AN: Here's another chapter. :) I'm loving the friendship between Mercedes/Artie/Tina that's going on. Also, the two dishes that Rachel's grandmother makes while are common in Trinidad cooking, have roots in Indian cuisine, and work well for Rachel's vegan diet. I'm fond of saheena myself. :)
Walking into Glee club seemed almost like an accident waiting to happen for Kurt. Like the NASCAR races his dad liked to watch when they'd get three wide side by side. The slightest touch between them would send the whole field into a thirty car pile up.
There weren't 43 cars in the choir room, but there was seven people looking at him as he entered the room. Brittany was smiling at him as usual. Puck was smirking. Santana was looking at him like he was a puzzle she was trying to figure out. Quinn was staring like she hadn't seen him before. Mercedes was was looking apprehensive at him with a frown. Tina wore the same face as Santana, and Kurt was pretty sure Artie winked at him. He was kind of grateful the other football players hadn't gotten there yet. He'd be almost afraid of what Mike and Matt might say in front of everyone. And how Finn might react.
What if everyone knew already?
He was going to get gray hair worrying about what people were going to say or do. He didn't even know if anyone knew outside of Mike, Matt, and Puck. Not that he ever expected them to keep their mouths shut about it forever. It was juicy gossip and McKinley thrived on it.
So he decided he wasn't going to worry about it. Let the chips fall where they may.
Or the big wreck to come.
He sat down beside Mercedes and gave her a small smile. She gave him a half smile back before speaking.
"Had a good day?"
Kurt adjusted the fringe of his hair that had fallen out of place. "Not too bad, I dodged an orange slushie from a football player and managed to avoid having to changing clothes. Then I had a quiet lunch. Looking forward to quick glee club meeting so I can go home."
"You think it'll actually be quiet with Rachel around?" asked Mercedes. She knew she was testing the waters, but the black girl knew she had to pretend to be normal. "Not like she's actually ever stops talking."
There were times she could be quiet, thought Kurt. But then, he was fairly certain the amount of people who had their lips on Rachel's was a very limited group to witness such occurrence.
"I'm sure she's quiet when she's… sleeping," said Kurt offhandedly.
"Unless she snores," said Tina. She bumped Kurt's knee with her hand. She and Artie were sitting together on the row in front of him and Mercedes. They all laughed at the comment, leaving Kurt to grimace.
About that time Finn, Matt, and Mike walked in the room with Mr. Schue. They quickly sat down beside the cheerleaders. Rachel came in behind them, sliding into a seat beside Kurt. A pin could have been heard in the silence as Mr. Schue started writing their assignment for the next week on the board. Even the squeak from the marker seemed loud. It was an eerie silence for most everyone in the room. They all knew Rachel. Surely she would stand up and proclaim how much she cared for Kurt now and her new devotion for him. She probably even had a song.
The two hadn't even looked at each other as Rachel pulled out a notebook and a pen. Mr. Schuester started speaking and everyone was paying attention as usual.
"Not a thing?" mouthed Quinn to Santana. She shrugged. Quinn looked over to Finn sitting beside her. He was looking ahead at the board, paying attention to what Mr. Schue was writing out in a graph. He was in rare form today apparently as Quinn rolled her eyes. She liked the Spanish teacher, but today was not the day for an actual lesson, especially since there was a game. Sue wouldn't be pleased if they were late.
"Psst," said Brittany, whispering in Santana's ear. The dark haired girl looked towards where Brittany was pointing cautiously. Rachel had put her notebook over her crossed legs and her right hand was hanging beside her chair. Santana looked closer and realized Kurt's left was doing the same thing. His hand was grazing hers and they were playing with each other's fingers. She would have never noticed, considering there was only a few scant inches between the chairs. But there they were, now interlocking their fingers as if they were holding hands.
"Good catch Brit," she said softly. She smirked at the back of their heads. This was going to be fun to watch.
"Don't tell Quinn," mouthed Brittany to Santana. She shrugged at Brittany's words. The blonde frowned at that and turned to watched Mr. Schue draw some music notes on the board. She was pretty sure the one of the right was a unicorn.
After everyone started leaving the room, Quinn followed Tina and Mercedes out into the hallway. When they had stopped by Tina's locker, the head cheerleader walked up and smiled sweetly at the two.
"So, is there anything you'd like to tell us?"
Tina and Mercedes looked at each other, instantly initiating their plan.
"Nope!" they said quickly. Tina slammed her locker and they both started hurriedly heading towards the front door.
Santana rolled her eyes as Brittany tried to hold in her laugh at Quinn's scowl.
"Hey," said Finn as he came up to Quinn. He had already put on his jersey over his clothes. There was a game that evening in the next town over, and he was hoping to spend some time with Quinn before they had to be on the bus.
"You want to go get something to eat? I kind of wanted to talk to you."
Rachel was relieved when glee club was over. She had been wondering about well, everything. While she had no fears about her talent eclipsing everyone else in the room, she was unsure about what everyone would think of her and Kurt together. Not so much for herself since she knew that no one liked her that much, but for Kurt. He was rather liked among the outcasts of the group, and because Brittany considered Kurt a friend, Santana and Quinn could stand his momentary presence.
So she had done the one thing she could be sure of that would avoid confrontation: be late to glee club. That would keep any talking at bay. She had waited for Mr. Schue to go in with the boys and went in behind him. She hated to have been late in case she had missed something, but no one had seemed to notice that much. Kurt had given her a small smile and it had made her stomach flip flop as she had sat down. Her hand still felt tingly where they had rubbing their fingers across the other one's hand. She had felt the ridges of Kurt's skin and wished she could feel more of it.
Rachel waited until most everyone was gone from the room before grabbing Kurt's hand and squeezing it. It felt good to be able to do it so openly.
"You still coming over?" she said.
"I wouldn't miss your grandmother's good cooking."
"Thanks… I like you too," said Rachel sarcastically. Kurt laughed as he put his things back in his bag.
"Well, it's not like I had any other plans for a Friday night."
Rachel stood up and scoffed. "So I see how it is. I'm just your fill-in plans."
"I'd like to think of it as you are my new go to when I'm bored."
She really wanted to wipe the smug look off his face.
"Sarcasm is not becoming at the moment. I'm really beginning to believe you are toying with me." She started to walk away, but Kurt took her hand.
"You're not the only one nervous Rachel. It's not like you to be late for practice."
She sighed. "I know. I feel like we're dancing around everything."
"Sarcasm is my nervous go to. As are bad jokes."
"Did you know that sarcasm is a sign of genius level intelligence?" she said as she sat back down beside him, facing him this time.
"I was not aware of this fact, but it explains why the football players stare dumbly at me when I try to insult them."
"So are you still coming to my house, preferably for something other than food?"
Kurt raised an eyebrow at that. Rachel blushed as she realized her own words.
"That doesn't come with dinner."
Kurt started to say something, but instead shook his head with a smirk.
"Yes, as much as part of me is still weirded out at saying this, I would love to come to your place Rachel. Mostly because I am curious as to how much of a music collection you have."
Kurt went home first, thinking he wanted to freshen up before going over to Rachel's. He was a little nervous about that. He was certain one did not go over to a lady's home on the first date.
Would it even be considered a date? He was just going over to meet Rachel's grandmother who cooks like a chef in his opinion. And probably to see her room and things (He hoped that her room wasn't completely decked out in pink— she seemed like the type) and to discuss music and such.
And if he was honest with himself, more than a few kisses. Kurt was thinking he was going to be real sucker for affection if anything that happened in the closet said anything about him.
Being in a dark closet with a girl was changing his world drastically.
"Hey buddy," said Burt as Kurt came in the door. The teenager noticed his dad was wearing khakis and a polo under a suit jacket.
"Looking good Dad."
"Thanks," said Burt. "Carole and I are going out tonight. No idea where. She just told me to dress up."
"Maybe she's taking to you somewhere in Columbus," said Kurt. "You'll have to tell me how the food was."
"Deal," said Burt. "Sorry, but you're on your own tonight. I haven't had much time—"
"It's okay Dad," said Kurt. "I'm going over to a… friend's tonight."
"Friend's huh?" said Burt. "Would this particular friend be the one I caught you sneaking down to your room?"
"That was a mistake, and… yes."
"Uh-huh," said Burt as he was adjusting the jacket in the living room mirror. "So this… Rachel."
Kurt lowered his head onto the kitchen bar counter where he had taken a seat before peeking up at his dad. "She's a… friend. Sort of. Maybe… more than a friend."
"You like her?" asked Burt, rubbing his chin as he checked for whiskers.
"I think… that is a really complicated question," said Kurt. "But maybe?"
"Well, considering you risked getting grounded to take her downstairs to your room, I don't think it's that complicated."
"It is. More than you know," said Kurt.
"Then tell me about it," Burt said, coming closer to the counter.
"Don't you need to get going?" asked Kurt, gesturing to the door.
Burt gave him a look. "Not before you tell me about when and where you're going on your date."
"It's not… alright fine. Rachel invited me over to her place to meet her grandmother, who sounds like an interesting person. It's not a date, really."
"So dinner huh?"
"I think so, yes."
Anything else?"
"We haven't made any plans… just dinner and talking? Maybe some music?"
"Where does she live?"
"Oh um, Birch Hill Road?"
"So around Waterford Heights," nodded Burt. "Use your GPS if you have any problems."
"Yes Dad."
Burt clapped Kurt on the shoulder. "Have fun."
"You… too?" he said, confused. "You're not going to tell me no?"
"Why?" said Burt, picking up his keys and wallet off the counter and stuck them in his pockets. "You have a phone, you know where you're going. You have better driving manners than people twice your age. Plus, there will be adult supervision. It's not like Rachel's parents won't be there… and didn't you say you were going to meet her grandmother? Like I told you about the party, it's good for you to get out and enjoy being a teenager. And be nice to her parents."
Kurt knew better than to mention that Rachel's dads were out of town. Sort of like how he had "forgotten" to mention that even though it was a "glee party", there was no one supervising, hence the insane amount of alcohol that had turned up.
"Dad."
Burt chuckled. "I know you know better than that. But humor an old man, will you? It's not every day my son goes on his first date."
"Could you not with the date part?"
"Nope," said Burt. "I gotta go." He started to head for the door. Opening it, he turned around.
"Oh, and write down Rachel's number, just in case."
Kurt gave his dad a glare, which made the older man laugh.
"G'night kid. Have fun."
He closed the door.
Kurt sighed and laid his head back on the counter with a clunk.
Across town, Rachel was straightening things mindlessly as she waited for Kurt to arrive. She had already been through her bedroom picking up her songbooks and putting away the stray hair clip or headband. Her Nana had already freshened up the living room while she had been in school. Rachel came back into the kitchen and kissed her on the cheek as she looked in the pot.
"Smells good."
The older woman smiled as she stirred with a spoon.
"Once you said your friend was coming over, I thought I'd wait on just making those burgers you like." She winked at Rachel, who laughed at her grandmother's joke. "Think this Kurt will like saheena and baigan choka with sada roti?"
"With your cooking Nana, I think he'll eat pretty much anything you would put in front of him. He is a boy after all."
The older woman chuckled as she put a lid on the pot and moved to where she was sauteing some onions and garlic in oil. "So Kurt… is he's a good friend of yours?"
"Yes, we met in Glee club this year."
"And he's coming over to help you with some homework assignment?"
"Well…."
Rachel's grandmother side-eyed her and shook her spatula. "I thought so. You forget child, I was young once."
"He's… he's nice," said Rachel quietly, thinking of Kurt. "I invited him over for dinner so we could spend some more time together."
"And you're probably only doing this because your fathers are gone."
"While it wasn't necessary, it is convenient…"
"Uh-huh. So you think you can slip one over on your Nana instead."
"It's not like that!" said Rachel in a huff. "While there are some romantic feelings… I'd don't know. I'd like to have a friend."
"It's difficult to separate the two?"
"A little," agreed Rachel. "He likes the same things I do. We both have an obsession forWicked. We like music and musical theatre."
Rachel's Nana looked contemplative. "So you'd like to keep him as a friend?"
Rachel sighed. "He kisses too well for that."
"Oh, so it's gone past the interested stage and admitting romantic feelings stage right into the dating and making out phase? Rachel…"
"It's been a little backwards," admitted Rachel.
"You're lucky you haven't told your dads yet," said Nana. "I think Leroy wouldn't be so pleased that you've been seeing someone without them knowing."
"It's been two days," said Rachel.
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that," Rachel's grandmother said as she tossed the onions and garlic into a pot of simmering sauce. She came over and patted Rachel on the cheek.
"If you really like him, then admit it to yourself. I know you have had a hard time of keeping friends, but having someone you're interested in who likes the same things you do is like having both. Besides, you might not even been interested in him next week."
"I don't think… well, now that i think about it, I am doing that with Finn."
"Mmhmm," said Nana. "But it sounds like you might like this Kurt more if you're already sharing kisses." She gave her granddaughter a knowing smile.
The door bell rang right as Rachel was about to say something. She could feel the blush starting to form on her cheeks. She was not about to tell her grandmother there may have been some groping involved.
"That'll be Kurt," said Rachel. "Be nice. Daddy told me the stories about how you tried to scare him away."
"Leroy was my baby boy," sniffed Nana. "I had to make sure he was good enough for him."
When Kurt pulled into the driveway of Rachel Berry's home, he didn't know what to expect. He briefly considered that there might be a chain link fence with large dobermans standing guard to growl at him. He had a lot of respect for her dads, being married in a small town like Lima where people had more closed off minds than there were factories for them to work in. But as he turned off the engine in his vehicle, he noticed it was a normal sort of house. Two story with good sized windows, brick, and white trim. There was an attached garage so he couldn't see in the backyard. A porch light shined warmly on the small front step. Flower beds surrounded the small walkway as he headed towards the house. Kurt spotted Rachel in the window beside the door and she opened it to greet him.
"Hi," she said with a smile. "By the way, I need a copy of your weekly schedule so I can draw us up matching calendars."
"Hi?" said Kurt confused. "I keep my calendar in my phone?" Rachel perked up at that.
"That'll be much easier then, I can copy from there."
"Why— why do you need my schedule?"
"Because," said Rachel as she closed the door behind him. "If we started date planning, then I need to make sure we have no schedule conflicts. What with my ballet and volunteering and your piano, so… you do still play piano, right?"
"I suppose that does make sense," agreed Kurt. He looked around the small hall with half opened walls where you could see into the living room as he took off his jacket. "It just seemed like an odd question at first. And yes, I do."
Rachel took his jacket and hung it up in the small closet by the door. "I maybe full of them… I really don't know what I'm doing."
"That makes two of us," said Kurt. "But then, we are part of the outcasts. No one is exactly looking to be with us."
"Glee club is on the bottom of the school social scene," agreed the brunette.
"Rachel?" said a voice from in the kitchen.
"Coming!" she said back. "Come on, I'd like you to meet my grandmother."
Kurt followed behind Rachel towards the kitchen. An older woman dressed in black dress pants and a soft white t-shirt under a red, pink, and orange sweater in a chevron pattern. A large beaded orange necklace hung around her neck. Gold hoop earrings hung from her ears with orange beads on them. Her hair was a rather shiny silver, and Kurt could see bits of Rachel in her features, especially her dark brown piercing eyes. She smiled warmly at him as Rachel was gesturing between the two of them.
"Kurt, this is my grandmother Kathleen, otherwise known as Nana."
"A pleasure to meet you, Mrs. —-"
"Irving," she said, appraising him. Kurt almost wanted to duck his head under her fixed gaze. But he kept a level head.
"Good," she said with a light chuckle. "I like you. Come sit and tell me about yourself Kurt. And you'll have to speak up. My hearing isn't what it used to be."
During dinner, Kurt learned that Rachel's great grandparents were from Trinidad but Nana had grown up in North Carolina, he really liked the chutney she had made (though he had forgotten to ask what was in it), and that Rachel when she was three years old ran away from Leroy and Hiram to the neighbor's back yard. But she came back 15 minutes later when she wanted a snack.
"Neighbor's backyard?" said Kurt in the living room as they went to sit down after saying good night to her grandmother. Rachel had to vow that nothing would go on between them before she would leave. Her Nana lead the bingo at the local bowling alley on Friday nights and was going to be late if she didn't get going. "Really? Could you not thing of any where else to go?"
"What? I was three. And they had puppies." She moved closer to Kurt. "They were so soft and were happy to see me. It was better than daycare."
"You were in daycare at three?" said Kurt, surprised.
"Well, both my dads work, and until Nana moved back here from Florida, they didn't have any close relatives to watch me."
"I guess I can't imagine you getting along with other kids."
"I… didn't really," admitted Rachel. "I played by myself a lot. And did a lot of singing. I used to get in trouble because I would sing to myself during nap time. It didn't go over well."
"You were a little trouble maker," commented Kurt. "The things I'm learning about you Rachel Berry."
"As long as they don't turn into some sort of blackmail," sighed the brunette.
"Rachel…" began Kurt, his face going soft at her words.
"Sorry," she said, frowning. "Bad habit." She crossed her arms and rubbed her shoulders.
"You don't have to fight me," said Kurt, bumping her hand with his shoulder. "I'm not here to… spite you or anything."
"I would have never guessed," Rachel said. She got up the nerve and laid her head on Kurt's shoulder. "It would be you of all people that I want to be with."
"Well, the feeling is mutual," said Kurt. "We've spent more time together in the last 24 hours than we've ever spoken in the choir room."
"Yes," said Rachel, giving him a knowing smile. "And since we're alone, I'd rather not be speaking right now."
"Then what—" began Kurt. But Rachel cut him off with her lips.
The van door opened and Tina climbed back in with convenience store bags.
"Anything happening?"
"Can't see a thing," said Artie from behind a pair of binoculars. "They maybe back somewhere other than the living room."
"Why are we staking out in front of Rachel Berry's house again?" asked Mercedes.
"To make sure no one else is," said Tina as she handed Artie the large bag of cheese balls he had wanted. "And because we want to get the juicy gossip too."
"The only ones who care at all are at the away game."
"So?" said Artie. "It's not often I get to drive the van. Dad's too afraid I'm going to wreck with the gas and brake being switches instead of pedals. I think he forgets I'm not exactly used to anything else."
"How did you get this anyways?" asked Mercedes. "Seems like it'd be expensive."
"My mom," said Artie. "She found this biker gang in Michigan who fixes up old vehicles for the handicapable for charity. Redoing all inside, outside, adding the ramp, and stuff… They even do all the repairs if you need them. The only requirement they ask is not to sell it, but to give it to another handicapped person who needs it or return it to the group so they can give it to someone else."
"That's pretty awesome," said Tina. "I like that your chair just clicks in."
"It's been helpful," said Artie. "Or it would have been harder to get me around."
"Still no sign of anyone?" asked Tina as she offered Mercedes a Twinkie.
"Not a thing," shrugged Mercedes.
"Some old lady left the house," shrugged Artie. "Weird though. She was black. Rachel came out and gave her a hug before she got in her car."
"One of Rachel's dads is black," said Mercedes. "Didn't you know that?"
"I thought it was Jewish," said Tina. "Like me."
"It's both," said Mercedes, rolling her eyes. "One's black, one's Jewish. Didn't either of you pay attention when Mr. Schue got us to go around the room and talk about our families?"
"No…" said both Tina and Artie. The brown haired boy looked at Tina with surprise.
"Wait, you're Jewish?"