Can't You Hear the Roaring Fire?

September 18, 2001

;)
i don't own glee
;)

-

The world comes to life slowly. First the ceiling, then the feeling of warmth under the blankets. The smell of food from the kitchen, and the brightness of the sun streaming in from the window.

All of his senses were heightened, and it confused Blaine. He sat up, and everything hit him at once. He couldn't hear anything. Looking over, he saw a "Cooper Caption." It read,

READ YOUR EMAIL ON YOUR COMPUTER DUMBASS. THE NOTIFICATION WOKE ME
UP CAUSE I STAYED UP LATE WATCHING VIDEOS

Blaine laughed a little and put on his hearing aids. He slipped on some socks to protect his feet from the cold flooring. Grabbing the white board, he tossed it to his big brother as he passed him to get his computer.

Plopping on the couch, he opened his email.

Scanning his messages, he found the one from his boss. Hm, he wondered, What's this about?

Blaine Anderson,

I am sorry to inform you that your position in the NY Fire Department has been terminated due to your current living conditions.

We thank you for your service, and encourage you to re-apply at our station if you improve.

The email went on, but Blaine didn't want to read anymore. Tears welled up in his eyes that he willed not to fall. Clearing his throat, he slammed his computer. He stood up and made his way to the kitchen table, where Cooper handed him a plate of pancakes.

The younger Anderson smiled weakly and nodded at his brother.

Cooper could tell something was up, but he didn't wanna push. He pulled out his Cooper Captions with a smile and wrote:

WHAT TIME DO WE HAVE TO BE AT THAT CLASS

Blaine smiled weakly again and mumbled, "Six..." It was still weird to stay things without hearing it back. His biggest fear as of now is to think something and accidentally say it out loud, like saying Cooper's pancakes suck.

HEY! His brother wrote, THEY DON'T SUCK!

The younger laughed and mumbled an apology.

EVEN IF YOU'RE A PAIN IN THE ASS, I'M STILL EXCITED TO SPEND THE DAY WITH MY BABY BRO. I'M OFF WORK STILL.

Blaine mumbles, "And I'm off work permanently." He didn't mean to say it out loud, and was surprised when he looked up to find a Cooper Caption saying how he's sorry.

Blaine shrugged and took a bite of his crappy pancakes. So much for dreams come true.

-

5:30 rolled around, and Blaine was bound and determined to not be late. He wanted to give out a good impression to his teacher.

Blaine's phone buzzed with a notification, and he looked down. It was from Coop

Annoying Anderson

teachers pet;)

Blushing, he punches his brother in the shoulder. "Shut up!"

Cooper laughed hysterically. He shrugged and said, "I'm not wrong!"

Blaine was able to read his lips, and this small detail made him happier than he'd ever expected. He was adapting. "Let's go inside."

The two brothers walk in, looking around. Blaine makes eye contact with Kurt, and the teacher smiles brightly. He makes his way over to the two.

"Hey!" He said with a smile. "How are you?" As Kurt spoke, he used sign language. That way Blaine could get more accustomed to reading lips and interpreting signs.

Blaine smiled and signed, "Good." It was one of the few he had learned and practiced last night.

"Who's this?" Kurt turned to Cooper. Cooper was trying to replicate the sign his brother just did, but failed.

Kurt tapped on the older's shoulder, and Cooper looked over. "Oh, sorry. I'm Cooper, Blaine's big brother. I'm here so I can talk to him in a way besides Cooper Captions."

"I'm sorry, Cooper Captions? What's that?"

The taller Anderson smirked, and whipped out his white board.

A laugh bubbles from behind the group of three, and a boy with sandy brown curly hair and freckles walks from behind Kurt.

Cooper freezes. His heart stops. He realizes he's never met anyone as beautiful as the boy in front of him in his entire life.

"I'm Kade. Kurt's friend. We're going out after this, and he's my ride so." Kade smiled at Cooper, and hip bumped the teacher.

Kurt rolled his eyes and smiled apologetically at the older Anderson, but he was just standing there staring.

"Cooper..." He mumbled.

Blaine hit his brother in the shoulder, and Coop realized he had been standing there clueless. "Sorry," he mumbled. He quickly scribbled out who Kade was on the Cooper Caption, and showed him. Blaine nodded, then smiled at the boy.

"Blaine."

"Nice to meet you," Kade smiled at Blaine and laughed a little. "You guys are rather resourceful."

Cooper just stares at the new boy. For the first time ever, he wanted more than just a one night stand. He wanted to get to know Kade. He seemed different.

"Well," Kurt says and signs at the same time, "I've got to go teach now." He smiles kindly at the group and heads to the front of the classroom.

Kade sighs and faces Cooper, who continued to stare at him. "Do you mind if I join you two?"

"I-Uh-" the taller boy stammers over his words and he looks at his younger brother. Blaine is once again lost, and gives his brother a look. "Right-Right. One second Kade." Scribbling down on the white board, he shows his brother the message.

Blaine smiles and nods at Kade.

"Awesome!"

The three sit down, and of course Kade had to choose the seat right next to Cooper.

The older Anderson was sweating.

He wiped his hands on his jeans, trying to get rid of the perspiration.

Why does love have to be so obvious? He thought.