CHAPTER 12

"I'm so sorry, Rach, I wasn't thinking when I said ok! You're sure you're ok with this? I can cancel, I just wasn't thinking!"

"Kurt, please, I can be here and wait for furniture, don't worry. You are NOT going to cancel this meeting! Just go, ok?" Rachel said, smiling at Kurt.

"I wasn't thinking….I just….."

"Kurt, seriously, go. You're going to be late!"

Kurt rushed out the door after giving Rachel a hug. "Wish me luck!" he yelled back over his shoulder.

"Kurt! Your portfolio!"

"Yeah….that'd be helpful, right?" Kurt said, rushing back in to grab his portfolio that contained all of his recent sketches.

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Kurt entered the coffee shop a few minutes earlier than they'd planned their meeting. He found a table tucked back in a corner of the shop and set his things down. Taking off his messenger bag that he'd slung over his shoulder, he placed it in the chair next to him and propped his portfolio against the wall.

"Grande nonfat mocha, please" he ordered, smiling at the girl behind the counter. He paid, then moved to the side waiting on his drink. She handed him the cup and a napkin and he headed back over to the table. He checked his watch and grabbed out his sketchbook. He still had 10 minutes to kill.

The kohl moved over the page with an ease he was used to. It was comforting. He hadn't done much in terms of large scale sketches since he'd been in New York because he didn't want to drag everything out into Finn and Rachel's apartment. He had, however, gotten his small sketchbook out frequently, and he had been messing with some men's fashions lately. It felt good and he knew he needed to set up the second bedroom as a studio. He envisioned his art table in one corner and his sewing machines in another. The natural light pouring in that window would be great to sketch by. If he put the sewing tables in an 'L' shape in the corner by the windows…

"Exactly the reason I picked you, Mr. Hummel!" said the voice behind him. Kurt jumped a little, startled, and turned to see David Perry behind him holding his own cup of coffee.

"Mr. Perry, it's great to meet you!" Kurt said, standing to shake the man's hand, slightly awestruck.

"Please, call me David. Mr. Perry is my dad, and he's dead, God rest his soul…" He said mirthlessly. "So tell me, Mr. Hummel….what brings you to the fashion world?"
"Well….please….call me Kurt….and the fashion world has been my obsession since I was three. I told my dad that I wanted a sensible pair of heels for Christmas, and the rest is history." David laughed at this and shook his head.

"Do you have any formal training in the fashion industry?"

"I have some classes tucked under my belt, but as you know, I've recently relocated to New York and I haven't enrolled anywhere yet. I've not even been here a month." Kurt answered, feeling his hopes drop a little bit.

David had pulled Kurt's portfolio onto the table without permission and was now leafing through his drawings and designs, stopping now and again to study something more than the next and then flipping it into a side pile.

"Perfect…perfect. Mr…Kurt. Let me explain to you what I want, and you can decide if it's something you want to consider. Kurt, I was a fashion student back in my day. Few people are aware of that fact. My first degree was in fashion, but I went on to study theater and that's where I landed, as you know."

"It seems you've landed quite successfully, David, if I may say so."

"Apparently so, quite right!" David laughed. "I've missed it, however, the fashion…I want to get back to it…..and that's where I want you to consider joining me."

Kurt was sure his head was going to explode. He was trying SO hard to keep a straight face and listen intently, but his heart was pounding out of his chest and he was near to hyperventilating. Pull it together, Hummel….hear the man out! He chastised himself.

"Sir? What could I do for you? I have no degree yet…..and although I'd be elated to be working with you on any level…"

David waved his words away as if they had no meaning. "Kurt, I have no interest in a degree. You see where that got me. It's a dusty piece of paper tucked away in a fire safe box in a closet in my bedroom. I want your vision, I want your enthusiasm for design, I want your flair. I don't want a piece of paper that tells me how others think you should proceed with your career. Kurt, I think it's time for me to be honest with you. I saw Ms. Berry in that skirt, and it immediately caught my eye. I'll show you why in a minute. I ran into her later that day in the hallway again, and we spoke at length. I asked her not to mention it to you just yet, but she was able to sneak your sketchbook into my office the next day. She also brought quite the array of clothing that has apparently been custom made by one Mr. Kurt Hummel for her over the years? I was quite impressed by what I saw in that book and in person. I love what you do, Kurt. I see so much of what I love in your designs. Let me show you something…." He said, pulling out a small folder from a bag next to him on the floor. This…..this is why I want YOU, Kurt."

David pulled out a sheaf of slightly yellowed papers and Kurt could see they were sketches of clothing, albeit older styles, probably from his days in fashion school. He leafed through them and slid one over the table in front of Kurt. Kurt's eyes widened in surprise and his face lit up in a smile.

"I see…..wow…that's just….is weird an ok word to use here?"

"Precisely!" David laughed.

Sitting on the table before him was a sketch of a petite brunette with fringed bangs, wearing a red skirt. Attached to it was a swatch of red damask fabric, obviously having been attached to it for quite some time as if it was put there when the drawing was originally done. It could have easily been Rachel in the sketch! The skirt fabric was an embossed damask, just like the one Kurt had made for Rachel. The lines were sleek and fitted, just as he'd designed and completed and gifted to Rachel for her birthday. The similarities between the skirt he'd made and the drawing on the 'model' were uncanny.
"She was, by far, my favorite model to draw" David mused. "She was in my psychology class, and I had such a crush on her…her name was Elizabeth…" he sighed, momentarily drifting away with his thoughts, "…but anyway!..."

Kurt sucked in a breath, feeling a rush of warm air at his neck. He froze in his seat, meeting David's eyes as he spoke of the object of his affections. Goose bumps rose on his arms.

"Kurt…I believe you and I are kindred spirits. I'm prepared to back this venture, financially, 100%. I want…no, I need to get back into fashion. I've missed it, and what I want is not someone else's idea of what today's fashion is or should be based on a curriculum that's taught in an institution. What I want is the vision of someone who truly loves and understands fashion. I believe you, Kurt, are exactly what I'm looking for. These sketches you've brought only solidify my feelings on the matter. Would you consider working with me on my little project, Kurt?"

He sat there, stunned, and unable to form words or communicate any other way except to nod his head overenthusiastically. David laughed at Kurt's surprised expression and patted him on the arm.

"I'll assume that's a yes? Kurt, you remind me of a much younger self. I see big things in your future, whether it's with me or not, although I certainly hope it is! We have a lot of work to do, and I hope you're up for it? "

"Yes, I….I'm…..absolutely, sir!"

"Oh, we're back to 'sir' are we?" David laughed. He checked his watch and started to put the yellowed drawings back into his binder. "I have a meeting that I can't miss, although I'd love to sit here all day and discuss designs. Please, give me your number and we'll be in touch. I have a loft space in mind for offices. I've bid on it already, in hopes that you'd say yes, and I should hear back from the owner on Monday. This won't be your typical 9-5 job, Kurt. I'm aware of that. I know I hated drawing when I was forced to do so, and my creativity would crash. I know you're moving into a new place, as Rachel stated yesterday. Is there a space in your apartment for you to work…..be creative? If not, I'll find you a bigger space….."
"Yes, there's an extra room….lots of natural light and…and…" Kurt stuttered.

"Happening pretty quickly, right?"
"You have no idea, sir…I'm a little dumbfounded right now and….at a loss."

"If you're working from home, which I'm sure you will be….creativity doesn't punch a time clock, I'm willing to pay half of your rent. I want you to be able to concentrate on our business, not worry about making ends meet. As for salary, I was thinking along the lines of…." He slid a figure across the table to Kurt and Kurt felt the breath rush out of his lungs. He felt lightheaded and he figured his eyes were rolling back in his head now.

"Will that be sufficient to live on in the big city?" he asked, hesitantly, honestly, as if he had no idea the number he was suggesting was a generous sum for an accomplished designer, let alone a peon on the bottom rung, as he felt he surely was.

"I….that's awfully generous of you….sir….David. I promise I'm not always such a bumbling idiot, but I'm just overwhelmed right now and…"

"Oh Kurt, you're just delightful! If find your naïve nature a splendid complement to your over the top fashion choices. I knew the minute I walked in here and laid eyes on you that we would be perfect partners in this venture! I'm quite excited to get started. I'll be speaking with you soon, Kurt. We can go over in much more detail what I want from you and you can tell me what you want from me. Enjoy the weekend, and get yourself settled into that apartment. We have a lot of exciting work ahead of us!" David said, shaking his hand, and he stood to exit the coffee shop. Turning back, he paused and saw Kurt sitting at the table, still and pale. He cleared his throat and got Kurt's attention.

"Kurt, I know this is probably a lot to take in, and it's sort of spur of the moment. I'm certain you came here with a totally different idea of where you were going with your life, at least in the first few years. I ask only that you give me a chance. Give our venture a chance, Kurt. If, after a year, you're unhappy in any way, unsatisfied with where this is going, I will pay for you to finish college with the degree of your choice, anywhere you want to go. I want you to be comfortable with this decision, not second guess yourself and what you've done. Fair enough?"

"Sir? Surely you can't be serious?"

"I am….I'm quite serious, Kurt. I feel that you're worth it. There's a lot of talent in you, and I want it all!" he smiled. Kurt smiled back, thanking him and nodding his head, unable to speak. David turned and left the coffee shop.

Kurt sat there, stunned and dumbfounded for quite a while, unaware of his surroundings. People came and went and he just stared out the window, unsure of his feelings for what was going on, afraid to get his hopes up too much, but knowing in his soul that this was going to be a good thing. Finally, not knowing where else to go with all of his rambling thoughts and visions, he picked up his phone and hit the familiar number.
"Hey kiddo, you moved in already?"

"Hi dad…I…dad, something happened…"

"Kurt….are you ok? Is something wrong? "

"Dad, no….I'm fine…I'm beyond fine. Dad, I'm…so much more than fine I can't function enough to get out of this chair in a little coffee shop called 'Higher Ground' and…."

"Kurt?"

"Daddy….." Kurt began, and he sobbed into the phone. "…..the most amazing thing…..and I can't even believe it…or really even breathe properly right now…..I just have to tell you…"

Kurt went on and on, explaining it all to his father, who was, rightfully, shocked and dumbfounded just as Kurt was.
"Kiddo…..I don't know. Have you checked this guy out? I mean, do you really think this is legit?"

"Dad! It's David Perry! This isn't some random bum off the street. The man is a Tony winning Broadway actor, director, professional. He's a highly respected authority on Broadway shows and he's totally on the level, it's just that I can't wrap my head around it. Why me? Of all people, he has his pick of ANYone, Dad, so why me?"
"Kurt, you know why….you just told me why. He sees something in you, and if that vision comes from a skirt and a sketch, then take it wherever you can. I don't see the downside. If you trust him, if you think this will work, if you're at all intrigued by the offer, then by all means, jump in with both feet and enjoy the ride! You know Carol and I are behind you 100%!"

"Dad, I knew I just needed to talk to you about it. I'm just overwhelmed. So happy. I thought…I thought when I left Ohio, with things being so bad, with Jax and everything that had happened….I just thought it was going to take me forever to get back on my feet and do something….BE something. This seems like it's too good to be true, but far be it from me to look a gift horse in the mouth!"

"That's the spirit! This is right up your alley, and I know you'll be the best thing New York City has ever laid eyes on!" Burt laughed.
"I knew you'd stand behind me, Dad, but I was just so shocked, I guess….."

"Which reminds me, I'm sorry I didn't get to call you back the other night. The alarm in the shop went off again and I had to go down there to reset it and look around with the police. I didn't get home until late, and I didn't want to call you that late. You sounded a little 'off'….was something wrong?"

"Oh…um….well, no, just….the alarm? Was anything wrong? No….I'm ok, dad…now." Kurt stuttered.

"Well, as convincing as that is," Burt snickered, "I feel there may be something going on that you're not telling me about? Did you, perhaps, meet someone up there?"

"Well, no, but…it's this guy, dad. I can't get him out of my head. He's just 'stuck there' like a song you can't
stop yourself from humming all day because you heard it on a commercial in the morning."

"So where'd you meet this guy that won't leave your head, anyway?" Burt grinned.

"I didn't….I mean, I didn't actually 'meet him' I just saw him. I don't know who he is or anything, that's what makes it so weird. But he's permanently etched in my mind, that's for sure. Dad, he's just….he's so…he's …"
"Perfect?"

"More than I can even express, and this is all without having said a word to him. I feel like a stalker or something. I'm obsessed with a complete stranger that I have zero chance of ever running into again, but he's in my dreams and I can't seem to concentrate. Rachel was making fun of me last night for my sketches. Without thinking I put his face on every sketch I did. His curly hair, his beautiful honey colored eyes, his olive skin tone, his perfect mouth, his…"

"OooooooK, buddy, this is where I say 'enough' before I begin to blush and tell you to just talk to the guy the next time you see him, ok?"

That's just it, dad, there won't BE a next time. When I saw him, he was sitting in a coffee shop that I was walking past with Rachel. We had one of those 'Oh my God staring moments' and Rachel and I went on our way. When we went back, he was gone. I think what surprises me so much about the whole thing is that when I realized he was walking out of the coffee shop, I was so sad….so instantly deflated. Dad it was just really weird. I don't know how to explain it I guess. I'm sorry, I'm babbling!" Kurt sighed.

"Bud, it sounds like you need to get your mind off of this guy or find him….and if finding him isn't a possible option, then perhaps going out and doing something fun and not locking yourself away in Rachel and Finn's apartment would be a good way to move forward with this new life you've found?"

"Well, I'd be locking myself away in my own apartment now. Dad, it's amazing, you should see it! I can't wait until you guys can come up and visit!"