Chapter 5 - Don't Hide Yourself Away
On dressing for the occasion. I think everyone has experienced the feeling of being over- or under dressed. Sometimes social conventions are not easy to define, and sometimes our interpretations vary, creating a situation of not being dressed for the occasion. There are, of course, a few obvious guidelines, like not wearing a prom dress to a night out with the girls, or not wearing jeans and a t-shirt to a black tie event. But sometimes the lines are less clear, often not helped by an unspecified invitation. So what do you do when you're invited to a dinner with your friends, but the invitation failed to mention that said restaurant was that five star French one you've been dying to go to? Well, the only thing you can do, really, is own it. Play the 'I'm a laid back sort of guy, and I look damn fine in this dress shirt!' card.
- VonTrappChild
After the musical and having waited for Rachel by the stage door, the group made their way to a small bar not far from Rachel's apartment. It was dimly lit and quiet enough for the group to be able to talk, while also selling alcohol for them to loosen up and enjoying each others company. Kurt settled himself on one of the plush benches with a rum and coke large enough to last him a while and strong enough to induce that pleasant buzz. Finn slid into the seat next to him with the grace of an elephant in a nightclub, a beer in hand, which nearly spilt all over Kurt's specially selected outfit.
"Sorry, Bro." Finn said, letting one of his large hands land on Kurt's shoulder. "Mom sends you loads of hugs" he then said, leaning closer to his stepbrother. Finn was the only one of the group to have stayed in Ohio. As Burt had wished, Finn had taken over the tire shop and found himself a little house and a plumb overbearing girlfriend. He would religiously call Kurt every Sunday, telling tales of customers and co-workers that Kurt used to know. He would end every call with a message from Carole, saying how much she missed him. Kurt always found it difficult to respond to the last part. He knew Carol cared for him almost like a mother, but he just couldn't return the sentiment. So he kept contact with her to a minimum to spare both their feelings. "She really misses you, you know. She's always saying how it's like she lost the both of you."
"Well. Tell her I'll see her at Christmas as usual." Was all Kurt could think of to reply. Christmas was the only time he went back to Ohio. He would only stay a few days, and mostly went to visit his parents graves. Finn nodded slowly and took a swig of his beer. Then a large smile spread over his face. "Lisa's pregnant," he half whispered leaning closer to Kurt so the others wouldn't hear. "It's still real early, only mom knows. But I wanted to tell you face to face, you know." Kurt smiled, genuinely happy for his stepbrother.
"Congratulations, Finn. That's really great! Just don't name her Drizzle, yeah?" Finn laughed half embarrassed, his eyes glistening with happiness.
"Should I ask her to marry me?" Finn asked after a few moments in silence. "I mean, isn't that what you're supposed to do when your girlfriend is pregnant?"
"Do you want to marry her?" Kurt asked diplomatically.
"Well, yeah, some day."
"Then propose when it feels right. Not because some ancient convention dictates it."
"Right. I think I got that." Finn looked puzzled for a moment. "You're a really good brother, you know," he then said. Kurt just shook his head, grateful for the interruption that came in the form of an already rather buzzed Quinn.
"I need fashion advice," she purred, leaning in to Kurt's personal space.
On the Saturday of the ND Christmas weekend the group split up. The boys would go watch a game somewhere and the girls would set up a makeshift spa in Rachel's living room. Kurt would alternate between the two groups each year. This year he stayed with the girls. The afternoon was spent doing each others nails and makeup, singing, and, more importantly, gossiping. Kurt found himself sitting quietly in a corner observing the girls as they fluttered about, showing of dresses and hairstyles.
"And he just looked at me with this look of 'what is wrong with you people' and shook his head. It was hilarious." Tina was saying, telling the others of her boyfriends reaction to the crazy that was their high school days. Kurt smiled, inhaling the sharp scent of his apple and cinnamon tea.
"It was all kind of ridiculous when you think about it," Quinn commented as she looked up from the bottles of nail polish in her lap. The other girls hummed in response, a moment of calm settling over the room.
"Hey, Kurt. You're awfully quiet! What's new with you?" Santana suddenly said.
"Uh, not much. Work's pretty straightforward. I did get to go to the Jottum show a few weeks ago. Their vintage inspiration is..."
"Yeah, interesting. I meant what's new 'romantically'? You seeing anyone yet?" Santana cut in, sending him a sharp look, though a smile played on the corners of her mouth.
"Oh. Well, no, I'm not." Kurt looked into his tea rather than facing the girls who were all looking at him.
"He did see someone though. At the concert we went to Wednesday; but he won't tell me anything!" Mercedes added, prompting Kurt to send her one of his looks.
"Oh, come on Kurt, that's so romantic! We need to find him, and then follow him when he goes to get coffee, and then you can accidentally bump into him and be all 'I'm sorry, please let me take you out so that I can make it up to you', and he'll fall in love with you and you'll get married and have babies, and it will be just like the movies!"
"That's called stalking, Rachel" Kurt deadpanned.
"It wouldn't have to be, though. I have an in at the orchestra, remember? Then it would just be friends introducing you." Mercedes commented.
"Ooh, he's a musician?! That's even more romantic! What does he play? Was he cute? What did he wear? Was he as good as me?" Rachel asked all in one breath, causing all the others to send her looks of disbelief.
Despite heat rising in his cheeks, Kurt brushed her off with a 'there isn't a 'he' at all'.
"Kurt it is okay to notice people, you know. We do it all the time. It doesn't have to mean anything." Tina remarked from her place on the couch next to Brittany.
"That's not... I know. I just don't want to talk about it. Looking is safe, anything more is... Not."
"You're scared of someone noticing you back?" Tina asked, something close to concern in her gentle voice.
"I don't know. Maybe?" Kurt's voice came out weak and asking. He didn't like feeling this vulnerable, which was why he didn't like talking about things like relationships and dates and guys he might actually have a shot at.
"Kurt have you even been on a date since your father died?" Quinn asked moving from her place on the floor to kneel in front of him. He shook his head, trying not to make eye contact with anyone. "What is it you're scared of, Kurt? Because you can't close yourself off from the world, Kurt. Humans need social relations."
"I know," Kurt replied feebly. "It's just hard. Relying on others."
"So if a cute guy were to ask you out, what do you do?" Mercedes asked.
"I don't... Know?"
"You say yes, Kurt. It doesn't have to lead to anything. But getting out there, seeing that it can actually be fun and enjoyable that could actually change a lot of things for you." Quinn said, looking at him imploringly.
"Yeah. You don't have to be the one to do the asking, but don't close of if someone else does. Please?" Tina added.
"I don't... Yeah, okay." Kurt said weakly, taking in all the compassionate looks he was sent. "I promise to say yes, if a cute guy ask me out. Now can we get back to getting ready? We're meeting the boys in less than two hours."
On the evening of the Saturday the ND boys and girls would meet up at a previously selected restaurant. This year the honour went to a little middle class French restaurant tucked away in a lesser known corner of New York. The evening was spent getting Kurt to order in fluent French (much to the mortification of the very American young waiter), laughing at Rachel's decidedly overstated prom–like dress and reminiscing about the good old days. Once the meal arrived, it was tradition for the group to go around the table, giving everyone the opportunity to fill everyone else in on the status quo of their lives. After the restaurant everyone made their way to some club or other and proceeded to drink, dance and sing the night away.
When Kurt woke up Sunday morning he was horrified to note that Mercedes and he had collapsed into his bed without changing out of their evening clothes. Grunting, and cursing his aching head, Kurt rolled out of bed and stumbled into his bathroom.
After a quick shower and a fresh change of clothes, Kurt proceeded to gently wake up Mercedes and then put on a pot of coffee. Technically, they were supposed to meet up with the rest of the group about an hour later, but he knew everyone were bound to be late as well, so he leisurely sat at his desk, writing out a draft for his blog.
"Morning," Mercedes croaked, emerging from the bedroom, her voice clearly marked by a night of scream-singing in a nightclub.
"Morning. Coffee's in the kitchen," he heard an appreciative groan in response.
"So, I actually have something I wanted to ask." Mercedes said as she re–entered the Living room.
"Oh?" Kurt swiveled his chair around to face her.
"Yeah. It's a wedding thing, and I know it might be a bit much, so just tell me if it is, okay? So I was thinking, maybe you'd make my dress for me?" Kurt let out a very non–manly screech at that, flying out of his chair to throw himself at Mercedes.
"Are you serious? Of course I wanna make it! You're gonna look so beautiful!" Kurt rambled excitedly. Ideas were already floating around his head, and suddenly May couldn't get there soon enough.
AN: There we go... Jottum is an authentic children's Design label, end their style was rather vintage when I wrote this. Chapter 6 either tonight or tomorrow... Where it's Christmas in the Anderson household... hope you enjoyed, and have a nice day/night depending...