A/N: Yay for chapter two! :) I'm so glad people seemed to really enjoy ch. 1, which is always good, I had some very insightful comments/reviews, keep them coming! Like I said, reviews make me want to post more. I hope you all will enjoy this chapter, do your usual, read, enjoy, review :) Enjoy you guys!
Chapter Two
"Turn right...now" Susan's smooth voice seemed to float to Finn's ears as he drove down the road, music lightly playing in the background. Flipping on his signal, Finn made the appropriate turn, "Keep straight."
"Gotcha, Susan," Finn smiled and looked over to his step-brother. Kurt had fallen asleep after two hours in the car with Finn. It started out with Finn blasting music and rolling down the windows, taking turns too fast, and overall just being reckless as a driver...typical Finn. However, after Kurt was done chastising him for forgetting that he had "precious cargo" with him for the first hour and a half, Finn could see Kurt's eyes begin to droop. Finn rolled up the windows, turned the music down, even turned the volume on Susan's voice controls down, and sure enough, Kurt had fallen asleep five minutes later. Finn chuckled. "You'll never fall asleep on me, will you Susan?"
"Turn right in...3.5 miles." came the reply, to which Finn smiled. The road he had turned on to was one of those no speed-limit backroads. If Kurt wasn't asleep in the car, Finn would have loved to play "lead foot" on the gas pedal and just be free on the road. Kurt and Finn had enjoyed driving the backroads near their house at top speed whenever they were in need of some de-stressing from life. However, it was kind of a tradition between the two, and Finn had no intention of breaking the tradition, so he travelled the empty road at a comfortable speed, Susan counting down the distance until the next turn.
Coming up over a hill, Finn noticed a brightly colored sign for a convenience store, the one he assumed was an hour from the Lakehouse, and suddenly had a brilliant idea. Taking his foot off the gas pedal, Finn let the car coast and pick up speed as it rolled down the hill.
"Turn right..." Susan began and Finn flipped on his signal. "...now." Finn lightly tapped the brake, only taking a fraction of speed off as he fish-tailed into the vacant parking lot, whiplashing into a parking spot and slamming on the breaks as the car came to a complete and sudden stop. Finn didn't have to look over at Kurt, but the temptation was too great.
Eyes wide, face pale as if he had just seen the ghost of Gaga, Kurt was now wide awake in the passenger seat next to him.
"Oh good, you're awake," Finn chuckled. "We're at the store, we can take a quick pit stop and get what we need to-" Kurt's hand had suddenly latched onto Finn's arm, as if Kurt had snapped back to life.
"You do that again, and I swear..." Kurt seemed to take in a couple deep breaths, trying to contain his soul in his earthbound body. Finn laughed and released from Kurt's grip, ruffling his hair.
"Dude, relax," Finn unbuckled and reaching over, rubbed Kurt's back. "I wouldn't let anything happen to you ok? Just a little bit of fun." Finn got out of the car, Kurt unbuckling and following a couple seconds after, a look on his face that almost read as if he were grateful to be on solid ground. Finn opened the door to the store, holding it open and gesturing for Kurt to enter. Kurt knew by the lop-sided grin that Finn on his face that he was biting back the "ladies first" remark. Finn followed behind his step-brother, closing the door that sounded with a cute convenience store bell sound as it shut.
"Hey boys," a girl from behind the counter greeted them with a sincere smile as she made her way from the counter over to them. "You guys are the third customers we've had all day, so anything you need, you just let me know, I've been bored to tears stuck in here since the crack of dawn."
"Hey Kurt, you have a friend," Finn said, smiling. "Someone else likes to get up before the sun just like you." Kurt scowled at Finn, but the girl let out a laugh.
"Well, I would hardly say I like it," she said, brushing her auburn hair out of her face, her hazel eyes sparkling. "But I guess someone has to cater to the truckers who come through here every day. My name's Autumn, by the way." Autumn held out her hand, which Kurt and Finn both took.
"Finn," the quarterback smiled down at the girl, who had a natural sort of country charm about her. "And this little guy is Kurt." Finn patted Kurt on the shoulder, ruffling his hair again, as Kurt frowned and attempted to straighten it.
"Well, aren't you guys cute," Autumn smiled, her hands on her hips.
"Well, I have good genes," Finn smiled brightly. "And Kurt-well, he moisturizes." Kurt's mouth dropped. Finn seemed perfectly comfortable sharing every embarrassing thing about Kurt imaginable to this complete stranger. "Which is weird cause his boyfriend, Blaine, could totally pass for straight-"
"Finn!" Kurt nearly yelled, punching Finn in the arm with a little more power than Finn thought his step-brother had. Autumn laughed at the interaction between the two brothers.
"Oh, don't worry about it," Autumn waved her hand and smiled at Kurt, winking. "I knew that no straight guy could be as good-looking as you, although if you ever find yourself curious about it-"
"Thanks, I'll pass." Kurt said, smiling as best he could before looking at Finn. "Since you seem to be perfectly fine to share every little thing about me, I won't feel so bad when I tell you know that I'm going to find the restroom." Turning on his heel, Kurt made his way to the back of the store where the restrooms sing hung over a blue door.
"Sorry about that," Finn chuckled. "Kurt's a great guy, I'm just the annoying step-brother trying to get him all flustered, which is probably not a good idea since I still have an hour with him in the car before we get to the house."
"You guys headed home from somewhere?" Autumn, asked, leaning up against the coffee counter, Finn watching her every move.
"Sort of," Finn said, trying to be articulate. "Our parents got married a little while back, and never got to enjoy a honeymoon, so they're sending us away to a Lakehouse Kurt's family owns for a while."
"How fun," Autumn grinned, shifting her weight slightly. "So it's just you and Kurt, at a Lakehouse, together..." Autumn twirled her hair in her fingers.
"Well, yeah-" Finn stuttered, it must have been karma that now he was the one getting a little embarrassed by Autumn's twisted humor. "-but I mean we're brothers so...we'll probably have some of our friends from school come visit us at some point for a party, or something..."
"Oh, a party boy?" Autumn giggled. "Relax, I'm kidding. So, you guys are stopping here just so Kurt can pee?"
"No," Finn said almost instantaneously. "I mean, I have to pee too-" Finn turned a bit red, yup, it was definitely karma. "-we're here to pick up some stuff."
"And what did you have in mind?" Autumn seemed to take pleasure in Finn's sudden lack of macho-man attitude.
"Um..." Finn looked around for something, anything just to show he wasn't a total loser. "...these." Finn picked up a bag of Cheetos, as his eyes swept around the store to see what else he could get. Luckily, Kurt was approaching him from the bathroom, gazing at Finn frozen in place, Autumn smiling up at him.
"Well, Kurt," Autumn gazed at Kurt with her soft eyes. "Your brother seems have lost his ability to speak...and bend at the knees. Maybe I can help you get some of the other 'stuff' that you guys need for your trip." Autumn walked past Kurt, who arched an eyebrow at Finn, still frozen in his spot, before turning and following Autumn back to back corner of the store, where some of the produce was.
"What has gotten into him?" Kurt thought out loud as Autumn grabbed a hand-basket, handing it to Kurt.
"He seems to really care about you," She said, holding out her hand. "Oh come on, you and I both know no self-respecting gay would walk into a country store without a well thought out, carefully prepared list of supplies." Kurt arched an eyebrow, as if he was going to tell this girl that she was using unfair stereotypes...but he ended up reaching into his pocket and taking out a folded piece of paper that was his list of what they would need. Autumn took it and read through, it was short but specific, she smiled. "Yeah, Finn seems to be really looking forward to spending some time out at the Lakehouse with you, he seems like a cool step-brother."
"I guess," Kurt replied, watching Autumn grab some vegetables and lettuce, before moving over to fruits and grabbing an assortment of different ones. "I mean, we've sort of had to be close with each other..." Kurt stopped himself before he got too far into personal details of his life with this girl who he hardly knew.
"I hear that," Autumn stated, pointing at a case of bottled water, which Kurt shook his head to, Finn had packed some that morning in the truck before they left. "I have a brother like Finn, that sporty, typical all American jock boy. Then you have me, the little sister he used to think he had to protect...before Max came along."
"Max?" Kurt found himself asking before he even knew what he was thinking, as if Autumn had him in some sort of trance as she put a few more things in the basket.
"My younger brother," Autumn explained, multi-tasking. "Skylar took it pretty hard when Max came out. It seemed so strange that a boy who grew up on a farm, surrounded by back-breaking chores and mud could end up batting for the other team."
"So, how are they now?" Kurt asked, picking up some soda. "Your brothers, I mean."
"Closer than ever," Autumn smiled up at Kurt. "It took some time, but Sky eventually realized that being gay was how Max was born, it wasn't a personality trait, it was something he just...was. It didn't make him any less of a guy, just meant that he liked other guys. Anyway," Autumn handed Kurt back his list. "Now, you can barely separate the two. They work here too, this place is owned by our folks, but they're both getting older and can't come into the shop every day so all us kids chip in. You and Finn should come back sometime when Sky and Max decide to drop by, we can all hang out. Maybe it's a country thing, but it's really relaxing to just sit out on Sky's truck in the parking lot and stare up at the stars." Autumn seemed to sigh and turned, heading for the cash register. Kurt made his way over to Finn, who had managed to relax a little, blinking as Kurt approached him.
"Cheetos, Finn?" Kurt arched an eyebrow at him. "Really? That's what you grab for supplies?"
"Um, I really like Cheetos...?" Finn blinked and came back to reality. "I guess we can probably do without them."
"Give them to me," Kurt grabbed the Cheetos from Finn, and managed to fit a couple more bags of them in the basket before grabbing a small thing of gummy worms. "You're such a boy." he said to his step-brother as both stepped up to the register where Autumn was waiting. She rang up all their items, pushing her hair behind her ears as she did so. Kurt checked the final price, before taking out some money and handing it to Autumn.
"So, you boys have fun at your Lakehouse," Autumn handed Kurt the change and bagged up all the items, handing them to Finn. "And don't be shy about coming around to say hi again." She winked at Finn who only blinked and turned around, heading for the door without saying anything. Autumn giggled and Kurt sighed.
"Sometimes my step-brother can forget his manners," he said, smiling at Autumn. "Thanks for everything, all your help and everything...here," Kurt took his list and wrote down a phone number on the back, handing it to Autumn. "That's my phone number, and below it is Finn's, feel free to text me anytime. We would definitely like to hang out again sometime when you and your brothers are off the clock." Autumn nodded, smiling at Kurt.
"I'll give you a shout sometime," She said, looking out the shop window at Finn, who was loading the bags into his truck. "I hope I didn't scare him."
"Who?" Kurt asked before following her gaze. "Finn? Oh no, he's just...he's kind of figuring some things out for himself."
"So he's single?" Autumn grinned.
"He's-" Kurt didn't want to divulge Finn's personal life, which was weird since Finn felt more than comfortable to divulge Kurt's. "He's taking some time to focus on him, I suppose."
"Bad break up?" Autumn seemed to pick up on everything. "I understand, I actually just broke up with my boyfriend."
"I'm sorry," Kurt said, still a little weirded out at how close he seemed to be getting with this girl he had just met.
"Oh it was nothing," Autumn waved her hand and shook her head. "He was Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome, but Jack wasn't one for being faithful to anyone...ironic that he wants to go into the military of all things." Kurt giggled and Autumn smiled. "You have the cutest giggle ever!" she squealed.
"Oh no," Kurt said, trying to regain control of his rising voice. "No, I hate my voice sometimes!"
"Well, God made it," Autumn said, a sincere, serene smile on her face. "And God doesn't make mistakes." Kurt looked at her, she seemed so genuinely nice, and all he could do was nod and she returned the gesture. "Enjoy your trip," she said as Kurt made for the door. "And, Kurt," Kurt turned to face Autumn. "Don't be a stranger." Kurt nodded and headed out to the truck.
:~~~~~~******~~~~~~:
"What did you think Autumn?" Finn suddenly asked after fifteen minutes of driving in silence, well except for Susan's occasional drop-ins.
"She was nice," Kurt shrugged, adjusting himself in the seat. "She wants us to come hang out with her and her two brothers sometime at the store when they're not working. Apparently, the night sky is just breathtaking when you lie down on her brother's truck."
"Weird," Finn muttered just loud enough for Kurt to hear. "Did it seem that, I don't know, that she was just so friendly that it was weird?"
"I thought so originally," Kurt admitted, nodding. "But I'm actually interested in spending more time with her. She seems like an interesting person."
"Interesting is a good word for it," Finn said, trying to put his own word on the friendly girl they just met. "She seems really fun, but it was so weird that I just froze around her."
"Well, I can only imagine what you said when I was gone," Kurt chuckled. "Hopefully you didn't tell her about Grilled Cheesus or anything embarrassing. Although I would assume something was said since you were clutching the bag of Cheetos as if it were a lifeline when I came back."
"Did you give her your number?" Finn asked straightly. Kurt looked over to him, as if shocked, he knew. Finn met his eyes. "It's no big deal, I just saw you guys looking at me and I saw you write something down and give it to her."
"Yeah," Kurt replied, a little hesitation in his voice, he decided not to tell Finn he had given Autumn his number too. "I told her to text me when her brothers were at the shop. I figured, she's a possible new friend who isn't in Glee club, it might be good for us to have some friends who we don't sing and dance with every day at school."
"Good plan," Finn nodded, as if he gave his approval. "I like the way you think, Kurt."
"Well, one of us has to do the thinking here," Kurt smiled, nudging Finn's arm with his elbow.
"You are definitely right about that," Finn chuckled. "But then I'd ask what you were thinking letting me, the one who doesn't think, behind the wheel?"
"I was thinking that if you even dare speed down this hill, you would be getting a severe beating when we got to the Lake house." Kurt replied as Finn laughed and decided not to give Kurt a heart attack this time.
"Destination reached in...10 miles."
"I will be very happy when Susan gets shut off and I don't have to listen to her for a while." Kurt said, nodding at the GPS.
"Aw, don't be jealous of Susan," Finn said, giving Kurt another lop-sided grin. "She can have me for the car rides and then you get me all to yourself once we get there, I promise."
"First thing I'm doing when we get there is getting in the hot tub," Kurt said. "I don't care that it's summer, I'll jump in the lake if I get too hot...you and Susan can have all the bonding time you want."
"Stop it," Finn said, playfully, quickly glancing over at Kurt. "I'll join you and we will have a good first night ok? We will christen our arrival at our new home for however long we end up staying and bring it in with a bang, I promise."
"You don't have to promise me anything, Finn," Kurt said, letting out a soft laugh.
"I know I don't have to," Finn said, shrugging. "But I want to have some fun and I'm really looking forward to this trip. I think it's cool that we will get to spend so much time just being dudes together. I mean, well, you know what I mean."
"Yes, Finn," Kurt giggled. "I know what you mean, and I'm looking forward to it, too."
"You have a really cute giggle," Finn observed, casually. "I've never noticed that when you giggle, I have to fight back one myself."
"You're so full of it," Kurt said, laughing, causing Finn to laugh.
"See?" Finn said, smiling. "I told you. It's gotta be a brother thing."
"We're step-brothers," Kurt said, looking out the window at the passing scenery.
"I hate that," Finn said. "I-"
"Turn right in...-"
"Oh, shut up Susan, time to go to sleep." Finn pressed the off button on the GPS, as if annoyed that she had interrupted him. "Just tell me when to turn ok Kurt?" Kurt nodded. "Now, where was I? Oh yeah. I hate that we have to call each other 'step-brothers'...it's too much to think about and remember. So, from now on, I'm going to call you my brother, ok?"
"Sure," Kurt said, as if not sure how to respond.
"And you can call me whatever you like," Finn said, his eyes sharp and focused.
"I like brother," Kurt said gently, his hand reaching over and grabbing onto Finn's arm and giving it a squeeze. For that moment, Finn felt truly connected to Kurt, now it was official. No more of the stupid, politically correct labels. Their parents were married, they were brothers. He grabbed Kurt's hand, brought it up to his lips and gave the back of Kurt's hand a chaste kiss.
"Love you bro," Finn said softly.
"Love you too, Finn," Kurt said, gently. "Turn here."
A/N: And they have arrived! I hope you all liked the chapter, it came pretty naturally to me, which is always nice on my end. Expect to see more of Autumn, she is an OC of mine, and I really hope you guys liked her first appearance. She's a very interesting, complex character who will definitely have a huge part to play in the larger picture of this story, so if you don't like her, learn to like her haha. As always, reviews are awesome, amazing and totally appreciated! So please, go submit a review on your way out, and I'll see you all in Chapter Three!