Ok for the record I love BOTH the movies debated later in this chapter...I just remember this debate from my college days (Did I just date myself? Yeah I did) and it seemed such a Kurt thing to get caught on. So no hoards of angry fans in my direction ok?
He should just call and cancel. Family emergency. That would work. It wasn't like Kurt would know that his grandmother died a few years ago and so therefore was not sick. Well Mike would know but the odds Kurt would mention to this to Mike were miniscule at best. No, Matt considered. Kurt would mention it to Mercedes who would mention it to Mike and then there would be all sorts of uncomfortable questions. On both sides of the issue. Damn he needed to make friends outside of football and glee. His circle was entirely too small.
Why did he have to be such a sucker? A smile? He was going to put himself through torture for a smile? OK, Matt amended as he took yet another look in the bathroom mirror. Torture might be a bit strong of a word. Sublime insanity? Was that the right phrase? Matt shook his head. When did he turn into his poetry major sister? He had to get a grip. This wasn't even a date.
"Hear that? It's not a date. Kurt doesn't even know you're gay remember?" Matt lectured his panicked reflection. "You are his straight buddy who is letting him do a makeover. For all he knows you are doing this to get girls. Girls. Not him. And I'm going to remind you one last time that Kurt has a boyfriend. Who yes is the most annoying son of a bitch on the planet but still he exists. So get your head out of your ass and act like someone who could pass for human will you?"
"Matt? You alright in there?" His younger brother Steven's voice filtered through the locked bathroom door. "I don't need to get mom do I?"
"No. I'm fine. Just give me a minute."
"Ok but that friend of yours just pulled up in a sweet car. Dad told me to tell you get a move on it."
Matt made a sliding dash towards the window and glanced out. Sure enough Kurt stood outside showing off his "baby" to his father. Way too late to cancel now. He had to go out there and somehow try not to make a fool of himself.
Taking one last glance and figuring this was as good as it was going to get today; Matt paused just long enough to grab his wallet from his room before bounding down the stairs. Yelling goodbye to his mother and warning his brothers to stay out of his room while he was gone, Matt exited the front door and made his way over to where Kurt stood.
"Excellent. You are prompt." Kurt clapped when he noticed Matt amble towards them. "We have a drive and limited time to do it in. It was very nice to meet you Mr. Rutherford but I do need to kidnap your son now. Don't worry you won't recognize him at the end of the day."
Jonas Rutherford just nodded at Kurt's hurried speech. It took a lot to lot to get much of a reaction out of his father but even still, Matt had expected at least a raised eyebrow when Kurt showed up. The tight knee-length sweater alone Kurt had on should have done the trick. Then again Matt had identified Kurt as the kicker from the football team. His father probably expected Kurt to high-kick his way out of the car.
"I'll see you tonight Dad."
"Alright. Be careful boys."
"We will." Matt promised as he climbed into the passenger seat.
"We just won't be careful with the credit cards." Kurt said softly as he re-entered the car and pulled on his seat belt before throwing it into reverse.
Silence fell over them as Kurt maneuvered his way through the endless maze of similar looking houses and similarly named streets. Matt wanted to say something, anything to break the ice but asking Kurt if he found his house ok seemed a bit redundant since Kurt hadn't called for additional directions and clearly had found the house. Looking for something to keep his hands busy more than anything else, he grabbed at the CDs that were shoved into the storage bin on the passenger side. Idly he flipped through it, recognizing the names of some Broadway shows, a few of the divas he knew Kurt worshipped and at the back of the pack Bush and Linkin Park.
Blinking in confusion, Matt held up the two CDs. "You like Bush and Linkin Park?"
Kurt let out an aggravated sigh and looked heavenward. "Finn." He muttered almost under his breath.
"I'm sorry?"
"Finn gave those to me because if we were going to ride to school together I needed to butch up my music collection."
Matt looked down at the CDs in his hand once again. He could see Linkin Park for that aim but Bush? The only reason anyone listened to Bush was Gavin Rossdale was hot and the girls liked him. "Finn thinks Bush is butch?"
"I don't think he's realized the only reason I can tolerate them is Gavin Rossdale is hot."
He couldn't help it. Matt burst out laughing at Kurt's unintentional repeating of his own thoughts. After a brief second, Kurt joined in as well. The awkward silence broken for once and for all. Matt shook his head. "Can I be there when you explain that concept to him? I have a feeling it will be fun."
"You'll have to get in line. Mercedes is first and Artie wants to video tape it for You Tube."
"Any bribes that could increase my standing?"
"I tell you when we reach our destination." Kurt smiled. The radio began to softly start the melody of Kelly Clarkson's "Since U've Been Gone." Without thinking they both reached for the volume knob, their fingers brushing against each other.
Matt reluctantly pulled back first, a tingling sensation still resting in his fingers. "Sorry I just…really like this song."
"No problem." Kurt said quickly, his voice tight. Too late Matt realized Kurt was probably used to guys pulling away from him quickly. Karofsky was a moron but he wasn't the only one in school who subscribed to the "catching the gay syndrome".
"That…I wasn't….."Matt shook his head to try to find the right words. "I was apologizing because I shouldn't be messing with your stereo. It's your car after all. It wasn't about you or anything like that."
Matt closed his eyes and shook his head. "I am really bad at this apology thing. Maybe this is why I don't talk that much."
"I'll be willing to accept that, as awkwardly phrased as it was on one condition."
"Name it."
"Tell me you aren't here to get information on how to break up Finn and Rachel so you can date our demented leader." Kurt almost begged him.
"Date…Rachel? You…think I want to date Rachel?"
"She's practically glued herself to your hip these days."
Damn it, he was going to have to do something about her new habit of cornering him after class and before glee. He knew it was going to look suspicious. He just knew it. "She's moderately impressed by my dancing. But of course she thinks she can give me pointers." It was only a partial lie. She did work in more than a few of her oh so helpful suggestions when she would run by some plan of hers to get him closer to Kurt.
"And you've been noticed staring in her general direction at lunch." Kurt continued.
"I'm not looking at her. I swear. Trust me Rachel is far from my type. She just happens to sit where I'm looking."
"So you admit to looking at her."
"No I admit to looking in her general direction." Matt protested. "Believe me Rachel is nowhere near my type. Finn is a better man than I am for being able to take all her Rachel-ness."
"So no plans to pump me for information about how to sabotage that relationship?"
Matt knew exactly why Kurt assumed he was the perfect candidate for a sabotage route on that particular relationship. Although Matt doubted Kurt had been aware of how obvious he was being (Kurt's total shock at no one being surprised by his coming out being Matt's big clue on that one) it was well known about his crush on Finn. Thankfully since before Sam came around, Matt had seen less and less of it. Maybe the Hudsons moving into the Hummel home and seeing that Finn had an unnatural tendency to not notice when his laundry became a little ripe finally killed it.
"Not a one. I don't go after people in relationships. Not my style."
"Good. I was having trouble figuring out how I was going to shove you out of the car and dump you on the highway. My ninja skills will only take me so far."
It had been a bit of a shock to see Kurt pull into the outlet mall just outside of Jeffersonville. He would have never imagined Kurt coming here of all places. Kurt just shrugged as he examined shirts in the Polo store. "While I would never attempt the insanity of trying to find something current here, there are good deals on basics. And since you need everything, starting here is best."
Kurt had decided Boris Kudjoe was the right inspiration for the look he was going to create. Classic, stylish and sexy. "The girls won't be able to keep off you." Kurt predicted as he strolled through the selection of pants at another store.
"That's…that's what we're going for right?" Matt had managed weakly as he made his way towards the dressing room for what felt like the millionth time.
Thankfully on their way to yet another store, Matt had spotted a music store and convinced Kurt to go in. He needed a break from trying on yet another shirt only to have Kurt dismiss it as "So ugly even my dad would reject it on sight." Wandering through the selection, he found himself in the soundtracks section. Not really looking for anything in particular he started flipping through random stacks when something in the N section caught his eye.
Making sure he read it correctly, Matt pulled it up closer to his eye. Giving out a little whoop of excitement, he shuffled his feet in time with the annoyingly plastic pop song blaring through the speakers. He had been looking for since roughly forever began and now he had it. This was the making of a great day!
"What do you have there?" Kurt asked interested, a copy of Madonna's lame attempt to be Evita in his hand. Ignoring Matt's attempt to pull his prize to the side, Kurt grabbed Matt's hand and brought it closer to him. Matt was so transfixed by Kurt actually holding his hand (well close enough at any rate) that he almost missed the scoff of disgust that passed Kurt's lips.
"You cannot seriously like this….this…." Kurt threw up his hands in fruststration. "Words fail me at how wrong this is. It's like cheating off of Brittany level ridiculous that you could like this."
"What's not to like?" Matt defended. "Newsies is a great movie. It helped usher back in movie musicals."
"Blasphemy! That was Madonna as Ms. Evita Peron!"
"You mean her blatant attempt to buy credibility as an actress?" Matt leaned back on his heels. "I don't think so."
"It's singing newsies! In horrific New York accents."
"With the future Batman singing and dancing." Matt countered easily. "Which is awesome."
"Clearly…clearly I'm going to have to teach you taste in more things than just clothing. I refuse to be friends with someone who thinks this is a legitimate musical."
"Not only am I buying it" Matt smiled "But I think I'll suggest a few numbers to Mr. Schue for the Invitational based on it."
"You wouldn't."
"You would do great with the solo in Seize the Day."
"I'm leaving you here."
"I'll tell everyone you have Bush and Linkin Park in your CD collection."
Kurt's mouth fell open. "You…you are evil. I never knew you were capable of such coldness"
Matt smiled right back. "Like you said. I'm a man of many secrets."
"So I did." Kurt nodded. "You just became more fascinating Matt Rutherford. Unfortunate taste in musicals aside. But that's something I can work out of you."