It’s lunchtime and Blaine is sitting with his friends talking about a movie that is coming out soon. They are all laughing, joking and having a good time. Blaine is too, he is so glad he found these friends. They aren’t judgemental, they don’t care about status, and they care if you are a nice person. He thought that he was happy with those people he called friends in freshman year but with a new, less naïve perspective he can see that they were poisoning him. They didn’t care about each other; they were all out for themselves, for their image. Blaine admits that at the time that is what he cared about too. And if he was honest, he settled with them because he wasn’t sure if he would be accepted by anyone else because of his sexuality. Bisexuality has a stigma around it, of being a floozy, indecisive and greedy. Blaine was worried that people wouldn’t like him, so when this group of guys didn’t mind and in fact thought it was kind of cool that he was Bi, he latched onto them. But his friends now are wonderful, nice, open human beings. And that is very rare in high school. They all get into fights a lot because they are all quite opinionated but they shape each other to be better. It is a place where Blaine is comfortable.

But then Blaine looks across the room where Kurt is sitting and his heart aches. He can see that Kurt is trying to enjoy himself, nodding along with whatever the other people are saying, forcing a smile if one of them looks at him. But Blaine can see he is not happy. Kurt may as well be sitting alone because by the look of it, he is very lonely. Blaine wishes he could go over there and cheer him up: give him a hug, make him laugh but he doesn’t. He justified it to himself that he should mind his own business, that Kurt wouldn’t sit with them if he didn’t want to. But Blaine knows that it is better to be lonely surrounded by people then alone.

XXXXXXXX

“Hey,”

Blaine came into maths class and took a seat beside Kurt, who was staring off into space. Kurt gave him a smile in return.

“Kurt, why do you sit with those people at lunch?” Blaine knew it wasn’t his business but he couldn’t help but ask.

“Because they are my friends,” Kurt replied, almost robotically.

“Are they really?” Blaine pushed.

“Rachel is.” Kurt said quietly.

“I know she is, but since she is away for a month on vacation you don’t have to sit with her friends out of obligation.”

Kurt thought about it then shrugged. “It’s better than sitting alone.” Blaine nodded to himself, acknowledging that he was right in his thoughts before. Kurt sits with them because he is lonely.

“Well, what if you, um, didn’t have to sit with them?” Blaine asked, suddenly anxious.

“What do you mean?” Kurt turned to him with a confused expression, a crease forming in the gap between his eyes. Blaine had to resist the urge to smooth it out.

“Well, you could always sit with me.” There it is, it was out there. Blaine bit his lip, looking at Kurt hesitantly, waiting for his answer.

“You don’t have to feel obligated to sit with me Blaine just because you pity me.”

Blaine let out a frustrated sigh. “I don’t want to sit with you because I pity you. I want to sit with you because I like you.”

“You do?” Kurt asked, his beautiful round eyes searching Blaine’s face for any sign of untruthfulness.

“Of course I do silly. I wouldn’t have asked you on a date the other day otherwise! I enjoy spending time with you Kurt.”

“Oh.” Kurt sat silently for a minute, looking deep in thought. “Will you ask me again?”

“Ask you what?”

“On, um, a date.”

Oh! Blaine smiled. Well this conversation had definitely taken an unexpected turn. He put his hand over Kurt's hand and looked him in the eye. Blaine couldn’t believe he was doing this in maths but luckily no one in the class was paying attention and the teacher was to old to hear them.

“Kurt, will you go out on a date with me?”

Kurt smiled serenely.  “Yes, I will.”

“And will you sit with me during lunch in the meantime? At least until Rachel comes back?”

Kurt chuckled. “I would love to.”

Blaine beamed at him, his face lighting up with his smile. “Awesome.”

XXXXXXXX

At exactly seven pm the next Saturday evening there was a knock on the door. Kurt jumped up quickly; he had been restlessly pacing around his house for the last twenty minutes waiting for this exact moment. He swung the door open and there stood the most beautiful boy he had ever seen in the flesh. He was wearing dark blue dress jeans, a striped long sleave top and a maroon coloured cardigan. Kurt had to resist himself from drooling. Blaine looked amazing. He had gelled his usually very unruly hair back, which meant Kurt was even more drawn to Blaine’s multi coloured bright eyes.

“Hi,” He stuttered out.

“Good evening. You ready to go?” Blaine asked. He was jittery too but was better at hiding it than Kurt. He didn’t want to screw this up.

Kurt pulled the door closed and followed Blaine to his car. Always the gentleman, he opened Kurt's door for him and pushed it shut once he was seated.

“So, where are we going?” Kurt enquired.

“Part one: dinner at this awesome Japanese restaurant in Columbus.”

Once they got there, after making comfortable small talk in the car Kurt quickly jumped out of the car and rushed around to Blaine’s door. He opened it for him, not wanting Blaine to be the only chivalrous one of the two.

Blaine laughed at the gesture. “Thank you sir,” he remarked cheekily.

Dinner was lovely. They both enjoyed the company, the food was nice (and cheap enough for a student’s very low budget) and it was very low key. No dimmed lighting, over the top candlelight and awkward first date silence. Just two people who enjoyed each other’s company. Blaine picked insisted that he would pick up the bill and Kurt relented, not wanting to start an argument over it even though he would feel much more comfortable paying for his own dinner.

When they existed the restaurant Kurt headed for the car but Blaine grabbed his hand and pulled him the other way. “We still have part two,” Blaine said. Kurt raised his eyebrow but didn’t respond. He was happy to be pulled along the sidewalk with his hand in Blaine’s. The walk took only five minutes but it was a cold night so they were both glad when they finally stopped in front of a nondescript building.

“Where are we?” Kurt asked, confused.

Blaine smiled, proud of himself for coming up with the perfect date spot for Kurt. “I know you love books so I thought we could hang out in this late night bookstore. They have a café built in so I figured we could just relax, have a coffee or a hot chocolate or something and read some books.”

Kurt looked at Blaine in surprise, his bright eyes sparkling. “That sounds absolutely perfect. I couldn’t of picked a more perfect part two to our date.”

So the pair spent a few hours lying facing each other on a couch in the bookstore, feet tangling together, drinking warm drinks, sharing a cheesecake and sneaking looks at each other over their books. When 11 o’clock began sneaking up on them, the time Kurt had to be home, they left. Wishing they could have spent all night in each other’s company.

When their night drew to a close and they had arrived at Kurt’s house, Blaine decided to walk him to the door. Kurt grabbed his hand as they walked up the pathway and Kurt stopped and turned to Blaine once they reached the doormat. “I had a beautiful night Blaine. It was very thoughtful of you, thank you.”

Blaine smiled and leaned in close for a kiss goodnight but before his lips touched Kurt’s, Kurt jarred his head back in rejection. Blaine frowned. He had done everything right, why wasn’t Kurt kissing him?

“I’m sorry Blaine, but I can’t just yet. I’m not ready.”

“Not ready? You were ready enough to make out with that random boy at Rachel’s party.”

Kurt's eyes widened, offended that Blaine got so angry so quickly. “I’m not ready to be your boyfriend.” Kurt elaborated. “I loved our date but we just need to take it slow okay? I can’t let you hurt me again. Not this time, not again. I barely survived the first time.” Kurt spoke soothingly at first, wanting to make peace but got snappier as he had he spoke, hating that he had to justify rejecting Blaine’s kiss.

“I wont let you go again, I promise.” Blaine said passionately.

“That’s not your decision Blaine. I will be able to trust you eventually but just not yet. Promises were made to be broken.”

Blaine nodded sadly in understanding. He knew that it would take awhile, but he thought they were getting somewhere. But he respected Kurt's decision, because he knew it was his fault for being stupid and careless, playing it fast and loose with Kurt's feelings three years ago. One day Kurt would entrust him with his love, his kisses and his intimacy. But just not yet.

Blaine squeezed Kurt’s hand. “Good night.”

“Good night” Kurt whispered in response, going inside with one last wave and a gentle smile, leaving Blaine on the porch feeling sorry for himself and hating himself at the same time.