Finchel. It was the name Kurt liked to use to describe Rachel and Finn's relationship. The silly fools were engaged and high school wasn't even over yet. But Kurt wasn't bitter… okay yeah he totally was. And he had a right to be. How dare his brother and best friend find their soulmate before him. And in each other to boot! Kurt had more than paid his dues, dealing with bullies and being the only kid out of the closet in his high school.
Rachel got into NYADA and her smitten fiance was going to come with her. Kurt had applied to NYADA, but totally failed to get in. Yes, this was not improving the level of his jealousy. Single and denied access to his dream school was just one thing too many. Kurt had seriously contemplated just becoming a pointless lump on his father's couch for at least a week before he decided to follow his best friend and brother to New York. Maybe there would be more openly gay kids there at the very least.
And there were, but Kurt didn't fancy any of them.
"I'm gonna die alone," Kurt whined to Rachel one night after dinner.
"No, you are not," Rachel told him.
"Sure you can say that," Kurt continued. "Your fiance is in the other room probably ironing your clothes or something."
"Oh god, I hope Finn isn't ironing my clothes!" Rachel exclaimed as she got up to check on the safety of her wardrobe.
With much persistence, Rachel's help and a surprise audition in which he sang 'Being Alive' without any preparation Kurt finally got into NYADA. Finn and Rachel took him out to celebrate and the followed week Kurt was attending classes. Things were looking up. He was still chronically single, but at least he'd gotten into the school of his dreams. Now if only Kurt could meet someone he actually wanted to date...
You never know what day will change your life forever.
Kurt certainly hadn't expected it to be during one of his singing classes. When he entered the room all Kurt could think was that this man was the single most phenomenal man Kurt had ever seen. His hair was gelled perfectly to his head, except for a single curl about his temple. He was shorter than Kurt, but only by an inch or so and there was a kindness to his eyes. Not to mention the guy was totally gorgeous.
"This is Blaine Anderson," Kurt's teacher announced. "He's in his third year and kindly agreed to come here to help me demonstrate the lesson today." And then Blaine began to sing and Kurt found himself starstruck as his perfect voice filled the room. It was as if Blaine was meant for a broadway stage, his performance was so raw.
"Thank you Blaine," Kurt's teacher said as everyone clapped. "Now as you can see…" But Kurt wasn't listening to the lesson anymore. He was staring at Blaine, trying to memorize every detail of the man's face. Then to his surprise Blaine was suddenly staring at him.
"Do you have a question?" Blaine asked.
"Oh no sorry," Kurt mumbled, quickly looking down. "You just sound amazing."
"Thanks," Blaine replied smiling. He was somehow even more attractive when he smiled though at this point Kurt didn't think this guy could get any hotter.
Kurt's teacher claimed his attention again, but Kurt kept an eye on Blaine to make sure the guy didn't leave while he worked up the courage to talk to him. Blaine thankfully didn't leave right away. He moved among the first year students answering questions with a radiant smile lighting up his face.
"I want everyone to practice for the practical next week," Kurt's teacher said as class ended.
"It's Blaine right," Kurt asked to break the ice as he came up to talk to Blaine the moment people started packing up. He didn't need an answer though. The name Blaine had been dancing around inside his head like a ballerina since his teacher had mentioned it.
"Yeah," Blaine replied.
"I'm Kurt," Kurt said, unsure what else to say.
"Nice to meet you Kurt," Blaine answered. Kurt wanted Blaine's number, but he couldn't think of a way to get it.
"Are you sure you don't have a question?" Blaine asked. "About the lesson." Kurt wondered if he was staring again.
"I forgot," Kurt said. "Maybe it will come to me later?"
"Why don't you text me," Blaine said, as he reached into the pocket of his bag and pulled out a pen and slip of paper, before scrolling down some digits and handing it to Kurt. "When you remember."
"Thanks," Kurt replied taking the paper as if it were some sort of priceless treasure. Blaine said goodbye with a casual wave and Kurt watched him leave, titling his head to one side as he sighed, his mind blank but for Blaine's name.
Then Kurt remember he was late for combat class. Tucking the precious slip of paper into his pocket, Kurt bolted down the hall. With only one annoyed look from his professor Kurt managed to get through the rest of his classes that day, despite the constant distraction that was the memory of Blaine's smile.
The following day, Kurt debated whether or not to text Blaine. How such a simple thing could torment him from morning till night he wasn't sure, but it did. The day after Kurt wondered if it was better to wait the whole three days now that he'd waited the two. Or was waiting to contact a guy for three days after getting his phone number only something that actually happened on tv?
"Why have you been pacing with you phone in your hand for an hour?" Rachel asked him as she re-entered the living room.
"Umm," Kurt mumbled. "I met a guy and I have his number."
"So text him!" Rachel exclaimed. "Why the pacing?"
"He thinks I only wanted his number to ask a class related question. Oh and I have no idea if he's even gay, let alone single."
"Ah I see," Rachel said.
"Maybe I should just keep the fantasy alive," Kurt said. "If I never text Mr. Perfect he can remain perfect."
"For heaven's sake," Rachel sighed as she snatched the phone from Kurt's grip.
"Rachel what are you doing!" Kurt exclaimed desperately grabbing for his phone, but Rachel was dancing out of reach.
"It's for your own good," Rachel said in her sing song voice, before closing the bathroom door behind her. Kurt heard the lock click just as he tried to open it. Kurt groaned as he banged on the door, hopelessly worrying about what Rachel could possible be doing. A moment later the door opened and Rachel handed Kurt his phone, grinning. Kurt didn't like her grin. He braced himself before looking down at the screen. A message had been sent to Blaine.
'Hey, It's Kurt,' read the text Rachel had sent.
"That's it?" Kurt said. "That's all you wrote after all the phone stealing and hiding?"
"Yep," Rachel replied with a grin. "Now when he replies-"
"If he replies," Kurt added.
"When he replies just ask a question about school then keep talking," Rachel said. "I am sure you can learn enough to get the answers you need before asking him out."
Kurt didn't have the energy to be annoyed at Rachel because now he was too busy stressing out. Would Blaine reply? Did Blaine even remember him? What if Blaine thought he was clingy for texting so soon? What if Blaine was straight or taken or not interested?
"Kurt breath!" Rachel snapped. "Wow you must really like this guy."
"He's gorgeous," Kurt whined.
"You need a distraction," Rachel said. "Come on." And Kurt suddenly found himself dragged out the front door by his wrist.
Kurt spent the next hour walking around New York with Rachel. It wasn't until they arrived at a subway that Kurt realized Rachel had actually a destination in mind. When they reached Finn's school Rachel kissed her fiance hello while Kurt tried to imagine what it might feel like to kiss Blaine.
Kurt didn't speak on the way home, but rather listened to them exchange the stories of their day. Finn was in school to be a teacher which meant he wasn't at NYADA with Kurt and Rachel. Kurt suspected Rachel quite missed him during the day, but Kurt had no sympathy for Rachel as she still got to fall asleep every night in the arms of her soulmate while Kurt spelt his nights with a pillow shaped like an arm that he'd named Bruce.
Then Kurt's phone went off.
There was a moment of perfect chaos as Kurt's brain did backflips and his hands fumbled for his phone. Kurt's heart was pounding by the time he managed to stop his phone from smashing onto the ground for the third time.
'Oh hey Kurt. Did you remember what you wanted to ask me?' Blaine's reply appeared on his phone.
"He answered me!" Kurt said holding up his phone in triumph as the three of them arrived home.
"Told you," Rachel laughed as she and Finn went off on their own and Kurt took his cell phone to the couch.
'Not yet,' Kurt typed, sitting on his sofa glued to his phone screen. 'I was just thinking about how great your singing was and thought I'd say hi.'
'I'm not that good,' Blaine's replied quickly this time. 'I was surprised to be asked to help out.'
'Your voice is amazing,' Kurt told him. 'I am surprised you aren't teaching the class.'
'Okay now you are just talking crazy,' Blaine replied.
'I could listen to you sing all day,' Kurt texted.
After he sent it Kurt was worried that came off as flirty and though he definitely wanted to flirt with Blaine he still wasn't sure where he stood in this area. Thankfully Blaine replied as if he hadn't noticed and they changed the topic to favourite pop stars.
'Katy Perry huh,' Kurt replied. 'I'm more a Gaga fan myself.'
'She's good too,' Blaine texted. 'I just don't think I could ever wear those Gaga outfits.'
'Fair enough,' Kurt replied. 'Katy is the less extreme of the two.' They made small talk for another hour then Blaine said goodbye because he had class.
The following day Kurt texted Blaine good morning before even getting out of bed. His good morning back arrived about a half hour later and again they were able to start up a casual conversation about music, school and other common areas of interest. It turned out both Blaine and Kurt had been in their school's respective Glee clubs back home. Kurt was surprised to discovered Blaine was also from Lima Ohio. Blaine had gone to private school though which explained why Kurt had never met him before.
'Oh I remember the Warblers!' Kurt texted. 'We went up against them at sections a few times.'
'And I remember the New Directions,' Blaine replied.
'It's kinda crazy that we didn't meet till NYADA,' Kurt texted. 'I mean we could have met so many times before this.'
'That's true,' Blaine said. 'Though I guess competing show choirs don't often get together for social events. Just the fact we both came to New York from Ohio is kinda crazy though.'
It took two more days of casual small talk over text for Kurt to finally get up the courage to get more personal. Though he was still to awkward to say it outright. Instead, Kurt decided to try and work what he really wanted to know into his text without asking directly.
'Before my step brother was my brother,' Kurt texted. 'I kinda had a crush on him. I swear it isn't as creepy as it sounds.'
'I believe you,' Blaine replied. 'Must of been weird for you though.'
'It was,' Kurt said. 'But Finn was pretty cool about it when he found out and I got over it quick especially after our parents got married.'
'That's great,' Blaine texted. 'Crushes on straight guys suck.' Kurt punched the air, so relieved he was felt like he could fly. After all, what straight guy would say that? Okay sure, he needed confirmation, but this was definitely a good sign! He took a moment to compose his thoughts before he texted back.
'Totally,' Kurt texted. 'I think every gay man's been there.'
'Yeah,' Blaine texted and Kurt sensed there was more he wasn't saying.
'They are hard to get past though,' Kurt texted trying to be the safe person to confide in.
'Very hard,' Blaine texted.
'If you want to talk about it,' Kurt typed. 'I am happy to listen.'
'Thanks,' Blaine typed. He hadn't said more than that and Kurt was about to say something else when another text from Blaine added, 'Wish I was over mine.'
'Who?' Kurt asked. 'If you don't mind me asking.'
'My best friend.'
'That would be complicated,' Kurt empathized.
'Yep,' Blaine texted. 'He has a girlfriend. I am so pathetic.'
'You aren't pathetic. Trust me. At least your crush didn't become your brother.'
'At least you are over yours,' Blaine answered.
'You will get there,' Kurt replied. 'Have you tried dating other guys. Maybe looking more instead of sulking?'
'I know I should,' Blaine texted. Kurt could picture Blaine sighing as he typed those words. But they moved onto lighter topics after that. Kurt didn't want to push too hard. At least he'd gotten the answer he'd wanted about Blaine's sexuality. His heart would take more time and that was okay.
A few days later the conversation shifted to their coming out stories. Kurt talked about how he'd been so worried to tell Burt and all for nothing as his father had known since Kurt was about seven years old.
'Dad always said I sing like Diana Ross,' Kurt texted.
'Soprano men are hard to find,' Blaine replied. 'A very unique voice. I didn't hear you sing in class, but I'm sure you sound wonderful.'
'Thanks,' Kurt texted back smiling at his phone. Next Kurt asked about Blaine's coming out to his parents. Blaine had been a year older than Kurt when he'd done it, though since Blaine was three years older than Kurt in general that hardly mattered. Pam, Blaine's mother had accepted it easier than his father, who'd spent his summers building cars with Blaine.
'Sometimes I think he had it in his head that oil grease and car engines could make me straight,' Blaine texted, adding a laughing emoji to the end of his sentence.
'That sounds exactly like torture,' Kurt replied. 'Why are you laughing?'
'Because it's ridiculous. Knowing what a spark plug is had nothing to do with wanting to date woman.'
'Fair enough,' Kurt texted back. 'My dad has a car shop. I am so glad he never tried that with me. Finn works there during the summer, but I can't stand the place.'
'What's your brother studying at school?' Blaine texted.
'Teaching,' Kurt replied. 'And Rachel's at NYADA. Do you have any siblings?'
'One brother,' Blaine replied, but he didn't elaborate. Kurt thought about asking, but something stopped him.
Kurt continued to text Blaine every chance he got over the next few days. They talked about everything and anything. What they were doing in that very moment, gay stereotypes that were and weren't true, their favourite characters from TV shows and movies, and Kurt's heart fluttered just a little with every reply. Eventually he knew he just had to do try asking Blaine out.
'Hey you wanna do something together this Saturday?' Kurt texted as he crossed his fingers.
'I'm going to a party Saturday,' Blaine replied. 'Do you want to come?'
'Yeah!' Kurt replied, knowing full well he would have agreed to anything so long as it meant going with Blaine.
If you read my last Glee fic than you know that this one is terribly late. Sorry. I really have no good excuse. I was just kinda hording it and also I liked the way it turned out so much that I wanted to turn it into an original story. Which I did as well. So there are two versions of this fic: One with Klaine and one soon to be published on FictionPress.
Sneak Peek Chapter 2
"He's a model you know," Blaine told Kurt as he approached. "Sam. He's on billboards."
"How did you guys become friends?" Kurt asked.
"In high school," Blaine replied. "Before I transferred to Dalton." Blaine did another shot.
"How many of those have you had?" Kurt asked. They'd been apart for all of a few minutes, but doing shots didn't take long.
"Not sure," Blaine replied as he emptied another glass.
"Maybe slow down," Kurt suggested. With a sigh Blaine turned to Kurt.