Chapter Six

Anika sat at a picnic table eating her grandmother's famous cranberry sauce with her whole family including aunts, cousins, and uncles. While everyone was talking up a storm, where you couldn't hear each other over the other people who were speaking, out of thin air her whole family jumped on the tables around and started to dance to "Single Ladies." Her whole world went dark and soon she realized she was in Kurt's room.

"Morning, Sunshine." Kurt was sitting in front of his mirror again fully clothed for school fixing his face once again. His face was gleaming compared to the night before where it had seemed Kurt's whole world was crashing down around him. He had "Single Ladies" blasting through his ipod speakers and he was singing along as if he wasn't trying. Anika jumped out of the fold up bed, without checking the time, and made a beeline for the guest bedroom. Racing for the closet, she tripped over her bag which was completely full. Anika bent down to open her bag to see that someone had neatly folded all her clothes and placed them inside with the few school books she had. Sadly, her shampoo, hairbrush, toothbrush, toothpaste and food were missing. Anika gulped and began back down the two flights of stairs to face Kurt. She came to the bottom of the basement staircase and sat down on the last step.

"You found my belongings. What did you do with them?" Kurt looked over at Anika and smirked.

"I put them in the guest bathroom, of course. Thought I'd help you get ready faster. But then I realized you needed better products and replaced them with new items that I had. Somehow, your clothes got damp. So, I threw them in the wash and then ironed them. You know, it's nice to know that I'm not the only one who always has spare clothes and products with them."

"Yeah." Anika let out a nervous laugh. "Thanks. You didn't have to do that. Really. I have no idea how you did all of that this morning. What time is it? Like seven?" Anika stood to go back up the steps.

"It's fifteen after seven. I get up at five thirty. You should go get ready real quick. Anyway, I had to do something. I'm a sucker for make-overs and since you wouldn't allow me to give you one last night, that's the least I could help you with." She gave a nod of thanks and began up the steps only to stop halfway.

"Then the least I can give you is...a rain check to give me that make-over?" Kurt's face beamed bright and nodded. "I'm going to go get ready now. Oh, what about my snacks?"

"We'll replace those later. You're staying another night, missy. It's Friday, after all." Anika rolled her eyes and acted as if she was going to protest then made her way up to the guest bathroom. What are you doing? You're taking advantage of these people's home. You can't just keep sleeping in their beds and eating their food. Anika shut the door behind her and glanced into the mirror. Though, a hot shower and make-over sounds so good right now. I gotta remember to talk to Finn today. Anika's mind trailed off into getting a job and being able to afford an apartment even though she was no where near the age limit. She neatly folded the tank and shorts Kurt had loaned her and placed them on the sink. Grabbing the new all natural conditioner and shampoo, she got into the shower and closed her eyes as the water raced down her boney curves.

Anika jumped as she heard the bathroom door open. "I'm in here!" She yelled with a fan girl high pitched scream.

"I know." The all too familiar voice answered her. Kurt bent down and began going through her clothes and threw an outfit together for her. He placed the folded clothes onto the back of the toilet and stared at them for a moments time while humming 'Lean on Me.' Anika turned the water off and poked her head out from behind the shower curtain. "I have a scarf that would complete this better. I'm taking you shopping tonight. Mercedes is coming too."

"But I'm broke." Anika stated grabbing a towel from the towel rack while humming along with Kurt.

"I've got enough to buy you an outfit." Kurt said looking through the medicine cabinet. Anika wrapped herself in the towel and stepped out. He glanced her up and down from the mirror and gave a disgusted look. "And a waxing."

"Kurt, I can't have you buying things for me. That's just wrong." Anika grabbed her underwear and slipped them on under the towel and then her bra. Letting the towel fall, she grabbed the shirt he had insisted on.

"You'll pay me back. Or it'll be a birthday gift. Okay?" Anika nodded with concern and placed on the skinny jeans he had picked.

"I'll go get that scarf. You wash your face with this." Anika nodded listening to all his commands. Before Kurt could make it out the door, Anika started to ask him a question.

"Kurt, why do you think Quinn did it? If Finn ever finds out..." Anika frowned while beginning to wash her face.

"Who knows. But noone's going to tell Finn. Anyway, Quinn wants Finn to be the father. That's her chose and on Sunday...he's going to tell her parents." Anika's eyes shot open letting the soap set them on fire.

"What? But...her parent's will freak. Believe me, I know. I've got parent's just like hers and..." Kurt held his hand up to stop Anika.

"It's what Finn wants to do and they're going to find out sooner or later. That baby bump won't stay small forever." Anika rinsed her face off and looked at Kurt shaking her head no slowly.

"You better not be doing this for your own gain, Kurt." Kurt rolled his eyes and walked out the door with his head held high.

Anika raced down the hall after Finn and Puck who were talking like best friends, as if Puck didn't do anything wrong. Oh, how much I hate you, Puck. "Finn!" Anika raced in front of the two and stopped. "Can I talk to you?" She glanced over at Puck and her eyebrows made a slight V-shape. "Alone?" Puck rolled his eyes and let out an annoyed sigh.

"I'll see you later." Puck stated with a snarl in his voice as he punched his friend in the arm and stalked off.

"What's up?" Finn asked as they began to walk to his next class. Finn looked her up and down and smiled. "I see Kurt got to work today." Anika let out a nervous, embarresed laugh and gave a single nod.

"Remember how you gave me the idea about getting a job?" Finn gave a nod to show he was listening. "Well, my parents are completely against it because they're all about not needing help and crap and I don't own a cell phone...so I need a number that I could put on the applications. Ideas?" Finn looked up at the ceiling as if reading a whiteboard listed of ideas.

"I guess I could give you my number to write down. I'll just have to reach you whenever they call, what's your house number?" Anika gulped. She hadn't thought this through as completely as she should of.

"Just tell me when you see me in school or call Kurt? I'm with him a lot lately." Anika just realized this and made a mental note to back off.

"Alright." Finn grabbed a pen from his pocket and wrote his number down on her hand. "There you go. Good luck." Anika nodded her thanks as Finn began to head down the hall again. She watched as he walked through the crowd of students as if they were ants. I have to at least say something, right?

"Finn!" Anika raced after him weaving her way through people as if she was a cat running beneath their legs. "Wait up!" Finn turned giving Anika a perplexed look.

"Something else?" Anika gave a nod looking at her feet, then shooting her eyes up to his.

"Don't do it. Let them figure it out themselves or wait for Quinn to decide when to tell them. Quinn's been through so much...and I know you have too but..." Finn swiftly put his hand in front of Anika's mouth just barely not touching her lips.

"I have to do this. It's killing me...and it's for the better." Finn looked off in the distance. "That's the last time I tell Kurt something..."

"Don't worry, I keep secrets....Please, just think it through, please?"

"I already have." With those words Finn stormed off.

Anika stood outside a small restaurant called "Lima BarbeQ" with a "help wanted" sign posted on the door. She promised Kurt she'd be at his house by five but lied and told him she was going home to tell her parents what her plans were. You can do it. She urged herself inside and walked to the counter where the meals were paid for. "May I help you?" A man in his thirties with black, graying hair asked.

"Are you the manager?" The man gave a single nod. "I was looking for a job and noticed your sign outside. I was hoping to fill out an application...and if I could maybe get an interview today?" The man gave a look as if he was going to say that he was not allowed to do that but let out a smile after thinking.

"If I like your application enough, I'd be happy to interview today." Anika smiled and let out a little jump.

"Really?" The man nodded while handing her an application. "Where can I fill this out at?" The man pointed towards the bar stool right beside the register. Anika took a seat at the bar and began to fill out the application. Anika filled it out as fast as she could writing down stage crew time, church functions, baby sitting, and the time she helped her mom out with work for a month. Oh crap, an address....I'll have to put Kurt's. A half an hour went by as Anika reread and wrote more on her application and finally handed it to the manager as he came by. Mr. Harris read through it lifting his eyebrow from time to time and nodding.

Anika tried calming down her nerves taking in her surroundings. The bar was decorated with horses running on the bottom where the foot rest was placed. Deer antlers and heads hung from the walls above each table with a booth. A few tables were placed between the bar and booths. The whole restaurant was only one room and the kitchen, though it was small it was spacious. There was enough room to move with five booths and ten four seated tables.

"Have you been a waitress before?" Mr. Harris made Anika snap her head back towards him.

"No, but we've had plenty of spaghetti dinners at my church, sir. I wouldn't let you down." Anika smiled and held her head high showing she had confidence even though her heart was beating a a hundred miles per second.

An hour went by as Mr. Harris asked Anika questions pertaining to the job and her. Once in a while, she had to tell a lie but knew in the long run it would be worth it even though it killed her.

"Okay, I'll be calling you in a couple days. I am interviewing a few more people tomorrow and Monday. We've been left with only four waitresses, so, I need all the help I can get. When can you start?" Anika was determined to say 'now' but knew better.

"Tomorrow would be fine with me but since you have the interviews, Tuesday would be good."

"Well, I hope to be speaking to you soon, Anika Dreamer." Anika took Mr. Harris' hand and smiled.

"Thank you so much, Sir." Mr. Harris gave a nod. Anika raced out the doors and let out a scream. Thank you, Lord, for everything you have given me. Please, let me get this job. Anika kissed her snowflake necklace that was hidden behind the scarf Kurt made her wear and began down the road towards the Hummel's residence.