Chapter 3: Back To The Start
The bonding process is quite simple. Soulmates must hold their left hands up and connect palm to palm. A red string, commonly known as the heart string, will appear from both soulmates and wrap itself around their wrists, then their hands and fingers, the strings interweaving with one another. Once they are taken to the Lands of Mira, the following promise must be recited by each party, "I *insert full name* bond myself to thee *insert soulmate full name* for all of eternity." Once the bond is complete, soulmates must make love and spend no less than 24 hours in each other's presence to solidify the bond. Failure to do so will result in extreme feeling of loss and abandonment that can damage the psyche. After the bond has been solidified, soulmates are to replace the brown leather cuff that was received when turning of age with a black leather cuff to proclaim their connection to the world.
Excerpt from: How to Bond
The following two months passed by in a blur. Between Cheerios' practice, Glee club rehearsal, and his impending birthday, Kurt had little time to
worry about much else. He and Santana were able to convince Quinn to come back to the Cheerios and surprisingly enough, it was Brittany who convinced her to come back to Glee club. Sam had turned of age a few weeks into the year, solidifying their relationship, and destroying any lingering love she had left for Santana.
Brittany knew that she and Santana would never be friends like they used to be, they would never be as close. And it pained her deeply to see such a strong, powerful girl like Santana go through so much turmoil, knowing that she was the cause it. So she went to Quinn and talked her into coming back, begging her to be there for Santana where she no longer could. Kurt had to hand it to Brittany. Despite the pain and drama, she still cared for Santana and truly wanted her happy. And although Santana would never admit it, she was grateful. Had it not been for Quinn and Kurt, she would've undoubtedly fallen apart.
Alongside Brittany and Sam, Tina and Mike both turned of age and were soulmates, not that anyone had any doubts. Pretty soon the entire senior class would be marked. It was such a bittersweet moment for all of them. On one hand, turning of age meant receiving an entirely new kind of respect from their peers and the adults in their lives. But it also changed everything. Their society tended to obsess over the significant event and once someone turned of age, the only thing most people cared about was that person's soulmate.
Kurt's birthday was less than a week away and while he had absolutely no desire to discuss it, it was all anybody wanted to talk about. Including Jacob Ben Israel who had gone as far as creating a poll on whether Kurt's soulmate would be a male or female and would he get one at all. Kurt hated how so many students voted that he wouldn't get one, as if he wasn't worried enough about whom his soulmate would be.
"It's so stupid," Santana griped during Glee rehearsal on Tuesday. "Everyone gets a soulmate. Even Jewfro will get one, though I feel bad for the poor bastard that has to put up with his sorry excuse of a person."
"We need to get that poll taken down," Rachel said, her hands on her hips. "It is completely unacceptable and we should not tolerate his ridiculous blog any longer. I say we march up to him and demand that he removes it. Or we go to the administration and...Kurt, are you even listening to me?"
He wasn't. Or at least he was trying not to. Instead he was making faces at Quinn and Santana, who were snickering in each other's shoulders, while Rachel went on and on. "No Rach, I wasn't listening," he sighed with an eye roll.
"And why not?" Rachel asked, clearly offended. "Doesn't it bother you that the whole school thinks you won't have a soulmate because of what Jacob wrote on his blog?" she asked, taking her seat next to Finn.
"The fact that they believe it at all is proof of how stupid the morons at this school really are," Kurt retorted, crossing his legs. "I couldn't care less what they think and come Saturday morning, I'm not going to be worrying about whose name is on my wrist. I'm going to be too preoccupied getting my fine ass into a pair of extra skinny jeans that will no doubt leave Blaine Anderson a drooling mess," he smirked, holding his hand palm side up so Santana and Quinn could high-five him.
"I still can't believe you get to go back stage," Tina said enviously.
"You betta believe it girl Chang," Santana said twirling her hair. "Don't be surprised if the papz get some sexy photos of Kurt and Blaine either cause I am totally helping him get his mack-on."
"Wait, you're not actually going to do that, right?" Finn asked cautiously. "Cause I don't think Burt would like that."
Kurt smiled mischievously, not at all truly planning on flirting with Blaine but unable to resist messing with Finn. "I don't know, Finn. You know how Tana and I get when we're together. We become very, persuasive," he purred, sending Santana a wink.
Finn scrunched his face in thought as the other Glee clubbers laughed. "Wait for it," Quinn smirked watching Finn put the pieces together, his eyes going wide when he figured out the insinuation. "There he goes."
"Dude! You mean like...the three of you together? Gross!" Finn grumbled. "Besides, aren't all three of you gay? How would that even work?"
"Well Frankenteen, I have two holes and they each have a penis so I'm sure it would work quite well," Santana said, not at all caring about the scandalized look on everyone's face.
"I so did not need that image," Mike said, turning away from Santana.
"Preach," Mercedes and Artie said simultaneously.
"I think it's hot," Quinn shrugged nonchalantly, a slight blush creeping up her cheeks. She was not supposed to say that out loud and as Santana turned to look her, the blush on her cheeks deepened.
Santana eyed Quinn curiously, a slow, seductive grin gracing her face. "Wanky," she purred, sending Quinn a wink just as Mr. Schuester walked in.
"Sorry I'm late guys. What did I miss?"
Santana opened her mouth to reply but Kurt quickly covered it with his hand. "Absolutely nothing, Mr. Schue. We were just waiting for you to start," he said, pulling his hand away when Santana licked his palm. He sent her an annoyed glare and she stuck her tongue out at him. Kurt rolled his eyes, though a smirk played at his lips.
Mr. Schuester smiled, completely oblivious to what his students had been talking about. "Alright then. Let's get started."
"Take fifteen, guys," Eric told The Warblers during their final rehearsal late Tuesday afternoon.
With the tour starting in a few days, they were working themselves to death, perfecting their harmonies and dance moves. They played along to a few of their songs, Blaine and Nick on guitar, David on drums, Wes on keyboard, and Jeff on bass. But they danced to most of them, and Jeff being the choreographer meant all their routines were ridiculously intricate. Wes walked over to his bag, taking a seat on the floor and pulling out his water bottle. David lied down in the middle of the dance hall, grumbling to himself about Jeff needing to sleep with one eye open. Jeff and Nick tossed themselves on the couch against the wall, lying on opposite sides as their legs intertwined. Blaine however, continued to rehearse the dance moves, completely focused on his footwork and timing.
"I said take fifteen, Blaine," Eric said, glancing up from his clipboard.
"Yeah, yeah," Blaine muttered dismissively. "Let me just get this move down."
Eric walked over and stood directly in front of him. "Blaine, take a break," he spoke with authority.
Blaine placed his hands on his waist, breathing heavily before nodding. "I'm going to take a walk. Cool down a bit," he breathed out before walking out of the rehearsal hall. Eric watched Blaine walk away worriedly.
"Yo E," David called out. "What's up with Blaine?"
"Yeah, he's been acting really weird lately," Nick commented from the couch.
Eric ran his hands through his hair, glancing towards to the door to make sure Blaine wasn't coming back in. "Do you remember what you were like right before you found Katherine?" he asked David.
David sat up, leaning on his hands. "Yeah, I was...nervous. Anxious."
"And you Wes? What were you like when you finally found Vanessa?" Eric asked.
"Same way as David," Wes said as he stood back up. "There were moments where I felt like my skin was crawling." Eric stayed quiet, waiting for the guys to put it together. Wes' eyes widened. "Are you saying that Blaine's about to meet his soulmate?"
Eric nodded with a sigh. "I think so, yeah."
"Man, talk about shitty timing," Jeff groaned, sitting up on the couch. "I mean, don't get me wrong. I think it's awesome as hell but now? Right when we're about to start a world freakin tour? That's rough."
"Finding his soulmate then having to be away from him is not going to go over well," Eric said shaking his head. "We're going to have to keep an eye on him, make sure he doesn't make any rash decisions. You know how compulsive he gets. And you two," he pointed at Nick and Jeff. "You're going to need to tone down the affection, at least for a little while. Seeing you two together while his soulmate is who knows where is going to be really hard on him."
"We can do that," Nick assured him, sending Jeff who was pouting an apologetic smile.
"How soon do you think it'll be before Blaine finds him?" Wes asked.
"With the way he's acting, the over-focusing and the jitteriness, I'd say really damn soon," Eric nodded.
Wes walked over to David, pulling him up. "Looks like we're in for an interesting tour."
Blaine must have walked around the dance studio over a hundred times. His nerves were shot, his heart racing at an uncontrollable speed. He'd researched enough to know exactly what was going on. He watched David and Wes go through it, he knew the signs. He was meeting his soulmate and soon. Jeff and Nick had been lucky. They didn't go through the anxiety because they had already known each other when they turned of age. But for those that had never personally known their beloved beforehand, like Blaine, David, and Wes, they dealt with anxiety for weeks. Blaine read someone say online that it felt like they'd taken a thousand shots of espresso and that was exactly how he felt. He even cut out all caffeine and worked out every day to the point of exhaustion, just to counter the anxiety. But it didn't work. Nothing he did to calm his heart helped and he felt like he was going crazy.
He leaned against the wall, resting his head back and taking deep breaths. He spent years waiting for his soulmate, wishing more than anything that they could be together. And now that it was finally happening, he didn't know how to handle it. He was terrified of what it meant for the tour. Would he be able to handle being away from his beloved? He remembered how hard it had been for Wes and David not to be with their soulmates in the beginning of their relationship because of their busy schedule and he dreaded having to go through it. Would Kurt be willing to come on tour with them? Would he be able to? And what if he hated Blaine? What if the reason he never searched Blaine out was because he wasn't a fan of him or his music and was ashamed? Why now? Of all the times for Blaine to meet his Kurt, why did it have to happen when they were about to begin their first world tour?
Blaine ran his hands through his hair, pushing the negative thoughts away. This was what he wanted, what he'd desired for years. He needed to accept the fact that they would meet soon and deal with it when it happened. He couldn't obsess about it right now, not when they had their first show in a few days. He needed to focus. With a quick inhale, Blaine pushed himself off the wall and walked back inside for rehearsal.
Eric checked the list as he walked around the tour and equipment busses Wednesday morning. This would be his third time through but he couldn't risk leaving anything behind. This was The Warblers' biggest tour. Everything needed to go smoothly. He walked over to the crew when he was fully satisfied, whistling to grab their attention.
"Alright everyone, listen up. We leave today on a very long, very exhausting three months, so let's make sure we have everything set to go," Eric started glancing down at his clipboard. "Dan, you'll be driving the equipment bus, Kevin, you'll be driving the band's bus, and Charles-"
"Why do I have to drive their bus?" Charles asked with a grunt, nodding towards The Warblers.
"Awe, come on," Blaine pouted in a baby voice. "We aren't that bad," he teased, everyone around them chuckling.
"It's not you. It's them," Charles said, narrowing his eyes on Jeff and David.
Both men gasped loudly, placing their hands over their heart. "You wound me, Charlie," Jeff said feigning innocence. "David and I are nothing but kind to you."
"That's right," David said with a nod. "We love you, Charlie. You're one of us."
Charles scoffed. "Oh yes. You love me so much that during your last tour you decided to switch out my shampoo with dye so that I could have pink hair, for a month!"
The crew laughed, David and Jeff louder than the rest. Charles was an old man with long gray hair and constantly wore a scowl on his face. Not that he was an angry man by any means, he was simply one of those people that rarely smiled. He was the grandpa of the group and everyone treated him with the utmost respect, with the exception of David and Jeff that is. They respected him, but they were constantly pulling pranks on him. They said it was their way to get the elder to laugh but really, it was for their own entertainment.
"You're driving their bus because you're the one I trust most to keep them in check," Eric said, unable to contain his smile as Charles grumbled to himself. "And you two, be nice to him."
"Of course," Jeff smirked, sending David a conspiring wink.
"Don't worry, Charles. We'll make sure they behave," Blaine assured him.
Charles offered him a small but grateful smile. "Thank you, Blaine. You always were my favorite."
"HEY!" David and Jeff screamed simultaneously.
David shook his head, crossing his arms. "Not cool man. Not cool at all."
Eric could only chuckle. "Alright, enough of that. Back to the list. Julie, let's talk wardrobe."
Eric went through his list with the crew, finalizing every detail before dismissing everyone for lunch. The Warblers were doing an interview with Mario Lopez in less than an hour and then they would be on their way to Ohio. He checked in with the guys, reminding them to be on their best behavior during the interview before searching for Blaine who had walked away at the end of his checklist. He needed to talk with Blaine privately before they embarked on their journey.
Blaine was leaning against one of the buses, texting on his phone when Eric found him. "Hey, you doing alright?"
Blaine nodded, glancing up for a moment before turning back to his phone to finish his text. "Yeah, just texting my mom," he said with a small smile. He and his mother had been talking more recently. She had yet to say anything to him about going to therapy and Blaine hadn't brought it up, feeling as though she would tell him when she was ready. The more he spoke with her though, the more he believed her to be sincere. Maybe he hadn't completely lost his parents, at least not one of them.
"Is she coming to any of the shows?" Eric asked curiously.
"Maybe the Cleveland one. My dad has some big dinner event Saturday so she can't come to Columbus," Blaine shrugged lightly, slipping his phone into his pocket. "She said she has to double check the schedule for Sunday so I guess we'll see." He didn't want to get his hopes up but he really wanted his mother to show.
"Ok. I'll make sure she's on the list," Blaine nodded, breathing deeply. "How do you feel?" Eric asked with a knowing smirk. They briefly discussed the possibility of Blaine meeting his soulmate after rehearsal the day before and Eric was doing his best to be supportive all the while not showing how worried he truly was.
"Ok, I guess," Blaine said with uncertainty. "I mean, I'm not as anxious as I was yesterday, but I still kinda feel like my skin is crawling."
"That's pretty normal," Eric informed him, smiling to himself as he recalled meeting his beloved. "I remember when I finally met Jessica. I was a crazed mess for weeks then a couple of days before we met, I was eerily calm. With the exception of that ever present tingly feeling."
"Yeah," Blaine nodded, a small smile in place. "That's exactly what I feel. Like, I know it's happening so I'm calm, but my body is still on fire."
"It's searching for the connection," Eric told him. "Now, I wanted to ask you something. It's pretty clear that you'll be meeting him within the next few days. Do you want to tell me his name so I can keep an eye out for him?"
Blaine contemplated for a moment before shaking his head. "No. I want to meet him on my own. I want it to be natural."
Eric smiled approvingly. "Alright then. Let's head out. The boys are waiting. Be warned though, there's a good chance Mario will ask about your soulmate," he said as they walked to the van.
Blaine nodded, a sheepish grin gracing his face. "I figured as much. But it's fine. I got it handled."
Friday afternoon found Kurt, Santana, and Quinn at the mall, the girls helping Kurt find the perfect outfit for the concert. He wanted something that would get him noticed without going over the top and his girls were the best ones to help him. "How exactly did you convince your dad to let you buy an outfit after he spent an obscene amount of dough on those tickets?" Santana asked as she shifted through the clothes rack.
"Ok first, don't bitch about the prices. You wouldn't even be going if it wasn't for me," Kurt retorted, sending Santana his girl please glare. Santana shrugged uncaringly, Quinn smirking at the two. "And two, I simply reminded him that even though the concert was technically a birthday present, I have been working my ass off at the shop and at home. So it was only fair that I at least get a new outfit and some spending cash for tomorrow."
Santana smiled proudly, pulling out a pair of skinny jeans for Kurt to try on. "I've taught you so well."
"Yes you have," Kurt said as he grabbed them, adding it to the pile of clothes he had. "I'm going to try these clothes on. Why don't you make yourself useful for once and go scare the salesperson into selling these half- off," he smirked as he strutted away, Santana doing the blowjob motion behind him. Quinn could only laugh. Her friends were ridiculous.
Instead of finding the salesperson, Santana and Quinn followed Kurt towards the dressing rooms, sitting on the couch to wait. They both doubted Kurt would find an outfit in the first set of clothes he tried on. Quinn leaned closer to Santana, speaking lowly so Kurt wouldn't hear, though he did anyway. "Has he freaked out about tomorrow yet?" she asked.
Santana shook her head. "He refuses to talk about it. I tried this morning and he bit my damn head off."
"That's because there's no need to talk about it," Kurt said from inside the dressing room. He opened the door and poked his head out. "There's nothing I can do about who it is so why talk about it? Why freak out when I have absolutely no choice in the matter?" he asked before going back inside the dressing room.
"You know, I think he's just pissed that he won't be able to drool over Blaine Anderson anymore," Santana said loudly.
"Oh, that's right," Quinn nodded with a small laugh. "Once his soulmates name is on his wrist he won't be able to be in love with Blaine," she teased.
"And this is why I need to make sure they get their sexy on tomorrow night," Santana reasoned, knowing that Kurt was most likely scowling. "That way he can at least say, hey I was with a rockstar on my 18th birthday. What did you do Berry? Cry into a tub of ice cream when you found out that you'll be stuck with manboobs for the rest of your life?"
Kurt walked out of the dressing room in his first outfit, sending the giggling girls an unimpressed glare. "I am not going to try and hook up with Blaine, Satan. I already told you that," he snapped. "And I'm not pissed about not being able to drool over him or anything either. I just don't see the point in freaking out or panicking when again, there's absolutely nothing I can do. Whoever's name appears on my wrist...well it is what is and that's that," he said as he walked over to the full length mirror. He didn't need to tell them how worried he truly was, how anxious he'd felt for the past few weeks. He didn't need to admit out loud that the mere thought of his soulmate made his insides burn. His fear and discomfort was evident in his eyes. The girls weren't fooled.
Santana raised a brow, "Mhm. Whatever you say, Baby Penguin."
Kurt ignored her, twirling around in front of the mirror before turning to face the girls. "So, what do you think?" he asked gesturing to the outfit.
Quinn made an indifferent face. "It's nice but it doesn't pop. You look like you're going to visit grandma, not go to a concert."
"I agree," Santana nodded, eyeing the outfit with distaste. "Those pants aren't nearly tight enough."
Kurt turned back around, his eyes scanning the outfit once more. "You're right. This sucks. Ok, next choice," he said, walking back into the dressing room, missing the eye rolls from both girls.
Several hours and four stores later, Santana and Quinn were hunched over each other, Santana's head on Quinn's lap and Quinn draped over her side, waiting impatiently for Kurt to finish.
"Why couldn't Rachel be your best friend instead?" Santana whined.
"Because then I'd be dressed in kitty sweaters," Kurt called out.
Quinn and Santana groaned. "Oh god. Can you imagine the two of them together? They'd always be singing show tunes and being annoying as hell," Quinn said, draping her arm around her head, covering her ears as if she could actually hear them.
"He does that enough as is," Santana griped as she hid her face behind her hands. "Just thinking of him being any more of a dork makes my boobs ache with rage."
"Would you two shut the hell up," Kurt snapped at them. "Don't act like you both weren't singing along to Hairspray the other day."
"You should feel lucky, honored, that I saved you from social suicide, Hummel," Santana said pointing to Kurt's dressing room door. "If it hadn't been for me and Q, you would've ended up being BFF's with Berry."
"I so would've hated you," Quinn drawled.
"Alright, alright. I got it," Kurt groaned, finally stepping out of the dressing room. "I swear all you two do is bitch."
Quinn scoffed, sitting up to inspect Kurt's outfit. "Right, this coming from His Royal Highness Diva Bitch himself."
Santana popped her head up, eyeing Kurt up and down. "Hey, I like that. Turn around."
Kurt did, smirking at the whistle that came from Santana before walking over to the full length mirror. "I think...yes, this one is definitely the one." He was dressed in a Givenchy black star collar shirt, his broad shoulders and strong arms filling the shirt out, and red jeans that fit snug around his ass and legs. "I was thinking I could wear my skinny red tie and my Doc Marten boots."
Santana and Quinn walked over to him, each standing on one side. Santana slowly slid her hand down Kurt's ass, giving it a firm squeeze before smacking it hard. "Definitely the one. You look sexy as hell, Kurt. Totally fuckable. These jeans make me wish we were straight."
Kurt smirked, biting his lip and cocking his head to the side, momentarily imagining Blaine's hand on his ass instead of Santana's. "Ok, I'm going to change then we can get the hell out of here," he said walking back to the dressing room.
"Fuckin' finally," Santana said with relief. "I cannot wait until tomorrow. Blaine Anderson ain't gon' know what hit him."
Kurt sighed deeply as he sat back against his headboard with his laptop. It was getting late but his nerves were frayed, preventing him from falling asleep. He pulled up YouTube, searched for the newest Extra video that was posted a couple days earlier and clicked on it, resting his head back as it loaded. He'd already seen the video a few times, ok maybe more than a few, but he needed to distract himself from his thoughts. Plus, Blaine was exceptionally adorable during the interview so how could he not watch again? Kurt saw movement outside his door, waiting a moment in case anybody came in. When no knock came, he returned his attention to the video and pressed play.
"They're handsome, talented, charming, and funny. They're about to embark on their very first sold-out worldwide tour and they are here, ready to spill the details. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome The Warblers!" Mario introduced. Kurt laughed as the guys cheered along with the crowd. "How's it going guys?"
"It's going really great, Mario," Wes answered. "Thank you so much for having us."
"Thank you for being here," Mario smiled. "Now, your album was released last month and has been topping the charts ever since. How does that feel?"
"There aren't enough words to describe just how absolutely incredible it feels," David said with sincerity. "We wrote and produced this entire album by ourselves and we worked really hard to create something that we hope the fans love."
"Oh, they certainly do," Mario assured them, Kurt nodding in agreement. "I can't go anywhere without hearing one of your songs, be it on the radio or that crazy old lady down the street. There is no escaping Warbler madness right now!" The crowd cheered, the guys smiling proudly. "And what can you tell us about the tour? Anything special happening?"
"We're actually doing something really cool this tour," Jeff said bouncing on his feet. "We've decided that we're going to take tons and tons of pictures,"
"Backstage photos, rehearsals, meeting fans," Nick smiled.
"Then, at the end of the tour, we're going to make these awesome collages and auction them off," Jeff continued.
"All the proceeds are going to the Trevor Project and the highest bidder will not only get a collage," Nick said teasingly.
"But they'll get a 15 minute Skype session with us. We're also making a concert DVD and we'll be filming all our backstage shenanigans. That's going to be a lot of fun," Jeff finished off.
Mario glanced at the two before looking at the rest of the band. "Do you they always do that?"
Kurt laughed along with The Warblers, his eyes focused on Blaine. "Always. They've been like that ever since high school, even before they turned of age," Blaine said fondly.
"Man, that must be annoying," Mario joked.
"You have no idea," Wes laughed. "I was Jeff's roommate at Dalton. Trust me, it was bad."
"I bet," Mario chuckled. Kurt sat up straighter as his favorite part of the interview started. "So let's talk about the first single off your new album, Mirrors. The music video premiered last week and it already has over 50 million views on YouTube! Blaine, as the writer of this particular song, why do you think that is? What is it about it that has captivated everyone's heart? My wife included."
Blaine chuckled, a boyish grin on his lips. Kurt could only swoon. "I think it's because it shares such a meaningful message to us all. You know, finding that one person that completes you and reflects who you are."
"As someone who has yet to bond with their soulmate, was it hard finding the inspiration for it?"
Blaine shook his head. "You know, it really wasn't. But I can honestly say I don't know how I was able to convey such a powerful notion either. The lyrics just came to me one night and that was that." It's because you're brilliant, Kurt thought to himself.
"Mirrors was actually the last song we worked on," Wes said with a smile. "We needed one more track to complete the album and had been toying with a few ideas for a couple of weeks but nothing really stuck. Then Blaine here writes this incredibly beautiful ballad and we knew right away it was the one."
"It's definitely one of the most touching songs I've ever heard," Mario nodded. "And speaking of soulmates, I've been getting bombarded with messages all week so I have to ask. Blaine, your tweets lately have hinted at your soulmate," Blaine smiled bashfully, blushing as his friends hooted. Kurt bit his lip, unable to control his own blush at watching Blaine become so shy. "Have you found your special person or are you just teasing?"
"I'm mostly teasing," Blaine said with a wink, Kurt sighing. Whoever his soulmate is, is the luckiest person in the world. "I mean, I haven't met him yet but, who knows? We're heading to a lot of different places this tour. Maybe I'll meet him soon," he said with a dreamy smile that melted Kurt's heart.
"And how do you guys feel about this?"
"We think it's great," Wes smiled, patting Blaine's shoulder. "He's been the lonely lonesome for a little while so it'll be awesome to meet his one true love."
"Yeah, just a warning though, to whoever is lucky enough to be his soulmate, you better like Katy Perry cause this man is obsessed," David said with wide eyes.
"I'm not," Blaine argued, though he was smiling.
"You are," the guys said simultaneously. Kurt cocked his head to the side, smiling softly at Blaine's embarrassed flush.
"Man, they just called you out, on live television no less!" Mario exclaimed with a laugh.
"Aren't they mean?" Blaine said with a pout. Kurt imagined himself nibbling on that lip for only a moment.
"Naw," Mario shook his head. "That's how you know they love you. By embarrassing you." They all laughed and nodded. "Well our time is up but before we go, is there anything you want to say to the fans?"
"Yeah, just that we can't wait to see you out there," Blaine said, winking at the camera.
"And get ready for an amazing show," David concluded.
The video ended and Kurt sighed dreamily, contemplating if he should watch it again for only a second before starting the video over. He quickly paused it though when someone knocked on his door. "Come in," he called out.
Carole opened the door and walked into the room with a glass of water. "I thought you might be having some trouble sleeping," she said as she sat on the edge of his bed. "I brought you this," she handed him an Ambien and the glass of water.
Kurt smiled appreciatively. "Thanks. I guess I'm just too wired to fall asleep. You know, meeting The Warblers and all," he said before taking the pill.
Carole nodded but said nothing. Kurt may be using The Warblers as an excuse for being unable to fall asleep but she knew he was worried about his soulmate, no matter how calm he played it off. Kurt finished the water and handed her the glass.
"Get some rest," she said, kissing his forehead and walking out of the room just as Burt walked in.
"Hey bud, how you feeling?" Burt asked, a black velvet box in his hands.
Kurt smiled. "I feel fine."
Burt eyed him for a moment but decided to let it go. He remembered the night before his 18th birthday. He hadn't wanted to talk to anyone either. "Alright, if you say so. I just came in to give you this."
Kurt gulped as he took the black velvet box, knowing exactly what its contents were, and set it down on his pillow. "Thanks, Dad."
"Sure thing," Burt said with a soft smile. "Goodnight. Love you."
"Love you too. Night," Kurt said, giving his father a hug.
Burt walked out of the room, glancing behind him one final time before closing the door. His son was turning of age tomorrow and he could only pray that whoever his soulmate was would do right by his baby boy.
Kurt turned off his computer and set it aside before picking up the box. With a shaky breath, he opened it, his eyes tearing up at the sight of his cuff. He quickly closed it and set it on his bedside table next to his phone. He wasn't ready to handle it all yet and he realized that he no longer had the time to deal. When he woke up, he would be 18 and he would know who he was destined to be with. Maybe he should've let Santana spend the night after all. At least that way she would be there to keep him from freaking out. He lied down and took deep breaths, ready to allow himself to drift off to sleep when again, there was a knock on his door.
"I'm fine, Dad. Really," Kurt called out.
The door opened slowly, revealing a cautious Finn. "Actually, it's me." Kurt leaned on his elbows. "What's up?"
Finn entered the room, closing the door behind him before walking over to sit on Kurt's bed. "I just wanted to see how you were doing," Finn said quietly. "Mom and Burt said you were fine but...you've been pretty quiet today and I just, ya know, want to make sure you're ok."
Kurt sat up in bed, deciding to finally let someone in. Truthfully, he loved talking to Finn. Sure, they argued over dumb things and they got on each other's nerves most days. But Kurt trusted him and it was Finn's goofy, caring nature that he needed right now, not his dad's pep-talk or Carole's reassurance. "Honestly, I'm terrified," he admitted softly. "My entire life changes tomorrow. What if it's someone I hate? Or someone who hates me?"
"Like Karofsky?" Finn asked worriedly. "Or that Chandler kid?"
"Like Karofsky," Kurt nodded. "I mean, I'd love to say that there's no way in hell it's him because he's a straight homophobic asswipe who hates me but look at Britt. She ended up with Sam. And Chandler is gay, and annoying as hell. I really hope it's not him either."
Finn's shoulders slumped a bit. "Yeah. I guess it's hard to tell. But I mean, it's probably not either of them, right? Whoever it is, is probably like, way awesome because you're way awesome," he said, nodding enthusiastically.
Kurt smiled a bit. "I appreciate that Finn but I don't think that's how it works."
"I'm just sayin," Finn shrugged. "But you shouldn't worry about that or anything. You should worry about not making a fool of yourself in front of Blaine," he smirked.
"I can't even think about that either," Kurt laughed. "I know I was acting all cool this week but holy shit, dude! I'm meeting The freaking Warblers! And Blaine! What if he doesn't remember meeting me all those years ago and I just embarrass myself?"
Finn chuckled. "He probably will. I mean, I know that if I was playing for cash on the street, I'd remember the kid that gave me 50 bucks."
"I guess," Kurt said with a yawn. "Whatever. Doesn't matter. I should go to bed. Thanks for coming in and talking to me," he said softly.
Finn smiled a big goofy grin. "Of course, dude. You're my bro. I got your back," he said, ruffling Kurt's hair. Kurt didn't even bother scolding him. "Night, Kurt."
"Night, Finn," Kurt said, settling back into bed as Finn walked out of the room.
Kurt stared at the ceiling for a little while, letting all the possibilities of his soulmate run through his mind before turning to look at the poster of Blaine. He sighed longingly, his eyes drifting close. If only you were my soulmate, were the last words he thought before falling asleep.
