Chapter 20

It was a week since Kurt had spent the night on Blaine's sofa, since then he had not seen Mercedes though he had been spending ever-increasing amounts of time with Blaine. It seemed like everything he used to do alone he now had a partner for. Kurt found it almost physically painful to imagine going back to being alone; which is why the announcement hit him the hardest.

It was after one of their many shows. Kurt had been happy with how it had gone; he was finding it easier to interact with Trixie in character with each performance. The director called them in for a quick announcement. Kurt just thought it might be about the renovations to the theatre or something silly like that. It wasn't.

"I have recently had a call from New York. There has been a recent accident on the New York underground that, though there have been no fatalities, has meant that the show preceding ours has had to have its stint shortened due to the number of cast members injured. Therefore I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear that we are heading out to New York early. We have two weeks left in London before we're heading out. We will be fitting in as many extra shows as possible in the next two weeks. We didn't have many shows planned left so there shouldn't be many tickets to refund," once finished a deadly silence filled the room. It was only to be broken a few minutes later by cheers erupting from the cast. This was what they had all been waiting for.

Kurt had dreamed of being on Broadway since he was three and he saw his first musical; however now, when he was closer than ever, he couldn't even bring himself to smile. He didn't think about the cheers, the fame or the recognition. Only one thought dominated his mind: Blaine.

He couldn't say goodbye to Blaine, not yet. He wasn't ready to say goodbye. This had always been inevitable yet now it seemed impossible, Kurt wondered if it was always going to end up like this. However long he spent with Blaine, would he always want more time? Kurt didn't want to know the answer but he did. And now the end had come so unexpectedly quickly he was panicking. How was he going to tell Blaine?

Kurt barely registered the director telling them all that if any of them had a problem with the new arrangement they could go and see him. Kurt knew he couldn't do that. He'd been given everything he'd ever wanted, why couldn't he be happy with that. If he gave up now chances were he might never get another opportunity like this. No, there was no choice in the matter, he would have to go.

Trixie smiled at all the celebrations going on around them, but inside was a different story. Trixie was starting to panic. They only had a week otherwise Blaine would probably be coming to New York with them. The two of them would almost certainly become a big Broadway power couple and quite possibly take the lime-light away from anyone for the next five years. They had to split them up… and fast!

Trixie managed to meet Marco's eyes from across the room. She knew he was thinking the same thing. Trixie gave Marco a nod in the direction of the stage door and the two of them walked over to it.

"What are we going to do? We only have two weeks!" Trixie was starting to panic. This was no going to plan at all.

"Stay calm! We don't have time for one of your freak-outs! You need to get closer to Kurt! Invite him to your place, treat him well and then try to have a heart to heart. We have to find out what made them break-up. In the mean-time I will talk to Mercedes. I'm pretty close to her now so I should be able to find it all out; however, I think it best if we both try, then we have two shots at getting it right. I'll also talk to Jayden; find out about Blaine. We good?" Marco spoke quickly in hushed tones.

Trixie merely nodded and rushed off to find Kurt. She knew it would be hard to find a date when he was free as he spent so much time with Blaine but she was sure there would be some day that he was free for whatever reason.

Kurt was standing in a corner. His face was the picture of sheer shock. He clearly had not been ready for the announcement. Trixie slowly walked over to him. She knew she would have to be very gentle and understanding if this was to work out. And it must work out! Trixie gently put a hand on Kurt's small shoulder. He jumped despite her carefulness, Trixie muttered quick apology. She hadn't meant to scare him.

"So, what do you want, Trixie?" Kurt asked.

"I'm worried about you. You look as though you were just told an earthquake had just hit a house containing all the people and things you love. I think we can talk about this. I don't want to love London either. I can't leave Jayden. We have more in common than I think you realise," Trixie was careful with her choice of words. She knew one wrong move could mean game over.

Kurt looked at her. He looked right at her and deep into her eyes, "I don't want to leave him. Yet this is all I ever dreamed about. I don't know what to do. Do you think he'd come with me if I asked him?"

Trixie wasn't sure what to say in answer to this. On one hand if she was reassuring now she may get closer to Kurt and get the opportunity to find out more; it would also be following the plan. However, this might be her chance to split them up. If she could convince Kurt against it then it would be a full success thanks to her. Trixie thought about it for a moment. She knew she would have to go for the first option. The second was too much of a risk and even if it did pay off Kurt may miss him so much he would call Blaine to come to America anyway.

"I think if he felt as much for you as you obviously feel for him then he would not hesitate. Is that what you want then, Kurt?" Trixie decided she would answer kindly but casting doubt was always a good thing.

"Do you really think so? I'm not sure; he has a life for himself here. Oh, I don't know what I want. I love being around him, I know that, and I think I do love him but there are still past ghosts hanging round and I'm not sure it would be good for me if he stayed. It's just been so long," Kurt's sentences were jumbled. It was clear to Trixie that he really didn't know. She could take advantage of this.

"Listen, I'm pretty good with relationships. Why don't you come to my flat and we can talk this over. I'm sure between the two of us we can sort out this mess," Trixie placed her hand back on Kurt's shoulder.

"I guess I have a couple of hours before I'm meeting Blaine. Where do you live?"

"Come with me, I'll show you," Trixie carefully guided Kurt with her out of the theatre to her place.

"Jayden!" Marco yelled through the phone.

"What is it?" Jayden asked back.

"Listen, we're going to Broadway in two weeks! You have to move quickly! We need to find out why they broke up and break them up fast!" Marco spoke very quickly. Jayden could only just understand what it was that he was saying.

"Listen, can we meet for coffee? I'm still kind of confused," Jayden asked. He needed advice ad Marco was always pretty sure of himself. He would know what to do.

"Sure think, I'm heading to the Starbucks across the road from our theatre. Meet e there," with that Marco hung up.

About ten minutes later Jayden arrived at Starbucks to see Marco waiting at a table with two coffees. He walked over to him.

"Thanks for the coffee. You really didn't have to!" Jayden said, gratefully taking a sip of the coffee put for him.

"It's no problem. You're a lot easier to deal with than Trixie so I'm going to hang around you!" Marco laughed.

"Yeah she can be a bit of a handful! So, what's going on?" Jayden asked.

"Well, basically we're going to Broadway in a couple of weeks. We need to move faster. You need to try to have a heart to heart talk with Blaine. Maybe if you tell him that you heard it from Trixie so you're the first person to let him know. That gets you closer to him. Then ask him what he's going to do about Kurt. Just go from there try and get him to open up," Marco advised.

"Wow! You're so much better at this than I am! I wouldn't have a clue what to do! Thanks, Marco," Jayden laughed.

"Don't mention it," Marco replied.

After this a silence followed. It wasn't particularly comfortable to either of them but neither knew quite what to say. It was then that they realised how little they knew about each other.

Marco was first to break the silence, "So where do you come from?"

"I'm from Scotland originally. However, I moved to Doncaster when I was ten. What about you?" Jayden was grateful for the conversation.

"I used to live in America too. I'm from Michigan, I liked it there very much. I went to college in New York then after I applied for lots of parts in stage productions. When this one came up I applied. My father was partially funding the show so I got the part pretty easily," Marco gave quite a brief account of his life story.

"So, why do you hate Kurt so much?" Jayden asked.

"I don't hate him," Marco replied simply.

"See, from what I gather, you have been going out of your way to make his life pretty miserable and now you're trying to break-up his relationship. I doesn't fit," Jayden pushed.

"You say you love Blaine. You're not exactly going to make him happy are you?" Marco countered.

"That's different I'm in love with Blaine. I can see they're not right for each other. He would be better off with me!" Jayden snapped.

"They fit perfectly for each other. I don't think I've ever seen a better match. If they stay together now I can see them getting married and having lots of children somehow; if not children then a load of cats. They are right for each other. It's sickening," Marco sighed. Jayden could see anguish in his face and he knew there was something Marco wasn't telling him.

"Why do you want to break them up then? You don't seem like the type to do it only to get more attention from the press. What's your reason, Marco?"

"It doesn't matter. It will never happen. I don't even think I know why," Marco bowed his head; unshed tears in his eyes.

That is when it suddenly clicked in Jayden's head. "You love him don't you, Kurt I mean." It wasn't a question.

Marco slowly nodded his head, "I know it's stupid but ever since I first saw him he had this awe about him. It was like he was shining; like there was a beautiful light within him that shined to the world. I felt so good when I was with him. He made me happy even when he was yelling at me. When he was sad it made me feel sad, though, I cried almost every time I did something to hurt him. I fell so in love with him ever since I saw his eyes. He has such beautiful eyes, they're like the ocean, I can just look into them and I lose myself. I asked him out just a week after I first met him. But he didn't feel the same way and he rejected me. I now realise it probably wasn't me; he was probably still just upset over Blaine, but I felt like he'd stabbed my heart. I felt like it was a personal attack on me. How dare he make me fall in love with him and then reject me! It wasn't fair!" Marco banged the table with his fist causing Jayden and a few other people in the caf� to jump but Marco didn't notice, "it wasn't fair," he murmured quietly this time.

"After he rejected me," Marco continued, "I just felt so angry. I had these pains in my chest every time I saw him and I just knew it was his fault. That bitch! So I tried to get over him; I wanted to make him jealous so that he felt the kind of pain I felt. I started dating Trixie; I didn't like her at all and she's a girl to boot. I didn't care I was so focussed on Kurt. I knew I hurt her when I told her that we had to break-up. When she asked me why I blamed Kurt, I don't know why but it made me feel better knowing that she would hate him. Then I started turning the other cast against him. I would spread rumours and yell slurs. Trixie helped, of course, she was still angry two. I know it wasn't right what I did to Kurt. I know it isn't right what I'm doing well. At first I just did it all because I wanted to hurt him but now I feel like it I ruin his life enough then he will say yes when I ask him out. If I make him unhappy then offer him an alternative then he will take it. He would only be with me if he had no other options but I could live with that if he were mine," Marco finished, he was crying by now. It was the first time Jayden had seen Marco cry. Marco had always been so put together it was starnge to see him torn down by Kurt. However, when Jayden thought about it, he could identify with Marco, because he felt exactly the same way about Blaine.