Good luck today.

He didn’t expect a reply back, as Blaine was three hours behind him and probably still sleeping. Blaine might shoot him a quick text on his way to the set, but otherwise Kurt wasn’t planning on hearing from Blaine until this evening for their Skype date. His stomach rolled a little and he sighed.

Blaine was filming the kissing scene today, and that meant a closed set and no cellphone access. Kurt knew that the knowledge of Blaine kissing another guy (Sebastian) would be playing in the back of his head all day.

It was enough to make him want to hide under the covers and not come back out until this horrible day was over. He didn’t though, telling himself once again that it was only acting – Blaine didn’t feel anything for Sebastian. Blaine loved him, Kurt was sure of it.

It was Sebastian he didn’t trust. There was also nothing he could do about it, so when Finn shouted up the stairs that they were going to be late, Kurt grabbed his books, shoved them into his bag and headed downstairs.

*

He pulled into the school parking lot, Finn beside him in the passenger seat. Kurt didn’t move right away, and he could sense Finn’s worried gaze on him.

“Are you worried he’ll do something?” Kurt blinked at Finn in confusion, his mind wrapped up in Blaine and LA, and Sebastian.

“Who, Blaine?” Kurt asked. How did Finn even know about that? Kurt hadn’t told a soul.

“No, Karofsky.” With that, Kurt’s heart beat a little faster and he whipped his head around to follow where Finn was pointing. Sure enough, Karofsky was standing near the entrance of the school, hands shoved into the pockets of his letterman jacket.

Kurt inhaled sharply. How could he have forgotten? Everything going on with Blaine had had him so distracted that he’d completely blanked out on the fact that Karofsky’s suspension was over today, and he’d be back at school.

Great.

So he’d spend all day worrying about Blaine and Sebastian making out on set while simultaneously worrying that Karofsky would corner him in some obscure part of the school and finish him off.

Kurt closed his eyes tightly, willing his hands to stop shaking.

“Are you okay?” Finn asked. Kurt shook his head.

“I forgot he was coming back today,” Kurt whispered.

“Me and the guys got your back, by the way,” Finn said, and Kurt turned to look at his brother. “We already worked it out so one of us is with you in the hallways at all times.”

“That’s… sweet, Finn, but I don’t need a babysitter,” Kurt replied. He kept his tone low and gentle though, because it really was sweet of them and for the first time in a while he actually felt like people cared what happened to him.

“It’s not up to you, dude,” Finn replied, grinning. “Now come on, or you’ll be late for class.”

“Thanks, Finn,” Kurt said as they got out of the car and headed into the school. “And don’t call me ‘dude.’”

Kurt was proud of himself for holding his head up high when he passed by Karofsky.
He could do this.

*

He could do this.

Blaine rubbed his hands together, and then rolled his head around on his neck as he stood at the edge of the set. He’d never dreaded a scene more than the one they were filming today.
This was it – the big kissing scene.

He was going to have to kiss Sebastian.

His stomach rolled at the thought, the mere idea of kissing anyone but Kurt feeling like an ultimate betrayal of their relationship. It made him feel like a cheater, like he was cheating on Kurt.

He hated feeling that way. Blaine knew he shouldn’t – after all, it was his job. It was in the script. It wasn’t like he wanted to kiss Sebastian, he had to. That thought didn’t make it feel any better, as much as he repeated it to himself.

Why did this kiss have to take place in James’ bedroom? Seriously, it couldn’t happen in the music room at Dalton or something? Blaine sighed, and then turned when he heard someone say his name.

“Blaine,” Sebastian’s voice filled his ears.

“Hi,” Blaine murmured, unable to look Sebastian in the face.

“You ready for this?” Sebastian asked.

“As I’ll ever be,” Blaine muttered.

The director called them to their places, and Blaine took a deep breath.

Please, he prayed to a God he wasn’t sure he believed in, Please let this end well.

*

Kurt stared down the hallway at Karofsky, who was taking books out of his locker, and sighed. He turned back to his own locker, biting his lip. No one knew why Karofsky had been suspended, other than that it had had to do with Kurt in some way, so Karofsky’s secret was still safe.
Maybe that was why Karofsky hadn’t so much as glanced in Kurt’s direction.

He wondered if it was too good to be true: maybe Karofksy was just lulling him into a false sense of security and would strike when Kurt least expected it. The bell rang and Kurt shut his locker with a snap. “You ready for lunch?” Tina asked as she and Rachel appeared magically by his side, each one linking arms with him. Kurt gave them both a small smile. His friends were trying hard today, and it was nice.

“As ready as anyone can be after they’ve seen what the cafeteria is passing off as food,” Kurt answered and both girls laughed.

“How are you holding up?” Rachel wanted to know, once the three of them had their lunches and were settled at a table with the rest of New Directions.

“I’m fine,” Kurt replied, giving her a smile. “He’s staying away from me.”

“That’s good,” Rachel said. Kurt nodded, forcing himself to take a bite of the lettuce passing as garden salad on his plate.

“And how’s Blaine?” Santana leaned over and whispered.

“He’s fine too,” Kurt replied, shooting her a glare. All of New Directions were under strict instructions not to bring Blaine up at school, but Santana seemed to think that request didn’t apply to her as she continually did it.

“Yes, the boy is fine.” She smiled. “When do we get all the torrid details of your love affair?”

“How about the Tuesday after never gonna happen?” Kurt nearly snapped.

“Don’t give me that attitude, ladyface,” Santana did snap. “If it wasn’t for me, you and that Gargler wouldn’t even know each other.”

“That doesn’t preclude you to all the details of my sex life, Santana,” Kurt muttered.

“So you do have one,” she nearly purred. Kurt’s mouth fell open a little as he stared at her.
“Can we not talk about my brother’s sex life?” Finn interrupted. “It’s nothing against you or Blaine, but you’re my brother and I’m trying to eat.”

The topic changed to the upcoming football game, in which McKinley was playing for the championship. Kurt and the other girls on the Cheerios had been rehearsing hard for the half time show, and Sue had him singing a solo. Successfully distracted, Kurt let talk of the game take his mind off everything else.

*

There was a knock at the window, and James jumped a foot in the air. A moment passed and then a second knock followed. James got up off his bed and crept to the window, pulling aside the curtain. He breathed out a sigh of relief as he saw that it was only Toby. He raised the window and leaned out.

“What are you doing here?” he hissed.

“I had to see you,” Toby replied, hanging on to the trellis outside his window. “We need to talk.”

“It’s freezing out, and you’re insane,” James said, stepping back so Toby could climb the rest of the way in. Toby perched on the edge of the window and the two of them stood awkwardly for a second.

“You were right,” Toby murmured, staring at the floor.

“I was?”

“About my… date,” Toby continued. “He wasn’t…” he trailed off, sighing. “It didn’t work out because he… he wasn’t you.”

James felt his eyes widen and his heart beat speed up. Was this it? Finally?

And then Toby was leaning in, his lips pressing lightly to James’ and it was the best thing James had ever felt. He didn’t even close his eyes for fear it might not be real.

Toby pulled back and they stared at each other breathlessly.

“Cut!” The director shouted. “Okay, I think we got it. That’s a wrap.”

Blaine heaved a sigh of relief and headed for his trailer.

He needed to talk to Kurt.

*

“So how was it?” Kurt asked Blaine, butterflies in his stomach. They’d just logged onto Skype for their “date”.

“It was… weird,” Blaine finally said. Kurt studied his boyfriend’s appearance – once again Blaine was wearing lounge pants and Dalton shirt, having clearly showered since he’d gotten home. He was also fidgeting a lot and looked uncomfortable.

“Weird how?” Kurt wanted to know.

“Well, it was just us, the director and a couple members of the crew,” Blaine began. “And there is nothing romantic about a camera in your face and people watching when you’re trying to kiss someone,” he said.

“Sounds awkward,” Kurt agreed.

“It really is,” Blaine continued. “And they had to film it from every angle possible – four takes from this angle, four from this angle, four from this angle – I have no idea why they were down there – and four from this angle.” Blaine demonstrated with his hands.

“That sounds like the least sexiest kiss ever,” Kurt laughed at Blaine’s gestures, breathing a little easier.

“Plus, my lips are so chapped my mouth hurts,” Blaine told him.

“You poor thing,” Kurt teased, noticing that Blaine’s lips did look redder and trying not to think about Sebastian’s lips touching Blaine’s. “Was he a good kisser?”

“He… He kept trying to incorporate tongue,” Blaine finally said, and Kurt swallowed hard. “But only for the first couple of takes. The director told him to stop.”

“I think he likes you,” Kurt said without thinking. When Blaine’s eyes widened, he immediately wished he hadn’t said it.

“I don’t think he does,” Blaine denied. Kurt started to protest, but Blaine cut him off. “Even if he does, I only have eyes for you.”

Kurt felt himself blushing and he smiled at Blaine. “I wish you were here – I’d kiss you,” he replied.

“I couldn’t kiss anyone right now,” Blaine laughing teasingly.

“I didn’t say it would be on the lips,” Kurt heard himself saying back, and nearly bit his lip in shock. He never in a million years imagined he’d ever say that to a guy.

“Well,” Blaine’s voice dropped, getting a little gravelly. “Just where would you kiss me then?”

“I’ll show you the next time I see you,” Kurt murmured, his face on fire now. He and Blaine locked gazes, unable to look away as Kurt’s heart thrummed in his chest. He could see the desire in Blaine’s eyes, and knowing he was the cause was a heady feeling.

Footsteps thumped up the stairs in the hallway, and Kurt jumped. “I should… probably go to bed,” he whispered. They said their goodnights and Kurt turned off the computer.

He forced himself into bed, falling into a restless sleep.