Chapter Four
oOo
Summary: Will the proud music teacher eventually find love with the beautiful kindergarten teacher or will he forever come second to the football coach? This isn't very M but, to be safe, I'll leave it at that.
A/N: As usual, I can't thank you all enough for the reviews, follows and favourites that I've received for this story. Honestly, I giggle like a 12-year-old every time I see another alert pop up on my screen. I hope you keep enjoying my little tale.
Disclaimer: None of these characters belongs to me except for any OCs found wandering. I own nothing save for this computer.
Kurt frowned as he played the answering machine messages again – well, just one in particular. He hadn't heard from David in a good while and now here he was, letting Kurt know he'd be in town and that he thought they should meet up.
How odd was it that just as he realised that Noah Puckerman of all people was interested in him, here should come a blast from the past in the form of David Karofsky. He shook his head and smiled slightly; it never rains but it pours, right?
Kurt strode down to his bedroom in his family home and flung himself onto his bed, his hands folding behind his head as he smiled up at the ceiling. Wow, he mused, I wonder what David's up to now... The last time he'd seen the former jock they'd parted on very amicable terms, Kurt having made the decision that they were better friends than lovers.
David had been silent at first but then he'd agreed and Kurt had been relieved that there hadn't been any drama or recriminations between them. He admitted to himself that he'd jumped into the relationship with David on the rebound from Blaine and he'd felt guilty at the start. David, however, had been the warmest, most surprisingly passionate lover it turned out and he'd quickly got over Blaine.
As the months passed, though, Kurt had had to admit that he wasn't in love with David and finally he'd broken it off. They'd kept in touch sporadically over the years and Kurt had been happy when David had eventually confessed that he was seeing someone, a lawyer who worked at the same sports agency that David did.
David had gushed about his new lover and Kurt had been genuinely pleased that David was so in touch with himself that he had come out to both his parents and his colleagues. The relationship between him and Steven seemed to be on solid ground, every time Kurt had spoken with David and now he wondered why the other man was coming to Lima. The Karofskys had moved to Dayton so he couldn't imagine why David, who had no other connection to Lima, would be coming here.
Kurt finally rose and shucked his clothes, stepping into his en suite and setting the shower for his preferred temperature. His mind wandered to Noah as he stepped in and let the water cascade over his head and down his body. Damn, Noah was still as fine – and maybe better than fine – as when they'd been in school and Kurt admitted to himself that he had salivated as much as the cheerleaders had over the other teen's 'guns'. Those biceps of his had starred in many an illicit dream but Kurt had never ever admitted it to his girls, Mercedes and Tina.
On the contrary, Kurt had always behaved as if Puck was somewhat beneath his notice and a fleeting moue of distaste passed over his face at his remembered behaviour. Ugh, Kurt, could you have been any more stuck up, he berated his younger self now. He'd kept his interactions with Puck to the minimum, always wondering when the jock would return to his old dumpster-tossing ways. Honestly, though, with all the drama in Puck's life, the teen hadn't had time to revert and he'd also made a good effort to participate in the life of the glee club.
The water ran slickly down his body and he turned off the tap before soaping up. The feel of the natural sea sponge rubbing over his skin drew his mind back to his actions as he realised he'd been operating on auto pilot. Once more, though, he saw Noah in his mind's eye as he'd stood fidgeting beside his SUV and a soft smile curved his lips. Wow, Noah Puckerman, he breathed in the humid air of the shower enclosure; Noah Puckerman is gay. Yes!
While Kurt was daydreaming during his long and increasingly cool shower, Noah was across town reading a bedtime story to Judith. As soon as they'd got in he'd hustled her to go have her bath and then he'd tucked her in, telling her that as it had been both their first day at school, they needed to settle down earlier than usual. She'd only acquiesced because she'd wheedled a promise of two bedtime stories out of him and he'd given in.
Now he was starting on the second one, The Little Mermaid and instead of Noah reading it to her, Judith had demanded that she read it to him. He'd settled on the bed beside her, helped to hold the book and resigned himself to a very dramatic reading of the old favourite.
Halfway through the story, however, Judith stopped and looked up at her dad seriously. "Daddy, are we going to stay here forever?"
Noah's eyes widened in surprise but he looked at her just as seriously before replying, "I hope to, sweetheart; why do you want to know?"
Judith eyed him and then smiled softly. "You smiled a whole lot today, that's all."
Noah nodded and then settled back again. "Yes, yes, I think I did. I guess I was happy, baby."
Judith tilted her head and looked him in the eye. "Were you and Mr. Kurt best friends before?"
"Back in high school? Nah, not really," he grinned down at his daughter's fascinated face. He decided to tease her. "So, what, no more bedtime story? Okay, g'night, babe."
"Nooo, daddy, tell me! I want to hear about Mr. Kurt and when he was little!" The high-pitched whining tone of her little voice made Noah burst out laughing.
"Alright, enough already, sheesh! Okay, let me see. Mr. Kurt loved fashion when we were in school, kinda like you, really."
Judith gasped delightedly and Noah could see she was well on the way to having a full-blown crush on her new teacher. She clapped her hands, encouraging him to continue and her eyes sparkled happily when he did.
"He was very smart, loved to dress up and he sounded like an angel when he sang," Noah's voice softened as the memories surfaced. He thought Kurt had had a lot of balls back then for facing down Schue to get solos, fighting hard to be allowed to sing traditionally 'girl' songs. His voice was perfectly suited for them and he had a kick-ass range that Berry could never achieve. Yet, unfairly, she and Finn got the leads almost all the time and that had been one of the things that had always irked him.
Judith's eyes were wide as she listened to her dad. "Like an angel? How?" She did notice that Mr. Kurt didn't sound like most men, not like her dad or the kids' doctor at the hospital or any other man she'd ever met. She couldn't imagine, though, what an angel must sound like.
Noah smiled. "I don't know, maybe one day he will sing for the class and you'll see what I mean."
Judith tried to stifle a yawn but Noah caught it and, removing the storybook from her lap, he helped her settle down. Her eyes were actually half-lidded already but she fought it to ask, "Daddy, do you like-like Mr. Kurt?"
Noah's eyes, so like his daughter's, widened and he just knew she understood what she was asking. "Why do you ask, baby?"
Judith snuggled down and turned onto her side, this time unable to hold back the huge yawn. "Briony says when you like-like a boy you smile a lot at him."
Noah straightened up and stared at his little girl. Jesus, what the heck do five-year-old girls know about liking boys? He dropped a light kiss on her tousled hair and wished her a goodnight, her words still roiling in his mind.
The problem was that he thought he more than 'like-liked' Kurt.
He sighed as he turned off the bedside lamp and left the bedroom, making sure to leave the door slightly ajar. He padded down to his bedroom after turning off the living room lights. Thoughts of Kurt and Judith and Karofsky and Finn – everything bundled together and he headed for the shower, hoping the water would beat his thoughts out and let him rest.
He sent up a silent prayer that his sleep would be uninterrupted and that no phantom Kurts would visit his dreams and leave him hard and aching once more the next morning. That shit was getting old really fast.
oOo
The next morning Kurt and Noah spoke once over the phone, Kurt reminding Noah of the newcomers' meeting on Thursday evening in the school's auditorium. There had been an awkward silence when Noah had first answered his cell phone but when Kurt had giggled teasingly, they had chatted normally after that.
They wouldn't be see each other regularly at school because Kurt was never assigned to the drop-off or pick-up areas for the kids. The volunteer parents and a couple of teachers handled that so Thursday would be the first time they'd be seeing each other since that really interesting meal at Breadstix on Tuesday.
Noah had wanted to know if he was supposed to bring Judith with him and Kurt had filled him in on the protocol involved in PTA meetings. Since Judith wasn't required to be present at the newcomers' meeting, however, Noah had said he'd need to find someone to babysit and had been embarrassed to realise that that was something he should have already thought about.
Kurt had been understanding and had given him the number of one of the students – a junior – at McKinley who often babysat for the kids of some of the teachers. Noah had been grateful, his voice growing husky as he'd told Kurt how much he appreciated having someone familiar help him in such unfamiliar circumstances.
The tension had zinged along the lines and Kurt had cleared his throat before being able to speak, letting Noah know that anything he could do to help, he would. They had finally rung off, Kurt once again reminding Noah of the time.
"It's five o'clock sharp as Dr. Thompson is a stickler for punctuality." Kurt had chuckled at the thought of the little man and his bustling ways. He was a good administrator and he clearly loved his job; most of the teachers found him quite adequate although one or two felt he was a little behind the times.
Noah nodded as he enjoyed the sound of Kurt's voice so close to his ear. "I'll be on time; my last class tomorrow ends at 4. Uhm, would you want to get something to eat afterwards?"
Kurt had chuckled, asking what time he would tell Jenny, the babysitter that he'd be home. Noah had said nine o'clock and Kurt had then agreed to have dinner with him.
"Actually, you know what, come around to my home and I'll rustle us up something," Kurt had added on impulse. He'd held his breath as he waited for Noah's reply but he need not have worried.
"Yeah, that'll be cool; okay, that's a date!"
Cue: awkward silence.
They'd both cringed, unknown to the other and then chuckled at the same time. Kurt had finally hung up after agreeing, all the while shaking his head at how silly and awkward they were being with each other. Jeeze, it wasn't as if he hadn't known Noah half his life.
Noah for his part had stared at his phone with a bemused look on his face, unaware that Finn had been sat across from him in the staff room watching him.
"Dude, have you lined up fresh meat already?"
Noah had been jolted from his reverie quite unpleasantly and he frowned at Finn before shaking his head.
"Nah, I was just getting a reminder about the newcomers' meeting over at the Kindergarten later this evening."
"Yeah, dude, but I'm sure I heard you say 'that's a date'!" Finn had pointed out, raising his eyebrows like he's always seen Rachel do when she knew she was right.
"Whatever, man. Look, I need to set up a babysitter and I got her name and number here. See ya."
He'd left Finn staring after him but even though he knew the other man meant no harm, ever since he'd found himself yearning after Kurt, he'd resented the fact that the beautiful pale-skinned boy had crushed on the quarterback and seen no one else. Uh, I need to get over this stuff, he'd growled to himself as he stalked from the room.
By Thursday afternoon he was both nervous and looking forward to seeing Kurt. He'd already picked up Judith and dropped her off over at Jenny's house; the girl was going to have her mom take her and Judith to his condo and get her settled in bed. Nine o'clock had been pushing it a little but he really had no idea what time the meeting would end plus he was going to have dinner over at Kurt's. It was better to play it safe and give a time that was slightly excessive rather than the alternative.
When he got to the school, he parked his SUV alongside the other gleaming vehicles, noticed the dearth of pickup trucks and smirked to himself. It seemed that Lima had moved finally into the 21st Century and shaken a little of the farm dust off its collective heels.
He strolled towards the auditorium in a little stream of people he assumed were parents like him and stood just inside the door looking around. He finally caught sight of Kurt off to the far wall on the same side as him and he sauntered over. He was not oblivious to the curious eyes on him and he smirked as Kurt smiled in welcome.
"I see you made it with minutes to spare! That's good," Kurt grinned at him in greeting. "Come; let me introduce you to some of the other teachers here."
Kurt unconsciously grabbed Noah's hand and Noah was happy to be tugged along behind him. Kurt was stunning as usual in a tailored collarless cobalt blue shirt that he wore tucked into dark blue jeans and Noah surreptitiously admired the snug fit across his butt.
For the next ten minutes he nodded and smiled, knowing he was not going to immediately remember all the names, but one in particular stood out. Daria Marietti Strando was a busty brunette who gushed to him that she'd been a Cheerio back in the day, a salacious expression in her eyes as she licked her lips. Kurt had no doubt that Noah had probably bedded her at one time or another but from the vaguely polite look on Noah's tanned face it was obvious he didn't really remember her.
Still, years away from Lima had given him a bit of polish and he quite gallantly complimented Daria on the fact that she didn't look a day over 18. A torrent of girlish giggles followed them as Kurt ushered Noah over to a seat and then slid in beside him.
"Whew, I thought she was going to melt on the spot!" His snide whisper made Noah snort in amusement and then they both struggled to hold back the laughter.
Kurt gave him a playful slap on the arm – oh my, those guns were still all kinds of tight! – and whispered that that was what Noah got for being such a 'generous' guy. Their giggles brought a few looks and a couple of shushes as Principal Thompson stood before the group to welcome them.
The meeting went as all such meetings did, with the most discussion being generated over what to do for fund-raisers and Kurt and Noah tuned them out a bit as they went over to the refreshment table. Kurt leaned into Noah's side to remind him not to spoil his appetite and Noah whispered back that nothing could do that.
Eventually, the meeting was brought to a close by the new PTA president, a garrulous chap who basically browbeat the other parents into voting for him. Noah whispered to Kurt that he didn't think he'd be at too many of the meetings but Kurt had told him to simply come when he could. They made their way out to the car park and separated to their vehicles, Kurt reminding Noah of his old address.
Kurt stared across the dining table at Noah, watching the other man inhale the chicken parmesan that Kurt had prepared for them. He grinned at the sight, enjoying the way Noah had relaxed as they chatted and ate. The white wine Kurt was now sipping had been brought by Noah and Kurt had been pleasantly surprised.
He leaned forward with a slightly teasing glint in his eye and waited until Noah had swallowed before asking: "How did you know to bring white wine, anyway?"
Noah dabbed his lips with the napkin, laid it down and then took up his own glass. His eyes were smoky dark in the fairly low lighting but Kurt could detect an appreciative gleam in them as the other man stared at him.
"I didn't," Noah replied now, smirking as Kurt raised an interrogative eyebrow. "I bought a red and a white. If we'd needed the red instead I would've gone back to the car and switched it."
Kurt's chuckle made Noah grin and he watched him over the rim of his wine glass, enjoying the faint colour that the wine and food had brought to Kurt's cheeks. He suddenly found himself saying quite earnestly: "You're really way prettier now than before, you know."
Kurt's eyes widened and he hastily swallowed his sip of wine before bowing his head in acknowledgement of the compliment. He smiled but rolled his eyes slightly. "Why, thank you, Noah… but what's with that word? I'm a guy – I know some people question it – but it's not really that appropriate."
Noah sat back in his chair in a slouch that was unconsciously sexy. He lowered his head and looked up at Kurt from beneath lowered brows. "You clearly are living in the last century. I don't think 'pretty' is gender-specific anymore… and it definitely suits you better than the traditional 'handsome'."
Kurt lifted a slender hand and waved it at Noah, clearly gearing up for an argument. "I get that certain things on a man can be pretty – like the eyes for example – but you don't generally hear men getting that particular compliment."
Noah stared at him and let the silence stretch before he smirked. "Yes, I always thought you had gorgeous eyes," and he laughed aloud at the colour erupting on his companion's face. "Oh, come on, I can't have been the only man to tell you that."
Kurt dipped his head and traced a pattern on the tablecloth before replying. "I just don't get it, y'know? You never gave any hint when we were in school that you felt anything at all for me. Well, apart from disdain as you and the other clods threw me in a dumpster."
Noah straightened up and frowned, his hand moving forward to cover Kurt's lightly. "Look, we were just stupid kids and I know that's no excuse really for cruelty. I know I'd go ballistic if anyone ever even thought of doing that to Judith."
He paused and took a deep breath. "When I look back, though, I think most of it was just a way to be part of the herd, to fit in, and that's what jocks did. We picked on the other kids to maintain the status quo or whatever."
Kurt looked down at their hands and then turned his own upward so their palms were together. "At least you cut out all that crap when you joined glee club. I've forgiven you guys over the years, you know." He smiled softly at Noah who'd lifted his eyes from staring at their hands.
Noah frowned. "Yes, so I heard."
His response was so abrupt that Kurt's eyebrows came together in surprise. Noah interrupted him before he could speak.
"Finn told me that you dated Karofsky for a while," Noah muttered, wincing internally at how loutish he sounded.
Kurt stared at him then lifted his glass to finish the wine in it. He lifted up the bottle, asking silently if Noah needed a refill and then poured it for him. Then he rose, indicating with a tilt of his head that Noah should follow him into the living room. If they were going to talk about the good old/bad old days, they might as well do so in comfort.
When they'd settled at either end of the huge couch his dad had loved so much, Kurt turned to Noah, lifting his feet up onto the cushion between them.
Noah stared into his wine as he swirled it, waiting for Kurt to speak but nervous as to what he would hear.
Kurt placed his glass on the coffee table and turned to Noah. "I did forgive you guys but David especially."
When Noah glanced at him with a frown and tightened lips, Kurt shrugged. "David needed more forgiving than you and Finn and the other Neanderthals who thought it fun to slushie me on a daily basis."
He watched Noah wince and then continued. "After his suicide attempt, I felt guilty because I was maybe the only person who knew he'd been struggling with his sexuality. I knew he wasn't as strong as I was. I had an advantage in that everyone knew I was gay before I even understood the word."
Noah relaxed slightly and smiled, remembering when Kurt had worn crazy stuff like a corset or a skirt or blouses to school. Oh, yes, everyone pretty much had an idea which way that breeze was blowing. He nodded to indicate he was listening and for Kurt to continue. He loved the way the light from the chandelier pooled in the beautiful blue-green of Kurt's eyes and even more he loved to watch those full pink lips move when he talked.
Kurt, unaware of the trend of Noah's thoughts, smiled sadly, his eyes looking off into the middle distance. "I never told you guys but David had kinda outed himself to me and he'd had a big gay freak out when I brought Blaine to talk to him. In hindsight, it probably hadn't been the wisest thing to do but that's when his bullying escalated. When I left McKinley and then returned, he promised he would educate himself and help me start a chapter of PFLAG at McKinley. He and Santana really helped cut down on the bullying, you know."
Noah remembered those days but to be honest he'd been caught up in a lot of his own crap at the time. He put down the wine glass and dropped a hand to one of Kurt's bare feet, stroking slowly up to the slender ankle. He smiled when Kurt shivered but he just murmured, "Go on," and Kurt continued reminiscing.
"Oh, well, jump ahead a couple of years and we get to freshman year in college and Blaine suddenly deciding to take a break from 'us'." His lips curled as he obviously recalled the pain that decision had caused. "I then ran into David who was going to NYU and we sort of drifted into dating. After a few months of that, however, I realised that that certain spark was missing… you know, that fire that I need in a relationship."
His voice had grown softer as Noah had continued to stroke his leg just beneath the hem of his jeans and he swallowed now as the hand reached his calf. When he stopped talking there was silence for a few minutes while he sat, staring at the bulge of Noah's hand beneath the leg of his pants.
The next thing he knew he was sliding over, closing the space between them and straddling Noah's willing body. They stared for an eternity into each other's eyes and then Kurt lowered his mouth to Noah's.
The flavours of dinner and the wine gave way to deeper, more addicting flavours and Kurt moaned as Noah's large hands kneaded his ass tentatively at first and then more firmly. Tiny moans and sighs escaped them both as they ate at each other's mouths, Kurt grinding down on the prominent bulge at Noah's crotch. Finally, panting, he pulled away but rested his forehead briefly against Noah's, his eyes closed but a soft smile wreathing his lips.
Then, as suddenly as he'd climbed atop Noah, he now flung himself back to his end of the couch, his eyes going to Noah's and moaning almost inaudibly at the heat he saw there.
Noah bit his lip hard, his hands clenching as he held back from reaching once more for Kurt. He dropped his head back on the couch and stared at the ceiling, ignoring the fact that the bulge in his jeans was on display. He rolled his head to look over at Kurt again, noticing how his arms were wrapped around himself and he groaned inwardly.
Getting up from the couch, he adjusted himself and then glanced at his watch. It was barely 8:30 but things had got so out of hand that he thought it best he leave.
Kurt glanced up at him, the pupils of his eyes still lust-blown and Noah leaned down to kiss him once more. When they separated slowly, he caressed the slightly swollen lower lip with his thumb and smiled.
"You have no idea how long I've wanted to kiss you," he sighed as he straightened up, watching Kurt dip his head once more. "Hey, I think I better get going…"
He stepped back as Kurt slid to his feet, knowing that if he stood too close to that tempting body he probably wouldn't reach home until way past 9 o'clock.
Kurt nodded, biting his lip and then gave him a tentative smile. "I-I liked having you over for dinner, Noah. Maybe next time you can bring Judith?"
Noah followed him to the door and nodded as Kurt opened it. He smiled at him before leaning down to drop one last peck on his lips. "Yeah… she'd definitely like that…" and then he stepped out. "Sleep tight, beautiful."
Kurt chuckled, murmured a response and watched his sexy stride as he walked towards his vehicle. Oh, my Gaga, he muttered as his body remembered the way Noah had felt beneath him. Get a hold of yourself, Kurt Hummel!
When Noah finally moved off with a toot of his horn, the light from his headlights washed over another car that was approaching slowly. Paying it no mind, Kurt closed his door and leaned against it, smiling as he put on the safety locks and then the alarm. Both his body and mind were humming pleasantly and he headed slowly back to the dining room to clear up the dinner things.
Noah's mind wasn't humming pleasantly because as he'd moved off, his beams lit up the interior of the other car that had been approaching the house. His eyes widened as he stared at the other driver who was looking at the Hummel residence.
The car slowed and turned into the driveway and Noah stared at it in his rear view mirror, a torrent of swear words falling from his lips. He recognised the driver even after all these years.
David Karofsky… and he was here to see Kurt.
.
TBC
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