Chapter 12

"Kurt," Blaine says quietly after a while.

"Mmm?"

"We should talk."

"Okay," is his only reply. A tentative whisper.

Blaine sits up, bringing Kurt with him. He starts to smooth his hair down and shifts uncomfortably in his now stained sweat pants.

"I could get you something clean to wear," he offers. "Wash your jeans?"

"Okay," Kurt replies again, not making eye contact and pulling at the hem of his sweater.

Blaine retreats to his bedroom, finding two clean pairs of pants before heading to the bathroom to change and clean up. He reemerges wearing a fresh pair of sweatpants and sporting freshly styled hair. It's not his usual gel helmet, but at least it's not sticking up all over anymore either.

He smiles softly at Kurt and hands him the other pair of sweat pants he had found.

"If you leave your pants in the bathroom, I can throw them in the wash and then we can talk," he says.

Kurt just nods and slowly makes his way down the short hallway to the bathroom. Blaine follows him with his gaze until he disappears from sight. Something is bothering him about Kurt's behavior, but he can't quite put a finger on it. Instead of analyzing it, Blaine busies himself making coffee and cleaning up the few dishes he left to soak in his sink. He hums as he works, and before long a sharp throat clearing from behind him alerts him to Kurt's presence.

"I left my clothes on the tub," he says, gesturing behind him. His eyes don't meet Blaine's, falling somewhere around the collar of his worn t-shirt.

"Okay," Blaine replies, trying to sound light and cheery. "Let me just go throw them in. Help yourself to some coffee. There's some flavored creamer in the fridge. Sugar's in the canister on the counter."

Kurt's nod is so small, Blaine barely notices it. He sighs softly to himself, not sure of what he wants to say to Kurt, but knowing that he meant everything he said earlier. He can't help but wonder, though, how they can manage to keep their relationship a secret until May. The idea is daunting, to say the least. It means meeting in secret and hiding their attraction, which Blaine knows from experience he sucks at. He's been told more than once that he has these ridiculous cartoonish heart eyes when he's infatuated with someone. Blaine is never aware he's doing it, but according to Wes, he has a really hard time not looking at someone he adores in any other way, much to his own oblivious horror. Knowing what he and Kurt had just shared will likely be written all over his face for days, he is thankful they have two weeks off from school to practice acting nonchalant around each other. Unless, of course, it happens again, Blaine thinks.

A sudden vision flashes brightly in his mind: Kurt falling apart above him as Blaine kissed him, the two of them moving together in a perfect rhythm. Blaine picks up Kurt's clothes and shakes his head, trying to clear the decidedly impure thoughts before he gets too far down that rabbit hole.

Blaine takes special care to wash Kurt's jeans and — oh dear god, his sinfully tiny, purple boxer briefs are so incredibly sexy and fuck that means he's not wearing any — underwear in cold water in his apartment-sized washing machine that's hidden in his joke of a hall closet. He shifts a little as an erection threatens to form again. If Kurt only knew the effect he had on Blaine, he'd probably blush from the tips of his adorable ears all the way down to his designer boots. He laughs quietly to himself.

Keep it in your pants, Anderson. You need to talk to him first.

When he returns to the living room, Kurt is back on the sofa, long legs tucked underneath him as he sips tentatively from an oversized Ohio State coffee mug. He looks really young like that, cross-legged, a light flush coloring his cheeks and his usually perfect hair slightly mussed, and Blaine wonders yet again if he's doing the right thing. But then Kurt looks up and smiles at him, blue eyes crinkling at the corners, and he feels more sure of himself than he has in his entire life. Later he will muse about how Kurt makes everything just feel right, but for now he just lets the feeling wash over him as he spots another mug resting on the coffee table.

"I put a little cinnamon in it," Kurt says.

"Thanks," Blaine says, scooping up the mug and inhaling the sharp, spicy scent before taking a hesitant sip and sitting next to Kurt on the sofa. "So," he says after he swallows.

"So," Kurt says, raising an eyebrow over his coffee as he brings it to his lips again.

"I don't regret it," Blaine blurts.

Kurt nearly chokes on his coffee, sputtering a little as he tries to swallow. "Oh thank god," he says when he finally manages to get it down. "I was so worried you were going to tell me we made a mistake."

"Kurt, I told you," Blaine says, placing a comforting hand on his knee. "I'm not running away again. Am I terrified? Sure. But I'm in if you're in."

"I'm in,' Kurt says, smiling.

"Good."

"But…" Kurt begins.

"But?"

"Well, I'm just wondering how all of this is going to work," Kurt says. His eyes are firmly fixed on his coffee as he takes another sip.

Blaine inwardly praises himself for making the coffee as he brings his own mug to his lips. Props always make difficult conversations easier. It's something to do with your hands when you don't know what to say or you need time to find your words. He uses it now.

"Well," Blaine says. "We obviously can't tell anyone. At least not until after you graduate."

Kurt nods slowly, draining more of his coffee. Kurt must like having a prop too.

"You should tell people you're dating someone, though," Kurt says suddenly, glancing sideways at Blaine.

Blaine raises an eyebrow and cocks his head to the side.

"Well, think about it," Kurt says. "That way if you're unavailable for social engagements or staying late to supervise detention or whatever, you have a cover."

Blaine nods. "Makes sense."

"And maybe he lives in Dayton or something. That way if you disappear for the weekend, no one will really think anything of it."

"Does he have a name too?" Blaine asks with a laugh.

"Funny," Kurt says, returning his attention to his coffee mug.

"I'm serious," Blaine says. "What if someone asks?"

"Make something up," Kurt says with a casual shrug.

"Why do I get the feeling you've thought about this before?"

"You know I am capable of thinking on my feet," Kurt replies with a good-natured eye roll.

"Okay," Blaine says, throwing up a hand in mock surrender. He takes another sip of his coffee. "What about you?"

"What about me?"

"Well, if you start disappearing all weekend, won't your friends notice? Rachel, for instance?"

"True," Kurt says. "I suppose I could tell them my dad has me working at the garage. I can tell my dad and Finn that I'm shopping with the girls or whatever. I'll figure it out."

Blaine nods, not entirely convinced. But Kurt knows his friends and family better than he does. And he trusts him.

"What about school?" Kurt says after a bit.

"Well, we have to be extra careful at school," Blaine says. "But since we've been together a lot already for rehearsals and stuff, as long as we don't change our behavior or usual patterns, we should be okay."

Kurt hums in agreement. "What about the private lessons?" he asks, giving Blaine an exaggerated wink.

"I think we should keep them," Blaine says.

"I have a text that says otherwise," Kurt says, suddenly somber.

Blaine reaches out to run a hand through Kurt's hair.

"I'm sorry," he says softly, pressing a kiss to Kurt's temple. "So sorry. I thought if I cut off the extra contact, I could make you forget me." He watches his hand stroke through Kurt's loose, chestnut strands. "Obviously that plan didn't work."

"I don't think I could ever forget you," Kurt says, closing his eyes and leaning into Blaine's touch.

They stay like that for a minute, just reveling in each other's closeness. Blaine is loosely aware of their surroundings. He only vaguely notices that the room is cool and quiet, the hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen peacefully interrupting the silence around them. When the washing machine clicks and starts a spin cycle, it startles Blaine out of his quasi trance.

"Hey," Blaine says. "You don't think we rushed things, do you?"

Kurt is quiet for a minute. He takes a sip of his coffee. Blaine feels his heartbeat accelerating. What if Kurt regrets it?

Kurt takes another sip. Blaine mirrors him when he swallows. Kurt inhales sharply like he's gearing up to speak and then stops himself. Oh god he regrets it. Kurt plays with the handle of his mug for a moment before draining his coffee and setting the mug on the coffee table.

"No, not really," he says, and Blaine lets out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. His heart rate slowly returns to normal as Kurt continues. "I mean, I don't regret it. But maybe we should have talked before we …" He pauses and looks flustered.

"Had sex?" Blaine offers, setting down his coffee mug and reaching for Kurt's hand. "You can say it, Kurt. It's not a dirty word."

"I know, Kurt says, looking down at their hands before intertwining his fingers with Blaine's and stroking his thumb over Blaine's knuckles. "It's just that was the first time I'd done anything like that. I kind of wish I had savored it a little more, you know?"

A light blush colors his face, and Blaine can't resist. He leans forward and presses a soft kiss to Kurt's cheek. He can't take it back, but he can make sure Kurt remembers this night fondly. He nuzzles Kurt's cheek with his nose and leans in to whisper in Kurt's ear.

"I'll make it special next time," he says. "Promise."

"Next time?" Kurt says, turning his head and looking equal parts terrified and intrigued.

"Well, if you want to," Blaine says, pulling his hand away and gesticulating wildly. "And only if you're ready. No pressure."

"Blaine," Kurt says, reaching for his hands and stopping Blaine's frantic movements. "Blaine. I do…want to, that is." He lowers his head in embarrassment before looking back up at Blaine shyly. "Just maybe we could talk about what we both want…because I'm not sure I'm ready for …. You know."

"What?" Blaine asks, genuinely confused as to what Kurt is referring to.

Kurt's eyes shift away from Blaine's face like he's searching for a word he can handle saying without dying of embarrassment and it's so fucking charming that Blaine wants to strip him bare and ravish him right there.

"Kurt? You can tell me. I swear I'm not going to judge you, no matter what it is."

Kurt takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. "Okay," he says. "So… I'm 110% fine with what we just did and anything mutual like that. It's just…other stuff." He pauses and presses his lips together. He mumbles something Blaine can't quite make out.

"Wait…what?" Blaine says, leaning down toward Kurt's face and tapping his chin with a finger to get him to look up and open his eyes.

Kurt's eyes remain closed, but he squares his shoulders and says, "No penetration," before abruptly dropping his head in his hands and flushing a bright pink around his ears.

Blaine has to bite the inside of his cheek to stop a laugh from escaping. He doesn't want Kurt to think he's laughing at him. He understands. All too well, in fact.

It had taken him months of dating his first college boyfriend before he would even consider anything like that, and then they had gradually worked up to it. Blaine had found that he enjoyed it, preferring to top, but not really minding bottoming either. His boyfriend, Mark, however, was not a fan of topping or bottoming. So they worked on perfecting their oral technique and even experimented with orgasm denial. It was fun, but the relationship didn't last long. Blaine hadn't dated anyone seriously since.

"Kurt," Blaine says, tilting Kurt's head up again. "Look at me."

Kurt lifts his head, finally opening his eyes and blinking back tears.

"I would never push you do to anything you don't want to. Never. We can go at your pace, and I have no expectations. I didn't even mean for all of…that," he gestures around them at the sofa, "to happen. I got caught up in the moment, and I'm sort of embarrassed by my behavior. Don't get me wrong. It was great…but it wasn't part of some grand plan or anything."

Kurt's cheeks puff out as he gives Blaine a closed-lipped half-frown/half-smile that is full of affection and warmth. It's the same endearing look he gives his friends when they're singing sappy love songs to one another in glee. Blaine feels something in his chest blossom and spread through his body.

"I really care about you, Kurt," he says. "And we're in this together."

A warm hand grazes Blaine's cheek and twirls in the hair just above his ear.

"I didn't know you had curly hair," Kurt says, looking at his hand instead of Blaine's face. The subject change is abrupt and makes Blaine wonder if maybe he said the wrong thing.

"I didn't know you had skimpy purple underwear," Blaine replies.

Kurt's eyes go wide and he starts to pull away, but Blaine grabs his wrist. He strokes the soft skin where Kurt's veins make a spider web of blue beneath his fair skin.

"What I'm trying to say, Kurt, is that we get to know things about each other that no one else knows. We're going to have to keep a lot of secrets. Do you think you can do that?"

"Of course," Kurt says. "For instance, I would never tell anyone you have a Spiderman toothbrush." A broad grin spreads across Kurt's face, and Blaine laughs loudly.

"It was on sale," Blaine says.

"Sure it was," Kurt teases, picking at piece of pilled fabric on Blaine's sweats. When he looks back up to meet Blaine's eyes, a moment of tension and heat sparks between them. Kurt gropes for him as if they hadn't just gotten off minutes before and soon they are laid back on the sofa again, tongues and hands everywhere. When Blaine pulls back and suggests they cool off, Kurt nods solemnly in agreement.

"You know," Blaine says. "We have almost two full weeks until school starts back up. I as thinking…maybe we could do something together. Not in Lima obviously, but somewhere."

"Like a date?" Kurt asks, eyes brightening.

"Like a date," Blaine parrots, giving Kurt a seductive smile.

"I'd love to."

They spend the week leading up to Christmas stealing moments whenever they can. Kurt shows up at Blaine's apartment nearly every day. Sometimes they lounge around watching movies; sometimes they just talk. They always end up kissing, until it becomes too much and they have to choose between pulling away and pushing further. Blaine almost always chooses to back off. Kurt is equal parts relieved and disappointed.

And then one particularly lazy afternoon Kurt simply works on a paper for his history class while Blaine finishes some grading, playing footsie with each other under the table almost the entire time.

They never go out in public together, but it doesn't really matter to Kurt because they're together. Besides, there's something sweet and domestic about the pattern they've established. It makes Kurt feel grown up and in love.

So it makes it that much better when Blaine surprises him two days before Christmas, and they finally have their first date.

"So I hope you're wearing comfortable shoes," Blaine says when Kurt breezes through the door a little after 10 a.m.

"Why?" Kurt asks, drawing out the single syllable in suspicion.

"I have plans," Blaine says, his smile almost blinding it's so wide. Kurt can't help but return it. "All-day plans."

"Do I get a hint?" Kurt asks.

"Nope," Blaine says, kissing Kurt on the forehead. "It's a surprise."

He flits around his apartment while Kurt sits on the kitchen counter, lightly kicking the cabinets with his boots, which are thankfully quite comfortable. Kurt watches as Blaine runs from room to room, trying to hide whatever it is he's doing. Kurt has to stifle a laugh more than once when Blaine stumbles because he's walking sideways to hide something in his hands.

And then suddenly he's there in front of Kurt, holding a large duffel bag and a small thermos.

"Ready to go?" Kurt asks, pulling a playfully judgmental face.

"Mind if we take your car?" Blaine asks. "Your windows are tinted. It just seems safer."

Kurt passes him the keys and wraps himself up in his coat and scarf again as he follows Blaine outside.

By the time they reach I-75, Kurt is prickling with excitement and dying to know where Blaine is taking them. He heads south toward Dayton, and Kurt reaches for the radio, unable to sit in a quiet vehicle on a road trip.

He sings along to a few familiar songs, Blaine filling in on a few older ones Kurt doesn't know as well. Kurt reaches forward to turn up the volume when he hears the tinkling notes of a familiar tune. It's one of his favorite holiday songs, mostly because it doesn't mention god, but also because it's flirty and sweet, and it's the perfect romantic duet.

"I really can't stay," he trills. Blaine turns his head and smiles at him before picking up his cue.

"But baby it's cold outside."

By the time the song is over, they're giggling and Blaine's hand is resting on Kurt's thigh, rubbing small patterns on his skin. Kurt almost suggests pulling the car over, but they're on a highway in western Ohio and making out on the side of the road is not an option, even with tinted windows.

They stop and grab lunch at a sub shop after they hit I-70 west. It's across from a gigantic church and nestled in a hideous strip mall next to an Anytime Fitness.

"Please tell me this isn't the date," Kurt grumbles, gesturing toward a dry cleaner's and a liquor store.

"Just the prelude," Blaine says. "I'm hungry. And trust me, you're going to need the energy."

Kurt's not sure if he meant the innuendo or not, but he's not taking any chances. He orders a large turkey sub and eats the whole thing, much to Blaine's amusement.

"Hey, I'm just following instructions," Kurt says. "Apparently my boyfriend has big plans for later."

As soon as the sentence is out of his mouth, he realizes he's just called Blaine his boyfriend, and they hadn't really discussed labels. Kurt fiddles with the wrapper from his sandwich and stumbles through a few unintelligible syllables before Blaine rescues him from his sudden panic.

"Well your boyfriend is still amused," Blaine says, taking another bite of his sandwich as if it's no big deal. And Kurt thinks maybe it isn't. Maybe it's just that easy.

Kurt feels his shoulders relax in relief that they've just had the "what are we?" talk without actually having it. He smiles and takes a sip of his diet soda.

"So are you going to tell me where we're going?" Kurt asks. "I mean if we're going to end up in Indiana, I should probably call my dad so he doesn't report me missing."

"We'll be back before your curfew," Blaine promises. "But nice try."

Kurt frowns and crumples the paper from his sub and gathers up the rest of the trash strewn over the table into a pile. He folds his hands under his chin to wait. Blaine takes an agonizingly long time finishing the four bites he has left of his sub, and Kurt can't help but think he's doing it on purpose. He taps his foot impatiently.

When Blaine swallows the last bite, Kurt shoves a napkin under his nose and grabs Blaine's wrapper along with the rest of the pile he had created and stands up to find a trash can. He can hear Blaine laughing at him, but he doesn't care. It's his first real date with his boyfriend, and he wants to get started.

He tugs Blaine up by his sleeve and grabs his drink, practically dragging Blaine to the car. When he hears Blaine laugh again, he turns to face him.

"Laugh all you want, Blaine Anderson, but if you're not going to tell me where we're going, I'm going to make sure we get there as soon as possible. Now get your cute butt behind that wheel and let's roll."

"You're adorable," Blaine says, leaning in for a soft peck. Kurt looks around to make sure there's no one watching. "We should go," Blaine adds when he senses Kurt's discomfort.

When they're safely back in the car, Kurt leans across the console and presses his lips to Blaine's.

"I know you've probably got something amazing planned, but I want you to know I don't care what we do today, as long as we're together. It will be perfect no matter what."

Blaine gives him a wide-eyed look with his lips pressed into a tiny smile, it's the same look that Kurt always feels in his fingertips, and he wonders if that's what love looks like. Because all the depth of Blaine's beautiful soul is written right there in that expression. Kurt tips his forehead forward to rest on Blaine's and smiles.

"Thank you," Blaine says.

"For what?" Kurt asks, pulling back in confusion.

"Just…everything," Blaine says. "For trusting me, for being you, for being brave enough to kiss me first."

"I didn't feel brave," Kurt says.

"You looked it," Blaine says. "And it was perfect."

"Even though you freaked out afterwards?"

"Even though I freaked out afterwards, yes," Blaine replies with a self-deprecating laugh.

He grabs the back of Kurt's neck and kisses his forehead before turning the car over and putting it into gear. They continue west on I-70 until they exit toward a tiny dot on the map, called Trotwood. It's even smaller than Lima. When Blaine pulls into an entrance marked Sycamore State Park, Kurt turns to him wide eyed.

"Here?" he asks.

"Don't worry," Blaine says. "I brought some extra clothes."

"For what?" Kurt asks, suddenly questioning his choice to trust Blaine implicitly.

Blaine puts the car in park in a small lot, and turns to face Kurt. His smile is wide enough to show all of his teeth and his dark eyebrows are nearly reaching his hairline.

"Ice skating," he says.

Kurt laughs at Blaine's childlike exuberance and can't help but get excited himself. Ice skating at Christmas with your boyfriend is incredibly romantic.

"It's not Rockefeller Plaza or anything…" Blaine says.

"I love it," Kurt interrupts. "It's perfect." And he bounds out of the car.

Blaine grabs the duffel and the thermos and follows Kurt down the path to the lake. They sit on a bench near the edge of the water and Blaine opens the bag, producing two pairs of ice skates.

"You bought me skates?" Kurt asks, voice pitching higher as he clutches his chest.

"It's no big deal," Blaine says, dropping his head shyly. "I just checked your shoe size last time you were over. I hope they fit."

Kurt snatches them from Blaine's hands and throws an arm around him, pulling him into a hug.

"Perfect," he says again.

Blaine smiles at him and keeps stealing glances as they lace up their skates.

They spend the afternoon chasing each other across the ice and teasing each other when they fall, breaking occasionally to kiss or flirt. When Kurt complains that he can't feel his toes, Blaine skates to edge of the pond and produces the thermos with a dramatic bow. They share the hot chocolate sitting on the bench, feet tangled together and feeling heavy with the weight of the metal blades on their skates.

When they've completely exhausted themselves, Blaine suggests they find a public restroom to clean up because he has dinner reservations in Dayton.

Kurt emerges in the sweater and skinny jeans Blaine had brought for him and Blaine feels like his heart stops. He knew Kurt's size, and suspected the cardigan would show off Kurt's strong frame. But he hadn't expected the vision of perfection that emerges from a sketchy looking men's room at a run-down truck stop. Kurt looks like sex on a stick the way the fabric hugs him everywhere.

"You look great in red," he manages to eek out.

"Thanks," Kurt says, looking down at his front. "Does it fit okay? I couldn't see much in the mirror in there."

"It fits perfectly," Blaine says, finally dragging his eyes away from Kurt's body and up to his eyes. "A little too perfectly actually."

Kurt lowers his head and Blaine wraps his arms around him, running his hands along the soft cashmere. Kurt shivers at the touch, or maybe from the cold. He's not wearing his coat, and it is December in Ohio after all. But Blaine can't bring himself to let Kurt go just yet.

When they finally pull away, Blaine picks up Kurt's coat from the backseat of the car and drapes it over Kurt's shoulders.

"Hungry?" he asks.

"Starving," Kurt replies.

"Good. I'm taking us to an amazing restaurant for dinner."

The restaurant is everything Blaine had promised. Kurt orders a decadent pasta dish with truffle oil and mushrooms. It's earthy and buttery, and Kurt thinks he may never want to eat ordinary food again. Blaine orders a steak that Kurt dubs "as big as his head," earning Kurt a laugh that he cuts off by rubbing his foot along Blaine's ankle under the table.

They eat in mostly companionable silence, stealing flirty glances over the candlelit table. When the server brings the dessert menu, Kurt's eyes roam the tiny print until he sees exactly what he wants: vanilla bean cheesecake with fresh whipped cream.

"Final verdict?" Blaine asks as their desserts are delivered along with two steaming cups of espresso.

Kurt picks up his fork as soon as the plate hits the table.

"I think I like this better than sex," Kurt says, digging it into his cheesecake and wrapping his tongue around it to lick every bit from the tines.

"The date or the cheesecake?" Blaine asks, laughing.

"Well, I meant the date," Kurt says. "But now that you mention it…." He brings the fork to his lips, moaning in a way that he knows will sound completely obscene and licking his fork even more suggestively than he had been before. "This cheesecake is really good."

Kurt watches as Blaine pulls at his collar and licks his lips. He smirks down into his plate, loving that he can have that effect on his boyfriend. His boyfriend…his boyfriend….that he's had sex with. Or at least something resembling sex. It's still sex as long as there's an orgasm involved, right?

"We're sort of doing this backwards, aren't we?" Kurt asks.

"Not really," Blaine replies.

Kurt lifts an eyebrow at him, not really sure what Blaine means.

"I guess I just don't like the idea of there being rules to relationships," Blaine says with a shrug. "We make our own rules." He takes a bite of his own dessert, a luscious-looking chocolate cake, and smiles at Kurt.

"You're such a romantic, Blaine Anderson."

By the time they get back to Lima, it's getting late, and there's a snowstorm threatening to ruin Blaine's plan of cuddling on the couch and watching "It's a Wonderful Life" until Kurt has to leave to make curfew.

"You should probably go home now," he says to Kurt after he drops the thermos in the sink and tosses the duffel next to the couch. "Before the roads get too bad."

"But baby it's cold outside," Kurt sings, sidling up behind Blaine and wrapping his arms around his torso to rub his hand along Blaine's abdomen.

"I'm serious Kurt," he says, trying to stand firm by lightly swatting at Kurt's hands, but he also leans into the touch. "I don't want to worry about you."

"But baby it's cold outside," he repeats, nuzzling into Blaine's hair.

"You simply must go," Blaine sings, laughing playfully as he changes up the lyrics to suit the situation and tries to ignore the soft, soothing feeling of Kurt surrounding him.

"It's cold outside," Kurt answers, pulling Blaine tighter to his chest.

"The answer is no," Blaine sings, feeling his skin prickle with desire.

"But baby it's cold outside," Kurt replies.

They both miss a line as Kurt's warm hand skirts near Blaine's waistband, but Kurt sings out the next lyric, soft and clear next to his ear.

"So nice and warm," Kurt teases, his lips trailing across Blaine's neck.

"Look out the window at that storm," Blaine responds in a whisper, no longer singing as his resolve wavers and crumbles at his feet. He reaches back to run his fingers through the hair at the base of Kurt's neck and feels Kurt begin to suck small marks into his skin.

Kurt spends the night at Blaine's that night, telling his dad he's staying with Tina. As Blaine sits with Kurt's feet in his lap, Kurt talks to his dad on the phone. Blaine listens to Kurt promise to be home by dinner the next day, and he uses some lame cover story about last-minute Christmas shopping and going into Columbus because the stores in Lima are "provincial." Blaine's not really sure outright lying is a good idea, but it buys them a few more hours anyway. So he lets Kurt weave his tale.

They watch the movie as planned but fall asleep on the couch before it's over. Blaine wakes up and forces them into bed around 3 a.m., laughing when Kurt clings to him and mumbles nonsense into his neck as he steers him toward the bed.

Blaine wakes up early the next morning to buy some groceries to make them breakfast. It's Christmas Eve and the roads have been plowed. But it still looks perfectly magical outside, and Blaine feels like he's hovering ten feet above the ground anyway. He hasn't felt this happy in a long time.

He leaves Kurt a note that he lays on top of his now clean clothes. Signing it with a tiny xo and a cheesy smiley face. He grins the whole way to the supermarket, singing along to the radio at the top of his lungs.

He's debating turkey sausage or bacon to go with the French toast he's planning on making, when he hears a familiar voice behind him.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't my favorite freak."

"Sue," Blaine replies with a stiff nod.

"Where's Porcelain?" she asks, looking around dramatically.

Blaine freezes. He can feel his heartbeat in his ears combined with a harsh rushing sound that floods his brain. He's vaguely aware of his lips moving, but no sound is coming out.

"Not here?" Sue says. "You're not having domestic problems are you, Clark Gable?"

"W-what on earth are you talking about?" he asks finally finding his voice.

"Oh nothing," Sue says, waving him off. "I'm sure it's just a rumor."

"What rumor?" Blaine says around a lump in his throat.

She leans in to stage whisper in his ear.

"Well, apparently one of your glee freaks overheard a juicy conversation from someone who claimed they saw you and the Gelfling playing tonsil hockey."

Blaine takes a deep breath. "It's just a rumor, Sue."

"But that's the beauty of it, Anderson. It only takes one little spark," she says, flicking the edge of his glasses, " to start a raging forest fire. Rumors are like matches, and I'm the gasoline."

Blaine rolls his eyes. "No one is going to believe that," he scoffs.

"You'd be surprised what people will believe," she says.

"You have no proof, Sue," he says, stepping into her personal space and trying to look as tall and menacing as he can manage. "And everyone knows you're bitter and out to get the glee club. People actually like me. They think you're a joke."

Her evil smile falters slightly, causing Blaine to relax a little and ease out a small smile of his own.

"I'll get proof," she says, lips curling in anger. "Watch your back."

"I'm shaking in my boots," he deadpans, trying to sound nonchalant, despite the truth in his words.

When she walks away, he sinks back against the case behind him and feels the chill of the refrigeration seep through his pants as he leans on it, trying to regain feeling in his feet.

Fuck.