December 27

Blaine glances out the window, noticing that the sky is dark.  He’s dressed, and showered, and he’s eating from a bag of baby carrots in front of the tv, watching episodes of Friends on dvd.  His blankets are folded and the SoCo bottle is in the cabinet.  His eyes fall to the pile of Christmas lights on the floor, and he sets the carrots on the table, standing up and going to the window.  He plugs the lights into the outlet next to the window and starts to re-hang them.

Walking down the street, Kurt, glances up and does a double take.  He’s right outside Blaine’s building.  And there Blaine is in the window, hanging up lights.  Kurt looks down at the pavement, suddenly, hoping Blaine doesn’t see him.

Blaine doesn’t look to the street, but instead out into the park that he’s fortunate enough to have a view of.  He leans against the window, and wonders where his phone might be.

Kurt decides he wants coffee and cuts through the park to Starbucks.

Stepping away from the window, Blaine looks around on the floor for his phone.  He eventually finds it under his couch, and tries to power it on.  It’s so dead that the screen doesn’t even light up for a second.  He plugs it into his charger and watches another episode of Friends while it charges.

While sipping his mocha, Kurt stares at his phone, flipping through old text conversations.  He smiles at a couple of texts.

Blaine turns on his phone, and is blasted with text messages and voicemails.  The voicemails are from Jeff and his mother, and he deletes them quickly.  

Hey Jeff.  Merry Christmas.  I’ll be here for New Years Eve.  Sorry I didn’t get back to you.

Oh, it’s okay.  I’m not going to be coming up.  I still think you’re gonna have to visit Miami soon.

Aw, okay.

Merry Christmas, Wes.

You finally turned on your phone.

I did.  And I cleaned up the stuff.  And ate.

Good.  I’ve got to go.  Take care.

Bye, Wes.

Hey, thanks Eli.  Merry Christmas to you too.

You’re okay?  I was worried when you didn’t answer your phone.

Yeah, I’m okay.

Good.

Hey Rachel.

Way to finally turn on your phone, loverboy

Yeah.  I did.  Sorry about that.

It’s okay.  Merry Christmas, by the way.

Thank you.  I’d say it back, but... yeah.

Much appreciated

So, Kurt and I are back in nyc now

Oh.  That’s cool.

We should hang out.  You and me

That’s okay.  I’m alright.  I don’t really want to go out.

O...kay... fine.  What if I came to your apartment?

I guess you can.  I mean, I don’t have anything to eat besides carrots.  I’m watching Friends.  And replying to the five billion text messages that I just got.

Maybe another time.  I’ll let you get back to your texts

I didn’t mean it like that Rach.

I just... don’t really think I’m ready to see people yet.

No, it’s cool.

Just that I’m alone because Brody’s not answering me at all and Kurt went out for a walk

Oh.  Did you tell him?

No because he hasn’t answered me

Oh, Rach.  You can come over.

You’re serious?

Yes.

I don’t want you to have to be alone.

<3 Thank you Blaine.

Of course.

Be there in ten

Alright.

Hey Finn.  I just turned on my phone. Merry Christmas.

Oh, hey dude.  Thanks, you too.

Brody, thanks.  Merry Christmas to you too.

Oh, hey, no problem.  Hope you had a good one

Blaine stares at the messages from Kurt, mostly the last one, but he can’t make his fingers move just yet to text back.

Rachel bounds up the stairs to Blaine’s apartment, knocking at the door.

Blaine looks over his shoulder at the knock at the door and gets up, opening the door.

“Hey Rach.”

Rachel stares at Blaine and opens her mouth in an attempt to speak, but instead starts sobbing, standing with her arms dangling limply at her sides.

Caught completely off guard, Blaine tries not to panic.  He steps out into the hall and ushers Rachel into his apartment and toward the couch as he closes the door.  He turns the tv off, sitting down and waving Rachel toward himself.

“Come here.”

Rachel blindly follows Blaine, sitting down on the couch and leaning on him, sobbing.

Blaine wraps his arms around Rachel and hugs her tightly.

“It’s gonna be okay.  You’re gonna be okay.”

“Why won’t he answer me?”

“I don’t know, Rach.  I wish I did.”

“I just... I need him to know.”

“Maybe I can get him to talk or something.  He answered my reply text for the Merry Christmas thing he sent me a few days ago.”

“He... he answered you?”

“Yeah, he did.”

“What is going on, then?  I’m his girlfriend!  No offense but he only just met you.”

“I’m a guy?  I... I didn’t know.  I...”

“I just want to talk to him... Blaine, I’m going to hug you now.  I need it.”

“Come here.  I’m here for you.”

Rachel threads her arms around Blaine, leaning as close as possible to him and letting herself just cry.

Blaine lets Rachel lean into him, and he holds her, sort of petting her hair in the process.

“You’re the first person besides Kurt to do this for me in a while...”

“Hey, I’m going to be here for you.  I promise.”

“You know that gives you the right to call me Rachie, right?”

“Oh, nah, that’s yours and Kurt’s thing.  I can’t butt in on that.”

“Any guy I consider to be a close friend is allowed.  Seb’s even allowed.  You’re allowed.”

“Well, maybe.  You consider me to be a close friend?”

“Of course.  I’d only chase my best friend through the airport with a close friend.”

“I just thought that was a mutual thing.  We both wanted to get to him.  I’m honored.  Rachie.”

“And even before that.  Only a close friend would even be considered to be the first person told that I thought I was pregnant.  I told you before I told Kurt, Blaine.”

“Rach, that’s just ‘cause you couldn’t figure out how to tell him.”

“It was also because I knew I could trust you to help me.  Which you did.”

“I’m just doing the right thing, I mean... I guess.  You’re Kurt’s best friend.  I’m going to do what I can for you.  Plus, you’ve helped me.”

“Stop making excuses, you’re a close friend and that’s that.  How have I helped you?”

“Remember when we ran into each other at Starbucks, and I was, well, I had that broken hand?”

“Yeah...?”

“I don’t think I’d have talked to Kurt again, especially that night, if we hadn’t gone for that walk.  Though, I’m really sorry you had to drag me home.”

“Ha, it’s alright.  I’m sure you two would have gotten together somehow.  But I like playing matchmaker.  You two are... perfect for each other.  I’ve never seen two people so in love, even when you’re fighting.  And I’ve seen both of you individually when you’re fighting.  You’re still in love...”

“Rachel... can we not... talk about him right now?”

“Okay... I think I’m feeling a bit better now.”

“I’m glad.  Do you... want some carrots?”

“Um... sure?  Is that all you have?”

Blaine glances around, his eyes landing on the bag of baby carrots.

“Yeah.  Sorry.”

“Aww.  I’m just really craving pickles right now.”

“We could go get some.  I mean, if you want.  My fridge literally has nothing in it except a thing of baking soda, which I don’t even need because I only have carrots.”

“Oh my god, that would be great!  Could we get cheese whiz too?”

“Uh, okay.  Ew.  But, okay.”

“Sorry, cravings.  But let’s go!”

Rachel stands up, wiping her cheeks dry.

Blaine follows suit, grabbing the carrots and taking them to the fridge and putting them away.

“There’s a grocery store down the street.”

“Okay, great!”

Picking up his coat, Blaine grabs his phone and keys and motions for Rachel to follow him.  Once they get to the store, he heads right for the produce section, grabbing another bag of carrots, and glancing at Rachel.

“I could live off of these.  I guess I am living off of these.”

“You shouldn’t be living off of those.”

“They’re good.”

“They’re not enough.  K-someone needs to give you a lesson in proper nutrition.”

“I eat those chicken parmesan tv dinners sometimes too.”

“That’s a start, I guess.  How about sandwiches?”

“They’re alright.  Actually, while we’re here, I wanted to get some granola bars.  I had one a couple of days ago that was really good.”

“Granola bars are good.  Rachie approves of this food choice!  We should grab those, and then the pickles and cheese whiz!”

“Well, let’s get to it.”

Blaine finds the aisle with breakfasty items in it, and turns down, looking for something that looks like what he had the other day.

“I wish I knew what brand it was.”

“What did the packaging look like?”

“It was this blue color.  Like a faded blue.  With brown lettering.  I think.  The bar had raisins in it.”

“Hm... this one?”

Rachel pulls a random box from the shelf.

“No, that’s definitely not it.”

Blaine scans the shelves and spots a familiar color on the bottom shelf, sort of shoved out of the way.  He points.

“That one, I think.”

“You’re serious?  That one?”

“Yeah.  Why?”

Reaching down, he picks up the box to double check, and nods to Rachel.

“It’s just... nevermind...”

“Oh...kay.  Anyway, let’s find those pickles.”

“Just someone I know eats that brand almost exclusively.”

“Oh.  Are they like, weird or something?  I thought they were good.”

“I don’t know, I’ve never tried them.  And raisins... eww.”

“Raisins are good.  Ever since I was a kid, everyone has always said raisins are gross.  They’re not.”

“I’ve always disliked them.”

“Well, I like them.  Oh, here’s your pickles.  Sweet, dill, bread and butter?”

“Sweet!”

Blaine grabs a jar of sweet pickles and tucks them under his arm.

“Uh, where do they keep cheese whiz?”

“Ummmm...”

Rachel sees a passing employee.

“Excuse me, where can we find cheese whiz?”

The employee points them to the right aisle.

“Thank you.  Oh, here Rach.  Ew.  Do you want American, Cheddar, or bacon?”

“Cheddar, I think.”

“Okay.  Anything else?”

“I know I’d like to get you more food to eat, but I also know you probably won’t want it.  So no.  I’m done.”

“I don’t need anymore.  So, thank you.”

Blaine pulls the cheese whiz from the shelf and turns toward the checkout.

“I actually can’t wait to eat one of these granola bars.”

“Yeah... I can’t wait to eat a pickle!”

Blaine goes to the self checkout, scans the items and gets out his wallet, trying to pay before Rachel even notices.

“Here, let me give you money towards the cheese and pickles.”

“No thanks.  I got it.”

Blaine swipes his card.

“You sure?  I mean, they’re mainly for me...”

“Yes I’m sure.  Rachie.”

“You’re too kind, Blainey.”

“It’s nothing.  It’s like, three dollars.  Don’t worry about it.”

“You’re a really good friend, Blaine.”

“I try.  Now, let’s get back to my place and eat.”

“Yes, let’s!”

Blaine takes the grocery bag and holds his arm out for Rachel to take.

“We can watch romcoms.”

Rachel happily takes Blaine’s arm

“I’d love that!”

“Do you have a favorite?”

“I really love The Notebook.”

“Okay, I can deal with that.”

Blaine smiles over to Rachel.

“I’m excited!  Such a good movie, and I’ll get to eat those pickles!”

“Ew.”

Blaine leads Rachel back to his apartment, getting two glasses of water and bringing the bag of goodies from the store out to the couch before he finds his copy of The Notebook.

Rachel opens the jar of pickles and picks one out.  Then, she opens the cheese whiz and dunks the pickle in it before taking a bite.

“That is so good.”

Blaine puts the dvd into the player and turns on the tv.  As the previews start, he turns back to see Rachel’s snack and he makes a face.

“You are so lucky I like you, because that is really disgusting.”

“But it’s soooooo good and I’ve been craving it soooooo badly!”

“This granola bar is really good.  It’s like an oatmeal raisin cookie or something.  Those are my favorite.”

“It’s still weird that you and my friend like the same type of granola bar.”

“I’m sure that other people like these too.  I mean, they do sell them in the grocery store.”

“I guess... it’s just a weird coincidence.”

“Yeah.  That’s all.  Shh.  It’s starting.”

“Alrighty.”

As they watch the movie, Rachel leans against Blaine and slowly falls asleep on his shoulder.

About halfway through the movie, Blaine feels Rachel’s head on his shoulder, and realizes that she’s asleep.  He stares at the tv for a little while longer, the whole movie making him think about Kurt.  Carefully, he pulls out his phone.

Merry Christmas.

You finally answered.

Merry Christmas to you too

My phone was dead.

So was I. (unsent)

Oh.  Couldn’t find your charger?

Something like that.

How was Lima?

It was nice

That’s good.

How was your Christmas?

It was different.

Did you get to see any friends?

I didn’t go anywhere.

You didn’t?

Nah.  I just hung out at home.

I see.

Get any good presents?

A plane ticket to Florida and a night at a resort (unsent)

My dad gave me a check for next month’s rent on the apartment.  That was nice

That’s cool.  Extra cash for you.

Yeah

Was your dad mad?

A bit.  At first.  Then he calmed down.  He was just glad to see me

That’s good.

I’m glad he wasn’t too mad

Me too.

Any big plans for New Years?

Not really.  Probably sleeping.  I’ve been catching up on sleep lately.

You?

I think Rachel’s planning something, and Chandler asked me to go to his party, but I don’t know

Ah.  Yeah, I’m probably just going to stay in that night.

Oh.

I don’t think I’ll go to the party, since Rachel won’t want to go.

You should go.  It might be fun.

I’m not really in to the whole party thing that Chander does anymore

Why not?

I don’t know, he always has alcohol at his parties, but I don’t like drinking

Oh.

It’s just really... idk unflattering and makes people do stupid things

It also numbs your heart when you’re sure it’s going to break. (unsent)

Yeah.

That one time, you know, when I had the wine...? That was the first time I was that tipsy in forever

I believe you.

Ugh, it’s just a horrible habit

It’s not horrible.

In moderation.

You’re forgetting that someone I care about almost got killed after drinking

I have every reason to distrust it

It’s never done me any harm. (unsent)

I guess you have a point.

Yeah.

So, you’re really just going to stay home?

Yeah.  I’ve been catching up on sleep.

Oh.  Okay.

Yeah, I’m apparently super lame.  I might eat a granola bar in celebration and go to bed right afterward.

Rachel shifts suddenly.

“Mmmh, who are you texting?”

Blaine gasps and jumps slightly, shutting off the backlight on his phone.

“N-no one.”

“Mhm.  No one.  Really.  Oh, I missed my favourite part of the movie...”

“Yeah, no one.  And I’m sorry.  We can skip back?”

“No, it’s okay.  It’s... it’s really late!  I can’t walk back to our apartment now... mind if I spend the night?”

“Uh, sure.  You can sleep in my bedroom.”

“Where will you sleep?”

“On the couch, silly.  I sleep here all the time.”

“You’re not... serious...?”

“Y-yeah... why?  Is that a big deal?”

“It’s just... wow, you’re so nice.”

“I... thanks?”

“You’re welcome, silly!  I’m just going to go crash, I think.  I’m really tired.”

“Sure.  It’s right through there.”

Blaine stands up and points to his bedroom door, then picks up the snacks from the evening and takes them to the kitchen with the glasses and puts things away.  He sneaks a glance at his phone.

Rachel smiles appreciatively and walks into the bedroom, lying down on the bed and falling asleep almost immediately again.

Just a granola bar?

Maybe baby carrots instead.

At least eat a sandwich or something

I’m not really into sandwiches.

Pizza?

I’m going to order a whole pizza so I can eat one slice and the box can sit in my fridge for a week?  No thanks.

A hot dog?

I don’t have any.

You need to eat.

I am eating!

Carrots and granola bars are hardly enough

[silence]

Be that way.  I’m going to bed.

Goodnight.

Yeah.  Goodnight

I love you. (unsent)

I miss you (unsent)