"So I can presume you liked it?" Cooper sniggered on the other end of the line after Kurt picked up the phone with nothing more than thank-you's.

"I love it, thank you." Kurt was lying on his bed as usual, grinning in pure happiness of hearing his boyfriend again. "Did you find yours?"

"I did, thank you." Cooper hummed a little. "So, my big audition is Friday and then this weekend they're offering some workshops and I'm trying to get to Ohio before Monday night - but I'll definitely be here on New Year's Day."

"That's better than nothing I guess." Kurt said, but the disappointment slipped through.

"At least we can go back to New York together, m'kay?" Cooper let out a yawning noise. "Anyway, what have you been doing? Meeting up with friends?"

"Uhm," Kurt swallowed, "actually I've been hanging out with Blaine."

"Blaine? Blaine Blaine? My Blaine? Squirtle Blaine?" Cooper seemed surprised, shifting around wherever he was and shuffling through things.

"The one and only." he snickered, rolling to his side. "I ran into him in the Lima Bean, and - well, it's cool right? If I'm friends with your little brother." He perked up a bit in awaiting an answer.

"Yeah, of course. I was just expecting you to jump into your old friends."

"Ugh, I know." Kurt fell back. "I'm being a coward."

"No, you're not. People change, Kurt - you've changed." The phone cracked a bit.

"I'm still doubting to go to Sugar's party or not," he lifted his arm and grabbed a pillow that was lying uncomfortable in his neck and adjusted it, "everybody is going to be there, old - new, still in Glee club even." Maybe Blaine was going. Kurt lifted an eyebrow at that thought - he could hold onto his new friend in case his old friends start harassing him.

"Text me what you're doing, so I know where to find you if I get there in time."

Kurt hummed in response. "Kay, I'm going to sleep now."

"What? Why? It's only nine -"

"Timezones, Cooper - ever heard of them?" Kurt laughed, wished his boyfriend goodnight and turned around. This holiday was going to be long.

On the last day of the year, Blaine was balancing on a ladder in the storage of Hummel's Tires and Lube, counting alternators.

Burt was in the front - probably checking underneath Blaine's car's hood. When he drove in this morning his car was stuttering and his boss promised to check it out before he had to go back to Westerville. They needed to get the inventory done before the year was out, and with the delays of people not driving with winter-tires - they were well behind.

It was half past seven in the evening and Blaine was still counting and writing down how many. Around five Carole had stopped by with dinner (low-fat hamburgers, because apparently Burt had to watch his heart), watching Blaine with a smile and trying to keep him from his work by asking a million things - until Burt had figuratively kicked him back to the storage with a big smile on his face.

"Blaine?" Burt called and Blaine jumped down the ladder.

"Yes?" he yelled back, but there was no response. Blaine took that as hint that he needed to come up front and as he expected Burt was standing next to his car. "Is it bad?" he asked.

"Not that bad, need to clean out something, but I have a deal - what if I just help you finishing up so we're done earlier and I just drop you off wherever you want me to drop you off? I don't want you to count down to the new year in the garage." Burt laughed softly.

Blaine shrugged. "Don't see any problems in that."

"Good, are you going to a party or something?" Burt walked with him to the storage, taking the opposite side of the aisle Blaine was working.

"Don't think so." he returned to his ladder. "My parents have some business partners over, so it's not that festive at home. And my brother's out of town -"

"Isn't that Sugar kid throwing a party? I remember when she did a Valentine thing and Kurt came home with a box filled with cheese. In shapes of hearts." Burt chuckled under his breath.

"Y-yeah, yeah she is." Blaine said, wondering how Burt knew that - did Kurt tell him? Is Kurt going?

"Well," Burt eyed at him with a strange hopeful glare, "should I drop you off there?"

Blaine hadn't planned on going to Sugar's party, or even considered it. His deadline for his full musical piece was nearing and he needed to step up his game if he wanted to get into Juilliard. But he also didn't want to be a burden for Burt to drive all the way to Westerville - damn you, car.

"I'm sure you can hitch a ride with someone, or sleep there. I remember that Kurt had dozens of sleepovers with his ‘girls'." Burt made quoting marks with his fingers. "Shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Was this a trick or something? Why did Burt want him to go to Sugar's party so much? Or was it just him pushing so he didn't have make the two hour drive, because Blaine could call his father to pick him up if that was the case - but what if this was just a sign?

Blaine bit his lip for a moment, considering his options and eventually told Burt he could drive him to Sugar's house. It wasn't like it was going to harm him to live a little.

Kurt was dressed to go to Sugar's party.

He was wearing his favorite designer clothes from New York - a bit of bragging wouldn't harm anyone, and of course the brooche Cooper had bought him was the highlight of it.

His hair was coiffed to perfection, skin ridiculously smooth for the cold winter weather - bless good moisturizing products and he loved his new boots he got for Christmas from his dad.

He was completely ready to go and ready to shine the hell out of himself.

And still he was sighing deeply at eight at night - four hours until midnight - scrolling along Etsy to look at cute items. His outside may seem completely ready to go, but his head was anywhere near done.

This was going to be his last chance to see his friends this year. The next time he would come back to Ohio - well maybe - was with Spring Break and he wasn't sure on what doing then. Finn had already left to the party.

He sighed deeply and gave his computer mouse another roll, the webpage filling with new things.

It was a roaring car outside that drew his attention away from the screen - so did the Spanish swearing and yelling that came along with it.

"Kurt Hummel!" the all familiar voice of Santana yelled with an extraordinary volume. "You better be ready and set to go, because I will drag you to that party in your pajamas!" More Spanish yelling and Kurt ran down to make sure she didn't knock through the door.

With red cheeks of the running down he opened the door to face the yelling Latina.

"Ah, at least you're dressed -" she said surprised, her face softened a bit before it turned hard again. "Why the hell aren't you going yet, Blossoms, Bubbles or Buttercup?"

"I - I was getting ready -"

"Oh, bitch please. I can tell you were done at least an hour ago, grab your shit and get to the car." Santana poked him threatening.

"Ow!" Kurt slapped her hand away and rubbed the sore spot. "I bruise easily, you know!"

"Like I didn't know with the amount of hickeys you had on your neck when I kidnapped you from New York, get - your - shit, Hummel!" Santana stared at him darkly. She was not going to leave without him Kurt deducted and threw his hands up with a ‘fine'. He turned around and got his bag.

Kurt offered to go with his Navigator instead of the barrel, but Santana insisted on going with her car - in case he was planning on sneaking out after they'd arrive. He dropped his head against the window when she started to drive into the darkness of Lima.

"Don't mention it, kid." Burt cut Blaine's millionth show of gratitude off. "You can pick up your car somewhere this week."

Blaine nodded, swallowed another thank you and got out of the car. Burt blinked his headlights in acknowledgement before driving off, leaving Blaine alone at the huge mansion of the Motta family. And she still kept on convincing people her dad wasn't in the mafia. He rolled his eyes and made way up to the porch.

Sounds of cheering and people partying were heard from afar and Blaine didn't even have to ring the bell, because the door was already open - anyone could just walk in. Ridiculous.

He peeked around the corner of the door, only to be practically assaulted by Sugar. Her thin arm wrapped around his while screaming his name in an extreme high pitch and she dragged him inside.

"Guys! Guys! Blainey is here! Everybody cheer, yay!"

Blaine's eyes widened at a comical size at seeing and hearing the huge crowd of people whom were chanting his name - even people he didn't know raised their red cups for him. What had he gotten himself into?

Sugar led him into the mass, introducing him to a few people (including old member Finn - aka Kurt's stepbrother and Blaine knew for sure that coming to the party was a bad idea) and eventually Tina took over her task. The Asian girl was giggling and snorting, unable to properly form sentences. Tina had decided not to see her boyfriend for Christmas and apparently she had been drinking the sadness away during the party.

"Blainey, B-Blaiiiinee -" her words slurred, "go find Puck, he'll hook you up with a drink."

"I'm not sure if that's a good idea -" he chickened out. She faced him immediately with a big pout.

"But, but - come on! It's fun!" She leaned in too close, wobbling on her legs and her drink was sloshing dangerously. "Puck!"

"Yeah!" A tall - a very, very - tall and broad - very, very broad - guy with a mohawk appeared. He had a vague tan over his skin, as if he was in the sun daily and had a bottle of some kind of liquor in his other hand. "Sup?" The guy named Puck raised his chin a bit as a greeting.

"Not much." Blaine replied awkwardly.

"Blaine is like our new soloist, he's ah-mazing." Tina's entire head moved with her talking. "We're so happy to have you."

As if Blaine wasn't uncomfortable enough, Tina swung her arms around him and squeezed him from the side.

"Thanks, Tina." he said.

"So whadda need me for?" Puck said, also slurring and Blaine noticed the bottle was more empty than full. Tina perked up again, arms still around him.

"Blaine needs a drink. Something sweet, just like him." A hand went through his gelled hair and Blaine was officially mortified.

"Woah, Changster, what would Mike say?" Puck grinned while stealing a random cup and poured down the remaining liquor.

"Silly Puck, Blaine plays on the other team." Tina giggle-snorted.

Blaine was just waiting for the judgment, but instead Puck handed him the sticky cup that had a sickeningly sweet smell.

"s'Cool." he shrugged. "Maybe if you had enough of that," he nodded at the cup, "you'll get lucky." He turned around when someone called his name and Puck vacated the duo.

"Alrighty." Blaine said with his jaw clenched. He brought the cup up, still not over the smell, and took a sip.

"It's good, right?" Tina chuckled and Blaine agreed.

"Not bad." he said while taking another sip, alcohol burning through his throat. "Not bad at all."

---

Kurt followed the familiar car passing by turning his head. That car was oddly similar to his dad's car, but he was supposed to be at the shop until inventory was done.

He shook his head and returned his attention fully to the girl driving, whom was nagging about some random thing that Kurt missed.

"Why do you want me at that party so badly?" Kurt cut her off, staring intensely to force an answer out of her. "The truth, please."

 "Fine." she spat. "I don't want to go alone, Thanksgiving was as awkward as it is and you'll be the most down to earth one. I can just see myself sitting in the corner again, mocking over people and watch her being friendly with everyone except me because she forgot what to do when I look mad."

"You still love her." Kurt said. "Just do what you said in the car. You're going to be here, right?" She nodded. "Just try to connect again. I always said you two were the power couple of the entire glee club."

Santana gave him a surprised look before returning to the road.

"Really now, scuba diver?" she said smug.

"The president and the captain." Kurt added with a smile. He sighed impatiently. "Are we there yet? I want this to be over."

"Easy, we need a killer entrance. After all, I'm the one who brought Kurt Hummel to a reunion when no one is expecting it, I should be crowned."

"Sure thing, honey." Kurt rolled his eyes and his voice was dripping with sarcasm, which made Santana slap his knee. "Ow! Stop that."

The car took a right and the huge house of the Motta's appeared in Kurt's vision. He really hoped Blaine would be there so he had someone to talk to that wasn't a stranger or an old classmate. By the amount of cars outside a lot of people were there.

"Jesus, did she invite entire McKinley?" Santana remarked.

"She can afford it." Kurt unbuckled himself as Santana parked the car. Once the door from the car opened, they both were trashed with the nuisance of partying.

"Sounds parent-less." Santana licked her lips with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. "You here that? That's the sound of alcohol flowing, come to momma!" She made her way to the door without even waiting for Kurt. Sighing he followed her, still not keen on any kinds of alcohol flowing since sophomore year. Cooper liked a beer occasionally, but had learned quickly that Kurt remained to a minimal amount.

Inside the house it was an upgraded version of the Rachel Berry house party - with more expensive alcohol and more people. So much for Santana wanting to stay close to Kurt because she had ran off to the bar - probably proposing some body shots with a random girl.

Stiffly he moved around the crowd, not touching or even recognizing anyone - where the hell did he end up now?

It was when he entered some kind of game slash living room, someone chanted his name at a deafening volume.

All of a sudden his vision was a blur of fine blonde hair and Kurt knew that smell (combined with some alcohol), plus the girl was in her bra - so no one else but Brittany was giving him a bone-crushing hug.

"Oh my God, Kurtie." she whispered in his ear. "Sweet baby unicorn is back." The cheerleader pulled back, smiling brightly and her breath was entwined with rum.

"Brit brit." Kurt cooed, pushing a strain of hair out of her face. "Where is your shirt, honey?"

"You still don't like boobs?" She pouted adorably. "Wait! Wait!" Her face opened wide in excitement and grabbed his hand. "I know someone else who doesn't like boobs!" She started to drag him out of the room into another one where people were lounging on several couches. "He is totally cute, but he should totally see a physician to check on his gel addiction. He needs help." She gave him a serious look.

They stopped in front of one of the couches where three people were all over each other - legs crossing, arms hugging and heads resting on each other. Tina was playing with Sugar's hand, keeping on linking their fingers and ooh-ing at the ring on her middle finger and Sugar was telling her lifestory drama of when she didn't get a pony - her second pony that is. And in the middle of the Rainbow Dash trio was Blaine, focusing on Sugar's story and gasping at every other word. His hair was struggling the gel, a hand was resting on Tina's thigh to keep her on the couch and his mouth didn't seem to close anymore.

"Oh, maybe he does like boobs after all - Blainebear!" Brittany said and Blaine's head shot up, eyes going from Brittany to Kurt. His eyes practically popped and his mouth tried to form words, but his tongue seemed to heavy.

"Kurt!" Tina and Sugar squealed in unison, unwrapping themselves from Blaine to hug their old friend. A Tina-Kurt-Sugar sandwich was made and Kurt smiled into the hug. The girls started to chat at him and Kurt, unable to make out a singular word of it, scrunched his face in panic.

"Oh my God!" Tina suddenly said, turning back to the couch. "Blaine! Blaaiiine! This is Kurt! Remember when we were watching old videos and you asked who that was, well this is Kurt!" She turned to Kurt. "Kurt! This is Blaine, our heart-throbbing singer." Her arm flung out in a dramatic presenting gesture which both Blaine and Kurt rolled their eyes at. "Come, come, you two should be friends." Kurt chuckled at that, letting himself being pushed on the couch right next to Blaine - almost on the boy.

Soon they were cradled all together on the couch with Kurt and Blaine in the middle. Blaine hadn't said a word since Kurt arrived, all he did was staring dumbly at his brother's boyfriend.

"Kurt! Kurt! How's New York?" Tina asked, scooting in closer and swung her leg over Blaine's again. He started to talk about Tisch, entailing things about the lessons and Tina listened with a curious expression.

"I applied for Tisch." she blurted out, cheek against Blaine's. "Blainey advised me, he's so sweet." A kiss was promptly placed on the cheek she was leaning against.

"Blaine really is." Sugar cradled over Kurt to pet Blaine's head.

"I still need to kiss him." Brittany made an attempt to make her mission true, but Kurt prevented it from happening.

"No abusing intoxicated gay guys." he said and Blaine let out the loudest laugh he could manage to create.

"You're so funny." he slurred, daring to get even closer to Kurt. "I'm so happy we're friends."

"But you only met like ten minutes ago." Tina frowned. Kurt was about to fill her in when Puck ran into the room looking for Sugar. Apparently people were trashing the kitchen and Sugar jumped up, pulling Tina with her to see the damage. Brittany's span of attention ran out and she also left, leaving only Kurt and Blaine on the couch - still closer than normal.

The alcohol was making Blaine abnormally brave because usually he would have tried to create more space between them, but since Kurt didn't - neither did he.

"You're so funny." he repeated, sounding rather sleepy.

"And you've had way too much." Kurt forced the cup out of Blaine's hand, sighing at seeing that it was empty and dumped it somewhere random. He leaned back, not minding Blaine rested his heavy head on Kurt's shoulder.

"But it's so nice." he murmured.

"It won't be tomorrow morning."

Blaine moved his head down to say something, but he stopped when he eyed the brooche on Kurt's lapel. His hand raised and he caressed it with one finger.

"You like it?" Kurt snickered. "Thanks again for hiding it."

But Blaine didn't say anything, he just stroked the feather of the bird and sighed deeply.

"Kurt?"

 He hummed in acknowledgement.

"Why are you so - so," Blaine tripped on the words because of the alcohol. His hands were stretching wide in frustration. "You're just, I mean - oh Kurt." His face disappeared in the crook of Kurt's neck and that's when Kurt pushed him back.

"Oh Blaine," he took the boy's head and cupped it between his hands, "you're really out of this world, aren't you?"

Blaine's eyelids fluttered shut and he nodded weirdly with his head still being held. "'M, yes."

"Well, first time for everything." He managed to put Blaine back against the backrest of the couch, his head swaying as if it wasn't controlled by the body anymore.

"One minute!" Someone yelled throughout the house and Kurt perked up. He looked down to his wristwatch, seeing how fast time had gone by and watched the last minute of 2012 tick away. Blaine too had sprung up at the notification, getting up on his feet to join all the other standers, but his legs were too wobbly and Kurt jumped up to make sure he stayed standing straight.

"Ten!" the house started to yell.

"Nine!" Kurt hoisted the boy a bit up so it was more comfortable for both.

"Eight!" Blaine shouted along.

"Seven!" Kurt bit his lip, Cooper wasn't here - he wasn't going to get his first New Year's kiss.

"Six!" Some people started to cheer already.

"Five!" Kurt sighed and joined in as well.

"Four!" Brittany was back in the room, raising two fingers.

"Three!" Blaine threw his arm up at the last count-downs.

"Two!" Sugar was on a table again.

"ONE! HAPPY NEW YEAR!" The whole house erupted into a pandemonium, kisses and hugs shared everywhere around him. Blaine was still cheering, grinning wide and Kurt didn't know what came over him. He grabbed his friend's face, turned it facing away from him and softly placed a kiss on his cheek. Blaine had a soft stubble, but other than that his cheek was quite smooth. His body however froze completely, lips falling open wide and he turned to Kurt after he pulled back.

"Happy new year." He got a New Year's kiss after all - or gave one.

"Happy new-"

"KURT!" a male voice yelled and Kurt snapped up to it. Between all the kissing couples and clinking champagne glasses, Cooper made way to his boyfriend and brother. Finally he reached them, placing his hands on Kurt's shoulders and surged him forward. "Happy new year, sweetheart." he whispered before crashing their lips together.

Both didn't notice the boy next to them leaving quietly, head hung down and shoulders trembling, stumbling to an unknown destination - didn't matter where, as long as it was far away.

Blaine slumped himself through the crowded room. People were slamming him on the shoulder, wishing him a happy new year - and what a happy new year it already was. While continuing his stumble to get as far away as possible, his hand was still absentmindedly stroking the spot on his cheek where Kurt's lips were not longer than a few minutes ago.

He had been Kurt's New Year's Eve kiss. His drunken mind had barely registered the surroundings as Kurt literally pulled him up, made his head less wobbly by holding it firmly between his hands and then softly pressed a kiss on Blaine's cheek. His whole body had short circuited, boldly resisting every urge to give in into the brilliant drunken thought of just turning its head and kiss Kurt senseless on the mouth.

Everything had been awesome. Until, of course, reality slapped him flat handed in the face with Cooper rushing into the room and snatching Kurt away right under his nose.

Blaine had to admit to himself that in the past week, he'd practically forgot that Kurt was first and ever more Cooper's boyfriend and not his new best friend he'd met in a meet-cute way. Kurt was taken.

And Blaine hated every bit of that realization.

He bumped into some people, completely lost in his thoughts, and felt wet moisture creep down his shirt.

"Just great." he slurred, ignoring the ‘sorry man' coming from the guy who spilled his beer on him. Never drinking again, he thought. At first the feeling had been amazing: free, not caring and definitely not thinking - but now the alcohol had made a one hundred and eighty degree turn to what Blaine could describe as close to a depression.

His escape continued through the Motta mansion, legs wobbling uncontrolled and after a turn into a hallway Blaine let out a gasp as the entire world was spinning. He threw himself against a wall with his eyes shut to make the dizziness go away, but it only increased. The back of his head hit a photo frame on the wall and he hissed at the numbed pain. He was about to reach for the spot when his arm hit a human body.

A female voice burst out in foreign swears, but Blaine's drunken state didn't even come close to apologizing. He was already deep down in shit as it was.

"Ey, pepito - you okay?" the woman had lowered her tone and was actually sounding concerned. Blaine must look worse than he thought.

"Fine, fine." he muttered, unsure if it even was English as his tongue felt extremely heavy. He opened his eyes and was surprised to find the Hispanic-descendant woman staring at him, completely in his personal space - the alcohol had her too because she had this vague glance blurring her eyes.

"Woah, are you a weepy drunk?" she asked rudely.

"What'ya mean?" Blaine was unable to close his mouth because together with his tongue - his jaw had doubled its weight.

The girl reached out with her hand and a manicured-nailed thumb wiped over his cheek - Kurt's cheek, the cheek Kurt kissed.

"You're crying! Or sweating - or - I dunno." She pulled back her hand to observe the moisture on her hand and Blaine slapped himself, instead of carefully mimic her movement, and indeed felt the wetness of tears covering his face.

In his drunken haze he barely registered the fact he started to cry during his runaway, and this awareness didn't stop the tears from coming.

Right there in that hallway, not more than ten minutes after the new year had started - in front of a drunk Latino woman and all the events from past week and hours running through his mind - Blaine broke.

His shoulders shook widely and his hands went back up to his face to cover it. Tears were unstoppable.

"Woa-woa-woa, you are a weepy drunk." the girl said, sounding far away.

Blaine's legs broke down with him, letting him sink down to the floor and the girl tried to keep him up from collapsing, causing her to be dragged down with him. Together they sat down, leaning against the wall - moments passing without a word shared.

The girl squeezed an arm between the wall and Blaine's shoulders to scoot him closer.

"It's okay." she mumbled when Blaine's crying only grew harder. "I'm sure it'll be just fine -"

"I'm a horrible person." Blaine said muffled behind his hands. "Why - why," he looked up to the girl who was giving him a worried look. He didn't know if it was the drunkness or the need to just spit it out, but he leaned in closer and whispered: "Why does he lo- like him? My brother is so dumb - and all, all - existy."

The girl frowned in confusion, looking around the hall as if she was searching for the man Blaine was talking about.

"Why not me?" His voice was inaudible. The air left his throat to say it, but he wasn't sure if it had reached her ears. The girl however wrapped her other arm around him as well, forcing him down to lay against her breast.

"No one is here, let it out." she suddenly said and Blaine blurting gene took permission before he could fully take in the words.

"It's just - he, not my brother, but he is so perfect. But I don't want to - impose, but it's driving me insane, like completely insane-"

"It's eating you." she stated and Blaine nodded jerkily.

"Every night I fall asleep with thinking what it would be like, you know. And I feel so bad about it, but I want it to happen and I-" Blaine officially placed himself into the weepy drunk category and the girl seemed to be quite the clingy one.

"I know what you mean." she finally said between his sobs. "Not about the bad feeling part, I wanted to break them apart, no matter what it took -"

"Did you - did you succeed?" Blaine hiccupped.

"A bit." she admitted, her hand was now petting through his hair. "But - I would never confess this to anyone and if you tell anyone I will find you and release my rage on you - but it made me sad to think I stole her from someone that made her happy, even though we weren't officially together and they broke off because she admitted something she shouldn't have - but sometimes you want the people you love to be happy, and sometimes that's not with you-" She turned he head down to the boy on her boobs who was staring at her with an open mouth.

"That was deep," Blaine blurted. The girl let out a snort.

"That was the alcohol talking, and maybe the fact I'm covered in body shot saliva." She cringed her nose. "Come shorty, we're both incapable of driving, so let's find a spot to crash."

"Waitwhat?" Blaine said confused while she forced him back onto his feet. "Wait, like together?"

"I'm not letting you out there with the dude you're completely drooling over walking free, I have no idea who you are, but I'm saving you from doing something stupid you need to do when you're sober, ‘kay?"

"You're nice." Blaine felt the dopy drunk smile return.

"Yeah, I don't know what has gotten into me either." The girl looped her arm around his waist and they began their journey to find a place to sleep. "I'm Santana by the way." she added as a matter of fact.

"Blaine."

"Don't really care."

They stumbled toward a stairs, both of them dreading the walk up, but somehow made it onto the first floor where several people were already passing out. Blaine hoped with his entire heart he wouldn't walk into Kurt and Cooper here, please - let them still be downstairs.

"There we go." Santana said and pulled Blaine into the nearest room. "Sugar told me the guest rooms were available so people wouldn't start doing it on the expensive shit, but considering we're both not up for that kind of business, I propose sleep."

Blaine simply followed her, mostly because sleep was sounding awfully good and the room was well hidden. He sighed happily when he was confronted with the huge bed in the middle of the room.

"Perfect." he mumbled and kicked off his shoes. Usually he would protest, do something more honorable - but now with the alcohol still in charge of his senses; Blaine didn't care what he was doing.

In his full outfit, apart from the shoes, Blaine jumped on the bed and swore that he was already half asleep when Santana crawled in next to him. To his surprise she didn't stay on her side, instead she rolled in closer and wrapped herself around him.

"Uhm, Santana?" Blaine asked with his voice sleepy.

"What?" she replied annoyed, her head resting in the crook of his neck.

"What're doing?"

"I sleep better with someone against me, I let you pour your heart out and now you're doing me a favor." She nuzzled even closer. "It's not like I'll remember you in the morning, or vice versa-"

"Y're pro'bly right."

Blaine definitely would never drink again because sober Blaine would never do this. But that didn't mean he was happy to be comforted by someone who had experienced the same position he was in. He let his eyes flutter closed and prayed his hangover wouldn't be that bad in the morning, but he knew that was false hope.

The sound of someone taking a snapshot woke Blaine from his deep drowsing.

He blinked slowly with great effort and the room around him started to sharpen. The girl sleeping on his chest also came in sight, growling at the stirring movements Blaine was making. With minimum action Blaine turned his head to see where the photographer was and, unsurprisingly, found Cooper in the doorway, grinning at this mobile phone - probably at the picture he just took.

His brother looked back up to see that Blaine had woken up. With a smirk he held up his cell, waving it teasingly.

"Kurt told me you were a bit tipsy, but ending up with a girl in your bed is quite the story I need to share at parties."

"Fuck you." Blaine murmured, hating his voice.

"How's your head?" Cooper asked uninterested and as soon as he mentioned it, Blaine's skull seemed to explode with a head ache. He groaned, making Santana even growl harder and she rolled off of him, trying to find some peace on the other side of the bed. "That's what I thought, come lil' bro - I didn't see your car in the driveways so I assume you're going to drive with me and Kurt."

The name Kurt made Santana open a sleepy eye and stared at the man in the doorway.

"Hey!" she muttered. "You're the human Ken doll. Hercules, - s'mthing."

"Ah, my reputation exceeds me." Cooper said smug. "Now if you'll excuse us, young lady - I'm taking my little brother with me, unless you wish to have a final goodbye cuddle and a promise to never call each other - that's fine by me."

"Brother?" Santana's voice grew harder and Blaine remembered him mentioning his dumb brother to her. His eyes flashed pleadingly to her, begging her not to recall it - please, please. She turned back and forth from Blaine to Cooper, trying to find the similarities - but eventually said: "But, Kurt-?"

"- is my boyfriend, yes." Cooper said, motioning for Blaine to come. But Blaine didn't move. All he did was staring at the girl next to him with big wide eyes. Her mouth was open to say something, shutting not a second after that. With a moan she turned around, told Blaine to go away so she could sleep and didn't say a thing to Cooper.

Blaine forced himself out of the bed, feeling the need to get out of there as fast as possible before Santana changed her mind. She knew Kurt, she knew Cooper - and now she knew Blaine's biggest secret. He let Cooper drag him out of the room to go downstairs, his shoes clenched between his hands.

"My jacket." Blaine said softly.

"Kurt's got it." Cooper said as a matter of factly. "He's waiting at the entrance."

Together they walked to the main hall, only stopping for a minute so Blaine could put on his shoes. His head was still bursting with the ache that was pounding across his head, but he refused to show Cooper this - he didn't want to be taken care of. Except the pain in his head numbed away when he saw Kurt waiting for them. He was observing some ornament close to the door and looked up at hearing them enter.

"Oh good, you found him." Kurt let out a sigh of relief and Blaine's heart fluttered - he had been worrying.

"Yep, in bed with a girl - if you can believe it." Cooper said and Blaine wanted to punch him for saying something humiliating. Kurt's eyes widened though.

"Oh God, Brittany didn't take advantage after all, right?" he shrieked.

"N-no." Blaine whispered with a blush on his cheeks; when Brittany had tried to kiss him, he'd practically been on Kurt's lap.

"Good." Kurt chuckled. "Did you throw up or something?" Blaine frowned at such a question, but shook no. "Well, I guess you're luckier than I was at my first experience with alcohol." He cringed.

"Which is still a story I need to hear, I still secretly hope there was stripping involved -"

"Cooper!" Both Blaine and Kurt said, one mad and one teasingly.

"A man can dream." Cooper nudged at the door. "Let's go, - oh Blaine," He looked down to his brother while urging them outside, "We're dropping off Kurt first and wish the Hudmels a happy new year, you can stay in the car."

"Fine."

"Unless you want to come in, that'll be fine too." Kurt added with a smile and opened the car belonging to Blaine and Cooper's father.

"Staying in the car will do." Blaine quickly said while sitting down in the back. He really didn't want to see his boss while experiencing this weird hangover. Somehow he managed to put on his seatbelt and let his head fall against the cool window.

Kurt was sitting in the front and Cooper was driving. His brother had always been a terrible driver; he had failed his test three times before finally passing and Blaine resisted telling Kurt this in front of Cooper.

Blaine watched Kurt and Cooper share quick glimpses and smiles, until both reached for each other's hands in between them and held them for a little while before Cooper had to make a turn that required two hands.

The image of them holding hands was burned into his mind.

"but sometimes you want the people you love to be happy, and sometimes that's not with you-" Santana's voice chimed, but she hadn't mentioned the raging jealousy that would eat him alive. He shot a dark glance at his brother. You better be making him happy, he thought angrily, you better make him smile like he did the entire week. Sing duets with him, and give him compliments - because if I were you, I would do anything to make Kurt laugh, blush - happy.

He covered his face to make the mad expression go away, hands slipping through his hair and tried to make his headache go away.

Kurt shifted in his seat and turned around to look at Blaine. There was a bright smile on his face, so Blaine hadn't been that embarrassing last night - which was good. For a moment they just stared until Kurt turned back.

You better be making him happy, he shouted in his head toward Cooper. His hand started to shake, fingers making motions as if they were playing a piano and Blaine heard the notes overruling the pain.

He drifted off to his musical place, selecting an order of appearance and realized the notes weren't sweet like they normally were. Blaine usually made soft compositions, easy - acceptable, but now the music was hard, raw and quick. They were raging, pounding and when the car pulled over at the familiar house, Blaine opened his eyes - mouth open in awe; he had found the emotion he needed for his final Juilliard piece and knew exactly how it was going to sound.

Cooper was already out of the car, but Kurt turned around.

"You're sure you want to stay in the car?" he asked and Blaine nodded. "Okay, well, I'm staying until Friday, so if you want to join for coffee, you have my number."

Blaine heard himself swallow - Kurt still wanted to be friends, to spend time with him even though his boyfriend was here.

"And we need to make plans for when you have your Juilliard intake -"

"But I'm not in yet -"

Kurt huffed with a smirk. "Juilliard knows talent, Blaine. You may refuse to let me listen to your audition piece, but I'm pretty sure they'd be stupid not to take you in."

They were disturbed by Cooper, who was knocking impatiently on the window.

"Got to go," Kurt said, packing his stuff, "take some aspirin when you're home, okay? See you, Blaine."

"See you." he muttered back and watched the couple walk up the front lawn. With a groan he let his head fall back against the window. "Idiot." he cursed himself and recalled the music again to make time go faster.

A sharp knock on his window made him wake up again. It could have been minutes later, hours even and Blaine looked up to see who disturbed him. He froze when he saw the piercing eyes of one Burt Hummel staring down through the window, making a motion for Blaine to roll down the window and Blaine did so.

It took Blaine some courage to look back up now the protecting window was gone. Burt didn't look judging, he more or less looked confused.

"What are you doing out here?" he asked brusque. "You got yourself a ride with my son's boyfriend?"

Blaine officially hated the word boyfriend - mostly because it wasn't him that was referenced by it.

"Oh right, he's from Westerville -" Burt continued, realizing that fact, "You know him?"

He couldn't lie to him. How much he wanted to; he just couldn't.

"M-my brother." he said fast and soft, covering his eyes with his hand.

"Your what?" Burt demanded. Blaine dared to look again through his fingers and saw Burt's mouth form an ‘o'. "Brother?"

"Unfortunately." Blaine said under his breath.

"Why didn't you tell me? Didn't he show pictures of Kurt?" The older man seemed to have way more questions than just that, but kept it with those two.

Blaine shrugged. He could barely remember himself why he didn't say anything; he had been up his house with Kurt - but apparently Kurt hadn't mentioned him to his parents either. So much for being best friends.

"You want to come inside?" Burt finally said, letting go of the thought of getting answers.

"I'd rather not."

He nodded understanding. "You can pick up your car tomorrow, if you'd like."

"Thank you, - Burt." Blaine whispered and after one final nod Burt turned around to head back to the house. It was then when Blaine realized he hadn't asked why Burt was outside in the first place.