"Hello? Kurt, are you there?"
"Y.. yes! Sorry I'm here. Hi there. Sorry I guess, I just didn't expect you to call." Kurt looked around the bathroom, keeping his voice low so Blaine didn't hear. Last thing he wanted to do was upset him on his big night. "Can.. I need a moment, please." He might as well turn the john into an office at this point. It's where he got most of his calls.
Stepping out into the other room with the phone, he saw Blaine in the kitchen. "I need to take this call in the hallway. Boring work stuff. I'll be right back, okay?" Blaine smiled and nodded to him as he walked outside and down the hall a ways. "All right, sorry about that."
"You said in this letter that you saw Blaine, but you didn't know where he went. But you've seen him.." Mrs. Anderson sounded worried, which gave Kurt some hope.
"Actually, since we've talked, Blaine came back around again. He's living with me now. I've helped him get a job.." Should he tell her doing what? No, not yet. Not till he knew what he was dealing with. For all he knew this was some weird ploy to weed Blaine out and drag him away from New York and Kurt wouldn't have that.
"Is he okay?"
"He was living on the streets, what do you think?" Kurt spat. "S.. sorry. He is now. He's getting there. Look, I hate to be so straight forward, but did you call to check on him or to make sure he was behaving himself? I want to make sure you want to be part of his life."
"You're awful protective of your friends," Mrs. Anderson said.
"Boyfriend, actually."
"Look, I'm coming out to New York in a few days on business. Can we meet up then? I'd like to get to know you, talk. And maybe, see Blaine?"
"We can meet up. Call me when you get to the city and we'll go from there."
"Kurt, thank you for getting in touch with me. I'll be in touch." Kurt hung up his phone and walked back to the apartment. Blaine was waiting for him on the couch.
"Everything all right?" He was smiling, so happy and Kurt didn't want to ruin that bringing up his mother. He didn't want to lie to him either, but really? He didn't have to tell Blaine about her till they met.
"Yeah fine. They're just really on me about this article. I need to start thinking of ideas fast. I think I've got one though," he said, crossing back over to the living room.
"And what might that be? More street fashion? Bums Slum Apparel?"
"YOU should have been a comedian," Kurt said, giving him a playful shove. "No, I have something a little more flashy in mind."
xoxoxoxox
At the end of the week, the company for Sunset put on a party for the cast to meet one another. It was a nice gesture on their part, renting out a room at the Marriott in Time Square. Rehearsal began on Monday, but everyone loves a party. One that Kurt and Blaine were late to.
Blaine had no problem finding something to wear. A nice suit from Kurt's closet he took the length of the legs up in a little. Kurt, however was freaking out. He'd gone through seven or eight outfits, dragged Blaine out into the city to buy a new one and then pieced it together with what he already had.
"I look awful," he groaned heading up to the top floor of the hotel with Blaine.
"You look amazing, stop it." The doors to the room opened and there was some light music playing. Cocktails and appetizers were being passed around. So many seasoned Broadway people were walking around and Blaine remembered back when he did West Side Story. He felt the same as he did now. Nervous, wondering what he was doing here.
"Blaine! Kurt! There you are!" Rachel yelled, making her way over to them. "You're almost an hour late. What took you so long?"
"Wardrobe malfunction," Blaine smiled, taking a glass of wine as it went by for the two of them. "Drink, you'll be fine." Kurt took the glass and downed half of it there. "Is Patti here?"
"Oh my GOD YES. She's amazing. I just got through talking to her. You need to meet her Blaine. I feel like the two of you are going to be flawless on stage." Blaine swallowed and looked out into the crowd of people, seeing her chatting with a group of people. Producers, techies maybe? Blaine took a large gulp of his own drink and held Kurt's hand tightly, walking over to her.
"M..Ms. LuPone?" he said softly, hoping he wasn't interrupting something important. She turned and smiled at him, opening her arms.
"You must be Blaine. You're just as handsome as they said you were. Hello dear." Patti hugged him close, kissing his cheek in the process. "I've heard you've got some serious talent kid. I can't wait to work with you."
"Thank you. It's a honor to be working with you," he smiled.
"Oh, please. We're going to have a good time. And who is this beautiful boy?" she smiled. Kurt felt his heart stop in his chest. There was no way this was happening right now. All he could think of was not throwing up.
"This is Kurt. My boyfriend. He's the one that helped me get back into the business." Patti looked past Blaine to Kurt and smiled, pulling him into a hug as well.
Kurt was almost certain he'd stopped breathing now. He'd died and he was looking down on this moment from heaven above and it was good. When they pulled back, he was blushing. "You're amazing."
"Thank you. You're a fan I take it?" She was just egging the poor boy on now and Kurt was stumbling like an idiot to give her a proper reply.
"I.. yeah I.. yes. You sing good," he said and then bit his lip, downing the rest of his wine. "I need more booze, excuse me," he said, stepping away from them.
"He's adorable," she smiled.
"I think so too," Blaine replied.
Kurt walked across the room to Rachel, rubbing his brow. He snagged another wine. "I just mad an ass of myself in front of Patti LuPone. I think I should probably just go home before I ruin Blaine's new jump start in his career."
"Relax, you're fine. It's okay," she smiled, waving to Jeffrey. He was talking to a few of his other clients that had made it into the show. "Let's focus on something else for a moment here. I heard that YOU got another cover for Marie Claire. Congrats. Any idea what you might put on the cover?"
"I do actually, but I don't think I'll get the balls to ask," he sighed, looking around the room.
"What is it?"
Kurt took a nice long sip. If he wasn't careful he was going to get drunk and then he'd make a bigger ass of himself then he did. Then he would get turned on and Blaine didn't need that when he was making a good impression. The waiter came by and Kurt took a few stuffed mushrooms off the tray. Eating those down, he looked back at his friend.
"I want to feature you, Patti and Blaine on the cover." Now Rachel was the one choking. "It would be good publicity for the show, for all of you. Show will open in a month or so, just in time for the Tony judges to come around and review, see if you should all be nominated. It would be the best time to beef you all up. But I have to ask her and I can't even say two words to her!"
"Well, calm down, catch her later in the evening when things calm down. That's a great idea, Kurt!" But how was he going to go about bringing it up in conversation?
A soft piano brought them both out of their private conversation and Kurt looked around, seeing Blaine playing away. And then Patti sang. They boy did. It was beautiful and surreal. Blaine looked so happy, everyone had stopped to listen. They really were the perfect Norma and Joe. He would get flak for being to young for the role, but that was the wonderful thing of revivals of shows. Different directors interpreted things different ways.
Kurt made his way through the crowd back to the piano, watching them. When the song ended they all applauded. Blaine nodded his head, blushing slightly, before his eyes found Kurt. He waved him over and while Kurt was hesitant at first, he went over and sat down beside him.
"You both-"
"Sing good?" Patti teased, getting Kurt to turn bright red. "From what your boyfriend tells me, you can sing as well."
"He wouldn't know that. He's never heard me before," Kurt said, taking a high interest in his wine glass.
"In the shower I have," Blaine smirked. "I think you should let Ms. LuPone have a listen and be the judge."
Kurt's mouth was almost on the floor as he shook his head. "I couldn't. Um, I actually wanted to ask a favor," he said, quickly changing the topic. "I work for Marie Claire and I'd like to feature you, Blaine and Rachel on next months cover. It would be good for the show and I promise it would be a lovely article."
Patti seemed to think this over, taking a seat on the bench beside the boys. "How about I make you a deal. I'd be glad to do the interview and the photo shoot. But you need to sing for me. Right now."
"I don't know what I'd sing."
"How about, I start something off and you join in?" she smiled, nudging Blaine to start playing. Blaine's fingers moved across the piano keys and Patti began to sing.
I don't know why I'm frightened
I know my way around here
The cardboard trees, the painted seas, the sound here...
Yes, a world to rediscover
But I 'm not in any hurry
And I need a moment
She nodded to Kurt, letting him know he could take over. Kurt swallowed, looking at Blaine and closed his eyes. Softly, he started to sing.
The whispered conversations in overcrowded hallways
The atmosphere as thrilling here as always
Feel the early morning madness
Feel the magic in the making
Why, everything's as if we never said goodbye
I've spent so many mornings just trying to resist you
I'm trembling now, you can't know how I've missed you
Missed the fairy tale adventure
In this ever spinning playground
We were young together
I'm coming out of make-up
The lights already burning
Not long until the cameras will start turning...
And the early morning madness
And the magic in the making
Yes, everything's as if we never said goodbye
I don't want to be alone
That's all in the past
This world's waited long enough
I've come home at last!
And this time will be bigger
And brighter than we knew it
So watch me fly, we all know I can do it...
Could I stop my hand from shaking?
Has there ever been a moment
With so much to live for?
The whispered conversations in overcrowded hallways
So much to say not just today but always...
We'll have early morning madness
We'll have magic in the making
Yes, everything's as if we never said goodbye
Yes, everything's as if we never said goodbye...
We taught the world new ways to dream!
When the song ended, Kurt opened his eyes to the applause in the room. It had been years, college, since he'd performed and here he was with some of Broadways best, singing at a piano with Patti LuPone. If he could go back and brag to himself in high school he would right now.
"You are a very talented boy yourself," a voice came, breaking Kurt out of his daydream. Ms. LuPone was smiling at him. "Such a unique voice, you should really think about the stage yourself." Getting up, she took her wine back from her friend. "You have yourself an interview and I look forward to it." Excusing herself, she walked back through the swarms of people to chat.
"That was beautiful," Blaine whispered, kissing Kurt's cheek. His boyfriend was in a state of shock, but when he came around, he'd be sure to reward him for his skill and bravery.
xoxoxoxoxoxox
In the week that followed, Kurt was busy at work. He was putting together his cover, working out times to meet with the cast and take pictures. This cover meant a lot more then his last one. If they thought they sold before, wait until girls wanted to pick up Blaine's beautiful picture with a Broadway legend. He got home late, as did Blaine from practice. It was take a bit of a toll on him, being out of practice but he was catching up.
Kurt was going through the page lay out, when a text came through on his phone. Maybe it was Blaine. Hopefully he wouldn't be as late tonight. He didn't want him to push himself to hard. Then again, he couldn't fault him for wanting to be his best.
But it wasn't Blaine. It was his mother. She was free for lunch if he wanted to meet up. Checking the time, Kurt knew he would need to take his lunch soon. He sent a quick text back to send him where to meet her and he'd be on his way.
Twenty minutes later, he was sitting in a small place on the east side. He didn't even know what she looked like. He'd left his name with the host, but there was so many customers coming in and out, how would they remember? Glancing back, he saw a small, dark haired woman looking around. She had Blaine's eyes, there was no doubting she was his mother. Kurt waved to her and she smiled, coming over to sit.
"Kurt?"
"Mrs. Anderson. It's good to see you." They shook hands and she sat down. "I'm glad you wanted to meet up with me."
"Is Blaine here?" Kurt shook his head.
"He's working and I didn't know how he'd react to seeing you. He's told me what happened and I guess I just want to know what your intentions are. He's finally putting his life back together and I don't want that being ruined for him by his father."
Mrs. Anderson shifted, but nodded her head. "Blaine's father was a very stern man. We have an older son, Cooper who followed everything he was told to do by him, and when Blaine didn't it made him crazy. He blamed me for babying him, blamed himself for not being strict enough. Then Blaine came out and you would have thought the world ended. Then suddenly he wanted to be a lawyer? It didn't make sense to me, but his father only saw him getting what he wanted. I looked into it more and I found out he'd applied to the theater program."
"But you didn't say anything?" Kurt said.
"Blaine's my little boy. His happiness was more important to me then his father's. What harm would it be if he wanted to act? But when his father found out, he went crazy. Dragged me to New York with him to check up on his son, his room mate told him exactly what he thought had happened. He called the theater got tickets but he wouldn't let me come. He said he wanted to deal with Blaine himself. And when I ever found out he'd hurt him.." Mrs. Anderson bit her lip, trying not to cry. "He was so hurt and I wanted to stay with him, but Blaine wouldn't look at either of us. When I got back to the hospital, he'd checked himself out. I had to come back to Ohio and when I got here, I tried calling him. You know how scary it is, to have some stranger answer you son's phone? A homeless man I would guess. I notified the school, but he was gone. He vanished and I knew he didn't want to be found."
"So why didn't you leave! Try to do something? He was your son and you left him here broken and alone. If you disagreed with his father so much, why didn't you just leave him-"
"Blaine's father had stage two prostate cancer. Which only got worse after we left. He died a few months after coming back from New York. It spread to quickly and there was no saving him."
Kurt wasn't expecting that. He swallowed hard and leaned back in his chair. "I'm sorry.."
"I've done everything I could to find Blaine, but the money we had saved paid for all the medical bills. I've been working non stop to support myself and pay off the hospital as well as hired people I got to try and track Blaine down. And you did it in one subway stop. Please. I just want to see my son. I want to know he's okay and I want to support him."
Kurt sighed. She didn't seem to be lying. She looked a mother worn down by worry for her son. What could he say? His father was the biggest problem and he was gone. All she wanted was a chance to apologize and see her son. Reaching into his bag, he took out a piece of paper, he wrote down his address and slid it across the tbale to her.
"He'll be home after eight. Come by before then. I need to get back to work."
"But you didn't even order-"
"I'll see you tonight," Kurt said, picking up his bag and left. Blaine was going to hate him for this, but everyone needed family. Kurt didn't believe in higher powers, but someone was looking out for Blaine up there to bring his mother back into the picture. Hopefully, this wouldn't rock their relationship.
By that night, Kurt was even more nervous. Mrs. Anderson came early, sitting in wait for her son to return. It was well past eight before the door to the apartment unlocked. It had been so awkward sitting there, not talking to one another. What was there to say? She had to talk to Blaine, not him. Kurt didn't need convincing to have her in Blaine's like, but this was his boyfriends choice.
Getting up, he moved to meet Blaine at the door.
"How was practice?"
"Good! My knee is killing me though. I should put some ice on it and sit down," Blaine smiled, taking his shoes off. "How was your day?"
"Blaine, there's someone here to see you." Kurt bit his lip, seeing the surprised look on his face. Was it Wes? One of the guys had joked about dragging him out for drinks earlier. Who was here? Walking around the kitchen, he looked out and saw his mother sitting there.
"Hi, baby," she said. Kurt felt Blaine tense up beside him and pull away. "Blaine wait!" she called, watching him walk away.
"Blaine? Blaine!" Kurt yelled, watching him put his shoes on. The door to the loft slammed, echoing in the silence he left behind.