"The wrong two boys to love."

April – Junior Year

The sky smelled like rain. And although the humidity did no favors for his hair, Kurt liked the smell of rain. Instead of watching the people shuffle past him, he shut his eyes and smelled the scent.

He opened his eyes when he felt like he was alone. He was. It was just him, the wet pavement, and the bright, white moon.

"Hey, you."

And Blaine.

Looking at the moon, he answered, "I told you not to come."

Kurt felt Blaine trying to sneak something into his hand, so he gripped at it. Pulling the gift to his face, Kurt blinked down at a small bouquet of orange lilies.

"Why'd you buy me flowers?" Kurt questioned, his stomach bubbling.

"Your designs are in your first ever fashion show – you asked everyone not to come, so, I bought your favorite flowers and showed up anyway," Blaine said playfully.

Kurt alternated between smelling the rain and the flowers, and although the show had gone horribly (the other collections were plain, and the one model knocked over a light, smashing the bulb, sprinkling glass at the audience), Blaine coming after all made his night better.

They started to walk down the street. Kurt took a bunch of mental pictures of the flowers then looked over at Blaine.

"Can I do it?" Kurt asked softly, holding the flowers tighter.

Blaine grinned. "That's why I bought them."

Smiling widely, Kurt undid the ribbon holding the flowers and pulled the crinkly paper off the stems. He handing them both to Blaine, who threw away the paper and shoved the ribbon into his pocket. Blaine watched as a duo of girls approached, chatting with each other. Kurt plucked two flowers from the bouquet and thrust them towards the girls. Looking apprehensive, they took the lilies. Kurt's eyes reassured them this was just a kind gesture, so they smiled and trotted off.

Blaine couldn't help but laugh. He remembered the time Alek bought Kurt flowers, and as soon as he left, he made Blaine take a walk. Immediately, Kurt started to hand out the flowers to strangers. A confused Blaine asked, "What are you doing?" and Blaine remembers Kurt's answer being: "Flowers are pretty to look at, but I hate just sitting them in a vase, waiting for them to die. I like giving them to other people. Maybe I could make someone's crappy day better."

Kurt handed another to an old woman who took it in exchange for a quick kiss that Kurt allowed Blaine to receive.

"Maybe I should have kept these," Kurt admitted, feeling the petal of one. "These are like hate-flowers because I'm so disappointed in that show."

Blaine plucked one for the bouquet, passing it to a business man who thanked him. "Your stuff was great, Kurt. You out shined everyone else, and it wasn't your model that hit the audience with glass. People are gonna remember your clothes."

"No," Kurt started, giving a lily to a homeless man, perched on the steps of a business, "they'll remember the glass and ugly half-finished outfits. Trainwrecks are more memorable."

Kurt had one flower left. He stole back his orange ribbon and tied it back around the flower.

"Thanks for coming though. I really did want someone there, even if I said I didn't," Kurt revealed, pushing the flower at Blaine. "In case you were having a crappy day."

62 Days Until Kurt's Wedding

"Did Alek say where Eddie was?" Blaine asked, watching for his suitcase to empty onto the luggage pickup.

Kurt slide his phone shut in annoyance. "He won't answer my texts or calls, but before the plane ride, he said he'd be at your apartment."

Blaine launched forward and grabbed the handles of his and Kurt's bags. "Will you come with me?"

Starting to wheel his suitcase away, Kurt answered, "Of course. I wouldn't let you face him alone. I'm probably going to knock his teeth out though."

Blaine bit his lip, looking sideways at Kurt. He didn't know how he felt about Eddie anymore because he'd been so preoccupied with his new feelings for Kurt. Will seeing Eddie bring back his old feelings? Will he not care for Eddie anymore because of Kurt? Or will he have to balance both? His stomach hollowed and he felt sick, wishing he had an airsickness bag at his disposal.

Kurt noticed his friend's change in color. "Blaine, I won't leave unless you ask me to, okay? I won't like him hurt you."

Blaine was thankful for the friendship but discontent with the warm flutter filling his empty stomach.

April – Junior Year

"You do realize that there are hundreds of eateries in New York, and we go to the same two shops," Blaine claimed, waving the flower through the air like it was a conductor's stick.

"We hardly ever eat anywhere else besides the dining hall anyway," Kurt retorted.

"Well, I think we should take full advantage of living in New York," Blaine said. Thrusting his arms out, he continued, "Here's my plea: we eat, whenever we see fitting, at a different establishment in the city and never go back there again. By the time we're forty, both married, old and have like six kids each, we will have eaten at every single place in New York. How does that sound?"

"Expensive." Blaine batted Kurt with the orange lily. "But I like that idea. What about this place?"

They were two blocks from their dorm building and stood in front of La Lanterna di Vittorio, a pizzeria and coffee shop. From the outside, it was small and uninviting, but on the inside, the boys realized as soon as they walked in, it was nice and pretty large. A waiter approached them immediately.

"Hello there," he said with a large smile. "Where would you like to be seated? There's the caf� area where you're standing, the bar in the back, or outside in the garden."

Blaine made quick eye contact with Kurt. They'd only eat here once; might as well go all out.

"The garden, please," Kurt answered.

The waiter led them to the back, pulled open the double glass doors, and allowed them to enter the garden. It wasn't actually a garden. It was a medium sized bricked room with vines crawling up, wrapping around the ceiling. Windows aligned the roof. The moon shined through the foggy, wet glass, but the room looked nice with the stringed lights and glowing candles at every table.

It'd be a great place to take a date. Too bad they weren't with their boyfriends.

"I'll get you two boys menus," the happy waiter said, almost skipping away.

Kurt sat down in his heavy metal outdoor chair, the cool metal making him shiver. Blaine stared at him, half-smiling, his hand fluttering over the candled, making the flame dance.

"On a scale, 1 to J. Alexander, how gay is our waiter?" Kurt asked, eyeing the door.

Before he had a chance to respond, the waiter, whose nametag read 'Joshua', was back.

"My name is Joshua, and I'll be taking care of you this evening," he started, and as he ranted off the specials, Blaine locked eyes with Kurt.

With a smug smile, Blaine's face read, He's a ten. Definitely. Look, he's stripping you with his eyes!

Kurt's face immediately shot up to Joshua, who was indeed throwing him some smoldering eyes. Kurt looked away uncomfortably.

"So, I'll give you time to decide," Joshua said, touching Kurt's arm softly with his notepad.

Kurt leaned forward, emphasizing every syllable. "Oh. My. GOD!"

"He's cute," Blaine hummed, eyes scanning the menu.

Kurt rolled his eyes and buried his face away in his menu. When Joshua approached, he abruptly asked for Kurt's drink order, as if he was about to dehydrate.

Panicking, Kurt reached across the table, grasping Blaine's hand. With dreamy eyes, he said, "We'll have waters, please."

Trying to remain happy, Joshua stalked away.

"I wanted a Pepsi," Blaine said, looking defeated.

62 Days Until Kurt's Wedding

The taxi pulled up to Blaine's apartment.

"I can't do this," Blaine confessed, gripping Kurt's upper arm.

"The meter is running," Kurt said intensely, forcing himself away from Blaine. Pulling their bags from the trunk and paying the driver, Kurt had to pull Blaine out of the taxi. "Listen, it'll be okay. It'll be fine."

"No, it won't," Blaine muttered monotone.

Kurt took Blaine's hand. "I'll be there. Even if you want me to do all the talking, I will help you. This will work out. Just promise me one thing though."

"What?"

"When I was a teenager, when my dad gave me that awful sex talk, he said one thing to me that I still remember. It was, 'Don't throw yourself around like you don't matter.' I want you to promise me you'll remember that because Eddie's going to try to pull you back in. He's going to use years and years of practice to make you forgive him, like he's done numerous times in the past. Don't forgive him. He doesn't deserve your forgiveness. He deserves a good knock in the face," Kurt added the last part under his breath. "I want you, more than anyone else, to be happy. The only way you can be happy is if you move on."

Kurt was holding Blaine's face. All Blaine wanted to do was tell him he did, tell Kurt he had moved on, but he wasn't happy. He was constantly aching because he wanted his best friend to love him, to be in love with him, but he could never ask Kurt for that.

Blaine nodded solemnly.

April– Junior Year

The two walked those two blocks back to their dorm building.

"Are you feeling better?" Blaine asked, stepping over a puddle.

Kurt smiled. "Much better, actually."

"Here," Blaine started, handing Kurt the flower. "I've been happy all night. I have no need for this anymore."

Kurt snatched it as they entered the building. He gave the lily to the R.A. on-call and the two walked towards their hall.

There were people at their door when they turned the corner. With every step, the two realized that people in the distance were two very specific people.

"Where have you been? I waited for you after your show!" Alek exclaimed, jumping to his feet.

"We had a date, Blaine. We lost our reservations!" Eddie cried, getting to his feet.

Both wanted to turn around and leave.

And although they felt guilty, both realized how much simpler it was without their boyfriends.

62 Days Until Kurt's Wedding

Blaine stopped walking when he got to his corner. He saw him.

"Kurt."

Blaine thought it was his voice calling out to his friend, but it wasn't. He couldn't move, let alone speak. Down the hallway, there were two boys perched at Blaine's door. One was Eddie. The other was Alek, who was now pacing towards Blaine and Kurt.

"Kurt," Alek said again, reaching them. He took his boyfriend's hand. "Let's go."

Kurt pulled his hand away hastily. "No, I'm staying with Blaine."

"Kurt, no, you have to let them handle this," Alek whispered, talking right into Kurt's face.

"Blaine needs me. I'm not just going to sit around and let him," Kurt's eyes darted at the approaching Eddie darkly, "hurt my best friend again. I may be small, but I used to play football in high school, and maybe I didn't tackle anyone, but I've seen my teammates do it enough times to know how!"

Alek was holding Kurt back because Eddie was dangerously close.

"Blaine, tell Kurt to go," Eddie said, staring indifferently at his ex-fianc�.

Blaine gulped. Without looking at Kurt, he said, "You don't have to stay, Kurt."

Eddie and Alek nodded to each other as Blaine marched passed Eddie.

As Alek forced Kurt away, he wanted to yell, YOU PROMISED!, at Blaine, but Blaine caught his eye from around the corner.

Stay close, his hazel eyes called out. Kurt couldn't reply; they were already too far apart.

Unlocking his door, Blaine pushed inside.

"You changed the locks," Eddie said straightforwardly.

"You kept your key," Blaine replied unemotionally.

"Blaine, if we could just talk like two adults-"

"Why'd you come back?" Blaine insisted at once, glaring at Eddie.

Eddie sighed. "I felt bad."

"BAD?" Blaine yelled. "You felt bad? I felt like you ripped my heart out of my chest, took it with you, and threw it off the Empire State Building! Do you understand how humiliated, how heartbroken I was when you didn't show up? Even shooting me a text would have been considerate."

"Blaine…" Eddie mumbled, reaching for Blaine's hands.

"No! No, you're not allowed to touch me!" Blaine cried, backing away. "I want you to leave. I have nothing to say to you! You made your choice, and I'm not forgiving you for it."

"Please. You're happy I didn't marry you. I was doing you a favor," Eddie spat angrily.

Mouth gaping open, Blaine chocked out, "Are you insa-"

"I wanted to get out before it was too late," Eddie admitted. "Leaving you broke my heart, Blaine."

"I don't understand," Blaine muttered, confused.

"Answer me one question. I know you think I don't deserve it, or whatever, but I'm going to explain everything to you, so answer just this one thing for me," Eddie begged.

"What?" Blaine urged.

"Do you love Kurt now?"

Again, his mouth fell open. "I-what?"

"Do you love him now because I'm not there tying you down?"

"Eddie-"

"Tell the truth! You're in love with him, aren't you?" Eddie yelled, tears rimming his eyes.

"I-"

"I had to leave you because I didn't want to be around when you realized how much you loved him."

"I don't-"

"Don't lie, Blaine! You think I'm the bad guy, and damn, I may be, but at least I'm honest. I was talking to Alek. They're getting married. How dare you do that to Alek?"

"Eddie, I-" Blaine spluttered, unable to finish a sentence.

"You have to tell Kurt. You have to tell him so he doesn't marry Alek," Eddie pleaded, shaking.

"He loves Alek. He doesn't love m-"

"Blaine, he's loved you since move in day, Freshman year! I've had to watch you two fall in love, six doors down. I've had to watch you settle for me numerous times because you were too afraid to be with Kurt or Kurt started dating Alek to get over you. I'm not blind, but I stupidly thought that somehow I'd be enough. Answer my question, Blaine. Do you love him now? Did you let yourself be in love with him because he's getting married and you're going to lose all chances of being with him?"

Blaine wanted to run. He wanted to fall to the floor. He wanted to do anything other than admit to Eddie was right because Eddie was always the bad guy in this story, but now…

"Yes."

Eddie sucked in a shaky breath. "Tell him."

"I ca-can't. I want him to be happy. Obviously Alek makes him happy."

"Because he's going to marry Alek? You were going to marry me and yet you still loved Kurt."

Blaine whispered, "I didn't realize…"

"You know, it wasn't a rash decision – leaving you," Eddie said, more confidence in his voice. "I was thinking about it since New Years." Blaine heart thumped harshly in his chest. "Did you ever wonder where I went?"

Blaine thought really hard for a moment. He was looking for Eddie right before the lights went out, right before he kissed Kurt. Where did he go?

Eddie finally gave an answer. "Let me paint you a picture. I walk across the party, see my boyfriend with his tongue down someone else's throat. You must image how upset I am; that is until I realize it's Kurt, the boy you're in love with, the one I'm always competing with. Pissed, I run upstairs and lock myself in someone's room. I cry for like an hour.

Midnight comes and there's a commotion downstairs, and as it dies down, there's a rattling at the door. Scared, I launch myself into the closet. Little did I know, when the door opens, the moonlight hits the back of a very familiar body, familiar hands, familiar everything. I didn't want to believe it's you two, but I know it is. Horrified, I'm about to pop out, when you two start talking:

'You're drunk," you say.

And Kurt replies, 'I know,' and you're kissing and feeling each other up. I thought I was going to die.

You say some more stuff, but eventually confront Kurt.

'I'm not Alek,' you say.

And Kurt replies, all hungry for more, he says, 'I know, Blaine,' and you two attack each other's faces."

Breathless, Blaine muttered, "You saw. You were there?"

"I waited. I just wanted you to be honest with me. Kurt'll forget because he always forgets when he's drunk off his ass, but I didn't expect you to cheat, have him cheat too, and not say anything, act as if it didn't even happen. I thought you were better than that."

"It was a mistake…"

"No, it wasn't!" Eddie yelled. "Then you had the nerve to sneak off with him the day before our wedding. At that point, when I even brought up New Years, gave you an opportunity to come clean, you said nothing, that I was overrating when I had solid proof that Kurt wasn't just your best friend."

"Eddie-"

"I'm sorry I left you, Blaine, and you don't deserve my apologies, but I'm still giving you them. I love you. I still love you, and there will always be a part of me that'll always love you. But you can't do this. You have to give Kurt the chance to think about marrying Alek. Alek doesn't deserve what's going to happen to him."

"What's that?"

Eddie took a step forward, forcing Blaine to keep eye contact. "Kurt's going to break his heart."

Eddie backed away. Down casting his eyes, he turned towards the door. Just when Blaine thought they were finished, Eddie stopped.

"Alek and I aren't getting in the way of you and Kurt, Blaine. Alek and I just chose the wrong two boys to love."

He stepped forward walking almost out of the door. Desperately, Blaine reached towards him, moving his shaky legs.

"Eddie…"

"What, Blaine?" he turned, tears finally falling from his eyes.

"If you haven't have left, if you married me, I would have continued to love you. I never settled with you, Eddie. I was completely in love with you."

Sniffling, Eddie approached Blaine. Blaine allowed him to touch his face. Kurt's words rang through his head, Don't throw yourself around like you don't matter. Blaine could be happy with Eddie, now that he knew the reasons for Eddie's constant break-ups, constant leavings. Eddie was just scared of getting hurt in the long run but came back because he loved Blaine, because he hoped he'd be enough. If there wasn't that invisible sting always binding him to Kurt, he could be with Eddie and Kurt could be with Alek. There'd be no complications.

But as Eddie leaned in, his warm, sweet breath against Blaine's lips, his heart ached – and not a quick sting, but a throbbing pain, like it was physically breaking. That invisible string was pulling him away, tugging him towards Kurt. He didn't have this pull with Eddie.

"I can't…" Blaine whispered.

Eddie pulled away, his lips pursed, nodding knowingly. "Yeah, you may have loved me, but you don't love me the way you love Kurt. You can't kiss me because of him." Eddie took his hand nevertheless. "Tell him."

His pressed a kiss to Blaine's forehead. "If you don't, I will."

Before registering his words, Eddie was out the door. Panicked, his insides fusing together, Blaine slipped to the floor. Aimlessly moving his hands until the one found the inside of his pocket, Blaine grasped his cell phone.

He sent one text.

I need you, Kurt.

And then he went numb.