Lima, Ohio felt like another planet after being gone so long. One that he expressed his doubt returning to several times since the reminder email from Rachel. Even more than that on the short red eye they took to get here the night before. But, Elliott–patient as ever–encouraged him that it’d be okay. Plus, it wouldn’t be the same for his friends if he wasn’t there. Excuses about school didn’t really make sense when it was Thanksgiving break. And they all promised one another they’d make it this time.
Blaine wasn’t embarrased by their relationship. He wasn’t ashamed or purposefully hiding it. Everyone knew that he and Elliott were together but the past couple years had put a small distance between the people from Ohio and his life in New York City. NYU, Elliott, fitting in whatever work he could score that would count for credit. Life was busy. Maybe a part of it was out of sight, out of mind. His phone just didn’t ring or go off from former 419 and 567 area codes the way it used to. He’d moved on, built a new life.. Like everyone did.
Thing was? That all worked in theory. When it came to one person who had yet to be around him when he was with someone else. Years should have made it easy for them to talk–it did but it didn’t. Things shouldn’t have been as awkward as they were–but they were. Seeing that one person not being able to meet his eyes when Elliott’s arm was around him? Was it that? Or the strange way they said goodbye for the night that had him gripping the lip of his old bedroom dresser a little too tight once it was over? Who knows?
“Sorry, it’s silly. Just felt,” he made a blanching noise and stuck out his tongue instead of put what he felt to words trying to joke and failing, “seeing him feeling awkward, you know?” Red rimmed hazel eyes met Elliott’s in the mirror’s reflection before he turned and peppered his lips with kiss after kiss.  “It’ll be better tomorrow, right?”
Boat Pants sidling up near his stool answered most of his questions. First, that this was the Blaine dude he was supposed to meet. Second, that those were indeed boats and he hadn’t imagined it. Miller’s throat emitted a low noise as he wrapped up the last of his cigarette so he could crush it out. He turned with a quick stream of smoke out to better assess the guy with a quick passage of dark eyes behind the darker rims of his glasses. “Yeah. I think I follow.”
“You play here often? Seems like the people know you.” His head jerked at the adoring fans still smiling and raising their glasses as if they were closely related. One woman even looked like a proud smiling parent. Jesus.
Not that Miller was here to judge. He lived a life of relative anonymity. It was precisely what he preferred. And he was pretty damned good at blending in when he wanted to. In fact, his ability to occasionally vanish into the crowd was downright supernatural. Not that he wasn’t without his own notoriety among his peers. The psychic emptied his shot glass and slapped it down on the bar.
“This bar is way less haunted than it looks like from the outside. Is it one of those new trendy places where they made it appear more vintage than it actually is? Because a place with this much weathering on the wallpaper normally has a spook or two attached.”
When he started talking about ghosts it usually turned off people’s interests fast. So it was often a tactic he used to test the waters. The worst that could happen was that Blaine would return to the piano and he would go find a cab. Either way, he got a couple of drinks out of the occasion already. “You ever seen one? A ghost?”
Yes. Those were, indeed, boats. Little white sailboats against a navy blue background. On his legs. Blaine hooked the edge of his shoes against the rung of the chair as he made himself comfortable by stealing the seat next to the tall, lanky guy he barely knew. Not one for cigarettes, he watched as the smoke disappeared overhead then glanced over his shoulder at the crowd.
A brow lifted and he smiled towards them before glancing back.  “Five nights a week. Six if I have nothing else to do.” Which happened to be most of the time lately, but he wasn’t going to point that out just yet. Might as well not come off as a complete loner (as voluntarily as it was most of the time) right off bat.  “So, yeah, a lot of them know me.”
Bewilderment filled his expression, turning his brows towards one another and his eyes squinted at their corners. A spark of interest lit them up at the peculiar question.  “Um. I think it’s as old as it looks but far as ghosts?” Yes, his voice dropped a fraction when he said the word though he failed to recognize it consciously. Â
“I think Joe,” he gestured towards the old man with the round belly and thinning gray hair/mustache behind the counter who caught the subtle flick of Blaine’s fingers and shot them both a wave–and Miller a side-eye, “would intimidate them into staying away. If they aren’t a paying customer.”
Grinning as he shrugged Joe’s supicious glance off–a huff of laughter and a shake of his head later, he whispered a rushed apology.  “Sorry. He warms up eventually,” then switched gears back to their conversation flawlessly, “Have a I seen a ghost? Umm..” Olive skin dusted pink over his cheeks and nose.  “No? I don’t think so.. Why? Have you?” And look! Two sets of toes dipping in the water! But, like Miller thought, what was the worst that could happen?
f’ed up kissing meme. (i rolled a dice on this and got 2. a kiss when it’s not allowed!)
They’ve been in the auditorium skipping English class and trying their best to stay out of being seen, heard, or noticed. Sam could see he wasn’t himself today. Groggy morning hunched over a thermos of coffee that said he wasn’t out of the door until the last possible moment so a trip to the Lima Bean wasn’t in schedule for his morning rush. Short cut, almost snippy replies to Mr. Schue who must’ve been doing his best to get underneath his nails and drive him up the wall. Okay. A lot of people seemed to be doing that today. But never Sam. Never. Ever. Sam. Because he’d have to lose his soul before Sam Evans could be clumped into the I wish they’d just be quiet category. Â
It was Sam who grabbed him by the elbow when he was rushing towards the classroom door. Told him that he had something else they could be doing that was a lot better than a class they were both doing okay enough to skip for one day. Blaine could help him make it up later anyway. If he needed the help. Honestly, those nights spent at Sam’s house or Sam at his while they helped one another study? They were helping him more than he liked to admit. Â
They were hiding backstage after hearing the door open. Figuring the teacher they’d rather not see must be ambling around trying to think of some last minute detail for their assignment, Blaine and Sam were hunched together between a pair of the thick red curtains that stretched up so high over head they disappeared in the dark. Their heaviness had knocked him back into Sam’s chest when the other grabbed a fistful to steady himself. They were hiding their laughter in each other’s shoulders when it happened. Sam caught his eye when he was looking up at him, nose pressed to his shirt. They didn’t say anything but Blaine felt his belly spin like they were on the ride at the carnival that you stick to from how fast it twirls.
Being caught was the least of his concerns. Huffed laughter, warm breath against his mouth right before they kissed. No one knew this wasn’t the first time. That was a month ago and they’d been hiding it since. Slowly and softly, his hand rested against Sam’s cheek and he relied on Sam to keep him from toppling over. A month of stolen kisses and it felt brand new. Maybe it always would. Cause this was Sam..
R.I.P Stan Lee – I Loved You In Mallrats!
// I wanted to take a minute and remember Stan Lee. I can never claim to be an ultimate Stan Lee fan in the way so many others are. I appreciate his imagination and how much talent he had. What he brought to writing, comics, movies and inspiration in the hearts of millions of fans worldwide is a phenomenon that is a once in a lifetime kind of ordeal and that, alone, deserves respect. Creating magic, changing people’s lives? It’s a writer’s dream and one I’ve had since I was a kid. I enjoyed his stories and appreciated his work.
But what I’d love to share the most? Is my story of when I met this man and how hilarious and funny and kind he was. So, give me a few minutes and if you read this? Then I hope you get a laugh out of it. Because I can’t help see his laugh and hear it just thinking back to that day.
I had the chance to meet Stan at E3. I’d won entry through my company and took a co-worker with me who I thought deserved to go because he was a great guy. We stood in line to meet Stan and looking around? I was the only woman in that line as far I could see. I watched guy after guy go up, get an autograph, say a couple words and go. I had no idea what I was going to say to this man. He was a living legend and I’m like…thanks doesn’t seem to cover it.
Me? A simple thanks? I thought! On my turn, I went up and he completely threw me off guard. Stan looked up, dropped his jaw and went..  “Wow! A girl?!” Jokingly grinning the whole time. And I lost it. I was laughing and he chuckled and I grinned back and threw my voice totally derp style and went “Yeah but like I totally loved you in Mallrats!” Stan Lee instantly burst out laughing.  “That’s the best greeting I’ve ever had!” He was beaming.
Then Stan proceeded to go total fanboy over Kevin Smith. His face lit up in the way every fan’s lights up when they talk about who they stan.  “Oh, I loved being in that movie! I love Kevin! He’s the best!” Stan went on and on about how talented Kevin was, how funny he was, how he loved every time they worked together. I could feel the eyes of fanboys burning holes in the back of my head but I didn’t care. I was watching Stan Lee go nuts about Kevin Smith and it was awesome. We wrapped up the conversation with him thanking me for coming and signed a poster I gave to another friend who adores him and couldn’t make it. Because, honestly, he deserved it more than me. I had an awesome moment that is better than any autograph. I remember that day so fondly. Because “Wow! A girl!” opened up a whole can of Kevin Smith’s Awesome given to me by the man Kevin Smith worships. I wish I had the chance to share that story with Kevin. Especially now. Maybe someday.
Anyway! That’s my Stan Lee story. I hope you got a smile if you’re a fan of his. Or even if you aren’t. Also, go watch some Mallrats and tip your hat off to one of the men Stan Lee stanned. I promise you’re missing out if you haven’t.Â
Cooper instinctively tightened his arm around Blaine, tugging him just a little close as he felt the other lean against him. Blaine always looked so small when he was like this, and Cooper just felt so helpless because he didn’t know what he could do that would possibly help his kid brother and pull him out of his funk. “You’re only human Squirt,” he said softly, his thumb rubbing small, comforting circles into the back of Blaine’s neck, letting out a small sigh as Blaine continued to beat himself up. Cooper knew that Blaine had always been more sensitive than him, that he felt things more than Cooper did, but as far as Cooper was concerned, Blaine just needed to give himself a break.
“Only you can answer that, Blaine,” Cooper told him, though his voice was soft and shown no hint of malice, just making an observation. “But the fact is, you did, and you can’t keep beating yourself up over it forever. You’ve gotta start to forgive yourself. I mean, you must’ve felt something at the time, right?” he asked, hoping that he was at least making some point, he wasn’t exactly known for giving stellar advice. Shaking his head, Cooper shifted slightly and placed his hands on Blaine’s shoulders, turning him to that he was facing him directly, “You don’t have to be for me, you know that, Squirt,” He knew that he wasn’t the best brother in the world, despite his best efforts, but he liked to try and be there for Blaine when he could, and since it seemed like Blaine was running low on options right now, Cooper was more than happy to step up to the plate, and be the anchor that Blaine so badly needed right now. “How about you let me be the strong one for a change, huh?”
Give himself a break? Blaine didn’t know the meaning of the phrase. Not when it came to this. Every waking moment was spent trying to make himself let go of what he did. To accept that he messed up so bad that nothing he did would ever fix it. That there has to be a point in time where he’d realize that holding on was only putting himself through Hell each day. It wasn’t healthy, wasn’t good for anyone. Including the ones here, like Cooper and Sam, just doing their best to help. But.. Telling yourself that and believing it? Two different ballgames. Feeling Cooper’s hold on him tighten, Blaine tightened his grip across his brother’s shoulders enough that, soon, he’d buried his nose against the curve of Cooper’s shoulder and arm, eyes shutting to block out the world so all that there was..was them.
“I can’t figure out an answer. The only thing I felt was that everything was over and I was just forgotten. That everything I was scared was going to happened—happened—but I wasn’t included in any of it. I just–all sounds like excuses. I hate that part the worst. Because I don’t want them to be,” he shut himself up when Cooper turned him so they were face-to-face and dropped both his hands into his lap thumbs battling one another almost immediately. Hearing Cooper correct him had him drawing his bottom lip between his teeth. He knew Cooper could handle a lot of things. Problem was? Blaine didn’t want his things to be something Cooper had to handle. Yet here he was. Offering. And Blaine was so tired with how he was barely managing that he nodded quickly and all at once, his features crumbled.  “I’m just so sorry and I’m tired. I’m so, so tired.” His shoulders slumped.  “And nothing I do is working.”
Stiles wasn’t good with pity. Not accepting nor giving. He nods back at Blaine but doesn’t comment. Clearly there was enough on the guy’s shoulders without Stiles trying to analyze him, even if he does notice the little changes in his face that follow. “No problem, dude. Could use a break myself anyway.” From plenty of things, but if anyone needed to get into their troubles tonight it was probably Blaine, should he want to.
With that, Stiles begins to lead the way across the parking lot.  “So… I promise we’re not going anywhere weird, first of all, it’s just a little ways out and kind of hard to get to in the Jeep so the trip is already kind of time consuming. That being said, I usually clear my head on an empty stomach and grab something on the way back but if you want we can get some fries or whatever before we get too far. Have some snacks for the road.”
Tangling his fingers into the straps of his bag, he hefted it up over his shoulder and held it against the curve of his clavicle. Another nod.  “I’m still grateful for you offering. Could have just told me you were busy. The thanks still stand. You deserve it,” his voice lifted and his smile was a whole lot less fake when he was trying to prove a point. Anywhere they went would be more than okay with him. As long as the lights of the town were at their backs and he could breathe. Â
His free hand found it’s way into the pocket of his old, but favorite zip-up hoodie. He didn’t care that his hair was still damp from the showers and whatever product wasn’t doing the greatest job of holding it back. Taking any more time to make sure it was perfect wasn’t a priority. Curiouser and curiouser, Blaine cocked his head to the side.  “Sounds great,” he held up a finger from his bag strap, “I’d take weird if it was anyway. Weird sounds interesting considering not much around here can be classified as weird. Unless you’re up on the mountain looking for UFOs.. Or Sasquatch?” He mused with another light smile.  “Nah. I’m good. Got some water in my bag and we can always eat on the way back.”
                      ❝Tsk. Faults.” he repeated, amused and bored at the same time. “It is not your FAULTS that annoy me, jiminy. It’s your general, appraised, and drooled over, lack-there-of.” He rose an eyebrow. “It’s tragic, really, that you don’t think anyone living in this boretown of a borestate would require diversions.” He shrugs, brushing off the big deal Blaine puts over it. It was an innocent enough commentary. He still didn’t get how entangled in his own thoughts the other got that he didn’t realize the second meanings behind each of his own digs, and how at the end of the day, Sebastian was never half as mean as he could be if he actually wanted to. Sure. Blaine annoyed him, because Blaine was seen as the perfect boy by all the adults who hated him —- because his father would likely agree — but what annoyed him the most, was the fact he KNEW that wasn’t all he was, that there were other sides to the boy that he kept HIDDEN just to please those above him, and that it WORKED, and even then, he didn’t take advantage of it. It was like watching someone spin on their heels, and not realize they were moving forward, still fretting like they were stuck, whereas people like Sebastian, actually were. That was the infuriating part. Blaine had everything, but still denied himself to have it, believing he didn’t, and stepping on the side of himself that wanted it.
Sebastian gave him a look, interested at his reply. I’d never. “Don’t now about that, Anderson, I’ve seen many a prim boy like you snap. It’s not pretty.” Felt it too. “But I’ll keep that in mind.” He didn’t particularly ENJOY being beaten up, it wasn’t like that was why he did it – push people – he just liked to see people without their masks, which was something not many appreciated from him. He did know about the provost’s deal, which was the only reason he had accepted it in the first place, Lacrosse was one of the few things that gave him any joy lately. Despite everything, he wanted this stupid idea to work, if he couldn’t really make it on his own.Â
“I don’t, huh?” He says, amused by the boy’s reply. “Surprise me, then, Anderson. Now that would be entertainment.” He smirks. “Maybe if you can actually SHOCK me, I’ll even quit trying to get to the bottom of you.” He kissed his fingers in an affected show of a promise. He chuckles at the question then shrugs. “Why would that be a RISK? At worst they’ll think then that I finally got into your pants. You might be a nerd, but there’s still a hot ass underneath all that dorkiness, I wouldn’t be bothered by them thinking that.” It was better than then thinking he needed tutoring anyway. He smirked, as the other finally looked up at him, enjoying the challenging front, and the way Blaine was finally coming out of his defense and evade position, to actually engage. This was a lot more FUN.Â
“On you go, your highness.” He taunted him, as he opened the door to his bedroom but hung over it, so Blaine would have to scoot past him, a smirk on his lips as he watched him. After Blaine was in, he stepped in, himself, and closed the door, sighing as he dropped his backpack and took off his blazer, rolling his shoulders. “Alright. What horrors you have programmed for me, jiminy?” He asks, as he stretched like a cat, after taking off his tie, and then sits on the floor, his white shirt untucked and top buttons undone. He put back against the end of his bed, and one leg bent up and the other stretched out as he opened up his back pack and started going through it, gathering notebooks, books, and pencils and rubbers.
Stopping in his track at Sebastian saying he had a lack of faults, Blaine stood staring at his back trying to figure out if that was why Sebastian hated him so much. That he saw him as faultless when that was nothing near the truth. Striding quickly to catch up—he shook his head and palmed over his mouth piecing together what he had to say before he opened up another can of worms when there were so many strewn across an already littered ground that was crumbling beneath them anyway. Faults?  “I-I have faults. I’m not some faultless and pristine person that you have to hate because you’ve put me in this imaginary role in your head. Why would you see me like that?” Here he was thinking Sebastian saw past so much and realized him for the truth everyone else never wanted to see. What he wouldn’t let them see. Fautless? Hardly. Sometimes he wondered why he’d let himself become so hidden that even someone like Sebastian couldn’t see through it all.Â
Because in spite of his denial of all the parts of himself he kept under lock and key? There were so many times where Blaine knew that part of himself wanted someone like Sebastian to call him out. Make him stutter and stumble and crack. Then… Want to know those parts more than what he let shine from the surface. Because that would be something so different. But the longer they walked together, the more he began to realize that wasn’t going to happen. Disappointment followed the realization. Sebastian’s voice had faded into a murmur of background noise to his own thoughts. When he tuned in again? He barely realized he was carrying on a conversation and Sebastian was replying to something he quipped back.
“No. You don’t. You’ve made it abundantly clear that you’re pretty clueless. Especially about me,” dark brows rose up and his chin tucked towards his collar in mocking disbelief.  “Surprise you? Why would I want to bother trying? You couldn’t make the effort any less appealing. No thanks. Besides? Whatever would I do without your struggling and failing attempts at figuring me out? I mean. You’re doing such a great job so far,” his sarcasm was dripping. He flushed red up his throat, along his jawline and forced himself to swallow through the momentary lapse of his self control to not let Sebastian dig underneath his fingernails so badly that he’d bring his temper to the surface. “You wish. Like I’d ever–.” Grinding teeth to keep his mouth closed, Blaine stepped past Sebastian being careful as to avoid touching him and entered the room with only a roll of his eyes at the continued taunt about what Sebastian would love others to think. “Whatever..” Anyone who knew him would know he wouldn’t be with Sebastian for that. Not with how the other boy treated him, especially.
Hooking his thumb underneath the strap of his satchel, he swung it to hang in front of his waist and opened the flap not bothering to take a seat but looking for a surface to work on pointedly ignoring Sebastian making himself at home. A glare at his clasp was his retort to Jiminy being used yet again. The desk was closest. Anything to speed this torture up. He dug out a binder with Dalton’s logo on the front and his pen. Both were sat down with a thud next to his bag and he took a moment to rub the crick in his neck out. Tension was a hellish thing to deal with.  “What are you struggling with most? We can start there. You tell me.”
Cooper hadn’t seen it coming, which was pretty naive on his side really. But, in his defence he’d figured that Blaine would just be happy to see him, and he hadn’t really thought past that. So yeah, it was kinda his fault, but he wasn’t going to tell Blaine that as he tumbled forward, his body falling on top of Blaine’s as he fell face first into the pile of leaves. “You’re gonna regret that, Squirt,” Cooper grinned, lifting himself ever so slightly so that he could look down at his kid brother, though still making sure that Blaine was pinned beneath him – he wasn’t going to let him get away that easy.
Cooper was the big brother, he wasn’t going to let Blaine think that he’d won that round.
Reaching in front of him, Cooper scooped up a mound of fresh leaves and dumped them on top of Blaine, a bark of a laugh escaping him as he made sure not to leave a single piece of Blaine untouched as he playfully ruffled his hair, grinning brightly as a few leaves got caught up within Blaine’s hair. “And here I was thinking that you’d be pleased to see me,” he laughed, sitting up a little more and peering down at Blaine again. He reached up, running a hand through his own hair, rolling his eyes as he plucked out a couple of leaves of his own.
Cooper thudding down on top of him knocked his air out but Blaine fell into a giggle fit regardless. Breathless and pitched as it was. He couldn’t put a stop to it once it started either. He was so caught up in laughing that he didn’t blink or grunt his disapproval of Squirt in the slightest. Instead, he let himself exist in the happiness of having Cooper home. Close enough to hold onto his arms and be close. Like they were before age and distance separated them. They were working on getting back to the past but better. Moments like this were the best part of it. Pinned in place, he kicked his feet against the ground but Cooper had height and, like him, he was stronger than he looked.Â
Devlish glint in blue eyes.  Oh, he was in trouble wasn’t he?
Figuring he might be getting let off the hook, the younger Anderson decided to half sit up on one elbow while Cooper went and scooped up some leaves.  Nope..  Maybe he wasn’t let off as easy as he thought.Â
Get one more dig in before he’s taken out?! “Ooooh! I get it! You–!!!” No such luck! Leaves covered him. Stuck to his cheek damp frrom tears of laughter. His hair, his mouth. They were everywhere.  “I WAS happy to see you,” long fingers playfully batted at Cooper’s hands trying to salvage what was left of his hair style. It didn’t work. And his dignity! Panting as Cooper sat up, Blaine let his head fall against the pillow of dead leaves. They crunched and tickled his ears and the back of his neck.  “Until you tortured me,” he grinned grabbing a few leaves off his chest and throwing them up at his brother.  “Is that why you came back? I bet it is. All that coffee talk? Ploy to try to get the first strike. Didn’t work. I still win.” Says the guy sprawled on his back and covered in leaves.
     “WELL, I’M NOT LOOKING to get myself into any trouble, so i’m probably gonna have to run it by her.” finn played along with the joke, offering a fleeting little smile. his gaze returned to the floor, though, elbows resting on his knees as he hunched forward in his chair. “i’m just stuck with this one, i guess. i don’t even know where to start, and… this kinda stuff usually comes easier to me, i guess.” he exhaled, knowing external stress was affecting his performance in glee club, though that wasn’t anything he wanted to unload on blaine. “maybe i’ll sit this week out, just do whatever group thing mr. schue puts together for us.” he’d had a headache every day of the week from getting all worked up over the end of high school, and he’d been retreating to his bedroom whenever he was home to try and nap it off to no avail. finn didn’t feel like exerting the extra brain power.
Rocking in his seat while slowly shaking his head, Blaine jutted out his bottom lip in a noooo way pout before his flimsy composure broke and he burst into a chuckle. Arms crossed loosely over his chest relaxed to reach over and give Finn’s wrist a squeeze followed with a pat.  “You’re doing fine. There’s a lot on everyone’s mind. It’s not worth you sitting out, though. We’re going to get this. Together. I promise. You know one day,” he retracted his hand and used it to point towards Finn, wrist curled up and his pointer bobbing to stress his point, “you and I? We’re going to be in-laws. Someday. We got to stick together and help each other. Yeah?” Â
Dropping his hand to rest on the opposite forearm, a crinkle of thought formed between dark brows. Did he have his own worries about what graduation was doing to them? To him and Kurt? Yeah. But Finn didn’t need his problems either. One year. They only had to make it through one year. His smile returned and he inched closer to peer down at Finn’s writing.  “You know you can always talk to me? No matter what right? Also, what is written under that band name you crossed out?”
pianokeysandbowties back up 