“Are you sure? Really sure?”

“Yes, I promise I don’t mind-“

“Oh. Actually I meant about the bear thing. I’m just kind of sweaty, I mean I would be anyway, because I’m nervous, but this is really hot, and, uh-“

“Would you just go? You look cute, and she’s going to love you.” Nick took a deep breath, cleared his throat and made his way toward the brunette at the bar.

Blaine stood at the top of the stairs. He leaned on the banister and looked down at the throng of people whilst sipping his champagne. He had to admit, there were perks to having unbelievable snobs for parents: they always bought the good stuff. Even though he would have been just as happy with a hot chocolate and a quiet night in. He’d rather be alone than here, surrounded by assholes guzzling drink after drink and yelling and dancing. He walked towards the bathroom. The music was deafening. And then he saw him. And he couldn’t even hear the music any more.

~10 minutes earlier~

“Kuuuuurt! Dance with me!” Kurt glanced around to see if anyone had heard Jeff shout his name. He had no idea how, but people seemed not to have noticed. Everyone else here was about as insane as him, so he probably faded into the backs of their minds. Jeff looked him straight in the eyes, again making it hard to tell if he was drunk or just really excited. “Look. Nobody cares. They all just want to have fun, and so do I. So we’re dancing.” He grabbed his hand and pulled him into the middle of the room, constantly checking that his mask was still on, and immediately started twirling him around. He managed to stand up straight again, only to see Jeff already talking to a girl. Even Kurt had to admit she was gorgeous, albeit in a slightly desperate, cleavagey kind of way.

He failed to understand how Jeff could score in a cocktail dress, but when he dressed like a knight he got zero interest. He remembered to be careful what he wished for when he saw the girl point at him and whisper to her friend, who couldn’t stop giggling. Just like Jeff, who was struggling to stay standing as the tiny girl pushed her chest out in a misguided attempt to snare Kurt. As she strutted over to him, his eyes widened.

“I am so sorry but I just started feeling really sick. No, no, nothing to do with you, it’s just, uh, I have to go, OK? Sorry. Sorry.”

“Well, slow down, cutie, you’re supposed to be sweeping me away on a white horse! Hey, if you want I could come and take care of you-” She smirked, and Kurt felt relieved that he was no longer lying to this girl. He genuinely felt sick. The mixture of her perfume, the noise, people crashing into him, it was all to much. And the idea of her ‘taking care of him’ was almost enough to push him over the edge. He didn’t even reply. He just ran to the closest door, brushing against Jeff en route with a quiet “I. Will. Kill. You.” in his ear. Jeff collapsed, sniggering, into the arms of his new girlfriend, not so worried about Kurt any more.

Kurt found a bathroom and immediately ripped his mask off, started splashing cold water on his face and taking deep breaths. He tried to both at once, and tried to breathe in some water, falling into an uncontrollable coughing fit. He leaned on the sink as he got his breath back. He ran his hands through his hair and looked in the mirror. He felt like such an idiot for coming here. It wasn’t worth all the hassle, the costume, the mask, the paranoia that he’d get caught, that tacky girl, the noise everywhere… He had to get out. He’d stopped coughing, but he still couldn’t breathe. He walked out into the corridor, desperate to get outside and feel some cold air on his face. Then something distracted him. Someone. He didn’t need cold air, as he came face to face with a boy and shivers ran up his spine. A boy with dark, curly hair and hazel eyes. The room stopped spinning, and suddenly all he could see was him.