Chapter Four: The Announcement

“Guess what, guess what,” Kurt said as he sat down opposite Blaine in the Lima Bean. July was ending and Blaine and Kurt had become a lot closer, as Blaine grinned at Kurt’s enthusiasm he began to wonder if he’d be able to leave Kurt behind once summer ended. Pushing the thought aside he smirked at the man opposite him.

“Hello to you too, I’m doing great thanks,” he replied. Kurt frowned briefly before decided to ignore Blaine’s sarcasm and just tell him the news.

“My Dad and Carol are getting married next week,” he burst out excitedly.

“Wow, that’s… um… sudden?” Blaine commented.

“No, not really, I mean they got engaged shortly after I woke up, and they were going to get married in September but then there was at opening at the venue earlier so they figured they would just go for it. I mean they would have got married ages ago but my Dad didn’t want to without me, oh and I’m his best man. I’m also planning it, well Carol and I are, it’s going to amazing, I can’t wait but there’s so much to do. Got to sort the cake, the dress, the band… I was thinking of getting the New Directions back together, that’d be awesome. I need to teach my Dad to dance and…” suddenly Blaine stood up and leant across the small table to clamp his hand over Kurt’s mouth.

“Breath Kurt, you’re turning blue,” he said laughing, he released Kurt who now hand one eyebrow raised at him but was breathing harder, as if he’d just run. “So I caught probably less than half of what you just said, I’ve never heard you talk so fast.”

“Sorry,” Kurt replied slightly sheepishly, “I just got really excited but there is a reason I brought this up.” Kurt stretched his hand across the table and held onto Blaine’s.

“Blaine Warbler,” he began, ignoring the frown on Blaine’s face at the name, “will you be my date to the wedding?”

“Seriously? You want to take me?” was Blaine’s reply. Kurt’s eyes narrowed.

“Of course, why wouldn’t I? You’re my boyfriend aren’t you?”

“Yes, yes I am, guess that was a stupid thing to say.”

“You don’t want to go do you?”

“No I do, it’s just your whole family will be there, I’ve only met your Dad and Carol. Your whole family is a big thing.”

“Apart from Dad and Carol my family consist of a step-brother and an Uncle, that’s it Blaine, calm down.”

“Right, yes sorry. I’d love to go with you Kurt,” Blaine said, feeling his world light up as Kurt beamed at him and started once more to rave on about the wedding. Blaine rested his chin on his hand and stared at Kurt.

He was even more handsome than he had been when Blaine met him. Time had taken the last of the baby fat from his face, he was taller than he had been and thinner too, though that was probably due to his time in hospital, in fact he’d put weight on in the time Blaine had been seeing him. It wasn’t just his looks that drew Blaine in, he was excitable and happy but also deep, his past had made him stronger and his accident had made him humble. As Blaine sat there he felt himself fall a little bit. This was bad, Kurt was two years behind him as far as schooling was concerned, two years before Kurt would be able to join him at college, not that he would then. Kurt wanted to go to New York, Blaine was headed California. Blaine didn’t want to do the long distance thing. Somewhere deep inside him he knew, to protect his heart he should walk away now but he couldn’t.

*

When Blaine woke the next morning there was still no reply from Kurt. He frowned and sent another text.

                                    Good luck at school today.

The school day passed quickly but still with no word from Kurt, the pattern repeated it’s self for the next week. Each morning Blaine would text Kurt but with no reply. He tried to call but the phone was never on. Blaine was worried, thoughts and theory’s ran through his head. Kurt was ignoring him. Kurt had lost his phone. One of the bullies had broken his phone. Kurt was ill. Kurt had given up. The worst one, the scared Blaine to even think about was maybe Kurt was worse off than he’d thought, maybe it had all been too much and Blaine’s help and been too little too late. Not knowing was killing him so he left school early and began the drive to Lima.

*

Blaine turned slowly, showing his suit from all angles. Once he was facing his boyfriend again he smiled and raised an eyebrow at him.

“So what do you think?” he asked Kurt. Kurt appraised him for a second or two more, his face unreadable.

“Very handsome, you pass,” he said clapping once and grinning. Blaine slumped slightly and blew out a relieve breath.

“Thank goodness,” he replied with a grin, “we’ve been at this for hours.”

“You can’t rush fashion.”

“You must be hell on Black Friday.”

“You have no idea.”

Blaine laughed and reached for Kurt pulling him in a kissing briefly. Kurt pushed him away.

“You’ll crinkle your suit. Now go change and we can buy this. You may actually be fit to be my date to the wedding.”

“No one can match you,” Blaine flirted, disappearing back into the changing room.

“Now you’re learning,” Kurt called after him receiving a deep laugh in return.