Chapter 1
A/N: This is my first ever fic… It's an idea/fantasy which has been floating around in my head for a while, so I thought it was about time I shared it with you lovely people!
Blaine Anderson gazed out of the window of his father's BMW, his thoughts a million miles away from the conversation his parents were having in the front of the car. Instead, his mind conjured up images of his best friend. Blaine hadn't seen him since last summer. His fingers, for no real reason, traced the stitching of his black jeans as he pictured Jesse St. James lying on his stomach beside him on the grass by Blaine's house, looking out over the lake as Blaine's eyes watched him, trying to memorise every part of him before he left for college.
It seemed so long ago now. They had promised to keep in contact – they were going to talk to each other almost every day on the phone as far as they were concerned. Neither expected to ever lose touch. Of course, back then, Blaine couldn't imagine life without his best friend. No matter what Jesse had done last year, no matter what he had been pressured into by those Vocal Adrenaline numbskulls, Blaine had always stood by him. He knew what Jesse was really like – caring, kind and good-humoured Jesse, not the cruel, self-centred asshole persona he adopted in front of other people – people who didn't know him at all, or bother to try to get to know him. Nothing was ever going to change their relationship. Or so Blaine had thought.
So much had happened since the last time they saw each other. They had hung out together all the time growing up – the close friendship of their parents ensured that. This past year, however, the two had completely lost contact. Blaine had changed a lot. He had become so close to the New Directions, most of all Kurt, but he had also really bonded with Rachel. How was he supposed to carry on being friends with Jesse now?
His musings were interrupted by the gruff sound of his father's voice. "So, Blainey boy, excited to see your old friend again?"
"Yeah, Dad, can't wait." Blaine smiled towards the back of his father's head, his eyes lingering for a moment on the thick black curls which covered it – the curls Blaine had inherited from him. His mind once again drifted back to last summer.
"Next year, I'm going to audition to be the lead singer of the Warblers," he had proudly declared.
Jesse, who had been playing absent-mindedly with the hem of Blaine's jeans, had looked up on hearing this. "Fantastic! Finally following in my footsteps and taking charge? I like it."
"Yeah, yeah," Blaine chuckled, "I mean it though. Next year, I'm gonna be in control. I'll get back the confidence I used to have. You know, before the… Before I transferred." Jesse nodded and smiled weakly at this. "I'll be a new Blaine. Cool. Assertive. And I'll gel these damn curls down – once and for all."
Jesse's eyes had almost popped right out of his head at that. "No! Not the curls! I won't let you. They're so… Adorable. They're just… They're… You."
"Mmhmm," Blaine had scoffed, "Except you won't be here next year, Mr. UCLA, remember? You're abandoning me and my mop of stupid curls for bigger and better things."
"Oh, shut up, will you? You know I don't want to leave you behind. You… Can't we just enjoy the rest of the summer?"
And so they had. God, Blaine missed those days. Everything was so simple. He missed hanging out with Jesse by the lake, or in his room… Especially when his parents were both working.
Just then, Blaine was brought back to reality by the sudden loss of the noise of his car's engine. They had arrived at the St. James house.
Correction – They had arrived at the St. James mansion. Blaine had forgotten how beautiful and huge their place was. Taking a deep breath, he pushed the car door open and joined his parents on the front porch. His mother smiled warmly at him before turning to ring the doorbell with a perfectly-manicured finger.
Seconds later, Maria St. James pulled open the large oak door, grinning from ear to ear. After greeting Blaine's parents, she tugged him into the house and a tight embrace.
"Blaine! We've missed you so much! Why haven't you come to visit us at all this year?" she gushed, not stopping to take a breath, let alone give Blaine a chance to respond, "Working hard, I assume? Karen here tells me you're top of your class. And lead singer of the Warblers? I suppose, you have been busy!"
Blaine nodded, giggling half from embarrassment and half from excitement.
"Come in, come in! Karen, Robert, why don't we head into the living room and catch up? Blaine, I assume you still remember where Jesse's room is – Or would you prefer to stay in one of the guest rooms? I just thought you might like-"
"Jesse's room will be absolutely fine," Blaine interrupted her. (How else was he meant to get a word in?) "I'll just go dump my stuff there now. Is he here?"
"No, he's not," Maria launched off again, "He's just out seeing some old friends – Hasn't been home at all since last summer, as I'm sure you know. Always busy, always off doing something! He should be home before dinner, though, which will be in about an hour."
"Great," Blaine breathed, silently hoping Jesse's mother couldn't hear the frantically beating wings of the butterflies in his stomach, or the even louder (and much more real) thud of his heartbeat. "I'll, uh, get settled and see you in a bit?"
"Perfect." Maria beamed at him as he turned and practically skipped down the hallway to Jesse's wing. (Mansion, remember?)
He swiftly reached the door to Jesse's bedroom and, with a slightly shaky hand, pushed it open and crept into the familiar space.
