“Why would I do that? You are beautiful, Rachel. You’re like one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen,” Blaine gave her calf a squeeze and nudged it with his wrist after trying to rustle her around and get a smile. “And you’re talented and sweet and utterly amazing. See? You should never doubt yourself. I mean there’s always another movie to watch but I’m honestly trying to make you see you how I see you. Then you’d realize just how fantastic you are.”
glancing at him out of the corner of her eye, rachel noticed the big dumb grin blaine wore whenever he wanted something. && she was not immune to it. she shook her head at him && stood up from her seat, keeping her back toward him as he spoke more. the truth was that she didn’t want sebastian there because of a brief fling they had in high school—- a very brief && secret fling— that she wanted nobody to know about ;; hence the reason she never mentioned it to blaine.
but his smile, && the points he was making && the gaze that was practically burning through her despite her back being turned cracked her. she sighed again, && faced him.
“ fine, blaine. two weeks. fourteen days. if he hasn’t toned it down— he’s out. ”
Blaine was clueless on the real reason why Rachel didn’t want Sebastian to stay. There were plenty of obvious ones that he could list at the drop of a hat. But they all dated back to years ago and they’d all grown up since then. Truth was? He needed her to say yes. If she didn’t? The situation he was going to be left with wasn’t one he was sure he’d know what to do in. Pick between his boyfriend or the girl who had been there through a hell of a lot of bad times and helped him? Yeah, not the best situation. Not at all.
“He’s not the guy you are used to. Yeah, it might not seem like that now but–” Wait?! She just agreed? “R-Really? You’re serious?” A flood of relief had him deflating as he burst into motion and rushed over to wrap his arms around her shoulders tight. “Thank you! Two weeks and I’ll tell him to be on his best behavior.” Would Sebastian listen? Probably not. No. He better. Eh? Just in case? Blaine was already trying to figure out what damage control techniques he was, no doubt, going to have to use–repeatedly.
“shoes that i honestly wouldn’t feel comfortable having anyone else fill such outstanding shoes. though, i think you’d look a little ridiculous in my heels,” a soft laugh falls past her lips before her head falls just slightly, folding her arms under her chest, “you guys will get on just fine without all of us. and i mean – you still have finn.”
“You have to admit–I could totally pull off those pumps if I wore the right pants,” Blaine’s grin wobbled as he watched her start out with a quiet laugh but end by folding in on herself. A puzzled, measuring look causes him to squint and tugs a corner of his lips up. Did he make her do that? Or was there something heavy on her mind? An inch or two of distance was taken away by a a step closer. His right hand cupped her left elbow–thumb rubbing over the bend. “Yeah. We’ll be okay,” his voice lowered, “Are you? Okay–I mean?”
‘so, mister anderson, what’s it like being the new me?’
“Rachel! Hey! Um–I’d say that it feels daunting because you have some mighty big shoes to fill but that’s sort of an insult inside a compliment. So–I’ll just leave it at strange and go with that? I’d trade it all in to have you guys back. McKinley doesn’t feel the same without all of you.”
❝ Okay, could you slow down just a little bit? I don’t understand your point. It’s all. The insane part doesn’t need to be explain. I guess so, but since you’re willing to do something about it… how and what exactly you want to do that? I mean, we only have two options. And we know there’s one option that you won’t like. ❞
“Sorry–sorry. I’m just trying find an answer and thinking mostly out loud. You know what option I’m going to pick if the other one isn’t something I want to do. Problem is? Do you think it’ll work? Because I’m not so sure. I’m going to be stuck with Option One, huh? Damn it. We should just get this over with if that’s the case.”
her arms remained crossed, her head tilted just the slightest bit, listening to blaine speak && avoiding eye contact with her best friend. rachel knew it would mean a lot to blaine if she let sebastian move in. && honestly that on it’s own was swaying her even if only a little.
he also had a good point. santana and sebastian were on the same level of snarky ;; she often found herself wondering who was worse. rachel sighed, frustrated that she couldn’t counteract his argument with a better excuse. she already had nothing && she knew it.
“ why do you have to make such a good point? you’re making it harder for me to say no. ”
Blaine went from mimicking her posture to loosening his arms and cupping the back of his neck with his right hand. She still wasn’t making eye contact which meant she was thinking about it and that implied–mostly because this was Rachel and the tide could shift without warning at the drop of a hat–he was getting through to her. Probably. Maybe? Please?
The sigh increased his hope enough that he felt a glimmer of excitement big enough to make him stop chewing his bottom lip and give her a huge, toothy I’m really cute so you should listen to me smile. His eyes widened imploringly beneath a set of lifted brows. Puppy Dog Begging Stare initiated. If she thought his points were hard enough to argue against? Good luck with the true Blaine Anderson superpower. “Two weeks. I’m asking for two weeks. If you still hate him once he settles in and the snark goes down a notch or two? We can talk. Fourteen days, Rachel. Please? Just this once. For me.” –Oh let that work. Do me a favor, universe, and let that work.–
❝ This is getting out of control or nearly just insane, Blaine. And I guess it means something when I’m saying that. Right? ❞
“W e l l–if you want to use that particular way of putting it–yes? You’re right. I mean that in the–I’m agreeing with you because this is getting crazy and you chose to word it like that way. Not in that it has to have an extra dash of insane to live up to your brand way. You know what? I’m going to back track to ten seconds ago and go with–Yes. Question is? How’re we going to fix it?”
it was out of respect for her friendship with blaine that rachel didn’t perform one of her signature storm outs. the timing was perfect for it but rachel refrained. “ blaine, sebastian has been nothing but rudesince he got here! the first thing he did was ask me if my eyebrows were removable.I BARELY FILL THEM IN! no— no! ”
rachel huffed && crossed her arms, going quiet. with a heavy sigh, she nodded at him. “fine. five minutes. go. ”
Blaine knew he was working on limited time. Five minutes and he might be able to buy more if he kept talking but there was no guarantee. Especially considering who he was talking to. His stomach sank. Sebastian’s go-to insults were already tossed in the mix to make this a tad more difficult. –Why do you insist in making things harder for me, Seb? Why?– Best to make the most of his time and not stand there cringing at his boyfriend’s lack of a brain-to-mouth plug.
“Well,” he crossed his arms and rocked back on his heels trying to think of the best way to sway her, “He does that to people he likes. I know that makes no sense but we have another friend who is just as bad at it and you know Santana loves us. The harder he picks on you? The more he likes you. I know from experience. You think I’m safe from his weird way of showing affection? I’m not. It’s just how he is.” Was that a good start? Who knew? Wait and see?
it was hard to have a private discussion in the small apartment. but rachel needed to speak with blaine about their new house guest. yes, she was referring to sebastian smythe as their house guest.because there was absolutely NO WAY he was moving in with them. absolutely no way at all. && rachel told blaine exactly that once they were out of sebastian’s earshot.
“ there is no way sebastian smythe is moving in with us! ”
Blaine knew this was coming the minute he lightly–as in a pensive whisper–suggested the idea he repeated in his head a million times before actually going through with asking. Yes, he might have let Rachel think Sebastian was only here for a visit but he was hoping she might see his boyfriend in a different light if she gave him a chance and spent some time with him.
Or not.
“I understand where you are coming from. I get it. You and everyone else doesn’t like or trust him but–hear me out. Please? Five minutes. Give me five minutes,” he knew it was going to take longer than that but if he could squeeze five out of her? It was a good place to start? “Just to explain myself and prove to you that-! That-! This can be a good thing?”
❝You think so?❞ She looked to him for guidance, but she knew exactly what he was going through himself. After all, she lived with Kurt and they talked about it often. So she squeezed his hand in return to offer him some comfort. ❝What about you? How are you holding up?❞
“I know so. Would I ever lie to you? Never. You’re going to come out of this haze and shine even brighter, Rachel.” He bounced their hands between where his leg and her leg touched–head tilted and eyebrows jerked expectantly high. “Isn’t that what stars do,” he hummed and smiled so big she could swear he believed it about himself too. “I miss him every day but! I’m–I’m holding up just fine.” What’d he just say about lying? It wasn’t a bad lie if he didn’t want her worrying? Oh! Even better? Skimming briefly over the truth to an answer better suited for a friend who had enough of her own problems do deal with? That one! That excuse was perfect.
pianokeysandbowties back up 