When studying music at college, you wouldn’t think there would be an awful lot of book study involved. At least that’s what Blaine Anderson thought when he started the music programme at NYU. Now after 2 years of study he realises that isn’t the case. How does he cope? COFFEE! It was this particular study survival method that Blaine was on the hunt for one crisp October morning. After stopping off at the University campus he strolled towards East Village in search for a nice coffee shop. He didn’t really have a regular haunt, but ‘shop hopped’ from time to time, trying to find a decent cup of coffee somewhere other than the 187 Starbucks in the city.

Despite living in the city for a while now, Blaine was still fascinated by his surroundings and being prone to easy distraction it was only a matter of time before Blaine had some kind of accident. That time came that very day. Focused on, of all things, a squirrel across the road, Blaine didn’t notice the man exiting a coffee shop on his right. It wasn’t until he proceeded to walk into said man –jostling them both considerably and knocking the man’s coffee out of his hand - that Blaine snapped out of squirrel watch.

“Oh my gosh, are you okay? I didn’t see you I was just...” Blaine briefly considered telling the stranger about the apparently fascinating squirrel, but decided against it “.. not concentrating”

“Clearly” The replied dryly, brushing off his coat, clearly ruffled, before adding “But I’m fine. Not the first time this has happened in a city this busy. However...” He nodded his head at the ground “the same can’t be said for my coffee”.

As they spoke the coffee in question was slowly filtering down a nearby drain. Eyes tracking it’s sorry course, Blaine suddenly got a proper look at its owner. He was tall and slender and – wowzers – were those boots Alexander McQueen?

“Jeez, I didn’t get any coffee on your shoes did I? Those McQueen’s can’t have been cheap!”

The man, now looking at his, yes, $500 Alexander McQueen Fall/Winter Collection leather boots, replied, his piercing blue eyes meeting Blaine’s seriously, but his mouth revealing a smirk:

“No, I think they’re good, which is lucky as it saves you pain of death”

Blaine, unsure of how serious the man was being, chuckled; brushing his uncharacteristically loose curls off his forehead.

“Well I’m glad, I really am sorry though – let me replace your coffee at least”.

Blaine gestured at the coffee shop the man had just exited.

“Oh you don’t have to do that, accidents happen right”.

“No, please I insist, it was my fault” Well it was the squirrels fault actually, but again Blaine refrained from telling a complete stranger it was a squirrel that actually owed him a coffee. That would not be ‘socially acceptable’ as his mother would put it. He pushed the door to the coffee shop open with a grin.

“Oh well if you insist” The man caved with a noticeable drop of the shoulders. “Plus I guess I really won’t last through class without one” He giggled – yes, giggled- as he entered the shop, passing Blaine.

The place was crowded, the lunch time rush just starting to trickle in. ‘The Bean’ as it was called, was vibrantly decorated, with colourful plush cushions and various pieces of art hanging on the walls. Blaine was surprised he had never noticed the place before, it being so close to college and him visiting almost every independent coffee shop in the area.

The men joined the queue; anticipating a wait, Blaine turned to his new acquaintance.

“I’m Blaine by the way”. He offered his hand.

“Kurt”. The man replied shaking the proffered hand and glancing at Blaine’s outfit. “Dalton huh?” He gestured towards the name printed on Blaine’s blue Hoodie. “Don’t suppose that’s Dalton Academy in Ohio, is it?”

Blaine, looking down at his chest – why do people do that, it’s like we can never remember what we’ve put on in the morning – replied: “Uh Westerville yeah. How did you-“

“I went to McKinley in Lima, my glee club competed against your school at sectionals a couple of times” Kurt spoke animatedly.

“You mean the Warblers! I was a Warbler! Maybe we-“

At that point the men had now reached the front of the queue.

“What can I get you guys?” The barista asked.

“Go ahead and order Kurt” Blaine smiled.

“Medium non-fat mocha with whip, please.”

“And for you, sir?” The barista now looking at Blaine expectantly.

“ Medium drip please.”

“Coming right up” The barista replied as Blaine paid for the drinks.

~

“So do mind if i join you Kurt?” Blaine collected their drinks, gesturing at a nearby table. “It’s not everyday you meet someone from our neck of the woods in the middle of New York”

“You can say that again” Kurt sighed, sitting down at the table – Blaine took this as a ‘no, not at all please take a pew and lets reminisce about childhood memories’ and took the seat opposite him.

“So you were a Warbler?” Kurt asked taking a seemingly long awaited gulp from his coffee. “How long for? I mean I don’t recognise you from competitions.” The men surely couldn’t have been much different in age.

“Oh, you wouldn’t, I wasn’t a soloist or anything, just mm-bopped in the back.” Blaine chuckled. “It was fun though, I was a Warbler my whole time at Dalton”.

Just as Kurt was about to speak again, his phone beeped. Fishing it quickly out of the pocket of his well-tailored purple coat, he stood swiftly, feeling for his messenger bag at his feet, eyes still trained on his phone.

“Shoot! My tutor changed the time of my class last minute. I’ve got to run.” Kurt flashed Blaine an apologetic smile as he went to leave.

“Wait!” Blaine shouted maybe a little too loudly. “Don’t forget your coffee” he gestured to the nearly full cup on the table. “It was really nice meeting you, Kurt.”

As Kurt went to grab the cup he said, still distracted “Well, I’m here most days, so maybe we’ll run into each other again” Realising what he just said Kurt smiled “Although try not to take that quite so literally next time”.

The next thing Blaine knew Kurt was rushing out the door.

“Somehow I think that’ll be a running joke” Blaine murmured to himself, taking a sip of his drink. It was pretty good, maybe he’d have to start coming here more often, he thought with a smile.