The Other Hummel

Casting

It was the new big thing around: Louisa Hummel and Brody Weston were an item. However, Kurt wouldn't believe it until he heard from his cousin herself:

"Are the rumors about you and Brody true?"

"Kind of. We went on a couple of dates and now Brody is being a little enthusiast about it all. Why?"

"Because you haven't told me anything!"

Louisa shrugged uncomfortably:

"You know I don't like to talk about me and I wasn't sure how serious we were or how I wanted us to be..."

Kurt examined her with a clinical eye:

"There's something else you are not telling me."

She sighed and pulled him to sit down with her:

"Do you know the play Brody will act and direct?"

"Sure; he put auditions signs all around. Me and Blaine are planning on auditioning. It's Next to Normal, right?"

"Exactly."

She kept looking at Kurt waiting for him to reach the same conclusion as her. He returned the glare with a puzzled expression; she rolled her eyes and answered him:

"Next to Normal: the musical about a bipolar woman and her family dealing with her psychological issues."

Kurt grabbed her hand and placed it between his:

"Sweetie, I catch that it can be a touchy subject for you; but I still can't see why he directing it might affect you guys relationship. Did you tell him?"

"Of course not! He invited me to play Diana; he gave me the lead..."

"That's such an honor! Especially with you being a freshman; it's kind of a habit around NYADA not to cast freshmen to plays. You can't say no!"

"I can't say yes either..."

Kurt squeezed her hand to catch back her attention:

"Why not?"

She sighed and looked at him with moist eyes:

"Don't you think it will be torturous for me to play a character with mental disease? How could I play Diana and not get hurt on the way?"

"By telling the world the truth about yourself."

"I'm not ready."

Kurt saw her distress and pulled her for a hug. She pressed him hard against her and managed to say in a feeble voice:

"I'm beginning to like him. Is it strange? How do I tell him I can't to the part without hurting his feelings?"

"I don't know boo; but we'll figure it out together. There's nothing wrong with liking Brody. Things got a little complicate when you add Rachel and Finn to this equation, but you two are two free young people who are enjoying spending time with each other. I say go for it; as long as you save some time to be with your favorite cousin."

She laughed and he kissed her forehead.

xXxXx

Rachel was using her free time to stretch on the bars of one of the dance studios. Things with Finn grew more complicate each day: he was now officially sleeping and living on the second bedroom and running from her every attempt to start a conversation. All her efforts had been proven in vain and she wouldn't be the one begging. The best she could do was dig into work; and increasing her flexibility for Spring Awakening was not a bad idea.