July 28, 2013, 2:21 p.m.
A Second Chance at Love: Chapter 1
E - Words: 4,539 - Last Updated: Jul 28, 2013 Story: Closed - Chapters: 7/? - Created: Jul 24, 2013 - Updated: Jul 28, 2013 98 0 0 0 0
Hello readers!
Thank you for the views, favorites, follows and reviews! It's always nice to receive an e-mail notifying me of an alert added to this story!
I just noticed that I seem to have failed math back in elementary school. I modified the ages in the introduction in the last chapter and I don't know if you've seen it, so I will just repeat them here. In the prologue the boys are actually 25, having started dating when they were both 17 during their junior year. Kurt and Blaine are now 31, having broken up six years ago, three years after finishing college.
Enjoy the first chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee, nor do I own anything you may recognize.
It was just another normal day for one Blaine Anderson. He got up, went through his usual morning routine, had breakfast, finished getting ready and left for work. A lot could change in six years; a lot had changed in six years. He was now a talent scout for a music studio he had opened with two of his best friends, Wes and David, and though he continued writing songs, he only performed and recorded occasionally.
After the painful break up with Kurt six years ago, he never was the same again. They had managed to get together a couple of weeks after Kurt left to sort everything out regarding their apartment and furniture. Kurt got the rest of his stuff out of their old apartment and into his new studio, while he also moved out, not being able to bear to live in the same place where he had shared countless memories with Kurt. After sorting everything out, they each went their own ways, occasionally bumping into each other at social outings organized by their mutual friends. Even though they had broken up, they continued close to their friends, not letting their break up affect too much their friendships with ex-Warblers.
But it had been almost four years since he had last spoken to Kurt. A little after a year after their break up, Isabelle, Kurt's boss, was relocated to the French Vogue in Paris, and having been able to choose one person to go with her, she chose Kurt. So, when Isabelle moved, Kurt moved as well, only returning on holidays to visit his family. He continued in contact with Wes and David, and met up constantly with Nick and Jeff, as both of them had also moved to Europe two years before, as Nick had gotten a scholarship for a Master's degree in Oxford. Of course, with Nick in England, Jeff also followed, having become an author, he could write anywhere. After Nick finished school, they decided against returning to the States, and the couple was still happily living in London. Living relatively close to each other Nick, Jeff and Kurt managed to get together at least one every two months.
At Nick and Jeff's wedding, only months after Nick finished his Master's degree, they saw each other and greeted the other politely, but both Kurt and Blaine avoided being caught in a direct conversation with each other, instead mingling in opposite ends of the room. The same happened at Wes's wedding, for which Kurt had flown out from Paris.
Of course Blaine knew what was happening in Kurt's life. Being a famous fashion designer for Vogue, Kurt was often interviewed and Blaine would be lying if he said he ignored them. He wasn't like a crazed fan, but he did occasionally look Kurt's name up to see what was happening in Kurt's life. That was how he knew that Kurt was now head of the fashion department of French Vogue. He would also hear how Kurt was doing from Burt, as the man still saw him as his son, and often called for a chat, usually just about what he had been doing in his life, stirring away from Kurt centered conversations, but sometimes Kurt's name was mentioned. And although Wes and David tried to stir away from Kurt related topics, even after six years, sometimes his name was still brought up in conversations, so that's how he knew Kurt hadn't had much luck in the dating department either. Blaine had his share of flings and a couple of relationships, but not one had become a little more serious. But he was content with his life the way it was.
He arrived at work that day to find Wes and David arguing, again, over whom to try to sign a deal with next.
"Come on, David, why would you want to sign her? She would just be a waste of time and money!" Wes seemed exasperated and his hair a mess and Blaine let out an amused chuckle.
David rolled his eye fondly at his best friend. "But Wes, can't you see? She has such a potential! I mean, sure, when she was younger she couldn't sing at all, but she seems better now! She can get better."
"Exactly, David! She had no gift whatsoever to singing when she was younger. She won't be getting much better. She is twenty-six, David. There are so many other good artists out there." Wes was getting frustrated and only when he turned to the door did he take notice of Blaine standing there with an eyebrow raised. 'Oh, hey Blaine! Please tell David that there is no way we are going to sign a record deal with Sugar Motta of all people?"
Blaine chuckled, used to his friend's banter. "Hey guys. David, as much as I agree with you that Sugar has gotten better since high-school, when she uploaded that awful video of her singing on YouTube, I think that it would be a little irrational to sign her. People know who she is, and her voice is not that special. I agree with Wes on this."
David groaned and banged his head on the table. "I hate you all."
Wes and Blaine laughed while Wes high-fived Blaine.
"So, Blainey-boy-" He was cut off by a mock-irritated Blaine.
"Don't call me that, Wesley."
Not to be sidetracked, Wes merely shrugged, "Don't call me Wesley, Blaine-boy." Blaine let out a huff and David snorted in laughter. "As I was saying Blainey-boy, before I was so rudely interrupted, what's new in your life?" He asked in a sugar sweet voice.
Blaine looked confused for a moment. "What, you mean since we all went out last night? By that I mean, since you guys left me at my apartment with strict orders to be at work on time?"
"Yeah, have you met anyone new? Any hot dude catch your eye?" David asked.
Blaine now looked suspicious. When the two of them got like this nothing good could come out of it. "Wes, David, no, I haven't met anyone in the span of nine hours since you last saw me, seven of those that were spent sleeping in my bed, alone. What's going on, guys?"
Wes and David looked up innocently. "What? Can't we ask after our best friend's life? You hurt us!" Wes exclaimed with mock offence, placing a hand over his heart, while David stuck his lip out in an over-exaggerated pout.
"Guys, just get it over with. What have you got now?" Blaine asked tiredly. He knew they had something to tell him that he probably wouldn't like to hear.
"Fine, spoil-sport." Wes grinned and suddenly they both became serious, all playfulness gone from their faces. They knew that after six years, the subject they would approach was still a sore spot for their friend. "Have you heard from Kurt lately?"
Blaine tensed for a moment before answering carefully. "No, you guys know I haven't spoken to him since he left for Paris. Why?"
David sighed. "Kurt, he is coming back to New York. Next month. "
Blaine seemed unfazed by the news. 'Oh, yeah I heard. Burt and Carole still do monthly checkups on me to see how I'm doing, you know? Burt called last week to tell me."
Wes and David seemed taken aback by how calm Blaine sounded. "Oh, right, we forgot you still talk to Burt. How is he by the way?"
"He is fine, still healthy, but his age is preventing him from going to the sop very often. Finn has taken over the garage, from what he's told me."
David sighed, "Blaine, really, the fact that Kurt is coming back doesn't bother you not even a little bit? You do know we can't really avoid him once he's back. He is our friend too, and we miss him. You know we've hardly seen him since he moved away."
Blaine let out a small laugh. "Guys, is not as if I've never spoken to the guy since we broke up. I know he is your friend; I'm not stopping you from hanging out with him. And honestly, I'm happy he is coming back. Becoming head at the fashion department in New York is a huge step, especially with him having been in close contact with European trends for the past five years." Blaine paused and sighed. "And to tell the truth, I really want to see him again. He was my best friend for so long."
Wes and David shared a look. They knew that Blaine's feeling for Kurt never went away, they knew that their friend was still in love with Kurt, even after being apart for so long, and they knew that he still suffered from the break up. And they knew that even though Blaine would often deny, Blaine knew he never actually got over Kurt.
"Blaine, we don't want to see you hurt. We know you still care for him, and we know that you miss him."
Blaine let out a shaky breath. "I miss him so much, Wes. You have no idea. It still kills me to think about our break up."
Wes went over and hugged him tightly. "We know Blaine. We know."
"But I really do want to see him again. I miss having him as a friend. We shared almost nine years together, Wes. And I know I've been putting a brave face during this past six years, but the pain is still there. The 'what if's' are still there. 'What if we've talked about it?' 'What if we never broke up?' 'Would we still be together?' I love you guys, you two have been there for me at my worst moments, but it's not him." Blaine suddenly broke down, it seemed like he had finally burst something inside of him, and the need to open up was there. "You are right. I still care for him, a lot. But worse than not being together, is not being able to know he is there for me as a friend. Not being to call him or message him when I see some hideous fashion combination, or when I see his designs littering the store windows. And it hurts to think that Kurt may have forgotten all about me, that he hates me, and that he may not want to speak to me ever again."
Wes just hugged him closer. David wandered closer and patted his back. "We love you too, B. You know we will always be there for you. If needed, all you have to do is call Wes or me. But you know Kurt. He doesn't hate, and he certainly hasn't forgotten you, Blaine. You guys used to talk amicably after the break up, whenever we went out and you two happened to be there."
"But, David, it's been years since we last saw each other!" Blaine seemed in hysterics now.
"Yes, it has Blaine. But you guys spent eight years together. Those eight years aren't easily forgettable, you know? And he asks after you sometimes you know? Whenever we talk, he asks how you've been doing. He still cares for you, B." David said softly.
"Really?" came Blaine's small voice, so vulnerable that it broke Wes's heart a little. "He asks after me?"
"Yes, Blaine. He didn't forget you, and he doesn't hate you."
"Do you guys really think there is any chance that we may become friends again?" Blaine questioned, eyes shining.
Wes and David looked at each other, a knowing look in their faces. "Yeah, Blaine. I really think you guys will find each other again. You are going to find happiness again. Being around Kurt always made you happy, even before you got together. You haven't been the same person for six years. I don't really think you've been truly, genuinely happy for years. And we want you to be happy again, truly happy again."
"I haven't. I'm happy, I'm content with life, but I miss him. Without him-he made me happy. Thanks, guys. Tell me when you organize something and I'll be there." Blaine hugged each of his friends. They patted him back with reassurances. "Now, enough procrastinating and talking about my failed relationship. Don't we have work to do?"
And like that, each of them went to tend to their own tasks, and Blaine, while going over some files felt as if a huge weight had been lift off his shoulders, while other thoughts worried his mind. Kurt was coming home. Kurt was returning, for real, to New York.
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
"Hey Kurt!" Isabelle's chirpy voice sounded around his office.
"Hey Isabelle. How are you?" Kurt smiled at her and got up to greet her. He and Isabelle had become very good friends over the years, and after he was upgraded to head of the fashion department at the French Vogue they started spending less time together, and he missed his friend.
Isabelle laughed. "I'm doing just fine, Kurt. So, I hear you are heading back to New York at the end of the month." She said in a light tone, but with a hint of sadness to it."
Kurt smiled. "Yeah, head of fashion department back in the New York offices. As much as I love Paris and Europe, I miss home. I love this place dearly, but it'll never be home like the States and New York is. And I want to be close to my dad."
Isabelle raised an eyebrow. Over the years she had come to know Kurt quite well, and she had a feeling it wasn't just that. "Only your dad?"
Kurt let out a chuckle. "You know me too well, Isabelle." He took a moment to collect his thoughts. "I guess I want to see him too. And I miss hanging out with Wes, David, Santana and Brittany. You know, Santana and Brittany are having a baby."
Isabelle just sighed and continued playing along. She knew the real reason why he wanted to go back to New York, but she wasn't going to force him to open up.
"Really? How sweet! How long have they been together, again? Brittany is the sweet blonde one, right? And Santana, the Latina with a killer body?"
Kurt laughed. "Yeah, you got them right. They were together for a while in high school, but they broke up before graduation. After a few years they met again while in college. They've been together ever since, married for three years. They are sweet girls. I love them to death." Kurt said it with a fond smile and tone, but one could hear the sadness lying underneath, no doubt thinking about his lost love.
"Kurt, how are really coping with the idea of returning to New York and running into old friends?" Isabelle laid a caring hand on his arm.
Kurt sighed and sat down on a couch he had in his office. He put his head in his hands and let out a long breath. Few people knew exactly what had happened between him and Blaine. Wes, David, Santana, Brittany and Isabelle knew the specifics. Nick, Jeff and his family knew the basics.
"I don't know, Isabelle. I miss them so much. Talking to Wes and David on Skype is not the same as witnessing their banters and petty arguments. Same goes to Santana and Brittany. The girls I've seen a couple of times since we moved to Paris, but the guys, I haven't seen them since Wes's wedding, and that was almost three years ago." He paused and hesitated. "And I guess I miss him as well. While I'm thrilled about going back and seeing the guys again, I don't really know how to feel about seeing Blaine again."
Isabelle patted his back. "I'm sure it will all go okay. You guys talked before you moved, and you said you don't harbor any ill feelings towards him. It's been six years, Kurt."
"I don't. The break up was just as much his fault as it was mine. We both could have worked harder for it, but we didn't. It was a mutual decision. I don't blame him, I don't hate him. I want him to be happy. But, it's been four years since I last talked to him, and even before we moved, we weren't exactly talking, more like exchanging pleasantries."
"But you miss talking to him don't you?"
"Yes, I miss having him by my side, and I miss being able to rely on him as a friend. "
Isabelle smiled slightly. "So, try to reconnect, Kurt. When you meet him, start talking to him, exchange pleasantries. Build up your friendship from the start again. You two were extremely close, you connected and understood each other in a level no one else could. It's still in there somewhere, Kurt."
Kurt smiled slightly and chuckled a little. "How do you always know what to say?"
"I'm psychic." Isabelle answered with a grin. "But now, we've come to the real question. What should we do for your goodbye party?"
Now Kurt let out a full, hearty laugh and the two of them started talking animatedly of possible outings.
When Kurt arrived back at his flat later that same night he was tired. He still had things to finish packing and wanted nothing more than to collapse on his bed and sleep. He decided to log on Skype to see if Nick and Jeff were online. It had been a couple weeks since he last talked to them, and he still had to break the news that he'd be moving back to New York. Luckily, they were online. After waiting for a few minutes for the call to connect he was met with the grinning faces of his two friends.
"Hey Kurt! Long time no see, man!" Jeff greeted in his overly enthusiastic manner. "Hey Nick! Come here! Kurtie-pie is online."
Kurt chuckled and groaned playfully. "Jeff! It's good to see you too. But please stop with the nickname? Honestly, it's been years since high-school. Oh, hey Nick!"
Nick laughed. "Hey Kurtie. Don't you know that nicknames are forever? Once given, they can't be unsaid! You should know that by now!" He asked while situating himself on Jeff's lap.
Kurt groaned and buried his face in his hands peeking out from between his fingers. "Why am I friends with you again?"
Jeff and Nick grinned. "Because you love us and would die without us in your life." Kurt just shook his head.
"You guys are hopeless. But, yeah, I love you guys."
Jeff grinned triumphantly, "We know and we love you too." while Nick asked. "So what's up in the French fashion world?"
"That's why I'm calling actually. I've been offered a position as head of the fashion department back in New York. I'm moving back to the States by the end of the month."
"Really? That's great, Kurt!" Nick congratulated while Jeff mock pouted.
"You are leaving us, Kurtie-pie? Don't you love us anymore? What did we do to deserve such a thing?" He whined, earning himself a slap from Nick.
Kurt laughed, used to his friend's antics. "Sorry Jeffy. I miss the States. I promise to visit whenever. And you should visit there as well. I'm sure the guys miss you. After all what are the Warblers without their infamous duo?' He asked with a grin.
Nick shrugged. "I thought the infamous duo was Wes and David?"
"No, they are the twins. The Warblers are not Warblers without them and you two." Kurt answered with a knowing look which made both Nick and Jeff burst out laughing.
"The Warblers wouldn't have been Warblers without you and Blaine either. You two were the main soloist during our junior and senior years, Kurt." Jeff said before he realized what he was saying. "Oh, shit. I shouldn't have said that."
Kurt tensed a little at his words but smiled. "Really, Jeff, it's been years. And he was an important part of my life then, I won't deny it. Nor will I pretend it didn't exist. Those days at Dalton were the best, and I loved my college experience. He is in countless memories of mine of those days. I don't want to pretend he didn't exist."
Nick had a serious look on his face. "You do know that you won't be able to avoid him once you get back to New York, right, Kurt? He is best friends with Wes and David, they own a recording studio together, and the twins are your friends too."
"Nick, I don't want to avoid him. I have nothing against him. I don't hate him, nor do I blame him for what happened. I actually do want to reconnect and try to build up a friendship with him again, and hopefully moving back I will be able to." Kurt said back. That was new to the couple. Seeing their incredulous expressions he elaborated. "I haven't spoken directly to him since I moved to Paris, but I do ask after him when I talk with Wes and David, guys. And my dad still phones Blaine every month to see how he is doing and he always relies back to me something about Blaine. He simply pops it into the conversation."
Nick was shocked and Jeff seemed surprised about this new piece of information. "Your dad has maintained contact with Blaine? We still talk about once a month, and he never mentioned that to us."
Kurt chuckled. "Yeah, when my dad learned about the break-up he warned me that I couldn't and wouldn't stop him from talking to Blaine, his third son as he puts it. I never wanted to. Blaine's family are idiots as you guys well know. While we were together my dad became like a dad to him. I think Blaine did see him as a dad. It would tear him apart to break off his contact with my dad."
Nick still seemed unsure. "But isn't it strange, your ex-boyfriend, who you haven't maintained contact with and that left you a mess after you guys broke up, to be contacting your father in a monthly basis? Do they meet up as well?" Jeff nodded alongside his husband with a curious expression.
"Well is a bit strange, but we were together for eight years guys. Blaine and my dad bonded a lot over the years. I was mess, that is true, but I'm sure he was a mess as well. The break-up was painful for both of us. I want Blaine to be happy, and having a father figure in his life makes him happy. And I know my father came to love Blaine over the years, and it would break him a little to force him to lose a third son."
Jeff cocked his head to the side. "Kurt, I know we never pried into your business regarding the break-up, but, what happened? The way you talk about him and how painful it was to part ways, and how he still maintains contact with your dad and how you don't have resentment against him, it seems hard to believe why you guys broke-up in the first place."
Kurt sighed. He knew he would have to eventually tell them. "We just grew apart, I guess. We were fighting for months before we broke-up. We had to deal with so much pain in a daily basis, and at the time it didn't seem worth to continue making us suffer. We were at the point that one would intentionally do something to hurt the other. Our love didn't seem to be enough. So that night we just sat down and talked, the first time we had a proper conversation with each other, without yelling or snapping, in months. It just seemed like the right way to go at the time."
Nick nodded while Jeff inquired. "What about now?"
"What about now?"
"You said it seemed like the right thing to do at the time. That was six years ago. What about now? You will be at the same city as him, occasionally hanging out together. You both have grown and matured, and from what we can tell, you both still care for each other. Why not try again?"
Kurt sighed. "Is not that easy, Jeff. Yes, I still care for him. He was my best friend for almost a decade, and we did date for eight years. But, I don't know. We have both changed, Jeff. I changed."
"I'm with Jeff in this one, Kurt. You both changed, but you both haven't been genuinely happy since you broke-up. There are rare times where I see that spark in your eye that used to always be present when you were around Blaine. You guys changed, but deep inside you guys are still you. You are still the witty, diva Kurt we all knew in high school, and Blaine is still the over enthusiastic puppy self we've all grown to love. Not to mention you are both single." Nick added with a wink.
"I'm happy guys. I'll try to be friends with him again. I do miss having him around. And if we can overcome everything we've been through, who knows?" Kurt said with a slight strain in his voice. He knew he still cared for Blaine, and it still hurt a little to think about the break-up, but in his mind he would be lucky to have Blaine back as a friend. But he had become good at hiding his emotions back in high-school, something that came in handy in the months after the breakup. So, while it hurt a little to talk about it with his friends, he hid it well behind his nonchalant expression.
Nick and Jeff nodded. From there the conversation moved to some lighter topics with promises of getting together sometime before Kurt had to leave to the States. After they said their goodbyes, Kurt laid down thinking back to the golden years, as he came to refer to the years he and Blaine were together. He still cared deeply for the man, and he missed him. Maybe the guys were right; perhaps there was still a chance they could build up a friendship and relationship from the start. He certainly wasn't opposed to it.
Thank you for reading! And please let me know what you think! Reviews are love and motivate me to update faster.
xoxo-Julia