Hello everybody! I hope this new chapter finds you well. By the way, before I delve into the next part of the Kurt/Sebastian story, who else is still reeling from this week's episode of Glee? And the wait! April 10th? I don't think I can wait that long. :D
At any rate, here is the next chapter in the newfound friendship of Kurt Hummel and Sebastian Smythe. I do hope you enjoy and I once again apologize for the delay. Life has a tendency of intervening all too often. Thank you so much for your continued support!
"Wait, you actually gave him your number?"
Kurt giggled at Rachel Berry's shocked and perplexed expression. "Yeah, I did."
Her mouth hung open. "Wow, Kurt," she said, breathlessly.
He tilted his head at her like a curious puppy. "What?"
She shook her head in disbelief. "I just can't believe you did it. You hated him, Kurt, and after all the hell he put you through, I can't blame you in the least. But are you sure you know what you're doing? I mean, assuming he's changed for the better, how do you know he's not just yanking your chain?"
Kurt was silent for a moment, thinking in depth of his answer to that question. The two walked along a quiet footpath in Central Park. Rachel, who was going to college at the New York Academy of Dramatic Arts, was only a few hours' train trip from Yale University. Kurt felt it time to pay her a visit.
He cleared his throat before answering. "Look, Rachel, I was a victim of bullying throughout high school. By now, I'd consider myself an expert on who's being sincere and honest and who's not. I can read Sebastian's body language quite clearly, and I know that he's deeply sorry for what he did to me and Blaine. He's changed, Rachel. Sebastian's coming to terms with the fact that there's good in him and he's doing everything he can to let that side of him show."
The girl nodded, listening to his every word. "I trust your judgment, Kurt. Really, I do. I just want to make absolutely sure that you don't get hurt again."
Kurt was genuinely touched by his old friend's concern. "Thank you, Rachel. That means a lot. I'll be fine. I promise you, he's a different guy now."
"That's good," she said. "I'm glad that you two are on good terms. I still wonder why the big change. Maybe he had a lobotomy in senior year…"
"Maybe." The two of them laughed as they continued to walk down the concrete footpath.
Times Square was crowded as always.
Kurt was oblivious to it all as he lost himself in a subway map, trying to figure out which train would drop him off the closest to Grand Central Station. He traced his finger along a thin blue line that ran all the way up the island of Manhattan. Sure enough, one of the stops was none other than the famous station itself. He nodded and proceeded to the subway stop on the corner of Broadway and 42nd Street.
Just as he descended the stairwell into the ground, he felt his phone vibrate two times in his pocket, informing him that he had received a text message. He smiled when he saw that it was from Sebastian:
"Hey, Kurt! How's your weekend going? Listen, I just wanted to let you know that I'm in New York until tomorrow night, so if you text or call me and I don't respond right away, it's probably because I'm away from my phone. But listen, let's meet up this week whenever you're free. Hopefully there'll be a lull in our busy schedules! -Sebastian"
Kurt giggled as he resurfaced on the street and quickly responded, his fingers flying on the keypad of his smart phone:
Hi, Sebastian! It's nice to hear from you. I'm actually in New York right now too! Where are you at specifically? What are your coordinates?"
About a minute after his reply, his phone buzzed again with another quick response:
"Oh, you are? Awesome! Well, Admiral Hummel, my coordinates are Broadway and 42nd. I'm in front of the TKTS Booth right by the Times Square steps."
Kurt texted back, "Stay where you are. I'll be right there!" He quickly added a smiley face emoticon before dropping the phone back in his pocket. He crossed Broadway and hurriedly walked over to the crowded TKTS Booth, where long lines of avid theatre fans were assembled to purchase discount tickets for the hottest shows in town.
He scanned the crowd of people surrounding the bright red kiosk. It wasn't long before he spotted Sebastian just outside the melee, looking at the ticker to see the shows and discount prices that were being offered.
Kurt sidled up, unnoticed, next to the boy. "I hear the revival of The Glass Menagerie is pretty good. And you really can't go wrong with Tennessee Williams."
Sebastian spun around and grinned. "Oh my god, where were you? That was fast!" The two hugged.
Kurt spoke as he disengaged from the embrace. "I was literally across the street. I was just about to hop the subway back to Grand Central Station. I was visiting my old friend Rachel Berry this morning. She goes to NYADA."
Sebastian nodded knowingly. "Ah, yes. I remember Rachel Berry. She's got star power, that one. It's only her freshman year, but you mark my words. By the end of the spring semester, she'll already have landed herself a role on Broadway."
"Oh, I haven't the slightest doubt," Kurt said, chuckling. He was quite proud of her for pursuing her dreams.
After a slight pause, Sebastian spoke again. "Are you in a hurry to get back to New Haven? I was thinking maybe we could grab a bite to eat. There's a wonderful café in Soho/Tribeca that you've just got to try."
Kurt smiled. "Sure, I'd love to!"
"Great," Sebastian said with a smile, gesturing for him to come along. "I parked in a garage over on 41st."
Kurt nodded and followed in Sebastian's wake.
The Blue Dog was a quaint outdoor café located on the top of an old four-story converted warehouse building on Mercer Street, just north of Canal Street. There was an elevator and staircase inside, but the most exciting way to reach the café was by fire escape. The ironwork stairs and ladders created an intricate network on the face of the warehouse and prospective diners considered them part of the experience.
Kurt took another bite of, what he was quickly considering to be, the best chicken Panini sandwich he'd ever had. The sounds he made were almost obscene, and Sebastian laughed over his cup of coffee.
"I'm sorry," Kurt said, covering his mouth with a napkin, still chewing. "It's just so good!"
"Is it not the best you've ever had?" Sebastian smiled.
Kurt nodded. "This place is incredible," he said, looking around and taking in the sea of rooftops that surrounded the outdoor café. "Not just this restaurant, but the city in general. I swear, I want to live here after college. I can't see myself anywhere else."
"New York's a great city for you," Sebastian said, his green seeming to study the boy from behind his black horn-rimmed glasses. "You'd fit in perfectly. You share the same kind of energy and enthusiasm that New Yorkers have in droves."
Kurt was flattered by the compliment. "Since you're here every other weekend, is it safe to assume that you love New York as much as I do?"
Sebastian chuckled. "I'm still trying to find my perfect fit, really. Right now, I'm torn between here and Paris. Los Angeles is nice, too, but I think I'd settle for either New York or Paris."
It was Kurt's turn to study Sebastian. "I can see you in Paris. That town's got your name written all over it. You're an intellectual, and I can see you living the life of an expatriate American writer."
Sebastian laughed once again before taking another sip of his coffee. "You know, I've always loved Ernest Hemingway. Maybe it's a sign."
Kurt giggled. "Maybe." There was a slight pause in the conversation in which Sebastian stared blankly in Kurt's direction. The young man noticed and called him out on it. "Is something wrong?"
"Are you happy, Kurt?"
Kurt was taken aback by the random query. "Yes, I suppose. I mean, sure I am," he stuttered. "Why do you ask?"
"Oh, I was just wondering," Sebastian said, shaking his head as if he, too, were surprised the words came out of his mouth. "It's just, you always seem so happy."
Kurt chuckled darkly. "I wasn't always so chipper, believe me. But ever since you and I started getting to know one another, I've learned not to dwell on the past. It's not healthy. Instead, I try to focus on the positive outcome. I mean, I've made a new friend in you and I'm working toward a specific career goal in an industry that I love. What's not to be happy about?"
Sebastian smiled before finishing up the rest of his coffee. "I wish I had your outlook on things."
Kurt's head tilted just slightly in curiosity. "Why do you say that? You don't feel the same way?"
"No, it's not that," the boy replied. "I just can't seem to let go of the past. It's a big part of who I am, especially recently. Look at me, Kurt. I knew I had to change, so I did. But the past hangs over me like a dark cloud because there are so many people I've wronged, and I don't think they'd ever forgive me. I mean, you're the only exception, but I'd feel a hell of a lot better knowing that I wasn't damned by them for all eternity."
Kurt was both startled and deeply moved by this sudden outburst of emotion. Slowly, gingerly, he reached his hand across the table and took Sebastian's in a firm grip. "Sebastian, the fact that you've allowed yourself to change and move on from the way you used to be…" He stopped momentarily and offered a small smile. "…I think that's greater than any form of forgiveness."
Sebastian's lower lip began to quiver as he fought back tears. He squeezed Kurt's hand back in comfort. "Really?" he asked softly.
Kurt gave the boy a warm smile. "Really." The two shared a comforting gaze before Sebastian finally allowed himself to let the tears flow.
"Thank you," he said as he silently sobbed.
The Metro-North train bound for New Haven sped through the night. The Connecticut wilds zipped by outside the windows as it pressed on.
Kurt gazed blankly out the window as a full moon rose over the treetops. He was plugged into his iPod and lost in the passing scenery when he suddenly felt his cell phone vibrate twice. Reaching into his pocket, he produced the device and saw that he had received a text from Sebastian. It was a short message, but it spoke volumes:
"Thank you for being my friend."
His vision blurred, Kurt put the phone back in his pocket and smiled as the warm tears started to roll down his cheeks.
To be continued…