Mondays and Wednesdays were the days they saw each other before class, only long enough for short exchanges. On Tuesdays, when Blaine always worked the same shift at the café, Kurt would see Blaine in the morning and then again after five. The rest of the week, they texted and called, but with school and work they didn’t have much time to get together, even on the weekends.

School had been in session for about a month and a half, and classes were in full swing. The trees were brilliant oranges and reds as the sun began setting earlier and the air became cooler. Kurt sat in the corner of the café, waiting for Blaine to finish his shift and running over lyrics in his head.

“Here you go, sir” Blaine smiled, setting down a coffee on the table next to Kurt with an exaggerated motion. Kurt chuckled and rolled his eyes, “How was work?”

Blaine took his seat and shrugged, “Oh, you know. I guess it’s been busier since the beginning of November, but not too bad. Rachel told me you were auditioning for glee?”

Kurt nodded. Glee auditions were on Thursday, it was really all Kurt had been thinking about for the last few days. Here, glee was no joke, and Kurt wasn’t sure he was ready.

Blaine seemed to sense Kurt’s unease, and smiled gently, putting his hand on Kurt’s, “Don’t worry, you’ll do fantastic. You’ll blow them away.”

“I’m not,” Kurt lied, but the look in Blaine’s eyes told Kurt he knew better, “And you don’t know that.”

“I do.”

Kurt smiled down at the floor, flushing a little.

They talked about what songs Kurt was planning on singing even though he was only allowed one, because he still couldn’t decide. Kurt thought Blaine was thoroughly unhelpful, telling him that no matter what Kurt chose, he’d do great. Blaine had always been sweet, almost sickeningly so, and Kurt thought that if it were anyone else it’d be annoying. As it was, Blaine was immeasurably adorable, like a puppy, thrilled with the most mundane details of Kurt’s life, beaming when…well, constantly, really. Yes, Blaine was just like a puppy. Kurt loved it.

They talked about the holiday season coming up; Kurt was frustrated with Christmas decorations going up before Thanksgiving. The other day, Rachel had worn a horrendous Christmas sweater around the apartment, one that set a new standard for ugly Christmas sweaters. Kurt couldn’t understand why, as Rachel was Jewish, and she’d long since moved on from the awful sweaters she’d sported in high school. It’s still cute, Kurt, and you know it. No, it wasn’t. Not even a little bit. Blaine laughed as Kurt ranted about his roommate and they reminisced about high school.

“What are you doing over winter break?” Kurt asked, turning the conversation on Blaine.

“Oh, I’m not sure yet. I hadn’t really thought about it.”

Really, Blaine had thought about it. A lot. The dorms closed over break, and he obviously wasn’t welcome back home. A coworker had offered his place, and Blaine thought to accept, but didn’t want to impose. The short answer somewhat confused Kurt- who doesn’t think about Christmas break? Kurt could hardly wait to get home. It had been too long since he’d been home, thinking about his dad and Carole, homemade pancakes, and the warmth of his old bed made his heart ache. However, Kurt dropped the topic. Blaine had been working a lot recently; he probably didn’t have much time to himself to worry about these kinds of things.

For the most part, Kurt talked about himself, but Blaine enjoyed listening to Kurt’s angelic voice and knowing all the little intricacies of his life. Kurt had always been more talkative than Blaine anyway. Really, knowing that Kurt wanted to talk to Blaine and that Blaine got Kurt to himself on Tuesdays was plenty for him.

“Ah, Rachel says she never gets to see you and you must come over,” Kurt laughed, “don’t let her pressure you though. I can always make some sort of excuse for you”

Blaine smiled, “No, I’d love to. I’ve been telling her I would, but I’ve been so busy at work recently. I’ll give her a call and see when she’s free.”

“You’re a brave man.”

“I don’t live with her,” Blaine pointed out.

Kurt raised his eyebrows and nodded in agreement. Really, he loved living with Rachel; she could just be very trying sometimes.

The night proceeded this way, as most of their Tuesdays did. At closing, they helped restock straws and disposable coffee sleeves and were rewarded with leftover pastries from the day.

Outside, the sun had set and the temperature was rapidly dropping. Kurt slipped on his gloves and swung his large knit scarf around his shoulders, snagging it on his brooch, “Shit.”

Blaine moved forward instinctively to help Kurt, who’d started taking off his gloves to do it himself. The musky smell of Blaine’s aftershave, the smell of sweet cinnamon and sandalwood, slightly citrusy, stopped Kurt, who let Blaine untangle him. Kurt could feel the boy's breath against the frosty night air, his heart beating faster than he would’ve preferred at the distance Blaine’s face was from his chest. Blaine was cursing the pin profusely, scrunching his nose in concentration. Kurt couldn’t help but giggle.

Blaine looked up in confusion, blushing when his face came too close to Kurt’s. They froze there for only a second before Blaine darted his eyes back down to focus on the brooch, biting his bottom lip.

Eventually, it had come loose and Blaine quickly restored the distance between them. They said their goodbyes and parted ways. Riding home on the train, Blaine chastised himself for letting his thoughts drift back to Kurt’s rosy lips, the smell of coffee and chocolate on his breath. His heart didn’t stop its rapid pounding, even as he lie under his covers, but eventually fatigue washed over him as he stretched, toes barely tickling the end of the bed, and hugged his pillow to sleep.