Chapter 28: Hearts and Roses
"Want some help?"
Angie stared at the Valentine's Day cards spread out on the table. "I don't know which card goes with which friend." She picked up one of the cards, and held it up for Claire to see. It had a picture of a puppy wearing a red bow around its neck that said, 'Be Mine'. "I like this one, but Jessica is allergic to dogs."
Claire pulled out a chair and sat at the table with her daughter. "Hmmm. I see what you mean." She considered the puppy card. "But maybe this is the perfect card for Jessica, since she can't have a real dog of her own?"
"You think so?"
Claire shrugged. "Maybe." Valentine's Day was a big deal in Grade 1, but Claire wasn't going to make Angie's decisions for her. She wanted her daughter to get used to thinking for herself.
"She likes dogs. She plays with Karen's dog all the time, even though it makes her sneeze, and her eyes get all red." Angie checked her class list, and carefully copied 'JESSICA' on to the card.
Claire couldn't help smiling as she watched her daughter run a line through JESSICA on the list. Six and a half years old, and she already had an organizational system. This was not something that Angie had learned from her. Neat and organized were not her particular talents. She knew exactly where Angie had learned this skill. Kurt had sat at this very table a few months back, trying to get through the Christmas Cards that his father sent out every year to their Hummel Tire customers. He had been remarkably patient as Angie pestered him with questions. He had given Angie a blue marker, and pointed to the names he wanted her to cross out for him. He had made her his 'assistant', and thanked her for her help.
Claire sipped her coffee, and watched as Angie tackled the next name on her list. She had been so worried for her kids when she divorced their father, wondering if losing a male influence would hurt their emotional development. Now, she thought it was the best thing she'd ever done for them. Nigel and Kurt were better with the kids than her ex had ever been.
Yes, he was very aware, thank you, that Valentine's Day was an artificial holiday created by the media to increase retail spending, but it was a big deal at McKinley. The classrooms were filled with paper hearts. Red streamers and construction paper cupids festooned the hallways. Last year the same decorations had made Kurt nauseous, but this year he grinned as he passed each little cheesy heart and arrow. This year there was Nigel and that made all the difference. He wanted to do something special for Valentine's Day, something that said Nigel and him, something unique, something… he just had no idea what that could be, not yet.
Kurt found Mercedes waiting for him, at his locker. She grinned at him, and pointed to a red envelope wedged into the metal door. "You've got mail!"
"Pour moi?" Kurt opened the card, and read out loud to the girl who was trying to read over his shoulder. "Dear Kurt, Be My Valentine. From: Your Secret Admirer." Kurt slipped the card back into its envelope and tucked it into his messenger bag. "Do I have a great boyfriend, or what? It's not even Valentine's Day yet!"
Sitting in chemistry, supposedly working on his lab report, Kurt sent Nigel a text.
From Kurt: Thanks for the card. Loved it!
From Nigel: What card?
From Kurt: The valentine's card you left in my locker.
From Nigel: Not me babe.
Kurt stared at the screen.
From Kurt: You didn't leave a card in my locker?
From Nigel: No. I haven't been to McKinley since I saw you in West Side Story.
Shit! If Nigel hadn't sent the card, then who had?
From Nigel: I thought you and Blaine were the only gay guys at McKinley?
From Kurt: Apparently not.
From Nigel: You're still mine Hummel.
Kurt snickered quietly, and checked to make sure Mr. Kempt wasn't looking his way.
From Kurt: jealous much?
From Nigel: Yes!
From Kurt: Later
Kurt put his phone away, and tried to focus on his lab report. He wasn't very successful. He kept thinking who? Who sent that card?
The next day at lunch, Puck was extolling the virtues of promiscuity. "I tried the love thing. It wasn't for me."
"Well, it is for me. Nigel and I…" Kurt broke off as Tina gasped "Oh!" Kurt turned to see what she and Mike were staring at. He found a gorilla holding balloons. "A Gorilla Gram! Can you tell me who it's from Valentine Gorilla?"
The Gorilla shook his head, handed Kurt the telegram, and stomped off.
Kurt radiated pleasure as he grinned at Puck. "You see, Puckerman, this is what you're missing. True Love!"
Puck waved a hand dismissively, but Kurt just smiled, convinced that he was right. He opened the telegram, and the smile slid off his face as the read the words secret admirer. He dropped the telegram on the table, and dug out his phone.
From Kurt: You didn't just send me a gorilla gram, did you?
From Nigel: No
Shit! This was getting creepy.
From Nigel: U OK?
From Kurt: Yeah. Not a fan of secret admirers though.
From Nigel: Remember you've got a real admirer
Kurt smiled at the phone. Suddenly, creepy stalking valentines were relegated to the realm of extremely inconsequential.
From Kurt: Care to put your money where your mouth is?
From Nigel: Come over tonight and I'll put my mouth wherever you want.
Kurt glanced around the table, but no one was paying him any attention. They were focused on some argument between Rory and Artie. He slid one hand under the table and tried to adjust himself.
From Kurt: Oh, I want!
