"Everyone is treating me like I'm a fragile bit of glass," Jeff complained, even before Kurt had fully reached him.

He didn't answer immediately. It was the second day of the new school term, and though he and the blonde had talked frequently since his...breakdown, it had been the first time since then that they had met in person, given that Kurt had had to miss the first day do to a few appointments. He had been a bit worried; Jeff had pointedly avoided any mention of his day when Kurt had called him the previous night, instead peppering him with questions about the new regime for his physical therapy for the upcoming few months.

Seeing Jeff like this was painful. He just looked wrong, and, when they were close enough, Kurt allowed his bag to fall from his shoulder as he extended his arm. Jeff, thankfully moved into the embrace, and Kurt, to the best of his ability, held him tight against them, breathing in that slightly fruity scent of Jeff's shampoo and the solidness of his form.

"I'm glad you're here," he murmured, squeezing a bit tighter when Jeff rubbed his back.

"I'm glad you're here too," he answered, pulling back enough so their eyes could meet.

Kurt sought to understand the emotions in his eyes. There was fatigue there, a deeply rooted tiredness that Kurt deduced had nothing to do with physical discomfort but rather a weariness of life. He could see hurt and pain there, alongside a smidgen of happiness that he hoped his presence was generating. Jeff broke the gaze but Kurt's lips twitched when he kissed his cheek before pulling back, reaching down to pick up his bag.

"Trent's not here?" he asked, eyes looking around for their tall, burly friend.

"Probably giving us some alone time," Jeff mused with a shrug. "Now Kurtsie, we've got to come up with some sort of contingency plan here."

Kurt allowed Jeff to wrap his arm around his waist and lead them into the building, the weather chasing them indoors. Thankfully though, the earliness of the morning left the recreation room largely empty, and while Kurt indeed saw that people's eyes followed them, he could detect nothing but curiosity and concern. At the end of the day, the school population really did consider each other family, and if one person was not okay, everyone looked out and after them. It was both annoying and heart-warming at times, and so, Kurt could sympathise with Jeff's frustration. Neither spoke until they had claimed a small table, Kurt amusedly allowing Jeff to make them each a cup of hot chocolate that they sipped on in easy silence.

Eventually their cups emptied, and a lot of the students cleared from the room, heading for class. Kurt and Jeff started the day with a study period, and though, technically they were supposed to report to the library, experience had long shown that the teachers were pretty lax about that fact. As long as they kept opened books on the table, any wandering teacher would leave them be.

"Blaine sent a few things for you," Kurt told him, "they're in my car. I was thinking we could head out for food after school and you could bring them back here after."

"Sounds good," Jeff answered. "What did he get me?"

"Bags of chocolate, the latest Percy Jackson book and a few new games for your PS3."

"Is he trying to get on the Jeff Train as well? I've never considered polyamory..."

"You wish Sterling." They laughed for a moment. "We're going to have a busy term, you and I."

"A terribly busy one," he agreed. "I wonder which one of us is going to have the most therapy sessions this year. We should start a tally. Winner gets a lap dance."

Kurt snorted. "I am completely ignoring that statement. Did you finish all of your safety college applications?"

"I have a few left to do," he responded with a shrug. "You?"

"I've been procrastinating on the Ohio State one. I don't want to put that out into the universe at all, but..."

"But?"

"I haven't told Blaine this, but...my therapist thinks I should consider going there part time or else deferring New York for the year."

"Why?"

"She thinks if I can put all of my energy into therapy I may see quicker results."

"Please tell me you are not seriously considering this? You need to get the hell out of Dodge, Kurt."

"I know that. I want that. I have to admit though, the possibility of healing faster is appealing."

"She's probably just trying to keep your business," Jeff groused, crossing his arms. "Family excluding, what does Ohio have left to offer you once you've graduated? Finn's applying to New York schools as well right?"

"A few," Kurt said, "but I think he was doing that just to satisfy Rachel."

"He'd come for you though."

"I know that." Kurt sighed. "Look, I'm pretty certain once I get accepted into a school I'm heading to New York. I just don't want Blaine to know about it, because he may decide it's for the best. And now that I've shared a deep, personal secret that you are not to breathe a word of to anyone, I think it's time you return the favour."

"You're crafty!" Jeff hissed, and Kurt shrugged a shoulder coyly.

"Come on now Sterling. I share, you share."

Jeff perked up slightly. "Are we really doing this?"

Kurt's suspicions were immediately aroused and he was pretty certain that he would pay for this game of his, but if it got his friend to talking...it would be worth it hopefully. "Yes, I swear. Your secret?"

"Despite what Nick thinks, I've really stopped cutting. I haven't done it in over a year."

"That's good."

"My turn. Did you and Blaine do the dirty?"

Kurt could feel his face heating up. The Cheshire grin on Jeff's face said it all; he would make this conversation equally awkward for the both of them.

"Come on Kurtsie, quid pro quid. How was the horizontal tango?"

"There was no dancing," Kurt admitted, wondering if his face could darken further, "everything remained above our respective northern borders."

"Boo," Jeff complained, "what are you guys waiting for? Your wedding night?"

"I do believe it's your turn."

"Avoidance huh? Fine. Remind me to give you the talk one day. I'm on anti-depressants now. The same kind you have for your really bad days, which I suppose is my every day. Medicine buddies have now been added to our titles," he finished with an attempt at cheer.

"We aren't really in any rush to have sex. I'm don't think I'm ready for that yet, and I really think Blaine has some left over issues with Priscilla he's still working his way through."

"You really should have punched that bitch."

"I wish I did."

"Well hopefully whenever you two do it, hopefully it's magical. My first time wasn't."

"You've had sex before?" Kurt asked, slightly incredulous.

Jeff chuckled at that. "Please don't tell me you're firmly in the no pre-relationship sex camp?"

"I'm not," he admitted, "once it's safe and consensual do what you want. I'm just a bit surprised."

"It was the summer before high school and one of the maintenance guys had brought his son for the day. Grandma's pretty cool about that, and I was bored so we hung out and well, by the end of the day I was legs up in the air."

"Jeff," Kurt groaned, at his crassness.

"Don't worry, he was over the couch after. Equal opportunity you know."

"Let's end this discussion," Kurt requested, suiting action to word by pointedly turning his attention to his textbook. "Mrs. Sanders is probably going to unleash a pop-quiz on us. Let's go through some equations."

"You are very much avoiding this conversation, but fine Kurtsie, let's not disturb your delicate senses any further...for now."

Finn was having a pretty good day by his standards. The football league had announced the divisions for the quarter finals and they were actually up against teams they stood a chance of beating. Glee practice over lunch had been fun as well. Rachel for some reason had skipped practice and Mr. Shue had been preoccupied with something so that the practice had just degenerated into a jam session which was always good. And now, freshly showered, he was off to meet his mom at Breadstix for a mother-son afternoon of fun.

Well it had been going well, he amended, as he saw a tiny brunette standing in front of the pickup he and Burt had spent a considerable part of the summer putting together for him.

"What do you want Rachel?" he asked without preamble as soon as he was within hearing.

He had to admit, what Kurt had reported to him had hurt...hurt a lot, especially when he considered that he had been willing to do anything for the girl in front of him. But deep inside, he had known it, knew that that was the person she was. He just hadn't wanted to see it. But, with Kurt's relay of her words ringing in his ears, Finn had firmly forced his love for her aside, and, indeed, had vowed against forming any new relationships for the time he had left in high school. He had known it for a while now. He was over all the petty drama that came along with high school and the people that went along with it.

"Finn," she began, nodding her head at him, "now I know we have had our differences recently, but I think that this is too important."

"If this is about Glee club you can tell it to everyone tomorrow," he stated, and moved to walk around her, mentally sighing when she stepped into his way. "I'm serious Rachel. The last thing I need right now is Santana accusing us of plotting to take over the glee club again."

"Santana is just jealous of the fact that I am vocally superior to her in every way and that we complement each other perfectly. Such chemistry as ours cannot be replicated on stage by anyone else and she should just admit and acknowledge it."

Finn took a deep breath, asking himself for patience. "What do you want?"

"You're going to Kurt's little acapella show this weekend aren't you?"

"Obviously. It's important to him."

"And," she continued, as if he hadn't spoken, "since he's one of their leaders I am correct in assuming he has a key vocal role in the performance?"

"What are you getting at?" he asked, suspicious.

"Answer me."

"You answer me."

"I will take your reluctance as a yes. I want you to record the performance when you go. Give it to me Monday."

"What the hell for?" he demanded, patience running thin now. "If you're asking me to spy on Kurt the answer is hell no, Rachel. I can't believe you're even asking this."

Disgusted, he moved to pass her, this time determined to lift her out of the way if needed.

"I'm not asking you to spy," she stated, talking quickly as he unlocked the door to the vehicle. "I'm quite knowledgeable of Kurt's vocal quality and it is no real threat to me. I want it to add to the application I'm filling out for him."

"What?" Finn inquired, staring at her in confusion, "what application?"

Rachel shot him a triumphant look. "Kurt is clearly too delusioned with Blaine to realise that he is wasting his potential. I therefore am going to apply to NYADA on his behalf. A copy of his performance should be enough to make them curious about him and then they'll convince him that he needs to be there with me."

Finn stared at her for a long moment not even sure where to begin. "Kurt is going to go to New York University with Blaine as he has planned."

"Kurt is better than being some menial journalist!"

"And who are you to decide that?" Finn snapped. "Are you even doing this for Kurt or have you finally realised that you've burned nearly all the bridges you have and are trying to trap him to you? Do you think he would be grateful to you if you do this? Which, by the way, you are not going to do if you know what's good for you. Stop meddling in people's lives Rachel, and do what you're best at. Focus only on you."

With that, Finn got into the vehicle, slamming the door shut. Thankfully Rachel had the sense to move aside. Fuming, Finn drove away. If he had looked back at her he would have caught the look of frustration underlying with determination on her face.