Summary: Kurt and Blaine's first kiss could have happened in so many different ways and at so many different times. #2: Real Me.

Enjoy the Story!

Once again Kurt fell into line with the other Warblers as they back-up for Blaine, again. Blaine had won the solo fair and square, but that didn't mean that Kurt wasn't jealous at least a little bit. As time had grown on at Dalton, he had figured out that while other people had tried for the solos they would always be ultimately given to Blaine. Even if it wasn't in his natural key. And that made Kurt a bit miffed, but he was slowly accepting that. And that is what scared him. When did he stop fighting for solos?

Over the next few weeks Kurt kept his eyes and ears open to his surroundings for anything that might give himself a hint as to what was wrong with himself. During Warbler meetings he realized that he never voiced the opinions that were continuously floating around in his head. Even when the counsel had asked for opinions for their regionals ensemble he froze in his spot, his lips pursed together refusing to open. Him, Kurt Hummel, fashion extraordinary could not even vocalize his thoughts. A part of him wanted to speak up, to tell them his ideas. Only his lips stayed pursed together, not cooperating. All he could do was think about the thoughts and questions that had gathered in the front of his mind.

What's wrong with me? Why haven't I told them what a stupid idea it is to put those colors together? When was the last time they had worn something that wasn't blue or red? Wait... when was the last time I let myself wear something that wasn't Dalton approved? When did I start to do just as Blaine had asked of me? Did I do it subconsciously? When did I conform? Maybe it started when I began to board here? Oh Gaga! Have I even gone home this month?

He stopped his thoughts there. He couldn't believe it. He had begun to conform so much that he hadn't even gone home to visit his family. He had conformed so much that he had started to consider that Dalton was his home now, just like it has been for all of the other guys who board at this school. Kurt knew he had to get out of there. So he did just that.

Kurt abruptly stood, getting up from his spot on the couch next to Blaine. He may have just interrupted David's announcement about an upcoming performance at the local GAP that may or may not be a warm-up for regionals, but he just had to leave the room. He didn't hear the voices calling after him, inquiring where he was going or if he was ok. He just left the room and on impulse went to the main building and checked himself out of school for the next few days.

He went to his dorm and packed a few well needed items before making his way out to the student parking lot and towards his vehicle. The one thing he noticed from a distance was that someone was leaning up against his car. The thing he noticed up close was that the person leaning against his car was Blaine Anderson. Stopping a few feet away from his car, Kurt waited.

" Kurt?"

Blaine took a step forward. He reached out for the younger boy, only for Kurt to take a step back. The slight hurt and confusion on Blaine's face was almost too much for him, but Kurt knew what he had to do.
" I can't do this anymore. I'm sorry, I tried. I just can't do this anymore." Kurt told the older boy, trying to move around him so he could get to his car. Only Blaine was quicker and grabbed Kurt lightly at the wrist.

" Kurt, please talk to me." Blaine pleaded, " What exactly are you apologizing for? What exactly can't you do anymore?"

" I really don't want to talk right now, Blaine. I just want to go home." Kurt said quietly, trying to pull his wrist from Blaine's grip. Only Blaine held on a bit tighter trying to make Kurt see reason that he just wasn't going to let him go especially when Kurt was obviously upset. " Please, let me go, Blaine."

" I can't do that. Not when something is upsetting you."

" Geez Blaine!" Kurt exclaimed. " I just wanna go home, alright!"

" Dammit Kurt, will you just talk to me? Tell me what is going on in that head of yours, because until you do I'm not letting you go!"

" Fine! You want to know what's going on. Well, here it is, you'll be so proud of me! I did just as you asked me too. I friggin' conformed, Blaine." Kurt yelled out.

" Kurt?"

"I conformed to Dalton, to how the Warblers do things and while I've been here I've created this persona of myself that even I don't recognize. Because I know for sure that the old me sure as hell wouldn't have just shut up and excepted how somethings are done around here. This is the problem, Blaine. I've just accepted everything that has been going on these past few months and I truly think that I have lost myself somewhere between then and now."
" Kurt, no..." Kurt turned his head away to look anywhere else, but at Blaine.

The younger boy chuckled bitterly, " When was the last time I suggested something or even spoke up during a Warblers meeting? When was the last time you've seen me out of this damned uniform? When was the last time I actually left campus to go somewhere? Did you know that I haven't been home in a month? That I've actually started thinking that Dalton was my home. Did you know that I've missed at least four friday family dinners because of lame excuses, that I need to do my homework or some stupid shit like that? Do you want to know what happened the last time I told my father I wasn't going to be able to attend a friday dinner? Do you? He had a heart attack, Blaine!"

Something made Kurt pause and glance at the usually dapper boy's face. Tears were streaming down Blaine's cheeks and everyone of them that fell from his face pierced Kurt's heart like a dull knife. The pain and guilt Kurt felt from yelling at Blaine made him want to start crying himself.

" Blaine, I'm sorry..." Kurt started, but was cut off do to Blaine wrapping his arms around Kurt tightly, pulling him as close to himself as possible.

" Don't you dare!" Blaine growled at him. " Don't you dare apologize to me. This is all my fault!"

" No, Blaine. It isn't." Kurt replied quickly. " I'm sorry for yell..."

Blaine cut him off again by squeezing his arms tighter around Kurt as if to quiet him and tell him to stop apologizing.

" I practically told you to change yourself to fit in, not to try so hard." Now it was Kurt's time to interrupt Blaine.

" That's right. You asked me not to try so hard. Told me to notice that we all wear uniforms. I didn't have to go along with it."

" Then tell me why you did?" Kurt turned his face away from Blaine again and looked towards the ground, but the older boy wasn't having any of that. He grabbed Kurt's chin in his right hand and forced Kurt to look at him. Making sure their eyes met, Blaine asked Kurt again.

" Tell me why you did."

" I'd do anything you'd ask me too." Kurt muttered softly and Blaine's grip on Kurt loosened a bit and Kurt tried to extracted himself of Blaine's arms. Blaine, noticing what Kurt was trying to do, tightened his grip on Kurt once more forcing him to stay where he was, in Blaine's arms.

" Why? You don't have to do anything for me. So, why did you?"

Kurt meeting Blaine's eyes head on, replied softly. " Because I'm in love with you." And Kurt leaned forwards and captured Blaine's lips with his own, trying to show Blaine just how much he loved him with just one kiss.

Just as quick as it happened, it ended. When Kurt pulled away after a few seconds Blaine realized what was happening and pulled him back, kissing the boy in his arms until they both had a mutual desire to breathe.

" Blaine?" Kurt whispered.

" I love you too, Kurt Hummel. I have for a while now. I was just too blind to see it."

" Really?"

" Yes silly. Will you promise me one thing?"

" Anything."

" Don't ever change yourself again. Not for me, not for anyone. Because I like the real you."

" I like the real me too." Kurt replied, giggling lightly as Blaine placed a kiss on his nose.

" Lets get you home."