Archive of Our Own ^beta

It starts at the Rachel Berry House Party Train Wreck Extravaganza.

With Finn and Kurt the only sober ones in the group, they agree to make it their mission to make sure everyone gets home safely.

Kurt makes a mental map of everyone’s houses and devises a strategy to get everybody home in one piece. Everyone had planned to just crash at Rachel’s but after Mercedes threw up on the floor in the basement, she had drunkenly proclaimed that everyone had to leave. Then she proceeds to throw up herself right on top of the spot Mercedes had done it, causing everyone to laugh harder than they had all night. Kurt gives Finn a pointed stare and he starts rounding people up.

They agree that Kurt should supervise the rest of the group while Finn takes the closest people home. Finn takes Mercedes, Tina, Quinn, and Artie home and Kurt looks over the rest of the scene. Rachel is passed out on the stage, a rather fitting metaphor for her life he thinks.

Santana and Sam are making out on the couch as they had been all night. Lauren and Puck are sat in the middle of the room, spinning the bottle at each other and kissing intermittently, beyond surprised when they land on each other. Kurt wants to roll his eyes and laugh at that one, but they’re in love and he doesn’t have the heart to.

Blaine is also passed out, not too far from the double vomit puddle and Kurt does laugh at this one. He’s too full of bitterness at the boy to even think about moving him. Finn can get him when he comes back, he thinks. He’s crashing at the Hudmel house so Finn can carry him and throw him on the couch and call it a day when they finally take themselves home.

Kurt sighs a little as he carries glasses of water over to Brittany and Mike. Brittany is whimpering about Artie leaving while simultaneously ogling Santana and Sam and Kurt doesn’t have the heart to comment. He nudges her and hands her the water, which she gratefully accepts.

“Lord Tubbington tries to ban drinking water from my house so I almost never get to have it. Thank you, Kurt.”

Kurt smiles and nods before passing Mike his glass.

Mike takes it with a nod and Kurt realises what type of drunk he is. He likes to laugh but, once the party dies down, he becomes stoic so he can pretend that he’s sobering up. A grin spreads across Mike’s face.

“You’ve been standing up all night.”

“There’s always something that needs cleaning.”

Mike pouts. “And you didn’t get to kiss anyone in Spin the Bottle.”

Kurt does not like where this conversation is heading.

Brittany sighs dramatically. “As someone who has kissed almost everyone at the party, I can tell you that Kurt’s the best kisser here.”

“What?” Santana suddenly snaps from the corner, pushing herself off Sam, who’s flushed and crossing his legs discreetly.

Brittany shrugs. “Santana, your sweet lady kisses are amazing, but Kurt’s lips are soft and they taste like some kind of fruit.”

“Raspberry lip balm,” Kurt winks to Santana, and he won’t be surprised if she comes to school wearing it on Monday.

“Whatever.”

Mike frowns and sticks his empty water glass on the floor. “Wasn’t that your first kiss? How are you so good?”

Kurt’s cheeks warm up and he shrugs. “Beginner’s luck? I don’t know.”

“Well, I need to find out what makes it so fucking good,” Santana states loudly and Kurt’s eyes widen as she comes towards him.

Brittany sticks out a leg and nudges Kurt towards the couch. He loses his balance and falls directly onto Mike.

Mike pulls Kurt properly onto his lap and pulls his head flush against his hard chest. “I’ve got you. Back off, Satan. He doesn’t want to kiss girls.”

“He kissed Brittany, it’s only fair I get one too.”

“If you get one, then I get one,” Sam calls, finally standing up. “Or did you forget that we’re dating now?”

Santana rolls her eyes but a part of Kurt thinks that she did forget. “Whose trout pout have I spent the whole night macking on?”

Sam concedes that with a nod.

Mike gapes. “If all of you have kissed him, then I should get to as well.”

Kurt pulls his head up. “Why does everybody want to kiss me all of a sudden?”

Santana stares at him as though it’s obviously. “Brittany’s kissed almost everyone in the school. Her recommendation means a lot.”

“Right. I’m very aware that I’m the only single one in the room.”

“Aren’t you dating the Hobbit?” Puck chimes in from across the room, having heard the whole conversation. He and Lauren sit on the floor in front of Mike.

Kurt frowns. “No. Did nobody see him dry humping Rachel earlier?”

Santana wrinkles her nose. “Now that was disgusting. Nobody wants to see two Christmas elves in heat.”

Kurt barely fights off the urge to laugh at that.

“You can do better,” Lauren shrugs. “I don’t know you, but you’re so much hotter than he is.”

Mike puts his head on Kurt’s head. “He’s really cuddly too.”

“Well, I want a turn!” Puck whines.

Kurt swears never to be at a party with these people again.

Brittany moves next to Mike as he wordlessly passes Kurt over to her.

Kurt scoffs. “I’m not a sleeping baby. You don’t need to pass me around the room.”

Brittany cuddles into him. “Do you think Artie would mind if we made out?”

“Brittany, I’m gay.”

“You were gay last time too,” she reminds him unhelpfully.

Kurt sighs. “Well, you’re not wrong. But yes, I think Artie would mind.”

“Even though he spent the night staring at Tina.”

Mike shakes his head. “It wasn’t just him. She was staring too. I think they’re going to dump us soon.”

Brittany pinches Kurt’s cheek. “And then who I am going to turn to for comfort?”

Kurt hesitates. “Mike?”

Mike grins. “I think she’d much rather have you.”

Brittany nods. “Dolphins give the best hugs.”

“Dolphin?” Lauren wonders, confused.

Everyone turns to stare at her. “Dolphins are just gay sharks.”

“Got it.” Lauren’s eyes widen, as though she’s realised something very important. “Wait, so what do we call bisexual fish like you or the unconscious Hobbit?”

“He’s not bisexual,” Kurt groans.

“Problem, Kurt?” Santana asks.

“Of course not,” he stresses. “I just don’t want to go through this again.”

“Through what again?” Puck pipes up.

Kurt realises that there’s no better time to get his frustrations out, surrounded by people who probably won’t remember any of it in the morning. So he lets go. “I don’t want to face the fact that a guy that I want doesn’t want me at all and instead wants to make out with Rachel. I’ve had four crushes in my life, three of them serious, and three of them have chosen Rachel at some point in their lives. It’s exhausting.”

Kurt is so worked up that he doesn’t realise that he’s now sitting in Puck’s lap on the end of the couch. “Hold on, when did this happen?”

“I’m sneaky like that,” Puck smirks.

Santana looks as though she’s doing complicated arithmetic in her head. “Wait. So there’s Finn and Blaine. Who’s the other one?”

Mike puts a hand up. “Who else has made out with Rachel?”

“Jesse St James?” Brittany grimaces.

“Heavens, no,” Kurt chuckles, blushing a little.

Puck clicks his fingers. “It’s me!”

Kurt struggles against Puck’s grip. “I’d rather not be sitting in your lap during this conversation.”

“It’s cool, dude,” Puck waves a hand. “I’m hot shit, I’d be surprised if you didn’t crush on me.”

Lauren smiles. “That was your non-serious one wasn’t it?”

“Hey!” Puck protests, but Kurt’s swift nod is enough to confirm. “If you weren’t so damn cuddly, I’d be passing you off right now.”

“So I am a baby being passed around at a Christening right now?”

“Yep,” Santana grins, popping the ‘p’ for added emphasis. “I’m getting a turn next once we figure out who your other crush was.”

“Finn, Blaine, and Puck…” Mike hums, “who else is there?”

“Maybe it’s you,” Brittany supposes.

“It’s not,” Kurt sighs, realising that he’s resigned to having this conversation in full. For drunk people, they’re surprisingly attentive. “Not that I haven’t entertained the idea.”

Mike winks. “I’ll call you when I’m single.”

Kurt gapes. “I don’t enjoy being teased.”

“Does it get you all hot and bothered?” Puck teases.

“You would know if it did,” Kurt mutters.

Puck laughs and pulls Kurt in for a tight hug, ruffling his hair.

“Puck!” Kurt squeals.

“Yeah, say my name baby,” Puck chortles.

Lauren raises a brow and climbs to her feet. “My turn!”

Santana folds her arms. “I believe I said it was my turn.”

Lauren just glares at Santana, who steps back.

Kurt barely has time to protest before Lauren is bending down to peel him from Puck’s unwilling arms. Lauren holds him tightly before trying to find space on the couch. She moves to the one opposite where Sam is sitting.

“It is like holding a baby,” she comments as she sits down. “You’re really light, Hummel.”

“Thank you?” Kurt murmurs, unsure.

People really do like cuddling him when they’re drunk.

“Note to self, drunk people are cuddlers.”

Puck shrugs. “Nah, I’m not that drunk, I’m just handsy.”

“We know,” Santana, Brittany, and Lauren chorused.

Puck grins at them all.

Mike shuffles along the couch and moves past Brittany. “Let’s do it man.”

Mike moves into Puck’s lap and gets into the cuddle position.

“Now it’s a party,” Kurt chuckles.

Mike playfully peppers closed-lip kisses all over Puck’s head.

Puck sighs. “Tina’s one lucky girl. Even if you’re not as cuddly as Kurt.”

Brittany nods. “Mike’s really good at sex.”

Mike blushes. “We haven’t actually…yet.”

Lauren gasps. “Tina’s hot, you should get on that.” She pulls Kurt closer towards her.

“We’ll do it at some point. It’s just hard to find a time and place.”

“Should’ve done it tonight man,” Puck grunts as he adjusts his position to make himself comfier.

“Here, I’ll take him,” Brittany announces and pulls Mike onto her lap.

Kurt does not miss the twinge of annoyance that crosses Santana’s face. 

“Time’s up, Zizes,” Sam chirps as he reaches for Kurt.

Lauren pulls away from him. “I’m not done yet!”

“Your boyfriend’s free now.”

Puck bares his teeth at her and winks.

Lauren kisses Kurt’s forehead and grins down at him. “Nice to meet you properly, Hummel.”

“It’s quite the icebreaker, isn’t it?” Kurt smiles back.

His stomach lurches as he’s passed over to Sam so seamlessly, it’s like a streamlined production line.

Santana tuts. “How the hell am I last?”

Puck creeps over to Lauren and perches in her lap. “You just stood there hoping to be picked. You need to claim your prey, Lopez.”

Kurt scoffs. “Prey?”

Sam drapes Kurt’s legs over his and pulls their bodies together. “Hi.”

Kurt’s head leans on Sam’s shoulder. “Hello, Sam Evans.”

Santana goes to sit next to Brittany and Mike and carelessly pushes Mike from her lap. Santana seamlessly takes his place and cuddles up to Brittany. Mike pouts and sits next to them.

“You guys should have a threesome,” Puck mutters.

“Been there, done that,” Santana drawls. “Besides now, it’d have to be a six-way.”

Lauren shrugs. “So?”

“Can you imagine?” Brittany gasps. “Me, Santana, Mike, Tina, Artie, and Sam?”

Mike smirks. “I don’t know, Sam seems pretty content with Kurt over there.”

Sam blushes as he strokes Kurt’s hair.

Kurt, for the first time ever, isn’t complaining about his hair being ruined.

“You should probably get in there, Santana,” Puck says warningly.

Santana sighs. “Kurt can have him.”

Kurt squeezes his eyes shut and tries not to react. Sam’s lips move to his ear.

“It’s me, isn’t it?”

Kurt gasps a little but resigns himself to a short nod.

“I fucked up.”

Before Kurt can even begin to process that, he hears the door close and Finn comes trampling down the stairs.

“Everyone’s home safe. Who am I taking next?”

“We’re quite comfy here,” Lauren calls out, laughing loudly.

Finn appraises the scene and frowns deeply. “Uh…what the hell? Never mind, I don’t want to ask.”

Kurt continues to look away, his back to Finn.

Sam plasters a smile to his face but continues whispering under his alcohol-tinged breath. “I really wanted to do our duet.”

“Kurt,” Finn calls from the other side of the room. “Who was next?”

Kurt clears his throat and tilts his head. “Mike, Puck, Lauren, and Brittany. Sam’s staying at San’s, so we can take them and Blaine when we go.”

Finn grins. “How about we leave Blaine here?’

“Finn…”

“He clearly wanted to be with Rachel tonight,” Finn retorts. It’s a little harsh but not untrue.

Kurt thinks on that for a second. “Sure. We’ll just leave them water and painkillers for the morning with a note explaining that we didn’t want to move him.”

Finn shrugs, not entirely sure that Rachel and Blaine deserve that courtesy for making out right in front of Kurt when both of them knew he liked Blaine. “Sure, man. Okay, Puck, Lauren, Mike, Britt, you guys ready?”

One by one, they nod and start to rise from the sofas. Brittany runs over to Kurt and kisses his head, grinning wildly. Kurt frowns a little, wondering what she’s planning.

Once Puck, Lauren, and Mike say their goodbyes too, Finn marches all of them out of the room, waving a quick goodbye to the rest.

Santana marches over to Kurt and Sam. “Okay, what are you two whispering about? It better not be about me. And I haven’t had my turn with Kurt yet!”

Santana huffs and holds her arms out. Sam looks defeated as he passes Kurt over.

Kurt settles in her lap, powerless to what’s happening.

Santana manoeuvres him so he’s sit with his back to her, legs atop hers. She wraps her arms around Kurt’s stomach. “You are comfy! And so soft.”

Sam grins over at them, an unreadable expression on his face.

Santana looks to Sam. “So? What’s with all the whispering?”

Kurt rolls his eyes where Santana can’t see and Sam chuckles. “Sam figured something out.”

Santana nods. “That he’s your fourth crush?”

Sam gapes. “Um…yeah, how do you know?”

“I don’t know how everyone else didn’t,” Santana hisses. “It was so obvious.”

“Great,” Kurt groans.

“I was only paying attention because I thought Sam was going to go for it. Then he sang with Quinn and I stopped caring.”

Sam winces at the mention of his relationship with Quinn.

“That was my fault,” Kurt mutters sadly. “I let Finn get to me and I called off the duet. I was a coward.”

“Yeah, you kinda were,” Sam mumbles under his breath. Unfortunately for him, Kurt hears every word.

“I’m sorry.”

“San…can I take him?”

Santana tightens her grip protectively. “Mine.”

“Please.”

“Kurt?” Santana checks on him.

Kurt smiles. “I’d rather not talk about this while sat on his girlfriend’s lap.”

“Ugh, fine,” Santana spits. “But just know that I’ve had the least time out of everyone and I will be coming to collect.”

“Duly noted. I guess I’ve made a deal with the devil.”

Santana preens. “Damn right. So go flirt with my boyfriend.”

“I’m not flirting. I just want to explain.”

Santana hands him over, Sam getting him in his original position but flipped, so Kurt’s also facing Santana.

Santana grins and pulls Kurt’s legs onto her lap so he’s stretched across both of them. “Best of both worlds. Anyway, continue.”

Kurt ignores her and looks at Sam. “I didn’t want you to be bullied for singing with me.”

“Is that what Finn said to you?”

“He said I’d be painting a target on your back,” Kurt sighs.

“When I got slushied that day, I was wearing a shirt with a target on it.”

Kurt laughs quickly at the irony before moving on. “I didn’t want to be the reason that happened to you.”

Sam nods. “I appreciate you wanting to protect me, but that should’ve been for me to decide. I said I wanted to do it with you.”

“Wanky,” Santana purrs.

Kurt feels a little defensive at being called out so abruptly and he feels his walls start to rise. “Well you did say that I freaked you out when we first met. I thought it’d be easier to call it off.”

“But you didn’t even ask me. You just said I hadn’t done anything wrong and sang alone.”

“Then you said that Quinn was the best partner you could’ve asked for!” Kurt sighs, trying to calm himself down.

“I was kinda mad at you, dude,” Sam admits quietly. “I wanted to see if you’d react.”

“And?”

“You just looked sad, but you always look sad these days.”

“I do not look sad,” Kurt shoots back.

Santana snorts. “Kurt, yes you do. It was understandable with Karofsky being a dickbag to you and threatening to kill you, but even while you’ve been at Dalton, you’ve looked generally depressed.”

Sam nods. “Even at Sectionals, up on stage where you feel most comfortable, Rachel had to remind you to smile.”

Kurt shuffles on Sam’s lap and leans on his shoulder. “There was a lot going on that week. I’d been rejected for a solo and Blaine told me I should work harder at fitting in.”

“He what? What did you sing?” Sam rages.

“Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina,” Kurt whispers.

Sam nods. “That was one of the MP3s you sent. If you performed it the same way during your audition, I don’t see why you didn’t get the solo.”

“I’m used to it.”

“Well, you shouldn’t be,” Santana snaps. “Stop settling for less than you deserve just because there’s a precedent. And absolutely do not let Blame over there tell you how to be.”

“He got us a tie,” Kurt defends weakly.

Sam shrugs, making Kurt’s body move. “Yeah, he was good, but you’re better. You’re letting him box you in and it’s making you miserable.”

“Since when did you become an expert on me?”

Santana frowns deeply, a theory forming. “He liked you too,” she guesses. “Didn’t you?”

Sam swallows heavily.

Kurt pulls his head back and looks Sam dead in the eye. “Sam?”

“I thought you calling off the duet meant that you weren’t interested. I heard you talking in Glee Club about how you thought I was on Team Gay because of someone called Linda. I didn’t know what that was about, but I thought you knew that I was interested.”

Kurt wriggles out of Sam’s lap. “I can’t, Sam. Finn’s going to be back soon. I need to make sure we’re ready.”

Kurt disappears from the basement and enters the kitchen to pour some more water glasses.

Santana turns to her boyfriend, a feral grin on her face. “You didn’t move on, did you?”

“Not completely,” Sam admits. “Which is why I’m so mad at Blaine. You’re not mad?”

“Nah. I think we both knew what’s happening here. We have sex while we’re both pining for other people who we can’t have.”

Sam smiles. “You’re being awfully honest about your feelings tonight.”

“So are you.”

“Shall we just blame it on the alcohol?”

Santana shrugs. “Whatever works for you, Trouty. Though I am surprised that you’re willing to be with me while being in love with someone else.”

Kurt stops at the basement door, glasses in hand.

“I’ve had to face facts. I made the wrong choice, San, and I’m living with that now.”

“I understand,” Santana’s mouth tightens and Sam realises that she does understand. Sam smiles lightly and clasps her hand in solidarity. They may not be the couple everyone thinks they are, but they’re more aligned than people realise, just for all the wrong reasons. Sam lost Kurt due a series of bad decisions on both parts, and Santana doesn’t have Brittany because of her own inner fear, which Sam can relate to and thinks it’s quite understandable. He knows that the day will come where they’ll both have to face facts.

Before Kurt can push the door open, Finn’s tired face appears in the hall.

“What are you doing out here?”

“Shh,” Kurt hisses.

Finn frowns. “What’s going on?”

“I just need to hear something. You can get the car running if you want.”

“Is Blaine awake?”

“No, Finn just—.”

He hears Sam’s voice again and quietens down. “When he left for Dalton, I wanted so badly to tell him to stay. But that wasn’t fair of me because I was with Quinn.”

“Mistake of the year,” Santana snorts.

“I think that’s why I wasn’t crushed when she cheated on me with Finn. Because emotionally, I’d been thinking about someone else our entire relationship.”

“Jesus, Evans,” Santana sighs. “I think you need to tell Kurt all of this.”

“I can’t. You’ve seen the hold Blaine has on him. He’s doesn’t like me anymore. I missed my chance.”

Finn stares at Kurt with wide eyes. “Sam?” He mouths.

“Later,” Kurt whispers. 

After a minute, Finn has had enough and enters the basement to see Sam’s head in Santana’s lap. “You guys ready to go?”

Santana nods, standing up with Sam.

Finn avoids Sam’s eyes as they’re still on rocky territory.

Kurt is silent as he places the two glasses of water on the table. He sends a quick text to Blaine.

You passed out so we left you where you are rather than move you. There’s water and aspirin on the table for you.

Finn comes up behind him and swipes his phone.

“Finn!” Kurt hisses.

Finn shrugs and holds the phone out of Kurt’s reach. He adds to the message.

I’m sure Rachel would love to give you a ride home tomorrow.

Finn sends the message before Kurt can erase it. Finn grins smugly and hands the phone back to Kurt, who scans the message with a curious eye. He looks to Finn and smiles, a little impressed.

“Thanks.”

“Anytime, little bro.”

Finn pulls him in for a quick hug and Sam and Santana trudge toward the basement door.

The Rachel Berry House Party Train Wreck Extravaganza is officially over.

The car ride is a little awkward.

Kurt is stealing glances in the mirror at Sam, who’s slumped against the door. Finn is avoiding Sam’s eye, and Santana’s, and is steely-eyed and concentrating on the road.

Santana is smirking at Kurt even though he’s not looking at her.

Finn clears his throat, the silence getting to be too much for him. “So those guys couldn’t stop talking about how comfy you were, Kurt.”

Kurt smiles. “I was being passed around like a baby. Apparently I’m a hot commodity when it comes to sitting on people’s laps.”

“That’s drunk people for you, huh?”

“You think it’s just because they’re drunk?”

Finn’s eyes widen. “Uh, no, not totally. But they get very handsy.”

“So you think some of it is my appeal?” Kurt winks back at Santana.

Finn sighs. “This is another one of your traps, isn’t it?”

“Who me? I’m just asking questions. Puck said he wasn’t too drunk but he was very eager to claim me on his lap.”

“Puck?”

Kurt nods triumphantly. “At first I thought it was a joke, until I really was passed around to everyone.”

“Brittany was saying it’s too bad you’re at Dalton, because you’re missing out on a lot of cuddles.”

Santana can’t contain her snort.

Kurt shrugs. “I suppose I’d better find some Dalton boys to sit on.”

“Please not Blaine” is Sam’s first contribution during the car ride.

Kurt eyes him in the wing mirror and smiles softly. “I think that ship has sailed anyway.”

Sam holds Kurt’s gaze and nods sadly.

Santana sees the interaction and growls. “You just mean Blaine, right?”

“Right,” Kurt blinks quickly. “Who else would I mean?”

“Just checking. Puck might want a chance.”

“And have to face down wrestling champ Lauren? No thank you. His lap might be comfortable, but it’s not worth a beating.”

“Yeah,” Santana snorts. “She’s strong.”

It’s not long until Finn drops Sam and Santana off at Santana’s house and they say their goodbyes.

Sam whispers something to Santana and she nods shortly, grinning at Kurt.

Sam taps on Kurt’s window and puts his head against it until Kurt manoeuvres it down.

Before he can even say anything, Sam grabs his face and presses their lips together.

Kurt feels the panic rise in his body, memories of Karofsky swirling around in his brain. He pushes firmly on Sam’s shoulder until they break apart.

“Oh,” Sam murmurs, stepping backwards.

Kurt’s throat is dry so he can’t form the words he wants to say so desperately. He just smiles sadly and presses the button to close the window, watching the top of the window separate him gradually from Sam.

Kurt turns to Finn. “Please drive.”

Finn nods and exchanges a terse glance with Sam.

Sam turns away and walks into Santana’s house behind her.

Kurt refuses to say a word, but he can feel Finn’s heavy, questioning stares at every stoplight, at every pause in the journey. He simply shakes his head once and stares out of the window like he’s in an emotional music video.

Except there’s no music playing.

They enter the house quietly, knowing that Burt and Carole are asleep.

Kurt heads straight for the kitchen, pouring himself half a glass of water.

Finn idles in the doorway behind him.

Kurt realises that Finn isn’t going to give up so he sighs. “Want some warm milk?”

Finn nods, stepping forward. “We should talk. You know, if you want.”

Kurt knows what a rare occurrence this is and shrugs. “Why not?”

He prepares the warm milk and Finn grabs a bag of chips from the cupboards. 

He and Finn sit in the living room, mugs of milk on the coffee table.

“So…you and Sam?”

Kurt sighs heavily. “How much do you want to get into this?”

“As much as you want, man.”

“Even if I tell you it’s partly your fault we’re not together?”

Finn sips at his warm milk and looks sad. “I know it is. Until about half an hour ago, I didn’t know just how much damage I’d done. I thought I’d just upset you.”

“I didn’t know either. But when I thought about what you said, I let him go and he chose Quinn. By the time he thought about saying something to me, I was gone. It was bad timing.”

Finn shakes his head angrily. “I don’t know why I was such a dick to you. We were getting along really well and I just ruined it.”

Kurt nudges him. “Hey, we’re good now. You apologised, I accepted. We’re good.”

“Come here, man,” Finn mutters and before he can ask any questions, yet another person is pulling Kurt onto their lap.

Finn gets him in a good position and starts to cuddle. “I get why they liked this. You’re soft.”

“Are you sure you haven’t been drinking?”

Finn eyes him curiously. “You don’t trust what Sam said properly, do you?”

Kurt frowns. “What makes you say that?”

“Because he was drinking.”

“It crossed my mind that it was just rambling. I mean, Mercedes willingly sang with Rachel, I thought Hell had frozen over. But when he asked me to open the window, I knew there was something real.”

“God, I really ruined his life,” Finn growls. “Why do I keep fucking up?”

“It doesn’t take a genius to know that you and Quinn weren’t over. You might have been with Rachel, but you guys fight a lot. I can’t help but think that was because you never took the time to get over Quinn.”

“I thought I had.”

“Think about it. You broke up with Quinn before Sectionals and you were dating Rachel not long after that. You were only single while Rachel was with Jesse. Then you guys got together. Then you broke up at Christmas, right? You were with Quinn on Valentine’s. You’ve either been dating someone or pining for them since the beginning of sophomore year.”

“You think I need to break up with Quinn?”

Kurt hums in consideration. “Are you happy with her?”

“I think so. I mean, it’s Quinn, she’s angry for large parts of the day and she still feels guilty about Sam so it hasn’t been the best, but she was my first love, Kurt.”

“Sometimes you have to let those go.”

“Is Sam yours?”

Kurt wants to laugh because there is absolutely no way that he’s not dreaming; having this conversation while sat in Finn’s lap. “No…Sam was not my first love.”

“Then…oh.”

Kurt needs to hide, but the only place he can is in the crook of Finn’s neck. He tries to slide backwards off Finn’s lap, but his brother’s grip is keeping him there.

“Dude, it’s fine. We’re past that. Although I think if you’d have sat in my lap last year I would’ve had a harder time turning you down.”

“Oh my god, Finn,” Kurt grimaces. “You can’t flirt with me, we’re brothers. Especially while I’m sitting on you.”

Finn smiles crookedly. “Do you want Sam?”

Kurt hangs his head. “More than I can express.”

“What stopped you before? He kissed you, man. It seemed like Santana was fine with it.”

“It’s not that.”

“Oh, was it not good? Santana thinks he’s a great kisser apparently.”

“It doesn’t matter, Finn.”

“Kurt,” Finn stresses. “I can tell this is really bothering you. Who are you going to tell if not your adoring big brother?”

“Where’s he then? If you see him, tell him to come find me.”

“Blaine knows though, doesn’t he?”

“What makes you say that?”

Finn grins. “I pick up on things. He was very adamant that you stay at Dalton. And not in the “I want him to stay so I can hit on him” kinda way.”

“Thanks for the reminder.”

“Dude, it’s his loss. But I mean, we know you weren’t safe at McKinley but what else don’t I know?”

“I can’t. It’s not that I don’t want to, I really can’t. It’s not my thing to tell.”

“Fine. But it’s enough to stop you going after Sam, so it must be serious.”

“I’m not going after Sam because Sam has a girlfriend and…and..”

Finn sighs. “Kurt. Come on. You know as well as I do that Sam and Santana aren’t serious. Hell, she literally stood and watched while he kissed you.”

“Besides, I’m at Dalton. It would be hard to maintain.”

“Now you’re just making excuses.”

“Maybe I am. It’s scary, Finn. I like him a lot. I have since I met him. And with the possibility that it might not be unrequited? That’s scary.”

“Again, my fault,” Finn pouted.

“Hey, stop making this about you,” Kurt retorts, but it’s lacking his usual bite.

“Come here little bro,” Finn pulls Kurt into him so the latter’s head is resting on his chest. Finn rubs an arm up and down Kurt’s arm. “I’ve never been close to anyone like this. It’s nice.”

“You’ve had like three girlfriends,” Kurt mumbles.

“Yeah, but we never did shit like this. Even when I slept with Santana, it was in, out, and then ‘hey, take me for expensive burgers’.”

“That sounds like Santana,” Kurt chuckles.

“With Quinn, it’s about how we look together. I thought that behind closed doors she’d be a little bit more open with me, but she’s even more closed off than you are.”

“And Rachel?”

Finn grins a little. “Despite what you might believe, Rachel isn’t the affectionate type. She’ll do everything if it’s for a song, but when we were just together alone, she’d keep her distance. She’s not a cuddler.”

“I honestly thought she would’ve liked the attention.”

“You do, don’t you?”

Kurt rolls his eyes without lifting his head, but Finn knows exactly what he’s doing. “Since when have you been able to read me so well?”

“When I don’t see you every day, I start to look forward to it. I guess I’m just more aware of you or something.”

“To answer your question, yes I do. Having people wanting to touch me and be close to me, it feels really good. Like I’m wanted and appreciated.”

“You are,” Finn mumbles into his hair. “I know I definitely don’t tell you enough. But I love you, bro.”

“I love you too, Finn.”

Finn smirks. “I bet freshman Kurt would’ve died having this conversation with me.”

“If you’d have told freshman Kurt that Finn Hudson would’ve been saying I love you while cuddling him in the living room that they share, he wouldn’t have believed you.”

“Well believe it little brother. I’m going to be doing this a lot more. Everyone was right.”

“I’m not explaining this to Dad or Carole if they see it, just FYI,” Kurt protests.

“I think they’ll just be glad we’re not fighting anymore.”

A lingering yet comfortable silence takes over them.

“I should apologise to Sam,” Finn trails off like he’s not sure if he should’ve said that.

“Are you asking me or stating something?”

“Both? I don’t know, I don’t think he wants to hear from me but I know how badly I fucked up.”

Kurt shrugs, shuffling in Finn’s lap. “If it makes you feel better, do it anyway. He might not accept it right away but it’s worth trying.”

“If he’s going to be coming to the house at weekends, it’ll be easier if we’re on speaking terms.”

“Finn, he’s not…you really think?”

Finn rolls his eyes and scoffs, which Kurt thinks is a little much. “Please. If you think you and Sam aren’t going to be dating by Regionals, you’re not as smart as you make out to be.”

“That would depend on if he breaks up with Santana. I don’t go for people in relationships unlike some of us.”

Finn’s first instinct is to be annoyed, but then he recognises it for the playful jab that it is. Finn’s learning to own his mistakes and some light teasing isn’t completely out of the ordinary for them. “Yeah, yeah, okay, I’m a big home wrecker. But what if Quinn and I are meant to be together?”

“What if Quinn and Sam were meant to be together?”

“You’re really saying that about your future boyfriend?”

“My god, Finn,” Kurt protests very weakly.

They sit like that for a while, in very comfortable harmony, although Kurt calls it quits when Finn makes a joke about getting hard. Even though he isn’t, it’s enough to make Kurt wriggle from his grasp and bid him goodnight. 

Kurt spends a little time ruminating on the night’s events in his room, the haunted image of Sam Evans burning in his brain right after seemingly being rejected.

Kurt just wishes he’d asked. If he had, maybe his trauma responses wouldn’t have kicked in, the ones that were begging Finn to drive home as fast as he could. He’d never be able to wipe the hurt face from his mind.

He doesn’t know what’ll happen next.

He has some theories.

He thinks that Finn and Quinn will break up in the coming weeks, probably shortly after Regionals. Rachel will swoop back in and claim Finn before he can even finish the sentence. Kurt just hopes that Finn has the sense to say no and be single for a while.

He thinks that Sam and Santana will break up, the latter having come to terms with her sexuality and chased the girl she loves. Kurt sighs as he realises that Brittany will reject her very politely, stating that she’s with Artie, but that as soon as Artie breaks up with her, she’ll be Santana’s for the taking.

Kurt can see Puck and Lauren being together for a while, at least as long as the New Directions aren’t losing. Lauren’s a champion wrestler, she’s used to winning. The way Kurt sees it, she won’t tolerate a team that loses.

Mike is the real wildcard out of all of this. With no lost love or attachment to go back to, if Tina break up with him for Artie, he’ll be single and sort of on the outs with the club. He’s friends with the football team and the cheerleaders, but not close enough to count. Matt had been Mike’s best friend and his departure had set him even more at odds with the New Directions. Kurt makes a mental note to put in some more effort with Mike.

He thinks himself in circles until sleep ultimately claims him.

The light of the morning proves to be very eventful.

Finn’s awake before he is, but Kurt has a suspicion that he hasn’t actually been to sleep considering how dark the circles under his eyes are.

Kurt pours himself some coffee and sits at the kitchen table, slumped over himself. He had been too tired to complete his skincare routine the previous night so knows that he needs to more than make up for that this morning.

“Morning,” Finn yawns.

“Good morning. Have you actually slept?”

Finn grimaces and suppresses another yawn. “Quinn called me just before I went to sleep. She was just being a chatty drunk.”

“Anything interesting?”

“Nah,” Finn shrugs, “just nonsense about Prom. All she really talks about these days.”

“I know it’s important to her,” Kurt smiles as widely as he can muster.

“I didn’t want to tell her that I don’t really care about being Prom King.”

“You know you have a good chance at it, right?”

Finn grins. “Thanks. It’s dumb, but it’ll probably be Karofsky.”

“Quinn’s gonna love that,” Kurt does smile genuinely imagining Quinn’s face realising she has to dance with Karofsky.

“Yeah. Can we talk about something else?”

“You should get some rest. It was a long night.”

Kurt can see the weariness on his face.

“You think?”

“Finn. Go to bed.”

“Kay,” he murmurs sleepily and trudges off to bed.

Kurt scrolls through his phone for a while, checking the New Directions group chat that he’ll somehow still a part of. Rachel makes sure not to post any group secrets in there so it’s mostly just them all talking about everything and nothing at the same time.

He exits out and that and thinks back to what he’d been thinking just before sleep: you need to explain things to Sam.

So he opens up Sam’s text thread and types slowly, deliberately.

Are you free today? I’d quite like to explain some things to you.

He doesn’t expect a response due to Sam’s impending hangover, but one comes in just a few short minutes.

I’m at my house. Want to come by? I’d suggest going for coffee but honestly if I smell anything too strong I think I’ll die.

Kurt chuckles despite himself. How does 1 sound?

Sounds perfect. Gives me enough time to figure out if I need to throw up or not.

Some things I just don’t need to hear, Sam.

I thought we could tell each other everything.

If last night taught us anything, it’s that the opposite is true.

Right. Of course.

We’ll talk later okay?

Sure.

Kurt nods to himself and pockets his phone, realising that he’s got several hours until he’s going to even start thinking about getting ready to go to Sam’s house, and he knows himself far too well at this point not to know that he’s going to spend the rest of the time overthinking the conversation. Even though he knows exactly what it is he needs to say to Sam, he’s still nervous. Sam kissed him and he has to explain why he cringed away from it, why he never mentioned anything to Sam sooner, a lot of things that Kurt would rather not talk to Sam about. But he knows that they need a frank and open discussion at this point in their lives. Even if it means comforting some of the hard stuff.

I thought you knew that I was interested.

That sentence has stuck with Kurt since the previous night. However much he wishes he’d heard Sam out rather than run away (again), he knows that it’ll be better having any kind of conversation in the light of day, without alcohol raging around Sam’s body, and no Santana hanging around. It’ll make the whole thing a lot easier for both of them.

Kurt heads up to his room, making sure to be quiet as to not disturb Finn’s much-needed rest, and starts digging through his closet. He knows already that Sam doesn’t care about what he wears, he just wants more things to be in control of, knowing that the conversation won’t really be one of them. He pulls open the door and gets to work.

It’s 12:30 when Kurt stands by the door, ready to go, Burt’s presence peeping out into the hallway.

“I didn’t expect you to be conscious after what happened last night.”

Kurt smiles. “I was awake before you were. Who told you? Finn?”

“Carole got a drunk text from Rachel at 5AM. Something about her being so sorry that things with Finn didn’t work out.”

Kurt whistles. “Oh, Rachel. Yeah, she did not handle her liquor well last night.”

“Neither did Finn by the looks of him.”

“Finn didn’t have any, nor did I.”

Burt nods. “Good boys. That stuff’ll mess you up as you’ll remember from last year.”

Kurt wrinkled his nose. “There’s something about throwing up on your germaphobic guidance counsellor that really strikes guilt in your heart enough to not drink for the foreseeable future.”

That gets a hearty laugh from Burt. “That was so funny that I couldn’t even bring myself to punish you for it.”

“Guilt is punishment enough.”

Burt nods. “So why does Finn look like he got hit by a bus?”

“We got home pretty late after dropping everyone home safely and then he got caught up on the phone with Quinn. Last night was weird, Dad.”

“You wanna tell me about it?”

Kurt smiles mysteriously. “Yes, though the end of the story can only be told after today.”

“Does this have anything to do with why you’re barely able to stand still?”

“Maybe. I’ll tell you mostly everything, Dad, I promise, just…not now. I have somewhere I have to be.”

“Before you said that, I assuming you were just going to meet Blaine, now I’m not so sure.”

“Everyone’s so caught up with Blaine and me,” Kurt chuckles. “We’re just friends. Barely that anymore, really.”

Burt nods. “Good. I never liked him.”

“Wait, really?”

“I always thought he was too slippery. But you seemed to really like him so I didn’t say anything.”

“I did seem to, didn’t I?” Kurt wrinkles his nose. “How embarrassing for me.”

Burt narrows his eyes. “Now I really want to know what happened last night.”

“If Finn surfaces before I’m back, he can tell you most of it.”

“But you’re okay?”

Kurt smiles lightly. “Not totally, but I’m on my way to being.”

“Then that’s all I can ask. Now get outta here, you look like you’re about to explode.”

Kurt grabs his keys and turns back to his dad. “Love you, Dad.”

“Love you more, kiddo.”

And Kurt’s out the door, a spring in his step unusual for the morning after a high school party.

Even with taking the long way out of sheer nervousness, Kurt arrives at the Evans house early, parked on the street and not moving. His fingers dance on the steering wheel for a few seconds as he gathers himself and takes a few steadying breaths.

“You can do this, Hummel. This is Sam. Just Sam.”

But the thing about Sam is that he’s never been just Sam, the very nature of his existence comes with a few more added caveats for Kurt. This is the boy he’s fallen hopelessly in love with with no way of letting him go anytime soon.

It’s not long before Sam spots him through the window and waves, beckoning him out of the sanctuary of his car and into the emotional uncertainty of the Evans house.

Kurt treats it like a wasteland, there being a certain threshold he just needs to cross before he’s in no man’s land, the place where everything’s up in the air, uncharted territory for both Sam and himself. He starts to wonder whether he should’ve spoken to Santana first, or even Quinn. But that means unnecessarily opening up about the truth behind this whole fucked up year, including everything that he would much rather leave buried beneath a thick coat of mud in a faraway patch of land.

By the time he’s entered Sam’s house, he’s overthought everything to the point of mental exhaustion. Just the short walk from the car is enough time for Kurt to have gone over every scenario possible.

Sam’s there to greet him, not with his usual hug or even a clap on the back, clearly taking Kurt’s implications about physical contact very seriously. Sam even sits a space away from him on the couch, whereas usually he would sit next to him.

“Stacy and Stevie are at their friends’ houses so they won’t be bothering us.”

Kurt smiles. “Are your parents home?”

“Why? What’ve you got planned for me, Hummel?”

“Nothing! Just wondering how freely we can talk.”

Sam leans back in his seat and stretches. “They know everything about me. My parents are kinda like my journal. They know it all.”

Kurt blinks because he’s just not entertained the idea of telling Burt everything just yet. He knows that Carole knows more than she lets on, out of virtue of Finn being a total blabbermouth and her being friends with the other parents Burt had cut ties with a lot of his own peers once Kurt had revealed some of his tormentors’ identities, the man unable to associate with those who enabled their children to bully his son.

“Wow that’s…I’m glad you can confide in them.”

“It’s pretty great. They’re in the backyard and they’ve promised not to eavesdrop so we have total privacy.”

Kurt tries not think about the implications of having privacy with Sam as he turns to face the man more squarely for the conversation they’re about to have.

“Have you recovered?”

Sam shakes his hand left to right. “Mostly. My stomach’s a little sensitive from throwing up all morning but other than that I’m good. I went for a run in the early hours so that cured me.”

“Did you run away from Santana?”

“I decided to run from her house to mine. Had to stop a few times on the way but I made it.”

“You are insane, Sam Evans.”

Sam nods. “But you like it.”

Kurt stiffens but returns a nod. “Sam, you have to understand a few things. I don’t want to tell you these things, not really, but after last night…I feel as though I have to.”

Sam slings his arm around the back of the couch, not quite touching Kurt but almost touching him. “You can tell me anything you want to, Kurt. You must know that by now.”

“Some part of my brain does. The other is convinced that I’m a burden and nobody needs to hear from me. That’s just how I’ve felt growing up the way I have.

“The only person who truly knew me was my mother. She knew everything before I did, she calmed my fears by telling me she already knew things and loved me regardless. Dad tried, bless his heart, but I pulled away after she died. I was scared and devastated.”

Sam nods patiently as Kurt continues.

“I learned very early on that actions speak louder than words. That’s why I choose my words carefully and why I wear the clothes I wear and act the way I act. But Sam, there are so many things I wish I’d said to you. Instead I ran away to Dalton.”

“We all get why you left, Kurt. Your safety was always more important than anything else.”

“Yes, Karofsky was dangerous and, yes, he threatened to kill me, you guys all know that.”

Sam’s eyes blaze with the anger he’d seldom been allowed to express towards Karofsky, the boy who hurt his Kurt so deeply he had to leave the people he cared about just to feel safe. “The only thing keeping me from stamping on his head is knowing that you wouldn’t have wanted that.”

“No, I wouldn’t have. Even though I’ve imagined doing just that many times. I…I’m weak.”

“You’re not weak. You’re the strongest person I know, actually. You’re the only person I know who is so completely themselves.”

Kurt smiles a little, sadness tinged around the edges. “I never have been that person. I’m very good at playing that game and talking all the talk I need to, but I’m not the person I pretend to be. I don’t know who I am.”

Sam idly runs his fingers over the back of Kurt’s hand. “I do. You’re Kurt Hummel. You’re the only guy who tried to make me feel welcome when I joined Glee Club. You’re the guy who knew I dyed my hair but promised to keep my secret. I’d been at the school only a few weeks and you captivated me.”

Kurt holds up a hand. “I…uh, I need you to not say all of that right now, if that’s okay. Once you start talking about all that stuff, I won’t be able to open myself up again.”

Sam nods. “Go on. Sorry.”

“Back to Karofsky. While I imagined violence, the only thing I could really do was yell.”

“You yelled at him?”

Kurt lets Sam hold his hand, knowing that it’s going to take every inch of his willpower to do so, but it'll be necessary to let him and Sam move to the next level of whatever they are. “I did. It was just after I went to Dalton. It was so stupid, I never should’ve done it. Karofsky shoved me and I lost it. When I talked to Blaine, he kept talking about having courage and not running away.”

“Your locker,” Sam mutters.

“Yeah. Subtle, right?”

“I don’t get what you saw in him.”

Kurt smiles. “I don’t either, really. I faced a lot of hard truths last night, and with it the realisation that I fixated on Blaine because it helped me deal with the fact that I couldn’t have you. I had Blaine’s words in my ears when I confronted Karofsky. I followed him into the locker room and we argued. And then…”

“What happened, Kurt?” Sam asks softly.

“He kissed me. I tried pushing back, Sam, but he’s so much bigger than me. When he tried it again I just ran.”

Sam’s face falls, jaw clenched. His eyes are a perfect storm of anger, pain, and regret. Kurt reaches out for his hand, choosing to squeeze it tight, feeling the comfort in his skin, reminding himself that Sam will never hurt him. “Kurt,” Sam’s voice utters out brokenly.

“It’s not okay, but I’m getting there. Only Blaine knows the whole truth. I suspect Santana knows more than I’ve told her, but I can’t be sure.”

Sam brings Kurt’s hand up to his mouth and presses a small kiss against it. “That will never happen to you again. Do you hear me?”

“Yeah, Sam, I…hey, it’s okay. It’s okay.”

“He put his fucking hands on you,” Sam rasps. “How can that be okay?”

“Because I know he’s in more pain that I ever will be. Yes, what he did is fucked up and it’s fucked me up. But he’s constantly on the edge of losing everything. His social status, his friends, maybe even his family. I don’t feel sorry for him, but I can empathise. He doesn’t know how to handle what he’s feeling.”

“That doesn’t give him the right to—.”

“I know,” Kurt nods. “And I will never forget and I certainly won’t ever forgive him. But it wasn’t about me. Just like my reaction like night was not about you.”

“I wasn’t sure. I thought I might’ve misread everything.”

“You haven’t. I just didn’t see it coming. But I…Sam, you never make me feel unsafe. Ever. I don’t see how you could.”

“I’m sorry for not seeing it.”

Kurt smiles soothingly. “You didn’t see it because I didn’t let you. I don’t know if you noticed but I’m very good at guarding my emotions most of the time. I didn’t want anyone to know. I felt ashamed, I felt useless, and I felt responsible. I thought I’d provoked him.”

Sam shakes his head. “You were rightfully angry at him. That didn’t mean he had to go and do that. Say the word and he’s roadkill, Kurt, I mean it.”

“Violence isn’t the answer here. It’ll only invalidate him to himself even further. He’ll associate his expression of his feelings with violence. And I don’t want to be near him, but I do want him to feel safe and secure in regards to his sexuality.”

“You’re a good person, Kurt,” Sam replies. “You’re better to him than he deserves.”

“Probably. I was always taught to be the bigger person.”

Sam turns to face Kurt more squarely.

“I heard you last night. When you were talking to Santana after I left. And I have to ask you…did you…did you really like me the whole time?”

Sam hangs his head. “I made a total mess of things, Kurt. I liked you from the first conversation. You were interesting, different, and a change of pace from everyone I’d gotten to know at McKinley. The guys are great, but I get the sense they didn’t really want to know me outside of being another number for Glee. You noticed things, you wanted to get to know me.”

Kurt smiles wryly. “You were also a breath of fresh air. You were kind and funny and, you, Sam are the only person I’ve ever know who is so willing to be himself. You were willing to sing with me despite Finn telling you all of that. You got slushied, you knew the risks, yet you still wanted to honour the agreement we made. That taught me all I needed to know to fall for you. Plus, it helps that you’re easily the hottest guy I’ve ever seen in real life.”

“Stop it,” Sam teases. “I…thank you. I could talk for hours about how beautiful you are, Kurt Hummel. And one day, when you will let me, I will do just that.”

“One day, huh?”

Sam takes a breath. “I broke up with Santana. Well, we kinda broke up with each other. We’re both too good to be someone’s beard. There were no feelings there, we were just killing time. And we both deserve better than that.”

Kurt sits back, growing a little more comfortable now that single Sam Evans is holding his hand. “Well, it’s about time you both realised that. What about Quinn?”

“Yeah,” Sam intones. “Yeah, that was real. I liked her, but I may have made a bit of a show of it. When you called off the duet, I was real sad, Kurt. I thought I’d lost any chance of being with you. I knew that Finn and Rachel were scheming to get Quinn and I to sing together so I went with it, I thought I might be able to learn more about you by talking to her. She really loves you, you know.”

Kurt leans his head on Sam’s shoulder. “I love her. She went through a lot and kept her head held high. I just wish she’d stop making poor decisions.”

“I don’t. If it wasn’t for her and Finn, I probably wouldn’t be here talking to you right now.”

“Thank goodness for that, then. You should expect an apology from Finn, by the way. He’s really growing up, though I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t accept it.”

“Eh, I probably will. Wouldn’t be a good start to get off on the wrong foot with the brother-in-law.”

“Brother in law?” Kurt echoes. “My, we’re getting quite serious.”

Kurt leans up from Sam’s shoulder and faces him. “I guess we should finally talk about it.”

They stare into each other’s eyes, laughing like little children.

“This is silly,” Kurt said.

“I’ll just…yeah. Kurt, I really like you. And I’d really like it if we could forget the past and think about what we want now. No more Finn, Quinn, Santana, Blaine, they’re all just background noise. We…I think we could be something really good, Kurt, and I’m in all in. I really, really am. Is that what you want?”

Kurt’s forever taken aback by how direct Sam can be sometimes, how he can just put himself out there and accept the consequences. “I…yes. Sam, I can’t promise you that this is going to be easy. I have a lot I need to try and overcome if I’m going to be any good at being anyone’s boyfriend, let alone yours. But if you’re patient with me, and allow me to make a litany of mistakes along the way, I would really like to see where this ends up. Because I really like you too, Sam. I have since I met you and I want to be with you.”

Sam breathes out a laugh. “Well that’s that. Right?”

“I don’t know, I’ve never done this before. It certainly sounds like we want to be together,” Kurt grinned.

“That’s cause we do. I’m not going to just lean in and kiss you again, but I want you to know that I want to. And it doesn’t have to be today, but whenever you’re ready, you just let me know.”

It doesn’t take much for Kurt. Looking at Sam’s big, honest eyes, seeing his pouty, irresistible lips, he knows that Sam will never hurt him and he knows that he absolutely does want and need to kiss Sam. There has been far too much build up and anticipation for his liking and he’d quite like to know what it feels like to properly kiss Sam.

He’s finally on the right track, sharing mutual feelings with a guy who he feels safe around, a rarity for Kurt. He has a good group of friends, a promising education thanks to Dalton’s academic excellence, and he’s heading to Regionals soon. Maybe he’ll even solo! Who knows? But whatever happens, he knows that Sam will be along for the ride every step of the way.

“Sam?”

“Yeah, Kurt?”

Kurt smiles, eyes flickering from Sam’s eyes to his hard jaw, to his lips, and up and down his strong arms and body. 

“Kiss me.”