Author's Note: And we're back!
If you were with me through Roses Dipped In Gold, this story will be quite drastically different. But I still hope you stick around for it. :)
If you haven't seen the story about Josh Avsec and Michelle Arendas, go to your favorite internet search engine and type in "Tinder couple meets after three years" and enjoy.
This fic will be somewhat based on their story, though I promise the ending will be much different. ;)
Just to put a disclaimer out there, nothing Glee-related or Josh and Michelle-related are my property.
Read on! xo
Strangers In Love
Chapter 1
He did not yet know, but Blaine Anderson's life was about to change. Just on the other side of the set from Blaine, obscured by a large screen, stood Kurt, a boy about whom Blaine knew virtually nothing. Kurt, a boy without whom none of this would be happening.
This had all started as some kind of crazy joke that had carried on far too long for no particular reason other than for the sake of the joke itself. Blaine wasn't actually attracted to Kurt. He didn't think he was, anyway. All he really had to base his attraction off of was a poor quality photograph of Kurt in some crazy, glittery costume complete with wig and heels, and the short, one line bio from his profile that gave Blaine reason to believe that Kurt was a typical self-centered drama student with Broadway pipe dreams.
Blaine briefly wondered if Kurt was having the same thoughts on his side of the screen. Blaine knew his own profile was nothing too impressive either, thanks to Sam.
Blaine restlessly shifted his weight back and forth between his legs. His palms were sweaty and he was nervous for some reason. He blamed it on the fact that this was his first (and hopefully not last) live television appearance, and not the fact that he was anxious about what the real-life Kurt would be like.
The assertive woman with a headset motioned to Blaine that it was time to go.
His heart pounded in his ears.
He gathered his confidence and took a step forward.
Here goes nothing.
Three Years Earlier
College was nothing like what Blaine had been taught to expect. Nothing like the movies, with parties every night and all of the experimentation that went hand-in-hand with coming of age. Truth be told, Blaine was committed to his schoolwork, and spent most of his time studying or practicing new music on his piano. So no, college was not night after night of crazy raves and frat parties and getting older kids to buy him beer. In fact, Blaine hadn't even tried so much as one sip of alcohol since he had been there. That was not for his roommate, Sam Evans' lack of trying, though.
Sam was a great roommate, considering Blaine found him via Craigslist ad. He made Blaine laugh, and they shared many of the same interests, but Sam could be a little off-the-wall at times. Currently, he was convinced that Blaine needed to find someone to date so they could go out together. Blaine was in trouble because when Sam had an idea, he saw it through until the (usually painfully backfiring) end.
Blaine sat on the couch, poring over his music theory textbook while some afternoon talk show buzzed in the background. He looked up upon hearing Sam's footsteps nearing, and the other man took one look at the television, wolf whistling.
"Right."
"Really?" Blaine wrinkled his nose, following Sam's line of vision. "Right?"
"Hell yeah, man. She's a total cougar."
Sam and Blaine (mostly initiated by Sam, with Blaine as an unwilling participant) had taken to playing "Right or Left?" at random times during the day, thanks to Sam's new obsession with Tinder. He explained to Blaine that on the dating app, a right swipe indicated interest in a person, and a left swipe indicated the opposite, and he had started calling out "Right!" when they saw attractive women in real life or on television or in the movies. Blaine rarely started the game himself, so Sam often pointed to random boys they passed by, asking him which direction he would swipe. Sam tried his hardest to convince Blaine to download the app to further his dating prospects, but much to his dismay, Blaine informed him that Tinder was not intended for gay men.
Sam was not easily dissuaded, though, and he was about to prove it to Blaine.
He held a phone in his hand as he plopped next to Blaine on the couch, the rush of air causing the pages of his roommate's textbook to flutter.
"Where did you get that?" Blaine asked, realizing the phone Sam had a hold of was his.
"Oh, I took it an hour ago. You get so caught up when you're studying that someone could be murdered next to you and you wouldn't notice."
Blaine shuddered. "That's a pleasant thought."
Sam shrugged, as if the most serious of felonies were no big deal at all.
"So why did you need my phone?" Blaine prompted.
"Oh. Yeah. I made you a Grindr account."
Blaine stared at him with wide eyes.
"It's like Tinder, but for gay men."
"I know what it is…" Blaine snatched his phone out of Sam's hand. "Oh my god."
He looked at the profile Sam had created for him. The picture was of the two of them at Halloween the previous week, dressed as characters from Star Wars. The headline was a Yoda quote. His "tribe" was listed as "Geek."
"Sam, this profile is ridiculous. This is not going to attract the kind of guys I want to date. Which is none. Because I'm focusing on school."
Sam grabbed the phone back and wagged a finger in front of Blaine's face. "Mais oui, mon ami!"
"When did you learn French?"
"Don't worry about it." He waved it off and touched the phone screen a couple of times until Blaine's Grindr messages popped up.
"Oh, shit! Look at all these hotties who said hi to you! That one looks nice. Damn! Check out his abs!"
"I thought you were straight," Blaine deadpanned.
"Doesn't mean I can't appreciate a nice body when I see one." Sam tapped the screen rapidly.
"What are you typing?" Blaine was afraid to know the answer.
"I messaged him back. Told him you thought he was hot."
"What the hell, Sam?! You can't just do things like that!" Blaine stretched across Sam to try to grab his phone, but his roommate held it out of his reach tauntingly.
Suddenly, Sam dropped the phone, shouting in disgust.
"What is it?" Blaine asked worriedly.
"Don't touch that!" Sam cried as Blaine reached for the phone.
Blaine's hand retracted immediately. "Why not?"
"Dick pic."
"Ahh! Ew! Oh my god. Get rid of it. Now." Blaine stood up quickly and backed away from the couch. "I'm running out to get coffee. When I come back, I want it gone. And no more Grindr for you. Deal?"
Sam nodded robotically, picking up the phone with two fingers, his face contorted in revulsion.
"Deal."
"For fuck's sake, Rachel. Please stop that wailing."
Rachel Berry marched around the kitchen counter with her hands on her hips to confront her roommate, Kurt Hummel. "I'm not wailing, I'm rehearsing."
"I don't care what you want to call it, just stop doing it. I cannot focus on writing this essay with your voice sounding like nails on a chalkboard."
Rachel's face fell. "That's not very nice, Kurt."
He sighed, rubbing his temples and turning to face her. "I'm sorry, Rach. I know we agreed that this is a creative space to be used at any time by either party. I just didn't sleep well last night. I'm so wound up about my Voice midterm."
"You know what will help with releasing that tension? Sleeping with someone."
Kurt stared at her. "You did not just say that."
"It's true! Ever since Brody and I have started to, you know…" she made a gesture that pulled a repulsed groan from Kurt. "...I have been much more relaxed. Don't you think?"
He had to admit she was right. "You have been more bearable lately. Not that I am approving of Brody or hookups for the sake of hookups. You know I'm not interested in casual dating. Not after Adam. It's not worth it."
"I know, I know. All you need is to find someone who wants the same things." Leave it to Rachel to point out the obvious.
"It's really not that easy," Kurt told her. Ever since he had been in New York, he was always on the lookout for men he might be compatible with. So far, he had not had any luck.
"I may have found a way to make it easier."
Rachel's smile was bright and Kurt was beyond suspicious.
"And what exactly might that be?"
"It's an app called Grindr."
"No."
"But-"
"No."
"But-"
"No."
Rachel pouted. "Why not?"
"People use Grindr for hook ups and murder. Unless I'm looking for a bunch of desperate guys who just want to get off, or someone who wants to off me - which I'm not - it's not for me."
"That's not true! You can set your preferences to show that you're interested in a relationship. Then you can find other guys who have the same preference!" Rachel was practically pleading. Kurt knew she wanted him to find someone who made him happy, but this was a little crazy, even for Rachel.
"Give it up. Why are you pushing this?"
She shifted uncomfortably. "Don't be angry. I sort of already made you an account."
Kurt only rolled his eyes and slammed his notebook shut. He should have known.
"Well then delete it."
"Come on. Just humor me for a few minutes."
"I-" Kurt sighed. He reminded himself that Rachel had his best interest at heart. "Fine." He scooted over on the couch to make room for her.
Rachel leaned in close so they could both see her phone screen. "Here's your profile," she said, bouncing up and down excitedly on her cushion.
Kurt almost choked on his coffee. "What the hell kind of picture is that?"
"It's you during Gaga week! I thought it really captured your individuality and showmanship."
Kurt was so glad he wasn't serious about using this app, or he would have to break it to Rachel that he wanted to change everything about the profile she had so carefully constructed for him.
"You really focused on my Broadway aspirations in this, didn't you. And - wait...Twink?" He looked up at his roommate and blinked twice. "I'm not sure if I should be irritated with you or impressed that you know what that word means."
Rachel's cheeks reddened. "I looked it up on the internet."
Kurt couldn't help but to laugh. Of course she did.
"Okay, now look." Rachel was tapping the screen and an array of pictures showed up. Out of a sea of images of topless men, Rachel chose a picture of two people in what looked to be Halloween costumes.
"You would pick that one," Kurt said, rolling his eyes.
"Hey, it says he's into music. And he's 18. That probably means he's a college student around here."
Kurt snorted. "Yeah, it also says he likes comic books and Star Wars. And he's classified himself as a geek. Not my type."
"Give him a chance!"
He shot her a look.
"Forget it."
"Oops. Accidentally sent a message saying 'hi!'" Rachel took off from the couch and tore into her room, slamming the door shut behind her to stop Kurt from following.
He laughed at her but let it go. She was harmless. He leaned back into the couch, pulling his notebook back out and settled back into writing his essay, hoping that with Rachel's intervention, he did not end up on a date with some psycho Grindr killer.