July 20, 2012, 8:29 a.m.
Counting Every Star: Little Ditty On Our Way To Ocean City
E - Words: 3,034 - Last Updated: Jul 20, 2012 Story: Closed - Chapters: 16/? - Created: Mar 18, 2012 - Updated: Jul 20, 2012 365 0 1 0 0
Kurt found himself with Blaine more often than he was not around the hyperactive boy. Blaine quickly came out of his own shell, becoming more playful and happier around Kurt.
"We can try to go to the beach again," Blaine said the next Saturday as they lounged on the Adirondack chairs on the wraparound porch of the house. "Or we could go shopping at the promenade?"
Kurt huffed out a breath, "That all sounds really boring; I don't want to do any of it. I can't believe this place has even less to do than Lima!"
Blaine pouted his bottom lip out, "Come on, Kurt. I took the day off to spend with you – the least you could do is entertain me."
Kurt crossed his legs and thought for a moment, "Well what else is there to do in Cape May?"
Blaine thought for a moment, "The zoo, the lighthouse, the beach, there are some museums but nothing special…"
"Ugh!" Kurt groaned again and put his head in his hands. Work had been terrible that week and he just wanted to something fun to take his mind off of the week he'd had. "What about outside of Cape May? I do have a car."
"As do I," Blaine reasoned.
"We are not taking the hunk of junk you call a car!" Kurt gasped, "My dad is a mechanic and I do not want to blow up halfway to some other beach town."
"Fine," Blaine thought for a moment, "We could go to one of the boardwalks? The one in Wildwood is probably crazy tonight, but we could try Ocean City? It's bound to be just as busy but I like it better. Less freaks, more normal people."
Kurt shuddered thinking about what Blaine labeled as freaks and what he labeled as normal. He still couldn't get quite a read on how Blaine felt about him. The boy would often shy away from him in certain situations when they got too close or Blaine looked like he was about to say something. "I guess we could go there. Is there really anything to do during the day?"
"Games," Blaine thought for a moment, "we could ride go karts or play in the arcades? The rides aren't really fun until it gets dark though. But we could totally go to this little pizza place. It sells the best pizza you will ever taste. I'm serious. The sauce and the cheese are perfect and the way the pepperoni just complements it…oh my god."
Kurt laughed loudly at Blaine, "You are going to marry a chef and quickly become one of those men who cannot leave their bed, I know it."
"You know nothing," Blaine stuck his tongue out at Kurt, "let's get going before the crowd picks up."
"Race you to the car?" Kurt was already standing and moving before Blaine even answered the question.
"No fair! Cheater!" Blaine jumped off the stairs and ran, nearly dragging Kurt down as he grabbed him around the waist and pulled, successfully picking him up.
"I'm going to win this way," Kurt laughed as Blaine carried him toward the car, legs sticking up awkwardly.
Blaine quickly and deftly turned around, running backwards until his butt hit the car, "I win!" he yelled before dropping Kurt who only had a moment to scramble and catch himself before falling. "That means I get to pick the radio station!"
Kurt climbed into the car, "I have a feeling I'm going to regret letting you catch me."
"You did not let me catch you," Blaine pulled on his seat belt and started pushing the buttons, "I caught you because I am fast!"
"Your short little legs cannot carry you fast," Kurt heard the beats on the radio and moved his hand to change it, "No."
"Yes!" Blaine laughed and turned the music up and put the window down, "I threw a wish in the well, Don't ask me, I'll never tell! I looked to you as it fell, and now you're in my way."
"No," Kurt laughed as Blaine tried to grab his hand dramatically, "Don't you dare."
"I'd trade my soul for a wish, pennies and dimes for a kiss," Blaine puckered his lips distractingly enough that Kurt stopped listening to his GPS and almost missed the exit. "I wasn't looking for this, but now you're in my way."
"My hand is about to be in the way of your mouth," Kurt commented again as he sharply turned the car.
"Your stare was holdin'. Ripped jeans, skin was showin' hot night, wind was blowin'. Where you think you're going, baby?" Blaine was singing and acting out the part of the song dramatically, his eyes wide with laughter as Kurt got exponentially more exasperated.
But nothing could prepare Kurt for what was next. They were in the early morning traffic stopped, so Blaine took full advantage.
There were a few old women in the car next to them, their windows down, enjoying the ocean breeze even far away from the shoreline. Blaine stuck his head out the window and nearly screamed the next lyrics, "Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy, but here's my number. So call me, maybe?" Blaine held up his phone to his ear and gave the ladies a thumbs up. Kurt tried to put his seat back further to avoid being seen. "It's hard to look right at you baby, but here's my number. So call me, maybe?"
Kurt took the momentary distraction of Blaine singing to the women to deftly reach over and quickly switch the radio off, "Are you crazy?" he laughed, using his buttons to put the window up and switch on the child lock.
Blaine pouted and tried the button, "You child locked me?" He crossed his arms over his chest as the traffic started moving. Kurt quickly wove through the traffic to get away from the older women.
"I did," Kurt took the next exit, "Those little old ladies probably have little, lonely, old husbands at home who don't have the hearts to have their women flirting with young, handsome, dapper men like you."
Blaine batted his eyelashes, "You really think I'm handsome?"
Kurt could feel the blush creep up his neck, "I do."
Blaine reached over to grab Kurt's hand, "Hey, don't be embarrassed. I'm flattered, I really am."
"You're a really weird straight man," Kurt blurted out without thinking.
Blaine was startled for a minute, "That's because I'm not straight," he said lightly, "I thought you knew that."
Kurt nearly hit the brakes and stopped the car, "You aren't?"
Blaine shook his head, "No…I thought I told you?"
"You didn't, I'd remember," Kurt started intently at the road. If Blaine hadn't told him that he was gay, that obviously meant the Blaine didn't want him to know.
"Are you out?" Kurt asked, trying to make his tone conversational.
"Yeah," Blaine seemed a little awkward, "I just…I really thought I told you."
Kurt wondered why Blaine didn't want him to know he was gay. Did Blaine automatically assume that if Kurt knew, he would develop feelings?
Kurt hated to admit that he'd developed some sort of feelings for Blaine the day they met, and then again when they started being friends.
He hated even more to admit that knowing there was some small semblance of a chance with the perfect boy sitting next to him only provoked his inappropriate thoughts. "You didn't," he said quietly.
"Hey, I'm out and proud," Blaine swallowed thickly, "I guess I thought you could just…just tell. I could tell with you."
"Of course you could," Kurt snapped as gently as he could. He was momentarily distracted by the huge Ferris wheel in front of him, "is that the boardwalk?"
Blaine peered through the windshield, "It is."
Kurt deftly moved his car into the space and before he could even get out of the car, Blaine was putting quarters into the meter.
"We're staying here forever," he clapped happily and moved toward the ramp that would lead them to the boardwalk.
Kurt followed slowly behind him, still trying to comprehend all of the new information he had just gathered. Blaine was gay. Blaine, the boy he'd been terrified of, mystified with, and now best friends with, was gay.
And handsome.
And funny.
And smart.
And perfect.
And everything Kurt had ever wanted in anyone.
Blaine was standing in front of Kurt with his eyes searching the boy's face, "Are you okay? I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I just…I don't usually lead with it in discussion. I promise I didn't hide it from you with any malice of forethought. I just…you're amazing Kurt. I don't want to lose you. I don't want you to walk away and stop being my friend because of this. Me being gay changes nothing…absolutely nothing. Don't…don't think I'm going to be weird around you because we're both gay. I can't…"
"Blaine, you're babbling," Kurt laughed and put a calming hand on his shoulder, "I'm not mad at you. It is just something I didn't know…like your birthday or your mother's maiden name."
Blaine laughed and fell into step beside Kurt, "October fifth and Bautista. You?"
"September seventh and Philips," Kurt knew the air around them had changed; at least it had from his perspective. Things were thicker but in a good way. He felt the air of hope, of promise, of something deeper than friendship surrounding them. He glanced at Blaine and wished he could pause the moment. The ocean breeze caught Blaine's slightly long hair causing the curls to move in a waving pattern. His eyes were covered by aviator sunglasses but his smile was bright. He'd tanned even more in the past few days; his daily trips out on the boats with his campers were to blame.
"Go kart?" Blaine asked with a grin as he pointed to the track out on a pier. The pier jutted out into the water and looked slightly dangerous but Kurt felt the flare of excitement. If there was one stereotypical male thing Kurt could do, it was drive.
"Loser has to win the other a stuffed animal at one of the midway games?" Kurt offered with his hand proffered.
Blaine looked down at the hand with interest before shaking it, "You're on. You do realize you're going to lose though, correct?"
"You have no idea what I'm capable of, Anderson," Kurt handed five dollars to the man and ran to a newer looking teal go-kart. He strapped himself in and motioned to the hot pink car next to him, "This one is nice and manly."
"I'd never shy away from hot pink, it goes with my skin tone," Blaine shot back and he jumped into the go kart, "I honestly don't know what you're doing," he whispered as they watched the attendant belt a five year old little boy into his car.
Kurt stared at the track, "Eyes on the road, Anderson. Also, I like the teddy bears by the water pistols."
The light started changing as soon as the attendant moved away, and the screeching sound of tired on asphalt filled the air as they started flying around the track.
Kurt gently bumped the side of Blaine's car, pushing him over instead of forward. They were both screaming at the other over the loud noises. "Blaine you're so going down!"
"I don't think so, Lima!" Blaine pulled ahead momentarily as they turned the corner. Kurt had miscalculated the space he had and ended up having to slow down a lot to take the corner.
Halfway through the race, Kurt knew he'd have to outsmart Blaine instead of outdrive him. He allowed himself to inch forward a bit at a time so that Blaine wouldn't notice right away. "Got you," he yelled as he successfully got half of his car in front of Blaine.
Neither boy paid attention as the little boy zoomed past them, "SUCKERS!" he yelled as he crossed the finish line and the attendant motioned the game over.
"You suck!" the little boy yelled at Blaine as he helped Kurt out of his car, "You drive like a girl!"
"Timmy, be nice!" the mother scolded, "I'm sorry, he's still learning manners."
"I see," Kurt said coldly, afraid that the boy had hurt Blaine's feelings.
"That's okay, he's still learning to drive," the dad said with a laugh as the family walked away.
"Was I really that bad?" Blaine pouted.
"No, but you're still winning me a big teddy bear that will take your seat in the front of the car." Kurt grabbed Blaine's elbow and led him toward the midway.
"And where will I sit?" Blaine asked timidly.
"You will wallow over your loss in the back of the car," Kurt couldn't hold back the grin on his face, "Maybe if you're lucky I'll make him sit in the back."
"I hope I'm lucky," Blaine crossed his fingers as they walked up to the water shooting game.
"Think you can win this one?"
Blaine sat down on the stool and stared at the gun, "Of course I can win this. It's a simple game."
The woman at the game cracked her gum and looked down at Blaine, "What are you playing for?"
"The big brown teddy bear," Kurt said excitedly. "He's going to win it and then carry it around the boardwalk for me!"
"How sweet."
Blaine nodded, "Let's just play the game."
"You have to wait for another person if you want to win the biggest prize," the woman was bored and leaned against the game.
A small girl with curly blonde hair climbed up on the stool next to Blaine, "Mister, are you playing the game?"
Blaine looked at the girl and his eyes widened, "Yes I am. I'm going to win this nice boy here a huge teddy bear."
The little girl looked at Blaine for a second and then looked up at the big teddy bear, "Woah! I'd like that teddy bear."
Kurt held back a laugh at the look on Blaine's face. He stared down at the girl in wonder.
"Well maybe you can beat me. Are your parents around to give you money?" Blaine looked around for anyone that looked like they could be the small girl's parents. Kurt was positive they wouldn't let someone as precious as her out of their sight.
"No, I wanted to play the game!" she sat on her legs and reached over for the gun.
Blaine reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet, "She's playing too," he said to the attendant, "And they we're going to find your parents sweetie."
"Okay," she was serious about the game, her tongue sticking out the side of her mouth as the water began squirting from her gun. The people around Blaine were okay at the game, but his puppet was rising the fastest.
The little girl hadn't gotten hers to move.
Kurt watched as Blaine helped the little girl by moving her hands, successfully moving her stuffed monkey up the tube quickly. The bell rang and the light about the little girl went crazy.
"We have a winner," the attendant said loudly, pulling down the brown bear, "for this little girl right here. Ladies and gentleman, this little girl just beat everyone out."
The little girl squealed and grabbed for the teddy bear, almost tipping off of the stool. Blaine grabbed her and laughed, "Honey, where are your parents?"
The attendant grabbed her walkie talkie, "Angela to security, we have a little girl here who lost her parents."
"Check that, we have parents looking for a blonde little girl at the security station. Do you want us to come get her?"
"We can take her," Blaine offered as he motioned to Kurt and himself, "if we're allowed."
"Technically no," Angela sighed and looked at the people already sitting down, having seen the little girl win the big prize. "But it is only a football field away…"
"We'll be fine," Blaine crouched down to look at the girl, "I'm Blaine. My friend Kurt and I are going to take you back to your parents, is that okay?"
The girl nodded, "I'm Haley."
Blaine held out his hand seriously, "Nice to meet you Haley."
"Nice to meet you, Haley!" Kurt chimed in, "How about Blaine carries you back and I'll hold your teddy bear?"
Haley eyed him for a second before turning to Blaine and whispering something into his ear.
Blaine laughed for a second, his eyes twinkling, "No, he won't take your bear."
She nodded and handed the heavy stuffed animal over to Kurt, "Thank you." She held her arms up to Blaine who gladly picked her up and started walking toward the security office.
The walk took longer than they thought. Kurt kept bumping into people because he couldn't see them over the bear. Blaine was balancing Haley on his shoulders and they were singing.
When they arrived at the security office they were quickly greeted by a blonde man and a man with dark hair that was crying. "Haley!" they both cried and walked forward.
"Thank you for finding her!" the blonde man said.
"Thank you for taking care of our princess," the darker man was kissing her chubby cheeks, "Never do that again, sweetheart, you scared us so much. We didn't know where you were!"
She clutched onto her fathers, "I'm sorry, Daddies! I wanted a teddy bear!"
Kurt handed the teddy bear to the blonde father, "And she won one."
The man's face fell, "Haley, don't you think that teddy bear is a little big to take on the plane back home?"
Haley looked down at the bear and then back up to Kurt, "Will you take care of my bear for me?" she asked looking sadly at the brown fur.
"Of course," Kurt wanted to refuse, but knew it would only hurt the girl's feelings further. "I'll take care of her forever."
"Him," she said softly, "his name is Blaine."
Blaine turned seven shades of red and coughed, "Well thank you Miss Haley."
The fathers thanked the boys again and walked off with Haley, each of them holding one of the girl's hands.
"Blaine the Teddy Bear," Kurt joked as they made their way toward the shops.
"Shut up," Blaine laughed, "I didn't name him."
"Now I'll get to cuddle and sleep with Blaine the Teddy Bear every night," Kurt joked, strutting forward.
Blaine ran behind him, "It will never live up to the real thing."
Kurt winked but said nothing as the boardwalk filled with people and they became the ultimate tourists that walked in and out of every shop.
That night, while going around the brightly-lit Ferris Wheel sandwiched between Blaine the Teddy Bear and Blaine the Amazing Boy, Kurt swore he'd never had a better day in his entire life.
And it was just the start of summer.
Comments
Aw, Haley sounded absolutely adorable! I think the way you've written Blaine's interaction with kids is flawless