Disclaimer: I do not own Glee, and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
A/N: I have to give credit to my friend and co-author The-Jellybaby-Bandit for making this happen.
Escape Plan by Frank Featherstiff
Chapter Five: Let's Get Ready To Party!
The drive back to Lima in Finn's beat up old Pontiac was quiet by all accounts - well as quiet as two teenagers singing along with the radio at the top of their lungs can be. There was no conversation to be had though and truthfully, Kurt was fine with that. It was nice and comfortable and just normal for he and Finn not to have much to talk about and to just to goof off.
Finn's foot stayed pinned to the floor of the car as the Pontiac sped on its route back towards Lima. Kurt was just starting to feel the first stirrings of excitement about the possibility of seeing his Dad and Carole, when the Quarterback turned off of the I75 early and ventured into a neighborhood that the soprano was not familiar with.
Kurt reached out and turned down the volume on the radio so that he could hear himself think,
"Uh - where are we going, Finn?"
Kurt stared out of the window as they sped by a sign announcing the Lima Country Club and on up a steep winding road towards some of the prettiest houses the soprano had ever set his eyes on.
'Houses fit for Gaga...'
"Oh, the Glee kids are having a party tonight..." Finn said looking over to grin at the brunette.
"A party!...", Kurt shouted and almost started to hyperventilate, "Finn, I...I..."
He would refuse to go on. He was still in his Dalton uniform and his daytime make-up - not to mention the fact that his hair product was about to give up the ghost. If he'd been given any kind of warning! Oh that boy!
"I know, exciting huh...", said Finn misunderstanding the smaller boy's shrill tone of voice, "...Well we've all really missed you and Santana's folks are out of town and everyone is really looking forward to seeing you..."
Kurt didn't know whether to smack Finn, as the Quarterback continued to prattle on with his justifications for not telling the soprano about the party - or to just burst into tears at the warm feeling in the pit of his stomach - a feeling that Kurt had almost forgotten existed, at Finn's verbalisation that his friends had missed him.
'I'd almost thought they'd forgotten me...'
As Finn pulled up to a set of large wrought-iron gates and wound down the driver's side window, he paused and glanced at Kurt - either not noticing or choosing to ignore the brunette's suspiciously wet eyes.
"Wait, this party isn't going to mess you up with your science club is it?"
The laughter which bubbled up from deep inside Kurt was heartfelt as the brunette smiled widely at the confused looking Finn. There were people in the world that cared about him and that wanted to see him and to have him around.
At that moment had he been asked, Kurt would have willingly walked into the party in his evening mask and footie pyjamas if it meant the people he loved would be there to talk to him.
Whatever Finn had done to the little keypad by the side of the gates had clearly worked as Kurt heard the unmistakable sound of the motorised gates kicking into life. Inching slowly forward, the Pontiac threaded it's way carefully down the twisting tree lined driveway. Kurt couldn't help but gawk,
"Wait... you said that Santana lives here?"
Finn nodded in the affirmative and the truth of the statement was confirmed by the amount of Gleek cars parked out in front - it looked like the start of a Nascar event there were so many cars all parked up in formation.
Finn shut off the engine and the gently lilting song on the radio died away to nothingness as the two boys unbuckled their seat belts. Each climbing from the car, Finn and Kurt stared up at the grand house, both intimidated and impressed by the sheer size and opulence of their surroundings.
'I bet there's a butler...'; thought Kurt as they climbed the front steps - all twenty of them - on the way to the front door.
Kurt glanced around suddenly feeling very alone and noticed that Finn had stopped at the bottom of the steps and was staring intently at his cellphone.
"Ummm Kurt?"
Finn's voice was decidedly unsure as the Quarterback's eyes darted between the cellphone in his hands and the boy standing some ten feet away up the front steps.
"Finn?"
Kurt began to descend the steps again as Finn haltingly spoke, coming to a stop in front of his step-brother and looking up into his kind face.
"Rachel just texted me. She - uh - asks if you would mind looking at her tires before you came in and let her know whether she needs to call in a tow."
Kurt rolled his eyes and sighed theatrically at the Quarterback; though the smile never slipped from his face.
"Leave it to Rachel not to know even the basics of vehicle maintenance. Yes, please go inside and let 'La Berry' know that I am doing it now...", grumbled Kurt as he passed off his satchel to the grinning Finn and crunched his way over the gravel drive in the direction of the diva's car, "... never mind that I'll end up getting gravel dust on my uniform and under my nails - and I just had a manicure..."
Kurt could hear Finn's chuckling getting fainter as the Quarterback made his way up the steps as quickly as he could without breaking out into an actual run.
"Wow, he must need to pee or something...", Kurt mumbled to himself as he suddenly wished he'd kept his satchel - and with it his pocket flashlight - as the brunette peered in the gloom at Rachel's car. Tires could mean life or death during a snowy winter, so Kurt took his time examining the treads for signs of too much wear and after a few moments nodded to himself in satisfaction,
"She just needs a little air...", Kurt giggled to himself as a random thought struck him, "... and here I thought Rachel was always full of hot air..."
Pleased with himself and feeling useful again, Kurt made his way up the steps to the front door and pressed the door bell. The brunette felt conspicuous turning up at a party dressed in his school uniform - he might get mistaken for some kind of kiss-o-gram after all - as the door opened from within to reveal an elderly white man dressed in a dark suit. Kurt couldn't help but look a bit confused.
"Um, excuse me Sir, I'm sorry to intrude, but I'm looking for Santana Lopez."
The man smiled, and nodded slightly.
"Of course Mr. Hummel..."
'He knows who I am?'; thought Kurt with some surprise.
"Miss Lopez is in the parlour with the rest of your party. I believe they are expecting you presently. If you will kindly follow me?"
The man pivoted sharply on his heels and setting a sedate pace - much like a funeral procession Kurt noted - led the soprano down the obscenely appointed hallway in the direction of an elegant set of double doors.
Gripping both doors, the man flung open both doors at the same time and stepped to the side to allow Kurt to enter.
"Ladies and gentlemen, might I announce into the room, Master Kurt Hummel..."
Kurt blushed a deep fuchsia as he shyly stepped into the room and the gentleman - the Lopez's butler the soprano assumed - retreated silently and closed the doors with a soft click behind him. Other than gentle glow of the fireplace which had burned down mostly to embers, there was no artificial light source in the room. It therefore took a few seconds for Kurt's eyes to adjust leaving the brunette with several seconds where all he could see of his friends were vague - and silent - silhouettes.
"Guys?...", asked Kurt suddenly unsure of himself.
With that utterance, the lights slowly raised to cast a dim glow across the room, and Kurt gasped and raised a hand to cover his mouth in shock.
"I died didn't I?...", said Kurt his eyes darting from person to person as if afraid that they would disappear in a puff of smoke before he could commit them all to memory, "... I died and went to couture heaven."
There in front of him, frozen in a tableau reminiscent of Ralph Lauren ad, sat his friends clad entirely in the most beautiful of designer clothes.
He tried to take it all in at once, but like most great works of art, it was simply too overwhelming. Deciding to take it element by element, he looked at the first person sitting on a small settee in front of him.
"Sweet Holy Prada..."
It was Rachel. Or at least it looked like Rachel - except that the girl's hair had been teased and coiffed and her make-up was smeared just enough to make it look like...well, frankly like someone had forced the girl against a wall and fucked her to within an inch of her life.
'And Hell if she didn't look primed to have that last inch taken any second...'
And while Kurt had no desire to be the one fucking Rachel Berry...
'Crap... there's enough nightmare fodder in that thought to last a lifetime...'
...Kurt was gay enough to appreciate it when his straight girls looked good. Letting his eyes drift over her, Kurt realised with a start, that Rachel was wearing a creme Cashmere halter dress that the soprano had seen in last month's Vogue. If Kurt's memory served - and when it came to fashion it did - the dress was a part of Chanel's winter collection and was hideously expensive.
Reaching out a shaking hand, almost afraid that the vision would fade away into nothingness if he disturbed it in any way, Kurt's fingers traced the stitching of the oh-so soft fabric. Kurt groaned with an almost orgasmic pleasure as he felt the exquisite fabric under his fingertips.
"Never change, Rachel. This dress needs to be your skin from now on. I mean it!"
Much to her credit as an actress, Rachel stayed frozen in place - but Kurt was sure that he could see the diva's eyes sparkle a little at the praise.
'She deserves it - she looks fabulous...'
Stepping around her, Kurt squeezed his eyes closed and opened them again to try to make sense of what he was seeing.
'Nope... still there...'
It was Puck.
Puck of all people was lying on the floor with his legs crossed at the ankles and propped up on the wall beside the fireplace.
And he was - he was wearing... he was wearing...clothes...retro military inspired...was the best that Kurt could come up with; the exact brands, cuts, and styles had fled the brunette's mind entirely. Honestly, at that point Kurt would be hard pressed to come up with a coherent answer if someone asked him what his own name was.
It was sacrilege Kurt would realise later to think it - but the clothes didn't really matter. Well, they did, they were hot and were fitted to each of the Gleeks like they had been specially tailored, but it was the accessories that really made the outfit. Puck had a black and silver studded dog collar around his neck, attached to a thick black leather leash. And holding the other end of the leash was Mike - standing there in a shirt held together by nothing more than a single button at his heart and with his amazing abs on display for all to see.
For the first time in his life, Kurt Hummel was truly speechless. Mike was the one in the position of power - the one holding the lead and demanding attention. And yet Kurt found that he just could not tear his eyes away from staring at the half-back - not even for the chance to ogle at Mike's abs.
'Get a grip Kurt - it's Puck you're drooling over remember...'
Kurt wanted to look away, he really did, but it was almost as if some indefinable force was making the brunette physically unable to do so. Thankfully whatever force was in control of Kurt's eyes did not have control of his feet, and so Kurt was able to step away from the two boys and from temptation. The temptation to reach out and touch the boys - which even in the brunette's wildest imagination would be considered inappropriate behaviour.
'Oh God... I've lost this fight already...'
Kurt refused to think about just how much more he wanted to touch one boy than the other - or snatch away the leash and make a break for it - the soprano wasn't sure which.
"Wow guys - you all look great. Really...", said Kurt finally tearing his eyes away from the pair of boys to look at the other gleeks.
With his words, the tableau broke and people began to move again. Though the brunette had already said that everyone looked great - it was only once sound and movement returned that Kurt actually began to take stock. As the soprano looked around it struck him that everyone did really look good - but why?
There was really only one logical explanation that occurred to Kurt; self-obsessed as it might have been.
"Is this all for me?"
Santana smirked to herself, out of Kurt's line of sight - someone else could answer such an obvious question while she went to fetch the two guitars hidden behind one of the tall curtains.
Santana had been meticulous to ensure that only she and Mercedes had been posed in such a way as to allow them to see Kurt's reaction to Puck - though Aretha wouldn't know it of course, that the entire affair had been planned down to the last detail. All in all, the Latina could not have been more pleased with the soprano's reaction if Santana herself had written the script.
Getting everyone dressed and into place hadn't been cheap or easy - especially when some of the guys had seen what they'd be wearing, or rather, what they wouldn't - but bearing witness to Kurt's complete mind meltdown was worth every cent and every hour spent planning.
If Rachel were honest; she had been slightly annoyed when everyone had suddenly broken with the plan and started talking and moving. After all, Santana had taken the time to pose her first out of everybody, and in one of the most difficult positions of anyone in the room. If anything, Rachel was annoyed because she could have held the pose for at least another half an hour - possibly more. But then, most kids hadn't been practicing death scenes since they was seven years old.
Standing up, Rachel saw that most everyone else was stretching out their stiff limbs and so ever an opportunist, the Glee club co-captain took hers. Letting out a massive squeal, Rachel hip-checked Artie's chair out of the way - sending the disabled boy on a collision course with the wall - before practically vaulting over a small coffee table to envelope a still shell-shocked Kurt in a crushing hug.
"We missed you so much Kurt! We just wanted to let you know that we were still thinking of you."
'God he's so thin...'
Kurt was aware of the words from Rachel but beyond the stars the brunette could see in his eyes from the lack of oxygen to his brain; the soprano wasn't in a position to appreciate it.
"Rachel... need oxygen...", wheezed Kurt before gasping deeply as the crushing pressure on his ribs was relaxed; though not released.
Rachel looked up into Kurt's eyes - the soprano seemed to grow an inch a week these days and now dwarfed the girl. It was damn scary how they all were growing up so fast - well everyone but her - she was destined it seemed to remain her current height for the remainder of her bright and brilliant life.
'Forever destined to be young Cosette, never older...'
Despite her almost unmatched self-confidence, Rachel was well aware of her deficiencies - what few she had anyway - and accepted that she wasn't the most emotive person to have walked the face of the Earth. The only exception to the rule was when she was performing of course. She was enough of a 'human being' as Finn had so helpfully put it - to realise however that Kurt's composure was slipping. Pulling Kurt down and into another hug, Rachel tucked the boy's face into the crook of her neck as she whispered to him,
"Just a few tears and no one else has to know. I know a great dry cleaner."
Rachel smiled as she heard Kurt giggle and sniffle against her shoulder, and with a final a quick squeeze - and after what was in actuality only a few seconds, yet seemed much longer - Rachel stepped back so the others could hug Kurt.
Suddenly unoccupied, Rachel chanced a glance in the direction of the boys, who rather than get embroiled in the ongoing hugfest surrounding Kurt, had instead chosen to hold back and begun chatting amongst themselves. Catching Finn's eye, Rachel sent the Quarterback a tentative smile for a job well done; plus she now also knew that her tires needed air.
'Everyone's a winner...'
Returning her attention to the oestrogen laden huddle in the middle of the room, Rachel noted that everyone was now starting to mill about and lose focus. And that was just not something that she was prepared to accept.
Stepping over to the fireplace, Rachel clapped her hands together as she started to speak in a loud voice.
"OK, everyone settle down..."
"Hey, check out 'she-Schue'...", quipped Quinn and drawing a giggle from the assembled teens.
"Try saying that three times fast...", replied Sam with a grin on his face, "... she-Schue, she-Schue on the Sche-schore... dammit..."
Ignoring the rudeness of her friends at interrupting her, Rachel continued unrelenting in her focus,
"Yes well, thank you Sam...", said blonde waved cheekily in acknowledgment, "... as Glee club Captain..."
"Self-appointed...", coughed Mercedes into her hand while sharing a sly wink with Mike who was trying to stifle the urge to laugh at the increasingly red faced Rachel.
"...I'd like to call this meeting of the Glee club to order."
Most people groaned - that much was a given - but it was Brittany that spoke up, stage whispering to Artie,
"I thought this was supposed to be a party. Did I dream being in Glee already today again?"
Rachel tried to keep a straight face as Artie patted Brittany on the arm and let out a put upon sigh. Being Brittany's boyfriend meant that the wheelchair-bound boy had to field the various Britt-isms that the blonde would come up with - it tended to be a full time job.
"How could we have had Glee, Brittany? Kurt wasn't there...", said Rachel, ignoring the glare from Artie as Brittany would likely miss the subtext and think the girl was being literal.
Brittany, as Artie obviously expected - and dreaded - immediately perked up like an excited puppy.
"I thought so! I've been telling Artie that for like three weeks now!"
Artie levelled his best 'death-ray stare' at Rachel as if to say, 'do you see what you've done now?' Obviously Rachel had inadvertently opened big ole can o' worms in the Abrams/Pierce relationship - still if it got her point across...
Kurt blushed and reached over to squeeze Brit's hand reassuringly while sending Rachel a smile.
"Now if there are no more questions...," Rachel paused a beat for dramatic effect "we have our first two performances of the night."
Puck smirked as Santana handed him his guitar.
"Just can't keep your hands off my instrument huh, Lopez?"
"Only in your dreams Puckerman...", replied the Latina rolling her eyes dismissively, "... only in your sick and twisted dreams..."
It couldn't be overstated enough, just how incredibly pleased Santana was at how everyone looked tonight - even Finn whom the Latina had secretly suspected would struggle with the necktie, the Quarterback wasn't the brightest knife in the box after all - but the crowning gems were without doubt, Puck and Brittany; not that Santana was in any way biased or anything.
'I only want in one of their pants after all...'
Santana watched as Puck swung the guitar strap around his neck, and settled down to tune up. The Latina also noticed with no little satisfaction that she wasn't the only one watching as the jock's muscles rippled beneath his wife-beater.
'Damn, I didn't even know I was that good...'
Puck started strumming the tune on his acoustic guitar, and immediately the room grew quiet.
'He really is a strong musician.', mused Kurt as he watched the jock's assured fretwork and as the half-back became absorbed in his own playing. Kurt was so absorbed himself that he almost missed Finn's soft entrance.
"Wish you were here...
Me, oh, my country man,
Wish You Were Here...
I Wish You Were Here...
Don't you know the snow is getting colder,
And I miss you like hell...
And I'm feeling blue..."
Kurt struggled to maintain his composure.
'Thank God I wore waterproof mascara...'
Yeah, his new brother was singing to him, but all of the other guys there were smiling at him and nodding in apparent agreement. Kurt realised, this - this whole night - was about showing him that they loved him, and not about Finn's voice. It was humbling.
Spending several weeks at Dalton, Kurt had started to believe he was nothing and would forever be nothing. But to these people, these few people, his friends, Kurt Hummel was special.
"I miss your laugh, I miss your smile,
I miss everything about you...
Every second's like a minute,
Every minute's like a day
When you're far away...
The snow is getting colder, baby,
I Wish You Were Here...
A battlefield of love and fear,
And I Wish You Were Here...
I've got feelings for you,
From the first time I laid my eyes on you..."
When the song finished, everyone clapped, and that gave Kurt an opportunity to look down, and quickly brush away the lone tear that had escaped to slide down his cheek. Standing, Kurt crossed quickly to give his brother a hug, and he was surprised when Puck stepped in for one as well.
Wrapping his arms around the smaller boy, the jock whispered gruffly in Kurt's ear causing an involuntary shiver to pass through the soprano's body,
"Yeah...back where you are suppose to be Hummel."
"Call me Kurt...", said the brunette giggling lightly as he stepped back from the hug, "... and here are far to many ways to take that statement Puck."
"Cool... Kurt...", the larger boy said testing out the name before nodding clearly pleased, "... take it however you want."
Kurt raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow at the half-back in challenge as he winked saucily,
"Promises, promises, Puckerman..."
The three boys moved to take their seats, with Finn ending up sitting in the seat that Rachel had just vacated. That left, Puck and Kurt to squabble over who sat where as both Mercedes and Tina stood to join Rachel, a battle the soprano lost rather spectacularly when Puck literally forced Kurt down into the end seat and then sat right beside him. Completing the set, as it were, Artie rolled himself into position as the three girls arranged themselves in formation. the brunette was very aware that he was sandwiched quite snugly, between a very solid Puck and a very solid arm of the sofa.
'I will not lust after... ahh screw it...', thought Kurt before he sighed and gave into images of Puck, pressing very solid things in some of the brunette's own very solid places.
'Down Kurt...'
Kurt was relieved for the distraction when Artie started to play. No one was surprised when Rachel started to sing; taking lead.
"I wish this could be
A happy song
But my happiness disappeared
The moment you were gone
Don't think I ever believed that
This day would come
Now all I'm feeling
Is lost and numb..."
Kurt was surprised at how heartfelt that she sounded - but then realised that of all of the Gleeks, he supposed he was the closest thing Rachel had to a friend - the soprano had never considered how lonely Rachel would be without him around. The other girls joined in to harmonize before Tina stepped forward to sing the second verse - the Asian girl's voice was different in pitch and tone to Rachel's and added an extra edge to the performance - it was an inspired call.
"And ohhh I know I promised
Mmmm that I would try
But I, yes I, miss you
And it's killing inside
I'll always be thankful
For the time we had
We were blessed
I should celebrate
But I feel too sad
All the wonderful memories
Just make me fall apart
And it feels like somebody's
Stabbed me in my heart
And ohhh I know I promised
Mmmm that I wouldn't cry
But I, yes I, miss you
And it's killing inside
Ooh well I, yes I, miss you
Want you by my side
Walking, holding hands
Talking, making plans
Touching my heart my soul..."
Kurt's friends were considerate enough to ignore the tears that were slipping down his face by the time his best friend stepped up to finish the final verse.
I wish this could be
A happy song
But my happiness disappeared
The moment you were gone
Tell me it's not happening
Say it's not as it seems
Tell me that I'm gonna wake up
It's just a bad dream
Please tell me that it's fiction
Tell me it's just a lie
Whatever you choose to tell me
Please say he didn't die
And I, yes I, miss you
And it's killing inside
Ooh well I, yes I, miss you
Want you by my side
Ooh well I, miss you
Want you by my side
Back here by my side
Here by my side
When the music faded away, Kurt was on his feet in moments clapping wildly.
"Thank you!...", he whispered, his throat closing up on him as he swallowed, the emotion too much for him, "... you guys have no idea what this means to me after the week I had."
Santana was the one to reply as she stood and crossed the the far side of the room,
"Oh there's much more to come; for all of us."
Santana grabbed hold of a previously hidden away cord and with a quick pull, the curtains that had until that point been shrouding the doors to the Florida Room, swept open. Gripping the handles to the large double doors, Santana grinned at the curious teens before throwing both doors open wide to reveal a ridiculously opulent display.
The Florida Room was gently lit, with small candles in sconces set up especially for the occasion. At the far end of the room sat a long buffet piled high with tons of snacks and finger food and at the end - drawing most of the oohs and aahs, Santana noted with some amusement - was a modest open bar. The indoor pool had rose petals strewn over the surface of the water before it it had been covered with a Plexiglas dance floor and Karaoke system with extra large speakers.
The pool lights were on and as the waster gently undulated under the Plexiglas, soft shadows were cast around the room. The sides of the room themselves were cast in shadows with small cabanas set up to offer some privacy to any couple brave enough to close the flaps.
The piece de resistance however, was just outside on a large wooden deck - a large hot tub, big enough for a dozen easy, already bubbling away, steam rising from it into the chilly evening air.
"Sweet..." whispered Finn, putting voice to the collective thought of the assembled teens.
The group broke apart to explore the room and Rachel found herself wandering alone down a corridor leading out to the rear of the Florida Room and into the most beautiful rose garden the diva had ever seen. Few truly great people bother with regret, and thus it was an emotion that Rachel Berry had long ago decided she would not indulge in. But as she stopped to take in the bouquet of the night blooming roses, Rachel had no choice but to admit to herself; the night would have been better if she were sharing it with Finn.
Hearing movement from behind her, Rachel took a deep steadying breath and tried to combat the growing sense of melancholy - or as Kurt would have put it ennui - within her. Spinning quickly on her three inch heels was no easy feat, however the girl managed it while also plastering a smile onto her face as she greeted Tina who was standing there and looking at the garden in wonder.
"Hi Rachel, having fun?...", asked the Asian girl as she stared up at the moon hanging overhead, "... these Roses are amazing."
"I know...", replied Rachel, "... but I still can't work out how they can be in bloom in the middle of Winter."
Tina shrugged unconcerned as she drew the head of a Rose up to her nose and took a deep sniff,
"I guess money does buy everything... so anyway are you having fun?"
Rachel smiled as she sidled over to a small stone bench and set herself down, being careful not to snag the beautiful fabric of her dress. She and Santana may not have been the best of friends but there was no denying the Latina had taste - it was a beautiful dress.
"Sure, why would I be having fun?..."
Tina's raised eyebrow as she sat down beside the girl caused Rachel to wince - there had been slightly too much pep in her hurried response.
"Because of Santana's stunt today in Glee club, I didn't get the chance to compliment your performance. Whilst it was not the best choice for your vocal range, I do think it matched the color and tone of your voice extremely well."
The goth girl smiled at the backhanded compliment and nodded knowing that from Rachel it was as good as praise.
"Yeah, Thanks. Santana and her stunts..." murmured Tina vaguely.
Rachel grabbed the other girl's arm.
"Is some sinister plot going on of which I have not been made aware?...", Tina's jaw dropped open as Rachel continued to speak - had Rachel Berry of all people figured out Santana's masterplan?, "...Am I for all of my incredible talents, no more than some innocent pawn at the hands of Santana Lopez?"
"What?" Tina asked shocked before relaxing as Rachel broke out into a wide smile and started giggling.
'Oh my God, she was joking...''
Tina offered the Glee club co-captain a shaky smile as she tried to regain control of her extremities.
"Oh, no, I'm sorry, Rachel - no masterplan here don't worry. I was just thinking about the stunt Santana pulled by sleeping with Finn."
At that, Rachel gave a tight smile and excusing herself before her cheerful mask cracked, headed deeper into the gardens and away from the sound of the party.
While she could freely admit that...the incident...with Puck was not her finest moment, Rachel still hurt that Finn could not forgive her. Even more that that though - she was ashamed that she had hurt Finn.
'Be honest with yourself Rachel...'
Rachel grimaced as her conscience came into play and alone as she was, in the silence of the rose garden, there was nothing that she could do to keep it at bay.
Rachel knew that she annoyed most people but she had no idea how to be happy other than to be herself. It wasn't as if she hadn't tried either; once as a child, Rachel had spent three months as Yentel and in another instance after a particularly nasty run in with a school bully, she had spent a week as Holly Golightly.
That was why it hurt so much each time Finn looked at her now. In the past, when Finn had looked at her, he saw Rachel Berry. He saw a girl and not a driven and obsessive diva like everyone else.
Rachel loved him for that.
If she were truly honest with herself, Rachel loved Finn for simply being the decent, kind man he was; the kind man that through her foolish actions had retreated behind a cold mask of indifference.
"Hey..."
Rachel froze before reluctantly turning around. Just for a moment she let herself believe that it was Finn; that he had come to find her to accept her apology; to tell her everything was alright and that they would be together forever.
Still, even before she had turned fully Rachel was losing hope. That was only compounded when she gazed upon the face of Puck who was standing in front of her.
"What do you want?...", asked Rachel - not impolitely just in a way that let the jock know that she was in no mood to chit chit. Either that or be tempted into a compromising position that would hurt Finn again.
"Well, I was sorta hoping that I could apologize...", replied Puck while rubbing his hand over his head, "...I'm - uh... shit I'm sorry Rachel. I messed things up and I didn't mean..."
Puck trailed off and looked plaintively at the silent girl.
Rachel smiled.
"I never dreamed... I - thanks Puck. Really. I appreciate the thought; but as much as I'd like to, I can't blame you for this. You did what I should have done - you stopped and told me what we were doing was wrong. This breakup is something I deserve and have to live with."
Puck offered the girl a shrug - not knowing what to say to make things any better, but at least a little relieved that he'd not gotten his ass kicked.
"I know Finn seems angry right now - and he is...", Puck held up a plaintive hand to stall Rachel's outburst that he wasn't helping, "... but I've known Finn since I was five years old. Finn loves you, like, a lot. But he's hurt right now, and angry and confused - and my boy Finn doesn't do confused very well. Just... just don't give up hope is all I'm sayin' OK?"
From his spot in the shadows, Kurt raised a shocked eyebrow. The brunette had only come out onto the balcony above the rose garden for some air, and in no way had planned to eavesdrop as he had done.
"When did Puck grow up?"
"Kurt?"
Kurt jumped at Brittany's slurred yell and taking a final quick glance up at the moon, he headed back inside.
Eventually those who had been wandering the grounds filtered back into the Florida Room one by one and the party started in earnest. The teens danced and sang and danced and sang some more; and after taking advantage of the food and drink that Santana had laid on, it would not be wholly inaccurate to say they were fairly affectionate when all were finally tired out and settled down simply listening to the music playing over the speaker system.
In a moment of unnatural logical thinking, several of the guys had sat themselves back to back and were using each other as backrests, while the girls had decided on a less formal, Roman Orgy layout and lay tangled in a pile of limbs with Kurt as the giggling centrepiece.
Sam, who had spent the evening enjoying Santana's 'special punch,' snickered as he peered blearily at the pile of thrashing limbs formerly known as the Glee club girls.
"Hey Fuck... I mean, Puck...", said the blond pointing to the tangled mass of limbs that was in front of him with his cup, and sloshing his drink onto Santana's exposed thigh, "...is there anyone in that pile you haven't at least made out with?"
Almost everyone, with the exception of Finn, laughed at Sam's comment, and Puck himself couldn't refuse the opportunity to make the boy suffer a little bit.
Lifting an eyebrow, Puck looked Sam up and down and smirked as the boy squirmed under the attention.
"Why?...", asked the half-back winking lasciviously at Sam, before cutting his eyes over to the watching Santana to ensure she was listening, "... you want some of this, Blondie?"
Once again, everyone but Finn laughed, and Tina took the opportunity to put her hand in the air.
"Uh, I've never had me any of the Puckasaurus...," she giggled and looked over at Mike, "...D-Does that earn me some sort of prize?"
"Sure, come over here and unwrap it...", grinned Puck opening his arms to the Asian girl.
"Cockblock Ban!...", sing-songed Mercedes from where she was lying on the ground between Tina and Kurt, "... no boys touching no girls."
"What about me?", asked Kurt as the brunette prodded Mercedes in the breast and earned himself a playful growl, "... I'm touching you now..."
"You don't count boo...", said Mercedes, slapping Kurt's questing hands away and giggling at the soprano's hurt expression, "... you're one of the girls..."
"But... but... I have a penis!"
"And I'm sure it's very nice...", reassured Mercedes patting the soprano on the head like a small child.
"Plus, hey!...", protested Mike, ignoring the pout on Kurt's face at being so easily dismissed by his BFF, "... that's my girl you're talking about, Puck."
"When has that ever stopped Puck before?"
The words had left Finn's mouth before the Quarterback had realised he'd put voice to them, and in one fell swoop, the feelgood factor that had been carrying the party along quite nicely, crashed and burned.
Santana leaned up on one elbow and slid her leg in such a way that it was pressed up against Brittany.
Refusing to let the jock's - fairly bitchy - comment destroy the mojo she had worked so hard to cultivate all evening, Santana smirked and stage whispered to Sam,
"I guess, if Kurt's one of the girls...", the Latina ignored the soprano flicking her off crudely, "... I guess that would make Kurt the only Cheerio that Puck hasn't had. What a way to break Puckerman's perfect streak..."
"Yes well, rest assured that I will keep on destroying his perfect streak...", Kurt answered while rolling his eyes.
Waggling her eyebrows tauntingly at the mohawked jock - who looked less than impressed; by her comments or Kurt's the Latina wasn't sure - Santana continued undeterred, "... But then, even if we added a hundred new Cheerios to the roster, with the current embargo, Kurt would still be the only way Puck will get any play for a looong time..."
Deciding to try to clear something up that had been niggling at him for most of the evening, Kurt spoke up,
"Yeah, you mentioned that earlier too - what is this ban thi-flumph..."
Kurt had intended to end his sentence with the word 'thingie'; as grammatically incorrect as it might have been; instead the brunette found himself unable to say anything as a pair of lips made contact with his own. There was silence for several seconds before Brittany's confused question,
"Flumph?"
The blonde, who had been sharing a private joke with Quinn turned, only to giggle at Kurt's wide eyed look, just a split-second before the soprano's eyes fluttered shut and he let out a soft moan.
The only solace to be found was that, soft as they were, Puck's lips were closed and there was no pressure from the jock to deepen the kiss at all. It was simply a warm, and rather pleasant, warmth against the soprano's lips. No hotter then the Nurse putting her hand on his forehead a few days ago, right?
And it wasn't as if it was a real kiss. For some reason Kurt seemed to be collecting these almost kisses though, first Karofsky and now Puck.
Then the girls; Kurt assumed it was Rachel, Santana and Brittany; started screaming, and some masculine chuckles from the on looking boys joined them.
And apparently, spurred on by the attention of their audience, Puck decided to ham it up; while Kurt simply died.
Puck shifted slightly, and brought his hand up to the smaller boy's face. The pad of the jock's thumb traced the line of the brunette's jaw, and for a moment Kurt felt Puck smirking against his lips. Then, Puck's tongue darted out, and traced the line of Kurt's lower lip. When Kurt gasped, Puck pressed forward, exploring the younger boy's mouth.
The kiss, now a toe curling real kiss, was over far before Kurt deemed acceptable. Stars exploded behind Kurt's eyes and instead of being concerned about not having been able to end his sentence, the brunette was suddenly struggling to remain conscious. And when Puck pulled back to resounding laughs and catcalls and sound flooded back to Kurt's ears, the soprano blushed deeply, unable to look anyone in the eye.
"Dude!...", yelled Finn as he jumped to his feet, and menacingly loomed over his former friend. "...That's my brother! I run out of girlfriends so you have to move on to my family?"
"Chill Hudson and get some perspective! I'm a stud and it's just a kiss...", Puck muttered shrugging as if kissing a guy was a completely everyday occurrence for the jock, "... besides, I don't see Kurt complaining any."
Kurt meanwhile was sitting in a daze, a happy smile on his face and his fingers pressed to his lips as if he could still feel the tingling.
"What? Yeah, no...", stuttered Kurt shaking himself out of his stupor, "... I'm fine Finn, just a kiss, no biggie.
Kurt was relieved to see that Finn took him at his word and rather than attempt to break Puck's face, instead stalked off in the direction of the nearest exit to the rose garden.
"Next time though, Puckerman, give a girl a little warning...", said Kurt still flushed and panting and rooting around in his bag for his compact.
"See I told you, you were one of the girls!", crowed Mercedes - Kurt however had slipped back into his own thoughts and the comment slipped by unnoticed.
'Next time?'
However, the mood of the even was truly broken at at that point. People started wandering around finding places to camp out for the evening. Santana just glared at the back of the retreating Quarterback as she silently vowed.
'Even if the ban is rescinded, I'll make sure Finn Hudson never has use for his cock again...'
A/N: Song credits are "Wish You Were Here" by Blackmore's Night and "Missing You" by Jem.
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