duran.

“I’d sooner strip down and jump in. No need to waste money on this.” He looked down at his down before tugging uncomfortably at the collar – which he was already told not to do for fear of tearing the seams. He was starting to relax more now that Blaine was so easygoing around him. Duran wasn’t sure if they’d be able to even have this conversation if both of them were uncomfortable. He could also tell how homesick for Dalton he was, and Duran couldn’t blame him. As much as he hated the uniforms, he still enjoyed attending the school. (Plus, there was plenty of eye candy.) Putting his hands in his lap, Duran slumped a little in his seat. “I’d love to hear the lecture,” he said. “Not gonna lie, I do enjoy it here, and I can see why anyone would miss it. But I also understand why you left too.” He tilted his head to the side. “You should come back and visit more though. Maybe we could get to know each other better that way.” Hopefully that didn’t come across too strong. Duran knew why Blaine left, and he didn’t want to sound creepy. “I mean, I understand if you don’t want to. I don’t–” he cut himself off. “As friends,” he added, a second later. “I think we could be friends.”

Blaine shook his head and laughed towards the plastic lid of his coffee cup.  “They’re not cheap so I won’t blame you for not wanting to turn them into an over-priced bathing suit.  “I’m glad you enjoy your time at Dalton but trust me you don’t want to hear me start.”  He paused and glanced up without lifting his chin at the mention of Duran understanding why he left.  An impressed but half-disbelieving look pinched the edges.  “You do?  Word travels fast there.  I forgot just how quickly it spreads.  Thanks for understanding, though.  It means a lot.  Even if we barely know each other.”  Weirdly enough?  Blaine seemed sincere in how much the approval and understanding on why he left meant to him from someone.  There were plenty of protests, shock and awe in the announcement that he was leaving and why.  Those that knew him best weren’t that surprised but others?  Weren’t overly thrilled to see him go but did their best to lend him their understanding while he knew they were having to keep their mouths glued together to talk him out of it.  Knowing he disappointed people wasn’t something Blaine ever took lightly and the fact that he did gnawed at the pit of his stomach still.  Get to know one another better?  Blaine blinked and looked back down at his cup, laughing embarrassedly because he felt a warmth across his cheeks that he knew had to be noticeable.  “No.  No it didn’t.  Trust me.  It’s okay and I get what you’re saying,” he smiled earnestly, “I think we could be friends and you’re right.  I should visit more.  I guess I’ve just been going with that ‘out of sight, out of mind’ mentality. Even if it isn’t working very well.”