Dec. 18, 2011, 10:38 p.m.
So Much Better: Serious
T - Words: 3,472 - Last Updated: Dec 18, 2011 Story: Complete - Chapters: 7/7 - Created: Oct 30, 2011 - Updated: Dec 18, 2011 1,343 0 1 0 0
His phone buzzed on his desk. Blaine scooped it up quickly and opened the text message quickly.
“Warner: I’m here, come outside.”
Even after two years, Warner still gave him butterflies. Something about tonight’s date seemed different. They had been discussing the next step in their relationship for awhile now and Warner had been acting differently all week. Blaine kept catching him looking over at him during class and during Warbler practice. He could not help but think that maybe, just maybe, Warner had something planned for tonight.
- - - - -
Warner did not talk much during dinner which made Blaine nervous. When Blaine gets nervous, he tends to ramble. He had to stop himself before he started talking about their set list for Nationals again even though he and Warner had put it together themselves.
Blaine reached across the table to grab Warner’s hand but before he could touch him, Warner moved his hand into his lap. Blaine’s hand lingered in mid air before he slowly retracted it. That has never happened before. Blaine’s hand now seemed awkward after Warner rejected it and Blaine was suddenly very aware of this fact. He did not know what to do with it so he grabbed his glass of water, hoping it appeared smoother than it felt.
“Pooh Bear, there is a reason I brought you here tonight.”
Blaine looked into his boyfriend’s big brown eyes. “Yes Warner?”
“I wanted you to know how happy you have made me. You are the kind of boyfriend that guys dream about. I always knew I would fall for a guy like you.”
Blaine held one hand over his heart and stared lovingly at his boyfriend.
“The last two years have been wonderful and you have been nothing short of amazing. Soon we are going to be graduating and moving to New York for college-“
“It is going to be wonderful. I can’t wait! It is going to just be you, me and the big city!”
“Yes Blaine,” He rubbed his fingers along his temple, “but I just found out that my father got me an internship in New York with a big name designer and this will help me get ahead in school. I will be leaving earlier than expected-“
“That’s incredible! I can go-“
“Please don’t interrupt be again Blaine.” His voice was cold and stern.
Blaine sulked into his chair, this attitude change actually scared him. Warner had never talked to him like this.
“After hearing about this opportunity, I began to think about us. How do you fit into the equation?” Warner ran his fingers through his hair.
Blaine watched him meticulously. Why would that even come up? The pause was killing him. Where was he going with this?
Warner’s eyes met back with Blaine’s. “I need to be serious about my future career, so after much thought, I think it is best if we broke up.”
Can you hear a heart break, because Blaine was pretty sure he just heard his do just that.
Warner continued, “I really feel that when I go to New York I should start fresh, no strings attached. Besides…” Now it was Warner’s turn to reach across the table to grab for Blaine’s hand. “I need a husband with a steady job and we all know that acting is not a serious career choice.”
He’s breaking up with me? Blaine had no idea how to react to all of this. He’s breaking up with me? The room was spinning. He’s breaking up with me? Blaine forgot how to breathe. He’s breaking up with me? He pushed Warner’s hand away. The room began to spin.
“You’re breaking up with me?” He could barely form the words.
Warner’s face softened. “Yes Pooh Bear, it’s for the best.”
“How?! How is this for the best? I don’t understand.” Blaine’s chest tightened and tears stung at his eyes.
“What we have, isn’t working. I can’t be a serious fashion designer with an actor as a boyfriend. I have my future all planned out, you just don’t fit in it.”
Rage swelled in his throat as the dam broke, “WHO SAYS?!”
Warner waved his hand in the air trying to calm Blaine down. “Pooh bear, you are causing a scene!”
Blaine shot up onto his feet, tears streaming down his cheeks. “I’M SORRY BUT YOU ARE THE ONE BREAKING UP WITH ME.”
“Blaine… please be strong.”
“No!” Blaine yelled. “I did nothing wrong. Acting is a serious major and you are being insensitive.”
“Did you honestly think we would last after High School?” Warner reached out for him again but Blaine recoiled.
“I love you and I have, well had, complete faith in us.” Blaine turned to leave.
“I thought you would understand…”
Blaine stopped and inhaled deeply before turning back to face him. “Well, we obviously don’t know each other as well as we thought.” Blaine stormed out of the restaurant.
- - - - -
“Blaine? Blaine? Are you alive?” Jeff shouted from outside his bedroom door.
“Your Mom invited us over, thinking that maybe we could cheer you up.” Nick pressed his ear up against the door.
“Go away. I don’t want to see anyone.”
Wes opened the door. Blaine was in bed, rolled up under his blankets. All you could see was a curly mop of hair sticking out the top of the mound.
“Blaine really?” David shook his head.
Jeff and Nick sat on the foot of his bed as Wes and David began to unbury him.
Blaine had dark circles under his eyes and looked like he had not bathed since his date. He sat up in his bed once uncovered and tucked his legs beneath him.
“Dude, pull yourself together.” Nick smiled at him. “You don’t need Warner.”
“He and I are soul mates, high school sweethearts, we are meant to be. That is something you do not give up on that easily.” Tears began to fill in his eyes again. He thought he hit his limit but for some reason the tears kept on coming.
“Woah, Blaine. You guys were great and all but I don’t think you can call yourselves soul mates.” David threw Blaine’s blanket on the floor and then sat on Blaine’s desk.
“Yeah, there is someone out there that is better than Warner, you just have not met him yet.” Wes added as he sat in Blaine’s desk chair.
“You guys just don’t understand what we had.” Blaine rubbed the heels of his palms into his eyes. “What we had was special.”
“Obviously he did not see it that way because he left.” Jeff said as he stared at the floor.
“That was harsh Jeff.” Wes glared back at him.
Jeff shrugged, “It’s the truth. What does he expect Blaine to do? Give up his dreams and go to Fashion School?”
Blaine dropped his hands from his face. “That’s it.”
“What’s it?” Nick asked, clearly confused.
“To get him back, I need to go to Fashion School.”
Wes folded his arms across his chest and sat back into Blaine’s desk chair. “Blaine, be reasonable. You know nothing about-“
“I can learn!” Blaine smiled. “I can be a fashion designer, how hard can it be?”
“Quite difficult actually.” David laughed from the desk. “I do know however that they are still accepting applications, but…” He scratched his cheek. “You will need to include a sample of your work.”
The young Warblers all looked at Blaine.
“So, can you draw?” Nick tapped his heel against the post of Blaine’s bed.
Blaine shrugged. “It can’t be too difficult to figure out.” He jumped out of bed and searched around his room.
“What are you looking for?” Jeff asked quietly, not knowing if he should encourage Blaine further.
“My laptop so I can apply right now!” He picked up an old shirt. “There it is!” He tossed the shirt aside.
David looked at the other guys and motioned for the door. “We should go.”
The boys all stood up and said their goodbyes to Blaine.
“Thanks for coming over.” The excitement was thick in his voice. “You have made me feel so much better.” Blaine sat back down on his bed and looked up at his friends as he turned his laptop on.
The boys responded with half smiles before leaving the room.
- - - - -
Blaine checked his email multiple times a day, more then necessary but he just wanted to make sure. He stayed up all night that night the guys had come over and made a few sketches. He studied different designers through google images and made the sketches up rather quickly. Even though he would never admit it, he was growing anxious. He could not concentrate in his classes or even during Warbler practice.
Finally on the night before Nationals, he got the email, they had accepted him. Blaine was ecstatic, he got into a prestigious Fashion School and now he was going to win back Warner. It was a fool proof plan. His parents did not understand his sudden major and University change since he had never expressed any type of love for fashion, but they supported his decision ultimately. Now Blaine just had to get through the last few months of high school and then he could put his plan into action.
- - - - -
Summer flew by and it was finally Fall. Blaine had gotten a cozy single dorm room in his University and made sure to keep his eyes open for Warner whenever he walked the halls. He barely paid attention at the new student welcome thinking that Warner would suddenly show up. A gorgeous upperclassman handed him his class schedule but Blaine could not be distracted by his bright smile. Any minute now, Warner would walk in the door. He should, but he never did. Blaine went back to his room defeated.
The next morning, Blaine eagerly looked around his first class for Warner and was disappointed when he didn’t show up. He dropped his book bag on the floor with a little more force than he intended and took a seat on a stool. An older man entered the classroom, with the biggest scowl across his face followed by the same upperclassman from the night before.
“Good morning class.”
“Good Morning.” The class responded at once.
“I am Professor Callahan. Fashion...” He handed his briefcase to the younger man and took his place at the podium. “Fashion is a cutthroat industry; only a few of you will survive and make this your living. This may be a level 100 class but only the best will move on to my next class. In that class I pick four interns to put on their own fashion show. I only take the best.” He walked across the room and glared at the students. “In this class, I do not take kindly to people who are not willing to do the work. If you are not serious about fashion, you should leave now.” He pointed to the door. “At any time if I feel you are not being serious, I will remove you from my class. If you are not prepared, it is better if you don’t show up because I will throw you out anyway. If you do as you are told, you will get a lot out of my class. If you do not do the assigned work or apply yourself, well,” He looked straight at Blaine. “You will not last.”
Blaine swallowed hard.
He walked across the front of the classroom. “This is Design 101. The class is half the history of fashion and half application. I expect you to know all of the basics from your reading I assigned.” He pointed to a girl in the front row. “If I asked you what tweed was, you would say.”
The girl cleared her throat. “A rough woolen fabric.”
Blaine wrote the answer down in his notebook.
“And you would be right.” Professor Callahan scanned the class for another student. He pointed to a girl in the back. “What is tulle?”
The girl smiled widely. “Tulle is a very fine netting that is commonly used in Wedding Veils and Tutus.”
Blaine wrote that answer down as well.
“Right you are.” Professor Callahan’s eyes once again fell upon Blaine who was fiercely coping down everything in his notebook. “Okay young man; describe for me the Houndstooth pattern.”
Shit.
Blaine looked up at him. “I am sorry sir, I do not know.”
“You don’t know?” He chuckled. “Why don’t you know? Didn’t you do the required reading for this course?” His lips turned up into a malicious grin.
“I was unaware I actually needed to read it since it is only the first day.”
He let out a loud laugh. His eyes glanced over Blaine before looking back at the younger man who was shaking his head. Professor Callahan turned back and focused on a boy sitting two rows behind him. “You there, what is your name?”
“Vaughn, sir.”
“Vaughn, what did I say at the beginning of this course about people who came to my class unprepared?”
“They would be kicked out.”
“So what do you think I should do to Mr… what is your name dear?”
“Blaine, Blaine Anderson.”
“What should I do with Mr. Anderson here?”
Vaughn looked over at Blaine. His expression was stern and cold. “Kick him out.”
“You heard your classmate, pack your things and leave my class at once.”
Blaine’s jaw hung open. He did not even know this guy and he was being incredibly cruel to him. He gathered up his few items and threw them into his bag and huffed out of class. On his way out he caught the eye of the younger man and Blaine looked at him for the first time.
Woah, hello he’s gorgeous.
He kept his eyes on him until he could no longer see him. He was not paying any attention to where he was going and almost ran right into Warner.
“B-Blaine?” His voice broke.
Blaine stopped in his tracks and looked up to see Warner’s surprised face. “Oh, hey Warner!”
“What are you doing here?”
Blaine readjusted the strap on his shoulder bag. “I go here.”
“You, you go here?”
“Yeah, like it’s hard.”
Warner laughed uncomfortably. “But you don’t care about fashion.”
“I guess there are a few things you still have to learn about me.” He reached over and put his hand on Warner’s shoulder.
“Warner.” A voice came from behind Blaine and Warner’s face lit up.
Blaine dropped his hand and turned around to see Vaughn, the boy that threw him out of his class.
Vaughn walked over to Warner and kissed him on the cheek.
“Hi Vaughn.” He said breathlessly.
Blaine cleared his throat.
Warner looked at him. “Oh sorry. Vaughn this is Blaine, Blaine this is Vaughn, my boyfriend.”
“We’ve met.” Vaughn grabbed Warner’s hand and intertwined their fingers.
“I’m sorry.” Blaine was confused. “You are his what?”
“Boyfriend.” Vaughn raised his hand to show off the fact that they were holding hands.
Blaine ignored him and looked over at Warner.
“Vaughn and I used to date before you and I were together, we reunited over the summer at my internship and hit it off.”
Vaughn chuckled. “It is nice to finally see in person the Blaine you would talk about honey. I didn’t know he was going to come here.”
Warner cupped his face. “Because Pooh Bear, I didn’t know he was until now.
Blaine felt his heart fall into his stomach. “I think I am going to hurl.”
Warner and Vaughn both quickly turned their heads to look at Blaine.
Fuck, did I say that out loud?
“I have to go.” Blaine hurried off.
He began to walk.
He walked and walked and kept walking until he no longer knew where he was. He looked around to see a coffee shop and decided to enter.
The store was rather empty, except for a few customers on their laptops in the far back corner. A pretty Hispanic barista smiled over at him from behind the register. Her dark hair was pulled up into a high ponytail and her name badge was decorated with various stickers. So much so, that Blaine could barely read the name that was printed on it.
“The name’s Santana and are you going to keep looking at my boobs or are you going to order something?”
Blaine’s head shot up. “Sorry….I didn’t mean to….ummm….Medium drip please.” He gave a heavy sigh.
Santana got to work on his order.
“I couldn’t read your name through the stickers, sorry for staring too long.”
Santana laughed. “It’s okay, I am just used to people ogling me so I have developed a rather sharp tongue.”
Blaine gave a small smile.
“Here.” She handed him his cup. “Why do I get the feeling you have had a bad day?” She tilted her head to the side.
Blaine could feel the familiar sting of tears in her eyes.
“Oh dios mio, it’s worst than I thought.” Santana untied her apron. “Sean, I’m going on my break! Cover the register for me.” She threw her apron down and then walked around the counter. Her hand directed Blaine to two oversized chairs in the corner.
“Sit.”
Blaine sat down in the chair obediently, placing his book bag on the floor gently beside him.
“Spill.”
Blaine took a deep breath. “I transferred to a different university to follow my boyfriend after he broke up with me to try to win him back. I just found out that during the summer he got back with this new guy named Vaughn and now they are pretty serious. Vaughn is a really cruel person and I am starting to think that this was all a mistake. I shouldn’t have come here, I shouldn’t have done this.”
Santana held up a hand to stop him. “Woah. You changed schools over a boy.”
“I thought that would win him back, he broke up with me because he couldn’t see me fitting in to his life as a fashion designer. So I decided to be one too.”
She shook her head. “Oh boy…”
Blaine sipped at his coffee.
“So this Vaughn kid, what does he have that you don’t have… a huge dick?”
Blaine almost spit his coffee all over her.
“Sorry, I forgot to mention that I am pretty vulgar”
Blaine coughed. “It’s okay. I was just not expecting that response.”
She shrugged it off. “That is just how I am.”
“Well this guy, I guess he is who Warner can see himself with when he becomes a top designer. Some one who can fit into his future, some one who is serious.”
Santana reached over and grabbed his arm. “Some one who is serious? That’s a load of bullshit.”
Blaine threw his hands up. “I don’t get it.”
Santana wiped the corners of her mouth. “It sounds to me like you need to get back in there and kick some ass. I have dated my fair share of guys to know how their mind works. Prove him your worth because obviously he can’t see it on his own.”
The bell chimed as the door opened behind them and a group entered the store. Blaine turned around and his heart fell. Vaughn was surrounded by a group of girls who were speaking animatedly about a party.
“That’s him, the new boyfriend.” Blaine whispered to Santana.
Santana pursed her lips and focused on the new boy. “Him?”
She turned back to Blaine. “You are definitely cuter.” She laughed loudly.
The laugh made Vaughn turn towards him. “Blaine? Fancy seeing you here.”
Blaine sat straight and stiff in his seat. “Hello Vaughn.”
“We were just talking about having a party tomorrow night, you should come.” Vaughn smiled slyly.
Santana nudged him.
“Yeah, sure.” Blaine said in a low voice from behind his cup.
“Awesome, it’s a costume party so make sure you wear something good!”
The girls giggled around him and Vaughn held a hand out to settle them down.
Blaine looked at Santana who gave him a reassuring look. “Sounds like fun.”
“The party is in my dorm, 7pm. Don’t be late.” Vaughn winked at him.
Vaughn and the girls walked to the other side of the store.
Santana smiled. “Here is your chance. I have to go back to work before I get yelled at.” She grabbed his arm and turned it over where she wrote on the inside of his wrist.
“Here is my number, we can go shopping later for a costume.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
Santana tapped his shoulder and then disappeared behind the counter once more.
Blaine downed the rest of his coffee and headed out.