Three weeks later, Kurt sat on Blaine's couch flipping through the latest issue of Vogue that had been sitting on Blaine's coffee table. "Would you hurry up?" he shouted loud enough to be heard through Blaine's bedroom door.

Blaine opened the door immediately and glared at Kurt. "Are you kidding me?" he exclaimed.

Kurt tried to swallow, but his mouth was bone dry. Blaine was dressed in tight jeans slung low enough on his hips to show the top of his "V"...and nothing else. He and Blaine were just friends, and Kurt had come to terms with that completely as soon as he'd accepted Blaine's whoring as a deeply ingrained character trait that wasn't likely to go away any time soon.

Still, Blaine was gorgeous, and knowing that he and Blaine were never going to be together didn't stop Kurt from looking. And right now, he was looking at Blaine's immaculate chest with a light smattering of chest hair and only just-defined abs.

"What?" Kurt asked, tearing his eyes away from Blaine's body. He had no idea what Blaine asked.

Blaine pulled the shirt he had been holding that Kurt hadn't noticed over his head. "I cannot believe you are rushing me right now. You just spent the last hour hogging the bathroom. I've been in the shower for fifteen minutes and you're rushing me. Un. Be. Lievable."

It was Friday, and the boys were meeting Rachel and some mutual friends at Callbacks, the piano bar near campus frequented by students. They had both come back to Blaine's after class to get ready so Kurt wouldn't have to go all the way to Brooklyn and then come back uptown.

"You were the one who insisted I go first," Kurt shot back.

"To be polite!" Kurt could see a smile tugging at the corners of Blaine's mouth. "I didn't know you were going to be in there until the next ice age."

Kurt made a show of checking his wrist though he wasn't wearing a watch. "You're wasting time," he sing-songed.

Blaine groaned and Kurt lifted the magazine to cover his snicker. Unfortunately, it also covered his vision, so he never saw the pillow fly through the air until it hit him dead in the face. "Hey!" Kurt shouted. "That's a hate crime!"

"Oh, bite me," Blaine retorted.

When they got to Callbacks – mind you, twenty minutes later than they said they would be, which both boys adamantly blamed on the other the entire way there – everything was already in full swing. A very talented girl was singing a Katy Perry song on the stage, and there were people all around, drinking and laughing.

Kurt spotted Rachel and the group quickly, and the boys made their way across the crowded room. When they reached the table, everyone exchanged warm greetings. The boys removed their coats and placed them on the backs of their chairs, and Kurt took a seat as next to Rachel as Blaine said, "I'm going to get us some drinks."

Kurt nodded and smiled at Blaine. He turned to see Rachel staring at him with a raised eyebrow. "What?" Kurt asked.

"Nothing," she replied, shaking her head. "You two just look awfully cozy is all." Kurt shot a cursory glance at everyone else at their table. They were caught up in a story that Alec – this guy Rachel had been slightly crushing on – was telling.

Kurt sighed. "Rachel, please do not start this again. You know we're just friends. I wish you would leave it alone."

"Fine, Kurt. I just think you are the only person you're fooling. I haven't seen you this happy since...well, ever, actually. You two are clearly perfect for each other." She took a sip of her drink, a virgin amaretto sour.

Kurt turned his head to locate Blaine, partly to make sure he was okay but mostly to make sure he wouldn't walk up on them talking about him. He was leaning on the bar, waiting for the bartender to make their drinks. He turned back to Rachel and leaned a little closer to her so he could lower his voice and still be heard. "I've only known him for a few weeks and he's already one of the best friends I've ever had. It sounds cliché, but I wouldn't want to jeopardize that. Especially considering Blaine's penchant for...promiscuity."

Kurt tried to keep the note of sadness out of his voice, but he knew Rachel could detect it. Her eyes softened. "Kurt...he would be different with you. You know he would be different with you. He would never..."

"Yeah, I know, because it's never going to happen," Kurt said in a clipped tone.

Just then Blaine walked up behind them with their drinks. He settled into the empty seat next to Kurt and sat his drink down in front of him. Kurt thanked him and took a sip of his Shirley Temple with extra cherries. Blaine himself sipped on a soda.

"Why are we looking so serious?" he whispered playfully to Kurt and Rachel.

Kurt and Rachel shared a brief look before Kurt answered, "Just trying to decide if we're going to perform."

"Well, what's the verdict?" Blaine asked.

"Um, I don't think I'm going to tonight," Rachel replied.

"And how about you?" Blaine asked Kurt.

Kurt was fingering a cherry stem on his drink. He pulled a cherry out and popped it in his mouth. The flavor exploded on his tongue and he nearly moaned. He really loved cherries. He glanced at Blaine whose eyes were trained on Kurt's mouth. Kurt flushed. "Hmm? Oh, yeah, no, me neither."

Blaine's eyes shot up to Kurt's and then he averted his gaze. He took a sip of his drink. "C'mon, Kurt. You've never sung here before. It's a rite of passage. Tell him, Rachel."

"Boy speaks the truth. You haven't really been to NYADA until you've sung at Callbacks."

Kurt rolled his eyes. "So I've heard. I don't have anything prepared. And I haven't warmed up."

"Ugh, Kurt, Jesus." Blaine said. "You're not gonna be graded. It's just for fun." Kurt shook his head. "C'mon, pleeeease?" Blaine stood up and pulled on Kurt's arm. "We can sing a duet. It will be practice for our assignment next week."

"That is definitely not ready to be sung in public," Kurt said. Kurt knew that Blaine knew he was breaking down Kurt's defenses, but he continued to resist anyway.

"Not the song we chose, just something silly. C'mon, get up."

"Yeah, go Kurt. Go sing," said Kelsey, a friend of Rachel's from NYADA.

"C'mon, Kurt," Alec chimed in. Kurt hadn't realized everyone else had been listening in on their discussion. He groaned but rose to stand with Blaine.

"Yes!" Blaine exclaimed, a huge smile on his face. Everyone cheered and laughed.

"This was not you winning!" Kurt said to Blaine. "I succumbed to peer pressure. Not you."

"Whatever." Blaine laughed, pulling on Kurt's arm. When they got to the stage, Blaine went up to Pascal, the olive-skinned piano player to tell him which song they would be singing. Kurt stood silently, looking around at all the faces. He tried to relax, but he really didn't like performing unprepared.

Blaine walked back over to him, handing him the microphone in his left hand and keeping the one in his right for himself.

"So, what are we singing?" Kurt asked, feigning nonchalance.

"You'll see," Blaine replied.

Kurt's eyes nearly bugged out of his head. "You're not even going to –"

"Trust me, you know it." Blaine nodded to Pascal and then knocked on his microphone three times. Pascal began to play. When Kurt heard the opening notes for "Light My Candle" from Rent, Kurt's jaw dropped. He could not believe Blaine had picked that song. Blaine knew Kurt knew all the words because they'd watched Rent together a few days before, and Kurt had delightfully sang along to Mimi's part, exclaiming this was his favorite song from the musical. Kurt was deeply regretting that revelation now.

"Blaine!" he hissed, covering his microphone. It was too late to back out, though. Rachel and their group had already started cheering, and almost everyone was paying attention now that they had heard the opening of a song that they all knew. Blaine just winked at Kurt and started singing.

Blaine:
What'd you forget?

There was no way this song was going to work without full commitment from Kurt, and he couldn't bear to completely ruin it, especially not in front of so many students from NYADA. Though his nerves increased about a billion percent, the performer in Kurt kicked in, and he was also secretly thrilled to be singing a song he loved so much.

Kurt:
Got a light?

Blaine:
I know you? – You're –
You're shivering

Blaine, always the expert performer, executed his part flawlessly. It gave Kurt motivation to perfect his performance as well.

Kurt:
It's nothing
They turned off my heat
And I'm just a little
Weak on my feet
Would you light my candle?

The crowd cheered when Kurt trilled out the word "candle."

Before Kurt knew it, he really got into the song, acting out his part with the drama, sass, and tiny bit of naughtiness it required. He would never admit it, but he was also using the song as a shameless excuse to flirt with Blaine.

Kurt:

What are you staring at?

Blaine:
Nothing
Your hair in the moonlight
You look familiar

Kurt feigned a swoon. Blaine steadied Kurt with his free hand.

Blaine:

Can you make it?

Kurt:
Just haven't eaten much today
At least the room stopped spinning.
Anyway. What?

Blaine:
Nothing
Your smile reminded me of –

Kurt:
I always remind people of – who is she?

Blaine:
She died. Her name was April

Kurt:
It's out again
Sorry about your friend
Would you light my candle?

Blaine:

Well –

Kurt:
Yeah. Ow!

Kurt jerked his hand to his mouth as if it had been burnt.

Blaine:
Oh, the wax – it's –

Kurt:
Dripping! I like it between my –

Blaine:
Fingers! I figured...
Oh, well. Goodnight.

Kurt turned as if to leave, then waited a few beats and knocked on his microphone three times. He turned back to face Blaine and the audience.

Blaine:

It blew out again?

Kurt:
No, I think that I dropped my stash

Kurt pretended to check his pockets.

Blaine:
I know I've seen you out and about
When I used to go out
Your candle's out

Kurt:
I'm illin' –
I had it when I walked in the door
It was pure –
Is it on the floor?

Kurt turned away from Blaine and bent down like he was looking for something on the floor.

Blaine:
The floor?

Kurt:
They say I have the best ass below 14th street
Is it true?

Kurt looked over his shoulder and smiled at Blaine. He wiggled his ass slightly, and everyone laughed. Kurt even heard a few whistles.

Blaine:
What?

Kurt:
You're staring again.

Kurt straightened up and Blaine affected discomfort at having been caught staring.

Blaine:
Oh no.
I mean you do – have a nice –
I mean – You look familiar

Kurt:
Like your dead girlfriend?

Blaine:
Only when you smile.
But I'm sure I've seen you somewhere else –

Kurt:
Do you go to the Cat Scratch Club?
That's where I work - I dance

Blaine:
Yes!
They used to tie you up –

Kurt:
It's a living

Kurt sang the line flatly with the challenging look it called for. Blaine was smirking at him.

Blaine:
I didn't recognize you
Without the handcuffs

Kurt:
We could light the candle
Oh won't you light the candle?

Blaine:
Why don't you forget that stuff
You look like you're sixteen

Kurt:
I'm nineteen – but I'm old for my age
I'm just born to be bad

Blaine:
I once was born to be bad
I used to shiver like that

Kurt:
I have no heat – I told you

Blaine:
I used to sweat

Kurt:
I got a cold

Blaine:
Uh huh
I used to be a junkie

Kurt:
But now and then I like to –

Blaine:
Uh huh

Kurt:
Feel good

Blaine:
Here it – um –

Blaine bent down and pretended to pick something up. He then shoved his hand in his back pocket.

Kurt:
What's that?

Blaine:
It's a candy bar wrapper

Kurt:
We could light the candle
What'd you do with my candle?

Blaine:
That was my last match

Kurt:
Our eyes'll adjust, thank God for the moon

Blaine:
Maybe it's not the moon at all
I hear Spike Lee's shooting down the street

Kurt:
Bah humbug

Blaine had pointed while singing his last line. Kurt reached out and grabbed his hand with the hand he wasn't holding his microphone with. He put Blaine's hand palm up and traced some of his fingers.

Kurt:

Bah humbug

Blaine:
Cold hands

Kurt:
Yours too.
Big. Like my father's

Using the hand he was holding, Kurt yanked Blaine close to him.

Kurt:

You wanna dance?

Blaine:
With you?

Kurt pulled away, twirling himself with Blaine's hand.

Kurt:
No – with my father

Blaine:
I'm Roger

Still holding Blaine's hand, he pulled himself close again, resting his head on Blaine's shoulder. The boys sway slightly as Kurt trailed his hand down Blaine's side and into his back pocket.

Kurt:
They call me
They call me

Mimi

As Pascal played the last note, Kurt put his hand on Blaine's shoulder and pushed him away. He posed and shook his imaginary "stash" above his head. Everyone in the entire bar applauded, whistling and cheering. Kurt collapsed into a fit of giggles, giving Blaine a hug.

The boys both turned off their microphones and gave them to Pascal, thanking him profusely for playing for them. They made their way back to the table. Rachel jumped up and hugged them both. "Oh my god!" she exclaimed. "You guys were amazing!"

Everyone else at the table was making similar exclamations. Blaine and Kurt both just smiled and thanked them as they took their seats. The others at the table went back to their conversations. Blaine just sat there watching Kurt with the biggest, shittiest smile on his face. Kurt pretended not to notice, taking a sip of his drink.

Rachel was staring at both of them, trying to hide her smirk behind her drink.

"Well?" Blaine asked after he realized Kurt wasn't going to acknowledge him.

"'Well,' what?" Kurt replied, trying to keep the grin off his face.

"Aren't you going to say thank you?" he asked.

"For what?" Kurt shot back. "For not telling me which song we were doing before just springing it on me, or for making me act out being a junkie stripper in front of a hundred people?"

Not bursting out laughing at the indignant look on Blaine's face was probably the hardest thing Kurt had ever had to do. "Kurt! First of all, not telling you was payback for rushing me earlier. And secondly, you enjoyed every second of that."

Kurt and Rachel both simultaneously burst into laughter. Kurt was laughing so hard he was nearly crying. When Kurt had finally composed himself, he looked at Blaine and said very sincerely, "Thank you, Blaine."

"You are very welcome," Blaine replied.

Almost three hours later, Blaine found himself talking shop with Kelsey, a junior Rachel met at the winter showcase last year. She was really talented, and she and Blaine were discussing guitars.

"No, I completely disagree. Martins just have a fuller, richer sound," Kelsey said.

"If by 'richer' you mean muddied and antiquated. Taylors have much more variability and clarity. You can't play a Taylor Swift song on a Martin," Blaine said.

"Well, you can't play Morrissey on a Taylor," she shot back.

"Yes, you can. Hence the variability."

"He is insufferable," Kelsey said, looking over Blaine's shoulder.

Blaine turned to see Kurt smiling at both of them. "Believe me, I know." Blaine scrunched his nose up at Kurt. "So, I hate to break up this love fest, but I think Rachel and I are about to head out," Kurt said to Blaine.

"Already? It's only like ten o'clock," Blaine replied.

"It's eleven, and I've got to get home before I turn into a pumpkin at midnight. Plus, you know me and Rachel. We've got an early morning tomorrow, what with all the knitting and Bingo playing."

Blaine chuckled. "Alright, fine. I guess I'm going to head out, too, then. I'll walk you guys out," he said.

Both boys stood up and removed their coats from their chairs. "Are you going home?" Kurt asked. His tone was conversational, but Blaine detected something else there. He couldn't quite figure out what it was, though. Hope? Hope that the answer would be "yes"?

Kurt put on his coat, but Blaine paused with one arm in his own, thinking about Kurt's question.

Blaine and Kurt hadn't talked too much about their pasts. After Blaine had told Kurt he didn't want to talk about why he'd chosen "Just a Fool" for their first assignment, they had been at an impasse when it came to sharing information about their lives. They experienced each other's emotional depth through song but didn't discuss the events behind it.

Crazy as it might sound considering how much time they spent together, they didn't really talk much about the present, either. Kurt never talked about the fact that he never went out despite being asked out by a fair share of guys, and Blaine never talked about the fact that he slept around.

Still, the boys had a silent agreement to never lie to each other. The trust that was necessary for them to truly help each other with their assignments as well as the trust they needed to keep their burgeoning friendship afloat was too new and tenuous for either of them to be anything but truthful.

So, they didn't lie to each other. But they also didn't talk about a lot of things. Blaine had to wonder why Kurt had asked him when he knew in all likelihood Blaine wasn't going home. "No, Kurt," he finally said, leveling Kurt with his eyes. "I'm not going home."

"Oh," Kurt said softly, dropping his eyes to the floor. Blaine thought he detected a hint of pink on Kurt's porcelain cheeks, but Kurt turned abruptly away from Blaine to bid farewell to everyone at the table before he could tell for sure.

Blaine leaned over and gave Kelsey a hug. He waved to everyone else, and then he, Kurt, and Rachel made their way out of the bar. "I'll hop on the subway with you guys," Blaine said. "I'm headed that way, anyway."

"Where are you going?" Rachel asked.

"A club in South Village," Blaine replied. He shot a quick glance at Kurt, but his face was completely impassive.

"Wow, sounds exciting," Rachel said, smiling.

"You guys could come with me," Blaine said.

Kurt's indifferent look was replaced with an incredulous one. Rachel laughed. "I don't think so," she said. "That's not really our kind of thing."

"Have you ever been?" Blaine asked as they descended the stairs into the terminal.

"Well, no," Rachel said.

"How do you know you won't like it unless you try it?" he retorted, quirking his eyebrow.

"I've never gone to prison, either," Kurt snapped, finally breaking his silence. "You don't always have to try something to know you won't like it."

They had made it to the platform and were standing with a few other late-night subway riders. Blaine checked the display screen. Luckily, their train was set to arrive in just a few minutes.

"It's not prison, Kurt," Blaine said. "It's a nightclub. People will be dancing, drinking, and pretty much just enjoying themselves, a concept I know you're not terribly familiar with."

The livid look on Kurt's face told Blaine he had gone too far with his comment. Kurt didn't call Blaine out on his partying and Blaine didn't call Kurt out on his prudishness – that was their unspoken agreement. And Blaine had just broken that rule. Kurt opened his mouth to let loose what was undoubtedly a biting comeback when Rachel stepped in to salvage the situation.

"Well, anyway," she said, "I couldn't go even if I wanted to. Alec and I have to rehearse for a big performance in our acting class next week."

Rachel began prattling on about the performance she and Alec had to prepare for, and for once Blaine was glad for the girl's incessant chattering. Blaine actually really liked Rachel. She was very sweet and a very close friend of Kurt's, but man, could she talk. Blaine tried to weigh in enough to appear interested, especially because Kurt was sitting on the other side of Rachel, pouting with his arms crossed completely ignoring both of them.

Finally, after what seemed like much longer than the twenty minute ride it actually was, they reached their stop. They all exited onto the platform and moved over to the side to make way for other commuters. Rachel and Kurt would have to get on another subway train to get to Brooklyn, and Blaine would exit the terminal and walk to Club Shelter.

"Alright, well, I guess this is where we part ways," Blaine said. "Unless you changed your mind?" He addressed his playful question to Rachel because Kurt still looked pretty pissed. Blaine knew his comment to Kurt was a little uncalled for, but he thought Kurt was definitely overreacting.

Rachel smiled. "I really can't. Thanks, though." She leaned in and gave Blaine a hug. "You guys really were amazing tonight."

Blaine released her and said, "Thank you, Rachel."

"And what's your excuse?" Blaine finally addressed Kurt with a challenging tone instead of the same playful one from before that he'd meant to use.

Kurt finally looked into his eyes, glaring. "I don't need an excuse. I just don't feel like going."

Blaine threw his hands up. "Fine." He turned to Rachel. "You guys be careful, okay?"

"You too," she replied. "Have a good night."

Blaine nodded and looked to Kurt one more time. When it seemed that Kurt wasn't going to say goodbye to him in any way, he gave Rachel a small wave, turned around and headed toward the exit.

What was his problem? Blaine thought.

"Okay, what is your problem?" Rachel turned to glare at Kurt as soon as Blaine was out of earshot.

"Are you serious?" Kurt asked. He crossed his arms tightly over his midsection. "He insults me and I'm the bad guy?"

"Oh, please," she replied. "Kurt, it's eleven thirty on a Friday night and we're going home so we have time to do our skin care regimen before bed. Exciting we are not."

"We're actors! Skin care is very important!" Kurt replied.

"Regardless," Rachel said, placing her hand on her hip, "you were upset with him before his comment about you not being fun. So what's the deal?"

"I don't have a 'deal.'" Kurt stared behind Rachel, looking at the other people on the platform waiting for the train to Brooklyn. There was a young teenage girl with headphones and severe bangs. She was pointedly looking away from everyone and clutching her bag close to her side. Kurt got the feeling her unease was caused by the group of guys joking and guffawing a few feet away.

He looked at the monitor on the wall and cursed internally. Their train wasn't going to get there for another twenty minutes. They must have just missed the last one.

"Kurt," Rachel said. "You obviously have a problem. I'm your best friend, so just tell me what it is."

Kurt's gaze caught Rachel's and he softened at her look of concern. "I just...I wish he didn't always have to go out all the time."

"Kurt, that doesn't make any sense," Rachel said. "You didn't seem to mind when he was out with us at Callbacks."

Kurt just raised his eyebrows at her. "Wait, wait, wait. Hold on a second. Kurt, you're not- are you jealous?" Rachel asked. Kurt's eyes dropped to the dirty terminal floor, his eyes boring into the cracks. "You are, aren't you? You think he's going to find some guy at the club and take him home, and that's what you're upset about."

"I don't think he's going to take some guy home, I know it," Kurt replied, brow furrowed. He crossed his arms tighter into his midsection.

"But, Kurt, you just said not two hours ago that –"

"I know what I said," Kurt interrupted. "I just..." He took a deep breath and decided to be completely honest with Rachel. "Just because I know we can't be together doesn't mean it doesn't bother me when he hooks up with other guys."

"Aw, Kurt." Rachel tugged on Kurt's arm until he released his grip on himself, wrapped her arm around his back and rested her head on his shoulder.

Kurt sighed. After a minute he said, "I know I'm not being fair. I'm going to have to apologize to him, aren't I?"

Rachel looked up at him, blinking. "Um, yeah."

Ten minutes later, Blaine arrived at Club Shelter. He walked up to the bouncer and shook his hand, clapping his arm with the other hand. "Hey, Jerry. How's it going, man?"

"It's all good, Blaine," Jerry answered with a smile. "You can head on in."

"Thanks," Blaine answered, heading through the front door. He heard people in line outside groaning and complaining about him skipping the line, but he didn't so much as look over his shoulder as the door closed behind him.

He and Jerry had been on good terms ever since Blaine had starting coming to Club Shelter a week after he moved to New York. It hadn't taken Blaine too long to find the best nightclub in town, even if it was on the opposite side of town from his apartment. He and the bouncer had a mutually beneficial relationship – Blaine was sure to drop some money Jerry's way every couple of weeks or so and Jerry never called Blaine out on his fake ID or made him stand in line.

After paying his cover fee, Blaine didn't stop to take stock of the crowd or the flashing bright lights. The music was so loud Blaine could feel it in his teeth. It made his head completely devoid of anything except the intoxicating beat.

He began making his way through the crowd to the bar on the opposite side of the room. Warm bodies were tightly packed on the dance floor. Blaine brushed by sweaty men in tight, brightly colored clothing as he skirted the edge of the dance floor to cross the room.

When he got to the other side, he squeezed in between a twenty-something guy and a group of girls to get to the bar. He waited for ten minutes until the bartender, a moderately attractive older guy, finally took his order.

"I'll have a rum and coke," Blaine shouted to be heard over the music.

"Make that two," Blaine heard from over his shoulder. He turned to his right and saw that the group of girls had been replaced by a rather good-looking guy. Blaine's eyes travelled slowly down the length of him, taking in his tight t-shirt and skinny jeans. He was broader and taller than Blaine, and had short dark hair. His smile was slightly goofy and he had dimples, but his eyes oozed sex appeal, especially when they were looking at Blaine like that. "It's on me," he said, laying a twenty down on the bar.

"Thanks," Blaine replied with a smile of his own. He saw the guy give Blaine the same once-over he had just given him.

"It's not free, though," the guy said.

"Oh, really?" Blaine shot back. "Well, what's it gonna cost me?"

"A dance," he replied. The bartender sat their drinks down and picked up the money. Blaine, who usually sipped his drinks, gulped down his entire rum and coke in a few giant gulps and put his empty cup down with a loud thump. The other guy smiled wryly but followed suit, drinking his entire drink in one go as well.

Blaine grabbed his hand, walking backwards into the crowd and pulling on the guy's hand, moving his body to the beat of the heady electronic music coming through the speakers. When they got near the center of the dance floor, Blaine hooked his fingers into the other guy's belt loops and pulled him flush against his body. He began to grind against the guy, moving his hips to the beat.

The guy ran his hands up Blaine's sides and then wrapped them around him, resting them on his lower back and pulling Blaine against him hard. Blaine looked up, parting his lips and bringing his arms around the guy's neck.

Blaine could already feel himself beginning to sweat. He was starting to feel slightly bubbly from the drink he'd had. The music was so loud he could feel it in his from his ears to his toes. He couldn't think with the beat connecting him so thoroughly to everyone else in the room and specifically to the guy he was pressed up against.

Make me come alive
Come on turn me on
Touch me, save my life
Come on and turn me on
I'm too young to die
Come on and turn me on

He leaned his head back and closed his eyes, relishing the feelings coursing through him. He never felt more alive than when he was anonymously dancing in a club with a random guy. A bead of sweat trailed down Blaine's neck and he felt the guy's tongue follow it. His lips then focused on Blaine's pulse point.

His eyes flew open as he moaned. His eyes focused on the other side of the dance floor. Blaine stopped cold. Holy shit! He thought. Kurt.

He saw Kurt's form receding from the dance floor, heading towards the exit. Had Kurt decided to come after all? And then he must have seen Blaine dancing with that guy and... all of the color drained from Blaine's face. He immediately took off in a run after Kurt. "Hey, wait –" the guy Blaine was dancing with called after him, but he didn't so much as spare him a glance. He was knocking into people in the crowd as he tried to make his way across the overly packed room.

When Blaine finally got to him, he grabbed Kurt's arm and shouted, "Kurt!" He turned around and Blaine immediately dropped the guy's arm. It wasn't Kurt at all. A mixture of equal parts relief and disappointment washed through Blaine. The guy looked at Blaine wide-eyed. "I'm sorry," Blaine shouted. "I thought you were someone else."

"It's okay," the guy replied. "I'm Luke!"

"Blaine!" he responded instinctively. Blaine took in the guy in front of him. From the front he didn't look much like Kurt at all. His eyes were all wrong, and his skin tone was darker. He wasn't nearly as beautiful as Kurt, but from behind Blaine had been sure Luke was his friend. They both had the same build and height and very similar hairstyles. Luke even dressed like Kurt. "Would you like to dance, Luke?" Blaine said, thinking quickly. Maybe similar to Kurt from behind was all he needed.

Luke's eyes flashed as he shot Blaine a smile. "Sure! Just let me go tell my friends!" He nodded his head towards a group of girls and guys standing near a table on the edge of the dance floor. Blaine nodded as Luke walked over to his friends. Blaine felt silly – Luke hadn't been headed towards the exit at all.

Luke came back and Blaine raised his hand out to the other boy. "Shall we?"

Luke took his hand and they both made their way to the dance floor. Blaine made sure not to head to the same spot he had just been dancing with the other guy. When they found a spot big enough for the both of them, Blaine turned to Luke, pulling the boy until he was facing away from Blaine. Both boys started moving to the beat of the music. Blaine put his hands on Luke's hips and started grinding into his ass.

Not exactly right, but close.

Two hours later, Blaine and Luke drunkenly staggered out of the cab and up to the door of Blaine's building. He was pretty sure he had left the cab drive a fifty percent tip, but he didn't care. Blaine pushed Luke against the wall next to the entrance. He crushed his mouth against the other guy's, his kiss sloppy but hungry.

He was devouring Luke, leaving him breathless. Blaine pressed himself against Luke. He was already half-hard. He couldn't remember the last time he had wanted someone this badly. He moved his mouth down to Luke's neck, nipping at his skin.

"We sh-should go...inside," Luke slurred, panting.

With a final nibble, Blaine removed his mouth from Luke's neck, grabbed his hand and pulled him inside. Tom, the middle-aged night doorman, opened the door for them. As Blaine dragged Luke across the lobby to the elevator, he shot a quick glance over his shoulder to see Tom shaking his head and looking up to the heavens. He was suppressing a smile, though. By now Tom was very used to Blaine's late-night antics.

Blaine hit the button to call the elevator then pulled Luke around and pressed him up against the closed elevator doors. He crushed his mouth against Luke's, thrusting his tongue into the other boy's mouth. Luke moaned into Blaine's mouth and Blaine took Luke's bottom lip between his teeth.

The elevator dinged and the doors slid open. The boys fell through the open door, and Luke barely caught them on the handrail along the inside of the elevator. Blaine turned his head, reaching back to press the button for the sixth floor. Luke began nibbling on Blaine's ear, and Blaine hiked Luke's leg up so it wrapped around Blaine's thighs.

Luke's mouth tasted like the shots of tequila they had had earlier, but Blaine didn't mind. He was so blissed out from all the alcohol in his system he knew he wouldn't mind much in his current state. Blaine didn't make a habit of drinking quite so much when he went out to clubs, but something about dancing with Luke just made him want to keep revisiting the bar. He found that the more he drank the easier it was to pretend he was dancing with –

The dinging of the elevator interrupted Blaine's thoughts. Luke dropped his leg and gasped for air as Blaine tugged his hand once again, pulling him down the hall and to his doorway. Luke wrapped himself around Blaine's back, breathing heavily in Blaine's ear and dipping his hand under the edge of the front of Blaine's jeans as Blaine dug in his pocket for his keys. After a few seconds, Blaine finally got the key into the lock and pushed the door open, a feat made much more difficult by his drunken state and Luke's wandering fingers.

Blaine turned his head, meeting Luke's lips once again. He reached around and pulled Luke to his front, pushing him forcefully against the wall and grabbing the sides of his face. Luke reached down and began fumbling with Blaine's belt. Blaine started walking backwards, crossing his small apartment with his lips still locked to Luke's.

After passing through his bedroom doorway, his legs finally hit the edge of his bed. He collapsed down onto it, pulling Luke along with him. Luke was straddling Blaine, and having undone his belt, was now fumbling with Blaine's button and zipper.

Finally, finally Luke reached his hand into Blaine's unclasped pants and removed his aching cock. Blaine groaned in relief into Luke's wanting mouth as he tightened his grip, stroking Blaine a few times.

Blaine rolled over, pinning Luke beneath him. He kicked off his shoes and pulled down his pants as quickly as he could. With Luke's hand massaging his cock, Blaine began to remove the other boy's pants as well.

When Luke's pants were crumpled up on the floor next to the bed, Blaine separated his mouth from Luke's to hastily yank his shirt over his head. He tossed it behind him, and then made quick work of undoing the buttons on Luke's shirt.

He thrust Luke's shirt open, wrenching his mouth from the other boy's and began kissing down his jaw to his neck. Reaching between them, Blaine grabbed Luke's leaking cock and pumped it forcefully. Luke moaned, running his hand through Blaine's unkempt curls.

Blaine released Luke, getting off of him to go to the nightstand and grab two condoms and a bottle of lube out of his bedside drawer. His heart racing, Blaine jumped back on the bed next to Luke, ripping open a condom packet and sheathing Luke's cock with it. He then continued with his mouth along the path he had begun before, kissing down Luke's chest, his abdomen, and then coming to his cock.

The taste of blueberries invaded Blaine's senses as he engulfed Luke's cock with his mouth. He bore down on Luke's cock, sucking with all his might. He knew from experience how little you could feel during oral sex with a condom. Luke wound his hands into Blaine's curls again, moaning loudly.

Blaine opened the bottle of lube, slicking up his finger. He began pressing against Luke's hole, which caused Luke to moan again, this time louder than before. Rushing, Blaine shoved hard, stretching the other boy's muscles until his finger was buried to the first knuckle. He allowed Luke only a few seconds to adjust before pumping his finger and adding another.

Searching a bit, Blaine pressed his fingers against the other boy's prostate. Luke's hips jerked wildly. Blaine's mouth was starting to ache, so he released Luke's cock with a loud pop and removed his fingers from the other boy's hole. Luke looked nearly startled at the quick change of pace, but before he could do anything Blaine grabbed him aggressively by his hips and flipped him onto his stomach.

Luke as Blaine pulled Luke's hips back, nestling his cock between the tops of Luke's ass cheeks. He opened the other condom he'd left sitting on the bed and rolled it over his cock. He slicked up his hand with lube hastily and stroked himself, spreading it.

Without further preamble, he pressed himself against Luke's hole. Blaine slid into Luke easily, burying himself completely in Luke's warm heat. With only the light from outside and from this angle, Blaine could pretend Luke's skin was alabaster. He could pretend his moans and whimpers were slightly higher pitched, that his eyes were blue oceans instead of – Blaine didn't know what color Luke's eyes were. Not that it mattered.

He dug his fingers into Luke's hips hard enough to bruise, pulled out almost all the way, then slammed back into him. He repeated the motion, fucking into Luke as hard as he could. Luke let out a half-whimper, half-moan, and Blaine thought he might be hurting the other boy, but he didn't really care. He was chasing the tension coiling in his belly, chasing away the loneliness.

After a few minutes of gasping frenzy, Blaine felt that familiar tightness that meant he was about to burst. He reached around and began stroking Luke so they could come together. A few strokes later, Blaine felt Luke's body go rigid as he reached climax. Blaine thrust one last time and came, the orgasm washing over him in equal parts with his own self-loathing.

He collapsed on top of Luke, feeling the emptiness rush in like it always did after he came inside of a stranger. It was a massive void inside of Blaine that, try as he might, he could never escape. He was gasping for air, and not just because of the physical exertion of fucking.

He scooted off of Luke as rapidly as he could given how spent he was. He removed his condom, flinging it into the wastebasket near his bed. Crawling under his covers, he buried his head in his pillow, clenching his eyes shut and biting his bottom lip so hard he could feel it bruising.

He felt Luke adjust his position but was glad the other boy didn't try to touch him. When he breathing finally calmed, Blaine tried to release all of his tension and fall into a blissful slumber.

As he drifted off, to forget how hallow he felt, Blaine focused on one thought: cherries.