Disclaimer-I don't own Glee

Thanks for reviewing everyone

Chapter 25-Visitors

On Saturday, Kurt had a stream of visitors, but there was no word from Noah.

Mercedes was the first to stop by and they gossiped away as they did one another's hair and nails. All the while, Kurt painted on a pretentious smile so his favorite shopping partner wouldn't guess how anxious he was or see the hurt he was containing inside.

He thought about telling her everything that was going on with Noah, and about his request for the Jewish teen to make a decision by Sunday, but Kurt just couldn't form the words.

As they laughed together, Kurt studied her face carefully and noticed that Mercedes appeared as though she was burning to ask about him and Noah but didn't know how to. So it was that the two of them laughed and smiled as they fell into a world of make-believe where everything was as right as rain, rather than delve into more meaningful and ultimately more sensitive territory.

Not long after Mercedes had left, Artie showed up with Tina and Brittany. He fixed them all a light lunch and listened to Brittany fondly as the blonde made her trademark ditzy but amusing comments. Kurt also cast fleeting glances to Artie and Tina every once in a while, jealously eyeing the way their fingers always found one another's and the shared little smiles before pressing their mouths together in gentle kisses. A relationship like theirs was what he so desperately longed for with Noah.

Later that evening, Rachel and Quinn appeared on his doorstep. His eyes widened in surprise when he saw the two of them stood together but he didn't comment on it.

He led them down to his basement and the two girl's united forces to help Kurt catch up on all the school work he had missed. As a thank you, he invited them to join himself and his dad for dinner. After eating the meal, the two of them helped Kurt clean up in the kitchen, both girls giving their advice and opinions on the Noah situation.

He listened to their words and allowed his mind to process them but he didn't reply to their comments, nor did he tell them of the significance the following Sunday held for him. For Kurt and Noah's very relationship was hanging by a thread.

After Rachel and Quinn had left, Kurt headed straight down to his basement to check his cell-phone. He sighed in dismay when he discovered a text from Mercedes and Tina, three missed calls from Sam but nothing from Noah. He text the two girls back but opted to ignore the calls from Sam.

Around three o'clock in the morning, Kurt was awoken by the sound of his phone ringing. He groaned in annoyance over being woken up before diving for the phone thinking it might be Noah. However, as he peered down at the caller ID, he found that it was Sam calling.

At first, he strongly considered just ignoring it, but his thumb some how found it's way to the answer button.

"Hello?" Kurt asked only to receive Sam's heavy breathing as a response. "Hello… Sam? What in Prada's name do you want…? Fine, don't speak to me then."

With a huff, Kurt hung up and slammed the phone down onto is nightstand with a little more force than necessary. He'd just made himself comfortable once more when his ringtone sounded again. Snarling slightly, he reached for his cell again to see Sam's name in bright lights on the screen.

"What?" He snapped but Sam still gave no answer. "This is pathetic, just grow up."

Like before, Kurt hung up and tried to get comfy again, hoping to be tempted into the realm of dreams. His attempt was thwarted once again by Sam ringing him up yet not saying a single word whenever Kurt answered.

It irritated him greatly, to the point where he almost switched his cell-phone off, but he didn't, he couldn't. Noah might call at any minute; he couldn't risk missing it by turning his phone off just because Sam had suddenly gone all Suzy Pepper on him.

By the time morning had arrived properly, Sam had called Kurt a total of seven times and not once had he made any form of speech. As Kurt dressed, he made a decision that if Sam's calls persisted, he would tell his dad and have him sort Sam out.

Joining his dad for breakfast, Kurt kept tapping his spoon against his bowl and drumming his fingers on the table top. Noticing his son's anxiety, Burt asked what was wrong. Rubbing his eyelids, Kurt told his dad that he'd given Noah until today to make up his mind and tell him what he wanted.

"I know you told me to wait for him to man up and make a move," Kurt said. "But I've grown so weary of waiting. If he's only going to break my heart, then I'd rather he do it sooner than later. My soul cannot take the pain of a slow dragged-out heartbreak. I need to know once and for all if anything of a romantic nature can happen between us."

"I get that." Burt nodded. "Now relax, he'll be here."

"Yes." Kurt replied forcing on a smile and trying to give an illusion of confidence. "Of course he will."

Back down in his basement, Kurt could not keep up the charade. He truly believed that Noah felt something for him, the evidence was all there, but a sense of doubt was starting to swirl around him. Maybe he was pushing Noah too fast too soon. It was different for Kurt, he knew what his sexuality was, knew what he wanted and he was more than comfortable with it. But Noah had never had feelings for someone of the same gender before; he'd always been a ladies man. Perhaps entering a homosexual relationship was too much to ask for, Noah probably needed time to deal with his orientation and come to accept it before he could take Kurt in his arms and show him off to the world. Maybe Kurt was wrong to demand a decision from the other teen the way he had.

His dad's voice interrupted his musings as Burt called out that he had a visitor. Kurt sighed before moving upstairs to greet them; instinctively knowing that it would not be Noah. He just hoped it wasn't Sam.

Coming to the top of the stairs, Kurt spotted Claire smiling brightly as she politely spoke to his dad. Out of her Cheerio uniform, it took Kurt a few seconds to recognize her, but when he did he instantly became confused. Of all the people to come and see him, Kurt would never have expected Claire. It would have been less shocking if Leanne had showed up to hurl some vicious insults at him, though Claire was certainly more welcome than the likes of Leanne of course.

Not knowing Claire well enough to call her a friend, Kurt couldn't think of any reason why she might come to see him. Not wanting to appear rude, he offered her a drink before leading her into the living-room and inviting her to sit down.

Looking between them, Burt excused himself before heading out to go fishing with a few friends as he did most Sundays.

Left alone with Noah's most recent and annoyingly nice, smart, funny and pretty girlfriend, Kurt tried desperately to think of something to say that didn't sound rude, pathetic or stupid.

"Claire, if I may?" Kurt asked as he surveyed the girl. "Why is it you've decided to grace me with your presence? As lovely a girl as you are, we're hardly what you'd call friends. Taking that into account, your coming to see me is both unexpected and a mystery to me. Also, how do you even know where I live?"

"I got your address from Quinn." Claire admitted. "I hope you don't mind."

Kurt just made a non-committal noise in his throat. He didn't mind particularly, but even if he did mind it hardly mattered for there was nothing he could do about it now. He looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to give some form of explanation as to why she was here.

"You look like you're recovering well." Claire told him kindly. "I'm glad nothing worse happened to you. It was awful what happened, people at school are furious about it."

"Furious." Kurt repeated in surprise. "I suppose they're disappointed those trolls didn't beat me to death." He seethed darkly.

"Not at all." Claire replied. "I understand that you've been subjected to a lot of bullying over the years and I can't begin to imagine how terrible that must be but… not everyone at McKinley is a homophobe. Everyone's outraged; the guys that attacked you have had a taste of their own medicine. None of them were hurt as badly as you but I can promise you that they won't be messing with you again."

"What do you mean?" Kurt asked, curiosity getting the better of him. "What happened to them?"

Kurt listened as Claire told him all about how his attackers had been subjected to Slushies, swirlies, dumpster dives, all the things he'd been dealing with for years. From what Claire said, it seemed that the less popular students had united together and fought back against the likes of those who had tormented Kurt and others for years. The Cheerios, led by a menacing Santana and backed up by the fierce Coach Sylvester had also wrecked havoc on the jocks that had put Kurt in a coma.

"But… why?" Kurt asked. "Santana getting the Cheerios to help the fabulous people from Glee club take revenge makes sense; they're my friends, but everyone else… why do they care? They don't even know me."

"No." Claire agreed. "But your attack Kurt, nothing like that has ever happened at McKinley before. The Slushies, the name calling, the dumpster dives, that's all juvenile stuff that plenty of people have dealt with. And yeah sure, there's been the odd fight here and there but never… never something as brutal as what those assholes did to you. They could have killed you, of course people care."

They sat in silence for a while as Kurt thought over all that she had said. He supposed it made sense in a way. If it had been someone who had been attacked so violently, even someone Kurt didn't know, then he'd be disgusted by it and want to do something about it.

But what still didn't make sense to Kurt was why Claire was at his house sitting comfortably on his sofa. So he asked her, blunt and direct.

"Look Kurt," She began softly. "I know it isn't my place or anything but… I know how you feel about Puck."

"Who doesn't?" Kurt asked rhetorically which caused the Cheerio to laugh lightly.

"Yeah, it is sort of obvious how you feel about him." Claire commented. "But I also happen to know how Puck feels about you."

The witty retort Kurt had been planning died on his tongue and slipped back down his throat getting lost on the way. He held Claire's gaze waiting for her to continue.

"He loves you." Claire proclaimed. "I know he does. And deep down he knows it too, and he's terrified."

"Is that all you came to tell me?" Kurt asked her.

"I'm just saying… I know that he loves you." Claire answered as she stood up ready to leave. "Whatever happens, you should remember that."

She smiled at him gently before letting herself out leaving Kurt feeling more confused than when he'd first seen her standing in his house. He thought over her parting words trying to work out what they meant. The message itself was straightforward enough, but why would Claire say such a thing, it just sounded so… ominous.

Doubt and nerves attacked Kurt once more so he flicked on the T.V hoping for a distraction.

Hearing his phone ring, Kurt pulled it out of his pocket only to groan in exasperation when he saw it was Sam calling again. Not even bothering to answer since he knew the other boy wouldn't say anything, Kurt glanced at the clock. He saw that it was twenty past eleven meaning that there was still plenty of time for Noah to show.

To Be Continued

Please Review

Love and Hugs, IceQueenRia xxx