Thursday, Day Four: New York, NY 2021
"I don't know what this is, Mr. Hummel, but just on a first glance I can tell that this isn't a building contract," Jane Samuels said cooly, raising the coffee that Kurt had brought her to her painted lips. Kurt couldn't help but cattily think to himself that the overdone manner in which she did her makeup made her look ironically like a drag queen.
"I can explain," Kurt started.
"Yes, Mr. Hummel why don't you explain," she said eyes growing slightly more cold. "Explain to me why you seem to be incapable of completing one of the simplest tasks I've ever given one of my assistants. Explain to me why after three days of 'work'," she said using finer quotes, "all you have to show for yourself is a lazy attitude, a complete unwillingness to follow directions, and a six page article that, having only read the title, appears to be about drag queens."
"Really if you could just read it—even just the beginning, I think you'll find that—."
"I think you'll find that I don't take kindly to cleaning up other people's messes, and that I refuse to have someone on my team who doesn't do as they're very specifically told," she said, cutting him off.
"Well then," Kurt said, returning her glare in full Kurt Hummel force, "Then I guess you don't have me on your team," he said snatching his article back and standing up from his seat. "I quit," he said forcefully, "and trust me, one way or another I will have my article printed somewhere, and I don't think the general public will be happy to hear what their favorite fashion magazine is doing to one of the longest running and most well loved performance establishments in the city," he said, voice full of conviction.
He didn't give her a chance to respond before turning on his heel and walking swiftly out the door.
0000000000
"Sorry I'm late. It's been a rough morning," Blaine said rushing into the coffee shop where he was supposed to meet Kurt.
"Tell me about it," Kurt groaned in agreement.
"Bad day, too?" Blaine asked sitting down and taking a grateful sip of the coffee that Kurt had bought him. "I guess it's just one of those days."
"Something like that," he mumbled, thinking to himself that his day was about to get much worse.
"Well, maybe helping out a friend in need will make you feel better," Blaine said, hoping to segue-way into his plea for help. "And no, before you ask, none of the girls are pregnant," he said trying to lighten to mood before such a heavy subject.
Kurt laughed lightly, not able to bring himself to respond in a more hearty manner, "who's in trouble?" he asked.
"Well...all of us actually," Blaine said. "It seems that we're running into a issue with our lease. Some department from your magazine is trying to buy us out for offices, and I was hoping that since you work there you might be able to help."
"Use to," Kurt said squeezing his eyes shut before looking at Blaine again. "Used to work there," he said, taking a shuddery breath when he saw Blaine's surprise. "I quit this morning."
"What?" Blaine replied. "Why?"
"Let's just call it a dispute over bulldozing a long established store and drag club for a set of new offices," Kurt said bitterly, looking forlornly into his almost empty coffee mug.
Blaine just stared at him, unsure how to take what Kurt was telling him, "you knew?" he finally asked. "What...when were you planning on telling me? Don't tell me you only found out this morning. Moving an entire office building isn't something you can do last minute," he said, doing his best to remain calm and non-accusatory.
Kurt looked tiredly into Blaine's eyes. He knew there was no easy way to do this. Blaine had been nothing by sweet and open with Kurt, and he had returned his kindness by being sneaky and untrustworthy. The look that he could see breaking out on Blaine's face was heart wrenching. Kurt's silence spoke volumes.
Kurt took another shaky breath, "I've known since Monday," he said quietly. "I...I was sent to Roxxy's to get you to agree to a settlement contract so that we wouldn't have to go into a bidding war over the space, but when I actually got there I..."
"You what, Kurt," Blaine cut him off. "You thought you would play around with us first? The silly queens, who don't know any better, getting taken advantage of by some hot shot Vogue employee? Is this how you always operate? You write articles on the people you're trying to crush, make them trust you—and then drop the bombshell? Do you always go out on dates with them first?" he nearly shouted, ignoring the glares he was getting from the people around them.
"Blaine's please it's not like that!" Kurt cried, realizing that the situation was quickly spiraling out of control. For the second time that day he found himself desperate to explain himself, but how do you explain to someone that you were too much of a coward to give them the courtesy of the truth.
"I liked you Kurt. I really liked you," Blaine said, anger quickly morphing into hurt. "I thought we were..."
"I like you, too," Kurt said desperately, "I swear to you that this has nothing to do with me I just got caught up with this terrible boss and things got out of control, and I wrote the story because I really believe in Roxxy's. That's why I quit!" he added.
"Well I'm glad you got to have your little moment of protest," Blaine said, folding his arms across his chest. "I hope it makes at least one of us feel good."
"What?" Kurt replied, "Blaine, of course I don't feel good. None of this feels good to me, but I...I promise. I'm going to fix this. I...I have a plan."
Blaine just shook his head, "I really wish that I had any reason to believe you, Kurt," he replied.
"Blaine, I'm going to prove to you that you can trust me," Kurt implored. "Just give me a day. I promise."
Blaine just continued to stare back at him, "I honestly don't know what to believe, but I can tell you that I really hope you're right," he said. "I truly hope you're right because Roxxy's isn't just a store or a club. It's not just a place where people work or sometimes live. Roxxy's is a home. It's my home and it's my family. And it has always been a safe place for kids to go when they feel different. So, I hope for my sake that you're not bullshitting and that you have some sort of magical trick up your sleeve to save this place, but even more I hope so for the sake of all the young people who are going to find themselves in need of a place like Roxxy's in the future," Blaine added.
Kurt remained silent, certain that the last thing Blaine wanted to hear right now was more pleading. He only spoke up when he saw Blaine gathering his things and getting ready to leave, "so you're just going to go? Just like that," Kurt asked, voice thick with tears that were threatening to spill.
"See the thing is, Kurt," Blaine said, only stopping for a moment, "I hope you have a real plan, but I seriously doubt that anything that comes out of your mouth is true," he said. "So I have a protest to plan."
