Im the new cancer; I've never looked better, and you cant stand it.

There's a Good Reason These Tables Are Numbered Honey, You Just haven't thought of it yet … - Panic! At the Disco

                ‘Kurt!  Hi…I mean, hey!'  Blaine fumbles with his guitar and pulls off his Wayfarers returning them to his belt loop.  ‘I wasn't expecting to see you…'

                ‘You weren't expecting to see me?  Really, Blaine?  You're in New York!  I wasn't expecting to see you!  When did that happen?  When were you going to tell me?'  The pitch of Kurt's voice is cutting straight through the DJ's club music.  Dare saves Blaine by appearing behind him.

                ‘Who's this, B.?'  Dare places an arm protectively across Blaine's shoulders.

                ‘Dare, this is Kurt.  Kurt, Dare.'  Blaine's manners kick in and he's on autopilot.  His brain is overloaded so it is the safest bet right now.

                ‘And how do we know, Dare, Blaine?'  Kurt is looking straight at Blaine.  Taking in the tight jeans, the fitted t-shirt, the eyeliner… Dare's dressed in ripped studded jeans, a white vest and a red shirt left unbuttoned.  Dare's arm feels leaden around his shoulders.

                ‘Could we not do this now… I was just heading home.  Do you want to meet up for a coffee or something, maybe tomorrow?'  Blaine cringes inside.  He knows he's copping out but this is not how he planned seeing Kurt again.  It is all blowing up in his face.

                ‘No, I think now's good, Blaine.'

                ‘Look… Kurt, is it?  I don't know who you think you are but whatever this is,' Dare gestures, ‘it can wait until tomorrow.'

                ‘Hey, Dare.  It's alright.'  Blaine quickly diffused Dare.  ‘I'll see you back at the flat, later.  OK?'

                ‘You sure, B.?'

                ‘Yeah.  I kind of owe Kurt an explanation.'  Dare took a long look at Blaine and then to Kurt who has not moved an inch and looked to be wound tight enough to crack if someone happened to touch him.  Blaine's honey eyes locked on his and he nodded begrudgingly unwinding his arm from Blaine's shoulders and taking his guitar from him.

                ‘Alright.  See you at home.'

Blaine watched as Dare negotiated his way back towards the bar and the spiky-haired cutie from earlier.  He turned back to find himself dazzled by Kurt's furious ice orbs.  Blaine gestured for Kurt to follow and started making his way out through to the back of the club feeling Kurt follow him.  He barely felt the cool air hit him as he stepped into the alley behind the old brick building.  His mind was racing.  Everything was wrong.  Somehow he had messed everything up again. 

                ‘What is this, Blaine?'  Blaine stopped walking and turned to face Kurt.

                ‘Look, Kurt, I'm sorry, alright?'  The words feel hollow in his mouth.  Overused.  The guilty feeling in his chest washes over him again he's so close to falling back into his Ohio self.  He desperately searches for the silver thread of his new confidence, grasps it, and clings on to it with all his mental strength.  ‘I'm sorry I didn't tell you I was in New York.  I just… Dare's roommate up and left and he needed someone to help pay the bills and I thought it would be a good idea to move over early.  To get to know the city a little.  I was going to call but…'  The look Kurt was giving him caused him to stop.

                ‘You know how lame that sounds, right?'  Something in Blaine snaps.

                ‘What do you want from me, Kurt?  I'm sick of apologising to you…I feel like a parrot.  Yes, I should have told you I was coming to New York, but it's no different than if Tina or…or Artie moved up here.  We're just friends remember?  You've reminded me often enough. ' 

All his pent up hurt, frustration and anger suddenly poured out and crashed into the ice around Kurt.  His eye's meet Kurt's and they stare at each other for a long time, and then suddenly the absurdity of the situation hits them both and they're laughing.  Neither can breathe.  The laughter eventually dies and when Kurt speaks again it is softly.

                ‘I almost didn't recognise you up there.  Your new look is… different.  Since when do you use make-up and what convinced you to finally ditch the product and free the curls?  Someone's obviously introduced you to mousse.'

                ‘It's a long story…' 

                ‘Tell me about it over coffee sometime?'

                ‘If you like.'

                ‘You look good, Blaine.  Better than good…'  Kurt broke eye contact, blushing slightly.  ‘Sorry for exploding at you.  I had no right.  I just… I wasn't expecting to see you up there, like that… Then you sang that song…'  Kurt broke off knowing Blaine understood.  Blaine reached for his hand.  Kurt let him take it.

                ‘I really am sorry, Kurt.  I was just…  I was worried you'd change your mind and say you'd rather I didn't come to New York after all.'

                ‘I could never think that.'

                ‘I know.'  A smile.  Small, but there.  They stand in silence for what feels like a very long time.  Both lost in their own thoughts.  Blaine's eyes meet Kurt's and a pained look crosses Kurt's features.  He breaks eye contact again and Blaine's confused until Kurt mumbles:

                ‘Dare seems nice…'  Realisation crosses Blaine's mind and he rushes to correct Kurt.

                ‘Oh!  You think…!  No!  Dare's a friend of Cooper's from some show pilot they worked on together that never made it.  He's not…  We're not…  T-together or anything.  He's just helping me out with somewhere to stay.'  Silence rests heavily around them while the words sink in.  Their eyes link again and the familiar spark is still there.  Kurt seems reassured.  Happy with Blaine's explanation but that doesn't make sense because Kurt is with Adam.  But Blaine's not had any contact with anyone from before for months.  Maybe... Blaine doesn't want to ask but knows he has to know. 

                ‘So… you still seeing that British guy?  Adam, right?'