One Good Day (one-shot, TRIGGER: suicide planning)

He knows the feeling all too well. The disappointment, the quiet despair, the thought that there must be more to life than that. More than the everyday grind of the job he hates and coming home to cold silence, only to reheat dinner left for him in the fridge, stare brainlessly at bad TV shows, and go to bed.

When Blaine was young and idealistic… whoa, he’s barely 22, he just graduated from college, why does he sound like his own grandfather all of a sudden?

Anyway, when Blaine was an idealistic teenager, he used to believe that life had a purpose; there were so many goals to reach, countless things to do with days that were always fleeting, too short, not enough. Where are his goals now? Earning money so he can afford nice things and look down his nose at his peers just doesn’t feel worth all the effort. And other things – things he might want – he can’t have. Love. Family. Music. Passion. Kids.

At least not the way he wants them.

It’s not that he didn’t try. Of course he did. Fresh with the relief of leaving Yale with a BA in Business after four unbearably long years, five months ago he gathered all his courage and went to see his father. He naively believed that after doing what was expected of him and graduating with honors, he’d have some sort of leverage. That his father would have a reason to be proud of him at last; that he’d be placated enough to say that of course, he had nothing against Blaine’s plans to ask his boyfriend of two years to move in with him.

He couldn’t have been more mistaken.

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Fic: Let's Play Pretend - part 11/11

A/N: Before you dive into the story finale, let us invite you to join us one more time – tomorrow (Friday, March 1st) at the usual hour (6pm EST). We’ll have a very special video for you. Thank you for taking this journey with us!

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  The letter comes over two months later, on yet another too hot, early August afternoon when Blaine doesn’t know what to do with himself, all alone in the silent house.

There’s no return info on the envelope and the stamp is so smudged it’s impossible to say where it came from. Even his address is typed. But the neat handwriting on the single sheet of paper inside is unmistakably familiar, and for the first time in weeks, Blaine smiles.

He can’t stop smiling.

I keep you with me in my heart You make it easier when life gets hard

That’s it, just two lines, a handful of simple words in the middle of a crisp white sheet. But it’s enough. It’s a world for Blaine.

They’re alive. Kurt is alive.

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Fic: Let's Play Pretend - part 10/11

A/N: Remember when I said that if you squint, there are a few scenes in this story that may need a little warning? I mostly meant this chapter. There’s nothing drastic, but if you’re really easily triggered, proceed with caution.

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They don’t win.

They don’t even place in the top ten, but somehow, Blaine doesn’t mind. Everyone is upset and Santana is out of control, but as they fly home, Blaine can only think of how many amazing, unforgettable moments he’s had with Kurt. And Rachel, too, but… Kurt. He’s pretty sure he’s in love, and not just with the city. And after this morning, he’s almost certain New York is it for him. If only he gets accepted, he’s going to college there.

He tells that to Kurt as they wait for their baggage, taking great care not to lean too close or seem too intimate after the heady rush of the last three days. Kurt just smiles, his eyes warm and full of affection.

“Can you spare a few hours tomorrow afternoon? Our parents will be gone again…”

And god, can he? Of course he can. He wants nothing more than to hold Kurt close. He wants to kiss him, touch him, see him come apart, all because of Blaine. He wants Kurt for himself. He wants more than secret moments, stolen when no one is looking. He wants to never have to say goodbye, to always have him close.

He wants so much.

“I’ll be there.”

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Fic: Let's Play Pretend - part 9/11

  New York is everything Blaine has been dreaming of, and more. It’s huge and crowded, bright with neon lights and murky where the lights don’t reach. It smells of car fumes and street food and, most of all, possibilities. It’s a place where dreams come true. It’s life itself, and Blaine drinks it up from the minute they get off the plane. It doesn’t matter that they only have two hotel rooms for the entire Glee club, or that Mr. Schue disappears as soon as he’s done lecturing them on the ground rules for this trip – they have three days and two nights in the city that never sleeps, and Blaine wishes he could give up on sleep, too.

They’re in New York.

The first day is the most busy and chaotic. Everyone’s in a frenzy of sightseeing and exploring, in couples and little groups, so it’s the best opportunity to do something Blaine has been planning for weeks.

“Can I take you out on a proper date tonight?” he blurts out at Kurt as soon as the three of them are out of earshot of their friends. Or they would be, if Rachel’s delighted squeal on her brother’s behalf wasn’t quite that piercing. Kurt’s eyes get wide and incredulous.

“Really? A real date? Just the two of us and dressing up and not hiding?”

“Yes.” Blaine shoots Rachel a look in case she wanted to invite herself along, but she’s just beaming at them. “I called my brother, he spent a few months here last year, and he recommended some nice places. We could go around seven and have a walk afterwards, and still be back for Mr. Schue’s curfew at eleven. I wish we could go see a Broadway play, too, but it’s too late and–”

“Blaine. I’d love to go on a date with you. Dinner and a walk sound wonderful.” Kurt’s eyes are sparkling, two bits of bright blue sky, filled with sunshine.

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Fic: Let's Play Pretend - part 8/11

  The first time Kurt and Rachel sing it in Glee – during the original songs week, when everyone’s supposed to try and write their own song – there’s no applause when they finish. The song is amazing, their performance of it breathtaking, but that’s not what holds everyone attention, keeps them speechless and staring in complete silence. Blaine bites his lip, keeps his face carefully blank. He’s as shocked as everyone else, though for slightly different reasons.

Santana is the first to recover.

“Wanky!” Even she sounds mildly creeped-out, though.

“Wait.” Puck is frowning, halfway between spooked and fascinated. “So you two are, like, fucking?”

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Fic: Let's Play Pretend - part 7/11

A/N: Because I’ve been an ass and somehow in all this chaos and excitement of preparing this story for posting I forgot to officially thank our amazing beta- and test-readers (I’ve fixed the story notes now but man, I’m so embarrassed. I’m sorry!):

nachochang, tchrgleek, sleepdeprivedmind, honeysuckle-pink - THANK YOU so, so much for your help, you wonderful, generous people! <3 (And please forgive me for being a chaotic mess…) 

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  “Kurt, are you alright?”

“Of course, why wouldn’t I be?” It’s an automatic response, Blaine can tell; it comes out snappy and Kurt looks up at him apologetically, but doesn’t say anything more.

“I don’t know – you seem preoccupied these last few days. You disappear during lunch breaks, you snap at people who care about you–”

Kurt sighs and puts away his sandwich. “– and the muffins were burned this morning, I know. This last part is actually Rachel’s fault, she’s learning to bake.”

To Blaine’s left, Rachel huffs irritably. Kurt pats her hand and turns back to Blaine. Even his smile seems half-hearted.

“It’s nothing, just some trouble at home. I’ll be fine.”

“Any way I can help?”

“No. But thank you.”

This time the smile is real, if only a flash.

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Fic: Let's Play Pretend - part 6/11

Valentine’s Day is approaching fast and it’s the first time since his epic crush on his friend Amy in middle school that Blaine is actually excited about it. He’s got someone to surprise this year – he’s got two people who matter to him and need to know it. And it would be easy and wonderful and so natural – almost all of his friends are excitedly preparing dates and songs and gifts for their boyfriends and girlfriends, it’s all they talk about lately – except no one can know.

So much has changed since the West Side Story opening night, and yet, some things never changed at all. Everyone knows Blaine is friends with the Hummelberrys now; some people even guess that he has a little crush, though their suspicions are firmly focused on Rachel.

But people talking and guessing is one thing, and the official picture is another – and the true nature of their relationship has to remain a tightly guarded secret. Whatever Blaine prepares for Valentine’s Day, it can be in no way public. What’s more, it has to be subtle enough that even if Rachel and Kurt’s parents stumble upon it, it won’t raise suspicions that anything more than friendship is going on.

And that’s what makes it complicated.

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Fic: Let's Play Pretend - part 5/11

A/N: We have a masterpost now (it lives on my sidebar, too), so if the tag doesn’t work the way it should, links to all of the chapters and art are there.

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Christmas is nice. Cooper comes home for three full days and even though Blaine’s parents are on call, their phones stay blissfully silent for once, at least until they have to return to their usual shifts at the hospital. Once Christmas is over, however, the rest of the week drags as if it would never end, and Blaine knows exactly why that is.

He’s feeling lonely. And not because Mike is away skiing with his parents – he has a feeling he would be restless and unfocused even with his oldest friend there. Blaine simply misses them, the duo that has become such an essential part of his life lately. The awareness of the thousands of miles between them is almost like a physical ache. They’re too far to reach, and what makes it even worse, Blaine has no way to contact them at all until they come back.

By the time January 2nd rolls around, Blaine’s room is cleaner than it has been in months, his CDs and DVDs neatly stacked and organized alphabetically, and a few of his favorite books reread again.

And when Rachel and Kurt come back, they come with a bang.

“How would you like to spend the evening with us tonight? Our parents won’t be home until tomorrow.”

Rachel, like the tease extraordinaire she is, whispers an invitation into Blaine’s ear just as they are walking to their first class after Christmas break – and of course Blaine’s focus is gone for the day, shifted towards things so much more interesting than classes.

His teachers are not impressed.

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Fic: Let's Play Pretend - part 4/11

“Blaine! Where were you last night? We were all waiting for our lead actors to join us and neither of you guys came.” Artie is cheerful this afternoon, riding on the steady waves of praise and eager for another successful night.

“Sorry. I was too tired, I went right to bed.”

“Me too.” Rachel chimes in. She’s just breezed in, looking fresh and lovely, and a breath catches in Blaine’s throat as another, much less innocent picture of her seems to overlay. “I needed my beauty sleep to be my best tonight. “

She’s all business again. And yet, when she looks at Blaine, there’s a new kind of warmth there, affection similar to how she is as Maria, even though she isn’t in character yet.

“Okay, come, my Tony. Let’s get over this one part we didn’t get quite right last night.” She takes his hand as if she did it every single day, and pulls him to the stage.

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Fic: Let's Play Pretend - part 3/11

  The dress rehearsal on Saturday morning goes smoothly. Excitement is thick in the air and everything is in its place, and Blaine’s pre-opening night jitters melt away soon enough. He’s ready, everything is well-practiced, and even with his virginity still intact he’s going to be a great Tony.

And then Rachel comes and ruins his equilibrium in three seconds flat.

“We need to have a real kiss tonight.”

Blaine chokes on his water. “Excuse me?”

“I’ve been thinking about it all night and it’s really the only way. Stage kisses are so unprofessional, Blaine, and I need everything to be just perfect! We should kiss for real, instead.”

“But –”

She tilts her head and frowns. “Unless it’s a problem. I’ll understand if you don’t want to kiss me, of course.”

“No, I do!” Wow, that sounded way too eager. “I mean, I’m okay with that. If you are.”

“Of course I am.” She smiles. “And with such an attractive co-star? It will be my pleasure. Excellent, we need to let Artie know and run through the scene at least one last time.”

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Fic: Let's Play Pretend - part 2/11

A/N: Just a quick reminder today: this story is completely AU. It’s best not to assume anything about the characters’ background or history before diving in.

For more information about this story and the whole project, see chapter 1.

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  “Hi, would you mind if I joined you?”

It’s Friday afternoon and Blaine is sitting at the Lima Bean with Mike when the unexpected but unmistakable voice hits him right between the eyes. Or, well, ears. He turns slowly, almost afraid to look, and sure enough – gorgeous, with a careful smile, it’s Kurt.

It’s funny, how many thoughts and realizations can run through one’s head in the second or two it takes to smile and nod.

Suddenly Blaine is very aware that he’s never seen Kurt in the coffeeshop before, even though he’s here almost every day.

He manages to notice how many tables around them are empty, so it isn’t like Kurt has nowhere else to sit – which means he came over to them because he wanted to.

His brain also registers the fact that Rachel is nowhere to be seen, which is a first.

He even has time to freak out a little, because he hasn’t bothered to style his hair as carefully as he should have after PE, and the cardigan he is wearing today is his favorite, but it has seen better days, and he can feel the tips of his ears getting all hot, which means he is blushing, and Kurt is looking right at him and probably noticing all these things and more, and why is he so nervous all of a sudden?

And then he thanks all the deities he can think of that Mike knows him so well after all these years, because with one look at Blaine’s face, he takes control of the situation, keenly aware of what flustered Blaine is capable of.

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Fic: Let's Play Pretend - part 1/11

Creators: anxioussquirrel (words) & headbandxbowties (art and video)

Title from: Pretend by Lights

Pairings: Klaine/Hummelberry/Klaineberry [if you want to ask which one(s) is/are romantic, please don’t. spoilers. trust us, you’ll see.]

Rating: R

Genre: AU

Warnings: If you squint, there are a few things we could warn about. But we won’t, because there’s no way not to spoil the story by doing so. It’s nothing too hard, but if you are easily triggered or squicked, it might be best not to read this one. Or you can ask (non-anon, and only about specific triggers/squicks, I will only answer yes/no because, you know, spoilers).

Status: complete in 11 parts, 35 000 words

Posting: daily between Monday 18 February and Thursday 28 February, around 6pm EST

Where: tumblr, plus LJ, FF and scarves&coffee [those three will be updated up to an hour after the original posting on tumblr]

Tag to track: fic: let’s play pretend [check it out, all the pretty content will be there in one place]

Summary: Rachel and Kurt Hummelberry, new transfer students at McKinley High – unapproachable, mysterious, not to mention virtually inseparable. What is their story? What are they hiding? What will it take to get close enough to learn their secrets? Blaine Anderson is dying to know. But if he succeeds, won’t he regret it?

A/N: Here we go! We’re proud (and a little nervous) to present the project we’ve been creating together for the last six months. I don’t think I’ve ever worked so hard on a story before, or cursed so much while at it, or edited anything quite so thoroughly (five separate rounds, guys. FIVE.) I hope you enjoy the effect.

A few technical notes: (Almost) every chapter contains bonus visual content by Hachi – it will always be linked at the end of the chapter, and believe me, it’s so worth clicking those links. So much pretty hiding there. Also, feel free to come and ask about anything throughout the story – but please ask off-anon. There are things I won’t answer in public.

Okay, I think we’re ready. Enjoy the trip :)

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Gossip.

Every high school feeds on it, depends on the steady influx of juicy news to liven up the dull process of learning. William McKinley High School in Lima, Ohio is no different. Be it through the whispers in the corridors and over lunch, the rag of the school newspaper or Jacob Ben Israel’s blog, gossip flows through the veins of the student body and keeps it alive.

This week – the first week of Blaine Anderson’s junior year – the hottest topic is a couple of new students transferring in from LA. They are immediately fascinating because wow, LA, why would anyone move from LA to Lima? – but it’s not the only thing that makes them gossip-worthy.

They’re just… different.

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Title: It’s Not Babysitting

Author: anxioussquirrel

Rating: NC-17

Summary: Written for this prompt on the GKM

Pairing: Klaine

Status: complete

Chapters: 27

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