NYADA Sophomore Year 7a/12

[alexacardew]

AN: I totally forgot to post this here as well :( It's a 90 minute episode to make up for the original lateness.

2x07 Confrontations

Previously on NYADA Sophomore Year. Kurt and Blaine returned home for Thanksgiving where the Hummels and Andersons set down for dinner together. Kurt makes nice with Rachel because Finn is still moping around and tells her what a jerk Jesse is. Before he headed back to NY, he had a long overdue sleepover with Mercedes, where the two of them had a frank discussion about sex, and Mercedes tried to decide where she stood. And that's what you missed on NYADA Sophomore Year.


'I should really start thinking about gifts earlier', Kurt thinks as he hurries through the corridors to Brittany and Santana's room. As before, he has no idea what to give Blaine for Christmas and everyone else he already asked, hadn't been helpful at all. It's the only reason he is even considering asking San and Brit, is desperate enough to ask them for help.

He opens the door, a second after a perfunctory knock, which he regrets only a moment later. But not because he catches them making out or worse, but because there's a large fury thing reclining on Brittany's bed.

"Dear God, what is that thing?!" he exclaims, causing the two girls, who were making out after all, to come up for air.

"Oh hey, Kurt," Brittany greets him with a smile before she disentangles herself from Santana and bounces over to her side of the room to pick up the monstrosity on the bed.

"This is Lord Tubbington the first," she announces proudly and thrusts the overweight cat into his arms, causing him to nearly drop the thing.

Lord Tubbington takes one look at him and hisses, and Kurt is glad to see that they feel the same about one another. Carefully - because he doesn't want any craws digging into his sweater - he puts the thing back down on Brit's bed before taking a step back to put some distance between them.

"Okay, let me rephrase that. What is a cat doing in your room?"

Brittany just continues smiling at him, while Santana rolls her eyes behind her.

"I found him a few weeks ago. Poor thing was all alone, hiding behind a dumpster," she explains.

"And you took him home with you?!"

It's not that he has a problem with pets per se, he just doesn't think it's very hygienic to bring home a stray.

"And you are planning to do what with him?" he asks, because while Brit is one of his best friends at NYADA, he knows she can be a bit naïve and stuck in her own world at times.

"He lives here with me and Santana now," Brittany tells him, giving him a look stating that he is the crazy one for even asking.

Kurt opens and closes his mouth a few times but nothing comes out.

"We got's a problem though now," San finally interrupts and Kurt raises an eyebrow, because he isn't so sure they only have one problem.

"Brit and I are spending Christmas with her family and we can't just show up with a cat. And of course we can't just keep him here either while we are gone."

Kurt nods but has no advice for her.

"I wanted him to stay in a cat hotel, but they are really expensive," Brittany pouts.

"So what are you going to do?" he asks, because apparently he can't stay away from their drama.

Santana shrugs. Brit looks deep in thought. And Kurt just might have an idea how to help them out.

"Wes is celebrating Christmas in New York this year. I could ask him if he'd take in the cat until you come back to school," he says and seconds later gets tackled by Brittany.

"I'd totally kiss you but San told me you don't like Lady kisses," she exclaims and Kurt pets her arm, thankful that Brittany stopped kissing him on the lips when she is excited.

"But you know that you can't keep him here forever, right? You need to think about a long term solution," he tells her after she released him and immediately knows that was the wrong thing to say.

Tears well up in Brittany's eyes and if looks could kill he would be dead right now judging by Santana's glare.

Deciding that being alive is more important than Blaine's Christmas present, he hightails out of the girls room and quickly calls over his shoulder that he'll let them know after he spoke to Wes.

Life at NYADA definitely never was boring, Kurt thinks as he speeds away from his murderous looking friend.

"Don't you think this is a bit much?" Adam asks when he sees the price tag on the scarf Trent has handed him. It's gorgeous and he's certain it would bring out Kurt's eyes even more, but it is a quite expensive gift for someone who is, unfortunately, just a friend.

"Well, it's not like you can't afford it," Trent replies before disappearing between the racks again to help Adam find the perfect gift for Kurt.

"And I'm not sure that giving him a gift like that would really be laying low," he continues.

Trent's head pops up between the racks again, and his friend rolls his eyes.

"Kurt likes designer clothes but can't really afford them. If you give him what he desires he'll fall in love with you eventually," Trent tells him matter of fact, as if there can't be a flaw in his logic.

"But I don't want him to be with me just because I can buy him things," Adam argues, because while he'd do about anything to get Kurt to notice him in a non - platonic way, he isn't sure if buying his affection is the way to go.

"Everyone loves gifts and you'd just show him what he could have if he were dating you," Trent replies before disappearing again.

Adam runs his hand over the scarf he is holding. It's incredibly soft and it really would look amazing around Kurt's neck.

"Fine. I'll take it," he concedes and Trent claps his hands together excitedly.

The scarf does indeed look good around Kurt's neck when the older boy unwraps his present hours later and immediately puts it on.

"Oh wow, it's gorgeous, Adam. But you shouldn't have," Kurt tells him and Adam's cheeks flush.

"I, um, saw it and thought of you," he croaks out but luckily Kurt doesn't seem to notice his weird behavior and just beams at him.

The next day, he and Trent are down in Soho, trying to find presents for their parents, when Trent comes up to him holding a scissors pin.

"I don't think that's right for my mom," he tells his friend who rolls his eyes.

"It's not for your mom, it's for Kurt, dumbass. He always wears those weird pins, so this one should be right up his alley."

"Hey", Adam replies. "His outfits are awesome and not weird." They really are not. They might be a bit out there from time to time, but Kurt always looks incredible in them.

"Whatever. You should take it and give it to him."

"But I already gave him a Christmas present. Won't he think I'm crazy for giving him another one?"

"Just tell him you saw it and couldn't not buy it. He'll love it."

Adam considers it for a moment, but so far Trent's advice hadn't been unhelpful, so he decides to trust his friend on this one as well.

"Alright."

As Trent predicted, Kurt loves the pin and after a mock argument of 'I really couldn't - no I insist you take it', the older boy leaves with a spring in his step, the pin secured firmly on the lapel of the blazer he is wearing that day.

It goes on like that and by the time the last day of school comes around Adam has bought Kurt no less than four presents which the object of his affections all accepted with a fond eye roll fortunately.

"Seriously, Adam. You have to stop giving me things. Makes me feel bad that I only got you that one lousy gift," Kurt argues before he leaves with gift number four - tickets for a new Broadway play, his parents got plenty of from a colleague at work. It's his favorite, because Kurt immediately told him that they should go and watch the play together.

Trent pops up behind him, while he is still starring dreamily after Kurt, and his voice goes up at least an octave when Trent slings an arm around his shoulders.

"Told you the gift idea was a good one," his friend remarks and Adam nods.

"Kurt will be yours in no time," Trent continues, but of that his isn't that certain unfortunately.

Blaine is struggling to fit yet another sweater in his small carry-on when there is a knock on the door, and the master of packing himself, appears in his doorway. Dressed in a quite unique outfit like he is most days when they are not just lounging in either of their dorm rooms or back in Ohio, and clutching an envelop in his right hand.

"Don't tell me - another gift from Adam?" he asks his boyfriend, biting back a laugh. By now he is certain that everyone but Kurt is aware of the British freshman's crush.

Kurt immediately crosses his arms over his chest and shoots Blaine a glare.

"So what if it is. His parents got a bunch of tickets for a new show at some charity dinner and Adam thought I might like to see it," he explains before Blaine can tease him about some imaginary crush again.

"It was very thoughtful of him to ask me," he continues and his boyfriend actually dares to snort.

Unwilling to dignify that with a response, he empties Blaine's suitcase out on the bed and starts repacking for him.

"How did you survive before you met me," he mumbles, because his nearly eighteen year old boyfriend still hasn't learned to properly pack a suitcase.

"Wesdiditforme," comes the reply, and Kurt raises an eyebrow.

"What was that?"

"I said, Wes usually repacked for me," Blaine admits, his cheeks lightly pink. "But I bet I can learn to pack before you realize Adam has a major crush on you," his boyfriend adds cheekily, before putting his now perfectly packed luggage on the floor and pulls Kurt down next to him on the bed.

"And what happens if I win that bet - which for the record isn't even a possibility because Adam doesn't like me that way.?" Kurt mock huffs.

"I get to say 'I told you so' as often as I like, as long as you don't decide to leave me for him," his boyfriend jokes, but Kurt's gaze immediately softens.

"Never," he promises.

Leaning even closer to his boyfriend, he cups Blaine's jaw and draws him in for a soft kiss. When Blaine licks his bottom lip, he immediately opens his mouth to the questing tongue and it doesn't take long for their kisses to become heated.

Before they can do more than merely make out though, Beatz barges into the room and throws an empty duffel bag onto his own bed.

"I guess that's my cue to leave," Kurt sighs, because he still has his own packing to finish and if they continue like this, he'll probably want to do more than they can do with Blaine's roommate in the room.

"Pick me up for the party at seven?" he asks, after a chaste kiss.

"7:30, got it," Blaine replies and Kurt rolls his eyes because he can be punctual if he wants to. It's not his fault he always wants to look his absolute best for dates with his boyfriend.

"Seven," he repeats before waving in Beatz' direction and leaving the room.

He still has to pack and pick an outfit for the NYADA Christmas party after all.

Three hours later, he and Blaine arrive downstairs in the festively decorated common room, where the NYADA Christmas party is already in full swing. Most of the seniors look like they've been drinking eggnog for a while already, while the freshmen mostly hang out in groups and watch the proceedings with wide eyes.

Like the year before, he and Blaine sing a duet together when it's their turn on stage and Kurt hopes that this is a little traditions they'll be able to keep up after Blaine graduates.

Because there are teachers around, he and Blaine both only get another cup of hot chocolate before they sit down briefly on one of the comfortable couches in the room. Holding the hot beverages in their hands, they snuggle up together, while listening to Nick and Quinn take the stage with another sweet Christmas duet.

Their peace and quiet is disrupted only moments later, unfortunately, when a not entirely sober Jesse storms up to them, his glare directed straight at Kurt.

"What the hell did you tell Berry about me, Hummel?" he yells, but thankfully most eyes stay on Nick and Quinn on the stage.

With Kurt sitting down, Jesse is towering over him, but for once Kurt isn't afraid, because he is pretty certain Jesse won't actually hurt him physically. It would result in his immediate expulsion if he did.

"How can I help you, Jesse?" he replies calmly - and man, if that's how you got Jesse to lose his cool, maybe he should be nice to Rachel more often.

"Don't play dumb, Hummel. I just called her to make plans for break and she told me, and I quote, 'after talking to Kurt - you know Kurt, you go to NYADA together - I've decided that I'm better off without you, and that you can go fuck yourself."

Jesse's face is red with anger, but Kurt can't stop himself and smirks.

"Looks, like you're not the only one who can talk smack about people, or well, in your case, the truth," he replies with an icy voice, patented Kurt Hummel glare in place.

Jesse looks about ready to explode, while Blaine is suddenly clutching his arm tightly.

"You're going to regret this," Jesse threatens. "If I were you I'd watch your back from now on."

He knows it's probably the wrong thing to do in that situation, but Kurt starts laughing.

"Really, Jesse? I didn't know you and Rachel were that serious about one another. Definitely didn't sound that way when you were talking about her," he challenges, because Jesse looks far from a villain right now, with his eyes red from the booze he must have had, and his clothes slightly disheveled.

"We're not," Jesse spits, "but it's nice to know you have a guaranteed lay when you're home for break. And trust me, no girl has ever said no, after having my famous eggnog."

Before he can asks Jesse if he really is that pathetic - pathetic enough to have to get girls drunk to touch him - Blaine unfortunately decides he doesn't want to sit quietly and just observe anymore.

"Leave Kurt alone, Jesse. I am the one you have a problem with, so leave him out of it."

Kurt turns abruptly in his seat and levels a glare at his boyfriend. Jesse, fortunately takes this as his cue to leave and bother someone else.

"I didn't need your help there, Blaine. Nothing I couldn't have handled. You might not believe it, but I am capable of fighting my own battles," he tells his boyfriend, with probably a little more force than strictly necessary.

"I know that but-" Blaine starts, but Kurt shakes his head.

"Let's not argue, okay. We're supposed to celebrate the end of the semester with our friends and that's what I intend to do. Besides, this will be our last Christmas party here with you still being a student, so I'd rather not get into an argument with you, because of Jesse St. James of all people."

For a moment it looks like Blaine wants to argue with that as well, but then his boyfriend snaps his mouth shut and laces his fingers with Kurt's.

"Alright," he concedes. "Let's go and celebrate then."

Two days and another long train ride later, Kurt is accompanying the members of New Directions to the Lima homeless shelter like he did the previous year, only this year Finn and Rachel are there as well. To his surprise, Rachel actually smiles at him for once instead of immediately reminding him how much more talented she is. It's a step in the right direction, but he is not so naïve to believe the their whole dynamic has changed after just one friendly talk.

It saddens him again, to see how many people are on the streets in Lima; has been paying more attention to them in New York as well since his last time volunteering. So he makes sure the spend as much time with the kids in the shelter as possible when he isn't singing back up for New Directions , because while his childhood sucked because he lost his mom, he at least never had to worry that his dad wouldn't be able to put food on the table. Edible food - sure; but his dad had always been able to spoil him and buy him whatever he wanted.

Mercedes pulls him aside when everyone has a plate in front of them and Kurt quickly puts on his coat and gloves before he follows her outside.

"I tried to have sex with Sam," his best friend blurts out as soon as the door closes behind them and Kurt nearly drops his gloves.

"Tried?" he asked, because that doesn't sound very promising.

Mercedes turns bright red and starts to fiddle with her scarf.

"Yeah, well. We stopped before we could really do anything," she finally admits.

"What happened?" Kurt asks, voice laced with concern.

"I don't really know. I've been thinking about what we were talking about and I really thought I could do it, but when we were actually … you know trying to do it, I kind of panicked and Sam noticed that I wasn't feeling comfortable."

"What did he do? Do I have to kick his ass?" Kurt demands, and while he is certain he wouldn't stand a chance against Sam, he would at least give the ass-kicking a shot.

"He was great actually," Mercedes admits with a blush. "And it finally forced us to talk about things."

"And…?" Kurt prompts, wishing his friend would just get on with it and tell him everything.

"We agreed to keep taking things slow and that he wouldn't pressure or break up with me if I decide that I want to wait."

"That's great," Kurt exclaims, before pulling his best girl into a bone crushing hug.

A man in his thirties who looks like he could be Jesse's dad interrupts their hug by clearing his throat behind them.

"Mercedes, you are needed for the next song," Mr. Schuester tells her and Mercedes gives him an apologetic smile before hurrying back inside.

Once she is one, the teacher looks him over and Kurt fidgets uncomfortably for a moment.

"Kurt Hummel, right?" Mr. Schuster finally breaks the silence and Kurt gives him a curt nod.

"After hearing you sing tonight, I'm surprised that you are the boy attending NYADA," he continues and Kurt tries his hardest to not glare at the teacher. He's heard enough stories about his blatant favoritism of certain students to take offence.

"And why is that?" he asks through gritted teeth, still trying to stay polite because while Mr. Schuster isn't his teacher, he is still an adult.

"Well, no offence, but you sound like a girl," Mr. Schuester replies.

'Fuck politeness', Kurt thinks. A few weeks ago, statements like that might have sent him into a crying fit but not anymore thanks to Ms. Corcoran.

"With all due respect, sir, you haven't really heard me sing yet, unless you count singing back up for your students. It actually worries me a bit that a music teacher can't tell the difference between singing like a girl and a countertenor, no offence," he adds for good measure, and watches with satisfaction when Mr. Schuester gapes like a fish out of water.

"And even if you think I sing like a girl and shouldn't even have gotten into NYADA, others don't share your opinion. I have an audition for a small part in an Off Broadway production in January," he continues, because he won't let himself be insulted by a man he met twice.

Mr. Schuester recovers fast though and puts on a smile, even hypothetical aliens could tell it's fake from outer space.

"Well, good for you. I'm actually about to send one of my own students off to New York next fall and I'm sure I can get Rachel into a summer work shop there this year. I don't know if you've heard her sing, but she is by far the most talented singer I've ever taught and once Harmony graduates I'll finally be able to give her all the competition solos she deserves."

Kurt barely refrains from rolling his eyes at the teacher, but his gushing about his students does explain some things. No wonder Rachel thinks she is the world's greatest if she constantly gets to hear it at school and probably at home as well.

"Well, good luck for Regionals. From my experience - having gone to Nationals last year - I can tell you though that the groups that only featured one performer didn't even make it to second round."

Already exhausted and bored with the conversation he doesn't give the teacher a chance to reply and turns around. Before going back in he calls over his shoulder though.

"I have to head back in now because I promised your club that me and my girly voice would sing back up for them some more."

He doesn't wait for Mr. Schuester's reaction and slams the door shut behind him with a little more force than necessary.

Christmas is a livelier affair this year, because thankfully his son and stepson aren't fighting about something he never found out what it was. There are more people around the dinner table as well, because Carole insisted that they invite the Andersons after spending Thanksgiving dinner at their place.

"So how was the Christmas party? Stay sober?" Burt asks his son, while they are waiting for Carole to bring out the rest of the food, and predictably his son glares at him.

"You'll never let me forget that one, right?"

Burt shakes his head. "Nope. But one day when you have kids of your own who pull that kind of stunt and you'll freak out about it, I'll laugh about it."

"God, dad. We're not having kids until we're at least thirty, but I wouldn't mind if you found it funny a bit sooner," his son immediately shoots back and Burt tries his best to ignore the 'we'.

Because Kurt's only sixteen and as much as he wants their relationship to last - because he so doesn't want to deal with his son after a break up - he also knows that it isn't very realistic. To be quite honest, he'd be surprised if they make it through Blaine's first year in college. Not because he doesn't want them to last, but because they are still so young and have never been with anyone else as far as he knows.

Just then, Carole carries in the pot-roast she and Kurt have been cooking together and Burt forces his thoughts away and starts to dig in the moment the food touches his plate. His son glares at him when he drowns his mashed potatoes in gravy, but everything tastes better with a little sauce. He'll worry about eating a bit healthier when he's like fifty or sixty.

"Thanks again for having us over," Robert tells him and Carole while the boys are in the kitchen making coffee and cutting up pies, and his sister and Cooper have disappeared to god knows where.

"You've saved us from having to eat pizza again for Christmas because none of the other restaurants in our neighborhood deliver today."

"Don't worry about it," Burt tells him. "Kurt loves to cook dinners like that, especially now that he has to eat in the school cafeteria most of the time."

"And it won't be a problem if Blaine stays over again for New Years so he can go to that party with your sons?"

Burt shakes his head but waits with his answer until Kurt, Finn and Blaine are back in the room.

"No, that's alright. We'll be home this year though to make sure he doesn't 'accidently' falls asleep during a party again."

Kurt and Finn immediately start to protest, assuring him they don't know what party he's talking about, but Burt stops them mid-sentence.

"I wasn't born yesterday, you know. And also, Mr. Fitz from down the street saw you dump quite a lot of garbage bags in front of the house across from him."

That causes his boys to immediately shut up, but Burt has decided long ago to let this one go.

"The house was clean when we got back and none of you looked hung over, so I let it go this time. But I don't want a repeat. You want to throw a party, you ask for permission, got it?"

Even Blaine nods frantically when he stares at his son and stepson, which causes his wife to snort.

"At least your boys cleaned up. When Cooper was a teenager he would throw these wild parties when I was gone, and when I got back the next day his baby brother was trying to clean up the house," Robert recounts, causing all occupants of the room to laugh.

Blaine's cheek are flushed though and when his dad notices he turns to Kurt.

"I'll have to show you some of his baby pictures the next time you come by our house," he tells him and Burt laughs when Blaine frantically shakes his head, because he had 'threatened' Kurt with the same thing.

The main character of the story reappears that moment with Burt's sister in tow and Burt tries to ignore that they both look a bit disheveled. He tried to meddle with her relationships before, and it never ended well, so for now he decides to stay out of whatever Kate and Blaine's brother have going on.

The Andersons sans Cooper, who decides to accompany Kate to a bar where she is meeting some of her high school friends, depart after desert and he and Carole share a cup of hot chocolate with a splash of rum while Kurt and Finn do the dishes in the kitchen.

Maybe he only got it a year late and with a lot more people, but he finally got that perfect Christmas he wanted to have with his new family.

Continued