Ive always had qualms about that proposal. But what might have happened if Kurt had said no? For your reading pleasure, I present - Aftermath
"Kurt Hummel, my amazing friend, my one true love...will you marry me?"
"No."
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Blaine woke up in his cramped apartment silently cursing the new morning. Every night he'd pray something would take him away from the misery that had become his life and every morning he was disappointed. He groaned as his phone buzzed from its place on the nightstand.
"Please talk to me."
Dropping the phone onto his bed, Blaine crossed the room to use the tiny bathroom that was really just a toilet and a giant sink pretending to be a bath. As he flushed and washed his hands, he thought back to the day, the moment, when his world had crashed around him.
"No". Kurt looked at around at everyone nervously and shook his head a little. "No, I can't."
His eyes drifted toward the yellow suited man in front of him who's eyes had gone from hopeful to broken.
"What do you mean? You-you're supposed to say yes." Blaine whispered moving up a step to get closer to his boyfriend. "Should I ask again?"
"No. We should...we should talk." Kurt pushed his way through the assembled crowd of glee clubs and ran down the corridor he'd first travelled down with Blaine all those years ago. Seeing an open door, he quickly moved inside hearing the footsteps following behind him.
"Kurt, what's going on?" Blaine entered the room, closing the door behind him to give them privacy. "Was it too much? Not enough? Did you forget what to say? Kurt, please...talk to me." Blaine tried to hold back the tears building in his eyes but his shaky voice betrayed his emotional state. And that's when Kurt broke.
"I was just driven 2 hours in the wrong direction to watch my newly reinstated boyfriend lead me through the halls of my old school whilst 4 glee clubs serenaded me and danced around - one of which nearly took my face off with their pointy shoe by the way - all so that I could have rose petals thrown at me off a balcony and balance on a step whilst you embarrass me in front of all of my family and friends. What the fuck Blaine?!" Kurt exploded in a tirade of anger, frustration and confusion. "How could you do that to me? We've been back together for three days. THREE DAYS! And you think we should get married - we can't even date properly! And you're still here whilst I'm still on New York which if I remember correctly was your problem last time we broke up because you made out with another guy! So what's this huh? Some form of punishment? Some guilt trip that I never paid attention to you as your boyfriend so things are going to be different if I'm your fiancé?!"
Kurt threw his hands up in frustration before turning and walking towards one of the large windows, folding his arms across his chest and glaring at the rose bushes outside.
"I love you, Kurt. I want to be with you and I thought that if you could see just how much I care then you'd realise we were meant to be." Blaine spoke softly behind the solid back of his ...boyfriend? "I thought you'd like the romance of it all." He shrugged.
"Romance? ROMANCE!" Kurt yelled as he spun around to face Blaine again. "That wasn't romantic Blaine. Flash mob proposals are not romantic. They're embarrassing and controlling and borderline abusive! They leave the person bowing to expectations rather than being honest with themselves. Do not kid yourself that this was romantic." Kurt's full anger was being released and he couldn't stop it even if he wanted to. "You put me in a position where you thought you'd get the answer you wanted. I'm 18 Blaine. You're still in high school for fucks sake! We couldn't make a short term long distance relationship work but you're great solution was a proposal? Fuck you Blaine." Kurt shook his head, his jaw set firmly. "Fuck you for trying to push me. Fuck you for thinking any of this was okay. Fuck you Blaine." Kurt crossed the room and pulled the door open with more force than was necessary.
"If you leave then we'll be broken up." Blaines soft voice filled the room.
"Maybe we shouldn't even have gotten back together." Kurt allowed himself one last look at the back of Blaine's head before he left the room, pulling the door closed behind him. He stood there for a moment straightening his jacket and taking a deep breath as he caught the movement of the still gathered crowd out the corner of his eye. Turning in his heels, Kurt walked in the opposite direction ignoring the shouts and confusion behind him. He kept going until he reached his dads car, grateful that his dad had caught up with him and was already starting the engine by the time he was fastening his seat belt.
"Let's get you to the airport kid."
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
It had been 9 months since Kurt had arrived back in New York and even thought he still didn't regret turning down Blaine's proposal he regretted walking away from him. He was, after all, his best friend. His first love, his first...well, everything! After arriving back in New York, Kurt had made some drastic changes to his life. It was as if a switch had been flicked inside him. He was no longer going to do what people wanted him to. He was no longer going to just go along with everyone else's wishes. He was Kurt Fucking Hummel - and nobody pushed the Hummel's around.
Kurt had dropped out of NYADA and applied to Parsons School of Design. He loved fashion - why hadn't he applied here before? Oh that's right, because Rachel's plan included him being at NYADA with her. Even though she'd dropped out to do a show at the first opportunity leaving Kurt there alone. Kurt had been accepted for the next school year and this was due to start in just a few short weeks. Since then, he'd increased his role at Vogue much time Isabelle's delight. Kurt was being paid for his magazine work over the summer and when college started back he was being moved to the online blog, Isabelle had even managed to secure sponsorship for Kurt for his entire degree at Parsons meaning he didn't have to worry about tuition. He'd also moved out of that ridiculous loft in Bushwick and found himself a small but spacious (and reasonably priced) apartment Brooklyn.
Kurt Hummel was finally where he wanted to be.
But he was alone.
Every time something amazing happened, the first person he wanted to tell was Blaine. Of course Kurt knew how much he'd hurt him that day at Dalton but the only thing he regretted was walking away. And maybe the "fuck you"'s - Kurt was pretty sure they'd hammered the nails into the coffin of their relationship.
He'd been in contact with his dad obviously. But Burt loved Blaine just as much as he loved Kurt so he'd not been able to walk away from him with as much apparent ease as Kurt had. Kurt was therefore reminded at least twice a month about just how badly Blaine had taken the break up. He'd barely graduated after his GPA plummeted. Most of his college offers had been withdrawn after his grades slipped and the ones that he still had, well Blaine had withdrawn from them himself. Blaine had moved out of his parents home with just his bank account and a few changes of clothes. He'd left behind his guitar, his keyboard, his books...and the engagement ring.
Every time Burt told his son how drawn and tired Blaine looked, Kurt felt both saddened and angered. Why was it his responsibility to put Blaine back together? Why had he been so cruel to him that day? Why hadn't Blaine just moved on and forgotten about him? Why hadn't he just said he wasn't ready for marriage and kept being his boyfriend?
Kurt laid on his couch as his dad finally changed the subject to the garage. Kurt was coming home next week to help re-organise the office again and Burt was trying to have some say in how it should go.
"Dad, you know you never stick to a filing system unless I set it up for you. Metal cabinets filed under the car type isn't going to help you with your taxes." Kurt chuckled softly.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. At least I've still got you to keep me right." Burt smiled through the phone.
When they hung up a short while later, Kurt wondered if Blaine was really as bad as his dad said he was. He'd tried to reach out over the last couple of months but Blaine never responded. Kurt didn't even know if he still had the same number as he'd never had the balls to just call him. Maybe he could try and see him while he was in Lima.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Sighing heavily, Blaine pushed open the door to the club and waved to Candy behind the bar. He headed straight for the dressing rooms at the back and got himself prepared for his shift. Steeling himself in front of the mirror as he added the final touches to his "uniform" Blaine practiced his smiles, knowing that the more realistic they looked the better his tips would be. As he stood to the side of the stage, he heard his introduction...
"On stage next for your viewing pleasure just back from a tour of duty, please welcome the delicious, the delectable, the gorgeously sinful Sergeant Rock Hard!"
Blaine made his way to the centre of the stage where a shiny vertical pole awaited him. Being mid-afternoon there wasn't much of a crowd but there were still a few younger men in addition to the older regulars who clearly had nothing better to do at 2:15pm in a Wednesday than ogle an 18 year old stripper.
Blaine went through his routine with little thought, having performed it so frequently before. As his shed himself of his final layer (a pair of tight, Velcro-seamed combat trousers) he made his way to the front of the stage and began his floor routine, thrusting and stretching and bending and grinding into the floor as if he was performing for a lover. Blaine fixed a coy smile to his face as a few of the front row patrons slipped bills into his sequinned camouflage thong teasing them as he kicked his foot behind his head in a quick movement effectively somersaulting himself across the stage back to his starting point.
As he bowed and made his way off stage, Blaine let out a breath he hadn't even realised he'd been holding. He had 90 minutes before his next performance so took some time for himself.
He'd been working at the Stiletto Club for 7 months. He'd started out behind the bar but when the manager had realised he was under 21 he'd had reservations about Blaine serving alcohol he wasn't even old enough to drink. He'd offered Blaine a performance spot and after thinking in it overnight and realising his bank account wasn't exactly healthy he'd agreed. It was now 6 months after his first performance and Blaine hated every second of it. Not that he'd admit that to his boss of course. Or even himself most days.
Ever since Kurt had walked out of his life 9 months ago Blaine had barely functioned. He'd walked away from his old life at the first opportunity and he was now living and working in Columbus. So much for getting out of Ohio - now it looked like he was stuck here.
It had been 7 weeks and 3 days the first time Kurt had texted him.
"Hi. Can we talk?"
Blaine had deleted the text straight away. He knew it would be easier to either block Kurt's number or get a new number himself. But he just couldn't do it.
The next text came 9 weeks and 1 day later.
"Hey, I was hoping we could chat?"
Then there was nothing for 10 weeks.
"I really miss talking to you. Please text me."
The most recent one had appeared this morning.
"Please talk to me."
Blaine had deleted them all. Kurt hadn't just turned down his proposal, he'd torn his heart out of his chest, crushed it in front of all of their friends and then taken it to New York and buried it.
That's why Blaine couldn't reply. He didn't feel anything anymore.
He didn't feel the shame of exposing his body to a room of men who viewed him as an object. He didn't feel the outrage when they grabbed and slapped his bare ass if he went to the bar between performances. He didn't feel anything when one of the handsier patrons had followed him back to the dressing room and tried to kiss him and grope him before security pulled him away and kicked him out.
He just didn't feel anything.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
"Kurt!"
Kurt barely had time to notice who had called his name when he was enveloped in a giant bear hug.
"Hi Finn!" Kurt hugged his step-brother tightly. "Congratulations by the way! Dad told me your good news!"
"Yeah, I didn't know if it would make you feel awkward or anything but yeah, I'm really excited." Finn blushed a little as he ran his hand down the back of his neck. "Quinn wants to see you too so she's coming to dinner tonight then it's just us guys tomorrow!"
"I'm so glad you guys are back together." Kurt smiled, picking up the bag he'd dropped when he'd been accosted. "What tomorrow?"
"My bachelor party! Mike & Matt are home this weekend and Sam has been back for a week already helping his parents move to their new house so I figured 'hey, Kurt's in town, let's do it now!' Plus, Quinn says she wants me sober enough to remember the wedding so there's that!"
"Okay, I'm sure I can handle a few drinks with you boys. Just please promise me you won't get too drunk!" Kurt rolled his eyes at Finn's devilish looking face. "I call designated driver then. Someone's got to look out for his fools!"
As Finn drove them back to Burt's house, Kurt allowed himself a small smile as he watched the familiar building whizz past the window. It wasn't long before they'd left Columbus completely and had arrived in Lima with Burt & Carole meeting him in the drive with warm hugs and kind words.
As Kurt woke the next morning in his old room, he glanced around and felt a Lang in his chest as his eyes settled on a photograph he'd not thought about in at least a year. Getting out of bed, Kurt crossed the room and took the frame down from the shelf, running his finger across the smiling face behind the glass. Taken at Prom, it was one of Kurt's favourite pictures of him and Blaine, both sat in the back of a child's dinosaur ride, looking into each other's eyes with a blissful smile on each of their faces. Kurt sighed, if only you guys knew what was going to happen. He sighed and put the picture back on the shelf as he heard a soft knock on his door.
"I'm up." He called and opened the door coming face to face with Carole who was holding a cup of coffee.
"I always knew there was a reason you're my favourite step-mum" Kurt smiled as he took the warm cup and inhaled deeply. He went back to sit on his bed smiling as Carole joined him.
"Have you spoken to him yet?" She asked, acknowledging the elephant in the room that he been visiting since the previous afternoon.
"Not yet." Kurt shook his head. "He won't respond to my texts and I just cant bring myself to call him."
"He came for dinner a few weeks ago." Carole admitted as Kurts head flew up from his cup. "He doesn't look good Kurt. He looks healthy enough I suppose if you didn't know him. His face is thinner and there are dark circles under his eyes. He's just not the Blaine we used to know."
Kurt chewed his lip already feeling guilty enough before hearing Carole's evaluation of his ex-boyfriend.
"I didn't mean to hurt him as badly as I did. He clearly doesn't want to have any contact with me. Maybe it's just better this way?" Kurt replied, not really convincing himself with his words. Carole leant in and hugged him gently.
"It'll work itself out." She smiled before leaving Kurt alone with his coffee and thoughts.
It was 5:30 when Sam, Mike, Matt & Finn were all gathered in Burt & Carole's house waiting for Kurt to come downstairs.
"C'mon Kurt - we still need to get to Columbus before it gets too late to have any fun! Finn whined.
"I'm coming, you can't rush perfection Finn." Kurt huffed, finally making his way downstairs pocketing his phone and wallet as he did.
"You boys have a good night and be safe please!" Burt patted Finn's shoulder as they all made their way out to Kurt's old Navigator which was fortunate big enough for them all to fit into!
As Kurt pulled into the parking lot of a bar about 90 minutes later he glanced up at the neon red shoe sign on the side of the building.
"What the fuck is this place?" Kurt asked, slightly nervous as to what he was about to walk in to."
"Strip Club!" Came the joyous cheer from his 4 companions.
As they made their way inside Kurt checked his phone as the emcee was loudly announcing the next act. A shudder ran through Kurt as he thought of watching half naked women as he heard "he loves animals and his motto is "Don't ride horses, when you can ride a cowboy", please welcome Wild Willy West!" Kurt turned toward the stage rolling his eyes at the pun when he recognised the dark curls and the curve of the cowboys back. He stood and moved forward a couple of paces as "Wild Willy West" turned around and grabbed the pole. Those eyes, that smirk.
"Blaine."
Ooh stripper Blaine! This is currently a one-shot but if you want more then review or message and the boys will be pouting by the pole until you do!