Time seemed to last forever, and as the minutes ticked on by, the more impatient Kurt grew.
It had been almost ten hours since Kurt had woken up at around eleven, making the time nine-thirty at night. So far, he and Rachel had spent their New Years Eve watching as many old movies as possible. They were about half way through Dirty Dancing when Kurt sighed, clearly irritated.
"I can't take this anymore," Kurt huffed, standing from the couch. "While movie day with you is quite fun, it's New Years Eve, Rachel, and Blaine completely ditched me."
"I'm...I'm sure he's coming soon, Kurt," Rachel bit her lip. "He's going to call or text me, and I swear to god, you'll be happy with what he planned for you."
"What is he supposed to be planning for me?" Kurt demanded. "What is he doing? Why was I not informed if he's doing something for me? If he calls you, you better give me that phone so I can scream until his curls fall off."
"I can't tell you," Rachel said. "It's sort of a surprise."
"Surprises don't take a million years to plan."
A few minutes later, Rachel's phone buzzed from on the table, and before Kurt had enough time to reach it, Rachel dived in and snatched the phone, running to the other side of the living room and reading what appeared to be a text.
"Oh my god, give me your phone," Kurt sounded frustrated.
Rachel didn't say anything. She stood in the corner, skimming the screen with her eyes, a smile spreading across her mouth. She then ran to the coffee table, picking up a pad of paper and a bright pink pen, scribbling whatever was written on the text.
"What are you doing now?" Kurt whined.
"Shh!" Rachel hissed. "Let me write."
So Kurt just stood there, looking at the ceiling and trying his best not to pounce on his roommate and rip the phone away with his bare hands. When Rachel was done writing, she tore the paper off of the pad, folded it neatly and handed it to Kurt.
"Blaine just told me," Rachel began, "That these are crucial instructions and they must be followed immensely carefully."
"I have to go outside now and freeze my ass off?"
"Don't worry," Rachel reassured. "This is New Years Eve. You'll be having too much fun to even think about being cold."
Kurt looked sympathetic. "I don't want to leave you home alone tonight."
"I won't be alone, I'm going to that party, remember?" Rachel reminded him. "If anything, you should be thanking Blaine for giving you something to do tonight. But I'll keep my phone on me at all times and you need to call me in case he gives you a hard time. I'll kick that hobbit over faster than he can say "Broadway."
Rachel's voice was motherly...a stern, violent mother, at least, and it made Kurt chuckle.
"I don't know what I'm getting myself into," Kurt sighed, taking the paper from in between Rachel's fingers. "And maybe I'll be dead by tonight. But if Rachel Barbara Berry approves, then I'm sure it won't be too harmful."
Rachel smiled, leaning up on her tip-toes to kiss Kurt on the cheek. "Happy New Years, Kurt."
"Happy New Years, Rachel," he replied, giving her a quick hug. "I'll see you later."
"Don't have too much fun with that boy."
After Kurt laced up his boots and buttoned his coat, he hesitantly but curiously made his way into the streets of Manhattan. The night was bitter cold, and there were many people starting to make their way to Times Square, where the New Years ball was scheduled to drop in about two hours.
Kurt sighed, and the cold air turned his breath into a white puff. He looked down at Rachel's neat handwriting, all of her "i's" dotted with hearts.
Kurt,
I'm sorry to keep you out in the cold, and I apologize thoroughly for leaving without saying goodbye this morning. But I can guarantee you, this will make up for it. Please follow these instructions to what I like to call, "The Super New Years Eve Midnight Countdown Extravaganza! (:
Kurt paused to giggled to himself lightly. It was a ridiculous title, but Kurt always knew Blaine to be the corny type. And he was also the only person Kurt knew who could make corny seem sweet. Kurt read the first step:
One: Walk by Andrea's Flower Parade Shop about three blocks from here. I've sent instructions if you can't find it.
Underneath this were the instructions written out. Kurt knew where this flower shop was-he passed by it every day on his way to work. However he wondered why Blaine would make him go to a flower shop, of all places.
Kurt walked a little quicker than usual, just to get rid of the cold. There were many people shuffling in the streets, dressed in thick coats and scarves, making their way to Times Square. Some people like to spend their New Years by celebrating. Other's spent it by following directions off of a slip of paper, running around the city.
The woman behind the counter greeted Kurt warmly the second he walked through the door. He shook off his shivers and walked to the counter.
"G'd evening," the woman said.
"Hello," Kurt replied. "Um, I was just wondering...this is going to sound so stupid, but I was instructed by a...friend to come in here. Apparently there's something waiting for me, or...?"
"Yes," the woman beamed. She walked out from behind the counter and opened the glass door, containing all the flowers. A powerful aroma wafted into the shop, making Kurt's head dizzy from all the sweet smells.
The woman returned to the counter with a bouquet of flowers wrapped in a plastic cover, a green ribbon wrapped around it to hold it in place. The bouquet was small, but the buds of the flowers were huge. Kurt stared at it.
"Well," the woman said. "Aren't you going to come retrieve your gift?"
Kurt raised an eyebrow at her, but slowly walked to the counter and took the flowers. His fingers skimmed over something smooth, and Kurt looked down to find a big, yellow sticky note attached to the bouquet. The handwriting on it didn't look at all like Rachel's. Kurt anxiously tore away the note and began to read.
There are three types of roses here:
White, which represents purity. Kind of like how when I look at every detail of your face and see nothing but beauty. You're just so perfectly untouched, unscathed, no matter what obstacle this cruel world had to throw at you.
Yellow, which signifies friendship. You gave it to me so many years ago, and I took it for granted. But it never meant that I stopped valuing how important it was to me.
And what's a corny love-story without red roses, which symbolize love? That's another thing you gave to me long ago, even if no one saw the obvious hints. It's what you give to me now.
By the time Kurt was finished reading, his face was as red as a tomato, a subtle smile trying not to break out on his face. He looked up at the woman and just by looking at her face, he knew that Blaine was here.
"Do you know where he is?" Kurt asked. The woman just gave a smile.
"That's for you to figure out," she said. "All I know is that he said these flowers are for someone he cares for deeply."
"Thank you," Kurt smiled. He began to take out his wallet. "Should I...?"
"Nonsense," the woman laughed. "Do you really think that nice young man would make you pay for these? Go on, have a great night."
Kurt waved her goodbye. "Happy New Years, and thanks!"
Kurt cradled the flowers close to him, sniffing the sweet, calming scent coming off from the petals. They were probably just squirted with super scent to make them smell more appealing, but the flowers still made Kurt feel...dare he say it?
Loved.
As he took out the directions from inside his coat pocket, he had to battle with himself to suppress his smile and fit of giggles threatening to rise in his throat.
On to step two, Kurt thought.
AN: More of Kurt's adventures in the city will continue in the next chap (: I'm thinking maybe 2 or 3 more chapters left until the story is done. Then, I want to move on to another story I had planned. Story ideas just come to me naturally! I'm a fanfiction writing machine.
