2020

“This is insaaaaaane!” Bella yells in Blaine’s ear. She’s right. Rotterdam is crowded with partying people. De Boompjeskade is the place to be. Kurt told them to go here. It’s apparently a tradition in Rotterdam to do a Nationale Vuurwerk on every New Year’s Eve. The famous Erasmusbrug will be surrounded by a fireworks show.

There’s a DJ and a party tent, but it’s half an hour before midnight and people are slowly moving outside in preparation for the show. Femke is pushing people aside so that they can have the best spot on the kade.

Kurt snaps a photo of the bridge and he laughs out loud a few seconds later.

“What’s so funny?” Bella asks.

“Oh, nothing, just Mercedes. She’s jealous that we’re already nearing the new year. She’s a couple of hours behind after all!” Kurt answers happily and Blaine feels warm with affection when he realises Kurt and Mercedes are still friends.

“Who’s Mercedes?” Adeola asks.

“My best friend,” Kurt replies easily while smiling at his phone. This doesn’t hurt. It only makes sense that Mercedes inherited that title after Kurt and Blaine laid their friendship to rest.

“Tell her I miss her,” Blaine says.

Kurt looks up from his screen and their eyes meet. Kurt nods.

“She’d love to hear that.”

“And you should send her one of those bags!”

“God, don’t get me started,” Kurt exaggeratedly rolls his eyes, which makes everyone laugh.

Everyone holds up their Susan Bijl bag, which leads to Kurt taking a photo of that too. Everyone in this damned city has something of this designer. Kurt likes their work and he took Blaine to Susan Bijl’s shop.

And Blaine is weak when it comes to Kurt, so he gives in to peer-pressure.

Femke leaves the group when she sees some people she recognises. The others talk about living in Rotterdam. Kurt’s been in Rotterdam the longest, so he has a lot of stories to tell. Blaine, Bella and Adeola have only been here for half a year, but they have their own adventures.

Overall, it’s really nice to be here. Coming here to study law has been the best choice in a long time. Blaine picked this country and city on a whim, desperate to finally do something with his life, and now he’s surrounded by people he loves, he’s enjoying his study, and Kurt’s back in his life.

Getting to know Rotterdam is so much better when Blaine’s with good company.

Femke comes back from a stand and she’s holding a basket with some sort of snack in it. Blaine can’t really see it in the dark, but there are fried round snacks with powdered sugar in that basket. Oil is dripping from the bottom. It lands on Femke’s shoes, but she doesn’t mind.

“Oliebollen time!” she says and she lifts the basket, “I have some with raisins and apples. They’re Dutch fried pastries!”

“You want one?” Kurt asks Blaine, holding out an oliebol, “I first tried them last New Year’s Eve and they’re nice.”

“Puff puff!” Adeola says happily, “That’s what they’re called in Nigeria.”

“They are indeed very soft and fluffy,” Bella says as she chows down, “You wouldn’t expect something fried like this to be this soft inside.”

“Oh, puff puff, I like that name,” Femke says.

Blaine accepts Kurt’s oliebol.

It’s not what he expected. Blaine was thinking of a big bitterbal or a round kroket, but this isn’t savoury, it’s sweet, which is fair since Femke did say they’re pastries. The inside is filled with hot dough and sweet raisins. The powdered sugar makes it even sweeter. The fried crust is kind of oily and he can’t really place what it tastes like.

“So, are they traditionally Dutch?” Blaine asks Femke.

“Honestly, food origins are always a bit messy,” Femke shrugs, “But they are seen as Dutch food. We love fried shit. We eat this during New Year’s. You might’ve seen some pop-up food stalls that sell them. That always happens in December.”

The five of them huddle together on the kade. It’s very cold and the Rotterdam wind doesn’t help it. Adeola’s rubbing her hands all over Bella, who’s shivering. Blaine smiles when she sees them.

“I wish I had someone to keep me warm,” Femke says with a sigh.

“Same,” Blaine says and his eyes flicker towards Kurt. Femke notices and she winks. Blaine playfully bumps his shoulder against hers.

“How long till New Year?” Kurt asks.

“Are you giving up your vices?” Blaine asks, instead of replying.

“No, but I did go back to school,” Kurt laughs. They recently watched the RENT movie again, which was a blast from the past.

Bella’s looking at her phone. “Three more minutes of the first year of this decade.”

It’s getting more and more crowded. They were already huddled together, but now they’re pressed against each other. Blaine suspects that the ladies moved around on purpose, since Kurt’s against his back.

Adeola hands him a plastic cup with beer and he needs it to calm his nerves.

“Are you okay?” Kurt whispers in his ear.

“Hm?”

“You seem a bit uncomfortable.”

“Cold,” Blaine lies. It’s fucking cold, but that’s not why he’s nervous. He hates that Kurt notices.

Luckily, the countdown to the new year is distracting enough. At the one minute count, people start to count down out loud. Adeola shoves another drink in his hands. This time it’s a plastic flute with champagne.

“Tien… negen… acht… zeven… zes… vijf… vier… drie… twee… één… Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!”

The crowd erupts in cheers. The bridge lights up with all the fireworks. Next to Blaine, Bella grabs Adeola’s face and they both have a big smile on their faces when they lean in for a kiss. Femke is positively beaming and she’s hooting excitedly.

Blaine feels Kurt’s hand on his shoulder. Blaine looks over his shoulder to look at Kurt’s face. Kurt has an easy smile and a questioning look. Blaine puts his hand on Kurt’s. Blaine takes Kurt’s hand off his shoulder, but he’s still holding it.

They’re in the middle of a crowd. There’s the sound of fireworks, cheers and DJ music, since the Netherlands is known for its DJs. People around them are moving and sometimes they push them around. Still, it’s as if everyone and everything around them is being pushed to the background.

It strangely reminds Blaine of one of the most soothing showtunes he’s ever listened to, namely Answer Me from The Band’s Visit.

Only you
When the sun and moon and stars are gone
What's left is only you
Will you answer me?
Answer me

They stare at each other with smiles on their faces and Blaine suddenly understands why Kurt looks like he’s about to ask a question. He knows what Kurt’s asking.

Blaine nods.

He turns around as Kurt leans in and he places Kurt’s hand on his face. Their kiss is soft and sweet and there are literally fireworks going off in the background, lighting up the Erasmusbrug, and their friends are probably screaming and cheering at the sight of the kiss, but Blaine ignores it all. Despite the noise and the lights and the people, what’s left is only Kurt.

It’s the perfect start of the new year.