What Makes You Beautiful
There's a session to attend, intimate conversations to have, strangers in attendance
The couples had booked the session for varied reasons, some to learn, some to revisit, some to heal and some to focus. The four couples had booked a vacation in the Seychelles, and as part of the package had booked an hour of alternative counselling session, you didn't need to have a relationship in trouble you just needed to be in some sort of relationship and willing to talk about aspects of that relationship with other couples. Mercy, Tina, Santana, and Blaine thought it would be a fantastic opportunity, but Sam, Mike, Brittany, and Kurt had other ideas, they were being asked to jump out of their comfort zones, especially if the conversation took a turn on which they weren't agreeing.
After the hours journey they walked into a shack and found themselves back in the eighteenth century, there were greeted by bright colours, no two pieces of furniture matching if anything it was burning to the eyes.
"Enter" Blaine read on the glass double doors leading to a more relaxed looking space, everything in that space was cream, including the grand piano taking pride of place in the corner, an open fire burned as the breeze gently moved the mesh covering more doors leading out into the garden "This is nice"
"Totally" Santana found a couch and sat down, grabbing a waiting glass of wine as she did "Good stuff" she held the glass up telling everyone after a sip
"This feels strange" Sam looked at the eccentric guru, behind the white curtains who was dressed in bright red and yellow sheets and a blue head wrap, her devilishly long orange nails conjured up all the mystery of a fake fortune teller, with orange eyes to match, her brochure had promised change before they left the session, so they were all expecting it.
"Give it a chance babe" Mercy stuck her lip out begging him
"One chance" he warned
They all gravitated to the couches set in a square around the fire, waiting for some sort of resolve at the end of the session with this elusive woman "What time is this due to start?" Mike asked, sipping his drink
"If we're being exact about it" Brittany looked at her phone "One minute"
"Hi I'm Dani" the woman suddenly walked out onto the patio "Finally, we're all here" she looked around smiling "You don't have to sit together" she laughed "Welcome to your hour of discovery" she clapped her hands and the house lit up like a Christmas tree.
"We've agreed the terms and conditions" she waved their consent forms "So no contradictions, or accusations, maybe we could start with introductions, name, how long you've been together and very quickly what you hope to get from this session tonight?" she looked at the first couple
Klaine
"Kurt" the shorter guy with a massive bear broach holding his designer jacket together snapped, realising she was expecting him to talk
"And Blaine" the more sophisticated looking of the two, added as they both smiled at Dani
"We've been together for just over eight years" Kurt told her "And to be honest I'm expecting confirmation I think that's the word I'm looking for" he looked at Blaine "I just need to know we're going on the right track for this to last forever, I mean" he looked around the patio thinking he might have already said too much
"I on the other hand" Blaine looked at Dani "Want to come to some sort of resolve about elements of our relationship, intimacy is something I want to address" he smiled at Dani, purposely avoiding Kurt's glare
Tike
"Tina and Mike" the small, framed woman, turned to look at her partner "We've been together for nearly ten years, married for six years" she smiled at Mike "And I guess I'm hoping for reflection on our relationship, there are so many things that have changed us, it's been a while since we checked on our page"
"I'm not even beating around the bush" Mike a small framed, but muscular man, leaned back and crossed his legs at the ankle "I'm here because my wife asked me to come" he smiled "But it might be interesting to hear our different takes on where we are, and see how we can make a joint plan going forward" he nodded at Tina
Brittana
"Brittany" the slim, long legged, woman smiled "We've been together twelve years, married eight" she looked at her wife "And I guess we're good, I'm not sure we can get any better" she giggled "I personally thinks she's perfect" she grabbed her wife's hand
"I'm Santana" her slim, dark haired, partner looked around the room shyly "I agree, we're perfect, she's my best friend, my one true love, everything rolled into one, and I guess when you're this happy, you start looking for crack, something to go wrong, I think that's where I've always been wondering what's going to mess this up, I'd like to get rid of that feeling" she smiled at Brittany squeezing her hand
Samcedes
"Sam" the tall, giant sat with his ankle resting on his knee, messing with the bottom of his trousers, as he shuffled in the couch "This really isn't the most comfortable thing I've ever done" he looked around the room "We've been in love for eleven years" he looked at her "My Mary Poppins" he looked at his wife "Practically perfect in every way" Mercy's eyes telling him to be serious "Seriously though, I guess I wouldn't mind understanding how she thinks, she's got a brilliant, sexy brain, and sometimes when we talk I can see her trying not to call me an idiot, because my brain takes a second to catch up" he smiled at her frowning at him
"Mercy" a thick bodied, woman smiled at the woman "He gets me, I think he doubts himself too much, and I understand him" she giggled "He loves me, and that's enough for me" she looked at him "But am I enough for him, I guess that's a question I ask myself all the time, is this partnership equal, I feel I demand so much of him"
The Session
"Validation" Dani smiled "I have three words, and I believe once you've thought about them you should have gotten somewhere close to the answers to all your questions" she smiled "For staters I think you all have one thing in common, you're all musical"
"We are?" Mercy looked around asking
"Three words?" Kurt asked at the same time, trying not to argue the point that the session cost a pretty penny, so for her to just be adding three damn words, was lame
"I dance" Brittany shared
"I dance" Mike smiled at her
"Sing" Mercy smiled "R&B mainly but a bit of everything"
"Pop" Santana added
"Country" Sam smiled
"Theatre" Tina added
"Oh, us too" Blaine looked at Kurt "Well I do a bit of pop as well to be honest"
Cute
"So," Dani brought the room back to topic "I want you to share with the group, why you think your other half is cute" she smiled and sat back to listen, resting her notebook on her lap
Klaine
"Cute" Kurt looked at Blaine "I think I may have used that word a lot more when we were courting, you know when everything was new and the slightest hint of desire or attraction would make me heat up, face, body, the lot" he looked around the room "I don't usually share, but those memories" he smiled "He took my breath away, literally"
"Does he still do that for you?"
"I guess so but" he looked at Blaine "Safe space?"
"Sure" Dani replied
"If I'm honest, it only comes to mind if I'm in the mood"
"And why do you think that is?" she asked
"There's a lot more confidence in the relationship now, not to say I'm used to everything he does, not totally, but he's a bit more spontaneous about things than I am, which still surprises me sometimes, and I like that"
"So cute for you means I'm available?" Dani asked
"Never thought of it like that, but I guess so"
"Blaine?" Dani turned her attention to him
"I've never thought of that word as a trigger for us" he laughed "But I know I'm in line for something good when he says it" he grabbed Kurt's hand "Cute" he smiled "I feel special when he calls me that, I've never lost that fire for him, it never goes away, I look at him and I see cute, physically" he looked at Kurt sitting there "He's shy, always has been, kind of nerdish and I find that cute too, makes me feel like everything we've ever learned about relationships, we've learned from each other"
"Was your relationship the first for you both?" Dani asked
"The first real relationship, yes" Blaine smiled
"Interesting" Dani scribbled something on her notebook
Brittana
"Santana?" Dani turned her attention to them snuggled up on the couch "Cute"
"We tend to use that word in reference to things external rather than our feelings, I think" Santana looked at Brittany "I'll give you an example" she sat up "When Britt dresses our cat, and she looks like a princess we say, she's cute"
"Which is fine, but this session is about the two of you, so we need to focus" Dani laughed
"Mm" Santana took a moment to think "Sometimes she'll catch me off guard with something profound she says, like she's in love with me, and I'm so emotional all I can find to say is that's cute; it usually comes before or after a kiss"
"That's more now than back then" Brittany added "Back when we were struggling with who we were to each other, I used to try and force her into accepting her feelings, the most I could get from her was that I was cute, so I think that word brings back sad memories for me"
"That's a valid point" Dani smiled at Brittany's honesty "But back then it was enough to keep you coming back I assume, but if it made you sad why did you stay?"
"Because I knew her cute meant she loved me, she plays confident, but she isn't in things you wouldn't expect, she just couldn't say it, and of course I love her" Brittany pulled her closer "Just as she is"
Tike
"Nice" Dani smiled "Tina?"
"Well," Tina smiled "Let's be honest if a guys telling you you're cute it's to make you feel good isn't it, he wants something from you, that's for sure"
"Okay" Dani looked at her wide eyed "Has Mike ever called you cute?"
"A couple of times when we were courting, but since we've been married, he tends to use the word if he clocks on I'm trying to get round him for something" she laughed "I tend to do a lot of that" she looked at Mike sheepishly "He's a serious guy mainly, focuses a lot on work, and with the children and work, I'm sometimes too busy to think about that kind of stuff" she admitted
"Mike?"
"Actually" he smiled at Tina "I tend to think that word more than I say it"
"Think it?" Dani asked trying to get him to elaborate
"Yeah I mean she could be doing something like attempting to cook something she knows will never work" he laughed "If anyone wants to know anything about T it's that she's not a cook" he smiled at her nodding her head in agreement "But she tries and when she doesn't get her desired result her face scrunches up, I look at her and I think she's making that cute face again" he smiled "Or she sit to listen to how my day went after the house settles down and falls asleep in my arms, I look at her and I think she looks restful and cute, you know times like that"
"So, you think she's cute when she's quiet?" Dani asked laughing
"No" he laughed "I think she's cute when she removes herself from the drama, and takes a minute to be still or figure things out" he grabbed her hand "And I'm happy to be there to witness some of those times"
Samcedes
"I'm loving everyone's different take on one word" Dani looked around the room "Sam?"
"I can identify with Mike on that word, in our younger days it was a word I used for all sort of things, to test where our relationship was, you know, moving out of a friend zone into a relationship, flirting pushing boundaries for us" Sam looked at Mercy "I felt like I needed to make all the moves, nowadays at work she a boss, I'll acknowledge the cute way she handles her business, she's messing with some pretty powerful people" he looked at Mercy again "Also, she's naïve in a lot of ways and I think that's cute too"
"Was your relationship the first for you both?"
"No" Sam smiled "Not that we talk about that much, but I had a couple of relationships before we became a couple"
"And Mercy" Dani looked at her "Cute?"
"He's a naughty boy" she giggled at his puppy face "So he begs a lot, for everything"
"Like"
"Oh" she rolled her eyes wondering about the hole she'd just dug herself "If he wants us to go somewhere he knows I'm not really into, his puppy eyes come out, and he just looks so cute, I can't say no"
"I guess he has you over a barrel in the bedroom then?" Dani laughed
"Resistance is futile" Mercy chuckled "Plus I love cuddles and he never runs out of them, sometimes I don't even have to ask, he just knows what I need, and to me, that's so cute"
"So" Dani got up "You've thrown around words like "Looks" she scribbled on the flipchart as she spoke "Sex, Alternative, Non-committal, Ulterior Motives, Thoughts" she pointed at Mike "Characteristics and Cuddles" she turned to look at them before she sat back down
Beautiful
"This next word is to provoke a group discussion, so feel free to voice your opinion" she smiled "Beautiful" she slapped her notebook on her lap and clapped her hands
"What about Beautiful?" Mike asked puzzled
"What makes you or your partner beautiful" she grinned "Discuss"
"There's no context" Mercy told her
"Follow the theme of the first question" Dani gave them a hint
"So, I guess I should say what makes Kurt beautiful" Blaine looked at Dani, smiling at her nodding confirmation
"Seriously" Brittany felt the need to say what she felt "I don't get this, we paid for this?" she turned to Santana, her eyes asking for reason
"Babe" Santana touched her to calm her down
"Surely beauty is all about the look of someone" Tina changed the focus
"I'd disagree" Sam pipped in "Beauty isn't just about what you can see, it can be inside someone too"
"That's true" Blaine butted in "I mean the word beauty is generally associated with being a woman, but I see beauty in Kurt, so is that the wrong word for me to use?"
"Beautiful is such a wide reaching word don't you think?" Santana asked "I mean flowers are beautiful, a poem can be beautiful, it applies to objects as well as people, I think when you dive into the word you can almost find something else more specific to describe what you actually mean or feel"
"Like?" Blaine asked confused with the conversation
"Gorgeous" Santana offered "I mean that depicts someone or something like food, being past beautiful doesn't it?"
"Stunning" Tina added "I'd say that word suggests breath-taking, is that bigger than beautiful?"
"I think so" Kurt smiled
"Elegant" Brittany got up and struck a sexy pose
"All very visual" Sam pointed out
"I actually agree with Sam" Mike smiled at him "You could call someone beautiful because of the way they are, not look, I've referred to someone as having a beautiful soul in the past" he grinned "And that was because they were being super kind to others, and it felt genuine"
"My Lady has a beautiful mind" Sam looked at Mercy "She's super creative with her music, always knows exactly what to do in every situation" he hugged her "I love the way her mind works, it turns me on"
"Santana seeing the world as it is, keeps me grounded, I tend to live in the clouds, because I feel safe there" Brittany smiled "I find that an attractive thing, I might label that as being beautiful"
"Thanks babe" Santana smiled
"Sometimes Sam just looks at me and that's the word that comes out his mouth, I like to think that's because at that moment he sees and feels love, and that in itself is a beautiful thing, if you know what I mean" Mercy smiled
"I do" he smiled kissing her cheek "I just can't explain how much emotion and connection I feel in that moment"
"Intense" Tina smiled at them
"I know that feeling, it's like realising you've fallen in love all over again" Blaine smiled "All that fluttering heart business, it's overwhelming, you bunch it up into a single word and whatever comes out"
"That sounds to me like one of my proud moments" Santana confirmed "The beauty of being a part of something with someone you love"
"I think I learned a lot about Mercy's beauty before I even approached her" Sam told everyone "I admired her from afar for a long while, thought she was out of my league to be honest; I didn't think she'd think we were a typical fit" he smiled "She's a Compton girl and I'm Tennessee all the way, we come from two different worlds" he frowned "She can be rachet when she needs to be, it can be daunting" he laughed "So I watched her for a while, all her little nuances, expressions, what made her laugh, cry, sad, happy, stored it all" he tapped his head "Planned my approach for about a month and then made that move"
"I find it… elevating when someone calls me or tells me that I'm beautiful" Brittany smiled "Makes me feel powerful in some ways"
"It's a different feel to someone being cute I'll grant that" Kurt added "Cute says playful, funny, charming, sweet even, while Beauty talks about things someone else sees in that individual"
"Yeah" Mercy nodded
"So" Dani smiled at the chattering crowd "The hard bit" she put the notebook down and stood up "You've taken compliments, given them have various interpretations of those two words" she summed up "Now it's time to reflect and come up with what makes you beautiful, within your relationship"
"What makes me beautiful?" Brittany asked looking around the room
"Give yourself your own validation" Dani instructed her
"Okay" Brittany sat thinking for a short while "I'm kind to everyone in general, I pride myself in being respectful regardless of the situation, I'm trustworthy, committed to anything I take on, I care, and I believe that makes me a beautiful person"
"It does" Santana kissed her
"Silence is for me what makes me feel beautiful, and not just any silence" Mike smiled "The silence of contentment" he looked at Tina "When I get home and see my family doing everyday things, my wife working tirelessly to make our home the perfect place, seeing that's my favourite silence, my beautiful place"
"Babe" Tina smiled leaning on his chest
"I guess I'm thinking maybe I'm over thinking and I'm enough just the way I am" Santana smiled "I mean materially I'm beautiful, I'm confident enough about the outside, I need to start recognising that on my inside" she smiled at Brittany "I'm loved regardless of what I think I am, so maybe that's my starting point, that fact makes me beautiful" she hugged Brittany
"looking for beauty in myself I guess I have to look at my wife, see myself through her eyes" Sam smiled "She's no idiot, she doesn't suffer fools, and she's with me, which must mean I've got it all wrong" he laughed "However I must admit I'm still considering what the beautiful part in me is" he looked up in consideration "I guess because she tells me I've got a beautiful heart, like you Santana, I'm learning to believe it"
"My body is beautiful" Kurt announced "I own that comment" he smiled "I'm interesting and unique, I don't follow a trend I make one, so why should I shape my life on other people's when I don't conform to anything" he looked at Blaine "Damn it I'm beautiful and husband you better watch out"
"I can work with that" Blaine laughed "So cute" he chuckled "I tend to tuck myself into a comfortable little corner in our relationship, for fear of rocking the boat and upsetting you or our world, afraid to try something new like unscheduled make out sessions or anything intimate" he looked into Kurt's eyes knowing he was making him uncomfortable "My relationship is beautiful, it's worth celebrating whenever I want to celebrate it, and I'm going to" he smiled at his husband "Now isn't that beautiful?"
"Sure is" Kurt smiled at him
"I pride myself in always trying to stay true to myself, never pretending to be someone I'm not and yet I put myself through this cooking thing at least once a week" Tina laughed "I want to be the perfect wife, mother, listener" she smiled to herself "And I've just realised why I do that" she looked around the room "My life is so perfect, so beautiful, I mean I have everything I've ever dreamed of having I don't have any apparent flaws in my life, so I try to find one and that's cooking" she laughed "So you'll be pleased to know the cooking stops today" she looked at Mike "Because today I know I'm beautiful enough, and I don't need to have flaws to be that way"
"I was trying to find something different to call the beautiful in me" Mercy smiled "But I couldn't because I believe I'm the epiphany of beauty" she smiled at the raised eyebrows "I don't mean that in a boastful way" she giggled "I'm not stupid enough to think I'm absolutely perfect" she giggled "Contrary to what Sam thinks" she tapped his shoulder "But I am perfect, the perfect person for the one I want to be perfect for, and realising I'm enough, is a beautiful place to be" she took a deep breath
"We're in the last ten minutes just enough time for reflection" Dani smiled "Kurt" she looked at him "You were looking for.." she looked at her notebook "Confirmation, do you think you're there?"
"Yeah" he nodded "Actually yeah I am"
"Intimacy?" she smiled at Blaine nodding, Dani went around the room asking the same question of everyone, smiling at them talking themselves out of their insecurity and recognised their beauty
"I must admit" Mike smiled "I was maybe the biggest sceptic coming here, but I feel quite relaxed after doing this"
"I'm admitting something I said I wouldn't here" Sam laughed "But I enjoyed the conversations"
"I only wished we'd gone on longer" Santana smiled at Dani
"Thank you" Mercy stood up making ready to leave "Money well spent" she walked towards Dani
"Sorry, you haven't finished yet" Dani stopped her walking towards her "I usually close these sessions down with a song"
"I have nothing" Mike waved his hand
"Whatever you want I'll play if you need me to" she walked across the room to sit at her piano "I just need you to sit and reflect for a minute think about the session and what you'll take away"
"Found one on my pod, if that's alright?" Santana scrolled through her phone "Do you have a pod?" she asked Dani
"Sure" she pointed at the device on top of her piano "I just want you to listen, think about what you wanted at the beginning of this and where you are now, I don't want any answers that's personal to you" they smiled at the upbeat music coming out the pod
L.A. on a Saturday night in the summer, sundown and they all come out
Lamborghinis and their rented Hummers, the party's on, so they're heading downtown
Everybody's looking, for a come up, and they want to know what you're about
Me in the middle with the one I'm loving, we're just trying to figure everything out…
"Be honest" Blaine asked Kurt "Wasn't this more helpful than you thought it was going to be?"
"Actually yeah" he smiled "I think I'm going to change our word"
"To?"
"Bed" he laughed
"It wasn't that bad was it?" Santana asked Britt
"The fact she wanted you guys to sing" Brittany rolled her eyes "Damn cheek"
"Apart from that"
"It didn't kill us" She tried not to smile
L.A. (mmm) drove for hours last night. and we made it nowhere (nowhere, nowhere)
I see stars in your eyes, when we're halfway there (all night)
I'm not fazed by all them lights and flashing' cameras, cause with my arms around you, there's no need to care….
"Is it possible to love someone too much?" Mercy looked up at Sam asking
"Not if the person you love is Sam, or Mercy Evans" he smiled
"I love you" she looked into his eyes emotional
"Straight back at you" he kissed her forehead
"Confession" Tina looked up at Mike "I see you looking at me sometimes and I wonder what you're thinking"
"Now you know" he smiled kissing her lips lightly
….Yeah, that's not who we are (we are, we are, we are), we are not beautiful (beautiful)
We are, we are, we are, We are not beautiful 'Beautiful People' by Ed Sheeran & Khalid
"End of session I'm afraid, beautiful people" Dani announced when the song finished "And thanks for sharing your evening with me, I believe your carriage awaits"
"Thank you" Santana smiled grabbing Brittany's hand before she said something she was feeling, the other echoing the sentiment as they left
"What did you think?" Brittany asked everyone still disgruntled as they made their way back to the hotel
"Good getting to see things from different perspectives" Sam looked at her
"Beautiful" Mike high fived him
"Hell of a lot to pay for two words" Brittany finally said out loud