We admit that the trailer for the upcoming Fall Forward, which has its premier tonight in L.A., really has us hooked. With its all-star cast and positive buzz, it's expected to perform well at the box office and we think we might first in line on opening night. Of special interest in the cast is Kurt Hummel, in only his second big screen appearance. Finally we'll get the chance to find out if he's the real deal or a one-hit wonder who should stick to singing and dancing. Advanced word is good and says his comedic performance will show us a brand new side of our Broadway baby. We're actually glad that he decided to do a comedy for his second role. Maybe now we can get the haunting image of him crying in the middle of that abandoned train station out of our heads. Of course, with Defiance expected to be a major player in the upcoming awards season the image won't be gone for long. —TheMovieInsider, October 15th, 2018.

=^..^=

Steve, Kurt's official bodyguard, accompanied them to the premier, so some of the pressure was off of Blaine. His main job that night was to help sell the boyfriend story under the microscope of the entertainment press. The SUV pulled up to the red carpet and Blaine held his breath as a shiver of nerves rolled through his body. He couldn't believe that he was about to walk out in front of the entire press corps and try and convince them that he was dating a movie star.

Kurt must have recognized his apprehension, because he reached over and gave Blaine a quick pat on the hand before moving up and squeezing his arm. "Deep breath. The gauntlet awaits."

Though the movie was opening in the typically slow month of October, it had some major stars in it, so a big crowd and a long line of press were gathered outside. Kurt's role was a small one, but the popularity of Defiance had garnered him a loyal fan base, so the screams were loud when he first stepped from the car. When Blaine stumbled out after him it was obvious everyone was caught a bit off-guard. There was a slight recession of the noise level as the sight of Kurt with another man on the red carpet sunk in and then, in an instant, the air was filled with frantic yelling from the gathered photographers.

"Kurt! This way Kurt."

"On your left, on your left"

"Who's the guy? Are you two dating?"

The light from the flash bulbs was disorienting and blinding and Blaine suddenly understood why so many celebrities wore sunglasses, even at night. It was for sight preservation, not pretention. He was still trying to blink the burned out parts of his vision away when he felt a hand on his elbow and looked over to find Lynn trying to herd them down the red carpet to the next act in the circus: the TV news crews. As they made their way, Blaine reached out and took Kurt's hand (stipulated as acceptable in Kurt's PDA rules). He felt Kurt stiffen for a second before he relaxed into it and gave Blaine's hand a little squeeze.

Kurt bypassed the more obnoxious members of the press and went right for one of his favorite reporters, who had done his first on-screen interview and had always been really nice to him. Lynn had wanted him to do a few more interviews on the red carpet, but Kurt only wanted to tell the story once and felt offering an exclusive would allow them better control of the story.

"Kurt Hummel, you are looking particularly dashing tonight," Brenda Baxter, the reporter for HotHollywoodDish declared, only sending one quick side-glance Blaine's way before giving Kurt all of her attention.

Kurt sketched a quick curtsy. "Why thank you, dear lady. I always say you can't go wrong with Christian Siriano. I was so happy when he opened up his men's line."

Brenda asked Kurt a few questions about the movie, but it soon became impossible for her to ignore the fact that Kurt was still holding Blaine's hand. "So Kurt, I can't help but notice you have someone here with you tonight. And a very handsome someone, if I may be so bold."

"Oh you may." Kurt pulled Blaine in a little closer and wrapped an arm around his waist, giving Blaine a smitten smile. "This is my boyfriend, Blaine Anderson. It's his first red carpet, so be gentle."

"Boyfriend? Wow! That's so great. It's nice to meet you Blaine. What do you think about all of this hoopla for your fella here?"

"He deserves every bit of it." Blaine looked up at Kurt with a love-struck look that came a little too easily for his comfort. "I'm excited to finally see the film."

Brenda moved a little closer to the men to try and cut off the possibility of any other reporter listening in on her interview. "So, how long have you guys been dating?"

"We're old friends from Ohio and recently reconnected. I was so happy when he agreed to move out to California. I can't believe how lucky I am." Kurt pulled Blaine's hand up to his mouth and gave it a quick kiss. Though Kurt's lips only touched his hand for a brief second, Blaine felt a sensation that reminded him of the time he had eaten boysenberries and discovered he was allergic when his entire mouth had begun to tingle until it had finally gone numb.

"Are you an actor too, Blaine?"

Blaine pushed thoughts of his still tingling hand aside to concentrate on the interview. "Oh, gosh no. I'm a nanny, actually. Not working at the moment, though. Just settling in and getting the lay of the land before I decide what I want to do."

Lynn gave Kurt a signal that it was time to move on, so they wrapped up the interview and he promised Brenda that they would talk again soon before they continued towards the theater doors.

Blaine leaned a little closer to Kurt in the guise of brushing a wrinkle from his jacket. "Um…laying it on a little thick, weren't you? And the kiss on the hand? Isn't that outside your defined PDA boundaries?"

Kurt stopped for the next group of photographers, keeping a tight hold on Blaine's hand to keep him in the photos. "Couldn't help it. I was inspired. It's called improv. Go with it."

"So you're allowed to break the PDA rules?"

"Of course, since I'm the one that made them."

Kurt paused for a few more photos, but didn't stop for any more interviews, so it didn't take them long to get inside. The director of the film came up to say 'hello' and Kurt let go of Blaine's hand to give her a quick hug. Blaine had never really been much of a hand-holder in the past, but he now found that he was missing the feeling of Kurt's hand in his. The connection had been both comforting and grounding amid the chaos of the red carpet.

Before he had time to examine those feelings a little closer the ushers came through indicating the movie was about to begin. They found their seats and the lights dimmed. When Kurt's character appeared about an hour into the film Blaine heard Kurt take a deep breath and hold it. As soon as the audience laughed at his first line he exhaled and relaxed a bit into his seat. Blaine reached over to pat his hand, which was resting on the armrest, and Kurt surprised him by taking hold and not letting him go. They stayed that way for the rest of the movie.

=^..^=

Unlike some actors, Kurt loved seeing himself on the screen; In fact, he reveled in it. Though his part in the movie wasn't extensive, he had several key scenes and was ecstatic to hear the audience laugh hard in all the right places. When the movie ended and the lights finally rose again in the theater Kurt bounced up and down in his chair excitedly. "That was good, right? I wasn't just imagining it?"

"The movie was good. You, on the other hand, were great. People are going to be so surprised by what you can do, Kurt."

Kurt felt a glow spread out from his chest to engulf every inch of his body and he wondered if it was possible to be too happy, too contended. He reached over and grabbed Blaine's hand and pulled him up from his chair. "After party, here we come!"

Kurt's great mood dimmed a little, as he was soon reminded that Hollywood parties were not the casual gatherings of close friends that he was used to in New York. As he and Blaine entered the elegant party space next to the theater Kurt looked around, instantly sizing up the people gathered in the room and placing them into one of two categories: People who would spend the evening trying to suck up to him and those he should suck up to. He couldn't remember the last time he had spoken to someone at one of these things who hadn't wanted something from him in one way or another.

It wasn't like he had enjoyed big parties to begin with. A couple of friends gathered for a good lady chat was more his speed. Even a dinner party with one or two new people was fine. But a room full of people he didn't know, but was expected to interact with? Torture. All he wanted to do was stand in the corner or better yet walk around with a trash bag and clean up, anything to be occupied, but no, he had to mingle and hob nob. It was as much an exercise in acting as anything he ever did on the stage.

After running the gauntlet of hangers on hoping to catch the eye of someone important that usually hugged the doors at such events, Kurt and Blaine made it into the heart of the party. The music was loud, the decorations predictable but attractive, and, despite the fact that the bar had only been open for 20 minutes, it was obvious that some people in the crowd had already had too much to drink.

"May I have this dance?"

Kurt turned to find Blaine with his hand outstretched, beckoning him to the dance floor. He hesitated just a moment before extending his hand in return. "Why yes, kind sir, I'd love to."

The song was a slow one and Blaine gathered Kurt in his arms and swung him out into the crowd of dancers already on the floor. From the looks on people's faces it was evident that the news of their relationship had already spread.

"Everyone's watching," Blaine murmured in his ear as they moved to the music and weaved in and out amongst the other couples.

"They're probably hoping we'll do something noteworthy that they can leak to the press after the party." Despite the gains that had been made in equality and attitudes towards gays in Hollywood, Kurt was under no illusion that a scandal involving him and his newly minted boyfriend wouldn't be relished by certain people in the industry.

"I'd hate to disappointment them, how about you?"

"And just what did you have in mind?" The sly look on Blaine's face made Kurt suspicious.

"Nothing major, don't worry. Just something to lend support to our story, but just to warn you, I don't think we covered this in the PDA rules."

"O…kay?"

Blaine's arm tightened around Kurt's waist as he pulled him closer. "Ready?"

When Kurt nodded Blaine tilted him back slowly, lowering him down into a deep dip, his arm supporting Kurt solidly. Blaine held him there for a minute before bending down until their faces were close together. Kurt held his breath, sure that Blaine was about to kiss him and despite their anti-PDA agreement he knew he wasn't going to do anything to stop him. Blaine met and held Kurt's gaze, his honey-colored eyes dark and rich in the dim light of the dance floor, then leaned even closer. Kurt closed his eyes and…felt a tickle as Blaine rubbed their noses together Eskimo kiss style. Kurt opened his eyes and saw that Blaine was wearing the sweetest smile he thought he'd ever seen on someone's face. Kurt grinned back, lost in the moment. And then it happened. He forgot where they were and who they were and reached his head up until their lips met.

Blaine's lips were dry against his and his surprise was evident in how his mouth opened a bit with a gasp of surprise. It took him only a second to acclimatize himself, though, because his arms tightened even more as he leaned Kurt a little deeper into the dip and tilted his head to the left, bring their lips into better alignment. The kiss lasted for only a few moments before Blaine pulled back, breaking the contact.

"Do you think that was noteworthy enough?" Blaine whispered.

And the moment was gone. Kurt landed with a thud back in reality and he gave a quick nod before Blaine lifted him back up to a standing position just as the song ended. Blaine asked if he wanted to dance again, but Kurt feigned an interest in mingling a little instead, needing to separate a little from Blaine in order to bring his heart rate back under control. He couldn't believe he had done that. It had been one of the chastest kisses he had ever had, but it had still been wildly inappropriate (and wonderful. And sweet. And surprising). He really needed to get his head examined.

"So was that some more of your improv?" Blaine asked as he linked his arm with Kurt's.

Kurt cleared his throat and racked his brain for what a nonchalant expression look like, because he needed to put one on his face immediately. "Some of the best acting decisions are made on the spur of the moment. I just felt the sudden intense desire to make everyone in this room envy me. And I think it worked," he said holding one hand straight up at the edge of his mouth and speaking out of the other side, making a joke out of his statement.

Kurt introduced Blaine to most of his co-stars and they spent the next half-hour being photographed in different combinations. Everyone was interested in hearing about the new couple and Kurt found he didn't really mind their prying so much.

"…Wow Kurt, congratulations. He looks like a real catch. Better hold onto him tight, there are some real predators here tonight who'll steal him away if given half a chance."

"…I hear you guys knew each other from back when you were kids. Did you date back then? Were you secret teenage lovahs?"

"…So this is…sudden. How long did you say you'd been dating again?"

"…I'll admit, I'm surprised, Kurt. I always thought you were frigid."

Well, that last one might have stung just a little bit.

Finally recovered from the kiss, Kurt had the buffet table in his sights and was taking Blaine in that general direction when they were waylaid by a man that Kurt vaguely recognized as a producer, but whose name he didn't know. The man grabbed Blaine by the arm and tugged it urgently.

"You've got a great look about you, son. Are you going for films or television?" Blaine shook his head and opened his mouth to answer, but the man kept going, obviously not looking for an actual response. "You'll need to do something about those eyebrows first, though. I've got the name of a great esthetician, if you need a recommendation. Hey, Randy, I thought it was you…" The man ambled off, chasing after an actor who had rushed past while trying to avoid eye contact.

Kurt stifled a laugh at Blaine's dismay. "Aww, honey you have a fan."

Blaine ran a protective hand over his eyebrows and looked after the man with a considering look in his eye.

"Oh no, don't you start too," Kurt exclaimed. "I'm so happy to know someone out here who doesn't have a plastic surgeon on speed dial. Don't go all self-conscious on me now."

Kurt didn't think it was any wonder that Blaine had caught the producer's eye. Not only was he extremely handsome and dreamy, he stood out in the crowd due to his almost constant expression of earnestness. In the midst of the cynicism of Hollywood it was bizarre and a bit startling, kind of like seeing a dog walk on its hind legs.

Kurt schmoozed for a while, making it a point to talk to several writers, directors, casting agents, and producers. He was truly excited to speak with some of them and for others he had work a bit harder, but he had the part down pat by this point (dishonest compliment here, fake enthusiasm there). He saw Blaine looking at him strangely a few times, no doubt bewildered by his behavior, but when in Rome and all that.

Kurt sent Blaine off to get him another soda and was searching for an empty table when he caught a glimpse of a tall man with red hair out of the corner of his eye and tensed. No, it couldn't Giles, could it? He wouldn't dare show up at Kurt's premier. Ugh, of course he would. The man turned and upon spying Kurt pushed his way through the crowd until he was standing next to him.

"Kurt!" Giles cried in an overly loud voice that was sure to get attention and pulled Kurt to him for a dramatic double-cheek air kiss. "It's so good to see you again. You were fantastic in the movie."

"Why are you here?" Kurt hissed, shrugging to remove Giles' hands from his shoulders.

Giles cast a glance around them and when he found no one else standing close he leaned in, lowering his voice. "You may have these people fooled that you're a real actor, but someday soon they're going to come to their senses and I'll be there, waiting to swoop in and catch their attention."

"The only thing you'll be catching is a venereal disease. This is my premier. Get out."

"Now, now, you'll want to keep your voice down. It wouldn't do for any of these nice people to think that we don't get along. After all the cast of Defiance was just one big happy family, right?"

A photographer came up beside them and motioned for them to step together for a picture. Kurt did his best to fake a smile while replying under his breath to the repulsive man who now had an arm around his shoulder. "Yes, and you're the creepy cousin that everyone makes sure stays far away from their pets." The photographer moved away and Kurt immediately shrugged Giles' arm away. "Watch out, Giles. I don't care if people find out that I hate your guts. I'm a Tony winner who was the stand-out performer in my first film and is being mentioned as a possible Best Supporting Actor nominee. Who are you? The bit player whose only line in a song was cut from the film because it wasn't good enough? The guy who had to sleep with the casting director to even get that part? Which of us do you think would be hurt by rumors of tension?"

"Watch your back, Hummel. You may be top dog right now, but the seasons change fast in Hollywood and soon you'll be out on the curb like yesterday's garbage, which is fitting, given the way you dress."

"Well, we can't all be dressed by the stellar designers at Sears, can we?"

Giles stepped closer threateningly and Kurt wasn't ashamed to admit that he felt a little flare of relief at the sound of Blaine's voice.

"Kurt, is everything OK?"

The scowl on Giles' face disappeared in an instant, replaced by what was probably supposed to be a charming smile, but just came off as a leer. "Hey there. Well, aren't you yummy? I haven't seen you around here before. What say you and I find a drink and a quiet little corner and get to know each other better?"

Kurt wound his arm through Blaine's and snuggled into his side. "Blaine, honey, I'd like you to meet Giles, the most horrible excuse for a human being I've had the displeasure of meeting in Hollywood. Giles, this is my boyfriend, Blaine, who wouldn't touch you with a penicillin soaked pole."

Giles' charming façade collapsed. "You think your shit don't stink, don't you Hummel? You'd better not turn your back on me or you'll regret it." He stepped forward, fist clenched and lifted to chest height…and found his arm suddenly gripped so tightly it made his face pale and a vein protrude in his neck.

"Walk away. Now. Or the reporters outside will have something very exciting to report on tomorrow when I throw you head first into the fountain outside. Maybe they'll even get a good shot of that cupid statue peeing on your head."

Kurt had never heard Blaine's voice so deep, so threatening, so…hot.

Giles yanked his arm from Blaine's grasp with a little bit of difficulty and gave Kurt a glare hot enough to burn a hole in Teflon before stalking off into the crowd.

"Good friend, I take it?" Blaine asked, reaching over to pick up the glass of soda he had hastily set onto a nearby table.

"Former co-star, middling talent, and overall evil personified is how I prefer to refer to him." Kurt tried doing some deep breathing techniques he had learned in his yoga class to bring his heart rate back under control.

How dare the man who had tried to sabotage his work on Defiance, who had told lies and spread rumors in order to try and get him fired, show up at his premier just to get free publicity. Kurt wiggled his jaw back-and-forth slightly to try and relieve the throbbing caused by his clenched teeth and felt a headache begin to spread up the back of his skull. Even with the amazing image of Blaine flexing his muscles as he held Giles' arm tight in his grasp fresh in his mind, Kurt was unable to get back into his earlier good mood. He wished he was a little kid again and could lie on the floor and throw a tantrum to relieve all of the built up pressure.

He hadn't yet regained his equilibrium when another man approached, this one someone he vaguely remembered meeting at another event.

"Hi Kurt, I don't know if you remember me, but I'm Robert. Robert Cayhill? We met at that EOnline party a few months ago? Anyways, I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your performance tonight. You were so funny and…well, I just wanted to tell you how great you were."

"Thanks. I'm glad you liked it." Kurt tried to be gracious, but it just wasn't the right time, so he started to walk away, pulling Blaine with him slightly as he went.

Robert hurried around in front of them, stopping their progress. ""I just…I heard you were working on a new movie and I was wondering if, well, if you have any advice for someone looking to move into films? I mean, do you know if they're still looking—"

"Look, Robert, was it? Robert, I do have a bit of advice for you. There is one phrase I think you need to practice over and over until you perfect it. Are you listening? Good. It's 'Do you want fries with that?'" When Robert just stared at him blankly Kurt continued, misplaced contempt oozing from every pore. "It's the most useful phrase for people in the food service industry, where I'm sure you'll be a big success. Now we were just going, so if you'll excuse us."

Kurt turned and walked away swiftly, every fiber in his body screaming at him to get out of that room, away from the possibility of seeing Giles again. When he got into the hallway he looked back and saw Blaine watching him with a mixture of dismay and disappointment. "What?" he asked angrily.

"Am I missing something? Because that guy seemed perfectly nice and you tore into him with…That was vicious, Kurt."

"Oh, please, the man was a bit player on a Disney Channel show. The Disney Channel, Blaine. I don't know how he even got in here."

"Disney Channel, HBO, or school play, what you said to him was just wrong. I guess…I guess I expected better of you. Maybe displays like that are why you don't seem to have many friends here." With that Blaine pulled out his phone and called for the SUV.

Kurt felt his throat tighten up and a pain steadily moved up behind his eyes as they prickled with suppressed tears. He knew he had the tendency to say hurtful things when he was upset, but he had been trying hard to change that. Now in just a few seconds he had ruined all his hard work by channeling Santana Lopez in all her Lima Heights Adjacent glory. Where had that even come from? He'd hurt the feelings of a guy who'd done nothing wrong besides having the misfortune of trying to talk to him after Giles and he had disappointed one of the few people whose opinion mattered to him. Now that Blaine had seen the ugly side of Kurt would he even want to be friends anymore? How had the evening deteriorated from such a wonderful beginning? Had he ruined everything?

=^..^=

Just as they were about to get into the SUV Blaine saw that something across the street had captured Kurt's attention. There, waiting behind a barricade erected earlier by the police, was a group of fans holding banners and large pieces of poster board. As soon as they recognized Kurt they cheered and held their signs up high. As Bill opened the back door for them to enter, Blaine settled his hand lightly on Kurt's back to guide him and turned to ask Steve if he'd had an opportunity to scout out the crowd. Suddenly the feeling of Kurt's suit jacket under his hand was gone and he turned to see Kurt jogging across the road towards the now screaming fans.

Blaine ran after him, careful to keep the fear off his face, trying to look the part of the supportive boyfriend. He was only a few seconds behind Kurt and arrived just as he started signing autographs. Kurt moved swiftly down the line until he was stopped by one woman who looked as if she was about to cry. Blaine heard snippets of what she was saying, something about being Kurt's biggest fan and running an online fan club for him, but he was too hyper-aware of their surroundings, looking for sudden movements from the crowd and listening for squealing tires from the street, to pay much attention. The woman finished talking and Kurt reached forward to give her a quick hug. At that moment Blaine saw red and it was all that he could do to keep from throwing Kurt over his shoulder and carrying him back to the car.

Instead, he stood a bit closer to Kurt and pasted a smile on his face that was so painful he was sure he was doing some kind of damage to his muscles. Kurt finished up the autographs and waved goodbye to the small crowd before heading back to the SUV. Blaine helped him in and jumped in after, careful not to look at him until the car was on the road.

It took only a few minutes for Blaine's temper to erupt. "What the hell was that?" he yelled.

Kurt glared at him sullenly. "I don't know what you mean."

"Don't play dumb, Kurt. Don't you ever run do that again. Anyone could have been over there! The stalker could have been there with a gun or a knife and I wouldn't have been able to do much to protect you."

"Fame isn't worth it if you have to live in a glass box." Kurt's eyes glistened with unshed tears.

Blaine softened, his anger draining away like water in an unplugged bathtub. "You don't have to live in a glass box. Just…be sensible. Come to me and we can figure things out together, but please, please don't ever leave me standing there again, worrying that I'm about to see you attacked before I can get to you."

The rest of the ride back to Kurt's house was silent. It was the first time that Blaine had seen Kurt really angry and he was having trouble reconciling this new Kurt with the one he had been living with for over a month. Of course, Blaine wasn't too proud of how he had handled the situation either, making that crack about Kurt not having any friends. He should have kept his cool and now they had both said things that night they didn't mean. The encounter with Giles had set Kurt off, that much was obvious, but Blaine knew there must be something more to the story than just co-starts who disliked each other. He'd give Kurt some time to cool down and try and broach the subject later. They just needed time to talk.