Title: The Phrase That Pays (I Do)
Summary: Finn Hudson's working as the assistant to the wedding planner (aka Kurt) at his brothers boutique when Mercedes Jones comes, looking for a last minute wedding planner. With Kurt's schedule filled, Finn agrees to take on the job - but what's going to happen when he starts to develop feelings for his client who's wedding is all but a month away? Will Mercedes fall for the tall, awkward and clumsy man and leave her fiance? And even if so, will Mercede's father ever get over the fact that she's in love with a white man?
Pairing: Finn/Mercedes, Kurt/Blaine, Mercedes/OC (at first)
*Partially influenced by the movies Guess Who and Made of Honor
There doesn't seem to be a lot of demand for this couple but I felt as if I had a really good basis for a story including Finn and Mercedes, plus I gotta admit - Finn and Mercedes would be PERFECT together :) If you'd like to see this story continued, please let me know! I have 3 other stories I'm working on right now so it's helpful to know what people like to read the most so I can work on it more frequently :)
This place was always a mess.
Finn rummaged through the piles of material-papers, satins, velvets and more-throwing handfuls up and behind him as he searched frantically for Kurt's appointment book.
Why did it seem as if hurricane Katrina decided to come through here on a daily basis? Finn couldn't recall a time where he didn't open the button drawer to find safety pins, or claw through racks of dresses to find a tux. Hell, even Save the Date cards of all styles and designs were sticking out in all directions beneath the pile of dress catalogues and take out menus.
They didn't exactly have the free time to go out for lunch in their line of work.
Kurt is going to kill me if I don't have that stupid appointment book to him by tonight, Finn thought as he wiped the back of his hand across his forehead. Who would have thought searching through heaps of wedding stuff could be such a workout? Is the air even on in here?
He stood still and scanned over the desk. Maybe if he didn't move and make so much noise he'd be able to spot it. It was a slim chance, but maybe it would-
There!
His hand jolted out so quick to grab what seemed to be Kurt's appointment book that he slammed his knuckles against the drawer that was halfway open, causing him to hiss and bring his hand up to his mouth where he nursed his wound, pressing his lips against his scratched skin. Upon further examination of what looked to be the appointment book, it turned out that it was just a black-and-white portfolio folder that housed some photos of past weddings that he and Kurt had worked on.
When he's finished being a huge baby about the swollen and scratched skin on his hand, he returns to throwing things around the room once again until the main phone line rings, diverting his attention.
He looked from the phone, to the clock that hung up on the wall, and then back to the phone once more. It was 5:45PM-fifteen minutes 'til closing time. He desperately wanted to ignore the call and just go home, but he knew that wouldn't be fair of him.
Finn sucked it up and answered the phone, pushing the search for Kurt's appointment book to the side for now. "Happily Ever After, how can I help you?"
"Hi, my name is Laurie-Ann Davidson and I had spoken with someone here about a week ago about ordering a shipment of dinner place-mats for my wedding."
Finn waited for her to continue until he realized that she wasn't going to unless he provoked her.
"Uh-huh?"
I've been sent the wrong ones."
"Well what's wrong 'em?"
"I ordered them to be an off white color, but they're smoke colored!" she exclaimed, causing Finn to cringe. He palmed through a few things on the desk until he came to the color and shading book, flipping it open. The first page depicted the different variations of the color white. No matter how much he squinted he couldn't tell the difference between off white and smoke.
"Ma'am, I'm pretty sure they're both the same color," Finn said as he tipped the book back and forth beneath the light that shone from the ceiling. "So what's the big deal?"
Finn really wished he wouldn't of said that because the woman gave some sort of demonic shriek, as if Finn had just stolen her first born child right from her arms and told her that he was going to drink its blood like fruit punch, which didn't sound appetizing in the least to him.
"Big deal? What is wrong with you! You're supposed to be a wedding planner!"
"Actually, I'm just the assistant-"
"I want my off white place-mats and I want them now," the woman growled through the phone. Finn's eyes darted to the clock.
5:52PM.
He pinched the bridge of his nose. "When do you need them by?"
The sudden sound of Don't Stop Believin' began to blare from somewhere under everything, startling Finn a bit. He groaned and slapped his palm to his forehead. Now his cellphone wanted to join in and torment him as well.
"Tomorrow!" Laurie-Ann barked.
Finn kicked around at a few things on the ground, shuffling about the small space as he subconsciously searched for his still-ringing cellphone. He'd need to remember to turn the ring tone volume down a bit.
"That's impossible, I have to put in a custom order for them; it'd take at least a week!" I whined. "Can't you just be happy with the smoke colored ones? It's the same damn color!"
Don't stop, believin'! Hold on to the feelin'!
"The biggest day of my life-my wedding-is tomorrow, and I want everything to be perfect!" she shouted. "I want those place-mats and that's final!"
Finn turned sharply when he thought he'd gotten a glimpse at Kurt's appointment book, only to step on a loose catalogue page that had him slip and lose his balance, causing him to fall hard on his ass and hit his head against the desk on the way down. He let out a howl of pain.
Today is seriously not my day.
"Hello, are you still there? Ma'am?" Finn asked sorely into the phone. He was met with a sudden 'click' and then a dial tone. He sighed and threw the phone behind him, landing somewhere on the desk. Then he began to grind his teeth.
Kurt's appointment book was right there on the seat of the chair peeking out from under Finn's jacket. To make it worse, when Finn tossed his head back in defeat he noticed that his cellphone was hanging off the desk right above his face.
He began to slam his head back against the wooden desk over and over again until he felt what he knew was the beginning of a horrible headache. His cellphone fell from its unstable position onto his head, helping to further the cause. He didn't even care.
After another ten seconds or so, he stood back up and gathered Kurt's appointment book along with his cellphone. He was ready to blow this joint; today had been so stressful that he had actually contemplated taking up smoking.
Video games. Lots and lots of video games, he thought as he threw his jacket on haphazardly. Feeling something trickle down the side of his face, he rubbed his temple to find a small spot of blood on his fingers. He kicked the desk. Alcohol. Lots and lots of alcohol.
"I didn't know being a wedding planner was so dangerous," an unfamiliar voice called out from the front door. Finn turned around in shock, unaware that someone was even in the room with him. He was itching to give whoever it was an attitude for being there when he was just about to close up and leave, but when his eyes fell on the dark skinned woman he'd lost his nerve. It was as if his words were caught in his throat.
"It's not," he dismissed her out-loud thinking. "I'm just a little... clumsy, is all."
"Long day?"
"You have no idea."
The woman took a few steps into the room, taking her time to view her surroundings before setting her gaze on Finn. "I need your help."
Finn wanted to tell her that they were closed and that he could care less at this point in time, but he couldn't. Something about the woman that stood in front of him made him nervous to speak his mind. Perhaps it was the diva-like air that was about her, or the definite sassiness that he'd detected in her voice earlier. Then again, he also found himself equally as stunned by her long black hair and her dangerous brown eyes among other things such as her curvaceous figure that he couldn't help but find drool-worthy.
The only thing he could manage to say was, "What can I do for you?"
She smiled warmly, making Finn's problems seem to melt away. "I need a wedding planner."
"Uh, well the wedding planners' schedule is actually booked until about late next month right now..."
"Well what about you? You can help me, right?"
Finn blinked.
"Me? Oh-no, you see, I'm not a wedding planner. I'm more of an assistant to the wedding planner?" Finn explained, sounding more unsure of his job title than he should have.
"Well you've got the words 'wedding' and 'planner' in there; can you help me? Please?" the woman begged.
Finn hated to say no to her, but what else was he supposed to do? "I don't think you understand, I mean I'm really not a wedding planner, like, at all. I've never planned a wedding before, I just do stuff like put in orders, tailor suits and dresses... I mean, there was this one time where I got to pick out the flower arrangements, but I don't know if that really counts for anything."
"What's your name?"
"Finn."
"Finn," she decided to use another tactic to get his cooperation. "I'm begging you here. I don't even care if you're not an actual wedding planner-you've got experience with it, and that's enough for me! Please!"
Finn shifted his weight from one leg to another, trying to ignore the shudders his body gave at the sound of his voice on her lips as he peered over her shoulder, focusing on the large glass double doors that led outside. He furrowed his brows in thought.
"Wait-how come you don't just find another wedding planner?"
"Because this place is the only one out of the three in this town that I've heard good reviews about," she answered. "I was actually going to have my good friend do my wedding for me, but after I saw some of his plans for the wedding there was no way I would let him even lay a finger on it; I want something simple and sweet but he insists on this huge and elaborate wedding! He's gone nuts!"
Simple and sweet. Finn thought he could possibly manage that. Besides, how could he say no to such a beautiful lady? "You know what, I'll do it... but only under two conditions."
Her face perked up in hopefulness. "Anything!"
"First of all, you have to promise you wont murder me if I can't exactly whip up the dream wedding for you, and second of all, you've gotta tell me your name."
Finn smiled inwardly at his last condition.
That was smooth.
"Well I certainly hope you're not flirting with me, Mr. Finn." she mock scolded as she held up her hand to show off the engagement ring that sat on her finger with a series of diamonds that were encrested throughout. "My name is Mercedes-Mercedes Jones... and I promise I wont kill you. I just want something simple. I'm sure you'll do just fine!"
Finn mentally slapped himself. How could he forget that his new client was obviously engaged to be married if she was here asking for his help to plan her wedding? He suddenly felt a pang of regret for taking on the project but he was going to keep to his word, no matter what.
"Alright, well I have to head out because I'm supposed to drop off some stuff to my brother, aka the actual wedding planner. Tomorrow and the next day we've got a couple weddings scheduled to take care of, but anytime after that you're more than welcome to just come right in so that we can get started on your wedding. I'm usually here from 8am to 6pm on Monday through Friday."
Mercedes was ecstatic as she threw her arms around Finn. He certainly didn't see that coming but he wasn't complaining either. "Thank you so much, Finn! You have no idea how much this means to me. You're a life saver!"
If you're gonna hug me like that, is there anything else I can for you?
"Please, it's my job." Finn smiled. "Here, I was leaving-I'll walk you out."
Mercedes nodded and walked with Finn out through the glass double doors and onto the sidewalk where Finn locked up the office. He hadn't been paying attention when he felt something press up against his temple. He fearfully moved away from whatever it was, taking notice that it had just been a handkerchief that Mercedes was holding. There were splotches of Finn's blood on it.
"Like I said earlier, I didn't know that it was so dangerous being a wedding planner." Mercedes joked as she handed the handkerchief to Finn. He took it gently from her and held it up to his wound, giving her a shy smile. "Keep it."
"Thank you,"
"No. Thank you," she corrected him. He couldn't help but laugh. "Well I've got to head home before dinner. Expect to see me in a few days!" she said before she began off down the sidewalk away from Finn.
Finn watched her until she became but a small speck in his view. He wouldn't just expect her to show up-he'd hope for her to show up.