Hopelessly Devoted to You
AN: Written by Blair. Began after 'Sectionals' had aired, so it's set at that time. The story is currently almost finished, with only a chapter or two to neaten up. Feedback is appreciated!
Xx Sam and Blair.
He flicked his gray-blue eyes up to the girl who was speaking with him. "Kurt. Pay attention! Where is your head at today?" Mercedes demanded. He brushed his brown bangs off to the side in his signature gesture and replied, "Sorry I'm just a little.. distracted"
"I can tell" She murmured, "Whats going on?"
"Oh, Nothing"
"I know you too well to take that for an answer"
"Yes you're far too smart for that" He said offering her his wide smile, "The truth is.. I think.."
"You think you like someone?" She whispered, carefully averting her eyes to make sure no one was listening. "Yes" He said, his voice filled with trust. He could never speak to his only parent about this sort of thing. "Who?" She ventured.
"Finn" He replied, his name sounding strangely dreamy too him.
"Well that's been there a while.. there ain't no denyin' that" She said. "I know. But its getting worse.. now that he's single" He replied in an irregular, desperate tone. She nodded, "Well you'd wanna act fast coz Rachel is gonna be all over him soon"
"Mmm", He said standing up and smoothing his shirt.
"Wait", She said grabbing his arm, "Just how much do you like him?"
"More then this season's Alexander McQueen" he admitted quietly with an edge of his usual superior attitude.
"Then be careful. I don't want you getting hurt, okay?" She said with a calm respect that Kurt always appreciated in her.
He nodded, gratefully and swallowed, "We should get to glee then"
"Yeah we should" She said standing up and following him to the auditorium where the glee kids had agreed to meet.
He and Mercedes entered with an intake of plan was too look perfect and confident when he entered the room.
He'd taken care of the 'perfect' part earlier in the morning when he brushed his hair and tended to it extra carefully. He'd moisturized his face with the most expensive products he had. 'Confident' was an illusion he pulled off every day and he tried to combine it in his stance as he walked quickly past the row of occupied seats until he found two empty ones where he sat by Mercedes. He breathed cautiously and peeked his head subtly to the side to see where Finn was sitting. Finn, with his thick dark hair pricked up in his usual style, was sitting four seats away from him with an unusually perky Rachel to his left. He looked preoccupied which made a guilty smile creep onto his face. Kurt crossed his legs and clasped his hands over his knees in a signature position.
Mr Schuester clapped once and walked to the front of the classroom. "Okay guys. You all worked really hard and well a few weeks ago when we worked in pairs to do ballads. So you can work in those pairs for a new assignment. Matt, now that you're back you can work with Rachel.." Everything else Mr Schue said blurred hopelessly after that and Kurt's heart skipped a beat.
He'd be working with Finn.
"I think I'd be more excited if I was working with you or Tina" Mercedes grumbled to him, but he paid her no mind as he flushed with excitement.
He spun to see if Finn looked happy. Instead, he caught an angry glance from Rachel. Whatever kind of truce they'd had in the past seemed invisible now for this moment, he knew, their battle for Finn had commenced. Rachel Berry would never know the words she'd said to him in the past still rung in his ears.
"You think I live in a fairy tale and that I'm just a second? Even if I were a second or even a fiftieth" She'd said, "I'd still be ahead of you because I'm a girl" He shivered feeling in confident, trying to remind himself that he was neglecting the second aspect of his plan.
He had an advantage. Rachel didn't. He had time alone with Finn that she didn't have.
Oh how he wished, as he glanced sideways at Finn, to be held in his arms and to reassure him that he didn't need Quinn. That he'd be fine without her. He'd always known that Quinn would hurt him. When it happened, he was only too eager to spread the story of her betrayal convinced that the longer it went on, the more hurt Finn would be. But when Rachel had been the one to tell Finn personally, he hadn't spared a glance for any of the three with a single spark of interest. But now he was partnered with Finn, he had a chance to win him over and finally have him for himself.
He knew Quinn was pretty much out of the picture, so now it was just down to him and Rachel and so he was left praying that things would turn in his favor.
He then started to pay attention to what Mr Schue was actually saying, "You and your partner will perform a duet together and the other members will score each pairing out of ten and give anonymous feedback" He said to the class, "You have a week from today to prepare your song and costumes are optional. You can have ten minutes to discuss what you'll be doing with your partner then you can go to your next classes"
Kurt stood up, unfolding his legs, and walked to Finn.
"Why hello there Finn" He said with his laugh that Mercedes always described as 'awkward'
"Hi Kurt." Finn replied staring at him with a look that wasn't precisely admiring.
"Have you got any ideas for our duet?" Kurt asked tilting his head to the side.
"No.. Have you?" He said quietly.
"Yes I do!" He smiled with a little thrust of his shoulder, "As Long as Your Mine. From Wicked.. the musical" It was one of the more romantic songs from his favorite musical. Although he figured he'd explain Wicked was a musical anyway. Finn wasn't the brightest in the bunch.
"I'm not sure.. It sounds kind of.. full on" Finn hesitated.
"No, I assure you it will be perfect. Your vocals would be amazing for the part of Fiyero and my voice is high enough to pass as Elphaba.." He said with a wide-eyed glance at Finn. Singing Wicked with Finn was a novelty he could only dream of.
"Okay I suppose. I'll try it"
"Thank you Finn. You're really amazing." Kurt smiled.
"Uhh thanks" Finn murmured. He was still a little uneasy after the Quinn detour. But Kurt knew that he'd fix that.
"Anyway, I could dye my skin green to look like Elphaba" He was going to start a full on rant about the entire plot of Wicked but he settled for just, "They think she is a witch.. her mother took a-"
Finn placed a hand on his shoulder to silence him which sent cold chills down his back, "You don't need to dye yourself green Kurt"
"Okay" He said, quietly.
"If we sing a powerful song and I think that's what you've picked. We need simple clothes, a dark stage and two spotlights. It would work" Finn replied to him.
"Finn, you are a beautiful genius"
"Pardon?"
"You're a living genius"
"Oh okay.. I thought you said something else"
"I did" He said too quietly for Finn to hear, "So we should practice after school"
"Yeah okay. Where?"
"You could come to my house. I have a big room so we should have space. Plus dad doesn't get bothered unless we're making deafening noises or playing Single Ladies a bit too loudly" Kurt replied.
"Oh.." Finn said mechanically, not seeming to see anything weird with this statement which made Kurt beam and fix his bangs again.
"So is it a deal?" Kurt asked hopefully.
"Yeah sure. I'll come after football practice" Finn replied.
"Sure" Kurt said trying to be calm, "That sounds reasonable"
"Okay guys" Mr. Schuester halted their conversation, "Time to head off."
Kurt huffed, disappointed, "I'll see you after school then"
"Yeah" Finn said before slipping off to Mike Cheng, who he'd become friends with since he'd found out the father of 'his' baby, was his best friend. Puck hadn't confronted Finn at all, which just made Kurt want to comfort him.
He sighed as he walked to Mercedes' side, "We have drama together don't we?"
"Yeah" She replied, "Why?"
"Because I have a lot to tell you"
In Drama, Kurt sat by Mercedes still feeling a tingle where Finn's hand had touched his shoulder ten minutes ago.
"So are you gonna keep staring at the wall, Mr Dreamy, or are you gonna give me the info?" Mercedes whispered with an in-character smirk.
"I'll give you the info" he laughed.
"Good. You're driving me mad" She replied.
Kurt gave her every little detail possible and when he was done he added, "and he's coming to my house this afternoon after football practice"
"Oh my god.. That's good. But don't get carried away.. we don't know if he is even.. into guys"
"I know, but I feel like he will be"
"Kurt, he's had girlfriends"
"That doesn't mean anything" He responded and she stayed silent for the rest of the lesson.
When it was over, they gathered their things and left the room.
"Kurt, I know you're excited. But please for your sake don't be disappointed if he doesn't share your feelings" She said gently.
"Thank you Mercedes" He said lifting an eyebrow, "May I escort you to the bus?"
"Yes." She chuckled and they walked to the yellow machine.
Kurt had always found the bus rather distasteful. He would drive home if his dad hadn't taken his baby away. They boarded the vehicle and took two empty seats at the back.
"So, what are you and Puck singing?" He said.
"No idea. I thought a nice R&B song but he wanted to sing, 'I'm too sexy for my shirt'.. Which I refused by the way"
Kurt laughed.
"See, that was your awkward laugh?" She boomed and he nudged her shoulder playfully.
"So I was thi-" She began but stopped as avid blogger and journalist, Jacob Ben Israel, approached them.
"What do you want?" Mercedes asked.
"Nothing" He sighed in reply, "I just need a seat"
Kurt rolled his eyes and pointed to the seat beside him.
Jacob sat down and sighed again, causing Kurt to eye him snootily.
"Why so depressed?" Mercedes asked.
"I'm heartbroken!" Jacob said as he placed his hand dramatically.
"Um, why?" She asked nervously.
"Its a disaster. And I'm only telling you two because we're such good friends," At friends, Kurt scoffed, "I'm heartbroken because my sweetheart Rachel Berry is most certainly going to be exclusive with Finn Hudson soon" Jacob said quietly but with emphasis on my sweetheart. Mercedes chuckled faintly, "You can't know that" she insisted apparently not trying to hurt Kurt's feelings.
"Yes I do" He replied as Mercedes groaned, "She's invited Finn to her house tomorrow night.." Jacob said with a scowl.
Kurt buried his face in his hands helplessly as Mercedes placed a reassuring hand on his back.
"I know Kirk. I feel your pain. The thought of Rachel not being single is unbearable" Jacob said, his voice filled with self pity, as he placed a free hand beside Mercedes' on Kurt's back.
Kurt snatched his hand away from him, "My name is Kurt and I'm not upset about Rachel. Only you would crush so mindlessly on her"
"Aren't we friends? I though pretending to be a member at sectionals made up for the things on my blog" Jacob replied.
"You only did that for Rachel" Mercedes said then rolled her eyes, "Buuut, we might find it in our hearts to accept you more... If you pass on a message"
Kurt shot her an inquiring look as Jacob asked, "What message?"
"You can tell Rachel that Finn is going to be occupied tomorrow.. Because he's coming to Kurt's house tomorrow for dinner"