"What's this guy's name, again?" Kurt asked as he wrinkled his nose and shook his head at the flowery top that Natalie had held up against her body, "Karl? Kyle?" he rattled off names uninterested as he began to pick at his nails.
Natalie rolled her eyes and threw the flowery top back in her drawer, pulling a solid black one out instead, "His name is Kody," she said as she held the top up to her body and inspected her reflection in the full-length mirror hanging of the back of her door. "You knew that," she pointed out and turned her body towards Kurt to get his opinion of the dark garment.
"Whatever," Kurt shrugged one shoulder as his eyes scanned over the top and he nodded once in approval before turning his attention back to his nails.
"What's your problem with him anyway?" Natalie asked as she threw the top onto her bed before making her way to her wardrobe to find some jeans, "It's not like he was flirting with you then all of a sudden decided he didn't want dick and went after me instead." Natalie pointed out and Kurt rolled his eyes as he spread himself out over Natalie's unmade bed.
"I would have rocked his world," Kurt mumbled and Natalie shook her head and laughed, "Doesn't he remind you of someone though?" Kurt asked and watched Natalie for a reaction; he knew he had her when her back tensed, "I knew it! You see it too!" Kurt exclaimed and nearly fell off the bed when he flew into a sitting position.
"Shut up, Kurt." Natalie turned to glare at him, "He's nothing like him."
"Natalie, the guy could be his twin! The hair, the eyes, the lips. Everything about this Kody guy screams Alex and you know it." Kurt pointed out and Natalie narrowed her eyes even more.
"I'm not going out with him because he may or may not resemble Alex. I am going out with Kody because he is attractive and nice and I just really need to start hanging out with people who are not from my hometown!" Natalie exclaimed and immediately felt guilty when she saw Kurt's face drop, "Not what I meant. I just-"
Natalie let out a breath and collapsed on the bed next to Kurt, "I haven't dated anyone since Alex and I just want to get over it, over him. I'm not trying to get away from you guys, you're my family. I'm just trying to, I don't know, expand my horizons I guess." Natalie shrugged and Kurt nodded slowly.
"I get it, Nat. I do. But, you don't even know this guy. You met him in a club last weekend and you guys exchanged numbers and all of a sudden he wants to take you to dinner?" Kurt shook his head when Natalie raised an eyebrow at him as if were saying 'Yeah, so?'
"I'm just looking out for you, Nat," Kurt explained as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and she placed her head on his shoulder softly, "Alex broke you and left you to die. I can't and won't see you like that again."
Natalie sighed and sunk further into Kurt's shoulder, "I know, but what am I supposed to do, Kurt? I can't just sit here and wait for 'Prince Charming' to walk through that door. He doesn't exist remember! This isn't a fairy tale," she spoke softly and Kurt wrapped his other arm around her body, pulling her closer and rocking her gently.
"What about Noah?" Kurt asked gently after a few moments of silence. Natalie pulled out of his embrace and looked up at him as she asked him to repeat himself, "Noah Puckerman," Kurt stressed the name and rolled his eyes again, "That boy worships the ground you walk on."
Natalie scoffed and pulled away from Kurt completely as she stood and walked back to her wardrobe to continue going through her jeans, "Whatever. I don't know what you are talking about."
"Natalie, he's practically a puppy when it comes to you. That boy has been in love with you since our freshman year of high school. The only reason he hasn't made a movie is because of Finn." Kurt pointed out and Natalie shook her head, still facing her wardrobe but Kurt knew she was rolling her eyes at him.
"How many times has he ditched Finn to hang out with you after a date with another douchebag? How many times had he come over just to watch a movie with you instead of playing video games with Finn and the guys? Who was there to hold you when Alex was put in cuffs and-"
"Alright, alright!" Natalie cut him off and turned to face Kurt, "He's always been there for me! But that doesn't mean that he's in love with me. He's my twin brother's best friend, it was just natural that we became close over the years as well, he's like another brother." Natalie shrugged as she slipped off her sweats and into a pair of dark-wash, holey jeans.
"Nat, I hate to tell you this, but the way Noah looks at you is not how a brother would look at his sister. That boy wants you and you want him just as much." Kurt smirked when Natalie's head snapped up to look at Kurt after she had shoved her head through the black top she had selected earlier.
"What the hell are you going on about now!" Natalie exclaimed and threw her hands in the air.
Kurt was just about to respond when the door to her dorm swung open and Rachel and Blaine walked in carrying pizza boxes and soda, "What's with all the yelling?" Blaine asked as he placed the pizza boxes on Natalie's desk.
"Oh, just about how Noah is totally in love with her and she should be going out with him instead of this Karl guy." Kurt shrugged as if it was the simplest thing in the world and stood to give Blaine a kiss.
"His name is Kody! And Noah is not in love with me!" Natalie yelled again before taking a deep breath and looking at the three pairs of wide eyes that were staring at her, "What?" she huffed out and crossed her arms over her chest.
"You're kidding right?" Rachel asked and Natalie furrowed her brow in confusion, "Natalie, I have never seen Noah act the way he does when he's with you. He wasn't even like that when he was with Quinn and he thought he loved her." Rachel was waving her hands around frantically like she always did when she was trying to get her point across.
"She's right, Natalie." Blaine nodded as he wrapped his arms around Kurt from behind and rested his chin on Kurt's shoulder, "Noah is a completely different person when he's around you. He's caring and thoughtful, everything he is when he's with Beth."
Natalie frowned a little as she thought about how Noah acted when he was when Beth was with him. Sure since Beth was born Noah had settled down a lot and wasn't a jerk anymore to most people, but even now a days when Beth wasn't around the old cocky Noah would show himself, but not as much around Natalie.
Natalie was deep in thought when Finn's voice made her jump, "Who's ready for movie night!" he exclaimed from behind her.
She turned around just in time to see a blonde head of hair flying at her legs, "Natalie!" Beth screeched and Natalie bent down just in time to pick the small blonde up.
"Hey, sweetie," Natalie smiled and tickled Beth's tummy lightly laughing when Beth giggled in protest.
"What movies are we watching tonight?" Beth asked and smiled widely at Natalie who was frowning again, "What's wrong, Nat?" Beth asked and wrapped her small arms around Natalie's neck in her attempt to comfort her.
Natalie hugged her back, "Uh, actually I'm going out tonight, sweetie." Natalie swallowed the lump in her throat when Beth pulled away from her with tears glistening in her eyes.
"Oh," Beth said sadly and wiggled around in Natalie's arms until she set her back on the ground, "Okay." Beth whispered as she stared at the ground and shuffled her feet.
The guilt grew in Natalie's chest when Noah appeared in the doorway and smiled softly down at her and Beth, "But, how about tomorrow we do something? Just you and me, we'll have a girls day okay?" Natalie asked hopefully and sighed in relief when Beth flung herself into her arms and giggles, any trace of tears now gone.
"Okay!" Beth exclaimed excitedly and pulled away to turn to Noah, "Is that okay, daddy?" Beth stuck her bottom lip out and widened her eyes making them shine brightly. Natalie laughed quietly when she saw Noah's entire body droop knowing that the small blonde had the tough jock wrapped around her finger.
"Sure," Noah finally answered and smiled when Beth cheered and hugged Natalie again before she bounded over to Kurt and Blaine who were looking through the movie selections-all kid friendly of course.
"Well, I have to go," Natalie said as she stood from the ground and avoided eye contact with Noah as best she could, "I'll be back before 2, I promise." She said and grabbed her bag as everyone waved at her and wished her a good night.
"Have fun, be safe," Noah stopped her at the door and looked down into her eyes with his piercing hazel ones that made her insides melt, "If you need anything, you have my number."
Natalie nodded numbly and Noah smiled as he ran his fingertips over her cheek before joining the rest of the group inside her dorm. Natalie walked out and closed the door behind her, letting out a breath she didn't know she was holding and touching her hand to the spot Noah's fingers just were.
"That boy worships the ground you walk on." Kurt's voice echoed in her head and she shook her head to clear out the words. Kurt needed to stop getting into her head.