Monday, before lunch:

Azimio: Look guys! It’s Lady’s fairy friend! How are you doing, homo?

Blaine: What do you want?

Azimio: How was your weekend, fairy boy? Did you miss me?

Blaine: Hard to miss someone who’s a giant bully.

Azimio: We’re not bullies, fairy. We’re keepers of social order.

Blaine: Well, can you go keep social order somewhere else?

Azimio: Aw, it looks like fairy boy doesn’t want to hang out with us.

Neanderthal #2: That’s too bad. We brought refreshing drinks.

Azimio: In a variety of flavours. Don’t you want to try our drinks, fairy?

Blaine: No. Thank you.

Neanderthal #2: Hey, where do you think you’re going?

Blaine: I was thinking “away” would be good.

Neanderthal #3: Not this way.

Azimio: You can’t leave now. You haven’t tried any of the slushies yet. Which would you like to try first?

Blaine: I’ve never been a fan of flavoured ice, really.

Azimio: All of them it is, then.

Neanderthal #2: Hope your boyfriend likes you soaking wet and covered food dye.

Four slushies are emptied over Blaine’s head. They cause such an intense brain freeze, Blaine feels he knows what it must be like to go swimming in the Arctic. He clutches his bag closer to his chest as the sound of laughter disappears around a corner. Then, softly:

Blaine: I don’t have a boyfriend.

* * *

Monday, after lunch, before Glee:

Rachel: But Finn says it sounded like you were crying.

Kurt: I was close to crying. There’s a difference.

Rachel: Not a big one.

Kurt: So? What’s your point, Rachel?

Rachel: My point is that something pretty bad obviously happened and your refusal to talk about it is not helping.

Kurt: Not helping who, exactly? Me or your curiosity?

Rachel: Both! You can’t keep something bottled up!

Kurt: Rachel, a) I can do whatever I want but b) I will tell you in my own time. Now please drop it.

Rachel: It would be easier to drop it if you would stop walking around looking like a kicked puppy.

Kurt: I am not walking around looking like a kicked puppy.

Rachel: How would you know? Can you see the expression on your face? I also noticed when you ducked behind the lockers to avoid Blaine this morning. He looks pretty miserable too.

Kurt: He does? Oh no. He probably still thinks this is his fault.

Rachel: You know how you could put him out of his misery? You could talk to him about what happened.

Kurt: Not yet.

Rachel: Kurt!

Kurt: What?

Rachel: You’re being impossible.

Kurt: And you’re being annoying.

Rachel: *huff* I’ll see you in Glee.

Kurt: Can’t wait.

Kurt watches Rachel storm down the hall. Knowing her, she’ll probably continue bugging him the moment he sets foot in Glee, so he decides to duck into the boys’ bathroom first and fall into step behind Mr Schue when he passes this way.

Standing by the basins, however, covered in corn syrup and emanating a definite dark cloud, is Blaine.

Kurt: Ohmygod, are you Okay?

Blaine: Kurt? What are you doing here?

Kurt: Um, this is the boys bathroom. What happened?

Blaine: Azimio and his pack of apes.

Kurt: *sigh* Yeah, I thought that might be it. I guess they’re not leaving you alone like we hoped. Was this your first slushie-ing?

Blaine: Yes.

Kurt: How was the brain freeze?

Blaine: Like being stabbed in the face repeatedly with icicles.

Kurt: You should dab at the stains. Here, let me help.

Blaine: I’m fine, thank you.

Kurt: Don’t be ridiculous, you have ice slush dripping from your sweater vest.

Blaine: Seriously, Kurt. I’m fine. You can go now.

Kurt: … I… What… I’m just trying to help.

Blaine: Help? Help me? Why? What am I to you, Kurt? Huh?

Kurt: You… you’re Blaine.

Blaine: Well done, you remembered my name.

Kurt: No, it’s not that. You can’t be defined to me. You’re just… Blaine. My Lima Bean stalker and first kiss.

Blaine: Your first kiss? Yeah, sure.

Kurt: Why are you being so mean?

Blaine: Oh, uh, I don’t know. Maybe because you hurt me?

Kurt: But, I didn’t do anything. Yes, I know I left the party early, but there’s a reason that I just… I want to tell you about… but, I… it’s…

Blaine: It’s what, Kurt?

Kurt: It’s hard!

Blaine: Well, let me make it easier. I know, Kurt. About you and Sebastian. He told me.

Kurt: *strained voice* He… told you? He admitted to it?

Blaine: Yes, he admitted to it! You’re not so repulsive that everybody is nauseated by the thought of kissing you.

Kurt: I… what?

Blaine: Yeah, some people actually enjoy it. Enjoyed it.

Kurt: But, why are you mad at me?

Blaine: Seriously? Seriously?

Kurt: Yes, seriously! I know I shouldn’t have left so quickly, but I panicked!

Blaine: Oh yeah? Suddenly there were two boys who you could make out with and you didn’t know who to pick? Dammit, Kurt, we were a something!

Kurt: TWO BOYS TO PICK FROM? How could you be so callous?

Blaine: Callous. Yup, that’s me. I would say add that to your pros and cons list when you’re trying to decide who to pick, but consider me out of this equation.

Blaine scoops up his things and, still dripping coloured ice-water on the floor, storms out of the bathroom.

Kurt blinks and swallows once. Twice. It doesn’t stop his eyes from spilling over with tears. He can’t help but wonder if this is all his fault.