The Only Exception (Lonely No More)

Chapter 2

The time seemed to drag by as Blaine waited for his bi-weekly Skype call from Kurt. He’d spent the last several days trying to stay busy so that he didn’t have time to dwell on his doubts about their relationship. He kept reminding himself that the fact that Kurt wanted to friend-zone him was his own fault, but they were making progress. He just needed to give Kurt a little more time and he was bound to come around. They loved each other and, as the saying went, love conquered all.

Blaine eagerly answered the Skype call as soon as it came through. “Hey, Kurt.”

Kurt’s response was harried and abrupt. “Blaine, hey. I’m sorry, but I’m not going to be able to talk long tonight. In fact, I should already be heading out the door.”

“Oh, that’s okay,” Blaine replied, though his heart sank a bit. “Something going on at NYADA?”

“No, there’s this play that I’ve been wanting to see and Adam got us a couple of tickets, but tonight was the only night he could get them for,” Kurt rambled on as he put the finishing touches on his ensemble while looking in a mirror off camera. He finally seemed satisfied and turned back to the screen. “How do I look?”

“You always look good,” Blaine said, forcing a smile to his lips. “I won’t keep you then. Have a good time.”

“Thanks for understanding,” Kurt replied. He had that excited glow about him that he used to get when he and Blaine had something special planned. “I promise I’ll make it up to you. Friday, same time?”

“Yeah, that’s fine.” Blaine started to say more, but Kurt was already signing off. “I’ll talk to you then,” Blaine said sadly to the blank screen.

Blaine sighed as he closed the laptop. He’d been invited to Sam’s for a video game challenge, but had declined so that he could talk to Kurt. Now Kurt had bailed on him and it was too late to go to Sam’s. His homework was already done. He could work on the new routine for Regionals, but he just didn’t have the heart for it. He was beginning to feel the way he had just before he had cheated on Kurt; lonely, lost and like nothing he did really mattered.

Maybe Sebastian was right. Maybe Kurt liked the ways things were and he wasn’t really interested in getting back together. Maybe Blaine was seeing hope where none existed. Maybe this Adam guy meant a lot more to Kurt than he was willing to admit to his ex.

Blaine wondered what it would be like to live the way Sebastian did; just move from one guy to the next without letting any of them touch his heart. No attachments, no guilt, no fear of screwing up because no one would have any expectations of him. There was a certain appeal to the idea, but Blaine wasn’t sure he could do it. He liked the idea of having someone special, someone who wanted just him, someone he could depend on to always be there. Sebastian would never know just how special that was and Blaine felt a little sorry for him. Blaine might not have that anymore, but he wanted it back.

Maybe it was time to accept that it wasn’t going to be with Kurt though.

Blaine shook his head and pushed that thought away. It was just one Skype date cut short, not the end of the world. He wasn’t going to give up on Kurt so easily. He wouldn’t make that mistake again.

 

~ * ~
 

Blaine had never felt more disconnected from his friends. Everyone on the bus was celebrating their win at Regionals, but all he managed was a weak smile when someone addressed him directly. He’d chosen the seat in the very front, hoping that the others would just ignore him.

“Blaine-Blaine, why aren’t you celebrating?” Tina asked as she flopped into the seat beside him.

At the moment, Sam was leading them in some crazy country song. No one else seemed to know the words, but they’d all learned the chorus.

“It’s nothing. You should be celebrating with the others,” Blaine replied. He gave Tina his best reassuring smile, but she wasn’t buying it.

“It’s Kurt, isn’t it? I saw Santana’s post about him and that Adam guy. She’s probably exaggerating,” Tina said.

“Don’t worry about it,” Blaine said. His phone chimed and he tried to surreptitiously check it. He’d sent Sebastian a text, letting him know that they’d won Regionals, and was sure that the incoming message was from him. The last thing he wanted was for someone in New Directions to blow his casual friendship (or whatever it was) with Sebastian out of proportion. “Like Kurt told you when he was here, we’re just friends. He can date whoever he wants.”

Tina craned her neck to try to read the display when she thought Blaine wasn’t looking.

‘Like there was any doubt they’d win with you leading them.’ - Sebastian

Blaine smiled slightly. Sebastian’s confidence was something he wished he had. Maybe without the cockiness that came with it though.

“Someone congratulating you?” Tina guessed. “Is it Kurt?”

“No, it’s just one of the Warblers,” Blaine said. It wasn’t a lie, but it was better to let them think it was Trent or one of the others than Sebastian. Hunter might be the one that instigated the cheating at Sectionals, but Tina wouldn’t have forgotten what Sebastian did the year before, even if she and Blaine hadn’t really been close then.

“Oh, I didn’t know you were still talking to them,” Tina said.

“Just because they messed up doesn’t mean they aren’t still my friends,” Blaine said. How hypocritical would that be considering what he’d done to Kurt?

“So how are things going between you and Kurt?” Tina asked. Jake and Marley had started singing something slow and romantic while Ryder tried to mask his longing looks at Marley. Blaine might be oblivious when it came to his own relationships, but he did notice what was going on with others.

“We’re friends, Tina,” Blaine said. He wasn’t sure how many times she had to hear it before she believed it. Probably one less time than Blaine needed to remind himself. “There isn’t anything else to say.”

“You know what they say about the rebound guy. It never works out,” Tina said. Blaine knew she was trying to be helpful, but it really wasn’t.

“I want Kurt to be happy,” Blaine said. “If this Adam guy does it for him, then I’m happy for him.” Secretly, he hoped that Adam would get deported back to wherever he came from.

Blaine typed a message in reply to Sebastian, hoping Tina would get the hint and return to the celebration. ‘Too bad you didn’t have that sort of faith in yourself. I might be congratulating you right now instead.’ He hit send. Blaine had always been too concerned about others feelings to say some of the things that went through his mind, but not with Sebastian. Sebastian never became offended and it had become an entertaining game of one-upmanship.

Tina leaned in closer and lowered her voice. “What do you think about Finn kissing Ms. Pillsbury? I’ve never seen Mr. Schue so angry before and Finn…”

Blaine blinked a couple of times and forgot his phone messages for a moment. “Did I miss something? When did this happen?”

“Finn kissed Ms. Pillsbury sometime before the wedding-that-wasn’t,” Tina said softly. “Sam overheard Finn and Mr. Schue arguing just before we went out on stage. Finn must have just blurted it out – you know how he is – and Mr. Schue lost it. He blamed Finn for Ms. Pillsbury running off, but Finn said one little kiss wouldn’t have done that.”

Blaine had noticed the tension between the two, but he’d just assumed that it was because they had a difference of opinion on the set list. He hoped Finn was okay and looked around, but Finn wasn’t on the bus.

“Did Finn ride back with someone else?” Blaine asked.

“Must have,” Tina said. “I didn’t see him when our set was finished.”

“Would you ask Sam if he knows what happened to Finn?” Blaine asked. If he’d known this was going on, he would have looked for Finn before they left. He and Finn hadn’t always been on the best of terms, but they’d kind of bonded after their mutual break-ups earlier in the year. He’d expected Finn to hate him for cheating on Kurt, but Finn had been surprisingly cool about the whole thing.

Tina disappeared towards the back of the bus and Blaine sent a quick text to Finn asking if he was okay. He didn’t know if he’d get a response or not, but it was worth a shot. He debated sending Kurt a text, but decided against it. There wasn’t anything Kurt could do from New York and considering how many times Kurt had blown off their conversations over the past two weeks, Blaine wasn’t inclined to initiate one. Someone else would probably tell him anyway. News traveled fast among the Glee club members, both new and old.

“Hey, Tina said you wanted to see me,” Sam said as he leaned over the back of Blaine’s seat. Everyone else was still in the back half of the bus celebrating.

Blaine asked about Finn and was told that he’d gotten a ride back with someone he knew. Sam didn’t know any more details than what Tina had already told him though.

Blaine’s phone chimed and, thinking it was Finn, he checked it without thinking.

‘Maybe I should transfer to McKinley. We could show them what a power duet really looks like.’ Sebastian.

Blaine almost laughed at the image that provoked, but was belatedly reminded that Sam was just behind him.

“Isn’t that the guy that slushied you last year?” Sam asked.

Blaine was saved from answering when the phone chimed again, this time it was Finn saying he was okay and they could talk later.

“At least Finn’s okay,” Blaine said. “I still can’t picture him kissing Ms. Pillsbury though.” He hoped that Sam would forget the previous text.

“It had to be one of those, you know, spur of the moment type things,” Sam said. “Not that she isn’t kind of hot for a teacher-type.”

“I’ll trust your judgment on that,” Blaine said. He turned off the display on his phone and put it down.

“So what’s going on with you and Slushy-Warbler?” Sam asked.

Blaine winced. He should have known that Sam wouldn’t forget what he’d seen. At least Sam could keep a secret, unlike Tina.

“I sent him a text letting him know we’d won Regionals,” Blaine said. “He can’t let an opportunity pass without turning it into a come-on of some sort.”

“Like we’d ever let him into New Directions,” Sam scoffed. “Be careful around that one. We don’t want you to miss Nationals because he decided to get revenge for us exposing the Warblers.”

Blaine didn’t bother to try to convince Sam that Sebastian wouldn’t do anything like that. “I’d worry more about Hunter. The rest of the Warblers are ashamed of what they did. He’s the only one that blames us.”

“How’s that Trent Warbler doing? Are they harassing him any?” Sam asked.

“No, Nick and Jeff thanked him for bringing them to their senses,” Blaine said with a smile. Not all the Warblers were happy with Trent, but enough of them realized that he was right to give Blaine hope that his friends at Dalton would be okay.

Sam seemed satisfied with the answer and didn’t push. “Come on, I’ve got a song for us to sing that has your name all over it.”

“I’ll be there in just a minute,” Blaine promised. As soon as Sam returned to the others, Blaine quickly answered Sebastian’s text and then slid the phone into his pocket.

 

~ * ~
 

“Why didn’t you tell me that Finn kissed Ms. Pillsbury?” Kurt exclaimed as soon as Blaine answered the Skype call. “I had to hear about it from Santana who heard about it from Britt. Although, apparently Rachel knew all along and didn’t tell anyone. I didn’t know she could keep a secret that well.”

Blaine listened with slight exasperation as Kurt rattled on. He hadn’t really expected Kurt to keep their Skype date tonight and had made plans to meet Sebastian in half-an-hour for a movie that they were both dying to see.

“So, how is Finn doing, really?” Kurt asked. “All he says when I talk to him is ‘I’m fine.’ in that tone that I know means he’s anything but.”

“He’s still helping out with the Glee club,” Blaine replied once Kurt paused in his rant. “He and Mr. Schue don’t talk to each other and the Glee club is starting to take sides – they’re calling themselves Team-Schue or Team-Finn. We had a knock-down, drag-out song-battle over it last week.”

Blaine checked his watch. He had about five minutes before he needed to leave and texted Sebastian that he might be a few minutes late.

“Are you texting someone?” Kurt asked, sounding just a little offended.

“I’m going to a movie and didn’t want them to worry if I was a few minutes late,” Blaine explained.

“You planned to go to a movie when we have a Skype date?” Kurt asked, sounding hurt this time.

Blaine thought carefully about how to remind Kurt that he’d skipped out on the last several without making Kurt angry. He finally decided that a little blunt truth might be what Kurt needed. “You’ve missed the last three Skype dates and cut the others short so that you could go out with Adam. I didn’t think I’d actually hear from you tonight.”

Kurt immediately became defensive. “Excuse me for having a life that doesn’t involve you, Blaine.”

“Tell me, honestly, would you have called tonight if you hadn’t wanted to ask about Finn?” Blaine asked.

“Of course I would. That had nothing to do with it,” Kurt said, but he didn’t quite meet Blaine’s eyes. “But don’t let me keep you from your movie date.”

“Thanks, I don’t want to keep anyone waiting,” Blaine said. He belatedly realized that it sounded like a dig at Kurt, but he didn’t bother to apologize.

“Wait,” Kurt called as Blaine started to disconnect the call. “Is it a date?”

Blaine thought Kurt sounded slightly worried. Maybe a taste of his own medicine would bring Kurt around.

“Does it matter?” Blaine asked. “You keep reminding me that we’re just friends.”

Kurt sucked in a surprised breath at Blaine’s directness. “I guess you’re right. It doesn’t matter.” He disconnected the call without waiting for an answer from Blaine.

 

~ * ~
 

“Trouble in paradise?” Sebastian asked as they waited in the concessions line.

Blaine blew out an aggravated breath and shrugged. “Kurt actually kept our Skype date tonight, but all he wanted to talk about was what happened with Finn and Ms. Pillsbury.” Apparently Sebastian’s sources at McKinley were very thorough and he’d known about the kiss by the time Blaine had gotten off the bus after Regionals. “He acted surprised when I told him I had plans and then hung up on me when I reminded him that we were just friends.”

“Glad to see you finally got your balls back from Hummel,” Sebastian said.

Blaine was used to Sebastian’s left-handed comments by now and just shook his head. “Maybe he’ll realize how what he’s doing makes me feel.”

“I’m guessing you didn’t tell him who you were meeting. I didn’t see any mushroom clouds in the east earlier.”

“It’s none of his business,” Blaine said. “Besides, it’s not like we’re dating. We just wanted to see the same movie and decided to go together.”

Sebastian leaned forward and spoke softly into Blaine’s ear. “Doesn’t mean I won’t still try to get in your pants. It doesn’t matter to me if you have unresolved issues with your ex when you finally capitulate.”

Blaine chuckled, even though he was slightly embarrassed by Sebastian’s forthrightness. “What makes you think I want to sleep with you?”

Sebastian spread his arms wide. “Who wouldn’t want a piece of this?”

“In your dreams, Casanova,” Blaine said with a grin.

“Oh, if only you knew. Want me to share a few of my dreams with you?” Sebastian asked.

Blaine could feel his face heating up and looked away to regain his composure. He sucked in a surprised breath when he saw Sam and Brittany walking into the theater. He automatically shifted position so that Sebastian was between him and the door. Of course, Sebastian had to turn to see what had gotten Blaine’s attention.

“Busted,” Sebastian said softly.

“Sebastian,” Blaine said in warning. He wasn’t sure what he thought Sebastian could do to stop Sam from seeing them together. He briefly thought about moving down the line a few spaces, but decided it would be better to just tough it out. How bad could it be?

“Blaine Warbler!” Brittany squealed in delight on seeing him. She ignored those standing in line and pounced on him, giving him a hug. Blaine couldn’t ever remember Brittany giving him a hug before, but it didn’t exactly surprise him.

“Hey, Brittany. Sam,” Blaine greeted his friends from Glee.

Sebastian watched the interaction with slight amusement until Brittany snaked her arm through his and gave him a contemplative look. “Did you molt? Birds do that sometimes when they don’t like their feathers.”

If Blaine hadn’t been so worried about what Sam was going to say, he would have laughed at Sebastian’s expression of open-mouth confusion. He supposed Sebastian did look a bit different out of his Dalton uniform.

Sam gave Blaine a questioning look. “You’re here together?”

“It’s just a movie, Sam,” Blaine said, trying hard to act nonchalant. “It’s not a big deal.”

Sam nodded, but didn’t seem convinced. He motioned for Blaine to step away from where Brittany was chatting away with a bemused Sebastian. “Does Kurt know?” he asked with a nod towards Sebastian.

“It’s not a date,” Blaine insisted. “We’re just seeing the same movie at the same time.”

“And sitting together?” Sam asked. “Sounds like a date.”

“If it was anyone else, you wouldn’t even question it, would you?” Blaine asked.

“It’s not anyone else, though,” Sam said. “I can’t say I know Kurt all that well, but even I know he hates that guy. I thought you were trying to work things out.”

“I am. We are,” Blaine said in frustration. Why did things have to be so complicated? “Are you going to say anything to him?”

“Kurt and I don’t exactly run in the same circles,” Sam said with a shrug. “Brittany is best-friends with Kurt’s roommate though.”

Brittany might say something, or might not. He doubted that she attached any importance to them being here together, but then he never really understood what Brittany was thinking.

“He apologized for everything,” Blaine said with a nod at Sebastian. “He’s trying to change.”

“So, you think he really is malting?” Sam asked with a wry grin.

Blaine considered correcting Sam’s grammar, but decided to just go with it. “He really is. And we’re just friends.”

Sam retrieved Brittany with a nod of wary acceptance for Sebastian. He might not be thrilled with the situation, but he seemed to accept Blaine’s assessment. Blaine didn’t think this was going to be the end of it though. He was bound to get an earful later when he and Sam didn’t have an audience.
 

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