Fic: I've looked ahead (and there's something to tell)
I've looked ahead (and there's something to tell)
pg//~850//gen, Kurt+April
written for morethan4sides weekly challenge 8
Kurt sits, with his pants legs rolled up and his feet skimming circles in the pool’s crystalline reflection. He's written out his name three times in cursive with his big toe while waiting for April to get back from wherever she disappeared to in her gigantic house full of tacky luxury.
Two days ago April had burst into Glee with a devious grin, and a beguiling gaze directed at Mr. Schue as she moaned about throwing holiday parties and having the scheduled entertainment cancel at the last minute. ('Who knew that acapella group moonlighted as convenience store thieves at night? she'd said, laughing in Puck's general direction.) Mr. Schue had been quick to offer Glee Club services just to give them more time performing for other people, and had even grinned harder when April winked and said she'd be sure to reward the club for their troubles.
Four hours and three songs and a medley later, Kurt's resting on the pool's edge, wearing a now rumpled tuxedo with fake blood stains on its lapels and makeup that was supposed to zombiefy him but really just made him look wane and exhausted--though perhaps that couldn’t fully be blamed on the makeup. Everyone else had run off to parties or late night dates and April had slid up next to him, slung a perfume heavy arm around his shoulders and offered him a late night of good times that would sound like flirtation if Kurt didn't know that was just how April communicated.
'Well aren't you just the picture of blue feelings?' says April, balancing a tray with two glasses and a bowl of fruit on her hand. She looks to be two seconds away from belting out a LeAnn Rimes chorus, so Kurt springs to his feet and relieves her of the tray in hope of avoiding another April Revue Show. 'Let's float on,' she says, already taking off her earrings and letting her hair down.
'I'd prefer not to get wet, thank you,' Kurt replies.
'Yeah, I'm sure you wouldn't.' She nudges his side. 'Come on, who stays after a party and doesn't sneak into the pool?'
'You live here. You don't have to sneak anywhere.'
April hoists up her dress and plops down next Kurt's feet. 'Fine, be that way. Wouldn't want you to melt.' She splashes her feet around and hums a familiar melody while Kurt sits down next to her with the tray between them. 'I made the pink drink special just for you.'
He gives the concoction an experimental sniff. 'What is it?'
'A surprise. Go on, it won't hurt. The burn is supposed to happen, but it dies down in a snap.'
'I thought you'd quit,' says Kurt before sipping at the drink. It's good if more tart than he likes. 'What is this, papaya and lemon?'
'I plan to live vicariously through you.' April sighs, pops a grape into her mouth, and falls back on her back with her arms flung above her head.
'Well you won't be living much,' says Kurt. He mimics her position after downing the rest of the drink. The burn slides down his throat with a gentle viciousness.
'So young, so jaded. Things aren't shaking out the way you like?'
'Do they ever?' He snorts. 'It's not like I'm surprised anymore.'
April throws a strawberry at his head. 'Hey, now, you need to at least be in your twenties before you start being that resigned. It's bad for your aura to be so gloomy.'
Kurt sits up and takes another gulp of the drink. It's still as jarring even when he's expecting it. 'It was a good party, April. Thanks for letting us perform for your friends.'
'Showing folks a good time is one of my many talents. Good thing I have glee clubs in my pocket to pull out in a pinch.'
'Of course one of the probable judges for Regionals just happened to be in attendance. Funny how that happened.' Kurt flips over onto his side and faces April's wide smirk.
'Sometimes things just work to your advantage. You should have seen me when those Acapella young men were flashing on the television and not for their superior harmony. It was a near catastrophe.'
They go through the bowl of fruit in comfortable silence, and just before Kurt gets up to go find the bathroom and crash in the guest room because he's entirely not able to drive, April calls back to him, 'Kurt?'
'Yes, April?'
'It's true: things really do work out to your advantage at surprising times. You never really see it coming. That's what makes them surprises.'
'You should know, right?'
She motions around the spacious pool house. 'My years over you have given me much wisdom. Now go find me some more strawberries while you're in there. We're going swimming when you get back. Melting be damned.'
pg//~850//gen, Kurt+April
written for morethan4sides weekly challenge 8
Kurt sits, with his pants legs rolled up and his feet skimming circles in the pool’s crystalline reflection. He's written out his name three times in cursive with his big toe while waiting for April to get back from wherever she disappeared to in her gigantic house full of tacky luxury.
Two days ago April had burst into Glee with a devious grin, and a beguiling gaze directed at Mr. Schue as she moaned about throwing holiday parties and having the scheduled entertainment cancel at the last minute. ('Who knew that acapella group moonlighted as convenience store thieves at night? she'd said, laughing in Puck's general direction.) Mr. Schue had been quick to offer Glee Club services just to give them more time performing for other people, and had even grinned harder when April winked and said she'd be sure to reward the club for their troubles.
Four hours and three songs and a medley later, Kurt's resting on the pool's edge, wearing a now rumpled tuxedo with fake blood stains on its lapels and makeup that was supposed to zombiefy him but really just made him look wane and exhausted--though perhaps that couldn’t fully be blamed on the makeup. Everyone else had run off to parties or late night dates and April had slid up next to him, slung a perfume heavy arm around his shoulders and offered him a late night of good times that would sound like flirtation if Kurt didn't know that was just how April communicated.
'Well aren't you just the picture of blue feelings?' says April, balancing a tray with two glasses and a bowl of fruit on her hand. She looks to be two seconds away from belting out a LeAnn Rimes chorus, so Kurt springs to his feet and relieves her of the tray in hope of avoiding another April Revue Show. 'Let's float on,' she says, already taking off her earrings and letting her hair down.
'I'd prefer not to get wet, thank you,' Kurt replies.
'Yeah, I'm sure you wouldn't.' She nudges his side. 'Come on, who stays after a party and doesn't sneak into the pool?'
'You live here. You don't have to sneak anywhere.'
April hoists up her dress and plops down next Kurt's feet. 'Fine, be that way. Wouldn't want you to melt.' She splashes her feet around and hums a familiar melody while Kurt sits down next to her with the tray between them. 'I made the pink drink special just for you.'
He gives the concoction an experimental sniff. 'What is it?'
'A surprise. Go on, it won't hurt. The burn is supposed to happen, but it dies down in a snap.'
'I thought you'd quit,' says Kurt before sipping at the drink. It's good if more tart than he likes. 'What is this, papaya and lemon?'
'I plan to live vicariously through you.' April sighs, pops a grape into her mouth, and falls back on her back with her arms flung above her head.
'Well you won't be living much,' says Kurt. He mimics her position after downing the rest of the drink. The burn slides down his throat with a gentle viciousness.
'So young, so jaded. Things aren't shaking out the way you like?'
'Do they ever?' He snorts. 'It's not like I'm surprised anymore.'
April throws a strawberry at his head. 'Hey, now, you need to at least be in your twenties before you start being that resigned. It's bad for your aura to be so gloomy.'
Kurt sits up and takes another gulp of the drink. It's still as jarring even when he's expecting it. 'It was a good party, April. Thanks for letting us perform for your friends.'
'Showing folks a good time is one of my many talents. Good thing I have glee clubs in my pocket to pull out in a pinch.'
'Of course one of the probable judges for Regionals just happened to be in attendance. Funny how that happened.' Kurt flips over onto his side and faces April's wide smirk.
'Sometimes things just work to your advantage. You should have seen me when those Acapella young men were flashing on the television and not for their superior harmony. It was a near catastrophe.'
They go through the bowl of fruit in comfortable silence, and just before Kurt gets up to go find the bathroom and crash in the guest room because he's entirely not able to drive, April calls back to him, 'Kurt?'
'Yes, April?'
'It's true: things really do work out to your advantage at surprising times. You never really see it coming. That's what makes them surprises.'
'You should know, right?'
She motions around the spacious pool house. 'My years over you have given me much wisdom. Now go find me some more strawberries while you're in there. We're going swimming when you get back. Melting be damned.'