June 1, 2012, 8:59 p.m.
Distance Makes The Heart Grow Fonder: Chapter 41
E - Words: 1,703 - Last Updated: Jun 01, 2012 Story: Complete - Chapters: 86/86 - Created: Jun 01, 2012 - Updated: Jun 01, 2012 285 0 0 0 0
Warbler practice had finished around 3:00 PM. Kurt had scooted back to Blaine's room shortly after they started choreography on a number and Kurt looked up sheet music on Blaine's computer. He had an idea and wanted to try it out.
Kurt rejoined the other boys at the tail end of their rehearsal and took a seat in the back to wait for Blaine He was one seat over from James. The only thing separating them was another empty seat. The Warblers were discussing, arguing rather, whether it would be okay to take their blazers off during the number as a choreography move. Wes wasn't agreeing.
Out of the corner of his eye, Kurt saw James slide over to sit directly next to him. "Did he tell you why he hit me?" James whispered without looking at the fair-skinned boy.
"You said something about me that he didn't like, but I knew that before he said it. He only gets physical when it comes to me."
"I called you a chick with a dick." Kurt sat straighter and clenched his jaw. He wasn't looking, but it sounded like James was smiling while he said his last comment. "He looks great coming out of the shower and he's got this James Bond body thing going for him. I was disappointed when he turned me down." Kurt turned his head and looked at James intensely. James still didn't look at Kurt, but Kurt was able to see that James was, in fact, smiling. This made Kurt want to grab James' longer locks of hair and drag him to the floor. "Man, the things I would do to that boy. Have you ever seen him in a speedo? Christ, he's got the cutest ass. Mm-mm-mm."
The more James spoke, the more Kurt became bothered, but realized that James was only doing this to get a rise out of him. James might have seen Blaine half naked by a pool, but he was talking in wishful thinking. Kurt had seen and experienced the real thing many times; all of it, that very morning. He raised an eyebrow and made a face. He debated giving in and letting him have it with one of his legendary comebacks, but wasn't sure if the effort was worth it.
He waited until it seemed James was done talking. "It must suck." James appeared to be ignoring Kurt. "You're not used to losing are you?"
This got James' attention. He looked at Kurt. "I haven't lost yet."
Kurt gave him a look that could only be described as "bitch please" and laughed. "Yeah, I can see where it'd be hard to see it that way when you spend all your time in Lala Land and experiencing wishful thinking to see that I already have what you want. Not to mention, what you want, has openly made it known many times, that he does not want you. So, I'm sorry, but the blue ribbon's already been claimed and there is no second place." He smiled matter-of-factly. "Oh wait. I'm not sorry." He gave another "bitch please" look and moved himself to the empty spot on a couch between Blaine and Jeff. Blaine instinctually took hold of Kurt's hand when he sat down.
Wes finally slammed his gavel and Kurt watched the Warblers file out to go about the rest of their weekend. He paid close attention to James and Thad walking out together, talking inaudibly. Something about the two of them together make Kurt uncomfortable, but figured that of anyone was to befriend James perfectly, Thad would be the perfect match.
"So, what now?" Blaine asked happily. He was always amped up after performing.
"Are Thad and James always attached at the hip?" Kurt asked.
Blaine made a noise close to a chuckle. "You caught that, huh?"
"It's weird. I always get this feeling like their plotting, or something."
"Well, they probably are. Thad is always after someone and James is kind of magnetic, so I can see where James would be a perfect lackey for him."
"Magnetic?" Kurt didn't like the sound of Blaine complimenting that vial creature.
"Yeah. I mean, I like him less than you do-"
"I doubt that."
Blaine paused when Kurt interrupted him. Was there something happening between them that I missed somehow? Blaine thought. "-but you have to see how people naturally flock to him." Kurt was beginning to get very annoyed very quickly. He couldn't help it, but knew that if Blaine didn't stop talking soon, he was going to snap at him. "At the country club, he somehow charmed the pants off of everyone."
"Including you?" Oops.
Blaine made a face and shook his head. "What? No! You know how I feel about him. He repulses me. How could you say that?"
"Then why did he see you coming out of the shower?"
"I got out of the pool and went to the pool house to wash the chlorine off. He was waiting when I got out. I had a towel on and I asked him to leave before I got dressed. God, Kurt. You know, you pick the oddest times to get jealous."
"Excuse me?"
"The last time you snapped at me about him, nothing happened and I was rejecting him. This time nothing happened and I rejected him again. I punched the guy for Christ sakes and it's still not good enough for you. You seem to get mad at me whenever I reject him. Should I not? Would you not get mad at me then?"
Kurt clenched his teeth and began grinding them. He didn't know what to say. Blaine had a point and he couldn't blame him for snapping. He licked his lips and sighed, trying to calm himself.
"Sorry. I shouldn't have said that last part," Blaine confessed, looking down at the floor.
Kurt looked down at the floor too, his hand still held tightly in Blaine's. "No. I'm sorry. It's not you I'm mad at." Blaine looked up at him and Kurt felt Blaine's eyes on his face. "He just knows how to push my buttons."
"He. Meaning, James?"
"Yeah." Kurt paused and rubbed his hand behind his neck. "When I came back in I took a seat in the back near the door so I wouldn't interrupt. I hadn't noticed that it was next to James. He went on about what he said to you to make you punch him and how he was disappointed that you keep rejecting him."
Blaine switched the hand he was holding Kurt's with and put his free hand on the countertenor's shoulder, comforting him. "Is that how you know he saw me getting out of the shower?"
"Yes. I didn't particularly enjoy hearing that he thought you had a nice ass or how he had thought of what he would do to you if you let him." Kurt was sounding sullen and withdrawn.
Blaine wrapped his arm around Kurt's shoulders tighter. "Now you know how I felt when I saw how Zach looked at you in the coffee shop and then when you told me about the…well, the woods."
Kurt looked into Blaine's liquid honey eyes and sighed. Will this ever get easier? he thought.
"Can this not ruin our day?" Blaine asked. Kurt nodded in reply. "Good. Now, why were you gone for so long?" Kurt handed him the papers in his lap. "Guitar tabs?" He thumbed through more of the papers. "And piano sheet music? Stay With Me by Colbie Calait," Blaine read aloud.
"I liked the duet we sang a couple weeks ago so I looked into the album. I really liked this song and I wanted to sing it with you. Before today, I'd never heard you play the guitar and this one is a guitar/piano duet."
Blaine looked at his boyfriend with a reassuring expression. He kissed him on the cheek. "Sure, I'd love to." He got an idea to cheer the mood up. "But, can I show you my feature first? I play the guitar for that one too."
Kurt's chest felt heavy. "I'm sorry," he said.
"Hey. Kurt, come here." He pulled Kurt in and embraced him. Blaine kissed his hair and rubbed the back of his head and shoulder blades.
Kurt felt weepy. He wasn't really crying, but a couple tears escaped his eyes, rolling off his cheek and onto Blaine's black sweater. "I love you so much."
Blaine kissed Kurt's hair again. "I love you so much. Can I sing for you… again?"
Kurt nodded his head and swallowed the lump that had risen in his throat. He sat up and let Blaine kiss the corner of his mouth. Blaine gave him another smile to reassure him and let Kurt's hand go to retrieve the shiny black guitar that he was playing earlier.
He sat back down in the same spot he was in before he got up and placed his fingers on the appropriate strings. He began strumming, long, slow strums and sang just the same. Kurt recognized the song from Juno as Sea of Love.
Come with me, my love
To the sea, the sea of love
I want to tell you
How much I love you
Do you remember when we met?
That's the day I knew you were my pet.
I want to tell you
How much I love you
Come with me, my love
To the sea, the sea of love
I want to tell you
How much I love you
Ooo, ooo
It was a short song, but it was full of feeling and emotion. By the end of it, Kurt was in tears. Blaine did something he never thought he'd ever do in his life.
He dropped his guitar.
He didn't care that it went crashing to the floor. He only cared about the fair skinned boy in his arms. He was kissing his hair and cradling him and rocking back and forth. Blaine had tears rolling from his eyes as well.
"Fuck, Kurt. I love you so much," Blaine said through his teeth. Kurt cried harder. Blaine pulled him into his lap and Kurt held onto Blaine for dear life.
Kurt was gasping for breath and coughing out groans. Blaine finally pulled away slightly and held tight of Kurt's face, willing him to breathe. They stared at each other's tear stained faces and breathed together, Kurt calming Blaine and Blaine calming Kurt. In the end it was two boys staring into one another's eyes, holding tight, hoping the other would never let go.