Kurt’s never been nervous around girls. He’s always been more comfortable around them (mostly because they’re less likely to be throwing cups of ice into his face) and he’s never really had trouble talking to them.
But the way Quinn is staring at him silently is making his eye twitch. Quinn smiles and takes a drink from the milkshake she’d made him buy her and then shifts slightly in her seat.
“Sorry, I’m doing it again aren’t I?”
“Doing what?” Kurt asks frowning as she giggles.
“Staring like I expect to actually will you into talking? Blaine says I do it too much.”
Kurt lets out a breath.
“It’s a little terrifying.”
She lets out a little laugh and pats his hand.
“Sorry, I’m not actually trying to be scary. I’m just... trying to figure you out.”
“Figure me out?”
“Well it’s just... you’re from the future right?” Kurt nods slowly. “And just... whenever the Doctor’s taken us anywhere in the future, like even if it’s just a decade or two, no-one really knows who Blaine is... and then here you are, and you not only do you know about him you actually like him... it just feels strange.”
Kurt nods.
“He was my mom’s favourite.” He says quietly. “Well that’s what my dad tells me. I only found him because dad let me have mom’s old records and the old record player that used to just sit gathering dust after she died.”
Quinn’s face falls.
“I’m so sor-“
“It’s fine. But anyway, she had all of his albums. And... I’ve been going through a really shitty time at school, still am... and... his music makes me feel better.” He shrugs. “It makes me happy.”
Quinn tilts her head and a smile spreads across her face.
“You should tell him that sometime, all he wants to do is help people.” She pats his hand again and stands up. “It might even help him finish that stupid song he’s been stuck on for months.”
“Wait... he... he hasn’t finished it yet?”
Quinn shakes her head.
“It’s been driving him up the wall.- hey the Doctor says you’re musical, and I know you already know how it goes, but maybe you could help give him a shove in the right direction.”
Kurt nods and stands up ready to follow her out of the cafe.
“I could try...”
“Perfect, I’ll drop you off at his house, he’s probably just smacking his head against the piano again.”
***
Quinn all but marches Kurt inside the house and into Blaine’s room.
“See I told you.” She says brightly pointed at Blaine who’s head is resting against the keys of the piano.
“Well he’s not hitting his head against it.” Kurt says softly walking over to the other boy and awkwardly putting his hand on his shoulder.
Blaine jumps slightly and Kurt draws his hands back straight away.
Blaine stares around the room and Kurt giggles when he realises Blaine had been sleeping.
“Kurt.” He says sleepily when his eyes land on him. He stretches and grins. “What are you doing here?”
“Quinn brought me here. She was afraid you’d be abusing the piano with your head.”
Blaine laughs softly another yawn escaping him.
“I was but apparently I fell asleep.”
Kurt smiles at the rumpled boy.
“Let me help you.” He blurts out. “With your song.” He adds at Blaine’s frown. “Quinn says you’re having trouble with it.”
“Trouble is an understatement. I just... I can’t.”
Kurt sits down next to Blaine and after a second rests his hand back on his shoulder.
“Why do you think it’s not working?”
Blaine runs a hand through his hair.
“I... I can’t find the feeling any more. I had it all in my head. I knew what I wanted it to be... and now, I just can’t get there anymore.”
Kurt nods and lays his hands on the piano.
“Maybe you should just play a different song, just until you stop beating yourself up?” He nudges the other boy with his shoulder. “I’m a huge fan of Teenage Dream.”
Blaine grins.
“Okay.”
Kurt’s not used to sitting this close to people when they sing, he’s seen the girls practically sitting in their boyfriends laps while they sing to them in Glee club meetings. Seen the boys pull the girls as close as possible and sing in their ears.
But the only duets he’s ever sung were Happy Days and 4 Minutes and the only time he’d ever sang to someone it had been Finn and from across the room (and how well had that turned out?) so sitting practically pressed to Blaine’s side while Blaine crooned his way through Teenage Dream was making him feel jumpy.
Straight, straight, he’s straight. He keeps repeating in his head as his breathing speeds up.
Blaine beams at Kurt when he finishes playing and Kurt stares at him with wide eyes.
“Kurt?”
Kurt takes a deep breath and stands up wrapping his arms around himself.
“I should... I should go.” He says shakily before bolting from the room.
Blaine stares after him and blinks repeatedly to fight back the tears threatening to spill.