Kurt

"So how are things with the boy wonder?" Dave asked Kurt on Wednesday afternoon.

"Zach," Kurt emphasized his name, "and I are getting along fine."

Kurt and Dave had driven out of town and decided to go paddling on the lake. Dave found a company that rents out foot-paddle boats early in the spring and he was able to convince Kurt to go. "You haven't told him about me… have you?" Dave had an expression that he wore only once in a while. It was innocent.

"About you being gay or making out with me?"

"Both I guess."

"No. I haven't said anything about either. The only one who knows about you being gay or kissing me is Blaine."

"Thanks."

"No problem."

"So when you say 'fine,' about Zach. Are you two together now?"

"No. We're just enjoying our time right now."

"But you've been dating for a week, right?"

"Um. Yeah. A week exactly, actually. What's with the Q & A?" Kurt asked, stopping peddling.

"I was just making sure you weren't jumping into a relationship after getting your heart broken."

"Well, I'm not."

"Have you spoke to Blaine since?"

"Nope. It's been nine days and he hasn't called. Technically it's been eight days and twenty two hours and thirty… eight minutes."

"Kurt, why don't you just call him? You'll feel better and maybe you can patch things up?"

"Doubt it."

"Why?"

"You wouldn't understand."

"Do you even remember why you two aren't talking?"

"Yes."

"Then why?"

"Because he kissed me."

"You're not talking to him because he kissed you?"

"Well, it's more complicated than that."

"I've kissed you three times and you still talk to me."

"No." Kurt was starting to get flustered and he started peddling again. "It's more than that. He was trying to say that he loved me."

"Again. You're not talking to the person you're in love with because he loves you?"

"I assure you that it's way more intense."

"I think you have had ample time to cool off and call him."

"I think you should stay out of other people's business." Karofsky leaned over and reached across Kurt. "What are you doing? Stop that." Dave had reached into Kurt's pocket and was pulling out his phone. "Hey. No."

"Call him."

"In the middle of the lake? Give me my phone." Dave started searching through Kurt's contact list. "What are you doing?"

"You're going to call him."

"Dave stop! Gimme my phone." Kurt tried to snatch it from Dave, but Dave extended his arm out so Kurt couldn't reach. "You're going to drop it in the lake!"

"I am not. You're going to call him."

Kurt jumped up and attempted to crawl over Dave. He chest was now flushed against Dave's shoulder and he was reaching as best as he could.

"Found him."

Kurt made one last reach before Dave could press send and Dave loosened his grip too soon when he thought Kurt had the phone in his hand. It was like slow motion watching the phone fall out of Dave's hands and into the water. "No!" Kurt screamed.

"Oh man! Shit I am so sorry." But it was too late. The phone was already out of site and on it's way to the bottom of the lake.

"You- shit- you idiot."

"Kurt, I'm sorry! I'll replace it."

"No shit, Sherlock! Fuck! My entire life is on that phone."

"I am so sorry."

"Take me home."

"Kurt, please. I am really sorry. We'll go buy you a new one right now."

"Everything's closed."

"Then tomorrow. I'm sorry."

"It's fine. Take me home, please." They started peddling to turn the boat around and headed to the shore. Kurt didn't want to admit that the reason he was most mad about losing his phone was because now if Blaine were going to call him, then Kurt wouldn't be able to answer. He felt it was wishful thinking anyway because it had already been nine days since they'd spoken. He's probably forgotten about me by now.

Blaine

By Wednesday, Blaine was back in classes and traded in the Wheelchair for crutches to keep pressure off his feet. He took a shower for the first time in two days that morning and immediately felt better because the gel he was unable to wash out of his hair from Monday caused his hair to looks gross and flaky.

Everyone wanted to know what happened and he said that he stepped on glass, which was true, but left out the rest of the story. David barely left his side. He wanted to apologize to Derek for being so mean on Monday night, but wasn't given the opportunity to yet. He thought he'd do that after Warbler practice.

Rehearsal was running late for whatever reason, but at seven o'clock a faculty member popped their head in the door and asked for Blaine. Blaine shifted his eyes curiously and used his crutches to leave the room. When he got to the door he was able to see behind the faculty member to the McKinley football player that he never got along with. Karofsky.

"What are you doing here?" Blaine asked.

"Mr. Anderson, is everything all right?" The chunky man in a suit guestured to Blaine's crutches.

"Yes," he answered curtly.

"Why don't you have a seat on the benches over there."

"Mr. Havish, would you please excuse us?" Blaine was acting polite, but didn't sound it.

"Of course, Mr. Anderson. Remember, visiting hours ending in one hour."

"This won't take long." Blaine was eying Karofsky very carefully.

The faculty member left and Blaine made his way over to the benches. He took a seat and propped his crutches up on the bench beside him. "What do you want?" he asked Dave, who had yet to say anything.

"I wanted to talk to you."

"Why?"

"Why haven't you called Kurt?"

"That's none of your business."

"Well, last week he left here and when he came to see me, he looked like he was going to kick the shit out of me and for the first time I was scared that he might be able to do it… He spend an awful amount of my time talking about you, so yeah, it's a little of my business."

"I don't want to talk about it, least of all with you."

"Why'd you kiss him?"

Blaine snapped his head up and furrowed his brows. "Why did you?"

"Because I wanted to. Your turn."

"Sorry you made the trip here for nothing because I'm not talking to you."

"When are you going to learn that your comunication skills when it comes to Kurt are what is keeping you from him. You could have him, but you're too stupid to get out of your own way."

"What. Do. You. Know?" Blaine was just shy of yelling. "You don't know anything about anything.

"I know enough. I'm here to know the rest. I'm trying to help you."

"Why? You and I do NOT like each other."

"Because I'm worried about Kurt falling for that Abercrombie and Fitch wannabe and while I don't like you either, you're better than him." Karofsky focused on Blaine's face.

"I don't think you came here because you're worried about Kurt at all. I think you're worried about yourself." Blaine shifted his eyes back and forth as his facial muscles twitched involuntary.

Karofsky laughed. "Yeah. That's exactly why I'm here. I'm worried about me, so I'm trying to fix your relationship with the person you love. Aren't you supposed to be smart to come here? You're in love with him and don't know how to help yourself when the answer is so easy."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"I'm sure you don't." He paused. Blaine hated the cocky look on Karofsky's face. "Okay. Try this on for size. You don't want Kurt around anymore. His transferring was probably a blessing to you. I mean, why would you care about having Kurt around you 24/7 when you have that handsome arm candy at your side. Arm candy that, as far as I'm concerned, is just like Kurt. I've seen him. Derek, right?"

"Stop."

"No. Derek is attractive in the same way you are: model handsome. But Kurt… Kurt's, well…"

"Kurt's not ugly."

"I was gonna go with beautiful." Both boys paused staring at each other intently.

It was like a light bulb was turned on in Blaine's head. Now he understood. "You have feelings for him." Karofsky chuckled and smiled. Blaine saw the change in his demeanor. Thinking about Kurt, Karofsky was sublimely happy. This was a body language Blaine was familiar with. He took this all in and his realization became clearer. "You're in love with him."

"I wouldn't go that far, but I do have feelings for him. And I can't deny that I enjoy kissing him." Blaine restrained himself from jumping on Dave and pummeling him in a jealous rage. "But, wait… I'm sorry; I almost forgot. You're in love with him too, aren't you?" Blaine remained quiet and glared at the bigger boy. "See? You can't deny it. You and I are not so different. We put the one we care about the most in pain because we can't express how we really feel."

"I didn't throw him into dumpsters or toss slushies in his face. I didn't beat him up, or threaten to kill him, or force myself onto him!"

"No, you let him fall for you and then rubbed it in his face when you chose a model version of him." Karofsky's tone of voice was angry now.

"Derek is NOT like Kurt."

"Oh yeah? I haven't even met this guy and I see the resemblance. What's Derek's favorite designer?"

At the same time, both boys answered, "Alexander McQueen."

"Favorite Broadway star."

"Patti Lupone."

"Favorite non-musical movie."

"Gone With the Wind."

"That proves nothing," Blaine said. "Only that they have things in common."

"Fine. Just wait. Wait until you see a difference between the two. Wait until Derek does something that Kurt doesn't. You'll see. It'll be something small and then it will blow up and you'll know that you screwed up by choosing the wrong guy."

"I swear to God, Karofsky, I hate how selfish you're being just to have him back there when you KNOW it's not what's best for him."

"And I hate that you ignored what I said when I told you that you let Kurt fall for you." Karofsky's voice was raising in volume. "He FELL for you damn it! He's perfect and has this bizarre fucking notion that YOU'RE better than HIM. You don't even give a shit that he's in love with you." He paused, letting himself calm his voice and bring his volume down to normal pitch. "But why would you? You've already got a Kurt."

Blaine didn't answer. He couldn't understand. In the past few days, Karofsky had been third person to tell him that Kurt was in love with him. Karofsky made motion to leave because he had enough of arguing with someone who wouldn't listen. "I'm not with Derek anymore," Blaine shouted.

Karofsky turned back, happy with what he was just able to do. He sat down on the bench next to Blaine. "I know," he said.

"You do?"

"Yeah. Kurt told me."

"Then why did you just-?"

"I wanted you to admit that you loved Kurt and not Derek. You're obviously not with Derek because you want Kurt."

"Yes." That was the first time Blaine said it out loud. It felt good to get it out at last. "I do. I want Kurt."

"Then call him. Well, wait. Don't call his cell."

"Why?" Blaine asked slowly.

"Because it's currently at the bottom of a lake. Call his house."

"I can't call him. He's happy with Zach and he doesn't even want to be my friend anymore. He told me."

"You probably didn't hear him right because he's spent the last nine days staring at his phone and yelling at me for telling him to call you. He does like doing that: yelling at me."

"How do you know he's in love with me?"

"Because he said so and because he always has been. This isn't a new thing he's just developed. He's loved you all along and you ignored him. Why?"

"I don't know. I was afraid of losing him. Relationships eventually die off and I can't imagine my life if he weren't apart of it."

"Well, you've don't an awesome job of keeping his close to you."

"I tried to tell him, I did try."

"Nice timing. You were crying over your ex boyfriend and then confessing to Kurt at the same time. Was he supposed to believe he wasn't a rebound?" Blaine stared blankly ahead. "You don't believe it do you?"

"I don't see it. Why would he be in love with me?"

"Beats me. I can't stand you. Why don't you call him and ask him?"

"Why are you helping me?"

"I already told you. You are the lesser of two evils."

"What's wrong with Zach? Isn't Kurt happy with him?"

"He is, but Zach is too… he's too. I don't like him."

"That didn't make any sense, but you don't like me either."

"Yes, but I at least know why I dislike you. With him, it's just a feeling."

"Don't you want him for yourself?"

"Fuck no!" Dave laughed. "He and I would never work out. I just like making out and getting yelled at by him." Dave got up, feeling like the conversation was over. "I've done my good deed for the day. Call him. Seriously. I can't have another conversation about you." He walked away with other another word and Blaine sat and watched him leave not knowing what just happened, but feeling like Friday may not be as awful a day as he thought.