Kurt's POV:

Grocery shopping with Sebastian has been...interesting. I mean, his constant apologising got pretty irritating at points. But he really does seem to have changed. After the tenth time of me telling him to stop apologising, he finally did and we ended up having a really nice time. I’m not sure what to think about him anymore. I mean, as much as he tells me he’s changed – and I did see the start of that change before Regionals, senior year –I still can’t get over how much hell he put me through. He made my life hell for nearly a whole year. I look over to him, in the passenger seat of my dad’s car, and then quickly return my gaze to the road ahead when I realise he’s noticed.

“What?” He asks with a smile.

“I...I just can’t believe it. You’ve changed so much, but I just can’t -“

“Get over how much I hurt you.” He finishes my sentence, word for word with what I was thinking. “Look, I get it Kurt; I was a total jerk to you. But, how about you let me make it up to you? I so seriously feel awful. What can I do to show you how sorry I am?” I can feel his gaze burning into my cheek as I avoid eye contact with him.

“Nothing,” I sigh, “You’ve apologised so now it’s my problem.  Take the weight off your shoulders.” I say the last part with a smile, and hear Sebastian breathe a sigh of relief.

“Look Kurt, I just need you to know –“ I cut him off before he can apologise for the thousandth time.

“I’m serious, Sebastian. If I hear the ‘s-word’ come out of your mouth one more time I’m going to shove that pathetic little chipmunk smile up your sorry little a-“

“Okay! I get it...I get it.” He giggles nervously; I think he actually believes my threat.

Then the car falls silent. I end up thinking, which is always dangerous for me - especially at the wheel - thinking abouthim...AGAIN. I seriously need to come up with some kind of system or something; it’s getting out of hand. If I’m going to survive tomorrow night, I can’t be weak.

“Kurt,” a small voice says from the passenger seat, breaking the silence, “I know you said to drop this but...I want to make it up to you. I really do. How about Breadstix tomorrow night?”

Wow, is this happening? Is Sebastian Smythe really asking me out? Whoa. “Um...even if I did think that was a good idea, I’m busy tomorrow night; McKinley reunion.”

“Oh, god! You think I’m asking you on a date! No, no, just a chance to talk. Believe me Kurt; I’m not interested in you that way. I have a steady boyfriend anyway.” He chuckled, disbelieving, “Let me buy you a coffee now then?” He asked hopefully.

“I should get home. And, aren’t you on duty Officer Smythe?”  I add a tint of bitterness to that last remark, to hide my embarrassment.

Blaine's POV:

Drew and I finished unloading the last of our bags into my old bedroom about 15 minutes ago, since then we’ve just been sat in here. Well, I’ve been sat in here, he’s been nosing around through my old things. But I’ve just been sat on the edge of my bed, in silence, not quite believing how little Lima has actually changed. I kick my shoes off and pull my legs up onto the bed.  Then I remember my magazine stash in my bedside cabinet. But as I lean over I see a turned down photo frame. Forgetting myself I pick it up and look at the photo. Summer 2013, that was amazing. The smiles on our faces appear to be glowing. That was before everything went wrong.

“Hey what’s that?” Drew breaks me back into reality.

“Oh this? Nothing, just a photo.” I say placing it carefully back to its original position on my bedside table. Drew moves closer. I swear, if he touches that frame...

“Drew, honey, can you help me a second?” my mum shouts up the stairs, saving me from the awkward conversation that could’ve happened. With a quick smile at me, Drew heads towards the door to see what he’s needed for downstairs.

Part of me hates that my parents like Drew so much; they seem to like him more than they like me. I guess he never “disappointed” them by being gay, they met him knowing that. They never ask me to help out; it’s always “Drew-the-amazing-boyfriend” who can do anything!

Without a second thought, and with a small frustrated sigh, I fling myself backwards onto my bed. Thousands of images of thatsummer flash across my mind before I can stop them. Our hands intertwined while we walked down the street, his smile as I dropped him off at his house and the way I felt seeing him at my door the next morning. Even though this happened every day of that summer, it always felt special. I’d never felt like that with Drew. Sure we have fun but it’s never special: he’s never made mefeel special.

But, I do care about him. And sometimes I think I love him, but that feeling never lasts long. I know what love feels like: I’ve known since my sophomore year at Dalton. At the memory of that day, I mentally add Blackbird to my list of forbidden songs.

“You’re home!” a familiar, friendly voice squeals excitedly from the doorway.

I prop myself on my elbows and am greeted by the most gorgeous young woman: when the hell did she grow up? Her watery-blue eyes are wide with excitement. Her smile stretches her heart-shaped mouth, causing dimples to appear in her cheeks. It’s the kind of smile that makes you forget all the badness in the world.

“Sure am, kid!” I laugh with her as I speak.

Next thing I know, I’m being smothered by her with a hug I never want to end. But it does.

“How was the drive, big brother?” she asks as she punches my arm in her usual light, playful way.

“I slept for most of it, so you’re better off asking Drew.”

Her smile disappears, as it always does when Drew’s name is mentioned.

“Come on, Sophie! Please just accept that Drew makes me happy.” I plead yet again.

“Does he?” her gaze instantly drops and she runs one hand through her dark messy curls. She looks up at me as she begins again, “I’ve seen you happy, Blaine.” Her look flickers to the photo frame on my bedside table, then back up to catch my gaze. “Look, I’m not saying I don’t like Drew because he’s cool: he’s got a great music taste and he makes the best cookies. But...you’re different with him. When he’s around you’re not the Blaine who used to braid my hair before bed, or help with my homework. It’s like all of that’s just vanished.”

I can’t help but tear up at my younger sister’s words. Even though we’ve had a 100% honesty agreement since she was 4, she’s never told me any of this before. But I can’t say it took me by surprise: every single word is true.

“What’s so wrong with changing?” I ask as I pull her back in for another hug, even if I already know what her answer will be.

“Nothing,” she replies quietly, “I just didn’t think you had to.”

We stayed in this position for a while, I don’t know exactly how long for. It wasn’t until I felt a small splash on my shirt did I realise that Sophie was crying. At this discovery I tighten my grip on her and laugh – a mutual response that is so familiar to us.

“I have to go,” she says, breaking both the silence and the hug, “I just wanted to say hi and...” her head whips round to face me again as she reaches the door, “...welcome home.” The emphasis she put on the last word was unintentional but very clear. Then her small body disappears with a smile, leaving me alone to think over what just happened.

KPOV:

After much discussion, Sebastian finally convinced me that one cup of coffee wouldn’t hurt. So I told him my coffee order as we got out of the car. But now we’re inside.

It feels strange to walk through these doors again. The Lima Bean holds so many memories for me – good and bad. As my eyes scan around the near-empty room – half taking in my surroundings, half looking for the boy who was prominent in my memories of this place – I realise nothing has changed. Well, other than the person I walked in with.

Then my wary glances fell on Sebastian’s face. Even though his smile was bright and genuine, his eyes weren’t cold and harsh like I’d remembered but tired. Physically he still had a chipmunk look about him, but he looks different somehow. His tired eyes strain slightly against the sharp lighting in here. Then I notice the difference in him – he looks genuinely happy.

As we reach the counter, the young waitress behind it gazes at Sebastian, either in recognition or a painfully pathetic attempt at flirting. I suspect the latter.

“Hey Sebastian.” She smiles at him – yes, definitely flirting. This should be good.

“Hey Anna,” when he replied, he matched her tone perfectly, causing her to blush and run her hand down her shoulder-length brown braid, “The usual for me please and a medium drip for my friend.” He waves one hand towards me, but keeps his eyes locked on the excited waitress and leaning over the counter to get closer to her.

Her blue eyes sparkle as she nodded and passed the order to her co-worker. A few uncomfortable seconds passed as they silently flirted.

“Umm...Sebastian?” I ask in an attempt to break up the gauche moment.

“Yes?” he asks as he whips his head around to face me, his sharp blue eyes fixing on mine instantly.

“Err...do you want me to pay?” I hadn’t really thought that far ahead.

He straightens his back and reaches for his wallet, “No, it’s okay.” He returns his gaze to Anna and winks, “I got this.”

A small, unintentional giggle escapes Anna’s lips before her hand catches it. “That’s...” she doesn’t have a chance to finish before Sebastian thrusts the money towards her.

“Keep the change.” He gives her an enormous smile that makes even his tired eyes light up.

This is ridiculous! How can this girl actually think Sebastian’s into her? Then it hits me, she doesn’t know. I stifle a laugh at the not-so-sly wink he throws her before we move out of ear-shot. I simply have to know what just happened. I take my moment.

“Doesn’t she know?” his confused look is all I need to know he has no idea what I’m asking. “You know, that you’re ‘not on her team’...” then I remember a detail he mentioned earlier “...AND that you have a boyfriend!”

His look moves from confused to a combination of that and mocking. “What?” he laughs before slight panic falls over his face, “Oh yeah. No, she has no idea. Best keep ‘em sweet, eh Hummel? You get better coffee that way.” And, as if he planned it in advance, the coffee arrives. “And quicker service.” He adds.

With a last glance at Anna, whose gaze hadn’t left him since their conversation, he turns to find a table. Unbelievable. Maybe he hasn’t changed as much as I’d thought.

BPOV:

As I lay on my bed trying not to think of the gorgeous boy from my past, I found myself thinking of nothing but. Luckily, just as my mind drifted onto the forbidden subject yet again (I’m not very good at rules), Drew enters my room.

I move to greet him, “What did mum want?” I ask as he moves towards me. He looks straight at me, his dark green eyes staring into mine. His gaze is so intense it’s like he’s trying to read my mind, and for once I’m glad he can’t. No one – least of all Drew – needs to know the pathetic things I’ve been thinking about. Guilty, I drop my gaze and turn towards my drawers.

“She just wanted help with the dishwasher: it broke again.” He laughs. I’d forgotten I’d asked him a question to be honest. I begin fiddling with whatever crap there is on top of my drawers, partly searching for a conversation topic. I hear footsteps, but I don’t dare turn around in case I have to look Drew in the eye.

Blaine this is stupid, it’s not like you’ve cheated on him! Stop feeling guilty!

Even without turning around I feel the concern seeping from every pore of Drew’s body. A pale, strong hand reaches and wraps itself over mine; causing me to drop the tiny piece of fabric I was playing with. Drew rests his head on one of my shoulders from behind. “Wanna talk about it?” he whispers.

I nod and wipe the moisture forming in my eyes – I’m so emotional today! I really do want to talk to him about it, but I don’t knowhow.

Leading with me with our intertwined he moves me to sit on the bed, and he sits down beside me. And I tell him everything. Everything about Kurt and I. He knows about Kurt’s existence already, but not the details. After telling him about all of this, I almost expect him to run out on me...or at least shout or something. But he doesn’t. He keeps his expression safe and measured.

“So, you’re worried about seeing him tomorrow night?” he asks calmly.

“Yes.”

“And you didn’t tell me this why?”

“I don’t know, I’m sorry.”

“Blaine, we’re supposed to be a couple! If you don’t tell me when you’re nervous or worried, how the hell am I supposed to help you?!” He stands up with a frustrated sigh.

This was not the reaction I expected. Well, the shouting and frustration – yes – but not the reason behind it.

“Wait, you’re angry because I didn’t tell you...because you want to help me?” he nods in reply, “You don’t think I’m stupid or pathetic?” All the anger that had been in his face disappeared as he shakes his head gently in answer. I rise to stand beside him, take one hand in mine and cup his cheek with the other. “You’re amazing. I’m so lucky to have you.”

“I still wish you’d told me all of this.” He utters quietly. I press my lips gently to his, but he pulls me in tighter for a more forceful kiss.