Blaine started to tidy up his sheet music sprawled across the top of the piano, carefully putting the pages in order. Despite first impressions, Blaine was actually meticulously tidy with basically everything he owned, but especially with his music. Often people assumed that because he had this wild curly hair that his whole life would be as haphazard as his hair.
Having neatly put his music into his messenger bag, Blaine made his way to the restrooms. He could hear his own breathing above his footsteps. He knew he was one level below panicking. He was going to Kurt's apartment..he was going to Kurt's apartment.. Oh. My. God.

Blaine splashed water on his face, calming himself down a little. He could do this. Christ..he could sing on a stage in front of a few hundred people, so yeah..he could do this. He peeled off his T-shirt, fishing the spare shirt he'd brought with him out of his bag. He'd chosen a black fitted long sleeve shirt, which looked smart enough with his snug fitting jeans, without being too dressy.

One final touch and he'd be done Blaine thought, grabbing a small pot of hair gel out of the front pocket of his bag. When he'd been in high school he'd worn copious amounts of hair gel on his hair, embarrassed of his curls, but these days he kind of liked them. However, sometimes they just needed taming a bit. Blaine ran a small amount of gel through his hair, making his hair look neat, but still curly. It would have to do.

Exiting the college, Blaine took out his phone to call Kurt. With his finger poised over the call button, he looked up to see Kurt standing over to one side of the main entrance. Blaine took in Kurt's black tight, oh so tight jeans, white shirt and white calf length boots. he truly looked amazing. "Oh my god! Kurt! What are you doing here?" Could Kurt hear his heart beating out of his chest?
Kurt smirked with a raise of his eyebrow. "Thought I'd surprise you."
"You certainly did that," Blaine laughed, fighting himself not to look at Kurt's long legs in those jeans. "How did you know what time.."

"I kind of worked it out, assuming you were rehearsing the same time as other evenings of course." Kurt moved alongside Blaine. "I really wasn't stalking you...the girls have taken over dinner, and I thought some fresh air would be good - they're both lovely, but can be quite intense, especially when they get together...well you've already met Rachel so I'm sure you can imagine.."

"Mmm..I know what you mean.. But they sound like good friends to have." They set off at a slow pace, bumping arms every few steps as they walked along. "My 'straight' male friends are almost as bad. If they spent as much time worrying about their own personal relationships as they do about mine..." Blaine tailed off, "but they mean well."

Kurt laughed lightly at Blaine's description of his friends. " I can imagine - there's something about you though that makes you look like you need taking care of.."
"What do you mean?" Blaine raised his eyebrows, smiling at Kurt in a way that had him thinking Blaine knew exactly what he was talking about.

"Oh, you know, puppy eyes.. And all that.." Kurt looked over at Blaine who was smiling broadly at him. "Do you have a boyfriend Blaine?" Kurt then asked him, without meaning to.

"No.. You?"

"No."

"Good." Blaine hadn't meant to say that either.

"Good?"

"Good," Blaine whispered . "I mean, well I don't mean it's good you haven't got a boyfriend... Actually I've no idea what I'm talking about - I tend to ramble when I'm nervous."


Kurt huffed a small laugh, "don't worry. I understand what you mean - and for the record, I didn't even mean to ask about the boyfriend thing - it just sort of came out."They both chuckled at their idiotic behaviour.

"I think we both just need to relax a bit," Blaine commented, still cringing at what he'd said.


"You'll be pleased to know we're almost here," Kurt laughed, grabbing Blaine's hand to steer him towards the entrance way of a large converted building. "Welcome to my home sweet home!"

It was only when they were standing outside the big sliding door of Kurt's loft apartment that Blaine realised Kurt still had hold of his hand.

******

Blaine didn't know what he'd been expecting Kurt and Rachel's apartment to be like, but he certainly hadn't expected what he saw when Kurt slid the huge door open. The loft space was enormous - skilfully separated into areas by curtains and carefully placed furniture. It was rustic, in an original and creative sort of way.

"Kurt, this is amazing," Blaine said softly, gazing around the apartment in wonder. "I knew you wouldn't just live somewhere ordinary, but this...wow!""

Kurt smiled, "It's taken a while to get it right, but we love it here. You should have seen it when we first moved in, it was just one big empty room."

Blaine pulled out the bottle of wine that he'd thought to put in his bag before he'd left home earlier. "I'd better go and say 'hi' to Rachel," Blaine gestured with the bottle he was holding.

They walked over to the kitchen area where Rachel and another girl were busy bustling about, laughing and joking with each other. "Hey! Blaine!" Rachel exclaimed having spotted the boys and coming to give him one of her famous hugs. Blaine was ready for her this time, hugging her back and passing Kurt the bottle of wine at the same time. "Welcome to our home," she gushed.

"It's very kind of you to invite me Rachel," Blaine said smoothly. "You and Kurt have a lovely apartment here, I'm quite envious...and I have to say dinner smells delicious too.."

"Rachel smiled excitedly, "please meet our friend Santana," Rachel turned to introduce the girl Blaine had previously spotted helping Rachel in the kitchen - a stunning Latino girl, somewhat taller than Rachel and certainly very striking. Her long dark wavy hair was swept back off her face in a ponytail, giving her an air of crisp efficiency.

Blaine moved to greet Santana with a handshake, as Rachel moved to one side. "Blaine," Blaine offered, "pleased to meet you.."

"Blaine Anderson," Santana paused as she took Blaine's offered hand. Blaine raised an eyebrow at her use of his surname. "Blaine Anderson, singer/songwriter extraordinaire," she smiled at him broadly.

"You know Blaine?" Kurt questioned approaching them both.

"Oh, I've been to listen to Blaine sing at 'Lionel's' many times, usually Friday or Saturday evenings," Santana continued. "He's a great singer, with a perfect mixture of his own work and covers.. And a stunning voice." Santana looked at Blaine as she answered Kurt's question.

Blaine blushed at what Santana was saying about him. It was nice to have compliments about his singing, but this was so intense it was making him feel a little uncomfortable. "Thanks," he managed to say, feeling self conscious as Santana continued to look at him.

Kurt and Rachel both looked shocked when Santana began raving about Blaine's singing. He must be good - Santana rarely complemented anyone's performing. Her form of complimenting, usually took the route of her not being rude about someone. Usually if she didn't have anything bad to say, you know she must have liked the performance.
"You should do more of your own songs, you know." Santana said as she headed back to the kitchen.

"I'd like to, but I feel like I have to do more songs everyone knows, and just throw in a few of my own here and there..but I will bear it in mind," Blaine smiled.

Kurt watched Blaine talking to Santana. Just how was he so perfect? Here was this sweet sweet guy who was one of the kindest people Kurt had ever met. He was obviously very talented, yet adoringly modest with it. Kurt just wanted to hug him.

Dinner went off without a hitch. In his observations of Blaine at work, Kurt had noticed his ability to get on with everyone. He had an old fashioned charm about him which seemed to appeal to both male and female customers. It was nothing over the top, just politeness and of course a smile that could light up a room.

Blaine's ability to socialise with ease didn't stop with work. He was a perfect guest, genuinely seeming interested in everything everyone had to say. He managed to ask all the right questions, quipping in with relevant tales of his own, and it helped that whilst he hadn't attended the same glee club as Kurt, Rachel and Santana he was still familiar with it, having been in his own school glee club.

Kurt had brought cheesecake he'd made for the shop for dessert which they had with coffee. After that Kurt and Blaine offered to do the washing up, as the girls had made the dinner. The wine they'd had with dinner had loosened them up a bit, and they both revealed a little bit more of themselves to each other. Kurt told Blaine that since coming to New York he'd had two serious relationships, and in both cases had ended up getting his heart broken. "The trouble is I'm just a stupid romantic, and not everyone sees relationships the same way."

"Wanting romance isn't stupid Kurt," Blaine had said kindly. "One night hook ups definitely aren't my thing either. I love the idea of romantic gestures, especially with someone else who feels the same way."

"The trouble is," Kurt had lamented, "once you've had your heart broken a couple of times, you stop letting people in - not being able to stand the thought of it happening again."

"You mustn't loose faith Kurt," Blaine commented, "there's someone out there who will want the same as you. It's just waiting for the right person to come along. I've had my heart broken too by someone who just didn't see our relationship in the same way I did...but I haven't given up hope in finding the right person for me..."

"For the love of God," a voice came from nearby. They both turned around to see Santana leaning on the kitchen counter. "I've only heard part of your conversation, but are you two really that oblivious?" It was a rhetorical question really, which was just as well as both Kurt and Blaine stared at Santana in silence. "Anyway," she continued without waiting for either of them to speak, "I've just come to tell you that Rachel and I are heading out. There's a girl I've been on a few dates with who works in a bar not far from here. I want to introduce her to Rachel - once Rachel starts her show she won't be free in the evenings, so I thought I'd take the opportunity..."

Santana turned to leave, adding, "oh Blaine, Rachel's keen to hear you sing. Hope it's okay if I bring heron Friday night... And Kurt too if he's free. I'm sure he'd like to come and hear you sing." She looked at Kurt questioningly.

"I'd love to come," Kurt said softly, looking over at Blaine. "If that's okay with you Blaine..."

"Love you to come..." Blaine whispered. Santana smiled to herself as she wandered away from the kitchen.

*******

"Do you want to watch a movie?" Kurt asked after they'd finished tidying the kitchen. "You can choose.."

"Oh maybe, you should choose, Kurt. I'm not sure what you'll think of my taste in movies. They tend to be weepy romantic films, with quite a few Disney favourites thrown in there too.."

Kurt huffed. "If I tell you that my favourite movies are The Notebook and Moulin Rouge..oh and that I know virtually the words of Aladdin, Pocahontas and Tangled to name just a few Disney movies..what would you say now."

"I'd say Kurt Hummel, that you have excellent taste in films. You're obviously a man after my own heart!"

"Blaine." Kurt said carefully, moving to sit near Blaine on the couch, twisting slightly to look at him.

"Mmm?" Blaine was shaken from his visions of he and Kurt watching movies together. He looked over at Kurt, drawn in to his bright blue eyes. "Sorry Kurt. Yes?"

"There is something I wanted to ask you." Blaine wasn't sure, but did Kurt look nervous? Kurt hesitated.

Blaine desperately wanted to grab Kurt's hand. He was slowly realising that he was powerless to resist his attraction to Kurt. He wasn't even sure he wanted to fight it anymore. Kurt was just the most beautiful person Blaine had ever seen.. Blaine reached over and covered Kurt's hand with his own, rubbing his thumb gently over Kurt's knuckles. "Talk to me Kurt.."

"Rachel's given me a couple of tickets for one of her preview shows at the beginning of next week," Kurt began, "I was wondering, would you like to come with me?"

"Oh I'd been meaning to ask her when her show was starting. I'd love to come..with you."

"Just to be clear, Blaine...I'm asking you out on a date." Kurt paused. "If that's not something you want I completely understand. The ticket's still yours." Kurt's heart was beating so hard in his chest he could scarcely breathe. "The day you walked into my shop asking for a job..it's the best thing that's happened to me in a long time."

Blaine's head was spinning, his stomach was flip-flopping, his heart felt like it was beating outside of his chest. "Kurt. I'd love to come..as your date." Blaine couldn't believe Kurt maybe felt the same way as he did. There'd been signs of course, but Blaine hadn't dared to hope..

Blaine knew what a big thing this was for Kurt from the previous conversation they'd had, and he wanted to reassure him that this was important for him too. "Kurt," Blaine made sure to look Kurt right in the eyes. "This means so much...it's definitely something I would love." Blaine gave a nervous laugh. "I hope I'm not freaking you out.."

Kurt shook his head. "No, never," he whispered.

"Good."

"We'll have a great time," Kurt smiled. "Now, do you still want to watch that movie? Or maybe just coffee?"

"Maybe just coffee. I've got work in the morning and I've got this terrible boss.."