Blaine pulled into Maia’s driveway, noting that her father’s car was in the driveway. He got out and walked up to the front door, ringing the bell and patting his hair, checking that it was still styled.

Maia opened the door. She was wearing a dress now, dark blue and shiny, wrapping tightly around her and dipping to show off her cleavage.

“Oh, Blaine,” she said, a trace of disappointment in her voice. “I wish you’d just wear a real tie every now and again.”

Blaine’s cheeks colored slightly. He glanced down at the white bowtie he’d put on-adhering to her ‘dressing up’ request- over his black button-up shirt. “What’s wrong with it?” he asked.

She sighed. “You just…look like a wedding singer or something. It’s okay. I’m almost ready.”

She shut the door, leaving him waiting on the porch for a minute before returning, now with a coat and purse. He caught her around the waist as she walked out. “You look beautiful,” he whispered to her, holding her close. She giggled.

“Thank you.”

They held hands as they walked down the drive to Blaine’s car. They got in and he backed out, driving towards the Thai restaurant. Maia took control of the radio, switching from station to station. After a few minutes, they arrived at the restaurant.

They were seated in a corner at a small table. The waiter asked for their drink orders. Blaine got a Thai iced tea, and Maia asked for Sprite. They chatted listlessly about classes, holding hands on the table, until their food came. Maia went on to tell Blaine about how her parents were taking a second honeymoon over spring break, traveling to Switzerland for a week.

“How come people can take multiple honeymoons?” Blaine asked, something he’d always wondered. “Why isn’t it just a vacation, then? Doesn’t a honeymoon have to be right after a wedding?”

Maia rolled her eyes and reached over to squeeze his hand, even though he was in the middle of scooping up pad thai noodles. “No, sweetie. It’s different. There’s a different sort of sentiment.”

Blaine shrugged, continuing to serve himself. He still didn’t see the distinction.

They finished their meal, and Blaine asked the waiter to box up their leftovers. Maia rolled her eyes slightly, but he ignored it. He was a college student, he wasn’t about to let food he’d paid for go to waste. Once the waiter left, Maia turned to Blaine, reaching out to take his hand. He complied, and then noticed that she looked slightly nervous.

“What’s up?” he asked her.

She took a deep breath. “Well, I just wanted to…say some things to you. Blaine…we’ve been dating for a while now. And I just want you to know that I’m really happy with where we are. You make me happy.”

Blaine smiled. “You too, Maia.”

She nodded. “And…I really think this could be a serious relationship, you know? We work together really well.”

Not the most romantic way to put it, Blaine thought, but he continued to smile sweetly at her.

“Anyway,” she went on. “What I really want to tell you, Blaine, is that…I love you.”

Blaine blinked once. Twice.

“What?” he asked.

“Oh, God.” She said, sounding horrified. She pulled her hand from his. “I’m sorry, I didn’t-“

“No, Maia,” he said, trying to calm her down, reaching for her. “It’s okay. I just…you love me? That’s what you said?”

She put her hands in her lap, looking away from Blaine. “Of course that’s what I said, Blaine. You didn’t mishear me.”

“I was just making sure.”

Maia brushed back at her hair, still avoiding Blaine’s gaze. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. It obviously-and you don’t-“

“Maia!” Blaine said firmly. “Look at me.”

Slowly, she turned her gaze to meet his.

“Calm down,” he told her. “It’s okay. I’m just…processing, alright? I wasn’t expecting that.”

Maia bit her lip. She took her napkin off her lap and set it on the table. “I’m going to the restroom,” she said. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

“No,” Blaine said as she stood. “Maia, please don’t-“

She ignored him, walking towards the back of the restaurant. Blaine sighed and leaned back in his chair, feeling deflated. The waiter walked up holding a couple cardboard boxes, stacked on top of eachother. He raised his eyebrows at Blaine. “Girlfriend troubles?” he asked as he handed Blaine the check.

Blaine sighed, taking out his wallet. “Just a misunderstanding,” he said, pulling out the appropriate bills and putting them in the checkbook before handing it back to the waiter. “Just keep the change for a tip.”

The waiter nodded politely and then stepped away, leaving Blaine alone at the table. Blaine waited four minutes for Maia to come back from the bathroom.

Finally, she approached the table. “I’m sorry,” she said.

“Don’t apologize,” he told her. “Let’s go outside and talk.”

She followed him out, not taking his hand. They reached the car and Blaine unlocked it. After depositing the leftovers in the back seat, Blaine got into the driver’s side and turned to look at Maia.

“Look,” he said, taking her hand and holding it between his. “I’m very sorry for the way that I reacted, okay? I didn’t mean to hurt you, not at all. I was just very surprised.”

Maia nodded, looking at him through her mascara-covered eyelashes. Blaine continued. “I’m glad that you told me how you feel. You’re always allowed to do that, okay? Don’t feel embarrassed or anything.”

Maia nodded again. She hesitated, until finally asking, “But…you don’t love me? You didn’t say it back.”

Blaine sighed. Maia tried to pull away, but he held her hand tighter. “Maia,” he said, looking into her eyes, leaning forward so they were very close. “I care about you, so much. You’re one of the most wonderful people I’ve ever met, and I’m grateful everyday that I have you. But…I’ve never been in love. I’m not sure…I’m not sure how I feel. I haven’t even thought about it.”

“I think about it all the time,” she mumbled, looking down.

“That’s the difference between you and me, isn’t it?” Blaine asked, playfully. Maia met his eyes again. “I don’t know if I love you yet,” he said honestly. “But I know that you mean so much to me, and I don’t want you to go anywhere. And I’ll tell you exactly when I get to the point where I love you, okay?”

Maia licked her lips, then nodded. Blaine leaned in and kissed her. “Are we okay?” he asked, pulling away.

“Mm-hmm,” she said, though she sounded a little shaky.

“Do you want me to take you home now?”

“Yes,” she answered, her voice stronger now.

Blaine leaned away from her and started the car, but once they were driving, he set his right hand on her knee, squeezing it. She smiled at him in the rear-view mirror.

They drove back to her house and Blaine walked her to the door, kissing her goodnight on the porch. She went inside, and Blaine got back in his car.

“Jesus Christ,” he said to himself once he was finally alone.