Kurt ignores all ten of Blaine's text messages, and Blaine can't figure out why. Maybe he wants to talk about the performance in person? But why then doesn't he just ask to meet Blaine after school? It was Kurt's idea not to talk in public in the first place, and now he wants to meet in the busiest place in the whole school?

It makes no sense to Blaine, but Kurt asked, and so Blaine waits. He tugs impatiently at his satchel strap, chewing at his bottom lip. He's never been very good at waiting.

When Blaine sees Kurt coming his way he smiles wide, tries to tamper down on his eagerness, it's just--

Kurt and...Karofsky? And Azimio and Puck?

Blaine just looks at Kurt, doesn't say anything, gaze questioning.

Before he even realizes what they're holding, he's hit with four consecutive slushies. He gasps, it's so cold. So cold. Kurt...

"Do not. Fuck with me," comes Kurt's voice in a dangerous hiss, followed by a hard shoulder bump that sends him stumbling, slipping in the mess. He falls on his butt in the middle of the lobby, covered in slushie. He hears laughter and catcalls and pseudo commiserative groans and wipes desperately at his eyes. Part of him is waiting for Rachel to come help him with her towel, but no one's there. No one who has his back, anyway.

Shivering, shaking from more than just cold, Blaine stands up. His eyes already sting, but he forces them open and looks around, having never felt so embarrassed. He's soaked, head to toe. He has a change of clothes in his locker, but he can't. He feels betrayed. It's not like Kurt ever promised to be his friend, but Blaine did make him smile a few times, and. It's just. He doesn't know. It just hurts.

Humiliated, he leaves school. It's the first time he's ever skipped in his life.

----

His mom isn't home, thank god. Blaine takes a long, hot shower and curls up in bed. A nagging part of him wonders if he should go back. He can at least make his last four classes of the day, but Kurt is in two of them, and...

He can’t.

Blaine looks at his bedside table where he has picture frame after picture frame filled with photos of the friends he grew up with and the friends he met at Dalton. Wes, David, Jeff and Nick, his best friends from the Warblers. He picks up his favorite, a photo from last year’s Regionals. They’d lost, but god, it had been fun. He misses them with an almost desperate ache. No one at Dalton would have done this to him, and not just because of the no harassment policy.

With a sigh, Blaine puts the photo down and checks his cell phone. He sees six new messages and, a little surprised, starts going through them.

Rachel: I heard about what happened! I can't believe it! Where are you now, are you okay?

Tina: Blaine I'm so sorry.

Artie: triple slushies are the worst yo

Rachel: Did you leave school?

Mercedes: oh boo. hate to say I told u so. once a jerk, always a jerk. :(

Rachel: Call me later.

Blaine texts them all back telling them he's fine, he'll be back tomorrow, he just couldn't rock a soaking wet multi-color stained look.

In the middle of answering Rachel he gets another text from...Unknown Number?

Text: shit son what did u do kurt is PISSED at u

Blaine texts back: who is this?

Text: Santana obvs

Moving beyond the startling fact that Santana Lopez has his phone number (the entire history of their relationship has been Santana either ridiculing him or trying to hit on him during glee club, which in and of itself is mildly terrifying), he can't believe what she's saying. What did he do to Kurt? Him? He hasn't done anything! Never once has he been cruel to Kurt!

He texts her back: I haven't done a thing. I'M not the school bully

S: watch ur back blanderson thats all i'm saying

B: i don't know where it came from, but thank you for your concern

S: any time stud. so what r u wearing? ;)

Blaine rolls his eyes.

B: bye santana

S: ur no fun

Blaine sighs and tosses his phone on the mattress, burying his face in his pillow. Maybe a nap will help him feel better. Only, every time he tries to clear his mind it goes back to "what did you do?" and "watch your back" and the cold look on Kurt’s face before he slushied him. He's done nothing, why should he have to watch his back?

No, he's not going to watch his back. He's not going to put up with this.

If Kurt Hummel wants a fight, Blaine will give it to him.

----
 
Blaine makes sure to get to school late. He takes a different route than usual to get to homeroom just in case, and makes sure he's late for that, too. The door is open and he walks right in, not one shred of nervousness in him. He looks for Kurt, sees him right off, but first throws his group of friends a smile and a thumbs up. They look at him with wide eyes.

It isn't so much him, he’s sure, but what he has.

Blaine walks right up to Kurt's desk. Kurt is working on something and looks up as Blaine’s shadow falls over him. Before Kurt can say a word, Blaine dumps an orange slushie over his head. It's the worst color and flavor they come in, and it's all for Kurt. Kurt gasps and sputters.

"It's on," Blaine says, backing away with a smug smile. The class explodes into talking, laughter, disbelief. A few people even applaud.

"Blaine Anderson!" Mr. Abela starts, but Blaine cuts him off.

"Principal’s office?"

"Now!"

Blaine gives Kurt a little wave goodbye, another smile for his friends, who look both parts worried and thrilled, before finally leaving the room. Sure, he's probably going to get into trouble, and yeah, he just gave the bullies a legit reason to mess with him, but he stood up for himself and Kurt finally got a taste of his own medicine.

Now if he can just ignore the small voice of guilt in the back of his mind.

----

There's a reason slushies are given in the hallways. When your only witnesses are people who are too afraid of you to rat you out, and generally the people you slushie you are too afraid to rat on you, you get off scot-free. When you slushie someone in the middle of a classroom, especially with a teacher present, well, you're screwed.

Blaine doesn't care. He bets Kurt and his 'friends' never had the balls, never had the courage, to play bully in a classroom like that.

Figgins says he's had complaints about Kurt before, and since Blaine has otherwise been a model student, he gets detention for a week instead of suspension.

Blaine secretly wishes it had been suspension. If his mother thinks he isn't getting along well at McKinley, maybe he'd be able to talk her into going back to Dalton. Is detention enough, though? He hopes it is. If not, maybe he’ll just have to join Kurt and the others in their delinquency. Not bullying anyone, but maybe just tipping over trash cans and not handing in his homework on time or something.

Blaine feels wild and untethered, he feels like he can do anything.

----

Blaine has gym with Kurt, Karofsky and Azimio, so it's pretty much the worst combo ever. When Kurt walks into the gymnasium, Blaine sees that he's clean and in different clothes. He's shocked Kurt didn't skip. He wonders if Kurt had to call his dad to bring him clothes, wonders what he told him.

He deserved it, Blaine reminds himself.

Blaine's one saving grace is that they aren't doing team sports today, they're doing basic exercise, so at least there’s no possibility of being paired up with Kurt or the others.

He can't, however, avoid them in the locker room.

Freshly showered, changed, and ready to go, Blaine shuts his locker, turns, and gets slammed into it. Hard. Karofsky has him pinned to the locker wall with Azimio hovering next to him. He can feel one of the locks digging into his back and winces, squirming.

"Not so fast," Karofsky says. "We need to have a word."

"Just one?" Blaine replies, his voice coming out slightly wheezy from the force of the shove.

"New kid thinks he's funny!" Azimio says.

"He won't think it's so funny when he has my fist down his throat!" Karofsky snaps.

Blaine squirms, tries to get away. He'd just rather not get punched in the face is all. "Well, what are you waiting for?" he says, struggling against Karofky's hold. It only tightens.

"Some privacy," Karofsky barks, slamming him into the locker again for emphasis. He glares around the room and its remaining occupants scatter.

"Better. Now, I'm gonna remind you of your place at this school." Karofsky pulls his arm back, gearing up to punch, when there's a sharp, "David!"

Karofsky jumps a little and turns. "Oh, Hummel. Perfect timing--"

Kurt's glaring at Karofsky. "What is this? You don't think I can fight my own battles?" he asks, walking into the room.

Karofsky drops his hands, looking petulant. "We're just trying to teach the dork a lesson."

"No, you just like to hit things," Kurt says, contemptuous. His gaze lands on Blaine, who juts his chin out, unafraid.

"I'm not going to fight you," Blaine says, slowly edging his way away from Karofsky.

Kurt raises an eyebrow. "And what, then, will you do?"

Blaine shrugs. "Nothing." Karofsky and Azimio laugh, so Blaine continues, looking only at Kurt. "Because I like you."

Kurt's expression is unreadable, but he looks away. Karofsky and Azimio are really laughing now.

"Oh man, listen to this fag!" Azimio says.

"Dude, Kurt, he's got a crush on you!" Karofsky laughs.

"I knew he was a homo!" Azimio says.

Blaine blushes in embarrassment, not for himself, but for Kurt. Kurt looks sick, trying to hide it behind an expression of anger, but Blaine knows better.

"Thank you for the compliment," Blaine says calmly, looking to Karofsky and Azimio. They stop laughing, clearly confused.

Azimio snorts. "Excuse me?"

"It's not a bad thing to be gay. I don't care if you say I am." Blaine looks back to Kurt until their eyes meet, holding his gaze for just a moment.

Blaine starts to back out of the locker room, taking his time, hands in his pockets like he hasn't a care in the world. Like if he walks normally enough he won't spook any of the three boys into stopping him. "I know why you're threatened by me," he says to Karofsky and Azimio. "I understand your anger."

"You hate me because I'm smart. Because I'm not a loser like the both of you," Blaine continues, pausing in the doorway. They're just staring at him. "When I graduate, I'll go to New York, to Tisch or somewhere amazing, while you'll be here, serving the good folks of Lima their McDonalds." Karofsky looks like he's about to kill him, but Blaine just smiles and strolls out the door.

As soon as he turns the corner he runs. He knows he pushed his luck back there, big time, and he won't be surprised if he pays for it later. For now, though, the looks on their faces is worth it.

----

Blaine doesn't see Kurt at lunch, and surprisingly enough he's left alone. He has two afternoon classes with Kurt, and is ignored in both of them. Azimio tries to kick his chair out from under him in French, but Kurt cuts him a glance and Azimio rolls his eyes and leaves Blaine alone. Kurt must have said something to them, and Blaine can't help but wonder what. And why.

Wednesday is more or less the same, until after glee club.

Blaine and Rachel are the last to leave, as Blaine had promised to walk her out and she'd wanted to discuss her next solo with Mr. Schue after the meeting was over. She's on his arm, extrapolating the praises of Sondheim, when Blaine looks to his car and sees Kurt leaning against it. Blaine nearly stumbles off the curb. Kurt is waiting for him.

Kurt sees him and takes his hands from his pockets, crosses his arms but doesn't otherwise move.

Blaine stops in his tracks. It takes Rachel a moment to realize, and she stops talking mid-sentence. She looks from Kurt to Blaine, and jumps when someone beeps a horn.

"It's my dad," she says, looking at Blaine with concern. "Do you want to come with me? Or I could stay?"

Blaine glances around, but he doesn't see anyone else. He doubts that if Kurt has Karofsky or Azimio or Puck or whoever with him they'd bother to hide behind the few remaining scattered cars in the parking lot to ambush him or something.

"No," he says, clearing his throat a little. "Go on, he's alone and he won't do anything to me."

"How can you be sure?" Rachel asks, fingers tightening their grip on his arm.

"I just am," he says, giving her a reassuring smile. "Seriously, it's okay. I promise."

Rachel gazes at him, eyebrows drawn up in worry. "If you say so. Call me if anything happens, okay?"

"I will." He gives her hand a squeeze.

She smiles uncertainly and leans up, giving him a soft kiss on the cheek. As she lowers from her tip-toes she looks over at Kurt, expression cold. One last smile to Blaine and she runs off to her dad's car.

Blaine feels kind of bashful now and slowly crosses the distance to his car, and Kurt.

"Don't you two make a cute couple," Kurt greets him, his comment anything but friendly.

Blaine ignores it. "Are you here to get back at me?" he asks, watching Kurt's face.

Kurt rolls his eyes, glances upward before settling his gaze on Blaine. "I came to talk."

Blaine waits. "Well?"

"I'm waiting for Berry to leave," he says, nodding his head toward her car.

Blaine looks over. Rachel's sitting in the passenger seat of her dad's car, glaring at Kurt. He's touched by her concern, and smiles a little, waving her off. He can see her sigh and say something to her dad. The car slowly reverses; she gives one last wave as they leave the parking lot.

Blaine looks back to Kurt when there's no sign of the car.

"You could have just called," he points out, coming to stand next to Kurt.

Kurt finally seems to relax some. He shrugs a shoulder. "I don't like talking on the phone much." He looks over at Blaine, smiling faintly. "My dad thinks I'm being bullied now. Ironic, isn't it?"

Blaine knocks his shoulder into Kurt's.

"Hey, abuse," Kurt says, smoothing a hand down his shoulder.

"I wouldn't want your dad to be wrong," Blaine says. "How does the saying go? Dads are always right?"

"I think that's mothers."

Blaine's mouth twists momentarily. "I hope not."

Kurt raises an eyebrow at him.

"I'm sorry about the slushies," Kurt finally says. It comes out a bit fast, but it sounds genuine enough. He clears his throat, eyes fixed on some point across the parking lot. "I thought you were making fun of me."

Blaine hardly has a chance to process the apology and frowns, confused. "When?"

"At the assembly." Kurt looks toward the ground. "I thought you were getting me back for the way I treated you, and. You know I'm gay." His cheeks redden and he slants a look at Blaine, not meeting his eyes. "And you sang that song," there's a brief pause, like he's trying to find the right word, "at me? In front of everyone?"

Blaine blushes, mouth parting as he realizes how it must have come off. "Oh, no. No. I only...it's just." Now he can't find the words. "You're my only friend here, aside from the people I was doing the performance with. I guess I just wanted someone to see it. My parents don't care about this sort of thing, and I don't often get to perform for someone whose opinion I care about." He knows he's rambling now, and stops. "I wasn't...I didn't pick the song."

Kurt just nods, back to not looking at him. He doesn't say anything at first, and then, "You care about my opinion?"

Blaine lets out a breath, glancing over. "I thought we were friends."

"Well then." Kurt clears his throat and stands a little straighter. "You sounded shaky at first, pitchy during the chorus, and you make the most ridiculous faces when you sing."

Blaine doesn't expect that, and it must show because Kurt sighs dramatically.

"Oh I'm kidding. Except for the part about the faces. You really do make ridiculous faces."

Blaine mock pouts, though he can’t help but feel pleased. "You liked it?"

Kurt rolls his eyes, but he's serious when he answers, meeting Blaine's gaze. "You sounded great."

Blaine has to look away when he smiles, because he's afraid he's smiling too much. "Thank you."

"God, you really are such a dork," Kurt says, but he's smiling, too.

"Friends?" Blaine asks.

"Fine. But. On the downlow. I'm having a hard enough time keeping the guys off your back after what you pulled in the locker room."

"Oh my god," Blaine says, fully turning toward Kurt. "I'm really sorry about that slushie."

"As you should be," Kurt says, drawing himself up and facing Blaine. "Orange, Blaine? I know that was on purpose. And I had dared to wear Paul Smith. Paul Smith, Blaine."

"Don't even, I was wearing my favorite Lacoste shirt on my first day," Blaine says.

"Well." Kurt huffs. "I suppose, in a way, I deserved it. A little."

"In a way?" Blaine says, raising his eyebrows.

"Maybe the quadruple slushie was a bit much..."

"You are a terrible person, Kurt Hummel."

"And yet, you keep insisting on our friendship," Kurt counters with a smirk.

"I guess I'm just a glutton for punishment."

"How very masochistic of you."

"You have me all figured out," Blaine says, and spins his keyring on his finger. "Want a ride home, sadist?"

"I was hoping you'd say that," Kurt says, moving to the passenger side of the car. When they get inside, he continues. "I didn't think you'd forgive me."

"I said I like you," Blaine points out, starting the ignition. "Not liked."

"Such a Hufflepuff," Kurt says, flicking the bowtie Blaine's wearing. Blaine bats his hand away and laughs.

The car stereo starts up as Blaine reverses and cuts into their conversation. "--we will never be, never be anything but loud and nitty gritty!--"

Blaine can feel Kurt judging him.

"Pink?" Kurt asks, and yep, there's the judging.

"What? It's fun!" Blaine protests. Kurt starts searching the car. "Are you looking for a seat ejection button?"

"I'm looking for your CDs," Kurt says, running a hand between the roof of the car and the window visor.

Blaine lifts the arm rest. "Help yourself."

"Thank you," Kurt says primly, and starts flipping through the sleeves. "Blaine, do you own anything that isn't played on the radio?" With a sigh he finally finds something, and switches CDs.

Familiar music starts playing, and Blaine smirks, chancing a glance over at Kurt. "Kurt, do you listen to anyone other than The Beatles?"

"I will smack you down like the imaginary hand of God--"

"When I was younger, so much younger than today," Blaine starts to sing along, cutting Kurt off, "I never needed anybody's help in any way... Come on, I know you know the words."

With a dramatic sigh, Kurt begrudgingly joins in, his voice starting out much quieter than Blaine's.

"Help me if you can, I'm feeling down, and I do appreciate you bein' round, help me get my feet back on the ground, won't you please, please help me?"

Gaining confidence, both of them are full-out singing by the end of the song, and jump right into The Night Before. However, as Blaine gets ready to launch into You've Got To Hide Your Love Away, Kurt skips to Ticket To Ride.

At Blaine's curious look, Kurt just shrugs. "It's not a favorite." He stops any further conversation by singing. "...She's got a ticket to ride, she's got a ticket to ride and she don't care..."

Blaine joins in, and they get through about half the song before they arrive at Kurt's house. He pulls up in front and turns the radio down as Kurt climbs out of the car.

"Wait here," Kurt says, leaning against the open window for a moment before jogging up to the house and letting himself inside. He returns a minute or two later and thrusts his hand through the window. In it are several CDs. "Do yourself a favor and listen to something pre-1990, hm?"

Blaine takes them with a smile. "Hey, what do you think we were just listening to?"

Kurt snorts and waves a dismissive hand, backing away toward the house. "Everyone likes The Beatles."

"See ya, Kurt." Blaine waves.

"Uh-huh. Thanks for the ride." Kurt returns the wave and turns his back, returning to his house.

Blaine keeps the Beatles CD in and sings along the entire ride home, smiling.

----

Kurt is the first to text Blaine since their fight. Blaine is filled with an odd sort of warmth, and he wonders what's wrong with him that he likes someone who is so often rude and prickly. He always takes to people fast, always assumes the best and trusts before it's earned. Kurt dented Blaine’s trust a little, but Blaine knows deep down he's already forgiven him.

K: What is this hideous monstrosity on Katie Fisher's head?

Blaine glances up at Kurt, sitting a few rows in front of him during French. Kurt looks over and tips his head subtly toward the girl in the aisle next to him, smirking.

B: you are terrible & i'm not playing along

K: But I think she's murdered a fox and a duck, sewn them together and made it into a hat. I'm concerned.

B: be nice!

K: But I'm against hunting. And crimes against fashion. Mostly crimes against fashion.

B: and i'm against failing my french exam

K: 1) Aren't you the one usually bothering ME in this class? 2) It isn't an exam, it's a test. 3) Do you really need help?

B: 1 touche 2 still. 3 yes

K: I know I'm going to regret this, but my Thomas Engel Hart boots came in the mail and I've been in a good mood ever since, so, would you like my help?

B: yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) :) :) thank you kurt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

K: How about tomorrow after school?

B: i have glee club. after glee club?

K: Fine. Your house or mine?

B: my parents wont be home how about mine? :)

K: Alright, text me your address.

Blaine texts Kurt his address, unable to keep the smile off his face. Their friendship feels so much easier now, like maybe Kurt had to test how genuine Blaine was before he could really let himself be himself. Blaine can't wait to find out just who that person is.

----

When Blaine pulls up into his driveway the next day, Kurt's already there, sitting in his car and waiting.

"You're late," Kurt says, getting out of his truck and crossing the yard.

"Sorry!" Blaine says, looking as apologetic as he can. "Rachel was talking to me about this Wicked song she wants to do and I actually knew what she was talking about because of the CD you lent me and I totally lost track of time--"

The annoyance on Kurt's face dissolves. "You listened to it?"

"Yeah, about ten times," Blaine says, grinning, and hops up the porch steps to unlock the door and let them in.

"There's hope for you yet," Kurt says, and though it comes out snarky, Blaine can tell he's pleased.

Blaine rolls his eyes and ushers Kurt inside. "Welcome to my home--" There's barking and a flurry of excitement coming from the kitchen that Kurt's staring at, wide-eyed, so Blaine leads him over. "These are my dogs. My wittol baybees," he says, breaking into baby-talk. He can't help it, it's like a disease.

The two Pomeranians are bouncing up and down behind the gate keeping them out of the living room, yipping their tiny little heads off. Kurt reaches down to pet them. Or tries to, as they seem determined to be everywhere at once to lick and lick and lick.

“What are their names?” Kurt asks, withdrawing his hand.

Blaine steps over the gate and starts to usher his puppies toward the back door to let them outside.

“My mom named them Coco and Chanel,” he says, “but one is a boy so I re-named them Lord and Lady Gaga. She doesn’t know. I may be giving them an identity complex, but they still come when I call them.”

Kurt’s just staring at him.

“…What? You don’t like Gaga?” Blaine asks.

“No,” Kurt says, straightening, “I love Gaga.” There’s a pause followed by an amused smile.  “Are you sure you aren’t on my team, Blaine?”

Blaine's eyebrows go up. "You are the second person to ask me that. Should I be worried?"

Kurt grins, teasingly. "Maybe."

"To be honest, I--"

Kurt's grin fades, and Blaine can feel Kurt’s eyes like a weight on him.

"Nevermind," Blaine says quickly, returning back over the gate. Kurt doesn’t move much, so he has to squeeze past him, and for some reason it feels more awkward than it should. "You know, that's unfair stereotyping, by the way."

"No, you're right. Sorry," Kurt says, looking genuinely apologetic.

Blaine smiles. "I forgive you. Come on, then, let's go up to my room."

There's hesitation, and then Kurt seems to perk up. "Can I look through your clothes?"

----

The thing is, sometimes Blaine isn't sure if he knows just what he is. He doesn't think he's gay, but there were some moments at Dalton when he found himself watching some of the other boys. He never thought too hard on it, after all, he was surrounded by boys all the time. He didn't go out much, he didn't know many girls, so it was just...they were just there.

He doesn't think about people like that, really. He just doesn't.

His eyes drift to Kurt's ass as the other boy leafs through the shirts in his closet, trying to gauge if he’s interested or not, but he just gets embarrassed and looks away.

God, he's going to be a virgin until he's forty.

"What's wrong with you?"

Blaine looks up to find Kurt looking at him. "Huh? Oh, nothing. I'm-- did you find anything you like?"

"Well," Kurt says, holding a dress shirt up to himself. "I don't think you are particularly fashion-minded, but you do have some very fine things." He drops down in front of where Blaine's sitting on his bed, and takes his hand. "Blaine, my dearest friend. Can I borrow this?"

Kurt's looking at him with such a funny, doe-eyed expression that Blaine can't help but laugh. "That? Sure."

Kurt lets out a tiny squeal and stands, setting the shirt by his backpack.

"Okay, French." Kurt takes his books and notes from his backpack and starts setting up a study area at Blaine's desk. He pulls up a second chair and sits, patting the one next to him. "Viens là mon petit avocat."

"...Did you just call me your little avocado?"

"Very good!" Kurt smiles.

Kurt goes over their homework, the chapter, the vocabulary. Kurt makes Blaine repeat every word and sentence, correcting him when his pronunciation is off and praising him when he gets it right. He drills him with flashcards and creates phrases for Blaine to read and translate. Kurt is a great tutor and seems to have a grasp of the language that extends far beyond their class.

When Blaine is supposed to be reading and familiarizing himself with the text, he notices Kurt looking at the photos on his desk.

"They're from Dalton," Blaine says.

"Hm?" Kurt seems to come back to himself. "Your old school? Oh, of course. You miss your friends?"

Blaine frowns, his gaze moving from one photo to the next. "Yeah," he says, quiet. "Especially Wes and David." He motions to a picture of the three of them taken after Sectionals during his sophomore year. "They were my best friends for three years."

"Aren't they still?" Kurt asks.

"Oh. Yeah. Yeah, of course. It's just tough, Westerville is hours away, and mom pitches a fit every time I ask if I can take the car out there. That leaves the phone and the computer," Blaine says, trying to keep his mood from dropping.

 "Still..." Kurt looks at the photos for a long time, and Blaine almost thinks the conversation is over, when Kurt speaks back up. "I would hate to have to wear a uniform."

"Don't you, though?" Blaine asks, the words out of his mouth before he has a chance to think them through.

"What do you mean?" Kurt's asks.

Blaine shifts uneasily, but continues. "You don't wear the clothes you really want to wear to school. Probably hardly at all."

Kurt doesn't look pleased, his mouth forming a tight line and shoulders going tense. He looks at Blaine down his nose, which Blaine knows is a bad sign. "Do you want to pass your French test, or not?"

"Yes," Blaine says, returning his attention back to his book. If Kurt doesn't want to admit he's making things awful for himself, then that's his prerogative.

By the time they end the lesson, the tension seems to have slowly seeped away. Blaine feels much better about his chances on the test, grateful for Kurt's help. Kurt declines his offer to stay for dinner and leaves after Blaine tries to convince him to duet on his karaoke machine.

When Kurt leaves, the house is quiet and still. Blaine is used to being alone, it’s not always a bad thing. Truth be told, most of the time it’s preferable to spending time with his parents. But this time Blaine feels ridiculously and inexplicably lonely. Maybe Kurt bringing up Wes and David hit him harder than he thought. He has friends here, especially Rachel, and now Kurt. But they're all new friendships, and the glee club already seems to have their own cliques that he doesn't feel as though he's truly a part of yet. And Kurt. He thinks he can count Kurt as a friend now, even if only when they're alone. Even if Kurt still feels like a mystery to him.

----

It’s two a.m. when Kurt texts him. Three texts in a row, otherwise Blaine probably wouldn’t have woken up to get them in the first place.

K: heu

K: blane a

K: blaine

Blaine stares blearily at his phone, willing Kurt’s texts to make sense.

B: did u sit on ur phone? its 2am kurt wtf

He can’t even bother trying to figure out how to type words, still barely awake. Kurt takes so long to reply that Blaine almost falls back asleep.

K: at puckks party

Blaine does not care about Puck’s party, feels such a flare of annoyance that he can’t even explain, and slaps his phone down on his bedside table, turning in bed to resume the really nice dream he’d been having. He’s almost there when his phone starts ringing.

“I am going to kill you,” Blaine groans, fumbling for his cell. It’s loud on the other end and he holds the phone away from his ear. “…Kurt?”

“Blaine! I needed to talk to you!” Kurt yells. His words are slurred, which pretty much explains everything.

Blaine winces. “At two in the morning?”

“It’s Friday, Blaine. Oh my god.”

“I still need sleep, oh my god,” Blaine mimics, because Kurt’s seriously going to wake him up and then make him try to feel lame?

“I’m at a party! You wanna come?”

“Uh, no thanks, Kurt, Puck and I don’t exactly get along.” Blaine fails to keep the acidic tone from his voice, too tired to care.

“Oh yeah…oh, Blaine! I needed to call you. I called…I called ‘cause I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you I’m sorry. I’m really sorry I slushied you.”

Blaine rolls onto his back, rubbing at one eye. “Kurt, I know. We went over this already.”

“Oh.” There’s a long pause. Blaine can hear booming music and loud voices, and briefly wonders how much Puck’s neighbors hate him.

“Kurt?”

“I just wanted you to know, y’know?”

“Okay, Kurt. Thank you.”

“We’re friends, right?”

Blaine smiles a little, even if Kurt is being completely annoying. “Yeah, Kurt. We’re friends.”

There’s another long pause, and Blaine’s about to speak up when Kurt suddenly exclaims, “There’s people having sex right next to me.”

“—Uh…”

“Gotta go.”

Kurt hangs up, just like that, and Blaine is left staring at his phone wondering what the hell. Blaine supposes it was sweet of Kurt to apologize again, though, even if while drunk, maybe especially while drunk. He burrows back down into his blankets and pillows to fall back asleep, smiling to himself.

----

Blaine doesn’t see Kurt that weekend, but doesn’t push it, not knowing quite what this friendship is yet. Monday morning Blaine slips Kurt a coffee in homeroom, hopefully without anyone noticing, “for my alcoholic friend” scrawled across the side in Sharpie. He was listening to the Dresden Dolls on the way to school and he couldn’t help himself. Kurt smiles in thanks, but neither the topic of the party or the two a.m. phone call comes up.

Blaine finds out that Kurt's been having trouble in his Trigonometry class, and their tutoring sessions suddenly become mutually beneficial. They meet at each other’s houses, taking turns between the two. Blaine loves Kurt's house. Mostly he likes when Burt makes dinner, or they help Burt make dinner and he gets to eat over. Dinner at Blaine’s house is always formal and quiet, but it's quite the opposite at the Hummel household. Though it's just the three of them, they never seem to run out of things to talk about. Kurt and his father feel like a real family, like how real fathers and sons should be. Blaine is admittedly jealous, kind of lives vicariously through Kurt when he comes over. Not that he'll ever say so.

He can’t remember the last time his father said anything to him that wasn’t required. But it’s always been this way. Despite Blaine’s many attempts to please his parents, he doesn’t measure up to whatever predetermined idea they had of a son. Straight A’s, lead soloist of the Warblers, always well-groomed, always on time, mannerly and polite. None of it makes much of a difference.

Burt says things to him like, good job on the lentils, they don’t taste like paste for once; Kurt told me you got an A on your French test, good job; thanks for helping bring in the groceries; thanks for helping with the dishes; thanks for helping Kurt with math, I never went as high as Trigonometry in high school. Blaine soaks up Burt’s praise without dwelling on it, just knows if he has the choice, he will choose Kurt’s house over his every time.

Tutoring soon becomes hanging out, and Blaine finally gets Kurt to try out his karaoke machine. They sound good together, really good, but when Blaine tries to bring it up, Kurt rebuffs him. If Blaine tries to make it into anything other than nothing, Kurt will stop or Kurt will leave, and Blaine wonders just how many things Kurt denies himself in the name of pride.

----

Blaine is about to send Kurt a text to see if he wants to do something after school. Just as he's typing 'Do you,' a notification flashes over his screen for a new text.

Tina: Rachel got slushied! Can you bring her things from her locker to the girls bathroom on the 2nd floor by the art room? locker combo 5-19-3

His jaw drops. Kurt? Blaine sends a quick text back and changes the direction he was walking. It's between periods so it takes him a little longer to get Rachel's spare clothes and up to the bathroom.

"I can't believe him," Blaine says, pushing the door open. Tina's with Rachel at the sink, who's dripping blue all over herself and the floor. "I can't believe he did this to you!"

Rachel shivers and takes the towel from him with a grateful smile. It turns bitter as she answers. "Why not? They've always done this to me."

"It was Karofsky," Tina says, helping Rachel rinse the syrup from her hair.

Blaine pauses, feeling bad for jumping to the conclusion that it had been Kurt. Still, though, that Kurt lets this happen. "Man, I'd really like to just--" He clamps down on his own thoughts, keeping them to himself.

"Blaine, no, you'll just get yourself hurt. It's fine. I'm used to it," Rachel says, looking as resigned as she sounds. "Go ahead to class. There's no reason for all three of us to be late."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, go. Thank you for bringing me my clothes." She makes a shooing motion, and Blaine reluctantly leaves the restroom.

He's late to French, and gives Kurt a good long glare as he walks into the room. Kurt's expression seems to say what's your problem?, but Blaine ignores him and sits. All through class Blaine's anger grows, and as soon as the bell rings he stalks out of the room.

Kurt, perhaps surprisingly, catches up with him, tries to pull him aside where it isn't crowded and stop him. "What is your deal?" Kurt asks, as though he has a right to be angry.

"What is my deal? Mine?" Blaine jabs a finger at Kurt's chest. "You and your friends slushied Rachel. I asked you not to!"

Kurt looks downright affronted and pushes Blaine's hand away. "I didn't do anything!"

"You're still one of them."

Kurt glares like he wants to burn twin holes right through Blaine’s head. "And?"

"You like them, don't you?" Blaine barrels on. "You hang out with them outside of school. You don't have to, but you do!"

"I thought you understood me," Kurt says, his voice unusually low.

Blaine stops, because, though he's felt like Kurt's begun to trust him, here's the first real admittance. And Blaine does, he does understand Kurt, at least mostly. He just doesn't agree with it. He's tired of this bully act. What's worse is that Kurt actually gets along with Karofsky and the others, even if just a little. It makes Blaine furious in a way he can't explain.

"I do," Blaine says. Amends. "I want to."

"I can't control them, Blaine," Kurt says, jaw muscles clenched. "Do you have any idea how difficult it was to keep them from killing you?"

Blaine swallows. "You could get them to stop--"

"They would turn on me. In a heartbeat. And then the both of us would be screwed, and not in a fun way." Kurt's words have bite, and he steps back. "I have to go to class."

And just like that, he disappears down the staircase.

Blaine glances around, but the hallway has cleared, more or less. There's a hallowed out feeling in his chest, and he walks dejectedly toward his next class.

----

Rachel's waiting for him at his locker after the last class of the day.

"Hey, Rach," Blaine says with a smile, "what's up?" He spins the lock and opens his locker, still looking at her.

"Blaine Warbler," Rachel starts, adopting Brittany's nickname for him. "I was wondering if you had a date to Homecoming."

Blaine blinks. "I-- no. I hadn't even thought about it. We didn't have Homecoming at Dalton."

"It's only the most important dance, second to prom!" Rachel says, looking up at him with her own brand of intensity. "And, well, I was wondering if you wanted to go with me..."

"What about Finn?" Blaine asks, voice gentle. At the mention of his name, she looks so fragile and sad that he wishes he could take it back.

It's only a fleeting look. Rachel seems to gather herself up. "He's going with Quinn, of course. I'm over it, I can't wait around for him forever. He's not worth the heartache." She glances down. "And...I like you."

Blaine knows he's blushing. He doesn't have a lot of experience with girls. He dated two, briefly, from Dalton's neighboring school - Crawford Country Day. His first girlfriend, Jennifer, was nice enough. They saw a movie on their first date, and she'd even kissed him good night, but he just wasn't that interested, and he thought she could probably tell because she ended up dumping him. The second was this past summer, but not long after they’d started dating he found out his family was transferring, so he broke up with her. He figured it was better to just cut ties before they fell in love. Or whatever.

So yeah, he kind of sucks at dating. He likes the idea of it, he just feels so awkward when it's actually happening.

He does like Rachel, though. She's nice and they have fun. And he does like dancing...

"Sure," Blaine says, smiling again.

"Really?" Rachel's whole face lights up. Blaine feels a rush of happiness that he can have that effect on anyone, and feels his own smile widen. "Alright," she says, taking his arm, "I'll call you this weekend with the details of my dress so we can coordinate for the wrist corsage and boutonniere, and we can take your car, right? My dads will probably want to take lots of pictures, so don't be scared! And I think everyone in glee wants to meet up before or after for food, okay?"

"Yes?"

"Perfect! See you later, Blaine!" Rachel leans up to kiss him on the cheek and traipses down the hallway. Blaine watches her go, and spots Kurt walking the opposite way. Kurt gives Rachel a dirty look when she passes. Blaine tries to subtly wave Kurt down.

Kurt rolls his eyes, but leans up against the wall near Blaine. "What do you want?"

Blaine fiddles with the dial on his locker. "Sorry for acting like a jerk earlier," he says, and means it. He glances over to look at Kurt.

"Fine. I'm sorry your manic, librarian, schoolgirl friend got slushied," Kurt says, not sounding sorry at all, really.

Blaine gives Kurt a frank look. "No you aren't."

"Well, maybe not," Kurt admits. "But I'm sorry it upset you?"

Blaine rolls his eyes, pulls his Calc book from his locker, and heads down the hallway. Kurt falls into step. Not too close, though.

"I'm taking her to homecoming."

Kurt's mouth opens a moment, but nothing comes out. Blaine can't read his expression, but can clearly tell his reaction is not a good one. "What a perfectly short couple you'll make."

"Just because you don't like her--"

"No, I mean it. You're very suited for each other," Kurt interjects. "Dark features, similar height, very well-to-do families. Mutual friends. The--" He waves a hand.  "Singing. Finn. You're both two of the most irritating people I've ever met. It's perfect."

Blaine can tell Kurt isn't happy, even if he's trying to sound like he's teasing, but he doesn't understand why. "Finn?"

"Nothing."

"You could come with us, if you want," Blaine tries.

Kurt stops to stare at him. "Yes, that would be fun. Let me just go find a girl I can pretend to like so I can dance around like an idiot in a gym full of people I hate--"

"Maybe there's a guy--"

"Oh, okay, I'll just play a nice game of gay Pokemon--"

"Geez, Kurt. What the hell is your problem?" Blaine snaps.

"Nevermind, Blaine. You wouldn't get it," Kurt says. "Clearly."

Kurt gets like this sometimes, rude and snarly, and it always seems to come out of nowhere. Usually Blaine can charm Kurt out of his bad mood, he just wishes he knew what caused it, because half the time he has no idea.

Blaine lets out a long breath. "Just..." He grabs Kurt's hand to pull him down the stairs after him.

"What are you doing?" Kurt all but screeches, yanking his hand away.

"I'm trying to take you to a movie!" Blaine says.

A few people passing by look curiously toward them. Two girls giggle and descend the stairs with their heads tilted close together, whispering.

Kurt’s face is red, eyebrows drawn, mouth in an exaggerated frown. He looks like he's a volcano on the verge of erupting. "You have lost your mind," he grits out.

"Going to the movies is not that crazy, Kurt. Maybe you need to get out more--"

"I hate you," Kurt says, and he's moving again. "I hate you more than anyone."

"Really? Even Hitler?"

"Hitler doesn't stalk me."

"I'm not stalking you!" Blaine says, following him. "Have you gotten creepy notes in your locker? Flowers on your desk? Breathy phone calls in the middle of the night?"

"No, but I'm sure that's the next step."

Actually, it does sound kind of funny...

Blaine hurries to catch up. "Don't be mad, Kurt."

"I mean it when I say I hate you," Kurt says, walking briskly.

"More than gym class?"

"Yes."

"More than Wednesday Bean and Burrito Day?"

"Yes."

"More than when you go to a restaurant and you see this old guy sitting alone and you know his wife probably died and he's alone and lonely?"

"Yes."

"More than Karofsky?"

"Yes."

"...Ouch."

Kurt's still walking with him, though.

"Well, I have a secret for you," Blaine says. Kurt doesn't respond, so he continues. "You're my favorite."

Kurt stops walking and looks at him for a long moment. "Look, if I agree to go to this movie with you, will you shut up? You can't talk during a movie, right?"

Blaine smiles sweetly, rocking back on his heels. "I'll even buy you popcorn."

"You're going to have to do better than that if you expect me to put out, Anderson," Kurt says, heading out to the parking lot.

Blaine's eyes widen a moment and again he hurries to catch up. "What?"

"I don't put out on a first date unless it's spectacular," Kurt says.

Judging by the amount of blushing he's doing, and the amount of smirking Kurt is doing...Kurt is teasing him.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Blaine says, and tries to come across like he means it.

Kurt makes a rude gesture with his fingers.

"Are you trying to imply we should churn butter together?" Blaine asks, feigning innocence.

"Is that what the kids are calling it nowadays?" Kurt quips.

"Hey Hummel! What are you doing with that homo?"

Blaine's eyes shoot up in surprise and meet Karofsky's. Of course. Kurt looks ready to kill.

"I'm about to fuck him up the ass, what do you think?" Kurt shouts back, poised, a look of cold fury on his face.

"Have fun, ladies!" Karofsky hollers.

"Not as much fun as you'll be having at the Pick 'N Save, I'm sure!" Kurt flips Karofsky off and climbs into his truck. He reverses and drives off without another word to Blaine.

Blaine glances back at Karofsky, but he's talking to another football player. Blaine's relieved, to tell the truth, and makes his way across the parking lot to his own car.

Ten minutes later Blaine gets a text from Kurt.

Pick me up at 6. Wear something nice.