Blaine decided to stay quiet today in group. It didn't have anything to do with Kurt's absence. Of course it didn't. Emma had begun the session that day with a brief explanation of why Kurt had to drop out, but that she still thought this group would be wonderful. The others didn't seem to mind, and were talking a lot today. That was okay too, Blaine liked listening to these types of stories.

"I went on a date with this guy," Quinn had said to them quietly, "like just out for coffee, and it was great. Then a few days later went for a walk around the city. Then he wanted to go see a movie with me. I wasn't feeling great that day, and I knew that sitting in the same position in a movie theater for two hours would make me so stiff."

Quinn had been silent for a few seconds, so Emma interjected "Was he understanding?"

"I don't even know if he would have been, " Quinn continued, "I just said I didn't like that movie, and I guess it came off as like, cold or standoffish because he said okay and didn't call me again. I mean, what was I supposed to say? I would love to see a movie with you another day, but I have fibromyalgia. If you choose to believe it is a real thing, unlike the majority of the fucking population, you now get to decide if you want to continue dating a sick girl." Quinn's tone had taken on a sarcastic bite.

"It was like a month ago now, and it feels like it's too late to do anything about it. I mean, how do you even bring up something like that? And when? I feel like it would be a complete turn off if someone doesn't already know you. My last boyfriend was someone I knew all through high school, and we had started dating before I got really sick." Quinn looked around the room curiously, wiping a couple of tears from her eyes.

Sugar chimed in next. "I don't even tell them. I just act all high maintenance and 'we do what I want when I want' and there are guys that love it." This got a laugh from everyone, including Blaine, who noticed that his voice was a little hoarse from lack of use.

"I told my boyfriend on our first date," Deera said. "It turned out fine, he told me about some problems that he has, and some things that his family deals with too. I guess it wasn't the sexiest conversation, but it also let me know right away that he was someone who wasn't going to scare easily and just run away."

"Oh, and also," Sugar added, grinning, "if you just want a one night stand then duh who cares nobody needs to know."

Emma cleared her throat before speaking. "This is an issue that I have encountered over and over again with my patients. It is extremely common to grapple with when to tell a significant other about an illness, and how much to tell them. It ends up being a very personal decision based on your comfort level. You can all see that even in this room we have varying comfort levels on this topic."

Blaine just nodded. He had a few stories, but something about today was just keeping him quiet. They all left after a group meditation exercise that Blaine had enjoyed. He might start using it before bed since it seemed to clear his mind and put it at ease.

The next day, he ran into Kurt in the student center. Literally, ran into him, spilling coffee and dropping books.

"Oh hi Blaine, how's it going?" Kurt smiled and looked into his eyes, as if everything was fine.

"Why did you leave the group?" Blaine blurted it out before he even knew he was thinking it, then immediately blushed. That had been so rude and inappropriate.

Kurt's expression sobered. "Want to get a coffee and I'll tell you?"

The two boys sat on opposite sides of a small square table in the student center cafeteria, each with their own complex Starbucks medley. Kurt took several sips before he began.

"Do you remember that I was in chemistry with you last year? We were in the same lab too?"

"Um, no I'm sorry I don't." Blaine replied. "That's weird, though, I swear I would have remembered someone who looked like you." Blaine hadn't meant to give him a compliment, but figured it was genuine, so just smiled and let it lay in the air between them.

"I looked a bit different last year. I grew about 5 inches and my face looks a bit different too. I figured growth spurts were over by the time I turned 18, but I guess not." He laughed nervously, then continued. "I noticed you last year, even though you didn't notice me, and I have to tell you that I had the biggest crush on you." The last words blended together they were said so fast. Kurt looked resolutely down at his coffee cup. "So I figured, that wouldn't be right, for me to be in that group with you. With all that."

"Is that all?" Blaine asked. "Kurt I really missed you in group yesterday, I think the reason I didn't tell the stories I wanted to tell was because I wanted you to hear them first. So what if you had a crush on me last year? Plenty of girls have had crushes on me that went nowhere obviously, and we ended up as friends. Please come back to the group?"

Kurt slowly looked back up at Blaine. "I don't know if Emma will let me."

"It doesn't hurt to try, right?"

"Yeah, that's true. Maybe I should bake her brownies."

Blaine laughed at that. "Good idea. Can I walk you to class?"

Kurt finally smiled again. "Sure."

As the pair walked the few blocks to Kurt's next class, they didn't notice the eyes on them. They were a strikingly good looking couple, and every person that glanced at them assumed that's what they were- a couple. The way they looked lost in each other's eyes and engrossed in conversation seemed to give it away.

As Blaine walked back to his apartment he sang to himself through his grin. He had just got Kurt back into the group. This was a real accomplishment, he thought, a testament to his awesome social skills. So what if he got C's in chemistry, he would get an A in real life.

The next week in group, though, Kurt didn't show up.