Kurt sat at the restaurant waiting for his date, his legs crossed and jogging nervously. Waiting for a blind date, Kurt decided, had to be one of the purest forms of torture. Kurt looked down at his watch. Elliott wasnt late, Kurt was just early. He usually got places early anyway, but especially when he was nervous. And right now, butterflies were starting a boot-camp in his stomach.

It really had been too long since hed been on a date if this was how it made him feel. Of course, if he was being honest with himself, part of his anxiety was because of B. It wasnt Bs fault, he hadnt done anything wrong. It was more from Kurts guilt over B.

After Rachel gave Kurt Elliotts number, he waited a day before caving and dialing it. Kurt had been pleasantly surprised. Elliott seemed excited to hear from him and even in their short conversation where they set up a time and place for a date, Kurt could tell Elliott was charismatic and good-natured.

Kurt started to get excited about actually going out for once. Except that a part of him still wanted to just call the whole thing off and ask B out instead. He could just picture Bs face if he did, eyebrows raised and a huge grin on his face. Of course, Kurt didnt know for sure that Bs reaction to being asked out would be positive, but he seemed to like Kurt and… and it was all really complicated.

Kurt took the coward's way out and didnt even tell B about his date until Friday, the actual day of his date. Kurt had thought hed just go out with Elliott, see if there was even anything between them and just tell B he was out with a friend. When it came down to it, though, Kurt couldnt bear to lie to B. He deserved better than that.

Kurt was in his room in the outfit he was fairly certain he'd be wearing for the date, but holding another shirt up in front of him when B poked his head in.

"Hey Kurt," he said with a smile, and Kurt turned to smile back.

"Wow," B said, his eye growing wide. "You look even more incredible than usual."

Kurts smile grew. B gave the best compliments, and he was always so sincere about them.

"You think?" Kurt asked, twirling around to show off the outfit hed painstakingly put together.

B came into the room and sat on Kurts bed to watch him. "Seriously Kurt, you look… just amazing. Whats the occasion?"

This was the part where Kurt should say, “Oh, just out with a friend.” But he couldnt, not when B was looking at him with so much earnestness.

"Um… Well… Rachel set up a blind date for me," Kurt said, turning towards his full-length mirror and glancing at B through the reflection.

Bs expression froze on his face for a second before it crumbled, and Kurts heart clenched in his chest.

"Kurt, you… you have a date?" His voice sounded young all of a sudden, and Kurt turned around to face him. Never had he seen someone look so much like a kicked puppy. B was looking at Kurt with a round eye and sagging eyebrows, not even trying to hide his hurt.

Kurt felt like slime. Worse than slime. Like nasty black dirty gum stuck on the bottom of a shoe. Kurt was the worst person ever. It would be one thing if B liked him and Kurt didnt feel the same. Then he could sit down and talk it through with B, try to help him understand. But the truth was Kurt did feel the same way, and he never really tried to disguise his feelings for B.

B probably thought something was going on between them, or that something was about to, and now Kurt was going on a date. A date he didnt even have the decency to tell B about when hed made the plans days ago. Why was Kurt doing this to him? Why did Kurt have to have a crush on a droid?

"Yeah," Kurt said, looking down at the shirt in his hands. "He works with Rachel."

"Oh."

There was a long silence, and Kurt couldnt take it. He looked back at B, who shook his head minutely and then plastered a smile on his face. "That will be nice for you," he said cheerfully, but there was still something sad about it. "You dont go out with people enough, and if Rachel likes him, Im sure hes great."

"Uh-huh," Kurt nodded, his stomach tying itself into knots, and his army of butterflies making him feel a little shaky.

"Kurt, whats wrong?" B got up from the bed, placing a hand on Kurts arm.

"Nervous," Kurt said and it wasnt untrue.

"You have nothing to be nervous about. This date of yours is one lucky guy and he is going to figure that out immediately." B smiled at him and Kurt found himself blushing. They were both quiet for too long, B holding his arm and both of them looking into each others eyes. B blushed a little as well, letting go of Kurt and stepping away, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

"Thanks, B," Kurt said. He almost decided not to go, but he felt like he needed to see this through.

B was still smiling at him, but his eyes seemed watery. "I hope you have a good time," he said quietly, and Kurt had to turn away quickly, unable to take the tension that was almost palpable in the apartment.

B had sent him another one of those fake smiles before Kurt left. Kurt wanted to wrap his arms around B and kiss his cheek and tell him never mind, he'd much rather stay home with him.

But he felt like he had to do this, give this Elliott guy a chance, because everyone who loved him was so convinced it would be the best thing for him. So he shut the door behind him, trying to get Bs hurt look out of his head, and he ended up at the restaurant much too early.

He started to thrum his fingers against the tabletop when he was pulled out of his musings by a voice calling his name. "Kurt? Kurt Hummel?"

Kurt looked up and his jaw dropped a little. Rachel had not been exaggerating. Elliott was extremely attractive. Dark, thick hair styled to perfection, pearly white teeth and blue eyes that sparkled with his winning smile. It took Kurt a second to remember that he should probably say something.

"Yes! Im Kurt. Hi."

Elliott beamed at him and shook his hand before sitting. "Wow," Elliott said first thing. "Rachel wasnt kidding about you."

"You cant believe everything Rachel Berry says," Kurt stated with a sly smile.

"Well, about this she was right. You are absolutely stunning."

Kurt laughed nervously even as he felt his face heat up.

As the evening went on and they ordered and ate their food, Kurt had to admit Rachel had done really well. Elliott was outgoing and charming. He and Kurt shared a lot of interests. Elliot had even tried out for NYADA, but ended up at NYC when they turned him down. Everything about him was like ticking off a checklist of things Kurt wanted in a guy. Plus, he was really nice to look at.

In fact, Elliott was such agreeable company that Kurt hardly even thought about B… Really, B probably only popped into Kurts head a million times during the date. Elliott had a great laugh, but it wasnt Bs gut-deep chuckle. He complimented Kurt, but it didnt make his stomach flip over the way Bs compliments did. He was an interesting conversationalist, but it wasnt like sitting with B on the couch and poking fun at The Real Housewives. And his eyes were gorgeous, but it wasnt like having B's sweet chocolate brown eye look at him.

"Rachel tells me on top of your many musical talents you also like fashion?" Elliott asked, and Kurt nodded.

"I think if I hadnt ended up in NYADA, I would have pursued design."

Elliott leaned forward eagerly. "I love that. I put together all of my Starchild costumes. Theyre probably nothing compared to what you do, but its fun."

"Starchild?" Kurt asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, hes my stage alter ego. Dark, loud, sparkly."

Kurt laughed. "I can appreciate sparkly. I once bedazzled a whole tie just because I thought my outfit was too tame."

Elliott smiled brightly. "Well, youll have to see me perform sometime, then."

"Id like that," Kurt answered, and mentally kicked himself when his immediate next thought was, I wonder if I could bring B.

At the end of the date, Elliott kindly offered to walk Kurt home, and since he was enjoying Elliotts company, he let him. He even let him take his hand while they strolled down the street. Being with Elliott gave Kurt a nice fuzzy feeling inside. It was the perfect date.

Almost.

It would have been the perfect date and Kurt would probably be deep into crushing on Elliott by now if it werent for the sweet, delightful, handsome droid waiting for Kurt back home.

Elliott walked him all the way inside to his front door, swinging their hands between them. "I had a really nice time with you tonight."

"Same here," Kurt said honestly, and then Elliott glanced from his eyes to his lips and Kurt knew what was about to happen. He also knew he could stop it if he wanted to. He didnt want to. He needed this date to work if he was going to get over his little crush on B.

Elliott leaned in and Kurt could feel his breath on his skin, he let his eyes close and then Elliotts lips were on his own. Soft and easy, not asking more from Kurt than he was willing to give. When he pulled back and Kurt opened his eyes he saw Elliott smiling. "Ill talk to you soon?"

Kurt couldnt speak, so he just nodded. Elliott laughed and then spun around and walked down the hall. Kurt stood frozen in place for a long moment before he finally opened his door and walked back into his apartment. He was breathing quickly and his throat felt scratchy and he should be happy right now. He should be walking on air after a date like that, but he just felt heartbroken and a little frantic. He drew in a painful breath and realized he was about to cry.

He quickly looked over the living room, grateful it was empty, and then rushed back to his room. He threw himself on his bed and clutched a pillow across his stomach before big, hot tears started pouring down his face. He was shaking and crying and couldnt get his breath to even out. He squeezed the pillow tighter, wishing it was the firm, but gentle form of B in his arms instead.

He was such an idiot. He wasnt falling for B, he wasnt crushing on him. It wasnt just a physical thing because B was attractive. He was already completely head over heels for him, but so, so scared of what that would mean.

Kurt hadnt been alone in his room for too long before he heard a soft knock on his partially open door. "Kurt?"

Kurt tried to rein in his tears, but that just caused him to take in a deep shuddering breath, and even though he was lying on his bed with his back away from the door, he knew B had to see his shoulders shaking with tears.

B was quiet at the door for a moment, perhaps taking it all in. Kurt could perfectly imagine his little head tilt. Then he called Kurts name again, and Kurt heard him rush into the room. The bed dipped and Kurt sat up, wiping his eyes and smiling a little wetly at B, who was suddenly next to him.

"Hey B."

"Oh, Kurt." B placed a hand softly on Kurts cheek, drying his tears with a swipe of his thumb. "Whats wrong?"

"Noth-nothing," Kurt hiccuped out, still trying to make his smile seem convincing. B watched him silently, and then his one good eye grew round and he stood up from the bed in a sudden burst of energy.

"What happened? Was it your date? What did he do to you?"

Kurt looked up at B in surprise. Hed never seen B wear the expression that was now on his face. His eye was narrowed and his eyebrows completely flattened into straight lines. He seemed to be clenching his jaw too.

"Did he say something? Did he… Did he hurt you?" Bs voice came out as a low growl, and Kurt was too surprised to even answer him for a moment. His stomach did a little flip-flop though, and his smile became more genuine.

"No, B, no. Elliott was a gentleman, and a good date. Its nothing like that." He wiped the last of his tears from his cheeks as B sat back down next to him, placing his hand on Kurts back and rubbing circles the way that Kurt did for him when he had a nightmare.

"Then whats wrong?" B asked, his expression softening as he gazed intently at Kurt.

Kurts mouth and throat felt dry all of a sudden. He wanted to tell B what he was feeling, but he couldnt. He shrugged instead. "Would it be awful of me if I said I didnt want to talk about it right now?" His voice was getting scratchy with tears again.

B shook his head. "You dont have to talk about it."

Kurt bit his lip and then kicked off his shoes. He wanted to just lay down for a minute. He lay back on his side on the bed, glad to have B near him.

"Do you want me to go?" Bs voice was so soft and so sweet it almost made Kurt burst out into tears again.

"No."

The bed shifted a little, and B lay down behind him, scooting in and then wrapping his arm around Kurts middle and tugging him close. Kurt experienced the weird combination of butterflies in his stomach, happy ones this time, even as his chest ached. His whole body relaxed like melting wax as B kept Kurt in his arms. It didnt take long for Kurt to drift into a peaceful sleep.

When Kurt woke up the next morning, it took him a moment to remember why hed fallen asleep still in his clothes from the day before. Once he did remember, a huge smile spread over his face. He sighed happily and turned over in the bed to say good morning to B. What he found, though, was an empty side of the bed. It made sense. B might have only stayed until Kurt fell asleep before going to his own room. He wasnt obligated to cuddle with Kurt all night, especially after Kurt had been out on a date with someone else. Still, Kurt couldnt help but feel disappointed.

He sat up in bed and stretched his arms before getting up to shower and get ready for the day. The whole time, he just kept thinking about his date and about B and how even though Elliott seemed great, he was somehow going to have to tell him things werent going to work out between them romantically.

It was the weekend, so there was no school today and Kurt didnt have to work. He started thinking of things he and B could do together.

He left his room he found B in the kitchen leaning over a counter and reading the paper. "Good morning, B," Kurt said with a smile, the memory of being in Bs arms making him feel pleasantly warm.

B looked up with a sweet smile of his own. "How are you this morning? Better?"

"Yes… Im… sorry about last night. I know I was cryptic."

"Kurt, you dont have to apologize." B said sincerely. "Im just glad youre okay. I was going to make you breakfast, but I wasnt sure when you were going to get up and I didnt want it to get cold."

Kurt watched B. Something was off. He sounded like himself, but he didnt seem to be making eye contact with him. "You know, I might just go get a bagel from the deli downstairs," Kurt said, trying to meet his eye but Bs was focused on the counter in front of him. "I thought maybe today we could hang out together, go to the movies or the zoo or something."

"Actually, Im working today," B said finally, looking up but only briefly. And where was Kurts brain? Because B was very obviously standing there in his red and black diner uniform.

"Oh. I thought you had the day off? You dont usually work the Saturday I dont work."

B shrugged. "I called to see if I could get some extra hours."

"Why?"

"I dont know… It might be nice to help out with rent a little more."

"B, you dont have to-" Kurt said, worried about the strange mood B was in.

"In fact, I should get going," B interrupted, looking at the clock on the microwave. "See you this evening, okay?"

He walked past Kurt, who followed him to the living room, not knowing what to say. "Okay..."

Again, it was on the tip of his tongue to tell B why hed been so upset the night before. Going on that date made me realize how I feel about you, and I dont know how things can work out between us, but I know I want you. Still, though, the words caught in his throat.

"Ill see you tonight then," Kurt said instead, and B shot him a quick smile before leaving the apartment. Something was absolutely off with him and Kurt couldnt help but think it was because of Elliott. Was B mad? Hurt? Jealous?

Kurt sighed and rubbed his temple, glad that the Smythe Expo was the upcoming week. He really needed to figure things out.