Kurt was enjoying work a lot more now. He had made friends with other people in his office. His boss had also trusted him with a few small pieces and Kurt was delighted to receive the news that a small article he wrote on Spring sweater trends was going to be published in February’s edition of Dalton.
Yes, Kurt had finally settled in to life in New York. He was perfectly content with how everything was going for him at the moment. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, Kurt was hopeful that maybe he would have someone special to spend the day with. And by someone special, of course he was wishing for Blaine. The pair were now spending a lot more time together and also performing together. They specialised in flirty duets, which mad Kurt think that maybe Blaine saw him now as more than a friend and would ask him out for Valentine’s Day. A man could dream.

When Kurt was leaving work the Tuesday before Valentine’s Day, he ran into Blaine in the lobby.
“Hey, Kurt!”
“Oh, hey Blaine. What’s up?”
“You’re coming to my show on Thursday, yes?” Blaine asked with an enthused smile on his face.
“Of course I am! What else would I be doing on Single Awareness Day?” Blaine laughed at the comment, which made Kurt smile in return. He loved to make Blaine laugh, it made him feel special.
“Great. Ok, so I need your opinion on something…” Blaine looked at Kurt. Is he nervous? Kurt thought. There was certainly something off with Blaine.
“Of course, you know I’m always here when you need me.” Kurt tried his best to make Blaine feel comfortable.
“Do you…do you think it’s too much to sing to someone on Valentine’s Day?”

Kurt’s heartbeat immediately doubled. Was this it? Had all his dreams finally come true?
“No, not at all.” Kurt tried his best not to sound flustered. “Actually, I think it’s rather romantic.”
Blaine smiled again. Most of his nerves seemed to have slipped away.
“Really? Great! Well, thanks for your help Kurt, it means a lot.” He placed his hand on Kurt’s shoulder affectionately. “I’ll see you tomorrow, ok?”
Kurt smiled breathlessly back at his maybe-soon-to-be-more-than-just-a-friend. “Yeah, I’ll see you tomorrow, Blaine.”
Kurt practically skipped the rest of the way to the Subway.

Kurt had spent the next few days planning the perfect outfit to be serenaded by Blaine in. In the end, he went for simple black jeans, a white button up, with a red skinny tie in celebration of his new favourite holiday. He arrived at the bar a few minutes before Blaine’s set was due to begin, and got himself a seat with a perfect view of Blaine. He couldn’t believe this was happening. He was finally going to be with Blaine, on Valentine’s Day of all days. Finally, the Broadway style romance he’d always dreamed of looked like it was coming true.

Blaine walked up on the small stage, looking adorable with his suspenders and fitted shirt. Kurt beamed up at him, and Blaine returned a nervous smile as he fixed his microphone.
“So, hi everyone. Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope everyone is spending the day with someone they love. And if you’re single, well maybe you’ll find that special person tonight.” The whole audience awed. Kurt noted how charismatic Blaine was on stage, how the audience was putty in his hand. He clearly belonged up there.
Blaine played a few conventional, and a few unusual love songs in his set. A lot of couples got up to dance as Blaine crooned a slow version of Silly Love Songs. Kurt stayed seated, sipping his drink and biding his time. His palms were getting sweaty and his heart was racing just thinking about what was going to happen.
“So, uh, seeing as it’s Valentine’s Day, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to serenade a person I’ve wanted to ask out for a long time. This could be really embarrassing, especially if he doesn’t like me back. But here it goes.”
Kurt gasped. Was this real? Blaine has wanted to ask him out for a while? Oh my-
“This one’s for you Jeremiah.” Blaine smiled and began to play the piano.

Kurt’s heart dropped into his stomach. He thought he was going to get sick. He couldn’t believe how stupid he’d been. Of course Blaine didn’t want him. He was always just going to be Blaine’s friend. Why would anyone want Kurt in a romantic way? Kurt was so wrapped up in his own thoughts he could hardly hear Blaine sing.
“No, you don't know me well,
In every little thing only time will tell,
If you believe the things that I do.
And we'll see it through.”

Kurt contemplated walking out, but he knew that would be too obvious. Kurt was going to have to sit through the rest of the song watching Blaine looking like a puppy at some guy standing behind the bar with the most ridiculous hair he’d ever seen. He drained his drink, praying the alcohol would numb the pain in his chest.
“Life can be short or long,
Love can be right or wrong,
And if I choose the one
I'd like to help me through,

I'd like to make it with you
I really think that we can make it girl.”

The audience applauded as Blaine finished the song and signaled the end of his set.
Kurt made eye contact with Blaine and signaled to him that he was leaving before Blaine even had the chance to stop him. The cool New York air hit his face as he walked out of the bar. He walked home as quickly as he could, willing himself not to break down crying in the middle of the street.
He got into his apartment and checked his phone. There had been a message from Rachel wishing him well with Blaine tonight. He didn’t have the energy to text back, instead he pushed the call button.
After explaining the entire situation, stopping to cry on more than one occasion, Rachel made her way over to his place with ice cream and the Sound of Music in tow, the only sure fire way to make Kurt Hummel feel better.

“I can’t believe I made the whole thing up in my head. I’m such an idiot…”
Kurt dove into Rachel’s arm, seeking warmth and comfort.
“Kurt! You are not the idiot, he is. For not seeing how amazing, funny, talented, charismatic and special you are.”
Kurt smiled up to her. “You have to say that, you’re my best friend.”
“Hey, you know it’s true! Come on, time for bed. You have work in the morning.”
Kurt groaned. He forgot that he was going to have to see Blaine the next day. He didn’t know if he had the strength or the courage to see Blaine after he had smashed his heart into a million little pieces.

He let Rachel drag him to bed and gave her a big hug as she promised to lock up for him.
“You’re too good for me sometimes. I’ll never understand why Finn broke up with you.”
Rachel smiled awkwardly as she bid him goodnight.
Kurt didn’t really sleep that night, all he could think about was how embarrassed he was and how he was now doomed to live alone with 24 cats for the rest of his life.

The next day was a little awkward when Blaine came up with Kurt’s usual afternoon coffee. Blaine was smiling like Kurt had never seen him smile before. He looked so genuinely happy, which hurt Kurt more than anything about this situation. Why couldn’t he make Blaine smile like that?
“Hey, Kurt!”
“Oh, hey there Blaine. Sorry I left so suddenly last night, I had to meet with Rachel.”
“That’s no problem, Kurt. Actually, I got a drink with Jeremiah afterwards.” Blaine smiled coyly, as if he was willing Kurt to ask about him.
Kurt decided to be the bigger man and be the friend that Blaine needed.
“Yeah, you-uh, you kept him quiet. Tell me all about him.” Kurt smiled as Blaine sat down on his desk and began to tell Kurt about how Jeremiah started working in the bar a few weeks ago and how Blaine instantly fell for him.
“I don’t know if you believe in love at first sight, Kurt.” Not before you. ”But the moment I laid eyes on Jeremiah I knew I was in love with him, as crazy as that may seem.”
“No,” Kurt sighed, “That’s not crazy at all. It’s romantic even.”
As Blaine left to go back to work Kurt knew then that it was time to get over Blaine. Clearly this boy was a hopeless romantic, and if he hadn’t fallen in love with Kurt when they‘d first met, well there was no way he’d end up falling for him now. Kurt sighed and continued with his work.