Thank you guys for the support. It's time for some happy fluff. Enjoy… (Oh and I don't own Glee, still bummed about that…)
. . . . .
Three Months Later…
It was August and Kurt was looking forward to starting his senior year at Parson's in a few weeks time. If he kept his grades up, he would easily graduate at the top of his class. As it was, his professors had hinted strongly that several design firms were already interested in him. After being free from Sebastian for the last three months, Kurt was finally able to remember what he loved about New York. He'd spent the entire summer doing as he wanted, not what Sebastian told him they would do. He went to shows by himself or with Tav and Dolph, he went for boat rides and on long walks. The feeling of freedom was overwhelming. That was normal, he'd learned. He'd joined a domestic violence group at the insistence of his father. Though his was a minor case compared to some of those he'd met, he was dealing with a lot of the same psychological scars.
The nightmares were probably the worst. Dreams of Sebastian yelling at him, hitting him, hurting him. It was a nightly occurrence and he hated that Sebastian could still affect his life in this way.
But as someone whose life had been controlled, as many in the group were, they were told that it could be hard to adjust to being free to do what they wanted. The counselor smiled at him broadly every week when Kurt arrived in his latest couture designs. Knowing Sebastian had hated his designs made him dress even more flamboyantly. The counselor was proud of him and always complimented the way he looked. He never believed her, but it was still nice to hear. After being told for two years that he was plain and even ugly, he didn't know if he'd ever believe a compliment again. Compliments were told by people who wanted something. It wasn't always safe to accept nice words. This was obviously something he still needed to work on and it wasn't easy.
His father had, against Kurt's wishes at first, gotten a restraining order put against Sebastian. The first couple of weeks after Kurt had broken up with him, Sebastian had shown up at his door, yelling and screaming at him. Then he would cry and it took everything in Kurt to not open the door. Most times he would curl up on the floor by the door and cry with Sebastian. But he stayed strong and never let him in. Once Kurt had confessed the entire relationship to his father – another part of counseling – his dad had flown off the handle and gotten the restraining order. Burt had connections now and he made it happen in record time. Kurt did feel safer, knowing that if Sebastian harassed him, he could do something about it.
Tavio and Dolph kept a close eye on him, having him over for meals and movie nights, though Kurt had a feeling they did it more to watch over him than to be close. That was where he was headed now. He was looking forward to seeing his friends and watch a movie. They were going to watch Cats on DVD though the cast was all wrong. Knocking on the door, a bottle of wine in his hand, he heard Tavio's distinct giggle before the door opened.
"Hey, love, come in, come in," he said, letting Kurt in with a kiss on the cheek. "I hope you don't mind, we invited Kian over. He's a lonely soul who needs some culture." Tavio took the wine and Kurt walked in to sit on the couch, kissing Dolph on the cheek on the way.
"Hi Kurt, how are you?" Kian said politely, his dark eyes friendly.
"I'm really good, actually. Much better than the last time we saw each other. I'm sorry you had to see all that," Kurt said, coloring lightly.
Dolph patted him on the knee. "Remember what we told you, Kurt, you weren't in the wrong. You don't have to apologize."
Kurt nodded, closing his eyes. "I know. It's just hard to get over the habit," he said quietly.
"Hey, I'm glad I was there. I got to meet you and see a barroom brawl all in the same night. That was a good night for me," Kian said, laughing.
Kurt liked his laugh, it wasn't reined in or polite, it was loud and full of mirth. "Well, I guess it ended up good for me too," Kurt said.
"Dinner, gentlemen," Tavio announced and they all moved to the small dining table. Dolph poured the wine that Kurt had brought.
"To good friends and new beginnings," Dolph said, toasting them.
"Cheers," Kurt replied and they all sipped.
As dinner went on, Kurt got the rundown of Kian's entire life. Tavio must have his matchmaking hat on, Kurt thought. Though he had to admit, Kian was a pretty interesting guy. He was twenty eight and owned his own successful construction company. That would explain the muscles, Kurt said, unable to help noticing the man's large arms again. One very interesting fact was that he loved to sing and play the guitar. Kurt was dying to hear him sing. He was such a soft-spoken guy it would be interesting to see how that translated into song.
"Kurt sings, too," Tavio said cheerfully.
"Really? What do you like to sing?" Kian asked, wrapping his hand around his wine glass and taking a sip.
For the millionth time, it seemed, Kurt noticed his fingers, long, tapered, neatly buffed. Beautiful fingers.
"Um, you know, whatever. I like Broadway tunes the best, I guess. But I'll sing anything interesting to me," Kurt said, dragging his eyes away from Kian's fingers, only to realize Kian was staring at him with those dark, intense eyes. Now that Kurt was close up to him, he realized his eyes were the darkest brown he'd ever seen, almost black. They were hypnotic. Realizing Kian had caught him staring, Kurt blushed fiercely and took a quick swallow of his own wine.
"Don't be bashful, Kurt. Kian, our Kurt here was going to attend NYADA, but the assholes turned him down. But it was widely known that had it been the recruiter's decision, she would have snatched him up in an instant," Tavio said.
Kurt turned redder. Why was Tavio making it sound like he was a commercial or something that needed to be sold?
"That's saying something. I've heard of NYADA and how hard it is to even get a recruiter to visit. Their loss, though. What did you sing for your audition?" Kian asked, his dark eyes amused.
"Um," Kurt had to think for a moment. Why was he getting so tongue tied? "Um, 'Not the Boy Next Door'," he finally got out.
Kian's eyes widened. "Really? That's an unusual pick for an audition."
"I was, uh, gonna sing a song from Phantom, but the recruiter looked bored, so I changed my mind on the spot and sang the other song. It went well, she said even Hugh Jackman would have been impressed," Kurt muttered, his face staying a solid red.
"I'd love to hear it," Kian said sincerely.
"I don't know if I could hit the notes anymore," Kurt said, pushing the pasta around on his plate.
"What do you mean?" Kian asked.
"Kurt's a countertenor and he's not going to brag, so I will," Tavio said, splaying his hands in the air animatedly. "He belted out a high F and then in the final note, he hit a high G."
Kian's eyes went wide. "Are you serious?"
"Uh, yeah. And we have the video to prove it," Dolph said, grinning, his freckled cheeks turning pink as Kurt turned to glare at him.
"What do you mean you have the video?" Kurt demanded.
"Well you showed us the video when we first met and we might have copied it to our computer so we could listen to it again," Dolph said lightly. "Anyway, who wants to hear it?"
"Oh, I do!" Tavio cried, leaping up from the table.
"I do," Kian said, grinning at Kurt and getting up.
"I don't, but I have a feeling that doesn't matter," Kurt mourned.
"Oh, come on," Dolph said. "You should be proud of yourself."
"I was. Back then. That was over three years ago!" Kurt said. Then he remembered what he wore for the audition. He went white as a sheet and then turned so red, his face felt like it was on fire. "I can't watch this," he moaned, going over to fall onto the couch, holding a pillow over his face.
The others gathered around Dolph's computer as the song started. Kurt heard his high pitched voice full of nerves explaining the change in the song and debated running out of the apartment. He lowered the pillow only to see Kian grinning at him.
"You were so cute in your Phantom costume," Kian said.
"Just wait. It gets so much better," Tavio promised.
Kurt whimpered in humiliation as the familiar music started.
Comin' home used to feel so good
I'm a stranger now in my neighborhood
I've seen the world at a faster pace
And I'm comin' now from a different place
Though I may look the same way to you
Underneath there is somebody new
Kurt heard a gasp and couldn't look up, knowing in the video he'd just ripped his Phantom costume off to reveal the snug black button-up over the gold lamé. pants. He was going to die. Right here and now.
I am not the boy next door
I don't belong like I did before
Nothin' ever seems like it used to be
You can have your dreams, but you can't have me
Hearing a cough, Kurt risked a glance over and Kian's dark eyes were wide. He looked over at Kurt and mouthed the word "Damn" with a wink. Kurt returned to the protection of the pillow.
Oh I can't come back there anymore
'Cause I am not the boy next door
You've been savin' those souvenirs,
Faded photographs from our foolish years
We made plans, but they're wearin' thin
And they don't work out 'cause I don't fit in
And those memories will just weigh you down
'Cause I got no place to keep 'em uptown
I am not the boy next door
I don't belong like I did before
Nothin' ever seems like it used to be
You can have your dreams, but you can't have me
There was another deep intake of breath and a muttered "Oh my god". Kurt wracked his mind, wondering about Kian's reaction. Then he remembered. The hips. God, he'd let his hips go wild in that song, thrusting and undulating to the beat. Shoving the pillow harder against his face, he continued to wish to be swallowed whole.
Oh, I can't go back there anymore
'Cause I am not the boy next door – Uh!
I'm not sorry for just bein' me
But if you'd look past the past you could see
That I am not…
"Holy shit," Kian muttered, hearing the high F coming out flawlessly.
"I know, right?" Tavio whispered excitedly. "Just wait!"
Nothin ever seems like it used to be
You can have your dreams, oh, but you can't have me
I can't go back there anymore
'Cause I am not, I am not, I am not… the boy next door!
Kurt stayed under the pillow, wondering if he could just melt away. Suddenly the room was filled with applause. He peeked out and saw all three of them standing and clapping for him.
"That was seriously the most amazing thing I have ever heard in my life," Kian said, his eyes sincere and admiring. "You have a beautiful voice, Kurt."
"Thank you," Kurt whispered.
"It didn't hurt that you looked fine as hell in those gold pants," Tavio said, wiggling his eyebrows. "Do you still have those?"
All three of the men abruptly looked overly interested to hear his answer. Tavio looked like he'd want to borrow them, Dolph looked like he wanted Tavio to borrow them. He didn't know the reason behind Kian's curiosity.
"Sadly, no. Those pants were burned along with my Broadway dreams, many years ago," Kurt said.
Tavio sniffed dramatically. "A true loss," he lamented.
"Seriously, though, Kurt, you rocked those high notes. It was flawless," Kian said, coming and sitting near him.
"Thank you," he said, looking down. He felt a warm hand on his knee. He looked up into those warm espresso eyes.
"You have the right to be proud of yourself, you know," Kian said softly.
"Not anymore," Kurt whispered.
Dolph coughed. "Hey, Kian, didn't you bring your guitar? You should entertain us now," he said.
"Oh yes, we demand it, actually," Tavio said, flinging his blond hair over his shoulder.
"I will if Kurt sings with me," Kian said, smiling gently at Kurt.
"We'll see," Kurt said, a hesitant smile on his lips.
Kian got up and pulled out a well used guitar and strummed experimentally. "So, what are we in the mood for? Melancholy, funny, cheerful?"
"Definitely something upbeat," Dolph said.
"Okay. Let me think. Alright, here we go. Sing along if you know the words," he said, smiling at Kurt.
Don't you worry there my honey
We might not have any money
But we've got our love to pay the bills
Kian winked at Kurt, wiggling his eyebrows. Kurt turned pink, but found himself humming along.
Maybe I think you're cute and funny
Maybe I wanna do want bunnies do with you if you know what I mean
Kurt loved the song and, unable to resist, he nodded at Kian and sang the chorus, his smile genuine.
Oh let's get rich and buy our parents homes in the south of France
Let's get rich and give everybody nice sweaters and teach them how to dance
Let's get rich and build a house on a mountain making everybody look like ants
From way up there, you and I, you and I
(Kian)
Well you might be a bit confused
(Kurt)
And you might be a little bit bruised
(Kian)
But baby how we spoon like no one else
So I will help you read those books
If you will soothe my worried looks
(Kian and Kurt)
And we will put the lonesome on the shelf
(Kian and Kurt)
Oh, let's get rich and buy our parents homes in the south of France
Let's get rich and give everybody nice sweaters and teach them how to dance
Let's get rich and build a house on a mountain making everybody look like ants
From way up there, you and I, you and I
Waving their friends along to join in, all four of them completed the final chorus, clapping to the beat.
Let's get rich and buy our parents homes in the south of France
Let's get rich and give everybody nice sweaters and teach them how to dance
Let's get rich and build a house on a mountain making everybody look like ants
From way up there, you and I, you and I
They applauded themselves, laughing and enjoying the moment of fun. They played around with a couple more songs before Kian said it was time he headed out. Kurt agreed and thanked Tavio and Dolph for a fun evening, even if they hadn't gotten around to watching Cats.
"Can I walk you home?" Kian asked, slinging his guitar on his shoulder.
"I live like five doors down," Kurt said with a grin.
"Well, that just means you won't have to put up with me for long," Kian smiled.
"Okay then," Kurt said.
Waving at their ecstatic friends, they headed down the hallway. Kurt was struck again at how tall Kian was. Kurt felt positively tiny next to the man.
"I really enjoyed singing with you guys," Kurt said. "It's been too long since I enjoyed music like that."
"I couldn't live without it. And you shouldn't either. You seemed really happy, really alive while you were singing," Kian noted.
"I felt really happy," Kurt agreed.
They reached his doorway. "This is me," Kurt said, getting out his key.
"So, um, since I walked you home, does it mean I can have your number?" Kian asked, his cheeks turning pink.
"You get my number because you walked me home," Kurt deadpanned.
"Um, yeah?" Kian said, grinning.
"Fine, but only because that was the worst line in the world," Kurt agreed and they traded numbers.
"I hate talking on the phone, but I love texting, just a warning," Kian said.
"Okay. I just wish I could text as fast as I think," Kurt said with a chuckle. "I'll talk to you later."
"Talk to you soon," Kian said and grinned before walking down the hall toward the stairs.
Kurt had barely locked his door when his phone buzzed.
Kian: It really is too bad about those pants.
Kurt: Go home.
Kian: :]
Kurt chuckled and went to get ready for bed. His last thoughts before drifting off were wondering what it would cost for some gold lamé.
. . . . . .
I hope you enjoyed that. I wonder what Chris will think in a few years when he looks back on that scene of Glee. LOL. I will never get tired of it. So we had: "Not the Boy Next Door" from The Boy From Oz and "You and I" by Ingrid Michaelson; such a cheerful little song. Please review! Let me know what you think.