Chapter Thirteen: The One That Finn Takes Control In
xiii: God only knows what we're fighting for. All that I say, you always say more.
"Is this really necessary?" Puck grumbles, settling into the settee in the girls apartment. Quinn and Kurt sit either side of him, while Brittany occupies the empty armchair. All of them are staring up at Santana at the top of the room, but each expression is rather different. Puck doesn't see why they're there – he could be doing much better things with his time than going to stupid 'meetings.' Did he mention that they're unnecessary?
"Yes." Santana snaps, barely throwing him a glance. "Look, I just wanted to talk to you about what you saw – or what you thought you –"
"I know what I saw, Santana," Kurt spits, "Don't try and plant untrue statements in my head."
"I knew I should have talked to you separately.." She mutters, and then nods. "You saw me and Brittany, having a girls night in."
"Is that what you call it?" Quinn and Puck are unable to stop looking back and forth between the match: Kurt Vs. Santana. It was always going to be epic, but neither quite imagined it being concerning these kind of circumstances. Kurt's bitchy, Puck will give him that, but he's no Santana.
"What would you call it, porcelain?"
"Mature, very mature. Name-calling is definitely a defensive reaction, now what is it you're defending?"
She stutters in a way that is so uncharacteristic, even Puck is struck dumb. Brittany speaks as if it's obvious then, "Her relationship with Blaine."
Kurt snorts, "You can't call that a relationship."
"Excuse me?" Santana is angry now, Puck can see the smoke billowing from her ears. Figuratively, of course. Although that would be cool, he ponders. Losing himself in that thought for a moment, Puck is drawn back as Quinn nudges him and whispers something about it getting good.
"…. So although I think that everyone has a right to come out when they're ready, this is unfair. You can't just cheat with no repercussions and expect it to be all okay because you're gay. Don't ruin the reputation of the rest of us. Stop trying to cover up the fact that you and Blaine are just beards for each other, or lie and tell us that you're a big slut who'll go for anything with a pulse!" He's standing now, and towards the end, Kurt is shouting at Santana. They're merely inches away from each other. For once in his life, Kurt appears foreboding and almost dangerous. Santana, who has been growing angrier with each word, finally lets her hand collide with his cheek at the last syllable.
Their chests are heaving, and his head is titled to the side as the slap echoes through all of them. Puck has an uncomfortable sensation that he rarely experiences, and quietly asks Quinn if they should leave. To his chagrin, she thinks they need to stay and supervise.
Kurt raises his head following several painstaking moments. Venom is laced in his features, and there's disgust in his eyes. "I hope you feel better about yourself now." He turns on his heel and swiftly begins to exit.
Santana takes two steps after him, and calls out, "Kurt!" He stops, but fails to turn. "Don't … Don't tell anyone else, please?"
There's no response as the door closes far too softly. The silence weighs heavily upon the remaining occupants of the room, all frozen in their positions. Quinn nods subtly to Puck and they follow Kurt out. Puck squeezes Santana's shoulder briefly on the way out, while Quinn grabs her hand for a moment. Looks like she'll be staying in the boys apartment tonight. If she had of known that staying in her bedroom that day two weeks ago would lead to this, Quinn would have happily left with Sam.
She hasn't been able to function properly with anyone except Kurt and Puck. Deathly afraid of spilling a secret and ruining someone.
It's been a week since Kurt fought with Santana. Nearly four since Rachel and Finn last spoke. Quinn and Mike, too. He hasn't spent time with any of his girl friends either, nor has he spoken with Puck. So, in conclusion, the only people in his friend group that he has spoken to lately is Finn and Mike. He's still unsure on how he feels about the whole situation, still uncertain if he did the right thing.
None of them met up last Friday. Thanksgiving was the other night, too, and the traditional dinner they all have in the girls apartment failed to take place. Kurt doesn't know how it escalated so much to the point where they're not spending time together anymore, but he does know he's not going to be the one to fix it. Kurt's not the bigger person, nor is he the one in the wrong. Rachel usually takes a role in fixing these things, or Finn, but they're both so caught up in their own argument that Kurt thinks they're not even fully aware of the other situation. It does have to be solved though.
"You okay, man? Been kinda quiet lately." Finn sits down in the armchair beside his, picks up the remote and turns on the tv.
Kurt returns to his position of staring blankly at the tv, head leaning on fist. He sighs, "I'm not okay, actually. None of us are okay. If you and Rachel could for one moment look outside your private bubble of jealousy, lust and stupidity you'd see the rest of us haven't spoken in a while. Thanksgiving went by without so much as a greeting across the hall, don't you find that strange? Of course not, because you think it's all about Rachel and Finn."
"Woah, I did not deserve that. If you've got your own problems, don't blame them on me." Finn's staring at him with some confusion in his eyes, and then shakes his head, "We'll host a post-Thanksgiving dinner then. There's no need to get so pent up about it. Yeah, we've all been experiencing some other things, but me and you can cook up a night in."
Kurt debates this for a second. He said he wasn't going to be the one to fix this, but it doesn't really count as him fixing it, does it? He could help with cooking, and then step back. It's not a bad idea either, and the time apart from everyone is making him feel angsty. He has gossip for Rachel and Quinn, but has been so adamant in not going over to their apartment that he hasn't seen them. Rachel cancelled the one time she was supposed to come over to his for a movie.
It's strange, because usually, the girls would frequently walk into their apartment and vice versa. It's beyond strange to not have any of that anymore. People have had fights before, but it seems as if everyone fought at once this time.
He wants to be okay with Santana again, but a large part of him is just so angry. She's cheating on Blaine, so openly and nonchalantly, with no apparent emotion of guilt or regret. That said, she is capable of shielding emotion very well. Even so, Kurt reckons it's more than that. Which leads him to believe that Blaine is hiding something, too.
Yes, he had contemplated the fact that this theory could just be Kurt wishing it is true. However, he now confidently believes that Blaine is gay. Not only are there too many signs that he miraculously missed before, but also both Puck and Rachel have mentioned it to him. Therefore, he isn't the only one with suspicions. Besides, it makes so much more sense. It started off as a real relationship between the two, but as they grew closer, things slipped and one couldn't keep up the charade anymore. Hey-presto, conversation of 'we're both gay?'. Now, it could very well be Kurt's imagination cooking up a storm here, but once it came into his mind, he couldn't shake the idea of Santana and Blaine being beards.
Kurt then realises that Finn is still looking at him for an answer, and manages a small smile, "I think that would be a good idea."
He's also infuriated because Santana asked him not to say anything. Of course he wouldn't say anything. He knows from first-hand experience how hard coming out can be, how different factors have to be considered and how some people must be told in person. Kurt understands, more than any of their friends, so for her to actually ask him for the secret to be kept offends him a little. Does she not know him at all?
He knows he's overreacting.
Finn jumps out of his seat then, giving Kurt the fright of his life so that he lets out a small squeal. "Finn!"
"Let's do it tonight, Kurt!"
He raises an eyebrow, "Tonight? Finn, it's six o'clock. What time are you planning on having dinner?"
"You can do something by seven, can't you? I'll go across to the girls and tell them – Rachel won't be easy to convince. I'll stop by Mike's then, ring Puck at work. We can do this, dude!" His goofy smile is firmly in place, which always manages to persuade Kurt.
He's still sceptical though. "I can't cook anything by seven.. that's not possible. Not anything thanksgiving-worthy anyway."
"Let's do take-out!"
Kurt laughs, "Take-out? For a thanksgiving dinner? That may just be the most tacky thing I've ever heard of."
"Cheap, not tacky. Yeah, and we know everyone's order by now. It'll be nice! We'll do a fancy table to bring the sophistication."
"We have a four seater table."
"Can't you give me some help instead of negatives?" Finn asks, exasperated but joking. "We'll get the food and bring it to the girls then. Do you want to tell everyone, or get the food?"
He winces, "Get the food. Definitely get the food."
"Good, you may as well pick Puck up on your way home. Tell him he has no choice. We're sorting this shit out tonight." Finn pulls open the front door, holding Kurt's jacket out for him and his bag.
"What's the rush?" He takes the jacket and pulls it on.
Finn shrugs, following Kurt out the door. "You're right, this has gone too far. It's time to end it!"
Standing in the girls sitting room, trying desperately to convince them of his brilliant idea seemed a lot easier in his head. Finn hadn't anticipated such a backlash, such an apathetic nature to the state of their relationships. He doesn't back down when he wants something though (maybe that's part of his problem with Rachel) and continues to badger. Puck is so much better at annoying people until they agree, he thinks wryly.
"Okay, so what are the cons?"
"Well, thanksgiving would have Blaine and Sam. Where are Blaine and Sam?" Santana asks, not even raising her eyes from her magazine.
Finn huffs, "I'll ask Kurt to get them on the way. Do you guys not care anymore? Do you mind living separately instead of together? We're a family, let's not throw that away for some stupid arguments between some of us. I don't even know what the story is with you guys!"
"You know, I'm still not giving up my gay theory," Santana says to Rachel, who is sitting with her at the table. Rachel is reading through her script and adopts a worse attitude than Santana; she doesn't look up or respond.
(He hates that.)
"Rach?" Finn wishes he could have a stronger will around her, but there's something about Rachel Berry that makes him susceptible to her charms. Charms that others would doubt even existed.
She still doesn't look at him. "Yes, Finn?"
"Will you come?" His voice is soft, hoping she'll see how hard he's trying to bridge the gap.
"Is it true you invited Kurt to your Glee clubs performance?"
"Yeah, but—"
Her eyes raise then. Finn dislikes how they shine – and not in a good way – and he hates himself for the anger she expresses, "How could you? That was our thing, Finn. Every year since you started I've gone with you… And now this? Over some stupid casting?"
"You didn't let me finish. But I'd do anything to have you there instead.."
"Oh, gag." Santana exclaims, standing and throwing her magazine on the table. She proceeds to walk out the door, to his delight towards their apartment, and calls out, "Just get your freak on already."
Finn only smiles at her, before looking back at Rachel and holding out his hand to her, "Rachel? I'm sorry, I really am. I guess I was afraid of letting you down… I felt not playing Roger meant I let you down."
After a few minutes, a small grin blooms and she accepts his hand, "Don't be that stupid ever again."
Finn nods and gestures for her to go out the door. He still has work to do, mainly getting Brittany and Quinn on board. His mind debates Rachel as he waits for them. He wonders how he ever let their argument stretch this far, and how he could have been so stupid and blind. What made him so crazy? He completely overreacted and it took all of his friends falling apart for him to see that. Finn makes a promise to never be so stupid again, but he probably will. At least he has good intentions, right?
Assuring himself that that makes all the difference, he knocks on Quinn's door. "Quinn? I'm coming in, okay?" Gingerly opening the door, Finn pokes his head in following no response. To his relief – not that he would hate a naked Quinn, but it could only complicate matters – she's sitting at her desk, typing away on the laptop. He leans against her door, studying her as she studiously pretends he's not there.
There's always been an intensely private side to Quinn that very few people see, and despite her friendly nature in her adult years, she's highly reserved. Closed-off. This is mistaken for being cold, but he knows better – he guesses he should after all these years. They've dated in high school – twice – hence Finn likes to think he knows a bit more about how Quinn Fabray works than the average friend. Average friend being a select few in their group and anyone outside that.
However, he's stumped as to why she's ignoring him now, so clears his throat. Slowly, he walks in and sits on her bed. She's still typing away. "What are you working on?" Start off slow, Hudson, nice.
The tapping on the keyboard continues until suddenly, the lets her hands fall away and leans back. "Just some casual stuff. Everything okay, Finn?"
"Not really. My friends aren't talking, and I seem to be the one who always has to save the day."
She smiles, "You do, don't you?"
"It's my shot at being the hero." He jokes, but there's an awful truth to those words. Finn decides to be serious then when he see's the time on her laptop. "Look, we're having a thanksgiving dinner. Call Sam over, it'll be a buffet of sorts. We all need to get sorted."
Quinn simply looks at him before nodding and giving him a grin again, "Sounds good to me. You certainly have your moments, Finn Hudson." To his utter surprise, she comes over at gives him a hug. They stay like that for a while on her bed, holding close. He gets the feeling that she needs this, that she's felt as cut off as the rest of them.
"What's up, Quinn?"
The moment is broken as she pulls away and shakes her head, "Oh, nothing really. I'm just lost is all. By the way, I'm not-not talking with anyone, if that makes any sense?"
His head hurts. But he follows. "Except Mike?"
Quinn laughs, "Except Mike. All he has to do is apologise though… I can't take every parent jab to heart, now can I?"
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CN