Now that Mike was all settled in and used to his new schedule, there was not much stopping him from hanging out with an old friend. That’s how he liked to think of his friends from back in Lima, the kind of friends he didn’t see very often often but when they got together, it felt like they’d never been apart.
All wrapped up in his new coat, he shoved his beanie onto his head and wrapped the knitted scarf his mother had sent him around his neck. In spite of his excitement, Mike had the presence of mind to check that his wasn’t forgetting anything. He patted his pockets. Phone: okay. Wallet: okay. Keys: okay. He was good to go.
Closing the door behind him, he hurtled down the stairs, hoping that he hadn’t kept Blaine waiting too long. That is if his friend was already there. Willing himself to slow down as he reached the last few steps, he looked up only to find that Blaine was indeed already there. “Hi!” he smiled. Walking closer, he pulled Blaine into a one-armed hug. “I am so ready for this! How have you been?”
Blaine tipped his cider back to take a sip as he dug at a tiny patch of snow that missed being shoveled off the sidewalk as he waited. Eyes bright with anticipation as he waited for any sign of Mike. The mugs in his hands were doing a great job at keeping them warm in spite of the tint of pink his cheeks were taking on. No worries. Central Park after a snowfall was worth the cold. Being the first person to be able to show Mike around it? Extra bonus.
Hearing steps on the salt covering the sidewalk, Blaine turned his head right on time to catch sight of Mike seconds before he was pulled into a hug that he happily returned with a squeeze of his forearm around Mike’s middle. “Hey! Hi,” one more half-hug and he stepped back to offer one of the thermoses to his friend.
“Great! Yourself? Wow. It’s really good to see you.”
A cheeky, happy smile from ear to ear brimmed with excitement. “I take it you’re settled in? My offer to come help you unpack and get whatever you need still stands. I mean it.” Blaine took the lead with a nod of his head and a ‘shall we’ arch of his eyebrow before walking through the gated entrance. He meant it a million times over. “OH and,” he grinned gesturing to the pathway in front of them with it’s snow dusted trees, statues and benches, “welcome to Central Park.”
There was no better time to show off Central Park to one of the Glee Club’s latest additions to New York City than when a fresh blanket of snow put a soft white blanket over the trees, statues, bridges and fountains that lined the twisting paths through one of Blaine’s favorite places to be. Mike had yet to experience the scenery fully, as far as Blaine knew, and that was –or should be– a crime. Why not steal a day when classes were cancelled and neither one of them had many plans to check that item off Mike’s too-busy-to-really-enjoy-the-city first few months of getting settled into NYADA’s and living in New York City’s routine?
Standing at the gate he’d texted his friend to meet him at, a thermos of warm apple cider in each hand, Blaine used the tip of a black boot to mess around with the clumps of snow at his feet. A brow lifted up in his concentrated attempt to Etch-A-Sketch away a circular pattern by swiping his foot back and forth over it to flatten out the sparkling powder underneath his sole. He’d barely begun a careful crescent shape when a shadow ghosted itself into view. “Sorry, waiting for–,” he looked up ready to excuse himself if he was blocking someone and his smile went from apologetic to brilliantly delighted. Mike! “Waiting for you! Hey! Hope you like cider,” he lifted the silver and black beverage container in his right hand to give it a light ‘look here!’ shake before holding it out to him. “Make the walk so much better. Ready for the view of a lifetime?”
pianokeysandbowties 