"Tell him."

Sam glances up at Kurt guiltily. He doesn't answer, and Kurt mentally calculates how dangerous it would be to actually sit next to Sam in their shared gym class. The other kids were already whispering behind their hands and glancing at them. He chooses to glare instead. Scarily.

Blaine always cowers at Kurt's truly furious faces. Sam isn't too different.

"I will, Kurt, I will; it's just…" Sam eyes the girl nearby and leans into Kurt slightly. "I need some time."

"Well while you're getting yourself some time, Jacob is telling everyone about your gay love for me and how I'm a lying cheating skank, so fix it." Kurt hisses. Sam winces at Kurt's volume and Kurt tries not to growl aloud. But he does lower his voice. "I'm sorry. But Sam, trust me, people are going to be a lot nicer to you if they think you're poor than if they think you're gay."

Honestly, this whole situation would be almost comical if he could only talk to Blaine about it. He'd get a kick out of loudly propositioning Sam for a threesome or something.

Except Sam is still being a dumbass and Kurt now gets to mentally freak out about Blaine being in a different class and that stupid newspaper littering the hallways. It'll be a miracle if Blaine doesn't find out at this point.

"You're still getting shit for being gay?" Sam looks confused enough that Kurt barely resisted rolling his eyes.

"The only reason I'm not getting slushied five times a day is because Blaine would beat crap out of anyone who tried. And they all saw…K-Karofsky's face after…" Kurt unconsciously crosses his arms, holding them tight to his body. It's literally been like two months and he still can't say his name without that cold dose of fear shooting down his spine.

Sam winces. "I didn't know. I'm sorry." He sighs and tugs on his hair with one hand. "I just need some time to get it straight in my head, you know?"

Kurt opens his mouth to tell Sam exactly how much time he was going to get before he told Blaine himself, when Coach Beiste finally shows up and blows the whistle with a harsh tweet! They're running laps today, so Kurt shoots a last look at Sam.

"You're telling him soon. I mean it, Sam." Kurt storms away.

He is so not losing his boyfriend over this stupid charade.

Kurt finally escapes the showers only a few minutes into study hall. He always waits until most of the boys are gone before he jumps in, and even then Kurt dares to stay only long enough to get the worst of the sweat smell off. Too many boys are freaked out about being checked out or something and Kurt does not need those looks. Not today.

It also doesn't help that this locker room (third row from the weight room doors, first bench) is where it happened.

His hair is still damp when he turns down the hallway with his locker. Where Blaine is leaning against Kurt's locker with a deep frown.

Shit.

Kurt mentally freaks out but pulls himself together fairly quickly. It's only the two of them, so at least the showdown will be semi-private. Provided Jacob hasn't actually hidden video cameras in the hallways like the true scum of the earth he is. Kurt nervously walks towards Blaine, but keeps his head high. Maybe Blaine didn't actually know anything.

"Hey, sweetie," Kurt says with a grin, leaving a swift kiss on Blaine's cheek before turning to his locker. "You okay?"

Blaine barely reacts, though he does cross his arms and narrow his eyes at Kurt.

Well, might as well keep playing dumb. He gets his locker open, but Kurt pauses in the act of putting away his gym clothes. "Blaine?"

"I heard a weird rumor in Chem today." Blaine says conversationally, though his jaw line is too hard to really pull it off. "Any idea what is was?"

Kurt shuts his locker quietly, though he doesn't look at Blaine. Defending himself almost seems pointless. Blaine wouldn't believe him; he couldn't. No one ever does, after all. It just hurts that the tiny little flicker of hope deep inside Kurt's chest really believed Blaine would have faith in Kurt and them.

"They said you were at a creepy-ass motel last night. With Sam." Blaine continues.

Still silent, Kurt crosses his arms close to his body and glares at Blaine. Fuck him; he should trust Kurt to not cheat. Like Blaine has any room to talk; honestly.

Kurt certainly hasn't forgotten about Sebastian.

"Then, I get attacked by Jew-Fro walkin' here and he keeps asking me how I feel about you leaving me for a blonde surfer with a better body." Blaine spits out the last few words and if Kurt wasn't so pissed that Blaine is assuming the worst of him, he'd laugh at the insulted pout on Blaine's face.

"Did you punch him?" Kurt asks. He knows the answer.

Blaine smirks.

"Oh Christ," Kurt mutters and rubs his forehead. It's going to be a miracle if Blaine manages to not get thrown out this year. And Kurt needs Blaine here; not in jail, not in juvie with him.

"He had it coming."

"That doesn't mean you can punch him, fuck!" Kurt shouts. "Jesus, Blaine!"

The boy just shrugs unapologetically, arms crossed defiantly. He meets Kurt's gaze evenly, though it softens when Kurt continues to seethe. "You told me you were with Sam, babysitting." Blaine suddenly says.

Kurt looks at him carefully. "Yeah."

"You don't like lying to me. You've only done it once." Blaine studies him, brow furrowed. "And I don't think you'd cheat on me. Not after Karofsky; and not after Scandals."

"I wouldn't," Kurt whispers, his mouth very dry. Figure it out, Blaine, please; I don't want to break my promise to Sam.

Understanding flashes in Blaine's eyes. "That motel. That's where Sam lives now?" He sighs at Kurt's miserable nod. "Fuck. That just sucks." He falls back against the locker, closer to Kurt. One hand sneaks out and grabs Kurt's. "Why didn't you just tell me?" Blaine asks quietly, sounding a little hurt.

Kurt focuses on their intertwined fingers before squeezing slightly. "I made a promise," he says. "Sam was supposed to tell you about his situation this morning, and neither of us expected to be followed; this school is batshit insane, but…" Kurt trails off and smiles at Blaine. "Thank you for not freaking out and jumping to conclusions."

"Were you afraid I'd do that?"

Kurt shrugs guiltily at the sad tone in Blaine's voice.

"No, I get it; I don't have a very good track record with you," Blaine mutters and looks at the ground.

"Blaine…"

"Can I make Sam really uncomfortable with sex jokes for the rest of the day though?" Blaine wiggles his eyebrows ridiculously and Kurt snorts.

"Of course. The idiot deserves it; who would rather be gay than poor, honestly…" Kurt trails off when Blaine pulls him close, bringing his arms up to wrap around Blaine's leather-covered shoulders. Kurt breathes in Blaine and hides his face in Blaine's neck. "I'm not a cheating whore, you know," Kurt says into Blaine's warm skin. Blaine squeezes tighter.

"I know."

"If we see Jacob, it's my turn to punch him."

"Wouldn't dream of stopping you." Kurt feels Blaine's chest rumble with suppressed laughter.

Kurt snickers too, and holds Blaine for an extra second. He'd usually feel self-conscious about being so needy, but he knows Blaine craves this touch too. He doesn't get it at home very often.

They bask in each other for a few minutes until—

"Wait, does Sam have better abs than me?"

"Oh my god; shut up Blaine!"

By the time Glee rolls around, the rumor about Kurt and Sam has spread across the school and Kurt gets more than few confused looks when he slides into his usual seat next to Blaine. Rachel, in particular, glares at him.

He's already been approached by an irate Mercedes, and Tina, and Puck; none of whom actually seem to believe him when Kurt says he's not cheating on Blaine.

Does everyone really think that low of him?

That he'd hurt Blaine like that for a few seconds of pleasure?

Like you can even get past first base, his mind sneers. Blaine's the only one that would want you anyway, and that might not even last once he realizes he's got so many other options.

He tries not to think after that.

Kurt's pretty certain he's going to kill Sam if the blonde idiot doesn't fess up. Which he doesn't; sliding into a seat in the very back and ignoring the stares. He avoids Kurt's eyes, the jerk, though he does glance at Blaine.

Yeah, he knows, now tell everyone else, Kurt silently screams.

Surprisingly, Quinn sits behind them. Her expression stays aloof and disdainful as she slides her bag off her shoulder, but then she leans down. Too soft for the other to hear, Quinn whispers a few words.

"It's a good thing; what you did for Sam. He told me. Thank you," she says, and then straightens up like nothing happened.

Kurt catches Blaine's eyes, but the boy just shrugs and starts fingering Kurt's collar. Rachel narrows her eyes and opens her mouth, but Mr. Schue walks in and starts talking about Fleetwood Mac's Rumours album and Kurt shoots her a look of death to get her to back off.

At the end of rehearsal, Kurt books it out of there with Blaine in tow, though he doesn't miss the way Rachel corners Finn as they leave.

A sense of foreboding settles deep in Kurt's stomach and really hopes Sam knows what he's doing.

The next day, McKinley erupts in a new scandal because apparently Quinn has been spotted at the motel with Sam, and Kurt just rolls his eyes at Tina's and Rachel's and Finn's increasingly bizarre theories as to why Sam is apparently bisexual and a cheating manwhore. Tina thinks Sam is a serial killer, apparently, and Blaine laughs so hard he snorts. And then Finn and Rachel are spied spying on Sam and Quinn together even though Finn and Quinn are supposedly dating again and Kurt just. Cant.

The week only gets worse, but Sam stays silent and as frustrated as Kurt is, he keeps his mouth shut along with Blaine's.

Secrets are familiar to Kurt, after all.

Kurt ignores Rachel's warning to stay away from Sam unless he wanted to lose Blaine and goes back to Sam's anyway. Sam gets a job delivering pizza and his parents are still trying to find work, so Kurt and Quinn hammer out a babysitting schedule for Stevie and Stacey between them. Talking to her is hard at first, but she apologizes before he says a word and then gets down to business.

He can appreciate that.

The first time Blaine comes with him to babysit, Stevie and Stacey are fascinated by Kurt's boyfriend. Stacey asks about a million questions ("Why do you have so many earrings?" "Do you have any tattoos?" "Can we dye my hair like Kurt's?" "No," Kurt says sternly to that last one and Blaine and Stacey both pout), and Blaine is patient and kind and perfect, the way he never is with anyone other than Kurt. Kurt watches them with a smile and feels normal for the first time in months; even though he's in a rustic motel with his poor friend's kid siblings and his boyfriend.

They decide to order food from some local chain restaurant with chicken fingers and fries and a whole cheesecake for dessert. Stevie and Stacey seem excited to have something that wasn't originally frozen or pizza, and really, Kurt can spare the money to put a smile on these kids' faces. Blaine volunteers to stay behind while Kurt goes to pick up the food.

Alone in the car in the barren parking lot as he waits for the restaurant to finish the order, Kurt sits. Thinks.

It's so easy with Blaine. With Sam's brother and sister. It feels normal and sane and safe but there's always that stupid little voice in the back of Kurt's head that whispers it won't last, don't get comfortable, constant vigilance! and Kurt's so fucking tired of it all. School is getting more and more insane, though at least no one actually dares to touch Kurt now. Not after Karofsky and Azimio. But the whispers and fucking stupid rumors don't stop. Every class, every lunch, every five fucking minutes that Blaine's not there, they assault him.

Whore.

Bitch.

Slut.

Cheater.

Fag.

They never stop.

A tap on the window shocks Kurt out of his musings and he quickly pays the bored teenager and collects the food with a tight smile. That's all he can do; smile and nod. Keep calm and carry on, Dr. Englund says. Kurt breathes in the smell of grease and fries and tries not to think about his fucked up life. He knows two kids that have it infinitely worse.

"No! Kurt, stop! The floor's lava!"

Kurt nearly drops the food at Stacey's shriek, but stops himself from walking into the tiny room. The scene before him is…well. Blaine's giving Stacey a piggyback ride while standing on one of the beds and Stevie has claimed the armchair as his territory. All of them have huge grins and the beds look like someone's been jumping on them, but they're so happy that Kurt can't make himself yell.

He decides to play along.

"Lava? Oh no, what can I do? I have your food here and everything! You guys are going to starve!" Kurt says with a mock gasp. He catches Blaine's eye and winks.

Blaine smirks. "Well Stacey, what should we do? He's got food and we're all the way over here."

"He could throw it to us!" Stevie shouts, clumsily leaping from the chair to the other bed. He nearly falls off, but manages to stay upright.

"I am not throwing you the food."

"Wait! I have an idea!" Stacey scrambles down from Blaine's back and grabs a few pillows. "He can walk on these! They're like, um, platforms that'll stay for ten seconds before the lava burns them up!" She's nearly bouncing up and down at her brilliance and Kurt laughs to himself as he struggles to kick off his boots. Walking all over someone's pillows is a bit rude, after all.

Blaine grabs a pillow too. "That's genius, Stacey! You ready, Kurt?"

"As always," Kurt says, holding up the food. "Come on, aren't you guys hungry?"

The first pillow nearly hits Kurt in the face, and he sends a glare at Blaine before delicately stepping on it. Stevie and Stacey count down loudly as Kurt steps on Blaine's thrown pillows, occasionally gasping when Kurt pretends to lose his balance. They pounce on Kurt when he finally sits on the bed, nearly tipping the food over.

"You made it, Kurty!" Stacey hugs him and then starts pawing at the containers. "Which one's mine? I'm hungry!"

"Me too!"

"Oh my God, calm down you little terrors," Kurt laughs fondly as he pushes them off and finds the right containers. He hands them to the kids with napkins and warnings to "keep the crumbs OFF the bed," but they mostly ignore him in favor of the fries. Kids.

Shaking his head, Kurt hands Blaine his bacon cheeseburger. Blaine sits next to him, almost pressed against his side, and kisses Kurt lightly on the cheek. "My hero," Blaine teases. "Braving all that lava for me and the two brats."

"Hey!" Stacey shouts. "We aren't brats!"

"Eat your food," Kurt scolds, taking a bite of his own grilled chicken sandwich. Blaine wrinkles his nose at the lame dinner and digs into his greasy burger, occasionally stealing Kurt's fries even though he has his own.

Apparently stolen food tastes better or something, but Kurt glares all the same.

And then Blaine kisses him.

It's a short peck, just lips and no tongue, but it's in public and Kurt's torn between mortification and melting from happiness and oh God, the kids are staring. Kurt's cheeks grow hot and wow, what an interesting sandwich; it's just crafted so well.

"You guys're cute tog'er," Stacey mumbles through a mouthful of chicken fingers. Stevie nods.

"Swallow before speaking," Kurt says automatically, but smiles. God, he just wants to burst into tears, some people don't care that they're both boys; they just see love. It's so huge and fantastic and awesome.

Fuck, his meds are messing with him today; he's so fucking emotional. Kurt laughs and wipes at his eyes, catching Blaine's grinning face as well. Blaine wraps his arms around Kurt's waist and pulls him so they're chest to back.

"I guess I'll keep him then," Blaine snarks, wincing as Kurt smacks his arm.

"Hey! Don't make him mad, Blaine, he brought us dessert!" Stevie shouts.

"Dessert!" Stacey echoes.

"Yeah, I brought you nutjobs dessert," Kurt snickers, untangling himself from Blaine to grab the cheesecake. They don't have plates, so Kurt just puts the whole cake on the bed, gives the kids forks and tells them to dig in.

Which is how the Evans found their children later that night; stuffed with cheesecake and asleep on Kurt and Blaine before an old Disney movie on the flickering TV.

"Where's Sam?" Finn asks during Glee. It's Thursday and Kurt is close to his breaking point after yet another week of cruel rumors, no sleep, and a new combination of anti-anxiety meds that make him numb and sick and fuck, Kurt just wants to go home and crawl in bed and ignore the world.

Except for Blaine. Blaine can come.

"Well, Kurt and Quinn are here, so we know they're not off doing the nasty," Artie says and Kurt drops his head and groans. Quinn scoffs, rolling her eyes.

"Shut the fuck up, Abrams!" Blaine snaps. Artie holds his hands up in surrender, looking apologetic. He mouths a sorry to Kurt when Blaine turns around.

"Like I've told all of you," Quinn drawls from the back, clearly bored and vaguely annoyed, "Sam isn't gay. You should ignore that stupid newspaper."

Rachel opens her mouth to comment, but then Santana bursts into the room and starts yelling at Brittany. Apparently something in the newspaper hinted that Santana was a lesbian.

He really should feel guiltier, but a mean part of Kurt kind of wants to interrupt the Latina's Spanish infused tirade and tell her that everyone already knows.

It's hard not to when she sits with Britt everyday and gives her those looks.

The choir dissolves to yells and bickering again, with Mr. Schue talking to Brad and looking worried. Kurt just closes his eyes and leans against Blaine. God, why won't everyone just shut up?

Thankfully, Sam walks in at that point. Which makes Rachel round on him and start lecturing a confused Sam about motels and sleeping with two people at the same time. Even Puck gets in on the action, reminding Sam that Kurt and Quinn both have boyfriends and Kurt just wants to crawl in a hole, oh god. His face must be the color of a tomato by now. Blaine looks to be about one second from completely snapping, judging by the dark looks he keeps sending everyone, and Kurt just groans to himself.

He doesn't even care about the overwhelmed look on Sam's face; this shit has gone on long enough.

"GUYS!" Sam shouts, finally.

The Glee Club falls into shocked silence and Kurt's chest tightens because is he going to…? Blaine raises an eyebrow, but continues scowling at Sam with his arms crossed threateningly. Sam sighs, then lets it all out.

"The motel is where I'm living now," Sam says, Kurt can pretty much hear everyone's jaw drop. He breathes out, relieved.

"Did-did you get kicked out?" Rachel asks hesitantly, ever tactful.

Sam shoots her a look, but closes his eyes in resignation. "My dad lost his job a few months ago. We used all of our savings on the move, and when he couldn't find work, the bank foreclosed on the house and we…" He trailed off and shrugged helplessly. "I even had to sell my guitar," he adds softly, which Kurt hadn't known. He feels Blaine stiffen next to him; Blaine's guitar is one his most prized possessions and Kurt can't even think about what it would do to Blaine to have to give it up. It'd be like selling his arm.

"Dude, that sucks," Finn breathes, something like shame drifting over his face. "So Kurt and Quinn…"

Kurt was bringing me some clothes and he and Quinn helped babysit my brother and sister after I got a job delivering pizza." Sam finishes dully. Blushing and avoiding everyone's eyes, Sam shakes his head. "Blaine helped out some too. Anyway, no, Kurt and Quinn weren't cheating. And now you guys know." The glare comes out too tired to be really intimidating, and Kurt sees how it only makes everyone feel guilty than anything. They kind of look at each other and then at Kurt and Quinn and Blaine until Sam snorts and sits next to Blaine's chair in the front.

Then Mr. Schue finally remembers that yeah, he's a teacher, and they discuss ways to help Sam and his family out until Sam tells them all to drop it. Kurt knows the feeling; knows how pity is almost worse than the suffering. Either way, the practice breaks up pretty soon after.

Kurt doesn't miss Sam's shiny eyes or choked breathing as he rushes out of the room.

Mercedes and Tina don't look at him as they run out, though Mike and Puck mutter apologies to Kurt about believing rumors over their friend. They glance at Blaine to, but clearly decide to let it go. Kurt doesn't really care at this point; he just needs to be home and away from this mess.

It's all just…too much.

"You okay?" Blaine asks, low and worried. He tugs on Kurt's sleeve, like that will bring Kurt back to him. Kurt forces on a smile. It doesn't work very well.

"Yeah."

Silence.

"I will be," Kurt amends. "Take me home?"

Blaine gives him a hard look, but takes the keys out of Kurt's hands and walks for the parking lot. Kurt watches Blaine, then sighs and rubs his eyes. He's just so fucking tired.

At least things should settle down now, he thinks.