CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

MONDAY

BLAINE

The second I walked into the office and made my way to my desk, I promptly dropped my head on the smooth surface and groaned. Loudly.

Despite having the best date in... well, ever... the fact that I had gotten little sleep last night was really not what I was hoping for on a Monday morning. Mondays are already rough, coupled with my lack of sleep even after Kurt and Santana had left my apartment; it was a recipe for disaster.

Once Kurt and Santana had left, I might have watched them walk down the street together – having some sort of conversation as they went – and made sure that I saw the two of them round the corner at the end of the street. It was one of the perks of having an apartment that overlooked the street even though most of the time the view was not nearly as good as the one I had encountered when Kurt was outside. Did that make me a creepy guy? Eh, it's not like he knew I was watching.

Nowthatwas a creepy statement.

Anyway, I had spent most of the night tossing and turning and reevaluating every piece of our date and the conversations Kurt and I had had during the course of our... relationship? I guess even if we're just friends it's still a relationship. I was trying to see if the signs were there – that he and I just hadn't realized that we were both from Ohio and had lived hours apart growing up. I couldn't remember seeing him state anywhere that he had lived in my... rather, our home state. Then again, I hadn't mentioned anything about it either.

I found myself wondering what he was like in high school and what his friendship had been like with Santana. I had a great group of friends in high school, but I do wish I had met someone like Santana when I was in school. And now I wished I had met someone like Kurt – or even Kurt himself – when I was 16.

There was no sense in dwelling on it since we had met ten years later than I had hoped, but that didn't mean my mind hadn't spent all night thinking through the possibilities; the dates we could have gone on, the inside jokes we could have had, the things we could have experienced for the first time together. I knew it was a fruitless endeavor, but part of me still wondered what if.

Either way, the night hadn't netted me much sleep and by the time my alarm buzzed at 8am, I was not in a good state of existence. I was miserable, tired, and cranky and all I wanted to do was sleep rather than go to work.

And I knew that today at work had the potential to be exhausting. This week, Atticus Finch would be submitting their tracks for review by our legal and production department to make sure they weren't infringing on any rights and the production team wanted to review their songs to make sure they would be ready to make an album.

Albums take a long time to compile and prepare for, but David had noted when we signed them that they had about forty original songs written so they had an extensive catalog to pull from. They'd been a band for years, so it wasn't surprising. But it meant that we could start the recording process sooner rather than later. It wasn't a bad thing – it just meant that I could potentially be spending a lot more time at the office in the coming weeks if legal and production Okayed their tracks to record.

What this meant for me was that I had to be the liason between the band and the label and make sure that both parties were kept in the loop about the status of the other group's progress. Basically it was a lot of exhaustive back-and-forth and often required a lot of waiting around at the office to see if legal had questions for the band or if the band had to submit songs at the last minute. It wasn't bad by any means; it just meant that my time for extra curricular activities would be limited. Which, in turn, meant that I probably wouldn't be able to have another date with Kurt this week.

This realization only made me groan louder.

"Anderson, stop acting like a dying animal," I heard Clark bellow from inside his office. I sat in the cube adjacent to his assistant and I could hear her snort between the partitions as I continued to bemoan my life at the moment.

"Seriously, snap out of it," I heard Clark say, this time his voice coming from much closer than before. I snapped up to see Clark standing just outside my cube, looming over at me from over top of the partition with the hallway. "I thought you'd be happy with the way things are progressing with the band," he added with a smile. Clark might have been a big time executive in the eyes of the recording world, but he still had a way of making things seem relaxed and easy at the office. It was something I was lucky to have in a boss compared to some of the managers in other departments who were held on a very tight leash.

"I am happy," I conceded. "I just know it means I'll be putting in a lot of overtime this week."

"Ah," he replied. "Big plans or something? I know Halloween is Wednesday, so if you want to take time off for that, I don't think..."

"That's not it," I interjected. "I had a long – but good – weekend and I'm currently trying to figure out where to fit sleeping in my schedule this week."

He laughed. "I remember those days. But hey, everyone has to pay their dues and when you're a big time record executive like me, you can make some lowly peon like you do the grunt work some day." The last big earned a sarcastic eyeroll from me, causing Clark's chuckle to take on a louder tone. "I get that it sucks, but just be sure to log any overtime, okay? I'd hate for your extra time to not be worth it in some way."

I laughed. "Sure thing, boss man."

"And hey, when you're done having a case of the Mondays, come by my office and we'll talk logistics for the coming weeks."

"Sounds good."

...

After taking care of a few emails, submitting the first round of lyrics and music for review, and purposefully avoiding Santana all morning so she wouldn't bother me about Kurt, I made my way to Clark's office around 11. I plopped down unceremoniously into the seat across from his executive chair and put my chin in one hand and balanced my notebook and pen on my lap.

The noise I had made from coming in must have caused Clark to shift his attention from the computer in front of him to me because what he said next surprised me. "You still look like shit," he stated.

My eyes met his gaze as I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. "Do I really look awful?"

He nodded. "I didn't want to say anything before since I figured you were just exhausted and trying to shake off the morning, but here you are a few hours later and you look like hell. How will you pick up any guys if you look like death warmed over?"

His comment made me think of Kurt; would he still think I was attractive even if I looked dreadful? I hoped so.

"Anyway," Clark continued, "I know that Atticus Finch is submitting their tracks for review this week. That's a great start and it looks like we might bump up their production schedule a bit from what we had initially anticipated. If we hear back about some of their tracks today, I can't see why we couldn't get them in the studio next week to get a feel for how they want to compile the album. You game for that?" I nodded. "Great. Go ahead and book some time starting next Wednesday and call Jeremy and see if he can come up the week after to get the ball rolling. I'd like for you and the guys to have some sort of game plan before we bring Jeremy up here."

I scribbled frantically on my notepad; noting the dates Clark had mentioned as well as notes to consider when I finally get the guys in the studio.

"Blaine! Earth to Anderson!" Clark snapped.

I looked up at him confused. "What?"

He chuckled. "You were taking so many notes, you missed the last thing I said."

I looked at him incredulously. "And that would be...?"

"I said get out of here for the day. I can't have you looking like hell on a Monday; it makes me depressed. Besides, I'm sure you'll put in enough time later this week to still put in your hours."

I visibly relaxed in the chair. "Thanks, man."

"And get some sleep, would you? You're no good to me on no sleep."

"Fine," I sighed, secretly thankful that he was recommending exactly what I had wanted to do since my alarm went off this morning. With that, Clark shooed me away from his office and I hastily made my way to my desk, only to find a venti coffee perched on my desk along with a bright pink note.

I'll give you 24 hours before I bother the hell out of you about how you're dating Hummel. But I figured you could use this coffee in the meantime. xo –S

As much as I hated Santana's presence last night at the conclusion of my date with Kurt, I was glad she was still being supportive of me in her own way. I gathered my belongings and shot out toward the elevator. I was exhausted and I wanted nothing more than to pass out on my bed. But there was one thing I needed to take care of first.

DM from blaine_warbler: Hey! Random question, do you know what Kurt's address is?

DM from LzizesNYC: I don't – but I'm with Kurt right now. I can ask him if you want.

DM from blaine_warbler: No, actually, this might work out better. Where are you?

DM from LzizesNYC: We're at work – mandatory monthly clean up at the theater.

DM from blaine_warbler: Perfect!

DM from LzizesNYC: What are you up to?

DM from blaine_warbler: You'll find out. ;)

KURT

"I forgot about the monthly clean up," I groaned as Lauren and I worked together to clean up the make-up room. We had left some things out following our Halloween party preparations so it actually worked out that all backstage crew had to come in and help clean up the theater and do the monthly deep clean that kept things running smoothly.

"Eh, you'll survive," Lauren replied as she pocketed her phone that she'd been typing on. "So, how was the rest of your weekend?"

I sighed. "Fantastic."

She laughed as she wiped down the counter top. "It must have been a pretty great Sunday. You came in here looking like you were on another planet and aside from you crying about how we're here cleaning up on a Monday afternoon, you haven't really said much."

"Oh, uh, sorry," I apologized.

"It's okay. But please, do share about your Sunday."

"Okay. But first I want to know what happened with you and my roommate," I suggested. Lauren turned away quickly and I grinned to myself; knowing that she and Wes had to have hit it off since Wes had resorted to singing ridiculously happy songs in the shower again. The last time he'd done that was the time one of the lawyers he despised that worked at his law firm had decided to leave the firm and move to Maui. Shower singing sessions with Wes meant he was elated - and I had to guess that this week's rendition of "I'm Walking on Sunshine" had to do with Ms. Zizes.

She looked at me hoping to get out of explaining, but I motioned for her to tell me first. She sighed, resigned to the fact that I wasn't going to say anything until she dished. "So, you left around 12:30 I guess." I nodded; I had left early because I was exhausted and after awhile the polyester cheerleading uniform made me so sweaty that I felt disgusting and uncomfortable. Plus aside from Lauren, Wes and David, I didn't know anyone else and I hadn't been anxious to make any new friends.

"I think around 1, the party really started to pick up but it started to get a little too crowded for my tastes. I mean, I like a good party every now and then, but it started to get out of control and people were getting wasted and... it was basically like I was back in high school again and I was over it."

I laughed at her conclusion. I had been with Wes to too many of those parties – which I think he only went to because he went to private school and didn't get to live it up in high school like we had – which is precisely why I didn't want to go in the first place.

"So, I said I was going to leave and Wes suggested that he leave as well and we could get some food at this diner nearby." That admission made me grin a bit. Wes never brought people to Our Diner because he said it was "sacred" and I knew that since it had been around the corner from the party that had to be where he'd go. The fact that he brought Lauren to the place we considered our haven in college meant something that Lauren might not have known and Wes might not have been willing to admit just yet.

"I went with him to the diner – which was pretty good – and he and I just ended up talking."

"Just talking?" I asked.

"Yeah, that's it. But it was... nice. And he's a gentleman. He told me a bit about his time at Dalton and how he met you in college and why he decided to become a lawyer. It was nice to just talk to a guy like that."

"Wes is a gentleman," I concurred. "And he's a total doof, so I'm glad he didn't make you feel awkward."

She snorted. "If anything I ended up being the awkward one. I haven't really had that type of connection with any guys before."

"Well he's a great guy to have that with. And I hope you exchanged numbers." She nodded. "Good. I'm glad you guys had a good time. And you'll have to keep me posted on developments."

"Yeah, okay," she sighed dreamily. I laughed internally at the thought of her and Wes dating and realizing that they actually were a well-balanced duo; she was fierce and opinionated and Wes was slightly goofy with a golden heart and fantastic manners. They weren't necessarily opposites, but I think they'd bring out the best in each other. "But enough about me, why are you acting like a cat that got the cream?"

I kept wiping down the surfaces in the make-up room with the hopes that my reply would sound nonchalant rather than the internal mess that was currently running through my head at the thought of my date with Blaine. "I had a date with Blaine last night," I stated, causing Lauren to start whistling. "Oh, shut up."

"Bow-chicka-wow-wow," she said as she wiggled her eyebrows.

"So not like that, Lauren. It was our third date. Please, I'm not some floozy. Anyway," I said, eager to continue the conversation to be about anything other than Blaine and I having sex. I mean, not that I wouldn't; Blaine was attractive and I had to guess that under those clothes... gah, stop it.

"Anyway," I sighed as I forced my thoughts back into the PG world it needed to exist in. "I called in a favor with one of the costume guys at Evita and he hooked us up with tickets for last night's show. Blaine hadn't seen a show in awhile and he said that he liked the classics so I figured he'd like it. Afterward, we went out for ramen at a place in Hell's Kitchen since it's his favorite type of food. And afterward I walked him back to his apartment."

"Oooh, back to his apartment!"

"Still not like that, Lauren," I giggled. "We did kiss though."

"You kissed Blaine! Aaaaaaaaaaack!"

"Calm down!"

"I can't! I'm just so thrilled for you!"

I laughed. "Trust me, I'm thrilled for me too. But that's not where it ends."

"Please tell me it's going to get juicy," she pleaded.

"Not quite in the way you're hoping." This admission caused her face to drip with curiosity. "Santana kind of interrupted our quasi-makeout session."

"Santana?! Santana Lopez from high school?"

I nodded. "The very one. Apparently, she's friends with Blaine."

"Wait, wait. When did she move to New York?"

"She transferred after a year or so and came here. But I hadn't really maintained contact with her after we graduated and we weren't close to start with so I had no idea she was around. But she met Blaine when they interned together at Rialto and they've been best friends ever since."

"Wow," Lauren muttered. "That's kind of crazy that she's here and even crazier that she's friends with Blaine. Small world, I guess."

I shrugged. "I suppose. It was certainly not what I was expecting as our night came to a close."

"What were you expecting?" Lauren asked suggestively.

"God Lauren, get your mind out of the gutter."

"I will once you do," she retorted and I rolled my eyes. Like I was going to admit to her how hot I thought he had looked last night and the way that his pants clung to his...

"Hummel, where are you?" I heard Jason yell from somewhere down the hall.

"In here," I replied loudly. I saw our security guard round the corner with a malicious smile on his face. "Uh, what's up?"

"There's something for you in the security office," he replied and turned on his heel. I looked back at Lauren who was wearing a slight smile on her face.

"What?" I directed to her as Jason walked away.

"I haven't the slightest," she suggested, turning away and leaving toward the side stage to continue our quest of cleaning the side stage areas. "But you should probably go investigate."

I groaned but internally was pretty stumped and curious to see what would be waiting for me. I briskly walked toward the stage door and heard the security office buzzing with activity. Apparently whatever was in there had gathered the attention of some of the crew that had been deep cleaning the dressing rooms and storage areas.

I turned the corner to head into the office and I ran smack into Sara who looked less than thrilled at whatever was going on. "Thank goodness this happened today rather than a night where we actually have a show."

I looked at her confused. What the hell was going on?

"Oh, don't mind her," Roselyn cooed as she pushed me through the few people who had gathered in the security office. "It's cute."

"What's cute?" I inquired.

"This," Jason said as he motioned to the basket in front of me. On Jason's desk was a giant basket full of candy – it had everything from Snickers to Twizzlers to Rollos to M&Ms to Starbursts – and in the middle of that was a potted red orchid that matched perfectly with the bright colors from the candy wrappers. Fixed to the front of the white wicker basket was a card with "Kurt" written on it in somewhat scratchy scrawl.

"For me?" I asked Jason.

"What do you think?" he replied with a wink as he pushed the basket toward me. I was tempted to take the basket and run back to somewhere a little more private to get to the bottom of this, but realized that would be fruitless since everyone was looking at me with expectant eyes as I began to open the card.

A huge smile plastered itself onto my face once I read it.

I had a great time last night, thanks for being sosweet. –Blaine

"What does it say?" Roselyn prodded.

"Yeah, what does it say?" one of the stagehands asked.

"Alright guys, give Kurt some space," Jason insisted as he started pushing people toward the door. "Give the man some privacy," he concluded as he shooed away the last of the people in his office and closed the door.

I stood there looking over the card and smiling as my fingertips grazed over the words Blaine had written on the card. I had never gotten flowers or anything after a date before – actually I don't think I'd gotten anything like this from any of the guys I'd dated in the past – so I was touched by the gesture. Even though I had been the one to plan our date, he still had gone out of his way to make me feel special after its conclusion.

I was already in deeper than I had been before – which was slightly terrifying – but with a guy like Blaine who would do romantic things like this, did I really have a chance for any other result?

"I'm guessing that the gentleman who dropped this off will be getting some sort of thank you for this," Jason said. I nodded. "He seemed sort of nervous to leave this with me – I'm sure it was the guns," he noted as he flexed his biceps, causing me to laugh. "But he said I was to 'take the utmost care to ensure that you received it'."

I chuckled a bit at the word choice. Blaine was nothing if not courteous even when it came to the way he spoke to other people. "Thanks Jason. And thanks for forcing folks out of here. They're like vultures sometimes. I think Sara was eyeing my Snickers bars."

He shook his head. "I don't think it's the candy they're after – I think it's the back-story for this basket and its delivery man that they're interested in."

"Well they'll just have to remain in the dark. I like to be a man of mystery," I said as I gathered the basket in my arms. The circumference of the basket nearly took up my entire arm length and I wondered how I would ever eat this much candy – let alone bring all of it home. "I'll see you later."

"Sure thing, lover boy," Jason added.

I walked out of his office, closing the door behind me and placing the basket on the table across from the security desk to pull out my phone and send my immediate thanks to the guy who had kept me on cloud 9 all day.

I just got a very sweet package from an even sweeter guy. Thanks, I loved it. –K

Within a minute, Blaine had replied.

If I can make you smile, my day's goals have been met. –B

Then you have succeeded. :) How would you like to see me smile in person? Perhaps for lunch on Thursday?

The reply to that message came even quicker than the last.

I'd love to. –B

With his confirmation, I sighed as I slipped my phone back into my pocket. Blaine Anderson was slowly working his way into my heart, and I wasn't going to stop him.