I'm so sorry that this is later than I promised. The next chapter also won't be out for at least a week or two. I haven't even started it yet. Real life's been hectic and busy.
PS. I've tried publishing this a few times but for some reason a lot of my page breaks won't show up. Anyone else having a problem seeing page breaks? If it bugs you then it's also posted on my Tumblr and AO3 under the same pen name, mailroomorder
He sleeps until nine forty-five. When Kurt woke up at seven-thirty and quietly climbed over Blaine, Blaine muttered a request for Kurt to set his alarm for him. He then drifted easily back into a deep sleep while Kurt made his way to the floor outside his exam room so he could cram before the doors opened and the test began.
Blaine rolls out of Kurt's bed and pads over to his desk. He turns off his alarm and grabs his cell phone, shooting off a quick text to Kurt wishing him good luck on his final. Afterwards, he changes into his clothes, brushes his teeth, and grabs his key and wallet, walking down to Charlie's door.
He bangs loudly and screams, "Wake up, Charlie. We're grabbing breakfast!"
"Go away," Charlie groans back, loud enough to be heard through the door.
"No chance in hell," Blaine responds. He continues knocking on the door until Charlie opens it. Blaine's faced with a disgruntled looking, partially asleep, half naked best friend. "Go throw some clothes on," he says.
Charlie moves to the side so Blaine can scoot past and then closes the door behind him.
"I hate you," Charlie mutters.
After Charlie gets dressed Blaine tells him to grab his bookbag so they can study afterwards. Charlie and Blaine each have one more final tomorrow, and Blaine knows he'd rather have a friend in the library with him to force him to pay attention to his work. He's so bored and tired of studying that if no one were to force him to pay attention, he'd just spend his time in the library watching Netflix, surfing the internet, or sleeping.
They head down to the dining hall, which is nearly empty, and grab some waffles, eggs, and bacon, before heading over to a side booth big enough for only two people.
"It's not even ten thirty. It's too early," Charlie grumbles. He's in a sour mood—not that Blaine can blame him. Finals week stresses everyone out. So in order to cheer Charlie up he entertains him with conversation on topics he knows Charlie cares about. Like the cool new friends Charlie met at the party over the weekend that he hung out with again last night.
"Remind me to shoot Kurt a thank you text for letting me come with," Charlie thinks aloud.
"Talking about Kurt," Blaine segues, cutting a piece of syrupy waffle with the side of his fork and shoving it in his mouth. "We had sex last night."
Charlie actually chokes on his bacon, spitting it out all over the table.
"Ew! Gross," Blaine scoffs, shaking his arm out which is covered in Charlie's spit.
"You what?"
Blaine wipes his arm down with his napkin before crumpling it up and placing it on the side of the table. "We had sex," he replies plainly, not even trying to hide the grin that blossoms.
Charlie keeps looking at him for clarification, so Blaine gives him a quick rundown of the weekend's events.
"Kurt told me he liked me at the party. We went out on a date last night. Then we had sex."
Charlie's eyes are still bugged out of his head, and Blaine's cheeks are rosy with pride.
"So are you two…dating?" Charlie asks.
Blaine ponders this for a second, chewing the inside of his cheek. "I guess. I mean, we went on a date. And I want to take him out on another one."
"Huh," Charlie sighs. "This is so…" he derails. "Congrats, man," he finally settles on.
"I'm happy."
"I can tell," Charlie smiles. "So like, doesn't he leave tonight?"
Blaine totally forgot about this point. He's taking a seven o'clock bus home. "Shit," he says.
"So much for studying today, right?" Charlie asks.
"I guess I'll study after he leaves? I kind of want to spend more time with him."
"While you're at it, ask him to be your boyfriend." Charlie grabs his empty plate and stands up, walking over to the dish racks. Blaine follows slowly behind him wondering if it's too soon to ask Kurt to be his boyfriend. Do they have to date more? And more importantly, are they exclusive?
He meets up with Blaine at the exit of the dining hall, their backpacks hoisted on their backs.
"Do you think we're exclusive?" Blaine asks.
"Huh?"
"Kurt and me. Like, he said he likes me. So are we exclusive?"
"I don't know. I mean, you slept together once. Went on one date. So maybe? I know if I were in your position with a girl, I wouldn't be sleeping with other people. At least until I found out if we were exclusive or not. I mean, do you even want to sleep with other people?"
"No," Blaine responds quickly. "Not at all. I just don't think I want him to, either."
"Well, that's something you're going to have to bring up with him."
Blaine nods his head, deep in thought.
"Alright," Charlie interrupts. "I'm headed over to the library. Sure you don't want to come?"
Blaine checks the time on his cell phone. It's already eleven-thirty. Kurt's final lasts two hours, though he's positive that Kurt won't need the full two hours anyway. He knows he needs to study, but he also knows he wants to see Kurt. He goes back and forth as to what he should do and finally decides that Kurt's the better option here.
"Yeah. I'm gonna head back to the room. But if you're still studying tonight I'll meet up with you."
"Aight. I'll text you later. I plan on pulling an all-nighter," Charlie says walking backwards and talking to Blaine.
Blaine salutes and turns around to head back to his dorm. On the ten minute walk home Blaine considers the situation. He doesn't want to be unprepared when he walks into his room and sees Kurt. He may not know where Kurt stands in their relationship, but he at least will know where he stands.
If he could have his way then he and Kurt would be in an exclusively monogamous relationship…right now. But he understands why it may be too soon to jump to that point. They've only been on one date—and it was last night. He knows that the idea of Kurt being with anyone else in the same way that he was with Kurt last night is a total turn off. The thought alone makes him hurt—the idea that he is not enough and Kurt needs to find more elsewhere.
He knows that he's jumping to conclusions, but he wants to get his facts straight. And right now these facts are that he would like to be in a relationship with Kurt, but that it may be too soon to call it just that. He definitely doesn't want to be just friends with Kurt. And apparently Kurt doesn't want that either, as evidenced by what happened last night.
He's starting to panic, not sure what to do next, when his phone vibrates.
i know youre overthinking things. Just stop. Take it one step at a time
It's from Charlie, and it's the perfect kick in the butt he needs. He decides to do just that—take it one step at a time. Eventually he'll get the guy.
When he gets back to his dorm room Kurt is already there, duffel bag on his bed and clothes thrown all over the room.
"Hey!" he says when Blaine opens the door, folding up a pair of jeans.
Blaine smiles back, taking a step into the room. Kurt has turned to look at him and Blaine really wants to walk up to kiss him, but isn't sure if he's allowed to—if he's supposed to.
It's a whole new level of uncomfortable that Blaine feels. He's such a confident guy; he's very rarely been so unsure in his own skin. He doesn't feel weird, exactly. He just doesn't know how to act in front of Kurt now. He's not sure if he and Kurt are on the same level or a completely different one.
So in order to avoid any potentially awkward encounters, Blaine shakes himself free of his worries and offers Kurt a shining smile in return.
"How did your final go?" He asks, honest curiosity tainting his voice.
"It went well," Kurt shrugs, going back to folding his clothes.
Blaine drops his bookbag off on his bed and sits on the edge. He contemplates taking his laptop and notes out and studying, but reminds himself that the entire point of coming back to his room was so he could be with Kurt. He pushes through the quiet and decides to engage Kurt in conversation.
"Excited about going home?"
Kurt starts putting the empty hangers that are littering his bed back in his closet. "Yeah," he responds after a thoughtful sentence. "I'm more excited for the month long break than I am for going home, though."
Blaine nods in agreement. "It will be weird being back under my parents' roof. And like, not having school or parties or anything."
When Kurt's finished with the hangers he zips up his duffel bag and throws it onto his desk chair. Blaine looks on curiously.
"The rest can be packed later," Kurt explains. "Tooth brush, deodorant…all that jazz. I'd like to brush my teeth before getting on a grimy bus."
"Ah," Blaine exhales. "Gotcha."
"So," Kurt responds, seemingly oblivious to how awkward Blaine feels, "Wanna grab a bus downtown? I haven't seen the Christmas display yet."
"Totally," Blaine grins. They grab their jackets and gloves and head out of the dorm and to the closest bus stop. Kurt purposefully brushes Blaine's shoulder on the walk over and it makes most of Blaine's worries melt away. He can't help but feel hopeful about everything when Kurt keeps his hand so teasingly close to his own.
When they get downtown Kurt grabs Blaine's hand and pulls him towards the large Christmas tree that is decorating the town square. Blaine laughs but follows obligingly, his heart skipping a few beats when Kurt doesn't let go of his hand. They laugh and talk and ask strangers to take their picture in front of the tree. Blaine is able to convince Kurt to try the outdoor skating rink and buys them both tickets and rents them skates, even when Kurt puts up a fight about his lack of financial input.
"Kurt, it's fine," Blaine smiles. "I want to do this."
"Fine, but hot chocolate is on me."
"Good. It better be," Blaine sasses back.
When they get on the ice Blaine isn't sure if he should grab Kurt's hand. He wants to, but taking that leap is big and scary. So for the time being they stake around the circle with their shoulders close and hands occasionally brushing. Kurt's a surprisingly good skater…as long as he's not doing spins or jumps or trying to skate backwards.
"Stop showing off!" Kurt says when Blaine skates a bit in front of him and turns around, skating backwards so he can see Kurt's face.
Blaine laughs. "I can't help it!" He responds with a smile. "I want to be able to see you."
"Well see me from the side," Kurt states, trying his best to speed up to catch Blaine. He ends up tripping on his skates though.
"Woah there!" Blaine nearly shouts, jumping forward to grab Kurt's fore arms and haul him up. "Watch out."
Kurt playfully glares back at him. "Not all of us can be as gifted as you."
"No. You're right," Blaine juts his chin out, his voice affecting an air of nobility. "It's quite difficult being a man of my grace, beauty, and—"
"Humility?" Kurt interjects, wrapping his arm through Blaine's.
"Why yes," Blaine confirms, forcing in his laughter.
They're skating slowly now, and Blaine's reveling in how easy this is—this being together. He envies Kurt for always being so confident in his own skin and with this situation; he wishes he were able to be as straightforward about what he wants and just take it and know that Kurt won't turn him down.
He decides that right now he'll take that leap.
He speeds up a bit, his arm slipping away from Kurt's. Before it completely detaches, though, he grabs onto Kurt's hand and drags him forward so that they're skating hand in hand.
"This okay?" He asks shyly.
Kurt grins and squeezes Blaine's hand, nodding his head. "Eh. I could get used to it."
After skating Kurt makes good on his promise and buys them the finest of shitty, outdoor food stand hot chocolate milk he can find and even a hot dog to boot. They sit on a bench a few blocks away at a frost covered park and eat their lunch. They spend the next hour window shopping and occasionally stepping into a store or two to regain feeling in their limbs. It's thankfully not snowing, but it's cold nonetheless.
"I have to head home soon," Kurt says after checking his phone. He has to get back, grab his luggage, and then come all the way back downtown to get to the MegaBus that will take him home.
They stroll to the next bus stop and catch the next bus back to campus. Kurt washes his face and brushes his teeth before packing up the rest of his stuff.
"Well," he says standing with his book bag already on his back and his duffel at his feet. "I guess it's time for me to go." He's wavering back and forth, and it's the first time today that he has seemed at a loss as to what to do next.
"Let's go then," Blaine responds, grabbing his keys and standing up from his bed.
"What?" Kurt asks, completely taken aback.
"I'm taking you to the bus stop."
"Really?" Kurt asks, but Blaine's already nodding and grabbing Kurt's luggage.
"Duh." He shakes his head as if the answer's obvious. There's no way he was just going to sit here and let Kurt go alone. He's not worried about Kurt's safety or anything; no, he's worried about Kurt's sanity. Waiting outside in the freezing cold MegaBus line with no one to talk to? It's a fate worse than death. Especially because every time Blaine's used MegaBus it's been late.
Kurt grabs his arm and stops him. "You don't have to do this," he says seriously.
"But I want to." Blaine looks right into Kurt's eyes letting him know how genuine he is being.
"Okay then," Kurt breathes out, smiling. "Let's get this show on the road."
The line is, in fact, long and cold and boring. And because they missed the bus they were supposed to grab they ended up getting to the bus stop later than Kurt wanted to, which means they are at the back of the line. Which means that he will be one of the last people to get on the bus. Which means he'll get an aisle seat instead of a window seat and he'll have to be that person who asks someone if the seat next to him is taken, ruining that person's hopes and dreams of sitting alone.
He spends the half an hour waiting in line bitching and joking and complaining and laughing about this situation, and Blaine can't help with laugh back. He totally understands. He hates when people sit next to him on long bus rides.
When the bus arrives—ten minutes late—and the line starts moving, Blaine picks up Kurt's luggage and walks with it. After he hands it over to the workers to put it in the bus he goes to wave goodbye to Kurt, but Kurt pulls him aside instead.
"What's up?" Blaine asks.
"I'm gonna miss you," Kurt responds, hands finding their way to Blaine's chest.
In turn, Blaine slowly moves his hands towards Kurt's hips, giving Kurt enough time to bat them away or step back, but he never does, so Blaine pulls Kurt a little closer.
"I'm going to miss you, too," he admits.
Kurt smiles big and wide, cheeks rosy from the wind and the cold. "I'm glad," he says before doubt seems to creep up and his eyes flash an alarming shade of worry. "I want to make sure we're on the same page," he admits. "We are on the same page, right?"
Blaine thinks about it for a second. Thinks about how close they are right now physically. How emotionally close they've been for the past few weeks. He thinks about Kurt grabbing his hand today. Thinks about Kurt admitting to liking him—admitting to his own friends that he likes Blaine. And he realizes that yeah, they are on the same page. They have to be.
In response he leans forwards and places a delicate kiss on Kurt's lips. He pulls back too soon and can't help but smile and lean his forehead against Kurt's shoulder.
"I'll take that as a resounding yes," Kurt laughs.
They stay in the embrace for a second before Kurt realizes he has to go and crush someone's happiness by sitting next to them. They kiss one more time before breaking apart.
"We'll talk," he states. It's not a question or a statement of worry. He's not asking for reassurance. He's just speaking a fact. They will talk. They'll talk and text and this month apart won't stop them from growing closer. It won't tear them apart. Blaine's sure about it. He's positive.
Every single review makes my heart go weee. And I've noticed a few awesome people who have reviewed every chapter. I wish I could send flowers, chocolate, cookies, or cake to them.