New York is great in spring, summer and autumn but in winter it is uniquely beautiful. The snow crunches under his feet as Blaine jogs over what is a green meadow in summer. Central Park is almost empty except for a few old people walking their dogs and stressed out mothers with their overly excited children. It's quiet and peaceful and doesn't feel like the heart of the city that never sleeps at all.
His feet hit the pavement and he is reminded that no, sadly he is not in some winter wonderland. When he finally reaches the subway station his hands are ice cubes and his feet hurt like someone stomped on them, like a horse or a rhino. Or maybe an elephant.
His train arrives breaking the perfect silence of the empty station and rubbing his hands together Blaine hurries to get a good seat. Hurrying is kind of pointless because except for one person the wagon is empty. Humming an old Top-40 tune to himself Blaine watches as the city whizzes past him and the houses turn into the neighbourhood he calls his home these days.
It isn't until the last stop that the man who already was on the train when Blaine jumped on approaches him. "Excuse me, could you maybe, like, lend me a dollar?" Looking down at him is the politest homeless person he's ever met. It is also the most beautiful homeless person.
"Yeah, sure, hang on", he rambles while desperately searching his pockets for some loose change but all he finds is his credit card.
"Sorry, but I kinda don't have any change", he mumbles. "I'm really sorry."
"Don't worry about it", says the stranger and walks away gracefully with his plastic bags trailing behind him. Wow, now he's also the most graceful homeless person on the planet.
"But…umm…do you wanna grab some coffee or lunch or something?" Damn, you sound like a teenager asking a girl out, Blaine thinks mentally slapping himself.
The taller man turns around, his huge eyes widening even more. Wait, did they just change color? They were grey, like, ten seconds ago. "Umm…okay?"
The walk to the nearest café isn't long, so there's no time for silence and awkward glances. "Order whatever you like", Blaine whispers to the stranger when they enter.
"A grande non-fat mocha, please" he tells the waitress with a kind smile.
"And for me a medium drip."
The chubby girl leaves them sitting at their table and disappears, seconds later the sound of an expensive coffee machine fill the small café.
"My name's Blaine", Blaine says extending his hand over the table.
"Kurt."
For a second they shake hands, both staring at each other, neither wanting to let go. But their orders arrive and who can resist the temptation of a fresh cup of coffee?
They sit in the café for almost an hour, not talking but simply staring into their cups. At least that's what Blaine does for the first thirty minutes. When sneaking glances gets annoying he decides that a little staring won't hurt and Kurt won't notice anyways. His friend, coffee pal, whatever seems to be in an entirely different place in his thoughts, his eyes are almost closed and there's a tiny but visible smile on his lips. What stuns Blaine is that despite his homelessness Kurt looks like he just walked out of a spa, the skin on his angelic face is glowing and his hair is perfectly coiffed. But then there the rings under his eyes and the designer clothes that looked like they'd been worn in a war zone.
Clearing his throat Kurt sets down his mug and gets up. "Thanks, Blaine. It was nice meeting you." Without looking back the slender man walks out of the café and disappears behind the nearest corner. Blaine is stunned. Then suddenly he comes back to life. Shouting a "be right back" to the waitress he storms onto the street where a wave of ice cold air hits him. Great, he left his coat inside.
"Kurt, wait, Kurt", he yells as he sprints down the street.
Kurt stops in his tracks and turns around slowly.
Almost stumbling into him Blaine finally reaches this porcelain faced stranger that he just met and is behaving inexplicably around and looks up at him.
"Do you…umm…could we, like, swap numbers? Maybe text or something?"
"I don't…I don't have a phone", Kurt blushes and stares at his shoes which have suddenly become very interesting.
"Oh, ok."
"Anyways, you wouldn't wanna be friends with me. Just forget me, okay? Bye, Blaine."
And without another word he takes off leaving a very confused Blaine in the middle of a quiet street. With his brow furrowed he walks back to the café slowly where he pays and sets off without a word.
"Forget me, yeah fucking right", he mumbles kicking at snow and cans on the pavement. It isn't until he has reached his apartment and is laying facedown on his couch that it hits him.
"Oh God. I think I have a crush on a homeless person. Oh God."
"What's that, Blaine?", comes a voice from the kitchen.
"Nothing, Sebastian, it's nothing."