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Blaine stared at his phone for ten full minutes before he finally picked it up. It took him another five before he actually hit the ‘dial’ button.
“Hey man, what’s up?” Sam greeted, picking up Blaine’s call immediately.
“Oh, nothing much. W-What are you up to?” Blaine had no idea why he was so nervous, Sam had become his best friend over the last couple of weeks, but Blaine can feel his hands start to shake.
“Eh, I’m just watching some YouTube videos. The house is empty because everyone is visiting Carole’s sister in Toledo for the weekend, so I’m just watching a bunch of Elder Scrolls lore right now. What’s new with you? Or did I ask that already?” Blaine can almost picture Sam looking up at the ceiling as he tries to remember if he already asked what Blaine was up to, and he can’t help but smile.
“I’m kind of in the same boat, so I was wondering if you wanted to…I dunno, hang out or something. Unless Tamriel is really calling to you at the moment.”
“Nah, it’s cool. Do you want me to bring over some movies or something? Or we can always go bowling, I know Lima Lanes is open until midnight.” Sam suggests.
Blaine’s heart rises up to his throat. “Yeah, that sounds good! I do enjoy some bumper bowling…”
“I know dude. The one time you beat Santana, Tina and Finn, all you wanted to do was go bowling for weeks after. Do you want to just meet there or…?” Sam teases.
“I’ll just meet you there, if that’s cool. I’ll head out now!” Blaine says, immediately looking for a pair of socks.
“You’ll probably beat me there, so just get us all set up alright? See you in ten.”
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“Hey, I don’t want to bring the mood down, but um…can I ask you something?” Blaine asked, eating another french fry.
“Yes, we can play another round after you eat. I’m not doing much else tonight.” Sam says with a shrug, staring at Blaine’s plate.
“No, not about that. I mean, I’m glad you still wanna play, even after I just beat you. But my question is about Quinn, actually. You guys dated, right?” Blaine tries to broach the subject slowly, because he’s only heard bits and pieces of what happened, and he doesn’t want to upset Sam at all.
It only sort of works, because Sam visibly tenses before taking a deep breath in. “Yeah, we dated when I first came to Lima. What about her?”
“She…she cheated on you with Finn, yeah?” Blaine is having a hard time making eye contact with his best friend, and he feels slightly nauseous at the influx of emotions (and shitty bowling alley potatoes) stirring in his belly.
“Yeah. Santana used Finn’s stupid kissing booth to give them both mono while it happened. It’s um. Not a chapter I look back on nicely.” Sam’s voice sounds tired more than angry, which is what gives Blaine the courage to look up and meet his eyes.
“Did you ever forgive her? Or Finn? Like…did that scar you for life or anything?” Blaine kneads and folds his hands together underneath the table, trying to keep his nerves in check.
“Okay, I know this isn’t actually about me and Quinn, but I’m going to entertain your question anyway.” Sam’s smile is small, but it helps Blaine feel a little less nervous. “Forgiving Quinn wasn’t that hard, actually. I mean, yeah, it still hurts like hell if I think about it too hard, but she’s a really good person and I know that. When I saw her at church the week my house got foreclosed on, I knew she was somebody I could trust. Somebody who would have my back. Plus I think, after Beth and all, it was good for her to be around the little guys. My siblings really liked having her around. Finn was a little harder to get over, but I knew it wasn’t personal against me or anything. He was just really trying to get over Rachel I think, but he ended up making everyone more upset in the process, himself included. And now we’re roommates and play video games a good portion of the day. It’s kind of weird, with him helping run the glee club and all right now, but whatever. Does that make you feel any better?”
Blaine smiles a little, looking down at his lap. “Yeah, a little. But like…are you okay? Like, even if you knew it wasn’t personal, did that make dating Mercedes hard?”
“Not really. I mean yeah, I’ll never forget it, but I knew it was a one-off thing. Well, I mean, I knew she cheated on Finn with Puck, but that was another weird thing. I don’t think she really meant to hurt anyone either time. If I got cheated on again, I’d be fucking pissed though. But I knew Mercedes wasn’t that kind of girl. I’m okay now, Blaine. Time fixes a lot, and honestly? Perspective fixes a lot too.” Blaine tries to reach for another fry, but Sam grabs his hand before he makes it to the plate. “He’ll forgive you. I promise. It may not go back to what it was before, but that can be a good thing. Someday, when you’re adults, like real actual adults, you can write it off as teenage hormones or something. Ku-” Sam cuts himself off, unsure if Blaine can handle hearing his name. But he swallows and nods. “Blaine. Kurt will forgive you. I promise. He cares about you so much. What you guys have going on, that’s not something that will fade away overnight, and nothing he can just forget about. I’m gonna be honest and say I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t want to date again, at least not for a while, but he’ll be back. I promise. If, for no other reason than Burt and Carole still ask about you a bunch. You’re a part of him, and he’s always going to be a part of you. You’re gonna be okay, man. I promise.” Sam’s smile is warm, and Blaine can feel every single word echo inside his head.
“Thank you, Sam. Really. You’re the best best friend a man could ever ask for, you know that?” Blaine moves his hand to give Sam’s a squeeze, before they both let go and Blaine can continue eating his fries.
“Hell yeah I do. Now finish eating those half-cold oily monsters so I can beat you this time.”