Chapter 16- Surrounded


It was a good day.

Kurt was quite satisfied with how things were going in his life. Things with his friends were perfect; their plans were coming to fruition. Puck had had a horrible day after their stunt in the courtyard. Everyone was looking at him like he had no dignity and perhaps he didn't. Though Kurt wasn't God, he couldn't possibly have decided that.

And Tina was growing closer to Mike, which Kurt saw as only a good thing. The two had gone on several successful dates and Mike had confessed to Kurt that he liked her an incredible amount, which only fuelled the ire of Artie, who glared vindictively at all five of them during Glee rehearsal, which was as tense as could have been expected.

Mr. Schuester had addressed the successful Cheerios' pep rally as the sort of performances to avoid, throwing a harsh glare at the KHHHB and, by association, Mike. Kurt sat rolling his eyes with Quinn as Brittany and Santana pretended that they weren't focused on each other the entire time.

"It has also come to my attention that there has been some unhealthy rivalries between some of you which I want to get straightened out once and for all."

Kurt rolled his eyes. "Good choice of words."

"You know I didn't mean that, Kurt."

"Do I?" Kurt replied with bitterness in his voice. "You're apparently a man of words, not actions, considering the amount of times you've helped us out. Have you even spoken to Santana and Brittany since Aretha outed them both in her petty attempt for revenge? No, you haven't. And I think that that speaks louder than anything you've ever done for this club."

Rachel sighed. "Do we all have to sit through this? I mean, the fact that the Cheerios performed a rude song at the pep rally shouldn't distract from whatever solo I'm going to sing at Sectionals."

"Pipe down, Eva Peron, this does not concern you," Santana snapped and Rachel fell silent.

"Guys!" Mr Schuester interrupted. "I'm sick of you all talking like this."

Artie frowned. "I'm sorry, but what have any of us actually done? Except, you know, Mercedes going against everything we stand for."

Tina widened her eyes in shock. Maybe Artie wasn't everything she thought he was. But that didn't matter, because she had Mike's hand in her own and that was more comforting to her than anything Artie had ever done.

Mr. Schuester blinked. "This isn't about Mercedes. This is about in-fighting between some of you that isn't going to help us at competition."

Brittany snorted. "And why not? Puck being despicable isn't going to affect whatever song you pick for Rachel to sing. And I'm sure we can learn whatever dated, cliché show choir selection you've picked for our consolatory group number. Oh but wait, Rachel will sing lead on that, too. You know what, why are we even here? To make up the numbers? If I've learned anything from being forcibly removed from the sanctuary of the metaphorical closet by a heinous bitch, it's that I'm a lot more special this club makes me out to be. I'm starting to own myself as a person and I'm an excellent dancer. Mike's talent surpasses mine. Yet all we've been told to do are simple step-ball-changes and snapping our heads down at the end of every number. I don't want to take this anymore."

Kurt, Quinn, Tina and Mike smiled proudly at her. Santana had never been more aroused in her life. She subtly crossed her legs and focused on her breathing.

Mr. Schuester blinked slowly. "Brittany, I…don't quite know where that has come from."

Quinn chuckled. "Since Brittany joined the club, she's been criminally overlooked. In fact, most of us have. The only solo I got was in rehearsal because Rachel wasn't here and I was dating the male lead. Santana is a by far superior vocalist to me yet she's had only two lines at competition. Kurt, Brittany, Tina and Mike had none. I don't even want to mention how you treated Matt when he was here."

"This isn't a dance-centric club, Quinn. We don't have Vocal Adrenaline's massive numbers or abilities."

Santana shook her head. "How would you even know that? Kurt, Brittany and Mike have been taking the same ballet class for a decade. They could easily gain acceptance into dance schools all over the country. Quinn and I are more than capable dancers and, now that she isn't carrying a child, she can show you that. That is, if she wants to be quickly acknowledged and then left in the back of the closet to collect dust."

"We're so much more than what you're giving us, Mr. Schuester," Tina commented, almost as if it was rehearsed. "We've been quiet about it in the past but I for one am not standing by and taking this shit anymore."

"Tina!"

"Did I do something wrong? I'm surprised you even noticed, considering how overlooked we've all been."

Tina paused and leaned over to Kurt and whispered something, and he clapped his hands quietly and nodded.

"Mr. Schuester, I want the solo for Sectionals."

Kurt held up a hand. "And before you reply about Tina not being able to demand solos, think about how many times Rachel has acted out when not being able to have one. She literally quit the club because Tina was given a solo. And you redacted your choice and gave it to her because Tina knew that she would quit. And she still did. That isn't being a team player Mr. Schuester and I think that it's about time Tina sang at competition."

Tina smiled. "Further, I want Brittany and Mike's dancing to be featured. Heavily. And Kurt needs to sing something because he has the most beautiful voice I've ever heard."

Santana shrugged. "Make the right decision, Mr. Schuester. With six less members, you'd have one hell of a time at Sectionals. And what a five you'd have left. Three homophobes, an emotionally manipulative wimp and the literal definition of unbearable. Yes, that's you Rachel."

Mr. Schuester sighed. "Santana!"

"Am I wrong?"

In unison, the six stood up together and stepped down from their positions.

"We'll be back tomorrow awaiting your decision. If Tina doesn't have the solo, we're all quitting," Quinn announced as they left the room.

"And we mean that," Mike supplied.

"Uh…what just happened?" Finn asked as the rest of the club sat in shock at what had just happened.

Meanwhile, the KHHHB were celebrating yet another victory over their adversaries.

"That couldn't have gone better. And to think, we hadn't even planned that," Kurt cheered as they walked down the hall.

"Do you really think he'll give me the solo?" Tina asked.

"He'd be stupid to deny you," Santana shrugged, "your talent speaks for itself and he can't afford to lose six members right before competition."

Brittany nodded. "This could be the start of something better for Glee Club. Maybe Rachel won't be the only member that matters anymore."

"Oh, she never mattered to begin with," Quinn dismissed her. "Mr. Schuester was just picking her and Finn for solos because they weren't controversial. They're straight, white people, why wouldn't they be the better option?" She rolled her eyes. "This is why I hate Schue. Always have."

Mike hummed in agreement. "Let's just focus on the fact that you guys won in there, that was great!"

Kurt shrugged. "It's what we do, Mike. And you're part of this now. We won."

"I have a feeling something big is coming," Brittany said. "Soon."

"Then we'll be ready for it when it does," Kurt said simply. "Don't worry, Britt. We're on top now. Everyone's talking about us and they're starting to learn about our new world order. Things are finally into motion."


Finn looked over at Kurt, who was typing furiously on his laptop, probably working on some AP homework assignment. Kurt sensed that he was being appraised and looked back, tilting his head before reverting his gaze.

Finn frowned. Kurt was staring at him in a way he hadn't seen in a very long time. Wasn't he? Finn had stopped analysing Kurt's every glance over summer and he was a little rusty at it. It sure looked like the usual glances, didn't it?

So Finn kept stealing glances at Kurt. Just enough for him to gauge the situation. Puck had planted the idea of Kurt not being over him in his head and now he just couldn't shake it. He had been through that before and it was not a situation that he ever wanted to repeat.

"What the hell is your problem?" Kurt looked affronted. Finn was seething. This could not happen again. Under no circumstances. Things with Rachel were finally good and he didn't want to mess that up. Not with Kurt potentially skulking around his personal life. Them living together plus Kurt's insane plan to rule the school did not make a good equation. And Finn hated regular math. Kurt math was even worse.

"You're…looking at me. the way you used to last year. It's not cool, Kurt."

Kurt giggled. "Oh, Finn. That dark, dark period of my life is long gone. I have a boyfriend now. My attraction towards you was a momentary blip in my streak of good judgement. Get the fuck over yourself. We live in the same house, I can't exactly avoid catching your eye."

"Nah, it's more than that, Kurt and you know it. You don't think I noticed your leering last year? It wasn't exactly subtle!"

Kurt looked slightly hurt. "Why are you bringing this up again? I thought Gaga week cleared the air between us about everything. I mean, I know you all but threatened to hurt me not too long ago, but it's not like I paid attention to that."

Finn narrowed his eyes. "You're always underestimating me, aren't you? I wouldn't, if I were you."

"Oh, another threat? Fantastic. I'll be sure to take that ultra-seriously."

Finn turned his back, smirking. "Well, just wait until Burt gets home…should be a fun time."

Kurt sighed heavily. "Finn Hudson, what the fuck did you do?!"

"I don't like how you've been treating the rest of the Glee Club, so maybe Burt should know about what happened when Sam came over."

Kurt wracked his brain for any infractions of Burt's rules that he and Sam had perhaps made, but there were none. They weren't even at that stage yet. Then he realised that Finn wasn't bluffing. He genuinely believed that something had happened. He flashed back to a few days ago…

"Sam, don't put it there!"

Sam smirked as he dropped the box onto the bed. "Why not? It's a perfectly good place to put it! Besides, I'm tired. I've been doing this for an hour now and you're still complaining."

Kurt rolled his eyes. "You literally begged me to do this, you don't get to back out now."

"Every muscle in my body is physically dead, Kurt. A guy can only keep this up for so long, you know."

"Oh I know, I've done it plenty of times."

"I still don't understand why you wanted to do it today…after football practise when I'm all sweaty."

Kurt came up behind him. "But I like it more when you've already warmed up. You're better at it then."

Sam grinned. "Oh, are you doubting my skills? Because I'll show you how good I really am."

"Have you been holding back?" Kurt chuckled.

"I can get it done so much quicker without you talking through the whole thing."

"I have to talk or else you don't know what you're doing!"

Kurt came out of the memory, with a smile stretching across his face. "Yeah, okay, Finn. You tell my dad about that day. I'd love to see his reaction as well."

Finn frowned, clearly not understanding. He shook his head. "You always talk to me like that."

"Like what?"

"Like I'm…stupid."

"Well, if the shoe fits," Kurt hummed, pretending to dust himself down after entering Finn's bedroom. "You know Finn, if you don't want to be patronised, you might want to reconsider your life choices. Your girlfriend is a whiny trainwreck and…let's face it, you could care more about school. You just think that you're going to sail by and get everybody help you like you always do. It's about time you woke up, Finn. And I'm only saying this because we'll probably be brothers soon and I don't want to see you drowning in your past mistakes."

And then Finn's hand shot out in front of him and connected with Kurt's shoulder, jolting him backwards. Kurt fell back, stunned, but Finn grabbed the lapel of his shirt and threw him against the wall.

"Where's your bravado now, Hummel? Maybe the whole school should know that your whole confidence thing is just an act and that you're really just a weak, prissy bitch!"

Kurt inhaled deeply and brought his knee up to Finn's groin, making the boy stagger in the process. "You know, fuck you, Finn Hudson! There was a moment where I thought you might have changed! Did last year teach you nothing? Are you still Puckerman's little Chihuahua? That's fine. It just means that I'll have to bring you down along with him. Part of me regrets it, but there's one part of me that can't wait to see you taken down a peg or three. You truly deserve everything that's coming to you, you piece of shit!"

"Kurt!" Carole yelled as she descended the stairs. "What are you doing?"

Kurt sighed. "Damn timing," he whispered.

"What hell is going on here?" Burt thundered.

Finn, unfortunately, was addressed first. "Kurt is insane! He thinks that because he and his stupid friends are trying to take down the school that he can treat me like crap!"

"Oh that's not true!" Kurt protested, but was silenced.

"Carry on, Finn," Burt gestured. "Why are you doubled over?"

"He kinda kicked me…there."

"Kurt!"

Kurt gasped. "He's missing out the part where he threw me against the wall and threatened me before using some choice words to describe me. It was complete self-defence."

"Only because someone needs to put you in check. You think that because you and your friends are concocting some stupid plan that you can dictate everything all the time! Is that one of Sam's kinks?"

"Finn!" Carole barked and he fell deadly quiet. "You two can't be fighting like this. Not now, not today!"

Kurt knew it before it was spoken. "What about today?"

Burt sighed, smiling. "Carole and I are engaged, Kurt. You two are going to be brothers soon."

Kurt shrugged easily. "Congratulations, you guys! We should start planning."

Finn gaped. "What? I…can't."

"Well it's a good thing you're not the one getting married then, isn't it?" Carole smirked.

Finn shook his head. "I can't be his brother."

Burt hummed. "Sorry, buddy, it's not really your decision. Your mother and I are happy."

"Finn, don't bring our disputes into this," Kurt pleaded. "Our parents are happy and a little civility isn't going to kill you." Kurt gave him a look that said "but I just might so watch your step…".

Finn grunted angrily and stormed into his bedroom, slamming the door shut. Carole immediately went in there after him.

Burt turned to Kurt, a serious expression on his face. "I think you and I need to have a talk."