“Hey, Dad,” Kurt greeted his dad on the phone a fair few weeks later. “Just wanted to let you know that I’ll be home tomorrow around lunch… No, no, everything’s fine, we’ve just got a long Warblers practice tomorrow after school and I don’t want to drive home that late.”

Kurt bit his lip, fidgeting with his pen as he spoke to his dad. Their conversation ended a few moments later and Kurt set down his cell phone with a sigh. He felt bad that he was lying to his dad but it had been over a week since he and Blaine had been able to have some quality alone time. Between Kurt’s school work and Blaine’s actual work, they were struggling to find time for each other. Kurt knew that he and Blaine needed this – needed each other for just one evening, and he wanted to have it.

“Hey, why the glum face?” Jeff asked as he entered their room.

Kurt looked up. “Not glum,” Kurt replied. “Just tired.”

Jeff all but collapsed onto Kurt’s bed next to him, belly down and he propped himself up on his elbows to look at Kurt. “You okay? You’ve been a bit… spacey lately.”

Kurt gave Jeff a small smile. “I’m fine,” he said. “Just a little overworked and underpaid.”

Jeff grinned and threw him a wink. “Aren’t we all?”

Kurt shook his head, smiling and laid back against his pillows, keeping his gaze on one half of his best friends. “So, where’s your better half?” he teased.

Jeff poked out his tongue. “Nick is off getting a haircut,” he said. “He said something about family pictures tomorrow, I don’t know, I wasn’t really listening.”

“You’re such a nice boyfriend, Jeff,” Kurt deadpanned.

“I know,” Jeff said, beaming up at him. “Hey, what are you doing tonight? Nicky and I are probably going to stay up and watch movies with some of the other boys, if you want to join us?”

“Can’t,” Kurt said. “I’m leaving for home soon.” He gestured to his overnight bag which was sitting on his desk. He felt a stab of guilt at openly lying to Jeff but it was best that he did so no one found out that he wasn’t going home and that he was probably going to spend the night at Blaine’s – something that both terrified and excited him at the same time.

“Oh,” Jeff said with a pout. “Well, how soon do you have to leave? I feel like we haven’t seen each other in forever.”

“Jeff, we share a room, I see you plenty,” Kurt pointed out dryly. “I hear your snores and I see your naked butt every morning when you wake up. I see you enough.”

Jeff grinned but nudged Kurt’s leg with his finger. “You know what I mean. You go off campus a lot to study these days and you’re always home late. I miss you.”

“Aww, I miss you too, Jeffy,” Kurt said, using the nickname that he knew Jeff hated.

“Oh, you are cruel, missy,” Jeff said with a huff, poking Kurt again in the thigh. “At least stay until Nick comes back so we can laugh at him if he has a bad haircut?”

“Deal,” Kurt said with a grin.

It was nice to just catch up with Jeff. He could be himself around Jeff and it was nice not to have to watch what he was saying because there was never any reason for them to broach the subject of Kurt’s love life because as far as Jeff knew, Kurt had none.

Jeff was rambling about something, curled into Kurt’s side, his head resting on Kurt’s chest when Nick came back. His hair was considerably shorter but looked great.

“So, I’m gone for half an hour and you’re in bed with another man? Sob,” Nick said, joining them on the bed.

“Sorry, Nick, you’re just not as much of a man as I am,” Kurt returned.

Jeff grinned from where he lay and reached out a hand to Nick. “C’mon, Kurt sandwich,” he said.

“What? No! I did not approve that!” Kurt exclaimed, flustered as Nick slipped behind him, squishing him in a massive cuddle.

“See, this is how it should be,” Jeff said, snuggling further into Kurt.

“We’re going to break my bed,” Kurt said, struggling between the two bodies that were smushed on either side of him.

They lay like that for a while and Kurt had the sinking feeling that one or both of them had fallen asleep and he was trapped between them.

“You had better not be asleep, Jeffrey,” Kurt said after a little while longer.

“’M’not,” Jeff mumbled from somewhere near Kurt’s ear. “Just want to cuddle.”

“Your boyfriend is right behind me, cuddle him.”

“No,” Jeff replied. “I miss you.”

“Me too,” Nick agreed. “You’re never around anymore, Kurt.”

“It’s senior year,” Kurt pointed out. “I’m busy studying all of the time. You know, because I’m not blessed with the ability to just retain large volumes of information after the first time hearing it, Jeff.”

He poked Jeff in the side and Jeff squirmed away. Kurt took his chance and wriggled out of their grasp while he could. Feeling triumphant, Kurt turned back to see that Jeff and Nick had got over him not being there rather quickly and were placing little kisses on each other’s lips.

“Off my bed when you do that, please,” Kurt said, giving them a disproving look. “Your bed is right there, Jeff.”

“But yours is warm,” Jeff pouted. “Fine, don’t give me that bitch face, we’re moving.”

Jeff got up off the bed and tugged Nick up too.

“Have a good night,” Kurt said, slipping his phone back into his pocket after checking the time. “I’ll see you on Sunday. Probably late.”

Nick and Jeff nodded. “Drive safely.”

“I will,” Kurt assured them with a smile.

Jeff pulled Kurt in for another hug. “Love you, Kurtsie.”

Kurt gave Jeff a watered down version of his bitch face at the nickname but returned the sentiment before leaving the room. He headed to the car park and put his laptop bag and his overnight bag on the passenger seat. He checked his reflection in the rear-view mirror before pulling out of the parking lot and heading to Blaine’s street.

A few minutes later, he knocked on Blaine’s door and smiled when the older male answered. He stepped inside Blaine’s apartment and was met with a soft kiss.

“Hi,” Blaine breathed, kissing him once more.

Kurt set his bags down and joined Blaine in the kitchen.

“I’m making risotto,” Blaine said. “I hope you like it.”

“I’m sure I will,” Kurt replied, watching as Blaine moved around the kitchen.

He admired the way Blaine worked. He did everything with such precision that Kurt thought he might be able to learn from it. Kurt was a perfectionist when it came to his cooking and everything else in his life but there was an ease about Blaine when he moved around the kitchen, testing different things with a spoon.

“Do you want to watch anything in particular tonight?” Blaine asked as he served up their dinner.

“I’m in the mood for a musical, actually,” Kurt replied. “Do you have Chicago?”

“Of course I do,” Blaine replied. “Honestly, Kurt.” He winked at Kurt and set their plates on the small table.

Kurt sat down and Blaine joined him a moment later, placing two wine glasses full of sparkling water on the table too. Kurt quirked an eyebrow in response to that and Blaine just smiled.

“I’m not about to serve you alcohol,” Blaine replied. “Well, that and I drank the last of my wine on Wednesday night.”

Kurt smiled and took a sip from the glass. “It’s classy,” he said. “Plus, it’s sparkling water, so it’s almost as good.”

Blaine grinned broadly at him and they started chatting about their week and Kurt thought, for the briefest moment, that they were kind of like an old married couple. They were so comfortable with each other, sitting down to dinner, talking about their day.

Kurt felt his stomach flutter a little at the thought. He liked being with Blaine like this. He was mature. A lot more mature than any other guy Kurt had ever known. Almost all of the boys at Dalton were impeccably mannered, as it was bred into them from birth, for most of them, but they lacked the maturity that Blaine had. Kurt was very attracted to that factor.

Blaine showered while Kurt did the dishes, and even though Blaine had protested that Kurt didn’t have to, as soon as Blaine was in the bathroom, Kurt set about cleaning Blaine’s kitchen up.

He had just made them both a mug of green tea when Blaine exited, wearing loose sweat pants, the legs just a smidge too long and an old Dalton tee. Kurt smiled at the sight.

“You look like you should be a freshman in that,” Kurt commented, passing Blaine his mug.

“Thanks,” Blaine said, taking the tea. “And I do not look like a freshman.”

“You kind of do,” Kurt teased, grinning over the top of his mug.

Blaine took Kurt’s mug from his hands and set it on the counter behind him next to his own. “Well,” he started. “That would make this perfectly okay then.”

Their lips met in a soft kiss and Kurt all but melted into Blaine’s arms. Blaine was warm and slightly damp from his shower. Kurt cupped the back of Blaine’s neck as they kissed, the wet curls of his hair brushing against his fingers.

Kurt let out a soft moan as Blaine shifted a little, pressing him into the counter. “Blaine,” he whispered, breaking the kiss.

Blaine pulled back, licking his lips and he nodded. “I know. You can shower, if you want to?”

Kurt nodded, pressing his lips to Blaine’s once more. “I’ll be out soon.”

When Kurt emerged from the bathroom, Blaine was sitting in the living room, a lightweight blanket over his legs. Kurt smiled and sat down next to him. Blaine lifted the blanket and Kurt shifted underneath it.

“You smell nice,” Blaine said, kissing just underneath Kurt’s ear. “Is that mango?”

Kurt flushed a little. “It’s new,” he replied. “And yes, it’s mango.”

“It’s nice,” Blaine repeated. “And we have ice cream too.”

Kurt took the offered spoon and Blaine pressed play on the DVD remote and Chicago came on. Blaine leant against him a little as they shared the ice cream, attention on the television screen.

Kurt grinned as Blaine started singing along to the songs and he couldn’t help but join in. It wasn’t the first time that he had ever heard Blaine sing but it still made his heart flutter every time he heard the melody fall from Blaine’s lips.

Blaine danced a little in his seat, moving his arms and Kurt laughed. Blaine winked at him and Kurt burst into a fit of giggles, unable to stop himself.

Moments later, Kurt found himself being pressed into the couch, Blaine hovering over him as they kissed hotly. He forgot all about laughing at Blaine’s wink and the DVD they were watching in favour of Blaine’s lips against his own and Blaine’s tongue in his mouth. Blaine tasted like the cookies and cream ice cream they had shared and Kurt found it even more enticing than he had ever before.

Blaine shifted a little and Kurt felt his hand slipping up the side of his shirt, resting on his hip. Kurt copied his action, slipping his own hands up Blaine’s shirt, fingers gently caressing the soft skin of Blaine’s back.

Blaine arched into his touch and Kurt felt oddly thrilled by it. He boldly stroked higher, wondering what other reactions he could get out of Blaine. The sound of their moans filled the room and Blaine sat up a little, breaking the kiss.

“Did you want to…?”

Kurt licked his lips and found himself nodding.

Blaine got up off the couch and held his hand out. Nervous, Kurt took Blaine’s hand and followed him to the bedroom.

This was a first for the both of them. Kurt had seen Blaine’s room a few times since they had started seeing each other but he had never been in there at the same time as Blaine before, at least, not like this.

Blaine stopped and turned to face him. His kisses were gentle and Kurt let out a breathy little sigh when they stopped after a moment. Kurt glanced over at the bed and joined Blaine on it.

Nerves filled Kurt’s stomach and he looked over at Blaine who was tucking his phone into the bedside drawer.

Moments later, they were kissing again, lying on their sides. Blaine’s hand was on his hip again, stroking random patterns on the skin. Kurt shivered at the touch and tangled his hand in Blaine’s hair once more. He’d told Blaine how much he loved his curls before and Blaine had just grinned and admitted that he loved the feel of Kurt’s fingers in his hair when they kissed.

Blaine pulled back after a while and looked at Kurt. He pulled his shirt off in one swift movement and kissed Kurt again. Kurt moaned into the kiss, his hands roaming freely over Blaine’s newly exposed skin. He stroked up Blaine’s back, down his arms, unable to get enough of the smooth skin in front of him. He panted heavily as he broke the kiss once more and sat up, slipping his own old “Hummel Tires and Lube” shirt over his head.

“You,” Blaine whispered, kissing his collarbone. “Are,” a little nip, “gorgeous.”

Kurt let out a shaky breath and kissed Blaine softly. Blaine’s fingers gently stroked down Kurt’s side, pausing ever so often just to rest.

“Blaine,” Kurt said with a sigh, lips brushing against Blaine’s own with every breath.

Blaine pulled back and started to kiss down Kurt’s jaw and to his neck. Kurt sucked in a sharp breath as Blaine kissed a sensitive spot on his neck. His jaw fell slack and his fingers gripped a little harder on Blaine’s hips.

Kurt moaned when Blaine kissed him hotly, tongue moving against his own in the best way possible. Kurt gripped Blaine’s bicep, possibly leaving little indentations on his skin but he couldn’t bring himself to care. Blaine’s lips were addictive and the way Blaine’s naked chest felt against his own was amazing.

Kurt flicked his tongue against Blaine’s in a particular way and Blaine’s hips thrust down into Kurt’s own.

Kurt’s eyes flew open and he abruptly pulled back from the kiss.

“Are you okay?” Blaine asked immediately as they separated.

“I…” Kurt took a breath. “Sorry.”

“Hey, don’t be sorry,” Blaine whispered. “Did I do something wrong?”

Kurt flushed heavily. “No, you were great,” he said. “It’s just… I wasn’t expecting that is all.”

“What?”

“That.”

“Oh.”

Kurt’s face burned with embarrassment. Not only had he effectively ruined the mood, he had also just sketchily admitted to Blaine that their physical activity moving further scared him.

“It’s okay, you know,” Blaine said reassuringly. “We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.”

Kurt’s expression softened. “I’m sorry,” he repeated. “This is all really new to me.”

“C’mere,” Blaine said, lying back on the bed, opening his arms to Kurt.

Kurt scooted into Blaine’s embrace and Blaine’s hand immediately went into his hair, smoothing it away from his forehead. Blaine pressed a kiss to the tip of Kurt’s nose before pulling back.

“All you have to do is say stop,” Blaine started. “At any point and we’ll stop.”

Kurt nodded, keeping his gaze on Blaine. “I’ve never had sex before,” he admitted softly. “You… you’re the first person I’ve ever kissed. I think I just got caught up in the moment.”

“I’m sorry that I got carried away,” Blaine said. “But we’ll stop. We can just cuddle and probably fall asleep soon.”

Kurt gave Blaine a thankful smile. “Thank you for being so good about this.”

“Always,” Blaine replied, twining their fingers together. “I know what it’s like. I was a virgin too not so long ago.”

“Really?” Kurt asked, intrigued.

Blaine nodded. “College,” he started. “Only had sex twice before he dumped me and haven’t had it again since. So really, this is new for me too.”

“That’s… kind of nice to know,” Kurt said, shifting a little so he could face Blaine a little better. “I’m sorry he dumped you. …Well, not really since it means I have you now.”

Blaine grinned. “I learnt my lesson with him,” he replied. “I’m glad I have you too.”

They kissed softly and Blaine shuffled, pulling the blankets up around them.

“Night, Kurt.”

“Night, Blaine.”

When he got home the next day, Kurt thought a lot about what had happened between himself and Blaine the previous night.

Even though he had embarrassed himself, he somehow felt even closer to Blaine. He wasn’t glad how it happened but they had talked a bit more over breakfast and Blaine said they needed to set some boundaries, which Kurt wholly agreed to.

Eventually, Kurt had to leave but his mind was still replaying last night over and over. He was so distracted that he didn’t even hear his dad knocking on the door.

“Kurt?” Burt asked, stepping into his room. “You okay, son?”

Kurt blinked and looked up. “Yeah,” he said with a nod. “Sorry, just concentrating.”

“You looked like you were daydreaming, kid,” Burt said, perching on the edge of Kurt’s bed.

“I guess I was,” Kurt replied.

“How’s school?”

Kurt shuffled to sit up properly on his bed, letting his stomach muscles rest from lying on them for the better part of two hours. “It’s good. Hard, busy and there’s a lot of homework but it’s alright.”

“Good,” Burt said with a nod. “Wanna help me down at the shop later? There’s some book work I need your help on.”

Kurt smiled. “Sure, Dad,” he said with a nod.

Kurt fiddled with his pen for a moment and just as his dad was about to get up to leave, Kurt stopped him. Burt looked down at him with a curious gaze but sat back on the bed.

“How… how do you know when you’re ready for sex?” Kurt asked, voice a little timid as he kept his gaze on is dad’s shoulder.

Burt cleared his throat and shifted a little. “Do you want to have sex with someone, Kurt?”

“I, no… I’m just curious,” Kurt said, flustered. “I mean, the boys at school… They talk, you know? I just want to know when you know you’re ready.”

Kurt was certain that his cheeks were burning. He didn’t particularly want to be talking about this with his dad but he couldn’t really talk to anyone else. He couldn’t talk to the most experienced people he knew – Jeff and Nick – because they would ask him questions about who he was seeing and Kurt hated lying to them.

At least with his dad, he could try and pass it off as curiosity and hope that it was enough. He was eighteen; he was bound to think about sex at some point. Sure, he hadn’t really thought about it at all previous to Blaine, save for the awkward occasion when he’d walked in on Nick and Jeff having sex. He wanted to be prepared. He didn’t want to go into it completely na�ve and have something completely awkward happen, like fumbling with a condom, or something worse.

“It will feel right,” Burt started, clearing his throat again. “Even though it can be scary thinking about the act itself, if he treats you right and he respects you, it won’t be that bad. I just want you to know something, Kurt.”

Kurt looked up at his dad and nodded for him to keep talking.

“I don’t want you to feel pressured, okay? Because teenage boys pretty much only think of one thing. I don’t want you to just give it away because it’s what he wants. It has to be what you want, okay? You matter and your feelings matter,” Burt said. “If he can’t respect your wishes, then he doesn’t deserve to be with you.

“That and I have my old flame thrower still, I’m not afraid to use it.”

Kurt smiled a little and nodded. “Thanks, Dad,” he said.

“Just, be careful, Kurt,” Burt added. “You only get to do this once and hell if I understand the technicalities of two guys, you know, but I don’t want you to get hurt. You matter.”

Kurt nodded and wrapped his arms around his dad in a tight hug. “Thank you,” he said.

Burt patted his shoulder and pressed a kiss to the top of his head. “Anytime,” he replied. “So. Do I get to meet this guy you’re thinking about having sex with?”

“Dad!” Kurt exclaimed, pulling away, his cheeks heating up. “I’m not–”

“I know, kid, I know,” Burt replied. “But if you do have sex with him, then I at least want to meet him. Preferably beforehand, though.”

“There is no one,” Kurt repeated.

Burt shook his head and got up off the bed again. “I’ll see you later.”

“Okay,” Kurt said, shifting to lean back against his pillows.

He slipped the ear buds of his iPod into his ears and picked up his phone. He scrolled through the last messages he and Blaine had sent each other and he flushed, mind going back to the previous night again.

He replayed the moment that Blaine’s hips, that his erection, met Kurt’s own and the feelings he got from it. He had told Blaine how embarrassed he was for reacting the way he did when they had awoken but Blaine had just told him it was fine. Kurt was glad, not for the first time, that he had such a mature older boyfriend. He knew a lot of boys his age would have got annoyed.

Waking up with Blaine had been an amazing experience as well. He had awoken first and had just lain there, on his side, watching the steady rise and fall of Blaine’s chest as he breathed. Blaine looked so peaceful, so serene. Kurt had watched Blaine’s eyelids slowly blink open and the smile that crossed his face when he had seen Kurt had left him slightly breathless.

He had snuggled back into Blaine’s side, just lying there with him, slowly waking up. It was one of the best feelings in the world, and something Kurt knew he wanted to keep doing as much as possible.

With a sigh, Kurt set aside his phone and pulled his French book towards him to keep on studying.

After dinner, Finn knocked on Kurt’s door and poked his head in, wearing that stupidly adorable grin that Kurt was sure he had trademarked.

“Hey, bro,” Finn said, stepping into the room. “How’s prep school?”

Kurt rolled his eyes at Finn but moved his books so his step brother could sit on his bed. “It’s fine, Finn,” he replied. “How’s McKinley?”

“Pretty much the same as usual,” Finn replied with a shrug. “Hey, want to go to the movies?”

Kurt looked up from his paper and nodded. “Yes,” he said. “Anything to get away from this work.”

“Cool,” Finn grinned widely. “Rachel and Mercedes are going to meet us there in half an hour, so hurry up.”

“And you’re just telling me now? That isn’t enough time to pick out an outfit!” Kurt exclaimed, hopping off his bed and moving to his closet.

“Go in what you’re wearing now?” Finn suggested.

Kurt resisted the urge to glare at his brother – something he had been perfecting at Dalton. “I’ve been wearing this all day,” he said, gesturing to the clothes he was wearing. “Besides, I can’t go out looking like it’s laundry day.”

“Whatever, dude, you look fine to me,” Finn said, picking up Kurt’s iPod and putting one of the ear buds into his ear.

“You won’t like what’s on there,” Kurt commented. “It’s notes for my French test next week.”

Finn made a face and pulled the bud out of his ear. “You work too much.”

Kurt shrugged as he laid out his outfit to change into. “Dalton has a very strict curriculum to be followed. It’s not like McKinley.” He eyed the shirt he had chosen and shook his head at it, picking it up to return it to his closet. He selected another shirt and a scarf and set them down next to his pants. “Are you going to leave so I can get dressed?”

“It’s not like I haven’t seen it before.” Kurt glared at him. “Fine, fine, I’m going.”

“And shut the door, please,” Kurt said as Finn left the room.

He changed and sat down in front of his vanity to perfect his hair. He mentally berated Finn for leaving it so late to ask him if he wanted to go to the movies – it was a typical Finn move, but it still irked Kurt.

Fifteen minutes later, Finn was knocking on his door. “We’re going to be late if you don’t hurry.”

“I wouldn’t have to rush if you’d asked me earlier, Finn!” Kurt called back.

He tied the last of the laces on his black Doc Martin boots and slipped his phone into his pocket before heading to his bedroom door.

“I’m ready,” he said to Finn who just grinned.

“Cool, let’s go.”

They drove to the cinema in Kurt’s Navigator after a three minute debate on why Kurt wouldn’t be seen dead in Finn’s truck. Finn had huffed but Kurt placated him by saying he could choose the music for the entire trip – there and back.

The first thing Kurt saw as he stepped out of his car was a flurry of pink before Rachel had practically thrown herself in his arms.

“I’ve missed you so much!” she said in a rush.

Kurt smiled and hugged her back. “I’ve missed you too.”

“How’s school? How’s the work load? Are you getting solos? Wait, don’t answer that, I don’t want to know when we beat you at Regionals.”

Kurt rolled his eyes affectionately and brushed off Rachel’s questions, settling, instead, to hug Mercedes.

“How are you, boo?” Mercedes asked once they parted.

Kurt smiled at her. “I’m good,” he replied. “Might I say you look fabulous tonight!”

Mercedes grinned widely. “Thank you.”

“Mercedes and I already bought tickets, we can just go in,” Rachel said, slipping her arm around Kurt’s holding him close.

The group headed into the cinema and Kurt noticed that Finn chose to sit on Mercedes’ other side, rather than next to Rachel, who was Finn’s ex girlfriend. Kurt smiled to himself, making a mental note to keep an eye on his step brother and his best girlfriend.

Rachel nattered all through the previews and only shut up when someone hissed ‘shh!’ rather loudly at them. Kurt stifled a giggle but ducked his head closer to Rachel’s so they could keep talking.

The movie started a few minutes later, forcing Kurt and Rachel to fall silent. He took a sip of his bottled water and glanced over at Finn and Mercedes who were holding hands. Kurt, unable to stop himself from smiling turned to Rachel.

“When did that happen?” he whispered, flicking his gaze back to the pair.

“A few weeks ago,” Rachel replied. “It was very romantic.”

She launched into the tale of how Finn and Mercedes had been paired together for a duet for Glee club and Finn, being completely and adorably clueless, sang Mercedes a love song. At the end of it, Mercedes had said her signature ‘damn boy, it’s about time!’ and they had kissed in front of the entire choir room full of people.

Kurt let out a soft ‘aww’ and glanced over at them again. “Wait, why didn’t Finn tell me? Or Mercedes for that matter?” he asked, trying to whisper but still be heard over the loudness of the movie playing.

“They’re planning on telling you tonight,” Rachel said. “This is kind of a lead up to that. Finn’s a little nervous because you and Mercedes have been friends since you were in grade school.”

“As long as they’re happy, then I’m happy,” Kurt said, sneaking another glance. “I can’t get over how cute they are together.”

Rachel grinned. “They’re quite adorable. Maybe not as adorable as Finn and I were but Jesse and I are much better suited. He challenges me vocally every single day.”

“I know he does, Rachel,” Kurt said, cutting her off. He may love her a lot but he didn’t need to hear again how perfect Jesse St James was for her.

They watched the rest of the movie in relative silence. It wasn’t until they were getting up to leave the cinema that it hit Kurt just how much he missed his friends. He had friends at Dalton – he had Nick and Jeff who were always there for him but he missed the craziness of his friends at McKinley. He missed fighting with Rachel for a solo and he missed his and Mercedes ‘girly’ days out, spent shopping and doing anything they wanted. He even missed helping Finn with his History homework. With a pang, Kurt crooked his elbow for Rachel to take his arm and he held it securely in his own. He missed them so much and it left him feeling a little hollow each time he had to say good bye.

When they got outside, Rachel did a twirl, her skirt flowing out as she span and Kurt laughed happily, watching her.

“C’mon, Kurt, dance with me!” Rachel said, holding out her hands.

“There’s no music!”

Kurt would have normally regretted that but Rachel started singing “Sway” and Kurt couldn’t help but dance with her. Finn and Mercedes joined in, the four of them dancing around the parking lot to their cars, all happily singing.

Rachel span again, straight into Kurt’s embrace and he hugged her tight. “I miss you guys so much.”

“You need to come home more often, boo,” Mercedes said, rocking slightly in Finn’s arms.

Kurt smiled. “It’ll be Christmas soon; I’ll be home the entire break.”

His mind went straight to Blaine. He had no idea what Blaine was doing for Christmas and he felt bad when he realised that he wouldn’t be able to see his boyfriend on Christmas day.

He could probably try and get away for a few hours over various different days during the small break but he didn’t know if Blaine would be going out of the state to visit family or what else he might be doing.

“We’ll never get sick of you, Kurt,” Rachel said happily.

Kurt smiled. “Of course not,” he replied with a wink. “I’m fabulous.”

They all piled into Kurt’s car – Rachel and Mercedes having been dropped off earlier by Rachel’s dads – and Kurt headed to Mercedes’ house first.

“I’ll see you next weekend, Kurt,” Mercedes said. “Don’t let that prep school give you too much work.”

“I’ll try,” Kurt replied.

Finn got out of the car with her and walked her to the door. The moment their lips touched, Kurt looked away.

“You’ll find someone, someday, Kurt,” Rachel said softly.

Kurt glanced into the rear-view mirror, locking gazes with Rachel. “I know.”

“You’re an amazing guy, anyone would be lucky to have you.”

Kurt gave Rachel a small smile. “Thank you.”

Finn got back into the car a few minutes later, looking quite cheerful, his cheeks a little flush and Kurt knew it wasn’t from the cold air.

“So, you and Mercedes, huh?” Kurt teased Finn after they had dropped Rachel off at her house.

“Yeah,” Finn replied, grinning from ear to ear. “We wanted to tell you sooner…”

“It’s okay,” Kurt said honestly. “Love looks good on you.”