AN: *wipes sweat* To those of you who were waiting for an update, well, here it is! Sorry it took so long, but the holidays and the weeks prior to them had me all tied up. Seriously, in knots. And now, look, we have to wait weeks for a new episode of Glee. Guh.
Disclaimer: Oh my gosh, I wish it was mine.
Coffee Orders
Finn watches his step-brother curiously, eyes darting back and forth, following Kurt as he paces the living room and chews nervously on his lower lip. He wants to ask what's wrong, but he's already asked ten times, and Kurt still refuses to answer. All he gets is a few mumbled curses and a not now, Finn!
It'd almost be funny if Kurt's strange behavior wasn't actually worrying him. Ever since "that" Friday night, Kurt's been out of sorts. Finn doesn't know what to make of it. Kurt doesn't seem upset, just…shaken. Like he's trying to walk in straight lines but can't because there's a giant, solar-powered fan blowing him all off course.
And then Finn smiles into his hands because wow, that's a funny picture to have in his head.
"Finn, what on earth are you smiling at?" Kurt practically shrieks, glaring at Finn with his hands on his hips. "I'm trying to think here!"
"Think about what, exactly?"
"Nothing you'd even understand…"
"You don't know that! Maybe I could help you, you know, think it out or whatever."
There's a tiny smile on Kurt's face, and it's all Finn needs to know that his step-brother isn't hurting or breaking or whatever those singers are always moping about, these days. It's just Kurt being Kurt - probably worrying over a test or a hangnail or what color best matches his eyes.
"Seriously, dude, just tell me what's up."
Kurt bites his lip, probably debating on whether or not it's a good idea. Finn may be his brother now, but that doesn't change the fact that he doesn't know how to keep his mouth shut about things that Carole doesn't make him. Besides, it's still Finn, and maybe that'd be awkward.
"It's…about a boy. Although not necessarily in the sense that statement makes it out to be. I just…I don't know!" Sighing, Kurt flops down on the couch beside the taller boy. This is the side of Kurt that nobody ever really gets to see – the side that gets flustered and nervous even though he never has any real reason to be.
Finn smiles, finding it easier and easier to ignore that little pinch that comes with hearing Kurt talk about boys. "Dude, you can tell me anything."
"I-it's nothing really. I just…don't know what to do."
"About?"
"About…about Blaine." Finn sees Kurt's cheeks flush and does his best not to smile because even he's not oblivious.
"I've had crushes on people I barely know, too, Kurt. You're not alone…"
"NO! No, no, no! God, no! Finn, what…"
"We've all been there, dude! He's really nice, and I'll admit that he's pretty good looking for a guy. It makes sense!"
Kurt slaps his arm repeatedly – not enough to hurt but still. "I do not like him, okay?"
Finn pouts and rubs his arm. "Fine, whatever. Why were you thinking about him then?"
"Because he wants me to call him and I don't know what to say! I barely know him, and I don't want to seem too cocky or too shy and what do I do?"
"Why don't you just…be yourself?"
Kurt wants to smack him. "You say that like it's easy."
"Kurt, you're good at being yourself, so I don't get why it's gonna be so hard."
Kurt frowns. "I've never been good at making friends, Finn. I'm just not used to myself being what people want to see. Besides, even though he seems nice, maybe he's not…"
"Dude, he saved your life. You could have died that night if it weren't for him!"
"Oh, stop being so dramatic! It was just a couple cuts and bruises, nothing I couldn't have just up and walked away from."
Finn shakes his head, starting to get a little bit frustrated. "It doesn't matter whether or not you were dying. The point is that he got you help when he could have just walked right past you. Maybe you still consider him a stranger but, at this point, I'd start looking at him like a friend."
When Kurt doesn't respond, Finn casts the clock a nervous glance and pats his step-brother's shoulder. "Look, I've gotta go to Rachel's, but if you need help I'm just a text away, alright?"
The look on Kurt's face is a mix between desperation and defeat. "Just don't tell her about this, okay? She'll go mental knowing I'm keeping secrets."
"Hello?"
"Hi! Uhm…B-Blaine?"
"KURT! I knew you'd call! I just knew it!"
Through the nervousness, Kurt is able to spare a light chuckle. "Of course I called! I'm not one to back down on promises."
"I'll have to remember that...Wait, what? Oh, no, it's just – No, Sebastian, it's not my mother – It's Kurt, actually – What? No, stop it…Kurt? Hey, Kurt, you're still there, right?"
"Obviously."
"Oh, be quiet! Sebastian's being difficult and I thought maybe I'd hit the end button on accident. But, anyway, what's up?"
"Nothing much. Just watching America's Next Top Model re-runs and, you know, talking to you." God, why does everything he say sound so stupid? "What about you?"
"Well, I was reading, but now, you know, I'm talking to you!" His laughter is muffled, like he's trying to hide it behind his hand. "S-sorry, sorry! You're going to have to excuse me! I didn't get much sleep last night – like, less than usual – and I tend to be a bit out of character when I'm so tired."
"Yah, I can tell. You're just a little bit all over the place."
"Yah, yah…No! Seb, stop being ridiculous! You're being insane! Stop, I'm not tickle…Oh! Stop it!"
Kurt finds it nearly impossible not to rip his hair out when Blaine bursts out into a fit of hysterical giggles. As it is, he doesn't really like Sebastian, and this is only making things worse. The fact that he's jealous doesn't help, either.
Because the child in Kurt wants Blaine all to himself.
"S-sorry," Blaine pants. "Kurt, please tell me you're still there? Seb's being a real jerk right now…"
Kurt hears the word "hey" shrieked in the background and tries his best to ignore Blaine's laughter. Obviously, he has a lot of work to do if he wants to be as close with Blaine as Sebastian is. Or maybe it's not even a realistic goal and he should just hang up and pretend this whole thing never happened.
"Y-yah, I'm still here, Blaine," he whispers. He wants to slam his head against the wall until he's seeing stars. He wants to erase everything that's happened because Blaine Anderson is completely out of his league. And maybe Finn was right.
Maybe he's falling for someone he barely even knows.
"Oh, well, I was wondering, are you busy right now? I mean, I understand if you are…"
His heart starts beating a little faster. "No, actually, I'm perfectly free. Nobody's even home right now." Crossing his fingers, he bites his lip and closes his eyes, silently wishing for something he shouldn't be wishing for.
"Great! Let's go get coffee! I know this great place that's somewhere between the both of us! You'll love it if you like good coffee…"
Kurt smiles, cheeks a little rosy, as he reaches for a pad of paper and waits for directions.
As Blaine takes a seat by the window, he can't help but smile. He's excited about this, about getting to see Kurt again and maybe talk about things other than the weather and what songs they did and didn't like. In anticipation, his fingers tap against his thigh. He adjusts the collar of his shirt and looks at his wrist only to realize that, of course, he isn't wearing a watch.
He almost laughs at himself, but then he remembers that he's in public and stifles his chuckles behind his hand.
He hopes Kurt will be here soon.
If he's being honest, he doesn't know how long he'll make it. At this point, he doesn't even know if the coffee will help. Last night gave him less sleep than usual, which is really saying something.
"Blaine?"
Startled, Blaine jumps up, smacking his knee against the table in the process. The look on Kurt's face is priceless as the taller boy makes his best attempt not to laugh for the sake of being polite.
Blaine blushes but looks away before Kurt can see. "Just shut up and sit down already," he grumbles, motioning to the empty chair across from him. "I went ahead and bought you something since you told me it was your favorite."
Kurt takes the cup in his hands and sniffs it appreciatively, and Blaine would be lying if he said it wasn't the cutest thing he's ever seen. "The fact that you even remember what I like proves just how nice of a guy you are," he mumbles, almost to himself.
"Uhm, thanks?"
Kurt smiles almost shyly. "Sorry. Sometimes it's just…weird, ya know? I like being your friend so much that it doesn't even feel like we're still sort of strangers." He looks down, afraid of how Blaine will react to being called his friend. He knew it was a dangerous card long before he even played it, but Finn's words were stuck in his head the whole ride over. Maybe you still consider him a stranger but, at this point, I'd start looking at him like a friend.
Blaine tries to hide the fact the he's absolutely ecstatic. "No, no, I get it. I didn't know what you'd be like, either. At first, I was scared that you'd be a jerk just because I'm used to snobs at Dalton, but you're so different and just…wonderful." He's trying to keep his mouth shut, he really is, but Kurt's eyes and the fact that he's still horribly over-tired aren't making it easy. "Sebastian likes you, too, even if he won't admit it. He's just jealous because I'm always talking about you." Seriously, Blaine? You might as well just tell him that you drown in his eyes every time you make eye-contact. Or that you think he's one of the most attractive boys you've ever met. Dear God, just get some sleep, will you?
He scratches at his neck and tries to make it seem less like he was having an internal conflict and more like he was just contemplating the pattern of the table.
"Well, thank you," Kurt says, clearly sincere. "You're pretty wonderful, yourself. Especially considering you remembered my coffee order just because I told you once through a text message."
They smile warmly at each other before simultaneously taking sips of coffee. "So," Blaine begins. "How's life in public school?"
Kurt rolls his eyes, and the hatred rolling off of him is suddenly palpable. Blaine sort of regrets even asking. "Boring as usual and just as unsupportive as everyone makes it out to be. If I get slushied one more time…"
"Slushied?"
"For some reason, the jocks in our school seem to enjoy throwing frozen drinks in our face. Only the glee kids, of course. Even the chess club gets more respect."
"Oh, Kurt, that's horrible. How do they get away with it?"
"Because they could be doing worse and they're not. They practically get rewarded for it."
"Kurt, I…"
"Look, I'm only complaining because I hate washing clothes. In a way, I'm actually kind of grateful. I haven't been hurt yet, and that's all that matters."
The way Kurt says 'yet' tears Blaine's heart to pieces. "Why don't you just go somewhere else?"
"All of my friends are at McKinley. I can't just leave them. Besides, for all I know, it'll just be worse somewhere else."
"Not at Dalton!" he practically blurts.
"That wouldn't solve the leaving my friends problem."
"Well, well, I…"
Kurt laughs, and it's like music to Blaine's ears. He honestly admires Kurt. He could never have been so strong. "Blaine, you're worrying too much. A couple slushies are nothing I can't handle. Now, how about you tell me all about Dalton."
It's obvious that Blaine doesn't want to change the subject, but Kurt doesn't want to talk about this anymore. His life has been hard, but he's lucky. Things could be worse.
"Well, uhm," Blaine starts, nervously tapping his fingers against his cup. "The classes are still some of the hardest I've taken, but that's private school for you. I get pretty good grades considering I study like a mad man whenever Sebastian's around. He's, like, a super genius or something."
Because he was raised to be polite, Kurt smiles. "And the Warblers? How's that going for you?"
Blaine's face lights up like Kurt's tree on Christmas. "Amazing. We're already working on Christmas music just because we all love Christmas so much, ya know? I mean, it's my favorite holiday. I should take you to meet the guys some time. I think you'd really like them. Maybe you could sing with us!"
Kurt laughs at the excitement all over Blaine's face. "That's such a lovely idea that I may actually have to consider it."
They smile and, for just a little bit, they let the butterflies settle and just watch each other.
Until, of course, something ruins it.
"Blaine! Babe, you forgot your phone! I was worried about you."
In his surprise, Blaine gasps and spins around to face Sebastian, who is walking towards him and waving his phone over his head. "Oh? Sebastian? Th-thanks, I guess."
Sebastian settles at Blaine's side with a satisfied smile. "I got worried when you didn't answer my calls, and then I saw that you'd left your phone on your bed! I know it's a little crazy that I came all this way just to give you your phone, but I was kind of hoping we could go out for dinner." His eyes flick towards Kurt. "Just the two of us."
Blaine's eyes furrow in confusion. "Sebastian, I'm here with Kurt. I told you I'd be here with Kurt. He came all this way! I mean, I'd love to but…"
"Don't worry about it," Kurt says, rushing the words from his mouth before he can regret them. "I was going to go shopping, anyway. The mall up the street is really kind of fabulous." He stands, buttons his coat, and nods at Blaine, who seems torn. "We'll do this more often, okay?"
This shocks Blaine. Kurt isn't mad. He's not storming out or cursing at Sebastian. He's even asking if they can do this more often, biting his lip and blushing as he does so. "O-of course. Next weekend, maybe. I won't have time during the week."
Kurt smiles. "Me either. Too much singing and school work to do." He shrugs. "I'll see you, Blaine. You, too, Sebastian."
"Later, Kurt," Sebastian mumbles, moving to take his seat. "Have fun shopping."
"I'll see you soon, Kurt," Blaine says. "Text me later, okay? I have my phone now so…"
"No promises, but I'll try," Kurt teases.
Blaine watches him go with a heavy heart before turning back to Sebastian, trying not to think too much about Kurt in order to avoid running after him.
Sebastian takes Blaine to a small diner he likes to visit because it reminds him a little of when they were kids and his grandparents used to take them out for lunch.
"Sorry I took you away from your friend," he says as soon as they sit. "I just don't like having to share you."
Blaine smiles. "Yah, well, you're going to have to get used to it. I like Kurt. He's a good guy. I want you to like him, too."
Rather than looking at Blaine, he looks at his menu. "Well, I don't know him so…"
"Seb, just give him a chance!"
"I will, okay? Let's just eat dinner in peace. Talking about him just makes me sad."
It's moments like these that Blaine can see, clearly, why not everyone likes Sebastian as he does. He doesn't like to deal with feelings that make him uncomfortable, so he ignores them, regardless of what they mean to other people. Maybe Blaine doesn't understand it, but he knows that Kurt means something to him, and he wants his best friend to be okay with it. He wants them to get along.
But now's not the time. He knows that, more than anything, he wants Sebastian to stay; not to hate him for making new friends. They've been best friends since childhood. He's not about to throw that away. Not right now.
"How about we skip the dinner and just get a whole bunch of pie? I could really go for some pie."
It takes a few seconds, but, soon enough, Sebastian looks up at his friend and starts to laugh. "Yah, pie sounds good."
When Blaine looks down to browse the diner's long list of fruit-filled desserts, Sebastian lets his eyes linger. He wants to soak Blaine in, to hold him so close and for so long that who he is, is who Sebastian is, too. He wants to trace his fingers over every inch of skin until he can perfectly recall the other boy when they're apart. He wants to be a better person. For Blaine.
Always for Blaine.
His best friend. The one person who never judged him unfairly for who he was.
He just wants them to be forever.
He looks away before Blaine catches him staring.
Before they leave, when Blaine's slipping his left arm through his jacket and mumbling about some book he's just read, Sebastian swoops forward and plants a kiss on his best friend's cheek.
His friend's eyes are alight with something, but it's not what he wants. Not what he's been hoping for. Love, sure, but not the right kind.
It leaves him aching more than it warms him up.
Like it's supposed to.
And why, all of a sudden, does he want to blame it all on Kurt? Why does he clench his fists at even the thought of those rosy cheeks and those stupid, stupid blue eyes?
Why does he think Blaine's falling in love without even realizing it, himself?
Falling in love with someone else.
"Ready to go, Seb?" Blaine asks, holding the door open for his best friend and trying not to eye him curiously. "You seem a little stressed. Wanna go shopping?"