“Some people can be really rude. Thank you, I appreciate that. I’m good, barely took a tumble.”
“Yeah. Some people, huh? Um–no problem. I’m glad you’re okay. Hey. I’m heading to the counter for a refill. Coffee’s running low. Would you like anything? A sorry of sorts in the form of a new drink or cookie? Both?”
“–Sorry? All of that was verysweet. I’m sure that I’d miss you that much, too. If–we knew each other? I would have interrupted you but you kept telling me to ‘please let you get this out’ and I couldn’t get a word in–I think you have the wrong number.
“Uh–yeah. Sorry about that. They were being jerks and someone kicked my foot out. I didn’t really mean for them to take what I said–oh–nevermind. Once again, my apologies. I hope you’re okay.”
Tina blinked as the words were coming faster than she could process them. It took her a few moments before she could respond to Blaine. Of all of the things he could ask of her, this wasn’t what she was expecting nor was it as bad as what she was imagining. Placing her hand on his shoulder, she looked him directly in the eye. “First, remember to take a breath or two or ten. You’re just as bad as Rachel when it comes to giving a lot of information in one breath. Second…..,” Tina drew it out to build suspense, “second of all, I will go with you and spend the night at your place.” It actually sounded like fun and it had been awhile since they had done something that was just the two of them and for fun. All of the New Directions drama was wearing out its welcome, so she thought that it would be just what she needed. Tina smirked then messed up Blaine’s hair a bit. “That’s for not asking me first. Try to remember that in the future.” Moving away from him, she finished up gathering what she needed to take home with her.
Blaine’s eyebrows crept impossibly higher and higher as he stood–leaning into Tina’s hand and waiting for her response. Yes, he knew he could talk as bad as Rachel when he was excited or put on the spot. Hey! The narrow eyed Tina glare would do that to anyone with a sense of self-preservation and he was excited. Perfect storm? A bounce on his heels was the inevitable outcome of her agreeing to go. “Hey-hey! Not that!” As was the buckling at the waist and waving off her hand from his ‘do after she messed it up. Well. Great thing about gel. Toss some water in there? Completely fixable. But now his bangs were dangerously close to his eyes and he was forced into a fight to get them back that–without some H20? Blaine Devon Anderson was going to lose that war. Long fingers continued to tug and toy with the dark, misbehaving strands as he leaned around the locker door and looked right at her profile. “It’s going to make things like surprise birthday parties and Christmas very difficult if I’m not allowed to throw spur of the moment things on you,” shoulders rose in a drawn out/dramatic shrug, “But if that’s what you demand? So be it. We’re still going to see the show so, technically, I still win.”
Tina was gathering her things to go home for the weekend when she heard a familiar voice. Turning to her right, she saw that was Blaine and couldn’t help smiling at him. “Hey Blaine!” She watched her friend closely and noticed that he was nervous about something. Crossing her arms, she leaned against the locker as she waited for him to explain. “You volunteered me for something without asking me first? What is it?” Ignoring the compliment, she stared right at Blaine while she waited him to answer her. She was a good person but she didn’t like people taking advantage of that especially her best friend. “Either tell me what it is or I’m going home.”
Seeing Tina clearly annoyed with him–Blaine puffed out a laugh trying to calm her down. “Well–um.” Rocking up onto his tip toes and back to his heels–a puckered pout freed his poor lip. “Okay,” his left hand sharply lifted as he pointed at the ceiling motioning for her to hold up, “Before you’re actually capable of killing me with the death glare you’ve got? It’s for this!” Wasting no time–Blaine rooted around in his back giving her an ‘I’m sorry!’ peek when he couldn’t find what he was looking for. Ah ha! Shoved towards her were two tickets to the The Ohio Theatre Friday Night With Fritz showing of Son of Frankenstein and Brides of Dracula. “I–um. Got us these..it’s in Columbus next Friday–have you seen this guy? From Sectionals. Remember? He’s hilarious and the movies?!” There went the eyebrows and he was starting to grin that grin that said he was about to dork out! Warning! “The movies are great! We–,” he bit his lip and looked down smiling strangely and obviously jumped tracks of what he was about to say–knew it was obvious–and hoped she’d give him a pass. “We can take my car. I’ll have you back late–or! You could stay at my house? What do you say, Tina? Come on! Make it a yes!” All that and he didn’t give her time to get a word in? The stumble was more of bash to his knees on concrete he was ignoring but he really, really truley excited.
“Hey, Tina? You busy? I have a serious favor to ask you,” Blaine hurried to catch up gripping the strap of his brown leather satchel tight to keep from knocking into several people between them. “Technically–I have a serious favor to ask you to agree to that I already volunteered you for. I promise it isn’t anything too terrible?” He cringed putting on his best begging face complete with upturned eyebrows and a heavy dose of puppy dog eyes. “Mostly–? Sort of” Better yet! Added into the mix was a huge smile and a rock up onto his tip toes/bounce. He’d feel guilty for pulling out all the cute on her later. “Wait! First! Have I told you how pretty you look today??”
Tina walked into the kitchen and did her best to not laugh at her mother trying to stuff Blaine with food. The woman always said he looked too skinny for all that singing and dancing. “Hey mom, you wanna let up on my best friend?” The older woman looked over at her. “Tina, sweetheart. Your friend needs to get more meat onto those bones of his or he won’t be getting much attention.” Tina rolled her eyes as she knew her mom meant well. “He gets more than enough attention as it is. Anymore and he may spontaneous combust.” Walking over to her best friend, she wrapped her arm around his and pulled him from the room. She let go off him only to smack him on the arm. “Ever hear of knocking? I’m starting to think you don’t know how.” Tina couldn’t help copying his words. “Alright, let’s get out of here before my mom decides to throw together a full meal for us to eat.” Walking towards the front door, she made sure that she had everything before leaving.
Blaine only tucked his chin towards his collar to try and hide the chuckle that shook his shoulders as Tina’s mom decided to give advice about his eating habits jeopardizing any chance he get attention. “Wait. What did you just say, miss Cohen-Chang? Spontaneously combust? I’m almost hurt!” Feigning a horrified/pain gasp complete with fingers gripping his sweater above his heart–his gaze bounced from Tina to her mother but then he was being lead out of the kitchen by a standard Tina armlock tug. “Pleasure to see you again, Mrs. Cohen-Chang! Thanks for the sandwich!” That he dropped on the floor with the arm smack. Pouting at the floor–Blaine reached back to scratch the nape of his neck and bowed down to pick it up. “Making that out to be my fault is completely unfair and now you ruined my to-go snack. You’re lucky we have a schedule or I might just go right back in there,” his thumb jerked over his shoulder at the kitchen, “and ask her to make us lunch and while we’re eating? I’d love to see some baby pictures sometime?!” Oh, you bet he said that last bit higher right before he snickered into his palm. The loud ‘Oh?!’ from the kitchen went unanswered as he stood straight again and decided to do what was best for his welfare. That’d be? Running after then past Tina so he’d be able get her into the car first and their getaway could be made before they were stopped.
Tina really needed to start locking her door so this doesn’t happen again. Though, as she watched Blaine stumble around her room, she couldn’t help giggling as she tightened her grip on the blanket. She was about to open her mouth to warn him about the door but he hit it before she could so she could only wince in sympathy. “Go wait downstairs, it will probably be safer for you. I’ll be down as soon as I can.” Once he was gone, she walked over to her door and closed it as she let out a sigh. Yes, she was definitely going to have to remember to use her door lock. Turning her attention to her closet, she grabbed a dress and tossed it on her bed before grabbing a pair of shoes to go along with it. Tina unwrapped the blanket and folded it before putting on the end of her bed where her dress wasn’t laying. It didn’t take her long to get dressed and to do her hair and make up. Letting out another sigh, she prepare herself to go downstairs and deal with Blaine.
Blindly shambling out the door–Blaine waved over his shoulder to acknowledge her instructions while howling out another, “Sorry, Tina! Downstairs! Got it!” Once out in the hall–Blaine deflated with a heavy sigh at the mental image of half naked Tina spinning around to stare at him in horror. Good luck getting that image out of his memory. No insult meant. Tina was a beautiful woman in every way but–there are some things he doesn’t need to see of one of his best friends. Blaine was getting a habit of seeing every single one when it came to her. A rub to his eyes later–he nervously went downstairs. That might not’ve been the best option. Tina’s mother was doing her best to shove food at him and he couldn’t look her in the eye to save a puppy’s life. As soon as he heard footsteps–he disengaged with Momma Cohen-Chang. Pumpkin cookie in one hand and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich–she had to have that done before he came downstairs–in the other, he thanked his hostess repeatedly and rushed off to meet Tina. “I’m so sorry. I know! I said it a million times but–.” Eyebrows jerked up. “Um–ever hear of locking the door,” he asked with a cheeky grin trying to make light of it or they were both going to get stuttery and weird, “Starting to think you don’t know how?”
Blaine knew he might be imagining things but it definitely stopped feeling that way three or so days ago when the pattern became too glaringly obvious to ignore. Tina was avoiding him. Or if they were together–she had a heck of a hard time meeting his eyes. Whatever he did to upset her? He couldn’t figure out and there were countless times he tried. Nothing came to mind. One minute they were fine–no–great. She was his rock to lean on through the entire mess he made of things with Kurt. The next? Rushed excuses before he watched her walking off, barely answered text messages that went beyond weird for him to figure out and a general feeling she didn’t want to be bothered with him.
He wasn’t going to go through this again. Not with her. Tina meant too much to lose and he’d already lost the most important person in his life. Losing Tina? To something he didn’t know he did or didn’t do? No, not going to happen. “I need you to tell me what I did,” he blurted coming into view upon her locker being swung shut. “Or if I am making this entire avoiding me situation up because I really miss you and I’m tired of not knowing and having no way to fix things.” Wide eyes stared into hers and he wasn’t going to let her walk off or look down at her shoes this time. Even if his hands were shaking and he felt a crisp shiver of anxiety over the confrontation. Some things were worth fighting for and he wouldn’t make the same mistake of not speaking up ever again. It was too costly in the end and it was a price he wasn’t going to keep on paying.
Blaine was way excited to get their day started. First? A pitstop to fuel up on coffee. After that? A drive to Cincinnati to go do some real shopping. When Tina’s mom let him into the house–he dashed up the stairs and grabbed hold of the door handle. Unknowing that he was about to make a huge mistake–again–with Tina Cohen-Chang. He flung open the door, scurried into the room–and!! “Hey, T! I hope–!” Was that? Was she? Did he just walk in–yeah he did! “OH GOD!” His hand immediately jerked to cover his eyes. An abrupt turn that was supposed to be an exit was foiled by the pitch black of his palm and squeezed tight eyes and he bounced off the door instead–with his face. “Ooow.” Without thinking–he grimaced over his shoulder at her. Oh! Yeah! Mostly naked Tina in a blanket! His eyes went wide in a silent scream of an apology this time before he covered them again. “Sorry! Sorry!!!” Right back out the door he went–you know–after he managed not to slam into it a second time.
pianokeysandbowties 