New Girl In Town (1) ✔️

Blainey-bear

Life goes on after that.

Neither Hunter or I mention up my mini breakdown after that night.

My admission that I wished I met him sooner.

Him cursing fate for being so cruel.

Or the fact that I chose to seek comfort in him instead of my fiancé.

Because that would be admitting something that I would rather not face.

That maybe he means more to me than just being my ballroom partner.

That maybe I like him too.

Which just complicates everything because of Sebastian.

I love Sebastian so much. And I'm not just saying that either. Because when I am with him I can picture our future complete with those adorably precious green eyed babies dancing around with me and playing with him outside.  Baking cookies and family picnics. All that happily ever after, white picket fence, minivan in the suburbs crap.

Yet these are the thoughts I find myself wrapped up in a few weeks later, seated at the Lima Bean with Blaine, Kurt and Rachel nursing a lukewarm white chocolate raspberry mocha. With an extra shot. Their conversations are floating around me but I'm only really hearing snippets here and there.

"What about your birthday Blaine?"

"...we should throw you a party."

"...but where...."

"...after your last train wreck party I don't think that's a good idea."

"...can't help it if your face tastes awesome."

I glance up when someone nudges my arm.  They are all looking at me expectantly, I must have missed something important.  "Um, what was that again?"  Kurt looks highly annoyed that I wasn't paying attention and Rachel is rolling her eyes at me.  I briefly hear her whispering to him, wedding plans must be keeping her preoccupied.  Blaine reaches out to brush some of my hair off my face, friendly smile on his own.  "Well Belle, these two wanted to throw me a birthday party this weekend.  But they couldn't figure out where would be big enough or who all to invite."

I push my now cold mocha aside, tenting my fingers under my chin as I think.  Blaine's 18th birthday is on Monday, the day after that is Valentine's Day.  "Well first things first, were you thinking just McKinley friends? Or you know Dalton boys too?  Because that would help you decide where to have this party."  Blaine smiles so wide at me and turns to Kurt, "See this is why I brought her along.  Distracted or not, my cousin is totally the brains behind this operation." I give him a small smile as I reach into my messenger bag, pulling out a notebook and pen. "Okay, hit me with ideas and I'll write them down."

All three of them start talking at the same time and I have trouble keeping track.  I hold up a hand, "One at a time for petes sake.  I'm good, but I'm not good enough to decipher three conversations at once."  I point to Blaine and lower my pen back to the paper, "Blainey-bear, you're the birthday boy.  What do you want??"  He takes a sip of his coffee, glancing quickly at the other two then back at me.  "Well if all of my friends could be there it would be great. McKinley and Dalton.  Is it too weird to ask them all myself if they'd be interested?"

Kurt and Rachel shrug in response and I tap my pen against my notepad, "You want me to ask? I kind of have an in with those guys." Blaine smiles at me, opening his mouth to respond but Kurt beats him to it, "You mean the Meerkat?"

I scrunch my face up in annoyance as Blaine glares at him.  Rachel looks between the three of us like she would rather be anywhere else.  "Kurt!?  I thought we talked about this!!"  Kurt lowers his eyes after being scolded by Blaine and I dig my phone out of my purse, "That was way harsh Kurt.... And here I was going to ask you to help me look at dresses sometime."  He looks up with remorseful eyes and softly whispers I'm sorry, I'll be nice.

I glance over at Rachel with a wink and she giggles, "Shann, you're evil. Sebastian's corrupted you so much." Blaine reaches across the table to pat Kurt's hand, giving him a little smile before he turns to Rachel and I. "She's always been like this, he just brought out her latent tendencies."  I stick my tongue out at him.  "Did you want my help or not?"  I quickly scroll through my phone and then raise my eyes back up to look at everyone else, "Because I have like 6 of their numbers in here.  I can send out your inquiry for you.  That is if you want me to."

Blaine nods as Rachel squeaks out, "6?!  Goodness girl!"  I chuckle as I try to think up a message to type out, "Rachie, I'm kind of a big deal at Dalton.  All those Warblers love me."  I can hear Blaine mumbling under his breath some more than they should and I glare his way.  Kurt is oblivious as he tries to figure out which Warblers. "Okay I know you have Sebastian's number.  Well Jeff and Nick's too.  I'm guessing also Thad.  Um, maybe Trent?"  I look up from my phone and nod at him before going back to the message I'm trying to compose.  I can hear the confusion in his voice as he continues, "Who is the last guy then?"

I don't even look up this time as I breathe out the name of the last person, like it should be the most obvious thing in the world.

"Hunter."

Kurt sounds really confused as he begins to speak again, so much so that it causes me to look up from my half composed text message. "Wait, which one is Hunter?" I can't help the small smile on my face as I reach once again for my cold mocha, a tiny sip making me remember why I pushed it away in the first place. "Kurtsie, I know you met him. Seb's party? We were all dancing together."  His face gives a small sense of recognition, "I think I remember, but all those blazers blend together after a while."  I shrug and go back to my message, "Not really..."

"Wait.  Why would you have his number?"  I roll my eyes and respond softly, "Because we're friends..."  I know they're trying to hide it but I can sense Blaine and Rachel sharing a look, it's so intense that it draws my eyes up again.  They're both kind of glaring at me.  "What? Why are you guys staring at me like that?" Kurt is looking between the three of us like he is at a tennis match, "Did I miss something?"

"Shanny-pie, I say this out of love, but are you sure you should be talking to him?"  I sigh, gathering up my belongings, shoving my notebook and pen back into my messenger bag.  "Blaine, I love you, you know that.  I don't question your choice of friends.  Please don't question mine.  We dance together, I need to have a good relationship with him."

Rachel glances at Blaine and then extends a hand across the table, placing hers on mine. "We're just concerned." I shake her hand off, "No one worries that you're still friends, rather close friends, with Puck. Who you DATED.  But instantly you're all worried about me being friends with my BALLROOM PARTNER?!  Really?"

I finish typing out the message and hit send just as Blaine responds.  "He tried to take over Sebastian's spot as captain though...."  I sigh as I raise from my seat, "I know and I've mentioned that.  All that stopped in exchange for my friendship."  Rachel is biting her lip as she interjects into the conversation.  "But, but he kissed you.  And those flirty texts he sent..."  Kurt gasps and looks quickly at Blaine who shrugs at him.  I just hold a hand up as I swing my bags on to my shoulder.   "Please note your past tense Rach.  And Sebby knows about this.  If he trusts me then you three should."

I grab up my coffee cup and make for the door.  Stopping right before to throw away my cup. "Blaine, I'll let you know if they respond.   But I'm heading home.  Schoolwork is killing me and I still need to write up college application essays.  Do you need me to make dinner?"  He nods in response.  I wave at them before I head for the door.  Right before I leave the coffee shop I call back over my shoulder, "Guys, please don't worry.  I'm a big girl, I know what I'm doing."  And then I sweep out the door to my car.

But do I really?