“Did you give him your number this time?” Mercedes asked on the other end of the phone.

“Oh, he asked and I told, ‘I don’t think so, not yet.’ And got out of his car.” Kurt told her with a giggle building in his throat.

“You are so mean Kurt Hummel. That poor boy is fawning all over you and you won’t even give him your number.” She admonished her best friend.

“I know, it is rather cruel of me isn’t it? But I figure, if he is really that interested he won’t let a little hard to get deter him.” Kurt was glad Mercedes was not there to see his face, even though she was his absolute best friend, he didn’t want anyone to see the goofy smile that had found itself on his face. He like the idea of being the one being sought after for once. This was all a new experience for him and he kind of wanted to enjoy it.

If he was honest with himself, he wasn’t too worried about Blaine betraying him to his glee club. He wasn’t even worried it could be a ploy to break their morale like with Rachel last year. He just wanted to enjoy the pursuit and make sure that Blaine was sincere in his affection.

“I guess you are right about that,” Mercedes said breaking him out of his contemplation. “I just don’t want you to string the poor boy along if you aren’t interest. You are interested aren’t you Kurt?”

Kurt sighed and waited a minute before he spoke, “He’s cute,” he said resignedly, “but honestly I don’t know enough about him to know how interested I am.”

Mercedes laughed at him, “And that is why you need to get his number so that you can get to know him, so that you can know if you are interested in him.”

“I know Cedes, listen we only have two more weeks until sectionals, and I just can’t consider anything until then.” Soon after the pair made a quick goodbye as Kurt heard his father come home from work. Kurt was finishing up with dinner, Carole and Finn were supposed to be over soon for ‘family’ time. This time was getting to be more comfortable than it had been when Finn and Carole first started coming. And with Kurt’s friendship with Finn growing, things had actually become fun again.

“Smells good kiddo, what is it?” Burt said coming into the kitchen.

“Vegetable lasagna with whole wheat pasta, green beans, and Garlic bread with tiramisu for dessert.” Kurt rattled off.

“Sounds great. I’m going to hop in the shower real quick, I told Carole just to come in when she gets here.” Then his father turned around and headed upstairs.

Kurt turned on some music and began dancing around and singing while setting the table. He was half way through belting out Bad Romance when Finn and Carole walked in the room. Finn was chuckling slightly and Carole looked a bit taken back. Kurt sauntered over and turned off the music before bringing the meal to the table.

______
Blaine sat in the Warbler’s rehearsal space that Monday having successfully avoided Wes and David for the weekend. This was becoming a lonely pattern thanks to Wes’ persistence in his plot to dominate the New Directions at sectionals. Blaine aggravation at his supposed friend was reaching a breaking point as he waited for the rest of the club to enter. Wes and David walked in the door and made their way over to the lead singer, obviously eager to hear what he had found out during his latest excursion to Lima.

“What were they doing this week?” Wes asked as a form of greeting.

Blaine gave him a withered look, “I didn’t see, by the time I made it to Lima their rehearsal was over. I did run into a certain young man at a coffee shop and he is on to your plan. Please can you not put me through this again?”

Wes exchanged and uncomfortable look with David, the later took a moment to form a reply, “What happened this time?”

Blaine looked confused as he answered, “Nothing, we just talked. But if you keep making me go to spy on him, he is never going to trust me.”

Wes looked incredulously at him, “Wait, so you told him you were spying?”

“No, I told him you sent me to spy on them, but I refuse to do it. You know the whole wanting him to trust me thing doesn’t include me lying to him.” Blaine said before he really thought about what he was saying.

“So you didn’t go to McKinley at all?!?” Wes shouted, earning looks from the few people who had wandered into the room waiting for rehearsal to begin.

Blaine sighed, knowing that he was caught. “No, I went to a coffee shop in Lima and I ran into Kurt and one of his friends. I know that they were working on a mash-up but that it was not for competition. They work differently from us, they don’t seem to worry about perfection like we do.”

“And he just told you this?” David asked raising an eyebrow.

Blaine thought for a moment, “Well… yeah. I mean both of them were soaking wet and I asked him why and he told me.” Seeing the confused looks on his friends faces he went on to explain, “they were doing Singing in the Rain complete with rain. I think that is why it wouldn’t be for competition, the judges would never allow them to douse water on the stage.” Blaine was so lost in thought over the sight of Kurt with his wet clothes clinging to his frame that he missed the panicked looks on his friends faces.

“What are we going to do Wes, I think we are way out of our element here.” David exclaimed grabbing his friends arm.

Blaine finally snapped out of his thoughts and turned to the other boys. “I told you, not for competition. And if you two start trying to change our style we will lose. You know I am rather disappointed in you two, I thought you had more faith in us than to be freaking out over one group. If you are just going to jump ship then I am sure Thad and I can take over the group ourselves.”

Wes turned to Blaine, “We are not abandoning us, and we are the best that we have ever been…”

“Then act like it. Stop acting like we have no chance. I am going to work on make our performance our best and stop worrying about what they are doing a McKinley.” Blaine scowled.
_________

Tuesday found Kurt at his locker as usual chatting with Mercedes what they wanted to do this weekend, when he heard his name. He looked over to see Burt and Carole beaming at him.

“Where’s Finn?” Carole asked her voice a little higher than usual.

“His locker I think.” Kurt said confused.

Burt beamed at his son, taking his arm while Carole looped hers around his other. “Take us to him, we have something to talk about.”

And that is how Kurt found out his dad was going to remarry, and that he had one week to plan the perfect ceremony. This was exactly what Kurt needed to take his mind off his bully problems and a certain dark hair boy who he can’t seem to shake from his mind as much as he would like. Kurt didn’t pay attention much in class that week, he sat mulling over plans to be finalized once the school day ended.

Finn or Puck always seemed to need to talk to him between classes, usually walking with him all the way to his locker and the next room on his schedule. While this gesture was appreciated, Kurt also felt guilty, knowing they must have been late to their classes, and a little annoyed that they thought he couldn’t handle the situation himself. Of course, they knew nothing about the locker room scene, not really.

The numbers for the Glee Club were almost set and he just had dance lessons for Finn and his dad this afternoon after school today. Then he just needed to call the caterer and florist to make final conformations, then rehearsal tomorrow and the wedding itself on Saturday.

Kurt made his way to the choir room, Finn caught up with him just as he was walking in the door. “Hey, dude, why didn’t you wait for me after French I would have walked with you.”

“First of all, don’t call me dude, please. And Madam Jenkins let us out early because she had an appointment after school today. I can take care of myself Finn, as much as I appreciate your concern, I think I have things with Karofsky under control.” Kurt told Finn before entering to find his Dad sitting nervously in the front row.

The dance lesson was going pretty well. His dad was trying to dance to the beats and was making good progress when Kurt turned to Finn. As close as the two of them had gotten in the few weeks, Finn was still reluctant to dance with Kurt in the middle of their homophobic high school. To make matters worse just as Finn was taking his hand Karofsky made the same gesture he had the day Kurt was helping Blaine off of the floor. Exacerbating the situation Burt had seen the bully’s actions too.

“What is going on? Who was that?” he demanded of the two boys.

“David Karofsky, he’s just a bully. Ignore him, he’s not worth it.” Kurt said trying to ease the situation. After all his father was still weak from his heart attack.

“What do you mean he’s a bully? What has he been doing to you?” Burt yelled not calming down.

“He used to just push me and throw the occasional slushee, call me names… but he hasn’t done anything in about a week.” Kurt tried to explain, not wanting the situation out of hand.

“He threaten to kill you!” Finn blurted, not understanding why Kurt wasn’t telling his father the whole story.

“What?!” Burt screamed looking between the two boys.

“It was nothing dad, we got in a fight and he just said it. This is the first time he has looked at me the wrong way since then.” Kurt really didn’t want this to go any further. He knew that if his dad took this to Principal Sylvester he would have to explain why David had threatened him.

“I don’t care, no one threatens my son, come on we are going to the principal now!”
____________

Blaine had been trying all week to think of ways to get to see Kurt again. He knew, however, that any attempt to go to Lima would be seen as another failed attempt to spy on Kurt and his choir. So it was unexpected when he received a call from the Dean telling him he was asked to go to a meeting at McKinely the next day at noon. The dean had assure Blaine that his absence would be excused all his teachers would be emailing any assignments he missed for him to make up over the weekend.

Blaine followed the signs the next day to the principal’s office, sure that he was going to face some kind of charges for trying to spy on the glee club, maybe trespassing. He was surprised by the sight that greeted him through the glass windows, a woman in a red track suit sat behind the principal’s desk in front of two older men. His heart became cold when he saw the large boy who had pinned him against the wall sitting beside one of the men. His heart fluttered when he saw Kurt sitting next to the other. He also saw two boys he thought might be from glee club, one sporting a Mohawk. Beside them sat a man that Blaine was almost sure was the Director of the glee club.

Finally noticing the girl sitting at the desk in the outer office, he said, “Um… my name is Blaine Anderson, I have an appointment with the principal.”

“Go right on in the Coach is expecting you.” She replied pointing to the door.

When he pulled it open all eyes turned to him. The principal seemed to take in his uniform (although he didn’t have to go to school that day, he wanted to make sure that it was clear he was from Dalton). “Okay, now that the spy is here we can begin. Mr. Karofsky, it has been brought to my attention that your son has threatened the life of one of my students.”

Blaine shifted uncomfortably in front of the door. There were no more seats and he really had no idea what was going on.

“What, I never…” was all the bully got out before Finn cut him off.

“I heard you, you said if he ever told you would kill him!” he yelled.

“I heard him too, he was practically screaming it. He had Kurt up against the locker.” Puck added.

“It.. it’s just a figure of speech.” David said lamely.

“If he told what?” Sue asked looking between the two boys beside their fathers.

“I told you, he didn’t want me to tell him what happened the day we caught Blaine,” Kurt said gesturing to the boy in question, “came to spy on Glee Club.”

The principal looked at Blaine, which made Kurt’s heart stop, he didn’t want anyone to know what could have happened in the locker room, not for Karofsky’s sake but for his dads. “What happened the day you came here?”

“I was watching the glee club do their numbers, after the boys finished” Blaine paused pointing to Karofsky, “he started shoving me and picked me up and pushed me against a door, he was saying things to me…”

“What things?” the coach asked.

“He was calling me names…”

The principal looked at him with a stern expression. “I need you to tell me what kind of things he was saying… if you can’t then you are no use to us here.”

“Lady, fairy, um.. pretty boy… fag, things like that, homophobic slurs.” Blaine managed to say, looking at his shoes, feeling ready to pass out.

“May I ask, are you gay?” Mr. Shue asked kindly.
“Uh, yes I am sir.” Blaine answered trying to sound as proud as he normally would, but this was not a normal conversation.

“How would David know you are gay?” Mr. Karofsky asked.
“He heard me say one of the boys names, and… I don’t know I guess he knew that I was interested in one of the guys.” Blaine said quietly, not really wanting to discuss his crush on Kurt while his father sat feet in front of him.

“What happened next?” The principal asked.

“Kurt showed up and made um.. David leave. But before he was gone…” Blaine continued to describe the events that followed, including the attempted kiss in the locker room. As soon as he got to that part he saw both Kurt and Karofsky hang their heads. Blaine was unsure what to think.

But the words had barely left his lips before Kurt’s father stood up and shouted, “He tried to kiss you, he has been making your life hell and then he thinks that he can…”

Kurt jumped in, “Dad, please, nothing happened I stopped him. I didn’t want to say anything because I know what it is like to be confused. It is not my place to say whether David is gay or not. He didn’t want me to tell anyone. And even after I told him I wouldn’t, that is when he threatened me. He was scared I would out him and then everyone would turn on him.”

David sat in his chair looking like his world had ended. His father looked at him in surprise. “Is it true? Are you gay?” he asked.

The pain in David’s eyes made Blaine recoil a bit. He knew how hard it is to tell your father that you are gay.

“I don’t know, maybe.” He said in no more than a whisper.
Mr. Karofsky’s face was a mixture of emotions, none of them good at this point. The main ones winning out were confusion and disgust. “We will discuss this when we get home, David.”

“Even under these circumstances, I cannot have one student threatening the life of another.” The principal said then turned to the two Karofsky’s, “You have tortured another student daily, for something he has no control over. For something that in fact you may share. I have three witnesses of you attacking this student, another for you attacking another person on school property, and two for you threatening the life of a student. I cannot allow that in my school. From this time forward you are hereby suspended from this school for a period of a month, you will then go to an alternative school for the remainder of the semester. If you have proven yourself able to control yourself then you may return in the spring. But know that if you so much as step a toe out of line I will be forced to expel you.” Sue rattled off.

“Thank you for your time.” Mr. Karofsky said standing up. “Let’s go David” he added with disgust in his voice.
Before they made it out the door Mr. Hummel stood up and said, “Mr. Karosky, let me give you some advice before you leave. Think before you say anything you will regret. David may be gay, but he is still your son. It is not his job to change himself, well except for his attitude towards others, it is your job as a father to come to terms with this. It is your job to adjust the dreams you had for the baby you held in your arms all those years ago, and embrace the boy that you have.”

Kurt eyes were wet when he heard his dad speak, looking around he saw everyone else’s eyes were the same. Mr. Karofsky nodded his head minutely then walked out the door.

Kurt was conflicted about how he was feeling, he wanted to walk the school without fear of bullies but he didn’t want David to be outed and kicked out of school. As everyone made to leave he stood and spoke before he realized he was opening his mouth, “Don’t say anything, about Karofsky trying to kiss me about him possibly being gay. Don’t let this leave the room.”

“Why, he made your life hell?” Puck asked not caring where he was.

“It just isn’t right; let him come out, if he does, when he wants. Please guys… for me.” Kurt whispered. Everyone nodded and began to make their way out of the room.
Blaine was surprised when Kurt caught his arm and pulled him over. “Meet me in the auditorium in five minutes.” He whispered in his ear.

Kurt walked away clearly saying goodbye to his dad. Blaine made his way to the auditorium, hoping he was going the right way. Luckily Blaine’s memory or sense of direction was correct and he found his way to the place he first caught a glimpse of Kurt. He sat in a seat in the back row, not certain why Kurt wanted to talk to him, but also trying not to get his hopes up.

Kurt walked into the auditorium, shutting the door behind him. “Hey,” he said making his presence known.

“Hey” Blaine whispered.

“Sorry, you got pulled into that, I know it wasn’t easy.” Kurt said trying to soften any anger he had toward what happened in the office. “I just wish you wouldn’t have told them about the almost kiss.”

“Oh,” Blaine began, “I thought maybe you had told them before. I just hope things are okay with his dad. He reminded…” But Blaine cut himself off.

“Of your dad?” Kurt asked. Blaine only nodded, “Yeah, I was afraid that my dad would look at me that way. But he already knew... since I was three apparently.”

“Yeah, your dad seemed great.”

Kurt smiled, “He is, but he’s been sick and I worry about him. Plus he is getting married tomorrow. I have a lot to do I need to go to the church and get ready for the rehearsal, but I wanted to make sure you were okay first.”

“I’ll be okay.” Blaine gave him one more smile before asking coyly, “So can I have your number? I would really like to talk to you more.” Blaine hoped against all hope that Kurt would give in.

Instead, Kurt sighed and stood up, fighting against his every instinct to just give in. “I’m afraid not this time. I have to run, we have glee rehearsal at the church in twenty minutes and I still need to run by my house.”

Blaine’s confusion distracted him. “Why are you rehearsing at the church?”

Kurt smiled coyly before walking out the door, “Didn’t I tell you, New Directions is sing at my dad’s wedding. After all Carole’s son is in Glee too, so they should have a Glee wedding.”

Blaine stood where he was, mesmerized by the boy who just left the room. He just had to get to know that boy better, he was losing his heart to him slowly every time they met.