Chapter 4 – The Wait

Kurt stumbled into bed early in the morning, tired beyond words, and fell asleep in the clothes he was wearing. He only got a few hours of sleep before his alarm went off and he had to get up and get ready for another day of work. His head hurt and the lack of sleep made him feel hungover, still he got up, stepped into the shower and washed the ocean out of his hair. The reflection in the mirror looked as tired as Kurt felt and the dark circles under his eyes did little to help.

He got dressed and made breakfast in a blur, his body working on autopilot because his mind was somewhere else. Last night felt unreal to him now, but he couldn't stop thinking about it. How it started one way, with two guys looking for pleasure, but how it ended completely different. With Kurt falling for Blaine. Had that really happened? The grains of sand Kurt found on his sheets when making his bed were at least evidence that he'd been at the beach.

Kurt's mind kept wandering to Blaine when he was at work. The conversations they'd had and the kisses they'd shared. Kurt wanted to see him again but what if Blaine didn't come back? It fretted him that he hadn't asked for Blaine's number. He didn't like not having control of the situation.

Kurt's heart skipped a beat every time the bell above the diner entrance sounded and his eyes immediately turned in that direction. And every time is heart dropped when it wasn't Blaine. Kurt did his best to keep a cheerful smile on his face as he greeted the guests and took their orders.

The further the night went on with no Blaine in sight, Kurt became more and more antsy. He dropped things, mixed up orders, spilled coffee and punched in the wrong buttons on the cash register. Even if he'd feared Blaine wouldn't show up, there was still a part of him that hoped, but now it seemed he had hoped in vain.

When it became closing time and there was no Blaine in sight, Kurt deflated against the counter. He should have known. Blaine wasn't the type of guy that came back for seconds. Kurt felt drained and stupid, his heart and ego a little dented. But, he told himself, there was still a chance he'd come back another night.

He went through the usual closing routines, said good night to Ethel and Earl, punched in the alarm code and locked the diner. As he walked across the empty parking space to his car, he listened for someone to call out 'blue-eyes' to him, but no one did.

Kurt fell asleep the instant his head touched his pillow and he slept for twelve hours straight before he had to get up and repeat the routine from yesterday. He did his best to quench his hopes. That night had been special, yes, but it had been just that night. It was what Kurt had expected it to be when he agreed to take a ride with Blaine - one night with a stranger and then nothing more.

Having caught up on his sleep, Kurt could manage his job without making mistakes. He told himself to ignore the bell above the entrance but caught himself glancing in that direction several times throughout the night. Of course, no Blaine showed up and Kurt started to accept that he never would. A one-night stand was after all a one-night stand. Kurt's heart ached a little. There could have been something special between them, but the more time went on the more Kurt started to feel he'd imagined the connection between them and the night with Blaine became a faded, albeit sweet, memory.

As the days went on Kurt stopped glancing at the door and his workdays got back to normal. He smiled and joked with his customers, chit-chatted with Ethel, served food and picked up bills. During the weekend Kurt treated himself to some shopping, talked on the phone with his friends back home, picked up an extra shift at the diner and spent hours writing two chapters of his story and another few hours outlining the next. He deliberately avoided talking about work with his dad, like most weekends. Lying about the internship at the publishing house was too hard as it tended to lead to more lies.

Kurt missed his dad and their home in Lima. He missed his friends, old and new ones, and it sometimes became lonely. He longed for the fall when school would start again, and his life would be busy with homework and friends and college parties. Now he focused on work and being friendly towards his customers. A friendly smile resulted in more tip, and Kurt was saving money to travel back home for Thanksgiving. The new week started off like most weeks with regulars and some new faces coming in for their lunch or afternoon coffee or dinner.

"Aren't you and Earl thinking about retiring?" Kurt asked Ethel one evening after the dinner rush when there were only a few customers left in the diner. "Slow down and take care of yourselves."

"Are you trying to get rid of us?" Ethel asked, cheeky smile on her lips. She sat on her usual folding chair behind the counter, keeping an eye on all the tables in the diner.

Kurt stood with his back against the room, leaning against the counter. "No, no," he laughed. Ethel was a fun old lady and Kurt would miss her if she actually retired. "I was just thinking that with your arthritis wouldn't it be good to not run around here every day, to just sit back and relax and enjoy being retired?"

"You do most of the running around," Ethel said with a twinkle in her eyes. "Besides, Earl and I have been here our whole lives, it's our second home. We would miss it too much if we left. And this place wouldn't be the same without Earl in the kitchen."

Kurt couldn't argue with that. Earl was great in the kitchen and many guests came back solely because of his food.

"Now, now, would you be a darling and get table nine their refill." Ethel handed him a coffee pot letting him know this conversation was over and it was time to get back to work. Kurt put his arm around her shoulders and squeezed lightly, letting her know he was grateful for her being there. He took the coffee pot and went over to table nine.

"Hey, blue-eyes," a familiar voice said as he passed table six.

Kurt's heart nearly stopped, before it began beating wildly in his chest. Blaine was back. Blaine had somehow slipped into the diner without Kurt noticing it and now he was sitting in the booth just behind him.

Kurt didn't know if he was excited or just put off that Blaine was there after all that time, but he told himself to play it cool as he slowly turned around.

"Well, well, look what the cat dragged in." Kurt offered Blaine the same friendly smile he did all his customers, but inside his nerves were having fun with him.

Blaine smirked and looked amused. "I couldn't stay away. The coffee is simply too irresistible."

The coffee. Kurt huffed inwardly. If Blaine returned it wasn't because of the coffee. He'd tasted it, it wasn't that good.

"Luckily for you I got it right here," Kurt said and was about to pour some coffee when he realized Blaine had no cup. "Let me just grab you a cup." Kurt turned back towards the kitchen to fetch one.

"Weren't you going somewhere with that pot?" Blaine asked innocently.

"Ehm…" Kurt was momentarily confused before remembering he was on his way to table nine for their refill. "Yes, right, of course." His cheeks turned pink as he offered Blaine an apologetic smile. Way to play it cool, he thought to himself as he continued to his initial destination before Blaine showed up.

Kurt served coffee to the guests at table nine and picked up two empty plates with his free hand while feeling Blaine's eyes on his back. Play it cool. He repeated the words in his head. Don't let him know his presence is affecting you.

Because it did. It was strange because they'd only had one night together and then Blaine hadn't showed up for over a week and Kurt thought he was over it. Clearly he wasn't.

On his way back to the kitchen he avoided eye contact with Blaine and instead focused on the plates in his hand.

"Excuse me."

Kurt had just walked past Blaine's table, ready to exhale, and now he had to stop, turn around and smile at Blaine. "Yes?"

"Can I have some fries as well?"

Kurt nodded. Same order as last time, coffee and fries. Kurt didn't like the salt of fries together with the sweet and roasted notes of coffee but apparently it was Blaine's thing.

Back behind the counter Kurt went into the kitchen with the two empty plates and placed the order with Earl. This time he waited until the fries were ready before placing them and the cup of coffee on a tray. Then he took a deep breath and went back out into the diner.

"Anything else?" Kurt asked after placing the items in front of Blaine.

"Your company?" Blaine returned, suggestive smile on his lips.

He said it like it was yesterday he and Kurt hooked up, like he hadn't kept Kurt waiting for over a week. It annoyed Kurt a little, but it also made his belly flutter. Blaine was flirting and Kurt liked the attention, because Blaine was still attractive and so what if Blaine had waited to come back, he was there now.

"Oh, a step up from 'you'," Kurt said, referring to Blaine asking for him the last time Kurt asked the same question.

"I've already had you." Blaine popped two fries into his mouth, chewed and then licked the salt off his fingers.

The feeling of Blaine's tongue on him, licking his cock, suddenly returned and Kurt discreetly placed the empty tray in front of his groin to cover the action inconveniently happening there. "You've already had my company, too," Kurt reminded him. He licked his lips in an attempt to have Blaine's attention on his face and not on the tray.

"True, and I kind of liked it." It worked because now Blaine was looking at his lips, his hand stopping mid-motion of placing another fry in his mouth.

"And what, you didn't like me?" Kurt asked slyly. Blaine wasn't the only one who could be a flirt.

Blaine's eyes went from Kurt's mouth to his eyes, recovering his cool. "You said you weren't on the menu, I do pay attention, blue-eyes."

Kurt's heart pulsed when Blaine called him that. There was something intimate about it, something that existed only between them.

"Then you should remember that I also said that I can't sit down while I'm working." But once I get off work, I'm all the company you want. It was the truth. If Blaine asked him to go anywhere with him tonight, Kurt would.

"I do remember," Blaine smirked, "but you're still here talking to me so you can't be that busy." Blaine was in total control of the conversation again, while Kurt was under Blaine's spell.

"Well, special guests deserve special attention," Kurt winked, trying to regain some of that control, "but I guess this is my cue to leave."

Blaine pouted and looked adorable while doing so and Kurt, well Kurt had no chance really, to resist the charming Blaine. He didn't want to leave. Most of all, he wanted to sit down across from Blaine and just continue where they'd left off. But he was working and so he left adorable looking Blaine and went to refill another customer's coffee cup.

Kurt continued to work but was acutely aware of Blaine's presence. He became very attentive to the other customers in the diner and made sure all their needs were met, but his mind was only on what he should say next to Blaine.

"Refill?" Kurt asked when he'd stayed away for a reasonable amount of time.

Blaine nodded, and while pouring Kurt gathered courage.

"I had a great time the other night." There was no flirting in Kurt's tone, he wanted Blaine to know he meant what he was saying.

"Yeah?" Blaine sounded surprised. Why did he sound surprised? Didn't Blaine already know that? Hadn't it been obvious? Kurt thought back at that night and remembered Blaine taking the lead in everything, except that first kiss, and tonight Blaine had said he wanted Kurt's company, that he had liked it, and Kurt had only made jokes. He needed to change that.

"That beach was beautiful. I wouldn't mind going back sometime." There. He'd said it. He'd let Blaine know he wanted a repeat.

"Is that so?" Blaine smirked and looked at him with those hazel eyes that made Kurt feel like he was drowning. Kurt could only nod his reply, his eyes caught in Blaine's, waiting for him to say something more. But when Blaine only nodded slowly, Kurt handed Blaine his check and proceeded to clear another table and wipe it clean. There was too much tension in the air between them and Kurt felt exposed even though he wanted Blaine to know.

Kurt hoped he'd been clear enough, that Blaine would see it as an invitation. But when he turned back, Blaine was gone. Just like last time he had left without saying goodbye. Hope still fluttered inside Kurt. Just because Blaine had left the diner didn't mean Blaine had left. Kurt glanced at the clock on the wall. Fifteen minutes until they closed.

He brought the dishes back to Ethel and then went to clear Blaine's table. Again, he had left only nickels and dimes and again there was no tip. Kurt found it a bit odd but didn't think too much about it, he was too busy thinking about Blaine waiting for him outside.

Kurt cleaned the table, brought the money back to the cash register and then proceeded to start the closing procedure even though they hadn't closed yet and there were still two guests left. Ethel gave him a strange look but said nothing. She wasn't one to complain if Kurt wanted to clean on his own.

After the last guests had left, when the floors were mopped, the trash was taken outside to the dumpster and Ethel and Earl had said goodbye, Kurt set the alarm and locked the back door of the diner. He was nervous and excited at the same time, his pulse beating fast under his skin. He was ready though, ready to pick up where they left off. He wanted to return the favor and see if he could turn Blaine into an even better kisser. Blaine with his soft lips and unbothered attitude, yes Kurt wanted all of that.

But when he turned around the parking lot was empty. There was no bike and no Blaine in sight. Kurt's heart dropped to his stomach, and the excitement he felt turned into a knot. Why had Blaine come back to the diner and flirted if he didn't want to see Kurt like that again? Hadn't he been clear enough?

Kurt scanned the surroundings and listened for the sound of a motorcycle engine as he walked towards his car but there was no sign of Blaine lingering anywhere near. It didn't make sense. Kurt's self-confidence plummeted to his feet. When Blaine returned to the diner, Kurt had felt sure it was because Blaine wanted to see him again. Now all he felt was confused.

On his way home Kurt wondered what was different this time. Had he done or said something to turn Blaine off? Did Blaine only like the chase? Wasn't it as interesting when Kurt took the initiative?

The next day Kurt was back at the diner. For once he didn't want to be there. The likelihood of Blaine showing up again was slim, but Kurt wasn't up for it. How would he even act if Blaine showed up again?

The day followed its normal routine, guests showing up, ordering, and leaving. Kurt kept himself busy by restocking the diner's pantry and freezers with new supplies and by refilling containers of salt, sugar, and ketchup. By dinner time a large group came by that kept both him and Ethel busy. They were loud but friendly and Kurt liked the distraction.

Blaine didn't show up that night. Strangely Kurt didn't know if he was happy or disappointed about it. Blaine did, however, show up a few nights later.

He ordered his coffee and fries, talked to Kurt the same way he had the other nights, flirted, smiled and Kurt couldn't help but to feel things even if he told himself not to let Blaine get under his skin. It was hard to not be flattered, to not feel something when someone that hot and charming, clearly wanted his attention. Blaine left him small coins as usual when he left, and no tip, but Kurt wasn't expecting any.

Closing the diner, Kurt told himself to not expect Blaine to be there this time either, but he still did. His senses were still on edge, hoping and wishing, when he turned around by the backdoor and looked out over the parking lot. But there was no Blaine that night either.

The same procedure was repeated a few nights over the coming week. Blaine showed up an hour before closing, ordered his coffee and fries, flirted with Kurt, paid with spare change, and then left without saying goodbye.

It was strange to Kurt how he let himself be so affected by Blaine. How he let Blaine lure him in with his words and his eyes and get his hopes up only to have them crushed again each night. Kurt didn't recognize himself. He was usually much more confident than that.

Blaine was playing a game Kurt didn't understand, and Kurt let him. He should confront Blaine, ask him why he kept coming back, why he kept flirting, if he didn't plan on backing up his words with actions. But Blaine had every right to show up at the diner to eat and drink coffee, after all that was what diners were for. They hadn't promised each other anything when they parted that night. No numbers were exchanged, no talk about a next date. So Kurt didn't confront him. Blaine had basically turned him down and Kurt didn't want Blaine to know the effect he had on him.

Instead, Kurt played along. He flirted back, became good at coming up with quick and snappy comebacks, and pretended to himself he was fine with the whole situation. At one point Ethel asked if the pretty boy who kept coming back to talk to Kurt was Kurt's boyfriend. Kurt laughed and told her that no, Blaine was not his boyfriend.

"He likes you, you know," Ethel said then. "He doesn't take his eyes off you the entire time he's here. Even when you're not lingering by his table, ignoring our other guests, his eyes follow you."

"I am not lingering," Kurt protested as heat rose on his cheeks. Blaine was affecting his work and he really should take control of the situation. He needed to start treating Blaine like any other guest. If he didn't give Blaine the attention he wanted, maybe he'd stop coming back and then Kurt could go back breathing normally.

Only Kurt wasn't sure that's what he wanted.

The other information about Blaine Kurt didn't know what to do with. He wasn't sure Blaine liked him at all. If he did, he wouldn't disappear every night without a word. But when Kurt glanced in Blaine's direction, he hastily met Blaine's eyes before Blaine looked away.

"You like him too," Ethel continued. "You smile when he's here."

"I always smile towards our guests," Kurt defended himself. He didn't want to be that obvious.

"Not like that."

She was right of course. Nothing went by her unnoticed. He could deny it a million times to Ethel, to himself and to everyone who asked, but the truth was that he liked Blaine. He liked the flirty, confident Blaine that kept coming back to the diner. The guy with the motorcycle who was so hot Kurt got turned on by just looking into his eyes. But there was something more to Blaine. That night on the beach, Kurt had seen a different side of him. Kurt wanted a chance to get to know that Blaine better. But Blaine disappeared every night and it didn't seem Kurt would ever get the chance.

By Friday night when Kurt was closing the diner, he was tired and looking forward to a long weekend where he would do nothing but write. Writing had always been his escape when he needed it and right now, he really needed it. He would take all the frustration, irritation, and confusion he felt and let it pour into words on the page.

With dedicated steps Kurt crossed the parking lot that night. He was eager to start right away. He was always his most creative late at night and after a much needed shower he would bring his laptop to bed and get creative.

"Hey, blue-eyes," a voice called out when Kurt had almost reached his car.

-x-x-x-

Notes: Please don't be too mad with Blaine, he has his reason for staying away and for coming back. It's a tug of war between his mind and his heart. But more on that in later chapters :)