Nailed Shut

Chapter 8

Blaine gasps and Kurt stares in chock at the little girl.

“You can see him?” Blaine looks at Kurt and then back at Aimee.

“Of course I can. Silly Blainey!” Aimee giggles.

“My name is Kurt. It’s nice to meet you Aimee. Blaine talks about you all the time.” Kurt sits down in the chair next to Blaine. “Happy birthday!”

“Thank you, Kurt. Blainey, I want cake!” The little girl pokes a finger into the frosting and then licks it off.

“Of course.” Blaine says a bit out of breath, and cuts her a piece.

“Was it you that played with my brother when I brushed my teeth?” Aimee takes a bite of her cake and makes an approving noise.

“Yeah.” Kurt grins at Blaine as the latter serves himself a piece of cake too. Kurt takes the pitcher and fills the two Anderson’s glasses.

“Don’t you want cake?” Aimee holds her spoon up as if to show Kurt what he is missing.

“No, thank you. I ate a very big lunch.” Kurt smiles apologetically at her.

Aimee shrugs and continues to nibble on her cake. Blaine eats his in just a few bites.

“Is it good?” Kurt teases him.

“Awesome!” Aimee replies, a smudge of chocolate on her cheek.

Kurt gets off his chair to find some paper towels. He does so and runs one under water to make it wet. He walks back over to the table and rubs Aimee’s cheek with it. ”There, all clean!”

“Thank you.” Aimee says and swallows the last of her cake, eyeing the presents excitedly. “Are all those for me?” She turns to Blaine.

“Yup. And since you’re done with the cake, you can open them!”

The little girl squeaks in delight and Blaine hands her the first gift. It contains the sparkly pens and she forgets about the rest of the gifts for a moment because she wants to use them, until Blaine hands her the next box. It's the princess dress, so she jumps out of her seat, racing toward the bathroom to change into it. Blaine looks adoringly after her and Kurt giggles at him.

"It's adorable how much you two love each other." Kurt answers the unspoken “what?” Blaine has on his face when he turns back to him.

Blaine just smiles in response and Aimee races back into the room after a couple of minutes. She does a little spin and both boys tell her how pretty she is. The next gift she opens is the tiara, which she puts on top of her curly head. She opens the package with Blaine’s horse first, and squeals as she turns it over in her small hands. “It’s so pretty, Blainey!” she squeaks.

“Open the last one.” her brother says, waving his hands in the gift’s direction.

She does so and squeals even louder.

“That one is from Kurt!” Blaine says, watching as a blush blossoms on Kurt’s cheeks.

“Thank you!” Aimee says and races around the table to place a kiss on a shocked Kurt’s cheek.

She proceeds to give Blaine the same treatment. He hugs her and she wiggles out of his arms, brushing the front of her dress. “Wrinkles!” she whines, and both boys laugh.

“You ready to go?” Blaine asks Aimee while starting to put away the dishes.

“Soon.” she replies and runs out of the kitchen. Kurt and Blaine look at each other and both shrug. She comes back just as quickly as she left, clutching a paper in her hand. “I forgot to give you this last time you visited, Blainey.” she says and holds the paper out toward him. Blaine finishes putting the cake into the fridge and then takes it from her. It’s a drawing of two ghosts holding hands. “I made it for you for Halloween.” Aimee explains.

“It’s beautiful.” Blaine says and rubs his thumb over the grass in the picture. “I’ll put it up next to the dinosaur-drawing.” 

Blaine, Kurt and Aimee seat themselves in a corner of the pancake establishment and a young blonde waitress walks up to them. “Hi honey! You’re adorable!” she says and bends forward to take a closer look at Aimee’s dress.

“It’s my birthday!” Aimee says happily. “I got this dress and my tiara from my big brother.” She points at Blaine, who sits across from her. “And I got my horsie from Kurt!” she says and gestures to Kurt with the horse.

The waitress glances briefly in Kurt’s direction, then straightens and looks at Blaine with a mildly confused expression. Well, she did not see me… “What can I get you today?” the waitress asks Blaine.

“Two plates of pancakes, a soda for her and some water for me.” Blaine says and leans closer to the waitress, to whisper behind his hand while Aimee plays happily with the horse on the tabletop. “And your birthday special.”

The waitress winks at him and disappears into the kitchen. Aimee shuffles closer to Kurt on the wooden bench of the little booth. “Aren’t you hungry yet?” she asks and locks eyes with him.

“No, sweetie. Not yet. Don’t worry about me though. There’s plenty of food at Dalton incase I’m hungry later.” Kurt responds.

Aimee accepts that as an answer and continues to play with her horse. Blaine keeps up the conversation with both his little sister and with Kurt, so no one will notice that Aimee is excitedly asking Kurt a bunch of questions.

After about half an hour the blonde waitress returns to their table with a bunch of other waitresses and a few waiters in tow. They sing for Aimee and the blonde puts a plate down in front of her. On the plate is a cupcake with pink frosting and a single, lit candle. Aimee once again makes a wish and blows out the candle, and all the staff that sung to her clap their hands. 

Blaine is kind of worried when he and Kurt drop Aimee off at the Anderson residence. He knows that Aimee is going to want to hug Kurt, and he’s not sure if Kurt can do that.

It turns out he has nothing to worry about. Kurt bends down and his brows draw together as he concentrates on being solid when Aimee throws her arms out. She wraps her arms around Kurt’s neck and kisses him on the cheek afterward. “Thank you for the horsie, Kurt!” she says as Kurt straightens back up. “And for errythin’ else.”

“You’re welcome, pumpkin. Thanks for letting me celebrate with you.” Kurt replies with a wide smile that makes Blaine’s chest tingle.

“I like you.” Aimee declares and nods at Kurt, before hugging Blaine’s legs.

Blaine laughs and picks her up, positioning her on his hip. “Did you have a good fifth birthday, baby?” he asks and nuzzles his nose against her cheek.

She giggles and nods. “Thank you, Blainey!” She hugs his neck too, and he sets her down.

Blaine rings the doorbell and Charles opens after just a few seconds. “Sir Blaine. Birthday girl!” Charles bends down toward Aimee. “Your parents will be home soon, so you should go play in your room.” He pats her head and she bounces off down the hallway.

“Bye Blaine! Bye Kurt!” Aimee calls out to them without looking back.

Charles looks at Blaine with a very confused expression. “Imaginary friend.” Blaine blurts, and his heart clenches as Kurt’s face falls.

“Thank you, Sir Blaine.”

“No, thank you, Charles.” Blaine says. “See you later.”

The butler closes the door and Kurt follows Blaine to his car.

Kurt spends the car-ride mostly quiet, unless Blaine asks him something. 

When they get back to Dalton Blaine puts the ghost-drawing up above the dinosaur-one on the wall. There is a knock on Blaine’s door, and he glances at Kurt who is sitting in the armchair with his eyes closed. He opens the door to find Jeff bouncing on his heels. “Hello Jeffrey.”

“Hey dude! I saw that you just came back from off-campus?”

“Yeah. Aimee turns five today so I have spent the day with her.” Blaine says, leaning against the doorframe.

“Cool. Tell her I congratulated her, next time you talk to her.” Blaine nods so Jeff continues. “Wanna come over and watch a movie with me and Nick?”

“I’m sorry, I can’t. Science-test on Thursday.”

Jeff frowns, but then grins. “Okay, that’s fine. We’ll watch a movie after you ace that test.”

Blaine huffs in amusement. “Thanks, Jeff. Have a good night.”

“You too.” Jeff skips down the hall to Wes and David’s room and Blaine closes the door.

“You don’t need to study for that test at all, do you?” Kurt asks when Blaine walks over to his bed.

“No.” Blaine sits down cross-legged and sighs. “I’m sorry about what I said.”

“Hmm?” Kurt hums in what Blaine knows is fake confusion, eyes still closed.

“I’m sorry I told Charles that you were Aimee’s imaginary friend.” Blaine clarifies, even though he knows that Kurt understood perfectly what he was talking about.

“Don’t worry about it. How else would you explain who I am?” Kurt opens his eyes with a sigh.

“I don’t care that it was the only way to… He wouldn’t have believed me if I told him that you’re a ghost. We both know that. But Kurt, I saw your face. So I’m sorry.”

“I know. It’s okay. I forgive you.” Kurt’s lips curl upward a tiny bit. “I’m dead. I’m a ghost. Not everybody can see me. We’ll just have to get used to that.”

“I’m still sorry.”

They are both silent for a minute, until Kurt straightens slightly in the chair. “You should’ve watched that movie with Jeff and Nick.”

“I like hanging out with you, though.” Blaine grins at Kurt, whose cheeks turn pink. 

Blaine doesn’t watch a movie with Jeff and Nick after getting a perfect score on his test that Thursday. And since he is spending his days in classes and his evenings studying, talking to Kurt or “helping” him practice on being solid, he doesn’t hang out with any of his friends for a couple of weeks.

On December 2nd however, a few of the Warblers corner him after Warblers practice. “Hey Blaine.” an unusually serious Jeff says.

“We wanna talk to you.” Nick says, blocking Blaine’s route for the door.

“It’s important.” Trent fills in, standing next to Jeff.

“Really important.” David says, taking his place beside Trent.

Blaine gulps as Wes stands next to David, completing the boys’ half-circle around Blaine. “You have been acting really weird ever since Halloween.” Wes says and holds up his hand, folding down fingers as he continues. “You’ve been talking to yourself in hallways, singing half-duets with no one in particular, forgetting to eat often, hanging out with us A LOT less and most importantly: you’ve been distant in rehearsal.”

“I’d say the last one is less important than the one before, tho.” Jeff interjects.

“All of us but Wes agree with you.” Nick whispers to him.

“So, what do you have to say for yourself?” Wes crosses his arms across his chest.

“Is everything okay?” David says softly. “You wouldn’t tell us about that funeral. Is that it?”

“Are you depressed?” Trent looks heartbroken.

“Guys, I’m fine.” Blaine puts his hands up. “Yeah, I was bummed about the funeral for a couple of days. But it was just an old relative, nothing to worry about.”

“What is it, then?” Nick asks seriously, though his facial expression is soft and concerned.

Blaine panics. What should I tell them?! “I- Um… I have a boyfriend. Yeah!” Blaine exclaims, lowering his hands again. His fellow Warblers share looks of skepticism and disbelief. “He lives in Columbus. We talk on the phone and Skype a lot. He’s sings too, so I practice duets that we sing together when we meet.” Blaine is amazed at his sudden ability to come up with lies that kind of make sense. “I’m sorry guys, I’ll do better.”

“You better.” Wes scowls at him. David puts a hand Wes’ shoulder and his expression softens.

“What’s his name?” Trent asks.

“Yeah! And when do we get to meet him?” Jeff is practically buzzing with excitement.

“His name?” Blaine almost panics again. “It’s Kurt.” Wow, great thinking Blaine! “And we haven’t been together for very long, so I don’t want you madmen to scare him off!”

Blaine can practically see the excitement melting off of Jeff. “But I promise I’ll behave.” he whines.

“We aren’t that bad.” Wes huffs.

Blaine chuckles. “Maybe in a few months, guys.”

“Do you have a picture of him?” David asks kindly.

CRAP! Crap, crap double crap! “Um… No. I can take one when I meet him next time.” Wait… Will Kurt even be visible in pictures?

“And when is that?” Trent grabs Jeff’s arm as if Blaine is about to tell him something super-important. Jeff grabs Trent’s arm too.

“Well… Since Wes has put in extra rehearsals every Saturday until the Christmas concert, I guess… I could go on Sunday and show you guys the picture in rehearsal on Monday?” WHAT ARE YOU THINKING, BLAINE?!

“Awesome.” Nick says, though he doesn’t look even half as excited as Jeff and Trent.

“But guys, he’s waiting for me to call him. So I’ll see you all in rehearsal tomorrow, okay?” Blaine says uncertainly. The boys move aside and he scurries out of the room as fast as he can. 

“Um… Kurt?” Blaine closes the door behind himself and finds Kurt on the bed.

“Yup?” Kurt looks up from one of Blaine’s architecture-books.

“I- um… screwed up.” Blaine walks over and sits down beside Kurt’s shoulder. He tells Kurt about his talk with the guys.

“You said what?!” Kurt snaps the book closed. “We don’t even know if I can be in a picture! I’m a ghost, Blaine!”

“I know! But I didn’t know what to say! Can’t we just try to take a picture?”

Kurt huffs. “Sure! Go on. Then we’ll just pretend we’re boyfriends and go on a road trip to Columbus!”

“What’s wrong with a road trip? It’s better than just sitting in here all day, right?” Blaine tries to smile at Kurt, even though the latter is glaring at him.

Kurt closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly through his nose. “I guess.” he says and opens his eyes again, sitting upright next to Blaine. “I freaked out. Sorry.”

“No problem!” Blaine jumps up and takes his phone out of his pocket.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m taking a picture of you.” He fiddles with the phone. “Damn, my hands are shaking!” Blaine feels something warm brush his knuckles.

It was Kurt. He sits back and smiles slightly when Blaine raises the phone to take the picture.

“I can’t see you trough the camera!” Blaine says breathlessly. “But you’re right there!”

“Just take a picture.” Kurt says softly.

Blaine presses the button and then goes into the photo album. “You’re not there.”

“Try the flash.” Kurt suggests, looking right into the camera.

Blaine does as Kurt says. When he looks at the picture there are two blue dots there. Or not really dots, more like specks of light. The kind you get when you take an unfocused picture of streetlights or something. “KURT, LOOK!” Blaine holds the phone out and Kurt gasps.

“My eyes!” Kurt says, and Blaine can see Kurt’s real eyes starting to fill with tears as he looks at his eyes in the picture. “We have to try again!” Kurt stands. “I wasn’t concentrating on being solid. If I do, then maybe it’ll work.” He clenches his fists and then mumbles something that Blaine doesn’t think he was supposed to hear: “I can do this.”.

Blaine raises the phone toward Kurt. “Ready?” Kurt nods and looks into the camera. Blaine gets Goosebumps on his arms and neck when he sees the determination in Kurt’s eyes, but he still sees nothing when he looks at the phone. He snaps the picture. “Still nothing.” Blaine says sadly when he looks at the picture.

“You didn’t use the flash! Try again!” Kurt sounds desperate.

Blaine raises the phone again. “Ready?” Kurt nods again. The flash goes off and Blaine goes into the photo album again. His mouth falls open. “Wow…”

“Did it work?!” Kurt squeals and rushes to a frozen Blaine’s side. He looks down at the phone in Blaine’s shaking hand, and his mouth falls open to.

There he is, looking intently into the camera. His hair perfectly styled and glimpses of the bandage on the sides of his head. His cheeks slightly pink, jaw clenched in concentration and yellow cardigan standing out against the dark wall behind him.

Kurt starts crying. He grins through his tears at Blaine, who drags his eyes away from the phone slowly. He grins back. “It worked, Kurt!”

Kurt gets an idea. He runs into Blaine’s bathroom and stops in front of the mirror on the wall. There is no one looking back at him, not even when he concentrates.

Blaine comes in after him. “What are you doing?”

“I thought…” Kurt trails off.

“Maybe it’s the flash.” Blaine almost whispers, as if he’s afraid Kurt will think he’s crazy.

“What do you mean?” Kurt turns away from Blaine’s reflection to face him in the flesh.

Blaine gestures for him to come with him. They sit down close together on the bed. “What I mean is…” Blaine gestures grandly with his hands. “The theory I have come up with during the past minute or so, is that it’s because of the flash. You are here. You exist. The light from the flash reflects off of things that exist. Therefore you are captured in the picture. When I didn’t use the flash- well, you weren’t.”

“Hmm…” Kurt hums, tapping a finger against his chin. Blaine grins at him. “That sounds reasonable.”

They are quiet for a while, thinking.

“Oh!” Blaine exclaims, dropping his palms onto his knees. “Wes is making us rehearse for the Christmas show every Saturday until the twenty-third, and he said I have been distant lately. So I thought you could come with me. Do you want to?”

“I’d love to.”