For a moment, Kurt thought they would kiss and end his wondering about soulmates for good. But, just as he was about to close the final distance between them, Blaine sat back, panting, reaching for their waiting Mai Tais on the bar. He handed one to Kurt, and the two of them sat back and drank, catching their breath, as Artie "All Cool" Abrams spoke through the mic again.
"This is turning out to be a beautiful night; you guys are really connecting. I'd even say some of you are falling in love," he said, amusement evident in his voice. "As I'm sure you're finding out, on Valentine's Day, Two is Better Than One." He chuckled about his pun along with the crowd for a moment before turning off his mic and letting the song play.
"I remember what you wore on the first day
You came into my life and I thought
Hey, you know, this could be something"
Kurt smiled. Yet another fitting song, he thought as he slurped at his drink. He liked the song, but he didn't feel like singing again. Blaine didn't seem to be in the mood for dancing; the curly-haired boy was slumped in his chair, sucking lazily at his straw. So, Kurt leaned in closer to be heard over the music and asked, "So, Blaine, do you have a last name?"
Blaine grinned. He acted almost like he was drunk as he sat up a bit straighter, his smile growing wider as he replied, "This is Boys Like Girls. I like this band."
Nodding, Kurt replied, "What do you do for work?"
"Their first album was called Boys Like Girls," Blaine went on as if he hadn't heard Kurt. "But this song is from their second album, Love Drunk." He took another long drink of his Mai Tai and stared into Kurt's eyes as if he was waiting for something.
"That's nice," Kurt commented. "I've never really been into this band." He wondered why Blaine wasn't answering his questions. Is he not hearing me?
"The lead singer, Martin Johnson, writes music. I'd love to write music!" Blaine's gaze shifted from Kurt's face to a spot beyond him, and he seemed to lose focus, a large, dopey grin spreading across his face. "That's kind of a dream of mine," he said softly, almost too quiet for the other boy to hear. He was silent for a beat before he snapped back, making eye contact with Kurt again. "Do you know Taylor Swift sings this song with them?"
"Really?" Kurt asked. He wasn't sure why this was Blaine's chosen topic. Kurt really felt like they were connecting earlier with the Dear Evan Hansen song, but bowtie boy seemed more interested in talking about what was going on around them to have any type of meaningful conversation with him.
Blaine pointed toward the ceiling. "Listen," he said. "She's singing with them now."
"But there's so much time to figure out the rest of my life
And you've already got me coming undone
And I'm thinking two is better than one"
As he listened, Kurt could just make out a female voice singing along with the male lead, and he nodded at Blaine, smiling. "I can hear her."
"I thought that was a beautiful collaboration," Blaine replied, leaning back again and shutting his eyes as he listened to the song.
I thought two was better than one. Now I'm not so sure, Kurt sulked as he drank more of his Mai Tai. There had been a connection between himself and Blaine as they'd sang the song from Dear Evan Hansen. He knew it. He could feel it. Blaine had felt it, too, he was almost positive. But, now, he was acting like he was drunk or that he cared more about the song than he did forming a relationship with Kurt, and for some reason that he couldn't really put his finger on, that was hurting him deeply.
"I remember every look upon your face"
Kurt ran back over the moment in his head as he drank his Mai Tai. They'd been singing, and Blaine had seemed very surprised by the sound of Kurt's voice at first. But, as they'd kept going, he'd seemed to get really into it, closing his eyes to listen as Kurt sang along with Ben Platt. Then, he'd grabbed Kurt's hands and held them tightly. He'd looked deep into Kurt's eyes as they sang. There had been stars sparkling, emotions sparking, feelings flying between the two of them; Kurt had felt it. He knew it had happened, and there was no way that had been just one-sided. Now, Blaine didn't want to talk about anything deeper than who was singing the new song. What game is he playing? Kurt wondered. Is he trying to cover something up, or does he not feel what I'm feeling?
"I'm finally now believing"
This sucks! Kurt thought. For a moment there, I really thought that soulmates might exist, that Blaine might be the one for me. Now, look at him. Kurt looked back at the almost-stranger sitting across from him. The other boy was slumped in his chair again, his head lolled back, and he was mouthing the words of the song along with the singer. He's so beautiful, Kurt thought as he watched him. He's so beautiful and perfect and hott and so. Damn. Sexy. He watched for a moment before deciding to try again. He wanted to make something happen between the two of them, get the feelings back that he'd had singing the last song together, the sparks of electricity between their clasped fingers. "How long have you been in New York?" he shouted over the music.
"But there's so much time to figure out the rest of my life
And you've already got me coming undone
And I'm thinking two is better than one"
Instead of responding, Blaine sang the rest of the chorus, never opening his eyes.
If he wants to play like that, I can play, too, Kurt thought. He knew the words to this song. He knew what was coming next, a line that was far closer to the truth than anyone else in the bar might guess save for Adam and Blaine's discarded date.
"I remember what you wore on the first day
You came into my life and I thought, hey (Hey, hey)
Maybe it's true that I can't live without you
And maybe two is better than one"
He tried to put as much power and feeling behind his words as he could, wanting to bring Blaine out of whatever was making him act like Kurt was something to be thrown away. Kurt Hummel is not trash, he doesn't do one night stands, Kurt thought as he sang, watching for Blaine's reaction. If he wants somebody to fuck, he'll have to run back to his date. But, I'm going to do my damndest to prove that I want something more. So, as he sang "Maybe it's true that I can't live without you," he reached out a hand and slid it into Blaine's.
That got the boy's attention. His eyes snapped open, and he sat up straighter, looking straight at Kurt, interested.
"But there's so much time to figure out the rest of my life
And you've already got me coming undone"
Blaine watched with rapt attention as Kurt sang the next two lines, something delightful dawning on him. This is more than just him singing a song, Blaine realized. This is how he feels, how I'd hoped he felt. He's telling me. I wasn't listening before, but now he's telling me.
Kurt was happy to have Blaine's attention again, but he couldn't read the expression on his face. He was about to finish the song when one of Blaine's fingers tapped against his lips, silencing him. Instead, he watched as Blaine sang the rest of the song to him, eyes open this time, feeling and meaning evident in his gaze and voice.
"And I'm thinking, ooh, I can't live without you
'Cause, baby, two is better than one
There's so much time to figure out the rest of my life
But I'll figure out with all that's said and done
Two is better than one
Two is better than one"
As the music faded away and the DJ's voice came back through the speakers, the two boys leaned in close again, Blaine's finger falling away from Kurt's lips. In unison, they said, "I have something to tell you."
A/N: All lyric credit to Two is Better Than One by Boys Like Girls. All of Blaine's facts about the band came from my quick read of their Wikipedia page.