The following week was a stressful blur, complete with homework, Warblers rehearsal and my constant worry over the approaching family dinner. I powered through, concentrating as best as I could on my schoolwork and on my commitments, whilst my mind kept reeling over the conversation I’d had with my mom on the phone the night before Kurt and I were to be at my parents for the dinner I was so nervous for.
The night before...
“So sweetie, what time will you and Kurt be over here?” Mom asked me.
“Well it’s a Friday night, so we’ll have to get ready after school. I think Kurt’s just going to stay here at Dalton and get ready here. We’ll probably be there around six, is that okay?”
“Yeah, honey, sounds perfect. Now... Kurt’s not a vegetarian, right?”
“Depends on what day of the week it is,” I laughed, “Not at this stage, no.”
“Okay. Well... I think I can rummage something up. You do know that Dylan and Katherine will be over tomorrow night for dinner, don’t you?”
“Oh. Well I do now. That’s okay. Kurt can meet everyone at the same time. We scare him off.”
“He won’t be scared,” Mom laughed, “He’ll be... intrigued, if anything. We’re an interesting bunch.”
“I know, Mom. So how long do you think this dinner will go for?”
“I don’t know, depends on how many courses I end up making. Why?”
“Well, I have a curfew here at Dalton and I’d like to drop Kurt home before I get back.”
“Makes sense. But that’ll take hours. He lives in Lima, you’ll have to leave within fifteen minutes of getting here. Why don’t you both spend the night here?”
“Really? You want us both to stay over? That’d be okay with you guys? And Donovan?”
“I don’t see your father having an issue with it. I mean, it’s not like you guys can get each other pregnant.”
“MOM!”
“Calm down, honey. I just meant that it wouldn’t be a problem.”
“Well say that next time! God!”
“Alright, alright. Well just make sure you guys get here in enough time for your siblings to inspect and approve of Kurt. You know. Like they usually do.”
“They’re awfully judgemental.”
“Like you can talk, poor Katherine was scared of you after she accidentally spilled wine on your white shirt.”
“Hey! It was a designer shirt! And I was just looking out for Dyl!”
“And that’s all they’re doing for you, hon. I’ve gotta go pick Charlotte up from ballet now, but I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Okay. Thanks Mom.”
“No problem. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
And that was the end of the conversation.
My family was going to interrogate Kurt. I knew it. But I was hoping that Donovan could keep his cool, just for one night. Especially with Dyl and Katherine there. Not to mention Charlotte – she didn’t need any more drama in her life.
xxxxxxx
Friday afternoon...
Kurt and I walked into my dorm room after being dismissed for the day, both nervous about what was to come but denying our anxiety at the same time. We snuck quick looks at each other when we thought the other wasn’t looking. It was strangely quiet, even for us.
“Are you... uhm... are you okay?” I asked him timidly, placing my bag on my bed, sitting down and loosening my tie.
“Yeah...” Kurt replied, slumping down into the sofa and kicking off his shoes.
“You sure?”
“Well, I’m nervous, Blaine. I’m fine, but slightly nervous. I don’t want to be the boyfriend everyone hates.”
“Oh, you know that’ll never happen. That’s ridiculous!”
“Blaine. Seriously. I’m probably the most effeminate gay in the world. My closet is filled with Alexander McQueen and several replicas of Lady Gaga’s famous outfits. I’m addicted to Broadway and my goal is to one day perform the female lead in Defying Gravity in Wicked. I don’t want them to be uncomfortable and I really, really don’t want them to hate me.”
I sighed, ran my fingers through my hair (which had been left gel-free for the day, since Kurt liked my curls), and walked over behind the sofa to wrap my arms around Kurt from behind.
“You are the most important person in the world to me. My family is important to me too, but whatever they say or think won’t ever change my opinion of you.”
“...But what if they hate me?”
I kissed Kurt’s cheek softly, and said, “They won’t ever hate you. There’s no way they could. As long as you’re yourself.”
Kurt leant back and put his hands over mine. “Okay,” he said. “I should probably get ready, then.”
I kissed Kurt’s cheek again. “That’s a good idea,” I said, before releasing my hold on Kurt and falling into the sofa.
“...Why aren’t you getting ready, Blaine Anderson? Your mother would want you to look your best!”
I sighed, “Yes dear,” and walked over to my dresser to begin searching for my nice, black pants and fluorescent purple socks. Kurt snorted from across the room.
“What?” I asked, whipping my head around to look at an amused Kurt.
“It’s like we’re an old, married couple,” Kurt said, laughing a little and smiling widely.
“And so it begins,” I laughed, knowing that one day, that scenario would definitely become a reality.
xxxxx
It had only taken us a couple of hours to get ready and begin the drive to my parents’ place. Although Kurt had a tight grip on my hand as I drove, I was still rather shaky and nervous. I knew everyone would love Kurt. Well, mostly.
I was only really afraid of how Donovan would react.
“Are you okay?” Kurt asked me, eyeing my shaky grip on the steering wheel and my intense stare on the road ahead.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just concentrating, you know?” I tried to laugh it off, but Kurt knew me better than that. He tightened his grip on my hand, and as we came to a stop at an intersection, he leaned over to kiss me.
“As long as we’ve got each other, everything will be okay,” he said after he kissed me, using his free hand to stroke my cheek. I was brought back to reality from the honk of the car behind us, and as I turned to face the road and accelerate, Kurt’s words kept ringing in my ears.
Kurt kept sneaking looks at me whenever he could. Although the drive lasted only fifteen or so minutes after that, it felt like an eternity. As we finally reached the driveway, I felt a small wave of relief along with a small pang of guilt: what if Donovan ruined the night for us? For Kurt? I didn’t think I could forgive myself for bringing Kurt to a family dinner if he left upset and hurt.
I drove into the driveway and parked behind Dylan’s black Mercedes before leaping out of the car and striding towards Kurt’s passenger door.
“Anderson Residence, sir,” I said in a British-chauffeur voice, holding out my hand and squeezing Kurt’s as he grasped mine and stepped out of the car.
“Why thank you, jolly old chap,” he responded wittily, making me laugh and reminding me of just why we were there in the first place.
I held onto Kurt’s hand as I shut his door and led him towards the front door of my house. Before I’d even had a chance to knock, a bubbly, curly-haired brunette girl in a pink, flowing dress bounced out to greet us.
“BLAINEEEEEEE!” Charlotte screamed, running towards me at full speed and leaping into my arms. In doing so, I had to let go of Kurt to catch Charlotte and hug her tightly.
“Hey, Charlotte! How are you?”
“I’m good,” Charlotte’s muffled voice came from where she’d dug her head into my shoulder. “Better now! I missed you!”
“I missed you to, honeybee,” I said, kissing her on the forehead and gently placing her back on the ground on her own two feet.
“Really?” she asked.
“Of course! You don’t ever have to worry about that. I’ll always miss you.”
Charlotte smiled and squeezed my hand before noticing Kurt.
“OH! I’m sorry! I’m so rude! Mom would kill me! I’m Charlotte! Nice to meet you!” she spoke rapidly and excitedly, forgetting about me and reaching forward to shake Kurt’s hand.
“I’m Kurt, it’s very nice to meet you too, Charlotte! I love your dress!”
“Oh,” Charlotte blushed, “Thank you! Mom bought it for me especially for tonight, because she wanted me to look my best for the two special guests.”
“Two?” I asked, confused.
“You and Kurt, silly! Gosh, Blaine! You’re special!” Charlotte said as she punched my arm (albeit, not hard enough to do any damage) and took my hand, pulling me inside. I was just able to grab onto Kurt’s hand to follow as bypassed Mom’s marigolds and found ourselves in the hallway.
“MOM!!!!! BLAINE AND KURT ARE HERE!!!!!” Charlotte screamed down the hallway, almost bursting our eardrums.
“I know, honey! Bring them to the kitchen!” I heard Mom shout back.
“Well. Come on!” Charlotte said to us in her determined manner, dragging us down the hall to the kitchen where the rest of the family was waiting and having pre-dinner drinks.
We stepped into the room, and within a second Mom had dropped the potato she was peeling and launched herself on top of me, smothering me with a breathless hug.
“Uhm. Hi Mom,” I said, struggling to move my arms to hug her back.
I heard Mom laugh as she stepped back. “Sorry, couldn’t help myself. It’s been so long!”
“I know. I’ve missed you all.”
“You’re just saying that because I’m making your favourite mashed potatoes tonight.”
“...You know me to well,” I smirked, as my mother punched me on the arm.
“So. Everyone? This is Kurt, my beautiful, amazing boyfriend,” I introduced Kurt, wrapping one arm around his back and turning to point to every person in the room.
“Of course that’s Mom. Next to her, that’s Dad. Obviously. Then that’s Donovan, then Dylan and his wife Katherine.”
“BLAINEEEEEE!” I heard a high-pitched whine from down below.
“Oh. And you’ve met my gorgeous, cheeky sister, Charlotte!” I said, messing her hair with my free hand, much to her protest.
“It’s good to meet you,” Dad stepped forward to greet Kurt, shaking his hand warmly.
“You too,” Kurt said, not letting his nerves show as he shook my Dad’s hand without whimpering at my Dad’s infamous tight grip.
“I’ve been so excited for this!” Katherine pushed forward to hug both Kurt and I at the same time. “Kurt, we’ve heard so much about you!”
“She’s not joking,” Dylan piped up from where he was following in Katherine’s footsteps. “It’s endless, really. Blaineyboy here is rather enamoured.”
Dylan winked at me and gave Kurt a handshake before punching me in the arm. “Good to see you bro. Good to meet you, Kurt.”
“And you. I’ve heard a lot about you, I must say.”
“Kurt!” I did my best to hush Kurt up, acting all embarrassed.
“Aha! I knew I was your favourite, Blaine!” Dylan raised his arms in the air like he’d won a basketball game and proceeded to prance around the room.
“Ah, don’t I get a look-in?” I heard Donovan say as he slowly stepped towards Kurt and I, extending his hand to shake Kurt’s. “I’m Donovan. Don’t worry about Dylan, he’ll calm down after his third beer of the night.”
“No drinking, boys, let’s keep this a normal family dinner,” Dad said sternly.
“BUT DAAAAAAAAAAD!” Dylan and Donovan whined together like children.
“Does it bother you?” I asked Katherine, watching her amused expression turn worried.
“Well. Not me. I’ll be designated driver no matter what. Baby can’t drink,” she winked at me, rubbing her small belly.
I looked at her in shock and disbelief. “Are you-?”
“Yep,” she nodded, beaming as I forced myself onto her in a massive hug, pulling Dylan in for a hug too.
“Congrats, you guys! That’s awesome!”
“Thanks, man,” Dylan said, also beaming with pride. “Hey! You’ll be an uncle!”
“Oh crap, dude. I’m not ready for that!” I joked, before turning to Kurt and adding, “Maybe Kurt will have to help me out?”
Kurt smiled, “Of course. I can get the best baby clothes for you to give the best gifts.”
“Can’t out-do me!” Mom piped up from her potato-peeling station, where I hadn’t even noticed she’d resumed cooking. “I’m gonna be a grandma!”
“You don’t look like a grandma, Mrs Anderson,” Kurt said with a smile.
“Oh Kurt. Don’t try to flatter me, I liked you from the minute my son started talking about you,” she said warmly, smiling at mine and Kurt’s intertwined hands.
“Okay, okay... maybe it’s time to move this into the sitting room while your mother continues cooking?” Dad suggested.
“Oh, is there anything I can do to help?” I offered.
“No, of course not. This will take two minutes, if that. Just go and relax as your family begins interrogating Kurt,” Mom replied.
“Hey! We will not!” Dylan objected, before looking at my unamused expression and reconsidering. “Okay. We probably will.”
Dad led Dylan, Katherine and Donovan into the sitting room with Kurt and I following. I was careful to hold onto Kurt tightly and just reassure him as best as I could without actually vocalising anything for anyone else to hear. Kurt looked at me and smiled not only with his lips, but also with his eyes. Every single smile, every touch and every look, I fell more and more in love with Kurt. I suddenly felt the urge to show him off and yell, “THIS IS MY BOYFRIEND! HE’S AMAZING!” but I felt that wouldn’t exactly be the best thing to do in a room full of Andersons.
Everyone had taken their seats, and I noticed the two-seated sofa was left free. I led Kurt to sit down first before sitting down next to him, closely, and putting my arm around his shoulders.
“So Blaine,” Dylan started. “How are the chimps?”