Blaine was nervous. It'd been a long time since someone outside of his group of friends came to his apartment just to hang out. What had seemed like a great idea yesterday, didn't appeal as such a good thing today. Why in his right mind would he have done this? How was he supposed to spend the whole evening with Kurt,, of all people? It was one thing to keep light conversation at the party and completely different doing it in private. Kurt would never become his friend. Not after Blaine was more than likely going to screw everything up.

You should have prepared conversational topics! Jesus, why do I want to impress him so much? Blaine's mind had been going into overdrive for almost two hours now. Because you need someone new in your life and he is perfect. It's okay to be freaking out. It's your first chance to make a friend in years. It'll be okay, he justified to himself. He took a deep breath to slow his heart beat down. It would have helped if his phone hadn't started ringing. He is cancelling. Oh my god! I managed to scare him off before he even got here.

"Hello?"

"Blainey! Is Kurt there yet?"

"Nick?" Blaine needed to ask. Of course, he knew it was Nick. He should have known it the moment the phone had rang because Nick had his own ringtone. But Blaine wasn't functioning properly.

"Sure. Who else would it be? Don't you tell me that you have set MY ringtone to someone else?"

"No. I didn't. You're the only person who I would willingly let my phone play like a virgin for."

"You still hate that song." Nick laughed.

"Two more months, Nick. Two more months and I'm out of that stupid bet!"

"You will be so used to that song that you won't want to change it, you'll see."

"Not going to happen." Blaine assured him.

"So, Kurt?"

"He's not here yet…"

"Call us in the middle of your movie night, okay? We would definitely join you if we weren't busy with getting laid tonight."

"Good luck."

"Thanks, man. Love you. Say hello to Kurt."

"Was it the only reason you called?"

"Yes."

"What are you and Jeffrey up to, Nicholas?"

"Nothing. I swear. Just…"

"What?"

"Don't fall in love with him, okay? He isn't available…Although he is perfect for you. Such a shame really…"

"Nick, I invited him over to hang out because it's nice to have someone outside of the theatre community around. I'm not looking for a boyfriend. Don't worry. I'm not going to have my heart broken over a taken guy. Okay?"

"Okay. Take care Blaine."

"Enjoy your hook up."

"Oh, I will." Blaine chuckled at his friend's antics and disconnected the call. He was about to check on his wine collection for the thousandth time that evening when there was a buzz at the door. He picked up his home phone, highly aware that the time had come.

"Mr. Anderson. Mr. Hummel is here to see you."

"Thank you, Thomas. Please, send him up."

Thirty-six seconds later, the elevator door opened and Kurt walked in.

"Hi." He said with a smile and Blaine's fears disappeared immediately.

"Welcome."

"Thanks…uhm…here." Kurt handed him a bottle of wine. "I wasn't sure if you like red or white wine better so I brought rose." He said shyly.

"Kurt, you didn't have to worry. I have a vinotéque full of all kinds of wine."

"Well, I couldn't come here empty handed." Kurt stated and his eyes were challenging Blaine to try and say a word.

"Yes, you could." Blaine dared to object and before Kurt had a chance to form a remark, Blaine beat him to it. "What do you have in the bowl?"

"Our dinner?"

"Are you kidding me?" Blaine's eyebrows went up, amusement written all over his face. Kurt took a step back, not sure what he was supposed to do.

"You said you only eat in restaurants or you order take out. I thought you would like to have a homemade meal for a change?" Kurt let his sentence linger in the air as a question.

"You are unbelievable, you know that?"

"Am I?"

"Kurt, you're my guest. I was ready to take care of everything – drink, food, snacks…"

"It's just a bottle of wine and chicken salad…"

"Okay. Come in. There is no point in arguing now, is there? I should have told you to bring just yourself." Blaine took a bowl from his hand and led them further into the apartment.

"I wouldn't have…" Kurt noted, making Blaine stop in his tracks and turn around to face him again.

"Wouldn't have what?".

"I wouldn't have come without anything to eat or drink…"

"Even though I would have told you not to bring anything?"

"What if it was the other way around? Would you come to hang out with me at my apartment without bringing anything with you?" Kurt Hummel – 1, Blaine Anderson – 0.

They made themselves comfortable on Blaine's huge sofa. Blaine poured the wine Kurt had brought and they put the first Disney movie that caught their eyes in, although if you would ask Kurt the next day what it was he wouldn't be able to tell you. The movie went forgotten as they talked for hours.

"I can't believe you own every single Disney movie known to man. Alongside the whole Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings collections." Kurt teased Blaine when he opened the second bottle of wine carefully chosen from his vinotéque and turned off the TV that wasn't holding their interest anyway.

"Hey! Don't act like you don't have a Harry Potter collection!"

"Yes, of course I do. At home. In my old room. I didn't take it with me when I moved out because it belongs to my childhood. I admit, I brought my amazing collection of musicals and I might or might not have thrown a few Disney movies in there as well but seriously Blaine? You have a whole bookcase full of children's movies."

"I have my collection at home as well…" Blaine murmured.

"What?!"

"In my old room, at home. There is the exact same bookcase…"

"You bought DVD's you already have?"

"No. It was always here. I mean, I always got or bought two copies of any movie I was interested in. So I could have it at home and here as well."

"I don't understand." Kurt looked at his glass, thinking maybe he should stop drinking.

"This is my home. Partially."

"Yeah, you live here."

"How do you think I can afford a penthouse?"

"I don't know. You probably earn a lot of money from your album sales…and you are very successful on Broadway so…" Kurt shrugged his shoulders and Blaine laughed then for a long time and Kurt was confused.

"Kurt, I earn a lot of money from my music but definitely not enough to buy a penthouse."

"No, but you can afford to rent it, right? For Christ sake Blaine, you live here!"

"I don't own it nor rent it. It belongs to my father's company. We used to spend every school holiday here so my dad could do his business properly. Hence the movie collection. So I wouldn't get bored here."

"Didn't you say you were from Ohio?"

"Yes. I am. My mom grew up in Ohio and she loved it there – god only knows why. She didn't want to raise her kids in a big city so we lived in Westerville but went for holiday here. My dad didn't like being apart from family for too long…He flew back and forth every other week so he wouldn't miss on us growing up. When I finished high school, he decided to retire. My cousin became CEO of the company but my father is still owner of about seventy percent of its shares. We have unlimited access to this apartment. That's why I'm here. Nick and Jeff used to live here as well but then they found out it's more of disadvantage than an advantage and moved out." Blaine explained his eyes fixed on the floor. He had never told this to anyone. Everyone he had ever met just assumed that he was a lucky rich kid whose parents took care of him – not that it wasn't true but merely the thought that Kurt considered him capable enough to buy this because of his success was thrilling.

"Wow…I…" Kurt was speechless. He was mad at himself that he had made fun of Blaine when clearly Blaine needed movies so he could survive here alone and make it feel more like home.

"I don't want you to think that I'm some spoiled brat who can't appreciate things…" Blaine whispered.

"I don't think you are a spoiled brat, Blaine. I think you're a really nice and friendly person. I gotta tell you, I don't like Broadway people but you and your friends are so different…"

"Why don't you like them?" Blaine asked, curiosity getting the better of him.

"Rachel made a debut on Broadway in her freshman year in NYADA. There were lots of opening nights and charity events and awards and all those after parties and her agent told her to attend them. It was a way to gain contacts and…you know how it works. She didn't have a boyfriend and her NYADA friends – if you even can call them friends – were ready to stab her in the back anytime so I was the only one to accompany her. I'm not saying that all of those nights I spent with her or Adam at a party I didn't enjoy myself. There were some really good events but unfortunately most of them were disasters. When people found out I wasn't an aspiring Broadway wannabe and that I studied journalism at NYU they were conceited and their mock politeness just got on my nerves…" They stayed silent for a while. Blaine knew what Kurt was talking about. It took him two years to realize how people in the industry could be and he didn't make an attempt to be more than mock polite with anybody new until Kurt appeared.

"What did Violet do to you? Jeff said you were annoyed when your boyfriend went to talk to her yesterday."

"Do you like her?" Kurt questioned him.

"No, why?"

"I just needed to know if it's safe to tell you the original story or if I should edit it a little."

"Original, please. I don't like the woman at all. She is a stuck-up bitch." Blaine emptied his glass and poured some more wine as he needed it if they were going to get into discussion about her.

"Well, it was after Rachel's first year on Broadway, almost four years ago…We went to a party, I don't remember what the occasion was but it was really big party with many people there and too much glitter all around. Violet came to Rachel and introduced herself. She started to talk to her and praised her talent. Then she looked at me and with a sweet voice asked me: Oh, my dear, did I see you in the production with Rachel?" Kurt's imitation of the woman was so perfect that Blaine burst into laughter.

"I said, very sweetly might I add, No, you didn't. I'm not in any Broadway play." Blaine leaned closer to Kurt, listening intently to him.

"Oh, don't give up hope. You are so young. Not every NYADA student gets his chance in his student's years. Patience is a virtue." Kurt wiggled and raised his glass, then slowly sipped wine and fluttered his eyelashes, causing another laughter fit on Blaine's side.

"So I told her that indeed, I am a student but at NYU and that I am aiming to become a successful journalist. She didn't take it well. You should have seen how her demeanor changed. She turned to Rachel and asked her if she was sure about her choice of friends and that people like me are most likely just using someone famous to get their personal stuff into tabloids. She went on and on about how I was going to use her and how one day – if you are not careful, darling – she would end up with an uncensored biography of her personal life full of crap written by me."

"Oh my god! Did you say something to her?"

"Yes. I told her very politely that I don't have to resort to selling information about my friends to tabloids and that I feel sorry for her because her personality probably prevents decent people from being around her and that's most likely how SHE ended up with an uncensored biography of her personal life full of crap that was written by someone she considered friend."

"You didn't!" Blaine shouted, totally thunderstruck.

"Oh yes, yes, I did. Since then, she sends me dirty looks whenever we see each other. Rachel hasn't got any parts in any shows she's produced."

"She can be vengeful…So you didn't want your boyfriend to work for her? That was why you were mad yesterday?"

"No. Not at all. I don't mind him going for a role in something she produces. It's part of his job. I was mad because he knows how I don't like going to those parties because there is rarely someone to talk to on a standard level and I usually just stay next to him, looking pretty and smiling while he is joined in a conversation with whoever he meets there. If I had known he needed to talk to her; I wouldn't have gone with him. He dragged me there fully aware that I would have to spend some time alone. If you guys hadn't been there, I would have just left the moment I found out."

"I'm glad we could help." Blaine smiled at him.

"Why don't you like her?"

"She told me that being gay is nothing new in theatre community and that I should come up with something more interesting to attract attention. I tried to explain that it's not…It doesn't matter." Kurt felt uneasy after Blaine's last statement. There was something more he wasn't willing to share but Kurt wasn't going to call him out on that. After all it was only the third time he had spoken to the guy. They were acquaintances. Kurt hoped they were on their way to becoming more but right now he could hardly say they were close enough to talk about something that made them uncomfortable. Kurt drank the rest of his wine and Blaine poured him some more straight away.

"Wait. We need to eat something." Kurt said and stood up, wobbling a little.

"We have snacks."

"It's time for dinner if we don't want to get totally wasted."

"Okay…where are you going?" Blaine whined. He liked Kurt sitting next to him. He didn't feel alone when Kurt was there right beside him.

"I'll bring the salad. Can we eat on your terrace? I think the fresh air will do us good."

"Sure."

"Okay. Wait for me there, ok?"

"No! I'll go get the salad, you're my guest."

"Jesus, Blaine. Just go outside!" Kurt ordered in a firm voice, making Blaine reconsider whether it was wise to argue with him. It wasn't, Blaine decided, opening the big glass doors and stepping into a chilly early spring evening. He came to a banister, looking down at the amazing view of the central park. The view that had a calming effect on him. Closing his eyes he took a deep breath, pleading his heart to stop beating so fast. He remembered Nick's word from earlier. Easier said than done. While he knew falling for Kurt would be easy, he was also aware it would be utterly stupid. He couldn't afford being hopelessly in love with someone who could never love him back because he didn't have time to be heartbroken. There were so many things he was supposed to do in the next few months. Recording of a new album, giving his best performance in the theatre, helping with a non-profit organization that helped retain music programs at schools…Work, work and then some more work. He loved it but sometimes he wished he could go out like Nick and Jeff and lose it for a night. The saddest part of it all was that he was the only one keeping himself from fulfilling his wishes of nights filled with laughter and fun in the city. Everything because he was scared. He let his fears dictate how to live his life and in the end he was sheltered in a big, two story, and four bedroom penthouse with a great view of New Your City which he didn't have someone to share with. He turned his head to the left and saw Kurt behind the kitchen window. He was dancing around the room, roaming through cupboards, probably in an attempt to find some plates to serve the salad on. Blaine had to admit it was an even better view than the one of the city. His mind went to a place that wasn't safe – imagining how it would be if there was someone who would spend their evenings here, who would maybe cook dinner or tease Blaine to no end for always, ordering their meal…Someone like Kurt. Or Kurt himself. The thought brought Blaine back to earth. Yeah, they needed to eat something and sober a little. Blaine laid his eyes on the park again. A single tear found its way down his cheek without him even realizing it. Another followed closely behind.

"Are you okay?" A soft voice accompanied with a gentle hand on his shoulder startled Blaine.

"Yeah, yeah." Blaine swiftly wiped his tears and offered what he hoped would be a bright smile. "It's a little windy and my eyes are really sensitive…"

"Would you prefer eating inside?" Kurt asked and reached out for the plates he'd placed on the table previously.

"No. Let me bring blankets. I'll be right back."

"Okay." Kurt agreed with a nod, once again suspecting there was something more behind Blaine's words and actions but still too afraid to bring the topic up. He was enjoying the view waiting for Blaine to come back when his phone rang.

"Hi baby." He answered the call with too much enthusiasm and he prayed Adam wouldn't find out he was slightly intoxicated.

"Hi darling. I just left theatre and I thought I could stop by?"

"Oh…I'm sorry but I'm not home yet."

"Well, you must be having a great time at Blaine's then."

"Yeah. We are about to eat chicken salad I brought. You can go to my apartment and wait for me. I'll finish my meal and I'm on my way…"

"No. I'll go home. I don't want to cut your night short. See you tomorrow for lunch, okay?"

"Are you sure? Because I can leave…"

"No. Stay. Had I known you were still there I wouldn't have called you. Have fun. Love you."

"Love you too…" Kurt put his phone on the table and saw Blaine standing inside by the door with blankets in his hands, his back facing him.

"What are you doing there?" Kurt shouted so Blaine could hear him. Blaine spun to face him and came outside.

"You were on the phone…"

"It was just Adam. He wanted to stop by at mine."

"Oh…Do you still have time to eat dinner?"

"Sure. He decided to go home. I'm all yours until you kick me out." Kurt could have sworn Blaine's eyes shined as he was looking at him. Blaine had beautiful eyes. Kurt liked looking into them. He was playing with fire. He somehow managed to keep Blaine out of his dreams up until now but staring intently into his eyes would surely throw him back into his deliberate insomnia. He couldn't bring himself to care though.