Chapter 11
A/N: Again, my apologies for the slow update. Hopefully my resolution to write more and do so regularly will start to kick in some time soon...
I hope everyone had a good Christmas and New Year and are ready for some more Klaine times! I now have over 100 story alerts, which is just... Wow. I've never had that before, so I'm really chuffed, thank you! Once again, please feel free to hit that review button if you have the time. And thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far, particularly to leahmo34 who seems to have reviewed every chapter! Enjoy!
Kurt saw Blaine nearly trip as he jumped out of the car, forgetting his safety in his haste to run over to him. His heart fluttered seeing Blaine again with his hazel eyes actually glowing with recognition this time.
'Wait! Jesse! Ty!' he called out. Blaine skidded to a halt in front of them and caught his breath. He seemed to be waiting for Kurt to say something. In a split second, Kurt decided that maybe playing dumb was his best option.
'Hi Blaine! It's great to see you,' he said with a bright smile, that seemed to throw Blaine off for a moment.
'H-hi,' he stuttered. He shook his head for a second before remembering why he had run after him in the first place. 'You know the strangest thing happened today. I invited you for lunch today, and you came. Only, it wasn't you. What happened?' he asked, and Kurt could detect a hint of hurt and accusation in his tone.
Kurt masked his features into one of misunderstanding, adding a confused smile to top it off. 'Lunch? I don't know what you mean.'
Blaine looked back at him with guarded surprise. 'You are still staying at the Warbler, aren't you?'
Kurt saw his opportunity. 'Oh no, not any more. We moved uptown. You know, to… Just uptown,' he finished lamely.
He didn't know whether Blaine was suspicious or just being damn good-natured when he said next, 'well why don't you hop in and we can give you a ride there. We're headed in that direction anyway for a talk on housing projects.'
Ty looked like he was about to agree but Kurt shot him a quick look to say, 'play along with what I say'. He turned back to Blaine. 'No. Thank you. But we're actually going to a party a few blocks away, Ty's friend is having a party. We can walk.'
Blaine looked at him like he was a disappointed puppy. 'Then how can I get a hold of you?' he asked.
Kurt had a quick internal struggle. Now was his chance to put an end to the whole thing. Tell Blaine that he wasn't into him and didn't want to 'get a hold of him'. Despite this, what came out of his mouth was, 'how about I get a hold of you?'
Before Blaine could speak, Wes, who had appeared at his shoulder, jumped into the conversation. 'This is my card here. Why don't you call this number if you want to get in touch with Blaine?'
Blaine nodded and gave him a quick smile before Wes had the chance to half drag him back to the car, saying, 'call me at any time. Don't be shy.'
Wes began to get impatient. 'Blaine, we really do need to get going so we're not late for that speech.'
Blaine turned back to Kurt. 'I guess I better go. Speeches on housing projects really must be done,' he said with a wry smile.
Kurt looked at him oddly. 'What are you saying in your speech?'
'Well it's more about bringing the media up there to shine light on living conditions.'
When he didn't reply, Blaine looked at him worriedly. 'What? What aren't you saying?'
'Perhaps… If you actually spent some time there rather than giving a speech, it may be a bit more… Helpful. Media go up there all the time. But very little has changed in the worst areas and it isn't going to without proper action.' His tone was not unkind, but he gave Blaine a meaningful gaze while he said it.
Wes cut in sharply. 'And how would you know?'
'I know what it's like to live in poverty,' replied Kurt softly. 'We both do. We hit a rough spot a few years back. You need to experience that to truly be grateful for all that you have now,' he said putting an arm around Ty.
There was an awkward silence for a moment before Kurt continued. 'I guess we both better go our separate ways now. Goodbye.'
Blaine stared after him as he walked away, only returning to the car when Wes dragged him off of the path.
He sighed as he they resumed their journey. Wes turned to him. 'Who the hell is he?' he said in wonder.
'I tell you who he is,' replied Blaine happily. 'He's unlike anyone I've ever met before. And he isn't a phony. There's nothing fake about him.'
Blaine was formulating plan in his head. 'Wes,' he said, still in thought. 'I'll make you a deal. You still want me to go to Sue Sylvester's black–tie dinner tomorrow night? Then get Jesse to go. If you do that, then I swear that I'll suck up to Sylvester every way that I know how. Deal?'
Wes looked like he was somewhere between bemused and confused, but he went with it anyway. 'Sure, deal,' he replied with a slight smile.
XxXxXxXx
The next morning Kurt was listening to Ms. Pillsbury give them their assignments in the morning meeting. He had zoned out briefly but he shot to life when he saw Wes walking down the corridor towards the room he was currently in. What the hell was he doing down here? Mercedes was in front of him and he quickly told her to move in a panicked whisper. He didn't notice Mr. Shuester giving him a quizzical look before turning and seeing Wes, eyes widening in realization.
Wes approached Mr. Shuester and spoke to him in hushed tones. After a minute, he gave him a letter, which Will tucked into the inner pocket of his uniform.
As Wes walked away Ms. Pillsbury concluded the meeting. Kurt tried to file out with the rest of the staff until he felt a strong hand grip his arm and drag him away. He saw that it was Mr. Shuester, who was taking him to a secluded spot nearby.
Will stopped and let go of his arm before turning back to him. 'Are you truly interested in a management position?'
Kurt looked at him slightly fearfully but replied in the affirmative.
Will removed the letter that Wes had given him and handed it to Kurt. 'Then I suggest that you go to this benefit dinner tonight. And end all association with Blaine Anderson. At least, until you become a manager. Only then can you make your own rules. I'll make sure your shift is covered. Please do the right thing, Kurt. Not morally, but for you.'
Will walked off without any further words of wisdom, leaving a dumbfounded Kurt behind, slowly brushing his fingers over the invitation that was now in his hands.
He wasn't alone for long however. Mercedes barged into him from behind, closely followed by Tina and his other colleague Quinn. 'What happened?' asked Mercedes worriedly. 'Are you still in the training program? Is Shuester going to report you?'
Kurt shook his head. 'I can still be a manager, but only if I break it off with Blaine.'
The three girls looked at him before Mercedes broke the silence. 'Break what off exactly? No offence honey, but it didn't seem that anything was actually happening.'
Kurt looked at her angrily. 'We had a connection, Mercedes. I told you that.'
Tina interjected. 'Sweetie, I know that you like him. But consider this, you've only know him less than a week. Nothing could really happen in that amount of time! And people from his kind of world just don't mix with us.'
'And what was it you guys always tell me? Don't be afraid to dream big? I always thought that I'd spend my whole life as an average hotel worker. And now I could actually be a manager despite not having any real experience. I refuse to be brought down and considered unworthy of liking someone just because of my social status or pay bracket!'
Mercedes took him gently by the arm. 'Kurt, we didn't mean it like that. Of course you shouldn't let anything hold you back. But we don't want you to be hurt by thinking that this is a lot more than it actually is. You haven't been with anyone for a long time, and your last relationship… It broke you in many ways honey. I'm just afraid that Blaine could break you all over again. You've let him in because he was kind to you and Ty. And I'm sure that he's genuine in that sense. But I don't think you ever truly mended last time. Blaine could break your heart much easier than he ever did.'
Kurt knew exactly who he was and had to suppress a shudder. 'I'm sorry Mercy. I know you guys mean the best. I just… I really like him. It's going to be hard to break this off now.'
The girls cooed sympathetically, but Kurt had decided that now was not the time for self-pity. 'Girls,' he said suddenly. 'This benefit dinner is this evening. What on earth am I going to wear?' he exclaimed.
