Kurt walked into Glee practice, late as Blaine had, but by only a handful of minutes and not enough to miss anything important. He kept his eyes to himself and only looked at Blaine when everyone else did because it seemed a normal action to do, like when he was talking. At the end of practice, he left with the cheerleaders as usual and didn't say a word to Blaine, nor did he give him a fleeting glance. Something was off and Blaine didn't understand. No one else knew Kurt's secret the way Blaine did, the way the cheerleaders blushed when he talked to them proved it, but Kurt always reserved a moment in passing to smile wickedly or say something that would send Blaine's innards into frenzy. He hadn't done that today.

It bothered him enough to the point that he couldn't concentrate at karate class and he continuously got dropped to the ground and accidentally moved in the wrong way when sparing with another boy, causing him to get kicked in the face. It left him with a split lip and he knew it would be a bruise by morning. Blaine wanted to call him, but he didn't have his number and he couldn't face book him because other people in school would see that they were friends on Kurt's timeline. He'd just have to wait until their coffee date late that evening… but he never showed. It was seven o'clock, like Kurt wanted, and Blaine sat alone. He waited for a half hour before giving up and leaving, partly because his lip was bleeding again from where wouldn't stop chewing on it in anxiousness.

The next day was exactly the same. They didn't exchange glances in the hallways or at lunch from across the cafeteria, and Kurt didn't meet him in the hallway, at his locker, as he did the day before. The most awkward moment was in the locker room when Kurt ignored his existence completely. Did I do something? Blaine thought for the countless time. He'd gone through the events of Monday over and over again and by Thursday, he decided that he hadn't done anything wrong and became bitter. If Kurt wanted to ignore Blaine, Blaine would ignore Kurt.

His bitterness turned to anger by Friday and he was distracted by his thoughts. It was bad enough that he wasn't paying attention in the hallway during lunch and Blaine accidentally walked around the corner and ran into possibly the biggest jock, Shane, Mercedes' ex-boyfriend. He harbored a particular distaste for anyone in glee because it was a glee member, Sam, which she cheated on him with.

"Sorry!" Blaine said, quickly realizing what he did.

"Watch it, Homo!"

"Sorry. I wasn't pay attention."

Hands quickly shoved him against the lockers and his bulbous head got in his face, slinging insults at him. Blaine blanked out and trained his eyes on floor. It was what he used to do so that he didn't have to really hear what was being yelled at him. That was before Kurt demanded the jocks leave him alone. Clearly, it didn't stick for long since they weren't talking anymore.

"Hey! Shane! Chill out. What's going on?"

Blaine looked up and, to his astonishment; Kurt had his hands on Shane and guiding him to back away from Blaine.

"The homo ran into me."

"Dude, you're a bulldozer, I'm sure it was an accident if he didn't see you."

Shane, who used to be a lot nicer and saner, had nothing to come back with. He knew he was acting ridiculously. "Just watch where you're going, Queer."

"S-Sorry."

Shane stomped off. "You shouldn't do that," Kurt said, turning his attention to Blaine.

"What?"

"Apologize to him. He called you a queer. Don't ever apologize to someone who demeans you." A second or two went by of silence and Kurt turned to walk away.

"So you're talking to me now?" Blaine inquired, gathering his strength.

"What are you talking about?" Kurt rolled his eyes.

"You-"

"-Don't say it," Kurt ordered quietly, but sternly, as a handful of people meandered into the hallway.

"Coffee." Blaine figured he could be cryptic and still have the conversation.

"Oops." His voice was cold, like he didn't even care. Sarcasm dripping from the one little word.

"I don't get it." Blaine was angry again, but still just as confused as he was on Monday. "You-" he swallowed hard. He bore his eyes into Kurt's as if to telekinetically remind him of their kiss, both of them.

Kurt just stared back and when Blaine felt he'd had enough of Kurt's behavior, he groaned and left him. He only got a little ways down the hall before hands grabbed him and forcibly pulled him into the bathroom. It startled him, but he allowed himself to feel annoyed and even more anger when he saw it was Kurt.

The tall and skinny boy let go of Blaine as the door closed behind them and he started to look at all the stalls to check if they were alone.

"What is your problem?!" Blaine challenged.

"Look, I am not your boyfriend. I have no obligations to you. So, say whatever shit you need to say to me and get it over with because you're only going to get one chance."

"You're a fucking drama queen!"

"Is that all?"

"No. I don't get you. You," he paused trying think of a cryptic way to say that Kurt kissed him, "do and say things then Monday and-" he paused again. "I don't get it! I didn't do anything wrong. You," he lowered his volume drastically, "kissed me. You stood me up. You ignored me. What's your deal?"

Kurt grinned and rolled his eyes, something that only ignited more fire inside Blaine's chest. "You're such a virgin. I kissed you and now you're hooked on me."

"I'm not hooked on you!" He touched his fingertips to his lips, knowing he spoke too loudly, and Kurt flashed him a look to watch his volume. "I just want to know why."

The grin went away. "It was a mistake. Just let it go."

"Why? Why was it a mistake?"

"Because I said it is. Do you think I'm going to walk down the hall, holding your hand for everyone to see?"

"No. I know you're not out, but doesn't kissing someone mean anything to you?"

"Not really. I've kissed lots of people. What makes you any different?"

"You know what?" Blaine licked his lips. "Forget it. I'm done with this." He hurried out of the bathroom and went to his locker. When he shoved what he needed into his bag, he shut his locker a little too hard, making it sound off a loud bang.

"What's the matter, fairy? Peter Pan not want to cuddle any more?" taunted one of his tormentors, Ian, from the wrestling team.

Blaine was far too furious to be able to let the comment roll off his back. "Shut up! You wrestle with guys in lycra and spandex and slap your team mates on their ass. That's gayer that anything I've ever done."

The hallway went silent. "What did you say to me?" Ian asked as he approached Blaine.

"You heard me." A crowd was forming fast around them.

"Wanna say that again to my face?"

"I already said it you your face. I was looking right at you."

The boy's face crinkled angrily, not liking or being used to someone talking back to him. He got even closer to Blaine, puffing out his chest. Something was about to happen. "Look at you, growing a back bone. Wanna go, homo?"

"With you? You're not exactly my type."

"I'm not asking you out, fucking faggot."

"You sure? Because you won't get out of my face. You're not going to kiss me, are you? I'll puke if you do."

The boy had enough and he shoved Blaine into the lockers with all of his strength. The metal stung as Blaine hit it hard, but he ignored it and didn't miss a beat before charging back. Ian connected with Blaine and flipped Blaine on his back in a wrestling move. "Stay down, shit eater!"

Blaine didn't listen and flourished his body upwards and onto his feet. The move made the wrestler grin, feeling happy that the fight wasn't over despite his previous comment. He surged forward at Blaine and Blaine quickly turned into the black belt he was after school in karate class. He dropped down and sweep kicked his foot out, sending Ian into the air and landing on his back.

The large crowd surrounding them made several different noises, but Blaine was sure that some of them were in shock that Blaine was actually fighting back and knew what he was doing. Others were encouraging the jock to get back up. Some more were cheering for Blaine. The aggression felt good for once.

Azimio lifted Ian off the floor and shoved him in Blaine's direction. "Kick his ass."

When the jock came after Blaine once again, Blaine kicked out, stopping the boy in his tracks, connecting with his chest, but he didn't take his foot back quick enough and the boy seized it, leaving Blaine on one foot. He jumped up off his single leg and his foot connected with the boy's shoulder. Both of them fell to the floor this time.

They scrambled to get up and the jock got Blaine into a headlock. Cheers erupted from the jock's friends and Blaine clenched his fist, pounding it into the other boy's ribs. He didn't let go at first, but loosened his grip while moaning from the punch and Blaine punched him again. This time, the boy let go and Blaine twisted out of the lock and took the boy's arms with him. With the boy's arms behind his back, Blaine pushed forward and pinned him against the lockers.

"How does it feel to be bested by a queer?"

"Fuck you!" Ian yelled with his face pressed to the cold metal.

"Unless you want me to do more damage, I suggest you and your friends leave me alone. I could do a lot worse. Trust me."

"Get the fuck off me!"

"What's going on here?" A teacher's voice yelled out from the doorway of a classroom. The crowd instantly dissipated and Blaine let the jock go and made a disappearing act of his own. He saw Kurt standing on the outskirts of the crowd, leaning up against the bathroom door. He eyed him for a second only, not trusting himself at the moment, and rushed off to Art class.

...

"He didn't hurt you, did he?" Kurt whispered when he joined Blaine at the sink to wash off his paint tray in art class.

Blaine flinched, surprised that Kurt was standing next to him. "Didn't you see? I won."

"That's not what I asked."

The shorter boy groaned, trying to hurry the process of rinsing his brushes off. "What do you care?"

"Stop it. I'm sorry. I'm an asshole, I know."

"Go on," Blaine said sarcastically.

"And you probably wouldn't have gotten into the fight if I hadn't pissed you off. So I'm sorry."

"Uh-huh." He didn't believe Kurt at all. Sure, Kurt was acting submissive and guilty, but with his recent actions, who knows if he actually meant it. Blaine wished things went differently this week. Maybe if he hadn't let Kurt kiss him, they would still be friends, if that was even what they were. What made it worse was that he still really wanted to know why Kurt rejected him so harshly after kissing him the way he had.

Kurt laid a hand on Blaine's forearm, freezing Blaine's actions. "I mean it."

Blaine thought he saw a plea in Kurt's eyes. It really seemed as though this was bothering him. "I don't believe you."

He took his hand back, glancing around him for a second to see if anyone caught the action. "What do you want me to do? I said I was sorry."

"So what? You have no obligation to me, remember?"

The quote stung. "You have every right to be mad at me."

"Thanks for the permission."

Don't do it. Don't do it. You'll only end up hurting him again, Kurt chanted in his head. "Coffee? Let me make it up to you."

"What?" Blaine furrowed his eyebrows. Kurt seemed to have the emotional loops of a rollercoaster and it was annoying him right now.

"Tonight. Coffee? Please? My treat. I promise I'll show up this time." Shit, Kurt, you're an idiot.

The brushes were still wet, but Blaine was absently flicking the bristles with his thumb. His eyes looked at Kurt, moving from one blue-green, beautiful eye to the other, searching for certainty. He did want to go, but part of him was reminding him of the events from the week. In the end, he gave in. "I have boxing tonight."

"What time does it end?" Kurt jumped at his chance eager to want to make things right between them.

"Eight."

"Can we maybe meet after?"

"I have a fencing match tomorrow morning."

"Okay, I won't keep you out late then. Please?" He waited, returning the gaze of the honey eyes. "Blaine, please?"

Blaine took one take handful of seconds to crook his jaw and think about the possible reprocussions. He took into account that this whole week he wanted an explanation and time to talk to Kurt. Now that he was being given his chance, he was actually thinking about not taking. In the end, looking at Kurt's pleading eyes, he knew he couldn't say no. "Fine. There's a sub shop next to the gym I box at. I eat dinner there after practice."

"Great! I'll meet you at 8:15 then?"

"Why not." Blaine didn't sound too enthused, but that was mostly because he was expecting to be stood up and didn't want to get his hopes up.

In the locker room, before and after gym, Kurt tried to make small talk with Blaine, but Blaine wasn't too responsive. He wasn't quick to forgive his male counterpart because he had spent the entire week feeling like shit. In his opinion, Kurt could shoulder some of the awfulness for a few hours. If he truly wanted Blaine's forgiveness, he would have to earn it. At least, that's what Blaine was trying to stick to.

Kurt was gentle in his tone and made no attempt at flirting because he knew it would only make Blaine run away. He wasn't sure why he was trying so hard because with Blaine mad at him, Kurt was getting what he wanted, space from Blaine Anderson. He knew he was acting like a drama queen and resembled someone with emotions that flipped on a dime. Maybe some part of that was true, but if he pushed Blaine away, then it would be for the best. So why was he trying so hard to make up for his actions? I should have never kissed him, he thought. He had been thinking only of himself at the time, but was now living with the repercussions of an act he felt was wrong.