kurt.

          ❝ I— It’s nothing, I’m—” Kurt could feel his cheeks heating up visibly as Blaine gently brushed him with his shoulder, his lips quick to mirror the other’s reassuring smiles yet still treading the lively restaurant with somewhat caution as he quietly led them over to the glee club’s usual booth by the corner. No jocks. His heart sank back down to his chest as he quickly skimmed through the rest of their surroundings. 

Maybe tonight was just shaping up to be a fun night spent sharing pasta with a friend after all; his mood instantly lifted and slowly beginning to unbutton the rest of his winter coat as he intended to make the most of their evening (especially when it came to purposely missing out on a live episode of Project Runway). 

          “Here’s our table,” Kurt finally smiled, announcing in a sing-song voice before scooting down one side of the booth as he quickly made himself comfortable. Willing himself to relax, he silently observed as Blaine settled himself down on opposite side of him; hardly casting any glance at the familiar restaurant menu before happily ordering drinks and breadsticks with the usual waitress for the both of them.

          “So,” he began, curiosity still very much piqued by their earlier texting conversations and definitely eager to find out more about the very handsome yet mysterious Blaine Anderson. “You like sailing.” 

      Blaine wasn’t sure that look was ‘nothing’.  They may be just getting to know one another but in their handful of conversations–it was clear that Kurt was going through a horrible time.  The last thing he wanted was to be yet another person who turned a blind eye to what Kurt was going through or felt. He understood the feeling more than he ever wished on anyone.

On the other hand, he didn’t want to push him further than he wanted to open up either. Sometimes getting a break from what’s going on in your head or around you is the biggest thing you need.  Carefully watching him for a sign to press further if he needed, Blaine let the heaviness go for now.  But he’d be there to help take the load off if Kurt needed it.  Tonight.  Or any other.  For now, he’d just make sure Kurt enjoyed himself.

Following behind his friend–Blaine gently tugged the thick, wool scarf around his neck free and looped it over one forearm while unbuttoning the black peacoat he wore on top of his Dalton uniform.  There wasn’t time to change if he wanted to make it here within a reasonable waiting time for Kurt.  “Oh!  Wow.  I feel like I’m on the edge of the New Directions inner circle entering your territory,”  he mused setting his coat and scarf on the booth beside him once he settled in.

      "Sailing!  Yes.  My parents own a boat down at the Hoover Sailing Club.  We don’t get out on the water as much as we used to but I was thinking of taking lessons again this summer.  I mean, it’s a shame for it to sit there,” he smiled at the waitress when their drinks and breadsticks were delivered. “What about you?  What do you like to do when you get a chance to get out?”