Author's Note: Hey everyone! Thanks for all your reviews and alerts; they make me squee and smile. Don't know if I'll be able to update this weekend, so I got myself to get this chapter out right now. Hope you all like it! :)
Again, no beta. All mistakes are my own.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, nothing, nothing. No profit made etc. See Chapter 1 for more elaborate disclaimer.
~C.
(Chapter 5)
Kurt sighed as he thumped his head against the bar countertop. "I hate you, Puckerman."
Puck chuckled as he cleaned one of his beer glasses. The ex-Titan was wearing a black muscle-shirt, dark jeans, and biker boots. He still had his short-cropped Mohawk. For a while he was rocking the shaved head look, but the Mohawk definitely boosted his bad boy factor. Plus the women who frequented his bar loved it; and Puckasaurus was all about pleasing the ladies. "Get over it. Rachel made me promise that I wouldn't leave you high and dry while you crashed at her pad. So, being the badass that I am, I was totally up for the challenge of getting you to have a good time."
Lifting his head up to give Puck a scrutinizing gaze, he narrowed his eyes at him, "Bull; what she got on you, Noah?"
Lifting his head up, Puck gave him a disgusted look. "Come on man, don't call me that here. Only my mother calls me that."
Rolling his eyes, Kurt let out a frustrated breath, "Puck. Rachel. Dirt. You. Spill."
Puck placed the glass under the bar and stared at Kurt dead in the eyes. For a minute or so, the staring contest continued. Kurt willing the other to crack while Puck was determined not to. Finally, one of them did break. "Fine. Rachel threatened to cut Finn off from getting any on their honeymoon."
Kurt's jaw dropped.
The woman plays dirty.
I kind of respect that.
"Mrs. Hudson plays hardball. I am both annoyed and impressed, while also slightly disturbed now that I know Finn is most likely having sex right now." Kurt shuddered at the imagery.
Puck shrugged, "Hey, Finn's my boy. The least I can do is guarantee him getting some on that fruity vacation of theirs. Even if it's with Rachel not anymore-Berry. That, my gay friend, is what a best man does."
Kurt glared daggers at his 'friend'; it wasn't that he was an anti-social person. He just didn't want to find a reason to stay in New York. Don't get him wrong; it was beautiful and he loved it there. However, sometimes where one is suppose to be and where one wants to be are two very different places. "So 'The Pinn Up' Open Mic Night is supposed to get me to do…what exactly? Sing?"
"No, I think I'm supposed to help you get laid." Puck deadpanned.
Kurt choked on a breath. "Excuse me?!" He squeaked.
Puck just laughed. "Oh my God, loosen the fuck up bro. Here, I'm going to mix you up a Puckerman Specialty. It never fails to get my girl of the night into a panties-dropping mood. But with you, I hope it at least bitch-slaps your buzz kill and gives you a whole other type of buzz." While he'd been talking, Puck had his back to Kurt as he crushed some ice, splashed various liquors into a glass, and mixed the frozen concoction together. When he turned back around and placed Kurt's drink in front of him, well drinks, he smirked at the bitch glare Kurt was giving him. "Take that shot of tequila before you start drinking this bad boy. Now, I got to go jump-start this little shindig. So shut up; drink this masterpiece; and live a little. Puck out."
Kurt stared at the frozen, yellow drink and the tequila shot in front of him with a look of disbelief. It was yellow with a red swirl spiraling through the crushed ice and a peach slice stuck on the rim. To be honest, it looked tempting, but Kurt wasn't sure if he was ready to give Puck the satisfaction. When the microphone started to squeak from being manhandled, Kurt turned around to look inquisitively at Noah on stage.
"Well, well, well, hello, hello, hello. And how is everyone doing this fine Thursday Night? Let me guess, we got us some NYADA students in the club tonight." Puck said into the microphone.
Some random girls screamed, "We love you, Puck!"
Kurt rolled his eyes when Puck smirked, "Of course you do."
Horn dog.
As he listened to his former schoolmate talk, the glasz-eyed boy sighed while fiddling with a lose thread on his dark-blue, skinny jeans. Completed with a forest green V-neck and a black vest left to hang open casually. Kurt decided to take his tequila shot as he swung one of his black, converse high-tops back and forth from his spot atop one of the barstools. Puck was full of himself sometimes; Kurt actually NEEDED the shot if he was going to sit through Puck picking-up girls while on stage. Licking his lips of the remaining liquor, Kurt continued to pick at his clothes, effectively blocking out Puck's flirtations.
Dammit, I can't believe I couldn't find my red shirt.
Maybe I didn't actually bring it with me?
Ugh…which is a real shame because it looks awesome with these jeans.
"Okay!" Kurt's head shot up when he realized Puck was finally getting somewhere other than into a girl's pants. "Now, for our first Pinn Up performance of the night, you all have seen this little hobbit on stage before. Don't let his size fool you; it in no way affects his singing. I know, surprised me too." Puck chuckled, earning a few more chuckles from the audience. Unlike in Kurt's dream, on Open Mic Nights, tables and chairs are set up on the floor. The lights were dimmed, but not as dark as it would be during the clubbing nights. "Anyways, let's welcome back Devon 'No Last Name' Frodo!"
People in the audience started clapping and hollering encouragements as Puck exited the stage and a shorter, handsomer (at least in Kurt's opinion), young man stepped up onto the stage with an acoustic guitar in hand. He pulled up a stool and brought over the microphone stand so he could adjust the two microphones. One pointed at his guitar and the other was held at the right position for him to sing into.
"Haha…you're so funny Puck!" There was a beat of silence before the tanned boy stuck his tongue out in Puck's general direction. "Screw you, my name's not Frodo. And I'm not short…I'm fun-size." 'Devon' smiled wide when Puck just laughed from somewhere out in the crowd. The man on stage was wearing tan pants, dark-blue Sperry shoes, plus a long-sleeved shirt that was striped horizontally red and blue. His black hair was heavily gelled and the lights shining down on him overhead made his olive skin seem to glow.
Wow, he's…really hot.
"Anyways, thanks again for letting me sing up here. It's one of the things I look forward to every week." He rubbed the back of his neck embarrassed. "Heh…well, this song that I'm gonna sing is one of my favorites and I'm sure it's one of yours too." 'Devon' smiled hesitantly one last time before he placed his fingers in the right positions on the guitar, and then he began strumming it. The tune that drifted throughout the club was familiar, to Kurt and to the other patrons scattered around the club.
Days like this I want to drive away
Pack my bags and watch your shadow fade
You chewed me up and spit me out
Like I was poison in your mouth
You took my light; you drained me down
But that was then and this is now
Now look at me
His acoustic version was slower and focused solely on the emotional meaning of the lyrics. The sultry voice that floated through the club was enough to make Kurt's entire body shudder. The pale young man found himself enraptured by the singer on stage, completely content with watching his facial expressions as he poured his very being into the performance and eyes riveted to the way his skilled fingers played the cords expertly.
This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no
This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no
Throw your sticks and your stones; throw your bombs and your blows
But you're not gonna break my soul
This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no
The singer on stage opened his eyes and found himself looking for that specific person he knew was there. He saw girls, some guys as well, swooning over him while others gave him scrutinizing looks. No doubt NYADA students trying to convince themselves that they could out sing the tanned musician on stage any day.
I just wanna throw my phone away
Find out who is really there for me
You ripped me off; your love was cheap
Was always tearing at the seams
I fell deep; you let me down
But that was then and this is now
Now look at me
The beat had steadily picked up and when the last line was belted out, the two young men's eyes locked with one another. Kurt's own pair widened when he realized the bright eyes from their owner on stage were staring directly at him, unwavering. He couldn't tell what color they were from the distance that was between them, but that didn't stop his mind from trying to imagine what beautiful color they might be.
This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no
This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no
Throw your sticks and your stones; throw your bombs and your blows
But you're not gonna break my soul
This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no
Is he staring at me?
Holy crap, he's staring right freaking at me!
Kurt felt his mouth go dry and, without tearing his eyes away from the gorgeous man on stage, blindly searched behind him for his drink. He actually bumped into someone else's elbow in his search. Mumbling out a distracted, "sorry," before he finally felt the cool glass that contained his Puckerman Specialty. He sipped it immediately, enjoying the cool, sweet taste of peach and strawberry exploding across his tongue. Though, he did wrinkle his nose when he registered a salty aftertaste to his sweet drink.
Ugh, could have done without the added margarita salt Puck.
Now look at me I'm sparkling
A firework, a dancing flame
You won't ever put me out again
I'm glowin', oh whoa
So you can keep the diamond ring
It don't mean nothing anyway
In fact you can keep everything yeah, yeah
Except for me
When he sang that verse Kurt could see those happy, bright eyes turn dark and anguished. It was as if Kurt could see the unhealed wounds from heartbreak flit across his face as he remembered what must have been a broken relationship.
He looks so…sad.
This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no
This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no
Throw your sticks and your stones; throw your bombs and your blows
But you're not gonna break my soul
This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no
Kurt let the straw slip from between his lips as he watched the person on stage play the remaining portion of the song with renewed vigor. When he closed his eyes and accentuate the 'no' at the end, Kurt could definitely feel the heart and the passion resonating from his voice.
This is the part of me, no
Away from me, no
This is the part of me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me...no
Throw your sticks and your stones; throw your bombs and your blows
But you're not gonna break my soul
This is the part of me
That you're never gonna ever take away from me, no
He finished off with strumming quickly across all the cords before ending all together. The people in their seats clapped enthusiastically, one person even shouting in absolute glee.
Oh wait, that was Kurt.
Wow Hummel, subtle much?
He grabbed his guitar and rubbed the back of his neck bashfully again, an adorable blush spreading across his cheeks. "Thank you, the song really means a lot to me. I'm glad there's a place like 'The Pinn Up' where everyone can coincide and not fear the metaphorical sticks or stones of prejudicial ignorance. It's a second home to a stranger like me so far away from his own. So, thanks. And enjoy the rest of your night!"
Kurt watched as the man stepped off the stage with his guitar and Puck once again went on stage to introduce the next person. "Let's give it up one more time for Mr. Frodo!" The crowd clapped and chuckled once more, but Kurt hadn't been paying attention. His glasz eyes were observing the young man who stepped off stage as a small group suddenly stood in front of him, preventing him from crossing to the other side of the club.
"Looks like you enjoyed that performance."
Kurt whipped his head around and blushed at the fact that he was caught staring so openly at a man he'd never even met. "Oh, hey Jake. Um…you didn't actually see all that, did you?"
The younger Puckerman brother smirked, "You mean you drooling over shorty over there?" He pointed towards the one called Devon, who was currently looking very overwhelmed by two girls pressing closer to him. "No, not really. Was just fulfilling my bouncer duties by watching everyone in here. Only came behind the bar for a bottle of water. Open Mic Nights are not exactly our more brawling nights."
Kurt let out a dry laugh, "Right, well, doesn't matter. Looks like he's pretty cozied up to a few female groupies over there."
Jake looked back over, and then rolled his eyes. "Check again."
The paler male looked over his shoulder and his eyebrows rose up. The dark-haired man was pushing away offered pieces of paper, presumably phone numbers, and shaking his head amused when the rejected girls stomped away with a huff. "Guess Blaine plays on your team, huh Hummel?"
This time, Kurt actually felt his neck pop from how hard he snapped it back towards the younger Puckerman. "Blaine? I thought his name was Devon?"
Jake felt his face fall and a curse word escape his lips. "Fuck, Puck is going to kick my ass."
"Whoa, whoa, wait a minute. Too late for you. Why are you calling him Blaine?" Kurt halted the other boy.
Jake groaned, "You have to present I.D. when you sign up for a slot. I've heard Puck call him Blaine all the other times he's talked to him except when he's on stage. That's all I know. I'm…I'm going back to work before you get me in more trouble." Jake reasoned, and then quickly moved away from Kurt.
He spun back around on his barstool and watched as the newly appointed 'Blaine' respectfully gave his attention to the performer currently singing on stage. Kurt had no interest in what song was sung or whoever was currently singing on stage, his gaze focused solely on the mysterious boy.
Who are you, Blaine?
A/N: That was Katy Perry's 'Part of Me.' Darren did do a performance of it, so I kind of went off that one a bit. Look it up on youtube if you're really curious. :) So now you understand why Noah was so pushy. xD haha I made up that drink in my head, if it exists, then that's super cool too! So, review? :D