The journey back to the hotel was not what Kurt had expected. The conversation was stilted and the atmosphere had been far from pleasant. He had made several attempts to start and carry a dialogue regarding their day but Blaine had blatantly shot him down each time. Kurt had even tried to reach out and take his hand but Blaine had quickly pulled away.

Baffled, Kurt decided to let Blaine workout whatever was bothering him during the rest of the journey. He hoped that he hadn't done anything directly to Blaine but a feeling of despair began to fill him and his thoughts returned to Rachel. Oh, he hoped that she had kept her mouth shut. Kurt's mind also quickly fleeted to Sebastian and he cautiously wondered whether something had happened there. He hoped not, he didn't want Sebastian anywhere near Blaine.

"You alright?" Kurt asked as they entered the hotel room.

"I'm fine," Blaine muttered heading straight towards the bedroom. He had been stupid, stupid to let himself fall for a client.

"Fine? That's good," Kurt sighed raising his hands in resignation. "Seven fines since we left the fashion show. Could I have another word, please?"

"Asshole, there's a word," Blaine called from the other room sarcastically.

"I think I liked "fine" better," Kurt said to himself his minding racing rapidly as he tried to fathom what the hell had happened to make Blaine so angry. What had he done?

"You know what. Just tell me one thing?" Blaine began coming out from the room his voice shaking from his anger. "Why'd you make me get all dressed up?"

"Well, for one thing the clothing was appropriate," Kurt explained feeling really confused now.

"No. What I mean is, if you were gonna tell everybody I'm a hooker why didn't you let me wear my own clothes?"

Kurt felt his stomach drop comprehending what must have happened and he fought down the urge that wanted him to put Rachel through a wall. He didn't know exactly what she had said to Blaine. Whatever it had been it had obviously been out of place and had crossed a line because Blaine was fuming. "I did not...." Kurt began but Blaine refused to let him finish and continued right over him.

"I mean, in my own clothes when someone like your friend Ray Ray, comes up to me. I can handle it. I'm prepared." He pointed his finger at Kurt, his voice loud enough that Kurt was wondering whether their neighbors would hear their argument.

"I'm very sorry. I'm not happy with Rachel at all for saying whatever she said," Kurt tried again wanting ever so much to take back this afternoon. "But Rachel is my attorney and I've known her for ten years. She thought you were an industrial spy. The girl's paranoid."

It was not enough for Blaine though. He was an emotional being and when his emotions were riled up it took time and a lot of calm before Blaine would even think about coming back down to Earth. And calm was what Blaine was after. He needed a drink of cool fresh water. He picked up a bottle of water that was sitting beside the small fridge and imagined the feel of it on the back of his throat as he swallowed it down washing away the horrible sour taste that Rachel's words had put in his mouth.

The damn bottle though would not open. 

"Are you my pimp now?" Blaine asked unable to contain his frustration, the disobedient bottle of water making his anger boil over once more. "You think you can just pass me around to your friends? I'm not some little toy."

Kurt tried to loosen his tie. He had underestimated how angry and upset Blaine really was, but he did not like being yelled at when his intentions had not been aimed at hurting him. Kurt believed that he had acted in the best way possible under the circumstances.

"You're not my toy," Kurt said softly after him as Blaine dashed away back to the bedroom. "I know you're not my toy. Blaine. Blaine!" He called after him. "I'm speaking to you. Come back here! Please!" Blaine stopped and crossed his arms across his chest. "I hate to point out the obvious but you are in fact a hooker. And you are my employee."

"You don't own me," Blaine exclaimed heatedly not believing what Kurt had just said.  "I decide ok! I say who... I say when.... I SAY WHO!"

Kurt took a step back trying to collect his thoughts. This had gotten out of hand and he wanted to fix it, quickly. Oh, he so desperately wanted to fix it. He attempted to do so in his professional methodical manner.

"I refuse to spend the next three days fighting with you. I said I was sorry. I meant it. That's the end of it."

Blaine really needed something more comforting and soothing for his ears. To him, Kurt's words had been hollow and insensitive. Did Kurt not realize what he had done to him today? How he had made him feel?

"I'm sorry I ever met you," Blaine said trying to swallow down his tears, but they had already filled his voice and it came out thick with emotion. "I'm sorry I ever got into your stupid car."

"As if you had so many more appealing options," Kurt returned and he regretted it immediately.

"I've never had anyone make me feel as cheap as you did today," Blaine cried wiping at several more tears that had broken free. He hated how when he got so upset his body resorted to tears. He wished he could be someone who could hold it in and not show their feelings. Blaine did not want Kurt to know how much of an impact he had had on him. 

"Somehow, I find that very hard to believe." Kurt felt like kicking himself. He couldn't believe all the comments that were coming out of his mouth. What was wrong with him? He was jeopardizing the first bit of happiness he'd had in a long time.

The last comment was it for Blaine. He had heard enough. He gave Kurt one last glare and then frantically rushed around the room collecting his clothes and items that he had acquired in the past couple of days.

Kurt watched Blaine as he hurried around the hotel room and he suddenly realized the desperation of the problem. He really needed to do something drastic if he was going to get Blaine to stay with him for the next three days. The level of despair in Blaine's miserable eyes was something Kurt had never seen before.

"Where are you going?" Kurt asked coming up behind him, his voice now soft and calm.

"I want my money. I want to get out of here!" Blaine announced his voice forlorn and petulant like a small child. He stared at the ground unable to meet Kurt's eyes because staring into them would hurt too much. Instead he shuffled his feet together pulling his clothes across his body and held them protectively over his chest. 

Kurt was at a loss. How had it come to this so quickly and so fast? What could he say to stop Blaine? He didn't want him to leave? Kurt just wanted to reach out and hold him. Tell him that everything was going to be alright, that they would be alright.

Blaine's dejected and pitiful stance told Kurt though that for the time being, he would not be able to stop him. Kurt slowly reached into his wallet, a large lump rising in his throat. He produced a wad of cash not knowing the amount but knowing that it was more than what they had agreed on, and lowered it softly onto the bed. Without another word, he walked away from Blaine's icy frame.

Blaine eyed the money. No matter what, he couldn't take it. That money would always be tainted with the love that he had thought had existed between them and no matter how desperate Blaine was for money, he couldn't take this money. Kurt had meant so much more to him that money ever could mean to him. With his head held low, Blaine scurried to the door and left.

Kurt's shoulders sank when he heard the door close after him. It was as if a small part of him had left with the man he had met a couple of days before. Something tugged inside of him, something telling him to look over his shoulder and back towards the bed.

The money was still there.

"Come on!" Blaine cried as he stabbed the button for the lift. He eyes flicked over to Kurt's door hoping ever so much that the lift would arrive quickly. His fears came true and he heard Kurt open the door.

Kurt approached warily as if Blaine was a wild animal that would flee at any sign of sudden movement. 

"I'm sorry," Kurt spoke gently his voice barely a whisper as he stood within an arms' reach of him. He didn't dare step any closer. "I wasn't prepared to answer questions about us. What I said was stupid and cruel. I didn't mean it. I don't want you to go. Will you stay the week?" Kurt had managed to keep his voice steady but inside he was begging, on his hands and knees begging.

"Why?" Blaine asked.

"I saw you talking to Sebastian," Kurt announced finally prepared to reveal that he had developed feelings for Blaine. "I didn't like it."

"We were just talking," Blaine replied rolling his eyes. Inside his heart skipped a beat.

"Hmph! I didn't like it," Kurt repeated with a gentle shake of his head.

The lift doors opened and Puck's face suddenly appeared in front of them. He gave the pair a big grin but it disappeared as quickly as it had appeared as he sensed the discomfort in the air. He quickly hit the button to close the doors and stepped back. He didn't know what was going on but he didn't want to be the one who helped Blaine leave. Everyone in the hotel had noted the difference in Kurt this week and no one wanted to see it change. Kurt had been so happy.

The doors closed and Blaine continued to look in front of him refusing to glance at Kurt.

"You hurt me," Blaine whispered the tears rising to his eyes once again.

"Yes," Kurt replied knowing all too well that he had. He hated himself for it.

"Don't do it again," Blaine told him finally turning his head to him. Kurt shook his head and held out his hand. Blaine didn't take it but he turned around so he could return to the room.

***

Later that evening they lay in bed laying on their sides, their legs bent, knees touching, their faces only millimetres apart. The whole scene seemed unique and connected and as they lay lost in each other's gaze, it was as if all the universes had aligned for one magical moment. Blaine held Kurt's wrist almost afraid to let him go, and Kurt being the steady assured being that he was, let him try to ease the pain that he could see in his unusually colored eyes. Blaine's words were emotional and intimate.

"The first guy I ever loved was a total nothing. The second was worse. My mom called me a ‘bum magnet'. If there was a bum within 50 miles, I was completely attracted to him. That's how I ended up here, in LA. I followed bum number three," Blaine began. It was his turn to open up and Kurt lay quietly not speaking only listening intently.

"So, there I was. No money. No friends. No bum."

"And you chose this as your profession?" Kurt asked.

"I played music at a couple of restaurants, while I tried to get some gigs but I couldn't get anything permanent. I couldn't make the rent. I was too ashamed to go home. That's when I met Sam. He was a hooker and made it sound so great. So one day I did it. I cried the whole time." Blaine paused while he reflected. "But then I got some regulars, and you know it's not like anybody plans this. It's not...your childhood dream."

"You could be so much more," Kurt told him. 

"People put you down enough and you start to believe it."

"I think you are very bright, a very special man."

"The bad stuff is easier to believe," Blaine whispered. "Do you ever notice that?"