Blaine had been avoiding Kurt's texts all week, he just couldn't bring himself to admit to Kurt that he had been so irresponsible. Poor Kurt, who didn't even know what was going on, had been turned into an accomplice in Blaine's destruction.

Saturday: 5:00PM Kurt: Any fun plans tonight?

Sunday: 9:30AM Kurt: Want to go for brunch with me?

Monday: 4:46PM Kurt: Is everything okay?

Tuesday: 2:20PM Kurt: I saw a Harry Potter scarf that made me think of you.

Okay maybe destruction was putting it a little dramatically. Blaine had worked with the disability center at the school to get himself access to a bathroom for all exams in all of his classes so he could avoid a repeat of what happened with the dreaded 60% grade. He hadn't failed the class, just one test, so he could come back from it. As much as the word "fail" made him anxious and fearful, the truth was he hadn't. Not yet, and not if he got his act together.

Blaine didn't want to make Kurt feel guilty, but knew he would have to tell him what happened eventually. Being in group therapy together meant it would be pretty hard to ignore him forever and pretend the date hadn't happened. That was good, though, right? The thought of pretending the date hadn't happened filled Blaine with a breathless sense of longing. His time with Kurt couldn't be over yet.

To make things worse, Cooper had arrived in the city earlier than planned, had borrowed his phone to make a call, and was now bugging Blaine about "that boy who keeps texting you." Blaine knew he meant well, but brothers could be annoying.

---AAIGAAIGAAIG---

The group was going to meet tonight, so for better or worse, he would confront Kurt in one way or another. Blaine thought the topic of the day was particularly apt, when Emma mentioned it.

"Okay group," Emma began, "today we can talk about how to deal with telling friends about having an invisible illness. Is it something you bring up at all? How and when is the best time to broach the subject? As always, nobody is obligated to talk and if the topic shifts to something you would rather talk about that is okay too. Would anybody like to start?" Blaine could feel Kurt looking at him, but Blaine avoided his gaze.

"I will," Sugar chirped. "So after trying to recreate the diner scene in the spoon theory and getting yelled at by waiters, I figured I would just tell friends when it felt right. You know? Like when the moment was the most dramatic and could possibly involve a hug."

Quinn rolled her eyes. "I usually wait to tell people until it comes up naturally in conversation, and if it doesn't then I won't say anything. Like with my friend Brittany, we were talking about how in high school we both used to be cheerleaders, so that was a good time for me to explain why I had to stop cheerleading. It didn't feel forced or anything, and she was understanding. Then we started swapping stories about various cheerleader injuries we'd heard about. That was the first and last time we talked about it, but it's nice to know that she knows."

"That sounds like an effective way to go about it," Blaine replied, then braced himself for what he was about to say next.

"Sometimes when I meet new people and we do something together that involves food, it comes up naturally that way. When I met my friend Sam, it was at a part in our dorm with free food. He was an RA so he kept offering me things that I had to refuse, until I finally just told him I had quite a few dietary restrictions. I have to stay away from some things like milk, wheat, alcohol...or I get pretty sick from it." Blaine looked tentatively up at Kurt, who had a mildly horrified expression on his face.

"So Sam actually made a point of asking me for input into what food he brought to the next event. Other than that, he doesn't talk about it too much. Though there is the occasional thoughtless question I could do without. One time he asked me if someone with a chronic illness can travel to other countries." Blaine shook his head fondly, remembering.

The group sat in thoughtful silence for a few moments, until Deera chimed in. "I tell my friends right away, instead of waiting for a good time. I figure there isn't ever a good time and I will just tell them so they don't get surprised later. They will all see me popping pills eventually, I do it enough times every day to prevent organ rejection. One time a guy asked me if I was addicted to painkillers. Yeah, it's better if they know up front."

"I guess I'm the opposite of you, Deera," Kurt said, "I barely tell anybody. No one will see me popping pills and no one will notice any food restrictions, so all they will think is that I am blowing them off on the days I can't get out of bed. I think I still prefer that to telling them. It makes me sound so weak when I say it out loud. Artie, you agreed with me about keeping it to yourself at work, do you feel the same way with friends?"

Artie, who had been listening attentively so far, tilted his head in thought. "No, it's not the same. My friends all know. But I don't love talking about it with them, so sometimes I just give them a website and say read this, if you still have questions then you can ask me. So far the websites have sufficed."

---AAIGAAIGAAIG---

Kurt cornered Blaine after the session ended. "Blaine, walk me back to my apartment?"

Blaine sighed, and began walking beside Kurt. "Sure." Then Kurt said something he wasn't expecting. He expected anger, or confusion, or pity. Maybe a heartfelt apology. But no.

"Oh my god Blaine I had this amazing audition on Friday and got a callback already!" Kurt actually sounded really excited. "I just couldn't wait to tell you. You are the first person I wanted to call when I found out. And about what you said in group today, I have a proposition for you."

"Okay...?" Blaine looked up expectantly.

"Lets just forget about it. Not make it a big deal. I understand why you didn't tell me you don't drink alcohol, and I was way too pushy. I get that way sometimes when I'm nervous. But just...tell me things from now on, okay? I promise I won't judge you, and I think you probably won't judge me either, right? We can be in this together?"

"Okay." Blaine thought that sounded amazing, actually. How could Kurt be so smart and perceptive? "Yes I like that idea."

"Great!" Kurt replied, before stopping in front of a brick stoop. "Want to see my apartment?"

---AAIGAAIGAAIG---

Blaine had figured Kurt's family had money, but this was ridiculous. The furnishing was obviously professionally done, and very modern and sleep looking. He imagined a GQ model lounging artfully on the couch with a glass of wine. Then he imagined Kurt lounging artfully on the couch. Blaine cleared his throat.

"So, do you have roommates here?"

"No, my dad bought it for me when I decided to go to college in New York. I tried renting out the second bedroom to other students the first year I was here, but it got to be too much of a hassle. It's very nice for when I have parties, but that isn't too often."

"Did it come furnished?"

"Oh no, I did all this myself. Do you like it?" Kurt looked flattered.

"Yeah, I was just thinking it should be in a magazine."

Kurt beamed, and asked, "So what can I give you to drink that won't kill you?"

Blaine chuckled. "Water is good." He could not believe that Kurt owned an apartment in Greenwich village. Not only was his family loaded, they trusted him, which is more than Blaine could say about his own parents.

Kurt brought a water, a beer, and a stack of songbooks to the kitchen table, inviting Blaine to sit down next to him.

"So, will you help me pick a song for my callback?"

Blaine went to sit at the table next to Kurt, but stopped a few steps short of the chair. He walked purposely over to Kurt, leaned down slowly, and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. With a small smile on face, Blaine sat down, reached out to rest his hand on Kurt's knee, and said, "I'd love to."