Chapter 9

Kurt returned to work the next day, nearly bombarded with questions about his secret holiday companion and their week away. They all knew about Kurt's love of Egypt and to finally find out that he had gone on a whim, on the spur of the moment, well it just made their day. They didn't seem to care who they were styling, whether they were cutting or blow drying, their questions were asked and Kurt felt embarrassed but secretly loved sharing the details of some of his trips while on vacation. People who were sitting in the hair dressing seats, having their hair styled and cut, were just as eager to listen to all the gossip as they pretended they weren't listening but Kurt didn't mind. It was nice to share all the details of his favourite holiday.

It was only as he was having his break in the back room and making tea, reading a text he had received from Blaine a few minutes ago that Robyn asked who he'd gone on holiday with. She asked with a knowing look, glancing at the phone that Kurt had in his hands and smiling warmly, Kurt felt a bit compelled to tell her.

"Blaine, that guy I styled for his wedding day last week."

"Ohhhh, that guy," Robyn said nodding in understanding. She had remembered noticing he was rushed, stressed and he had left the salon, visibly more relaxed and ready.

"Yeah he invited me to his wedding and when I turned up, it transpired that his fiancé had cold feet and didn't want to get married after all. So he invited me along to his honeymoon after a few glasses of wine and the rest is history."

Her shocked expression told Kurt all he needed to know and he felt embarrassed once he had explained it all. It sounded so foolish, to fall for a guy that had only just broken up with his fiancé and not out of his choice. He wanted to take back all the words.

"Wow Kurt," she was saying, "Be careful."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, he's fragile surely? Just be careful."

"Nothing's going to happen," he said, though he couldn't hide the blush creeping up his face.

"Something already has, hasn't it?" Robyn only knew he had feelings for Blaine, that much was obvious. Kurt filled in the rest.

"Why does my face always reveal so much?" Kurt sounded exasperated. "Do I have 'slept with a broken-hearted man' all over my forehead?"

"You slept with him?" Robyn almost shouted.

"Shhh!" Kurt hissed, conscious of clients and hair stylists outside the tiny room.

"Oh my gosh Kurt…" she shook her head, "You have it bad."

"Look I knew what I was getting myself in for while I was away, maybe it'll work out in the future, maybe not." Kurt shrugged his shoulders in nonchalance but his mind carried on dreaming. He knew he had fallen for the guy, knew he wouldn't be happy with just a week relationship but didn't know how to pursue it. Despite the texting this morning, despite the lovely breathtaking comment as they parted yesterday, Kurt knew Blaine would need time. Blaine was clearly lonely, not used to being on his own and Kurt couldn't bear the thought of being a rebound fling. But he couldn't keep his distance. If Blaine wanted to be in his life, he couldn't say no.

"Well just take it slow," Robyn was saying, "Be careful and see how things go." She smiled warmly, not wanting to worry Kurt. He nodded.

xXx

The texts continued for a few days, neither one arranging a meet up despite Blaine going a little crazy in his apartment by himself. He sat one morning on his sofa watching dire daytime television when it occurred to him that nothing had changed since his break-up from Liam. Liam was hardly at the apartment when they were together but now Blaine would sit when he wasn't working in the evening and he would mope. He used to go out, find bars and clubs that he could play at, see friends that did similar jobs enjoying the night life and he would write songs but now he moped and that was all he did. He couldn't find it in himself to care or make an effort and he didn't want to keep texting Kurt, didn't want to appear needy or desperate but still he craved him, craved some attention so he decided to ask him for lunch one day, soon after their meeting outside the salon.

Kurt agreed to meet him outside the salon for lunch and Blaine waited patiently for him, the rain having eased and only dark clouds remained. It had been a rainy week and that had only dampened Blaine's spirits more, determined not to leave the apartment unless he absolutely had to.

"Sorry I'm late, I had to finish off with a client and she wouldn't stop talking," Kurt said as he came out of the salon. "Have you been waiting long?"

"Not too long," Blaine said, shrugging his shoulders. They walked for a while trying to find a place that wasn't too busy and settled on a large place that was bustling but had seats free. Blaine asked about his morning and Kurt described the people he had served, their hair troubles and how he had solved them. He could talk for hours about hair but Blaine enjoyed listening to him speak, knew that he would rather have this conversation than any reminding him of his pathetic morning spent in front of the television. As they settled at a table with their coffees and toasted sandwiches, Kurt looked over at Blaine's tired face and smiled, looking concerned.

"How have you been Blaine?" he asked it so kindly that Blaine instantly felt sorry for himself and worried that tears would appear in his eyes.

"I've been ok thanks," he said, trying to sound bright and cheerful, "Just getting on with life I guess."

"What have you done today?"

"Oh just writing and cleaning and…" his voice trailed away as the lie became more evident. "I've done nothing if I'm honest." Blaine's cheeks flushed in embarrassment.

"What do you want to do?"

Blaine looked up at Kurt slowly, realising that no one had ever asked him what he wanted to do, the question so loaded with the future that he had never really thought about the answer. What did he want to do with his life, now he was single, now he had choices?

"I don't know," he said as he shrugged his shoulders.

"Well now's the time to decide and think," Kurt smiled warmly. "You can live your life Blaine, determine what you want to do, what you want to be. I think you should turn this break up into something positive."

Blaine clearly mulled over what Kurt said and smiled at him. He felt himself get a little lighter at the thought that he could do anything he wanted now. He had always had his daytimes, as most of his work went on at night, but he could do other things, didn't have to worry about keeping the apartment tidy for when Liam returned, didn't have to worry about explaining his actions to someone waiting for him at home. For the first time since his break-up he felt unburdened and as if the future was a blank canvas, not daunting but amazingly filled with possibilities.

"Thanks Kurt," Blaine said smiling, feeling enthusiastic for the first time this week.

"No worries," Kurt said returning the warm smile.

xXx

Blaine and Kurt met up for coffees every other day and in the meantime Blaine was setting up plans to do something with his hours. He had thought long and hard about what he wanted to do with his time and as soon as it was sorted and he had had the training he needed to be able to start he asked if Kurt wanted to meet one evening for dinner.

Kurt was surprised he had asked to meet for dinner. They had been strictly platonic since that rainy kiss, though nothing had been mentioned, no discussions about the status of their relationship and Kurt assumed that Blaine would mention it when he was ready. He noticed Blaine sounded excited on the phone, explaining that he had news but the dilemma was how dressy should he get for this evening. If they were friends, being too dressed up would imply that Kurt wanted more and would maybe confuse or pressure Blaine but at the same time, if it was a 'date' then Kurt would be under-dressed. He opted in the end, after many discussions with Rachel, to go for his tightest black jeans and a red shirt with chain detail along the side.

As Blaine picked him up at his apartment he shared with Rachel, Blaine's wide smile behind the flowers he had brought seemed to vanish when he laid eyes on Kurt's form. The shirt was definitely figure hugging, emphasising the contours of his chest and shoulders and Blaine could only gape. Kurt though mistook this for horror at his outfit and he soon backed into his apartment looking mortified.

"Oh gosh Blaine, is this not ok? I just wasn't sure where you had planned to go and I didn't want to get too dressed up but…"

Blaine recovered enough to notice Kurt's bumbling and held his hand out to touch Kurt's arm gently to calm him.

"No, don't be silly Kurt, you look fantastic, so good… I just, lost what I was going to say that's all. These are for you." He held out the big red flowers that seemed to be the same size as Blaine's body and Kurt smiled widely.

"Oh wow, these are fantastic, thank you." A blush crept over Kurt's cheeks as he went to put them in water but Rachel took them from him, ushering him out the door.

They went to a local restaurant and ordered. Not much was said but it was evident that Blaine really wanted to share his news as his grin got wider and he almost bounced in his seat when the waitress took their order and left.

"What did you want to tell me?" Kurt asked before Blaine burst.

"I got a volunteer job that I start on Monday," he said excitedly, "I'm going to be taking phone calls for the Trevor project hotline in New York."

"Oh my gosh Blaine," Kurt said excitedly, "That's amazing."

"I know, I can't believe I didn't think about it before. I mean I had quite a tough time coming out myself but nothing compared to some people and I know I could really help. I have you to thank for it all though."

"What do you mean?" Kurt asked.

"You gave me the idea last week in the coffee shop. I had been moping, feeling sorry for myself and watching crappy television. You said this was my time to do something with my life, to make something happen and here I am. I'm finally giving back Kurt and it feels amazing."

Kurt didn't know what to say. The fact that Blaine had taken his advice on board had done something with his time made him feel inadequate and at the same time undeserving of any credit. He was amazed that his opinion clearly meant so much to Blaine and he smiled at him in disbelief.

"I didn't do anything Blaine, it was all you."

"No Kurt," he said sincerely, taking Kurt's hand in his on the table, "You helped me, just take the compliment." Kurt nodded. "I'm really lucky to have you in my life Kurt."

Kurt looked down, sure his eyes would betray something and he could feel a lump forming in his throat.

"What are we Blaine?" he whispered, still avoiding his gaze, his eyes burning a golden amber. He could hear an audible gasp but Blaine didn't say anything and after a while Kurt looked up to find Blaine smiling.

"We are something Kurt, I don't really know how to describe us," he clearly struggled with his thoughts in the silence in between. Kurt said nothing. "I need to take this slow I think, I need to sort myself out, get my head clear but the thought of doing that without you?" he shrugged his shoulders. "Do you remember when I saw you outside the salon in the rain the other week? I'd been walking, searching and I needed something and I wasn't lying Kurt, I really was searching for you but I think you deserve more than a bum like me."

Kurt laughed. "You are so far away from the definition of a bum Blaine."

"But I feel like one, I feel like I need to find myself for a bit but I know that I can't not see you. Maybe we could still hang out, date but nothing too quick? I know we did things in the wrong order slightly…" Blaine looked embarrassed as Kurt laughed but he continued. "I know you're special Kurt."

Kurt blushed. He felt alive with Blaine, as if James had deadened him slightly and he was only just becoming aware that there were people like Blaine that could compliment, take care of him and share possibilities and opportunities. He could fall for this guy really hard, he knew that.

"If you just want to be friends, I'd understand that…" Blaine was saying, suddenly unsure in Kurt's silence.

"I think you're absolutely right Blaine, we should take things slowly, see how they go but you're already one of the most important people in my life. I couldn't imagine not seeing you either." Kurt blushed with the admission but Blaine's smile just got wider.

xXx

As they left the restaurant, Blaine suddenly noticed the darkened sky and begged for Kurt to look up. As Kurt did so, he noticed the cloudless sky, as black as dark ink, only stars lighting the way, some of them blinking light, highlighting opportunities, future and magic. Kurt gasped with the beauty and Blaine's gaze lowered to Kurt's blue shiny eyes.

"You're so beautiful Kurt," he whispered. Kurt moved closer, taking in the stars that seemed to glimmer in Blaine's warm brown eyes and wound his arm around his waist. Blaine felt protected, felt tucked in with Kurt, against the world and its loneliness and he sighed as their lips came closer. It was a simple kiss but it held promise and love and beauty in its touch and the world was conquered just a little that evening.