A/N: Hope you like this chapter! After this I should move on to the beginning of the duets (I will most likely spread them out over a few chapters for plots sake- You'll see what I mean when I reach those chapters :D). Let me know what you think of this! I'd love to hear your views!
Disclaimer: I own nothing other than the chapters from chapter 6 onwards. Alas, the show, characters and the beginning of this story aren't mine. I wish they were... that would be totally awesome!
Enjoy! Chasing Aspirations xxx
Kurt sat on Mercedes bed and listened as she defended her latest choice of 'fashion statement' ("Really Cedes? It looks like someone put a zebra in a blender, dyed it pink and then made it into what I can only assume is meant to be a jacket. In short, hideous."). His eyes remained fixed on the feisty diva as she continued to rant but his mind drifted to a certain blond jock who he'd ended up spending almost the entire week with. It had been amazing!
The two of them had spent almost the entire week sitting on Kurt's bed discussing various song choices (well Kurt did most of the talking really. Unfortunately, much to his dismay, Sam remained clueless when it came to Katy Perry), learning the harmonies, practising the routine until it was perfect and enjoying each other's company.
As the week progressed, he'd discovered that the two of them had quite a lot in common really (if you ignored the blatantly dyed hair- Come on, there was no way that was his real hair colour! Who did Sam think he was kidding? - and his more than slightly concerning obsession with Avatar- which Kurt secretly thought was adorable... not that he'd ever admit it though).
After all, both had been on the football team at some point; "Really? Dude that's awesome! What Position?"
"Kicker."
"Yeah I could see you being good at that. You know, you're probably the only guy I know who could be a jock and a cheerio. That's... wow."
And they both loved to dance; "I dunno it's like no one can judge me when I dance. Like I'm free, you know."
"Yeah. It's like an expression of individuality. That's what I love about Glee. Our styles are all so different. Even when we're dancing the same routine, each of us will give it our own unique 'flair'. Before Glee, dancing was a way of venting emotions. I think the first time I really allowed myself to dance for the sake of dancing was with Tina and Brittany when we danced to single ladies.'
'Single ladies?'
'I actually taught the football team that one.'
'You taught the football team single ladies? Now that I wish I could have seen!'
'You can if you want to. I still have the tape. Artie has some friends in the AV club who filmed it for me.'
'Awesome dude.'
It also seemed that their years apart hadn't really changed Sam that much. It turned out he still had his own... unique sense of humour. The same humour that had caused Kurt to laugh so hard that he'd almost been in tears. The blonde had always been this way. Making Kurt feel that he could be himself around him, that he didn't need to be ashamed of who he truly was. He felt safe when he was with him and even more importantly he felt excepted and maybe even loved... okay maybe that last one might be pushing it slightly. Still... he could dream couldn't he?
Either way, he'd never felt more comfortable than when he was with the blonde. The only thing that bothered him slightly was how Sam viewed him in this slightly glorified light. After all, throughout his childhood Sam had always been reminding Kurt of how he would 'repay his life debt' and had even once spent a couple of months calling the counter tenor his 'saviour' just to annoy him. All Kurt had even wanted was to be considered as Sam's equal not as some warped glorified version of himself. He'd always been slightly afraid that the only reason Sam had bothered to be his friend was because he'd felt obliged to because of the 'life debt' he owed the brunette. He had almost convinced himself this was the case after the years of abuse, without a single phone call from his 'friend'. He'd wondered for a long time if Sam agreed with them. If he really was sick, wrong, disgusting, dirty, foul...
Even now he wondered if this was all too good to be true. Some kind of elaborate plot to humiliate the 'gay boy' and break his heart... he really hoped this wasn't the case because it was far too late to stop him from falling for the jock. He was falling, and falling fast.
The time they'd spent together had only increased his infatuation for him. His smiles were so full of warmth; his eyes shone with the same youthful excitement that Kurt remembered from his childhood, his whole personality seemed to radiate warmth actually. He gave Kurt his full, undivided, attention the whole week, allowing Kurt to make digs at his wardrobe and lack of musical knowledge, to tease him about his hair and his dancing skills, all with a huge grin on his face.
The best part about the week was that the blonde actually valued the counter tenor's advice (he could remember many occasions when Rachel, Puck and even Mr Shue had shot down his suggestions without a second thought). He listened to the soprano's ideas and gave him the attention he desperately craved. He made him feel appreciated in the way that only his father, Cedes, and recently Quinn, Carole and Finn had ever made him feel. Was there really any chance that he wouldn't end up falling for the boy? It was as inevitable as Rachel's diva storm outs if she didn't get the part on the song she wanted (sure she was Finn's girlfriend now so he should probably be slightly less harsh towards her, after all Finn was technically his stepbrother, but as long as she still wore those 'outfits' then the soprano could not be held responsible for his actions).
Kurt was actually grateful to the dreaded hat of fate because it had given him the chance to get to know Sam again. Even if he broke Kurt's heart, the memories of his kindness this weekend might just be worth the eventual pain. The entire week, Kurt was convinced, would be branded in his mind forever. One part of that week in particular kept running through his mind though. Something that didn't quite make sense no matter how much the diva ran through the situation in his mind;
'Why did you move away?'
The blonde let out a brief sigh before replying 'I wish I could give you an answer man but, well I have no clue. Mum always said it was 'cause of work. Dad blamed her, something about getting away from something. I never really knew what. She would never tell me. She flipped out a little when I asked her. After a while, I gave up trying to understand. Then suddenly we moved back. Before you ask, I have no idea about that either. My parents don't really tell me much anymore. We all sort of, grew apart after we moved away. Mum was really weird for a while and dad? Well he was just angry. I learned to avoid them both as much as possible.'
His eyes filled with what the soprano guessed was regret before the cheery smile that had graced the blonde's face the entire time they'd spent together returned, however this time it didn't quite reach his eyes...
Kurt was snapped out of his memories when he felt a sharp slap on his right arm.
'Ow Cedes. What was that for?' The girl sat down on the bed beside him rolling her eyes at the diva's predictable reaction.
'Where's your head at K? I've been talking about going shopping with Quinn this weekend and you didn't say a word. I started telling you about how cosy Britney and Mike seemed to be when I saw them at Breadsticks and... Nothing. Hell, I even threatened to burn one of your designer scarves or worse... give it to Rachel. And still no reaction. What's wrong Kurt? I haven't seen you this distracted since Fi... it's Sam isn't it! That's why you're so distracted! I'm right aren't I?'
'W-w-what? Why would you... Wait! Did you say Mike and Britney?'
'Don't change the subject Kurt! You like him don't you. Come on Kurt. Don't you trust me?' She started pouting at him, causing him to laugh a little before meeting her eyes.
'Puppy dog eyes Cedes? Really? I thought you were better than that.' She just grinned in reply.
'Okay fine Cedes. Yes I like him. And yes I realise that he's most likely straight and not interested in me but yes I still like him despite that, I might even love him.' The girl's eyes widened slightly before her grin grew even wider.
'Come on K, have you seen the way he looks at you? There's no way he's not interested. And straight? That's like saying that blonde is his natural hair colour.' Kurt smiled a little at this.
'But Cedes, even if he hypothetically...' Mercedes scoffed at this '...was gay, why would he be interested in someone like me? I'm nothing special...' He was cut off as a fierce expression appeared in his best friend's eyes.
'Oh hell no Kurt! There is no way you're not special! You're one of the most amazing people I know! Your talented, funny, clever, fashionable, brave...' It was Kurt's turn to scoff. '... You are brave. You're one of the bravest people I know! Not to mention you're the boy that all of us Glee girls know we can rely on, the boy who all of the guys in Glee secretly see as their little brother, even Puck.' Kurt gave a look of disbelief. 'He told me when we were dating.' Both of the soprano's eyebrows rose until they almost disappeared behind his hairline. 'The point is... we all love you Kurt because you're amazing. And the reason you're so amazing is because you're you. After all, you wouldn't be my best friend if I didn't think you were amazing. Trust me honey, if I'm right and Sam is gay then there's no way that he's not interested. He'd have to be an idiot not to see just how special you are.'
Mercedes pulled the soprano into a warm hug, squeezing him tightly as she felt him cling to her with just as much strength. In her ear she heard a faint 'Thanks Cedes.'
'You're welcome K.' the two pulled back from each other and sat side by side on the bed in silence, just enjoying each other's company. After a while, Mercedes broke the silence. 'So Kurt, you and Sam ready to lose the duets competition tomorrow?' She offered a cheeky grin as she noted Kurt's indignant expression.
'No, no Cedes. It is you and Puck who should be preparing for your inevitable defeat. We will annihilate you.' He finished with a smirk as he saw his friend's eyebrow raised in disbelief.
'We'll see about that K. We'll see.' Their eyes met and the two shared a grin.
'Oh it's on.'
