Watc 8

A/N- Yeah, so did I say that this would be around 8 chapters? I obviously lied. I usually, unknowingly always do when working out chapter margins. We may make it to 10-ish… ;)

Thank you everybody for all of the comments!

"Talk, Isabelle. Now." Kurt says the very moment he steps into her office and shuts the door behind himself. He's not even worried by the tone of voice he's using to speak to his boss. They're friends and she's lied to him. She had this coming, and she knows it.

"Good afternoon, Kurt." She smiles sweetly at him and watches while he shoulders off his bag and drops down into a chair in front of her desk.

Kurt's only response is a well-conditioned glare.

Isabelle continues to smile at him while twirling a lock of her long, wavy golden-brown hair around her forefinger. Usually, in true Kurt fashion he would initiate a stand-off here—her innocent smile against his deathly gaze; but he's tired, he's had the craziest 24 hours, he completely forgot his lines in class today and now he just wants answers.

"Isabelle, please" he sighs, his face falling. His eyes bright green, speckled with blue are glassed over with a pleading glaze. "What the hell is going on here? What have you signed me up for?"

"Oh, honey." Isabelle says with sympathy, her smile dropping into a frown. She stands from her seat and quickly comes around to perch on the edge of her desk in front of Kurt, a hand laid reassuringly over his knee. "Was he not nice? He promised me he'd be nice to you. I warned him."

Kurt stares at her wanly. "Why did you do this? You know I didn't- I don't like him—"

"No, Kurt," she interrupts softly, a small, endearing smile creeping back on to her lips. "You told yourself that you didn't like him after that incident at your school, I could see through it. When I met him and we discovered that we had you in common I just knew that this was an opportunity that I could not pass up, for you of course."

Kurt opens his mouth to protest but all that comes out is an exhausted sigh. He drops his head back on his shoulders and closes his eyes. Rolls his neck a couple times.

"Was I wrong?" Isabelle asks quietly, patting gently at his knee. He can hear the smile in her voice. He knows that she knows that she wasn't wrong.

Slowly he raises his head back up and meets her eyes. He shakes his head. "He- Blaine has been…more than nice."

Isabelle makes a little squeak excitedly. "See, I told you. This is all I wanted for you. To get closure and see that your once upon a time-idol is still that same guy, you just had a bad experience with him. Everyone has bad days." Kurt regards her carefully; it's almost as if something is amiss.

"So" she starts as she stands and makes her way back to her chair, "did you ask him any questions, did he give any you helpful advice? He sounded very insightful when we were talking. He told me that he'd give you any help that he could to help you break out. He only wanted a chance to meet you and share some of his experiences. What a nice guy, huh!" She speaks so happily and carefree like a child who has only been told the nicest, innocent version of their favourite fairytale—not the deeper, darker side.

"Uh-huh?" Kurt answers, his head tilts to the side sceptically, like he's waiting for the catch.

Isabelle picks up a pencil from her desk and begins sketching away on a large pad that had been left to the side, obviously done with this conversation—a lot sooner than Kurt had imagined. "Good." She looks up and winks at him before returning to her work. "Well now that it's all done and out of the way, you can quit fretting over him and get on with your life with your dreams and hopes still intact."

Kurt, completely lost in what Isabelle is saying, stares down at her work while she draws. She's continuing a sketch that Kurt knows she had started yesterday morning, because she asked for notes on it, which means that she hasn't been back in the office since yesterday lunchtime—she doesn't know that Kurt didn't come back to work after meeting Blaine.

She apparently doesn't know anything other than Kurt had 15 minutes of idle chat with Blaine Anderson.

"Um, Isabelle?" He begins, his voice low and a little shaky. He's not quite sure how to continue this sentence—or even if he should.

"Yep, honey. What is it?" She briefly glances up at him, her lips pressed together in concentration.

All this time he'd been mad at her and she only thought that he was actually only getting a meet and greet experience with Blaine. She was only trying to help. She didn't set him up for a dinner date and has her hat ready for a fall wedding! That- this was all Blaine!

"Um- nothing. I- ah had a question about something but I've answered it in my own head. I'll um- go back to my office now. Call if you need me."

"I always do." She grins, still staring down at her own hand working across the page diligently while Kurt gathers up his belongings and wanders off towards his own office like a little, lost lamb.

And just when he thought that Blaine couldn't surprise him anymore. Whether it's a good or bad surprise Kurt hasn't worked out yet.

He stays a little later at work than usual to make up for yesterday. He still feels guilty about it, but it's not like he doesn't put in long and hard hours the rest of the time. It was a one off thing, something that he felt at the time was well deserved.

By the time he gets home it's almost 7 and to his delight he finds that Tai is not at work tonight and has made and served up one of his mother's signature dishes, Gong Bao Chicken— in other words, Kurt's favourite thing to eat after a shitty day.

He joins Tai at their tiny folding-table; which is usually positioned between the back of the couch and their kitchenette, immediately after toeing off his shoes and dumping his satchel on the floor.

"Thank you," he mutters gratefully while reaching for the serving spoon to dig straight in.

Tai had gotten dressed and left in an understandable hurry that morning—after Blaine had left and before Kurt could get to him. Really who could blame him? He texted Kurt during the day just to check if he was ok and Kurt had replied with a crazy-faced emoji; but that's all the communication that the two of them had shared that day, apart from now.

"Soo, Blaine Anderson, huh?" Tai says quietly, barely looking up from his meal. His voice is soft, it always is and he nearly always has an awkward but cute expression on his face like he finds everything amusing. "I liked that movie he did with that big, funny guy when they were on the run then it turned into this big, hilarious musical number."

Kurt swallows what he's chewing and reaches for his water glass before smirking at Tai. This is Tai's way of initiating a round of questions about the guy.

"Go ahead, shoot."

"So he's like really into you then?" Tai chuckles that nervous little giggle of his while they clear the table together and take the dishes over to the sink. Kurt washes and Tai dries.

Like Kurt, Tai doesn't really socialize much other than with each other. He Skypes with his brothers and plays online video games and talks to strangers through a headset but that's about it. Kurt knows that he has Tai's trust and confidence to tell him anything. And vice-versa.

"I guess so. Yeah." Kurt mumbles, while he pays special attention to a pan he's been scrubbing for the past few minutes. It's crazy for Kurt to even think about let alone say out aloud and share with another person.

He knows that it's probably a good idea, telling somebody about this whole surreal situation. He knows that he could have told Isabelle but then that would have probably lead to too many questions and definitely far too many expectations. With Tai, it's not like that. It's like he's a closed book. He'll absorb information given to him but then only say something once every now and then.

And because of that it surprises Kurt when Tai rubs a cloth over a fork, places it in the cutlery drawer and turns to him and says "Weird. I mean not weird that he likes you. That part I get. It's just all weird, you know." He shrugs and picks up a glass to dry like he hasn't just said something that Kurt was not expecting.

"You- you get that he likes me?" Kurt asks, his tone questioning. He's finally satisfied with the pan and moves it over to the drying rack.

"Well, yeah." Tai shrugs, and gives a small lopsided grin that makes his warm, brown eyes go small. He's a cute guy with his lightly tanned skin, a head full of jet-black, straight hair and a small but well built physique. Kurt has always regarded him as the good-looking nerdy type, like…Tai. He's just Tai who Kurt has known and lived with and been friends with.

Tai gets back to drying and humming something to himself and Kurt realizes that he's not going to expand anymore. He can't say that he's surprised, really—it is Tai after all. Though When Kurt finishes up and adds the last of the dishes to the rack he glances over and notices a slight hardened expression on Tai's normally soft features and in his kind eyes.

Kurt slips past his roommate and heads over towards his discarded bag; he doesn't have to explain what he's doing for Tai to know he's going to head into his room to catch up on some work for both school and his internship.

"Just be careful, you know." Tai's voice calls out, quiet but sure from the kitchen just before Kurt disappears through his bedroom door. Kurt pauses on the spot, knowing that Tai will know he's listening. "He has what you want. And he wants you. Just makes sure you both know where you're at." And then he starts humming again and Kurt retreats into his room and closes the door behind him.

Sometimes Tai can say something that makes absolutely no sense but can also mean so much and have the ability to stay with Kurt for a long time.

This is one of those times.

It's just passed 11 and Kurt shuts down his laptop before he falls asleep on top of the thing. Scattered all around his laptop are manuscripts, rehearsal notes, sketches and doodles and everything else that he has only given fifty percent of his attention to. It's not like him. He hasn't even logged into his YouTube account to see if he has any new subscribers.

By the time he finishes in the bathroom and has knocked on Tai's door to say goodnight, Kurt is exhausted and gets into bed with just a pair of boxers on; not having the energy to hunt out some clean PJ's.

He unplugs his phone from behind his contemporary-steel nightstand and sinks back against his pillows. The background screen lights up and he suddenly remembers then that he forgot to turn it off silent mode after leaving work.

A message box pops up and he doesn't have to think too hard to guess who it's from.

You promised me a text message tonight :( x

Kurt smirks at the screen, his face alight with the glow. He settles himself more comfortably and gets ready for the long-haul.

Quit whining, there's still 48 minutes left of the night.

The response is instant. Oh, think of the opportunities ;) How was your day? X

Kurt scoffs but begins typing and hits send. Long, busy, tiring. I learnt something…unexpected today!

Oh? Care to share? X

I spoke to Isabelle. You two only share the same story on the first part. The second part she knows nothing about?!

And what part would that be? X

Kurt scowls at his phone. The part when you made me go to dinner with you. That apparently wasn't part of the deal you made with her.

I asked and you said yes. I didn't make you do anything. Isabelle agreed to help me meet you. She didn't say I wasn't allowed to take you to dinner. X

Ugh, he's impossible. He types it out. You're impossible.

Aw, nothing's impossible, Kurt. You sound like you could use a pick me up…

Kurt could only imagine what Blaine had in mind when he wrote that but before he can think of a response to type he's startled by somebody knocking at the front door. He pushes back the covers and he and Tai appear at their doorways at the same time, giving each other mutual curious looks.

"Have you been sleep-online shopping again?" Tai asks him, heading towards the door where the knocking is becoming more persistent. Kurt doesn't have it in himself to laugh, there's an uncomfortable pull tightening in his stomach with every step Tai takes towards the door.

Kurt opens his mouth to tell Tai to ignore it but he's already there, unlocking the chain and turning the key. When he opens the door his eyes widen and he huffs out a breath of laughter. "This is for you, I guess?" He smiles turning to Kurt who is frightened to take a step closer. His view is blocked by the now opened door.

"Thank you, goodnight." Tai says to whoever is at the door and reaches out to take something in his hands. It looks big and appears to be a little heavy.

When Tai reappears from behind the open door and kicks it closed behind himself, Kurt gasps.

Tai is holding a large wicker basket wrapped in cellophane and tied with a vivid, purple ribbon and tidy bow. Kurt shakes his head and moves over to the coffee table where Tai is bending over to carefully place the basket.

On closer inspection Kurt can see that the basket is packed full with chocolate bars of all sizes and varieties. There are big lollypops and candied hearts covered in shiny foil, sugared candy and boiled sweets and practically everything that Kurt would love to devour.

A small, ivory card sits tucked under the ribbon. Kurt pulls it out and flips it over.

For your sweet tooth. B x

Tai walks back to his room laughing and shaking his head back and forth. "Like I said, be careful. And I'm helping you eat that stuff tomorrow, by the way. Night."

When Tai's door is closed Kurt leaves the basket where it is and goes back to his own room. He flops down on the bed, flicks the card on to his nightstand and picks up his phone, immediately beginning to type with fury.

Seriously? Candy and Chocolate? A basket full of it?

Blaine's response is immediate. Don't tell me that I've done bad. I haven't shown up, I haven't crossed the line. I've simply sent you a gift of something that I know will cheer you up. Am I wrong? :) x

Kurt twists his face and worries his lip between his teeth. Blaine is infuriating, but he's also right. Damn him. Damn you!

I don't eat carbs past 8pm!

The reply doesn't come as quick as the others had and Kurt finds himself wriggling with anticipation. When it does come, Kurt is perplexed to say the least.

Save them then, they're yours. Sweet dreams, Kurt ;) X

Kurt reads the message over and over. Just like that, Blaine is bidding him goodnight? He lies down, back against his pillows and pulls the duvet over him once more. He rolls over on to his side and holds his phone carefully in his hands while he eagerly watches the screen, waiting for something- anything.

But nothing happens.

Kurt thinks in the dark silence of his room. He thinks and he thinks and then over-thinks everything. Eventually with a deep sigh he flops over on to his belly and pushes his face into his pillow. He holds his phone up high so that he can still peer at it.

His thumbs scatter over the keypad on the screen, but don't press too firm so that the keys actually catch.

Until he gives in—

Good night, Blaine. Thank you… K x