Kurt and Blaine walked into the theatre early the next morning, Stephanie behind them.

“So, you guys decided on the understudies, right?” Steph asked. Kurt nodded.

“Yeah, you remember Talia, right?” Kurt turned toward Stephanie.

“Oh, yeah! She's cool. Good job picking her out, Blaine,” Stephanie complimented, though Kurt could see the jealousy behind her eyes. Jealousy that all three of them understood.

“Thanks. Chandler will be my understudy, and both Kurt and I agreed that Mark was the second best for Parker,” Blaine said. Stephanie nodded minutely. They all sat down on stage and waited for the three of them to arrive.

Talia walked in first, sparking up a brief conversation with Stephanie telling her how much she admired her, and how she couldnt wait to be her understudy. Kurt laughed inwardly at Stephanie's obvious fake demeanor towards Talia. He felt a little guilty over the fact that he didnt want anyone else sharing his, Blaine's, or even Steph's role in the show. It wasnt very rationale of him, but he just felt something ignite in his chest every time he thought about being up on that stage with anyone else but Blaine and Steph. He knew Blaine and Stephanie would agree.

Talia smiled largely before walking away to sit towards the front. Stephanie smiled back at her before sighing and slouching, fingers rubbing at her temples.

“Man,” Steph mumbled. All Blaine and Kurt could do was nod.

Soon after, Mark and Chandler showed up, taking their seats next to Talia. They talked amongst themselves for a few minutes before Blaine gathered their attention.

“We wont be doing anything today so dont worry. We're just gonna give you the scripts and talk about which rehearsals we want you guys to be at..” Kurt stopped listening. He wasnt sure why it was so hard for him to accept the fact that understudies are normal and essential for a successful show. Its just protocol.

So why did Kurt feel the way he did? Why did he feel jealous every time he thought about Mark touching Blaine? Why did he feel angry when he thought about Chandler touching him? Kurt shook his head. He was surely going crazy thinking about it, but it couldnt seem to rid from his mind. All that him and Blaine went through since the day they met- it almost felt like that stuff was being mocked by getting understudies. Kurt couldnt quite understand it, and he didnt really understand why he was letting this one situation affect him so much, but he just knew that it didnt feel good. But he couldnt change it. He just had to make sure he didnt miss a show.

“...so here are your scripts, and there should be an attached page explaining which days you need to be here for rehearsal. Any questions?” When no one spoke up, Blaine nodded.

“Great. Thats it for today. Thanks for coming guys. Oh, and make sure you read through the script before your first rehearsal!”

The three understudies gathered their stuff and walked out of the theatre together silently. Kurt's, Blaine's, and Stephanie's eyes followed them out the door. Once the doors were closed, all three of them sighed heavily. There was an unspoken hatred towards the whole understudy system that hung over them. None of them spoke for a while, but they all shared the same thoughts. Steph broke the silence.

“Are we crazy for hating this?”

“Yes. No. Maybe,” Kurt replied. “All I know is that I dont like it, and if that makes me crazy then so be it. I dont like sharing.”

Steph nodded in agreement, choosing not to say anything else on the topic. “So, rehearsal today right?” Steph asked to no one in particular. Blaine nodded.

“It's only a read through of the script, but we're not going to run through it all. Just be here at 5 and we'll run through half of the first act,” Blaine explained.

“Sounds cool. Well, I should head out. I have some errands to run. See you guys later,” Steph said, jumping off of the stage and landing on her feet gracefully. Kurt remembered something as he watched her retreating back.

“Hey, Steph!” Steph turned around. “Rachel and Santana want you over for dinner on Friday. Can you come over around 7pm? We can actually just head over to your house after rehearsal, so you can get ready, and then we can catch a cab to my place.”

“Really?” Steph's eyes widened. Kurt smiled in confirmation.

“Of course! I thought they hated me,” Steph half joked.

“No, they just hate sharing. Like me,” Kurt and Steph laughed. The short girl bid her farewell before leaving the theatre, doors closing behind her softly.

“I should leave, too. I have work in an hour,” Kurt said, eyeing the large clock on the far wall. Blaine pouted dramatically, eliciting a snort from Kurt before he jumped off of the stage.

“I'll be thinking about you,” Blaine said, leaning down to get a better look at Kurt. Kurt smiled.

“The same goes for you,” Kurt smirked before grabbing his bag and throwing it over his head and onto his shoulder. “Sir.”

He watched as Blaine's eyes darkened almost instantly before he walked out of the theatre without glancing back to see his wrecked lover.

ooOoo

The week rolled by quickly. In between reading through the script fully, getting his work done at Vogue, and trying to make time for Rachel and Santana, he barely had time to have Blaine to himself. Every time they met at the theatre, Kurt had to stop himself from kissing the shorter man every time their gazes locked for more than half a second. To make the situation worse, it wasn't just Blaine and Steph at the read throughs with him. Sam, Mercedes, Puck, and Mike had decided to lurk around while they ran through the script. They didn't even have a real reason for being there. Kurt guessed he was just irritated over the understudy deal which was why we felt that way toward the team. There is something really wrong with me, Kurt thought.

After rehearsal Friday evening, Kurt managed to steal a kiss from Blaine while the team was backstage and Steph ran to the bathroom. Kurt smiled against Blaine's mouth before pulling away, grabbing his lover's hand and squeezing it briefly.

“I missed you. This entire week was torture for me without being able to kiss you,” Kurt said, staring at Blaine's mouth.

“That makes two of us,” Blaine admitted lustfully. His tone set a fire inside Kurt's chest that seemed to grow and heat his cheeks. He felt a swell of pride over the fact that he was the only one who could see Blaine so torn up and flushed. He did that to him. They stared into each other's eyes longingly, only moving apart when they heard Steph's voice.

“Are you ready, Kurt?” Steph asked, eyebrows raising at Blaine and Kurt's close proximity. Kurt turned toward Steph.

“Yeah,” Kurt said, looking back at Blaine in slight apology before making his way off of the stage. He joined Stephanie who was waiting in the middle of the isle, and together they walked out of the theatre.

Blaine looked after them until they were out of sight. He walked off of the stage before sitting at in a seat in the first row. Pulling out his wallet, he pulled out a picture of him and Kurt. A pic he managed to steal the night they all went to the bar. He smiled when his eyes focused on Kurt's in the picture. His eyes crinkled on the sides, his smile big and bright. In the picture, Blaine was kissing his cheek, eyes closed.

He wasn't able to see much of his sub that week. Kurt was busy with work and rehearsal and Blaine was busy trying to get things together at the theatre. They couldn't get a second in for themselves. Blaine felt an accumulating tension because of it. He relied on his relationship with Kurt to take him away from the worries of the world, to sate him in the best way possible. He sighed, thinking about Kurt and how perfect life has been since he became a part of it.

“You okay, man?” Puck's voice brought him back to reality. He looked up, inhaling before sitting up a little more.

“I'm fine. What's up?”

“Mike, Sam, and I were going to the bar for a drink. Wanna come?” Puck asked. Blaine though for a moment. It's been awhile since they've hung out. It could be a distraction from Kurt.

“Sure. Yeah. When were you heading out?” Puck checked his watch.

“Ten minutes. We're going to the one on Main,” Puck said. “We should be able to get there before it's packed.”

“I'll be ready in five,” Blaine said, getting up to get his stuff. Hopefully I can sate myself with alcohol.

ooOoo

“Do I look okay?” Steph asked, showcasing her outfit. She wore black skinny jeans with a bright red blouse. She looked hot.

“You look more than okay,” Kurt smiled. Steph smiled back thankfully before grabbing her purse and jacket.

“Let's go, then,” Steph said, opening her door. Kurt sent up a silent prayer to whatever power existed.

Please don't let Rachel and Santana kill Stephanie.