Thank-you to Becca, RazorGirl, TheFutureMrKarofsky, ana, AlpaEmrys, anderpson and the lovely guests for your reviews. I love reading them and they really do make me smile :) You're rather divided on the whole affair vs no affair (though I know which side of the fence I'm leaning to) it's all a little way off yet but I'm loving your ideas and I do listen to what you're saying so SPEAK UP! ..please.
Now for chapter 4 (im not sure if those divider lines are working) ...
Kurt woke up to the sound of a piano, the melody sounded familiar but he couldn't quite place it. He slowly sat up. His neck hurt and his back ached from lying on the uncomfortable sofa for so long. He must have been exhausted to have fallen asleep on the rock. He wondered what time it was, he looked up to see greying clouds in a bruised sky and figured it must be after six. He instantly panicked because he'd missed Glee practice and the Warblers had a strict attendance policy- three misses and you're out. Kurt pushed himself up. The grass beneath his feet was spongy and water seeped up as though he'd slept through a rain storm. His clothes were dry though so he didn't think too much of it. Thinking causes headaches. He rushed across the field of roses, yellow and red, and threw open the door. If he ran he might just catch the back end of practice.
He stepped out and felt the air whoosh out of his lungs as he fell. He reached out, grabbing hold of the banister and pulling himself up. He kept hold of the rail and ran down the winding staircase. Round and round and round. The steps seemed never ending and time was running out. He looked up and through the glass domed ceiling he could see the threat of thunder lurking behind the clouds, the sound of piano grew louder. Kurt stepped down a couple more steps but his footing was slow and cautious. He had no idea where he was but people were rushing past him. His heart raced in that uncomfortable way it does when you find yourself lost. He felt like a small speck, invisible to the naked eye. He tried to ask someone for directions but she ignored him, fear and frustration caught up to him. He was never going to find his way out of here. He was never going to see his dad again. His throat dried up and his chest ached. He finally reached the bottom of the stairs but stopped abruptly and just in time. They didn't lead anywhere but into a vast pit of blackness. His heart jumped into his throat, he backed up and ran back up the stairs. There were only six steps and then he reached the top. The stairs led directly to a corridor, the sound of the piano grew louder still and Kurt followed it. All the doors he passed were made of candy wrappers, he felt a chill shoot down his spine, he didn't like this place at all. He reached the door at the end and opened it.
He stepped out into New York City and instantly relaxed. He was home. The sound of the piano led Kurt to cross the road. He almost got hit by a yellow cab but he didn't really care. Part of him wanted to get hit. He felt so empty and completely alone. His life had become nothing but a daze, he was incapable of feeling emotions anymore. He was drained and done; done with life and done with love. He had never felt so low. He didn't know what he was doing here, in New York; he wanted to go back to Lima. He wanted to crawl into his bed back home and die but Rachel kept telling him to smile. She was linking him now, keeping him alive.
"Things will get better, Kurt. You'll see."
"Where's the music coming from?" Kurt asked but she didn't answer and when he turned around she was gone. He was standing on the corner of Newell Street completely alone. He didn't know how he got here but he knew he wanted Blaine. He wanted him so badly that the wanting had turned into an endless aching need. Tears streamed down his face until the sound of an angel singing made his breath catch in his throat.
It's been a long time since I came around
Been a long time but I'm back in Town,
This time I'm not leavin' without you
Kurt followed the sound of the piano and the voice down the street until he came to number 12. He heart throbbed painfully. He could see Blaine playing the piano. He was singing to him through the glass.
You taste like whiskey when you kiss me, ooh
I'll give anything again to be your baby doll
This time I'm not leavin' without you
Kurt felt his knee's weakening. Blaine was so beautiful and he played the piano like a pro. Kurt tried to open the door but it was locked "No no no" He heard the piano stop and he hammered on the glass as Blaine jumped up and ran over to the window. Kurt watched as Blaine tried to get to him but he couldn't. The glass was too thick. It wouldn't smash; their desperate attempts got them nowhere. Kurt kicked the glass and punched it until his knuckles bled but it got him no closer to Blaine.
"BLAINE!" Kurt could taste his own salty tears, his chest constricting and his breathing coming in short raspy bursts. Blaine was crying and trying desperately to break through the barrier; it hurt Kurt like a knife to the heart. "Bl..Blaine s..st..stop. stop" Kurt fell into the glass, his hand pushing against it and his head down. He couldn't take it anymore. He couldn't stand to see Blaine hurting and the pain in his chest was far too intense. Everything about the situation felt wrong, if Blaine continued Kurt was sure his heart would explode.
Tears trickled from his face, his could see them landing on his black leather shoes, he stood like that for a long time until his airways cleared and he could breathe again. He looked up. Blaine's hand was pushed against his, separated by a pane of glass, it was as close to physical contact as they were going to get. That thought ripped through Kurt's chest like a grenade. He needed to feel Blaine's touch. "Blaine" there was so much he wanted to say but they couldn't hear each other through the glass.
Kurt watched as Blaine mouthed those three little words, words that held so much power they could make or break a person in a heartbeat. They made Kurt. They completed him. He felt all his emotions like loose ends tying together. He had questions but they could wait; for the moment he just wanted to feel this and he wanted Blaine to feel it too.
he mouthed them back and then he watched as a single tear drop fell from hazel eyes. Blaine stepped back "No. No. Blaine please...don't." Kurt was sobbing. He attempted to grasp the glass but inevitably failed. Blaine turned around, he was going to walk right out of Kurt's life. "Blaine! Don't do this. Please."
"Kurt!" Kurt opened his eyes to Mercedes' whisper. He was sweating and Gavin's arms had released him at some point during the night. He shuffled a little "you 'kay?" It took a few moments to get his barings and figure out why they were lying on a duvet in the salon. He pushed himself up.
"mm. time's it?" He asked Cedes. He could see his friend sitting up, the light from the lamp outside casting a yellow glow over her. Ruby was asleep, she was cuddled up next to Alex and Chloe was lying beside Faith; the torch app on her mobile still glowing. Nathan was in Gavin's arms wrapped up like a baby. Kurt felt something odd in his stomach; something that felt a lot like jealousy. He quickly told himself to grow up.
"5:30." Kurt forced himself to look away from Gavin and instead focussed his attention on Mercedes. He yawned and breathed loudly. He wasn't going to be able to get back to sleep now, not after that damn dream. He'd been dreaming about Blaine quite a lot lately, the man seemed to be permanently stuck in his subconscious since that meeting at the store and it was driving Kurt crazy.
"D'ya want coffee?" He asked pushing himself up carefully.
"sure." Cedes also stood and followed him into the kitchen.
"Just tell me Kurt" Mercedes stood leaning on the side, eye balling him for not sharing the details of his dream. Apparently she had heard him muttering Blaine's name, he'd put on his best poker face and told her she must have been dreaming herself.
"I wasn't dreaming of Blaine. I didn't even remember his name until you just said it" Kurt lied. He didn't want to be having this discussion. It was stupid and immature. They weren't high schoolers anymore, he didn't have to share every detail of his life with her and, besides, it was just a stupid dream.
"Kurt."
"What?"
"You were the one that said it." He felt himself deflate. Mercedes was rubbing up him the wrong way. He put his cup down and released a frustrated huff.
"Oh for crying out loud, my husband is sleeping just out there." He hissed
"Exactly." She sipped her drink
"Right." He calmed down and took a drink himself.
"So why were you dreaming of Blaine?"
"I wasn-"
"Keep it fucking down" Quinn was stood in the doorway. Her hair was all over the place and without any makeup on she looked like a zombie. Kurt felt bad for having woken her, he thought they'd been quiet but maybe not. His mind quickly jumped to Gavin and from there to the kids. He wondered if they'd heard anything. He hoped not. He felt a knot develop in his stomach at the thought of having to explain who Blaine is. Was.
"Sorry"
"What you bleeding arguing for anyway?"
"We're not. Is Gav awake?" Kurt asked quickly
"Nah, I don't think so but wouldn't surprise me the way you two are carrying on" Quinn responded as she breezed into the kitchen and flicked the kettle on.
"Sorry, we didn't mean to wake you" Kurt whispered. Quinn huffed and scooped a spoonful of coffee into a mug.
"What's the plan for today?" she asked as the kettle boiled and she poured water into the cup.
"To steer clear of icebergs" Kurt answered and Mercedes laughed quietly
"That's so gay." Cedes whispered
"So's your face" He smirked. Something about the three of them together made Kurt act like a teenager again.
"Are we going to be doing any offers? Because I was thinking we could offer a free manicure or pedicure to all clients just until their launch offer ends." Kurt considered her proposal for a moment. If they did that they'd be running at a loss but maybe it wouldn't hurt them too badly. Not if it's just for a week.
"Good idea."
"What's a good idea?" Kurt turned his head to see Gavin- incredible, gorgeous, sexy Gavin- entering the kitchen and in the space of a breath he felt strong arms wrap around his waist and enclose him in a loving secure hold.
"Quinn suggested –" a kiss on his neck "we give free mani or pedicure's until their launch offer ends." He felt Gavin's vibe shift. He didn't think it was a good idea.
"Just until they quit with their stupid free drink and half price do offer" Quinn put in
"We'd be losing money" Gavin said as he released his hold on Kurt. Kurt immediately turned around and wrapped his arm around his husbands neck, Gav wrapped one arm around his waist and held him there as he spoke. Kurt felt a need to be held.
"Yea, but we'd also be giving ourselves a fighting chance." Mercedes backed up Quinn
"I don't know, guys. It's risky."
"I love risky" Kurt purred in Gavin's ear
"hah. All evidence suggests otherwise but alright, I'll let you make the call." Gavin smiled and kissed Kurt on the cheek.
Two hours later Kevin, Jonathan and the majority of the kids wished them luck and left the salon leaving Kurt and Gavin in the salon with their three kids and three staff members. Kurt looked around at them all and felt anxiety growing in his gut. Ell pinned the poster that Quinn and Mercedes had made advertising their offer in the window. The poster wasn't great but it had been very short notice. They had raided the 'kids' drawer that had laid abandoned for a number of years and made use of the glitter guns and gel pens. Nathan was in the back room on the PC watching the annoying orange and Gavin was shrugging on his coat.
"I'll get the kids to mums before school" he told Kurt. Kurt smiled but his nerves were beginning to get the better of him
"Okay."
"Nate, come on its Monday!" Gavin called and Nathan came plodding out of the office
"On Monday I go to grandmas" He asked his pap who nodded and replied
"Sure do, Nathan" He kissed Kurt and promised he'd be back within the hour. "Come on girls, shape it" Gavin said addressing their daughters.
"Are you okay Rube?" Kurt asked because her words from yesterday hadn't been forgotten.
"Why, what's up?." Gavin asked flashing Kurt a questioning look before his eyes landed on Ruby. Kurt had forgotten to tell him about their conversation, he felt kind of bad but he'd fill him in later. He had too much on his mind right now.
"Nowt. I'm fine." Ruby flicked her pap a smile but Gavin seemed to have this strange ability to know when he's being lied to and Kurt could see the tell tale sign of creases in his brow. He hadn't believed Ruby for a second.
"Good, see you later guys!" Gavin called back as he left the salon with the kids.
"Alright come on, time to freshen up everyone. Who wants their make up doing?" Quinn chirped as she set up her station.
An hour later, Gavin had returned with Starbucks and bagels for everyone and Kurt was growing into a nervous wreck. "fold the towels, Kath" He demanded for the third time that morning "and where the fuck are Deb and Adam?" Kurt felt like he had on the first ever day of trading but only ten times worse. At least back then the cards have been stacked in their favour.
"Kurt you need to calm down your giving me a headache" Quinn said as Mercedes did the finishing touches to her hair.
"Yea, you're making us dizzy" Cedes said with a hair pin in her mouth
"Tis true babe you're acting like Finn when Dil was born." Gavin emerged from the kitchen with a polystyrene cup and a little brown bag he shuddered at his own reference to his brother in law "here." He walked over to Kurt and handed the cup out " I got you your favourite; medium drip and a chocolate muffin" Kurt's brain took a second to process what Gavin had said and even then he couldn't get his head around it.
"What?"
"A non-fat mocha and a croissant" Gavin repeated looking at Kurt with concern. Kurt relaxed and smiled at him before taking the drink and the brown bag. He didn't feel much like eating but he knew Gav would force the issue all day if he didn't take at least one bite.
"Thank-you" Kurt smiled and brought the cup to his lips. The aromas danced in the air washing over him like a blanket of calm. He took a sip and licked his lips. "Okay." He put the cup and the bag down "are we all ready for this?"
"Yea, we're ready Kurt but are you?" Ell's question sat on his mind. He wasn't ready for this. Not at all. He didn't want to have to fight to the death but what choice did he have? He could hardly lie back and allow the past ten years to amount to nothing.
"Morning!" Kurt looked up with Debbie entered the salon followed closely by Adam
"What time do you call this?" Kurt almost shouted. He was beyond stressed now.
"Kurt." Gavin jumped in addressing Deb and Adam "Ignore him. He's stressed"
"Ooh Boy" Debbie rolled her eyes. She knew better than to get on the wrong side of her manager when he was stressed. "Today's gonna be fun." She added sarcastically.
"My thoughts exactly" Gavin agreed with a grin as he handed them both a drink
"What the fuck is that tat in the window?" Adam asked sounding highly amused
"It's our rival offer" Quinn told him "and it's not tat."
"Hah, it's tat" Adam responded as he shrugged his coat off and disappeared into the back,
"It's not tat!" Quinn shouted
"Tis" Yelled Adam "ain't it Gav?" he asked as he re appeared into the salon. Quinn turned to look at him and Gavin pretended to consider his answer
"It's tat" he said after a couple of seconds. Quinn gasped making Gavin laugh.
"Shall we go over the road and wish them luck?" Mercedes' question really knocked the wind out of Kurt. Why would she want to do that?
"No." He answered quickly before anyone got any ideas. "We need to stay focussed. Deb get on the phone and make sure we have no cancellations" He seen Gavin sucking his tongue, he was obviously holding back laughter and it just made Kurt even more frustrated. This was no laughing matter.
"On it." She said sitting down and picking up the phone.
"Cedes do something useful instead of making stupid suggestions and get rid of all these cups."
"Right, yeah" she began scooting round collecting the coffee cups
"Ell, have you got the station ready?"
"I can't find the acrylic!" she shouted from someone in the back
"fuck sake." Kurt muttered because this is exactly what he was dreading. Everything was going tits up already. He bit his lip to stop himself from shouting at everyone as he rushed past them into the back.
Blaine kissed Luke, made his excuses and left him and the team to set up. He was due at work in an hour so he couldn't stay all day anyway and he really wanted to do something for Kurt. He probably shouldn't have been thinking about him on today of all days but Kurt had been on his mind all evening and throughout the night so that by the time Blaine had woken in the morning he had been firmly wedged in place and no amount of folding towels had erased him. He drove to the florists, all the time wondering about the ring on Kurt's finger. It wouldn't surprise him if Kurt was married. Kurt had always been incredible and any number of men would have jumped at the chance to marry him. Blaine should know, he had been one of them.
"What's that for?" Tina asked about the ring Blaine was holding over the counter. They had called into Diamonds during their shopping spree and Blaine had been mesmerised by the rings. One in particular had caught his eye. It was platinum with a little diamond studded in the middle. Kurt would've loved it. Blaine would've had the word 'Courage' engraved inside. Would; If he hadn't ended things with him four months ago.
"I'm just looking" He answered. Maybe he could fly out to New York and surprise him with a proposal. Kurt would say yes. Wouldn't he? No. No, he wouldn't. Blaine had blown it and anyway being engaged would be more of a burden. Kurt probably had a new boyfriend now anyway so he should just move on and forget about him. There was nothing special about Kurt Hummel. Blaine told himself that all the time but he still didn't believe it.
"Well lets go look at shoes or something" She tugged at his arm
"Okay." He replied but he didn't move. His mind was full of regret. He had been so stupid.
"Oh for godsake. Your thinking about Kurt aren't you?" He handed the ring back to the jeweller and allowed her to pull him out the store "It's normal to have doubts but come on, you know you've done right by him. It's like me and Mike. I always wonder where we'd be now if I hadn't ended it but dya know what? I don't think I wanna know because I probably wouldn't be here with you" She said linking him "and there is no place else I'd rather be" she said with a cheesy grin that he couldn't help but return.
Blaine felt a fire burning in his gut at the thought of Kurt being married to another man but he had no right to be angry and he knew that. He'd been the one to walk away, to ignore Kurt's desperate pleas. A wiser man would have listened. He breathed deeply and told himself to calm down. Kurt probably wasn't married. He indicated and turned into the car park at 'Lilly's'. He climbed out and walked into the little shop.
Kurt spent all day glancing across the street. Inbetween clients he bit his thumb and stared at Blade Runners. The interior looked really swanky, all black and white and Kurt could see a proper bar with a bar tender shaking up cocktails. The staff looked run off their feet. They wore black uniforms and Kurt found himself thinking of introducing uniforms in his place. They were attracting a really young crowd and Kurt could hear music blaring. One of the staff members was dancing and shaking her booty as she cut hair. Kurt thought she looked hugely unprofessional but maybe he was being uptight. Maybe his place needed livening up a bit. Kurt looked around his salon, they had a steady flow of clients, all the usual faces but they were no where near as busy as their rivals. He walked across the floor and cranked up the radio.
I'm on the floor, floor
I love to dance
so give me more, more
till I can't stand
Kurt ignored the shocked faces of Debbie, Kath Quinn and Cedes and instead standing bopping to the beat along with Adam who was doing a blue rinse for Edna. For her part Edna looked like she'd been slapped in the face. She didn't seem to know what to do with herself but she looked angry. Kurt made his way back to the front so he could see across with any obstructions. He noticed a couple of staff members glance his way and the handsome guy that had been in here a couple of weeks ago smiled and waved. Kurt waved back with a smug grin on his face. It was wiped off a second later when they raised the music and almost drowned out Nicki Minaj. Kurt stormed across the salon and turned on the surround sound. He also turned the dial up. The music was so loud now that Kurt couldnt hear himself think but he didnt care. He needed to get with the times and his salon was clearly behind the trend. When his client came in Kurt had to shout and get real close to greet her.
"I said what do you want doing?"
"WHAT?"
"WHAT DO YOU WA-" Gavin switched the music down and Kurt abruptly stopped dancing and stepped back "sorry. I said what do you do fancy today?"
"I'm just having a trim" Nora looked unimpressed and Kurt could feel Gavin's disapproving glare.
"Okay. Take a seat" he chirped "I'll be right back." He walked over to Gavin "what did you do that for?"
"It's too loud for the fossils" Gavin whispered with a grin that Kurt didnt return. Gavin had just hit the nail on the head. His salon attracted the fossils and he needed to break into the younger market. FloRida was blasting out from the across the road. Kurt raised his brow
"We need to be like them" he told his husband matter of factly
"No. We dont and we're going to be" Kurt huffed. He felt frustrated. His salon was boring and Blade Runner's looked exciting and happening. Kurt stormed away and began his cut.
"Starships are meant to fly" Cedes blasted spinning around once.
"hands up and touch the sky" Quinn joined in pushing her hands up, she had a make up brush in one of them and a little eye shadow selection in the other
"Cant stop 'coz we're so high, lets do this one last time" Kurt grinned as his best friends started to beat bop and shimmy. He loved them too much for words. They clearly understood what he was saying and it was heart warming to see their support.
"I'm so sorry Nora. Edna" Gavin smiled at their clients but Kurt could see it was strained " would you like a cup of tea?" The women accepted the apology and the offer of tea and Kurt watched his husband disappear into the kitchen. He felt a little guilty because he knew Gavin had his best interests at heart but he knew he was right about this. They needed to improve their client base if they were going to stand a chance of surviving.
Quinn and Mercedes stopped dancing when a woman walked into the salon with a huge bunch of flowers. Kurt looked up and felt his heart rate treble as the enormous bouquet of red and yellow roses was placed on the desk in front of Debbie.
"Special delivery" The woman said with a smile
"eerr thanks" Debbie responded hanging up the phone
"Okay. Byee!" The women smiled at everyone but her eyes landed on Kurt and she beamed at him before she left the salon. Kurt couldn't move, he felt rooted to the spot. Mercedes was gawping at him and he could feel a blush crawling into his cheeks.
"Who are they for?" Kath called over to Debbie who was already busy searching for the message card.
"Here you go E- Whoa, what are they?" Gavin handed Edna her drink and was about to go to Nora when the spotted the roses
"Roses" Quinn answered sarcastically
"Duh" He threw back at her.
"I cant find a card but theres a CD!" Deb yelled as she pulled a disk out of the middle of the bunch. Kurt could feel a lump in his throat. He had to get out of there, the room was closing in on him but he couldn't. His legs wouldn't move and he couldnt find his voice.
"Get it on!" Quinn said and she snatched it and slipped it into the cd player.
"Here ya' go Nora" Gavin handed Kurts client her drink and then he looked at Kurt. Kurt felt his eyes burning into him, he tried to smile but he couldn't.
made a wrong turn once of twice
dug my way out of blood and fire
Bad decisions, that's alright
Welcome to my silly life
"Mistreated, misplaced" Blaine started singing along to the radio. Kurt chanced a look at him, he looked so silly wearing this little straw hat but Kurt loved him and his damn hat.
"misunderstood" Kurt joined in and Blaine grinned at him. Blaine loved sing along's Kurt found them tedious and cheesy but the grin had him sold. Sing along's weren't so bad after all.
"Miss "no way, it's all good" it didn't slow me down" Blaine started getting carried away, drumming the on the dash and Kurt laughed. Blaine was such a dork.
"Kurt, are you okay?" Gavin's arm snaked around him and pulled Kurt out of his memories. He swallowed but his throat was so dry.
"Yeah." his voice was small, he felt even smaller. He wanted to crawl into a hole and never come out. This couldnt be happening. Maybe he was dreaming again.
"Awww" Cedes flicked the music off and walked over to the flowers "I can't believe Mark would do something like this for me" She said with excitement as she scooped them up. Kurt felt his heart rate returning to normal. He smiled in relief and threw out ten tons of love Mercedes way.
"How do you know they're from him?" Kath asked. Kurt felt himself burning up.
"Because I told him my favorite coloured roses and he was singing that to me last night and todays our three week anniversary" Kurt had to hand it to her, that girl knew how to fib. felt Gavin slap his on the ass before he got back to Edna and finished her cut.
He caught Mercedes' eye as she took the flowers into the back and mouthed thankyou she flashed him a glare. One that told him she had questions and she was going to get answers. She looked angry, Kurt hoped she hadn't jumped to the wrong conclusion. His legs were a little shaky and his stomach was flipping but he got back to Nora and listened to her endless chatter.
Reviews needed. Apply below.. haha xx