April 30, 2015, 7 p.m.
If I Could Use Your Love: Chapter 18
T - Words: 2,266 - Last Updated: Apr 30, 2015 Story: Complete - Chapters: 36/? - Created: Jun 23, 2014 - Updated: Jun 23, 2014 111 0 0 0 0
Hello! Just a little disclaimer: I have absolutely NO knowledge of the music business and how it works, so please forgive me if there are any inaccuracies about that whole process. This is fiction after all ;)
Also, you should all go give some love to Shannon, because with out her this fic wouldnt even be posted!
Thank you so much for reading!
-Rae (tumblr)
Blaine left work the following week trying to clear his head and process what just happened. Maybe he shouldnt think about that just yet. He had to head over to Giovannis tonight.
Still, his mind was buzzing. He didnt know if it was good or bad, but something was happening. He needed to take a breath and wait until Saturday.
That was two days from now.
He sighed, trying to keep calm. It had to be a good thing, right?
Kayleigh noticed something was up right away. And, being Kayleigh, she wouldnt drop it.
"Come on, Blaine! Just tell me whats going on!" She huffed as Blaine fiddled with his guitar case after the show.
"Nothing! Really, theres nothing going on." Blaine threw her a look, willing her to let it go, but she pressed on.
"Why cant you tell me? Im your best friend! I know somethings up; I just cant tell what it might be. You seem... nervous." She concluded.
"...I am nervous." Blaine admitted quietly, not facing her.
"What is there to be nervous about? Is it something with Kurt?" Kayleigh asked gently, tentatively. Blaine chuckled a bit and turned to face her.
"No, no its not about Kurt. Just... give me a few days, okay? Once I... once I can figure this out Ill tell you, just not yet." Blaine looked at her earnestly and Kayleigh slumped.
"Fine." She sighed.
"I promise Ill tell you, I just... I dont know how to react to this yet. I dont want to jinx anything. Im probably building this up for no reason. It really could be nothing. Its probably nothing." Blaines thoughts raced again, but Kayleigh pulled him out of it.
"Well, if youre done arguing with yourself," she gave him a pointed look and he let out a guilty laugh. "Kurt called you while you were playing. I told him youd call him back." She dangled Blaines phone in her hand and smirked.
"God, what did you tell him?" Blaine groaned, snatching his phone from her.
"Nothing! I really didnt say anything, I just told him you were playing and youd call him back when you were done." She gave him a very fake innocent smile and Blaine rolled his eyes.
"What else?"
"Nothing."
"Kayleigh." Blaine said impatiently. He knew her all too well.
"I may or may not have told him that your ass looks fantastic in the jeans youre wearing tonight." She shrugged, running a hand through her hair.
"Kayleigh!" Blaine blushed furiously.
"What? Im not going to lie to your boyfriend! Your ass really does look fantastic." She leaned over in her seat a bit in an attempt to get a closer look. Blaine sat down immediately.
"That doesnt mean youre allowed to tell him that!" Blaine ran a hand over his still very red face.
"I was just expediting the foreplay process." She shrugged.
"KAYLEIGH."
"So I shouldnt tell you what he said in response?" She teased.
"Oh, God. He broke up with me didnt he? Hes ending our relationship because my best friend has absolutely no boundaries."
Kayleigh laughed and replied, "Stop being so dramatic. He actually asked me what jeans you were wearing. Said if your ass looked as great as I claimed—which it does—he may have to buy you a few more pairs for your birthday."
"He did not." Blaine blushed impossibly harder.
"Ask him yourself." She stood up to leave, smiling. "See ya later, B!"
"Thanks for that, Kay." He called to her sarcastically. He grabbed his guitar case and headed out the door as he dialed Kurts number, holding his breath as he waited.
"Well hello there, Mr. Perfect-Ass." Blaine could hear Kurts laughter in his voice.
"Kurt, I am so sorry for what Kayleigh said. She doesnt really have any boundaries. I told her not to—"
"Relax, Blaine! Kayleighs hilarious. Howd your show go?" Blaine exhaled heavily and filled Kurt in on how everything went for the night.
He paused for a moment, then, "I need to tell you something."
"Good something, or bad something?"
"I dont know yet. I hope its good, but its probably not bad. I dont really know what to think yet." Blaine rambled nervously.
"Okay, so whats it about?" Kurt asked patiently.
"My boss stopped me as I was leaving work today and asked if he could talk to me briefly. He said he wanted to try a sort of ‘experiment," Blaine used air quotes even though Kurt couldnt see them, "And he asked me to have lunch with him on Saturday."
"Well I cant see how that would be a bad thing at all! Did he say what he meant by ‘experiment?"
"No, just that hed talk to me in more detail on Saturday. I really have no idea what it means." Blaine sighed and sat in the drivers seat of his car, drumming his fingers on the bottom of the steering wheel.
"Well dont drive yourself crazy thinking about it. Just relax; if he wants to have lunch with you to talk about it its not going to be a bad thing. Wait and see how Saturday goes and then come to my house right after so you can tell me." Blaine smiled at the thought.
"Youre not working this weekend?"
"Im on schedule for Sunday afternoon, but Im good for Saturday. Ill see you then?"
"Yeah, Ill see you then."
It was difficult to keep himself from bouncing on his toes as he left the restaurant Saturday afternoon. The plans were still tentative and a little vague, but he still couldnt wait to tell Kurt.
Kurt, who had sent him a text this morning that said, Have a good time at lunch :)
Kurt, who had always supported him in every way since the day they met.
Kurt, who—
Blaine stopped himself. Because continuing his train of thought wouldnt be fair. They trusted each other, they made a promise, and Blaine was not going to do anything that might jeopardize their friendship.
So instead, he drove to Kurts house as promised, this time not containing the bounce in his walk as he made his way to the front door.
"So what happened?!" Kurt threw the door open just before Blaine began to knock.
"Someones excited!" Blaine laughed as Kurt tugged him inside.
"Well you seem like youre in a good mood, so tell me what happened with your boss!" Kurt pulled Blaine into the living room and unceremoniously plopped the both of them down on the couch. "All right, spill."
Blaine chuckled at Kurts eagerness. He ignored the way his heart swelled at the thought of Kurt caring so much about this. And he didnt even know what it was yet.
"So, long story short, my boss, Mark Bradley, saw a few of the videos from Giovannis that have started circling the internet."
"And?"
"His ‘experiment that he mentioned he wants to try is to send me out to do a few shows at small venues to start spreading my music out there. Hes working with a friend at an agency to start scheduling a few shows around here so that I can start soon."
"Blaine! Thats amazing!" Kurts eyes were wide and excited.
"I know, and thats not it yet. He wants to work with me in the studio so I can start recording an EP. He wants to put it on iTunes." Blaine couldnt help the laughter in his voice. It was too good to believe.
"Thats incredible!" Kurt threw himself at Blaine in a bone-crushing hug. "Im so proud of you, Blaine!"
"Thanks. I couldnt have done this without you. Really." Blaine muttered into Kurts ear.
"Yes you could have." Kurt pulled away but kept his hands on Blaines shoulders and looked him in the eye. "Youre amazing, Blaine, Im just here to give you a little push."
"Well that ‘little push has been a big help. Thank you." He said again.
"Youre welcome. So what else did he say? Did he say anything about your songs or anything?"
"He said he really liked my style, and he wants to work with me personally because I know the company and Im a part of it, so I know how everything runs. He said hes lucky I work there, or someone else would have gotten me before they had the chance." Blaine laughed at the memory. He never really talked to his boss much, a few of the managers and other co-workers, yes, but nothing on a sort of personal level. He and Mark (his boss had insisted on Blaine calling him by his first name during lunch) talked a lot about his music at lunch; Blaine was surprised when he was asked why he never brought up his own music when at work. Blaine had simply replied that he was working on trying to put himself out there more.
"Blaine! Thats wonderful! Oh, who cares if its not even three yet, this calls for some celebratory wine!" Kurt jumped up and fled to the kitchen, a wide grin splitting his face as he went. Blaine couldnt stop his own lips from breaking into a smile as well as he followed Kurt into the kitchen.
"So when your EP comes out you have to make sure I get the first signed copy." Kurt looked pointedly at Blaine as he handed him a half-full wine glass.
"I havent even started recording yet," Blaine laughed and took the offered drink from Kurt.
"Still, Im calling dibs now. Promise?" He held up his wine glass in waiting; Blaine clinked it gently with his own.
"Promise." Blaine mocked crossing his heart with a wide smirk as he took a sip. Kurt simply chuckled and shook his head.
"I cant believe this, Blaine! Im so excited for you! I knew you could do it! God, Blaine, how are you not bouncing around right now?"
"I did most of my bouncing on the way over here. Im trying to contain myself from looking like a four-year-old." Blaine smiled knowingly at Kurt, earning a tongue stuck out in his direction.
"Well, fine, you be ‘sophisticated and ‘mature then. Im going to bounce around the house until I pass out from excitement." Kurts bubbled laughter filled the house as he made his way back to the living room, wine glass in hand. He sighed happily and sank down on the couch, patting the space next to him when Blaine entered the room.
"Giving up on the bouncing, then?" Blaine placed his wine glass on a coaster and gently sat down next to Kurt. Once again, Kurt stuck his tongue out at him, earning yet another laugh. "Good to know that youre still acting like a toddler, even without the inability to sit still." Kurt rolled his eyes and leaned back into the couch cushions, glancing up at Blaine through his eyelashes.
"Im so proud of you, Blaine. Im so happy that you have this opportunity to show the world just how wonderful you really are." He said softly, brushing a thumb along the back of Blaines hand. Blaine could feel the blush creeping up his neck and a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"You helped me get to where I am, so thank you. You—" Blaine took a breath and looked right at Kurt, "youre my best friend." Kurt bit his lip to stop his smile.
"Dont tell Rachel," he whispered conspiratorially, "but youre mine, too." Blaine laughed and sipped his wine.
"Well Im honored," Blaine held Kurts gaze for a moment before Kurt sat up and took Blaines hands in both of his.
"Good. And since youre my best friend, I have a question for you." Kurt looked at Blaine expectantly but squeezed his hands in reassurance.
"Okay..." Blaine replied and waited.
"You can feel free to say no, if youre uncomfortable with it or you just plain dont want to, its okay, you dont have to feel obligated to do anything just because were fake dating and—"
"Kurt."
"Right, sorry." He took a breath and looked up at Blaine, feeling the encouragement of light squeezes of his fingers. "So," Kurt cleared his throat, "The, um, the Emmys are coming up in a few weeks, and Id really like it if... Would you—will you accompany me? To the Emmys?" He looked at Blaine with hopeful eyes and a shy smile on his face.
"Kurt, Id love to." Blaine leaned in and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Did you really think Id say no?"
"Well, I just didnt know if youd be uncomfortable with it, or too nervous, or... Im glad youre coming."
"Me too. Youre going to have to tell me what to wear though." Blaine admitted. He didnt want Kurt to look bad for having a terribly dressed boyfriend.
"Dont worry, Ill take care of it!" Kurt smiled and Blaine could tell he was running ideas through his head about what Blaine could wear.
"You didnt get nominated, did you? Oh, god, Im a terrible fake boyfriend. I dont even know if you were nominated for an Emmy." He ran a hand down his face in shame.
"I didnt get nominated; dont worry, I would have told you." Kurt laughed. "Russ did though, for best lead in a comedy series. Hell be thrilled to know youre coming!"
"Good, I like Russ. And itll be nice to know someone else there." Blaine let out a nervous laugh and rubbed the back of his neck anxiously. Kurt grabbed his wrist and pulled his arm down.
"Itll be fun. And I wont leave you to fend for yourself just yet, so dont worry about that." Kurt assured.
"I just dont want to make you look bad." Blaine mumbled, not meeting Kurts eyes.
"Please, Blaine. You wont do anything to make me look bad. When in doubt, just flash that charming smile of yours and youll have the paparazzi swooning." Kurt got up and took their wine glasses to the kitchen. "Trust me, Blaine. You have absolutely nothing to worry about." Blaine sighed and hoped he could take Kurts word for it.