Day 6

After sitting cuddled together on the bench sharing occasional kisses and talking about trivial things for the remainder of the hour both men reluctantly made their way hand in hand back to the car, ignoring the disapproving looks from an elderly couple going about an afternoon stroll.

Once at the grocery store Kurt quickly filled his basket with an array of fresh vegetables and the ingredients required to bake a strawberry meringue roulade, a recipe he’d recently mastered and one which proved to be a favourite with his dad. He’d sent Blaine off to go and get his own shopping. One thing he couldn’t stand was someone lingering behind him when he was trying to shop as quickly and calmly as possible.                                 

Blaine on the other hand was deliberating over which cereal to pick. Fruit loops or Lucky Charms? He thought to himself just as he felt a hand rest on his lower back, knowing who it was immediately.

“Pick Lucky Charms because I’m lucky and you’re charming.” Kurt whispered in his ear before stepping back leaving a gap between them, just in case anyone he knew walked in.

“So cheesy.” Blaine shook his head but picked up the aforementioned box of cereal, throwing it into his otherwise empty basket.

“You love it.” Kurt teased and glanced down at Blaine’s basket.

“Seriously, you have one item? The time it’s taken me to fill my basket you have one item.” He emphasized, raising an eyebrow.

Blaine looked down at his basket then back up to Kurt. “Yeah well I couldn’t decide what cereal to pick and I got distracted…” He blushed.

His blush didn’t go unnoticed. “Ohh… distracted you say?” Kurt said knowingly.

“There was this guy that kept staring at me; I wonder what his boyfriend would think.” He teased.  

Kurt rolled his eyes. “Well maybe that guy would like his boyfriend to hurry up because he’s bored and has realized that said boyfriend eats like a five year old.”

“I do not.” Blaine pouted and darted off down the aisle in search of the next item on his imaginary list.

Kurt followed Blaine who abruptly stopped down the frozen food aisle, the desserts to be precise.

“Oh god what could you possibly want down here.” Kurt groaned, shaking his head in dismay.

Blaine reached into the freezer and pulled out several tubs of ice cream, showing them to Kurt with a childish grin on his face.

“Do you actually eat anything remotely healthy?” Kurt frowned at the frozen food, unable to hide the small smile on his face at Blaine’s expression.

“Um, yeah... I cook fajitas normally once a week and um... Wes sometimes brings me food but my cooking skills pretty much suck, apart from sandwiches, salad and pasta.” He admitted, his cheeks reddening with embarrassment.

“Am I really going to have to teach you how to cook? I’m five years younger.” Kurt laughed.

“If you want…” Blaine mumbled with a shrug, continuing his shop.

Twenty minutes later Blaine had finally filled his basket – with a few extra items thanks to Kurt’s persuasion. They both paid for their food and left the store, all with fifteen minutes to spare before Kurt had to be home.

“Is everything okay?” Kurt asked once they’d reached the car, noticing that Blaine had been considerably quieter since the ice cream situation.

“Yeah, fine.” Blaine said a little too abruptly.

“Blaine.” Kurt faced him as he turned the ignition on, not yet pulling out of the parking lot.

“What?” Blaine snapped his head around to face Kurt.

“What’s going on?  I can tell something’s wrong.” Kurt said softly, placing his hand on Blaine’s knee, squeezing it lightly.

Blaine sighed looking down at Kurt’s hand. “I just… I don’t want you to feel like I’m some kind of lost cause or something, I don’t want pity, sure I fail at cooking and struggle with simple tasks like ironing my shirts but that doesn’t mean I want to be taken pity on, I’m twenty three, I should be capable of this.”

“Blaine, honey, I’m not taking pity on you, I know you’re capable, I just wanted to help... if you don’t want me to you only had to say, I wouldn’t be offended.” Kurt gave him a reassuring smile.

“I...no I want some help… please.”  He whispered, staring down at his lap.

“Of course I’ll help. Maybe one day next week after school I can come round and help, I’ll just tell my dad I’m with Mercedes.” He suggested.

“Don’t get into trouble though.”

“I won’t, Mr Anderson.” Kurt teased.

“Dork.” Blaine grinned and leaned across the seat to kiss Kurt’s cheek.

“So, we’re good? No more pouting?” Kurt questioned as he began the drive back to Blaine’s.

“Nope. Thanks though.” Blaine smiled brightly.

~

After dropping Blaine home and several kisses later Kurt made it back to his house only ten minutes late.

“Kurt?” A voice called from the kitchen.

“Yeah, it’s me.” He replied, walking into the kitchen finding Carole standing over the stove, stirring something in a saucepan.

Kurt placed the bags down onto the counter and took a seat on one of the stools at the breakfast bar.

“Where’s dad?” He asked realizing that it was only him and Carole in the house.

“He’ll be here soon, something about a last minute job.” She rolled her eyes laughing softly.

Kurt pulled his jacket off placing it on the back of the chair, noticing how much it smelt like Blaine, he smiled to himself at the thought.

His thoughts were interrupted by Carole; she’d suddenly appeared by his side and was eyeing him curiously. “Have a good day? Where’d you go?” She asked.

“Oh, just out to a coffee shop...and the park.” He mumbled, feeling himself blush.  

Carole walked over and collected the bags, noticing the blush on Kurt’s cheeks.

“Anything you want to tell me?” She asked, nudging Kurt’s shoulder as she passed.

“Nope.”  He muttered in response.

“Mhmm, I’d say someone had a date.” Carole joked.

Kurt’s eyes widened, he nearly toppled off of the stool. “How did you know that?” He shrieked.

“I was right?! I was only joking.” She laughed taking a seat next to Kurt.

“Oh...” Kurt looked down at his lap, avoiding Carole’s gaze.

“So come on who is it?” She asked, sensing Kurt’s apprehension.

Kurt sighed. “Just...someone.”

“I won’t tell your dad, I know you’d probably rather tell him yourself.” She said reassuringly.

These were the times Kurt was thankful for Carole. He sighed and pulled out his phone.

“He...he’s um...Blaine.”

Carole looked at the lock screen, practically squealing when she saw the picture.

“He’s quite a catch; he looks a little older though.” She noticed.

“Yeah, um... he’s twenty.” Kurt lied, knowing his dad wouldn’t approve or Carole for that fact.

“Don’t tell your dad that we can’t have another heart attack.” Carole joked.

Kurt nodded, grateful that Carole hadn’t asked how he and Blaine had met. “I... yeah you’re right.”

Carole briefly placed her hand on Kurt’s shoulder before walking back over to the stove.

“So, how’s this work placement going? The kids driving you mad yet?”  She asked whilst preparing the vegetables.

“Not quite, they’re surprisingly well behaved.” He smiled.

“That must be some teacher.” Carole quipped.

“Yeah he’s quite something.” Kurt muttered blushing as he quickly turned his attention back to his phone.  

Carole turned around and stared at him for several tense moments.

“Wait…”

Just then Burt came bounding through the front door. Carole mouthed talk later to Kurt and he hopped off the stool grabbing his jacket and dashing to his room straight past Burt. He pulled his phone out as soon as he was in the confines of his room, not even hesitating to think if Blaine was busy. Luckily he answered after one ring.

“Hey, miss me already?” Blaine murmured.

“We have a problem.” Kurt snapped ignoring Blaine’s greeting.

The line went silent for several moments before Blaine spoke up, anxiety in his voice. “We...we do?”  

“Yes we do. I think... my step-mom just found out about...about us.” Kurt screeched, trying not to speak too loud in case his dad heard.

“What?” Blaine audibly gulped.

Kurt sighed, pacing around his room.  “She noticed when I came in there was obviously something...different or whatever, anyway she managed to get it out of me that I had been on a date. I showed her a picture of you, she asked how old you were, and I lied and said twenty. Apparently any older my dad would have another heart attack. Then we got talking about the school and she asked what the teacher was like. I said ‘he’s quite something’ and she obviously put two and two together and now I’m freaking out, what if my dad finds out Blaine? I can’t...” He paused to take a deep breath, sitting on the corner of his bed.

“Kurt, breathe, everything will be fine, I promise.”  Blaine said calmly when really he was pacing around his kitchen fearing he was going to be split from Kurt or have to face his dad already when they’d only been official for not even twenty four hours.

“How do you know that?” Kurt replied quietly, desperately wanting to believe Blaine.

“Because for starters your step-mom didn’t actually say anything and secondly Kurt, we’ve been officially boyfriends for what? One day? Are you positive this is what you want? I just… I don’t want things moving too fast, for you… or for me.  He added quietly.

“Blaine don’t say that... I need you and I don’t care if that sounds clingy or whatever but I want to be your boyfriend, you’re the only good thing that’s happened to me in, well... months.” Kurt admitted, sniffling quietly.

“Then we’ll be okay won’t we? That’s all that matters right? If I have to come over and speak to your dad then I will.” Blaine said decisively, not wanting the anxiety of the prospect of actually having to meet Kurt’s dad come across in the phone call. He seemed incredibly protective of his son and quite frankly Blaine was terrified.

“You…you don’t need too. I have to go prepare dinner. Ring you later?” Kurt sighed not wanting to go out and face his dad in case he’d been listening in on the entire conversation.

“Of course, you know you can always come over here if things get too much.” Blaine offered as he pulled a tub of ice cream out of the freezer and headed over to what would be another night on the couch.

“Yeah, thanks... Go eat ice cream or whatever.” Kurt laughed softly trying to break the obvious tension that now hung between them.

The line was quiet for a few moments, the only sound being Blaine breathing before he finally spoke. “Don’t worry Kurt, please.”

“I won’t.” Kurt reluctantly hung up, knowing his dad would want to know what he was doing.

~

To say dinner was tense was an understatement. Kurt barely touched his food, Carole shooting him worried glances occasionally. By the end of dinner Burt had picked up on the vibe.

“You’ve barely touched your food Kurt, what’s wrong?” Burt asked from where he sat opposite Kurt.

Kurt sighed, pushing a piece of broccoli around his plate. “I’m fine dad.”

“No you’re not kid, I haven’t seen you like this since I threatened to cancel your subscription to Vogue a few years back.”

Kurt looked across at Carole who gave him an encouraging smile. “I… um…I…have a boyfriend.” He whispered, staring down at his plate afraid of his dad’s reaction. 

“And when will I meet this boyfriend?” Burt replied gruffly after a few moments.

“Soon dad, I promise.” Kurt looked up unwillingly meeting his father’s unreadable gaze.

“Why don’t you invite him over for dinner on Wednesday? Where’s his work placement? He’s a senior isn’t he?”

Carole interjected. “Let the boy breathe Burt, it’s his first boyfriend. You said he works in a bakery didn’t you Kurt?”

“Y-yeah… bakery... he works in a bakery...” Kurt repeated, sending Carole a relieved smile.

“Why don’t you go and ring him? I’ll clear up here.” Carole suggested.

“I... yeah, that’s a good idea.” Kurt quickly stood up and made his way back to his room, collapsing onto his bed as soon as he’d close the door.

Figuring Blaine was probably busy preparing for next week’s lessons he decided to text him.

Blaine -

You were right. My dad wants to meet you Wednesday.

Apparently you now work in a Bakery…

Xx

Kurt attempted to distract himself by flicking through the most recent copy of Vogue. Half an hour and no reply from Blaine later Kurt decided that taking a shower was the only way to ease his mind.

~

Blaine had just finished his tub of Ben and Jerry’s - Baked Alaska when his phone illuminated the dimly lit living room. He leant across the couch to pick up his phone spotting Kurt’s name.

Kurt –

Wednesday is fine.

Why a bakery though?

Xxx

Blaine threw his phone onto the coffee table along with the empty tub of ice cream and settled back down on the couch, flicking through the channels until he found some half decent rom com.

~

Kurt didn’t look at his phone until much later that night. Unable to sleep he decided to once again phone Blaine, hoping he wasn’t already asleep.

“Kurt?” Blaine mumbled sleepily through the phone.

“I woke you didn’t I? Sorry…” Kurt apologized, lying down on his bed.

“It’s fine. Is something wrong?”

“I just…are you sure about Wednesday?”  He said nervously.

Blaine sighed. “Positive. But why do I work in a bakery?” He asked curiously.

“Oh, um... long story I’ll explain when you’re fully awake... I just wanted to hear your voice.” Kurt confessed.

Blaine kept quiet for a few moments, wanting to ask more questions but his mind wasn’t fully awake.

“I miss you. See you Monday?”

Kurt nodded even though Blaine couldn’t see. “Right... Monday, Miss you too. Night Blaine.”

“Mhmm, night baby.” Blaine murmured drowsily.

Kurt finally pulled the covers over himself, falling into an uneasy sleep.

Wednesday…