Free Hugs
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Free Hugs: An Infinitely Blank Book And The Rest Of Time


T - Words: 2,041 - Last Updated: Jun 27, 2012
Story: Closed - Chapters: 6/? - Created: Dec 27, 2011 - Updated: Jun 27, 2012
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He was blowing this way out of proportion, and he knew it. He knew it, but for the next week, every time his shoulder made contact with the cold, unforgiving metal of a locker or a grossly high-calorie slushie snaked down his shirt and soaked through his designer clothes, there was something in the back of Kurt's mind that was remembering that gorgeous, golden-eyed barista that had smelled so good and hugged him so close and had actually seemed to care about him, which was more than he could say for most of his friends. Suppose he did happen to show up at a certain coffee shop by a certain food court... what would he do? What could he do? Go up to Blaine, sure, but what would he say? He would look stupid, and there was no way around it. Besides, Blaine was probably straight, and he was probably just being nice. And Kurt Hummel doesn't need anything or anybody. So no matter how badly he was tempted to drop into the mall just to catch sight of that dazzling smile again, he didn't give in. In fact, he didn't give in all week.

But then came the weekend, and Kurt had no plans. None whatsoever. For the first time in ages and ages, he had absolutely nothing to do during the weekend. He could do his homework, sure, but that would be negative fun points. He could help his dad in the shop, but he just- well, he just really didn't want to. He could work on his glee assignment- yeah, that's what he could do. Work on his glee assignment! It was the least taunting of the small variety of things he could do, and technically it would count as him working on his homework. He sat down at his desk with his laptop and his iPod, then inwardly groaned when he remembered exactly what the weekly assignment happened to be – New Years Songs. It had all started when Rachel had pointed out the lack of New Year's songs in the world- that there were, you know, none. Zero, zip, zilch, nada, absolutely no official New Years songs in the world, and so Mr. Schue had had a seemingly brilliant idea, that had made Kurt want to bang his head against the wall numerous times- they should all find and perform songs that could be considered New Years songs.

The assignment wasn't due until the day after Christmas break ended, and it hadn't even started yet, but due to the ridiculousness of the whole thing, and the fact that he unfortunately had nothing better to do, Kurt thought it best to just get it out of the way early.

So he sat at his desk, for two hours, with no interruptions and no procrastination, and went through his iPod in its entirety.

And after two hours, he had found... nothing. There was nothing.

Frustrated, he put his head down on his desk and closed his eyes. And his mind began to wander, as it often did, and he could see those honey-golden eyes when he closed his own.

And he thought, what the hell.

No, he wasn't going to show up to that coffee shop expecting this guy who he had met for a grand total of 5 minutes to listen to him spill his heart out onto the floor.

Kurt Hummel does not need anything or anybody.

Except, maybe a hug now and then, but you wouldn't catch him admitting it.

Although he couldn't seem to shake the feeling of Blaine's strong arms around him, holding him close. He kept remembering the way he smelled, something he couldn't really describe that was unlike anything he'd ever smelled before, and he kept remembering the way it felt to be hugged that way, by a boy who genuinely seemed to care.

What harm could be done in coincidentally showing up at the mall on a weekend and asking for some musical input for help with his glee club homework?

There was certainly no law against that.

He slipped into his favorite pair of boots for comfort, and disappeared behind the bathroom door to do his hair.

~*~*~*~*~*~

The mall was absolutely packed. It was the week before Christmas, so Kurt could hardly be surprised, but it meant more pushy shoppers than usual, and he found himself flinching and jumping way more than usual. Which was crazy- nobody was going to hurt him here. But still, he kept himself on guard, always and at all times.

He approached the food court quickly, but he stayed a safe distance away. He wanted to see Blaine before Blaine saw him- that is, if he was even working today. And what if he wasn't? Blaine had told him that he usually worked four days a week. That left three days that he didn't work- and what if today was one of those days?

He stood secluded behind a large potted plant. The coffee shop was right by the food court, but the food court was on the second floor, and the coffee shop was tucked right next to the escalator leading up to it. It fit so nicely there that it was kind of a given that it be named The Coffee Corner. Kurt found the name somewhat tacky, but meh, this wasn't time to evaluate the try-hard names of coffee shops everywhere. He scanned the crowd in the small store, starting with the people behind the counter. There were two girls (obviously not Blaine) and a guy with really, really long dark hair- that wasn't him either, unless he had somehow managed to age 5 years and grow his hair 5 inches in a week. Kurt narrowed his eyes, walking nonchalantly to the block of stores across from The Coffee Corner. He sat down on a bench, glancing over every now and then. Maybe he was on his break again, walking around with that sign of his. Maybe he was off today. Maybe he didn't really work at TCC, and he had just said that he did to be nice. Kurt suddenly realized how stupid this idea was. He had no idea what days Blaine worked, or what time he worked them, or even if he actually did work them, and he worried his bottom lip between his teeth, tempted to just go home.

And he would have. He definitely would have.

If Blaine hadn't shown up right then, appearing seemingly out of nowhere from a door behind the counter.

If Kurt could go back in time, he would add or he could be in the back to his list of Places Blaine Could Be Right Now.

He let his eyes wander over to the boy. He was dressed in all black, except for a pop of hot pink at his neck where he was wearing a bow-tie, and a slim white belt that looped easily around his waist, which was only visible when he turned around, due to the apron he was wearing (black, of course). He said something to one of the blonde girls, who smiled and laughed and then apparently it was her turn to disappear into the back, because that was exactly what she did, and Blaine took her spot at the front, leaning his elbows against the counter while he took someone's order. Kurt watched as he helped two more people, then looked up in Kurt's direction. He blushed and disappeared inside the nearest store, then turned right around. This was ridiculous. He was just a boy, and all Kurt wanted was help with his glee club assignment. That was all. This was nothing special. He had talked to boys before, plenty of times. Why should this be any different?

This is different, Kurt thought shakily as he approached the counter and Blaine looked up, his eyes lighting up, flashing his million-dollar smile. This is different.

“Hey!” Blaine said happily, leaning his head in his hands. “I thought I saw you over there.”
Kurt blushed, angry at himself for being so obvious, but his heart did a little flip-flop over the knowledge that Blaine could pick him out of a crowd from so far away.

“What's up?”

Kurt shrugged slightly. “I just thought I'd drop by for some coffee while I work on some homework. There's this- well, to be blunt- absolutely ridiculous glee club assignment that I'm stuck on. Maybe some coffee will get the creative juices flowing. I've certainly tried everything else.”

“You're in a glee club?” Blaine asked, his eyes lighting up.

“I most certainly am,” Kurt replied easily. “It's the only thing that makes school bearable half the time,” he added, almost as an afterthought.

Blaine nodded understandably, his smile faltering a little. “I used to be in one, too. It was fun. What's the assignment?”

“New Years songs,” Kurt said, rolling his eyes at Blaine's confused expression. “Oh, don't look at me like that. It's a lot harder than it sounds.”

Blaine laughed, a sound that made Kurt's heart feel light and airy and free. “I'll take your word on that.”

From behind Kurt came a hacking cough, and Blaine jumped, looking over Kurt's shoulder at the line that had formed behind him. Oops. He had seemingly forgotten that it was the week before Christmas and the mall was five times as crowded as it usually was on the weekend.

“Uh, sorry,” he said, and Kurt hoped he wasn't imagining the blush he thought he'd seen creeping up on his cheeks, “what would you like?”

Kurt ordered his usual- grande nonfat mocha, of course- and when he tried to pay for it, Blaine pushed his hand away gently. “It's on me.”
“Thanks,” Kurt said brilliantly, his heart racing in his chest. He couldn't remember the last time someone had done something this nice for him, even if it was just a cup of coffee. He crossed the counter and waited at the end of it, taking out his iPhone and scrolling through the messages to distract himself from watching Blaine mixing his drink behind the counter, which he had to turn around to do. Um. Messages, messages, messages... where the hell were those messages....

He looked up when his drink was slipped across the counter, but it wasn't Blaine who'd done it- it was the guy with the long hair. Kurt tried to hide his disappointment, taking his drink and settling at a table in the corner. Blaine was turned around, attending to the long line of customers that had formed while they were talking. He picked up his drink and sipped from it, reaching for his iPod once more- maybe there was a song he had overlooked. After all, he had thousands.

He set it down after reaching the H's with no success, and picked up his now almost-empty cup again. He spun it around in his hands, definitely not staring at the back of Blaine's head as he helped the never-ending line of customers that now almost snaked out the door. Looking back down at the table, his eyes fell back on his cup, and- what was that?

He turned the cup to the side where all of the check-boxes where. Underneath it all, sprawled in adorable boyish handwriting, was – have a grande. ;) -Blaine

Kurt smirked. He'd somehow never heard that joke before, and it was totally lame and yet- oh, there was a winky face. A stupid little winky face written in stupid Blaine's stupid handwriting. Kurt was blushing, again, and he knew he shouldn't be, but... there was a winky face!

He stood up with the cup in his hands. It was almost empty, but it wasn't, so he totally had an excuse to take it out with him. He sipped from it as he left, watching Blaine as he mixed someone's drink. He hadn't exactly gotten the help that he needed for his assignment, but- oh, well. There would be plenty of time for that.

Through the clear glass doors of The Coffee Corner, Blaine Anderson, behind the counter, could be seen turning to the table in the corner that he'd been watching Kurt from out of the corner of his eye, but he was gone. He scanned the shop quickly, but he was nowhere to be found.

He bit his lip and turned back to the next customer in line, hoping against hope that he would see him again one day, one day soon.


Comments

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This is quite well written and really interesting- I'm interested to see where it goes. Just watch your word usage occasionally; in this chapter, I think you mean 'daunting' rather than 'taunting' and in the previous chapter the word 'writhe' is used where it really shouldn't be. Keep up the awesome writing xD