"I don't know you want me to come down and practice at the shop." Blaine told Finn, for what felt like the hundredth time. Ever since Kurt and he had split, Blaine had been waiting for Kurt's Step-Brother Finn, to come after him. Instead, it seemed Finn didn't blame him as much as Blaine thought he would have. Sure he had tried out for a part for Grease for the musical, but just to release his feelings. When they gave him the part for Teen Angel, he reluctantly agreed. Sam had gotten the part he wanted, and the new guy Ryder, got the part of Danny. In order to get them in the groove repair shop's Greased Lightnin' scene, they would all be practicing at Kurt's Dads auto repair shop. Finally, he agreed to go and sing before all the others had arrived.
As he walked into the shop door the smell hit him first; grease, sweat, and oil. It was rather loud in the back part where the garage doors were open to let cars in for repairs. Finn was talking to a guy at the counter, and when he caught his eye, he smiled.
"Go ahead and head to the back. Burt has cleaned off the stage for us." he smiled, pointing the way.
"Righttt...he had forgotten that when the Glee club had become Kurt's largest source of happiness, his dad had set a little raised platform he used for motorcycle repairs aside as a small stage. As he walked through the next door, he caught Burt's' eye while in the office. He was on the phone so he couldn't talk, but he did wave his hand and smile as a greeting. Nodding, Blaine walked a bit quicker; Burt didn't know Kurt had broken up with him. He didn't want to be around when he found that out. Throwing his bag on a chair, he sighed and looked around, trying not to think of when he had been so happy with Kurt. Momentarily turning to look back toward the front door, he found a new source to take his mind off his woes.
The guy Finn was talking to was...cool...and for some reason the word "awesomeness" seemed a perfect word to describe him. Brown curly hair, slim build, no tan yet not as white as a ghost, and a very, very nice face. Feeling a little tug from below he glanced down. It seemed his dick agreed with how good looking this guy was. The guy glanced at him for second, and then met his eye. Blaine gave slight smile, then realizing what he was doing, he turned away. Embarrassed, he felt heat creeping up his neck. Taking a couple of breaths, he casually turned back around; he met the guys' gaze again, and then his attention went back to Finn as they started to talk once more. After a few more words, Blaine saw him nod, and Finn turned and walked to the office door, telling Burt something. A moment later, Finn joined Blaine in the back. Finn started to talk to him, but Blaine wasn't listening, the customer was looking at him as he casually sat down on a chair next to the shop door. This time, it was this turn to blush.
"Hello, earth to Blaine Anderson." Finn said loudly, snapping his fingers in his face.
"What?" he said startled.
Looking at him, Finn glanced through the door and saw the object that was the cause of his distraction.
"Oh, that's just a customer who needs his car fixed before he can make it to Indiana. As you can see," Finn gestured at an old beat up car being lifted above the repair pit. "It's about to fall apart. He says it doesn't have to be perfect, just good enough to make it home." Finn explained.
"What's his name?" Blaine asked, trying to sound less interested than he really was.
"Axl Heck." he said, looking down at the receipt. Walking over to the junker, he slapped the note on the windshield.
"So, let's hear what you can do." he said to Blaine with a big dopey smile.
"Finn," said Blaine. "You know exactly what I can do." he finished, exasperated.
"Humor me." he replied.
Sighing, Blaine made his way over to the stage and jumped up as Finn went to his drum set. Keeping the beat for Beauty School Dropout, Blaine began. He didn't need the sheet music, knowing almost every song by heart. Though he was able to keep time, Blaine kept missing the notes. This was odd; he never had a problem finding the right pitch. It seemed Blaine's subconscious mind was too troubled to work properly. Trying once more, and again failing, he hung his head. There was no way he could sing on pitch without some help.
"This isn't going to work Finn; I just can't do it today without at least the base chords." Blaine told Finn miserably. Finn gave him a look, and then he stared at the beat up car that belonged to the customer. It looked like he was debating to bring something up. Looking up at Blaine, he raised an eyebrow "Do you at least know all the chords to the song?" Finn asked him.
"Of course, but why does that matter?" Blaine said with a sigh.
Holding up a finger, Finn rose and went back to the car and looked in the passenger seat. Walking swiftly back to the front, he pushed through the shop doors, and approached the guy sitting by the door. Blaine couldn't hear what passed between the two. The guy nodded, and then got up out of his seat. Following Finn, he joined him in the back. Blaine watched as the guy went to his car and opened the same door Finn at peeked in at. Moments later, the guy joined Finn by the set with a guitar strapped around his neck. Blaine looked puzzled as he looked at Finn.
"This is Axl; I noticed he had a guitar, so I assumed he could play it, which he can. He's going to be playing the chords for us as you sing and I keep time. Write down the chords and how many measures long they last for." Shrugging, Blaine went to his bag and pulled out a piece of staff paper and wrote them down then handed them to Axl. Tuning his guitar and playing a couple of notes, then nodded. So, Blaine began again, and this time, he was able to keep the pitch, and had no more trouble. When the rest of the guys from Glee arrived, Blaine got down and thanked Finn, and he finally got to speak directly to Axl.
"No problem, bro." he said, smiling. Not being able to help it, Blaine blushed again and looked down at the ground. Axl walked with his guitar back to his car. He opened the door and it swung out faster than usual, causing him to drop it. A couple of strings snapped as it hit the ground. He stood there for a moment, then swore rather loudly. Sighing, he picked the guitar up and placed it back in it's case, face red with frustration. Closing the door, he listened as Finn told him it would be a little over an hour before his car was ready. Looking at the car, where Axl's guitar fell, he informed him that the service was 50% off. Nodding, Axl returned to the lobby and took his earlier seat. There were already two workers under the car while it was over the repair pit. Blaine thanked Finn, knuckle bumped with Sam, and finally exited the back. Making his way to the door, he caught Axl's eye, and he smiled at him. Stopping for a moment, he turned to Axl, and once again thanked him.
"Thanks again, I must have sounded horrible back there." Blaine said, trying to sound amused, hoping he was wrong.
"Oh my God," said Axl, rolling his eyes. "You sounded really good. I have a band at home in Indiana with my best friends Shawn and Darren. Though, none of us can really sing, we just do it to make noise and mess with my Mom." Axl finished.
God, this guy is hot…Blaine thought. He felt another tub below and he briefly glanced down before he could stop himself as the bulge in his crotch made very visible move. Axl followed his gaze and smirked, looking away. Furious with himself, he made his way to open the door but once again, paused. Axl hadn't seemed grossed put off by the event. Biting his lip, Blaine took a chance.
"Since it's going to be a while before your car is ready, why don't I get you a coffee at Bread Stix. As a thank you for the help." Blaine said in a rush. Axl looked at him, and then gave a slight nod. Standing, they made their way out the door, just as the guys began to practice their shop scene in Grease.
As they walked, Blaine was trying to figure out how he could get into Axl's pants. Yes, he was depressed and missed Kurt like crazy, but what he needed right now, much like back at the shop, was a distraction. His thoughts were interrupted however
"So, that guy at the shop said you usually didn't need anyone to help you keep pitch, what ever that is. Why couldn't you today?" Axl asked him casually.
"Oh, well, it's kind of complicated. My boyfriend graduated last year, and he's in New York and we haven't been able to see each other. I got lonely, so I met a friend and fooled around with him. Afterwards I felt like crap and had to tell Kurt. After which he broke up with me. It was hard for me this afternoon because the whole shop reminded me of him since it belongs to his dad. I guess to put it simply, I couldn't concentrate." Blaine told Axl. He had stopped and looked at Blaine.
"Oh crap." he thought. He hadn't meant to go that into it.
"Sorry, didn't mean to gush." Blaine said, expecting Axl to start walking back to the shop than be seen with a gay guy. He looked at Blaine with an odd expression. Then he nodded and started walking again. Taken a back by his laid back attitude was a relief. Smiling, they continued on their way.
"How long had it been when you decided to get some?" Axl asked nonchalantly.
"Almost three months." Blaine replied sadly.
"Dude! What did he expect? I wouldn't have lasted a week. I mean, your hand can only do so much before it runs out of ideas." said Axl exasperated.
"What?" Blaine said, amused enough to stop again. Had Axl just made a comment about jacking off?
"Oh my God, every guy does it. Some more than others. Though I guess," here, Axl looked him up and down and continued, "Usually those of us that are way hotter than most guys shouldn't have to do it much." Axl finished. It was clear that Blaine was one of those Axl deemed "hotter than most guys". Blaine gave a quick nod and a small smile. Axl smiled at him awkwardly, as if not knowing what to say next. Blaine looked down at his watch and realized they have been walk so slow, there was no way they would make it to Bread Stix get something and have time to get back now.
"You know, I'm really sorry your guitar broke. In a way it was my fault. You wouldn't have had to get it out if I could just have sung right" Blaine said to him, his voice becoming husky, taking a half step forward.
"Oh, don't wo-" Axl began, but Blaine cut him off before he could finish.
"I'd like to find a way to express my thanks..." Blaine let that hang in the air, watching as Axl's face started to turn red.