Lies And Truths

Chp. IX - Dinner

Life went on as normal, if normal was a thing for Puck, Kurt, or Blaine anymore, until Friday finally came. The last bell rang and Puck and Kurt walked to Glee practice together. The two decided dinner should be at a nearby sushi restaurant, one of Puck's favorites.

"Ok so let's get into business, shall we?" Mr. Schue looked around, mentally taking attendance. "Ah Puck, glad to see you've decided to join us today!"- there was a hint of pettiness in his voice-"We need to decide who's taking the duet, I was thinking Blaine and Kurt?"

There was a very audible scoff from Rachel followed by shush from Finn. "Don't shush me, we deserve that duet." Rachel's loud whisper could be heard across a football field.

"I don't know Mr. Schue, I think Kurt would prefer doing it with Puck." Blaine crossed his arms with disdain.

"Blaine, don't be so upset, you're literally being given a duet," Artie chimed in followed by an 'Mmhm' from Tina.

"Some of us earn our duets with pure talent," matter-of-fact-Rachel said, back at it again.

"I wouldn't mind being given the duet, Mr. Schue," Puck spoke up.

"Oh well would you hear that, we have a taker," Mr. Schue clapped once. He always just claps once. "Blaine, are you ok with that?"

"Yeah of course, why wouldn't I be," Blaine said, not hiding his upset as much as he thought he was.

—————

Blaine left the school without speaking to Kurt. Kurt was upset but ultimately knew Blaine had to get over himself especially because there was nothing going on between Puck and him. He thought.

Kurt couldn't tell if it was because Blaine was pulling away from him or what, but everyday he felt closer to Puck. Blaine didn't seem to want to hear from him some days so Puck was the one he first thought of to talk to when something happened, the first one he thought to walk with in the halls. Could Puck tell this was happening? They leaned closer to each other everyday and neither of them resisted it.

Kurt went home after glee practice and thought about what he was doing tonight. Dinner with Puck about meeting back up with his ex—that Puck said he wanted to get over. Maybe this was a bad idea... Kurt made a decision.

Hey I talked to Puck and he's not up for getting back even to just talk,,, I'm sorry —Kurt

He sent the lie of a message and got ready for the dinner. Dinner with a friend. A friend who he's kissed. And has basically emotionally replaced his boyfriend. Ok Kurt, he said to himself, Maybe you're freaking out a bit.

He headed down to Puck's to pick him up. When he was there Puck let him know he'd need another five minutes for something so Kurt sat there in the car. Waiting, he realized what it meant that the restaurant required reservations... this was gonna be a fancy restaurant. That might get awkward if it starts feeling like a date, he thought. At least the food would be good.

Puck came out of the house wearing something Kurt had never seen before— he wasn't wearing jeans for once? Puck got in the car and Kurt just looked at him, mouth open in an ironic look of shock. He was wearing black slacks and a dark blue button up.

"What, what is it??" Puck said, then briefly checked his hair in the mirror.

"Who are you and what did you do with Noah? You're so.. handsome." Kurt said as he started to reverse out of the driveway. Puck didn't respond. Kurt didn't notice but he blushed and was too fazed to say anything.

Puck didn't know what he was expecting from this dinner, even now as they arrived and walked into the restaurant. He decided, unless he was told otherwise, the two were just friends. But that comment in the car, "handsome?" Puck brushed off these thoughts.

After sitting down for a while they both ordered. "Can you believe Rachel in glee practice today? Someone needs to check that girls 'tude," Kurt said and looked up to find Puck spacing out.

"Huh? Oh yeah..." Puck paused and shook his head to get his mind situated on the conversation, "Does she not realize we all have talent in the glee club? The only difference is we have bearable faces."

Kurt laughed and spit out his drink a little. "Ok ok now you're just being mean."

"Tell me I'm wrong! You can't!"

The night went on like this until the bill came and Kurt asked if Puck wanted to come over after dinner.

"Um well don't you normally hang out with Blaine all weekend?" Puck picked up his things and stood up to leave. Kurt followed suit. "I'm not sure I wanna get burns on the back of my head tonight from all his glaring."

Kurt was silent for a minute, as if he was thinking. "About that.. things have been ummmm, let's say, slower between me and Blaine but I'm sure he's just stressed out from school or something."

"Have you.. talked to him today?" They walked out of the doors of the restaurant to the car. Kurt didn't say anything. "Have you talked to him even lately?"

"Let's just go. Are you hanging out or what?" Kurt was deflecting hard.

"No I actually have to take care of.. something. Definitely not another prank. Definitely not, no way." Puck didn't even try to hide his mischief.

"Oh my- I don't want to know, do I?"

"No," Puck said chuckling a little, "No you do not."