Sept. 7, 2013, 2:04 a.m.
The Real Life: Chapter 15
E - Words: 2,110 - Last Updated: Sep 07, 2013 Story: Complete - Chapters: 24/24 - Created: Apr 03, 2013 - Updated: Sep 07, 2013 123 0 0 0 0
"Kurt? Are you going to talk to me?" Blaine asked as they were both in the main bedroom, Kurt silently packing what he would need for the next 48 hours.
"Well I take it the silence means you won't," Blaine said sadly, still packing but not putting much effort into it. Kurt kept his head resolutely down until he scanned the room quickly for anymore of his vital belongings and he left the room without a word to Blaine who hurriedly packed too.
"What are you going to do?" Anisa asked a fierce looking Kurt as he came back into the living area.
"What do you mean, 'what am I going to do?'" he asked annoyed, "I'll do what I do best: perfectly diva-like behaviour."
"Look I'm really sorry Kurt," she said quietly, begging with her wide eyes, "I just thought before all of this happened of course," she waved her hands indicating the mess with Blaine, "That you two might enjoy spending time alone in the house, that you would like it. I know you won't get evicted."
"You don't know that Anisa," Kurt finally snapped, "And if I go I'll have to endure 48 hours in isolation with someone that I'm not talking to."
"But I couldn't have known that," she said pleading, "The public are bound to vote for Sebastian."
"Let's hope so," Nicola said, coming closer and butting into the conversation. "Let's hope the public see sense. Will you be ok?" she asked Kurt almost as an aside but her eyes displayed her concern.
"Yeah I'll be ok," Kurt said calmly, setting himself to succeed, his back straight, his expression cold.
"I'm ready," Blaine said quietly as he came out of the room looking sheepishly at Kurt who shot him a look of daggers.
"Good, let's get this out of the way then," Kurt said.
"Will Kurt and Blaine please say their goodbyes and enter the diary room," a voice suddenly said and they did just that.
The apartment was actually nice. They had a simple two-seater sofa facing a television that was mounted on the wall and a small dining table with two chairs. They had a kitchen area with all necessary appliances and the wallpaper was a pale yellow with little pink flowers. It was muted and tasteful and although not to Kurt's standards of interior design it would suffice for their 48 hour stay. They had two twin beds that could be pushed together if they so desired but one look at Kurt, who stood there fiercely analysing this new apartment, his hip cocked to the side, Blaine knew they would be sleeping separately. Kurt walked to the bed nearest the wall and started unpacking his stuff, folding clothes neatly into the chest of drawers by his bed. They didn't have a wardrobe so Blaine did the same, placing his things in his own bedside cabinet. Kurt took his time, so when Blaine finished he surveyed the room as he sat on his own bed.
"This looks nice," he said quietly, anything to fill the uncomfortable silence but Kurt gave him nothing and he could only dip his head sadly. In order to feel less useless and sorry for himself, Blaine walked over to the kitchen area to find food and drink supplies. Opening cupboards above the appliances and looking inside the fridge, he discovered there was ample food for their stay and quite a range of treats to make their stay a little easier. Blaine spotted the selection of music and films as well as CD and DVD players. Although they couldn't watch live television or use the internet, their stay looked to be quite pleasant if only they could talk.
Blaine set about making fresh coffee as Kurt took a deliberately long time to unpack. He placed a steaming cup next to Kurt's bed on the table, the aroma making its way to Kurt's nose causing his stomach to alert him to the fact that he hadn't eaten in quite a while.
"Are you hungry?" Blaine asked but Kurt remained silent so he set about making something in the kitchen. He didn't know much about food but he could make a simple carbonara and he did. He was engrossed in his task for a while and took longer to discover that Kurt was simply watching him for a while from his place on his bed.
"Were you really that naïve with Sebastian?" Kurt asked after a long time, not enjoying the silence and really needing an answer.
Blaine looked up a little shocked to be asked the question. He was about to open his mouth to give Kurt the answer he thought he might want to hear, then he closed his mouth again. He thought over Sebastian's actions recently and felt stupid. Of course he had known. Of course he had seen how Sebastian looked at him and so obviously disliked Kurt. He thought back to his casually flirty behaviour and how he had annoyed him over his stupid comments about sex. Then he looked back at Kurt to see his sad expectant expression. Kurt seemed to know the answer already and he simply nodded. Kurt got up to walk towards the diary room that was between the two parts of the house and he closed the door quietly behind him.
"Hello Kurt," the emotionless voice said, "How are you enjoying your stay in the separate apartment?"
"Oh it's great," he said bitterly, "I'm trapped in there with the only person I'm not really talking to. It's going to be a fun 48 hours."
The voice obviously didn't know what to say, not allowed to give advice and not really required to comment.
"What is holding you back from forgiving Blaine?" the voice finally said.
"I think I need him to know how much his nonchalance hurt me, I need him to fight a little," he said quietly as if he felt childish asking for it.
"Do you think Blaine wants to fight?"
Kurt looked a little taken aback, his eyes wide at the thought.
"I hope so," he said sadly, "I really hope so."
"We have decided to allow you and Blaine an extra treat during your stay here," the voice continued, "Do you remember what was taken away from you in your first task?"
Kurt had to think about it for a moment but then he smiled.
"My red jeans and Blaine's hair gel?"
"Yes."
"Blaine's hair has looked pretty cute with rationed gel," he said thinking carefully, "I'm not sure I want him to have it back just yet."
"Well both of your items will be given back to you within the hour. If you come into the diary room then you can decide if Blaine gets his gel back."
Despite Kurt's sadness at the situation with Blaine he couldn't help but smile.
"Thanks," he said and he left the diary room.
As he left, Blaine was finishing laying the table for dinner. He had found a plastic flower which he was placing in the middle of the table and he served up the carbonara with spaghetti. He tried to catch Kurt's gaze but failed and his smile was left sadly dying on his lips.
Kurt sat opposite Blaine and started eating in silence. He was pleasantly surprised the meal was so nice and he stifled his moan. Blaine looked eagerly at Kurt, desperate for any indication it was good and that he had managed to please Kurt in any way. Kurt gave him a bone.
"This is nice. Thanks Blaine."
"You're welcome," he said, "I'm glad you like it."
They finished in silence and decided not to have dessert just yet. Kurt was flicking through the movies that were on offer, not allowing Blaine a chance to look and after all the plates and pots had been put away, Blaine came to sit on the small sofa.
"Kurt," he said simply, causing Kurt to look at him from his standing position by the television, "I need to explain." Kurt searched his face and guessed that he should at least give him that. Not trusting himself to sit next to Blaine on the sofa, he sat on the floor, putting his knees in front of him. Blaine noticed but carried on.
"I know you wanted me to say that I hadn't noticed Sebastian earlier, that I was oblivious but I wasn't. I guess I knew he liked me, knew he was flirting with me and I let him carry on." Kurt looked like he was about to interrupt with a snappy comment but he closed his mouth. "Let me carry on," Blaine said. Kurt was silent.
"I guess I'd never had that before, two guys interested in me and I know it's pathetic but I felt flattered by the attention. I thought he was harmless and would never act on it. If I'd known what he was going to do Kurt, I would never have let him, I would have said something to him before, I promise." He was pleading now, his eyes anxious for Kurt to understand and forgive him.
Kurt thought it over. Reliving that moment where Sebastian kissed Blaine was a little painful but he had to admit that Blaine was right; he can't have known that was going to happen. It seemed a little out of order to blame Blaine for a kiss that had been forced and he knew that Blaine had never reciprocated or joined in. But remembering Blaine lying there and accepting it, like he had no choice and didn't really want to disturb the action, made Kurt's blood boil slightly in his veins.
"You just lay there Blaine," he said quietly and Blaine could only nod his head sadly. "I guess it just showed me how you feel about us. If any trouble hits us, if anyone tries to hurt us I know, by what you did in that situation, that you will just lie there and take it, you won't fight. You might even retreat and I'm not sure I really want to be with someone who won't try."
That was the simple truth of the matter and Kurt felt a little relieved that he had been able to explain it so well and without getting upset or angry. Blaine thought over what was said and seemed to have nothing to say in return. He had no excuse, no reason and his shoulders slumped in defeat. Kurt was right, he had no fighting power and he was just left feeling pathetic and empty.
"Look maybe we rushed into things in the house," Kurt said simply, trying to give Blaine something, anything to make him feel a little better. "This is a strange situation for anyone and maybe we weren't ready for it."
Blaine could sense what was coming next and he almost ran to avoid it before he realised he had nowhere to go.
"We're good friends Blaine," Kurt continued, "And I know we'll see each other outside of the house when we leave. Maybe we should calm down while we're here, just enjoy the experience for what it is rather than complicate it with a relationship."
"No Kurt, I don't need to wait to realise," Blaine started but Kurt silenced him gently with his hand raised.
"Blaine, I need to wait I think," he said simply, "We rushed this and it's not sensible. Let's just stay as friends while we're here and enjoy the fact that we have our belongings back." Kurt got up and went to the diary room. He opened it and waved the items in front of Blaine to cheer him up.
"We got our items back Blaine," he said with feigned happiness, "My red jeans and your gel."
Blaine looked at the items in Kurt's hands and smiled, such a small smile that it had taken only the slightest effort to lift his lips up weakly.
"Blaine," Kurt said coming closer to give Blaine his gel, "I'm not necessarily breaking up with you, I just think we need to cool down a bit, take our time." He gave Blaine a false comforting smile which Blaine tried to match.
"Let's choose a movie," Kurt said cheerily not hearing the small comment that escaped Blaine's dry lips.
"But I think I'm falling in love with you," he whispered.