Tuesday: Days Until Prom: 4
Rachel stood at her locker, carefully sorting through her books and waiting for Jesse to meet her. She jumped as her locker was closed by someone, until she realized it was simply a smiling Kurt leaning against the locker next door.
"So Miss Barbara, have you gotten a prom dress yet? The theme is rainbow, since, you know it's a gay prom." Kurt laughed, "So, truly anything goes, so long as it does not have remnants of any animals sweaters...or elastic, I suppose...or heavy wool...or-"
"Kurt!" Rachel interrupted him, looking slightly upset. "I'm not sure I'm going to go...to your prom...I'm sorry." she bit her lip, waiting for his reaction. Kurt opened and closed his mouth, paused for a moment.
"Oh." he said softly after a few minutes. "I see."
"No Kurt! Please! I'm sorry! It's just-" Rachel started to explain herself, but he was quick to interrupt her.
"No, no, it's okay, really...I mean, I understand. If I had the choice to go to the...real prom I would have a tough choice too. Really Rachel, I swear it's okay. It was wrong of me to just assume things." he laughed airily. "Truly, it's fine."
"Kurt..." Rachel didn't know whether she wanted to hug him or continue to apologize, but before she could decide, he continued.
"Well, um, either way, please if you haven't decided on a dress, give me a call and I'll help you out." he forced himself to laugh again, "After all, you need all the fashion help you can get...well, see you in glee." Then he spun around and slipped into the hallway mass before Rachel could stop him. She contemplated going after him for a moment, but a pair of arms slipped around her waist.
"Hi." she greeted Jesse softly, as he kissed her cheek.
"Hello. If you'd like, I'll sneak away from helping Mr. Schue today to make a list of pros and cons for your prom choice." he greeted her back. Her eyes widened, spinning around in his arms.
"So you heard all that? What do you think I should do?" she questioned eagerly, but Jesse simply chuckled, shaking his head.
"I think you should go to the prom you want to go to." he answered, which helped her none. "After all, it's not my prom." Rachel's nose crinkled slightly.
"How was your prom? Do you think it was better, than, say, oh I don't know, hanging out with your friends for a night of dancing?" she asked, rather unsubtle. He smiled slightly.
"I didn't go to either of my proms, Junior or Senior." he informed her. She gasped, looking stunned and affronted.
"Are you joking? Why not!" Jesse shrugged, before leaning down and kissing her on the nose.
"I guess I just never had the right girl to take." he said sweetly, causing Rachel to roll her eyes, but giggle none the less.
"Whoa! Kurt! That's beautiful!" Mercedes tugged on the kilt section of his prom gear, eyes wide and mouth open in awe. "You made this?" she moved her eyes to Kurt, who shrugged bashfully.
"Thank you." he sighed, plopping gently on his bed. Mercedes raised an eyebrow, looking him over critically.
"Okay. What's wrong boo? You made an amazing prom outfit. You should be glowing with pride!" Mercedes laid down next to him, "Talk to me baby." Kurt sighed again.
"You said it wrong. What you meant to say is that I made an amazing faux prom outfit." he explained. Mercedes nodded slowly, starting to realize exactly what the problem was.
"You don't want to have the faux prom?" Mercedes questioned, confused. Kurt laughed dryly.
"I'm very happy to have this faux prom. It's just that though, it's the faux prom, the fake prom. If given the opportunity to go to the real prom, then I wouldn't give it a second thought. That's why I hold nothing against Rachel for being conflicted. My whole life I'm going to be ostracized and looked at oddly because of my sexual orientation...why can't just enjoy a normal teenage dream for once?" Kurt's face crumbled but he refused to cry. "Rachel gets to go to prom! Finn does! You do!" he exclaimed angrily. Mercedes' eyes blazed.
"Nuh uh. Not true! I don't get to go to prom! That's not true! My best friend isn't going! So it's not going to be prom. Prom is a time you spend with your friends. If my best friend isn't there, then neither am I!" she declared passionately...then a bit more quietly, "Plus Azimio doesn't want to go either, so I guess I let him think he's winning something when we don't go."
Kurt burst into laughter, and her mission was accomplished.
R & R. I know, I know, I'm sorry. I wait nearly a month, and this is the update you get? Sorry...I can't even make a promise that next chapter will be better. But trouble is a stewing, don't you think? Rachel?