Umm how much does nearly everyone of you threatening violence to Puck for his very Puck comments make me laugh and love you all? THIS MUCH! Oh those just made my night I tell you!
"I can't believe him. " Mercedes swore under her breath as she paced across the bleachers at the football field. It wasn't her first choice of a hangout spot anytime, but with no football or Cheerios practice right now, the field was empty. Perfect for her because when one plotted to murder someone, one didn't exactly want to be overheard.
Of all the foolish things Kurt had ever done and Mercedes could admit her best friend had put on more than his share of bad idea jeans on, this might just take the cake. He picked a love song for Matt to sing? A love song? She didn't care what Kurt protested, Mercedes knew that was his choice of a song. Oh sure there would probably be some nonsense about the song being in Matt's wheelhouse (which she could allow the song really was a good fit for Matt's voice but still) or that he hadn't told Matt to sing to him. Something about nerves since Matt had never sang a solo, or hell even sang at all as far as Mercedes knew since she was almost never near him in their staging. But she wasn't going to hear any of that.
The second Kurt realized he was starting to have feelings for Matt he should have changed songs. What was all his talk about this great plan he had to stop crushing on a straight guy if the entire time, situations that fell under "required time spending" was spent rehearsing a love song? And a love song about wanting to be with someone. Dear God living with Finn was starting to rub on him, because really Kurt should know better. It should have at least occurred to him this wasn't going to help his grand plan in the slightest.
"First I'm going to smack him. Then I'm going to ask him if he lost all his sense. And then I'm going to hit him again." Mercedes swore.
"Damn I hope that's not about me." Mike smiled as he neared her. Mercedes stopped, confused as to how exactly Mike had been able to sneak up on her. True her boyfriend tend to more glide than walk, a condition she attributed to his almost near constant need to dance, but she would like to think she would have been able to hear something. It wasn't like climbing up metal bleachers was an exactly silent activity.
"Do I get to know what started you off this time or should I just stay clear until you start randomly beating Kurt again?" Mike asked as he sat down and patted the spot next to him. "I just want to make sure I don't end up on the receiving end of bad boyfriend karma here."
"Oh trust me, that boy will know what I'm beating him about."Mercedes swore darkly, continuing to pace.
"So it is about Kurt." Mike nodded his head, with a maddening air of satisfaction. "I thought you were pretty quiet about the performance today. Not even a smile. If I hadn't heard it I would have thought he had chosen a Justin Bieber song to cover."
"That might have actually been a better choice considering." Mercedes muttered.
"Considering what?"
Mercedes winced. Even though she was positive Kurt was on a slippery slope here, he was still her best friend. And one thing a best friend did not do was spill about a secret crush. Especially to the best friend of the secret crush. But one look at Mike's relaxed posture and curious gaze, she knew she couldn't just brush off her comment. She decided to settle for the most blindingly obvious comment she could make.
"Considering Kurt has a boyfriend and a straight guy just sang a love song to him."
Mike chuckled. "Matt was just nervous. I'm sure he's more concerned that Mr. Schue is going to make that a part of next year's set list and won't give the leads to Finn and Rachel right now."
"Yeah and Kurt will let that happen over his dead body."
Mike shrugged his shoulders. "It would probably be good for Matt. It would put to rest the rumor that he's mute for once and for all. Plus you know I'm always down to watch Kurt and Rachel battle it out from a safe distance. Let Kurt fight that one out."
"You don't think it's weird do you?" Mercedes questioned as she sat down. Seeing him arch his eyebrow in confusion, she clarified her point. "Kurt and Matt hanging out all the time. You don't think it's strange?"
"Not really. Should I?"
"They just have never been all that friendly before. And now they're doing glee assignments together and Kurt would likely claw Rachel's eyes out if she tried to take a solo from Matt. And he's attempting to play matchmaker for Matt and Quinn."
"Which seems to have worked. I know Matt swears he and Quinn are just friends but I saw him walking to her glee today."
"Yeah but Kurt's not crowing about it. " Mercedes pointed out. "He seems disappointed it worked."
"So what you're really worried about is Kurt developing a crush on Matt. Aren't you?" Mike asked quietly.
"What?" Mercedes stood sputtering. "I didn't….I mean…where did you….how did you…"
"Mercedes I've been in glee all year. I do notice things." Mike pointed out. "And Kurt's not exactly subtle when he likes someone. I'm not going to go tell him anything if that's what you're worried about. But if that's what's bothering you, I'm pretty sure I can help."
"Can you get Kurt to remember he has a boyfriend?" Mercedes asked with a sigh.
"Not if Kurt doesn't want to remember."
"He should. Sam is great and this situation with Matt is just another doomed dream." Mercedes buried her face in her hands. "I could choke him for this."
"Why? You can't exactly help who you like and when Cedes."
"He could at least remember Matt's straight."
"If it was bugging Matt he'd tell him." Mike pointed out. "And as far as we know, he's not said anything."
"Yeah but with Kurt's constant staring at him and Quinn, he probably will say something. Not to mention Sam is going to notice something's up with that boy eventually. He's going to ruin a good thing by obsessing over a doomed dream."
"Cedes, I like Sam. I do. But have you ever considered that if Kurt was really happy with him, he wouldn't be seeking out other people to crush on?" Mike asked carefully, putting his hand on her shoulder.
"Are you crazy? He and Sam are perfect together."
"Yeah by our standards. And maybe Kurt thought Sam was who he wanted. But come on Cedes, by other people's standards I should be with Tina, not you. If I was hung up on the whole 'date another Asian' thing, I'd be dating her and be miserable. Tina's nice but she's not for me. "Mike pointed out. "Maybe Kurt's realizing what he has and what he wants are two different things. "
"Maybe…" Mercedes allowed.
"And it's not bothering Matt. I know he's quiet but if was really bugging him, he'd speak up or at least stop hanging out with Kurt all the time. So don't worry about all that." Mike pulled her closer to him and dropped a kiss on the top of her forehead. "Why don't I take you to a movie to get your mind off of that back on to me where it should be?"
Mercedes laughed and playful shoved him with her shoulder as they stood up and made their way down the bleachers.
Neither one ever did see Sam standing beneath them, rooted to the place as every word they said echoed in his head.
Walking towards Kurt's house, Sam wondered what kind of twisted luck he had that today was the day Karofsky decided to play "hide the homo's books" on him and that Karofsky's hiding spot had been underneath the damn football bleachers. If that moronic redneck was going to play that stupid game, he could at least be creative about where the books were going to be hidden. At least draw out the alleged fun a little bit.
And what Sam was sure was some sort of hilarity somewhere; Karofsky was going to be responsible for this discussion he was going to have with Kurt. Because if his books had never been hid, he would have never over-heard Mercedes and Mike's conversation.
He hadn't meant to eavesdrop. In all honestly he hadn't realized Mercedes was the one making the racket above him and by the time he did realize it was her, her mood scared him. But to say the conversation hadn't been enlightening would be a lie.
Kurt had a crush on Matt. He didn't care how Mike tried to phrase it. That was the truth he had been trying to avoid for weeks now. It explained everything. Kurt's overnight loyalty to Matt. The near constant need to rehearse a glee performance that possibly wouldn't even be on a set list anywhere. The makeover.
And most importantly why Kurt wasn't nearly as happy about Quinn and Matt being together as he should be.
Pounding on the front door, Sam felt his anxiety build. He really didn't want to have this conversation but he had to know. He let out a breath when Kurt answered the door. At least he wouldn't have to make small talk with Mr. Hummel or Mrs. Hudson before doing this.
"Do you have a crush on Matt?" he blurted out before Kurt even managed to say hello.
Kurt took a step back into the house, blinking furiously. Even though Kurt was pale to begin with, Sam swore the other boy lost a few shades of color at his question. The fact a scoff and an immediate denial didn't accompany his question seemed to seal it.
"You do. You do." Sam answered himself, starting to pace on the porch. "What am I just some second place while you chase straight guys?"
"No. No that's…no I don't think that." Kurt protested. "And I'm not chasing anyone. I'm with you."
"With me. Sure you're with me but you'd rather be with someone else wouldn't you?"
"That's ….that's not true."
The words were right but looking into Kurt's eyes, Sam couldn't bring himself to believe them. And from the look at Kurt's shoulders drooping, Kurt couldn't fully bring himself to believe it either.
"I don't want to fight with you. And I'm really trying hard to not be a jealous freak right now. But I'm not going to be second place for anyone. I know who I want. And that' s you. I think you need to figure out the same thing."