Author's Note:
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! :D
Thank you for all your guesses! It's fun to see whom you're expecting to be at the door. However, none of you guessed right. Come on, it can't be THAT hard to guess, can it? ;)
So you have suggested Dave Karofsky, Shane Anderson, Mr Johnson... And someone – I need not tell names – even suggested BLAINE would be at the door, but that apparently was only wishful thinking, because, seriously, Poland? After all this trouble to keep them apart, NOW I let Blaine knock at the door? Nah, I don't think so. But you're allowed to dream, honey! ;) Love you!
I promised to you all that I would add some happiness, so I'll have someone at the door who brings a little happiness (and lots of gifts) into Kurt's life. ;) I hope you all enjoy this chapter!
To Colfermentalhead: THANK YOU A MILLION for helping me with this chapter, you're absolutely awesome! :D
To everyone: Check out colfermentalhead's stories "Some have gone, some remain" and "Heading in the right direction". The way she writes Klaine and the Hudmel family will sweep you off your feet! :D
Oh and I can hear you all yell at me now: "Could you finally open that goddamn door NOW!"
;)
Kurt's mind was racing. Who could be at the door at this time of day?
School wasn't over yet, but maybe it was Mercedes who got worried by Finn's panicked leaving so she decided to come over, too? Gosh, he wasn't prepared for Mercedes to show up. She would want to know everything about his road trip to Colorado and he just couldn't talk about it. Not yet.
But what if it wasn't Mercedes? What if it was someone else? Someone like... Dave Karofsky!
Kurt tensed up. Maybe Karofsky had decided to come and talk to him personally. He knew that Kurt was home and, well, although Dave Karofsky wasn't the smartest guy in Ohio even he should be aware that Kurt wasn't going to call him just because he dropped a silly note saying 'Call me!' out of his car window.
Kurt was about to jump up and stop Carole from opening the door. Who knew if Karofsky was going to hurt her just to get to him! With a guy like Karofsky everything involving violence was possible!
But just when he'd gotten to his feet, Kurt heard a very familiar voice which he hadn't expected to be hearing at all. Oh dear! The sound of that caring voice made his heart clench. Kurt couldn't believe that his friend really came all the way just to see him and make sure Kurt was alright!
And instantly Kurt felt so bad for not answering his texts for the past couple of days. God, he was such a bad friend. Of course all of his friends were worried about him and now they felt the need to show up at his door, because he wasn't answering his phone.
With a sigh Kurt went to the door to meet his visitor who was just talking to Carole.
"Hello Ma'am. Excuse me for my unannounced visit, but I'd really like to see Kurt if that's no inconvenience. I'm bringing a little get well soon gift for him and I would love to give it to him, but just, you know, if it's okay..."
"Oh that's so sweet of you, honey," Carole said in that warm welcoming voice of hers. "I'll tell Kurt you're here. What's your name?"
"Oh Gosh, I'm so sorry I haven't introduced myself. My name is Reed Van Kamp. Uhm, I'm a schoolmate of Kurt's at Dalton and we're also roommates, so he'll know who I am and..."
Kurt appeared behind Carole and smiled at his friend. "Reed, you came all the way to see me?"
"Hi Kurt!" Reed smiled broadly and waved his hand. He was out of uniform, wearing a cream colored trench coat with faux fur collar and knee-high boots. His strawberry-blond curls were being whipped around by the cold wind. "Actually, my Mom and I are on our way to the airport to head to New York for the weekend and I begged her to make a detour over Lima, so I could drop by and see you and..."
"Your Mom...?" Before Kurt could process that piece of information, he looked past his friend and noticed the black limousine which was parking in their driveway. His jaw dropped to the ground as he watched the driver (who was wearing a driver's uniform, all with hat and gloves!) open the backseat door and Hilde Van Kamp gracefully got out and started up the plain pathway to their house.
Kurt was frozen to the spot. The only movements were his hand flying up to clutch at the front of his fleece jacket and a big swallow going down his throat at the sight of the woman. Well, this wasn't just a woman! This was Hilde Van Kamp!
The Hilde Van Kamp!
So this was what being starstruck felt like? Kurt was 100 % positive that he was going to vomit onto the doormat any second now.
The world famous fashionista was a tall slender woman with blonde hair which was currently swept up in a bun. She wore big Prada sunglasses and a long purple coat that flattered her slight build. She carefully strode on the gravel and snow up the pathway and addressed her son. "Sweetie, should I tell Geoffrey now to bring the clothes in?"
"Mom! I told you to stay in the car!" Reed sounded highly annoyed which caught Kurt by surprise, because he'd never seen Reed being annoyed before.
"It would be very impolite of me to stay in the car, now wouldn't it, darling? At least I want to say hello to your friend." She reached the door with a happy sigh and smiled at Carole and Kurt. "Hello," she said while pushing her sunglasses up into her hair. "I'm Hilde Van Kamp."
She held her gloved hand out to Carole to shake. "You must be Kurt's mother. Nice to meet you. Reed doesn't stop talking about your son."
"Please, call me Carole," Carole replied and held the door open. "And please come in. It's freezing cold outside."
"Thank you, that's very kind of you." Before stepping in Mrs Van Kamp waved at her driver and motioned him to follow and Kurt watched the man opening the trunk of the car. What was that about?
"Oh, please leave the door open, so Geoffrey can bring in the gifts," Mrs Van Kamp chirped up as Carole was about to close the door. "Gifts?" Carole asked for her step-son, because Kurt was unable to get one word out in the presence of Reed's mother.
"Oh, just some clothes of Mom's latest collection," Reed said with a humble shrug. "Nothing out of the ordinary, really."
"What a lovely little home you have, Carin," Mrs Van Kamp said, looking around and Kurt narrowed his eyes. Actually their house was a pretty big place in his eyes, but then again he hadn't been to Reed's home yet and he could only imagine in what kind of palace the Van Kamp must be living.
"It's Carole," Carole corrected with a smile. "Please make yourself at home. Want to give me your coat?"
Remembering his manners Kurt quickly stepped forward to help Mrs Van Kamp out of her coat. Underneath she was wearing an auburn suit and matching high heels. Carrying her black Gucci purse in one hand, she reached down with the other hand to smoothe the skirt around her thighs.
Hugging the woman's coat to his chest Kurt couldn't help but admiring how incredible tall she was (mostly due to her high heels, but still) and how she was towering over them. Next to her Carole looked like a child. Kurt's eyes widened with horror when he realized that Carole was wearing her antic denim vest today and a checkered flannel shirt – she loved borrowing stuff from Burt's wardrobe. Kurt had told her a million times already to stop wearing men's clothes, but it was no use.
"So, you must be Kurt? I believe we have met before?" Mrs Van Kamp addressed him and Kurt smiled tentatively, remembering the one time he'd seen her before when she'd come to visit her son at Dalton.
"Yes, we have, Mrs Van Kamp," he managed to say with a croak and wished for the earth to open up beneath him and swallow him alive. Now that Reed's mother looked him up and down he was painfully aware of his undone hair and the old sweatpants he was wearing. If he had known Hilde Van Kamp would appear at his doorstep today, he wouldn't have allowed himself to drown in selfpity and neglect all his usual efforts to look humane.
"Why, Reed, you didn't you tell me your friend was such a natural beauty!"
"What?" Kurt blinked, sure his hearing wasn't working right.
"How come I didn't notice you the last time we've met?"
"Well, I guess it's because I wore the Dalton uniform," Kurt said with a shrug. "These uniforms just draw all individuality off a person."
"I absolutely agree," Hilde Van Kamp said impassionately. "The uniforms are just plain ugly. I offered to design new ones for Dalton, but sadly my offer was declined. How old are you, Kurt?"
"Seventeen. I'll be eighteen in summer."
"Oh, c'est magnifique!" Hilde Van Kamp clapped her hands in anticipation. "Would you consider walking for my fall collection this year? I'm always looking for new faces on the catwalk and your height and stature is perfect. Not to mention your beautiful porcelain doll face."
Kurt held his breath. Did Hilde Van Kamp just ask him to present her collection at a fashion show? Now he was pretty sure that he must have fallen asleep on the couch and this was just a dream.
"Mom, leave Kurt alone," Reed pleaded.
"Why don't you let me appreciate beauty when I see some, Reed?" With a roll of her eyes she addressed Carole. "I would love for my son to walk for me, just for fun of course, but he's so shy. I have no idea where his exceptional shyness comes from. If he wants to become a great designer one day he should learn all about the basics of this business. I have walked on fashion shows myself in younger years."
Kurt wanted to say something. He knew that Reed was a great deal intimidated by his mother and her habit to load all her dreams on his shoulders. Reed had no desire at all to follow his mother's foot steps and become a designer. But no matter how often Kurt preached his friend to stand up to his mother and go his own way, Reed couldn't say no to her. At least not yet.
"I'd love to," Kurt answered with a big grin on his face. He couldn't say no to Hilde Van Kamp either. It was one thing for Reed to be her son and having to fight off her expectations, but it was quite another thing to be a little fashion addict kissing the ground on which the fashionista walked. And who was he to turn down an offer like that?
But then again he was aware that by Fall this year Mrs Van Kamp might have forgotten all about him anyway. So he chose to simply enjoy the little moment of dreaming about his future stardom in fashion, fantasizing about chatting with famous designers about trends and the latest chic and being an inspiration for them.
"It's so nice of you to have such kind words about Kurt," Carole cut in with a smile. "I definitely agree with you that Kurt is very handsome, but he has lost a lot of weight recently, and we're trying to help him to regain it. So I don't appreciate you telling him his figure was perfect the way it is now."
"I see." Hilde Van Kamp looked Carole up and down in quite a professional way. She surely didn't mean to be offensive, but if someone like her observes a simple person like Carole it automatically felt like a judgement. "May I ask if you're Kurt's real mother? I couldn't help but notice the physical differences."
Kurt inhaled deeply. It was quite obvious that Carole wasn't his real mother, not just because she was small and rather chubby whereas he was tall and lean. "Well, yes, Carole may not be my birth mother," Kurt explained and linked arms with his step-mother. "But she's the best mother I could ask for."
Carole's head whipped up and when her eyes met Kurt's a tender smile curled up her lips and she squeezed Kurt's hand. "Oh, thank you, honey!"
"Oh mon dieu! That's so sweet to hear!" Hilde Van Kamp produced a handkerchief out of her purse to dab at her eyes. "You'll have to excuse me, but I'm a bit emotional lately. I just found out a few days ago that I might never have grandchildren!" She made a dramatic gesture at her son who seemed to shrink in on himself.
"Mom!" Reed blushed and hugged himself. "I told you I'm not even sure about that yet!"
"Oh please, Reed, it's obvious!" Mrs Van Kamp sighed. "Besides, the best designers are gay! It's very positive for your career actually!"
Mrs Van Kamp leaned forward to Carole in a confidential manner, saying, "Also no one will question my age when I don't have any grandchildren, right? And I'm planning to stay thirty for yet another ten years at the least."
She straightened herself up again and said excitedly, "And then of course there's always the possibility of adoption! Oh, I have met Elton John's baby-son last month and it's such a cute little thing! Now, you should definitely think about adoption, Reed!"
"Mom, I'm seventeen," Reed whined. "I just have a crush on a guy! There's no need to make such a big deal out of it!"
Kurt was smiling to himself. Reed acknowledging that he had a crush on Shane (at least Kurt assumed the person in question was Shane) was a big step forward for his friend.
All the time while they were talking, the driver (whose name apparently was Geoffrey) went in and out of the house, carrying boxes and clothes which were wrapped up in plastic coverings. Kurt watched as the man was working to tuck up some sticks to what looked like it was supposed to become a coat rack just like the ones in a clothings store. After having set up the rack, he carefully hung the clothing upon it. And suddenly Kurt realized what was happening. All these clothes were meant to be for him?
"Oh my Gosh! Reed, I can't keep all of these clothes!"
Reed widened his eyes in shock. "Oh Kurt! Why not? I made sure they're all your size, so don't worry about that."
"No, I mean, I can't take such a generous gift! It's just too much. Just one of these coats is worth at least a hundred dollars!"
"Make that five hundred, dear," Hilde Van Kamp coughed into her handkerchief.
"Don't be silly, it's nothing." Reed shrugged at Kurt. "Mom had to make room in our storage at home anyway, so all this would've ended in the trash... oh my, but I'm not saying I'm giving you trash! It's all new clothes, I swear! I've looked through all of them and only brought those that I was sure you'd like. I made sure that it's just the style that you and I love, so I really hope you'll like them and if you don't I'll get you something else and..."
"Reed? Reed!" Kurt cut into his friend's awkward ramble and waited for him to look up at him. "Thank you, Reed. If you've selected them yourself, I'm sure I'll love all of them!"
"Oh where is my head?" Carole suddenly exclaimed. "Please, let's get comfortable in the living room. Can I offer you something to drink? Hilde? Reed?"
"No, we don't mean to be any trouble," Reed hurried to say, shaking his head.
"You're not, honey," Carole smiled at him. "We were just about to watch a DVD and chill the day away."
"Is it Princess Diaries?" Hilde Van Kamp looked over at the TV screen where Anne Hathaway's face was captured. "I love that movie."
"Yes, it's the sequel."
"Oh, I've never had the time to watch the sequel. Do you mind if I join you while the kids talk?"
"Of course not. Please have a seat." While Carole and Hilde settled down on the couch, Reed grabbed Kurt's arm and lowered his voice. "Say, can we talk somewhere in private?"
"Sure. I'll show you my room. It's upstairs." Of course Kurt knew what Reed wanted to talk about. Since he had met Shane earlier this week he had been so down that he hadn't told anyone about anything yet. And he could imagine that Reed was dying to hear about his talk with Shane.
"I'm sorry I haven't answered to your emails and texts. I didn't want to cause you the trouble of coming all the way to see me."
"It's no trouble at all. I wanted to see you. And I'm sorry for dropping by like this, I should've called, but I was afraid you'd tell me not to come. And sorry for bringing my mother along. I told her to stay in the car, but, well, she never listens to me."
Reed followed into Kurt's room and pretended to be extremely interested in his bookshelves, when Kurt knew exactly what was really occupying his friend's mind. Finally Reed turned around, his eyes big and pleading. "So, have you... have you talked to Shane?"
"Yes... I have..." Kurt nodded and all of a sudden his throat constricted. Tears sprang to his eyes and he covered his face with one hand.
"Oh my! Kurt, I'm so sorry, I ..." Reed came over to hug him, his eyes already teary, too, but Kurt stepped back. He knew if he'd let Reed hug him, they'd both be a bawling mess within seconds. So he fought hard to stay focused.
"Please! What did he tell you? What happened, Kurt?"
Kurt took a deep breath and grabbed for the box of tissues on his desk to hold it out for his friend. "I'll tell you if you promise me one thing. No crying, okay? I'm sick of crying. It seems it's all I'm doing lately and I hate to be like this." Kurt sighed and shook his head. "It feels like I'm stuck in a neverending story of misery and hopelessness and the author just doesn't want to give me a rest for a change."
Reed took a tissue and quickly wiped his eyes dry. Then he nodded at Kurt, dead serious. "I won't cry as long as you don't cry," he promised and sat down on Kurt's bed.
Kurt leaned against his desk and rubbed his temple with two fingers. "I've met the guy who attacked me on New Year's..."
"No!" Reed raised his right hand to cover his mouth, still clutching the tissue.
"It's a guy called Devon McVaughn," Kurt continued. "He works for Blaine's father and although he didn't really admit it, we're sure he was hired by Mr Anderson to beat me up. Apparently Blaine's father thinks that I kind of seduced Blaine into being gay."
"Oh my," Reed murmured and went pale. "But he didn't hurt you again, did he?"
"Not physically, no. Only with words. But Dad got into a fight with him and he placed a really good punch right in Devon's face. Broke his nose, maybe. Gosh, I hope so." Kurt started grinning shamelessly and Reed grinned back at him.
"Wow, your Dad is just awesome! I would have loved to see him go at this guy. I just hope your Dad hit him like, really, really hard!"
"Yeah, he did," Kurt said with a little laugh, sounding really proud all of a sudden. "I would've loved to punch Devon, too, but he is this really big guy and I was afraid I'd break my hand at his chin, you know, like Bella did when she smacked Jake?"
They both cracked up and were shaking with giggles. Reed was laughing so hard that he rolled around on the mattress of Kurt's bed and Kurt joined him, making sure Reed wouldn't fall off the bed and hurt himself. Eventually they calmed down and Kurt put the box of tissues between them as they both had laughed tears. "Oh dear, I prefer this way of shedding tears," Kurt exclaimed along with another fit of giggles and lay down on his back, holding his middle and trying to endure the pain in his chest.
"Does it still hurt when you laugh?" Reed rolled on his belly and – sprawling across the bed – he hugged a pillow to his chest, watching Kurt intently.
"It does. But it's okay. I can handle this kind of pain, it's just a couple of broken ribs." Kurt shook his head slowly. "What I can't handle is..." Kurt closed his eyes and a long, slow breath escaped from his mouth.
"What?" Reed prompted gently.
"I can't handle missing Blaine. It would have been easier if... you know, if he'd moved to another town or if he'd broken up with me. I'd still be heartbroken, but I could deal with it. But this... the way Blaine had just disappeared on me and... and what Shane told me..." His voice wavered a little as if he was on the verge of tears again.
Reed's eyes lay on him, impatiently and all serious. "What did Shane tell you?"
"He told me that it's true... that Blaine tried to... you know, the suicide thing." Kurt told him in a small voice. Reed looked at him in sheer disbelief and his face blanched even whiter than before. "No, not him," Reed whispered, shaking his head. "Why would he do that? There's no reason for him to do that. He loves you!"
Kurt let out a little laugh and turned away.
Again he remembered something Blaine had told him a long time ago. I don't know what I'm doing, I pretend like I do... Had Blaine just been pretending all this time? Had he already been hurt beyond repair when they'd first met and never told Kurt about it? Blaine had always seemed to be so strong and confident. They had always been honest with each other, he hadn't expected that Blaine would keep a secret hidden away from him. Why didn't he see it? Why hadn't he seen the pain in Blaine's eyes when he'd spend so much time looking into them?
"I just don't know what to believe anymore…" Even he could hear the hopelessness in his own voice.
The meaning of his words settled in and Reed sat up, protesting loudly. "No, Kurt! Blaine loves you! That's a fact! You shouldn't ever doubt that! He wouldn't just…" Reed stopped mid-sentence.
Kurt turned to face him again. "He wouldn't what?" Anger settled into his voice. "Leave me? Hurt me? Well, he did! He tried to kill himself!" His own shock at saying this aloud was mirrored in Reed's pale face.
"He must have felt a pain that was unbearable!" Kurt went on, finally voicing his fear. "Something that was greater than whatever he felt for me. And I didn't see it. What kind of a person am I that I didn't see him suffer inside?"
"You can't look into people's heads," Reed offered lamely and bit on his lower lip.
"Duh! You're right about that. But I was arrogant enough to think I was able to look inside his heart." Kurt sat up and rubbed his face tiredly. "And still... Do you think I'm stupid for believing that Blaine didn't really mean to die? Or is this just wishful thinking on my part? I want to believe that when he left our house, he was okay. We were okay! We were in love and he wanted to come back to me as soon as possible. He didn't think about killing himself then. He just didn't."
His voice trailed off and they sat in silence for a while. Reed sneaked a couple more tissues off the box to wipe his eyes and blow his nose. "What will you do?" Reed asked after a while. "I mean about this guy, Devon? Will you press charges against him?"
"No, I can't prove anything." Kurt shrugged. "I haven't really seen his face, but the way I felt next to him, and his stature and his voice, I just knew that it was him. However, I don't think it's a good idea to go against him, not as long as Blaine is stuck in that facility anyway and, you know, I don't know if their father would do anything to Shane if I started pressing charges against Devon. So I won't do anything."
"Did Shane... say anything about me?" Reed asked with a tiny voice, his eyes downcast, staring at the bunch of used tissues in his hands.
Kurt looked up at his friend and sighed. "We talked about you," Kurt admitted. "The thing is that Shane is afraid that his father would send someone after you, too, if he was to make the connection. That's why Shane doesn't contact you anymore. He wants to protect you, Reed. But honestly, I don't think you're in danger."
"Why do you think so?" Reed asked and tucked some of his curly hair behind his ears. "If Mr Anderson hired someone to go after you, he could as well have his dogs set on me. I mean, Shane has been very straightforward with his advances on me. Someone could have noticed and told his father about it."
"Believe me, Blaine's father wouldn't risk going at you," Kurt insisted with a little laugh.
"Why not?" Reed asked again. "What makes you so sure? You're just saying that to soothe me, don't you?"
"No, I'm not," Kurt answered with a sigh. "Look, Reed, you're the son of Hilde Van Kamp. If something happened to you the whole world would talk about it! Me, however, I'm nobody. My bashing up was hardly mentioned in the local news. Nobody cares about a random gay kid being punched and Blaine's father knew that."
"You're not a nobody, Kurt," Reed protested with a sad smile. "You're my best friend. Hey, that makes you the best friend of Hilde Van Kamp's son. Ain't that something?"
"Thanks, you make me feel so special," Kurt replied with a smirk on his lips. "One of the advantages of being your best friend is the free stuff that comes along with it. I think I really need to go and take a closer look at those clothes you brought me."
"Oh, it's my pleasure! It's so nice to finally have a friend who appreciates clothes as much as I do." Reed said with a grin and tucked up his sleeve to have a look at his watch. "Gosh, I'd better go. Mom can get furious when we're behind the schedule."
"When does your plane take off?"
Reed waved Kurt's concern off. "Ah, it'll wait for us. We always travel by private jet. But Mom wants to be in New York by five o'clock and she can get really unpleasant if something doesn't work according to her plans."
Together they descended the stairs and were met by very loud and hysterical laughter from the living room. Reed stopped in his tracks and looked at Kurt in sheer wonder. "Do you hear that? What is that?"
"Sounds like Carole and your mother have fun with the movie," Kurt supplied with a grin. Reed's eyes expanded. "I haven't heard my Mom laugh since... Gosh, I don't even remember since when."
Downstairs they found the whole place was blocked with what looked like a hundred racks and boxes. Kurt grabbed Reed's arm. "Say, just how many clothes did you bring?"
"Uhm, I didn't really count them," Reed shrugged. "I just got as much as fit into the limo."
Following the sound of excited laughter the two of them fought their way through the maze of clothes to the couch and were presented with the sight of the two different women clutching each other's arms while laughing their heads off. Reed stared at his mother in awe and looked like he was trying to figure out if she was currently possessed or alienated. He cleared his throat. "Mom? I think we need to leave?"
"Already? Oh dear! Time flys when you're having fun, they say, right?"
"We need to repeat this, Hilde," Carole said and wiped tears of laughter from her eyes.
"We certainly have to, my dear." Hilde Van Kamp got to her feet and smoothed her skirt. "Geoffrey? Are you finished?"
"Yes, Ma'am," came the muffled voice from somewhere out of the mass of clothes.
"Fantastic. We're leaving then. Oh, where's the door?"
"Uh, somewhere over there, I think," Carole answered and took the lead, working her way between racks of shirts and trousers and over boxes, with Hilde, Reed and Kurt following close behind. "Carole, I think you need to keep to the right," Kurt shouted over to her. "Or else we'll end up in the kitchen."
"Oh, I guess you're right, honey. Now, I think I'm lost. All I see is coats and jackets."
"We're standing in front of the fall collection, dear," Hilde helped her out. "This means the spring collection has to be to our left, those were the last boxes Geoffrey brought in, so inevitably the door should be right over there." Hilde Van Kamp parted a couple of coats and stepped through the rack.
Reed turned to smile over his shoulder at Kurt, "Look, these are the kilts of Mom's latest collection." He pointed to a rack to their left. "I love them, but I'd never dare wearing them… maybe if you did, too. We could wear them at the Dalton spring festival maybe?"
"Great idea, Reed," Kurt said, encouraging his friend while climbing over a couple of boxes. "Watch out!" Reed stumbled over a small box and caught himself at another pile of boxes.
"Did you hurt yourself?" Kurt asked and reached over to lend his friend a hand.
"No, I'm okay. But I nearly crushed the boxes filled with accessories. You know, scarves, gloves, hats and ties. I think I may have seen somes brooches, too. I know how you like animal brooches. There's some really fancy ones with birds, I like those."
"I'm sure I'll love them," Kurt said and after making sure that his friend was standing on firm feet, he wanted to withdraw his hands, but the smaller boy now took both of his hands into his. "Kurt, when will you come back to school?"
Kurt drew a breath. "I don't know yet," he answered honestly. If he could choose, he didn't want to return to Dalton at all. Not without Blaine being there. Not when everything there reminded him of Blaine. But he didn't tell his friend. "But you'll be the first to know, I promise."
When Finn came home and opened the door he froze on the spot, because several lines of coat racks blocked his way inside. "Hello?", he called out tentatively.
He heard muffled voices coming near and suddenly the clothes on the rack in front of him parted and a woman appeared. "I found the door! Oh hello!" The blonde woman stepped outside and straightened her clothes. She was followed by a blond curly head whom Finn recognized as one of the Dalton Warbler boys and Kurt and his mother and a man wearing a funny driver's hat.
"Finn, what are you doing home again?" Carole asked, astonished to see him.
"Uhm, when I got back to school I was told that the last couple of classes were cancelled for today, because one of the teachers got sick, so I could drive back home."
"This is my son Finn," Carole introduced him to the tall woman. "This is Hilde Van Kamp, her son Reed and their assistant and driver Geoffrey."
"Uhm, hi." Finn waved his hand awkwardly. Hilde Van Kamp stared up at him, open-mouthed and not even trying to hide her excitement. "Oh mon dieu!" She exclaimed in utter astonishment and before Finn could figure out what the hell that meant, she got a tape line out of her purse and seized Finn up from shoulders to feet and around his waist.
"Your build is extraordinary, Tim. You truly inspire me! Your sons are amazing, Carin. I'm getting so many ideas for my new collection just by looking at these two young men."
"They're still teenagers, but thank you, and it's still Carole," Carole said with an amused smile. "And this is Finn, not Tim."
"Oh, I'm so sorry, dear. I can tell you the body measurements of any person I've met, but I'm awful when it comes to remember names." She turned to address Finn again. "But dear boy, why are you wearing... this?"
"Huh?" Finn put on the dumbfounded expression that he mastered perfectly.
"I hate to say it," Kurt cut in, cupping his mouth with one hand in a confidential way, "but Finn's a caveman, at least fashion-wise."
"I see," Hilde Van Kamp said, tapping one finger at her chin. "Well, I'm going to check with my store appartment to see if I have some clothing your size that I can send down. Reed, I'm sure you have got the mailing address of this residence?"
"Of course I do, Mom," Reed rolled his eyes. "Which address do you think I gave Geoffrey to get here?"
"Drive safely," Carole said and the Hummel-Hudson family members watched as the Van Kamps and their driver walked down the pathway.
"What the hell was that?" Finn asked when the limousine drove off.
"Whatever it was, it sure felt like a tornado," Kurt chuckled and Carole nodded her agreement.
"And why does this woman want to send clothes for me? Do I look like a charity case?"
"No, but you definitely look like a fashion victim," Kurt grinned and tucked fondly at Finn's sweater.
"And what is this?" Finn pointed to the incredible amount of clothes that were clogging up their hallway and living room.
"This? Apparently this is Reed's idea of a small get well soon gift."
"Wow!" Finn scratched the back of his head.
"Finn, would you mind helping me store all this away? Somehow... somewhere... I think we need to attach another room to the house. Oh, I always dreamed of a walk-in closet."
Finn put his arm around Kurt's shoulders and drew him to his side. "You always dream big, don't you, Kurt Hummel?"
Kurt smacked Finn's belly and smiled up at his brother. "And you're always hungry, Finn Hudson. I can hear your stomach rumble. How about I fix you a snack and you go figure out something to get my new clothes stored away neatly?"
Finn narrowed his eyes for a moment, before he let his lopsided smile show. "Deal."
I don't know about you, but I would love to have Reed and his Mom show up at my door and bring a bunch of new clothes for me! XD
Besides, the way I write Mrs Van Kamp is quite different from the way she is portrayed in 'Dalton', so I hope you enjoy my version of her. ;)
Next chapter:
Kurt's Friday is not over yet. There's still one chapter left with a lot of Furt moments. And then it's Blaine's turn again, I promise.
Okay I need to say this now: Whenever I feel sad and down, I just need to read all your lovely encouraging reviews for No Regrets or Tony and Maria or Something's Coming and you make me smile again! All of you, thank you so much for all your love and support over the past few months!
I hope you'll continue to send me your love along the way (and well, constructive criticisms are also welcome). ;)
Btw, I'm writing a new story and I will have the first chapter up later today! I hope you'll have a look at it, too!
:D