Summary: MODERN AU. Griffin takes Blaine to see the fireworks.

Blaine looked around, gazing from side to side. No one was here; relief raced through him. The piano recital was finally over; the two pianists were backstage, hiding behind curtains.

Blaine did not want people finding out about his true feelings for Griffin. At least, not yet. According to the public, they were merely rivals. And that was fine.

Speaking of Griffin, the fellow young man had something to share with Blaine.

"Make this quick," Blaine snapped.

"I wanna take you somewhere for New Years," Griffin told him.

"Oh?" Blaine asked. "Where?"

"It's a surpriseeee," Griffin teased.

Welp, that could only mean bad news.

"It'll be great," Griffin promised him. "Trust me on this, Blainey. You'll love it."

"I'll hold you to that," Blaine replied.

"Hell yeah!" Griffin cheered.

"Hold on!" Blaine raised a hand. "Some ground rules, before we arrange a meeting time."

Griffin stuck his tongue out. "Geez…"

"Rule number one," Blaine held up a hand, "be subtle. Text me when you arrive, nothing else."

Griffin sighed. "Yeah yeah, got it."

Blaine crossed his arms. "I'm serious, Griffin. Be subtle."

Griffin rolled his eyes, good-naturedly. "Whatever you say, Blainey."

…

As was expected, the Plaid mansion was having a big New Years party. The family was out (except for Frederick), mingling amongst the guests and food.

Blame, of course, was with his younger brother, Lance. The two were by the punch bowl.

"What are your New Years resolutions?" Blaine asked.

"Uhhh," Lance looked off to the side. "Gonna try and aim to get the most amount of chips eaten in under a minute. I'll get into the Guinness World Records!"

"Good for you," Blaine sighed; his brother's goals were always so ridiculous.

"... and support whatever your resolutions are," Lance added.

Blaine smiled. As annoying as Lance could be, he always had Blaine's back. It was good to have someone who was always there for him.

"Ahhh, now my resolutions," Blaine crossed his arms. "Yes, well, I-"

BEEP!

Blaine jumped, spotting the red sports car. Griffin bumped his horn once again.

That imbecile…! Blaine clenched his fists.

"That your boyfriend?" Lance asked.

"Absolutely not," Blaine snapped.

"Mmkay, bro," Lance replied, cheerfully.

"I'll be back later," Blaine replied. "Enjoy the New Years, Lance."

"Have fun!" Lance told him.

Blaine took off, storming over to the car.

"I told you to be subtle!" he hissed.

"You were halfway over there," Griffin replied. "What was I supposed to do?"

"Oh, I don't know," Blaine crossed his arms, "text me, as I instructed?!"

"Just get in the car, Blainey," Griffin rolled his eyes.

Blaine sighed, sitting in the car alongside Griffin. It was a nice car; fancy, red and expensive. Griffin backed out, driving along the highway.

"So," Griffin smiled, "how's it going?"

"Better, before you made a fool of me," Blaine huffed.

Griffin burst out laughing. "Live a little, would ya, Blainey?"

Blaine eyed the man sitting next to him. That smile was so stupid, so annoying, so… endearing?

Blaine felt his cheeks burning. He coughed, looking in the opposite direction.

Griffin turned the aux on, playing some cheesy pop song.

"Really?" Blaine asked, staring at him.

"Oh, don't pull that 'I only listen to real music' crap," Griffin rolled his eyes. "It's fun to indulge in the cheesy stuff sometimes, y'know?"

Blaine sighed, shaking his head. "You have awful taste."

"Thank you," Griffin beamed.

Blaine felt like exploding. The more he listened to this stupid song, the more it wormed its way into his brain.

Griffin was still giving him that stupid grin. Blaine's eyes trailed over his body; Griffin had a pretty well-built figure.

Blaine quickly looked away, focusing on watching the world passing by. He was not admiring Griffin. No way. He did not find him attractive. Just the opposite! Absolutely.

"You're gonna be amazed," Griffin spoke up.

"So you promise," Blaine replied. "You've been yammering on about this surprise for far too long. I expect to be disappointed."

"Don't be so pessimistic," Griffin chuckled. He tried to reach over, but Blaine shoved his hand away.

"Focus on your driving, Griffin," he chided.

"Gosh, you sound like my parents," Griffin rolled his eyes.

After some more driving, Griffin drove up a long, windy road. Blaine gazed at all the trees. There was no other human contact to be seen.

"This is quite the desolate location," he observed. "This isn't to dispose of me, is it?"

"Oooh, you got me," Griffin replied, cheekily. "How did you ever figure out my ingenious plan?"

"Not much thinking when it comes to you," Blaine said, lying through his teeth.

Griffin pulled up his car. He got out, moving around to the other side to let Blaine out.

"What are you, my chauffeur?" Blaine snapped, opening the door himself.

"Your highness," Griffin teased.

He led his friend - acquaintance - enemy to lover - up the path, through the trees.

The two finally stopped once they reached a clearing, overlooking the setting sun.

"Now," Griffin sat down, "we wait."

He patted the rocky spot next to him, but Blaine stayed standing.

"Wait," Blaine repeated.

Griffin pointed at the sky. Blaine took a step closer.

"You don't have to be so tense, y'know," Griffin assured him. "Believe it or not, I'm not actually a serial killer."

"I believe not," Blaine retorted.

Griffin rolled his eyes. "What I'm sayin' is… it's fine to let loose, y'know? You don't have to be Mr Golden Boy 24/7. You deserve a break."

Blaine stared at him, feeling his heart thumping.

"Hmm," Blaine scoffed.

He inched closer to Griffin.

"We should do a piano duet sometime," Griffin continued. "We don't always have to compete against each other."

"We're rivals," Blaine reminded him.

"In terms of the big competition, yeah," Griffin said, putting a hand over his heart, "but you ain't a rival to me."

"... what does that mean?" Blaine asked.

Griffin smirked. Blaine wished he would stop smirking all the time. Not because he thought it was hot. Absolutely not.

"Hey, check it!" Griffin pointed to the sky.

Suddenly, the sky was full of colour; rainbow, silver, gold. The flashing lights, the gorgeous fire. Fireworks. They were magical.

They were so clear, so close. Blaine had never got a better view of them before.

"Good view, ay?" Griffin teased.

Blaine lamented, sitting next to Griffin.

"I found this place by accident," Griffin told Blaine. He held up his phone, showing him some photos. "I was just driving around, then I saw fireworks and I wanted to get a better look, so…"

Blaine eyed the photos. Griffin had taken a few crude selfies, making him roll his eyes.

"You grow more embarrassing by the second," Blaine told him.

"Love you too," Griffin replied.

Blaine went silent.

"Excuse me?" he asked, blushing.

"Love you too," Griffin repeated.

They were staring right into each other's eyes. Blaine knew what he wanted, for once. Underneath, he'd always been envious of his brothers - they could have anything they wanted without being scrutinized by everyone. He had to be perfect, he had to shoulder everything.

But not with Griffin. Finally, for a brief moment, they could relax.

He let Griffin hold onto him as they watched the fireworks. And at last, he smiled.

SNAP!

Blaine sat up. Griffin was snickering, holding out his phone.

"I'll be the one killing you!" Blaine stood up, and the two fought once again.