FRIDAY, JANUARY 4

BLAINE

Friday was deemed an office day once I realized that even though I was dedicated to the album project for Atticus Finch, I still had other responsibilities that I needed to handle. Thankfully another coworker had taken most of the scouting off my plate giving me some semblance of free time, but I still had things to manage.

Like Atticus Finch's PR plan.

Working with Santana was always great and it wasn't just because we were friends. Santana was great at what she did and expected a lot from the people that she worked with, but in the end Santana's hard ass mentality yielded the best results. She had forged great relationships with the best magazines and sites in the music industry and was practically guaranteed prominent coverage for any artist that she managed. I knew that Atticus Finch would get the same treatment, but I was happy to help her achieve her mission.

So I found myself in an empty conference room with my best friend at 10am on a Friday with our work objective on the agenda.

"Long time, no see," she mused as she walked in and shut the door behind her.

I rolled my eyes. "I just saw you last night," I groaned. She and I had gotten dinner after I had wrapped in the studio for the day since Brittany had rehearsal and Kurt was working. Generally we enjoyed each other's company, but it was understood that if our significant others hadn't been preoccupied, we would have been with them instead.

"Well I haven't seen youherein forever," she said. She was right; I hadn't been in the office since early December before the plague came over me. "Either way, you're here now and we have a lot to cover today." I grinned as I took out my standard notebook and pen and awaited her direction.

"Now, when do you estimate that the album will be finished?"

I looked at my notes from Wednesday. "Jeremy said early March at the latest, but if you consider final mixing and stuff, I'd say end of March we'd have everything in-house and finalized."

She hummed and scribbled something down on her legal pad. "I already spoke with the head honchos and they think a summer release will be best for them, and I can agree. From what I've heard, they have a good sound and pulling from Jeremy's name will be helpful in pulling the guys out of the summer music clutter." I nodded in agreement. I knew summer was peak season for music and album releases – especially from bigger, well-known artists – but the rest of what she was talking about was kind of out of my territory.

"I'm aiming for June, that way my July can be free," she noted.

I laughed. "Glad to know you could work them into your busy summer plans," I joked.

"Well, you'll need to block off July 13 yourself."

I stared at her, confused. "Uh, why's that?"

She smiled. "That's when Britt and I are getting married."

I matched her grin with an excited one of my own. "So, you finally set a date. Congratulations."

"Thanks," she replied sheepishly. "I'll need you by my side, B, so you better set aside the time."

"Of course," I concluded. "No where else I'd rather be."

She rolled her eyes. She wasn't one for cheesy lines, but she had to admit that she knew I wasn't kidding. "Anyway, at least this year you won't have to find yourself a date."

"I guess not. I mean, that's months from now..."

"Please, Blaine. You two are adorably cute with your constant drooling over each other and your kissy faces that you make whenever you're around each other."

"We so don't do that," I argued.At least I don't think we do, I added internally.

"No, you're notthatbad. But I know you both and it's not like you're going anywhere and I highly doubt he is as well," she surmised. "Anyway, back to the task at hand..."

"Yes," I said as I tapped my pen against the paper.

"So, if we plan a mid-June release, that gives us around two months from the completion of the album to do press photos, shoot a promotional video, and start generating buzz. We should probably release the single sometime in early May and begin their press tour around that time. It'll probably be a mixture of phone in interviews and a few live performances now and then, but since they're new there won't be too much demand for them until closer to the release date," she summarized. I did my best to take notes as Santana continued. "What I'll need from you is a tentative schedule from the band and its manager on when they're willing to be available as well as figure out what they will and won't do from a publicity standpoint. I figure they'll be open to most things, but you never know with first timers."

I nodded as she continued to ramble. "From that point, I'll schedule the photo shoot and start investigating a video shoot and I'll work with the band on concepting. Well, actually, you'll work with them and I'll shoot down any lame ideas they might have. Unless they involve hot girls in bikinis... then I'll insist I be at that casting session." I rolled my eyes as Santana smirked. "Do you know what the first single will be?" she questioned.

I shook my head. "It's too early to tell. I'm sure once the album comes together a bit more they'll have an idea, but I think I'll leave it to Jeremy to decide. He has the most experience out of all of us in determining that kind of stuff."

"Doesn't matter to me. Just be sure to tell me all the credits and things like that so I know what to promote. Obviously Jeremy's involvement will be a compelling angle, but any background we can get on the track will be helpful in selling through the story about the single and what will inevitably get it noticed."

I agreed and finished writing down the notes for later reference. "So, in the meantime, what do you need from me?" I knew Santana's work wouldn't really come into play for a few more weeks or months, but there was surely a reason behind why we scheduled this meeting for early January rather than waiting for a later date when the album was more fully developed.

"I need you to just keep those boys in line but start helping me figure out what sets them aside from other artists in their genre. You saw something different in them when they performed, right?" I nodded. "Then help me figure out how to articulate that for their release. What individual strengths and attributes make them a successful, noteworthy band? It'll be the crux of our plan, so I'll need your help with that in the coming months. Plus I'd like to play off those strengths as I'm further developing the plans for their release, so anything you can pull will be helpful."

"That I can do," I said, not needing notes for the last bit. It was hard to tell what exactly had drawn me to this band initially, but I had a few months to be able to summarize it for Santana. "Well, I think you've given me enough homework for now," I gestured to the hurried notes I'd taken during our meeting.

She laughed. "I suppose so. But now for the real reason we're meeting."

I was confused. "Which would be?"

"You and Kurt, obviously. And don't try to get out of this Blaine. You know I am just looking out for you – and for Hummel – but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious what you two boys were up to these days."

I sighed, reflecting on Kurt and I. "We're... good. The hiccup we had over Christmas break is water under the bridge and we're just working on trying to be more open with each other about things rather than jump to conclusions."

"That'll be quite a load of work for the both of you. You're both chronic over-thinkers, so this'll be a challenge."

"Yeah, but it's something we're both working on. From what I can gather, we've both been hurt in life and letting people in isn't always the easiest. But it seems like we're willing to do that for each other."

She hummed in agreement. "I don't know what Hummel has been up to in recent years aside from his relationship with that asshat. But I can tell you that he's not always had it easy, but I'm thankful that he's working on letting you in. He was pretty closed off in high school so I can only imagine that the trend has continued since then."

"He hasn't said much about his past other than his ex, but I hope it doesn't involve anything too traumatizing," I said.

"What if it is?" Santana suggested.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"What if his past was traumatizing?"

"I'm not getting what you're asking, San."

"Why are you wanting his past to be all sunshine and rainbows? It's not like everyone's life is perfect, Blaine," she snapped. I wasn't sure where her hostility was coming from, but clearly she was in full-on protector mode. I was thankful that she was looking out for her high school friends, but she really didn't have to worry.

"I know it – life – isn't always happy. But I just hope it wasn't like that for him for his sake. If he's dealt with a lot in his past, then that's horrible and I'll be there for him if he wants to share that about himself. But I just want him to have the best things in life; I want him to always have the best, happiest things because he deserves it."

My best friend relaxed at my explanation. She had raised my suspicions about Kurt and his past, though. What she had left unsaid made me think that he had been through something awful – or maybe some awfulthings– and it hurt a little to think of a time when Kurt wasn't appreciated fully for who or what he was.

"Good answer," she finally said, snapping me from my worries about my boyfriend. "Just... be careful with his heart, Blaine."

I smiled, thinking of the precious gift Kurt had given me over Christmas and the heartfelt implications of the small heart etched onto the inside of the simple box. "I will be - I promise," I stated.

And I knew it was a promise I would always be willing to keep.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 5

KURT

"Big night tomorrow night, huh?" Lauren asked with a gleeful glint in her eye as she sought me out after our evening performance.

"We're having lunch, Lauren," I corrected as I used a lint roller to preen the costumes on their hangers in front of me.

"Please, like it won't turn into an evening together," she nudged as she stood back and watched me work. I wanted to roll my eyes at her comment – surely there was some sexual entendre implied since thiswasLauren we were talking about – but I couldn't say I hadn't thought about it.

It did seem like something... intimate... could result from our time together the next day, but it wasn't like I had planned on it or anything. I would imagine if I were in high school, those kinds of encounters would have to be planned and scheduled since there would be parents lurking and the threats of friends finding you out, but thankfully being an adult allowed for a bit more freedom in that department.

"Well, I still haven't decided on a menu for tomorrow," I acknowledged, not wanting to encourage Lauren's pervy mind.

"I'm sure he'd be fine if you were on the menu," she said crassly. I bit back a laugh at her vulgar comment, but thought she was probably right. Going off the little sounds Blaine had made during our last rendezvous and the way he had practically insisted on licking and kissing my neck and any visible expanse in that region, I'd say he thought I "tasted" all right.

"Any suggestions – and not suggestions that involve crude sausage references or parts of my anatomy he could savor," I noted as I saw Lauren's mouth open and snap shut, as if I'd read her mind at the suggestion. "Thought so," I said with a chuckle.

"Fun ruiner," she protested. "But you said you're a good cook, I highly doubt you need a suggestion from me."

"I think the problem is that I have too many ideas in mind and I can't narrow it down to just one. I mean, I know generally what types of foods he likes, but what if he doesn't like something I make? What if I choose the wrong course? What if it ends up being undercooked and I give him food poisoning? What if—"

"Calm down, Hummel," she said, pressing her hands firmly on my shoulders and massaging my back with her thumbs. I eased slightly at her touch.

"Thanks. I'm just... nervous, I guess," I acknowledged.

She giggled. "Kurt, you have been on plenty of dates before with Blaine and you've already cooked for him. It's not like it's a surprise at this point."

"No, but it just seems... different this time." And it did. I wasn't quite sure why this time felt different than the other dinners and dates we had shared. But it was as if something in our relationship had switched on since New Years. We hadn't seen each other in person since, but our phone calls had taken on a tone that felt more serious – more... just, more. It was as if the platonic, surface-level parts of our relationship were in the past and we were moving toward the deeper, truer parts of ourselves.

It wasn't bad or anything, it was just unfamiliar. And, if I was being truthful, a bit uncomfortable. I hadn't really had a relationship that felt as heavy as the one Blaine and I shared. Sure, my ex and I had dated for a significant amount of time and had sexual encounters with each other, but deep down we never really showed each other our true selves. It was blaringly evident from William's side considering he was still in the closet, but I hadn't really shown him much of myself either. Our relationship had been one where we needed validation from each other – him for fulfilling the urges he'd felt, and me feeling as if someone wanted me. It was built out of convenience and mutual need for a relationship or something that seemed like a relationship, not a true life partner.

With Blaine and I, we were searching for something to fill a need in ourselves, but it wasn't validation or sexual needs that we felt we were lacking. It was about finding something deeper – something that required more commitment and feelings and sharing things; something we hadn't experienced before.

In a word, we were hoping for realness.

And the first way to find that in each other was to expose ourselves for who we are and who we were. I knew I loved Blaine and I wasin lovewith Blaine, but the reality was that I still didn't know Blaine as a whole person yet. One could never really know a person entirely – mind, body and soul – but we hadn't really delved into even broaching the topic at all. We knew each other at face value, but now it was time to learn more.

And this dinner would be the domino effect leading toward something bigger for us. Bigger and exciting - but a bit daunting as well.

"Well, I don't really know what types of food Blaine prefers nor do I know what's in your culinary repertoire, but I know that he really cares about you and will love anything you do," Lauren stated, easing my mind a bit at her kind words.

"Thanks," I sighed as the pressure from my shoulders eased and I turned to face Lauren. "I think I'll just keep it simple. But I appreciate your vote of confidence."

She smiled. "Of course. Besides, it's not like he'll be thinking about eating anything in particular. Well, maybe he'll be thinking of eating your—"

"Lauren!"