Chapter 19

The following week was consumed by preparations for sectionals, long rehearsals and last-minute adjustments of costumes. Everything had to be ready before Thanksgiving, as the competition was taking place the Saturday after. Everyone seemed pretty confident of their win, especially having a little bit of inside knowledge about the Warblers from Blaine. Having his former friends as rivals, though, wasn’t a dream come true. He might have not been close with most of those guys, but he did like them and they had always been nice and fair to him. And after Westerville North, that was profoundly touching.

Rachel learning about Finn’s brief sexual relationship with Santana caused a disturbance within the Glee club. Kurt decided it had to be an impossibility to have any of their competitions take place without some drama, but still he offered his shoulder for her to cry on.

‘But why didn’t he tell me?,’ Rachel asked weakly for the hundredth time. She, Kurt and Blaine were sitting on Blaine’s bed, stuffing their faces full of junk food in an attempt to cheer her up. It didn’t appear to be working.

‘Because he’s stupid.’ Kurt shrugged. ‘Seriously, Rachel, he thought it didn’t matter. You weren’t together back then, and he hoped you’d never find out. It’s not like he ever cheated on you.’

A sob escaped Rachel’s mouth and she silenced it with another handful of potato chips.

‘I know I shouldn’t have made out with Puckerman,’ she said once she swallowed the food. ‘But I was so mad! And it’s not really like I cheated, is it?’

Blaine winced; he didn’t feel good about disillusioning her, but well, someone had to clear this up for her.

‘It kinda is.’

‘It is?,’ Rachel wailed. None of this was really helping.

Kurt’s eyes went from one of his friends to the other for a moment.

‘Yeah, honey, it is,’ he finally said as subtly as he could. ‘You know, you could say that flirting isn’t really cheating, but when it comes to making out… Well, that’s cheating.’

‘No, Kurt, flirting is cheating, too,’ Blaine cut in.

His friend frowned, considering it. ‘You think so?’

‘In a way, it is cheating. It’s like, whenever you do things with someone who isn’t the person you’re with, things that you should do with that person, it’s cheating. So cheating could be many things. Sex, making out, being flirty, anything that should be reserved for doing with your partner.’

Kurt blinked a few times, just to make absolutely sure he really was looking at his best friend. He wouldn’t have thought Blaine had such notions figured out. Things connected with relationships. It took him by surprise.

‘Anyway, Rache,’ Kurt said, getting his thoughts back to the girl’s tribulations, ‘Finn might be a great guy, but maybe it’s for the best? You would not want to marry that guy, he’s an utter slob.’

Rachel giggled shortly, before remembering her broken heart and reaching for another doze of comforting empty calories.

***

The three of them were lying squished in bed, Rachel already asleep, the boys whispering not to wake her. The house was completely quiet and dark, and it was high time for Kurt and Blaine to sleep as well. They were leaving for sectionals at eight the next morning.

‘It’s a good thing you agreed to serve as a bucket for Rachel’s tears, too,’ Kurt was saying. ‘I’m not sure I’d bear all the crying on my own. At times like this I feel bad for all the straight guys.’

Blaine chuckled, putting his hand to his mouth to muffle the laughter.

‘I’m glad to help. She’s really not that bad, even when she’s being all mopey and depressing.’

‘I wouldn’t have thought you were such a pro at explaining the intricacies of romantic relationships, though,’ Kurt said. ‘I was kinda impressed.’

‘By my opinion on cheating? It’s nothing impressive, to be honest.’ Blaine shrugged and tucked his hands under his pillow. ‘It’s just… I’ve been thinking about what I would expect from a boyfriend, what I would have a problem with forgiving, what I would probably never do… So it kinda came from that.’

He kept his eyes away from Kurt’s as he was speaking. When he was finished, his friend seemed to be still perfectly serious, so Blaine lifted his gaze to look at him. A small smile was curving Kurt’s lips.

‘So what do you expect from a boyfriend?,’ he asked, half serious, half kidding.

Blaine bit his lip for a moment, gathering his thoughts.

‘I’d like him to be caring. Polite, a true gentleman. I’d like him to be able to make me laugh. But he couldn’t laugh at me, when I get misty-eyed while watching a movie or something. He’d have to be musical. I couldn’t bear to be with someone who can’t appreciate music.’

‘What else?,’ Kurt prodded him on.

‘He’d have to be intelligent. There’s nothing hotter than brains.’ Kurt nodded in acquiescence. ‘And… Well, it’s not really a requirement, but it wouldn’t hurt if he was good-looking.’

Kurt giggled. ‘But it’s reasonable.’

‘Yeah, it is.’ Blaine paused. ‘And what about you? What would your dream boyfriend be like?’ His eyes glinted playfully in the darkness.

‘Hm, let’s see. Caring, polite, witty, sensitive, musical, intelligent, hot. Same as you, I guess. I mean, same as you want.’

They laughed just a little too loud, and Kurt clasped a hand to his mouth, turning to check if Rachel hadn’t woken up. She stirred a little, but her eyes remained closed. He let out a relieved sigh and faced Blaine again.

‘You know, though, it kinda does sound like me,’ Blaine said jokily.

‘Right,’ Kurt snorted. ‘It kinda sounds like me, too.’

‘So maybe, if we’re forty and still single, we should get together.’

‘Deal.’ Kurt smiled, reaching to shake Blaine’s hand.

They stayed quiet for a couple of minutes, sleepiness beginning to overcome their minds.

‘You know what?,’ Kurt said drowsily, when both of them were on the verge of consciousness.

‘Hm?’

‘I think I just want a boyfriend that would love me.’