but when he's in town, we go here. Just to catch up with each other. But.. since he's practically never here, I'd love to give a new meaning to this place, and I just thought this would be the perfect opportunity. This can be our place to catch up in the future.'

'why is he never here?'

'too busy with his job,' Blaine pressed his lips together in a firm line. 'also, he kind of lives on the other side of the country.'

'I'm so sorry to hear that.' Kurt put a hand on Blaine's shoulder. At first he wanted to aim for his upper leg, but he figured it was way too soon for that, though he meant absolutely nothing with it.

'it's okay, you learn to cope with it over time.'

'I know how terrible it is to.. lose a family member that stands so close to your heart,' Kurt swallowed dryly. 'I know it's a bit different, but.. my mom died when I was eight. My dad, the best American-guy stereotype you've probably ever seen, was left to raise his only and also gay son on his own.'

'well, if I may say so, he's done a pretty good job on the raising part,' Blaine smiled bashfully. 'and I'm so, so sorry to hear about your mother.'

'thanks. But,' Kurt smacked his hands on his own upper legs. 'let's stop pitying each other and go outside. It's a good thing that I decided not to put on my new pair of Doc Martens.'

As they walked together through the "enchanted" forest the sun slowly began to set. They talked about New York, Broadway. How they imagined what life would be like in the big city. About music, glee club and show choir, their favorite movies and television series.

Kurt was still vibrantly rambling about the newest edition of Vogue Magazine when Blaine stopped walking.

'why are you stopping?' Kurt expressed a questioning look. Blaine nodded toward something.

When Kurt gazed into the direction the shorter boy had nodded in, he didn't even know what to say. In front of him was spread out a beautiful large lake with an almost inanimate, crystal clear surface, colored orange by the reflection of the setting sun. A gentle breeze made the trees whiste softly. Leaves let loose of their branches and fell upon the lake, creating little circular rimples on the water's surface.

'Blaine, this is amazing.' Kurt looked at a flock of birds emerging and ascending from the tree tops, leaving black silhouettes against the sunset. Distant chirping could be heard and the birds danced with eachother, flying to the other side of the lake.

A small pier stuck out a little over the lake. It had a small bench on the end of it. Blaine took Kurt by the arm and sat him down.

'doesn't this make you feel totally relaxed?'

'it does,' Kurt closed his eyes and leaned back, feeling Blaine's soft gaze on his face. He tried not to smile because of it, because it felt good. 'thanks for taking me here. I needed it.'

'figured so,' Blaine sighed. 'I know how tough normal schools can be. Been there.'

'ssssh, not now,' Kurt shushed him. 'just.. sit here for a while and enjoy the silence with me?'

'okay,' Blaine smiled fondly. 'okay.'