When You're the Best of Friends, 21/?

[xlessxthanx3x]

Title: When You’re the Best of Friends
Chapter Title: Shall We Dance?
Author: xLessxThanx3x
Rating: PG-13 
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Kurt Hummel, Noah Puckerman, Finn Hudson, Carole Hudson, Burt Hummel, Blaine Anderson, a few Warblers, mentions of ND members Current Pairings: Barole, mentions of Finchel and past Fuinn and one-sided Puckleberry
Warnings: AU, "strong language"
Spoilers: Nothing past "A Very Glee Christmas"
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee nor any songs/albums mentioned
Author Notes: Part of a series. I just suck at updating, my apologies. It's chapter 21 but listed as 23 on ff.net because of two interludes.
Summary: AU. Puck and Kurt hold hands, cuddle, know each other’s biggest secrets, and make the other a priority…but they’re not dating, they’ve just been best friends for years. Multi-chapter. Eventual Puckurt. Based off a Puckurt meme prompt. 
(Chapter Summary: Puck and Kurt manage to get through the rest of the semester at separate schools but Puck isn't doing so well at managing his dislike of Blaine. Rewrite of "Special Education" and "A Very Glee Christmas".)
Word Count: 9,068


Ding dong ding dong ding dong ding dong…The doorbell kept ringing its annoying two-tone ring and Burt groaned. He got out of the chair he was reading the paper in as he waited for his son to finish packing (they had to rush over to Dalton ASAP to get his dorm assignment) and made his way to the door. Finn and Carole's boxes were still around the hallways so it took a while but the doorbell just kept ringing and ringing.

Finally he opened it to see who it was and sighed. He should've known. Burt opened the door all the way and stepped aside. "Kurt's in his room finishing packing. Watch out for spare boxes, Noah." Puck barely gave him a nod before running down to the basement door, jumping over boxes like some video game character as his backpack bounced on his back. He slammed the door closed and ran down the stairs quickly but when he finally got to Kurt's room, he froze. Kurt could tell that Puck was there and Puck knew that, but they just stayed frozen, Kurt in front of his bed where his suitcase laid and Puck on the opposite side of the room, just watching.

"Why did you tell me in front of everyone?" Puck finally asked quietly, taking a few steps forward. "I just…I just thought I deserved to know before you told everyone."

Kurt didn't turn around. "I just found out a few minutes before I got to Glee. I didn't have time to tell you, Noah. I'm sorry."

"But…but you could've come to me first or-or something," Puck stammered.

"I didn't want to tell the same thing twice. It was hard enough saying it once," Kurt explained, slowly and deliberately folding up a shirt before placing it daintily in the suitcase in front of him.

"Kurt, why aren't you looking at me?" Puck asked softly. "Just because you're going to another school-we aren't going to not be friends any more, right?" he asked, realizing that didn't really make much sense. He cleared his throat and reworded his question, "We're still friends, right?"

"Of course!" Kurt exclaimed, finally whipping his head around to look at Noah. His eyes were red rimmed and puffy, worse than they had been a few hours at the beginning of Glee club, but they were blazing with a fire at Puck's words.

"Okay, okay, I was just…making sure. I mean, now that you're going to be with that Blaine guy everyday, I didn't know if I was…replaced or whatever," Puck said, slowly sitting down on part of Kurt's bed that wasn't overtaken by his oversized suitcase and placing his backpack on the floor.

Kurt's brows furrowed together and he sat down next to Puck. "Why would that change anything? Haven't we been over how no matter what, you're my best friend and you know me best and no one will replace that?" He placed a hand on Puck's knee and smiled slightly, "Plus I hope he'll be a boyfriend soon, and that's definitely not replacing you."

For whatever reason, that didn't comfort Puck.

"I'm just really going to miss you at school," Puck said quietly.

"I know," Kurt replied just as soft. "I'll miss you, too. At least we have weekends and we could find a halfway point to meet up, too."

"I guess…I don't know, I wish I did more. I know I can't beat him up, but I could've stopped him somehow, right? I mean, even if not, I should've helped you and been there for you and everyth-"

"No," Kurt said firmly, looking at Puck with a serious look in his eyes. "Noah, you're not responsible for this, okay? You're not responsible for stopping a closeted maniac. And I say that in the most respectful way possible since obviously the boy needs help, but…" he sighed, "None of this is your fault so I better not hear you blaming yourself for any of it."

"I can't help it, Kurt!" Puck exclaimed, standing up, "I messed up our friendship and pushed you away and then we finally get to be back together and you're pushed out of the school and I just know I could've stopped it-"

"You couldn't have," Kurt said, standing up in front of Puck. "So please stop saying you could have! You didn't make me confront Karofsky and you didn't make him kiss me, so how is any of this your fault?"

"Because I'm supposed to protect you, and I couldn't protect you from Mama Kate dying or when Burt was in the hospital but I could've protected you from him-"

"Noah-"

"If you had just told us about the threat we could've done something and-"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Kurt yelled, causing Puck to finally stop and look at Kurt. The volume level didn't make Puck pause; it was the curse word and the anger and hurt dripping from each syllable. Kurt looked at Puck with a glare, practically shaking, "I'm tired of everyone treating me like an actual Hummel figurine. I hate this, Noah, I hate that I can't just bounce back from this like I used to and I hate that it got this bad. I don't want people protecting me, Noah, but I have to! You don't know what it's like to feel helpless against a bully. You've been made fun of but no one could take you on physically unless you let them; Karofsky really could hurt me, Noah, do you know how terrifying that is?"

Kurt shook his head and closed his eyes tightly, "I know I should've told people, but I didn't want to accidentally out him. Or I like to tell myself that's it; I know I just thought I could handle it myself." He opened his eyes and renewed his glare on Puck, "I feel bad enough that I have to run and hide from the Big Bad Bully, so don't rub it in by saying how much you could've protected me. It's not your fault; it's that freaking psychopath's. I get that you feel guilty, but you're not helping this situation at all, so stop. Please." He sat down on the bed, pressing his lips together as Puck stared at him in shock.

It took a few moments, but slowly and surely, Puck sat down next to Kurt, letting his hands rest in his lap and his eyes looking straight ahead like Kurt's were. "I'm sorry," he finally said softly.

Kurt nodded and, in a strained voice, replied, "Me, too."

Puck looked over at Kurt, recognizing that pinched look he got whenever he tried not to cry. "Kurt…" he sighed, wrapping his arm around his shoulders, "It's just me. You don't have to hold back, right? It's just us two, no one else." He moved Kurt's head closer to his chest and added, "This shirt is cheap enough some tear stains won't hurt it."

Kurt choked out a laugh that made a few tears leave his eyes. The tears kept falling down his cheeks after that and his body shook with sobs soon after. Puck's hand ran up and down Kurt's back, his eyes stinging and throat burning from seeing Kurt so worked up and from the reminder that, starting the next day, he and Kurt would be torn apart yet again.

As Kurt's breathing started going back to normal and the tears stopped wetting Puck's T-shirt, Puck whispered, "It's going to be hard without you."

Kurt nodded in agreement, very tempted to just sleep as Puck pushed his bangs out of his face. But he sniffed and pulled himself out of Puck's hold, grabbing a tissue from his nightstand and wiping his face. He threw it in the nearby trash and looked back at Puck, who was looking at him curiously.

"You have an eyelash," Puck said, "On your chin."

Kurt wiped at the spot and looked back at Noah, but he just shook his head as it stayed stuck to Kurt's skin. "Here, let me get it," he said after Kurt failed at getting it off yet again.

He used his hand to gently push Kurt's chin up and leaned in. His thumb gently pressed against Kurt's chin and carefully pushed the eyelash off. When he finished, his hand stayed still as his eyes darted up to Kurt's, then back down to his lips. As if pulled by an invisible force, Puck started to lean in.

Kurt's eyes widened, not liking how much his heart raced as Puck did so. In a panic, he quietly said, "I got you a gift!"

Puck's eyes darted back up to Kurt's and he dropped his hand as he pulled away, breaking the spell. "Really? Sweet," he said, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. What the hell was that?

He awkwardly watched as Kurt got up and went to his computer. Kurt stayed there for a few moments, letting his breathing and heartbeat slow down to a normal speed. When he turned around, it was if nothing had happened. He sat back down next to Puck and dropped a flash drive into his open palm.

Puck looked at it curiously. "It's a flash drive," Kurt explained.

"I know that," Puck said with an eye roll.

"This flash drive has music on it," Kurt continued. As Puck started to say how he didn't want or need anymore musicals on his computer, Kurt explained, "It was going to be a Christmas/Hanukkah present, but I'll find you another one. It's an album called All You Will Never Know, AKA the complete B-side collection of one Avril Lavine."

Puck laughed in disbelief, "No way! Thanks, Kurt. I didn't even know she had an album full of them."

"Me neither, but I put it on my computer, too, so we can discuss the songs like I know you'll want to," Kurt said, putting his hand on Puck's knee. "I know we'll miss each other, but now we'll have something to remind us of each other, right? Because I've been thinking, if you combine the quote-unquote 'badassery' of yourself and the prissy nature of myself, you'd get something close to Avril. Our music combined kind of makes her, too, when you think about it; rock and punk with a fair amount of pop added in for flavor."

"…True, yeah," Puck laughed, putting the flash drive in his pocket. "I know she's not your favorite or the best of the best, but I still like her. So, you know, I appreciate it a lot that you indulge my not so badass tendencies every now and then." He looked at Kurt and smiled, "Thanks."

"No problem," Kurt said, smiling back.

"Oh," Puck said, suddenly remembering, "I got you a gift, too." He turned around and rifled through his backpack until he pulled out a plastic bag.

Puck looked at Kurt sheepishly, "Um, I came prepared for another excuse you might've had for leaving." Kurt raised an eyebrow and Puck explained, "I thought it was possible-not likely, but possible-that you decided on Dalton because it has a gay dude there and even if that wasn't a reason, I know you like that Blaine guy, so I thought…you might want to get prepared for things. Or that if you got something like this, you'd…stay."

Kurt continued to look confused, so Puck gave Kurt the bag. He pulled out the contents, a bottle and some books, and didn't recognize what they were. With furrowed eyebrows, he looked at the bottle. It was clear and the liquid inside it was clear as well. That seemed like an awful lotion.

Then he looked at the books. "The Back Passage?" Kurt read out loud, "Diving in Deep? Hot Cops-Oh God, these are-" He looked back to the lotion, or what he thought was lotion, "That stuff's-oh my God!" He blushed and dropped all the items, covering his mouth with his hands.

Puck had gotten him lube and gay erotica books.

"I know looking at half-naked guys is cool with you but you have a hard time looking at porn, so I thought reading it might help," Puck said sensibly, "I kinda hoped that if you got stuff to jerk off with you'd want to stay. I know it's not the same as having someone do it for you, but I thought it was worth a try."

Kurt looked at Puck, speechless. "…How could you even think I'd move to another school for…this?" he asked, holding up one of the books.

"Don't be mad; I was desperate and in denial, okay?"

"Be that as it may, I'm not using these." He pushed them into Puck's arms, "Take them back, I don't want them."

"Kurt, I paid good money for this stuff! Just bring it to your dorm in case you get an urge you'll actually act on in the middle of the night," Puck said, putting the items on top of Kurt's clothes in his bag.

"I get urges!" Kurt said, immediately looking down sheepishly. "…Fine. I'll take them." He looked back up at Puck and snapped, "I'm not saying I'll use them, though."

"You don't have to. I just thought it's a less embarrassing way for you to learn more about gay sex," Puck said with a shrug. He looked at the clock behind Kurt and groaned, "I need to get back soon. Ma has a shift so I have to watch Sara."

Kurt pouted, "I was hoping you could help me move in so I could spend some more time with you. I guess you don't get to see Blaine today, then."

Puck managed not to cheer in relief at that thought.

"I'll take you to your car, then," Kurt said. They stood up and Kurt took Noah's hand, letting his fingers intertwine with his. "Tell New Directions that I miss them and that I wish them luck, okay?" Then he paused and turned to Puck, "Help them get a new member. You need at least one more to compete."

"Why'd you tell me that? If we drop out, your team will actually have a chance at winning," Puck said with a large grin.

"Please," Kurt scoffed, rolling his eyes as they started going up the stairs, "Now that I'm on their team, you guys don't stand a chance."

-

"Okay, Blaine says we can meet him in the west side parking lot," Kurt told his father. He looked up from his phone, "Which way is west?"

Burt turned right in answer to Kurt's question. Even though Carole had tried to make conversation in the car and Finn tried to be supportive, Burt hadn't talked much on the ride there, not because he was angry, but because he didn't know how to say goodbye to his boy. Of course he'd see him on most weekends and he'd be able to call him and talk to him on that Facebook thing that Finn promised to teach him to use, but he hated being away from him. It was painful. For so many years it had just been the two of them, and of course he loved Carole and Finn, but not having his boy at home was going to hurt.

"So is this Blaine…something special, like, y'know…?" he finally asked awkwardly, knowing he had to say something to Kurt since he always talked about the kid (while Puck just glared, which made him wonder how his kid was so oblivious).

Kurt blushed and looked down. "No," he said.

Carole gave a knowing smirk and Finn just flat out asked, "Is he gay?"

"Not everyone at Dalton is gay, Finn," Kurt sighed, already sounding like a brother. "…But, yes, he is-but that doesn't mean anything," he insisted, "Just because two guys are gay doesn't mean we're dating, we can still be friends!" He bit his lip and looked down, leaving out the obvious part of how he wouldn't mind if it was more than that.

When the family got into the parking lot, Blaine was waiting by the doors to the school with his enthusiastic smile. Kurt smiled back even though he still didn't feel quite right doing so; Blaine just made him smile so easily. "Well, he's definitely cute," Carole said.

"He's short," Finn observed.

"So's Rachel," Kurt shot back. Finn just shrugged; he didn't know why Kurt seemed to like this guy so much when he also liked Puck so much. But, then again, he didn't understand anything about Kurt and Puck.

Burt stopped the car next to the curb and Kurt hopped out to greet Blaine.

"Welcome to Dalton, new kid," Blaine teased, shaking Kurt's hand.

"Thanks," Kurt said back with a shy smile as his family-it still was strange and exciting to really have a full family-got out of the car. "My family came to help me move in: Finn and Carole-I know I've told you about them-and this is my father."

Blaine shook all of their hands. "Nice to meet you all…Finn, Mrs. Hudson, Mr. Hummel."

"You can call me Carole," she insisted. She looked over at Burt, expecting him to do the same, but Burt just stared Blaine down.

Now, he always wanted his son to be happy, and if he was happy with this guy and trusted him and they started dating, he'd be okay with it. But that didn't mean he couldn't have a bit of fun and be the intimidating father, right? Especially since he couldn't intimidate Puck as much as he could intimidate this guy if his nervous glance at Kurt meant anything.

"…So, the headmaster has left for the day, so he can't greet you, but I'm one of the greeters for new students, so I'm allowed to take you to your room and show you around and I have your schedule taped up on your door," Blaine explained after a small silence. "Do you need help moving your stuff in?" he asked as Burt opened the trunk to the car. Burt pulled out one of the larger suitcases and Finn got the other as Finn grabbed the trunk of shoes and Carole got the TV and DVD player before Kurt could offer to help. "…Um, Kurt, you realize we wear a uniform, right?"

"Yes, but every moment is an opportunity for fashion; plus I have an extensive moisturizing schedule," Kurt said as he daintily picked up his messenger bag and put it over his shoulder.

"Right…okay then, follow me," Blaine said, opening the door to the building.

Kurt walked up with Blaine as his family trailed behind. "Thank you for volunteering to get me settled in," he said quietly as they walked down the halls.

"It's no problem," Blaine insisted. "I'm just sorry it got so bad. I can't help feeling it's all my fault."

"Oh, no, it isn't! I would've told him off at some point and it probably still would've happened," Kurt said, nervously playing with the strap of his messenger bag.

They walked in silence for a little while until Blaine said, "Where's Noah-I mean, uh, Puck?"

"I wish Noah was here, but he had to watch Sara, his sister," Kurt explained.

"I'm sorry," Blaine said comfortingly, before announcing, "Here we are! The junior dorms." He took a key out of his pocket and led them down to a room where Kurt's name was printed on the whiteboard and his schedule was taped to it. Kurt took it down without looking at the classes as Blaine put the key in the keyhole. Blaine opened the door all the way and held his arm out, indicating the family needed to enter.

Kurt's eyes widened as he walked into it. It was bigger than he expected with two empty beds and desks. Blaine stepped inside once all of them had entered and explained, "Because you're enrolling now instead of at a break, you don't have a roommate, but singles are even more expensive, so you get a double to yourself. You'll get a week's notice if anyone is going to move in with you. It normally takes a week to process all the forms which is why it was surprising that you got in so quickly-"

"You don't know the power of one Sue Sylvester," Kurt explained, putting his messenger bag on the bed.

"Right…" Blaine said again, not sure who Sue Sylvester was even though it sounded familiar.

"So this is really all mine?" Kurt asked, walking around the room and examining it.

"All yours."

"This could make a great vanity," he said as he got to the farther desk, already imagining his portable mirror up on it.

"Don't get too spoiled, now," Burt warned, even though there was a hint of a smile in his voice.

"Do you want us to help you unpack, sweetie?" Carole asked.

Kurt turned around, about to say yes, when he remembered Puck's little gift. His eyes widened and he quickly said, "No!" They all stared at him and explained, "I just don't want you guys to do anything else for me when you've done so much. We can just see where my classes are and then go out to eat like we planned."

"Sounds good," Finn said, already thinking about food.

They all headed out. Blaine led them to where Kurt's classes were and showed Kurt the room the Warblers met in, Finn looking at him sourly at the reminder that Kurt would join their team. Then the family went out to eat at a place Blaine suggested since Kurt's meal plan wouldn't start until the next day.

The goodbyes were still the hardest part. Kurt held onto all of them tightly as they hugged, not wanting to say goodbye. He had just made this new family and he was already being exiled. He would barely see them and he couldn't even give much input into the house hunting! But he promised he'd see them that coming weekend after Sectionals and he waved them off as they drove away.

As soon as he was back in his empty dorm, he ripped open his large bag. The books and lube were right at the top and Kurt blushed and hurriedly shoved them under the bed, too afraid someone would look in his drawer if he put them in there. Of course Puck was already finding ways to make him embarrassed despite how far apart they were.

-

The next day, Kurt nervously carried his breakfast tray to the full room of boys. While they didn't seem unwelcoming, he felt their eyes on him. Probably because he was still in one of his designer outfits instead of in a uniform (he was getting one right after breakfast), but it was still nerve wracking. His eyes scanned the room until he found Blaine and a few other Warblers at a table. He walked over to them as briskly as he could and politely asked, "May I sit here?"

"Of course!" Wes said as Blaine scooted over to make room for Kurt. The other boys Kurt didn't know said their names and Kurt smiled, unable to remember who was who. Kurt placed his tray of fruit, milk, and wheat toast on the table and David raised his eyebrows.

"Um, I promise the food is good here," David said.

"Oh, I bet, it smells good, but I don't like to eat a heavy breakfast and the eggs are whole, not just egg whites," Kurt explained perkily before biting into a strawberry.

"Cool," David said with a shrug. Kurt looked down awkwardly at his plate. Did he seriously already weird out the kids at the most accepting school in the state?

"So…what grade are you guys in?" Kurt asked, trying to make a conversation.

"David and I are seniors," Wes said.

"Oh, like Blaine?" Kurt asked. The table laughed and Kurt's brows furrowed.

"No, Kurt, I'm a sophomore," Blaine said.

Kurt's eyebrows just furrowed more. "Really? You just seemed so…mature."

"Oh, trust us, Kurt, little Blainers over there is not nearly as mature as you think," one of the other Warblers said, Ted or something. Blaine rolled his eyes and took a sip of his orange juice.

"You have a lot to learn about Blaine and Dalton just yet," Wes teased. Kurt smiled as the others laughed good naturedly, feeling a sense of dread form in his stomach.

-

Part of Puck really just wanted to yell at all of his Glee club members for being so stupid. They were arguing over solos and who had sex with who and all of that bullshit so much they seemed to forget that they had lost a member and needed a new one to compete. Jeez, he had lost his best friend yet again and he was more focused on winning than his teammates. Maybe they didn't even deserve the final member that would let them compete.

But then Mr. Schue asked him for help and even with all the bad history behind them, he knew he wanted to help and make Kurt proud. So he went to the locker room, hoping that one guy would see that if someone like him could do Glee club, they totally could, too.

He'd just have to resist the urge to punch Karofsky in the face.

-

"So he said you were good but you tried too hard and that's why you couldn't have a solo?" Puck asked, his eyebrows knotting together. He laid back on his bed, his hand behind his head as his right hand held his phone to his ear.

"Yeah…well, the Warblers are all about blending in, so much so they don't even wear real outfits, just their uniforms, for competitions," Kurt said, his legs curled up against his chest as he leaned against his headboard. "So at McKinley it's all about being the loudest and brightest, but here it's about being just one big group."

"But I thought when you saw them you said that Blaine had a big solo," Puck said, not even trying to be a dick because of Blaine; he was just really confused.

"…Well, yes, and I think he has a solo in our set-"

"So he can stand out but you can't?"

The line was silent for a few moments as Kurt thought over what Puck said. "…I think there's more to it than that," he finally said, not wanting to admit Puck was sounding right.

Normally Puck would've snorted and let it go so Kurt could think, but he was on a roll. "And you've always said that being different is what's the best thing about you. Why would you want to blend in with a group of dickbag singers if you're more than that? Everyone talks about Rachel being a star, but you're just as unique as her, Kurt, and you're also not throwing a fit over not getting a solo unlike her, you're a lot easier to deal with. I don't understand why people don't see star quality in you." Puck barely held himself back from attacking Blaine and his stupid gelled up hair and stupid smile that Kurt always returned. Barely.

"I…I don't know," Kurt finally said, hugging his free arm around his knees.

Puck sighed. As much as he wanted Kurt to get angry and rant about Blaine instead of praising him, he knew Kurt needed time to think about it. Plus he had to update him on current events.

"I'm sorry I didn't call yesterday. I, um, got locked in a Porta Potty."

"It's fine, I was just worried-what?" Kurt nearly screamed, jolting up.

"You told me to get new members and then Schue told me, too," Puck started, "And so I tried to get some football guys to join, but it was kind of my bad to do it in front of Karofsky and Azimio." Kurt frowned at the mention of the name, hard enough Puck could practically feel it on his side of the line, but he said nothing. "So they ganged up on me and it's not like I could do much to fight them off 'cause of parole and all that, so they locked me in a Porta Potty. I didn't think I'd ever get out. I started praying to Jesus and Satan I was so desperate."

"Oh, Noah, why didn't you call-oh, no reception?"

"Yep," Puck sighed, stretching out his arm. "Eventually I got saved and you'll never guess by who."

"Jacob Ben Israel?" Kurt asked. Puck made a negative noise so Kurt tried another name, "Ms. Pillsbury?"

"Nope. Lauren Zizes."

"Oh my God, like Wrestler Lauren Zizes?" Kurt asked incredulously.

Puck rolled his eyes, "How many other Lauren Zizes do you know?"

"Good point," Kurt said.

"Anyways, so she pulls me out and so it seems like the perfect person to ask to join Glee-"

"Oh my God, no way," Kurt whispered in excitement for where the story was going.

"And she said yes, only if I could do two things. One, get her Cadbury eggs-"

"Those are off season, they must be hard to find," Kurt said sympathetically.

Puck furrowed his eyebrows, "How did you even know that?"

"Noah, shopping's one of my fortes; I know when everything's in season," Kurt said simply. "What was task number two?"

"She wanted seven minutes in heaven…with me," Puck said.

The line was silent for a few seconds as Kurt processed what Puck had just told him. "Wait, you made out with her?"

"Hey, it got the job done," Puck said with a shrug, "And she was actually really amazing. Like, earth-rocking good." Then his eyebrows knitted together again and he added, in a slightly hurt voice, "She said I wasn't very good."

"What? I can't believe that. You've got girls lining up around the block to date you; how could you be a bad kisser?" Kurt said, confused. "I'm sure you're great. I may not speak from experience, but…" The idea only made Kurt think of how it seemed as if Puck was leaning into kiss him that day he left for Dalton, how his heart started racing and his eyes darted to Puck's full mouth that seemed entirely too soft. Just the lean-in that wasn't even a real lean-in was enough to make Kurt's skin flush and Kurt was just his friend; how could anyone think Puck was a bad kisser?

"Yeah, whatever, I think she was just trying to play it cool," Puck said, not sounding entirely convinced. "But I guess I could've tested my abilities again with Rachel, but-"

"Okay, wait, what, slow down, Rachel? Did something happen?" Kurt let out an agitated grunt, "God, why does all the exciting drama happen after I transfer?"

"Well, her and Finn are fighting because you know how he slept with Santana last year?"

"Yeah, everyone knows that."

"Not Rachel," Puck said. "So now they're fighting because Finn said he was still a virgin and Rachel's jealous. So she came up to me and started flirting and…okay, when I was begging for my life in the Porta Potty, I told myself I'd be nicer to people besides you, and eventually I narrowed it down to just Glee club members, so I just walked with her for a bit since she was feeling down. Eventually she tried to proposition me and I was tempted, but I figured if I'm going to see Finn more often because he's your brother and if I want him to be my bro still, I should stop making out with his girlfriends. So I turned her down and left and now I'm here."

Kurt nodded to himself, pleased. "Your life sounds much more interesting than mine right now. I still don't even know people here well enough to hang out with them outside of classes and meals. I'm seriously just laying on my bed in my uniform as I hear chatter outside in the hallway."

"Well, you know what you could do to spice things up," Puck said in a sing-song voice.

"Huh?"

"Those gifts I gave you aren't going to use themselves," Puck explained, his eyebrows waggling as he laughed.

Kurt felt his whole face heat up and he groaned in embarrassment. "Carole almost helped me unpack, right in front of my dad and Finn and Blaine. Do you realize how embarrassing that would've been? To have to explain lube and other masturbatory tools to my family and the guy I have a crush on?"

"Dude," Noah said, holding back laughter from entering his voice, "Blaine knows you masturbate, Carole knows you do it, and I'm sure Finn will learn soon enough that you do if he doesn't know already, 'cause you're sharing a room and all right now. Pretty sure your dad knows, too. People jack off; it's what we do to stay alive between hook ups. And, hey, if I can handle waking up and actually feeling your morning wood-"

"Oh my God Noah shut up!" Kurt said in a high scream, his spare hand going to his face in embarrassment. Did Puck really have to bring up that?

"Hey, you've felt mine-"

"Oh my God, I'm hanging up on you-"

"Don't waste my gifts, Kurt-"

"Bye!" Puck laughed at his friend's squeaked out the word as the line went silent. After a moment, smile still in tact, he texted Kurt, "I was thinking maybe getting u a vibe 2".

He swore he could hear Kurt screaming at him from Dalton.

-

Puck knew his role. He knew he was the supportive best friend and was supposed to love Kurt's performance, even if they were competing against each other. And yeah, he loved Kurt's performance, the little snippets he got to see of him as he blended into a sea of red and blue and was stuck in the background while that fucking hobbit was singing lead. But Blaine was hogging all the attention and that was after he had given Kurt a stupid speech about how the Warblers didn't steal attention in solos. What were those faces Blaine was making, then? Why did Blaine get lead? Why was Kurt stuck in the background?

He already hated Dalton and Blaine Warbler, but the performance didn't help. Kurt deserved to be front and center, not Blaine. Maybe he wouldn't have gotten attention at McKinley, but he wouldn't have been denied for trying too hard. What kind of excuse was that bullshit? It still pissed him off.

But when he saw Kurt after the performance, he just hugged him tightly (if briefly) and told him he did a great job, just ignoring the curly-haired idiot by his side.

-

"A tie is seriously major bullshit," Puck said into the phone with a roll of his eyes.

"I know and you've told me this at least fifteen times already," Kurt said, his phone on speaker as he packed.

"Yeah, well I can't help it that you now remind me of the biggest bullshit moment in show choir history," Puck teased.

Kurt snorted, "I'm sure you're well-read on all the show choir BS moments."

"Oh yeah, took the class and passed it and everything," Puck joked back. The two left for a moment and Puck sighed. "When does your dad get you?"

"Ugh, I swear I'm bringing my car up next semester so I can come down more often. I have the rest of my finals tomorrow but I could leave after them tomorrow if I had a car. But because he's picking me up, I have to wait until the next day super early in the morning. We'll probably stop somewhere for breakfast since I won't let him eat McDonald's anymore. Then we'll drive back to my house and you can meet me there and help me do some last minute packing of the house if you want. Which you should because then you get to see me."

"And what would I ever want to see you for?" Puck teased.

Kurt just ignored the joke and picked up his phone, turning it off speaker. He whispered, "I think Blaine tried to kiss me the other day."

"What?" Puck asked, jolting up and feeling a weird mix of fear and anxiety in his veins.

"Yeah…I texted him because Pavarotti, the warbler they gave me, was acting funny. He came over and he said that he was just molting and he'd get a new coat of feathers soon and it'd be okay. I looked down at Pavarotti and Blaine patted my knee and when I looked up, his face was, like, just a few inches from mine. A total Lean-In move, like when you-like when you see a guy lean in for a kiss in a romantic comedy." He cursed himself internally for almost bringing up what he thought was Puck trying to kiss him at his house.

Puck didn't notice Kurt's slipup, too annoyed at the idea of Blaine kissing Kurt. "What happened then? How did he act?"

"He kind of just pretended like nothing happened but it felt really awkward as he left," Kurt said.

"Hmmm…"

"…I'm probably just making things up, aren't I?" Kurt said in a defeated voice.

"I don't know, Kurt, I wasn't there," Puck said.

Kurt sighed, flopping down on his bed. "I should go study. Or at least sit in one of the beautiful study rooms and pretend like I'm doing something."

"Oh…okay," Puck said, not really ready to get off the phone with Kurt.

"Hey, I'll see you in two days, okay?" Kurt said cheerfully.

Puck smiled, "Yeah, I guess I will. You go off and study in one of your fancy study rooms, then. And remember not to get too spoiled over there."

"I'll only let myself get the tiniest bit spoiled," Kurt teased. "Bye, Noah. Love you."

"Love you, too."

-

"Okay, so he asked me to help him practice for this big performance he's doing, right?" Kurt explained as he and Puck sat on an air mattress in his basement. "And so the song is 'Baby It's Cold Outside', the most romantic Christmas song ever, or, whatever, at least one of the few romantic Christmas songs ever. Anyone else could've practiced with him, I know my voice is high, but they could've done it down the octave, but he chooses me. And he flirted with me the whole time-but I guess that song is just flirty already-but he was leaning into me and dancing around me, all that jazz. And then we just sit on the couch and we have one of those awkward little laughs like in some romantic comedy and he says that I was much better than that girl would be and then he leaves as Mr. Schue comes in and…" Kurt collapsed back onto his pillow and groaned loudly.

"Uh-huh," Puck said, trying not to show how bored he was. They had been talking about whether Blaine liked Kurt back or not for what felt like hours now, Kurt telling him the story about 'Baby It's Cold Outside' at least five times. He wanted to be supportive, but it would've been easier to just tell Kurt to shut up.

Puck sighed and lied down next to Kurt. "Look," he said bluntly, "I don't know the guy that well, so I don't know what you see in him. But I have no idea why he wouldn't like you. You're hilarious, smart, talented, nice, sassy, and you're a hot piece of ass. If he doesn't like you past being a friend, then he's so not worth it."

"You're biased," Kurt pointed out, turning to face Noah.

"But I'm right," Puck shot back, putting a hand on Kurt's waist. Kurt still frowned in thought, so, even though he hated saying it, he admitted, "I think he likes you back, he probably doesn't want to make a move because of the whole Karofsky thing."

Kurt thought about it. "Yeah…maybe that's it." He looked back to Puck and smiled, "Thanks, Noah."

Puck just nodded in response. Then he changed the subject. "Okay, you know I'm not an early sleeper, but we should probably get to sleep so we can move everything to your new house tomorrow."

"Yeah…" Kurt said, sitting back up and looking around sadly. "I'm going to miss this place," he admitted. "There are so many memories. The new house is gorgeous, but…" he trailed off and leaned against Puck's shoulder as soon as he sat up.

Wrapping his arm around Kurt, Puck softly replied, "Yeah, me, too…but at least, I mean, no matter what, Mama Kate is with you, you know?" Kurt looked down and Puck continued, "Seriously. Obviously you don't think she's watching over us, but we have pictures and we have memories and we have you…I mean, not only do you look like her, but you're as awesome as she was."

Kurt was silent for a moment longer. He looked up at Noah and smiled softly, his eyes shining. "Thank you, Noah."

"And hey, this new house is two minutes closer to mine."

"Did you time it?" Kurt asked.

"…No…"

"Oh my God, you dork!" Kurt said with a loud laugh.

"Oh my God, shut up, I'M TRYING TO SLEEP!" Finn yelled from the other side of the basement. Kurt put his hand over his mouth to contain his giggles.

"Direct your yelling at Kurt, I was quiet!" Puck insisted, turning to look at Kurt as he kept laughing.

Puck didn't see the pillow Finn threw until it hit him square in the jaw.

-

"I should've known that with Puckerman helping us you would just direct where everything went," Burt said with an amused shake of his head as Kurt propped himself on one of the plastic tubs.

"Hey, I do have the best eye of all of us," Kurt pointed out as Finn closed the door. He held up his arm pitifully and pushed back the sleeve on his T-shirt (he had chosen moving attire despite not doing most of the moving), "And besides, my arm is nothing compared to yours." Kurt pretended to flex it and made a whining noise like he was disappointed at his lack of muscle.

Puck rolled his eyes. "That wasn't even flexing, Kurt, we know-"

"And at least you're not moving furniture since we told the movers where to put that. Now it's just an issue of getting things in order, and I'm good at organizing, and I'll help with the actual unpacking," Kurt interrupted, grabbing his clipboard from the floor. "On here I have all the boxes' numbers down so we can cross off and make sure we brought everything. The number correlates to which floor its on and the letter to which room and when rooms have more than one box, a decimal is added, such as 1C.1, 1C.2-"

"Wouldn't it have just been easier to put what room it goes in?" Burt asked for what was not the first time.

Kurt gave him a blank stare. "Dad. This is me revolutionizing the world of moving for when I become a famous interior designer," he said.

"I thought you wanted to be a singer," Finn said, confused.

Kurt re-crossed his legs and explained, "I want to be either a Broadway star, fashion designer, fashion journalist, counselor, interior designer, interior design journalist, music journalist, movie critic, or Hollywood actor. I'm only a junior so I still have some time to think."

"When did wedding planner get crossed off the list?" Puck asked.

"Since I realized I didn't want to work with Bridezillas," Kurt said simply.

"Then why did you make me pack up your bridal magazines?"

"Why do you still play with your GI Joe action figures?" Kurt said, not even looking up from his checklist.

"Point made. Okay, let's get moving," Puck said, changing topic and picking up a box.

Kurt kept instructing people where to go, checking off the boxes as they went. After a while, Puck took off his T-shirt and lifted boxes in just a tank top. And when Kurt looked up, he found his mouth to be surprisingly dry.

Ever since the Magazine Incident that April Rhodes brought on, Kurt did his best not to think about Puck in any sexual manner. He had been doing a good job until that Lean-In That Wasn't a Lean-In. But now he saw a light sheen of sweat run down those ridiculously muscled arms, arms that held him so well and could wrap around his waist and lift him up into a kiss and-

"Kurt, you okay?" Finn asked, wiping his forehead.

Kurt snapped out of his daze, blushing considerably. Obviously it was time for him to get a real first kiss from a guy so he'd stop imagining everyone trying to kiss him. He was mistaken about Blaine and obviously Noah wasn't trying to kiss him back in his basement because Noah was Noah.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Kurt said, crossing off the last box on his list. His eyes still darted up to look at Puck throughout the day, though. Suddenly he wished he brought the erotica books back from school.

-

"Hey," Kurt said as he walked into the kitchen.

"Oh, hey," Finn said, not expecting Kurt to walk in on him in the kitchen so late at night. "Why are you up?"

"I couldn't sleep," Kurt said, "And I figured if I left my room for a bit and came back I'd feel better. You?"

"Same sort of thing. My mind keeps spinning."

Kurt sat down across from Finn, watching him closely. They were brothers now, so he knew he shouldn't feel so awkward around him, but he felt like, despite how he thought last year, he really didn't know Finn at all. "I hope you don't mind, but I heard about the breakup," he said quietly, remembering the long conversation he had with Mercedes after a Warblers' practice because Finn and Rachel had officially split.

Finn shrugged, looking down at his hands. Kurt resisted the urge to sigh. He wanted Finn to trust him, but he obviously wouldn't be able to help if he acted like that. Well, tea always helped Puck talk and relax with him, maybe that would work?

"Do you want some tea or something?" Kurt asked, standing up and getting the ingredients.

"Um, no thanks," Finn said. Then he looked up, "Actually, when I was younger, my mom would make me warm milk, which I thought would be disgusting, but it's actually, like, really good. I'd like that if that's okay?"

Kurt slowly smiled, "My mom made that for me, too. I'll go make some."

It seemed that the warm milk did the trick. Finn started talking about everything, about how he was upset that Rachel got mad at him for who he had sex with when they weren't together, how Rachel told him how she tried to get Puck to make out with her, and how that upset him so much he broke up with her. He told Kurt about how she kept trying to get him back but he just couldn't be with her when her first reaction was to try to cheat on him.

"I know we were fighting, but it's stupid, you know?" Finn said, his glass less than half-full. "Quinn and I both did stupid things like that when we were together and I don't want to do that anymore. I thought Rachel would never do something like that, but…I guess she would." He looked down at his glass and Kurt gave him a sad smile.

"You miss her, don't you?" Kurt asked. Finn nodded and Kurt said, "I know you love her, but I think spending time apart is good for both of you. If it's meant to be, you guys will get back together, I know it."

Finn nodded and looked back up at Kurt. "Thanks," he said with his half-smile that used to make Kurt's stomach flip. Now it just made Kurt smile back because he knew he helped his brother out. "I kinda feel like I should listen to you talk about something now."

"You don't have to do that, Finn," Kurt said.

"I know," Finn said, "But I'm also a guy, so I might be able to help with the whole Blaine thing I heard you talking about with Puck."

Kurt froze and looked at Finn. He seemed genuinely interested and willing to help. "You sure?" Finn nodded and Kurt took a deep breath before launching into a full recap of how Blaine had been acting around him. Finn nodded and listened carefully, taking sips of his milk every now and then.

They'd totally have to do this warm milk thing again.

-

"Why is Puck so close to the TV?" Finn asked in a stage whisper to Kurt.

"The love of his life is going to be on at any moment," Kurt answered.

"Who?"

"Avril Lavigne."

Finn immediately started laughing, the New Year's hat on his head slipping back. Puck turned around with a glare that wasn't quite as powerful as normal because of the New Year's visor on his head. He turned back to the screen and Kurt said, "It's a long story. You know how there are some things from childhood that no matter how bad they are, you still love them? Like certain movies and TV shows?"

"Oh, you mean like Disney?" Finn asked.

Kurt's eyes slowly narrowed in agner as Finn's grew in fear. "No. Not like Disney. Because Disney is great at every age."

"Oh…kay?"

Kurt dropped his glare and went on as if nothing had happened, "Or think about when you're little and you have a toy you really love even though it's not that special or different from the other toys. You love that toy because its yours and that's all that matters, no matter if people think its as cool as you do. And then as you get older, as people start leaving their toys behind, you just can't let this one go, that one stuffed animal or toy piano?"

"Kinda like my old video games no one plays anymore?" Finn asked.

"Yes, exactly like that," Kurt said. "Even if you don't play them as often or even at all, you still love those games and don't want to give them up. They're outdated and none of your friends like them, but you still love them no matter what.

"Puck's version isn't a stuffed animal or book or any item, though; his is Avril Lavigne."

"Hey!" Puck exclaimed as he got up to refill his plastic champagne glass with sparkling grape juice. "She's a badass who changes with each album, she writes her own music, and she gives no fucks what people think about her. And she's hot. I see nothing wrong with liking her."

"Then you won't mind if Finn lets it slip to Mercedes and Tina that you like her?" Kurt asked with a knowing smirk.

Puck pursed his lips and turned to Finn, "Please don't tell anyone." Finn agreed as Kurt laughed. Puck rolled his eyes and sat back down where he was on the floor earlier, grumbling to himself.

"Aw, it's okay, Noah," Kurt said, moving from his spot next to Finn on the couch to Puck's lap, the plastic top hat he was wearing for the occasion falling off as it bumped against Puck's chin. "You know I like her, too, even if she's no Gaga."

Puck was about to reply that he was glad she wasn't like Gaga when the commercials ended and the host of the New Year's Eve party came back on. As she started the introduction, Kurt slid off to sit next to Puck instead of on his lap since Puck was leaning forward, watching intently.

"With the world premiere of her single 'What the Hell', here's Avril Lavigne!"

A very pop heavy intro started and Kurt raised his eyebrows. Sure, he loved pop music, but this was seemed almost entirely synthesized. But at least when her vocals came in she sounded live, and he could hear her back up guy singing underneath her, so that was good.

"All my life I've been good, but now I'm thinking, 'What the hell?' All I want is to mess around and I don't really care about if you love me, if you hate me, you can't tame me, baby, baby. All my life I've been good but now, 'What the hell?'" Avril sang on the stage, bopping around and moving to the beat, slowly working with the audience more and more as the song went on. Not really emotionally resonant lyrics, but they were clever and catchy, something he could see teen girls putting as their Facebook statuses when they were going out for a party. And unlike other female pop artists, she wasn't trying to be like Gaga and therefore failing at being like Gaga.

But Kurt knew better than to make any comments aloud as Puck stared at the screen. But as soon as the song ended, he rattled off a list of his thoughts. "Her stage presence has improved tremendously, but she still has a long way to go. She looks happiest playing guitar, I don't know why she or her record company or whoever makes her not play. You can tell she's singing live which is rare in this day and age, so points for that. I love the dress-I know she has a fashion line, maybe she made it herself-and it sounds like her album is going to be as pop heavy as the last one. Think you can handle that?"

He turned to Puck and Puck replied, "Well, I think the song has a bit more of an edge to it than 'Girlfriend' did. Instead of being relationship driven it's about her having fun and it's super catchy, so I dig it. Plus she's still really hot. I wouldn't mind helping her be 'a little crazy'."

"You're disgusting," Kurt said with a roll of his eyes.

"Hey, even non-fans would agree she's hot." Puck turned to Finn, "Right?"

Finn nodded in agreement, "Pretty hot."

Kurt simply got up to get another glass of sparkling juice. Honestly, how was he going to put up with both Noah and Finn now?