Two Steps Beyond
Part 52
By the time they were done eating, Sebastian had called Lexi and asked to borrow her SUV, leaving her Blaine's car in the meantime since their other car didn't have room for the car seats. While Blaine called Hunter to see if he was free the next day. "Hunter can be there by nine." Blaine said once he ended his call. "And he'll bring Cassie's SUV instead of his car."
"I don't know how to thank you guys." Rachel said quietly.
"You don't have too." Nick said. "I'm sorry our little bit of news caused you so many problem."
"Honestly, it was nice to argue with him about something besides Blaine and Seb."
"Still, you shouldn't have had too." Santana told her. "Who knew he'd get so upset about me being with Nick."
"That's because subconsciously he must be crushing on Nick." Sebastian said with a laugh, though Nick didn't look amused.
"It's not necessarily about you and Nick, really. It's about the fact that I don't tell him everything anymore. He was upset that I knew and didn't say anything about it to him."
"Why would you." Jeff said. "Given the way he's acting I wouldn't even talk to him."
"That's basically why I don't. He's completely judgmental of everything I do."
"I know this is sort of changing the subject, but do you know if his Dad has talked him yet?" Sebastian asked.
"I don't think so considering they haven't had much time alone together since I've been home packing most evenings. And I don't think that's a conversation he wants to have with me around."
"Well, he's going to get his chance tomorrow."
The next morning when Blaine arrived at Lexi and Cooper's to switch cars he was surprised to see Jeff out front. "What are you doing here man?"
"I thought I'd give you some company for the drive over."
"Okay, but I assumed you'd be riding over with Nick."
"I thought I'd give him and Santana some time alone together this morning. She's more frustrated with this situation than she let on last night. Nick was honestly worried that she was going to go over to Rachel's and tell Kurt exactly what she thinks of all this."
"That wouldn't' have been good. Alright, where's Britt?"
"She's at dance class. Seb said he'd swing by and get her on his way over." While they were talking Lexi came walking outside.
"Were you two going to let me know you were here or were you just going to stand out here and talk?"
"Sorry about that Lexi." Blaine said before giving her a hug. "We really appreciate this."
"Like I told Bas, it's no problem and keep it as long as you need. And so you know, Cooper said if you still need help around noon to let him know because he should be done by then."
"Tell him thank you and I'll let him know." Blaine said while they took the car seats out. "How's everything going with him?"
"He's good, but I'm sure he'll be thrilled when this is over. He's decided he likes making movies better than promoting them. Especially since some reporters don't respect boundaries."
"How do they not respect boundaries?" Jeff asked.
"One asked him to take off his wedding ring so he'd appear even more desirable. She said to him there is nothing worse than women falling for a guy then seeing a certain piece of jewelry. And tried to convince him that it might affect the promotion of the movie"
"I hope Coop told them to go to hell!" Blaine said, clearly irritated by what Lexi just told them.
"He did and talked to the publicist traveling with them about it. She was pretty offended on his behalf as well and guaranteed him something like that would never happen again."
"Good, because marrying you is the best decision he's ever made." Lexi just smiled at Blaine's words. "Alright, we should get going. Don't want to keep the others waiting. Thanks again Lexi."
"No problem. Good luck guys!"
When Blaine and Jeff pulled up outside of Rachel's building Nick, Santana, and Hunter were already out front talking with Brody. "Nice of you guys to finally join us." Santana said after giving them each a hug.
"Sorry, Lexi and I were talking." Blaine said. "So, are we ready to do this?"
"I think you and Jeff need to know what I just told these guys." Brody said. "Kurt's upstairs. He's not going into work until this afternoon."
"Who cares?" Jeff replied to which Blaine agreed.
"We had the same reaction." Nick told them.
"Okay, I just didn't want you guys not to know and get blindsided when you see him. I think it's pretty safe to say he's going to be shocked to see all of you. The only thing that might shock him more is once Seb shows up with Brittany."
While they headed up the stairs, Blaine thanked Hunter once more for helping considering he was coming straight from practice. Hunter reassured him that it was no problem and he will personally enjoy watching a wrench getting thrown into Kurt's life. After Hunter's comment, Blaine realized Kurt really rubbed Hunter the wrong way. And he couldn't help wonder what else had been said between the two.
They all stood off to the side while Brody knocked on the door. Not surprisingly, Kurt opened it slightly surprised to see Brody standing there considering he usual taught dance classes in the morning. "And just what do we owe this honor this morning?"
"We're here to help Rachel move out." Brody replied.
"Excuse me?"
"Hey Kurt!" Nick said with a smile, his arm wrapped securely around Santana to make sure she didn't go on the attack. The look on Kurt's face when Nick spoke said volumes. It was pretty clear Rachel hadn't told him that some of the guys were still in town.
"Wait…what?"
"Move out of the way porcelain, we're here to free Rachel." Santana snapped back in response. Hunter barely stifled his laugh at her comment. "Rach!" She called out since Kurt still hadn't moved out of the doorway.
"Morning guys!" Rachel said with a smile before pulling the door open the rest of the way. "I'm just finishing up. And I separated the boxes as to which go to Brody's and which are going into to storage for the time being."
"Cool, let's get started then." Hunter said as he, Jeff, and Blaine made their way inside, leaving Kurt at the door with Brody, Nick, and Santana.
"Are you going to move Kurt?" Brody asked.
"She can't just leave; she still has two months on the lease."
"Oh, I can and I am." Rachel chimed in. "My Dads paid the last two months already, so you're covered. Now please step aside so we can get started." Rachel then grabbed ahold of Brody's hand as well as Nick's pulling everyone inside.
"Rachel, can we talk about this?"
"There's nothing left to talk about."
"I'm sorry. I never should've gone off on you like that."
"You should've thought about that earlier before you decided to tear into her." Nick said. "And you wonder why she doesn't tell you everything. But, it's not like my relationship with Santana is any of your business anyhow." He said while taking a box from Blaine.
"She's using you Duval."
"Excuse me?" Santana said in a clearly agitated voice. "Who the hell do you think you are questioning my relationship with Nick?"
"I've seen you use and abuse guys for years. The only reason you've hooked up with Duval is because it gives you a better opportunity to get Brittany back." Those words caught Jeff's attention and brought him closer to the conversation.
"This is going to get ugly." Hunter said to Blaine who was paying close attention.
"You took the words right out of my mouth. The only thing that'll make matters worse is Bas arriving."
"My relationship with Nick has nothing to do with Britt. I care about Nick, a lot."
"Like you cared about Brittany."
"Leave Brittany out of this!" Jeff said as he stepped in front of Kurt. "Santana and Nick are happy together, why can't you see that?"
"Because I'm not naïve like the rest of you. Did you conveniently forget that she announced she was a lesbian just over a year ago? You're just kidding yourselves if you think there is more to their relationship. I'm sure the two of you are only going along with it to fulfill some twisted sexual fantasies."
"Back off Hummel!" Nick spouted. "You've crossed a line. And here Seb didn't think you had the balls to say something like that to our faces. Not that it's any of your business, but Santana and I prefer to keep certain things just between the two of us. So any thoughts you might have about the four of us getting it on together, not happening."
"Figures the two of you are sleeping together. Is that all it takes to get one of you into a relationship?"
"Kurt, stop already!" Rachel practically yelled as she walked into the middle of all of them. "Don't make this any harder than it needs to be. Why don't you just go out while we do this?"
"So you're kicking me out of my own home?"
"I'm not kicking you out, but this is going to take twice as long if you start a fight with everyone. So please, go take a walk or something."
"I'd listen to her." Blaine chimed in from across the room.
"Stay out of this!"
"Layoff of him! He's just being nice." Hunter said. "Which is something you really don't deserve considering everything I've been told and what I just witnessed."
"What are you, his keeper since Smythe isn't around?"
"Guys, could you all just wait outside while Kurt and I talk?"
"It's like you said, there's nothing to talk about Rachel, it's obvious you're leaving and didn't have the courtesy to tell me."
"What the hell do you think I've been trying to tell you since last night, but you kept interrupting me?"
"You could've tried harder."
"And you could've let me finish a sentence."
"As entertaining as this all is, can we just get started." Jeff said, while crossing his arms in front of him. "I'd prefer the arguing not still be going on when Britt gets here since she hates it when people argue."
"Awww, aren't you the considerate one. Were you that considerate when you took Brittany from Santana?"
"Kurt get over it already! Jeff and Brittany are together and have had my blessing since the start. And I'm now with Nick. You're the only person that can't seem to move on with their life. Blaine and Seb have been together for almost a year though they've been eye-sexing for much longer." Santana then winked at Blaine who was smiling.
"Guys, Jeff's right, we need to get started because arguing with Hummel could take over our day and we'd never get anything accomplished on either front. Cause if you haven't noticed, we're just going around in circles?" Nick said knowing the longer this went on the chances of them still arguing when Sebastian arrived would be high and his arrival is already going to be interesting. "So, which boxes are going to storage?"
"The ones over by my bed since that's going to storage as well." Rachel replied.
"Got it and I think we should put that stuff in Hunter's SUV since it's the biggest. The rest will fit in my car and Blaine's." There was something about the way Nick spoke that the rest of them basically tuned out Kurt who was still talking and went to work.
Blaine and Rachel were loading boxes into Blaine's SUV when Sebastian and Brittany walked up to them. "And here I thought all the work would be done when we arrived." Sebastian said before giving Blaine a kiss.
"It would've been if…" Blaine didn't need to finish his sentence when Sebastian pulled him into a hug.
"No need to explain, I get it judging from both of your expressions." Sebastian then looked at Rachel who was sitting on the back bumper with Brittany. "How bad?"
"He picked a fight with basically everyone." Rachel said.
"Is he still here?"
"He's upstairs. Our lucky day, he doesn't have to be into work until later. I really should've had one of you call Tasha to check his schedule."
"Alright, let the fun begin." Sebastian said before leaning down to give Blaine another kiss.
"Bas, please."
"Don't worry B, I won't get carried away. Just me being here will be enough to send him into a fit. You know there is so much he wants to say to me. And since he's already riled up the words will fly."
"I know, but, Jeff doesn't want us all arguing." Blaine said, looking up at Sebastian who glanced over at Brittany who was talking to Rachel and then back at Blaine who nodded.
"Enough said. I'll behave. Britt, you ready to help Rachel move in with Brody?"
"Yes." Brittany's enthusiasm and smile was enough to help relieve some of the tension Blaine and Rachel were feeling.
On their way up to the loft they passed Nick and Santana who were carrying boxes down. They all just exchanged smiles before continuing on. "The cavalry has arrived." Sebastian said loudly once they walked in.
"And just when I thought my day couldn't get any worse."
"It's good to see you to Kurt." Sebastian said with a smile, holding Blaine's hand tightly while Brittany went running over to Jeff who clearly looked irritated. "Think of this move in the positive."
"There is nothing positive about this."
"Yes there is, you don't have to worry about hearing Rachel and Brody having coitus anymore." Hunter, Brody, Blaine, and Jeff all started to laugh. Only Sebastian would choose to use that terminology in front of Kurt. Kurt glared at Sebastian as he and Blaine headed further into the loft.
"Figures your mind would go there Smythe."
"It's a natural thing Kurt and we all know how skittish you are about it, though I'm impressed you knew what I meant. And I happen to know Rachel and Brody engage in it. Sorry guys, I hope that wasn't a secret."
"That's fine man." Brody replied. "We're not ashamed of it."
"No kidding, considering the way you two go at it." Kurt chimed in.
"Rachel, after this last load we'll be ready to go." Hunter told her after picking up a box. "So, the sooner we finish the sooner you don't have to deal with him on a daily basis anymore."
"You don't know anything about us so stay out of it!" Kurt snapped causing Hunter to stop dead in his tracks.
"I know she used to be your best friend but you fucked it up because you couldn't get over the fact that Blaine is with Seb and she's happy for them. Boo-fucking-hoo! Grow up and grow a pair!"
"You're crude."
"And you're a fucking control freak! You keep this shit up and you're going to end up all alone, because from what I can see Rachel's the only one willing to put up with your…"
"What the hell is going on?" All eyes flew to the doorway where Kurt's Dad stood. "I could hear you guys downstairs."
"Sorry sir. I'm going to take this box downstairs guys, I'll wait for the rest of you there." Hunter said before walking passed Mr. Hummel.
"Will someone please tell me what's going on?"
"Rachel's moving out today." Kurt said.
"Okay, but I thought you weren't leaving till the end of the lease."
"Things have changed Mr. Hummel and its best if I do this now. But don't worry, Kurt is covered for the next two months, my Dads paid my half of the rent already." It wasn't till Rachel was done talking did Mr. Hummel take full assessment of who was in the room.
"Would the rest of you mind giving me a few minutes with my son?"
"Not at all." Blaine replied. They all then grabbed what was hopefully the last of the boxes and headed down to their cars. Once they were out of the loft, Mr. Hummel closed the door.
"Now, would you care to tell me what that was all about?"
"They're rude."
"Kurt, they might be but I don't believe they'd go off for no reason. What happened?" And why is Rachel leaving already?" Kurt looked around the loft and realized that everything was gone except for Rachel's bed.
"Can this wait till they're gone?"
"Kurt."
"Fine, I'll give you the basics. Rachel is leaving I assume because I snapped at her for not telling me that Santana and Nick are dating. She knew before they announced it to the world."
"Nick and Santana?"
"Yes."
"Alright, but why would you get mad at her for that?"
"Dad, Rachel and I used to tell each other everything. But after she took up for Blaine and Sebastian that all changed. She's changed."
"Did it ever occur to you that maybe Nick and Santana weren't ready to tell everyone they were together?"
"That didn't used to matter, we shared everything."
"Kurt, Rachel respected her friends' privacy. Why get mad at her for something so trivial?" By this point in the conversation they were sitting on the couch.
"People dating isn't a secret one usually protects so closely."
"But it wasn't Rachel's news to share and you don't know how Nick and Santana felt. If you keep doing things like this you're going to push all of your friends away."
"Hunter said the same thing."
"So he was the one you were fighting with when I arrived."
"He was."
"Did they get all of Rachel's things?"
"Her bed is still here, why?"
"Send Rachel a text and ask her if she can pick it up later. It's time you and I had a serious heart to heart."
"Dad."
"Kurt, this is happening whether you want it to or not, especially after what I walked in on and what you've just said." Kurt knew that tone of his Dad's voice so he sent Rachel the message and waited for a response. It was only moments later that Rachel replied that they'd be back the next day for it.
Once they knew they weren't going back inside again it was time to decide who was riding with whom. Since Hunter had all the stuff for storage, Rachel went with him along with Jeff and Brittany while Brody was going to ride over with Blaine and Sebastian. On the drive over to Brody's, Sebastian looked back at Brody in the backseat. "Did Rachel say why we didn't go back in?"
"Nope, but I know there must be a good reason considering how badly she wanted out."
"If I had to venture a guess, it has to do with Burt." Blaine said. "He was clearly not happy with what he walked in on."
"No kidding." Brody said. "But personally I'm glad he came in when Kurt was arguing with Hunter and not earlier when he was arguing with Nick, Santana, and Jeff."
"Wait, he got into it with all of them, at the same time?" Sebastian asked. "I know Rachel said he picked a fight with everyone, but I just thought she was being Rachel and being overly dramatic."
"I'll tell you about it later Bas, but I will say now it wasn't pretty. In other news, how was practice?"
"Good, the guys I've met are pretty cool though I did play lacrosse with a bunch of them last year. So there is already a good amount of familiarity there."
"You'll have to let us know when your first game is." Brody said. "Rachel really enjoys watching lacrosse. So I thank you from the bottom of my heart that she's broadening her horizons."
"Are you saying that even you get tired of theatre and musicals?" Sebastian asked with a laugh.
"Absolutely. You don't know how pissed I was that I couldn't go to the baseball game with you guys when you all went. But Rachel promised she'd go with me to a game so things are looking up."
"Well, if you want more company just let us notice since I'm sure the others would love to go as well." Blaine told him.
"That sounds like a plan."
When they finally arrived at Brody's they were happy to find two parking spaces relatively close to the building's entrance. "I think this is the first time we've been here." Blaine said upon opening the back hatch.
"It is and I'm sorry for that." Brody told him. "Though we do usual go out when we all get together. If it makes you feel better once Rachel has moved in and we're settled we'll have you guys over again."
"Much." Sebastian replied. "Now, are you sure all this stuff is going to fit?"
"Yes, I lucked out and actually have a two bedroom and I've already taken stuff that I had stored in the guest room over to the storage locker Rachel and I rented."
"Cool."
Once everyone had a box, the five of them headed inside. "What floor are you on?" Nick asked.
"The fifth."
"Please tell me this place has an elevator." Santana said.
"It does."
"Sweet, because it's too fucking hot out to be climbing that many flights of stairs."