Chapter nine: Change rooms and bushes.
"Shotgun!" Nick yelled out as they approached Blaine's seven-seater. "What, no fair!" Jeff whined at Nick's proclamation. "Why do you get the front seat?" He huffed and folded his arms over his chest dejectedly. Nick went to retort, most likely with something about the validity of 'shotgun' but Blaine interrupted before he could even start. "Thad gets the front seat." Jeff and Nick both turned to him with 'no way!' expressions but Blaine just shook his head. "Thad is relatively sane, unlike the rest of you. I think I'd like to keep it that way." He said unwaveringly. The rule of 'my car, my rules' was valued greatly by both the warblers and especially Blaine. "Relatively?" Thad questioned. Blaine shrugged and turned away, effectively cutting off any further argument. "I'm sitting next to Nick!" Jeff declaimed as he rushed forward and clambered into the backseat. "That is not happening, you'll be ten times as annoying if you sit together!" Wes said hotly. "If Nick and Jeff sit together than I'm next to Wes." David stated like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Blaine just sighed exasperatedly and face-palmed.
They'd all apparently forgotten the reason they were trying to stuff themselves into Blaine's car in the first place. A hand on his shoulder caught him unaware and made the self confessed gel-attic jump. When he turned and saw that it was only Thad, he gave a polite smile. "Hey." He said breathing deeply. "Hey?" Thad asked as more of a question if anything. Blaine opened his mouth and tilted his head, drawing in a breath while shaking it slightly. "Chase saw that Kurt was going to be in trouble." He said merely. Thad kicked away a rock absentmindedly. "Define trouble?" Blaine sighed and cleared his throat, not enjoying this conversation. "Apparently he just saw Kurt looking scared in his vision. It could have been nothing, maybe it's just that he saw someone really unfashionable?" Blaine tried at a bit of humour, laughing dryly. "But, I guess it's just made me nervous." He finished emotionlessly. Thad nodded and then frowned. "Wait, I thought Hamish was the one that told you?" Blaine half smiled. "Yeah, Hamish could find us quicker though, and it's not like he hasn't been around when Chase has gotten them before, they are roommates." Thad shrugged and put his hands in the pockets of his grey hoddie. "I guess." He said with suddenly dampened spirits. Blaine wanted to question Thad further on Chase. He knew there was something there, he just didn't quite know what. "Are you two okay?" Thad blushed slightly and turned back to face the car. "Me and Chase? Of coarse, why?" Blaine stepped forward with a frown in Thad's direction. "Thad-"
"Are you guys going to stand there talking all day, or. . ?" Wes yelled out from where he was leaning outside of the opened door vehicle. "If I had a pillow right now I would throw it at you." Blaine grumbled. "I have a book in my bag." Thad suggested. Blaine snorted. "Like you would ever throw one of your books." Thad gave Blaine a light shove and then ran up to the car when Jeff reached over and beeped the car horn impatiently. "Don't get your knickers in a twist." Blaine grumbled in a slightly less bad mood then before his talk to Thad and ran over to jump into the drivers seat.
. . .
Kurt was flooded with information as his former team-mates filled him in on all the make-ups and break-ups he'd missed in glee. "God I've missed all this Drama." Kurt announced joyously as Quinn finished telling him about a certain local sex-shark named Puck and his shenanigans. "I don't know about you but I'm about ready for jeans r us." Mercedes announced as she stared into her empty coffee cup. "I concur." Kurt agreed as he stood up with his Gloria Jeans labelled disposable cup. He walked to the stainless steal bin and dropped it through the push lid style container. "So where to next?" He asked as he turned back to the girls.
"How about kid r us?" Rachel announced as she appeared behind him. "Rach!" Kurt beamed as he pulled the shorter girl into a hug. "Sorry I'm late, Finn and I-" Several groans sounded from nearby and Rachel cocked an eyebrow at her fellow glee members frostily. "Hobbit, if I hear one more word about you and the cream puff giant you may or may not be sucking face with, I'm going to-" Kurt put his hands up warningly. "Okay, what San probably means to say is that we're not gonna talk about boys right now. This is girl time." Rachel raised an eyebrow at 'girl time' while Santana rolled her eyes. "Please, what I meant to do was insult the princess of dwarfs over there." She gestured to Rachel who placed both hands on her hips. "I'll have you know-"
"And, let's go." Kurt said whilst pushing the two singers out the door, not making eye contact with the strangers that were beginning to stare and simultaneously avoiding looking at Rachel's hideous outfit.
"Mercedes came up behind him and slipped her picky around Kurt's. "Hey white boy." Kurt smiled and swung their hands. "Yes?" Mercedes rolled her eyes playfully before she spoke. "We filled you in on all the crazy at McKinley but you didn't tell us anything about your school Kurt." Kurt felt his heart sink a little as she picked up on the one topic he'd been avoiding. "It's great, I've made heaps of friends and it's just, great." The resident diva raised an eyebrow at Kurt expectantly and he gave a heavy sigh. "There's this guy." Mercedes elbowed Kurt lightly in the side. "A guy? This wouldn't happen to be a guy named Blaine would it?" Kurt blushed deep red and shoved her lightly back. "Shut-up." Mercedes giggled and motioned for Kurt to go on. "Anyway, you met Blaine at the Lima Bean, yeah him. Well I might have a teeny, tiny little crush on him." He said reluctantly. Mercedes pulled Kurt into an unexpected bear hug. "Oh Kurt, he's perfect. You two will be great together." Kurt pealed her off unamused. "He doesn't even like me back Merc, don't get so jazzed up over absolutely nothing." Mercedes bit her lip and put her hands up defensively. "Okay, okay." There was a full second of silence before both friends burst out laughing. "He's cute you know." Kurt blushed deeper but smiled. "I know." They continued walking behind the others in silence for a few moments. "Look Kurt, I know you two aren't dating and he might not even like you back, but if you ever do get together and he hurts you I will cut him." She said with a completely serious face. Kurt took that in and turned to her disbelievingly. "But maybe not his face, he is pretty cute." She said thoughtfully. "Mercedes!" Kurt gawked. She cackled and ran ahead, Kurt quick on her heals.
. . .
Six boys exited Blaine's car and walked through the car park as a group failing epically at stealth. "Please just be quiet!" Blaine said in a harsh and tired sounding voice. You couldn't blame him for having such short patience, a car ride with the Dalton boys could do that to a person. "David, can you hear Kurt yet?" David frowned in concentration and then winced. "No, sorry. There's to many people hear and I haven't known Kurt long." Blaine nodded in understanding. "Well, we'll just have to find him ourselves." He walked forward, the others following. "Wait, Blaine. Are we seriously going to spy on Kurt?" Thad asked doubtfully. Blaine mulled that over. "Well, when you put it that way-" He hesitated. "Yes." Jeff finished for him and walked ahead. Nick shrugged and went after his boyfriend. "Where should we start?" Wes said indifferently as he trailed behind the two casually. "Look for a coffee shop." Blaine said without any hesitation. "That's where Kurt would go first." He explained as he jogged up the tile steps and received a few questioning glances from his friends. "Well c'mon!" The warblers all ran after him before they lost sight of the curly haired Warbler.
. . .
"Well give us a spin." Kurt said expectantly as Tina came out of the change room wearing black skinny jeans and plain black top. Over the top of the simple tee she had a dark red lacy top that was threaded together so that you could see straight through it to the shirt. The Dark purple shoes went well with it and the black heart necklace she was sporting tied in the whole thing . "Simply beautiful." Kurt preened as he clapped his hands together a little in excitement. "Do you really think so?" Tina asked sceptically as she inspected herself in the change room door mirror. "I know so." Kurt said wisely. "Definitely get it." Mercedes confirmed as she glanced up at Tina's out fit from where she was trying on a few hats at one of the stand. "The black one." Kurt waved a hand at Mercedes without looking up. Mercedes paused her scrutiny of two different fedoras, one Black, one deep blue to look up at her friend in surprise. Kurt turned around to face her when he received silence and not a 'thanks Kurt'. "How did you see me just then, you were totally focussed on Tina. Kurt frowned for a moment before shrugging. "I can see you in the mirror." Mercedes giggled. "And here I was thinking that you were superman." Kurt rolled his eyes. "Superman couldn't read minds Mercedes." He than stood up with the few items of clothing he had and waltzed into the nearest change room. "If you'll excuse me." When the door was locked Kurt cleared his throat slightly and hang up the cloths on the hook attached the door. He than took a shallow breath and shook his head to himself. He hadn't seen Mercedes in the mirror.
Pulling his jumper over his head Kurt chalked it up to fashion intuitive and carefully took a deep green jacket from his small pile of clothing.
"Kurt, are we allowed to see?"
Kurt rolled his eyes as his best friend knocked on the door and gave himself a once over before unlocking it and stepping out. Mercedes gave a nod of approval. An off the side beanie was situated on his head and he wore tight green jeans to match his jacket. Under that a dark grey top that was almost dark enough to be considered black. Beneath the lot was a rather unique looking Singlet top that was visible under the shirt, stopping just bellow his waist. It was a pattern of different patches sewn together to make one shirt. Kurt found the item differently spectacular. "I like it." Quinn said thoughtfully from her seat next to Mercedes with one leg crossed over the other daintily. "It's a little gay though." Santana said as an opinion, not an insult. "But pretty." Brittany added as she popped up from behind the sunnies rack wearing two pairs of sunglasses, One oversized yellow pair over her eyes and one even sized blue set on the top of her head. It looked odd to say the least but was very Brittany like. "I agree with Brittany." Tina spoke up. "Well it's perfect then." Kurt said as he looked around and smirked, walking back into the change room.
Soon they had left the shop with their purchases and were walking along the window shops happy but a little tired after having visited at least seven different shops. "I just need to use he restroom." Kurt said as they past a sign that indicated toilets a sort way away. "Kay, Kurt. We'll be in Macey's." Mercedes told him as she gestured to he store up ahead. "Have fun!" Santana called after him as he walked off. Kurt sent her a quizzical look and she shrugged. "That's what I do when I go to the men's room." Kurt made a disgusted face and went on his way, his two bags swinging slightly as he walked.
. . .
"Blaine, can't we stop and get something to eat?" Jeff said as he draped himself over Nick tiredly. "Five more minutes." Blaine answered. "You said that three, five minutes ago." Blaine rolled his eyes and sent Nick a pointed look. The brunet got a mischievous glint to his eyes and grabbed Jeff around the legs, hoisting him up into a piggy back position. Jeff let out a shriek and clung to his boyfriend. Nick managed about three more shops walking before he let Jeff down. He puffed as he caught his breath. Jeff smiled smugly. "Heavier then I look, sweat-heart." He winked and pecked his boyfriends cheek. Nick blushed and swatted him off. "Wait a sec." David interrupted. He held up a hand to tell them to wait and frowned deeply. His face suddenly lit up and he beamed. "Found him. He's-" David's eye widened and in a swift movement he grabbed the back of Wes's shirt and tugged him down with him into a nearby arrangement of tall and bushy pot plants. Nick and Jeff shared a look, shrugged and jumped down onto the pair.
"Hey! Jeff get off my leg."
"I'm not on your leg!"
"Yes you are!"
"Oh my god." Blaine face palmed. "Get down here!" David yelled out suddenly and pulled at Blaine's arm. Blaine grabbed onto Thad to try and steady himself but only succeeded in tugging him down with him. "No seriously, shut up he's-." David tried to talk over the others but no-one could hear anyone the sudden uproar.
Blaine honestly tried to quieten them, he really did but he was drowned out rather completely. "Guys, Guys!" He motioned pointlessly for them to shut-up wit his hands but was once again, entirely ignored. "Guys!" He tried on last time and managed to untangle himself, standing up he took a step forward. What he hadn't counted on, however was Nick's foot being in the way. Blaine tripped and fell out onto the ground in front of the bush.
A/N: Poor Blaine. Did you guys like this chapter? Anything I'm doing wrong or that you'd like to see differently or something? Please Review, I always appreciate it. :)
