Right below the sugar wrapper was a piece of paper with a sign - Reserved for Blaine. It was neatly written in Kurt's handwriting and there was a little heart with a smiley face next to it. Blaine ran his thumb over it, still considering it one of his most precious possessions...

Blaine had seen Kurt perform with his band but he had to admit that they got better after summer break. The pub was full and Blaine was happy that he had his small table. He was sipping his cola and wondering whether Kurt would stop by now, when they finished, or if he should go home. He didn't make any formal plans for the evening with Kurt. They talked on the phone a bit two nights in a row but neither of them said anything about post concert hanging out.

"You're still here!" Kurt exclaimed excitedly and took a free chair from a nearby table to sit next to him.

"Was I not supposed to be?"

"No! I'm glad that you're here. You have that movie marathon tomorrow so I wasn't sure how long you would stay."

"It's not that late."

"What are you drinking?"

"Cola."

"Just cola?"

"Yeah."

"Do you want something stronger? Beer? Wine? Vodka?" Kurt asked and stood up, waving at a bartender to come to them.

"I'm not even twenty yet." Blaine protested, making Kurt laugh.

"You want me to believe that you never have something alcoholic?"

"Not in public…"

"Two beers, please." Kurt told to a bartender and put his attention back to Blaine. "So what do you say? Did you like us?"

"You were fantastic! Much better than last time I heard you. Not that you weren't good then but damn, Kurt, you guys rock!"

"Thanks. When was the last time you saw our band? I thought you'd never seen us play."

"You really think there is a student at NYADA that hasn't been to your concerts yet? You are a legend, Kurt! Everybody wants to see you in action." Kurt shifted on his chair, casting his sight on the table. Blaine could swear he was blushing but it was hard to tell in a dimly lit corner of the bar they were sitting in.

"It makes me feel a bit better, you know...that you saw me. I don't feel like such a creep for watching you all this time..." Kurt admitted.

"Oh, it's flattering, actually. I would have never imagined that you could take such an interest in me."

"Are you kidding me? You consider me a legend but YOU are the one who got into NYADA right after audition! No one ever accomplished that before you swept Carmen off her feet."

"She was in a good mood…" Blaine shrugged his shoulders as if it was nothing to get into the most prestigious performing arts school in country on the spot. People were talking about it for a while but the sensation got old after few weeks. Kurt...well, that was a different story. Everybody talked about Kurt constantly. About his performance at Winter Showcase that got him in. Or about his victory at Midnight Madness - which Blaine was particularly sad to miss since it had happened a year before he came to New York. Seeing Kurt win against Rachel Berry would be a treat. Then there was Kurt's band that was slowly making a name for itself in the city and, of course, Kurt's heroic action when he wanted to help a guy who was being beaten up that landed him into a hospital for a few days. And not to mention how he killed it on their Sondheim assignment right after he was released. Even with bruises, cuts and scratches, Blaine was mesmerized with his beauty. He'd almost approached him then. But before he got a chance, Kurt was surrounded by his family and friends so, instead, he left.

"You are too modest, Blaine. I like it, though. It's a nice change after dealing with Santana and Rachel who are everything but."

"Rachel is very self-centered," Blaine stated, expressing his opinion clearly. "She is very talented; I will give her that. But I think she is just a spoiled brat who doesn't know how to take direction. Who in their right mind would drop out of NYADA? And then quit a show as Funny Girl? Well, a self-centered brat who wants the world to revolve around her. That's the only explanation I found when I tried to understand why she would leave Broadway for a TV show that is about her. Thousands of people apply for NYADA every year and only very few of them get in! She left and her spot is free now. Someone else could have been there, taking advantage of the opportunity for a great education."

"Wow," Kurt said, impressed. "What a speech."

"I would say sorry for talking like that about your friend but I'm not sorry, so I'm not gonna lie."

"She is one of my best friends," Kurt folded his arms on his chest, his expression unreadable.

"Well, it's not a reason to blindly justify her actions." Blaine argued. "My best friend was a male striper for a while during high school because he wanted to provide for his family. Am I gonna say it was right and that he wasn't stupid to do something like that? No! It was stupid and I told him just that. If she is your friend, you should help her to see how foolish she is."

"I did." Kurt replied. "I told her what I thought about it and we got into a fight. Like five minutes before I was beaten up this spring."

"Oh…"

"You are something else, Blaine Anderson. I like your fierce attitude. And yes, you are right. She is a spoiled brat but you don't know much about her beside what you heard from others so don't be too harsh on her. She might have done some things differently but who are we to judge? It's not like we're flawless, right? I'm pretty sure you would like her. But I do understand, now, why you were so offended when you told me last week that you are not Rachel Berry."

"Maybe we should change the topic."

"Okay. I already know where you're from but I still don't know where you currently live..."

"Bowery."

"No way! I'm so jealous. I'm stuck in Bushwick! How can you afford that?"

"My parents. And my roommate pays half of the rent so it's not that bad. We lived in Brooklyn but my parents didn't like the neighborhood. We moved out as soon as Sam got the job with a modeling agency. He earns good money. I live mostly from what my parents send me every month."

"I live in a loft. I love the place but I don't like the surroundings. We found it when we first came to New York and couldn't afford anything else. It was me, Santana and Rachel. Now it's only me. Santana moved in with her girlfriend and Rachel is in L.A. My dad forces me to look for something better. Safer. Especially after the attack…"

"Aren't you afraid there? All alone?"

"Not really. Nothing happened to me there."

"You were beaten up…"

"Yeah, I was. Not in Bushwick though."

"So are you looking for a new apartment now?"

"I am," Kurt sighed. "But I can't find anything that strikes my fancy for a reasonable price…"

"I know what you mean…"

"It's a bit loud here. Can I walk you home? We can have better talk outside." Kurt suggested and Blaine agreed. They finished their beers, Kurt quickly told his bandmates that he was leaving and they were off to the night city.

It took them almost hour to get to Blaine's apartment. Blaine was trying to convince Kurt that it wasn't necessary to go with him all the way. He would, in fact, prefer if Kurt would take a train straight home before midnight but Kurt wouldn't have any of it. After getting tired of arguing, Kurt at least promised Blaine not to go to Bushwick and spend the night on Elliot's couch because Elliot lived just next to the subway station. Blaine was somehow satisfied with this solution, even though he still didn't like Kurt wandering the city alone at night.

Except for this little inconvenience, the walk home was very pleasant. Kurt finally told Blaine about his internship at Vouge dot com and Blaine shared the stories about how he supported Sam at his auditions. He filled Kurt in why he was so sensitive about the jokes about his height and how people wrongly assumed he wanted to work as a model - which he wasn't tall enough for as they reminded him daily - when he accompanied Sam.

"We're here." Blaine stopped in front of the staircase to the four story building. "The subway station is right down the street. I would walk you there but I don't want to fight again."

"You worry too much, Blaine. I can take care of myself."

"The city can be dangerous."

"I know. But it's Friday night. There'll be lot of people who are going out tonight in trains. It'll be like taking a train during the day." Kurt assured him.

"Just be careful, okay?"

Kurt smiled and stepped closer to Blaine. He kissed his cheek softly and wrapped his arms around Blaine's shoulders in a quick hug.

"I will. I'll text you when I'm at Elliot's apartment. Go to sleep, enjoy your Star Wars marathon tomorrow and I'll see you at dinner on Sunday."

"Can I walk you home on Sunday for a change?"

"No," Kurt giggled. "But nice try. Goodnight, Blaine."

"Goodnight, Kurt." Blaine watched Kurt's lithe steps until he disappeared in the subway station. He never told Kurt that he did not go to sleep right away. He stayed up another hour, waiting for Kurt's text and only when he was certain Kurt was safe, he let the dreamland reign over him.