With the photo shoot wrapped, Blaine doesn't have an excuse to see Kurt — at least not one that one of them doesn't initiate — so it's weird to even call him. Everything feels stilted; their friendship is irrevocably changed. And then plans for Tuesday coffee that week get canceled — Blaine is too busy with work and needs to go in early — and a movie night gets postponed — Kurt books back-to-back jobs and his schedule changes. A series of similar occurrences get in the way, and it just becomes easier to go with the flow.

It's not that Blaine's avoiding Kurt, it's just that he doesn't know what to say. Clearly Kurt had wanted it to be a one-time thing, but Blaine doesn't feel the same way. Or maybe he does. He's not really sure any more, and that's what's making it awkward. He thought he wanted a relationship with Kurt, but now, well, he wonders if maybe their age difference might be more problematic than he had realized.

So he avoids. He avoids and he tries to forget as he edits photos from the last day of the photo shoot. So far, he's not seeing any shots he likes; they're mostly the shots Zach had taken early in the day, and Kurt looks disconnected. He scrolls down until he finds the pose he's looking for: Kurt tugging on his tie and staring straight into the camera.

It's still the most striking image of Kurt he's ever seen.

"Ooh, what's that?" Yvonne asks over his shoulder.

"Proofs for One West. I think this is the shot." He looks up at her expectantly.

"It's risky."

Blaine nods. "Do you think Lorelei will go for it?"

"Maybe," Yvonne says, looking thoughtful. "We might as well try."

"What do you think?" Blaine asks, hoping she agrees with him. This is the image he wants to build the entire campaign around, and things might go a little smoother with her support.

"Honestly?" she asks. "It's a fucking amazing shot and if you don't fight tooth and nail to keep it, I will personally fire you."

"It's just too much of a risk, Blaine," Lorelei says after Blaine finishes his presentation. "Jan is going to want another option."

"I don't want to give her options," he says. "I believe in this campaign. It's the right one. I'm sure of it."

"It's definitely eye-catching," Lorelei says, "but you've got to look at this from my perspective. I'm trying to run a business here, and I need happy clients. Jan West is picky, and that's putting it mildly. I can't risk putting her off and possibly nixing the spring campaign."

"She won't."

Lorelei looks down at the folder in front of her where Blaine has assembled a brief. She flips through a few pages, biting her lip as she twirls a pen between her fingers. Without looking up, she asks, "Are you 100 percent sure about this?"

"Absolutely."

She looks up at him. "Willing to bet your job on it?"

Blaine swallows and takes a deep breath. Is he that sure? There is the off chance his judgment has been clouded by his feelings for Kurt, but then he remembers Yvonne's reaction and the way everyone else had absolutely fallen in love with the designs. Lorelei's really the only hold out before they go to the client.

Of course, the dark horse in all this is Kurt. He's four inches too short, and a completely different type of model than Jan has ever used as the face of her line before, which, if he's honest about it, is why Yvonne had cast him in the first place. They both knew the job needed something fresh. It's really the best campaign Price has ever done.

Blaine smiles as he thinks of what this kind of exposure could mean for Kurt. It's that thought that tips the scale.

"You know what, Lorelei? I've never been more sure of anything in my life."

Blaine's phone rings just as he steps out of the meeting. It's Kurt.

"Hey," he says. "Perfect timing. I have great news. I just met with Lorelei and she green-lighted the campaign. You're going to be the new face of One West."

"Oh wow… really?!" Kurt's excitement is palpable even over the phone. "Oh my god, Blaine, that's fantastic!"

"We still have to run it by Jan, but I know she's going to love it. Congratulations!"

"Oh my god."

Blaine laughs. He's shocked and excited Kurt, and he's giddy with it.

"So, I was thinking for the launch party…"

"Oh," Kurt says, his excited tone fading in an instant. "Actually that's why I'm calling. I uh… well, there's no easy way to put this. I can't go with you… as your date."

Blaine is speechless. He knows their friendship had been awkward lately, but he didn't think Kurt was angry with him. Maybe their one slip-up affected Kurt more than he had thought.

"Is this about what happened between us?" Blaine says, lowering his voice so he won't be overheard in the busy office.

"No… no," Kurt says, his voice pitching higher and taking on a breathy quality. "Um, I just forgot I already had a date." Blaine can hear Kurt's breathing; it's uneven and heavy. "I'm really sorry." It sounds tacked on, like an afterthought.

"Why do you keep pushing me away?" Blaine asks, stepping into an empty conference room and closing the door.

"I'm not pushing you away, Blaine. I told you. I have a date with someone else." Kurt sounds frustrated, but Blaine doesn't care. Kurt's words have hit a nerve that was already raw, and he wants answers.

"Then why do I feel like this is some sort of test, Kurt? It's like ever since we met, all I do is jump through hoops for you, and every time I think I've jumped through them all, you put another one up in front of me."

"Blaine…" Kurt pleads. "It's not like that. I promise."

Kurt's words practically go unheard. Blaine is so angry he can barely think.

"It's exactly like that, Kurt. Every time I think we're getting somewhere, you push me away, and there's only so much I can take. I'm sick of being treated like your enemy. We're supposed to be friends."

"Well then maybe we shouldn't be friends anymore," Kurt says.

"See? That's exactly what I'm talking about. Things get a little dicey and you act like a fucking child!"

"Fuck you, Blaine."

"No, I'm pretty sure I fucked you."

He knows that's a low blow, and he waits for the retort; it's Kurt's turn to return the volley, but it never comes. Blaine looks down at his phone and sees that Kurt disconnected the call. He hung up. Blaine grips his phone as tight as he can to keep himself from flinging it across the room.

As it turns out, Jan West loves the entire campaign. She's so excited about it, in fact, that she expands the launch party and moves it up a week. Blaine barely has time to think about his fight with Kurt, but it consumes him nonetheless. If it weren't for Yvonne and a team of amazing event planners in his office, he'd be totally screwed.

The night of the launch party finds Blaine curled up on his sofa watching When Harry Met Sally and trying desperately not to think about Kurt. Of course it's a completely pointless task because it's all he can think about. He wants to be at that party with Kurt, watching him bask in the glow of his own success, proud to be with Blaine and proud of the work they've done together. He wants to be able to enjoy this accomplishment — the ad campaign looks flawless and everyone is already talking about the new line, and most especially Kurt — but Blaine can't bear to look at Kurt and not be with him, and it's not fair to Kurt for him to be a distraction at such an important moment.

Blaine sighs and drops his head back on the sofa. He knows it's immature of him to avoid the party altogether, but the idea of being there and watching Kurt on the arm of another guy is too much. He'd told Yvonne he was sick and he needed her to cover for him. She had looked like she didn't believe him for a second, but she didn't question him. She simply took the reins and told Blaine she hoped he felt better soon.

He's such a coward, and worse still, a coward sitting at home alone watching a romantic comedy about friends who become lovers. It's torture.

The funny thing is, when life imitates art, it really imitates it. When Harry has his epiphany about Sally, Blaine sits bolt upright on the couch. This is them. This is him and Kurt, and he's sitting at home feeling sorry for himself when he should be at that party telling Kurt how he feels.

He jumps up and throws his blanket to the floor, making a beeline for his bedroom to change his clothes and throwing on the first clean shirt he can find that has buttons. He's dressed and out the door in less than five minutes.

It looks like it might rain, but he doesn't want to go back upstairs for an umbrella. He'll just have to risk it. He practically runs the whole way, not even considering grabbing a cab. It's a movie moment if there ever was one.

When he arrives, the party is in full swing. People are dancing, laughing, having a good time. There are posters from the campaign everywhere – dozens of larger-than-life Kurts surrounding Blaine and daring him to fail. The real Kurt is nowhere to be seen. Blaine ducks between party-goers, dodging waiters and their trays of champagne, but there's still no sign of Kurt.

Finally, he spots a familiar head of over-styled styled hair atop a tall, lanky frame. He's leaning against the bar and flirting with the bartender.

"Sebastian, have you seen Kurt?" Blaine asks, his eyes still roving frantically about the room.

Sebastian looks like he's ready to tease for a moment, but something in Blaine's frazzled appearance must tell him now's not the time because he answers quickly.

"He just left," Sebastian says. "Said he had a date he was late for…"

"Oh," Blaine says. He's sure the disappointment is plain as day on his face, but he doesn't care. Let Sebastian, and everyone else, think what they want. It doesn't matter anymore. "Thanks."

So that's it. He's too late. Kurt is already interested in someone else and he blew it. He fucking blew it.

Blaine heads home feeling defeated and quite stupid for ever thinking Kurt would be interested in more than just friendship. The sky opens up just as he steps outside, and he curses himself for leaving his umbrella at home.

The rain quickly soaks through Blaine's thin cotton shirt, and the peach fabric drapes over him like a translucent second skin. He tugs at it, trying to get some relief from the heavy weight of the shirt pressed against his chest, but it's no use. He's soaked clean through. As he enters his building, he's already unbuttoning it and imagining the blessed relief of stepping into a hot shower. He runs a hand through his hair to get it out of his eyes before reaching into his pocket for his keys. When he looks up, he sees Kurt, standing across from his apartment door, hands in his pockets and an unidentifiable look on his face.

"You're here," Blaine says. "Why are you here?"

"I wanted to see you."

"But Sebastian said–"

Kurt's eyebrows shoot up. "You went to the party?" he asks.

"To find you."

Kurt steps closer, his eyes searching Blaine's face. "Why?"

Blaine doesn't answer, instead asking a question of his own. "Sebastian said you had a date?"

Kurt smiles and glances down at his own feet. There's a puddle forming on the floor between them where Blaine is dripping. "No, I told him I was late for one. About two months late."

Blaine shivers, whether it's from being cold and wet or from Kurt's words he's not sure.

"Kurt, what are you saying?

"What I'm saying is, I'd like to go on a date with you, and I'm sick of trying to pretend that we're just friends."

"Kurt…"

"Let me finish," he pleads.

"Okay."

"I know I was the one who said just friends, but it's only because I was so afraid. I haven't been very lucky with relationships, and I keep people at arm's length because of it, but you saw through all that. Even when I tried to push you away, you wouldn't let me, and you're… well, you." He reaches up to cup Blaine's face with his hand and strokes his cheek with his thumb. "You're this ridiculous dork who wears bow ties and cardigans just as often as he wears graphic t-shirts and cargo shorts. You sing along to musicals and drink disgusting drip coffee with too much sugar, and you let me have my way even when it's not what you want. And I may only be 19, Blaine, but I know what I want. And I want you. That is, if you'll have me."

Blaine isn't even sure what to say, which overture to respond to first, because his hands are shaking and his heart is racing and Kurt's is staring at him with so much hope in his vibrant blue eyes that it's kind of dizzying. Kurt wants him, and it's not a dream — though he considers pinching himself to be sure.

"Well, say something," Kurt says finally.

Blaine opens his mouth to speak, but then he realizes words aren't necessary. Kurt's said it all. He inches forward and rises up on his toes just enough so his face is level with Kurt's. He smiles, and kisses him. A soft, sweet, barely there kiss. He's not trying to prove anything, so there's no urgency; he's simply making a promise.

Kurt pulls back from the kiss, resting his forehead on Blaine's.

"And all this time I thought you weren't interested," he says, his smile plain in his tone.

"Me?" Blaine says, finally opening his eyes. "You kept saying you just wanted to be friends. It was killing me not being able to tell you how I felt."

Kurt's expression turns serious. "I'm sorry it took us so long to get here," he says.

"Don't be," Blaine says. "It was worth the wait." He pauses before smiling at Kurt and adding, "and the one-night stand."

When Kurt laughs, it tickles his nose. He leans back just enough to focus on Kurt's entire face.

"You have freckles," Blaine says with wide eyes and a warm smile. He grazes his fingers over Kurt's forehead and nose, plotting them out like pinpoints on a map.

"Yeah," Kurt says, looking self-conscious about it as he tries to put a hand up over his face.

Blaine pulls his hand out of the way and kisses the tip of his nose.

"I can't believe I never noticed that before. I've spent months staring at your face, your body — all day long and I never noticed. How could I miss that?" His voice is low and soft, an intimate whisper of precious words.

"Good makeup artist, I guess," Kurt teases, a light blush making some of his freckles more prominent than before and obscuring others.

"No, I like this better," Blaine says, his eyes searching Kurt's face as if he's trying to memorize it. "I can see you. The parts you never show anyone else."

"It's still me," Kurt says, ducking his head shyly.

Blaine places a finger under his chin and tilts his head up. Kurt's eyes meet his and it's like the world is laid at his feet. He's never seen anything so beautiful in his life.

"Yes, and I love you," Blaine says.

"Even when I'm bitchy and jealous."

"Especially then," Blaine says, looping his hands tight and low around Kurt's waist. "We might never have become friends if you hadn't been such a bitch that first day."

"Well someone's eyes were bugging out of his head and acting like a complete weirdo."

"I couldn't help it," Blaine says. "This incredibly sexy man had just walked into my life and I didn't know what to do."

Kurt rolls his eyes, but it's playful. Then his expression turns serious.

"I love you too, you know," he says.

Blaine smiles because those are the best words he's ever heard. Music to his ears. He feels giddy and silly and ready to burst from it.

"Good to know," he says. "Otherwise it would be pretty forward of me to ask you to come inside on our first date."