Spoiled Designer Clothes
Kurt and Quinn
Chapter Ten
"Okay, places, everybody," Kurt directed. He glanced at his watch. He didn't know exactly why he was incredibly nervous, but he was.
He looked at the auditorium entrance. Matt, who stood guard by it, assured him that there was no one there yet.
Kurt Hummel still couldn't believe he had convinced the whole Glee club (minus Santana, who flat-out refused to have to do anything with Puck) to skip a class for preparations and rehearsals. Puck was more than happy to do so. Everyone else except Rachel was pretty much indifferent to the plan ("You cannot oblige us to neglect our academics just because Puck wants to win back his lady love's heart! Your intentions would have been fascinating, sweet and romantic if they weren't so wrong!"), but even she gave in with a sigh and took her place. Lunch hour was coming up, anyway.
Puck checked his guitar strings if they were in tune, then approached Kurt. He couldn't believe he owed something to this guy, and his debt will increase tenfold if the whole plan actually works.
"Thanks, man. I can't believe you'd do this for me."
"I'm only giving you the chance Quinn isn't so generous to offer to you."
"Stop being an ass. I'm showing you my gratitude," Puck snorted.
"Whatever happened to being 'buddies'?" Kurt asked. "Listen, Puckerman. You're getting a good second chance. Make good use of it and stop being a jerk."
"Fine."
"You're welcome, by the way."
Puck grinned and took a seat on a stool placed on the center of the stage.
Kurt signaled to Finn to dim the lights on the stage. He gestured with a thumbs up, and the auditorium was washed with darkness.
Carefully, Kurt stepped down the stage and ran to Quinn's class. He arrived just in time to find that they were dismissed. Kurt patiently waited until Quinn, herself, walked out of the door.
"Hi, Quinn!"
"Oh, Kurt! Did the teacher dismiss you early?"
"Yes. I have a good idea - let's go to the auditorium to rehearse."
"The auditorium?" Quinn repeated. "Why the auditorium?"
"We sound better there. And the stage is spacious, so we don't have to worry about tripping over and ripping our clothes. Especially not this." Kurt pointed at his clothing.
Quinn smiled. "Okay, okay. Let's go there, then. The fashionable soprano doesn't want his threads spoiled."
"I'm glad you see it my way."
They briskly walked through hallways, stopping shortly for a visit to the girl's room. As Quinn took her bathroom break, Kurt texted Mercedes that they will arrive in approximately three minutes' time and that they should all get ready.
After what seemed like ages (particularly for Kurt, whose heart beat like a drum solo in a heavy metal song), the finally arrived at the auditorium. Quinn cast an inquiring glance at Kurt, who told her to just follow his lead. He took her and gently led her to the front row. Quinn wondered what the heavy black curtains covering the stage were for.
"I thought we were going to rehearse."
"Just listen, Quinnie."
Kurt made her sit down by the center aisle, and he, himself, sat down beside her. Kurt pulled out his phone and dialed a number. He spoke in his phone in a low, barely audible (and to Quinn, unnervingly sexy) voice: "It's time."
The auditorium was eerily silent and dark the first time Quinn stepped in, but it felt like her senses were frazzled with, suddenly, the black curtains were drawn back and a bright light shone on a lone figure on the center stage. It took Quinn a few moments to have her eyes adjust and realize just who that person is.
A guitar was strummed.
Wise men say
Only fools rush in
But I can't help
Falling in love with you
"Kurt, what's all this about."
Kurt squeezed her hand. "Relax, Quinn, honey. Just listen."
Quinn shifted uneasily on her seat, but she trusted Kurt enough to convince herself that bailing is probably unethical at this point.
Shall I stay
Would it be a sin
If I can't help falling in love with you
Puck looked at Quinn directly at the eye while he strummed the guitar and sang. Dramatically, the lighting brightened, revealing the rest of the Glee club at the far back side of the stage. Everyone else started singing with Puck, but his voice remained dominant over the harmony and the blending.
Like a river flows surely to the sea
Darling so it goes
Some things are meant to be...
Puck smirked.
Take my hand, take my whole life too
For I can't help falling in love with you
"Kurt, honestly, this is getting a little uncomfortable," Quinn whispered.
Kurt didn't reply. Instead, he kept his eyes locked onstage, as if convincing Quinn to do the same. She stuck through 'til the end.
Take my hand, take my whole life too
For I can't help falling in love with you.
"Quinn, look," Puck began. "Everything that I sang to you is true. This isn't all just some bogus act that I pulled up so I can hurt you again. I've been a complete ass to you, and I know it. But it kills me that you're going on ignoring me and everything, and I miss you so much, Quinn. I really do. Just... just tell me you're okay and-"
Before Puck could finish, Quinn stormed out of the auditorium, not taking any word Puck was saying. She hated him and despised him. He had already won her over once, and she paid for it. How could she be sure he was really sincere this time around?
"Quinn... Quinn, wait!" Kurt pleaded, abruptly following his best friend. He managed to mouth 'I'm sorry' to a downcast Puck before catching up.
"Why did you do this, Kurt?" Quinn asked as she stopped in front of the first set of lockers she came across to. "Helping that idiot try to win me over."
"He wants you back, honey," Kurt replied.
"Well, I don't."
"Quinn-"
"Are you stupid, Kurt? Is your mind clogged up so bad that you forgot what he did? Has spending time with those good-for-nothing jocks actually made you one yourself?"
He had to admit it - her words stung hard, he was actually hurt. He knew how Quinn was when she gets angry, but he didn't know she could lash out to him just like that. It seemed entirely inappropriate and, for a while, he felt a shred of self-pity after remembering that people lashed out on him for some reason. Had it not been Quinn who said all those, he would have dissed that person then and there. But it was Quinn. She was different. He loved her so much.
"Okay, here's the deal, Quinn. Yes, I agreed to Puck's plan and helped him prepare for all of this. Obviously, I convinced most of the Glee club to come along, minus Puck's 'whore', as you would affectionately refer to her when you bring up the subject. I don't know how much truth there was in his words when he told me that nothing happened between him and Santana last Friday. He sent her home when you walked in on them."
"How can you be so sure he's telling the truth?" Quinn asked.
"How can you be so sure he's not?"
"He's Noah Puckerman, Kurt. Lying is one of the finest arts he knows."
"I'd just like to point out the fact that he caught up with me yesterday as I headed to History, acting all nice and sweet. The jerk who is Puck that we all know wouldn't... stoop so low as to ask me to do him a favor."
"You've seen what he did, Kurt," Quinn began. "He won me over once and done something wrong to me. I don't care if he makes a whole lot of money selling cakes or cleaning pools or robbing homeless men outside 7-11, or if he buys me a ton of nice clothes and toys for the baby. If it means having to deal with him and his whores, I quit. It's not just the money, you know. It's about how much he actually cares."
Kurt smiled. "I care, Quinnie. I don't think you doubt me when it comes to my intentions and actions towards you. You don't question me if I'm sincere or not. Because you trust me, and I know that and feel that. The way you just look at me with big eyes and come crying to me when something goes wrong... I just know you trust me."
Quinn cocked her eyebrows, not really sure where this was going.
"So you must trust me when I tell you that I won't let Puck hurt you in any way. I only helped him because I felt his sincerity and I felt pity."
"But he's Puck."
"Yes, yes. He's imperfect, but aren't we all, Quinn? I mean, I bitch a lot and go diva on my best behavior, and that, perhaps, is something equally bad as Noah Puckerman," Kurt said.
Quinn was silent.
"We know how Puck is, Quinn. He's not really the best person to have a baby with, but I can't say he doesn't want to be a father. I know he'll do better this time. I just gave him the chance you didn't give him."
"I can't risk being hurt again," Quinn explained.
"I won't let Puck hurt you. I agreed to help on one condition: He won't ever make you feel bad or be an ass towards you."
"And you think he'll keep his word?"
"Oh," Kurt smirked. "I know he will."
Kurt's thoughts flew back to a conversation he previously had with Puck, as the two of them planned what Puck liked to call "Operation: Quinn".
"A very uncreative title for an elaborate operation to woo back your Juliet," Kurt remarked.
"Look, just hear me out here. I need the whole Glee club to help me with singing. I know she'll fall in love instantly with me. I'm a great singer."
Kurt rolled his eyes. "Yes. Well, just wake me up after your sleep-inducing self-admiration."
"Admit it. I'm a great singer."
"At this point, I honestly don't care about how you sing, as long as you keep your word that you won't go back to your... 'activities' if ever Quinn agrees to get back with you."
"What? You don't believe me?"
"You're Noah Puckerman," Kurt stated bluntly. "And frankly, believing you is like strapping a missile on your back - it's way too risky."
"So how can I make you believe that I'm telling the truth?" Puck asked. He was willing to pull out all the stops, after all. Kurt smirked.
"I have the right to shave off that hideous mohawk you sport when you step out of the line and cheat on Quinn. I would actually love to do so right now, if it weren't for the fact that it's part of our deal."
Puck sighed irritably. "Okay, okay, fine."
"And if I ever hear the slightest bit of complaint about you from Quinn, it's goodbye to your heinous hairdo."
Quinn went home with Kurt, having a lot to think about that day. Pressure was completely crushing her: Regionals, the baby, and Puck's "fate". She can't believe even Kurt was pushing her back into Puck's arms. It actually made her wonder if he was completely tired of having to lug her and her baby around like they were some kind of dead weight, but as she followed the lines, it all came back to one thing - Kurt cared, and whatever he was doing, he had her best interests at heart.
She just couldn't seem to find what's so good about getting back with Puck.
Dinner with the Hummels wasn't always a quiet affair, but that night, Quinn couldn't really say anything everytime Kurt attempted to converse with her. He seemed persevering enough, though, so she gave him at least one or two-word replies to satisfy his questions. She just couldn't find anything nice to say, what with all the things in her mind.
Kurt suspected that her silence and lack of decent answers involved the whole Puck situation earlier that day. He didn't admit it openly, but he had that weird feeling in his gut that Puck was going to do something wrong someday. Then he remembers his mohawk deal, and Kurt sits down satisfied. At least for now.
Neither of them couldn't sleep easy that night. It was almost one in the morning when Kurt finally stepped into dreamland, but Quinn was still wide awake and thinking. She knew the right thing was to accept Puck, but it wasn't as easy as everybody else thought. Kurt wasn't really pressuring her to say yes to Puck, but his words echoed loud and clear in her mind.
She finally slept, dreaming about Puck pining after her as she and Kurt got married. She knew it was ridiculous, even in her dream, but she couldn't help but smile.
A/n: That's chapter ten for you! I did a little thinking and I don't think the ending will fit into next chapter, so the story gets a little extended. Anyways, this chapter pretty much a bit too dialogue heavy on some parts, but I hope it doesn't really ruin the whole reading thing when you guys get confused as to who said what. Thanks for all the nice reviews and compliments and stuff! I check up on the reviews everyday and they just fuel my desire to go write more!