Tuesday

Kurt found himself more attached to his phone than usual. On more than one occasion, he found himself being instructed by a teacher to "make your phone disappear before it ends up in my desk, Mr. Hummel." He hadn't heard from Blaine. Kurt was almost positive that Blaine would have called the night before and Kurt would have had to square out the importance of not making Kurt his rebound and what repercussions that could have led to. Also, it would have led to a lot of coddling for Blaine's Derek-induced broken heart. But, to his worry, Kurt hadn't heard from Blaine at all. He was tempted to call him, but thought that after his display of running away and ordering Blaine not to tell him that he loves him, the ball was in Blaine's court and he didn't want to press Blaine into a conversation that he wasn't ready to have.

After school was New Directions practice and Zach sat next to Kurt when he walked in the room. "Are you okay?" he asked, breaking Kurt from his thoughts.

Kurt almost jumped. "Yeah. Why?" he asked, trying to sound normal.

"I saw you before school, in passing in the hallways, in our last class together, and now in here and you haven't said one word to me all day. Did I do something wrong?"

Kurt thought the look on Zach's face was saddening. He genuinely looked like Kurt's ignoring him bothered him enough to think that it was his own fault. "Oh no!" Kurt smiled and took Zach's hand. "I'm sorry. It's me. I swear. I had an interesting first day back, to say the least. I forgot how much drama came with attending McKinley High. I promise it's not you. You haven't done anything. I'm just in my head too much."

Zach looked relieved. He smiled back. "Bad evening with Blaine?"

Just the sound of Blaine's name made Kurt's face lock up. He coughed. "You might say that. He was really upset."

"About?"

"Derek broke up with him."

"That's too bad." Zach sounded like he felt bad, but his face was too animated and it came off to Kurt that Zach was only pretending to care about Blaine's heartache.

"It's sweet that you're trying to care about things that I do, especially when they're topics that you don't particularly favor."

"I'm sorry. I don't really even know him to be honest, so I don't really even have much of an opinion of him. The only idea of him that have is that he's in a competing show choir and anything the girls have said about him."

"But…"

"But nothing. I knew trying to win your affection wasn't going to be easy, but it's well worth the effort."

Kurt narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips suspiciously. "I have to ask… Why are you trying to, what was the word you used last night, woo me, when you know I have feelings for someone else?"

Zach could tell that Kurt was being serious. Zach licked the inside of his teeth while he thought of the right words. "Because you're worth the wait and effort." He smiled again. "I don't know how this is going to sound, but I'm going to go with it anyway. The best way to fall out of love with someone is to fall in love with someone else. And I would just about die if you fell in love with me."

Kurt half smiled. "I'm not sure if that's something that should make me happy or sad." He giggled at his own confusion.

"Well, you're laughing now, so can we pretend I said something romantic?"

Kurt giggled some more. "Sure." He looked down at their clasped hands. "It's a little early to start talking about love, you know."

"I know, but that is the goal in every romantic endeavor, don't you think?"

"Yeah. I guess so."

"Good. Now that we've established that I'm right, we're still on for tomorrow, right? Blaine doesn't have any more heartache planned?" He paused. "I'm sorry. That came out wrong. I meant it as a joke, but it sounded really harsh. I don't wish heartache on Blaine or anyone else."

"Why don't we just stick to NOT talking about Blaine? I think that would make it easier on both of us."

"Agreed. Maybe I'll stop putting my foot in my mouth if I do…"

"It's okay. It was a bad joke, but it wasn't that bad. I probably would have laughed if I didn't have the night that I did."

Mr. Sheuster walked in at that moment and Glee rehearsal began.

Wednesday

Tuesday came and went and Blaine still hadn't called. It was now approaching the evening time on Wednesday and Blaine still hadn't called. Wes or David or someone would have called me if something bad happened to him. He was tempted to send a text to one of his friends from the Warblers, but if Blaine was avoiding Kurt then Kurt didn't want to make Blaine mad by bringing in more people to the party. He was at an impasse.

But today was Wednesday and that meant he was going on his first date with Zach and he was determined to enjoy himself.

"So you don't strike me as a tea drinker," Kurt mentioned to Zach as he took a sip of his lemon/ginger tea.

Zach smiled. "I wasn't until last year."

"I knew it. You look like a coffee drinker."

"I was. I wish I still was. I love lattes and espressos."

"Then why don't you drink them?"

"Caffeine freezes your vocal chords. At my last school we had a tradition of giving up all caffeinated beverages one week before shows and competitions. I could have drank decaf coffee, but what's the point really? So I switched to decaf teas because they're better for you."

"I couldn't give up lattes just like that. Blaine and I used to go out for coffee daily." Zach took a sip of his tea and eyed Kurt over the lid of the cup. "Oops. Sorry. We're not supposed to talk about Blaine."

"It's fine," Zach said comfortingly.

"It's just that I know it's not your favorite topic."

Zach chuckled and took another sip. "Why do you think I don't like him?"

"I don't know. I just get that vibe from you."

"I told you already. I barely know him, so I don't have an opinion of him. Think of it as me being indifferent of him. I'm sure he's not a bad guy."

"It's not that. It's the look you get on your face when he's mentioned."

"I'll admit that talking about the guy who you have much stronger feelings for than you do for me is a little uncomfortable, but Kurt, he's your best friend. I don't want to erase him from your life."

Kurt sighed into his cup as he took a sip. "To be honest, I'm not even sure we're friends anymore." He took another sip.

"Why not?"

Kurt turned his eyes up, thinking. "Let's just say that we had an altercation on Monday night." Zach took a sip of his tea and Kurt was able to see the steam from the cup when Zach breathed into it. Zach's eyes narrowed in curiosity, but Kurt didn't want to tell him that Blaine kissed him. "He hasn't called me since."

"Have you tried to call him?"

"It's not my place to call."

"I see."

Kurt looked at his watch. "So what movie are we seeing?"

Zach put his cup down and looked at the clock on the wall. "We really should go get tickets now. The movie starts in ten minutes."

"Yes, but what is it?"

Zach smiled again, thinking his date idea was clever and sweet. "Your favorite musical is Wicked, right?"

Kurt answered slowly. "Yes." He dragged out the word to mean, 'continue.'

"I saw that the Revival Theater was playing The Wizard of Oz and I thought it might be something you'd like."

Kurt jumped, almost squealing. "What planet are you from? That's an awesome idea! We can sing along to all the songs and if no one is in the theater, then we can dance to them in the aisles too!"

Zach's smile brightened and he laughed at Kurt's child like gleefulness. "You are a giant nerd."

Kurt stood up and grabbed Zach's hand. "The best kind."

Zach was proud of himself for setting up such a simple, yet wonderful date. They weren't the only ones in the movie theater, but a handful of other people were dancing during the music numbers so Kurt and Zach joined them. Because of Kurt's perfect soprano voice and particular knowledge of the dance steps, Zach quickly found out how popular an addition to a group of gays and hags Kurt could be. Kurt also found out that Zach wasn't as big a fan of the Wizard of Oz as Kurt was because Zach didn't know all the steps or lyrics. He only knew the skip step to "We're Off To See The Wizard" and the words to Somewhere Over The Rainbow and could hum the tune to the wicked witch of the west's theme. Kurt on the other hand, knew all the lyrics, all the speaking lines, and all the dance steps. Seeing Kurt so happy made Zach feel light.

After the movie ended, the two agreed that they weren't ready to go home yet, so they walked down the street to get ice cream. Kurt was so giddy that he was tempted to link his arm in Zach's, but them remembered that they were in public in a town he didn't know that well, so he kept his hands to himself. "You enjoyed that, right?" he asked Derek with a cone of mocha chip ice cream in hand.

"Are you kidding? That was best experience I've had in a theater!" Zach laughed.

"Good! Because I could tell that was your first time at a sing-a-long."

"It definitely was, but I'm glad that's where I chose to bring you."

Kurt laughed because he couldn't help himself. He felt so happy he couldn't keep it in.

"So you're having a good time?"

"Best first date ever!"

"This is you're first date?" Zach asked before licking his coconut ice cream.

Kurt stopped walking. He couldn't believe he'd admitted that. "Um…Uh…"

Zach grabbed Kurt with his free hand and turned Kurt to face him "Wait. Seriously?"

Kurt's face was turned down. He took a breath, grabbed some courage, and turned his face up again. "Yes. This is my first date. I've never been on a date before with a girl or a boy." He was going for an honest and strong face, but his expression read exasperated. Then it changed when he realized that Zach was smiling and in awe. "What?" he asked.

"Uh- nothing. I'm just… I'm shocked. You're funny, and sweet, and really smart, and talented, and… God you're gorgeous!" He paused, shocked at himself for blurting so much out. "How is it you've never been on a date before?"

"You think I'm gorgeous?" Kurt blushed and Zach's smile widened.

"Especially when you blush like that."

Kurt blushed even redder and turned his face down with a closed smile. He didn't see it coming, but before he knew it, Zach leaned in, arching his neck to catch Kurt with his head positioned that way it was, and kissed Kurt on the lips. It was just a peck and it lasted only an instant, but it was enough to get Kurt's attention.

Kurt batted his eyes and his cheeks remained pink. He looked dreamily at Zach. It was like getting a second chance at a first kiss. Making out with Karofsky was nothing like the peck on the lips that Zach gave him. Zach's brief lips touching his made his heart flutter and mind race at the same time. He found himself wanting Zach to do that again or for him to lean in and steal a kiss of his own, but couldn't bring himself to do it. He was stunned into silence and stillness.

Zach almost giggled at Kurt's reaction. "It's getting late," he said. "I promised your dad I'd have you home by ten."

"Sucking up to my father?"

"Since I'd like you to have a second date and I'd like it to be with me- yes." They smiled at each other and tossed their unfinished ice creams in a near-by trashcan before walking hand in hand back to Zach's car.

Zach drove Kurt home and walked him to the front door.

"You didn't have to walk me to the door," Kurt mentioned when they got to the door.

"You said I was a gentleman on Monday. I'm trying to live up to that."

"You're succeeding."

"So…" Zach was shuffling his feet uncomfortably and Kurt realized that Zach was nervous about something. "Since this was your first date- um- generally, if the date goes well, and the guy walks his date the to door…"

It took Kurt two seconds to get what was making Zach so nervous. It put a smile on his face to see Zach suddenly lose his suaveness and seem nervous about asking for a goodnight kiss. Kurt didn't know what to do, so he just did what he saw in the movies. "I had a really good time tonight."

"I did too."

"I should be getting inside before my dad decides to see what's keeping me." Kurt started playing with his keys and making it obvious that he was stalling. This was a move that caught Zach's attention.

Zach took a step closer so that they were six inches away from touching. Kurt heard Zach gulp and saw him glance at Kurt's lips. "A gentleman is supposed to ask before he gives his date a kiss goodnight."

"Is that you asking?"

"Yes."

Kurt leaned in a little, still keeping eye contact with Zach. "I think that'd be okay."

Zach started to lean in to close the gap between them. Kurt heard the front door knob click like it was being turned and he straightened up immediately. The door swung open and the boys jumped apart. Kurt's father was standing in the doorway with his shot gun visibly leaning up against the stairs behind him.

"Oh Kurt, it's you two. I thought there was an animal on the porch keeping the sensor lights on," explained Burt.

"Nope! Just us. Thanks for checking though. No animals." Kurt was speaking very clip with his father.

Burt took the hint, but gave Kurt a look. "Okay. Don't stay out here too long, Kurt. You both have school in the morning."

"We're all set, Dad. You can go back inside now."

Burt shut the door and Kurt looked over at Zach who was now several feet away from him. He looked amused, yet embarrassed. "I should get going," Zach offered with a smile.

"Yeah. I'll see tomorrow?"

"Yes. Goodnight."

"Goodnight," Kurt answered.

Zach turned and started to take a step down the stairs when Kurt got a rush of boldness and stopped the blonde haired boy, turned him around, and pressed his lips to Zach's.

Zach's lips were chilled from the crisp evening air and the ice cream, but smooth. Both boys inhaled at the same time and then backed out of the kiss. "Now it will be a good night," Kurt stated.

Zach's breath quivered on his inhale to speak. "Yes it will." He leaned in and gave Kurt a tender kiss on the cheek. "Good night, Kurt."

"Good night, Zach."

Kurt watched Zach turn and walk back to his car and drive off with a wave. After that he went into his house and in a dream-like state, he took off his jacket and scarf and shoes and ran into his father on his way up the stairs. "You can put your gun away now."

"Hope I wasn't unterupting anything."

"You were. But don't worry. We picked up where we left off when you opened the door."

"Kurt, remember that talk we had about not throwing yourself around?"

"Uh-huh," Kurt said as he kept walking to his bedroom, completely ignoring his father's attempts at a conversation.

He plopped down on his bed with a silly grin on his face and touched his fingers to his lips. He giggled like a little girl for a second and then made the decision to get ready for bed.