Damn them.

Still though, he was here, and they were somewhere else, and he now had the pleasure of watching Blaine fawn over an older, fluffy-haired junior manager.

"If he and I got married, the GAP would give me a 50% discount."

Oh dear god.

Well that was certainly one wedding that Kurt would not be attending.

But then Blaine was muttering something, and turning to walk away, and it was just Kurt's natural instinct to grab his shoulders, turn him right back around, and say "Come on. Man up. You're amazing. He's gonna love you."

I already do.

And yet despite that, when Blaine turned around one last time to look as Kurt questioningly, taking deep, steadying breaths, Kurt smiled encouragingly and nodded.

Because he liked seeing Blaine smile.

Even, he admitted to himself as the Warblers started the opening notes of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, if someone else was making him do it.

That small admission didn't help much though, especially as the song reached its first chorus and Blaine purpose was made very, very clear.

"You can keep your toys in the drawer tonight."

Oh my god. No. He did not just sing that. He thought they were cutting that line out.

And then Blaine was standing next to him, still singing and occasionally throwing a casual glance his way, and Kurt felt his face break into an overly saccharine smile (it's not like he was contributing much to the song anyways.) Still though, Blaine didn't find it too creepy or weird or whatever, and was soon prancing over to stand on some sweaters or something. Kurt felt his face slip back into a frown.

And then the song was over.

Thank god.

Kurt hadn't really been paying much attention though. He was far more interested in the way that GAP guy (Kurt had forgotten his name by that point) seemed to be running away from Blaine more than swooning and falling into his arms, which, at least in Kurt's opinion, would be far more appropriate to the situation.

Maybe there was hope, after all.

So Kurt shuffled out of the store with the rest of the Warblers, halfheartedly exchanging sentiments of "good job" and "thanks for coming," and tried to ignore the image of Blaine flashing that dazzling grin at GAP guy and him hesitantly smiling back as he rung up those tacky argyle socks.

Most of the other Warblers had already piled into vans or SUVs or really expensive cars and driven off when Blaine strode out of the store, clutching a bag in one hand and winding his scarf around his neck with the other.

"So what'd he think?" Kurt let his curiosity (and, yes, his jealousy) get the best of him. He was fairly sure that he succeeded in keeping his voice light and airy.

"He said he'd meet me outside. " Blaine was now sitting next to Kurt on the bench, hands tucked between his legs and feet tapping anxiously against the pavement.

"Was it too much?" He suddenly burst out. Kurt merely turned his head and tried to convey "Um, songs about sex toys in a public store that also happens to be the place he works, I'm not sure, you tell me" with a stare. Apparently it worked, because Blaine turned away and started muttering about how "Yeah, it was too much." Luckily or otherwise, (because Blaine looked right on the verge of a heart attack) GAP guy chose that moment to walk out of the store with his hood pulled up over his luscious hair.

Sometimes Kurt wondered why he even tried.

But wait, hold up.

"What the hell was that?" GAP guy (whose name was now revealed to be Jeremiah) was not looking too pleased.

"What?"

"You can't just…bust a groove in the middle of someone else's workplace." 'Bust a groove'? Really? Kurt was beginning to doubt Blaine's taste in men.

"But they loved it!" Kurt could virtually feel the optimism emanating off of Blaine.

"Well my boss didn't! And neither did I." His voice dropped a little as he said, "No one here knows I'm gay." And sure, Kurt probably could have been kinder, and maybe just a little more sympathetic, but really? Could anyone (besides Blaine) be less subtle? The words practically said themselves.

"Can I be honest? Just with the hair? I think they do." Jeremiah, for better or worse, ignored him in favor of brutally turning Blaine down.

Okay. Kurt definitely could have been nicer. And even though Blaine's back was turned to him, he was pretty sure he could hear his face falling as Jeremiah stalked away.

Then Blaine was turning back towards Kurt, looking a little cold but mostly just lost. He shuffled over to the bench and dropped down next to Kurt, close enough that he could feel his body heat, even through all the thick layers of clothing.

Blaine let out a long, slow sigh that crystallized in the air before being blown away by a puff of wind.

"Well that sucked." He was completely unreadable; his face was blank and his tone of voice was light, almost conversational.

But Kurt also knew his way around rejection, and he knew that this was just the first stage. So while Blaine was still staring straight ahead, eyes focused on something Kurt knew he wouldn't be able to see, he placed a tentative hand on Blaine's shoulder in what he hoped was a comforting gesture.

And then all of a sudden there was something warm and heavy pressed up very, very close to Kurt's side.

That something turned out to be Blaine. Who had inexplicably slumped sideways onto Kurt's shoulder. And in the sudden rush of physical affection, Kurt's hand had been forcefully relocated to somewhere between Blaine's shoulder blades.

Well, that wasn't awkward at all.

"This really sucks," Blaine repeated, this time dangerously close to Kurt's ear.

Kurt didn't trust himself to say anything beyond a vague "Mmm" of understanding, even that coming out embarrassingly high. He shifted his arm so that it was more wrapped around Blaine's shoulders than resting between them and sort of patted his arm.

No, it most certainly was not awkward at all.

Well, at least not for Blaine. Because Kurt couldn't hear his heart thudding, as he was sure Blaine could hear his.

Kurt wasn't sure how long they sat there. All he knew was that the "ohmygod he's so close" part of his brain and the "stay calm don't creep him out" part were battling furiously.

Eventually the latter part won, aided by a scrawny-looking girl in a garish electric-blue coat shooting them a nasty glare. He withdrew his hand and leaned away slightly. Blaine thankfully took the hint and straightened up.

To break the slightly awkward silence that was brewing, he slapped his hands down on his knees and said, "So," then turned to Blaine, who was already looking at him with rapt attention. "You up for coffee?"

"Always." The response was immediate.

Kurt's stomach flipped as Blaine smiled.

"Well let's go then." He cursed his vocal chords for making his voice come out sounding so breathless.

He tucked his hands into his pockets so that Blaine wouldn't do anything embarrassing like try to hold his hand. Even though it had happened before, Kurt's heart was already fighting its way out of his chest, and he really didn't want it to get any further.

Yes, Kurt decided, he definitely liked seeing Blaine smile.

But, he thought as they both silently clambered into the black Navigator that was his car, he definitely preferred when it was his fault.