Chapter 7

Blaine thought Kurt looked perfect all the time, but especially now seeing him lying on his belly at the end of the bed. He was reading, a pen tapping against his lip as he wore Blaine's Anderson Gym Boxing hoodie, the boy thought Kurt somehow managed to look even more perfect. Maybe it was the way that they were being so casual, simply reveling in one another's presence and enjoying the quiet company on the Tuesday night. Blaine could really get used to this. It had been a couple days since Kurt's promise of soon, and nothing had happened just yet despite several phone conversations between him and Charles, but Blaine was willing to wait. His hope was that he'd be able to enjoy this time together as boyfriends sooner than later, as opposed to simply being the guy who spent most of the time with Kurt but didn't really have a title.

He looked away from Kurt and back up to the TV. Blaine had somehow got suckered into watching Project Runway reruns and it wasn't even the weekend yet. He expected this to happen when he had to be Kurt's slave in a few days, sure, but it wasn't even close to the end of the week and Kurt already had him watching this fashion stuff. Blaine did have to acknowledge that they were relaxing in Kurt's room, so it was Kurt's rules, just like whenever they found themselves across the hall, he did make the beautiful boy suffer through ESPN, but still.

“Are you done with your homework yet?” he asked.

Kurt smiled softly but shook his head no; his eyes never leaving the page. He turned it and then began to jot some things down in his notebook. Such adorable impatience. “Soon.”

Blaine stopped rubbing at the boy's bare shin and rolled his eyes dramatically. He reached over to Kurt's dresser and grabbed a GQ magazine off of it, scanning through the pages. “You sure do say ‘soon' a lot, you know.”

Kurt smiled some more but stayed silent. He explained to Blaine that he wasn't going to break up with Charles over the phone. Their relationship didn't start over the phone, and though it had seemed to run its course, he still wanted to do things the proper way. Blaine didn't give a crap about Charles' feelings, but all in all it was the right thing to do.

For the next several minutes, Blaine decided to busy himself with the magazines. Kurt yawned at one point and stretched a bit wildly, but afterwards he went right back to focusing on his schoolwork. On a few pages of the GQ issue, Blaine saw certain items had hearts next to them. He raised an eyebrow and wondered exactly what that meant, but with Kurt's fashion sense, it wasn't too hard to figure out. He smiled and pulled out his cell phone, taking a picture of some of them for future use. Kurt turned the page of his textbook back and started to scan through the reading, and this time, Blaine was the one who found himself yawning.

“It's eleven,” Kurt said, running a hand along the side of his face. “You don't have to stay up with me if you don't want to.”

Blaine put the magazines back where he found them and how he found them before looking down towards the foot of the bed. Kurt smiled at him softly. He looked tired himself, but with school and work, Blaine acknowledged that he had every right to be. “I'm staying up with you until you're done. I only have a few classes tomorrow anyway.”

Kurt stretched again and then turned back to his books, adjusting himself a bit. “If you're sure...”

Blaine looked at the back of Kurt's head as he nodded. “I'm sure.” He reached over him and grabbed Punch, placing the stuffed gorilla on top of his chest. Part of him wanted to smile at the fact that his roommate slept with him every night, because he was the one who won Punch for Kurt, but another part of Blaine was a tad bit jealous that he wasn't the one getting to sleep with Kurt every night. Just a tad.

He picked up his cell phone and went to Snapchat; aiming the camera at him holding Punch, his lips against the gorilla's furry cheek. The camera flashed and he turned it back to himself, setting the timer to 10 seconds, writing a caption, and sending it to Kurt.

The green iPhone buzzed from the notification. Kurt peeked at his phone and smiled, turning back to his friend. “BlaineTheChamp sent me a Snapchat.”

“Oh did he?” Blaine said with a smile, having already put Punch back in his usual spot. Kurt, against his better judgment, unlocked his phone and went to the message.

This could be us but you playin…

Kurt dropped his head and laughed before taking a screenshot. “This is adorable and it's definitely going to be the wallpaper on my laptop.”

Blaine crawled to the front of the bed. “Are you not a little jealous?”

“Not even a little.”

"Alright then," Blaine got up and walked over to his friends dresser, looking through all of his things in a way that was subtler than when Santana does it. "I guess that means you dont get a kiss on the cheek. Thats fine by me."

Kurt smiled at him before looking back down at his notes. "Why dont you pick a movie to watch for when Im done? Ill be finished in about 10 minutes."

Blaine heard him but didnt respond at first. He looked at himself in the mirror and noted that he needed a haircut. "What movies do you have?"

"Pretty much everything thanks to Amazon Prime." Kurt sat up and tiredly dragged his textbook into his lap. "I dont promise to stay awake through whichever one you pick though."

"Neither do I," Blaine said, smiling at a yawning Kurt in the mirrors reflection. His eyes landed on a few papers sticking in the border of the wooden frame and he hummed as he got an idea, leaning in to study it. Kurt glanced over at him and raised an eyebrow.

"Dont break anything."

Blaine promised he wouldnt as he looked at his roommates schedule. "So you have a Business Management class tomorrow huh? That any fun?"

Kurt scoffed. "The class itself is a drag but my professor does tend to make it a little bit bearable. He looks like Chuck from Gossip Girl, just a tad older."

"Just because Im gay doesnt mean I know who that is, Kurt."

The older boy smiled. "And Santanas commentary helps as well." He continued writing the last paragraph. "I'm actually doing a writing assignment for Business now."

Blaine watched Kurt in the reflection and made sure he wasnt paying him any attention before sliding the schedule out from the mirror. He put it in the pocket of his flannel pajamas and casually walked over to the bed, grabbing the remote. "Ill pick a romantic comedy and we can cuddle until you fall asleep."

At that, Kurt laughed softly, glancing back at a sexily tattooed Blaine. "I dont know why you forget that Punch is my cuddle buddy."

Blaine rolled his eyes. "Punch is one of the most generous, courteous Gorillas I know. Well be sharing you tonight."

Kurt grinned and looked back down at his work. "Were going to be a very corny couple."

"Fine by me." Blaine looked through the choices and bit his lip, humming. "Lets watch Yes Man."

Kurt closed his book and clapped his hands together. "Sounds like a plan. Im going to use the bathroom and get some snacks."

"Ill be waiting, gorgeous."

Kurt blushed and ignored the way Blaine prepared himself to stare at his ass before he even got up. He shook his hips and winked at him before leaving the room, laughing at the way Blaine purred.

Yes, he did feel guilty. His behavior over the last few days with Blaine wasnt exactly cheating, though. They werent kissing or doing anything more than they were supposed to, but he assumed there was a thin line between what staying faithful and being deceitful was, and they mayve crossed it a couple times with the flirty texts and the late night cuddles. Charles wouldnt like it. Kurt wouldnt have if the shoe was on the other foot either. But, Kurt was calling it off as soon as he saw his boyfriend. The thin line wasnt a concern of his.

Blaine pulled out his phone to text Jeff as soon as Kurt exited the room. He bit his lip and hoped hed get a reply before his roomie returned. Luckily, Jeff didnt disappoint.

From Jeff:

Yo. Im with Sugar. Are we still on for tomorrow?

To Jeff:

For sure, but first I need something from you. Like ASAP.

The movie began and Blaine scratched at his forehead. He pulled Punch close and waited for a reply that came relatively quickly.

From Jeff:

Is it illegal?

Blaine smiled. That was a rhetorical question, right? It had to be. Jeff knew him by now.

To Jeff:

Um? Yes. Duh.

From Jeff:

Oh brother. What is it?

Blaine heard the bathroom door close, but then Kurt walked past and headed towards the kitchen. He looked back down at his phone and quickly wrote a reply.

To Jeff:

I need to get into NYU tomorrow. And I need to get in during my break which is around noon so it's imperative that you get to work quickly.

From Jeff:

Ok Blaine. What the hell are you talking about? And why is it that you want to get into NYU?

To Jeff:

Don't worry about all of that. Just make me an ID. You've seen Rachel's. Work your magic.

Now wasn't the time for his best friend to be such a stick in the mud. Blaine heard Kurt approaching again, laughing at something that either Rachel or Santana had said to him in the hall before turning the doorknob. Blaine looked back at his phone and typed quickly.

To Jeff:

I'll meet you at Arlene's Grocery super early. I'm with Kurt now so I'll see you in the AM. Goodnight.

“Texting another man, are we?”

Blaine smiled and turned the phone off after the message sent. He held his arms out, waiting for Kurt and his large bag of cheese doodles to climb into them. After blushing at the kiss on the cheek he got, Blaine held him close and they watched the movie together. “You're the only man in my life, dummy.”

Kurt smiled, kissing his cheek once more. “You earned that one.”

He could seriously get used to this.

…

“So what you're telling me is that even though I caught Blaine sneaking out of your room at 2 in the morning to go back to his own, you two weren't doing anything? Nothing at all? Not even a little making out? I don't believe you.”

Kurt shrugged as he smirked at Santana. “Sorry that I can't give you any of the dirty deets, darling. But there were no dirty deets to give.”

Santana stared at him as she slurped her smoothie through a green straw.

“We were watching a movie, he told me a little about growing up in Pennsylvania, I told him about Ohio, I ended up falling asleep and when I woke up I was tucked in. There's nothing hot and heavy about that.”

“I'm actually very disappointed.”

Kurt laughed as he fixed his scarf. “Well so am I but until I'm able to officially break up with Charles, nothing is happening. And even then, I'm not going to just jump into anything with Blaine. One, I know he's a playboy. I've seen the messages on his phone when we're together. Two, we need to seriously get to know one another before we're boyfriends or anything for that matter.”

Santana glared at him some more. Kurt smiled innocently. “So when do you plan on breaking up with ass face anyway?”

“Today!” Kurt seemed a little happy and Santana seriously understood. “I got him to agree to meet me after my classes so if he does show up, I'm letting him know.” He stood up and gestured to the line of the Starbucks they were in. “I'll get a coffee and then we can head to class. We're cutting it pretty close.”

Santana nodded, deciding to gather her things. She and Kurt were usually late to their Business course because their professor didn't even want to show up on time. The class had about 150 people in it anyway. As she drank from her smoothie, she waited by the door for Kurt. A guy from her accounting class walked in and said hello, and she nodded to him before doing a double take out the window, thinking she'd seen Blaine go by. It must've been his doppelganger because his school was all the way Uptown.  Weird.

About five minutes later, Kurt walked up to her and pushed the door open. “Let's go, asshole.”

Santana smirked and followed after him.

…

From Jeff:

So how's it going?

Blaine put his foot up on the desk where he sat towards the back of the class. The room was huge so he didn't think he'd have a problem blending in, even though there seemed to be a few people who stared at him. They must've realized his face wasn't familiar, or knew him to be a fighter like one of the professors who he rode up the elevator with did, or wondered why in the hell he brought a guitar to a business course, but as long as they kept their mouths shut it wouldn't matter.

To Jeff:

Class started about 3 minutes ago. Teacher guy isn't here. Santana and Kurt haven't gotten here yet either, but I'm patiently waiting.

From Jeff:

You're adorable. Let me know how it goes, I'm going to take a quick nap.

To Jeff:

Will do.

He put his phone on silent and noticed the guy who must've been the professor walk in. He wasn't too bad looking. None of Blaine's professors looked like that and he was literally about to write a letter of complaint to the hiring staff at Columbia University. As the man addressed the class, Santana and Kurt snuck in and went to the middle of the room. The two were running their mouths as always, and Blaine smiled at how sexy Kurt looked in those dark jeans and that sweater.

People took out their notes or laptops and Blaine passed forward the assignments confused students passed up to him. He ignored their stares for about 5 minutes before addressing the group near him.

“Listen, I know I'm a very handsome young man, but the professor is saying some brilliant shit right now and you're busy staring at me.”

One girl turned forward right away but the others took their time. Blaine rolled his eyes and tuned back into the lesson. Kurt was crazy to say this class was a drag. It was great. He found himself smiling at the back of the boy's head on the other side of the room as he watched him jot down notes. But by the time Professor Matthews got into the importance of maintaining great customer relations, the boxer remembered that he came there to do something. He also knew he should do it and get out of the NYU building without getting caught so that he could get a taxi back uptown and get to his actual class on time. It was 20 minutes into the lesson when Blaine picked up his guitar and started to strum it, waiting until just about everyone turned back to see where the noise was coming from.

Kurt listened to his professor's lecture and copied down a few notes. He heard music go off and shook his head, wondering how someone could forget to mute their phone. Matthews went crazy when phones went off during class. But then the music got louder, and it sounded a lot like a live instrument. People turned their heads towards the source and Kurt heard a few gasps as he adjusted himself in his seat.

“Dios mío,” Santana mumbled when she saw a head full of curly hair at the top level of the class. Blaine then stood up, walking down the steps and strumming, singing as he went.

“Pack up and leave everything. Dont you see what I can bring? Cant keep this beating heart at bay. Set my midnight sorrow free, I will give you all of me just leave your lover, leave him for me. Leave your lover, leave him for me.”

Kurt's cheeks had to be the reddest red could get. He buried his face in his hands and smiled in defeat. Blaine did not show up at his class to sing him this song.

I will sing it to you at the most inopportune times.

No kidding.

Blaine smiled as he reached the main floor, playing a little louder. Students had their phones out and pointed at him and Kurt couldn't take the wide smile off his face as Blaine stared into his eyes. Santana looked between the two of them with a grin.

“But if I cant have you Ill walk this life alone. Spare you the rising storms and let the rivers flow. Youll never know the endless nights, the rhyming of the rain, or how it feels to fall behind and watch you call his name…”

“Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to leave my classroom.” Professor Matthews approached and Blaine smirked, dodging him as he continued to strum the guitar. He hopped up on the man's desk in one smooth motion, singing louder as he looked at Kurt.

“Set my midnight sorrow free, I will give you all of me just leave your lover, leave him for me. Leave your lover, leave him for me.”

“I'm calling security.”

Blaine looked at him and put both hands in the air. “Sorry Professor. I'll go.” He jumped down and let the guitar hang over his back, students laughing and cheering him on. It was obvious they welcomed some action into the otherwise ‘drag' of a class.

Kurt smiled at him and shook his head as Blaine blew him a quick kiss. He was absolutely speechless.

“That was Day 4, Hummel. How long are we going to have to go through this?”

The professor proceeded to have a conversation with campus security, giving them a description of Blaine's looks and what he was wearing. Blaine smiled at all the applause and dodged a bra that someone threw at him. He quickly ran out of the room after winking at a blushing Kurt, and once he'd ran down the steps of the building and safely arrived out front to hail a taxi, he considered the trip a success.

…

Kurt was going to strangle Blaine.

He'd dealt with congratulations from classmates, many of which he'd never spoken to, and he got high fives from people he didn't even know as he walked around campus. Word of Blaine's impromptu performance spread quickly, especially when most of the people in the Business classroom had recorded it and posted it online. He shook his head as he remembered it and how incredible Blaine was—how psycho he was, but also how good it made him feel. Sure, the rest of his school day was a little insane, but Blaine succeeded in making Kurt feel like he was worth something. He also showed other people that he thought Kurt was worth something. It was just… it was great.

Now, Kurt stood outside an NYU building, watching people get onto the university shuttle bus. He looked at the time on his phone. If Charles was going to be late, Kurt was not going to wait for him. Charles being late meant Kurt would be late for work, and that wasn't going to happen. He pulled out his phone to text Charles that he had 5 more minutes before he'd walk off when a silver Camaro pulled up. Kurt glanced up and his jaw almost dropped when he saw his boyfriend hop out in a designer suit, holding a bouquet of roses.

Charles smiled at him and took his time making his way over. He garnered a few looks.

“Happy 14 month Anniversary.”

Kurt stared at him. “What are you doing? Whose car is that?”

Charles laughed a bit and leant in to kiss his boyfriend's cheek. “I got a role on that CW show Santana loves so much and it's big shit. I spent a little bit of my advance.”

Kurt simply looked at him. “What? What show? What—”

“The Right Wrongs. I told you I'd get a fucking part, baby. And I also told you I'd take good care of you. These roses are for you, c'mon,” Charles said, looking around and smiling. “We're attracting a crowd. It must be my car.”

Kurt shook his head as he accepted the roses. “Charles, why in the hell would you go out and spend your money like this?”

Charles took his hand and walked them towards the car. Someone could be heard asking their friend just how many boyfriends Kurt had. “I'm good for it. Don't worry about that. Best part about it is we film in Connecticut and here in the city, so I don't have to move.” He opened Kurt's door and kissed him on the cheek. “Didn't I tell you we'd be good? I told you to never to doubt me.”

Kurt's head was spinning as he got in the car. It was slammed behind him. This was great for Charles, sure, and as he walked over to the driver's side, Kurt thought about how happy this lifestyle would make his boyfriend. But, he didn't want any part of it. Not with Charles.

Charles got in next to him and leant over, kissing Kurt again. He frowned a little when his boyfriend didn't reciprocate. “I'm going to take you to work now and hopefully on the way there you'll stop being mad at me. Maybe you'll be a good boyfriend and be proud of me, and happy that I accomplished this so fast. I mean I did great if I do say so myself.”

Kurt looked out the window as they pulled off. “I am happy for you. This is just a lot to take in.”

Charles agreed with that much. “That's because you didn't think I could do it.”

Kurt was quiet.  

The entire drive to Saks 5th Avenue consisted of Charles talking. He held Kurt's hand and went on and on about how much the producers loved him and how well he read the script and how he was going to be this big star. He was starting small but in a few years, he said he'd be up there.

Kurt thanked him when they pulled up in front of his job. “We… don't get me wrong, I'm elated for you. But we do still need to talk.”

Charles undid his seatbelt. “Let me get your door for you.” The dirty blond winked and before long he was on the other side of the vehicle, helping Kurt out. Kurt rolled his eyes and pulled his hand away.

“Charles. Just listen.”

“Don't forget your roses,” he reminded him. Kurt looked back at them and picked them up. He didn't see Blaine walking down the block towards them with Jeff or their friend Sugar, and Blaine didn't see them either.

From Rachel:

Cooper says he'll be over tonight.

Blaine raised an eyebrow at the message. She must've been joking. Or high. They hadn't seen their older brother since Blaine's 16th birthday. He probably didn't even know where they lived.

“So he liked it?” Sugar asked with a smile. “That's great. So when are you two going to stop being idiots and get together? God, I'm so excited to meet him.”

Blaine smiled at her enthusiasm. Maybe it was a mistake bringing his friends to Kurt's job to meet him, but he did need to do a little shopping, and Kurt would be there. Why the heck not?

“Dude,” Jeff stopped walking at once. Across the street was Kurt, and a guy was closer than he needed to be to have a casual conversation. “Is… is that this Charles kid Kurt was supposed to be breaking up with?”

Blaine looked up and it wasn't hard to find them even in the midst of a bustling city. They were pressed against a silver Camaro that was no doubt brand new, and Kurt had a large bouquet of roses in his hand. Blaine watched Charles smile as he placed his hand on Kurt's waist and when Kurt did nothing to move it, Blaine nodded his understanding.

This was bullshit.

“What the hell?” Sugar asked, turning to face him. “That doesn't look like a break up to me…”

Blaine shook his head. “Me either.” he turned around in the opposite direction and started to walk. Sugar and Jeff shared a look before going to follow him.

“Blaine—”

“It's cool,” he said, ignoring the pain in his chest. “It's fine.”

Jeff looked back at the couple and stared between Charles and Kurt. He sighed heavily before running off to catch up with his friends.

“So,” Charles resumed. “I was wondering if you'd like to accompany me to Pippin tonight. Afterwards we'll get dinner…”

Kurt looked at the tickets in the man's hands. He shook his head no. “I… All of this is wonderful, Charles. And it's great that you achieved this goal of yours so quickly, but—”

Charles raised an eyebrow as he interrupted. “But what?”

Kurt shook his head, their eyes meeting. “I think we should break up. No. I know we should. We should break up.”

Charles stared at him for a while before he smiled. “W—What? Break up?”

Kurt nodded. “This isn't enough to make me happy. I mean, don't get me wrong because I am thrilled for you, but we aren't going to work out.”

Charles dropped his arms from Kurt's side as he looked around the busy city avenue. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. “You're… You're breaking up with me? You?” He gave a puzzled look but eventually started to laugh. “Are you shitting me? You've spent months crying about how I'm not here and how you never see me and here I am, and you want to break up?”

Kurt looked at him. Charles was probably going to make a scene. “You showing up and showing off all of this great … stuff … it isn't enough for me, Charles. I…” he trailed off and Charles finished for him.

“Are ungrateful and stupid.”

The teen smiled, standing up and placing the roses on top of Charles' Camaro. “Actually, I was just plain stupid. But now, I'm interested in seeing someone else who I know wants to be around me and doesn't mind when I want to be around him. Someone who gives a damn how my day went and didn't spend the entire car ride here talking about himself. I guess it didn't occur to you that maybe I don't care about what you have, but what's important is how I feel when I'm with you and the answer is I feel like absolute shit. Whether we're riding the bus or in your fancy new car.”

Charles pulled out his keys after putting the tickets back in his pocket. “So, Kurt. Are you going to start letting every guy who moves into the apartment fuck you?”

“Fuck you, Charles.”

The older man smiled. “That's fine. We can break up. I guess that means I'm back down to one boyfriend.” He walked around the car. “But at least it's the one I actually want to be around. You know the reason why I've been canceling… I just enjoy being around him more. I mean, he doesn't take dick quite like you, Kurt, but he'll learn.”

Kurt refused to let the tears threatening to spill actually do so. “Like I said, fuck you.”

“Have a nice life with that midget, Kurt.” Charles hopped into his car and slammed it shut. Kurt watched him pull off and took a deep breath, closing his eyes as tight as he could.

On top of everything else, he was late for work.