“I don’t know Mercedes, I just can’t shake the feeling that he’s hiding something”

“Well honey, he’s not going to tell you everything. You only met him two weeks ago. I’m sure if it’s important he’ll tell you eventually” Mercedes insisted.

“But the brui-” Kurt began. Blaine’s black eye had almost completely faded by now but Kurt still yearned to know who had caused it.

“Shhh you worry too much Kurt. You don’t need to protect him, Blaine seems very capable of doing that on his own. I see the way he looks at you, he’s not going anywhere soon. Don’t push him and he’ll come around.”

“Alright…” said Kurt hesitantly. He still wasn’t convinced but he realized Mercedes was done talking about this. Kurt wondered what she meant when she said I see the way he looks at you. Is it possible that Blaine could be feeling as strong a connection as I feel? It’s true that Kurt had only known Blaine for two weeks but it felt so much longer than that. They saw each other almost every day between work and their dates yet he never got sick of being with him.

“Well I have to go eat dinner. Just try and relax okay?” Mercedes said.

Kurt was startled. He almost forgot he was still on the phone. “Yes I’ll try. Thanks for putting up with me Mercedes, stuff has just been so crazy lately.”

“You know I’m always here for you. Talk to you later.”

“Bye.”

Not getting to see Mercedes everyday was one of the only things he missed about school. Kurt wouldn’t see her for a while due to the fact that she was spending the week at her dad’s. He’s lived in Dayton every since he and Mercedes' mom split up a couple years ago. Kurt was lucky he had met Blaine or else it would have been a very boring week. He was friendly with the other kids in Glee club but not enough to really hang out with outside of school. Mercedes and Blaine had seemed to like each other well enough when Kurt introduced them the other day and this pleased him. He hoped that maybe he and Blaine could double with Mercedes and Sam when she got back. Kurt sighed. He knew Mercedes was right, he should just relax and enjoy that fact he found someone as great as Blaine. But he couldn’t, he just couldn’t.

&&&&

As Kurt pulled up to Blaine’s house he took a deep breath to calm his nerves. He still got a little anxious before his dates with Blaine. Kurt had just started to get out of the car when he heard the front door of Blaine’s house bang open.

“I’m going out tonight and there’s nothing you can do about it!” Blaine shouted as he stormed out of the house.

Kurt couldn’t believe his ears. He had never seen Blaine even the least bit annoyed but right now he sounded absolutely furious.

“You want to bet!” Blaine’s dad yelled in response.

They were standing on the porch staring each other down, daring the other to break eye contact. Kurt didn’t want to intrude on whatever was going on so he got back in the car and began to fiddle with the radio. He couldn’t help but overhear their conversation though.

“I told you I was going to the movies with a friend.”

“You didn’t say it was him.”

Kurt didn’t like the way Blaine’s dad emphasized the word him. He could only guess that him was himself.

“ What is that suppose to mean?” Blaine demanded.

“You know what I mean.”

Kurt suddenly realized what word Blaine had used to describe him. Friend. Friend! Is that all I am to him? A friend? But that is ridiculous, Kurt reasoned. We’ve kissed! Surely friends don’t kiss, he thought desperately. Blaine then looked up and realized Kurt was waiting for him.

“Whatever. I’m going okay?” Blaine was challenging his dad to stop him.

“Fine. But this conversation is far from over.” Blaine’s dad then stormed back into the house.

As Blaine slipped into the passenger side Kurt shot him a worried look.

“How much of that did you hear?” Blaine asked him.

“I really wasn’t trying to, but you guys weren’t exactly quiet. Are you okay? We don’t have to go out tonight...”

“No, I want to, I really do.” Blaine assured him.

“Blaine,” Kurt stated tentatively “Does your dad know you’re gay?”

He sighed. “Yes he knows. I came out to him about a year ago but he’s never really accepted it. You’re the first person I’ve really dated so he’s definitely not use to it.”

“Oh so we are dating.”

“Well, yeah, but surely you knew that didn’t you Kurt?” said Blaine sounding slightly concerned.

“I-yeah, well, at least I thought we were but then you told your dad I was a friend…” Kurt felt kind of stupid for mentioning it but he wanted clarification.

“I only told him that earlier so he would let me go. He knows we’re dating though, that’s why he got so angry when he saw it was you.”

“Oh, okay. Well good.” Kurt said. He was relieved to know that it all wasn’t just in his head.

“Kurt, look at me.” Blaine said. “You are one the most wonderful people I’ve ever met and I’m so lucky to have found you. Don’t you ever forget how special you are okay?”

Kurt’s heart soared. That was the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to him.

“Thank you” he said as he reached over and squeezed Blaine’s hand.

&&&&

After the movie Kurt and Blaine walked hand in hand back to Kurt’s car.

“The ending was just so cute didn’t you think? When John proposed right there in the park I almost died!” Kurt gushed.

Blaine just laughed. “Wow. I never would have pegged you as someone who liked romantic comedies.” He teased.

When they got in the car Blaine put his hand on Kurt’s before he could start the ignition.

“My curfews not for another half an hour so we have so time…” Blaine said.

Before Kurt could say anything in response Blaine’s lips were on his. He gasped a little in response and Blaine used this to his advantage by slipping his tongue in Kurt’s mouth. Kurt quickly got over his initial shock and began kissing back. He wrapped his arms around Blaine and began to run his hands under Blaine’s shirt. This was much different than the other times Kurt and Blaine had kissed. The other kisses had been very chaste compared to this one. Blaine then moved his lips down and kissed Kurt’s neck causing Kurt to moan. Then Kurt yanked Blaine’s shirt off and what he saw made him stop cold.

“Blaine!” Kurt gasped in horror.

“What?” Blaine growled, continuing to kiss Kurt’s neck.

“Blaine stop!” Kurt said as he pushed him away.

Blaine looked up. “Am I going to fast? We can slow down-” but Blaine stopped talking and looked down to see what Kurt was staring at.

There were two big, purple bruises on Blaine’s body. One was just below Blaine’s right shoulder and the other was on his upper left arm. Blaine quickly put back on his shirt but it was too late; Kurt had seen them.

“Where did you get them?” Kurt whispered.

“I just- I was wrestling, yeah, I was wrestling with some guys and it got-got pretty rough.” Blaine stammered. It was an obvious lie and Kurt saw right through it.

“Don’t lie to me!” snapped Kurt. “If you don’t want to tell me fine, but don’t lie to my face.”

“I’m sorry Kurt. It’s just really… complicated.”

“Oh it’s complicated is it? I couldn’t possibly understand anything complicated could I?” Kurt said angrily.

“No! It’s not like that. It’s-”

But Kurt cut him off. “Don’t you trust me Blaine?” he half whispered, he tone less angry and more hurt.

“Yes and I really wish I could tell you, but I just can’t” Blaine answered.

“Well then I think we should leave.” Kurt said curtly.

&&&&

It had been an extremely awkward ride home; they barely spoke the entire ride. Kurt was sitting as the kitchen table thinking about everything that had happened that night when his dad walked in.

“You all right kiddo? You seem a little down.”

Kurt just grunted noncommittally in response.

“I want to meet this Blaine guy you’ve been seeing.” Burt said a little awkwardly. “Carol said we should invite him over to dinner, how’s this Saturday?”

“I don’t know dad,” Kurt began.

“No buts. If this guy is going to be a part of your life then I want to meet him.”

Kurt just sighed. Great, he thought to himself, now I have another thing to worry about.