“Excuse me?” I replied tersely. Sebastian smirked, a face that I equated with a constipated meerkat.

“Blaine changed his mind at the last second about Valerie. Either you’re blowing him or—”

“Sebastian,” I interjected, “I want you to think long and hard about what you’re about to say. Like it or not, I’m your superior and that could be construed as sexual harassment.” I set down my script and motioned for Sebastian to have a seat. “Look, I know you don’t like me. To be honest, I don’t care for you either. But we are working together now, and I’m not going to let our problems get in the way of this production. It’s not fair for the kids.”

“Fine.” Sebastian flopped down in the chair. “You’re right, I’ll give you that. Besides, I had some thoughts about Fiddler.”

Surprisingly enough, Sebastian and I worked rather well together when we weren’t arguing. We spent the rest of the period consulting each other on ideas. Slowly but surely, the play was beginning to take form.

“Yeah, I think this is going to be great. I’m really—I mean, we’re really good at this.” I knew this was as close to an apology as Sebastian would ever get, so I nodded with a smile as he left my office. He seemed to be realizing that arguing was counterproductive, and I certainly wasn’t going to waste any more energy. Part of me knew that this was only because Blaine had picked me. I knew that I probably wouldn’t have reacted as well if it was him going out with Blaine, so I had to admire the fact that Sebastian was handling this semi-maturely.
***
Saturday afternoon, Blaine dropped Anna off at her friend’s house. She had been invited to spend the night, so we would have the night to ourselves. I hadn’t been on a first date in ages. In fact, it was hard to remember the last time I had dressed up for a date. My last boyfriend hadn’t been one for going out, which made finding something to wear even more challenging.
Luckily, the November weather allowed for a scarf, so I was able to wear my brand new Dolce and Gabbana. It had cost entirely too much, but it was gorgeous enough that I didn’t feel too guilty.

Blaine went all out; he even stepped outside before we left so that he could ring the doorbell. “Why hello, Kurt. Is your father home?”

“Blaine, stop it. I feel like I’m back in high school!” I laughed as we walked to his car
“What’s on the agenda for tonight?”

“Well,” Blaine said, “I thought we could do the classic date, dinner and a movie. There’s this theater on the outskirts of town that has tables. They have great Italian food and they’re screening Two For The Road tonight.”

Blaine was one of those super focused drivers. He had his hands properly at ten and two, and he stared intently at the road. We drove in silence, but it wasn’t suppressive or awkward at all. Blaine was breathtakingly gorgeous, as usual. His hair was only slightly styled, allowing his curls some much needed freedom from their daytime oppression.

When we pulled up to the theater, Blaine hurried to open the passenger door for me. It reminded me of my teenage years, when I had daydreamed about finding a boy who would do just that. Life had made me jaded over the years, but just moments with Blaine and I was already losing some of my cynicism.

The theater was small and run down, which only added to its charm. It was eclectically designed, probably more for practicality than aesthetics. The mismatching tablecloths and chairs were visually appealing however, and I was even more impressed by Blaine’s choice. The tables were scattered around the room facing a huge white wall where the movie would be projected.

“Annabel and I came here once before and saw Matilda.” Blaine said as we got settled in. “I’ve wanted to come back since.”

The theater was empty apart from us, so we were given menus and served almost instantly after ordering.

“I’ll let you get started on your meal. We’ll see if anyone else shows up, but the movie will probably start in the next thirty minutes or so. We’ll bring out a desert menu half-way through,” The waitress explained before scurrying away.

I had always felt awkward and jittery with nerves on first dates, but it was different with Blaine. I suppose it had something to do with the fact that I saw him almost every day. There was no shortage of conversation, although we struggled to stop mentioning Fiddler. We were both excited about the play, which made it even more difficult to put work behind us.

“Why did you decide to be a teacher?” Blaine asked in between bites of pasta. “I know Rachel said something about you guys taking acting classes together. Why did you change your mind?”

“I’d always wanted to act. I dreamed of Broadway and the like, but then freshman year at NYU I had to get a part-time job. Rachel was working at Ellen’s, so at first I applied there, but they didn’t need anyone. I found a job at a middle school in the Bronx assisting a drama teacher with her after school program. The school had almost no funding, and the pay was terrible, but it was worth it. Acting had always been about me, what I could get out of it, how it made me feel. But working with those kids it was like I was finally making a difference. I saw so many kids fall as in love with the stage as I had, and I just knew.” Blaine beamed at me, nodding vigorously.

“Exactly. The kids make it worth the crappy pay check,” he teased. “I was a private vocal coach earlier on, but I much prefer Lake Vermont. It’s a lot more rewarding.”

The conversation drifted on casually for a while before the lights were dimmed. The projector flickered to life as the film started.

Audrey Hepburn was a goddess; there was no doubt about that. Two For The Road had always been one of my favorites, second only to Breakfast at Tiffany’s. I was quickly immersed in the movie, only slightly distracted by the game of footsie that Blaine had initiated. A part of me was embarrassed at the juvenile behavior, but I quickly brushed that aside. Blaine had a way of making me release my inhibitions and simultaneously making me feel fifteen again.

And the fifteen year old inside of me was very much in favor of taking advantage of the near empty theater. I was reacquainting myself with Blaine’s mouth when we were disrupted by a shrill beeping.

“Shit.” Blaine mumbled as he unattached himself from me begrudgingly, “I forgot to turn off my cell.” He looked down to silence it, eyes widening.

“It’s Jesse’s mom, probably just checking in about Anna. But she’s never spent the night there before, so…” He looked at me sheepishly.

“You can answer it, Blaine,” I reassured him. “I don’t mind at all.”

“Sorry!” He looked around the abandoned theater before answering his phone, “Hello?”

I was only half paying attention to his phone call when Blaine jerked to his feet, almost knocking over my chair in the process.

“Where are you?” He demanded frantically, “Is she okay? Did you call an ambulance?”

Blaine was pulling out his wallet and paying in an instant. His frenzied actions left the waitress in a panic, trying to give him his change as he raced out the door. I followed after him quickly as he barked into his cell.

“Okay. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” He replied before tossing his phone onto the dashboard and starting the car.

“What happened? Is Annabel okay?” I asked, now slightly hysterical myself.

“Annabel fell off of Jesse’s top bunk. His mom thinks her arm’s broken.” Blaine snapped, already speeding down the road. “She’s fine. They took her to the minor emergency clinic. I’m just kind of freaking out, if you couldn’t tell.”

“I broke my wrist when I was seven. She’s probably fine,” I reached out to Blaine, squeezing his thigh reassuringly.

“I know. I’ve just always been there when things happen. And now she needs me, and I’m not there, and she’s probably scared, and—”

“It’s going to be fine. She has Jesse’s parents, and you’re on your way. Knowing Anna, she’s probably enjoying the attention. Now, will you please stop driving like a crazy person? You can’t exactly help her if you’re getting pulled over for speeding.”

“You’re right, you’re right.” Blaine sighed, slowing down slightly. “I’m just a worrier. You should have seen me when she was born. Anna was premature, and I swear I didn’t sleep for the entire two weeks that she was in the hospital.”

“How far away is the clinic?” I asked, still unfamiliar with the area.

“We’re almost there, thank god. They can’t treat Anna until I fill out all the paper work and show her insurance.” Sure enough, we were soon pulling into the parking lot. Blaine ran into the lobby, almost forgetting to lock the car behind him. It was slightly disorienting to see Blaine switch from the goofy man I had been making out with fifteen minutes prior to Daddy so quickly.

“Hi, Daddy,” Anna sniffled from her perch on Jesse’s mother’s lap. “I falled down.”

“Oh, baby,” Blaine rushed to her side, inspecting the damage immediately.

“Mr. Anderson? If you could just fill out this form, please, and you and Anna can come with me,” A nurse handed him a clipboard and led them to a hallway.

“Thank you so much for bringing her,” Blaine said to Jesse’s mother, “But I think I’ve got it from here.” He scooped up Anna, careful not to jostle her arm as he followed the nurse.

I sat down next to Jesse’s mother, who looked a little shaken up.

“I’d like to stay, just to make sure everything’s fine. Jesse’s with his dad, so I don’t have to hurry back,” She told me.

“Of course,” I assured her. “I’m Kurt Hummel, by the way.”

“Laura St. James,” she shook my hand tightly, “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“You have?” I asked, genuinely surprised.

“Anna absolutely raves about you. She’s been bragging about her new friend Mr. Kurt for weeks,” Laura said with a laugh, “She told us all about the costume you made her for Halloween. Jesse was a tad jealous. I can’t sew at all.”

“I don’t think you would be that impressed if you had seen it,” I laughed, “I literally just revamped a ballerina costume. I may have gone a tad overboard with sequins, but in my defense I hadn’t designed anything since my junior prom. Somehow, I was under the impression that kilts were the epitome of couture,”

“Tell me about it!” Laura laughed, “I wore the ugliest sea foam green dress to my prom. I still cringe when I even think about it!”

Laura and I exchanged fashion mishaps for a while before she changed the subject with a sly smile. “You know, Jesse and Anna have been friends for a while. So I like to think I know Blaine pretty well.”

“Oh?”

“He’s usually a pretty private person. And I respect that, so I try not to pry. But he’s not here, and I’m dying to know…”

“Why do I get the feeling that I’m not going to like where this is going?” I looked at her intently before relenting. “Okay, fine. What is it?”

“You guys were on a date, right? That’s why he insisted that Anna spend the night after the party?”

“He did what?” This was certainly news to me. “I thought that she was invited to a sleepover!”

“Oh, please, like I would let twenty munchkins sleep in my house. Look at what happened when I just had two!” Laura laughed, gesturing to the clinic lobby. “But back to my point. You were on a date, right?”

“Well, yes.” I tried to keep the grin off of my face, but I was probably smiling like a lunatic.

“Oh my God, that’s awesome! I’ve been trying to get Blaine to date for years, you have no idea.” She began, babbling excitedly. “And then Anna kept talking about you, and I knew something was going on—”

“Mr. Kurt!” Annabel burst through the door into the lobby, Blaine trailing behind her. “I got a pink cast! Daddy signed it, and you have to now!”

Anna thrust her left arm into my lap. It was encased in hot pink plaster, with Daddy scrawled on in black sharpie. “And I got a sticker, because I didn’t even bite the doctor this time!”

I raised an eyebrow, storing the information so I could as Blaine about it later. I took the proffered sharpie and signed my name with a flourish, right next to Blaine’s.

“Thank you for staying, Laura,” Blaine said, engulfing the woman in a hug. “I’m sorry I flipped out at you earlier.”

“Hey, hey now, none of that,” Laura brushed of his apology, adding, “I’m just sorry we interrupted you. From what Kurt tells me, you were having quite an enjoyable night.”

Blaine flushed bright red, shoving at her shoulder playfully. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that. Besides, Anna needs to get home so she can sleep.”

Annabel was asleep within minutes of being buckled into her car seat. All of the action had worn her out completely, and Blaine carried her to bed as soon as we got home.

“Oh my God. That was crazy.” Blaine moaned as he flopped onto the couch next to me. “And, I must say not the way I imagined our first date going.”

“Well, at least our first date was unforgettable, right?”

“True.” Blaine laughed, cuddling into my side. “Thanks for helping me calm down. I don’t know if I would have gotten there in one piece without you.”

“Laura seems nice.” I mused as I ran my fingers through Blaine’s curls.

“Yeah, she’s great. Most of the parents at Anna’s school kind of look down on us because I’m so young. I mean, most just assume that I knocked up someone when I was in college. Laura’s the one of the only ones who doesn’t judge. And Anna’s been friends with Jesse for ages, so it works out.” Blaine slowly pulled himself out of my arms, looking up at me. “I had such great plans for tonight. I was even going to take you out for ice cream.”

“You’re a dork.” I laughed, rolling my eyes.

“I guess I’m lucky I’m so cute then, right?” He said with a smirk. “And while we can’t quite take advantage of the empty house as planned, I was thinking…”

“And what, pray tell, were you thinking?”

“Well, in keeping with the theme of our date, I was thinking we could make out on the couch like teenagers.” Blaine winked at me mischievously.

“You’re a dork,” I repeated, before pulling him into my lap and kissing him senseless.