Chapter 11

Kurt left the stage after his final encore feeling pretty happy. He couldn't wait to catch up with Mercedes. He really had missed her a lot. Kurt walked along the corridor to his dressing room. He wanted to get ready quickly as he was planning on meeting Blaine and Mercedes at the stage door in twenty minutes. He knew Mercedes didn't like to be kept waiting and would most likely come to find him if she wasn't met punctually.

Kurt heard Trixie's delighted squeals as he made his way down. Clearly she had had her much wanted bouquet. Kurt was pleased; it would hopefully make things a lot less strained during this tough period.

Kurt entered their shared dressing room to find Trixie sitting down sniffing her flowers with exaggerated movements.

"What? No flowers for little Kurtsie today? Oh what a shame!" She smiled to herself.

Kurt gritted his teeth fighting with himself not to lose it with Trixie but also fighting not to go into a long monologue about his new and perfect boyfriend. Instead of doing either Kurt took in a long breath and sat down at his dressing table.

"You really need to grow a pair! Seriously, what's with the whole Ghandi approach? You're scared of me aren't you? Poor little Kurtsie is all scared of big bad Trixie!" Trixie continued to taunt Kurt and that's when he lost it.

"I don't have a go at you for what you do to me, you want to know why?" Kurt didn't pause for answer; instead he proceeded with his speech uninterrupted. "I don't retaliate because I'm a better person than you! There I said it! You have to make my life hell, don't you, because of what? Because your boyfriend turned out to be gay and suddenly that's my fault? Even if he was straight I doubt any sane man would date you. You are manipulative, immature and most of all selfish! You don't care about anyone but yourself; you hate me because somebody wanted me more than you. So you decided that if you were to hate me then everyone should! You get angry over every little bit of happiness that enters my life. Well here's a news flash; you may be queen bee now but when you lose your looks nobody is going to touch you with a ten-foot pole. People don't like you they like your hair and your boobs. When I'm older I will have found somebody who loves me for the person I am and you, my friend, will die alone because you are a malicious cruel bitch, who nobody will ever love!" Kurt was breathing hard by the end of it. It was all things he had been thinking for a long time but he never thought he would actually come out and say it.

Trixie stared at him in total shock. Yeah, she had pushed him but she had never expected him to react like this ever.

Kurt looked back at Trixie's shocked face and he suddenly felt guilty. Ok, so maybe most of it was pretty much true and she had been a pretty evil towards him but even so, Kurt never said stuff like that he just didn't. He had gone against his principles and in doing so he felt like he had become as bad as her. He would have to right it, even if it would kill him to apologise.

"Trixie?" he said gently. Trixie just stared back. Kurt stepped forward slightly till he was in touching distance of his main rival. "Trixie, I didn't mean it I'm" Kurt reached his hand out and touched Trixie's arm. It seemed to knock Trixie out of her trance; she knocked his hand away with unnecessary force. Kurt stepped back as Trixie marched forward; cornering Kurt as he stepped back into a wall.

"How dare you! You stupid fag! I'm the one the one who gets flowers and compliments! I'm the star, contrary to what to program says! You are just some gender confused scum who thinks he is more important than he actually is! You say I will be alone, I'm never alone! Everyone here loves me! You are the one with no friends or allies! If you got run over by a truck tomorrow I doubt anyone would even notice you were gone. You are just a worthless piece of shit!" Trixie gave Kurt a sharp backhand across the face and Kurt gasped from the sharp pain.

"What the hell are you doing to my boy?" Mercedes ran in followed by Blaine; both shared the same enraged expression.

"'Cedes!" Kurt squeaked.

"Step, the hell, away from Kurt before I cut you even worse!" Mercedes started walking menacingly towards Trixie who dropped the hand she had been using to grip Kurt's shirt. She then stepped away from Kurt as Blaine moved forwards.

"You alright, Kurt?" He asked gently; his hands cupped Kurt's face. Blaine was oblivious to the others in the room at that point; he just wanted to make sure Kurt was ok.

Mercedes saw that Blaine was attending to Kurt so she focussed her attention on Trixie, "I don't know who the hell you think you are but I do know that your face ain't ever gonna look the same unless you stop pestering my man, Kurt!"

Trixie was shocked to say the least. A couple of minutes ago she was holding her own and now there were two more people in the room; she was outnumbered.

Jayden had made up his mind. He was going to make this alliance with Trixie work. Jayden had to talk tactics with Trixie. A battle was not won without a battle plan. So Jayden went to go find Trixie. He knew she would have just finished her performance. Getting in would be tricky but with stealth and a few bribed stage workers (they were used to young men looking for Trixie) Jayden made his way to Trixie's dressing room only to hear loud voices.

He heard a woman, he could tell by her accent she had to be American having a yell at Trixie. Then there was a pause before Jayden heard Trixie's voice.

"Who are you to come in here and tell me what to do? You don't even work here. You can't tell me how to live my life and you certainly can't tell me how I'm supposed to treat that faggot!"

Then Jayden heard a voice he immediately recognised as Blaine' though he had never heard Blaine so angry in his life. "How dare you call Kurt that, you fucking homophobe! You're just a jealous whore no leave Kurt alone before I make you!"

Jayden had moved himself so he could see what was going on. Blaine had his arm around Kurt's waist; the gesture was sickening to Jayden. The American girl had a protective stance in between Kurt and Trixie. Trixie was against the wall but holding her ground. It was as Jayden was scanning the room that Trixie caught his eye and gave him the what-are-you-waiting-for look.

Blaine had never been so angry in his life. He was face-to-face with the woman who had been terrorising the man he loved. She had taunted Kurt and called him names and had even hit Kurt. And now when Blaine was right in front of her she called Kurt a "faggot". Blaine wasn't going to let her get away with it.

"I'm not a homophobe," Trixie retaliated, "I'm just sick of this little slut trying to steal the show from me! We would all be better off if you just went and died so the show could get back into some kind of order!" Trixie was screeching now. She had reached the point of no return and was now just hurling the most insulting and hurtful things she could think of at Kurt.

Blaine really wanted to hit Trixie right then but he couldn't bring himself to hit a girl, especially one as thin as Trixie. Also he knew Kurt didn't like violence. He also knew Kurt hated confrontation but that was a hard one to get by without.

However, it appeared that Blaine's efforts to keep the argument non-violent were in vain as Mercedes then stepped forward. "You bitch!" she yelled at Trixie as she brought he hand to Trixie's face with so much force Blaine was shocked the woman was still standing.

It probably would have broken into a full-on fight there and then if it wasn't for Jayden who walked in at that moment.

"What are you doing here?" Blaine, Kurt and Trixie all asked in unison while Mercedes just looked at Jayden; confused as to his identity.

Jayden wasn't quite sure what to say. So instead he came up with the first thing that came into his head "I'm questioning my sexuality…" the faces were still confused so Jayden tried to come up with something more to say, "and I was wondering if Trixie would like to go out with me sometime."

Everyone' mouths fell open, apart from Mercedes who still looked just as confused as before. "Am I missing something here? Who are you?"

This seemed to slightly ease the tension in the room, but only very slightly. "I'm Jayden. Blaine and I used to date but… now I realise that… my love lies with Trixie." Jayden blushed as he hoped desperately that Blaine and Kurt wouldn't see through his lie and that Trixie would play along.

Mercedes raised an eyebrow, "Oh, so you're the man-bitch who tried to mess up my man's relationship."

Jayden wasn't quite sure what to say to that so he was almost relieved when Blaine answered for him, "Yeah, that's him." Blaine's tone had no emotion and the look in his eyes made Jayden uncomfortable.

Mercedes' eyes darted from Jayden to Trixie and back again. There was a lot more to be said but she decided that it would probably be best to re-group and come up with better tactics other than just have a go at Trixie with all guns blazing. As for Jayden, well she decided it would almost certainly be best for her to have a word with him when Blaine and Kurt were not in the room. "Well I can't say that you two aren't suited for each other. You're both as douche-like as each other! This ain't over," Mercedes said it in a threatening manner to leave no doubts in the fellow occupants of the room's minds that she would not be letting the matter drop.

Mercedes took Kurt's hand and spoke in a softer tone "Come on, Kurt, we can sort out the stage make-up back at your place." Kurt nodded and squeezed Mercedes' hand. She and Blaine lead him out of the theatre.

About half-way back to his hotel room it all got too much for Kurt and he started to break down.

Blaine was quick to react and he immediately brought his arms around Kurt's small frame. "It's ok, it's gonna be fine you'll see." Blaine looked into Kurt's eyes and gave him a small smile. Blaine directed Kurt over to a bench, holding him all the while. Mercedes was quick to join the couple.

"I'm s… sorry," Kurt cried into Blaine's shoulder, "I know those kind of things shouldn't get to me anymore but it does, I act like it doesn't matter but it matters oh so much to me. Every comment just hurts."

"Shh now; it's ok Kurt. There aren't many people who could deal with this kind of thing as well as you. You're so special, Kurt, don't ever forget that or let other people's hurtful words lessen the truth." Blaine soothed Kurt and Kurt continued to get Blaine's shirt wetter and wetter. Mercedes sat the other side of Kurt and stroked his back. She didn't say anything she was just letting Kurt know she was there for him if he needed her.

After a few minutes Kurt sat up, "I'm sorry about that, especially since you only just got here, 'Cedes. This wasn't exactly the way I expected us to meet again."

"Kurt, Hun, it's fine. Honestly, we have lots of time for best friend days out but right now you need support. Come on; let's get you back to your hotel." Mercedes flashed Kurt a reassuring smile before Mercedes and Blaine both took one of Kurt's hands and led him up off the bench and back to the hotel.

Nina was surprised by the sight that greeted her late in the evening. Blaine, the man who had left the flowers earlier, and another woman who Nina didn't recognise were both holding Kurt's hands and taking him into the hotel. Kurt's face was all red around the eyes as though he had been crying. It didn't take Nina long to work out that this must have something to do with Kurt's cast members.

"I'm gonna kill that Trixie bitch," Nina muttered under her breath. She gave Kurt a smile as he came in, although she was just staff she really did care about Kurt.

"You alright, Kurt?" she asked casually as they came up to the desk. It was a stupid question and Nina knew it. Of course he's not alright, idiot she mentally rebuked herself.

"Yeah, I've just had a tough day. This is Mercedes by the way, she's my best friend and she's come to visit from America. And I guess you know Blaine from before." Kurt gave a weak smile as if to reassure the people around him that he wasn't quite that delicate thank you very much.

"I'm Nina," Nina said, smiling at Mercedes, "I'm the receptionist but I know Kurt quite well."

After this there was an awkward pause, the introductions were over and there was little to talk about other than the great big glittery elephant in the room that was the fact that Kurt had been crying and Nina wasn't quite sure she wanted to go there. Luckily she was saved by remembering the flowers in that moment. "Oh yes! I nearly forgot! A certain young gentleman," Nina winked at Blaine, "left you some flowers this morning; I will just go and get them."

Nina dashed off to the little room behind the desk. She carefully picked up the flowers from where she had laid them carefully earlier today to avoid and of them getting squashed. When she got back to the trio it seemed the atmosphere was a little lighter. They were all talking about old times, something about a glee club.

"Here we are, Kurt!" Nina grinned as she handed over the flowers; Kurt smiled back before rolling his eyes at Blaine.

"I wonder who these can be from," he muttered with heavy sarcasm, though he was obviously cheered by Blaine's gesture.

"Well I'm sure the person we sent them must really care about you, Kurt! I'm sure you mean a lot to him… or her." Blaine retorted.

The woman named Mercedes smiled fondly at Kurt in a fashion that seemed almost maternal. Before cooing over the flowers that Blaine had given him. Blaine turned his attention towards Nina.

"Hey Nina, I know it's short notice but I don't suppose you have any rooms spare, it's just that Mercedes didn't really plan this trip and she doesn't have anywhere to stay." He looked very hopeful and Nina was sorry to disappoint him, if she could have chucked some people out of the hotel she would have but unfortunately she didn't have the power to do so.

"I'm genuinely sorry but we're booked up. It's a busy time of year. In fact I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I doubt you'll get a hotel room at such short notice." Nina looked down at her hands, it seemed like the three of them were going through a lot right now and Nina was ashamed to be the one to add to their load, but she needed to be honest. It would only be harder for them if they had to go looking round a load of hotels before realising the situation they were in.

"its fine, thanks for your help, Nina. Would you mind looking after these flowers for a little while longer we need to discuss what we're going to do about Mercedes' sleeping arrangements," Kurt said as he handed Nina the flowers. Nina gladly took them and bid them three goodbye as they left. Despite the state of affairs Nina couldn't stop herself from bring amused at the looks Kurt got as he was still in all his stage make-up.

"What are we going to do?" Kurt asked, once outside the hotel. The three of them were sitting on the steps near the building.

"I don't know. Where am I going to sleep!" Mercedes looked desperate. Blaine, however, remained quiet during their laments as to how they would get out of the situation. It wasn't until five minutes later when Kurt asked him what was up that he voiced his suggestion.

"Mercedes," Blaine asked, "how would you like to stay with me in my apartment for a little while?"