“Damn keys!”

It’d been a long day and all he wanted to do was finish his outfit’s sketch and take a shower, but his keys didn’t want to cooperate.

“Got you!” Kurt exclaimed, opening the door of the apartment.

It was empty, so Kurt went straight to his studio to finish his work. He had to present it in few days, but Kurt hadn’t seemed to have any good ideas. He put the mail on his desk and took his sketch.

“Kurt! I’m home. Are you in here?” a voice said after almost two hours.

“Yes, I’m in the studio.”

“Hi, honey! How was your day?”

“Ugh! Busy. They rescheduled all the presentations for the new season. I’m so tired, but at least I came up with some ideas.” Kurt said and he kissed his boyfriend. “What about you?”

“The same. I forgot the lens this morning, so I had to come back home and that meant I was late for the photoshoot. The model was about to eat me!”

“I bet, though there’s not much to eat.” Kurt said with a grin.

“Shut up!”

“It’s true. You’ve been losing weight recently.”

“I’ve been very busy at work, you know that. That’s why I ordered something for dinner. There’s nothing healthier than a greasy take away meal!”

“Not for me. I have to go out with Jane and Percy.” Kurt said, yawning.

“You don’t really seem in the mood.”

“Yeah, but Jane’s been talking about this piano bar for weeks and I promised to go check it out.” Kurt started rubbing his eyes. “I’ll take a shower and I’ll be fine.”

“Alright, not that I’m thrilled to spend the evening by myself.” Kurt’s boyfriend said, walking out of the room.

“Isaac, wait!” Kurt yelled “Your mail.”

“Thank you, love.” Isaac captured Kurt’s lips with his. He moved his right hand to Kurt’s neck and started sucking on his bottom lip.

“Okay, Isaac, stop! I have to finish here. I’m late!”

“Fine, but tonight, I’ll be your late show.” Isaac said with a smirk.

“Get out of here!” Kurt yelled, smiling.

Isaac blew Kurt a kiss and walked to the kitchen.

*

Jane and Percy were in front of the restaurant when Kurt arrived.
He met them at work. Jane was a tall woman with short blonde hair and she was one of the dressmakers at the atelier. “I can’t face the day if I don’t wear something made with my own hands.” Jane’s always said.

Percy was the postman of the building. He graduated with a degree in anthropology, but life hadn’t been easy for him and unfortunately, everybody needs money to live in the city. Percy’s always done his job with pride, “Everything can be an adventure!” and Kurt likes him for that.

Kurt was glad he found two friends like them. They had similar tastes and it was kind of relaxing to spend time together after a day at work.

“Dinner and good music, what more can you ask for?” Jane said with an excited smile as she sat at their table.

“Good service? We’ve been waiting thirty minutes for a table!” Percy complained.

“It’s all Kurt’s fault! I told you eight o’clock!”

“I know, sorry. I wanted to finish the outfit for the ‘Garden Collection.’” Kurt said, sighing. He took the menu and started reading.

“The ‘Garden Collection’? Don’t you know Lois changed her mind?” Jane had a surprised look on her face.

“What? You’re kidding.”

“Not at all! Apparently Miss Lois ‘I’m the most innovative stylist on earth’ Parker found out a flower theme is not so original for spring.”

“That’s great! You know what? No work tonight!” Kurt closed the menu. “Where’s the waitress? I need wine.”

“Yeah, Jane, about the menu, next time let’s try not to choose a restaurant who asks 12 dollars for a basket of breadsticks.” Percy said with a raised eyebrow.

“I know, but everyone’s talking about the new singer in this restaurant.”

“I hope it’s worth it. He better be Bocelli.”
Jane was a little disappointed, but she kept reading the menu and said nothing about it.

An hour later, Kurt was on his second glass of wine and he became silent.

“Are you okay?” Jane asked, a little concerned. “You barely touched your pasta.”

“Yeah, I’m just a little worried about the deadlines for the presentations at work.” Kurt replied, looking at the food on his fork. “I lost my appetite.”

Percy looked at him with his mouth full of bread and pointed at Kurt’s plate. Kurt handed it to him and Percy literally threw himself on it.

“Well, try not to think about it tonight. Tomorrow you’ll figure something out.” Jane raised her glass. “I think the show is about to start. It will distract you.”

“You’re right.” Kurt said, smiling at his friend.

She smiled back and the lights dimmed. The pianist took the stage and he sat down in front of the piano while the audience started clapping.

“Where’s the singer of your dream?” Percy asked Jane with a note of sarcasm.

“I think the pianist is singing as well. There’s a microphone.”

“If she’s not right, my wallet will never forgive her.” Percy whispered to Kurt.

The pianist started playing.

Jane put her hands on her heart. “Oh, I love this song!”

“What is it?” Percy tried to whisper to Kurt, hoping Jane wouldn’t heard him.

“It’s called ‘All of Me.’ It’s a classic! Where do you live?!” Jane exclaimed in shock.

“Sorry if I don’t listen to my grandmother’s vinyl!”

“Now shut up!”

Kurt smiled and kept listening to the singer, who started to sing.

It was strange. It seemed like he knew that voice, knew it very well. It was very soft and sweet but also very powerful.
Kurt stopped to think where he’d heard that voice.

Percy kicked his leg under the table. “You think it’s boring too, eh?”

“No, it’s just like I’ve already heard this guy somewhere.”

“Ssshh!” Jade said, annoyed.

Kurt surrendered. ‘Perhaps I’ve seen something with him on YouTube,’ he thought.

The song ended and Jane started clapping with enthusiasm.
The lights illuminated the stage and revealed the singer’s face.

“Oh my…” Kurt was shocked.

“Amazing. Can we go now?” Percy said, receiving an annoyed look from Jane.

Kurt knew he wasn’t wrong. It was him, in the flesh on that stage in New York; it was Blaine.

“Kurt, what’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Jane said, putting a hand on his shoulder.

“I kinda did.” Kurt’s eyes were wide open but he was showing a light smile.

“What?” Percy said, confused.

“That singer is Blaine, my first boyfriend when I was in Lima.” Kurt explained.

“Are you serious?” Jane said looking closely at Blaine.

“I couldn’t be more serious.” Kurt laughed.

“Why are you laughing?”

“I don’t know. I’m happy to see him, I guess. It’s been so long!” Kurt took a sip of water trying to clear his mind.
“I have to say hi after the show.”

“Are you sure?” Percy asked “I would never want to see my first girlfriend again.”

“Why not? Technically, we never even broke up.”

“What happened?” Jane said with curiosity is her eyes.

“When I moved here, he was in Lima to finish high school. He was supposed to come here at the end of his last year of school, but this father wanted him to go to Harvard to become a lawyer. We decided to take a break until he was ready to decide, but we’d already been distant for months so I’ve never heard from him again.”

“Oh.” Jane didn’t seem to know exactly what to say. “Well, I don’t think it’s a bad idea after all.”

They stayed silent for the rest of the show.

Kurt found himself impatient to meet Blaine after all those years. He wasn’t the teenager Kurt once knew, time passes for everyone, but he still has that smile full of enthusiasm.

After the last song, Blaine got down from the stage as everyone was clapping.

Kurt stood up “Okay, I’ll go.” He was a little excited.

“Alright. Find us outside.” Jane said smiling.

Blaine was at the counter, listening to the barman speak as he was sipping water from a bottle.

“Um, excuse me? Blaine?”

Blaine turned around and choked a little on his water.

“Kurt?” Kurt nodded, “Oh my god! I can’t believe it!”

Blaine said with a tone of surprise.

“Hi! I can’t believe you’re here, in New York!”

“Yeah, actually, I’ve been here studying and working.” Blaine said “It’s been a long time!”

“Yeah, indeed!” Kurt said “So, you became a singer.”

“Well, I’m a waiter here, but sometimes they give me the stage.” Blaine said showing the black apron he had in his hands. “And what about you? What do you do?”

“Oh, I’m still trying to make a dent in fashion!”

“You haven’t already? I loved your creations.”

Kurt blushed. “My friends are waiting outside, I have to go, but we have to catch up sometimes. For coffee, maybe?”

“Absolutely. We have to, grande non-fat mocha!” Blaine said smirking.

“Totally, medium drip.” Kurt replied.

“You remember.” Blaine laughed.

“It’s been good to see you again.”

“Goodnight, Kurt.” Blaine put a hand on Kurt’s arm.

“Goodnight, Blaine.” Kurt imitated him.

Kurt walked out of the restaurant.
‘It wasn’t a bad idea at all,’ he thought with a smile.