July 28, 2013, 2:21 p.m.
A Second Chance at Love: Chapter 3
E - Words: 3,390 - Last Updated: Jul 28, 2013 Story: Closed - Chapters: 7/? - Created: Jul 24, 2013 - Updated: Jul 28, 2013 94 0 0 0 0
Time seemed to pause as glasz met hazel. The two spent a few seconds just looking into each other's eyes, absorbing the moment. After a few seconds of silence and staring, Blaine let out a breath and broke the gaze. Looking back at the glasz eyes he used to stare at any available opportunity he finally broke the tense silence.
"So, how have you been?"
Kurt chuckled awkwardly. "I've been well. It's nice to be back home."
Blaine nodded and looked away, trying to get rid of all the awkwardness and coming up with something to say. He had so much on his mind that he wanted to tell Kurt, ask him, but it seemed that now that he was face to face with him, his mind had shut down and lost all capacity of thinking coherently and logically. He finally let out a slight laugh.
"This shouldn't be so strange." He said more to himself but Kurt heard and chuckled. Inside he was having a similar internal debate as Blaine was, trying to come up with words, but coming up with nothing.After a tense pause they made eye contact again and they both broke out in laughter.
"Come here, Blaine, and give me a hug!" Kurt exclaimed through his laugh reaching out for Blaine and tears fell from both the men's eyes as they embraced. "God, I missed you, Blaine."
"I missed you too, Kurt." Blaine said in a slightly choked voice, clutching Kurt back tightly.
They pulled apart but still didn't let go of one another. They just stood there staring at each other and enjoying the feel of the other in their arms for the first time in what seemed like forever. Finally letting go Blaine smiled up at Kurt.
"It's really nice to see you, Kurt."
Kurt smiled back. "The feeling's mutual. Now come on, the guys must be wondering where we are. And I'm hungry."
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Meanwhile, in the dining room the guys had settled down at the table and were trying very hard not to eavesdrop on what was going on the living room. They remained tense while they heard the awkward greeting and silence, silently thinking if maybe this had been a bad idea after all, but when they heard them laugh and Kurt's demand for Blaine to go over and hug him they knew they would be alright. Melissa and Santana, though she will deny if confronted, even awed a little hearing them say they missed each other with such an emotion that could be heard from the dining room. David and Wes shared a relieved look and David quietly whispered in Wes's ear.
"I knew they'd be okay. No one could connect at such level when they were younger and not get along never again."
Hearing steps coming closer to the dining room they figured their reunion was over and turned to greet the two ex-lovers. Kurt came in first, with a perfectly schooled calm expression, but no one at the table missed the gleam in his eye, a gleam that was only present whenever he was around Blaine, and a gleam they had all missed seeing during the last six years.They smiled at each other, glad to see some sparks of the old Kurt they knew and loved return.
Blaine, having never been able to properly conceal his emotion, followed right after with a small smile playing at his lips, threatening to break into a huge grin at any moment. Wes was sure that, if they were void of company Blaine would be doing his own version of happy dance and belting out Teenage Dream. Something he knew that he would do as soon as Kurt wasn't in the building as he.
They sat down on the two remaining spots at the table after shuffling a little, resulting in Kurt at the end and Blaine in the middle seat, in between Kurt and David. Melissa sat at the head of the table on Kurt's side, and Wes on the other head, next to David. Across the trio, sat Santana and Brittany.
After a few silent moments, with one waiting for the other to make a move and start eating Wes finally cracked.
"Come on, guys. This is not a formal dinner with the Queen of England. Dig in! The food is getting cold!" The table laugh and like that everyone started piling up their plates while Melissa turned to Kurt.
"So, Kurt. How are settling back in New York? Still know your way around?"
Kurt laughed. "Mel, I lived in the city for almost nine years before I moved to Paris. I think I'm still fairly acquainted with what New York City has to offer."
"I know, Kurt, but you haven't been back in the city in like five years. Maybe you forgot?" David offeredand quickly shut his mouth when he saw Kurt's look.
"Really, David?" He asked with a fake anger lacing his tone. "I dreamed of moving to New York and escaping Ohio since forever, and you think I would simply forget? The best years of my life were spent here, you know?" He glared at David a bit, who was cowering under his gaze then let out a laugh. "I thought you knew that when Kurt Hummel loves something, he doesn't forget easily."
The rest laughed while Santana and Wes exclaimed perfectly in sync. "And there is the Kurt we know and love." While Santana added, "I will admit Porcelain; I miss your bitchy comments. You are the only person other than me who can pull out bitch mode to perfection. "
Everyone laughed again and Blaine looked distracted no doubt thinking about Kurt's words.When Kurt Hummel loves something, he doesn't forget easily.Was that meant for him, maybe?
Kurt, oblivious to his ex-boyfriend's current state of mind, just shrugged at Santana's words. "You are looking at the queen bitch itself. And I miss your sarcastic remarks as well Satan, not to say the twin's banter and childish manners." He grinned and winked at Wes and David while the others smirked and the duo pouted.
"But Kurtie –" Wes started,
"- you love us." David finished.
Kurt smiled and completed. "That I do, why, I don't know. And I miss your creeping tendencies to end each other's sentences as well."
David and Wes high-fived and announced loudly. "Yes! We knew it. You can't get rid of us, Kurtie. And you love us because we are all kinds of awesome!."
"Yeah, yeah, we've already established that I love you guys and you guys love me. Now, can we carry on eating?" He dismissed the two with a grin while the table looked on to their banter with amusement plastered on their faces.
They returned to a comfortable silence that was occasionally broken by one or another complimenting Melissa on the excellent cooking. Blaine seemed unusually silent and distant that, while it was expected by the others, put Kurt slightly on edge.
"So, Blaine," Kurt started conversationally, startling the other man from his thoughts, "My dad told me you've been visiting."
The table fell silent and Blaine paled a little. "Y-yeah, I have. Burt asked me to visit. I'm sorry. I should have asked you first." He managed to stutter out after a few moments.
Kurt smiled. "I wasn't going to get mad, Blaine. I understand you and my dad formed some kind of bond. I just wanted to ask if he's doing okay." Blaine's color returned slightly, but he remained guarded. "I haven't been back a lot, so I've seen him a lot less than I should have. He tells me he is fine when he calls me, but a second opinion is always wanted."
Blaine relaxed slightly. "Yeah, Burt is doing fine, still strong and as healthy as ever."
Kurt exhaled in relief, glad that his dad didn't seem to have sugarcoated anything. He smiled at Blaine and turned to speak with Brittany, the two rapidly getting lost in their own world. Blaine sat there through the rest of the dinner in a daze that only Kurt had ever been able to put him into, ability that apparently hadn't been lost over the years.
After finishing dinner the group moved towards the living once again continuing their catching up. Again, Blaine and Kurt were stuck having to seat next to each other on the couch, not that either of them seemed to mind very much. After a few idle subjects Brittany suddenly startled the others by exclaiming in her innocent way with a beaming expression plastered on her face.
"See everyone! You were all worried for nothing. I told you there would be no problems." The guys and Santana looked at her with alarmed but amused expressions while Kurt and Blaine seemed confused. Brittany had been quiet at dinner, but she had observed quite a lot. And it didn't go unnoticed by her the glances one would sneak at the other nor how happy they seemed just by being next to one another. Luckily the two didn't seem too concerned about Brittany's comment as they were used with her sudden outbursts.
"Yes, Brittany. You were right." Santana proclaimed quietly to her wife, and Brittany, seemingly pleased with the answer quieted down once more.
Soon, it was nearing midnight and everyone was reading themselves to say goodbye, promising to meet up sooner than later. Brittany hugged Kurt tightly, not wanting to let go, even when Kurt promised her that he wasn't there just for a surprise visit, but that he would be in New York for quite some time, if not indefinitely. Santana finally managed to pry Brittany from Kurt and was promptly hugged by said man.
"Thank you, San." He said tightly into her hair, not needing to elaborate what he was thanking her for.
"Always, Porcelain. See you." She said back, tapping his ass in the process.
Kurt went to say goodbye to Wes and David and the two pulled him into the kitchen claiming they had something to show him, not that it fooled anyone that they wanted to talk to him privately.
"So, Kurt, on a scale of one to ten how strange was it?"
Kurt shrugged. "It wasn't as awkward as I thought it would be."
David looked at him closely and seemed to sense something. "So, you are okay in being in the same room as him? You don't hate him?"
Kurt seemed surprised at this question.
"Of course I'm okay at being in the same room as him! What kind of question is that, David? And who said anything about hate?"
This time Wes answered, "We were worried that it was just an act but deep down you couldn't bear to be by him. We know you are a pretty good actor and awesome at hiding feelings. And coupled with his insecurities..." He trailed off. "You get the idea."
Kurt groaned. "I'm fine with spending time with him. I don't hate him. I don't blame him either."
"He seems convinced that you blame him for the breakup." David butted in, earning him an elbow on the ribs from Wes. "You can't just say that, David!" Wes hissed.
"Well, I don't guys. It was both our faults. We let us reach that point, and did nothing to resolve it before it was too late. If he asks or starts sulking, please tell him that it was in no way solely his fault. We are both to blame." Kurt pleaded.
Wes and David nodded and they headed back toward the living room where the rest was waiting with curious and anxious expressions. After everyone else had said goodbye, Melissa warning Kurt to not be a stranger, the girls and Kurt departed leaving Wes, David, Blaine and Melissa alone. Melissa soon headed towards the dining room and kitchen, claiming she had to clean up, so the trio could have some privacy. She knew Blaine confided in her husband and his best friend, and she also knew he wouldn't open up with her in the room.
Blaine was seating on the couch, staring at the wall opposite, seemingly aloof to his surroundings. Wes and David moved to seat in either side of him, remaining silent, allowing their friend to collect his thoughts. After years of friendships, they knew that Blaine would talk when he was ready. They remained that way for more ten whole minutes. Wes and David didn't dare open their mouths, just sat there, exchanging anxious glances every few minutes. Finally Blaine spoke up.
"He talked to me. He actually talked to me. And he didn't get mad at me for speaking with his dad." He muttered without looking up, seemingly in a trance. "I can't believe he didn't seem repulsed or anything when me saw me for the first time in forever. He seemed happy to see me, he greeted me and hugged me."
Wes put a hand on Blaine's back and rubbed softly. "We told you you'd get along fine, Blaine."
"I know you told me, but still, Wes, he doesn't hate me." Blaine looked at his best friend with a new kind of light in his eyes, clearly showing how affected he was by this change of events.
This time David spoke up. "We also told you he wouldn't hate you. You guys dated for eight years. Even if there were still some odd feelings there, he could never hate you, man. There was and maybe there still is too much love involved."
Blaine looked like a different man. He had a new light shining in his eye, and he seemed more hopeful. Everyone knew he had never really gotten over Kurt, nor had he ever stopped loving Kurt. But maybe they underestimated how much he still loved and cared for the man.
David stood up and turned to Wes. "Man, I've got to go now. I have to sort some things out tomorrow morning still. Thanks for dinner."
Melissa came out of kitchen and went to hug David. "Bye, David. Don't be a stranger. By that, I mean you better come around next week." She grinned at him.
"Sure will, Mel. See you."
He then turned to Blaine who was still sitting on the couch lost in his own thoughts. "Blaine, man, I'm going." Blaine jumped and got up as well.
"Oh, you are? Well, I guess I'll head out too. Bye Wes, Mel. Wes, thanks. I don't know what I'd do without you two. " He said this last part facing David.
Mel hugged the curly-haired man. "Bye Blaine. Hang in there, honey. If it's meant to be, it's meant to be."
Blaine choked back a sob, hoping so much her words would come tru, and nodded to both of the Leungs and headed out with David.
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Across town Kurt was having a freak out of his own. He had just seen Blaine again for the first time in years and, while it felt extremely awkward, it somehow also felt like it was normal. He had just arrived at his flat and proceeded to rethink the night's events.
He remembered the way Blaine wouldn't meet his eye when they first saw each other, and how he was hesitant to do so as well. He thought back to how they both seemed in tune with each other, seemingly knowing what was in each other's mind, even though they've spent years with no contact. He remembered how Blaine looked like a dear caught in the headlights when he inquired after Burt. With a fond shake of his head he remembered a time back when they were dating where he got to see with his own eyes the camaraderie formed between his father and Blaine. He recalled how they both seemed hesitant at first to actually speak with each other, how it seemed difficult to form proper words, much less full sentences, than how they had burst into laughter and fallen into each other's arms as if it were common occurrence. He continued to reminisce recent events and recall past memories until a voice broke through his musings.
"Are you going to be alright?" What was that? Oh, right, he forgot Santana and Brittany had accompanied him up to his apartment and turned to look at the two girls, both who were looking back at him with concerned expressions. He glanced at Santana, who had spoken, and had a worried look plastered on her face.
"Yeah, San. Don't worry about me." He tried to smile, but neither girl bought it. "Thanks for being here, girls. I appreciate it."
"No problem, Kurtie. We'd do anything for our favorite dolphin." Brittany plopped on his lap and gave him an innocent peck on the lips, her way of showing affection. Santana and Kurt were used to this behavior and didn't blink an eye.
"Do you need anything else, Kurt?"
Santana could be bitchy and all, but once her friends were in need she became quite the caring person, as Kurt had learned over the years. And that day was no exception.
"I don't think so San. I'm just confused right now. I'm a little overwhelmed, happy about seeing him again with a prospect of rekindling our lost friendship, but I'm mainly confused."
"I know your feeling, Kurtie. I feel confused a lot." Brittany chimed in innocently. Kurt smiled slightly at the blond still perched on his lap and squeezed a little tighter.
Santana moved to seat next to the pair and sighed. "It's natural to feel that way, Kurt. You expected that."
"No, I expected to feel awkward and all next to him, and while it was a bit awkward, it also felt so normal, as if we hadn't spent six years apart, five of them not speaking to each other."
"But what are you confused about, Kurt?"
Kurt sighed and dropped one of his hands from Brittany's waist to run through his hair.
"I really thought I had gotten over him. It's been six years for Gaga's sake! I know part of me will always care for him and love him. But I reckoned it'd be the kind of love you feel for a close friend, someone close to you, but who you are not in love with. But seeing him again, it seemed like something woke up inside me, some feeling that had been dormant for years. And it's just really confusing for me right now."
"Kurt, why would it be such a bad thing?"
"I'm not saying it's bad, Santana. It's just that, how can I feel like I'm in love with him when I barely know who he is now? I don't know him anymore."
"But you can. Yes, you don't know him anymore, but you knew him in a level no one else did. And the essence of whom he is hasn't changed. He is still the same overly energetic puppy like person, except he has matured a bit over the years. And gotten older. If you want, Kurt, you can get to know him again."
Kurt sighed and smiled at Santana, while gently moving Brittany out of his lap. "Thank you, Tana. I really don't know what I'd do without you. But, while I appreciate all of your help and support, I'd really like to be alone right now."
Santana nodded understandingly. "Alright, Porcelain. We will go. But text me, call me, whatever, if you need me. We are always here for you." She kissed his cheek lightly before turning to walk out the door while tugging Brittany along, who was seconding her wife's words and saying goodbye as well.
The door clicked shut behind the girls and Kurt was left to his own thoughts. He knew he'd have to find a way to talk to Blaine, hoping the curly haired man would want to as well. After what he felt at dinner over at Wes's house he knew he would have to find an explanation for them. While hugging Blaine and laughing with him he felt like he was finally home for the first time in years. And he believed he had his answer. Blaine was home for him, and always had been. He had a house, a place he called home during the past years, but he had never been truly home for six years.