Okay, this was definitely in the top ten for the strangest activities Mr. Schuester had them do for a Glee club assignment. The entire bus ride he declined to share where they were headed and promptly ignored Rachel's pleas of "wasting valuable rehearsal time on some lousy field trip."
"I think you're really going to like this, guys. It should be really interesting," Mr. Schuester said, a huge grin on his face. Mr. Schuester thought every assignment was interesting, but nevertheless, it would be a nice change instead of running the same sixteen bars over and over for the entire practice.
At least Kurt had his phone to keep him company if he got really bored. It buzzed in his hand and he looked down to see an incoming text:
From Mercedes:
I hope this field trip is a good one
Kurt turned around in his seat to see her smiling at him as Rachel rested her head on his shoulder, admitting defeat with her argument with Mr. Schuester for now. Kurt shrugged and nodded to Mercedes in agreement, texting her back awkwardly with one hand as Rachel snuggled his other arm.
Maybe it won't be so bad
The bus soon arrived at a large building that looked vaguely familiar to Kurt. It was an art museum. Kurt probably went there for a class field trip in elementary school.
"Alright New Directions," Mr. Schuester said as the entered the quiet museum lobby, "I want you to really look at the pieces you will see today and draw inspiration for song choices. Really look for a piece that makes you stop and look longer than a glance. One that makes you think and feel."
Kurt shrugged and was as ready as ever to "think" and "feel" as he went to enter the first room behind Rachel who was chatting about finding the perfect painting for the perfect duet while dragging Finn behind her. Quinn and Sam were off in the opposite corner looking at an impressionist painting as Sam attempted his best robot voice. How impressionism and robots went together, Kurt had no idea.
Kurt stopped at peaceful landscape painting, tilting his head slightly. He supposed a ballad might work with this painting, although admittedly he didn't know of many songs about a grassy cornfield.
"Ooh, very nice choice, Kurt," Mr. Schuester said, walking by him. Kurt mentioned his lack of knowledge about corn songs to which Mr. Schuester replied, "Try thinking more how this piece makes you feel."
Right. All Kurt feels like now is taking a nap. This painting wasn't very "inspiring," he decided, and went to look around more. The group entered the second room with no luck for Kurt being inspired. Puck found a Picasso painting of a woman that he argued "inspired him like no other." Brittany was pretty enthralled by a sculpture of an Egyptian cat and had to be reminded not to touch.
"This is Lord Tubbington's great-great-great-great-great grandmother," she said.
By the third gallery Kurt was growing tired and feeling uninspired. He sat on a bench near the back of the room and pulled out his phone, answering a text from Rachel about why Finn doesn't appreciate art. He viewed a snapchat from Mercedes where she added a purple mustache to a portrait. Laughing, he brought his phone up to take a selfie to respond.
"Excuse me, sir. Please do not take pictures of the artwork."
Kurt felt his face turn red as he turned around to find a really attractive museum worker standing quiet and still, almost blending into the wall. "Oh, I'm sorry I was just taking a selfie -"
"I know," the worker said, winking.
Did that just happen? Kurt wondered if he really was being flirted with by a museum worker in a very form fitting shirt and pants with gorgeous hazel eyes that matched the hardwood floors.
"Um -" was all Kurt could say.
"I'm sorry," the guy said quickly, holding his hands up awkwardly as if he meant to step away. "I uh, just - "
"It's okay," Kurt replied. "Er, I mean, thank you."
There was a pause before the worker offered his hand, introducing himself. "I'm Blaine."
"I know - I mean, you have a name tag," Kurt said, taking his pleasantly soft hand in his own. "My name is Kurt."
"Well, uh, sorry for being really creepy just then. You looked bored."
Kurt laughed lightly. "Well, yeah I am a bit."
"Class field trip?"
"More like an inspirational outing. My show choir teacher brought us here for song 'inspiration,'" Kurt said, putting air quotes around "inspiration."
"Feeling inspired yet?"
"I am now."
Blaine smiled, turning red himself as Kurt winked back at him.
"Well, I can tell you a bit about some pieces if you'd like. Maybe then you'll find your 'inspiration.'"
"Sure, I'd love that."
Blaine led him around the room, explaining the history of each painting along with fun facts that couldn't be found just by reading the plaques on the wall. The rest of the New Directions went to the next room, but Kurt took no notice as this incredibly sweet boy took him by the hand excitedly showing him different pieces. Kurt's head was spinning by the time they reached the last painting in the room, and he wasn't completely sure if it was from running around from piece to piece or from being so close to this boy who smelled like raspberries.
"And this…" Blaine said, pausing at the end of the gallery, "Is my favorite painting in the entire museum."
It was a square painting, probably twelve inches in either direction, of a small warbler on a branch. Its yellow feathers stood out brightly against the dark greens of the woody background. Its beak was open as if in song.
"It's beautiful," Kurt remarked, suddenly overwhelmed with emotion. Standing next to Blaine looking at this painting filled his heart. "It's inspiring too. Thank you."
"I'll consider my work here complete then," Blaine said, watching Kurt take in the masterpiece.
"I know exactly what song to pick."
"Well, I'd love to hear it," Blaine said. "I mean, not that - er "
Kurt reached to pull his phone out of his pocket and handed it to Blaine. "Give me your number and I'll send you a video? If that's something you'd want I mean -" He bounced on his heels slightly, unsure if his invitation would be accepted. Even though Blaine flirted with him as soon as they met, he wasn't sure.
Blaine nodded, sliding the phone open only find the exact selfie that Kurt had taken earlier. "Um, you've got -" He held the phone back somewhat awkwardly.
"Oops." Kurt saved the picture for later and went to create a contact for Blaine's information, then handed the phone back for Blaine to fill in his number.
"Kurt? Kurt! You're still in here? We're ready to go!" Rachel shouted, poking her head through the archway.
"I'll text you later?" Kurt asked. "Thanks again, Blaine." Kurt squeezed Blaine's hand affectionately before jogging to catch up with Rachel, looking behind him once last time to see Blaine smiling at his feet.
The museum closed about fifteen minutes later and Blaine was able to check his phone as he signed out of his shift. He had an unread picture message from an unknown number. It was the selfie Kurt took earlier along with a message:
From Kurt:
Glad I could be your masterpiece :)
(The next week Blaine was excited to see a YouTube link to Kurt singing "Blackbird" by The Beatles. After watching, he gained the courage to officially ask Kurt on a date, to which Kurt readily accepted.)