Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Chapter 17
"How do you find that dress?", Rachel asked. Kurt snorted. "It looks like you someone slipped and fell on it with scissors."
"That's also what I wanted to say, white boy!", Mercedes laughed and they both high fived over Rachel's head. The three friends were sitting on Rachel's bed with her laptop, scrolling through online boutiques.
"Guys! We are supposed to look for a dress for me!", Rachel whined. The three of them had been shopping to search one for Rachel, but she was too picky.
The trio had been to over ten boutiques, but they had no luck. So, they were trying their luck in online shops, now.
"Grandmother would have complained about this cut. And about the color and the unmotivated lace on the décolleté."
"But it is my dress, not yours", Rachel pouted.
"Sorry, Rachel, but you won't go to an official ball with that trash", Mercedes said.
The brunette sighed. "Fine. That was dress 593."
Sullen, she laid down on her bed. "Maybe, I should leave out that ball."
Kurt put his hands on his hips. "No way! That's your last spring ball, Rachel. You need to come." He initially wanted to skip that ball too, mainly because of Blaine, but Finn convinced him to come anyway.
The brunette sighed. "But I doubt I will find a dress for me. Why can't I be a guy? They only need to wear suits which all look the same."
The chestnut-haired boy gasped, scandalized. "I can't believe you just said this!"
"Here we go…", Mercedes next to Rachel mumbled.
"Suits are as multifaceted as dresses are. Only because you can't see the difference, it doesn't mean they aren't there!", Kurt said, crossing his arms.
"By the way, do you have an outfit for the ball, Kurt?", Mercedes stopped his ranting.
He was aware what Mercedes was trying, but he decided to answer that question anyway. Kurt nodded, and his face expression softened. "Yes, I do. But actually…"
He bit his lip. He didn't know whether he wanted to say it out loud. It was a bit embarrassing.
"What?", Rachel asked, interested.
He sighed. Over the last three months, Rachel and Mercedes had become his best friends. He was sure he could trust them with that secret.
"Actually… I want to wear something different. Something daring. A kilt. But grandfather would kill me.", he finally admitted, looking down.
He could already imagine grandfather's angry face. Him telling Kurt how he had embarrassed the family. And the paparazzi chasing him like after that Adam-catastrophe. He felt sick when he thought about it.
Mercedes grinned. "I think you would totally rock that outfit!", she smiled. Rachel scratched her imaginary beard. "A kilt? What if a wore a kilt with floral design? That would be less efforts to find an outfit."
The black girl hit her with a pillow. "You serious? Hell to the no!", she screamed, indignant. Rachel hit her right back. Mercedes' eyes started sparkling. "That's it, Berry. You want war? You can have it!"
She threw a cushion to Rachel's direction, but it hit Kurt instead. He frowned. "Don't you find that childish? It took me hours to coif my hair like that", he whined, but was cut off by Rachel slamming a cushion to his face.
Ten seconds later, the trio was engrossed in a pillow fight, giggling like six-year-olds.
Five minute later, they all laid on Rachel's bed, out of breath and with red faces.
"I mean it, Kurt", Mercedes broke the silence. "If I had it my way, you could wear whatever you want to."
"Mercedes is right", Rachel agreed. "No one should be allowed to tell you what you are allowed to do and what not. As long as you don't do drastic things like killing, of course."
Kurt sighed. "I wish it would be that easy. But grandfather is determined to dictate my life. On Monday, he had asked me why I never brought home a girl."
The two girls turned to him, stunned. "And what did you say?"
He absentmindedly played with the pillow in his hands. "I told him that I just didn't find the right person yet.", he answered.
"But why was he asking, anyway?", Mercedes wondered. "As if James Hudson would care about the love life of his grandsons."
Kurt grimaced. He had to think about James' behavior towards Rachel.
"He told me he wants to expand Hummel-Hudson's. And the best way would be to do a collaboration with another successful firm. But for that, he needs a connection to another firm."
"I hope he didn't do what I think he wants you to do", Mercedes groaned.
Kurt nodded bitterly. "Yes. He wants me or Finn to engage to a wealthy girl. And he locked Quinn on to his gaze."
Rachel's eyes widened. Kurt wondered whether he should have let Finn tell her. "But don't worry. Finn refused immediately and so did I. Luckily, grandfather didn't want to pressure us. Apparently, he has better things to do."
Better things to do than to spend time with his own family, Kurt thought bitterly. Since grandmother's death, he barely spent time at home.
Kurt tried to smile. "We are here to find a dress, right? Come on, let's scroll through that website. Their dresses don't look bad."
Mercedes and Rachel exchanged glances but decided to play along anyway.
And Kurt was really grateful for that.
…
Finally, they found a dress for Rachel. It was 2 am when Mercedes clicked on the perfect one which was not only inexpensive, but also beautiful. It was bright pink with flowers everywhere.
It looked perfect.
"I think we need to leave now", Rachel said some days later, looking at the clock of Kurt's room.
Kurt smiled. "Yes. Finn and Andy are waiting for an eternity, now. We really need to go."
"Thanks again for the beauty-program, Kurt", Mercedes said. "We really needed that after the stress with the dress.", she said and hugged him.
"Group hug!", Rachel demanded and joined them.
"Girls, you are going to destroy our fabulous outfits", Kurt laughed. "And that's the least after what you have done for me."
He really meant what he said. Thanks to the girls, he felt better than ever before. Around them, he was always happy and distracted. And now, he was convinced he had his cutting problem under control.
So he had engaged stylists who took care of their hair stylings, mani-and pedicure as well as the girls' makeup. Now, they all looked ready for the red carpet. A carpet where fairies were going to be. Or maybe Shakespeare.
Together, they went down to the foyer where Finn and Andy were already waiting. The both of them were talking, and Andy laughed. That sound moved Kurt. It was the first time since Elaine's death he had done that.
Finn turned around and looked at Rachel first. His eyes lit up, just like all the times he talked to her or looked at her.
"You all look stunning", he said.
"Of course", Kurt answered sassily, and fist bumped with Mercedes. While Kurt wore a suit with a bright blue shirt, Mercedes decided on a white dress with red flowers.
Finn just shrugged and immediately looked over to Rachel who span around in her dress once and smiled at him. "I really feel like a princess."
"You also look like one", Finn answered, pecking her on the cheek.
"I don't know whether I should find that great or gross", Mercedes next to Kurt mumbled.
"You find it great", Kurt answered automatically. "That's way better than to see them unhappy."
When the event management club watched how the fake trees had been built up in the McKinley hall the day before, Rachel was skeptical. They looked weird in the daylight and not enchanted at all.
But now, it had changed. The light of the lanterns and the candles, the blue and violet leaves they had spread, and the classical music made the atmosphere magical, where the guests with their elfish outfits and bright suits felt comfortable.
"That looks stunning, girls", Kurt gushed. He pointed at the swing, their hired photographer was standing in front of it, waiting to take a photo of a couple. It looked so romantical.
"We really need to take a photo together", he insisted.
But Finn seemed to have other plans. He dragged Rachel away from Kurt and Mercedes. First, Rachel thought he wanted to go to the bar, but then, he led her to the swing. Another pair was about to take a photo.
"Seriously? I remember the times you weren't in the mood for these parties", Rachel grinned. "And now you want to take a photo?"
"You know why I was not in the mood", Finn said into her ear. She got goosebumps.
"In reality, you were in the mood", Rachel said. "Admit it. It was a façade, actually, you loved the DJ at the Back-To-School party and you were just jealous you didn't hire him for your own house parties."
Finn snorted. "Of course."
He leaned over to Rachel, kissing her behind her ear. She gasped.
"You look beautiful", he mumbled, and Rachel felt his warm breath on her skin. She wanted to return that compliment when the photographer cleared his throat.
"Next", he said, annoyed. When he saw Rachel, he cocked his eyebrows, surprised.
"Oh, it's you, Rachel."
Mr. Brighton and Rachel knew each other since she started organizing the events of McKinley. He took the photos for their blog, the homepage of McKinley and Figgins' Newsletter which he sent once per month to each student.
"Good evening, Mr. Brighton.", she said.
"I have never taken a photo of you", the man thought out loud and pointed at the swing. "Sit down."
"Thanks", she mumbled and sat down while Finn stood behind her, laying his arms around her waist. Her butterflies moved whenever Finn touched her, and she hoped that feeling would never vanish.
"Smile!", Mr. Brighton said, but he really didn't need to say that, Finn's presence alone made Rachel smile.
After he had taken the photo, they got the print of the camera. Finn shook his head.
"That's so kitschy.", she laughed.
Finn grinned. "I kind of like it."
He stuffed them into his jacket. Then, he took her by the hand, dragging her to the direction of the dancefloor.
"Let's dance", he said, smiling.
Rachel cocked her eyebrows. "You want to dance voluntarily?"
He nodded and went to the dancefloor with Rachel in tow. Other couples were moving slowly to the music. Rachel even saw Puck and Quinn.
Speaking of which. "Kurt told me about your grandfather's plans about marrying Quinn", she whispered.
Finn just nodded nonchalantly. "Grandfather wants us engaged since I was ten. Don't take him serious", he reassured her. Rachel frowned. She wouldn't be sure about that. This man was a loose cannon.
"At the beginning of this year, I never would have thought to be here with you", Finn pulled her out of her thoughts. "I'm so grateful"
These words warmed her heart up. "I'm also grateful to have you, Finn."
They moved to the slow music of the orchestra. Rachel caressed Finn's neck, he pulled her closer until nothing could fit between them. She could feel his breaths on her body.
"Finn…", she whispered.
She held her breath, looking into Finn's stunning eyes and his good looking mouth.
"Rachel…", he croaked. And then, she couldn't wait any longer.
She closed their gap, so did Finn. When their mouths met, pure electricity was flooding her as usual when she was kissing Finn. She couldn't describe how a simple kiss was enough to turn her world upside down.
Rachel buried her hands in his hair and felt his moan against her lips.
"Gosh, take a room", a sharp and also annoyed voice next to them groaned.
Finn pulled away from her and she blinked. Kitty was dancing with Jake Puckerman, Puck's half-brother and sophomore. She rolled her eyes.
"We really exaggerated", Rachel said, burying her face into Finn's neck.
Suddenly, she noticed how he stiffened. "What…"
Rachel lifted her head. She turned around and followed his glaze.
Mr. Anderson just entered the dancefloor.
"Isn't that…"
"…Sebastian Smythe, Prince of Monaco", Finn ended her sentence.
"The both of them look like really close friends.", Rachel remarked, watching the duo dancing close to each other.
Sebastian smiled at him, whispering something into Mr. Anderson's ear what made him laugh. It was a shy laugh, which was different from the laughs during their lessons.
"Fuck", Finn said at the same time Mr. Anderson looked over Sebastian's shoulder and his smile vanished.
It didn't take long until Rachel realized, why.
Kurt.
He was standing near the dancefloor and had seen everything. Now, he turned on his heel and left the hall.
Rachel wanted to follow him, but Finn held her back. Before she could wonder why he had done that, he nodded to the direction Kurt had disappeared to.
Mr. Anderson was following him.
"Do you think it is a good idea?", Rachel asked hesitantly.
Finn's face expression was unreadable. "They need to talk eventually. Besides, I think he wants to be alone, now."
Given that Finn knew Kurt better than she did, she trusted him.
"I don't want Kurt to feel bad.", she mumbled.
Finn threw her a warm glance. "He will get things right. Of that I'm sure."
Rachel somehow got the feeling he was not only thinking about Kurt now. He was thinking about his own luck. He believed in his own luck.
And it made Rachel happier than ever before.
A/N: Only a couple of chapters left, guys. Wow, time flies *_*