I'm baaaaccccckkkk...again. See I told you that I would get to updating this quicker once I had the OC finished. LOL, but I think a weekly update is how often I'm going to churn these out...maybe less but work is insane with my 14 hour days eeek! Neways...this is a big chapter so I'm splitting it in 2 and a lot of stuff happens so I hope you like it. Reviews are like minions...you can never have enough. :D
Disclaimer: Insert useless trite comment here that says I own nothing.
Chapter 14 – School, Songs, Surprises and Suggestions
(KPOV)
"Mercedes where's my red cardigan? I can't wear my first day of school outfit without my red cardigan!"
"For the record Rach, you shouldn't wear that outfit period...the red cardigan won't help that outfit's tragic cause." I knew I was being snippy but I was just as nervous as she was and the last thing I wanted was to hear her nagging first thing in the morning.
"Ha ha Kurt. But I still need it...Mercy!"
"What Berry...seriously just because you got pipes doesn't mean you need to scream at us over a sweater...it's hanging with your coat by the way...where you left it."
Rachel huffed, I snickered knowingly and Mercedes rolled her eyes as we finished up our morning routines. I had gotten used to sleeping on the girls' couch even though I ended up curled next to one of them by the morning. Both ladies had offered to share an actual bed with me, knowing full well that it was nothing but platonic, but they knew about my dreams. Finn had been in cahoots with Rachel over my sleeping habits and it was more than once that I woke up to see Rachel curled in next to me snuggling...and snoring! She merely said that Finn knew I slept better with someone beside me; and that she had been told she was quite comfortable to sleep beside. I joked that it was because she was unconscious and more tolerable and I usually got a light smack or mild scoff in return.
I knew that Mercedes, Finn and Rach were merely looking out for me and it made my heart swell but I was wishing for the privacy of my own room these days. It was looming over my head that sometime soon I would have to leave the confines of this comfortable existence with the ladies and move into a dorm with GQ Frat boy A, and I wasn't really looking forward to it.
I wonder how Blaine would react to me sharing a dorm with some random guy? I mean I know that he roomed with David and Jeff at Dalton and knew the finer points about dorm living but I wonder if he would be jealous.
I know that its a stupid theory but it selfishly made me smirk thinking that he would be protective like that. Well I had at least until next semester to find out and I had to get this one started before I worried about it ending.
Rachel and I both had 8 am classes, different ones of course because she was majoring in musical theatre while I was only minoring in it. She was upset because she didn't get into Julliard, not for lack of talent but because the program was full and she didn't want to wait another year in Lima before heading off to school. So she settled for NYU, settled because that's how she saw it. Mercedes and I on the other hand were just ecstatic to be away from Lima and Ohio in general.
Mercedes didn't have any classes really today at all, just some more orientation stuff. She was taking psychology, wanting to eventually branch into social work which aside from being a Broadway diva was a perfect fit for her. She had always been so kind and level tempered, especially considering I know the temper tantrums that were associated with divas, so social work seemed a fitting idea for my best friend. She figured that being an absolutely fabulous person even if she was a social outcast would help her idolize with the youth she would eventually help. She of course said she would maybe think of doing some off Broadway stuff just to keep her talent fresh but she wanted to be realistic and find her passion in a stable job.
So here we were three friends who used to have the same dream but allowed themselves to grow up and chase what we thought was reasonable.
As if to prove me wrong with their maturity, Mercedes and Rach got into another heated argument, this time about nothing that I could place; something about fashion dos and don'ts. I would have loved a heated debate on the subject of fashion because I always won but we really did have to leave for school. Amidst their bantering I rolled my eyes and got Rachel and I out the door.
Girl's: can't live with them; can't have hags without them. I knew there was a reason I liked boys.
College was something of a paradox. On one hand I was finding that the outline for most of my courses seemed manageable; but on the other hand everything was just such a whirlwind of activity here that my mind reeled trying to get its bearings. The whole day was a cacophony of crazed dashes to my next class only to be swallowed by the sheer enormity of the size of some of the first year lecture courses.
Then I would be reminded that these courses were merely compulsory for my college degree and that my course specific classes would be significantly smaller; which I found out throughout the day that they were.
I had a full course load this semester. With my two compulsory courses being only once a week thankfully but my fashion specific courses were twice a week each respectively. I wanted to get a head start on my compulsories early so I wasn't taking any music classes until next semester and I found myself realizing that this was the first time in years that I didn't have a music class during my regular week. It was only day one and I could feel a small empty spot in my heart where music always belonged. That empty slot was filled with an intro business course that was my last class of the day now, but I had another hour to kill until that was supposed to start; so I went to the library to pick up the assign textbook for that class. "Business Management One" it read; this is what I was giving up music for.
I sighed audibly when I went to walk out of the campus bookstore, getting my completely overpriced remaining textbook for the semester, when I literally ran into someone who was trying to leave as well. We pumped and dropped our books and papers on the floor with a combined ooomph.
"Crap I'm sorry. Wasn't watching where I was going..." I looked up at the guy as I tried to apologize only to drop mine and his books back onto the floor once again.
"Sam?"
"Holy shit... hi Kurt."
(BPOV)
OK so call me a nervous teenager again. I had tried to keep my calm this morning as a million things passed through my head.
How was Kurt's first day going? Did he make any new friends? Were people kind to him? I wish I could be there to hold his hand. Hell I wish he was here to hold my hand because this audition was freaking me out! Oh my god Oh my god...
"Um Blaine I think that mug's clean you've been scrubbing it for the last ten minutes..."
I looked up to see Terri standing there in yet another fabulous suit, yep I was so gay sometimes, with a amused smirk on his face.
I placed the now very clean cup on the counter to dry and wiped my hands as I walked over to one of my best friends.
"Hey Ter...sorry been a little distracted today."
"I can tell."
"So...what can I do for ya Ter? I presume this isn't a completely social call...hence the suit."
"Nah man, I'm on my way to Tokyo for the next week, and I was on my way to the airport so I took a slight detour to come see you first."
I quirked my eyebrows at him because the coffee house was no where near the airport but I grinned and nodded for him to continue ignoring the obvious and waited for whatever he had to say.
"Ok first thing B. Calm the hell down, you look so uptight that I swear you're giving me a wedgie." I winced and little and tried to relax my shoulders a bit for his benefit.
"Seriously Blaine, you'll do great and I wanted you to know that realistically even if you don't get this part I will be behind you 100 percent ok?"
I sighed maybe a little over-dramatically because this was the first time someone didn't try and sugar coat it for me which made me thankful for Terri's business man mentality.
"Thanks Ter."
"You're welcome man. Now secondly..." he fidgeted with his pant's pocket and stopped mid sentence as if he were nervous about something. He seemed to snap himself out of it to continue, noting my slightly worried expression.
"Secondly...I wanted your opinion on this."
He pulled a small velvet box out of his pocket and handed it to me. From the nerves on his face I could see that I needed to reassure my friend.
"Oh Terri I thought you would never ask?" I faked a look of utter shock, complete with an open mouthed wide eyed expression and began to fan myself with full mockery.
Smack
"Hey! What's the big idea man?" Terri was laughing as I rubbed my head. I swear there was going to be a lump there if this kept up.
"That's for making fun...but Jay told me how much fun it was smacking you the other day and I just couldn't resist."
"Not cool Collins. Not cool."
"Ya whatever. It made me feel better so mission accomplished. Well open it Anderson I'm dying to know if you think its nice enough for him."
I was still a little annoyed with the guy until I opened the box to see the ring inside. It was so very Jake and Terri. It looked like two bands had formed and molded together in a fluid design; both metals over lapping each other at one point or another. The inner was silver with 5 small diamonds embedded in it and the outer was a simple band of gold that seemed to hug the inner one. One band simple; the other a little flashy...it was so them.
"Ter it's perfect. Where's you find it?"
"Ha well that's a story in and of itself my friend. I looked everywhere for something that I knew Jay would like and it was almost impossible...ok well it was impossible. Tiffany's, Cartier...none of them had something that Jay wouldn't either hate because of its simplicity or scoff at because it wasn't original...so I had this one made as a one of a kind."
"Well it really is beautiful Ter. He's gonna flip."
"Ha ha I hope so...at least in a good way." He took the box back from me and rested it gingerly back into his pocket.
"So when you gonna ask him?" He shook his head and looked at the counter, as he mindlessly drew invisible circles on the polished marble. "I dunno...soon I hope. I have a whole week in Tokyo to figure something out. Plus his mom and dad are still there so I can ask them properly. Kurt's gonna Skype me during the week to run over some details about it too. I'm just scared and excited and worried..."
Smack
"HEY Anderson!" I couldn't stop laughing now that I started.
"Hey you're right that does feel kinda good."
"Not funny B."
"Oh I would beg to differ. You were rambling and I thought it was my duty to shut you up. Besides you know my opinion on Jay and you... and you two getting married for that matter. He will say yes, we all know it, just make it as special as you can, and Kurt and I will help you with whatever you need ok?"
"Ok thanks Blaine...let's just call a truce with the physical forms of subject changing ok?"
"Truce...now did you actually want your usual coffee order...Mr. Collins-MacKay?"
Terri turned his head around so quick that it may have given him whiplash, but then a smile creeped over his face at the possibility of his soon-to-be new last name.
"Yeah Blaine...that would be great thanks."
(KPOV)
"Sam? Sam Evans?" He laughed loudly and the familiar sound made me smile even though I was still dumbfounded.
"Kurt...Kurt Hummel? Ha ha you should see your face dude." We picked up the remaining books from the floor and stood there for a second before I realized it was my turn to speak.
"Uh- hi um what are you doing here?"
"Getting a book? It is a bookstore Kurt."
"Thanks I would never have guess without your power of deduction Mr. Evans. No I meant what the hell are you doing here...In New York. I mean I thought you moved back to Kentucky for good with your folks after junior year?"
"Yeah well I um...its a long story Kurt."
I narrowed my eyes because I found myself remembering that this was the same guys that left quite abruptly after a summer romance with Mercedes, and then we never heard from him again.
"I like long stories."
"Well my last class got cancelled and got pushed back for a next week start date so I have time for a coffee...and I think you have time to kill now too now that I see that textbook."
I glanced down at my business text and saw that he was carrying the exact same one.
"Seeing your lack of response Kurt I'm guessing you didn't check your email today yet."
"No I've had class most of the morning, so I haven't gotten the chance. So I'm guessing from your tone that 'our' Business Management class was pushed back huh?"
"Indeed Hummel" Sam said with what I could only guess was his odd Sean Connery impersonation.
"Ok ok enough with the Connery, Evans. I forgot you're such a dork." I let myself smile again, even chuckle a little because well , I had forgotten how much I liked this guy. After all we did have a history, friendly on both of our parts, even though I think he knew I liked him a little more at one point. I guess that was water under the bridge. I did always wonder what had happened to him so I gave in.
"Well I guess I do have some time now then...you say something about coffee?"
He smiled with that comically large mouth of his and I couldn't help but reciprocate the gesture as he offered me his elbow to take, "To the cafe then?" This was a gesture that would have been unheard of back in Ohio, especially from someone like Sam.
"Um sure let's go." I took his arm as we walked to the cafe down the street enjoying the mid day sun and for some reason we were arm in arm.
Once we had gotten our drinks we decided to head over to one of the many little parkettes on the University grounds to find a bench to sit on. It seemed a little awkward, for me at least, because Sam and I had grown closer in the last few months he was in Ohio but I would never have called him a best friend or anything so I decided to break the tension as he was sipping his coffee.
"So..its nice to see you wearing your hair in its natural blonde for once Sam."
He almost spit up his coffee with a laugh, coughing as he did.
"Ha ok Kurt cute. Just because you have a freakish talent for observing unnatural highlights you do know that was well over a year ago right? Besides I cut off the shag too, don't I get redeemable points for a less Bieber inspired hairdo?" I smiled as the tension that was there seemed to wane.
"Fair enough Evans. Yes this hair do is much better." I reached out before I knew I had done it to slightly ruffle the spiked tips on his head before retracting my hand rather quickly and apologizing, although he did't flinch at the gesture.
"It's fine Kurt. When it comes to fashion and appearance you could never restrain yourself." He laughed again and this deserved a slight backhand to his shoulder on my part.
"Oh shut up." We remained silent for a few minutes as I sipped my coffee lovingly...I hadn't really had time to finish my one from this morning so the caffeine was nice relief to my sluggish state.
"I managed to render Kurt Hummel speechless?"
"No...just thinking. You seem...happy Sam."
"I am Kurt."
"What changed? How did you end up here? You were so stressed back in Ohio with your family and everything that..."
"Whoa whoa whoa Kurt hold on...let me start from the beginning and then you can bombarded me alright? Ha ha ha."
"Sure...sorry. But you better tell me why you bailed on us last year."
"Ok, I will I promise... so last summer..."
Ring Ring Ring
"Crap...hold on okay Sam...Hello?" I answered it without looking at the name.
(BPOV)
I came home from work with enough time to shower if I needed to and to calm myself down before heading out to the Ambassador Theatre on West 49th Street. I was asked to prepare two song choices. One of them had to be a song from Chicago, not necessarily for the part you were playing mind you but it had to be the same gender. This worked for me but I swear the girls got the best numbers in that show, and if I was auditioning for Billy then I only had one option that wasn't a duet: All I care about is Love. I decided to go a little unconventional and sing Mr. Salofane because it really spoke to me emotionally. The second song I was really stumped on. I was going to go with Jess' thought and do Silly Love Songs. She knew how much I loved the Beatles and I had told her about the huge Valentine's success it was for me and the Warblers long ago but I wasn't sure still.
Well it wasn't like I had much time to think it over anyway. I had enough time to grab my clothes, change, and head out with my guitar.
I was ready to go but I thought I would chance a call to Kurt before I left; knowing full well that he was probably just about to start his last two hour lecture. I guess I could always just leave a loving voicemail.
After a couple rings I was stunned by the breathy laugh and greeting, "Hello?"
"Um hey Kurt? It's me."
"Blaine?"
"Um yeah who else would be calling from this number Kurt?"
"Oh sorry I didn't check my caller I.D. What's up?" Kurt seemed awfully rushed in his response.
"If I'm interrupting class or something I can just let you go babe."
"No it's fine. My last class got pushed back a week so I'm just getting coffee with Sam.
"Sam? Who's Sam?" I tried to keep the jealousy out of my voice... I really did.
"Evans?"
"As in the kid from your old high school? The blond one?"
"Yeah that's the one. I ran into him, like literally at the campus bookstore, we decided to catch up."
"Oh ok well..I'll let you catch up then. I'm headed to my audition now and just thought I would call and say hi."
"Oh shit Blaine is it that late already?" There was a pause on the other line mixed with mumbles from Kurt and what I'm guessing was Sam before he spoke again.
"Sorry bout that. Did you still want me to try and come to the audition considering I can probably make it now?"I thought about this long and hard fora second. If I hadn't called him would he have even noticed that he could have made it? Was I wrong for thinking that my boyfriend would want to come? Or was I just being all round stupid for worrying at all because he didn't think he could make it and just ran into someone he hasn't seen in forever and decided to catch up. People do lose track of time Blaine. Blaine stop over-thinking things and talking to yourself and answer the boy.
"No..its ok Kurt. You may not make it anyways baby. Sit and say hi to Sam for me. I'll call you when I'm done and let you know how it went."
"Please do...the minute you get out ok? I want every detail."
"Will do. I love you Kurt."
"I love you too." His voice was muffled with that last line and I wondered if I was imagining things again as I hung up and headed out the door.
(KPOV)
"So...who was that?" I looked up from my phone and smiled at Sam. "None of your business yet ...now you were saying?"
"Oh yeah so...ok last summer was both great and crappy for me at the same time."
"Ok..."
Ok well yes kill me know if you like but it was getting a little long so I decided to crop it here in true cliffhanger style and keep writing the second part. Yes it will be out shortly...much much quicker than this...maybe tomorrow if not earlier.
Review my little ones please. This is my only fic right now and I needs me some reader love!
Ta for now...see you soon though