Old hangups and new beginnings
Summary:Kurt has a bright future ahead of him. But moving on from his old life might be more difficult than expected. Eventual Puckurt. AU after Nationals.
A/N 1: Sequel to Surprised outbursts and unexpected revelations. You might want to read it first.
Chapter 1
It's been two weeks. More or less.
Two weeks since they won Nationals. It doesn't even bother him that Rachel takes most of the credit for their win. It was expected. And why would he get mad. They won. After three years they finally won.
Two weeks since the Glee Club is suddenly popular. It's surreal. There are people in the halls greeting him that before never looked twice at him. Or just to make fun of him. He's not that impressed by the new friends.
Two weeks since Mr Schuester won his undeserved award for Best Teacher. Kurt never wanted to cause drama in the last few days of school. But his little speech at Mr Schuester's after-award party did exactly that. Luckily it's not long until graduation. He just has to survive these last days and then he doesn't have to endure the accusing looks from the others. Most of his friends are behaving like it was the worst thing ever. Calling out their incompetent teacher on his shitty teaching skills. He's not going to apologize. No matter how many times Finn tells him to.
And two weeks since Puck kinda told him that he likes him. It's been also two weeks since Kurt talked to Puck.
Kurt doesn't know what he was thinking. When Puck revealed his feelings he wasn't just flattered. He started thinking about the possibility of them being together. The occasional fantasies suddenly became possible. It was only when Blaine called later that night that Kurt realized what he was doing. He was thinking about a relationship with another boy while forgetting about his current one.
He loves Blaine. It's true, they relationship was a little bumpy in the last months but he loves him. And Blaine loves him back. They are good. He shouldn't think about Puck while he has a wonderful boyfriend. The last thing he needs is being drawn into a love-triangle.
And there is also the fact that Puck is his friend. He's the only one that doesn't treat him like the walking stereotype that he sometimes is. He always tries to include him into the bro-nights and other events the other boys plan without thinking of Kurt.
The first few days after the revelation Kurt thought about the possibility that Puck was being nice to him because of his feelings for him. However now he thinks that Puck wouldn't have told him if it weren't for their victory at Nationals and the events that followed. He didn't expect for Kurt to break up with Blaine.
He's just back from his Saturday morning shopping trip with Mercedes. Actually he was planning on going to the Lima Bean and read in peace but Sebastian Smythe's apparent living arrangements made him leave after getting his coffee. No matter what other customers might say he didn't hide behind a pillar. Totally not.
Of course his phone is ringing from upstairs. Never again is he giving his phone to Finn. Every time he either forgets were he put it or he doesn't charge it. Either way Kurt has to spend at least a day without it.
It's then that he sees the mail lying on the floor. With Finn and Sam still out with the other guys and his dad and Carole in Washington it is still where it fell trough the mail slot.
There it is. Kurt already heard back from some colleges. He has a list with schools that want him. He already put them in order. But there lying in his front hall is his NYADA letter.
Suddenly he's feeling sick. It's a small envelope. What does it mean? In movies they always talk about it. Is small good or bad? He can't remember.
He picks it up and starts opening the letter. Briefly he wonders why his hands aren't shaking. It doesn't matter what it says. He has the choice. It isn't the end of the world if he doesn't get it. There are worse things than not getting into his first choice school. Even if he didn't get in. Madame Tibideaux said she liked his audition. That's still something.
He has to read it twice until the words make sense.
He got in.
He reads it again just to make sure it wasn't an illusion. The words don't change.
Kurt's not sure how long he's been standing there clutching the letter. He has to call his father. Kurt is not sure if he can talk with the wide grin on his face, but he has to call him right now.
Upstairs the phone is still ringing. Maybe it's ringing again. The caller ID says it's Rachel. Of course it is. Unless for school, she hasn't left the house in days. Always waiting for news about NYADA.
He just has time to say her name before she starts talking.
"Oh Kurt, I tried to call you all morning. Well since I saw the mail. Did you get your NYADA letter?"
The smile on his face upon the mention of the letter falters when he hears her following words.
"It's terrible. But they didn't deserve us. I'm not sure if NYADA isn't even that good of a school if they can't recognize our talent."
There is no doubt but he asks anyway. "You weren't accepted?"
The line goes silent. "Rachel?"
"Did you?"
Kurt isn't sure how he should interpret her tone. It's not the sympathetic one from a few seconds ago.
"Kurt? Did you get in?"
He's glad they are not having the conversation face to face.
"Well, yes." He isn't feeling happy anymore. "I'm sorry you didn't."
"But why?"
"I don't know, Rachel." Her forgetting her text probably wasn't that fortunate. "You can try next year."
"I made Madame Tibidaux come to Nationals. I was wonderful."
"You were."
He feels bad that he would much rather hang up the phone and call his dad than consoling Rachel. But she is his friend. It's understandable she's sad. Kurt is not sure how he would feel if Rachel got in but he didn't.
"And I'm far more talented than you." Well, he at least wouldn't insult her. "You know it's true. In comparison you are only mediocre. If someone deserves NYADA it is me."
She's not taking it away from him. Not this. The last three years he was in constant competition with Rachel and she got everything.
Every solo she wanted. Mr Schuester's constant attention and approval. The boy, although it makes him cringe thinking about his past feelings for Finn. For one week she even got Blaine. She got voted Prom Queen while his crowning was just a cruel joke.
He can understand that she is angry but she is not going to make him feel bad. "Well, you shouldn't have blown your audition then."
There isn't even time for him to feel bad about what he said before she hangs up on him.
When neither his Dad nor Blaine answer his calls so he decides to go downstairs. He has to do something while waiting before trying to reach them again.
Apparently while he was in his room Finn came home. From the noise Kurt expects the living room full of boys. So he is surprised to just find Finn and Puck sitting on the couch eating cereal and watching some movie. He sits down and tries to figure out what they are watching. On the screen he sees drinking teens attending a party. Honestly it could be anything.
"Where have you been?" His tone was stricter than he thought if Finn's reaction is anything to go by.
Spluttering he says something about a party to celebrate Puck's success in Geography and therefore graduation. He can't even be bothered to get mad about the fact that he wasn't invited. All his anger is still directed at Rachel.
"Whatever." He interrupts Finn's tale about the great party at Artie's. "Where is your phone?"
"I forgot it?" Finn admits sheepishly. "Why? Did you call? Did something happen?"
"Everything is fine. Just go and call Rachel!"
It isn't until Finn is running up the stairs that Kurt realizes that this leaves him alone with Puck. It's been two weeks and the the first time they are alone in a room.
Kurt expected it to be awkward. Both of them not knowing what to say, then stuttering some nonsense and finally one of them runs away just so they don't have to talk about what happened.
Two weeks were way too much time for him to overthink everything. Puck just continues to watch the movie.
Kurt's view on their relationship changed. He knows that Puck likes him. But for Puck nothing changed. While Kurt was thinking about a romantic relationship with him and then feeling bad about it and then just trying to forget that it actually happened, Puck just continued with his life. He didn't start to suddenly woo him or try to get into Kurt's pants. He just told him about his feelings so Kurt knows he is appreciated.
"I got into NYADA."
He wanted to tell his dad first. The rest would have be spontaneously. His father isn't picking up the phone just like Blaine. Sam's absence tells him that Mercedes is busy hanging out with Sam. And Rachel is, well Rachel. He really needs to share the news with someone that is just happy for him.
If the hug isn't clue enough that Puck is happy for him his words are. "Dude! That's great!"
A/N 2: Anyone wants to be my beta? It would be appreciated although I'm already giving my best.