The Twists of Fate
(or the Five Ways Kurt and Sam Could Have Gotten Better Acquainted but Didn't, and the One Way They Did)
Thank you very much to everyone who read the first chapter, and especially to AirNationOracle and Number1KurtHummelFan who took the time to left adorable reviews, it really means a lot.
I dearly hope you'll enjoy this chapter as well! An emblematic Kum episode this time around...;)
2. Duets
"Don't worry – this won't take long. I'm…setting you free. You can sing your duet with someone else in Glee; someone that the world deems more appropriate." Even as he wryly reflected that Kurt had chosen quite an unusual way to declare he didn't want to work with him anymore, Sam's heart sank.
He had done his math the second Mr Schuester had explained the assignment for his first week: there were eleven kids in the Glee club, and he'd immediately been convinced he'd be the one left with no duet partner. Kurt's request had been a godsend, especially considering how talented the other teen had since then proved himself to be, and he probably should have known it was too good to be true.
"Did I do something to offend you?" The words left his mouth before he had the chance to realize how forlorn they sounded, and he immediately wished he could take them back. Yet Kurt looked briefly surprised even as he instantly answered in the negative and Sam, in a split-second decision, sized the wrist closest to him with his wet hand to keep Kurt off-balance, pressing his advantage before the brunet could regroup and continue his probably well-rehearsed explanation. If he was going to get dumped, he at least desired to know why.
"Is it because you think I can't keep up? I've listened to the MP3s of you singing so I know you're crazily talented, and I'll be the first to admit I've never seriously trained my voice or anything, but please give me a chance." A truly horrifying thought then occurred to him. "Or did the other boys tell you they actually thought my audition was terrible?"
Kurt's denial came even faster this time.
"No, no, not at all! Of course not! Finn was really impressed with your rendition of Billionaire, he rambled so much about it he made me regret I hadn't been there to hear it. No, this has nothing to do with you, I swear."
Kurt's eyes drifted to where Sam's hand was still circling his wrist so he hastily let go, a bit embarrassed by his own forwardness. Kurt's answer had only made him more confused, however, so he kept on questioning his sudden change of heart.
"Why then? What did you mean by someone more appropriate?"
Kurt seemed momentarily discomfited before defiantly meeting his eyes; Sam, both curious and apprehensive, steeled himself for what was coming, knowing the other teen was finally going to be completely truthful.
"I meant a girl. Or a straight guy. Or even Mr. Schue, since apparently anyone would be a better option."
Several things clicked into place then, and okay, perhaps he was a bit of an idiot, but in his defense he still hadn't gotten used to the rampant homophobia of McKinley High.
"But you didn't seem to care two days ago, so what changed your mind? Did Finn talk to you too?"
"What do you mean, too?"
"Well he rambled a little yesterday on how singing a duet with you was going to get me killed or something. I figured he was exaggerating quite a bit, but it also let me know he had been kinda deceitful when he told me Glee club would make me into a God around here." Sam let a slightly awkward chuckle escape, but Kurt seemed too hung up on his first sentence to react.
"He told you this would get you killed. And Quinn told me you got slushied yesterday. And yet you still didn't plan on cancelling? Or did you decide you wouldn't join Glee club after all and therefore made it a moot point?"
"I'd told you I agreed to sing with you, a bit of corn syrup in my hair wasn't going to change that." It was the answer he had given Finn and he thought it was a pretty cool one, one that made him look honorable.
It also wasn't the real reason, so he gave it another try.
"Plus I feel really thankful, you know? My family has moved three times in the past six years and it's not always easy being the new kid. That's why I wanted to be popular, so I'd be part of a group and so I wouldn't be picked on. So yeah, you asking me to partner with you felt pretty good, dude. And you're really great, so I wouldn't have been surprised to win, and that would have been awesome."
Kurt just stared at him, apparently completely flummoxed, and his stare made Sam realize anew that he was currently completely naked and wasting a great deal of water. It was on the tip of his tongue to ask Kurt to meet him in the auditorium later to prepare for their duet so he could wait for the brunet's departure to leave the stall, but then he remembered the other boy's flirty confidence as he had approached him by his locker and even here in the shower room, leaving Sam blinking in surprise both times, and decided on a little pay-back.
Faking an ease he didn't feel – in spite of his extra half-hour at the gym today he suspected the Doritos he had eaten yesterday evening to console himself after his shitty day had gone straight to his ass – he cut the water off and left the shower stall, reaching for a towel he had hung up a few feet away. He heard a slight choking sound from behind him and had to fight to repress a smile even as he turned around, holding the towel around his hips, to find Kurt with his face resolutely turned towards the wall and his cheeks conspicuously pink.
"So it's settled, right? Do you have time to practice right now or should we meet tomorrow?"
Kurt automatically turned to face him again and Sam smiled overtly as the blue-green eyes followed the path of the water drop he could feel tickling his skin, falling from his soaked hair and down his chest to seep in the towel he was still trying to tuck in around his hips. He didn't know what he was doing exactly, only that he felt both nervous and strangely energized, his heart beating just a little too loud.
"I-I think tomorrow would be better for me, actually," Kurt answered with a stutter Sam already knew to be quite uncharacteristic of him. "We can both just stay in the choir room after Glee club, it's easier this way."
"Right," Sam nodded even as his arms fought to find his shirt's sleeves.
"And Sam?"
He finally managed to put on the slightly too tight T-shirt, turning an interrogative look towards the doorframe where Kurt was standing.
"Thank you."
And then Kurt was gone and Sam was left alone in the shower room, smiling at the empty air like an idiot.
