Kurt stood at the kitchen tabletop, the island in the middle of Rachel’s huge kitchen. He noticed a few people flurrying in and out but took two shot glasses from the cupboard and poured a shot of tequila for each. He felt the pressure back on his hips, fingers pressing in deeper than before, tugging him backwards to meet Nathan’s hips. Nathan pressed his mouth to Kurt’s neck, sucking hard and soothing the mark over with his tongue. Kurt moaned lightly, Nathan grinned into his neck, pressing light kisses along his jaw line.

“Nathan...”

“mm?” He mumbled against Kurt’s neck. Kurt squirmed away from his lips and Nathan’s hands lifted from his waist, barely touching but ghosting the skin gently.

“I’ve...I’m in a relationship.”

Nathan stroked his waist with his thumbs. He gulped.

“Oh. I’m so sorry. I-I’m not going to get in the way of this.” He smiled affectionately, still stroking one side of Kurt’s waist before stepping to Kurt’s side, reaching forward and downing the tequila.

He held Kurt’s up to him; Kurt smiled, nodded and took the shot.

“So, who is he?”

Nathan leant back against the counter, body facing Kurt’s. He looked content, but Kurt couldn’t quite figure him out.

“Oh, um. Blaine. Blaine Anderson.” His voice was laced with pain.

“Blaine Anderson.” He said it with a ring, as if he’d heard the name a million times before. Kurt caught on and looked up at him, eyebrows burrowed.

“You-You know him?”

Nathan shrugged and shook his head. “Na, not really. I mean, not at all. I’ve just seen him working some days and I remember the name.”

Kurt nodded. A lot of people around here recognised Blaine from the library. Living near the college did that, and especially with students.

Nathan looked up, past Kurt’s shoulder, and then met Kurt’s eye contact. He nodded subtly towards the door and poured himself another shot as Kurt turned around.

“Blaine.” The name came out as a breath.

Blaine leant against the doorframe, smiling at Kurt. Nathan patted Kurt’s shoulder as he walked out, nodding to Blaine as he crossed his path. Blaine took a few steps forward until he was stood in front of his boyfriend.

“Drink?” Kurt offered, holding up the bottle of vodka.

“Um, no thanks.” Blaine put his hand on top of Kurt’s and pushed the bottle down to the table, and then took Kurt’s hand in his own, rubbing his thumb over the outside, as if he had never felt it before. “Not drinking.”

“Hm? Why not?” Kurt pressed. Searching for the truth.

“I don’t want to forget any moment I have with you.”

Blaine smiled at Kurt, and Kurt realised he’d never seen Blaine smile at him so genuinely in such a long time. Were they going to be okay? He didn’t know.

His breath caught in his throat.

“Blaine.” His voice was breathless and full of pain, hurt.

“What’s wrong?” Blaine titled his head slightly, trying to meet eye contact. He could always see Kurt’s emotions through his eyes.

Kurt snatched his hand back, eyes meeting Blaine’s at last. His heart dropped. Blaine looked so panicked, sick with worry about why Kurt was so defensive.

“I can’t do this Blaine. I can’t. I can’t do-”

Blaine reached his hand out to Kurt’s arm, but he moved out of the way.

“Kurt...” he practically whined.

“Blaine you’ve cheated on me, and I can’t-” His eyes prickled with threatening tears.

“I-Kurt. I’ve never cheated on you.”

Kurt’s breathe choked and the threatening tears slowly fell.

“How can you stand there and lie to me?” He spat the words out.

“Kurt, I promise.” His voice broke, but Kurt couldn’t bring himself to look at him another time.

He stepped to his right and walked out of the room.

He didn’t look back. He didn’t see Blaine watch him walk out of sight. He didn’t see Blaine’s knees cave as he fell to the floor. He didn’t see the tears fall, or the broken man silently sobbing into his knees. He didn’t see Blaine trying to piece together the story, trying to piece together their relationship. He didn’t see Blaine kiss the promise rings they gave one another. He didn’t see him whisper “I love you” over and over again.

He didn’t see Blaine crying into Finn’s shoulder later that night; he didn’t see Rachel drying Blaine’s tears.

He didn’t see Blaine tell Rachel everything.