By the end of the week, Santana and Brittany convinced Kurt to join Glee club saying that it's cooler than it looks, despite what the other jocks were saying because half the people in the glee club were cool anyway. Because the glee club was one person short of the required twelve members, Mr. Shuester let Kurt join instantly without an audition.

Kurt took a seat in the back between Santana and Sugar Motta. His seat was directly behind Blaine and Blaine could feel Kurt's eyes burning holes in the back of his head. During Santana's solo from the assigned theme of the week, Kurt leaned forward, putting his lips dangerously close to Blaine's ear. "You doing anything this weekend?"

Blaine held his breath for a second. After a week of Kurt's innuendos and flirtatious glances and comments, he thought it would have been easier to talk to or be around the beautiful boy, but it was still a lot of effort to not self combust from anxiousness and nerves. He gulped and whispered, "I have a family thing. My brother is in town this weekend."

"Some other time then." It wasn't a question. He didn't wait for Blaine to answer as if he knew Blaine would say yes anyway. He leaned back in his chair and clapped when Santana was finished.

When glee club was over, Blaine couldn't have been happier for the weekend. He had a free afternoon and he and Tina had plans to go to Between the Sheets and look at sheet music for fun. Kurt left without saying anything to Blaine with the cheerleaders and that was that. Blaine was thankful because he didn't want to explain anything to the rest of the group about why his face was blushing six shades of red.

He was rustling through some stacks of 90s pop music because he had an idea to rearrange something to make it sound more modern.

"Too bad boy bands were a 90s thing. You would have been the heartthrob for sure."

Not recognizing the voice, Blaine lifted his head and saw a freckle faced red head in front of him. He could have been the same age, give or take a year. The boy wore a cap that resembled a train conductor's cap and skinny suspenders that were the same shade of his slightly off white shirt. He was pretty, but not dashingly so. "Huh?" was all Blaine could think of to say.

The boy smiled and his almost clear braces were able to be seen. It gave him an even younger boyish look. "I think it would be weird if I repeated my lame attempt at a pick up line. I'm Eli." He stuck out his hand.

"Blaine," he replied, shaking the boy's hand. "What school do you go to?"

"North Lima High. You go to McKinley, right?"

Surprised, Blaine's eyebrows raised, showing his honey eyes even more. "Yeah. How'd you know?"

"My choir went to your sectionals last year. We're not very good, but my director always makes us go to those things to get an idea of where we could be."

"And you remembered me from that?"

"Well yeah." He smiled again. "You've kind of got an unforgettable face."

Blaine blushed a little. This was the second person this week to compliment him, but something about Eli made Blaine feel more comfortable to talk to than Kurt. Kurt was forward Eli was… conversational.

"Find anything good?" Eli asked when there was a long enough awkward pause.

"Not yet, but I was thinking about moving on to grunge. Alanis Morisette would be great to rearrange. I'm thinking that turning one of her songs into a piano ballad might be pretty epic."

"O.M.G." Eli separated the letters slowly for emphasis. "That would be epic. You must be a musical genius."

Blaine blushed. Really? I'm blushing? he asked himself. "Thanks, but I'm not a genius. I have a certain knack for it, but I'm not anything special. I just have training. Over achiever is more like it. What part do you sing?"

"Tenor. I can sing baritone, but there are too many of those already and my director switched me."

"Me too. I mean, I can sing both. Wow, I'm sorry. I must seem full of myself because I keep talking about myself."

"No. Not at all. I didn't come over here to talk about me."

"Blaine, what do you think of an Asian doing Annie Get Your Gun?" Tina had walked over, not looking up to see Blaine talking to his new friend. "Oh, hi!"

"Hi," Eli greeted.

"Tina, this is…" Blaine tried to remember the boy's name, but it slipped because he was nervous.

"Eli." The boy slipped his hand forward and Tina shook it happily.

"Tina."

"I'm a fan of color blind casting myself, so as long as you've got the vocal chops for Anything Goes, I'd say go for it." Eli was sweetly supportive and easily slipped into a friendly conversation. Blaine thought it was a testament to Eli's personality that new people didn't faze this boy in the least and he seemed to be good at walking up to strangers and making friends. It was something he admired and when he looked back at his week with meeting Kurt, he wished he had that ease around people and didn't make an idiot out of himself the first day.

"She's got the chops," Blaine bragged for her.

"Tell that to Mr. Sheuster. He always chooses me for back up."

"Maybe it's because without your support, everything would come crashing down. It takes a lot of strength and certain bravado to always be the beams that support the structure. You're probably the most valued player and just don't know it."

"Wow…" Tina guffawed, turning to Blaine. "I don't think anyone I've ever met has said that to me and we just met. Blaine, I'm sorry," she turned back to Eli, "but can we be besties?" Both she and Eli laughed. "Okay, I'm going to go back and peruse the show tune stacks some more. See you around, Eli."

"Facebook me, Bestee." Eli smiled and Tina giggled as she went away. "So, since I won over your friend…" he paused looking playfully serious and, frankly, a little nervous for the first time since he approached Blaine. "Can I have your number?"

This was a first for Blaine. He'd never been asked this before by someone who seemed interested in him. Not even Kurt, who was blatantly hitting on him asked for his number. Not that Blaine ever pictured Kurt asking for his number. He more or less pictured Kurt demanding it or saying something to the effect of: Give me your number so I can send you blush worthy texts later. When he forced himself out of his shock, he smiled. "Yeah. Sure. Um- Here." He held out his hand for Eli to hand over his phone and punched his contact info in it for him. "If I don't pick up, I'm not ignoring you. I promise. I'm really busy most days and, well, you'll see."

"Then no calling during daylight hours because I am almost guaranteed to miss you?"

"Pretty much."

"Alright then."

A few beats went by and Blaine's phone started to ring in his pocket. "Sorry. Hold on a second." He pulled out his phone and saw a number he didn't recognize.

"That's my number," Eli said. "I wanted to make sure that you didn't give me a fake number."

"Why would I do that?"

"You'd be surprised how often that happens. It seems easier to give a person a phony number than to just say no when someone asks for it."

"That's awful."

"But now you have my number too, so you can call or text whenever. And please do, because I'd really like to get to know you more."

The comment made Blaine smirk, starting to feel overwhelmed with the amount of compliments that he'd been getting this week. "Okay. Will do."

"Cool." He glanced at his phone to check the time. "Damn. I have to go. Talk to you soon?"

"Definitely."

"Great." They exchanged smiles and Blaine watched Eli exit the store.

Over the weekend, Blaine and Eli exchanged texts throughout Saturday and Sunday while Blaine spent time with his family. His brother, Cooper, kept making fun of him and referring to Eli as Blaine's boyfriend, no matter how much Blaine insisted that Eli was just a friend he met on Friday. Cooper thought this was adorable that his baby brother was starting to finally talk to boys the way Cooper talked to girls at his age. He was ten years older than Blaine and only a half brother from their father's first marriage, but it never mattered because they remained close.

By Monday, Blaine was standing at his locker during the time he normally did to go to his locker before the after lunch, on the phone with Eli. They were laughing over a picture Eli sent him earlier of Eli's I-hate-Monday-mornings face. They had quickly become fast friends and Blaine was happily surprised at how easily they flitted into comfort ability with each other. "Did you send Tina the pic? I'm sure she'd love it."

"No. I haven't talked to her yet today." He and Tina were fast friends as well. Their joke about being bestees quickly became a reality through the wonders of Facebook. "She wants to go get smoothies after glee practice though."

"And I wasn't invited?!"

"You have karate this evening, Dummy."

"Oh yeah. Damn, I do miss out on stuff, don't I?"

"Tell me something, what's the point of taking self defense class if you refuse to use it? You can probably kick the crap out of everyone at that school of yours and you still let those jerks push you around."

"I don't know. I kind of like knowing that I can. Maybe I'll snap one day and ninja-style tie them all up to the flag pole."

"I would pay to see that."

They started laughing again and it nearly startled Blaine when Kurt slinked up to him in the empty hallway. "Hi, Blaine."

"Kurt!" He jumped. "Eli, I gotta go."

"That better not be one of those assholes."

"No. It's not. I'll call you later." His eyes were fixated on Kurt's face and blinking rapidly. His heart beat picked up.

"Okay, have fun sparring at karate class."

"Thanks. Bye." He clicked the end button and pocketed his phone.

Kurt absently picked at his nails. "So who's Eli?"

"A friend. We met at Between the Sheets."

A perfectly arched eyebrow rose on Kurt's face and he replied flatly, "That sounds way sexier than it really is."

Blaine smiled wide; stifling what he knew would be an embarrassingly loud laugh. "Yeah. He's pretty cool."

"Is he hot?" Kurt asked playfully.

"Um…" This sounded like the girl talk that he frequently heard the girls gossiping about. He wasn't entirely comfortable discussing this with Kurt. He wasn't even sure if Kurt and he were friends, although after last week, it was becoming easier and easier to talk to him. Sometimes he surprised himself by sounding like a normal person and not a bumbling idiot. Their only interactions were in class, the locker room, and the private comments that Kurt made only for Blaine to hear. "I wouldn't say he was hot, I guess, but that's not really the point of our friendship."

"So, he's friend-zoned?" Kurt sounded way too adamant about knowing the details of Eli and Blaine's friendship. Clearly he wanted to know the correct label, but Blaine wasn't sure why.

"Huh?"

Kurt grinned. "You're so deliciously na�ve. I'm asking you if you're interested in him." He made, what Blaine was was an adorable gesture of twisting his neck and shoulders in opposite directions so that his chin met up with his right shoulder. If Blaine wasn't mistaken, this was a position that girls did when they were trying to be cute.

"Oh! No. We're friends. We only just met, so, there's really nothing going on."

This seemed to please Kurt. He leaned against a locker next to Blaine's. "So how was you're weekend?" His tone changed to a more conversational one, something he'd only done a few times since they met.

Conversational was more relaxing for Blaine. He could converse. It was flirting or receiving a flirtacious advance that he had a problem with. "Good. I hung out with my brother." He turned away and started transferring books to and from him messenger bag.

"Oh yeah. I forgot you said he was in town. Did you do anything fun?"

"Yup. We went to a movie and had a fencing match in our back yard."

"Who won?"

"I did," Blaine responded with pride. "He's pissed that I'm better than he is now."

"I'm sure you're better than him at a lot of things." Kurt's eyes flicked down to Blaine's lips for a millisecond.

It was an action that Blaine caught and it shocked him. He still wasn't used to Kurt's forwardness and attraction to him. Did he just look at my lips? Does he want to kiss me? Is that why he did it? Thoughts rushed through Blaine's head and it was a struggle to move past them. "S-So, how was your weekend? I saw you on the news with your dad last night."

Kurt rolled his eyes. "Yeah. That. I was at a rally with my dad on Sunday, but Friday and Saturday night I was at Scandals."

"The gay bar?" Blaine may have been na�ve, but he knew very well that there was a gay bar in West Lima. It was properly named because when it opened, it caused quite a scandal in their sizable small town. In the beginning of its existence, people picketed the establishment, but it got old and they eventually stopped. Not to mention no one cared that they were there and didn't get the desired reactions out of people. Men and women walked hand in hand past the protesters without batting an eye. Some even brought them bottled water from inside saying that they must be thirsty from standing there for long periods of time. The patrons were nothing, but nice while others protested their right to dance and drink with other homosexuals.

He shrugged. "It's okay for what it is, but there's always someone worthwhile to look at, if you know what I mean. Columbus would have been better to party at, but I was only there for a handful of hours. My sonly duty was fulfilled and my dad rewarded me with clothes." Kurt's ability to gloss over topics like gay bars and older men was impressive. It was like these things were everyday topics, like the weather or laundry. "His assistant actually has a surprising talent for fashion." He twisted his body. "I was pleasantly surprised that she picked out these pants. Don't they make my ass look great?" In what wasn't meant to be a cute action, but ended up that way, Kurt started to wiggle his butt that was clothed in skin tight red skinny jeans. He had paired them that day with a white polo shirt, a red, white, and blue sweater vest, and a red fedora.

Blaine stayed silent. This was the kind of thing that still made him nervous to be around Kurt. Kurt was fishing for attention and compliments by asserting his confidence in himself and asking for confirmation. If Blaine agreed, then that meant he liked Kurt's ass and possibly looked at it several times before, but if he said no, then he would be insulting Kurt on many levels. He didn't know what to do, so he didn't say anything.

The lack of comment made Kurt smile because he caught Blaine looking at his ass and loved that he could make Blaine nervous. "So, what are you doing tonight?"

"Glee rehearsal, then karate, then homework and dinner."

"Busy boy."

He gulped, happy that the topic had been changed. "That's me."

"How about meeting me later for dessert?" The final word was elongated and said in a lower voice. It had it's desired effect.

"Oh…" His nerves came back. Kurt hadn't changed the subject so much as just moved it forward. Was this a date? Was it supposed to be, or is he just asking as friends? "Um. I don't know. It's a school night and my parents don't really let me out too late."

"I won't keep you out long. I mean, a limited time would cut into the time I had planned for parking and making out, but I'm sure I can work within my constraints."

"What?!" His volume was low, but the meaning was clear. Blaine was, once again, gobsmacked by Kurt's forwardness.

Kurt immediately burst into fits of laughter. "Chill. I'm kidding! Coffee. I wanted to meet you for coffee."

Blaine let out a long breath and clutched a hand to his chest. "Oh my God, thank goodness."

The laughing stopped on Kurt's end, immediately not liking Blaine's reaction. "Ouch. I wasn't sure if you were interested because you're so shy, but you seem genuinely thankful to whatever higher power that I was joking about making out."

Blaine was confused. He thought they were having friendly banter, but Kurt seemed hurt at the thought that he might not be attracted to him. That was strange. Kurt never acted like that. "What? No- I mean- I'm not- well, I am, but- shit. No. I didn't meant that."

"Which part? Because I understood none of your rambling."

"I didn't mean to insult you."

"I'm not insulted!" Kurt was getting very agitated very fast and Blaine didn't know why. "You think one guy turning me down would insult me? Geez, what kind of guy do you think I am? If I wanted someone, I could get someone, I don't need to-"

"God, Kurt stop!" Blaine interjected. "You're taking this the wrong way. I didn't mean that I was-"

"Hummel!" Kurt's friends called out from down the hall. They were on their way to class. When they approached, they looked over the situation and scowled at Blaine, wondering why Kurt was talking to him. One read the look on Kurt's face. "Everything okay?"

"They are now," Kurt responded, not taking his eyes off Blaine.

"Then come on. We're going to class." Kurt spun on the balls of his feet and went with the jocks. This time he wasn't in back and wasn't looking over his shoulder to Blaine with a smile like he always did. In his place was the short wrestler, Ian, who puffed out his chest and made a quick motion at Blaine to scare him. Blaine flinched and stepped back, eyes closed, to his locker.

The boy left with his friends and Blaine stared in confusion. What just happened? He wondered why Kurt suddenly snapped the way he did and what had he done wrong to make Kurt do that? He knew that Kurt misunderstood him, but he didn't know why or how that happened because prior to Kurt's mood shift, they were laughing. Kurt was joking and being his normal flirtatious self. He asked him on a date, I think. So, what was the problem?

Blaine grabbed his things and rushed off to class. Kurt was already in his seat, behind Blaine's, and scribbling on a piece of paper with a scowl still on his face. He took his seat and turned in his chair. Kurt didn't look up. "Can we talk?"

"I have nothing to say."

"Okay, then can I talk and you listen?"

The bell rang and kids started rushing in to make the second bell. Kurt raised the eraser from his pencil in the air to motion to the ringing sound in the room. "Nope."

"Fine." He turned around again and took out his sketch pad. He spent more than half of class on a picture. He made it with different colored ink and by the time he finished, his hands were a mess from mixing colors and smudging marks with his fingers and parts of his hands. After the picture was done, he took an inkwell and a calligraphy pen from the storage closet and returned to his desk. Another ten minutes went by and he ripped the page from his book, blowing on it to help the ink dry. He thought really hard about what he was about to do and whether he'd done the right thing. When he was satisfied, he stole a breath, turned around, and put the picture in front of Kurt, right on his busy hand to make sure he saw it. He then turned back around without a word to give Kurt his privacy.

Kurt stopped his movements with his hand and blinked at the elaborate picture. Blaine had drawn and elaborate scene of parchment paper, on an old fashioned desk, in an old fashioned style room. At the bottom of the parchment, a hand was drawn in, probably Blaine's, signing Blaine's name. It wasn't until he looked at the words on the parchment, that he realized Blaine wrote him a letter:

Dear Kurt,

I don't know where our conversation went wrong. My reaction to what you said about making out being a joke didn't mean that I was thankful. I was nervous. I still am. YOU make me nervous. I'm not used to your kind of attention and, to be honest, I don't know if you're serious or not whenever you say certain things to me.

I'd imagine you must think I'm crazy for thinking that you might be interested in me, but when I'm around you, I think it's a crazy thought as well.

Please forgive me?

Blaine

Kurt tore out a piece of paper from his notebook and scribbled three words on it before folding it and gently flicking it at the back of Blaine's neck.

It fell to the floor and Blaine picked up the folded paper without looking at Kurt and quickly unfolded the edges. He covered his mouth to keep from laughing. You're a nerd. He licked his lips and let himself smile, knowing that Kurt had forgiven him. He wrote underneath the words in his own scroll: So, coffee? My treat? and threw it over his shoulder. His confidence was growing and eit surprised him. Maybe Kurt Hummel was rubbing off on him. It was nice to not be so shy over everything that had to do with the tall dreamboat sitting behind him.

The note landed in front of Kurt, on his desk, but Kurt had to slam his hand on the paper to keep it from sliding off. 7:00. If you stand me up, I'm gonna beat you up with your own sword. He refolded the paper and flicked it back at Blaine's head.

Blaine smiled and wrote his response. Unlikely. You don't know my locker combination. He tossed it over his shoulder again.

35-13-46

Blaine's eyes widened in surprise. How did you know that?! He turned around a gave Kurt a stunned expression as he placed the paper on his desk and turned back around.

This time, Blaine kicked the back of Blaine's chair and handed the note over with a smirk and a glint in his eyes. This was beginning to become his trademark look whenever he said something to purposely make Blaine blush. I like watching your fingers work. It helps me imagine what else they can do.

Blaine gulped and didn't respond. How do you respond to that? he thought. He put the note in his pocket and opened up to a sketch he'd been working on over the weekend. Maybe his confidence and shyness with Kurt Hummel still needed some work.

In gym class, they ran laps around the track outside and Blaine couldn't help, but occasionally stare at Kurt's form as he ran. After Kurt mentioned the thing about his pants making his ass look good, Blaine took that as an invitation to look. So he did.

By the time Kurt had fully lapped everyone; he kept pace with Blaine and ran by his side. "You're not even breaking a sweat," he said.

"If the idiots you hang out with don't know that I can run fast, they don't expect it when they start chasing me."

"I'll race you." Kurt's voice was a little strained from huffing his breath. Blaine found it incredibly sexy because it made him think of Kurt being out of breath from other things that had nothing to do with school.

"You'll win. You've lapped me already."

"One lap. I'll race you for one lap."

They decided on a start position and took off, bolting around the track much faster than everyone else. With Kurt's long legs, Blaine thought Kurt had to be letting him win, but when he glanced behind him, he saw that he was far ahead of Kurt. He kept running, pushing himself harder to go faster and faster until he officially won, finishing and beating Kurt by a long shot.

When the running was over, Blaine was out of breath and sweaty, just like everyone else. He took his water bottle and dumped a decent amount on his head, trying to cool himself off. He wondered why Kurt seemed like he wasn't even trying, but he continued with class and didn't say anything until they were away from everyone else in the locker room.

"You let me win."

"No. You won fair and square. Well, even if I was trying, you would have won."

"Why didn't you try?"

"Has anyone ever told you that you have amazing legs?" Blaine lifted an eyebrow, trying not to seem as though his stomach was doing back flips. "And your ass is to die for. I couldn't resist the chance to look."

Blaine smiled a little and let it drop because he didn't want to seem too excited at the compliment. "I think that's the most neutral compliment you've ever said to me."

Kurt flashed Blaine bedroom eyes and responded with, "Would you like me to make it dirtier?"

"No thank you! You flatter me too much as it is."

"Hmm. You'd think after everything I've said to you, I would feel self conscious that you don't return the sentiments."

"But?"

"But I don't… like, at all. If you didn't think about seeing me naked then you wouldn't be so nervous when I hit on you." Blaine froze his motions and stared open mouthed at Kurt. Picking up on the opportunity for his favorite hobby of making Blaine squirm, he advanced on him slowly and flashed his bedroom eyes at him again. "You're nervous because you're hoping I can't read your mind." He was close to Blaine now and he put his hands on the lockers, trapping him in, "And see that you actually picture me wrapped around you in a mess of glistening sweat." He leaned in impossibly close, tilting his head to the side and being so close to Blaine's neck that he could smell Blaine's perspiration.

Blaine could feel Kurt's breath on his neck and hear his own heart beating against his ribs, fighting to break free. He'd never been so turned on and Kurt hadn't even touched him.

"I know you want me. You want me to kiss you right now; to mark your neck with affectionate bites and drag my fingers down your body. Then slowly, but not so gently, make my way to your incredibly sexy mouth, and kiss you like they do in the movies because those are the only ones worthy of your pouty lips."

He put all of his energy into begging his mind to stay calm and not, repeat, NOT show his arousal and to not make his eyes clench shut because that would be giving Kurt the satisfaction of thinking he was right. In all actuality, Kurt Hummel was right on all counts except the movies part, but by god, Blaine did not want him to know that.

Kurt took two fingers from his right hand and gently traced the outside of the side of Blaine's face from temple to chin, his finger tips slicking up with sweat as they went. When he got to Blaine's chin, he took it between his thumb and forefinger and brought his face to Blaine's. "Isn't that right? You like being kissed like actors in a movie?"

Blaine cleared his throat and gulped. "I-I-I. Um. N-never been kissed. I've never been kissed."

And just like that, Kurt dropped his seduction act. He took a step back and let go of Blaine's chin. "Seriously?"

Blaine nodded his head profusely.

"How does that happen to someone as good looking as you? I figured guys would be falling at your feet."

"It just never happened. And up until last week, I've never even been flirted with."

"How is that even possible? You're seventeen and hot."

This was the first compliment that Blaine was ever able to bypass, unfazed, because he knew Kurt was only saying it as a point of reference. He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm pretty alone on the out and proud pride float."

"But. You're. Hot." Kurt repeated it like it was the only argument he needed. "I took one look at you and making you blush became my favorite past time. I don't think you quite grasp the severity of this, Blaine. You're fucking hot."

His shoulders shrugged again and he turned to his locker, taking out his shower toiletries. "However I look, it doesn't change that it hasn't happened."

Kurt leaned against an empty locker and watched Blaine take his socks and shoes off. "You're showering here today?"

"Just a quick wash over of my body. I'll shower properly after karate. It's just that I think the other people in Glee would appreciate me not smelling like I've been sweating for an hour." He took his shirt off, feeling a little self conscious that Kurt was watching him. He'd probably be more comfortable changing in front of anyone else at the moment. He gave Kurt a small look and Kurt knew to not gawk at him while he changed. Instead, Kurt kept his mouth shut and started undressing as well. Blaine wrapped a towel around his waist and slipped his shorts and boxers off underneath the towel. Trying his hardest not to look at Kurt, while he was undressing, he grabbed his toiletries in one hand, clutched his towel in the other, and padded off to the showers.

About five minutes later, when the shower was the right temperature, Blaine stepped under the water, careful not to wet his hair. He was humming a tune and hadn't noticed someone come into the shower room until the water was turned on in the stall next to his. He opened his eyes and glanced to his left. From what he could see, Kurt was naked from the waist up and testing the water with his hand.

"What are you doing?" Blaine asked.

"Taking a shower," he answered, playing with the hot water nozzle. "Or, at least, making an attempt to. Do these things ever work right?"

"That one goes from really cold to scalding at random times, so be careful."

"Maybe I should just take a shower with you then." Kurt's grin seemed like he could be joking or telling the truth and it was up to Blaine to decide which he one he wanted.

Blaine chuckled, hoping that it was a joke. He blobbed some body wash on a loofa and started lathering his neck and chest. "If you don't hurry, you're going to be late for Glee practice."

"You mean we'll be late."

"We? I'm almost done?"

"You wouldn't leave me all by my lonesome, would you?" Kurt batted his eye lashes.

"Aren't you worried about people seeing us leaving the showers together?" He didn't care that Kurt was in the closet and they appeared to be secret friends. In fact, he preferred it for now because it allowed him space to cool down after a round or two of Kurt's favorite game.

Kurt made a cocky scoffing sound. "Are you kidding? Everyone's at practice right now and won't be back for another two hours."

"Is that why you came in the showers when you did?"

"Yes."

"So, it wasn't to seduce me?"

"Well, that's why I came in to begin with, but the timing was for another reason entirely." The water changed temperatures and Kurt chanced standing half his body under it and leaning the other half on the tile. If he arched a little he was sure he could see all of Blaine, but he didn't need to do that. It would screw up his progress already.

Kurt motioned with his index finger. "Come here. Lean against the tile."

Blaine was curious, but at this point, he decided not to ask too many questions. He did as he was told. The tiles, despite the temperature of the water, were cold and his skin grew goose bumps where it touched them.

"Now close your eyes."

"Why?" His interest was peaked enough to ask.

"Because I'm going to kiss you," Kurt stated matter-of-factly. "I've thought about it and decided that it would be a great honor to me if I was your first kiss."

"That's incredibly romantic," Blaine joked with a smile. The comment convinced him enough that this was just another game of Kurt's and he wasn't serious. "It's fine. I'm not bothered by the fact that I-" he was silenced by the gentle touch of Kurt's fingers brushing his cheek.

"Just relax," Kurt soothed, looking into Blaine's eyes.

Oh my God, this is happening, isn't it?

Blaine thought.

Kurt's face leaned in, off center.

Panic began to creep up on the short boy, unknowingly clenching his entire body. Oh God. Holy Shit.

"Breath. Relax. I want you to enjoy this."

Blaine gulped.

"You do want me to kiss you, don't you?" His voice was soft and sweet. It sent shivers down Blaine's body.

Another gulp. Yes. Oh God, yes. "Uh-huh."

Kurt's hand moved to cup one side of Blaine's neck, extending his thumb up, in front of Blaine's ear, and stroking his cheek. He brought his lips closer and ever so gently pressed them to Blaine's cheekbone. A gentle smacking noise and a cool sensation was Blaine's only reminder of what just happened.

Kurt slinked back and released Blaine's face from his touch.

Blaine opened his eyes, batting them, not completely willing to allow himself to believe Kurt kissed him. His stomach was fluttering with butterfly wings and his skin tingled all over. Kurt had only kissed him on the cheek, but it was the most intense feeling he had ever felt in his life. Only a tiny part of him felt: That's it? Just once on the cheek? He'd be lying to himself if he wasn't wishing for more, but he was perfectly happy with what transpired moments ago. He stared quietly, unmoving, at Kurt, who was now lathering his body.

"If you don't hurry up, we're going to be late." Kurt's tone was informative, yet gentle, but not sweet and playful as he was earlier.

The comment broke Blaine from his trance and he returned to showering without a word. It was Kurt's tone that worried him. Were things supposed to go differently? Did Blaine not react properly, or was he supposed to do something he hadn't? It was just a kiss on the cheek and he knew he shouldn't worry, but Kurt changed his mood so quickly that it bothered Blaine. He finished before Kurt in the shower and shut the water off, hurrying to his locker with wet feet and a towel wrapped around his waist.

He had his pants and socks on by the time Kurt joined him. Kurt had been right; they were alone in the locker room completely. He began tying his shoes and glanced at Kurt as he passed him in his towel. He purposefully averted his eyes when he opened his locker because he knew Kurt's towel was about to be dropped. When the laces were tied, he returned to his locker to retrieve his shirt. He tucked it in, still thinking only of the empty silence between them now. It was strange and nerving to Blaine. Kurt was…cold? He had the perfect opportunity to make Blaine uncomfortable while Kurt stood there naked, but said nothing. He could have done a lot more to Blaine than a kiss on the cheek and Blaine would have let him, but Kurt stopped. It only stumped Blaine more the longer he thought about it.

…..

For reasons unknown to Blaine, Kurt was in his own little world at the moment in his head. He was chastising himself for the millionth time that day for how he was acting. Shouldn't have done it, he thought. I should not have kissed him. Oh well. It was just a kiss on the cheek, right? He'll get over it, especially if I ignore it. Part of him had hoped that Blaine had looked at him as he stood naked, but he pushed that feeling away as soon as he realized he had it. He looked at Blaine from his side eye and watched the way his skin stretched over his muscles when he twisted and moved about. Fuck, he's sexy. I can't do this. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. I can't let myself get caught up with him. His heart, and other parts of his body, ached to touch Blaine. Anywhere, everywhere; he just wanted to touch him. He'll get over it, right? There will be other guys. Ones that aren't me and can give him what I can't.

Blaine was fully clothed now and gathering his things to leave. They hadn't said anything to each other. He wondered what Blaine was thinking, but selfishly, his thoughts of himself where most dominant. Just one. I can give myself one and be done with this. That way I won't be wishing I tried. Just one.

Kurt was half clothed now and Blaine was just walking past him, not looking or speaking. "Hey." Kurt's hand was already reaching for Blaine's arm, unable to stop himself now.

Blaine's head jerked to look at Kurt. He wasn't prepared for what was about to happen, nor did he see it coming.

Kurt pulled Blaine to him and pressed their lips together.

Honey eyes were widened and quickly closed at the realization of what was happening. Blue-green eyes were shut tight, almost painfully. It was not what a first kiss was thought to be by Blaine. It wasn't nearly as tender as the kiss in the showers. He imagined it to be something close to that. But, at the same time, it wasn't unwelcome or bad. It was full of tension and hammer banging heart beats; suppressed moans and grasping hands.

Kurt tilted his head and opened his mouth. Blaine followed instantly as if he'd always known what he was doing. When a tongue slipped into his mouth, he let out the tiniest of moans. The sound alone sent Kurt into a frenzy and he swung Blaine around, slamming him against the red lockers. His tongue continued to invade Blaine's mouth and rut against the boy's tongue.

Blaine moaned again and clenched his hands against the taller boy's back, trying not to grasp too tight in fear he'd hurt him and the moment would end. If there was one thing he didn't want, it was the moment to end.

Kurt pressed himself even closer, feeling himself lose control of the situation, wanting to thrust against Blaine and feel him get hard. He wanted it, needed it. He knew he wouldn't be satisfied until he had Blaine hard and a throbbing mess, begging for more. A moan escaped his throat and he came back to his senses. No more, he thought. This shouldn't be happening. He released Blaine instantly, practically ripping Blaine's hands off his back, and turned away from him, going back to his locker and about his own business as if nothing happened.

Blaine, shocked and out of breath, was more confused than ever. What just happened? When he gathered his thoughts and caught his breath, he turned to Kurt. He wanted to say something. He wanted to ask why Kurt did that and, more importantly, why he stopped, but then he saw the stern expression of a boy who clearly didn't want to be bothered. Frankly, it scared him a little. So, he grabbed the bag that he had dropped when Kurt kissed him and rushed out of the locker room.