The bowl hit the ground with a light thud as Blaine closed the gap between him and Kurt, Kurt felt himself melt into the familiar kiss; wrapping his arms around Blaine.

"Blaine, we shouldn't be doing this," Kurt said breaking away from the kiss but still holding tightly onto Blaine.

"Stop me then," Blaine moved back to Kurt's lips, hesitantly kissing him.

Kurt didn't stop him; he didn't have to.

"Blaine sweetie are you home?" Angela's voice rang through the house from the front door and the boys quickly separated.

"Uh yeah I'm in the kitchen with Kurt," He shouted back trying to smooth down his clothes and Kurt was trying to sort out his hair, it always seemed to get messy when he kissed Blaine even if he didn't touch it.

"Oh hi Kurt," Angela smiled sweetly as she placed various grocery bags on the counter with the most available space. "Oh I should have called to say I was coming back…" Angela shot a confused look at Kurt and Kurt panicked, did she notice his flushed cheeks and kiss swollen lips? "I mean because I would have saved you the trouble of cooking dinner since I would have done it." She smiled again and Kurt exhaled the breath he didn't know he was holding.

"It's fine, I'll just make some extra for you," Kurt smiled sweetly back and continued preparing dinner.

"Why is this on the floor?" Angela bent down to retrieve the plastic bowl that had fallen when Blaine kissed Kurt.

Kurt blushed. "Oh I must have dropped it, I'm so clumsy sometimes." He giggled nervously and if Angela was suspicious she didn't show it or say anything.

"Is everything okay mom?" Blaine looked concerned and Kurt wondered why; Angela looked perfectly fine to him but Blaine knew her more.

"I'm fine dear just a little tired," Blaine nodded but still seemed a little sceptical, he'd question her further later, for now he had to somehow get him and Kurt alone so they could kiss- talk about things and maybe kiss. They went from 'Hey let's be friends' to making out in the kitchen, that definitely needed to be discussed. It was evident that both boys just couldn't be without each other and this whole 'friendship' thing just wasn't cutting it, he just hoped Kurt would make the right choice.

They didn't really get time alone for the rest of the evening, Kurt was bust preparing dinner and then his dad came home after they had ate and he spent his time talking to him. It was understandable of course since Kurt hardly had any time to spend with his dad anymore so he took advantage of every opportunity. Blaine was going to spend this time talking to his mom to see if everything was okay since he still did care about her but she had gone to bed before he could get the chance.

"I'm going upstairs to do some homework," Blaine declared to both Kurt and Burt.

"Night sport," Burt smiled.

Blaine chanced a look at Kurt before getting up to see if he'd make some excuse about having to go so he could join him and they could 'talk' but Kurt just smiled and said goodnight leaving Blaine to go upstairs alone.

"So kiddo how is school going?" Burt asked sipping from his water (Kurt refused to let him have soda).

"Good, both glee and cheerleading are going great and I'm still getting good grades," Kurt shrugged and look at his dad. "How are things with you and Angela?"

Burt hesitated for a second and Kurt could sense he felt uneasy at the question, why though he didn't know. "We're good… I think. Well you know how it is with marriages at our age, we're bound to have problems," Burt sighed. "We'll sort them out though."

"What kind of problems?" Kurt didn't mean to pry of course but he wanted to be there for his dad.

Burt looked over at his son who was looking at him intently, obviously worried. His heart swelled with pride; Kurt had grown up so much. "Oh nothing for you to worry about kiddo, just some arguments nothing we can't get past," Burt smiled and patted Kurt's arm reassuringly, there was more to it Kurt wasn't stupid but he didn't want to push his dad into telling him anything he didn't want to talk about.

They sat there talking for a while like old times until Burt told Kurt to go to bed since he had school in the morning.

Kurt lied in his bed not being able to fall asleep, he had too much on his mind; the kiss he and Blaine shared earlier and if it was possible for them to still be friends, Burt and Angela's apparently rocky relationship and what that meant for him and Blaine. He sighed and turned over for what felt like the 100th time that night, still unable to drift off to sleep. A bright light enveloped the room and Kurt squinted at the sudden intrusion on his eyes, his grumbled and sat up; reaching for his phone.

Blaine Anderson

New Message

Kurt furrowed his brows and swiped across the phone, effectively unlocking it and opening the message.

I see ur nt up 4 talking 2night? ur doors locked. - B

Blaine really needed to stop text-typing Kurt found it hard to understand most of the time.

I have a lot I need to think about Blaine. - K

Us? - B

Yeah… I think we should forget that kiss earlier… I mean go back to before that happened; the whole 'friends' thing. - K

Kurt pressed send and felt a pang of guilt, he didn't want to lead Blaine on and needed to make sure he didn't kiss him (or kiss him back) in the future. It was a full 20 minutes before he received a reply; this time in actually readable English.

I know you don't want to talk and I would rather do this face to face but since you've locked your door I really have no other option, Kurt I really don't know what you want me to say, I mean… I can't just be friends with you. I've fallen too hard for that to happen things can't just go back, that kiss just proved that. Maybe we could live a lie, say we're friends then have moments like today in the kitchen, but do you really want that? Deep down knowing we're not friends but in reality we act like it? Giving in to what we really want then regretting it and spending days not talking? Because I don't think I could do that Kurt. - B

Kurt read over the words, tears forming in his eyes. He couldn't keep doing this to Blaine; couldn't keep hurting him. He unlocked his door and quietly walked over to Blaine's room and tentatively knocked on the door, it was about 2am so everyone else was asleep so he didn't have to worry about anyone coming upstairs and finding him in there at this late hour.

Blaine opened it a second later, like he was waiting for Kurt. He was dressed in a pair of loose sweats and was completely shirtless, Kurt didn't think it was appropriate for him to be staring at Blaine's naked torso while they were discussing something so important so he suggested to Blaine to put on a shirt, Blaine laughed and complied.

Kurt sat on the edge of Blaine's bed as he waited for him to put on a shirt, he came back a few minutes later with a Darth Vader shirt on that was too small for him so it hugged his muscles tightly, Kurt swallowed nervously, it wasn't shirtless but it was damn near close. He had to deal with it though and just get on with what he wanted to say.

"Blaine," Kurt began taking the other boys hands in his own. "I didn't want this whole thing to be spoken about over text," Blaine nodded. "I really don't know how to begin…"

"Let me then," Blaine said with a new intensity in his eyes that took Kurt's breath away. "Obviously I respect whatever decision you make so I'm going to give you some options, but don't feel like I'm pressuring you." Blaine stopped talking and looked like was trying to find the right words. "I'm just… this is just something I need to do for me. These options are what I'm willing to do." Kurt nodded, confused but willing to hear Blaine out.

Blaine removed his hands from Kurt's and started nervously playing with a spare thread hanging off his comforter. "Option one is we go back to before new years, before I told you I loved you and you ran." Blaine looked into Kurt's eyes, "Option two is for us to forget that ever happened and I move on, we decide it's not going to work out and like any broken up couple we both move on," Blaine's voice broke as he finished his sentence and Kurt could see he was holding back tears. "It'd be different for us of course because we live together but we'll just have to continue being step brothers in front of everyone else but that's the end of our communication."

"Option three?" Kurt whispered with tears in his eyes, afraid if he spoke any louder his voice would give out completely or he'd just sob.

"There is no option three Kurt, I can't do friendship. I can't be around you and pretend I'm happy with just being your friend because I'm not. I want to hold you when you're sad or kiss you when you're happy, I want to take you out on dates and tell the world that you're mine," Blaine looked right into Kurt's eyes. "I want to tell you I love you and I want you to say it back," he paused for a second. "I want to be happy… with you."

"I want you to be happy Blaine," Kurt took a breath and Blaine let himself be hopeful for a second. "But I can't give you that, Blaine, I'd rather you be happy on your own or with someone else who can give you more than I can I don't want you to spend however long wanting to be happy with me, waiting for things to change, never knowing if they will. We can't be this. It's unfair I know - god it's unfair - and I'd give anything to change it but this is how it is, our parents got there first."

Blaine nodded solemnly, he wasn't going to argue. Kurt had made his decision and he was going to stick by it, come hell or high water this was what would happen now.

"So I guess this is goodbye?" Blaine asked looking at Kurt and Kurt nodded. "Well we'll still see each other but you know what I mean, this is goodbye to what we were. Probably after we leave for college we'll only see each other at thanksgiving and stuff…"

"I'm so sorry Blaine but I think this is for the best," Blaine nodded again and leaned forward kissing Kurt for the last time, Kurt didn't object and leant into the kiss, fully giving himself over to his feelings knowing he never could again. The kiss wasn't hungry and passionate like it usually is, it was bittersweet and mingled with tears, a last goodbye for both Kurt and Blaine.

The next day was horrible for both of them, Kurt had returned to his room after holding Blaine till he fell asleep, they both woke up with a feeling in their chest like their hearts had been ripped out. It was horrible but they had to get through it, they had to stay strong for the sake of themselves and in some horrible ironic way, for the sake of their parents.

School was awkward, they passed each other quite a lot and had classes together and both boys wanted to say something; anything but they didn't. It would just complicate things further and god knows they didn't need anymore complications in their lives. Blaine was wondering if this whole thing was such a good idea, maybe if he really tried he could be friends with Kurt; he quickly got rid of these thoughts though as he saw Kurt when he turned the corner, realising no matter how friendly they become with each other it wont stop the constant ache he feels every time he's with him, the ache to be with him and love him, it'd just make it worse.

Blaine wasn't feeling well by lunch and the nurse actually thought he looked pale so sent him home.

He arrived home early and saw that his mother's car was still in the driveway. She must be taking a sick day or something. He thought as he entered the house.

Blaine dropped his bag with a thud as he walked into the living room. "What the hell is going on?" Blaine shouted.

He really wasn't expecting to come back and see his mom suitcase in hand, ready to leave.