Chapter 15

"Come on, Mercedes! I want to see what it looks like!" Kurt called to Mercedes who was currently changing into a beautiful deep blue dress that Kurt had picked out for her.

Mercedes stepped out of the changing room; Kurt looked critically at the dress. "Humm… it's definitely the right dress for you… it just needs something like," Kurt left the changing area, Mercedes didn't worry; he often did this when they went shopping. "This!" Kurt said triumphantly holding a silver shawl, he carried it over to Mercedes before draping it over her shoulders in a way he deemed to be elegant.

"Oh my gosh, Kurt! You're like a fashion God!" Mercedes squealed.

"Of course I am! I'm surprised it took you this long to figure it out. Fashion would definitely have been the path to go down if Broadway had failed. I miss days like this. I miss having time to make my own clothes! These designers just can't do Kurt Hummel fabulous anymore!" Kurt lamented.

Mercedes laughed, "Ok, I really don't need a new dress… oh whatever! This just looks way too epic to turn down!"

"You look amazing, Mercedes! If I wasn't gay I would totally sell my arm to go on a date with you!" Kurt grinned at his best friend, he'd never realised how much he'd missed days like this. God he was going to miss her when she went back!

"Aw! Honey! If you weren't gay I'd go on a date with you too!" Mercedes cooed.

Then Kurt caught sight of the clock, "Oh my God! Fuck!" Mercedes knew it was serious then; Kurt almost never swore. "Look at the time! I'm going to be so late! Then Trixie will get my part and I'll be ruined and I'll be forced on to the streets and I'll die a horrible…"

"Kurt! Stop! It's one rehearsal! I'll go pay for this and we'll go at top speed." Mercedes tried to reassure him, but Kurt by this time was practically hysterical. Mercedes asked an assistant to look after the clothes; promising she would be back later. With one look at Kurt there were no questions asked.

The two of them rushed through London, Kurt doubted he'd ever travelled so fast in his life, they had bribed the taxi driver to go as fast as was humanly possible, it was a wonder nobody was killed. When they got as far as the taxi was allowed Kurt leapt out of the car and ran. He was dead tired by the time he was nearing the studio but he couldn't stop. He dashed right in only to hear the raised voices of an argument.

Rehearsals were a dull time for Blaine. They'd run through the production so many times he knew every single line off by heart. He even knew the comments the director would make at certain intervals. However, this rehearsal was the worst yet. All Blaine could think about was Kurt. He could barely act at all that day and he was often forgetting lyrics of songs that had been so far drilled into his head they were probably engraved on his brain.

It was a blessed relief to Blaine to get out of rehearsals, at least it was until he realised that he still had an hour before Kurt would finished. Blaine gave a sigh and sat down on the wall outside of the theatre. He suddenly felt the body heat of another presence next to him.

"Hey Blaine, you gonna go wait for Kurt; I have to wait for Trixie. Want to wait with me, it'll be more fun with two," Jayden looked up at Blaine hopefully.

Blaine sighed, "Why are you doing this, Jayden?"

Jayden took a deep breath "Blaine, when I was young I was bullied for who I was. It was horrible, I'd hate to think I've become one of those bullies," Jayden seemed pretty legit to Blaine, but he was very much aware of Jayden's acting talent so he couldn't be sure.

"So why don't you apologise to Kurt? He's the one you attacked if my memory serves me correctly?" Blaine asked; testing the water.

"Well maybe I do have an ulterior motive for talking to you today," Blaine raised an eyebrow, Jayden continued; ignoring it, "I was wondering if you could tell me what flowers he likes. So I can do it with more meaning."

Blaine couldn't help himself smiling, it was nice to know that another problem was pretty much solved; he was one step closer to Kurt. "Kurt likes lilies, but I don't think he will mind as long as he knows he has you as a friend not an enemy," Blaine smiled at Jayden.

"Come with me to the florists, you can help me chose?" it was an open offer; Blaine could refuse if he wanted to.

"Sure! I've got nothing better to do!" Blaine stood up and Jayden followed. Jayden's hand in Blaine's surprised Blaine, but friends could hold hands, right? Right.

"It's only one rehearsal! I think pretty much the whole cast has had at least three late arrivals! Even I've had a couple! Give him a break!" Kurt stared open-mouthed as Trixie defended him to the director. "Look he's here now! Problem solved," Trixie used her best you-really-want-to-try-it voice. Ok Kurt thought to himself it's clear Mercedes has done something pretty drastic. He'd have to ask her next chance he got.

The rest of the cast seemed as confused as Kurt at Trixie's sudden defence of the countertenor. Kurt knew he was treaded on delicate ground so he decided it best not to refer to Trixie's strange behaviour. The only one who didn't look confused was Marco; who just seemed to have a look between pleasure and smugness posted over his face. Well, this is different Kurt thought. "Sorry I'm late, my best friend just got in from America last night and we needed to catch up. I think I lost track of time it won't happen again."

The director eyed Kurt with annoyance, "It had better not otherwise…" he was silenced by a death glare from Trixie. "Ok, you're here now. I only have one scene to run through. Places everyone!"

The rest of the rehearsal passed in a blur of sheer confusion for Kurt. Trixie was smiling at him at every opportunity, she defended him against any jibes from other cast members and eventually they gave up having lost their ring leader. Even Marco was being nice!

When rehearsal was over Kurt was met at the stage door by Blaine and… Jayden? Ok this day was going from a little strange to down-right scary now!

"Hey Kurt!" Jayden called out to him directly.

"Um… Hey Jayden! Are you waiting for Trixie?" Kurt asked as it seemed the only plausible explanation since the revelation last night that apparently they were now dating.

"No, I'm here to see you, actually… though I am kinda picking up Trixie as well… anyway that's not my point. Listen, Kurt, what I did to you chills me to the bone. I was bullied at my high school and I can't bear to think that I stooped to their levels. I can't apologise enough. I'll understand if you want to avoid me like the plague but please take these." Jayden held out a beautiful bunch of lilies to Kurt, "Blaine helped me choose he said you like lilies."

"Oh… they're… beautiful! Thank-you. I think it would benefit all of us if we could just move past this. I have no hard feelings," Kurt said trying desperately to not make this awkward for Blaine, or piss off Trixie by insulting her boyfriend. Just going with it seemed like the best option to Kurt.

"Thanks Kurt! It means a lot to me and I know it means a lot to Trixie too. She struggles to put stuff into words but she is really sorry for what she did," Jayden explained. Kurt thought it sort of explained things but he still didn't get where all this had come from. Oh well! Who was he to complain, his life just got a whole lot better!

"Anyway nice talking to you guys but Kurt and I have a date planned, so I'll be seeing you guys later," Blaine winked at Kurt.

"Oh! Hope you have a good time! Where are you going, Kurt?" Trixie called as she walked up and gave Jayden a light kiss on the cheek. A very light kiss Kurt thought to himself.

"Actually I didn't even know we were going on a date. Where are we going, Blaine?" Kurt asked, bewildered.

"Duh! It's a surprise date! I can't tell you where we're going but if it's a fraction as perfect as you are then we are definitely in for a magical evening," Blaine smiled.

Trixie and Jayden managed to force out a quick "Aw" each. Kurt just raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow at Blaine, "Really Blaine? Now that's cheesy even by my standards."

Blaine grinned anyway and gave Kurt a chaste kiss before dragging him off. Jayden and Trixie exchanged glances.

"I wonder what's up with them. I got here late only to hear Trixie defending me to the director! You could have knocked me down with a feather!" Kurt exclaimed once the two people he was referring to were out of earshot.

"Yes, I'll have to agree with you there it is a little weird, but right now it seems pretty harmless I suggest we both just enjoy it while it lasts but don't expect it to last too long," Blaine answered.

"I agree. I mean I've had enough drama recently it would be nice to take a break for a little while. Enjoy some time with you and renew my love for musicals! However, I doubt I will be sharing too much information with them, at least until we know what they're up to. Anyway enough about them, can you tell me where we're going?"

"But it wouldn't be a surprise then!" Blaine protested.

"Blaine I'm surprised. Mission complete. Now, can you tell me where we're going?"

"No way! And don't even think of trying the puppy dog eyes because I'll just look the other way!"

Kurt gave a sigh; resigned to the fact that he would simply have to play along for this one. He could get his revenge another time. There was no doubt that revenge would be had though!

Blaine took Kurt through a labyrinth of narrow streets and alleyways, until they came to a large opening.

"Oh Blaine! I love skating!" Kurt exclaimed as they made their way to the huge ice rink.

"I really can't skate, but I knew you'd love it so we can go if you'll hold my hand," Blaine smiled.

Kurt didn't voice a response instead he took Blaine's hand in his; loving the way it felt like their hands fit each other better than anyone else's. Kurt knew for sure that this would definitely be a night to remember, he just hoped it would be for all the right reasons.