Chapter 9: Build up

"Mercedes you can't come to London just to have a go at Trixie! That's ridiculous!" Kurt was shocked. Since the slap he had thought a little as to how Mercedes would react. He'd never imagined this.

"I was practically half-way to the airport already! I've been dying to see you for ages! I miss you! Now this has come up I may as well make the trip now. This isn't about Trixie; this is about you. You have a lot of problems right now and I want to come and help you out with all of them. After all there's nobody in London to give Blaine the talk about not hurting my man! I miss shopping with you too! I really want us to have some girl-time that actually involves the two of us being on the same continent. No arguing, White Boy, I'm coming and there ain't nothing you can do about it!" the way Mercedes spoke lead Kurt to realise she was deadly serious. The case was closed. Mercedes was coming to London.

Kurt sighed; there really was no point in arguing with her. She would only come anyway. "So when are you coming?"

"Well, it looks as though most of the planes set to head out tomorrow are fully booked. However I can get a plane the day after tomorrow! To think less than 48 hours and I'll be in London. I always wanted to go to England!" Mercedes giggled and Kurt found himself doing the same. It was hard not to be carried along by Mercedes enthusiasm.

"I must admit I am pretty excited! It's been too long!"

"Aw! I'm excited too, boo! Anyways got to dash! I have to pack! See you soon, Kurt!"

"Bye 'Cedes!"

Blaine checked his phone for the fifth time in as many minutes. Why hadn't Kurt replied yet? Was he offended by the flowers? Did he think them too forward or feminine? Blaine's musings were interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Kurt?" he called, "Is that you?"

There was no answer but Blaine hurried to the door regardless; hoping Kurt would be there with open arms and a smile.

It wasn't Kurt.

It was Jayden.

"Look, I know you're pissed at me and you have every right to be, but please hear me out."

Blaine raised his eyebrow but said nothing; allowing Jayden to continue.

"I know I've been a bit of jerk… well… a lot of jerk. I shouldn't have punched him, it was stupid and he could have been hurt pretty bad. But please look at this from my point of view. You start the most amazing, caring, talented and beautiful guy you know. You were so happy; you thought everything was going fine. Then suddenly you go out on a romantic day trip with your boyfriend and you catch him after he's clearly been with some other guy and won't even admit it to you. The next day he dumps you. Ok, I might be a little different to how I was when we started out. I might have told a few lies, but you had no right to do that. So what I'm asking is this: can we start again? No more lies, I love you and I know you love me too."

Jayden was nearly whispering by the end. He looked into Blaine's eyes. Blaine felt terrible, he knew it wasn't his entire fault and it definitely wasn't the way Jayden had depicted it; but he knew that he had started dating Jayden while his heart still belonged to someone else. He was still trying to get over Kurt, he was trying to date others but all the while he knew it was hopeless. Guilt swept over Blaine.

"Look, Jayden, I'm not going to lie to you. I never loved you. I liked you, you were nice, well you seemed that way to start with. We were already growing apart way before the trip to Paris but even when we first started dating I knew it was going to be difficult. I still loved Kurt, it has always been Kurt. I'm sorry that you had to get caught up in it, but I truly believed at the time that if I started dating other people and left Kurt behind I would be able to get over him. It was no use and I'm sorry, but we can't start again. We still have just the same problems as before. I don't dislike you, but the you I discovered to be the real you is just not somebody I can be with, I still love Kurt and we have decided to try again." Blaine tried to be as gentle with Jayden as he could; he didn't want to cause Jayden any more pain, but it seemed like this was falling on deaf ears as Jayden looked angry, really angry, like I'm-gonna-burn-your-house-down-now angry. It scared Blaine.

"Look, I said I'm sorry! How could you just get over me so quickly?"

"I got over you while we were still dating and I realised that you were nothing like the person I wanted to be with; who I thought I was with; the man who I might have fallen in love with."

Jayden stared open-mouthed he wasn't sure what to say. Then Blaine's phone rang; breaking the tension.

Blaine ran off to grab it. Jayden stayed in the door way; too shocked to move.

"Hello?... Oh Kurt! It's you! I was waiting for you to call!... Are you ok?... So what time are we meeting?... Yeah, that's fine with me!... Great! I'll see you then! Bye, Kurt!"

Blaine re-emerged with a goofy grin on his face, but the smile faded when he saw Jayden's stony face at the door.

"Who was that?" Jayden asked although he already knew the answer.

"Kurt." Said Blaine; he didn't plan on giving Jayden any more information than he must have heard.

"I see. Well you're a fast mover, Blaine, I'll give you that." With that Jayden stalked off.

Blaine exhaled a sigh of relief once he was sure Jayden was gone. With a bit of luck Jayden wouldn't cause any more trouble now.

As Jayden left the main building he was greeted by a pretty slim girl with long blond hair. If he hadn't of been gay she would definitely have been someone he would have been interested in. As it was he couldn't help but admire her beauty.

"Hi! I'm here to find a friend I was told he lived here. I don't suppose you know what his room number is. Do you know a Blaine? I can't quite remember his second name."

Jayden was shocked. Was Blaine bi or something?

"Yeah, I know him. What is your business with him?"

"I work with Kurt. I'm not sure I like the idea of their dating very much, in fact I'm not sure I like it at all. See, I'm pretty good at reading people and to me it is obvious by the way you reacted to his name that you're pissed with him somehow. By your clothes I can tell you're gay and I know Blaine's attractive. Therefore I concluded that you must either have a crush on Blaine or used to date him. Either would mean you would hate the idea of another man with him, so therefore I am confident that you will want to help me. I could do it myself but things are more fun with two."

Jayden stared, shocked. How did this random girl, whom Jayden had never seen before in his life know so much! However, Jayden could see the blond girl was growing impatient so he quickly responded.

"I'm in."

"Good! Now, tell me everything you know. I'm Trixie, by the way!"

Kurt hung up. It was fun planning dates with Blaine, it fun having somebody to be able to plan a date with. Normally getting hit in the face would leave him pretty upset, especially knowing he would have to see that person almost every day; but right now he was excited, it felt like his first date all-over again. Kurt went to sleep happy.

Blaine was excited! He couldn't wait; he'd been meaning to ask Kurt on a date for weeks (a real date not just one of their just-friends-outings). He spent a lot longer than he normally would on getting ready. Kurt took so much pride in his appearance, it only seemed fir to Blaine that he also put effort into how to look for their first proper date, as a couple! Blaine went to sleep with a content smile on his face.

Blaine still couldn't believe that he had the fortune to be accepted by someone as amazing as Kurt! They'd lost regionals less than forty-eight hours ago but Blaine couldn't care less! He had something a lot better than an over-sized trophy. He had love.

Kurt saved him he awkwardness of meeting his dad (after the talk they had had a few days ago Blaine was definitely not looking forward to that), meeting him just outside instead.

Kurt looked so beautiful! Yet it was only when Blaine got home that he realised he hadn't a clue what Kurt had been wearing. It was his face that Blaine had been focussing on mostly, and more specifically his lips.

Blaine had taken Kurt to the ice-rink and Blaine could still remember Kurt's excited squeals when he saw where Blaine had taken him. The evening had been so perfect and Blaine had wanted to hug Wes for his suggestion of the ice-rink; it was a great excuse to hold on to Kurt's hand and never let go.

Over the course of the evening Blaine felt himself falling for Kurt all over again. He would never let go of Kurt. They would always be together.

Blaine's alarm was the most unwelcome sound he had ever heard that morning. Blaine sat up with a groan. The dream had been so vivid it was a fresh a memory as the day after it happened. How did it all go so wrong? Blaine thought to himself before mentally rebuking himself for being so pessimistic. Things were starting to get back on track.

Blaine got up; it was exactly three hours before his rendezvous with Kurt. He had to time things perfectly! This was not just a coffee date this was a chance to change his future. This could be his opportunity to start again; re-write the story but change the ending.

Kurt gave a little giggle as he opened his wardrobe that morning. It was such a small gesture but it did surprise him. He hadn't really giggled over nothing like that in years… well since he broke up with Blaine.

Kurt spent time carefully sorting his outfit out. He wanted it to be perfect; not too smart but not too casual; as Kurt called it "Getting the perfect balance of ying and yang".

Blaine was first to arrive at the coffee shop. He'd wanted to get the drinks and a table before Kurt got there. Kurt wasn't long after him and he sat done in the seat Blaine indicated to him.

"Grand low-fat mocha?" Blaine offered, mainly to show Kurt he still remembered his coffee order.

Kurt knew what Blaine was doing but decided to play along anyway, "You know my coffee order? Mr Anderson I am impressed!"

Blaine smiled and handed Kurt the drink.

"So, how have you been?"

Kurt almost laughed at the obvious question. "Urm… well… this is where it gets complicated."

Blaine raised an eyebrow. "Do you want to start from the beginning?"

Kurt nodded. "I had a great show last night. I think the best I've ever done! I felt I could really be me on stage and all of Trixie's hate was just rolling off my back. I think I had to do something like twelve encores before I finally just left! It was great!" Kurt smiled in at the memory, "and then I left the stage and Trixie was in a rage. I mean that's not really saying much when it's Trixie you are talking about, but this time it was one of her worse ones."

Kurt paused, seemingly unsure of how to continue, "It's fine just take your time, don't worry if it comes out weird!" Blaine re-assured him

"She hadn't had any flowers that evening, that always upsets her. But when she saw I had flowers she must have lost it. The flowers you gave me, I'm sorry, they aren't looking their best."

Blaine was shocked, how could someone be so malicious! He took in a breath so as his voice would be steady, "It's fine don't worry about it I will get you some more when we're done talking!"

Kurt smiled at Blaine wryly, "that's not it. She… she… slapped me." Kurt whispered the sentence as though saying it allowed would mean a re-run.

"She what?" Blaine almost screamed, but then he saw tears in Kurt's eyes and he knew that Kurt needed something other than anger right now.

Blaine joined Kurt on the sofa he was sitting on. He put his arms around Kurt's small frame and allowed the boy to cry on his shoulder. Blaine rubbed circles into Kurt's back, the moment didn't last long as Kurt regained his composure as quickly as he could.

"Sorry," Kurt whispered.

"It's fine, Kurt. I really do think you should tell someone about this. You can't just let her treat you like this it's not right."

"The director doesn't care, if I told him it would be my word against hers and the cast would back her up. I wouldn't stand a chance."

"I'd stick up for you Kurt! Is there nobody else in London you have to lean on?"

Kurt suddenly broke into a smile, "not at the moment, but b tomorrow evening there will be!"

Blaine raised both eyebrows this time, "who, an old boyfriend or something?"

Kurt frowned slightly, "Mercedes silly! Don't you remember her? And anyway I haven't had any boyfriends with you. My love life has been non-existent… apart from that one night in Chicago which just doesn't count."

If Blaine's eyebrows had been raised before they were practically in his hairline now, "Mercedes, but she hates me! And what night in Chicago?"

"It's a joke Blaine, jeez! I haven't been with anyone since you. Nobody felt right, like I was cheating on you or something even though we broke up. And as for Mercedes, well, you are so on your own with that!" Kurt choked back a laugh at Blaine first relieved then fearful expression.

"Well thanks a whole heap. And before you ask I wasn't with anyone until Jayden and we never really got very far. I know the feeling you mentioned. Every time he pushed for something more I just saw you face and I knew I couldn't live with myself if I did it." Blaine shook his head slightly at the end of his confession.

Kurt took his hand, "I don't blame you for trying to move on. I probably would have too if I had had the option."

Blaine took Kurt's hand, "I don't think I would mind if you weren't joking about that one night in Chicago. Even if you'd slept with a hundred hookers, you'd still be Kurt and I would never judge you."

They gazed softly into each other's eyes until Kurt's phone rang; effectively ruining the moment.

From: Mercedes

Hell to the yes! Someone cancelled last minute I'm about to board the plane right now. See you in a few hours, White Boy.

Mx

Kurt laughed and Blaine gave him a bemused look, "Looks like you won't have much time to prepare a speech to calm down Mercedes! She's coming tonight!"

Blaine stared at Kurt, "Seriously? But you're performing tonight, who's gonna look after her?"

"You can, silly! It will be time you can use to re-acquaint yourselves with each other!"