Summary: Kurt chooses a place in the park to set up for Carole's 40th birthday party. The only problem is that it appears someone else has already reserved that spot. Word Count: ~4000 Rating: PG
Warning: Finn is in this story. Not much, but I figured I should let you know just in case you're not ready to read things with him yet. A/N: So this is the first Klaine fic I've actually written (and the first fic I've written since about 2009), but I had the idea and I couldn't not write it. If anyone wants it, I might write a sequel. Also, thanks to Heidi for finding the typos that I didn't see.
"So, what are you having a party for anyway?" Kurt asked, trying to prolong their time together now. "My older brother, Cooper, just graduated from college. This is basically just a party for our family, since he went to UCLA, and most of his high school friends aren't in Ohio anymore." Blaine told him. "Can't imagine why they all wanted to leave." he added under his breath. Kurt laughed at that. "I take that to mean you're planning to get out of this hellhole too?" "I am, but I still have to wait some time before I can. I've only just finished my sophomore year. But my plan is to study music in New York or LA." "Are you a singer?" "Yes, but I also play a few instruments, mainly piano, guitar, and violin.” "That's amazing! I sing too. I'm actually in my glee club at school. We aren't half bad, but everyone hates us. I've just finished junior year, and I want to study fashion. I'm hoping for Parsons, but really, anywhere away from here will do." "I know how you feel. I'm just looking forward to getting out of my father’s control. It'll be nice to actually have some say over my life." Kurt looked up at Blaine's words, and saw what looked like determination on his face. "I'm sure you'll make it out, Blaine." "Thank you, but you don't even know if I'm any good." "Well that's true; you may sound like a dying cat, for all I know."
Blaine laughed loudly at that, and the tension seemed to flow out of his shoulders with the action. "I can safely assure you that I don't sound like a dying cat. Or a dying anything, for that matter. I’m not as good as I would like to be, but I sing in my schools glee club too. I'm the lead soloist." "Wow, you must be fairly decent then. Is glee as unpopular at your school as it is at mine?" "No, actually. The students and the faculty both seem to love us. We have to turn down a lot of people each year, because we get so many people auditioning. But not everyone has what it takes to be a Warbler." "The Warblers? As in, Dalton Academy Warblers?" Kurt questioned. "The very same," Blaine replied. "You know of us?" Kurt nodded. He had spent quite some time throughout the year with Rachel, looking at videos of their potential competition on YouTube. He recalled the boys a Capella group, although the videos had been from a few years ago, obviously from before Blaine had joined. He knew that Blaine being the lead soloist, especially since he couldn't have been in the group for more than two years, was impressive. He suddenly had a huge desire to hear the boy sing, but asking that of someone he had known for less than an hour would have been a little awkward. Instead, he tried to extend the conversation as much as he could. "I'm in the New Directions from McKinley High in Lima. We may end up facing each other at a competition next year." "Well, I look forward to beating you," Blaine joked. "I wouldn't count on it," Kurt shot back with a smirk. Joking around and laughing with Blaine felt so natural, and judging by how relaxed Blaine looked, Kurt thought he probably felt the same. By the time the last balloon was tied onto the tree, Kurt guessed his family was probably still a good half an hour away. He turned to Blaine, nodding his head towards the lake. "Shall we sit? My family will still be a while, and yours isn't here yet, so we may as well keep each other company." He tried not to think too hard about the bright smile that Blaine gave him. It was the kind of smile that made Blaine's whole face light up. It was the kind of smile that made Kurt's stomach flip pleasantly. It was beautiful. They slowly walked down to the edge of the lake, both sitting and stretching their legs put in front of them. It wasn't as awkward as it should have been, sitting with a virtual stranger, but both boys were quite content to sit in silence and watch the ducks glide around on the lake. Kurt glanced at Blaine every few minutes, wondering if Blaine felt the way he did about their new friendship. Did Blaine see any future for them as friends, or was Kurt just someone to keep him a little less lonely while he waited for his brother’s party to start. What if Blaine wasn’t actually as kind as he appeared? What if he was homophobic, like all the Neanderthals at school? What if they became friends, and then he found out Kurt was gay? Would he leave him like so many others had? Kurt was drawn from his thoughts as Blaine through a stick into the water. "You're lucky, you know," Blaine said, picking up another stick and scratching at the dirt with it. "Having a family that loves you." Kurt wasn’t expecting Blaine to say something so sad, but replied without even thinking about his words. "I'm sure your family loves you, Blaine." "They don't. Well, my brother does, but he hasn't been around for a few years. He took off for LA as soon as he was old enough. My mother is just kind of indifferent, and my father hates me." "Oh, Blaine, that isn't true. No father truly hates his son." "Mine does. He loves Coop. Cooper is the perfect son. Tall, strong, handsome, a real ladies man. He's just finished college for acting and is already lined up to film a few commercials, and has an audition for what's supposed to be the big movie of next year. I'm nothing compared to him. My dad definitely doesn't love me. He's ashamed of me." Kurt didn't know what to say. From the time he had spent with Blaine, he already knew he was incredible, but he didn't know how he could convince him of that. "How can you be so sure?" he asked. "I just know, okay,” Blaine told him. "I'm only here now because my Father wanted me out of the way for a while before the party. He told me it was because he knew the park would be busy and we would have to receive a spot, but I know that wasn't true. He wanted to minimize the time I spend with his family. He doesn't want me around in case I ruin his image." "What?! How could you ruin his image, Blaine? Just because you're not your brother-" "I'm gay," Blaine said. "My father isn't very supportive. None of my relatives know, and if they did I know they wouldn't be supportive either. He doesn't want me to tell anyone. He thinks it's a phase I'll grow out of once the right girl comes along." Kurt stared at Blaine, having only registered the first two words he said. "Me too", he breathed out. Blaine's face fell immediately and he began muttering apologies. It wasn't until Kurt heard Blaine mumble "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything" that he realized Blaine had misunderstood him. "No, Blaine-" "It's fine, I'm used to it." "Blaine, let me-" "But I should probably go back to my stuff", Blaine continued, as though he hadn't even heard Kurt. He stood up and began to turn around, heading towards where the tables for his brothers party were set up. "I didn't mean I think it's a phase," Kurt said to Blaine's retreating back. "I meant I'm gay too." Blaine stopped moving, but didn't turn around. Kurt watched Blaine as he processed the words. It was a few seconds before he spoke. "Oh." "Yeah." "I'm so sorry," Blaine said as he turned back to face Kurt. "I've gotten to the point where I just expect people to be uncomfortable around me." "It's okay. I understand what it feels like to have people avoid you when they find you're gay. Most people at my school ignore me, and of the ones that acknowledge my existence, most of them only pay attention to me long enough to push me into lockers before going on their way." Blaine looked at him with so much sadness on his face that Kurt would have apologized for upsetting him, had Blaine not spoken first. "I'm so sorry that happens, Kurt. I know what it's like. I was at a public school before Dalton. I don't think people realize what impact their actions and words can have." "It's fine. I mean, it's not fine, but there isn't much I can do. I've only got one year left, then I'm free." "You're really brave, Kurt." Kurt was about to deny it, but when he saw the look of sincerity on Blaine's face, the words died in his throat. "Thanks," he said instead, smiling up at Blaine from his position on the ground. Blaine smiled back at Kurt for a moment before moving to sit back down, much closer to Kurt than he was earlier. Kurt could feel the warmth from Blaine's body through his clothes, and he had to stop himself from leaning into Blaine's side. They sat like that, side by side, close but not touching, staring out over the lake until the sound of a car engine brought them back to reality. Both boys turned around to see that Burt and Finn had returned, this time with Carole as well. Kurt waved over to them, and Blaine smiled at the family waving back to him enthusiastically. He couldn't wait to find someone that would love him like that one day. He tried not to think that maybe that person was sitting right next to him. Kurt turned back to Blaine, disappointed that their time together was over. It took a lot of will power to not refer to this as a date. "I guess I should head back over and help them organize the food. You're welcome to come and help if you'd like," Kurt offered with a warm smile as both boys stood up. "I think I should actually let you spend some time with your family. It is your stepmom’s birthday, after all. They probably don't want some random kid hanging around." "I don't think you're some random kid, Blaine. But you don't have to if you don't want to." "I think I'd better go back and check that I've done everything my dad asked me to do anyway. I probably forgot something earlier. I was a little distracted by the gorgeous boy helping me." As soon as the words left his mouth, Blaine's eyes went wide and he slapped a hand over his mouth, before he began apologizing repeatedly, saying that it sounded a lot less cheesy in his head. As Blaine was stuttering and stumbling over his words, Kurt was fairly certain his heart stopped for a second. Blaine thought he was gorgeous. That thought alone could get him through his last year of school. He placed a hand gently on Blaine's shoulder to stop his apologies. "Maybe the boy just wanted to get to know you because he thought you were pretty cute too. And maybe he thinks it would be nice to exchange numbers, so he can keep getting to know you." Blaine gave Kurt a bewildered look before he realized that he had just asked for his number. "Oh, uh, sure, um, let me just grab my phone. Give me a second." Blaine turned around and practically sprinted over to the tables he and Kurt had set up earlier. Kurt watched as Blaine grabbed his phone out of his bag, and ran back over, almost tripping over his own feet in his hurry. Kurt was laughing lightly when Blaine got back to him, and Blaine grinned sheepishly as he handed his phone over and took Kurt's. Both boys entered their numbers in the others phone, then began walking slowly towards where Kurt's family was placing out platters of food. "So I guess this is it for now," Kurt said, smiling over at Blaine. "If you're free next week, we should get coffee or something." "Yeah. Yeah, that'd be nice. I'm free on Wednesday, does that work for you?" Not wanting to seem too desperate by asking if he was free any sooner, Kurt nodded. "Wednesday is perfect." When they were a few feet from Kurt's family, they stopped walking, and after a second of deliberation, Kurt leant over and hugged Blaine tightly. He smiled as the boy hugged him back, burying his face slightly into Kurt's neck. "If you get sick of your brothers party, you're welcome to come and join ours," Kurt said as he pulled back from the hug, staying closer to Blaine than was entirely necessary, and still holding onto his upper arms. He tried not to think about the firm muscles he could feel under Blaine’s sleeves. "Thank you, Kurt. I might have to take you up on that offer if my dad's being his usual self. But if I don't, I'll see you next week." "See you then Blaine." Kurt continued looking at Blaine, debating whether or not a kiss would be acceptable. He decided against it, seeing as his dad was watching suspiciously from a few feet away. Instead he took a step back and smiled once more at Blaine, before letting go of his arms and walking over to his family. Finn was looking between the two boys with a confused look, while Burt and Carole were eyeing Kurt knowingly. None of them said anything, though, as Kurt watched Blaine walking back over to his table. ------ That night, as Blaine lay in bed, replaying his time with Kurt over and over again, he scrolled through his contacts, smiling when he saw what name Kurt had given himself. He sent a text to him, just to make sure he hadn't imagined it all, telling Kurt that he knew of a great cafe they could go to for coffee. Kurt replied after a couple of minutes, and Blaine couldn't wipe the smile of his face if he tried. He ended up falling asleep with his phone still clutched in his hand, Kurt's message still bright on the screen. From: Gorgeous Boy Sounds amazing, Blaine. It's a date!
