Part 4
Noah and I make our way downstairs. Half way to the kitchen the doorbell rings and I almost jump out of my skin.
"I'm sure it is just Mike and Tina," Noah assures me, squeezing my hand and moving to the door.
I stand behind Noah as he opens the door and Tina, Mike and Mercedes come in.
"How are you doing?" Tina asks me quietly, looking at the death grip I have on Noah's hand.
"I've been better," I attempt a bit of a smile. "How was the rest of the day?"
"Tina went medieval on Santana's ass," Mike chuckled, slinging his arm around Tina's shoulders. "I only got to hear about it, but apparently it was kind of epic."
"She came into the choir room and I thought she was going to rip Santana's hair out," Mercedes added. "Read her the riot act. When Finn tried to defend her, Quinn went off on him too. All in all, one of the more exciting glee rehearsals we have had in a while."
"You didn't have to do that, Tina," I assure her, though I can't help the small smile because someone cared enough to defend me.
"I, um, don't know what came over me," Tina admitted. "As I was pushing Artie back to the choir room, I just kept thinking about what you said and I realized Santana set you up. I just got so angry."
"This is one of those times I wish Santana wasn't a girl so I could kick her ass," Noah grumbled as we all moved to sit down. "I'll be right back. Need to get Rach some ice for her cheek."
I reluctantly let go of Noah's hand and let him go to the kitchen. Tina, Mike and Mercedes move to the couch and I sit in the other chair in the room. When Noah comes back in the room he pulls me out of the chair, sits down and pulls me onto his lap.
"You could have asked me to get up," I point out as I take the ice from him and gingerly put it to my cheek.
"Nah," Noah scoffs. "That's not the badass way."
"I worry about you, white boy," Mercedes chuckles.
"Anything you want or need?" Tina asks.
"Actually," I begin, "I kind of want to talk to Kurt. I was going to call and see if he could come over. I think I would rather he heard about this from me."
"I'll call him," Mercedes volunteers. "I'll tell him we have important gossip or something."
"Thank you," I smile at her as she moves to make the call.
"So what is so important…" I hear Kurt's voice as Mercedes opens the door, but he stops speaking as soon as he sees me on Noah's lap with a bag of ice in my cheek. "What in the name of Gucci happened?"
"You might want to sit down," I begin and wait for both he and Mercedes to take a seat before launching into the story of the last few days.
"But why would Karofsky do that?" Kurt asked with a tone I couldn't place.
"Because he is a sociopath," Noah suggested.
"That's not what I meant," Kurt began and he seemed a bit nervous. "It's just, well, the only other person that knows this is Blaine, but…"
"What is it, Kurt," Mercedes asked, her voice filled with concern.
"Remember what I said that Karofsky had threatened to kill me?" Kurt asked and when we all nodded he continued. "I wasn't completely honest as to why. The day before it happened, I had gotten fed up of him pushing me so I chased after him and confronted him. He kissed me. I mean, full on, tried to stick his tongue down my throat kissed me. I told Blaine and when we tried to confront him he threatened to kill me if anyone else found out."
We all sat in shocked silence for several minutes as we processed what Kurt had said.
"But if he's…" Noah was the first to speak. "Why would be attack Rachel?"
"To cover his tracks," Mike offered. When we all looked at him questioningly, he continued. "He obviously doesn't want anyone to know and what is the best way to combat a gay rumor then to make it blatantly clear that he is straight?"
"And being the obvious sociopath he is," I add, "he wouldn't just have sex with some easy Cheerio, he would make a public spectacle about it."
"In his twisted little mind," Tina contributed, "his grabbing your ass was probably perfectly acceptable, but then when you didn't reciprocate…"
"That fucker," Noah growled. "So in the last 3 weeks he has sexually assaulted two people. Explain to me again why I can't go medieval on his ass?"
"Calm is down, white boy," Mercedes glared. "First, if anyone is getting there hands on him it is me. No one messes with my two Divas. Second, he is in police custody."
"And I want to make sure I am clear on something," Kurt added. "Finn didn't do anything to help? He watched while this was happening to Rachel?"
"That asshole stood 10 feet away while Karofsky stuck his hand up Rachel's skirt," Tina spat out.
"I don't know what we ever saw in him," Kurt frowned as he looked at me. "He even seemed so sincere at our parents wedding about stepping up."
"Finn's always going to be too worried about popular opinion to do the right thing," I say sadly.
"Is there anything I can do for you, Rachel?" Kurt asked. "I feel kind of responsible. Maybe if I hadn't transferred…"
"The only person at fault here is David Karofsky," I interrupt. "Well, and the school because they didn't do anything sooner, but not you. There is something I wanted to ask you, though."
"Anything, Diva," Kurt replied.
"I was wondering if you and Mercedes could do a little shopping for me?" I asked. "While logically I know there is nothing wrong with my wardrobe, I think I might be more comfortable in pants the next few days."
"Rachel," Noah begins, but I cut him off.
"I know, Noah," I reiterate. "My clothing had nothing to do with the attack, but I can't stop the voices in my head hearing both David and other kids commenting on my skirts and such. I just…I need to be comfortable and right now it won't happen in most of the clothes I own."
"You know how long I have waited for you to ask me this," Kurt smiles, trying to lighten the mood.
Kurt's POV
"The mall is in the other direction," Mercedes points out to me as we pull out of the Berry driveway.
"We're stopping at my house first," I reply. "I need to have a little chat with my 'brother'."
"As long as I get to watch," Mercedes smirks and settles in for the drive.
Five minutes later we are getting out of my car and heading into the house. I notice both my dad and Carol's cars are in the drive, but that doesn't deter me. Once in the house, I make a beeline for the family room and find Finn sitting on the sofa.
"How could you?" I demand before he even realizes I am in the room.
"What?" Finn replies, startled.
"You know what I mean," I seethe at him. I feel Mercedes put her hand on my shoulder.
"What is going on?" my dad asks as he and Carol some into the room.
"Ask him," I flick a finger to Finn in distain.
"I don't know what…," Finn begins, but I cut him off.
"You know exactly what!" I yell, feeling my face redden in anger. "How could you let that happen to her?"
"I didn't do anything!" Finn defended.
"Exactly!" I reply.
"Kurt," Carol tried to soothe me. "Could you calm down and tell us what is going on?"
"Karofsky tried to rape Rachel today," I respond. Both my dad and Carol gasp at this information and I notice Finn flinch at my words.
"But why are you yelling at Finn?" Carol asks.
"He started harassing Rachel Tuesday," I explain, my eyes never leaving Finn. "Propositioned her in the hall and grabbed her ass. Puck and Mike Chang scared him off. The yesterday he got bolder and slammed her into her locker, groped her and stuck his hand up her skirt. Thankfully Sam stopped him."
"Still not sure what this has to do with Finn," my dad says.
"Finn was standing across the hall, maybe 10 feet away," I explain, "and didn't try to stop it. Sam ran from another hallway, but Finn just stood there and watched. He talked such a good game at the wedding…talked about how treating people right was more important then reputation, but I guess it was all talk. Then his new girlfriend told Karofsky that Rachel was alone in the girl's locker room and when Tina called her on it, Finn defended Santana! I'm just so disgusted."
"Finn," Carol asked, looking at her son with sad, disappointed eyes, "is this true?"
"Yes!" Finn yelled angrily, jumping up from the sofa. "Puck, Mike and Saint Sam saved Rachel. I was too shocked. I didn't know what to do. And Santana didn't know he would do that!"
"That's bullshit and you know it," Mercedes finally piped in. "She just chose not to think about the consequences of her actions."
"I can't even look at you," I spat out in disgust. "Mercedes and I are on our way tot the mall because Rachel no longer feels comfortable in her clothes because of what happened. I hope you can live with yourself after what you did."
And with that I turned and left with Mercedes right behind me. Before we reached the door I could hear both Carol and my dad talking. I am sure they were giving Finn a much deserved earful.
TBC