XIII

~ Magnolia ~

A total of three days had passed since Kurt's banishment from Noah's apartment but it didn't matter many hours were counting since Anita, Noah's previous nanny, had chased away with a pitchfork as if he were fuckinstein, the boy was by no means feeling any better. This was just such an excellent start to his holiday. Spending his mornings lying in his bed with his pillows and covers strewn every which way, his afternoons spent in his shower washing his body until his fingers pruned and his evenings burying his nose into every novel he'd ever brought along with him with a plate of the pistachio cookies Carmen had left behind for him since his morning after the Balencia Ball. She'd suspected he'd need them in his kitchen cupboard. Though not even sweet treats or adopting the lifestyle of a loner could prevent him from recognizing his new term, a term he'd sworn he'd never become, a conquest.

Originally that was a term he'd never thought he'd reach, what with the lack of suitors lining at his door and all, but now that he'd engaged in a wild flirtation with Noah Puckerman, the man who had popularized one night stands and brought about the return of casual sex, he was now one of them, and made victim to the master. He felt ashamed. He wasn't fit to go out, he didn't think he deserved being in the company of others and he just couldn't deal with seeing anyone right now. Afraid they'd hate him for what he'd done. As a result, he hadn't left his apartment, which had now become his reclusive sanctuary, his personal hideaway where the only people who came to the door was the takeaway delivery guy and Mrs. Krakowski, his aging upstairs neighbor, coming to request if he could look after her cat while she'd go out to the shops.

No ringing his father, no texting his friends, no anything to Noah. Just him, Joyce Carol Oates, greasy Chinese and a Burmese chocolate point cat for company. All equaling one hell of a crowd, but at least it was safe. He wasn't able to enter an affair with anyone of them, even if stuffing his face full of fried food could substitute for other things, like affection. God, he should have rejected Noah's advances from the start. He should have stormed out of the man's penthouse when he'd had the chance. Near adultery had been committed. Hell, Anita was probably spraying the whole place with pesticide, the special formula for those whose only talent was to spread their legs on silk. Not that he'd slept with Noah, but they had rolled a lot on the couch. Yet another piece of expensive furniture off to be sent to the incinerator by the former nanny.

Maybe this whole thing called for a vacation. After all, to some, one of the best things about New York, was leaving it. Though the places they'd head off to were either The Hamptons or an ocean liner set sail for the Mediterranean. Yes, the idea was tempting. He would be able to return to his house, the home he grew up in with his father, and although the idea of saying hello again to cow-town shit stain Lima, at least he would be able to do nothing but eat, drink and sleep in the privacy of a place he knew well. Running away from your problems is a race you'll never win, rang a voice through his head as Kurt glared up into the air, willing it to leave him be. Kurt, you can't leave. It won't help, and even if you do, you know he won't be able to stay away. He'll follow you... you know this...

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Kurt?! Doll Face, are you in?! It's your abandoned friend, Carlson! Left to starve and parch to death from lack of doll!" boomed a voice from beyond Kurt's front door as the model instantly recognized it as that belonging to Carlson Palmers, the first friend he'd ever made in the city and one of the many he'd ignored during his secluded three day streak. He liked Carlson, though that didn't mean he had to like the incessant rounds of knocking against his abused door but as Kurt heaved his way out of bed in only his pajamas, careful not to trip, they stopped. "Kurt?! Are you even i-"

"Shhh, Carlson your voice sounds like you've been running upstairs to inform everyone that the Underdog parade balloon has just escaped," hushed Kurt hurriedly as he opened his door to reveal Carlson smiling back at him apologetically, a groceries bag in his left hand. However, what was in it, Kurt didn't know. Hopefully some proper food Carlson was willing to share, anything that wasn't noodles or stir fry, the only form of calorie laden sustenance he'd had for the past few days. "Come on in, say hello to my apartment. I think it's dying to see someone apart from me in it."

"I bet it is. How are you? Is everything okay? I haven't heard from you for like... no correction, no one has heard from you for like ages. What's up?" inquired Carlson in concern, Kurt stepping aside to let him in as he closed the door behind him, leading his friend into his bedroom afterwards. Here came the questions. Hopefully, he'd only have to answer Carlson's worried queries and then the man could spread the news himself for his entire address book. Not a bad idea all things concerned. Throwing himself on his bed, Kurt brought a pillow under his head and watched as Carlson came to him. "You alright, Kurt?"

"Just asking is enough, thanks," smiled Kurt weakly, shifting as Carlson approached the foot of the bed. No one talked for a minute. Nothing was said, and even though Kurt knew his friend was thoroughly observing him, checking the condition of his appearance, the state of his apartment, everything that might have suggested that he'd been squatting like a wino in a squalid and revolting pigsty, he was glad to discover that to Carlson, the place didn't look too bad, even him. "Don't worry; I have been looking after myself. Doesn't look like it but I have. I'm just coming to terms with everything that's been going on, along with losing the energy to be completely superficial."

"Well you look really... thin. Thin and curvy, Doll Face," replied Carlson pathetically, placing the grocery bag on the bed as he came to sit on the quilt, Kurt having since shifted to the middle bed. As the model looked up at his friend with dozy eyes and as Carlson took him in, he took note that he'd never seen Kurt in such a tranquil state. On the inside, there was something definitely going on worthy of concern but it was if the boy had been shot with a tranquilizer dart, floppy, sedated and utterly relaxed. "You might have found a perfect stress solution that many New Yorkers here would pay good money for."

"Oh Carlson, I've missed you," giggled Kurt, raising himself up to bring his friend in for a hug, Carlson eagerly returning it. He'd scanned the man's face for any traces of sarcasm but had eventually given in to his awkward attempt at raising his spirits. Carlson was trying and since he didn't know what was going on, meeting him halfway and rewarding his efforts was really the only right thing to do. After all, he hadn't laughed, or even broken out a smile until now. He had something to be grateful for. "Thanks for coming, and I'm sorry I've been screening people out and everything but I... oh you are amazing!"

"I know right!" exclaimed Carlson, brandishing a box of cupcakes that he had just extracted from his bag. He didn't want for Kurt to descend back into a mood by explaining what he had done wrong. Truth is, not only was Carlson slightly uncomfortable when comforting emotionally decadent people but also, Kurt's lazy smile that he had been sending his way was just so much more appealing, especially now that it had broadened into a wide smile, showing off the boy's pearly white teeth. "I've got with me these treats, and Easy A. Let's make a day of it Doll Face, just you and me."

"Sure, I'll go freshen up. Oh, and you bought these from The Magnolia Bakery! Aww, how cute," gushed Kurt, stealing a closer look at the 'I Cupcake New York' cupcake box before opening it, revealing four red velvets and two each the classics, vanilla & chocolate cake with vanilla & chocolate buttercream. Kurt had occasionally passed the quiet street corner bakery in the West Village from time to time and from its inception, Magnolia had been cherished for its classic American baked goods, vintage decor and warm, inviting atmosphere. "They're so cute! How much were they? $50?"

"$48 for all twelve cupcakes. It's a fucking rip off if you ask me but I wanted to splurge on both of us, so I did," blushed Carlson as he nervously shifted on the bed, Kurt walking over to peck him on the cheek in thanks before bouncing off into his bathroom, locking the door firmly behind him. The model's spirits were certainly on a rise. Blocking people out, especially the ones closest to him was a nasty habit he'd adopted when upset. It wasn't healthy and with Carlson now here, Kurt realized that shutting himself off from others wasn't the antidote, just an empty remedy. "I'm going to set up the movie Kurt! Oka-"

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Kurt! Kurt, babe are you in?! Open up, it's me!" barked a voice from the front door and as Carlson put down the movie case and straightened up, he frowned. That voice sounded familiar. Its tone and desperate edge reminded him of someone. He had a sneaky suspicion it was Noah Puckerman, how the man had resembled a human bundle of nerves as he had requested Kurt's phone number at the Padova Pad, but wait. Babe? Who did Kurt know that would address him by such a term of endearment. The boy wasn't seeing anyone was he? He wasn't seeing... oh God. "Kurt! Please let me... who the hell are you?"

"I'm Carls-"

"Where is he? Kurt?! Where are you?!" interrupted Noah, barging past Carlson as he flattened the bewildered man against the door, leaving him no time to stop Noah as he journeyed into the apartment, shouting out Kurt's name like a siren. This was just getting stranger and stranger by the minute. Kurt had shut himself off from the world for three days, Noah Puckerman was here looking for him as if he too had been affected, where was the context behind any off this? Where was it? Maybe his predictions had been right. Maybe something had happened at the Balencia Ball, but if so, what? "Kurt! Baby!"

"Carlson, who is that screaming... Noah?!" exclaimed Kurt in shock, frozen to the spot where he had just come out of the bathroom, before coming face to face with the fretting billionaire. The only thing the boy was wearing at that moment was a set of clean briefs and socks. He'd placed his pajamas in the laundry basket and though he had thought that making a simply journey to his dresser wouldn't withhold any obstacles, he was clearly mistaken. For there Noah was, looking good as ever but looking even more anxious. "What... what are you doing here? Who let you in-"

"Oh Kurt, baby I've missed you," replied Noah, wrapping his hands around Kurt and snuggling as much of him into himself as possible. God, he missed this body. Not that he'd ever seen Kurt with so little on, which was something he wasn't complaining about, but he just enjoyed the presence of the boy pressed against him. Soft, smooth skin that was so unlike Noah's callused fingers. A petit yet firm frame with arms that had wrapped around his neck and hair that smelled of freshly opened coconuts and the Caribbean coast. Ahh, he had heaven in his arms. "God, I've missed you."

"I've missed you too, Noah," murmured Kurt as he rested his head on Noah's shoulder, the feeling of being touched everywhere by those large hands ever present on his bare skin, and ever good. Throughout their intimate encounter back at the man's penthouse, Kurt had informed Noah through their kisses that he simply liked being touched. He liked the simple pleasure of his skin and hair lightly stroked, petted, everything. It sent a thrill to course through his heart and it was the kind of high meant to faint from, but now, as Noah made to kiss him, it merely felt wrong. "No Noah, you can't do that here. Not now."

"Why what's wrong? Baby, what is it?" asked Noah gently as Kurt pulled his face away from the near kiss before tuning his face to look the other way, causing Noah to frown. His bid to find out what was wrong was failing. Kurt was being unresponsive and he just couldn't take it anymore. He'd come here for answers and he didn't have time to play games. "For fuck's sake Kurt, what's happened? Seriously, I don't know what's going on. You don't pick up, you don't call me back, it's like you're ignoring me again and sending strange ass men to answer your door. What the hell have I done to piss you off?!"

"Noah, please I-"

"Have I hurt you? Have I-"

"It's not me you've hurt, it's Quinn!"

"Quinn?" repeated Noah incredulously as Kurt harshly wrenched himself away from him and towards his dresser, yanking out a set of mint green yoga pants and a matching hoodie, the whole ensemble fitted flatteringly well to his slim physique. Though at this point, Kurt didn't care how he looked. His earlier complacent attitude was now gone and as he pulled on the clothes with a little more force than was necessary before turning back to Noah, he was tempted to hit the man over the head. How oblivious could a Harvard student get? "Why would she be hurt? She has nothing to do with this."

"She has everything to do with this Noah! Don't you understand anything?!" shouted Kurt, marching right up to Noah and looking at him as if he were the most dim witted person he'd ever come across. Near fornication, definite infidelity had occurred. Kurt had been roped into a romantic friendship; an emotional affair that he suspected was nothing more than Noah allowing himself to be vulnerable and dependent, to seek intimacy, to wrongly seek it in him. "She's your fiancée! You're to be married to her yet there we were, three days ago on your couch, sticking our tongues down each other's throats!"

"Don't talk down to me Kurt; I know what we were doing! I know who Quinn is!" barked Noah with equal anger as Kurt blinked at the volume in his voice but kept his feet firmly planted where they were, never moving, never budging. Meanwhile as he did, Carlson had since crept from the front door to eavesdrop by the bedroom door, out of sight and out of mind. He just couldn't not here this. "If you felt so strongly about this you should have said something! It would have fucking hurt but I would have understood. I didn't force you into anything. I didn't mean to... trap you, Kurt. Baby... what changed?"

"I was brought back to my senses by a rude awakening," replied Kurt as each of them calmed down from the shouting to stand in front of each other, close together with hands and chests nearly touching. "Once you'd left for your meeting that day, I bumped into your old nanny. We had a little heart to heart talk in which she told me exactly what she thought of me, accusing me of seducing you, corrupting you, 'flaunting myself like a slut in society'... oh and of course naming me a conquest of yours. Not the best first impression I've ever given but then again, I'm a home-wrecker so I should get used to it."

"What the fuck, she called you all those things?!" exclaimed Noah loudly in disbelief, Kurt sighing sadly before going over to his bed and sitting on it, his head sinking into his shoulders with his body slumping in direct reflection. "God Kurt, I'm so sorry. Don't listen to what she said, she doesn't know anything. You were in a compromising position and she presumed who you were because of it. She's seen it all but she doesn't know any different. She doesn't know who you are to me. You're not just some one-night stand or casual fuck, hell we didn't even fuck. You're you Kurt, and I like you."

"I know Noah, but even though what that Anita woman said to me was unjust, I got the basic gist of what she was saying. What we're doing is wrong, and it can't happen again," replied Kurt, lifting his head to meet Noah's distressed eyes as the man rushed to kneel before him, taking a hold of Kurt's hands in his, stroking his thumb against his pale palm. It was a gesture assigned to comfort Kurt but it felt more like one for Noah, to avoid him from collapsing to the ground. "We gave into our baser instincts and took advantage of our weaknesses, but now we have to learn to rise above all of this."

"I'm not raising above anything Kurt; I want to see you how I want to see yo-"

"Then why are you with Quinn?" asked Kurt incredulously, his hands gesturing out in front of him derisively. "Noah, why are you marrying her? None of this makes any sense. You proposed to her yet you want the boy you kiss, me, and the woman you go home to, her, but I don't even think you even like each other. I've seen the way she turns her back on your public flirtations as if she couldn't care less. I know how she turns a blind eye to most of the things you do and you, Noah, after you brushed off my congratulations on your engagement at the Padova, I've known your feelings are pretty mutual."

"Kurt, I-"

"You're hiding information from me again Noah, and even though inquiring after the reason behind your marriage may be seen as intrusive, I'm in this now. I'm part of events," continued Kurt. "I don't know whether this marriage of yours has a reputation, wealth or vocation priority, I seriously don't, but its all I'm guessing since I sure as hell know you're not doing it out of love. I've seen you two together looking as comfortable as two sinners in church. Even at the Skyfall premiere you didn't fool me, and although you look like the perfect couple on the outside to some, I know deep down you're far from it."

"Fine Kurt! It's a marriage of convenience, all right! Jesus Christ! Quinn and I don't love each other, I get the picture!" roared Noah, Kurt jumping as the man stood up and began to storm around his room, his fists constantly clenching. "My mom got tired of hearing about all the girls I've been so she set the whole thing up. She said my behavior was 'tacky, immature and scared off investors' and if I didn't agree, she'd cut me off. That's why I'm with Quinn, Kurt. That's why we look all plastic and shit in public, and that's why I can't fucking be with you because... God damn it!"

"Well I guess you should be grateful she set you up with someone you know rather than a stranger shipped from some country in Asia," replied Kurt calmly, watching as Noah came down from his rant, though it was clear he was still seething. A marriage of convenience was orchestrated for personal gain, in this case Emily Puckerman's. She was sacrificing her son's happiness for the future of the company based on his past indiscretions, and no one was paying the price but Noah. "Both Mike and Tina told me the little history between you two at the ball. Said you casually dated occasionally throughout high school but that it was never serious until now. I suppose it was your mom's last act of kindness."

"I don't see any kindness in this at all. It's all total bullshit," retorted Noah in agitation as he returned to Kurt, sitting beside him on the bed. "Yeah Quinn and I went out four times in the past. The first because I had a lame crush on her and she took pity on how pathetic I was. The second because we both needed dates to our prom so she could win Prom Queen, which she did. The third because I was bored and the fourth to see if there really was anything there going for us, and guess what, there wasn't. Each time we broke up because we lost interest. It was all casual, all exclusive. Screw feelings, we didn't have any, or not nearly enough to make us work."

"Well then I'm sorry I entered your life too late," replied Kurt apologetically as he brought his hand to rest on Noah's atop his knee. There the boy proceeded to stroke it with as much feeling as he could enforce, trying to assure Noah as much as he could through touch. For it wasn't going to be easy for him. It was going to be hard not to act on his feelings now that they were mere friends. "If the circumstances had been different then I could have been yours and we could have started something but this ring on your finger is stopping me from going any further... Noah, I think it best if you leave now."

"What? Hell no Kurt, I'm not going to leave. We have to sort something out," retorted Noah, Kurt's hand now pulling him up to stand as the boy led him through his bedroom towards the front door. This could not be happening. Noah just couldn't grasp it. Kurt, the boy he wanted, was right here with his hand in his. Three days ago, they had been kissing in front of a roaring fire with a Mangia tasting breakfast the morning after but now, after a realization conjured up by the insults of his old nanny, he was being asked to leave, to never repeat what had happened, to forget it all. "Kurt, come on. Please."

"Noah, don't make this any harder than it has to be. I've given you my answer and my answer is no," stressed Kurt, reaching the front door before turning to face Noah, the man looking back at him as if he was either on the verge of throwing a major tantrum before smashing everything in sight to bits or to either burst into tears and start wailing into Kurt's shoulder. The model knew the man needed him, and he would be there for him, just not in that intimate sense. "We've had our little adventure and it was nice whilst it lasted but it had to end. Doesn't mean we can't be friendly. I do still care about you."

"I care about you too Kurt, but I fucking hate how I can't care about you the way I want to care about you," replied Noah, bringing in Kurt for another heart wrenching hug, engrossing themselves in something that they would not be able to afford to get away with in the future. To Noah, it allowed him to smell the vanilla accords of the Creed fragrance he had gifted Kurt with, the aroma rising like pheromones from the boy's pale neck whilst for Kurt; it allowed him the pleasure of being engulfed in arms so strong and protective that he never wanted to leave his own little castle. "And if it weren't for this stupid ring, I'd be whisking you away along with me now."

"I know Noah... oh, wait a minute, before you leave I have a little something for you," rushed Kurt, racing back into his bedroom, opening the Magnolia box and selecting a red velvet cupcake before running back to Noah, confection in hand. He didn't know what he was doing and he didn't think Noah knew either, but he just had to offer the man some sort of peace offering. Whether it was edible or not. "I know it's not much. Seeing as it's just a cupcake and all but I want you to have one. Think of it as the start of something new, something better. I mean we're good people, Noah. This isn't the end for us. It-"

Kiss. Kurt's words were engulfed as Noah brought him in for a final lip-locking kiss, the last one they were most likely ever going to share. Large hands had returned to his waist and hip and were pulling him forward against a supported body, neither one of them paying any attention to the abandoned cupcake being perilously held in Kurt's loosing hand. He was losing control. Noah was just too good at this and if the man's guttural groans were any indicator it seemed to Kurt that no sugared treat was needed for a so-called peace offering, this kiss was the only thing needed, needed for closure. Pulling away, Noah opened his near welling eyes, whimpering as he stroked Kurt's plump bottom lip with tortured longing before opening the door and disappearing beyond the threshold, leaving Kurt, mouth agape to stand there with only a cupcake for company.

He hadn't anticipated it happening. It fact he hadn't cried once since he'd left Noah's apartment but the moment he heard the apartment building's doors slamming shut, echoing and bouncing against the walls until it hit him full force, Kurt burst into tears, falling to a crumpled heap on the floor. He closed his own door, not wishing for his cries to be overhead by his neighbors but before he could even begin another round of sobbing, his friend rushed to his side. Carlson had quickly extracted himself from his hidden post near Kurt's bedroom entrance and had flown to his side, descending to his level and pulling him into a warm embrace so that he had someone to hold onto, anything at all that would keep him from crushing the remains of the red velvet cupcake that had since splattered to the floor.

"Shhh, it's okay Kurt, it's alright. I'm proud of you. You did well, you did the right thing. You did what was best and you did it well," comforted Carlson as Kurt's wails softened to some degree, lowering in volume but still very much present. It was a heartbreaking sight. Yes, he'd predicted Kurt's beauty would snag him a boyfriend sooner than he thought but he didn't think said boyfriend would be engaged, be a billionaire several times over and be the result of such sorrow, or the death of a cupcake. "Yeah, I think you've killed that one, but don't worry. We can go munch on its siblings. They'll be just as good."

"No, I want to save it. The top layer of icing will have to be removed but the rest of it should still be okay. At best it's just unconscious from severe head trauma," smiled Kurt, bringing his head up before moaning at the large tear stain he had just caused on Carlson, though the man didn't seem to mind. He helped Kurt to his feet, picking up the fallen cupcake as he did and lead the boy back to his bedroom where hopefully nobody else could get hurt. Kurt liked to think that the cupcake reflected his friendship with Noah. It might have suffered a major blow, and first thoughts may have been to abandon it, but nothing came about well if they weren't worked on, and this cupcake as well as this friendship were worth working on.

However, through it all, it didn't remove the emotional turmoil he'd suffered from these few last days. He really had come to care for Noah. The way the man had kept a hold of him for company, for someone to talk to and no one else. All those things that made Kurt feel as if he'd been there for someone in need, like his father had been there to console him after a rough day at school. Like it was his turn to comfort. Or maybe it was because, though he wouldn't admit it to anyone but himself, whilst every boy at his high school had wanted to emulate Noah, every girl had wanted to be with him, including himself. He had had a school boy crush on Noah just like any other girl or sexually confused boy in America and had at the time, successfully buried it away under mountains of denial.

Admitting his hidden crush now would only come as a surprise to most people. He hadn't been discreet in expressing his dislike of Noah in the past but now that he had graduated from those days into a life with Noah now in it, the man preparing to cheat on his fiancée to have him in his arms, those feelings had, in response, reawakened and were quickly rising to the surface. It would be another few months before they would even begin to simmer down to whence they came before becoming dormant or even extinct, and that would only work if Kurt never saw Noah again.

I can't do that to Noah. I've already said no once, I can't say no again, thought Kurt as he now cradled his red velvet cupcake, its quick road to recovery hopefully reflecting his own with Noah. If permanent damage hadn't already been caused. Friends. Can we even be friends? Has our friendship even been left intact? For I know, though it pains me to admit it, we can never go back…

.

Glee

.

Walking past his door man so quickly the man didn't have time to grant him a greeting, Noah entered his apartment building and caught the elevator to his penthouse. He had been tempted to catch a cab from Kurt's place to avoid being around anyone but the truth was, he needed to walk off the event that had just happened. Kurt was no longer his. Not in the sense, Noah wanted him to be, and although now he was assured that the boy was safe and sound, without a single harmful graze on his skin, it just wasn't enough. They had reverted to friendship. Just friendship. Not even a cliché 'Best Friend Forever' necklace could fill the void that had now been gashed open. For Noah had had a taste of something sweeter, and once you were granted a taster of the best, you just couldn't go back.

How could one go back on a confession of feelings and forget such a conversation occurred? Everything was out in the open, Kurt knew everything. Now whenever they would go out for lunch, go drinking at a club or even stroll through the park, all the activities they had been able to do before hand, sexual tension would restrict them to averted looks without allowing for a flowing or casual conversation. Whenever Kurt would see Noah with Quinn, the boy would know the true nature if their loveless upcoming marriage which would render the situation all the more awkward, and finally, what would happen in the future, if Kurt were to enter a relationship of his own. Would Noah's jealousy run away with him as it had at the Balencia Ball? Would it expose the secret fling they had engaged in all that time ago?

This sucked. Everything about giving up things you truly wanted sucked, and to think that what they had actually shared together in that brief period had been so good. It would forever go down as a treasured memory to Noah, and hopefully to Kurt. The romantic hugs that had had the boy giggling that he'd been engulfed in Puckerman muscle, the easy talks they had had that had needed no kind of effort what so ever to help glide along and the kisses. Oh the kisses had been to die for. So soft, so good. God damn it, all Noah wanted to do was turn around, make his way to Kurt's apartment once more, break down his door and demand that the boy be with him, and to hell with the consequences. But Kurt's finalizing "no" that had embodied reason and principle, his moral principles that Noah respected and admired, held him back like a leash.

Kurt was a good person. He most likely believed in the sanctity of marriage and that stakes were much higher when business was involved, heightened by the fact that it was Puckerman business. But in the end, it was the person he was marrying accompanied by her trusty sidekick, Nanny Bitch, who had been the real wake up call to their dream. Q, Quinn, Quinn Fabray, Lucy Caboosey as she had been known in junior high before Noah had been acquainted with her, was his fiancée. She was bright, plucky and proud with beauty on her side and him on the other. Yet the fact that she was manipulative, dishonest and aggressive brought her down to an image that didn't encircle the perfect wife, or woman for that matter. Perhaps it had been because bad traits were top heavy that their past relationships had always ended.

Throughout high school, Noah and Quinn had entered a string of relationships that had always fizzled. They'd always blamed it on boredom by the truth was, their chemistry clashed. That and whenever Quinn had reared the ugly head of the darkened side of her character, Noah would always be reminded of his father's ruthfulness back when he'd managed his conglomerate. How the man had originally gained so much from other people's loss, even if he'd always said that's how life worked. Now life was working with him on a more personal level and he really didn't like it. He'd been oblivious of Quinn ever since he'd bought Kurt his fragrance. Maybe she had that little influence in his penthouse or even in his life. Maybe a pink pinned note was all the presence she had. A stark contrast to Kurt, who drew attention like compelling candy.

As the elevator opened up into his circular foyer, leading him to his front door, Noah entered his penthouse and leaned against the door, closing his eyes and sighing into the air. He needed to be alone now. He couldn't have people around him less he lash out at them. He felt like he needed a punching bag, preferably with Quinn's face on it, or Anita's if a replacement were needed. Speaking of Anita, she was here, and so was Sarah. Both of them were spending the day in his penthouse under the pretense that he wouldn't be and what with it being Sarah's weekly visiting day, but as Noah peeled himself from his door, made his way through his now empty looking penthouse and caught sight of them both in the kitchen working together and laughing, they too caught sight of him. What they're cooking had better be good.

"Noah!" greeted Sarah, removing her oven mitts and placing them on the counter. It seemed by the looks of it that his sister and his former nanny, now turned maid, had been spending some time baking their way into an oblivion. The whole kitchen was woven with a sugared aroma. The smell of flour, frosting and freshly baked cupcakes filling the air. Hugging his sister, Noah smiled down at her before turning to see Anita plastering on a fake smile that, in Noah's opinion, didn't cover shit. "Anita and I have just baked cupcakes and now we're going to decorate them. Do you want to join us?"

"Now Sarah, I'm sure your brother has more important things to do than to frost cake. But I suppose he can join us for the tasting session later, yes? Noah?" inquired Anita as both she and Sarah looked expectantly back at him, though it took a whole of strength on Noah's part to smile back convincingly. How this woman was speaking to him, it made him feel like he was guilty of something, and he was not going to feel guilty about anything. This was his penthouse, she was with his sister under his roof and she was his maid, no matter how extensive their history. "Noah? Will you come by later?"

"Oh please, say you will No-No. I found 'The Complete Magnolia Bakery Cookbook' I lost and I've wanted to make something from it for ages," smiled Sarah, bobbing up and down as she grabbed hold of the soft covered book and shoved it in his hands, the page open on what they were making: red velvet cupcakes. Noah blinked. A whole comprehensive collection of recipes from New York's sweetest bakery; adapted for the home kitchen, and they had decided to bake the same type of cupcake Kurt had offered him less than an hour ago, and from the same bakery who made them no less. "Noah? What's wrong?"

"What? Oh no, I was... its just been a while since I've seen this," stuttered Noah, snapped out of his thoughts as he put the book aside, his eyes lingering on the front cover before returning his gaze to his frowning sister. There had been a reason why he'd not accepted Kurt's cupcake. Like the boy had said, it symbolized something new, fresh, and better but Noah didn't want some new regime, some new era that had trampled all over the old one, yet here he was, being emotionally obliged to do just that. "Um sis? Do you mind if I nick Anita from you? We have some private matters to discuss. Think you can frost those cakes on your own?"

"Okay but not for too long. I need her just in case you return finding your walls painted in vanilla icing," replied Sarah, fixing Noah with an amused smile before heading off to start icing. However, such an expression had not been reflected on Anita's, as the smug look she had been sporting disappeared in favor of one of nervousness, her fidgeting a clear indicator. This is exactly the reaction Noah wanted to see, the fear of a 'private talk' seeping into her bones and there was no doubt that the woman knew exactly why she had been summoned. "I'll just call you guys if I mess up or something."

"Sure," nodded Noah, eying Anita with a look before briskly making his way to his study, the maid scurrying behind him. The smell of baking and sweetly sugared treasures left the senses the further they journeyed, but it was just as well. This wasn't going to be a fluffy talk. Not by the way, Noah was now ushering Anita into the room, indicating her to sit down in the seat before his desk and locking the door firmly behind them both. A drop of venom was going to have to be added in this conversation. "Now Anita, I-"

"Would it be best if I go change, Noah?" blurted out Anita, Noah's sentence cut short as the woman shuffled in her seat anxiously. As he left the door, rounded his desk and sat down, Noah scoured the woman's appearance. She was still wearing her apron which had been stained in many places with different ingredients. It wasn't going to cause that much of a problem, unless she continued to adjust her position, increasing the chance of a dollop of chocolate to fall to his carpet. He just needed to get some important things across and cake batter was not getting in the way. "I've still got this on and I-"

"No you won't, you will stay right where you are until I'm finished with you," ordered Noah, glaring right back at her authoritatively as Anita's nervous movements ceased in favor of lowering herself further into her chair, her figure closing in as her hands clasped together for support. Was she now pulling the cower like position Kurt had been in when she'd shouted at him all those days ago? Most likely. Had she given the poor boy a chance to defend himself? Most likely not. Her behavior had been shamefully improper and although Noah was trying not to take it too personally, he was. "I'm talking, you're listening. Understand?"

"Yes.. sir," nodded Anita, her eyes meeting his as Noah rose out of his seat and leaned his hands on the desk. Back when he'd been young, Anita had been a cross between a nanny and a governess, always teaching right from wrong and always holding his best interests at heart, even when it clashed with his mother's sometimes frivolous ideals. She had never approved of his ways with women, never approved about many things he did like coming home late from a club to wake up the next day at around midday, black circles under his eyes and always nagging his mother for something unnecessary, like another sports car. Now her disapproval had cost me dearly but unlike a car, it was irreplaceable.

"It's come to my attention that you spoke with Kurt Hummel on Friday morning whilst he was a guest here, correct?" inquired Noah, rounding his desk as he began pacing around the study, his hands hidden behind his back and looking down at Anita for confirmation. The woman however didn't seem to respond, but after a minute or so, she did, and only with a little nod of the head. Her eyes were pointing straight on, her posture rigid and uptight and as Noah continued to pace, so did the charges against her. "And in at that conversation am I to believe you affronted him, offended him and upset him?"

Another nod.

"Did you or did you not accuse him of being a conquest, an accomplice of adultery, a slut? Do you believe your actions were rude, discourteous, and disrespectful? Anita?" asked Noah, his temper rising with every nod the woman gave. The bitch. To be honest, he hadn't believed at first that she would do such a thing when Kurt had first revealed what had happened. Anita had always been very calm and reserved but it was as if she still thought of herself as his governess, his superior, as if he had no idea what he was doing. However times had changed, he was turning twenty-one in a few weeks, an adult, and no one was going to be the boss of him now.

As the final question hung in the air, an answer was deemed to follow, expected. No doubt another nod, but as soon as Anita's sight landed on a rather small framed picture of Quinn, smiling back at the camera, the picture somewhat hidden behind a small desk plant, her answer was altered. To her, Noah was still trying to prevent Quinn's presence in his life affecting him any more than it already had done. He was rejecting the idea of her and as sympathy for Quinn rocketed, a scowling look that deepened every second with a shake of her head was all she gave, causing Noah to stop in his tracks. Luckily, he was behind her at this point, not affording her a look at his stunned reaction, though he swore she could sense it anyway. She always seemed to have eyes on the back of her head.

"Well Anita, allow me to enlighten you," began Noah, using his position to his advantage. He lowered his head to whisper in her ear as she continued to look ahead, never shifting, never moving. "If you speak to him in that way again, I will see to it that every home and every check book is closed to you. You will be welcome neither in job centers nor in any businesses you wish to work in. Your imaginings of aspiring to become anything remotely better than a maid and your hopeful fantasies of living the American Dream… will be dead as ash... and you will never see Sarah and Jake again."

"Guys?! I've finished icing the cupcakes! I set to them to cool on the rack for the remaining time... guys?! No-No?! Anita?! Are you in there?" called Sarah, knocking on the door as her young voice seemed to somewhat lighten the dark atmosphere that had descended in the room. For all that was left was a man struggling to keep his dominant appearance over a woman who had burst into tears. Anita's sobs were crying and as Noah granted her leave, she leaped out of the chair and fled the room. "Anita, why are you crying? It's okay, the cupcakes aren't ruined or anything. We can always make some more."

Enveloping Sarah into a bone-crushing hug as the girl struggled to comprehend what was going on; Anita let her tears rain down on her top. She picked Sarah up and carried her back to the kitchen as the girl attempted to comfort her, soothing her with strokes of her hair and promising delicious cake to help her. Back in the study, Noah closed his door and leaned against it, sighing to himself. He'd hoped to have this conversation without Sarah here. If wasn't fair on her. He'd hoped he wouldn't have had to threaten Anita with anything. Unlike in his teens, it now wasn't in his nature and he'd hoped it wouldn't have come down to any of this, but it had. It wasn't fair.

If Kurt were to ever return, Noah couldn't risk anyone chasing him away again, especially now that they weren't exactly on solid ground, and especially now that they were 'friends'. This would have to mean that Noah would have to watch himself. No lingering touches, no suggestive looks and no dragging Kurt to his bed and having his way with him. None of that was now allowed. He was just going to have to see if he'd hold out. Maybe he would. Maybe this crush on Kurt would fade away and leave behind an embarrassing memory of hormones gone wild. Or maybe not. Maybe they'd always be there forever to remind him that forbidden affection really did exist.

I'll never get over him.

~ PLEASE REVIEW ~

(But if you wish to criticize, may it be constructive. I'm not going to learn from my mistakes and improve if you vent.)

Author's Note: Find yourself in the West Village in New York City sometime and I would suggest checking out The Magnolia Bakery. Their baked goods are expensive but worth every penny.

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the characters from Glee since I don't own the show. I'm not earning money from this and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. I mean only to please whoever stumbles upon my Love Story.

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