The tram probably would’ve been faster, but the metro seems less crowded. Seems. It’s always crowded everywhere in big cities like this. The metro ride to the university is short, so Blaine’s on his phone and he doesn’t really pay attention to everyone around him. He’s listening to his showtunes playlist. Blaine might’ve ended his musical career before he even got a chance to start it, but he can always appreciate some good showtunes.

He leans back and Falsetto’s What Would I Do kicks in. What a great song about love and loss and regret.

I'd do it again
I'd like to believe that I'd do it again
And again, and again

That part gets Blaine every time. He looks around as he listens to one of the most beautiful songs in the world when he sees him.

Him.

Kurt Hummel is standing in the middle a train carriage and his eyes meet Blaine’s. This wouldn’t have been an unusual occurrence, if it wasn’t for the fact that they’re in Rotterdam, and that they haven’t spoken to each other in seven years.

Blaine blinks a couple of times, but he’s still here, still looking. It’s weird to see someone so familiar, but also so unknown. There was a moment in life where Blaine wanted to do nothing more than memorise every part of his beautiful face, and maybe even more, but right now he barely recognises the man in front of him. But it’s Kurt. His former best friend.

How do you approach someone who used to be the most important person in your life? What do you do when someone you swore you’d never speak again is in front of you? 

Kurt must be going through a similar emotional journey, since he can’t look away, but he doesn’t greet Blaine either. The two are in the middle of a crowded metro carriage, but they stare at each other in silence. Luckily, both of them are saved by the announcer’s robotic voice.

"Station Kralingse Zoom. Busstation Erasmus Universiteit. Bus station Erasmus University. Station Kralingse Zoom."

That’s Blaine’s stop. He looks away and he steps on the platform and walks away as fast as possible. He almost slams his OV-kaart against the RET portals. He needs to get out of here. It’s a ten minute walk to the Erasmus University, but the adrenaline makes it feel like it’s only taking him five minutes. Maybe that’s what’s happening.

He walks to the right classroom and Bella’s leaning against the wall, waiting for him.

“You look like crap,” she says as a greeting.

“I feel like crap,” Blaine says back, “What are you doing after class?”

“Are you finally making your father proud, Blaine?” Bella says with a playful smile. Blaine rolls his eyes, but in a good-mannered way.

“Nope, not today,” he says. Together they enter the lecture hall. “I just need some distraction.”

“Aren’t our upcoming exams distracting enough?”

Blaine groans and he sits down. He drops his bag in the seat next to him. Exams are indeed a pain in the ass and studying law is as terrible as one might expect.

“We can hit Sanders after class. A win-win.”

Sanders Law Library is the library of the Erasmus School of Law. Blaine knows that Bella wants to study, since she can’t afford to fail. No one can, to be honest. That’s the downside of studying at Erasmus University. If you don’t get all 60 EC in your first year, you’re out.

“Sanders is fine.”

It’s not like Kurt Hummel will show up at Sanders. Or maybe he will. Blaine didn’t even expect to see Kurt in Rotterdam of all places. He didn’t even expect to see Kurt at all. Ever. After everything.

He sits in this stupid chair, sulking. Bella notices and she pokes Blaine’s side.

“What’s up?” she has a frown on her face.

“Nothing,” Blaine lies easily and he knows that Bella can see through it, but Bella doesn’t push. Blaine gets his laptop and his Dopper and it’s time to pay attention to class. Kurt Hummel is no one to him. Let’s keep it that way.