THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH for your simply LOVELY messages. I'm so pleased you enjoyed the last chapter.
I know a couple of you asked about the Champagne thing and because they're still in high school. Here, in the UK, it's still a tradition and considered ok for people to drink one glass of champagne at big classy events! Sorry if I confused anyone!
ALSO, I literally died HAPPILY yesterday when ASCAP uploaded their video of Darren singing "Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas". It's my very favourite Christmas song and I just simply wanted him to sing it in this story ... and then DARREN DID THAT. Complete conoincidence! I usually AVOID the whole AVPM/S, Darren and Harry Potter references so this was definitely a coincidence- I pretty nice one ;)
I REALLY hope you like this episode and there is still a THIRD Snow Ball episode to come. It'll probably be up later actually. The night needs to end yet. This is VERY fluffy, that's a warning to you. I write NOTHING ELSE. I do a bit of angsty stuff every now and then but THIS is just happy sap : )
PLEASE ENJOY!
PS: To those who asked about Thomas, more will be explained about him later on but he's probably not going to be what you expect him to be...
Their, post Principal speech, performance had gone down pretty well. The Warbler's rendition of "White Christmas" complete with "shoops" and plenty of dreamy harmonies. The Principal had congratulated them on their year of 'exceptional talent' and had even personally welcomed Kurt as a new member.
"So, what happens next?" Kurt asked as he sauntered back towards the tables with David and Blaine.
"Well, there's always dancing," Blaine explained.
"Oh well I can't wait to see the signature Blaine moves," Kurt teased, beaming. Blaine frowned playfully.
"I may not be the world's best dancer but, Mr Hummel, you can't accuse me of not trying." Kurt giggled, pursing his lips.
"He's shocking, right?" David added, "I mean, it's all arms and legs and weird faces. We've tried to tell him, believe me." Kurt watched as Blaine pouted.
"Well, there's way too much seriousness in The Warblers. You'd miss my input."
David just scowled with a smirk and raised his eyebrows. "Whatever Blaine, whatever."
As Kurt sat back in his seat sipping a small glass of mulled wine. He watched as Blaine was swept away by a dozen people, all congratulating him on his performance and asking him about Warblers progress and how his family were. It seemed that Blaine was something of a Dalton celebrity, something Kurt didn't fully understand. There was something he was missing. He watched Blaine's face settle into a solid and obviously practiced expression, his eyes unfaltering. He was polite and ever the gentleman but there was a change in him, something that froze solid in him as if he was on official business – he was a different Blaine.
Once the glass of mulled wine was empty, Kurt let his eyes scan the room. Thomas seemed to be dancing with his mom, The Warblers were all either flailing their arms around on the dance floor with girls from the other school or kicking back at their table and flirting shamelessly. Blaine was no-where to be seen. He felt a little lonely. Everyone was friendly and welcoming but Kurt didn't feel he was able to just walk up and interrupt conversations or intervene. He was still very much the new kid. There was one thing that kept circling his brain – how intensely he missed the New Directions. They'd have danced like morons, sang sickeningly upbeat Christmas numbers and giggled the night away and forgotten how each secretly, in some way or another, they all had issues with each other.
"I'm so sorry I had to go and... circulate." Kurt watched as Blaine lowered himself into his seat.
"It's ok, I guessed you had your duties. You're in demand."
Blaine frowned. "Yes, unfortunately there are added responsibilities of being an the Warbler's front man and Head of Student Council. I'm sorry I was so long." Kurt could see a more natural Blaine before him, his eyes now softer and genuinely apologetic. Kurt could hardly be angry or disappointed.
"It's perfectly fine honestly. I'm having a wonderful time. It's all so beautiful."
Blaine laughed under his breath with affection. "You're too nice. I all but left you alone and all you can think to say is 'it's beautiful'?
"Blaine, there are crystals on the napkins. Either you're blind or you don't know me at all,"
The other boy laughed. "Picking up tips?"
"I swear I'm asking for the quartet's card later incase I need musical accompaniment at any event I plan in the future."
Blaine smiled, his eyes following his fingers that played with the buttons on his jacket. "So, um, I don't suppose you want to dance?"
Kurt almost choked. "Dance?"
Blaine's eyes were wide and expectant. "It's ok if you don't want to, I mean, I kinda presumed you would want to be up there at the first opportunity."
Kurt scoffed. "Well, of course, any excuse to show off my moves, but I just-"
Blaine nodded, understanding. "I get it, I don't want to push you, I just thought you might want to but if you feel uncomfortable then that's fine. I wanted to still ask."
Kurt felt himself tense and his skin tingle. He smiled, slow and meaningful. "I do want to," he whispered, before finding his voice again, "I do, I've just never really been asked before. I mean at my dad's wedding, Finn all but dragged me up which was kinda sweet but-"
"You've never really been asked properly?"
Kurt laughed, feeling his cheeks darken childishly. He could feel his inner monologue scolding himself for being so coy and not jumping at the chance to waltz with Blaine the second he suggested it. He straightened in his seat reminding himself who he was. Kurt Hummel – Fearless, fashionable soprano.
"No I haven't but that doesn't mean I don't want to now. I'm sorry, you just caught me off guard." He spoke as he stood, his heart thuddering in his chest. He kept his eyes on Blaine.
"It's no problem. It'd be my pleasure." Blaine's smile grew wider, his eyes glittering, "I couldn't leave my date alone at a table and not ask him to dance. I mean, I have a reputation to uphold." Blaine winked and went to reach down to take Kurt's hand.
Kurt froze. "Date?"
Blaine's forehead crinkled, his eyes animated. "Obviously."
"I... I didn't know that's what this was," Kurt murmured, a delicious ache spreading through his entire body, a weird kind of happiness that sent his head reeling.
Blaine laughed. "Why did you think I asked you?"
"Because I'm the new kid and I'd be left in my dorm and well because you're Blaine, gentleman through and through."
It was all Kurt could do to speak. He watched as Blaine reached out and took his hand, his skin flushing from the touch. He wanted to swoon, he wanted to breathe out the 'wow' that teased at his lips but he found Blaine's eyes and let himself be led.
"I asked you because I wanted to Kurt, I told you that. We gonna show them how it's done or what?"
Kurt laughed, his heart swooping and beating faster than he thought possible. As he nodded, his smile impossible to suppress, Blaine's arm found his waist. It was slow motion, Kurt was sure of it. He felt the warmth and the tiny details, Blaine's fingers shuffling a little to find their spot against his hip. He let his eyes momentarily glance around the room expecting to see at least someone staring or passing judgement but people we're dancing themselves. Nobody seemed to glance in their direction. He knew a few people must have been but he didn't care. Blaine was pressed against him, his arm holding tight to Kurt and they were swaying.
"You're a terrible dancer," Kurt mumbled, his lips brushing Blaine's cheek without him realising. Blaine started to laugh, his chest vibrating against Kurt's.
"You're so sweet. I definitely made the right choice in asking you as my date."
Kurt smiled, aching to rest his head on Blaine's shoulder and curl closer. "I know, I'm awesome."
Blaine pulled away slowly, his eyes finding Kurt's. "Come on then, Gene Kelly, show me what I'm doing wrong."
Kurt laughed, pulling at Blaine's arm till is stiffened and arched. "You need to be solid and keep your dance space, like Dirty Dancing you know? Plus you need to tell your brain to remember you have feet and they need to move in time and not," Kurt giggled, "step on the other person's."
Blaine frowned, a smirk sneaking on his lips, and followed Kurt's advice. He was washboard rigid now. It wasn't easy. He kept his countenance resolute and raised his eyebrows as if to question his new skills. Kurt burst into laughter, his eyes twinkling. Blaine was sure his heart would explode at how cute and happy Kurt looked. It was worth making a fool out of himself for.
"Blaine I can't feel my fingers," Kurt groaned out, "you're squishing them."
The other boy loosened his grip and shook himself free. "Look, I don't think I'm ever going to be good at this. How about we just make up our own rules? We don't have to conform, right?"
It was all Kurt could do to resist another loud laugh. "Says you Mr Dalton, but I don't think we need to worry about conforming, we're two guys dancing together. Think we've kicked conformity's ass to be honest. How about you just dance how you feel comfortable so my fingers can regain their feelings."
Blaine chuckled. It was fun. Kurt was fun. It was all so different, so polar compared to last year when Blaine had been forced to waltz with the other girls and had spent most of the night sitting by Thomas and wishing he could just scream from frustration.
"Dance how I want to?" Blaine asked.
"Exactly," Kurt replied with a nod.
He watched as Blaine smiled somewhat mischievously with only a tiny hint of nerves. He felt as Blaine's arms pulled him close, wrapping themselves around his waist and holding tight. Kurt stiffened a little, his breathing stuttering, until he closed his eyes. It was overwhelming, the feeling of the warmth of another person, someone he liked, someone he felt a whole lot for and someone he had dreamt of being as close to since they first met. He lowered his head onto Blaine's shoulder, enjoying (far too much) the way Blaine smiled into his neck. They weren't that different in height, Kurt having a tiny advantage, but they fit together nicely.
"How's your first Snow Ball?" Blaine whispered, Kurt shivering as he felt the words on his skin.
Kurt sighed, content and dreamy. "Awful, terrible, the worst ever," he whispered back, his words lazy.
"Glad to hear it," Blaine replied, his arms tightening a little. Kurt felt every movement, every miniscule touch and wondered how it was happening, how it was possible and how he got so lucky. The room was as beautiful as he could have ever imagined and ever created himself and he was dancing infront of the entire room with the one person he wanted to. His head reeled from the realisation as he slowly let himself curl that little bit closer and forget, for that very perfect moment, anything bad that had ever tainted his very capable heart.
TO BE CONTINUED...