A/N Ok, so now that you know what's going on with everyone, I'm curious as to where you think the normal progression of the story is going. Mind you, I have 5 more chapters already written, so I'm not trying to scrounge for material, but I always wonder if I'm on the same page as the readers.
Hope you all had a great weekend :) Mine was filled with 4th grade basketball games! Yippeee! (not)
As always, I love hearing from you, so by all means, say hello :) Tell me what you like, don't like, etc. Thank you for taking time out of your day to read my story!
CHAPTER 22
"Well, that was a bust!" Bailey pouted at lunch with her family.
"Sweetheart, it wasn't anyone's fault. They'll reschedule and when they do, you'll do just fine and we'll all be there to cheer you on again. Don't get yourself all wound up over it." Meredith Duval assured her.
"Nick won't be here, though" she whined to her mom.
"I'll come back, don't worry" Nick assured her. "But I think I'm going to head back tonight. I have some things I want to take care of, actually, and if I'll be heading back for a visit fairly soon anyway, you won't miss me too much" Nick said, winking at her. In reality, he was going home to check his work schedule. He wanted to see what was on the calendar for the following weekend. Technically he had taken off through Tuesday, so nobody was expecting him at work, but if he could work Monday and Tuesday and then free up Friday and the weekend, he would love to surprise Jeff and show up in Ohio. He'd have to enlist Blaine's help with this one. No point in showing up if Jeff wasn't going to be there or if he was going to be too busy to spare any time.
Nick knew Jeff had two shows coming up soon, and rehearsals had been kicking his ass lately. Jeff's group was performing "West SideStory" and he was over the moon about it, having landed a lead role for the first time with this theater troupe. Jeff would talk to Nick late in the evening when he got home from rehearsal and it was obvious that he was exhausted. Jeff loved what he did, though. He taught drama and art to middle school students during the week, and to a different set of kids on the weekends. On top of that he performed with two local theater groups which practiced during the week in the evenings. Nick checked out their work on the web, and he was seriously impressed, and not just at watching Jeff dance and sing on the stage in slinky costumes. Jeff was nothing short of amazing. His lithe dancer's body was a sight to behold, and it made Nick's heart race just thinking about it now.
He'd been expecting some sort of small community theater group, but what he found was a well put together group of extremely talented actors and musicians. Jeff had told him in one of their earliest conversations that he counted himself truly blessed to be a part of the group, and often wondered why the hell they'd taken him in, as he knew they only dealt with the best of the best. Nick just laughed at him and shook his head. Jeff just had no idea how good he was. Nick was in awe.
About an hour later, Nick was packed and ready to head home. He hugged everyone goodbye and stepped out the front door, heading for the elevators. It was a long ride down from the penthouse, but he didn't mind. Jasper Wright had been the elevator operator for as long as they'd lived in the building and Nick liked him. He always had a story to tell that never lasted longer than the ride, and if not, he'd always genuinely listen to what was going on in the lives of others.
"Heading home so soon, Nicholas?"
"Yeah, Jasper, I've got a lot going on up there….need to get my head wrapped around a few things." He smiled.
"That smile says those 'few things' may not be work related?" he grinned.
"Not this time, buddy." Nick said with a big grin. "I have to look into alternate travel arrangements….to Ohio this time. Something there I really need to check out first hand I think" he said with a wink.
"Oh? Anything special?"
"Quite…..incredibly talented, intelligent, drop dead gorgeous, sinfully amazing all around….."
"Sounds like something to keep around if it works out? I don't believe I've ever seen you so excited over another individual before, sir. "
"You bet your sweet a…Aunt Fanny…" he blushed. After all these years, Jasper was still his elder, and he still respected him too much to spout off profanity if he could avoid it. "He's a keeper, Jasper. He may end up being endgame for me…he's pretty great."
"Then may I wish you luck with this venture to Ohio to see….?" Jasper let the sentence hang in the air, clearly waiting for more information.
"Jeff…..Jeffrey Sterling."
"Well, my best to you, Nicholas. I hope your meeting with Mr. Sterling is all you hope for. Have a safe trip home, sir."
"Thank you, Jasper. Tell Mrs. Wright I said hello and give her my best as well, please? I'll see you next time."
Nick stepped out of the elevator and crossed the lobby to the front doors, hailing a cab as he hit the sidewalk. As soon as the doors closed, Jasper Wright was on his cell phone.
"Mr. Duval? Yes, sir, it's Jasper Wright. Yes….yes, I have something I think you'd be interested in knowing about sooner rather than later. Yes, sir. I'll be right up. Thank you."
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The boys made sure Trent hadn't hurt himself when he "inexplicably" passed out in the kitchen and slid off of his chair, then seemed to find the situation wholly amusing and burst into squeals of laughter.
"HO-LY SHIT!" Jeff yelled. "No WAY I saw that one coming! Trent and Thad?"
"I know…I didn't think Thad was….that he um….yeah. Did you?" Blaine asked.
Kurt seemed to be the only one concerned at this point and was pressing a cool cloth to Trent's forehead. "Ok, guys…you can't just leave him laying here on the floor!" Jeff and Blaine leaned down and gently moved Trent from the kitchen floor to the sofa, where Kurt took up his nursing again.
"What the hell, guys. Would someone tell me what happened and why you all find this humorous?" Kurt hissed.
"I forget that you don't know the whole story. It feels like you've been a part of us, Kurt. Soon enough you'll know all the ins and outs of our little group of lunatics!" Jeff laughed.
"Blaine, Trent, Thad and I were at Dalton together, all four years. We were friends from day one, and it was seriously hard for everyone when we graduated, thinking we'd all go our separate ways for college and not see each other anymore. Turns out, we all stayed within a few hours of home, which is Westerville for everyone but Trent, but he moved there to go to college right out of Dalton. Anyway, as you're well aware, Jeff, Trent and I shared a common bond, all of us having recently "come out" before heading to Dalton. It was basically the reason we were all there….zero tolerance and all that. " Jeff explained.
Blaine picked up the conversation from there.
"Thad, on the other hand, had a steady stream of girlfriends, and Trent will be the first to tell you about it, as they were roommates! It seems, now though, that perhaps we weren't all in the loop when things apparently changed for our young friend Thad. If Trent's little 'spell' here is what we think it is, he and Thad have a thing going on. The question, now, is how long has this been going on and how serious is it? If Thad's willing to put all this out there on facebook, and he's, according to the conversation we snooped on, willing to let Trent tell us as well, then it seems he's pretty comfortable with the state of things and letting people know about their relationship." Blaine explained.
"In a nutshell, my fucking mind is blown!" Jeff yelled, bombing Trent with a throw pillow.
Trent moaned in response, his eyelids fluttering open. He took one look around him and let out a loud groan, covering his face with the pillow Jeff had thrown.
"Spill, Nixon, or we'll call Thad and flat out ask HIM!" Jeff said, giving Trent a serious look, even though inside he was grinning like a fool.
"Evbeengngoutfrmnths!" Trent mumbled under the pillow.
"MONTHS?" Jeff yelled. "How MANY months? I can't believe you've never said anything! How long!?"
"vivten" Trent mumbled again, well aware of the coming reaction.
"FIFTEEN?" You've been dating Thad for fifteen months!" Jeff yelled again, grinning now. "You fucking asshole! How come you never said anything!? When could you have possibly seen him?"
Trent finally moved the pillow, but refused to open his eyes. "Didn't know how you guys would take it. Didn't know how anyone would take it, especially his parents, so we said nothing. You know how I had to go away once a month 'for work' over a weekend?" Jeff's eyes bugged open.
"You lying little shit!" he laughed. Trent had the good grace to blush and look ashamed.
"He's wanted to be out about it for a while now, and I was the one afraid. I'm going to kill him, ya know? I wasn't ready for this!" Trent whined, pulling the pillow over his face again.
"It seems to me," Blaine said flatly "that Thad is the one who would be afraid….and if he's not, I can't see why you are?"
"If things go wrong….if it doesn't work out….if he changes his mind, he'll call this 'a phase' and this 'phase' was brought about by ME, so it'll be my fault that he's 'tainted'….that he 'experimented' and now he's labeled. I can't do that to him!" Trent said sadly, eyes watering up.
"Dude, fifteen months isn't an experiment!" Jeff said back, serious now. "You can't really think that Thad of all people would hold this against you? There's no way he'd do that. And what the hell, man…tainted? Are you fucking serious right now? "
"Damnit, that's not what I meant….not how I meant it. You know there are plenty of homophobes out there…male and female, and if he decides this doesn't work for him after all, and being the guy that he is, he is open and honest with a girl in the future….well, shit, it could ruin a lot for him. I don't want that!"
"Trent…..he blurted out on facebook that he LOVES you…..loves you, man. That sounds to me that he wants his future to be with you, dude! What are you so afraid of?" Jeff asked, genuinely concerned. "Do you…..um…..do you feel that way about him, too?"
Trent sat there, eyes closed, head resting on the pillow that was now propped on his raised knees. "God, you guys…..I love that idiot SO much….so freaking much! I'm so terrified of all this right now. I've dated, not a lot, but I've gone out with my fair share of guys. Nobody compares to him. He's…it. I don't want anyone else. I want nothing else but to just be with him."
Blaine sat next to Trent on the sofa and smacked his legs to make him move them so there was room to sit down. "Trent….Thad's a good guy. One of the best. It seems like he's ready for this….ready to tell anyone out there about the two of you. I don't see this as a bad thing in any way. If he were trying to hide it, trying to lie about it, THEN I'd be worried. I say dive in head first and make the best of this. And for God's sake, pack your shit and get the hell out of my apartment!"
"What?" Trent said, totally confused, and possibly a little hurt. "Seriously? You're kicking me out?"
"I am, man. Sorry. Seems you need to go home to some unfinished business in Ohio. Someone's waiting on you!" Blaine smiled.
"No, I can't ditch you guys…that's not fair."
"I have to agree with Blaine, man, you need to go back. He's there. You said yourself you don't know when he'll be able to come back up. GO! Do you need me to kick your butt out?" Jeff smiled at his friend.
"Oh, I'm well aware that you're able to, Jeffie…..your little demonstration on me for your final 'exam' left me in traction for a week, you ass! I don't care what color your belt is, you keep that shit away from me!" he laughed.
"Yeah…I got carried away. Sorry 'bout that, T" Jeff blushed.
"You sure you two aren't trying to get rid of me so you can mess around like you were on Thursday night?" Trent joked. Blaine smacked him with a pillow again.
"Get out! Go pack, and go home. He's waiting for you." Blaine grinned. Trent shot up and ran to the guest room to get his stuff together while Jeff checked online with the airlines to see when he could get a flight with the ticket he'd already purchased. Trent had just disappeared around the doorway when he stuck his head back out again. They looked up at him, wondering how he was going to try to get out of it this time.
"Thanks, guys. I seriously love you two….you're the best. I mean that. Thanks for….for everything. For not freaking out. For not getting angry that I didn't tell you. For knowing that not being with him this weekend would seriously kill me. Just…..thank you. " he grinned, and then disappeared into the spare room to pack his things.
Kurt, on the other hand, sat stock still on the ottoman in the living room, not saying a word.
"Hey you" Blaine smiled. Kurt gave him a glance, and wasn't sure how his face looked, but obviously it spoke volumes, because suddenly Blaine was by his side and concerned.
"Kurt? What's wrong?"
"Um….I know that Jeff said it feels like I've been here all along….but…um…I haven't….and I don't know how to take some of the things you guys say…and I can't tell when you're all joking and being serious sometimes, so…yeah…..can you tell me about Thursday night? I guess I kind of thought...after last night and all...should I be jealous of leaving you and Jeff alone tonight with Trent gone?"
Blaine let out a silly giggle and softly hugged Kurt to his chest. "You're so cute, Kurt. NO…..you shouldn't be jealous. When the guys got here Thursday night we were all joking around about who was going to sleep where, who got the sofa, who got the spare room, etc. Jeff said he wasn't sleeping on the sofa and I said he could sleep with me again if he lost the coin toss….we were roommates at Dalton, and our friend Wes overturned Jeff's fishbowl onto his bed once and he ended up sharing my bed for a week. Nothing happened then, and nothing will happen now. Especially not now that he has Nick and I have…..um…." he broke off, blushing.
Kurt blushed and smiled back from under his eyelashes. "He has Nick and you…..what?" he teased Blaine.
"I really, really want to say 'I have you', but if that makes you uncomfortable in any way, you need to….mmmphhhhh"
Kurt, without a second thought, leaned in and quickly kissed Blaine's lips. It was, surely the world's shortest kiss, but for Kurt, it was a major milestone, and Blaine seemed to understand that. Still, Blaine's eyes shot open the minute Kurt's lips left his and he was sort of stunned.
"You….Kurt, you…..but….." Blaine sputtered out, raising his fingers to his lips. "Wow…." He smiled, inhaling a deep breath, closing his eyes and exhaling with a seriously silly grin on his face. "That was…amazing….and I kind of feel like I've just been given an early Christmas gift or something. I'm certainly not complaining. I just….."
"Like to ramble?" Kurt smiled and smacked his shoulder.
"Maybe?" Blained laughed.
Kurt stood up and moved to the door. Blaine gave him a pout, standing and walking the distance to the door as well.
"I should go….your friend is leaving and I've been here…wow…all night and….yeah. I um….need some time to process what I just did, and maybe get a shower or something." He smirked at Blaine. "That's so not like me, really…I think my heart is about to explode, and I'm sure any moment now I'll start flailing in embarrassment or something ."
"I hope it's like you in the future?" Blaine asked.
"I guess we'll see, won't we?"
"No chance I can get you to come down to the Dive tonight with us?"
"Hmmm….I don't know that I'm um….ready for all that…yet. Please don't be angry?" Kurt asked.
"Kurt, I get it. I'm not angry at all. Maybe in time. I just don't..…I don't really want to let you go, ya know? I'm not usually a clingy person, but I feel like I've been waiting for you all this time and then you're here and ….and I don't want to let you go. You might disappear again." Blaine pouted.
"I'm here, I'm not going anywhere. What time do you get home tonight?"
"Probably around 2:30 or 3….pretty late."
"Tell you what. I'll take a nap later this afternoon, and you can come over tonight after work? Text me and I'll be waiting if you want to."
"Really?" Blaine said, excited as if he was a young boy again.
"Yeah….I really don't want to be away from you either, Blaine...not so soon." Kurt smiled.
"It's a deal then. I'll call you when I'm leaving work."
"I'll be waiting." Kurt grinned and moved to his door. "Oh, and Blaine?" he said, looking back over his shoulder when he reached his doorway, slipping his key in the lock. "You have me", Kurt smiled, winked, and shut the door.
Blaine stepped back inside, closed the door and leaned his back against it. The smile on his face could have lit up half of New York in a power outtage, he was certain. "I have him" he whispered to himself, grinning like a fool. He did a silly little jump from the door and a jig around the living room before settling at the table with Jeff again. Jeff laughed at him and shook his head.
"It's so good to see you this happy, Blainers...it really is." Jeff said.
"Thanks, Jeffie..." Blaine answered, still grinning like a kid in a candy store.
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Blaine and Jeff got Trent on a flight back to Ohio that had room on standby, but the woman on the phone said his chances were pretty good of getting on the flight. They managed to get him in a cab after many hugs and a few happy, misty eyes.
"Dude, let us know that you got home safely, ok?" Jeff said with a grin. They bumped fists through the open cab window and Trent was on his way home.
Jeff decided he was going for a walk, and wanted to grab some lunch at the deli down the street. Blaine, on the other hand, asked him to bring him back a sandwich, but said he needed to get a short nap in so he could function properly at work after the previous evenings festivities.
Blaine heard the door close behind Jeff, so he went into his room to lay down. Not even 5 minutes went by before he was out cold, dreaming of a glazs eyed angel who'd walked into his life for the second time. Thankfully, this time, he wasn't walking away.
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Nick's plane from Chicago landed back at JFK at 8:13 pm. He'd expected to be tired and thought of going home to crash, but when he got there, he was wound up from the flight and didn't know what to do with himself. He tried watching TV but his mind wasn't coming down. It was racing. He'd tried calling Jeff, but got his voicemail instead. He knew there was someone filling in for him tonight at the Dive, but he figured he'd wander down there and see what was going on. He had to talk to Blaine about visiting Jeff anyway, so maybe during their break they could work some things out.
He walked into the bar around 11:15 and the guys were almost done playing before they took a break. He could tell by the song they were on in the set list. He found himself a place at the bar, well back from the stage in a dark corner, and took a seat, ordering a drink right away. For once he could just sit back and watch the large, rowdy crowd, listen to the music and relax. He sat there, listening to the guys play and talking to John, the bartender at this end of the bar. Noting that the set was about to end, he got up and snuck around the stage, waiting in back for the guys to take their break.
When they all saw him in the break room backstage they were surprised, and gave him a round of "heys!" and some pats on the back.
"Missed you out there tonight, man…..you better watch out though, this guy's pretty good!" Finn teased him, jabbing Puck in the shoulder. He'd been brought in to fill in in Nick's absence.
"It's good to be missed. It's better to be sitting there watching, listening and drinking!" he laughed. Just then Blaine walked into the room.
"N…Nick? What are you doing here?" he yelled with wild eyes. They all gave him a crazy look, wondering why he sounded so out of sorts. "Oh man, this is ridiculously awesome…." he squealed. "Ok, don't go anywhere…stay here, ok?" Blaine told him, pulling out his phone and walking into the hallway .
12:23 a from Blaine: Where are you?
12:25 a from Jeff: Dancing, crazy man….get back out here and play!
12:25 a from Blaine: Actually, I need you for something…can you come backstage? Tell Benny at the door I said it's ok. Hurry!
12:26 a from Jeff: On my way!
"Ok, so who has a camera on their phone?" Blaine asked. They all raised their hands. "Freaking awesome….so get 'em ready, because this may be an epic moment you guys…."
They all laughed at him, and even Nick grabbed his phone, pulling up his camera and waiting.
"What are we waiting on?" Allyse asked.
"Blaine….someone to see you!" yelled Benny.
"And in 3…2…..1…."
"'Sup man, what do you ne…." Jeff stopped mid sentence just gaping at the beautiful man sitting at the table before him. His eyes flew open wide and his face lit up like a Christmas tree. He couldn't have said a word if his life depended on it.
Nick stood, slowly, and walked toward Jeff, either unaware of or ignoring cameras clicking as they both stood, openmouthed, gawking at one another.
"Y…You're …here. You're here! JEFF, YOU'RE HERE!" Nick said, throwing his arms around Jeff. Jeff was still without words and just clung to Nick as if his life depended on it…and right now, it did.
Amid the "awwwwwwsssss" from the teasing guys and "that's so sweets!" from Allyse of course, they all looked on for a minute and then Blaine ushered everyone else out of the room, giving Nick and Jeff a little bit of privacy. The minute the door closed, Nick pulled back and put both of his hands on Jeff's face, grinning madly and just staring at him.
"Oh my God….you're …..even more…..I can't breathe, Jeff." He said, bringing his hand up to his chest, fingers thrumming against his heart. Jeff reached up and grabbed Nick's hands, holding them tightly to his own chest and just grinning, a little bit of wetness showing in his eyes. He started to say something and got out nothing but a hiccup. They both laughed and just stared into each other's eyes for what seemed like ever.
"You're here….and I'm touching you!" Nick finally managed.
"I am…and you are" Jeff laughed.
"Look at this..." Nick sighed, running his fingers through Jeff's streaked hair, down the side of his face, and ending up cupping his jaw.
"I thought you were at your grandma's house!" Nick chastised him, laughing.
"I was here….I've been here since Thursday night, but Blaine said you went home for your sister's program and I knew, if it had been me, I would have cancelled on my sister and I didn't want you to do that to her….so I didn't say anything."
"Her program was cancelled…I came home early. I was uncomfortable there…with my dad…and without you. Oh my God, you're here." He whispered, throwing his arms back around Jeff again. "I um….I need to…..can I just….."
Jeff leaned in and kissed him, solidly, softly, then firmly on his parted lips, refusing to let go until he absolutely needed air. "Yeah, you can…." He breathed out, leaning his forehead to Nick's and letting his eyes flutter shut. Nick kissed him back, and continued placing little soft kisses all over his face until he ended up back at Jeff's soft lips where he stayed for awhile, lingering in the taste of Jeff.
"My God, you're here...and you're even hotter in person." Nick snickered, a shiver running down his frame. "Those eyes, Jeff...holy shit, babe, those amazing eyes." he said, never taking his own eyes away from Jeff's.
Jeff ran his hands down Nick's arms, over his wrists, to the tips of his fingers and then slowly back up, his forehead resting on Nick's again. "Can I borrow these?" he said, softly squeezing Nick's biceps. "I suddenly have a real thing for the way they feel around me" he smiled, leaning in to kiss Nick again.
A knock at the door had them glancing up and pulling their lips apart, but just barely.
"So…um….I won't freak out if you don't end up back at my place tonight." Blaine said, as serious as he could manage to get out with a huge grin on his face. "I'll leave the door unlocked just in case you come back, but I won't hold my breath." Blaine laughed.
"It's ok, I actually still have the keys that Cooper sent me home with last night. You can lock up." Jeff told him.
"He's my best friend, Nick…..take care of him…don't make me hunt you down!" Blaine grinned and closed the door again.
"Come with me?" Nick asked.
"Absolutely. Where are we going?"
"I love that about you. You agreed to come with me having no idea where I was going to take you!" Nick laughed.
"I don't care where we're going. I care that I'm with you…that's all."
"Take a walk with me? I just want you all to myself for a little bit, and it's really noisy here, and crowded."
"Lead on, Mr. Duval, I'm all yours" Jeff grinned.
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12:40 a from Kurt: Hey ;) It's me…..Kurt.
12: 41 a from Blaine: KURT!
I was totally bumming tonight thinking how much I'd love to text you, but we haven't exchanged numbers yet! How?
12:43 a from Kurt: While you and Jeff were plastered to the guest room door, I may or may not have snagged your phone and put my info in…..and then texted myself. (not giggling and blushing at all)
12:44 a from Blaine: SO so glad you did, Kurt! Really!
Did you nap today?
12:44 a from Kurt: I did…..and I was hoping you'd still want to hang out in a bit?
12:45 a from Blaine: Absolutely! Can't wait. I'll call you when I'm on my way?
12:46 a from Kurt: Great….til then ;)
12:47 a from Kurt: OH! I forgot the reason for my txt to begin with! Finn sent me this! Tell Jeff I said I'm truly happy for him. Seriously, have you ever seen two people more thrilled to see each other in your life? So adorable.
Kurt forwards a photo of Jeff and Nick, both with mouths hanging open in shock, but with obvious hearts in their eyes for one another. Blaine snickered, glad that it was caught on camera. He knew Jeff would probably have the best photos printed to put in a frame on his wall. He laughed at Finn's craziness.
12:49 a from Blaine: Well…..I kinda think this is how I must have looked last night when I saw you in the attic…and I was beyond thrilled to see you then, as much as I am now
(not blushing and giggling at all here either)
Kurt's heart melted just a little bit and his grin lit up the entire room.
12:51 a from Kurt: Is it wrong that I wish I had that moment on film?
12:52 a from Blaine: Not at all….I kinda wish I did too. I have a feeling it's going to be a really important moment in my life in the big scheme of things.
Kurt jumped up from the sofa flailing around the room, giggling and laughing and jumping on his furniture, thinking of Blaine and wishing it was later so that Blaine would be there with him. Brian just stared at him as if he'd lost his mind, then ran behind the sofa and hid.
12:53 a from Kurt: I like that feeling you're having, Mr. Anderson.
12:54 a from Blaine: Then by all means, let's share it, Mr. Hummel.
Back at this music thing…..I'll see you soon, Kurt. 3
12:58 a from Kurt: Rach…catch me!
12:58 a from Rachel: ?
12:59 a from Kurt: I'm falling. Hard.
1:00 a from Rachel: squealing Kurt. Honey, I'm so so glad. I need to meet him properly….SOON. Finn likes him a lot, and has agreed to put everything that he heard (prior to you guys actually meeting) on the shelf….and not kill him. ;) He's really happy for you, too, honey.
1:02 a from Kurt: He's just…..wow. He's really great, Rach. He's coming over tonight after work. I'll talk to you tomorrow, promise? Coffee?
1:03 a from Rachel: Count on it. I want details!