Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or its characters. All property goes to Fox Ryan Murphy, and the rest of its creators and owners!
Warnings: Language and homophobic attitude.
Take A Bite Of My Heart Tonight
Chapter Two: A Decision
…
After a courageous walk down the spiral stairs, Kurt found Kara in the den. She was sitting and watching some news special. When Kurt walked into the room, Kara immediately paused the T.V. and sat up straight on her spot on the couch. She looked at Kurt questioningly. But Kurt didn't say anything; he just stood in the living room watching Kara, feeling both nervous and sad for her.
"Did uh…did you read it?" Kara asked Kurt, who seemed to be unable to speak at the moment. Kurt just nodded. Kara lifted an eyebrow; she couldn't understand why Kurt was so upset. Well, he has just now heard from Burt, after what seems like forever of rejection and hurt, and now he's all the way across the ocean from him. Kara could understand a little bit. "What did you think? Come sit down sweetie, just sit alright?" Kurt nodded and carefully sat down beside Kara on their plush couch. Kara took a deep breath and turned to look at a nervous Kurt, he still has the letter held tightly to his chest. "What did you think of it?" she asked him again.
Kurt glanced at Kara carefully. Kara didn't seem mad like before; she seemed concerned as to why Kurt wouldn't say anything. "I miss him so much," Kurt whispered and shook his head. After reading the letter and sitting beside Kara on the couch, those were the only words he could speak to her. Those were his repetitive thoughts and he couldn't think of anything else other than missing his father.
Kara sighed, "I know. But what did you think of the letter?"
Kurt threw his head back on the couch and closed his eyes shut, as if he was trying to think of coherent words to come out. "I…I was shocked at how sorry he is. It's like…he's the dad I remember he was."
"What do you think about the whole summer thing?" Kara asked him. Kurt bit his lip and looked downward at his lap, avoiding whatever look Kara may be throwing at him.
"I…I really want to try it. I want to try this. I don't know if my heart will ever let me forgive him, or if he just wants me back as his son and will keep lying to my face about accepting my sexuality, or if he really does accept my sexuality somehow….but I just…I need to try, I want to try. Is that okay?" Kurt finally looked up at his aunt and she chuckled lightly.
"Kurt, you don't need to ask me. This is your life, okay? This is your father and as much as I hate him…I don't want you to be unhappy here, away from your family. I don't want to keep you away from your family. You wanted to come with me, remember? And I agreed. So if you want to go visit him, I'll agree. The decision is yours." Kara patted his thigh and he sighed from relief.
She pulled his head to her shoulder and played with his soft hair. Kurt loves both his father and his aunt. They are two great people, as much as they do have some major imperfections.
"I wish you didn't hate him so much. He's nice once you get to know him, honestly."
"Kurt, he's my brother. I've known him my whole life." Kara spoke softly to him, running four of her long, slender fingers through his hair.
"I have too."
"I know that, but there's a side to Burt that…you never knew about. It's the side that I had to live with, try as I might…I don't understand how he could ever change. People do change but…I don't know I guess I'm just so un-forgiving of him. I shouldn't be. I don't know if this is legit, maybe it is…but it's hard for me to even think about forgiving him."
Kurt lifted his head from her shoulder and scooted a few inches away to take a good look at her. "Well you should think about it. I'd love for us all to be a family together. You know last Christmas was the first Christmas I've spent with you? In eighteen years."
"It was fun too, wasn't it?" Kara lightly nudged Kurt's shoulder.
He smiled at her and raised his eyebrows, thinking back about six months ago. "Well the presents were the best part." He joked. He and Kara laughed and Kurt cocked his head to the side while he remembered one of the last things his father said in his letter. "Could I see the envelope? I want to look up the address."
"Oh sure, honey. It's in my purse." Kara waved to the direction of her room.
"Okay." Kurt nodded and gratefully grinned back at Kara before disappearing into her bedroom. He found her golden, sparkling, two hundred dollar, purse on her doorknob and began digging through pockets. He finally found an envelope with his father's name on it. He read the address… Yup, this definitely isn't my old address… so …this is real? Thought Kurt as he walked upstairs to his own room with the envelope.
Kurt's internet browser opened and displayed his home page, Google. "Alright…Google Maps…" Kurt muttered to himself and clicked on the link "Maps" in the upper corner. He clicked on "Get directions" and set his address in Paris as first destination and the address on the envelope as final destination.
We could not calculate directions between Paris, France and Lima, OH
"Ha. Doesn't surprise me. I'll just take a plane ride to Columbus and figure out my way from there then…" Kurt changed his starting destination to Columbus' airport. "Okay… a little over 2 hours… that's better. I guess I can rent a car from the airport and drive myself there." Kurt pressed "Print" and printed out the directions. He grinned to himself.
I'm going to Ohio. I'm going to Ohio! In America! Damn, I've never been so excited to go to Lima, Ohio. Oh god, I'm leaving. What if I like it there? Of course I will, maybe, if I can ever trust myself to live with my dad…that doesn't sound too promising though. What about Leslie? Kurt sighed. This is not going to be easy. Nothing ever is.
Kurt checked Air France's airlines. The next flight out to Columbus is next week. A week. I have a week to pack, say good-bye, and go to America. He sighed deeply. I hope I can do this…I don't feel right leaving Kara and Leslie or this amazing city…but I miss him so much. I miss Lima! I never thought I would say that. Hell, I even miss that dream-stealer Rachel Berry. Thought Kurt as he started checking the prices.
"Shit. One thousand forty two dollars? One stop…Minneapolis…how the hell is I or Kara going to afford that? Yeah…Kara's rich right now but…ugh!" Kurt dropped his head onto the keyboard, which caused loud, dinging noises from his computer. Kurt lifted his head and rolled his eyes at his computer, he then heard a muffled voice from the other side of his door.
"Everything alright, hun?"
"No…everything is not alright." Kurt groaned and rested his head on his fist.
"And why not?" Kara called out again.
"Come here, Aunt Kara, just look at the price for a ride to Columbus through Air France! The flight is next week and I…I don't have that much money and I wouldn't feel right asking you to—"
"Hold up now Kurt, calm down. Let me check my savings and checking, alright? All my bills are paid for and my checking is just holding money that wants to be spent." Kara chuckled as she came into his bedroom and took over Kurt's seat on the computer. He let her check her bank account in peace while he walked downstairs and poured him a cup of tea.
He sighed and slowly drunk it, savoring the sweet but yet strong taste. This is crazy… I never thought I would be trying to find a trip to Ohio when I left there last year…will everyone treat me the same? They probably won't. I never spoke to them or even said goodbye. They would have tried to get me to stay with them or someone. Saying I was being unreasonable and dramatic… and now…God, I'm in such a deep mess….but I need to leave. I need to do this, I want to. If not for my sake at least for dad, he sounds like he wants to kill himself.
Suddenly a vibration in his pocket interrupted his thoughts. One new text from: Leslie. Kurt frowned and clicked on "Read" Assuming Leslie would quiz him soon about his and Kara's argument from earlier.
Sent: 11:31 A.M
Bonjour! How did the argument go? Text me back! Hope everything is okay! I love you darling.
Kurt laughed. He will never get tired of French people calling him "darling"
Sent: 11: 32 A.M
It got pretty bad but everything you saw was our whole argument. A lot has changed though. I need to tell you a lot.
Sent: 11: 32 A.M
Like?
Sent: 11: 33 A.M
Could you come over? I need to tell you this in person.
Sent: 11: 33 A.M
*Gasp!* Are you breaking up with me? :D
Sent: 11: 34 A.M
Ha ha very funny, Leslie. When can we talk soon?
Sent: 11: 36 A.M
Well I'm at the coffee shop you love so much right now. Let me finish this and I'll head over, is that good?
Sent: 11:37 A.M
How about I head over there? I could go for a cup of their coffee
Sent: 11: 38 A.M
Sounds like a plan. See you in ten?
Sent: 11:38 A.M
In ten
Kurt placed his phone back in his pocket and his empty tea cup in the sink. "Kara! I'm heading over to Café et thé! I'll be back in an hour or so!" Kurt yelled loud enough so Kara could hear him from his bedroom.
"If you're gone for more than an hour you better let me know mister!" Kara yelled back to Kurt. She smirked at her bank account and started to transfer some money over to her checking.
"I will, love you!" She heard Kurt yell from downstairs.
"Love you too hun! Bye!" Kara yelled once more and she heard the sound of the front door slam shut.
Kurt walked about three blocks down to the little coffee shop. He stepped inside and saw the place was moderately busy. There was no one in-line but almost every table seated customers. He scammed the crowd of customers, looking for Leslie's distinctive blonde curls. He saw a flash of hand wave at him and he immediately recognized Leslie's curls belong to the hand. He waved back and held up his index finger at her and then pointed to the counter. She nodded and took another sip of coffee.
As there was no one in line, Kurt walked up to the counter and was greeted by Ginny, a cashier who knew Kurt and Leslie by name. "Bonjour, Kurt! Qu'est-ce que vous souhaitez, dès aujourd'hui?" (ENGLISH: Hey, Kurt! What is it that you want today?) Ginny asked with a bright smile on her face. Kurt smiled back, always loving the cashier's cheerful smiles and friendliness at Café et thé.
"Bonjour, Ginny! Je vais juste avoir un non gras moka et un scone, veuillez." (ENGLISH: I'm just having a non-fat mocha and a scone, please)
Ginny nodded and punched in Kurt's order. "Est-ce tout?" (ENGLISH: Is that all?)
"Oui." (ENGLISH: Yes) Kurt nodded at Ginny.
Ginny pressed a few more buttons, "Votre total est 7.15." (ENGLISH: Your total is 7.15)
Kurt nodded and exchanged a non-fat mocha and a scone for a ten dollar bill. Ginny gave him his change back and nodded at him, then waving him off as she greeted her next customer. Kurt sat across from Leslie and broke his scone, handing half of it to her and took a bite of his half. "Good now Kurt, what's up?" Leslie asked him.
Kurt opened his mouth to reply until a familiar, boasting, loud, voice interrupted him.
"Bonjour! Bonjour, Mademoiselle Leslie and Mademoiselle Kurt." (ENGLISH: Hey! Hey Miss. Leslie and Miss. Kurt)
Kurt turned around and saw his Paris Karofsky: Hans. When Kurt first moves to Paris, he thought people here would be more accepting and open-minded than the people in Lima, Ohio.
He was correct, but he soon realized that there will always be one homophobic person wherever he goes. And that one homophobic person Kurt met in Paris, was Hans; one of Leslie's co-workers at a flower boutique. Kurt turned in his seat to see Hans' cocky, arrogant smirk aimed towards him.
"Bonjour Mademoiselle Hans, and lay off the flat iron will you? Or at least use hair protection," Kurt said to Hans with an evil grin on his face. Hans lifted an eyebrow in confusion.
"Kurt, Hans does not speak English. You know that." Leslie smiled at Kurt and Hans stood still, dumbfounded at their English banter.
"Ah, he doesn't speak like us, eh?" Kurt smiled at Leslie and stood up from his table, to be inches away from Hans' face. "Let's see if you understand this….You. Are. A. Plein de merde ass trou!" (ENGLISH: Let's see if you understand this….You. Are. A. Full of shit ass hole!) Everyone in the shop turned their head towards Kurt. Gasps could be heard all around the business. Hans' eyes narrowed at Kurt and shoved him.
"Est-ce que c'est ce que je suis, n'est-ce pas? Au moins je ne priez pas pour sucer un coq et le prendre dans le cul comme vous." (ENGLISH: Is that what I am is it not? At least I do not pray to suck a cock and take it in the ass that you do) Kurt's mouth gaped opened and he shook his head disgracefully at Hans until the two boys, and possibly the whole shop, heard a remark over the counter:
"Hans! Kurt est gay, traiter avec elle! Aucun acte d'intimidation dans mon établissement! Si vous ne pouvez pas acheter quoi que ce soit ou de traiter mes clients' droit, quitter!" (ENGLISH: Hans! Kurt is gay, deal with it! No act of intimidation in my institution! If you cannot buy anything or to treat my customers' right, leave!) Kurt smirked and stared at Hans as if to say "well?"
"Amende. Je vous laisse, mais vous n'avez pas entendu le dernier moi Kurt!" (ENGLISH: Fine. I leave you, but you have not heard the last of me Kurt) Hans stabbed Kurt in the chest with his pointer finger and stormed out of Café et thé. Kurt watched the bully run off as he unclenched his fists. He sighed frustratingly when there was no sight of Hans. He glanced around the shop and customers were beginning to take their eyes off of Kurt and try to start a conversation with the person beside them or focus on their coffee. Leslie rolled her eyes and ran her hand through her hair frustratingly.
He finally sat across from Leslie again and tried to resume his coffee. He heard Leslie clear her throat and when he looked up at her she had her eyebrows rose in amusement. The two friends laughed and Leslie gave Kurt a high-five then shrugged her shoulder and smiled at him.
He smiled back at her and started to remember the reason he walked into Café et thé, Kurt took a deep breath and eyed Leslie carefully. "This will not be easy for me to say or do Leslie….but I am…I think, I am leaving."
Leslie's eyes widened, out of shock and skepticism. "Leaving? Where are you going?"
"To America. My hometown, Ohio for the summer. Kara finally let me read that letter; I think you should read it for yourself."
Kurt took out the letter from his pants pocket and offered it to a confused Leslie. She took a moment to hesitate but eventually set her coffee down and took the letter from Kurt. After a couple of minutes, she swallowed thickly and handed the letter to Kurt. The two friends were speechless. "Wow," Leslie breathed out.
"I know, and I thought never, in a million years, could I be reading something so heartfelt and pitiful from my dad. I've dreamed of this for so long Leslie…and I miss him and I…you know how badly I—"
"Kurt. No excuses, if you please. I understand with the family. I love my family and it is yours, yes? What is holding you back?" Leslie interrupted a babbling Kurt and reached a hand over to his hand across the table.
Kurt shrugged uncomfortably. "My grudge I guess," he mumbled.
"Grudge?"
"Yeah, I can't…I can't even imagine forgiving him. I can't forgive him. He hurt me so badly and I know this sounds real and it's all strange but…I have to try, right? It may not help and he may still judge me but…this letter is too dad-like to me, the dad I remember that did accept me so I have to try. I...I need to see him."
Leslie smiled at Kurt and squeezed his hand comfortingly. "Then go see him Kurt. Your father loves you. I can tell by reading that letter. I don't know how or why he said that last year but…you two need to talk this out. You both deserve it. You deserve happiness Kurt."
Kurt smiled at her and agreed. He does want to go; he has been trying to go. It just seems so impossible.
Kurt sighed, "I don't know Leslie…Kara's trying to fork some money together for a plane ticket and I got directions from the Columbus airport to this address…" he pointed to the envelope and Leslie looked at it. She patted his hand once more before returning her hand to their original position: on her coffee cup.
"Do you want to do this?" Leslie asked Kurt genuinely.
"Yes." He replied with his bright, blue eyes widened at her, out of anticipation and a little fear.
"And then that is the entire guarantee you need. I do not know how it is go to the end, but I will not allow you to remain here in Paris this summer. There will be large regret. You will go to America yes? And you send me the photos of U.S. Men." Kurt laughed at Leslie and she laughed with him, nodding her head. After the friend's laughter died down, Kurt looked up at Leslie from the place on the table he had been staring at while laughing, and saw a hint of happiness and sadness in her eyes. Kurt drew in a shaky breath which Leslie took as a sign that Kurt was trying to hold back tears for the millionth time today it seemed.
"What is it?" she asked him.
"I'm just…I'm really going to miss you." A tear fell down Kurt's cheek. Leslie sucked in her lips and reached her hand across the table again and took Kurt's hands into hers. In the sense of emotions, Leslie is different than Kurt. She tries, and succeeds, very well with hiding her feelings and holding her tears back. But she couldn't this time, she tried to control her tears, but they poured out of her bright, blue, eyes reluctantly.
"I will miss you too. It seems to me that nobody understands me as you do." Leslie shook her head and glanced to the other side of the coffee shop, glad that they chose a table on the side of the shop than in the middle. With Hans' drama, and now their own tears, the two friends would probably be the hot topic of Café et thé.
"Whatever happens though, I won't leave you here and never speak with you like I did with my friends in Lima. I can't do that again. We're friends for life, okay?" Kurt patted Leslie's hands and she looked back to his blue eyes. She grinned and her shy grin slowly turned into a little wicked one.
"Good. I will not let you do that for me, or I will hunt your small ass down and you will witness the wrath of Leslie." She raised her eyebrows and the two friends laughed. Kurt swore that sounded like something Mercedes would do; damn now he missed Mercedes. He was such an idiot for toning them out of his lives, try as he might, he could never forget about the New Directions.
"Well, I hope I never have to see that," Kurt chuckled.
"You will not, as long as you keep in touch." Leslie winked at Kurt and the two laughed over the cup of coffee.
After their cup of coffee, the two were too full for lunch and Leslie's parents were gone for the weekend so she agreed to spend the rest of the day at Kurt's house, watching American musicals. The two friends walked inside and Aunt Kara rushed downstairs and grabbed Kurt's hands. "Kurt! I did it!" she screeched.
"You did what?" Kurt was a little terrified of his Aunt Kara right now; she was jumping up and down, screaming, and pulling her with him.
"Your money for the trip, of course! Every single penny you need is in my checking! I had to transfer some money…but I managed to buy you a ticket for a ride to Columbus next week!"
Kurt squealed and his eyes looked like they could light up the whole room. Leslie smiled sadly at the over ecstatic boy.
"I'm going on the one next week?" Kurt squealed.
Kara squealed with him."Yes! And you're taking Spiffy with you!" She jumped and clapped her hands. Kurt immediately stopped jumping and his face dropped.
"What? Aunt Kara I'm going to a farm, Spiffy is a city cat."
"You're a city boy, so?" Kara shrugged. Kurt knew his Aunt Kara was doing this because she's staying most of her summer at her girlfriend's apartment in Manhattan, and she's been trying to find a cat-sitter for Spiffy. "And there's more…I talked it over with Leslie's parents…" Leslie's eyes widened and so did Kurt's. The two looked at each other, almost guessing what was going to come pouring out of Aunt Kara's mouth next. "And since they agreed that Leslie usually has no life in the summer…"
"Hey! I write poetry!" Leslie defended herself with an offended look on her face. Kurt jokingly patted her arm.
"Leslie gets to come with you! Don't worry! I managed to pay for her ticket too!"
The two friends gasped. A smile spread across Leslie's face, but so did worry. I need to talk with my boss, what happens if the people are different in America? I am not fluent in English yet… I have always wanted to go to New York; I do not even know where the Ohio is on the map! And what is a farm...
"Aunt Kara, where the hell did you manage to pay for two tickets, over two thousand dollars, to Columbus, Ohio next week? And be able to take a cat with us?" Kurt's high-pitch voice began to come in as he questioned his Aunt.
"Let's just say…I'm extremely well off and I never discuss my balance with you, Kurtie." Kara pointed her finger playfully into Kurt's chest. He rolled his eyes.
"Please don't call me that," he mumbled.
Kara clasped her hands together and looked at the two teens. Kurt's face showed a little embarrassment but more than that he looked skeptical, worried, and happy. Leslie was just utterly shocked and started to show worry. "Long story short…the three of you…including Spiffy…are going to Ohio! You two better start packing!" She screeched one last time and skipped off into her bedroom.
Kurt turned to look at Leslie who was still having a million thoughts going through her mind. "Well Leslie, you always wanted to go to America. What do you think?"
Leslie breathed out a big sigh. "Well…I always wanted to go to New York…is Lima, Ohio anything like New York?"
Kurt laughed and shook his head. "Oh no Leslie, it's far from it."
A/N: Hope you all enjoyed the second chapter! I see this story having a lot of plot so stay tuned! This is definitely a multi chapter fic. Check out my YouTube channel: user/klainegleek77 Subscribe to my YouTube and don't forget to REVIEW this chapter! So that's all for now. Stay strong Klainers, love and Klainebows to all!