July 28, 2013, 2:21 p.m.
A Second Chance at Love: Chapter 4
E - Words: 3,825 - Last Updated: Jul 28, 2013 Story: Closed - Chapters: 7/? - Created: Jul 24, 2013 - Updated: Jul 28, 2013 95 0 0 0 0
After the fateful dinner at Wes's house everyone was a tad busy with their own jobs and life that it was difficult to schedule some time where everyone would be free to go out. Of course they maintained contact constantly through phone calls and text messages, occasionally one would manage to grab coffee with another, but they mostly talked through text messages during the months that followed the dinner. They were trying, though, to schedule an outing at the beginning of December, which was about one month away, when Nick and Jeff had planned to come down and visit. It would be one of the few times the couple would have returned to New York since moving to England all those years ago. And so, life went on this way; each busy with their own schedules and trying to clear up for the weekend in which Nick and Jeff would be in town.
Kurt and Blaine didn't expect to see each other again before the scheduled outing, but the next time they meet after Wes was completely out of the blue. Kurt had popped in his favorite coffee shop, one he and Blaine frequently went to before their break up, and one that he had missed a lot. To him, their coffee was the absolute best and he hadn't had one from there since their break up. The shop was located near their old apartment, which was a little far from both his work and where he had moved after they had gone their different ways. But this day he had been near there running some errand when he decided to pop in. He had just ordered his coffee when a voice came in from behind.
"I'll have a medium-drip please, and you can add his non-fat mocha with mine. Keep the change" He handed the barista a ten and shot Kurt a look when the other man started to protest.
"Hey, Kurt." He said with a slight grin.
Kurt was still stunned to form coherent sentences and all he could manage was an undignified squeak that resembled a "Hi!"
Blaine chuckled lightly and grabbed their coffees heading over to a table motioning Kurt to follow. Kurt shook himself out of his daze and took the moment to examine the man in front of him. Blaine was dressed in a casual outfit consisting on a red polo shirt, dark jeans and a dark jacket. His curls were tamed and he had on a smile that could light up the world. After following the curly-haired man to a table he sat down and took his coffee with graceful thanks.
"So, Kurt, what are you doing here?" Blaine asked after sitting down on his own seat opposite the designer.
Kurt took a sip of his coffee trying to calm his nerves a little. "Well, I was around the neighborhood running some errands and decided to grab a cup of the best non-fat mocha around. What about you?"
Blaine now looked a little embarrassed. "I, hum, I come here every week, on the afternoons I'm not working. Their coffee is the best." He quickly shut up, not wanting to reveal any information that may put them both in an uncomfortable position.
"Well, yes, it is." Kurt laughed and pondered. "Shame I haven't been here before. The last time I was here, was..." He seemed to realize he hadn't been there since their break up and trailed off. Blaine seemed to notice the same thing and the mood shifted between them.
"So...it's good to see you again." Blaine continued after an awkward pause trying to lighten the mood. "What's going on the fashion world?"
Kurt brightened up and launched into detailed stories about his new position at Vogue, how different an experience it was being from the same position at the French Vogue. He told Blaine about his colleagues, deadlines, that while he loved French Vogue, he was just happy to be back in New York. That while the position was the same, it seemed like two completely different jobs. He explained how the dynamics were a bit different and that, no matter where he was, New York would always be his home. While he said that he watched carefully Blaine's reaction and facial expression, seeing if he understood what he was saying, that New York had something that Paris didn't have. Judging from how Blaine stiffened and relaxed, and how his eyes softened a little in understanding, the man clearly got his unspoken message. Kurt was happy to see that they still connected to this level, to the point that one knew what the other was thinking, even with all those years of silence.
"What about you, Blaine? I heard you stopped singing, and you are now a talent scout?" Kurt asked, shifting the attention to Blaine and also mildly curious as to why he stopped performing. "Last time we talked you were on the road to become a famous singer, with favorite songs and all!"
Blaine winced at the last part. Saying "last time we talked" as reference to something that had happened ages ago really made the situation more real than it already was. But he couldn't, and wouldn't, pretend that the last six years hadn't happened. It just hurt to think about it.
"Well, after, well you know..." He trailed off awkwardly, not wanting to voice his thoughts, "I was kind of down. Okay, I was a lot down, I was miserable. I just lost my passion for singing. And I also lost my inspiration for writing songs. I guess you could say I lost my source of inspiration." He glanced away and out the window for a second before turning to look at Kurt again, who was nodding understandingly. "So I decided to put my degree to use, and became a talent scout. Wes and David had wanted to open a studio for quite some time, as you already knew, so I joined them on their project. And here I am proud talent scout for Warbler Records, and occasional songwriter." He finished with a slight bow, or the best he could bow while seated.
They sat in silent for a few more minutes before Kurt glanced sorrowfully at his phone and saw that he had a meeting he had to attend in half an hour.
"Hey, listen, I have to go now. Thanks for the coffee, Blaine. It was good to talk to you and see you again." He extended his hand to which Blaine glanced at as if it were something disgusting, before pulling the man into a hug.
"I was great to catch up a bit, Kurt." Blaine let go and suddenly became a bit shy. "Could I...could I maybe get your number by any chance?"
Kurt looked at him and exhaled a bit. "Sure" He said in a slightly breathless voice and took Blaine's phone from his hand and punched his details in, before handling his own phone for Blaine to do the same. "Keep in touch, will, you?"
"Of course, Kurt. I lost my best friend once. Not happening again." He said grinning but seriously, and Kurt just smiled back before heading off to his meeting.
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
A few days after their coincidental run-in at the shop that resulted with them having a friendly conversation and trading numbers, Blaine finally cracked and decided to send Kurt a text. He had been itching to do so the moment Kurt left the coffee shop for his meeting, but decided against it, in fear of coming out as too needy. During this in-between time Blaine constantly found himself with his finger hovering over Kurt's name on his contacts to send him a message or give a call, although he knew a call would certainly be too much to two recently connected ex-boyfriends. He also found himself jumping in anticipation anytime his phone rang or vibrated with a new message hoping it was Kurt taking the lead, only to let out a disappointed sigh when proved contrary. When his apprehension became too much he decided to just go for it, after all he had asked for the man's number, so why not use it?
To: Kurt
Hey, Kurt! How's everything? – B
After sending the text, Blaine became restless, trying to find something – anything – to keep his mind of that and willing his brain to think of something to do until Kurt replied. As he was with Wes at the time, his Asian friend soon noticed Blaine's strange behavior questioning him about it.
"It's nothing, Wes. I'm just kind of nervous." Blaine told his friend, trying to shrug the matter off.
"You've been kind of agitated for days, Blaine. And today even more so. Something's wrong." Wes seemed genuinely concerned as he always was when regarding his loved ones.
Blaine sighed and realized Wes would probably not drop the matter. He knew he could trust Wes with his life, and he loved Wes to death, but sometimes his care was just too much. Sometimes Blaine just wished to be left alone with his thoughts. He knew snapping at Wes would do no good, so he just decided to spill the beans.
"I ran into someone at a coffee shop earlier this week." He started and paused, not wanting to reveal the person's identity, for he was not ready for the questions that were sure to follow if he did. "We sat down and talked for some time, and it went well. We exchanged numbers and I just texted him. I guess I'm kind of nervous about his reply."
Wes looked at him in concern. "What do you mean by 'ran into'. It was someone you know?"
Blaine should have known that wouldn't escape his friend's ears, nothing ever did. So he just nodded.
"Wait, if you know why would you exchange numbers? And why would you be so agitated?" Wes was still confused until he saw Blaine's face and expression. The curly-haired songwriter was once again staring at his phone, willing it to vibrate with one's text. Realization dawned on his face. "Oh! You ran into Kurt, didn't you?"
Blaine just nodded again, not taking his eyes off his phone. He didn't have to ask how Wes knew. He probably had the same expression on that he used to have on the months following their break-up, when he used to spend hours staring at his phone hoping Kurt would call and say everything was a huge misunderstanding and mistake and that they should get back together, only to be met by nothing.
"Oh, Blaine..." Wes started sympathetically, but trailed off. "Wait, you said you talked to this person. You actually sat down and talked to Kurt?"
Blaine looked at Wes with that gleam in his hazel eyes again, one his friend hadn't seen on his face for years.
"Yes. I was there, and he was in front of me. When he ordered his coffee, the same order, I couldn't help it and paid for both his and mine. We sat down and made mostly small talk, though conversation did stray a bit to that time. But we almost seemed like two people having weekly or monthly check-ups over coffee instead of two ex-boyfriends seating alone face to face for the first time in six years. He had to leave for a meeting and I asked for his number."
"I'm real happy for you, Blaine. You deserve happiness, and talking to him makes you happy. It's been days since you talked to him, and you already have a new spring to your step, one that had long been lost." Wes patted him on the back and left leaving him to his musings.
Blaine was suddenly started out of his reverie by his phone vibrating in his hand. He hastily fumbled with his phone to see if the text he had just received was from the man he'd been expecting ever since they had exchanged numbers days prior. And sure enough blinking back at him from the screen w re the words: New text message from Kurt Hummel. He grinned and rapidly clicked on the icon to open the text.
From: Kurt
Hey, yourself. Life is chaotic, but I'll survive. How're things on your end? – K
He gave a choked chuckle once he read what Kurt had written. When they had been dating, and even before, Kurt would often answer his texts with 'hey, yourself'. It was kind of their thing, and it gave him a warm feeling too see that Kurt had remembered.
To: Kurt
Bored to death and swamped at work. Wes and David won't stop bickering. – B
Kurt soon answered with a laugh and stating that it wasn't new when regarding Wes and David, that he expected nothing less. They continued in that way, trading texts back and forth for most of the afternoon whenever they could. Blaine found himself quite enjoying the conversation they were having; it made him recall when they were just teenagers, before Kurt transferred to Dalton and before they got together, and they traded texts back and forth telling the other about their day. Those were some fond memories he hadn't allowed himself to think about for the last six years, but that came back with full force now.
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
That same night found Kurt in his apartment smiling goofily at his phone. He, Nick and Jeff had scheduled a Skype conversation for that night, he couldn't be happier. He had just spent the better part of his afternoon texting Blaine, who he admittedly still had feelings for, and was now going to talk to two of his best friends for the first time in what seemed like forever. With their busy schedules and time difference they just hadn't been able to talk much save for a few texts and emails here and there.
So, now, here was Kurt setting up his laptop, signing into Skype and continuing texting Blaine. He couldn't help but think that it was the longer they had spoken without any animosity lacing their tones and with genuine interest about each other's affairs, since before their break-up. The months that led to the event were filled with arguments, silence, and a general non-interested in each other's lives. Kurt realized for the first in a long time how far out of hand they had let things get. Conversation always came freely to them, like it was natural. Even when they hadn't spoken to each other in six years, they still wouldn't run out of topics for non-awkward conversation. And to think that before their breakup whatever civilized conversations that happened between them was awkward spoke volumes.
Kurt was interrupted from his reflection by the standard Skype ringtone blasting from his laptop speakers, signaling that Nick and Jeff were calling. With a grin he clicked the accept button, and Nick's face and Jeff's blonde hair came into view.
"Hey guys!" he spoke cheerfully. He had really missed his friends.
"Hey, Kurt!" Nick greeted while adjusting the camera on his end so both he and Jeff were in the shot. "How is New York? Miss Paris, yet?"
Kurt laughed. "New York is great. It's like I never left. I miss Paris, yes, but I would choose New York a hundred times over Paris. I can always visit Paris, New York is home." He paused to look out his window seeing the city and thinking that, yes, this was home. "But, anyway, how are things in London? It's been so long since I talked to you two!"
Jeff pouted on the screen which made Kurt smirk. "But Kurtie, we miss you. It was so much better with you here. But, we can never compete with what New York had to offer." He said with a sly grin, Nick giving him a swat on the head, much to Kurt's amusement.
"Don't Jeff. And London is London. We miss our favorite counternor and ex-Warbler, but life goes on, right?"
Of course the two knew of Kurt's awkward meeting with Blaine at Wes's, and their run in on the coffee shop and how they had talked over coffee and exchanged numbers.
"It's fine Nick. And you guys act as if it would be torture for me to even hear something about him. Speaking of which I've got to tell you about some interesting developments on that front, that happened today." Kurt said with a barely concealed smile. "And also, you speak as if I was dead or something. Was I really that big a part of your everyday life, Nicky?" He asked teasingly.
"Of course, Kurt! We miss not being able to talk to you twice a week at least. Time zones absolutely suck. And, do tell. Did something come out of your number exchange?" Nick and Jeff leaned closer to the screen, with curious yet concerned expressions.
"Well, today I received quite a text from a certain someone that absolutely made my day. I spent my whole afternoon up to right before you guys called texting this someone, which subsequently put a smile on my face for the better part of the day." He said with a grin.
"Blaine texted you?" Nick and Jeff exclaimed simultaneously, while Jeff continues. "Wow, man! Good for you! I know you have been dying to put his number to use ever since that day. Even through your text and email we could feel the happiness that was sure to be emanating from you. "
Kurt was bouncing in his seat by now. "Yeah, he texted me. And you guys know me too well. I usually pride myself on being able to conceal my emotions, you know?"
Nick rolled his eyes. "Kurt, we've known you for what, fifteen years? Of course we are able to see right through you. At least, when it comes to him we can. You've never been good at hiding your feelings about him."
Kurt blushed. He remembered when Blaine had finally asked him out. They had agreed on not telling anyone, wanting to back on their new found relationship for some time, but his best friends had seen right through his happiness. And, he was indeed good at concealing emotions. Only Blaine had ever been able to read him always, since from the start, Blaine always knew when something had happened at McKinley.
"Yeah, maybe I do have a weak spot, Nick. Who doesn't?" He asked while sticking out his tongue in a childish manner. "Anyway, I'm still better then you too will ever be at concealing feelings."
Jeff started to protest, but was shushed by Nick. The blonde was the worst ever at hiding what he was feeling, anyone could easily see when he was happy, sad, angry or feeling anything at all. Resigned, Jeff mumbled while putting.
"Fine, maybe I'm not that good at hiding, but I still can!" Nick kissed his cheek and chuckled.
"You really can't, dear."
Kurt smiled at the couple on his screen fondly. Those two were such a cute couple.
"So, Kurt, what are you going to do now? Regarding Blaine? You said you guys started texting. So I guess it's safe to say you guys are working towards patching up your friendship?" Nick asked.
Kurt nodded. "Yeah, we are working towards it. I personally don't think it will take much. We fell back into our old pattern of conversation and banter so easily today. I guess I don't really have a plan. Just go with the flow, accept anything it throws my way. But I really think that our friendship will be reestablished. Blaine seemed pretty happy on his texts and from his texts and judging from how hopeful he was when he asked for my number, and how he was the first to text, I'd say he wants to rebuild our friendship as well."
"I'm happy for you guys. I know how much he still means to you, and how much it would mean to you to patch up your friendship. We are rooting for the two of you, as you well know. And, if you want my opinion, it won't take long for you two to be best friends again. Just don't forget us." Nick joked at the end. He knew their friendship was for life.
"Thanks guys. And I could never forget the two of you; you've been there for me every step of the way. If it wasn't for you two I have no idea how I would have survived those first months in Paris. You, out of all people, know what realization I came to when I had just moved, and how down it had made me." Kurt smiled kindly at the two of them, sincerity shining in his eyes. Nick and Jeff smiled back and made a heart with their hands. "And I really think it won't be too difficult to rebuild our friendship. While our breakup was difficult, it wasn't as if we ended on bad terms. I have no ill feelings, and I don't think he does either. The only think I regret is not having worked harder to prevent reaching a boiling point."
Jeff took over this time. "We know it won't Kurt. We've been telling you this forever. It's good to see you finally realizing that the chance is still there. There is always room for friendship, it's a given. Now the question is, if you are willing for more than friendship."
Kurt sighed. "I really don't know Jeff. I think it's best we just concentrate on being friends, getting used to each other's presence again, rebuild our trust first...and see where it will lead us to."
The conversation soon moved onto different topics, Kurt's job, Nick's job, Jeff's writing. Jeff was writing a new novel which he got inspiration from Kurt's and Blaine relationship. Both men knew about the project and they both agreed to it. After a couple hours talking they saw that it was getting late for the two men in London, and Kurt himself was pretty tired, worn out from the day's events. The three of them said their goodbyes with promises of talking soon.
Kurt logged off his account and shut down his laptop. He then prepared to sleep, changing his clothes and going over his moisturizing routine, still the same ritual it was in high school albeit with less products. Right before he lied down on his bed, he grabbed his phone where it lied abandoned since he ended his conversation with Blaine, and when he glanced at it to set his alarm he saw he had one unread from Blaine. Opening it, he smiled at what he read.
From: Blaine
Goodnight, Kurt. Talk to you soon, hopefully. Sweet dreams. – B
He quickly texted goodnight back, affirming they'd talk soon and set his alarm. In no time he was drifting off to sleep with a smile on his face.