Chapter One

Blaine watched the wealthy as they shouted and complained at the stewards boarding the massive ship which stood before him.  Shaking his head in annoyance, he lifted his bag off the ground and walked towards the ship.

There were crowds everywhere, pushing, shoving, hugging and tears were falling from almost everyone’s eyes.  Not that Blaine really noticed, or cared for that matter, he was more interested in the massive vessel that stood before him.  It was the biggest ship Blaine had ever seen, and the fact that it was built by the good, hardworking men of Belfast made him feel proud to be boarding this great ship, the Titanic. 

‘She’s suppose to be unsinkable.’  A feminine voice spoke behind him.  Blaine turned around only to be shocked to be greeted by a wealthy looking gentleman!

‘Yes, sir.  Apparently.  You don’t really believe that do you?’  Blaine questioned.  Personally he thought it was all too good to be true.  A ship that was unsinkable, how silly, any ship can sink.

‘I certainly hope it doesn’t.  Father told me they didn’t have enough lifeboats for all of us.  It’d be frightful.’  The young man smiled, and Blaine felt a pang in his stomach.

‘Kurt!  It’s time to board darling.’  A woman dressed in the prettiest yellow dress he had ever seen called. 

‘Oh, that would be mama, I must go.’  He held out his right hand, and Blaine took it.

‘Kurt Hummel.’ 

‘Blaine Anderson, sir.’

‘Kurt!’  The woman’s voice was now harsh, and Kurt let go of Blaine’s trembling hand.

‘Coming now mama, must you be so impatient?’  Kurt walked quickly towards her, and grabbed her hand. 

‘Who is that man, he’s rather handsome for a steward, don’t you think?’  Kurt smirked. 

‘Catherine darling, Kurt, are you ready?’ A deep voice from behind asked.

‘Pa! I was looking for you every place!  Can you do me a favour?’ Kurt asked.  Burt Hummel was a soft man, sometimes too soft when it came to his only child Kurt.  Kurt wasn’t like other boys; he liked fashion, reading romance novels, and kissing members of the same gender so to speak.  In other words, Kurt was a homosexual, not that Burt or Catherine minded.  He was their son, and nothing could change that.

‘Yes, anything for my sweetie pie.’ Burt teased.

‘Papa!  You’re embarrassing me in front of the whole ship! I’m eighteen remember!?’  Kurt whispered, but Burt just chuckled and winked at Catherine.

‘That man over there,’ Kurt pointed towards Mr Anderson.

‘Which one? The one with the curls?’  Burt asked. 

‘Yes, he’s a steward.  I want him to be my own personal steward...’  Burt raised an eyebrow and sighed.

‘Fine.  I’ll see what I can do.’

‘Thank you daddy!’  Kurt replied clapping his hands in excitement. 

A tall man shouted from the front of the large crowd.

‘Any first class passengers, I repeat, any first class passengers are to board immediately, you may enter the ship through the right entrance behind me.  Any of the ship staff travelling first class should make their way to the left entrance behind me.’

Blaine watched as the first class walked through the crowds, he could hear mumbles of them, not complaining this time, but complimenting each other, laughing, using words Blaine didn’t even know existed.

Blaine walked on following the rest of the first class staff.  There wasn’t that many, much to Blaine’s surprise, he was expecting more staff in first class, maybe he was early.

Kurt was about to step from the board onto the ship when he turned to look at Mr Anderson, who was still queuing behind the rather small staff line.  Kurt caught his eye and he waved.  Blaine nodded slightly, not wanting to loose his job for interacting with a first class passenger so freely.

‘Oh, isn’t this fabulous!’  Catherine squealed as she boarded. 

‘No.  I hate ships.  I just want to be in New York.  I hear they have a fabulous theatres and amazing singers, wait to I show them papa!  They’ll never hear a voice like it.’  Kurt bragged, bringing his arms around his father’s neck and pecking his cheek.

‘You have that one wrapped round your pinkie finger.’  A stout woman poked him in the ribs and Kurt almost dropped dead.

‘Miss Brown!  You’re on here!’  Kurt was surprised.  She was at his concert on Friday night, but she showed no sign of leaving London, but for small while anyway. 

‘Yes!  I’m going back to America! I have to go and find my room, see ya later poppit.’  She bopped his nose and walked away. 

‘Must she always shout?’  Burt asked. 

‘It’s her personality darling, that’s only one American.  Wait until you get to New York.’  Burt sighed and shook his head. 

Blaine finally boarded the ship.  He could help but feel a slight turn in his stomach, almost as if he knew something was going to go horribly wrong. 

They were directed into the staff quarters, which were clean, but pretty basic.  His room number was twenty-five and he was apparently sharing with two other men. 

‘Happy days.’  Blaine sighed.  His name was on an envelope on his bunk bed, he was to sleep on the top apparently, Blaine hated the top bunk, so he hoped one of the other men would swap.

He opened the tiny envelope and stared at the instructions.  Blaine wasn’t very good at reading; he was never really taught much.  He grew up in the country, but moved to the city to find work.  His mother taught him all she knew, but it wasn’t much.  However he did know enough to make out what most of this meant. 

Blaine Anderson,

We welcome you to the staff quarters of the great RMS Titanic. 

You are a staff member of this ship, and you are to act smart and professional at all times.  Your uniform is in your cabin wardrobe; you must wear this uniform at all times.

Your roles, which are stated below, are to be completed when asked.

Valet

Waiter

Bartender

You will complete these roles when asked by a higher member of staff. 

Thank you so much for you’re your cooperation, and we hope you enjoy for time on this great vessel.

RMS Titanic.

Blaine sighed.  He hated bartending.  He was never very good at it; he kept dropping the bottles and glasses. 

There was a loud thud and Blaine almost jumped a mile, the cabin door flew open and two men stomped in, looking rather bewildered. 

‘’Bout ya bai?!’ The taller man spoke.  He was obviously from Belfast, Blaine could hear his Northern Irish slang.

‘Johnny.’  He held out his hand and Blaine took it, reluctantly.

‘Matthew,’ the smaller one quietly spoke, ‘my name’s Matthew,’ he continued louder.  Blaine shook his hand a little more willingly. Matthew wasn’t Irish, he was Scottish, and spoke with a very broad accent.

‘Scottish people have names like Matthew?’  Blaine asked curiously. 

‘His ma was English.’  John replied.  I nodded, and Matthew smiled.

The door burst open and a tall man dressed in uniform stood. 

‘Uniform on boys, get a move on.  Now which one of you is Blaine?’  The man asked.  Blaine’s heart skipped a beat and nodded to the head steward.

‘Hm.  You are to come with me, quickly change and bring your luggage.’  Blaine raised an eyebrow and the steward sighed and rolled his eyes.

‘Come on, chop, chop.’ 

Blaine grabbed his uniform from the wardrobe, and quickly undressed, and dressed himself.  He checked his appearance in the mirror, and followed the steward out the cabin door. 

‘You got dressed fast there Mr Anderson, I’m impressed.  If only we could all do that, maybe we’d more sleep in the mornings.’  The steward mumbled. Blaine chuckled.

‘Where am I going sir, if you don’t mind me asking?’  Blaine questioned, nervous.

‘You have been requested by the Hummel’s young man.  You are to be their personal valet, and servant for the voyage.  You will be living in their quarters for the duration of your stay on the ship, you lucky boy.’ 

Blaine couldn’t believe it; he was so shocked he almost missed a corner.

‘Watch yourself son, you wouldn’t want to walking into things too much.’  The steward shook his head, and lead Blaine up some small stairs.  These were the same ones that he walked down to reach his cabin, and he found himself in familiar surroundings again.

‘Through here.’  The steward opened a door, and Blaine’s mouth dropped to his knees. 

It was nothing like he’d ever seen before.  Gold plated beams, lavish decorations, beautiful woodcarvings, wonderful paintings, and that’s just a small aspect of what Blaine was taking in. 

Maybe this ship is unsinkable, Blaine thought.

‘Follow me.’  The steward led him past the crowds of wealthy people who were talking and drinking expensive wine and champagne.

‘Ah, here we are.’  Blaine looked round and came face to face with a tall scary looking man.

‘Burt Hummel.’ Blaine took the Mr Hummel’s hand, and shook.

‘A firm grasp.  A real gentleman.’  Burt smirked.

‘I’m sure,’ a soft voice like Kurt’s spoke, ‘Catherine Hummel.’  Blaine had never seen a woman so beautiful.  She had long dark hair, which fell in wonderful curls around her waist.  Her skin was so very pale, and her eyes, piercing blue.  Blaine took her hand and kissed it softly. 

‘A proper gentleman,’ she spoke softly, ‘Kurt!’ she spoke, a little louder this time, her eyes still transfixed on Blaine, who was looking rather nervous.

Kurt made his way through the crowed and stood in front of Blaine, a massive grin playing on his face.

‘I won’t introduce myself again.  We haven’t been shown to our rooms yet, but we will be first, now that you’re our personal steward!.’  Kurt winked, and Blaine couldn’t help but smile back.