"I have good news," I announced to my boyfriend as we sat down for coffee that Wednesday. We hadn't talked the previous day, and I had been nervous that Blaine was withdrawing again, but I was pleased when he had texted me earlier that day and asked me to met him at the Lima Bean.
"Oh, do you?" Blaine asked with a raised eyebrow, handing me my coffee.
"Well, it's good news for you."
"Don't keep me waiting," Blaine said with a smile.
"You get to open-"
"Yes!" Blaine exclaimed before I could finish my sentence. "I have to know," he said, pulling the envelope out of his pocket. I didn't even get a chance to tease him for carrying it around with him before he was tearing the blue paper open. I held my breath, not sure how he would take what's inside. "Sectionals?" he asked, reading the information on the ticket inside.
"I was wondering if you would come to Glee Club Sectionals," I asked shyly. West Side Story was one thing, it being a school performance that included Cheerios. This, too, involved Cheerios, but it was a bigger deal. Only people that actually cared about Glee club showed up to their competitions, even when they were in the April Rhodes Civil Pavilion.
"Kurt, I-" Blaine looked nervous.
"I know it's a... step, but I was thinking that after this weekend-"
"I was going to say that I would love to come," Blaine said quickly, interrupting me interrupting him with a tight smile. "Besides, it's at McKinley this year, right?"
"Yeah, considering two of the competing teams originate at McKinley, it makes sense." Sectionals, as you know, was causing us a lot of stress, but I was convinced that everything would work out, and I wanted to make Blaine proud. "I mean, we've lost our best member, so our performance might not be up to scratch." Yes, I consider you our best member. You don't have to look so proud.
"Kurt, calm down," Blaine said with a smile, and I had the feeling he was trying not to roll his eyes. "I already said I would come, and I meant it. Plus, I do not consider Rachel to be your best member." Do not give me that look, Rachel, he really said that.
"I think you might be a little bit biased," I said as he took my hand, resting our conjoined hands on the table without a twitch or glance.
"Perhaps. The fact that I've never heard Rachel sing might have something to do with it," Blaine said with a shrug, and I gaped at him.
"You've... I know people that would kill to not have heard Rachel sing." I'm sorry. I love you dearly, but you have so many solos.
"Please don't tell them I'm here," Blaine said, acting nervous and making me chuckle.
"All right, all right."
You were at Sectionals, jealous that you weren't on stage and busy arguing with Quinn, but I'm absolutely certain that everyone in the audience who knew anything about the social hierarchy at McKinley, was surprised to see the Head Cheerio sitting in the second tier of seats, flanked by Becky and Marissa.
I have to admit that during the first part of the competition I was entirely distracted by watching Blaine watch the competition. He either hadn't spotted me yet or was pointedly avoiding staring at me, but either way, he wasn't making eye contact. He seemed surprised by the quality of Harmony's voice, which I only noticed after my head had whipped forward to see if it was her, and then back to look at Blaine.
I should have been nervous for our chances, but the only thing I could think was that Blaine had actually showed up just to support me, and he seemed to be enjoying himself. Crap, they were good.
I was actually watching when the Troubletones started to perform, so I jumped about a foot when Blaine whispered from the seat behind me at the chorus. "Is it just me or are they getting the words wrong?"
"Blaine!" I said loudly, garnering several 'shh's from people in the audience, including you.
"Surprise," he said casually, having shushed me himself.
"It's called a mash-up, you mix up two songs with similar themes or words, or that just might sound good together."
"Huh. We might have to steal these."
"Don't even think about it. Mr. Schuester and Coach Sylvester have enough issues without you augmenting their disagreements."
"Fine, fine. They're really talented."
"Thanks for helping with my nerves," I said, because yes, they were excellent, and it was bad enough that I was thinking it. If someone who knew nothing about show choir was saying it, we were screwed.
"You're better," Blaine promised, and I jumped again when he kissed me on the cheek. "You're up, right?" It hadn't even occurred to me yet.
"Yes," was all I could get out through my suddenly choked-up throat.
"Good luck," Blaine said, kissing me on the cheek again.
Blaine had leaned back into the darkness provided by the auditorium by the time you had whispered, "You're on! Go!" Gosh, you're bossy. Also, I can't believe you didn't notice that all of this was going on behind you.
We started out with ABC, and I was a little bit excited that I would get to sing some solo pieces in front of my boyfriend. It was the first time I had ever gotten a solo in front of an audience, and he was a member of it.
Pretty much the entirety of the audience was standing up by the time we had reached the section that I was kind of annoyed about, and also a little bit nervous. The stupid 'sexy' section, which was completely your boyfriend and Mike's idea. Thankfully, I only had to do the beginning, and I tried not to think about Blaine sitting there, watching. The fact that Santana laughed in reaction didn't seem like a good thing. I had been kind of annoyed to be in the back row of the guys before, after that, I was glad.
I didn't have any part in the next song, so I did the steps on instinct and kept my eyes on Blaine as Artie and Sam sang Control with the help of a rather crazy Quinn. Blaine had to see the competition in the middle of our team imploding, of course. We had three band members that were debuting, a brand new member who was still a little out of step with the rest of the team, we were missing our best singer, and I was convinced that Quinn had gone crazy.
I was a little annoyed that I wasn't included at all in the number that was centered around the boys, Sam, Artie, Finn, Rory, and Puck. I was both happy and angrier when Blaine's face lit up with the introduction. I was supposed to be facing the other way, but I was peeking. Oh well. I doubt anyone noticed. As soon as the lights went up, I could see that the whole of the theatre had been on their feet, probably since the beginning, and Blaine winked when I caught his eye, the Cheerios to either side of him standing but looking unimpressed.
Blaine texted me to meet him outside in the parking lot, so I rushed out there before the awards were given out, ignoring everyone celebrating and our nervous little show circle. I was starting to realize that no one would notice I was gone, which kind of sucked, but was also kind of nice, considering I was trying to have a secret relationship.
"Hey," I said, approaching the cheerleader, who was leaning on my Navigator.
"Hey," Blaine said, smiling brightly and hugging me. "You were great, as expected."
"Expected by you, maybe," I said, returning the hug.
"Expected by anyone who's ever been graced by your presence." Yes, I know. He's a sap.
"I'm just going to ignore how cheesy that was and say thank you," I replied with a smile.
"You're welcome," Blaine said, kissing me gently. "I particularly liked Man in the Mirror," he said after we had caught our breath.
"I know. I saw your face light up."
"I know. You're not as sneaky as you think you are," Blaine said with a smile. "When are the... results, I guess?"
"The judges get some time to deliberate, but it varies. Don't worry, we'll see the lights flicker from out here."
"Good. Join me," Blaine said, gesturing to the car. I laughed, leaning beside him, and he put his arm around me. "So, that's what show choir is like, huh? I have to admit that I've been curious."
"Thinking about becoming the sixth Cheerio to ever be in our ranks?" I asked, a little excited by the prospect.
"Sixth?" he asked, ignoring my question by asking one of his own. It was one of his little tricks that I had picked up on by now.
"Quinn, Santana, Brittany, Mercedes, and I were all Cheerios. You would be number six, if you joined." Blaine sighed, kissing my cheek.
"Maybe. Do you know what today is?" Blaine asked, deflecting again.
"What's today?"
"It's our two-month mensiversary, discounting the week after our one-month mensiversary," Blaine said with a chuckle. All of our little fights about his past seemed so ridiculous now.
"I... actually knew that," I said, surprising him (judging by the look on his face). My present for him was set to arrive today, so hopefully there was an envelope waiting for me at home. I hadn't been there yet today.
"Oh, did you?" Blaine asked, and then rolled his eyes. "Of course you did. You have to make me a promise though."
"Okay," I said uncertainly.
"No more evil envelopes!" he demanded and I cracked up laughing. "I'm not kidding! That last one drove me half-crazy! You can't do that to me again!"
"You did it first!" I objected, but it wasn't very convincing because I was still laughing. "Why did you make me wait to open that anyway?"
"Well, when I made that coupon I kind of had... what we did in mind, and I didn't want you to make that decision right then." Blaine did his best to shrug with one arm trapped between me and the car. "Besides, you could have opened that envelope the next class period if you had wanted to. What you did was pure evil." I laughed.
"Maybe, but I wasn't sure you would say yes."
"I would have," Blaine assured me, and I was about to argue about how defensive he always was when we were immersed in total darkness for a second before the lights flicked back on.
"And I believe that is my cue." Blaine smiled, giving me a quick kiss.
"Good luck. You guys deserve this." I walked in first, Blaine probably lingering to find his entourage, who were flirting with some of the guys from the Unitards.
As you know, we won, the devastated Troubletones coming in second, and the oddly-smug Unitards coming in last. Everyone was cheering and hugging each other as we won, you sitting in the audience looking pained. The part about winning that was best for me, however pathetic it may make me, is that Blaine looked so proud, smiling and waving. When I waved back, you waved at me, assuming I was waving at you. Just so you know, I wasn't.
I didn't get to see Blaine after the competition, but I was relieved when my present for Blaine was waiting on my desk when I got home, with an inquisitive note from my father attached to it. We had decided by text to meet at Blaine's house to exchange gifts, which was a long drive for me, but worth it. Besides, it was Sunday, I had nothing better to do.
"Oh no," Blaine said as soon as I stepped inside the door. I thought he was joking at first, but his face looked legitimately horrified. I was about to ask when he continued, "Not another freakin' envelope," and I practically fell over laughing.
"Except I want you to open this one," I said with a smile, and he wiped his brow in relief.
"Good. Can I open it now?" Blaine asked, helping me with my coat and simultaneously gabbing the envelope from my hand.
"If you insist," I said with a smile. Blaine tore open the white envelope eagerly and made a noise I didn't know humans could make when he saw the contents.
"Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!" he squeaked, grabbing me and hugging me.
"I'm sorry, but when exactly did you become a teenage girl?" I asked as he squeezed the life out of me.
"When you gave me these!" he squeaked, waving the envelope and the tickets inside around. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
"All right, I think you're a little too excited," I said with a smile. I was genuinely enjoying how surprised and excited Blaine was. That was my intent.
"Wait... the second one is for you, right?" Blaine asked, all the excitement suddenly gone from his demeanor.
"I mean... it doesn't have to be for me..." I hedged, confused.
"You hate Katy Perry."
"I'm willing to sit through two and a half hours of auditory torment for you." Not a word. Not. A. Word. Blaine grabbed me, once again excited, hugging me to him and kissing me.
"Thank you," he said when he let me go. "Just... thank you."
"You're welcome," I promised him, giving him a quick kiss.
"Okay, you have to close your eyes. I couldn't figure out a way to wrap your present." That made me suspicious, but I closed my eyes anyway. Blaine took my hand. "Come with me." As if I had a choice. Blaine led me... actually, I had no idea where he was leading me. Regardless, he made sure I didn't bump into anything. We hadn't gone upstairs and I was beginning to wonder if Blaine was leading me in circles when he said, "Open your eyes."
The coat in the open garment bag hanging in Blaine's... sunroom, I guess, was absolutely gorgeous. I recognized it immediately as the latest Armani Caban Jacket, and I gaped at it. "Blaine..."
"Happy anniversary," Blaine said, kissing me on the cheek.
"Blaine, this is a two thousand dollar coat," I said as if he weren't aware of the price.
"I know," Blaine said, walking forward to pull it off the hanger. "What I don't know is: do you like it?"
"Blaine, I can't accept this," I said, still staring at the gorgeous coat dumbfounded.
"Why not?" Blaine asked, eyebrows creasing and voice sounding hurt.
"It's a two thousand dollar coat!" I said, making Blaine jerk in surprise.
"Kurt, we've talked about this. Money isn't important, at least it isn't to me. I know how much you like designer clothes, and I wanted you to have this. So, accept it," Blaine said, putting the coat around my shoulders as he did so, and I didn't have the willpower not to put my arms through and look at myself in the mirror.
"Wow."
"Gorgeous," Blaine agreed.
"Blaine, this coat is..."
"I wasn't talking about the coat," Blaine said with a smile, giving me another kiss on the cheek. He seemed to be obsessed with doing that.
"You're such a sap." We were all thinking it.
"I know," Blaine said with a shrug, "but I mean every word. And you look great in your coat."
"You're not going to give up on this, are you?" I asked, knowing an argument approaching when I saw one.
"Nope. Just accept the coat. It's a gift, and it looks good on you. As I knew it would." Blaine helped me take the coat off and placed it back in the garment bag. "Then again, everything looks good on you. And don't think you'll get away with 'forgetting' it when you head home," he said as I eyed the garment bag. "Not a chance, Hummel."
"All right, all right," I said with a laugh, giving my boyfriend a kiss. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
We ended up watching movies in his room, using his computer and Netflix as a makeshift TV. Not that there aren't plenty of TVs in Blaine's house, but Blaine's bed was ridiculously comfortable. And I'm sure you know what I mean by watching TV.
The reason I'm telling you this particular part of the story is because it had further consequences, and is an important part of the saga. So, just bear with me. Blaine and I had never discussed... that beyond our brief conversations about Blaine's virginity... or lack thereof. Blaine is the perfect boyfriend in that respect. So, I was completely surprised when we were... busy, and one of his hands slid down to my ass while the other started working open the top button of my shirt.
"Blaine, what are you doing?" I asked, probably pretty breathily.
"What do you mean?" he asked, detaching his lips from where they had been pretty busy on the side of my neck.
"I... You're..." I grabbed his hand, pulling it off the front of my shirt and pushing him away at the same time.
"Kurt..." he sounded a little bewildered, which was completely unfair.
"I should... my parents will be worried, I should go."
Okay, I freaked out a little. I wasn't expecting it, and I wasn't sure how exactly to tell Blaine 'no'. It wasn't an issue I had ever been faced with before... anyway, there is an important aspect to this story.
I was surprised to see my father home when I arrived back in Lima, so I just walked very casually up to him and gave him a hug. "Hey, Dad, how was Washington?" You should know how much he's been away lately. You and Finn take advantage of it all the time.
"Fine," my dad said, staring at my neck suspiciously. It took me far too long to realize what he was looking at, my hand flying to the side of my neck once I did. "Where have you been?"
"I was... at Rachel's..." I said lamely, as if he was actually going to buy that with the hickey on my neck.
"You wanna try telling me where you really were?" my dad asked, thoroughly unimpressed with my lame excuse.
"I was at my boyfriend's house," I admitted, feeling incredibly guilty all of the sudden that I hadn't told my father anything about Blaine.
"Does this boyfriend have a name?" Dad asked, still looking at where my hand was covering the mark Blaine had left on my neck.
"Blaine Anderson."
"Well, you can tell Blaine Anderson, number one, how to respect you-"
"Dad-
"And number two, that he will be the special guest at Friday Night Dinner this week, which I assure you I will be here for." My father's tone brooked no argument. How the hell was I supposed to explain this to Blaine, who not only wanted us to be secret, but also didn't like parents very much because of his own?
"I... okay," I said with a sigh, heading upstairs to cover up my new hickey before my dad could say anything else.
"Kurt," his voice stopped me, and I turned half-way up the stairs to face him. "Does this Blaine kid make you happy?"
"Very," I said, because it was true.
"Good." I started back up the stairs, only to hear my dad mutter. "I won't have to shoot him then."
"Dad!"
The next day was our last day of school before vacation. I still think it's stupid that they made us come in on Monday instead of just giving us the entire week, but I went to school anyway. It was better than facing my father's disapproving expressions and Finn's confusion. Blaine texted me first period.
Kurt, I am *so* sorry about what happened last night. I just got a little... carried away, and I didn't mean to freak you out, or upset you, or pressure you at all, and I couldn't even sleep I felt so awful about what happened. You mean the world to me, Kurt, and sex doesn't even matter to me, you know that, I mean, I would never want to do to you what Aiden did to me, and I can't even believe... I am so sorry, Kurt, there aren't even words.
I wish you had said that to me in person so I could have interrupted you about halfway through that little speech. Don't *ever* compare yourself to that... asshole who practically *raped* you, Blaine. You're nothing like that, and you didn't freak me out, or upset me, or pressure me. You just... surprised me, a little. Or a lot. And I'm sorry I kind of freaked out and ran away.
No, it's fine. I shouldn't have tried to... that was completely out of line. I'm glad that you're okay. That *we're* okay.
We're better than okay :) And maybe it wasn't... completely out of line, but that's a conversation we need to have at another time.
Why is that?
Number one, because I won't be able to get through this conversation without turning bright red, and that would... make people suspicious.
You almost made a really bad pun. I was so excited.
Shut up. Number two, we have a much bigger problem.
Which is?
You kind of gave me a bit of a...
Hickey? Though I see another joke I could make here.
*Blaine!*
Sorry. So, a hickey?
Exactly, and unfortunately, my father was home for the first time in at least a week, and I didn't realize that it was there, and he noticed and... he wants to meet you.
Oh.
I know how you feel about parents, especially yours, but my dad is very supportive and he's important to me. He wants you to come over for dinner on Friday.
Will Finn be there?
Yes... He is my brother, as annoying as I find that fact some days.
Kurt... I... I can't. You know I can't, I'm sorry.
Blaine, I... please. Just *please*. This is important to me.
I'll tell Finn, about us, about the fact that we're a secret. He's my brother, he'll understand, and he'll agree to keep this a secret for me. I promise. I won't tell him about your past, that's none of his business, but I'll impress upon him how important this is. Please, Blaine.
Okay. I'll do it.
Great. Friday, 5'oclock, my house.
See you there.
My next task in arranging this Friday Night Dinner, which I hoped at that point would go well, was to convince your idiotic boyfriend of exactly how important it is that Blaine and I remain a secret, for no reason that I could actually tell him. I wasn't optimistic.
"Finn, can I talk to you?" I asked him that night, Finn hanging out in front of the TV, killing zombies.
"Yeah, sure." I sat down next to Finn as he continued to kill zombies. "What's up, dude?" he asked, pausing the game when he saw my face.
"My boyfriend is coming to Friday Night Dinner," I said, trying to get the worst of it over, and Finn's expression would have been priceless if I weren't so nervous about how this conversation was going to go.
"You have a boyfriend? What, wait, when did this..." Finn was completely confused. "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked, a little bit hurt.
"I haven't told anyone, Finn, and you'll understand why, maybe, when I tell you who it is." Finn didn't ask, he just waited expectantly. "Blaine Anderson." Another priceless facial expression.
"The Cheerio? Like, the one who's mean to everyone? Why would you date that guy?" Finn didn't sound angry or hurt anymore, just concerned.
"Finn, I know he seems like an awful person, but he's not. I... I wouldn't expect you to understand," I continued before Finn could object, "because I know how he treats people at school, but he's not like that with me. He's sweet and romantic and..." Finn appeared to be zoning out, so I changed the subject. "The point is, he's my boyfriend, and I really like him."
"So why haven't you told anyone then?" Finn asked, and this was going to be the difficult part.
"Finn, Blaine has a lot of... past," I decided on, "and he's been through a lot in his life, more than me, even." Finn seemed to think my life was the epitome of gay-bashing. "The idea of being in an open relationship scares him, and even if that wasn't true, exactly how easy do you think it would be for us to be out in the open together? Would I love to be together with him openly? Of course, but the reality is that this is better for both of us."
"But if he loves you and stuff, wouldn't he want everyone to know that you're his? Like, it would piss me off if people thought that Rachel was single."
"Number one, I didn't say anything about love." I ignored Finn's expression and the beginning of his protest. "Number two, it's not exactly like he has a lot of competition at McKinley."
"Still doesn't make any sense," Finn argued.
"Please, Finn, just please, don't tell anyone," I practically begged.
"Dude, of course not! I mean, whatever, it just doesn't seem very fair to you." That wasn't something I had ever considered, but it didn't matter at this point.
"Thanks, Finn," I said with a sigh, leaning back against the couch.
"Is he nervous about meeting Papa Burt?" Finn asked with a laugh, turning his zombies back on and resuming play.
"I don't know, he didn't say. He was just worried about you knowing about us."
"Wow, secretive much?" Finn asked with an unimpressed snort.
"It's not like that, Finn. He just... he's been through hell, and he has difficulties being vulnerable with people." I was probably telling Finn too much, but I didn't want my brother to think badly of Blaine because of his school reputation.
"Whatever, dude, as long as he treats you right."
"Thanks, Finn," I said, touched by his brotherly concern, leaning over to kiss my brother on the forehead.
A/N: Much less drama this chapter. Lots of cuteness, though, and a little bit of set-up. I'm glad you guys... I feel like 'liked' is a bad word, but lacking a better one... liked last chapter, and I hope you like this one as well. I almost forgot to post today (it's been a busy day), so feel grateful. Umm... did I want to say anything else? Nope, I don't think so.
Songs mentioned:
'ABC' by the Jackson 5
'Control' by Michael & Janet Jackson
'Man in the Mirror' by Michael Jackson
Review are Love.