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“I thought you loved me!”
Kurt rolled his eyes fondly. Sam could be so dramatic if he wanted to. “I do. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to spend four hours of my day picking up your friend for his surprise birthday party.”
“Come on, Kurt, it’s more like three hours. Besides, don’t you love helping people?” Sam insisted.
“No.”
“Well, don’t you love having people owe you one?”
Kurt raised his eyebrow and smirked. “I’m listening.”
“If you do this, I’ll do whatever you want. No questions asked.”
Kurt wanted to agree, but he was still uncertain about the idea. Being stuck in a car with a guy that he didn’t even know sounded unbearable. And to make matters worse, the guy lived in Westerville and attended Dalton Academy, which guaranteed he was a spoiled, annoying, rich snob. “I don’t know. Why can’t you do it?”
“I have to put the finishing touches on everything. It has to be perfect.”
Because he’ll throw a fit if everything isn’t to his ridiculously high standards , Kurt thought. “And why can’t he drive himself?”
“He thinks I’m just taking him to the movies, so if I ask him to meet me at McKinley, he’ll know something’s up.”
“You sure McKinley isn’t too public for him?”
Sam sighed. “Dude, Blaine isn’t like that.”
“His name is literally Blaine.”
“He’s really cool,” Sam insisted. “Down-to-Earth, you know? He likes comic books and superheroes.”
“So he’s a stuck-up version of you?” Kurt joked.
“You’ll like him, I promise. And I’ll let you give me a makeover or something as a thank you.”
“I’m going to hold you to that,” Kurt said and grabbed his keys. “Text me his address.”
“Will do. Oh, and let me know when you’re about thirty minutes away so I can double-check everything. Remember, the party starts at 6 so be back in time.”
Kurt nodded and left the house, doubting everything Sam had said about him liking Blaine.
Kurt beeped his horn as he pulled up outside of Blaine’s house. It was large and old fashioned, and Kurt was in too much of a bad mood to even appreciate it.
“Hurry up,” he muttered under his breath, despite it only being a minute since he had parked.
Finally, a short boy with thickly-gelled hair and equally as thick eyebrows left the house and jogged up to the car. Instead of getting in the passenger seat, he tapped lightly on Kurt’s window.
Kurt wound down the window and stared at Blaine with a raised eyebrow.
“Are you my birthday present?” Blaine asked with a small smile and bright eyes.
“Oh, should you be so lucky,” Kurt replied sarcastically. “Now, get in the car. I have to get you to Lima in time.”
“Right, of course, sorry.” Blaine chuckled to himself and got in the passenger seat. “So, what are we listening to?” he asked, gesturing to the radio.
“Nothing in particular. Anything you’re desperate to listen to?”
“Do you have anything Katy Perry?” Blaine’s smile was so wide that Kurt couldn’t bear to turn him down, even though he would rather listen to the Wicked soundtrack.
“Yeah, there should be a CD in the glove compartment.”
Blaine eagerly looked through the compartment until he found the CD. “Oh, amazing!” he said and put it in the CD player. He leaned back in his seat and sang along softly. Kurt actually found it kind of adorable. “Can I get the name of my generous driver, then?”
“Kurt. Kurt Hummel.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Kurt. I’m Blaine Anderson.”
Kurt’s phone vibrated from inside his bag. “Can you check that for me, please?” he asked Blaine.
“Sure.” Blaine took the phone out. “It’s from Sam. He said, ‘Can you stall for about half an hour? Some Warblers are running late.’” Blaine stared intensely at Kurt, a playful smile on his face.
“What the hell is a Warbler?” Kurt asked.
“Well, the Warblers are Dalton’s choir group.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. We didn’t make it past Sectionals this year, but hopefully next year we can go to Nationals.”
“We didn’t win Nationals this year,” Kurt said.
“Are you in the New Directions with Sam? Wait, forget that. Why are my friends going to see Sam? And what do you have to stall for?”
Kurt stayed silent as Blaine connected the dots.
“Oh my God, is he planning me a surprise party”
“Well, I don’t think it can be classed as a surprise party anymore, but yes.”
Blaine grinned. “Awesome. I’ve always wanted one of those.”
“You’re good at acting, right? I think Sam’s heart will literally break if you walk in there and you’re not shocked.”
“I’ll manage. I mean, Broadway is my dream, so I hope I’m somewhat of a decent actor.”
Kurt let out a small squeal. “Oh my God, I love Broadway. It’s my dream to be an actor too. Or a fashion designer.”
Blaine looked Kurt up and down, examining his outfit. “Well, your taste is certainly one of a kind.”
“Why, thank you.” Kurt felt his face heat up. He couldn’t be blushing… could he?
“Do you have any snacks in here?” Blaine asked.
“I don’t allow food in my car,” Kurt replied. “Sam told me to stall so do you want to go to a café or something?”
“That sounds great. Actually, I know just the place. It’s where the Warblers and I hang out if we finish practice early.”
Kurt rolled his eyes but followed Blaine’s directions anyway. It would probably be some ridiculously expensive place with chairs that will hurt his back.
Surprisingly, though, the café was small and homely with fair prices.
“Oh, this place is nice,” Kurt said. “And it smells incredible.”
“Yeah, it’s really comfortable here. It has a good vibe… if you understand me?”
“Yeah, totally. That’s how I feel about the Lima Bean.”
Blaine grinned wildly. “The Lima Bean? Oh, I love that place. The Warblers and I will drive all the way there just because their coffee is superior.”
Kurt tilted his head to the side and raised his left eyebrow ever so slightly. He had been complaining about driving to Westerville to pick up an entire human, but Blaine would go to Lima for coffee?! And the coffee wasn’t even that good. “So, you’ve been to Lima?”
“Yeah, of course. Mostly for Sam, but sometimes the atmosphere is just so much better there.”
“What’s Westerville like?”
Blaine’s smile faltered for a brief second. “I guess it depends on who you are. I’m sure that most kids who go to Dalton would say Westerville is amazing in a heartbeat. But I don’t think it is. I love the Warblers but that’s about it. Classes are stressful, my parents are…” Blaine sighed. “Truth be told, Dalton wasn’t a choice of mine. It was more of a necessity. An escape route.”
“What do you mean?” Kurt asked gently.
“Um,” Blaine looked around the room, “I’ll get our coffees, you sit here. I’ll tell you when I come back.”
Kurt waited patiently for Blaine’s return and noticed how different Blaine was from how he had originally envisioned him. Blaine was easy to talk to, kind, funny, and sort of comforting.
After a few minutes, Blaine came back to the table with two drinks. “Here,” he said as he passed Kurt his cup.
“I have to apologise,” Kurt said. “You’re not- you’re really-” He cleared his throat.” I think you’re really cool. And I never really use that word.”
“Why are you sorry for thinking that?”
“I didn’t want to come here, and I sort of got it in my head that you’d be awful and preppy, so I wasn’t as welcoming to you as I should have been. So, I’m sorry.”
“Apology accepted.” Blaine offered him a warm smile.
“So, uh, what about me? Did I live up to any of your expectations?” Kurt asked teasingly.
“Well, Sam told me that my driver would be a total cutie, and I completely agree.”
Kurt blushed and ducked his head. “Thanks. So, how was Dalton an escape route?”
“Dalton has a zero-tolerance policy on bullying.”
“Right.”
“And my old school… didn’t.”
Kurt’s expression softened. “Why were you bullied?” he asked in a low voice.
“Because I’m gay. No one cared so I just left.”
“I’m sorry. I can sort of relate to you.”
Blaine stared at Kurt knowingly. “Oh. Are you that friend of Sam’s? What was his name- Karofsky? Did he bully you?”
Kurt nodded shyly. “It’s okay now. Well, as okay as it can be, I guess. I’m okay.”
“You’re… really brave, Kurt.”
“Thank you.”
“Could I get your number? It’d be really cool to be able to see you again after today. Guys like us, you know. We have to stick together.”
“Yeah, I’d love that.” Kurt handed his phone over to Blaine so he could copy the number into his own.
“And- okay, I know this is a little quick but- could I take you out sometime? Coffee, dinner, a movie?”
Kurt longed to say yes, but deep down he was aware that he had to be reasonable and actually get to know Blaine before jumping into anything serious. “Let’s be friends for a while first, alright?”
Blaine rolled his eyes and chuckled. “Okay, fair enough.”
Kurt took a sip of his coffee and looked at Blaine over the top of the cup. Blaine was adorable.
“Stop staring at me,” Blaine said, winking playfully.
Kurt didn’t say anything and smiled.
“So, do you have your surprised face down?” Kurt asked Blaine as they waited in the parking lot for Sam’s text.
“Totally, look.” Blaine gasped overdramatically and put a hand on his chest. “Oh, my God! A surprise party?! For Me?!”
Kurt softly punched Blaine’s arm. “Ha, ha. Very funny.”
Blaine abruptly pulled Kurt into a hug. “Thank you. For keeping me company today.”
Kurt hugged him back. “It was fun, actually.” His phone vibrated. “That’s Sam. Time to go in.”
Blaine grinned and practically ran to the outside door of the choir room.
“Hey, slow down!” Kurt yelled and chased after Blaine. “It’s a surprise party, remember!”
“Right, yeah.” Blaine waited impatiently for Kurt to push open the door to the choir room. He took Blaine’s hand and led him inside.
“Surprise!” Sam and a group of guys that Kurt didn’t recognise yelled.
Blaine let out a gasp and threw his hands into the air. “Oh, my God! What?! I had no- this is so surprising! Sam, you shouldn’t have!”
Sam grinned and embraced Blaine tightly. “Happy Birthday, dude.”
“You even got all the Warblers here!” Blaine exclaimed.
Sam nodded proudly and lowered his voice and said, “How did it go with Kurt?”
“Great, really. He’s as amazing as you said. Thank you so much for setting us up. He just wants to be friends for now but I’m working on it.”
“No problem, dude.” Sam gestured for the Warblers to join him as he sang, “Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday, dear Blaine, Happy Birthday to you.”
Blaine made his way over to the cake that was placed on top of the piano. Kurt stood on the other side of the cake, smiling brighter than the candles.
Blaine took a deep breath, blew out the candles, and made a wish.
I wish that Kurt Hummel will be mine one day.