Chapter 14

"Hey Nina!" Kurt grinned as he walked up to the reception.

Nina smiled back, she was eager for details on what had happened that night. "Hey Kurt, how's that handsome young man of yours?"

Kurt giggled, "Oh isn't he just perfect? He sang me that old song, "Yellow" by Coldplay I thought I was just going to melt in the middle of the restaurant! He told me he loved me and I love him too! I almost wish we weren't heading for Broadway soon, but it will be great while it lasts!"

Nina gave a little squeal at the mention of the song, "that used to be my favourite song! I had a dream every night about the man of my dreams singing that to me! You are so lucky!" then her voice become a little more serious, "I wouldn't let this one go, Kurt. You hate that stage show, why give up the man who's quite possibly the love of your life for it?"

Kurt sighed, "Because if I do that I'm taking away inspiration for others. There are many people like me who face social pressures to change the way they are. I want to show people that anyone can succeed no matter how different they are. I wouldn't just be disappointing my friends and family but all those people who need inspiration."

Nina looked at him right in the eye, "but you can't sacrifice your own happiness just to do what you think is right. In its own way that is giving in to social pressures, you are contradicting yourself, Kurt. I know you mean well but you will be pretty miserable if you don't start looking out for yourself."

Kurt didn't want to get into an argument with Nina so he changed the subject, "Do you still have my flowers?"

Nina smiled, she was happy to have a light chat with Kurt, he was as stubborn as a mule so there was little point in continuing their previous discussion, "Yeah, of course! Thou I have to admit I: I was little tempted to keep them for myself!" Nina gave Kurt a cheeky grin.

Kurt played along "Why Miss Kepler I hope I never put you down as the criminal type!"

Nina went back to the store room and picked up the flowers from where she had put them carefully to insure they didn't get damaged.

"Here we go! Oh and you must tell me what your friend Mercedes is like. She seems nice!" Nina smiled, she loved hearing about Kurt's life and it' changes. Kurt was like a soap opera, a very fabulous soap opera!

"Oh she's my very fabulous best friend from high school! We stayed in touch but we haven't seen each other in ages, well, not in person only over Skype which doesn't really count! She's a diva like me and we have a lot in common!" Kurt broke into an easy grin at the thought of his boo.

Nina liked the sound of this girl, "she definitely sounds like a good friend; coming all this way to see you. So? Did you sing anything, I've never heard of you passing up an opportunity to do karaoke!"

Kurt winked, "Oh you know me all too well! I sang Vanilla Twilight." Kurt gave a sheepish grin when he admitted the song title.

"The song by Owl City? Aw! You hopeless romantic!" Nina gave him a teasing poke.

"I try," Kurt gave her a playful shove.

"Well, Kurt, I'm happy for you. You above all people deserve somebody to love them," Nina looked back into Kurt's eyes.

"Thanks, Nina. You're too good to me!" Kurt met Nina's gaze.

"Hey! I'm just doing my job!" Nina laughed.

"I'm pretty sure giving relationship advice to the customers wasn't on your job description! But thanks!" Kurt walked away; giving Nina a little wave as he went. He was tried by now and just wanted to get some sleep.

He quickly changed into his pyjamas and moisturised before checking his phone one last time before going to bed. There was just a text from Rachel.

From: Rachel

Hey Kurt! Hope your date with Blaine went well! Tell Mercedes I said "Hi" and also tell Blaine that if he hurts you I'm not ruling out getting the military involved!

Rachel x

Kurt laughed, of course he had been keeping Rachel up to date with all the happenings going on right now, but Rachel was just as busy as he was so they only could send each other the odd text every day or so. But it was still good to hear from her. Kurt was still slightly saddened by how hard Rachel was working to get on to Broadway. He sent her a quick reply saying that, yes thank-you he'd had a great time and that Blaine had sung to him. He knew it would please Rachel as Rachel believed a relationship could only be considered as such after one had sung to the other.

Blaine slowly turned round to face his ex. Jayden kept the large grin on his face despite the lack of response in Blaine's perfect features.

"What do you want Jayden?" Blaine said, he was totally fed up with Jayden by now.

"Look I know we haven't exactly been on the best of terms recently but I just wanted to say that I'm sorry and also that… that I'm happy for you… and Kurt," Jayden looked sincere to Blaine, but he always had been a good actor so Blaine couldn't be sure.

"Well you've changed your tune," was all Blaine said in response before trying to pry his arm off Jayden's vice-like grip.

"I'm not finished yet," Jayden said softly, "please hear me out Blaine."

Blaine sighed and stopped struggling. Slowly Jayden released his hold on Blaine's arm; wary of Blaine using the opportunity to leave before Jayden had had the chance to finish. However, Blaine stayed near Jayden and answered with a raise of one of his eyebrows. This was encouragement enough for Jayden, "What I did to Kurt was… it was unforgiveable, Blaine. I should never have hit him. I didn't know he would fall so hard, I didn't mean for him to get hurt as badly as he did. I should have just apologised then and left you two alone but then when I saw him at your apartment I freaked and I said some stuff that I shouldn't have. I haven't been fair to you or Kurt and I haven't been the supportive friend I should have been. I'm sorry Blaine, and with your permission I will also make my apologies known to Kurt."

Whatever Blaine had expected Jayden to say it most certainly had not been this, "I don't know what to say," Blaine answered honestly.

"You don't have to say anything; you don't owe me anything, Blaine. But, and you have absolutely no obligation here, it would be great if we could go back to the way we were before; when we were friends with no complications."

Blaine sighed, he had really not been expecting this and wasn't sure what to answer. He was in a very difficult position, if he said no and that they could never be friends then he would still have to see Jayden most days during rehearsals, on the other hand he didn't want Jayden to think that he was completely forgiven because some things just couldn't be fixed with a few kind words. "I'll think about it," was all Blaine managed to say in answer to the question after a pause. He hoped Jayden wouldn't get upset again.

"Thank-you, Blaine.I really appreciate your consideration. I know I screwed up big time, I only hope we can work to move past this," Jayden said. He took one of Blaine's hands for a few seconds before nodding a goodbye and leaving Blaine alone once more.

When Blaine got back to his apartment he wasn't sure whether or not to tell Mercedes about his encounter with Jayden. He wanted the three of them (Kurt, Blaine and Mercedes) to be very open with each other but also it seemed like a pretty silly thing to bring up. After all Jayden was just clearing the air. So Blaine left it.

"Hey! I'm nearly ready for bed I'm just off to have a shower. How is Kurt?" Mercedes asked when Blaine got back.

"He's fine. I think he enjoyed tonight. Have you got everything you need?" Blaine asked, he knew his behaviour was a little suck-upish but he really wanted Mercedes to like him and forgive the past mistakes. Because Mercedes was Kurt's best friend and people often took advice from their best friends. Blaine wanted to make sure that if ever the occasion occurred Mercedes' advice would be in Blaine's favour. Also he knew it would be pretty awkward for Kurt if his boyfriend and best friend hated each-other. Though Blaine had never really had a problem with Mercedes, she was too much like Kurt for him to dislike her.

"Well since it seems like I have the pleasure of you sucking up to me," How did she do that? Blaine thought, "I guess I'll have a coffee."

"You drink coffee before bed?" wasn't that supposed to make it impossible to go to sleep Blaine thought to himself.

"I can handle it fine, I don't wake up in the morning properly if I don't have coffee before bed," Mercedes answered his unspoken question.

So instead of starting an argument by pushing the issue further Blaine merely went to the kitchen to fix Mercedes' coffee. It was weird having someone sharing his apartment. He had shared a flat when he was in college but that had been the last time before the time when Kurt stayed over after the attack. Jayden had once or twice asked if he could stay over, but Blaine wasn't ready to have those kind of relations with Jayden then and now he was even gladder he had said no.

When Blaine came back into the lounge Mercedes had finished her shower and was looking through one of Blaine's old Vogues. "Do you think I'd look good in this dress?" Mercedes asked him, pointing to a long pink dress with strapped sleeves.

"I think that's more Kurt's area of expertise but I would say so, but maybe get it in the purple," Blaine responded.

Mercedes sighed, "That is if I could afford it. Seriously who would pay �1900 for an outfit?"

There was a pause before they both laughed; each knowing exactly who would pay �1900 for an outfit.

"So where am I sleeping then?" Mercedes asked.

"You can take my bed it's just through that door there and the room is pretty tidy," Blaine responded; pointing at a door in the corner of the room.

"You know you don't have to suck up to me so I'll give you support with Kurt. I will decide based on how good I think you are for my best friend and right now you're doing pretty well. You don't have to give up your bedroom for me," Mercedes said.

"Thank-you. I know how good a friend you are to Kurt and I want to thank-you for being there for him when I wasn't. From what I can tell those times can't have been easy for either of you."

"They weren't easy, but we got through, which is why I am very careful as to who I give my approval of. I don't want to see Kurt hurt again."

"I would never hurt Kurt ever again. I can promise you that."

"I know you would never intentionally, but the worry is still there, Kurt is my boo I can never be too careful with him. So shall I get this sofa ready?"

"No, honestly Mercedes I will take the sofa, it makes it easier for me to get to the kitchen in the mornings and I'm up pretty early so I would disturb you."

"Well if you're sure I won't say no to a comfy bed!" Mercedes grinned before leaving the room through the door Blaine had pointed out to her.

The next morning went as normal for Kurt. He needed a day where things went as usual and there was no big drama.

Trixie was still angry about the meeting with Blaine and Mercedes yesterday. But Kurt figured she was too scared of Mercedes' threats to make a big thing of it and consequently, though awkward, rehearsals were better than usual, they were better than they had been for a long time. This gave Kurt hope, maybe things were on their way to getting better.

Rehearsals weren't too long that morning then Kurt was going to spend the day shopping with Mercedes. It had been ages since they had had their "girl time" together. And Kurt was excited to show her all the shops in London. They were planning a full-blown clothes shop. As such Blaine wasn't coming. For one reason he had his own rehearsals at that time and for the second, though owning an extensive Vogue collection, Blaine didn't have the same capabilities as Mercedes and Kurt when it came to shopping.

So when the rehearsal was over Mercedes arrived, from Blaine apartment after a quiet breakfast with Blaine, at the stage door to pick Kurt off so they didn't have to waste any time.

"Trixie hasn't been giving you any trouble today has she?" asked Mercedes after they greeted each other. Mercedes wanted to ask while Trixie was still within her sight.

"No, she's been a lot better than she has been in a long time," Kurt replied with a smile. "I guess your non-too-subtle threat worked."

"Meh! Being subtle often doesn't get you very far when it comes to threats," Mercedes responded with a sly smile.

"Come on! The shops are calling and I have only approximately six hours before I have to be back here. Time is ticking!" with that Kurt grabbed his best friends hand and pulled her in the direction of the waiting shops.

"Ok, so we all know why we're here. We can't have those two together; we each have our own personal reasons," Marco said by way of introduction to the meeting that was currently being held at his house.

"I love Blaine; he needs to be with me, not Kurt!" Jayden almost shouted with frustration.

"If they get together they could be the next Broadway power couple, I would never have a hope of getting the spotlight if that happened. Also if the hobbit breaks his heart I reckon it would be easy enough to convince him to quit," Trixie added in her reasons.

Both Trixie and Jayden then turned on Marco, he had never stated his reasons for it and now they were curious. Marco, however, nonchalantly changed the subject, "yes, I didn't ask for your life stories, as I was saying: I heard most of the plan you two managed to form and, though it pains me to say it, it sounds pretty good so we'll go with it. Jayden what is your plan for getting back into Blaine's good books. It might take a while after your idiocy of before."

"Well, first-off Blaine thinks Trixie and I are dating, this eliminates the chance in his mind that I am hitting on him. Yesterday night I approached him and apologised for what I did before. I used my best acting and I think it worked. I asked him if we could be friends again and he said he'd think about it so right now I'm thinking of a gesture I could do that would cause him to pick the right option. I'm thinking of flowers but that might look like I still like him as more than a friend. Any ideas?" Jayden finished his report with a question. Partly because he really didn't know what to do but also because it would keep the meeting running smoothly.

Marco looking slightly impressed with the progress Jayden was making, "How about instead of getting him flowers," Marco advised "you get Kurt flowers. He knows you wouldn't hit on Kurt and it will show him that you're really sorry."

Trixie then spoke up, "yes, I agree I think it would put you in a more trustworthy light." She hadn't really added anything to the discussion but she wanted to draw the attention back to herself and nobody called her up on it.

"Ok, so faze one of the plan is going well at Blaine's end. How about you Trixie, have you been being friendly with Kurt?" Marco moved on swiftly

"I haven't been teasing him much. Does that count?" Trixie felt slightly embarrassed that she had so little in comparison to Jayden; she wanted to see Marco' s approving smile flashed in her direction.

She didn't get what she wanted, "Trixie! How are we supposed to get anywhere if you're not cooperating?"

"Well how was I supposed to know we would be sticking to the same plan? I left it open-ended in case things changed instead of just continuing with my own plans. If you think you're so good at these things why don't you do the sucking up?" Trixie snapped at Jayden, she wasn't used to criticism.

"Because it would be too obvious if I did it. I have no alibi as to why I wouldn't be hitting on him and Kurt is the type who would be careful to be seen to being faithful to Blaine. Anyway, he has always wanted to be friends with you. You seemed pretty confident about it last night," Marco argued.

"I just don't like being friendly to him that's all. It goes against everything I hold dear. But if you really want me to I'll do it," Trixie relented; she could see she had lost the battle and she had known all-along why it would be better for her to do it.

"Ok, so if we all know what we're doing. Remember we need to find out why they broke up the first time round, but don't rush into it, neither of them seem like idiots; they would figure you out. I might check out what that girl is up to. Maybe see if I can convince her against Kurt being with Blaine. They seem pretty close and I think Kurt would take her advice seriously. That's all, let's all go back to our lives," Marco finished the meeting.

The three of them knew what they were doing, this couldn't fail.