Author's Note - I just wanted to say thanks for all the great reviews and all. I am totally pleased and thankful. I'd write you all individual notes to let you know how much your comments mean but I cracked my elbow last weekend and I'm pretty sling-bound right now. So while the muse (Idina) has told me the entire story, which does mean I'll finish this...it will be a slow process as typing is a wee bit painful. But I love you all and Murt WAY too much to let this slide by. So please know I love all your reviews...I'll respond better once I have more control over my hand and less pain. =) And here we go...setting up Kurt's part of the journey. I think it's mainly filler-set up but I do hope you all enjoy! Beth
"Hold up." Mercedes Jones held up her hand the next day at lunch. With a skill of a true diva she managed to put her elbows on the table while missing the mysterious stain that had been there since the first period study hall. Kurt smiled as he noticed his lessons being enacted so well. If only Tina or Artie could appreciate the fruits of his wisdom. "You can't save me from boredom at my grandparent's house because you're doing a makeover on Matt? Matt Rutherford?"
"Yes. " Kurt sighed as he heard his plans repeated for at least the third time this lunch period. First Sam. Then Artie (and Tina but it was almost easier to think of them as one unit since right now they seemed to be in synch with each other). And now Mercedes. "I offered and he accepted. Why is that so hard to believe?"
"Because no straight guy willingly goes along with a makeover unless a TV crew is involved?" Mercedes pointed out.
"Is that it? Are you filming a pilot for Queer Eye for the Lima Guy?" Sam joked as he reached over Kurt's tray to steal a carrot stick. Good-naturedly Kurt shoved him away with his shoulder, earning a laugh from Sam.
"I'm going to have to find a new table to eat at." Mercedes complained, pushing her tray back. "Between the two of you", she pointed at Kurt and Sam before twisting towards Artie and Tina "and you two I'm trapped in happy couple hell."
"I'm sure Mike or Puck would like to change that for you." Tina teased, tossing a lemon crème cookie onto Mercedes's tray.
"Please. Puck is only interested because Mike apparently is and Mike doesn't have confidence that he can handle all this. Not even going there. Besides that still doesn't explain why Kurt is ditching all of us to hang out with Matt."
"Come on." Kurt complained, casually pushing his salad around on his plate. "Matt seems like a nice guy and you know I can't resist a makeover."
"True but somehow I don't think Matt actually asked you for one." Artie countered before smacking Tina's hand playfully when she grabbed for his bag of chips. "Woman are you begging to be punished?"
"Tease." Tina stuck her tongue out in her boyfriend's direction. "But seriously Kurt, they are right. It's a little odd Matt agreed to this."
"How would we know?" Kurt pointed out. "It's not like we know him much beyond he's a great dancer, good with harmony and is on the football team."
The table fell quiet as his point penetrated all of them. Kurt had only been partially kidding when he called Matt the man of many secrets. If it wasn't for the fact they heard him sing every week in glee, Kurt seriously doubted they would even know what Matt's voice sounded like. Even during his brief foray into football, he would have sworn he had never heard Matt speak. All instructions from either Finn or Coach Tanaka had been met with a brief nod of Matt's head. Even with all the trash talking that went on in the locker room, Kurt would have been hard pressed to tell anyone what Matt even sounded like prior to his visit to the garage.
This made it all the more fascinating that Matt had ever walked into the choir room in the first place. Sure the entire football team had been thrilled by their first and ultimately only wins of season, but it didn't stop the rest of the Neanderthals from throwing him in the dumpster nor did they ask Mr. Schue if they could join New Directions. A few of the mildly literate ones had started with the Nude Erections nickname but that was another matter altogether. Kurt was inclined to let that nickname slide since it showed a t least the firing of neutrons still occurring in a few of the well battered skulls.
If Mike hadn't have made that comment that prior to joining glee he had been afraid to dance in front of people, Kurt would have continued to believe Matt had just followed Mike along. But now Kurt was curious, could it be the other way? Was it Matt's idea to join glee and he brought Mike along for support? It was an idea to delicious to be ignored.
"Well you also know he spends most of his lunch break staring in this general direction." Sam amended, pointed discretely towards the subject of their conversation. "At least he has for the past few months."
Kurt attempted to swivel his head to look over at the football team's table behind him, but was thwarted by the groans of the entire table. "Dude, seriously if you look he'll know we're looking at him." Artie complained throwing his napkin at him. "My God Rachel is over at your house enough. Has she taught you nothing about her dark arts?"
Involuntarily Kurt shuddered at the idea of having to spend more time with Rachel then he already did. He might be willing to admit to himself that they were friends but that didn't mean he actually wanted to hang out and share things with her. "Bite your tongue or your favorite pair of suspenders will make their way to Goodwill in Columbus."
"Sam's right." Tina observed. "Matt is definitely more interested in what's going on over here than his own table. In fact it kinda looks like he's staring at Rachel."
"Rachel?" Kurt shook his head. "Oh great just what we all need. A sequel to Run, Joey, Run."
"Maybe Matt just wants to pump you for information on how to break up Finn and Rachel." Mercedes laughed as the bell signaled the end of the lunch period.
"And if that happens I'm dropping his ass off on 71 and will be at your grandmother's before you finish ringing the doorbell." Kurt promised as he gathered up the remnants of his lunch and followed his friends into the hallway.
It shouldn't have surprised him that Mercedes grabbed his hand to stop him from making the trip to Spanish with Mr. Schue. "I'll be late."
"Tell Mr. Schue Rachel waylaid you about your solo. He'll A – believe it and B- completely excuse you."
When Mercedes chose to make a point, she certainly made a good one. Linking his arms in hers, they started off down the hall. "So what exactly are you so worried about?"
"What makes you think I'm worried?"
"You never advocate using Rachel as an excuse unless you are really worried. " Kurt pointed out. "There's far too much danger in her finding out and destroying our every plan with the small nature of our group. Plus you kept looking like you wanted to say something but kept talking yourself out of it at lunch. You might as well spill. We both know you won't last until after school to tell me."
"Tell me Matt isn't the new Finn for you." Mercedes blurted out stopping both of them in their tracks.
"What?"
"Tell me Matt isn't the new Finn for you." Mercedes repeated. "I didn't want to say anything in front of Sam because I don't know how much of that disaster you actually told him. But you have a good thing going with Sam and I don't want to see you blow it because you've developed another hopeless crush on a straight jock that doesn't go out of his way to torture you."
"And where would you get a crazy idea like that? Has someone been indulging in Lifetime Movie Network marathons without me again?"
"Because like you said we barely know Matt and you're volunteering to make him over." Mercedes threw up her hands. "I know you can't resist makeovers boy but come on. Matt has barely said two words this entire school year. Why the sudden interest in him?"
"I've always found him interesting. Circumstances just have aligned to give me an opportunity to get to know him better. That's all." Kurt protested, smiling at the concern on his best friend's face. "Look I am over the whole Finn thing. Lesson learned. Its players on the same team only for me from now on. I'm happy with Sam. Me wanting to get to know Matt better is strictly a glee thing, not a sign of my mental instability."
"Promise?"
"May I have to endure an entire evening of Rachel and Finn being nauseating and not have a single comment to make." Kurt held up his hand in an approximation of what he remembered the Boy Scout pledge to be.
"And if at any point you start to get insane ideas?" Mercedes held up her finger. "The type that involve serenading Matt in front of the entire glee club?"
"You are my first call."
"Good." Mercedes let out a breath. "I just want you to be happy. You know that right?"
"I do. Now I do have to get to Spanish. Even Mr. Schue won't believe Rachel kept me out the entire period."
"Fine go. And I want full details about Saturday. Call me as soon as you get back."
"Done. Now shoo. We have fabulous entrances to make."