Fic: Once More With Feeling, Chapter 5/14
Title: Once More With Feeling (5/14+Epilogue)
Rating: R
Pairings: Kurt/Blaine, Blaine/Sebastian
Spoilers: -
Warnings:
Word Count: ~5000
Summary: After a long year of separation, things are finally looking up for Kurt and Blaine. They're ready to start their lives together in New York as an engaged couple. Everything is perfect.
Until it's suddenly not.
Torn apart by forces beyond their understanding, they find themselves alone, facing a world that is just not quite right anymore. A second first meeting of strangers on a staircase brings another chance for love, but is that chance enough for them to find their way back to each other, and can they break the spell before it's too late?
Disclaimer: The characters aren't my property, neither are any song lyrics within this story, just borrowing it all for a bit.
Notes: So, this chapter took a bit longer, which is mostly due to a performance scene, which I'm actually not that comfortable writing. One day I'll figure out why I don't just not put them into the story, but this day isn't today.
The song in this chapter is "Coffee & TV" by Blur, which I adore, and obviously I hold no rights to the lyrics.
Anyway, hope you enjoy.
Previously...
Chapter 5 - Something To Sing About
Kurt felt slightly self-conscious as he was entering their usual coffee shop. It was a bit early to be here, but he still felt upset over the events of yesterday, meeting Sebastian, and once more those weird dreams he had. He couldn't actually wait to see Blaine, but he was nervous about what to expect.
Then again, no matter how awkward things had gotten yesterday, Blaine had wanted to meet him. Kurt hadn't missed how his voice had almost sounded pleading, nor how angry Sebastian had been with it.
With new confidence, he opened the door to the coffee shop. To his surprise, he saw Blaine already at the counter, receiving two styrofoam mugs of coffee. Apparently Kurt hadn't been the only one who wanted to meet early.
Smiling, he made his way up to Blaine, who had started preparing their respective drinks, and came to a stop beside his friend.
“You're early,” he said as a greeting.
Blaine must have been deep in thought, because he almost flinched as he was spoken to. There were dark bags under his eyes, he was pale and he looked as if he hadn't slept at all. It wasn't the first time Kurt had seen him exhausted, but today it somehow seemed worse. When he saw Kurt, though, a smile appeared on his face.
“Kurt! I'm so glad to see you,” he said.
“Me too,” Kurt said. “But are you alright? You look like you really need that coffee right now.”
Blaine chuckled, but there was something dejected in his eyes. “I really do,” he said, “I thought I'd buy today. I'm really sorry about yesterday.”
“Well, it was a bit strange,” Kurt said with a shrug, “he's a bit of an acquired taste, isn't he?”
“I really don't know why he was acting like that,” Blaine said. “But he shouldn't have been so rude to you, I am so sorry.”
“You don't have to apologize for your boyfriend,” Kurt said.
“But he-”
“His behavior is not under your control,” Kurt continued. “Come on, let's sit down.”
The smile on Blaine's face was almost grateful as they went over to one of the tables and sat down. Kurt took a careful sip of his moccha while he tried to order his thoughts. To his mild surprise the drink tasted exactly the way he liked it.
“Good?” Blaine, who had watched him, asked.
“Perfect,” Kurt said with a small smile, before he got serious. They were here to discuss something, after all. “So, your boyfriend... who I'm not sure I remember you ever mentioning...”
There was the beginning of a blush on Blaine's face, and clear signs of a guilty conscience. “Well, I guess it never came up,” he said. He didn't look away completely, but he didn't exactly meet Kurt's eyes, either. “But yeah, we've been together for almost two years.”
Kurt let out a whistle. “That's not bad. Did you meet at Dalton?”
Blaine nodded. “He transferred there in my junior year,” he explained, “we were both in the Warblers, and it kind of... happened from there.” There was a frown on his face and a far-away look, though it didn't seem to Kurt as if it was dreamy reminiscence. There was something... skeptical about Blaine's look, as if he was trying to figure something out.
“So, two years, that's a lot,” Kurt said in an attempt to get him out of his thoughts, “is everything okay with you, or what was that yesterday?”
Now, Blaine clearly did avert his eyes. “It's been... a bit rough, lately,” he admitted. “We're not even fighting or anything, it's just... weird. So maybe that's why he reacted like that...”
“Maybe?”
Blaine sighed. “It's a bit ridiculous,” he said, fidgeting with his cup.
“What is?” Kurt asked. When Blaine still wouldn't answer, Kurt put a hand on his wrist to still his hand. “You can tell me,” he said softly.
There was some hesitation, but eventually, Blaine sighed and looked up to meet his eye. “He's jealous of you,” he said.
Kurt's eybrows arched up. That was... interesting. So, apparently, he wasn't the only one who thought there was a vibe between them. The only question was, if Blaine had noticed that as well.
“He got really angry, he has this idea that you're going to steal me or something...” Everything from Blaine's voice to the way he rolled his eyes conveyed how ridiculous he thought that idea was. Kurt just wasn't sure what was so ridiculous - the idea of anybody “stealing” him, or the thought that Blaine could ever go for Kurt.
“I don't think it's necessarily about you,” Blaine continued, “it's just been... really weird lately. I guess it's the stress of the new city, and then there's my...” He stopped for a second, long enough for Kurt to notice. “There's just stuff,” Blaine said eventually with a sigh that sounded completely exhausted.
Kurt wasn't sure what to say to this. If he was honest with himself, he did feel led on. Blaine had never mentioned his boyfriend, had apparently never mentioned Kurt to Sebastian, either, and Kurt got the feeling that Blaine had used their meetings to get his mind off his relationship troubles. On the other hand, despite what felt for Kurt like a connection, he couldn't remember an instance where Blaine had led him on consciously. It didn't help that the other boy looked so completely lost right now.
“Look, Blaine, I really don't want to cause any trouble in your relationship,” Kurt said eventually.
Blaine's eyes widened as he looked at him. “What? No! You're not... no! We're... we're friends, right? Just because I have a boyfriend doesn't mean I can't have friends.”
“I'm not sure your boyfriend agrees,” Kurt said.
“That's not his decision,” Blaine replied with determination. “He has friends, too - and honestly, I can't stand most of them - so I don't see why he can tell me who I spend my time with.”
“Are you sure it's just that?” Kurt asked. “I mean, you can't tell me he reacts like this with all your friends.”
Although now that he thought of it, he couldn't exactly remember Blaine bringing up his other friends a lot. And usually, if he did, it was in the context of stories from his time at Dalton, but nothing going on right now...
“I'm not that good at making friends,” Blaine said, as if to confirm Kurt's thoughts, “so they're mostly people from Dalton who've known us as a couple for two years. I just... haven't made any new friends since I got here, except you.”
“Really?” Kurt asked. “You're not exactly the shy type...”
“It's... I don't know, it's just not happening,” Blaine said. “I don't really connect to the people I'm having classes with, and apart from NYADA I'm not doing much.”
“Maybe that's part of your problem,” Kurt said. “Well, not the one we're talking about at the moment. So. your boyfriend. What's his problem? He's not used to you meeting other people in New York, so it sends him into a fit immediately when he catches you talking to someone?”
There was something Blaine wasn't telling him. It was obvious in the way his eyebrows formed the tiniest frown, and in the way he would not completely meet Kurt's eye.
“The point is that he is overreacting, and he has no right to tell me who I can be friends with,” he repeated instead. “And I could really use a friend right now.”
Was there anything Kurt could do against that earnest look? “Well, you got me,” he said. “If you're sure it won't cause any problems...?”
“It won't,” Blaine said.
“Okay,” Kurt said, “then we'll do this.” So maybe he had made it up in his head - or at least exaggerated it a bit - but at least the two of them were okay. He still had a bad feeling about Sebastian, he still thought they had a slightly deeper connection than Blaine was willing to admit to, but that all would have to wait. For now, they'd try this as a friendship,and at least he would get that chance.
“We should go,” Blaine said, interrupting his thoughts, “at least if we want to be in time for class.”
Kurt managed a genuine smile. “Let's go, then.”
The Spotlight Diner wasn't hard to find. The really hard part, as Blaine found out, was to actually enter it.
He still wasn't sure if it was a good idea to be here. Almost a week had passed since the day Kurt and Sebastian had met. The result had been an obvious cool-down in the two closest relationships he currently had. At least his friendship with Kurt was still close, although not as close as before. Maybe Kurt had thought they had been flirting, btu Blaine was too afraid to ask. He'd rather not know the answer than make things awkward between them.
Things with Sebastian, on the other hand, were beyond awkward. Blaine had made it clear again that he would not apologize for who he was friends with, and Sebastian had insisted that Kurt as a friend was not acceptable, without ever clarifying just what his problem with him was. Those two points didn't exactly offer a compromise. Eventually, they had agreed to disagree, but since then they had hardly had a conversation. Sebastian suddenly had lots of work and study groups to attend, while Blaine spent way more time at NYADA or practicing in their empty apartment. Sometimes, he caught Sebastian looking at him with a longing expression, but he never said anything, and Blaine wasn't ready to take the first step, not when Sebastian was so clearly in the wrong.
Today, Sebastian had a meeting with his study group again. Blaine still had the suspicion that they just got together to discuss how awesome they were, while drinking wine imported from france. Those study sessions usually lasted long into the night, and Sebastian always came home late, with the smell of alcohol on his breath.
Blaine had considered going home after his last class had ended. He could be using the empty apartment to get some more time to practice at the piano. It was probably what he should be doing. It was most certainly what Carmen Tibideaux would suggest he should do. But he was quite sure that this was not what he needed, right now.
So eventually, he had made his way to the Spotlight Diner. Kurt had said he was working there this afternoon, and what Blaine really needed right now was some company.
But the diner looked busy at the moment. Sure, Kurt had invited him to come over some time, but that had been before meting Sebastian. Also, Blaine didn't want to disturb him when he was busy working. This was probably a bad idea, he should come back some other time. He should go home, practice the same pieces he had practiced a hundred times, and hope he'd get better at them, to just get back some of the feeling of it...
And who was he kidding? It hadn't worked before, it wouldn't work today. He knew what he needed right now.
So, after taking a deep breath, Blaine finally crossed the street and entered the diner.
He had hardly taken a few steps in, when Kurt was standing in front of him, an amused glitter in his eyes.
“I was wondering how long it would take you to actually get in here,” he said as a greeting, “come on, there's a table waiting just for you.”
Blaine couldn't even get in a greeting as he was dragged along to a table close to the bar.
“I'm a little busy right now, so you'll have to give me a few minutes,” Kurt said, “but if you just tell me what you'd like to drink, I'll get you something in a moment, on the house.” There was a wink at the last part, and Blaine felt a surge of warmth.
“Any recommendations?” he asked.
“The smoothies are to die for,” Kurt said. “Mango, especially. But I wouldn't eat anything - not that you heard that from me, though.”
Blaine couldn't have helped the smile appearing on his face if he had tried. “I'll take one of those, then,” he said.
“In a minute,” Kurt said and got back to work with a last smile at him.
With a deep exhale, Blaine leant back in his chair and watched his friend walk around the diner. There was an elegance in his step that Blaine could only admire, almost reminiscent of dancing. Well, they were the singing waiters, there should be at least some dancing involved. After only a moment, Kurt put the promised smoothie in front of him, before he hurried away again. Carefully, Blaine took a sip. Kurt hadn't promised too much.
In any case, just watching Kurt work, helped calm down Blaine's nerves that had been strained ever since this morning's lesson with Carmen Tibideaux. For a moment, he could stop worrying about school, or his relationship, or anything, really.
Blaine couldn't have said how long it took until things quieted down enough, but eventually, Kurt slid into the seat opposite him, putting two smoothies in front of them, one for himself and one to replace Blaine's empty glass.
“So, you finally found your way here,” Kurt said.
“I did,” Blaine said, “it's impressive here. You really seem to like this job.”
“It's fine,” Kurt said with a shrug, “I mean, it's not Vogue, but you can't have excellence 24/7, can you?”
“I guess if somebody could find a way, it's you,” Blaine said with a slight shrug.
“Well, you know what they say about flattery,” Kurt said. “Though if you think this place is so great, I could ask if they have another opening.”
“Oh,” Blaine said, “I'm not actually looking for a job,” he said.
“You should, though,” Kurt said. “It might be good for you to have something to do other than school, even if you don't need the money.”
Blaine shook his head, but stopped when he realized that it was something he hadn't exactly thought about before. “NYADA is rough,” he said hesitatingly.
Kurt snorted at that. “Rough, yes. But time-intensive? I'm having two jobs beside school, and Rachel got the lead in a Broadway show and her job here. Trust me, it's possible.”
“I guess it would be nice to have something else...”, Blaine said. And wasn't it a part of growing up, too? Even Cooper got a job during college... if you could call the occasional commercial appearance and being a corpse on a crime show jobs.
“You don't have to find something today,” Kurt said, “but you should think about it.”
“I will,” Blaine said.
“So,” Kurt said, “any good stories from NYADA you want to share? I feel like I've been locked up at this place for ages.”
“You mean an amusing story?” Blaine asked. “Because I'm not sure I can think of something right now...”
Kurt got serious immediately. “Why? Did something happen?” He frowned for a second, then it seemed to dawn on him. “Wait, didn't you have class with Carmen Tibideaux today?”
Blaine nodded, unable to keep a sardonic smile out of his face. “I did,” he said. It was...” he paused for a moment, thinking how he could possibly express it. “...not good,” he finished lamely. “Really not good.”
There was warmth, as Kurt put hand onto his wrist. Only then did Blaine notice he had been fidgeting.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Kurt asked. For a second, Blaine wondered if it was just a phrase, but when he looked up he could see sincerety in Kurt's eyes.
“I... I really do, yeah,” he said. After all, that was why he had come here. “But... aren't you busy?”
“It's fine, I'm taking a break,” Kurt said. “Tell me.”
“She'll expel me.” He probably should have thought better about what he was going to say, but that was what came out.
Kurt held his hand tighter. “She can't really do that, can she?” he asked.
“Actually, she can, and she has several times already,” Blaine said. “It's actually a miracle that she's been this patient so far.”
“What do you mean?” Kurt asked.
Blaine sighed. “I told you, she's not happy with the way I'm performing. She's said several times she never would have let me in if I had performed that way during my audition. Apparently, she liked that performance so much that she gave me a break for a while. But now she's running out of patience, and she made it pretty clear today that unless I step up soon, I can go look for another school.”
“Wow,” Kurt said, “that's... that's horrible.”
Blaine sighed and pulled his hands back to hide his face in them. “She's right, Kurt,” he said. “I don't know what's wrong with me. I used to love it all, singing and dancing, and just... living it. But ever since I came to New York, it just doesn't work anymore. I... I don't feel it. It's like there was a spark, and now it's gone. Sometimes I can conjure up something that comes close, but only a handful of times, when I'm at home and nobody's listening - so you can imagine how well that translates into a class setting...”
Kurt's voice sounded soft but sure, when he spoke again. “But you're wonderful.”
Blaine looked up in confusion. That warmth that he'd come to associate with Kurt in some moments was blossoming in his chest again, and there was something in his throat. “You never heard me,” he protested weakly.
“But I...” Kurt stopped, then he shook his head hardly noticably. “I have an idea,” he said, “remember how we talked about you playing at the diner?”
Blaine froze. “What?”
Kurt blinked, uncertainty creeping into his expression. “You did agree,” he said. “And this way I'd finally get to hear you. There's nothing that can go wrong, you know that, right? Just play something, sing, and then I'll give you an honest opinion.”
Blaine frowned. “I'm not sure,” he said, “do you really think this would help?”
The smile returned to Kurt's face, and Blaine stared to think it was almost worth a try just for that - but that was not something he was supposed to be thinking about a friend.
“Alright... but what should I play?” he asked.
“Go for a classic, maybe. How about Piano Man? I bet you can play that.”
Blaine frowned. He knew the song, he was reasonbly sure he could play it, and Kurt obviously thought it was a good idea. Still, he was hesitating. Classics were fine, but they also meant a bit of pressure. There was a lot to live up to. He also didn't feel the least bit like the piano man. These days he felt more like a zombie, or braindead or...
Wait. There could be something...
“I think I've got a song,” Blaine said. “You wouldn't happen to have a guitar, too?”
Kurt frowned “Well... yes, but... don't you want to play the piano?”
Blaine smiled. “Not for this one,” he said. He waited patiently, as Kurt went to the bar to get a guitar from somewhere behind it - Blaine wasn't sure why a diner needed one in the first place, but it was probably best not to question the singing waiters diner. He took the guitar offered by Kurt and followed him up to the stage. While Kurt announced him, Blaine tried not to look like an idiot. He was feeling... nervous, and he was pretty sure that was new.
With a last smile of encouragement, Kurt stepped off the stage. Blaine sat down on a bar stool and tried to compose himself. He was still nervous. Was this stage-fright? Just what was happening to him?
He closed his eyes for a moment to collect himself, before he looked at the people currently sitting in the diner. Some were looking at him, though just as many weren't paying any attention. But Kurt was sitting there, looking at him with excitement and confidence, and somehow, Blaine realized he actually wanted to give this a try. Besides, the important thing was to feel the song, wasn't it? And this actually was how he felt... With another deep breath, he let his hands strum the first chord, just to try it out, and then he started to play, soft notes, that sounded as lost as he felt most of the time... and then, the first strummed chord, falling loudly and attracting the attention of everybody in the diner. Picking up a fast rhythm, Blaine let himself fall into the music, and then he sang.
"Do you feel like a chain store
Practically floored
One of many zeroes
Kicked around bored
Your ears are full but you're empty
Holding out your heart
To people who never really
Care how you are"
As he started the chorus, his eyes found Kurt's and held his gaze. The longer Blaine kept singing, the easier it was. Now that he was singing - not just going through the motions, but actually feeling it - he couldn't remember how he could have ever lived without it. For a moment, he could forget everything, all his trouble and baggage, and just lose himself in the music.
It felt like flying.
"So give me coffee and tv, easily,
I've seen so much I'm going blind
And I'm braindead virtually
Sociability is hard enough for me
Take me away from this big bad world
And agree to marry me
So we can start over again..."
“Oooh, so we can start over again...”
When the final note had ended, the applause started. He heard cheering and realized it was Kurt's voice. Only then did Blaine remember the audience he had played to. It hadn't even mattered to him that there had been people listening, except maybe Kurt.
The spark had returned. Blaine felt so relieved that he could have started to sob. He had almost forgotten what it felt like. There was a hand on his shoulder and he looked up to see Kurt standing there.
“That was amazing,” he said, as he pulled Blaine into an embrace. Blaine found that his knees were weak, so he just let himself sag against the other boy, safe constant that he was.
“That's... I think that's how it used to be,” Blaine said. He had to blink away tears. But Kurt seemed to understand, just put an arm around him and led him off the stage and back to the table.
“The next time Carmen Tibideaux wants a performance from you, try to channel this,” Kurt said.
“I'll definitely try,” Blaine said. “Thank you so much for this, Kurt.”
“I didn't do anything,” Kurt replied softly. “All you needed was a little push.”
Blaine laughed, and it felt liberating. With a last squeeze to Blaine's hand, Kurt went back to work. For a while, Blaine just leant back and watched him. He felt calm, and right, and alive , as if this was what he should be doing. Most importantly, he felt like himself again, and to his surprise, it felt amazing.
“Thank you for your patience, Ms. Wright is free now, I'll connect you. Please hold.”
Kurt managed to hold back a sigh as he put the call through to Isabelle. Only a few more hours until he would get out. And getting out meant meeting Blaine, back at their usual coffee shop. They hadn't seen each other this morning, and with the last days being really busy, had only really been able to spend some time together when Blaine had played at the diner the other day.
Things at Vogue had gotten really busy this week. Tomorrow, another eccentric, up-and-coming designer was hosting a fashion show and Isabelle had snatched them invitations at basically the last minute. There was some bad blood between the designer and Vogue, but Isabelle had managed to be charming enough to get through to him. Of course, that meant a lot more stress for them before the event - but actually, Kurt was happy to have something to occupy his thoughts.
Ever since the performance at the diner, Kurt's dreams had intensified. They were still single scenes that stayed in his mind with more or less clarity, but slowly he was starting to see an overlying arch, as if there was a timeline from which his subconscious was randomly picking scenes. He was starting to get a feeling where a dream stood in relation to former ones. It was almost as if they were memories from another life.
But that was nothing he could tell Blaine, or anybody else, really. Anyone would think he was losing his mind.
“Oh, Kurt, do you have a moment?”
He looked up as he heard Isabelle's voice, and a moment later, a stack of folders landed on his desk.
“Could you look through these, please? I'm sure I've seen the March pattern somewhere in here, but I just can't find where,” she said.
“Not a problem,” Kurt said.
“What would I do without you?” Isabelle asked. “So, are you excited about tomorrow? Any special someone you need to invite?”
“What... why would you think that?” Kurt asked and tried not to blush.
“You've been happy lately,” Isabelle said. “I was just hoping, is all.”
Before he could say anything else, his phone buzzed.
“Speak of the devil?” Isabelle asked. “You didn't deny it yet, by the way.”
“I know,” Kurt said, and since he apparently had his boss's blessing, he took a glance at his phone. It was a text, and of course it was from Blaine.
“Who is he?” Isabelle asked.
“It's not like that,” Kurt said quickly as he opened the text. “Blaine is jus a friend, nothing's going on there. He has a boyfriend.” He tried, but he was aware that he still sounded slightly bitter about that. His frown deepened as he read the text. Blaine was canceling on him, apparently something had come up with Sebastian that couldn't possibly be postponed, and he'd be busy the whole weekend.
Wonderful.
But when he looked up, Isabelle was staring at him with a shocked expression. “What was his name?” she asked.
“Blaine,” Kurt said, surprised at her reaction, “Blaine Anderson. He's a student at NYADA.”
“Huh,” Isabelle said and blinked a few times. “Well, I'm sure he's wonderful.”
“Wonderful, and just a friend,” Kurt said, in case she had missed it the first time. “Also, too busy with his boyfriend.”
“He has a boyfriend?” Isabelle asked. “Who?”
“Some guy he met in high school,” Kurt answered, “it doesn't matter, really.”
Isabelle still had a preoccupied look on his face, but she nodded. “You're right,” she said, “it doesn't matter. Um, you'll be okay with these?”
“Yes, of course,” Kurt said.
“Right, I have... things. To do. You'll be ready for the lunch meeting?” Isabelle asked.
“I'll be,” Kurt said.
“So, I'll see you then,” Isabelle said and already she was flitting away.
Kurt shook his head looking after her. That was strange, even for Isabelle... But well, now that he had nothing better to do for the rest of the day, he might as well dive right into work.
Maybe he was just running late. It happened. Things at Vogue were busy at the moment, of course there always was a possibility that Kurt got held up. It wasn't that big a deal. They were just meeting for coffee, and okay, it might be the first time this week they'd manage to see each other for more than ten minutes, but it was fine. Kurt was just running late.
He probably even sent a text. He couldn't have known that Blaine would forget his phone at home today. Still, they should have met half an hour ago, and Blaine was still sitting alone at a table, two cups of cooling coffee in front of him, and no sign of Kurt.
Maybe Kurt had canceled. Without his phone, Blaine had no way of knowing. But what could he do? He couldn't wait here forever, but he wasn't looking forward to going home, either.
He had just decided that he'd wait maybe for another twenty minutes, when the door to the coffee shop opened. Blaine looked up at the sound, hoping to see Kurt. To his surprise, it was Sebastian who entered the building.
Blaine tried his best to hide his disappointment as his boyfriend looked around for him. Eventually, Sebatian spotted him and came closer, a smile - almost a smirk - appearing on his face.
“Hey there, killer,” he said as he sank down in the chair opposite Blaine. “And so thoughtful of you.” With that, he took Kurt's coffee and took a sip. He made a face. “Ugh, what's that? Don't they have sugar in this dump?”
“What are you doing here, Sebastian?” Blaine asked. “I thought you had classes all day.”
“Not all day, I'm done,” Sebastian said. He didn't even seem the least bit put-out about the little enthusiasm Blaien showed. “Oh, and I thought you might want this.”
“My phone? Where did you get that?” Blaine asked.
“It was lying around on your nightstand,” Sebastian said with a shrug, “and I know how attached you are to that thing. Honestly, I'm surprised you let it out of your sight for five minutes. Other people might get suspicious...”
“What's that supposed to mean?” Blaine asked, raising an eyebrow.
“It's just a line, Blaine, can you relax for once,” Sebastian said as he rolled his eyes.
“You're hilarious,” Blaine deadpanned. He quickly checked his phone, but there were no notifications. For a moment he feared Sebastian might have read a text from Kurt - though there was nothing incriminating in them, they were just friends texting - but when he checked he could see no new texts from Kurt, and no calls either.
“And since you weren't at school, I figured you'd be hanging around here,” Sebastian continued. “Where's your girlfriend, by the way? Not around?”
“Kurt is not here,” Blaine said, “and don't call him that.”
“Whatever,” Sebastian said, “but if you have nothing planned, why don't you come home with me? I have a surprise for you.”
Blaine frowned. “What kind of surprise?”
Sebastian rolled his eyes. “You're gonna like this one, trust me,” he said.
“I do.” The words came to his lips involuntarily, because of course he trusted his boyfriend. As they stood up and left the coffee shop, Sebastian took his hand. Blaine wondered if it had always felt so cold.
Next Chapter
Rating: R
Pairings: Kurt/Blaine, Blaine/Sebastian
Spoilers: -
Warnings:
Word Count: ~5000
Summary: After a long year of separation, things are finally looking up for Kurt and Blaine. They're ready to start their lives together in New York as an engaged couple. Everything is perfect.
Until it's suddenly not.
Torn apart by forces beyond their understanding, they find themselves alone, facing a world that is just not quite right anymore. A second first meeting of strangers on a staircase brings another chance for love, but is that chance enough for them to find their way back to each other, and can they break the spell before it's too late?
Disclaimer: The characters aren't my property, neither are any song lyrics within this story, just borrowing it all for a bit.
Notes: So, this chapter took a bit longer, which is mostly due to a performance scene, which I'm actually not that comfortable writing. One day I'll figure out why I don't just not put them into the story, but this day isn't today.
The song in this chapter is "Coffee & TV" by Blur, which I adore, and obviously I hold no rights to the lyrics.
Anyway, hope you enjoy.
Previously...
Chapter 5 - Something To Sing About
Kurt felt slightly self-conscious as he was entering their usual coffee shop. It was a bit early to be here, but he still felt upset over the events of yesterday, meeting Sebastian, and once more those weird dreams he had. He couldn't actually wait to see Blaine, but he was nervous about what to expect.
Then again, no matter how awkward things had gotten yesterday, Blaine had wanted to meet him. Kurt hadn't missed how his voice had almost sounded pleading, nor how angry Sebastian had been with it.
With new confidence, he opened the door to the coffee shop. To his surprise, he saw Blaine already at the counter, receiving two styrofoam mugs of coffee. Apparently Kurt hadn't been the only one who wanted to meet early.
Smiling, he made his way up to Blaine, who had started preparing their respective drinks, and came to a stop beside his friend.
“You're early,” he said as a greeting.
Blaine must have been deep in thought, because he almost flinched as he was spoken to. There were dark bags under his eyes, he was pale and he looked as if he hadn't slept at all. It wasn't the first time Kurt had seen him exhausted, but today it somehow seemed worse. When he saw Kurt, though, a smile appeared on his face.
“Kurt! I'm so glad to see you,” he said.
“Me too,” Kurt said. “But are you alright? You look like you really need that coffee right now.”
Blaine chuckled, but there was something dejected in his eyes. “I really do,” he said, “I thought I'd buy today. I'm really sorry about yesterday.”
“Well, it was a bit strange,” Kurt said with a shrug, “he's a bit of an acquired taste, isn't he?”
“I really don't know why he was acting like that,” Blaine said. “But he shouldn't have been so rude to you, I am so sorry.”
“You don't have to apologize for your boyfriend,” Kurt said.
“But he-”
“His behavior is not under your control,” Kurt continued. “Come on, let's sit down.”
The smile on Blaine's face was almost grateful as they went over to one of the tables and sat down. Kurt took a careful sip of his moccha while he tried to order his thoughts. To his mild surprise the drink tasted exactly the way he liked it.
“Good?” Blaine, who had watched him, asked.
“Perfect,” Kurt said with a small smile, before he got serious. They were here to discuss something, after all. “So, your boyfriend... who I'm not sure I remember you ever mentioning...”
There was the beginning of a blush on Blaine's face, and clear signs of a guilty conscience. “Well, I guess it never came up,” he said. He didn't look away completely, but he didn't exactly meet Kurt's eyes, either. “But yeah, we've been together for almost two years.”
Kurt let out a whistle. “That's not bad. Did you meet at Dalton?”
Blaine nodded. “He transferred there in my junior year,” he explained, “we were both in the Warblers, and it kind of... happened from there.” There was a frown on his face and a far-away look, though it didn't seem to Kurt as if it was dreamy reminiscence. There was something... skeptical about Blaine's look, as if he was trying to figure something out.
“So, two years, that's a lot,” Kurt said in an attempt to get him out of his thoughts, “is everything okay with you, or what was that yesterday?”
Now, Blaine clearly did avert his eyes. “It's been... a bit rough, lately,” he admitted. “We're not even fighting or anything, it's just... weird. So maybe that's why he reacted like that...”
“Maybe?”
Blaine sighed. “It's a bit ridiculous,” he said, fidgeting with his cup.
“What is?” Kurt asked. When Blaine still wouldn't answer, Kurt put a hand on his wrist to still his hand. “You can tell me,” he said softly.
There was some hesitation, but eventually, Blaine sighed and looked up to meet his eye. “He's jealous of you,” he said.
Kurt's eybrows arched up. That was... interesting. So, apparently, he wasn't the only one who thought there was a vibe between them. The only question was, if Blaine had noticed that as well.
“He got really angry, he has this idea that you're going to steal me or something...” Everything from Blaine's voice to the way he rolled his eyes conveyed how ridiculous he thought that idea was. Kurt just wasn't sure what was so ridiculous - the idea of anybody “stealing” him, or the thought that Blaine could ever go for Kurt.
“I don't think it's necessarily about you,” Blaine continued, “it's just been... really weird lately. I guess it's the stress of the new city, and then there's my...” He stopped for a second, long enough for Kurt to notice. “There's just stuff,” Blaine said eventually with a sigh that sounded completely exhausted.
Kurt wasn't sure what to say to this. If he was honest with himself, he did feel led on. Blaine had never mentioned his boyfriend, had apparently never mentioned Kurt to Sebastian, either, and Kurt got the feeling that Blaine had used their meetings to get his mind off his relationship troubles. On the other hand, despite what felt for Kurt like a connection, he couldn't remember an instance where Blaine had led him on consciously. It didn't help that the other boy looked so completely lost right now.
“Look, Blaine, I really don't want to cause any trouble in your relationship,” Kurt said eventually.
Blaine's eyes widened as he looked at him. “What? No! You're not... no! We're... we're friends, right? Just because I have a boyfriend doesn't mean I can't have friends.”
“I'm not sure your boyfriend agrees,” Kurt said.
“That's not his decision,” Blaine replied with determination. “He has friends, too - and honestly, I can't stand most of them - so I don't see why he can tell me who I spend my time with.”
“Are you sure it's just that?” Kurt asked. “I mean, you can't tell me he reacts like this with all your friends.”
Although now that he thought of it, he couldn't exactly remember Blaine bringing up his other friends a lot. And usually, if he did, it was in the context of stories from his time at Dalton, but nothing going on right now...
“I'm not that good at making friends,” Blaine said, as if to confirm Kurt's thoughts, “so they're mostly people from Dalton who've known us as a couple for two years. I just... haven't made any new friends since I got here, except you.”
“Really?” Kurt asked. “You're not exactly the shy type...”
“It's... I don't know, it's just not happening,” Blaine said. “I don't really connect to the people I'm having classes with, and apart from NYADA I'm not doing much.”
“Maybe that's part of your problem,” Kurt said. “Well, not the one we're talking about at the moment. So. your boyfriend. What's his problem? He's not used to you meeting other people in New York, so it sends him into a fit immediately when he catches you talking to someone?”
There was something Blaine wasn't telling him. It was obvious in the way his eyebrows formed the tiniest frown, and in the way he would not completely meet Kurt's eye.
“The point is that he is overreacting, and he has no right to tell me who I can be friends with,” he repeated instead. “And I could really use a friend right now.”
Was there anything Kurt could do against that earnest look? “Well, you got me,” he said. “If you're sure it won't cause any problems...?”
“It won't,” Blaine said.
“Okay,” Kurt said, “then we'll do this.” So maybe he had made it up in his head - or at least exaggerated it a bit - but at least the two of them were okay. He still had a bad feeling about Sebastian, he still thought they had a slightly deeper connection than Blaine was willing to admit to, but that all would have to wait. For now, they'd try this as a friendship,and at least he would get that chance.
“We should go,” Blaine said, interrupting his thoughts, “at least if we want to be in time for class.”
Kurt managed a genuine smile. “Let's go, then.”
The Spotlight Diner wasn't hard to find. The really hard part, as Blaine found out, was to actually enter it.
He still wasn't sure if it was a good idea to be here. Almost a week had passed since the day Kurt and Sebastian had met. The result had been an obvious cool-down in the two closest relationships he currently had. At least his friendship with Kurt was still close, although not as close as before. Maybe Kurt had thought they had been flirting, btu Blaine was too afraid to ask. He'd rather not know the answer than make things awkward between them.
Things with Sebastian, on the other hand, were beyond awkward. Blaine had made it clear again that he would not apologize for who he was friends with, and Sebastian had insisted that Kurt as a friend was not acceptable, without ever clarifying just what his problem with him was. Those two points didn't exactly offer a compromise. Eventually, they had agreed to disagree, but since then they had hardly had a conversation. Sebastian suddenly had lots of work and study groups to attend, while Blaine spent way more time at NYADA or practicing in their empty apartment. Sometimes, he caught Sebastian looking at him with a longing expression, but he never said anything, and Blaine wasn't ready to take the first step, not when Sebastian was so clearly in the wrong.
Today, Sebastian had a meeting with his study group again. Blaine still had the suspicion that they just got together to discuss how awesome they were, while drinking wine imported from france. Those study sessions usually lasted long into the night, and Sebastian always came home late, with the smell of alcohol on his breath.
Blaine had considered going home after his last class had ended. He could be using the empty apartment to get some more time to practice at the piano. It was probably what he should be doing. It was most certainly what Carmen Tibideaux would suggest he should do. But he was quite sure that this was not what he needed, right now.
So eventually, he had made his way to the Spotlight Diner. Kurt had said he was working there this afternoon, and what Blaine really needed right now was some company.
But the diner looked busy at the moment. Sure, Kurt had invited him to come over some time, but that had been before meting Sebastian. Also, Blaine didn't want to disturb him when he was busy working. This was probably a bad idea, he should come back some other time. He should go home, practice the same pieces he had practiced a hundred times, and hope he'd get better at them, to just get back some of the feeling of it...
And who was he kidding? It hadn't worked before, it wouldn't work today. He knew what he needed right now.
So, after taking a deep breath, Blaine finally crossed the street and entered the diner.
He had hardly taken a few steps in, when Kurt was standing in front of him, an amused glitter in his eyes.
“I was wondering how long it would take you to actually get in here,” he said as a greeting, “come on, there's a table waiting just for you.”
Blaine couldn't even get in a greeting as he was dragged along to a table close to the bar.
“I'm a little busy right now, so you'll have to give me a few minutes,” Kurt said, “but if you just tell me what you'd like to drink, I'll get you something in a moment, on the house.” There was a wink at the last part, and Blaine felt a surge of warmth.
“Any recommendations?” he asked.
“The smoothies are to die for,” Kurt said. “Mango, especially. But I wouldn't eat anything - not that you heard that from me, though.”
Blaine couldn't have helped the smile appearing on his face if he had tried. “I'll take one of those, then,” he said.
“In a minute,” Kurt said and got back to work with a last smile at him.
With a deep exhale, Blaine leant back in his chair and watched his friend walk around the diner. There was an elegance in his step that Blaine could only admire, almost reminiscent of dancing. Well, they were the singing waiters, there should be at least some dancing involved. After only a moment, Kurt put the promised smoothie in front of him, before he hurried away again. Carefully, Blaine took a sip. Kurt hadn't promised too much.
In any case, just watching Kurt work, helped calm down Blaine's nerves that had been strained ever since this morning's lesson with Carmen Tibideaux. For a moment, he could stop worrying about school, or his relationship, or anything, really.
Blaine couldn't have said how long it took until things quieted down enough, but eventually, Kurt slid into the seat opposite him, putting two smoothies in front of them, one for himself and one to replace Blaine's empty glass.
“So, you finally found your way here,” Kurt said.
“I did,” Blaine said, “it's impressive here. You really seem to like this job.”
“It's fine,” Kurt said with a shrug, “I mean, it's not Vogue, but you can't have excellence 24/7, can you?”
“I guess if somebody could find a way, it's you,” Blaine said with a slight shrug.
“Well, you know what they say about flattery,” Kurt said. “Though if you think this place is so great, I could ask if they have another opening.”
“Oh,” Blaine said, “I'm not actually looking for a job,” he said.
“You should, though,” Kurt said. “It might be good for you to have something to do other than school, even if you don't need the money.”
Blaine shook his head, but stopped when he realized that it was something he hadn't exactly thought about before. “NYADA is rough,” he said hesitatingly.
Kurt snorted at that. “Rough, yes. But time-intensive? I'm having two jobs beside school, and Rachel got the lead in a Broadway show and her job here. Trust me, it's possible.”
“I guess it would be nice to have something else...”, Blaine said. And wasn't it a part of growing up, too? Even Cooper got a job during college... if you could call the occasional commercial appearance and being a corpse on a crime show jobs.
“You don't have to find something today,” Kurt said, “but you should think about it.”
“I will,” Blaine said.
“So,” Kurt said, “any good stories from NYADA you want to share? I feel like I've been locked up at this place for ages.”
“You mean an amusing story?” Blaine asked. “Because I'm not sure I can think of something right now...”
Kurt got serious immediately. “Why? Did something happen?” He frowned for a second, then it seemed to dawn on him. “Wait, didn't you have class with Carmen Tibideaux today?”
Blaine nodded, unable to keep a sardonic smile out of his face. “I did,” he said. It was...” he paused for a moment, thinking how he could possibly express it. “...not good,” he finished lamely. “Really not good.”
There was warmth, as Kurt put hand onto his wrist. Only then did Blaine notice he had been fidgeting.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Kurt asked. For a second, Blaine wondered if it was just a phrase, but when he looked up he could see sincerety in Kurt's eyes.
“I... I really do, yeah,” he said. After all, that was why he had come here. “But... aren't you busy?”
“It's fine, I'm taking a break,” Kurt said. “Tell me.”
“She'll expel me.” He probably should have thought better about what he was going to say, but that was what came out.
Kurt held his hand tighter. “She can't really do that, can she?” he asked.
“Actually, she can, and she has several times already,” Blaine said. “It's actually a miracle that she's been this patient so far.”
“What do you mean?” Kurt asked.
Blaine sighed. “I told you, she's not happy with the way I'm performing. She's said several times she never would have let me in if I had performed that way during my audition. Apparently, she liked that performance so much that she gave me a break for a while. But now she's running out of patience, and she made it pretty clear today that unless I step up soon, I can go look for another school.”
“Wow,” Kurt said, “that's... that's horrible.”
Blaine sighed and pulled his hands back to hide his face in them. “She's right, Kurt,” he said. “I don't know what's wrong with me. I used to love it all, singing and dancing, and just... living it. But ever since I came to New York, it just doesn't work anymore. I... I don't feel it. It's like there was a spark, and now it's gone. Sometimes I can conjure up something that comes close, but only a handful of times, when I'm at home and nobody's listening - so you can imagine how well that translates into a class setting...”
Kurt's voice sounded soft but sure, when he spoke again. “But you're wonderful.”
Blaine looked up in confusion. That warmth that he'd come to associate with Kurt in some moments was blossoming in his chest again, and there was something in his throat. “You never heard me,” he protested weakly.
“But I...” Kurt stopped, then he shook his head hardly noticably. “I have an idea,” he said, “remember how we talked about you playing at the diner?”
Blaine froze. “What?”
Kurt blinked, uncertainty creeping into his expression. “You did agree,” he said. “And this way I'd finally get to hear you. There's nothing that can go wrong, you know that, right? Just play something, sing, and then I'll give you an honest opinion.”
Blaine frowned. “I'm not sure,” he said, “do you really think this would help?”
The smile returned to Kurt's face, and Blaine stared to think it was almost worth a try just for that - but that was not something he was supposed to be thinking about a friend.
“Alright... but what should I play?” he asked.
“Go for a classic, maybe. How about Piano Man? I bet you can play that.”
Blaine frowned. He knew the song, he was reasonbly sure he could play it, and Kurt obviously thought it was a good idea. Still, he was hesitating. Classics were fine, but they also meant a bit of pressure. There was a lot to live up to. He also didn't feel the least bit like the piano man. These days he felt more like a zombie, or braindead or...
Wait. There could be something...
“I think I've got a song,” Blaine said. “You wouldn't happen to have a guitar, too?”
Kurt frowned “Well... yes, but... don't you want to play the piano?”
Blaine smiled. “Not for this one,” he said. He waited patiently, as Kurt went to the bar to get a guitar from somewhere behind it - Blaine wasn't sure why a diner needed one in the first place, but it was probably best not to question the singing waiters diner. He took the guitar offered by Kurt and followed him up to the stage. While Kurt announced him, Blaine tried not to look like an idiot. He was feeling... nervous, and he was pretty sure that was new.
With a last smile of encouragement, Kurt stepped off the stage. Blaine sat down on a bar stool and tried to compose himself. He was still nervous. Was this stage-fright? Just what was happening to him?
He closed his eyes for a moment to collect himself, before he looked at the people currently sitting in the diner. Some were looking at him, though just as many weren't paying any attention. But Kurt was sitting there, looking at him with excitement and confidence, and somehow, Blaine realized he actually wanted to give this a try. Besides, the important thing was to feel the song, wasn't it? And this actually was how he felt... With another deep breath, he let his hands strum the first chord, just to try it out, and then he started to play, soft notes, that sounded as lost as he felt most of the time... and then, the first strummed chord, falling loudly and attracting the attention of everybody in the diner. Picking up a fast rhythm, Blaine let himself fall into the music, and then he sang.
"Do you feel like a chain store
Practically floored
One of many zeroes
Kicked around bored
Your ears are full but you're empty
Holding out your heart
To people who never really
Care how you are"
As he started the chorus, his eyes found Kurt's and held his gaze. The longer Blaine kept singing, the easier it was. Now that he was singing - not just going through the motions, but actually feeling it - he couldn't remember how he could have ever lived without it. For a moment, he could forget everything, all his trouble and baggage, and just lose himself in the music.
It felt like flying.
"So give me coffee and tv, easily,
I've seen so much I'm going blind
And I'm braindead virtually
Sociability is hard enough for me
Take me away from this big bad world
And agree to marry me
So we can start over again..."
“Oooh, so we can start over again...”
When the final note had ended, the applause started. He heard cheering and realized it was Kurt's voice. Only then did Blaine remember the audience he had played to. It hadn't even mattered to him that there had been people listening, except maybe Kurt.
The spark had returned. Blaine felt so relieved that he could have started to sob. He had almost forgotten what it felt like. There was a hand on his shoulder and he looked up to see Kurt standing there.
“That was amazing,” he said, as he pulled Blaine into an embrace. Blaine found that his knees were weak, so he just let himself sag against the other boy, safe constant that he was.
“That's... I think that's how it used to be,” Blaine said. He had to blink away tears. But Kurt seemed to understand, just put an arm around him and led him off the stage and back to the table.
“The next time Carmen Tibideaux wants a performance from you, try to channel this,” Kurt said.
“I'll definitely try,” Blaine said. “Thank you so much for this, Kurt.”
“I didn't do anything,” Kurt replied softly. “All you needed was a little push.”
Blaine laughed, and it felt liberating. With a last squeeze to Blaine's hand, Kurt went back to work. For a while, Blaine just leant back and watched him. He felt calm, and right, and alive , as if this was what he should be doing. Most importantly, he felt like himself again, and to his surprise, it felt amazing.
“Thank you for your patience, Ms. Wright is free now, I'll connect you. Please hold.”
Kurt managed to hold back a sigh as he put the call through to Isabelle. Only a few more hours until he would get out. And getting out meant meeting Blaine, back at their usual coffee shop. They hadn't seen each other this morning, and with the last days being really busy, had only really been able to spend some time together when Blaine had played at the diner the other day.
Things at Vogue had gotten really busy this week. Tomorrow, another eccentric, up-and-coming designer was hosting a fashion show and Isabelle had snatched them invitations at basically the last minute. There was some bad blood between the designer and Vogue, but Isabelle had managed to be charming enough to get through to him. Of course, that meant a lot more stress for them before the event - but actually, Kurt was happy to have something to occupy his thoughts.
Ever since the performance at the diner, Kurt's dreams had intensified. They were still single scenes that stayed in his mind with more or less clarity, but slowly he was starting to see an overlying arch, as if there was a timeline from which his subconscious was randomly picking scenes. He was starting to get a feeling where a dream stood in relation to former ones. It was almost as if they were memories from another life.
But that was nothing he could tell Blaine, or anybody else, really. Anyone would think he was losing his mind.
“Oh, Kurt, do you have a moment?”
He looked up as he heard Isabelle's voice, and a moment later, a stack of folders landed on his desk.
“Could you look through these, please? I'm sure I've seen the March pattern somewhere in here, but I just can't find where,” she said.
“Not a problem,” Kurt said.
“What would I do without you?” Isabelle asked. “So, are you excited about tomorrow? Any special someone you need to invite?”
“What... why would you think that?” Kurt asked and tried not to blush.
“You've been happy lately,” Isabelle said. “I was just hoping, is all.”
Before he could say anything else, his phone buzzed.
“Speak of the devil?” Isabelle asked. “You didn't deny it yet, by the way.”
“I know,” Kurt said, and since he apparently had his boss's blessing, he took a glance at his phone. It was a text, and of course it was from Blaine.
“Who is he?” Isabelle asked.
“It's not like that,” Kurt said quickly as he opened the text. “Blaine is jus a friend, nothing's going on there. He has a boyfriend.” He tried, but he was aware that he still sounded slightly bitter about that. His frown deepened as he read the text. Blaine was canceling on him, apparently something had come up with Sebastian that couldn't possibly be postponed, and he'd be busy the whole weekend.
Wonderful.
But when he looked up, Isabelle was staring at him with a shocked expression. “What was his name?” she asked.
“Blaine,” Kurt said, surprised at her reaction, “Blaine Anderson. He's a student at NYADA.”
“Huh,” Isabelle said and blinked a few times. “Well, I'm sure he's wonderful.”
“Wonderful, and just a friend,” Kurt said, in case she had missed it the first time. “Also, too busy with his boyfriend.”
“He has a boyfriend?” Isabelle asked. “Who?”
“Some guy he met in high school,” Kurt answered, “it doesn't matter, really.”
Isabelle still had a preoccupied look on his face, but she nodded. “You're right,” she said, “it doesn't matter. Um, you'll be okay with these?”
“Yes, of course,” Kurt said.
“Right, I have... things. To do. You'll be ready for the lunch meeting?” Isabelle asked.
“I'll be,” Kurt said.
“So, I'll see you then,” Isabelle said and already she was flitting away.
Kurt shook his head looking after her. That was strange, even for Isabelle... But well, now that he had nothing better to do for the rest of the day, he might as well dive right into work.
Maybe he was just running late. It happened. Things at Vogue were busy at the moment, of course there always was a possibility that Kurt got held up. It wasn't that big a deal. They were just meeting for coffee, and okay, it might be the first time this week they'd manage to see each other for more than ten minutes, but it was fine. Kurt was just running late.
He probably even sent a text. He couldn't have known that Blaine would forget his phone at home today. Still, they should have met half an hour ago, and Blaine was still sitting alone at a table, two cups of cooling coffee in front of him, and no sign of Kurt.
Maybe Kurt had canceled. Without his phone, Blaine had no way of knowing. But what could he do? He couldn't wait here forever, but he wasn't looking forward to going home, either.
He had just decided that he'd wait maybe for another twenty minutes, when the door to the coffee shop opened. Blaine looked up at the sound, hoping to see Kurt. To his surprise, it was Sebastian who entered the building.
Blaine tried his best to hide his disappointment as his boyfriend looked around for him. Eventually, Sebatian spotted him and came closer, a smile - almost a smirk - appearing on his face.
“Hey there, killer,” he said as he sank down in the chair opposite Blaine. “And so thoughtful of you.” With that, he took Kurt's coffee and took a sip. He made a face. “Ugh, what's that? Don't they have sugar in this dump?”
“What are you doing here, Sebastian?” Blaine asked. “I thought you had classes all day.”
“Not all day, I'm done,” Sebastian said. He didn't even seem the least bit put-out about the little enthusiasm Blaien showed. “Oh, and I thought you might want this.”
“My phone? Where did you get that?” Blaine asked.
“It was lying around on your nightstand,” Sebastian said with a shrug, “and I know how attached you are to that thing. Honestly, I'm surprised you let it out of your sight for five minutes. Other people might get suspicious...”
“What's that supposed to mean?” Blaine asked, raising an eyebrow.
“It's just a line, Blaine, can you relax for once,” Sebastian said as he rolled his eyes.
“You're hilarious,” Blaine deadpanned. He quickly checked his phone, but there were no notifications. For a moment he feared Sebastian might have read a text from Kurt - though there was nothing incriminating in them, they were just friends texting - but when he checked he could see no new texts from Kurt, and no calls either.
“And since you weren't at school, I figured you'd be hanging around here,” Sebastian continued. “Where's your girlfriend, by the way? Not around?”
“Kurt is not here,” Blaine said, “and don't call him that.”
“Whatever,” Sebastian said, “but if you have nothing planned, why don't you come home with me? I have a surprise for you.”
Blaine frowned. “What kind of surprise?”
Sebastian rolled his eyes. “You're gonna like this one, trust me,” he said.
“I do.” The words came to his lips involuntarily, because of course he trusted his boyfriend. As they stood up and left the coffee shop, Sebastian took his hand. Blaine wondered if it had always felt so cold.
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