The Starring Role

Chapter 9

"Your room is down this hall and to the left. Have a nice day."

The receptionist handed Kurt his key card and he nodded a thank you. Grabbing his bags from the floor, he heaved them up and trailed his way down the hall. He was already so used to moving from place to place, but this time was different. He was lonelier, no doubt because he had Blaine in his arms last week at his disposal. Kurt knew going into this career would mean being alone for quite a while. Any job that has to do with traveling never had time for close connections besides the ones in the industry. Still, it didn't help that he wanted some sort of stable part of his life that he could be anchored to. Blaine was that anchor last week and now it was back to the normal jumping from city to city. They would make it work, though.

Kurt stopped at his room and slid the key card in, turning the handle once it clicked open. He trudged inside and threw his bags on the bed. Food was sounding quite delicious right now, especially since he hadn't had much to eat since before his flight. He grabbed the menu from the nightstand and called down to room service for a grilled chicken and vegetables dinner, and then set to unpack.

He unzipped his suitcase and began taking his clothes out, putting his suits off to the side so he remembered to iron them before hanging them up in the closet. Once at the bottom of it, he noticed something he hadn't put in there. It was a rolled up black tie.

That was weird, he didn't remember putting that there. He picked it up by the end, and it unraveled. A white box fell from it with a thud back into his suitcase.

This must have been from Blaine...

He picked it up frantically and opened the box, revealing a silver chain necklace inside. A smile broke on his face as he picked it up and examined it.

"Blaine..." he whispered, lacing his fingers through the cold metal. He looked back in the box and a folded up piece of paper sat on the bottom. Kurt unfolded it quickly.

Kurt,

You're probably in California right now getting settled in. I know we're going to be apart for a little while, so I just wanted to give you a little something to remind you of me. I hope you like it, and I'd like a picture of you wearing it :)

After I bought it, I kept thinking of something else to give you. I wanted it to mean something, and I wasn't sure that a silver chain would cut it, so I also put my tie in there. It's the one I was wearing when I first met you, so I hope that you'll keep it.

I can't wait to hear back from you.

Blaine

Kurt smiled as he reread the note several times. How did he ever stumble across someone so sweet?

Blaine fumbled around at his desk, throwing papers around trying to find the set schedule for production. He had it sitting right there and now it's missing. His desk was a jumbled mess of office supplies, binders, notebooks, and loose paper in a clutter. It even littered his floor and he was having trouble focusing on anything. Blaine just felt like he was sinking into something unknown. Ever since Kurt left, he'd had this feeling in his stomach that wouldn't dissipate. He missed Kurt. A lot. And he didn't know when he'd hear from him, but hopefully he arrived safely to California. Now Blaine had to keep himself occupied with his absence, but it just didn't seem to be working.

"Blaine, what's up with-"

Wes barged in and stopped once he noticed a flustered Blaine and the pile of papers spread across his desk.

"Oh."

"I can't find this damn schedule and I don't remember where I put the revised script for scene 4 and I just can't seem to keep anything organized. What the fuck!" Blaine looked around frantically, a furious scowl spread across his face.

Wes walked in a few steps.

"Blaine, calm down, dude. Everything's alright."

"No, it's not! I can't find it anywhere!"

"Blaine, look." Wes held up a folder in Blaine's face and he finally stopped to focus. "You gave me the revised scene to look over, remember? And the schedule?" Wes looked over to Blaine's bulletin board where the schedule hung in plain view. Blaine looked over as he felt more calm and more frustrated with himself at the same time. He sighed heavily and plopped down in his chair.

"God, I'm so sorry, Wes. I'm not usually like this."

Wes gave a half-smile of understanding. "I get it. You're frustrated and trying to cope with Kurt finally being gone. It's gonna be alright, Blaine, I promise."

Blaine nodded, feeling a little better at the reassurance.

"Have you talked to Lindsey yet?"

Reassurance gone.

"No," sighed Blaine. "I-I-I just can't seem to force myself to do it. Coming out to you was hard enough, imagine my wife. My family! My entire existence rides on this minor detail!"

"Blaine, married to a woman while realizing you're gay is not minor."

"I know...but it's just so much easier to run from it then face it head on." The realization hit him as he spoke the words out loud. That's exactly why he'd been avoiding Kurt and Lindsey with the situation. It's not that Blaine had to do it, he didn't want to. No one was holding a gun at his head telling him he is supposed to tell them. But it was definitely the right thing to do.

"And that's why things never get resolved. If you're going to let this go on, it'll only get worse until eventually, you can't run from it anymore. Someone will find out. And if it's not Lindsey first, it'll be Kurt. Do you really want to hurt him that way?"

Blaine shook his head as he fiddled with his thumbs. He looked down in shame.

"The way I look at it, I've hurt him already. No matter when I tell him, he'll still be completely broken and it's all my fault. I shouldn't have let this go on, but I can't control myself."

Wes sat down at the edge of the desk and laid the folder in front of Blaine.

"I'm not gonna lie or sugarcoat this, but, yes. You have hurt him already, even if he doesn't know it. But keeping it from both of them longer is only going to make the pain worse when either of them find out. Blaine, things will get better. It's definitely going to get worse first, but things will work out in the end."

"And if they don't?" asked Blaine in desperation. "What happens then?"

"Then you can reside to a sad life of eating ice cream and watching depressing movies."

Blaine chuckled at the thought.

"That doesn't sound like the ideal life." Wes laughed.

"It's not. But hey, maybe Lindsey won't react as bad as you think she will. Maybe she'll be relieved that it's with a man and not another woman."

"Either way, it's still cheating, Wes."

"Yeah, I know. Well, regardless of what happens, I'm here for you. Come talk to me whenever or call if you need anything, alright?"

Blaine nodded, his heart swelling with gratitude at his best friend.

"Thanks, man, I really do appreciate you being supportive of all this bullshit."

"Anytime, bro." Wes smiled and walked out of his office, shutting the door with a soft click.

"And...action!" yelled Wes.

The actors took a couple of seconds to get into their characters before moving about the set.

"Do you think the red tie or the blue tie?" asked the male actor, pretending to be fumbling around to find his shoes.

"Why don't you ask Megan?" replied his costar.

"I really don't like the way she says that," said Wes, leaning over to Blaine. "She could use a bit more sass."

Blaine nodded and added, "She could jut her hip out, too. She just seems nonchalant about it."

"Cut!" yelled Wes. He got up and ran to the set.

Blaine's phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out quickly, his heart hammering. It was Kurt.

"Hello?" he asked cheerily as he exited the set into an empty hall.

"Hi," said Kurt dreamily. Blaine couldn't help but grin at the familiar voice.

"Hey...how'd the flight go?"

"Oh, if you don't count the child that wouldn't stop talking the entire flight and made me want to rip ear drums out, then I had a pretty decent trip."

"So...good?"

"Yes, for the most part," chuckled Kurt.

"Good."

There was a bit of silence, and Blaine didn't know what to say.

"Thank you. For the the present."

Blaine felt himself blush a little, thankful that Kurt couldn't see it.

"I just wanted something special for you."

"Special indeed," chimed Kurt. "I love it so much. I'm wearing it right now."

"You'll have to take a picture of it and send it to me."

"The tie or the chain?"

"Either," said Blaine.

"Well, once I'm done with work, I'll be sure to send some."

There was another moment of silence.

"I'm really going to miss you being here," said Blaine.

"I know...but it won't be long before we see each other again. You'll be so busy you won't even notice."

Blaine wanted to say that he noticed Kurt's absence even when they were in the same city, but he decided to keep the conversation positive. He couldn't keep dwelling on things that he couldn't change.

"Alright. Call me again soon."

"I will. I...bye, Blaine."

Blaine pressed the "end" button on his iPhone and stood there for a minute. He could still imagine Kurt's voice. But he was right. He needed to keep himself so busy that he wouldn't notice. With that, he marched right back onto the set to immerse himself in his work.

The day slipped into a quick pace, with Blaine and Wes conversing and prompting orders to the others, and keeping occupied with his job. That's the whole reason he was here, right?

At the end of the day when Wes ordered to pack up, Blaine strolled to his office. He shut the door behind him and lay his paper work down on the messy desk while taking a seat in his chair. He rubbed his tired eyes and willed himself to wake up just a little bit for the ride to his hotel. There was nothing more he wanted than to sleep on a bed.

His phone vibrated loudly on the desk, and he snatched it up quickly. It was Kurt. He opened the message and immediately was aroused.

Kurt had taken a picture of himself with the chain on as well as the tie, loosely tied around his bare chest. Kurt looked at the camera seductively with his finger pulling down his soft lip ever so slightly. His V-lines teased Blaine's eyes down further, but the picture cut off just before anything was revealed. The caption read "Miss me yet?"

Fuck.

Blaine was awake now, and he so desperately needed to get back to the hotel.

I'll be back at the hotel in 10.

He sent the message and jumped from his seat, grabbing his coat and nearly tripping on the way out of the office. Hitting the wall loudly, he shut the lights off and flew out into the hallway, making his way back to the hotel as quickly as he could.

*Five months later*

"Blaine, when will you get home? I haven't seen you in so long and I really can't do this much longer."

"Calm down, Lindsey, I'm on my way home right now. I can only stay the weekend though."

"I know, but still. Your family keeps asking me about you and I don't even know what to say to them. Are you seriously not even talking to your own family?"

Blaine sighed in frustration. "No, and I don't need to. They never really cared in the first place, Lindsey, and you know that."

"Fine. Hurry home, though. I've got a surprise for you," she said seductively.

"I don't want a surprise."

"Oh, but you do! Hurry!"

Blaine ended the call with a sigh. If he'd just visit her this weekend, maybe it'd keep her satisfied until another couple of months.

Blaine walked up to his house and opened the door, trudging inside and letting his duffel bag fall to the floor with a thud. He kicked his shoes off and went into the living room where Lindsey lay, fast asleep with the TV on mute. Her long, golden hair draped her arm and Blaine silently thanked the universe for her slumber.

Still, he wasn't completely heartless. Blaine grabbed the blanket from the edge of the couch and carefully placed it over Lindsey's still body. Looking at her made him feel guilt. Not in the same way he felt with Kurt, but another form of guilt that you feel when you betray a friend. Was that all Lindsey was to him? Just a friend? And it so conveniently happened that he had mistaken that for love?

She stirred on the couch and she blinked her eyes open.

"Baby," she said once her eyes focused on Blaine. She held his head and planted a kiss on his mouth.

"You're home."

"Yeah...I'm here," said Blaine, trying not to sound too upset about it.

They sat there talking about Blaine's work, but since everything had to be turned around to her, she began talking about how grueling it was to stay home all alone in this empty house at night while Blaine got to live in the city and have plenty to do.

"My job doesn't really let me have free time. I'm at work or I'm at the hotel sleeping, so if you think I'm enjoying- you know what? I don't have to justify what I do for my job, Lindsey."

"I'm not saying you have to justify anything, I'm just saying it isn't fair."

"Fine. I'm going to bed."

Blaine went upstairs closely followed by Lindsey. They entered the bedroom and Blaine began stripping down as Lindsey went into the bathroom. When Blaine was just in his briefs, he climbed into the bed, the cold fabric welcoming him as he slipped his legs beneath the covers. He laid his head down on the pillow when Lindsey dramatically opened the door, dressed in nothing but red and black lace lingerie.

Here it was. He knew this would happen.

"I picked this up on my way home today. Do you like it?"

"Hon, I'm tired. I could really use some sleep."

She walked over to the bed and climbed on top of him, kissing him softly on his neck.

"Come on, you don't miss this?"

Blaine didn't respond, he just let her do what she was doing. He couldn't help but imagine Kurt doing the same thing to him, those soft, red lips trailing and kissing him in places that he'd never thought could make him squirm.

"It's been so long," she breathed to him.

Blaine kept his eyes shut, letting his imagination carry him away. Lindsey pulled the sheets down, revealing Blaine's erection and she smiled triumphantly. She continued to kiss his neck, and he began squirming in the bed.

Lindsey roughly turned Blaine on his back and she pulled his briefs down, and in a snap, stripped down to nothing.

Kurt walked up to the familiar doorstep and knocked loudly.

"Who is it?" came a voice from inside as he heard footsteps moving to the front door.

"I'd like to talk to you about Jesus Christ," Kurt said in a low voice.

"Yeah, I know the - Jesus Christ, Kurt!" Burt exclaimed as he looked out the window.

"That's what I just said!" laughed Kurt as his father all but wrenched the door open and tackled him.

"What the hell are you doing here, buddy?!" Kurt embraced his father in that familiar bear hug that he always loved.

"Oh, I just had some free time and I decided to surprise you with a visit!" Burt laughed in exuberance and held the door open for Kurt as he rolled his suitcase inside.

"You didn't want to stay in sunny California?"

"Too sunny for me, Dad. I figured I'd just stay here a few days and then head back. Kinda like a mini vacation."

"Honey, who was- Kurt!" Carole yelped as she turned the corner. "Sweetie, what are you doing here!" She embraced him in a warm hug and he returned it, rubbing her back soothingly.

"He's in for a little vacation time!" said Burt with excitement.

"Come on, let's have some coffee!"

Carole set the cups of coffee in front of them with various pastries to eat with. Kurt caught them up with his work in California, how the weather was nice, but a little hot for him, how their stage was so elegant yet complicated at the same time.

"But you are liking it down there?" asked Carole.

"Oh, I love my job dearly. I just wish I was still in Chicago."

"Does Blaine have anything to do with it?" asked Burt. Kurt blushed at the thought, even though it was evident that that was the only reason.

"Yes."

"How are you two doing, by the way?" asked Burt.

"We're...good. We really are, I think. We've seen each other twice now since I moved to Cali, and we've kept constant contact." He seemed to leave it open-ended and he cursed himself for doing so.

"But...?" urged Carole.

"Well...he's just been kinda distant this past month. He says it's his job and they're slammed because they're right in the middle of production, but he's keeping his messages short, we don't Skype as much...I feel like he's getting bored with me or something."

"Have you asked him about it?" asked Carole.

Kurt shook his head. "I've been meaning to, and when I'm finally going to say something, he says some romantic shit that makes me forget about it."

"But things are okay, or they aren't?" asked Burt.

Kurt sighed and hesitated. "Things are fine between us. It's something with him that's keeping me worried."

"Buddy, I'm gonna give my snippet of advice. Talk to him. Nothing will get resolved unless you say something. It's hard being long distance, but you gotta keep things...spiced up in your love life."

"Oh God, please, Dad. I don't need advice on that."

Carole laughed and added, "No, sweetie, he meant in all aspects, not just the bedroom. Keep things lively until you guys get to see each other again. If he really loves you then he'll wait the entire time, just like you're doing."

"I hope so..."

If anything, it was all Kurt wanted to hear from Blaine. Him professing his love to Kurt and getting married, their honeymoon spent traveling Europe, their home in Chicago and New York adorned with the finest decorations (final decisions on Kurt, of course), their children laughing and-

Kurt snapped back to reality.

"Thank you guys. I'm gonna go call him right now."

Carole smiled while Burt winked, and he stood up, pulling out his phone and searching for Blaine's number. It rang twice before he answered.

"Hello?"

"Hi."

"Hey," he said quietly.

"Are you still driving to Westerville?"

There was silence and Kurt heard a door shut. "No, I'm at my place now. Just relaxing and taking a load off from the drive."

"Killer drive, huh," suggested Kurt.

"Yeah...but it was good nonetheless. You still managing the heat in California? What time is it over there?"

Kurt mentally calculated.

"7. Just wanted to call and say I missed you, and that I'm thinking of you."

"Aw...yeah you too. I can't wait."

"Uh...what are your plans?"

"Hey, listen. My parents are coming to visit me in the morning and I really need to get some sleep so I can get up early and clean the house."

"Oh...okay," Kurt tried to keep his disappointment stifled. "Um, alright. Call me tomorrow."

"I will. Bye."

"Bye."

Kurt hit the end button. This was the first time he'd been ushered off the phone so quickly with an excuse as lame as that. It didn't matter. Kurt had a plan and he was going through with it.

He shoved his phone in his pocket and walked back to the dining room where Carole and Burt sat conversing.