By the time Thursday came around, Kurt had managed to keep his mind at bay. He kept his mind busy since the moment he and Blaine had arranged a time and a place to meet. Every time Kurt felt his mind going off on a tangent, he quickly focused in on a piece of homework, or a book, or a possible solo choice that needed a little extra rehearsal. Anyway you look at it; Kurt Hummel kept himself as preoccupied as he could.

Still, as hard as he tried, when falling asleep, Kurt couldn’t get Blaine out of his exhausted mind. His wide smile, his sparkling eyes, his incredibly toned muscles, and the sweetness that was underneath all that beauty. It took a while for Kurt to find only one reason why he had to hate Blaine so much.

Although the reason he found totally sucked.

Kurt had to hate Blaine. Not necessarily because everyone else wanted him to, but because it was only fair that someone hated the all mighty god that is Blaine Anderson. He worked for 3 long years to become the guy he is today, yet Blaine only needed one fucking day. Not only that, but because Blaine was so fucking charming, and handsome, and beautiful inside and out, Kurt knew that deep down under Blaine’s flawless skin, he loved all the attention he got. Probably making him an arrogant, up-himself prick.

Probably.

Thanks to Kurt’s efforts, that reason stuck with him whenever Blaine Anderson popped into his head. “He’s a vain little boy with his head shoved so far up his ass that he is blind to what hate there is out there in this cruel world” Kurt repeated every hour to himself. At least that reason would not leave his mind until he told the man himself the very reason he hated his guts.

Now Thursday had arrived, Kurt couldn’t wait to give Mr. Perfect a piece of his mind.

***

 (listen to song: NOW!)

When Kurt arrived at Glee rehearsal early that afternoon, he wasn’t expecting to find what he did. Blaine sat alone in the choir room behind the grand piano, his golden eyes closed and his fingers fluttering away on the keys as if he were in his own little world. His body swayed along with the enchanting melody, his triangular eyebrows furrowed slightly in concentration. He looked so peaceful and serene, and didn’t seem to notice Kurt standing awkwardly by the door waiting impatiently for him to stop being such an ass and to sit quietly in the corner, where he belonged.

Although, in the back of his mind, Kurt didn’t want him to ever stop playing this beautiful piece of music. Kurt always labelled Blaine as a pop-diva, singing Katy Perry and the occasional Broadway hit, which was Kurt’s turf, of course. But this piece was mesmerizing, so incredibly deep and passionate, that Kurt couldn’t do anything but drop his jaw in shock. A simple piano piece, that’s all it was. But the way Blaine played it made such a difference. It wasn’t an uplifting piece, it was almost dark, and sinister, but with a slight hint of innocence and sweetness layered over it to create a simple, yet equally stunning melody that made Kurt’s chest swell.

You hate him. You hate him. YOU HATE HIM.

Kurt’s thoughts were screaming at him so loud that he couldn’t even hear the grand piano anymore. Blaine finished his piece and picked up his large pile of sheet music and flicked through the pile mindlessly, humming the tune he had just played so flawlessly. Kurt shuffled silently outside the door, waiting for someone, anyone, to turn up and save him from the pains in his chest.

Thankfully, as always, Mercedes was there in a heartbeat.

“Hey you!” she smiled. “Haven’t seen you all day! Why are you standing out here?”

Kurt sighed with a shrug of his shoulders, fixing his hair quickly with a simple swoop of his hand.

“Waiting for you, of course.”

Mercedes giggled and linked her arm with Kurt’s.

“Are we going in? Or are we going to stand out here, away from everyone else so you can finally tell me what your little dramatic breakdown was about Tuesday morning?”

Kurt’s heart jumped in his chest, causing a little whimper to escape his mouth. Shit, he thought, I forgot to tell Mercedes. Kurt’s stomach began churning as he glanced inside the choir room. Blaine was now chattering away to Mike Chang, who entered the choir room through the door on the other side of the room. He relaxed a little knowing that someone else could distract Blaine whilst he and Mercedes entered the rehearsal.

“I’d rather not explain right now, if that’s alright. Can I call you later?” he whispered, guiding Mercedes through the doorway and to the row of plastic chairs at the back of the room.

“Boy, you better!” she replied smirking.

Other Glee Club members began to shuffle in through the doors, all in their own general conversations. Kurt ignored their arrival, staring blankly at the ceiling, letting his mind wonder aimlessly for a moment until he felt his phone buzz in his very tight jeans pocket.

Still OK for after rehearsal? – B.

Kurt turned his gaze to the front row of chairs, where Blaine’s head was tipped downwards, staring at the fingers fiddling with his phone in his lap anxiously.

Is he nervous? Kurt thought. Why would he be nervous?

Tapping lightly on his phone, Kurt replied without any hesitation.

Of course – K.

Blaine turned and looked up at Kurt, fluttering his eyelashes and smiling widely at him. Kurt held his poker face until Blaine turned back around and began to listen to Mr. Schue rambling on about some duets competition they were having this week. Kurt couldn’t care less about any duet contest, he’d probably end up singing alone. Again. Once Blaine released Kurt’s gaze, Kurt sighed and clutched at the chair beneath him for dear life.

God, he really is beautiful, and incredibly talented…

“- However, you will not be choosing your own partners for this competition” Mr Schue continued, “I’ve placed half of your name’s into this hat, and the other half will leave fate to decide their partners.”

Kurt’s thoughts halted when he tuned into Mr Schue’s speech. The room filled with mixed reactions from every member. However, Kurt’s was the only one that was important in his mind.

“Mr. Schue, is this really a good idea? Last time we did something like this, all of us were emotionally scarred for weeks after you and Rachel performed the most awkward rendition of Endless Love ever performed in history. Do we really have to endure something like that again?”

Murmurs of agreement, and an embarrassing huff from Rachel helped him prove his point.

“Well, Kurt, seeing as there is now an equal amount of members in New Directions this year, I won’t have to take part in the assignment. So, no, you won’t have to listen to me at all this time around. Now, the following members please line up and get ready to pick your partners: Rachel, Tina, Artie, Santana, Finn, Quinn and Kurt.”

The 7 members slowly made their way to the grand piano to pick out the names of their partners for this weeks assignment, not before Rachel complained about her and Finn being separated for the week, which everyone gladly ignored. Kurt was glad that he was finally able to sing a duet with another person this year, as long as that person wasn’t Blaine. He didn’t want to spend any more unnecessary time with the guy he may, or may not like or hate.

Rachel picked first, of course, digging as deep as she could into the hat filled with names. After rummaging her hand thoroughly through the names, she selected one and read it aloud to the class, with a smile stretching across her face.

“Mercedes!” she announced.

Mercedes threw her head back against her chair, staring at the ceiling, but not before throwing Kurt a glance of desperate eyes. Kurt chuckled silently at his poor best friend, glad he wasn’t in her shoes.

However fabulous those shoes may be.

The line continued, with various combinations being announced by every member. Tina selected Brittany, Artie selected Sugar, Santana selected Mike and Finn selecting Puck.

Finally, only Quinn and Kurt were left to choose. Which meant either Sam or Blaine would become Kurt’s partner this week. Kurt sighed, he knew exactly what was going to come his way.

God, dear God, what did I ever do to you? He prayed silently, as Quinn picked a name quickly out of the hat.

“Sam.” She announced simply. Sam smiled at the blonde, who made her way to the seat beside her duet partner for the week. Mr Schue patted a frozen Kurt on the back.

“That leaves Blaine for you, Kurt” he said, smiling at the countertenor. “Right, you guys have a week to come up with your song choices, and remember, the best duet gets dinner for 2 at Breadstix! See you guys next week!”

Whilst everyone else packed up their belongings, Kurt remained on his spot by the piano, unable to even believe what just happened. The laws of the universe really were out to get him.

Mercedes passed him his messenger bag and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

“Call me tonight, ‘kay?”

Kurt nodded, losing his ability to even speak.

The final person to pass by him was Blaine, who’s smile grew as Kurt stared at his incredibly flawless face.

“See you in a few…partner.”

Winking, Blaine waltzed out of the room with a small skip in his step, leaving a numb Kurt alone in the choir room, his thought’s flooding his mind like a tsunami.

WHY? He thought, before shuffling hesitantly off to his car to meet his duet partner for coffee at the Lima Bean.