Kurt was about to stand up to go give Blaine a hug like he always did after he had done a show but Nate beat him to it.

He watched as Nate leant in rather aggressively and kissed Blaine. And there was nothing that Kurt's heart could do but sink. He was so sure Blaine had been singing to him, but maybe not.

Daniel gave Kurt's waist a squeeze. "Are you okay? You've been quiet his whole set" he said nodding towards Blaine who had since pulled away from Nate.

"I'm fine. Just tired" Kurt said, turning to look at Daniel, whose face was a lot nearer than Kurt expected. He did actually have very pretty eyes.

Feeling Blaine's eyes flicker onto his back, Kurt kissed Daniel. It was spiteful and shameless, he knew, but he had a guy here who did actually like him and who he didn't mind being with for now.
Knowing Blaine was watching, however, that is what spurred him on.

Next morning.

Kurt heard the front door open at around 8am. Blaine sneaked in trying to be quiet, but Kurt heard a stumble and a muffled "Shit" knowing instantly he had tripped over the shoes near the door.

Daniel had taken Kurt home and they had made out for a while, Kurt stopping him when Daniel's hand went too far south.
Kurt opened his bedroom door and leant on the door frame, shaking his head at Blaine, the glasses balancing on his nose wobbling.

With tousled hair, tired eyes and the same clothes as last night, Blaine Anderson had obviously gotten laid.

"Anderson, Anderson, Anderson, the walk of shame I see" Kurt said jokingly but inside, it actually upset him. He didn't even want to think about Blaine having sex with other people; even though he knew it happened.

"Shush you. You can't talk, don't think I didn't see you leave with Daniel" Blaine said pointedly.

"Ah but unlike you, I stopped it before it went too far, you little slut" Kurt said winking.

Blaine stuck his tongue out at Kurt playfully.
"Oh, So you're a childish slut as well I see" Kurt said teasing, following Blaine as he moved into the kitchen. Blaine was stood by the sink, prodding around the pile of dishes there to see if he could find a cleanish mug. Finding one, he picked it up and his eyes flickered back to Kurt who was still looking at him with a rather subdued expression, his eyebrows raised.

Yes, Blaine may have gone home with Nate last night, but the guy was pushy, Blaine didn't see any way to say no and Kurt was fine by himself. Blaine didn't need to stay. Besides, Blaine was a little bit drunk by the time Nate had persuaded him to go home with him.

"I'm not a slut!" Blaine shouted defiantly, angrily washing the mug in the sink.
Kurt frowned; it wasn't like Blaine to get annoyed with his teasing.

"Okay, calm down" Kurt said, puzzled. He tenderly walked behind Blaine where he was standing at the sink and looped his arms around his chest, trapping Blaine's own arms from where they were in the sink.

It was a rather boyfriendy move but Kurt knew Blaine adored being hugged from behind. "I'm sorry, you know I love you really Blainey"

Blaine smiled a little bit and brought one soapy hand up to rest on Kurt's arm where it was draped across his chest. Patting his arm gently, he said quietly "I'm sorry for shouting. In actual fact, I was a bit slutty last night, I just didn't want to be called out on it"

"I was kidding Blaine, you're not, it's a new relationship, you're allowed to have sex, it was just sooner than usual for you that's all" Kurt gave Blaine a squeeze and rested his head on Blaine's shoulder.

"You're forgiven" Blaine said. Kurt kinda wanted to stay where he was and keep Blaine close to him but he slid his arms away from him and went to sit down at the table.

"Your show was really good last night by the way" Kurt said. "You should be proud"

"Thank you" Blaine grinned.

Kurt wondered whether he should mention the fact that he sang the whole of 'My Body' to him but he didn't. He also didn't really want to think about the fact that Blaine had randomly slept with a guy he barely knew. That wasn't really Blaine's sort of style. He normally waited at least six or seven dates but last night was obviously an exception.

Blaine felt really terrible. He shouldn't have done it. He knew that much. Sure it was kind of fun and Nate was actually a decent kisser but he felt like he was betraying himself all in a stupid bid to make Kurt jealous. Which he obviously wasn't given the way, he was kissing Daniel last night. Blaine just felt cheap.

But he'd be okay. Eventually.

Two weeks later.

Blaine was lazily strumming his guitar sat on the sofa, singing to Melody about nonsense really, but she seemed to be enjoying it, her amber eyes watching him with interest.

Blaine had been out with Nate a couple more times in the previous week. He guessed you could call them an item now. Kurt and Daniel were the same. So both of them were in relationships, which had happened before while they lived together, but they weren't with the person they really wanted to be with.

There was a fluster at the door and Kurt ran into the apartment, "Blaine!" he called out happily.

"What are you so happy about?" Blaine asked chuckling as Kurt practically bounced into the living room.

"THEYMAYBEPUTTINGSOMEOFMYDESI GNSONTHEWEBSITE" Kurt rushed out excitedly.

"Kurt I caught about one word of that, what's got you so excited?" Blaine replied, standing up and catching Kurt's wrists to stop them flailing everywhere.

Kurt took a breath and started again. "They may be putting some of my designs on the website!"

"Kurt! Oh my god, that's fantastic!" Blaine grinned, hugging him tightly.

"I can't believe it. Finally after three years, I may get somewhere" Kurt said half in shock, half in elation.

"I knew they would realise how amazing you were eventually!" Blaine said, realising him and Kurt were still holding on to each other's wrists and let go sheepishly. Kurt looked down at Blaine's withdrawing hands for a second but then looked back at his best friend's face.

"Come with me tomorrow. To find out whether or not I've got it" Kurt said suddenly.

"You…you want me there?" Blaine asked, a tiny smile creeping across his face, his eyes shining.

"Of course. You've always been supportive of my career, it seems right that you are there" Kurt shrugged, as if it was no big deal but to Blaine it meant the world.

"Have you told Daniel yet?" Blaine asked quietly.

Kurt frowned briefly. "No, I thought I'd ring him later, I'll, er, do it now actually" Kurt nodded, letting go of Blaine and walked towards his room.

Why had he told Blaine first? Surely, he was meant to tell his partner first, not his best friend. Kurt had thought by accepting the fact he was with Daniel now had helped him get over Blaine but apparently not.

The next day.

"Good luck!" Blaine said, grinning enthusiastically at Kurt as he disappeared into Isabelle's office. She'd left instructions for Kurt to wait in there for her whilst she finished her last meeting. He sat down on one of the small rows of seats outside, picking up an old copy of Vogue and flipping through it.

A stylish petite woman walked past him, smiling at him kindly – he guessed it was Isabelle; he hadn't actually met the woman despite Kurt working here for three years. She was about to push open the door to the office when her eyes flickered to Kurt's desk and back to Blaine.

She turned round, with one hand pointing to the picture on Kurt's desk and the other at Blaine. "That's you" she said.

"Yes, that is. Hello, I don't think we've met, Blaine Anderson" he said, smiling his usual charming smile and standing up to shake her hand.

"Isabelle Wright. So you're the famous Blaine Anderson huh?" she said, raking her eyes over him briefly.

"I don't know about famous, I doubt Kurt ever mentions me" He said chucking and shaking his head.

"You'd be surprised. It's rare he stops" She winked at Blaine before stepping into her office.

Blaine couldn't contain his smile as he sat down again. Kurt talked about him? And a lot by the sounds of it.

"Blaine?"
Blaine looked up from the magazine and his smile was wiped away in annoyance. Daniel was standing there, looking at him in half smile, half confusion.

Blaine hadn't really spoken to the guy but he forced smiled him anyway. "Hey Daniel, how are you?"

"I'm good, what are you doing here?" He asked, sitting down on the chair two away from Blaine. Ha, Blaine thought to himself, he is intimidated by me.

"Kurt asked me here to wait for him while he found out if he got the designs or not. I'm guessing that's why you are here too" Blaine replied, going back to his book.

"Yeah but he didn't ask me to wait for him" Daniel said, more to himself by the end of the sentence.

Blaine didn't answer; he turned back to the magazine with a tiny smirk on his face. Then he realised he shouldn't be smirking at that – Daniel was Kurt's boyfriend, Blaine had a ….well he had Nate but he wasn't really sure what they were yet. He shouldn't want Kurt to want him more, he shouldn't be getting annoyed at Daniel for turning up, he shouldn't be getting jealous. But he did.

Kurt opened the door to the office, a massive grin on his face, both Blaine and Daniel stood up straight away, looking at him eagerly.

"I got it! I got it!" Kurt exclaimed, beaming and running straight into Blaine's arms. Daniel was smiling but it faded as he watched Blaine laugh as he lifted Kurt off the ground and span him round, their arms firmly wrapped around each other.

Kurt was his boyfriend; not Blaine's yet he had gone to hug Blaine first. He felt like an outsider intruding on a private moment as he watched them hug; everything seemed to slow down as he realised. Kurt liked Blaine more than he liked him. Kurt noticed Daniel from over Blaine's shoulders and his eyes widened as if he noticed what he had done.

"Hey, Dan, you came, I thought you said you wouldn't be able to get here" Kurt let go of Blaine and moved to hug him, but it wasn't as tight or close or as celebratory. The moment had kind of gone. "I sneaked away for you babe, congratulations!" Daniel said, glancing at Blaine.

It dawned on Daniel; there was something he could do that Blaine couldn't. With a teeny smirk, he kissed Kurt firmly but sweetly on the lips. Blaine's eyes fell a little but he was happy for Kurt right now.

Kurt pulled away, a little embarrassed, his face flushing red as his gaze flickered to Blaine, a hint of something in his eyes.

Guilt?

Resentment?

Love?

Kurt wasn't sure.

Two days later.

Isabelle sent Kurt home early from work. ("Kurt you look like you are about to pass out, you've been working so hard this past week, please go home")

Never let it be said, that Kurt Hummel was not a determined person, he was busy making sure every last detail of his designs were perfect down to the material of the buttons on the jacket to the length of the cuffs on a pair of jeans. He'd been working two hours overtime since he had found out about getting on the website, wanting everything to be to the best of his ability and to prove just how good at his job he was.

However, it had meant he was getting very tired and even paler than normal, Isabelle was getting worried.

So that was why at 2pm, Kurt was walking inside his apartment, about to unlock the door when he noticed it was already unlocked. The lock had been smashed In by something. 'That's weird' he thought to himself, pushing the door open warily. He heard a muffled "shit" from Blaine's room.

He frowned, "Blaine? Is that you?" he called out. Blaine didn't normally get back from college until gone five at the earliest. There was no answer, just very quiet breathing.

Kurt froze. The voice was too low to be Blaine and beside, Blaine would shout back if it was him.

But if it wasn't Blaine who the hell was it?!

Melody the cat brushed herself against Kurt's leg protectively, scowling at the shut bedroom door. Kurt moved forward slowly, a hand on his phone in his pocket just in case.

Kurt was internally freaking out, what if there was a robber or Blaine was lying there in a pool of his own blood, he never did see Blaine leave that morning. The scenarios flickered through Kurt's mind, none of them calming.

"Hello?" he whispered

He nudged open Blaine's door with his foot to come face to face with

"NATE?!" Kurt shouted in shock, staring at the boy who oddly looked quite pleased with himself.

"Kurt, hey" Nate answered brightly, putting his hand behind his back so Kurt couldn't see.

Now Kurt didn't particularly like this guy in the first place, he had Blaine but he was also rather arrogant. After years of being bullied so much, Kurt knew when to trust people and his brain was telling him Nate was not a nice guy really.

"What are you doing here?" Kurt asked coldly, the height difference between them becoming more prominent as Kurt stared Nate down. Kurt scanned the room briefly; there was something different…but he wasn't sure what.

"Er, Blaine told me I could borrow some books for my class" Nate said, side-eyeing the window not as subtly as he would have liked.

"So what he let you have the keys to our apartment?" Kurt raised his eyebrows.

"Um" Nate stumbled, in his head he was handling this a lot better. "Yeah"

"So why was the door open and the lock smashed when I got here?" Kurt replied quickly, not giving Nate the time to think of an answer.

"I, er"

"Nate, what the hell are you doing man get outta here!" a voice from outside the window called, and then a figure came into view of the open window. Kurt and Blaine's flat was on the ground floor so it was easily accessible. "Fuck" the guy said when he saw Kurt and he ran for it, pulling the window shut first.

"Steven! You little shit" Nate called angrily at the retreating figure, running to the window in which he dropped what he had been hiding.

Sheet music.

Blaine's sheet music of his original songs to be precise.

Kurt rushed forward to pick it up and grabbed Nate's wrist all in a split second.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Kurt shouted at the younger man who suddenly looked rather scared. Kurt was pretty threatening when he wanted to be.

"Actually, don't tell me because I can work it out for myself. You lied. You aren't an English student, you're a music one. Who lacks the creativity he needs to write his own songs so you stole Blaine's which seeing as this is the only one left in here, your little friend has ran off with" Kurt spat out angrily; fury increasing by the minute at Nate.

Nate's expression suddenly changed from wide-eyed innocent student to cold and calculating. With a forceful shake, he threw Kurt off his arm and smiled smarmily. "Well done Sherlock, want a medal?" Nate asked sarcastically.

"Sure, Blaine is talented, very talented but he's dumb, stupid enough to let me know when he wouldn't be in the house so I could get here and get his songs. It's easy to pass them off as my own because he's never got anywhere so they aren't even copyrighted" He said proudly but coldly, like he didn't care he was plagiarising someone's work.

"Don't you ever call him dumb. Ever. Especially in front of me" Kurt said, his jaw tightening and his fist clenching. Inside he was chanting to himself don't hit him no matter how much he deserves it, Kurt, you've never resorted to violence before.

"Oh I'd forgotten, you're the one man Blaine Anderson fan club aren't you? Don't think I didn't see you. The way you stared at him like you possess the guy, when he sings the pointless hope in your eyes that he is singing to you, how blatantly you stare at his butt in front of your own boyfriend, Kurt Hummel, you naughty boy" Nate said, sighing triumphantly at the look on Kurt's face. Kurt knew it was true he just didn't need to hear it out loud.

Kurt then realised what was different about the room. Blaine's guitar was broken in half on the floor behind Nate, its strings curled up, the wood smashed. Kurt's eyes widened in horror.

"You …you broke his guitar?" Kurt said quietly, staring at the broken instrument.

Blaine loved his guitar. Actually full on loved it. It was like a second home to Blaine; the way his fingers just instantly fit over the strings now, the songs it helped him write, the music it played, it made Blaine happier.

Kurt loved that guitar too. One of his favourite things in the world was coming home to Blaine lazily strumming the guitar and singing to himself with that gorgeous voice of his, whenever Blaine needed someone to hear new lyrics or new tunes, he would ask Kurt to sit and listen to it, playing rather self-consciously as if he himself was unsure of the lyrics. It was positively adorable.

"Oh that, he was far too attached to that thing for my liking, I thought maybe he could do with a change"

"I could have you done for breaking and entering and damage to property you know" Kurt exhaled calmly.

"Because I busted the lock and broke a guitar?" Nate asked, rolling his eyes. "I'd like to see you try"

"You didn't just break a guitar and steal a few songs. That guitar has been in Blaine's possession since he was thirteen years old. He's twenty-three now. 10 years he has had that guitar, he wrote his first song on that, it's been everywhere with him. He's had that guitar longer than he has known me!"

"It's a fucking musical instrument he will get over it" Nate scoffed, every so often edging towards the door, never taking his eyes off Kurt though.

"To you, it's just a guitar. To him, it's his livelihood. He needs that guitar to pay the rent, pay the bills because him and that guitar make beautiful music that some people actually want to listen to, unlike you who decided he would just take it because you're so uncreative"

"I'm not uncreative. Just lazy, there's a different and Blainers here had a load of songs left lying around"

"They weren't lying around; he keeps them so he can remember every song he has ever written!" Kurt was getting seriously pissed off now; his brain was forcing his hands to stay at his sides and not round Nate's throat.

"For fuck's sake, you need to get over yourself Kurt, he will get over it and he will get over me"

"You broke my guitar" a tiny hurt voice broke out from near the door. Blaine was standing there, staring in horror and heartbreak at the pieces of his instrument.

"Blaine, how long have you been there?" Kurt said, looking in worry and concern at his best friend.

"Long enough" he said, glancing at Kurt for a second.

Brief panic set in Kurt's head; what if Blaine had heard Nate's rant about Kurt always staring at him….then Kurt realized that was not the main thing at the moment.

"Give me back my song and get the hell out of my house" Blaine said coldly, holding his hand out for the piece of paper in Nate's hand.

"Blaine he took other son-"Blaine held up a hand to cut Kurt off.

"I don't care. Keep them. Just know I am a much better person than you will ever be Nate. You can take my songs but you cannot break into my home and damage my property. I won't press charges but just get the hell out of here. I don't wanna see you ever again."

Nate walked forward so he was level with Blaine. Nate was a little taller but somehow, Blaine's calmness made him seem a thousand times bigger. Nate stared at him for a second before narrowing his eyes at Blaine and saying nonchalantly "It's alright, I got a song and a cheap fuck out of it. Bye Blainey" he waltzed out of the room, completely aware of the damage he had left behind.

Blaine's hand flew to his mouth and tears filled his eyes as Nate left the room. His breathing was shallow and he painfully stared at his broken guitar, he wanted to look away but he couldn't.

Kurt moved across the room in two strides and placed his hands on Blaine's forearms, stroking them gently with comfort. "Blaine, I.." in all honesty, he didn't know what to say. What do you tell someone who has had one of the most precious things in his life, his music, taken away from him?

"Are you okay?" Kurt asked quietly. He could see how hurt and upset Blaine was, just from his eyes. The sparkle had disappeared and his body had gone stiff. Blaine gave a tiny shake of the head.

"Come here" Kurt whispered and wrapped his arms around Blaine, protecting him in a kind of cocoon. One of Blaine's hands was still plastered to his mouth and the other was limply at his side, but he needed the comfort. Blaine shifted a little and he rested his forehead on Kurt's shoulder. Kurt squeezed Blaine tight, rubbing his back soothingly and rocking him slightly.

"I'm sorry about your guitar Blaine" Kurt spoke carefully, keeping Blaine tight in his arms. Blaine replied shortly. "You were right"

"What?" Kurt asked in confusion, resting the side of his face against Blaine's.

"I am a slut" Blaine murmured into Kurt's shoulder.

"Oh Blaine, I was kidding, you aren't, he's a dickhead okay" Kurt said, feeling really bad about their conversation from a couple of weeks ago. He hadn't meant it at all; now Blaine was going to think this about himself and Kurt would never be able to live with himself if he knew it was him who made Blaine think that.

"I know you were Kurt, it just stings a little right now" Blaine replied kindly. "Thank you for sticking up for me" he added, tentatively moving one of his arms from his side to hug Kurt back, his head still resting on Kurt's shoulder.

"Anytime" The corners of Kurt's mouth turned up into a small smile.

"If you don't mind, can I be alone for a little while?" Blaine asked, pulling away from Kurt's grasp. Kurt nodded and gave him a supportive grin. He was just about to head out the door when Blaine caught his wrist and he looked straight into Kurt's eyes, a look that left Kurt weak at the knees. "Love you" Blaine said with a timid grin. "You're a good friend Kurt"

Kurt sighed and smiled back. "Love you too"

You have no idea how much sometimes, Kurt thought to himself.

Blaine sat down on his bedroom floor, desperately trying to put his guitar back together but it was no use. Nate had full on smashed it. He threw a piece of wood down in frustration and put his head in hand, sighing with the annoyance.

The thought that Nate had used him for sex and a cheap way to do his homework hurt a lot. The fact that Nate had broken his guitar, which if he was honest sometimes he loved a little bit more than Kurt at times, had hurt a thousand times more, but he also heard Nate say that Kurt was the only member of the Blaine Anderson fan club.

That was weird.

Blaine had headed to college that morning before getting there and realising he had forgotten a textbook for his music theory class so he had headed home. Surprised by the open door, he had wandered warily into his apartment to be met with raised voices from his room.

"Don't you ever call him dumb in front of me. Ever. Especially in front of me" He had heard Kurt shout. Kurt very rarely shouted, in fact he was probably the calmest person Blaine knew. Blaine had stood his doorway, quietly, noting his broken guitar and the furious look on Kurt's face. Both men were at the other side of the room, Nate's back to him, Kurt too busy staring Nate down to notice him. It took him a second to piece together the scene and he was about to say something when Nate started on Kurt's supposed love for Blaine.

He was shocked. What the hell was Nate talking about? Kurt had never looked at Blaine twice romantically, yet Nate was saying Kurt….was checking him out? A lot?

Whatever Blaine, he thought to himself, you are hoping there is some truth behind it because you want it to be true, but given Nate's now track record; Blaine didn't trust a word the guy said.

Melody had poked her head round Blaine's door and padded in with her little feet. She had a knack of telling when her owners were upset and she went over to Blaine, giving his hand a comforting lick and snuggled next to his leg. He smiled at her and stroked her fluffy back in thanks.

"Why is life so stupid sometimes Mel?" he asked out loud, running a hand through his hair. He remembered a song he heard a while ago which seemed to fit his situation perfectly right now.

"Because in real life you're not what I thought
Real life, this isn't what I want
Guess things aren't always what they seem

But in my dreams, I'm waking up to roses
Champagne, kisses and I know it's always, always
Gonna be, gonna be this way
In my dreams, you're standing right beside me
Two hearts finally colliding
Then I wake up and realise, realise this is real life"

One day, Blaine knew Kurt would maybe see him as more than a friend, he just had to bide his time and wait. Maybe forever, but Blaine, deep down, knew he would follow Kurt wherever he went.