Author's Note: Blaine's point of view again. Guess who the vision in a Burberry coat is? ;-)

Chapter 3: A Vision in a Burberry Coat

Cooper took to his role like a duck to water, practising his lines and songs at home until Blaine knew them backwards and forwards, and going on and on about how he was going to wow the audience and become a household name on Broadway.

About two weeks into the rehearsals, Cooper offered to take Blaine along on Saturday afternoon so that he could meet Cooper's co-star and see them play a few key scenes. Blaine had already finished his assignments for that week and was quite frankly curious after having heard so much about Rachel from Cooper, so he accepted the invitation eagerly.

At the theatre, Cooper flashed the security guard his charming smile and announced that he'd brought his little brother Blaine to see the magic of Broadway. "Blaine, meet Bob. His beard will change from green to blue to purple every week, but he's the best security guard around, and a really nice guy too."

Blaine mumbled a hello, and Bob grinned at him and clapped him on the back. "Cooper's brother, huh? Handsome bunch, the lot of you. So you'll be the next Broadway star, then?"

Blaine, startled, quickly shook his head. "No, no!"

Cooper laughed loudly. "Blaine's far too shy for that. He sings well, though, I've got to admit. But he doesn't have the qualities of a star."

Cooper emphasised the last word, pointing at himself.

Blaine rolled his eyes and reminded Cooper of their plans. "Weren't you going to introduce me to Rachel, Mr Superstar?"

"Right!" Cooper clapped his hands. "Let's get this show on the road. This way, squirt!"

"Don't call me squirt!" Blaine protested, but Cooper just laughed.

As soon as Cooper knocked on the door to Rachel's dressing room, the leading lady came barrelling out, flashing a million-watt smile when she saw Cooper and Blaine, and giving Blaine a quick once-over. "This is your little brother then, sweetie?"

"The one and only Blaine Devon Anderson," Cooper presented Blaine with a flourish.

Blaine smiled nervously. "I'm pleased to meet you, Miss Berry."

Rachel laughed. "Call me Rachel, please. We're all family anyway."

Blaine, a little non-plussed by that offhand comment, looked at Cooper for a clarification, but Rachel wasn't done talking. "I'm going to hug you now."

Rachel enveloped Blaine in a warm hug, and Blaine hugged her back as soon as he'd gotten over his surprise.

"It's wonderful to meet my boyfriend's brother at last," Rachel continued. "I've heard so much about you."

"Boyfriend?" Blaine asked, and both Blaine and Rachel now looked at Cooper, who squirmed under their stares.

"Uhm, yes… I haven't mentioned it yet, Blaine, but Rachel and I are an item now."

Rachel beamed and stood on her tiptoes to kiss Cooper on the cheek.

"Life imitating art," Rachel explained. "We just have so much chemistry."

Blaine nodded politely, keeping his reservations to himself.

Good heavens… What was Cooper thinking? She's practically half his age… Though I wouldn't be surprised if she were the more mature of the two.

"So… Are you excited to see the play?" Rachel asked. "Have you seen a lot of Broadway plays?"

Blaine shook his head. "No. I have a demanding school and work schedule. I never go out, really."

"I know exactly what you mean," Rachel sighed. "It's so tough to combine a lead on Broadway with my school work. I have Kurt to help me, and I'm so thankful for that, but it's still hard."

"Kurt?" Blaine asked.

"My roommate," Rachel clarified. "He goes to NYADA too, and we're in a lot of the same classes, so he lends me his notes if I can't attend."

"That's handy," Blaine smiled.

Rachel sized him up shrewdly again, from the high-waters he was wearing to his gelled head, her eyes lingering on his bow tie. "Kurt is still single. And I have a hunch he'd like you."

Cooper roared with laughter. "Really subtle, Rachel."

Rachel shrugged. "It's true. Unless… Unless I'm wrong and you're not gay?"

Blaine blushed and lowered his eyes. "I'm gay, yes. But I'm not really looking for a relationship. As I said, I'm run ragged as it is. I'm in pre-law, and I'm trying to finish four years' worth of studies in two, so my work load is intense. And on top of that, I work in a coffee shop, as a barista. Some days, I barely get the time to eat and sleep. I don't know where I'd squeeze in a boyfriend, honestly."

Rachel hummed understandingly, but pouted a little. Then she perked up again, as another train of thought hit her. "Is the coffee shop any good? I mean, is the coffee decent? And do they sell vegan food? And good cheesecake? Kurt and I have been trying out hundreds of coffee shops here in New York, but we haven't yet settled on one that we really like. Not like the Lima Bean, at any rate."

Blaine scratched his head. "I don't know about the vegan food, I'm afraid. We have a selection of vegetarian sandwiches and muffins, but vegan… That's without milk and eggs, right?"

"I eat nothing that an animal has suffered for," Rachel declared. "No dairy, no eggs, no honey, no gelatin, no chicken stock for me."

Blaine nodded. "I'd have to check with my boss if we have vegan options. But an enthusiastic yes to the coffee and the cheesecake. They're both excellent, even by Lima Bean standards."

"You know the Lima Bean?" Rachel asked, surprise colouring her tone.

"I do," Blaine laughed. "Cooper and I are from Westerville, and one of the boys at my boarding school was from Lima, and we used to meet up at the Lima Bean during our Christmas or spring break."

Rachel beamed. "So tell me where I can find this coffee shop of yours, and I'll drop in one of these days."

"I'll do you one better," Blaine smiled, and he took a small notepad and a pencil out of his inner coat pocket and wrote the information down.

K & B

As Blaine was working the cash register the following day, he caught himself humming the Funny Girl songs time and again. Cooper had been singing Rachel's praises for weeks, and for once, he hadn't exaggerated a bit. Rachel's voice was phenomenal, and Blaine had really enjoyed sitting in on the Saturday rehearsal.

"Not you too," a high, melodious voice complained.

Blaine turned to look at the customer, an eyebrow raised, and then he had a hard time keeping his jaw from dropping. The man standing at the counter was stunning. A silhouette that seemed to come straight out of a magazine. Impeccably dressed, from his Burberry coat to his shoes. And those eyes… Wow!

"Could you please hum something not from a Broadway play, if it's not too much to ask?" Mr Top Model pleaded. "I'm all for Broadway, but the past few weeks, I've heard nothing else non-stop from my roommate, and I've reached my limit."

"Uh… Su-sure," Blaine stammered, trying and failing not to stare. From the way the corners of Mr Top Model's mouth quirked up, he must not have minded.

"A grande chai tea with soy milk, a grande non-fat mocha, a vegan chocolate chip muffin and a piece of cranberry cheesecake to go," Blaine's co-worker Stacey announced, shaking Blaine from his open-mouthed stupor.

Blaine quickly rang up Mr Top Model's purchases. "That'll be 13.95, please."

Mr Top Model gave him fifteen dollars and told him to keep the change. He took the paper bag holding the coffee and desserts off the counter, flashed Blaine a smile and left the shop. The back view was just as enticing as the front, not that Blaine was surprised.

Wow… Let's hope he comes in again one of these days…