Thank you AGAIN for your lovely little messages. They really did make me smile and I'm so happy you like the story so far :D Hope you enjoy!
Kurt watched as the snow turned to sleet then back to snow then fell in sweeping drifts up the window pane. He'd stood there for some unknown length of time waiting for Burt and Finn to appear and secretly hoping they wouldn't ... the prospect of what was to happen was something Kurt wasn't sure he was ready for.
"Hi, are you ok?"
Kurt turned around sharply, his scarf falling from his neck awkwardly. He laughed with a hint of nerves. "Yes, yes I'm fine thank you."
The guy was tall and broad with shoulders so wide that Kurt knew he played football, it was obvious. The guy nodded and smiled, content with knowing that he'd done his good deed for the day, leaving Kurt standing in almost shock. He wasn't used to that... jocks being sweet and caring. It was in that moment he knew he'd made the right decision transferring to Dalton ... it didn't make it any easier though, knowing that.
As he turned, the image of Burt's van drifted into focus through the snow. Something in Kurt's stomach hurt.
"Hey new kid, need a hand?"
Kurt turned again, wondering who the hell it was now, to see Wes and David dressed in hats and scarves and coats pulled right up to their ears.
"Oh."
"Blaine mentioned that you were moving in tonight so we thought we'd lend some muscle."
It was all Kurt could do to stop himself from laughing at the image of David flexing and Wes nodding in appreciation at his best friend's 'guns'.
"Thank you but it's really not necessary, I've got my dad and Finn so I think we should be ok." Kurt felt awful but really, he was sure they just felt sorry for him.
"You can never have too much help," a voice said, as Blaine appeared from around the corner.
Kurt had made a promise to himself... don't fall in love with the first guy you meet. Don't cause another Finn-gate situation, don't be a child and let feelings take over. This was all well and good but it was hard, so damn hard when Blaine was around. It wasn't like Kurt could do anything about it, he was sure Blaine had simply platonic feelings for him stemming from some Samaritan-style need to care. Still, as Blaine turned the corner in a dark woollen black fitted coat, thick red cashmere (and Kurt knew his cashmere) scarf and his hair shaken out from its usual confines... Kurt didn't even know he had a voice anymore, or a brain, or the ability to function as a normal human being...
"H-hi," was all he stuttered out, feeling about a centimetre tall and entirely sure his face was childishly beetroot.
Blaine smiled, reaching for the door handle past Kurt. Kurt's stomach clenched at the proximity. "I suggest you use their well meant generosity because frankly they must like you... they passed up their weekly Wii tornament for this."
Kurt blushed furiously behind the scarf he'd pulled high. "Thank you," he almost whispered, his eyes shining.
"Never a problem," Blaine whispered in reply before stepping out into the snow.
"Kurt!" was all that could be heard before Kurt was swept up in the biggest bear hug imaginable.
"Hey Finn," he mumbled into the embrace with a chuckle.
"Dude this place is like Hogwarts or something," Finn sang loudly, snow settling on his hair. Kurt couldn't help but smile as he realised how much he'd missed his newly appointed older brother.
"Dad!" Kurt cried, jumping across the snow in a highly non-composed manner.
"Well if it isn't my son who I saw this morning," Burt said with a wide smile, "how was the first day?"
Kurt tried to put his game face on, smiling brightly. "It was good, dad, maybe a little awkward but I guess it's to be expected."
Burt pulled his son in for another hug, whispering into Kurt's perfectly styled hair for a moment. "It'll just take time, it'll work out, you'll see."
As Kurt was released, he felt tears prickle, hot and embarrassing. Burt smiled down, then glanced at the three boys left hovering a few metres away.
"Oh Dad this is Wes, David and erm, this is Blaine."
"Oh dude, you're Blaine. Kurt's mentioned you a lot," Finn said pulling Blaine's scarfed hand up and yanking it profusely in the most gregarious handshake Kurt was sure Blaine had ever been given.
Kurt flushed, trying to change the subject as Wes and David smirked in each other's direction. Blaine simply grinned, all lopsided and poised like some handsome lead in a movie ... he was... perfect.
"It's so nice to meet you, Kurt has told us all about you."
Finn made a noticeable "awwww" and slapped Kurt on the back awkwardly.
"So, are you three in Kurt's classes?" Burt asked, sizing them all up.
"No, Wes is in a lot of Kurt's classes and I'm in a couple but were in the Glee club here, The Warblers so we all mix outside of our academic groups a lot, sir."
Kurt smirked into his scarf. Blaine was painfully polite and Burt, a kicked back mechanic by trade and a guy who ate jerky from a packet as he sipped beer in front of the football , was not used to it.
"That sounds nice that there's time to socialise. Kurt spent more time talking about his songs and costumes and rehearsing dance numbers than he did even thinking about algebra or Spanish, didn't you? I mean I once came home and you were in that dance-tard thing with those girls doing that dance, what's it called?" Burt asked, frowning for the right answer.
Kurt wanted to die.
"Um dad, lets not go there right now ok?" he rushed out, his eyes flickering over Blaine, Wes and David, mortified.
"You never told me you dance," Blaine said, his cheeks now flushed from the cold. His face was calm, serene and with a simple hint of sparkle in his eyes.
Kurt dipped his head, burying his mouth in his scarf with his shoulders raised. "I'm more of a singer than a dancer."
Blaine smiled and shrugged, clearly impressed with Kurt's multi –talented nature.
"So, we gonna get you moved in or are we going to stand in the snow and contemplate the world some more?" Burt asked, dragging open the back of the van to expose Kurt's entire life packed into boxes.
"Wow, that's a lot of stuff Hummell," Wes said in shock.
"What can I say, I like... things."
Blaine laughed as he passed Kurt by and began off loading. They continued like that for a couple of hours until everything was emptied into Kurt's new room and Burt and Finn were ready to say goodbye. Kurt squeezed his father tight and even gave Finn and extra sold hug, being swamped by both as he did it. It was hard saying goodbye, seeing them drive off and leave him but he knew it was for the best.
Didn't make it any easier though.
Kurt was in his element at around 7:30pm. His room, situated luckily down the hall from Blaine and Wes, was shaping up well after hours of careful primping and preening. Kurt was sure he'd inhaled enough furniture polish to ensure a significant lung disease in later life but had masked it with his cherished pottery oil burner which was currently diffusing a subtle tangerine scent.
He'd organised his clothes first and foremost, taking them one by one out of the perfectly packed case and daintily hanging them in his large wooden closet. He frowned as he found creases, making a mental note to hunt down an iron. It was comforting being surrounded by his special things, the things that made him feel... Kurt.
"Oh... my god."
Kurt swung around to see Blaine, still in shirt and dress pants but with a looser tie and no blazer. Kurt breathed in deeply, trying to take supplies for when he was sure Blaine would render him incapable.
"Hi," Kurt offered, his shoulders swaying a little. He couldn't help feeling a little shy and coy in Blaine's presence, the guy was some sort of robot sent to shame Earth with his perfection.
"Hi yourself," Blaine smiled, stepping into the room and surveying the chaos, "this is like my idea of heaven."
Kurt smiled brightly, biting his lip. "Oh really? Why?"
"Why? Are you kidding me? Look at this stuff!"
Blaine reached out tentatively, sneaking a questioning glance at Kurt who nodded permission for him to touch. "These are incredible, my mom used to hand these from our French doors at home."
Kurt watched as Blaine twisted his crystals in his hands, touching them gently and marvelling at the way the dusky light caused them to twinkle. Kurt was sure there was nothing in the world to rival the beauty of that moment.
"Would you like them?" Kurt asked before he even knew what he was saying. He blushed.
Blaine peered up under his eyelashes. "Oh god Kurt don't be crazy. These are yours. I can help you hang them though if you'd like? You know ... cos you're so short." He winked at this, signalling he was teasing.
"You're like, what, three centimetres taller than me or something," Kurt snapped back with raised eyebrows.
Blaine laughed, reaching up to curl the threads of the crystals over Kurt's curtain track. "Three centimetres is still taller."
"Pedantic."
"Believe it," Blaine quipped with a wink as Kurt struggled to breathe again. His eyes were transfixed on Blaine as he leaned to the right, his arms straining to loop the threads causing his shirt to pull tight and... oh god, Kurt thought, oh god this is ridiculous. He busied himself with plugging in his iPod dock and slotting his treasured little machine into the relevant place.
Blaine stood back eventually and surveyed his handiwork. "Look good?"
Kurt turned. The crystals were hung in a gradient across Kurt's window, twisting in the pale pink light and sparkling patterns in every direction. It was beautiful.
"Thank you," Kurt said, his voice coming out a little heavier with wonder than he'd intended. Blaine seemed to be happy with his handiwork and sat down on Kurt's already made bed.
"So, how are you feeling?"
Kurt kept busying himself, his honest eyes avoiding Blaine's intentionally. "I'm fine, thanks."
Blaine ducked his head to catch Kurt's eyes. "How are you really feeling?" he asked, his gaze deep and truthful with a hint of that cosiness that Kurt could definitely never resist. Blaine's chocolate brown eyes were warmer than a rum chocolate soufflé making Kurt simply wish to drown in them.
"I'm... nervous."
Blaine nodded, settling himself further onto Kurt's bed. "Why do you feel nervous?"
Kurt set himself down one of his boxes, a silk scarf threading through his fingers. "I don't know. I guess being the new kind in a place like this is intimidating. I mean, you're all this unit and I'm, well, I've never been part of that before and I'm not sure I'm going to be very good at it."
Blaine nodded in full understanding. "You do know that there's a place for everyone don't you?"
Kurt blinked up at him. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, we are all equals here, that's what this school's about but that doesn't mean you have to lose who you are."
Kurt smiled a tiny but noticeable smile. "I'm so inherently me that I don't think even the hallowed walls of Dalton could change me. Believe me... I did try once and I swear I can't do it."
Blaine frowned wondering why Kurt would ever consider trying to be someone else but as his mind wandered back into his own past, he got it. He'd tried a couple of times... never worked.
"You don't need to be anyone but you Kurt and there's no need to be nervous."
Kurt slid his gaze to meet Blaine's again. It was impossible not to sigh happily. "Thank you."
As they sat in a second's silence, Kurt's iPod tinkled out the beginning of "Be My Music" from Fame.
"Oh please tell me I'm hearing things," Blaine laughed, his hands coming to hide his face. Kurt blushed and scrambled to find the stop button.
"No, shut your ears. You're not hearing this," Kurt frantically cried, a giggle rising in this throat.
"Oh this just made my day. You do know that's the cheesiest song ever recorded?"
"I'll be your rainy weather friend. Your night light," Kurt sang quietly with a suppressed laugh.
"Welcome, what's it like to be so new? We thirst for your company, a fresh point of view," Blaine crooned, low and melodic.
"Oh my god, you know your Fame! Could we be magic like you is one of my favourites!" Kurt cried with a blossoming smile.
"Guess it's apt."
Kurt was touched. Those words meant a lot.
"And you tried to lead me to believe you were the sophisticated Broadway obsessive and you secretly swoon over Bruno from Fame," Blaine laughed out, "I'm honestly not sure we're going to be able to be friends anymore."
Kurt laughed hard. "Shut up, you can't tell me you never had a crush on Bruno."
Blaine let his head fall to his knees in an overly dramatic attempt to feign embarrassment. "Well, I guess he was charming in an awkward indie way."
Kurt was still laughing, flicking through his music, his heart beating a little faster and happier. "Well, I am not going to lie ... those curls, the little waist coats, the dorkiness. Pretty attractive." He could feel the pink blush on his cheeks but revelled in the moment. He wasn't about to look at Blaine though, he knew his heart wasn't that resilient.
"Well two out of three ain't bad," Blaine mumbled with a tiny smirk. He glanced down at lap and then back up to Kurt who was staring. Neither moved. Kurt was sure his face was on fire but as he looked in Blaine's eyes, his heart beating in his fingertips, he let a smile paint his lips and found, from somewhere unknown, a little courage to flirt.
"You don't need little waistcoats. Wouldn't suit you." He felt his hand shake a little as Blaine fixed his eyes on Kurt's. They were serious eyes for a second before breaking out into a grin so heart stopping that Kurt was sure he'd be hauled up in coronary care by the year's end.
"So, you want to help unpacking the rest of your things?" Blaine offered with a smile dusted with a hint of shyness. Their eyes never left each other.
"Only if you won't make fun of my guilty pleasures," Kurt warned playfully, biting his lip.
"Oh what'd be the fun in that?"
Thank you for reading!
For the two songs mentioned - "Could We Be Magic Like You" from Fame and "Be My Music" from Fame - both Fame the TV show not the film (*shudder*) then there are links in my profile. They're ultra cheesy but CLASSIC musical standards from the good old 80s. My mum got me into Fame when I was younger and I had the BIGGEST crush on Bruno - it was the hair... plus, he was kind of a heart throb back then. Darren's hair is just as beautiful so... i kinda made the connection :D