A/N: I'm so incredibly sorry for the long long wait between updates. On the bright side, wasn't the Prom episode all kinds of awesome? I flailed like the fangirl I am. During the whole thing. Yep.
This chapter was fun, it's quite light hearted… which was a nice break from everything else going on in this fic, lol. Thank you so much for the response last chapter. It was really awesome :) I love you all.
"You didn't have to stand up to him for me." Kurt said quietly.
Blaine nodded and shrugged.
"I know. I wanted to."
Kurt didn't have a response to that, his head was still reeling a little at what had just happened. He'd dreamed of it, yes, but had never had the guts to until now. He sort of hated that it took Blaine around for him to have a little courage.
That word was going to haunt him forever wasn't it?
"Breakfast." Kurt said, his mouth working faster than his brain. "Um, I haven't eaten and you got up after me so..."
"Oh, yeah," Blaine said, suddenly aware of the fact that he was starving. "Do you have food?"
Kurt shrugged. "I put some bread in the freezer before I went to New York so it wouldn't go stale. Is toast alright? Or else we could… go to the supermarket."
"Toast is fine." Blaine said with a smile.
It was awkward. Really awkward. The admissions made and, motives behind actions went unmentioned, but they still hung uncomfortably in the air. There was something strangely domestic about the way in which Kurt made them both peanut butter toast and they ate it in silence at the kitchen bench. Neither brought up how weird it was. Neither was game enough to. They didn't know where this was going… whatever thiswas.
Then they started packing Kurt's things.
"You sure you don't just want to write an instruction manual for me?" Blaine teased as Kurt grabbed another coat off him to fold properly (he didn't want to fold them at all, but they had to fit into the boxes so he'd resigned to the fact he'd have to, the reallyexpensive stuff wouldn't be though)
Kurt glared. "This coat is six hundred dollars, you cannot just roll it up in a ball and shove it in a suitcase."
"Kurt, they're just clothes, pieces of material sewn together, it's not that important."
His eyes were wide. "What happened to you Blaine Anderson? Your seventeen year old self is hanging his head in shame at you right now."
"How about I just fold shirts?" Blaine said. "That's easier isn't it?' he opened a draw he thought he'd seen Kurt get a few shirts out of before.
"Blaine, don't-
It was too late. Blaine stared with wide eyes at the condoms sitting of top of a pile of plain shirts. He tried to laugh it off while desperately pushing the images that sprung to mind away.
"Oh. No offence, but that's a weird place to keep them isn't it?"
Kurt grabbed them, glaring at Blaine, "Shut up," and threw them in the bin.
"Aw, come on now, you don't want to throw out perfectly good condoms."
"Why?" Kurt snapped, folding his arms defensively. "Are we going to use them?"
This time it was Blaine's turn to go red. "Right, never mind."
They fell back into a quiet rhythm packing things away, when the doorbell rang. Kurt jumped up.
"Don't touch the expensive clothes." he said.
He heard Blaine say something like "Didn't plan on it." as he rushed out of the room.
He opened the door, before he comprehend anything, he was attacked by long limbs and blonde hair.
"Kurtsie!"
He couldn't help the grin that crossed his face as he patted the girl gently on the back, before she let go of him. "Hey Britt."
She stepped back slightly and studied him for a moment, then broke out into a smile. "Blaine's back."
"What?" his eyebrows shot up.
"Your eyes are brighter." She said. "They were always like that with Blaine. Then when you guys broke up, you always looked sad, even when you smiled, but no one ever said anything in case you got upset. But now... he's back isn't he? How? Is that why you've been in New York? Are you getting married?"
Kurt went red, he'd forgotten that as clueless Brittany could seem at times, she was more observant than people gave her credit for.
"Brittany, no. Yes Blaine is back but only as a friend. Which means no, we are not getting married."
She frowned. "You love him though right?"
Kurt sighed. "Yeah, I do." He admitted. "But he doesn't love me. Not anymore."
"Oh. Kind of like with Santana."
Oh… yeah… Kurt, in the drama of his own life, had honestly forgotten about that. It was how he and Brittany had re-connected in LA after high school. Though, she never actually told him exactly what happened, the two had ended up breaking up and now had… some sort of strangled friendship that Kurt couldn't understand. He smiled sadly at her.
"Yeah, kind of. There's still for you two though."
"I hope so. But sometimes, I don't think..."
"Come on." Kurt grabbed her hand, lacing his fingers through hers easily. "Want to help Blaine and I pack?"
She smiled and casually rubbed her thumb along the back on his hand. "Ok. Just let me text Lord Tubbington the Third and let him know."
Kurt couldn't even be startled by her statement. He just nodded as she pulled out her phone with her free hand.
In the bedroom Blaine was sitting on his bed, a sight that shouldn't have made Kurt's heart pound the way did. He was gently stroking a faux fur coat, his face pensive as he stared at it.
"Blaine," Kurt caught his attention and was about to warn him about Brittany when suddenly he was tackled the same way Kurt had when he opened the door, however, this time Blaine fell backwards onto the bed, Brittany went down with him, so they ended up a tangle of limbs everywhere as Brittany squealed.
"Blaine! You're back!" she exclaimed.
"Hey Brittany." He voice was muffled.
"I'm so happy you're back!" She said, giving him one last tight squeeze before pulled herself away. As she did, Kurt couldn't help but laugh a little at the shocked expression on Blaine's face.
"Uh… thank you?" He said a little unsurely.
"You're welcome." She turned back to Kurt. "What are we doing?"
"Packing up the rest of my clothes to send them to New York. It has to be done by tonight, because we're flying back and God knows I can't afford to fly back out here."
"Oh… ok."
"Yeah," He tried not to take notice of the crushed expression on her face. "So… would you like to fold my scarf collection?"
She nodded.
Blaine's jaw dropped open. "You're letting someone else touch your scarfs?" he asked.
Kurt gave him an odd look. "Yes…"
"Two years of dating and I was never allowed to touch one of your scarfs."
"Please." Kurt scoffed. "That's an exaggeration."
"No." Blaine shook his head. "It's not. I actually remember you taking them off, folding them up neatly before we could even think about making out."
"That happened… once, maybe twice."
"Try every single time you wore a scarf."
"So… should I not touch your scarfs?" Brittany piped up.
"No it's fine, just fold them like this." Kurt took one of the hanger he kept them on and demonstrated, thankful for the conversation turning away from what did and didn't happen before… making out… with Blaine. Because that was… not what he wanted to be thinking about. "Have you got it?"
"I… think so." She said and picked up and mimicked Kurt's actions.
"Perfect." He smiled at her.
They were almost done by lunchtime, when they stopped and went back to Kurt's favourite café. The conversation was deliberately kept light. Blaine, asked Brittany a lot of questions about what she was up to (and, just what was it like being one of lady Gaga's back up dancers anyway?) and he in turn answered her questions (and tried to explain that, no, he wasn't making his own CD, because, as much as he loved writing and performing his own music, he didn't want to be famous, because that sounded like a tedious job).
The entire time Kurt couldn't help but think… it was never like this with Karl. Not that they were ever actually dating. But… Brittany had met him, and had been very stand-offish with him, and had confessed a little while later to Kurt that she didn't like him.
At the time, Kurt hadn't cared.
Lunch ended too soon.
"I should go." Brittany said. "I actually have an audition at four."
"Oh really? What for?" Kurt asked.
She shrugged. "I think it's for a movie… or maybe a commercial?" She then gave him a serious look. "Do you have to leave LA?"
"Yeah… I do." He gave her a sad look, but couldn't help let his eyes flick briefly to Blaine.
"Oh…" She hugged him tightly. "I'm going to miss you."
"It's not like you'll never see me again. For starters, there's Finn and Rachel's wedding."
"Oh!" She exclaimed. "That's who's getting married! I knew it was someone. But it's not the same. You're so far away."
Kurt squeezed her a little tighter. "It's ok boo, just remember, I'm always only a phone call away."
"I thought you were moving to New York."
Kurt shook his head and sighed. "You can call me anytime you need me."
"Oh. Ok… that's… that helps."
As she walked off Kurt turned back to Blaine, who had a bewildered expression on his face.
"You alright Blaine?" He asked, with a bit of a smile.
"Yeah…" Blaine shook his head a little as if to clear it. "I just forgot how Brittany could be. You know?"
"Oh… yeah…"
They started walking back slowly to Kurt's apartment, both deliberately ignoring the way their shoulders would occasionally brush against each other, and neither making a move to walk a little further apart.
"So…" Blaine started. "How many of the guys from McKinley are you still in touch with?" He asked.
Kurt shrugged. "Finn, obviously, and Rachel by default there. Brittany I ran into, literally, on the street in about my third year of college. And Cede's and I are bff's for life, you know. But she's in Chicago, so I don't get to see her as much as I'd like. Otherwise… Sam and I occasionally catch up a little and um…" He trailed off into a mumble.
"What?"
"I sometimes talk to Dave too… Karofsky." He clarified.
"Really?" Blaine didn't bother to hide is surprise.
"Yeah." Kurt shrugged. "I was visiting Dad and Carole in Lima when I… ran into him and we… we had a long chat that was, interesting."
"I can't picture you, Kurt Hummel and Karofsky being friends."
Kurt let out a short laugh. "Friends is a bit of a stretch."
"What does he do these days anyway?"
"Coaches football at McKinley. Yeah… I know. Though he… he said that New Directions are still going strong and he runs an anti-bullying program that apparently is working, more than the bully whips ever did." There was suddenly a buzzing in his pocket. Kurt pulled out his phone and read a text message from Rachel, he groaned. "Come on, we have to hurry up. Apparently, Rachel is waiting on skype for me. Please, tell me why I thought helping her plan her wedding was a good idea."
"Because you only heard the words 'plan a wedding' and forgot the Rachel part of it?" Blaine said smirking.
"I curse my weaknesses." They rounded the corner and reached Kurt's apartment block.
As they walked in Blaine collapsed onto the couch and Kurt grabbed his laptop. He sat down on the couch next to Blaine, their knees were almost touching, and balanced the computer on his lap. As soon as he logged in an incoming call from Rachel appeared.
"Hi Rachel." He said.
She waved (with her left hand he noticed the band of the ring on her finger). "Hi Kurt! It's great to see you… virtually anyway."
"Yeah… you too."
"Who's with you?" She frowned, trying to get a better a look. "Are you with a man Kurt? It better not be that Karl guy Finn was telling me about because he did not sound like good news."
Kurt suppressed a groan, he remembered specifically telling Finn to not tell anyone… and that included Rachel.
"No, it's not."
"Oh good. Well, hello silent stranger."
"Hi Rachel." Blaine said. From the angle he was he could see the screen fairly well, but Rachel couldn't quite see him, so he moved to be in the shot a little more.
Neither man was prepared for the ear-piercing shriek that followed as he did.
"Blaine?" Rachel asked. "Blaine Anderson? Kurt… what?"
Kurt rolled his eyes. "It's not important. What is important is-
"I think it is important. When did this happen? Why, how? I have so many questions… are you two finally back together? Because I have to say… it took you long enough. You two have an epic romance, much like Finn and myself."
"Rachel." Kurt tried to cut in, but she continued on.
"… Destined to be together, but first you must overcome the many obstacles life puts in your way. I always thought Finn and I had a relationship similar to Ross and Rachel from Friends, with the ups and downs, ons and offs… but you always know that someday, it will finally happen. Of course, it's only appropriate considering she is my namesake. And you two are like… the gay version."
"Rachel…"
"… This is so good… the two of you back together and right in time for my wedding. How perfect. And Kurt! You should write your story as your screen play, you definitely have an epic movie romance there. It's the right amount of drama and romance, place the slight controversy of it being a homosexual relationship… the media would eat it up. Oh! I have to play myself. Or maybe that would be too easy… maybe I should challenge myself, I'm happy to read for the part of Mercedes, or even Brittany, no actually, I think that-"
"Rachel!"
"Yes?" She stopped mid-ramble.
"We're not together."
"Oh."
Blaine knew he was red from Rachel's run on speech and shifted so he was once again out of the shot and she couldn't see him.
"So, wedding?" Kurt asked. He didn't want to get into 'why not?' and 'how are you two friends again anyway?' definitely not right then and there.
"Oh, yes." She clapped her hands as a smile spread across her face. "This is the ring." She waggled her hand in front of the camera. "I know you've seen it but… doesn't it just suit me perfectly?"
"Yes, it does." He wasn't lying, the ring was gorgeous and very… Rachel. A gold band, with stars lightly engraved into it (that was a personal touch Kurt had insisted Finn get) with one large diamond in the middle, surrounded by tiny sapphires, it looked like it just, well, belonged on her hand.
"So, the wedding is going to be in May, I'm having my dress custom made, because my dads insisted that I couldn't just get some off the rack."
"I agree with them. But you better let me look at designs before you get anything made." Kurt said. "Anything else?"
"Well, I have a couple of venue ideas and colour schemes… but it would be easier to talk in person. I know it's a lot to ask you to come out to New Jersey, but…"
"Well, actually…" Kurt bit his lip.
"What?"
"I'm actually, uh, moving to New York."
For the first time in her life, Rachel Berry was actually speechless. Her jaw dropped open in shock.
Blaine leant over, moving back into the shot.
"You all right Rachel?" he asked.
"You… you're… why? But you're in your apartment… the one in LA. I can tell from here."
"Yeah, well, Blaine and I flew back for the weekend to finish packing up my stuff. My lease ends in a couple of weeks as it is and I thought… I could use the change."
Rachel glanced at Blaine and smirked a little.
"Sure, 'the change'. Yeah. I thought you guys weren't back together."
"We're not." Kurt said, knowing he was going red. "Blaine tell her."
"It's true."
"So… you'll be able to come to Jersey?"
Kurt nodded. "We'll arrange it over the next couple of weeks, yes?"
"It's a plan." She agreed. She then smiled. "So are you two… living together?"
"No." They both answered quickly.
"No," Kurt said. "I'm staying uh, with a friend of Blaine's. But as soon as I'm up on my feet I'll find my own place."
"But what about your writing?" She asked.
Kurt shrugged. "Honestly? It's going nowhere at the moment anyway. I'm hoping New York will give me new inspiration. But who knows, maybe I'll just ditch it all together and pursue Broadway."
Rachel's eyes narrowed playfully. "You are deluded if you think you're going to steal any roles from me."
Kurt laughed, and glanced at the time. "Oh, shoot. Rachel, we have to go. The flights in a couple of hours and we still have many boxes to seal. I'll talk to you during the week."
"I'm counting on it." Rachel said smiling. "Bye Kurt, bye Blaine."
"Bye." Blaine didn't move from where he was.
Kurt ended the call and turned to Blaine. "Come on, lets get this over with."