Chapter Fifteen
A/N: This chapter is a little bit of a roller coaster ride. Thank you to Welshbabe88 for the song suggestion- it turned out to be exactly what I needed. Blaine and Kurt's song is Make You Feel My Love by Adele. Sorry to everyone who actually voted on the poll- I really appreciate it and was going to use one of those songs until I found this one. I hope you aren't too mad at me for that one.
"Hey Kurt?" Blaine asked. He was helping him set up for the party, and he knew people would be showing up soon.
"Yeah?" Kurt was distracted, trying to set up the drinks and snacks and finish preparing.
"I want to tell you something." Blaine put his hands on Kurt's shoulders. Kurt turned and faced him.
"Yessss?" Kurt smiled.
"Well, actually, I'm going to sing it. It's the only way I could figure out how to tell you." Blaine took his hands and started singing.
When the rain
Is blowing in your face
And the whole world
Is on your case
I could offer you
A warm embrace
To make you feel my love
Blaine wrapped an arm around Kurt's waist, picking his other hand up in his, slowing starting to dance with him. He rested his forehead against Kurt's as he sang.
When the evening shadows
And the stars appear
And there is no one there
To dry your tears
I could hold you
For a million years
To make you feel my love
I know you
Haven't made
Your mind up yet
But I would never
Do you wrong
I've known it
From the moment
That we met
No doubt in my mind
Where you belong
I'd go hungry
I'd go black and blue
I'd go crawling
Down the avenue
No, there's nothing
That I wouldn't do
To make you feel my love
The storms are raging
On the rolling sea
And on the highway of regret
Though the winds of change
Are blowing wild and free
You ain't seen nothing
Like me yet
I could make you happy
Make your dreams come true
Nothing that I wouldn't do
Go to the ends
Of the Earth for you
To make you feel my love
When he finished singing, Kurt had the happiest smile on his face that Blaine had ever seen.
"That was beautiful." Kurt said breathlessly. Blaine looked sheepish.
"I just wanted to let you know how I feel about you." He told Kurt. Kurt leaned in and kissed him, letting it linger for a moment.
"Hey Blaine?" He asked.
"Yes?" Blaine was lost in Kurt's eyes.
"I love you too." Kurt leaned in, kissing him again, this time letting his tongue tangle with Blaine's.
Blaine felt his stomach flip over and his heart start hammering. Even though he was in the middle of kissing the most amazing man in the world, he couldn't wipe the smile off his face. He wrapped his arms around Kurt, pulling him closer and deepening the kiss.
"Look! Boy-on-boy PDA! Hot!" Santana sauntered in, one hand on her hip. Blaine and Kurt broke away from each other, both blushing and giving shy smiles as the rest of New Directions entered the room, followed by the Warblers, all of them cheering.
"Hi everyone." Kurt smiled, trying to get moving so that he could stop blushing. "Is everyone clear on the plan?" Everyone nodded and mumbled. "So my dad is in the neighbour's yard checking on the-" He heard the outside door open again. "the food on the barbeque and we are supposed to let him know when we are ready-Jenny! Hi! I didn't hear you come in!" Kurt hugged her and everyone greeted her warmly. Jenny looked around the room, her eyes travelling over to Darcy and lingering for a split second before moving on.
"I didn't realize there would be so many Warblers here." She commented casually.
"Well," Blaine started. "You can't just mention that you are going to a party with girls around Dalton without having a bunch of tag-alongs and the Warblers are the biggest tag-alongs." He winked at Kurt, who smiled back. Wes interjected his opinion from beside the Christmas tree.
"Don't worry Jenny, you will be seeing a lot more of us when you and D-" David jammed his elbow into Wes' ribcage. "Dave what the hell!" He doubled over, completely winded.
"Sorry. You were standing under the hitting plant." He pointed up to the big tacky fake plant that Carole had put up for the holidays.
"That's a poinsettia plant, you idiot!" Wes choked out.
"Oh, I guess you didn't know that the poinsettia plant is the international symbol for happy holiday hitting." David continued. Blaine leaned over to Kurt and whispered.
"And this is why they are my best friends." Kurt laughed. Brittany looks seriously at Wes.
"My mom has one of those plants, but it's a real one. Maybe the happy holiday hitting only happens under fake ones. You should find a real one to stand under, Wes." Everyone in the room gave Brittany a disbelieving stare as they so often did.
"Okay, well everyone there is a surprise in the back yard so let's all head out there." Kurt put his plan into action, giving Blaine a quick nod as he went to his post. It was difficult to keep everything straight. Everyone but Jenny knew about the surprise, but only Blaine and the Warbler's- minus Darcy knew about the plan, which was completely separate from the surprise. It was getting confusing, but Kurt had to pull it off. It would be monumental and he was sure to go down in history books or get an award or something.
"Oh, Jenny, Darcy I wanted to ask your opinions on something..." Kurt drew both of them over to the fireplace, making up some complete nonsense about wanting to redecorate the living room and paint it a very fashionable eggplant purple and moving all the furniture around.
"I'm not sure why you are asking me, I don't really know all that much about decorating and all that fashion stuff." Darcy's deep voice filled the room.
"Well, you see, I am trying to get Jenny to move in with me and I know her favourite colour is purple, but I also need to make sure the males in this house are happy, which is why I'm asking you." Kurt explained. Jenny sucked in her breath at the mention of moving in with Kurt. Darcy glanced at her, surprised by the news.
Blaine looked over his shoulder to make sure no one was looking. Everyone else was already outside and Kurt was doing a wonderful job at stalling Jenny and Darcy. When he was satisfied that there was no one else around, he took Darcy's jacket and placed it on top of Jenny's. With that, he disappeared out the door, texting Kurt to let him know that part was done. Kurt couldn't have timed things any better. After their conversation, they both headed for their coats at the same time. He stood just out of their view, but he could see them perfectly in the reflection of the mirror by the back door. He watched the almost comical awkwardness of them trying to reach for their jackets at the same time. He hoped what Blaine said about Darcy was right.
"Here." Darcy smiled, holding her coat so she could put it on." Kurt did a quick happy dance. Darcy was the perfect gentleman- exactly what Jenny needed.
"Thank you." Jenny smiled, blushing slightly as she shrugged into her coat as he helped her.
"It was really nice seeing you in the mall the other day, even if it was for a minute." Darcy started putting on his own coat as she put on her hat.
"It was really nice seeing you too. Your little sister is so sweet." She smiled.
"Thanks. She talks about you all the time." It didn't seem to phase him to admit that.
"Really? I only met her for a second." Jenny loved Lizzy even more.
"What can I say? You make an impression." A meaningful smile played on his lips as he opened the door for her and she stepped out.
"Thanks. I think." Jenny wasn't sure how to take that. Kurt flew to the back door, needing to see what happened next, on the phone with Blaine as he updated him on the surprise outside.
"It was definitely a compliment." Jenny blushed, glad that it was dark outside. She was barely a step ahead of Darcy, but it was just far enough to slip on the patch of black ice on the side walk. She let out a gasp and a yelp as her foot slid out and she felt herself falling, bracing for the hard impact of pavement beneath her, but she never hit. Darcy's strong arms were wrapped around her, holding her up.
"Are you okay?" He asked, seriously concerned. Jenny nodded, overwhelmed by the amazing smell of his cologne.
"Mhm." She managed. As much as she tried, she couldn't help it. She was falling for him-literally. Kurt stood at the door, his mouth hanging open.
"Blaine I can't believe it. I can't fricking believe it. You have to thank Wes. His completely ridiculous idea of icing the sidewalk that had no chance of working actually worked! She fell and he caught her." Kurt was amazed. Wes' idea actually worked. He watched as Darcy helped Jenny up and they disappeared into the backyard, Darcy's hand on her back in a protective manner. He rushed out the backdoor.
Jenny looked around the yard. It was dark, all the trees lit up with twinkling lights.
"Where is everyone?" She asked, turning around on the spot to see if they were behind her. When she turned back, Darcy had disappeared too. "Okay...creepy. Hello?" She shifted her weight from foot to foot.
"Oh good, you are in position." Kurt smiled, walking up behind her.
"What's going on? Where is everyone?" She asked nervously.
"Well, see, we have a little surprise for you. We are doing a mash-up." He announced.
"Of what songs?" None of it was making any sense to Jenny.
"Not of songs," He corrected. "of the Warblers and New Directions. This one is for you." He smiled, backing away, disappearing behind a large Douglas Fir at the back of the yard near a clearing with their fence behind it.
"I'm still confused. I-" Her words caught in her throat as everyone appeared in the little clearing and Rachel started singing, everyone else filling in the tune for the a Capella. Their voices blended so perfectly. It was an incredible mash-up of two totally different glee clubs with completely different strengths as everyone took their turns singing the lead.
Do you ever feel like a plastic bag
Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?
Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin
Like a house of cards, one blow from caving in?
Do you ever feel already buried deep?
Six feet under screams but no one seems to hear a thing
Do you know that there's still a chance for you
'Cause there's a spark in you?
You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine
Just own the night like the fourth of July
As the chorus began, Jenny's mouth fell open as fireworks exploded in the air from the other side of the fence, colouring the inky sky with red, blue, green and white and igniting the yard in a wash of beautiful flickering light, beginning again every time the chorus was sung.
'Cause baby, you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go, oh
As you shoot across the sky
Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colours burst
Make 'em go, oh
You're gonna leave 'em falling down
You don't have to feel like a waste of space
You're original, cannot be replaced
If you only knew what the future holds
After a hurricane comes a rainbow
Maybe you're reason why all the doors are closed
So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road
Like a lightning bolt, your heart will blow
And when it's time, you'll know
You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine
Just own the night like the fourth of July
'Cause baby you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go, oh
As you shoot across the sky
Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go, oh
You're gonna leave 'em falling down
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
It's always been inside of you, you, you
And now it's time to let it through
'Cause baby you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go, oh
As you shoot across the sky
Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colours burst
Make 'em go, oh
Your gonna leave 'em falling down
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
Jenny was completely lost for words by the end of the song. Everyone watched her reaction before finally, Quinn broke the silence by running over and hugging her, everyone else following suit.
"Jenny you really are amazing and we wanted to make sure you knew that." Kurt smiled, squeezing her hand.
"Yeah. We want you to be part of New Directions. Even if you have stage fright, we want to help you work on that." Mercedes gave her a warm smile, completely changing her face from the usual scowl she gave Jenny. She knew it was because Mercedes understood now.
"New Directions isn't just about singing either. We are a family." Quinn smiled. "We are all outcasts in our own way. We've been through it all and we did it together. We will always be there for you to remind you of how amazing you are, just let it shine through." Jenny was still bordering on speechless. She had never received so much attention and love before.
"Thank you." She choked out. "All of this...all of you. You all mean so much to me. I can't believe you did all this just to tell me I'm amazing." She laughed. Mr. Hummel's head popped up from behind the fence.
"Did we get the fireworks on cue, Kurt?" He asked. Everyone laughed.
"You did great dad! And thank you Mr. Johnson for helping." Kurt thanked the neighbour, who clearly enjoyed getting to set off big bangs. Carole walked up from behind Jenny with a video camera in her hand.
"That was incredible." She was crying. "All of you kids are like my own." She joined in the group hug.
"I have an announcement to make!" Blaine's voice rose above everyone else to make himself heard. "Jenny will actually be performing with me on Christmas Eve. Everyone should be there to support her." The amount of noise that followed was deafening. From the sounds of it, they would all be there. Soon after, everyone headed back inside, it was getting cold out now that all the adrenaline had worn off. Darcy gently pulled Jenny out of the throng heading for the door.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?" He asked.
"Okay." She bit her lip.
"You really are amazing. It's funny. I have met you a few times now and I know that I don't really know you very well, but I know you're favourite colour is purple, you are not Blaine's sister, you might be moving in with Kurt if he has his way, and I know that you have the most beautiful smile I have ever seen in my life." He tangled his fingers in her hair, pressing his lips to hers. Jenny melted, returning the kiss. She was so caught up that she couldn't even think, all she knew was that Darcy was kissing her, and that's all she cared about. From the window, Kurt, Blaine, Wes, David and the other Warblers and all of New Directions were cheering silently through the glass and dancing around, high-fiving each other. Mr. Hummel, who was still in the neighbour's yard happened to stick his head over the fence again. His eyes widened and he immediately ducked out of sight, setting off another firework to interrupt them. Jenny broke the kiss first, hearing the telltale whistle and bang of another firework. Burt peered through a crack in the fence to see what was happening. Darcy looked into her eyes as they sparkled with the light of the firework. Darcy slid his hand down to her arm and unknowingly touched a tender bruise. Jenny cleared her throat, reality crashing down on her.
"We should go back inside." She marched towards the door. Darcy could see the moment was over and followed her.
"Jenny, what's wrong?" He asked. Jenny kept walking.
"Nothing is wrong." She tried to ignore the fact that her heart was still hammering, her lips were tingling and her legs felt like they were made of rubber.
"It's pretty obvious that something is wrong. You need to tell me the truth." He used the wrong word, and Jenny whipped around.
"The truth? I guess you are just going to assume that I'm lying from now on because of what Blaine told you?" He couldn't stand the hurt look on her face.
"That's not what I meant. I just need to know how you are feeling." He amended.
"I can't do this Darcy. I can't be in a relationship. It's just not going to happen." She told him bluntly.
"Okay, so we can take it slowly. I'm a very patient person." He tried to reach for her hand. She pulled it away.
"Then you are going to be waiting for awhile. There is way too much going on in my life. I just can't let someone else in." She turned again and headed into the house. Inside, when everyone saw that things were going horribly wrong, they resorted to Plan B. Darcy stepped in the door right after Jenny.
"I've got mistletoe!" Blaine jumped out from behind the door, holding it above their heads, although really it was only above Jenny's because Darcy was so tall. Darcy shot Blaine a look. Jenny didn't bother taking off her coat, or with the mistletoe, choosing to completely ignore Blaine.
"I'm not really feeling very festive anymore, so I'm just going to go home and let everyone have a good time." She explained. "I'm sorry everyone. Thank you again for the amazing song. I really appreciate it and I love you all. I promise I will be in glee from now on." She avoided Darcy's gaze all together and ignored the protests, walking out the door. Kurt ran after her.
"Nice going you idiot." Wes smacked Darcy. "What the hell happened?"
Kurt ran after her, his coat back inside and completely forgotten.
"Jenny, wait!" He blocked her path.
"Kurt, please let me go." Jenny was obviously trying very hard to hold herself together. "You need to go back inside, it's freezing out." She ordered him.
"What happened?" He asked.
"He can't find out about anything, Kurt. Who would want to date someone as screwed up as me? You know the answer to that. I'm just saving myself some hurt and saving him from having to deal with all the trouble. I can't let myself fall for him. I'm sorry. It's pretty obvious that you all worked very hard to get the two of us together and it almost worked, but reality is still reality. I'll see you tomorrow." She walked off at a quick pace down the street without letting Kurt get a word in. He just stared as she walked down the street.
"Kurt!" Blaine called. "Come back inside. She's gone." Kurt sighed, walking back to the house.
A/N: What does everyone think of the chapter? Let me know what you think, I'm also curious to hear responses about the Jenny/Darcy thing. Please let me know!