“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this,” Kurt says. They’re back in the parking lot of Scandals, fake ID’s in hand.

“It’s your birthday, princess,” Santana replies, grinning at him as she tucks a plastic tiara on his perfectly coiffed hair. “Like we weren’t going to use that as an excuse to go out and get drunk.”

“Gee, thanks, Santana.” Kurt’s tone is dry. She just links pinkies with Brittany and the four of them head for the door.

“My name’s wrong on here,” Brittany points out, showing Santana her ID.

“I know, sweetie. It’s a fake, remember?” Santana tells her gently.

“I hate not knowing who I am,” Brittany laments as they flash their ID’s to the bouncer on their way in. He eyes Brittany and Santana with some surprise – they certainly aren’t the normal clientele - but waves them all in. The pulsing lights wash over them as they walk further inside, looking around.

“Classy,” Santana comments, her nose wrinkling up in distaste.

“It’s Lima, Ohio, Santana,” Kurt says. “This is classy.”

“Ah, the birthday boy has finally arrived.” The sound of Sebastian’s voice filled their ears, and Kurt turned to see him sitting at the bar with Dave. The six of them are having a special “night out” in honor of Kurt turning eighteen. Dave’s eyes widen when he sees Kurt’s tiara and a laugh escapes.

“Nice crown,” he compliments.

“Thanks,” Kurt tells him. “One more to add to my collection.”

“You have a tiara collection?” Sebastian asks. Kurt can tell he’s just dying to say something derisive but seems to think better of it. It’s something they're still getting used to with Sebastian, but Kurt has to give him credit. He’s trying.

“Yes,” Kurt answers, ignoring his tone. “Four other tiaras and a Prom Queen crown.”

“You kept that?” Dave wanted to know. Kurt nods.

“As much as I’m dying to hear how you ended up with a Prom Queen crown, how about we get this party started?” Sebastian suggests. “First round’s on me – except for Dave here, who can’t drink. He’s gonna be our DD.”

“DD?” Brittany whispers to Santana. “I thought his last name was Karofsky?”

“Designated driver,” Santana corrects her. Sebastian passes out shots.

He hands one to Kurt. “You only turn eighteen once.” Kurt’s hated alcohol since his sophomore year, when April Rhodes had inadvertently gotten him so drunk he’d had to go to the hospital. His father had been pretty disappointed him as well and he made it a point not to drink.

Still… Sebastian did have a point – he did only turn eighteen once and Dave would drive them home if needed.

Kurt took the shot glass and the four of them tossed them back in unison. The burn took Kurt by surprise and he almost coughed. He managed to just hold it in, knowing that Sebastian was waiting for him to have an extreme reaction. He just raises his eyebrow and smirks in Sebastian’s direction.

It’s going to be an interesting night.

*

Kurt’s kind of lost track of how many drinks he’s had. There was one the Sebastian bought him – a Sex on the Beach, which he’d surprisingly liked – the one Santana had bought him, as well as a handful of shots. Twice someone at the bar had bought them a round – Kurt didn’t know if it was because they’d figured out it was his birthday or if someone just thought it was a hoot to see a bunch of teenagers get wasted, but they’d taken advantage of those too.
Santana and Brittany come back from where they’d been dancing – though that was a loose term; Kurt was pretty sure they’d been doing their best to have sex with each other on the dance floor. They’re giggling and happy and kissing as they settle down. Blaine’s head is lying on Kurt’s shoulder, one hand stroking along his thigh and distracting the hell out of him. Blaine’s other arm is around Kurt’s shoulder.

Kurt’s lost track of what Dave and Sebastian are talking about – probably because the four of them are drunker than Sebastian and because Dave isn’t drinking at all. Apparently Sebastian can hold his liquor.

“What do you say we have a little fun?” Sebastian gets their attention.

“What did you have in mind?” Kurt asks, struggling to put words together without slurring them.

Sebastian grins and says “I’ve never kissed a girl.”

There was a chorus of groans. Kurt looked around the table and shrugged.

“What the hell,” he says, picking up glass and taking a drink. Santana cheers and Blaine laughs as everyone else at the table but Sebastian scrambles to follow suit.

“Your turn, birthday boy,” Sebastian winks at him.

“Ummm…” He’s no good at this game. “I’ve never made out in public.”

Brittany, Santana and Sebastian all drink at that. “We could change that,” Blaine whispers in his ear. Kurt can feel his face turning red, and whispers “Blaine,” in a scandalized voice.

“I’ve never gone skinny dipping,” Blaine speaks up. Once again, the girls and Sebastian are the only ones who drink.

“Oh, man, you guys are going to be boring, aren’t you?” Sebastian asks. Kurt glares at him.

“I’ve never had a threesome,” Santana takes her turn. Sebastian is the only one who drinks. Kurt feels like his eyes are going to bug out of his head.

“What?” Sebastian looks at them. “They were hot.”

“Oh, my God,” Kurt mutters.

“I’ve never had sex.” Dave gets them back on track. When everyone at the table but Dave drinks, Santana shrieks, “I knew it!”

“Knew what?” Blaine wants to know.

“That you two aren’t the sweet little baby gays you try to convince people you are,” she answers. “Someone finally got all of Hummel’s clothes off. Never thought I’d see the day.”

“Shut up, Santana,” Kurt snaps. Sebastian and Dave are both just staring at him and Blaine and he feels uncomfortable. “Blaine, let’s go dance.” Kurt pulls his boyfriend away from the table, officially ending the game. It’s his birthday, he can cry if he wants to – but he doesn’t. He just twirls Blaine around the dance floor, making him laugh. He starts his trademark shimmy and Blaine stares at him for a moment before pulling on his tie and jerking him in for a kiss.

Well, Kurt can cross public making out off of his bucket list now.

*

They’re on their last shot of the night. “To Kurt,” Blaine says, raising his glass in the air. “The best boyfriend in the world.” His speech is slow and he’s slurring his words a little. “Happy birthday.”

“Happy birthday!” the others cheer. He even gets some hoots and hollers from a few guys at the bar, which make him go red in the face.

“Best birthday ever?” Blaine asks, kissing him softly. Kurt nods. Weirdly, it kind of has been.

*

Dave drives them home in Kurt’s Navigator. He and Blaine are snuggled together in the passenger’s seat. The girls and Sebastian are in the back. When they get to Kurt’s house, Dave calls a cab for him and Sebastian and the six of them wait in the yard, laughing and joking and singing way too loud for that hour of the morning. The girls and Blaine are staying the night (he’d already cleared it with his father, who was currently in DC, upset at missing Kurt's birthday), and they head inside once the cab arrives and Dave and Sebastian have gone. He falls into bed with Blaine holding him tightly; the girls are camped out on his air mattress on the floor.

He closes his eyes and drifts off to sleep, one thought in his head.

Best. Birthday. Ever.