Joining the others in New York before Thanksgiving had even rolled round had been something of a last minute decision. The costume party and karaoke night they had hosted the other night had been, admittedly, WILD, a word that Quinn would never usually use when it came to describing her old classmates. So much alcohol, her head had been positively BANGING when she woke up the next morning, but she supposed that was a part of the fun. Everybody at Yale had been so serious lately, forgetting the fact that he was the start of the holiday season. Some part of her can’t quite comprehend it, but it probably has something to do with their dreaded mid-terms. It’s been a killer for the past two years or so.
❝ What movies do you have?? ❞ Brow quirks, hazel eyes flickering towards the shelf full of DVDs beside their television set. If he suggests a musical, she might just throw herself off the balcony, but she smiles politely, shuffles a couple of inches closer to him and TUCKS herself beneath her corner of the blanket. ❝ Because if I have to sit through another round of ‘ One Day More ‘ I don’t know how I would be able to survive. ❞
One arm casually wrapped itself in a loose hold around Quinn’s shoulders to let her scoot as comfortably close as she wanted to. Honestly–and it might be silly for him to feel this way–but feeling her inch nearer and be comfortable enough to do that with him made him feel good inside. Quinn was always someone he looked up to. Even admired for the strength she had to get through everything life threw at her and still come out shining. They were friends. Definitely friends. But she was always someone he handled carefully. Respecting her distance was important to him because so often others–good intentions aside–never seemed to realize when not to. Her sometimes quiet and her sometimes not so quiet was okay with him. He UNDERSTOOD more than she might know.
Now that they were under a blanket on the couch and she was close, though? Blaine couldn’t wipe the light smile off his lips. Leaning over–he grabbed the remote from the table and offered it over instead of taking over menu surfing. “How about we play it safer and let you pick? That’s the polite thing to do anyway. I mean–you might get stuck with superheros or something way too black and white and old if I’m in charge? The DVD rack isn’t going to help. Those are mostly Rachel’s and Kurt’s and we both know what that means.”
“Gotta love the american schooling system. It’s honestly beyond me why our parents wanted Sebastian to go to Dalton. That alone was three times the price.rather than Paris.” Remy remarked slightly with a little teasing smile on his face. “Pretty much, you pay them a lot and they tell you about…people who don’t inspire you. Or how something should be done according to a text book. It’s not exactly the ideal way, now is it? Even more so when it comes to art.” Remy said with a little shrug again as he dropped back against the table. Remy watched that pillow tumble to the ground as he stepped forward, a smirk dancing along his lips as the other seemed to flush and stammer at the very idea of what he was proposing. “Oh trust me…” Remy hummed as he openly ran his eyes up and down the other. “You can inspire quite a lot of things…” How was it Remy managed to make that sound so dirty? Remy’s hand even reached out to brush though those wet locks as the other pointed them out, letting them drop though his fingers as his hand moved away. “I think it’ll be…wild and raw. Very…open. Both raw in a sexual sense and in a open, personality sense if you lose that shirt.’ H e teased with a little wink as his hand cupped Blaine’s neck. “You can seriously say no. If you’re that uncomfortable. I paint boys naked all the time…it’s sort of a hobby. I’ll be totally professional. Pinky promise.”
Not the ideal way. But–as much as any theater performer or artist will tell you that they have no idea what they’re teaching you in an arts school? They’ll promptly tell you how important it is to finish. Except a few handfuls that got lucky along the way. Blaine figured he was stuck listening to them if he wanted to BE SOMEONE. And he did. All that was on the tip of his tongue. A means of changing the subject back to school should Remy give him an out or realize how mistaken he was in thinking he–of all people–was model material. Didn’t seem like any of that would be necessary. Not with the way Remy was looking at him. Blaine felt his stomach grow warm and fill with butterfly wings to beat at the insides. Dangerous. When did a crash and a nap at Sebastian’s suddenly become dangerous? Oh. When his brother made an appearance. That’s when. Hazel eyes read back and forth over Remy’s expression as the pink haired artist stepped towards him. Blaine was holding his breath as fingers stroked through his hair–an upward turn of his gaze let him focus on Remy’s wrist. But this entire idea was intriguing in the ways it shouldn’t be. Especially if Sebastian found out. Remy’s twin’s attraction and somewhat possessive nature towards him and their friendship wasn’t unknown to anyone who knew Sebastian Smythe. But he couldn’t stop wondering what it would be like to have someone look at him the exact way that Remy was looking at him now. Let alone? Put it on canvas. “Well… Is there some sort of never been painted naked before curve? Like..I don’t know? Start shirtless? I mean..I don’t want to say no. It’s just–I have no idea what it is,” he scoffed at himself, “strange because I never thought–um. Wow. Words just got really hard.”
“The thought of using that shiny, reflective, hard surface you call hair to your advantage has never crossed your mind? Oh, ma cherie. Obviously Throat Explosion is at a much higher level, artistically, but we both already knew that.”
He looked down at Blaine, quite literally, smiling down evilly at his shorter competitor. Jean couldn’t wait to show the New Directions what his show choir had to offer. He wanted to take them down.
“You think you stand a chance that’s precious. And I’m from Montreal. I’m French Canadian. You have read about me from the show choir blogs, no? I grew up with the cirque, all the more reason for you to be intimidated. I float across a stage. Might as well give up while you’re ahead, little bug.”
Ma cherie? Isn’t that how the French address women? Blaine burrowed his brows and canted his head to the side at that before blinking it away. There was no way he’d budge under the maniacal smile/grin/whatever Jean was casting down at him. No way.
“Why would I bother reading about you in the show choir blogs? I don’t think you’re that interesting of a subject to hone in on.” He read every article he could get his hands on about their biggest competitor. Obviously–a small fact of Jean being FAKE FRENCH (or something–Blaine was getting desperate for any kind of way to knock this guy down in his mind so he could speak without stuttering) slipped his mind.
“Precious?” Speaking of French? Blaine suddenly wished Sebastian was here. Anything to have someone with a sharp tongue to have his back. No such luck–he was going solo on this one. Only him and Jean Baptiste. Why’d he go for coffee? “I’m sorry. I don’t think it’s possible for someone with as big of a head as yours to float anywhere. We’re not giving up. OR losing to a show choir group named Throat Explosion. What kind of a name is that anyway?”
You’d think Blaine would’ve learned his lesson from the first game of Spin the Bottle ending up with him having his very first kiss with a girl who happened to be Rachel Berry. You’d think he would know to stay out of it this go round. Yet–apparently not. Here he was–laughing like a fool on the floor in his living room joining right in when Sam mentioned the idea. Wasn’t it some rule that there couldn’t be any observers in Spin the Bottle anyway? Sort of an all in kind of deal? When Tina’s spin landed square on him–the whole room went into peals of laughter than dead silence of anticipation to see if he’d go through with it.
All eyes were on them and he wasn’t ready to have to face weeks of trying to live this down if he backed out. Mirroring Tina’s neck rub–he gave her a lopsided grin and waved off the idea she did this on purpose. She didn’t–right? “Oh come on. It’s not that big of a deal and you’re making it way more devious than this was. I mean–it’s just a–. You know what?”Rolling up onto his knees–Blaine leaned over the board and shoved any nervous hesitation out of the way at the curl of his fingertips against Tina’s cheek to draw her in. “Ready..?” Letting go–he smiled that same, easy ear to ear smile he was known for as his breath ghosted over her mouth before he sealed their lips together in a gentle press.
“Please don’t go.” It slipped out before he even thought about it, gripping Blaine’s hand in both of his own and just clinging to him as if his life depended on their hands staying connected, keeping the contact.
Well that just looked needy. Elliott dropped his hand again, looking around the room and taking a step back as he panicked, racking a hand through his hair. Oh god oh god oh god, what should be do? He should tell Blaine, it was only fair, but he didn’t want to pressure him or anything and…
Fuck it.
Elliott rushed forwards, cupping Blaine’s face with both of his hands and holding it there. Now or never, huh? He pressed forwards, crushing his lips against Blaine’s for a few seconds before letting go and taking a step back. Wild hair, a panicked expression and half dressed, Elliott knew he looked like a mess but he couldn’t bring himself to care.
“I’m sorry for that.”
Maybe getting out and going for a walk would make this better? Or he could come back to Elliott kicking him out because leaving him alone only made things worse. What then?
Affording his own place wasn’t the problem. Blaine had enough resources to take care of things the morning after everything dissolved into nothing. What he didn’t and couldn’tbring himself to do was be alone. That was where the real fear rested. From what seemed like clockwork now, Blaine realized he might’ve messed this up too. By just walking in at the wrong time.
His bewildered stare went to their hands. He held his breath waiting to be told that this situation wasn’t going to work and felt his heart sink. A weight suddenly turned upside down when Elliott was suddenly there, holding his face and crashing their mouths together. He felt himself swoon into the kiss–an effect that lasted after Elliott was pulled away and made Blaine sway forward before catching himself and opened his eyes staring blankly ahead before meeting Elliott’s.
Elliott wanted him? And he swallowed thick, heart pounding.
“–No. Don’t apologize again. Especially not for that,” he whispered tasting Elliott’s kiss when he licked his lips. –Don’t be sorry. Please don’t be sorry. Be anything but sorry. Can’t deal with sorry right now.– “Or you could do it again and not be sorry this time?”
In his life, he’d ALWAYS been a boy without any fears or doubts of himself for as long as anyone who knew Seb could remember (or so people thought). But when Blaine came along creating something different for him, he’d grown to fear HEAVILY ever losing his friendship. He knew too well that he played a risky game when he came around all the time the way he did. Flirting and teasing left and right. Sure, Blaine didn’t seem to mind and every time it felt the shorter of the two with a blush on his cheeks, but who know what he REALLY felt about how Sebastian was with him? What if it was ALL just him being too nice to tell him to stop being the way he was? That possibility for someone so polite like Blaine had ALWAYS been a small doubt of himself that he kept sealed off. The last thing he wanted to do was make him uncomfortable in the end of things. With Blaine, he’d NEVER taken greed into hand. Even if sometimes he may want the ex-Dalton boy all to himself. When it came to being around Blaine, the subject of interest had always been supporting him and being as close to him as he could. Despite the spots in them knowing each other that he had messed up with. The big mistakes he had made at the beginning of things.
Seeing he had gotten Blaine’s attention as he had impulsively intended, his heartbeat sped up RAPIDLY. There he was, Blaine Anderson (the boy he had been DRAWN to ever since he had first laid eyes on him), flawlessly GORGEOUS and waiting on Sebastian’s question now. Eyes charm to the ever-so-adorable smile he’s given by Blaine, and emerald hues scan up and down briefly before his stare settles back on golden hazels. A TUG at the corner of his lips is given to the other, pulling his hand away from his shoulder and slipping it in his pocket. There’s a moment of hesitation when he’s about to ask, lips parted already but eyes narrowing in trivial wonder if he’s being too VULNERABLE to ask this. But he knows Blaine is the one he can always be HIMSELF with. His authentic, true self. The parts he DOESN’T show others. So? Seb says fuck it. ❝You’d tell me if I ever made you feel uneasy —– wouldn’t you, killer?❞
The touch is gone nearly as quickly as it stopped him. Hazel eyes watched Sebastian’s hand retreating into his pocket before darting back up expectantly. He’d be lying if he said his shoulder didn’t suddenly feel so much colder than it was before now that Sebastian’s hand was gone. Not letting himself focus on that notion–he bites his lip and waits. Blaine’s gaze remains curiously questioning as he watches Sebastian seem to sort through a few thoughts in his mind. What was bothering him so much that he looked so hesitant to bring it up? A quick sort through the moments previous turned up nothing that Blaine could pinpoint that might cause that expression. The first question that popped up? –What’ is so bad that you can’t say?– Sebastian was rarely ever the type to hold his tongue. Their endless banter since the day they met was proof of that. If he was hesitant? What could it be..?
The question that Sebastian finally put between them drew black eyebrows up higher on his forehead before they pinched together in confusion. Did he do something to make Sebastian feel that way?
“N-No. I mean yes,” he quickly corrects himself because how stupid did that just sound? Way to make an obviously concerned person momentarily freak out. Blushing at his error–Blaine steps forward and reaches out. This time–it’s his hand that comes to rest on Sebastian’s elbow. A touch to get his point across even more solidly. “What I wanted to say was that you don’t make me feel uneasy. You’ve never made me feel like I should guard myself.” Teeth flashed in a wide smile as he retracted his hand and cupped the back of his neck instead. Fingertips nudge, rub and itch along his skin. “We’ve always been the exact opposite of uneasy.” They were. The ease that he fit with Sebastian since day one was a mystery that consistently baffled him when he thought about it. A connection that he never would question because questioning it might ruin it. There wasn’t a single reason in the world why he’d want to chance doing that. “Did I do something? Act in a way that made you wonder? I didn’t mean to if I did.”
Should he move away? He should move away, that was weird and Blaine’s reaction was probably him shivering because he was uncomfortable and he should stop and this was going to fast and ohgodohgodohgod.
Elliott pulled away from Blaine after a few moments and looked away again – he couldn’t look at him after that, because the temptation to just kiss him was far too strong. But that was really inappropriate so soon after Kurt, surely?
Elliott pulled his legs up onto the counter and swung around, sliding into the floor next to Blaine and taking a deep, deep breath. Oh god, he was going to fuck up their friendship so bad. “I-uh-I, sorry.” He mumbled, rubbing a hand nervously through his hair as he apologised. For the breakdown maybe, or for the kiss – just for everything, he needed to get away and breathe before he made a really bad decision.
Just as Blaine felt himself relax against the solidness of Elliott’s chest once he was sure he was starting to get through to him–the taller of the pair was pulling back and swinging his legs up so he could drop his feet down onto the floor. Blaine stood there watching him unsure of what to do. For all the world–he looked completely lost as to why they were back at square one of awkwardness between them after it’d felt–in his book–that he’d made progress in getting through.
“You don’t have to be sorry,” his confusion evident in his shaken tone. “I’m sorry if I just did something to make you uncomfortable again.” Was that it? Did he get too close? –Personal space, Blaine. Remember?– The kiss didn’t seem to cross Blaine’s mind that it might be the reason why Elliott was so eager for an exit. Why would it? He was affectionate. Blaine knew that and loved it about him. Unless it meant something–..
Which it didn’t. Right? No way. “I.. You know,” the more he thought on it the more frustrated at himself he got. Once he felt his stomach bottom out–Blaine decided maybe it’d just be better to give Elliott space. Before he made things even more worse. “I..can go for a walk. If you need a bit? I’m really sorry for everything.”
Jeff heard the complaints coming from Blaine’s mouth, turning in his seat he leaned in. “I highly doubt you are a bad singer, forget we share a bathroom and don’t think you haven’t escaped quite yet mister I sing maroon 5 in the shower when you don’t think anyone is hearing” He quipped quietly into his roommates ear as they were seated on the couch. He laughed when he pulled away and Blaine was apologizing and he’d heard them all wave off Jeff and say hi to Blaine then go back to what they were talking about.
He had sat next to Blaine before in the cars, in class, while studying, but never this close. He had to admit to himself that his roommate smelled good, shaking the thought away and focusing on the music that the council was putting forth he felt someone poke his leg and look down to see Trent and Thad both giving them glares. Sticking out his tongue he leaned closer into Blaine and whispered “Are you going to audition today?” lifting a brow curiously as he’d heard something about a potential Train song, Jason Mraz, perhaps Usher and his head spun around “I can work with those, but please no Bieber” He cried out dramatically putting his hand to his heart.
Fascinated by the side chatter as well as what the Council was pitching to the team–Blaine’s gaze darted from one person’s face to the other and back to the students seated behind the desk. Over and over again. Without really looking at any of them for very long. He wanted to take it all in. Understand what this was about. More than what Jeff told him–and there was a lot–he wanted to see this in action. Even if he wasn’t a part of it. When Jeff leaned in–Blaine leaned closer too. “You heard me do that,” he quipped back in a whisper trying not to be as embarrassed as he was after learning that his fair haired roommate was privy to his showertime homages to Adam Levine.
Oh God. How much did he hear? How often? What about Katy Perry Monday Mornings? Hopefully he wouldn’t bring those up either. Blaine thought he timed his showers after Jeff left or was dead asleep. Here’s to making a note to fix that asap. “I-I’m not sure,” he smiled at Jeff not seeming to mind the closeness as he did the first night in the car when he tried to make his already small stature even smaller as to not impose on anyone. In fact? He seemed to welcome it with a smile and a bubbling laugh he hid behind his hand. Quieting down with an apologetic cringe given to Wes–Blaine returned his attention back to Jeff to say something else but only ended up laughing at his dramatic denouncement of the Biebs. “Not a fan–I see?”
“Sounds good.” He says with a smile even in his voice. Completely justified nerves aside, it was exciting to see and catch up with Blaine again. He hopes he’s doing well. Blaine had been ambitions as long as Barry had known him, hopefully it got him somewhere. Now that he thinks about it, it would actually be a let down if he didn’t. One of those good people that manage to infect everyone with their smiles, those people should get what they’re striving for definitely.
A warning that he had something not so great to fill him in on sits on the tip of Barry’s tongue. He’s not sure if he can or should say it though; what would it do? Say that the evening might not be as fun as expected. But then, maybe Blaine would want to back out once he found out, a heads up would be nice then. Or he’s just going to sound weird considering how long it’s been since they’ve seen each other. “Hey uh- this is going to sound really weird but um it’s- I’m looking forward to this, but I’m not going to feel right about it if I don’t come clean about some things first? But it feels kind of rude to say it over the phone so I’ll just tell you there but uh, heads up I guess.” Definitely weird. He pinches the bridge of his nose.
Okay. Sebastian had his attention before the weirdness began to overtake their otherwise conversation about where they’d meet. Blaine’s eyebrows screwed towards one another as he took the steps down into the station. “You’re right, Sebastian. That did sound weird.” What did Sebastian have to tell him that needed a warning label before they had the conversation? What did he have to ‘come clean’ about? “Most conversations don’t come with caution tape to get through before they even start. Unless they’re bad ones. Or that could just be my track record with them.” He dropped the token in the turnstile and spun it with his hip as he entered the landing.
“Are you sure you want to do this? I didn’t pressure you too hard to meet me. Did I?” Was that what this was about? Even so–he hoped for the best and found a seat before they were all taken. Either way? If the answer was yes? Having a drink wouldn’t be a bad idea and he might need one anyway. “Because if it is? I mean–I didn’t mean to if I did..”
When he hears Blaine say his name, he’s snapped back to earth INSTANTLY and for a moment his face goes soft and gentle whilst his mind tries to recollect what Blaine had been saying the whole time he was FANTASIZING. Staring across the Dalton cafe’ table, an eyebrow furrowing just slightly.
❝I—-❞ he begins under his breath. Not the USUAL mischief running around in his expression. Just a lost stare as he quickly ties to snap back from the stupidness he had come so close to getting caught in. He wouldn’t let Blaine know that in the middle of hazel eyes staring and his words coming out so perfect, Sebastian had fallen into total daydreams about Blaine and he. God, it was almost DISGUSTING that Sebastian had let himself be a victim of something so sickly mushy. He can’t help but let a stupid grin perk up on his lips, attempting to hold it back. He felt like he was flushed but luckily he didn’t visibly blush easily. But finally, he’s staring to try to fill his mouth with an excuse before his smile grows and teeth are shown. ❝—–My brain definitely DIDN’T trail off anywhere, killer. SUCH a liar. Accusing me of something so insane. How could I get distracted while you’re telling me about the THRILLING Batman fanfiction you read last night.❞ Light sarcasm dances in his voice as he laughs a little with a wide grin. ❝You have it wrong.❞
Seeing Sebastian’s gentle expression ran a streak of curiosity through Blaine’s mind. He tilted his head to the side–hazel narrowing on brilliant green. The whisper was so soft. So unlike usual broadcasted Sebastian that it drew Blaine to lean in and curl his fingertips around the lip of the table. “I–,” he repeats back Sebastian’s bare start of a reply but then Sebastian’s grinning and Blaine watches the gentility fade. Almost. But not quite. Because Sebastian doesn’t realize that his facade never really is as strong as he thinks it is. Not when he tries to hide the way he watches him–Blaine sees it and he never wants it to go away and wishes that one day there might come a time where Sebastian’s okay with it being there too. Sure–he hasn’t earned the right for Sebastian to look at him like that. Nothing rings a bell in Blaine’s thoughts of any real reason why he should be so selfish as to have the want to be wanted the way he knows Sebastian wants him. Yet it’s there and sometimes Sebastian wears it on his sleeve. Only to tuck it up out of sight the minute that he sees Blaine notice. Doesn’t he want him to? Isn’t that the point of everything Sebastian’s ever done? To have him see that expression? Or was he supposed to keep letting it slide like he does now because he’s too careful to risk damaging them. Sitting up straight–Blaine laughs at the perfect timing between Sebastian’s dismissal and jab at his expense. The sarcasm is met with a smile and a sassing back roll of Blaine’s eyes. “I understand. You were riveted. That was a really good fiction.” Too bad he stopped talking about it five minutes ago and Sebastian apparently forgot what they he were was really talking about. Let it slide. And he does. “Hey. We have a practice night off. Let’s go do something. What do you think? Or are you busy?”
pianokeysandbowties 