A/N: I just realized something: I've never officially thanked the person who initially set this who story in motion. Lynsey (aka lovrgrl5 on this site and did I mention her fics are great?), thank you for motivating me to write this. Thank you for saying "you should write something!" because I guess that's really all I needed to hear.
This particular chapter (and the ones following it) has been inspired by you guys, not only because you asked for more but because you asked for something specifically. And, as I've said before, who am I to say no to my loyal readers? You all not only make my day, but also you make me love this, writing, even more.
Special shout out to user RoriPotter for the stalking!Niff inspiration. Oh and also to Cadie (cakerbee on Tumblr, who also writes amazing stuff, if you like majorly angsty works) for helping me out through a writer's block moment.
I felt like breaking the meeting into two parts because it just felt better that way. So this chapter is basically super short as it's just the lead in moment.
P.S. I'm making up what the garage looks like so just go with it.
A week had passed since the day Blaine and Kurt met, since the day they exchanged phone numbers, since the day Kurt learned Kevin and the others had fixed Blaine's car for him while he was gone, since the day Burt had reminded him "you matter."
The two high schoolers kept up constant conversation within those few days, texting during busy times and actually taking the time to call when they had more time to spare. Hearing Blaine's voice awakened something within Kurt he thought had died long ago, something like believing in the prospect of love at first sight. Even though technically it wasn't love just yet.
Back in Westerville, Jeff and Nick took any and every opportunity to pester their curly-haired friend into giving up the dirt on his sweet Kurt. They wanted to meet him, to see him, to hear his voice over the phone. Blaine gave them no satisfaction in any of those departments. He did catch them with his phone in Jeff's hands when he came out of the bathroom at the Lima Bean during their second trip of the week to the establishment, but he didn't deem anything to be awry after a quick scroll through his recent calls and text inbox so he let it go. That was a big mistake.
Nick, thanks to his older brother, knew computers and cell phones like the back of his hand. He knew how they worked, how to ping a location, how to track an IP address, how to hack an iPhone, and more good stuff that a good amount of other teens had learned over the years. So it proved extremely simple to grab Blaine's phone while he was out of the room, go through his texts, find the number listed under 'Kurt at work,' and figure out the location of said work. It wasn't stalking. No illegal activities going on in the slightest.
They just wanted to meet the ever elusive Kurt, to pay their friend's new friend a visit. Their friend's gorgeous new friend, if Blaine was to be believed.
So that's what they did. After a week of letting Blaine think he had them right where he wanted them, ignorant of Kurt's whereabouts and what he even looked like aside from Blaine's dreamy descriptions, Nick told Blaine that he and Jeff wouldn't be able to make it to their weekly game night. Blaine had pouted and used his puppy dog eyes in a futile attempt to get them to cancel whatever appointment they thought was more important than game night. They had almost caved, but really nothing could be more fun than meeting Kurt.
"I almost feel bad about lying to the poor sod," Jeff comments idly from the passenger seat of Nick's black SUV. They're halfway to Lima and by now the music playing from the radio has lost his attention. Instead he looks out the window at the trees blurring by, the occasional pothole jarring him.
"We did what we had to do," Nick counters, keeping his eyes firmly on the road when Jeff sighs in response. "Oh c'mon. It's not like we're doing anything bad. We're just going to say hi."
"Still."
"I think you're going soft in your old age, Sterling."
Jeff snorts, sitting up fully in his seat and hitting Nick on his forearm. Nick whines in protest and Jeff smirks. "I think you're the one going soft, Duval."
"Shut up."
"Hey, aren't you supposed to turn there?" Jeff inquires, his arm lifting to point at the passing street sign through the windshield.
Nick pulls the car to a halt in the middle of the road, sticks his head out of the driver's side window, and cranes around to look at the street sign just behind him. "Shit. Yes." He then makes a quick yet efficient U-turn and turns right onto the correct street.
Jeff laughs. "And you say I'm hopeless with directions."
Nick turns to him and sticks out his tongue. "Because you are."
"Eyes on the road."
"Whatever."
A few seconds pass in relative silence, the only sounds to be heard coming from the pleasant background noise of the radio and the hum of the car's engine. Then the opening notes of the self-recorded "The Gavel Song" shrills throughout the interior. Nick groans while Jeff grins.
"Just answer it already," Nick growls.
Jeff waits an extra ring before pulling the offending object from his pocket and sliding his finger across the screen. "Hello, mighty gaveled one."
"Where are you guys?" Wes' voice sounds through the line. Jeff's volume is so high on his cell that Nick can clearly hear the elder Warbler's voice from the driver's seat.
"Almost there. You and David there already?"
"We parked around the corner." There's a pause while Wes conveys to David that Nick and Jeff are close by. Then he says, "I still don't see why we're doing this."
"Oh Wessy, you know you want to see Kurt as badly as we do."
"Blaine would have brought him by in his own time. We don't even know if they're really an item."
"Of course they are," Jeff scoffs in return. "Have you heard our dear Blainers at all the last few days? Kurt this. Kurt that. Kurt, Kurt, Kurt. If that's not the sound of a boy smitten, I don't know what is."
"I still think this is a bad idea. Blaine will go nuts if he finds out."
"But he won't."
"Tell them we're around the corner," Nick instructs as he turns left.
"See you in a second, Wes. And don't chicken out." With that, Jeff hangs up the call in the midst of Wes rushing to say something before the line clicks dead.
Sitting half a block ahead, they spot Wes and David standing outside of Wes' navy blue sedan. They seem to be arguing over something, mostly likely how much of an ass Jeff is. Nick pulls his car to a smooth halt behind Wes' sedan, shifting the gear to park and pulling the parking brake on as a precaution.
Exiting the vehicle quietly, letting the doors fall softly shut behind them, the crafty duo tiptoe over to where their council members stand, still oblivious to their arrival.
" - hung up mid-sentence! I mean who does that?"
"Total dick move."
"Thank you for empathizing, David."
"Sure thing bro."
"You two," Jeff begins.
"Are so dumb," Nick finishes.
Wes just sighs while David shrugs innocently.
"So where is this infamous Kurt located exactly?" Wes asks after a sufficient amount of silent glaring has passed.
"A mechanic's garage."
"Hold on, Blaine has a grease monkey kink?" David interjects disbelievingly.
"We didn't believe it at first either," Nick consoles. "But apparently, yeah."
"Are we really going to do this? "Wes asks reticently.
"Don't be an ass, Wessy."
"I'm just saying -"
"Pssh, like David's any better," Nick interrupts flippantly. "Look at him, following Wes' every decision like a whipped puppy."
"Not even," David retorts. "I am an individual and I do what I want."
"Then you're in?"
"Of course I'm in," David agrees, stepping over to stand beside his fellow Warblers. The three then turn their eyes to Wes.
Wes stares each of them down with the glare he usually reserves for ridiculous suggestions at Warbler council meetings, but none of the three concede even a tiny bit. The eldest among them then sighs, not even bothering to hide his exasperation, and says, "Fine. But when this blows up in our faces, I will say 'I told you so.'"
After a few wrong turns, the quartet of high schoolers finally find the building they have been searching for. Nick allows Jeff to take the lead, David following behind, while he himself takes up the rear to ensure Wes doesn't attempt a secretive escape.
"Hummel Tire And Lube" is blazoned on a modest sign overhanging a wide garage, the edges of its wooden border interspersed with chinks and holes from various weather patterns over the years. Standing just behind the curb before the building, Jeff can already feel the stench of motor oil fill his nostrils. Opening his mouth to report back to the boys behind him brings in the faint taste of gasoline.
"Yep, this is the place."
Nick and David move to stand beside him, the trio taking in the building before them and the realization that their journey has reached its destination. Which means it's nearly time to meet Blaine's boy toy. Which is highly exciting, if not nerve-wracking.
Wes stands slightly behind them, arms crossed over his chest.
Jeff looks over his shoulder and sighs. "No killing the joy, Wes. Come on."
Wes groans but steps forward to join the line they've formed in front of the garage's property line. It feel so surreal, being so close yet being one step away from never having been here at all.
"On we go," Nick cheers, lifting his arm to point at the door directly before them as if they're about to just start their journey rather than end it.
Jeff laughs at his silliness and takes the initiative, as he has been all day with this objective, by moving forward toward the door that leads to the answer to their question: Who is this Kurt Hummel that has stolen their lead's (because honestly Blaine was the lead and everyone knew it) heart?
A/N: Hope you guys love the actual meeting just as much as I do.
(The real reason why I split this in two is I'm a horrible person who didn't get any writing done this week but I wanted you all to have a little something to chew on while I write the actual meeting so please don't hate me.)