The Glow (A Klaine AU) *in progress*

Chapter Three: Rumors

Two weeks had passed, but I'd not gained the courage to talk to Blaine again since what happened in the library. Rumors were escalating, but I tried to push through it. Nothing like I haven't faced before, I told myself as I duly went through the motions of my daily life. Lately I haven't been as happy, longing for friends and for the life I once had with them... I also found myself looking for Blaine, who, after the rumors started up, went crawling back to Sebastian and took to avoiding me. Every time I would see him in the halls or class, I would duck my head and avoid him, staying far enough away to suppress our illustrious Glow that everyone seemed to be talking about.

"Kurt, you need to talk to him. You've got to! He's clearly in love with you, he just needs consolation about all of this. Please! The Glow is always right, he's your soulmate," Rachel insisted over the phone days later, harping on about how I was meant to be with Blaine, and whatever else. I barked out a laugh.

"No, Rachel! He went crawling back to Sebastian because of all of the rumors going around now, and he won't even come near me... I can't believe him," I huffed indignantly, rolling my eyes.

"Please! Talk with him!" Rachel pleaded, voice sounding desperate. She was my only friend now, and she knew me better than anyone else. So... maybe she's right. Doubtful, but perhaps.

So, hours later, I finally gathered the courage to find Blaine where I knew he'd be, in the choir room at Dalton. I stood in the doorway for a moment, watching Blaine flip through sheet music, muttering to himself. I smiled just a bit, thinking to myself that maybe Blaine was really my soulmate. At last, I lifted my fist and left three gentle knocks on the door. Blaine looked up, face streaked with tears. Like every time we met eyes, an illumination of blue scattered across the area above his head, casting shadows across his face. In an instant, though, the light was gone. My Glow faded in a dizzying array of greens and golds, fluttering around my shoulders. I crossed the room and sat next to him, at first unsure of what to do with myself. Then, as if propelled by some unseen force, I reached over and pulled Blaine closer, wrapping my arms around his trembling shoulders. 

"Hey..." I whispered, and though he fought my grip, held on. "Look, I don't know what to do either, but I'm here, and I want to make this work. Please, don't give up on me." I begged. Blaine buried his head in my collarbone, sobbing. "Shhhh... I know, I know this is hard.  I know. Breathe, okay?" I continued, looking around to make sure no one was watching us. Suddenly, I got an idea. I remembered my mother, however long ago she'd been with us, and how whenever I had nightmares, she would calm me down. Now, I had to do the same for Blaine.

"Blaine, look at me. Breathe." I picked up his shaking hand and placed it on my chest, so he could feel the heartbeat. "Feel that?" He nodded. "Okay, I want you to breathe in, match mine, okay?" I instructed, putting my hand on top of Blaine's in reassurance. Sure enough, Blaine's hard breathing began to ebb, giving way to softer, calmer inhales.

"There we are.. there," I said once Blaine relaxed, and he moved away slowly, tentatively. He looked at me, his hazel eyes glinting with tears, and, leaning in, pressed his lips against mine. My breath caught in my throat, and my heart beat as if a thousand butterflies beat their wings against it. It was reluctant at first, but as I got my bearings I brought my hand up to cup the side of his face, closing my eyes and letting the wave of euphoria wash over me. So... this was happening... seconds passed between us before I pulled away, biting my lip and trying to catch my breath.

Blaine sat there, looking about as surprised as I felt. He looked hesitant, not really sure what to do next, and I smiled shyly. His stunning eyes were filled with breathless delight, and a slight blush rose to his cheeks.

"Blaine... I..." I mumbled senselessly.

"I wasn't lying when I said I wanted to be with you, Kurt. And... I'm so sorry for ignoring you and pushing you away, but this is... so much, so fast, and I-"

"Hey, you're okay. I want to be with you too and I'm not going to leave you ever, no matter what anyone says. Now.. care to tell me what you were crying about?"

Blaine's skin drained of all color. "Sebastian sent my parents the video. When we met, the Glow, all of it. They know now."

I sighed. "Okay. Look, the worst of it is over now, because it's out in the open and that's what we were scared of before, right? So now... all we need to do is find a way. And believe me, we will."

Little did I know, finding a way was going to be a lot harder than I thought.

________________________________

I sat alone in the choir room, flipping through sheet music, which is what I often did when I was upset. Mom and Dad... they found out. Sebastian sent them the video of that day, when Kurt and I met. I came home that day, and Mom refused to even look at me now. Cooper too. But Dad, he was the worst of them all. He called me things I can't repeat to this day without wanting to cry all over again. So, I packed up my things and am living at Dalton all the time now. The choir room is the only thing that has brought me comfort, and Kurt had been making himself scarce ever since the incident in the library. I was sorry, I really was, and I couldn't find the right words to apologize with.

Suddenly, I heard a quiet, rapping knock on the door, and turned around, jumping when I saw it was Kurt, his blue eyes blazing with concern. The halo of golden that followed every glance toward me he made exploded in a stunning beam of color, and I felt the familiar tingling sensation of my glow.

"Hey..." Kurt mumbled, his voice soothing and smooth as honey. He looked so beautiful, the light bouncing off of his porcelain skin and his sapphire eyes gleaming with golden light.

"Look, I know you're scared but I want to make this work," he whispered above my tears, and he took a seat beside me, smiling gently. Damn that little half-smile. It was driving me insane...

"Blaine, look at me-"

I burst into tears again, folding in against myself and crumpling the sheet music I was holding. My heart thrummed in my chest, and I felt Kurt's gentle grasp pulling me toward him. I inhaled his scent, lavender, calming. He held me for a few minutes, and my hot tears stained the red material of his shirt.

"Look at me. Breathe; okay?" Kurt mumbled, taking my hand and placing it against my chest. What are you- I almost pulled away but he kept it there, so close I could almost feel a heartbeat. Fluttering, soft. I matched his breathing, pantomiming his calm heartbeat until my tears subsided and I looked up once more.

"Thank you," I whispered, wiping away tears.

"Yeah," Kurt mouthed, tilting his head.

And that's when I did it.

I pulled him closer, feeling his body heat, until at last I pressed my lips against mine. Slowly, insecurely at first, but beautiful all the same. His lips were soft, gentle. And in that instant, I didn't care about my parents. About Sebastian. All I wanted was Kurt, and I breathed in a sigh when he pulled away.

"Woah.." he whispered, bewildered.

"I wasn't lying when I said I wanted to be with you, Kurt," I told him, my words incoherent.

"I know, I know. I want to be with you too. But this is a lot.. and-" Kurt trailed off, biting his lip.

"Yeah." I heaved a sigh. "My parents know now." I got out, still in denial. Kurt cocked his head, a lock of hair falling into his face. I brushed it away, nodding.

"Sebastian sent them a video. Of when we met, the Glow...." I lamented.

"Okay, well the worst is done now. They know; which is what we were terrified of to begin with. And... now it's in the open and all there's left to do is to figure this out together. I want to, Blaine." Kurt confirmed, smiling.

Still, I didn't know how hard figuring it out together would be.

____________________________