April pulled the coat tighter over her shoulders, hoping it would keep in the warmth she needed. It was so cold outside and what she was wearing couldn’t really be considered the right thing to wear in this weather.
April found herself having to lean against Blaine, the light in the room causing her to squint though that somehow didn’t seem to help the way her head felt at all. Walking didn’t feel too good either but at least he had one arm around her even if that felt kind of weird. She glanced at him, shrugging the shoulder that wasn’t holding onto him for support. “Dunno, just felt like a good place to go. Kinda homey.”
Glad that she kept hold of the coat like he told her to, Blaine walked alongside her giving to give her what reassurance he could by giving her a light hug. Whatever steps the night before she’d taken to get here here must’ve been some rough ones considering she didn’t look like she was aware of where she might’ve woken up. It pulled at his heartstrings to see someone in the state she was in but he couldn’t keep himself from wondering..why and how she ended up like this.
Rock bottom had to be sleeping on a piano bench in the chorus room of the high school you made big plans to break out of while you were stuck there.
He didn’t think it was in his place to ask. So? He tried going about things this way. Seemed easier. Saved her some face and saved him treading where he might be told to mind his own business. Or that he wouldn’t understand. “Yeah. That makes sense.” Nodding as he supported her, Blaine gave the room a look and was immediately glad that they were so early that only the cafeteria ladies were in the lunchroom. They could grab their food and go before anyone was the wiser. “Think you’ll be sticking around for a while again? Or is this just a passing through on the way to better and brighter things?” He, sort of, already could guess the answer to what he asked as a means to see where she was at with this whole situation. “And are you a waffles or pancakes kinda person?” Both? Maybe she should have both.
She should probably clear out. That was the best thing to do, right? Get out before anyone else spotted her? But at the same time… she was really sore. And pretty cold. And her hangover was pretty bad. And none of that would get any better if she went back out into the cold. Speaking of, she held his coat out to him, shivering a little when she did. “I’m assumin’ you want this back.”
She bit her lip. Some coffee and a donut might warm her up enough to get going out of here before anyone else came in, though that probably didn’t matter since it would get around quick enough that April Rhodes was found sleeping on a piano bench. “Which way’s the cafeteria?”
“Hang onto it. I’ve got a sweater. That’s way more than enough.” Blaine smiled understandingly after waving off his coat and even helped drape it back over her shoulders. With her shivering like that and the hangover she must have? He figured she needed it much worse than he did. At least until she got some food and coffee in her stomach.
Blaine’s sympathetic smile told her the teenager probably wasn’t able sympathize with her entire situation. Cause he never really was in the position where he was forced to sleep on the piano bench in the choir room. (Not this one and not for her reasons at least??) Still! He knew what feeling like you were hit by a truck thanks to the night before was like. It was flat out terrible. “Right this way.” One arm fit itself around her waist and he made sure he perked up and smiled a bit brighter as he took the lead getting them out of the room and one step closer to food. “So..um.. Can I ask? Why the choir room was where you thought it’d be a good idea to crash?”
April had indeed spent the night in the choir room. Following a night of heavy drinking and light funds, she realized she had nowhere to sleep and somehow found herself wandering into the school and from there, into the choir room. Something kept bringing her back to this place.
She woke when she suddenly felt… warm? When did things get warm? It almost felt like she was being covered by something. As her mind gradually (and painfully) came into focus, she realized someone had put a wool coat over her. She sat up, a small groan emitting from her small frame from the soreness that came with sleeping curled up on a piano bench. She rolled her head on her neck, trying to get the crick out of it when she finally noticed someone was in here with her.
“Um… hi,” she said, removing the coat and immediately feeling colder when she did. “What time is it?”
If Blaine was here, the school had to be open. How she wasn’t caught and kicked out last night, she had no idea.
“A little before seven. I got here early to meet up with Kurt for coffee.” He smiled gently taking in the sight of her with a puzzlement as to why she was here. Figuring it out was pretty easy if you knew April Rhodes and her history. Which you knew within ten minutes of meeting the woman. Or the usual innuendo about needing alcohol would lead you to your own theories on what her deal was. It was a little sad to see. Also? A huge kick in the pants to keep yourself pushing forward. Or you could end up sleeping off a hangover on a bench in the choir room. How about no on that?
“Don’t worry.. No one’s going to be in here for at least another forty five minutes.”
“Are you going to be okay? Do you need anything? Coffee? A bagel? Donut? The cafeteria is open. Might not be the best but I can go get you something.” Kurt was bringing their food and drinks but April might need some food (or water if nothing else?) quicker than that.
“Um..? Miss Rhodes?” Blaine’s quiet approach towards the piano where he walked into the choir room earlier than the rest of the class and saw the blonde woman curled up on the piano bench using a stack of three books as a pillow. Did she sleep here? There was about forty five minutes before anyone was going to start filing in. Except Kurt. Who was at the Lima Bean fetching their morning coffee they planned on sitting out in the courtyard to enjoy before class. Still. They had a good twenty minutes or more before he showed up. He shrugged out of the heavy grey wool coat he wore buttoned all the way to a navy scarf and bent to cover her up with it trying not to wake her up until he had to.
April gave a little shrug. “Just thought I’d come by for a visit.” It was a lie, but there wasn’t any point in telling the truth. She had actually run out of money and was looking at some other issues on top of that. It had seemed at the time the best thing to do was to go back to Lima. How did she always end up back in Lima?
“How long do we get to have you in town for,” Blaine asked with a sincere interest though he was eyeing her a bit quizzically from his spot straddling the piano bench. Deft fingers tore off a piece of his sandwich so he could pop it in his mouth. A finger jutted pointed towards her after he swallowed a few sips of water. “You know Kurt would probably die for a chance to get some pointers from an actual Broadway performer. He’s been really stressed over his NYADA audition.” Did he just set Kurt up for an April Rhodes lesson in hopes of making her feel more welcome? He was gonna die but his intentions were good? That’s what mattered? Yeah?
“Sandwich du jour, sounds classy when ya put it that way,” she commented, reaching into the basket and grabbing one of the sandwiches and unwrapping it. It actually looked pretty good. She glanced at the bench as he moved it, taking a seat on the other side of it when he offered. “Cheers,” she replied, setting the sandwich on her lap as she poured some of the contents of her canteen into its cup and taking a sip. She took a second look into the basket, helping herself to a few more of the items inside before beginning to eat.
“That’s the plan. Dressing up egg salad is kinda hard so–why not just add some French and make it sound,” his lips formed a perfect circle, eyebrows joining in with an enthusiastic wiggle, “Oooo–fancy?” Blaine waited for her to grab out what she wanted from the basket bringing both legs up to bend them at the knees and turn them into a pretzel shape on the bench. Once she picked whatever suited her fancy–Blaine scooped out a sandwich, unwrapped it carefully, hoisted it up like it was a cup and toasted her with it. “Cheers,” he chuckled giving her a thoughtful side eye. A thought ran a crease between his brows. “Miss Rhodes? Can I ask you something? What are you doing here? I thought you were done with this place years ago? If you don’t mind me asking–why aren’t you still in New York City? Isn’t that where you really want to be?”
April took the mints he handed her. He had a point, she shrugged. She popped the mints into her mouth before turning her attention back to Blaine. Free food was free food, however it was offered. “Depends on what ya got in there,” she said, leaning against the piano and glancing at the basket.
“There’s some sandwiches. Egg salad,” he coyly grinned, “Which–I don’t mean to brag but it’s one of my best sandwiches du jour–if I do say so myself. Grapes, a couple oranges, pita chips and brownies. Orange juice.” His voice dropped to a mutter pertaining to him doubting she needed anything to drink since she had that covered. Spoken towards the basket and coughed away like it never happened, of course. Blaine moved a foot back and snagged the leg of the piano bench with the tip of his shoe sliding it close enough to sit down taking the basket along so he could put it in the middle. Leaning over, he patted the empty side to offer her a seat. “Seeing as how my boyfriend seems to be held up–no doubt dealing with a drama I’ll be filled in complete with grandiose hand gestures and half a dozen eye rolls? Have a seat. Let’s eat.”
“You noticed, but you’re not gonna tell anyone, are ya?” she gives a subtle wink and a smile. “Kurt? I don’t think I saw him. Last time I saw him he was by his his locker,” she shrugged, looking at the picnic basket Blaine was holding. It was a cute idea, she had to admit.
“Nah. I won’t tell anyone. Bit of advice?” Blaine flipped the basket open and fished around. Couple seconds later–he pulled out a tin of mints and popped it open passing her a couple with a sly grin. A conspiratory whisper took over his tone and he even cupped a hand at the corner of his mouth leaned in like they were sharing super secret intel. “I’d invest in these if I were you.” When she mentioned she saw Kurt, Blaine brightened up and sat the basket on the piano. “Good. He should be on his way. Hey–listen. Until he gets here? I packed enough food for four people. Hungry?” AKA: Need something to sober up with before Sue catches on? Again?
“I don’t think anybody’s gonna notice. I’m not worried.”
“If no one was going to notice? Technically, Iwouldn’t have noticed. But since you’re not worried? Have you seen Kurt anywhere? We were supposed to meet here for lunch but I’m early. Was hoping to surprise him with,” he lifted a picnic basket that dangled from three fingers and swung it back and forth a bit. Letting the oddness go–he gave her a proud, excited grin instead.
pianokeysandbowties back up 