The Other Hummel

Flouisa

Chapter 11: Flouisa

"Hello? Anybody home? I'm walking in."

Louisa entered her own apartment cautiously and was guided by the smell of fresh baked cookies coming from the kitchen. Once in there, she saw Kurt and Blaine too absorbed in each other to notice her presence. She cleared her throat exceedingly loud; making Kurt jump in Blaine's arms:

"Boo! We were waiting for you. Look! We even baked you some cookies to thank you for lending your place to us."

A mockery smirk appeared on Louisa's face:

"You were waiting for me? So why haven't you heard when I announced I was coming in?"

The way Kurt's face blushed and the crooked smile Blaine was giving her were enough of an answer for the girl. She shook her head:

"Never mind... Why don't we make some tea to go with those cookies and we can gossip a little in the living room?"

Provided with coffee, tea and cookies; the three of them sat together on the living room. Kurt rested his head on Blaine's shoulder and smiled to his cousin:

"It was a good Christmas and the New Year started wonderfully, hasn't it? We are all happy here in New York and having dad and Carole over is always a pleasure."

Blaine added:

"You have a great family. Now it's even better with Louisa less grumpy too. I think we should all send Brody a 'thank you' card."

As the girl wasn't smiling with them, but instead fidgety; Kurt sat up and took her hand:

"Is there something about Brody we don't know? I always told he wasn't good news..."

Blaine elbowed Kurt to make him quiet: Louisa looked distressed and was focusing on something on the floor not to look at them. When she turned, her eyes were moist and her nose was growing red:

"My sense of family has been altered a lot since I moved here. First, being away from my mother and getting closer to you, Kurt. Then seeing Uncle Burt and Grandma. I have to admit that Blaine and Finn changed my life for the better. However, seeing my father again has awakened a part of my past that was long forgotten."

Kurt pursed his lips. She smiled feebly and went on:

"This whole situation with my father is driving me nuts. And everything with Brody just feels too much alien to me. I mean; I had few boyfriends and fewer got that serious. It's weird to be in a relationship where I don't trust him 100%. Not that I think he'll cheat or anything; yet I still haven't had the courage to tell him about my...condition.'

Kurt squeezed her hands:

"How many times do I have to tell you that there's nothing wrong with you? Ok, you have your struggles; but who doesn't?"

"Come on Kurt; my panic attacks can be too much to take from someone who isn't used to it. I feel like a burden to whoever is with me. Brody once said he loved me; how can he love me when he doesn't know me? At the same time, it feels good whenever I'm with him. I can't complain, but I also can't fall for him either. I keep telling myself that maybe this is how things work in New York. Maybe the problem is just that I'm not adjusted to life around here."

Blaine smiled and got up from the couch:

"I agree that maybe you're expecting something from Brody that he can't give to you. I mean; how can he show you that he's ready to take you exactly as you are, if you don't show him who you are? You have to allow yourself to be vulnerable so people can reach you. It's not easy; I used to hide too. Kurt was the one who taught me how to do it, just by being his full self around me. Anyway, if you really want to be an actress; you need to learn how to open up to people."